hugtopia | Audio: Ainir 3

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Do those projects help you do your part to remain stable?

[He knows damned well that he can be a complete hypocrite sometimes. Refusing others' good intentions while fussing over them. He full expects the same from her.]

Edited 2020-04-13 00:07 (UTC)

[ Honerva is never quite prepared whenever Cor turns her own words around on her. It's not the first time, likely won't be the last, but it still takes her off guard, to be called out. ]

... They do.

[ Studying the world and all that comes with it might keep her busy, but that is the least of it. ]

The only reason I am able to impart such advice to you myself is because... I must also continue to practice such things. There are certain kinds of work that can be consuming and leave you blind to what is important. It is largely because of those I am with now that I even realize... that I must pull away. That I can do... other things. Even if I had not known to before, or had forgotten how.

Especially when others you care for rely on the work.

[So much of his own work has been for the good of the country, his King, now the entire world. How can one justify stepping away from tasks like that?]

I'm glad you let yourself have time away from the work, it's not good for your health to never step away.

[hypocrite]

... It was not.

[ Because he does not know. She has not told him. And certainly not now, at a time when he must watch his lord rest in such a state. Even as the heaviness of this clouds her, those fragments of lost memory that ever haunt still, she shakes her head, seeking a lighter tone. ]

... Besides, Lup and Taako would not allow such a thing.

[It never is... and this once he doesn't think there is anything deeper to it than that.]

Good. It's always good to keep people that remind you to care for yourself near.

[He should maybe find a couple of those that aren't also workaholics like Regis and Ignis]

Then... perhaps you should not be surprised when such a sentiment is suggested to you as well.

[ Finally, an opening to turn it back around on him, before he accidentally scrapes further against certain matters. He does not intend to and he is only being kind, but... ]

It is possible you may have few already... that you may not have considered.

[ Prompto, she thinks, or perhaps Will. ]

[Oh, definitely Will. But Prompto, like Noctis, looks up to him too much to criticize him. You don't correct the Marshal and all.]

I know, I know. Pot, kettle.

[He sighs, heavily, pausing in the idle meandering they've been doing for some time now, only just realizing how dark it's gotten. Then he uses the link of her hand to urge her a little closer so he can brush a light kiss to her cheek.]

And there's no reason we can't remind each other right?

[ That's on the Marshal to undo those expectations. Set an example, by being a changed man.

Easy enough to get caught up in the meandering and the path of the conversation to not expect his gentle inclinations, but there he was, closer, and her ears wobble with that faint blush. ]

You would accept such reminders from me?

[ Her tone is light, as though this entire conversation had not been her reminding him. ]

[The Marshal isn't entirely sure he's at a point of being comfortable with his students seeing that changed man, no matter how much those changes were happening.]

Is that not precisely what we are doing?

[A gentle tease, brow raised and lips curving into the faintest smirk.]

[ The Marshal just needs to deal with the consequences. ]

So we are. Is it working?

[ She does not dare much, but she does shift herself so she's leaning more against the arm that holds hers. ]

[Maybe she doesn't dare but he does. She leans into him and he wraps an arm around her instead, amused in spite of himself.]

I think so... Even if I should get back to His Majesty soon.

Of course you should.

[ A distraction she might be for him, but she knows it. At least it has given him an opportunity to see the fresh air for a while and walk after his prior state. The memory of that hasn't left; she's not eager to let him go, but his priorities come first.

But... an allowance, she lightly presses her fingertips to his chest. ]

We can wind our way back, as soon as you would like.

[His hand comes up to curl around hers, pressing her hand more firmly over his heart.]

Thank you. [A weak wry little smile.] For reminding me.

[ There he is, warm, even with the clothes he wears. No armor to block the presence of his heart. She had missed him, this... ability to be close.

How difficult it had been to see him asleep, always surrounded by so many, than to seek a moment to confirm this of him, still denying herself a closeness that he offered. ]

Thank you for... allowing me this.

[ For wanting to spend the time. For her being able to help him clear some thoughts before he must return to where he belongs. To be a welcome distraction, and hopefully not one that took him too far away from where he needed to be, in uncertain times. ]

Audio: Ainir 3

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