Week 5.

[azumods]

WEEK 5 As of morning the next day, it seems the rain has stopped; with Azelf awakened and your newly-hatched companions by your side, it's possible that you're feeling a new sense of resolve regarding what needs to be done - and, perhaps more importantly, your ability to accomplish it. The device Maylene gave you certainly does seem to work; activating it will reveal a dark portal crackling with energy, shades of pink and purple swirling brightly around the outer edges, and those of you that walk through it will find yourselves quite suddenly standing somewhere else - there's grass beneath your feet and an unfamiliar city to the west, and the place you're standing seems raised up in some way; turning around once the portal has closed behind the last of you will reveal a massive bronze statue depicting a Pokémon of some sort, though what it is seems to be a little difficult to tell... The trip to Eterna City may leave you feeling a little dizzy and disoriented, and for a few uncomfortable moments you're likely very, very aware of your organs, but the effects will pass after a few moments and you'll soon feel right as rain. Of course, it'll likely become obvious very quickly that you aren't alone near that statue... Either way, it's a long journey up to Snowpoint City; you might want to take some time to make sure that you're prepared before you set off. It really does seem as though finding Azelf at Lake Valor has done the world some good, though, along with your combined effects on the world already; hopefully the Guardian at Lake Acuity in the north will be just as helpful... CURRENT LOCATION: ETERNA CITY POKEMON AVAILABLE: WITHIN CITIES SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY [OOC: Welcome to week five of Azume; feel free to make as many top levels as you'd like and tag out to other characters! This post is for all of your interactions this week... at least until the weekend. Don't forget that a write-up is due this weekend!]

Comments

[nightcure]

[ Maybe if he were someone else, he'd be angry. Maybe if he didn't know Ignis as well as his own heart, he'd be angry. Maybe, if he were less compassionate... he'd be angry.

But he's not angry. It only hurts. ]

You didn't lie to hurt me. You... knew that I'd keep going, even if I knew the truth. Right?

... I don't know if I'd have figured out how to tell you, if our positions were reversed.

[discutio]

...I knew I couldn't convince you otherwise even as I asked it of you. And once you elected to continue, there was nothing I could say to stop you.

[A king pushes onward, never turning back.]

[nightcure]

It was something only I could do. I couldn't... not.

[ He takes in a deep breath and lifts his hand to Ignis's hair, gently brushing his fingers along it. ]

But I wanted to stay. [ His voice is quiet. ] There were so many things I didn't get to do. And I wanted to stay with Gladio. With Prompto.

With you.

[discutio]

...I know.

[Finally, his arms came up to settle around Noctis as securely as he could, unable to accept he was the only one being comforted here. That wasn't going to stand.]

You're here no matter the impossibility of it, and no matter what it takes I'll not allow you to be left behind once this is over and done.

I won't...fail again. I can't.

[nightcure]

[ Ignis is holding him, and everything sort of falls into place. Ignis is here. Ignis is with him. Noctis is alive, and even if he doesn't know how, he refuses to squander this chance.

His head rests against Ignis's. ]

Ignis, I-- If I go back with you... What if that undoes everything? It was a sacrifice for a reason.

[ Perhaps it's irrational. But it's a thought that has Noctis almost frightened. Because as much as he desperately wants to go back to Eos with Ignis, he can't risk what might happen. ]

[discutio]

[I don't care, he wanted to counter. What did that matter? A world without Noctis wasn't worth saving.]

[But he stayed silent instead, collecting his thoughts and gathering his composure. For just a second he thought of Maylene, a young girl asking the honest question of do you really think you can win and the immediate answer he had given.]

Then we find another way.

[I will see this done no matter how hard the fight or how many setbacks I suffer.]

There must be some other course of action, else I don't know why I would have been shown such a thing in the first place. So regardless of how difficult a fight it may be or how long it takes...I won't allow this ending to stand.

I will not lose you again. Even if I have to fight the very Astrals to keep you here.

[nightcure]

[ He nearly chuckles, but it dies in his throat. ]

What, are you gonna shove a knife into Bahamut's face?

[ He means it to be a joke, but it falls so flat. Noctis shifts a little, to hold onto Ignis more securely. It feels like when they were kids, when their shoulders weren't bowed from the weight of so many burdens. ]

[discutio]

You say that as if I won't.

[There was the faintest, smallest edge of a smirk as Ignis said that...but his voice was entirely serious. He pulled Noctis a little closer, as if fully intent upon protecting him from any force whether divine or mortal.]

...I don't care what it takes. I can't...allow this.

[nightcure]

I believe it.

[ He doesn't want to let Ignis go. He doesn't want to let him out of his sight. Noctis wants to stay here forever, safe in Ignis's arms, and draw in his warmth and strength. Hell, if he fell asleep like this, he'd be fine with that. ]

... I don't want you to hurt yourself again. Not for my sake.

[ If he can't protect the people he loves... what good is he, truly? ]

[discutio]

You know I can't promise that.

[He'd already done it once, risked his life in an instant without hesitation. because it was right, it was necessary, it was what kept Noctis alive.]

[It was also what caused that pain in his voice tat ached worse than the burn of the Lucii's price.]

...But I will do my best.

[nightcure]

... Yeah. I know.

[ Breathe in, out. His heart's still beating, against all odds, and it's beating along Ignis's. He can feel it, pressed this close to him. ]

But we can worry about that later. I'm here, Ignis. And I'm not going anywhere. Not even Team Galactic can tear me away from you.

[discutio]

Neither am I, Noct. I'll not leave your side again, you have my word on that.

[nightcure]

Looks like we're stuck together forever.

[ He lifts his head, and he feels wrung out, like he's been emptied of everything and then stitched up again. Noctis is raw at the edges again, and he feels like he could sleep for days. ]

But I wouldn't have it any other way.

[discutio]

I would certainly hope not.

[He managed to answer with a faint smile, more for Noctis' sake than his own. Ignis of all people knew that tone of voice well enough to understand which of them needed support right now.]

Will you be alright?

[nightcure]

You just poured your heart out to me and you're worried that I'm the one who's no alright?

[ He laughs quietly. It's so... Ignis that it warms his heart. ]

Yeah, I'll be fine. What about you?

[discutio]

Nothing warranting royal attention.

[A slightly brighter smile, that time. Not quite back to himself, but enough to make a joke.]

[nightcure]

[ And just like that, things are easy again. It's easy to be around Ignis, because even though Ignis is and always will be the king's advisor.... Noctis has always been Noctis above all else.

It's comforting, and Noctis feels warm all over again. It occurs to him that this isn't the first time his feelings for Ignis have always been something more.

But it's the first time he's seriously considering doing something about it.

... Hell, what's he got to lose? ]

... I'm gonna try something. You don't have to do anything but sit there, okay?

[discutio]

Of course.

[No hesitation, because there wasn't a single reason to doubt Noctis of all people. Ignis could and would put his life in his hands without a second thought, so whatever he was thinking was surely nothing next to that.]

What is it, Noct?

[nightcure]

[ He almost reluctantly pulls away from Ignis's embrace, so he can rest his hands on his cheeks. He could back out. Whatever happens could change everything.

Or it could just be the same, but more. Noctis cradles Ignis's face gently, and he touches his forehead to his briefly. His heart's racing in his chest, and his throat feels sort of tight--nerves, he's pretty sure.

All the same, he leans in, and he presses his lips to Ignis's. ]

[discutio]

[The events of Altissia were not the only thing that Ignis had kept quiet about. But in this case he'd never lied or concealed a thing; he'd simply never addressed or acknowledged it even to himself.]

[But it was simply natural, wasn't it? It was in every single thing he did since the day they met. Every late overworked night, every lecture, every pastry that was better but not quite right until the day it finally was and the brilliant smile he'd been lucky enough to see.]

[There was no Ignis Scientia without Noctis Lucis Caelum, and the fact that he loved his king more than the world and all things in it was and always had been as obvious as the fact that fire burned to light the night.]

[There was no surprise in his actions--there was no thought at all, in fact. Just the smooth and immediate motion of Ignis' hands raised to Noctis' face in turn, leaning into the kiss as though there was simply no other possible way to respond.]

[nightcure]

[ Ignis kisses him back easily, and just like that, Noctis feels at ease entirely and completely. Noctis has always been unsure about a lot of things--his ability to be a king, his home, his own feelings--but Ignis Scientia has always been a constant and sure thing.

Noctis loves him. And he realizes that maybe Ignis has always loved him, too. He put on the ring, put everything on the line for Noctis, and it makes his heart ache. But... this?

He thinks it might soothe him, every ache and pain and every bad thing. It all seems so much easier, when he's kissing Ignis like this.

Noctis pulls away with a slightly breathless laugh. ]

Hope that was okay.

[discutio]

[He wasn't quite lost for words--no, Ignis could have said a thousand different things with every last one of them sincere. His heart was racing, the sound of that gentle laugh the only thing in this or any world as far as he was concerned. So perhaps for now, it was best to let the wider range of it simply be left unstated and understood between them. Softly, just as breathless, he simply answered:]

...magnificent.

[nightcure]

[ Noctis smiles and presses his lips to Ignis's again, soft and sweet and gentle. It's good, to be able to be so open about his feelings. Here, he's not a king. Here, Ignis isn't the king's hand. They're just... Noctis and Ignis.

It's absolutely liberating. ]

You're gonna make me blush.

[discutio]

A terrible shame I should miss out on such a spectacle.

[He didn't sound too broken up about it, one hand shifting enough to brush Noctis' hair from his face. This...this felt right. In all manner of ways he couldn't define it simply felt right and natural in a way few things ever did.]

[nightcure]

You're not missing too much.

[ He leans into the touch and presses a quick kiss to his palm. Noctis is happy, ridiculously so. He feels twenty years old again, light as air. ]

Hey, Iggy? I love you.