Posted on the 2nd;

[blindedbyloyalty]

It would appear that Cloud has left this world.

[ A couple of minutes later... ]

Our apologies for the inconvenience, but Insomnia's will be closed until the 5th.

Comments

[voice]

[scourgingstars]

I'm sorry to hear that. [on...both counts, but primarily regarding cloud] Is there anything you need that might be of help?

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ Ignis makes the switch over to voice. ]

I'll be fine, [ though they're down a bouncer, not a huge deal overall but he's thinking of asking Noct to take over temporarily. ]

He was around for a while, wasn't he.

[scourgingstars]

Quite some time, I believe. I'm afraid I can't say I knew him particularly well.

[blindedbyloyalty]

Neither did I.

[ Though he did see that one particular memory of his once... ]

He was the bar's bouncer. Kept whatever trouble at bay. [ Though it wasn't really needed, but Cloud's services were appreciated all the same. ]

[scourgingstars]

Well, that was certainly thoughtful of him. I'm a bit surprised, I wouldn't think you had much trouble there.

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ He laughs softly. ]

I certainly didn't mind him keeping his old role after Gladio and Tony left, the extra security was appreciated all the same.

[scourgingstars]

You're not working on your own without them, are you? Do you need an extra pair of hands?

[blindedbyloyalty]

Ah, no. Prompto asked me to help him run the bar. We kept most of the old staff around.

I'm thinking of asking Noct to take over the bouncer role temporarily. Noct's been helping me train on the battlefield once more.

[scourgingstars]

Well, I can hardly imagine someone more capable to aid with that, on either count. But if you do find you would benefit from more help, I'm always available.

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ Ignis doesn't respond, not at first, until he recalls an earlier conversation of theirs. ]

You said something about wanting to show me how you've improved on your cooking skills. We could meet up in the next day or two.

[scourgingstars]

Certainly, if you would like. Whenever you're available, I can make time for it.

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ Well, considering the bar's closed until Saturday, Ignis thinks for a moment. ]

Tomorrow afternoon, your place or mine?

[scourgingstars]

I can come over, if that might be easier.

Closed to Noctis; Text

[blindedbyloyalty]

If you're not busy, could you come to the bar?

[carbungle]

sure, i'll be there in a bit

[It won't take long for Noct to arrive, he definitely was not busy.]

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ Sleeping again, aren't we, Noct?

By the time Noctis arrives though, Ignis has some fresh fries out on the bar's counter. A mix of spicy and regular. ]

Ah, Noct?

[carbungle]

[Please, like a text message would wake him up.

Noctis heads over to the customer side of the bar and hops into a stool, eyeing the fries but not digging in yet. He's not an animal.]

Hey. I thought you were closing the place?

[blindedbyloyalty]

I hate to waste a perfectly good batch of fries.

[ Ignis moves on over the customer side, carefully settling himself on a stool next to Noctis. ]

I always made sure to have a batch for myself, Prom and... Cloud. [ Granted, he didn't know Cloud all that well, but it sucks to know that he's gone. ]

Would you mind taking over his bouncer role for a while, Noct?

[carbungle]

Aha... so this is a job interview, and you're bribing me.

[There's a familiar edge of dry humour in his tone, and he snags one of the fries.]

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ Have a small laugh over that one. ]

Interview? What kind of questions would I need to ask you, Noct? I rather know you quite well.

[ He picks up a fry himself, twirling it between his fingers. ]

Come now, you can't say no to free food. [ Well... ] More free food that is, I promise to go easy on the veggies for a while. [ Not for himself though, nope. ]

[carbungle]

Oh, damn. That is a bribe.

[Honestly he's just an easy mark. But this was already a forgone conclusion, for the most part; there's few things he won't do for his friends, and standing 'guard' in a place as chill as this city tends to be is not a tall ask.]

Sure, I'll do it. Kind of a nice way to have all four of us together, in a way.

[A little slice of Gladio, considering it was his bar, and the three of them here. Not a bad set-up.]

[text]

[daikonrose]

Thank you for the notice, sir.

I hope he's ended up somewhere better than this place.

[ She may not have known Cloud well even as a coworker, but it's what she'd wish for just about anyone. ]

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ Sir? Well, that's a first for him. He's not sure how he feels about it. ]

Just call me Ignis going forward, Kyoko.

Agreed, we can only hope that he'd returned home.

[daikonrose]

[ She's failing to see the problem here. ]

Oh, are you sure? If that's really what you want.

Not knowing for sure is kinda scary, but I guess hoping for the best is all we can do about it for now.

Locked to Prompto; Text (Post thread with Noctis)

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ Sometime after his conversation with Noctis, Ignis fires off a quick text to his boyfriend. ]

Prom? Where are you?

Text

[this_loser]

hanging at the botanical garden

getting some pics

[Sort of. He's really just sitting under a tree looking through his camera roll. But that sounds less productive.]

[blindedbyloyalty]

On my way.

[ Aka, don't move, nerd.

After closing up the bar, Ignis leaves fairly quickly, but the gardens isn't somewhere he goes often. It takes him a bit to get there, once he does: ]

... Prompto?

[this_loser]

k

[He's gonna move, but only toward the park's entrance so Iggy won't be wondering aimlessly trying to find him. He lifts a hand and jogs over once he spots the other.]

Iggy!

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ Ignis stops at the sound of Prom's footfalls and at the call of his name. Ignis lets a small smile fall on his face, wordlessly reaching for Prompto's hand and lacing their fingers together. ]

Walk with me?

[this_loser]

Of course.

[He pulls Ignis with him down one of the garden paths, idly swinging their arms.]

You doing okay?