SuperNerd92 on chapter 3, 2022-01-05 [original]

This interpretation of Braska taking the Pilgramage out of suicidal ideation is so compelling. For as much as he agreed to slow down for Auron I am betting he just realized he shouldn't talk about it that way anymore.

SuperNerd92 on chapter 5, 2022-01-05 [original]

Oh yeah that last part hurts so good.

Thanks for writing this!

Eljest on chapter 1, 2022-01-06 [original]

Hi! So I'm usually kicking around in mdzs fandom, but I was randomly hit by thoughts of this ship yesterday. It's one of my oldest ships, FFX was my first FF game I played (and also my favourite 20 years on).

Anyway, I though I would seek up this other old Auron/Braska fic I love and reread it, but then this fic was the first on the result list and I was delighted seeing there were still people writing fic for this ship, and intrigued to read this fic instead. And yeah I'm loving this first chapter. The way you've expanded on life and structure within the Yevon order (+ Bevelle) is very believable. Also loving how you write these first interactions and developing relationship between Auron and Braska.

Also this:

”As he stood there looking at Braska’s faraway expression, he dared let himself wonder for the first time whether Braska might be another like himself.”

And then this:

”Oh?” Auron managed, realising what a ridiculous conclusion he had come to.”

*screaming* Just ouch. Young Auron holds my heart.

Eljest on chapter 2, 2022-01-06 [original]

Oww my heart is breaking for Braska ;_; He's being so unfairly treated, from Sontar's attitude that it isn't worth Auron's energy to be concerned about him, to being ostracised by both family and society. When Auron finds him there in the dark, on the bed all alone and grieving T_T 💔 But then there's Auron, who loves and cares for him, who learns how to cook just so he can take better care of Braska (´⌣`ʃƪ)

”Auron pictured Braska’s smile in his mind, that light, almost mischievous grin, and realised: he had to make sure that Braska would smile like that again one day.” 💖💖💖 Please do Auron!

Btw I love that detail about Auron not having had much training in reading or writing because of it not being a priorty for those in the field, like himself. It makes sense in the context he's in.

Eljest on chapter 3, 2022-01-06 [original]

Omggggg PAIN. This chapter is a heartbreak conga line. Every other paragraph my heart breaks for these two - Braska who's depressed and suicidal, and Auron desperately trying to care for him to get through. I'm just gonna quote heaps and cry over here:

“There’s nobody left who cares. There’s no good impact I can have on this world by being in it.”

LIES, AURON IS RIGHT THERE!!!

”Auron held Braska as he cried, stroking his hair for want of being able to think of something to say that might comfort him.”

MY HEART this is so tender ಥ_ಥ

”No!” Auron cried. “Just stop it – just shut up! How can you say these things, when I’m here every day – twice a day – you think I’m just doing that out of duty? I care about you, Braska – I care about you! Although when you’re acting like this, I don’t know why I even bother!”

YOU MAY BE BLINDED BY GRIEF BUT HOW CAN'T YOU SEE HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU BRASKA ಥ_ಥ

”He turned, stood, and saw Braska standing at his open doorway, his face streaked with tears again.

“Please don’t leave me,” Braska whimpered. “Don’t go. I need you.”

/.../

”He wiped the tears from Braska’s face with his thumb, and murmured, “I’m here. I won’t leave you.”

༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽ I'm bawling.

”When Braska lay down in his bed, mumbling an entreaty to Auron to stay with him even as he slept, Auron quietly sat down next to him in the space his wife would have filled, keeping a hand on Braska’s shoulder as Braska gave in to fitful sleep."

Again, the tenderNESS - it's such a beautiful picture ಥ_ಥ

”Well, it’s not like that anymore,” he retorted, unable to remain polite. “In case you’d forgotten, I’m the squad commander. You ought to be showing me some respect”

Hm, I somehow suspect this won't be their last confrontation.

”Braska nodded. “I’ve realised: this is the path Yevon has ordained for me.”

NOOOOOOO BRASKA DON'T DO IT.

”But –” What about me, Auron thought, and he felt so ashamed of himself for letting that be the most important thing in his mind. “What about your daughter?” he said”

ARrrrggfgh Aurooooon 💔 HE'S IN LOVE, HE DOESN'T WANT HIS LOVED ONE TO DIE

Eljest on chapter 4, 2022-01-07 [original]

So I love the way you write Auron's character; the caring and stubbornness, how he's kinda short-tempered, with very strong emotions. The way he reacts to Braska asking him to become his guardian is a perfect illustration of it I reckon:

”That was the final straw: Auron was abruptly overtaken by the desire to slap that smile right off Braska’s face. Instead he got to his feet sharply, abandoning the rest of his lunch and ignoring Braska’s puzzled attempts at calling him back, heading outside where he would be able to vent his sudden, shameful fury with a few swordstrokes.”

And then his refusal to see Braska even when he's seriously wounded, going as far as ordering Lutria not to fetch him:

”No!” he said as she made to leave, and she turned back, looking incredulous. “Don’t,” he added. “I – it’s an order. I order you not to.” He could hear a tremor in his voice as he said it: it was from the pain of the wound, he told himself, nothing more”

YEAH SURE, it's definitely just the pain of the wound - who is he trying to fool?!

”It’s a waste,” said Auron. “Of a life.”

Yes I agree.

”On the way to his quarters, he was still reeling – he had never been signed off from duties before. It felt like a personal failure, having to admit that he was fallible. He still felt shocked after being asked about the stability of his faith: nothing gave him reason to believe that his relationship with Yevon had changed at all since his first initiation into the church.”

I like this. I like how he's reacting to the conversation with Sontar. I like how you write how he's reacting to the conversation with Sontar. I guess I just like reading about Auron dealing with difficult thoughts.

”Braska was also clearly affected: he had become even more tactile than usual, running one hand slowly over Auron’s back, the other sometimes on the stem of his wine glass and at other times resting on Auron's knee."

👀👀👀

”He adjusted his position, raising a hand to Auron’s head and working it slowly through his hair”

omg omg omg

”He pulled him in, slowly at first but then faster, and closed the distance with his own mouth, meeting Braska’s while trying not to completely lose control of himself in his eagerness. ”

OMG IT'S HAPPENING. Ok ok so everything from this line in is just 👌👌👌 this scene is so beautiful and hot. I just wanna quote this:

”he was going to give Braska the most amazing orgasm of his life, show him just how much he meant to him”

DO IT AURON!!! DO ITTTT!!!!

Eljest on chapter 5, 2022-01-08 [original]

”he would defy the teachings as much as he had to, as long as it might let Braska survive. Now that Braska was his, he would never be able to give him up, not even for the good of all Spira.”

HE LOVES HIM SO MUCH ಥ_ಥ

Also this scene and their interaction is SO GOOD. FEELINGS.

”The months that followed were the busiest and happiest of Auron’s life”

BUT IT WON'T LAST FOREVER I KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO END ༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽

”Gifted in magic, both black and white and a few years older than you, in fact. I hear that’s your type.”

Oh fuck, oh no, he knows, fuck fuck fuck. It breaks my heart how unfairly Auron is treated here, what a vicious trap that's been set up for him.

”He desperately needed Braska, and that was all he could think about. He needed Braska to hold him and kiss him and tell him everything would be all right, even though he already knew that it wouldn’t, regardless of his decision.”

*crying*

”It was excruciating to hear him say that and know he really believed it, to observe the sorrow in his eyes and know that Braska still thought he was somehow undeserving, particularly when Auron’s opinion had always been the complete opposite”

*even more crying*

I'm so happy you shared this fic, it was wonderful I love it 💖💖💖

childofyue on chapter 5, 2023-05-09 [original]

This is my oldest ship, and I’m so happy I’m still finding quality fics about them.

BrokenApeiron on chapter 5, 2023-07-28 [original]

thank you. It's wonderful and delicate.
I loved it so, so much.