so if i face the weird white wall from this side, and then you face the weird white wall from the other... you go right, i go left! am i a genius or what?
i'm letting them die in this ruin tbh they deserve it
Huh. You don't say. Well if we're going for the same thing, [ which all things considered, he doubts, but it's kind of fun needling lance, ] I've got dibs.
[ anyway, it's somewhere like... idk 2am. if meteor is sleeping, then good for him because he won't be enjoying that for much longer.
with a shuddering creak, which for a second he almost worries might actually wake even gladio from his slumber, the worn motel room door swings closed behind noctis as he emerges into the hallway. it's dark, aside from the only lamp on the wall which is all the way at the other end, and seems to flicker lazily every now and then, the light-bulb inside it trapped somewhere between life and death. it's in psychedelica. even so, it's enough to assure him he's alone in the corridor.
he holds his breath for a second, listening carefully for any consequences he didn't want from that racket he'd hoped not to make. but for a blessing, the seconds carry on as before, giving no indication that anyone noticed or heard him.
good. the last thing he needs is to get scolded for still being up at this hour. as if he's trying to be.
he passes the room directly across from the one he just left; that's where ignis and prompto are, which means it's also on the blacklist. not the place to go when he's unable to fall asleep. part of him wishes he'd have insisted on rooming with prompto tonight, if only because he's the only one who'd have understood; maybe he'd even stay up with him for king's knight.
but with things as they are, his only viable choice is the next door over, which he picks his way to with careful steps. he's glad there's no one to see him, hesitating for a second, his extended hand drawing back and then moving again, and then stopping. in the end, he still knocks. ]
Uh. It's me. Let me in?
[ as quietly as he can -- and, you know, presumably after he hears anything in response. ]
[ i mean what if he was sleeping. he's been here before. folks barge into his room the middle of the night all the time, his privacy be damned; least they usually knock, noctis included. so he was asleep, light as anyone in an unknown land should; his body reacts to the familiar voice, leaving his eyes closed for mere seconds while considering if '...' is an appropriate answer.
in the end it's the creak of his bed that comes as a response, the shuffling of tired limbs - ever diligent to answer the call of a companion, even if when the deadbolt clicks and the door cracks open the face that meets noctis is long, half-lidded. meteor eyes noctis up and down silently as if to ascertain if something is actually wrong, before straightening his back to open the door wider. ]
... Aye, make yourself at home.
[ it's clear the intrusion is fine by the way meteor leisurely returns to his space - a single yawn chased by his hand, scratching at stubble and then the back of his neck. completely ignoring his disheveled hair because if noctis is going to visit at 2am he's getting the natural look that comes with it.
when he settles seated it's near to the foot of the bed - giving noctis the choice of sitting beside him, or the meager desk chair the rented room offers. the finest hospitality for a king - only meteor's demeanor is too relaxed for any pomp and circumstance. he's not even really glancing towards him - hands set on his knees, chin tilted upwards, as if his tired gaze could bore a hole into the ceiling while he considers what time it might be at home and whether a body feels lag from inter-dimensionary travel. normal 2am thoughts. ]
Here I thought you'd be long out getting your beauty rest.
[ a friendly jab, but really - after that nap performance on the drive, it is a surprise that noctis wouldnโt be coveting every minute of sleep he could get. ]
[ that's all fine by noctis, to be honest. the last thing he needs is for the borderline scruffy stranger he fished from a lake (and who could breathe in it, too, aside from apparently traveling between worlds) to start treating him with weird courtesy after learning that he's a prince -- or wait, right, he's a king now. something he doesn't like lingering on for too long, due to obvious reasons. ]
Gladio's snoring.
[ that's his excuse, given offhandedly as he finishes closing the door. it's a partial truth, to be fair; it's not like that wasn't happening either, he just hadn't registered it much until he had to be thankful for it covering his escape.
he lingers idly with his hand on the knob for a while, not really knowing what else he should do with himself. it's not as if coming here was some grand plan, or like he had anything figured out past just finding company for his plight. but eventually, his fingers slide on their own from the metal and as his arm makes a lazy return to his side, he resigns to face properly to the room. neither of the seats that meteor so gracefully left as choices for him seems to tempt him, though. instead, he just wanders his way to the window, dropping his elbows onto the sill to peer out. ]
At least the weather doesn't look bad. You good to go for a walk?
[ around the block within range of the lamplight, he means. he'd offer a drive as well, but they can't at night. even presuming they'd survive the eventual daemons cropping up, which is actually a little possible between his and meteor's skills, they'd both just get murdered by ignis in the morning for leaving without a word. ...and subjecting themselves to unnecessary danger and risk of death for no reason. ]
[ As if cafes without coffee even exist, but that's beside the point. It's a casual, typical Noctis grumble that easily passes for mock-offense on behalf of his drink. And well, there is that too, but the truth is for a minute he'd thought about asking Ignis if he wanted a taste. You know, kind of like friends share things sometimes; something he does with Prompto a lot without even thinking but not... really... with anyone else. No point to it if Ignis already tried it, though.
He downs the rest of it in one go, including the leftover bits of ice cube that hadn't quite melted yet. Ignis was right -- it's enough to cool him... for about one whole second. The empty glass goes back on the table, maybe a bit too close to the edge because Noctis is lazy. ]
Oh, right. You were saying something about a photo earlier. Of what? Prompto and his skewers?
[ Well, more accurately Ignis was talking about not having taken it, he thinks, but he still wants to know. ]
Iced coffee. Any cafe has a coffee, but not iced ones.
[Just confirming Noct's thoughts on the subject. It waters down the strength of caffeine, but it's not staying awake that he's looking for now, it's relief. When Noct slams the glass down, Ignis is in the middle of a sip and just knocks the table with his leg, making the glass slide towards the middle and away from the edge, says nothing about it either.]
Hmm, we should ask people at Leville if they have ice dispensers, [he muses as he hears Noct crunch the ice. He could make them milkshakes.]
Oh, no, I didn't take it. I wish I did- it wasn't the skewers part. It was the part after he ate one piece. It wouldn't surprise me if the scream was what woke you up.
[Ignis wants to say he feels sorry for the guy, but he also warned him, so he has nothing else to spare.]
[ Nice one, Ignis. Although if Noctis notices, he doesn't comment on it either. That's just how life can be with them sometimes. ]
Dunno. Prompto screaming's not exactly high on my list of reasons for alarm.
[ Rude, but that's what he gets for raising his volume over just about anything he sees. Which Noctis thinks of with a smile and a quiet huff of amusement, speaking volumes of how much he actually minds it, aside from as a harmless tease. He knows Ignis doesn't either. Besides, if one were to get technical, there aren't even that many things that would make it very far on said list. His actual phone alarm certainly doesn't.
Still, for right now... After the most recent bouts of weird unexplainable migraineโข, this sort of quiet time he gets with Ignis might be best. ]
It sounds like I missed that one so there's no helping it, but y'know. If you ever want me to take a picture or two for you, it's not like I'd mind. Just might not be as good as Prompto's though.
Unless it's in a cave or open battlefield, it's not on my list either.
[He sits gunshot in Regalia, it's kind of ear-piercing sometimes; there are very rare moments where he just sits and is not wiggling and turning around to talk to Noct. The same goes for Mr. Prince when he thinks he's so smart to sit on the edge of the car. He should slam the breaks next time, and send them both flying... Just thought he's entertaining.
Ignis knows that Gladio can be intense company sometimes, and Prompto loud and fast, so he does try to keep it on down low and chill (he hates that word).]
I'm bad at it as well. I do believe we will have a repeat performance later, there was a bet mentioned. [He leans back because the guy with their breakfast shows up and Ignis orders just pure ice in two tall glasses. He gets a look, but Ignis ignores it and nudges the plate with food towards Noct.]
So, what are our plans for today?
[They agreed on taking it easy, but that doesn't mean they should do nothing. 'Taking it easy' means 'we're not doing work today', right?]
A bet, huh? If we catch it, I can snap it up for you.
[ Noctis wouldn't say he's bad at pictures, for himself. He's probably just average, kind of like most people who have phones they're used to handling. But it sure checks out for Ignis... with his usual image, he can see it. It's kind of funny, but the food distracts him and he lets it go, a casual 'thanks' towards the server as he sets it down. He's working hard at picking out the rolls that don't appear to have tomatoes in them by the time the question lands. ]
Uh... no clue. I didn't think that far.
[ They do have a delivery to make they never did last night... It was late when they arrived, and after fighting to retrieve it from a pack of monsters, driving back while racing nightfall, and dealing with Noctis's sudden-onset headache, the last thing even Gladio had felt like doing was to lug a box from the trunk of the Regalia all the way to the market. They'd silently agreed to just leave it for this morning. So he could suggest that, but... ]
Wanna take the cable car?
[ He asks in the spur of a moment, right before he stuffs half of a bread roll in his mouth. Prompto's gonna hate him later when they tell him, but it's fine. ]
[This may be a small revenge for all the pics Prompto took of him without glasses and smudges on his face, as well as pics of Noct faceplanting. It's funny, he doesn't deny it, but it's only fair to have a silly one of Prompto as well, right?
He squints his eyes judgementally at Noct for picking and choosing through rolls, but he promised not to complain about not eating veggies today. At least Noct has an appetite and is not about to puke all over because strong headaches can do that to you.
Ignis takes one himself and is going through the options of what they could do today- the crate is there, sure, but they can drop it off at any time, it won't take even ten minutes. But before he can even suggest anything-]
A cable car? As tourists? [He gives him a quirked eyebrow.] I suppose we could. We didn't really explore this place further than Leville. [Ignis is, truthfully, not thinking about Prompto anymore, this got him intrigued.]
[ Does Ignis even know that concept? It's what the teasing look that Noctis gives him seems to ask, on playful notes, though maybe not entirely effective over a second half of breakfast roll he's finishing in a large bite...
Not that he minds it over-much, because the exact same item is gracefully also hiding the second of hesitation he'd experienced, as Ignis thought about it first. It would have been... rather anti-climactic if he'd said no, somehow. The reason Noctis feels that, though, remains a mystery because he does with it exactly what he does with all his feelings that he doesn't want to deal with. He shoves it to the back.
He waits to finish chewing first, at least. He'd rather not get scolded for talking with his mouth full, of all things, after he's done so well this far. ]
No idea how far it goes. But if you're looking for something more practical, I guess it could also give us a lay of the land? So there you have it.
[Listen, he knows what 'fun' is, but since everything came crashing down, he (and everyone to be honest) has been kind of scrambling to get a foothold on everything that's going on. Fun wasn't exactly part of that. Sure, he enjoyed the downtime in the evenings, them playing cards or King's Knight, but actively seeking a day off to hang out is not what they usually did.
Ignis looks more curious about it as the minutes go on, actually kind of liking the idea. Then again, he'll be going with Noct, so even if they just went fishing, he'd like it. He... doesn't want to think about what that implies. They are both on the same page of sledgehammering the feelings in the back when they don't wanna think about them.]
It would be too abstract, as the terrain here is uneven because of the Disc. But it would be a marvelous lookout. I say we go.
[He was never going to say no, especially to Noctis. Gods, he's weak sometimes.]
Right. It's still better than nothing, too. Sounds like a plan.
[ Because if they don't have an excuse, however flimsy, for the way they choose to spend their time... he doesn't know. It starts to feel like something else. No time to think about it. He moves the rolls around a little on the plate, now fully sorted out and separated cleanly in two groups; the ones that have tomato (and there's one with peppers too, he thinks) facing Ignis, and the ones that just have egg and sausage on his side. He's delegating duties, like kings should. Not.
Though there's a pause, because the server pops back up to bring their ice. Well, the ice that Ignis ordered more precisely, but Noctis isn't shy at all in stealing a cube of it to pop into his mouth. Or... press against his lips in thought, for now. ]
It's, uh... been a while. Since the last time it was just you and me.
[ The trip works different from their lives back in the capital, when they were often all split up and only got together when they planned it. They'd had a lot of quiet evenings to themselves back then, since Ignis was the one assigned to check on him most often. Sure, depending on the duty, it could be Gladio sometimes; and he spent a lot of his private, personal time with Prompto instead. But Ignis was just... kind of always there, overall. Not that Noctis minds the group the way it is right now at all, they're all his friends. It's just... a bit nostalgic, he supposes.
He'd taken it a bit for granted then; never realized he'd miss it. ]
[He eyes the rolls that were nudged his way and were "politely ignored" because they had a single veggie in it, and only sighed softly. Some things will never change. At least he can make him eat some roasted veggies when they are camping because they mostly smell like barbecue.
His idle thoughts about camping and roasted carrots (?) were briefly interrupted by the image of Noct sucking on that goddamn ice cube. Ignis is trying to minimize his reaction to it because he's not sure what his reaction is (just the sight of it is very distracting), and fishes out a handkerchief from his pocket.]
Hmmm, that it was. I think the last thing we did was marathoning documentaries about stars. Or, there was an attempt- you fell asleep right after dinner, 30 minutes in.[Packing for trip Ignis doesn't count- they were alone in Noct's apartment, but not for fun. Besides, being at Noct's place is just something he's used to do- if anyone ever brought it up as odd, Ignis would've been offended.
He leans over and takes a handful of ice cubes, puts them all in the handkerchief, wraps it, then places it on the back of his neck. If he were not in public, there might've been a moan right there.]
If we find accommodations that have TV and movies, we could organize such a night again, [this time, he's leaned back in his chair, contemplative a way more relaxed, with his "cooling bag".]
...Yeah, well, sorry about that. Guess I'll have to try not to repeat it if we do.
[ It's mumbled well enough for an apology, a turn of his head to mask the embarrassment as Noctis pretends to be casually interested in someone a little distance away, passing by. He isn't, though. He's just remembering the evening in question, and what Ignis is talking about. Not only is it true he fell asleep -- he's guilty as charged of that like always -- but it's where he'd done it in that instance, too. Right against Ignis's shoulder, from where Noctis woke up a while later with his face near burrowed in the crook of his neck. He'd probably drifted there for warmth, but still... almost close enough to make it weird. Why didn't Ignis just wake him instead of sitting through that?
...He's not even feeling all that hungry anymore for now, so he can't use eating as a distraction again. All he has is the ice cube, but it melts rather quickly once he's put it in his mouth. Crossing one leg over his other under the table instead, he folds his arms and chooses to sink further in his seat. ]
That actually working for you?
[ The chair tilts with him when he shifts his weight, hovering precariously on just its left-side legs as he leans closer. He's got it balanced well for now though, so it's fine. He gives the makeshift ice pack a scrutinizing sideways look, as if trying to either doubt it or suss out its efficiency for himself. ]
Nothing to apologize for, I've known you long enough to suspect it could happen.
[He's not sure why he vividly remembers that night, what he made them for dinner, what they talked about (mostly nonsense and fishing gear), Noct almost eating himself into a lasagna-induced coma, then dozing off and, for a big surprise, Ignis after him too. It's just that he woke up at the first stir coming from Noct because he's a light sleeper.
It was... nice. Perfect even, if you ask him, too comfortable to admit it, and a secret he'll take to the grave with him (probably). It's perhaps because of that, the fact that such nights didn't happen so often, especially with Noct dozing off on him, that he remembers it so perfectly. He had to squish the wish to organize more of such evenings in hope of it repeating but that would've been too suspicious. Right?]
It makes me crave an actual ice bath, [Ignis admits, completely ignoring that the ice is melting and making his shirt wet on the edges.] I suppose those are a luxury in Lestallum, [a small huff and attempt at a joke.]
Do you wish to depart now for the cars or later? Perhaps at a higher altitude, we will catch some fresh air and a bit of cooler winds. [He eyes the off-balance chair and gives Noctis a look.] You'll topple over. [A statement because this, too, has happened before.]
[ Stubborn, with a note of eyeroll to deliver the rest of his intended message -- get off his case. He only tilts the chair even further in defiance, until the corner of its backrest clacks lightly against the one Ignis is occupying, bumping their shoulders together in the process too. Although unfortunately that's also like a prophecy coming true the next moment, because the impact does kind of throw it off-balance, and he's forced to let it emergency land back on its previous spot before it does tip over for real. There's nothing elegant about the sound of those plastic legs on the cobblestone of the terrace, either.
...He's just gonna pretend that didn't happen. ]
I'm good with now, but... you should probably eat something too. You're gonna lose your rights to keep lecturing me, y'know.
[ He quirks an eyebrow with that one; this wasn't supposed to be breakfast for just him. And no, coffee alone does not constitute breakfast either. Iced or not. ]
[Ignis watches in bemusement as Noctis proceeds to do what he told him not to do, and eventually threatens to fall onto the floor as predicted. He doesn't say anything, but raises his eyebrows at him and pushes his glasses up in the "I told you so" fashion. Honestly, he suspects that's way more annoying than anything he could've said right now.
He's lucky he didn't break those plastic legs and that they don't have to pay for destroying someone else's property.]
I will take some with me, do not worry. [He doesn't skip breakfast, and he did eat one. He'll pick up a few more to eat on the way there.]
And I will always lecture you if you are doing ['dumb shit' almost slipped out,] things that endanger you. [... too formal?]
[ Yeah. It's way more annoying, which is why he ignores it, chair scraping unharmoniously on the ground as he pushes it back to stand. And pretends he didn't just feel like folding his arms again, by busying himself with searching for coins through his pockets instead. Not with any semblance of order, one might add. ]
I wasn't doing things that endanger me. I was messing with you, there's a difference.
[ He dips a little towards Ignis as he says that, in something like the faintest mock-bow of "you're welcome", but there's a tug at the corners of his lips and a second later the very first huff of a chuckle, which kind of ruins it. To his credit, he does find a bit of change however, which he drops on the tabletop without ceremony. A couple of coins roll off under the edge of the plate, but they stay mostly together. Can be a tip for the staff, for accommodating Ignis's weird ice request, or for the noise, or whatever.
Noctis grabs one more roll from the plate as well, then turns. He doesn't know why; the ones over here don't look anything like them, and he hasn't thought of the Crown City in a while, avoiding the topic in his mind for reasons that feel still all too fresh to them all, but the streets of Insomnia come to mind. Right now, there's a pang in his chest and it feels like they're back for a second, having never left.
He's with Ignis. No, Ignis is with him, like always. That sets him at ease. ]
C'mon. I think the ticket point is this way, like... past the power plant and to the left? Y'know, high ground.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
look at us... vt-ing together like besties
this ISN'T funny if you're doing it on purpose
( don't leave him here... with the bloodthirsty creatures that pop up out of nowhere?? )
i wish i could unsee your username
[ but then he turns to look, and there's no corner. only wall.
uh. ]
shut up it's a masterpiece and you know it
I SEE LIKE TWENTY AND I'M NOT EVEN TRYING YOU'LL HAVE TO BE REALLY SPECIFIC
yeah you couldn't make it more cursed if you tried
Don't know. The right of where we came from last night?
thanks! that was the intent
there's a white wall blocking one of these tunnels
which decidedly wasn't there last night
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[ he's kicking the wall with his boot, like a gentleman. ]
How about that one? You hear it?
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i TOLD you you picked the wrong way!
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Just pick your own.
1/2
every time we listen to you, something crazier happens
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from here on, you can call me Lance the Guide
i'm a natural
( god help them )
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Yeah, okay.
This'll be good.
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a little more confidence couldn't hurt
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We're already so lost it doesn't make any difference anymore.
[ by this point, he just wants to get it over with and walk into a trap or whatever. ]
im losing it switching between these threads
but FINE
so if i face the weird white wall from this side, and then you face the weird white wall from the other... you go right, i go left! am i a genius or what?
i'm letting them die in this ruin tbh they deserve it
What the heck is that? No way that's gonna work.
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well in case you haven't noticed
nothing else is working either!
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Fine. At least you can't blame me when you get yourself more lost.
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Guess you're not cool enough.
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yeah yeah
you better be walking because i'm walking and i swear, if you split us up even more
( ... )
i'll kill you
( nailed it. )
(1/2)
Walking. Hallway's just stupidly endless.
(2/2)
Why were you guys in this dump anyway?
Pretty weird to find people. Usually it's just daemons or a bunch of gross bugs.
they're lost in ikea your honor
sorry, top secret, my lips are sealed
( which is only a liiiittle percent him exaggerating this to sound cool! rejoice, the rest of it is the truth. )
they're not in ikea bc noctis would just lie down on a bed
Well if we're going for the same thing, [ which all things considered, he doubts, but it's kind of fun needling lance, ] I've got dibs.
adding to ur 5* username collection
accepting this one but only if it's the square ones
[ anyway, it's somewhere like... idk 2am. if meteor is sleeping, then good for him because he won't be enjoying that for much longer.
with a shuddering creak, which for a second he almost worries might actually wake even gladio from his slumber, the worn motel room door swings closed behind noctis as he emerges into the hallway. it's dark, aside from the only lamp on the wall which is all the way at the other end, and seems to flicker lazily every now and then, the light-bulb inside it trapped somewhere between life and death.
it's in psychedelica.even so, it's enough to assure him he's alone in the corridor.he holds his breath for a second, listening carefully for any consequences he didn't want from that racket he'd hoped not to make. but for a blessing, the seconds carry on as before, giving no indication that anyone noticed or heard him.
good. the last thing he needs is to get scolded for still being up at this hour. as if he's trying to be.
he passes the room directly across from the one he just left; that's where ignis and prompto are, which means it's also on the blacklist. not the place to go when he's unable to fall asleep. part of him wishes he'd have insisted on rooming with prompto tonight, if only because he's the only one who'd have understood; maybe he'd even stay up with him for king's knight.
but with things as they are, his only viable choice is the next door over, which he picks his way to with careful steps. he's glad there's no one to see him, hesitating for a second, his extended hand drawing back and then moving again, and then stopping. in the end, he still knocks. ]
Uh. It's me. Let me in?
[ as quietly as he can -- and, you know, presumably after he hears anything in response. ]
ok but what other shape would grapes even be
in the end it's the creak of his bed that comes as a response, the shuffling of tired limbs - ever diligent to answer the call of a companion, even if when the deadbolt clicks and the door cracks open the face that meets noctis is long, half-lidded. meteor eyes noctis up and down silently as if to ascertain if something is actually wrong, before straightening his back to open the door wider. ]
... Aye, make yourself at home.
[ it's clear the intrusion is fine by the way meteor leisurely returns to his space - a single yawn chased by his hand, scratching at stubble and then the back of his neck. completely ignoring his disheveled hair because if noctis is going to visit at 2am he's getting the natural look that comes with it.
when he settles seated it's near to the foot of the bed - giving noctis the choice of sitting beside him, or the meager desk chair the rented room offers. the finest hospitality for a king - only meteor's demeanor is too relaxed for any pomp and circumstance. he's not even really glancing towards him - hands set on his knees, chin tilted upwards, as if his tired gaze could bore a hole into the ceiling while he considers what time it might be at home and whether a body feels lag from inter-dimensionary travel. normal 2am thoughts. ]
Here I thought you'd be long out getting your beauty rest.
[ a friendly jab, but really - after that nap performance on the drive, it is a surprise that noctis wouldnโt be coveting every minute of sleep he could get. ]
idk ask square enix, i want them back
Gladio's snoring.
[ that's his excuse, given offhandedly as he finishes closing the door. it's a partial truth, to be fair; it's not like that wasn't happening either, he just hadn't registered it much until he had to be thankful for it covering his escape.
he lingers idly with his hand on the knob for a while, not really knowing what else he should do with himself. it's not as if coming here was some grand plan, or like he had anything figured out past just finding company for his plight. but eventually, his fingers slide on their own from the metal and as his arm makes a lazy return to his side, he resigns to face properly to the room. neither of the seats that meteor so gracefully left as choices for him seems to tempt him, though. instead, he just wanders his way to the window, dropping his elbows onto the sill to peer out. ]
At least the weather doesn't look bad. You good to go for a walk?
[ around the block within range of the lamplight, he means. he'd offer a drive as well, but they can't at night. even presuming they'd survive the eventual daemons cropping up, which is actually a little possible between his and meteor's skills, they'd both just get murdered by ignis in the morning for leaving without a word. ...and subjecting themselves to unnecessary danger and risk of death for no reason. ]
tfln overflow @ reigniter
That so? Good thing they have your coffee then.
[ As if cafes without coffee even exist, but that's beside the point. It's a casual, typical Noctis grumble that easily passes for mock-offense on behalf of his drink. And well, there is that too, but the truth is for a minute he'd thought about asking Ignis if he wanted a taste. You know, kind of like friends share things sometimes; something he does with Prompto a lot without even thinking but not... really... with anyone else. No point to it if Ignis already tried it, though.
He downs the rest of it in one go, including the leftover bits of ice cube that hadn't quite melted yet. Ignis was right -- it's enough to cool him... for about one whole second. The empty glass goes back on the table, maybe a bit too close to the edge because Noctis is lazy. ]
Oh, right. You were saying something about a photo earlier. Of what? Prompto and his skewers?
[ Well, more accurately Ignis was talking about not having taken it, he thinks, but he still wants to know. ]
goddamn captcha
[Just confirming Noct's thoughts on the subject. It waters down the strength of caffeine, but it's not staying awake that he's looking for now, it's relief. When Noct slams the glass down, Ignis is in the middle of a sip and just knocks the table with his leg, making the glass slide towards the middle and away from the edge, says nothing about it either.]
Hmm, we should ask people at Leville if they have ice dispensers, [he muses as he hears Noct crunch the ice. He could make them milkshakes.]
Oh, no, I didn't take it. I wish I did- it wasn't the skewers part. It was the part after he ate one piece. It wouldn't surprise me if the scream was what woke you up.
[Ignis wants to say he feels sorry for the guy, but he also warned him, so he has nothing else to spare.]
simple solution so it's cool ๐
Dunno. Prompto screaming's not exactly high on my list of reasons for alarm.
[ Rude, but that's what he gets for raising his volume over just about anything he sees. Which Noctis thinks of with a smile and a quiet huff of amusement, speaking volumes of how much he actually minds it, aside from as a harmless tease. He knows Ignis doesn't either. Besides, if one were to get technical, there aren't even that many things that would make it very far on said list. His actual phone alarm certainly doesn't.
Still, for right now... After the most recent bouts of weird unexplainable migraineโข, this sort of quiet time he gets with Ignis might be best. ]
It sounds like I missed that one so there's no helping it, but y'know. If you ever want me to take a picture or two for you, it's not like I'd mind. Just might not be as good as Prompto's though.
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[He sits gunshot in Regalia, it's kind of ear-piercing sometimes; there are very rare moments where he just sits and is not wiggling and turning around to talk to Noct. The same goes for Mr. Prince when he thinks he's so smart to sit on the edge of the car. He should slam the breaks next time, and send them both flying... Just thought he's entertaining.
Ignis knows that Gladio can be intense company sometimes, and Prompto loud and fast, so he does try to keep it on down low and chill (he hates that word).]
I'm bad at it as well. I do believe we will have a repeat performance later, there was a bet mentioned. [He leans back because the guy with their breakfast shows up and Ignis orders just pure ice in two tall glasses. He gets a look, but Ignis ignores it and nudges the plate with food towards Noct.]
So, what are our plans for today?
[They agreed on taking it easy, but that doesn't mean they should do nothing. 'Taking it easy' means 'we're not doing work today', right?]
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[ Noctis wouldn't say he's bad at pictures, for himself. He's probably just average, kind of like most people who have phones they're used to handling. But it sure checks out for Ignis... with his usual image, he can see it. It's kind of funny, but the food distracts him and he lets it go, a casual 'thanks' towards the server as he sets it down. He's working hard at picking out the rolls that don't appear to have tomatoes in them by the time the question lands. ]
Uh... no clue. I didn't think that far.
[ They do have a delivery to make they never did last night... It was late when they arrived, and after fighting to retrieve it from a pack of monsters, driving back while racing nightfall, and dealing with Noctis's sudden-onset headache, the last thing even Gladio had felt like doing was to lug a box from the trunk of the Regalia all the way to the market. They'd silently agreed to just leave it for this morning. So he could suggest that, but... ]
Wanna take the cable car?
[ He asks in the spur of a moment, right before he stuffs half of a bread roll in his mouth. Prompto's gonna hate him later when they tell him, but it's fine. ]
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[This may be a small revenge for all the pics Prompto took of him without glasses and smudges on his face, as well as pics of Noct faceplanting. It's funny, he doesn't deny it, but it's only fair to have a silly one of Prompto as well, right?
He squints his eyes judgementally at Noct for picking and choosing through rolls, but he promised not to complain about not eating veggies today. At least Noct has an appetite and is not about to puke all over because strong headaches can do that to you.
Ignis takes one himself and is going through the options of what they could do today- the crate is there, sure, but they can drop it off at any time, it won't take even ten minutes. But before he can even suggest anything-]
A cable car? As tourists? [He gives him a quirked eyebrow.] I suppose we could. We didn't really explore this place further than Leville. [Ignis is, truthfully, not thinking about Prompto anymore, this got him intrigued.]
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[ Does Ignis even know that concept? It's what the teasing look that Noctis gives him seems to ask, on playful notes, though maybe not entirely effective over a second half of breakfast roll he's finishing in a large bite...
Not that he minds it over-much, because the exact same item is gracefully also hiding the second of hesitation he'd experienced, as Ignis thought about it first. It would have been... rather anti-climactic if he'd said no, somehow. The reason Noctis feels that, though, remains a mystery because he does with it exactly what he does with all his feelings that he doesn't want to deal with. He shoves it to the back.
He waits to finish chewing first, at least. He'd rather not get scolded for talking with his mouth full, of all things, after he's done so well this far. ]
No idea how far it goes. But if you're looking for something more practical, I guess it could also give us a lay of the land? So there you have it.
[ It's settled, thanks. ]
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[Listen, he knows what 'fun' is, but since everything came crashing down, he (and everyone to be honest) has been kind of scrambling to get a foothold on everything that's going on. Fun wasn't exactly part of that. Sure, he enjoyed the downtime in the evenings, them playing cards or King's Knight, but actively seeking a day off to hang out is not what they usually did.
Ignis looks more curious about it as the minutes go on, actually kind of liking the idea. Then again, he'll be going with Noct, so even if they just went fishing, he'd like it. He... doesn't want to think about what that implies. They are both on the same page of sledgehammering the feelings in the back when they don't wanna think about them.]
It would be too abstract, as the terrain here is uneven because of the Disc. But it would be a marvelous lookout. I say we go.
[He was never going to say no, especially to Noctis. Gods, he's weak sometimes.]
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[ Because if they don't have an excuse, however flimsy, for the way they choose to spend their time... he doesn't know. It starts to feel like something else. No time to think about it. He moves the rolls around a little on the plate, now fully sorted out and separated cleanly in two groups; the ones that have tomato (and there's one with peppers too, he thinks) facing Ignis, and the ones that just have egg and sausage on his side. He's delegating duties, like kings should.
Not.Though there's a pause, because the server pops back up to bring their ice. Well, the ice that Ignis ordered more precisely, but Noctis isn't shy at all in stealing a cube of it to pop into his mouth. Or... press against his lips in thought, for now. ]
It's, uh... been a while. Since the last time it was just you and me.
[ The trip works different from their lives back in the capital, when they were often all split up and only got together when they planned it. They'd had a lot of quiet evenings to themselves back then, since Ignis was the one assigned to check on him most often. Sure, depending on the duty, it could be Gladio sometimes; and he spent a lot of his private, personal time with Prompto instead. But Ignis was just... kind of always there, overall. Not that Noctis minds the group the way it is right now at all, they're all his friends. It's just... a bit nostalgic, he supposes.
He'd taken it a bit for granted then; never realized he'd miss it. ]
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His idle thoughts about camping and roasted carrots (?) were briefly interrupted by the image of Noct sucking on that goddamn ice cube. Ignis is trying to minimize his reaction to it because he's not sure what his reaction is (just the sight of it is very distracting), and fishes out a handkerchief from his pocket.]
Hmmm, that it was. I think the last thing we did was marathoning documentaries about stars. Or, there was an attempt- you fell asleep right after dinner, 30 minutes in.[Packing for trip Ignis doesn't count- they were alone in Noct's apartment, but not for fun. Besides, being at Noct's place is just something he's used to do- if anyone ever brought it up as odd, Ignis would've been offended.
He leans over and takes a handful of ice cubes, puts them all in the handkerchief, wraps it, then places it on the back of his neck. If he were not in public, there might've been a moan right there.]
If we find accommodations that have TV and movies, we could organize such a night again, [this time, he's leaned back in his chair, contemplative a way more relaxed, with his "cooling bag".]
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[ It's mumbled well enough for an apology, a turn of his head to mask the embarrassment as Noctis pretends to be casually interested in someone a little distance away, passing by. He isn't, though. He's just remembering the evening in question, and what Ignis is talking about. Not only is it true he fell asleep -- he's guilty as charged of that like always -- but it's where he'd done it in that instance, too. Right against Ignis's shoulder, from where Noctis woke up a while later with his face near burrowed in the crook of his neck. He'd probably drifted there for warmth, but still... almost close enough to make it weird. Why didn't Ignis just wake him instead of sitting through that?
...He's not even feeling all that hungry anymore for now, so he can't use eating as a distraction again. All he has is the ice cube, but it melts rather quickly once he's put it in his mouth. Crossing one leg over his other under the table instead, he folds his arms and chooses to sink further in his seat. ]
That actually working for you?
[ The chair tilts with him when he shifts his weight, hovering precariously on just its left-side legs as he leans closer. He's got it balanced well for now though, so it's fine. He gives the makeshift ice pack a scrutinizing sideways look, as if trying to either doubt it or suss out its efficiency for himself. ]
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[He's not sure why he vividly remembers that night, what he made them for dinner, what they talked about (mostly nonsense and fishing gear), Noct almost eating himself into a lasagna-induced coma, then dozing off and, for a big surprise, Ignis after him too. It's just that he woke up at the first stir coming from Noct because he's a light sleeper.
It was... nice. Perfect even, if you ask him, too comfortable to admit it, and a secret he'll take to the grave with him (probably). It's perhaps because of that, the fact that such nights didn't happen so often, especially with Noct dozing off on him, that he remembers it so perfectly. He had to squish the wish to organize more of such evenings in hope of it repeating but that would've been too suspicious. Right?]
It makes me crave an actual ice bath, [Ignis admits, completely ignoring that the ice is melting and making his shirt wet on the edges.] I suppose those are a luxury in Lestallum, [a small huff and attempt at a joke.]
Do you wish to depart now for the cars or later? Perhaps at a higher altitude, we will catch some fresh air and a bit of cooler winds. [He eyes the off-balance chair and gives Noctis a look.] You'll topple over. [A statement because this, too, has happened before.]
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[ Stubborn, with a note of eyeroll to deliver the rest of his intended message -- get off his case. He only tilts the chair even further in defiance, until the corner of its backrest clacks lightly against the one Ignis is occupying, bumping their shoulders together in the process too. Although unfortunately that's also like a prophecy coming true the next moment, because the impact does kind of throw it off-balance, and he's forced to let it emergency land back on its previous spot before it does tip over for real. There's nothing elegant about the sound of those plastic legs on the cobblestone of the terrace, either.
...He's just gonna pretend that didn't happen. ]
I'm good with now, but... you should probably eat something too. You're gonna lose your rights to keep lecturing me, y'know.
[ He quirks an eyebrow with that one; this wasn't supposed to be breakfast for just him. And no, coffee alone does not constitute breakfast either. Iced or not. ]
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He's lucky he didn't break those plastic legs and that they don't have to pay for destroying someone else's property.]
I will take some with me, do not worry. [He doesn't skip breakfast, and he did eat one. He'll pick up a few more to eat on the way there.]
And I will always lecture you if you are doing ['dumb shit' almost slipped out,] things that endanger you. [... too formal?]
So, shall we?
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I wasn't doing things that endanger me. I was messing with you, there's a difference.
[ He dips a little towards Ignis as he says that, in something like the faintest mock-bow of "you're welcome", but there's a tug at the corners of his lips and a second later the very first huff of a chuckle, which kind of ruins it. To his credit, he does find a bit of change however, which he drops on the tabletop without ceremony. A couple of coins roll off under the edge of the plate, but they stay mostly together. Can be a tip for the staff, for accommodating Ignis's weird ice request, or for the noise, or whatever.
Noctis grabs one more roll from the plate as well, then turns. He doesn't know why; the ones over here don't look anything like them, and he hasn't thought of the Crown City in a while, avoiding the topic in his mind for reasons that feel still all too fresh to them all, but the streets of Insomnia come to mind. Right now, there's a pang in his chest and it feels like they're back for a second, having never left.
He's with Ignis. No, Ignis is with him, like always. That sets him at ease. ]
C'mon. I think the ticket point is this way, like... past the power plant and to the left? Y'know, high ground.