⚔ // 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

[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.

[semistableman]

[Bucky shrugs.]

I grew up with beds like this, but I never had a lot of money, so they weren't so.... fluffy.

[discutio]

[A slight nod.]

Makes sense. A resort like this seems like what one would probably find around Altissia--particularly so close to the water.

[semistableman]

It's way too class for me to ever step foot in normally, that's for sure.

[discutio]

That nice, is it? You'd probably have felt terribly out of place in Insomnia if that's not to your taste.

[semistableman]

[Bucky laughs.]

The entire city ritzy, huh?

[....is that a term Ignis would even know? Oh well.]

[discutio]

[ffxv is an anachronistic mess who even knows]

It did have its share of darker corners, but the heart of it was a grand and beautiful city without compare. Particularly the Citadel, though I suppose that stands to reason.

[semistableman]

The name reminds me of my hometown.

New York, "The City That Never Sleeps". Kind of interesting, that coincidence.

[discutio]

That's a charming epithet. Busy nightlife, then?

[semistableman]

Yeah.

Even during the Depression, the city was alive. 'Course it wasn't like I could really enjoy it, but it was still there.

[discutio]

...What about now?

[Something about the brief hesitation before he asked made it sound like that was a little more than idle curiosity.

[semistableman]

[He's glad Ignis can't see his distraught expression.]

....Unfortunately, I can't go back. I don't even recognize my city anymore.

[discutio]

[A long silence followed that, Ignis pressing a hand to his head as if struggling with something he knew he should say and yet either couldn't articulate it or lacked the will to admit it.]

...neither do I.

[semistableman]

It sucks, doesn't it?

When home stops being home.