Bonds and Talks and Chocobros, Oh My! [closed]

[clickclickbang]

Who: Prompto Argentum, Noctis Lucis Caelum, and Ignis Scientia
When: July 6th onwards
Where: Prompto's place and Noct/Iggy's place
What: Bonding needs to happen stat, but so do some important conversations.
Warnings: TBD

Starters below because there's a lot of threads about to happen here.

Comments

[eluci]

I was having a great life, until a certain someone decided he had to insert himself into it in the worst way possible.

[It's pretty clear who he's talking about. And while that statement isn't entirely true, he hasn't had a bad 20 years so far.

And then there's that last question. The way it's framed, he wants to say 'no'. Why would he want to know something about the future that's painful and big enough that Ignis can't just say it outright? But at the same time, he's curious about what Ignis knows that's further ahead than the aftermath of Altissia, the trip to Gralea.]

When you put it that way, no... [Sigh.] But now I'm curious.

[quickrecipeh]

[It's painful for Ignis, too. And more painful still, the source, and telling Noct everything would mean revealing an entire near-conspiracy designed to keep him safe and in the dark. It makes Ignis uncomfortable, and that's putting it mildly.]

It has to do with the matter of the Crystal, and a certain prophecy you're not aware of. I was made aware of it quite unwittingly in Altissia, but I can gather from Prompto that I never told any of you what I learned. I'm not telling you this to clear my conscience. I'm telling you this because it will make everything else make more sense, and because you deserve to know the truth. If you want it, it's yours.

[eluci]

[It absolutely is a conspiracy, no 'near' about it.]

...Does Prompto know? About the prophecy bit?

[Not that he shouldn't, or can't, he's just wondering.]

Just tell me. If I say no now, it'll just bug me forever.

[quickrecipeh]

[He never meant for any of this to happen and he never wanted to hurt Noctis. But intent means nothing.]

Prompto knows some of it, as of a few days ago. I didn't tell him everything. But I told him enough.

[Ignis won't mention that he also said Noct wouldn't be upset with him for not saying anything. That feels manipulative. He takes a breath.]

I have no reason to doubt what I saw, but equally no reason to think it's set in stone. Fate may not be immutable.

[He takes a breath.]

I received a vision in Altissia. According to it, the Chosen King is destined to give his life in exchange for defeating the darkness.

[Maybe if he makes it impersonal Noct won't start considering how many people knew this or where Ignis got the information.]

[eluci]

[A vision. He hadn't known Ignis to have any psychic abilities, so he had to have gotten it through someone else, or else told by someone else. And it mentioned a 'Chosen King'...it had to be him, because he was the only one of his line left. Ignis wouldn't be so hesitant to tell him if it referred to a future son of his, he thinks.

'Destined to give his life in exchange for defeating the darkness'.

He didn't like that. He didn't know a thing about that, and suddenly several pieces fall into place and he's mad. Is this why everyone's been putting themselves in front of him, to help fulfill this prophecy without him knowing?]

I'm supposed to sacrifice myself to fix it? [He's stood up by now, hands on the table--he doesn't notice in his anger, but his fingers are suddenly tipped with claws that weren't there before, digging into the tabletop--and it's far from Ignis' fault, but he's going to yell in his direction anyway.] That's complete bullshit, who decided to put that on my shoulders? And was anyone ever going to mention it to me?

[quickrecipeh]

[Somehow Ignis, steady as always, manages not to flinch at the outburst. He glances down, notes the claws, notes he'll need to fix the table up later so Noct won't feel strange about causing the damage. Then he allows himself to absorb the anger. It shouldn't just be directed at Ignis, he knows, but he isn't willing to throw King Regis or Lady Lunafreya under a bus, even in their absence.]

I don't know who it was speaking in the vision. I don't know who else knew, though I have my suspicions. Evidently I never told Prompto, nor Gladio, in Prompto's time. I can't be certain of why.

[He looks at Noctis' face, then drops his gaze slightly.]

I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I'll do everything I can to fight it. I have no interest in a world that you're not alive and well in.

[eluci]

[He won't care about the damage as much as the fact that he's actually starting to manifest anything non-human that's harder to hide. The fur is easy enough to hide from view; at the moment it's only on his legs and easily hidden with pants. Prompto might not hide his, but he's also been around long enough to better come to terms with the whole thing.

Anger-wise, he can't say there isn't even a little anger directed towards Ignis, but a majority of it isn't and he simply happens to be the only person available to direct it at. His apology takes the wind out of his sails a bit, though.]

Good...

[He follows Ignis' gaze downward this time, noticing the gouges in the table and quickly curling his hands into loose fists instead, even though it likely doesn't matter at this point.]

...Thanks. I appreciate that. I...know it's selfish, but I'm not ready to die just because someone says I'm supposed to. There has to be another way, and if anyone can figure out, it's you.

[quickrecipeh]

[The turning is still strange, but it doesn't bother Ignis. It's just becoming part of who Noct is, for now, and whoever, whatever, and however Noct is, Ignis is here. That table will be replaced before Noct even realizes it, so everything's going to be fine.

It hurts to have Noct's anger turned on him. It makes him ache down to his soul, makes him feel like a failure as his guardian and friend. He knows he's a failure; whatever he did at Altissia, it didn't stop Ardyn. It didn't put so much as a wrinkle in his plans, he thinks. So yes, he has failed Noct. He knows it, feels it, hates it, hates himself, hates fate, hates whatever is doing this to the only person who matters. But that comes to him, tears threaten his eyes, and he clamps down on his tongue in silence to drive them back.

He's supposed to be the calm one, perpetually having his shit together. Nothing else will do.]

It's not selfish. If there's a way, I'll find it.

[He tries to put conviction behind his words.]

I won't let you go so easily, not to fate, not to the Astrals, and especially not to Ardyn. Noct, nothing... Absolutely nothing will harm you if I am in any way capable of stopping it. You don't want anyone to give their life for you, I know, but you're going to have to accept that I made that promise when I was still a child, and I have never forgotten nor regretted it. I care for you greatly, and I appreciate your confidence in my abilities.