The Light Of Another
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The winds blowing through Ishgard nip at the servantboy's cloak, as he descends the stairs from Foundation down into the fetid air of the lower city. He trips down the cobbles, smiles at the urchins bristling at his intrusion, and sits himself at the worn wooden gate.
There, he removes his mask, and the servantboy returns to being a noble bastard. He presses his face against the crack in the wood, listening. Ice blue eyes stare out into the shadow, and peering back, are eyes of piercing gold.
"Are you there, Fray?"
"Where else, pretty boy?"───⋆⋅☆⋅⋆───
A headcanon-heavy set of backstory vignettes for both Fray Myste (the man) and Lucient Daureville (OC, not the Warrior of Light, though their paths will cross and entwine), centred around their meetings at a gate in the Brume.
Set about 15 years before ARR-HW, give or take.
Check each chapter beginning notes for specific content warnings or tags.
Series
- Part 1 of The Light Of Another
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Summary
Fray imagines Lucient watching his clay likeness being blasted in the manor's kilns. There must be something cathartic about watching a miniature version of yourself be put through the most hostile of environments and situations, only for them to come out of it still in one piece. Or perhaps that's merely Fray's own outlook on the matter. But it would be heartening if Lucient felt the same, wouldn't it?
Lucient brings some clay and sculpting tools to the gate in the Brume.
❤️🔥 XIV Hearts Ablaze 2026 - Day 5 🎎 - hands / warmth / "having fun"
Series
- Part 3 of You, Me, Or We (FFXIV Hearts Ablaze 2026)
- Part 2 of The Light Of Another
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 2,425
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Kudos:
- 5
- Hits:
- 36
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Summary
Lucient's entire body trembles something fierce, but he's already bundled himself as tightly as he could in his cloak. Not the tatty one from his youth, tough enough to be a fine enough cover for a picnic, but a brand new one soft and smooth as Eastern silk and still smelling of the rosewater it had been washed in. It smelled unfamiliar. It did little to keep the cold out. But it was beautiful, he supposed.
What is he thinking, worrying over this? His dream is about to come true! He’s going to become a knight and venture off to far away lands to help those in need! Why does his chest ache, when glory and goodness is in reach? Is he ungrateful? An ungrateful little piece of refuse who should move aside so someone who does deserve knighthood can claim it in his stead?
“Next in line, come forward.”
Two moments in Lucient's first day as a squire.
FFXIV Write 2026 - Day 2 - Register
Series
- Part 2 of FFXIV Write 2026
- Part 3 of The Light Of Another
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 1,593
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Collections:
- 1
- Hits:
- 9
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Summary
He grits his teeth, unable to bear the sight of it. Fury take him, this is simply unbecoming! Not even just of a knight or hero, but of a gentleman! A hero is meant to be pure, his love and passion saved for his one true bride before Halone, not so easily inflamed by the sight of…what? Two men fighting in the sands?
[...]
Lucient shuts his eyes, trying to focus his thoughts on something profoundly unstimulating, a hymn perhaps, or counting the number of steps he hears outside his little nook. But all he sees is that final triumphant moment.
The knight slamming his sabaton down on the lancer’s chest.
Lucient goes into the Lightfeather Proving Grounds to observe and learn from knights in action. It was supposed to be educational, he didn't mean to get distracted, he swears!
(Originally written for FFXIV Write 2026 - Day 16 - Steel)
Series
- Part 4 of The Light Of Another
- Part 13 of FFXIV Write 2026
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Summary
“Ah, easy now. By the Spear, are you sure you’ve not taken ill? We can’t have you like this, you’ll get yourself hurt otherwise.”
Lucient wants to protest, insist that he’s a grown man who can handle his own drink and join the festivities like the rest. But his head spins the moment he tries to speak, and all that comes out is a whine that would make the sober him wince with embarrassment. He sees Haurchefant shake his head, affectionately he hopes? It’s all a mess of colours to him.
“I know, but your health is paramount. What would Ser Victurvien do if he knew his squire was bedridden from drink? Oh, he would fret like a mother who’s child has run away! Come, there should be empty rooms, let us have you rest.”
A fateful feast night in Camp Dragonhead.
(Originally written for FFXIV Write 2026 - Day 7 - Ignorance is Bliss)
Series
- Part 5 of The Light Of Another
- Part 8 of FFXIV Write 2026
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Summary
Exhaustion drapes over him, soaking into his bones as it does the wood below him. His steps are unsteady, so much so that leaning against the walls helps nothing. Fury take him, this always happens. Gods, he needs a rest, just a moment’s rest.
don’t. come no closer!
He looks up, and lit by a fire-crystal lantern is an empty landing. What a relief. Just a few more steps, and he can rest his weary body.
no! no more! you will be hurt! not you, i don’t want to—
Lucient finally steps foot onto the landing—
The death of two and birth of one.
FFXIV Write 2026 - Day 12 - Fusion
(Directly follows after Death Will Not Have Me)
Series
- Part 6 of The Light Of Another
- Part 10 of FFXIV Write 2026
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Summary
He watches you at all hours, even in your most private and shameful of moments. Especially then. Your traitorous body and its whoreful vigour, devoid of its usual outlets for release, roars to life. It is an untamed animal that defies your will and runs wild in pursuit of fleeting pleasures. It violates you, drags its claws across your chest and wraps its claws around your flesh.
You can bind it and berate yourself over it all you like. But a beaten dog will bite back.
You do not wish for this.
But you don't know how to numb the pain otherwise, do you? It's this, or our blade, is it?
You wish your body would simply align with your pure heart once and for all.
The vengeful beast entwined with Lucient's soul watches him from dawn 'til dusk. And he knows what Lucient wants, even if the man denies himself every step of the way.
or: you can't force self-love by shadow-fucking your host and making him look at it, but god damn it fray will try and lucient's inner self will watch with increasing concern and dismay
Something of a sister piece to A Vice You Dare Not Name, but can be read standalone if you want.
Series
- Part 7 of The Light Of Another
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Summary
I wish that I, that we, could make you see that it does not have to come to this. [...] The fragments of his very soul thrash against the darkness turning him towards this facet of his self, against your urge for self-destruction.
Lucient has sins aplenty, and regrets overflowing. His flavour of escapism comes from the very malleable and very vengeful soul that's bound himself to his own, and if left unchecked, it will lead them both back to the point of no return. His shadow, entwined as it is with the foreign soul, watches on.
or: you're in a toxic codependent relationship with the dead man haunting your soul and your repressed inner self is desperately trying to keep you both from destroying each other.
Series
- Part 8 of The Light Of Another
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Summary
Fray’s kiss is a command of surrender. An unfurling of arms pulling
him in, sending Lucient sinking into a sea of endless serenity.When Fray kisses him, it is with countless crowns of teeth set upon
his neck.Fray’s kiss is the first thing Lucient feels in the morning.
Fray’s kisses are nothing more than the steps to a treasure hunt, if
the treasure had legs to run just out of reach and a mouth to laugh at
him.Fray kisses melt like snow on Lucient’s skin, even when he hides
himself away in the depths of Lucient’s heart.Fray is all too willing to share his kisses with others. So long as
they enjoy the taste of their own blood in their mouth.Fray is many, and he is one.
And Lucient is here for all the ways he's changed, and everyone he's ever been.❤️🔥 XIV Hearts Ablaze - Day 6: "kiss / affection / "come with me"" 🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣
Series
- Part 4 of You, Me, Or We (FFXIV Hearts Ablaze 2026)
- Part 9 of The Light Of Another
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 6,593
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Kudos:
- 3
- Hits:
- 76
-
Tags
Summary
Once one falls to despair so deep, their soul becomes naught, null, nothing. Not even the shell remains. Yet we still hesitate to set them free, for they still bear the traces of those we loved...
~
...for a moment, it’s as if they were back in the Odeon, bickering idly over what lines to give the actors in the troupe’s latest performance. Those days when the skies were so blue and it seemed the star’s stories would spiral on forevermore.
A nightmare. Or a vision of lives forgotten?
❤️🔥 XIV Hearts Ablaze 2026 - Day 2 🌠 "stars / nightmare / "stay here""
Series
- Part 2 of You, Me, Or We (FFXIV Hearts Ablaze 2026)
- Part 10 of The Light Of Another
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Summary
“Hit me.” is the first thing Lucient hears behind him.
He swings around to see black armour and blue cloth.
Fray clicks his golden fingers. Then his silver tongue.
“You heard me.”
Lucient’s mouth tastes of copper and iron. His hands burn for some reason. From the tips of his fingers to the meat of his palms.
Lucient can only ignore the call to a fight for so long.
·̩͙།† ͝ ︶ ͝ ⏝ ͝ ︶ ͝ †། ·̩͙
🗡️ Facet: Retribution 🩸
Series
- Part 1 of Come With Me
- Part 11 of The Light Of Another
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Summary
“It’s a wonder how much cake the public can wolf down in a single hour.”
“I would not be so arrogant, Fray. Did you not have a slice from each cake?”
“For your benefit as much as mine, mind you, little bird.”
A love-loving knight and his shade powered by love take a break from cake-decorating pandemonium and spend some time together. Tasting the fruits of their labour and pondering what to gift to their loved ones.
❤️🔥 XIV Hearts Ablaze - Day 7 🍰 - "gifts / heart / FREE SPACE"
Series
- Part 5 of You, Me, Or We (FFXIV Hearts Ablaze 2026)
- Part 12 of The Light Of Another
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Summary
A collection of bestiary logs from one Lucient Daureville, now with additional notes on how the discerning adventurer can cook them!
Warning: The Republic of Ishgard and Adventurer's Guild are not responsible for any illnesses or injuries resulting from following Lucient's recipes. Lucient himself is also not responsible for such illness or injury.(Originally started as part of FFXIV Write 2026)
Series
- Part 13 of The Light Of Another
- Part 6 of FFXIV Write 2026
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Summary
Oh, how many nights he had spent toiling until his fingers and soul bled, trying to pour life from his tears into the wilted bloom that would never sprout again. But that did not mean he couldn’t plant something new in its place. Watering it with everything that he could provide. Tears, seed, affection, memories, blood. Little by little, feeding the soil with pieces of himself until he could no longer tell where he ended and he began.
A death in House Dzemael snatches Lucient from the life of an unwanted bastard and a servant in his own house to an heir waiting to be molded like stone. Fray is going to follow him, protect him, take him back, no matter what it takes.
And of course, it's the right thing to do. He loves him after all. He's the only one who truly does.
❤️🔥 XIV Hearts Ablaze 2026 - Day 1 🥀 "flowers / dance / "you look beautiful""
Series
- Part 1 of You, Me, Or We (FFXIV Hearts Ablaze 2026)
- Part 14 of The Light Of Another