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

[unsunderworld]

Better to say that I can tell when she does not, for such times are rare indeed.

[And clearly to be enjoyed, whether as an observer or participant, from the soft set of his features.]

[iustaegis]

[ She blinks, looking at him, only then to breathe out slowly. Rarer still are those who wear no masks at all, perhaps. ]

You are very lucky to see her without, then.

[flawed_immortality]

[Cor hesitates for a moment, breath catching when Regis' fingers touch his lips, pursing them slightly to kiss the tips of his King's fingers.]

Mea vita... [A pause, hopeful but cautious.] Is it... too much?

[carbungle]

[The implication hangs unspoken between them, and after a moment he nods his head, briefly closing his eyes. Yeah... this one's theirs. Even they couldn't recreate it together if they tried, which means it lives in the moment. There's something quietly special about that.]

Hey, Pyra... thanks. [His voice is unusually soft, the awkward discomfort of when they'd begun at last lifted from his tone.] You managed to teach me a dance after all.

[iustaegis]

[ She does not miss the softness in his voice, and for a moment she appears about to say something.

The moment passes, and her touch slips from his. ] Maybe the king you are... doesn’t follow any rigid dance. [ The ceremony, the rigidity of formal movements— while he’s certainly capable of learning it, it doesn’t seem quite him, and there’s no real reason for him to not do what he wishes. ] You’re allowed to make your own.

[ Her smile, of an indiscernible sort, remains for him. Softly, ]

Happy New Year, Noct.

[ Dances are often intimate. This is why she draws away and ends this one with a platonic raise of her hand, ready for that signature fist-bump of his. ]

[carbungle]

[He'd like that; to be a different kind of king, if he's ever given the chance. He knows the generations before, now, better than just the stories told. Somnus, with his grim distance, doing what needs to be done for the kingdom no matter how cruel it is or how it hurts him. His grandfather, cold and impersonal, so bound up in his duties he turned a child into a weapon, who hated what his son loved because it wasn't royal. And growing up, a prince all but locked in a tower, safeguarded but hungry for more. He'd watched his father trapped behind his own wall, his life slowly siphoned away, the pressures of the kingdom forcing him to stand apart from everyone, even his own child.

He thinks about when he'd been happiest, in his life. Running away from the Citadel through the underground tunnels with Ignis in tow. Hanging out with Prompto, never so much as a "Your Highness" between them unless it was a joke. Fishing trips with Gladio. When he was out among his own citizens, working with shelters for humans and animals alike, or with kids, or just meeting people who have no access to the castle that loomed huge and frightful over their homes. They loved the Lucis line, they loved the king and all he did for them. But between the war and the wall he had as little time for them as he did for his son. That never felt right, to him.

Outside the city hardly anyone knew who he was. They called him by his name, or "hunter", or "kid", and it was nice. The title didn't hang between them like a noose. He wants to be the king that people can talk to, who look at him and don't just see a crown. His father had broken down a few of the walls Mors had built up around them, and now with the wall fully gone, if he ends the war, all that will be gone. The rules have changed.

He can be the kind of king he needs to be, the kind they need him to be.]

Here's to the next one.

[There's no hesitation as he bumps his fist to hers, smiling in a way that could almost be hopeful. He's looking forward to it.]

[iustaegis]

[ Her knuckles remain pressed against his for a moment longer before she pulls her touch away. It’s nearing midnight. Time for him to mingle with his family.... and hopefully, have his own dance with Luna.

She turns, but not giving him one more farewell for the night, her smile easily coming to her. ]

I’ll see you next year.

[ With that, she parts from his company. ]

[wifeacle]

[She is also currently in possession of a giant spaghetti fork that she has no idea how to actually use for anything other than a distraction as she parkours away.

Those words get a soft chuckle because he's still probably sneaking over for Ignis' cooking. Nothing will ever stop that.]

Well then, I would say it's very much time that poor Ignis received a break. Caring for a Noctis is a very tiring job.

[wifeacle]

[Pyra please god do not start copying anything that Somnus does. Especially not his sense of fashion or the lack thereof.]

I was born a princess of Tenebrae before it was seized by the Empire.

[iustaegis]

[ Whatttttttttt

Wow a real life princess. In retrospect, she should have guessed. ]

....I......I'm incredibly honored to know you. [ Should she call her Princess Luna now? ] Princess Luna.

[wifeacle]

[Please don't start bowing to her too that will just be awkward she's not really even a princess anymore.]

Most call me Lady Lunafreya now. But please, you may always call me Luna. All of my friends do so.

[Okay so they all called her Lunafreya but the nickname came from Noctis so of course she likes it.]

[iustaegis]

[ What can do but smile at that. What an honor. ]

Luna, then.

It seems that... neither you, Noctis, or Regis mind being called without your titles.

[ Truly a family. ]

[kingkingcxiii]

[Regis bows his head slightly at the compliments, embarrassed by it all.]

There are those who give more than I do every day and are never recognized for it. This is the least I can do for them, though I know once my son is born it will be harder to give as much as I do. I am going to want to spend so much time with him and I already wish I did not lose so much time that could have been spent with my wife.

[So, he is no saint. Merely a man doing what has to be done like his family has done for centuries.]

When Bahamut appointed us so long ago, we were not appointed as rulers, but protectors. This is something the whole line has lived by, even those who lived before the appointment was made.

[Ardyn and Somnus were the originators of that trait in the line, though Regis would have never known that without having come here. He had been ready to hate Somnus for what he did to Ardyn, but after speaking with the Founder King, he had come to realize how much Somnus had given in his own way. In fact, it actually had caused him to wonder a time or two, if his own father's cold distance had been his own form of sacrifice. There is no way to know, of course, as Regis has no doubt that even if given the change, Mors would not defend himself. He never thought he needed to.]

We are stewards over Lucis and the Crystal until the time the True King is born and all of Eos can once again view the dawn.

[kingkingcxiii]

Perhaps there is something to being the birthday boy after all.

[Regis chuckles and then raises his glass.]

To the coming year, then. Let it bring us more answers than questions.

[scourgingstars]

And may it come with more friends than enemies.

[cheers mate]

[kingkingcxiii]

[Regis sighs, though he is grinning at the same time.]

Kings admit to nothing. It messes with plausible deniability and our advisors hate it when we do that.

[His expression becomes more serious then.]

I am sure we will figure something out. Thank you, Will. Truly, you are very caring and sweet under that exuberant exterior. No wonder Cor fell so hard for you.

[kingkingcxiii]

[Regis lifts one of his hands to flick at a space a short distance above his head right where a certain pair of animals ears sat for a while.]

I do rather miss the fox ears, actually. They were a wonderful conversation starter.

[And they seemed to delight Noctis. Regis is going to cherish that memory for quite some time.]

How about you? Were you able to escape the rest of the drinks' effects?

[kingkingcxiii]

[Regis lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding when Cor repeats the words. He then closes his eyes and spends a few seconds just savoring the sound of the words. His eyes only open again when Cor asks his question.]

No, no.

[He shakes his head, a sheepish smile crossing his face.]

I...merely was afraid I had misheard you.

[iustaegis]

[ Sounds like he's referring to the prophecy involving Noctis, and he speaks so proudly of it. Yet there are those here that appear adamant on changing the future, or the past, of his world... ]

The dawn.... [ She says slowly, bringing a hand up to her chest. Her eyes flick away from him, before returning back to meet his gaze, sympathetic. Her smile is gentle, hopeful.

Noctis had said he finds dawn beautiful. ]

The future... The world. They are precious. They are deserving of unconditional protection. [ A beat. ] Do you, too, wish to protect it, with all of your heart?

[kingkingcxiii]

[The look on Regis' face makes it clear that he doesn't like the train of thought that Verstael is on. Even more than that, he cannot find a reason why that train of thought might be wrong, especially not with so much proof being placed in front of them. Of course, the part of his mind that has to consider all possibilities reminds him they could just be misunderstanding something, but at the same time, the secrecy the natives are working with leads to misunderstanding very easily.

The initial results they are getting from looking into the names of the missing gods only supports this, though he dearly hopes they may find more information before they are done.]

I am sure if this has not crossed your mind, it has crossed the minds of your fellows, but can you imagine how much it would help the Empire if they could isolate what it is about the Lucis Caelum bloodline that allows us to use the Crystal's power so freely? It is true the goal of the scientists here may be more general, but were they able to find a way to use the Crystal's magic as we do, it would allow them to lighten the strain their healing gods are currently under, and the Lucis Caelum line is only one with great power that has representatives here.

[original_is_best]

That begs the question: have they requested that you use your powers?

I, too, thought my purpose obvious when I was first brought here. Many of the problems they face are issues I have unrivaled experience with. But rather than ask my assistance they lock me out.

[A frustrating thing, to be forced to sit by and watch them bungle things up when he knew he could figure it out.]

[kingkingcxiii]

[Thanks to that comparison, Regis does, in fact, link the two and a soft, pleased smile crosses his face. It is there for only a moment, though, before becoming something more amused.]

Do yourself a favor, son.

[He places a hand on Noctis' shoulder and gives it a squeeze.]

When you design your royal attire, don't give into the designers and their lines about layers making you seem larger and more impressive. Presence alone can do that. All the layers do is make your shoulders and back ache after a long day.

[kingkingcxiii]

[...

They really need to get you some training with that spaghetti fork, Luna, so if nothing else, it can be a help as you parkour away.

And yes, Regis agrees completely with that. After all, Ignis' cooking is amazing!]

It is, but it is also a rewarding one. I suspect if we tried to give Ignis a break for too long, he would rebel against us.

[meridio]

I drank only the tea. Noctis insisted I try another, but I refused.

[Predictably, it was the drink that would've sprouted animal parts somewhere on his person. The world may never know what sort of ears Somnus might have had.]

[kingkingcxiii]

[Regis takes a moment to pull the plush out of the Armiger where he put it for safety earlier. He looks it over again as she speaks of the animal it was based on and can't help but give it a little hug before returning it to the safety of that little pocket of space again.]

If that is what you wish, then I will make sure it is done. It is a wonderful representation of a marvelous animal. People always underestimate chocobos because of how often they are associated with children, but I have seen them face down terrible creatures many times their size to give their rider a chance to recover or escape.

[He pauses a moment, as an idea strikes him.]

Would it be all right if I named the chocobo after the one who inspired him? That way, whenever someone asks me about the name, I can tell them of your brave companion?

[For a moment, as Era is speaking of Somnus, Regis thinks he catches sight of his ancestor moving from one room of the house to another, but he moves like a ghost, even now that he has a physical body, so he is there and gone again before Regis can properly focus on him.]

I was ready to hate him when I heard what he had done to Ardyn, but even though my rule is only beginning I know well what it is like to make hard decisions. None have been so hard as he had to make, but it made me want to hear his side once he arrived here. In the end, I could not hate him. Not when I see how much blame he carries upon his shoulders. Even if forgiveness were to come from Ardyn, our Founder would never forgive himself. Adding blame on top of that would be like dripping water onto the face of a drowning man.

[Futile, and a waste of time that could be used to save said man instead.]

In that case, I shall make certain to find something Ardyn can use to brush that fur away, though with his hair color, it might not be necessary. Is your partner so lucky?