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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[ Her lips, parted as if she has a lingering protest, close as she blinks and turns her gaze away from him.

Luna. Luna. Something worrisome happens to her, she knows this from their last conversation. He say she has time but he doesn't, and now he's squandering it away with her. His hesitance will cost him. Out of all the things to fear in the world, from whatever power he's also afraid to acknowledge and claim, dancing with the one he loves should not be among them.

"I've known how I feel for a long time."

There hadn't even been a chance. ]

Then you should dance something else with her.

I'd probably step all over her toes. I don't actually know any other dances...

[It really wasn't his thing back home, and those who tried to teach him years ago didn't get very far with it.]

Ah... [ ....Is this okay for her to offer? But if she doesn't, then he really won't dance with Luna and that's just. Not good. He has to get on that. ]

I know one other dance that I've learned from another here. [ She pauses again. ] It is a waltz. It's simple to learn. If you'd like, I can... guide you through the steps.

[ Here and now, to see if he might actually like trying to properly learn it. ]

[Noctis pauses, glancing over to the designated dancing area, then down at her feet.]

...How durable are your boots?

[He's not going to make any promises on how they'll survive this experience.]

[ She might be wearing this thin tunic but her shoes are the same as ever. Definitely not suited for a party, but they are solid in material.

She quirks a brow, smiling. ] You believe you’ll be that bad, mm?

[ Softly, ] We don’t need to practice here, where everyone might see you... if you want.

[He pauses at that, looking almost guilty- because it's true, the temptation to bail is predictably there. He looks out across the collection of guests again, seeking a face that is absent for the moment.]

...She... might like it. If I surprised her.

[They've never shared a dance. Before their reunion in this place, it'd been 12 long years, and last they met he hadn't been able to walk. Since then, he'd never had much cause or interest in learning. But, maybe...]

[ Quietly, she offers her arm. ]

When you are ready...

[ He can lead them to this open floor, or they can go somewhere private to practice and then he can return to dance with Luna in front of his family. ]

[He takes her arm, and there's that same temptation again. A secret spot where no one else is hanging out, to fumble privately. But he's trying, okay? He's trying.

....He's not trying that, hard, though, so he finds a middle ground- a tucked away corner near but not part of the main floor, so they're not hiding but not immediately visible.]

It, uh. Wouldn't be much of a surprise if she saw it first.

[THE PERFECT EXCUSE...!]

[ Once led to their semi-private spot, her arm unlinks from his to take his hand into hers. ] This is the only other dance I've learned from someone here. It's called a waltz, and...

[ Her other hand guides his to her waist before lifting hers back to place it upon his shoulder. Pyra instructs him further that he can move that hand upon her waist to her back, if he wishes. Properly, a waltz should be done with his hand placed at the middle of her upper back, but she does not know this.

After all this, Pyra raises her gaze to meet his, her expression patient. ] It starts by holding each other like this.

[ She pauses here, watching him to make sure he's comfortable with this much. ]

[He may surprise her; when his hands are guided he instinctively shifts his hand up nearer to the proper spot, brows furrowed as he considers the pose and posture. They've danced once already, so holding her at least isn't uncomfortable. ]

This feels familiar. Specs might've tried to show me one kinda like this before, but I couldn't hold the poses.

[The dance had been too stiff, too much posturing. If he had to learn a dance like that it ought to be the one that would be necessary in his future. (At least, it had been at the time.)]

How's it go?

[ Properly in position now to begin the dance, she begins with a step outwards. ] In counts of three and...

[ And here are the instructions of the dance, her gently guiding him along for the first few steps slowly. She allows them space between them so that he might look down between them at his feet if needed. If they ever get to actually performing the dance, she will step up close to him. For now, however--

It's after repeating the first turn that she smiles at him, her hand still holding his to keep their leading arms in position. ] It's not... too difficult, isn't it? [ Basically a series of turns, counted in three-fourths time. ]

[He is indeed looking down at his feet, wary of stepping on her or losing his footing. At her question, he briefly looks up, his expression very serious, like it's taking all his focus not to stumble through it.]

No, it's... well, kind of. It isn't that complicated, but... will you believe it's harder because it's so slow? I'm used to going a lot faster, like in a fight. Dancing's hard because it's all specific steps, and delicate.

[He can't just fling around his partner the same way he dances through the air in battle.]

[ Like in a fight-- ] Fighting can be considering like dancing, or so I've heard others say of certain styles...

[ Especially with more fluid ones. It provides for a very intimate experience. Yet in a dance, there is no threat of death or harm-- or shouldn't be; it should be stress-less, without the high-stakes of an actual battle.

She thinks that, but he looks like he's having a tough time already! Pyra smiles, her tone encouraging. ] Maybe you'd enjoy a more improvised dance? [ They don't have to do this one. ] One that... follows the music, but is not so strict.

[don't @ him, it's how he was raised. Warrior prince! Very good at daemon-slaying. Not so much on the formalities of state.]

Like... freestyle? Can't guarantee I'll be much good at that either, I'm not sure I'd know where to start.

[See why people had so much trouble teaching him, Pyra? Do you regret yet?]

[ As if she knows how to be a dance teacher—

And in any case, she wants him to have fun. If not with her, then with Luna. If Luna would prefer a formal waltz over her king gettin’ his natural groove on, she doesn’t know but she hopes to provide him with a little bit of both. ] Like fighting, I would think it would take a good amount of improvisation...

[ She guides him into the next steps of the waltz, and then the look in her eyes turns mildly devious. Let’s see how good his reflexes are! ]

Like this—

[ She’s going to twirl him. Don’t worry, she’ll catch him if he stumbles! ]

[Whoa, twirl! He's not expecting it, so he does fumble it a little, but thanks to his training his reflexes at least are solid, and he doesn't need an assist to avoid falling.]

Hah- never been on the receiving end of one of those. That's one way to shake it up.

[He shifts closer, trying to playfully return to favour. Like it's a game, now.]

[ A game it is, and he’s smiling. That’s all the incentive she needs to continue. This is better than the waltz she had attempted to teach. But— she in turn is caught off guard by his spin of her, although she manages to salvage the end, coming back to him. To prevent her from smacking into him, she places a hand upon his chest.

She laughs anyway, moving that hand back to his shoulder. ] Ah— just like that...!

[ If he enjoys it this much, she considers shifting the lesson to time these improv moves with the music— which is what she’s going to do next with a quick step away followed by a pull to a turn, using the rhythm as guidance, her gown flowing about her ankles. He can follow her lead if he wants to, or if he’s feeling bold he can attempt to lead her.

Boogie woogie on the corner of the dance floor tonight, who says it has to be some old timey ceremonial dance? ]

[His smile shifts into a cheeky little grin. Maybe he can get the hang of this, if it's a little more... whimsical... than a traditional dance. He isn't brave enough to lead, certainly not so soon, but he'll do his best to follow her steps, either to echo her motions in kind or act with her in a way that feels halfway fitting.

It's clumsy and inexperienced, of course, but sometimes that just adds to the fun, and with all that fluttering fabric - between her dress and his cape - a lot of the fumbling is easy to miss.]

[ They'll continue like this for a time, with her remaining careful of her steps, while allowing him some room to try more on his own. It's not like anyone is paying attention, anyway; and even if others are... isn't the safest place to dance in the company of those of his family that won't judge?

Her touch slips from his shoulder down to his hand, and now she's holding both of his in hers. Time for a series of quick and fun turns, her hair whipping across her cheek in a fiery wave as they spin for the finale. It's wild and exhilarating, and the world, the people around them are blurs of color in her periphery. Noctis remains in focus through the whirl, and the open center between and the link of their hands, their grounding point.

Finally pulling back to him with a laugh, she laces her fingers through one of his hands, while the other finds its way to rest her arm over his shoulder. She settles in closer. Breathless at the end of the song, she finds herself giggling and only able to sway with him as the next song starts up. ]

[He usually has decent stamina, considering how often he's stuck in long fights or intense situations, but even he's a little breathless and pink-cheeked as they halt the whirlwind of nonsense moves they'd worked through and calm down, finally properly relaxed, holding her gently to support her slow sway. Seems she'd had just the right idea to ease him into it; nothing serious, with no obvious witnesses, and no restraints or rules. With that one dance over and shifting into something less energetic, he grins down at her.]

Don't think I'd be able to repeat those steps if someone asked me to.

[It had been absolute chaos from start to finish. Honestly, it was great.]

[ Whether it is from the dance itself or her giddiness, her chest rises and falls with a breath she’s yet to catch as she looks up at him. Pyra’s smile has yet to fade, although it does soften. ]

Improvisation.... is one-time only. That dance.... [ She continues to sway to the music with him. This is nice, too, she thinks. ] was only between us.

[ And cannot be repeated. Which means he can make another unique dance anywhere, anytime, with anyone. In a way it makes moments like these all the more precious. ]

[The implication hangs unspoken between them, and after a moment he nods his head, briefly closing his eyes. Yeah... this one's theirs. Even they couldn't recreate it together if they tried, which means it lives in the moment. There's something quietly special about that.]

Hey, Pyra... thanks. [His voice is unusually soft, the awkward discomfort of when they'd begun at last lifted from his tone.] You managed to teach me a dance after all.

[ She does not miss the softness in his voice, and for a moment she appears about to say something.

The moment passes, and her touch slips from his. ] Maybe the king you are... doesn’t follow any rigid dance. [ The ceremony, the rigidity of formal movements— while he’s certainly capable of learning it, it doesn’t seem quite him, and there’s no real reason for him to not do what he wishes. ] You’re allowed to make your own.

[ Her smile, of an indiscernible sort, remains for him. Softly, ]

Happy New Year, Noct.

[ Dances are often intimate. This is why she draws away and ends this one with a platonic raise of her hand, ready for that signature fist-bump of his. ]

[He'd like that; to be a different kind of king, if he's ever given the chance. He knows the generations before, now, better than just the stories told. Somnus, with his grim distance, doing what needs to be done for the kingdom no matter how cruel it is or how it hurts him. His grandfather, cold and impersonal, so bound up in his duties he turned a child into a weapon, who hated what his son loved because it wasn't royal. And growing up, a prince all but locked in a tower, safeguarded but hungry for more. He'd watched his father trapped behind his own wall, his life slowly siphoned away, the pressures of the kingdom forcing him to stand apart from everyone, even his own child.

He thinks about when he'd been happiest, in his life. Running away from the Citadel through the underground tunnels with Ignis in tow. Hanging out with Prompto, never so much as a "Your Highness" between them unless it was a joke. Fishing trips with Gladio. When he was out among his own citizens, working with shelters for humans and animals alike, or with kids, or just meeting people who have no access to the castle that loomed huge and frightful over their homes. They loved the Lucis line, they loved the king and all he did for them. But between the war and the wall he had as little time for them as he did for his son. That never felt right, to him.

Outside the city hardly anyone knew who he was. They called him by his name, or "hunter", or "kid", and it was nice. The title didn't hang between them like a noose. He wants to be the king that people can talk to, who look at him and don't just see a crown. His father had broken down a few of the walls Mors had built up around them, and now with the wall fully gone, if he ends the war, all that will be gone. The rules have changed.

He can be the kind of king he needs to be, the kind they need him to be.]

Here's to the next one.

[There's no hesitation as he bumps his fist to hers, smiling in a way that could almost be hopeful. He's looking forward to it.]

[ Her knuckles remain pressed against his for a moment longer before she pulls her touch away. It’s nearing midnight. Time for him to mingle with his family.... and hopefully, have his own dance with Luna.

She turns, but not giving him one more farewell for the night, her smile easily coming to her. ]

I’ll see you next year.

[ With that, she parts from his company. ]

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Like thunder screaming out for a flash of lightning

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