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]

I don't know about that, but I'll take it.

[Not so much a protest as an awkward deflection. Whether they deserve it or not, he's grateful for second chances, for sure.]

Feels kind of weird for things to be peaceful enough to celebrate. Until we got here, I can't remember the last time I saw fireworks.

[scourgingstars]

I can't say I ever have, myself. But I am considering myself lucky to finally see things peaceful enough to warrant celebration at all.

[carbungle]

That's a good thing.

[Especially with all of the grimdark conversations that have been had lately, by chance or by necessity.

He glances sidelong at the other man.]

Doing okay? With everyone here?

[scourgingstars]

...I think so.

[He understood the unspoken meaning, but...for now, things were alright. Better than he expected, certainly.]

Thank you. I think perhaps...your advice may have helped a bit.

[carbungle]

[There's a pause for a moment, as those words sink in.]

...Huh. First for everything.

[He's certainly not the one usually giving advice.]

S'good to hear, though. Everyone's kind of rooting for you guys, you know?

[scourgingstars]

I'm sorry?

[he was aware that family drama was kind of everyone's problem, but didn't realize it was currently everyone's problem.]

What do you mean?

[carbungle]

...Dude, come on. You think we don't all know what's going on?

[Maybe not in great detail - and to varying degrees, depending on who you talk to - but you'd have to be a fool not to assume there'd be lingering conflict. And their family can be idiots but they're not stupid. ...Which definitely makes sense if you know them.]

[scourgingstars]

Sorry. I hope it hasn't troubled any of you overmuch, I know it's...

['the background noise of the past two millennia']

...complicated.

[carbungle]

Nobody's looking for apologies. And even if we were you don't owe us any. Not like you can help it.

[He shrugs. What could they expect, that he snap his fingers and instantly forgive and forget? People don't work like that. He knows he sure as hell couldn't do it.]

More like... you know. We're worried about you. [You. Him. Both.]

[scourgingstars]

...I'll be fine. It's him that I'm more worried about.

[carbungle]

You're worried about Somnus? Why?

[scourgingstars]

...Have you spoken to him lately?

[Like. C'mon, Noct. He's got more walls up than Insomnia.]

[carbungle]

...Okay, yeah. [Fair.] He's here, though. That's a pretty big deal.

[scourgingstars]

He is, and I'm grateful for that even if he likely had to be physically dragged most of the way. He could benefit from a few particularly patient and stubborn friends.

[carbungle]

He's got a few of those people around. The friend part's a work-in-progress.

[Somnus would have those if he let himself.]

At least he's serious about family. I didn't expect that.

[scourgingstars]

I expected differently from him myself. A pleasant surprise that I should be proven wrong, to be sure.

[carbungle]

That's good. Means progress happened.

[He gives Ardyn a searching look.]

And you talked to him?

[scourgingstars]

We did manage to speak without throttling one another, yes.

[carbungle]

[omg.

Noct actually smiles at that, like a big dork.]

That's awesome.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn laughed softly into his hand, looking off to the side.]

It's...not a simple situation by any means. But it's already an immeasurable improvement, I think. I've you and the others to thank for that, for my part.

[carbungle]

Take some credit, though. You still had to do it yourself.

[It's good to know that his pestering helped in some way, at least. He'll remember that.]

[scourgingstars]

It isn't as though I didn't want to talk to him, despite everything. I just didn't want to argue anymore.

[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.]

[scourgingstars]

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

[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.]