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[oh no
OH NO
Hastily he tugs himself free of her and stands up, holding it out in front of himself to get a full body view. ...Still a toga. Very Somnus-esque. He's pretty sure if he wore this in public, with his face, Ardyn would give him that same distressed, haunted look again and-
...ah, geez. That's not the sort of excuse he wants to be giving her.
It's just them here now, and the least he can do is try, so with a quiet exhale he lifts it up over his head and tries to wriggle into it. It's not as easy as it looks, so it takes him a bit, and it's probably a little lopsided, and the cape is halfway falling off, and his hair's fluffed up in the wrong directions...
But when he's done he glances over at her, arms out and trying to look politely neutral. Look! He tried!]
...How's that?
OH NO
Hastily he tugs himself free of her and stands up, holding it out in front of himself to get a full body view. ...Still a toga. Very Somnus-esque. He's pretty sure if he wore this in public, with his face, Ardyn would give him that same distressed, haunted look again and-
...ah, geez. That's not the sort of excuse he wants to be giving her.
It's just them here now, and the least he can do is try, so with a quiet exhale he lifts it up over his head and tries to wriggle into it. It's not as easy as it looks, so it takes him a bit, and it's probably a little lopsided, and the cape is halfway falling off, and his hair's fluffed up in the wrong directions...
But when he's done he glances over at her, arms out and trying to look politely neutral. Look! He tried!]
...How's that?
[ "You didn't have to do anything."
He did not ask for this gift, but she had given it to him anyway. He did not need to try it on in front of her when he clearly hadn't been thrilled to receive it, but now he has it on. ] You.... don't have to do this, either.
[ She giggles softly. Really, it's okay if he doesn't like it! ] But if you are going to keep it...
He did not ask for this gift, but she had given it to him anyway. He did not need to try it on in front of her when he clearly hadn't been thrilled to receive it, but now he has it on. ] You.... don't have to do this, either.
[ She giggles softly. Really, it's okay if he doesn't like it! ] But if you are going to keep it...
[ ....He doesn't have it on quite right, and she only knows that he doesn't because she had tried one on before as well, only for Somnus to fix it.
Pyra rises from the couch, extending her hand to adjust the abolla to drape in the elegant overcloak manner it is suppose to be, fastening it by the clasp and straightening it over his outstretched arm. ] ...There.
[ A pause, and then she reaches up to flatting out his hair (rather, attempt to). ] You wear it well.
Pyra rises from the couch, extending her hand to adjust the abolla to drape in the elegant overcloak manner it is suppose to be, fastening it by the clasp and straightening it over his outstretched arm. ] ...There.
[ A pause, and then she reaches up to flatting out his hair (rather, attempt to). ] You wear it well.
I guess...
[He reaches up, first to check his hair, then to tentatively tug at the robe, feeling weird and overdressed. It does feel nice, as far as the fabric goes, and as he rocks back on his heels he kind of digs the way the cape flutters in the air. It reminds him of his dad, of the royal raiment he used to bury his face in when he was little, drinking in the scent of Armiger ozone and aftershave, letting it carry him off to sleep. He can't even help the tiny, nostalgic smile that briefly crosses his lips at that old memory. Maybe with a bit of silver and gold lining by the clasp, he could-
-but the robe-
Looking down at it, it just... isn't him. Too loose, too open. He doesn't know how to move in it. And he must look so much like Somnus, more than ever before. He can't have that.]
Pyra, um... thanks. It was really nice of you.
[It's too kind, even if it goes against his fashion sense. He reaches down and tugs at the waist, bunching up the fabric so it's pulled more taut against his hips, testing how it could be sized down. Hmm.]
Luna likes to wear my clothes sometimes. I think, maybe with a belt- it could be a cute dress?
[Ungrateful, maybe, but she might feel better if she knows it won't be wasted.]
[He reaches up, first to check his hair, then to tentatively tug at the robe, feeling weird and overdressed. It does feel nice, as far as the fabric goes, and as he rocks back on his heels he kind of digs the way the cape flutters in the air. It reminds him of his dad, of the royal raiment he used to bury his face in when he was little, drinking in the scent of Armiger ozone and aftershave, letting it carry him off to sleep. He can't even help the tiny, nostalgic smile that briefly crosses his lips at that old memory. Maybe with a bit of silver and gold lining by the clasp, he could-
-but the robe-
Looking down at it, it just... isn't him. Too loose, too open. He doesn't know how to move in it. And he must look so much like Somnus, more than ever before. He can't have that.]
Pyra, um... thanks. It was really nice of you.
[It's too kind, even if it goes against his fashion sense. He reaches down and tugs at the waist, bunching up the fabric so it's pulled more taut against his hips, testing how it could be sized down. Hmm.]
Luna likes to wear my clothes sometimes. I think, maybe with a belt- it could be a cute dress?
[Ungrateful, maybe, but she might feel better if she knows it won't be wasted.]
It is yours to do what you wish with it.
[ Of course she will be happy to hear he can re purpose it! Although she obviously is over-eager and excited to know another's reactions, hoping that they are happy with whatever she gives them, she is not an infant when it comes to their refusal. ]
Mm... [ Tapping her chin with a finger, she adds with a nod: ] I suppose this means we'll have to make you a better present.
[ Of course she will be happy to hear he can re purpose it! Although she obviously is over-eager and excited to know another's reactions, hoping that they are happy with whatever she gives them, she is not an infant when it comes to their refusal. ]
Mm... [ Tapping her chin with a finger, she adds with a nod: ] I suppose this means we'll have to make you a better present.
Yeah. It's not exactly the same, but it's the sort of thing my dad wore on the throne, except with a suit. He had this shoulder cape that wrapped around and hung down. Like, part of the king's ensemble?
[In other words: sort of, yes.]
It's pretty much where I lived during envoy dinners when I was too little to know what the hell was going on.
[In other words: sort of, yes.]
It's pretty much where I lived during envoy dinners when I was too little to know what the hell was going on.
[An agreeable point of the finger.]
Nailed it.
[He has no shame; if he'd shared stories of his uncomfortable shuffling about at formal events as a teenager, it might be different, but what child wouldn't be shy in a party full of grown-ups who say a lot without meaning anything, with no one to talk to and no real business being there at all? His memories of those days are vague, but the strongest is burying his face in that comfortable dark material, clutching at a pant leg, his father's hand brushing idly through his hair as he talked to other old men about treaties and trade and the unending war. He'd just wanted Ignis, or his toys, or to hide away in bed. Or to be anything except a prince.]
Nailed it.
[He has no shame; if he'd shared stories of his uncomfortable shuffling about at formal events as a teenager, it might be different, but what child wouldn't be shy in a party full of grown-ups who say a lot without meaning anything, with no one to talk to and no real business being there at all? His memories of those days are vague, but the strongest is burying his face in that comfortable dark material, clutching at a pant leg, his father's hand brushing idly through his hair as he talked to other old men about treaties and trade and the unending war. He'd just wanted Ignis, or his toys, or to hide away in bed. Or to be anything except a prince.]
...It's... definitely up there, yeah.
[Words aside, his tone makes it obvious that he doesn't disagree. It never seemed to matter what age he is, or what condition his father's in. Whether he's 5 or 20, whether his dad is young and fit or struggling with every step with cane in hand- his father makes him feel safe, and the same goes for his possessions. The Regalia, his clothing... a slice of home, a reminder of what he's lost and what he needs to take back. Feeling it around his shoulders makes him feel small again, curled up in his father's lap in the car with it draped over him like a blanket, letting that deep voice lull him to sleep.
Nostalgic, and not very princely, but maybe he can let himself be a bit self-indulgent. Yeah... he'll keep the cape.]
[Words aside, his tone makes it obvious that he doesn't disagree. It never seemed to matter what age he is, or what condition his father's in. Whether he's 5 or 20, whether his dad is young and fit or struggling with every step with cane in hand- his father makes him feel safe, and the same goes for his possessions. The Regalia, his clothing... a slice of home, a reminder of what he's lost and what he needs to take back. Feeling it around his shoulders makes him feel small again, curled up in his father's lap in the car with it draped over him like a blanket, letting that deep voice lull him to sleep.
Nostalgic, and not very princely, but maybe he can let himself be a bit self-indulgent. Yeah... he'll keep the cape.]
[ Watching him carefully, listening to what few words he speaks, she hears nostalgia, bittersweetness. He grew up as royalty. His father is dead.
She wonders again, why is he here, talking to her when and working on this video game he could be speaking to his father? Or better yet, working on this video game with his father instead?
She reaches for his hand. ]
Your family loves you very much. I hope you will get to play this virtual reality game with all of them.
She wonders again, why is he here, talking to her when and working on this video game he could be speaking to his father? Or better yet, working on this video game with his father instead?
She reaches for his hand. ]
Your family loves you very much. I hope you will get to play this virtual reality game with all of them.
[Her touch snaps him back to reality, and he grins more easily, lifting their joined hands in a more firm grasp.]
Hell yeah, that's the dream. I wanna drag everybody into my trash fantasy.
[No one can tell him that video games are rotting his brain if everyone's in the same dumpster...!]
Hell yeah, that's the dream. I wanna drag everybody into my trash fantasy.
[No one can tell him that video games are rotting his brain if everyone's in the same dumpster...!]
I'm proud of it! Or I will be, if it actually ends up the real deal. But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna be honest about it. In the grand scheme of things it's not that important.
[It's important to him, but it's still just a silly game.]
I'm okay with that, if it's fun enough that people try it anyway.
[It's important to him, but it's still just a silly game.]
I'm okay with that, if it's fun enough that people try it anyway.
[Okay but give him a minute to wrestle out of this toga first, because he really does feel ridiculous, and it's too warm for multiple layers. He folds it as neatly as his skills allow and tucks it back into the box before rejoining her.]
No, not always- not until I moved out on my own. The Citadel was kind of more traditional, but Insomnia's this huge hub for technology. Something about being out in the city and seeing it all up close must've kickstarted it for me.
No, not always- not until I moved out on my own. The Citadel was kind of more traditional, but Insomnia's this huge hub for technology. Something about being out in the city and seeing it all up close must've kickstarted it for me.
[ She nestles up comfortably to him. As usual.
....She wonders if it weren't for him being a prince, what sort of career he would choose. Sounds like video game development might have been a contender, and here he has that opportunity. A part of her wonders if she should be more insistent with him leaving to go, well, train. The future isn't going to save itself, and he won't be able to save whatever and whoever he's "let down" if he doesn't. However, this is his choice.
--Away from the 'Citadel'. Sounds like a name for a palace of some sort to her. ] Were....you ever able to properly study it on your own? [ ... ] Apart from princely duties?
....She wonders if it weren't for him being a prince, what sort of career he would choose. Sounds like video game development might have been a contender, and here he has that opportunity. A part of her wonders if she should be more insistent with him leaving to go, well, train. The future isn't going to save itself, and he won't be able to save whatever and whoever he's "let down" if he doesn't. However, this is his choice.
--Away from the 'Citadel'. Sounds like a name for a palace of some sort to her. ] Were....you ever able to properly study it on your own? [ ... ] Apart from princely duties?
I don't know about study unless experience counts. I spent loads of time and money at arcades when I could, but there wasn't much point in taking it seriously beyond that. Not like I ever had a choice in what I was gonna do after I finished school.
[His tone is fairly neutral as he answers, something he's long used to; that's sort of the point of royalty, after all. Even if he wasn't ~the chosen~ it's not like he could go off and become an artist or a game coder or whatever. He doesn't even have a kingdom to rule anymore and he's still duty-bound to fight until he gets the throne back. It sucks, but that's life. Whatever his misgivings about his own qualifications to rule, someone has to.
He has a choice here, though. He fetches his tablet again and starts tracing out the rough outline of a new figure this time. The game needs a lead hero. Someone tall, with a sword. And a cape.]
[His tone is fairly neutral as he answers, something he's long used to; that's sort of the point of royalty, after all. Even if he wasn't ~the chosen~ it's not like he could go off and become an artist or a game coder or whatever. He doesn't even have a kingdom to rule anymore and he's still duty-bound to fight until he gets the throne back. It sucks, but that's life. Whatever his misgivings about his own qualifications to rule, someone has to.
He has a choice here, though. He fetches his tablet again and starts tracing out the rough outline of a new figure this time. The game needs a lead hero. Someone tall, with a sword. And a cape.]
[ She watches for a moment as he returns to his work, mindful of his neutral tone. Yes, she's known enough royalty in her world to be mindful of their burdens. Some of them wanted glory, another rose to his empire's seat effortlessly, while another simply wanted to return to his demesne far from the capital to tend to his lands in peace.
It is true, he has an opportunity here.
Pyra takes up her tablet, opening another page. Engineering, coding, and electronics is a fare more refined ability of her otherself, but she'll begin to draft some coding as she knows it. Specific to her world, it won't translate much to any of what the locals use here, but it gives her something to brainstorm. ] Loads of time and money, huh?
It is true, he has an opportunity here.
Pyra takes up her tablet, opening another page. Engineering, coding, and electronics is a fare more refined ability of her otherself, but she'll begin to draft some coding as she knows it. Specific to her world, it won't translate much to any of what the locals use here, but it gives her something to brainstorm. ] Loads of time and money, huh?
A spoiled prince? I've never heard of anything before! [ She's tapping away at what she's working on-- some sort of mechanic to make it so that linking together, physically, increases the percentage of damage. Should she add in some sort of law of diminishing returns, if two people pair up more often than with others? Hm... nah. Too complicated.
It's not unlike the mechanic of her own world, when such laws were written into its creation.
Except at this point she glances over to his work and-- ] ....A cape and wings?
It's not unlike the mechanic of her own world, when such laws were written into its creation.
Except at this point she glances over to his work and-- ] ....A cape and wings?
[He smirks and says nothing. Spoiled plenty, sure. He couldn't always get what he truly wanted - certain loved ones' attention, for starters - but he'd been indulged in other ways. Until he left home is life had been mostly sheltered and cushy, it could definitely have been worse.
His brows furrow when she leans over, ducking his head a bit.]
Too much?
His brows furrow when she leans over, ducking his head a bit.]
Too much?
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