( closed ) Schmoopy Lunyx things

[sacredrites]

Who: Luna and Nyx
What: A wild adventure
Where: literally all over Eos
Warnings: NSFW



timeline of events:
» meeting
» party saving
» separation thanks to the fall of Insomnia
» blissful reunion after Luna dies and comes back
» that one moment where they kinda kissed a few weeks after Noctis started his nap and her bro died
» darkness bonding times for Lunyx - great for UST
» failed meeting resulting in a little TLC



relevant gifs: i | ii | iii | iv | v | vi | vii | nsfw plurk image dump

Comments

[guardduty]

_{[It perhaps comes as a surprise to prince, glaive, and glaive captain that it's Nyx who glances sharply at the source of the interruption, wearing a look of furrowed concern and silent warning for her to back down. Now's not the time to be creating ripples in the water. No more than what's already been done.]}

Your Highness, you should be resting--

<sub>[Thankfully, though King Regis seems painfully slow to intercede over the daemon threat under their literal and figurative roof, he's swift where Lunafreya is concerned. Nyx relents, deferring to his care. Still, the stifled sound of pain is audible--and he's not the only left frowning at it.

Glancing over, he locks gazes with Captain Drautos who wears a similar expression, mouth pinched at the corners. In that look is a promise to say no more for the time being. For the time being. Nyx knows better than to think the captain will forget about this conversation forever. For now, though, there's mutual agreement; they each have jobs to do.

Both bow their heads at the implicit command. Nyx, being closer, spares a last glance for the captain before stepping up to offer his arm in place of the king's with the same formality he'd done so at the party. It gives him a chance to open his mouth before anyone can stop him. It's a long time in coming. He's been more patient the decision to entertain the peace talks than most, if not all, of the remaining glaives. And this isn't just about their homes outside the Wall--it's about Nifs and the new found danger they've proven they pose.]</sub>

Shouldn't we at least be detaining Chancellor Izunia? Your Majesty can't be expected to sign a peace treaty when we don't know what he's really capable of.

<sub>[The answer is simple, much as Nyx internally chafes under the clear, composed gaze of the Lucian king. Their fate, all of their fates, the fate of Lucis--they won't be decided with a retaliatory strike.

A bigger picture. The long con. Nyx understands, even if he doesn't like it.

That feeling of wrongness is as acute as ever.]</sub>

[sacredrites]

[ Creating ripples is what she excels at. She's never been one to hold her tongue for long when she sees something she doesn't agree with - friend or foe, king or commoner. It was one of the reasons she was something of a nightmare to guard and why her brother had taken a much firmer stance with her and was dismissive of anything she objected to.

She returns a look to Nyx, biting back the 'I'm fine' resting on the tip of her tongue. It would be a blatant lie and this was one of the few places she wouldn't be able to get away with it.

Luna takes the offered arm with her good one once the healer's done and the King has said his piece, relying on him a little more on him than she should in such company. Nyx asks the question that Luna had been expecting to be thrown into the room, an answer following the King's from her. ]

I was not meant to accompany the Chancellor and other Dignitaries to the treaty signing. The plans were changed last minute to include me and I fear this may have also been included in the changes. The Chancellor is calculating, he might be expecting an alarm to be raised. [ A beat. ] And as I answer to Niflheim for the moment, the King cannot act on actions they take against me on this of all evenings.

[ It's said more for Nyx than Regis, sure he's thought of something similar. Drautos confirms the last of what she says, not that Luna truly hears the words. Her time at the hands of the Empire had been anything but pleasant, the events of tonight not the worst of it... Not that she was about to volunteer such information in the already tense climate. ]

If you have no other requirements of me this evening, I would like to retire and allow myself a chance to recover as much strength as possible in light of the events tomorrow hold.

[ Regis gives a small nod, attention turning to Nyx as he gives him a room key and number. The King asks Drautos to remain behind a moment in case there are any unkind eyes, the Oracle being escorted by both a Glaive and their Captain enough to raise suspicion. Luna gives Regis a soft thank you, still holding onto Nyx for support, unsure she'd make it to the room walking on her own. ]

[guardduty]

_{[Dissatisfaction remains burning in his gut like a hot coal despite the reasoned responses of those in the room, Lunafreya included. Perhaps it's for the best Nyx holds the lowest rank of them all--if he were in charge, he might have taken Ardyn Izunia aside for questioning already, and all the rest of the Niflheim party, for that matter. (He's not used to being the trigger-happy hothead in a group--this is usually Libertus' job.)]}

... Fine. Whatever you say.

<sub>[He means it as a neutral-sounding submission, splitting a glance between King Regis and Princess Lunafreya and nodding sharply once to show he's not about to fight the decision, but he's afraid it comes out more passive aggressive than he'd intended.

Well, can he really blame himself? So much of these peace talks have stunk of political double-dealing, and his fond feelings toward the Chancellor are at an all-time low, to say the least. He shuts his mouth.

One thing they can all agree on (except, perhaps, Lunafreya herself): the princess needs somewhere safe and quiet. They leave first, with one last shared look with Drautos that Nyx has a difficult time deciphering as he turns with Lunafreya a solid weight on his arm. What does the captain think? How much of Ardyn had he seen at the party? Making a mental note to try and ask him later, Nyx opens the lounge door to see them out. The hallway beyond is empty, and Nyx has a mind to keep it that way, taking a less direct route back to her quarters where they're not as likely to meet with company.

Unsure what he can say that wouldn't be demanding more answers or action be taken, Nyx falls silent, letting his focus go to keep Lunafreya upright and moving.]</sub>

[sacredrites]

[ His dissatisfaction rolls off of her like a stiff wind, whipping past her with a practised grace. She'd spent too long at the hands of the Niflheim empire to allow such outbursts - no matter how seemingly minor - get under her skin. Besides, she's not certain an expansion on her response would help the situation. She was a captive of the Empire and as such, they could beat her within an inch of her life and King Regis would be helpless to intervene without starting another incident. Her status as Oracle only protected her so much, it's one of the reasons she'd fought to stay so visible as a public figure. It was for her own protection, not just as a comfort point for those around her that are the most in need.

Rather than adding to the already high tension in the room, she remains quiet - happy to be escorted out. Questions about her absence were going to be handled and that's all she could focus on right now, rather than plying Regis further with details, reminding him inadvertently of what her life had become over the past twelve years. If she had the strength to waylay the concerns herself, go back out and safely mingle before slipping away for the evening she would... But, with how heavily she was relying on Nyx for support, that wouldn't be able to happen. Not without raising more concerns than necessary. Ripples were already working through the pond, she had no interest in adding more.

Luna is grateful that the hallway is empty, letting out an audible sigh of relief. It seems to echo in the space, an interruption to the rhythm of their steps and the click of her heels against the flooring. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, Luna taking the time to let the thoughts turn over in her mind and strategies to start forming just in case the King isn't truly able to keep her safe. Because-- ]

I will be required to return to them at some point.

[ She didn't mean to say it aloud, voice barely above a whisper. In the chaos of the situation, it would seem she never received an answer to her unasked question. When the treaty was signed, if it was signed, there would be a period of adjustment and she wouldn't be able to stay in Insomnia indefinitely. Not if she wished to fulfill her sacred duties and help those that need it most. Her actions often left her weak and vulnerable, if Niflheim wished to have her back, they would see to it... Assuming her return wasn't a contingency to both parties signing the treaty.

Would the consequences of her actions negatively impact the peace of those around her? Or was this a calculated move by the Empire to sabotage the treaty? Her steps halt, straightening her back and steeling herself to deal with the possible argument she would get in response to what she was about to say. ]

I must go back to the party. I cannot stay the night here, there is too much it could impact.

[ Sorrynotsorry Nyx, apparently escorting the Oracle to her designated room won't be a cake walk. ]

[guardduty]

<sub>[They reach a measured rhythm, the two of them, his steps matched to hers, the part of Nyx attention usually dedicated to monitoring his friends on the field now alert for any hiccups in Lunafreya's stride in case she should falter. She'd been in a lot of pain--still is, try as she might to tamp it down--on top of what must be exhaustion now.

He can't stop thinking about those marks. Daemon corruption. It's almost too much to believe after everything that's led up to these treaty negotiations.

And Ardyn Izunia. A man who'd had the Oracle almost collapsed in agony after a single touch. Just who the hell were they dealing with?]</sub>

--What now?

<sub>[The whisper has to travel a long mile through dense brooding territory before Nyx processes what she's saying. It takes a moment, since he thinks she can't possibly mean what he thinks she means. That she wants to turn around and go back. At some point isn't tonight, when she's still being affected by whatever is burrowing under her skin, when this detente between Lucis and Niflheim is hanging on a knife's edge.

His brows become an unbending line about the same time her back does. She can't be serious.]</sub>

You want to go back out there like nothing happened? Not happening. You heard the king. _{[Unsaid goes the deeper emphasis you heard him and so did I. Nyx doesn't like this anymore than she does, but the king had made himself clear. And Lunafreya... Lunafreya's in no position to be putting herself in the crossfire for the second time in a single night.]} The Chancellor of Niflheim all but attacked you in the middle of Insomnia. The last thing you should be doing is changing up the plan in the middle of the king's play.

HELLO

[sacredrites]

[ There were complexities in this nightmare that she couldn't foresee a favorable outcome to, strange elements mixing together and creating another disaster. He was right, of course he was right. Ardyn had played his hand and for all she knew, it was an incredible bluff to force her into a certain move. But, this wasn't a game of chess. She couldn't plan three moves in advance because Ardyn was so unpredictable. But the idea of this being a chess-like move reminds her of one thing-- ]

I am not a pawn. Not for the King and not for Niflheim. [ There's an edge to her voice, betraying her lack of confidence in her words. She's been a pawn since she was a child and she'd placed herself in that position in the name of protection of her people. She was a doll to be paraded around and touted as a prized possession of the Empire.

And right now, this pawn wasn't thinking straight. ]

I cannot ask him or any of those he trusts to put themselves into further harm. [ Her gaze softens as she finally looks at Nyx, a strange flutter starting in the pit of her stomach she quickly ignores. There'd been rumors of hero worship when someone saves your life, but she refused to fall into that trap. ] You've already done so much. If I stay at the safety of your side much longer, I fear what fate might befall you or another in my stead. You've already done so much for me, I cannot ask you to risk more. [ She gives him a tired expression, a hand lightly reaching out to rest on his forearm. ] Do you truly believe the King's plan will work?

[ Because if it didn't, she'd pay a heavy price of carrying the burden of the losses and the ensuing punishment for her defiance... Though those who might die in the process would be a loss she'd never forgive herself for. With a sigh, she breaks the contact to turn her back to him for a moment, weighing her options. She'd already come this far, the least she could do is give the King her trust and have faith in her hope of a good outcome.

And by default, some of that trust goes into Nyx with the hope that he'll be honest with her - a thought that forces her to face him again and wait. ]