R4 Viewing Party - no crying til the end (if you can help it)

[serrata]

I'm sure this is fine.

WELCOME TO THE R4 LIVEWATCH: AIRLOCKED REACH EDITION

Comments

[cyan_maid]

[So all this stuff is happening today. And...well, who can be blamed for needing to distance yourself from it all? Breaks are totally things that are allowed from self-induced trauma replay.

So while you're out near your ship, Noct, there is a set of footfalls approaching you in the grass. They stop, about...a yard and a half away, before Jane clears her throat, just to not catch him totally off guard.]

...Hi.

[nightcure]

[ He'd told himself he'd see it through, that he'd be there for everyone. Because he's far from the only one who's hurt now.

Noctis turns to her, and he just looks so tired. ]

... Hey, Jane.

[cyan_maid]

[It's okay. She looks tired, too.]

...I feel like...I ought to thank you. In lieu of...certain people not being with us at the moment, for...

[She's skirting around saying "dead" or a certain soft boy's name in case that's going to make it worse, but...]

...For being so good. To Roxy.

[nightcure]

[ ... oh.

Noctis actually manages a smile, and he lifts a shoulder in a shrug. ]

Hey... now that you mention it, I should be doing the same. [ He runs his fingers along the outside of the ship. ] ... Having a friend like Roxy, it'll help him a lot. Already is.

And she's pretty great, too. I see why she's your best friend.

[cyan_maid]

[She'll just. Come a little closer to stand next to him, if that's cool, friend-in-law.]

...She was always like that. Always able to pick herself up and help us...I know she's really sad right now? But trust me, Jake and Dirk and I were an absolute mess. And...and I'm so proud of her. She isn't drinking, she's doing her best, she's reaching out to people...

[Jane knows it won't end well. But let her pretend, for a little while.]

I can definitely see why he's your best friend, though. He's...he is a good bean.

[nightcure]

[ Totally cool, girl. ]

... She's really strong. [ Ah, drinking. Noctis assumes there's a huge story there but it's not the time. ] I can tell you're proud of her. Anyone would be, the way she's been.

[ Noctis laughs a little. ]

"Good bean," huh... never heard that, but I agree. He's the only bean I'll ever like.

[cyan_maid]

[It's not particularly Jane's to tell, but yeah, there's quite a tale behind it.]

...We'll get them back. Somehow. If everyone's showing up in Florida, then...I know I need to believe it can be done, or else...mm. [She shakes her head.] I don't know.

[nightcure]

[ He's quiet for a little while before he reaches over to ruffle her hair. ]

We'll get them back, Jane. I promise you that.

I won't rest until you've got Roxy, and Max has Chloe, and everyone is back where they belong. Alive, and with us.

[cyan_maid]

[asdfghjkl okay fine, Noct can do that, he's officially the cousin-friend-in-law.]

Mm...neither will I. They've been getting away with this for too long.

[nightcure]

Yeah. It ends with us, right?

[cyan_maid]

[A firm nod.] It ends with us.

[nightcure]

We'll make sure of it.

[ ... ]

I... dunno if you're up for it, but you know what helps me feel a little better? A cake baked with a lot of love.

I bet the others'd appreciate it, too.

[cyan_maid]

[Awww. For that, she can try to manage a smile.]

It's very rarely that I'm not in the mood to bake something with an absurd amount of love in it. Even if that love is...expressed with a lot of passion and perhaps a couple of too-quick fumbles.

[A couple burns from the oven and picking out eggshells from batter is worth seeing people happy with a nice slice of cake.]

[nightcure]

I could give you a hand. I'm not the best cook or baker, but I used to help Ignis here and there.

[cyan_maid]

I'd appreciate that, thank you! And then you could learn a thing or two, if you'd like.

[There are way too many Ignis-like teenage girls in your life, Noctis, how did this happen.]