spread my spirit

Taking into consideration the immensity of the Final Fantasy universe and the variety of characters introduced over the last three decades, I've decided to compile a small list of characters that feature prominently in Terra's backstory. They'll be making appearances some time in the near future in headcanons, character development threads, or perhaps they've already been mentioned in some of Terra's posts.

YOON SI YOON as LOCKE COLE KELYSE as CELES CHERE CHARLIE PLUMMER as ZIDANE TRIBAL LUCKY BLUE SMITH as KUJA BOB MORLEY as SQUALL LEONHART

Eyes curved into crescents of amusement; a smile crafted on his face to express his evident happiness on the matter. Terra’s smiles were often reciprocated by his own full gummy mouth features. He was extremely excitable and her existence was similar to fireworks exploding in the surface of his mind.

Rocking on the back of his heels briefly, he grasped his chin with two of his fingers, as if to contemplate a thought. He was cheeky, especially when his brows were raised and he jested. “It’s a new experiment since I have recently been intrigued by this American chocolate.” He released his chin and continued to describe it. “It’s chocolate with faint traces of orange. Except… you are to take the chocolate in the content of its foil and smash it against a hard surface.” He described this motion by taking a fist and pressing it firmly against the palm of his hand.

The realization of her answer had brought some sense of clarity. “Perfect, once we get you settled in, I’ll make one for you.”

Hatta, however, shook his head to her suggestion. His smile still remained plastered on his features and he certainly was not going to allow her to simply slip away solely because he appeared busy. “Not at all.” He added with a small wave of his hand. “The other staff can always assist. They’d probably be happier if I wasn’t hovering.” He added with an airy chuckle. Hatta was not one to hover or disturb patrons, but his overly friendly demeanor and helpfulness was often misinterpreted. “I can show you the new books in the library.” He added, a finger was raised in the air to point out the idea. Literally.

Taking her hand, he grasped her palm carefully before gripping the surface with some strength; solidifying their connection as he lightly pulled her up to the second tier of the store. The upstairs part of Tea for Thee was set up like a library with several chairs that were in assortments in the room. Most of the chairs did not match, in fact they were all from different sets and designs with tags that stated ‘Sit here!’ Though on the reverse they would allow the individual to seek where they can purchase the chairs from. “Pick a chair, any chair.” He added, his hand was still grasped upon Terra’s, relishing her closeness even as the fabric of her shirt would brush against the skin of his arm.

With her hand in his, Terra followed Hatta to the second floor of the store, mind still trying to conjure an image of what a chocolate orange looked like when smashed against a solid surface. Was it a kind of fruit that grew only in certain regions on Earth? Or was it a type of chocolate confection molded into the shape of an orange? The thought of slamming a piece of chocolate onto a hard surface was hardly appealing but nonetheless fascinating. While she worried that such an aggressive gesture would tarnish the integrity of the candy by reducing it to crumbled bits, Terra was eager for a demonstration as much as she was for a taste. For now it would be better to dwell on other things, however, because her cravings for a sweet treat proved quite distracting.

It wasn’t long before the library came into view. It was a decent sized space filled with books old and new, and the eccentric variety of chairs mirrored the shop owner’s peculiar charm. Terra’s mouth revealed a toothy smile; the room reminded her so much of Hatta. “Impressive,” the witch remarked all the while marvelling at the collection of books neatly staked on their respective shelves. “How many of these have you read?” She wondered out loud, her question partially rhetorical in nature whereas the other half consisted of genuine curiosity. Though not an avid reader, every now and then she enjoyed spending an evening lounging on her sofa, book in hand and a warm cup of hot chocolate at her side. Moments such as those epitomised comfort and repose in a fast-paced world. They were difficult to come by and as such, whenever they did appear, they were easily missed.

Terra gently squeezed Hatta’s hand and, with a light tug, gestured him to follow as she picked out a contemporary armchair with a floral print design reminiscent of the late 60s and early 70s. “All that’s left is to choose a book” With a quiet, pensive hum, Terra extended her free hand towards the bookcases and retrieved a random paperback from its shelf with her magic. It levitated across the room and found Terra’s waiting hand. “Heroides by Ovid” she read the title, fingers gently skimming over the cover page depicting the stone sculpture of a woman. Given the title of the book, the sculpture was either Roman or Greek, though it was impossible for Terra to tell the difference due to her lack of knowledge regarding art history.

DATE: 8 november 2019 TIME: 15:27 LOCATION: austria - train to vienna

This world was a strange one.

Strange, but nonetheless enchanting with its peculiarities and incongruities. Its people were largely unaware of the supernatural forces that coexisted with the mundane with the exception of small, scattered groups of enlightened humans sharing an affinity for the esoteric. Unlike the humans of her world, the people of Earth regarded Magic as fantasy; a power that existed only in fairy tales and mythologies of bygone eras, wielded by mighty divinities or mortals made into inhuman creatures, twisted by a dark gift. It held little power beyond the worn pages of a leather bound tome or the runic scriptures of an old, fallen civilisation that worshiped powers beyond the understanding of modern society. So it was that the fate of magic was intricately intertwined with the shadows of obscurity, never to be known or uttered into existence though the earth teemed with dormant power.

Faint as it may be, Terra could feel its familiar pulse inside her chest. She could hear its hallowed hum against her ear even as she sat in the train with Marion, eyes admiring the unfurling Austrian landscape from her window. Yes, the magic here wanted to be known. “Where I’m from, magic was believed to have gone extinct over a thousand years ago” the woman began, her eyes drifting towards Marion who occupied the seat next to hers. Melancholy briefly crossed her features in the midst of her recollections; though she spoke of a phenomenon lost to myth, its transformative consequences transcended the ensuing ages until, at last, her birth signaled a great shift. She unwittingly inherited the legacy of a lost people - her people.

”As such, being born with the gift of magic is unheard of. People like myself aren’t supposed to exist; I’m an impossibility”. Terra shifted in her seat, hands now resting on her knees. “An impossibility and, yet, here I am”. She brought her hand to the window and, upon her fingertips touching its surface, dozens of icy dendrites spread across the glass. Like a snowflake, the crystallized threads formed into and displayed a variety of frozen fractals, dissipating only when Terra removed her hand from the window. She then turned towards Marion with a smile on her lips.

”Were you always aware of your gift?

Countless questions and infinite curiosities. According to legend, the Magi of Gaia were humans infused with the magic of espers. Marion, however, seemed to have little in common with the magi of her world. His magic did not come from the same source, she could sense that much. Perhaps the power he wielded evoked a different nature, perhaps the magic of this world simply evolved in a manner that differed from the one in Gaia.

 MEMORY MEME:  ✖ - a repressed memory

Fading out of existence is not the same thing as dying. Death is an absolute: an inevitable end that all living things in creation must face once their time has come. Fading is unnatural and involves the forceful erasure of everything you were, are, and will be. Her body gradually becomes transparent, dissipating into luminous spheres of disembodied life force, and though the process appears harmless it is anything but. There is something deeply violent in the way her spirit splinters in a thousand directions and, though she can’t physically feel any pain, her soul screams at being torn apart.

How many times has she been unmade? How much more will she be made to endure? The soul of a being could only be made to stretch so far and so thinly before it tore at the seams.

“Terra…”

The little knight in her arms stirs as he opens his eyes to look at her. Even as they are fading from this world, their minds and bodies crushed under the weight of an existential exhaustion, his eyes are remarkably bright. Emerald depths shine with youthful promise and a wisdom beyond his years; a great destiny was thrust upon him and, as a result, had to grow up all too soon. Looking at him like this, she notices that he is still but a boy.

”I…I’m scared.”

”It’s okay. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

She shifts so that she’s properly resting her back against the broken pillar behind them. Her arms tighten around him just a bit more, a bit closer, even though she struggles to conjure the strength necessary to move, let alone speak. They sit like this for a moment, embracing the silence shrouding the ruins of the Goddess’ sanctuary, willing to keep her eyes open despite wanting so badly to close them and drift away. She is determined to stay with him –the Onion Knight, her little protector.

It isn’t fair. It shouldn’t be this way. He is too young to experience such desolation. Too soft.

”I’m here….” She repeats again and again, her voice barely a whisper yet she persists. Her arms continue to hold onto the Onion Knight until he is the first to fully fade and depart from the war-torn dimension of cosmic Gods.

Her arms are empty now. So is she.

Terra lingers a bit longer, eyes slowly closing. She, too, is nearly completing gone. Only a fragment of her being remains but she isn’t afraid. No…it isn’t the end. The Gods will call upon them again to fight their eternal battle. They will be summoned into this world, reinvigorated and new.

Things will be different next time. I’ll protect you, too.

She fades from existence with a final sigh. Glowing specks of light carry her essence beyond the ebb and flow of spacetime. She goes where galaxies are born and eternities spool forth, lost in a shroud of cosmic dust and searing light until the forces of the universe call upon her again to fight.

There was only a few patients left for rounds when Flora received the message from a passing support worker. At first, her brows furrowed in confusion because who would be visiting the nymph at her place of work? She could only think of a few, but they were also hospital workers and were at least known to the other floors. Patiently, and a little eager, she waited for the rest of rounds to wrap up, her own patient being the last of the rotation. After sharing her updates to the doctors on the floor, the nurse was bouncing off towards the front desk of the department.

She stopped short to talk to the administrator, a bright smile on her lips as they exchange their pleasantries. It’s then that she motions to a woman off to the side, one that Flora did not recognize in passing or as a past patient mother. Her confusion doesn’t let the smile slide from her face, the leimonide bouncing her way over to the stranger to graciously introduce herself. The bright female can’t stop the way the already well taken care of flowers perk up in her presence, waving back and forth in their newfound bloom. It made her heart swell, the smile on her lips only growing and becoming brighter. “Hello! My name is Flora, I’m a nurse here. I was told you were looking for me? Those are some gorgeous flowers you brought there! Are you visiting?”

The longer Terra waited at the reception, the more she felt like a doting husband waiting to surprise his wife with a professionally arranged bouquet from the flower shop. It was a strange, albeit amusing, thought. Alternatively she was reminded of an adoring crowd of spectators showering a beloved performer in roses, fragrant petals littering the stage as they bowed in recognition. Flowers were a suitable gift for many situations that did not necessarily have romantic connotations. After all, they had their own language and represented a variety of feelings, thoughts and sentiments. Even the colors meant something different depending on the species of flower. Although she hardly considered herself well-versed in floral language, the half-esper held a fond appreciation for it.

It was later that Terra noticed a nurse approach the front desk. After an amicable exchange between the two, the nurse turned away from the administrator and, from the look of surprise in her eyes, remarked the pretty flowers in Terra’s grasp. “Ah, yes, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you” The half-esper presented the bouquet to the cheerful nurse, the corner of her lips forming into a smile conveying gratitude. “I’m here because I wanted to thank you personally for all your hard work”. Again she thought of Hanhae and the sadness that loomed over him like a dark, rainy sky because of the stress his family felt due to complications that arose from a difficult birth. “You see, a woman by the name of Lee Hyewon gave birth to a beautiful daughter at this hospital recently. Unfortunately the baby had to be taken away almost immediately because she was sick…It took a great emotional toll on the family, especially their young son”. Terra tucked a lock of blonde hair behind her ear and gave a small nod before continuing with her story. “I look after their son while he’s at daycare. I…I simply wanted to say that, because of your efforts, that little boy and his family are happy again”.

There was something about the silence of the room that had trickled into his consciousness. It acted as a flare for those things that he kept hidden behind walls that were built not for the safety of others but for himself. His silence was evident. He was at war with himself and he could feel it as the air of his other consciousness lurked upon the edges. Running a single palm through the length of his pant waist, he paused to stop at his pocket. He felt the absence of the pocket watch; a small smile fitted along the length of his features in his contentedness. It was a subtle reminder that Terra had it. And wherever she kept it, was what erupted the sense of content within him.

Violet hues were darkened as they were during such times of his internal conflicts; he struggled with Blood’s need to appear in existence. The struggle was something similar to that of the clouds in the weather; the storm simply needed to pass through. He knew he would be fine in some recourse of his actions, but the question really was when and where? Hatta inhaled a small breath through his nostrils, his fingertips settling on the spine of the book in his hand as he ushered it back onto the shelf.

Eventually, he’d returned to the lobby, where the rest of the cafe stood. Today he was a bit more casual; a black turtle neck and dark denim slacks to boot. His appearance reflected on that of his moods, and thus his temperament settled on a sense of ambiguity, neutrals were evident. Not that most noticed, his sense of ambiguity was often brought upon his internal conflict.

The cafe was steady with a few patrons sitting at the tables. He smiled when he made eye contact, visiting them if they had a request before he would shuffle off to another part of the store to address another concern or more. Hatta was content nonetheless; his confession had brought a great deal of weight off his shoulders. His black hair was now chocolate brown, shorter and an evident part along the side of his head and flared out at the bottom of his ears and neck. But he kept those feelings tied together; his personality was avoidant and so his conflict came here.

Keeping busy had eventually bored him but this was his routine until he stopped in his tracks when he saw mint green locks bobbed out of the hat that attempted to confine their contents. Like the wind, his feelings rushed to his features. Colour evident on his cheeks and as a sense of warmth and excitement tingled in every cell of his form. He approached her then, a grin on his features when he made eye contact with her. “Yes?” He had perked up instantly, faster than any caffinate beverage tingle through a person. “Hot chocolate for your cold nose?” He turned his head to the kitchen and back to her, the light dancing in his orbs. “I have a new one I’ve been experimenting with. It’s supposed to taste a bit orange. A little bit of cinnamon…” He had begun to prattle already.

Curious eyes scrutinized the unnatural head of mint hair amidst casual chatter with cursory glances. A momentary lull in conversation permitted a subtle look or two before returning their attention to the warm cup of tea at their table; a small distraction in an otherwise uneventful matinee. Terra recognised the intent behind such gazes: they were meant to judge and ostracise those they deemed unconventional. Regardless of the world, wariness of the Other was a ubiquitous behavioural trait within societies or communities of people, Condemnatory stares had all but lost their significance to her, however. She had grown accustomed to feelings of alienation because of her heritage and magical proclivities. There was no escaping her birthright, and so Terra merely strengthened her resistances until it could do no harm.

People were always going to look, always going to judge. Still, having her hair out like this had the undesired effect of being noticeable which, evidently, went against her efforts at maintaining a low profile. The point was to blend in with the crowd, not attract unnecessary attention from the people native to this world. She’d have to dye her hair again.

For the time being, the young woman looked forward to spending her day in the company of a person most dear to her heart. Hatta’s exuberance was at once compelling and contagious; its bright, sunrise colours bled into the muted hues of her even-tempered twilight, creating a shade that sat comfortably somewhere in between. The sight of him alone was enough to bring about a smile on her lips; an instinctual reaction conveying the depth of her feelings that were now beginning to emerge, like tulips in bloom bursting through a dense blanket of snow. “Mmh, orange and cinnamon…I’m tempted”. Truth be told she didn’t need much convincing. Hot chocolate was a wonderful beverage she had the pleasure of discovering in the time spent living in this world, and as such it was one of her favourite indulgences. “I’d love to try it”. Perhaps a little sprinkle of nutmeg would make it all the more delicious. She adored the spicy but autumnal fragrance of nutmeg combined with bittersweetness of dark chocolate.

She didn’t notice the ways in which she’d lean closer to him as they spoke. Perhaps they were born of a desire for closeness – to feel his familiar warmth, the comfort of his presence. Assertive as Terra may be regarding her personal convictions and thoughts, communicating affection was not so straight-forward or simple. More often than not it manifested in subconscious gestures for her mind struggled to keep up with her heart’s whims.

1 ) WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE SMELL LIKE ? A subtle scent of primrose combined with the sweetness of her brown sugar and shea butter body wash. She has a preference for sweet scents, though tends to shy away from perfumes or toiletries that carry too strong of an aroma. Underneath the delicate fragrance of flowers and sugar, however, is an odd undertone of something metallic. Not quite copper or bronze, nor steel or iron. It’s the smell of a machine frozen by the snows of a Narshean winter; unique to her home world.

2 ) HOW OFTEN DOES YOUR MUSE BATHE / SHOWER ? ANY HABITS ? During the work week, Terra showers once every two days, usually during the evening before going to bed. It’s an efficient way of maintaining cleanliness throughout the week as showers are quick and simple. Saturday nights are when she permits herself the luxury of soaking in a warm, bubble bath. No such thing exists in her world and, as such, the idea of tossing a hard-packed mixture of essential oils, fragrant powders and pretty colours into bathwater amazes her. Even battleworn warriors deserve a little self-care and pampering every once in a while.

3 ) DOES YOUR MUSE HAVE ANY TATTOOS OR PIERCINGS ? No tattoos. She does, however, have a piercing on each of her earlobes as well as a couple of scars. The smallest of the scars can be found on her right temple: it is about an inch in length, barely noticeable to those who aren’t aware that it is there in the first place. The scar came from years of wearing Kefka’s slave crown; the result of cold bronze digging into and rubbing against the ivory of her skin each and every day.

The second is one acquired during a sparing gone awry in her youth. Her puppeteer particularly enjoyed testing Terra’s abilities against the foot soldiers under his command and, as a result, the soldier she fought against was simply trying to survive. Self-preservation forced him to drive a dagger into her chest but, unfortunately for the soldier, he just barely missed Terra’s heart. The soldier’s mistake cost him his life, and his death subsequently marked her for the rest of her days.

4 ) ANY BODY MOVEMENT QUIRKS ( EX : LEG SHAKING ) ? Nothing overt, but she does tend to sway side to side if she stands idly in one place for a certain amount of time.

5 ) WHAT DO THEY SLEEP IN ? Anything that’s comfortable and warm. Given her fondness for cute things, Terra has a collection of t-shirts with cartoon characters like Rilakkuma, Pusheen the Cat and Totoro. She doesn’t see the purpose behind fanciful nightwear and can’t be bothered with it. However, Terra is in possession of a beautiful satin nightgown purchased during one of her shopping sprees with a certain Nam Jaebin. She has only worn it once and it hasn’t left her closet since.

6 ) WHAT’S THEIR FAVORITE PIECE OF CLOTHING ? Her cloak. Evidently Terra hasn’t had much use for it in this world, not to mention it would seem out of place to wear it. The flowing garment has a floral design echoing her character and boasts a pastel gradient of yellow and pink.

7 ) WHAT DO THEY DO WHEN THEY WAKE UP ? Before leaving her bedroom, she’ll slip into the fluffy white bunny slippers tucked beside her bed. Terra always leaves them in the same place so there is rarely a need to rummage through her things. She’ll then wander into the kitchen and prepare a bowl of cereal, then go back to her bedroom so she can pick out what to wear for the day whilst eating.

8 ) HOW DO THEY SLEEP ? POSITION ? Terra normally sleeps on her right side, body slightly curled with her hands rolled into loose fists. She doesn’t favour one side of the bed over the other – if anything, she stays perfectly in the centre unless her nightmares are particularly troubling that night.

9 ) WHAT DO THEIR HANDS FEEL LIKE ? Her hands are pleasantly warm. They aren’t, however, as smooth as one would imagine. The palm of her hands – especially her right hand- feel a bit rough to the touch due to years of wielding a sword.