text; elevencrows

[founderinglight]

And now that we seem to have largely settled issues of forgiveness, morality, and the like for the time being, here's a different philosophical pondering:

What does "love" mean to you?

As an aside, for any of you who have confessed an interest in cooking lessons (or who simply want to eat something that isn't from a can), I'll be making pasta in the eastern kitchen in an hour or so, provided that nothing too terrible has happened over there recently.

Comments

[founderinglight]

[SIGH. Fond and exasperated sigh, but still, SIGH.]

Honestly... Broccoli or mushrooms I could understand, but what's so terrible about, say, a pea?

[photoshooter]

Don't ask me. I like broccoli.

[founderinglight]

It's not my favorite, but I don't mind it. Juno would not tolerate it, though, she absolutely loathed the texture of the tops and the way they spread through everything. It was the one thing that could cause her to have bad manners at a political dinner.

[photoshooter]

Haha, what? Broccoli's so common, though! Well, I guess Noct must come by it honestly.

[founderinglight]

Oh, certainly. As much as over a hundred generations counts for anything, anyway.

[Honestly seeing Ardyn willingly eat a vegetable was the shock of his life.]

[photoshooter]

[He taps the toe of his boot against the floor, rolling a question around in his head.]

...Do you miss her? I know your marriage wasn't, like... Well, I'm just wondering.

[founderinglight]

...I do, yes.

[After a moment, he palms something out of his Armiger and hands it to Prompto. It's...

Well, what kind of ring would you expect a king to have, other than The Ring, Capitals Included?]

I wouldn't keep that if I didn't, even if I haven't worn it since coming here.

[photoshooter]

[Prompto handles the ring as carefully as he would a tiny animal, cradling it in his palm as he holds it to the light. It's not long before he offers it back; it's Izunia's ring, not his. A connection to his past Prompto isn't part of.]

...Did you know, back then, you'd go into the ring without her? The Ring of the Lucii, I mean.

[founderinglight]

It depends on how you define knowing. I was aware of the effect, but i didn't understand the impact of what it would mean - ven here on the other side, I have trouble comprehending the time scale. It's more than a human mind is ever really intended to understand.

[He takes back the ring, equally gently, and looks at it for a moment before vanishing it back to his Armiger.]

[photoshooter]

...

It sounds lonely.

[founderinglight]

Very much so, yes. I would far rather be here.

[photoshooter]

...I want to stay here.

I want Noct to stay here. Even if it's not safe like Insomnia used to be safe, it's... it's safer.

[There it is. As Izunia's feelings inevitably circle back around to Ardyn, Prompto's are anchored to the person who taught him how to love.]

[founderinglight]

I can hardly blame you for that. Cut that stick of butter into chunks, would you?

[A distraction, something to do with their hands while they get their thoughts in order. Cooking is good for that.]

...As for me, I don't have anywhere else to go.

[photoshooter]

[He does what he's told, glum.]

Yeah. ...Do you think we could? I. I guess it wouldn't be fair to everyone else on Eos, in our case.

[founderinglight]

I don't know. In either the literal sense or the moral one.

[He reaches up for a frying pan hanging above the stove and sets it on the burner. Just going to focus on the cooking instead.]

Put the butter on here - the main point of separating it into chunks is so it melts faster and more evenly.

[photoshooter]

[Prompto does so and watches the butter slowly begin to melt.]

...Smells nice, at least.

[founderinglight]

Oh, we've barely started. It smells much better once you throw a bit of garlic in. ... Or a lot of garlic, depending on your preference.

[He smiles faintly.]

[photoshooter]

Well, it's not just for me, is it? Keeping it mild's probably nicer for everybody.

[founderinglight]

Some people would say there's no such thing as too much garlic.

[From the faintly amused tone, Izunia agrees with those people.]

[photoshooter]

Yeah, well, I bet some people here haven't even heard of garlic.

[Bai Lin, maybe?]

[founderinglight]

Now that is a truly lamentable state of being.