spankbanks | haven't you heard? i'm the hero.

Holding the line.

[He mutters under his breath as he rests his arm upon the adjacent table. If Lucis cannot advance in this war, then holding the line is all they can do for the time being. It's a blessing that Niflheim's forces cannot break their defenses at the Rift. This gives Regis some much-needed hope.]

As long as Lucis stands, I shall do whatever is necessary to hold the line. This is I can assure you, Nyx.

[If there's one thing Regis takes pride in, it's the fact he remembers all the names of his Glaives. Even the names of the fallen who succumbed during the Empire's advancement into Lucian territory. He makes it a point to memorize their names. It's the least he could do as their king.]

A curry, hm? Is it safe to assume it won't be as bland as my people's take on soup?

[He questions with an amused grin. It goes without saying that he's quite aware of the Galahdian's discontent with Lucian cuisine. Thankfully, Regis finds it quite amusing.]

Edited 2020-10-16 04:04 (UTC)

[ the king's adamant tone is what makes nyx pause. when he replies he's not quite looking at regis, but his voice is soft. ]

I know, your majesty. You've done a lot for us; you don't have to assure me of things I already know.

[ because he had seen regis, in galahd. and he had seen, over the course of his career as a kingsglaive, the way the wall and the losses started to bring down his shoulders in private, the way he knew every glaive by name and especially those who were no longer with them.

the moment feels poignant and tense and nyx clears his throat, turning again to put the rest of the vegetables into the blender, adding some of the spice and sauce mix. ]

It definitely won't be as bland as what they try to call curry elsewhere.

[ he laughs a bit, the sound overtaken by the noise of the blender as he pulses the vegetable and seasonings together until they're a thick liquid. after a moment he retrieves the coconut milk he'd unearthed as well and pops the can open, adding a bit before he pulses it again. ]

We gotta let the Garula cook for a bit first.

[Nyx's reply helps ease the guilt plaguing his heart. He honestly never forgave himself for losing Galahd. Never. It was the last time Regis stepped out onto the battlefield with the Ring of the Lucii at his becking call. It was a brutal skirmish that turned into a full-blown catastrophe once Niflheim unleashed their latest creation. If Regis hadn't used drawn upon the power of the Crystal, he's certain that many more would've perished upon that fateful night.

Still, Regis hasn't forgiven himself for losing that battle. While the war is long from lost, Regis can't help but feel as if he already has lost. With Niflheim continuing their foul experiments, there's no telling how this war will end. Nevertheless, Regis means to fight as long as he can. It's just a shame that his time is upon this earth is almost over.]

I know but sometimes it's just better to commit such thoughts into words.

[He whispers as he rests his chin upon his hand. He could feel the power of the Crystal pulsating through the ring even now. It's a foreboding feeling but one that Regis also finds oddly comforting.]

That's fine. Patience is a virtue I take quite seriously unlike my son.

[The King states with a soft chuckle.]

Besides, I'm enjoying your company.

Edited 2020-10-16 04:30 (UTC)

[ he leaves the sauce in the blender for now; turning instead to regard the kind as the Garula meat simmers in the pan. looking over the king in his nightclothes, resting his chin on his hand; it's kind of nice. almost domestic, in a way, that nyx hasn't felt in a very long time.

instead, he reaches out to get the board and knife, moving to clean them off as he laughs gently. ]

You might need to invest in better company, if I'm the highlight of the day.

[ but it's a high compliment and he basks in it, a little. the talk of noctis, though, has him perking up. ]

He might be impatient, but can you blame him? He's a good kid.

[ privately, nyx thinks noctis needles his father because they've been seeing less and less of them. he doesn't see the other as often when he has guard duty with one of them. ]

[The domestic nature of this rather auspicious hour goes unnoticed by the sleepy king. Regis lingers there at the table with a lopsided grin upon his lips as he admires Nyx. While he's quick to denounce any favoritism on his part when questioned about his Glaives, Nyx Ulric is indeed his favorite. He crossed paths with the man many times in the past, the first being the battle at Galahd and the second being his swearing into the Kingsglaive.

Those moments were fleeting at best but memorable since Nyx has a knack for making good impressions. However, it wasn't the Glaive's charm that caught his eyes but rather his tenacity in combat. If Nyx could fight this war himself, Regis wouldn't doubt he would. That's how passionate he is despite being a foreigner in a foreign land. It's admirable, to say the least.]

You do yourself a great injustice.

[He mutters in response to that better company statement. Regis has grown weary of dealing with diplomats as of late. It feels good not to have to be the "king" right now.]

I know he's a good kid but he's also good at plucking my nerves.

[He can't help but smile in affection when he thinks of his rowdy son. Noctis is a good boy but sometimes, he has his moments.]

Even so, I cherish those moments as well.

[Spoken like a true father.]

[ nyx shrugs half a shoulder with a sardonic smile when regis says he does himself a great injustice. he'd be pleased, if he knew he made such an impression. regis himself has more than earned nyx's respect, both for the battle and everything he's done.

he doesn't hold it against the king, what the other lucians think of the galahdian immigrants. everyone close to him - cor, clarus, the prince - have shared the same thoughts, that it isn't fair. and he knows if regis didn't play the game of politics, he'd be denounced as a tyrant. ]

I won't lie... what he gets up to sometimes gets around to the Glaives. Especially when you send one of us to clean up after him or catch him.

[ he grins. ]

But he's a good kid, as I said. He's got a good head on his shoulders, like his dad.

[ he gives regis a little wink before he turns to check on the meat that's simmering in the broth. ]

[There's no denying that Noctis is a good boy. None at all. If Aulea was still alive, she would surely agree. While Regis likes to think that Noctis takes the most after him, he sees the echos of the brave woman he married within their tenacious son. Noctis is a living embodiment of their love and of Aulea's will. While the prophecy and all of its ills loom over them both, Regis is grateful to have raised such a boy.]

Thank you. [He says with a bit of a smile upon his lips.] That means a lot to me.

[Once the meat starts to cook down within that simmering broth, Regis could feel his hunger awaken anew. He glances over at the pot curiously, his sleepy gaze a little more focused at the promise of food.]

That smells delicious.

[So says the nosy king who's now leaning over the stove to get a better look at it. Regis is like a hungry coeurl on the prowl. He used to pester Weskham like this whenever his friend would whip up something for Clarus and the others.]

[ nyx has one, critical weakness that he's somewhat aware of and tries not to let show. of all the galahdians, he has a soft spot for the lucis-caelums. he knows he owes regis his life; and he knows that regis does his best despite everything around him. that shows in noctis, of course. he would gladly lay his life down for either of them, because he knows regis would do so in return.

it's the reason it'll hurt, so much, to realize that regis saved noctis and no one else in the future, until he learns the reason why.

but because of that point, he loves the lucian royal family. in a distant way, as he only can. he's careful not to place them on a pedestal, tries to keep focus on his job... but he loves them, a different way than he loved selena, still willing to die for them.

doesn't mean when the king starts to poke his nose into what he's cooking that nyx doesn't laugh, reaching up to flick his shoulder gently. ]

It's still got a little while to go, but soon.

[ he asks regis to get him a measuring cup; once he has it, he pours most of the stock out of the pan into it. he adds the mixed sauce from the blender, some more coconut milk and, stirring it a bit and eyeing the consistency, a bit more of the stock, to make sure it sticks to the meat but not too much. then he finds the cover and puts it over the pan, to thicken. ]

I can make some rice, if you want, to go along with it.

[ but it'll work just fine on its own, too. ]

[Regis can't help but laugh when Nyx flicks him. He knows he's being a pest but honestly, he's hungry. Surely he can't fault him for wanting to try a small sample before it's done. At the mention of perhaps making some rice, Regis moves away from the stove and towards the cupboards again.]

I can make rice. [He states proudly as if to prove he has some sort of culinary skills.] Would jasmine rice go with it or basmati rice?

[The King questions as he sets the containers onto the counter. They also have wild rice and several other types but Regis doubts that they would go well with this spicy dish ]

It's the least I could do since you've already done all the hard work.

Edited 2020-10-18 20:44 (UTC)

[ he states it proudly and nyx.... nyx is just glad this works without rice, in case regis fucks it up somehow. but it shouldn't be too hard and he offers a smile, keeping the thought to himself. ]

Basmati is usually what's served with this.

[ it's gone with wild rice, too, but nyx knows that's a little complicated to cook. ]

That'll line up nicely, too - the curry should be done by the time the rice is. And it's not hard work at all, your majesty.

Then basmati it is.

[Have some faith in your king! Regis might not be a pro in the kitchen but he can easily make a pot of rice. Why? Well, they happen to own a rice cooker, okay? Yes, Regis is cheating here but listen, he doesn't want to spoil this midnight dinner of two. That's why he's actually measuring the amount of rice and water to use before setting the timer on the rice cooker. He's cheating but he's being smart about it.]

Come now, Nyx. [Regis grins at the Galadhian once he has done his part.] You're cooking curry for me in the dead of night. I think we can drop the formalities for now.

[He doesn't want Nyx to feel like he's obligated to keep calling him "your majesty" all the time.]

[ the rice cooker isn't cheating. in fact, it's rather re-assuring to see it, and nyx breathes a gentle sigh of relief internally. he watches the king measure out the water and the rice, a smile on his face.

the request to not call him 'majesty', however, does make him flail a bit internally. that's a lot of decorum to drop, even if it is the middle of the night and nyx has personally insulted the cook several times now. ]

... If you're sure, y - Regis.

[ it's hard not to call him that, and nyx fidgets with it, a bit, but manages to sub in the name, instead. ]

I'm sure, Nyx.

[He can't help but smile when Nyx fumbles a little. Of course, he knows this is an odd request but Regis is quite insistent about it. He doesn't want to be called "your majesty" during this dinner. In his opinion, it would spoil the mood somewhat since Nyx went through the troubling ordeal of cooking this wonderful meal.]

I know it's a bit selfish of me to ask this but---

[He lowers his gaze and focuses on the timer upon the rice cooker.]

I hardly get to hear my name anymore. At least not without my royal title.

[To be honest, he hasn't been "Regis" since he ascended the throne. While he doesn't take his royal title or sovereignty for granted, Regis still misses the good all day.]

[ he feels the familiar twist of anxiety, that he's disappointed regis in some way, when his gaze lowers to the cooker. but then, what he says cleaves a different kind of damage into the glaive's breast.

of course regis doesn't get to hear his name often anymore. that is reserved for his son and his son alone. lord amicitia, and the marshal, surely, may offer him his name in private, but they are bound by the same duty of respect in public that nyx is.

and how many dinners must the king have entertained where the guests are all important dignitaries, so he could not even enjoy noctis' calling him regis in peace - if noctis was even allowed to attend.

nyx looks to the pan of food, simmering away and thickening. ]

I suppose that's true... Regis.

[ he gives a small half smile to the pan. ]

I can't imagine not hearing my name often. Feels like Drautos is yelling it every chance he gets.

haven't you heard? i'm the hero.

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