TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ I

[avalonmods]

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival KERPLUNK, SPLASH! Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. You'll definitely see other new arrivals plopping in. If you can't swim, a red-headed woman known only as the Lady of the Lake will drag you to the shore if she doesn't spot someone else near you helping so no one ends up drowning. She's a little busy casting directive magic to make sure everyone lands safely and playing lifeguard, so if anyone attempts to talk to her, she'll tell them to head up to the Rent-a-Ride. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of earbuds to everyone before getting them settled in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and give them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. C ⦿ The Red Spring The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do.. if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there. A ⦿ Get Fresh Upon arrival in Camelot travelers are ushered to a large set of wash rooms where they can clean up and make themselves presentable for the Welcome Feast. They are informed that once the feast concludes there will be an announcement on where they can seek lodging and how to begin their magic studies. B ⦿ Be Merry After they freshen up, travelers are led into the main dining hall. The decorations range from simplistic to a little more grandiose, it is likely everyone will find something familiar. A modern mash up with a medieval flair. The jester makes his rounds, perhaps he has a joke or two to tell, go ahead, give him a listen or perhaps volunteer to participate in one of the jester's shows, like knife-throwing or hypnotism. Within the crowd of staff there are mummers, a juggler, here and there dabbled through small troupes perform mini skits, perhaps they’ll perform a well known verse from a traveler’s world or tell a tale of fancy from this realm. C ⦿ Eat Well A banquet is prepared with food that while all “rustic” in appearance are usually a version of modern dishes ranging from basic roast chicken and veggies to Korean-Mexican fusion and French patisserie. The drinks are much the same; while served in old fashioned goblets, they are drinks modern travelers will be familiar with. Have a seat, meet a new neighbor, find a roommate, maybe a new or old friend? Talk to the person to your left, your right, across from you. Mingle, enjoy the food, the music, it shouldn’t be long before the information promised is provided. Till then take your fill and get to know your fellow travelers. You've been here a few days now and have gotten a chance to settle in, find a place to stay, and Camelot's citizens have decided that you've been here long enough to start living your life again. Well, your new life. A group of citizens have decided to give everyone their first quest. "Hear ye, hear ye!" a man in chain mail with a tablet with his statement typed up on it declares to a crowd from atop a pedestal. There are two other citizens around him with phones to post the video to AOL later to make sure the word gets heard ye all around. "Those with magic, we beseech thee! Findeth us a grail most holy hidden in the depths of the Brocéliande! This holy grail is known to grant thine wishes three, a most noble quest for noble souls! Great reward will come to those who find it and proclaim at least one of their wishes to find the great Excalibur for King Arthur!" This is the first you've heard about King Arthur, and it seems curious that he hasn't yet shown his face around town. It also seems strange that this guy is speaking like he's stepped out of a bad period piece, and probably should be the clue that this is more or less an attempt to haze some of the newcomers by sending them into the forest... but no one is telling newcomers this. It's better to get them out there and start praciticing, after all. A ⦿ Lost, and Lost, and Lost Again The Brocéliande is well-known around Camelot for being a forest that's both bountiful and mysterious. Oddities are known to happen that may never happen again to the point that even if something weird happens and you can't prove it, most citizens will assume you're telling the truth. Which is what makes it peculiar when you keep passing the exact same locations over and over again, as if you've been traveling in circles or reaching the end of the map in a video game and coming out the other end. You're stuck in a space loop. The only way out is to successfully find the one difference in each loop five times in a row and collect it. Maybe it's a strange frog, a crystal that wasn't there before, a small wooden step that doesn't lead anywhere, or some other singular item, you've got to find what stands out... pick the wrong item, and you'll have to start your five count over again, and again, and again... B ⦿ Grail, and Grail, and Grail Again!? If you either missed the space loop or managed to get out of it, eventually you'll come to find one of... quite a few copies of a grail with holes in the side placed throughout the forest. They look like they might be good for draining noodles, but that's about it. Though they're spread out, it's entirely possible you'll find more than one, but each of them are placed in situations where it's impossible to get to by normal means. You'll have to use magic! It may be hidden in a bird's nest at the top of the tallest tree, inside of a hole in a rock with bars that prevent you from reaching in (perhaps an animal friend could reach it), inside a boiling pond, or inside the body of a bear fir... there are a load of possibilities, and now's a chance for you to try out your brand new magics! Use one of those samples, find something from the bestiary, or come up with your own adventure to get your hands on that less-than-holy grail. C ⦿ A Quest Completeish Or it would be, if you could ever find the guy who announced it... The AOL posts have since been deleted. You may end up spending a lot of time trying to find the guy. At this point, citizens will start telling you that you shouldn't take quests unless they're on the quest board or else you're going to get scammed... that's definitely an olden times themed noodle strainer. If that doesn't make you give up, or perhaps motivates you to find the guy to kick his ass, you'll have to head out to the farmland and chase them through a cornfield. (Be careful not to get lost, it's a maize in there.) If one of the boys are caught, they'll explain they were just testing you-- and hey, you got a free addition to your kitchen! If pressed, they'll apologize and give you a bit of money for your trouble. It's not much, but it'll get you at least a meal.

MOD NOTES:
• All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. This is the first one, ignore this note today!
• If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities.
• For the first month only, there will not be a quest board. Starting in December, quests will be posted on the 1st of each month for current players. After that point, quests may be used as TDM prompts in addition to the presented TDM prompts. A link will be provided as a bonus prompt option at the end of the post.
• The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM. All other prompts will change monthly.
• Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Comments

noctis lucis caelum | ffxv

[cess]

( arrival )

One moment he's talking to Bahamut in - the Keep? In the Crystal, he supposes - the next he's swallowing water and having to kick upwards, limbs suddenly chilled to the bone. He surfaces with a tiny little body he doesn't pay much attention to splashing next to him, and it's only once the woman directs him to shore that he really begins to pay attention.

He's almost out when there's a little yip, and he turns to see Carbuncle, a creature the size of a small dog with large ears, a long tail, and a red horn, in the water. He quickly darts back in to pick up the little creature, which is already shivering a bit.

"What are you doing here?" He asks it reflexively, but the Messenger looks at him curiously; when he doesn't hear the familiar voice, he realizes this isn't his Carbuncle. Still, he keeps the creature close to his chest as he makes it to shore, staring confusedly around.

There's dozens of other people around, each with a companion, and none of them look familiar. Some of them don't even look like they're from Eos, and he's frightened, a moment later, to realize the heavy weight of the Ring, and the Crystal, and the armiger - all of it is gone. The Ring is still on his finger but there's no magic in it; he can't summon any of his items. He's powerless.

"Hey! What the hell is going on here?!"

He's shouting it at no one in particular.

( caravans )

Eventually he moves with the others up the side of the cliff, to where the caravans are, and finally starts getting answers. They give him a phone to replace his waterlogged one, and finally an explanation. The explanation makes dread sit heavy in his chest, but it's a familiar kind of dread. It's already his responsibility to save Eos from the darkness; extending that to saving Eos from some mysterious force (which he hasn't ruled out still might be the darkness, in a different form) isn't a hard pill to swallow.

While everyone else mills about, Noctis sits down, the Carbuncle curled up in his lap, as he fiddles with the phone and ear buds. That, at least, is familiar, and he's better with phones than new people.

( welcome feast )

Noctis is still mostly keeping to himself, sitting at the end of a table with a plate piled high with several kinds of meat - Korean BBQ, skewers he recognizes from home, and other types of fare - and little else. The vegetables and fruit have been passed over in favor of a decidedly carnivorus diet.

He's outright ignoring the jester and others in favor of still scrolling through the new phone, but when it begins to get crowded, he'll look up and pick up Carbuncle, the familiar sitting next to him. The blue-colored creature yips softly as he sets it on the table.

"I have some space next to me." He doesn't sound enthusiastic about it, but he's offering.

( training grounds )

After a heavy nights sleep, he gets a late start. But the first thing he does is head to the training grounds. While he doesn't like training, figuring out what kind of magic he has here is a priority.

So catch him crouched down, a rather ornate sword in hand at the training grounds, again talking to the Carbuncle, its large ears tilted to the side as he murmurs quietly to it. It looks like a one-sided conversation, but it seems to be responding to him somehow, because he occasionally quiets and then nods.

He'll approach any characters who seem to have brought their own weapons after a little bit.

"Hey, would you be willing to spar?"

(ooc note: noctis is going to have light magic, which will be manifesting as shields and light at first! )

( post holey grail - network )

all right.

i get it, in video games starter quests can be kind of bullshit, and sometimes they're supposed to teach you to think for yourself. so yes, don't accept anything unless it's on the Important Quest Board, got it.

but that forest was kind of trippy. i thought maybe those guys set up some traps, but the little Avalonpedia they have here said that's just how that forest is.

anyway, question: i know we're all here to fight a great and terrible power and because of what happened at home, we lost our own powers. but what kind of magic have you gotten from your familiar, and is it like theirs?

[ he just assumes everyone's familiar is inherently magical. but his light magic is like his carbuncle's protection spells. ]

( ooc: i'm also open to having wildcard prompts thrown at me for other settings, like the inn or the actual grail quest! )

Arrival

[phoenixwiz]

“Hey, I can hear you over here!” a young teenaged man calls out while squeezing water out of his jacket and a small pink furred Pygmy Puff is shaking off water from her body, “I didn’t expect to have a swim either and that I would have a little Pygmy Puff with me as well.”

“We’re all stranded on the beach for some reason we don’t know about,” he continues, he is already tired from the Battle and the memories still fresh in his mind, before taking a deep breath to think for just a moment and then speaks up again, “So, I guess we should introduce ourselves before we forget. My name is Harry. I was in the middle of Scotland when I found myself swimming for my life. What about you?”

network

[fooligans]

Some tutorials are tougher than the others.
And this one was pretty rough, especially for completionists who aim for 100% side quests cleared.

[ As for the question: ]

I can cast fireballs now...not sure how that happened. It just did.
My familiar doesn't want to spill the beans.
I wonder if fairy cats like tuna.
How's your familiar like?

joker!

[cess]

better be something pretty awesome at the end, then, for dealing with that.

[ yes, yes, they are all here to save their homes, a 'quest' that is close to noctis' heart. but being able to make a joke helps. ]

huh, that's actually pretty useful.

i used to be able to cast elemental magic back home, but now i'm stuck with ... light magic, or something. i've only cast shields, though. the familiar has been pretty helpful; then again, the first of them i met back home was, too. mine's not a fairy cat, it's a carbuncle.

... also, if you can find me a fishing rod, i can definitely help you catch some fish for yours.

[fooligans]

We won't find out until we beat the final boss...

[ Akira understands the sentiment; not being serious for a while definitely helps. ]

It's useful assuming you can control it. I hope I won't cast them in my sleep.

Light magic sounds cool. Maybe not as cool as ice magic, but I feel like we'll need shields sooner rather than later.

I've never seen a carbuncle before. Do you think they have an equivalent of cat pics here but with famiiars?

[ Familiar memes... ]

I'll try to find two, we can go fishing together.

[cess]

gonna be a hell of a final boss, if it's a world-eater.

[ video game logic for mental health: more likely than you think. is this meta? ]

... i didn't think of that. if i set up a shield that's not as bad as if you suddenly burst something into flame. better hope you can control your nightly magical emissions.

and, lemme take a pic so we can start the tradition if they don't.

[ attached: carbuncle.jpg. noctis is holding the creature up between his hands, and it's giving the camera a distinctly unimpressed look. ]

oh, you fish too? that's awesome. none of my friends are into it.

[fooligans]

Or a god...or a world-eating god.

[ Why not mix and match if they're being so meta already. ]

I've been told that I don't snore, so maybe I won't accidentally throw fireballs at things in my sleep. Maybe.

[ How does magic work here? It is a mystery. ]

Adorable. I wonder if it would let me pet it. This is mine, but I'm not sure if it's into selfies.

[ Akira attaches a blurred pic of Cat Sidhe sleeping; he'd rather not risk the familiar waking up and scolding him for breach of privacy. ]

I get it. I usually go alone, but it would be fun to go fishing with company for a change.

[cess]

maybe a god that eats other gods, considering the gods of my world.

anyway, i hope you don't throw fireballs, if nothing else because setting the lodgings on fire is probably not gonna endear us to these people.

[ oh astrals that familiar is really cute. ]

Cute. It's some kind of... cat thing? You should ask it if it likes selfies when it's awake. And I'm pretty sure Carbuncle wouldn't mind some attention. The one I knew was an attention hog.

And, same. Sometimes I have company, but they're always complaining, or making noise and scaring the fish.

caravans

[holytrident]

To say that Lunafreya hasn't quite caught up with everyone else standing around is a fair enough judgment. She expects Leviathan to cast her down into the waters, angered over her humanly presumptions and not — anyone to pull her up to safety. Wrapped up in a cloak that's much too large for this young woman's shoulders, she grips the phone she's been given with hesitance and uncertainty.

Pryna, who's made the swim with her, doesn't have need for such adjustments. Clever and able to see what the princess cannot for now, her ears twitch curiously and her tail starts to wag. Plunging into the crowd of strangers, this unmistakable companion of Lunafreya's goes bounding up to Noctis.

She sits at his feet, happy and attentive. Lunafreya, meanwhile, is busy turning on her phone.

when i say i yelled, it's the truth

[cess]

Pryna's a welcome sight to Noctis' eyes. He hasn't really seen Pryna since Altissia, though he's seen plenty of Umbra. But the comforting, familiar sight doesn't last long - how is Pryna here?

"Hey, buddy," he says, kneeling down to scratch behind the Messenger's ears. The Carbuncle on his shoulder - not the Messenger that Pryna would know - chirps curiously from his shoulder. "How'd you get here?"

He raises his eyes to scan the crowd reflexively, and then, his heart is clutched in his chest. Because there's Lunafreya, fiddling with a phone in her hand and a blanket around her shoulders. Not bleeding from her side. Alive.

He feels his breath catch, and he doesn't even realize he's stood up until he's stumbling past Pryna, zeroing in on Lunafreya. He reaches out without saying anything, only stopping a short bit away from her hair.

"Luna?" He sounds like he's afraid he's dreaming.

:3

[holytrident]

Like a sudden light to pierce through the fog, Noctis' voice cuts through her confusion and she raises her head finally. It takes a moment, as her expression wars between shock and relief. She has met with Gods and knows now that they are much like people; full of anger, prejudice, wary to believe and hardly apt to simply give out generosity. Kindness, mercy even.

That she would find him and that her wishes would prove true — and here Noctis would be, safe and alive. She realizes she has nowhere to put her new phone, no pockets in the torn up dress underneath this oversized cloak. Without much else to do, she holds the phone up to her chest, clutching it as though she might accidentally drop it.

(And though she wants to reach out to him, it's almost like asking for too much, isn't it? Would it wake her up, break this spell? Luna won't chance it, yet.)

"Noctis?" It comes out as a question but Lunafreya finds that, even with everything that's happened, she will always be a person of faith. In goodness, in light. And in Noctis, above all. "...This is very strange, isn't it?"

It's not the question she wants to ask.

[cess]

Lunafreya had been his rock for so long. All of his friends had been, but Luna - she had always believed in him. He'd always tried to do his best because of that; to be the kind of person she could believe in, to be good enough.

(Even though he had never thought he was that special. He just wanted to keep people safe, to keep his home safe. To eep his friends safe; and one after the other, he'd felt like he was failing them. Then he'd lost her.)

"Y... yeah." His voice is quiet, like he's still afraid he might also be dreaming. He's had enough of them, dreams and nightmares of her, to renew the fear this is a dream all over again. But, the Carbuncle chirps encouragingly on his shoulder, and after a moment he reaches out again.

Shaky fingers touch her shoulder, then his hand comes to rest over the fabric covering it. He looks at her and after a moment he gives in and tugs her in for a hug.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

[holytrident]

There's so many things Lunafreya would like to say, but that's the thing about distance; all these years seperated and barely more than a journal to bind them together. A promise of destiny, a star in need of saving, all of it serving only to divide their journey further apart. And Altissia...

When Noctis pulls her in for a hug, every word dissipates on her lips. She takes a shakey breath and holds it in. For so long, the princess of Tenebrae has tucked away her private feelings but the warmth of his arms is almost too much to bear.

Still holding onto her phone with both hands, she can't seem to pull herself together to do much more than lean forward and rest her head against his shoulder. No dream, she thinks, releasing her breath finally. No Gods, no destiny. Even if it's just for this moment than it's enough.

"I'm...so glad you are as well." The words don't come out the way she wants them to, but there's no time to dwell on it. The chatter of the people around them divide her attention, and Pryna's nose nudges at her side, coaxing her to continue thinking forward. "Perhaps we should go together, wherever these people are meant to lead us?"

[cess]

He should tell her the reason. Not just that he's happy to see her, the way he'd been looking at her from the crowd in Altissia, but because she gave her life for him. Because Ignis lost his eyes for him, and seeing her again like this... it's almost more than he can bear.

Her head rests on his shoulder and he lets his face bury in her damp hair. Even if just for a moment, he wants the world to let him have this. A chance to finally see her again, to be able to talk with her properly instead of being two steps behind her, constantly. Her words, however, are prudent; it looks like they've almost got the carriages set up.

He gently loosens his hold on her, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Yeah, that's... probably a good idea. Don't think we're gonna get much information out here."

Even if he casts a weird look to the horses. He's used to chocobos, not those. After a moment he steps back, but then his lips twitch up a bit and he offers a hand, his tone light.

"May the prince escort the Oracle?"

welcome feast

[lucere]

It's been a rather tumultuous few hours and Regis is still reeling from it.

The King of Lucis nearly drowned when he first arrived here in this bizarre new world. After bearing the weight of the crown for so many years along with enduring the Crystal's might, Regis was too fatigued to swim. Thankfully, he was recused by none other than the ever silent Lady of the Lake who helped guide him to shore. Since then, everything has been a blur. While he tried his best to listen intently to the many explanations given, Regis couldn't focus. The scars of yesterday haunt him even now.

While the banquet was a welcomed sight, Regis couldn't bring himself to eat. He merely sat by the far end of the festivities veiled by the shadows. He would've lingered there too if it hasn't been for a familiar voice. Even though his memories of his untimely end haunt him now, Regis could never forget his son's voice.

"Noctis?" He whispers the name in shock once he spots that familiar tuft of unruly black hair among the seated. The parrot-sized Quetzalcoatl gives a soft squawk as it curls around his shoulders like a blue shawl. Like most of the newcomers here, he's been blessed with a companion and a fresh choice of clothing. As one would expect of a Lucian King, Regis was of course dressed in all black with hints of silver and there.

[cess]

Carbuncle notices the King first, of course. It's not the Carbuncle, but it has familiarity with Noctis' memories none the less. So, seeing the regal figure of the King has it chirping from where it sits on Noctis' own shoulder, tail hitting him in the back of the head.

"Hey, watch it," he mutters, reaching up to swat at the tail and looking over where the Carbuncle is making excited noises. And that's when he catches sight of familiar shoes, familiar robes.

He freezes where he sits, blue eyes going wide.

"Dad?"

It's noisy around them but Noctis can't hear any of what's going on. Instead, he's just thinking about the last time he saw his father - sending him off on a journey that would be longer than ever intended. Walk tall, my son. And how later he regretted all the things he hadn't said.

He makes a lot of noise clambering out of his seat. Unlike his reunion with Lunafreya, he doesn't hesitate. He gets up, and runs over to his father, throwing his arms around him and squeezing him as tightly as he can manage in a hug.

[lucere]

Despite the myriad of doubts that swelled within his mind, Regis couldn't help but be overjoyed once he realized it was truly him. If it hadn't been for old age and tired knees, Regis would've raced to Noctis' side first. However, he doesn't complain at all when his son embraces him. He wraps his arms around Noctis and lets out a sigh of relief. The bizarre bird-like dragon upon his shoulder decides to flutter away for the time being giving the two royals time to collect themselves. While everyone else is focused upon the jester and his antics, Regis focused upon the weepy-eyed youth before him.

"My dear son." He whispers as he gently pats Noctis' back. "Words fail me right now but I'm glad to see you again."

While it was just the other day he saw Noctis off on his journey, Regis couldn't help but feel it's been much longer than that. His perception of time is a little scattered.

[cess]

Weepy-eyed is right. Tears spring unbidden to Noctis' eyes; while he's in control of himself enough not to break down into great, heaving sobs in the banquet hall, it's a near thing. He presses his face into his father's shoulder.

He's real. He's real, not a figment of his imagination, not a regretful figure from his nightmares. He's not healthy and hale, because for the last few years of his life he never was, but it's still his father.

When he's collected himself a little, he raises his head. "I didn't know. I didn't know you were sending me away to protect me." There's some accusation, in his tone, because Noctis has never quite stopped being bitter about being picked over Insomnia... but that's not the focus of his words, at the moment.

"I didn't think I would ever see you again." Because, of course, his father was gone.

[lucere]

Even though Regis suspected the words would come, that hint of bitterness in Noctis' tone still stings. He's a selfish man. Regis was well aware of the travesty that would follow but still decided stubbornly to save his son's life above all others. It's a betrayal that runs rather deep but one that was necessary to ensure the future of their world. Regis selfishly wanted Noctis to live and chose his own destiny. All he ever wanted was for Noctis to be happy.

"I know." He sighs once Noctis looks at him. "But I'm grateful that we could meet again despite it all."

While he might seem a bit tired and worn, Regis' gaze is as loving as ever. Yes, there are a few tears but they're happy tears. However, his expression changes somewhat once he notices the stares. It seems that their happy reunion accidentally disrupted the festivities. He gives the jester an apologetic glance before smiling at his son.

"There's so much want to say, so much that needs to be said but I wish not to ruin this moment." He says as he gives Noctis another warm hug. Noctis will never be too grown not to get hugs from his father.

[cess]

Noctis is normally one who cares very much about what others think of him. Not in the same way that would make Ignis or his father's job easier, courting the council, but who wants to be seen as cool and aloof, in control of himself. It says a lot that he does not give one solitary fuck about what the other people watching, or what the jester thinks. Losing his father had devastated him, just as losing Lunafreya had. And now they are both here.

"Don't think there's much you can say that would," he tells his father, mumbling into his shoulder from the second hug. He takes a deep breath. This isn't what he wants to say, of course, but he knows it's important to tell him.

"I already know. About the prophecy, and the price."

( training grounds )

[reigniter]

[There were a lot of people mingling around, trying out the training halls and magic they have received. It is easy to lose a track of people as you move around, trying to get a hold of everything. After all, when you get plucked from your world and thrown somewhere entirely new, everything is weird and suspicious.

But that voice Ignis can recognize anywhere, whether he's awake or asleep. He's been looking around to see if Noctis arrived here as well since yesterday but to no avail. Now that he's found him, he can't tell if it is a good thing or no. Being stuck here won't be pleasant, but then again being alone back home would be dangerous.]

I'll take it from here, [Ignis comes up from behind the guy that Noctis was talking to, taps his shoulder to get the guy's attention, and then watches him leave.] It's unbecoming of the Prince to pick on people less than his caliber. I'll gladly spar with you. [There's a twitch of a smile on his face, mixed with a smirk.]

yells more!

[cess]

[ noctis has a brief flicker of confusion before the voice alerts, and his expression changes to one of relief. he's even more surprised to see ignis with his sight; last he had seen him, he was still adjusting to the loss of it.

but then, as easy as if ignis had been alongside him the whole time, noctis scoffs a little bit. ]

Is it picking on people when I don't know what I'm going to do? [ he retorts, a small smile on his face. ] It's good to see you, Iggy. I must have missed you earlier.

all the yelling

[reigniter]

[The last thing Ignis himself remembers is being knocked out, not so gently, by Ardyn. It is an immense relief to see Noctis well and not passed out from multiple injuries. There is comfort in falling back into exchanging smartass retorts with him.]

You may not, but you know what you're capable of. [Ignis shakes his head with a chuckle. He also knows what Noctis is capable of, even when others (or Noctis himself) question it.]

There were a lot of people by the lake, it was easy to lose track of anyone. [But he's very glad that he found him, despite the circumstances, and he returns the smile.] I'm happy to see you are not injured. [And in one piece.]

[cess]

I mean, I know how to go easy on people.

[ he wasn't expecting a stranger to be on gladio or ignis' level. prompto was here, so he could have asked him, but prompto was a ranged fighter; they fought differently enough that it wouldn't have been much help.

for now, he keeps the sword of the father resting point-down at his side, content to talk to ignis rather than start up training just yet. ]

Yeah, you're not kidding; I only found Prompto at the caravans... [ his expression sobers a little bit, swallowing. ] Ignis, I ran into Luna, and dad.

[ he's had his two sessions of crying on both of them despite himself, so he's not at risk of doing that on ignis. his throat is still a little tight with emotion telling him, though. ]

I know what they told us, but what the hell kind of place is this, that it can do that?

[reigniter]

[Ignis' daggers are sheathed at his hips, one at each side. There is no that ethereal space here for him to summon him from there, but somehow they were on his person when he arrived here, for which he was glad. He wasn't sure if he'd be very useful without them.

They will train, they have time for it. But before they can focus on that it's good to rehash whatever information they have about this place.]

Marshal had told me at the banquet last night about Prompto, but he hadn't mentioned lady Lunafreya or His Majesty. [Ignis looks worried, his brows creasing into a deep frown as he thinks about it. He can't recall any type of magic from home that could do this. And this place- it nullified their old powers and given them new.]

I do not know of any magicks that can bring back the dead or turn back the time. I've never come across anything like this in all my years of studying. [He shakes his head.] I honestly do not know. [There is a long pause where he debates whether to ask more about it or no- it's a painful subject for Noct, talking about his father. And Lunafreya...]

May I ask- how- how did they look like? Were they missing anything? Injured, perhaps?