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[Her response helps him smile again, tentative and hopeful.]

That's... that's good. [He exhales, briefly closing his eyes in relief.] I thought- I didn't want you to believe it was your fault, or that I chose this for the wrong reason, or- I don't know. I'm not good at this. But I want you to know that this is my choice, now and back then. If I didn't mess that part up, then that's what matters. [A beat, and then-] I think. Right?

[ She nods once, twice, a third time to go along with what he says, encouraging. Yes, she understands better now. While she knows he can fumble sometimes-- who doesn't?-- when push comes to shove, he truly knows how to be both eloquent and inspiring in a way that is genuine. ]

Consider me reassured, Noct...

[ Her hand squeezes his. ] I... just want to make sure you're okay. You said that, ah, you're not sure what I can do to help. But if you ever come up with anything, you'll let me know, alright?

I will. Promise, I will.

[He glances down between them, at their joined hands. Usually acquiring the Royal Arms involves a long trek through dangerous territory, fighting through monsters or daemons and treacherous terrain, all to reach a door and a weapon that would unknowingly take him one step closer to death. Like this, it's almost too easy, but he wouldn't trade it for anything at this point. This way, no one else gets hurt, and he can stand here with her like this, safe and whole instead of exhausted and covered in grime and blood or worse. Even if she can heal better than the rest, why wish for anyone to go through all of that? This is much, much more preferable.]

Hey... you know the upside of this? The Armiger'll work properly, now. I think I can get in some real training with it.

[ She peers at him inquisitively. ] What... do you mean “properly”?

[ She’s been under the impression that it’s been working as it should be! ]

Ah... you saw when it hit me, how they all came out and spun around like that?

[He gestures vaguely in a circle, relieved to have found a fitting distraction.]

Guess you could call it my special attack. With enough weapons and energy reserved for it, I can bring them all out at once and they'll attack and shield me on instinct. The more Arms I have, the better it gets.

[ She had been more focused on how the star stabbed right into him, but-- yes. If she thinks about it, she does recall seeing the phantom weapons circle him.

Just the concept of what he's described evokes an awed expression. Live, multiple weapons surrounding him and behaving as a force of their own-- an extension of his own instinct-- seems like a sight to behold. ]

That's amazing... [ A bit like, she assumes, fighting alongside his family. ] Having all of your weapons out at once-- [ At this, though, she frowns. ] Does it take a lot of power?

[Her comment - and that slice of admiration - makes him feel a little better, so he nods.]

Yeah, but not in a draining kind of way. More like saving up to buy something expensive- I just put away little bits of excess energy when I'm fighting, and when I need it I can use it all at once, if that makes sense. Took a while to learn how, but that's what's been working for me so far.

[At least, it's never been as draining as summoning gods. No one was around to teach him how, so if there's a better way to do it then it's one he hasn't learned.]

[ Her hands squeeze his softly as he smiles again. He can never know the relief she feels knowing that he's feeling better. Shifting from being impaled with a phantom sword to a smile... he's strong. ]

It seems like a spectacular attack... [ Like a big attack in the middle of the battle to turn the tides, or a finishing move. ]

Did you design it yourself?

Edited 2020-09-05 17:17 (UTC)

Not exactly. I think it's mostly instinctive, and the Arms taught me, kind of? Like, the more I gathered, the better I understood how the Armiger worked. It's weird.

[He shrugs, recognizing the strangeness of it but having no better explanation. That's just how some of his magic is- anyone who could have explained it was already gone, so all he had to teach him was the weapons themselves.]

It does look pretty cool, with all the weapons out and moving.

[ One day, she thinks, she'd like to see it. Her fingers curl over his. ]

I like... how you do that. What you don't know, you learn-- you're able to teach yourself. [ Or learn how he goes, instinctual, improvising, and creative.

She brings his hands up to her lips, kissing the back of his knuckles affectionately. ]

[He blinks down at her, cheeks pink.]

Doesn't everyone do that?

[At least, things they consider interesting and want to learn... it's not as if he's made it a mission to learn everything he doesn't know. There's not enough time in even a normal lifespan for that, nevermind his measly 30-some years.]

[ Taking one step closer to him, one hand lifting from their mutual hold to his shoulder. ] Maybe... But you also overcome so many obstacles.

[ Her gaze lifts, wandering to the pink upon his cheeks, and she smiles at him. ]

That, I like too.

[ Finally, she leans in and bends just slightly, kissing him upon the center of his chest-- where the Star had faded into him, as if she that kiss alone could heal any phantom wound left. ]

[The kiss is what gives him pause, ultimately, realizing what she's trying to do and feeling touched by it. He's quiet for a long moment before his arm lifts to wrap around her, holding her close. He's fine enough, really - and there are no wounds to heal - but that she recognizes this pain and is trying to lift him up again... it's warm, that feeling, and he bends his head to kiss the crown of her hair in thanks.]

Yeah, well, I like you. And you're helping, you know.

[ As she's pulled close to him, her hand pets up and down his shoulder. The kiss upon her head earns him a smile, but in the silence that follows a quiet blush forms upon her cheeks. Her fingers tap upon his upper arm in thought, as if debating if she should say something more.

She does. ]

I also like... how, sometimes, you speak with such resolve. [ She cracks open an eye. ] Like you did just a moment ago.

With... resolve?

[He blinks; that he hadn't expected.]

Wait, the whole "sound like a king" thing? You like that?

[Why is she blushing...]

[ She nods quietly, her hand upon his shoulder moving up to his neck, his jaw, then cheek. ] When you seem very sure of yourself, determined... you're inspiring.

[ A pause, and then she admits this, leaning in as if telling a secret: ] And attractive.

[ Not that he isn't when he isn't that way. It's just that she finds those particular moments of his a part of the reason why she fell for him. Determination, resolve, sureness... not one person can be that way all the time, so when his moments come, they shine. ]

[Whoops, now he's blushing, too. He hadn't really thought of such things as attractive, just stuff that people nag him about sometimes. Being more like his dad, more like a king, etc. Is this what Gladio used to mean about girls liking confidence?

Unconsciously he leans in as she does, brows lifting a little.]

More attractive, or just different?

[He's embarrassed to even ask, but he can't help his curiosity.]

[ She shifts her weight from one leg to the other, a subtle sway that delays her response just enough that her hand can slide down from his cheek to curl a finger beneath his chin. ]

More attractive... [ Her tone lowers, and her shy smile takes on an almost quietly playful quality to it, as if it's meant only for him. ] in the way that makes me want to kiss you.

[ She's saying that he's hot! ]

[The shift is subtle, but with the two of them pressed together, he feels it clearly; it makes him swallow hard, his fingers curling at her waist, and he finds himself suddenly wishing he was as good as his dad at turning on King-Mode. Still, he does his best to make his tone sound a little more assertive than it normally would be as he responds quietly,]

What's stopping you?

[ What's stopping her is the fact that he just experienced a flashback to a vision of his death just minutes ago, that's what.

And so, even as she's close enough that her breath can be felt upon is lips, she doesn't close the distance between them. ] Oh, [ She sighs, smiling. ] I'm just not sure what sort of distraction you want right now...

[You mean that thing he's desperately pretending to forget?]

So if I was maybe a little more determined about it, you'd know?

[And just what is stopping him, exactly.]

[ Yeah, that thing.

She looks at him. ] At the very least... I'd have a better guess.

[ Because if it's not a kiss or cuddling, then it's fishing, cats, or cake. The typical go-tos whenever he experiences something terrible. ]

[It could be any of those, or all of them, and he'd be just as happy. Much like Pyra herself, he's easy to please and will accept just table scraps on most days. Not being alone is plenty.

But... but. Making her happy is a distraction, too- because that makes him happy. So with a quiet, agreeable hum, he leans in to close the distance between and gives her the hint of his lips against hers, firm and inviting. What's the use in dwelling on the sadness of family and future when she's right in front of him in the present?]

[ As always, he tastes sweeter than any wild fruit. She kisses him in return, the hand upon his chin sliding back beneath his jaw to the side of his neck, only to drape her arm over his shoulder. Her other settles upon his waist, fingers grasping at his shirt.

She'll let him set the pace, see how far he has or wants to give, not pushing him. ]

[Hell if he ever knows what he wants, really. He does know that he'd very much like to be warm and comfortable, and comforted, all of which she excels at. He leans back until his legs hit the arm of the couch and he can lean against it, tugging her with him and gently urging her to deepen the kiss with him. With her hands occupied and away from his, he lets his own drift over her hips, fingers grazing up and down to feel the shape of her.

Attractive... he likes the idea of that, of being more attractive to her. He hadn't been trying to, hadn't been doing some kind of forced impression of his dad or attempting to be "kingly" as people often required him to be. He'd been honest, stood tall, voiced how he felt, and that had been enough for her. He really, really likes that.]

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