faesphere | Call Me Out / Open RP Post

[ It takes some time for Ignis to calm down, breathing returning to normal, the shaking lessening up. He can feel Noctis clinging to him too and he holds him tighter in response.

He takes his time calming himself down, it helps that Noctis is hugging him hard.

After a time, he finally finds his voice to speak ] ... Noct [ It's just his name, but it holds a great deal of gratitude for letting Ignis break like that. ]

You're here... [ Ignis lifts his head up to look into Noctis' eyes once more. Stray tears still roll down his face.

There had been a gaping hole in Ignis' heart all of these years, it's slowly being filed up again. Though fulfilled in other areas in his life with Noctis' passing, he wasn't truly happy. Something was always missing and that something - someone - was Noctis.

He rubs at Noctis' back idly. ] I'm alright... [ he feels better after letting all of that out. He manages a smile, for Noctis. ]

I don't think you're alright, Ignis.

[He tugs back, reluctant but worried, enough so he can see Ignis' face again and brush a hand over his cheek- the healing hand, finding bruises and scrapes from the mishandling he'd received before Noct arrived. He'd mended the more severe injuries, but is he really okay? They're still sitting here in a shack with a dead man and Ignis' blood all around them. He looks thin, and exhausted.]

We should get somewhere safe... you need to eat, and rest. How long have you been here? Are you hurting anywhere else?

[ He's completely forgotten about his minor injuries still on him. He shuts his eyes as Noctis touches his cheek for a moment. Then he reopens his eyes. ]

... You're right, I'm still a bit hurt. To be honest, I've forgotten about it since you healed the worst of my wounds.

[ He has no idea where they are currently. He shakes his head a bit. ]

I don't know how long I've been kept here. [ He shuts his eyes for a minute thinking. ] I was at home, in a business gathering of sorts and a drink was offered to me. It was spiked, [ he looks at the pool of blood surrounding them. ] I thought nothing of it when I took it. But it knocked me out, I recall getting to my room and passing out there. Then I woke up here and you know the rest.

[ Ignis glances at his legs for a second. ] Judging by the way how stiff my arms were after you untied me, I think I've been here for a few days. [ he's just guessing here. ]

You came in from the outside, correct? What did you see out there? [ It might give him an idea as to where they are. ]

I'm not sure, didn't get a good look. It was just... desert.

[Muddled memories leaves for poor navigation or landmarks. On the other hand, as a tool of one of the Six, he has a working understanding of the lands that exist in Eos- he'd been left with those memories, at least.]

I think... we're probably close to Hammerhead. Let's get you there, first. Can you stand up?

[He'll help pull or balance Ignis as he needs it.]

[ Hammerhead, he'd suspected that he's quite the ways from home, but isn't this familiar at any rate. The car broke down first and the four of them get it to Hammerhead, then he and Noctis meet up in the shared dream. Now this. He gives a little smile. ]

It might be wise if you could assist me. I'm in capable hands.

[ Then a thoughts hits him. ]

I know you don't remember right now, but you were king. If people get word of your return, they might expect too much out of you. It might be a good idea to cover you until you get your full memories back.

[ Though he suspects most people wouldn't recognize Noctis any way, but he wants to be safe. ]

Be careful once we reach Hammerhead, Noct. People with a keen eye might recognize you but I suspect most people won't.

[ He gives Noctis a squeeze, arms still around him. ] How do you feel about visiting places in Eos after you've helped me?

[Ah... king. Noctis glances down at his hands, ashen and glimmering, then moves them to wind one of Ignis' arms around his shoulder, the other at his waist, carefully lifting him up to his feet and supporting him. They can move like this.]

I'm not king anymore. I can't give them what they need.

[Anyway, it's been five years. Surely whatever government the world has established in that stretch of time can continue to exist without him upending everything they've built. He needs to find himself before he can commit to anything else, especially since he no doubt has other obligations now that he's been revived and changed.]

I like that idea, though. Another world tour, maybe?

[ You've done plenty. is his instant reaction to that. Dying for the world and all and the people have gotten along just fine the past five years without their king. No, Noctis isn't king anymore.

He makes a quiet noise in agreement and lets himself be pulled up to his feet. Another familiar sight, though he had been blind at the time... Ignis gingerly tests out his legs for a second, shifting from foot to foot and is relieved when they aren't super stiff. But he's hit with a wave of dizziness and it crashes down just how weak he feels. He shuts his eyes for a moment then slowly reopens them. ]

Another world tour, and I've got the perfect person in mind to ask in Hammerhead. [ first things first though ] Help me feel better first, Noct. I feel... so weak. Dizzy.

[ He's hungry and thirsty on top of that and he doesn't know he was kept alive. It confirms his suspicions that he has been locked away in this shack for a few days.

He takes a breath and looks to the door. ]

Let's get out of here.

Yeah... maybe some fresh air will help clear your head. If not, we'd be safer to sit down and rest near the road.

[Or at least near people, instead of the middle of nowhere with a corpse about to slow-roast in the desert heat. He doesn't want to suffer the smell anymore.

The door's already partway open after Noctis forced his way inside, so it only takes a nudge to reveal the daylight as Noctis helps Ignis out of the shack. There's a handful of abandoned buildings in the area, alongside scattered foliage and rocky outcroppings, but in the distance there's a road, with at least one scrappy-looking vehicle rolling past. A road is something to follow, so Noctis starts there, at least until they can spot a better landmark.]

I can carry you there, if you need it. I have a feeling you've carried me enough in my life.

[ As they exit the shack, the sunlight blinds him. He has to shut his eyes again, gripping Noctis' shoulder for a moment. The fresh air is good though, even before he was kidnapped, he doesn't recall the last time he was actually outside. A week ago?

He slowly gets his eyes open to let them adjust to the blinding sun. ]

... I should be alright to keep moving.

This is quite the role reversal, indeed. I was always the one watching out for you, helping you, protecting you. [ he glances at Noctis ] Now I need you.

[ he hesitates a moment before speaking up again. ] You heard my call to you, it was a desperate attempt on my part. It's... a miracle that you're here. [ he thinks he sees a familiar sight to Hammerhead in the distance as they keep walking together. ] Thinking of you was bringing me peace and comfort, [ just in case if he... he shakes his head. ]

... I'm alive. [ If Noctis hadn't shown up when he did, Ignis doesn't want to think about that now. He's safe. ]

[Noctis furrows his brows, thinking carefully for a long moment before answering.]

I don't know where I was, before this, or why I was there. Don't even know why I was alive. I was... sleeping. Pretty sure I wasn't supposed to wake up until the Astrals did, but when I heard your voice, I couldn't control it. I just- I had to be here, to stop whatever was happening. [He hesitates, and then adds cautiously,] I'm a Messenger, Iggy. For Bahamut. It's why I'm like this.

[He doesn't exactly remember what he looked like - the flashes of memories that he has are all from his perspective, and none of them featured a mirror - but he'd seen his own hands and arms wrap around Ignis, and they'd looked like normal human hands before. Things are different now, and it's only right that Ignis know where he stands before he gets too excited about any kind of "normal" future together.]

[ He frowns a bit at this information. ]

I... lost you twice already. I don't wish to lose you again. [ He can't afford to. It hurts his heart thinking about it. ]

You came back to save me, there has to be another reason why you're here. [ Perhaps they can discover that on the road trip together.

Hammerhead is getting closer to them. Ignis clutches onto Noctis' shoulder tighter, he's too weak, exhausted both mentally and physically to keep going. His legs buckle underneath him as he starts to pass out from pure exhaustion. ]

... Noct... [ is all the warning he gets before he's out cold, slumped against Noctis. ]

Ignis...!

[Noctis lurches down to catch Ignis as he falls, laying him carefully in the sand so he can check the man's vitals and ensure that he's- well, not okay but not in mortal danger. Unconsciousness is a reasonable expectation after everything he's gone through, and once Noctis is satisfied that he'll keep on breathing for a while yet, he carefully hefts the man up on his back, hunched and holding him by the legs. He continues his trek to Hammerhead, a little more slowly, but his steps more sure. It'd given him quite a fright, but right now the best thing to do would be to get him out of the sun and somewhere safe to rest.

The garage is open and active when he reaches it, the sound of banging tools and humming engines sending pangs of familiarity through his head, making it ache a little, though he doesn't stop moving. He'd been here before, and not just because of the dream. Flickers of moments where this place was a hub of activity, a home base of sorts.

"Lady Lunafreya’s groom-to-be, here in Hammerhead."
"You got a long way to go, son."
"Crystal and the king’s ring— what they been after all along…"
"Hey, Highness. About your car…"
"Noct! It's you! It's really you!"
"Well, well. You kept us waiting."

He recalls Ignis' words from minutes ago- about his old life, about what people might expect from him. He doesn't want anyone to be distracted, or to distract him, from helping Ignis, so he avoids the garage and heads straight for the caravan. It's a rental, but he'll see about mustering up the gil for it once Ignis is awake. For the moment he gets them both inside and stretches Ignis out on the closest bed, fetching a scrap of fabric for a makeshift cloth and soaking it in cold water to rest it on Ignis' forehead, as well as clean him up and bit and patch up the lingering wounds. Once he's done as much as he can, he settles back to wait.]

[ "You can't help him."

What? Who said that? He's looking at himself balling his hand into a fist, looking away from the Crystal.

The Crystal that sealed Noctis away for ten years...

"You can't save him."

The voice taunts yet again and Ignis is thrown into the throne room, seeing Noctis' fallen form. No, no, no, he can't do this again.... Please, he can't lose Noctis like this.

"No.... you can't..." He hears himself say, feeling himself being pinned down by the enemy. The altar in Altissia... A knife is making it's way towards Noctis' throat by the man he's come to hate.

"Nooooct!" The blade comes down on Noctis--

-- but it hits Ignis' shoulder instead, he hisses out in pain.

"He won't help you."

His kidnapper steps back and as Noctis walks in, slowly heading towards Ignis. The hand that burned his kidnapper is reaching for Ignis, Noctis' eyes lifeless.

"No, Noct. Please. Don't." His heartbeat picks up, sweat on his forehead. He's tied up again and he can't move. "Don't do this. Help, Noct!" He's squirming against his binds as Noctis stands in front of him...

"You will lose him."

Then Noctis vanishes in front of his eyes as his kidnapper returns the gun to Ignis' forehead.

"No," horrified, he stares at the gun. Noctis wouldn't leave him like this. He wouldn't. "Let me go!"

His breathing picks up as the barrel gets pushed harder against his forehead. He's not supposed to go out like this.

"Noct..."

The gun goes off and all he knows is black.

-----

Six Hours Later

A soft sound escapes Ignis' lips as he slowly comes to. Eyes open weakly and everything is blurry at first. What happened? He can't remember at the moment, but he doesn't have time to think about it.

His vision clears up and he immediately knows where he's at. Hammerhead's caravan and he's in a bed, something cool and wet on his forehead. It doesn't take him long to spy out Noctis, looking worried.

He's worried about me. Something happened...

He reaches out a hand towards Noctis, the one that closet to him and Noct. Green eyes focus in on Noctis, as he speaks up, voice a bit weak still, but he's awake at least. ]

Noct?

[It's a long wait, and a painful one at that. They'd arrived some time in the afternoon, and the caravan tends to be in demand at night, so after several hours someone knocks and enters, demanding the rental fee or for them to vacate. Things might have been different, in the world of darkness and ruin. More charitable to a wounded man and his comrade. But they were five years after the dawn, and the world had returned to demanding gil for sales and service as before; being out in the wild at night wasn't even that dangerous anymore, with the daemons gone.

Noctis didn't know what to do with Ignis while he still slept, but neither of them had money- he didn't even have pockets, since what did a Messenger of the gods need material goods for? And whatever Ignis had carried was apparently taken from him when he was abducted.

The man who'd interrupted them falters at the sight of Noctis, which makes him a little concerned until it occurs to him that it's likely more about his appearance than any kind of recognition. He quietly asks the man to fetch Cindy for him, and it seemed that the man can't get away from him fast enough. Maybe that will help deter anyone from looking too closely and recognizing him, he muses.

Cindy arrives a short while later, and he can't help recognizing her, though the years have changed her somewhat. Tougher, older, a survivor of the dark like Ignis. His memories of her old self are fleeting, but he can recall a relaxed and energetic woman in her thirties, confident in her place in the world. That woman still exists, but middle-age and a decade of endless daemons has made her cautious in a way that he doesn't recognize. It's why, when she looks at him, he can't help feeling wary of what she might do. Her eyes are drawn to his arms, to his eyes, and to the man on the bed, still wounded and restless. Him, she recognizes. Noctis isn't sure if his face is known to her as well, though.

All he can say to her is a simple, quiet request:]

Please. He'll explain later, just... let him rest for tonight. Please.

[He wonders what, ultimately, is the reason she pays the caravan fee for the night and leaves them alone with a quiet word (or warning?) to be careful. Is it him, is it Ignis? Is it the worried and heartfelt request he'd given her? Or was she too caught off guard by the stranger with ethereal arms and eye, traveling with a man whom she knows has been tied to magic in the past, via a prince - king - long dead. Most of the people in this world probably haven't seen even a whiff of magic for fifteen years.

Either way, the caravan door closes, and they're left alone for the night. Noctis shifts closer to the bed to wait, and aside from a brief visit to the restroom to examine his own reflection for the first time (and what a strange, alien sight it is, one that leaves him uncomfortable, abandoning it to watch Ignis' face instead), he doesn't move from his chosen position.

When Ignis finally stirs and reaches out, Noctis takes his hand immediately, fingers curling.]

Hey... you okay?

[ Ignis clutches onto that hand like a lifeline. Is he okay? ]

Better, [ he says softly. ] I'm struggling to recall what happened. [ he does recall exiting the shack with Noctis, walking a bit with him and the rest is a blank for the moment.

He pushes himself into a upright position with his free hand, never letting go of Noctis'. The cloth falls off his forehead as he does this, he picks it up and wipes a little at his face before he lets is drop on his lap. ]

I'd assume you got us here.

[ How long was he out for this time? He doesn't remember passing out... But he did, didn't he? At any rate, he doesn't feel as weak or dizzy as before, he notes. No, he just needs to get something to eat in him soon. ]

Yeah. You didn't miss much, really... it didn't take long to get here, but you've been out for a while. [He shoots the caravan door a somewhat guilty look.] Though, um. We might end up with company, before too long. Cindy saw us, she came by while you were asleep. I don't think she recognized me, but she definitely knew you.

[ He head tilts a little at the mention of Cindy. ] If you spoke to Cindy, we may end up with more company tomorrow. Her and Prompto are in constant contact.

He's a good friend of ours, we'll be fine. If you'd like to see him? [ he adds after an afterthought.

he sighs a bit. ]

If I've truly been missing for a few days, he'll want to see me regardless. [ his hand rubs at his head a bit, deciding on what he wants to do here now. Sleep or give into his needs to get a shower and food in him. ]

Hungry? [ he sure is ]

I don't- [-get hungry, is what he'd been about to say, but maybe that's a conversation for another time. He may not remember a lot yet, but he remembers Ignis liked to cook. It feels silly to take away from him a reason to cook when he's pretty sure he still can eat, even if he's not likely to starve.

Luna probably fed the dogs.

He blinks, the thought coming to him unbidden; a flicker of memory, one that both makes sense and doesn't at all, at the same time. After a moment he shakes it off, and tries again.]

I could eat. We might have to borrow more money, though. And- if he comes, I'd like to meet Prompto.

Ah, if Takka is still in the diner, we're on good terms. [ he moves to sit next to Noctis, giving their joined hands a squeeze. ] I'll explain what happened.

[ he gives a small smirk ] Let's see what you can remember what type of foods that you don't like.

[Noctis can't help returning the smile.]

Maybe my taste buds were reborn, too.

[Well, he definitely dissolved into ashes in the world beyond, he vaguely remembers that part. And whatever body he'd left beyond in the material world would be five-years dead by now, buried or burned. (He's not about to ask.)

He shifts to stand up, trying to tug Ignis along with him.]

First, let's see if you can walk there.

[ He stands up with Noctis, feeling better than he had before. ]

You did recall that you didn't like coffee. [ he points out.

He keeps their hands interlocked, just in case if he collapses again, but he has a feeling that he'll be okay. It's only a short walk to the diner. ]

Lead the way, Noct.

[He makes a face. Yeah, he hadn't liked the coffee. And he's not likely to enjoy it now, either. He has a feeling some things never change.]

"Lead the way", he says. I'm the one with amnesia, remember?

[He doesn't hesitate to guide them outside regardless- Hammerhead isn't that big, and he hadn't missed the landmark right next to the caravan. Plus, that's where the dream began.

The diner looks a little different - more world-weary, perhaps not all repairs completed after whatever damage had been done over the course of those missing ten years - but it was still a nostalgic sight as they drew closer. Outside the door, Noctis pauses, tugging lightly at his sleeves and wishing they were long enough to cover him up, to no avail. He doesn't want to cause trouble when Ignis said they ought to try and stay on the down-low, but he can't exactly help that he's kind of lit up.]

Will it... be okay? Or should I wait outside?

That is true, but you do recall our shared dream.

[ Ignis has no problems walking to the diner with Noct, though it does help that the sun is gone. He figures that the sunlight really didn't help his case in passing out earlier.

He gives a soft hm. He's still worried about people picking up on Noctis being back, but if Cindy didn't recognize him, then Takka shouldn't either really. He considers the options for a moment. ]

I'd rather have you with me, [ he nudges the diner doors open. ] if Cindy didn't recognize you, we'll be fine.

We'll take the food to go.

[Noctis isn't entirely sold on the lack of recognition thing (he thinks she didn't, that isn't a guarantee) but he remembers Cindy better than Takka, which means they saw her more than him. He might be safe.

They head in together, and the man who runs the diner is immediately startled by their presence, giving them both a similar stare (much like with Cindy, he suspects for a different reason since he once again recognizes Ignis), before greeting them awkwardly and accepting their order. Ignis manages to negotiate a tab based on their good history, and shortly after they're on their way back to the caravan, settling in to eat at one of the tables outside. Noctis just pretends he didn't notice the awkward staring. The pair of them (disheveled and odd in general) are probably doomed to garner more than a few stares, not to mention Ignis is kind of an important person for whatever remained of the Lucian government. ...Actually, about that-]

You said this happened when you were at some kind of meeting... what's changed in the world since I was- [dead] ...gone? What's Lucis like these days?

[He's not king anymore, and barely was to begin with based on his limited recollection, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about his old homeland.]

[ After speaking with Takka and Takka being shocked about what happened to Ignis, he gladly lets the boys have a bit of food. Thankful that went off without a hitch, he makes a mental note to repay both him and Cindy back (though Noctis hadn't said so, he has the feeling that their night in the caravan is covered thanks to her) later on.

As they sit and eat, Ignis almost misses Noctis' question, just taking in the food. He didn't realize how hungry he'd been until he started eating. He takes a drink as he starts to answer. ]

Peaceful, no more long dark night, the daemons are gone. [ he spares a glance at Noctis. ] There are still the normal monsters out, nothing big, but they're harmless so people tend to leave them be.

People are still rebuilding even after five years. It's what the meeting I was in was about actually. Negotiating a rebuilding process.

[ Then he frowns a little as it hits him here too. ]

My life might be in danger still if I were to return home. The man you killed - he probably had help to get past my guards and to get me out of Insomnia. [ he thinks again for a moment as he takes another bite out of his food, swallowing before continuing. ] That man, he had been pursuing me for a relationship of sorts, now I'm starting to wonder if that was a distraction. To keep me distracted from seeing a bigger picture as to why someone wants me dead.

[ He wipes his hands off on a napkin and he grabs onto one of Noctis' shoulder, giving it a squeeze. ] When Prompto arrives tomorrow, I'll have him and Gladio keep looking into the matter.

I'd rather go out on a road trip and help you, Noct. [ he gives a small happy smile. ] Even though I was fulfilled in life, my life was just empty without you.

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