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]

Must count to someone.

[Considering they're all here, having a party. Even if it wasn't a celebration for the new year, they'd absolutely still be doing something.]

This was a gift, actually... no digging needed. Still trying to figure out if it suits me.

[Regal means kingly, and he's certainly not that. Leave that to his dad and Somnus.]

[kingkingcxiii]

A little redheaded bird told me it was Cor, but don't tell him I know.

[Regis laughs then. As if he wouldn't have figured it out even if Ardyn had said nothing.]

A gift? From Lunafreya perhaps? She does have good taste when it comes to things to do with you.

[carbungle]

You're not wrong there. Wasn't Luna, though. Pyra gave it to me, except it was kind of...

[He makes a little wobbly-hand gesture. Yeah, you know what, there's no polite way around it.]

...Okay, it was with a robe kinda thing. Toga. Like Somnus wears. Not my style, but... I kinda like this, maybe? Makes me think of home.

[kingkingcxiii]

Pyra? Why, I just met her tonight. She is a delightful young woman. Caring in a way that few seem to be anymore.

[When Noctis finally spits out how the outfit was originally put together, Regis has to lift his hand to cover the amused smile that crosses his face. It probably gives him away more than it hides anything, but he did, at least, make the effort.]

This does seem to be more your style and if it reminds you of home, then you should not sound so uncertain about liking it. I am not being biased when I say you look very good in it. It matches you in a way that I have seen nothing do so before.

[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.]

[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.

[carbungle]

[At his father's words, he smiles, leaning subtly into the touch.]

Yeah, I get that. When we were getting our gear designed for the trip, people kept trying to throw more layers on, or padding, or tighten the pants of all things- to "properly represent the royal line"... but I needed something I could actually move in.

[And good thing he managed to say no- not only was he already recognizable enough out there while he was on the run, but they were fighting constantly. Any fancy outfit they'd thrown on him would have gotten stuffed in the Regalia's trunk by the time they hit Hammerhead.]

[kingkingcxiii]

[Regis nods, satisfied with that answer, hand remaining on Noctis' shoulder.]

And don't let your Shield convince you otherwise no matter how many 'kicked puppy dog' looks he gives you.

[Clarus was his downfall. What can he say? The look that man gave him at the very suggestion that there might be a time he actually had to fight in all that. A Shield not there to fight instead? Blasphemy!

Of course, they were both a lot younger and more idealistic then.]

[carbungle]

[Noctis scoffs lightly at that, self-indulgently shifting to stand a little closer to his father.]

Yeah, Gladio doesn't really do kicked puppy, plus he couldn't lecture me for that one. He wears way less than I ever would. ...Actually, it's hard to imagine his dad doing that, either.

[Most of the men in his life, young and old, were so often stern and serious. They had good reason of course, with the state of the country and the war, but like with Regis himself it makes it difficult to believe the more easygoing personalities they'd had in the past. Sort of like hearing that Cor used to be a spitfire- the reality he knows doesn't match with the picture they're painting. He wishes he could have seen it.]

[kingkingcxiii]

Can't keep a shirt on to save his life, hmm? I'm starting to think that might be genetic.

[Granted, it does give a potential attacker a great eye view of what they would have to go through to get to him, but skin isn't very bulletproof.]

I never found out what exactly his wife threatened him with but after he took the second bullet for me, he started wearing a bit more protective clothing.

[carbungle]

I wish I could say that was a lesson Gladio learned, but no such luck. He left for some crazy trial at one point and came back a week later with this huge scar across his chest, looking about as proud as a racing chocobo in 1st. Just made him go shirtless more to show it off.

[Trying to give his prince a complex about muscles, probably.]