"I see." Rulers past. Those who burned at the end of their reign. Shiro sets his glass down a little harder than he means to. He has to steer them away from this path. "Alice wanders in the world beyond the mirror and runs into all sorts of magical beings and creatures. The Jabberwock was mentioned in a book. They learn how to kill it from the reversed poem inside."

Stories won't do it either. He leans on the table, studying his friend carefully. Shiro gently puts his hand on his shoulder. "What did you enjoy about traveling? Are the Chocobo here exactly like the ones you know?" Safe topics. They should forget they're leaders tonight. Isn't that what they set out to do when they came. Forget, forget. Just be Noctis the man. And Shiro, the pilot.