#.v: fidelitas ad finem

[fidelitasadfinem]

🌺

🌸Various Flowers🌸 || @cookignis

SEND 🌺 - FOR YOUR MUSE TO PUT A FLOWER ON MY MUSES’ HAIR.

“What are you doing~” the Duke hums in a sing-song voice, but he doesn’t lose a beat of his momentum. Currently half-curled over his desk and reviewing some official documents. His daughter Cathy is somewhere in the room readying tea and macarons, and Ignis, his nephew— well, what was Ignis up to?

Taking a small break, the Duke puts his fountain pen down and gingerly feels for whatever’s been placed on his hair. “Oh. A rose? What?” It makes him laugh.

[fidelitasadfinem]

His short legs carry him through the hallway, shoes clattering as he runs towards the office he knows so well. A knock and Ignis enters, peeking his head in to find his uncle there. With his hands behind his back he approaches Antoine. "Uncle!" The boy calls out and stands next to his chair. "Happy birthday!" Ignis hands him a clumsily wrapped box (he insisted on doing it himself) containing a handmade mug with the words 'best uncle' printed on it.

Insomnia in the morning has always been a sight to behold. Cars and other vehicles zipping through at the multi-level highways, people milling down the streets, smaller than ants, a veritable hustle and bustle of activity and half-formed chaos residing in a snow globe. 

Thoughts run through Antoine’s mind, a chaotic cloud of it. A couple of letters opened on his desk, both official and not, a copy of the prince’s report card from the new public school Regis transferred him into– grades taking a nosedive, from glowing nineties to seventies. Alarming. 

Another matter he didn’t like to think of was a letter from his illegitimate half-sister, Lady Madeleine Scientia, child of his father Diadumenian with his long-term paramour, a countess long since disgraced and banished from the Lucian court. Asking him for help, of all things, and of all people. Help for what…

The creak of the door makes Antoine half-turn, and he finds his young nephew waddling toward him. Afterward, he is handed a gift – a lump of a gift, clumsily wrapped, as if the gift wrapper couldn’t decide on a bag style or a pouch, or– still, a practiced smile surfaces on Antoine’s features.

“Birthday?” The Duke laughs gently as he crouches down to accept this gift. How nice~ little polar bears on the wrapping paper. “My birthday has been some months past, little Ignis. But regardless, thank you.”

@cookignis

[fidelitasadfinem]

The little boy looks up at him in awe, “You have pretty eyes, uncle.”

Send “You have pretty eyes” for my muses reaction. || @cookignis

Antoine has to pause from making grilled cheese sandwich.“Do I now?” He laughs, leaning over to nuzzle his nephew’shair. “Thank you~ that is such a gracious compliment.”

[fidelitasadfinem]

"Oh! Duke Antoine!" Iris skips over to the Scientia patriarch with a smile, careful not to exactly run in the halls here. "Mama wanted me to give this to you," she says, handing over a bag filled with prepped meals and large tumbler of cofee. "You and papa have been staying overnight in your offices recently so she was worried about your health."

Of course nobody listens to him. So rarely does anybody of notelisten to him these days– he’d been insisting for years that TitusDrautos be watched, and watched closely. Of course the king’saction is an inaction. He has absented himself from council since,content to be in the kitchen and handle what scraps of mattersRegis still deems worthy of his time.

He pauses on his tracks at the familiar voice, and the Duke of Vannathhalf-turns to see Lady Iris. He schools the frustration and exhaustionfrom his face and offers her instead a smile as he accepts herofferings with both hands.

“Ahh, please tell the Countess thank you. I might drop theseoff myself tonight– your father and I finally agreed on beer night.”

@amicitiaeclipse

[fidelitasadfinem]

💗 to kiss my muse tenderly

Send 💗 to kiss my muse tenderly without explanation || @suitedfordark

Now, now look at his little nephew trying to ask forkisses. Humoring him, the Duke crouches down forIgnis, hugging the boy and pressing a kiss in turn onhis hair. “Good afternoon to you too. How were yourlessons?”

[fidelitasadfinem]

💗 to kiss my muse tenderly

Send 💗 to kiss my muse tenderly without explanation || @daaahd

“A moment.”He has a breakfast plate to check and double-check,see if the waffles are the right kind of cooked, the whippedcream the right amount, just the right kind of swirl. Freshfruits, honey-gold syrup, impeccable cutlery. 

But the King is already walking toward him and Antoineturns his head to tease the man about his impatienceregarding food. The King leans in close before he can react,and the kiss is thoroughly unexpected, Antoine isstartled enough that he puts his right hand right into theslab of butter.

“Regis?” He asks, his voice quiet. And there it is again, theKing looking at him like a--

He steps back. Takes another step back. Another. He pullshis hand from the ruined butter and looks at his now-messyfingers. 

“We have talked about this,” he states, straightening up andpeering at his liege from behind his glasses. “Nobody can afford the scandal you’re thinking of. Stop it.”

[fidelitasadfinem]

💗 keeesss uncle's cheek

Send 💗 to kiss my muse tenderly without explanation || @cookignis

It’s one of those rare occasions that Antoine and Adriennego to their villa in the biggest exclusive village in Insomnia.All their children are there for the long weekend (there was aholiday on the coming Monday), and even young Ignis iswith the family. 

Cathy and Zeno are playing the piano and violin for thefamily this evening, and everybody’s in the living area admiringthe music. Antoine has Ignis seated beside him, and a mostunexpected (and terribly cute) thing happens: the boy gives him akiss on the cheek.

With a warm smile the Duke turns to his nephew, amused at thesudden affectionate gesture. “Being cute are you?” Antoineteases the child as he reaches with his left hand and rufflesIggy’s hair.

[fidelitasadfinem]

❛ What do you think I should do? ❜//Toddler Gladiolus :>

° • ? ( QUESTION SENTENCE STARTERS. || @aegisregalis

Oh dear, that can’t be good, can it?Today was the first set play date-meet and greetfor young Prince Noctis and his future Shield, SirGladiolus, Clare’s only son. The interaction was set upby the RHA through Antoine, of course, in one of thecontrolled play rooms of the Citadel. 

Only, the prince didn’t quite like Gladio and soon threwa tantrum only about six minutes into meeting his futureShield. Antoine had asked Lady Nysa, the prince’s governess,to take the prince away, while he sits with Gladio to assurethe boy that he did well, and that he would have to learnthat Prince Noctis is a temperamental child.

“What I think you should do,” says the Duke, smoothingdown Gladio’s dark hair. “Is keep up, but lengthen yourpatience. Prince Noctis is not unlike his own father when theywere the same age. Regis had been moody and flighty as well,though if he does start to trust you, he will cherish you fora long, long time.”

[fidelitasadfinem]

Is there something you regret or wish was different while serving under Regis?

My character is under a truth serum, ask them anything. 

“I wish he actually loved his own son enough to givePrince Noctis what he was due: an informed choice.”

[fidelitasadfinem]

❝ If you want it, I will do it. ❞

* . ✧ CIRCE ✧ . * || @cookignis

“It’s not because I want it, Ignis.” the Duke turnsand kneels, so he is on level with his nephew. He meetsyoung Ignis’ gaze and holds it. “I am not asking you topromise me to be honest with your prince because I want it,but because you owe to His Highness, as a friend and ashis chamberlain, to be honest with him, even if it means imparting to him a horrible truth. In the future, the truthwill be very important to His Highness, because he willbe making a very big decision. He needs to know everythinghe has to know before he makes that decision. Do youunderstand?”

[fidelitasadfinem]

♞ His little arms are around the duke and heft! Ignis is doing his best to lift his uncle up.

Manhandling symbol starters || @cookignis

“What are you doing?” He asks his little nephew, disbeliefin his voice giving way for laughter. “Stop it! You’d hurt yourself,you sweet boy.” Left hand of his ruffling Ignis’ fair hair.

[fidelitasadfinem]

❛ Did I miss anything? ❜

° • ? ( QUESTION SENTENCE STARTERS. || @cookignis

“Not at all, sit,” says Antoine. The council chamber is quite full today, all of Lucis’ mostimportant nobles and department heads assembled. He givesproper introductions to his nephew, the future Duke of Vannath,and the adults no doubt size up the young man as Ignis walksto his seat. When his nephew is settled, Antoine picks up theagenda folio for today. “Shall we get started?”

[fidelitasadfinem]

❛ Is there something wrong? ❜

° • ? ( QUESTION SENTENCE STARTERS. || @guardianshield

Antoine takes a moment to hear the words, and whenhe looks up, he’s almost surprised to see Clarus there.“There’s something we need to discuss,” he tells hisfriend. He, Reggie and Clarus grew up together-- a triopurposefully put together by King Mors, as per Luciantradition: king, chamberlain and shield. 

“Last night...the Draconian visited Reggie,” he tells Clarus.“And thereby offered a Revelation. The prophecy of the Chosen...”He looks at Clarus again, quiet urgency in his fern green eyes.“The Draconian has decreed that the young prince...Reggie’sboy...he’s the Chosen.”

[fidelitasadfinem]

‘ i guess it’s not so different… ’

❈ ✼ ❈    SIX  (WEST END MUSICAL)  SENTENCE  MEME || @amicitiaeclipse

The Duke backtracks so the young lady can see him.“I beg your pardon, Lady Iris. I did not intend to overhearany conversation. Simply passing through. Though, can Ihelp you with anything? You only need ask.”

[fidelitasadfinem]

🧣can't let uncle be cold he'll get sick :

Send one of the following for a scene with my muse: || @cookignis

🧣 – to wrap a scarf around my muse’s neck to beat the cold

He’d been confused as to why his nephew would bewaving him over. Blinking, Antoine crouches down, justas Ignis pats a scarf around his neck to place. The realizationmakes the Duke laugh.

“Why thank you, Ignis. It seems I forgot my own scarf inmy hurry. Run along now, you’ll be late for school. Do greattoday, alright?”

[fidelitasadfinem]

a welcome

@cookignis || Continued [x]

Ah, there he is, there he is. Antoninus watches as his nephew makes his way toward himself and his wife. Of course-- the boy has the signature features of their house: blond hair, green eyes, the lithe build-- though perhaps it is too early to see if Ignis will bulk up a little like his father, or remain like Anton, giving the false impression he isn’t strong enough to lift a sword. The boy articulates his words of introduction and beside him, Adrienne smiles, but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes quite a bit. He understands his wife’s disappointment, and Anton is aware she’s trying her hardest to come to terms with this, as he is also. It had been both their hope and wish that one of their children would be chamberlain to the future crown prince or crown princess. But circumstances had prevented that, were hard to Regis and Aulea both. Three royal children all miscarried or still born, the strain and pressure on Aulea had steadily mounted. 

Now after countless attempts a prince was born, but Aulea had departed the world all too soon. Regis still wore mourning clothes because of the loss. Even now with the birth of a crown heir, Anton and Adrienne’s children were simply too old to be considered as chamberlain. Always, with tradition, a Scientia was only ever permitted to be a maximum three years older than his or her charge. The younger, the better-- both growing up to foster close bonds of kinship and brotherhood. It had been that way with Anton and Regis, with Diadumenian and Mors. Had always been that way ever since, for as long as House Scientia served the crown. 

And so now, Antoninus was looking at the boy that was likely to succeed him in dukedom, his own son Zeno to be given a lesser title, likely Lucidus’ own marquesship. 

But now was not the time to wallow in political complications.

“And it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Citadel, Ignis,” says he, stepping forward and offering his nephew his hand. When Ignis takes it, Anton cups his other hand over the boy’s own. Gives him a firm shake, welcoming, he hopes. He knows his reputation precedes him. Who knows what horror stories Lucidus told the boy? Not that all of them were entirely untrue... “This is your aunt, my wife, Adrienne.”

His wife accordingly dispels the faint hint of disappointment in her gray eyes. She smiles, sincere and warm, as she curls down to kiss Ignis twice on each cheek. “I am also so glad to meet you. Your cousins are busy-- but they shall perhaps join us for lunch. Welcome to Insomnia, Ignis.”

In the background, the valets scurry about taking care of Ignis’ things. Anton meanwhile gestures and leads them into the Citadel. He is careful to keep a sedate pace, so his nephew will not have a hard time catching up.

“His Highness the Prince Noctis, as you well know, is the only surviving issue of His Majesty King Regis and the late queen,” Anton begins. “By tradition he should be raised in the estates of the crown heir in Lestallum, but. You shall be introduced to your charge shortly. He is a shy boy. However, he is also very cute. Chubby cheeks and all.”

Adrienne shoots her husband a look. Antoninus clears his throat surreptitiously.