melodiesofeternity | Raise a Glass [OPEN]

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Bribing his own Moogle... that's a first. But probably not so surprising. Ebony just lingers around for a bit then floats over to Estoc, still worried about this entire drinking thing that's going on. Because- Ignis drinking? What is this witchcraft?

Ignis' lips twitch a bit and he raises his own in return, drinking half of it. Being the not very experienced drinker, he can already feel the buzz of alcohol.]

To help forget about the problems for a moment? Definitively.

[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.

[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.]

Edited 2018-06-14 01:01 (UTC)

[Ravus absorbs that silently. Most of the time, the Lucians seem completely ignorant of the future of the Chosen, but sometimes, he wonders if they know more than they let on.]

The Six would not entrust their powers to one they deem unworthy.

[In their greed, they selected only the best to serve as their sacrifices. Lunafreya...and Noctis. He drains his glass as well.]

It is not easy, loving someone whom Fate has chosen as a pawn.

[Ignis hums in silent acknowledgment of what Ravus says. His thoughts are a jumbled mess and the drinks he had are not helping with it. He's been doing something he really hates- jumping to conclusions- the entire night.

But- when he looks at Ravus and those words finally sink in... a pawn, unworthy, chosen... Ignis can't help but ask him-]

Were you aware of what the Prophecy entails?

[At a wave, the Bartender pours Ravus a glass of the bourbon Ignis has been drinking. Ravus swirls the amber liquid in the cup, delaying his words.]

The Oracle is the bridge between humanity and the Astrals. Our line has long communed with the Gods' messengers. We have always known the price of the Covenant to our Blood.

[From there, it was no great leap to conclude the prince's fate as well. Ravus does not meet Ignis' eyes.] I know not if it is more kind or cruel, to be told that which cannot be changed.

[Because Ravus knows now, it could not. He had tried to defy fate to no avail.]

[So... everything was written in stone, as they say. Ignis can't help the growing bitterness towards the Six, towards the Kings of Old, towards everything that demands a sacrifice of life. And the fact that his hands are completely tied in that regard is only making him even more frustrated.

The refill of Ignis' drink is gone in almost an instant and the advisor has to hold himself back from just slamming the glass against the counter.]

Why... why can't the Six take me instead? I mean nothing. [He chuckle is void of happiness.] ...maybe that's why.

[Ignis is silent for a long moment, watching the Bartender refill his drink again. He doesn't feel drunk. He feels angry.]

Before... [he starts slowly,] before I met you at the altar, one of the messenger dogs, Pryna, fell before me. She shoved me the vision of things to come. [He wasn't looking at Ravus, until that moment when he turns his head to look at him.]

Why did she show that to me?

[Ravus sets his glass down with a clank, brow furrowing in anger, and reaches out to grab Ignis' shirt to make sure he has his full attention.]

Listen to me, you fool, I've seen what you did for your king. I chose to ally myself with you. You are NOT nothing, and to say such is to demean your prince's judgement and my own.

[He withdraws his hand.]

If Pryna showed you, it was the Gods' will that you know. There is no point in wondering why when it comes to the Astrals' games. It changes nothing. [His voice softens.] All you can do is stay by his side and lend him your strength.

[Ignis hears what Ravus is telling him, but the core of the words are not reaching him. At least not right now, while he's drunk and mind set on one lane to nowhere. He doesn't even react when Ravus grabs him aside from the reflexive grab onto the counter so he doesn't fall off the barstool.

He has so many questions that he will never get an answer to and that the other man will probably yell at him for again. But the alcohol had magically removed his mind to mouth filter.]

What's the point of showing me if they are not letting me change his fate? Do they draw some sadistic amusement in my helplessness? [He's seriously glad his asterisks is not on the black mage or this bar might've been set on fire.]

I never planned on leaving his side. Ever. Even after the consequences of the Ring settle in. I just-...['don't want to see him to die' dies on his lips.]

[Well, if Ignis had ever wondered why Ravus was always so bitter and angry, he has now unearthed the answer. Even if Ignis is too far in his cups to take what Ravus says to heart, Ravus will say his piece, because he's struggled with the same questions for years.]

The gods play with us like chess pawns. But your knowing means your king does not bear the weight of that knowledge alone. If sharing in that pain eases the chosen's burden even a fraction, you must bear it for his sake.

[Ravus hates it, but that is the truth of what he has learned from Lunafreya and his mother.]

[Initially, Ignis didn't think he had much in common with Ravus, aside from the part that they wanted to protect people they care about. But, once he's a bit soberer, the fact that they are not all that different might settle in with Ignis properly.

In any case, he seems a bit calmer right now, despite the burning glare the glass is receiving from him. There's a passing thought that he shouldn't drink anymore.]

For all the mercy they promise, they are quite shitty at showing it.

[Ignis shakes his head and takes a deep breath.]

Apologies... I had one too many and should probably head back home.

[Ravus raises his glass to that. Fuck the Astrals and the star they rode in on.]

You've no cause to apologize to me. Go if you wish.

[At a glance, Ignis still seems shaken. Ravus nods in his direction.]

Take care on your way home.

Raise a Glass [OPEN]

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