airlocked cmo post

[nightcure]

for between and during rounds and all kinds of junk!
r3s can use this for space pirate shenanigans

Comments

[scourgingstars]

[Once all the shitstorms and chaos wore off, the next day found an open cookbook on the kitchen counter, beside what appeared to be a reasonably held-together cake. He might have been a little inexperienced with cooking, but Ardyn was also a) a scientist and b) incredibly stubborn. (This particular cake was attempt #4.) A note was beside it, reading It's Yuuri's, touch it and you'll deal with her instead of me. -Ardyn]

[Luscinia was on the table nearby, nesting in a scarf left there for precisely that reason...which also meant the sigil low on the back of Ardyn's neck was partially visible under his shirt collar.]

[The culprit himself was sitting at a table, head resting on folded arms and very definitely asleep. Because some things did not change across one hundred and something generations.]

[nightcure]

[ To say that there's a lot going on here would be an understatement. Noctis had come in here maybe to make tea or some pancakes for everyone, whatever he could reasonably toss together. Instead, he finds first a cake, and then Ardyn fast asleep at the table.

... And that sigil.

Noctis gets to work. He makes a cup of hot tea for Ardyn--rosehip with a bit of honey--and sets it near him before going to start the dishes. It's the least he can do to give a hand; Yl'lb's letting them stay here, even if the space pirate crew is holing up in their ship. ]

[scourgingstars]

[are you prepared to have a newfound respect for ignis 'team mom' scientia]

[because waking up a lucis caelum is fucking impossible.]

[Ardyn would, in fact, sleep right through Noctis doing the dishes--though Luscinia didn't, ruffling her feathers and regarding Noctis with the most suspicious look a bird was capable of before fluttering over to land on his shoulder.]

[She's got her fucking eyes on you, kid.]

[nightcure]

[ Well, alright. ]

Keeping me company? Or just there to make sure I'm on my best behavior around him?

[ Both are incredibly valid. Noctis takes a moment to pause the dishes so he can dry his hands and go over to the refrigerator. He looks at Luscinia. ]

Hungry?

[scourgingstars]

[So things were...weird. It would have been stranger if the general sense of unease was missing entirely, but 'weird' was still the prevailing emotion when it came to Noctis. As the others seemed to imply, it was like having a pair of wary cats slowly walking in circles around each other.]

[Admittedly, Ardyn was certainly grateful it was limited to only that much and not homicidal anger on either side the moment they caught sight of one another. That was a good start, and he could certainly work with it.]

...Out of idle curiosity, would you be averse to a sparring match or is it far too soon to even entertain the concept?

[...he tries.]

[nightcure]

[ Weird doesn't even begin to describe it. There's a sense of co-existing that Noctis can deal with, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel utterly bizarre about it.

.... Anyway. The question brings a little bit of surprise, but honestly? He could use it. ]

Depends. Do I still get a free punch even if I punch you during sparring?

[scourgingstars]

I would say that hardly counts toward your free shot, myself. [A shrug.] It wouldn't be the first time someone punched me in the middle of a swordfight.

...In a related subject, watch out if you spar with Xander. He fights as unfairly as I do.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Sometime after Space Mall and Karaoke shenanigans, hey guess what it's ya boy your greatx100-grand-uncle's boyfriendo coming with two mugs of coffee.]

Sup. Hope you drink coffee, O King of Nerds.

[nightcure]

Shouldn't that be Junpei?

[ He takes the mug, though, and sips at it. He cannot hide the disgust no matter how hard he tries. ]

What's up?

[motherfucking_ghost]

Nah, he's the royal advisor of nerds. ...Mmmmmaybe I should've gotten you hot chocolate instead. Or a mountain of sugar.

I mean I was hoping you liked coffee so that would be a nice way to smooth things out into an awkward conversation.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn had made himself scarce since the trial and resulting Discourge(tm), mostly hiding out in his and Church's room. He looked exhausted--more so--when he did show himself, with the start of dark shadows under his eyes.]

[Eventually he did get the nerve to actually face Noctis after all of that, and when he tracked down the other Lucian he cautiously opened with:]

...Have you eaten anything today?

[nightcure]

Hey, Ardyn.

[ ... well. Noctis honestly doesn't look much better. Admittedly, he's doing somewhat better--

If he knows about this, he'll come. He'll come for all of us.

--but he hasn't been sleeping too well--

With Noctis alive, and free from the hold of these people...if he learns that you're here, that Prompto's here...I'm going to believe he will come. Not in death, but...

--and it shows. He's got dark circles to match Ardyn's. ]

... Yeah, I had a little something this morning.

[scourgingstars]

You realize it's late afternoon now, right?

[He managed a faint smile, sincere despite the exhaustion and the...everything.]

I don't suppose that I can talk you into coming as far as the kitchen?

[helladoptera]

[ Sometime after the... deadland business, once she's calmed down some, Max knocks on Noctis' door. Knock knock, sleepyhead. ]

[nightcure]

[ It takes him a little while to open up, and when he does, yep. He's been asleep. But he wakes up a little faster when he sees who it is. ]

Hey. You doing alright?

[helladoptera]

It's... you know. I slept for like almost eight whole hours each the last couple nights? So that's pretty sweet.

[ She sighs. ]

I... wanted to ask you something. For a favor, I guess.

[scourgingstars]

[It was late at night when Ardyn sought out Noctis; clearly having just woken up, he was more disheveled than usual and straightening out his standard gray shirt with a half-frantic look on his face.]

Noct--Noctis--I have to talk to you, right now. Please.

[nightcure]

[ It's late, and Noctis isn't asleep, at least. He's been sleeping quite a bit, but... it's not good sleep. Not decent sleep. He keeps thinking about too much, about Blaze and Luna and Prompto and everyone else who's died.

It's a long list. Often, he takes walks late at night when things get overwhelming. Tonight, strangely enough, his thoughts drift to a couple of others that--for now--haven't been dragged into the network's damned games.

Needless to say, he's surprised when he sees Ardyn looking the way he does. ]

Ardyn? Calm down. Let's go sit somewhere.

[scourgingstars]

I-...yes, I'm alright. [Deep breaths. Focus, concentrate, don't think of the sounds of rushing water and torrential rain.]

It's a bit cold but...outside might be best. Somewhere we're less likely to be overheard.

it's christmas and no one can tell me otherwise

[serrata]

[ It's... probably Christmas, Yuuri thinks? The house is decorated and there's a great deal of yuletide fuss whenever she goes out so she's assuming it's whatever this planet has that passes for Christmas. And she's never usually been one for gifts but this year she feels like she can't really pass the chance up.

So, Chosen King, wherever you've chosen to take up roost for the day, Yuuri's on the approach and she's got what's very obviously a wrapped gift in her hands. ]

Now before I hand this over... I'm not going to have to explain Christmas to you too, am I?

krimbo in january

[nightcure]

[ He's not particularly expecting anything--everyone has their own stuff to worry about. And he's got a pile of gifts in the ship ready to be handed out, but today's a day when he can't help but worry about the people in that simulation.

He wishes he could spend the holiday with Luna. And Prompto, of course. But when Yuuri comes over, he gives her a light grin. ]

Nah, I've done my research. [ He eyes the present in her hands, and he raises his eyebrows. ] ... Is that for me?

[serrata]

I'm glad at least one of you did. Honestly, you have oyakodon and Stand by Me but horses and Christmas sound made up...

[ what! the fuck! is eos!! can you blame her for having a slightly exasperated smile when she holds out the gift for him to take ]

Anyway. This one's all yours. It's nothing really fancy but I wanted to get something for everyone.

Hey hey I got a gift for you

[induality]

[Okay so it's been a week and a half of fretting since the day she got Noctis' gift. The necklace he gave her-- she'd worn it every day since, tucked under her shirt, right next to her heart. That's why-- she wanted to give him something meaningful.

Eventually a lumpy envelope came to him.

Inside was a hooked keychain. On the end was a small bottle. It was filled with a liquid. The glitter mixed in with the dark and light colors mimicked the night sky. He might have also noticed, if he peeked into the envelope first, that it glowed in the dark.

There's also a jacket.

With it there's a letter. Okay, so she was nervous but-- that didn't mean that she didn't want to put her name to it.]

I've never given a gift like this before, so I don't know if it's any good but I wanted to thank you for the one you gave me. It's not much but I thought you might like them.

Going through Airlocked after everything I've been through I never imagined surviving all that again. And it's silly but you were a part of the light in that time. So I hope that if you're ever in a dark situation this can be a reminder that we're here for you.

- Touko Fukawa

punches the wall

[nightcure]

[ Oh....

For a long time, he sits and looks at the gifts. For someone who seemed like she'd been really worried about giving him something... well. Noctis can see now she had nothing to worry about. The coat is perfect; it reminds him of something he could find back home. And the bottle...

The bottle, he holds against his heart for some time. He'll keep it with him always. Her note, too; he reads that a few times, and he smiles to himself.

He... was a light to her? Hah. He should be saying that to her. So Noctis goes to Yl'lb's kitchen, and makes up a mug of hot cocoa with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. He leaves it outside where Fukawa sleeps, and he takes a seat with a book.

He wants to thank her in person, after all. ]

the wall did nothing wrong

[induality]

[It's funny thinking that she doesn't spend very much time in her room anymore. There were days but-- she had reasons to leave it. But she still saved most of her writing for within that room. it was hard to focus with others around. They meant well but-- well. Okay, listen. Her works probably weren't that great unedited.

She.

Still worried about things like that.

On the way back she noticed the smell of chocolate-- but not the source, until she saw Noctis. Why was he-- oh god he was waiting for her. Taking a deep breath she cleared her throat a little.]