[ when he pictured their reunion, it wasn't at all like this. not that noctis is a great romantic β in fact, he kind of sucks at it β but he did picture some sort of pomp and circumstance. people fussing over him, people fussing over luna. there would be journalists present, he'd be wearing a stiff suit. she would look beautiful, of course, but then again luna always does look beautiful. he had thought so even when they were children.
but they aren't children right now, though he feels a little immature sitting next to her, looking ever regal even in this dimly lit diner on the side of the road. it had been quite an escape job that they had planned and somehow achieved, with help from gentiana and crowe, of course. they would meet with luna's party at the next stop.
in a way, it's a lot better for him at least, that it's just her and his friends. there is a sense of normalcy here, as fleeting as it is, with the smell of pancakes, freshly brewed coffee, the sounds of dishes clinking together, of ignis scolding prompto in the booth adjacent to their perch at the counter. he doesn't realize how he's begun to change a few of his habits already βΒ most significantly not picking the tomato and lettuce from his burger. (iggy noticed and thankfully had the sense not to say anything.)
they're still waiting on luna's meal here and noctis remembers his lessons well enough to sit back and wait, hands casually on the counter, eyes almost shyly darting towards his dinner companion before eventually looking at her directly. ] What'd you order?
[ the diner is small, dim fluorescent lighting bathing the interior in yellow. there is the crackle of the radio, bursts of static as another patron tries to find a station that works, she can make out the words insomnia, crown city, and disaster area and takes a deep breath. closes her eyes for a minute, and sees the destruction left in the empireβs wake. the daemons had retreated from the city, come morning, but the damage had been done. she had left with the otherβs fleeing the city, the migration of crown citizens leaving for other parts of lucis. she and crowe had met with gentiana, pryna and umbra who had eagerly run to her heels. meeting with noctis, his compansions, it had not been in her plans. but somehow, their journeys have overlapped, intersecting and leaving them here.
on red barstools, turned to face the counter of the croweβs nest, noctisβs friends giving them a modicum of privacy for opting to take a booth. she can hear them still, higher tones that she associates with prompto, an even voice threaded with irritation that belongs to ignis. gladio,
her hands are folded in her lap, when noctis turns to her, and she cannot help but smile at his hesitance. the way that his manner is still similar to that she remembers when he was a child still, when she was as well. she remembers how earnest he was, eager to learn of the cosmology, the gods that he would come to know as the king of light. ] The house special, as recommended.
[ and as pictured on one of the menuβs in front of them, a large triple stacked burger with everything on it. the chef behind the counter had blinked at her, astounded, when she had pointed to it and said that she would like one. astounded, but pleased, to have the oracle trying something of his own creation. ]
I may not be able to finish it, Iβm afraid. Though, I will endeavor to do so. I would not insult the chef by not finishing the meal.
[ a moment, as she cants her head, smile softening at the edges. ] Do you remember my housekeeper, Maria? She is the one who instructed me such, she often cooked for myself and Ravus, and was⦠dismayed when one of us did not finish what was placed before us.
I believe that she became fond of you, during your stay in Tenebrae. I remember her asking after you often, despite my assurances that you made a full recovery from your injury.
[ leaning over at the menu between them, noctis breaks into a small, bemused grin. the house special does come highly recommended. he's pretty sure gladio has placed an order for one himself, rare with the buns toasted. he had assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that her taste buds had been so refined that she might go for a dish that one would rather eat with a fork and knife.
but this is good. they'll make messes of themselves together. he taps the picture of the daunting burger, sauce trickling down the sides. the height is impressive. ] I can help you, if you need. There's always doggy bags, for either the dogs or yourself. Maybe yours'll also like the house special.
[ at the mention of maria, his gaze actually warms, lowering to his place for a second. he almost looks back to ignis but doesn't, choosing to remain in this small bubble with luna. (though he can hear prompto's running commentary on the whole thing. dude, shut up.) ]
Yeah, I liked her too. I was β [ should he even say it? it's embarrassing. noctis falters before he looks up at luna through his hair hanging in his eyes as always. ] I've been thinking about these pastries she made for years. Iggy's been trying to recreate it for me.
[ there is a moment, where she is tempted to unfold her hands, to reach out and push the fringe of his bangs from his visionβ though, she knows the hair would likely only fall back into place. the affection that springs from him gazing up at her, she isnβt expecting the sudden swell of it, and she lowers her own eyes for a moment to her hands. she wonders ifβ¦ he knows that they are together in this, this nervousness. they have not seen each other for years, and though she can see parts of the child he was in him now, things are achingly different. they both have their burdens. he has grown. ] I expect she will be pleased to hear that. [ maria will likely fluster, happy that she had such a lasting impression on the prince. she can imagine, the housekeeperβs exclamation. ] Perhaps she will have a chance, to bake for you again. She remains still, at the manor. It is as much her home as it is mine.
[ and at times, maria was her only friend. a more human companion than gentiana. maybe they will have the chance, to see the sylleblossoms again. to make crowns of them for eachother once more. the thoughtβ¦ itβs a pleasing one. ]
Though, I suspect that Ignis must have come close in his attempts. I have heard that he is quite the chef
[ as vivid as his imagination is, noctis isn't someone who tells especially elaborate lies. he knows he's seen a mermaid in the waters when he wanders to the beach and takes a small boat out and away from his private shores. the prince has simple needs, really. as wayward as he has grown beneath the pressures of the crown β from his father's long shadow to the urging of ignis, his friend and advisor β he finds that he takes the most comfort in long afternoons fishing.
the day he first saw her, he couldn't believe his eyes, meeting two pale blue ones beneath the surface. her voice had been so soft and almost shy when she emerged, smiling as she playfully tugged on his line. she is beautiful, blonde hair in braids, somehow interested in speaking to him. his whole life, he's been told that he is special β the crown prince, the future king, wielder of magic β he doesn't deny that he is in a special position, but he truly feels honored by this. she has somehow chosen him in her curious explorations by the shore.
he brings home no fish that day.
prompto doesn't believe him. he suspects that he wanted to, but after waiting on the dock's ledge for far too long, his best friend had laughed and clapped him on the shoulder, told him that he'd see him tomorrow and to let him know if he sees a selkie by then too. ( noctis almost points out that selkies assume human forms on land so he wouldn't be able to tell anyway but that point is moot and prompto's already hopped off to head home. )
he has to laugh when he catches the flick of a large tail in the water. of course. of course she'd make a second appearance afterward. ]
( there is never a morning β never a time β in which his young charge rouses from sleep of his own volition. left to his own devices, ignis is sure ( one hundred percent convinced, with absolutely no doubt in his mind ) that he would sleep the whole of his life away, tucked into sheets with an absurdly high threadcount, face pressed into a pillow made of the softest down in all of lucis. possibly duscae, depending on its origin. it isn't something he catches himself thinking about very often.
this is one such morning. just like every one before it, and surely every one following it, as he finds himself carrying a stack of file folders in one hand and his second ( or perhaps third ) cup of coffee of the day in the other, letting himself into the prince's rooms without batting an eye.
even realizing the task set before him, there is a peace to be reveled in, this early in the morning; the sun has already been up for an hour, nearly two, and it's quiet enough when he steps inside that the drop of a pin would sound too loud. there is little more than the soft sounds of noct's breathing as he approaches, deep and muffled with the way he's seen fit to cocoon himself in layers of linens, and ignis. can't quite help but to admire that sleeping form with a level of fondness that he rarely shows for anything else. something that belongs to noctis, and noctis alone.
with a small breath out, he reaches to set his cup and the files on the nightstand, perches at the edge of the mattress β one leg crossed over the other, hands folded over the topmost knee β and watches the sleeping form of his prince for a scant few seconds longer before: ) Noct. ( crisp. a single syllable carrying the weight of that no-nonsense tone. ) I've allowed you to sleep in a half-hour longer, but the day waits for no one. Not even the Crowned Prince of Lucis.
[ if people like noctis weren't meant to sleep then beds shouldn't be so damn comfortable, sheets so soft, pillows too fluffy. it is so easy to shirk responsibilities this way, able to avoid them better by merely being unconscious. ( which isn't to say that he does not have his moments, of course. there are times when he surprises even himself, doing what ignis asks of him albeit on his own time, by his own means. )
faintly, he can hear his advisor entering the room, the sound of the doorknob turning, the shuffling of papers. he can hear him alright, but he is so good at being entirely still that he hopes he might be able to get another thirty minutes out of this. yes, there is sunlight streaming through the opening of the curtains, directly onto the part of his head not buried beneath the sheets, but even that is easy to ignore.
keep the breathing steady. that's important too. so important that he finds himself yet again falling asleep. the sun just came up, he swears.
there's too much to do, people to see, things to read. he knows he's meant to see gladio at some point today as well and he knows that there are about a million unread messages from prompto on his phone already that will surely distract him from his itinerary. yeah, the bed seems to be the best option for today. ]
( the times in which he doesn't have to hound the younger in order to have him see to his responsibilities are certainly few and far between, the rarest of gems when ignis finds himself pleasantly surprised. ( and, admittedly, sometimes bewildered, a fact he's sure noctis is well aware of. ) still, when those moments do come about, he allows himself a small moment of pride to shiver through him, the smallest smile to creep along the line of his mouth when he catches his young prince completing homework assignments much earlier than the evening before they're due. or reading the handful of reports he'd given him just the day before for the upcoming meeting he was to attend.
noctis has his moments, and those are ones that ignis finds himself cherishing the most, among a handful of others. but that is neither here nor there, now is it?
had he expected the other to rise from the first attempt, he would have called himself a fool; he knows better, much better than to assume one word from his mouth would be enough to rouse one so effectively buried beneath his mound of blankets. most times, it takes more than a handful of words, coaxing and encouraging, and on the almost-rare occasions in which his prince deigns to play dirty, the promise of some reward or another should he comply.
( he hasn't had to use that much since they were both children, but there are moments. )
the sun has been up for at least an hour, highness. it's time for you to join the rest of the world. ) Noctis. ( he tries again, though doesn't hope for anything other than more of the same, and the sound of a sigh is in his next exhale, though he keeps it mostly contained. ) If you think I've not managed to learn by now when you're faking and when you aren't, I suggest you reconsider the fact that it is my job to be perceptive. ( wake up, brat. )
[ but does it really count as faking if you're actually falling back asleep by the end of your attempt? he is just about to slip out of consciousness when ignis breaks through, sharp enough to puncture that sleep bubble the prince is so fond of.
well, that is one battle lost. but then again, that is the man's job. ] Mnh.
[ though he also probably knows better than to expect immediate coherency from noctis first thing in the morning. not everyone sounds quite as eloquent as ignis does. a part of him is pretty sure he was born in that vocabulary too. alright fine, sleeping beauty finally does stir if only to lift his arm from beneath his blanket to scrub his hand over his face while he attempt to roll onto his back.
( it might not count, but that the tone of his voice is sharp enough to puncture that precious sleep bubble the prince is so fond of shouldn't be at all surprising. it is his job, after all, and he's been rather good at it even from the tender age of β¦ eight. perhaps. he'd performed valiantly when first handed the task of seeing after the crown prince, but no six-year-old ( outside of this one right here ) could possibly hope to be prepared for such a thing.
ah. but. that was what he'd been brought in for, isn't it? ) Words, Highness. ( don't you think you should use them?
it would greatly benefit you in future, after all.
then again, he doesn't even come close to expecting such a level of coherency so close to waking, and he'll give him a moment. but just a moment, the length of which ignis takes to pull himself back into a standing position, still looking every bit as immaculate as when he'd first entered, not even the slightest bit ruffled from having sat for a handful of minutes.
( it's a talent. what can we say. )
but at the first hint of movement, he's preparing himself, long-fingered hands curling into the edges of the blankets cocooned around him. at that next shift, as noct is trying to push himself onto his back, he seizes the opportunity β
to pull those blankets right out from underneath him. around him. away from his person and leaving him exposed to the cool air of the room, the slightest hint of a smirk turning the line of his mouth into something almost playful. )
[ he knows prompto probably doesn't need the help, that he can do it himself, bandaging his hands after getting scratched up while daemon wrangling for a reststop shopkeeper. he has seen ignis do this enough to know how it works and they have already cleaned his wounds which leaves the bandages to apply.
he picks a few out from their first aid kit sitting between them in the back of the stationary regalia. ]
[ He's cursed. Prom is sure of it. He's absolutely cursed. He always seems to be the one who ends up injured no matter how careful he tries to be. It just serves to remind him that no matter how hard he tries he's never going to be as good as the others - he's never going to be as strong or as smart or as fast.
It really, really hurts too, but he's doing his best not to let on just how much it does hurt. At least applying the bandages shouldn't hurt as much as cleaning the wounds did - it took a lot of effort not to whimper at that. ]
Yeah. I'm okay. Just clumsy.
[ He lets out a sigh and holds his hands out to Noct. ]
[ he wouldn't believe that thought and would protest it if ever vocalized. there is a reason that prompto is here, other than being his closest companion, and noctis is sure that he has proven himself time and time again. everyone gets hurt at some point or the other. it's just part of the journey.
noctis's touch is careful as he places each bandaid around prompto's fingers, most of the blood having been cleaned off on discarded cotton balls and wipes. ]
[ Welcome to the dark world that is Prompto's mind. It's just full of all kinda of self-depreciative thoughts all day long. He definitely doesn't feel worthy to stand alongside the others and fight beside them. He constantly feels inferior. He knows he'll never be as good as them.
They're everything. And he? He's nothing.
Despite his best efforts not to let on to his current pain, he can't help a small wince as Noct places the bandaids on so carefully. ]
I guess... I'm not as good as you guys though. You all make it look so easy.
[ by all accounts, neither of them should be alive. not with the way the waves threatened to tear them both asunder and the way ardyn had waited until luna was finally weakened before trying to strike her down himself, knowing the king's eyes would be on the oracle.
but that's the thing. she's so strong that he had to wait for outside forces to do the job for him.
fate has other plans for them. healing in a safe house, a secret space tucked away from the chaos of the city post-evacuation, noctis can still hear ignis calling after him to stay and rest ( when his own advisor should be resting up himself ), but he ignores it as usual. this time, it is to once more wait for lunafreya to come to. it has been a week since then and he knows his journey must continue, but he cannot move on until he at least sees her open her eyes.
taking a seat at her bedside, he finally breaks through the invisible barrier he created for himself, reaching to take her hand. ] Cm'on, Luna.
[ Lunafreya has never feared death. She's stated such many times to more than a few people, and the last few weeks she's been far more reckless than usual in order to get her affairs straightened out and her duty completed. She knows the price of the covenants, had accepted that fate with wide, open arms. Because duty or not, she would do anything and everything to make sure Noctis succeeds. Her sacrifices are but a small piece in the puzzle of his journey, and she's glad to know that she can at least help him grow stronger so that he can take back what is rightfully his.
Luna's not sure how long she's been out. She hasn't even been sure she's even alive; but flashes of things have played out again and again within the confines of her mind. Images of herself and Noctis twelve years prior, of happier days playing out in the fields with Ravus. Of Gods and Magitek soldiers and Ardyn Izunia. Mostly, though, there has been darkness, like she's just floating in a sea of cold, silent peace.
But there's something happening. She can hear something -- no, someone, and it's familiar. Faint as it is, she can make out her name, and a light touch on her hand. Slowly but surely, things begin to click for her. This isn't just any voice she's hearing, it's Noctis's. Her fingers twitch for a moment as she struggles to drag herself back into the realm of reality, and she manages to give his hand a weak squeeze.
She's almost afraid to open her eyes -- the last thing she can recall is Noctis's gentle descent back onto the ground, pulling her king into her arms and trying her hardest to shield him from the oncoming flood of water and debris that had been showering over them. But her eyes flutter open regardless, and she almost immediately winces because the light hurts and there's a strong, nagging pain in her abdomen that she can't quite ignore completely. ]
Noctis-- [ Her voice sounds awful, even to her own ears, and if she weren't so exhausted and filled with a growing, burning pain she might honestly be embarrassed at how hoarse and weak it sounds. Her throat is parched from not having any real liquids in nearly a week, but the last thing she wants to do is panic the poor man. So she squeezes his hand again, blinking hard a few more times as her eyes adjust to the lights, her vision swimming for a few more moments before her king comes into focus. ]
--are you alright? [ She has to know. His well being is priority, it always has been and always will be. At the very least, she knows that he's safe, and considering how warm his hand feels in her own pale, clammy one, he is very much alive. ]
luna can't be one of them. no matter how brave and how reckless she is and has been, he refuses to let her go, not now and not ever. the world still needs her light and β he needs her too. but more than that, lunafreya needs to survive to see the world at peace once more. she has come too far and worked too hard to miss this moment.
he freezes and it feels like time stops with him when he feels luna's hand stir for the first time that week. his excitement is kept at bay for a moment though he does lean all the way forward in his arm chair even after pushing it as close as he can to the edge of her bed. ]
Luna β [ his free hand covers their joined once before he fumbles a little, not wanting to let go of her hand yet wanting to pass her the glass of water from the side table. the hands switch and the glass is now in front of her. ]
You drink this first. [ he almost forgets to answer her question, but knows that she must be put at ease first before the continue. ] I'm healing. More worried about you. [ he's hesitant to feel relieved but for her, the corners of his mouth curve upward. ]
[ Her movements are sluggish, more so than she'd like for them to be, and it takes her a split second to realize that there is a glass of water being presented to her. Her free hand, shaky despite her futile attempts to keep it as steady as possible, carefully takes the aforementioned liquid. She doesn't drink it right away, though; despite how thirsty she feels, she's still a lady and she absolutely refuses to chug a glass of water in front of the man who is, in fact, the most precious person in the entire world to her. So she flashes him a tired but grateful smile, dragging her gaze away from her drink for a moment to look back up at him, to take in his features and make sure that he's really alright. That this isn't some sort of weird dream, that he is very much here, in the flesh.
It suddenly hits her that this is the first time in twelve years that they've been face to face, barring the events of the previous week. This is not exactly how she'd envisioned their reunion, and yet she'd almost been positive that there would be no reunion to be had. There is so much she wants to say to him, to apologize for everything that has transpired. For his father, for his people, for Insomnia. For him. ]
Thank you. [ It sounds lame in comparison to her thoughts, which are pulling her emotions in every direction humanly possible right now, but he's asking her to take a drink and so she finally does, very carefully, and despite her earlier inner turmoil about not downing the entire glass in one go, as soon as it hits her throat she has to really strain to make herself stop, because she can drink later. Right now, she needs to focus on him. He looks well enough, he's just as handsome as ever and she can feel her shoulders relaxing at his words. ] You've no idea how happy that makes me...
[ The last few weeks, she has been far more emotional than she usually is. Ravus has been her rock, her shoulder to cry on through everything so that no one else had to see her become a blubbering mess. He isn't here right now, and as hard as she is trying, she can't fight off the stinging sensation at the corners of her eyes as they begin to fill with tears. This time, they are not tears of sadness, but tears of unadulterated, pure joy. She settles the glass down on the bed next to her leg, opting instead to lift the very same hand, allowing it to lightly rest against his cheek, her smile widening. ]
I... I cannot believe you are actually here. [ It probably sounds stupid, but she finds that right now she doesn't particularly care. Her thumb lightly strokes across his smooth cheek, and she blinks a few tears away. ] I was afraid I would never see you again...
[ she could have had water dribbling from the corners of her mouth and he would have still stared at her with the same wonder that he does now, lips parted because he's forgotten how to speak. he blinks a few times to many, fighting off the onslaught of emotions when he just watches her breathe and move and β
he doesn't want to cry. she's seen it before, as a child, but he doesn't want her to think of him as that child right now. they are meant to be married, to stand side by side against the oncoming darkness that threatens everyone around them. watching her then and watching her now only cements his desire to be stronger for her, because of her.
noctis almost loses it when she reaches over to touch him, leaning instantly into the palm of her hand. and still he finds himself unable to speak, overcome with a million different emotions that are slow to process. ]
H-hey, I'm here with you.
[ but she's crying too and he thinks to fumble for a tissue but doesn't want to leave her and interrupt this. it is important. perhaps without the bombast that might have come with an official reunion between the betrothed, but despite their upbringing, they do deserve a quiet moment. instead, he rests his hand over their joined ones. ]
Dealing with the Magitek mechs was probably more of a nuisance than a problem for Noctis. On the one hand, salvaging pieces of the exploded and collapsed armors would give plenty of good stuff for trade and upgrading one's weapons or transportation or whatever have you. Though there's something strange about the third magitek armor/mech - it's slumped over from where it was defeated, smoking from the wreckage, but there's also a splash of green and red from within its body that was missing from the other two that may have been salvaged. How weird, it -almost- looked like a body!
The others had gone ahead without him. They had poked through what was left of their latest battle en route to his bride-to-be and it had seemed to be a sufficient salvaging of weapons. But.
Something keeps Noctis from following his three friends back to their camping grounds, by the Regalia. Is that β green? Red? That's pretty unusual for the Empire. Frowning, he crouches down to push a piece of metal off to reveal β
It looked like said young woman had gotten briefly knocked out when the mecha collapsed - she didn't move at first, as she was partly slumped in the seat. Though his eyes hadn't failed him - the flash of green was the color of her hair, and the red was the cape draped over her. Well, red and pink since she wore both colors. The light briefly played off of the metal circlet she was wearing.
One also may notice the sword resting beside her. The sound of the metal being pushed aside, on the other hand, was loud enough that she grimaced slightly and her eyes half open. Blinking slowly, she glanced around in confusion of her surroundings, until she caught sight of Noctis and froze, blue eyes widening slightly. Her instinct was to move away from the unfamiliar figure, rather than grab the sword and attack him. Well - move as away as much as possible, she can't really do much more than fidget and leean away in her current position.
Her attire is markedly different from that of which he has seen on the other Imperials he has fought with over time. Though he knows better than to let his guard down, he still finds himself ( perhaps stupidly ) curious about the girl and something in him says to linger there. He can defend herself if this is a ruse and she wishes to attack him, after all.
"Hey," Noctis starts hesitantly with her brow wrinkled, hair still hanging in his face as he leans over her. There is tension in his hands, fingers flexing as if prepping to summon a weapon if needed. "Hey, you okay?"
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2017-03-16 01:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-16 02:14 am (UTC)but they aren't children right now, though he feels a little immature sitting next to her, looking ever regal even in this dimly lit diner on the side of the road. it had been quite an escape job that they had planned and somehow achieved, with help from gentiana and crowe, of course. they would meet with luna's party at the next stop.
in a way, it's a lot better for him at least, that it's just her and his friends. there is a sense of normalcy here, as fleeting as it is, with the smell of pancakes, freshly brewed coffee, the sounds of dishes clinking together, of ignis scolding prompto in the booth adjacent to their perch at the counter. he doesn't realize how he's begun to change a few of his habits already βΒ most significantly not picking the tomato and lettuce from his burger. (iggy noticed and thankfully had the sense not to say anything.)
they're still waiting on luna's meal here and noctis remembers his lessons well enough to sit back and wait, hands casually on the counter, eyes almost shyly darting towards his dinner companion before eventually looking at her directly. ] What'd you order?
no subject
Date: 2017-03-16 03:01 am (UTC)on red barstools, turned to face the counter of the croweβs nest, noctisβs friends giving them a modicum of privacy for opting to take a booth. she can hear them still, higher tones that she associates with prompto, an even voice threaded with irritation that belongs to ignis. gladio,
her hands are folded in her lap, when noctis turns to her, and she cannot help but smile at his hesitance. the way that his manner is still similar to that she remembers when he was a child still, when she was as well. she remembers how earnest he was, eager to learn of the cosmology, the gods that he would come to know as the king of light. ] The house special, as recommended.
[ and as pictured on one of the menuβs in front of them, a large triple stacked burger with everything on it. the chef behind the counter had blinked at her, astounded, when she had pointed to it and said that she would like one. astounded, but pleased, to have the oracle trying something of his own creation. ]
I may not be able to finish it, Iβm afraid. Though, I will endeavor to do so. I would not insult the chef by not finishing the meal.
[ a moment, as she cants her head, smile softening at the edges. ] Do you remember my housekeeper, Maria? She is the one who instructed me such, she often cooked for myself and Ravus, and was⦠dismayed when one of us did not finish what was placed before us.
I believe that she became fond of you, during your stay in Tenebrae. I remember her asking after you often, despite my assurances that you made a full recovery from your injury.
no subject
Date: 2017-03-16 03:39 am (UTC)[ leaning over at the menu between them, noctis breaks into a small, bemused grin. the house special does come highly recommended. he's pretty sure gladio has placed an order for one himself, rare with the buns toasted. he had assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that her taste buds had been so refined that she might go for a dish that one would rather eat with a fork and knife.
but this is good. they'll make messes of themselves together. he taps the picture of the daunting burger, sauce trickling down the sides. the height is impressive. ] I can help you, if you need. There's always doggy bags, for either the dogs or yourself. Maybe yours'll also like the house special.
[ at the mention of maria, his gaze actually warms, lowering to his place for a second. he almost looks back to ignis but doesn't, choosing to remain in this small bubble with luna. (though he can hear prompto's running commentary on the whole thing. dude, shut up.) ]
Yeah, I liked her too. I was β [ should he even say it? it's embarrassing. noctis falters before he looks up at luna through his hair hanging in his eyes as always. ] I've been thinking about these pastries she made for years. Iggy's been trying to recreate it for me.
no subject
Date: 2017-03-16 04:02 am (UTC)[ and at times, maria was her only friend. a more human companion than gentiana. maybe they will have the chance, to see the sylleblossoms again. to make crowns of them for eachother once more. the thoughtβ¦ itβs a pleasing one. ]
Though, I suspect that Ignis must have come close in his attempts. I have heard that he is quite the chef
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2017-04-03 06:20 am (UTC)the day he first saw her, he couldn't believe his eyes, meeting two pale blue ones beneath the surface. her voice had been so soft and almost shy when she emerged, smiling as she playfully tugged on his line. she is beautiful, blonde hair in braids, somehow interested in speaking to him. his whole life, he's been told that he is special β the crown prince, the future king, wielder of magic β he doesn't deny that he is in a special position, but he truly feels honored by this. she has somehow chosen him in her curious explorations by the shore.
he brings home no fish that day.
prompto doesn't believe him. he suspects that he wanted to, but after waiting on the dock's ledge for far too long, his best friend had laughed and clapped him on the shoulder, told him that he'd see him tomorrow and to let him know if he sees a selkie by then too. ( noctis almost points out that selkies assume human forms on land so he wouldn't be able to tell anyway but that point is moot and prompto's already hopped off to head home. )
he has to laugh when he catches the flick of a large tail in the water. of course. of course she'd make a second appearance afterward. ]
doot doot
Date: 2017-04-13 05:07 am (UTC)this is one such morning. just like every one before it, and surely every one following it, as he finds himself carrying a stack of file folders in one hand and his second ( or perhaps third ) cup of coffee of the day in the other, letting himself into the prince's rooms without batting an eye.
even realizing the task set before him, there is a peace to be reveled in, this early in the morning; the sun has already been up for an hour, nearly two, and it's quiet enough when he steps inside that the drop of a pin would sound too loud. there is little more than the soft sounds of noct's breathing as he approaches, deep and muffled with the way he's seen fit to cocoon himself in layers of linens, and ignis. can't quite help but to admire that sleeping form with a level of fondness that he rarely shows for anything else. something that belongs to noctis, and noctis alone.
with a small breath out, he reaches to set his cup and the files on the nightstand, perches at the edge of the mattress β one leg crossed over the other, hands folded over the topmost knee β and watches the sleeping form of his prince for a scant few seconds longer before: ) Noct. ( crisp. a single syllable carrying the weight of that no-nonsense tone. ) I've allowed you to sleep in a half-hour longer, but the day waits for no one. Not even the Crowned Prince of Lucis.
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Date: 2017-04-14 04:19 am (UTC)faintly, he can hear his advisor entering the room, the sound of the doorknob turning, the shuffling of papers. he can hear him alright, but he is so good at being entirely still that he hopes he might be able to get another thirty minutes out of this. yes, there is sunlight streaming through the opening of the curtains, directly onto the part of his head not buried beneath the sheets, but even that is easy to ignore.
keep the breathing steady. that's important too. so important that he finds himself yet again falling asleep. the sun just came up, he swears.
there's too much to do, people to see, things to read. he knows he's meant to see gladio at some point today as well and he knows that there are about a million unread messages from prompto on his phone already that will surely distract him from his itinerary. yeah, the bed seems to be the best option for today. ]
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Date: 2017-04-25 03:19 am (UTC)noctis has his moments, and those are ones that ignis finds himself cherishing the most, among a handful of others. but that is neither here nor there, now is it?
had he expected the other to rise from the first attempt, he would have called himself a fool; he knows better, much better than to assume one word from his mouth would be enough to rouse one so effectively buried beneath his mound of blankets. most times, it takes more than a handful of words, coaxing and encouraging, and on the almost-rare occasions in which his prince deigns to play dirty, the promise of some reward or another should he comply.
( he hasn't had to use that much since they were both children, but there are moments. )
the sun has been up for at least an hour, highness. it's time for you to join the rest of the world. ) Noctis. ( he tries again, though doesn't hope for anything other than more of the same, and the sound of a sigh is in his next exhale, though he keeps it mostly contained. ) If you think I've not managed to learn by now when you're faking and when you aren't, I suggest you reconsider the fact that it is my job to be perceptive. ( wake up, brat. )
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Date: 2017-04-26 04:19 am (UTC)well, that is one battle lost. but then again, that is the man's job. ] Mnh.
[ though he also probably knows better than to expect immediate coherency from noctis first thing in the morning. not everyone sounds quite as eloquent as ignis does. a part of him is pretty sure he was born in that vocabulary too. alright fine, sleeping beauty finally does stir if only to lift his arm from beneath his blanket to scrub his hand over his face while he attempt to roll onto his back.
a slow process, but we are getting there. ]
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Date: 2017-04-26 08:45 am (UTC)ah. but. that was what he'd been brought in for, isn't it? ) Words, Highness. ( don't you think you should use them?
it would greatly benefit you in future, after all.
then again, he doesn't even come close to expecting such a level of coherency so close to waking, and he'll give him a moment. but just a moment, the length of which ignis takes to pull himself back into a standing position, still looking every bit as immaculate as when he'd first entered, not even the slightest bit ruffled from having sat for a handful of minutes.
( it's a talent. what can we say. )
but at the first hint of movement, he's preparing himself, long-fingered hands curling into the edges of the blankets cocooned around him. at that next shift, as noct is trying to push himself onto his back, he seizes the opportunity β
to pull those blankets right out from underneath him. around him. away from his person and leaving him exposed to the cool air of the room, the slightest hint of a smirk turning the line of his mouth into something almost playful. )
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Date: 2017-04-23 01:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-04-23 05:18 am (UTC)[ he knows prompto probably doesn't need the help, that he can do it himself, bandaging his hands after getting scratched up while daemon wrangling for a reststop shopkeeper. he has seen ignis do this enough to know how it works and they have already cleaned his wounds which leaves the bandages to apply.
he picks a few out from their first aid kit sitting between them in the back of the stationary regalia. ]
Just hold still a second.
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Date: 2017-04-24 12:05 am (UTC)It really, really hurts too, but he's doing his best not to let on just how much it does hurt. At least applying the bandages shouldn't hurt as much as cleaning the wounds did - it took a lot of effort not to whimper at that. ]
Yeah. I'm okay. Just clumsy.
[ He lets out a sigh and holds his hands out to Noct. ]
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Date: 2017-04-24 04:04 am (UTC)noctis's touch is careful as he places each bandaid around prompto's fingers, most of the blood having been cleaned off on discarded cotton balls and wipes. ]
You did good out there, though.
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Date: 2017-04-25 03:10 am (UTC)They're everything. And he? He's nothing.
Despite his best efforts not to let on to his current pain, he can't help a small wince as Noct places the bandaids on so carefully. ]
I guess... I'm not as good as you guys though. You all make it look so easy.
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Date: 2017-04-23 03:24 am (UTC)but that's the thing. she's so strong that he had to wait for outside forces to do the job for him.
and there lay noctis, briefly helpless to watch his fiancΓ© state his worthiness before the gods of old, fear and love fighting for control of the heart beating to rapidly in his chest that he feared it might burst right there and then. but then silence followed, deafening silence that seemed almost like meeting death itself.
fate has other plans for them. healing in a safe house, a secret space tucked away from the chaos of the city post-evacuation, noctis can still hear ignis calling after him to stay and rest ( when his own advisor should be resting up himself ), but he ignores it as usual. this time, it is to once more wait for lunafreya to come to. it has been a week since then and he knows his journey must continue, but he cannot move on until he at least sees her open her eyes.
taking a seat at her bedside, he finally breaks through the invisible barrier he created for himself, reaching to take her hand. ] Cm'on, Luna.
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Date: 2017-04-23 03:53 am (UTC)Luna's not sure how long she's been out. She hasn't even been sure she's even alive; but flashes of things have played out again and again within the confines of her mind. Images of herself and Noctis twelve years prior, of happier days playing out in the fields with Ravus. Of Gods and Magitek soldiers and Ardyn Izunia. Mostly, though, there has been darkness, like she's just floating in a sea of cold, silent peace.
But there's something happening. She can hear something -- no, someone, and it's familiar. Faint as it is, she can make out her name, and a light touch on her hand. Slowly but surely, things begin to click for her. This isn't just any voice she's hearing, it's Noctis's. Her fingers twitch for a moment as she struggles to drag herself back into the realm of reality, and she manages to give his hand a weak squeeze.
She's almost afraid to open her eyes -- the last thing she can recall is Noctis's gentle descent back onto the ground, pulling her king into her arms and trying her hardest to shield him from the oncoming flood of water and debris that had been showering over them. But her eyes flutter open regardless, and she almost immediately winces because the light hurts and there's a strong, nagging pain in her abdomen that she can't quite ignore completely. ]
Noctis-- [ Her voice sounds awful, even to her own ears, and if she weren't so exhausted and filled with a growing, burning pain she might honestly be embarrassed at how hoarse and weak it sounds. Her throat is parched from not having any real liquids in nearly a week, but the last thing she wants to do is panic the poor man. So she squeezes his hand again, blinking hard a few more times as her eyes adjust to the lights, her vision swimming for a few more moments before her king comes into focus. ]
--are you alright? [ She has to know. His well being is priority, it always has been and always will be. At the very least, she knows that he's safe, and considering how warm his hand feels in her own pale, clammy one, he is very much alive. ]
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Date: 2017-04-23 04:21 am (UTC)luna can't be one of them. no matter how brave and how reckless she is and has been, he refuses to let her go, not now and not ever. the world still needs her light and β he needs her too. but more than that, lunafreya needs to survive to see the world at peace once more. she has come too far and worked too hard to miss this moment.
he freezes and it feels like time stops with him when he feels luna's hand stir for the first time that week. his excitement is kept at bay for a moment though he does lean all the way forward in his arm chair even after pushing it as close as he can to the edge of her bed. ]
Luna β [ his free hand covers their joined once before he fumbles a little, not wanting to let go of her hand yet wanting to pass her the glass of water from the side table. the hands switch and the glass is now in front of her. ]
You drink this first. [ he almost forgets to answer her question, but knows that she must be put at ease first before the continue. ] I'm healing. More worried about you. [ he's hesitant to feel relieved but for her, the corners of his mouth curve upward. ]
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Date: 2017-04-23 04:47 am (UTC)It suddenly hits her that this is the first time in twelve years that they've been face to face, barring the events of the previous week. This is not exactly how she'd envisioned their reunion, and yet she'd almost been positive that there would be no reunion to be had. There is so much she wants to say to him, to apologize for everything that has transpired. For his father, for his people, for Insomnia. For him. ]
Thank you. [ It sounds lame in comparison to her thoughts, which are pulling her emotions in every direction humanly possible right now, but he's asking her to take a drink and so she finally does, very carefully, and despite her earlier inner turmoil about not downing the entire glass in one go, as soon as it hits her throat she has to really strain to make herself stop, because she can drink later. Right now, she needs to focus on him. He looks well enough, he's just as handsome as ever and she can feel her shoulders relaxing at his words. ] You've no idea how happy that makes me...
[ The last few weeks, she has been far more emotional than she usually is. Ravus has been her rock, her shoulder to cry on through everything so that no one else had to see her become a blubbering mess. He isn't here right now, and as hard as she is trying, she can't fight off the stinging sensation at the corners of her eyes as they begin to fill with tears. This time, they are not tears of sadness, but tears of unadulterated, pure joy. She settles the glass down on the bed next to her leg, opting instead to lift the very same hand, allowing it to lightly rest against his cheek, her smile widening. ]
I... I cannot believe you are actually here. [ It probably sounds stupid, but she finds that right now she doesn't particularly care. Her thumb lightly strokes across his smooth cheek, and she blinks a few tears away. ] I was afraid I would never see you again...
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Date: 2017-04-23 05:04 am (UTC)he doesn't want to cry. she's seen it before, as a child, but he doesn't want her to think of him as that child right now. they are meant to be married, to stand side by side against the oncoming darkness that threatens everyone around them. watching her then and watching her now only cements his desire to be stronger for her, because of her.
noctis almost loses it when she reaches over to touch him, leaning instantly into the palm of her hand. and still he finds himself unable to speak, overcome with a million different emotions that are slow to process. ]
H-hey, I'm here with you.
[ but she's crying too and he thinks to fumble for a tissue but doesn't want to leave her and interrupt this. it is important. perhaps without the bombast that might have come with an official reunion between the betrothed, but despite their upbringing, they do deserve a quiet moment. instead, he rests his hand over their joined ones. ]
I'm glad.
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Date: 2017-08-03 04:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-05 05:06 am (UTC)Something keeps Noctis from following his three friends back to their camping grounds, by the Regalia. Is that β green? Red? That's pretty unusual for the Empire. Frowning, he crouches down to push a piece of metal off to reveal β
"Huh?" A young woman?
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Date: 2017-08-05 08:16 am (UTC)One also may notice the sword resting beside her. The sound of the metal being pushed aside, on the other hand, was loud enough that she grimaced slightly and her eyes half open. Blinking slowly, she glanced around in confusion of her surroundings, until she caught sight of Noctis and froze, blue eyes widening slightly. Her instinct was to move away from the unfamiliar figure, rather than grab the sword and attack him. Well - move as away as much as possible, she can't really do much more than fidget and leean away in her current position.
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Date: 2017-08-06 12:49 am (UTC)"Hey," Noctis starts hesitantly with her brow wrinkled, hair still hanging in his face as he leans over her. There is tension in his hands, fingers flexing as if prepping to summon a weapon if needed. "Hey, you okay?"
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