Hi! Saw your post abt requests for Noctluna stuff and I have this headcanon that Noctis and Regis gave Luna her necklace for her 16th bday and ascension as Oracle. Like a gift from the Caelum family that Noct passed along through the notebook. She was seen wearing it first at I believe 16 in Brotherhood and in the Luna clips there was a page with a circle that said 'gift for you' by Noct that Luna wrote in 'Thanks Noct!' If you could write that, it would be lovely :) thanks for your work so far!
Noctis sat on his bed with a heavy red leatherbound notebook set carefully on his lap. On the foot of his bed was a black and white dog, tail wagging as he patiently waited to see what Noctis said about when he might return it. Smiling to the dog, he patted the mattress beside him and beckoned softly, "Umbra..."
The dog moved up closer, and the young prince settled against him as he opened the notebook to see what his dear friend Lady Lunafreya had to say.
Dearest Noctis,I am so sorry to hear about the trouble you are still having in making friends at school. I do hope someone will take the time to get to know you as a person instead of as the Prince. You are so much more than your title.
Speaking of titles, I hope you don't mind if I air some of my own grievances? Gentiana has told me that it's time I take up the role of Oracle for true come my 16th birthday. I am glad, as it will give us some more peace here at Fenestala, and allow me some freedom as I go to answer prayers. I am anxious to do my duty. Even without the prayers sent to my heart yet, I still feel the pain of the people as the darkness encroaches.
But I worry I won't be enough. There is so so much darkness in this world right now, Noctis. I don't mean to burden you with that worry, I know it's already something you're told of enough. But now as my turn comes to fight against it, there is so much that I wish to do, I know I won't be able to do it all. I want to, though. Knowing that I can't hurts more than I can explain.
I do apologize for sending such a heavy letter this time. You're the only one who understands the pressure and knows I'm just a person trying to do this. And do it I will. But it is hard.
Stars willing, when it is your time to stand, I will be at your side to support you.
Do take care of yourself.
Affectionately yours truly,Lunafreya
Reading over the long letter, he pressed his lips together and ran fingers over the pages. Adorning the note were stickers, stars and moons, that he noticed had that certain green shine to them that meant they likely glowed in the dark. He carefully closed the notebook and looked up at the canopy that draped over his bed. His nose filled with the scent of leather as he hugged the treasure to his chest and thought things over. It was a heavy letter, but he was glad that Luna had wrote it. Not that she was in pain, of course, but that she felt comfortable enough with him to share her insecurities.
He did always worry when he shared, that maybe it made her feel less like she could, when he tried to do it as an invitation for her to open up as well. She seemed to finally understand, or perhaps she just needed him that much this time. Either way, he was lost in thought, trying to come up with some way to make her feel better, if he could. Her birthday was in just a week, and so there wasn't much time.
Opening up the notebook once more, he slowly flipped through the pages, and when he came back to the most recent letter, he finally got an idea. Sitting up quickly, he startled Umbra into barking softly. "Sorry, Umbra. Can you wait with me today? I want to try to send something out tonight, if my dad's free to take me into the city..."
Umbra bowed his head and sniffed Noctis' hand. Smiling to the dog, he patted him and scratched behind his ears. Crawling back until he slipped off the bed, Noctis then reached over and pulled down the covers for Umbra to snuggle down under them. He pulled them back up and set the notebook in the drawer on his nightstand. "Thanks, Umbra... I hope I can make her smile. You'll have to tell me if it worked, okay?"
Rather than having to deal with having an escort asking him questions, the boy slipped out his back window and down to the garden below. Slipping around most of the building behind cover of bushes until he came to the door he wanted, he walked in as if he had been simply enjoying the day, hands stuffed casually in his pockets. Trailing down the halls, he went towards his father's office, and was finally stopped. "Prince Noctis, is there something that you need?"
"...Is my father free?"
"He's in the middle of reading some legal documents... Ah, but I can see how it's coming."
Noctis just nodded and went to take a seat, assuming that he would do as he suggested. After a brief moment's hesitation at the curt behavior, he did just that. A few minutes later, Regis himself stepped out, looking down at his son with a warm smile, "Noctis, I'm surprised you came looking for me today. Is something up?"
"Mm...," shyly looking around, he was glad when it was understood that he would rather they have some privacy. Regis dismissed the other men who had exited with him, and once the small waiting room had been completely emptied save for father and son, Regis turned his attention back down expectantly. "Umbra came by today. Luna's gonna be named Oracle on her birthday."
"Oh? I know things must be a bit desperate in four years without, but she's still so young..."
"She can do the job. But... Even though she can, I think she's still afraid. I want to send her a gift."
Smiling at the notion, Regis nodded, "That sounds wonderful. What would you send?"
"It has to be small, so Umbra can carry it. A good luck charm, kinda like Carbuncle... I was thinking something with moons and stars, you know? It's like us. The Oracle, and the Kings of Lucis. Lights in the darkness. Right, Dad?"
Stung for a moment by how very apt that description was, and how deeply his son understood his role while still being completely ignorant of it at the same time... Regis mentally shook off the mixture of pain and pride and showed his son simply an encouraging and grateful smile. "You've thought this out. I'm sure she would absolutely love that. I think I can sneak away for a few hours. Let's go get Lady Lunafreya an ascension gift."
"Birthday gift," Noctis corrected, and Regis didn't understand why he was so firm about that, and so he opted just to agree.
The two all but snuck out of the palace, avoiding those that would pull Regis back to his duties. The little adventure alone had Noctis smiling happily for the first in a long time, enjoying such an open and obligation-free time with his father. Occasionally he would go quiet and somber though, as he thought about his friend's troubles and how far away she was, behind enemy lines. He dreamed of rescuing her one day, though he knew they were grandiose and foolhardy dreams, to simply march in and right back out with her, or to somehow take out the entirety of the empire's control.
But that was the thing about dreams, they didn't have to make sense. He was a kid, but he understood that. In real life, he would have to find a different way to rescue her, and that was something he still very much wanted to work towards.
They walked the streets, trying not to draw any attention to themselves, although that was hard with the two large men in uniform walking with them. Noctis was still trying to get used to his new guard and training instructor, Gladiolus Amicitia, although he was well enough used to the oversized teen's warmer father, Clarus. Perhaps not many would see the man that way, but Noct had long ago recognized that Clarus was a friend more than just a guard to his father, and that while he would always help to keep him walking the right line as king, he wasn't against little excursions like this if there was nothing critical to be seen to.
They searched inside different types of shops, and nothing seemed to quite fit Noctis's strict but undefined criteria. He just knew he'd know it when he saw it, and there wasn't much else that he could say to make the search any easier. It wasn't until everyone but Noctis was getting restless and talk of return was coming about frequently that something finally caught the prince's eye.
Looking through the jewelry store, he spotted a dainty necklace adorned with two silver stars and a crescent moon inlaid with a milky opal that glittered blue and pink in the case. The stars were intricately detailed, captive within a circle and resembling the flower pattern that was found in Lucian royal design. It was completely perfect, and he pointed it out to his father who winced but agreed. It couldn't be considered an official gift from Lucis so the cost was personal, but for the girl who was such a dear friend to his son and who had helped him to heal mentally and emotionally, any cost was worth it.
Pleased with the outcome, Noctis raced to his room the moment they returned to the Citadel. Umbra napped on his bed, though on the floor was a tray of food and water that he had clearly taken to already. Glad to know someone had seen to the Messenger, he picked up the notebook and went over to his desk to pen his reply. Reading over her letter once more, he thought things over before he answered.
Luna,I'm glad you told me how you're feeling. And I know you're going to be an amazing Oracle. Everyone knows it. You care too much, and that's your greatest strength and weakness. You will be such a well loved Oracle, I know you'll always find a way to do your work, no matter how they try to stop you. Just don't take it too hard when they win, or when you're too late. I know you'll blame yourself a little when it happens. Don't. This is you we're talking about. You'll never do anything less than your all.
Don't worry about me. I just wish I was older already so I could help more. When I get rid of the Darkness, you won't have to worry anymore, right?
I sent a gift along with Umbra. It's a birthday present, and a little good luck charm, okay? I can't be there to support you in person, so wear it and remember that I'm always rooting for you.
Good luck. And don't work yourself to death.Noctis
