Oh, the world is dark

[berriedmemories]

WHO: The XVs mostly
WHAT: figuring out timeline bullshit and living arrangements
WHERE: A set of cottages by the river
WHEN:end of 2024
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

SUMMARY: The gang's all here and then some! Now what? What do you mean you don't remember..... anything I expect you to? Bahamut did what now?

Comments

[errant_knight]

"Dramatic, am I?" Ravus watches that slow, methodical circle. Predatory, for all Ignis assures him that his head isn't on the chopping block. No, Ravus doesn't think anything so neat as the headsman's axe is coming for him. Not when this young, spitting image of a shark going 'round its prey keeps talking, drawing ever closer.

Closer and closer, Ravus watching him with a hand on his hip, and his head cocked in the perfect display of dramatics he's been accused of. But who can blame him for his thoughts? Paranoia has gotten him further in life than most other perceptions of people. And really, Ignis must know the picture he paints. There's nothing about this trap he's waxing on about that's subtle or unintentional.

And then there's the shark's bite right at the end, the damning question that vices down on his throat. Ravus can't quite meet his eyes.

With a great sigh, Ravus broadly gestures to the surrounding forest. It's quite scenic, if anyone were to ask him. Beautiful, and so very away from people. People he's hurt. People he thinks he's hurt enough.

"Here and there," is what he says, before setting that hand back on his hip. "The woods offer serenity, and solitude." Not much in the way of human comforts, but somehow it hadn't felt right to make a home of one of the empty cottages. "There was hardly a need to bother anyone about me, let alone your ever-so-nosy neighbor. I made myself gone, as suggested. I cannot go further; I have already tried."

[parer]

Oh, the absolute tit idiot.

"Who on earth asked you to go?" Ignis asks, eyes narrowing as he goes straight towards the front of the other man - neatly cutting off his access to the water and not caring if small bits of spray or such get on the edges of his pants. "When I said as much, I know you were well aware that I was asking you to only leave the premises so that Noctis could catch his breath. There was nothing in my request about you going off to live in the woods."

Despite appearing as a weedy little thing still in comparison to the very built military commander before him, there is zero hesitation as he crosses his arms and leans directly into Ravus's space.

"And to do so as the air gets colder, and food will become scarce in the wild? You are acting the fool, Ravus. I expected better of you. At least in the realm of sensibility."

[errant_knight]

Maybe for someone more used to people outside of the dogmatic cruelty of the Niflheim army that would occur to them. Unfortunately, Ravus' socialization has left him lacking in being able to interpret any form of grace or kindness from others. If that wasn't made obvious by the fact Ravus assumed they were here to play judge, jury and executioner, he says as much to prove it.

"You did not say when to return." A pause, then, quieter, "if I should return. Besides that, I think you underestimate just what environments I have been forcibly conditioned to endure. Niflheim is a wasteland through and through, a glacial desert. I would be more than fine out here."

But that's not really the issue. It's his sensibility in question, but to Ravus, it had made perfect sense. A logical answer to the adrift way he feels, to assign something solid to the nebulous insecurity to where he stands among it all now. Still, one more person being disappointed in him manages to sting, and while Ignis leans close, far too small to be intimidating someone of his size, Ravus still manages to be cowed by a man about half his weight. He keeps his head turned away when he speaks.

"I merely did what I thought was correct."

[parer]

Really, he looks so pathetic - a lost dog left drenched by the rain and huddling in the gutter for even a fascimile of warmth - that Ignis almost feels regret for having cornered him so thoroughly like this. Almost.

Not nearly enough for him to keep his hand still as it rises up, taking Ravus by the chin and forcing him to look back at him.

"And if we are relying on the faulty evidence of things I did not say," he whispers. "Then I never once said that I did not still wish to be your friend, Ravus."

His own words strike true in his chest, then. Funny how he's been trying not to think too deeply about it, been wrapped up in so much work he's had to do, that he's not realized such a simple truth. Whatever that may mean, he still longs to keep Ravus as his friend. As someone close to him.

Taking a breath, Ignis lowers his hand now that Ravus is forced to properly look at him. "Just because you can simply survive out here, having experience worse, does not mean you should continue to experience worse. Do try to have a better view of my own person than to think I would simply leave you abandoned out here in the cold, ignored and neglected. Instead, simply do as I say, and come with us. To be in a warm house, and eat food I would at least like to think is half-decent."

[errant_knight]

If he looks pathetic, he certainly feels it too. Exhaustion weighs on him more than just the poor sleep without a roof over his head, or the fact he's barely eaten. It's the crushing weight of loss, of so many emotions, the shame of even feeling them. Worse still, letting anyone see them. But nothing outweighs the leaden lump in the pit of his stomach when Ignis takes him by the chin, and whispers to him.

"Ignis," he says, his name nearly a plea breathed between them. Begging for understanding. "No, I- there is so little I have left to cherish. I would not abandon something so precious did I not believe it had to be. I did not walk away from you with anything but a blade wedged into my heart. All I could think to stop it from bleeding at your feet was to leave it driven there. You are my friend. And I would not think so low of you."

[parer]

"Then leave it at my feet. I'll accept the blood in my soles if it means to take care of your fool self, rather than you running off to the woods in winter." Ignis sighs, taking him by the arm to pull him away from the river.

"So come now. Make up for the rudeness by coming along with us. The house will be far warmer and more comfortable."

[errant_knight]

Just leave it there? Let this dear man have to wash the shine of blood from his feet? His blood? Ravus thinks to protest. He couldn't possibly burden Ignis with this, shouldn't- but the heat of his hand on his arm immediately quiets the thoughts, and the guilt silences any verbal means to protest. He's being rude now, is he?

"My apologies," Ravus murmurs, following the first step away from the river before pausing. He looks over his shoulder at his coat and his greaves. "If I agree to come home with you, will you let me at least finish the washing?"

[parer]

Ignis considers things for a moment, eyeing the articles of clothing - well, clothing and armor, he supposes. It would be bothersome to have to come all the way out here once again to retrieve it all, let alone taking into consideration the cleaning. Probably for the best that at least they allow this much.

...Still, he does wonder if Ravus might perhaps slip off with an opportunity like that. He doesn't seem like the type to possess such guile, but, well. You never know, sometimes.

"I suppose it is for the best," he says after a second's thought. "Gladio and I will be right here, then."

Watching. Waiting.

[errant_knight]

Thankfully, Ravus is not a man that oft goes back on his word. He doesn't much care for lying, and is terrible enough at it to justify not, even without his sense of righteousness.

Still, he's grateful Ignis doesn't argue this. It's just the tiny bit of control over the small details that he needs. Ravus is a fastidious man by nature, and it's been difficult feeling clean for days now. Mostly because he's unsure how to wash years and years of unfounded violence from his hands, but the idea of his clothes being left dirty at the riverside feels like a very precariously placed final straw.

Ravus doesn't immediately untangle himself from where Ignis holds his arm. Instead, he leans against his side with the gentle press of his body, almost like the affectionate lean of a dog.

"I will try to be quick, given I have kept you all waiting long enough." Only after a too-brief moment does he actually go to do his laundry, though.