Audio: Ainir 3

[flawed_immortality]

[Early in the morning a familiar voice comes over the network. It's stupidly early and he doesn't expect anyone to answer, not for a bit at least. He's walking across the city and the soft sounds of the street can be heard in the background.]

Good morning, Havenwell. My apologies for the absence over the last weeks. I took ill, it seems, and now Hi- [A pause, a hesitation. Of course he can't keep calling Regis by his title to the public and not expect confusion.] Regis seems to have caught the same from me. Perhaps the priests' insistence on quarantine should be observed. Not that any of us are willing to accept that.

If you have need of myself, Noctis, or Ardyn we're all liable to be at Ainea's temple for the forseeable future. I know that might not be ideal, considering I've already been in one of these temples for days now but...

I will not leave my King.

[Locked for Lup and Honerva]
I'm sorry my darlings. I do wish to see you, of course, and I know I must have worried you. Ainea's temple is large and cozy, I'm not comfortable leaving him but I am more than capable leaving Noctis and Ardyn at his side long enough to step away.

Comments

[necromanswers]

Oh shit, he lives!

[Time to be whimsical so she doesn't have to unpack that darling thing. How precious.]

Considering the circumstances, I guess I can forgive the lot of you for not shooting me a text about your updated food delivery locale. Will may or may not be grounded, though.

[More seriously, now-]

Don't worry about me, I'm a big girl- do what you gotta do. If you need anything, just say the word.

[flawed_immortality]

It was late by the time we had things situated for Regis and... they were all quite insistent that I come home and shower, at least. And shave. Six, I've never let my beard get that out of hand.

I'm sorry-it... the family seems to have suffered yet more losses while I was asleep. My Prince and my King needed me. [And that right there was precisely the reason he had never allowed himself to date before. It wasn't fair on anyone else to be secondary to his duty. A relationship with him would always mean dropping everything and casting aside another, no matter how much he cared for them, if Regis or Noctis had need of him.]

[necromanswers]

Not that I don't appreciate a man who isn't afraid to apologize... Cor, come on.

[Her voice is a careful mixture of firm but gentle. Listen to yourself- what did she just say?

She gives that a moment to sink in, and then adds more carefully,]

Anything I can do?

[flawed_immortality]

You have already been doing more than enough, making sure the lot of us are fed. I appreciate that more than you know.

[He's kind of used to constantly apologizing, okay. It's just sort of a thing Lucians do, undervalue themselves.]

If it is not too much trouble might I make a small request? Noctis is... well the boy, much like his father, despises vegetables. Normally I'd tell him to simply endure it but he's quite upset. Whatever you plan to bring for dinner if you could... make it something easy to eat around the veg I'm sure he would appreciate it. It's such a small thing but... I don't know what else any of us can do to make things easier for him.

[necromanswers]

I think I can manage that. Veggies are easy enough to bury in other flavours if you know how to shake it. And luckily, you've got a pro in your corner. Consider it done.

[She's steamrolled through plenty of picky appetites in her long life. A vegetable snob is basic stuff.]

Can you give me a fresh headcount? Not sure if the number's changed now.

[flawed_immortality]

I appreciate that a great deal.

Myself, Ardyn, and Noctis, certainly. Will... is having difficulty, I think, with how upset everyone is.

[That whole psychic thing has been a nightmare when everyone around him is stressed to the max.]

I suspect there will regularly be at least one more, be that Will, Ignis, or another of Regis' companions.

[necromanswers]

Got it. Extra portion is no big thing; after 24 hours it'll poof out of existence anyway, so there's no waste involved.

[The joys of magic cooking.]

Hey, Cor? You still don't sound great. Do us all a favour and at least get some rest? Like, real rest, not magic sleep.

[of_northern_skies]

[The call seems to click on mid-conversation? Mid very confused conversation, if the tone of voice could be trusted.]

Edmund, really? What is this? You know I don't know how to work this thing and I don't see why you won't just tell me this 'news' you've discovered yourself.

[There's a rustling sound, maybe a mild scuffle and then another, much younger voice muttering something low and quiet in the background before the original voice is back.]

What do you mean it has to do with my Regis?

[flawed_immortality]

[There's a moment of hesitation, Cor's steps slowing as he tracks what is happening on the other end of the line.]

.... Might I inquire who it is that's calling my King his?

[of_northern_skies]

[An abrupt stop in the muttering voices on the other end of the line, and then Peter cleared his throat. When he spoke again, it was cautious, like he didn't trust that the voice wasn't just some trick of this place.]

Peter Pevensie. Is this Cor? We met at the gathering.

[flawed_immortality]

Yes, of course... Aera's...

[He trails off, voice low and with a hint of regret. She was gone now too.]

Regis has fallen into an illness induced slumber, much like the one I only just woke from. It seems he's become important to you while I have slept.

[Oh and if that doesn't just make him bristle.]

[of_northern_skies]

['Illness induced slumber'.

Peter's voice quickly lost it's hesitant edge. If anything, the tone might ring a few familiar bells as a 'kingly' one.]

He's become a ...good friend. Where is he? Is he with you?

[flawed_immortality]

Ainea's temple. He is here with family. His son and... ancestor remain at his side, as well as myself.

[No matter how much he considers them his family he would never presume to call himself theirs.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[ This is almost entirely too much to unpack. The fact that Cor had been comatose for so long was always there in the back of her mind, even if he had plenty of others to dote on his condition. There had been nothing she could physically do; she didn't trust her magic in that situation, and it had not seemed so dire for that measure of intervention.

It had still weighed enough on her throughout the remainder of that month, the lack of change in his condition until now, the fact that this sort of illness, which had been mentioned once or twice before, was now something that was impacting her, personally, impacting others she cared for... and those priests were not so useful, with the limited answers they'd had for leaving the watch to their gods and the concerns that it was contageous.

... Which perhaps was now proven by this message. Cor... was awake, and that was certainly most important, and yet his most important person was now in a state which he could not reach. And the way he took to duty, certainly the knowledge of that was far more a burden to him than the fact that he had been unconscious himself.

But then, a personal message on top of it? That... had been unexpected. She considered herself certainly the furthest from what had been a priority while his king lay unconscious, but he had... reached out, anyway. And there were many others, to keep watch ... ]

... Welcome back, Cor.

[ Despite all her internal... thoughts on the matter, her reply is soft, and timely enough. Relief is there. ]

If there is anything you require, then all you need do is but ask. It is not my intention to... keep your attention from where it rightfully belongs. I can arrive there at any time that it is not an inconvenience for you and yours.

[ Or any of the others. ]

[flawed_immortality]

[Of course a personal message. He'd have come to them each individually if he had that freedom. With Regis' condition what it is he didn't feel that was possible.]

I intend to do a few laps of the block this evening if you wish to join me... I... am liable to be distracted at best, however. If he's unresponsive for as long as I was, though, I'm sure I will need help retaining my sanity before long.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ She knew the kind of person Cor was. Of course Regis would come first. She was only only surprised at the message, that he could spare that much for them. He underestimated how thoughtful he was, perhaps, in comparison to those who may not have considered to do so in similar circumstances. ]

Of course your concern for him will remain your priority. It is a lot to bear, even shared among your family. However... you must not neglect yourself, especially now, only just recovered. If my company can aid you in that, then I will be there.

[flawed_immortality]

I must admit... the number of reminders I have here to be more careful of my own health is... unusual. I will try my best not to overtax myself.

[This is very odd. People actually worrying about him. Regis was very careful to balance his concern with necessity and a healthy respect for Cor's position and reputation. Clarus trusted him, perhaps unwisely, to do what was necessary to look after himself. But here no one seemed to have any qualms telling him he was important. It takes some getting used to.]

We are all a bit out of sorts now but... I would appreciate your company, Honerva. I always do and, perhaps selfishly, I could benefit from the measure of calm you always manage to provide.

[shroudedsecrets]

Hopefully it will not take you too long to adjust to such a thing. Let me know when the time is right, and I will arrive then. For company.

[ She can teleport, and she already knows what temple he's at. Which means she's not bringing Kova. Clearly a win, for Cor. ]

>Action

[flawed_immortality]

Thank you, Honerva.

[It's quite a bit later when he does contact her, once again offering company for a short time for a walk at least. The sun is just beginning to set when he steps out of the temple to wait for her arrival, watching the shifting colors of the sky as though the vibrant colors might chase away the worries that weigh heavily on his shoulders.]

text.

[astralera]

Hello Cor, I am glad to hear you're well.

Is the illness an illness proper, or more akin to a comatose state?

Audio forevers

[flawed_immortality]

[For how quickly he responds... is his tablet reading his texts to him?]

I had the Vanishing sickness that some others have had. Regis is fully unconscious... but otherwise appears healthy.

text forever o/

[astralera]

A coma then.

In that case, do not be surprised if he wakes up disoriented, and with a slew of new memories from home.

[flawed_immortality]

I was quite disoriented myself.

What do you mean new memories?

[astralera]

The memories you would have if you were never brought here. Memories of the 'future' that your soul returns home to live through while your body remains here.

[flawed_immortality]

You think he's... going to remember more of what happens in his future when he returns?

[He actually sounds a little bit frightened of that.]