Title: Nightmares
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: PG-13 (for mentions of violence)
Wordcount: 100
Pairings: Paine/Nooj
Spoilers: For Nooj's story
Notes: Written for the Alphabet fic meme (which is still almost wide open), to lassarina's prompt, which was "S: Solid, Paine/Nooj". The first true drabble I've written in a long time. I always forget what a satisfying challenge it can be to write to a strict word count. Also the first P/N story I've finished in awhile. It's always nice to get back to them.


( Sometimes Nooj startles himself awake... )

Title: Getting Rest
Fandom: FFX
Rating: R
Wordcount: ~2300
Pairings: Lulu/Rikku
Spoilers: Minor, for the first half of the game. Set right after Bikanel.
Notes: Written for first_seventhe, for the Out of the Comfort Zone meme. I think the fact that it took me a year and a half to get around to writing this serves as evidence of just how far femmeslash is outside my comfort zone. ;) But I would like to be at least as comfortable writing this as I am writing other sex scenes (which is still actually not very), so I'm glad I took it as an opportunity to do so. I've written other stories that allude to femmeslash pairings, but this is easily the most explicit. So I hope it works! Sorry it took me so very long to pull it together.

This officially fulfills all the requests on this meme, although there are plenty of other unwritten prompts there that I might get around to, someday.

( 'We ain't gonna find her today. Might as well head for the cabin, get some sleep.' )

Title: Belonging
Fandom: FFX
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 2725
Characters: Auron, Braksa, Jecht
Spoilers: Auron's backstory
Notes: Eleventy billion years ago, muggy_mountain was looking to write some fic, and I offered to exchange stories with her. She produced my request within two days. My response took, uh, a little bit longer. I hope I am forgiven?

( The late morning sun blazed down on the Besaid docks as the gulls cried overhead. Auron paused on the wooden boards, shading his eyes with a hand to better see the birds gliding on the sea breeze. )

In the last FFEX round, I posted exactly one story: the regular gift I signed up for.

This time around, I'm now up to five, and I might not be done yet.

Presenting Elemental, a story about Lulu discovering her magic, filled with lots of tasty FFX magic meta. When I was about halfway through my first draft, it occurred to me that this may be the very first full-length story I've ever written featuring Lulu as the main character, which just seems wrong. Lulu is one of my favorite characters, how have I written so little about her? Perhaps I will continue to fix this oversight.

This story was originally a backup assignment; it turned out not to be needed, so I saved and polished and am now posting it as Chocobo Down instead. Looking for something to write? Plenty of great prompts on the Chocobo Down list, which is open to all comers. Check it out.

I don't know whether it's because of FFEX or what, but the writing bug has bit me hard lately, in particular with regard to finishing up all the various requests and prompts that I have hanging around. I intend to take advantage of the urge while it lasts...

Title: Baralai at 12
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: G
Wordcount: 830
Characters: Baralai
Notes: For wildejoy

( Neeta still remembers the day Baralai arrived in Bevelle... )

I sat down at my computer intending to work on other things, but in the process I opened this file, and realized that I'd forgotten that I already had this mostly written. So I finished and polished it up, and here it is.

Title: Braska at 23
Fandom: FFX
Rating: G
Characters: Braska, Braska's wife
Notes: Requested by not_cynical.

( Braska comes home. )

Title: Gifts
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: G
Wordcount: 972
Characters: Maechen
Spoilers: For Maechen's backstory, and (really indirectly) the end of FFX.
Notes: Written for muggy_mountain's request in the Alphabet Fic meme (which still has lots of open slots, if anyone is interested). She gave me the pairing "Maechen/books" and two prompt words, "herbs" and "wonder", and I mashed them all together into two kinda-related ficbits. My interpretation may be somewhat more liberal than was intended; if so, I can only beg your indulgence. (Can you tell I've been writing Maechen?)

( It was a beautiful summer day in Zanarkand, and Maechen was, as usual, in the library. )

For several months now, I have been working on a super-secret project with bottle_of_shine; now it can finally be told.

The Pursuit of Happiness (or, Fifty Ways to Leave, Find, or Get Busy With Your Lover)
A collection of microfics inspired by 1sentence, co-authored by owlmoose and bottle_of_shine.
About 4,200 words.
Final Fantasy X-2, Paine/Nooj, NC-17.

First we never expected it to take this long; then we never expected to finish. But it is done! Hooray. Read and enjoy!

Title: Taking Refuge
Fandom: FFX
Rating: PG
Wordcount: ~700
Pairings: Auron/Braska
Spoilers: Not really
Notes: Written for the current round of ff_kissbattle. Not in response to any particular prompt, but there was a lot of love for Auron/Braska/Jecht in the comments, and since I've already written Braska/Jecht and Auron/Jecht this round, I figured I'd might as well go for the trifecta.


The three men had made camp inside a convenient ruin at the edge of the Thunder Plains, only a few hours from the turn of the trail that would take them into Macalania.

Title: Search
Fandom: FFX
Rating: G
Wordcount: 670
Characters: Lucil, Elma
Pairings: Lucil/Elma undertones
Spoilers: Not for the game. Maybe very mild spoilers for FFX-2
Notes: Written for auronlu, who requested Lucil and Elma for the Out of the Comfort Zone meme. This story is set within the "Aftermath" universe, right after Chapter 3, but all you need to know from that story is this: Post FFX, Elma comes home to Kilika. A few months later, Lucil comes to visit in the hopes of convincing Elma and others to join her in the Seekers, a band of sphere hunters working for Lord Trema. The rest should be self-explanatory.

( The sounds of insects and dripping water echoed through the jungle. )

Two character sketches. These aren't proper "stories" really, more an opportunity to noodle around a little with the characters. This is in response to the character "sketch" meme I posted a few days back, and prompts are definitely still open, if anyone else would like to request!

Title: Kinoc at 25
Fandom: FFX
Rating: G
Characters: Kinoc
Notes: Requested by muggy_mountain.

( Wen Kinoc, age 25. )

Title: Auron at 34
Fandom: FFX
Rating: G
Characters: Auron
Notes: Requested by lucil_luzzu.

( Sir Auron, legendary guardian, age 34. )

Title: Weapon of Choice
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: PG
Wordcount: ~6000
Characters: Paine, Cast
Pairings: Hints of Paine/Nooj, but mostly gen. Unless Paine/her sword counts as a pairing.
Spoilers: Minor for Paine's backstory and other parts of the game.
Notes: Written for 30_fantasies, theme #2, "Sword", and largely inspired by a long-ago request by parron for a Paine/sword story. This one is for her, although I suspect she had something much crackier in mind when she asked for it. ;) This story has taken almost two years to write, and I stalled on it several times, but working on it for JaNoWriMo really helped shake things loose, especially the concept for the ending.

Ten short pieces about a woman and her most faithful companion.

Title: Options
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 640
Characters: Nooj, Rikku
Spoilers: None
Notes: I left this off the JaNoWriMo to-do list, but only to preserve a little surprise; I intended from the beginning that this would be the first thing written and published. Happy Birthday yesterday to bottle_of_shine!! Written to the prompt "Rikku, Nooj: change is the law of life", one of her unfilled requests from "Trick or Treat 2008" and chosen in part because it gave me the opportunity to use a line that's been floating around in my head for years now. Hopefully they are a good fit.

( The last thing he'd expected to see was Rikku, greeting him with a cheery wave as she clambered up onto the barstool beside him. )

Title: The Reason
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 470
Pairings: Beclem/Yuna
Spoilers: For the end of FFX only.
Notes: In the spirit of finishing things up before the end of the year, I caught up on transferring everything I've written this summer and fall to my archive, including my three Trick or Treat 2008 stories. Usually, when I participate in a fic battle, I don't post the ficlets individually in my journal, but I've been meaning to make an exception for these, and this one in particular. The prompt was "Beclem/Yuna, murder", and I was so strongly put in mind of "Aftermath" that I couldn't help but write a metafic for it. Set post-game (and so post-"Aftermath" as well).

( 'I had to kill them, you know.' )

Title: Lessons
Fandom: FFX
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: 895
Pairings: Yuna/Shiva. Kinda. If you turn your head sideways and squint really hard.
Spoilers: For FFX. Set during the Macalania sequence, but to be safe let's say spoilers through Bikanel.
Notes: Written for the "Out of the Comfort Zone" meme, to wildjoy's request of "Yuna/Shiva, innocence". She asked for crack but I'm not convinced this qualifies, unless the pure existence of the kinda, sorta pairing makes it crack by default. But it was the closest I could come.

( The stone door slid closed behind her, scraping the walls; the whole room shook when it dropped into place against the floor. )

Title: Home Movie
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: ~1425
Pairings: Rikku/Gippal
Spoilers: Very minor, Crimson Squad-related
Notes: This was written for bottle_of_shine's request for the Out of the Comfort Zone meme, which was "Rikku/Gippal, with porn". The porn part was optional -- and a good thing, too, because I highly doubt this is what Nay had in mind when she asked for it ;) -- but it's the part of the prompt that gave me the hook for the story in the end. Hopefully she will be amused enough to forgive me...

( 'Hello?' Rikku stuck her head around the half-open door of Djose Temple and looked around. )

Title: Growing Pains
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: PG
Wordcount: ~690
Characters: Leblanc, Logos, Ormi
Pairings: n/a
Spoilers: Hmm, let's say very minor, for Logos and Ormi's backstory
Notes: Written for the "Out of the Comfort Zone" meme, to regann's request for a story featuring Leblanc. Also inspired by my discovery, in my last playthrough of X-2, that there was at least one Al Bhed goon in the Leblanc syndicate.

( 'All right, you can go. You'll have an answer by tomorrow.' Leblanc rose from the couch and extended her hand, smiling despite her eagerness to get rid of the latest band of recruits. )

Title: Judgment
Fandom: Final Fantasy XII (OGC)
Rating: PG
Wordcount: ~600
Characters: Dr. Cid, Ffamran
Spoilers: Yes, many and significant.
Notes: This was written for the "Out of the Comfort Zone" meme and oh boy was this that. The prompt was "FFXII: Cid and Venat" from lassarina, and I hope this qualifies. I still feel like I don't know this game well enough to write for it, and I want to get a replay under my belt before I take on anything more serious, but to my surprise this ficbit came quite easily once I sat down and got myself writing. (Of course, that might mean that it sucks... Since this is such a new arena for me, comments and criticisms on canon violations, characterizations, anything and everything are more than welcome. I mean, such comments are always welcome, but today they're even more welcome than usual.)

( The newly-minted judge finished fastening down his breastplate and scowled into the mirror. 'I look ridiculous.' )

Title: A Good Team
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: G
Wordcount: 950
Characters: Rikku, Nooj
Spoilers: Not really
Notes: Written for the Out of the Comfort Zone meme to the prompt of "Rikku, Nooj, frogs". This took me a few false starts, but overall I'm pretty content with how it came out (although I'm not convinced about the ending, but what else is new?). Also this is not in any way inspired by Quina's frog hunting game, and I did not have the FFIX soundtrack on repeat the entire time I was writing it. No, not at all. *insert shifty eyes here*

( Thoroughly engrossed in the hunt, Rikku didn't realize that she was no longer alone until she heard the low harrumphing sound of a throat being cleared behind her. )

Sometimes, even when a story isn't perfect, you need to let it go. Especially when you've been poking at it off and on for months, and when as you read through it you find yourself making edits and then changing them back...

Title: Simple
Fandom: FFX-2
Rating: R
Wordcount: 3884
Pairings: Paine/Nooj
Spoilers: Not really.
Notes: Written as a follow up to "Where They Left Off" and secondarily for the painexnooj prompt "Reunion" -- which I chose, in large part, to make myself finish this story!


"Your people need to understand that we can no longer take just anyone!" Nooj banged his fist on the table and glared at Elma, who stared coolly back. "The League is changing, and--"

"Meyvn?"