hugtopia_logs | those crystal blues

[Regis isn't all that surprised that Noctis doesn't open the door. He's suppose to be resting after all. It is a bit of a relief when he hears his son's voice granting him permission to enter. Seeing him awake will be a great improvement over seeing him unconscious and unable to wake.

He can't help but smile when he sees Umbra doing what a good dog should and comforting his son. Extra treats will have to be delivered for said dog very soon.

After turning to greet Noctis, he holds out the apple.]

The next time you're craving a food from home, think about it really hard and take a bite. I promise the apple will taste a whole lot better than just some silly fruit would.

[Fruit is just a little better than veggies are, you know.]

How are you feeling?

[Noctis' expression shifts, somewhat betrayed by the offering of an apple, but he takes it anyway. in fairness, it looks and smells more appetizing than any apple he'd ever seen before. Umbra's tail thumps against the bedspread in greeting.]

If I lied and said I was fine, would you believe me? [Don't answer that, he knows it's nonsense.] My head hurts.

[Once Noctis has taken the apple from his hand, Regis reaches over and pats Umbra on the head.]

If I said I believed you, would you believe me?

[A small smile crosses his face, but it fades quickly. Sorry, he just had to answer. At least they are on the same page.]

How bad is it? Is it anything a potion will help?

[Noctis merely shakes his head. They both know those are lies, so what would be the point in pretending? He doesn't... want to lie to his dad. He won't share everything, but a lie will do no one favours, and he's carried this secret long enough. Anyway, his head is such a mess right not he can't trust himself to keep his story straight.]

I... don't know. It's- it was pretty bad. [He wished he had a better answer, but right now there's so many unknowns.] But it can't make it worse, right? So...

[Potions can't settle a troubled mind, or repair whatever internal damage his brain might have taken under the endless barrage of history dumped into it; it can't repair memories he might have lost permanently in the process, if any exist. But maybe one can help with the headache, or the blood loss, or if nothing else let Regis think he's helping somehow. That's worth a try.]

[Regis nods, retrieving a potion and handing it over to his son. In the grand scheme of things, it will not likely help much, but it is better than nothing. If it numbs the pain even a little and makes it easier for them to talk, then that will do, though how much they can talk about is up in the air. It is certain that they still have a lot to talk about, more than Regis could have guessed from the front Noctis was keeping up. His talk with Pyra made that clear. Part of him wants to speak of all those things now and remove that weight from his son's shoulders once and for all, but another part of him is just plan scared. The last time Noctis went to so much trouble to keep part of the future from him, it was because he know Aulea was going to die and just how much that would affect him. What could be so bad as that?

...

Yeah, he's not going to even start down that path. It will lead nowhere but to bad places.]

The only time I have heard of a potion making someone feel worse was when some fool made it with alcohol and the hangover was worse than the previous pain was.

[Noctis sets free a noise that might almost be a laugh, tired as it is. He accepts the bottle, carefully uncapping it and taking a few swigs. He doesn't know if it's actually helping, but the sensation of his father's magic and the sweet taste of a curative does make him feel a little better, and some colour comes back into his cheeks, bit by bit.]

They should sell that at the bar, for the really brave idiots. [He pauses as an afterthought, belatedly remembering.] Ah... or maybe not. [He hadn't gotten a response from Gladio. Nothing on the comm... he's gone back, it seems.]

[A pained expression crosses Regis' face. He doesn't have to guess what caused his son's sudden shift in thoughts. His own messages to Gladio have gone unanswered as well.]

I would take up manning the bar if I didn't have Valeo to take care of. Perhaps another of his or Tony's friends will take it over? It would be a shame to see their work go to waste.

[And if it keeps running, then a part of them is still there. At least, Regis knows he feels a part of Cor is still there when he is working at Valeo.]

[Noctis purses his lips, quiet for a long moment, then shakes his head.]

You know what? I'm gonna follow Pyra's advice and not worry about it for a while. We'll figure something out, but... later.

[Everything already kind of hurts; he doesn't need to think too deeply about the heartache involved in either maintaining or closing down a business that carries the name of his half-decimated home. There are other ways for people in town to drown their sorrow in alcohol, and he doesn't need the temptation right now.]

That really isn't a bad idea. Her advice is very good whether we realize it at first or not.

[He pauses a moment as something occurs to him.]

Speaking of shops, though, I do have something I was going to ask you about regarding Valeo. Do you feel up to that?

For... Valeo?

[Noctis tilts his head curiously, nodding for Regis to continue. He hasn't had much to do with the shop since it's not his usual area of expertise, and it always seemed to be in good hands before, but if his dad wants his help with something, he of course has no objection.]

Yes. Actually, it's something Era mentioned once that got me to thinking. When you make your flasks you are able to add items to them in order to change their effects, correct? This is something I've never done.

If I gave you an item with inherit healing properties from another world, do you think you might be able to use it to increase the strength of a healing potion or perhaps change its effect?

Uh... I think so, yeah. I haven't done that much mixing for curatives as I do with flasks, but it's the same concept, more or less. I can try, anyway.

[What's the worst that could happen? The materials go to waste, maybe. He's never managed to bungle an enchantment so badly that it hurts anyone, though there have been a few odd and unintended effects over the years.]

...You've really never done it?

Stop by the shop once you are feeling better and I will tell you a little more about the flowers and give you some to experiment with.

[Experiments have never gotten them into trouble before, right?

Noctis' question causes Regis to shake his head.]

No, I haven't. I'm not certain why the idea never occurred to me, but it didn't. Then again, my father wasn't really one for experimentation. It was a waste of time when we had proven ways and tradition to look to.

[Did he just roll his eyes? Yep, he sure did.]

[Noctis nods, making a mental note to at least tell Pyra about this, so maybe she can help him remember. He can be forgetful at the best of times, but this event has left him especially addled, his memories frayed. He's not sure he trusts his own head right now to be reliable. Still, it's... something to look forward to.

The realization that he could perhaps weave the same spell-shaping into more curatives instead of flasks, and it's something that at this time only he might be able to do, gives him a thrill that manifests into a shy, eager smile. He's not really been better at doing anything magical, certainly not in his family. Until arriving here he'd only had his father with which to compare himself, but meeting Ardyn and Somnus (both of whom excelled in their own ways) made his limits all the more clear. But this... this is where he's allowed to shine at last. It's... nice.]

Yeah... yeah, I can do that. Sounds like it'll be my element. [Heh.]

those crystal blues

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