hugtopia_logs | [closed] i was hanging with you

♥ Who: Noctis and Pyra
♥ Where: VR cafe, King's Knight
♥ When: early may
♥ What: cute surprises
♥ Rating: PG

[ Over the past couple of weeks they had resumed some of their usual routine. At his leisure they've trained together, this time both with his magic and her own fire, and they've also found time to play King's Knight. Already they've climbed the dungeons together to the point they've almost reached the end of the game.

It's towards the early afternoon where she leaves her work at the labs, and she sends him a text to meet her at the VR cafe-- today is the day where they finally beat the game. Their last joined saved point had been just as the final dungeon leading up to Ophion. Greeting him with a warm smile, her hand finds his as soon as he arrives. They take their usual spots in the cafe and, donning their helmets, enter the game.

Her hand is still in his as she blinks them open once the virtual reality assembles. Before them is the beginning of the dungeon: a series of crystalline staircases ascending a mountain, punctuated with levels of plateaus and terraces where more treasures and enemies await heroes on their gauntlet; behind them, their last chance to stock up on healing items and equipment before proceeding. The cooler wind-effect of this level gives away that they're already somewhere high-up, and her longer hair within the game flows behind her like ribbons upon a flag.

She turns to him, her head tilting. ]

Oh... New class?

[ And a new level, she sees. It seems he's been playing this on his own time, too! While it does make her question why the sudden change for the final area, perhaps he believes being a Dragoon may help them more against the superboss. ]

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[That joy lasts well after the thrill ride ends, replaced seamlessly by his shy and surprised smile as she holds him; he catches her embrace with one hand at first while the other is still tangled in the chain until he can balance and unravel it, then both are around her. His laugh tapers off but the pleasure it brought with it lingers, digital heart still pounding (or perhaps he can feel it still in the real world? he can feel his hand tight around hers, distantly) and his body steeped in adrenaline. It's absurd but a part of him feels like could have done that for hours more, and even if he'd hated it, the look on her face would have banished even the smallest thought of regret.

He's glad, truly, that it worked out like this- that the system had programmed Ophion to accept commands, that the battle space was big enough, that the game didn't just end as soon as the taming sunk in. He's glad they could give each other this opportunity, this little adventure in a world of their own creation. It's... warm. This feeling, and her arms around him.

He finds himself murmuring her name in response, not for any reason but to call her as she'd called him. What more needs to be said? He gets it. He's pretty sure she will, too.]

[ He hadn't so much as budged from Ophion's back when she went to hug him. He's strong and sturdy as he holds her-- he's always been strong to her, and she's told him as much-- but now it's something that she finds herself appreciating more and more. Virtual reality or not, it feels very real to her in a way she cannot describe. Perhaps it's because how, in her world, she's connected to Ophion, to Siren, to Aion; by another degree-- her two brothers as well; she's tied to all the other core crystals, even those among the Titans. It's a constant influx of information all over Alrest, and more.

Here, those connections are more distant. She had been lonely when first appearing here. Yet perhaps it's because they are more distant that her attention may be focused fully upon him and this moment.... Him saying her name in response, without any other words to give, is as effective as a flowery "thank-you" or "you're welcome." It simply is; it simply is acknowledging her.

Pyra pulls away from him just enough so that she might look at him. ] Noct... I-- I can't stop smiling.
[ She says this as if it's a confession of sorts, barely above a whisper. ]

[Connections are easier with people who are right before your eyes, warm and tangible- he knows this, has come to understand it better over time, as he gathered more distant connections with the Astrals while at the same time lost true friends to separation or death. Here he can forge new threads between himself and others, not to replace those lost but to fill the void they'd left. He hopes it can be the same for her, that he can find new ways to bring that free and easy smile on her face to the light more often. She's done so much for him, and... it feels good, seeing her like this. Peaceful, soft. He can't name it yet, but the familiarity of it is soothing to a wounded heart.

His response is simple: a shrug, a relaxed smile, an unbroken connection between them as she pulls back.]

Then don't. Keep smiling, all you want.

[She doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to.]

[ She's blushing from delight, her cheeks tinting a rosy red. She pulls away one of her hands to tuck some of her wind-swept hair behind her ear.

These words she can repeat to him, keeping smiling-- how much he wants, what he wants, all he wants. It's funny, that, how they seemed to think of doing the same thing for each other with these surprise gifts. It's so natural to want to see his smile, whether it be in return or spontaneous. What more can she do, to ensure that he has more reasons or opportunities that might bring about more smiles? ]

It's because you're so wonderful. [ She's always honest with her compliments. Always. ] It... makes it easy to smile.

[Gods take him. She's going to destroy his cool. He'd halfway expected it, though - it's just her way - so even though his cheeks are beginning to share her blush, he holds on to the smile, ducking his head a little. It's always a bit too much, but still, it's nice to hear those words.]

Right back at you. This was your idea, remember?

[She'd been the one to take them into the sky like this, who guided Ophion to soar and twist and plummet. She's the one who made them both share that laughter in the air. That's pretty wonderful, too.]

[ Seeing him smile like this, him holding her like this— ”Whether I know or not, you're still the same person. I got to know you like this, so what's hearing your origin going to change?” —his actions reinforce his words. None of his touch or warmth is real save for his hand in hers as they sit beside each other in the cafe, but the comfort she feels from being with him is. Making this surprise for her is unbelievably humbling.

The wind tosses his hair wildly as Ophion soars. So rare is it that she’s able to see him without his thick bangs infringing upon the deep blue of his eyes, that she brings up her hand to his cheek. The touch is almost reverent, as if careful of the blush that begins to tint his own cheeks, mirroring hers. ]

This, coming from the one who made it possible in the first place. [ ”Right back at you,” indeed. She can go on forever, back and forth with him, not to diminish her own role but to give credit where credit is due— or in this case, that they did something together again without either of them realizing or planning for it. He’s ignorant of the extent of this gift that he’s given her: Noctis is the first to have ever been on her Artifice.... and even including the future, the only one who ever will.

These thoughts escape her in a murmur: ] The only one...

[ It almost threatens to break her smile, but she manages to stave off most of the bittersweetness by focusing upon the present pleasantness of this moment. ] You’re the only one who has ridden our Artifice with us. [ And not with terror, but with exhilaration and delight. She’s in awe. It’s overwhelming. ]

[There's something about those words that make him feel a little conflicted. He feels a warm rush of pleasure he can't stamp down at being the only one, like a place of honour few are allowed. At the same time, with how happy she looks, why would he want to keep this to himself? That's just selfish, and he's no more deserving than anyone else to experience this sort of thrill. There's no reason for conflict- he doesn't own this moment, or her, or Ophion. It's her right to share it as much as she desires, just as he can now share the Carbuncle constellation with others if he wants to point it out.

In the end, he figures it's better for her to choose. He's handed her the secret- she can do with it as she pleases.]

You know... it takes some work, but once we're out of here the whole thing resets. You can find the Omega Fetter again. And you can do this whenever you want- with anyone you want to.

[ She brings her hand down from her cheek, curling four of her fingers inward to press only the index finger to her lips. This can remain as a hidden feature between the developers, no need to advertise it.

She looks at him happily, blushing. She feels like something is fluttering within her making her weightless. ]

Then for the time being, ....can we keep it as another secret?

[ At least until someone else uncovers this on their own; in which case it might feel more rewarding. ]

[He lifts his hand up to her lips, lightly hooking his pinky around hers. A little childish, perhaps, but this moment is for them, so who cares? No one's watching to judge.]

I won't tell a soul.

[A handful of other people know that the Fetter exists - he'd needed help to find it, after all - but they don't have to know what it does.]

[ She twines her finger around his in return, bringing their linked fingers between them. She looks at the hold... then, in reality, she does the same for when they hold hands, making it that much more meaningful.

It's a promise. ]

[closed] i was hanging with you

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