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

[kingkingcxiii]

Fairly well so far. Only so much devoted to my birthday. It's the most I can hope for.

[Regis unwraps one hand from the warm drink he's holding and motions for Somnus to come over and join him. There's really no reason to hide the fact he would have rather his birthday not be mentioned at all. Somnus is one of those who knows well how he feels about the whole thing.]

I hope it hasn't been too hard on you. Thank you for coming.

[meridio]

[Indeed, Regis would rather that everyone celebrate the new year instead. But his loved ones think differently, and Somnus, in spite of his understanding, has a present to deliver. Stepping closer, he calls upon the handmade plush chocobo with a crimson bow from his Armiger and holds it out to Regis.]

From Era.

[At least he won't mention the birthday in words. As for him, the evening isn't worth mentioning.]

[kingkingcxiii]

Aera? Was she not able to make it? I know I saw Ardyn earlier.

[Of course, Regis doesn't know that he has made an innocent mistake with two like sounding names. After all, despite not seeing her when Ardyn arrived, he assumed that Aera would not be far behind her beloved redhead.]

It's adorable. Goodness, I don't think I've had a stuffed animal since the carbuncle that Sylva's mother sent to me disappeared. I was so young then. You will thank her for me, won't you? This is amazingly well-made.

[And it is definitely going to take over one of the armchairs in his room.]

[meridio]

[He angles his head to the side at the mention of his brother. True, his brother and Era are friends. Still, the correlation is strange. Unless . . .

In Somnus' eyes, Regis is still far too young. He straightens.]

Look for a black dress, and you will find her.

[kingkingcxiii]

A black dress? All right.

[There are no shortages of people wearing black this night, but he knows who he is looking for, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?

He gives the chocobo one more look, bopping its beak lightly before sliding it into his own Armiger so that nothing happens to it before he can take it to his room.]

Do you plan on slipping away now that your have completed your task?

[meridio]

[Only, Regis will not find Aera in a black dress here. Oops.

In any case, slipping away was the plan. Evidently, Regis doesn't approve.]

Do you have need of me?

[kingkingcxiii]

Need? No, but I thought it might be nice to speak with you. It has been a little while since we last talked.

[And Somnus was kind of under the influence of a truth serum then.]

[meridio]

[Fortunately, Regis understands boundaries and is of an understanding nature himself. He's also much more sociable than Somnus, who's spent the better part of his existence as a task-oriented being.]

How have you fared in the city?

[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?

[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' expression turns guilty for a moment, and he looks away, coughing into his hand.]

Apologies. That may have been my doing. I hope he didn't bother you too much.

[Alas and alack, no cat-eared Somnus for their amusement.]

[meridio]

[Of course it was. Somnus won't be surprised—perhaps concerned instead—if they're compensating here for all the times duty came and will come between them on Eos.]

He is no bother. We were bound by the natives.

[Which meant that they had time to kill together, and those drink booths are everywhere.]

[kingkingcxiii]

[Make up for lost time? Would they really do that?

Worry, Somnus. Worry.]

Ah yes. Cor and I ended up bound together as well. At least it happened while we were checking out empty businesses for our store. It didn't slow us down much at all.

[meridio]

You mean to open a store.

[It's not something he imagined their line doing, but that doesn't make it a bad thing.]