I remember that. Jared would say I was preparing you to handle your future wife. Was I really that demanding?
[He was. Especially below the age of 13, both incredibly protective of Noct and determined to fulfil his promise to King Regis. If anyone even looked at Noct funny Ignis would get his back up, or demand Gladio get his back up and step in for them as Noct's chosen protector.
Of course, as he matured and the etiquette and attitude of a retainer had been fully trained into him, he became more composed and genteel. Less likely to make demands of Gladio, and more inclined to politely ask.
Most of the time. Ignis has always held both Gladio and himself to an impossibly high standard... and the Shield has never let him down.
Ignis coils a strand of dark hair around his finger, curling and releasing with a gentle tug.]
Likely because I'm softer spoken. When I do take a tone with them, they notice.
Your bark has always been just as loud as your bite. It's possible they've gotten used to it on some level.
[ Gladio makes a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat all while Ignis toys with his hair. Back then... Yeah, Ignis was pretty demanding. There were a few times where the future Shield had grown frustrated with his demands and snapped back with orders of his own before storming off somewhere to vent said frustrations out on a training dummy. ]
You were the bossiest kid I ever knew. Back when I was a kid I was already mad about having to protect Noct - back when I thought different of him - but having you barking orders and breathing down my neck with his training on top of that? Man, I thought you were the most demanding person in the Citadel.
[ And of course puberty no doubt had a hand in their frustrations too. It left Gladio feeling moodier than normal, and unfortunately he often took it out on those closest to him . ]
Super demanding. But I know I was more stubborn back then than I am now too, so I guess it kinda evens out. Bark or no bark.
Super demanding? You make it sound like I was a little behemoth myself.
[Hands on his hips, glasses catching light, stomping his little feet when Gladio was anything less than loving towards his charge. Demands both high-pitched and relentless.
A far cry from the calm, graceful man who was seemingly built to serve who is holding him now. Teenage Ignis existed at both ends of the spectrum. Ultra stoic with intense bouts of emotion (mood-swings) that could almost rival Gladio's temper. They've both mellowed with age, though their personalities were encouraged in opposite directions.
Gladio to be the penultimate Shield. Confident, fearless, and dominant.
Ignis to be the penultimate Advisor. Calm, conservative, and yielding.
Did Regis and Clarus know what they were doing when they chose Noct's companions, developing Shield and Advisor to compliment one another in such a way as to perfectly protect and guide the future King? 'Looking' at Gladio now, fingers running through the thick of his dark hair, and feeling strangely at peace, Ignis can't help but wonder. ]
You were more than stubborn. You were a veritable wall when you dug your heels in. Nobody could move you. Even before it was a physical impossibility to do so.
Between you and Noct, it's a wonder I didn't lose my mind completely.
I suppose that's why my training was so harsh. To be in personal service of royalty requires a certain amount of... tolerance, to better meet the needs of personalities both larger and more exacting than your own.
A behemoth? Nah, I'd say... Hmm. A coeurl. You had the whole babyface thing going on when you were a kid so that made it pretty easy to assume you were relatively harmless like a coeurl kitten, but then you started growing up. You grew claws, started to learn how to control 'em, and figured out how to deliver one hell of a shock to hammer your points home.
[ One hand reaches up and though Gladio hesitates for a fraction of a moment, he lightly prods his index finger against the side of his upper lip. Unlike an actual coeurl, Ignis lacks the whiskers that made the animal so recognizable. But on the other hand he does wear coeurl-print, so maybe that makes up for it.
His hand drops back down to thump against his own chest, and Gladio settles back in to make himself comfortable. There might be an easier way to do it, but you know what? He's content like this. ]
I wouldn't say your training was that harsh, though. I mean...
[ There's a smile both on his face and in his voice as he peers up at Ignis. ]
You did decide you wanted to jump into training with the Crownsguard when you were... what, fifteen? It was rough on me at thirteen, and I had both my old man and the Marshall handling me for the most part. You? You had the Marshall and you had magic involved. Not to mention all the one-on-one stuff we had together over the years.
[ After all, who better to work with training the future king's hand than the future king's shield? ]
A coeurl? I like the sound of that, though I do try to keep my nails short and well maintained at all times.
[Not that it makes a swipe from him any less painful. Men, monsters, and daemons have learned to fear his wrath. Especially when Noct is involved.
At the prodding, Ignis will raise the corner of his mouth in a slight show of tiny canine. The smallest, most polite of snarls. Still, he is playing along, and after weeks of somber quiet with his nose constantly to the grindstone, it's an improvement.
There's even a little laugh when Gladio says his training wasn't that harsh.]
Oh, it wasn't the Crownsguard training that was harsh. Difficult? Incredibly, but not harsh. When one gets injured sparring there's space to lick your wounds, and an understanding that failure is but a stepping stone to becoming stronger.
Retainers aren't allowed to make mistakes. One can ruin their entire reputation, and the reputation of their family, by setting a table for foreign dignitaries with the wrong utensils, for you risk embarrassing the King himself. Failure is simply not an option.
No matter how rudely you're treated, you must remain polite, composed, and continue to render service to whomever you're assigned. You must see everything, forget nothing, and remain loyal and steadfast in spite of any personal objections you may have.
The most brutal punishment I ever received from my uncle was for crying in front of the King. I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I recall being unable to sit for over a week. And the entirety of his tongue-lashing. Word for word.
Ah-- actually, I do remember how old I was. Nine. Noct had broken my glasses and was being an utter terror knowing I couldn't see him well enough at any real distance to stop him, so I lost my composure and tattled to King Regis.
The punishment did work, though. For I never made the same mistake again.
[He returns to stroking Gladio's hair, even more gently, somehow.]
That said, given the choice, I wouldn't have it any other way. Not if it meant losing this.
[ Now Gladio moves. It's not enough to dislodge his hands from his hair, but it's enough so he can roll over and if he so chose, could bury his face in the other man's stomach from this angle. And you know what? Maybe he does. Maybe, just maybe, Gladio takes the opportunity to sling both arms around Ignis's waist and pulls his face in, pulling himself upright just enough so his forehead rests against his torso and his voice winds up muffled by his shirt. ]
There's no reason to hit a kid for crying, Iggy. 'Specially if it's so hard you can't sit for a week. I cried in front of plenty of people β the King included β and my dad never chewed me out for it. I cried a ton when I was nine, and no one ever gave me shit. I yelled at people who worked for dad and everything.
[ Only he hadn't broken a pair of glasses. His reason for those outbursts had been different. Even so, it doesn't change Gladio's feelings on the whole situation. ]
Just because you're sworn to do something doesn't mean you've gotta put on a smile and pretend to like it. You know just as well as I do that I couldn't stand Noct when I first started working with him. I thought he was a spoiled brat, but that... changed when he put his neck out for Iris. He didn't have any reason to do so, but he did it anyway. He didn't even know her.
Yes, but you were the future Shield. I'm a retainer. I was trained to care for children of your class. It's... very different. When Noct got into trouble, I was the one who allowed it to happen, and thus it was my failure. Not his.
Putting on a smile and doing whatever I had to do in order to keep my charge safe, happy, and successful is exactly what was expected of me. That's why I said it was harsher.
In Crownsguard training... I was only responsible for myself and my own progress. In a way it was freeing. An outlet for my emotions where I was encouraged to go all-out, instead of always holding back. Some days, training with you was all that kept me sane.
[And look at him now. The perfectly composed retainer who is an absolute beast in battle-- though always with one eye on his King, and managing the field.
More accurately, look at him a few months ago. Before Altissia. Back when he could cook, clean, and kick-ass whilst hardly breaking a sweat. Now its a struggle to accomplish any one of those tasks perfectly, never mind all of them, but there is one thing he can still do almost better than anyone else. And that's wrap both arms around Gladio and hold him close, one hand rubbing between his shoulder blades.
Ignis was never coddled, and in a way that makes him especially good at coddling others. All he really knows is how to give love. Receiving it is another story.
Thankfully, with a friend like Gladio, it doesn't really matter. The behemoth man has a behemoth heart and smothers him with it anyway.]
I don't hate who or what I am, it was simply a difficult road to get here. There's nothing I enjoy more than spoiling you all. My favourite part of cooking is seeing the happiness it brings... I miss that terribly.
Watching everyone eat and smile could turn a bad day into a good one. Now I have to listen for sounds of pleasure or approval, and sometimes it's difficult to tell.
On that note, what do you want for your birthday dinner? You have yet to tell me.
[ As if to hammer the point home, Gladio tightens his arms around him for a moment in an almost-painful hug. Maybe it's the fact that this is the first time in months that he's gotten to sit down and let everything sink in, or maybe it's the whole 'turning twenty-four an entire world away from home without one to return to' thing that's making him feel especially sentimental. Either way, Ignis is getting one and there's nothing the universe can do to stop it.
Except Ignis shifting the subject, of course.
But that doesn't mean he's pulling his head from his shirt anytime soon. No, he wants to cling to this moment for a little longer while he can. They both need it. ]
...Y'know, for the first time in my life I don't actually know? If we were back home-home, I'd probably wanna hit up that club that opened up a couple years back. Or... the Passiflora-Incarnara. That diner in midtown. I know you swiped the recipe for some of their soups 'cause you said they were too salty and said you could do it better, but the rest of it was always pretty good.
[ Finally, he turns his head a bit to the side so he can breathe in something that wasn't Ignis. A little fresh air to go with his advisor smell. ]
My uncle never wanted children. I suppose that may have had something to do with it. Our relationship greatly improved once I was no longer his responsibility.
Still, I do hope he made it out.
[Gladio isn't letting go, and neither is he. If anything, Ignis relaxes back against the wall. Pulling Gladio closer to him with a sigh. Rocking side to side ever so gently. Is he attempting to comfort the Shield, or himself? The correct answer is both.]
Why did you always want to go out, rather than stay in for a home-cooked meal?
[Not that Ignis ever took quiet offense to it (he did).]
I can do that. There's already one item on the menu I know without a doubt you'll go head over heels for. As for the rest... I'll see what else inspires me.
[Of course this will be a multi-course affair. Gladio will never turn twenty-four again.]
[ He makes a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat, but he doesn't argue it. He doesn't even fuss when he starts to feel Ignis move side to side. Instead, Gladio does the one thing he ought to have done months ago and lowers his guard. It's safe here. Perhaps not across Copalli in its entirety, but here in Ignis's arms. Here in this little house the four of them have landed. Here with his best friends and brothers.
It's fine to be vulnerable for a little bit. ]
Y'mean beyond the times dad would take us out somewhere? I dunno. I liked the energy. The people. And if I ever wasn't feeling it that night, I know I always had somewhere to go home to.
[ Either the family home, his own apartment, or Noct's. Usually where Noct was, Ignis and Prompto were too. Usually after texting Ignis, of course. ]
That makes sense. I suppose 'home with family' was always my ideal, as I had little opportunity to do so. I've spent more time with your family than my own... and it was a wonderful experience.
[The Amicitias are as loving as they are intimidating. Strong hearts make strong Shields. Seeing Gladio so relaxed, eyes closed, breathing soft-- being soft, only makes Ignis want to hold him closer for longer.]
All I will say is it's something you've had before, and that I've never made it for you. You said you wanted a surprise, and a surprise you shall receive.
[ The only thing Gladio does is groan loudly in protest, and buries his face right back into Ignis's shirt for a time while he ruffles his hair up in six different directions. He so very rarely lets himself act his age, so this? It's nice, even if the motion leaves him with a lingering feeling of something down his spine.
(It's a good something, he knows this.) ]
Something with cinnamon? S'all I got. Beyond that, my fate is in your hands.
[The cogs are already turning. While he could likely pull together a traditional cake, it wouldn't be half as well-decorated as Gladio is used to, and all too predictable. Enter the idea of a 'churro' cake. Layers of cinnamon-sweet, crunchy dough, separated by fresh cream and topped with a caramel drizzle.
Ignis tasted his first churro during Kiichpan's street festival, and has never made one before, but...]
Hm. I believe I've just come up with a new recipe(eh).
[ Gladio grins into his shirt, and without missing a beat he tilts his head to peer up at him. It doesn't matter if Ignis can see it or not, because he makes it known. He pulls himself up, arms tightening around his back, and his ear rests over his heart. ]
I could taste test for you?
[ So, it's not the best hug he's given. It's still something, right? ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2022-04-10 04:04 am (UTC)[He was. Especially below the age of 13, both incredibly protective of Noct and determined to fulfil his promise to King Regis. If anyone even looked at Noct funny Ignis would get his back up, or demand Gladio get his back up and step in for them as Noct's chosen protector.
Of course, as he matured and the etiquette and attitude of a retainer had been fully trained into him, he became more composed and genteel. Less likely to make demands of Gladio, and more inclined to politely ask.
Most of the time. Ignis has always held both Gladio and himself to an impossibly high standard... and the Shield has never let him down.
Ignis coils a strand of dark hair around his finger, curling and releasing with a gentle tug.]
Likely because I'm softer spoken. When I do take a tone with them, they notice.
Your bark has always been just as loud as your bite. It's possible they've gotten used to it on some level.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-10 05:00 am (UTC)[ Gladio makes a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat all while Ignis toys with his hair. Back then... Yeah, Ignis was pretty demanding. There were a few times where the future Shield had grown frustrated with his demands and snapped back with orders of his own before storming off somewhere to vent said frustrations out on a training dummy. ]
You were the bossiest kid I ever knew. Back when I was a kid I was already mad about having to protect Noct - back when I thought different of him - but having you barking orders and breathing down my neck with his training on top of that? Man, I thought you were the most demanding person in the Citadel.
[ And of course puberty no doubt had a hand in their frustrations too. It left Gladio feeling moodier than normal, and unfortunately he often took it out on those closest to him . ]
Super demanding. But I know I was more stubborn back then than I am now too, so I guess it kinda evens out. Bark or no bark.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-10 06:11 am (UTC)[Hands on his hips, glasses catching light, stomping his little feet when Gladio was anything less than loving towards his charge. Demands both high-pitched and relentless.
A far cry from the calm, graceful man who was seemingly built to serve who is holding him now. Teenage Ignis existed at both ends of the spectrum. Ultra stoic with intense bouts of emotion (mood-swings) that could almost rival Gladio's temper. They've both mellowed with age, though their personalities were encouraged in opposite directions.
Gladio to be the penultimate Shield. Confident, fearless, and dominant.
Ignis to be the penultimate Advisor. Calm, conservative, and yielding.
Did Regis and Clarus know what they were doing when they chose Noct's companions, developing Shield and Advisor to compliment one another in such a way as to perfectly protect and guide the future King? 'Looking' at Gladio now, fingers running through the thick of his dark hair, and feeling strangely at peace, Ignis can't help but wonder. ]
You were more than stubborn. You were a veritable wall when you dug your heels in. Nobody could move you. Even before it was a physical impossibility to do so.
Between you and Noct, it's a wonder I didn't lose my mind completely.
I suppose that's why my training was so harsh. To be in personal service of royalty requires a certain amount of... tolerance, to better meet the needs of personalities both larger and more exacting than your own.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-10 04:14 pm (UTC)[ One hand reaches up and though Gladio hesitates for a fraction of a moment, he lightly prods his index finger against the side of his upper lip. Unlike an actual coeurl, Ignis lacks the whiskers that made the animal so recognizable. But on the other hand he does wear coeurl-print, so maybe that makes up for it.
His hand drops back down to thump against his own chest, and Gladio settles back in to make himself comfortable. There might be an easier way to do it, but you know what? He's content like this. ]
I wouldn't say your training was that harsh, though. I mean...
[ There's a smile both on his face and in his voice as he peers up at Ignis. ]
You did decide you wanted to jump into training with the Crownsguard when you were... what, fifteen? It was rough on me at thirteen, and I had both my old man and the Marshall handling me for the most part. You? You had the Marshall and you had magic involved. Not to mention all the one-on-one stuff we had together over the years.
[ After all, who better to work with training the future king's hand than the future king's shield? ]
no subject
Date: 2022-04-10 07:38 pm (UTC)[Not that it makes a swipe from him any less painful. Men, monsters, and daemons have learned to fear his wrath. Especially when Noct is involved.
At the prodding, Ignis will raise the corner of his mouth in a slight show of tiny canine. The smallest, most polite of snarls. Still, he is playing along, and after weeks of somber quiet with his nose constantly to the grindstone, it's an improvement.
There's even a little laugh when Gladio says his training wasn't that harsh.]
Oh, it wasn't the Crownsguard training that was harsh. Difficult? Incredibly, but not harsh. When one gets injured sparring there's space to lick your wounds, and an understanding that failure is but a stepping stone to becoming stronger.
Retainers aren't allowed to make mistakes. One can ruin their entire reputation, and the reputation of their family, by setting a table for foreign dignitaries with the wrong utensils, for you risk embarrassing the King himself. Failure is simply not an option.
No matter how rudely you're treated, you must remain polite, composed, and continue to render service to whomever you're assigned. You must see everything, forget nothing, and remain loyal and steadfast in spite of any personal objections you may have.
The most brutal punishment I ever received from my uncle was for crying in front of the King. I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I recall being unable to sit for over a week. And the entirety of his tongue-lashing. Word for word.
Ah-- actually, I do remember how old I was. Nine. Noct had broken my glasses and was being an utter terror knowing I couldn't see him well enough at any real distance to stop him, so I lost my composure and tattled to King Regis.
The punishment did work, though. For I never made the same mistake again.
[He returns to stroking Gladio's hair, even more gently, somehow.]
That said, given the choice, I wouldn't have it any other way. Not if it meant losing this.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-10 08:48 pm (UTC)[ Now Gladio moves. It's not enough to dislodge his hands from his hair, but it's enough so he can roll over and if he so chose, could bury his face in the other man's stomach from this angle. And you know what? Maybe he does. Maybe, just maybe, Gladio takes the opportunity to sling both arms around Ignis's waist and pulls his face in, pulling himself upright just enough so his forehead rests against his torso and his voice winds up muffled by his shirt. ]
There's no reason to hit a kid for crying, Iggy. 'Specially if it's so hard you can't sit for a week. I cried in front of plenty of people β the King included β and my dad never chewed me out for it. I cried a ton when I was nine, and no one ever gave me shit. I yelled at people who worked for dad and everything.
[ Only he hadn't broken a pair of glasses. His reason for those outbursts had been different. Even so, it doesn't change Gladio's feelings on the whole situation. ]
Just because you're sworn to do something doesn't mean you've gotta put on a smile and pretend to like it. You know just as well as I do that I couldn't stand Noct when I first started working with him. I thought he was a spoiled brat, but that... changed when he put his neck out for Iris. He didn't have any reason to do so, but he did it anyway. He didn't even know her.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-10 09:26 pm (UTC)Putting on a smile and doing whatever I had to do in order to keep my charge safe, happy, and successful is exactly what was expected of me. That's why I said it was harsher.
In Crownsguard training... I was only responsible for myself and my own progress. In a way it was freeing. An outlet for my emotions where I was encouraged to go all-out, instead of always holding back. Some days, training with you was all that kept me sane.
[And look at him now. The perfectly composed retainer who is an absolute beast in battle-- though always with one eye on his King, and managing the field.
More accurately, look at him a few months ago. Before Altissia. Back when he could cook, clean, and kick-ass whilst hardly breaking a sweat. Now its a struggle to accomplish any one of those tasks perfectly, never mind all of them, but there is one thing he can still do almost better than anyone else. And that's wrap both arms around Gladio and hold him close, one hand rubbing between his shoulder blades.
Ignis was never coddled, and in a way that makes him especially good at coddling others. All he really knows is how to give love. Receiving it is another story.
Thankfully, with a friend like Gladio, it doesn't really matter. The behemoth man has a behemoth heart and smothers him with it anyway.]
I don't hate who or what I am, it was simply a difficult road to get here. There's nothing I enjoy more than spoiling you all. My favourite part of cooking is seeing the happiness it brings... I miss that terribly.
Watching everyone eat and smile could turn a bad day into a good one. Now I have to listen for sounds of pleasure or approval, and sometimes it's difficult to tell.
On that note, what do you want for your birthday dinner? You have yet to tell me.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-10 09:51 pm (UTC)[ As if to hammer the point home, Gladio tightens his arms around him for a moment in an almost-painful hug. Maybe it's the fact that this is the first time in months that he's gotten to sit down and let everything sink in, or maybe it's the whole 'turning twenty-four an entire world away from home without one to return to' thing that's making him feel especially sentimental. Either way, Ignis is getting one and there's nothing the universe can do to stop it.
Except Ignis shifting the subject, of course.
But that doesn't mean he's pulling his head from his shirt anytime soon. No, he wants to cling to this moment for a little longer while he can. They both need it. ]
...Y'know, for the first time in my life I don't actually know? If we were back home-home, I'd probably wanna hit up that club that opened up a couple years back. Or... the Passiflora-Incarnara. That diner in midtown. I know you swiped the recipe for some of their soups 'cause you said they were too salty and said you could do it better, but the rest of it was always pretty good.
[ Finally, he turns his head a bit to the side so he can breathe in something that wasn't Ignis. A little fresh air to go with his advisor smell. ]
Surprise me?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-11 12:47 am (UTC)Still, I do hope he made it out.
[Gladio isn't letting go, and neither is he. If anything, Ignis relaxes back against the wall. Pulling Gladio closer to him with a sigh. Rocking side to side ever so gently. Is he attempting to comfort the Shield, or himself? The correct answer is both.]
Why did you always want to go out, rather than stay in for a home-cooked meal?
[Not that Ignis ever took quiet offense to it (he did).]
I can do that. There's already one item on the menu I know without a doubt you'll go head over heels for. As for the rest... I'll see what else inspires me.
[Of course this will be a multi-course affair. Gladio will never turn twenty-four again.]
no subject
Date: 2022-04-11 01:00 am (UTC)It's fine to be vulnerable for a little bit. ]
Y'mean beyond the times dad would take us out somewhere? I dunno. I liked the energy. The people. And if I ever wasn't feeling it that night, I know I always had somewhere to go home to.
[ Either the family home, his own apartment, or Noct's. Usually where Noct was, Ignis and Prompto were too. Usually after texting Ignis, of course. ]
Gimme a hint?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-11 01:25 am (UTC)[The Amicitias are as loving as they are intimidating. Strong hearts make strong Shields. Seeing Gladio so relaxed, eyes closed, breathing soft-- being soft, only makes Ignis want to hold him closer for longer.]
All I will say is it's something you've had before, and that I've never made it for you. You said you wanted a surprise, and a surprise you shall receive.
[A slightly daemonic smirk.]
no subject
Date: 2022-04-11 01:41 am (UTC)[ After all, with Regis around to actually spend time with Noct meant that they all had a bit of a vacation! ]
Something I've had before, but you've never made it... Huh. I gotta think about that one.
[ Sure, there was plenty of things that fit the bill but here? Those options were pretty limited. ]
What about dessert?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-11 01:48 am (UTC)[One hand lifts to ruffle Gladio's hair, mussing it something fierce before smoothing it back down again.]
Do you or don't you want a surprise? Or does the 'surprise' element only apply to savoury foods?
If you have a special request, I can do my best to fulfill it.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-11 02:06 am (UTC)(It's a good something, he knows this.) ]
Something with cinnamon? S'all I got. Beyond that, my fate is in your hands.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-11 02:36 am (UTC)[The cogs are already turning. While he could likely pull together a traditional cake, it wouldn't be half as well-decorated as Gladio is used to, and all too predictable. Enter the idea of a 'churro' cake. Layers of cinnamon-sweet, crunchy dough, separated by fresh cream and topped with a caramel drizzle.
Ignis tasted his first churro during Kiichpan's street festival, and has never made one before, but...]
Hm. I believe I've just come up with a new recipe(eh).
no subject
Date: 2022-04-11 02:56 am (UTC)I could taste test for you?
[ So, it's not the best hug he's given. It's still something, right? ]
Whatever you've got planned, it'll be great.