hugtopia | Like thunder screaming out for a flash of lightning

[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?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hehehe~ ♥ I don't know, did I? I could always go give your present to him, if you really don't want it.....

[He may not be quite as fun to tease as Cor, considering he doesn't get flustered nearly as easily, but at least he gladly plays along? Will wags the gift at Reggie, grinning in return.]

[Regis watches the present as Will wiggles it and then sighs and holds out his hand. There is a sincere tone in his voice when he speaks.]

You know that you didn't have to bring me anything. I am just glad you are here and happy.

Oh, I know. But if you had your way, nobody would celebrate you at all! And how tragic would that be?

[Have a sly smile as he offers the gift over. It's fairly large, but thin--about the size of a good sketchbook page, plus the most cringeworthy, overly ornate frame he could find. The drawing of Regis in full awful Ribbon Festival attire, complete with a ridiculous dramatic pose, is similarly gaudy and tacky, full of incredibly bright, clashing colors that surely would have given Mors a coronary if he'd gotten a good look at it. And yet, for how absurd the whole thing is, the art actually is surprisingly good. Clearly, he poured a fair bit of time and care into this, even if his main goal was just to make Reggie laugh.]

Besides, this can count as a housewarming gift, too. You can't argue with loopholes, riiiiiiight~?

[Regis is about to say it wouldn't be all that tragic in his opinion, but in the end he can't argue the loophole that Will is using, so he just sighs in resignation and takes the package. At first he opens it slowly, uncertain of what it is and not wanting to damage it, but once he begins to figure it out, he can't help but tear the paper away a little more quickly. The picture's outlandish style and bright colors make him laugh long and hard before he leans forward and presses a quick, grateful kiss to Will's cheek.]

This is amazing! Cor will never let me hang it out here, but it will definitely go up in my room. Is this your work?

[Mission accomplished! Will just beams to see Regis so delighted, accepting his adorable reward smooch with a hum of satisfaction.]

It is~ ♥ Maybe that will help convince Cor to let you display it?

[Even he has to laugh at the suggestion. Cor would have to be color blind to allow it, right?]

It's quite good. You can tell that it is how it is purposefully and such a stylistic touch is hard to master.

[Regis falls quiet for a moment, considering it.]

Perhaps if we both use puppy dog eyes on him, but honestly, most of the effort would be yours. He's grown quite immune to mine. Kisses might work better.

Why, thank you~ You did say most of the portraits you had to sit for were too stuffy; I thought you might appreciate one that wasn't. And you didn't even have to sit and pose!

[Between taking care of his entire team, training to keep in top form, his work as an Elite, and the duties that come with being one off the battlefield--to say nothing of carving time out for interacting with the media and his fans? There's no way he ever would be able to practice art consistently back home. He's had a little more time to do so here, but considering how little real experience he has? He's pretty proud of how it came out! The frame really brings a much needed finishing touch, too.]

Of course he's going to grow immune to your puppy eyes if you don't save them for when you really need them. You have to use them sparingly to keep him from building up a tolerance!

My neck is eternally grateful. Honestly, if I'm going to get a crick in it, I would rather get it leaning over a pile of documents than sitting stiffly for a portrait that won't even really look that much like me in the end.

[No royal portrait he's seen has been all that accurate except for his father's, but then again, it's not like there ever was all that much light and life to capture there and that is always what seems to be missing from those formal portraits in Regis' opinion.]

Will, darling, I've known him almost all his life. There is no way he wouldn't have grown immune to mine even if I hardly used them at all.

[Do notice that there is no denial of over use. Just the mentioned inevitability of immunity.]

Ahahaha! So you do admit it!

[He's on to you, mister. No wonder Cor can stoneface puppy eyes so effortlessly!]

Sounds like we'll have our work cut out for us, then. But you know, I'd rather you not get a crick in your neck at all.

[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.

[Will just snorts in amusement at that, smirking as he drapes over Regis' chest. He has to feel sorry for any advisor trying to make the man doing anything he doesn't already want to do.....]

You're welcome~ ♥ Are you sure I'm not just the only one too stubborn for him to fend off?

Will! Come now!

[Regis tries to sound shocked, but it's really hard to do that when someone is draped over you as Will is.]

You say that as if he doesn't think I'm the most stubborn man on the planet.

[Considering how Cor feels for you, Regis, you're kinda just proving Will's point.]

Hehehe~ I don't think plausible deniability can save this one. That just sounds like rock solid proof he loves stubborn people, if you ask me.

[Regis can't help but chuckle at that, using a hand to gently push a few strands of hair out of Will's face.]

Please, I would know better than to use plausible deniability in a situation like this. Perhaps the only one who might believe me would be Verstael.

[AKA: Someone who knew them almost not at all, though even Verstael might disagree just on principle.]

[Oh, Reggie let him perch on your lap and is petting him? If he was planning to use this as an excuse to sit and avoid mingling for a bit, he's brilliant; Will is only too glad to lean into the touch and enjoy having the birthday boy to himself for a bit.]

Just imagining you trying to convince him.....

Like thunder screaming out for a flash of lightning

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