nascere | LET'S PLAY {open post}

[ Second chances aren't something he wants to squander again. Ignis dares to kiss him, dares to snuggle into the solid, steady weight of him, dares to tuck Noctis' head under his chin and thinks this is what he's been missing for all those years. This finally feels right.

In the morning, things go back to normal. Ignis keeps his hands to himself much better than he did before, but they steal moments in the morning, at Gladiolus', in a thousand other places until it really does feel like they're teenagers in a clandestine relationship that no one can know of. Eventually, though, it gets to a point that they start delivering bits of information and while Ignis coordinates a good deal of it in conjunction with both Noctis and Octavia, there's nothing that can be done to really fix the mess that it'll be. All they can do is wait for a larger potential scandal, or this one to blow over.

It's terribly tiresome to read the ridiculousness people wonder regarding their king. Magazine articles speculating that Noctis was having sex with all of them -- there was only one tent, after all, or newpapers with sensationalized titles on the top. For the most part, it's all ridiculous speculation in the gossip magazines and tantalizing pieces about maybe this, given what we know to drag out the affair. Ignis still attends all the events he did before, still focuses on his duty as much as everyone else and takes to wearing the thicker glasses once more, because they hide the eyerolls better these days. It gets to a point where not even Octavia's masterful wrangling of everyone can prevent it and Ignis knows that it's wearing on all of them.

He ignores it as best as he can; he has a job to do and their tittering doesn't impact anything, but something has to give eventually. Despite the borderline fight they have, Ignis is sent away to work elsewhere, which essentially becomes waiting with Octavia for the press conference while both of them drink a copious amount of wine and Luna bounces happily in one of her chairs, gumming a new toy. His phone is at his side, paperwork in his lap as they watch, waiting for the feed to go live after they finish talking about the price of gas outside the city finally dropping now that trade is flourishing. I think the two times I've sat with you are the only times I've had more than a glass of wine, total, Ignis says, not missing the way her lips twist up into a little smirk. We're almost out, shall I uncork another?

Is he just delivering his piece, or is he answering questions, too? she asks, considering.

Hope for the former, though I'm relatively certain it's the latter.

Then yes. I think another bottle it is. ]

[ The problem with holding a press conference, Noctis reflects as he finishes his piece (announcing that yes, he is in the beginning stages of a relationship with his adviser, and yes, he assures that all matters in regards to diplomatic ties with Nifleheim have been arranged, in large part thanks to the Queen), is that one can never be entirely prepared for the questions that come volleying at him. His public relations team have vetted through most of the questions and prepared answers for them, and for the most part he answers succinctly, with a clear intention to draw the line.

His personal life is not fodder for the public, no matter how they may seem to think. But then the questions turn unexpected, as Noctis has been informed they are wont to do, with gems like Did you really sleep with all four of them? Was Scientia your first? Did you have an affair while married to the Queen?, and Noctis fields them as best as he can, keeping firmly to the necessary talking points. He's here to protect Ignis and Octavia, and he takes on what he can. It's a difficult session; people are too damn interested in their love lives, and the journalists insinuate a deeper connection, that they had been childhood sweethearts.

Noctis, of course, goes off script and decides to be honest. He's sick of the charades and parading. ] Yes. Ever since we were children. [ Which is a bombshell in itself because that was not the narrative that was agreed upon, at least where Lucis is concerned. Noctis has been in love with Ignis ever since they were young, and Ignis had been the first, the only. While all care had been taken to honor Octavia, Noctis acknowledges frankly, openly, that he has fallen short.

He looks into the cameras to deliver this, genuine but firm. He knows his team will probably kill him for this, having painstakingly crafted a narrative for him to follow -- but in all good conscience he knows he cannot. He knows, too, that he owes Octavia. The journalists come alive then, bursting with a barrage of questions that he personally answers. Yes, he says. Yes, he had an affair with him. And yes, they were together long before the Nifleheim marriage, and he was the reason why it didn't work out.

For this he is genuinely contrite, and he issues a public and heartfelt apology, making no excuses as he acknowledges the blame as best he can. The fault for the divorce lies on him; not his first love, who had taken a long period of leave to fulfill his duty, and certainly not the Queen, who had fulfilled all her duties to Lucians and the Empire alike.

In the meantime, Ignis' phone blows up with countless exasperated texts from the Lucian press secretary. ]

[ Luna starts hiccuping the moment the conference finally begins and Ignis waves off Octavia rising to handle it himself. Changing her takes no time at all and when he's finished, he walks around the room listening to the questions, bouncing Luna gently. Better than drinking, though he's only had a few sips of his second glass.

In his head, he answers the questions himself, Six, no, unless you count cramming into a tent or sleeping in the car, why is it your business, and yes, I'm so sorry.. Noctis stays to the talking points he's been delivered, and while it doesn't go smoothly, it does proceed far less awfully than it could have. Still, announcing an affair on TV is one thing, but one so sordid means that the speculation is going to triple into something else, a whole other beast they have to confront.

It's when Noctis looks into the camera and starts speaking that Ignis freezes, eyes fixing on Octavia's. Oh, Heron is absolutely going to love this, Octavia breathes, both of them well aware that the press secretary is entirely competent, and a good man, one they'd trust with that position but also, he doesn't like them going that far off of script. Ignis rolls his eyes to the ceiling, bouncing Luna idly.

Your father, he sighs, Luna laughing happily and groping for his glasses. If you're half as stubborn as he is, we're all going to have our work cut out for us. Octavia reaches out to take her for him and he deposits the baby into her lap instead, settling back in his chair to watch rather than just listening. He does look every inch the king. He's impossibly handsome and earnest, regretful at the right points. It goes better than he could have hoped despite the mess of it but when his phone starts ringing he knows that there's still hell to pay. One call turns into two, then three, and by the time he's finished the meeting is over and they're televising everything, picking it apart piece by piece.

Sinking back into the chair, Ignis thumbs a message to Noctis, not sure if he's going to have time for a call. ]

That certainly could have gone worse, though the vultures did pick quite a bit. I missed the last part, unfortunately, as Heron wanted to know if I had anything to do with the deviation, but I think he knew as well as I did that you were bound to be noble despite the script.

[ He can't lie. He can't -- he's tried, but he knows that sooner or later, the truth will come to light. And honestly? He's sick and tired of hiding. He's tired of treating Ignis like a secret, like he's something shameful, and even though the world won't work the way it should, even though he knows that his public relations team will have a hell of a time during this, and that for the next week this will be everything that they're talking about, getting it off his chest feels better.

The barrage of questions don't stop coming, and Noctis knows, with no small amount of dread, that there will be an entire sea of headlines tomorrow all over the damn world, even. Ignis won't have an easier time of it, and for that he is sorry. But at least they won't fault Octavia for this marriage's failure, as they are wont to do. They won't come after her. She has, after all, done more than her fair share of her job, and if there's anyone that should be taken to task it should be the king himself.

Already there is talk to spin this off-script moment into something else, something more of a long time romance in the making; he hears snippets of it when the conference finally concludes, and it's what his team latches onto. Turn it into something romantic, something the public will lap up, but Noctis is too exhausted to really offer anything of substance.

Heron looks red in the face and is evidently on the phone with someone, and Noctis doesn't even need to be a mind-reader to hazard a guess. Ignis, and while Heron will never take his frustration out on the king, the royal adviser is another thing entirely. Eventually, however, Noctis gets to go off on his own, and he sinks tiredly into his couch. It's an hour later that the text is answered -- just when the madness dies down. At least, for now. He smiles at his text, aware that his lover had been watching intently, because it's obvious he isn't going to do entirely as Noctis asks and ignore the thing wholly. But the important thing, he supposes, is that he heard everything-- and that he knows Noctis is no longer content to sweep things under the carpet and creep around like what they're doing is some kind of cardinal sin. Noctis loved Ignis first -- he always had. ]

I thought I told you that you're not to pay any heed to this broadcast at all. Should I get a fruit basket for Heron? I don't think he'll sleep a wink tonight till tomorrow.

[ While waiting for the text back, Ignis goes back to work. There's not much else he can really do anyway; if he's going to sit around he may as well be useful, right? It's mindless to go through the paperwork he was sorting, and then when that's finished, he opens up another bottle for the two of them. If he wasn't sure it would be a terrible idea, he'd ask Noctis to come over here. As it is a terrible idea, Ignis keeps to what he has, listening to Luna's babbling idly.

Already, his phone is beeping with notifications about comments, requests for interviews, a thousand other things. He sends them off to his assistant, along with an apology because he knows this is going to be a nightmare to deal with and earmarks certain ones they may want to consider. The romance card isn't a bad one to play - it's not the wrong one, either. Ignis approves the commentary they suggest from him, tweaking a few items and then his phone is plucked from his hand by Octavia.

We're going to eat and then you'll head back, she orders, no room for arguing. Ignis doesn't bother to try; she's right. The cooks prepare a meal and Ignis eats almost mechanically, phone vibrating in his pocket but it's not an emergency tone or Noctis' so he leaves it. When Noctis finally does text back, Ignis is borderline concerned but also understands the situation. ]

You know me well enough to know I would watch. And his wife will appreciate it more than he will, which will do wonders in smoothing all of this over, but yes. You'll get to deal with him tomorrow, I'm afraid. How are you feeling?

[ Noctis dismisses the staffers who are asking if he would like to have dinner brought up. The entire fiasco leaves him worn out and entirely bereft of appetite. There will be a bigger storm tomorrow, he knows -- but it has to blow up before it will fade into yesterday's news. As his aides buzz around outside the confines of his office, occasionally asking to enter to respectfully confirm something or another, Noctis sends down instructions to purchase the biggest fruit basket they can find and send them to the missus.

Ignis' words are reasuring, an island of calm in the storms that rage outside. He knows, too, that he's brought more than some trouble on Ignis, and some on the Nifleheim side of things (minimal, but still warranting a press release or another in the near future), and he sighs. He swears he's just spotted one of Ignis' principal secretaries running past together with a harried-looking public relations executive. So he must have sent down instructions of his own, too. ]

Like I've been dragged to hell and back. I'm not doing something like this again. Can you believe some idiot dared to actually ask if you were the one who seduced me into this. How are you? Octavia and Luna?

[ Despite the fact that he's going to have to deal with his own backlash - he can see the headlines now, Adviser Tempts King, How Much Power Does He Really Hold or something else equally stupid. Regardless of the shitshow that he's going to have to deal with, Noctis is the priority. He can weather anything that's thrown at him because he knows that the Council, Noctis and Octavia all will support him no matter what. There's an added benefit in being too useful to fire, even if he's sure one or two members of the Council will want him removed.

After a barrage of questions from his secretary, Ignis tells her that it'll keep until tomorrow, and buys her a fruit basket, too, making sure it has the nicest wine he can find, since she actually appreciates that kind of thing more than he does. ]

It won't look good if we ban anyone from press meetings, but I'm certain we can work out less than ideal seating arrangements with Heron. Talk to him about it tomorrow, I'm sure making them miserable will do wonders for his good mood. All three of us are just fine. Octavia has me drinking wine from a little district where she was born; it tastes all the same to me but it isn't bad. Luna's done her level best to stick her fist into her mouth with varying degrees of success.

[ A moment later his phone buzzes again, this time with a picture of Luna in her chair, half her fingers in her mouth, chin shiny with drool. ]

You boozehounds. At this point it looks like he'll settle for making anyone miserable. [ Noctis counters glibly. But that's not wholly true -- the man still looks like he's in control even when he knows things are going to hell in a handbasket all around him. But Noctis has faith that he can pull something like a miracle off because honestly, this isn't the first day he's working with Noctis. Or for Noctis, for one.

Even so, he's grateful. And he relaxes when Ignis sends him news about the three of them -- two thirds of whom are in danger of being chronic alcoholics and the last third priming to be some sort of circus performer. Then Ignis sends him a photo of Luna, his beautiful baby girl, and he cannot help but laugh. ] I'm sure she'll figure it out. Her grandfather could do it pretty well when he was younger. [ At least, that was what Noctis heard, and he damn well believes it.

And just like this, he gains precious perspective -- he can go through anything if it means that he has the people he loves by his side. ]

I love you. You know that, right? I'm sorry it's such a mess right now. I don't think a few people in a council are going to take kindly to this.

A little over a glass of wine is what equals a boozehound these days, hm? Perhaps we're all just grateful not to be drinking whatever they were brewing in the outposts.

[ Life finds a way, and so do miserable people who want alcohol. They hadn't been full on distilleries, but they'd been close enough. The amount of alcohol both consumed and created was utterly insane for how poor it tasted, but beggars and choosers. Ignis hadn't ever bothered to have more than a sip which was usually enough to remind him why he wasn't drinking.

Now, of course, it's much easier, but even then, he's not particularly eager to drink himself foolish. Caffeine is preferable, if he's putting unhealthy things into his body. ] There's a talent. Well, I'll try to keep her from chewing on too much of herself where I can. We may have to get her a new fish toy; she's nearly gummed the fin off of this one. And Noctis, please don't worry. We knew going into this that it would be less than ideal. I love you, as well.

But at least it's all out now. Nobody needs to be digging deeper because that's all there is.

[ The whole unvarnished truth -- mistakes he made for love and how he would be judged for it. Noctis allows it to be so; he regrets nothing but the pain he's caused to the ones who did nothing wrong but love him. ]

It's because you indulge her too much, Ignis. Maybe we should take her out fishing sometime when she's older. See how she takes to it.

It wasn't easy for you do this and we both know that. I can't speak for Octavia, but I am terribly proud of you.

[ Ignis finds himself with an arm full of baby as Octavia motions that she has to head off to the study to take her own call, and Ignis murmurs nonsense to Luna as she gropes for him again. ]

Indulge her? I haven't the faintest idea what you mean. And we should, that would be quite nice. How old were you when you started fishing?

[ a moment later there's another text, mostly incoherent gibberish. ]

gshwi2i92ifj

[ And then ANOTHER text, of Luna beaming happily with half of her fist in the mouth, reaching for the camera, Ignis looking faintly amused, if a little harried. ]

Apologies. She attempted to eat the phone.

Ever since I found out people would leave me alone whenever I did that.

[ Which is really refreshing. Noctis has never been a fan of all the protocol and bowing and scraping; it wears on the nerves after a very short while, and when he just wants to retreat and escape from everyone. But it still warms him to know that Ignis is proud of him -- that's more important than anything else. For that, he could face down a thousand firing squads; not that he'd ever tell Ignis something as lame as that. ]

Glad you approve.

[ His heart warmed by his daughter and Ignis, he can't help himself when he flicks on to video call mode; he misses Luna, and he wants to see them both together -- now that the divorce has been finalised and largely settled, they're free to move on. And Noctis is free to keep noticing that Ignis and Luna are surely developing a bond.

Which is excellent in every way; because Ignis can help parent her as well, right? The question lingers in his mind as he leans forward, making sure Luna can see him. Ignis looks so good with her, and he'd bet ten gil that right now, his lover is far more amused than affronted at having his phone temporarily pilfered. Just like that, he thinks, he feels better all at once. ]

Well, hey. She's shaping up to be a very handsy one when she's happy, isn't she?

[ Rather than text, he deletes what he had and accepts the phone call when it comes in, swapping to video mode a moment later. Octavia's still in the other room, so Ignis goes to the chair he'd been sitting in with Luna on his hip, cradling her gently so she doesn't wobble. She's still young - it startles him how fragile she is, sometimes, and then others she'll knock herself into things and be just fine. Babies are resilient, Octavia told him once after he'd been concerned about her knocking herself into something. ]

Some leaders pick up golfing, but your vice is fishing. I must say I must prefer that over golf.

[ It takes him a moment to get the phone situated but he gets Luna in his lap, grabbing for his hands and the phone, burbling happily and he sinks back, smiling at the camera. ]

Indeed. Evidently it's normal for babies to try and stick everything into their mouth. Her poor nursemaid was worried earlier that she'd somehow eaten a crayon but she'd only knocked it down off the table. Hopefully a habit she grows out of.

[ A pause, as he looks Noctis over with a critical eye, lips pressed thinly together instead of the half-smile from earlier. ]

You look as if you need a break. I can come back now; Luna's spending the night here with Octavia, I'm just tending to her while she's on a call.

[ Noctis can't imagine golfing, not really. Trying to get a ball into a hole is ultimately an insufferable sport, and he's sure he'll be cranky ten minutes into the game. Fishing, you see, fishing is serene. Fishing is productive -- he gets to be alone with his thoughts, and then be a provider in addition to that, which appeals even more to his male ego.

He's watching Ignis situate a delighted Luna onto his lap, and oh, Noctis always thinks he's beautiful when he smiles but this one, this one is even more special. Or maybe it's because it's come on the heels of a particularly draining session. He's not expecting better news the next day or the few days after this, when this bombshell is what grips the nation and the papers milk every drop of sensationalism out of it. ]

I wouldn't know. Dad mentioned I used to eat crayons. They had to take them all away. [ He grins lopsidedly but it's short-lived. He's tired, he really is, and at this point the two of them are what keeps him going. While normally Noctis would refuse the offer, too proud to admit that he needs help, he doesn't now. ]

Yeah. Yeah -- that's fine. [ He could do with his presence. Hold him and be convinced that he just did the right thing. ] What time will you be arriving? I'll send word for dinner.

[ Ignis has never held a particular fondness for it either, truth be told. He understands the appeal, he supposes, objectively enough, but fishing strikes him as something more interesting. There's skill required for both, but fishing at the very least leaves you with something to show once it's done. Or, in some cases, nothing to show and a rather uninteresting meal, but not altogether a bad one. ]

Ah, it's inherited, then. Do you suppose your father did the same when he was li-- sweetling, no, please.

[ Luna, apparently bored with conversation, reaches up for his glasses and he shifts out of the way of chubby, sticky hands, but not before a smear of drool covers one of the lenses. Sighing, he props the phone up on his leg and goes to clean them off, an arm wound around her so she doesn't fall over. ]

Octavia should be finished with her call soon enough. I can let you know when I leave, but probably in ten or twenty minutes. You should have seen it earlier; when you were on the screen she was sitting in her bouncing chair babbling at the television and reaching for you.

[ Noctis makes a soft, wistful noise, regret obvious in his eyes. He loves his little girl with all his heart, and in this moment he's profoundly, intensely sorry for everything that he would put her through.

She is more than his heir -- she is a part of him, the second greatest love of his life, and she deserves a home with loving parents. Ignis' tenderness towards her doesn't go unnoticed, and he watches as she turns to press her cheek to his fondly, a gesture of affection. He would make such a good father to this child, and he leans in close to press his fingers against the screen, as if she would know that he's reaching out to touch her. ]

She was, huh.

[ Would she hate him for this when she grows up, knowing he chose love? Would she resent Ignis? No, no. It won't come to that. The three of them would give her everything she needs, and she would want for nothing, especially not love.

He finds himself sorely missing Ignis' presence, and he sighs. ] Do you think she knows what's happening?

[ Part of him wishes that Octavia never moved out because this splitting of time is going to be difficult on all three of them, parents and child. They've worked it well enough so far, but hopefully when things are a little more settled they'll be in the same space together. The last thing Ignis wants is to push her out so completely; he'll never be Luna's mother and he never wants to step into that position. His duty is to the crown's needs, in whatever capacity.

Luna, of course, falls into that category. Ignis doesn't miss the way that Noctis touches the screen, or the way Luna leans into him, warm down to his toes. ]

While I'm certain that a child from both of you will be both brilliant, shrewd and terribly lovely, I do think that she's still at the age where she gets excited if I've handed her an avocado so she can roll it around on her play-mat. I highly doubt she understands the intricacies of politics just yet.

[ A moment later, Octavia's housekeeper comes out, and Luna babbles again, drooling all over one hand while she waves the other. There's a moment of shifting; Ignis murmurs an apology and then hands the baby off with a kiss to her forehead and keeps video on as he peeks in to murmur a good night to Octavia, as well. ]

If you'd like I can stay on the phone until I get there.

You handed her an avocado to play with?

[ Noctis can barely keep the amusement from his voice. Really? He can imagine her accidentally dropping and bruising the thing, and while he's generally fine with Luna wrecking everything related to vegetables, he can't help a curl of warmth at just how indulgent Ignis is with her.

But he gets it. He does, and he watches when he lands Luna off to the housekeeper. He looks like he's done this a thousand times before and wouldn't mind doing it for longer, and this time his smile really widens.

As much as he loves Ignis, and as much as he enjoys looking at him, admiring every fine feature, he can't help but tease. ]

Really. You're planning to drive while staying on the line with me? I must really look like shit.

Well, I wasn't about to hand her a bread knife.

[ He was out of options, okay, an avocado was the safest thing that he could think of that would still keep her entertained and it was only marginally worse for wear.

He knows Octavia's place as well as the Citadel these days; he'd been the one who helped set up the security for it, ensuring everything was in place that they needed to keep her safe and he's here at odd hours sometimes. There's a moment where the phone breaks up and then Ignis is outside in the fading sunlight, squinting faintly. ]

You look handsome as ever, Noct, but it's been a trying day for you. I don't mind.

[ Fishing in his pocket, he presses a button and then slides in, hooking his phone up so Noctis can still look at him while he talks and drives. ]

[ So do you, he wants to say. In the fading light he is stunningly beautiful, a beacon in his own right. Noctis manages to get up off his couch with a groan, keeping his phone close before treading towards his private quarters. Ignis is thoughtful, gentle, and he's sure the day hasn't gone easily for him, either. ]

Your phone's been blowing up too, hasn't it? All we can do is wait and see what comes up in the papers tomorrow.

[ Noctis might have some of the media moguls on speed dial, and have even had friendships of a sort with them, but exerting his influence on them is unthinkable, dishonorable. Let it not be said that their king stops to petty manipulations. He has an idea of what will be splashed over the headlines, and just thinking about it is giving him a headache. How would this blow back on Ignis, on Octavia? How does he nip that in the bud before they get hurt? ]

Are more press meetings on the agenda with the team?

Trust me when I say I'm much less worried about me than I am about you.

[ He's weathered concerns about his position before, and come out fine. Now of course, he's going to be thrown into the spotlight but his work, his duties, and everything else have been utterly impeccable. There's nothing that they could hope to pin on him, or mark as disappointing or handled improperly save for this affair. This too shall pass.

It takes him a few extra moments to answer as he's pulling out onto the highway, but then he continues: ]

I intend to update it more fully tomorrow; right now we're getting the brunt of it and it's overwhelming. We'll let the various departments do their jobs for the time being and then bright and early we'll focus on a plan outside of that. We won't have to give any other sort of statements outside what's already been provided, and if any emergencies come up, they know how to reach us. We're at a point right now where the most we can do is wait until tomorrow.

[ Not exactly true but true enough for Noctis, who needs to sleep someday. ]

I'll be fine.

[ Because that's just like Ignis, isn't it? It's just like him to worry about everyone else except himself; it's one of the things Noctis loves about him -- and is so often exasperated by, in the same vein. Reaching the innermost private chambers of his personal quarters, Noctis allows himself to relax, carefully setting his phone on the stand before shrugging the immensely heavy cloak off. He sets it aside with care, knowing how much Ignis hates it when he just drops it to the carpet.

He absorbs those words, silently marveling at how Ignis seems to already be so on top of this when Noctis had essentially only just dropped the bomb a couple hours ago. But he trusts him beyond all else, and he's grateful that he's here for him, and he smiles faintly. More than sleep, Noctis needs him. His presence, his comfort, for this small, peaceful moment with him amidst all the madness. ]

Sounds about right. You're coming straight to me when you reach the Citadel. No detours.

[ If they can only wait until tomorrow, then Ignis is doing it with him. ]

Yes, I have no doubt that you will be fine, I was asking how you are right now.

[ He doesn't really need an answer because he knows, truth be told. It's been a brutal day for all of them and if Ignis is emotionally exhausted than he can't even begin to imagine just how tired Noctis must be with this on top of everything else. At least he's relaxing, now, or making an attempt at it.

Ignis' toe presses the pedal a touch harder, flicking his signal on to turn. He's not speeding exactly, but he is passing cars more frequently than he needs to. So long as he drives carefully there's no issue. ]

I don't believe anyone is so foolish as to think I would do anything else, Noct.

[ The corner of his lips tug up despite himself, a lopsided little almost-there smile; if anyone wasn't aware of his devotion to his king, well, now they certainly were. ]

Another six minutes, or so. What were you intending to call for dinner?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

2/2

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject