anyprice | IC INBOX = KAISOU

ok but id have done that because it sounds hilarious for me bc the look on your face while i made up some poetic shit about loyalty and integrity would have made it worth it

but at the same time

a five second handshake and then snacks sounds great
maybe pick up some churros or something
ill wear one of my best disguises.

i'll give you loyalty, but if you said anything about integrity i wouldn't be able to stop laughing. anyway, lucis doesn't exist here, so there's nothing to swear to protect. i just want you to have a quick way out, just in case.

sure, take me to the churro place after.

those are some of my favorite words. 'a quick way out'. Love the sound of that.
and honestly. ever since that time that you failed to warp with me and i fell on the ground i've been definitely jealous of the skill even though that actually didnt happen it was probably a dream.

keep ur window open ill be there in a jiffy.

[ and when he does show up, it'll be on noctis' windowsill as a round, purple little starling with silvery lines on the ends of its feathers... ]

[Noctis opens the window to let the starling in, and in the meantime lifts his beloved Oshawott (with only a grumbled token protest from the sleeping Pokémon) to let Sampo hop inside. As soon as he's done that, he draws the curtains closed.

The Ring of the Lucii on his finger glints in the sunlight. Its ghosts whisper to him, but he pushes them away—Lucis is long gone and all he wants is to see his friends safe. He's not sure he, a game developer with the inability to turn a blind eye to injustice, really deserves the power of kings, but. He has it now, so might as well use it to protect those he loves.]

Do you want something from the fridge?

[ as soon as the curtains are closed, that little bird disappears in a spiral of shadow, replaced with the familiar face of Samuel; no disguise at all. He looks calm for the moment--maybe only because Noct's house feels weirdly... safe. ]

I'd love a drink. Soda, beer, whatever you have. I didn't drive here, so I'll be totally fine for a bit of bubbly, hehe.

--How are you doing, by the by.
I know I've been a little bit've a hideaway lately.

I have a lot of soda, but only one beer. [And he really only just keeps it in case someone else comes over, as now.] You can have that one.

[His apartment's a cozy thing, with video game posters hung up on the walls, a gaming computer with two monitors, and the sofa bed pulled out. Noctis deposits Fluvius on the sofa bed, making sure to put a pillow under his sleeping head, before he makes his way into the kitchen.]

Mostly okay. Fishing game's coming along fine, company's training up a couple new hires, and our campaign's DM's come down with the flu. [He does pause for a second, before he sighs.] Still, I'm...worried. And on edge. But that's everyone, lately. I'm just doing what little I can to protect my people.

You know, part of me wonders if you keep that drink in there just for me. [ he's going to give Noctis a wink, a tip of his head as he follows along with a bit of a spring in his step, as Sampo always seems to have. His feet utterly silent against the ground; making not even a sound. ]

'Protect your people', huh. You sound like that Ol' king I met in the fae realm sometimes when you say stuff like that.
Come on, kid. Don't burden yourself with a crown like that.

Nah, it’s for guests in general. And I don’t often have those, so.

[He’s a social drinker, but otherwise he’s found it gets hard to code when you’re drunk and your vision’s a little funny.]

I’m not burdening myself with a crown, don’t worry. [This, coming from a man who’s got the Royal Arms stuck in a closet.] Don’t think I’d even know what to do with one, really.

[Though it had taken the king a while to figure out what to do with a crown himself, now that he thinks about it.]

When I say “my people,” I don’t mean the kingdom of Lucis or the city of Kaisou. I mean—my family, my friends. Even if it was a burden to find ways to protect you guys, it’s one I’m happy to accept, one I chose. [A wry huff of breath.] Maybe that makes me sound like the king but. I promise I’m gonna come back from any fights I get into.

Aw. Well. I'm the best guest you'll have, so. Down the hatch.

[ he's going to crack the top, and turn to look at the other with a crooked smile on his face. ]

...Ey, that's good to hear. While I don't think you'd look bad in a crown, I think the thing'd be a bit too heavy for ya, you know.
And I like the reassurance that yer gonna' be okay.

[ he'll take a sip of the beer--and then raise a hand to wiggle his fingers at Noct. ]

Ssssso. How do we do this.

[He decides not to point out that the crown of the King of Lucis was, by his father's time, little more than a subtle silver horn worn behind his right ear. The heavier weight is the ring on Noctis's finger.]

Just sit down at the table, and put your hand in mine. You can recite an oath if you want, but like I said, it's really not necessary here. Caleb didn't do it, for example. [There's no king to protect, no Lucis to guard. Just Noctis, trying desperately to keep his friends safe.]

Yeah, well. Caleb's a lazy raccoon who's more socially awkward than he'll admit.

[ he's gonna scurry over and take a seat on the table, and offer his hand to Noctis. a clever little grin on his face. ]

I promise that I won't go fifteen years without calling you ever again--and that so long as I live and breathe, I'll spend every hour I'm not working training my skills to one day school your butt in videogames.

How's that for an oath?

Least he's making more friends now. [He blinks in surprise, then smiles a little, clearly pleased.] Yeah. That works too. And I promise—I'll look out for you, and back you up if you need it. [Pause.] And not warn people when you're scamming them.

[It's just a little walking-around money. He takes Sampo's hand, and closes his eyes. The Ring of the Lucii glows a soft blue, and the smallest cracks form on Noctis's skin around the ring. With the glow comes a warm feeling, like summer sunlight on the skin, like a blanket draped over a sleeping body on the couch.

Then the feeling, and the glow, fades away, and Noctis opens his eyes.]

There. That should work. [He pulls his hands away, then takes the ring off and stuffs it into a pocket. The cracks are still evident, but begin to sluggishly fade once the ring comes off.] Try throwing something and concentrating on grabbing it before it hits the ground.

IC INBOX = KAISOU

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