LifeAfter Inbox

[shatteredlenses]

 

This is Ignis.  Please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.  Storyteller willing, I may actually be able to read messages left for me soon.
...
And, no, your Highness, this doesn't mean I will be too busy to make sure you eat your vegetables. 

Comments

[scourgingstars]

[Not too long after the Storytelling, when next Ignis was around Camp Solheim, he'd be confronted by a familiar voice. Unsurprising, since Ardyn literally never went anywhere else.]

Do you have a moment? Here--there's something I wanted to give you.

[Ardyn placed one hand light on Ignis' arm for just a second to illustrate exactly where he was, the other holding something out to him.]

[shatteredlenses]

If what you wish to give me is a hard time, I'm afraid my last available moment for the next few weeks just got snatched up. Teaching mobile vegetables to stalk one's prince is quite time consuming, you understand.

[How Ignis manages to say that with such a straight face is a mystery for the ages, but he doesn't pull away from the touch on his arm.]

To what do I owe this kindness? My birthday isn't for a couple of months.

[scourgingstars]

...Very funny.

[He gave Ignis a light tap on the head with something thin and wooden before pressing the object into his hand; a light walking stick carved out of a branch from the other side of the island. Inlaid in the handle was an intricate design only seen in ancient ruins under the dark of night, and on the top of it was a very small marking of three initials--A.L.C., barely noticeable but no less present for it.]

Actually, the mental image is admittedly hilarious. There's no occasion, and no need for repayment or gratitude. Just an abundance of spare time on my part.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis frowns at the tap on his head, but is spared having to ask what was used when the item is pressed into his hand.]

A walking stick.

[The words are a soft, surprised statement left hanging as Ignis' fingers travel over the many markings adorning the carved wood. A brief smile flickers across his face when he finds the initials, and then his expression becomes something a little more questioning as he runs his fingers over the other markings a second time.]

I recognize these. They're from Steyliff Grove, aren't they?

[He huffs under his breath, carefully swinging the stick out to test its balance.]

The image of you wearing one as a hat is also amusing.

[But...]

Right. It would be terrible if I thought that you did it because you cared even a little about my comfort or safety.

[Feeeeeeelings. What are feeeeeelings?]

[scourgingstars]

Steyliff and Costlemark, yes--it's some circuitry for old Solheim magitek. I rather thought it might be easier to hold on to with something carved into the handle.

[Ardyn shrugged, hands on his hips as he glanced off to the side.]

...I care enough, right now. Just don't become accustomed to it.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis hums softly under his breath at the confirmation, tapping the end of the cane against the ground to start getting a sense of how the stick transfers the ground's feel through it.]

I won't.

[He doesn't look up at Ardyn as he speaks, but his words are a promise.]

Don't think I will forget it either.

[scourgingstars]

I know. Ill-advised as it may be...perhaps part of me hopes that you would not.

[Ardyn laughed softly, a sound that was forlorn instead of pained and forced today.]

Ah, but that sounds ridiculous.

[shatteredlenses]

Hardly.

[Ignis does turn toward Ardyn as he speaks now, cane falling still in his hand.]

I don't believe that anyone wishes to be completely forgotten, not even you on your worst days when the howling of anger and rage is all you can hear. I may only be one person...

[He laughs softly then.]

...but I am a stubborn one. I'll be sure to remind you of this.

[scourgingstars]

I have been told I am horrendously stubborn myself. Some have gone so far to consider it my worst quality, though I believe myself to have gained a few worse ones since then.

[shatteredlenses]

[A small smile turns up the corners of Ignis' mouth. He's well aware of that. After all, he's one of those who have recently called Ardyn stubborn.]

Well, no one is perfect after all. I, myself, have recently picked up some bad habits.

[Something sly creeps into Ignis' expression as he narrows his right eye and turns its focus toward Ardyn.]

Like being unable to set down complex puzzles until I've figured them out completely.

[scourgingstars]

Is that so? I've always rather enjoyed the occasional complicated puzzle or two myself. I've found they're very like building intricate machinery, and there aren't many things more satisfying than having every circuit and moving part click into alignment.

[shatteredlenses]

I will have to take your word on that, as dangerous a notion as that may be. Logic puzzles are more my forte than those that require actual hands on manipulation to solve. A rather regrettable lacking on my part, now that I think on it. Perhaps you can help me fix that someday.

[scourgingstars]

...

[Ardyn raised an eyebrow slightly, vaguely aware he wasn’t certain how to interpret that. But in the nature of a true politician, he barely missed a step in his response.]

The practical approach is a difficult one to teach, I’m afraid. Often it comes down to a matter of either having natural talent or devoting one to tireless study and practice to make up for a lack of it.

Still, if it should be such a terrible regret, heavens forbid I should neglect to help you rectify it.

[shatteredlenses]

Well, I'm sure you will be relieved to know I have no fear of tireless study and practice. I'm quite used to it in fact, so we will be just fine should my natural skill in most things fail me.

[An amused smile crosses Ignis' face, but for once, he doesn't seem like he's actually purposefully twisting his words into a double meaning. He's just enjoying the idea of leaning something new.]

Who knows? Perhaps between the three of us, we might actually get that snowmobile of Prompto's running.