[He tries to think on that, but in the end can only shake his head, accepting her offered hand.]
I don't know. I think we both ran in circles and crashed into different walls, here.
[It's more typical for one or both of them to blame themselves only, so maybe this is a step up, who knows. He just doesn't feel right about letting her take all the blame, nor accepting it all onto his own shoulders. A lot of would have, could have, should have. The mood may be soured, but it was made that way through a mess of a discussion that they shared.]
[ Her fingers curl over his, and she gives his hand a small tug, to move back inside. ] It's okay. In the end... I'm glad you're safe, and you're here.
[ Because of the negativity, she's not entirely sure that sharing what she feels will be worth it, not when it brings this. But this is one of her first times doing so, and it's given her something to think about, and she's not about to stop trying after her first try. Maybe other times will be easier. The future can only tell.
But for the present... she wants to make amends.
She begins leading him back inside. ] I know we're simmering curry but... How about some cake, first? It's that what reward you should have, after a successful battle?
[He doesn't really feel like cake, or a reward, but he follows her willingly inside, breathing in deep to try and let some of the tension ease from his body language. It doesn't have to be totally okay, but for the moment, they can at least smile and share a dinner. They'll sort the rest out over time, he hopes.]
Nah... I'm still kind of wired, I don't need more sugar. It smells good in here, though.
[ She glances at him sidelong, seeing how he's trying to roll the tension from his shoulders. She's sorry for that. And... she still wants to ease the mood in general, too. Nothing like a good first step in the right direction with some food and mutual respect. ] The curry should be just about done.
[ Her hand slips from his, and she moves to lift the lid of the pot. All at once, steam and spice arises to waft about their kitchen, aromatic and homey. It would have been a better choice for a colder day, but... it's also comfort food, and it's probably appropriate for that reason alone. She serves him a plate of it with rice, but only puts the sprig of green cilantro for garnish on her own. He chose the potatoes as the vegetables, no need to add more to his plate! ] Did you know, some curries stew for days at a time?
[He sets up the table for them and fetches drinks while she serves, then accepts the plate to settle in with her. The subject choice takes him aback for a moment, but he rolls with it, grateful for the distraction. They could use something easier, at this point. And she... at least seems to be smiling? He hopes she's smiling for the right reasons.]
I've seen it done for hours, but not days. Is that a special kind?
In my world, yes-- for some recipes, if you want to be that extra about it.
[ She sets the table, and takes her seat. Steam rises off her her plate, and she raises her brows at him. ]
It allows the spices to absolutely blend into whatever you throw into the pot, whether it's potatoes, vegetables, juicy meats, or tofu. When you take a bite, it absolutely melts on your tongue. The extra-slow simmer is popular on the colder Titans.
I've, or... rather, Mythra-- she's only had it once, for a special occasion. [ As he can imagine, it wouldn't be for anyone who's traveling. ]
Huh... I know doing that with meat can make it really slide off the bone, but I don't usually have the patience to wait that long.
[If he's smelling meat in the house, he wants to eat it... though who knows what kind of expensive, slow-cooked foods he's gotten to eat in his privileged lifespan.]
Most wouldn’t, I think. [ Hence the special occasion part to it.
And now that she thinks of it… ] Having a slower cooked meal— even one that just takes the afternoon to prepare— is… It’s a benefit of this world. Of not always being in a rush to the next destination.
[ So, yes. Absolutely, they should try it some time. She would like to try it sometime with him, Ignis, and Prompto. ]
[His expression turns thoughtful at that, pushing his curry around on his plate for a moment.]
You're not wrong. I wonder sometimes if I'm taking that for granted, since I've been here so long now.
[Even with the month-or-so pause where he'd gone home to a series of nightmares, he was approaching two years now. It's a little daunting to look at it from more of a distance.]
[ Her lips purse in thought as she lowers her utensil to her plate, watching his expression.
Then, she reaches over to place her free hand over his, smiling. She does her best to be reassuring. ] If you're doing what you want... isn't it hard to say that you're taking things for granted?
[ It's he who said something to the effect of getting to choose with whom he spend his time or doing what he wants, in this world. Supporting that-- she has to support that more for him, she reminds herself. ]
...Although, it's never to late to try something new.
Mmm... true. [She's usually right about these sorts of things. His fingers curl against hers, squeezing lightly, his thumb rubbing over the back of her hand, subtly affectionate.] Got any suggestions?
[Something new could mean a lot of things, and it could very well be something he needs to find for himself, but her input matters, too. He can't let himself forget that.]
[ She looks down to their hands. Even just a subtle gesture of his thumb brushing over her skin, a sign of care, means a lot right now. A soft 'hm', thoughtful, escapes her. ]
You always ask the difficult follow-up questions, you know that?
[ She can't decide for him! ...And there's so much he's chosen to do with his time that he wouldn't be able to do in his own world. From painting, to VR game making and design, and, yes, to battling things he's never battled.
... ]
How about I teach you how to fly the Regalia? On your own.
[ Not that she hasn't tried to explain things here and there to him, but she should give him proper lessons on flight. That way-- he can do it on his own. He won't need her, if she's gone. And as much as that's a sad thought, she wants him to thrive. Him learning how to fly won't be that difficult for him, she's sure, but the Regalia is a vehicle in which he can take to discover more things for himself. ] So... you can find the 'something new' in a wider radius.
Oh, man. Talk about inviting chaos into the city. [Despite his words, his tone belies obvious delight at the idea of getting to fly more, hopefully without crashing through anyone's roof.
He isn't thinking about this as a way of thriving without her - the thought would never occur to him, at this point, as thriving is not a thing he'd be doing by any means - so he tilts his head curiously at her wording.]
You'd still come up with me sometimes though, right? If I could fly it myself.
[The flying part is exciting. The "on your own", not so much. He's not sure if most of his friends would be so eager with him behind the wheel either...]
[ So long as he wants her in the passenger seat, she’ll be there. ] I’m sure you’d be an excellent pilot, actually.
[ And she truly believes that. Surely, since he’s so good at warping and zipping around in the air anyways at high speeds, flying a car won’t be that difficult for him to master, right….? ]
It involves a lot of spatial awareness and quick thinking, which I know you’re great at.
[Nevermind the opinion of anyone else who's been in a car with him behind the wheel before. Driving in a big city is different, okay. And he definitely hasn't almost driven into many trees.
The subject of spatial awareness and flying independently makes him pause for a moment, hesitant, until he opts to add,]
Next time, I'll show you the Armiger.
[Next time he's in a fight where it might be needed, he'll bring her along.]
[ She looks at him, her brow raised slightly in surprise. If she understands his abilities correctly, using the Armiger isn’t something he uses for showcase.
The time she had seen a glimpse of it— or what she believes to be it— was when he had taken in the Fetter to his armory. A whirl of phantom blades danced around him like lightening in a bottle. It was beautiful, but also, she’s certain that it’s taken a toll on him much like any of his other abilities. ]
Ah… kind of, but nothing that powerful should be easy. It's still something I should practice more than I actually do.
[He had used it during the Hades fight because Ardyn had- and it had felt appropriate, since you save your trump cards for boss fights anyway, right? But using it had reminded him just how out of practice he was even with the souls of the other kings to guide him along, and seeing Ardyn's experienced finesse with it had made that fact sink in all the deeper.]
I mean, I can't let the older generation show me up all the time. Ardyn can make his look like wings.
[ She replies, quietly awed. She wagers that it probably was incredible to see, too.
She doesn’t want to say she wants to see it, because she knows it takes a lot of out him, and she’d rather avoid putting undue pressure on him. But if it’s up to him, she won’t say no to witnessing when he unleashes that ability if he invites her… although, she wonders if there’s truly many things he can practice with using it.
Pyra looks down at her hand in his and takes it back. Right. Curry. She had almost forgotten about it. ]
Would you have them as wings too, if you could? Or something else?
[A thoughtful noise as he scoops up a fresh mouthful of curry. He doesn't chase the issue of whether or not she wants it, or what reason he has for bringing it up- he doesn't have any desire to reopen the argument's leftover wounds. Still, he hopes that discussing combat won't feel like taboo for very long. It's such a big part of his life, and hers in many ways, though she prefers to avoid it. And this is... harmless, in theory.]
Dunno. I've tried, but I don't have that much control over it. I can make swords attack in different ways independently from me, but it's more like… patterns, than shapes. If that makes any sense.
[ The only image she has to go by is when he had been almost killed by the Fetter, and how the weapons had seemed to automatically align themselves to protect him… ]
I’m not sure if this is right or not but, is it also partly instinct? As in, when you’re in danger…. [ Definitely more difficult to control, then. But hence the need for practice. ]
I suppose… [ She continues, after a moment of thoughtful silence, her voice tentative. ] If you’d like my help, we can try something similar to when we first warped together? Such as enhancing your focus, or lending you power…
[Though tentative she may be, he jumps on it. He's not sure if she's hesitant for him or herself, but he has no qualms if it's the former.]
Hey, sure. New project.
[He has no idea how it might translate from energy sharing into Armiger control, but anything is worth trying. They sure as hell have a stellar track record in collaboration, on multiple levels.]
Only thing is, you'd have to keep your distance, and we'd have to find a place to practice with no one else around, or clear the arena maybe. It gets pretty dangerous with all those blades flying around- even the guys know to clear out when I start using it.
[ Even if she believes she’ll be perfectly fine— does he not remember when she had been completely impaled and walked away— she respects his concern for her and doesn’t push the issue of keeping some distance. It’s sweet of him to be so concerned, not something to take personally.
She prepares another bite of curry. ]
I think that’s still doable… I can still make a connection to you at a distance with my own abilities. [ Not as effective, of course, but still good. ]
A sword doesn't need that much power to stab someone, to be fair.
[And also to be fair, there's a big difference between knowing she'll be fine, and being okay with watching his own blades slice her to ribbons. Earlier today he watched a friend stab herself near to death and despite knowing she'd be healed in the aftermath, it wasn't a pleasant experience, and he won't be forgetting the visual any time soon. He doesn't want that again with Pyra, no matter how invincible she might seem.]
[ He has a point… with both things he says, and to which she manages a small smile for him. ]
Oh, no, I don’t mind, if you don’t. [ Anything for him, from car flying lessons to assisting with armiger practice. She want to support him. ] I was just thinking that you’re very kind to be concerned about safety… [ Even when it’s not necessary, which, perhaps, makes that concern even kinder in practice. ]
[He pauses at that, suddenly hesitant again. There's something strange about her pointing that out. Is- he usually not? Or is this more about her?]
I... sure. [...] Is there something weird about that?
[Worrying about safety is kind of like caring about the people around him, and considering how she always tells him how nice he is, wouldn't that go without saying?]
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I don't know. I think we both ran in circles and crashed into different walls, here.
[It's more typical for one or both of them to blame themselves only, so maybe this is a step up, who knows. He just doesn't feel right about letting her take all the blame, nor accepting it all onto his own shoulders. A lot of would have, could have, should have. The mood may be soured, but it was made that way through a mess of a discussion that they shared.]
I'm sorry for my part in this, too.
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[ Because of the negativity, she's not entirely sure that sharing what she feels will be worth it, not when it brings this. But this is one of her first times doing so, and it's given her something to think about, and she's not about to stop trying after her first try. Maybe other times will be easier. The future can only tell.
But for the present... she wants to make amends.
She begins leading him back inside. ] I know we're simmering curry but... How about some cake, first? It's that what reward you should have, after a successful battle?
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Nah... I'm still kind of wired, I don't need more sugar. It smells good in here, though.
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The curry should be just about done.
[ Her hand slips from his, and she moves to lift the lid of the pot. All at once, steam and spice arises to waft about their kitchen, aromatic and homey. It would have been a better choice for a colder day, but... it's also comfort food, and it's probably appropriate for that reason alone. She serves him a plate of it with rice, but only puts the sprig of green cilantro for garnish on her own. He chose the potatoes as the vegetables, no need to add more to his plate! ] Did you know, some curries stew for days at a time?
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I've seen it done for hours, but not days. Is that a special kind?
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[ She sets the table, and takes her seat. Steam rises off her her plate, and she raises her brows at him. ]
It allows the spices to absolutely blend into whatever you throw into the pot, whether it's potatoes, vegetables, juicy meats, or tofu. When you take a bite, it absolutely melts on your tongue. The extra-slow simmer is popular on the colder Titans.
I've, or... rather, Mythra-- she's only had it once, for a special occasion. [ As he can imagine, it wouldn't be for anyone who's traveling. ]
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[If he's smelling meat in the house, he wants to eat it... though who knows what kind of expensive, slow-cooked foods he's gotten to eat in his privileged lifespan.]
Maybe we should try it sometime.
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And now that she thinks of it… ] Having a slower cooked meal— even one that just takes the afternoon to prepare— is… It’s a benefit of this world. Of not always being in a rush to the next destination.
[ So, yes. Absolutely, they should try it some time. She would like to try it sometime with him, Ignis, and Prompto. ]
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You're not wrong. I wonder sometimes if I'm taking that for granted, since I've been here so long now.
[Even with the month-or-so pause where he'd gone home to a series of nightmares, he was approaching two years now. It's a little daunting to look at it from more of a distance.]
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Then, she reaches over to place her free hand over his, smiling. She does her best to be reassuring. ] If you're doing what you want... isn't it hard to say that you're taking things for granted?
[ It's he who said something to the effect of getting to choose with whom he spend his time or doing what he wants, in this world. Supporting that-- she has to support that more for him, she reminds herself. ]
...Although, it's never to late to try something new.
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[Something new could mean a lot of things, and it could very well be something he needs to find for himself, but her input matters, too. He can't let himself forget that.]
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You always ask the difficult follow-up questions, you know that?
[ She can't decide for him! ...And there's so much he's chosen to do with his time that he wouldn't be able to do in his own world. From painting, to VR game making and design, and, yes, to battling things he's never battled.
... ]
How about I teach you how to fly the Regalia? On your own.
[ Not that she hasn't tried to explain things here and there to him, but she should give him proper lessons on flight. That way-- he can do it on his own. He won't need her, if she's gone. And as much as that's a sad thought, she wants him to thrive. Him learning how to fly won't be that difficult for him, she's sure, but the Regalia is a vehicle in which he can take to discover more things for himself. ] So... you can find the 'something new' in a wider radius.
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He isn't thinking about this as a way of thriving without her - the thought would never occur to him, at this point, as thriving is not a thing he'd be doing by any means - so he tilts his head curiously at her wording.]
You'd still come up with me sometimes though, right? If I could fly it myself.
[The flying part is exciting. The "on your own", not so much. He's not sure if most of his friends would be so eager with him behind the wheel either...]
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[ So long as he wants her in the passenger seat, she’ll be there. ] I’m sure you’d be an excellent pilot, actually.
[ And she truly believes that. Surely, since he’s so good at warping and zipping around in the air anyways at high speeds, flying a car won’t be that difficult for him to master, right….? ]
It involves a lot of spatial awareness and quick thinking, which I know you’re great at.
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[Nevermind the opinion of anyone else who's been in a car with him behind the wheel before. Driving in a big city is different, okay. And he definitely hasn't almost driven into
many trees.The subject of spatial awareness and flying independently makes him pause for a moment, hesitant, until he opts to add,]
Next time, I'll show you the Armiger.
[Next time he's in a fight where it might be needed, he'll bring her along.]
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The time she had seen a glimpse of it— or what she believes to be it— was when he had taken in the Fetter to his armory. A whirl of phantom blades danced around him like lightening in a bottle. It was beautiful, but also, she’s certain that it’s taken a toll on him much like any of his other abilities. ]
But doesn’t that… It’s not easy to use, is it?
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[He had used it during the Hades fight because Ardyn had- and it had felt appropriate, since you save your trump cards for boss fights anyway, right? But using it had reminded him just how out of practice he was even with the souls of the other kings to guide him along, and seeing Ardyn's experienced finesse with it had made that fact sink in all the deeper.]
I mean, I can't let the older generation show me up all the time. Ardyn can make his look like wings.
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[ She replies, quietly awed. She wagers that it probably was incredible to see, too.
She doesn’t want to say she wants to see it, because she knows it takes a lot of out him, and she’d rather avoid putting undue pressure on him. But if it’s up to him, she won’t say no to witnessing when he unleashes that ability if he invites her… although, she wonders if there’s truly many things he can practice with using it.
Pyra looks down at her hand in his and takes it back. Right. Curry. She had almost forgotten about it. ]
Would you have them as wings too, if you could? Or something else?
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Dunno. I've tried, but I don't have that much control over it. I can make swords attack in different ways independently from me, but it's more like… patterns, than shapes. If that makes any sense.
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I’m not sure if this is right or not but, is it also partly instinct? As in, when you’re in danger…. [ Definitely more difficult to control, then. But hence the need for practice. ]
I suppose… [ She continues, after a moment of thoughtful silence, her voice tentative. ] If you’d like my help, we can try something similar to when we first warped together? Such as enhancing your focus, or lending you power…
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Hey, sure. New project.
[He has no idea how it might translate from energy sharing into Armiger control, but anything is worth trying. They sure as hell have a stellar track record in collaboration, on multiple levels.]
Only thing is, you'd have to keep your distance, and we'd have to find a place to practice with no one else around, or clear the arena maybe. It gets pretty dangerous with all those blades flying around- even the guys know to clear out when I start using it.
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[ Even if she believes she’ll be perfectly fine— does he not remember when she had been completely impaled and walked away— she respects his concern for her and doesn’t push the issue of keeping some distance. It’s sweet of him to be so concerned, not something to take personally.
She prepares another bite of curry. ]
I think that’s still doable… I can still make a connection to you at a distance with my own abilities. [ Not as effective, of course, but still good. ]
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[And also to be fair, there's a big difference between knowing she'll be fine, and being okay with watching his own blades slice her to ribbons. Earlier today he watched a friend stab herself near to death and despite knowing she'd be healed in the aftermath, it wasn't a pleasant experience, and he won't be forgetting the visual any time soon. He doesn't want that again with Pyra, no matter how invincible she might seem.]
Are you sure, though? You don't mind?
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Oh, no, I don’t mind, if you don’t. [ Anything for him, from car flying lessons to assisting with armiger practice. She want to support him. ] I was just thinking that you’re very kind to be concerned about safety… [ Even when it’s not necessary, which, perhaps, makes that concern even kinder in practice. ]
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I... sure. [...] Is there something weird about that?
[Worrying about safety is kind of like caring about the people around him, and considering how she always tells him how nice he is, wouldn't that go without saying?]
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