[ She seems to take it as a compliment. ] ...Mm, that's right. Pyra doesn't curse much. [ If ever. ]
Consider it a form of trust. Like what we've talked about before, about changing how we behave in front of certain people. You won't hear any formal talk from me, rich boy.
[ Never once had Mythra ever addressed Addam with his title, save for a ceremony or two. She's not going to start doing it to Noctis. ]
I think I'd qualify as ex-rich boy. Especially since I'm pretty sure you guys have more money than I do here.
[Deposed broke royal and all... funds from hunts and odd jobs only get you so far, especially when daemons and Royal Arms chew through his health faster than Ignis goes through Ebony so they're constantly stocking up on energy drinks and flasks for magic. Here, he's obviously kept a steady supply, but he's also paying for a house...
His words are in jest, but it's hard to fully contain the little thrill he gets at something so simple as an honest foul mouth out of them. Like getting the more dutiful types in his life to call him by name rather than Highness or something. It's pretty clear he's got no issue with her sticking to informal.]
[ Aaaaaand she's caught. Here she thought he wouldn't bring it up! ]
That's--....
[ Clearing her throat. ]
It's. It's kind of a big deal, right? Besides, you two are in contact outside of this dimension! We don't need to. [ Yet, her fingers twitch at her sides. ]
[Did he want to... she's really not subtle at all. He could say yes, but now it's kind of fun to fluster her, especially when Pyra usually gets him on the reverse.]
I wouldn't be against it or anything, if you were into it.
[Whoa, it sure is happening. With her hesitation, he'd expected her to leave it at that, but sure enough, her hand is in his. He glances between them, then shifts his grip to hold back more firmly. The way she took his hand is a little different from Pyra, too, but it's warm in a similar way nonetheless.]
[ It sure is happening, his hand in hers. She's quiet for all but a few moments as her palm and fingers adjust further in how she holds his, as if attempting to find the most comfortable method. Her expression settles, distracted and thoughtful. ]
[At her quiet response, Noctis only smiles, softer and more genuine this time. He squeezes her hand and keeps walking with her, silent but content to explore the landscape in her company.]
[ How five hundred years have come and gone just like that. Compared to the rest of her existence, blurred and muddled in eons of memories as they are, those centuries passed both in a blink of an eye and dragged on for an eternity. But now, she holds his hand.
And she also knows there are others who have had it far worse in solitude that she ever had. She knows that while she had been sleeping both in her world and this one, people have suffered. They have died. They had fought in wars. They had performed great magics, or they have made grand frescoes of art. They had lived and then perished, or they were completely forgotten. Some have traveled to different worlds before this one. Others are new to it, like herself.
They are all good people. Worth protecting, helping, honoring, focusing upon, listening to. What wasted time this is, to have used it on herself.
Yet she holds his hand.
The tour ends at the courtyard to a house of worship-- a church. No denomination can be made out, but a humble steeple appears to echo with a bell that chimes. ]
So. That's basically it. [ She waves around her. ] There's more fields over there, but that's the town itself.
[It's weird to be the Chosen of the gods, standing here with five Astral covenants on his arm, but the idea of being at a church makes him feel out of place. Being here and seeing all of the scenery, the town, even Mythra herself- it makes him realize how little he knows about her world, even if the little tidbits he'd been fed or managed to wrangle out of her. He doesn't know what this place is beyond the name and the crystal location, or what the religion might be, or where she truly fits in all of it. She's shared so much just by allowing him to be here, but there's still so many mysteries.
Still, she hasn't let go, so he doesn't, either.]
It's nice. Really... provincial, I guess? But in a good way. It reminds me of some of the outposts in Lucis, outside the city.
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In the midst of soft laughter she manages to speak: ]
You-- you even sniffed the air!
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[He huffs and turns away, arms crossing. So affronted. ...Except that it is a nice smile, so... she's got that going for her.]
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Because, you know, you're the type to make things up as they go.
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[Is this really the kind of reputation he's been cultivating...]
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[ Yep, that's his image. ]
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Well, he doesn't hate it.]
Guess you surprised me this time.
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[Some things are difficult to define, and he's still learning how to navigate this. He likes it, though. He thinks he likes it.]
...You're kind of foulmouthed, you know that? That's a surprise, too.
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Consider it a form of trust. Like what we've talked about before, about changing how we behave in front of certain people. You won't hear any formal talk from me, rich boy.
[ Never once had Mythra ever addressed Addam with his title, save for a ceremony or two. She's not going to start doing it to Noctis. ]
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[Deposed broke royal and all... funds from hunts and odd jobs only get you so far, especially when daemons and Royal Arms chew through his health faster than Ignis goes through Ebony so they're constantly stocking up on energy drinks and flasks for magic. Here, he's obviously kept a steady supply, but he's also paying for a house...
His words are in jest, but it's hard to fully contain the little thrill he gets at something so simple as an honest foul mouth out of them. Like getting the more dutiful types in his life to call him by name rather than Highness or something. It's pretty clear he's got no issue with her sticking to informal.]
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Anyway. ] You're the one we hold hands most with.
[ It's almost second nature at this point. ]
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[See if he accepts any more of her style compliments at face value again!]
Though I don't know if you can take credit for Pyra in this case... you haven't reached for my hand once the whole time I've been here.
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That's--....
[ Clearing her throat. ]
It's. It's kind of a big deal, right? Besides, you two are in contact outside of this dimension! We don't need to. [ Yet, her fingers twitch at her sides. ]
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[Don't think he's not watching her very closely.]
I just figured I'd ask, in case you wanted to. Didn't want you to feel left out.
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And flustered-- not enough to make her blush, but enough that her voice carries a small trill to it. ] Did.... you want to hold hands?
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I wouldn't be against it or anything, if you were into it.
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C....CAN SHE....---there. She reaches towards his hand before she has a chance to second-guess herself, linking her little finger with his. ]
...It's not so bad.
Like this.
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Nah... not bad. We can do this if you want.
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[ Her fingers shift, and how her hold hand is clasping his. It's happening!
Her first physical contact (sort of) in five hundred years.
His hand feels warm in hers. She almost wishes to remove her gloves, just for the sake of feeling his more purely. ]
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Still not bad?
1/2
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And she also knows there are others who have had it far worse in solitude that she ever had. She knows that while she had been sleeping both in her world and this one, people have suffered. They have died. They had fought in wars. They had performed great magics, or they have made grand frescoes of art. They had lived and then perished, or they were completely forgotten. Some have traveled to different worlds before this one. Others are new to it, like herself.
They are all good people. Worth protecting, helping, honoring, focusing upon, listening to. What wasted time this is, to have used it on herself.
Yet she holds his hand.
The tour ends at the courtyard to a house of worship-- a church. No denomination can be made out, but a humble steeple appears to echo with a bell that chimes. ]
So. That's basically it. [ She waves around her. ] There's more fields over there, but that's the town itself.
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Still, she hasn't let go, so he doesn't, either.]
It's nice. Really... provincial, I guess? But in a good way. It reminds me of some of the outposts in Lucis, outside the city.
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