luxoraculi | Inbox for in the night

That is very sweet and thoughtful of you!!

Yes, of course.

Yeah, that's me
Sweet and thoughtful

[After dinner has been finished that night, Noctis gathers up whatever leftovers there might be - including a couple of muffins from that morning - onto a plate and takes it outside. But instead of simply beginning his normal trek to the library, he waits for Luna to join him.]

It's true you know
I think you are, and I think the boys do too

[ It doesn't take long, Luna's only stayed behind to help Ignis clean up as per usual, but soon she's tugged on her jacket and outside she goes, lifting a hand in polite greeting despite the fact that they've literally just seen each other but old habits die hard and she can't help herself. ]

Are you ready?

[Part of him - okay, all of him, wants to tell her that he really, definitely isn't. That no one else could possibly think that highly of him expect for her.

But he doesn't. Because she'd argue it and he knows she would.

His hands are a little too full to wave, the plate balanced in one, his lantern and tablet in the other. But he offers her a smile as soon as she's close enough for it to be seen.]

Ready as I'll ever be.

[ He's a smart man, because he's absolutely right: she would not take that as an answer. Because he will never be able to change her mind.

When she's close enough, she reaches to gently take the plate from him so that he can have a bit more freedom. ]

There we are, that's a little better, yes? Lead the way, then. I am looking forward to meeting this librarian friend of yours.

[It does make the load a bit lighter. Let's him hold up his lantern to illuminate the path from their cabin towards the center of the village and the library.]

Not sure if you've met any of the other forest spirits yet but they're kind of... unusual. [Almost animal like, really. Which probably explained why Noctis liked them so much.]

You settling in okay? I know this place is a lot.

[ She is glad to be able to help, even in such a small, mundane way. Mostly, though... mostly, she is glad to be able to walk next to Noctis like this. She only wishes that they had been able to do this at home, too. ]

I've seen a few but I haven't interacted with them. I... was unsure if that would be a wise move or not.

[ Read: she doesn't want to get into any skirmishes, thanks. ]

I am, thanks to you, Prompto, and Ignis. I have met a few very kind people here from places other than Eos as well. Though admittedly... I still have many questions about this place.

[He wishes that too. That they could have walked together in the sun through the streets of Insomnia. That he could have shown her his home. That they could have been together anywhere but here.]

You should. They'd probably love you. It's hard not to.

[He appreciates that though. He knows Luna can take care of herself, but she's their princess. No one wants all three of those boys pissed off at them. No one.]

Not sure I'm the best person to ask. Iggy could probably explain it all better.

[ Well... at least they have now, and she can appreciate any time spent together at this point, honestly. ]

You are being far too kind, you know.

[ She thinks he is, at least. But he's extremely biased, clearly. She is very lucky to have him in her life-- unlife? Afterlife. Just as much as she is to have Prompto ad Ignis, too. ]

Well, I don't think even Ignis could answer these questions. [ She pauses, making a face. ] How does one die when they are already dead? And why do we still have to eat? I don't understand.

[He is exactly as biased towards her as she is towards him. So that probably makes them even.]

No idea. Don't know if anyone's told you, but you need to be careful with your lantern. If something happens and it breaks...

[You break too. But he doesn't say that. Because he really doesn't want to think about her dying again.

Which means it's time to change the subject to something lighter.]

You know we're gonna have to work out a custody agreement for the trident, right?

Oh, yes. I've been told.

[ And to demonstrate how 'afraid' she is of that, she swings her lantern around on her arm in a giant circle, making the dim light arc through the darkness.

Fortunately, the subject is changed, which means she'll stop swinging her lantern like some sort of maniac with a death wish. She arches a brow. ]

Oh, I didn't really think of that... you can just have it, if you'd like.

[ Because she's not going to tell him no. Besides, she did gift it to him, and it's meant to help protect him. ]

[Thankfully for her this is Noctis. The same Noctis who once threatened to use his like Star of the Rogue. So all she gets is a soft laugh.]

Never let Ignis see you do that. He probably lecture us both for weeks.

[You have no idea what an Ignis lecture is like. Especially when he gets really fired up.]

It's not really mine. It belongs with you, Luna. [He just needs it occasionally to do stupid stuff.] But I've been thinking... Prompto and Ignis have access to armiger. So... you should too. If you want it.

[ There's a reason that they've maintained a close friendship for all of these years... ]

I would never want to worry him like that, so you need not worry about that.

[ Man. If she can survive a Ravus lecture... she can probably survive an Ignis lecture. Especially if he's cooked beforehand. ]

Don't be silly. I will gladly share it with you, whenever you need it or want to use it, just take it. It's all yours. [ She smiles again, and then blinks. ] Oh, Noctis... I would love that. If it is not too much trouble. I don't want to inconvenience you like that.

[Take it from someone who has had to endure far more Ignis lectures than any one person should ever have had to.

They are far, far worse.]

You know you can always take whatever you need from me too, right? From any of us. [Thankfully, all of them had grown into that 'one for all' sort of mentality. There were very few things that actually belonged to them individually. Beyond their weapons. And they even swapped those on occasion.]

Don't worry, Luna. I'm used to having the four of us all connected to it. I promise, if it gets to be too much, I'll tell you.

[ At least Ignis didn't lock Noctis in his room when he was upset or angry or didn't want him to do......

.....yet. ]

I know... thank you, Noctis. That is very kind of you. [ She smiles at him again, using her free hand to place it on his shoulder for a moment. ]

Only if you promise. I swear that I will not abuse it. [ ...Probably. ]

[Please, for the love of ~~Gentiana~~ Shiva, do not give him that idea.]

I do. Normally we're pretty careful about potions and stuff but... we have you now. [Not that there were currently any potions in there anyway.

And they're almost at the library.]

Come on. Let's get this guy fed.

[ She's got you, fam. It will never be mentioned or suggested. ]

Well, that's true. I will be able to heal your injuries for the most part... though admittedly, my magic doesn't feel nearly as strong as it did at home.

[ A little worrisome, but it just means that she'll need to keep a watchful eye on her boys, that's all. ]

You know, I'm not surprised that you are making friends out of these spirits.

I know what you mean. Neither does mine.

[Add to that the fact that most of what was supposed to be in the armiger wasn't and they were at a pretty severe disadvantage. Thankfully they all knew how to work and fight together.]

What can I say? I'm just a friendly guy.

It's strange... if I can be truthful, this is not how I had envisioned the afterlife to be.

[ It's... the exact opposite, actually. It's strange and dark and confusing. ]

You really are. You are certainly the sweetest person I've ever met... your personality is just as sweet and kind as I remember it being when we were children.

How did you envision it to be?

[Because honestly, he had never really given it that much thought.]

Pretty sure Ignis would tell you I'm not.

[Better to get those thoughts out of her head now. Before she gets her hopes up too much and gets even more disappointed by his, well, everything.]

I assumed that my mother would be here, and there would be other family members. Lots of light, happiness. Not... this.

[ She has. She's thought about it a lot. ]

Well, he's wrong, then. You're the sweetest person I've ever met.

[ Sorry, but the lie detector test determined that was a lie, Noct. ]

Yeah. I keep thinking my dad's gonna show up too.

[But he's also exceptionally glad he isn't. His father deserved peace in death. He had never gotten to have it in life.]

Your bias is showing.

[Said even as he holds open the library door gor her.]

I wonder if we'll ever see our parents again...

[ She wants to tell Noctis that Regis's soul resides within the Ring of the Lucii, but she's going to refrain. Because that doesn't mean anything... Regis could probably show up. He was a strong man in life, and there's no doubt in her mind that he'd claw tooth and nail to be here with his son, too. ]

And your sweetness is showing. Thank you, Noctis.

[ She is happy to enter the library, her voice immediately getting far softer as she glances around. ]

..Which way?

Hard telling.

[As much as he wanted to see his dad again, he had no illusions that it was ever actually going to happen. Not until he finally got his hands on the ring and found a suitable time and place to somehow summon that version of his father.]

... Your sweetness is showing.

[This come back. But he points out the way to the center of the library, where his dear friend is waiting for them. He hands over the plate, and like always, the spirit waste absolutely no time devouring all of it.

Noctis, shockingly, wants to hang around for a bit after that. He even helps straighten some of the books that have been messed up. Definitely not doing anything to diminish his sweetness quota.]

I was looking forward to seeing my mother again. I had a lot of things I wanted to tell her.

[ But, alas, it's just not meant to be. ]

Ooo, very nice comeback.

[ Sarcasm: it's what's for dinner. But she's amused and it's... it's something to see this particular spirit. Somehow, she's not surprised Noctis has made friends with him.

...She'll just. Help tidy up a little bit, too. ]

Inbox for in the night

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)