newrecipe | OPEN POST | VOICETESTING

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.

You're really putting a lot of faith in him, huh? You'll have to forgive me for not believing the same.

[Honest as always, and spoken with that slight dry, almost sarcastic tone. Though there's a bit more bitterness veiled behind the strength of her words.

She had placed hope in Noctis before, believing he would get to the crystal, get his kingdom back, and dispel the darkness. Not disappear into it. She had even gone back into Gralea, waiting in case, but after a year of nothing, she's become a bit jaded about it all. Some part of her still hopes in the young king's return, but it's very small and she's more or less returning to her usual beliefs.

Which is to focus what's in front of her and trust the ones still living.]

That is my role.

[The words are few, but his tone speaks volumes. It's his job to believe in Noctis, to have faith in him, but there's more to it than that. Noctis was not simply a charge, a responsibility. They were friends, brothers, and Ignis chose to follow him, chose loyalty of his own free will rather than out of obligation.

He would not blame anyone who felt differently. He knew full well why they might. He could not begrudge Aranea that.]

You are free to believe what you like. Perhaps my own belief remains steadfast so that others need not trouble themselves. Faith, however, does not have to mean inaction. Every aid we can offer those who are here now is well worth the effort.

Now those are words I can agree with.

[Although she maintains that earlier tone, she will ease up just a little out of consideration for whom she's speaking with. Which isn't very common in itself.]

But I doubt you're just helping with keeping the faith. You told me what the others are doing and I've explained myself. What are you doing these days?

[That question gives him pause, unlike the ones that had come before it. Their server buys him a bit of time by stopping by with their plates, but it's only a few brief moments, and at last Ignis frowns as he reaches for his fork, turning it between his thumb and forefinger thoughtfully before taking proper hold.]

Not nearly enough.

[That much, he believed to be true.]

Passing information to the appropriate parties when I can. Helping to organize the relief effort here in the city, and doing my part to ensure that refugees are not overlooked. Physically, I'm at something of a crossroads. Assisting with organizing the rationing of food and funding shelters is all well and good-- necessary, but I'd like to do more.

[He's aware that it's selfish. He does not feel sorry for himself, but he is angry about being limited, about having so many of his skills taken from him.]

I'd like to re-learn to hunt. Gladiolus won't hear of it.

[Given his condition and how they met, she's not too surprised about what he tells her. Even without the blindness he seems more the behind the scenes organizational type. The last part, however, surprises her a bit.]

You mean he's babying you and trying to keep you safe and sound. Wouldn't have expected that.

[With that opinion, she starts cutting into the chicken.]

Want me to help, instead?

He thinks he's doing me a service. 'Protecting' me.

[He'd done it immediately after the incident, as well, insisting that Ignis stay behind, keep himself safe. Ignis himself had refused, and it had been Prompto that stepped forward and reminded Gladio that it was his own choice to make, no one else's.

Ignis Scientia was nothing if not proud.]

It's his job to act as shield. In Noct's absence, he tries to protect those who are left, whether we like it or not.

[He pauses, midway through spearing some of his dinner on his fork.]

Surely you're too busy for that.

[Gladiolus sounds like he needs to learn to chillax and not treat the man like a complete invalid—but she keeps the thought to herself. Mostly because she had already started to eat and she'd rather prioritize that than dish insults.

So after she swallows and works up another forkful, she answers with her usual indifference.]

I keep myself busy, but a girl could use a break every once in a while. Besides, you have skills. In these times everyone needs to pull their weight, and right it's being wasted.

Pissing off the bodyguard helps, too.

[There may be a light smirk in her voice.]

[For a moment, he's uncertain of how to answer. When he'd first been injured, it was at his own insistence that his friends allowed him to continue on alongside them. They had never once made him feel as though he was in the way, as though he were a burden-- those were feelings he was fully capable of thrusting upon himself. Still, this was something different.

Aranea seemed to feel that he was fully capable of regaining his old skills, at least to a certain degree. That part was new.

He exhales slowly, letting another brief peal of laughter.]

An excellent bonus. It's very entertaining.

[Gladio didn't often lose his temper, but this once, Ignis would love to see him proven wrong.]

If you're serious, I would be remiss to overlook such an offer. I--

[The vote of confidence alone means a great deal to him, even if he can't quite articulate it.]

Thank you.

Don't get sappy on me now or I'll change my mind.

[Another dry remark. The gratitude she had expected, but not the laughter as brief as it was. That had both surprised and amused her. Is the offer really that odd? Well, it actually might be.]

And don't think I'll be going easy on you, either. Though not what I expected, I did say I'd train you boys some more.

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