oo1 ✦ let’s begin.

[richesse]

[ There’s a whisper through the murmur, more a breath of feeling than a fully formed thought. It’s sweet, and warm, and laughing—though it is not gentle, nor kind.

A voice follows the whisper, chased by darkness and shadows, the very suggestion of a nightmare. ]

Do you think we’re still dreaming? Or is this a living nightmare?

[ a hum, and another brush of teasing laughter, there and gone like a brief burst of memory, the last moment of summer that you can taste on your tongue before it’s irretrievably gone. ]

You’ve changed, haven’t you? We all have. What are you thinking, right now…? Who are you?

What are you?

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[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis can't help but snort in amusement. It's an inelegant sound he usually wouldn't let out for fear of what people would think, but who is here to judge him? If Lortel was going to, she would have done it long ago.]

And here I thought it was my wit that made you want to keep me around.

[First and foremost, he's a protector. He always has been, and so he had to try one more time to protect her even though she doesn't need it. She's made her choice clear now, though. Indeed, if he thinks about it, she made her choice clear a long time ago. He's just not been letting himself accept it.

He accepts it now because not doing so would be an insult. Besides, it's nice to be wanted even with his vision gone.

A warm, fond feeling radiates out from him toward her across the bond, then Ignis reaches down to the side of where he was sitting and picks up a small bag. He had to find something to safely carry his heated flask in, and that task was the only thing that had driven him from the store. The bag barely holds the flask and the tin of tea he found, but it's not like he has anything else to put in it.

With that slung over his shoulder, Ignis takes her hands and stands.]

Do you have any idea where we should head? I'm afraid I can't give you much information about the area.

[richesse]

It’s that, too, [ she assures him, and the murmur will smile for her. ]

… I do, but the place I’m thinking of is not close. We might be walking for a while. [ like, a WHILE. ] Still, it should afford you shelter and some access to food, if my intel is good.

[ she releases his hands to loop an arm through his, instead. ]

[shatteredlenses]

[Once her arm is settled in his--a position that is becoming comfortingly familiar--Ignis can't help but chuckle.]

This body didn't come from sitting behind an office desk all day, though I have done plenty of that. I'll have you know, it takes a lot of training to be able to accurately kick a dagger.

[Ah, but he won't be doing that again anytime soon, will he? It will be very impressive if he can learn to do it again, though. Goals.]

As long as you are good for the walk, I am as well. If we get too cold, I found the oddest thing when I woke up: a flask that is always steaming hot. It makes boiling water for safety sake a snap. I also found some odd tea bags in the store.

[Apparently, the last scavenger who came through didn't see the value in them. Their loss.]

[richesse]

[ a bright laugh ]

Kick a dagger? Now that I’d like to see, someday.

[ such is her quiet faith in him—that one day he will learn again.

the mention of his flask wins a blink, and she again gazes at his face. what a useful item, and to share knowledge of it so freely…

he must trust her. he must; he’s letting her lead him god knows where.

feeling a pang in her chest, Lortel huffs around it. ]

I’m good for the walk, don’t worry. But that flask… that could come in handy. I have a feeling clean water will be hard to find. Would you be so inclined as to let me use it, sometimes, if I needed to?

[ he can’t truly know this about her yet, but that she asked for its use rather than simply barter for it is a great sign of her respect for him. ]

[shatteredlenses]

[She seems so delighted that Ignis almost shows her a memory of him doing it, but then he stops himself. No, he will save that for when he can do it again and actually show it to her in person. It's a goal and he needs those. Besides, it will mean more that way.]

Meanwhile, if you watch from a distance while I'm relearning, it will likely be quite amusing.

[He had some quite humorous fails at the beginning and one not so humorous one that left a long scar on the back of his left arm. Thankfully, potions were on hand to heal the wound cleanly, though a faint scar did remain.

Ignis gives her a warm smile when she asks about the flask.]

Of course you can.

[Yes, he trusts her. Whatever her past is, he sees a little of himself in her: someone likely burdened with a task beyond their years and fighting thought whatever they have to in order to succeed at that task. Perhaps one day he will find out if that is true or not.]

In all honestly, I have a favor to ask of you. I don't know if everyone here will be trustworthy and it would be far too easy for someone to swipe this from a blind man. If I am using the flask in a group while you are around, can you help me keep an eye on it?

[If he owes her another favor, so be it. The flask is far too important for survival for it to just up and walk away with someone who has sticky fingers and no moral compass.]

[richesse]

[ he isn't wrong about her, though her purpose is perhaps altogether darker than his own.

she was in it for herself, after all. not anyone else. ]

I can. I'll be working on a few safe places to ... look after. I'm happy to keep the flask, if you prefer. All you have to do is contact me and I'll deliver it to you personally, if need be.

Have you figured it out yet? How to communicate directly through our new "network."

[shatteredlenses]

That is a very smart idea. More likely than not, I would be doing something similar if I could move around freely. There are too many unknowns in this place not to have several "safe" locations to fall back to in case something goes wrong.

[Ignis falls silent then and it's obvious he's pondering the pluses and minuses of her suggestion. Finally, he shakes his head.]

While I appreciate the offer, until I can find warmer clothes, I would rather keep it with me as it's my only source of heat. Plus, making tea gives me something to do for others even limited as I am. I don't like the idea of you having to spend too much time coming back and forth to where I am. There are more important things you can be spending your time on. Perhaps once things settle down and we are more entrenched, I can give it over to you for safekeeping.

[He give her a curious look when she asks her question.]

You mean there's another way to communicate with it besides the one we have been using?