#ignis doesn't really want him to let go even though he does

[chainofhyrule]

So I remember sending this to you a while ago when you still had ignis, right? I made the ficlet I wrote twilight, but honestly? I think Legend might fit the bill a little better.

Legend with an anemic reader.

I mean think about it:

Depressed bunny man sees the only person he looks forward to seeing on a daily basis freezing because they're anemic (but he doesn't know that).

He's like, are you sick? Why tf are you so cold? and readers just like well I have a chronic illness lmao

Cue him shooting up and being like "chronic huh?????" like that one family feud meme

I'm sorry but I get giddy thinking about this. He's the black cat lover in the relationship, 100%

And his favorite person, i.e. the only person he actually likes-- could be dying (not really but that's what he thinks lmao)????? He can't just let it slide, oh no. Not when it's you.

So bunny man does what bunny man thinks is best. Your anemia becomes your free coupon for unlimited cuddles, any time of day (He would fight god himself if god tried to tear you off of him)

Trinkets. Might give you little things like hand warmers or gloves or fuzzy socks or even his hat in a pinch, just to keep your hands and feet warm (let it be known his hat is only for your hands. Feet gross him out, I don't make the rules)

And when he finally understands what anemia really is, he's momming you into eating properly. He's a mom friend, the mom in the relationship, you've called him mom before literally just to fuck with him.

"You're fucking eating it even if I have to pin you down and shovel it in your face because I fucking will" (I personally headcanon that he has the mouth of a sailor. It just fits)

"Eat, goddamnit, I don't want you getting sick"

"Did you take your iron this morning? No? You're taking it. Now."

Will stand up randomly to fetch an extra blanket if you're still cold.

"Shut up. I didn't get up for nothing, don't get used to it" he'd scoff as he wraps you up in it and grumpily kisses your forehead.

Totally lets you sleep in his bedroll with him.

...And fucking hates it when you put your cold feet against his legs, or your freezing fingers on his neck. Screams like a bitch. Everyone in the camp has heard it; Wars actually started calling him princess at one point and it almost ended in bloodshed.

"...You're gonna get it, you little shit," he'll growl at you when you make him scream like that. But he can't resist your cute face and that sweet, innocent giggle, can he?

...No, of course not.

Bunny man who has a black cat personality has my heart💖

NO BUT WHY DO I NEED THIS???

I have reread this like a least a DOZEN times by now and HHHHHHHHHH—

HELLO?

Just imagine him being so reluctantly sweet about it though 😭😭😭

Recruiting the others to keep an eye on you (I’d hc only Rulie or Wars) when he has to go do something. On some of the better days he still has a tendency to fuss. On the worse ones, you’d best bet your ass you ain’t doing anything unless it’s absolutely necessary. Time must chide him many times that your aren’t fragile, but in his mind it’s only “mustcareforynmusttakecareofynmustnotletynstrainthemselves—WHYAREN’TTHEYWEARINGTHEGLOVESIGAVETHEM???”

poor bby would revert to the bunny “must care for the kit and keep kit warm” function and would rather die than admit it 😭😭😭

best bet under that glove is a magic cold-resistant ring of some sort 🤭

[sweet-beezus]

I've always liked the idea of choices and how they change the narrative, so for this day of @khoc-week we'll be poking around one of each's most impactful choices that could have changed everything!!

This'll be like... AU 2: Electric Boogaloo, except it's a different flavor of course.

They're all very angsty, so no one wins this one, alas.

Day 6 - One Choice, New Life

Iris:

Ohhhh yeah~

Right out the front gate we're starting strong!

Since Iris, thanks to poking around in places she shouldn't, ends up getting smited before the Keyblade War even began, imagine if she kept her nose out of things just long enough...

She gets to know everyone that Alto got to meet, and finds herself having even more things to add to her list of suspicions as time goes on.

She finds out about the Dandelions, about the weird happenings and disapperances, about the fact that the Foretellers are hiding more than they are letting on.

Things start to get more tense, more stressful. Iris grows a resentment for the Union leaders and those they associated with, as the days lead to competition that grows ever more violent.

Her final straw was when Aced dared to strike down Alto, who just wanted to spare two wielders an otherwise fruitless fight near the fountain square. She denounces her Union involvement, essentially going rogue all to keep a protective eye on Alto.

She turns down a spot on the Dandelions only because Alto did, despite her efforts to plea with him so they could leave safe and sound. But she respects his choices, so together they will face the music head on.

Eventually, the Keyblade War swings around. Even though it's a free for all at this rate, she still teams up with Alto to stay close and keep them both alive no matter the cost.

Now, ideally she would get taken away with Alto to the digital Daybreak Town and the two would continue to suffer towards the end of the world, perhaps both finding themselves on a journey to reincarnate in Scala ad Caelum, however the newly uncovered, very hostile Foretellers of the Apocalypse have other plans.

Despite Igni being an angel of the battlefield, at least in the eyes of the wielders she saves, for very interesting reasons never really disclosed she just leaves Iris to die, or rather finishes the job herself. Either way, Iris does not make it out, at least not in an ideal state.

Nobody in the future gets to learn who Iris is despite Alto carrying her memory with him, he had forgotten her just as much as he forgot everyone from that time.

Her Chirithy got to her just in time before she was whisked off to sleep, and she now resides in the Realm of Dreams as a Necho Cat, assisting in keeping that realm and the other lost wielders safe.

♡♡♡

Irene:

Irene also had a strong case of sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, which later ended in an act of martyrdom for two boys that barely gave her the time of day.

This time around, despite her heart telling her to act, she kept to herself and followed along blindly alongside the other castle staff (loyalty to Master Ansem and all that), where it eventually lead to her witnessing all of the horrid experiments happening within the castle walls.

She ends up involuntarily becoming a Nobody, Nexier (it's just Reixen backwards lol), with a healing element, one of if not the only passive member of Organization XIII. While not branded as an official member, she is given her own infirmary quarters in the Castle That Never Was, where the other members are sent to receive mending and care, most likely a hint to all that remains of who she was.

When she's returned to wholeness, she's confronting Sora on his final trek to confront Xemnas. It's more of a mercy upon her granted by Sora, but part of her seems so far gone even when recompleted. She will never be the same, now jaded towards her place of work, yet she stays because where else does she have to go? She needs to be there for the others who also suffered the same fate...

All we have is hope that maybe she could find healing from all this.

♡♡♡

Iliana:

I thought of two for her, so I'll share the less dark option first!

When she takes up a roost with her uncle after the fall of her world, a pivotal point was her choice to leave and seek closure in the depths of space. Here, Russell managed to talk her down from persuing what isn't there, so she doesn't take off on a fruitless chase for answers. Instead she takes up work as Russell's apprentice at his shop, biding her time until she can handle the journey on her own. Or with friends-

She ends up in Sora's mess here anyway, just with less death on her end this time around. Unfortunately, destiny has it out for her either way-

The second option was from before she left her home world.

She had already been actively packing to leave by now, a slow process considering she had to swipe many things from under her parents' noses. Unfortunately, finishing that task couldn't have come fast enough.

During its final day standing as the world was crumbling to pieces, she had tried returning to her home city to grab her brother, the last thing she needed in order to go. The only thing holding her back was swarms of Heartless and, well, the world actively falling apart.

Originally, she realized she was outmatched and decided to flee, since she knew fighting her way through would mean certain death, and with certain death it meant no one would be able to go back and save it later, nor could anyone escape that hadn't tried already.

It was devastating to leave her brother behind, but it was necessary to make sure she wouldn't lose him completely.

This time around, however, she continues to persist, battling through hoard after hoard to reach the city gate... only for the city to totally sink into darkness before she could make it there. Her way back was starting to crumble as well, so she was all but completely trapped.

Of course, Heartless are an inconvenience, so on her furious trek back she nearly makes it to the ship, but! Comes up short as she is taken with the broken pieces of her world to the Realm of Darkness.

Her persistence kept her from being swallowed completely -unless she totally gives up which is possible- nevertheless she ended up finding herself wandering this new realm aimlessly for a couple of years, maybe bumping into Aqua-nort and her mildly unhinged gf, Myst, while she's at it, until by pure happenstance she may be rescued...

By Sora, of course. She can never avoid him-

She doesn't come out of this herself anymore, in fact she's far from the person she may have been, left now to take her time relearning how to be human, and her recovery monitored in Radiant Garden while the Guardians of Light are actively hunting down where Terra ended up.

♡♡♡

Oh, how I love me some angst!

The most heartbreaking part is that if this is all part of one timeline they never get to meet, with the exception of Iliana and Irene I suppose, but they won't click in the same way they do now. Maybe they learn to heal together, but it's so strained that it's best to let them handle themselves separately.

Iliana would also have no reason to take the Mark of Mastery until way later this way, if at all, so she'd never meet Dreameater Iris, alas.

Anywho-

Wowie zowie, we're almost at the end, just one more day!!

I'll see y'all tomorrow for Day 7!!

[cheemken]

The brainrot is real and I've been thinking at how Malva and Diantha would get together in my lil aus and hcs so hey hahaha

Anyways yeah

Let's say,, Dia and Malva are at least eighteen in this concept, and Diantha has to attend this lil farewell party thing for one of the former Elite Four, as he's retiring, but Diantha honestly didn't like him and she's sure he hated her too, plus, that night was the premiere of LucarioMan, so ofc she's salty as shit. 

"I don't wanna attend this party, Drasna," she said, looking at Drasna through the mirror, the Dragon Specialist was fixing Dia's hair. "I'm sure sir Ignis would be happy if I wasn't around." She tried to justify, but Drasna shook her head. 

Drasna smiled through it, she didn't want to attend as well, but they have to keep up appearances, "it's only for a few hours, my dear, after that you're free to do whatever you want."

But what else is she gonna do after that, the party starts at six and it'll end in eight, once that's done LucarioMan is over too and god she fucking hated it, especially since Drasna wouldn't let her go out around nine in the pm too, and she has to make sure Augustine is also in bed, she has a lot to do man she just wants to watch her fave movie 

So hey, the party began, some speeches here and there, and everyone was finally migling w each other, Diantha thought it was the perfect time to try and escape and hide in her room at least, then she spotted Malva in the corner. She got excited, Malva actually came, she really thought she burnt the invitation she sent 

"You're here!" Diantha rushed to hug her, "thank Arceus, I thought I was gonna die here," she groaned, "it's so boring!"

Rolling her eyes at that, Malva lightly shoved her, "you're being dramatic, it's not that bad.. I guess. I don't know, now that you said it, it does look boring."

"It is!" Then she grabbed Malva's hand, "so cmon, I'd rather not talk to anyone here for a while, I'm sure they don't like me too." Then she dragged Malva out of the hall, heading outside, finally reaching the lil balcony of the league, overlooking Kalos. 

Diantha sighed, then turned to Malva w her own toothy grin, "It's a great night out, don't you think?"

And Malva's there staring at her, the moon illuminated Diantha just right, her eyes shines like precious sapphires, and Malva was left breathless. 

Then Dia looked back towards the view of Kalos, at Lumiose's tower, then she grinned, "hey.. do you wanna come watch LucarioMan with me?"

Malva had to be honest, she fucking hated those movies, but Diantha loved them, ofc Malva knew that, Dia was the biggest LucarioMan fan that she knows, and truth be told, it's cute seeing Diantha getting all excited over it, even tho she doesn't share the same excitement. She scoffed, "wow, never thought you'd ditch the party for LucarioMan."

"I'd do anything for LucarioMan," she said, rather seriously, Malva actually laughed. "Hey! It's true! He's amazing! So let's go!" She began climbing up the balcony, standing up the flat surface of the railing, looking back towards Malva, extending out her hand for the other girl to take.

"What are you doing?" Malva quickly grabbed her hand, "you'd fall off, you idiot! You know, you're not really LucarioMan, right?!"

Diantha chuckled, and despite her panicked state, it made Malva's heart flutter. "Don't worry! We'll be fine! Cmon!" And she helped her up, Malva was clinging to her for dear life. Dia wrapped her arm around Malva's waist, pulling her close, she grinned up at her, "hold on tight, okay?" Though before Malva could register, Diantha shifted her weight, the two of them falling from the balcony. 

They were three stories up, the wind rushing to Malva's face, she screamed as she clung to Diantha, waiting for the sweet embrace of death as they were getting nearer to the ground. 

Only for them to land on something… fluffy. 

Malva opened her eyes, beneath them was none other than Diantha's Gengar, his laughter echoing within the gardens, the three of them levitating off the ground. She sees Diantha point towards the direction of Lumiose, telling Gengar to take them there, and Malva could only hold on tight to one of Pokémon's horns while her other arm was around Diantha's shoulder, almost afraid she'd fall off. 

But it was nice y'know, seeing Diantha smile this much, laughing as they flew towards Lumiose, she looks at her and it feels like it was right. It felt so fucking right being w her, seeing Diantha, actually seeing her, what she is beneath all that make up, all that false bravado, those fake smiles, it felt as if Malva was blessed by Arceus himself to see Diantha as she is, not the stuck up actress or elegant champion people always perceived her to be. 

Then Dia smiled at her, "this is fun, isn't it?"

Malva almost sneered out, altho it was nice to be with Dia, that honestly gave her a heart attack, "a little warning would've been appreciated."

"Were you scared?" Dia raised a brow, smirking at her, and Malva finally sneered.

"No, of course not! I just didn't… want you to fall," she mumbled the last bits to herself. Diantha heard, but decided not to comment, it's rare she ever heard Malva say things like that. 

Finally they got to the theatre, unfortunately LucarioMan was sold out. Dia was crying, well, not really sad crying more like she's crying cause she's pissed, blaming that party again. But.. Malva didn't want to see her like that. Sighing, she tugged on Diantha's hand, "hey, I know a way where we can still watch it."

"Really..?"

"Yeah, just follow me." 

So they headed to the back of the theatre, Malva making a comment how unguarded that place really was, and it's how she usually watches all those films for free since no one really checks the back, really believing Kalos is that safe. Ofc, Dia commented on that as well, she never believed Kalos was that safe, but then again maybe she and her league were doing a good job that people weren't that afraid. It was still concerning tho

Now within the theatre, Malva guided her deeper into the place, avoiding any staff that came their way, till they were heading up these stairs, Diantha finally realized where they were. At the back of the cinema showing LucarioMan, just above the ones showing the film, a room where all the broken equipment are hidden, but their view of the screen was perfect, and they watched as everyone below them settled in their seats.

Diantha's excitement grew, leaning onto the railing of the tiny hall-like platform they're in, she then turned to Malva, hugging her, "Malva, this is amazing!" She exclaimed, but in a quiet voice, then her attention was back to the film, rambling on about how excited she was for this one.

Malva hid a smile, rolling her eyes as she tried to watch it with her.

"Yknow," Diantha said again, "I never thought you'd really do this for me, bringing me here and watching LucarioMan."

Malva grinned, albeit forced, adjusting the black tie tied around the collar of her shirt, "and I never thought you'd make me wear this bullshit thing only for us to ditch the party."

Dia giggled at that, then she smiled at her, "you look great in it though."

Malva could feel the heat rush up to her cheeks, then she turned away from her, "whatever.." 

"Oh, another thing." Malva hummed at that, "since Ignis is retiring, do you.. maybe wanna apply to be part of the Elite Four?"

"What?"

"I mean you are a strong trainer, I'm sure you're qualified to be part of the Elite Four," then she grinned, "plus, you have my vote, so it's an automatic win for you!"

The thought of being part of the Kalos Elite Four wasn't smth she thought she could ever achieve, and it was a nice thought, that she'd be able to fight by Diantha's side, being a roadblock for challengers, and the power that came w it too. But she also wanted to be chosen without Diantha's influence, she'd rather actually prove she's capable than to rely on her connections within the league, especially since it's Diantha, the Champion. "Sure, why not." She finally said, then she added, "but, I don't want your help. I'll prove I'm strong enough to be part of the Elite Four."

She shook her head with a laugh, "of course, but I'm glad you'd apply for it."

"Hm.."

"Oh, one last thing."

"What?"

"Thank you.. for coming along with me."

Malva turned to her, raising a brow. Then Dia smiled softly, so genuinely, it made her heart flutter once more. Diantha leaned her head on her shoulder, "I know how much you hate this movie, but… it really means a lot that you're here watching it with me."

"Don't mention it.." she quietly said in return, hearing Diantha hum and she finally, finally, focused on the movie, eyes wide with such excitement when LucarioMan showed up on screen. Malva was watching now too, she would've preferred to watch smth else, but.. looking at Diantha, looking at how happy she was, perhaps she can endure all the cheesy fight scenes, just this once. 

[stonecoldmeme]

Gladio snickered. "What do you even mean by that?" He gave Ignis another kiss, a proper one. "Did Noct not win you over by... being Noct? I fight to keep you, I guess. Does it even... It's not like he proposed to you and you rejected him." That felt- well, harsh, but true. "Not that- ...look, I'm sorry. If you didn't want me, you wouldn't have me, I get that. It does mean a lot. And I never meant to fall in love with you, but here we are, and... You make me so happy, Ignis. Really, I... Every time you fall asleep in my arms..." Ok, he was properly red. "There's nothing better than that! No amount of sex, or hunting, or anything. It's the best."

It wasn't as if they hadn't talked about it, of course... but they also both preferred to avoid looking at the subject directly. It was over and done, in the past, lessons learned; and in all honesty, Ignis didn't want his fiance beating himself up about it anymore. Still, the question was asked, an explanation sought. "I'm sure you're aware that I didn't tend to... keep long-term relationships. Particularly not after I felt in any way injured." And that was when he had to stop and kiss Gladiolus again, both to reassure and to keep him from commenting.

"It's not... mm. It's not so much that you were worth a second chance -- though you were, make no mistake -- but it was more... you're the only one who bothered to reach out and catch my hand before I could walk away. Doesn't sound particularly flattering put like that, does it?" He laughed flatly, feeling more than a little like he'd derailed the conversation into something else.

The little upward quirk of his lips was quick, soft. "You make me happy... and I'm glad you didn't let me walk away. From the companionship, most of all... though there are many other cherished details." Alright, he couldn't go wholly without teasing a little.

[talaofthevalley]

Oh this was a delight to find in my notifs, lemme just *eats this whole reply*

What really got me is the talk about the framing and Revolver's body language in this scene. Cause if you look at him right after here, after his father has stepped forward and said it's not like him to let his guard down, asking if Playmaker talking about the incident ten years ago shook him. And then-

We get this scene. Revolver is surprised, like he's been called out. And his missing limb is on full display here, hidden only by Revolver's hand. He doesn't confirm or deny his father's words, only apologises to him. But for what? For losing? For letting his guard down? For letting the past distract him during a critical moment? In hindsight, there are alot of things Revolver could be feeling guilty and conflicted about in this moment.

And as his arm restores itself, he swears that next time. He doesn't say more, just the implication that he will win next time he faces Playmaker. And he fixes the arm himself, almost like he's soothing his own wound, instead of his father doing it. This is later paralleled at the end of S1, after Revolver loses his arm again, but this time it's his father that restores it. But right now he clenches that restored hand, swears he won't fail again. He can do better, he won't make the same mistake again.

Dr. Kogami may tell him not to worry about it, but his reassurances are not really about Revolver himself, but outside things they gained before moving on to future events. He got valuable data from the duel, but if they can't accuire the Ignis, they will have to proceed with the Tower of Hanoi, wiping out the network completely. And even though his father says he'll begin making preparations, Revolver's mind is elsewhere after he leaves.

He's thinking about Playmaker. His face looks thoughtful at first, before softening in realisation as it sinks in that Playmaker is that boy from ten years ago he spoke to. His eyes turn rounder, the slight furrow in his brow vanishes. And his voice is still in that gentle tone he uses in real life. He's alone here, and Revolver is notably only thinking about Playmaker when he's by himself. Like just thinking about the other brings forth a vulnerability he feels he can't afford.

The way Revolver acts around his father makes me unwell cause there's a definite vulnerability there, but he is also notably drawn back in front of his dad. His voice returns to the usual tone he uses in the real world, which is noticeably gentler and more polite. But there's almost none of Revolver's usual confidence infront of his father. He's not the leader of Hanoi with him, in those moments Dr. Kogami comes across as the real mastermind of Hanoi while Revolver is the face. He clearly respects his father a lot, but he also does not want to question him. Or maybe he feels that he can't question him. It reminds me of how Ryoken says he couldn't ask his father about the experiments he was doing, even though Ryoken thought something scary was going on, that he was terrified to the point of crying. Revolver is the most vulnerable around his father. Ryoken can't be honest with his father. He can't let down all his walls around him. Both are true here. But what kind of vulnerable is he really when around his dad? Is it safe?

We never see Revolver's face in S1 until his civilian form is revealed. And you can read into that, and since you can I will. He's not made completely vulnerable until then. He needs that mask to hide behind, even in front of his father. He's masking so hard to fulfill the role of Revolver, leader of the Knights of Hanoi. And then Playmaker crashes into the scene, and just by existing and seeking them out starts to unravel the careful control Revolver has had over his emotions for years.

He makes me insane and want to chew drywall.

Ryoken isn't a very expressive person in general, especially in S1 as Revolver with that mask that turns his eyes blank, but I'm obsessed the few times he Does get expressive. And that includes in S1 with his first avatar.

Like this scene

You can read so much into that first show of emotion. Frustration from his loss, pain after having his arm bitten off, confusion among other conflicting emotions upon finding out Playmaker is the boy from ten years ago.

And then that turns into surprise, when he's caught off-guard by his father, and his face is open and vulnerable in a way we rarely see. It's making me believe Ryoken, and Revolver, was the most vulnerable and open expression wise when he was with his father. So it makes sense we don't get to see much of that after S1 after the man has finally died. And yet he's still not completely honest with Dr. Kogami either. I want to study Ryoken's relationship with vulnerability man, it is so interesting to think about.

[moonraccoon-exe]

(62) Gladio’s pick-up lines.

Gladio: Nice pants, Iggy. Are they new? Ignis: Yeah. They were 50% off. Gladio: ... Gladio: ...Well, I sure would prefer them if they were 100% off. Ignis: That’d be ridiculous. The store can’t give pants away for free. Gladio: ...Iggy, that’s not what I mea- Ignis: That’s a terrible way to run a business, Gladio.

[ktzuki]

no matter where i go, you'll always be there. and beyond the astrals, i am with you too.

omg its like the ffxv readers are still alive........ i see yall liking my posts still. anyways! i miss my boys so much that i wanted to write for them again. hopefully i wake up and still adore it because omfg do i feel like shakespeare or somethinf...... UGH MY LOMLS

noctis, the chosen king.

the day you lost your soul felt shattering to him, despite how used he shouldve been to the eyes of death. it was so common, seeing the ones he loved so dearly die as if he was the cause. noctis is still a kid, even if he was a king to be, and the responsibilities he held was killing him in such a slow and careful way that his beloved was the only one to weave him out of that. oh, how he wanted you to stay. at night, he still reaches out for you. he still feels the desperation of wanting to see you one last time. he still misses you, and in every moment does he try to find you. noctis never heals, but just like everything else, he was forced to let you go.  you, you, you, you, you, and... next. after all, he is a vessel to the people, and to noctis' belief: things like love should have never come to him in the first place, or just like his name, you too will seek the night.

prompto, the night's best friend.

a strong will with a weak mind. the two usually doesn't work adjacent to each other, but with your daily words of affirmation, it worked. he didn't need to listen to his own thoughts as long as you reminded him as to who he really is: not a monster, not a lost spirit, but your sweetest beloved. if he was the sun, you were most definitely life itself. except when you died, it was as if everything you told him fell apart. prompto has a strong will with a weak mind, and his most vulnerable moments shine through when he figures you're out of sight forever. he reminisces through old pictures, past date locations, he would even hold your clothes close to him at all times. though, it takes a long time, but he does pick up the pieces of you and moves forward. you always told him he was the sun, and though you arent physically around, you are still and always life itself, and as long as he exists, he will walk with pride knowing he knew you and loved you with everything he had in himself, and it wasnt much.

ignis, the hidden adviser.

he was always so hidden to everyone, in a way that he was literally a shadow. ignis didn't mind as it wasnt his job to stand out. as long as things went correctly, he paid no mind. his life from the moment he grasped an understanding of the world was to be there for the king and the king only. you being there didn't change his need to be there for noctis as he grew up with that belief, but you most definitely allowed him to be who he was. not a caretaker for kid noctis, but ignis scientia. he was always ignis, though the time he allowed himself to actually relish the moments in which he could be himself, with you, was incredible. though something cheesy as if it were to come out of gladiolus' novels, you did make him feel lighter, his world brighter, and being with you was the happiest he's ever been. the sight of you was his driving force, and when you left, it still was. though ignis is blind, you still are. he will and will never forget your large toothy grins, or the way you even said his name. he will never allow himself to forget anything about you. though you are gone, you are never gone to him. the fact you were even willing to notice him was enough, and even without the blessing of sight, you were always there. forever and always.

gladiolus, the fiery shield.

gladiolus is very much a family-oriented guy. to adoring his younger sister iris, to taking care of all the gang like his very own brothers. he was the type to dream about the future, and with you, he imagined everything. like a dream, thats what you were exactly. straight from his novels. family is the most important thing in his life, and losing a petal stung him incredibly. at the end of the day, he is a shield, but shields do break down over time, and this was exactly when. for him to lose a petal meant losing a large chunk of his dreams, his aspirations, and his life long goals. it meant losing his loved one, his beloved, his classic juliet. though, he has to keep it hidden. he won't allow the boys to see him sulk or wither away. he wont let iris watch him crumble. though behind the scenes, gladiolus isnt very strong despite what it may seem. you are still always in his dreams, and always the character he sees in his novels. gladiolus will most definitely start a novel himself, and will this time create you to be the flower you ought to be; the dream he always wanted to be apart of, with you.

[scarabiaa]

OCs in a Haunted House

ITS SPOOKY SEASON, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS??? SPOOKY OCS anyways enjoy bc. I'm making them as stuff I've said in a haunted house that they'd probably say too and what they'd do (except ivy, she only gets a quote, and yes, let us pretend this takes place in universal studios for the jokes)

Lumi:

"I get that he wanted to be evil or whatever with his hotel and he killed people, but come on, be original. At least summon Satan."

Is the one everyone holds on to since she's the one that shows no fear

While she shows no fear, it doesn't mean she isn't scared; she's terrified but she does not show it

Sees the villains of this book series roaming around and immediately drags her friends to take pictures of them

Those pictures are posted on her empty Magicam, along with other pictures of her friends (her new wallpaper is one of her, Iris, and Meditrina posing at the camera while the Package Trio is behind them, screaming and covering their eyes)

She buys one of the really sweet drinks from the book series section and she immediately winces at how sweet it is

Passes the drink on to Valkyrie since she has a slight sweet tooth

For food, she orders a chicken sandwich and an Acid Pie Shake (immediately regrets it and gives it to Ignis)

Hates the escalators, they take forever

WILL take Miles with her next time and she's taking Allen too, she thinks that with his collection of knives, he could make some friends inside of this place

Lumi, texting Allen: I'm taking you to this event where you can make friends and meet the love of your life.

(When she says "love of your life", she means one of the stiltwalkers.)

Meditrina:

"I do not need an umbrella or poncho, it's too expensive, I'd rather die."

Grips onto Lumi like she'll get lost (which she does and Ignis panics trying to find her)

She's having the time of her life screaming at the top of her lungs and she always comes out of the houses laughing

The flower in her hair changes constantly because she's either laughing or screaming

She's the kind of person that, once they're all in the haunted hoise, gets impatient when the line isn't moving

Meditrina: MOVE IT, LOSER, SOME OF US WANT TO GET SCARED RIGHT NOW

She likes the rides they went on before (she got so wet from one of the water rides and Iris was cackling because she warned her)

She's the one that knows her stuff when it comes to Latin food so she definitely gets a bunch of it

A worse judge than Gordon Ramsey, she sits there and goes, "This tortilla is drier than my texts with (insert person she hates from middle school)."

She says that she's taking Esteban with her next time, they're gonna be the cool cousins of the family going to a horror event and coming out of it traumatized

But #BetterThanYou is great for the Magicam

(Oh my God, she's been infected by Cater)

Gale:

Directly at an actor that scared the crap out of him: "MOTHERFUCKER"

SCREAMS at the top of his lungs

Literally mutters under his breath, "If they keep asking for our bracelets, I swear to God I'm going to pay so they know our names and we don't have to show our bracelets."

Lumi has to explain that the bracelets let the people know that they paid for the Halloween event and Gale's going :D again

He's not picky about where he wants to go, he's been to some of these events back in his home world but never with such a large group of friends

He has to be stopped from using his Unique Magic to see what's ahead of them but he still searches online to prepare himself for what's ahead (he says that he needs to be prepared just in case)

To not be scared, he goes along with the scare actors; there was one time where one of the scare actors was behind a mask before he peeled off the mask and slowly tilted his head at Gale, Gale, out of terror, did the exact same thing so the actor wouldn't jump out at him

He can hear some people whispering about his eyes and how they're cool contacts, even though he isn't wearing any contacts

He orders grilled cheese because he is basic and knows what he likes; he just dips it in the tomato sauce that Ignis brought with him since the tomato sauce slaps

Ignis:

"I only know who Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are--BUMBLEBEE SAVED US? Hey 😏"

Restrains Gale from using his Unique Magic to see what's ahead of them because it's not fun that way

Definitely flirts slightly with the cashiers to get some free stuff (by the end of the night, he's given fake numbers to a bunch of people and gotten a bunch of plushies for his friends)

Screams when he feels a chainsaw near him and jumps into Navin's arms, who goes :|

Complains about walking but if any of the girls are tired, he's immediately carrying them on his back so that they can rest

Turns into a tiny dragon to sit on Astro's shoulder on one ride, regrets it immediately when the ride is going super fast and he's holding on for dear life

He gets grilled cheese, just like Gale, only he has tomato sauce that he made that is better than anything

When he gets tired, he just gets into Meditrina's backpack but by accident, he was put into a locker and panicked the entire time while the others were on the ride, so he sent a text to the group chat

Ignis: SNED HLPE IM DRGUN STCKU NI LOCKER

Gale: Anyways so

No longer becomes a dragon after that, he has learned his lesson the hard way (and does not talk to Medi for a whole ten minutes because she's laughing so hard at him)

Iris:

"If this dinosaur eats me, tell my cousin I hate [him]. Just kidding, don't tell [him] anything and leave [him] in suspense."

Studies the animatronics of everything and internally seethes because she wants to create this someday and she's kicking stuff, saying that if she got the chance, she could design an entire park on her own

The creator of a machine that glamors stuff; the stuff Medi and Ignis brought should've been confiscated by security by with Iris's invention, they were able to sneak in a whole picnic

She does get scared easily and screams very loudly before cursing heavily, no child should be near her and she is gripping Val and Onyx's hands for dear life

Hates waiting more than anything and instead of having Colette pay, she just creates something necessary for them to get little passes to get ahead of the line (shout out to Titus for hacking and getting the passes)

The food there is decent and she gets some sweet stuff, even though her friends tell her to get actual food (she does not listen)

That night, she cannot sleep (even though that's common for her)

Drinks a lot of coffee too and she's so funny in the mazes because she's saying all sorts of things that are out of pocket in mazes, but it's all because she wants to go to the next house, knowing full well the lines are packed

She hates lines. She's impatient. What a good duo!

Promises herself that she'll take Merrill next time just to see if he can handle everything

Navin:

"NO, I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE--wait, I'm [19]. I DON'T EVEN HAVE MY DRIVER'S LICENSE YET!"

Fanboying over the actors and the prosthetics and the lights

(He's just too scared and won't admit it)

Sorry, Colette, but Navin is grabbing Titus's hand because 1.) He's short 2.) He's terrified 3.) He doesn't know where he's going

He actually gets lost in a haunted house; cue the entire group realizing once they get out that he's still inside and they are absolutely panicking

By the time he's outside, they're all back inside trying to find him

He gets stuck on a ride and it's hilarious to the others because it's his first time there so Navin goes along with the joke

"Hey, I didn't know us being stuck was part of the ride!"

"Oh yeah, it's my favorite part."

Although he tells the others to eat actual good and fusses over them like a mother, he's a hypocrite because he only gets churros

Meditrina is shoving food into his hands, there is no way their toy poodle is going to collapse in the rain

Navin asks, "Do you think I could be a scare actor?"

Ignis, like the idiot he is, goes, "If gnomes were the theme for next year, yeah."

Navin prays on Ignis's downfall

He's also really simple with his food, he just gets pizza and that's it, he's not picky at all and follows the others around wherever they want to go

Blanca:

"I either scared the actor or the actor was flirting with me. I think it's the former. I'm gonna be a scare actor!"

Her butterflies latch onto her hair and since they're constantly moving, people compliment her on her "costume" but she's so confused because she's not wearing a costume ?? What ??

When it inevitably starts raining, she immediately buys a poncho with pockets inside so that the butterflies don't get wet

She buys cotton candy, having never tried it before and she really does like it!

Of course, she screams too; yes, she likes horror but she will also scream here

Goes first into the scariest house and she's super excited about it, even leading some of them and holding their hands

She buys the chicken caesar salad, only, she lets Meditrina put all her spices in it because Meditrina always brings like a box of tiny spices (Blanca trusts her, the food is always good)

She's the person that stays on the outside of the group as a sacrifice and in one of the mazes, she made eye contact with an actor and she did NOT let the eye contact go until he let go first out of fear that this guy would go chasing after her

She immediately gets jumpscared right afterwards

There is one house she wants to go to, but unfortunately it was closed, so she makes a plan in her head to take other students with her next to around, including Malleus and her brother

Colette:

"Why the hell is this place full of kids, don't you all have homework to do?"

Buys everything for her friends, no, they can't look at something for more than a minute because she's paying for them

She's the one that buys their food, their plushies, anything that they want, it's theirs

Not surprisingly, she's been to that park before, just not during Halloween so she's really having fun

Pretends not to be scared but is super jumpy and accidentally punched Iris one time when Iris tried to scare her

She also glares at the little kids all the time

She went with the girls to one ride while the boys went onto another ride: she had the time of her life and it was such a cute photo that it's now her lockscreen

The food there is decent to her, she'll buy it because her friends all like it; she's dainty about her food too, so she'll pick the ones that don't seem like they'll give her a sugar rush

Makes fun of couples behind their backs and it's a running joke between all of them where someone has taken a picture of Colette making a disgusted face in front of a couple (it seems like they're taking pictures of Colette, but overall, it's of the couple AND Colette)

In her fear in the houses, she says stuff like, "God, if you're chasing me that bad, at least take me on a date first" and the scare actor just leaves trying not to laugh

Titus:

After not being scared by jumpscares but by hanging fruits with heads in them: "HOLY SHIT, WHAT IS THAT?"

He and Colette are the ones making faces behind couples' backs, being disgusted by them as though they aren't in a relationship

Onyx: You two are literally dating-

Titus: Yeah, except we're not like that.

Yes, he is holding a lot of his friends' hands and they're all crowding to him so that they don't get separated and they can hang onto him

Titus once hit his head on accident on the doorframe and he pretended to be fine, but he literally had to sit down because he swore up and down that he saw the ghost of the hotel owner (it was the ghost of the hotel owner, but it was actually an actor well hidden)

Carries Navin on his shoulders and it's hilarious because Navin pretends he hates it, but he's having so much fun on Titus's shoulders

Titus: I can let you get off-

Navin: NO.

He likes the Harry Potter ride, they all just had the unfortunate experience of getting stuck and he was so sarcastic about it, like, "Oh wow, I didn't know this was part of the ride, Ignis."

"Yeah, it's my favorite part."

"I think I'll come back for more of this."

He has won plushies for everyone, he's strangely good at the arcade games

Astro:

"These guys are higher than a kite, but at least they're vibing."

Screams at the sight of the guides, they have cloaks and glowsticks and these guys scare Astro more than the scare actors

Also screams at the sight of his friends, specifically Val, he loves teasing her and he screams at the sight of her

Astro: Oh, Val! I didn't know you were a scare actor for the clown house!

Val:

He thinks he's hilarious and the Package Trio's giggles affirm that (they are also laughing when Valkyrie is chasing him)

Astro, of course, tries to flirt with everyone.

Does it work? Sometimes, but most of the time, the scare actors are there like :| bro ong you get no bitches

(Someone took a video and the other three of his idol group are RUINING him on Magical Twitter, no one slanders him more than they do)

He does not stay still in maze lines, he's vibing to the music or he's playing a game on his phone; most of the time, he's playing Heads Up on his phone with the others

Makes so many friends in the lines ?? It's crazy because they all think he's dressed up and he has a costume, but it's just his regular demon form, so no one even guesses it's him as Astro

He likes anything and everything from that place, although the others have to stop him because he'd get a lot of sweets and that's a REALLY bad pairing

Valkyrie:

"If you're going to kill me, not the head, please."

She's enjoying it here, having never been here before and she wasn't aware that people liked being scared for fun so this was a brand new experience for her

To her own surprise, she was the only one in the group to be stopped by one of the "monsters" and she was given a flower from this monster before he immediately sprinted away to find a new victim

Gale: Why's Val pulling entire monsters?!

Ignis: Because she's better than all of us, I guess.

She goes to sleep thinking about that interaction

There's this event that's just special effects that she wanted to see and then she saw the wait time and said, "Let us move on and venture to get nourishment."

She's simple and gets a sandwich, she likes the sandwiches there

Also, she REALLY likes the escalators. There's like four of them to get from the top of the park to the very bottom and she finds that more fun than any of the rides

Does not take pictures and if a ride takes a picture of her, she's super photogenic

Buys stuff that has to do with traveling, she looks like an entire tourist when she literally lives near there

The one person that everyone hangs onto; by the end of the night, she's literally carrying all of the others in her arms and it's an entire pile on top of her as she takes them around

Onyx:

"Listen. When I said I wasn't scared of La Llorona, that did not mean that I am going to go knocking at her door. I am intelligent, not scared."

He doesn't really flinch a lot in haunted houses, he's not scared by them as much as everyone else is

When the girls and the boys separated and he went with the boys, he, at the request of Colette, recorded everything that went on in the haunted house; cue the boys (except for him) screaming at the top of their lungs

He goes along with it because his friends drag him out, but unfortunately, his inventor was too good at her job, so now he can see the jumpscares and where people are

(Iris obviously fixes it when she realizes and she takes out her pocket toolkit so that he's as scared as the rest of them; it works)

Goes into the Llorona maze with the others, and at seeing Meditrina actually freeze up, Onyx is going, "Aw, hell no-"

Gale: COME ONNN IT'S NOT THAT BAD

(It was that bad)

He's very happy with his food, he's adorable because he's actually kicking his feet as he eats his cotton candy

Poor boy does not trust any of the stiltwalkers, he's gripping onto whoever is next to him and their hand, their hand might be a little sprained after this

Onyx: OH JEEZ, OH MY GOD, THEY'RE RUNNING, THEY'RE SPRINTING

Astro: See, that'd be great and all if it wasn't for you literally CRUSHING MY HAND-

Ivy:

"I am not waiting a long ass line for some pizza fries inspired by the Weeknd."

[lunarlegend]

thank you for sharing such a thoughtful analysis, i appreciate this type of stuff so much!!

i am not a FFVII fan, but i will say that ironically Ignis actually cusses in Japanese and not in English. 😂 (though not to be 'edgy'...it's his infamous response to Prompto shouting "MOM!!" at him during character switch, lol).

in FFXV's case, it's about how the English characterizations were handled more than anything, i think. the other localizations used direct translations from the Japanese script and tried to remain as accurate with it as possible while localizing the dialogue (i have heard that the German version of the game, for example, is comparable to the Japanese version and even enhances it in some scenes).

the English version? it had a whole different director, and the voice actors were encouraged to attach existing character archetypes to the Chocobros that would make them seem more familiar and appealing to western players. this resulted in the VAs purposely going their own direction with the personalities and eventually ignoring the original Japanese script altogether.

this (in my opinion disrespectful) behavior caused all sorts of inaccuracies in the English localization, not only altering the characters themselves, but sometimes contradicting canon entirely. for instance, the confusion and controversy around Ardyn's "You'll never guess whose name Izunia was" line? completely pointless, because the dub made that up. he didn't say it.

going back to Ignis, English Ignis was purposely intended to be a "snarky British James Bond". they weren't making any attempt to retain his original character; they wanted him to seem cool and sarcastic. and in my opinion, they didn't succeed, because yeah he's just mean.

his original line in the Regalia at the end of Kingsglaive is actually different, too. in Japanese, Noct says "I understand that." and Ignis replies earnestly, "Do you really understand?" even Noct doesn't get snark from him, and i agree it would make more sense if he did because that's what siblings do...they tease each other, lol. in Ignis' case, though, it's that Japanese Ignis is just very serious, and it's a major part of his personality that got ignored/replaced in English.

another example is during Ignis' tour where a black chocobo steals his glasses. not only do they ruin his lines with pun humor (JP Ignis doesn't make puns, either), but they actually contradict canon here.

in Japanese:

Ignis: "What's wrong?"

Noctis: "So that's how you look without glasses."

Ignis: "Huh? Oh, I see. Maybe because glasses have become part of my face."

in English:

Ignis: "Ah...something the matter?"

Noctis: "Just realized I'd never seen your face without glasses."

Ignis: "Yes, well, without them I could hardly make out yours, but we saw our way through it."

...this is wrong!!! Ignis canonly does not need his glasses to see, which is even confirmed during dialogue at another point in the game that the English version kept in!!! they literally just made something up, completely devoid of any thought, in order to give their snarky butler something snarky to say. 🙄

and absolutely, having this attempt at "humor" extend to a newcomer like Prompto is completely out of line. another example i love to point out is when they're arriving at a rest area and Prompto suggests they go shopping. in Japanese, Ignis replies "Let's only buy what we can fit in the car." in English, he says "We can make room by leaving you behind."

??????

i'm sorry, but that is not Ignis Scientia. actually i'm not sorry, because damn was this type of dialogue uncalled for. and completely detrimental not only to poor Prompto, but also to the original Japanese Ignis, who wouldn't be caught dead saying something so rude and hurtful. JP Ignis is a sweetheart.

so yeah, i find the dub incredibly unfortunate to say the least, because i just don't see why this type of character assassination was warranted. it's not just Ignis, either...English Gladio is written like a dumb meathead bully, while the original Japanese Gladio is an intelligent, respectable, and responsible Shield. the English localization did nothing to enhance these characters; it just replaced them entirely, and it frustrates me to no end.

another favorite bit of chit-chat that's very different in the original script vs. the localization. and a good example of how Japanese Ignis is devoid of snark-- he states things very plainly and quietly and doesn't tease the other boys.

[some-stars]

so, prompt. I was thinking, considering you're coming off a high, what about geralt getting high, and he's like, really confused by it? Like, he didn't think weed (or whatever magical equivalent) would affect his witcher body? so Jaskier has to take care of him and make sure he doesn't just spend the night lying in the river and telling roach how much he loves her. Maybe some feelings are then spilled? ps. LOVE your kidfic. Have fun with the rest of your high!

I would like to turn this into a proper story at some point, but for now, enjoy 1800 words of Geralt getting so, so stoned and soft.

(Obligatory note: I can’t edit replies to asks once I post them or the cut/readmore will vanish, so please forgive any typos or errors.)

--

Geralt held the pipe that Jaskier had passed him carefully, as though he might break it. "You know this won't work on me, right?"

Jaskier, who had already taken a deep puff of the stuff, looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"Witchers can't get drunk," Geralt said. "At least, not on regular liquor. I doubt this—what did you call it? I doubt it'll be any different."

"Cannabis," Jaskier said, pronouncing the word lovingly. "And you never know. It doesn't feel like alcohol, maybe it'll work differently."

With a shrug, Geralt put the pipe to his mouth and inhaled, more to be polite than anything else. After all, Jaskier had apparently gone to significant effort to get hold of the stuff; that he was sharing it with Geralt was a measure of real friendship, and it would be rude to refuse. The smoke burned a little, and dried out his mouth, but he took another puff and quickly got used to it.

"There you go," Jaskier said, smiling as he took the pipe back. "You're a natural, didn't even cough. I coughed like the devil my first time."

"Hm," Geralt said. "Don't feel anything yet."

"Oh, I've heard that before." Jaskier's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Keep going, give it a minute."

So they passed it back and forth in pleasant silence until the crumbled, fragrant dried flowers that had filled the bowl were only ashes, at which point Jaskier tapped it out onto the ground and pulled out his pouch to fill it again.

"Feeling anything yet?" he asked. He clearly was; he'd started to sway gently from side to side, and his face seemed locked ina soft, pleased smile. Geralt took a quick inventory of his senses.

"Not yet," he said. And then, not really knowing why, he said, "Maybe I should try some more."

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea," Jaskier said, beaming. "Here, you light it this time, I hate messing about with a flint." He held the pipe out and Geralt cast the gentlest of Ignis, just enough to get it going. Jaskier handed it to him then, not even taking a draw himself first. Geralt breathed it in, and already the smoke felt less acrid, the taste less offputting. He found himself puffing away for several minutes, until suddenly Jaskier leaned forward and plucked the pipe from his hands.

"Careful now," he said. His voice was very gentle, and it sat pleasantly on Geralt's skin. "If this does work on you, I don't want you going overboard your first time. Let's just sit a bit, see if it kicks in."

Sitting by the fire next to Jaskier seemed like a lovely thing to do, so Geralt nodded agreeably and sat. He hadn't realized before what a beautiful night it was—he'd noticed the clear skies, of course, when assessing the weather and deciding whether to camp in the open or build a lean-to to shelter under, and he'd been aware of the temperature and humidity as potentially-relevant facts, but no more. Now, sat before a crackling fire, he felt that he could actually appreciate the cool, dry evening air, and the riotous spill of stars across the sky, forming familiar shapes he hadn't really looked at in years.

He didn't realize he was staring at them until Jaskier nudged him companionably. "What are you looking at?"

"The stars," Geralt said, still gazing upwards. "There's so many of them, and they're so bright."

"You're <i>smiling,</i>" Jaskier said, voice rich with delight. "So much for cannabis not working on witchers, hmm? Look at you."

Geralt felt a faint echo of embarrassment, as though he <i>ought</i> to be embarrassed, and an even fainter echo of alarm, because he was—he realized now—in no state to keep an alert watch for any danger. But they were only echoes in the back of his mind; the rest of his mind was occupied with feeling better than he had in—hell. A long time.

"Give me some more of that," he said, reaching for the pipe, but Jaskier pulled it out of his reach.

"Just a bit more," he said. "Let me fill it again, it's gone out."

Geralt managed to tear his gaze away from the night sky to watch with fascination as Jaskier emptied the bowl and filled it again, fingers working delicately to crush the dried flower buds down to the right size, then gently tamping them in with a light touch. He had always liked Jaskier's hands, though he tried not to think about it much. He wasn't sure <i>why</i> he shouldn't think about it, though. They were beautiful hands, fine but strong, the calluses on his fingertips a testament to his skill.

Jaskier took a deep draw off the pipe, then sighed rather beatifically and handed it to Geralt. "That's enough for me, I think," he said. "I'm feeling about as fine as I can handle."

"That's good," Geralt said, and took a puff himself. It was hard to close his mouth around the stem, he realized, because he couldn't seem to stop smiling. "You deserve to feel good, Jaskier," he said, and with the hand that wasn't holding the pipe he reached for Jaskier's hand, took it and turned it palm up in his own.

Jaskier jumped a little when Geralt touched him, but he settled easily. "Oh, you're definitely high," he said, his voice warm and fond. The sound of it tingled over Geralt's skin wonderfully. He was, he realized; he was undeniably affected. Apparently his resistance to alcohol had no bearing on this particular substance. This time not even a distant ghost of alarm haunted him at the realization, and its absence felt almost as good as the presence of pleasure.

He was still holding Jaskier's hand, he realized, drawing slow circles over the palm with his thumb as he drew more deep breaths from the pipe. He glanced up. "Is this okay?"

"What, you holding my hand?" Jaskier smiled, a little crookedly. "I don't object, darling. Go right ahead."

Permission granted, Geralt started to stroke up each finger, lingering on the callused tips, unreasonably fascinated by their texture—the contrast of the smooth, unworked skin of his palm with the rough layers of horn he'd built up over the years. He hardly even noticed when Jaskier gently plucked the pipe from his other hand; he'd stopped smoking by now, too absorbed in his task of examining Jaskier's fingers. No, not examining, he thought. Something more than that. <I>Knowing.</i> He wanted to <i>know</i> Jaskier, the way he knew the night sky.

He glanced up and met Jaskier's soft gaze, and for a moment he felt captured by it. He'd seen Jaskier look at him like that before, but only in stolen moments—usually when he thought Geralt wasn't looking, or when Geralt was terribly injured (though never so terribly as Jaskier claimed). He'd always liked it, though—for reasons that escaped him at present—he'd never cared to admit to himself that he liked it.

"May I," he said, and lifted Jaskier's hand to his mouth. His lips were tingling, a wonderful feeling, and he knew that the feel of Jaskier's calluses against them would be even more wonderful.

Jaskier's eyes widened. "Uh. Yes? Go right ahead, I guess." His heartbeat had quickened when Geralt asked, but he didn't smell afraid, and there wasn't any fear in his voice. Geralt supposed that this was odd behavior, but at the moment it didn't seem to matter. He closed his eyes and gently pressed his parted lips to Jaskier's fingertips, and the sensation of the callused skin grazing them was as lovely as he'd imagined. Jaskier's heart thumped away almost frantically now like a deep drum, pounding a beat too fast to dance to.

"My lips feel amazing," Geralt murmured, because they <i>did</i>, and it felt imperative to give voice to that fact. He opened his eyes. "Do yours too?"

"I—I—" Jaskier stuttered. There was a deep flush high on his cheekbones now, and it made him look beautifully delicate, though Geralt knew he was no such thing. Jaskier was stronger than he looked, and tall and broad, but at the moment he looked as though a harsh word might shatter him to pieces. A wave of unbearable tenderness swept over Geralt then, and a desperate need to make sure Jaskier felt as good as he was feeling right now. He kissed each fingertip, enjoying the choked noise Jaskier made, and the sudden strong scent that floated up between them. It wasn't new—he'd smelled Jaskier's arousal before, often in the early days of their acquaintance, then less frequently, except when Jaskier returned to their shared room after bedding someone. But it had never entirely gone away for good.

"Geralt," Jaskier said, speaking slowly and carefully, "are you sure—I don't think you'll be glad that you did this, when you're sober again."

The quiet sadness in his voice ached fiercely in Geralt's chest, and he couldn't stand it. He pulled Jaskier close and he came with no resistance, letting Geralt press their foreheads together, though his face was still pinched with worry.

"You deserve to feel good," Geralt told him again, and kissed him. Jaskier made a choked-off noise that might have been a protest or simple shock, and kissed him back fiercely.

For several long minutes they kept on like that, Geralt's hands roving over Jaskier's back and neck and sides as they kissed, slow lazy kisses, and deep. When he tried to pull Jaskier down with him to the ground, though, Jaskier stiffened and pulled away.

"Geralt, no," he said, sounding like it pained him to say it. "Not—you won't want this, later. When you feel like yourself again."

"I hate feeling like myself," Geralt said, and the note of petulance in his voice should have embarrassed him, but he didn't seem capable of feeling that emotion right now. "I like feeling this way. This is better."

Jaskier's face crumpled at that, eyes bright and sad. "Oh, darling," he said softly. "I'm sorry. But I'm not going to fuck you while you're high, you'd never forgive me."

"I'll always forgive you," Geralt said simply—because it was true, and how could Jaskier not know that by now? But Jaskier only shook his head, eyes starting to shine wetly, and pulled Geralt back up to sitting.

"Come on," he said, leaning up against him, arms wrapping him up in an embrace that Geralt gladly sank into. "Let's just wait it out, all right? Let's just—you can feel good, and I'll feel good, and we'll feel good together. But not like that. Okay?"

Geralt nodded, tucking Jaskier's head under his chin. "Okay," he agreed, and it was as if his arousal had been a dream he'd had years ago, vanished like smoke. This was good, holding Jaskier like this, and he couldn't imagine wanting more.

Jaskier took a deep breath and settled in against him, and they didn't speak for a long time.

[secret-engima]

Ardyn doesn't know his own strength and accidentally helps Niflheim topple Insomnia like, eleven years too early. So he scoops his tiny would-be killer out of the rubble and smuggles him to the Nox Fleurets, presumably to stash for a few years--only, Tenebrae soon falls too, with the rumors of them harboring Prince Noctis (who the Emperor rather badly wants dead, as the Crystal still. won't. accept. him). So now Ardyn has to figure out how to semi-raise Noct into something NOT hopelessly (1/2)

alyss-spazz-penedo

said:

(2/2) civilian and strong enough to fight the gods and fulfill the Prophecy, even as he definitely still hates the child and would quite enjoy seeing him suffer. On Noct's part, he totally knows who Ardyn is and what he wants (thanks Luna), and sure he's glad he wasn't cut down in the raid on the mansion but he's SO unhappy to see Ardyn again.

Me: Oh my word do you even KNOW how angsty I could make this ask? DO YOU EVEN KNOW????? Of course you do you just want to see me suffer.

But just- this could get SO DARK. So abusive. So brutal and even though I would not go full dark there’s still so much ANGST no matter how you look at it.

The worst part is I actually have a bby AU very much like this. Does anyone remember the slightly unstable Imperial!Noctis that showed up in my All Nocti Dissidia AU blurb?

This is basically him.

A Noctis who grew up having lost his home TWICE. First Insomnia, then Tenebrae, both to the same Empire and the same Accursed, and then the Accursed had to RAISE HIM and it was- it was hard. It was brutal. Ardyn raised this Noctis to be a weapon strong enough to destroy him, a politician cunning enough to overthrow him, a scientist smart enough to outthink even Besithia. His only light was Luna, who Ardyn allowed to visit to keep Noctis on his “destined path”, and partially Aranea, who drifted into the young “Chancellor’s Nephew” orbit out of happenstance and then later pity, because she could see the brittle sharp glint in the boy’s eyes and knew an abusive situation when she saw it, and if him hiding in her airship sometimes gave him respite, if that was all she could do to help because Ardyn wasn’t someone she could arrest-.

She tried. At least. She did what she could.

And one of the most angsty bits of this is-

In some warped way, Ardyn and Noctis grow to love each other. Because there are days when Ardyn’s sickness loosens it’s hold enough to let bits of the Healer King and Big Brother shine through, and his touch becomes gentle and his teasing words lose their poison, his hands card through Noctis’s hair and do not scrape at his scalp, and when he speaks of Prophecy there is longing there for rest and repentance rather than poison and mockery for the fate that awaits them both. This is the Ardyn that peaks through when Noctis falls sick after climbing up a mountain in a snowstorm for training, or when he’s too sore to move after a night battling in Ardyn’s daemon training arena learning how to forcibly purify the creatures even though purification is Luna’s magic and not his. This is the Ardyn that holds Noctis close sometimes and sobs apologies into his limp, shivering nephew’s hair because he is aware, at least for a moment, that this child-teen-young-adult is not Somnus and does not deserve to be molded into a weapon of Astral and Accursed alike. This is the Ardyn that Noctis calls Uncle and bitterly, angrily loves in his heart, the one he looks for in the Chancellor’s every morning and quietly mourns when he cannot find him.

The Accursed trains and molds a weapon, a politician, a cunning, sharp mind that can rival his own and someday kill him.

But it’s the little bits and pieces of Ardyn that raise Noctis, a king and a nephew and a son that holds on to the morals Luna gives him with an iron grip, that makes sure Noctis is not completely drowned beneath the Chosen King.

And in the end it is the work of both sides, Accursed and Healer King, that raise up the one who saves the world. It is the Accursed who forged the weapon that hunts down the weapons of the Lucii and steals the lost ring, who steps into the Crystal without flinching and comes out ready to kill.

But it is Noctis who spent years stealing away children from Besithia’s labs so they would not become MT units, who fosters the rebellion and organizes the factions of Lucian, Galahdian, Altissian, Tenebraen, and Niflheim rebels so that they become a more cohesive whole that the Empire cannot isolate and crush beneath it’s boot. It is Noctis who sometimes sneaks into Luna’s rooms at night so that they can just- hold each other, so that Luna can run gentle fingers down his back and remind him what it means to be human, not a weapon, not the King of Light, who shows him the innocent people he must protect and proves to him that they are worth fighting for and keeping safe when it would be so much EASIER to just wage his war and not care about the collateral.

It is Noctis who teaches his stolen not-MT units to be people and to stay safe, Noctis who clings to the sunshine soul of the one who names himself Prompto and follows on his heels into the maw of Ardyn’s brutal training without flinching. It is Noctis who finds Lucis’s Marshal Immortal deep in one of Niflheim’s dungeons and arranges for the rebellion (his rebellion) to break him out. Who gives the Galahdians his magic in the dead of night with a ghoulish mask and cloak to keep his identity hidden from them. It is Noctis who finds the Last Amicitia leading a rebel cell and offers him hope and gains in accidental exchange a protector and Shield. It is Noctis that is tracked down by a young man with glasses and green eyes and loyalty in every fiber, a man who says “I know you are our secret leader, let me help you” and Noctis who is still human enough to be grateful and say yes.

It is Noctis who orchestrated the Empire’s downfall long before he stepped into Crystal, and who’s forces have hemmed and imprisoned the Accursed in the ruins of Noctis’s first home during the ten years he is gone.

It is Noctis, not the Chosen King (weapon, war beast, broken tool) who gently pillows Ardyn’s head in his lap and pets red-violet hair and sings ancient, long-forgotten lullabies as the Accursed (his tormentor, his Uncle, his worst nightmare, his parent) breathes his last.

It is Noctis who ascends the throne of an Empire and reclaims the Crystal (with Luna and a Retinue at his side to keep him from becoming as heartless as the Chosen King that was forged from him) rather than rolling over and dying, because Ardyn gave him training and honed his mind and gave him access to all of Besithia’s knowledge, did he really think Noctis wouldn’t look for a way to weaken and end the Scourge without sacrificing himself for it?

(He thinks perhaps that Ardyn didn’t, that his Uncle-captor-Chancellor-father always intended him to find a loophole in the Prophecy so that he would survive, that even when buried underneath the Accursed, the Healer King still fought to protect the last of his family)

(Then he clutches the cane he has to lean on ever since that final battle and goes to find some wine, because he does not want to think those thoughts. They hurt even worse than his limp and his joints and the lifetime of scars he hides under elaborate black tattoos.)

There.

THERE.

ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?

Or do you want me to ramble about how Cor feels the day he finally meets the mysterious head of the rebellion, who is now the emperor and how he’s suspicious and willing to keep fighting if this man turns out to be corrupt, because he’s heard this is the Chancellor’s nephew, only to feel his heart stop when he sees the profile of the man leaning heavily on a cane and thinks for one second it’s Regis’s ghost before realizing this man is younger and clean-shaven and dressed in a way that shows off the elaborate, scar-hiding tattoos on his arms and shoulders. How he makes some noise in his throat and when their mysterious Chosen turns to look at him Cor finds himself looking into armiger blue eyes and Regis’s face if it had been softened by Aulea’s jawline and made borderline feral by a lifetime of intrigue and abuse thinly veiled as training.

And Cor whispers the name of his best friend’s long-dead son, and the new Emperor’s eyes sharpen as he says, “How do you know my real name? I never told anyone outside my Retinue.” And something in Cor twists with realization.

And there’s also the realizations of Ignis and Gladio years earlier, who don’t KNOW at first who Noctis really is to them until he trusts them enough to reveal his magic and they realize THIS IS THEIR PRINCE. This is their long lost charge who they thought was dead, but has instead been raised by the man who hates him most and yet loves him dearly by turns and all that entails.

And there’s also LUNA. Luna who doesn’t die, but who grows up watching the gentle, smiling boy she first met in Tenebrae get shaped and sharpened and molded into a Chosen King and a beast of war and a tool of destiny, who could so easily become a monster just like the Accursed in all but name, but who FIGHTS it every step of the way even as his light falls away and Luna becomes his only cornerstone for years. His only reminder that there is a life and a purpose outside the Accursed’s plans and the Prophecy that Luna grows to hate, because if it did not exist then the Accursed would have no interest in her friend.

Luna who cries with relief the day the not-MT named Prompto glues himself to Noctis’s side and refuses to leave, because there is an innocent, stubborn light to the boy’s eyes that gently draws Noctis out of the armor that is the Chosen King even when Luna is not there. Luna who rails at the Astrals (at Bahamut, who prevents Shiva and Ramuh from acting) because they can SEE what is happening, yet they will not step in to rescue him, because even now Ardyn is pushing Noctis toward his “destiny” and that is all that matters.

Luna who, years after all is said and done, after the Accursed is laid to final rest and Noctis slowly dissolves the Empire back into free and healthy kingdoms, still has to hold him when he shakes and still has to talk the icy, too-sharp glaze from his eyes when he forgets to be human rather than weapon. Who pushes golden magic into his body even though she knows some scars can never be healed, and who has to talk Noctis down with Ignis’s help from the heights of his utter, visceral horror the day she tells him she is pregnant and Noctis realizes he’s going to be a father, but that he doesn’t know how, because what role model for fatherhood has he ever had and remembered that wasn’t the very man who took his real father away and made him the fractured mess he is?

...

There I think I’m done being brutally angsty now.

Happy notes for an AU like this would be-

Noctis and Luna both live. Ignis does not go blind.

Noctis and Luna have like- five kids and Noctis adores them all once he gets over his visceral panic. He is the gentlest, kindest father. Luna and Ignis and Gladio have to do all the disciplining because Noctis will not raise a hand or voice to them ever, and he has never looked more peaceful then when he is napping with his children in the garden.

Prompto has like- several hundred brothers because Noctis stole bby MT’s whenever he could. Prompto is the unofficial “oldest” brother of them all (even though chronologically he isn't) since he has the ear of the king, and all the clones have fun making themselves unique via hair and accessories and tattoos and clothes and weird names.

Gladio and Aranea are snark buddies, and neither are entirely sure how they got married but they’re pretty sure it was Biggs’ and Wedge’s faults and that Ignis officiated (which isn’t too far off).

Cor gets to spoil all of Regis’s and Clarus’s grandkids like crazy.

Galahd gets rebuilt and gets to be it’s own country. Nyx Ulric and Crowe and all our other fav glaives live and aren’t traitors.

Titus Drautos was one of Noctis’s most loyal double-agents during the rebellion, and frankly he isn’t sure how his retirement still involves him braincelling his Galahdian idiots, but their islands are pretty and its far, far away from any and all Niflheim/Lucian politics so eh, he’ll take it. Now if Nyx would just STOP using him as a babysitting service for the adorable adopted bby Ulrics of his newly remade Clan, that would help his blood pressure so much.

[joeyisaprincess]

May I please request the Chocobros with an S/o or crush that will eat the bro doesn't like without complaint or like it's normal? Does the bro put the food on her plate, does he let her take it off of his plate when she's ready to eat it, does the bro hold it out on his fork and she eats it off his fork? Does he find it endearing or romantic that she's willing to help clear his plate of the things he doesn't like? Do the other bros compare it to an owner sneaking food to the dog under the table?

Noctis

You’re his biggest enabler and Ignis will fight you

Noctis is in the habit of straight up dumping food he doesn’t want on your plate. It makes Prompto and Gladio lose their shit, especially when Ignis gives him a look and he keeps going anyway

Strangers think it’s adorable when you eat off of his plate. People you know either find it hilarious, or they want you to make him eat his own food

Ignis

He’s usually the one who does the cooking, and he doesn’t usually cook things that he doesn’t want to eat

If you notice he’s not eating something when you guys go out to eat, he’ll get a little embarrassed. He’s supposed to be an adult, after all, and adults aren’t supposed to be picky

He gets even more embarrassed when you start taking the food off his plate. It’s cute, but he can’t handle it

Gladio

He eats food you don’t like, and you eat food he doesn’t like. You guys balance each other out really well. No food goes to waste with you teamed up

You both will also eat off of everyone else’s plate, which is illegal. Noctis doesn’t mind. Prompto just lets it happen. Ignis might stab one of you with his fork if you aren’t careful

Prompto

Surprisingly, he’s not a picky eater. There aren’t many things he won’t eat

Sometimes his eyes are bigger than his stomach, though, and when you take food off his plate he’s thankful. He doesn’t like to waste food, but he also doesn’t want to die in an attempt to finish it

He thinks it’s really cute and domestic when you finish his food for him, he loves it. 

[bonebreakjack]

Chichi Kobayashi: Chichi as a baby was left to die in the forest, being taken in by a supernatural tree he simply called Mom. He was eventually found by a group of hikers as a toddler who were horrified that he had been alone for God knows how long.

They took him to a child care facility that was right near the mountain where he grew up in but snuck out to see his Mom Tree alot. He was given the nickname Forest child by the other children.

During a day to the park the Child care facility workers encouraged him to go make friends in hopes he would become less painfully shy and open up to the other kids.

It was around this time that he met Naho and Aoi. He had quickly become close to the other girls who didn’t mind his shyness. And even had developed a crush on Naho, who repropricated it and even got him a small crystal heart like necklace to show him how much she liked him. Her mother however did not approve of this or Aoi and had them separated.

He and Aoi carried on by themselves making a promise to find eachother again especially after she told him her brothers jobs dried up here so they had to go.

The day after Aoi left Chichi had gone to the park only to be kidnapped.

He found out after he heard a voice calling to him that Naho was also in the same place and they relied on each other to keep going. They talked to each other when they weren't tired or out cold.

Chichi lost his voice after a particularly bad day and deadly duel. Having finally damaged his vocal cords from screaming rendering him mute. He used knocks to let Naho know he was alive.

Chichi when he was saved isolated himself from people. His distrust of adults the most apparent as he refused to let them touch him. He would run away to his Mom tree more often to hide from them.

One day someone tried to take him from the tree by force and hurt him in the process. This caused the tree to lash out and choke the person to death. After that Chichi refused to leave his tree and people became afraid of the forest.

He meets a man by the name of Yuri who wanted to see the tree and was pleasantly surprised to find Chichi. Slowly he gained Chichis trust and invited him to work and live with him so his mother wouldn't have to constantly care for him

Eventually he agreed and became the man's gardening assistant. He doesn't go to school but Yuri had to draw up papers that he existed and could work.

He keeps the crystal necklace like a treasure and anyone who touches it gets seriously hurt. 

He has scars all over his back, and head trauma that impairs his memory. So Yuri has to write him lists so he doesn't forget. Nerve damage around his neck and burns on his back and arm where the duel disk was.

He has the most inhuman form out of all the children feeling more comfortable in it. He simply calls himself Earth. He is ridiculously strong in both realities and is not afraid to use it.

---------------------------

Issa: it's just Issa, his prior life is unknown to him and he really doesn't care. Drifting from day to day, even Ryokan has no idea how his life was like before the incident.

However he quickly wormed his way into being Ryokens friend after the older boy found him at Stardust road abandoned. Issa acts more like Ryokan's enabler though often letting him do stupid reckless shit cause he thinks it's funny. He truly helps

Issa does genuinely care for him though. But also is not above manipulation if he thinks its in Ryokens best interest. He also makes sure that Ryoken acts like the dumb teenager he actually is.

He also despises the other Knights and makes sure they never forget what they had done.

Issa lost his right when his VR set exploded. He lost the use of one eye and is practically blind in the other(he can only see shapes and colors).  The worst burns around his neck and chest but he doesn't have as bad nerve damage as the others. 

His Avatar name is Windy as in canon to refer to his carefree and careless nature. He does carry around anti Ignis guns with bullets that contain viruses to kill them.

[tarotdeckshuffle]

(I think you did pretty well! I myself am verbal, but I have seen and befriended many nonverbal people. The only thing I would say is that there wasn't a lot about how the Chocobros, Adryn, Nyx, Ravus, Luna, and Aranea would handle any obsessions they might develop-i.e. how would Ravus handle his child constantly wanting to interact with his magitek arm just because it's interesting to them? Or Ardyn's child being obsessed with a video game or cartoon that he doesn't get the appeal of?)

Taglist: @idiotflowerex, @laststory1013, @sayaoqueen, @jophinabean, @mysme-already

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Noctis

Totally supportive of whatever obsession his child would find joy in. 

If he doesn’t understand, he finds someone who does.

Like an expert in the field or one of his bros who shares the interest.

Tries to get them their own items/whatever to use so that the Citadel isn’t wrecked.

Is patient (unlike some attendants) if they tinker with something in the castle, though.

Maybe his child is really into weapons?

Dangerous...but cool. Idk.

Or one of his old games. 

Really into the cowboy from King’s Knight? Ok, cool.

Leaves them alone to enjoy their obsession to their heart’s content,

But is attentive if the child wants to show him. 

Prompto

110% supportive of anything.

Soon finds out that that’s way overboard. 

Tones it down.

His child could be the Temple Grandin of chocobos. 

Super patient with the child but simultaneously a nervous wreck. 

He’d leave them to obsess in peace, but watches from afar, smiling and proud. 

Ignis

Also watches from afar, but is quick to intervene if need be. 

Would let his child do whatever around the house that they want to,

But tries to keep all dangerous items put away. 

Super patient and understanding, 

Or at least he tries to be, 

Even when things get broken. 

Gladio

He’s had to have practice with his emotions,

Especially around his child. 

So, yes, he gets frustrated at his child’s obsessions,

Especially if things go missing or get broken.

But he’s working on it. 

If his child has an obsession with nature,

Gladio is more than happy to stop on his walks.

Gets to the point that when they go out together, 

He doesn’t expect to get far. 

If he has a destination, he may go alone. 

He’s handling things the best way he knows how. 

Ravus

He’d find spare arms (because that’s a thing, right? Spare arms hanging in his closet?) for his child to mess with. 

Especially if they want to see it’s inner workings.

If they’re sitting together, he doesn’t mind them playing with his arm, though.

Running their fingers over it.

But he’d stop them before they could pry it open.

There is a daemon in it, after all.

He’d be unexpectedly harsh, unfortunately.

And feel awful. 

But if he’s sitting still, he doesn’t mind the child playing with it. 

He’s patient in the quiet moment, even enjoying it. 

Luna

I imagine her dresses and the cloth they are made from becomes the child’s obsession.

Dirty handprints are now part of her wardrobe. 

She’d shrug it off.

Her attendants are far more worried about it than she is. 

Maria keeps hand wipes with her if Luna has to look nice for an event,

So that her child can touch her and not get handprints on the cloths.

Luna is a vision of patience, so I doubt much would upset her. 

Ardyn

Cartoons and such he doesn’t understand?

He’ll just shrug it off.

Will watch what they want,

Try to figure it out.

But...eh?

It’s their enjoyment that matters. 

All he really learns about the character through the child. 

Yes, it gets hard to pry the child away from their obsession for necessities such as food,

But he’ll work to find a way. 

Dishes with the character? Specified time with the television? 

Whatever the way, he’ll find it. 

But he’ll buy every trinket with the character on it that he sees. 

Nyx

Would try his hardest to understand their obsession and support it. 

Learning about characters, the mechanics of an item, or whatever. 

He wants to be as supportive as he can be. 

Eventually, he figures out that it means sitting back and letting them do what they need to do. 

But guiding them home at the right time. 

It’s a tough balance.

He’s patient, nervous, and proud all at the same time. 

Aranea

Eh…

She’ll let them do whatever it is they need to do. 

Whatever brings them joy. 

She’ll watch, stand behind them if she can,

And want to see it from their point of view. 

It may not make sense to her,

It’s another detail, a feel, or specific movement,

But she’ll smile watching her child find joy in something.

[ff15trashgoldenslumbers]

Hello! May I request for the chocobros' s/o who is reincarnated. They came across her and tried to get her to remember them, but with what little memories she had she just couldn't, only that she has a feeling that she knows them. Bros will try very hard to make her remember and doesn't mind starting over again. Thank you!

So this one…this one had to be taken in the 10 year gap of the game. So be warned you’re dealing with older bros. I would say that it would more off of the “Good Ending” of episode Ignis. I also cried writing these because I got to emotional…

~~~~~

Noctis

The first time he saw you, he honestly didn’t believe it. You were visiting the Citadel when they requested an artist who could touch up some of the painting that had been ruined in the attack.

But Noctis could not, would not forget the face of the woman he would throw this all away for. To the woman that was killed protecting himself and Lunafreya all those years ago.

He wasn’t even certain he had said anything until you were alone, studying a painting of himself as a child, “Y/N?”

“Yes?” You turned, that same beautiful face, that same voice only to gasp in shock. “Oh, oh goodness Your Majesty” You sputtered, going into a bow.

Noctis looked around, no one else was in this wing, “Y/N, do you know who I am?”

You smiled, eyes still to the ground, “Of course King Noctis, it is an honor to be here and meet you.”

Noctis inhaled deeply, you never spoke to him like that, ever. If anything you always treated him as an equal, no matter what anyone else had to say. He thought maybe he was wrong, but…no this was you, in his heart in his very soul he knew that this was you.

“Please let me know if you require anything, I will have someone get it for you.”

That smile, one and the same, it made his entire body feel lighter.

“You are too kind, Your Majesty.”

For the next couple of weeks, Noctis found himself always trying to find moments to steal glances at you. Watching you work, and often times just watching you. So when Ignis explained that your contract was coming to an end and you wouldn’t be returning to the Citadel Noctis panicked, he couldn’t lose you after finally getting you back.

“Y/N?” He called.

You turned from the large frame you had been restoring, only to smile as you bowed again, “Your Majesty, we meet again.”

Noctis hated that bowing, you never bowed to him. “I have been told that your contract is coming to an end.”

“Yes.” You replied as you looked around, “The Citadel is so lovely, I am happy that I was able to help preserve some of the art that we were able to recover. I feel that I’ll miss being here.”

You always were good at mending things.

“Have you gotten a chance to view the rest of the Citadel?” He asked.

You shook your head.

“Please come along.” He smiled offering his arm, pleased when you took it.

As he took you around the Citadel, he watched your expression, it was the same as when you were teenagers and you came for dinner with his Dad. A love of appreciation for the beauty in the arts rather than the riches. You were always like that, you never took anything for face value and tried to see the beauty in everything.

As he leads you to the roof, he felt himself let out a whine as your hand released his own, but only smiled when you stepped towards the railing, looking to the beautiful sunset.

“This is beautiful.” You cooed, turning toward the man over your shoulder.

Noctis saw it at that moment, that smile that beautiful smile you only ever gave him. “Y/N do you…”

You turned back to the sunset, “Ever since I can remember, I felt like the Citadel was calling me, that someone inside was reaching out for me. So when I was invited to assist with the restorations, I was beyond happy, this was going to be my moment, but even working on the paintings that tug was harder than ever. I don’t feel that I got the time to find what that was though.”

Noctis moved to step beside you, “A tug?”

You nodded weakly, “Yeah, like someone was asking me to come home. We’ve been all over the Citadel today but I didn’t feel like I had found it. Since the tug wasn’t really there today.”

“Does it change whenever your somewhere else?”

“Not really, today it’s been very mild, just like the patter of my heart, but other times it rushes so horribly that I have to take a moment to calm myself. But I think I found what it was that was calling me.”

Noctis swallowed, “What was it?”

You turned looking to him beyond your lashes, “You Noct.”

“Y/N.”

You suddenly gasped, your eyes widen as you suddenly realized what it was that you had said. Your hands going to your mouth as tears swelled into your eyes as you quickly moved away from him. “Oh, oh my please Your Majesty, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to be so, I can’t apologize enough, I didn’t…”

Noctis quickly pulled you into an embrace, “I’ve been wanting to do this since I first saw you.”

You seemed to struggle at first, Noctis loosen his hold, only to find that you were trying to get your arms out from between the two of you to hold him in return.

“I don’t, I don’t know what was calling me, but it brought me to you.” You whispered softly against his neck. “I have never felt anything more wonderful than being around you.”

“Do you remember, leaving here, Tarabene, Lunafreya,” Noctis froze at the next part, all these years later he couldn’t really speak of your death, “Of us?”

“I don’t, I just know that my heart brought me to you.”

Noctis held you tighter, he didn’t mind starting over, as you hadn’t changed one bit.

Little by little, he watched you change from this newer version of you that had to be polite for her King to the woman that he gave his heart to. Even after your contract had ended, people still found you around the Citadel often times than not at the King’s side.

So when your engagement was announced it honestly didn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

“Are you certain about this?” Noctis asked, sitting on his throne overlooking your engagement party.

You smiled, sitting beside him in a throne all your own, your hand going to your heart, “I believe my heart has spoken, if I left your side it would be for nothing because I would return here to you.”

Noctis scratched the back of his head, only to feel your hand on his own, “You haven’t known me that long, I don’t want to force you into anything.”

You smiled, taking his hand, pulling it to your lips, “My King, My Noctis, I have had the honor of knowing you for two lifetimes, I believe that’s more than enough time to realize how much I love you.”

Noctis smiled, linking his fingers with your own, “So what do you say we sneak out and go play some A.C?”

You giggled, “I thought you never ask.”

~~~~~

Prompto

When the Citadel reopened, Noctis had asked Prompto to include some of the pictures he had taken along the way to the halls from their younger years. Most of them were of landscapes, a few of them went to a more private collection. Yet there were many that people came to gush over of the men in their younger years.

The pictures wouldn’t stay up for long like the landscapes but still, it was nice to have people view them. Prompto often found himself in his free time walking through, hearing the comments of those visiting. Since he submitted them anonymously no one was aware that the artist often visited.

“Oh.”

It was soft, he almost didn’t hear it over the string of people making their way through the long hallway. He turned only to find a woman standing before a picture of a flock of Chocobos, it had a slight profile in it but it was one of Prompto’s favorites. It was one of the last pictures he had of you.

As he stepped over standing beside the woman, found himself staring at the picture too. He noticed the small glances she was giving him, as he was giving her the same the both too afraid to look one another in the face.

“They’re beautiful.”

Prompto smiled, “Yeah.”

“Chocobos are so cute, the photographer capture this beautifully.”

“You think, I’ll have to tell him that.” Prompto smiled, only to finally turn, only to gasp. “Y/N?”

You turned a soft smile on your face, “Yes, and you are Lord Argentum correct?”

“Prom…Prompto, you can call me Prompto.” He replied, holding out his hand.

“Prompto? I feel as if I’ve heard that name somewhere before.” You smiled taking his hand.

*

It was strange when Prompto had asked you on a date you hurriedly agreed with that bright smile. He didn’t want to get his hopes up but at the same time, this was you, right?

You laughed at all the same jokes, held onto his hand the same way, you were exactly the same. So on your fourth date, the man invited you back to his apartment so you could view some of the photos that didn’t make it to the gallery.

“My goodness, were you always this handsome?” You cooed, thumbing through some of the pictures he had brought along when you requested to see more of his work. “I believe you were.”

Prompto blushed, only to stop as you turned the page looking to a picture of the young couple from ten years ago. “Y/N this is…”

You became silent, looking to the picture before tears gathered in your eyes, “I thought, I thought I was going crazy.” You whispered. “I felt so connected with you and I…Prompto is this me?”

Prompto shook his head, “I don’t know. I like to think so.”

You ran fingers over the picture before you, the younger you at your fingertips and the younger man beside you. So happy, so in love. “When I first saw you at the gallery, I felt like I had known you a lifetime. What happened to me, to her?”

Prompto swallowed, “She passed, about 10 years ago helping a friend.”

“A piece of building in Altissa.” You muttered softly.

Prompto nodded weakly, he had never told anyone outside of his group of friends.

“Prompto,” You whispered softly, moving the book from your lap to the table before you. “This is, I don’t know if this is me, or what’s going on but…”

Prompto felt your hand wrap around his own, as you pulled him closer, running a hand over his cheek, stroking his hair like you use to do when he would tear up. “Y/N please.”

You smiled tears in your eyes, “I can’t believe how much I have missed you and didn’t even know it.”

Prompto let out a sob, as he pulled you close pressing a kiss to your temple, this felt so good. He was so thankful to have you back.

~~~~~

Gladiolus

“I’ve got it.”

Gladiolus turned, he was making his rounds when he heard the strong voice, and then the sound of heavy lifting. The central garden was getting an overhaul this year, as the winter storm managed to destroy quite a bit of vegetation, and Noctis’s Queen had requested to put Syelleblossom in the garden to honor a dear friend.

When he rounded the corner, he wasn’t shocked to see quite a few people in overalls and tee-shirts moving things. What was a surprise was the woman, easily maneuvering a fountain across the yard that had broken when some ice had shattered it.

It wasn’t so much that a woman was moving the fountain, he knew quite a bit of strong women, it was more that she was so similar from the back, then for her to turn.

“No way.” He called, but just like that, gone.

He found himself moving by the garden as much as possible to catch a glance at the workers. Often telling himself it was more to make certain that his King and Queen weren’t in any danger.

Gladiolus had tried to date, but each time he attempted to make a relationship work in those ten years he found himself getting out of the relationship because it wasn’t what he wanted. He wasn’t happy, the person he was dating wasn’t who he needed by his side, nor preferred. He knew deep down that he would need to find someone to carry on his legacy but he had lost that person years ago when he lost you.

“Careful!”

His feet moved faster than he realized when his hands grabbed a hold of the large rock that was being moved. Only to realize the rock wasn’t as heavy as he thought it should be, only to turn and find you were holding it as well with wide eyes to the man.

“Are you all right?” He asked as you both moved the rock out the way.

“Yeah, thanks for the save, that would have set us back.” You replied setting down the rock in the right place, dusting off your hands. “I’ve seen you looking out for us, Lord Amicitia.” You smiled pulling off your gloves holding out your hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Sir.”

Gladiolus took your hand giving it a firm shake, “The pleasure’s mine.”

“For the help back there, how about I take you out for a thank you for making sure my co-workers don’t get crushed.”

Ballsy as ever, he was happy to see that hasn’t changed, “I wouldn’t mind that, you just allow for me to pay.”

Gods he missed that laugh.

*

How many years had it been since he’s been on a date? Do people even do dates anymore? Still, Gladiolus looked up as he saw you enter the room, you looked so much different outside your work clothes, so much like you. So beautiful, he didn’t know if he could put it in words.

“Oh my, I feel that I’m out of place.” You smiled, sitting down as he held out your chair, you smoothed out your dress as he took the seat opposite of you.

“You fit in perfectly,” Gladiolus replied, watching as you turned your head to avoid him seeing you blush. Seeing a small tattoo just before your hair behind your ear, completely hidden normally. “You’ve got a tattoo?”

You blinked, when he tapped by his ear, “Oh yes, I love this flower so much. Ever since I can remember gladiolus have been my good luck flower. Flowers of strength and passion, but you would know that right”

“It’s cute, it suits you.” He smiled, as you flushed again.

It moved fast from there, drinks, dinner, and then you found yourself in Gladiolus living room, your shoes beside his own, knocking back a beer with the man sharing loud and obnoxious laughter with someone you felt you had known all your life. Something that seemed so second nature at this point.

“Okay, okay this is going to sound so strange, but before I started working at the Citadel have we ever meet, like in the years of darkness?” You asked, “I just have never felt more comfortable with anyone the way I feel with you.”

Gladiolus froze, “Y/N do you remember, Insomnia before the fall?”

You shook your head, “Not really, my early memories aren’t so great, it always feels like I’m in some type of dream and then I wake up.”

“What about me feels familiar?”

You set down your beer, reaching out to take his hand, “This, you feel familiar. It feels like I have known your touch and your voice. What it’s like to wake up beside you and feel safe.” You traced his palm with your fingers tips, linking your fingers together when you spoke, only to gasp as you realized that you had become rather to intimate as you released his hand. “Sorry.”

Gladiolus moved quickly pulling you to his chest, “Y/N can I kiss you?”

You hardly nodded before you found yourself within his embrace and your lips to his own. Your only thought was how much you wanted more of this familiar feeling as you pulled into him until your body ached for you to breathe again.

Gladiolus pulled away, his forehead touching your own as he panted, “Babe, I’ve missed you so much.”

You blinked almost as if a spell was becoming undone words uttered from your heart directly, “Gladdy-Baby, I…I’m not sure if I’m the same person but I know that I want to be at your side.”

“We can start over as many times as it takes.”

You hummed as he pulled you into another kiss, that new feeling of a familiar touch upon your skin was perfection and you did not wish for it to leave again and judging by the way that Gladiolus held on to you, it wasn’t bound to happen again.

~~~~~

Ignis

Ignis was aware that he was to get an assistant, having to assist Noctis called for such. So when the high esteemed woman moved into his office, he had to think for just a moment his eyes were playing tricks on him.

There was no way that the person before him was who he thought it was. He watched, he watched this same person with those same feature pass away, pulling the ring from his finger when he went to protect Noctis. Taking his place instead as the bargaining chip.

“Hello, Mr. Scientia it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Ignis felt his heart skip a beat, the voice, the way you spoke, all of it was you. “Yes, a pleasure.”

You smiled, you even had the same lipstick you always wore that he would find on his lips by the end of the day from welcomed kisses.

Now Ignis could never be distracted, but Ignis did observe. He observed the way that you moved, the way you greeted people, and the way you held yourself. Not above others but in a way that made you approachable but in the most elegant way possible.

“Mr.Scientia.” You called as he turned to you, holding a piece of paper.

Ignis had been looking for this exact piece for a few moments, it was as if he could read your mind. “Thank you, Y/N.” He replied, only to notice the burn on your thumb as you pulled away to go back to your desk. “Y/N?”

“Yes, sir?” You asked stepping back towards his desk.

“That mark upon your hand, are you all right?”

You looked to the mark, before pulling it up to your chest, “Yes, it’s a mark I’ve had for as long as I can recall. May I be honest with you, Sir?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t have a lot of memories, I recall a burning light and then kind of becoming, but the burn it reminds me of your own.” You replied, glancing towards the marks on his face.

“Of my own?” Ignis touched the marks near his eyes as he stood, moving you over to the sofas within his office he often had to kick Noctis off of, “Y/N what is your earliest memory?”

“I can not say its a memory per say, I’ve been to so many specialists, but they can’t describe it.” You explained as he led you to the sofa, asking you to sit. “I’ve even gone to a Visionary, who believed that it might have been from a past life. Of myself, and someone I love very dearly, I traded my life for his own. Oh, thank you.” You cooed as he hands you a cup of ebony.

“One you loved dearly?” Ignis inquired sitting down beside you. “Have you seen his face, within these visions?”

“No, he’s always obscured from me, but when I see him in my dreams I’m always so happy, we were supposed to be together. Listen to me I must sound ridiculous.” You cooed, pulling the coffee to your lips only to gasp. “You make coffee absolutely wonderfully.”

“Two scoops of sugar, and a dash of cream.” Both yourself and Ignis stated at the same time, as your gaze met.

Ignis wasn’t certain of how long he held your gaze, “I don’t believe it to be ridiculous Y/N.”

You placed your coffee down, “Mr. Scientia…”

“Ignis.”

“What?”

“Please call me Ignis.”

You flushed setting down your cup, “Ignis, are you saying that this is…”

Ignis set down his own cup and removed his glove, holding out his hand to you so that you saw the burn mark on his finger, where the Ring of Lucii once rested, matching your own. “After all these years I have never forgotten about you.”

“Ignis,” You repeated, taking his hand in your own, before reaching out with the hand that received your own burn, stroking the old scars on his face. “Ignis, you are…”

Ignis leaned into your hand, pressing a kiss against your palm as he always did, only to feel the three taps against his cheek. Without even thinking he responded to the three taps with his own against your hand that wasn’t cradling his face. Something the both of you did as a silent way to say that you loved one another.

“Do you remember, love?” He asked.

“Love?” You smiled weakly tears gathering in your eyes at the pet name that made you so happy, “I don’t remember a lot, but I do know that I love you.”

“We can start again.” Ignis offered, only to feel the heat of your hand leave his face, as you shook your head. Only to gasp as you moved forward nuzzled your head into the side of his neck, arms embracing him tightly. His arms finding themselves around you, holding you tightly.

“No, I want to start where we left off.”

[wrathbites]

A kiss...

... goodbye.

Characters: Noctis Lucis Caelum/Ignis Scientia Rating: Teen and up audiences Warnings/notes: cross-posting older fics from AO3

When they are children they don't know any better of easily shared affection.  Holding hands and hugs come naturally to them, just like breathing and swimming and causing all kinds of merry hell for the adults watching over them, despite Noctis's station as Prince and the inkling in the back of Ignis's head that perhaps he shouldn't be so comfortable with this.  But they are children and the worries of adults are strange and puzzling things to them, boring and stuffy books in the face of adventure and cartoons he's dragged off to watch the very moment they're allowed to.

But for all that affection is easy and Noctis is a delight to get along with, Ignis is never one to leave a kiss upon the Prince's cheek, no, that is something reserved for Noctis to bestow on him, alone.  The first time it happens, Noctis draws back just as quickly as he'd leaned in to stifle a yawn behind his fist and blink sleepily at Ignis where he stands with a hand on his cheek, mouth dropped open in shock.  "Good night, Noctis," he says, because he doesn't know what else to, and ruffles black hair because he can and it makes Noctis giggle, before he takes his leave from Noctis's quarters and trots off to his own with a Crownsguard escort.

The second time it happens Noctis doesn't even make it to bed, simply drops onto Ignis's lap and conks out right there like he's the comfiest pillow in the world, trapping him on the sofa far too big for just the two of them.  Ignis doesn't mind, really, except his leg is already kinda dead and he's gotta pee, but he doesn't want to disturb Noctis and - and he only wakes when his Uncle comes to fetch him, hiking him up in spindle-stick arms even though he's a lot bigger and a lot older since the last time he'd been lifted and it's not quite so easy anymore.

Such kisses become frequent things in their friendship - always laid upon his cheek when he's to depart Noct's company either at the end of the night or when their studies pull them away.  A few are left on his forehead, too, when he's too tired to move from all the running and jumping around they've done and the adults come to fetch them from their grand adventures and mischief, a slurred "g'bye Iggy" the last he hears from Noct until the following day, Noctis flopped over him one moment and gone in a whirl of spooky cloaks the next, smiling at him like he'd announced a holiday from all classes at another.

He never thinks to return them, not when Noctis favours hugs the most and buries his face so quickly into Ignis's chest every time, burrowing under his jumper to hide from the King and his "princely responsibilities" (or vegetables), pouting and whining and stubbornly refusing to let go.  He likes the kisses because they're warm and funny and only Noct gives them, and Noctis likes the hugs because Ignis is around his height and doesn't scoop him clean off the ground like some giant about to squish him for being an irritating bug.

And then he does, once.  Only once, because Noctis and the King are to visit Altissia to pay respects to the Astral slumbering under the city and he won't be seeing his friend for a couple of weeks.

"Goodbye, Noctis.  Have a safe trip," he says, and plants a kiss right on the tip of the Prince's nose, complete with a loud mwuah, much to the amusement of their caretakers and Noct's annoyance, jumping away from Ignis with an outraged squawk and flap of his hands before he's slapping at his nose as though he thought Ignis would be so sneaky as to steal it.

"Ew!  Gross, Iggy!"

"You do it to me all the time!"

"Yeah, well!  I make sure I'm not drooling, first!"

- - - - - -

When his friend returns from that trip, cut short by a disaster that has the whole Citadel buzzing with anxious activity and extra guards posted everywhere Ignis can see... he is a shadow of that indignant boy, an empty husk curled up in the wheelchair pushed by the King, and Ignis feels his stomach drop through his shoes, caught up in indecision.  Does he run to Noctis and replace the King's hands with his own?  Does he hug him?  Will that hurt him?  Does he ask if he's okay when he's clearly not?  Or does he flee?  Does he put distance between them and clap his hands over his mouth and never utter a single word ever again?  Does he keep his kisses to himself to spare Noctis anymore pain?

He'd kissed Noctis the day of their departure.  He'd kissed him and wished him a safe trip and said goodbye.

He'd cursed his friend to suffering, to countless nights screaming and sobbing, ill and weak and shaking in his father's arms while Ignis peers in from the doorway, crying himself and clutching the Carbuncle plushie Noctis gave him for his birthday.

I'm so sorry.

- - - - -

"This isn't goodbye, Noct," he says with only a mild touch of surprise in his tone, dipping his head down to stare at the arms locked around his chest from behind, first, then twisting just enough to get a glimpse of his friend's wild tangle of hair mashed into his shoulder.  There is a surprising strength in that hold of his and Ignis is tempted to start walking, to determine if Noct can stop him, or stubbornly cling on and be dragged along for the ride.  Warm breath sinks into his shirt, his skin, steals away his own and momentarily wipes his brain squeaky clean of any thought expect the close proximity they haven't had in years -

Proximity he couldn't allow.

- since they were children, and Noctis is mumbling something he cannot decipher, the whine sliding through his voice speaking of his discontent at their impending separation louder than any words he could string together, a scream for all that he's quiet, and somewhere behind all the iron walls Ignis has meticulously crafted over the years his heart gives a painful squeeze.

"What was that?"

"... said I'm gonna miss you," is the mumbled reply and he turns in Noct's hold so he can return it in kind, risking all kinds of hell for his sanity when he's on his own by nosing into that riotous hair permanently stuck as "bedhead", closing his eyes and breathing a deep sigh.  Surely they are allowed this comfort, surely he can lay his hands on Noct's back and feel the play of muscles under his palm with every minute shift, surely he can touch his fingertips to the line of Noct's spine... surely no doom can come from this?

"It's only college, Noct, and I'll drop by for a visit every other day."

"Y'know I'm gonna die without your cooking, Igs."

"Tsk.  Ever sculpting mountains out of molehills.  Your kitchen will be kept well stocked for your foray in independence."

- - - - - -

A hand on his tie, and any protest he might have for the creases being scrunched into it is dashed to the southerly winds with the sudden press of Noct's mouth to his own, lips a little chapped but welcome -

He pulls back with a desperate noise, scrabbling for distance, for clarity, for strength to deny but Noctis is, and has always been, a tenacious fiend, shadowing his retreat with a complaint of his own and Ignis goes down when he collides with the sofa, the added weight of a persistent Prince at his chest sending him over it with a squeak of protest he'll deny later, tumbling all at once in a flail of limbs and tangling with Noctis until there's no escape and he's doomed.

He's powerless and doomed and this will be the final rule broken, the strike for dismissal, the end to their friendship and he can't -

"Wanna kiss you."

"Technically you just -"

"Shut up,"  Noctis says, and Ignis does exactly that, head dropping back with a solid thunk and hands lifting above it in surrender, utterly at Noct's mercy, following his lead and kissing him back because he is a weak, weak man and there couldn't possibly be a regret greater than if he was to turn his head aside now.

- - - - - -

There's something off about the grip in his hair and the play of tongue over his, Noct's sluggish response to his coaxing.  Hesitation that hasn't been there since their first kiss in that tiny apartment, caught up in the hormonal rollercoaster of teenage years, and Ignis pulls back with something like dread in his gut.

Noct's eyes are distant and dark in the false light the Glaives have managed to generate to keep the daemons at bay, shadowed and sad and the dread turns physical, a pain that steals his breath and twists his stomach into knots.

"Don't you dare say this is goodbye, Noctis.  We've come too far for this to be your end."

"But the prophecy -"

"Fuck the prophecy.  I didn't fight Ardyn and burn at the hands of your ancestors ten years ago for the gods to pluck you from this earth and rip you from my side.  I will not allow it."

"But I have to die."

"You most certainly do not."

"You don't understand, Ignis!"  Hands on his shoulders, shoving him off, and he rolls aside and comes up on the other side of the bunk ready for a fight, blood pounding with the rush of it, and with an electric snap and flick of phantom blue, Noctis is right there, nose to nose with him, fists grabbing hold of his vest and threatening to tear the aged fabric with every push and pull, every effort to shake him.  "I have to.  No ifs, no buts, no maybes.  It's me, or the world and every living soul in it.  I can't run from this, Iggy, I can't hide, you can't keep me safe this time.  It's me or everyone else.  It has to be."

"According to who?  The gods?  Who are they to dictate the lives of those who can bring them to their knees and remind them how it feels to bleed?  Who are they to bestow the gift of life on humanity and then steal it away when the fancy strikes them?  Fuck the prophecy, and fuck those who tout it like some saving grace!"

"Ignis -"

"No," he says, quiet and firm and vicious, mirroring Noct's grip and yanking him impossibly closer until they share every breath and he can see the glimmer of unshed tears, can almost taste the fear his lover tries so hard to hide.  "I will not lose you this night, Noctis, or any night.  If I must storm the Citadel myself and face Ardyn again, without the ring and might of your ancestors behind me, then so be it.  Do not make this a goodbye."

There is no kiss to be had, not in this moment, not with them both so close to a breaking point, and so he reverts to what he once did as a child, and folds his arms around Noct's shoulders, holds on tight until the fight goes out of Noctis all at once and he crumples, buries his face where it cannot be seen and trembles as years of stress and fear and fury and pain tumble off his shoulders, where they never should have been.

"You're not alone, Noctis.  Not this time."

- - - - - -

He lays a hand on his lover's cheek in the dead of night - or what the clocks deem night in the unnatural state the world's fallen into during the decade he's been absent - crouches by the bunk to watch him sleep, just for a minute.  Ignis mumbles something at the contact but doesn't wake, turns ever so slightly into the touch and he feels his heart break into a thousand pieces.

This isn't fair.

No tears.  No hesitation.  No regrets.  Well... all but one.

"Goodbye Ignis," he whispers, and leaves a kiss on Ignis's forehead before taking his leave.

No-one else will die tonight, not for him.  Never again.

I'm so sorry.