#Copia Egestas

[a-world-in-grey]

You might not need another au but do you want it?

Think of how much fun it would be, Sola and Ardyn snarking at each other in the middle of the throne room and before the entire court.

The resemblance is uncanny.

You can track which of the nobles noticed it by how much they pale, their polite masks turning a little bit tense.

You. Are an enabling gremlin.

Plopping this in the Combined Retinue Nox/Sola au, because this is what my brain finally decided to spit out at 2 in the morning.

@secret-engima have an early Christmas present, I guess?

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“If I have to dress up, Uncle,” his niece tells him fiercely, “then so do you.”

Ardyn raises a brow from the bench he’s languidly lounging on, watching his Tailor circle Sola with sharp eyes as she tugs on the black fabric of the dress she’s wrangled Sola into wearing for her upcoming Coming of Age, unfazed by the equally black scowl on the princess’ face.

Beside him, Nox is firmly pretending to nap on his Shield’s shoulder. Axis has his gaze glued to the book in his hand.

It seems he’ll have no allies from that quarter.

Admittedly, Ardyn had perhaps been enjoying Sola’s irritation too much, and hadn’t bothered to smother his growing amusement with every dark mutter Sola had made about protocol and where the court could shove said protocol.

He gives Sola an indulgent smirk. “I highly doubt I’m on the guest list, my dear. Given the current state of international politics.”

Not that he’d let the lack of an invitation stop him from attending his niece and nephew’s birthday party.

From the glare Sola levels at the mirror, and the minute stiffening of Nox’s spine, Ardyn has the feeling his niblings will ensure he is invited, regardless of anyone else’s feelings on the matter.

Nox’s eyes actually open a sliver when Sola’s magic abruptly curls, all mischievous glee with an edge of bared teeth. His nephew warily eyes his twin and the grin growing on her face.

Ardyn does not share Nox’s apprehension. He rather thinks his niece should smile like that more often.

“A suit for your Uncle, then?” Penelopeia asks archly.

“If you would be so kind.” Sola replies before Ardyn can protest. Sola’s blue eyes narrow on him through the mirror. “Black for the shirt, instead of the suit, I think. Gold as an accent color, but otherwise I have full faith in your judgment.”

To Penelopeia’s credit, his Tailor pauses for but a moment. “Of course, Your Highness.”

Ardyn gives Sola a long look. His niece knows very well protocol prohibits him from wearing black. He is neither a (known) member of the royal family nor in sworn service to them. Sola cares little for protocol and tradition, especially when it gets in her way, but even she can’t get away with flouting such an old and respected tradition. Not like this. “Niece.” He warns.

Sola raises her chin, defiant. “Do you trust me?”

Ardyn sighs. Smiles reassuringly at the fierce girl who’s been Nox and Ardyn’s staunchest supporter these past near three years. “Yes.”

Sola nods, and that is that.

.

Copia Egestas adores her Queen.

Sola’s last minute changes to the twins’ Coming of Age gave her a solid week of extra work to do - with help from Ignis, who volunteered on account of her being nearly six months pregnant - hunting through the Archives and preparing her arguments before she and Sola sat down in front of the King and finally told him exactly who would be presenting his daughter at her Coming of Age. Presenting both his children, in fact.

Unsurprisingly, Regis was not pleased. But between Sola’s staunch refusal to change her mind and Copia’s presented precedents, he reluctantly conceded.

Now, eyeing everyone as they wait to enter the ballroom, Copia can only feel a vicious anticipation.

Nox and Sola make a striking pair in black and gold. Both of them have their hair carefully pulled back, decorated further with gold. Nox still wears his usual earrings, the only silver on him as he’d declined the offer for golden versions, and Sola has mirrored him with a set of earrings arranged in the opposite ears. Not the same earrings, but the studs and climber are similar enough in shape to achieve the desired effect.

Copia’s sleeveless black dress is cut to flatter her pregnant figure, a gold shawl for her shoulders because six months pregnant and she gets uncomfortably warm now that the summer months are upon them, which also why she’s elected for an updo instead of letting her thick curls tumble loose. Unlike Sola, Copia is in comfortable flats instead of heels, again on account of being pregnant.

Axis is in a black suit jacket with gold details, and his Clan’s purple and green tartan. His hair’s been styled back from his face, but otherwise remains free.

Axis isn’t the only one wearing purple and green. Nox has the shifting purple-green galahdite in his ears, hair, and decorating his cufflinks. Sola’s chosen a selection of amethysts and emeralds to decorate her gold jewelry, while Copia had been gifted a pair of ebony hair sticks topped with amethyst and emerald carved cabochons.

(Copia knows just enough about Galahdian culture to know to tell Penny the goal, and follow the woman’s instructions on how to support Axis without overstepping cultural boundaries. The result, she is told, is a careful blend of Lucian and Galahdian color codes, but Copia has never seen Axis struck speechless before so she makes a mental note to commend Penny and her recommended jewelers for their hard work.)

With Ardyn, however, Penny has evidently decided to take refuge in audacity.

The suit is a lovely shade of dark purple, decorated with an intricate pattern of - much to Copia’s amusement - peacock feathers. At a glance they could be mistaken for phoenix feathers, certainly, but Copia knows her birds, and those feathers belong to the phoenix’s non-magical dramatic cousins. Studded at the eye of each feather are small galahdite stones to match Nox and Axis.

Under the suit, Ardyn’s shirt is black, which will no doubt give the Court conniptions and the press a field day, despite them following protocol to a T. Instead of a traditional tie, Ardyn’s kept his usual scarf, but in a rich green. How it doesn’t clash with the purple, Copia doesn’t know, but she knows Ardyn’s vest is a matching shade of green. Ardyn has a gold and galahdite lapel pin, linked by a fine gold chain to a paired piece on the front of his breast pocket.

The master of ceremonies glances over at them, expression half-expectant, half-despairing.

It turns to resignation when Ardyn and Sola gift him identical smirks.

Nox sighs.

Copia hides a grin behind her hand. Oh yes, tonight is going to be so very entertaining, with uncle and niece actively working together.

She wonders how many people will notice the family resemblance before the end of the night?

#ffxv #Shadow of Heaven’s Light #Nox verse #Combined Retinue au #Ardyn Izunia #Copia Egestas #Sola Lucis Caelum #Nox Izunia #Axis Arra #Penelopeia Lazarus #galahdite is the in-verse version of alexandrite that specifically shifts green-purple

[secret-engima]

Snippet from Blood of My Blood verse

(Tagging @a-world-in-grey for this because Noctis is interacting primarily with her Council/Council successor OCs in this scene and I want to see if I’ve done them okay.)

...

     Noctis could feel people watching him with varying levels of discretion as the first course was brought out. Some of them did an admirable job of masking it behind conversation with the person seated next to them, while others —like Aedes Memini, the future Lord of Education a few seats to Noctis’s right— stared at him without even trying to hide it. The first course was brought out, something very light and small, which was good, because Noctis’s stomach wasn’t up to eating full, heavy portions yet and he was going to have to survive the traditional six course meal without getting sick or obviously ignoring his food. The soup was light and mild, and Noctis was grateful that his father had clearly taken his needs into account when having the chefs plan the dinner.

     Everyone took the requisite number of spoonfuls to prove they were “eating” and then the conversation started up again. Mostly about politics, or current affairs in the high social circles, or congratulations on Noctis’s eighteenth birthday —even though technically that was tomorrow and not tonight—, “We are all very relieved over your safe return.” Lord Veteris —Lord of Foreign Affairs on his father’s council, a cautious man but not unwise— said, “We feared at one point that you would never be found.”

     “It was a long road home,” Noctis replied neutrally, “but I am glad to be back.”

     Lady Operis, the future successor to the seat of Lord of Health, interrupted with all the characteristic tactlessness of her family, “How has your health been since your return? You are recovering well?”

     Ignis smoothly inserted himself into the conversation with a prim, “The Citadel doctors are the finest of the country, and they have deemed His Highness to be in fine health.” Lady Operis and her father, the current Lord of Health, both looked unsatisfied with the vague answer. They were both very dedicated to the medical field and he didn’t doubt that they, like everyone else, wanted to know the details of his health and recovery —if for far more sincere reasons than most—. But they could hardly press further without casting doubts on the doctors Lord Operis himself had approved for the Citadel, so for the moment they let it slide. Noctis didn’t bother to add any comments. No one here needed to know that the while doctors had declared his health to be “vastly improved” that hardly made him “fine”. He was still struggling to get back all his lost weight, he had far more scars than they would like, and Ignis was making it a personal crusade to slowly work Noctis’s appetite back up to full meals.

     And none of that was touching on his mental health.

     Aedes Memini leaned forward slightly to see around Noctis’s Retinue, “It must have been so difficult for you out there. All the monsters and daemons. How did you make it to the outpost Marshal Leonis found you in?”

     Cor stiffened faintly, but Noctis just took another slow sip of his soup and said, “There was a lot of walking involved.”

     “The citizens of Lucis refused to help you?” The question came from Lord Egestas of Finance, a very faint frown on his face that Noctis thought came more from the thought of someone of Noctis’s status being “denied” aid by those of a lesser class than out of concern —Noctis did not have a good view of Lord Egestas and he knew it, he had been … not friends, but well-acquainted with his daughter Copia and she had opinions on her father—.

     Noctis chose to take a sip of his drink rather than risk filling up too much on soup, “They were very helpful when I asked for it. But hitchhiking will only get you so far.”

     There was a ripple across the table, a faltering in the conversations that others were pretending to have as they all registered their Crown Prince admitting to hitchhiking. Noctis wanted to laugh at their hidden surprise and disdain, like accepting a ride from a stranger passing by was somehow demeaning. Dangerous, yeah sometimes, but demeaning? Hardly. Everyone fell on hard times at some point out there and most people were understanding of it. Instead of laughing, he nudged the topic of his own health and circumstances aside for the moment by addressing Lady Aequum, the Lord of Justice, “I have heard that there is a new case being brought before the high courts that has caught your personal attention. Markos versus Elpenor?”

     Lady Aequum nodded, brisk and emphatic, and was more than happy to discuss some of the details. Not many, since talking about criminal cases was not generally considered “polite conversation”, but the woman had more than earned her title over the years with her passion for seeing justice done and it showed. Topic drifted again, thankfully steering away from him as the second course came and went.

     They were on the third course when the topic finally came back to something Noctis personally cared about, “Prompto Argentum, wasn’t it?” Speravi Veteris asked with a faint flick of her elaborate braids, “I’m afraid I am unfamiliar with the name Argentum. Is your father a … viscount?”

     Prompto grinned at her and while on the surface it was another one of his sunshine smiles, Noctis could tell it was actually all teeth, “Oh no, my family aren’t nobility. I live in one of the middle class residential districts.”

     Several nearby conversations stopped and Noctis felt his magic start to bristle at the brief look of disdain that crossed Lord Egestas’s face. His daughter, Copia, seemed to catch the look too, because she immediately leaned forward with a too-sharp smile, “Truly? How interesting. This must all seem rather extravagant to you then.”

     Prompto’s actually seemed to perk up at addressing Copia, something old-remembering-grudgingly-fond flickering in his eyes and Noctis wondered if Copia had survived at least part of the Long Night and gotten to know Prompto, “A little bit, yeah. Mostly just the cutlery through, Ignis has been teaching me all about events like this, but I’m still not sold on the necessity of six forks just for one meal.”

     Several of the younger members at the table smothered laughter, and Noctis saw Cor hide a smile behind his wine glass. Aedes spoke up again, “How did you meet His Highness?”

     Prompto shrugged, easy and seemingly totally relaxed, “I got lost while on a tour of the Citadel. I ran into Prince Noctis while I was trying to find my way back and we hit it off.”

     “Just like that? And you went on to become the Heart of his Retinue?” Noctis suppressed a growl at the incredulity of the younger Lord Patriori.

     Prompto kept his smile in place as the third course was finally taken away and the fourth brought out —only two more after this to go, Noctis could do this … maybe—, “Kinda!”

#Secret Engima Rambles #Melodies and Manuscripts #Blood of my Blood (That Was Shed On the Throne) verse #Child of My Blood verse

[a-world-in-grey]

Sola&Nox verse: please tell me about their combined Retinues and how weird it is and what where people's reactions to when they finally noticed this fact

*grins* the combined Retinue!

So it starts out with Nox and Sola worrying about each other. Nox worries about Sola because Sola is very much like Cor in leaping at problems sword-first and doesn't always stop to consider that she might be biting off more than she can chew. And it's not like Sola's going to stop. If anything Sola only gets worse as she gets older, as she accrues more and more skill and experience and gains more freedom to encounter Bigger Problems. If Sola had strong magic, Nox might worry less (Axis: liar) because in this au Sola and Nox aren't in the Glaive and as such don't usually leave Insomnia and there's less dangerous things for Sola to Throw Hands with in the Crown City. But Sola doesn't have strong magic, for all that she's been training with her magic ever since meeting Nox in Dissidia, will never have the reserves of her male relatives. And Nox worries that Sola will burn through her magic reserves and won't have enough magic left to keep herself from dying if she gets seriously injured.

Meanwhile, Sola worries about Nox not taking care of himself. But she's a Sword, she doesn't do well trying to solve problems she can't literally or verbally stab. Axis and Cindy do their best, and Sola will be the first to admit that Axis and Cindy do a lot for her twin. But none of them are Hands, and with the way Nox still mourns his first Retinue she doubts Nox will ever bond with another Hand. That Nox bonded with a second Shield and Heart is nothing short of a miracle. Sola can't do much to mother-hen Nox into taking care of himself beyond setting Abyssus on Nox, because Abyssus will absolutely remind Nox to eat - loudly - if it means he can beg food off the kitchens as well. Axis finds it hilarious that a cat is better at getting Nox and Ardyn to eat regular meals than two Shields and all the alarms on their phones. At least, when Axis isn't despairing over that same fact. But Sola can help Nox manage his pain, when she can out-stubborn him into letting her, that is.

@secret-engima has already covered how Nox bonded with Axis, and later Cindy, and that won't change. Sola bonds with Copia Egestas after Sola starts learning from Ardyn the art of politics so she can verbally shred certain Councilors and nobles and convince them to better their behavior or else. (The court thought Sola's smile was terrifying. Then Uncle Ardyn showed up and now Sola's smile is so much worse.) Sola and Copia met when Sola started networking with the Council Heirs. Copia decided to leverage that connection in hopes of being named the next Lord of Finance after her father. Sola knew this, but she was fine with that because Copia is really quite brilliant with both numbers and politics and knows the Lucian court in a way that Ardyn doesn't yet. And Copia is more than willing to assist and advise Sola in navigating the sormr pit. During late-night planning sessions they quickly discover that they share similar senses of humor, and they become friends, and some point before Nox and Sola's Coming of Age Copia decides she'd rather be Sola's Hand than the next Lord of Finance.

Ravus and Sola bond... both very quickly and not really? Like, I'd have to go back through the stuff written about how Ardyn gets the royal family out of Tenebrae and to Lucis, but Ravus doesn't have years of Niflheim conditioning him to hate the Lucis Caelums. He's also fiercely devoted to his little sister, which is something Sola immediately vibes with. And at this point, Ravus is angry and itching to fight for his family and home, and Sola's more than willing to enable him on that. So she drags Ravus to a sparring room, runs him through his paces, then promptly takes him on as an apprentice like Cor did her because sure, Ravus probably isn't completely inexperienced with a blade but he didn't spend the last five years apprenticed to Cor the Immortal. Sola's reasoning for training Ravus personally before she helps him enlist in the Kingsglaive is that Ravus wants to protect his little sister like how Sola wants to protect her little brothers, which of course means that Ravus wants to be the best he can possibly be in order to accomplish that. And the glaives are good, don't get Sola wrong, but it's a very different fighting style, and Ravus does need some serious training before he'd survive boot camp. Which means Sola gets to train Ravus into the ground first. Ravus might have found it insulting, being apprenticed to someone a year his junior, but Sola really is that good, and she never makes him feel inferior. Oh, she's as harsh a taskmaster as Cor, but she's also training Gladio at the same time as Ravus and she pushes Ravus just as hard as she does Gladio. Harder, in some cases - Ravus is sixteen going on seventeen, but Gladio is only eleven going on twelve, even if Gladio is in better physical shape, so Ravus is held to different standards. Sola also teaches Ravus how to wield magic - with her borrowed magic - because Ravus is aiming for the Kingsglaive and Sola doesn't do anything half-cocked. Once Sola deems Ravus good enough, she presents Ravus with his own weapon - as Cor did with her - as a 'graduation gift' of sorts, then kicks him over to the Kingsglaive. That cements the underlying trust and friendship necessary for when they bond later.

They don't bond until years later. Ravus is busy in the glaive, Sola is busy forcing the Lucian court into looking beyond their own personal concerns - like properly supporting the glaives as their main military branch, supporting the refugees and other non-upper class citizenry, etc - and being the main trainer for Noctis, Ignis, Gladio, and later Prompto. She also makes a convincing case to train Luna and Sylva in combat, because them being able to defend themselves shouldn't be an afterthought. But Sola and Ravus still hang out when Ravus is in Insomnia, still spar and vent their frustrations to each other because both of them are Swords and prefer to tackle problems in similar ways.

It's Ravus, who informs Sola of the prophesized fate of the Chosen King and his Oracle. Sola is about as happy about that as Ravus is, and their mutual desire to prevent the deaths of their younger siblings is what spurs them to finally bond.

Nox and Sola get on well enough with the other's Retinue. Sola will never accept a Shield, not after years of the Council insisting on it, but she trusts Axis to guard her back, trusts him to keep her grounded like he does for Nox. Axis will never be her Shield, but Axis doesn't mind acting in that capacity for the Princess on those rare occasions. She's easier to ground than Nox, in some ways - usually Axis can direct one of his own damn kids to go sit on Auntie Sola and Sola's successfully tethered to one spot for as long as his kids demand her attention. Or he can order Abyssus to sit on Sola. Axis and Sola trust each other as fellow members of Nox's Retinue.

Cindy and Sola, when they meet, become fast friends as Cindy introduces Sola to the wonders of mechanics. Cid laughs when Cor and Regis call him to complain about Cindy and Sola building Sola a motorcycle. Cindy's also got a refreshing no-nonsense attitude and is the one to exasperatedly tell Sola to finally do something about her crush on Libertus.

Nox will never accept another Hand after Ignis. But he trusts Copia to advise and guide Sola, and trusts Copia enough to accept the blonde woman's advice on occasion. Copia will never be Nox's Hand, he has no interest in the court, not even as a battlefield to conquer like Sola. But Copia will never let one of her fellow Retinue to their Queen enter a battlefield unprepared, and so she will ensure Nox is prepared for court when he is required to make an appearance. (And if she makes Nox godsfather to her little Mira? Well, a godsfather needs to set a good example, and there's nothing like handing Nox his sleeping godsdaughter to get him to sit down for an hour or two and rest.)

Nox is... understandably hesitant to get to know Ravus, when he has such stark memories of his Ravus. It's really only once Sola and Ravus bond, that Ravus and Sola join Nox in his crusade to ensure his younger counterpart gets the future he never got to have, that he and Ravus develop anything approaching a friendship. It's a quiet friendship - Ravus and Nox love Sola dearly, but she is not quiet.

Nox and Sola bond sometime before their Coming of Age. It starts as Nox wanting Sola to have access to a second, deeper reserve of magic so she never is unable to heal herself, and as Sola wanting Nox to have her healing capability to cut down on most of his chronic pain. Oh, it won't stop the pain completely, but the healing factor will cut down on the irritation and inflammation that builds up. Two Lucis Caelums have never bonded to each other before, but honestly neither expect anything unusual to come of it, even as their bond grows tighter and closer over the years, until it's sometimes difficult to tell where gold magic ends and blue begins, the two are so enmeshed.

It's Cindy, ironically, who notices the change to her magic first. She's working on a project when her tool slips. Now, Cindy's no strangers to bruises and the occasional cut or burn, and every once in a while there'll be an injury that requires more than what the first aid kit can handle. And sure, the little injuries here and there haven't been as noticeable, but Cindy's pretty darn sure the gash on her hand should require stitches and yet the bleeding has already stopped by the time she's put the towel used to stem the blood down and washed off the blood and grime for a better look. Ain't that interestin'.

Turns out, Cindy's not the only one whose magic got an upgrade. Axis also has access to Sola's healing factor now, and Copia's magic has abruptly deepened and gained blue accents to the normally pure gold. Best theory is that because Nox and Sola have entwined their souls so tightly, their magic has essentially 'bled over' into their own bonds. Nox and Sola haven't bonded to the others, the magic still comes solely from their respective monarchs.

As there doesn't seem to be any negative side effects to this new and unexpected development, Sola and Nox basically shrug and roll with it.

#ffxv #Shadow of Heaven's Light #Nox verse #fusion #Combined Retinue au #the Altius despair of Sola and Nox's lack of scientific curiosity #the chances of a phenomena like this happening ever again is statistically impossible #and you don't want to learn everything you can about it?!?!

[a-world-in-grey]

Sola/Blood of My Blood - Coming of Age IV

@secret-engima in which Sola gets to silently threaten someone, discovers a mother's intuition is a terrifying thing, and spots something surprising.

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Sola knows she can't rescue Noctis from everyone who wants to talk to him. It would send entirely the wrong message about Noctis' mental health and capability to those watching.

There's also just too many people.

Fortunately, Ignis is even better at politics than the rest of the Retinue, smoothly deflecting those undeterred by Sola's sharp looks. Half those looks are directed at Aedes, who, for all that he shares his sister's intelligence, does not have a fraction of her social grace and often lets his curiosity override his sense of tact.

Not that Gladio and Prompto aren't helping. For all that Gladio doesn't have Ignis' silver tongue, he's always been good with people. Good at picking out trouble, and he turns that skill towards engaging certain individuals in conversation before they can bring up unwise topics. Prompto is simply being his usual self - sunshine smiles and eager enthusiasm drawing those curious over Noctis' Heart like moths to a flame.

The fragile peace doesn't last. Sola doesn't expect it to.

So when Plenus Egestas opens his Pyre-cursed mouth and Sola feels Noctis go rigid from five seats down, she lets her red lips curl into a toothy smile, and ignores the nobles flinching further down the table.

They've been flinching at her smile for fifteen years.

"I fail to see why you are all so surprised. Members of the Royal Retinue have come from all walks of life." Sola says, pitching her voice to easily reach those eavesdropping. Her gaze doesn't waver from Lord Egestas. "Gilgamesh had neither wealth nor status when Somnus took him as his Shield. Marshal Leonis was a soldier before he became His Majesty's Sword."

Uncle Cor is not impressed with the sudden attention aimed his way. Attention that hurriedly shifts elsewhere when he narrows his eyes and all but dares them to say something.

A nonchalant flick of brightly painted nails catches and brings that attention back to her. "Diversity brings perspective and understanding. It encourages growth. Discarding others as superfluous because they lack our privilege is… breathtakingly shortsighted."

A single raised brow, a slight tilt of her head, and a small smile - Sola's expression of polite interest does nothing to hide the sheer lethal intent burning in her eyes as she stares down Plenus across the table. "Unless you disagree, Lord Egestas?"

For all that Sola despises him, Plenus is no idiot. "Of course not, Your Highness."

Liar.

But that topic is very firmly closed, and Sola's not about to reopen it. There will be other opportunities to try to nail that slippery menace to the wall.

The rest of dinner passes uneventfully save for Prompto swooping in to rescue Noctis from his dessert. Sola immediately jumps in on the teasing, telling her little brother to consider this a lesson in not betting anything he isn't prepared to lose.

Only for Tredd - because he's an asshole - to say with a sly grin, "Like that entire package of baked goods Ignis sent you seven years back?"

Prompto chokes on his forkful of cake.

"Would these have been the ones 'very well-received'?" Ignis asks, arching a brow at Sola while Gladio snickers and Noctis grins. Prompto's too preoccupied drinking water to clear his throat to join in.

Sola scowls. "Unfortunately."

"What'd you bet it on?" Gladio asks.

"Now that's-" Tredd pauses at Sola's narrowed eyes and backtracks immediately, "not my story to share."

"Good save."

"I like my kneecaps where they are, thanks."

"Doesn't everyone?" Sola agrees brightly.

"The moral of the story," Libertus says, before she and Tredd can start their usual banter. Ah, yes, she forgets how few outside the Kingsglaive are comfortable with a soldier’s brand of humor. Aedes is looking a little unnerved. "Never bet anything you aren't prepared to lose, clearly define all forfeits, and never embarrass a lady in front of an audience."

"Wise words." Regis interjects, looking highly amused by the shenanigans.

It’s not much longer before everyone finishes dessert and Regis stands, leading the exodus from the banquet hall to what is privately Sola’s favorite ballroom.

It is one of the summer ballrooms. High ceilings and a wall of open doors to keep the heat from stifling the crowd. The ceiling painted to mimic the glory of the night sky as seen on the Summer Solstice, painted back before the light of the city drowned out the breathtaking view now only visible beyond the Wall.

There is a… mechanism of sorts, Sola knows, that makes the ceiling glow as if it really were the night sky. The Clever added it, years after the room's construction. The fresco itself was commissioned by the Wanderer.

Something Sola didn’t know until she gained the Wanderer’s memories. As well as another fact that had Sola dragging almost a dozen glaives from the Fourth to the ballroom in the dead of night near the end of summer, flipping the mechanism on, and listening as the glaives laying on the floor gasped with sudden recognition at the Galahdian sky above them, as seen from Ramuh’s highest temple, at the peak of Galahd’s tallest mountain.

Of course, it's one of Uncle Cor’s least favorite ballrooms, if only because arranging security to his satisfaction is a nightmare. Sola knows, Captain and Uncle Cor used this ballroom as an example when they were training her in security formations before she took over as acting-Captain. So many angles for a sniper to take advantage of…

But security is Uncle Cor’s concern tonight. Even the glaives are reporting to him tonight, which would’ve prompted no few grumbles a few years ago. The glaives do not answer to the Crownsguard, not even the Marshal. Except Captain marrying and having a kid with Uncle Cor has somehow made him Captain-by-proxy when Captain is unavailable, but only because Captain has explicitly ordered the glaives to report to Cor in her and Sola’s absence and because Cor put in a lot of effort to earn their respect.

That the Crownsguard now reports to Captain in Cor’s absence just reaffirms that Aunt Tiz and Uncle Cor are Insomnia’s best power-couple.

No, instead Sola allows her husband to lead her onto the dance floor for the opening dance alongside Noctis and Alere Operis.

It is somewhat rude, for Sola and Libertus to steal attention from her little brother at his Coming of Age. But there’s no hiding the skill and grace at which Sola and Libertus glide across the dance floor, the blue of their tartans and the gold blazoned on black drawing and holding the eye compared to Noctis’ black and Alere’s dark violet.

It’s not like Noctis cares.

The dance ends soon enough, and Sola and Libertus retreat to the side of the room. The nobles waste no time descending upon them. Young ladies - and several older ones - drawing her Retinue away for a dance, succeeding or failing to various degrees. Nyx pulls out his most charming self, Luche is impeccably polite, Axis silently annoyed, and Tredd less than silently annoyed. Libertus and Sola are able to avoid dancing with anyone else. Protocol forbids asking a married Lucis Caelum - or their spouse - to dance.

Papa isn’t the first Lucis Caelum to refuse any dance partner other than his wife. More than a few persistent courtiers in past centuries have gotten rather pointed refusals. In one notable case ending with a brooch pin through the offending courtier’s hand.

Dragons aren’t known for sharing.

The only exceptions are when Uncle Cor or any of her boys - Ignis, Gladio, and Prompto may be Noctis' Retinue, but that doesn't make them any less hers than her little brother - come to ask for a dance. Cor, Noctis, Axis, and Tredd steal her for a couple dances each, eager to escape the socialites. Prompto and her share a surprisingly fluid Altissian waltz, given the blonde's tendency to trip over his own feet, and then Libertus is there to sweep her away for the next three dances.

Sola strikes a delicate balance between the dance floor and talking with the court. Enough time for the nobles to ask their questions about her marriage, but short enough that they feel they need to hurry before Sola's attention is drawn away once more. Few of the nobles deign to speak with mere refugees, Sola's Retinue or not, which leaves only Uncle Cor - who is hardly one to engage in what he deems pointless gossip - Papa - who clearly indulges his eldest child and her whims - or Noctis and his Retinue for them to seek answers from.

Of course, anyone insinuating anything to Noctis risks taking their lives into their own hands. Duels of honor have been declared over less. No one has actually followed through on such a challenge in almost two hundred years, but the tradition is still legal. Sola wouldn't put it past her brother challenge someone if his temper snaps. Frankly, anyone stupid enough to push Noctis to that point deserves it. As she told her Retinue when she gave them permission to call the nobles on their bluffs: either the morons need to put their money where their mouths are or learn to keep their mouths shut.

Nyx returns from a quickstep with Copia Egestas, who is dressed in an eye searing combination of yellow and orange and sequins - Six, why are sequins coming back, Sola hates sequins, they're itchy - a pretty floral clip keeping her blonde curls out of her face but leaving them free to tumble over bare shoulders. "Your Highnesses," She greets, "I wanted to congratulate you on your marriage."

"Thank you."

"I see the Marshal is fending for himself tonight. Captain Drautos at home, then?"

Six bless Copia. No further questions about her marriage, no questions about Noctis. Sola smiles and Libertus turns back to his conversation with Veris Colere about differences between Galahdian and Lucian varieties of crops. "Yeah. Unlike Uncle Cor, Aunt Tiz isn't part of the King's Retinue, so she can skip out and spend the night with their son instead." And Dyn, with Abyssus and Cyrus as back up just in case, and to keep Dyn company if he misses his father. Noctis is rarely separated from Dyn for great lengths of time, so no one is quite sure how well either of them are going to take it.

Captain hasn't sounded the alarm, so hopefully that means all is well on that front.

Letting her gaze drift over to another socialite - twitching at the bright glittery pink coeurl print, who comes up with these designs - trying to flirt with Uncle Cor, Sola scoffs. "Not that her absence will spare the airheads."

Copia follows her gaze and snorts, the sound entirely unlady-like. "Sweet Shiva, there are still people dumb enough to try that? Don't they remember what happened to the last ones?"

"To bold for her own good." Sola says, dismissing the woman and turning her attention back to Copia. She trusts her Retinue and the glaives pulling security to note names and faces. And maybe start planning vengeance on Captain’s behalf. Captain shouldn’t have to busy herself with idiots. It’ll make good training for the rookies specializing in covert operations. They’ve got a few Arra and Tibiae and a particularly devious Praesidium that’ll leap at the opportunity to practice their sabotage skills. "How's little Mira? She turns seven soon, doesn't she?"

"Just shy of a month." Copia says wistfully. "Seems like yesterday I could still rock her to sleep."

Sola understands that feeling. Noctis grew up too fast too.

A couple brushes past, and Copia steps close to Sola to allow them past. She doesn't withdraw right away, and her voice drops until only Sola can hear her over the crowd and music. "I also want to congratulate you again. I don't know when you plan to announce it, but if you have any questions in the next months, feel free to ask."

Sola blinks at Copia, stunned. How-

Copia smirks, drawing back again. "You're glowing, Your Highness." Her eyes drift through the crowd, and her expression softens. "I have experience with that."

"Indeed." Sola laughs softly, even as she spies Mira's head of blonde curls among the small group children surrounding an elderly man by one of the benches lining the hall, enraptured by whatever tale he's weaving for them with dancing hands and words… Wait.

She knows those movements. Those are Keeper movements, who-

No. There's no way.

Why is the Storm Father at her brother's Coming of Age?

#ffxv #Shadow of Heaven's Light #fusion #Blood of my Blood verse #Sola Lucis Caelum #Libertus Ostium #Noctis Lucis Caelum #Chocobros #Kingsglaive #Copia Egestas #I have hcs about the Wanderer adding subtle Galahdian touches to the Citadel #The Clever is the only person who ever noticed the fresco wasn't depicting Insomnia's sky #and went out of his way to figure out the details #Sola still terrifies most of the Court #she's accepted it and now uses it when she needs to make a point #besides it's not like the Court is wrong #Sola ripped out a man's throat and she's absolutely willing to do it again