#tragicheir

🕷 ⸻ no one could have predicted that this was the future he'd land himself in . perhaps maybe a conglomerate of his darkest fears & deepest anxieties . . . but peter liked to think he was better than that -- allowing all that he held dear to crumble at his feet -- not anymore . in clutching at straws , he'd neglected the very center of what he'd built with gwen , left it & her defenseless . like some shakespearan tragedy he'd failed to grasp in high school years , he'd let his hamartia overcome him .

𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞    𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬    𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧.

                𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞    𝐢𝐭    𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞.

A fond grin tugged at Regis’ lips and for a moment he almost sat there as if he was contemplating but he’d long since made his mind up.

🕷 ⸻ goblin's cackle booms off of clock tower walls -- mocks floods of tears & scrapes at his ears like harsh nails on a chalkboard . peter's face turns to stone , teeth clenched so tightly they're sure to turn to dust . he looks to the now lifeless form of his love in his arms , watches hot tears fall & form pools on her skin before swiping trail of blood from her nose with his thumb . he'll touch his forehead to hers for a final time as she's gingerly laid at his feet -- presses a kiss there .

To say Lunafreya was excited for the festival in Altissia was an understatement as the blonde had been giddy about it for weeks. She had practically begged Noctis to go with her but thankfully due to his own penchant for games it had been extremely easy to get him to agree to take her. His other friends had also grabbed tickets to the event but because she had overheard Noctis warning them not to interrupt his date with Luna she figured they wouldn’t be seeing much of them. Though, the Oracle somewhat secretly hoped they would cross paths as she always enjoyed their teasing of the King.

As her blue eyes took in everything they could she squeezed Noctis’ hand gently, turning to face him with a smile on her face. “Where to first?”  It seemed they had a lot to choose from with the many carnival games to play, the chocobo races, and the contests being boasted among many other things. They would have a busy day ahead of them!

“Lady Lunafreya, open your eyes and be welcomed to the world once more..”

☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ‘That voice. I know that voice.. Gentiana?’

At the voices beckoning, the Oracle began to stir, her eyelids fluttering open to reveal a swirl of muted colors before her, a combination of dull colors specked with reds and blues as her vision slowly adjusted itself to some semblance of normalcy. “W-where.. am.. I..?” Slowly she elevated herself, her movements delicate and precise. It was then that she realized she was still wearing her wedding gown, an elegant pool of ivory splashed against the marble floor beneath her. “Noc-Noctis?” Despite the fact that her vision had not quite adjusted yet she began to frantically look about, turning now so that she was resting upon her knees, her dress rustling loudly with her movements. “Noctis, where are you!?” He was not at her side and no whisper of him remained. What had happened?

It seemed as if only mere moments ago that she had been beside him, seated next to the throne as they relished in their first moment alone together in years. She had felt his warm hand upon her cheek, the feel of his lips brushing against her own and now it seemed as if it had been taken away, their wedding yet again ruined my some set of tragic circumstances. 

That’s when she began to realize she was in exactly the same place she had been with him mere minutes before, Insomnia’s throne room. Her blue gaze moved upwards and with tears in her eyes she found herself looking at an empty throne, nestled in a throng of flowers that seemed sad and empty without their bride and groom. The banner and array of flowers were arranged as they had been during their private moment but the disappearance of her groom made her fear the worst.

“W-what is happening? Please.. don’t let this all be a dream. I thought we were ready to ascend.. to reach our paradise. But has he gone on without me?” Fearing that in some way she had displeased the Gods she wondered if in some cruel twist of fate that she had been left behind, denied an ascension for the time being, or worse, forever. She suddenly felt very alone and seemed in an instant to truly and deeply understand what Ardyn had gone through all those years ago. “Would the Gods be so cruel to me? Gods.. if you can hear me, grant me an answer. Where is Noctis? And why am I here still? I was ready to ascend..” The tears freely poured down her face but when she began to truly take in the scene that’s when she began to notice what she should have seen from the very beginning; the sunlight. It was pouring in steadily through the wound in Insomnia’s walls, flooding the area with something the world had not seen in quite some time; the light.

“W-what is this..?” She reached a pale hand forward, placing it directly under the rays of light before her. The room, though scarred was awash in the light of a new day, just as it had been for their wedding. Certainly, if she had been denied ascension to paradise, the world outside would still be dark? How could a place so pleasant and peaceful deny her to reach a paradise even more pure? 

“Gentiana.., if you can hear my voice and can answer.. please help me to understand. Have I not ascended? Has Noctis moved onward without me? Am I to exist here alone?”

“No my dear Lunafreya, the two of you have suffered through so much all to better the world. Due to the purity of your hearts, and the selfless choices you have made, you been blessed with life anew. Together. You will find that the world you once left behind changed, for the better. Stand beside your King as you have always wished to do.” As Luna heard the words spoken the Glacian speaking them appeared before her, assuming the identity Luna most recognized, that of her messenger Gentiana. Unlacing her fingers, the raven haired woman gestured towards the other end of the throne room to a crumpled form that the Oracle had not noticed upon awaking.  “Noctis!” Dashing forward she found herself at his side in an instant, kneeling to cradle his head in her lap. Her hands moved to stroke his face gently and again she could feel the tears falling as she looked to her sleeping husband. “Noctis.. please, Noctis, open your eyes.. open your eyes for me..”