[It's the sound of someone stirring that finally causes Ignis to push himself off his own bedroll. He'd been awake for some time now out of habit, used to waking shortly before the dawn in order to provide for the rest of their band. Today, he hadn't quite made it past the flaps of his tent, knowing that there was nothing for him outside of it-- not until the others were awake and he could use the sounds of their movements and voices to orient himself.
It wasn't ideal, but he was determined to push forward, to remain with them as promised. He would do whatever he had to-- as long as he could avoid having to bow out or be left behind.
The sound of movement has him venturing from his tent earlier than he might have otherwise, however-- even Gladio was rarely up this early, despite his love of morning runs, and the immediate thought that springs to mind is that while the haven was safe from wild beasts, they'd been set upon by someone looking to steal their supplies.
He grits his teeth as he stumbles out of his tent, half-dressed and calling a dagger into one hand on instinct.]
What do you think you're doing?
[A bandit probably wouldn't know he was blind, at least right away. Maybe he could chase them off with skillful rhetoric instead of risking himself by throwing a dagger.]
my dude don't even worry about it afldkja schoolwork is noooo joke
[Intent as he'd been on his futile attempt at breakfast, Noctis doesn't catch the movement behind him- or the faint tinge of ozone as a weapon manifest- until it's too late.]
Ah-- dammit, [he says as he drops the egg he'd been about to crack, sending bits of shell and splattered mess everywhere from the pan to the front of his shirt. Hopeless...
Brushing what he can off with a grimace, he turns to face his friend, the sharpness of Ignis's tone settling in a beat too late as well, and adds:]
It's just me. [A sigh.] Couldn't sleep, so I figured... You know.
[He trails off, mentally cursing himself for being so damn awkward about it. It's Ignis, but... Well, maybe a part of Noct doesn't feel like he deserves the easy camaraderie of before.
When he continues, his voice sounds a little far away; he's turned back to his mess, unable to confront the twist in his stomach at the sight of dark glasses and that damn cane just yet. He knows how selfish that is.]
[Ignis sighs in turn. He'd heard the egg smash, and knows that he'd interrupted at an inopportune time-- and yet in his defense, he feels he can hardly be blamed for being wary. Noctis, after all, had never been known for being an early riser, something Ignis knew better than anyone, growing up alongside him as he had.
His dagger vanishes, leaving his hand free, his expression apologetic.]
... I didn't realize. It's been some time since I've seen you stir before the sun is up.
[He swallows hard. The tension between them is palpable, just as it has been ever since his injury. Ignis bears him no ill will, considers what happened to be an occupational hazard-- injury in the line of duty was to be expected, though that didn't make coping with it any easier. Still, the guilt Noct felt was almost tangible, and Ignis wishes he could reach out and take that from him.]
... I could do with some breakfast, yes.
[He's touched by the offer in itself. It's not often that Noct has the opportunity to take care of him, though he feels his stomach clench at the thought of how their roles have been reversed.]
[The apologetic look isn't necessary- Ignis was right to have been cautious. It's not like they're on some kind of pleasure trip here, even if in the beginning it'd almost felt like they were, all sunny stretches of road and warm nights spent under the stars or chatting into the night on cheap motel beds. It's all gone to shit now, though, and man, if Noct had known from the start how things were going to end up, he'd have... Well, he isn't sure what he'd have done, honestly. There'd never been a choice anyway, so would it even have mattered?
Shaking his head back into the present- as sorry a state as that may be- he flicks a few more bits of shell from the table as he considers the question. Part of him wants to decline if only because he wants to do this for Ignis on his own... But even that's a selfish need when the motivation is guilt as much as anything else; and what's more is that he knows this has always been Ignis's thing, something he genuinely enjoys, and now that he's awake Noctis can't bear to take that way from him too. He's taken enough as it is.]
Yeah. Kinda hopeless on my own. Here-- [he says, stepping over Gladio's mess from the previous night before thinking better of his laziness and scooping it up and out of the way,] you want coffee first, right?
[He can at least get started on that much without instruction, even if even the 'good stuff' tastes like sad, bitter sludge to him. He'll take approximately six thousand creamers, please...]
[The fact of the matter is, Ignis knows his ability to assist will be limited, at best-- but it means something to him that Noct is willing to allow him to try. Fighting is difficult enough as is, and his spatial awareness isn't quite what it ought to be just yet. It's too soon, and he needs more time to adjust, to learn to navigate his new world, but he doesn't have the option of slowing down.
He has to push forward, do whatever it takes to keep up, because he'd sworn an oath. Because being with his friends and seeing this through to the end was so much more important to him than his own frustrations.
Even if all he can do is hold utensils or give instructions, he'll do it. It's a small comfort, but comfort all the same.
He nods minutely, confirming.]
Please. I'm not much good without it, admittedly.
[Not entirely true, but at the moment, Ignis felt like he wasn't much good to anyone, period, coffee or no coffee.]
[Well, at least this particular endeavor doesn't carry the risk of death by beast or daemon. Honestly Noctis can't say he's thrilled at Ignis's insistence on remaining with the group in spite of his injuries- not because he's a liability but because the thought of losing more of him than just his sight makes Noctis's blood run cold. The same twist in his gut that he used to feel at the idea of his dad leaving him, the same sick feeling... It's been following him since Altissia, an insistent tug that keeps him up at night and weighs him down as long as he's conscious.
Or... Not quite the same. Close, but different in a way he isn't able to place, or doesn't want to place; that'd only make it harder.
But in the end, it's Ignis's decision, and although he knows he'd be well within his rights- such as they are as a prince or a king- to order him to seek safe haven... He can't do that. He won't do that. Because it's Ignis, Ignis who deserves to make his own calls and Ignis who he selfishly can't bear to send away.]
Your mood sure isn't, [he says automatically, cursing himself for even such harmless teasing as he sets the pot onto the table with a too-loud clank. They're all out of the canned kind he's pretty sure Ignis prefers, and so the drippy kind will have to do.] Give it a few minutes.
[He falls silent then, staring for a few long moments at the scuffed tips of his boots and trying to think of anything but, well, anything... But eventually:]
I uh... I kind of killed the last egg. So if you have any other suggestions... I'm all ears.
[If he's being honest he could probably have handled the eggs on his own, but anything else is a bit above his pay grade. He's at a loss for ideas, here.]
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y/y!! god I am sorry about me circa these first two weeks of the semester
It wasn't ideal, but he was determined to push forward, to remain with them as promised. He would do whatever he had to-- as long as he could avoid having to bow out or be left behind.
The sound of movement has him venturing from his tent earlier than he might have otherwise, however-- even Gladio was rarely up this early, despite his love of morning runs, and the immediate thought that springs to mind is that while the haven was safe from wild beasts, they'd been set upon by someone looking to steal their supplies.
He grits his teeth as he stumbles out of his tent, half-dressed and calling a dagger into one hand on instinct.]
What do you think you're doing?
[A bandit probably wouldn't know he was blind, at least right away. Maybe he could chase them off with skillful rhetoric instead of risking himself by throwing a dagger.]
my dude don't even worry about it afldkja schoolwork is noooo joke
Ah-- dammit, [he says as he drops the egg he'd been about to crack, sending bits of shell and splattered mess everywhere from the pan to the front of his shirt. Hopeless...
Brushing what he can off with a grimace, he turns to face his friend, the sharpness of Ignis's tone settling in a beat too late as well, and adds:]
It's just me. [A sigh.] Couldn't sleep, so I figured... You know.
[He trails off, mentally cursing himself for being so damn awkward about it. It's Ignis, but... Well, maybe a part of Noct doesn't feel like he deserves the easy camaraderie of before.
When he continues, his voice sounds a little far away; he's turned back to his mess, unable to confront the twist in his stomach at the sight of dark glasses and that damn cane just yet. He knows how selfish that is.]
...You hungry?
<3
His dagger vanishes, leaving his hand free, his expression apologetic.]
... I didn't realize. It's been some time since I've seen you stir before the sun is up.
[He swallows hard. The tension between them is palpable, just as it has been ever since his injury. Ignis bears him no ill will, considers what happened to be an occupational hazard-- injury in the line of duty was to be expected, though that didn't make coping with it any easier. Still, the guilt Noct felt was almost tangible, and Ignis wishes he could reach out and take that from him.]
... I could do with some breakfast, yes.
[He's touched by the offer in itself. It's not often that Noct has the opportunity to take care of him, though he feels his stomach clench at the thought of how their roles have been reversed.]
Let me help?
no subject
Shaking his head back into the present- as sorry a state as that may be- he flicks a few more bits of shell from the table as he considers the question. Part of him wants to decline if only because he wants to do this for Ignis on his own... But even that's a selfish need when the motivation is guilt as much as anything else; and what's more is that he knows this has always been Ignis's thing, something he genuinely enjoys, and now that he's awake Noctis can't bear to take that way from him too. He's taken enough as it is.]
Yeah. Kinda hopeless on my own. Here-- [he says, stepping over Gladio's mess from the previous night before thinking better of his laziness and scooping it up and out of the way,] you want coffee first, right?
[He can at least get started on that much without instruction, even if even the 'good stuff' tastes like sad, bitter sludge to him. He'll take approximately six thousand creamers, please...]
no subject
He has to push forward, do whatever it takes to keep up, because he'd sworn an oath. Because being with his friends and seeing this through to the end was so much more important to him than his own frustrations.
Even if all he can do is hold utensils or give instructions, he'll do it. It's a small comfort, but comfort all the same.
He nods minutely, confirming.]
Please. I'm not much good without it, admittedly.
[Not entirely true, but at the moment, Ignis felt like he wasn't much good to anyone, period, coffee or no coffee.]
no subject
Or... Not quite the same. Close, but different in a way he isn't able to place, or doesn't want to place; that'd only make it harder.
But in the end, it's Ignis's decision, and although he knows he'd be well within his rights- such as they are as a prince or a king- to order him to seek safe haven... He can't do that. He won't do that. Because it's Ignis, Ignis who deserves to make his own calls and Ignis who he selfishly can't bear to send away.]
Your mood sure isn't, [he says automatically, cursing himself for even such harmless teasing as he sets the pot onto the table with a too-loud clank. They're all out of the canned kind he's pretty sure Ignis prefers, and so the drippy kind will have to do.] Give it a few minutes.
[He falls silent then, staring for a few long moments at the scuffed tips of his boots and trying to think of anything but, well, anything... But eventually:]
I uh... I kind of killed the last egg. So if you have any other suggestions... I'm all ears.
[If he's being honest he could probably have handled the eggs on his own, but anything else is a bit above his pay grade. He's at a loss for ideas, here.]