LET'S PLAY {open post}

[nascere]

[ open. texts, messages, rp prompts and starters. gen & nsfw. ]

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[broments]

☠fake bf shenanigans (+ tabloids)
☠ Ignis/Noct proposing to each other like massive fucking romantic nerds
☠ Noct ends up doped up on pain medication after something happens, which results in the "oh my god, oh my GOD WE'RE MARRIED YOU MARRIED ME???? I'M A PRINCE?" style reaction

[broments]

[ Truthfully, Ignis had thought he was done with feeling terrified of losing Noctis. They've been through the worst of the worst, weathered the storm and ended up in a good place where everything isn't constantly trying to kill them. Noctis rules fairly and well and Ignis has a title outside Scientia, which is a little odd to think of. He'd take Noctis' last names if he needed to for their wedding but they were assured it was useless; half of the places that would need to register name changes weren't even up and running in full and the paperwork would take ages. Weddings weren't a priority right now, save for the King's.

Give it another five or six years, maybe, but three years wasn't enough to have every little thing up and running despite best efforts, so Ignis leaves it alone. Prince Consort to King Consort. His parents had huge things in mind for him but marrying his charge probably wasn't one of them. Then again, they were long since gone along, so it didn't quite matter. Losing people was common over the last few years; he never got used to it, but there was a sense of finality to it.

The one unacceptable loss was always Noctis. He'd done everything possible to save him, every single time, and they'd made it through. That's what made this particularly frustrating. He wasn't deathly injured, but he was unable to heal himself, whatever he'd touched had drained his magic for at least a few days rendering potions and phoenix down useless. A last parting gift from Ardyn, apparently, or one they had been given and never used. Either way, it meant that he had no magic to heal himself so what normally would be a simple injury to heal turns into an ordeal.

They return to the Citadel and Noctis is pushed into surgery, which is blessedly short. When it's over, they warn that the painkillers they had to use were strong and it's entirely likely that Noctis is going to be a little bit unsteady for the next couple days while he recovers. Ignis is given firm instructions to give him the pills whenever he starts feeling pain, not to exceed four times a day, and to keep him on bed rest. He can go to the bathroom and have a sponge bath, but other than that, he shouldn't be leaving it.

Best news Noct'll hear all day, Gladiolus says gruffly, though he's spent the entire time waiting with Ignis, just as worried.

Noctis ends up settled in his bed rather than a hospital one; they bring everything in and hook it all up but he's connected to blessedly few monitors, considering. When it's done, all that's left is to wait for him to wake and upon the first stirrings, Ignis leans over, stroking his fingers over Noctis' face gently. ]

Easy. There's no rush.

[nascere]

[ The wedding, all things considered, had been the single most happy moment of his life. Noctis had never dreamed that something like this could happen; that he would one day outlive the prophecy and be able to find bliss for himself, to settle down and share his the rest of his life with his greatest love. But it happened, and on that day he could barely take his eyes off him, smitten and still harboring an odd sense of disbelief, like a treasure hunter who's found something so precious that it defies all measurement of price.

And then they're married, and Noctis settles in as king and husband. There are some mess ups along the way, but that's entirely human, and not all that earth-shattering, and life goes on. But life has an unpleasant way of tossing over curveballs, and Ardyn's latest parting gift is one of them.

Ignis saves his life again (how many times is it now? sometimes Noctis wonders if Ignis gets tired of it; if Gladio or Prompto do), and if Noctis were conscious he would probably hate that he needed to be saved this often. But as things stand, he fights for his life the way he always had, fierce and unyielding. The surgery ends up quicker than they'd probably thought despite the gravity and extent of his injuries, and when they transfer him to his own personal chambers once he's stabilised, the king wakes within the hour, groggy and high as a kite.

Everything's painless, everything feels like cotton wrapped in cotton wrapped in more cotton, and he doesn't remember where he is, only that he can hear colors and what wonderful colors they are, too. Noctis is settled contentedly on the cusp of friendly delirium and hazy amusement. There is one face, two faces, maybe three, and Noctis can't register them in his current state. They're nice faces, though. He likes those faces. ]

Heeeeeeeeey, I'm easy. Where's no rush?

[ He drags it out, all his words slurred because it sounds nice, and he decides that he likes one face a lot more in particular; the one touching him, most especially. ] They sent me really hot nurses, huh?

[broments]

[ An item to sap the king's magic is not the most surprising thing they've ever encountered but it's certainly one that is inconvenient. It's a trap meant to kill him, of that Ignis has no doubt but they're older and wiser now, more battle tested. Instead, it is a minor inconvenience that should run itself out in the next few days. Ignis will make sure that anything else with a similar magical signature is similarly disposed of.

Right now, however, Noctis is rousing and Prompto whoops quietly, settling at the foot of his bed. Gladiolus stands behind him like a particularly ominous gargoyle, arms crossed as Noctis wakes. What he expects is a complaint about pain, or a request for water, or a thousand other things. What he gets is something he'd never experienced before.

Noctis was a blessedly easy person to watch over; Prompto never urged him to get into much trouble and it wasn't as if Noctis was going to go to wild parties and do drugs in the bathroom. Going through all of his memories, he can't really remember a time when the future king was well and properly out of his mind on medication because after he'd grown up, after Tenebrae, they'd never really needed it. So right now, is, ah... something.

Eaaasy, huh, Gladiolus drawls and he can hear Prompto's snickers. ]

Blessedly, all of the nurses and doctors have left you in our hands while you recover. I regret to inform you that none of them were what you would consider attractive, but they were quite competent, which is all that matters.

[ Ignis smooths back his hair lightly, stroking knuckles against his cheek before he bends down and presses a kiss to one of Noctis' hands. ]

You'll only be out a few days and the painkillers should wear off by supper. Let me know if you need more or if anything hurts too much, yes?

[nascere]

[ At this particular point, Noctis isn't thinking about magic -- he's not thinking about anything at all except for the fact that this really hot nurse that touched his cheek with those long, lovely fingers and oh shit did he just kiss his hand. He's saying something about the medical team that Noctis' currently fuzzy brain can't quite accurately grasp, and he glances over at the gargoyle and the chortling blond curiously before his eyes are fixed right back on the man with the green, green eyes. ]

You're really, really pretty. [ He slurs, apropos of nothing. Distantly, he's aware that he'd probably failed to grasp the finer points of this conversation, but who cares. He's feeling really, really good in a myriad strange little ways, and he's halfway to contemplating if he's sleeping on a real cloud.

Also, that he's maybe a little bit gay. Which is of course a thought that doesn't go unshared, because he's pulling Ignis down by his collar and whispering it loudly in his ear, enough for the other two to hear. ]

I think I'm a little gay.

[broments]

Dude, Noct's stoned.

[ Ignis gives Prompto a withering look for his terribly insightful comment and turns his attention back to Noctis, feeling himself warm when he's told that he's 'really, really pretty.' Truthfully, he feels as if he needs a shower and his king to be back to normal, but he'll take the compliment as it is.

Noctis pulls him down and Ignis has a moment to wonder if he's about to be kissed in front of everyone (not for the first time, but ah--) but no. No, Noctis is just poorly whispering in his ear and Ignis clicks his tongue in response, terribly fond. ]

A little bit, perhaps. It'd be terribly disappointing if you weren't interested in men, considering we've been married a while.

[ Noctis' ring was taken during surgery but it's in the ringbox placed upon his dresser. Ignis shows him his ring instead, listening to Gladiolus' poorly withheld snickers. ]

Should we leave you to rest? You seem a bit -- out of sorts.

[nascere]

[ Noct is so stoned, but he's not too gone that he doesn't realise this really, really pretty man is blushing, and he's reaching out to cup his cheek -- all inhibitions tossed to the wind. Oh, he feels so good under his hand, too. ]

Married? [ He echoes, having enough presence of mind to look down at his hand. No ring, though, and his gaze lingers on Ignis' longer than he should, blinking. ] You mean to other people? [ Because why doesn't he have a ring? Crestfallen and disappointed, he asks, ] Do I have to tell my wife I'm gay?

[ Because that's going to be a very difficult conversation to have, and Noctis is feeling too good to ruin things. He's sleeping on a cloud! ]

[broments]

[ Oh, dear. Ignis doesn't pull away but he can hear Gladiolus coo under his breath just so he knows that he's watching all of this. Much as he'd like for them to leave the room, now that they know the state Noctis is in, they're never going to leave so it'd be a fruitless endeavor. ]

We're married to each other. You had surgery; they had to give you something for the pain and it looks like it may have made you forget everything, temporarily. They've assured me it's only temporary.

[ Not that he thinks Noctis will care. He's blissed out on whatever they gave him. ]

So no, there's no worries about telling your wife that you're interested in men. One less awkward conversation to fret about.

[nascere]

Oh.

[ Wait. It slowly sinks in, and Noctis will probably kick the other two later for being privy to the most embarrassing moment of his life, but right now he's flying pretty high and he's not about to land anytime soon and Ignis, bless him, is handling his drug-addled mind like a champ. It sinks in, eventually, that Noctis is married, and most importantly Noctis is married to what is just about the most beautiful man he's ever set eyes on, because holy shit.

Holy shit. ]

Oh. [ He stares at him, eyes wide with growing wonder. ] You're married to me? [ Because there's gotta be a mistake somewhere, like Yule's come along and he opened his presents only it isn't a present, it's a shining star plucked from the sky. This is that shining star, bright like the sun and holy Astrals is he for real? ] Really?

[broments]

[ Is that disappointment? Ignis gives Gladiolus a baffled look, unable to help himself and Gladiolus, ever helpful, shrugs palms up.

I think you just blew his mind, Prompto says after a pause and Ignis looks back at his husband, watching the realization dawn over his face. His eyes go wide, and his voice goes shocked and Ignis is-- well. Concerned. Very concerned, because the memory issues aren't exactly good but Noctis is looking at him like he's the best thing he's ever seen and that's very flattering, especially if they don't know each other in his mind. ]

A few months ago. I'll show you the wedding photographs in a bit, I promise. The ring is the one you gave me when we exchanged them.

[ Gently, he picks up Noctis' hand and kisses where his ring would be. ]

Would you like me to fetch yours for you to see?

[nascere]

Yeah. Yeah -- !

[ He's not sure if he's referring to wedding pictures or the ring but both sound really good and really impossible, and he's still staring at him like he'd disappear if he blinks. Fingers curling with pleasure around his, he flushes a warm pink at the kiss. He looks up at Gladio and Prompto askance. ] Did I really get this one?

[ Because it feels like he's won the lottery, he's won at least ten lotteries, and his chest feels so full it's about to burst out of his chest -- and it's definitely not the drugs. Probably. Noctis is hanging on to just about every word Ignis is saying, clinging to his hand so that Ignis can't let go of him. If it turns out to be a really good dream, he's going to be way pissed. ]

[broments]

You'll have to let me go, Noct, or I can't -- oh.

[ Prompto, apparently deciding to have some use other than watching and taking video to blackmail their king with later, fetches both of them, along with the framed wedding photo that Ignis keeps on a shelf higher out of reach. All of the items are settled on Noctis' chest rather than over his injury, Prompto careful in avoiding that whole area. ]

...Thank you. I think that's all.

[ Blessedly, after a few more seconds of video, Gladiolus and Prompto wave their goodbyes, promising Noctis they'll be just outside the door. It leaves them alone, finally, and Ignis slips the ring out so he can push it onto Noctis' finger. ]

A perfect fit.

[nascere]

[ Oh, there he is. Noctis is reaching for the framed wedding photo, nearly knocking the other off his chest as he squints. It's an elegant affair, understated; or at least it would have been if Noctis hadn't grabbed Ignis by the lapels, kissed him at the very last second the camera went off, and he decided this is one of the few photos they're keeping.

Drugged-out Noctis doesn't think all that deeply about the photo, only that there is him, and there is Ignis, and he makes a loud, incredulous noise when the ring fits nicely on his hand, and he's still looking at him, unable to have enough of him. Shit, he's so beautiful, it's almost blinding, He's reaching out to touch his face, just a little, as if he's afraid Ignis would disappear if he presses too hard. ]

Have we kissed yet? [ Dazed, he continues. ] You are so perfect.

setting this in the au where he can see fuck u ffxv

[broments]

[ In the end of the world, there aren't any jewelers. There are the storefronts where they used to be and if Ignis wanted, he could of course simply walk in and peruse the wreckage for something shiny. In the beginning of the new world, when the rubble is cleared and the sky is blue and Noctis lives and breathes and blessedly still refuses to eat his carrots, there still aren't many jewelers. Most craftsmen are occupied with important tasks to rebuild the kingdom and jewelry isn't one of them. It takes time for things to get back to a sort of normal where Ignis can do something like visit jewelry shops to talk about rings.

Ignis is nothing if not efficient, though. He makes contact with all of the former jewelers in their new jobs, partially out of curiosity and to make certain that their people are being utilized as efficiently as possible and partially to get an idea of their work. Someone could design and develop lovely trinkets, of course, but if they didn't apply the same sort of care and time to a project that was a thousand times more important but perhaps thankless, then he wasn't interested in giving them his business.

All of the research results in making multiple contacts who are hyper-qualified to handle the melting down of much of Insomnia to help deal with the wreckage and he learns a great deal about metallurgy that he hadn't quite anticipated, but there's one that sticks out in his mind. The daughter of a man who had owned one of the shops over in the textiles district, her father long since passed, somewhere in year four or five. When the darkness had come, she'd used her tools to help repair weapons and armor, had become friends with Cindy for a short while before work brought her elsewhere and was now married to someone else, a journalist, he'd heard. Ignis hadn't ever associated with her much, but when she reopens her fathers store he stops by.

She knows him and of the prince, now King. She also knows why he's there, and doesn't bother trying to show him any of the items that are on display right now. Instead, she settles him down with a list of every single type of metal, jewel, fixture and other aspect of jewelry she has access to, and provides him with a spreadsheet detailing locations, estimated time for delivery and every other piece of information that he could possibly hope to have. It's shockingly detailed and far more than he expects. When he asks about it, she grins and tells him that her husband, Dino, had mentioned the guy with the glasses, he likes all that detail oriented crap, go wild.

Of course.

Oddly pleased Dino's survived the nightmare along with the rest of them, he spends a solid week and a half working with her on obtaining the parts he want, taking a day trip to obtain something specific that she said they'd need to get the right shade in one of the fixtures.

When it's done, settled in the little box, she jokingly asks him for an invite. He promises without hesitation to give her and her husband one. The thing is, once he has it, the box seems to weigh a thousand times more than its contents. It sits in his obscenely massive closet for a while, tucked in a corner. Every time he thinks he's going to do it, something comes up, or there's some new issues to take his attention. Perhaps a wedding just...isn't in the cards for them for the next few years. They've had the coronation; certainly that's enough, but he wants more. It feels...greedy, almost, as if the love of his life living despite everything the gods, Ardyn, and everyone else is too much to ask for. He knows it's absurd but waking up to Noctis every single morning is a gift beyond measure or price and to want something else on top of that seems like it's too much.

So the box stays. Ignis buries himself in work during the mornings and day, and in Noctis' arms at night and it's comfortable, it works. The box and its precious contents will keep.

Breakfast, on the other hand, will not. Ignis settles it on Noctis' lap and climbs up next to him, winding an arm around him while he pulls his phone up to peruse the news and pick at his coffee, along with bits of Noctis' breakfast, not hungry enough for his own.

The problem with the city and its people being strong and rebuilding so quickly is that everything starts rebuilding, even the more unsavory parts. With dedicated time and people for news comes the resurgence of newspapers. With that comes the resurgence of gossip rags. Ignis flips through the assortment of ones that are earmarked for him - ones they may have to answer in press conferences because someone is too stupid to realize that no, the Citadel is not housing a bat-boy in any way, shape or form. This time, though, there's one that catches his eye.

RIGHT HAND MAN LOOKING TO PUT A RING ON IT? KING NOCTIS' CHIEF ADVISOR REPORTEDLY LOOKING FOR LOVE

Attached is a remarkably terrible photograph of him in the jeweler's though, so there's not much help denying it. Ignis files it before it can do any harm and just...assumes Noctis won't ever see it. ]

How's breakfast?

[nascere]

[ Carrots are crops borne from the ninth circle of hell, and he will have nothing to do with it, thank you. Noctis is more convinced of this than ever, especially after almost dying and coming back again, and he's thankful that Ignis is often too busy to really push the matter -- not that he usually does, anyway.

Life goes on in Lucis; relief and rebuilding efforts are in full swing, but the nature of human nature is one of resilience, and even in the midst of recovery work, people still find time for light-hearted frivolity, for thanksgiving. Of late, Noctis has been devoting his time to alleviating conditions for his people, starting on projects for the ones who are rendered homeless and developing plans to reclaim their annexed territories. It's just as well that he has a good few competent teams to take on their respective tasks, and Noctis manages to find time to source for jewelers, the precious stone he had picked up in one of the mines and surreptitiously kept had a use for it now.

Black diamond, the color for royalty and the stone that would signify an everlasting love -- he had spared plenty of thought for just how he could eventually pop the question to Ignis; and in the beginning had sought Dino and a few other craftsmen as well, commissioning them to create and craft a very specific ring, and Dino had met him under the cover of night to pass the box to him, a knowing gleam in his eye.

That had been nearly a month ago, and he likes to think that Ignis is still none the wiser the same way he is of his lover's trips to the jeweler's. As things are now, they're as close to perfect as they can be: they've fallen into each other's rhythm, a seamless, formidable team on the battlefield as well as out of it, and Noctis has learned to anticipate Ignis' plans and schedules, all the while admiring his efficiency and profound intelligence.

The Citadel has no better asset than Ignis and his myriad talents, and even now Noctis wakes next to him and is grateful that Ignis had chosen to stay by his side -- what a loss it would be to them if he had left for greener pastures; how much slower the relief effort will be if he did not stand by their side.

This morning, the daily news dossier that the public relations director sends reaches him earlier than usual, and he'd picked it up sleepily before Ignis returns with the breakfast, settling in bed and stealing his daily kiss from him with a lazy smile. He's been given a chance to leaf through the articles, not paying much mind to them when most of them are matters best handled by the professionals. What does catch his eye, however, is that one headline about Ignis evidently looking for love, having been spotted at a jeweler's.

Noctis doesn't bat an eyelid, his faith in his lover absolute and unwavering -- they've been through too much, and over and over again Ignis has proved the depth and intensity of his devotion, and Noctis has done the same. He had most likely been caught on camera during one of his visits to the merchants and store owners of the area. Ignis does tend to make his rounds from time to time. ]

Could do with some jam. I hear you're looking for love. [ He teases gently, because very obviously the thought that Ignis might be doing what Noctis had done hasn't crossed his mind. Plucking a particularly fluffy croissant from the tray, peeling off a pinch and feeding it to Ignis absently, he continues with a smile. ] So who's the lucky woman this time?

[broments]

[ When the rebuilding starts, Ignis is offered a plethora of positions, the vast majority of which while tempting and important would have taken him away from the one place he wanted to be. Not the Citadel, though he did enjoy being home for a given meaning of the word, but no, by Noctis' side.

Some didn't get it; Ignis' dedication to the throne had always been intangible. He served Regis because that was what his family did, and when serving Regis turned to serving Noctis he had taken to that with the same dedication and ferocity he did everything else. What he hadn't expected - what others didn't understand was that it wasn't duty that kept him bound to Noctis' side, though that did play a part. No, it was something raw, something ridiculous, almost, like out of one of Gladiolus' absurd romance novels. It could simply be laid out in one word: love.

He might serve his country and the ghost of Regis better if he were elsewhere, perhaps, but Ignis had meant what he told Ardyn all those years ago, fierce and hoarse and terrified at losing the only good thing this world had. The state of the world paled in comparison to Noctis living and that was his duty above all else. He was an extension of Noctis' will and intent and his place was forever at his side, in any capacity allowed.

In this moment, it's taking a bite of the croissant offered to him and resisting the urge to lick Noctis' fingers clean lest he start something they don't have time to finish. Of course he'd be aware of it; Ignis may be a filter to ensure that idiotic bullshit doesn't reach his king, but Noctis is uncannily perceptive at points. ]

I'm afraid, darling, that I've decided to run off with a woman I met at the market. She sells spices. It will be a boring life, but you can always come visit me at the stall.

[ Oh. The croissant is good. Ignis shifts in closer (not so much snuggling despite that being the entirely appropriate word) and uses his hands to work around Noctis's body so he can butter and spread jam over half of the croissant he's neatly decided is now his. ]

Perhaps we'll adopt the bat boy the tabloids are convinced lives in a closet here.

[nascere]

[ Noctis makes a little noise when Ignis sneaks half of his croissant -- hey, he was going to eat that! -- but he's ultimately indulgent, an arm coming to drape around his shoulders when he snuggles up (that's totally snuggling, sweetheart, and he's going to take full advantage of that). Forking up the pile of scrambled eggs with no small amount of enthusiasm after scattering salt and pepper on it (all one-handed, mind), he chews and swallows. ]

Good, then you can sell more spices to the kitchens. It's like they're allergic to them.

[ He grumbles good-naturedly, before forking up another mouthful. It's mornings like these that he loves, especially when he gets to spend time with his pilfering lover who has developed a very common habit known as 'not ordering what they want, but stealing food from their hapless other halves anyway', of which Noctis is long-suffering and indulgent. He rolls a cherry tomato towards Ignis with a soft grunt of disapproval, followed by the salad that the chef probably had tirelessly hoped Noctis would one day cave to consume. ]

Make yourself useful if you're going to eat half my breakfast, you thief. [ He hums, his tone endlessly fond. ] Speaking of bat boys, what did you do with all my comics?

[broments]

[ He could move off to the side so he's not so firmly in Noctis' way and vice versa, but this is quite comfortable and truth be told, Ignis likes being this close to him, likes all the ridiculous angles and ways they fit together even when it's difficult. He's never been comfortable like this with someone else before, never had this all-encompassing certainty that someone was the one like he has with Noctis. ]

Rationing is still in effect, and I'm relatively certain that you were the one who said nobility in all its forms shouldn't be treated any different than the rest.

[ He may not have been talking about spices, but still; Ignis is careful to hold them to the same standards they hold their people to in everything, which means if they want special spices at times, he has to go on trips to get them or send someone when they're out on business.

The cherry tomato is popped into his mouth with a quick pluck and he doesn't bother hiding the low, startled noise at how good it is. Fruit grown in the sunlight, fruit that's fresh and sweet, not canned or grown in a greenhouse, tiny and half-withered -- it's a shame Noctis doesn't care for them because they're superb. ]

Organized in your study for you. I took the liberty of picking up a few of the ones you were missing; I'm not certain if they were lost in the move or through time, but you should have the full collection of everything, now.

[nascere]

Mmngh. I hate when I say wise things. It always comes back to bite me in the ass.

[ It works out just fine, especially when Noctis really likes it when he's in the way. What's the use of having breakfast together if he can't cuddle with the one person he loves most in the world while doing so? Ignis is warm and solid -- he might still be taller and that little bit broader, but Noctis doesn't care. He fits perfectly as if he was made specially for him, and he makes sure to wipe his mouth with the serviette before he leans to kiss the side of Ignis' forehead, beaming with open delight.

He might be king now, but it would be a cold day in hell if he were to outgrow his comic books and games -- ten years is not really enough to disavow him of his old loves -- that Ignis would be this thoughtful, arranging his books and filling up his collection without his knowledge makes his heart warm and so, so very full in ways the most sumptuously prepared breakfasts can't manage. ]

I love you, you know that? [ He must have spent a fortune himself, and a lot of time to track those down. ] Just for that, you may have all my breakfast.

[broments]

Oh, don't worry darling, it doesn't happen often enough for concern.

[ Openly teasing, he steals the other half of Noctis' croissant- the one he had broken off a piece of to feed Ignis. He butters and smears it in jam, though this piece he offers up to Noctis' lips for them to split.

Truthfully, while he was aware of the interests that Noctis and Prompto shared (and Gladiolus, to an extent) he wasn't as well versed in every aspect of it. He'd do the research to make certain he had enough working knowledge to have basic conversations or track existing conversations, and to adequately pick out presents that were not ones they already owned, but that was it. Tracking down obscure comics was a lot like tracking down obscure herbs; it took a little effort and some coaxing but was not impossible if you were stubborn enough.

Besides, the sweet kiss and easy as you please I love you make every ounce of effort worth it. Ignis finishes off another tomato and again mourns the fact that Noctis will never really appreciate how good this is, and then laughs quietly as he takes the proffered salad. ]

How lucky for me that my love is so magnanimous - willing to share not just his hated vegetables but even the scrambled eggs.

[ Phone forgotten, he drops it into his lap so he can guide Noctis into a quick kiss, hand cupping his jaw. You could ask, he thinks, and smiles against Noctis' lips, pulling away before he can do anything like chase him. He has speeches prepared, half a dozen of them depending on the circumstances, and the ring is still tucked away, heavy despite him not carrying it. ] I want to share every single one of them with you wherever possible.

[nascere]

Hey! I say plenty of wise things all the time.

[ Noctis is grinning lopsidedly when he decides to lean in to take the delicious morsel from him, boldly giving his fingers a gentle lick and suck, because while Ignis is blessed with superior self-control abilities, Noctis has no such thing when it comes to his lover. It's ridiculous how much and how deeply he loves him, the bond that goes so much deeper than either of them have imagined.

This is bliss, this simple early morning breakfast before the rigors of the day sets in, and he thinks that he could propose right here, his own ring tucked inside the secret compartment in his nightstand, right where he's certain that Ignis would ever look. The kiss, however, drives all thought from his mind, slow and sweet, but it ends far too quickly. The protest dying in his throat, Noctis softens. ]

Me, too. We've missed out on so much time, Iggy. [ His hand comes to cup his cheek, keeping Ignis from moving too far away from him. He wants him close, wants to touch him, to reassure himself that his beloved is here, always. ] I can't imagine waking up without you, now. And it's your fault.

[broments]

[ That is the truth. For all that Ignis teases, Noctis has become wise beyond his years. Not being granted much of a life outside his duty will do that to a man, though.

He shifts the bowl onto his lap and pokes a fork into it so he can start picking away at it; now that he's awake he knows he should have ordered something for himself when he was getting breakfast for Noctis but he truly hadn't considered it necessary at the time. Now, he's quite aware of his foolishness, especially when his stomach protests just salad and a croissant. ]

Have you...considered what your position means now that things are starting to settle?

[ It's not quite a conversation he wants to broach, but suddenly, it's all he can think about. He'd ... just sort of assumed a yes, after everything, but Noctis has a kingdom to consider. He's been extremely set on making sure he does right by everyone even if it's at his own inconvenience. ]

Eventually, the Council will start to bring up questions regarding an heir and everything else attached.

[ They've brought it up three times to him already, but he's shut them down every single time, unwilling to pressure Noctis. ]

[nascere]

[ It's all right, Ignis is so often the quickest amongst them, the strategist with an intelligence so razor-sharp it's terrifying to others who find themselves on the wrong side of him, there's space for error when it comes to mealtimes.

He pushes his muffin and sausage to him, a sure sign of love, but his smile fades when Ignis brings up the question. He's thought of it, of course -- the question of succession has been a nagging one on the backburner, but there had always been more urgent situations to see to and resolve. He had never thought past his days with Ignis, and had always imagined that it could always be put off to another day. What does Ignis think about all this? To tell him that he's considering surrogacy seems like so much presumptuousness that Ignis would consent to spend the rest of his life with him. Kings don't marry their fellow male advisers; it hasn't been done in the entire Lucian history, and that is a tangle Noctis doesn't yet feel ready to undo. Especially when he hasn't even asked Ignis yet.

Of course, their relationship isn't a secret to those in the know, but having a lover and having an heir are two very different things. A king must have a queen, even though Noctis finds that patentedly ridiculous, and what of the political ramifications of such a thing? Would there be any at all? After Luna, he's determined that his marriage and lifelong happiness not be put up as a political pawn. But what if it becomes necessary? ]

They must have already brought it up to you. What do you think, Iggy? [ He asks at last, a knot in his stomach. Surely he must have some ideas, even if Ignis has always made a point of deferring decisions to him. ]

[broments]

[ The gesture doesn't go unnoticed. Ignis cuts the sausage in half with his salad fork and pushes the larger half over to Noctis' side. His half he eats in one go so he doesn't have to say anything before he can think about it, first. Were he younger, more insecure, he thinks he would have worried about the utter lack of an answer there. Now, he realizes they're likely both doing the same thing: feeling each other out.

It's a conversation that needs to happen, but perhaps shouldn't be happening in their bed. There's no way to put it off now, though, so Ignis polishes off the salad with one more bite and then focuses on his coffee. ]

I think that the Council will push you for an answer within the next two years, maybe sooner. I think...I think that my love for you is not dependent on our status or any children, but part of me thinks the idea of expecting you to do anything outside of living your life is unspeakably unfair. The world, of course, isn't fair, but I want to believe that everything you've been through means you've earned the right to choose without people fighting you on it. I think that we've held off on the idea of marriage for various reasons, but it...is related to this and we should, perhaps, talk about what it means.

[ Before, he wasn't sure if he could maintain a relationship with Noctis in secret, keeping to shadows while Noctis rules from the throne during the day and Ignis sneaks into his room at night like the mistress no one can speak of. Isn't something better than nothing? But now...he's not sure what it means that if Noctis is forced to marry, Ignis would likely request that it be broken off, for both of them. It's a sobering consideration to make, but he doesn't think he's strong enough to experience sweet and then never be able to have it again. Maybe that makes him less of a good man than he'd like to think of himself as.]

I think that regardless of what you do for the crown and for your people, I will always be by your side until my last breath, in one way or another.

[nascere]

[ Noctis absorbs this in silence, listening with no intent to interrupt. He's right, of course, on all counts. The council will eventually push him to answer, and with all the uncertainties and upheavals in Eos, even the king himself cannot come up with a definitive response. What if his people really needed a marriage of convenience? Such arrangements are not without merit; he's learned of this ever since he had been a child. But love, love is a different thing entirely.

He looks at the sausage Ignis pushes over, his portion bigger, and the idea of outwardly sharing his life with another while keeping Ignis a secret is blatantly unfair -- he will ask of Ignis the impossible, their love forbidden, like it's a shameful secret. ]

You've already prepared this speech, huh? [ Noctis murmurs dryly, cutting into his sausage and spearing it, offering it to his lover. He needs it more than Noctis himself does, and he can always get second breakfast later. He doesn't miss the thread of sorrow underneath the polished words; how he confirms his love for him despite the uncertainty of Noctis' answer. ]

It will be unfair to you. [ He continues, soft and quiet. I don't know what to do, he wants to say. He must honor the sacrifices made by so many, many of his subjects -- what if choosing his happiness means letting them down? ]