ffxiv gpose screenshot. on a sunny day in the bannock, xephre and khutu engage in a combat lesson. xephre wields a star globe, pointing at the ground, where a large orange circle pulses. khutu is running away from it, looking back in alarm.
#Vierapril 07: Lesson
“First lesson: a dead adventurer is of no use to anyone, including themselves.”
#gpose #XephreDrakis #Xeph138
from Khutu: "Just seeing you makes me feel like I'm on top of the world. Being able to love you fully is gonna launch me into outer space, and I’m taking you with me, so you'd better be ready."
from Xeph: "I came up with a nickname for you. You're my sunshine."
#XephreDrakis #XephBS #Xeph138
thankfully they're pretty good at sorting out their issues. xeph mostly worries about khutu's safety, and khutu just wants xeph to be happy. so he tries harder to be more aware and careful; and they try to lighten up. and quiet snuggles always make them both feel better.
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
often. xeph finds khutu scatterbrained and clumsy. khutu thinks xeph sulks too much and takes life too seriously. if anything, their "arguing" is more xeph being mad at khutu, and khutu trying to defuse the situation. he doesn't really get mad at them; he just gets concerned.+
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
ffxiv gpose screenshot. xephre and khutu sit at a table, chatting animatedly. there's a basket of steamed shumai on the table. technically in the story it's buuz but we don't have that as a housing item. or even a food item.
ffxiv gpose screenshot. khutu and xephre are lying in a flower field. xeph is leaning back against khutu, looking up with a smile, while he looks down at them with the back of one hand stroking their cheek.
ffxiv gpose screenshot. xephre and khutu sit on the edge of a balcony, leaning over the metal railing. xephre has both arms folded over the railing, looking at khutu and talking happily. he looks back at them with a smile, one hand clutching the other arm in a slightly nervous pose.
ffxiv gpose screenshot. khutu is sitting on a long bench or seat, leaning back against the cushions xephre is lying on top of him chest to chest, wearing an oversized sweater, hugging him tightly. their are ears laid back and they're avoiding eye contact. he has his arms around them in a secure, comforting pose.
btw i like this ship so much i made them date twice. xeph is way happier in the modern AU... but there's still angst because it wouldn't be me without angst.
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
primarily canon scenes, which basically means all of the above! lots of angst, a bit of fluff. sometimes it's to sell the story, sometimes the atmosphere, sometimes the dynamic. sometimes it's not a specific scene i've written or have in mind, but would fit into canon.
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
khutu came to eorzea from the Steppe fairly recently and learned just enough eorzean common to get around from the sailors he bummed a ride from. thankfully xeph's Echo makes communication a non-issue.
#Xeph138
ffxiv gpose screenshot. khutu and xephre are lying in a flower field. xeph is leaning back against khutu, looking up with a smile, while he looks down at them with the back of one hand stroking their cheek.
From the darkest greys
The sun bursts, clouds break
This is life in colour
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
FFXIV gpose screenshot. xephre and khutu sit on a cliff near Camp Tranquil at night, looking up at the sky. khutu has an arm around xephre, who's leaning against him with a hand on top of his. large golden flowers glow in the middle ground.
If we lay, let the day just pass us by
I might get to too much talking
I might have to tell you something
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
"And I'm hoping that you will see yourself like I see you"
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
on the whole xeph does more of the housework, but it doesn't bother them. that's their love language. khutu's is making sure they take breaks and indulge in the little things, reminding them regularly that they are loved and cherished.
#Xeph138
xeph puts everything away exactly where it belongs; when khutu asks where something is they just tell him. khutu reaches the stuff on high shelves. they treat it like any other small favour. they know each other's sensitive points and cover for them without pointing them out
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
a photo of sunflowers against a bright blue sky
khutu is a sunflower! big, tall, and cheerful, he's always reaching for the sun and trying to bring it into his and others' lives. it also repreresents adoration and unconditional love, which fits his puppy-like nature and the way in which he expresses his love for the people around him.
#Xeph138
ffxiv gpose screenshot. xephre and khutu sit at a table, chatting animatedly. there's a basket of steamed shumai on the table. technically in the story it's buuz but we don't have that as a housing item. or even a food item.
in the modern AU, xeph and khutu bond over food and cooking, taking turns each week to make something to share. it's been really fun to look up recipes to write about, without having to stress about actually making the food! except then i can't eat it.
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
bonus round! khutu also likes watching xeph train. he can tell it's their element; they have a singular focus and deadly efficiency that's almost beautiful.
khutu hums to himself when he does chores, which is very endearing to xeph. they like how his tail bounces along to the beat.
#Xeph138
khutu likes when xeph is asleep - it's one of the few times they seem to shed their burdens. sometimes they look at the stars that way, too.
xeph likes seeing khutu react to new things. his curiosity and wonder remind them of what they used to be like, the reason they started adventuring.
#Xeph138
ffxiv gpose screenshot. in front of a flower shop, khutu is watering the flowers on display. he spots xephre walking by and waves enthusiastically. xephre waves back, smiling.
I don't know you
But I would love to meet you
Let me show you
How good it is to see you
I think that we should
I think that we should be friends
[ www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OZe... ]
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
khutu would, and does, sacrifice himself for xeph. xeph would, and does, burn down at least some of ishgard for khutu. did i mention khutu's death is what turns xeph to dark knight? oops spoilers.
in my defence this is loop 138. everything xeph does ends in tragedy til 1012 😊
#XephBS #Xeph138
ffxiv gpose screenshot. xephre and khutu are standing in front of a bunch of shelves full of little potted plants. khutu's wearing an apron and work gloves. he has a basket of flowers under one arm and is holding a flower out to xephre, grinning widely. xephre has a skewed smile as they raise their hand to accept the flower.
"Free sample?"
"..."
"It's edible!"
"...Sure."
[this wasn't Intended to be a flower shop AU but it is now i guess]
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
i always find it really cute when Khutu brings flowers, especially since his dialogue is like "look what I got for you!" he's such a puppy
alternately when he's so proud of himself for finding a single water crystal 🤦
#Xeph138
anyway this is just another one of my fully indulgent little gifts to myself. if i can make a modern AU where xeph grew up on a farm and drove tractors and tipped cows and had a teen emo phase, i can make an AU where xeph can have a kid and just Be Fucking Happy for a while.
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
ffxiv gpose screenshot. xephre stands in the doorway of their apartment, facing khutu, who's at the threshold, having just arrived. xephre is dressed in an oversized shirt with long baggy sleeves, long shorts, and ankle socks. they're holding the neck of a square bottle in one hand and looking down at the ground, their ears low. behind them, the apartment is a mess, with papers, books, and bottles scattered all over the ground.
ffxiv gpose screenshot. a continuation of the previous image. xephre leans the top of their head against khutu's chest, staring down at their feet; khutu puts a hand on their shoulder comfortingly.
“You're not heartless,” he says at once. “I know you're not. I know you're trying. I know it hurts.”
“It doesn't.”
He pauses, uncomprehending.
“It doesn't hurt,” they mumble. “It doesn't feel like anything. It’s just… numb."
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
xeph's life with khutu is titled Three of Crowns, from the Deck of Sixty, which doesn't actually have any official/canon meanings so i made them up myself. crowns are the faculty of dominion, while 3s are about balance. their card is reversed - the umbral/active position. +
#XephreDrakis #Xeph138
ffxiv gpose screenshot. xephre sits on the edge of a bed; khutu is kneeling next to them. he has an arm around their waist and is holding out a hand to them, smiling softly. they tentatively put their hand in his, looking at it with a conflicted expression.
"Clumsy and unsubtle and loud… but always joyful, always ready to help, always trying his best to improve for himself and those around him. No matter how cold I was toward him, he never gave up trying to get through to me. And he did.”
#XephreDrakis #XephBS #Xeph138
