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

[carbungle]

Yeah, she's pretty cool.

[He tries to play it off, but his tone probably betrays the fact that he likes her quite a bit. They don't always have the most amiable conversations, but there's no denying that Regis is right - she cares quite a bit, and endears herself to many.]

Dunno about my style... I assumed it was more of a king thing. I grew up seeing you in this sort of stuff, y'know.

[And he isn't saying it directly, but he did just compare the cape to the feeling of home, so... take from that what you will, Dad.]

[carbungle]

Nah, that tracks. It's not like he's the easiest person to talk to even without all... that.

[That, as if attempted murder and thousand-year imprisonments can be so neatly summarized.]

fat fingered oops

[astralera]

I had no desire to be credited. Though... I would ask that if any small children happen to see it that you say it is from the Saint of Nymeia. [ Her cheeks colour, if only slightly. ] I made a handful of them to give to the young ones for Starlight, from the generous saint of my homeland.

[ He speaks of a fondness for Chocobos, and the place they hold in the hearts of those upon his world. It brings a smile to her lips, that there is another similarities between the Source and Eos that is not questionably unpleasant. ]

There is hardly a more noble companion in Eorzea. My dear Peki has saved my life more times than I can count, and many other soldiers and porters can say the same.

The stuffed toy is actually based upon Peki.

[ Regis' sheepishness reminds Era so strongly of Ardyn that she can't help the way her smile broadens, amused. ]

Your great-grandfather is certainly aware of such a fact. However much he distances himself from you in all other ways, his heart is filled with such love for you and yours.

[ She says it with confidence, though does not dare elaborate. What she says is evident enough, even without the Echo's insight — anything more would be overstepping further. ]

Carbuncle was my first friend. I do not know what it is like to not be connected to it so thoroughly, but am grateful my inexperience created a wonderful companion.

[ She gives Carbuncle's retreating figure a contemplative glance. ]

...With how excited it is, it would likely be my partner, as Carbuncle has already bothered your great-uncle tonight.

[iustaegis]

[ A game it is, and he’s smiling. That’s all the incentive she needs to continue. This is better than the waltz she had attempted to teach. But— she in turn is caught off guard by his spin of her, although she manages to salvage the end, coming back to him. To prevent her from smacking into him, she places a hand upon his chest.

She laughs anyway, moving that hand back to his shoulder. ] Ah— just like that...!

[ If he enjoys it this much, she considers shifting the lesson to time these improv moves with the music— which is what she’s going to do next with a quick step away followed by a pull to a turn, using the rhythm as guidance, her gown flowing about her ankles. He can follow her lead if he wants to, or if he’s feeling bold he can attempt to lead her.

Boogie woogie on the corner of the dance floor tonight, who says it has to be some old timey ceremonial dance? ]

[this_loser]

[Nah. He learned his birthday wasn't important when his parents decided it wasn't worth coming home for. If it even is his birthday. He has serious doubts.

He can't help but smile, invested in learning more about Cor.]

Well, this just means you have to throw him a party when his day comes around, right?

[scourgingstars]

I feel he's changed immeasurably. Then again, without a doubt we both have.

[iustaegis]

[ Once inside, he parts from her to undo the pins fastening the starry, sheer curtain. She carefully undoes one side of the pins; noticing his offer to help, she steps over to Somnus for him to assist with the other. The drape slips from her shoulders to pools into his hands once freed, still warmed by her body heat. When he lays that over his own upon the couch, she turns to slip her hand into his.

To his room they go, and...  nothing more to see here y'all BYEEE. ]

[iustaegis]

[ Those last words of him appear to satisfy. She comments softly, bringing a hand to her chest, ] Noble, selfless, ....wonderful.

[ Making sacrifices for the greater good, for others one barely knows yet cherishes all the same... is always a great virtue to be found in others. Especially when those sacrifices are made for the entirety of bringing in a peaceful world. ]

I... have to say. All of your family seem very selfless.

[meridio]

[ She slips out of his grasp. Facing Era, Somnus lowers his hands with a blink. The heavens . . .

He's going to have more than that to keep in mind. As much as he loves his family, there's a world—many worlds—beyond them. But he's neither blind nor deaf. Regardless of his opinion on the matter, he's seen the signs and heard the words for himself. Being reminded time and again of them is superfluous, if expected.

That being said, it's already been on his mind. It's one of two things that's been on his mind the entire day, and he'll have no trouble carrying it with him to this world's new year. His gaze lingers on Era for another moment before he nods and turns aside. ]

This marks the end of our dance. You have my thanks for demonstrating the steps.

[ He almost adds that her present was well-received. Seeing as Regis is around and bound to talk to her, though, there's no point in speaking on his grandson's behalf. ]

[carbungle]

[His smile shifts into a cheeky little grin. Maybe he can get the hang of this, if it's a little more... whimsical... than a traditional dance. He isn't brave enough to lead, certainly not so soon, but he'll do his best to follow her steps, either to echo her motions in kind or act with her in a way that feels halfway fitting.

It's clumsy and inexperienced, of course, but sometimes that just adds to the fun, and with all that fluttering fabric - between her dress and his cape - a lot of the fumbling is easy to miss.]

[carbungle]

It'd probably be hard to stay the same person, after thousands of years. I can't even imagine.

[He's twenty. A timeframe like that to be alive - or at least exist in some way - is unfathomable, and in truth pretty terrifying. As if the thought of dying wasn't scary enough as it is, but if the fate of their line is what Ardyn's been forced to experience, or getting trapped in the ring... yeah, no thank you.]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn answered with a vague hum of acknowledgement, scarred hands fidgeting restlessly before he settled on folding his arms.]

Is it...wrong, that it didn't hurt quite as much once I thought about it? I won't call any of what happened 'fair' and quite honestly I'm going to be upset about the whole matter on all sides for a long while. But once I actually paused to consider that we've both been existing in some fashion this entire time...I don't know, it feels cruel to say something like that made me begin to resent him a little less.

[iustaegis]

[ They'll continue like this for a time, with her remaining careful of her steps, while allowing him some room to try more on his own. It's not like anyone is paying attention, anyway; and even if others are... isn't the safest place to dance in the company of those of his family that won't judge?

Her touch slips from his shoulder down to his hand, and now she's holding both of his in hers. Time for a series of quick and fun turns, her hair whipping across her cheek in a fiery wave as they spin for the finale. It's wild and exhilarating, and the world, the people around them are blurs of color in her periphery. Noctis remains in focus through the whirl, and the open center between and the link of their hands, their grounding point.

Finally pulling back to him with a laugh, she laces her fingers through one of his hands, while the other finds its way to rest her arm over his shoulder. She settles in closer. Breathless at the end of the song, she finds herself giggling and only able to sway with him as the next song starts up. ]

[carbungle]

I don't think it's my call to say whether it's wrong or not.

[He's too far removed from that particular conflict to be anything more than an outside observer, witness only to each person's side and justification. The act itself was wrong, he can say that with confidence, and he's literally on a mission of retribution back home, so he can't fault anyone a bit of payback. But the degree of said revenge isn't up to him to decide, especially considering whose bloodline he primarily belongs to.]

Nobody would blame you for feeling that way, though. Not even Somnus, I bet. Sometimes... I dunno. It's easier to know that somebody else is hurting, too.

[Considering that finding out about Ardyn's past has helped him get through knowing what he becomes... yeah, he gets the feeling.]

[scourgingstars]

...I suppose so. It feels a bit too heartless to think of it that way, yet...maybe some vindictive part of me wants to think of it as even in a manner of speaking. And yet another part is almost envious that he was to stand sentinel over the kingdom and its line for so long while I...decidedly wasn't. Even in such a state...I would have dearly loved to be able to see such time pass by, even as a mere spectator.

[Ardyn sighed heavily, one hand resting on his hip and the other running through his hair in mild annoyance.]

But it doesn't matter, none of that does. It should never have come to this, and...he is yet my brother. I can't merely stand by feeling miserable while he's suffered and continues to do so in his typical absurdly stubborn manner.

[carbungle]

...Yeah. Kinda wish you had ended up in Lucis, instead of Niflheim. I think you'd have fit in just fine.

[What would it have been like, growing up with Ardyn around, just a normal part of the family rather than the Infernian-affected creep who stalked them all across the continent? Selfishly, he thinks it might have been a lot less lonely. Maybe he'd have had someone to properly teach him their family's magic, when his father couldn't spare the time, or teach him about the history of the world they'd all been unaware of for so long. Someone to keep an eye on him, stronger than his nanny or the Crownsguard. Maybe the attack would have gone differently and he wouldn't be such a half-baked version of what a Lucii should be. Would Niflheim have been as dangerous, with the immortal bearer of the Starscourge far away from whatever experiments they were running?

Maybe it would've been safer for everyone, Ardyn included. Better, with family.]

I know it's not the same or anything, but... I can't imagine giving up on Iggy, or Gladio, or Prompto, even if we had a falling out. You're not supposed to give up on people who're important enough to call your brothers, no matter what. So... I don't think you're wrong. For trying.

[scourgingstars]

...It would have been nice, wouldn't it?

[Lately he found himself considering such hypotheticals often; if things were different in such place, at such time, what kind of outcome would result? Ardyn wasn't exactly a mindreader in the traditional sense, but it was a similar sort of thing running through his own head. If he'd been found by Lucis for whatever reason, if he'd been welcomed as kindly as Regis had treated him upon his arrival in this city, what kind of life would he have had? Would it have ached less to be alone in a time period foreign to him, or would he have been able and allowed to live as something passing for human with his own family, however distant?]

[...There were brief moments when he wondered what that would have been like. watching the youngest of the line grow into a young man so unsettlingly like both Ardyn and his brother. If things could have been better for the child before him as well, somehow.]

There's not much else I can do. It's either make an effort and try to help the pair of us, or pretend I don't care and let resentment destroy me and likely harm him even further in the process. I don't want this chance to go to waste--I want to do all I can to improve things, however I'm capable.

[carbungle]

[Maybe that's the world changes they should be gunning for, Noctis is now going to wonder. So they can all still exist, maybe, but as better versions of themselves. Too idealistic, perhaps, but he'd like for a happy ending to be possible, without so much sacrifice.]

So... sounds like we just need to keep convincing Somnus to cooperate with that.

[Which means it'll be the stubbornness of one set of Lucis Caelums versus another. Yeah, this'll be so fun...]

[scourgingstars]

...I'm glad you think so as well. He seems so focused upon the way things should be that I don't know that he dares consider what could instead.

[The future he knew both too much and too little of...it didn't sit right with him by any means. But Somnus was right; it affected them all, and they would all have to agree on what to do if anything.]

[...Ultimately, Ardyn had a feeling it would come down to convincing the Founder himself, somehow.]

[carbungle]

He's probably thought that way for a long time. It must be hard to shake yourself out of believing it. Not like he's the only one with that problem.

[He gives Ardyn a pointed look. What with all of his worries about what he is and what he might do in the future, and how those things ought to dictate what he deserves in the here and now, they're like two peas in a pod.

And he hates peas, so stop that.]

[meridio]

[ . . . No reason.]

It's late. I should be on my way.

[scourgingstars]

...Are you sure? I'm quite certain the others would be glad to see you stay longer, as would I.

[meridio]

[Alas, it was the world's new year and past his bedtime. He was tired in more than one definition of the word.]

I did not come alone. It might be time that we retired from the festivities.

[carbungle]

[He usually has decent stamina, considering how often he's stuck in long fights or intense situations, but even he's a little breathless and pink-cheeked as they halt the whirlwind of nonsense moves they'd worked through and calm down, finally properly relaxed, holding her gently to support her slow sway. Seems she'd had just the right idea to ease him into it; nothing serious, with no obvious witnesses, and no restraints or rules. With that one dance over and shifting into something less energetic, he grins down at her.]

Don't think I'd be able to repeat those steps if someone asked me to.

[It had been absolute chaos from start to finish. Honestly, it was great.]

[iustaegis]

[ Whether it is from the dance itself or her giddiness, her chest rises and falls with a breath she’s yet to catch as she looks up at him. Pyra’s smile has yet to fade, although it does soften. ]

Improvisation.... is one-time only. That dance.... [ She continues to sway to the music with him. This is nice, too, she thinks. ] was only between us.

[ And cannot be repeated. Which means he can make another unique dance anywhere, anytime, with anyone. In a way it makes moments like these all the more precious. ]