003. aranea/ignis; great clouds roll over the hills

[dragooned]

bringing darkness from above

( To say shit had hit the fan was somewhat of an understatement. Of course all signs had been pointing to such for a while, but it was still surprising as to just how badly downhill it had all gone. Which was saying something coming from her. And Aranea was honestly surprised they'd even gotten out of Galea at all. Not that it had been entirely a clean escape — her ship had taken a bit of damage. Damage only made worse by pushing the damn thing on the way back to Lestallum, a stop in Caem to retrieve Gladio's sister and the others there. She was, unfortunately, grounded now for the time being. What would have been an easy fix only weeks ago would now take longer than she liked. But Cindy seemed confident in having a part that would suffice, though Aranea knew she was asking a lot of the mechanic. It would still be a day or so before someone would be able to get up with the part and already Aranea could feel the impatience at the situation settle in. With a thank you she ends the call out to Hammerhead, her eyes sweeping across the lobby of the Leville to spot Ignis in the corner talking with a woman from the power plant. The sun had sunk some hours ago and no one knew if it would ever come back up, Lestallum was soon going to be one of the few safe places left, provided the power plant could handle running lights 24/7. She wasn’t quite sure where the other two had run off to, possibly upstairs in a room, hopefully getting some rest as the lot of them seemed more than dead on their feet. She moves towards Ignis and as she approaches and notices a lull in the conversation she deftly slips to Ignis’ side, a hand on his arm as she glances between the two. She knew there were important things to discuss, to put in place, but she also knew all those problems would still be there in a few hours. While the woman from the plant might not notice the wear on Ignis, she did. ) Mind if I steal him for a moment, there’s something we need to discuss. ( However she doesn’t exactly wait for an answer before she’s gently guiding Ignis away from the other woman and towards the staircase. Her touch is light on his arm, not really leading but there nonetheless. ) Your friend, Cindy, should have that part out to me sometime tomorrow. ( A small pause before she says casually: ) Stairs. ( And then back to the previous conversation. ) Thank you for the suggestion.

Comments

[blindsider]

[ It should be telling that he doesn't notice Aranea's presence until she slips her hand onto his arm; there are important things to tend to, obviously, and his concern that the pressure will cause Holly to revert to her old ways of running everything near singlehanded is warring with the fact that of anyone in Lestallum he trusts her the most to see it all done, but that shouldn't keep him from paying attention to his surroundings. He can't afford to let it.

Still, it's remarkably easy to make his goodbye and allow Aranea to steer him away. He puts his free hand over hers, gives it a brief squeeze in thanks for the warning. ]

She's a gifted mechanic. If you wish to thank her, perhaps you'd consider taking the ship out to Hammerhead. I'm sure she'd consider it a treat to see the part in action.

[dragooned]

( There’s a small smile at the suggestion. ) I’m sure I could manage that. ( If nothing else Aranea figures she’ll be out that way regardless in the coming days. There were a lot of people between here and there who might be better off in Lestallum and in all honestly it was making her head spin a little. The logistics of it all, the realization of the task at hand weighs heavy on her. As does the realization that the world they’d have weeks, months, down the line from today would look drastically different. There’s a guilt there, lingering in the back of her mind, that she could have — should have — done more. Realized earlier that her ties to the Empire should have been cut ages ago.

But then it was really too late to do much about it now.

She pauses her steps as they reach the top of the stairs, hand still loosely on Ignis’ arm as she turns a little to look at him. ) I am sorry, Ignis — ( She starts, because in all the commotion that was getting them out of the Capital and back to relative safety she had never quite found the chance to say it before. ) About the prince… everything. ( And how everything seems like barely scratching the surface right then. Those boys had been to hell and still were there in a lot of ways. She’s past trying to tell herself she’s gone soft on them because the collective hurt on their faces is something she can’t ignore, and while I’m sorry seems like the most cliche of platitudes right then she was, sorry. )

[blindsider]

[ He's quiet for a moment, head ducking under the weight of his thoughts. Everything certainly seems to sum it up, given the far-reaching effects of what's happened. There isn't a man, woman or child who won't feel the effects of what's happened, won't suffer for it. And yet there's a secret little core of shame in that thinks - what about me? What good is an advisor -- a blind one, at that -- with nobody to advise? Everything he knows, everything he's learned has been in aid of supporting Noctis. And now Noctis is gone.

He sighs, quietly, nods to her and lifts his face. There is no time for self-indulgent wallowing. ]

Thank you. It may not seem like much, but it's good to hear.

[ And then, because dwelling on it may well undo him: ]

You mentioned there was something you wanted to discuss?

[dragooned]

( Comforting someone was not exactly her strong suit, and she's pleased that she seems to be fumbling through it somewhat okay at that moment. Which of course brought up a whole host of other thoughts — namely that she wants to do it in the first place, that somewhere along the line she's let the man standing in front of her under her skin and how the hell had that happened. But she figures it was neither time nor place to dwell on that one.

She tips her head to the side as she looks Ignis over. She's more than a little sure he's not going to like what she's about to ask, and the segue it will be into what she's about to tell him to do. )

I did — when's the last time you rested? ( She won't use the word sleep, won't push her luck that far, but even just stopping for a small moment might do him some good. )

[blindsider]

I -

[ Long enough that it takes some thought. There'd been no time, after the crystal had taken Noctis; Aranea had kindly come to their assistance, as she was wont to do, but the travel time that might have been a quiet moment was too occupied with contacting their allies. Then they'd arrived and there'd been so much to do that he's been running on Ebony -- Gladio had all but slapped the last can out of his shaking hand growling that it was not a substitute for sleep, a situation that could have turned nasty had Iris (sweet, wonderful Iris) not bullied her brother and Prompto upstairs. "You too, Iggy. Soon," she'd said, and he didn't need his sight to feel the ferocity of her stare. For all her youth and her small stature, she is an Amicitia through and through.

He doesn't imagine Aranea will consider being knocked unconscious by Ardyn's magic to qualify as rest. Best not to mention it. ]

There's a lot to do.

[dragooned]

( Her lips curl up in a smirk as Ignis has to pause to think about an answer. ) If you have to think about it, Ignis, it’s been too long. ( But she doesn’t begrudge him it at all. She’s not exactly one to talk herself — but she also knows the coming days there will be more than a few people looking to Ignis for how to proceed, not so much a former Captain of the Empire.

The hand on his arm tightens briefly. ) And it will all still be there to be done in a few hours.

( She pauses for a moment, debating her next words before she continues. ) Right now it’s contained, in a couple hours everyone will know what’s happened. With the Prince gone — ( She shrugs even though she knows he won’t see it. It was easy to forget sometimes that they were so young, especially in Ignis’ case, but it weighs on her in that moment. That what remained of Noctis’ kingdom would look to them in the coming days, weeks. ) It’s going to be a lot, you should rest while you can.

( And she's not exactly waiting for him to give in as she moves them towards one of the rooms. )

[blindsider]

[ He should have known. But there's something about the way she puts it that dampens the soon that's been his knee-jerk (and false) reaction to everyone who's made the suggestion so far -- something not rooted in recognition of her former status, or the fact that's he's inclined to show automatic deference to any older woman. He sighs. Aranea is, apparently, something of a weak point for him. At least Gladio isn't here to file it away for later teasing. ]

To the rescue again, Ms Highwind? I'm sure I don't deserve it.

[dragooned]

( You really should have, Ignis, you're smarter than this.

She smiles softly as he doesn't immediately discount the idea, victory in her books. Even if it comes with a sigh and she's sure he's more polite about it than he might want to be.

There's the sound of the door being opened and she gently pulls him inside. And if his thoughts had taken a turn to the idea of a weak point, hers weren't far behind. The group as a collective whole, and then Ignis himself. That they'd gotten under her skin somewhere along the line was still somewhat of a surprise even to her. She's done well to carefully craft a persona over the years, one that seemed devoid of any personal attachments, loyalty to the highest bidder more often than not over any particular cause. One she herself sometimes has trouble separating from the woman she actually was. The one who was more than capable of emotions despite what some might think, of forming bonds and attachments.

However what she feels right then for Ignis, is something else. Something she hasn’t given much thought to for years now. And she’s trying not to put too much stock in it. They were… friends in some strange turn of the word, it was only natural to be concerned.

She huffs a small laugh at his words, a vocal reaction to make up for the lack of being able to see her expression. ) Well, someone’s gotta look out for you. ( Her tone is light, despite the situation, teasing as she tugs him towards the bed. ) And don’t worry, I’ll be sure to find a way for you to make it up to me. ( She adds, instead of pointing out that he indeed deserved it and so much more in all honesty. )

[blindsider]

I could be in no safer hands.

[ It's not flattery, despite the way he attempts (poorly) to pitch his tone to match hers. She's a force of nature, and though he's sure she wouldn't want to rehash her time with the Empire a good deal of his admiration springs from how readily she'd left them when things started to come to light. He can't imagine the Empire looks kindly on defectors, and the force of will that must have been necessary not only to leave but to continue working for the greater good in that distinctive ship of hers is positively breathtaking.

If Noctis had been traveling with three Aranea Highwinds, he would doubtless still be with them.

That's not exactly a thought that cheers him, and he allows himself to be lead to the bed more out distraction than actual willingness. Still, when he finds it he sits obediently, and tries not to preface his question with another sigh. He's painfully aware that he's not very good company, at present; he'd reduced Prompto to tears with carelessly chosen words earlier, which had both shocked him (Prompto, usually so determined to keep his chin up and so very reluctant to allow his hurts to become anyone else's) and added to the curdled weight of guilt in his stomach. Given that particular display, asking for company is a poor reward for her care, and yet. ]

And what are your plans for the evening, once you're done dispensing common sense where you find it lacking?

[dragooned]

( All things considered she would say he could be in a worse mood. She can’t imagine the current situation is easy on any of them. Ignis who had, from what she knew at the very least, dedicated most of his life to the prince and now — well, that was the shitty part about loyalty wasn’t it, when the one you swore it to was suddenly just gone.

She takes advantage of him sitting on the edge of the bed to gently tug his jacket off, placing it on a nearby chair. She smirks at his question, the roundabout way of asking. And despite everything she’d be remiss to let it be that easy, or maybe because of the situation, some semblance of a distraction even if it was small. )

If you want me to stay all you have to do is ask, Ignis. ( A teasing tone to it.

Her fingers touch the clearer side of his face, dusting over skin and the arm of the glasses. ) Off or on? ( She knows at this point it’s an accessory entirely for aesthetic purposes, a safety net really and while they probably won’t be the most comfortable thing to try to sleep in that’s not a choice she will make for him. )

[blindsider]

Ah.

[ He'd be more concerned about how transparent he apparently was, but having her remove his jacket has him off balance. It's not bad, as such, just... unexpected. There's a care to it that's welcome after everything that's happened, though he does inhale in quiet surprise when her fingers brush his face. It's a simple gesture, the meaning clear, but it gives him a moment of pause. Ridiculous, to think nobody has touched his face since the accident but the doctors -- it's not as if people regularly touched his face before that. ]

I suppose it had better be off. If I popped a lens out trying to sleep in them I'd never know.

[ Behold, a joke! Or an overtired attempt at one, at least. He's traced the lines of the scars with his own fingers, knows they're visually unpleasant at best, but Aranea may well be the least squeamish person he knows. He tips his face up slightly, toward her touch -- a small show of willing. ]