[Oh, hm, yes, look at those locals approaching. Let's go before they suspect that this is also a kidnapping! It's not!! It's fine!!! Look how definitely fine it is with Vianca reaching for Noctis' hand as they go... somewhere. Energetically!
That part was really hard to miss. Vianca looked up at him curiously, not sure what to expect. Fishing? Did he find a fishing spot??]
Of course I came. [OF COURSE!!] What are we trying?
[One hand claimed by hers, he lifts the other to scratch at his cheek, leaning more into the nervous side of things than before now that he has to get it out in the open.]
I wanna try warping with another person. A friend of mine helped me figure something out...
[Yep, this is precisely why he picked Vianca for this. He grins and guides them more to the edge of the plaza, somewhat away from the prying eyes of the now-disinterested public, and crouches down in front of her, reaching out to take both her hands in his.]
Okay, um. I'm gonna see if I can figure this out. It might take some time, but I remember... most of it.
[He closes his eyes, brows furrowing.]
First... we have to make a connection. Like this, I guess?
[Vianca looked down at their joined hands. A physical connection? Or maybe deeper, more like the soft, unspoken conversations that grass types had with the life around them. The kind that Vianca wasn't sure if she should have had. Maybe. Maybe not.
But it was worth a try. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes like him, trying to gently... push her thoughts towards him? Entirely unsure of what she was actually attempting to do, her best guesses were along the lines of multiple little thoughts like 'Hello Noctis' and 'Here I am' while she gingerly squeezed his hands.]
[Sadly her thoughts go unheard, but the contact is encouraging enough that he relaxes and focuses inward, carefully thinking back to how he'd done this with Pyra last time. It had all become so instinctual by the end of it, and it had taken hours, but he can't do it like that now- he lacks the energy she'd fed into him, to make up for the drain that his magic had had on his body. But that's fine, right? Surely he can just... wing it. Somehow.
...right. First things first: he begins with the soft pulsing of magic, in time with his heartbeat. Blue, off. Blue, off. Again and again. With each pulse the feel of his hands on hers almost fades for a half-second before returning again, and if she happens to look up in that moment, she'll find he's become naught but a transparent blue, Noctis-shaped and glowing. Back, then gone again.
It lasts for perhaps a minute, as long as he can manage while still maintaining enough power left for a warp, before he lifts his head and squeezes her hands, then releases one. The glow hadn't spread to her body like it had with Pyra's, but maybe it's okay? He sure feels a connection, at least.]
[After a few patient moments, Vianca had definitely peeked. Just to make sure! She hadn't been missing any cues! It wasn't cues though, just this softly pulsing light show. Oh. Her eyes went very round in awe as she watched. She'd seen his warps, of course, but it was much different to see it this close and feel something there in her fingertips.
When he was there again, Vianca gazed at him with a very mystified nod.]
Okay.
[She held on as tight as her tiny hand would allow.]
[Okay. Okay! She said okay. Moment of truth. With their hands joined, he halfway winds his arm around her so she's tucked in close, because if this does work, he doesn't want her to get jerked too abruptly into it. His free hand stretches out to summon his sword, pulls back his arm, flings it, and immediately phases his body into a warp to follow the sword's path. What he hopes will happen is that her body will phase with him, transferring into a beautiful thread of blue light until they re-materialize together, hanging off the tower of the nearest building...!
...And what actually happens is that he phases right through her and - THUNK - dangles alone at his destination.
He looks down at his now-empty arm, then over his shoulder at her, still standing on the ground with his translucent after-image above her. He lifts an arm in a one-handed shrug, the universal sign of, "what the heck?"]
[She very much appreciated the careful tucking. She was already 100% on board, but it just made the whole thing that much safer feeling. It did, however, leave her feeling a little tingly when he ended up going through her rather than whisking her away.
She gasped at this sudden now you see him now you don't, wide blue eyes looking up at the ghost left behind before looking around for the real thing. Ah, there he was.
What the heck indeed. She blinked, following his motions with a double-handed shrug of her own. "I dunno."]
[It was more business as usual, with how this went back home- or any time he'd tried aside from that night with Pyra lending her power. He isn't about to give up with only one attempt, though.
He flings his sword in her direction (carefully off to the side, of course) and warps down, reaching back for her hand.]
Okay, just... I'll try again. Keep as still as possible, maybe...?
[There was a another little jump from her at the sword-- she wasn't entirely used to that just yet. Which was probably good for her overall health, honestly. She was quick to cross that small distance to him though, eagerly taking hold of his hand with a nod.]
[If she's holding her breath, it's a good thing he doesn't take as long on round two. We're doing speed run strats this time! His magic pulses fast and bright, focusing on her, on himself, on their joined hands, and before even half a minute has passed he calls back his sword and flings it, trying for a shorter distance to use up less energy. It lands with a thunk into the wall of a nearby house, and in an instant he too is there... alone, again. Of course.
He dismisses his sword and scuffs a hand through his hair, trudging back towards her, unable to help his discouraged expression. He'd been so hopeful, after it went so perfectly the other day.]
I don't get it... what else am I supposed to do? I know how it works, and how it feels... do I just not have enough power on my own?
[Ah, it was another stumble. Vianca frowned slightly, but it was more worry than anything else. He looked so down about it, but she didn't want him to give up. He'd been so excited..!
Vianca crossed her arms a bit, putting on a thinky face. He'd probably tried this lots of times back home already, so what was different about here?]
[She'd dodged the question when he asked directly, but she'd absolutely done something that meshed well with his powers.]
It's like she was funnelling energy into me, and when I tried to warp with her, it worked on the first shot. But if I can't do it without her power, then I'm just back to square one.
[He needs this to work anywhere, with anyone, or it's basically useless.]
I see, like an extra boost to show you how it goes when it is right...I guess it will just take more practice.
[Rhys had done something similar, when he was trying to show her the proper way to use staves. She knew how it had felt when it was going right, so she knew that all of her attempts after that had been missing... something.
For her, that had just been the innate ability to perform the act. If she'd had years more to practice, maybe she'd have gotten something, but time hadn't been on her side. It seemed like this was something Noctis should have been able to do, but just hadn't gotten there yet? Hm!
If only pocket pikmin battery packs was an actual thing, maybe this would have been going smoother.
...
... HM. ]
... Maybe you need to work your way up to people-sized people?
[His eyes widen after a moment as it clicks, and he lifts a hand to point at his pocket.]
You think?
[That thought honestly hadn't occurred to him, but actually, it makes a lot of sense. He's warped with frogs in his pocket before, and he'd never had to stop and think about how it would affect them or whether he could even do it. It just... happened.
Frogs are not people, and Vianca is whatever form she takes, but maybe the size would make a difference.]
[Well... the good news is, if he warps around her, she can fly and hopefully won't just fall. For a little thing like the Pikmin form, that must be a long drop, even if he isn't that tall.
Nodding quietly, he stands still and focuses again. When he warps, he brings his belongings with him- clothes, accessories, jewelry, anything in his pockets. They're extensions of his body, and therefore a part of him. For the moment, Vianca should be included in that. Not separate, but with him. His body pulses blue, and she should feel that pulse, too. A buzz of energy, light reflecting off a thousand tiny crystals and winking out again.
Calling his sword, he flings it, pulses, and pulls, his body phasing through reality and warping to where the blade strikes home.
And this time, the tiny Pikmin in his pocket is pulled right along with him, transformed in the span of a second into pure energy, rushing through time and space and suddenly existing once more. Exhilarating, frightening perhaps. A little nauseating. But once it's it's done he glances down at his pocket, eyes wide, to check for her.
[Luckily for everyone, there were no mouths with which to be sick with. Hooray! Even more luckily, she was right where he was hoping she would be.
The stem of her flower was straight up in surprise, quivering lightly as if it were discharging some extra energy. There had certainly been more coursing through her than she could have ever imagined. Was that what being made out of light felt like? After a moment her flower started to settle down, gently swaying down as Vianca's thoughts stopped buzzing at high velocities.
... Only for it to shoot back up again a second later as she whipped her head up to gawk at him with those big eyes and hum at him enthusiastically. It worked! Look! Here she is!!!]
[So, Noctis usually tries to be the "cool guy", with the cocky lopsided smile and calm eyes. He thinks it fools everyone, but success varies. Real smiles are more rare, though they are growing progressively more frequent since his arrival here, since he more or less escaped the steady stream of awful going on back home.
The grin he gives her in this moment, looking down and seeing her chirping from his pocket, is huge and a bit goofy and probably the most genuine, unreserved smile he's ever given her. His eyes are bright and gleaming, absolutely dazzled by the idea of- of something so simple as success.]
[Vianca bobbed her head excitedly, flower dancing all around. She did!! And look how radiant it made him. She'd seen him smile before, and that had been very nice, but this was on a whole other level of special. She was just going to tuck that away, thank you. Even if she couldn't do much else, she had at least helped with That.
She held up her itsy bitsy hands towards him and gave them a little push motion.
[Heck yeah it is! His free hand lifts without hesitation to bump it lightly up against hers, letting her do most of the lean-in so he doesn't accidentally send her flying backwards. He then dismisses his sword and lets them drop back to the ground off the wall, still very much blown away.]
That's... so cool. I can't believe it. [He's gotta tell Pyra later. ...Oh, but first-] Wanna go again?
[He's got plenty of magic left, no reason why he can't give her a proper ride.]
[Pap-pap and away we goooo. Vianca held on to his pocket cup as they dropped, her flower floating up like they were on a power-drop ride. whoooOOOOO--!!
Vianca wasn't exactly what one would call a 'thrill-seeker' in any way. There was something to be said for thrills that could happen from the safety of a luxury pocket though, and even more for the opportunity to Help. This was a helpful thing, right? They were building confidence and practicing! Very important things to do. And also, that had been... fun.
So his question was met with another positive nod and a squeak. Yes!]
[Hell yeah. With a big grin and another flash of blue light, he flings his blade- and whoosh, off they go. He's gonna take her on a wild romp all the way around the plaza, rooftop to rooftop, until they get dizzy or he runs out of magic.
It was an extremely exciting time, and very fun, but very much not a sensation was used to. Eventually she had to concede before it started being not fun anymore, reaching up to pat at Noctis' chest. Were there comical swirls in her eyes when he looked down? No, maybe it was just easy to imagine those, but her head was bobbling around in a dizzy little circle.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-04 01:54 am (UTC)That part was really hard to miss. Vianca looked up at him curiously, not sure what to expect. Fishing? Did he find a fishing spot??]
Of course I came. [OF COURSE!!] What are we trying?
no subject
Date: 2019-12-04 02:34 am (UTC)[One hand claimed by hers, he lifts the other to scratch at his cheek, leaning more into the nervous side of things than before now that he has to get it out in the open.]
I wanna try warping with another person. A friend of mine helped me figure something out...
no subject
Date: 2019-12-04 02:57 am (UTC)I would like to try!
no subject
Date: 2019-12-04 04:23 am (UTC)Okay, um. I'm gonna see if I can figure this out. It might take some time, but I remember... most of it.
[He closes his eyes, brows furrowing.]
First... we have to make a connection. Like this, I guess?
no subject
Date: 2019-12-04 11:46 pm (UTC)[Vianca looked down at their joined hands. A physical connection? Or maybe deeper, more like the soft, unspoken conversations that grass types had with the life around them. The kind that Vianca wasn't sure if she should have had. Maybe. Maybe not.
But it was worth a try. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes like him, trying to gently... push her thoughts towards him? Entirely unsure of what she was actually attempting to do, her best guesses were along the lines of multiple little thoughts like 'Hello Noctis' and 'Here I am' while she gingerly squeezed his hands.]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-05 05:30 am (UTC)...right. First things first: he begins with the soft pulsing of magic, in time with his heartbeat. Blue, off. Blue, off. Again and again. With each pulse the feel of his hands on hers almost fades for a half-second before returning again, and if she happens to look up in that moment, she'll find he's become naught but a transparent blue, Noctis-shaped and glowing. Back, then gone again.
It lasts for perhaps a minute, as long as he can manage while still maintaining enough power left for a warp, before he lifts his head and squeezes her hands, then releases one. The glow hadn't spread to her body like it had with Pyra's, but maybe it's okay? He sure feels a connection, at least.]
Okay... hold on tight.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-06 05:40 am (UTC)When he was there again, Vianca gazed at him with a very mystified nod.]
Okay.
[She held on as tight as her tiny hand would allow.]
I trust you.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-06 06:39 am (UTC)...And what actually happens is that he phases right through her and - THUNK - dangles alone at his destination.
He looks down at his now-empty arm, then over his shoulder at her, still standing on the ground with his translucent after-image above her. He lifts an arm in a one-handed shrug, the universal sign of, "what the heck?"]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-07 12:34 am (UTC)She gasped at this sudden now you see him now you don't, wide blue eyes looking up at the ghost left behind before looking around for the real thing. Ah, there he was.
What the heck indeed. She blinked, following his motions with a double-handed shrug of her own. "I dunno."]
Almost? [She called over.]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-07 01:56 pm (UTC)[It was more business as usual, with how this went back home- or any time he'd tried aside from that night with Pyra lending her power. He isn't about to give up with only one attempt, though.
He flings his sword in her direction (carefully off to the side, of course) and warps down, reaching back for her hand.]
Okay, just... I'll try again. Keep as still as possible, maybe...?
no subject
Date: 2019-12-07 08:42 pm (UTC)Alright. I will be very still.
[She'll even hold her breath!]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 05:21 am (UTC)He dismisses his sword and scuffs a hand through his hair, trudging back towards her, unable to help his discouraged expression. He'd been so hopeful, after it went so perfectly the other day.]
I don't get it... what else am I supposed to do? I know how it works, and how it feels... do I just not have enough power on my own?
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 05:44 am (UTC)Vianca crossed her arms a bit, putting on a thinky face. He'd probably tried this lots of times back home already, so what was different about here?]
Did your friend have magic too?
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 06:31 am (UTC)[She'd dodged the question when he asked directly, but she'd absolutely done something that meshed well with his powers.]
It's like she was funnelling energy into me, and when I tried to warp with her, it worked on the first shot. But if I can't do it without her power, then I'm just back to square one.
[He needs this to work anywhere, with anyone, or it's basically useless.]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 06:41 am (UTC)[Rhys had done something similar, when he was trying to show her the proper way to use staves. She knew how it had felt when it was going right, so she knew that all of her attempts after that had been missing... something.
For her, that had just been the innate ability to perform the act. If she'd had years more to practice, maybe she'd have gotten something, but time hadn't been on her side. It seemed like this was something Noctis should have been able to do, but just hadn't gotten there yet? Hm!
If only pocket pikmin battery packs was an actual thing, maybe this would have been going smoother.
...
... HM. ]
... Maybe you need to work your way up to people-sized people?
no subject
Date: 2019-12-09 05:11 am (UTC)[His eyes widen after a moment as it clicks, and he lifts a hand to point at his pocket.]
You think?
[That thought honestly hadn't occurred to him, but actually, it makes a lot of sense. He's warped with frogs in his pocket before, and he'd never had to stop and think about how it would affect them or whether he could even do it. It just... happened.
Frogs are not people, and Vianca is whatever form she takes, but maybe the size would make a difference.]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-09 06:15 am (UTC)We should try.
[Maybe it was size. Maybe he was just thinking too hard. This was an option available to him though, and Vianca was gonna make sure he took it!]
I will be okay.
[With that assurance, Vianca left him no room to say no. She'd already shifted, buzzing her way into his pocket. Let's go!]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-11 02:53 am (UTC)Nodding quietly, he stands still and focuses again. When he warps, he brings his belongings with him- clothes, accessories, jewelry, anything in his pockets. They're extensions of his body, and therefore a part of him. For the moment, Vianca should be included in that. Not separate, but with him. His body pulses blue, and she should feel that pulse, too. A buzz of energy, light reflecting off a thousand tiny crystals and winking out again.
Calling his sword, he flings it, pulses, and pulls, his body phasing through reality and warping to where the blade strikes home.
And this time, the tiny Pikmin in his pocket is pulled right along with him, transformed in the span of a second into pure energy, rushing through time and space and suddenly existing once more. Exhilarating, frightening perhaps. A little nauseating. But once it's it's done he glances down at his pocket, eyes wide, to check for her.
It worked...?]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-13 01:59 am (UTC)The stem of her flower was straight up in surprise, quivering lightly as if it were discharging some extra energy. There had certainly been more coursing through her than she could have ever imagined. Was that what being made out of light felt like? After a moment her flower started to settle down, gently swaying down as Vianca's thoughts stopped buzzing at high velocities.
... Only for it to shoot back up again a second later as she whipped her head up to gawk at him with those big eyes and hum at him enthusiastically. It worked! Look! Here she is!!!]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-13 09:57 pm (UTC)The grin he gives her in this moment, looking down and seeing her chirping from his pocket, is huge and a bit goofy and probably the most genuine, unreserved smile he's ever given her. His eyes are bright and gleaming, absolutely dazzled by the idea of- of something so simple as success.]
It worked... it worked...! You came with me!
no subject
Date: 2019-12-14 12:27 am (UTC)She held up her itsy bitsy hands towards him and gave them a little push motion.
This was a high-five time, yes? Yes???]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-14 04:22 am (UTC)That's... so cool. I can't believe it. [He's gotta tell Pyra later. ...Oh, but first-] Wanna go again?
[He's got plenty of magic left, no reason why he can't give her a proper ride.]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-14 07:18 pm (UTC)Vianca wasn't exactly what one would call a 'thrill-seeker' in any way. There was something to be said for thrills that could happen from the safety of a luxury pocket though, and even more for the opportunity to Help. This was a helpful thing, right? They were building confidence and practicing! Very important things to do. And also, that had been... fun.
So his question was met with another positive nod and a squeak. Yes!]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-15 03:57 am (UTC)Soooo worth it.]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-16 01:42 am (UTC)It was an extremely exciting time, and very fun, but very much not a sensation was used to. Eventually she had to concede before it started being not fun anymore, reaching up to pat at Noctis' chest. Were there comical swirls in her eyes when he looked down? No, maybe it was just easy to imagine those, but her head was bobbling around in a dizzy little circle.
Breaktime? Breaktime.]
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: