Like thunder screaming out for a flash of lightning

[flawed_immortality]

[Cor's not great at this whole party thing, especially as this time it's not just a family gathering but intended for the friends they'd made here as well. The video starts with Cor sitting in a cushy white and grey striped armchair, a stone fireplace beside him glowing warmly. It's a classy set up and far above the townhouses they've been in.]

It's New Years, celebrations are in order. His Majesty, Ignis, and I have obtained a larger space and we'd like to offer our home for the festivities. Feel free to stop in, have some snacks, and await midnight with us.

[Locked from Regis]
[He looks a little paranoid at first, double, then triple checking that he's done this right.]

It's also his Majesty's birthday. He's always eager to sweep it under the New Years celebrations but he has no reason to shy away from any such celebrations here. Don't let him.

[Action - Party Start~]
[The new house is really very nice. It's nothing compared to the Citadel but it is very nice. Clean and homey with the accents of warm wood that, if Cor didn't know better, he'd have thought was reclaimed.

There's a fire in the hearth, hor d'ouerve trays laid out on the kitchen counters. The replicator is of course available to anyone who wants something specific, though you might be surprised to find she responds to voice commands and is distressingly cheerful to talk to. The house is open for examination! Go on, explore folks, mingle away.]

[Action - Midnight]
[As chill as the night is Cor makes a point of slipping through the crowd throughout the evening. There's a number of Lucis Caelums and other magic users as well. So when the time comes near he does his best to usher everyone into the backyard, or at least onto the back porch.

He's certainly not the one to lead the countdown, no someone more energetic can do that, but at the final count a series of spells get fired into the night sky. They may not be traditional fireworks but a few Flares, Thundaras, and spells he has no names for will work well enough, don't you think?]

Comments

OTA - Stars are falling down for God's applause

[flawed_immortality]

[When he's not fussing about making sure plates and glasses are full Cor is sitting out on the glass enclosed porch. Regardless of how chilly it should get the space acts as something of a greenhouse and Cor rather likes it out here. There's already a shelf tucked into one corner with three fragrant mint plants on it. He's also dressed much more casually than he normally is, a silver and grey kimono replacing his uniform for the party. As much as it is an event he orchestrated he's... not really one for partying. Better to let his King and his boyfriend be the social butterflies they are.]

text. (w/ appropriate privacy locks)

[astralera]

Is it Heavensturn already? I must've lost track of time after Starlight. My thanks for the reminder.

Which 'his majesty' are you referring to? I believe I know of at least one other you could be referencing.

[flawed_immortality]

This evening.

Apologies, I'm referring to Regis. I forget how many others here are from royal lineages sometimes.

[scourgingstars]

[a; party; halfway between the black and gray]

[Ardyn was quiet as ever at the party; he hadn't answered the network post, but had taken note of it. He'd have to seek out Regis later, quietly if that was what he so preferred. For now he was perfectly content to keep a bit more to the sidelines--much as he found these gatherings nice, he was never one for overmuch noise and attention.]

[b; midnight; is no place for a life to waste away]

[Until later, as magic lit the air at midnight. He cast a glance left and right, either uncertain of the tradition or a bit self-conscious. Possibly both. But after a second or two he raised a hand...with a flick of his wrist and snap of his fingers a burst of fire shot skyward and exploded in brilliant orange and scarlet.]

[...Maybe it wasn't that bad, having so few limits on his magic now.]

[c; wildcard; starlight brigade]

[anything else; he'll stick around for a while if anyone wants to catch him]

wildcard-- after midnight

[iustaegis]

Ardyn.

[ She'll encounter him still outside, just as the last of the spells of the magical not!firework display fizzle out. Smiling as she approaches him, it's almost the same as they had met last beneath the night sky. Neither of them are bothered by the cold. ]

It's been some time. [ And here, she offers her hand if he should care to take it. ] Have you made your toast to the new year yet?

C

[astralera]

[ She strides up to Ardyn, heels clicking against the floor in a steady tempo, and holds out her hand for him to take. The expression on her face is friendly, but the glint in her eyes is one Ardyn should recognize all too well.

There's no escaping at least one dance, friend. ]

A

[flawed_immortality]

[Cor is quick to greet Ardyn when he arrives, gently removing him from the entryway and the inevitable swoop of Regis in full socialite mode. His King is nowhere near as impossible to escape as his wife would be but Cor had worried Ardyn was going to talk himself out of coming at all. Best not to scare him off too quickly.]

I'm glad you made it.

b;

[promittere]

[It's the light that catches Ignis' attention - there's not much he can see, just darkness and shadow, but he can see the sudden brightness and he's immediately reminded of fireworks.

He heard the gestures as well, so he's trying to keep it casual as he approaches Ardyn.]

I imagine it was an impressive display.

A.

[wifeacle]

[Hello there Uncle. You know what it looks like you're missing? An Oracle on your arm. So clearly she has to fulfill this role for you.]

You are doing a wonderful job of blending in with the decorations.

let's make some booms together friendo

[unsunderworld]

[Shortly after Ardyn's burst of flame, a burst of what seems like anti-light, in black and purpled red, follows from elsewhere among the group.

It seems someone couldn't stand to be left out.]

Bee

[meridio]

[Somnus had been the one to stall their correspondence. Faced with the revelation that his brother would go so far as to seek divine intervention from another world, he'd been too overcome to formulate a timely response. He'd needed the afternoon to think—and he would have needed the evening, had it not been for Era.]

[Soon the twelfth hour was upon them. Following a delayed fire spell to a familiar back, he walked up to stand at his brother's side.]

Do you truly believe there can be another way?

b; wanders in late with fantasy starbucks

[carbungle]

[It's at the tail end of the show that Noctis finds him, shuffling over and trying to look less sleepy than he feels. He's not a kid, he can stay up late at a party. It's just that his socializing spoons are running low. Doesn't stop him from approaching Ardyn, though, because this is kind of an unusual party, as far as their family goes lately.

He does have the decency of looking vaguely apologetic, considering his attire: he's got this angled pallium-style halfcloak pinned at the shoulders, and it looks vaguely Somnus-esque. Though maybe apologetic is no longer appropriate, with the actual Somnus in attendance.]

Hey, you look pretty cheerful tonight.

[They're in the same room! He didn't witness a single fight! That's impressive.]

[iustaegis]

Mingling
[ After arriving and unlinking her arm from Somnus, Pyra, dressed in pjs a lengthy tunic with a starry drape of fabric provided by Era, can be found just about anywhere reasonable within house party. She will try a bit of the hor d'ouerves and be delighted by the extra quality of the food, or she will be outside waiting for midnight to strike. For the house itself, though-- ]

This place is beautiful. [ She's reminded, then, of what others have told her of what makes a family, a home... But those are thoughts for another time. Turning to smile at you-- yes you, her new company-- she inquires: ] Enjoying the party?

Just-after Midnight
[ The magical firework-like show continues, and she finds herself alone as she watches the lights dance in the sky. Her expression is wistful, distracted as she gazes upon the enchanting display. ]

New Year's Finest
[ ARE YOU DRESSED TO THE NINE'S IN THIS PARTY? Well well well link me yo fancy outfit, let her just bring a hand up to her lips as she gapes at you. Unprompted, she can't help but compliment: ]

Oh, my... That-- [ Dress/suit/necklace/hairstyle/earring/shoes/tie/whatever. ] --looks wonderful on you.

Resolution
There is... a tradition of wishing to better oneself for the next year. [ She is standing outside, not bothered by the chill despite the thin quality of the fabric she wears. For those who stand next to her, they will realize that she's inhumanly warm. Pyra offers her arm to take, just in case you might need it (or a hand, if that would be more comfortable). ]

Do you know if we say these aloud, or keep them within our hearts?

Wildcard
[ HMU here, PM, or PP at drinksteapots! ]

after midnight

[meridio]

[ The pseudo fireworks don't need his contribution, and he begins to make his way over to Pyra after a long night apart. The colors lighting up the sky don't make it as easy as it should be, but he spots her soon enough. ]

Pyra.

[ Said to notify her of his presence, he reaches out to take her hand in his. ]

new year's finest

[astralera]

[ Era does not like receiving compliments, but the way Pyra phrases it is something that she can accept readily for it is not a compliment of her, but of her dress, which is then a compliment to Hades. ]

I shall pass your compliment along to the one who created it.

new year's finest...!

[carbungle]

[What he's wearing is what counts as formal for Noct, certainly: a nice cream shirt and dark pants, though the thing that might stand out a little more for her is the fact that he's wearing the pallium cloak she'd given him, draped over his shoulders and pinned in place at the corners. He's done some modifications, clearly, nothing to ruin the shape of her gift but to change it more into something that fits his wardrobe. Now it looks like a carefully balanced mix between the cape Somnus wears and a more modernized and modest shawl that falls across his back at an angle.

He grins at her, a bit of nerves mingling with pride that she might approve.]

Took some tweaking, but it worked out okay, yeah?

Resolutions c-c-combo breaker

[unsunderworld]

I suppose it depends on if you need the accountability of telling another.

[A light shrug; it is Heavensturn that is his world's tradition, and not that. Even if it were, the number of years he's seen come and go would make any such tradition pointless.]

New Years Finest Gossip Girl Edition

[wifeacle]

[Honestly, the dress that she has chosen was a little out of her normal comfort zone. But black was the royal color of Lucis, and considering just how many members of the family were currently in attendance, it only seemed right to try and honor them by wearing it herself. Paired with her hair in a loose side braid and some black heels, it looked - okay, she looked absolutely stunning but that didn't stop her from questioning her own choices.

Which was why when she hears Pyra speak she looks around for a moment, almost ignoring the compliment, because it can't be for her. Only it definitely is and she offers a slightly embarrassed smile.]

You are very kind. Are you certain it isn't too much?

[astralera]

PARTY

[ Era arrives a bit late, having gone out of her way to find and drag Somnus to the party. She does not truly belong here, but Regis is family to Somnus and someone he cares about more than words can express, and Somnus is someone Ardyn loves, and that long, complicated chain of familial love means that Era loves too, in her own way — that different sort of love, like the love she has for all those lives on all those worlds she needs to safeguard. Distant, but no less strong for it.

So she sheds her jacket and tucks it away, revealing the dress Hades made her for the occasion. Dark, sheer hosiery and heels complete her outfit, all of which is contrasted by the pure white weasel that drapes across her shoulders like a scarf, and the bright red lipstick she wears. There are few things Era dislikes more than standing out, but there is no avoiding it when surrounded by humans, nor when wearing one of her partner's beautiful creations. Better to embrace it tonight instead, strategically accenting her appearance in ways to (hopefully) draw attention to her face rather than her horns. Tonight is the end of one cycle of the heavens and the start of another, and Era would rather spend it enjoying herself rather than feeling out of place.

If there is music, Era dances. If there is none she still dances, providing her own by use of her old 'phone', or perhaps even forgoing music altogether. She knows a variety of dances, formal to informal, traditional to modern, and for all that she is normally very closed off to the touch of others she is far from it now, always more than happy to share the joy of dance. ]

MIDNIGHT (DEMI-PHOENIX SUMMON)

{{ Demi-Phoenix summoning looks like this. All fast and fancy and fiery. }}

[ There is always a bit of pain when channeling such quantities of aether into one burst, and without her Soul of the Summoner to aid with her channeling the pain is tenfold stronger. Tonight it is worse, choosing to forgo adequate preparations (in current company Demi-Bahamut would be ill advised), but the end result is always worth it — that final, explosive release of magic. Era skips her Dreadwyrm Trance and moves straight on to channeling the Firebird aether that lingers in her own, allowing that healing, searing flame to build up beneath her skin until it is almost unbearable, shaping it into the proper form, and then...

Era raises her grimoire above her head, the runes for her summoning spell etching themselves in the air above her fingertips. Her Carbuncle vanishes in a swirl of aether, only to reappear in a swirl of flames and golden feathers in the form of Demi-Phoenix.

It lets out an empowered, avian screech and twirls once before soaring into amidst the other spells released above. Glittering, golden sparks of aether rain down from its tail as it sings. After a few minutes it dissipates the same way it appeared, leaving a crimson Carbuncle to fall from the sky, landing with an ethereal grace upon its paws. It stretches, then trots back over to Era, who seems markedly drained compared to before, though she masks it well. Era gives her summon a small, fond smile and squats down to pat it upon the head. ]

WILDCARD

{{ hit me with whatever, friendos }}

par-tay

[meridio]

[ Sometime after delivering Era's present to Regis, Somnus finds himself beside a wall, watching with folded arms. Deliberate movement catches his eye and, indeed, Era cuts a striking figure—more so when he's accustomed to a plainer sight. She catches his other eye when she goes after his brother.

The resultant dance is clumsy and innocent. He observes them for a brief while before turning his attention to the rest of the partygoers, allowing them what privacy they can be afforded in an event like this. Eventually, his gaze settles back to what's become the dance floor, and this time it locks with that of Era. ]

you know what this is

[unsunderworld]

[While someone can be caught having a quick exchange with Ardyn in the immediate vicinity of midnight, it isn't destined to be terribly long. After all, there is another who needs his attention.

And it is rare indeed that he uses muscle where magic will do, but Era gets not much more than an aetherial flutter of warning before she's plucked from the floor to be lifted and spun. It is not quite a dance, but near enough, and he does not settle her down after, instead adjusting her weight to his hips.]

And a turn for you, my dear.

Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII | OTA

[kingkingcxiii]

[Those who were at the family dinner will not be surprised to find that Regis is once more taking up a host-like role. He's dressed much more formally than he was as the dinner, and considering how Cor is dressed, it won't take much deduction to figure out who is responsible for that. It also doesn't take much deduction to see that Cor was absolutely right in his network post. Regis makes no mention of his own birthday. Instead, he focuses himself on greeting people and showing them around the house should they like an actual tour instead of just exploring blindingly. He is extremely at home in the house and it's obviously he likes the change of location a great deal. If someone is looking for him the living room fireplace and the back porch are good places to check as he seems to float between the two when not actively showing people around.

When midnight rolls around Regis will be out among the crowd adding his own spells to those that are being fired into the night sky.]

[iustaegis]

[ What sort of guest would she be, if she did not greet the host of the party? ]

...Ah. Are you this "His Majesty" that Cor has spoken of?

[ She says this with a breezy smile, as if she's meaning no offense. Who else could it be, leading the others about the house in a tour. If he's anything else like the other three Lucis Caelums she knows, he does not prefer the title, at least not here in a world so far away form his own. ]

Or do you wish me to address you by something else?

[scourgingstars]

[formal clothes are for people not a hobo in a sensible cardigan]

Your Majesty, I fear there are terrible rumors circulating amidst the members of your court.

[The small smirk on Ardyn's face may just have betrayed how not at all serious he was, if the overly theatrical seriousness didn't do it.]

[twistedempathy]

Reeeeeeggiiiiiiie!

[Hey. Hey, Regis. You aren't doing anything at the moment, are you? Or planning to do anything in the foreseeable future? Because your arms (and possibly lap, if you're sitting) are going to be full in about 0.5 seconds as Will swoops in for cuddles. You might even notice he's holding a wrapped present, if you spot him before he pounces.]