Raise a Glass [OPEN]

[lordshield]

Who: The XV Cast and You!
When: June 6th
Where: Curti Center, Jiminy's Juicery (bar)
What: After saving innocents from the Dream Width, some people just need a drink.
Warnings/Notes: Alcohol consumption, possible violence, whatever people do in bars.

Their first foray into the search and rescue business in the Dream Width had been intense, to say the least. Stressful, heartbreaking, exhausting, and enlightening were other words some might use to describe the experience. After a night of rest and a day to somewhat sort things and people out, the next evening brings about a mighty need to head to the local tavern. Some drink to forget, some drink to remember, some drink to relax. There are even representatives of the Bard's Guild providing live music. You can try to make a request, but chances are they don't know your foreign songs.

Maybe you were invited by one of the excitable young men from Lucis, or maybe you came on your own. There's enough room in the bar for quite a few people, so long as they're of age. Sit right at the bar, or pull up chairs around a table, the choice is yours.

[OoC: Make your own toplevel or tag around. Please put content warnings as necessary. Have fun!]

Comments

[moogleshield]

It's hard not to sit up straight as he nuzzles into her, the feeling shooting through her like lightning in a storm. He's so close, she can feel him breathing, and it makes her head spin because this is nowhere on her list of Things Iris Amicitia Expects to Happen. The fact that it feels so nice makes her stomach turn. Be a good friend, Iris. Be there how he needs you to be, even if he makes doing what's in his best interest impossibly difficult.

But then he groans and relents, still speaking close enough that she can feel the warmth behind every murmured word. That should probably set her off right there... but it doesn't. If anything, it forces her to focus more, and to actually hear what he says, and for a moment she's stunned. He's never really confided in her like this.

"Noct..."

This isn't about her. It can't be about her right now, when her worries here are inconsequential and baseless in comparison. He's clearly hurting, and that supersedes any kind of racing thoughts Iris is having right now. Fretting about herself and how she feels in any of this... it's gauche, and isn't what he needs right now.

"Then why worry about them?" There's a quiet sort of resignation in her voice as she carefully settles against him. Exhales, and tries to push whatever jumbled up thoughts in her head out with a single breath and letting her arms loosely fall around him in a cradling embrace.

It's okay. This is okay.

"There's a lot here that doesn't make sense," Glossing over the Regis business, but; "And things aren't perfect. Far from it. But focusing on the things you can't do anything about, it's only going to make you feel worse. I'd say, figure out what you can fix, and focus on that for now."

You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders here, Noctis. Please stop trying, it breaks her heart.

1.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus looks the Shield over as he enters the bar.]

You look to be in better health since last I heard of you.

[The scowl and the flat tone of the delivery convey that Ravus does not find this to be an improvement.]

III.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus has already been through a cycle of emotions by this point, and he's exhausted and drunk and tired of feeling a Lunafreya-shaped hole inside of himself.

So when he hears Gladiolus Fucking Amicitia, regaling the bar of his exploits at the next table over, and waving his damned massive arms around and turning his gruff charm on his onlookers, Ravus drains his glass and stumbles over.]

Amicitia. You. Should shut your mouth. [Ravus is focusing more on speaking deliberately than delivering a witty retort. He never lets himself get this drunk, and this is why.]

If you weren't. so busy. gal-galliv-camping everywhere... [His brain fails at the words, instead helpfully supplying him a mental picture of Lunafreya and Noctis lying still, side by side, Ignis collapsing after protecting his king. He loses the train of thought and starts again.]

...you're no shield.

[warpstriking]

[Noctis simply stares back for however long it takes for him to remember what he was going to say. Ravus did ask to speak with him in private, in his own way. But when he finally opens his mouth...


Ah. So that's why.]

I know, it wasn't.

[He gestures at the two empty glasses in front of him, the third still half-full. He's trying. Even if it's just for the night, he knows... After all, she never once spoke of her treatment by the Empire in her responses in their notebook.]

Gentiana shared- some of their last conversation, in Tenebrae.

['-where prying eyes cannot see the tears in mine.' That she only wanted to be with him, but fate and callings would tear them apart just as they reunited. His gaze falls upon the Ring she'd given everything to see returned to him, along with the blessings of their gods. He can feel the emotion knotting up in his throat, but he swallows it back down.]

So... it was already mine. Just not as clearly defined.

[His breath isn't shaky, either. It's just the air quality (shit, he thought he got this out of his system on the airship).]

Besides, [He says, in a far softer tone than he's ever used before Ravus since his brief stay in Tenebrae.] It- isn't a burden to me.

[He just wishes she'd lived to tell him herself.]

[sonoftenebrae]

[In Ravus' defense, Estoc suggested the exchange. She seems to think that if Ravus lives with the others and has a week to bond, he'll drop the demand to be moved and Estoc will get her way.]

For what consolation it may offer, your actions saved your king.

[Ravus has some idea of what Noctis' ultimate fate will be, but he does not know if Ignis does. He focuses on the small victory rather than the larger sorrow that hangs over their heads.]

I know not what he did to deserve such devotion, but your service does him great credit.

[chocobosnap]

"Thanks Iggy." He smiles a little brighter, even though the drinking isn't helping his demons stay at bay.

"I know you guys do, I just..." He exhaled.

"Been awhile since I've heard stuff like that." Prompto said. "Rattled me."

He'd heard people whisper, he knew he looked like a Niff, light haired people didn't live in Lucis, generally, but it had been awhile. His friends certainly never said anything like it.

"I can't help where I came from."

[warpstriking]

"Yeah, for now," he laughs, trying to bat away that hand but doesn't really succeed. He also doesn't mind the hair ruffle as much as he would otherwise, but he does pout at his older brother as Ignis fixes his hair a little.

Which also means he caught that sad look in Iggy's eyes and nuzzles into his side once more. And stays there as he purchases the bacon twirls and cheese sticks.

Iggy why you make him choose when he and good life choices are divorced right now?

"Fresh air's nice," he mumbles, like he's still thinking about it. Then he leans into Ignis again. Well then.

[chocobosnap]

Prompto smiled at her a little bit, he knew what she was doing, but he was going to let her do it.

"Okay, hit me Iris."

Hopefully she's right, it's pretty funny.

[regalblaze]

And that's a raised eyebrow from the cashier that both Ignis and Noct are getting at all the nuzzling and clinging. But nothing was said because they more than just look that they are drunk. Despite the cool air, Ignis' cheeks still feel heated.

But yes- there are no good life choices for tonight. Today is, what do they call it, a 'cheat night'?

"Then the bench it is," Ignis says, smiling, and hands over Noct's food, then leads both of them toward the bench near a fountain. There are few people still walking around but it's otherwise quiet and calm. He makes sure Noct sits down first, without falling over, then takes a seat close to him.

[regalblaze]

[If that's Estoc's aim, then Ignis is more than willing to lend a hand. He wants to return a favor and help the man out the same way he helped Ignis. It might not be anything special, but, hopefully, it counts?

Ignis stares grimly at the glass and downs the rest of the drink in one go, muttering more for himself than Ravus-]

If only...

[The second part makes him look over for a moment before he gets lost in the thought.]

I've known him for a very long time. He proved me, on many occasions, that he's more than capable of being a great King. [His fingers tighten around the glass to the point his knuckles turn white.

He won't have a chance to be.]

[warpstriking]

Look at all the fucks he does not give at the raised eyebrow from the cashier. Look at them, Ignis. Oh- there's the last one, floating away into the breeze. He simply smiles and half walks, half slides his feet along with his bro.

And yeah, cheat night. 'Course he'd think of that one.

He smiles as he takes his helping, half-walk, half-sliding his feet along the ground toward where he's being led to. Huh. Nice fountain. he thinks, before taking a seat. Miraculously he's sitting up straight, though one does not simply drink away years of table etiquette in an hour. Even if there's no table and he sways very minutely with the breeze.

He's just gonna nibble on a cheese stick for now. Even though the bacon smells really really good right now.

[regalblaze]

Drinking doesn't always help with the demons. Sometimes, drinks bring them out instead of keeping t

"It shouldn't matter, ever, where you come from, but what you do," Ignis says firmly. He, too, wasn't born in the Crown City, but he never let any gossip or side eyes distract him from his purpose.

Which had always been watching over Noctis.

And Ignis knows that Prompto wants to protect him too. That is all that matters to him.

[regalblaze]

If Ignis didn't have as much as he did, he'd probably do care a little. But, he too, has zero fucks to give right now. Because bacon. The bacon twist smells good and he doesn't want to waste time while it smells so good.

"Hm?" Ignis looks over, nudging Noct with his shoulder gently. "You are starting with a cheese stick? I thought you wanted the bacon."

You're making your advisor look bad. Get on that bacon twist Noct.

[hashtagdaddy]

[He's in the middle of telling the story about their group swimming by some Catoblepas in Alstor Slough on Chocobo-back when a certain someone Prompto leaned too far to get a picture and fell in and almost misses Ravus' approach.

The Tenebraen Prince looks as drunk as Gladio feels, but apparently alcohol makes Ravus even more of an asshole considering his words.

He grits his teeth and glares, shooting up from the table to glare broadswords. This story-telling is all he can do to keep up a good mood because after what Ignis said to him, he just wants to punch everything he sees into dust. But tonight is supposed to be about getting drunk and trying to forget the bad shit. Doesn't matter that he literally just found out about said bad shit.]

Y've got one chance t' take that back. [The words are a slurred growl, filled with the anger that's been simmering since Ignis talked to him.]

[hashtagdaddy]

The drinks arrive and Gladio slides one to the blond, scooting himself closer so Prompto doesn't have to lean so far in order to be pressed against him. He still has no real idea what happened to make his friend so damn pained, but he never minds being there as a support. Literally and figuratively.

"Bet there's never been a bird better treated than yours. M'glad you have one here..." The words trail off when Prompto continues.

Captured by Ardyn? How the hell had that happened? Amber eyes widen and Gladio blanches as he recalls Prompto talking about 'reliving torture'.

Without warning, muscular arms wrap around the smaller man and the words he speaks are gravelly and hushed. "I don't know what that bastard said or did to you, but you're one of us an' I'm not gonna let anythin' happen to you."

[chocobosnap]

He didn't used to be the pained one, but some time at the hands of the enemy has made him feel raw and hurt, more hurt than he would have ever thought. He hadn't processed a way to push it down and forget about it yet. He was working on it. The nightmares tormented him every night.

Prompto wrapped his arms around Gladio's middle, distracted from talking about his chocobo. He spoke even if he was squished into the other man's chest.

"I was cloned to be an MT." He murmured. "I have a barcode like a can of soup. I just..." He sucked in a breath. "I found out the details and yeah. Not good. And your dad saw that. So he thought I was spying or something."

[hashtagdaddy]

Resting his chin against fluffy blond hair, Gladio is glad Prompto can't see his own pained expression. The kid sounds so ... broken and the Shield can only hope that holding him tight might help fuse some of those pieces back together.

"Prom ..." Shit, what the hell can he say to that? "Sometimes Dad gets carried away with his sense of duty. None of us ever thought you were a spy and I sure as shit don't think you're a spy now."

He loosens his grip a bit only to take a long swig of his drink, and to give Prompto a chance to do the same, before gently pulling the Gunner back into his side.

"An' you're way more valuable than some soup. You're a five-star character, blondie. So you gotta be at least one of those gourmet Cup Noodles - at minimum." Yup, that sure is a terrible King's Knight pun, but if it can pull even a half-hearted wobbly smile from the blond it's worth it.

And if not, he'll figure out something else to help their resident Chocobutt.

[sonoftenebrae]

[It takes a moment before Ravus can respond. He bows his head, letting his hair cover his face.]

You...truly cared for her. [He hadn't been sure before. There had always been the possibility in his mind that Lunafreya was sacrificing herself for one who only considered their betrothal an obligation.

It almost makes it worse, knowing Lunafreya could have had everything she'd wanted, could have been happily wed to a man who loved her, if not for the Gods' and their plots. He is not actually crying now. It is raining, on his face, inside.]

I promised her...I would return...your father's blade to you. [His fists ball up, and he slams them down on the tabletop.] Now, I cannot do even that for her.

[hashtagdaddy]

Iggy's sharp words take him by surprise, and it shows. Instead of letting irritation get the better of him, he waits.

Clearly there is something seriously upsetting Ignis and he'll be damned if he adds to that right now. He takes another sip, swirling the glass and watching the liquid slosh around, concerned and caring eyes lifting to the Advisor when his accented voice rings out again.

His last memory before being here? "We were in Caem, taking one last night to camp out together just the four of us before leavin' for Altissia. We'd been stayin' in that house, but even Noct didn't mind using our last night on land to sleep under the stars."

[chocobosnap]

He took the comfort offered, because he needed it, and he had some kind of deficit in his life and he figured he'd take it while he could get it. He hadn't had anything like it in the time he'd been in Zegnautus.

Gladio's words do earn a weak little laugh out of him and he just shakes his head a little. "You guys are the best really."

Prompto knew Gladio would have questions, but he could answer them sober sometime.

"What happened after, that I didn't want to say, was worse. So I just...yeah. It means a lot that you guys don't mind." Ardyn had a lot of time to fill his head with things, lies most likely.

[warpstriking]

Of course I did. [It's far too easy for his eyes to hide behind his long bangs as he lowers his head.] I still do.

[If he were honest with himself, he always had. Not a day had passed when he hadn't waited for Pryna's, and later Umbra's, presence to see her responses. When he awoke from that brief dream, to see the Ring pressed into his hand and the notebook with a sylleblossom perfectly pressed where her response would have been...

He only slightly jumps at the fists suddenly on the table.]

I know... it doesn't help much. But by the time I last remember, you did give it back. [What a terrible time for the bar's roof to spring a leak over their table.] But just like my family's magic and our... our notebook...I awoke here without it.

[And yet, he sounds even more heartbroken at the lack of that little orange-colored book.]

[hashtagdaddy]

Prompto's words drove a lance through Gladio's heart.

He registered that Lady Lunafreya apparently had some sort of hand in Prompto befriending Noct, which was something he'd ask about at another time because he was too busy processing that Prompto had wanted to die. That he'd deliberately hurt himself to try to remove whatever barcode he was talking about.

Their group's one, shining ray of sunshine had apparently gone through something so traumatizing that he thought self-mutilation and even death would have been better than getting back to his friends.

Noticing his father's stance soften a touch, Gladio listened to Clarus' backhanded advice - and to his words about one of the things that lead to Insomnia's fall. That was something they'd have to talk about another day too. Because in this moment, all he wanted was to comfort Prompto. He gave his father a small nod before turning his back in order to kneel on the floor in front of the couch and wrap his arms around the shaking blond.

In this position, he could press their foreheads together and softly encourage Prompto to go through a breathing exercise (he sometimes had to use them for anger and imagined they'd work similarly in this situation).

"Breathe, kid. With me - in ... out ... in ... out ... keep goin' champ, you're doin' great. You've got no idea how much you mean to all of us - we need you with us, blondie. Jus' keep breathin' - you're safe."

Pulling Prompto a bit closer, letting the blond head rest on his shoulder, Gladio turned his head a bit to address Clarus.

"I hear what you're saying Dad. I do. And I promise we will talk about it. Later." His face asked his father to understand. To understand that right now, Prompto was his priority. But that he had every intention of continuing the conversation about what lead to Insomnia's fall and who that traitor was.

And he'd make sure it stayed a conversation and not a fistfight.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus' eyes slowly follow Gladiolus as he stands -has he always been this tall?- unapologetic and scowling. Take it back? Never. He leans forward to poke a metal finger into Gladiolus's broad chest.]

Where were you. In Altissia. When they needed you? [He is far too drunk to concern himself with who remembers what and who comes from what time. If Gladio had been there, perhaps things would be different.]

That snake, Ardyn. Drew near under your guise. You should never have left your king's side. [C'mon, you hulking behemoth, you want this fight as much as Ravus does. Make him feel something other than loss.]

[hashtagdaddy]

He let out a breath he didn't remember holding when his dad didn't immediately tell him to fuck off. Honestly, he'd barely had time to adjust to seeing Clarus in the flesh again and suddenly they were this close to trading blows.

Gladio's face softened, some of the tension he'd been carrying melting away at the invitation for shots, and he smiled at his father.

"Pick your poison, sir. If I'm gonna drink you under the table, I have to make sure you like what you're downin'."

[chocobosnap]

He took Gladio's advice, leaning into the embrace and focusing on breathing. That was good, and helpful, he'd been trying to do breathing before he was so rudely interrupted.

"I know. No I know." Prompto hurried to speak between breaths, resting his hands on Gladio's shoulders.

"Aranea snapped me out of it." He murmured. All hope had been lost, but she smacked some sense into him and he'd been hopeful before things got bad again.

"I know. I was weak for a minute. Forgive me. Please." Prompto pleaded, but it was things like that that was concerning Noct at the moment.