lucian royalty takin over here

[carbungle]

♥ Who: Noctis Lucis Caelum + Open!
♥ Where: Just a catch-all for some stuff
♥ When: Now! + January catch-all
♥ What: The prince of Lucis has Things To Do
♥ Rating: PG? will update as needed


( a. have you met my emotional support scarf - Open to All! )

[At first glance, it's just a normal guy walking down the street, nothing to pay any mind. Getting closer however reveals that he appears to be... talking to himself? Or at least having half a conversation, glancing at the empty space by his shoulder and speaking, then looking down at his communicator for a silent response. It probably looks kind of weird, and he's quite preoccupied with it. Maybe try getting his attention?

Those who can sense magic might notice not just his, but a secondary presence at his shoulder, small and invisible. Those who can't sense magic might just hear it... squeak?]


( b. friendship is magic...? - Open to Family/CR he's inevitably harassing )

[Noctis is venturing out to find… people! People he knows. And likes. Or just wants to know and like better. Basically he's trying to visit his friends and family, in part for a very specific question but also just to try that whole open affection thing he keeps getting told to work on.

If he knows where you live, he's paying a visit! Otherwise, mayhaps he'll find you in the street or in a shop somewhere by chance.]


( c. girlfriend? girl! friend!! - CLOSED TO LUNA )

[Going out for a date is all well and good but for Noctis a night in is just as (if not more) enjoyable, and the fact that Luna feels the same and had suggested it makes him appreciate her all the more; thus, the only thing on tonight's agenda is a meal at home and each others' company. He'd helped her prep whatever dish she'd opted to make, but once it's ready to be cooked and he has nothing to do, he parks himself at the table with his tablet out, opening up the design doc for King's Knight 2.0. Prompto's not around so he can finally ask her without spoiling the surprise.]

So... if you were gonna pick a character to play, what kind would it be?


( d. those ding dang head whispers - CLOSED TO REGIS )

[A little later into the month, after weeks of stressing about it and hiding and wishing he was a hell of a lot stronger, Noctis at last makes a decision. No more putting it off- it's time to face his future, his responsibilities. Time to learn about what the hell he's meant to do going forward.

He sends a message to Regis, requesting a one-on-one meeting, while the house is otherwise empty. He's late to arrive once a time is decided, pacing and circling the house first, anxious and hating it. Coward, his mind is scolding him. Just do it already.

Finally, he steels himself for the last time and steps up to knock on the door before he can change his mind again. No going back now...]

Comments

[carbungle]

[He turns his attention to his left shoulder, which promptly yips in her direction.

💀 💀 😔

Is that helpful? Who really knows.]

[iustaegis]

[ Two dead gods make him sad, maybe? If so, she agrees. Otherwise, she has no idea how to interpret its message. Best not to try, she is no messenger herself.

She giggles anyway. In her world, only one man could ever claim to speak for the Architect, but it simply hadn't been true. Now knowing that there is a world out there with both Oracles and Messengers that deliver gods' messages? It's baffling--

"....running towards oblivion like blind rats. They see the divine flame of life and piss over it... That flame is wasted on them. So I want to give them a little push in the right direction, as the benevolent servant as our wise father should."

--She's reminded once more that she ought return from whence she came. ]

Why, Carbuncle, your divine wisdom is worth more than gold. How ever shall we thank you?

[carbungle]

[Carbuncle barks, and while there is no message Noctis reaches up and brushes his hand over the grey-blue fur of its neck, the texture as soft and silken as it's been since he was a child and permitted to touch for the first time.]

I know that one. It says, "you should pet me!"

[iustaegis]

I... can?

[ She blinks, dumbfounded for a moment before she smiles pleasantly, curiously. ] Er... where?

[ And how?! She doesn't want to hurt it! ]

[carbungle]

Right here.

[He lifts their joined hands, turning hers in his and pressing it gently against Carbuncle's back. Still invisible, but she should be able to feel that same soft fur, the general shape of its small body, and where it is.

That sense of divinity is that much stronger when in direct contact, alien and unlike this world's gods. Weaker, but unmistakably linked to both Noctis and the covenant marks she'd felt on his arm. A pure being of life and light, softer perhaps than a construct of the mighty Astrals ought to be. If a feeling can be fluffy, this is it.]

[iustaegis]

[ She feels it as soon as he guides her hand over to touch the Carbuncle: it, itself, and the divinity it has. It is uniquely divine, otherworldly, mysterious. Light, like Noctis', life like Noctis'... Like Noctis, only purely divine. Not constructed to be mighty, but comforting, soft, reassuring.

Fluffy.

Gingerly, she attempts to give it a few scritches, although her expression gives away that she is being awfully careful and gentle. ]

[carbungle]

[It's subtle, but she should feel Carbuncle lean into her touch, setting free an approving chirp. What she's doing is not only acceptable but quite welcome.

Noctis grins, his eyes on the two of them.]

See? Like I said.

[iustaegis]

[ She smiles softly when her fingers brush over its fur. Divine and soft, who knew.

She decides to share a few of her previous thoughts. ]

Your world is quite incredible, to have Oracles and Messengers... It seems they both guide you. [ A breath. ] Hopefully, to stay out of trouble.

[carbungle]

More the opposite, lately.

[He smiles faintly and shrugs, not particularly bothered by it. It's dangerous, yes, but he's never bored, and at least when he's fighting he can feel useful. If that's the kind of king he's expected to be, then he might actually be good at it.]

Though you've probably noticed, a lot of the people here are all from pretty incredible worlds. You too! Giant robot dragons, remember?

[He may not know that much about her or where she's from, but he's seen and heard enough to get the idea that it's likely not boring, either.]

1/2

[iustaegis]

[ C: ]

[iustaegis]

Are there other messengers in your world?

[ Dear Architect does she adore her world and she would give everything for it. But it is also a sad topic because her world is on its last legs. They're having a nice conversation right now, why ruin it? ] Does Somnus and your father have their own Carnbuncle, for example?

1/2

[carbungle]

[ B| ]

[carbungle]

There's said to be over twenty, but I only know about five for sure. Luna's dogs, Umbra and Pryna, are Messengers to the Oracle, and Gentiana led me to where to find Ramuh's covenant. Oh, and-

[He gives his arm a tap, higher up beneath the bracer, where the half-legible covenant mark he hadn't yet named is hidden.]

The Messenger of the Winds made a covenant with me, but she's forgotten her name. You're the only one of you though, right?

[He glances at Carbuncle, who yips affirmatively.]

Yeah, just me then. Chosen stuff again, I guess.

[iustaegis]

[ Her attention perks, as if he's said something of importance. Before she can stop herself, the question leaves her lips: ]

--Forgot her name?

[carbungle]

That's what she said- that she was asleep for so long she forgot what she was called before. All we found was a statue of her, and Ignis said she was mentioned in some old texts but not by name. Her existence was kinda iffy until we confirmed it ourselves, so...

[Lost to time and forgotten? Not so surprising, especially at this point.]

[iustaegis]

[ She continues to watch him, as if she’s waiting for him to volunteer more on his own. ]

[carbungle]

[Her silence makes him blink and look up, brows furrowing, unsure. There's still so little he knows about them- any of them. Maybe...?]

She picked her own, when we made the covenant. She's called Garuda now- the Vortex. She's actually a little more reliable than the Astrals when it comes to helping me out.

[Carbuncle shifts, gently smacking a long ear against Noct's cheek, and he huffs a breath, fondly exasperated.]

I know, I know. No one's more reliable than you.

[iustaegis]

[ Pyra shifts her weight from one leg to the other, watching the exchange... and her expression relaxes into a smile. Whatever had caused her expression to shift in the first place, the moment has passed. ]

You... really aren't alone at all in your journey, are you?

[carbungle]

[He pauses, glancing over to give her a studying look. She's as hard to read as ever, but... he's curious. More and more curious, every time.]

...No, I'm not. Someone's always been watching over me. [He gives Carbuncle another stroke across its fur, his expression grateful, nostalgic. Even in his darkest moments, in the dead of night or his darkest dreams, he's never been alone.] And I know I'm lucky for it.

[iustaegis]

[ She brings her hand to her lips, chuckling softly. ]

Even as an infant I take it? I’m envious! It’d have gotten to pinch a little prince’s cheeks back then....

[ She doesn’t know if this had actually occurred, but the image is delightful enough. ]

[carbungle]

[He scoffs, embarrassed, and lifts a hand to scratch at his cheek.]

Yeah right... not that I'd have known it that far back. First time I remember us meeting is when I was eight. It said it knew all about me already, though, so it must've been watching before then.

[Maybe there was cheek-pinching. Carbuncle certainly isn't telling.]

[iustaegis]

[ Eight. Wow. Already on the path all the way back then...

But wait. ] You... had others, correct? Besides Carbuncle where you were young...?

[ She asks this only because Carbuncle is invisible, and that... would be worrisome to anyone else watching him apparently talk to himself. She had certainly been worried when she first saw him this day, chatting to himself! ]

[carbungle]

Oh, yeah. I had Ignis with me, too.

[Two whole friends! That's so many!!]

And my dad was around when he was free.

[iustaegis]

[ Ignis, who is also part of his extended “family”, his Messenger, and then his father. YEP, THAT’S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO HAVE, IN PYRA’S UNIRONIC OPINION. Still, it doesn’t sound as if he had the most social of childhoods...

And although curious (for she had never hand a childhood herself, and the two children with whom she traveled centuries ago did not have anything remotely of a childhood either), she will not impose.... it seems like this is a sensitive subject. ]

If... your childhood is something you’d be willing to share more about, I will listen.

[ And just in case it isn’t, she’ll offer an out by way of playfulness: Pyra lifts her hand up to poke at his cheek. ]

You never grew out of these, after all.

[carbungle]

Grew out of… my cheeks?

[what the heck does that even mean, Pyra. Carbuncle yips at his shoulder, sending along a message-

👶 👶 😂 ]

...Who's side are you on.

[He gives the little Messenger a gentle shove, and shakes his head.]

Anyway, it isn't that interesting. [Carbuncle makes a noise that could either be a scoff or a sneeze, and Noct frowns at it.] I spent most of my time in the Citadel, with Ignis or my tutor, or training with Gladio, when I wasn't in school. Most of what I remember is just that- I only went outside the city walls once, to see Luna in Tenebrae.