#squinoa au

Today's spotlight is for The Winter Rose!

This story is the first AU for FFVIII I ever started, and I swear I'm going to finish it sooner or later. It's a kind Beauty and the Beast + The Sleeping Beauty retelling in a FFVIII setting. Maybe a little too ambitious :D

Since it is going to be updated soon, here's the link if you want to read it, so you can refresh your memory: AO3 and FF.net

And here's the beautiful cover art that Ronin-ai made for me when I started it:

At a loss for words, she simply nodded. He kept watching her, moving his fingers on her picture. “There’s nothing true in here. The light is made to flatter you. Colors are studied. There’s styling. Make-up is used to mask. This is crafted.” He followed the line of her face on her picture, lingering just above her eyes. A shudder crept along her back. “These are not.” [In which Squall, renowned black-and-white photographer, sees something raw and true he can't ignore in Rinoa's eyes.]

Characters: Rinoa Heartilly, Squall Leonheart

Pairings: Rinoa Heartilly/Squall Leonhart - barely mentioned Seifer Almasy/Quistis Trepe, and hinted Irvine Kinneas/Selphie Tilmitt

Additional tags: Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt, Artist/Muse Relationship, Mutual Pining, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Intimacy, Non-Explicit Sex, Alternate Universe, Photography, Music, Forbidden Attraction, Creative Process as Intimacy, unspoken feelings, Yearning

Chapter: V. Interlude: developing

Written for:

@ffviiiotpfestival - prompt Music makes sense now, by @angelosearch;

@julybreakbingoevent and @julybreakbingo, prompt being in love isn't something they're familiar with

@monthlywritingchallenges, Golden Hour event (July 2025), prompt a half-finished sentence.

At a loss for words, she simply nodded. He kept watching her, moving his fingers on her picture. “There’s nothing true in here. The light is made to flatter you. Colors are studied. There’s styling. Make-up is used to mask. This is crafted.” He followed the line of her face on her picture, lingering just above her eyes. A shudder crept along her back. “These are not.” [In which Squall, renowned black-and-white photographer, sees something raw and true he can't ignore in Rinoa's eyes.]

Characters: Rinoa Heartilly, Squall Leonheart Pairings: Rinoa Heartilly/Squall Leonhart - barely mentioned Seifer Almasy/Quistis Trepe, and hinted Irvine Kinneas/Selphie Tilmitt Additional tags: Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt, Artist/Muse Relationship, Mutual Pining, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Intimacy, Non-Explicit Sex, Alternate Universe, Photography, Music, Forbidden Attraction, Creative Process as Intimacy, unspoken feelings, Yearning Chapter: II. Exposure: Dissonance Written for:

@ffviiiotpfestival - prompt Music makes sense now, by @angelosearch;

@julybreakbingoevent and @julybreakbingo, prompt free space (AU muse/artist) and word: disagreement

@monthlywritingchallenges, Golden Hour event, prompt window glow, silence shared and fingertips brushing

@character-a-character-b November Bingo card, emotion edition, prompt free space (AU muse/artist)

At a loss for words, she simply nodded. He kept watching her, moving his fingers on her picture. “There’s nothing true in here. The light is made to flatter you. Colors are studied. There’s styling. Make-up is used to mask. This is crafted.” He followed the line of her face on her picture, lingering just above her eyes. A shudder crept along her back. “These are not.” [In which Squall, renowned black-and-white photographer, sees something raw and true he can't ignore in Rinoa's eyes.]

Characters: Rinoa Heartilly, Squall Leonheart Pairings: Rinoa Heartilly/Squall Leonhart - barely mentioned Seifer Almasy/Quistis Trepe, and hinted Irvine Kinneas/Selphie Tilmitt Additional tags: Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt, Artist/Muse Relationship, Mutual Pining, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Intimacy, Non-Explicit Sex, Alternate Universe, Photography, Music, Forbidden Attraction, Creative Process as Intimacy, unspoken feelings, Yearning Chapter: I. Framing: Prelude Written for:

@ffviiiotpfestival - prompt Music makes sense now, by @angelosearch;

@julybreakbingoevent and @julybreakbingo, prompt wake up in the morning; stumble on my life; can't get no love without sacrifice;

@monthlywritingchallenges, Golden Hour event, prompt tangled thoughts.

At a loss for words, she simply nodded. He kept watching her, moving his fingers on her picture. “There’s nothing true in here. The light is made to flatter you. Colors are studied. There’s styling. Make-up is used to mask. This is crafted.” He followed the line of her face on her picture, lingering just above her eyes. A shudder crept along her back. “These are not.” [In which Squall, renowned black-and-white photographer, sees something raw and true he can't ignore in Rinoa's eyes.]

Characters: Rinoa Heartilly, Squall Leonheart Pairings: Rinoa Heartilly/Squall Leonhart - barely mentioned Seifer Almasy/Quistis Trepe, and hinted Irvine Kinneas/Selphie Tilmitt Additional tags: Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt, Artist/Muse Relationship, Mutual Pining, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Intimacy, Non-Explicit Sex, Alternate Universe, Photography, Music, Forbidden Attraction, Creative Process as Intimacy, unspoken feelings, Yearning Chapter: III. Depth of Field: Feedback Written for:

@ffviiiotpfestival - prompt Music makes sense now, by @angelosearch;

@julybreakbingoevent and @julybreakbingo, prompt Hunger and "Everybody loves puppets!"

@monthlywritingchallenges, Golden Hour event, prompt Silence shared, Tangled thoughts, A half-finished sentence