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]

...my, I should be flattered. Here I was thinking that should be my line, as it were.

[Ardyn managed an awkward, tired smile; more sincere than the charisma of whatever persona he was putting forth to set a fearful populace at ease, worn down by a harsh and impossible reality.]

[But he closed the narrow distance between them, pressing a kiss to the adviser's lips in return--one that had every possibility of being just a bit less chaste, if allowed.]

[warmgaze]

Mm. You're far more than a pretty face.

[It's definitely allowed, Ignis shifting his head slightly so that they're not going to bop noses. Beyond chaste, though, it will become clear that in this regard, his knowledge is mostly theory.]

[burninglight]

[That did seem perfectly alright with Ardyn, who was perhaps a bit more experienced in this particular field than he looked. (Or exactly as experienced as his brother's teasing made it sound.) Experienced enough to take things slowly and with a startling amount of patience given Ardyn's personality. He trailed his hands along Ignis' shoulders, gently tracing up his neck to cup his jawline in both hands like he was a priceless treasure.]

[warmgaze]

[Ignis, for his part, always assumed that Izunia's remarks weren't completely off base. He finds he doesn't much mind. Having at least one experienced party no doubt makes the whole thing go smoother.

He slides one arm down to Ardyn's waist and pulls him closer.]

[burninglight]

[Ardyn put enough space between them to breathe, a soft laugh slipping from his mouth as he chose to nuzzle against Ignis' neck.]

...been wanting to do that for a bit too long now.

[warmgaze]

Captured your imagination that much, did I?

[He rests his head against Ardyn's, making a small, content sigh.]

[burninglight]

Now, you'll make me sound terribly singleminded.

[warmgaze]

I wouldn't mind if you were.

[burninglight]

You're being far more forward than I might have expected of you, my dear.

[warmgaze]

...When I commit to something, I try to follow through with my whole heart. So if I'm going to do this - no hesitation or regrets.

[burninglight]

I'm much the same way; I know no other way to live than to put all that I am into everything I do. I only thought...perhaps it might scare you off, were I to push a little too quickly.

[warmgaze]

I assure you that the other you is much more terrifying. If I can deal with that, then I doubt your pace would scare me off now. We just have to keep the lines of communication open.

[burninglight]

...I can do that. Or I can at least make the attempt.

[He wrapped his arms around Ignis' neck, snuggling right up int his lap and against his chest like a tall, scrawny cat.]

[warmgaze]

[He's definitely good with this, this staying close inn each other's arms and ignoring the world for a little while. The darkness can't reach them yet, whatever the future holds.]

Mmm... By the same token, I'm not especially experienced in any of this. So if something makes you uncomfortable, please do speak up.

[burninglight]

Oh, that's quite alright. I think we can find some reasonable middle ground, don't you agree?

[warmgaze]

I'm certain of it.

[Like maybe kissing the exposed side of Ardyn's neck, small and gentle.]

[burninglight]

Ah-

[Pleasantly surprised, he couldn't quite stop himself making a quiet noise in the back of his throat.]

...do that again?

[warmgaze]

Absolutely.

[Several of them in succession, in fact, working down a line from jaw to collar.]

[burninglight]

Mm... [Ardyn tilted his head back, slipping a hand into Ignis' hair as he did.] ...see, you're not so bad at that.

[warmgaze]

A willingness to explore and a commitment to excellence go hand in hand.

[But he'll pause to lean into that hand in his hair. It's nice.]

[burninglight]

You truly are entirely magnificent, aren't you?

[warmgaze]

I certainly put out my best effort.

[His turn to play with your hair now, Ardyn, running his fingers through the soft, messy locks like he's been wanting to do this for a while.]

[burninglight]

Mm... [He tilted his head into Ignis' hand, barely short of purring under the attention to his hair.]

[warmgaze]

It truly can't be kept in place short of pins, can it? I confess I've been wanting to do this for a while.

[Gentle but firm touches, almost massaging.]

[burninglight]

Hm...not in the slightest. I've learned to rather like it this way.