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

[kingkingcxiii]

If he let himself, Regis could start putting the pieces together on this particular little oddity too, but since he puzzled out his own death, he's been purposely trying not to do that with anything else. His intuition has been a powerful tool during his rule, but in this place, with so much of the future left ahead of him, its led him to noting but painful realizations when allowed to run free.

Honestly, he'd rather a delay in finding out things like Noctis' true link to him, than to find out about the death of someone close to him just because 2+2 decided right then to become 4.

"Loneliness doesn't stop here, even if our homes are frozen awaiting our return. I keep thinking it's ungrateful of me to miss one person when so many are here, but the heart doesn't listen to logic."

[carbungle]

"It's not ungrateful. At least, I don't think so."

He's relieved by the lack of further questions, and that he appears to have kept up the impression that she has yet to be lost to them, but rather than risk delving too deeply he shifts the conversation sideways. He wants to let Regis reminiscence about Aulea if he wishes, but... he needs a little personal distance, first. He won't be the one to bear that sad news as long as he can help it.

"I don't know the year for you- have the Amicitia family had a kid yet, in your time?"

[kingkingcxiii]

Regis nods, relieved once more to hear Noctis doesn't hold such a...human feeling against him. He can't help but think his father's view would be quite different. He has no doubt that is why he is questioning himself so much, anyway. It's all too easy to hear his father's words in the back of his mind.

At least Mors has never spoken to Regis directly from the ring itself. That likely would end in a very ugly display of anger.

"It's M.E. 734. Founder's Day, to be exact. Gladiolus is just a little over a year old. He's going to be trouble, that one. I hope Clarus is ready for it."

[carbungle]

Noctis furrows his brows at the date; he feels like he ought to know it, but nothing is immediately coming to mind beyond the usual celebration. He shakes it off after a moment. It has nothing to do with the conversation, and he'd gotten the relevant info he needed.

"Hard to imagine him that small. He isn't that much older, but he's always been like twice my size." Noctis crosses his arms over his chest, glancing out across the cityscape. It's not the same view of Insomnia, but he'd done plenty of gazing out the window himself, though for very different reasons than his father, he's sure. "Gladio's my Shield. He and Iggy have been with me since I was little- I can barely remember a time when I didn't have both of them. But only one's here now."

He gives Regis a pointed look, quietly repeating after a moment, "...It's not ungrateful."

It isn't the same as missing a lover, or a wife. But Gladio is his brother and his friend, an irreplaceable partner in his own right. Without him, he's off-balance, more often on edge without that huge sword and broad back standing between him and whatever the world throws his way, without a sharp reprimand when he stumbles and pride when he triumphs. His father, without Clarus either, must surely understand how he feels. The people they have here, old and new, doesn't negate the loss of those left behind.

[kingkingcxiii]

It's not completely Noctis' fault he doesn't remember the date. Once he returns, Regis and those close to him will do their bests to spin what happened into something easier for the people to understand and accept. There will be no mention of Adagium. Ifrit, of course, is an easy target for blame since so many will have seen him, but in the end, it is the Imperials who will carry the most blame. Their presence at the Wall will not have been missed and all that happened within? Obviously, their newest attempt to bring the Wall down. Honestly, none of that is particularly untrue. Even so, it all will leave a bad taste in Regis' mouth no matter how much it must be done. Panic will gain them nothing. As a people, they must stand as strong as the Wall did.

"Clarus was the same way. He always said it was improper of me to hide behind him when my father came looking for me, but he never did stop me." The distant look that enters Regis' eyes makes it clear that Noctis is quite right about him missing his Shield, "I am glad to hear you have such strong friends at your side. As a family, our burdens are great, but made much easier when spread across many shoulders."

Regis nods then, acknowledging that repeated statement, "There really is no one who can fill that particular space. Cor, bless his soul, has said he will be my Shield while I am here, but I don't have the heart to tell him he can try all he wishes, but only Clarus will ever fill that role. I have a feeling it is the same with you, yes?"

[carbungle]

"Yeah, it is."

Cor's never volunteered the same to him, though the subject hasn't come up either; Cor is also the catalyst for the only time Gladio left him to fend for himself. If he'd said so, though? Noctis knows he couldn't truly accept it. His Shield is and always will be Gladio, and their friendship was hard to come by and worth the extra effort it took to form.

Cor is absolutely a blessing, and family as much as the others, but... not his, not truly, the way he'd been his father's. Back home the Marshall was there to guide him and push him forward, to test his strength and ensure that he was ready for the hard journey ahead after Regis died. But he is not Cor's king. He's not sure he ever will be, not truly.

Gladio, though? Gladio knows to push his limits, and Ignis knows when to let him rest. The two are foil for Noct and for one another, and they have a dynamic and chemistry fused and nurtured over many years. That's not something you can replace with just anyone. He could be Gladio's king, one day, and while he never wants the man to die for him he knows he would, and you can't discredit that kind of loyalty, ever.

"We'll manage without them. We have to, I know." A moment of hesitation, and he reaches down to bump his hand against his father's, lightly tugging against his fingers. He's here. "But there's time to stop and miss them, at least."

His mother, too. He'd have liked Luna to meet her. He'd have liked to meet her.

[kingkingcxiii]

Regis nods and gives Noctis a small smile as he turns to look back out the window. At the same time, he wraps his fingers around his son's hand, giving it a squeeze and silent acknowledgment of the support. To be honest, the more he's learned about his own death--accidentally given piece, by accidentally given piece--the more Regis has tried not to think of his his oldest friend. Unlike Cor, there is no way Clarus would have left his side, which meant, his loyal Shield--the one who had been at his side his entire life--was also dead.

In some ways, that grieves him even more than hearing of his own death does. Cor said he had known what was going to happen, which meant Clarus had to have known as well. Had they talked of what was to come? Shared feelings and fears that they could never have told anyone else?

He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes for a moment, giving Noctis' hand another squeeze. It's not a good idea to think about these things now. Not when his heart already hurts so much.

"When you start missing him too much, how do you handle it?"

[carbungle]

Handle it? Noctis smiles tightly at that, holding fast to his father's hand the way he used to when he was a child, young enough to be indulged in such a manner. His hand is bigger now, rough and callused as his father's instead of the soft baby skin he'd had in the times he remembers this happening. Covered in marks and scars from the long journey, but not a ring.

How has he ever handled missing someone? With sulks and silence, petty dalliances like video games or sweets. With distance and protective walls around his own heart, doors he would later regret closing. With fury and vengeance, blades grinding mercilessly through the helmets of MTs during an ambush that he'd secretly welcomed. With tears and shouting on a cliffside, outside of Insomnia, outside of Caem.

He does not, historically, handle it well.

But that's not comforting to Regis, he's certain of that, and he'd come here to help, not be vaguely alarming about the future they were to share. So he sighs and considers a more specific answer. What to do when he misses Gladio...

"I think about what he'd say, if he caught me moping about it," is his response at last. "He'd tell me to man up already. That I've gotta learn to focus on my own while he's away and can't do it for me."

And he's still pretty lost, with one-third of his support system so obviously missing, but he's trying anyway. Hopefully it'll be enough.

[kingkingcxiii]

Regis can't help but chuckle, "He is his father's son, isn't he? That sounds quite familiar."

Would the man that Gladio has grown into be glad to hear that? It's hard at the time Regis is from to tell how close father and son will be as time passes. The Shield-to-be is far too young and currently has his father wrapped around his finger. Regis knows Clarus will only be able to allow such a thing for so long before he will have to start pushing his son toward the role that awaits him. Hopefully, it will be something they can bond over and not something that will push them apart.

"I do think there is time to be sad about it, though. We just must make sure it doesn't cause us to neglect our duties. If we just hold it all inside, it will eventually come out, only it will be in a way we cannot control."

He only has to think of Cor's breakdown to know that.

[carbungle]

"Yeah, that's a familiar trend." They're all definitely cut from a very similar cloth, that's for sure. Besides Prompto, anyway. He's... quite a bit different. At least, from what little he's seen of the guy's ever-absent parents.

He glances back towards the window, a quiet frown gracing his lips. He wouldn't call it bad advice, it's just not the sort he's used to hearing, not until arriving here. He understands that the situation's different, that there are certain luxuries they can afford, but it's hard to just switch gears like that. It's been go, go, go for so long, always pushing forward, shoving everything else in the corner... no time for tears, or anything else for that matter. He just figured it was the burden of the crown, that he'd get used to it the way his father had.

Hearing differently from his father is... strange.

"I'll... try to keep that in mind. As long as you do, too."

Can't have his dad try to shoulder all the burdens as usual. That's too heavy, even if he's younger than he was at home.

[kingkingcxiii]

It's a clear example of just how much the coming years will change Regis. While he fully believes what he says, a short time from now, he will look back on it as charmingly naive and after that? Well, he may even start to think it a completely foolish sentiment, even as part of him yearns quietly to be able to believe again.

That is all the future, though. Now, Regis bows his head slightly, a guilty laugh slipping from his mouth, "It's easier to give advice than to follow it. You know that, right? But, if it will help you to do it, then I will certainly give it my best shot."

[carbungle]

Noctis glances over at him, his lips helplessly quirking into a small smile. This place is such an absurd blessing to them all, isn't it? They're abducted and trapped on a doomed planet, serving gods they know nothing about, and here he is holding hands with his in-future-dead father, thinking about how he can't remember the last time he'd heard Regis laugh before coming here.

It's a beautiful, bittersweet thing, but he clings to it. "I'll hold you to that. And make sure to think about what Mom would say, if she caught you hiding out here alone instead of being with us."

He never met the woman, but he knows enough now to recognize that she would have absolutely none of it.