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[Logically, he knows that much. He's told himself the same thing time and time again, and yet it was difficult to keep the apologies from slipping out-- he'd even done it among friends, despite the fact that he had always been confident otherwise, self-assured.

It was, he supposed, part of learning to cope, which had turned out to be a much longer and drawn-out process than he'd initially suspected.]

Blunt and to the point. [As he had quickly come to expect from her since they'd first met.] I won't deny, there's certainly something to that.

[He lets out a brief but mirthless chuckle. Really, he knew he was better than this, too.]

["Blunt and to the point" is how she rolls.]

More than just "something." [Implying that she both knows she's right and that there's probably other underlying issues for Ignis as well. But she's not going to pry. If anything, her tone is more of stating a fact than inquiry.

Still, seeing Ignis like this... It does beg a couple of questions. While she vaguely knew about the happenings around due to news and reports brought in, she had no idea what their real lives were like. Not that she made it her business to care (or cared that much at all). But she hadn't expected to see this particular man seem so...feeble, disability or no. And having seen how tight-knit the group had been before, she can't help but wonder a bit.]

So what happened to the other two? They didn't just leave you here, did they?

[Sensitive as always.]

[Her lack of tact doesn't seem to trouble him. In fact, her straightforwardness is rather refreshing-- there's little room for delicate sensibilities in a world like the one theirs has become.]

Not quite. Gladio and his sister spend much of their time hunting daemons these days. They come into the city on occasion, sometimes escorting refugees. Prompto has taken to hunting, as well, working largely out of Hammerhead.

[They stayed in touch, even if felt like they just barely managed it. In some ways, it was easier to be apart. When the three of them were together, it made the void left by the missing piece that much worse.]

And you? Have your men accompanied you to Lestallum?

[So what she heard had been true. She just found it...odd to see their boyband broken up like this. Then again, perhaps it's not so surprising.]

More like I accompanied a group here. Picked up a few refugees that managed to survive down south, though I doubt there will be too many of those left.

[It felt strange to him as well, surreal despite a year having passed. Still, he never questioned it, never asked either of the others why they didn't stay. Even if he had his sight, it was entirely possible he still would have chosen to stay in Lestallum, trying to do what good he was able, but unwilling to venture out with his companions only to have their band feel incomplete.

A wry smile quirks at one side of his lips, however briefly.]

They must be quite resilient to survive as long as they did. They'll do well here, I'm sure-- as well as anyone does these days.

[It was all relative now, really.]

Surviving is really all we can do these days.

[There's a small sigh that follows those hard words. Grim truth, but a truth all the same. She's about to speak more before the crowd reminds her of its existence, jostled by more passersby.]

Must be almost dinnertime. [Another wry remark, but she looks over at Ignis. Normally she would just part ways to finish her errands. But given the situation, she may have to stay longer than planned.] Come on, I'll help you get through.

Indeed.

[The agreement is as grim as the truth before it, but that's the world they live in.

He shakes his head at the offer of assistance, unwilling to lean on anyone more than was absolutely necessary-- but that doesn't mean he's planning to dismiss her entirely.]

I'll make it on my own. I've had a great deal of practice by now-- but I wouldn't object to the company. Perhaps we would do better to catch up over a meal than amid the crowd?

[There's a slight arch of the brow. Well, not the first guy to offer to "catch up" over a meal, though usually she refused. She knew that endgame. This one—doubts it. Plus, she could ask him questions about any other news and where and what she should prioritize to help, so in the end she just shrugs.]

I have some time to kill. But only if you're paying. [A small light joke said in her usual wry manner.]

[A joke, perhaps, but nonetheless, he smiles.]

I've lost my sight, but not my manners.

[He's a gentleman, thank you very much. Of course he'll pay.]

You always were strangely polite. Must be all the butler training.

[Again,more light teasing. If anyone thought Aranea would be more delicate around Ignis, they are sorely mistaken. However, it's not being purely inconsiderate. It might be better of there's normalcy for him.]

Where to?

[Butler. That gets a startled, almost choked laugh in reply.]

Advisor and strategist.

[They're very different things, Aranea.]

There's a place not far from here, east of the market. It won't be quite as busy at this hour; they tend to attract a later crowd. It's just past the central square.

Uh huh. [That is indeed a light dismissive tone in her voice. Not that she doesn't believe him. Just a little more fun imagining him as a butler because seriously.]

Do you need me to hold your hand to guide you?

[He turns his blank gaze on her, and despite his not being able to see her, exactly, he manages to give her a burning stare all the same-- amused, rather than hostile, at the very least.]

The cane will suffice. I'm not as much an invalid as I might appear.

[Except that in some ways he is, but he's far too stubborn to admit it.]

[Even if you're blind, it's rude to stare at a lady, Ignis.]

Good, because I would have told you to deal with it on your own, anyway.

[But there's humor in her voice as she turns and gives him space to move.]

Lead the way.

I've no doubt you would have.

[He laughs, however briefly, and he's genuinely pleased that she's prepared to follow him. The crowd parts for them, in most cases-- few people want to be held responsible for impeding a blind man in any way, and while Ignis loathes being pitied, he can't deny that there's a certain degree of convenience to be had there.

He leads her towards the square, sure of his footing, having made this particular trek countless times now. Occasionally, some forgotten debris on the ground will end up within the radius of his cane, but he's careful to sidestep those obstacles.

Once they arrive, it does take him a moment to point himself towards a table, but he doesn't seem to be struggling. All the same, he looks relieved as he closes his hand over the chair's back.]

Will this suit?

[Aranea walks not exactly alongside him, but just slightly behind him. It's out of consideration for his need to use his cane and work his way around, but it's also so that she can observe him. It's not that she's never seen a blind man before, but never really had been close to one like this before. She also wants to see for herself what kind of struggles he may be having. For all her gruffness, she has at least that much concern.

But it would seem she needn't worry too much for despite potential stumbles, Ignis manages and they arrive at their destination.]

Yeah, it'll do. Not that I'm overly picky. [No need for luxury, not in her line of work. If he had hoped to be a true gentleman and pull out a chair for her, she's going to deny him the opportunity by pulling out her own seat and sitting down across from where he stood.] The food here must be really good if you come here so often. [A slight allusion to how well he knew the way over.]

[It's taken him time to gain this much mastery over himself, though he was far too proud to admit it. He knew full well that outside of his element, beyond the boundaries of his usual trodden path through Lestallum, he wouldn't be quite so successful, but he had been quietly aggressive about regaining and maintaining his independence.

Aranea's helping herself to her own seat doesn't seem to trouble him, and he lowers himself into his own. While more than willing to be the gentleman and pay, finding a second seat for himself after ushering her into one might have taken more fumbling than he was prepared to do.]

It's quite good, according to my standards-- which are quite high, as I'm sure you can imagine.

[The truth was, he could make better, if he could navigate his own kitchen. He misses being able to cook for himself, for others, but that is a skill he has yet to reclaim, having found himself at a loss with a knife in his hand and no way to see what and where to cut and how fine.

It was endlessly frustrating, and had lead to him eating out more often than not.]

The location has something to do with it, as well. Being so central, you hear some interesting things if you sit here long enough.

[If Aranea had known more about Ignis's culinary skills she may have questioned or alluded to it, but perhaps it's fortunate that she doesn't. Not yet at least.]

You do seem the type to only like high end food. Especially while with royalty. [With an arm propped against the table, she looks around.

He's right. It's a great location to listen in and learn of the gossip and news. She had heard that once someone loses a sense like sight, the others kick in to compensate. Does being here help him practice his hearing?

An idle thought as she looks back over to him.] So, what would you recommend? And what "interesting things" can you share?

The paella de pollo is excellent.

[Consistently satisfying, he's found, though it's hard not to think of changes he would make to any particular dish he happens to eat. For now, that sort of experimentation is beyond him.]

Information about daemon attacks is especially common, of course, but picking up on rumors of refugees has been quite helpful-- that information immediately gets passed on to the Amicitias. [Iris, in particular, was passionate about helping people make their way safely to Lestallum.] Lately, I've been hearing whispers of what's become of Insomnia.

[He frowns, grim.]

Last I heard, every last corner of it has been overrun. There's nothing left there that's fit for humans.

Guess I'll have that then. [But figuring out food was just fulfilling the obligatory pleasantries (as well as not have to decide for herself).

Now they're on what she's really interested in and she leans forward slightly to better listen.]

Hm...we haven't been by Insomnia, but given the areas outside of it, I wouldn't be surprised.

[But as she thinks on it more, a thought crosses her mind. Information and observations she had learned of herself.]

Though there may be another good reason for it... Of course Gralea and all of Niflheim is already gone to the daemons. Not surprising given how it was the epicenter of it all. But it shouldn't have spread to Insomnia as quickly, not before overrunning everything else first.

[He pauses long enough to order for the both of them when the server stops by their table, and the brief exchange between the pair of them makes it even more obvious that Ignis is a faithful regular. Once they have their relative privacy again, he smiles wryly at her appraisal of Insomnia. Yes, all things considered, it certainly makes a certain degree of sense.]

When one considers the state of the empire, it makes the Chancellor claiming Insomnia for himself seem all the more likely. If that's the case, no doubt he brought the daemons with him.

So that rat bastard really is holed up in there. [A disgusted scoff as she shifts positions and looks away.] Had heard the rumors, but no real confirmation.

[She then looks back over at him, head canted in a thoughtful yet observing angle.]

Must suck knowing he's taken over your royal city like that.

While I have no concrete evidence, it seems a reasonable assumption.

[One he's quite unhappy to be making, if the heavy sigh that follows in any indication, but he appreciates the condolences she offers-- perhaps moreso because of how blunt she is, as ever.

Some things don't need dressing up with fancy words.]

He's making a mockery of what Insomnia once was. It's been ages since we lost our home, but his claiming it is worse yet. A part of me is grateful that I can't see with my own eyes what he's done to the place.

Small blessings there, I guess. Definitely not missing out on much. [A small sigh.

Sometimes she wishes she didn't have to, but she had her role to play, especially since she's one if the few commanding officers left, most of them having turned or turned on after all hell broke loose.]

How long do you think this'll last?

My honest opinion?

[He knows not everyone buys into prophecies, but of course he does. He'd practically been raised with certain ideas of how things would go in mind, and yet he had never quite imagined how far they would fall before the end.

He exhales slowly, shaking his head.]

Until the King returns. When that will be, I unfortunately cannot say. But I believe that he will-- he must.

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