hugtopia | Video: CW: Language

[Pull back after that? No damn way. Gladio just laughed and pulled Tony right back into a tight hug of his own.]

And I'm glad you're here. This place is... Yeah.

[NOW he let Tony go, because it was hard to move while hugging someone. Didn't stop him from slinging an arm around Tony's shoulders though. Both because he could and to keep him close under the umbrella.]

Affurgato. Cat cafe. [A grin as he started them walking in that direction.]

I've been here a month. And this... rain? Only a little better than the snow we've had. But it's a small price to pay to have space.

[Tony stumbled a bit when he was pulled right back into a hug. He huffed out a laugh and patted the man's broad back.

As they started walking, his expression was resigned to this side hug but really he didn't mind it at all. It had been a rough few weeks.]

A month?!

And change. But yeah.

[He was holding the umbrella in his free hand, awkwardly between the two of them, but it kept the worst of the chocolate rain off of them.

The look he gave Tony then was one of mild concern. It had taken him a minute there, but he remembered the state of things before the mission, before he was brought to Havenwell.]

How're you doing...? Should you even be up and walking?

I'm fine.

[Yeah, that was convincing. He sighed knowing that hadn't worked.]

I take it you must be from about the same time I'm from then. Were you from before or after the mission? It was set to begin tomorrow for me.

[No, Gladio didn't believe it for a second, but he was keeping an eye on him now. Be sure not to stumble, Tony. Even a little misstep and Gladio wasn't above carrying you around like a princess, or slinging you over his shoulder.

But he didn't think that would be needed. At least not yet. The cafe wasn't that far after all.]

Just got there. Was headin in to talk to the locals and then... I woke up here in one of the temples.

[Tony was quiet for a few moments as they walked, mulling over the information he'd already gotten from his friend.]

Is anyone else from the train here?

[He lifted his wrist, showing the communicator.]

Is this thing useless then?

Depends on what you mean by that... [He was hedging, he knew he was, but as he'd said before, this was very much a sit down and discuss kind of a talk.]

There's a few familiar faces, but not from the train. From that it's just you and me.

[Gladio nodded, Affurgato was in sight now.]

It's scrap now, Tony. Mines back at my place. And hey, look, just up ahead. I'll treat you. Hot drink or... I think they sell wine. Cocktails. But good coffee and tea too.

[No one else from the train. From that it's just you and me. As that sunk in, he could feel the very beginning sides of one of his attacks. He pushed those thoughts aside and focused on what Gladio was saying.

He looked up with a strained smile.]

Didn't think you were letting me have any of that. I won't say no to a beer though.

I wish. No beer. And this is... weird enough I can let it slide.

[He stepped up to the cafe and let go of Tony long enough to open the door for him, while shielding him with the umbrella. Only once Tony was safely inside of Affurgato did Gladio step in and close and shake out the umbrella with a slight wrinkle of his nose. It was kind of disgusting, even if chocolate itself was good.

Putting that aside, Gladio turned and went with Tony to drop himself down into a seat with a sigh.]

Don't be surprised if a cat sits on you here.

[This wasn't at all what he was expecting. Honestly, he wasn't sure what he was expecting but this was just adding to the weird day. He dropped heavily into a seat and looked every bit as tired as he felt. It had been a rough few weeks.]

I'll try the giraffe drink. Ever had it?

Never. But I'll join you.

[He held up a hand and then a finger, asking for a minute while he got up and went to the counter to place their order. Gladio probably should have looked at what the drink was before he ordered it, but he got some food as well, fries with ketchup. Why not?

He hung around for the drinks... and didn't look terribly impressed with it when they were set on fire. Tony was an ass.

After blowing them out, he brought the drinks over to their table and handed Tony his.]

Next time try for somethin that's not a pyromaniacs wet dream.

[Tony busted out laughing from where he sat when he saw Gladio's reaction to the drinks. He'd actually picked it because it said coffee and he loved butterscotch. Only once Gladio was on his way to order them did the engineer spot the amusing way it was served.

He took the drink when it was brought to him, still shaking a bit from stifled laughter.]

You said I could have anything.

You're a dick.

[Gladio sat himself down, his tone only mildly put upon. He'd set himself up for that after all. Then he laughed. He couldn't help it. It had been kinda funny and maybe under different circumstances he'd have ordered a whole line of the fiery drinks.]

And here's me bein nice and ordering you fries too.

Yeah, but you've missed me.

[He grinned and propped his head up on an elbow tiredly. His eyes lit up a bit more at the mention of fries and he started to reach for them. However, he paused and looked at them dubiously.]

What kind of fries are these?

Potato. And that's tomato. [He pointed at the little tub of ketchup then. He grinned.]

You want the good food, you come here. Need to pay for it but it's worth it. The homes have things called replicators that synthesise food but doesn't always taste good.

[He stared at it a moment and then looked out the window next to them. It was like he was finally connecting a few things Gladio had been telling him- like this wasn't the train.]

No more food of the month and being locked in a train..

[His gaze slowly returned to Gladio.]

Is this for real?

[Please don't mess with him. He's seeing a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long time..]

Pretty much. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows either.

[He snagged a fry and shoved it in his mouth. It bought him a little time to formulate what he needed to say, or where to start. And he supposed starting at what he knew would be best.]

Basically we're on a world that went to shit. The natives gave up their physical forms to be robots. Their gods didn't like it. Apparently they feed off that 'feel good' feeling of skin-on-skin contact. So the world started to die.

Long story short, this city's in a bubble. Outside the bubble it's a mess, but I've not seen it. I'm told it's toxic out there. But in here it's not so bad. Aside from some of the weird things that happen. Like weird ass weather.

So a small price to pay to be off a too small train, huh?

So we're like porn for gods?

[That was disturbing. What sick freak was 'feeding' off their hug from earlier?]

I don't want to be a gigolo for these perverts. I don't blame everyone wanting to be a robot if they were trying to get away from that.

[He burst out laughing. Yeah. Yeah it was exactly like that. It took Gladio a half a minute to get his laughter under control, but he was grinning after.]

Yeah, somethin like that. Turns out this world needs that 'physical energy' to keep it alive. Living, breathing bodies. Which is why we're all here.

[He smirked.]

You're protesting? Figured you'd all over an excuse to get your hands on a, what was your type again? 'Leggy blondes with giant... IQs.'?

[Okay, he couldn't argue with that. He took a sip of his drink and shrugged. His smile growing and he laughed at the last part.]

Yes but I think I'll stay away from the ones still in their twenties. Though you can't beat that sex drive..

[Damn had his ex been fun.]

Where's your little blonde puppy?

[Wait. Gladio had said only Tony and...]

He isn't here?

[Gladio's smile froze, then vanished completely as he lifted a finger to his lips.]

Prompto's here. But not the same one. So we don't talk about that, alright? [A small half smile and a single shoulder's shrug.] Don't wanna make things awkward.

See... they're all here, Tony. Prompto, Noctis... and Ignis. But they don't know anything about the Void. They're not ours. Different timeline, different copies. That stupid multi-universe crap. They're further along too.

[Gladio put his drink down on the table and turned more to face Tony.]

Back when Noct showed up on the train he told me about Ignis. Hell, they both did. They were both surprised. At Altissia, Iggy loses his sight. The Iggy here... he can't see. He used the ring to save Noct and paid the price. Least, that's what Noct told me.

[All the joking and light-heartedness of a moment ago was gone for both of them. Tony felt the knew what it was like to lose someone. How much worse must it be to find that same person but without the memories you'd made together?

He nodded, understanding immediately that this topic was delicate and painful. He was just reaching out a hand to show brotherly solidarity when that last part dropped. He couldn't help it. He recoiled and sucked in a sharp breath.]

Ignis is what? He's..

[He slammed his fist down on the table and cursed.]

Dammit!

[He felt that ripple of anxiety within him. There was a weight on his chest. He fished through his pockets and found the pills he both hated and relied on. He might've been embarrassed, but he'd done way more embarrassing things in front of Gladio than take anxiety medicine.]

And he's not.. he's not the one I know, right?

[He'd expected a reaction and he'd not been disappointed. So Gladio waited. Let him get it out of his system before he was the one to reach out and drop a heavy hand onto Tony's shoulder.

Yes, be angry, Tony. Angry like Gladio couldn't. He'd wanted to rage, to scream and shout and break things, but hadn't been able to. So he'd wallowed instead. His own pain buried deep until he had been alone and he could poke at it's edges and let the pain take him.]

No, not him. He came here directly from Eos. Iggy from the train is out there somewhere. He's just... not here.

[He waited a beat.]

Iggy's with Prompto now.

[It broke his heart to hear the stories Noct and Prompto had come to the train with had been true. He remembered how it had hurt Ignis to learn he'd eventually go blind. He wanted desperately to go to that skinny fool and protect him from everything, but.. it wasn't his Ignis. This Ignis wouldn't know who he was. He wouldn't know there was someone who would literally do just about anything he could to make him happy..

He looked at Gladio confused. His Ignis was with Prompto? How did he know- oh! Oh wow, that sucked.]

Okay, I need you to tell me how we both can get plastered fast.

With fiery giraffes, apparently. [He gave Tony's shoulder a gentle squeeze before he removed his hand to grab up his drink. And downed it in one.

Yeah, it sucked. But it was a weird one.]

I'm happy for them. Even Noct's got someone he loves. They're in good places now.

And maybe one day I'll run into my Prom somewhere. And you Iggy. But... guess I always knew it wouldn't last. Lets face it, we could've been sent back at any minute. We were on borrowed time. I'm just glad I got the time I had. I was happy.

[And he could be again, eventually, when the hurt wasn't so raw.]

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