lazybox | Get in time traveller

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Called that. Ignis lets the knives vanish into the Armiger for a final time and shivers a little. Now that he's not expending the effort on practice, the morning's a little chilly.]

I don't suppose you bought my shirt out with you?

Oh? Why, are you cold?

[Because he can sidle right up next to you and slip an arm around your waist, Ignis.]

Edited 2018-03-23 05:51 (UTC)

Perhaps just a little.

[Oh that definitely helps, though. Chances are, Ardyn will find the faintest sheen of sweat under his fingers.]

My, you poor thing. We can't have that, can we?

[that will not stop a kiss to the neck and may in fact only encourage one]

Heavens forbid that I freeze out here with a source of warmth so close at hand.

[Good morning to you too, Ardyn.]

I'd never allow it.

[the benefit of having two hands is the ability to drink coffee while also holding your maybe-kinda-boyfriend]

[Having two hands is wonderful. Ignis puts one over Ardyn's and the other over the man's shoulders. Sorry about those chilly fingers.]

Of course not. Plenty of warmth right here.

[Neck kiss? Neck kiss.]

Mm...of course. Anything you should need and more.

How generous. Let's start with breakfast and work our way up from there.

I leave myself in your expert and capable hands. I suppose I could at least get your shirt, if you're going to cook.

If you did not, I might be tempted to leave you with nothing but plain toast.

[He's kidding, but he does nip in for one more kiss before sliding his arms from Ardyn.]

[ugh let's put clothes on what a damn shame]

[at least there's food]

...We should be home before long.

[I'm sorry Ardyn, he's the wrong chocobro for an extended shirtless scene in public.

But there are nice little sausage biscuit sandwiches and damnit I'm hungry again.]

Mmm. Nervous?