[She leaves without him having a chance to reply, and finds himself sighing heavily in her wake.
Well. He supposes he should have expected that.
Once they reach town, it's one of her men that offers him assistance-- one from the medical bay, who offers himself as a crutch. Ignis finds himself irate about having to accept help, as usual, but struggles to make himself swallow his pride-- his injuries are too severe for his cane to be enough support to make it home. Thankfully, he makes it there without incident, the bottle Aranea had left him with in tow.
The next twenty-four hours are something of a blur. He'd found his apartment to be temporarily inhabited by one very panicked Iris Amicitia, who had stopped by while he was out to check in, only to discover that he'd gone off hunting, something she and her brother had both been insisting against since day one. The result was that she decided to make herself at home, fussing over him and insisting that a local doctor come in and give him a once-over, just to be sure. She then proceeded to take over his kitchen, leaving Ignis to stretch out on his sofa and spend that first evening drinking deeply from the bottle of brandy he'd been given as a parting gift.
Of course, a hunt only went wrong when there were people around to witness it.]
[Ignis is going to have to work a lot harder to have her company. She gave him a freebie before, gonna be tough getting another.
It's not completely intentional that she gives him a day off. While it is in part to allow him to heal and rest, she also had other business to attend to. Contacting the hunters about the Mindflayer, see what other threats have arisen or been taken care of, what plans for future expeditions.
So it's not until the following day that she decides she should see him. After all, as hard as she is, she isn't completely heartless. She messed up, he got hurt, she owes him. The bottle of brandy had been just been a temporary until she could procure something more suitable.
Which is even more bottles of alcohol.
All right, all right, maybe a new jacket. And shirt. And pants. She did kind of ruin the other ones and while his style isn't bad, who knows what kind of clothes people have been buying for him. Might as well make sure he doesn't lose that edge. And maybe also to accept his request. Not like she planned on rejecting it to begin with. And, finally, she also may have been a little concerned about his well-being. Of course she assumed that someone he knew would probably take care of him. Like his friends, or not-girlfriend-but-probably-wants-to-be. In which case, she's sure he's being babied and pampered in ways that her presence may actually bring relief.
Remembering where he lived, she's actually dress downed a bit. No need for her to wear her armor (it's getting cleaned up anyway), but that's really the only difference, keeping the standard black and red leather. At least it doesn't make her as readily recognizable, not that she cared whether she was or not. And not that it made a difference for Ignis since he can't see anyway. She could come walking in just a towel and he probably wouldn't know.
How sad.
Anyway, with the "gift bag" slung over her shoulder, she raps her knuckles on the door.]
[There's the sound of movement almost immediately after she knocks, a little too quick and sprightly to belong to someone as badly injured as Ignis had been. A voice can be heard, the very opposite of male, though the words themselves are muffled by the door.
The door itself opens a moment later, revealing a cheerful young woman with short dark hair, dressed mostly in black. She looks momentarily puzzled, but smiles brightly as she takes a step back, pulling the door open a bit further in the process.]
[Aranea had wondered if she would need to actually announce herself, but that's quickly replaced by wondering who is actually answering the door. Those sprightly steps definitely wouldn't be Ignis, even in his non-blind days (unless he was just really that happy to see her), but the voice gives her a clue. And enough of one that when Iris opens the door, she's surprised but not too surprised.]
[Iris gives an enthusiastic shake of her head. Aranea's cool demeanor doesn't seem to trouble her in the least, and she moves aside to usher her in.]
He's just resting. "Doctor's" orders. [Absolutely meaning they were hers.] If someone weren't here watching him, he would probably head right back out and try to go back to hunting daemons again. He'd probably be happy to have company, though. I think he might be getting a little tired of me already-- I'm Iris, by the way.
So you're the little housekeeper. [There's a small pause before she takes the hand and gives a firm shake.] I was only really here to drop something off and check on him.
[All right, she may have actually considered staying a little longer than that, but somehow it feels weird to admit that to the girl. Which is. Weird. She walks inside regardless since she is curious as to how he was doing.]
Well, not much of a housekeeper, but I like to stop by and help out when I'm in the area. Iggy always takes such good care of everyone else, I figure he could use some of the same now and then.
[Iris shakes her hand enthusiastically, and she laughs lightly in response to Aranea's question, giving another shake of her head.]
No, he's been a very good patient! Just stubborn, but that's nothing new. He's always been like that.
[Iris makes a point of sounding put-upon-- it's only then that Ignis' voice finally intervenes from the bedroom, the door to which sits open. "I'm blind, you realize, not deaf."
The girl looks only marginally apologetic before she turns her attention back to Aranea in full.]
I can let you visit in peace-- I was thinking of heading to the market, anyway. Just don't let him get out of bed, even if he tells you he's fine.
Yeah, I can definitely see the stubbornness. [Just a small crane of her neck toward the open door.] Almost feel sorry you have to put up with him all the time. [She is just not letting up is she.]
But don't worry—I can make sure he stays put like a good little boy. [And now that's definitely a smirk in her voice.]
[Iris laughs openly, bracing her hands against her hips.]
Great! I'll let you have some privacy, then-- I'll be back before dinner.
[With a wave, Iris excuses herself, closing the door behind her and leaving Aranea to have free reign over the apartment.
Sitting atop his bed with his injured leg propped up and a braille book open on his lap, Ignis sighs-- he's grateful for Iris' assistance, but being confined to his bed doesn't agree with him in the least. He reaches for the cup of coffee on his bedside table, hoping it will help to chase away the last remnants of the hangover he'd managed to drink himself into the night before.]
[As Aranea walks in his bedroom, she takes one last glance at the closed door.]
Well she's an energetic one. Cute, though. You sure you only see her as a sister? [Yes, hello, how are you Ignis? He surely wouldn't have preferred the standard pleasantries instead of the woman teasing him again.
But as she moves over close to the bed, she looks at his situation. The leg propped up, the braille book open. And with his room so immaculate and clean, she almost thinks she walked into a hospital ward instead. However, given she's the reason for his condition, she does feel a little bad.]
[He resists the urge to sigh heavily, offering a grim smile in its stead. No, ordinary pleasantries simply wouldn't do-- he might have thought something was amiss if she didn't poke fun at him.]
Given that I've known her since before she could read and played a large part in looking after her as a favor to her actual brother, yes, I'm quite sure. She's family.
[And as tired as he sounds, he is truly grateful for that, especially since he, Prompto and Gladiolus have grown apart since Noctis' disappearance.]
No armor today?
[He may not be able to see her, but he can certainly hear the difference.]
[Though his hearing has grown considerably sharper since he's had to rely on it so heavily. He chuckles faintly as he shifts his weight, setting his mug back down on the bedside table so he can reach into the bag to lightly brush his fingers against its contents.]
Gifts? People will start to talk. [But he smirks, his hand closing around another bottleneck first.] Ah, perfect. This morning's hangover was over far too quickly.
On that point, you may be right. I don't entertain much company lately.
[Ladies or otherwise, with the exception of friends who come by to check in when it's convenient-- which it often isn't.
He looks genuinely surprised at the mention of clothes, moving past the bottles to close his fingers around soft, smooth fabric-- easily identifiable as a shirt, once he runs a thumb over one of the buttons.]
Thank you-- that was quite thoughtful, especially as I was quite fond of the other one.
Yeah, well. [A small raise of her hand.] It was my fault, so only fair.
And don't worry. It's not a banana print or anything like that. [And again he'll likely hear the smirk in her voice. So is it a stupid shirt? Or an actual nice shirt? How would he know—]
Aw, don't trust me? I feel a little hurt. [She of course neither feels nor sounds like it at all. She will also shift to push against the wall to move over and sit on the edge of his bed next to him.
Crossing one leg over the other, she'll lean over to reach in the bag and grab a bottle.]
Just for that, I think I will take back one of these.
Flattery? What would be the aim of that, I wonder?
[He uncaps his bottle, forgoing a glass entirely and drinking straight from it, a long swig that burns all the way down. If nothing else, it helps with the pain-- and let's be honest, Ignis' life the past year and a half would be enough to drive anyone to drink.]
Merely pointing out that it's unlike you to be so delicate.
[There's a slight arch of the brow at the long swig, but it's more of a curious thing than anything else. She imagines him more of that "fine wine dining" type of guy so it's always a little weird yet interesting whenever he does anything more...informal.]
Whatever your aim is, it's terrible. [Meaning his flattery wouldn't have been working if he were trying.] And would it bother you if I had a delicate side?
[Which of course is complete nonsense, but it's all in good humor so why not. Drinking is always better when it's in good humor than depressing crap.
She is also going to take this opportunity to pick up that braille book because she can't help but be nosy.]
[It nearly echoes the question he'd asked her when she'd commented on his manners all those months ago, and he simply shakes his head in reply, a smirk pulling at one side of his mouth despite the ache from his injuries.]
Of course not. People are, after all, endlessly complicated.
[And as straightforward as Aranea tends to be, he's assuming she's no different in that respect.
He tips his head curiously in her direction, her weight against the mattress comforting in its own way-- solid proof that despite living in darkness, for the moment, he wasn't entirely alone. The book appears to be a novel-- procedural drama, and while that's not normally something he would feel drawn to, he has to make due with what's available.]
[There's a breath of laughter in response to his answers.] Usually they just make it complicated. [Totally not referencing him. Totally.
But people are complicated creatures, herself no different if perhaps a little less so, which can be both interesting and frustrating at times. But she at least knows to expect that as well as exploit it sometimes.
But after taking another sip while holding the book in one hand, her attention becomes more focused on the dots lining the page. Setting the bottle down on the side table, she brushes her hand over the raised bumps.]
And maybe not as complicated as this. So is it just every letter you have to learn and basically spell out everything before you can understand?
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I'll think about it.
[AND SHE'S OFF AGAIN.]
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Well. He supposes he should have expected that.
Once they reach town, it's one of her men that offers him assistance-- one from the medical bay, who offers himself as a crutch. Ignis finds himself irate about having to accept help, as usual, but struggles to make himself swallow his pride-- his injuries are too severe for his cane to be enough support to make it home. Thankfully, he makes it there without incident, the bottle Aranea had left him with in tow.
The next twenty-four hours are something of a blur. He'd found his apartment to be temporarily inhabited by one very panicked Iris Amicitia, who had stopped by while he was out to check in, only to discover that he'd gone off hunting, something she and her brother had both been insisting against since day one. The result was that she decided to make herself at home, fussing over him and insisting that a local doctor come in and give him a once-over, just to be sure. She then proceeded to take over his kitchen, leaving Ignis to stretch out on his sofa and spend that first evening drinking deeply from the bottle of brandy he'd been given as a parting gift.
Of course, a hunt only went wrong when there were people around to witness it.]
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It's not completely intentional that she gives him a day off. While it is in part to allow him to heal and rest, she also had other business to attend to. Contacting the hunters about the Mindflayer, see what other threats have arisen or been taken care of, what plans for future expeditions.
So it's not until the following day that she decides she should see him. After all, as hard as she is, she isn't completely heartless. She messed up, he got hurt, she owes him. The bottle of brandy had been just been a temporary until she could procure something more suitable.
Which is even more bottles of alcohol.
All right, all right, maybe a new jacket. And shirt. And pants. She did kind of ruin the other ones and while his style isn't bad, who knows what kind of clothes people have been buying for him. Might as well make sure he doesn't lose that edge. And maybe also to accept his request. Not like she planned on rejecting it to begin with. And, finally, she also may have been a little concerned about his well-being. Of course she assumed that someone he knew would probably take care of him. Like his friends, or not-girlfriend-but-probably-wants-to-be. In which case, she's sure he's being babied and pampered in ways that her presence may actually bring relief.
Remembering where he lived, she's actually dress downed a bit. No need for her to wear her armor (it's getting cleaned up anyway), but that's really the only difference, keeping the standard black and red leather. At least it doesn't make her as readily recognizable, not that she cared whether she was or not. And not that it made a difference for Ignis since he can't see anyway. She could come walking in just a towel and he probably wouldn't know.
How sad.
Anyway, with the "gift bag" slung over her shoulder, she raps her knuckles on the door.]
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The door itself opens a moment later, revealing a cheerful young woman with short dark hair, dressed mostly in black. She looks momentarily puzzled, but smiles brightly as she takes a step back, pulling the door open a bit further in the process.]
Oh! Are you here to see Iggy?
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Something like that.
[A cool answer as always, but not unfriendly.]
He's not high off painkillers is he?
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He's just resting. "Doctor's" orders. [Absolutely meaning they were hers.] If someone weren't here watching him, he would probably head right back out and try to go back to hunting daemons again. He'd probably be happy to have company, though. I think he might be getting a little tired of me already-- I'm Iris, by the way.
[She smiles brightly, extending a hand to shake.]
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[All right, she may have actually considered staying a little longer than that, but somehow it feels weird to admit that to the girl. Which is. Weird. She walks inside regardless since she is curious as to how he was doing.]
Hasn't been too much of big baby, has he?
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[Iris shakes her hand enthusiastically, and she laughs lightly in response to Aranea's question, giving another shake of her head.]
No, he's been a very good patient! Just stubborn, but that's nothing new. He's always been like that.
[Iris makes a point of sounding put-upon-- it's only then that Ignis' voice finally intervenes from the bedroom, the door to which sits open. "I'm blind, you realize, not deaf."
The girl looks only marginally apologetic before she turns her attention back to Aranea in full.]
I can let you visit in peace-- I was thinking of heading to the market, anyway. Just don't let him get out of bed, even if he tells you he's fine.
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But don't worry—I can make sure he stays put like a good little boy. [And now that's definitely a smirk in her voice.]
I SAW THAT
Great! I'll let you have some privacy, then-- I'll be back before dinner.
[With a wave, Iris excuses herself, closing the door behind her and leaving Aranea to have free reign over the apartment.
Sitting atop his bed with his injured leg propped up and a braille book open on his lap, Ignis sighs-- he's grateful for Iris' assistance, but being confined to his bed doesn't agree with him in the least. He reaches for the cup of coffee on his bedside table, hoping it will help to chase away the last remnants of the hangover he'd managed to drink himself into the night before.]
By all means, do come in.
:D
Well she's an energetic one. Cute, though. You sure you only see her as a sister? [Yes, hello, how are you Ignis? He surely wouldn't have preferred the standard pleasantries instead of the woman teasing him again.
But as she moves over close to the bed, she looks at his situation. The leg propped up, the braille book open. And with his room so immaculate and clean, she almost thinks she walked into a hospital ward instead. However, given she's the reason for his condition, she does feel a little bad.]
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Given that I've known her since before she could read and played a large part in looking after her as a favor to her actual brother, yes, I'm quite sure. She's family.
[And as tired as he sounds, he is truly grateful for that, especially since he, Prompto and Gladiolus have grown apart since Noctis' disappearance.]
No armor today?
[He may not be able to see her, but he can certainly hear the difference.]
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Wow, you actually noticed? Kind of creepy. [...No one said she was good at it, okay.]
But no real point since I don't plan on going out hunting today. Attracts less attention, too.
[And then she sets the bag she had been carrying down next to his arm so he can feel the paper bag.]
No flowers, either, but this should work just as well.
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Armor isn't exactly stealthy, after all.
[Though his hearing has grown considerably sharper since he's had to rely on it so heavily. He chuckles faintly as he shifts his weight, setting his mug back down on the bedside table so he can reach into the bag to lightly brush his fingers against its contents.]
Gifts? People will start to talk. [But he smirks, his hand closing around another bottleneck first.] Ah, perfect. This morning's hangover was over far too quickly.
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She'll cross her arms and lean against the wall, watching him.]
There's also a change of clothes in there. As a replacement.
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[Ladies or otherwise, with the exception of friends who come by to check in when it's convenient-- which it often isn't.
He looks genuinely surprised at the mention of clothes, moving past the bottles to close his fingers around soft, smooth fabric-- easily identifiable as a shirt, once he runs a thumb over one of the buttons.]
Thank you-- that was quite thoughtful, especially as I was quite fond of the other one.
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And don't worry. It's not a banana print or anything like that. [And again he'll likely hear the smirk in her voice. So is it a stupid shirt? Or an actual nice shirt? How would he know—]
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[It might not be a banana print, but there are at least a million other terrible things it could be, and he wouldn't put any of them past Aranea.]
You're not going to leave me to start on these bottles alone, I hope. Drinking is much better with company.
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Crossing one leg over the other, she'll lean over to reach in the bag and grab a bottle.]
Just for that, I think I will take back one of these.
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[He's smiling all the same, reaching to claim a bottle of his own.]
And here I thought you were made of much stronger stuff than that.
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[He uncaps his bottle, forgoing a glass entirely and drinking straight from it, a long swig that burns all the way down. If nothing else, it helps with the pain-- and let's be honest, Ignis' life the past year and a half would be enough to drive anyone to drink.]
Merely pointing out that it's unlike you to be so delicate.
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Whatever your aim is, it's terrible. [Meaning his flattery wouldn't have been working if he were trying.] And would it bother you if I had a delicate side?
[Which of course is complete nonsense, but it's all in good humor so why not. Drinking is always better when it's in good humor than depressing crap.
She is also going to take this opportunity to pick up that braille book because she can't help but be nosy.]
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Of course not. People are, after all, endlessly complicated.
[And as straightforward as Aranea tends to be, he's assuming she's no different in that respect.
He tips his head curiously in her direction, her weight against the mattress comforting in its own way-- solid proof that despite living in darkness, for the moment, he wasn't entirely alone. The book appears to be a novel-- procedural drama, and while that's not normally something he would feel drawn to, he has to make due with what's available.]
Curious, are you?
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But people are complicated creatures, herself no different if perhaps a little less so, which can be both interesting and frustrating at times. But she at least knows to expect that as well as exploit it sometimes.
But after taking another sip while holding the book in one hand, her attention becomes more focused on the dots lining the page. Setting the bottle down on the side table, she brushes her hand over the raised bumps.]
And maybe not as complicated as this. So is it just every letter you have to learn and basically spell out everything before you can understand?
[Like a code?]
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