faesphere | Call Me Out / Open RP Post

[ He takes a step back away from the car, letting Noctis examine it. Is he remembering...? ]

Indeed it is, though it's an exact copy of it.

[ He gives Noctis a concerned glance, he knows that the Regalia has emotional attachment here. ]

Noct...? [ Are you okay? ]

[Noctis doesn't answer right away. He moves to the side of the car, still trailing his hand along the surface, and stops at the driver's seat, moving to climb in. He pauses before the door is even half-open, reconsiders, then goes to repeat the motion in the seat behind it. He settles in quietly, leaning back against the leather, and glances around- first to the right, the unoccupied space there. Then to the front, both left and right sides. He takes a deep breath, and a deeper exhale.]

I was... here. [He sat in the back. He always sat in the back, on the left side. Even as a kid, when he was in the Regalia with his dad, this is his spot.

Gods. He remembers his dad's face-] ...I sat here. And you were- [He gives the top of the driver's seat a quiet thump of his hand.] -here. When this was home.

[ Ignis is just quietly watching Noctis move about the car, he's remembering. That should squash any fears that they both might have about Noctis not recalling anything else.

Instead of answering, he moves to the drivers side and slips in, letting the keys drop to his lap. He sets both hands on the steering wheel, at ten o'clock and two o'clock. He spares a glance at Noctis again through the side mirror. ]

This look correct?

[ Home, it was this way for these two, on their journey, they had two more people in the car with them. Prompto and Gladio. ]

What else do you recall...?

[Noctis leans forward, resting his chin on Ignis' seat from behind, taking in this new view. Things have changed a little, but there's no denying that sense of right that rushes through him, like a sudden burst of adrenaline. He leans further so he can get his arms partway around Ignis' shoulders, holding him gently.]

Yeah... that's right. It's almost there.

[One hand lifts briefly to touch near the corner of Ignis' eye.]

I remember you used to wear glasses. [And then, more quietly, a subtle remorse about forgetting something he's lost and should never have forgotten,] I remember... Dad's face.

[ At the hands around his shoulders, he lets himself shut his eyes, listening quietly.

He still wears his glasses, but he can see fine without, his capture had left him without them. Noctis remembers him from the shared dream they had and he'd been without his glasses then. He'd preferred his world to be crystal clear. ]

That's right... [ he says softly, at the touch near his eye.

His blood runs cold at the mention of Regis. Noctis' dad is dead, at the hands of an enemy that is no longer a threat. His breath hitches in his throat for a second, pulling his hands off the steering wheel to shift his body to look at Noctis. ]

Noct... I'm sorry... [ He doesn't know what else to say, but he remembers the anger and grief from all of them. He lifts his hands to place them gently onto Noctis' arms that are around his shoulders. ] He's... gone...

[Noctis is quiet for a long moment, bowing his head. "He's gone." Those words aren't a surprise to him, though they should be, as he has no memory of being told that his father died, or witnessing it happen. He doesn't know the when, or how, or why. Just... the quiet ache of loss, and a fleeting memory of sitting in the backseat with him, his father's smiling face and a hand gently stroking his hair.]

I know, [he finally murmurs.] It's okay.

[So many people from his old life must be gone. There's holes in his heart that memories can't fill, he knows this instinctively with no logic to back up that belief. Still... he's not alone. He'll be alright as long as he remembers that much.]

[ He's quiet after that, thinking on what to do here. He doesn't want to explain Regis' death, that's a memory that will have to come on it's own. And when it does hit Noctis, he'll be there for him.

Finally, he shifts forward a bit, finding the switch to pop open the trunk of the car. ]

... Did you want to see what Prompto left us? [ He asks hopefully. He needs to get of these clothes he's in and he hopes that he can find Noctis a jacket to help cover his arm. ]

Yeah, I do.

[He's immediately grateful for the distraction, politely extracting himself from Ignis' hold and nudging the door open to get to the back. Not waiting for Ignis, he lifts it open... and blinks down at the note, half-crumpled and tossed around amidst some fabric and equipment he doesn't immediately recognize.

Don't get yourself killed. -Gladio]

I think he left a note for you.

[ He follows Noctis out of the car quickly, picking up the keys from his lap. He head tilts a little at the note, reading it. ]

Ah, Gladio. I see he has us prepared.

[ Well, more like him, but. Ignis spies out the camping gear, a tent, folded chairs, the coolers (which he suspects has food in them for him to make), sleeping bags rolled up and his cooking camping gear. Fishing gear is also stuffed in the trunk, a pole and tackle box. Ignis had kept up with Noctis' past time, once a year, to keep his memory alive.

The last thing he sees is a couple of suitcases. Ah, that's what he's looking for. He steps around Noctis, opening one and finds a jacket on top, it isn't heavy looking, but it should work. Though due to height differences here, the sleeves may be a big long and baggy on Noctis. He pulls it out and wraps it around Noctis, giving a little smile. ]

That should help a bit.

[ Then he's quick to pull out a change of clothes for himself. ]

I think I know where the gil is hidden, it should be in the glove box, passenger side. [ He holds out the keys for Noctis to take. ] If it's there, get us weapons. My main choice is daggers.

[ He'll wait until the keys are taken before he's making his way back to the caravan himself for a quick change. ]

[Noctis accepts the jacket, pulling it on over the dark, formal Astral garb he'd been reborn in, fire-scarred arms disappearing beneath the sleeves. It still leaves his face and hands uncovered, but he'll need that to work his magic, so he doesn't mind the rest for now. It's at least lowering the chance that he'll draw too much attention. He rolls up the extra-long sleeves just enough to not look so silly, and leaves them like that.

Weapons, next... daggers. He'll look at the stock before he makes any decisions for himself. The glovebox reveals some funds, just as Ignis had said, which he pockets and heads over to the shop. The daemons may be gone, but monsters still roam the world, so ways to protect oneself will probably always be necessary.

A set of daggers are easy to acquire, but it takes Noctis a moment to pick out something for himself. He tries a few of them, and all of them seem right while he's holding them, but actual memories of wielding them are slow to surface. He settles on a longsword at last, paying the man and slinging it at his side with a belt (which also feels weird, but what is he expected to do otherwise?) and carrying the daggers with him back to the car.

When Ignis returns, the daggers are resting in the driver's seat for him, and Noctis has his sword unsheathed and is swinging it carefully in the air, focused like a new trainee scarcely a few sessions in on learning how to use it.]

[ It takes Ignis a little longer than he thought he would, the clothes are looser fitting on him than he expected. He's lost a bit of weight so he really shouldn't be too surprised. The belt helps really.

He had gotten a look at his back, somewhat. Studying himself in the bathroom mirror for a second. He pulls his shirt on after that and tries to decide what to do with his bloody and tattered clothes. Trash them or take them? He weighs his options for a moment before he moves to grab them and finding a bag to stuff them into.

Before he leaves, he picks up the blankets off the floor and lightly tosses them back onto their respective beds. He checks elsewhere to make sure that they got everything, but he discovers Noct's half eaten sandwich and gives a little shake of his head.

Bag and sandwich in hand, he steps outside spying out Noctis swinging a sword. He quietly walks over, studying Noctis as he makes his way to the trunk of the car, stuffing his old clothes in the far back. Giving the trunk a final glance over, he shuts it with his free hand. ]

Noct? How does it feel?

[ He finds his daggers in the front seat. He's careful as he leans forward a little to get the sandwich on the passengers seat. Breakfast doesn't sound like a bad idea right now really. He makes a note to get Ebony before they go too. ]

[Noctis offers just a vague hum in response for a moment, holding the sword horizontal and parallel to the ground after a lunging attack, feeling out the weight of it, the stretch of his limbs. He draws back and idly spins the blade around in one hand, looking... well, not entirely satisfied, but not unhappy either.]

I used regular swords a lot, right? I remember swords. And I'm right-handed.

[Not an entirely fruitless attempt, but he has a feeling that a proper practice session might be needed before his mind and body catch up with one another. He tugs the extra gil from his pocket and offers it out to Ignis- weapons are expensive, so there isn't a lot, but it should be plenty to get them started on supplies for a while, especially with what's already in the car.]

That's right.

Gladio is the one that trained you for combat capabilities, but I'll see what I can do to help you. [ he takes the offered gil back, they should have enough to get breakfast and his coffee.

He doesn't see Cindy or Prompto anymore, they must have taken off while Ignis was changing. He knows Cindy well enough that where she won't take "no" for an answer if he tried to repay her back. He owes her regardless.

He looks to the diner. ]

I wouldn't mind breakfast. [ and repaying back Takka after last night, but he has a feeling that'll be a "no" as well.

He picks his his daggers and slides them to the back seat of the car, on the floor. ]

[Oh right, food. He glances around, and- ah. His sandwich is in the car.]

I can just eat the leftovers... want to eat in the diner this time before we take off?

[Might be nice to sit down someplace familiar, see if it stirs anything up before they hit the road properly.]

[ He walks around to rub at Noctis' back, mostly his jacket. ]

It suits you. [ he comments idly. ] Will you be comfortable in the diner?

[ He does wonder if Takka has any hunts on the table to. He makes a mental note to check once they get there. ]

You can put your sword in the car for now.

[Noctis smiles faintly at Ignis' hand on his back, tugging idly at a sleeve. He's glad Ignis approves, even if it is too big for him. He'd like something that fits him better, but he also doesn't mind wearing what is obviously a jacket that belongs to Ignis.

At the suggestion to put away his sword, he hesitates, not really wanting to let go of it while those sporadic half-memories are still milling around in the back of his mind. There'll be time for that later though, and it would be silly to cart it around just for lunch, so he nods and sets it in the passenger seat, fetching the sandwich bag.]

I'll come with. No point in either of us sitting alone. Plus, I need to get comfortable with other people sooner or later.

[It does help him feel a little better to be more covered up, though. He's starting to hate the stares, and it's only been a day. Already he feels more invisible, and he finds that he likes that feeling. Something familiar about it as well.]

[ Ignis falls into step with Noctis, sliding his hand into Noctis' free one and curling his fingers around it. He doesn't care what people make of them, especially after Noctis hugged him from behind already in the Regalia. Hell, let them talk. Just as long as people leave them alone.

It's a short walk to the diner from where they are and once they get inside, Takka is happy to greet them. As expected, Takka is taking no for an answer for repayment, after hearing what he did last night. Ignis' capture and how battered he looked.

They work out a deal, the meal in exchange for a hunt. An easy one just so Noctis can get used to his combat skills again, outside of his magic that is.

Ignis just grabs another sandwich and pays for that. ]

We got our first goal. A hunt. They're good to do since they pay well.

It won't be a difficult one to help you get used to combat abilities. [ They'll be going up against a group of Anaks, only appear in the daytime though. Ignis is considering on a campsite as well, depending on how well the hunt goes and how much daylight they have left when they get there. ]

[Takka was kind enough to re-heat the leftovers for Noctis, and he settles in to examine the mark, reading the description while munching.]

"Anak"? I've heard of that one before, I think. [He pauses, his head tilting to try and chase that memory. Or is it just ingrained knowledge of the world? Hell, who even knows. He's still figuring this out.] Really tall. Antlers? I remember the antlers.

That's correct.

They only appear during the daytime hours. [ What time is it now? Ignis had slept in a little longer then he usually does.

Again, he's quick to finish off his food, still feeling the hunger post his capture. oh, speaking of: ]

I did happen to notice you take off the vegetables off your sandwich last night, Noct. Some things never change. [ Teasing lightly, he didn't say so last night since the conservation itself had gotten a bit serious. ]

[Hell if Noctis knows, he didn't reincarnate with a watch on.

He makes note of the time requirement, glancing towards the window to check the daylight. Seems closer to midday than morning. Might make this lunch, rather than breakfast, then.]

Guess that's true. I didn't want an Ebony again, either. [He lifts his soda bottle in a mock-salute.] Maybe I'll only eat them if you cook again.

[ Ignis snickers a little at that. ]

You do realize that's a challenge. [ He's already plotting on what to make here. You've doomed yourself, Noct. Doomed. ]

Are we ready to go?

[If Ignis can mask the taste of vegetables enough to get Noctis to eat them like the old days, he deserves to win that challenge.]

You're in charge- I'm ready when you are.

Let us go then. [ He stands up to go, taking Noctis by the hand again and shuffling to walk out. Takka wishes them well and to have a safe journey.

Ignis only lets go of Noctis' hand when they reach the Regalia. He slides easily into the drivers side seat. He'd forgotten that he gave the keys to Noctis before he went to change. ]

You got the keys on you, Noct?

Oh, uh- [Noctis pats awkwardly at the jacket pockets until he finds them, passing them over. He'd forgotten about that.] -right, sorry. Wonder if I'll have to learn how to drive again?

[He likes the idea of Ignis driving everywhere, but it's not very fair. Still, if that memory is slow to return, he won't be much use regardless of what he wants.]

We'll see, one thing at a time. [ He takes the keys and pops them into the ignition, feeling the Regalia come to life. The top is down since it's a really nice day outside. ] I believe it'll come back to you naturally.

[ He gets the car into drive, shifts both of his hands onto the steering wheel as before, then he looks around Hammerhead a final time.

This is it, the start of their journey together. They'll be back here of course to turn in the bounty later. Ignis just hopes that they don't have any problems on this journey, but that isn't to be.

So, with a final breath he gets his foot on the gas pedal and leaves Hammerhead, giving it a farewell... for now. ]

----------

[ They make it to the parking spot okay, conversation light, but truth to be told, Ignis had been rather distracted. He kept on glancing in his review mirrors, spying out a car that had been following them. Not close, but far, but close enough to cause him concern. Knowing what he knows about his life hanging in the balance, he half-way expected to be bumped off the road, but that wasn't the case here thankfully.

He's safe with Noctis. But Hammerhead provided even more comfort with people being around, now that it was just the two of them, Ignis isn't sure if he's being overly paranoid or not.

Both hands are gripping the steering wheel tighter than he needs to as he watches the car go by them. He doesn't even realize he's doing it until he exhales a sigh of relief. He peels his hands off the wheel and gets the car into park, shuts the car down and takes keys out of ignition. He leans his head back for a second.

He just can't shake off this feeling in his gut.

I'm in danger here, with a target on my back. Honestly, it makes sense for his next attack to be out of any city limits. Even though he was warned properly, he's still on edge about it all. He doesn't want to die, especially with Noctis next to him, with Noctis being real and here. ]

Noct... [ He turns his head to look at him now, reaching out a hand to take his, interlacing their fingers. ]

I'm on edge. [ fear lacing his tone. ] That car that went by us, I can't help but have a bad feeling about it.

... I'm afraid. [ tone a whisper as he admits that one, afraid for his life, for Noctis' safety, but he shouldn't worry, but he does. Even though he doesn't say it, his eyes are pleading for protection. ] We shouldn't separate for now, stay close by my side. [ He had no plans of letting Noctis out of his sight to begin with, but now he wants to remain closer to him. ]

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