Take these stars from my crown

[flawed_immortality]

♥ Who: Lucis Family + SOs
♥ Where: The food testing area
♥ When: Late Nov/Malom
♥ What: The Eosians getting together for a family gathering.
♥ Rating: Probably just PG?

Cor made a point of getting to the tower early so he could make some preparations, setting the table for the full family. Even Will is coming and that is so strange. Cor has never once in his life had a +1 for any kind of event. Yet here he is setting a table for nine instead of eight.

The prep work had taken weeks of going over the correct textures and tastes with the research team, something Ignis had taken on the bulk of the work for while the others worked on the wall. Still he was confident that they were close enough to get a solid match on many foods, leaving some of their bet recipes only very slightly off from the originals. Cor had taken over rolling a large selection of sushi as well as a light starter soup. Some of the more robust recipes had been Ignis' purview but, if nothing else, Cor is an efficient prep cook.

All in all there's a pretty spectacular spread when everyone arrives, something for everyone and a familiar Altissian berry cake for dessert.

Comments

[carbungle]

[Noctis arrives at the party with his household retinue in tow, including probably the dogs, because they go where he and Luna go these days, so deal with it. He's also, curiously enough, wearing what counts as formal wear for him these days: a lovely dark button-up shirt and a pair of sleek black jeans. There are embroidered skulls peppering the cuffs, because of course there are, and he wears a solid-looking silvery chain around his neck, tucked down into the shirt. Surprise, he cleans up nice! Mostly when he is coaxed in that direction by a certain princess.

He also arrives with a large, steaming covered platter that smells amazing, and once it's on the table with the rest, it is revealed to be steaks! Big, thick, juicy steaks unlike almost any meat the other guests might be familiar with, peppered with whatever array of spices are available in this world. While it might not be immediately obvious what kind of steak it is (especially considering the normal limitations on the food replicators) one can safely assume that Ignis was involved in helping to cook it. They look far too delicious for it to be Noct's handiwork alone.

Still, he does look stupidly proud of this accomplishment, and will happily regale the story to anyone curious enough to ask: just what is that delicious-smelling mystery meat?

He's also mingling around trying not to be an awkward wallflower otherwise, but some things just can't be helped.]

[kingkingcxiii]

[It's amazing what good influences a lady can have over her man. Aulea would have a heart attack if she saw was Regis was wearing. It is, perhaps, the only good thing about her not being here.

Of the whole ensemble that Noctis is wearing, it is the chain around his neck that catches Regis' attention the most. His heart actually skips a beat because he has a feeling he knows exactly what is on the end of that chain, something that perfectly matches what he wears on his right hand. After all, Noctis would have it at his point in time.

This is not the time or the place for pondering such grim details, though. Fortunately, there is an easy distraction from that in the form of some delicious smelling meat.]

Don't you look proud of yourself. Did young Ignis finally teach you how to properly cook a steak?

[carbungle]

[Noctis grins immediately in Regis's direction; this man, in particular, was the top of his list of people he'd wanted to get a chance to try this for sure.]

He did, actually. It's easier than I thought it would be. [And thank the Six for that, because he wants to eat this every day for at least a week or two. He's missed the taste of home dearly.] Wanna taste-test?

[kingkingcxiii]

[Regis clasps his hands behind his back, giving the meat an appraising look.]

Taste-testing without finding out what it is first? That sounds like something that would give both Weskham and Clarus reason to scold me mightily were they here.

[Good thing they aren't, hu?]

[kingkingcxiii]

A.) Beginning of the Party: The dance of flames and shadows in the street; make poetry nobody's ever heard

It's probably not surprising to anyone that Regis arrives to the tower only a short time after Cor does. He's not the one who suggested this whole thing, but he has taken it upon himself to make sure everyone has a good time. That means defusing any tense situations should they arise--which he doubts will happen since the ones most likely to cause those are not here--making sure that no one feels left out, and making doubly sure that Cor takes at least some time to relax and enjoy things with Will.

His outfit is undoubtedly the bastard child of a suit and someone's weekend mall wear, but both Will and Cor agreed it looked okay, so Regis put his misgivings to the side. It's not like he knows much about casual wear. He's pretty sure there's some law somewhere about kings not being allowed to own such things. For Astrals sake, Cor had to talk him out of wearing the crown!

Come to think of it, though, he should probably see about overturning that law at some point. It would make his life so much easier even if it did give the traditionalists on the council heart attacks.

As soon as people start arriving, Regis sweeps into action greeting them, giving hugs, directing them toward food or whatever else may strike their fancy. Anyone watching him will quickly see why he so easily charms crowds at the balls back home, only here the smiles, embraces, and well wishes are all real and not a mask meant to woo the favor of ambassadors or wealthy families.

Woe be to those who wish to be wallflowers. He's not going to allow it for long.


B.) After Dinner: The weight of loneliness stands on your feet; the cage already there around the bird

It isn't unusual for the excitement before such a dinner to calm afterward. Everyone is full, more ready to settle with loved ones than mingle as they were before. Regis is no different, though anyone who is watching close enough will notice that his smiles are not quite reaching his eyes anymore. In fact, when he is fairly certain no one is watching, he slips from the room, wandering down the hall until he finds a window he can stare out of.

It is good to see everyone so happy. It is good to have the chance to meet people he may never have or may have to wait years to, but it all also creates a hollow ache in his chest because despite it all, the person who means the most to him is not here. Noctis may hold his heart in the future, but right now, it is the boy's mother he misses enough to make it feel as if his heart has been torn from his chest.

Unconsciously, he begins fiddling with the wedding band on his finger. If the impression Will got from his Hypno when it returned to him is correct, then Aulea will be waiting for him when he returns, knowing nothing about him being gone, ready to scold him just for risking himself so foolishly instead of that and running off to some unknown world and not taking her with him.

Astrals, he misses her. As much as he respects and loves Cor, there are things the man will never understand about him. Things she does. Times she can just look at him and know.

Regis takes a deep breath and then rests his forehead against the glass, closing his eyes. He's going to need to return before someone realizes he's snuck away, but for now he just needs moment.

Oh, how he wishes she was here.


C.) Post Party, Closed to Somnus: S'like the sun's gone down; sleeps in the hallowed ground now

Once everyone has departed and the clean up is done, Regis draws aside one of the natives who has been around to help them and asks them if they can set up one more plate so he can take it to one who wasn't here. It was, perhaps, for the best, but leaving any member of the family out of the festivities sits uneasily with him.

Plate in hand, Regis makes his way to the house he knows Somnus has taken up residence in. He doesn't know how welcome the visit will be. He doesn't even know if the Founder King still needs to eat or, if like his brother, that is no longer necessary. Still, he wants the man to know he's been thought of this night, for even if he disagrees with his actions and the suffering they have brought upon the family, Regis understands the need to make hard decisions for the good of those who look to you for protection.

The crown is a heavy weight to bear and always has been.

D.) Wildcard!

(Feel free to hit Regis up anywhere between these prompts too!)
(Will match format, so go wild!)

B

[carbungle]

Noctis isn't always the most observant or attuned to those around him, being a creature born of both habit and laziness, but there are some he will make exception for no matter the situation. Friends, family. People who care for him have more than earned his care in return. That's why it isn't too long before he notices the suddenly-absent attendee who vanishes from the party for long enough to be more than just a washroom break or a breath of fresh air. Tossing out some nonsense excuse he wrestles himself free of whoever he's mingling with at the time and wanders out to hunt for his suddenly-wayward father.

It could be instinct, or the guidance of the Lucii, or sheer dumb luck, but he chances upon the right direction and finds Regis down the hall, gazing out the window. It's a little eerie, and he nearly stumbles in his step; he's seen his father do this sort of thing before, and with a similar expression, besides. Staring out at a quiet city, safe and isolated in a tower, as a magic barrier shines subtly overhead, blocking them off from the true sky and keeping the horrors of the outside world at bay. A quiet, secret sort of sadness, one he could not speak of, lest he burden anyone else with it. Noctis could guess at it- there are many reasons for a king of Lucis to be unhappy. But too often, his father's heart had been closed to him.

It almost makes him stop and think twice, but stubbornly he carries on, coming over to stand at the king's side, bumping up against his shoulder. It's still his father, but not quite the same man, not yet.

That 2nd paragraph earns you the older icon where he's doing EXACTLY that because it TRUE.

[kingkingcxiii]

When that bump against his shoulder comes, Regis jumps slightly making it clear his mind was as far away as his gaze was. As he starts to turn, Noctis will see something else that he's no doubt saw several times over his life--the royal mask starting to slide up over his father's face hiding whatever emotions he is actually feeling. When Regis actually realizes who is next to him, though, that stops and the soft smile he gives Noctis is tinged with loneliness but also is genuine.

"Shouldn't you be spending time with that lovely lady of yours?"

aww yeah he knows his da

[carbungle]

...Yeah, he's seen that look, too many times to count. It almost makes him look away, but then the second shift in expression follows it, and that is one he remembers from his childhood, the one that became more and more rare as he grew into an adult and the weight of the crown and the wall made everything harder.

That smile makes him relax again, though, offering a wry one right back.

"I see her every day, you know." They're ~living in sin~ now, after all. Even if they're not actually doing anything, the prince living unmarried with a woman would be quite the scandal back home. "I think she'll understand if I take five to check on someone."

b

[scourgingstars]

[There was the gentle tap of a hand briefly on his shoulder; it wasn't hard to sneak away from Aera where she would no doubt have her attention drift to their niece and nephew. Meanwhile, Ardyn had picked out a conspicuous absence and chosen to take advantage of needing a quiet moment of his own to follow.]

It mightn't be long before Aera chases you down next, just so you're forewarned.

[kingkingcxiii]

[Regis blinks slowly as Ardyn's words draw him back to himself. When he turns toward redhead, his expression is an odd mix of loneliness and amusement.]

I was debating if it would be her or Lunafreya who would come looking first. I should not have doubted her. How are you holding up?

[This would be a lot for Ardyn if they were a normal family having a family gathering, and they are in no way a normal family.]

[scourgingstars]

Oh, I'll live--I suppose I'm good at that if little else. I was, however, about to ask the same of you.

C

[meridio]

Heavy was the crown of laurel when it sat on his head. As the generations went on, the crown evolved into something less intrusive and much lighter in design, yet heavier all the same. Though it's now nowhere to be seen among the Lucian sovereigns in Aellyn, those who've borne the title of king remember full well its weight.

The bell sounds, and it takes a second before Somnus cranes his neck toward the townhouse entrance. Having received no visitors until now, he's not heard the doorbell before. Fortunately for the visitor, he's yet to retire for the night and answers the door in his tunic.

He's under-dressed to receive this particular guest, but such things never did bother Somnus, whose eyes flit from the plate of food to the face of his distant grandson. If he's here, Regis must know the truth.

"Hail, young king."

[kingkingcxiii]

"Greetings, Founder. I hope I'm not intruding?"

There is a short, but just long enough to be noticeable, pause between Regis' greeting and his address because he realizes just then he has no idea how to address Somnus now that he knows who he actually is. Calling him by name seems too informal and all of his titles are far too formal. He could default to 'your majesty' but he's not sure if he could get that out with a straight face since he's so used to being the one called that instead.

He, perhaps, should have figured that out while he was walking over. Oops. As awkward as it sounds, 'Founder' will have to do for now.

[meridio]

The question is a request for entry if he’s ever heard one. Somnus steps aside. He has little reason to turn away a visitor—doubly so when that visitor is Regis.

“I‌ was merely preparing for sleep.” Something he hasn’t done in millennia, yet he’s been finding himself wearier than before. “Come.”

The house interior is scarcely furnished but for the installments provided by the city. Its current residents are no homebodies, nor are they of a mind for indulging in decorations. Nevertheless, the living room has been outfitted to accommodate multiple people from the outset, and Somnus sits down on one end of the sofa after leading Regis inside. (There’s nowhere else to sit, however, suggesting that physical proximity doesn’t bother him in the slightest.)

[scourgingstars]

[a; earlyish; someday somewhere somehow you'll love again]

[Ardyn, to his credit, put slightly more effort than usual into his appearance; long violet hair in an only somewhat unkempt braid, still in the usual off-white tones and loose-fitting clothes paired with a comfortable-looking sweater. Generally he was subdued compared to Aera's...being Aera, though he could early on be awkwardly stumbling through a polite refusal to Cor's slightly insistent suggestion of who should have been at the head of the table. (If they were going to be formal, Ardyn's argument went that it should have been the only one of them that was currently actually king in their timeline.)]

[...In perhaps the most obvious mark of being the family's black sheep, he did in fact lean heavily vegetarian.]

[b; later on; you just need to find someone]

[Eventually, much like Regis he did need a bit of space himself, sneaking out to a quiet and dark corner to lean heavily against a wall. Gods, this was exhausting. But...it wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. Was this what normal family gatherings were supposed to be like?]

[c; wildcard; someone who wants you around]

[whatever else, whenever, idc hit me]

A!

[indelebilis]

[ Aera arrives a short time after Ardyn; she's been a busy bee for the majority of the day, what with trying to shop for proper, more modern attire and looking for decor for her current residence.. She's picked a simple outfit for the occasion tonight, at least. After the appropriate greetings to everyone, she's glad to take a seat next to her beloved.

It's nice, looking out at everyone. She's still trying to find her place in this strange world, but being among family and friends warms her heart to it's core. ]

This is wonderful, is it not? It is good to see everyone together like this.

[scourgingstars]

[oh no she's cute]

It is...certainly something. I am not entirely accustomed to gatherings like this, but I can not call it a negative thing.

[indelebilis]

[ He's the cute one, okay ]

It's lovely. I must admit, I am quite taken with dear Regis and Noctis. They're very sweet, and I'm so glad to see them here this evening.

A~

[carbungle]

[Their plates are in stark contrast to one other - all meat, all vegetable - and Noctis isn't exactly critical, but at some point during the mingling he does waggle a fork in Ardyn's direction.]

Okay, so, question: are you strict on the no-meat thing, or are there exceptions? Because you're seriously missing out.

[And no, it's not because he's practically radiating self-satisfaction, here.]

[scourgingstars]

It's more a matter of preference, and the fact that I dislike going hunting unless absolutely necessary for my own survival.

[looking at you, somnus]

The latter of which is, I am aware, not exactly an issue in this modern environment. What is that, anyway?

[carbungle]

[Noctis cants his head to one side, considering it, then shrugs. It's been fun to indulge in the surprise after the tasting, but if Ardyn isn't likely to try it anyway, there's no sense in playing that game.]

Any chance the Adamantoise of Longwythe was around in your time?

[Something that huge - and something that's been a part of the terrain long enough to be forgotten - has to be ancient. Like, thousands of years ancient, probably.]

[this_loser]

[Thanks to Kaname, Prompto actually owns a nice, button-down shirt, and pants without animal print. The sleeves are rolled up, and by the end of the night, the shirt will surely be tucked.

Despite arriving on Noct's heels, he feels a bit like an impostor. This feels like a family thing, and, well, he never really did get the hang of doing family things. Fortunately, he's familiar enough with most here that his unease is fleeting. Plus, the dogs are here.

He's happy to put on a smile and chat with anyone who looks willing. And of course he has his camera. What better time is there to get multiple generations on one memory card?]

[kingkingcxiii]

[Considering he knows how Prompto usually dresses, Regis can clearly see a certainly lady's influence in this outfit, even if she, herself, is no longer here.

Being parted from a loved one. Regis wishes he didn't have to say the blonde shares that feeling with him.]

Have you gotten any good candid shots yet?

[this_loser]

As if you need to ask.

[Said with a playful roll of the eyes.]

I could make a killing from tabloids with these babies.

...If there were tabloids.

And if I weren't awesome and above such things.

[kingkingcxiii]

Perish the thought! Of course, you would never use your powers for evil.

[Unless a certain prince asked, that is.]

Thank you for coming. I know not everything has been worth celebrating recently.

[Honestly, he wants to ask Prompto how he's doing with Kaname gone, but he also isn't sure if it is his place to ask. It's why he's not asked before now.]