ic contact

[reeliable]

text || call || video

"Hey, you've reached Noctis, but I can't answer right now.
Leave me a message and I'll get back to you, thanks."

Comments

text;

[parttimes]

[He's definitely tucking himself into a small alleyway to type this out while everything goes to shit around them.]

Hey, you okay? Can't keep up with everything that's going on here, but I wanted to check in.

text;

[reeliable]

[While Noct sort of expected exactly two people to keep tabs on him, the fact that he gets a message from someone who isn't those exact two people makes him smile. Despite the chaos going on and all.]

If you're asking if I'm staying out of trouble, I'm not. But I'm doing alright.

Are you hanging in there? Don't go out if you don't have to.

[parttimes]

[Despite the chaos...the story of their lives right now. Also that's pretty much the opposite of a reassuring message.]

Pretty sure if you have to get yourself into trouble, I have to go out. People are in danger.

What kinda trouble?

[reeliable]

[It's a great message, it's honest and truthful!!]

I'm not intending to get in any trouble, it sort of comes with being out in this.

I did get a sweet new crossbow though.

[parttimes]

I guess that's fair.

But. Do you know how to use one of those???

[reeliable]

I will absolutely deck the next person I see trying to attack a kid, and if that gets me in trouble.

I'm not a terrible shot, but you could say that I've got a little experience with one. [How to say 'I was trained in every weapon we have in the armory' without it coming across as weird.]

[parttimes]

Nah, that's fair trouble. Pretty much where I'm at too, honestly. You've heard about the Arena being a safe spot for those kids, right?

[...also like--]

That's pretty cool. In that case, probably better in your hands than anyone else's. Just be safe.

[reeliable]

Yeah. Mostly what I'm doing at this point is getting them there, or at least getting them out of a situation so they can go on their own.

If I get to keep it when we go back to the Temple, I'll show you how to use it if you want.

I won't shoot myself in the foot, promise, Mom

[No, he really does appreciate someone worrying over him like this - it feels normal.]

text;

[punshots]

have you ever thought about how your teeth are the only part of your skeleton that you clean

[ Well, now he's probably thinking about it, you're welcome. ]

Re: text;

[reeliable]

[Prom. What.]

that is creepy but you are right
you're going to get my brain going about weird facts about the human body, aren't you

[punshots]

sure am!!!
i can't help it!
i'm soooo bored right now

like you know what else is weird?
eyelashes
like if you lost all your eyelashes would they grow back in like hairs do??

[ Wow. Mindblowing. ]

[reeliable]

I kind of wish we could play Kings Knight, that was always a good time waster when we were sick.

I feel like it's a yes, but putting it that way just makes it sound creepy.
Losing all of them at once so they could grow back
Would it itch??

[I mean they are also hair.]

[punshots]

you know what i would give to play king's knight right now?



idk either my head hurts to much to think but it'd be something big

but yeah it's freaky right??
i bet it'd be SUPER itchy
let's not lose our eyelashes ok?

[ Good thing they had this talk, it's very important. ]

[reeliable]

No paying an arm and a leg for video games.
We just need to find someone with electric powers or something...
Wouldn't that be kind of cool, someone with internet powers somehow?
How would it even work.

Now that you've said it, I feel like it's going to happen at some point.
I don't want to lose my eyelashes....

[A great talk tho, A+ would do it again. Fever babblings are the best.]

[punshots]

[ They sure are, aren't they... ]

whoa hang on
go back to that internet power idea
you think someone could do that? use their power to generate the INTERNET?
...i wonder if Astoria takes power suggestions

[ Because if so, he is totally submitting that one. ]

action!

[protettore]

[As Gladio stares at the fourth message that continues to go unresponded to just like the rest, he's decided he's just about had it with the silent treatment. He doesn't need this, especially not now, and so it seems like he's going to have to hunt Noct down to have a well-needed talk now that he's returned to the temple.

He could very well simply grab Prompto, but he's aware that he happens to be unwell and doesn't want to put him through that sort of stress. As for Ignis... Gladio doesn't think he's ready to speak to him just yet, to look into those clear green eyes just as he remembers them being, not behind shut eyelids and scars permanently etched over his face.

Fuck, of course he's the one that has to deal with Noct all on his own, again, and the frustration begins to build up again as he stomps through the temple grounds in search of his prince.]

[reeliable]

[It isn't that Noctis hasn't heard those messages going off, but the fact of the matter is - he's embarrassed, that he can't answer them. He can't see it, that alone isn't something he wants to admit by blindly tapping at a screen until he can get the voice mode up. No one needs to worry about this, it's not a... big deal. He can handle it.

Okay it sort of is a big deal, but Noct doesn't want anyone worrying more than they already are. Mostly everyone is sick, this is just an additional thing, it's possibly unrelated!

On the upside, Gladio won't have to go very far to find Noct where he is sitting out around the training grounds. It's the only place he can find without needing to see, where the ground is dirt, so his steps are quieter. The dirt is surrounded by rocks, large enough to feel out under his feet through his shoes. The benches nearby - don't offer much, except a place to sit all wrapped up in his blanket with his legs drawn up.

But he does raise his head from his knees when he hears someone approaching, and despite how well he knows he has just been seeing things, what he thinks he sees with that gait is someone he hasn't seen since he was a small boy. Lately, he feels like he's been thinking too much about him, and how he wanted to remember his father best - and this was it. As a strong man with no magic ring sucking the literal life out of him. With no stress of war, with the ability to protect himself-]

Dad?

[Noct says it even if he knows on too many levels that it can't be, but with how he opens his eyes and strains to try and see, he tries to let himself believe for a second if it could be true.]

[protettore]

[The inside of the temple leads him to nothing, and even when Gladio happens across the room he recalls the four of them had all settled into, he finds it to be empty. A brief twinge of panic hits him only to settle when he takes a glance upon the freshly made beds and finds articles of clothing he recognizes. Prompto's jacket, Ignis' as well. So they're around, just not in there room. And that in itself isn't a good sign. Having already spoken to Prompto already, he knows he's unwell. He's not sure what the status of the other two are but he knows for a fact Ignis wouldn't let them out of his sight or wander about if they were just as sick. This doesn't make any sense. Now feeling even more frustrated, Gladio decides to hit up familiar places, starting with the training grounds. He hears no footsteps, no voices, approaching inside and glancing upward from the entrance toward the seating area. He sees it first, a head of messy black hair, a body bundled up in a blanket. Gladio turns and as he ignores the unpleasant swell of anger that washes over him he prepares to call out Noct's name, demand what he's even doing out here-- His voice catches in his throat and his face falls completely. "Dad". The ground seems like it might drop out from under him, but Gladio puts himself back together in swift time and swallows down the lump in his throat as he begins to step forward, his voice a gruff audible tone.] I'm not that old, brat.

[reeliable]

[Oh.

It isn't that he isn't happy to hear Gladio's voice after losing him in Struxta, but the disappointment he feels makes his shoulders visibly droop. No, of course not, of course his father wouldn't be here - and never will be here. No matter how many times he thinks he sees him, thinks he hears him, he can't be here of all places. Magic doesn't work that way. He said it himself to Connor even, and he knows it's true.

Noctis still tries to stand, wobbling a bit when he rises because sitting had been so much easier, and he tries to ignore how much everything sucks right now because Gladio is back. Blearily trying to look through his bangs, Noct never quite makes eye contact even as he fumbles a couple of weak steps forward.]

H-haha, yeah right, you probably do have some gray hairs by now though, huh? [He has to quiet the thought, he has to keep it down, he really doesn't need to get stuck on something he can't change like this. He still sort of wishes...]

[protettore]

[There's too much effort visibly placed into the way Noct stands himself up and begins to hobble his way toward him, and Gladio absolutely hates the instinct that hits him to rush toward his side and give him a steadying hand. For a moment nothing else matters, it's like this is the only moment he has to work with, none of those old memories haunt him.

Except he takes that first step, and he doesn't see Noct but Ignis. Hand precariously outstreched, slow footsteps, eyelids closed. Broken. Damaged. Blind.

Gladio grits his teeth and clenches his hands into fists.

He has to tell himself that these feelings won't go away if he punches Noct in the fact right now.]

I wouldn't be surprised. [It's his weak retort before he finally steps forward more assuredly, but he doesn't set a hand on Noct, doesn't even reach out for him, just stands before him as he waits for him to walk closer.]

Iggy should skin you alive for bein' out here. You're as sick as everyone else, aren't you?

[reeliable]

I'm... alright, I guess.

[No, he's not alright, but the less he says the better honestly. He already makes people worry and now is just another time for it. Following the sound of Gladio's voice because it's just so much easier than trying to strain his eyes in the minimal lighting he can see, Noct's judgement about just where Gladio is to stop however isn't all that great. He just walks right into him for a moment, thumping briefly before he raises his hands to put a proper distance between them and keeps his head tipped just down enough that his bangs block his face.

Hopefully that wasn't a tip off to just how poor his condition is.]

I wanted to try some fresh air, the room just tastes stuffy.

[protettore]

[Gladio can only scoff, and the fact that Noct doesn't seem to stop walking until he knocks right into him, seemingly intentionally, solidifies his reasoning to not believe Noct for a single second. He doesn't like this. Noct isn't even looking at him, he hasn't made eye contact since he saw him and it's not the intentional kind like he's avoiding him or trying to ease out of confrontation. He wouldn't have bumped into him if that was the case.

There's a sinking feeling in his stomach that's been there since he got there, and now, it's only worse.]

That's a load of bullshit. [He grumbles, then reaches forward to try to push Noct's hair out of his face so he can get a better look at him.]

text;

[punshots]

gr  nd co tr l to maj r noct
you  live bu  y?
ser  usly abou  to swi  a ross th  oce  
i got tw   eeks of fish jok   for y   so buck e up

[ Please, please answer... ]

2000 years later

[reeliable]

a yu sesl ig sheans t me?

i sa got dpped of he palce

wis u wre he o, i co ld t let duk bid u

[Maybe if he kept it shorter, more would have gone through...]

[punshots]

[ ...Okay, he only got, like, half of that, but it's still enough of a relief to hear from Noct that it doesn't really matter. ]

uh yeah
s me to yo  bud y
  u're at the p  ace?
what's it  ike????