#as annoying as xii can be i am always thankful that it's not arise

[littlestarxmilkyway]

I think FFX/!! is a great game with a lot going for it. The OST is nice. The art direction and graphics are superb, and have held up wonderfully over time. The combat is amazing, the party AI is good and the zodiac added systems sell it all more. And then there's the story.

I understand why it's lauded for its story, but it also feels like it's given so much grace and credit when it sometimes doesn't deserve it. As much as I enjoy the cast generally, there's so much wasted potential that actually frustrates me.

Va/an and Pen/elo are basically children that are quickly and forcibly having to accept adulthood early while being so in over their head once they're out in the rest of the world, and they both represent that in such interesting ways. He in trying to escape and hold on to some whimsy and identity, and her in trying to be responsible and stay grounded, but also sacrificing so much. She especially is a very familiar story, even on a more simple level. (How many girls are always forced to grow up and take care of everyone around them, and sometimes, while watching those same people shirk responsibility and be given room to hold on to their youth a little more.) It's fine that the story doesn't actually want them to be the central protagonists, but I can't take the story as seriously and completely as a political story because it refuses to engage them deeper as characters.

Even Fr/an could have had a deeper story, and more connected to the world-building and lore. Instead she's relegated to the most convenient plot device, on top of varying the heaviest burden of fanservice. (And the annoying joke at her expense concerning her age, even if it was to make Va/an look bad.)

But then there's As/he. I think I can tell where she's written by Shoda, Miwa. And then there's the parts where her writing is simultaneously weak and annoying. At times it feels like she's growing with the rest of the party, and she understands where she sits in position to those around her. And then they snap their fingers and she's an annoyingly, entitled princess again. Which is frustrating because it feels like she never comes to terms with or acknowledges the struggle of her people, only herself! And I can't stand that they squander her like that, because she has a fairly unique role and backstory as a game character!

The worst part is how much emphasis characters like Ga/branth and Vay/ne are given. And I say this as someone who likes both, in different ways. The game spends too much time showing me the former's dilemma, and I can't take that seriously because as much as he too was a victim, he's also an oppressor of the state now. And my ultimate issue with the writing is how much it loves to focus on all the more privileged parties of the story, instead of the more oppressed and/or othered characters.

All this because I was thinking of how trash Ar/ise is about its themes, but I still think X/!! is an infinitely better, political story with more levity. (Some of its humor is equally poor though.)

[vexedtonightmares]

last dance (elu ballet au) chapter quatorze

Lucas is in his final year at the Paris Opera Ballet School and he’ll be damned if he lets his former friend-turned-rival Eliott steal the lead role in their production of Swan Lake.

aka- lucas and eliott are rivals who are forced to room together for their final year of ballet school before they try to enter the company. we can all see where this is going.  

i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. xi. xii. xiii. xiv.

ao3

**tw: mentions of eating disorder, bipolar disorder, ableism, panic attack, very brief allusions to past child abuse**

Samedi 11:07

If Caroline Demaury didn’t know that Eliott and Lucas were dating when she’d texted him the night before, she probably did now. That was the thing about living away from family, they usually didn’t have to worry about getting woken up while their bodies were still tangled together as one and the consequences that might arise from that. 

Luckily, in this case, Eliott’s mom was so happy to see Eliott waking with a light smile on his face that she didn’t raise any sort of fuss about the two of them waking in each other’s arms. Lucas was stunned when he looked at the clock on Eliott’s bedside table and saw that it was just past eleven. He didn’t know the exact time they both fell asleep the night prior, but that was the best sleep he’d had in quite a while, since before he fell back into his unhealthy eating patterns. 

Eliott’s hair was a scrunched up sleepy mess, and his eyes were still squinted shut, blocking out the light from the open window, and he was beautiful. Lucas knew that the process to get him back into a healthier mindset would be a slow one, but he was ready to do everything he could to be there for him.

“You’re still here?” Eliott asked quietly, timidly. 

Lucas settled onto his side and ran a finger down the length of Eliott’s face. “Of course I am.”

Eliott’s lips twitched into the semblance of a small smile, and he opened his eyes, meeting Lucas’ gaze. “Thank you,” he said.

“No need,” Lucas said in return, “But you’re welcome.”

Eliott sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “My mom never used to come in and wake me up in the mornings, you know.”

Lucas didn’t know how to respond, what Eliott was trying to say. “She keeps looking at me,” he added, “They both do, like if they glance away I’ll disappear completely. There was a point earlier in the week where I thought I might too.”

Lucas’ heart clenched painfully in his chest, but he stayed silent, not wanting to interject before Eliott had said all he wanted to say.

“They’re in mourning. Of everything I could have been but can never be now,” Eliott said.

Lucas couldn’t help but cut in at that. “They aren’t. It might feel like that, but I promise you that’s not true. Your parents aren’t in mourning, they’re just trying to love you in new ways that work for you. And don’t talk like that, you can do anything you want to do, Eliott Demaury, never forget it.”

Eliott stayed silent a moment, and Lucas wondered if he’d spoken out of turn. “I thought of you, you know,” Eliott said, glancing over at Lucas. “I stayed for you, even though I was sure you wouldn’t want me anymore.”

The fissures in Lucas’ chest began to leak again. 

“I’ll always want you,” Lucas said. 

Eliott reached his hand out and Lucas grabbed a hold of it, feeling the roughness of both of Eliott’s palms, probably callused from his writings and drawings while he was manic. “Yeah?” Eliott asked softly.

“Yeah,” he promised, “But I don’t want you to just want to be here for me. I can’t live without you, but I want you to want to be here, want to live this life for yourself. I know that it’s easier said than done, and I’m still trying to work that out as well, but promise me you’ll try?” 

It was really important to him that Eliott didn’t just seek out happiness through Lucas. Obviously, he wanted to be one of the main sources of Eliott’s happiness, but not the only one or the most important one. He said it because he knew how it felt to be trapped in the euphoric sensation of loving someone more than you’ve ever loved yourself. 

“I promise,” Eliott said, “I promise I’ll try.”

He scooted infinitesimally closer to Lucas, millimeter by millimeter, until they were close enough to kiss one another. Lucas looked him in the eyes to make sure he wasn’t reading things wrong, then leaned in for a small, almost chaste kiss. It was the first time they’d kissed in nearly a week, and it felt like coming home. 

“We should go to the kitchen and eat before my mom gets too impatient,” Eliott said, still looking directly into Lucas’ soul.

“I’m sure she’ll understand if you need more time,” Lucas reassured him, pressing their foreheads together. 

Eliott shook his head gently. “Don’t even try, Lu. We’re eating, you and me.”

The funny thing was that Lucas hadn’t even thought about not eating that morning. Sure, there was a tug in the back of his mind that said stay here with Eliott all day, don’t eat a thing, but for once he’d blocked it out. He’d only suggested they stay in bed to make sure Eliott was okay, that he had the time he needed. Lucas smiled to himself. “Ok, let’s eat.”

He hopped out of bed much faster than Eliott did, but that was no issue. As Eliott slowly rose, Lucas’ heart gave a contented little sigh.

“I love you, by the way,” Lucas said, because he could, because he hadn’t yet that morning. Eliott looked a bit caught off guard, expression melting from confusion to surprise to tentative happiness. 

“I love you too,” Eliott said sincerely, taking the hand Lucas extended to help him off the bed. “Sorry I’ve been such a shitty boyfriend lately.”

“Are you kidding?” Lucas scoffed, “Everyone has their days. I haven’t quite been a model boyfriend either, you know.”

Eliott didn’t argue further, which Lucas was grateful for. He hadn’t said it so Eliott would reassure him, let him know that he was the best boyfriend ever. He knew he wasn’t, but neither of them ever would be, so they had to stop trying to expect it from themselves. Their imperfections were what made them perfect for each other. 

Caroline Demaury blinked when she saw the two of them in the doorway. “Eliott! Honey, is everything all right?”

“Yeah, we came out for breakfast,” Eliott said, sinking down into a chair beside his father. Lucas sat down next to him, avoiding Harold Demaury’s raised eyebrow in his direction. Lucas averted his eyes furtively, cheeks growing red. What was the etiquette for eating breakfast with your boyfriend’s parents who used to be like your parents until you hated their son for years?

Caroline still looked surprised, glancing at Harold out of the corner of her eye. Lucas realized that this might have been the first time Eliott had left his room since he fell into a depressive episode. She came back into herself quickly, fussing around the kitchen for something to eat, a small smile on her face.

“Lucas, long time no see,” Harold said, staring him dead in the eye. Lucas figured when Harold had picked him up the night before that Eliott hadn’t told his parents about the two of them, but it seemed now Caroline must have passed on her suspicions. 

“Yeah…” Lucas trailed off, not quite knowing how to respond. Sorry I hated your son for a good five years, I swear I love him now. Would that suffice? 

“How are your parents?” he asked, clearly trying to make conversation without bringing up the obvious. Lucas stiffened, and Eliott did too. The truth of the matter was that he had no idea. He didn’t even know the institution his father had placed his mother in. He really should know, but he also didn’t ever want to talk to his dad again. Maybe once he turned eighteen there would be a way for him to find out more. He missed her, especially now. He wanted an annoying parent to talk to about his beautiful boyfriend, even if he would respond by rolling his eyes. That was part of being a teenager.  

“Um, fine, I suppose,” Lucas said, biting the inside of his cheek. “I don’t live with them anymore, I live with my friend from school Manon, and her cousin Lisa and their other friend Mika.”

“Oh? Getting a head start out on your own?” Harold asked with a grin and Eliott cut him off before he could speak further.

“Dad. Can we talk about something else?” he asked a bit harshly, harshly enough that Harold narrowed his eyes, but did as Eliott asked. 

He folded his hands on the table as if saying you asked for it. “Alright, then. You two, huh? How long has this been going on?”

Lucas choked on the water he’d been attempting to drink to have something to do with his hands to keep them from sweating nervously. Eliott dropped his face into his hands and Lucas caught the end of a stern look from Caroline. 

Inexplicably, Lucas felt a bubble of laughter build in his chest. Maybe it was being away from the school, or being in a normal family setting for the first time in as long as he could remember, but he felt good. He’d take a possible shovel talk from his boyfriend’s dad over the director yelling at him about how he wasn’t good enough any day.

“Since a little bit earlier this year,” Lucas answered, and Eliott lifted his head long enough to look at Lucas with an incredulous expression. Lucas shrugged in response, the worst Eliott’s dad could do had nothing on the worst Lucas’ dad had done many times before. 

“You’re… you make each other happy?” Harold asked, and Lucas smiled involuntarily, glancing at Eliott. He opened his mouth but it was Eliott who answered. 

“Even at my lowest.”

Harold looked between the two of them, then shrugged, lifting his mug of coffee to his mouth. “Can’t say I didn’t see it coming.”

“Harold!” Caroline interjected from the stove, pointing her spatula at him menacingly. 

“I’m serious!” Harold said, raising his hands in surrender. “Come on, Caro, Eli-belly has been waxing poetic about this boy since the dawn of time.”

“Eli-belly,” Lucas whispered to Eliott with a laser sharp smirk. 

“Don’t even think about it,” Eliott whispered back, some color returning to his face. “Lulu,” he added, with a half a smile.

Lucas scoffed in mock outrage, but he couldn’t really even pretend to be mad. As long as Eliott was smiling, he could call him whatever he wanted to. He then registered what Eliott’s dad had just said. “Wait a minute,” he faced Eliott seriously, “Waxing poetic about me?”

“He would go on and on and on about your hair, your eyes, your laugh, oh god, it was so annoying,” Harold added, and Lucas couldn’t help but bite his lip and look to Eliott with both his eyebrows raised. 

Eliott crossed his arms defensively. “I never claimed not to have a crush on you, you were the oblivious one.”

Lucas opened his mouth to argue, but found he really didn’t have a counter-argument. He had been quite oblivious for quite some time. “Ok, fair.”

Eliott smiled a quick smile, cheeks still bright red as he exchanged a glare with his father. Lucas was hit again in that moment with how beautiful it was to be a part of this, of what a home could actually look like. He’d been without one for so long it was like a shock to his system.

The whole breakfast passed by in somewhat of a blur after that moment of realization. Eliott looked at him curiously a few times, but thankfully didn’t say anything. Even so, he had a smile glued to his face almost the entire time, whether from how delicious the food was, and how much he actually wanted to be there eating it, or from Harold teasing the three of them in a way that showed how much he actually cared, or from the way Eliott smiled the entire time too, not even looking like he realized he was smiling at all.

It was distracting, and it was beautiful, until Caroline looked at Eliott with hesitation in her eyes and Lucas felt the hairs stand up on his arms, dreading what she was about to say. 

“Eliott, the school called.”

There it was. Eliott’s smile dropped, Harold’s eyes were trained on his plate, and Lucas was caught in the middle of it all. 

“Oh?” Eliott said, voice light in a strained sort of way. 

“Before I say anything, I need to know if you want to go back or not. You don’t have to, and no one will think any less of you, but I need to know,” she said gently.

Eliott blinked, then looked at Lucas. “Of course I’m going back.”

Caroline nodded, as if that was what she expected. “You need to meet with the director when you return. You’ve missed enough classes that they can’t continue to give you leeway, even with notice of your diagnosis.”

Eliott’s face paled in an instant. “How do they know about my diagnosis?”

“I told you earlier this week, honey, they called to ascertain your whereabouts and the reason for your absence. The doctors provided your diagnostic report as well as the medications you’ll need at school, and the school was very understanding, but you’ll need to meet with the director.” Caroline’s expression was pained, like she knew exactly what Eliott was feeling and could feel it herself. 

Lucas felt like he was intruding on something he shouldn’t be. Eliott clenched his jaw, voice flat and cold. “When?”

“Tomorrow, if you’re up to going back,” Caroline said, and Eliott nodded, standing up from the table without a word and leaving the room. 

Lucas pushed his chair back a moment later, gesturing vaguely. “I’m gonna— I mean, he—”

Caroline waved him on, understanding what he was unable to articulate. He hopped up from the table, rushing to Eliott’s room, then halting at the door. What if Eliott didn’t want to see him? Fuck it, he decided. Even if Eliott didn’t want to see him, he wanted to make sure he was ok. 

Eliott was sitting with his back to the door on the edge of his bed, body shaking with silent sobs. Lucas made sure his footsteps were audible as he approached, so Eliott would have a chance to turn him away if he needed to. He didn’t, so Lucas got closer still until he was able to sit beside Eliott on the bed, placing an arm around his shoulders.

Eliott collapsed into him, sobs coming in gasping breaths. Lucas wrapped both his arms around Eliott tightly, protecting him from the world and from himself. At least, he hoped he was. They could talk about it later, but for the time being, Lucas just had to be there for him.

Eliott had been trying to save him all this time, so now it was time for Lucas to save him right back.

Dimanche 12:00

Lucas had been ready to fight tooth and nail to meet with the director with Eliott, but it turned out he didn’t have to. Apparently his unauthorized visit to Eliott’s house hadn’t gone unnoticed, so he was being spoken to as well. It was bullshit, people came and went all the time without express permission, especially on the weekends, but apparently it was an issue because he’d been gone over twenty-four hours and no one knew where he went.

No matter the circumstance, Lucas was waiting with Eliott in the director’s office, empty desk in front of them ominously striking. The director had to step out for a call, and Lucas could tell both of them were restless with nervous energy.

Lucas slipped his hand over to Eliott’s chair, lacing their fingers together and giving Eliott’s hand a small squeeze. It was all he could give at the moment, and he hoped it was enough. 

The door banged open and Eliott let go, startling in his seat. Lucas retracted his hand back, trying to steady himself so as to not get riled up by the director, even though he could only assume the worst.

“M. Demaury, M. Lallemant, what a pleasure to be graced by your presence,” the director began, and Lucas stiffened. Deep breaths, he had to stay calm and collected for Eliott. 

“M. Demaury, you’re aware you’ve missed ten rehearsals. We’ve made an exception to the attendance rules for you, due to circumstances outside your control, but we can no longer turn a blind eye. We need our lead to be reliable and mentally stable, so for this reason we think it would be best if M. Lallemant here took over the role of Prince Siegfried in the winter production. I need to discuss further with the other instructors, but there needs to be a serious conversation about whether you should continue in this school at all.” 

Fuck, that was not what Lucas had been expecting at all, and he was sure it showed on his face. Eliott hadn’t reacted at all, which Lucas figured was a bad sign. It was ironic, that this was what Lucas had wanted from the beginning, but now that he was faced with it maybe the director was right about him, and he wasn’t cutthroat enough for the ballet world.

The way the director said it too… mentally stable, as if Eliott was a lesser human for having a mental illness. It was something Lucas’ dad would have said, and that thought hit do deeply that it activated his fight or flight response. Normally he would have chosen flight, but this was Eliott, and Lucas would always fight for him. 

“That’s really fucking ableist,” Lucas said, brain barely processing the words before they were out. Eliott’s head snapped as he turned to look at Lucas with wide eyes and the director even seemed a bit taken aback. 

Lucas sat back into his chair. “What would you do if your lead dancer had an eating disorder?”

The director steeled himself, sitting up straighter. “Eating disorders are just a fictionalized disorder people self diagnose themselves with to have an excuse for their misgivings. Real eating disorders don’t exist, it’s just a matter of weakness and strength.”

“So I don’t eat for days on end as an excuse for my terrible dancing, just to clarify?” Lucas asked.

“Please, M. Lallemant, if your dancing was terrible, you never would have made it this far. If you aren’t eating, you’re not special. Ask any other dancer, they’ll just give you a congratulations or a complete dismissal. Technically, your dancing is excellent, but it’s that heart of yours that gets in the way. It’s why you’re the understudy, why you always will be, because you’re here arguing for him when you could be accepting the opportunity I’ve presented you gratefully,” the director sneered.

Lucas shrugged. “Maybe I won’t make it then, if that’s what it takes to get to the top. I don’t want to be a part of something that requires the belittlement of others for personal gain.”

“That’s life, M. Lallemant,” the director laughed mirthlessly.

“Maybe yours, but it doesn’t have to be mine. I want to succeed because I succeeded, not because the director of whatever company I’m a part of is an ableist asshole who sees neurodivergence as means for persecution and thinks that having real problems are just an excuse for someone to feel special.”

The director looked incredulous, and Eliott was still staring at Lucas intensely, not saying a word. “I don’t know what he’s told you, M. Lallemant, but M. Demaury has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. We can’t trust him with the responsibility of a lead role, he’s too unreliable, which has been proven over the course of the semester already.”

“Then have him train for extra hours to make up for the time he’s missed. As far as I’m aware, when he’s in class, he’s the model student, so why are you judging based on experiences you’ve never witnessed or experienced yourself? Only Eliott can feel what he feels but you’re not even giving him a chance to do so, to explain how he feels or what that might mean for his career.” Lucas briefly wondered what his life would be like if he had any self preservation instincts at all.

“I don’t suppose M. Demaury has anything to add?” the director looked at Eliott pointedly yet disinterestedly, as if he couldn’t care less what Eliott had to say. Lucas could tell this was the first time he’d ever seen this look from the director, because he shrank into himself further, finally looking away from Lucas. 

He folded his hands in his lap, gripping them so tightly his knuckles turned white. “I’m not going to sit here and argue my mental stability with you, because I know you’re not going to hear it, but I need you to know that this is my life. Ballet is everything to me, well…” He cast a short glance to Lucas. “Maybe not everything, but I would be lost without it. Prince Siegfried is the role of a lifetime, a role I’ve dreamed to play as long as I can remember, but if you truly believe Lucas would be better suited to the role, then I accept that. But please, please, don’t kick me out of the program. I won’t survive without it, I really won’t.”

Lucas was fuming, listening to the broken quality of Eliott’s voice. Eliott was a fighter, a believer, a dreamer. He didn’t deserve to be treated this way. Neither of them did, Lucas realized with a jolt. Yes, the dance world was intense, and strictness was to be expected, but no one should have to go through all this bullshit when they were seventeen. 

The director looked at Eliott with intensity burning through his gaze. “This will need to be further discussed, as I said.” He looked to Lucas. “With some minor accommodations, regarding your… comments.”

By fighting for Eliott, Lucas might have made a bit of an enemy of the director, but what else was new. All he had to do was get through the year, then he would be free from this tyranny. Sure, other company directors were probably just as harsh, if not more so, but at least he had ample experience in dealing with it. He would probably regret everything he said later, was already starting to regret it a little bit, but he couldn’t let that show. He had to act like he didn’t care what happened, because he knew that he was right, and the director would have to grow up himself and stop using his position of power as an excuse to be a complete asshole. 

“Thank you,” Lucas said, standing from his chair. Eliott stood as well, looking at the floor, saying nothing. 

The director leaned back in his chair as they began to walk out, calling out to them before they closed the door. “You’ll have until Friday, then I and the other instructors will make a decision about both of your futures here.”

Wait… both?

“Excuse me, sir?” Lucas clarified, sure he’d misheard. The last thing the director had said was that he was the Prince in the show from now on. 

The director grinned a cocky, fully chilling smile. He was powerful and he knew it, which was the worst thing about it. “You think the disrespect you’ve just shown me is tolerated at this school? No matter how important you think you are, you are just a student here, and I am the director. I call the shots, and I say who has a future in this program and who doesn’t. I very much appreciate your concerns for M. Demaury, truly, but your attitude is grounds for expulsion as well. Did you not think of that before you got snippy with me, M. Lallemant?”

“But sir—”

“You’re dismissed.” He waved a lazy hand, turning his back to the two of them. Lucas stood aghast, unable to move or speak. He felt when Eliott’s hand slipped into his and tugged him gently towards the door, and only then was he able to regain control over his body. 

“Yes, sir,” Lucas said, closing the door and feeling every emotion rushing through him at once. He could feel his breathing increasing rapidly but was defenseless to stop it. Why had he done that, said those things? The walls were closing in on him and he had no escape. It was a wonder he’d even made it out the door without collapsing into a lifeless heap. 

He was going to get kicked out. Where would he go? He didn’t have a home, a family, he had no one, he was alone, he had nothing— 

There were hands on his face, and his vision that he didn’t realize had blurred cleared a bit. Stormy blue eyes stared into his, and he remembered. He had Eliott. He didn’t have anything else, but he had Eliott. He wasn’t alone.

“Lu.” A soft and beautiful melody, muddled by the racing thoughts in his mind.

“Lu.” A repeated gesture, a show of love.

“Lu.” A promise.

“Eli,” he said, and the world came back into focus. “I’m drowning.”

He felt Eliott’s hands grip his face tighter. “No you’re not, I’m here, I’m with you.”

“I’m drowning.”

A press of lips to his forehead, hands still cupping his chin. “I’m here.”

But what if I fall too far under, what if the water gets to high, what if you’re not there anymore. 

He must have said it aloud without realizing it, because Eliott shook his head, pressing their foreheads together and looking at Lucas with what could only be described as love in its simplest, most beautiful form.

“Hell or high water, I’ll swim to you every time,” he said, and Lucas believed him. 

Lundi 10:13

The atmosphere had been strange all day so far. Everyone knew that Eliott’s absences were a cause for controversy, even if they didn’t know the exact details. He hadn’t stood at the front of the barre in Rigaux’s class, something that immediately put everyone on edge. 

Even though he’d been strong for Lucas after the meeting with the director, Lucas could tell Eliott still wasn’t quite himself. He seemed to be out of the deepest darkest part of his depressive episode, but now he just seemed resigned, accepting a fate not yet given. 

It was silly, really, that everyone still thought they hated each other, but Lucas wasn’t about to correct anyone, not when Eliott wasn’t feeling his best and when their futures were so precarious as it was. Imane knew, obviously, and kept looking back and forth between the two of them, surely arranging puzzle pieces in her mind to fit the situation. Hopefully she didn’t still think Eliott was on drugs.

Their rehearsals were broken up that day to go visit the stage they would be performing on, now that dress rehearsals were looming in the not so distant future. Lucas had been so excited for this day, but now all those emotions were taking a backseat to his fear that he’d never get to perform on that stage.

Arthur and Yann sat beside him on the bus ride to the venue, but it was clear Lucas and Arthur’s minds were elsewhere. Yann eventually gave up on trying to make conversation, but did so with a look that said We’re all talking later. 

Even with his mood soured, it was hard not to be in awe as they stepped into the auditorium for the first time. There were audible gasps from the group as everyone ran to the stage except for Eliott, hands trailing along the plush velvet seats. Lucas looked back briefly and saw Eliott standing still at the back of the theatre, eyes trained on the stage far ahead of him. He did nothing, because what could he do, really, and joined everyone else on the stage. 

The director didn’t accompany them today, which was a surprise, so they were chaperoned by M. Caron, who preferred that they call him Tomas, their hip hop instructor. He obviously didn’t totally understand the significance of the space, but he was very enthusiastic regardless. 

The cygnets performed their little swans piece haphazardly, Manon playing instrumental rap music as they did so, all of them laughing all the while. Julian, the student from the year below chosen to be in the show, was simply staring out into all the seats in the theatre, eyes wide, which Lucas thought was a justifiable reaction. Eliott sat in one of the seats, watching everyone onstage but not participating, and Lucas was grateful when Sofiane stopped what he was doing to go join him. 

Lucas walked directly to center stage, letting the massive— and very hot— lights bathe him in their fluorescent rays as he wondered what his life might have been like if he wasn’t so messed up inside. Because really, it was his own fault that he might never be able to dance on this stage in front of an audience, even as part of the corps de ballet. 

He must have looked stunned or something, because soon Yann was in front of him, looking into his eyes with his brows furrowed. “Are you ok, Lucas?” 

He just shook his head, because it was all hitting him again like it had the day before, and he didn’t know how to deal with it. Yann took his hand and led him off into the wings, looking at something over Lucas’ shoulder as he went, Lucas following along dazedly. They sat down away from everyone and Lucas saw a moment later that Arthur had joined them, a confused expression on his face. 

“Bro meeting,” Yann said when they were all seated. 

“But Tomas—” Arthur began to argue, gesturing to their instructor, cut off by an eyeroll from Yann. 

“Tomas couldn’t care less about what we’re all doing, and we’re here until break at noon, so we’re having a bro meeting before the two of you can slip away,” Yann said definitively. 

Surprisingly, Lucas wasn’t mad about it. Sure, he couldn’t tell them about Eliott, but he realized he hadn’t actually shared much about his own issues recently. The last conversation he’d had with Arthur hadn’t even been about either of the two of them, not really, and the last conversation he’d had with Yann had just been fluff. It had been needed at the time, but now he needed something more. They all probably did.

“I’ll start,” Yann continued, looking to both of them in turn, “I may or may not be hooking up with Chloé on the dl.”

Lucas coughed, shooting Arthur a wide eyed look. “My ex-girlfriend Chloé?”

“Did that even count?” Yann asked, and, true, but Lucas still had to take a minute to think it all over. 

“That’s three girls in our year, dude,” Arthur said, looking more like himself, which meant that he looked somewhat impressed. 

“Ingrid and Emma were so long ago, did you expect me to be celibate forever?” Yann scoffed.

Lucas snorted, laughing more easily than he thought he’d be able to. “I don’t think any of us were worried about you being celibate forever.”

“Ah, right, that’s you, our resident pure child,” Yann teased, taking Lucas’ face in his hands and squishing his cheeks. Lucas pushed him away with a laugh, thinking to himself about how that wasn’t necessarily true anymore… though he supposed he was still innocent in some of the few bigger ways that counted, but that was a conversation for another time. “Well?” Yann continued, “Who’s next?”

“Next? You barely said anything other than that you’re banging Chloé,” Arthur said, raising his eyebrows. 

Yann rolled his eyes. “I would have said that, bro meeting or not. I just needed something to say first to get you guys to open up to me and to each other. Come on! We’re the gang! We’ve gotta be more open with each other if we want our friendship to actually mean something.”

“Basile’s not here,” Lucas pointed out, but Yann waved him off.

“Basile doesn’t count, because Basile overshares at any given opportunity. Haven’t you been reading his texts in the group chat?” Lucas had been, and he wished desperately some things could be erased from his brain. 

“That’s fair,” Lucas admitted, then admitted further, “I’m sorry I’ve been so distant lately, I’ve been dealing with a lot, I guess.”

“Like what?” Yann asked, not prying, but curious.

“I, um, have an eating disorder,” he said quietly, wishing he could take it back the second the words left his mouth. It was like coming out, in a way, all the nervous energy pent up waiting for reactions from people. 

Yann and Arthur were both looking at him, shock apparent on their faces. He didn’t know if he felt like shit for telling them or for not telling them. To his surprise, no words were spoken as he was engulfed in a giant hug that knocked him over onto his back. 

“What the fuck Lucas?” Yann said when he released Lucas from his grasp. “How could you go through something like that without telling us?”

Lucas shrugged. “Because it’s embarrassing. And because I didn’t even admit it to myself until like a week ago. Nothing’s been properly diagnosed or anything, but I suppose an eating disorder is what you call it when you don’t eat for days on end.”

“Does Manon know?” Arthur asked, and Lucas shook his head. 

“Does anyone know?” Yann asked, and Lucas shook his head again, then reconsidered. He didn’t want them to know that Eliott knew yet, but he supposed he could tell them about the situation he was in with the director in the meantime.

“Well… sort of,” he admitted. “The director… he knows about it, amongst a combination of things, and, um, long story short, but they might expel me.” That was the gist of it, after all. He had to believe that there was more reason for the director to want to expel him than having a little attitude once in ten years. 

“What?” Arthur and Yann hissed in unison, looking at him incredulously. 

Lucas shrugged. “No, no, they can’t do that to you,” Arthur said, fuming. “That’s such bullshit. This is why I fucking hate this place. It sucks everything good out of dancing. If you’re gone, I’m gone too, Lucas, I’m serious.”

Lucas knew he was, could tell by the set of his jaw. “Arthur… come on, stop it. There are other things out there for me. Maybe ballet just isn’t my thing.”

“Bullshit,” Yann chimed in, “You love it more than any of us, even though you have quite a few reasons not to.”

“Wait a minute,” Arthur began, looking out at the rest of their class, frowning. “So you might get kicked out, but Demaury just gets to waltz back in after another week missing and pick up his lead role from where he left off?”

Lucas didn’t know how much he should reveal that he knew. Did Yann and Arthur even know he was gone most of the weekend? He assumed not, because they hadn’t asked. “He’s on the director’s shit list too,” he revealed, deciding he could pretend Eliott had said something upon his return to school. 

“I don’t know why, exactly, but the director is deciding both of our fates on Friday,” he continued. Perfect. Vague enough that he wouldn’t reveal himself, but specific enough they wouldn’t question him further. 

Arthur let out a deep exhale. “Fuck.”

Lucas nodded. “Fuck indeed.”

“What would we do without the two best male dancers? And right before the show?” Arthur continued, gesticulating wildly. 

Lucas leveled him with a look and rolled his eyes. “Ha ha. I mean, I guess it would make the most sense for you to stand in for Eliott or to take over Sofiane’s role and for him to stand in for Eliott.”

“I’m serious dude, no one can do what you guys do,” Arthur said, neglecting to respond to anything else he said. 

Lucas looked to Yann for backup, but he just nodded along with Arthur. “What?” he said defensively, “He’s right.”

“Ugh.” Lucas put his face in his hands. “Why are you guys so nice and supportive? It’s annoying.” 

It wasn’t annoying, but they knew what he meant. Yann sighed dramatically. “That’s what bro meetings are for.”

“Fair enough,” Lucas conceded with a small laugh. “But that’s enough about me, this is a three person bro meeting, M. Broussard.”

Arthur sat back on his elbows and sighed, glancing down at the floor. “I was kind of hoping you’d all forget about me.”

“As if we could ever,” Yann scoffed, hand to his chest. Arthur rolled his eyes, kicking Yann with one of his feet. 

“Listen, there’s nothing dramatic going on with me, ok? Perfectly dandy,” he said.

“Coming from the master of bullshit, I don’t believe that for one second.” Lucas raised his eyebrows at Arthur, who looked away once their eyes met. 

It was funny, Lucas didn’t really realize until that moment how little Arthur actually shared about himself. Sure he’d talk about superficial things, mention his late night escapades away from the school, but he never once talked about his family, anyone he liked, or even ballet. The closest they’d come to having a conversation about any of those things was the last time they’d spoken, but Arthur had left in such a rush that Lucas didn’t know what he was supposed to have gathered from the conversation.

“Fine,” Arthur relented after Lucas and Yann stared at him long enough. “It’s not a huge deal, so please don’t make it one, but I’ve been in the process of legal emancipation from my parents.”

Lucas blinked, half wondering how he didn’t know this and half wondering why he’d never considered doing that himself. Yann piped up, “Aren’t you almost eighteen anyway?”

Arthur shook his head. “I have a late birthday, like Lulu. Besides, this isn’t the beginning of the process. I’ve been doing this for a little over a year, it’s only just now coming to a head.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Yann asked the question Lucas was thinking, heartbroken. Were they really all so lost in their own shit that Arthur felt he couldn’t come to them with things so prevalent in his life?

“How do you say something like that? Yann, your family is perfect, and Lucas yours must be all right if they let you move in with Manon last summer.” Arthur sounded strained, a bit like he was pleading. Yann shot Lucas a look, as he knew more about Lucas’ home life than Arthur did, and Lucas realized he couldn’t really be upset with Arthur for not saying anything if he hadn’t either. 

“I moved in with Manon because my mom was committed to an institution when I was ten and my dad was quite the disciplinarian, if you understand what I mean,” Lucas said softly, urging Arthur with his eyes to comprehend what he was saying without saying.

He did, Lucas could see it in his eyes. “Lucas, I’m— I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine, how were you supposed to know if I never told you?” Lucas said seriously, because he didn’t want Arthur to feel bad, he just wanted to show that he related more than Arthur had originally thought. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

Arthur softened. “You don’t have to be sorry. I guess we’re both a little private with our issues, huh?”

“You could say that,” Lucas acknowledged with a small grin that Arthur returned after a moment. He met Yann’s eyes, then Arthur’s. “I really love you guys, you know that, right?”

“That’s gay Lucas,” Yann said, then, “But me too. No homo.”

“No homo,” Lucas agreed, pulling them both into another hug.

“I love you guys too,” Arthur said, once they were all in one big pile. Then, as an afterthought. “No homo.”

The three of them broke down into giggles, only to be interrupted by Tomas, peering at them curiously. “You boys all right?” he asked, and they fell into another fit of laughter. 

“Peachy,” Yann answered for the three of them, avoiding Tomas’ suspicious stare. Then, under his breath, “Bro meeting was a success then, yeah? I’m calling it a success.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night Yann.” Arthur patted Yann’s back and Yann returned the gesture by nudging him again, nearly knocking their no homo bro hug over again.

“Are we missing out on a company group hug?” Emma asked, sidling up beside Tomas, Imane, Manon, and Daphné by her side. 

The three boys looked at each other and shrugged. “Sure, why not?” Lucas said, laughing to himself. 

Sure enough, a hug for three became a hug for many as everyone piled on one by one, even the people Lucas didn’t talk to that much. He caught Yann’s eye as Chloé joined the hug, earning a fond eye roll. 

He waited, hoping one last person would join their dogpile, and he finally did, a bit tentatively. He was across from Lucas, engulfed by Sofiane and Imane, but he was there, and, when he met Lucas’ eye, Eliott smiled. 

Jeudi 20:44

Lucas wondered if it was even worth it to do his work at this point. Technically, he still had to graduate, but would he have to repeat the whole year if he was kicked out or would he just continue where he left off? He didn’t know what Eliott had decided to do about the matter, partially because he hadn’t asked and partially because Eliott was out to dinner with his parents at the moment. He’d offered to have Lucas come with, but Lucas didn’t want to intrude more than he had over the weekend, so he stayed, promising he’d eat on his own. 

Surprisingly, he kept that promise. It wasn’t anything special, but he’d made himself some spaghetti, eating it plain because he couldn’t stomach anything else at the moment, but at least it was progress. 

He felt his phone buzz in his pocket as he finished washing his dishes, pulling it out with curiosity.

MY BOYFRIEND 💘✨😍🦝💯🤪: want to meet?

Lucas: Meet where?

MY BOYFRIEND 💘✨😍🦝💯🤪: at the theatre?

Lucas: Like… the one we’re supposed to perform at?

MY BOYFRIEND 💘✨😍🦝💯🤪: yes

MY BOYFRIEND 💘✨😍🦝💯🤪: i’m not manic, my parents only agreed to drop me off here if you came too

Lucas: I didn’t think you were I guess I’m just confused

MY BOYFRIEND 💘✨😍🦝💯🤪: please?

Lucas: You know I can’t say no to you <3

Lucas: On my way

MY BOYFRIEND 💘✨😍🦝💯🤪: love you, see you soon 

Lucas: Love you too

Well, it looked like he was going to the theatre. Would it even be open? Whatever, that didn’t matter; all that mattered was Eliott right now, and admittedly Lucas did want to go back again, especially if it was the last time ever.

He snuck out, telling Imane where he’d gone so she’d be able to cover for him if by odd chance the director sought out him or Eliott. Apparently Eliott had told Sofiane and Idriss some things about what was going on in his life, but not all of it, so Imane didn’t fight him about going to meet Eliott thankfully. 

The bus ride felt longer than it had on Monday, probably because Yann wasn’t sitting there talking his ear off and his mind wasn’t rattling with unwanted thoughts. The thoughts were still there, lurking, but all he had on his mind was Eliott at that moment, whether Eliott had asked him to come because things were good or bad. 

He tried the door once when he got there, and to his surprise it was open, so he figured Eliott must be waiting inside. Sure enough, once he got to the auditorium, Eliott was lying on his back in the middle of the stage. Lucas made his footsteps apparent and Eliott looked up, wide eyes going soft when he saw who it was. 

“Hello my love,” Eliott said, and Lucas ran the rest of the way up to the stage. It had been so long since Eliott had called him that. So long, and it still filled Lucas with butterflies all the way up to his ears. He didn’t want to be called babe, baby, honey, darling, or any of those other pet names, he’d always found them sort of superficial and cringey, but when Eliott called him my love or Lu his heart filled with the light of a million stars.

He didn’t, however, have a special name to call Eliott, other than Eli, which would have to suffice for now. “Hey, Eli,” he said as Eliott stood up and melted right into his arms. He looked like he’d been crying, and Lucas didn’t really blame him.

“Why are we here?” he asked once they released one another enough to look into each other’s eyes.

Eliott pressed their foreheads together gently, closing his eyes briefly before opening them back up, not trying to hide any of his pain or emotion or love. “If this is my last dance, I want it to be with you.”

“Eli don’t say that,” Lucas said, shaking his head slightly and placing his hands on either side of Eliott’s face. 

“Lu, neither of us know what’s going to happen. I just want one perfect night in case this all ends tomorrow. Will you give me that? One perfect night?” Eliott pleaded, and while it broke Lucas’ heart, he agreed. They could discuss the downfalls of their current situation all they wanted, but if they were really one step from leaving ballet forever, they might as well make the most of what they had at that moment. 

Lucas wanted to say I’ll give you as many perfect nights as I’m physically capable of, but instead he said, “Of course I will.”

“Then let’s dance.” Eliott removed himself, picking his phone up off the stage and tapping on it until he chose whatever song he wanted. He set it down at the front of the stage and turned the volume all the way up. 

The first few beats filled the silence as Eliott grabbed Lucas by the hand. “I found this song the other day, and I thought of you, of us. Maybe it can be the song we play for our first wedding dance.”

Lucas blushed and hid his head in Eliott’s chest as they swayed together, not really dance the way they’d been trained to, but the way they needed to in that moment. The song really was beautiful, as Lucas listened to the lyrics more. It fit them perfectly, actually. 

“What’s it called?” he asked.

“Work.”

Lucas nodded his head, still lying his head on Eliott’s chest like they were at some basic high school dance instead of spending the night on a stage they might never be able to perform on. “I think I’d like that,” he said softly, and Eliott freed one of his hands to tip Lucas’ head up to his. 

“I love you so much,” he said.

“I love you too,” Lucas responded, because how could he not. He stood up on his toes to kiss Eliott slowly and deeply, letting the music wrap around them and carry them into oblivion. 

Even as that song ended, the music continued to play, a random mix of songs that had Eliott blushing and Lucas laughing as they leaped and pirouetted around the stage, combining a bunch of old variations they’d learned and trying to match them to whatever music was playing, from rap, to dubstep, to pop, and everything in between. 

Lucas was laughing so hard his cheeks hurt, and Eliott’s eyes were alive with a light Lucas didn’t know if he’d ever see again. It was so nice to just be Lu and Eli again; sure they had their problems, but they were working through them as one, just as their first song had said. It would take work, but it was their work, and they wanted nothing more than to tackle it together.

“I LOVE YOU ELIOTT DEMAURY!” Lucas yelled, letting his voice echo around the theatre as Eliott picked him up from behind and spun him around the room. 

“I LOVE YOU LUCAS LALLEMANT!” Eliott yelled in response, giggling through his words, still carrying Lucas around.

They somehow both ended up on the floor, log rolling across the length of the stage, then crab walking, because how often would they get a chance to do that on a professional stage? Maybe his life hadn’t led up to performing as Prince Siegfried on a stage in front of a full audience, maybe it had led up to him doing as many cartwheels as he could around the stage until he either got too dizzy or fell off, boyfriend counting from one of the velvet seats in the audience. It wasn’t the life he’d dreamed for himself, and he was still having trouble reconciling the life he’d always wanted with the one he was likely to get, but it was times like this that made the possible transition a bit easier. 

As Eliott hopped back up on the stage, lights basking him in a golden glow, smile so bright on his face it was hard to believe it would ever dim again, and Lucas took it all in. He sat down, looking up at everything Eliott was, and smiled in return.  

“Eliott Demaury you are the sun in its purest form.” 

Vendredi 1:02

“Hey Eliott?” Lucas said breathlessly, turning his head to the boy flopped down beside him.

“Yeah?”

“Your dick? Pretty big. Ten out of ten.”

He was immediately accosted by a pillow to the face followed by a short laugh, but he really couldn’t find the energy to care. He’d just about spent it all already. Slowly, their laughter subsided and Lucas thought maybe Eliott had fallen asleep. But then he spoke, voice lighting up the darkness with another small laugh. 

“You have a pretty big dick too.” 

Vendredi 17:00

Lucas was still riding the high of the night before, and it was good that he was because otherwise he’d probably be dying inside. He and Eliott hadn’t gotten back to school until nearly midnight, but they were able to sneak back in without any trouble, and once they were back they’d explored each other in ways they never had before, hungry with the desire to have their perfect night the way they deserved to. 

It should have been a rude awakening when their alarms went off at a quarter to six in the morning, but it wasn’t. Lucas woke with Eliott’s arm around his waist, both of their hair an utter mess, and neither of them would have had it any other way. 

They’d danced their hearts out at rehearsals, and judging by the looks students and instructors alike were giving them, their dancing was noteworthy to a new extreme. If it was their last day, may as well go out with a bang, they’d decided. Eliott had giggled to himself at the wording, and Lucas had to resist the urge to return his gesture from the night before and hit him with a pillow.

Now, sitting back in the director’s office, the unease was starting to creep in again, but Lucas did all he could to keep it at bay, scooting his chair closer to Eliott’s so they could hold hands covertly. 

The director stormed into the room like he had before, but this time he was followed by all of their instructors, each one of them looking quite grim. It didn’t give Lucas a good feeling. Even Tomas, happy go lucky Tomas, was looking at them sympathetically. Lucas felt Eliott clench his hand, and he squeezed right back. 

“I’ll have the both of you know that this decision was not unanimous,” the director began, glaring at one of their instructors but averting his eyes before Lucas could follow his line of sight. “It was actually quite the close call, and I must say I’m not entirely pleased with the outcome… but the majority has voted, and the majority decided that the both of you be allowed to complete your final year here at the Paris Opera Ballet School.”

An incredulous laugh burst its way out of Lucas before he could stop it, and when he turned he was met with a face full of disbelief from Eliott. They were staying, they weren’t getting kicked out. It was hard to believe, actually. Who had been the majority? 

“There are some conditions,” the director continued, frowning disdainfully at their reactions. The two of them nodded soberly, paying rapt attention. 

“M. Demaury, as long as you are here you are required to attend two therapy sessions a week, where your medication will be monitored to make sure you’re on track with your mental health.” He said it like it was the most disgusting thing in the world, but Eliott’s expression didn’t change. “The same will go for you, M. Lallemant, and you will meet with a nutrition specialist to get your physical health back on track as well as a few preliminary sessions with a clinical psychologist in order to properly diagnose your… issues.”

As much as the idea terrified him, he would do whatever was asked of him so long as he got to stay. The way the director was speaking, with so much clear disgust, still set off a reaction in the pit of Lucas’ stomach, but he held back, not wanting to do or say anything that might make him change his mind. 

“As far as the show goes, we realize it’s too far into the semester, too close to opening night for us to ask anyone else to fill in for the lead, as that would be unfair to them, so we’ve decided that the two of you will alternate shows, performing as both the lead and the understudy on opposing nights. I really don’t think either of you are suited for the lead, but this was the best we could come up with, given all the circumstances,” the director finished, and Lucas almost jumped out of his seat. 

The lead. He was going to play the lead. Maybe not every night, but he wasn’t just going to be relegated to the background when he’d been doing so much work to learn everything that went into the role of Prince Siegfried all this time. And this way Eliott also wasn’t going to lose everything he’d been working for. Eliott would probably be disappointed by this, the sharing of roles, so Lucas didn’t look at him quite yet, wanting to allow himself to bask in what really was the best case scenario. He didn’t know which of their instructors had stuck their necks out for him, but he would have to give them each an extravagant gift, just in case. Except for the director. Fuck him. 

“Well?” the director prompted, and Lucas realized they’d both just been staring at him silently. 

Lucas was the first to speak. “Thank you, sir, so much. I promise, I will do everything in my power so you don’t regret this decision. Not everyone is given a second chance, especially not in ballet, but I’ll do everything in my power to make sure this one isn’t wasted.”

The director merely nodded, uncaring, as he looked at Eliott, clearly expecting a thank you. Lucas finally looked at him too, and what he saw shocked him. Eliott didn’t look meek or upset at all, he looked equal parts proud and relieved. 

“I thank you as well, sir, I really do, but I want you to remember this,” Eliott said, “I want you to remember this when Lucas and I are the principal dancers in our respective companies, I want you to remember that you voted against us, and that we proved you wrong. I want you to remember that my bipolar disorder, Lucas’ eating disorder, those weren’t weaknesses. Sure, they may have caused some struggle, but I want you to remember that we rose to the top despite obstacles in our paths, and that you were one of them. Even more so than anything going on in my head, or his. Leading by fear can only get you so far in this world, and if I have any impact on the dance world at all, I want it to be taking down assholes like you who think discrimination is a healthy and functional way to run a school. Understood?” 

He stood up on his final word, shooting a sarcastic smile in the director’s direction, who looked completely dumbfounded. Lucas almost laughed at the somewhat impressed expressions on the faces of their other instructors as he stood up as well, taking Eliott’s hand not even caring if it caused any indignation. Just before he walked out he threw one last glance over his shoulder, seeing the director staring right back at him, face a mix of shock and confusion. Lucas laughed to himself, making sure the director could see and raised one eyebrow in challenge before closing the door behind him. 

Once they were out of the long hallway that separated the administration from the students, Eliott swept Lucas up into his arms. “It’s not over for us!” he exclaimed breathlessly, and Lucas started crying tears of utter shock and joy. 

“We’re— they—” Lucas tried, but he couldn’t even articulate all he was feeling. Eliott nodded regardless, knowing what he meant without him even having to say it. “I can’t believe it,” he added, heart pounding faster and faster. 

“I can,” Eliott said, “You know why? Because we’re born for this, and even if they kicked us out, we’d still find our way, make them regret they’d ever doubted us. We’re stars, you and I, and we should never ever let anyone try to extinguish our light again. Deal?”

“Deal,” Lucas agreed, though he thought Eliott was still much more a star than he was. There was something on his mind still, though. “You aren’t mad, though?”

“Mad? What do I have to be mad about?”

“Your role… you earned it, and now I’m swooping in to steal half your time in the spotlight.”

Eliott pulled him in close. “Lucas. I don’t care about that. All I care about is getting to dance again, and you. Lucky me, I get both, and I don’t care if I don’t get to be the lead in every performance. You deserve it as much as I do, if not more. I’m going to be so proud seeing you out there dancing the role you’ve always dreamed of.”

“Really?” Lucas found it hard to believe.

“Really.” Then again, Eliott was the perfect boyfriend. Well, not perfect, but perfect for him. God, what was Eliott doing to him? He was getting so sappy, so in love. Lucas from a year ago would never, but Lucas from a year ago also wasn’t someone Lucas from the present ever wanted to see again. It was getting harder and harder for him to pretend soulmates didn’t exist. How could they not, when Eliott Demaury existed, and he existed, and Lucas had this sense that they were made to find each other in every universe? “Now come on,” Eliott added, “Let’s go celebrate.”

Lucas raised one eyebrow. “Celebrate? What do you have in mind?”

“Oh… I have a few ideas.” He looked at Lucas pointedly, and Lucas couldn’t follow him to their room fast enough, smiling from the inside out. 

Minute by minute was what they’d promised each other, and in that minute, Lucas had reached for the stars and found them closer in his grasp than he’d ever thought they could be. So he touched one, and now his whole world was shining with the light it brought with it.