Reclaiming Lost Felicity

[kingkingcxiii]

♥ Who: Regis, Cor, and Cor's closest friends & family
♥ Where: The Lucis Caelum Home: Senior Version ;-P
♥ When: Evening, May/Ealom 5th
♥ What: A celebration of the birth of a man truly worthy of celebration, even if he thinks differently.
♥ Rating: PG/PG-13, please mark if it goes beyond that!

[Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that the first time Regis really seems to come back to himself--or at least the self he was before having returned home and lived those five years--is when it comes time to plan Cor's birthday. Much like Regis himself, Cor would rather his birthday go unremarked on, and much like Cor himself, Regis can't let that happen. It's an even trade really, which is probably why they've never gotten too mad at each other for all those surprise and not-so-surprise birthday celebrations over the years.

About a week before the party, Regis sends out invitations to all of their closest friends and family through his tablet. Cor doesn't do large gatherings when he can avoid it, so it is best to keep this out of the public eye.

Warmest Greetings!

I hope this letter finds you all doing as well as possible. It has been a rough month for our extended family, but this is not something I wish to linger on. Instead, I would rather speak of a much happier topic; one I would like to request your assistance in handling.

For those who don't know, and I suspect this is most of you considering how our dear lion is, May 5th--or Ealom 5th as the natives apparently call this month--is Cor's birthday. He is like me in that he doesn't really feel a celebration is necessary, but as he would not allow my birthday to pass with no celebration, I feel it is my duty to return the favor.

On the evening of the 5th I would like you to join us at the house for a small celebration of Cor and all that makes us love him. I have asked the owners of Affurgato to prepare the food for us, so there is no need to bring food unless you really wish to.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII

P.S: In my personal opinion, he should be showered with gifts, but they are by no means necessary. I know he will appreciate your presence more than any gift.

In the evening on the 5th, Regis will be waiting with a welcoming smile to greet anyone who shows up. Cor will be there, even if it takes a little coaxing on Regis' part. However, Regis cannot guarantee how easy it will be to find the birthday boy at times. Cor is Cor, after all. Fortunately, Regis and Noctis have both had a hand in helping those at Affurgato prepare foods both with an Eosan taste and that Cor really likes.

Using them as bait may just be a valid option...]

(OOC: Mingle for Cor's birthday is a go! Post your top levels and have fun! For reference, the house's layout is here.)

Comments

[shroudedsecrets]

... The longer you go without it, being faced with it once more and in a stronger capacity can feel... harder to believe. That it would be so lasting and true.

[ That it wouldn't run out again, or be corrupted or warped beyond recognition, this ability to receive such care from others. ]

Cor and Regis are very kind. And very... insistent, aren't they?

[scourgingstars]

Stubbornness runs deep in the family. My brother--Regis' ancestor--certainly had it in spades, and Cor is scarce any different in that respect. Insistence seems almost a certainty, but the 'almost' is a bit hard to get past, isn't it?

[shroudedsecrets]

'Almost'... is an attempt at protection, is it not. From the fear that something may change, and that they would turn away, with that very strong stubbornness that they possess. Rather stifling... such fear.

[ All too well, she knows that. She'd seen the look in Cor's eyes when he'd talked about Verstael, even while constantly putting her on a pedestal; the more he'd complemented, the worse she'd feel. ]

[scourgingstars]

...The hesitation to trust wholeheartedly, lest that trust be betrayed.

[He didn't question how much time Cor spent with Verstael, but the nagging doubt was still there. If his own brother could have once turned on him, what would stop anyone else?]

[shroudedsecrets]

... One might wonder at the inevitably of it. That one wrong step will take it all away once more.

[ So much for the party. There was familarity in this, the feeling of darkness, memories of betrayal, the preciousness of trust. ]

But it is worse... to be alone with those thoughts. To be so consumed by it that even a simple offering of kindness becomes suspect.

[scourgingstars]

I think it's...maybe, possibly not so terrible to extend a bit of trust to others and let it be taken where it will. After all--there are still some people foolish enough that all we want to do is help, right?

[shroudedsecrets]

[ That's a little better. Easier to breathe, now. ]

For those who have been willing to offer so much, even knowing... of what we might carry with us. It is strange with such a life of... bad luck that the present has been kind enough to offer this chance.

[scourgingstars]

[For all his ability to accidentally bring on a dismal mood, Ardyn certainly wouldn't dare let anyone else suffer with it.]

Strange, remarkable...perhaps undeserved depending on perspective, but it certainly is what it is. Can hardly turn it down when others are so insistently kind.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ She's pretty good at bringing on those moods herself. Especially when knowing there was at least one whom may never be willing to offer such a chance; she would always be undeserving. But for those others she has found, she is grateful. ]

Perspective plays such a role, does it not. Especially for ourselves.

[scourgingstars]

A necessary role, oftentimes. To be alone in one's head for a bit too long leads to a myriad of twisted thoughts and perceptions, most of which could be aided by another opinion on the matter.

[shroudedsecrets]

... And even then, one would hope you have been able to find better influences on the outside. Those truly worthy of trust, to not lead you further astray.

[ Her gaze also drifts toward the direction of the house, as she speaks. Both too fragile to truly trust freely after having gotten hurt before, and yet. ]

And then, more importantly, to not take that for granted.

[scourgingstars]

A delicate thing, to be sure. But so far I've found it to have been handled with the utmost of care, much to my relief.

[shroudedsecrets]

Having such care is... truly important. It is good you have been able to find that here... and to recognize it for what it is.

[ Even with the doubts. But those were inevitable, too. ]

[scourgingstars]

...And what of yourself? Would you consider yourself comfortable enough in whatever you've found here as well?

[shroudedsecrets]

... My family is with me. I could ask for no greater comfort than that.

[ Complicated or not, she had no cause to complain so long as Lup and Taako remained with her. ]

[scourgingstars]

I can certainly understand that, and I'm glad to hear it besides.

[shroudedsecrets]

Thank you.

They are stubborn like Regis and Cor as well, but perhaps in... unconventional ways. It is always good to have... reminders, and I think they enjoy keeping me on my toes so that I'll learn something new every now and then.

[scourgingstars]

I find a touch of the unconventional keeps things interesting. After two thousand years of monotony, I like to see things shaken up harmlessly now and again.

[shroudedsecrets]

... When those aspects of life have been stagnated or unheard of for millennia, it can be an eye opener. So much to learn about... what may have once been dismissed, forgotten or disregarded.

Even to see sights such as this.

[ The flower garden, the house itself, the simplicity of it all set against the darkening sky. ]