Felix Natalis

[sonoftenebrae]

Who: Ravus, open
When: September 4th
Where: Yun'Ashia
What: It is Lunafreya's birthday, a day of remembrance.
Warnings/Notes: FFXV spoilers, mourning


Morning: FFXV House/The Temple of the Forgotten Heroes

Ravus wakes early, wanting to be on his way before his housemates wake. He leaves a quick handwritten note:

Out for the day- will return late. -R

It is not very informative, but at least he's not leaving without a word. He opens the door slowly, aiming for stealth, and stops in the garden for a moment before heading toward the Temple of the Forgotten Heroes. It seems like the best place for the quiet contemplation he's looking for.

At the temple, he leaves a single cut sylleblossom at the altar. He kneels, not praying, but remembering. He will not let Lunafreya become a forgotten hero. He's not sure how much time passes that way.

Afternoon: The Beaches of Yun'Ashia

The weather is cooling down, and the beach is not as crowded as it had been over the summer. It's a little cold for swimming, but pleasant for walking down the sandy shore.

Ravus walks down the beach to find a private spot, and uses his iMog slate to switch his job. His white jacket disappears, replaced by Summoner's robes. He raises his hands and calls down a Partial Summoning of Leviathan. Scaled coils materialize in the air above the waves. Ravus does not command the Eidolon to use her Tidal Blast. Instead, he just watches the serpent until his limited magic power falters and she begins to fade. Through the halting, untested connection between summoner and summoned, he senses confusion as Leviathan dematerializes.

Evening: Home Again

The sun is set before he finally returns home. A full day of light, he thinks, is a luxury Vaikunthans do not even realize they should treasure.

Ravus circles around the house to the garden, not ready to go inside just yet. Lit candles illuminate the carefully-tended plants there- likely Gladio's doing- and Ravus watches their wicks grow shorter. A measure of time, as well as a metaphor.

"Happy Birthday, Lunafreya. Please...find your way here..." He's not tearing up...absolutely not.

Wild Card: any time today

[Want to explore what the others are doing today? Here's a wild card prompt.]

Comments

[sonoftenebrae]

Ravus shakes his head. "The tide would carry it out and bring it back here within a day. What I say is between my sister and me. I'll not have some fisherman or some frolicking child finding it."

He pats his pockets, but finds no pens. He had not anticipated needing to write anything after he penned his note this morning.

"Do you have paper and pen? I'll burn the message when it is done, then I will know it will reach none other than she."

Because wouldn't that be awful, if his private correspondence with his sister was discovered and read by another.

[regalblaze]

That... sounds fair. Ignis can't argue logic, despite the fact that he's a bit disappointed. But he sees why Ravus wouldn't like this getting to some stranger's hands. He nods and sets the bottle back in the sand and reaches for the inner pocket of his coat.

His old recipe book is not with him, but he acquired a new notebook to carry around, should inspiration strikes him. And there is a pen appropriately attached to the covers of it. Should Ravus flip through it a bit (to get to clear pages of course), there are few meals marked as "Ravus✔", "Ravus?" and "Ravus✖️". Small notes of Ignis' contemplation on whether Ravus likes or dislikes a certain dish or ingredient.

"I shall give you a moment then," Ignis says softly and takes a few steps towards the water so that Ravus can write down his message in privacy.

[sonoftenebrae]

Ravus takes the proffered notebook from Ignis, but wrinkles his brow in confusion as the other man steps away.

“I didn’t mean you,” he says. Don’t leave me, he doesn’t say. Ignis is no stranger with prying eyes. Ignis has seen him at his lowest point, and somehow, miraculously, still respects him. He is what Ravus lacked for so many years- a trustworthy ally. A friend. With the wound of his sister’s loss still so open and raw, Ravus feels an absurd compulsion to keep Ignis close.

He flips through the notebook to find an empty page. He catches glimpses of his name, but fights against the urge to stop and peek. Ignis’ kindness should not be returned with such a trespass against his privacy, no matter Ravus’ curiosity.

Ravus uncaps the pen and scribbles out a note. A quote from a tragic old Eosian legend they’d both read as children, and a reminiscence of those fond shared times. Reassurance of a promise made. At the end, I am sorry for what I have done and failed to do for you. Please, find your way here. I miss you. - Your brother

He takes no pains to hide the page from Ignis as he carefully tears the page free from the notebook and twists the bottom of the paper sheet into a little stem he can plant into the sand.

“Do you have a light?” He asks, meeting Ignis’ eyes again.

[regalblaze]

Ignis is a bit surprised, but he doesn't say anything. It was never his intention to leave him completely. But, if Ravus wants him, needs him, next to him, Ignis will gladly stay.

Walking back, he stands next to Ravus as he writes. And despite having the clearance to read the note, Ignis too has a lot of respect for other people's notes. Especially if they are so personal like this one.

There are a lot of things to respect about Ravus- aside from his combat and tactical ability. Love is both beautiful and terrifying motivator, both clearly seen in Ravus' actions when it came to Lady Lunafreya, and Ignis can't help but admire him for it. One needs unbreakable strength to carry all of that out. For years on end, with little or no hope in sight.

He looks over only when he hears he's been addressed, catching Ravus' eyes, and nods shortly, pulling out a lighter. He doesn't smoke but while they were on the road, camping was a thing. It... just became a habit having one on him.

"She will hear you," Ignis promises, still holding Ravus' gaze and holding out the lighter on the palm of his hand.

[sonoftenebrae]

Ravus takes the lighter. "She had a way of looking into the truth of every heart she encountered." If she is still looking, she will see his. And if not...she has earned her rest.

He kneels beside the paper and sets the top corner ablaze. Usually, looking into a flame sends a stab of phantom pain down his missing left arm, but this fire is warm and gentle. The paper curls in on itself, and all Ravus feels from it is heat and light.

The letter fades to ash and smoke, which is swept away by the sea breeze. Ravus rises and offers the lighter back to Ignis.

"The message is sent. There is nothing left but to wait for it to be received. We can depart."

[regalblaze]

Watching the paper burn into ash sends a wave of sadness that Ignis never felt before. With the way how things are planned for the future, he might as well be watching himself...

Ravus' voice brings him back from his thoughts and he accepts the lighter with a gentle nod. He wants to ask him how does he feel but, perhaps it's better not to. Even doing this, Ignis doubts that anything will make the pain feel better. Bearable, maybe.

"Yes." Lady Lunafreya had definitively received the prayer.

There is a moment of silence as they make their way over the sand, cold wind of the evening blowing into their backs as if sending them on their way back home.

"...May I interest you in a cup of warm tea?" Ignis asks with a gentle smile.

[sonoftenebrae]

The evening is cold, but Ravus doesn't feel it, or at least, it does not register. He has no desire for tea, but an inner voice in his head reminds him that he should not so idly dismiss Ignis' favor and offend him when the other man is acting as a friend.

"You've surely been serving others all day. It is a generous offer, but I would not wish to further impose upon you."

[regalblaze]

That's why Ignis is there, to remind him of it, in a subtle way. Never pushing. With hands in his pockets, Ignis shakes his head lightly.

"If you were imposing, I wouldn't have offered." Ignis doesn't shy away from saying 'no'. But Ravus is never imposing, especially when he's in a state like this.

"You are not a bother, Ravus," he adds. "You are our ally and my friend- I only seek to support you." He looks over at him, "Should you change your mind, I'm always will to prepare some for you. Coffee is always on the table as well, of course."

[sonoftenebrae]

Not for the first time, Ravus wonders what he did to earn Ignis' loyalty. That first desperate alliance together couldn't be called a success. Any debt that was owed has long since been paid.

"...can you make a hot chocolate...?" It's a treat he hasn't had since childhood, a reminder of better days. Here he is, going from not wanting to impose to asking for something that Ignis didn't even offer.

[regalblaze]

Some things just... happen. Slowly, over time. They've been stuck here together for a long time, it would be rude not to call Ravus a friend when he helped them out.

Ignis smiles warmly at the request and pushes glasses up, "Of course." That's actually a better comfort drink than tea and coffee combined. And he will be more than happy to make it for him. Ravus is not imposing.

[sonoftenebrae]

Ravus can't return the smile just now, but he nods to Ignis. "Thank you."

He walks part of the way home in silence before speaking up again. "You're ever supporting those around you. Do you ever let anyone take care of you?"

[regalblaze]

Ah, the question of the ages. Gladio has asked him this plenty of times before, and they even went into a small argument about it. But... it's hard to explain it. It's not that he doesn't want to, it's just- he can't wind down enough to let someone do it.

"I... tend to worry a lot. Too much in fact and I am aware of that," Ignis admits, "so knowing that everyone is safe and sound is enough for me. Also, I am sure if I were injured that they would take care of me, regardless of what I say." Everyone is that stubborn.

[sonoftenebrae]

"If you never let yourself bend, one day, you'll surely break." It is not a condemnation. Ravus is merely speaking from experience.

They draw closer to the house, the sun just beginning to set in the sky. "Though I suppose you needn't worry. You are right. Should anything happen," -whether it be injury or breakdown- "your friends will support you."

Ravus included. He's stubborn enough to match the rest of them.

[regalblaze]

The words easily get the smile out of Ignis- he could almost hear himself saying that exact line to someone else at some point. Maybe even Ravus himself. To hear it use it against him- it has an odd ring to it. Although, it's probably what he had to hear.

He gives Ravus a glance, tempted to ask if Ravus sees him as a friend as well, but he supposes that saying some things would come difficult to him. Ignis will take the implication to it as such- it's more than enough.

"I am lucky for you all to have my back."

[sonoftenebrae]

Ravus snorts out a disagreeing huff of air. "I've never known anything that had less to do with 'luck'."

He's inwardly pleased for the verbal acknowledgement of Ravus' place among Ignis' friends. He gives Ignis a quick glance, not smiling, but nodding at him, before he lengthens his stride to outpace Ignis. He puts this growing feeling of belonging aside to examine later. This evening, he has a vigil to keep.