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[ Sometime after Ignis' birthday...
They're putting on the finishing touches together with the glimmering paint she had provided to him before, and she's careful to ask where exactly he'd want something highlighted. Leaving the more complicated aspects of the artwork to him, she's mostly been accenting a few of the stars that reach towards the ceiling...
When she's about done, she glances down at him from her ladder.
He's just close enough that she can lean down from a step to reach her free hand to his head, patting the top of his hair affectionately. ] All done up here.
They're putting on the finishing touches together with the glimmering paint she had provided to him before, and she's careful to ask where exactly he'd want something highlighted. Leaving the more complicated aspects of the artwork to him, she's mostly been accenting a few of the stars that reach towards the ceiling...
When she's about done, she glances down at him from her ladder.
He's just close enough that she can lean down from a step to reach her free hand to his head, patting the top of his hair affectionately. ] All done up here.
[His head lifts up a little into her hand, though he doesn't look over, his eyes focused on the rough outline he's tracing onto the wall. The shape of two winged figures float back to back on the wall in the lower corner where he's seated, two simple prisms within that will eventually become crystals.]
That was quick. If you give me a sec we can see how it looks in the dark.
[Juuuuust have to finish one of the wings...]
That was quick. If you give me a sec we can see how it looks in the dark.
[Juuuuust have to finish one of the wings...]
Take your time.
[ Carefully, she moves down the ladder and sets her paint brush and pallet on the floor. When she straightens up, she moves to be besides Noctis, her hand going atop one of his shoulders as he continues to paint.
She could watch him all day as he works-- from the concentrated expression he makes while he paints, to the way he seems to also let instinct guide his brush. It leaves her guessing whether each stroke of his brush is either impromptu or planned. Maybe it's a bit of both. Smiling to herself, she leans her head against her hand atop of his shoulder. ]
That's... Siren. [ She notes as he paints in the wings. ] And that's... Bahamut, isn't it?
[ Carefully, she moves down the ladder and sets her paint brush and pallet on the floor. When she straightens up, she moves to be besides Noctis, her hand going atop one of his shoulders as he continues to paint.
She could watch him all day as he works-- from the concentrated expression he makes while he paints, to the way he seems to also let instinct guide his brush. It leaves her guessing whether each stroke of his brush is either impromptu or planned. Maybe it's a bit of both. Smiling to herself, she leans her head against her hand atop of his shoulder. ]
That's... Siren. [ She notes as he paints in the wings. ] And that's... Bahamut, isn't it?
Yeah. Hope it's okay.
[He'd never expect it to look perfect, as he'd only designed it based on her description, but he imagines it would be kind of weird to see someone else's interpretation of Bahamut when he knows what the real thing is like. Sort of like looking at the drawing in the Cosmogony... it's just not right. He's open to any critique she might offer though.
The sound of her voice doesn't sound bothered by it yet, but he's listening closely since his eyes are focused on the wall.]
[He'd never expect it to look perfect, as he'd only designed it based on her description, but he imagines it would be kind of weird to see someone else's interpretation of Bahamut when he knows what the real thing is like. Sort of like looking at the drawing in the Cosmogony... it's just not right. He's open to any critique she might offer though.
The sound of her voice doesn't sound bothered by it yet, but he's listening closely since his eyes are focused on the wall.]
[ And she's looking at depictions of both Bahamut and Siren in silent appreciation. ] The last time I saw Siren was a long time ago...
[ --at Torna's fall. Directly afterwards, she had made Siren to return to outer orbit, and not much longer after that, she had bid Ophion to hide beneath the Cloud Sea... leaving her without either Artifice.
Pyra's expression is nostalgic, and she retains a small, bittersweet smile upon her lips. His drawing of it brings back a number of memories, but more than the tragedy associated within that history, she thinks of... the meaning behind this mural. A piece of her home, here, with them. ]
But it's wonderful-- seeing a painting of Siren. [ And Ophion, who's somewhere off in some other part of the mural. ] And our crystals together.
[ --at Torna's fall. Directly afterwards, she had made Siren to return to outer orbit, and not much longer after that, she had bid Ophion to hide beneath the Cloud Sea... leaving her without either Artifice.
Pyra's expression is nostalgic, and she retains a small, bittersweet smile upon her lips. His drawing of it brings back a number of memories, but more than the tragedy associated within that history, she thinks of... the meaning behind this mural. A piece of her home, here, with them. ]
But it's wonderful-- seeing a painting of Siren. [ And Ophion, who's somewhere off in some other part of the mural. ] And our crystals together.
[The combination of tone and words as he finishes off his current curving line down one wing does get him to glance over at her, examining her expression for a moment.]
Figured it was kind of fitting... they echo each other. Visually, I mean. [He's sure that they're quite different in every other way, but the mural is a visual thing so that is the most significant factor.] ...Plus, if we ever don't wanna look at them, they're on the floor so we can just cover 'em up with a table or something.
[There's a reason Bahamut is the one closest to the wall and thus the most easily hidden. Respectfully.]
Figured it was kind of fitting... they echo each other. Visually, I mean. [He's sure that they're quite different in every other way, but the mural is a visual thing so that is the most significant factor.] ...Plus, if we ever don't wanna look at them, they're on the floor so we can just cover 'em up with a table or something.
[There's a reason Bahamut is the one closest to the wall and thus the most easily hidden. Respectfully.]
[ Her eyes follow the strokes of his brush. It's neither Siren nor Bahamut which specifically concern her if they should be covered, but the actual crystals themselves.
His in particular.
She glances at him quietly. How does she ask this without inadvertently offending him? She doesn't want him to take things the wrong way with how he's feeling after painting his crystal. ] You... don't feel we need to cover them up now, do you?
[ (Not to mention the paint hasn't even dried.) ]
His in particular.
She glances at him quietly. How does she ask this without inadvertently offending him? She doesn't want him to take things the wrong way with how he's feeling after painting his crystal. ] You... don't feel we need to cover them up now, do you?
[ (Not to mention the paint hasn't even dried.) ]
[Rather than offended, Noctis turns back towards the mural and looks somewhat... disappointed, though not directed at her so much as his own failure to be subtle.]
Not right now.
[The paint isn't dry, but also it's just a mural. His skill isn't so great that the accuracy of the painting is enough to bother him, for the moment. The glow-in-the-dark paint is different enough from the real shade that he suspects that will make it even less bothersome, though he won't know for certain until a few nights pass after it's completed.]
It's more a just-in-case idea.
Not right now.
[The paint isn't dry, but also it's just a mural. His skill isn't so great that the accuracy of the painting is enough to bother him, for the moment. The glow-in-the-dark paint is different enough from the real shade that he suspects that will make it even less bothersome, though he won't know for certain until a few nights pass after it's completed.]
It's more a just-in-case idea.
It's a little bit [ a lot ] reflective, isn't it? Of your journey.
[ Different aspects of his world, with a few of hers mixed within, and all leading to Bahamut, Siren, and their crystals glowing together. Even if she's heard a lot from him, she still doesn't know all the details of what he's been through-- both good and bad parts, things through which he's struggled, all lead to the crystal at the end of the mural.
She wants to say that his journey isn't over, a mural doesn't need to have an ending, but perhaps she's looking at this too symbolically. ]
[ Different aspects of his world, with a few of hers mixed within, and all leading to Bahamut, Siren, and their crystals glowing together. Even if she's heard a lot from him, she still doesn't know all the details of what he's been through-- both good and bad parts, things through which he's struggled, all lead to the crystal at the end of the mural.
She wants to say that his journey isn't over, a mural doesn't need to have an ending, but perhaps she's looking at this too symbolically. ]
Maybe a little too obvious.
[He finishes at the wing for now - can't do finer details until the paint dries - and leans back to look at the greater picture. The upper portions are the least finished so far, since it's harder to get up there and work consistently, but he can still see the shape of Lucis over the bulk of the wall, with the corners of Altissia and the Crystals breaking off on either side. Seeing it all laid out like this with Pyra at his side makes it click, but...]
It's too one-sided, isn't it? This is your room, too.
[He'd painted what he knew and incorporated details where he could, but still... at the core, this is his home, with fragments of hers in it.]
[He finishes at the wing for now - can't do finer details until the paint dries - and leans back to look at the greater picture. The upper portions are the least finished so far, since it's harder to get up there and work consistently, but he can still see the shape of Lucis over the bulk of the wall, with the corners of Altissia and the Crystals breaking off on either side. Seeing it all laid out like this with Pyra at his side makes it click, but...]
It's too one-sided, isn't it? This is your room, too.
[He'd painted what he knew and incorporated details where he could, but still... at the core, this is his home, with fragments of hers in it.]
[ But she loves it, she wants to say-- his journey, all that he's been through, and more. He continues pushing onward. Certainly, perhaps there had been only one way to move throughout his journey what with fate pushing him along a path, but that doesn't negate all that he's accomplished or endured. ]
I'm... not certain if I've been on a journey quite like yours.
[ Not as noble as his, anyway, not with the fall of Torna. ]
I'm... not certain if I've been on a journey quite like yours.
[ Not as noble as his, anyway, not with the fall of Torna. ]
Edited 2021-02-16 02:45 (UTC)
I'm not sure it's a journey that should be envied...
[He gives her a somewhat halting smile, then shakes his head. It isn't as if he's full of nothing but regret, it's just... well, she's heard enough to understand the complexity of how he feels about it.]
You have seen parts of your world though. That counts for something.
[He gives her a somewhat halting smile, then shakes his head. It isn't as if he's full of nothing but regret, it's just... well, she's heard enough to understand the complexity of how he feels about it.]
You have seen parts of your world though. That counts for something.
[ What he says is true. And... they're not too different, she thinks. Seeing the world beyond Lucis' walls through photos could only have prepared him for so much, much like how receiving a continuous stream of data of the world as it changed isn't the same as walking upon Alrest herself.
Her world is beautiful. She loves it. And if she's reading him correctly... ]
You... would like to paint something more of my world here, too?
[ She pauses, quiet.
Then, even more humbly: ]
I'd like that, too.
Her world is beautiful. She loves it. And if she's reading him correctly... ]
You... would like to paint something more of my world here, too?
[ She pauses, quiet.
Then, even more humbly: ]
I'd like that, too.
Okay... okay, good.
[He smiles and leans over a bit, bumping his shoulder against her.]
You'll have to help me out with that, then. Something you've already talked about, or something new?
[A not-so-subtle invitation: the mural isn't exactly public space, but it'll be visible to anyone who sees into his room, so anyone who sees it could ask about it. At the same time, it's their shared space, meaning she can add to it freely, and all she has to do is say so.]
[He smiles and leans over a bit, bumping his shoulder against her.]
You'll have to help me out with that, then. Something you've already talked about, or something new?
[A not-so-subtle invitation: the mural isn't exactly public space, but it'll be visible to anyone who sees into his room, so anyone who sees it could ask about it. At the same time, it's their shared space, meaning she can add to it freely, and all she has to do is say so.]
[ As she looks over the mural for a third (fourth) time, she wonders just where any depiction of her world might go... Best leave that to the artist himself.]
Perhaps... the World Tree? It rises from the center of Alrest, all the way up into space. Or-- if smaller, the bioluminescent tress of Uraya, which glow pink within her. Or maybe one of the Titans...
[ One, two, three-- that's already three suggestions. Pyra's cheeks flush a bit, embarrassed by how particular and bold she (assumes she) sounds. Glancing to the side, she smiles meagerly. ] That's a bit much though, isn't it?
Perhaps... the World Tree? It rises from the center of Alrest, all the way up into space. Or-- if smaller, the bioluminescent tress of Uraya, which glow pink within her. Or maybe one of the Titans...
[ One, two, three-- that's already three suggestions. Pyra's cheeks flush a bit, embarrassed by how particular and bold she (assumes she) sounds. Glancing to the side, she smiles meagerly. ] That's a bit much though, isn't it?
It's not too much. There's tons of space to fill.
[He gestures towards the wall, where the rough outline of an entire continent - and an island below - waits to be painted and covered with detail. He considers her suggestions for a long moment, his gaze wandering over the locations. The World Tree would be tricky, maybe somewhere off to the side so it doesn't cover too much as it travels up the length of the wall. Other trees could go anywhere. The last, though-
He stands up, stretching a hand up to touch a spot near the center of Lucis.]
Right here is where the Meteor sits- it's where it was caught by the Archaean. Titan. We fought him there.
[He glances back at her with a pointed lift of an eyebrow. No reason why one Titan couldn't be replaced with another.]
[He gestures towards the wall, where the rough outline of an entire continent - and an island below - waits to be painted and covered with detail. He considers her suggestions for a long moment, his gaze wandering over the locations. The World Tree would be tricky, maybe somewhere off to the side so it doesn't cover too much as it travels up the length of the wall. Other trees could go anywhere. The last, though-
He stands up, stretching a hand up to touch a spot near the center of Lucis.]
Right here is where the Meteor sits- it's where it was caught by the Archaean. Titan. We fought him there.
[He glances back at her with a pointed lift of an eyebrow. No reason why one Titan couldn't be replaced with another.]
[ Almost immediately, concerns crosses her expression, as if she doesn't wish to offend him or his world's deities. Wouldn't replacing his Titan with one of hers be blasphemous? However, he is the one who's suggesting it.
Her concern dissolves into consideration. ] One of our Titans...
[ Hm. ]
Perhaps... Torna?
[ If he depicts him and the others fighting it, that wouldn't bother her. Or if he happens to depict Torna holding the Meteor in Titan's stead, she wouldn't mind. ] It's a Great Continent, and he takes the form of a dragon.
Her concern dissolves into consideration. ] One of our Titans...
[ Hm. ]
Perhaps... Torna?
[ If he depicts him and the others fighting it, that wouldn't bother her. Or if he happens to depict Torna holding the Meteor in Titan's stead, she wouldn't mind. ] It's a Great Continent, and he takes the form of a dragon.
[He broke Titan's arm off and it was no big deal. He gives zero shits about blasphemy.]
A dragon continent... I already like it better than Bahamut.
[He crouches down to his material collection, fishing through until he finds the chalk he's been using to mark off the rough spots until he's ready to sketch them out. Across the area he'd indicated, he writes "TORNA" in block letters, officially claimed for her.]
Not sure about the World Tree. There's a ton of trees in Lucis, but we didn't really have one big one. Maybe it'd work as a mountain...
A dragon continent... I already like it better than Bahamut.
[He crouches down to his material collection, fishing through until he finds the chalk he's been using to mark off the rough spots until he's ready to sketch them out. Across the area he'd indicated, he writes "TORNA" in block letters, officially claimed for her.]
Not sure about the World Tree. There's a ton of trees in Lucis, but we didn't really have one big one. Maybe it'd work as a mountain...
[ She watches as he writes the letters of the Titan's name upon the spot on the wall, and she catches herself staring in silence at it after his brush lifts from the spot.
This. This is really happening. He's making part of his mural hers, so then it will be theirs.
Shaking her head from her dumbstruck, humbled throughts, she glances at him. ] Have you... ever climbed a mountain or giant tree before in Lucis?
This. This is really happening. He's making part of his mural hers, so then it will be theirs.
Shaking her head from her dumbstruck, humbled throughts, she glances at him. ] Have you... ever climbed a mountain or giant tree before in Lucis?
No giant trees. Or- I guess the trees in Cartanica were pretty huge, but that's near Tenebrae, so it isn't on the map.
[He keeps his tone as neutral as he can as he says this part, which is a decent indication that he'd rather not get into it. Instead he shuffles to the left side of the wall again, leaning in at an angle to keep his pants from brushing up against the freshly painted winged figures, and indicates the empty spot of land above.]
This is Ravatogh, the volcano. There was a royal tomb at the top, so we had to climb up and grab it.
[He keeps his tone as neutral as he can as he says this part, which is a decent indication that he'd rather not get into it. Instead he shuffles to the left side of the wall again, leaning in at an angle to keep his pants from brushing up against the freshly painted winged figures, and indicates the empty spot of land above.]
This is Ravatogh, the volcano. There was a royal tomb at the top, so we had to climb up and grab it.
[ She happens to recall a conversation in which she lamented the old kings making it difficult for him to find their tombs... This is yet another instance.
Pulled by his hand as he shuffles to another part of the mural, she walks with him. ]
And if you were to climb the World Tree... you would find me there.
[ Fitting, given that that is exactly the way Amalthus had found her crystal and her brother's atop of the World Tree, taking them both from their perches, and bringing them down to the world.
But if she could imagine, if even for a moment, that it had been Noctis instead finding her... ] I'd like that.
Pulled by his hand as he shuffles to another part of the mural, she walks with him. ]
And if you were to climb the World Tree... you would find me there.
[ Fitting, given that that is exactly the way Amalthus had found her crystal and her brother's atop of the World Tree, taking them both from their perches, and bringing them down to the world.
But if she could imagine, if even for a moment, that it had been Noctis instead finding her... ] I'd like that.
[He looks sidelong at her, once again gauging her mood about it, then, seemingly satisfied, he quietly writes "tree of ravatogh" in the space he'd indicated, with an arrow pointing upwards to show the route towards the ceiling to be left clear.]
...Okay. That's one more, then.
[he's actually pretty pleased; progress on the mural's concept is good, and all he'd really had planned were landmarks anyway. The nice thing about having it span the whole of Lucis is he could add new details whenever he wants, if an idea comes to mind. Just lay down a bit of colour and fill in the blanks over a stretch of empty land. It's... very free and random, as far as designs go, and that's fitting as a representation of his journey.]
You'll have to help me design them. Gotta get it right.
...Okay. That's one more, then.
[he's actually pretty pleased; progress on the mural's concept is good, and all he'd really had planned were landmarks anyway. The nice thing about having it span the whole of Lucis is he could add new details whenever he wants, if an idea comes to mind. Just lay down a bit of colour and fill in the blanks over a stretch of empty land. It's... very free and random, as far as designs go, and that's fitting as a representation of his journey.]
You'll have to help me design them. Gotta get it right.
[ Meanwhile, she cannot stop looking at him as he seems to map out more of the mural within his mind. It's a canvas only he has the creativity to see with her hopelessly trailing behind, but she can follow instructions and the templates he lays out for where a Titan or Tree should go... ]
I will...
[ So she says, but her arm just hooks around his more.
And then she begins, as ususal, with a-- ] Mm, Noct?
[ --to call his attention to her. ]
That expression you have right now, as if you're seeing something only you can see... [ She leans in a bit, standing on her toes to give him a kiss. ] I like it.
I will...
[ So she says, but her arm just hooks around his more.
And then she begins, as ususal, with a-- ] Mm, Noct?
[ --to call his attention to her. ]
That expression you have right now, as if you're seeing something only you can see... [ She leans in a bit, standing on her toes to give him a kiss. ] I like it.
Mm-hm. [ She insists with a small nod of her head, the corners of her lips turning further upward.
Always so clueless to his own moods, this one, especially when he's focused or when his imagination is working.... Which is fine, because this gives her the opportunity to point them out to him, and tell him that he's cute. ]
Like-- you're drawing, erasing, and redrawing in your mind... [ She lifts up her hand to his chest. ] And doing what you want.
[ Or maybe it's more than that, maybe it's the prospect of having a canvas all to his own to paint that allows him to wear such an expression, a story and future he can dictate all by himself, whether or not he plans or improvises his brushstrokes across the wall. It's his choice, and those choices, manifested upon his expression, are nothing but beautiful.
Or maybe she's reading too much into this.
So she finishes: ]
I'm saying it's attractive.
Always so clueless to his own moods, this one, especially when he's focused or when his imagination is working.... Which is fine, because this gives her the opportunity to point them out to him, and tell him that he's cute. ]
Like-- you're drawing, erasing, and redrawing in your mind... [ She lifts up her hand to his chest. ] And doing what you want.
[ Or maybe it's more than that, maybe it's the prospect of having a canvas all to his own to paint that allows him to wear such an expression, a story and future he can dictate all by himself, whether or not he plans or improvises his brushstrokes across the wall. It's his choice, and those choices, manifested upon his expression, are nothing but beautiful.
Or maybe she's reading too much into this.
So she finishes: ]
I'm saying it's attractive.
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