denotes art!Final Fantasy IX recs
It's been so long since I've played this game I barely remember what happens, except for more memorable moments and characterizations. I do remember liking it, but I think at the time I was still so gung-ho about Final Fantasy VIII that I cheated it a little in comparisons. It was a very charming game, and although I know a lot of people accuse it of being fan service to the older fen I really think it had a lot going for it. My interests bounce back and forth, and I can honestly say it's a game where I pretty much ship het all the way, which is actually pretty nice (I'm not adverse to slash, though, at all).
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Go Not Gently by spiderflower
It's hopeless to recommend this in some ways because the entire FFIX fandom and even people not really involved in the FFIX fandom have read it already, but I love it too much to leave it out. I found this one night and started reading it and was sucked in. I meant to read one or two chapters and then ended up staying up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it before wandering off to bed in a happy stupor. Eiko is so amazing in this story, the author really makes me believe that the Eiko we see in the game could grow up to be this woman, this character that is so real and defined. Whenever I need a hurt/comfort read, this story is the one I go to. It really touched me, and I became so invested in the little mages, in Eiko's struggles. Nothing feels fake about this, it's so good that it seems like this is how it happens in their future. I think this is one of the cornerstone stories for the FFIX fandom in so many ways. (Eiko)
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More Romantic by mneme_forgets
Okay, okay. *sporfles* Just, FFIX porn really amuses me and I've read so much BAD, BAD Steiner/Beatrix porn over the years and it's...when I think of Steiner trying to do anything sexual it—it doesn't compute! It happens just like this story. It's so funny how Steiner gets advice from one of his Knights and it's like he's dressing him down instead of asking for advice and he is mortified at some of the suggestions—even when he has mildly romantic thoughts about Beatrix he wigs out and does a lot of worrying and inward flailing and ahahaha, the list, oh my god. Poor, poor Steiner, and poor Beatrix but it just...it really works well, his messing up, because you know it's going to happen and it's like, "oh god, how's it's going to go down, how can it possibly get any worse?" One of the best Steiner/Beatrix stories I've read in years. (Steiner/Beatrix)
