Final Fantasy XI is the eleventh numbered installment in the… Okay, you know what it is, I’m just going to tell you about one of the storylines!
During the Wings of the Goddess expansion, adventurers will be sent back in time to experience the events of the Crystal War, a cataclysmic event that is the foundation for conflicts of the modern-day timeline. Should an adventurer choose to serve the Kingdom of San d’Oria, they will be immersed in the story of the Young Griffons—a group of children who would see themselves knights, many of whom grow into prominent characters later in life.
Among the Young Griffons, the player will find Bistillot, a shy boy who doesn’t like to be seen. With his penchant for engineering, shy demeanor, and lack of combat potential, Bistillot prefers to spend his time inside of an orcish war machine that he was able to repair to working condition.
He is often seen before he is heard, with his signature phrase, “HAAAALLOOOOOOOOO” being used to hail the adventurer. Through the course of the story, Bistillot finds his way, even contributing to the war effort with his engineering skills.
However, when another member of the Young Griffons is kidnapped and taken to the present day, the adventurer must return to the present day and reunite with the Young Griffons’ present selves! The adventurer’s first contact in the present day is Bistillot. When the adventurer hears the signature “HAAAALLOOOOOOO,” Bistillot approaches the player, but what the player sees is… a woman?? She introduces herself as Bostilette, a “friend of Bistillot.”
After the rescue mission, Bostilette comes clean. She is, of course, the very same Bistillot who was a little boy twenty years earlier. She explains that she was very sick as a baby, so her parents gave her a boy’s name so that she would be stronger and survive the illness. Once she overcame the illness, she was comfortable to reclaim her name and gender. Well, that closes the book on that story, except… I’ve decided that’s bullshit!
I have unilaterally decided that Bostilette is trans, the sickness she had was dysphoria, she stayed in the orcish war machine because she was an egg, and I hope you all agree!
As a reminder, be sure to properly give content warnings and put sensitive subjects behind proper spoiler tags. It's for the mental health of not just your comrades, but yourself as well.
Here is a screenshot of where to find the spoiler button.
Does anyone else feel like they can't fully come out until they can 'prove' themselves? Like for example I can't help but feel like I'm 'not allowed' to ask for my desired pronouns/name from friends or my partner or people in general if I don't first at least get rid of facial hair and at the bare minimum sound like I'm voice training.
sorry you're going through this. maybe it is internalised transphobia, not sure. i encourage you to strive to overcome those feelings though, if you're in an environment where it's relatively materially safe to do so. for my part, i didn't really feel the "not allowed" bit, more just fear, but i think in hindsight one of the best things i did in very early transition was just commit hard. not trying to toot my own horn or whatever, presenting masc just became way too painful for me very fast. i came out to friends and family and started presenting fem before HRT, liberally used concealer before starting laser, and if it makes you feel any better i still haven't voice trained after a good few years lol. none of it should be seen as essential for your identity to be validated by others, and by yourself (which sounds like the part that might be closer to the issue). you are allowed!
Yea I also have this. Ties in with my impostor syndrome about this and I feel like I'm not actually feeling this and I'm just doing it to be part of a community or I'm faking it to manipulate people, that's a me problem though lol
I struggle with this stuff cause I feel like I can't even call myself genderqueer when I'm "masc presenting" (although I don't think I am that much because I pretty much get harassed and I'm not on Estrogen yet.)
If you go back over the months on the trans megathreads, that is a common feeling. It's not true. You have every right to be referred to using the pronouns that make you happy, whether you "sound like a boy" or have facial hair. Plenty of cis women do both and no one hesitates.
Ask for the pronouns, I bet when they get used around you you will feel VERY euphoric~