WHO:XV Cast
WHAT: General catchall
WHERE: Probably mostly at the XV cottage
WHEN: spring/summer 2025
WARNINGS: blanket CW for depression (Noctis), suicidal ideation (Ardyn, Cor, Ravus), and general PTSD from a bunch of men that've been through hell. See subject lines for specifics

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His claws fumble on the last few buttons but he does manage to finally get that half frozen shirt off his boyfriend. The slightly more challenging buttons on Ignis' pants he will have to do himself, his claws too thick and clumsy to combat how snug Ignis' pants are. "I'll get you something cozy... yeah?"
He's hesitant to step away entirely. Doesn't want to take his hands away, as though Iggy might just disappear if he turns his back. In the end he only does let go because Ignis needs room to take his pants off and he can't do that with Noct hovering so damn close. It's all of 5 steps to the wardrobe where Noct can collect one of Iggy's heavier sweaters.
And if Ignis needs to sit down to pry off frozen socks and shoes, to shimmy out of stiff fabric, he may just notice something new on his nightstand.
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Other things, as well. Things that Ignis dreads to think about right now, and yet which won't stop haunting him.
And maybe Ignis needs this as well, to hold onto Noctis and feel the warmth of his body that is only made a touch wet from tromping through the snow holding onto Ignis. He might not be as obvioux, but he needs it too, and indeed only pulls away from Noctis when his prince does. "It would help a good bit with this weather," he agrees. Fortunately, foresight even as a teenager had ensured he had plenty of large and thick sweaters to put on - something to take into consideration the bulk of his wings in case he couldn't put them back.
Obviously not a problem now, but... that just will help make him feel a bit warmer and more snug.
In the meanwhile, indeed, he has to sit down if only so that he can force off his socks and shoes. Yet he barely even gets that far before he notes something on his nightstand. That endeavor is abandoned swiftly enough, and Noctis will find Ignis with the card in hand, a soft look on his face.
"...My neediness as a teenager really did make you fuss, didn't it?" he murmurs, as though he didn't admit this under great pain while wings ripped out of his back.
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Ignis is exhausted, that much is clear from the way he doesn't let himself stop, from the subtle little shakes in his hands, the hiccups like this in his focus. It's a miracle Noctis has gotten him to be still for so long as it is, he's definitely pushing it like this. So he doesn't let himself put too much of his weight on Ignis, just rests there against his back, warm and solid, letting himself hold Iggy for once instead of the other way around.
"I don't get to fuss over you much... It's just... it's something I could do when there wasn't really anything else." It was as much for him as it is for Ignis. Something nice for him that he clearly cared about and a way to channel the frantic energy that came with the sort of helplessness that Noctis is all too familiar with. For all the power that is supposed to come with his position he has found himself unable to do a damned thing about most things in his life. It drives him mad and has certainly threatened to drag him into a deep depression more than once. The little tokens he can make for the people in need that he cares for so deeply at least means he has some outlet for the emotion so he doesn't simply shut down.
He'd never have forgiven himself if he did that to the others when they were just as worried about Iggy as he was.
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Something to truly tell his subconscious that they are out of the flooded battle zone which Altissa had become.
So, now, it's easier to feel the way his entire chest seems to shudder when he inhales, how iron-stiff his back is from pure tension, and every little tremble from an over use of adrenaline that will not stop for at least a couple hours yet. Despite that, Ignis so carefully sets the card back down in its place. In its place, he takes Noct's hand.
"I like to think I hardly need fussing," Ignis says, opting to not say if he does now or not. Instead, he remembers himself, and raises one foot up so that his free hand can begin the process of tugging free his shoes and socks. His toes are all pins and needles.
"But you know that I will always be glad to help you with whatever you want. And I think there are far worse things, than being the recipient of such wonderful cards."