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"It would. Good people wouldn't have to die to save their worlds, but.. there are worse ways to die, right? I hear they make a statue of me." Tony said, attempting again to put a little humor in his situation.

That humor fades as it becomes more clear through Regis' story what happened to his wife. It doesn't make the most sense to him if these potions are supposed to be such cure-alls, but then again, they haven't been have they? Gladio has scars and Noct has his back injuries- that he probably doesn't know Tony knows about, awkward. Either way, he hated hearing about this pain Regis and Noctis had to endure. He'd been close to losing Pepper a few times and if luck his luck had been just a smidge in the other direction there'd be no Morgan. "I'm so sorry, for both of you. That had to be so hard."

He didn't see it coming. In retrospect, he should've. It was the most obvious time for a hug and they'd already bonded enough where that sort of thing would've been completely allowed. He just.. wasn't thinking. So he's stunned for a moment, but between the action and the words, Tony smiled and turned in his arms to hug him right back. He just wished he could believe him.

"The madness of that place.. it.. he just wasn't well." He gave Regis an affectionate pat on the back before drawing back from the hug. "Unfortunately, he's not the only one I've been having trouble helping recently. Your daughters couldn't be any more night and day. Pyra is one of the most lovely people I've ever met and Era.. I can't seem to get through a single conversation with her without wanting to strangle the girl. We have a similar.. problem, but she won't listen to a word I say and is constantly looking for ways to be offended. I'm concerned if how she treats me is how she treats others.. who I just now realize must be your son, that can't be good- she must be torturing them emotionally. I'm not sure what to do there."

Regis takes the attempt at humor and adds his own spin. They can use it right now, "Does your statue move? Because the ones dedicated to the Kings of Old in Insomnia can be called to life to protect the city. They should definitely have made yours do the same."

But then again, that would probably mean calling his soul back from the afterlife and that's not really all it's cracked up to be...

Potions are a double-edged sword. They are great for immediate treatment. Phoenix downs can even return life to the recently dead in some cases, but like all magic granted to humans like themselves, there are limits. Illnesses. Lingering or old wounds. Starscourge. All of those are beyond the realm of human healing magic, though at least the Oracles can help with that last one.

...At the cost of their own lives, that is. For generations the Oracles have suffered right alongside the Lucis Caelums. It is no wonder they are so closely aligned.

"As horrible as it sounds to say it, perhaps it is better she went before he could remember her. At least then he did not have to suffer through both the loss and then me not being able to fill in the gap as well as I should have. The council wanted me to remarry, but all they cared about was heirs and politics," Regis shakes his head. At least he was finally able to get them to leave the subject be. The last thing he wanted was to have a new wife pressed upon him only to have her treat Noctis poorly because he was not her child.

Once the hug ends, Regis lets his arm fall so it is still resting against Tony's. It's a grounding and comforting gesture, one he is grateful he can actually act on here. Back home, he would need to distance himself as king no matter how much he may wish to act otherwise.

"As calm as this place is, it creates its own kind of madness. I can't even imagine how much worse the atmosphere there was," Regis tilts his head listening as Tony circles right back around to the topic he had let slide before. He can't help but nod as he listens. Ah, that explains so much about Tony's earlier reaction.

"Era is precious, but she is also difficult. When she is caught up in her emotions, it is hard for her to listen, even to me," he pauses a moment and then asks a question. "You say you have a similar problem to hers? Was there a time when you were not ready to reach out for help with it? I believe Era may be in a similar place. She is just starting to realize she needs help, but she is not completely ready to accept that help when it comes. Indeed, in her darkest moments, she may not think she deserves it."

"Does what now?" He asked, and laughed. "No, but that's a fantastic idea. Next person I meet who is still alive and from my world, I'm putting in that request!"

He made a face at that. He would have hated with a passion anyone trying to tell him who he could or couldn't marry. He could perhaps understand a close friend encouraging it if the king had felt lonely and maybe it was complicated with his position, but that was a lot of maybes and extra nonsense. It would be better if somehow Regis could take some of what he learned here and took it back with him. There had to be some level that believed that was possible or he'd be plagued by the pointlessness of everything.

Tony almost made a rude remark about the term 'precious', but managed to hold his tongue. It was a good thing as he needed to hear the rest. He sighed as he was called out for his hypocrisy.

"I still struggle with it. I'm constantly getting in my own way and I know I cause more headache for my poor roommate than I would if I just let him help me. That man deserves a damn medal for all he does for me here and on the train." He sighed again.

"It's frustrating because I know my ability to help her is so limited because I'm going through it too, but at the same time, she's from a world less advanced than my own. She's even told me her world understands mental illness less than mine does. I know she at least has what I have. But I think she may have more. I'm not sure though. I've never had to mentally diagnosis someone- particularly someone who won't listen to me and I can't get to physically talk to me face to face. She acts like a child, so sometimes I can see a few of her habits in what I remember from other teenagers or kids, but I'm not a professional."

He shook his head. "I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to harm her relationships with others. I just want to hold her accountable. I suspect she is hurting others- Pyra and your son in particular- as she metaphorically flaws around with her claws out and biting anything that moves. I know I sure as hell did." He looked at Regis, knowing this was asking a lot of someone whose only experience with kids was a three year old, but he was running out of ideas. "I don't know how to get through to her."

Regis grins, glad his joke as brought levity to a far too serious situation, but all too quickly they are back into the serious topics. This is, perhaps, worse than he could have imagined, though he probably shouldn't be surprised considering how hard Era is pushing people away right now. That plus Tony's own over-ambitious approach to things could only have ended badly.

"The Amicitias are a very special family. They have protected the royal line for years untold and they have always done it of their own free will. I have never felt more honored to have someone by my side than I am every time Gladio's father, Clarus, stands with me. They have an amazing sixth sense for knowing when their "charge" is in trouble and I don't just mean from outside forces. He will never ask for thanks, so make sure you find a way to do so. He really does have your best interest at heart, even if you feel like throwing him out a window now and again," Regis smiles, his expression fond and a little sad. He misses Clarus. The man has always been a part of his life--every part of his life--except for that here and it just feels wrong.

"Does your world have the phrase 'The path to hell is paved with good intentions?' I think the problem here is that you what to help so much that you are pushing too far too quickly. This is especially dangerous with how close you are to this. If you are not careful, your good intentions may not only affect her badly, but also affect yourself badly. Do not take this the wrong way, my friend, but it may already be happening. Listen to how upset and frustrated you are already. It is causing you to not approach the situation in a logical manner. It may be that you cannot get through to her. If someone who she considers a father cannot get through to her right now, what makes you think someone who is basically a stranger will?"

He holds up a hand just in case Tony tries to take this a step farther than Regis means for it to go, "I am not saying I want you to give up. After all, I will not be giving up either, but if you want your knowledge of these kinds of mental illnesses to help her and not hurt her, it may be best to pass the information through another source. Me, perhaps? I would be happy to talk to her about things that you feel may help her."

He knew how important the Amicitias were to more than just himself, but as he listened to Regis he felt pride swell up in his chest for his dear friend. Gladio was absolutely special and he knew that honor. He wondered what Clarus must be like to have produced such an amazing son- not that there had to be a correlation between great sons and great fathers. Whatever the case, he was smiling softly and already plotting another way to say 'thank you' to Gladio.

Unfortunately that cliché was sobering. It made him shudder with how real and painful it could be. It would've been easy to let himself fall into his own tragedies and situations there but he managed to hold back. The goal was to help Era and keep his focus there.

He took a moment to really think that question over. "It felt like we had a connection when we began and the fact I'd been through what she had before." That had been his rationale as to 'why him'. Although the rest, he couldn't argue against. He was letting this get to him and it was clearly upsetting him. "And who is going to protect you? Yes she means something important to you but you're.." Okay, he needed to find the right word. He should pick something that was respectful but still got his point across- maybe something clinical or..

"You're a pansy."

Nailed it.

"You've such a kind spirit and you've connected with her story. I worry what kind of power that gives her over you. I want her to get help but I'm concerned too." Although, since there were very few options here. "I can give you the papers I have and talk to you about the condition if you'd like though."

Edited 2021-03-31 16:46 (UTC)

Regis nods as Tony comments about how he felt they'd had a connection at first. They must have because otherwise Tony wouldn't have gone to such efforts to try and help her, especially after she lashed out the first time. At least he does recognize the risk there is to his own mental health if he pushes too hard.

Of course, leave it to Tony to point out the very obvious flip-side of that coin.

Regis can't help but laugh when his friend finally settles on the word 'pansy' to describe him. In fact, he laughs hard enough that he ends up resting his forehead against Tony's shoulder until he gets control of himself again.

Well, he isn't wrong.

"I appreciate the concern, but I think the big difference is that I am also a king. I am used to having to set aside my feelings and address things disconnected from them. Now, I'll admit, I have not had to step back and make that disconnect a lot lately. The skill is rusty, so I do need people to keep an eye on me. I had a whole inner circle to do it back home, after all."

For a moment, he really wishes Cor was still here so he could ask him what he thought of all this, but wishes aren't going to help them through this mess, "I will be happy to see the papers you have, but I think talking about it will be the most useful. Personal perspectives are often more useful than clinical ones. We don't have to do it now, though, if you don't feel ready to. We have already spoke on a lot."

Tony grinned. He was very pleased that Regis took his remark so well. They both needed a little tension relief while he also genuinely was worried about his friend. He ends up laughing too and puts an arm around Regis' shoulder to hold him there. No hard feelings. He loves you, you pansy.

"If you say so," Tony relented, though there was still doubt in his tone. He knew Regis was a wise man and a good king. It was possible that he could disconnect from his emotions and make decisions from a more objective than what the older man could, but Tony doubted it. He didn't think being a king vs a man of science were too different. The part that separated them was that this mental condition had sank its fangs into Tony's psyche and that made it personal.

"You're getting an inner circle back. If Gladio can't be the prince's Shield, draw him in more as yours. He'd love to feel useful again and have a place among his people in a way he doesn't currently. And just because the boy band of choco-brains are young and were supposed to be for the next generation, that doesn't mean anything now. They'd step up if you even implied it was needed. Ignis was a leader on the train and so was Gladio. Listen to them, they're almost even smart sometimes." He grinned at the end, trying to make it clear that was just a joke. He knew they could be very smart.

"Are you doubting me? How dare you!" Regis chuckles and then shifts to lightly punch Tony in the ribs. His amusement lasts only a moment, though, as something else Tony says catches his attention in a different way.

Yes, he is trying to rebuild his inner circle, and it's going better than he had ever thought it might, but that isn't what has caught his attention.

He sits back, gently detangling himself from Tony's grip.

"What do you mean 'if Gladio can't be the prince's Shield?." Is something going on between them?"

As happy and honored as he would be to have Gladio at his side, the young man is suppose to be Noctis' Shield. If they are having issues getting along well enough to work together, then something is very wrong.

Tony laughs with a slight 'oof' when he was struck. It wasn't hardly hard enough to warrant that sound, but he was teasing. "Of course I doubt anyone saying they can do anything better than I can or is this the first time we're meeting?" He joked back. "Just.. also, don't underestimate the power of a daughter- of any child, even as a king. They're little gremlins in pigtails." And he loved them.

When Regis drew back, he watched his friend confused before realizing his mistake. No, he'd promised to back the hell off. He glanced at his friend and knew immediately he needed to come up with something or he'd end up having to admit had he'd screwed up with Noctis too. Unfortunately, he'd already hesitated too long for any of that. He ran a hand over his beard before settling it over his mouth and he continued to think what to do here a moment longer. Finally, he glanced away again, sighed and asked, "Got anything stronger on tap?"

He'd screwed up.

Tony is, of course, right about how much power children have over their parents. There is nothing that Regis wouldn't do for Noctis, after all, and he is about to say so when he notices just how badly Tony reacts to his questions about Gladio and Noctis. A knot of worry starts to twist in his stomach.

"I should be able to find something," Regis says, concern on his face. "Dare I ask how much stronger I should go?"

Tony sighed again. "You know what, no. I need to let them handle it. I promised to butt out. It's not the way I would handle things and that's likely for the best," he huffed a brief laugh, turning so he could look at Regis more directly.

"Gladio made it clear the issue is really between me and Noct and not the two of them, but I think it's shitty how Noct has treated Gladio before and since I've gotten here. I told him as much too." He at least had the sense to give Regis a guilty look at admitting that. "I uh.. I went off on him like an asshole.. but in my defense-" He began and then cut himself off and lifted a hand in surrender. "Okay there is no defense to that."

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You're supposed to proofread before posting? WTF?!

Well...maybe that is just an English major thing. ;-P

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Apologies for the delay! I apparently didn't get the notif for this one. X.x

Sure sure, I know you don't really love me

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