Get in time traveller

[warmgaze]

[Altissia. The ring, burning into his finger, burning into his skull, and he knows the price without asking, knows before it's paid. The thing you value most, isn't that always how this works in fairytales?

Ravus. Noctis. Ardyn, and that little revelation barely enters his mind at the time, the familiar glowing signature of a warp in an unfamiliar color. The prophecy, the visions that hang in his mind, a last wish from a woman who spent her life to ensure it, Lunafreya's final message to ensure that Noctis would survive.

The last clear words he can remember clearly, You've a calling to fulfill, and then Prompto and Gladio's voices, concerned, in a blur...

And then nothing. Just the feeling of a ring's power, setting him alight from fingertips to crown -

It's still in him, that power. The ring of the Lucii binds to its wearers for life, knotting strands of light into their souls, be they kings or anyone else.

(He had expected to die. Living is harder.)

And in the depths of his unconsciousness, in the place where he knows the things that he hasn't had time to consider, Noctis and Ardyn and prophecy and all of that terrible weight -

From there, from the connection of the fire in his soul that will never go out, that can only be smothered and locked away in the dark, a voice says, what would you give to change fate?

And, of course, he answers, Anything.

----

In another world, Ignis Scientia wakes in Altissia, his face scarred, his vision burned away, and continues on.

In this one, Prompto Argentum enters the room just in time to see a flare of purple flame lick along his friend's body and leave nothing behind, not even a char mark on the wrinkled sheets.

And Ignis?

Ignis wakes, with a groan and a hand pressed to his face, in the back of a cart that trundles to a stop to pick up another passenger, a young healer with cheeks not yet sunken by pain and eyes not yet yellowed by plague. He wakes bereft, on some fundamental level, of the touch of magic that bound him to Noctis, the hum of energy that bound retainer to prince...

He wakes with the imprint of a ring on his finger, the memory of agreeing, and not the damnedest idea where he is.]

Comments

[burninglight]

Hush, you're fine. I'll catch you if you should fall.

[At least he was smiling now.]

It doesn't take much fanfare at all, really.

[warmgaze]

And likely fall with me.

[Not a wholly unacceptable outcome, but perhaps better thought of once they've settled at a haven for the night.]

I'll put things to the test once we stop for the evening. I doubt this boy would be particularly fond of me igniting spelldaggers while seated on his back.

[He gives the chocobo a gentle pat on the back. Good bird.]

[burninglight]

I look forward to seeing it.

[warmgaze]

Perhaps even a spar, if you're feeling up to it?

[burninglight]

Oh, more than that--I would dearly love to.

[warmgaze]

Let's make all haste to camp, then.

[And without the faintest indication of waiting up, he digs his heels into the bird and off he goes!]

[burninglight]

Hey-

[oh it's on now LET'S GO]

[warmgaze]

[Black chocobos probably have an unfair advantage over the common variety here but Ignis and his buddy give it their best!!! Until finally a haven is visible around a bend in the road.

He's laughing and near breathless, by that time.]

[burninglight]

[Ardyn was much the same by the time they reached their destination, hopping off his chocobo with a brilliant smile to rival the sunrise itself and a cheerful laugh without a trace of mockery or malice.]

[warmgaze]

[And Ignis, with the same sort of rush, jumps down and immediately swings an arm around Ardyn's waist, pulling him close.

It's not only lives he seeks to protect. It's the joy of the people he cares about.]

[burninglight]

[Which was all the encouragement that impulsive Ardyn, who operated on emotion well before logic, needed to throw his arms around Ignis' neck and pull him into a sudden kiss.]

[warmgaze]

[That is absolutely acceptable. Logic is in the Armiger and they'll unpack it later with the rest of camp.

For now, he kisses back.]

[burninglight]

[Which was perfectly fine with Ardyn, pressing forward with that same patient insistence he'd had back in the hotel room and sliding his hands to the adviser's waist.]

[What's a logic again?]

[warmgaze]

[And Ignis in turn slides a hand around Ardyn's waist to pull him closer, only finally breaking the kiss to nuzzle breathlessly into Ardyn's shoulder.]

You're splendid.

[burninglight]

Mm...that's my line. You're absolutely magnificent.

[warmgaze]

Lovely beyond compare.

[burninglight]

Oh dear, is this a competition of flattery? Because I fear myself out of practice in the face of such a beautiful flame.

[warmgaze]

Nonsense. You burn just as brightly yourself.

[burninglight]

My, how very charming you are. However can I compete?

[warmgaze]

You'll just have to make use of other avenues of appreciation, perhaps.

[Hey touch him again.]

[burninglight]

[did someone say invade personal space, because that sure is a nice set of hips ardyn's hands are now on.]

Hm...I'm quite creative when it comes to matters such as that.

[warmgaze]

Oh good. I thought these were the hands of an artist.

[Heck yeah keep going.]

[burninglight]

The talented hands of a genius, in fact.

[Who was just gonna lean in for a few kisses to Ignis' throat, speaking right up against his skin.]

...Tell me what you want. Anything you wish of me, name it and it's yours.

[warmgaze]

Mmm - this is one arena where I've no experience to draw upon. Lead the way as you will.

[He could perhaps be more nervous about giving anyone free rein over his body like that... But instead there's just the tingle of anticipation.]

Show me that genius in action.

[burninglight]

Anything you say.

[He smirked against Ignis' throat, words edged by the scrape of teeth against skin as one hand slid around to rest on his lower back.]

...don't be afraid to tell me to stop, if you desire it. There's no need to take this further than you're prepared to.