Prompt!
So I really just had the urge today to write an extremely happy version of Sounsyy. But really the only way that that was going to happen was if a lot of things in her backstory just didn't happen. So that inspired this prompt!
Write a story or just describe how your character would be different if something in their backstory just didn't happen to them. What if there was no calamity? What if their parents hadn't died tragically? What if they hadn't drank that bottle of Fantasia? Anything! Take some event that you think really shaped your character's story or personality and take it out of your character's life and tell us how it changes things!
I spoilered mine below cuz I wrote a bit about what if Ala Mhigo never fell to the Garleans, which really changes everything. No calamity, no refugees in Ul'dah, no fighting, no adventurers. Sounsyy would've grown up in Ala Mhigo, she would've never left to see the rest of Eorzea. Her first lover wouldn't have perished trying to retake Ala Mhigo. She'd have never found her calling on the sea. She'd have never risen above a common soldier. Never would've been a gladiator. Never would've been hurt - physically or emotionally. She'd be a completely different person, a happy person. Talkative, jubilant, motherly.
So I really just had the urge today to write an extremely happy version of Sounsyy. But really the only way that that was going to happen was if a lot of things in her backstory just didn't happen. So that inspired this prompt!
Write a story or just describe how your character would be different if something in their backstory just didn't happen to them. What if there was no calamity? What if their parents hadn't died tragically? What if they hadn't drank that bottle of Fantasia? Anything! Take some event that you think really shaped your character's story or personality and take it out of your character's life and tell us how it changes things!
I spoilered mine below cuz I wrote a bit about what if Ala Mhigo never fell to the Garleans, which really changes everything. No calamity, no refugees in Ul'dah, no fighting, no adventurers. Sounsyy would've grown up in Ala Mhigo, she would've never left to see the rest of Eorzea. Her first lover wouldn't have perished trying to retake Ala Mhigo. She'd have never found her calling on the sea. She'd have never risen above a common soldier. Never would've been a gladiator. Never would've been hurt - physically or emotionally. She'd be a completely different person, a happy person. Talkative, jubilant, motherly.
Show Content
Alternative Timeline Story
The Year 1577 of the Sixth Astral Era.
A crisp, autumn wind blew through the young boy's hair as he played in the yard. He was a young Miqo'te of only seven cycles with large, green eyes. His curious gaze darted through the fallen leaves after a pillbug which had eluded his grasp. The boy had been left to his own devices after his father had gone in to start supper. So he played out in the yard like usual as he waited for his mother to return home.
No sooner did the boy discover the pillbug's escape route then his mother came around the fence and upon seeing him face first in the leaves, she fell into a fit of giggling. "Mirke," she chided. His ears perked and he abandoned his hunt to run to his mother gleefully.
"Oh! Tch! You're a mess!" But the boy didn't seem to mind.
They entered the small home together, Sounsyy's hand gently leading him on in front of her. "Go get cleaned up for dinner!" she called after the boy as he darted off. The Highlander in the kitchen just shook his head in amusement. Sounsyy went to him and leaned forward against his back.
"Welcome home, sweet," he said. The man was easily a foot taller than his wife, which was originally how Sounsyy's display of affection had developed in lieu of a mid-waist embrace like a child might to their parent. So she had taken to just leaning against him or pressing her face into his arm when she wanted his attention.
"Mmm, Nathaniel, what're you cooking tonight?"
"Fish," he replied. He was always this short-spoken. Sounsyy didn't seem to mind. She spoke enough for the both of them. But tonight he continued speaking while he added more salt to his skillet, "What news from the Front?"
"There's talk that Garlemald razed Doma in the East to set an example for the other Othardian rebels," she said plainly. Her tone was serious, but her jovial expression had not yet given way, "Refugees will surely be coming to Eorzea in the coming weeks."
Nathaniel busied himself with the last of the meal's preparations, though he was clearly upset by the news. "It seems a poor time to have a celebration when there's a big storm on the horizon."
Sounsyy smiled at him and dug her nose into the back of his shirt. "On the contrary," she said, "I think it's the perfect time. Once Garlemald ends their war of succession it will be us again who stand in their way. Our people need a strong pillar. The Order sees this."
"Will the other nations not help us?"
"Not likely. The Elezen of Gridania cannot see beyond their own borders and care not for without. Ul'dah revels in its blood money, their goods bought cheap from the fallen nations their ceruleum helps Garlemald destroy. Limsa is little better. There's even talk that the Sharlayans will abandon the city to return north. We are likely alone in this, but we are strong. I am not worried."
Nathaniel turned and kissed the top of his wife's head. "I hope Mirke grows to be as strong and brave as his mother."
"And as sweet and caring as his father," she added, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss him back. "Though I do hope he's braver than me," she says after she breaks away from his lips. She smiles at him and goes to set her table. Nathaniel looks fondly after her, before returning to the meal, taking the hot skillet from off the fire and placing it elsewhere to cool.
"Speaking of ceremonies," he says after a while, "Mirke has been asking if he can walk with you in the coronation parade tomorrow."
As if on queue, the young boy bounded into the kitchen. "Can I? Can I?!" Sounsyy laughed and flicked one of his ears playfully. "Maybe," she said, "I will have to ask my captain, Miss J'moldva. If she says it's alright." The boy beamed and cheered as if she had answered in the affirmative. To quell his exuberance, Nathaniel came around with the boy's dinner and told him to sit at the table and let his mother rest.
After the meal was done, Sounsyy washed up while Nathaniel entertained the boy's slew of new queries about kings and coronations and the like. Even as night fell, he was too excited to sleep so Sounsyy put him to bed, rolled him up in the blankets, and sat on him for good measure to keep the little lugworm still.
"How come you get to be in the parade? Did you ask to be in it?" he asked through fits of giggles.
"Because I'm in the Corpse Brigade, child. We're the King's guard. Now, bed, or I'm going to sit on you again!"
"What happened to the last king? Did you not protect him?"
"He died a long time ago, when I was almost your age."
"How did he die?"
Sounsyy sighed, sitting on his bundled form again, which only resulted in more fits of giggles. So she unrolled him from his bundle and adjusted the sheets over him. She looked at the boy, seeing so much of his father in him. She smiled, seeing maybe even a little bit of her father in him as well, the man after which he was named. "If I tell you the story will you go to bed?" she asked. He nodded with a very serious expression.
"Well," Sounsyy began, "a long time ago, there was a mad king..."
"Why was he mad?"
"No one knows. Some say he was always mad. Others say it was all a Garlean scheme. But the mad king ruled Ala Mhigo alone, without heir, and he thought that his people were trying to take his power from him. 'This is my throne!'" Sounsyy said in a mock male voice. Mirke giggled. "Well, he got so mad, the people thought his power should be taken from him. The Mad King had started taking innocent people from their homes and hurting them. He forced them to say that the Order wanted him gone. He was going to do something really terrible to the Order and the people who thought he was mad. But before he could, the guards got sick of his evil ways and let the prisoners go. And they ran and warned the Order. Suddenly everyone knew what he had done and they did take his power and gave it to the Order. And the Order of the Fists of Rhalgr has led Ala Mhigo ever since. Until they could find a new, good king. And tomorrow, you get to watch that new, good king get his crown."
Mirke had already begun nodding off, clearly disinterested in the politics of his nation's history. Sounsyy snorted quietly and kissed his forehead, leaving him alone to sleep. She returned to the main room to find Nathaniel fast asleep upon the couch. Sounsyy smirked - like father like son.
She awoke early the next morning. Nathaniel was in bed beside her, though she didn't remember him coming to bed the night before. She pulled away from his grasp, dressed in the early morning haze, and left without a word. By the time she returned to the house, Nathaniel and Mirke were both up, eating their breakfast. She bent over and kissed the top of Mirke's head as she passed, whispering in his ear, "I've got a surprise for you later." He looked excited, but Sounsyy put a finger to her lips to silence him. The boy attempted to muffle his excitement.
"Are you excited for the parade?" Sounsyy asked her son as they walked hand in hand down the market ward of Ala Mhigo. Mirke nodded, but seemed upset about something. "Grandma and Grandpa will be there. If you want I bet even your father will let you sit on his shoulders."
She looked at Nathaniel teasingly. He said nothing, but squeezed his wife's other hand in response. Sounsyy had changed into a ceremonial suit of armor after breakfast. Her chest, arms, and feet clad in brilliant shining plate armor, decorated with gold leaf. A long, rich purple tunic was visible beneath her armor, the cloth falling loosely over her knees. She wore a matching sash across her torso, a golden broach in the shape of a gryphon pinning it in place to her armor. She rarely dressed so well, and was enjoying the outfit. Even Mirke had ogled at in wonder when she first displayed it.
She led the pair into a shop just off the main road of the markets. Sounsyy was greeted by an Elezen woman and her husband who owned the shop. Sounsyy gave her a close hug and beamed at her.
"I was wondering if you'd stop in today," the Elezen said, "And Master Mirke, you've gotten so big since the last time your mother brought you down this way."
"Hi, Lady Cambre," Mirke said sheepishly. Sounsyy laughed softly. "Cambre, you and your husband will have to come for dinner soon. I'll invite Sophie too - have you heard from my sister lately?"
"I haven't, though I expect she's busy with the baby."
Sounsyy nodded, before changing the subject. "Anyroad, thank you for volunteering to help keep an eye on him while the Parade's coming around." Cambre smiled and said it wasn't a problem. Sounsyy kissed her husband and headed out the door and hurried back up the Ward. Mirke continued looking upset until Cambre's husband offered him sweets and showed him around the shop while they waited for the parade to begin.
When the cheering began outside a bell later, the four hurried out the front to the main road and lined the streets with the other Ala Mhigans. Mirke peered out into the street and caught sight of the procession. Musicians and dancers flanked by mounted lancers filed down the street. Mirke stared, wide-eyed in awe at their stature. Then finally came the new King in a white chocobo-drawn carriage. On all sides were the members of the Corpse Brigade in their purple and gold regalia. Captain Milleuda at the head of the column. Mirke scanned the procession as the Brigade passed. He cheered as he picked Sounsyy out of the crowd. She gave him a small wave then beckoned for him to join her as she passed. Mirke looked to his father but Nathaniel simply smiled and nudged his son forward. So the boy ran out to his mother's side. Sounsyy took his small hand in hers and with spear held high in the other, led her son along in the procession.
Though she knew troubled times lay ahead, today she would celebrate and, if only for a day, she could forget about the Garleans to the far far north. Today she and her son were happy.
The Year 1577 of the Sixth Astral Era.
A crisp, autumn wind blew through the young boy's hair as he played in the yard. He was a young Miqo'te of only seven cycles with large, green eyes. His curious gaze darted through the fallen leaves after a pillbug which had eluded his grasp. The boy had been left to his own devices after his father had gone in to start supper. So he played out in the yard like usual as he waited for his mother to return home.
No sooner did the boy discover the pillbug's escape route then his mother came around the fence and upon seeing him face first in the leaves, she fell into a fit of giggling. "Mirke," she chided. His ears perked and he abandoned his hunt to run to his mother gleefully.
"Oh! Tch! You're a mess!" But the boy didn't seem to mind.
They entered the small home together, Sounsyy's hand gently leading him on in front of her. "Go get cleaned up for dinner!" she called after the boy as he darted off. The Highlander in the kitchen just shook his head in amusement. Sounsyy went to him and leaned forward against his back.
"Welcome home, sweet," he said. The man was easily a foot taller than his wife, which was originally how Sounsyy's display of affection had developed in lieu of a mid-waist embrace like a child might to their parent. So she had taken to just leaning against him or pressing her face into his arm when she wanted his attention.
"Mmm, Nathaniel, what're you cooking tonight?"
"Fish," he replied. He was always this short-spoken. Sounsyy didn't seem to mind. She spoke enough for the both of them. But tonight he continued speaking while he added more salt to his skillet, "What news from the Front?"
"There's talk that Garlemald razed Doma in the East to set an example for the other Othardian rebels," she said plainly. Her tone was serious, but her jovial expression had not yet given way, "Refugees will surely be coming to Eorzea in the coming weeks."
Nathaniel busied himself with the last of the meal's preparations, though he was clearly upset by the news. "It seems a poor time to have a celebration when there's a big storm on the horizon."
Sounsyy smiled at him and dug her nose into the back of his shirt. "On the contrary," she said, "I think it's the perfect time. Once Garlemald ends their war of succession it will be us again who stand in their way. Our people need a strong pillar. The Order sees this."
"Will the other nations not help us?"
"Not likely. The Elezen of Gridania cannot see beyond their own borders and care not for without. Ul'dah revels in its blood money, their goods bought cheap from the fallen nations their ceruleum helps Garlemald destroy. Limsa is little better. There's even talk that the Sharlayans will abandon the city to return north. We are likely alone in this, but we are strong. I am not worried."
Nathaniel turned and kissed the top of his wife's head. "I hope Mirke grows to be as strong and brave as his mother."
"And as sweet and caring as his father," she added, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss him back. "Though I do hope he's braver than me," she says after she breaks away from his lips. She smiles at him and goes to set her table. Nathaniel looks fondly after her, before returning to the meal, taking the hot skillet from off the fire and placing it elsewhere to cool.
"Speaking of ceremonies," he says after a while, "Mirke has been asking if he can walk with you in the coronation parade tomorrow."
As if on queue, the young boy bounded into the kitchen. "Can I? Can I?!" Sounsyy laughed and flicked one of his ears playfully. "Maybe," she said, "I will have to ask my captain, Miss J'moldva. If she says it's alright." The boy beamed and cheered as if she had answered in the affirmative. To quell his exuberance, Nathaniel came around with the boy's dinner and told him to sit at the table and let his mother rest.
After the meal was done, Sounsyy washed up while Nathaniel entertained the boy's slew of new queries about kings and coronations and the like. Even as night fell, he was too excited to sleep so Sounsyy put him to bed, rolled him up in the blankets, and sat on him for good measure to keep the little lugworm still.
"How come you get to be in the parade? Did you ask to be in it?" he asked through fits of giggles.
"Because I'm in the Corpse Brigade, child. We're the King's guard. Now, bed, or I'm going to sit on you again!"
"What happened to the last king? Did you not protect him?"
"He died a long time ago, when I was almost your age."
"How did he die?"
Sounsyy sighed, sitting on his bundled form again, which only resulted in more fits of giggles. So she unrolled him from his bundle and adjusted the sheets over him. She looked at the boy, seeing so much of his father in him. She smiled, seeing maybe even a little bit of her father in him as well, the man after which he was named. "If I tell you the story will you go to bed?" she asked. He nodded with a very serious expression.
"Well," Sounsyy began, "a long time ago, there was a mad king..."
"Why was he mad?"
"No one knows. Some say he was always mad. Others say it was all a Garlean scheme. But the mad king ruled Ala Mhigo alone, without heir, and he thought that his people were trying to take his power from him. 'This is my throne!'" Sounsyy said in a mock male voice. Mirke giggled. "Well, he got so mad, the people thought his power should be taken from him. The Mad King had started taking innocent people from their homes and hurting them. He forced them to say that the Order wanted him gone. He was going to do something really terrible to the Order and the people who thought he was mad. But before he could, the guards got sick of his evil ways and let the prisoners go. And they ran and warned the Order. Suddenly everyone knew what he had done and they did take his power and gave it to the Order. And the Order of the Fists of Rhalgr has led Ala Mhigo ever since. Until they could find a new, good king. And tomorrow, you get to watch that new, good king get his crown."
Mirke had already begun nodding off, clearly disinterested in the politics of his nation's history. Sounsyy snorted quietly and kissed his forehead, leaving him alone to sleep. She returned to the main room to find Nathaniel fast asleep upon the couch. Sounsyy smirked - like father like son.
She awoke early the next morning. Nathaniel was in bed beside her, though she didn't remember him coming to bed the night before. She pulled away from his grasp, dressed in the early morning haze, and left without a word. By the time she returned to the house, Nathaniel and Mirke were both up, eating their breakfast. She bent over and kissed the top of Mirke's head as she passed, whispering in his ear, "I've got a surprise for you later." He looked excited, but Sounsyy put a finger to her lips to silence him. The boy attempted to muffle his excitement.
"Are you excited for the parade?" Sounsyy asked her son as they walked hand in hand down the market ward of Ala Mhigo. Mirke nodded, but seemed upset about something. "Grandma and Grandpa will be there. If you want I bet even your father will let you sit on his shoulders."
She looked at Nathaniel teasingly. He said nothing, but squeezed his wife's other hand in response. Sounsyy had changed into a ceremonial suit of armor after breakfast. Her chest, arms, and feet clad in brilliant shining plate armor, decorated with gold leaf. A long, rich purple tunic was visible beneath her armor, the cloth falling loosely over her knees. She wore a matching sash across her torso, a golden broach in the shape of a gryphon pinning it in place to her armor. She rarely dressed so well, and was enjoying the outfit. Even Mirke had ogled at in wonder when she first displayed it.
She led the pair into a shop just off the main road of the markets. Sounsyy was greeted by an Elezen woman and her husband who owned the shop. Sounsyy gave her a close hug and beamed at her.
"I was wondering if you'd stop in today," the Elezen said, "And Master Mirke, you've gotten so big since the last time your mother brought you down this way."
"Hi, Lady Cambre," Mirke said sheepishly. Sounsyy laughed softly. "Cambre, you and your husband will have to come for dinner soon. I'll invite Sophie too - have you heard from my sister lately?"
"I haven't, though I expect she's busy with the baby."
Sounsyy nodded, before changing the subject. "Anyroad, thank you for volunteering to help keep an eye on him while the Parade's coming around." Cambre smiled and said it wasn't a problem. Sounsyy kissed her husband and headed out the door and hurried back up the Ward. Mirke continued looking upset until Cambre's husband offered him sweets and showed him around the shop while they waited for the parade to begin.
When the cheering began outside a bell later, the four hurried out the front to the main road and lined the streets with the other Ala Mhigans. Mirke peered out into the street and caught sight of the procession. Musicians and dancers flanked by mounted lancers filed down the street. Mirke stared, wide-eyed in awe at their stature. Then finally came the new King in a white chocobo-drawn carriage. On all sides were the members of the Corpse Brigade in their purple and gold regalia. Captain Milleuda at the head of the column. Mirke scanned the procession as the Brigade passed. He cheered as he picked Sounsyy out of the crowd. She gave him a small wave then beckoned for him to join her as she passed. Mirke looked to his father but Nathaniel simply smiled and nudged his son forward. So the boy ran out to his mother's side. Sounsyy took his small hand in hers and with spear held high in the other, led her son along in the procession.
Though she knew troubled times lay ahead, today she would celebrate and, if only for a day, she could forget about the Garleans to the far far north. Today she and her son were happy.
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