hugtopia | Like thunder screaming out for a flash of lightning

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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?]

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[Somnus had been the one to stall their correspondence. Faced with the revelation that his brother would go so far as to seek divine intervention from another world, he'd been too overcome to formulate a timely response. He'd needed the afternoon to think—and he would have needed the evening, had it not been for Era.]

[Soon the twelfth hour was upon them. Following a delayed fire spell to a familiar back, he walked up to stand at his brother's side.]

Do you truly believe there can be another way?

[Ardyn's hands lowered to his pockets, eyes still turned skyward. Be patient, he reminded himself. Think about what you say and don't lose your temper, because you both want the same thing in the end.]

...Whether one exists or not is beyond the scope of my understanding. But I do think it would be foolish not to even consider trying to seek one out.

I cannot forsake certainty for mere possibility.

[He swallowed. No matter what, he couldn't gamble the future and their deliverance away. But he wasn't here to dash his brother's hopes.]

I will not dissuade you. I only ask that you not underestimate the power you seek.

[As for himself, he wasn't yet ready.]

I'm not forsaking anything. Merely looking for one possibility in itself does not in turn force anyone to take it.

[no one is instantly leaping to Fuck The Gods (yet), Somnus honey.]

...If any such miracle exists to be found, I suspect I'll need your help. Perhaps not now, certainly, but...I wish that you would but consider it. I can't do much alone.

[There will be no hecking of gods. Please, Ardyn, do not.]

[His misgivings were numerous, but it was true. There wasn't much anyone could accomplish alone.]

What say the others?

[He knew where Leonis stood. As for the rest, he wasn't as certain.]

'Twould have been wrong of me not to speak of it to you first, once the idea was formed in my head. Cor seems taken with the idea in his particularly stubborn way, at least.

[Too emotional, Somnus thought. The matter was too close to Leonis' heart, and that in and of itself was a risk. He breathed in through his nose, then out.]

The decision must be unanimous. If even one of us objects at any point in time, I will carry on.

But we need more information before anyone makes a case of sorts one way or the other.

[Much as he wanted to object...Somnus was right, and Ardyn knew it. The fate of their world affected all of them, and all of them needed to agree on a path if they were to take one at all.]

Even then, I trust you understand such a thing won’t be simply decided. There will no doubt be arguments and bickering no matter what, between those who trust in the Astrals’ plan and those who do not.

[Nothing was ever so easy, and dealing with a large-scale picture he didn’t fully understand Ardyn expected it would be a mess to sort out.]

...We haven’t the luxury of playing clear black and white sides any longer, brother. If any of us should object, then the least we can do is try to seek a course of action none of us will object to. Better that than allow one side to shut down the other with no other choice in sight.

[There was never a black nor white to this. It was just the Scourge and the prophecy. But now, there could be another variable . . . and the hardest one to convince would be none other than Somnus himself. He closed his eyes.]

It isn't a matter of trust, but of what must be done.

[This was an important distinction to make, lest they break off into sides that didn't matter in the end. There was a pause before he continued, softly:]

I pray that your search is a fruitful one. [He paused again.] When the time to make a case comes, I will listen.

[Ardyn's mouth pressed into a thin line for a moment as he bit back the impulse to argue; instead he took a slow breath and refocused himself. Patience, express yourself clearly, don't start a fight.]

[It was all harder to hold to than he thought it should have been, and he kept needing to remind himself.]

I do not wish or intend to argue with you anymore, brother, I ask this in full sincerity. Explain this to me, that I might understand. Why is it that a hypothetical change of course must be unanimous--a sentiment I fully agree with--but to continue forth upon this path does not? Should the fate of our world and whatever actions are taken to reach it not be decided by all involved regardless, given such chance as we may have?

My present is the future of those who've been summoned to this world. The path we walk now was prophesied long ago by the gods, by whose grace our world will see the dawn. It falls on us to pay the price for those who yet remain.

[And for him, that price was on the verge of being paid in full. Decisions had already been made by those involved in the time preceding the moment of his last memory.]

The very same gods that gave me the power to do naught but destroy myself in the guise of a savior.

[His voice was very steady as he pointed that out; Ardyn himself still wasn't sure what he felt about that concept.]

I find myself beginning to question why the suffering of unaware sacrifices is deemed necessary to save the world.

We were all unaware. Until the Oracle, it was unheard of for the gods to commune with us.

[How ironic, then, that they should both receive the prophecy from the mouth of the Draconian himself. For his brother, that had to have been what had happened that fateful day on Insomnia.]

I can't explain why we were kept in the dark. [Perhaps they believed it to be a merciful illusion of control.] But no salvation comes without sacrifices.

I know there will be no simple answer, no matter how long we may or may not search and however many paths we may or may not choose. Whatever the course of action, someone will no doubt suffer for it.

[...It occurred to Ardyn for a brief moment that 'someone' may very well have ended up being him, all things considered.]

But I can fault the sacrifice of the unaware and thus unwilling. And I will question if a world saved by the blood of unwilling sacrifices is truly the act of benevolent gods at all. Yes, of course I am aware that one or a handful of lives--should things truly be so dire--may not outweigh millions more. I know that, even should I detest it. But I can't-...

[He took a slow breath, shaking hands clenched into tight fists.]

...I can't tolerate such a thing. Not-

[His voice cracked harshly, and in a flash he'd grabbed Somnus' collar--but only for a moment, pulling him into a sudden and unexpected (for both of them, honestly) hug.]

They should have at least told us. Both of us. You've been...suffering as well, all this time. I don't know who's even to blame for this whole situation any longer, but--despite everything, I can't forgive even the gods for allowing that much.

[His breath caught when he was seized by the collar of his tunic. Staring wide-eyed at the night sky over his brother's shoulder, he stood slack in the unexpected embrace.]

[No, the gods had been under no obligation to tell them anything. Somnus' face went slack, and he continued to gaze into the darkness with half-lidded eyes. As unwilling as the others might be, he wasn't. Since the day he'd received Bahamut's revelation, he'd been a willing participant of the prophecy. That meant he was culpable. Reflecting on all of this, his expression took on a mournful turn.]

[His hands twitched at his sides. The hug wasn't warm. But these arms wrapped around him and those hands on his back—they belonged to his brother, who gave them willingly.]

[What could he say?]

Brother . . .

...I meant every word, alright? I'm still angry, but...I should have been looking out for you, and our falling out was something we're both accountable for.

[There was still resentment and pain from having been cast down and left in the dark to be forgotten, to be sure. He was exhausted beyond measure and for now, beyond forgiveness. But ultimately, that didn't change the heart buried under shadow and fury.]

I don't know what will happen from here, if things will unfold and I'm told or if there's any better outcome to find for all of us. But regardless of where our next steps lead, I swear I won't fight against you any longer on the matter even if we should disagree. A monster I may be, but I am not yet what the future claims I will become. And this person with you now...yet loves you, little brother.

[He would never be forgiven. What he did was, after all, unforgivable. Somnus had accepted the resentment long before the fact.]

[Closing his eyes, he raised his arms—so numb to the point they nearly trembled—and, after another moment of hesitation, rested his hands on the broad, all too familiar back he'd been chasing since childhood. He'd stopped chasing it millennia ago, and he wouldn't be chasing it again. But now, perhaps, he could look at his brother's face and see something other than foreboding contempt, even if he wasn't summoned to this world for self-indulgence.]

I'm sorry.

I know.

[Ardyn's voice was quiet--sincere and honest, his own hold on Somnus loose enough for his brother to step back if he wished it.]

I am, as well. I can't answer it yet...but it means a great deal to me that you would say as much.

That isn't necessary.

[Apologies weren't obligated to be answered. They were meant for the receiving party, not the offering.]

[The hold loosened, serving as cue for Somnus to do the same and step back. Despite his fanciful thoughts earlier, his gaze impulsively dropped to eye level at his brother's chin.]

What I did to you was unforgivable. I'll apologize as many times as you want, but a reply is unnecessary.

...I only wanted to hear it once. We've both suffered enough for lifetimes upon lifetimes; punishing ourselves further will accomplish naught. Unforgivable or not, I'll care about you regardless.

[But was once enough, he thought sulkily. For him, it was never about punishing himself, but about what was right. He swallowed and looked aside, exposing the side of his face that had been hidden throughout the conversation.]

...Is th-

[Ardyn leaned over to get a better look at his shorter brother's face, barely managing to repress a laugh at the mark of red lipstick left behind.]

Oh--oh my, brother dear, I had no idea you were so popular lately.

[You will never live this down.]

[Popular? His brow furrowed as he angled his head toward his brother.]

What do you mean?

[Ardyn reached out and smudged the lipstick mark Era had left on Somnus' face, holding up his now red-stained hand with what could only be described as a shit-eating grin.]

[...He might have missed teasing his brother.]

[Somnus squinted at the stain on his brother's hand. The color was difficult to make out at first with the myriad spells mixing in the air. Once he recognized the shocking red, however, he looked at the grin on his brother's face, straightened, and gave the house a sidelong glance.]

It was Era.

Like thunder screaming out for a flash of lightning

Bee

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