⚔ // stress in solitude

[discutio]

[Once Saturn had left, Ignis took a slow breath to steady himself before standing and speaking again.]

I think we have a fair amount of things to discuss, after that. But we'll also need to rest and recover here; We may be able to take it at Saturn's word that he won't alert Cyrus to us, but overstaying our welcome by more than a couple of days is unwise--that means we need to take advantage of this as much as we can.

[Strategy was easier. The words came naturally, and he was able to hold focus.]

If anyone needs me or wishes to assist, I'll be in the kitchen. I'm aware we just ate, but I presume we'll all be more comfortable if one of our own makes breakfast in the morning.

Comments

[discutio]

[It was a little while before Ignis showed up; obviously the light wasn't an indication to him, but he was willing to guess Bucky wasn't sleeping anytime soon.]

[Knock knock.]

It's just me. Could I come in?

[semistableman]

[Ignis is one of the only people he'd really open the door for, so after a few moments.]

Ignis. Come on in.

[He steps aside, letting Ignis in before he shuts the door again, striding over to sit on the bed.]

[discutio]

I brought some garden curry in case you were still hungry--I assure you, I'll not be insulted if you aren't.

[because wow, today sure happened. Hemera took a few steps to sit near a table, which Ignis took as direction to follow and place down the plate he was holding.]

Are you alright? I apologize for snapping earlier--I think we were all a little more tense than we could have been.

[semistableman]

Thanks. It'll be better than my vegetable stew.

[Because, of course, his "vegetable stew" had been made with rice, beans, and bitter berries. He takes a moment to stand up, moving towards the table, taking a seat, and trying to at least make some noise when walking.

It's hard to remember, moving silently is so hardcoded into him.]

I'll be fine.

[It's not the same thing as saying he's fine, and he knows it, but Bucky's too proud to say anything else.]

[discutio]

...likewise.

[Admitting some fault or hesitation was nigh impossible for him--so Ignis just folded his arms and leaned back against the wall.]

That was...an ordeal.

[semistableman]

It was.

[He sighs.]

I understand what he's going through, some of it. I was more like him than myself four years ago.

[discutio]

I-...yeah.

[The words caught in his throat despite his best attempt, the thought ending well before it could be articulated.]

I meant what I said--I can understand the devotion if absolutely nothing else.

[semistableman]

Yeah.

[Bucky doesn't know what else to say.]

Stripping you down until you're nothing, telling you they're the only one who can help you, that you're damaged and need fixing...

If the other leaders are worse than he is, we have our work cut out for us.

[discutio]

Who knows--perhaps we'll be fortunate and they'll be in similar situations.

[He didn't sound all that optimistic.]

It's...a delicate situation, dealing with someone like that. Take away Cyrus, and they lose their entire reason to live.

[semistableman]

That's what I'm worried about.

I don't want to fight these people.

[discutio]

...neither do I. Not after that.

[Ignis' left hand curled in the fabric of his coat, likely white-knuckled under his gloves.]

We can't leave the world in this state. And if fighting them is the only path to resolution, then we may have no choice someday.

[semistableman]

No, we can't. This world is dying.

If there are really only a handful of people left with wills of their own, us included, it means that the people might react to any disruptions with aggression.

[discutio]

...I'm sorry. I wish there were another way, but when things are this dire there almost never is.

[semistableman]

You're right.

Still, I can't imagine our timetable is going to be very long. I wish we had better transportation than our own feet.

[discutio]

What I wouldn't give for a chocobo-...then again, maybe there's a Pokemon that serves the same purpose.

[semistableman]

What kind of animal is a chocobo?

[.....he hopes it's an animal, anyway.]

[discutio]

You don't have those? They're large bipedal birds; flightless, they get around by running. Where I'm from they're bred as secondary transport in wilderness one can't reach by car or other vehicles.

[semistableman]

I've never heard of anything like it.

Sound kind of like horses, though.

[discutio]

...Like what now?

[semistableman]

Quadrupedal herbivores, temperamental as hell but they're strong. Before cars were commonplace, they used to drive carriages.

[discutio]

Oh--like a spiracorn. I hear there's been attempts to domesticate those over the years, but they're rather uncontrollable creatures.

[semistableman]

[Bucky laughs.]

Well, at least we can understand each other a little bit.

[this is the moment where i'm very sad bucky wouldn't know about ostrich racing, can you imagine]

[discutio]

[Ignis smiled slightly, adjusting his sunglasses.]

How fortunate for us.

[a crying shame]

[semistableman]

I was just thinking how strange it is to be sleeping in a bed like this.

My hut in Wakanda is a pallet of blankets and pillows.

[discutio]

Sounds hard to adjust to. Though I suppose that's the Crown City upbringing talking--I'm afraid a long stretch of camping's the limit of my experience with something like that.