agogelogs | [OPEN] what kingly dreams

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[OPEN] what kingly dreams

WHO? Noctis and you (and some other losers maybe)
WHAT? Dreams
WHEN? Whenever both our characters are asleep during this event
ANYTHING ELSE? Possible violence and trauma

[ Dream A ]

[ The decorations on the Citadel almost seem like physical impossibilities, great waterfalls of fabric draped over towering architecture and what feels like a never-ending amount of petals or confetti catching the light as they fall. It's not really all that consistent. It is a dream, after all.

Maybe that's why the crowd that chokes the plaza feels so indistinct, fuzzy background faces cheering for the wedding they're about to witness. Noctis takes a deep breath as he gathers his composure, unable to adjust his collar because fidgeting is inappropriate but it's so itchy. Nevertheless he turns his head from where he's standing at the height of the stairs, looking to what should be his bride climbing the last few. Except... ]

Wait, this isn't right. [ You are not Luna. ]

[ Dream B ]

[ The indignant cheeping of the chocobos in response to their beautiful plumage getting wet is louder at least than the steady rainfall against the rooftop of the Wiz Chocobo Post. Louder still might be Noctis's scoffing at his own hair getting wet, trying his best to smooth it down even as he ducks under the railing of one of the bird pens. ]

Easy, easy... You think I want to be out here either? [ Why is he here? He doesn't know beyond that it's definitely his job to feed these animals; that's a certainty. Did he take up a part-time job or something? One gloved hand smoothes feathers as he calls out to the other presumed worker on duty. ]

Hey, can you pass me that bag of greens?

[ Dream C ]

[ Students are whispering behind him, he can feel it. They always do. He looks younger, feels younger, and the school uniform he's wearing is as uncomfortable as it ever was.

He stares at the board, a complex math equation he's never seen carefully scrawled onto its face as his teacher tuts disapprovingly. "How can we have a prince that can't even solve something so rudimentary? You're so unlike your father," she says, and his discomfort only grows.

This is like a nightmare... How could anyone know the answer? ]

[ closed to Achilles ]

Come... on! Stay down already!

[ The bark of a frustrated yell comes from a visibly irritated Noctis, sword vanishing in an array of crystalline light before being replaced in his hands by a vicious-looking spear. He's facing down a monstrous beast that seems all too intent on slashing him open with swipes of its claws, narrowly dodging each hit. ]

Gladio! Where's-- Prompto, Ignis! Where are you?! [ That spear is hurtled at the behemoth's head as he warps in for an attack of his own, getting in a few solid strikes before he tumbles back down onto grass. Help's always appreciated. ]

[ closed to Midnighter ]

[ Noctis is unused to spending much time in the throne room of the Citadel these days, and it's even harder to remember a time when he's been in here alone. Fingers drag over the smooth surface of one of the throne's armrests before abruptly jerking back, as if he's suddenly remembered it should only be his father's right to place his hand there.

Where is he? He should be here. It's too quiet and Noctis has always loathed coming in here as an adult; there's no reason for him to linger when he expects an advisor or guard to show up and chide him at any moment.

The sudden sound of footsteps has him turning his head, however, the only warning he's given before the doors at the far end of the room burst open and another young male who looks to be close to his age -- but in much, much worse condition -- runs through them. Has he ever seen this person before? No, his mind says, but he doesn't belong in here. ]

Hey! Hey, are you okay? [ Noctis is taking those steps two at a time to move to his side. ]

[ closed to Hei ]

[ It's night.

The starscape in Lucis is stunning, too, a totally unique beauty that he could never appreciate in the metropolis of Insomnia. Out here, away from civilization... everything seems to slow down a little. Everything feels more real.

And it isn't what he wants to see; it's not his friends, or Luna, or the place that he'd most call "home". But it's what he needs to see, his world and the lands he's destined to rule over. Noctis exhales as he drags his fingers through cool grass, head turning to see the shadow of another figure only illuminated by starlight. ]

... ah. Hey. [ Again his gaze turns skyward, even if he feels a greater sense of unease now. ] It'd be good if this lasted, huh?

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Uh-uh. [She shakes her head stubbornly, crossing her arms in a judging manner.] I'm being generous with the seven. If you don't end it with style, what's even the point?

[As he goes on to explain about the pen, though, her posture lightens up a little as she huffs a bit in amusement.] Too bad, it would've been kinda badass. Unless you could actually pull off the sneak attacks, I guess.

[As she follows Noctis further, she takes a moment to take in the surroundings, admiring the beauty of the district – clearly a place for the wealthy.] Nice place. You're from this area?

The outcome's the point... [ A muttered defense of the practicality of what he'd done even if his thoughts run secretly tandem with hers. Alright, fine, he wishes it'd been more stylish too.

At her commentary he lifts his gaze, however, focus stolen from the streets he intends to navigate to the scenery itself. He banks a left out of the schoolyard with a light shrug, hands finding pockets. ]

Not really. [ He nods to one building in particular, distant but looming, standing out even amongst the other skyscrapers for its incredible height. ] I'm from there. Prince, remember?

Hey, I gave you points for not stumbling. Seven out of ten, still.

[Well geez, Noctis, she doesn't know the place like you do! Regardless, she shifts her attention to the building Noctis gestures to, brows raising as she lifts her head to take in the full profile of the building.]

Damn, you live in that? Must be nice.

[ He goes for an idle kick of a nearby rock as they move along, raising his head to again peer at that building when she references it. ]

Ah... Lived, past tense. I'm staying in an apartment now, but you asked where I'm from. [ A pause. ] It's called the Citadel, since you're pretty clueless about this stuff. Anybody around here could tell you.

[Shinobu tosses a piercing dry look over at him over his criticism before rolling her eyes with a sigh.] God, are you like this with every foreigner here? You suck as a date.

[Throughout the last couple of years, she would hold those kinds of comments a little better, but she was somehow even ruder then than she is now. And no, she doesn't actually consider this a date, it's more to provoke him.

Giving a shake of her head, Shinobu gives a harder kick to the same rock, which skids far ahead of them on the ground.]

But, whatever. Show me something else cool.

[ Wow. There is so much to unpack here. First of all, he wonders if he needs to clarify that this is in fact not a date. He decides that that one is a big "no"; she's just gonna' mock him some more. Then he wonders if he should be offended by the insinuation.

Another hard "no". Now he doesn't know which expression to go with. He settles with bemused apathy, his go-to. ]

Has anybody ever told you that you're super demanding before? I was gonna' head to the arcade early...

They have. [And Shinobu goes with utter nonchalance, her own go-to without bothering to follow up on that at all.

However, after a couple of silent, awkward moments pass, she pulls back the abrasive attitude a bit.]

Is it a decent place to talk? I haven't been to too many of 'em.

[ What a... bizarre question. That's a good thing, though, as it gives him the chance to at least feel a little more like the knowledgeable one again and thus gives him more confidence in the conversation. ]

What, an arcade? Not really... At least, not when I'm there. That high a score tends to draw a crowd. [ Just kill him. ]

[She hadn't touched too many video games in her life, so she doesn't know! But in spite of that, she liked him a little better as he seemed a little more confident anyway. Displaying a bit of a crooked smile, she continues on ahead.]

So you're good at it, huh? Now the pressure's on you. If you don't get the highest score, when I'm around, it's gonna be a huge let down.

[ He scoffs. Right, confidence is definitely on the table now. ]

Are you kidding? If I don't get the highest score, I'm gonna' be let down. I'm a lot better than you're giving me credit for. Prompto might take a win here or there when it comes to the shooters but that's it.

Guns are stupid anyway. [Yes, even when talking about video games. But at least they weren't beam katanas, those were the worst. But the name was certainly something new to her.] Is this Prompto some kind of rival to you, then?

[ There's a choked sound that was definitely going to be a particularly uncool laugh but Noctis holds it back. ]

Prompto? No... Maybe at the arcade, sometimes. But not outside of it. He's my best friend.

[She gives him a weird look at... whatever that sound was, coming from him, but decides to just not question it.]

One of those kinds of deals, huh? [Not that she can relate, because she didn't really have any friends to speak of, but it was at least familiar enough with the concept.]

Who's got the high score right now, then? Between the two of you?

[ Hands find his hips before just as quickly dropping back down by his sides, finding the position unnatural and therefore probably uncool. He hasn't talked to someone his age for this long in a while. It's not as bad as he figured it would be. ]

Me. You think I'd leave the arcade if he had it?

[At the very least, his attempt to look cool was actually a little funny to her. Not in the way of an attempt to look cool, but rather that he was seemingly so worked up over the question that he felt the need to get into such a defensive position.]

Who's to say he wouldn't sneak in sometime, when you're not around? [But right, this guy was apparently some kind of friend – there was probably no need for that kind of tactic.] You're really serious about this score, then?

Well yeah, I'm good at it.

[ This... is more revealing than he means it to be, in a few ways, but he isn't self-reflective enough to really notice. Yes, he craves simple, verifiable success. Doesn't everyone? And he isn't getting that feeling from many other places, not when any of his other talents are expected or still fall short of what is desired of him. ]

... if he's sneaking in then I'm never letting him borrow my manga ever again.

[Shinobu passes an analytical glance at him when he first speaks, wondering if he was talking out of confidence, or a lack of it in other areas. Then again, she wasn’t really an expert at reading that kind of thing and Noctis wasn’t exactly the most emotive person around anyway. She thinks about asking, but stops the thought as he moves on.]

Manga, huh? [Of course she knows what it is, when she was kind of a weeaboo herself, but it was still a little funny to her that he was shaping up to be kind of a geek. Still, her brows crease a little, smiling in a way that was meant to be more on the teasing side.] I guess I watch a couple of anime series, but I’m more a samurai movie buff.

[She was a pretty big Bizarre Jelly fan, to the point she decorated her blade with charms of the main characters — as much as she wanted to tease him for it, it would be all too easy to turn it on herself. Instead, she returns to her earlier train of thought.]

But hey, you’re good at fighting too, right?

[ Samurai movies?

He's tried to get into them, if only for the aesthetic. They sound cool, they'd be cool to talk about, and that's the kind of impression he wishes he could give off. But... they're slow, painfully so in places, and then the plots become incomprehensible when you forget even one of the character's names. Not to mention the level of understanding needed of the politics and history--

Oh, she asked him a question. ]

Why, are you gonna' challenge me or something? [ point: missed ]

[Her brows first furrow in confusion, but her expression quickly shifts to something more akin to one of confidence.] That’d probably be bad for you. I’m not exactly good at holding back.

[Or rather, she was used to killing people and didn’t have an off switch at this stage of her life — learning more self control came later on.]

Im just saying you’re probably better than you give yourself credit for.

Wow. [ And there's a new amusement in that single word, shaking his head as he rounds one street corner, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible as he presses the button for the crosswalk. ]

If I'm better than I'm giving myself credit for then aren't you seriously underestimating me by saying that?

It’s not that I’m underestimating your skill as much as I know mine.

[As they wait for the crosswalk lights to change, Shinobu leans against the light post on their side, sighing as she tries to think of the best way to explain her situation without saying too much.]

Do you think you’re capable of killing me? [She asks this far more casually than the average person would. Like she’s far too used to people trying to kill her on a constant basis.]

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[OPEN] what kingly dreams

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