shatteredlenses | LifeAfter Inbox

When Shion and Cobweb arrive, they will find Ignis sitting on the floor of the cottage, Leo curled up at his back and Rory, oddly enough, in his lap. He's grooming the firebird almost mindlessly as she coos softly. All three are surprised at Cobweb's sudden entry, with Leo rumbling low in his throat as a gentle warning to the other tigerlily to calm down just a little.

Ignis himself tilts his head slightly when he recognizes the sound of excited animal's entry, "Cobweb? Is something wrong?"

He's half afraid the animal has sought him out because yet another friend is missing, no matter how paranoid he knows the thought is. Still, it's a relief when he hears movement at the door.

"Shion?"

Cobweb slowed at the growl and flopped to the floor. A moment later though he moved again, inching his way slowly towards Ignis. Shion, despite the situation had to smother a laugh.

"Sorry. He's got no manners." But then again he was a huge cat and cats in general didn't. Truthfully they had Gladio to blame for this, he was the one who encouraged Cobweb to be so boisterous.

Shion stepped inside, looking towards the three of them. "I... I came to see how you were holding up."

Not great by the looks of things but at least Rory and Leo were there.

Not great was a pretty accurate description, but they were holding on which was something. As long as he kept moving forward, even slowly, Ignis knew he would eventually recover. It was coming to a complete halt that was dangerous.

Ignis runs his hands over Rory's feathers to smooth them one last time and then sends the firebird off to perch on the roost that Gladio made for her. With Cobweb so excited, it's a good idea to get her out of the line of fire before something or someone ends up on fire. Once she is away, he reaches out to pat Leo and then motions for Cobweb to stop his slinking approach and just come over.

"I'm glad you're here. Things are easier when I'm not alone, but I can hardly expect Prompto to stay here all the time." On top of that, they both have so much to do. Their own tasks on top of what Gladio used to do, "How are you doing? I'd offer you a hand, but I seem to be quite popular at the moment."

It was probably a good thing to not have volatile fire birds around excited plant kitties. Cobweb bound up and went to sit on Ignis, as if he were a tiny kitten and not a tigerlilly.

Shion approached as well putting the baskets down nearby and reaching out to scratch Leo's ears. "I'm alright... I brought food. I would have come earlier but... Laurent only just told me."

He should have been paying more attention. But it is difficult with them all so spread out to keep track of who was still around.

It's a good thing that Ignis had gotten used to Gladio occasionally flopping all his weight onto him, otherwise dealing with a few hundred pounds of tigerlily would be a lot more uncomfortable. He coaxes Cobweb to shift a little bit and then wraps his arms around him, resting his head against the tigerlily's.

"Thank you, and please don't worry. You're here now and that's all that matters." It's far too easy to miss things on the islands. Ignis knows this very well. Just look at how long it took for him to meet up with Mira again after she moved.

"Things were quite the mess before anyway. I'm still trying to find homes for a few of the animals. Prompto and I just can't take care of them all ourselves. Not with Gladio gone."

He can imagine, neither Ignis or Prompto would take Gladio's disappearance well.

He might still return, but that doesn't mean things will be easier in the meantime. It's hard to know how to comfort them, how to help them get through this.

But practical things, he can help there. "I can look after some of them in you want... Excalibur and Thalassa disappeared when Aster did. I guess because they weren't from this world..."

But it meant it was just him, Cobweb and Nezumi now, he could definitely take care of some more furry friends.

Ignis presses his head against Cobweb a moment longer and then raises it so he can face in Shion's direction. He's obviously considering the offer, though it is very difficult for him to decide who he would send to stay with Shion. All of those who are left as so dear to him, but if he is going to send them to stay with anyone, it would be Shion who he cares about like a son.

"Do you..." He pauses a moment before turning his blind gaze toward Rory who he knows still is resting on her perch. She was his first companion, but Leilani is like a daughter to him and Leo...he just needs Leo right now. Besides, he has a feeling if he sent the tigerlily away, even with the best of intentions, he would return to watch over him. Just like Gladio would have wanted.

"Can you take care of Rory for me? She won't want to leave me, but she is well trained and if I ask her to go, I believe she will. I can teach you her signals too so she will answer to you and so you know how to fight with her."

Shion followed Ignis'turn of the head towards Rory. The phoenix was all grown up now, from the chick Ignis had befriended... About a year ago now.

"Of course I'll look after Rory for you. If you think she will stay with me." She's less volutile now. Shion remembered his attempts with the phoenix's last year.

"She will be very welcome." Cobweb will have to learn to be less boisterous but Shion has faith in the tigerlilly.

Ignis nods, obviously torn, but knowing what needs to be done, "She's very intelligent. She will understand even if it's not quite in the same way as you or I would."

He doesn't know if he was just lucky to have gotten a very smart chick, or if it was just that all of them were like that, but she's always been so quick to understand and learn, especially after the incident with Gladio. It was almost like she knew she had really messed up and was determined to do better.

And she had done better. Ignis would never stop being proud of her for that.

"Perhaps that is why you were never able to befriend one of your own. Someone somewhere knew you would need to be able to take Rory in for me later."

"Perhaps." For Shion that was a worrying thought, though he knew Ignis meant it in a more general way like the fates of stories. But people having the power to control everything in your life and environment. That might be truer than they would like and the idea scares Shion.

"What do you think Rory? Would you like to come and live with me, Nezumi and Cobweb for a while?"

There is a ruffle of feathers and a soft sound that Ignis just knows means Rory is tilting her head questioningly. The action is so familiar that it hurts him, but he manages to swallow down the pain.

"Of course I'll come visit you, silly bird. You're not going to be rid of me for good, but Shion could use someone else to keep him company. He's lost a lot of friends recently too."

It takes her a moment, as if she is considering and then she coos. It's not a loud sound, but it is an approving one. One that makes a grateful smile cross Ignis' face.

"Thank you, my friend."

"Thank you Rory." He smiled at Ignis and reached out to hold his friends hand. "We will visit often."

He was glad he was able to do something, however small to help.

"I brought some food. Are you hungry?"

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