Elementals Chapter 4: Celestial Tides (OPEN)

Alister just sighed. “Yeah, well. This has happened a lot, even after better days. But yeah, me too.”
“No… no… please,” Noel whimpered, and Alister went back to softly comfort her and rub her back.
He then looked up, a little sad that Evan might be leaving. “Um, if you don’t want to listen to the noise, that’s fine…” he suddenly remembered that Evan probably turned his hearing off at night. “Uhm. I want you to stay, though. Please. You can sleep there, and I can sleep with El,” he suggested, pointing to the other bed across from them.

Ignis smiled at her, allowing her to poke him. He looked down, deep in thought, "It feels like I slept for years. Seeing you when I wake up only makes me want to stay up longer."
A small smile forms on his face, one which doesn't fade, "It feels…different. I can form my own thoughts, without hearing criticism. Feel love again. Being free willed is…strange, but in a good way. I should've freed them a long time ago."

“Yeah, of course. I…” Alister blinked. Was he going to cry? He didn’t want to, he had cried already. “I don’t want you to leave, I’ll miss you…”
Noel had seemed to calm down. Her brother kept rubbing her back and shoulders slowly and rhythmically, but for his sake and hers. When he felt that she would be okay, he let her down and went over to Evan. Taking his hand, he murmured, “I wouldn’t want you to be alone either.”

Ignis returned the favor and cuddled with her. His faint glowing eyes remaining locked on Kali. His head buzzed from their touch. His smile only grew wider. His mind finally rested, everything stood still. He wanted this moment to last. He grabbed Kali's hand gently. Palms faced upwards, he made something special.

A dark star. A sphere of shadow with flame accents. Various colors mixed and intertwined with the darkness, with more darkness than flame. It didn't burn, or even give off heat. It was just there.

Ignis then lifted their hands up, allowing the star to float to the ceiling. The star exploded into a starry night. "We are night. Not a void of darkness, nor a world set ablaze. We are peace and prosperity. A time of rest and remembrance."

Alister sighed, and gave him a tired smile. “Okay,” he said. Though it was a simple response, he was relieved and happy that Evan would stay.
Before he went to the bed, Alister gave him a quick hug, and then moved back over to the other bed where Noel was sleeping. While the other boy wasn’t looking, he took off his pants, just because it could get hot, especially when there was another body next to him. After climbing into bed, he snuggled beside his sister, who appeared to grow calm again.
“Goodnight,” he whispered, then closed his eyes. Almost immediately, he was out.

For what felt like hours, the two sank into calmness and serenity. The stars dancing around the room, it was nice. The stars began to fade as Ignis felt his power wither. When the stars ceased, Ignis was forced deep in sleep. His body relaxed, and his hand fell away from Kali's. He knew what came beyond the horizon, but he didn't care. He was happy at last.

(Do we wanna skip?)

(Okay, do we wanna just choose who skips or just pick a time and just post on our own time?)

The sun began to rise beyond the horizon. The morning birds chirped and the forest leaves rustle with the soft wind. A peaceful morning. Ignis woke up to see Kali, it wasn't a dream… he thought. With a gentle kiss upon her head, Ignis ventured to the kitchen. He didn't know what to make for everyone, but he had plenty to offer. So the best he could do was set the coffee, and wait.

Probably because she had already slept earlier, and more than the boys, Noel woke up first. Alister's arms were wrapped around her, and she snuggled in them, appreciating the warmth. But then she heard him snoring, and that's when it got annoying. She carefully slipped out of the bed and seeing Evan was still asleep, went ahead out of the room and into the kitchen.
Seeing both Ignis and Kali already there made her feel awkward. Though tempted to go back to her room, her stomach rumbled and the smell of coffee kept her from leaving. She yawned.

Before Ignis could say anything, Noel came into the room. He smiled as he approached her with a cup, "Not sure about giving you coffee, but after what we went through, just this once." He turned his attention to Kali, "and a lovely morning to you."

Noel glanced to Kali. “No, they’re still asleep.” Her voice was quiet and mumbling. Then her eyes flickered to Ignis, then down to the cup he held out for her. Though she wasn’t a coffee drinker (Alister had made sure of that), she took the cup with a small “Thanks.”
Hesitantly, she came closer to the two, and took a sip. It was bitter and scorched her tongue, and so she immediately put it on the kitchen counter as if it were some kind of dangerous chemical. She noticed the steam rising from it though, so she started playing with it instead, making the rising steam curl around her finger or turn into funny shapes.
When she turned back to the others though, she caught Kali’s smile. Out of nowhere, Noel asked, “Did you guys make out last night?”

Almost spitting out his coffee, Ignis jumped in surprise. After swallowing the hot coffee, he laughed, "Maybe." He glanced at Kali with a mischievous wink. He felt goofy, but somehow natural.
Ignis then took the coffee and disappeared from behind the counter. He carefully came back with another mug, "Hot chocolate. There are marshmallows in the cabinet. I'm sure there are other sweets in there to spice up your cocoa."
He then leaned on the counter with a gentle smile on his face, "So ladies, the most important question: What shall we have for breakfast?"

If Alister was here, he would have immediately clamped a hand over her mouth, but alas, he was absent, and there was no one to stop her from saying what was on her mind.
Noel’s eyes widened like a cat’s when Ignis brought out a second mug. “Thanks,” she said again, but went over to the cabinet uncertainly, like Ignis had not let her get things from it after all and she was doing something wrong. When she saw the marshmallows however, all of the uncertainty vanished. Taking them to her mug, she replied to Kali. “I dunno. I was asleep.” If she had been awake, she would have gladly spilled the tea on whatever her brother and Evan had done.
She sat at the counter and sprinkling a few into the cocoa, and maybe popping them onto her mouth too. Looking to Ignis, she asked quietly, “Eggs and toast?”

Ignis wanders around the kitchen, grabbing several spices and ingredients. The way he moved seemed almost like dancing. he started to beat the eggs with a dash of milk. When it was evenly mixed, he began to layer the pan with butter. As he was cooking, the room began to brighten. Not blinding, but just bright enough to notice. He threw two slices of bread into a nearby toaster. Using a form of telekinesis, he started the toaster, "Noel, would you see if our slumbering friends would like breakfast?"

Ignis's smile only grew wider. He was happy to cook anything, simply because it was normal. He placed the eggs on low heat as he moved to the pantry. He came back not with ingredients or food, but with a book. He graciously handed Kali the book. It wasn't particularly thick, only having a few pieces of paper added into it. The cover was blank, solid black with only a gold wheat symbol. He moved back to the eggs as they were finishing, "A cookbook. One of my oldest editions. Not sure if you knew how to make pancakes, but I have a few recipes in there. Along with a few notes to add flavor. Just let me know how I can help, and I will."

Noel waited a few moments, blowing over the mug’s top to cool it down. She stared as Kali kissed Ignis’s cheek, slowly bringing the mug to her lips and sipping loudly. When she was done, she said, “Sure,” and headed back off to the room with the mug of cocoa in hand.
~
It must have happened during the night, because Alister did not remember this warm presence and pressure on his back, the soft smell of sweat and pine trees on the edge of his nose, nor the soft rhythmic breathing when he fell asleep. But here he was, waking up to it. His eyes fluttered dimly open, allowing only a sliver of light through. The rest of his senses ‘woke up’ as well, intensifying the sensations. His hand reached to find Evan’s arm draped over his waist, and he took hold of it, at the moment just resting in the fact that he was here and that he was safe. He didn’t want to wake up, he wanted to stay like this, even for just a little longer.

( @imNOTdenki)