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IC Contact | Hugtopia
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Please use the new post going forward!
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Please use the new post going forward!
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Please use the new post going forward!
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Please use the new post going forward!
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[That doesn't seem so vain, to him. To look back at your past flaws and realize you can do better, to rip off a bandage and see the wounds left to fester beneath, work on healing them properly. He's seen it. He's still trying it.]
Anyway, you're...
[He pauses, lips pursing, fumbling a little as he continues.]
You're- you're amazing. I think so, anyway. If whatever happened changed you, it did okay in my book.
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She angles her head to look at him, blinking.
This— this compliment, impromptu and volunteered— she did not expect to hear from him. She hadn’t spoken seeking reassurance, yet to hear him say this is... ]
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The circumstances which had led to taking this form had been in the face of immense stress, grief, and trauma: the kingdom turned to ash, a continent sinking, its refugees scattered, a new desperate purpose found. Too little, too late, did she come to realize how much she had grown to love the world and those in it— love, in of itself a corruption over her original form’s inhuman neutrality and purpose. It was trauma that Mythra could not handle on her own, but knew she had to prevent from ever happening again; thus she constructed this form, this seal, this weakness, and retained a base of fear. If posing as weak means not risking using her abilities in another world, then so be it.
He doesn’t know any of this, the reason for her change coming from turmoil that hasn’t truly been resolved. But it’s nice to hear reassurance from him all the same, that something good came of it... especially when it’s from someone she views as wonderful in his own right.
Pyra rests her head back upon his shoulder, her gaze dropping to their hands. She turns his over hers, thumb brushing along his knuckles. In reality within the cafe, her actual hand mimics this. Once, there had been a time she wouldn’t ever have imagined being able to do this or imagine someone wanting to hold her hand. Once... much longer ago, she hadn’t even had hands to grasp another’s, a physical body to experience that touch, let alone the emotions to be grateful for it. This, too, she feels conflicted about.
All the same, ] ...Do you know how much that means, coming from someone as good as you are?
[ He might think her to be placing him on a pedestal, but that’s not it. Noctis is good is ways many she’s seen so rarely in others: of not just in action or duty, of how he helps and protects, but in personality and words... and in his resilience to his own woes, seeing a bigger picture, bringing others together, being down to earth, genuine. She recalls that they themselves had one, perhaps two times where they had disagreements before, and still he’s able to spend time with her, laugh with her. He’s understanding, accepting.
Softly, ] It’s... almost too much.
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He glances sidelong at her, trying to catch her expression, though it's difficult at this angle, with her pressed so close at his shoulder. When that proves to be too difficult he shifts his eyes to their joined hands, the way she touches him, soft and gentle, a gesture both new and oddly familiar in a way he can't place. Even through VR, though they were soaked to the bone not long ago, she's warm. She's always warm.
Too much, she says. But also: almost.]
Want me to stop?
[It's mostly rhetorical, unless she offers him a sincere refusal. She's given him so much encouragement, and while she doesn't say it, he's certain she must have struggled plenty on her own, things she can't or won't share, hurts she's been forced to bear alone. He's clumsy with his words at times, might not always say the right thing, but his intent is still to make sure she knows that she's important, and that she's helped him. She deserves to know that much at the very least.]
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[ As for Noctis, he believes he couldn't even try to stop being so good. His power from his world's Crystal and his deities may make him grand, but it's that light, the one from his benevolence-- that is his power, the very same power that makes him... untouchable. ] Thank you, for saying that. It's the first time I've heard something so... sweet.
[ --Yet here she remains, hand with his, head upon his shoulder, comfortable. It's indulgent, wretched. If he knew the truth, he wouldn't share this light with her. She fears losing it; this is why she hides still. Her smile is complex but content, and she finishes as she always does, with something about him: ] Consider me dazzled by it, ...this light and goodness you have.
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[It's a noncommittal noise, quiet and thoughtful as he focuses his eyes forward again. She's not flustered by his words, the way he gets sometimes with her showered compliments, but she's smiling, sounding content. Like she's taking his words to heart. Like what he says matters in the grand scheme of anything, to someone who believes in others so wholeheartedly. She feels confident in him, in the people she meets and cares about, but when it comes to herself, that certainty falters. ...ah. That's relatable, too.
Well. Well, then.]
I'll say it every once in a while. So you don't forget.
[Not in jest, not teasing or with that false bravado or cool-guy tone. He might falter and stumble with it later, he might shrug it off if called out, but these words, at least, he can say and show her that he means it. In the moment, she'll know.]
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For a long while, she doesn't know how to respond.
It seems like in this case, she'll have to take a page out of his book. ]
...Is this... the part where I say to be careful with that, lest my head grow too big? [ Despite her more playful wording, her tone is soft and appreciative. ]
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[It's taken him this long to realize she needs him to be serious about this sort of thing, so... yeah, she's the champion in that department. He knows now, so he has some catching up to do.
And at the same time, if she wants to add some genuine levity, he can play. Doesn't make the words any less true.]
...But I'll try not to get ahead of myself.
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Promise? I'll toss another boot at you if you do.
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[He did promise to try, that's as noncommittal as someone can get.]
...Wonder how viable it would be to warp with a boot.
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I believe a kick would be easier.
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What's that? Warp by kicking the boot off, you say?
[what a silly suggestion, Pyra!]
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By now she's lifted her head off of his shoulder to look up at him.
(Ah, yes. She does like his hair like this, too.) ] Do you volunteer as target practice?
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Let's hold off until you can warp solo first, huh?
[That part is going to be work enough, if past experience is any indication. Links with his power is playing the Lucii game on hard mode.]
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[ As for actual warping... sounds exciting, but she'll leave him to be the one to determine when she's ready for it, since it took time for both him and Somnus to learn. ]
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There, see? That's what I call proper prioritizing. Good job, student.
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[It's primarily a combat ability, after all. In a fight it doesn't do you much good to throw a boot at someone's head.]
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more accurately, awe. For some reason she had only pictured traditional weapons as being part of a warp! To think— ]
You could even use a fish against your enemies....
[ The possibilities, Noctis. The possibilities. ]
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Sorry, I've been officially banned from storing perishables in the armory since the Eggplant Incident.
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[ A giggle bubbles between the two words. This already sounds like a fun story. ]
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[Here comes that delinquent soul again; he looks about as pleased as he had when he told her about the egg-boot misadventure.]
The Citadel kitchens had imported this fancy Tenebraen eggplant around that time, and they got way too much so they just started tossing it in everything. Every dinner had eggplant. I did not like eggplant.
[It's a vegetable, so: duh.]
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She has a suspicion of where this is going: ]
Did... did they end up rotting...? [ In magical storage, at that. ]
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[As if he'd needed a new reason to find vegetables gross!]
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