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[Gods. Hearing it spoken out loud makes it that much more worrisome, but it's not as if she's wrong.]

Y... yeah. Looks like.

[His gaze drifts back to the pan on the stovetop, brows furrowing a moment before focusing back on her.]

At least I didn't burn down the kitchen.

[That's good, right? That he's not so out of it that he causes damage?]

[ A silver lining at best, and both breakfast and the dish are far from her mind in light of this. ]

You--... didn't feel compelled to make that pastry, did you?

[ Another good question, because what if there is a memory of someone, at some point in time, who burned down the kitchen? She hadn't suspected he had been in a trance when he was making the filling, but... ]

[Oh god, that's horrifying to imagine. He doesn't think it's that bad, at least.]

No, not compelled. At least, it didn't feel that way. It was more like...

[He frowns, trying to remember exactly how it had started. He'd thought about what to make, he'd decided on something unusual, he'd started to go through the motions of cooking it, based on what he remembered from the recipe... ah.]

Muscle memory, maybe? Like my brain just went on autopilot, I wasn't really thinking about how the recipe I wanted wasn't matching the one I made.

[ That he hadn't been compelled offers her some relief, and her shoulders loosen down from her initial worry. However, she can't help but feel stunned at this new explanation. ]

...As if you have the experience and knowledge of all who have come before.

[ Troubling, yes, but also... quite awesome. All of that information, just at the periphery of his waking memory. She wonders, is it even limited to the knowledge of people? What of animals? Or what of the planet itself? There are eons of information within the earth. He could, quite literally, know everything.

......

But her expression of awe suddenly fades. ]

[ Abruptly: ]

Do you feel like you are... yourself?

[He pauses before he responds to that, not because her fears are correct but because now he's concerned about it. He was already worried about being overwhelmed by random whatever-this-is, especially if it comes at a really inopportune moment- a fight perhaps, or when he's around someone who doesn't know and he's forced to explain himself- but... what if he ends up really overwhelmed? What if he ends up drowning in the memories of other people and forgets himself?

It makes him wonder what the point of these memories are. It was from the Crystal... what purpose was it meant to serve? Does he need them to bring back the dawn, or something?

He grimaces and shakes his head, lifting a hand to rub at his temple. As if his head didn't hurt already.]

No... no, I'm me. It's not like that.

[He really hopes it isn't like that.]

[ He still appears uncertain, though... And that's fine. If uncertainty is all they have, then they merely need to tackle it day by day.

At present, she can see that her inquiries are distressing him, so she eases her tone and reins in her expression-- she's still obviously worried, but not... injured because of it.

Pyra steps forward, closer to him, and reaches up to place her hands on either sides of his cheeks. She's done this before. She'll do this again, if necessary, as many times as it takes. ] That's right. [ She repeats, ] You're you.

[ Still him. Forever him, she hopes.

A pause. ] I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you with that question.

[He blinks and shifts his focus to her, tension lingering, but eased somewhat by her quiet reassurance. His hands lift to touch lightly at her wrists- not to hold her there or pull her back, just seeking one more point of contact.]

It's okay... valid question, right? [If their roles were reversed he'd kind of want to know if he was still talking to her, too.] I'm more confused than scared, I... think. Bahamut, or the Crystal, whatever- it'd want me intact, so...

[Intact doesn't mean unaltered, and it's getting increasingly hard to hope for the best here, but there is some comfort to be found in how easy it is to pull him back from that state. Just her voice, and it'd been like normal. He hadn't even noticed until one memory had bumped up against another and the two didn't match. That's. Good? Yeah.]

[ "It'd want me intact"-- he has so little autonomy even within the frame of his beliefs that it's painful.

Is there something else she can do to reassure him? This new found anxiety she's somehow brought about with but a thoughtless, albeit valid, question. Pyra's mind searches for a memory, a sign, or a hint that she may use, and--

"When I- you saw it. You saw me. Did it look like I hated him, when he died?"

A memory of her own comes to mind, one that calls back to a vision of his future. ] If it's any consolation... I just remembered-- [ In a decade's worth of time, he'll return to a world of night. Had he changed in that time, after stepping out of the Crystal? Perhaps. He was more somber in that vision, of course, which while can be attributed to a flex by the Crystal's influence, it's just as likely due to the circumstances of being so close to the Prophecy's end... For he had been a little more reserved. Calm. It's not as if he hadn't been inhuman, and he looked upon his ancestor-uncle's death with sorrow and calm, not hate. That could only be Noctis. ] In your future, you're still you, too.

So, ah...

[ She pats his cheeks again. ] Whatever this crystal's effects are on you with these memories... it's not overwriting who you are. At least, I do not think so.

[He pauses, quietly thinking that over for a long moment, then closes his eyes and nods, subtly leaning into her hands. Right... okay. She'd seen a different vision than him, with Ardyn- witnessed more than just death and dawn, but a flicker of him, who he was in that future. Like before, he doesn't need or want great detail. A vague reassurance... did he speak? Did he sound and act like himself? If he's still recognizable after a decade in the Crystal, with those visions and memories mingling with his own...

"Enter into Reflection-"

So maybe... that reflection isn't just about the world's past, but his own, too. He can live with that. It isn't so frightening.]

Right... okay. [Inhale, exhale. He can manage this, somehow. Just another set of voices to learn how to manage, like learning when to listen to and when to ignore the ring. That's fine.

Opening his eyes, he musters a tentative smile.] If it's a new recipe, we should at least sit down and try it while it's hot. Don't know if I'll ever reproduce it.

[Looking at it, he honestly doesn't know what he did to make that, even with some ingredients spread across the counter. It would be silly to waste it when it does smell tasty, and intended or not, he'd made it for her.]

[ Time to enjoy whatever he’s made. Regardless of the origin of this breakfast pastry, she’s able to enjoy breakfast with him. Pyra parts from Noctis, giving him one more glance before she moves over to the counter to begin serving them both, a generous portion for him and another for her. The cake-like meal unfolds with aromatic steam as she slices the pieces with a knife, revealing the rich golden dough within. ]

It would be a waste to ignore perfectly good, freshly baked breakfast...

[ She hands him his plate with a smile, taking a seat at the table to sample her first bite.

..... ]

Oh, ......that’s good. [ She looks up at him. ] That’s really good.

It’s like you secretly became a pro-baker overnight. [ Maybe that’s where the memory came from, a pro baker. Or maybe a mother preparing breakfast for her children. ] Just how magical are you?

[Noctis helps himself to a couple of bites, grateful for the distraction, though the recipe itself is still an unsolved puzzle.]

Not magical enough to remember the name, looks like. I have no idea what this is.

[She's right, though- even with the often-weird replicated ingredients, it is pretty tasty.]

Any guesses? Or should we just name it ourselves. "The Inexplicable Breakfast Pie of Eos".

It’s.... like a popover, only larger to me. [ Not a fun name, so— ]

But I like that name better. [ She helps herself to another bite. ] Breakfast pie, as recreated by Chef Lucis Caelum.

[ Try as she might to keep the mood lighter, though, she continues to wonder about the influence these memories have upon him... ] Even if you hadn’t made this, it’s sweet of you to make our breakfast. Thank you.

Kind of unusual, right?

[His expression is somewhat in conflict between the lingering unease and a bit of pride in such a simple accomplishment, but the pride is winning out right now. He likes being praised by his girlfriend, so sue him.]

Couldn't get back to sleep for once. I figured if I was gonna be up anyway, I might as well do something useful. Maybe some dream brought along an inspiration to bake, who knows.

[Certainly not him, and it's not like Bahamut's on speed dial.]

[ She wants to talk about this! But she doesn’t want to ruin wonderful breakfast pie with a sour topic, not if he doesn’t want to. ]

And you... don’t remember your dreams all that often, do you? Perhaps next time you’ll wake up with the a new talent— like playing a new instrument.

That one sounds like it'd be more frustrating than good. We don't have instruments lying around.

[Unless it was drums. You can use pretty much anything for drums.

And he's... tentative? It's an innocuous enough subject, just with a vaguely discomforting undertone. Like he's got some upload link of historical data and skills from years past. That's... the potential for messy is strong for that concept.]

[ She continues to tread carefully around the subject. ]

...Oh, that reminds me. [ Forgetting her manners, she waves her fork at him. ] I've still yet to hear you play piano.

[ Because, he did mention it one time that he does play! Ignis plays the same instrument, too, she recalls. Perhaps they could even pick up playing together again, if they have the chance. ]

Oh, right. I forgot about that.

[His sheepish expression kind of implies that he'd hoped she would forget, too.]

Is there even a piano somewhere in town?

[ ...That expression, though. Her brow raises. ]

I'm guessing it's been a very long while. Are you worried about picking it up again?

Kinda, yeah. It's been years, and even when I played it's not like music was ever a focus for me.

[He lifts his hand, flexing his fingers a few times.]

I started playing with Luna, and for a while I kept it up for physio. One more angle in getting mobility back, back practice for sitting up straight... that sort of thing. Once I got into real training, and I didn't know when I'd see Luna again, it was more of a waste of time.

[ Ah. ]

Would you want to try playing again? [ Although she wouldn't mind hearing him play, she wouldn't want to push a suggested new hobby to him if he truly isn't interested.

And besides, even video games can technically increase one's dexterity and hand-eye coordination with gaining mobility, too.

However. Luna is here. And so is Ignis. ]

Hm.

[Does he want to... a fair question, and not really one he's considered much even since the subject was brought up months before.]

I'm kinda ambivalent? It's not a passion or anything, but I don't hate it. If you really want to hear me play, it's no big deal to give it a try.

[She's interested enough to ask more than once, so... even if it's a little embarrassing, should he fumble through it, he's willing to try it to show her.]

Just once, though. And no audience!

[ Interested? Bingo. She lights up, quickly asking-- ]

--What about recording you?

[ She'll treasure it forever....! ]

[.....hrngh....]

If you promise not to show anybody. And if it's too embarrassing I get to delete it.

[ Immediately, responding in order: ] I promise! And no!

[ Oops she probably meant to say 'yes' as in, yes you can delete it, but in such an excited state... the truth slips out. ]

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