melodiesofeternity | A Lover's Lament

Entry tags:

A Lover's Lament

Who: Gladio and you! (some prompts closed to certain areas/people - they will be indicated)
When: Backdated to November 2nd (as the first day of the prompt)
Where: Yun'Ashia primarily, Curtisy Center
What: Ignis Scientia Has Vanished
Warnings/Notes: Anger, frustration, possible mentions of violence, mentions of a poly relationship, sadness

I. November 2nd - A Disappearing Act (closed to Eosian houses on Yun'Ashia)

It's another evening working at the cafe, Gladio stealing glances at Ignis whenever he can as he works behind the counter making drinks and chatting with customers. When Iggy says he's going into the back to get something, Gladio nods and goes back to preparing drinks. After five minutes he figures Iggy's searching for something that's buried. After ten minutes, he gets worried and flips the cafe's sign to 'Closed' while he gently tries to usher the remaining customers out under the guise of needing to start preparations for the next day.

When the last customer exits, he hurries to the back and finds it empty. Well, empty of a certain bespectacled man with sandy hair who owns part of his heart. Gladio looks behind every stack of boxes, under every table, behind every door, all to no avail. Ignis is simply nowhere to be found.

He checks his tablet and almost sobs with relief that his boyfriend's name isn't greyed out. Quickly locking up the cafe, Gladio sprints home.

Once inside the house, he simply shouts. "Have any of you seen Iggy?!" Frantically, he darts from room to room. Nothing. So he runs to the garden. No sign. The gazebo? Empty. He's not in the chocobo stables either. Trudging back inside, he faces the fact that Ignis really is gone.

II. November 3rd - A Desolate Day (closed to Ravus)

Gladio hasn't slept. Not since coming home to find Ignis gone. He's lost count of how much coffee he's consumed but honestly, he doesn't care. He simply pours himself another cup and brings a cup of tea to Ravus.

"Here. Brought you some tea instead of coffee, this time."

He plops down next to his boyfriend - yes, he has two - and sighs as he sips his drink. Gladio won't break the silence until Ravus does, for now content to have at least one of his loves next to him even as his heart aches for the other to complete them.

III. November 5th - A Dim Outlook (MogNet - OTA)

[The video opens to Gladio sitting in the garden, on the bench by the meditation area. He isn't going to ask for help finding Ignis, not now. As long as his name stays un-greyed, Gladio will simply make himself believe that Iggy is coming back.

His forced smile and clenched jaw give away his mood.] Iggy's gone. We're hopin' he'll be back but in the meantime any help we can get to keep his cafe going would be appreciated. And if anyone has any leads on somethin' I can fight ... I'd appreciate that.

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[How many times has he had this conversation with Gladiolus? Twice now? This has happened once before, right?

Whatever. He turns on text.]

I know how to run a cafe. You know I do, so let me know if you need me.

And sorry to hear that.

[It's easier over text for both of them, or so he figures.]

Edited 2018-11-05 04:04 (UTC)

Might just take you up on that.

Thanks.

[He's genuinely touched by the offer and a smile crosses his face.]

You good with wearin' a uniform again?

[Dylas isn't smiling. He's wondering just how much he's going to have to pack into a suitcase, how long he's going to have to stay. His Moogle certainly isn't going to pop out and help him.]

Might?

I'm already getting ready to leave. Tell me where I need to be. I'll wear whatever I have to. I've spent years working in a restaurant, so just make sure his employees are ready to fill me in when I arrive.

His "employees" are himself, Ravus, and me. It's not a huge place, Dylas. Just a small cafe in Yun'Ashia that serves the best coffee and pastries around.

[Gladio's trying to think of which room in the house could best hold Dylas without being too confining. Maybe Iris' old room, but he'd have to redecorate it. Or pray that the Naga doesn't mind leaving the decorations alone because he can't quite bring himself to even think about changing her room yet.]

Just come to Yun'Ashia and I'll meet you at the airship station.

Thanks. Again.

[What? His employees aren't random NPCs? So much for that. Whatever the case is, he's relieved to hear that there are pastries involved. He wouldn't be caught dead eating one, before his transformation or after, but he knows how to make them. Bread is easy. Porcoline taught him how to make all sorts of dishes.]

I didn't know you had a job. You don't really come across as the domestic type.

Yun'Ashia's not far from Nakagawa. Do what you need to do and worry about me later. I'll see you when I see you.

[Yun'ashia is northwest from Nakagawa and the first continent to the west if you ignore Oktavia beneath it. By the time Dylas has packed enough shirts and waist wraps, it should only take him about six hours to arrive at the airfield. Whether anyone's greeting him or not is another story. He hopes it's 'not' so he can lurk around town before running into Gladio. He's sure the guy has more things to deal with than just a business right now.]

[What does Dylas think he does all day? Of course he works.]

I work at a weapons shop mostly. Just help out in the evenings at Iggy's. What did you think I did?

[Gladio will absolutely meet Dylas at the airfield because he's that kind of nice guy who meets friends at airfields and train stations and the like. And yes, Dylas is his friend no matter what the irritable Naga says.]

I'll meet you at the airfield. See ya in a bit.

I don't know. Hero shit?

[He never really stopped to think too much about it, but he figured he was out there doing the more adventurous kind of work.

When he arrives at the airfield, he's slithering alongside a 'teenaged' black Chocobo. Yakitori is almost tall enough to be ridden by a human, but she's certainly not going to be big enough to be ridden by Dylas anytime soon. She pecks at the ground occasionally, aiming for pieces of food left behind by hurrying travelers.

Dylas groans each time and guides her more strictly, descending the ramp and looking for Gladiolus. He's carrying a suitcase in the other hand.]

[Gladio is, as promised, waiting at the airfield when Dylas arrives and he does nothing to hide his obvious laughter at the chocobo's behavior. He waves to make himself known before walking up to his friend and the hungry bird.]

Hey Dylas. Thanks again for showing up. I appreciate it and I'm sure the others do too.

[Not knowing this chocobo's temperment, Gladio holds a hand out to the bird to see if it will allow him to give it a few pets. He has some greens in his pocket and will happily pull them out for the feathered beauty if it wants.]

Who's your friend here?

[The others? His eyebrows quirk, and he's about to ask the question, but nope. Nope, he's not going to ask. He's just going to stay here, work, and keep his head low. No one really wants him to get involved in all this emotional shit he's no good at it. He's just here to help.]

It's no problem. The grannies were pretty understanding. Uh, some of 'em say hi. They remember you from the last time you came in.

[Some of them said other things, too, but Dylas isn't going to repeat what those dirty old Lalafell asked him to say. Yakitori is receptive to pets, but she makes a face at the greens, much to Dylas' eternal dismay. She'll eat them, but she's much more interested in that bag of potato chips someone dropped on the ground. Dylas is raising a goat.]

This is Yakitori. She's...something, alright. I used to leave her with Yue, but... [Whatever. This isn't about him.] I'm stuck with her.

When y'see them next, or if you call them, give them a 'hello' from me too! [He grins, remembering the sweet older Lalafell women fondly.

Gladio gently pets the young chocobo, careful to make sure he doesn't ruffle the bird's feathers too much, and outright laughs when she ignores the greens in his pocket in favor of the trash on the ground.]

Here, girl, lemme get that for you. [He squats down and opens the bag more to allow Yakitori's beak to get at the tasty chips inside.]

Seems she likes less conventional food. [A chuckle.] Yue is your housemate? Why couldn't he look after her while you came here? Not that I'm complaining - we have plenty of room in the stables and she looks like a sweetheart.

Iggggs!!!! [ Sora's face is visible and obvious with distress as Gladio breaks the news. He doesn't know Ignis all too well, but he sure did have a nice talk with the other during their holiday escapade. The same one where Sora went through their bags and Nunumu sported some tight-y undies on his head. In any case, this news is pretty disturbing. ]

I don't know too much about the cafe but I'll come support and buy something? Is that helpful?

[Gladio recognizes the snooping kid and manages not to twitch his eye in irritation when Sora uses one of Iggy's nicknames. Those are ... special.

But the kid wouldn't know that. And they did have a good conversation after Gladio caught him looking through their things (and yes, he really did get rid of the underwear that Sora's Moogle wore as a hat) and the little guy turned out to be an eager helper. So he doesn't actually get angry at Sora.

Especially after such a sweet and genuine offer.]

Yea... that'd be really helpful, Sora.

[Gladio is absolutely not fighting back tears at such a simple gesture ~~he totally is~~ and he smiles into the camera.] We can figure out a place for you and your Moogle to stay, provided you keep your hands to your own things...

[Hey, he's allowed to tease the nosy brunet.]

Dammit.

[Reno looked... not angry, but exhausted by the news. Disappointed. It had happened so many times, so clustered together, he didn't have the energy for rage anymore. He just felt bad.]

... I do have a job for you. I think it might help, gettin' outta the house. Keep you busy.

[Gladio couldn't even muster up a grin for his friend. He knew Iggy wasn't gone forever - well, he hoped.

But that did nothing for the feelings of fear and loss that continued ripping through him.]

I can't be gone long. Don't wanna be away more than a day if I can avoid it - gotta keep the cafe running. [A pause.]

And I don't want to leave Ravus alone for too long. Havin' a lover disappear ... he already suffered through that with me. This must be killing him.

[Reno's eyebrows rose.]

Ravus?

[He hadn't known Gladio was involved with anyone, though of course he could understand the appeal. If he were a little younger himself... Wait, Ravus was... with both? So then...]

[Well. Good for them.]

It shouldn't take more than a day. Guard duty for a big shipment that could open a lotta doors for us. Have you met Ashe?

[Thank the Six ... well, thank Shiva for Reno taking things in stride.]

As long as we stick to that time-frame, I'll do it. You're right that it'll be good for me to get out... [Yea, he doesn't need or want to take his anger out on Ravus... or on the house.]

Haven't met Ashe yet. And what's in the shipment?

[Knowing what he'd be protecting can help him figure out what threats to anticipate.]

Ashe is cool. She's a princess, but she's not super stuck-up or anything. She was one of us on Crystallis.

The shipment is... well, let's just say, we have a vested interest in Ashe being able to deliver it. Reputation is sometimes just as valuable as the cargo.

We can talk about it in person.

[The digital MogNet wasn't the most secure, after all.]

Starting to sound like broken records, aren't we.

[It's about as close to "this fucking sucks" that he has the energy for right now. As, again, one of their own is missing. He sighs, not quite showing his face right the moment and instead staring up at the sky with the device on his abdomen and camera pointed toward the same sights.

Someone's on a roof again.]

Ivory said she'll help. She loves the place. Also, the house at the Center's ready. If you guys want to be close by when the day he should be back arrives.

Seems like the Dream Width has it out for our group. But he's coming back. I know it. [Gladio doesn't add the "he has to come back" bit, but he's sure it's implied.

There's a small smile on his face when Noct offers Ivory's help. And when he mentions the house near the Center.]

Ivory's welcome if you're sure you won't miss her too much. And thanks for the offer of using your new house. Ravus and I will both want to be close by when Iggy's return date gets here.

Of course he will. It's Iggy. [The way he says it is without any sort of doubt, but despite how much they've likely rested in general, there's a hint of reassurance in his voice.

The more distance between him and the cafe's kitchens, the less likely there will be a fire.]

You kidding? She'd be upset if she couldn't. [What's a few days without a moogle? He managed all his life up until they arrived without.] And it's why we got it. The couch pulls out into a bed, by the way.

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A Lover's Lament

Mognet;

Dylas is a good friend

shut up thick nerd

BFF status unlocked

gross

deal with it

no subject

no subject

no subject

I don't have an icon of OlderGladio laughing, so forgive the younger icon

MogNet ;

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