sterilebear on chapter 1, 2025-01-04 [original]

i should be asleep. it’s nearly 4 am. but i got the notification for this, looked at the clock, and said, “fuck it,” because this is far more important than sleep. you have no idea how delighted and excited i am to read this first chapter—and, just so you know, i’m not the only one! years of hype and curiosity have mounted at last, and i am thrilled for the dozens of saturdays to come. holy. fucking. shit! the commitment is paying off. be proud!
as for my notes on this chapter:
- wonderful descriptions. admittedly, i don’t often read, but this so far is one of only a few things lately that can keep me hooked. the details—bevelle’s streets, the food jecht wolfs down, auron’s barracks, coultan’s armory—are so easy to visualize, and characters’ voices so easy to hear!
- the institutional homophobia already peeking in and the hints towards auron’s background are already so painfully delightful and intriguing. i love his very realistic struggle as—and this is just a prediction—an unwillingly outed gay man; being a laughing stock among his former peers, only being on good terms with a select few remaining people, including coultan, who jecht internally refers to as effeminate, etc. just… lots of queer struggle. it makes me happy in a strange new way to read about my favorite gay character being treated this way, which sounds bad… but it’s the *experience,* y’know? it’s illuminating and cathartic to read, as a queer person. thank you for making his character so gay, and thank you for including every bit of what makes that so difficult, too. sincerely.
- braska being allowed to see yuna only on certain days is interesting. i look forward to learning more about that. these are just reading questions that i’m asking myself going forward: was he too catatonic to properly care for yuna? was he not financially stable enough? did he willingly leave her there? god! i love how tragic this is already shaping up to be.
- the worldbuilding is so effortless and immersive! yuna living at a convent, braska’s cultural food, braska’s *parents*—even class and literacy being interwoven. now *that* is a particularly thoughtful detail. i love it. i’m especially curious about braska’s ethnicity and cultural background. did any real world ethnicities inspire your take on him?
- i read this on your website in PDF format, and your formatting skills are incredible! it matches the feel perfectly. genuinely, it feels like i’m reading an official novelized prequel. honestly, if ever you make a print edition of this, i would pick it up in a heartbeat.
- “The thought that he might complete the pilgrimage and do something good for the Spiran people was comforting to him; he was determined to set that process in motion as soon as possible. Every day that he delayed was a burden, and every step he took that brought him closer to his goal brought him some much-needed solace.” oh, braska, that isn’t selflessness, that’s severe depression and suicidal ideation. this poor, very mentally ill man. i also like that he tires more easily and cannot bring himself to eat as much as a result of said depression and disordered habits.
incredible work! again, be proud! :D

sonofgodzilla on chapter 1, 2025-01-04 [original]

This immediately drew me in, I loved it, I loved the tension, I loved the way you explore their relationship, I love how much hurt is present yet goes unsaid. I, ah, whispers: I never finished FFX because I found Tidus so off-putting, but I always, always loved Jecht, I think everything about him is so sad, and I love the way you have brought him and Auron and Braska alive in your prose.

Gosh. This is the first fic I have read in 2025. What a way to start!

sterilebear on chapter 2, 2025-01-11 [original]

yes! the pacing is already shaping up to be great! solid second chapter, things are definitely a-chuggin’!
1. jecht interrupting braska and yuna’s final departure is so delightfully awkward. on that note, i love how he manages to be a sort of distraction for auron and braska, even amidst (or perhaps because of) how, ah, *challenging* he is. also, him complimenting yuna is lovely, but him then immediately insulting tidus makes it quite sad. he’s so eager to show his best to a child that isn’t even his own. ranking people based on strength… very healthy, jecht! the alcoholism, too. great coping skills, big guy. you write his machismo persona so well!
2. the image of him bumbling drunkenly around bevelle is also a great one. his unfamiliarity is so fun to witness here, and his shock at the existence of magic is so real, LMAO. like me too king
3. that bit about him refusing to show vulnerability after he’s been healed for the first time is SO on point, AAA i LOVE that tidbit! one of our little deeper looks into jecht, and i’m already so intrigued!
4. it’s so impressive and clever how you managed to solve the canon issues of braska making recordings and then seemingly abandoning them, yuna having no time to get to know jecht, how the jecht spheres got left around spira, AND the function of spheres themselves all in a few simple ways! absolutely love the creativity.
5. braska’s struggle with the mention of his wife, owww. poor guy. also, auron seeing his hair for the first time and being like 👀 is super endearing, aw!

sonofgodzilla on chapter 2, 2025-01-11 [original]

I loved this as much as the first chapter. I'm instantly engrossed by this. I really appreciated the hints of Jecht's weakness and... man, just the sadness of Braska is too relatable. I love this work already, just two chapters in. Thank you so much for this!

sterilebear on chapter 3, 2025-01-18 [original]

i’m, like, three paragraphs in, and already this is my favorite chapter so far.
firstly, seeing them shaving is novel, and i appreciate the exploration of yevonite customs! that, and it’s a very lifelike detail—and imagining braska with stubble is somehow new to me! secondly, the bit exploring auron and kinoc’s friendship and kinoc’s personality and background is very interesting! reading this feels like peeling back layers of an orange—gradually uncovering more about these characters and how you write them to reveal a deliciously sour treat. thirdly, i love girl. what a sweet name, and the more trendy al bhed naming convention reminds me of people i know in real life! some americans who aren’t native english speakers name their children similarly, and it’s awesome every time. i knew of a girl named sativa once.
…
jecht having internal issues with braska’s masculinity and insinuating that auron has never gotten laid is such a solid representation of his character thus far in the story. i also like that he’s much less patient in this chapter! also, auron explaining that *he has fucked, actually, warrior monks aren’t conscripted to vows of chastity—* perfect. no notes. LMAO.
OMG YOU EVEN EXPLAINED JECHT’S BANDAGE. THAT’S A DETAIL I DIDN’T EVEN *THINK* ABOUT UNTIL NOW! WOW! and braska standing up to jecht is very, very nice. i love how you write him so much! i also like his speech patterns. he has a more long winded way of speaking than the other two. and auron’s perpetual preparation for the journey always tickle that itch in my brain that aches for logistics.
braska explaining an al bhed bodice ripper, LOL. i love that! braska’s very quickly becoming my favorite alongside auron here. it goes without saying, but your portrayal of a mentally ill character is incredible, and i’m guessing that’s because it’s written from experience—but of course, i don’t say that to assume or pry. good days and bad days and days that change by the minute, just… wow. i love it. ahhh, he’s such great, realistic representation.
auron considering pilfering books, oooh… such a small detail gives such massive insight into his morals and ideals! also, him nervously standing behind braska waiting for him to notice is a great image. his awkwardness is incredible, LOL.
also jecht losing a bet at a bar and BOLTING is a great way to end things. such an irresponsible guy, LMAO.
great chapter!! :D

(another edit: i love how human braska is. hes embarrassed of his wife's name, he's snippy at times, he's overly forgiving, and regardless of reason, was not there to care for yuna--but even so, he's a good friend to auron, a skilled mage, and is pretty good humored and decently well meaning thus far. he's so layered and flawed and is just a man doing what he can in a very real, human way. when i say i love things about characters or the characters themselves, i wanna make clear that i'm not trying to idealize them or ignore their flaws--i love them because of them and how you portray them. idk, you don't see that a lot these days in writing. at least, i don't. and i love this all that much more for it!)

Revulture on chapter 3, 2025-01-19 [original]

I really enjoyed reading this.
I especially liked the touch of name translations as a reflection of some real-life customs. It adds a very fond layer of believability and real world depth, I think.
I also am intrigued by the way you write Braska. I find that (and this is in no way a grievance of other fics) often writers will kind of gloss over Braska for better or for worse. I'm really fascinated by your characterization of him and I'm excited to read more!

sonofgodzilla on chapter 3, 2025-01-20 [original]

You do such a wonderful job of enriching this world, of making the mechanics of the game make sense in the reality of the narrative. I know I keep talking about Jecht, but I love how complex he is, I love how you present him as bullish and yet wounded.

I look forward to these chapters every week! <3

sterilebear on chapter 4, 2025-01-25 [original]

braska’s depression is so, like… idk, it’s lifelike, that his suicidal thoughts bring him both relief and anguish. it’s a very primal, animal thing to want to live, to not want to encounter pain or hardship on the way to your goals—but when that goal is death, it’s all the more conflicting and strangling and paralyzing when suicidal urges and those survival instincts intermingle. all you can do is cry and drag yourself along—or rather, in his case, try *not* to. idk, maybe i’m reading too deeply into things, but i get that specific feeling from braska in this chapter. it’s a lot, he’s right. it’s *quite* a lot. his fixation on death and girl conveys an emotion i have only ever felt and never before described in words. while i can’t choose between a favorite because all three of the boys are interesting in their own right, braska’s the favorite in this fic when it comes to how he manages to shoulder the burden of the pilgrimage.
i really admire the complexity in every line. it seems almost effortless, but of course it’s not, right?
also, rules for conduct… aha! more insight into what happened with auron! i’m guessing, just based on what we know so far, that he got caught with someone? i like the way you trickle bits of information, it makes things interesting!
THAT GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING APPLE. LMFAOOO. jecht, oh my god, this fucking guy. i fucking LOVE that bit. also i love how appalled auron is at him eating some nice buttery toast because of religious doctrine regarding food. good worldbuilding, while also being humorous—and a little sad, honestly! also the sheer detail of jecht’s scruff and fingers, omg… auron was, um, watching quite closely. god, what a tense exchange! or maybe i’m nutty for interpreting it that way. either way, i love it.
i like the al bhed party giving braska a winter vest! that’s lovely. poor guy, though. he can’t catch a break, being reminded of *her.* and auron’s view on al bhed and weaponry is well explained. his preference for swords is charmingly nerdy, imo. and, again, more tension between him and jecht, in all ways, lmao. love it! the sphere recordings are all very seamlessly incorporated, by the way!
jecht criticizing their resource management is both really funny and makes total sense. he’s, like, really good at rationing his alcohol. you’d think he wouldn’t be, but he definitely is. i like that!
that reaction to the lake that auron had… i get the feeling it’s because of the fayth? in which case, wow. what extremely powerful forces they are here, holy shit. it’s also interesting to note that braska hasn’t yet had to summon! i like that you’re saving that, it’s a perfect byproduct of the worldbuilding surrounding magic use and how draining aeons are.
“Magic was clearly at play in the temple’s construction, and it was difficult to discern the exact boundary between the man-made and the natural.” that’s my favorite line. i love ancient and eerie structures and lore so much—so fascinating and beautiful and terrifying all the same!
i love how jecht is kind of a natural with things like organization and logic puzzles. you characterize him well! i love this jecht a lot!
very excited to see how braska copes with the trial. badly, i’m guessing, but i’m still very excited, if not for that exact reason! incredible chapter—things are picking up well and truly!

sonofgodzilla on chapter 4, 2025-01-26 [original]

Like Braska, the kindness of the Al Bhed in this chapter actually made me cry. I found this moment really, really poignant.

I love the way you take the framework of the game and blend it into the shape of the world. The use of a save point in this chapter as well as the puzzle both felt really inspired in a way that made like "oh, I know what's been spoken of here" but I believed in them as artifacts of the world not just game elements.

sterilebear on chapter 5, 2025-02-01 [original]

this chapter more than speaks for itself, so i'm just going to compile my favorite lines, because i don't know how else to convey my thoughts after this one. in the absence of too much commentary, just know that i absolutely love it! shit's hard for everyone, and though they're persevering, it ain't easy!
"He watched as she finally stepped up to offer her soul, and he understood: they were not so different." GOD. fascinating, too, that he is deemed weak; and it makes sense. his motivation is extremely self-serving, unlike shiva's fayth's.
"'Magic can do all sorts of things,' Braska added, 'but it can’t bring back the deceased, alas.'" *screams* *leonardo dicaprio pointing at his tv*
"Time passed; it was noticeably darker when Auron found himself being shaken awake by Jecht. 'What?' he mumbled, half-conscious. 'I’m hungry,' said Jecht." LMAO
"It was a pleasant surprise, he had to admit, that Jecht had thought to get a portion for him as well; not that he was going to say so out loud. 'Guess we should get some for Braska too,' Jecht pointed out after a while." awww. despite his issues with masculinity, he does care after all. not that i ever doubted that he does, it's just nice to see his genuine concern make more of an outward appearance.
"'Language, Jecht,' said Braska quietly, nodding towards the sphere recorder." cuuute
"Auron looked unusually young, he suddenly thought: with his cheeks reddened and his eyelids drooping with fatigue, his long hair uncharacteristically untidy, he seemed almost childlike." awww. god, 25 is YOUNG to be on such a harrowing pilgrimage, and this moment, just... awww. and auron slipping into braska's warmth is so. ugh. god. the pininggg
honorable mentions are auron getting knocked out for the first time, jecht bolting from the temple because braska's being so weak that it's disturbing his masculinity, braska and auron arguing briefly about auron's behavior (and braska being too incapacitated to have a level head), and the introduction of perula! she makes an interesting contrast to braska. i look forward to seeing more of her!
great chapter!

sonofgodzilla on chapter 5, 2025-02-04 [original]

“We ain’t gonna get to Zanarkand, are we?” said Jecht.

AH!

I sort of... I enjoy the fact that I get to read this each week and feel bad because every time I think everyone is getting on the same page, it sort of falls apart in the most heartbreaking but fascinating way. I loved this, I loved Jecht's inability to deal with frailty, to manage emotion, this really got me in the heart. It's tragic. (T_T)

Revulture on chapter 6, 2025-02-08 [original]

Braska cheating at their footrace absolutely kills me. : )

sterilebear on chapter 6, 2025-02-08 [original]

auron being kind of a haggler is something i didn’t expect, oh my god. i giggled lmaooo
braska having a bit of hope is very melancholy, awh. on one hand, he walks another day, but every step is another towards his death, so it’s like… augh. sad boy. but the hope is nevertheless there! the detail about the fayth being like the guardian spirit of the region is a really cool one, too!
jecht’s alcoholism being his biggest coping skill as of now is also very melancholy, in addition to braska’s minute hope. none of these guys are stable. but it is nice that braska notices his dependence! it’s nice that, when braska’s feeling a little less bad, he’s capable of more empathy and civility. i mean, that goes for everyone, that’s just human nature, but i do like how you were able to portray that realism nonetheless! him being sheltered is another good detail. class pervades a lot of this fic. from braska’s treatment of auron to auron’s of braska, and jecht’s ideas of how he should be treated based on his own back home in zanarkand. and how they each mesh is fascinating!
braska’s connection to the aeons, his ability to see their humanity, and his ability to actually feel them, is so fucking cool. like, him feeling them in his body is both kind of horrific and also adorable? i can’t really explain my reaction, but it’s one of wonder! and auron’s little attempt at a joke falling flat is very sweet and very tragic.
jecht hearing the voice in the orb is so mysterious and also frankly hilarious because of his reaction to it. me too, dude. but i also have to wonder what it was going to say!
jecht flipping the bird and ogling shiva is really fucking funny. and then going on to insinuate that braska would be jacking off. what a guy lol. and braska getting all flustered by her… awww. that’s kind of sweet in a way. poor guy’s a widower, so there’s no doubt he was reminded of a certain someone just by virtue of it being a woman. but also, a line i particularly find interesting is “he was a man, after all,” because of how it reflects his own idea of male sexuality. i have to wonder—does he see auron as an outlier for his homosexuality? maybe i’m looking too far into it. still, i love the insight! that’s great writing! and jecht piling on by saying, “I think there’s somethin’ seriously wrong with him.” oh, dude, you have no idea. also auron getting kind of turned on by the thought of braska masturbating is so… like him. lmao. this chapter is perhaps the most charged one yet, and painfully so. braska’s close to crying for his weakness, jecht’s drunk and wolf whistling at an aeon, and auron’s struggling to stay well mannered. incredible.
braska working out in his artichoke robes is a PLEASURE to imagine. what a guy
“Looks can be deceiving.” *LEONARDO DICAPRIO POINTING AT TV* THE CUT LINE!!! THE ONE FROM THE SCENE WHERE HE SQUEEZES JECHT’S HAND!!! that’s still an absolute favorite of mine, and for years i’ve wanted to say that if you know of any other cut lines or content, i am dying to know about them!
braska being a bastard in games is SO sweet! AND YES. JECHT BEING THE ONE TO MAKE HIM LAUGH! oh my god, i ADORE that dynamic between them. so charming and absolutely adorable. easily one of my favorite scenes!
auron essentially talking down a crusader like one would a cop is the fucking best. i like this auron so much. as a result of both his former status and current dismissal, he’s skilled in many things, including some midly underhanded tactics and deescalation techniques! i love that. like genuinely adore it
BRASKA THINKING OF HIS IMPROVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JECHT AND THE PROSPECT OF JECHT AND AURON’S ALSO IMPROVING AS MOTIVATION TO CONTINUE HIS SUICIDE MARCH IS GONNA KILL MEEE. ESPECIALLY right after we see auron thinking of ways for braska to end the pilgrimageee AAAAAA
another excellent fucking chapter. bravo :D

sterilebear on chapter 7, 2025-02-15 [original]

auron reflecting on his and the others’ wild fashion sense; love that. jecht having a “MOM GET THE CAMERA” moment; LOVE that. auron finding braska staring off wistfully more worthwhile to record than jecht being a parkour douche; PEAK.
auron is pining a lot in this chapter. i like how that’s kind of been building up. i have to wonder what it’ll amount to, if anything—and if he’ll always be as logical and clear-headed as he claims. obviously he won’t, considering canon, so i’m pretty excited to see just how he unravels here!
the mention of auron once worrying about braska making an attempt on his own life in a bath after him mentioning a bath had triggered that memory is like. *damn.* i audibly sucked in air through my teeth. that evokes a lot, needless to say. also braska healing him after jecht surprise-cleaves his arm and them having a little Moment (tm) is very sweet. god i fucking LOVE THEMMM :(
awww the hypello! i’m reminded of the shoopuf, too. *foreshadowing.* i now have an internal mental countdown to the inevitable Shoopuf Incident. i am so excited to see how you write THAT out. my god, what a shitshow. i also really like how you give spira a sort of public access! that’s really cool! i know it’s kind of shown in-game, but i just love that you remembered that detail and included it and expanded on it a bit. final fantasy x’s world is so. UGH it’s everythinggg
speaking of, though, i am so crushed by braska’s immediate decline upon seeing Home destroyed, and his lament about Sin taking everything from him. his resolve being, in part, *that,* (AND HIM AND AURON HOLDING HANDS which is a platonic gesture in other cultures i realize BUT STILL it’s like in the lord of the rings books when tolkien described frodo and sam holding hands and. i. yeah. GOD) is tragic. i also like the subtle callback to the deleted scene where braska shows off his strong ass grip to jecht. dude’s got pinchers
braska’s low appetite in relation to his mental state is such a heart wrenching detail. i know i always say this, but genuinely, poor guy. and auron cares so much, but he doesn’t know a thing about mental health or how to care for someone in this sort of condition. their relationship is such a snowball of mutual suffering. i love it. it makes me want to bawl my eyes out until i’m a raisin
very aptly named chapter! good stuff! and happy late valentine’s day, i suppose? lmaooo

JeweledAnima on chapter 7, 2025-02-16 [original]

I've just binged this whole thing so far and I'm transfixed. Your characterization of not only Jecht and Auron is flawless, but the depth you're giving to Braska is so incredibly compelling, I'm really enjoying it. I also love how you're worldbuilding upon implications from the game and gameplay, it's all so engaging! Very very excited to read more of this, pining Auron especially. 💙

sterilebear on chapter 8, 2025-02-22 [original]

auron not being very proficient at reading is a great start, i love how you show vs tell!
braska being bedridden by sorrow and grief is very sad, and jecht at last confronting the matter of his masculinity with auron is a very interesting character moment. the added history is also fascinating, detailing his wife’s lifelong mental health struggles, and, more glaringly, his relationship (or lack thereof) with tidus. the implication that jecht kind of manipulated (for lack of a better word) and slept with people to get to his celebrity status is both harrowing and intriguing, and on that note, him having a… moment… thinking about auron’s looks is also, very, very interesting. fascinating how someone can have such issues with masculinity, and yet admit to himself that he finds another man attractive with relative ease—it reminds me of how these sorts of things were gone about in ancient greek society, if that makes any sense? it’s also a good look into him to now know that he *knows* he didn’t technically earn his position, and yet, internally, he constantly demands respect for it as if he did. cognitive dissonance, fake it till you make it, etc. he’s a unique guy. i love his character in this!
ALSO MAECHEN MY BOY LET’S GOOO
“If you want to be strong, Braska, maybe you should start with that, instead of some ludicrous plan to overexert yourself and destroy any chance of ever making it as far as the Final Æon.” HE’S RIGHT. he could’ve worded it better, but holy hell, yeah, braska needs insane amounts of like… *help.* just, like, tons and tons of intervention that this world cannot even begin to provide. maybe then he’d truly be stronger.
auron losing his composure with braska for the first time is also interesting. the final summoning seems to be a trigger for that sort of thing, and when his hotheadedness and desperation to have braska choose life combine, it isn’t pretty. surely this won’t come up again :-) yes, surely this ends with auron convincing braska to live, and they skip hand in hand back to bevelle with jecht in tow :-)
jecht sensing the awkwardness is so tense, but so funny at the same time. i love his commentary when the other two are having frodo-being-slowly-taken-ahold-of-by-the-ring type moments. he’s their gollum stand-in
good chapter :D

JeweledAnima on chapter 8, 2025-02-25 [original]

Wonderful chapter! You do an excellent job of showing rather than outright telling when it comes to feelings, and your dialogue is excellent—it's so easy to read everything in each character's in-game voice. Maechen especially, I loved his cameo! Also Jecht ogling Auron's chest killed me dead lmao, I can't wait for more of their drama!

sterilebear on chapter 9, 2025-03-01 [original]

your interpretations of the game’s worldbuilding continues to be really cool! i like that the farplane is just kind of this undefined *place*, and that spira’s sudden climate changes are explained the way they are.
auron using threats to get his way and then making a fool of himself by getting his foot squished is. hilarious lmfao. also, him being kinda arrogant about he thinks he’ll be able to simply find out how to defeat sin without the final summoning because he’s never failed before is so. interesting. and funny in a horribly sad way. he can’t even really read all that well and his forte is the sword, how does he think he’ll pore over ancient texts and spheres and come away with anything more than nothing? he’s so young and—dare i say—naive. i love it!
also he and braska making up is sweet. certainly not the most communicative way for them to resolve things (but really is anything they say or do all that communicative, these men are big time repressed), but the hug is lovely!! LOL

also jecht’s alcoholism as a coping mechanism. UGGHH. lord. and him slowly, very very slowly, thawing just the slightest bit at the idea of male intimacy and caring for spira at all is great.

sterilebear on chapter 10, 2025-03-09 [original]

absolutely loved this chapter. jecht starting to change, his and auron’s banter, and braska’s naïveté are my favorite parts! it speaks for itself, and i found myself feeling happy by the end of it. just one hypothesis:
could auron’s reaction to water be a post-traumatic stress response after witnessing braska make an attempt on his own life in the bath? it didn’t occur to me until now, but i’m curious to see what future chapters hold and more information is revealed!

sterilebear on chapter 11, 2025-03-15 [original]

OOH I LOVE THIS CHAPTER oh my god
jecht experiencing alcohol withdrawal and being unable to keep still is written really well! i also love that braska’s irate when he’s woken up. the visual of auron and jecht tussling and waking up braska made me laugh, and jecht making him laugh more often is so sweet and so sad, especially given auron’s reaction to it. this boy is hopeless.
also, before i get into the meat and potatoes of this chapter, i forgot to mention this last time, but in your last—i think—chapter commentary, it seems implied that someone, uh, very dear indeed to auron had died and could be visited at the farplane. MOST INTRIGUING! i will remember that. ESPECIALLY given the—well, okay, first things first, it’s amazing how i’ve played the game, and somehow kinoc betraying auron’s friendship still came as a bomb drop. secondly, the writing of the decree is insane. like, in a good and bad way, because it’s realistically written and you as the real life writer did a great job, but the in-universe church of yevon is SCATHING. the half-breed child of an al bhed whore? jesus tittyfucking christ. also, their description of auron is hilarious to me, though sad—and jecht’s is just frankly hilarious. but seriously, that’s some incredible writing on your part. thirdly, at last, more hints at auron’s sexuality and history! um… here’s a crackshot at a theory. a bad one, mind: is he afraid of water because his (mumbles) was… sentenced to via purifico? was HE? in a chapter commentary you mentioned that it’s becoming more obvious, but as i am very oblivious, i am running around like a chicken with my head cut off here. in a good way! i like being made to think! anywho, great section.
onto other things:
“I’m just following orders.” ha! haha! hahaha! we’ve never heard that in history before!
braska putting up a brave front and then crying alone is so sad, and auron is so sweet to him. btw, there are still a ton of class difference under- and overtones between them, and i’m a huge fan. the memo describing braska as auron’s master is also… interesting.
jecht foraging for them is lovely, and him being a restless sleeper is so in character. i like that he’s becoming much more of a positive force, and him even being sober enough to make an albeit short recording for tidus is very bittersweet.
GREAT chapter. let’s hope the grains and leaves jecht found for them weren’t toxic!

Revulture on chapter 11, 2025-03-16 [original]

Aurons' fear of water plus the explanation of the Via Purifico....
oh no.

Also, Braska moving heaven and earth and single handedly healing his friend of alcoholism just to preserve his sleep is absolutely SENDING me.

sterilebear on chapter 12, 2025-03-22 [original]

the fayth of djose is a very, VERY strong character. to put it informally, he really calls braska out on his shit when he’s all pissed at auron and jecht for…doing what they always do, but in front of a codgery priest…? and i for one love him. this one has something of a paternal authority to him that definitely helps him get to braska about treating auron better and not taking him for granted, because, yeah, he was being a dick, as jecht puts it! and a bit spoiled at times. every fayth is incredible so far, and still i ADORE how strong of characters youve made the trio. braska’s got a whooole lot going on, as do the others, and like, god. yeah.
the glimpses into braska’s past we get are also nice—and learning that he and auron met on the docks is very bitttersweet—and auron being wounded after his troubles, *wow*! my god? so my theory has more credence, then! ehe.
also, the fayth’s last line is so. fucking. cool. what a bomb drop. there’s something creepy about it, but in a really cool way. the fayth are, like, on the level of the very best of the twilight zone when it comes to being cool yet creepy yet intriguing. they FEEL ancient and powerful and dead here. great work!!

Pikapeach on chapter 5, 2025-03-22 [original]

“Choose wisely, summoner,” the fayth said as she faded away;” ominous foreshadowing!!!!!

sterilebear on chapter 13, 2025-03-29 [original]

jecht keeping auron’s secret plans to avert the final summoning… ohhh my god, wow, awww. that made me smile. he does care!
braska appreciating auron’s service, and yet saying that his personal investment in saving his life are arguable is… crazy. jesus, braska. i love his *character,* but i strongly dislike his *person* sometimes, which is a massive compliment and achievement of your character writing!
the clerk second guessing yevon’s judgment is also interesting. braska’s pilgrimage is divisive indeed, between “true” yevonites and those who believe in the establishment of the church.
nice in-between chapter! :D

Revulture on chapter 13, 2025-04-01 [original]

Came here to mention offhand that in this chapter, Braskas’ tone somehow reminds me of this Strawberry Switchblade song… I cannot explain it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3hpfTg37sjo&pp=ygUTMTAgamFtZXMgb3JyIHN0cmVldA%3D%3D

sterilebear on chapter 14, 2025-04-06 [original]

the clerk being all but subtle about his own homosexuality and confiding in the first person he meets whom he knows is like him is very sad and true to life. also, jecht fantasizing about fucking auron is such a hilarious but nevertheless potent segue away from that, HA. and then him doing anything to get out of being vulnerable and talking about emotions... oh, jecht.
also, this excerpt:
“Hey. This thing won’t go in.”
“It’s tight,” Auron explained. “Just keep trying. Be patient.”
hmmm. yep. uh huh.
the crusaders being an obstacle is also a cool extension of canon. they're always so... tryhard, so it's definitely hard to imagine they wouldn't pose some kind of nuisance.
AURON CONFIDING IN JECHT. OH MY GOD. okokokok AGHHHHH WOW ok. many feelings, none of which i have the words to describe other than: so fucking sad. and this excerpt:
"Whoa.” He looked into the distance, and his gaze came to rest on Braska, who was facing the other way, looking out over the steep incline that led down towards the shore. “Whoa,” he said again, less animatedly.
made me scream. putting two and two together rather quick, huh, jecht? and auron teaching him a lesson on sexuality not meaning anything in regards to how one presents himself is great. i love when characters from more regressive cultures have things to teach characters from cultures that are far more advanced. it's such a neat way to turn expectations on their head!
jecht calling maechen old guy is great. and like, obviously, so is the news that jecht's zanarkand is like... obliterated, basically. not to any of their knowledge, but it seems like jecht knows, deep down. also, he sounds a lot like tidus- or rather, tidus sounds a lot like him! was that intentional? i love it either way. maechen trying to involve braska is like... weirdly relatable?? like that's what talking about the hyperfix with ppl online feels like LMAO. and braska being quite selfish with jecht is. hmm. i'm not a fan of him lately. jecht's having an existential crisis and auron affirming that he needs to look after himself the most is like. hm. alrighty there bud.
jecht not confronting his problems part 90 billion! this is sure to end well!
good chapter! :D

oh, and a few things i missed:
- auron being pretentious about rival militaries is so on point. i have a family member who's like this. so fuckin real LOL
- auron's... (mumbles) was a crusader? oh my god. two houses both alike in dignity etc etc etc

sterilebear on chapter 15, 2025-04-13 [original]

“…and that had a more positive effect on the group than any amount of sunshine.”
great line, omg. aw!
this one’s a doozy! everyone’s family’s getting brought up. braska’s parents were something i did not at all see coming, but god damn! the whole catholic-y religious conflict between him and his mother + his parents becoming more conservative once he makes a more radical decision that actually affects them personally is very true to life, as is their framing of braska’s decision. and jecht’s folks having expectations of him is fun. he did show them, i guess! auron having an older brother is so cute. he would’ve been such an adorable little squirt.
their chess game is fun and a solid character moment. auron’s a strategist while jecht’s more hasty.
jecht shit talking his kid remains funny in a terrible, horrible way. dude’s got beef with a seven year old, and even auron and braska know that’s fucked up. but him and braska talking about parenting on their walk is nice!
oooh, auron definitely isn’t jealous… also, auron not quite liking jecht yet is very on brand, lol. but braska asking for his friendship was a sweet moment, especially with the added commentary on jecht’s experience with transactional relationships in the past. also, braska’s showing a much better side of himself this time around! he’s a fine person, really. i like him; his bad days are so painfully realistic and he gets real… bad, on bad days, like anyone would. but on good days, he’s! better! yeah! lol. i like that you don’t shy away from the fact that shitty mental health can make someone act shitty too, because it’s true, and it should be said that people are still people, even when they’re unwell. like, it’s a nuanced truth: people still deserve help, even when their mental illness has consequences and makes them act poorly, but they also should be held accountable, because they’re still people.
oh, and auron being a whiskey guy is great too. and your al bhed reveal coding is really cool!
love the lore in this one. i missed this fic yesterday, so i’m glad it was posted today so i could read it! :D

also “the blitzball” made me laugh. very UK english, as you said this fic would be, and i love it, no joke.

Revulture on chapter 15, 2025-04-15 [original]

I love this chapter.

Seeing everyones' family, or rather, having each party members' family dynamic discussed is a treat. It's the "Oh, I see why you are the way that you are" moment. Jechts' parents' begging him to be a lawyer or a salaryman makes his bravado over his sportsmanship all the clearer. Additionally, I like that Braskas' relationship with his folks is what it is here. Braska in your fic is a fairly privileged man and seeing him struggle to do difficult tasks that everyone else in Spira seems to do so easily (travelling upon the road, camping, etc) is realistic. I love that we see him compared here to where he comes from, and can appreciate clearly how hard he is working to do things on his own. Also... poor Auron.

I do also have to say that I love how it shows without telling that Braska is, despite being so privileged, *so* stubborn. Its something he mentions about himself as a major trait in DFFOO and I've been fascinated with that aspect of his character since playing it. I love how you incorporate that here in his relationship with his parents.

(Also, the method of Al Bhed translation here is genius.)