#;;stellar constellations rise; lighting my way in the night: general

[astrogeoguy]

A Moonless Week for Orion’s Treats, and Stellar Diamonds for V-Day!

(Above: For your Valentine - the gorgeoous Heart Nebula in Cassiopeia as imaged by Ron Brecher of Guelph, Ontario. Link: astrodoc.ca/ic1805/) 

Astronomy Skylights for this week (from February 4th, 2018) by Chris Vaughan. (Feel free to pass this along to friends and send me your comments, questions, and suggested topics.) I post these with photos at http://astrogeoguy.tumblr.com/ where the old editions are archived. You can also follow me on Twitter as @astrogeoguy! Unless otherwise noted, all times are Eastern Time. Please click this MailChimp link to subscribe to these emails. If you are a teacher or group leader interested joining me on a guided field trip to York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory, or another in your area, visit www.astrogeo.ca.

My latest column for Space.com elaborates on last week’s information about watching the obvious brightness variation in Algol, the Demon Star. You can find it here. 

Public Events

Taking advantage of dark moonless evening skies this week, the members of the RASC Toronto Centre will gather for dark sky stargazing at Glen Major Forest, northeast of Claremont on (only) the first clear evening from Monday to Thursday this week. You don’t need to be an RASC member, or own any equipment, to join them. Check here for details and watch the banner on their homepage or their Facebook page for the GO or NO-GO decision around 5 pm each day. 

On Monday evenings, York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory runs an online star party - broadcasting views from four telescopes/cameras, answering viewer questions, and taking requests! Details are here. On Wednesday evenings after dark, they offer free public viewing through their telescopes. If it’s cloudy, the astronomers give tours and presentations. Details are here. 

On Tuesday, February 13, starting at 7 pm, the U of T AstroTour presents a planetarium show entitled Our Musical Universe. Tickets and details are here. 

On Friday, February 16 starting at 7 pm, the U of T AstroTour presents a planetarium show entitled The Life and Death of Stars. Tickets and details are here. 

The Women in Planetary Science and Exploration Conference, WPSE2018, will be held on Saturday and Sunday, February 17-18, at the Bahen Centre, U of T. Lots of amazing woman planetary scientists are presenting. Registration and details are here. 

Zodiacal light

For about half an hour after dusk during the two week period between now and the new moon on February 15, look west-southwest for a broad wedge of faint light rising from the horizon and centered on the ecliptic. This is the zodiacal light - reflected sunlight from interplanetary particles of matter concentrated in the plane of the solar system. Try to observe from a location without light pollution, and don't confuse the zodiacal light with the brighter Milky Way to the northwest.

(Above: The February evening zodiacal light rises from the western horizon (at left). The Milky Way is off to the right. This image was taken last week by Fred Espenak.) 

Orion’s Treats

This is a perfect week to grab the binoculars and check out Orion’s (the Hunter) majestic sword, one of winter’s true astronomical treats. The sword hangs well below Orion’s distinctive three-starred belt. Unaided eyes can generally detect three patches of light in Orion’s sword, but binoculars or a telescope quickly reveal that the middle object is not a star at all, but a bright knot of glowing gas and stars known as The Orion Nebula (or the Great Nebula in Orion or Messier 42, aka M42).

(Above: To the naked eye, Orion’s sword looks like three stars, but there’s much more to it! The Orion Nebula (M42) and Messier 43 form the centre of the sword, along with the Running Man Nebula at the top of the frame, and stars below. All are revealed in this widefield long exposure image by Manuel Guerrero of Toronto, Canada)

The Orion Nebula is one of the brightest nebulae in the entire night sky and, at 1,400 light-years from Earth, it is one of the closest star-forming nurseries to us. It’s enormous. Under a very dark sky, the nebula can be traced over an area equivalent to four full moons! 

Buried in the core of the nebula is a tight clump of stars collectively designated Theta Orionis (Orionis is Latin for “of Orion”), but better known as The Trapezium, because the brightest four stars occupy the corners of a trapezoid shape. Even a small telescope should be able to pick out this four-star asterism, but good seeing conditions and a larger aperture scope will show another two faint stars. The trapezium stars are hot young O- and B-type stars that are emitting intense amounts of ultraviolet radiation. The radiation causes the gas they are embedded in to shine brightly, by both reflecting off gas and dust as blue light and also by energizing Hydrogen gas, which is re-emitted as red light. That is why there is so much purple in colour images of the nebula. 

Within the nebula, astronomers have also detected many young (about 100,000 years old) concentrations of collapsing gas called proplyds that should one day form future solar systems. These objects give us a glimpse into how our sun and planets formed. 

Stargazers have long known about the stars in the nebula’s core, but detection of the nebulosity around them required the invention of telescopes in the early 1600’s. In the 1700’s, Charles Messier and Edmund Halley (both famous comet observers) noted the object in their growing catalogues of “fuzzy” objects. In 1880, Henry Draper imaged it through an 11-inch refractor telescope, making it the first deep sky object to be photographed. 

In your own small telescope, you should see the bright clump of Trapezium stars surrounded by a ghostly grey shroud, complete with bright veils and dark gaps. More photons would need to be delivered to your eye before colour would be observed, so try photographing it through your telescope or with a camera/telephoto lens on a tripod. Visually, start with low magnification and enjoy the extent of the cloud before zooming in on the tight asterism. Can you see four stars, or more? Just to the upper left of M42, you’ll find M43, a separate lobe of the nebula. It surrounds the unaided-eye star nu Orionis (ν Ori). 

While you’re touring the sword, look just below the nebula for a loose group of stars, 1300 light-years away, called Nair al Saif “the Bright One of the Sword”. This main star is a hot, bright star expected to explode in a supernova one day. It is surrounded by faint nebulosity, too. Astronomers believe that this star was gravitationally kicked out of the Trapezium cluster about 2.5 million years ago.

(Above: The sword below Orion’s famous belt (at top) contains the wonderful Orion Nebula and many other binocular and telescopic treats.)  

Sweeping down the sword and to the left (east) brings us to the star named Mizan Batil ath Thaalith (and d Orionis) at the tip of the sword . This magnitude 4.7 star is near the limit for visibility in moonless suburban skies. About two finger widths to its right is another star of similar brightness, named Thabit, "the endurer". 

Moving upwards towards Orion’s belt, half a finger width (30 arc-minutes, or the moon’s diameter) above the Orion Nebula, you’ll find another clump of stars dominated by c Orionis and 45 Orionis. A larger telescope, or a long-exposure photograph, reveals a bluish patch of nebulosity around them that contains darker lanes forming the shape of a figure, called the Running Man Nebula. This is another case of gas reflecting light from the two stars mentioned.

(Above:  The Running Man Nebula in Orion’s Sword, taken by Dave Eisfeldt of Waco, Texas on Oct 26, 2011. http://eldoradostarparty.org/ngc-1977-running-man-nebula-taken-by-dave-eisfeldt-of-waco-texas/)  

Just above the Running Man sits a loose cluster of a few dozen stars best seen in binoculars. Then we jump higher – most of the way towards Alnitak (the eastern-most belt star), to check out a beautiful little grouping of stars collectively called Sigma (σ) Orionis. What makes this a special treat is that, in a small telescope, we find four or five stars crammed together. Check it out with your telescope – trust me, it’s pretty! It’s a bit more than a finger width to the lower right of Alnitak. Let me know what you see! 

Valentine’s Day Diamonds

A beautiful diamond sparkles in the southern sky during winter evenings. It’s Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation of Canis Major (the Big Dog). The constellation is located to the lower left (southeast) of Orion (the Hunter). In fact, his three-starred belt points directly towards Sirius! Another dog, Canis Minor (the Little Dog) sits three fist diameters to the left of Orion. It, too, has a bright star, named Procyon. The two dogs are assisting Orion in his hunt. (There is actually a dim constellation called Monoceros (the Unicorn) sitting between the two dogs, but its faint stars are barely visible from the city.)

(Above: Orion’s two canine companions, Canis Major (lower centre) and Canis Minor (beyond the Unicorn at left), pursue Lepus the rabbit across the winter evening sky. The bright stars Sirius and Procyon are fairly close to Earth, and dominate their respective constellations. Sky is shown for 8 pm local time in mid-February.)

The big dog sits lower in the sky and is oriented so that he looks like he’s standing up on his hind legs, begging Orion for a treat. Sirius marks the location of his throat – perhaps it’s a diamond dogtag! Sirius is the brightest star in the heavens (other than our sun) and its name means “scorching” in Greek. Some people call Sirius the “Dog Star”, and J. K. Rowling used its name for Harry Potter’s uncle, the animagus. Its brilliance is mostly due to its proximity to us. At only 8.7 light-years away, it is among the closest stars to Earth. 

Sirius is famous for dramatic flashes of sparkling colour. Visible with unaided eyes, the colours are enhanced in binoculars or a telescope. They come from an excessive amount of twinkling due to the star’s low elevation in the sky combined with its brightness. The light from stars lower in the sky is passing through more of our atmosphere to reach us. Sirius itself is fairly ordinary. It is a few times the mass of our Sun and has a surface temperature of about 9,900° giving it a bluish colour. It is also moving towards us at about 27,000 km per hour. Fast, but don’t stand around waiting for it to arrive! 

A very good telescope and a steady atmosphere can reveal Sirius’ tiny white dwarf companion star, officially named Sirius B. Astronomers have nick-named it “The Pup”, but I prefer “The Flea”. The Flea may be small but it’s mighty! Its temperature is about 25,000°!

(Above: A Hubble Space Telescope image of Sirius. Its tiny companion star Sirius B, aka The Pup, is the tiny dot at lower left.) 

Procyon is another neighbour – only 11.5 light-years away from Earth - making it the eighth brightest star in the heavens. Its name comes from the Greek προκύον (prokyon), meaning "before the dog", because it rises before Sirius. It’s comparable in size to Sirius, but is slightly warmer in colour. 

Take your Valentine outside on the next clear evening and show them these celestial diamonds! 

The Moon and Planets

The moon spends this week largely absent from the evening sky. On Monday and Tuesday, you might glimpse its slim old crescent low in the western sky just before sunrise. Mid-week, the moon disappears beside the sun – reaching its new moon phase on Thursday afternoon. This new moon will also generate a partial solar eclipse that is only visible from the daylit portions of Antarctica (about 2/3 of the continent) and southern South America. 

On Friday, the slim young crescent moon will return to the evening sky, visible low over the western horizon for a short time after sunset. On the weekend the moon’s “Cheshire Cat’s smile” will hang prettily in the western early evening sky. 

(Above: Venus starts a long climb away form the sun in the western evening sky this week. On Friday, the young crescent moon will sit 2 degrees to Venus’ upper left. The sky is shown at 6:15 pm local time.)

Towards the end of this week, you can start looking for bright Venus very low over the western horizon for half an hour after sunset. The best chance to see it falls between about 6 and 6:30 pm local time. On Friday, the very young crescent moon will sit only two finger widths to the upper left of our sister planet. Venus is just beginning a long stay in the evening sky that will kick into high gear this spring.

The rest of the bright planets are still hanging out in the eastern pre-dawn sky. Extremely bright Jupiter rises first, shortly after 1 am local time, so it reaches an elevation of about three fist diameters above the southern horizon by sunrise. You can’t miss it. Dimmer, reddish Mars is sitting about two fist diameters to the lower left of Jupiter this week, but it’s slowly moving downwards towards Saturn. Those two planets rise about 2:45 am and 4:30 am local time respectively.

(Above: The southeastern pre-dawn sky features very bright Jupiter, then dimmer reddish Mars, and finally medium-bright yellowish Saturn. Mars is above its stellar twin the bright star Antares in Scorpius.The sky is shown for 5:30 am local time, but Jupiter will be visible until sunrise.) 

Asteroid/minor planet fans can hunt down Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres this week. Vesta is located only 5.5° (a palm’s width) to the upper left of Mars. Brighter Ceres is in Cancer (the Crab) in the eastern evening sky. Since the stars of Cancer are so dim, look for Ceres roughly midway between the bright stars Algenubi, which is the nose of Leo (the Lion) and Pollux, the lower of the twin stars in Gemini. Ceres remains visible all night long. You’ll need binoculars or small telescopes to see these two objects.

(Above: The dwarf planet (formerly asteroid) Ceres is conveniently located in the evening sky in Cancer this month, between the head of Leo (at bottom) and the twins of Gemini. Sky shown is for 8 pm local time.)

Keep looking up to enjoy the sky! I love getting questions so, if you have any, send me a note.

[randywalkerwriting]

The Aerie of the Verdigris Chain

Our group, eager to make forward progress, look for a way around the collapsed tunnel. Nokri suggests that there may still be an alternative maintenance shaft on the aqueduct level, above the collapsed viaduct they are currently standing upon.

Their way impeded by a rusty, locked door, the party attempts a robust cavalcade of lockpicking attempts and magical mending. This succeeds in unlocking the door, but the hinges, rusted and warped under the wet weight of time, give way in the opening, and the door crashes to the floor with a resounding clang.

This rouses a sleeping inhabitant from deeper within the tunnels, who makes his presence known: he is Grognar, a goliath from further north in the Dusty Mountain Range. Assessing one another as non-threats, they opt to continue as one unit.

Nokri finds a shaft on the upper level, and leads the group out into the open air at a much higher elevation upon the peaks, stopping atop a particularly flat section of rock to take a short rest. Assuring the group that they are not far, she also reiterates that their visit to the aerie might be a tad tense or awkward. Her sister, Sidur, would have returned here with the egg-shaped reliquary by now, and Nokri expresses her ongoing anxiety and trepidation about this reunion. She reminds the group that it's been about 20 years since they've seen each other, 20 years since the day she and Sidur had their life-changing spat, wherein Sidur broke Nokri's nose and gave her that crooked tooth and lopsided smile, and after which Sidur left the aerie for good.

Trying to add some levity to the conversation, Nokri then adds, "As for the rest of us, my best social advice would be: if a copper dragonborn tells you a joke, only laugh if you think it's funny. They will be able to tell."

As the afternoon grows long, and the sun begins to set across the golden sands to the west, the group presses onward in the direction of the aerie, which Nokri asserts is about a half-hour's walk away. Still unsure about his new companions and the situation in general, Grognar opts to remain behind on the flat and spend the night there.

Making their way around one of the last curves in the path, the group finally sets eyes on the aerie: what broadly appears to be a large mountain peak that has been sheared off at the top is further distinguished by the turrets of stone ringing the outer edge, giving the geography the look of a grasping claw. Within this parapetted ring, buildings gather together around the outer edge and also in the center, rising up in a loose spiral of smooth-stone architecture. Smaller structures dot the mountain, as well, outside of the ringed top. Notably, some of these structures don't have any visible means of on-foot ingress, and just sit barnacled to the side of the peak.

Immediately entering town, the group notices a large copper statue of a dragonborn displaying an open-handed gesture, and at its feet lay a small pile of what appear to be copper pieces, glittering in the light of the afternoon sun. Nokri breaks from the group to skip forward briskly, fidgeting with her jawline. As she reaches the statue, she gives a hard yank, and removes one of her scales with a soft whine, placing it among the others at the statue's base.

She stands upright, quickly and subtly mimics the statue's gesture, clears her throat, and turns to the group. "So, uh, this is...this is Zeanok. He looked different in real life."

The group make their way to Nokri's home, passing by crowds of eager-looking dragonborn, anxious at both the opportunity to impress new guests with stunning conversation, and in awe of the task they were purported to be undertaking. In addition, some of the party members saw what they could swear looked like kobolds interspersed throughout the crowd. Eventually finding themselves in front of one of the more humble buildings in the town, Nokri places her hand on the handle, looks back at the group, sighs, and pushes the door open.

The home is small, with three small rooms: a washroom, a room with a small old-looking bed next to a fireplace that must double as a stove and a furnace, and the main living quarters, which contained several storage containers, some oblong irregularities in the walls' stonework that could function as seating, some chairs that could also function as seating, and a table. Set upon this table was a steaming mug of tea, and clutching this mug, far too big for this table, or these chairs, or this home, is Sidur.

"Hey, Nox." says the once-ebullient warrior in the meekest, softest manner the group had ever seen from her.

"Hey, Seed." Nokri replies flatly.

This exchange is followed by a tense few minutes of terse sentences, an acknowledgement of the tasks at hand, and culminates in Nokri inviting everyone to use her home—such as it is—to spend the night. She then admonishes Sidur to, for once in her heedless scalebound life, stay in one place for more than 5 minutes and do what she asks of her: safeguard the reliquary while the group journeys to the House of Dust and Shadow.

Prosper makes preparations to perform a Sending to Grognar to inform him of the situation, but opts to walk instead, inviting Sidur to accompany her on the way. Sidur, quite clearly wounded and humbled by such censure coming from her kid sister, accepts the offer over-eagerly, anxious to get some air and for someone to talk to.

The group makes preparations for setting out in the morning, while the sun dips further into the sands of the Giants' Desolation to the west, and purple twilight falls upon the peaks. Lights in the various abodes begin to flicker to life, and soon the aerie—to the unfocused eye—takes on the appearance of a small, self-contained celestial sphere fit with constellations of its very own, a smoothstone orrery of stellar travelers caught in a moment.

[ultimatesting]

tagtesting

[lunarbranded]

★★ || @vaciiviity

Prompto looked as though Noctis had stabbed him in the heart and he didn't know what to say about it. Was there anything that could repair it now? No. He didn't believe so. It reminded him of the lesson Ignis had given him, about punching holes in wood and trying to repair it. The wood would never be the same and now that he'd used words as a nail against Prompto, it was likely their relationship wouldn't either.

He sat on the couch with a blank look, dull blue eyes staring at the space between atoms rather than anything in the room. That didn't mean that he hadn't seen the question asked of him but he also didn't want to answer it. Of course, Noctis had always known that his duty would overtake anything else in his life but this... his heart had hoped that he could at least have his own choices. Perhaps in another life, he could do that.

His throat was tight and raw enough that Noctis couldn't answer but with his hands.

[[ I hoped you wouldn't ask but I knew you would anyway. ]] He hesitated and closed his eyes for a moment before taking a deeper breath. Noctis needed to center himself for this conversation and he knew it but that didn't make it any easier. [[ We can't continue. ]]

Just getting the information out made his heart hurt. Noctis wanted to go in his room and go to sleep because anything was better than being conscious right then. He was hurting Prompto. [[ My father finally did what I hoped he wouldn't. ]]

He couldn't speak. The television buzzed to life and he turned on one of the twenty-four hour news channels to speak for him. Of course, the fucking story was running, it was breaking news. The woman was in the studio with the backdrop of the Citadel behind her, an aerial view, on a crystal clear day.

"...nd today, the Citadel has finally released the information that we've all been waiting for. The announcement came earlier this morning around noon and more information will follow. We've just learned that Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum is to wed Princess Lunafreya Nox Fleuret of Tenebrae. The event is to be held soon after the signing of a peace treaty with Niflheim."

She went on to talk about the Oracle's achievements and public appearances, painting Luna in the beautiful light that she deserved. He liked hearing the woman talk about her like that, Luna needed that kind of positivity, but he didn't love her in that fashion. He loved Prompto and there, resting in his bedside table, had been a small token that would have proven it if he ever had the chance. Now, however, he likely never would.

All because of duty. His father. That cage was closing on him quickly and he wanted nothing more than to slip out. Among the despair, anger was slowly rising and he could feel it coming close to his chest. If he allowed it to swallow him whole, he'd destroy that entire apartment.

[[ Now you know. I'm sorry, Prompto. The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt you. ]]

Blue eyes filled with tears but he couldn't tell if they were out of anger or pain for the other. Of all the things... he just hoped that Prompto wouldn't be there to see him lose himself in destroying his home. That was the last thing he could choose for himself and if it hurt, then so be it. He wanted it to.

Teeth clicked shut and his jaw tensed with how hard he was grinding his teeth, trying to keep everything inside. [[ Dad said it'll be held in a few months. He fully expects it to go on without complaint from me because it's my duty. Because I have to. With what it's attached to, it could mean that Niflheim will leave Lucis alone or it could mean that our kingdom will fall. We don't know yet, but I don't think we should trust them. Dad, he... has a lot of faith in this. ]]

He shook his head and held up one finger as he started for his bedroom. That velvet box was in his hand in seconds and he stared at it. Sapphire laid in silver with diamonds surrounding them, engraved with a quote - Noctis's held the same. Acta non verba. Seemed terrifyingly appropriate for the moment.

On one hand, he debated giving it to Prompto. Their time was over in the eyes of the government and they'd never gotten to make things as public as he'd hoped. In fact, he didn't think anyone other than Ignis and Gladio had known about them but... he wouldn't bank on that. He turned and came back to the living room to press the ring into Prompto's palm and kiss him, his head going straight to Prompto's shoulder before stepping back.

[[ Was planning on asking you on your birthday. I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner. ]]

[lunarbranded]

★ ★ || @chainedloyalty (Ignis)

Can't because he's the prince. Right, title before all else. Noctis pretended he didn't hear it because he couldn't afford to go through the day thinking like that. He let himself be held at arm's length and frowned, trying to keep himself as quiet as possible.

He frowned and took a seat at the kitchen table, leaned forward onto his elbows, and put his hands together. Noctis turned his face away.

"It's something you do to show affection to someone you love, isn't it? So why wouldn't I be doing that to you?" Oh, he wasn't stupid. Noctis had learned about this from Prompto of all people and he believed that yes, this should have been fine.

Noctis finally turned his head and regarded Ignis with an unreadable gaze. "Or is this not acceptable because of my title?" His tone indicated that the answer to that question would set the course for the rest of their evening. It wasn't that he was trying to start a fight but... Noctis didn't want to be treated as being only a title.

[lunarbranded]

★ ★ || @zankouu

Being away from the others was difficult enough but knowing that he'd helped contribute to this... That was worse. He didn't know where Ignis, Gladio, or Prompto were and he couldn't begin to guess. But he had Sasuke with him.

He couldn't help the way he stomped around, in fact, he wasn't entirely aware of it.

Hands were on him, spinning him, and then.. so carefully, a pair of lips were on his own. Dazed and a little confused, he blinked dumbly up at Sasuke, all his thoughts having been chased out of his head.

"I-yeah," he muttered. "I mean, that was amazing and really sudden but it was nice. Really nice." He brought one hand up to his lips and touched them as if he didn't quite understand what was happening. "Why'd you kiss me? Not complaining, I'm just confused."

[lunarbranded]

post - trauma sentence starters || Meme

What else could he do? Noctis didn’t know how to talk about any of what was on his mind, especially with Gladio of all people. It’d been difficult to when they were younger but he’d been much more open - he could afford to be - but here he was choking on the words. It was true what they said; the crown weighed heavy.

Noctis grit his teeth and shook his head. “You’ve suffered loss that you don’t even talk about. Knowing it was coming because of duty is one thing but... dammit.” He clenched his fists and paced in the small area. “We’ve all been emotionally constipated since the Fall. Whatever is on my mind now doesn’t matter, does it? I have a duty to Eos and her people, I can’t bother with this when there are people counting on me now.” 

Altissia was creeping closer and closer. The knowledge of that made him want to crawl into the nearest unknown hole and never come out again. Could he even do that? Noctis decided that it wasn’t the best idea. His pacing stopped and Noctis sat on the bed, elbows on his knees as he clasped his hands together. 

“...I’m not shutting you out, I’m trying to keep myself together.” For everyone else.

[lunarbranded]

post - trauma sentence starters || Meme || @vaciiviity

He hated this. Night was supposed to be warm and comforting, something gentle where he could sleep and not be disturbed. Yet here he was, unable to sleep. It’d come to him as a teenager and again as an adult - now, at thirty, he was still having trouble. 

Noctis turned his head at the voice and stood. Prompto shouldn’t be out of bed, he reminded himself. The other needed his rest more than Noctis. 

“No worries, Prompto. I thought a bit of fresh air would help me to rest. Please, I’ll come back to bed with you but you should sleep.” Noctis had his medication, scores of medical staff, and even a few specialists who had taken care of him. He was almost certain Prompto hadn’t gone to them but he didn’t blame him for it. 

He wrapped the blanket around Prompto’s shoulders and kissed his forehead. “I promise you, I’ll be fine.” After all, he had all of Eos looking to him for help. He couldn’t let them down now.

[lunarbranded]

"Happy birthday, Noctis."

“Thanks Luna.”

[lunarbranded]

" We should sneak off and do something fun. " snicker snicker " I'll be the one sweep you off your feet and carry away from all the boring things if I have to ~ " cue a bright smile " C'mon, my treat. " you deserved to be spoiled on your birthday for all the stuff you have to put up with. [ Prom @ Noct! ]

“Fun, huh? You sure know how to get my attention, Prompto.” Noctis snickered softly at him in return and shook his head. “Well, I guess I could deal with being out of the house for some time alone with you. Nah, just kidding buddy, I’d love to.” 

A hand shot out to ruffle Prompto’s hair, not worrying about any styling he might have done otherwise. “So, how are you gonna save me from the boring nonsense dad has planned for today? Does this mean we get to blow off going to that party he’s trying to make happen?”

[lunarbranded]

★ ★ | @gunsandpuppies

“Yeah, I’ll believe that when I see it,” he snorted. Noctis grabbed some fries from his basket and leaned over with his elbow on the bar. Standing Sushi had the best wasabi around. Good thing he was off the clock to witness this potential disaster. “You know, that stuff is going to burn like Ifrit’s sliding down your throat. Worse than that cinnamon challenge crap that went around not long ago. Besides, wouldn’t you want to taste things for the next week that aren’t wasabi?”

[lunarbranded]

★ ★ || @vaciiviity

Of all the things that could have happened on that mission, why was it that Nyx Ulric, of all people, had to be the one to risk his neck? Yet again. He knew the other glaives were only following orders and fell back as they were told, but... he admired that the other was so heroic. Noctis hoped to have even a small bit of that courage one day.

Arms crossed and he frowned, shaking his head. Noctis sincerely hoped that Ignis, Gladio, or Prompto wouldn't have to do this one day.

"Any injury is worrying. I know I'm probably overreacting but you could have gotten killed or lost an arm - anything! This is Niflheim we're talking about, they're not above taking limbs if they must." Of course, he didn't actually know that of the MTs. Most of them were just robots with magitek cores, it was rare to come across the cyborgs nowadays.

Noctis looked him over and noticed that wince before pointing at him.

"Yeah. I saw that wince. I'm taking you home and you're gonna heal up at my place. Gonna get you some food, a nice bath to relax in, and give you a bed. Yes, your friends can come over, and no, you're not telling me no."

Was this kidnapping? Probably but he wanted to ensure that any of his friends were going to be taken care of. Nyx may not have been Prompto but that wasn't the point! Noctis still wanted him taken care of and he couldn't ensure that if he weren't there.

He sighed and vaguely waved a hand. "Sorry, I'm just - look, I know this is gonna sound bad but I know how people are about Galahdians in Insomnia. Please let me make sure you're getting the best care."

[lunarbranded]

@argentumtonitrua liked this post for Omen!

The sun was out, a breeze was gently blowing, and nothing was biting. Over the past couple of days, Noctis hadn’t wanted to talk to anyone, nor had he wanted to do much more than escape. The announcement of the Fall had left him mentally and physically exhausted, enough that he didn’t want to think of anything. 

Hearing footsteps behind him, he thought maybe Prompto had come back but he turned and saw the boots. Omen. “Did they send you out here to tell me to give up on the fish or have they given up on trying to force me back to the caravan already?”

[lunarbranded]

It's not without fanfare that Prompto presents the squeaky hammer to Noctis. He approaches solemnly, getting on one knee before bowing his head and presenting the weapon of absolute doom to its rightful owner. " It's all yours. Use it wisely. "

Noctis is certain he’s asleep when he sees the hammer in Prompto’s hands. Blinking slowly, eyes still yearning for sleep, he takes a moment to reach out and grab it. Oh that looks far too— 

As soon as he hits his own knee on accident, that squeak wakes him up completely. “Prompto, where’d you get this?” The hammer, the sword, the little astral he followed in his coma. “Please tell me you didn’t go on an ebay shopping spree.”

[lunarbranded]

📱I expect nothing but hate mail.

Send 📱 for five texts my muse didn’t send yours, and one that they did. || Meme

[Text: Ardyn] why the fuck did you steal my car, asshole? seriously?[Text: Ardyn] what the fuck was that??? seriously why were you in the vesperpool? fucking stalker.[Text: Ardyn] WHAT THE FUCK WAS ALTISSIA[Text: Ardyn] SERIOUSLY. PROMPTO??? WE’RE REALLY DOING THIS RIGHT NOW?[Text: Ardyn] what the fucking fuck? the crystal should be your prison jackass

[Text: Ardyn] bitch you better get yourself ready because i’m coming and i’m about to fuck your day up.

[lunarbranded]

@heroicglaive |  ★ ★ ★

Why had he done it?

Truthfully, Noctis didn't know the answer to that himself. Well, technically, he knew. All answers sounded lame to his own mind and trying to say them aloud would have embarrassed him. How did he explain that he wanted his father's attention, even if it were negative that meant the man had to talk to him.

Was that spoiled of him? Trying to take his father's attention away from his duty because Noctis couldn't handle that their relationship was basically dead in the water. He grit his teeth and scowled as he turned his head away from Nyx.

"Yeah. Be the perfect prince all the time, I get it, Nyx." Sour. Bitter. His tone was biting but not toward Nyx. Arms were crossed and Noctis was stalling, doing everything he could to keep from looking at Nyx as he shifted on his feet.

"The hell does my morality have to do with any of this? Maybe I'm just a nineteen year old out to do something stupid while I still have the option. Never thought someone would try to drag me off or whatever but I'm fine! No worse than when I'm training with Gladio - just a little bruised. Could have been worse. Besides, can't do anything without having an escort anyway. It's easier if people think I'm just dressed up as myself so... it's fine, Nyx. Go home."