Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

Life has taken a decidedly shitty turn and I honestly haven’t had the will (or the time/energy) for writing. It’s kinda with a heavy heart that I say - I probably won’t be returning to Ignis.

Thanks to everyone who has written with me over the past couple of years, and I hope to not lose the friendships I’ve made. At the moment, RPing is out of the question for me, but if and when I do get active again, it’ll likely just be on Piers.

Celene returned and began to set up the instruments needed for the phlebotomy, glancing up briefly at Ignis  before going back to work. She could see that he was upset by all of this. And it was understandable, of course. He had a reputation to maintain and he did not want anyone to think poorly of him. 

“I’m a professional, Ignis,” she answered, turning her eyes to his once more. “This will stay between us, I promise.” She liked the young man. Even if she didn’t, she did not make a habit of spreading rumors. She had no interest in doing anything that would upset him or his chances there. Though, she decided not to tell him that this wasn’t something that she had seen happen before. At least, not with the kind of symptoms he was describing. 

“Now, please hold still.” He had offered his arm to her, and she took it gently, swiping an antiseptic pad over his arm. Her touch was light and careful as she laid the needle against his arm and pressed, quickly filling two vials of blood from the vacuum tube. 

“There, now, just try to remain patient. Analyzing these could take a while.”

Watching the blood drain from his body was somewhat sickening to Ignis, so he looked away, focusing instead on a spot on the wall. Only once Celene was finished did he look back again, glancing only briefly at the vials.

“I have always prided myself on being a very patient man,” he said, drawing his arm back and letting his hand rest on his lap. “However, I fear that waiting for the results may sorely test that patience.” He wanted answers, and he wanted them now. But Ignis understood that it was impossible for Celene to make any sort of immediate diagnosis, so he would have to wait.

“In the meantime, however, do you have any suggestions as to how I might manage my symptoms? For example, I feel hungry almost perpetually and yet I have little appetite. I made one of my favourite dishes a few nights ago and when I sat down to eat, the first bite made me feel so nauseated that I couldn’t continue.”

Particularly disturbing was what happened the following night.

@arachnexdragoon

Witchcraft.

That was only only way of explaining it. Nobody had ever managed to make Ignis forget himself the way Aranea did and it had to be down to some kind of witchcraft because Ignis was a man very much in control of himself at all times. Except whenever Aranea put in an appearance.

They’d got used to her sweeping into their battles and fighting alongside them. Each and every time, she was a welcome sight, arriving at precisely the right moment to lend support and deliver some absolutely devastating blows to the enemy. Ignis has his own, private, reasons for being happy to see her. In the midst of combat, he’d catch her and and she’d send him a wink that got his heart pounding. After the last enemy had been dispatched, she rarely around, but when she did, they were both cautious and careful to keep their relationship secret. Stolen looks and silent promises passed between them, but no more.

Occasionally, after they’d been separated for a prolonged period of time, Ignis would invite Aranea and her men to dine with them, but more often than not, she politely declined, and Ignis understood why. They were still enemies, after all, and they had to keep up appearances. It grew ever more difficult, however, given that their opportunities to meet up came so few and far between, and most recently, she’d taken to throwing caution to the wind and accepting his offer of food. Luckily, Biggs and Wedge did a stellar job of distracting Noctis, Prompto and Gladio with tall tales which allowed Ignis and Aranea to sneak off for a few snatched minutes of precious privacy. 

If any of the others suspected anything, they didn’t say a word, although Ignis was quite positive that Gladio had shot him a few knowing looks once Aranea and her companions said their goodbyes. It might have been Ignis’ imagination, however. Or, perhaps, a somewhat guilty conscience. They were covert. Of that, he was certain, but equally, he had begun to suspect that his feelings were noticeable in the way he behaved. Maybe not to Noctis, who was notoriously unobservant when it came to others, but that Ignis smiled a little more often, or occasionally wore a wistful expression couldn’t possibly have gone unobserved, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

There were changes to be seen in Aranea, too. For one thing, she was becoming bolder. She flirted openly with Ignis, chuckling with far too much glee when he responded in an appropriately flustered manner, complete with pink-tinged cheeks. Whenever she made a saucy joke - which was surprisingly often - she’d send him a bawdy wink while everyone else laughed. But so far, she’d maintained her decorum. She hadn’t actually made any overt displays of affection towards him that would have the others asking questions.

Until now.

With a blush heating his cheeks, Ignis watched her depart after she’d taken her payment, his gaze fixed firmly on the departing airship. Nobody said a word. They didn’t have to because, when Ignis looked around at Noctis, Gladio and Prompto, he could see the surprise clearly written on their faces. Widened eyes, dropped jaws and - in Gladio’s case a very distinct smirk - spoke of astonishment at what had occurred.

Regaining his composure, Ignis cleared his throat and allowed his shoulders to rise and then fall in a shrug.

It was certainly one of the most bizarre circumstances for a date she has ever had, but she didn’t make any effort to complain. Good company was good company and even though it was presented in a more professional light, she was sure it wouldn’t stay that way for long. “Well, in that case, I’m sure you could teach me a thing or two about margins, kerning, and subject matter.” She chuckled quietly, amused by the absurdity of the entire situation. “I do not have a preference. In fact, I’m rather unequipped to make a decision considering I’m unfamiliar with this place. I’ll leave it up to you. I’m sure your culinary palate is more refined than mine, anyway.”

“At the risk of sounding as though I might be bragging, I would say that my grasp of formatting concepts is exemplary. Spacing can make all the difference in a report. After all, if one wishes to engage the reader, one must make the material pleasing to the eye.”

The situation was far from absurd to Ignis. Indeed, it seemed a perfectly reasonable arrangement. A civil arrangement and all too often, between running around after Noctis and the trials and tribulations of a political life, that was something he sorely lacked.

rules: you can only say guilty or innocent. you are not allowed to explain anything unless someone messages you or asks you. repost, don’t reblog 


asked someone to marry you?  Innocent

kissed one of your friends?  Innocent

danced on a table in a bar / tavern?  Innocent

ever told a lie?  Guilty

had feelings for someone whom you can’t have?  Guilty

ever kissed someone of the same sex?  Innocent

kissed a picture?  Innocent

slept until 5pm?  Innocent

fallen asleep at work / school?  Guilty

held a snake?  Innocent

been suspended from school?  Innocent

worked at a fast food chain / restaurant?  Innocent

stolen something?  Innocent

been fired from a job?  Innocent

done something you regret?  Guilty

laughed until something you were drinking came out of your nose?  Innocent

caught a snowflake on your tongue?  Innocent

kissed in the rain?  Innocent

sat on a roof top?  Innocent

sang in the shower?  Guilty

been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on?  Guilty

shaved your head?  Innocent

slept naked?  Guilty

made a boyfriend / girlfriend cry?  Innocent

shot a gun?  Innocent

still love someone you shouldn’t?  Innocent (-ish)

have / had a tattoo?  Innocent

liked someone, but will never tell who?  Guilty

been too honest?  Guilty

ruined a surprise?  Innocent

been told that you’re beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said?  Innocent

still have communication w/ your ex?  Innocent

cheated on someone?  Innocent

got so angry that you cried?  Guilty

tried to stay away from someone for their own good?  Innocent

thoughts about suicide?  Innocent

thoughts about murder?  Innocent

how about mass murder?  Innocent

stalked someone?  Innocent

had a girlfriend / boyfriend?  Innocent

gotten totally drunk during a holiday?  Innocent

@arachnexdragoon

Ignis had been pretending things were edible for as long as he could remember. Certainly, going as far back as the days where Noctis actually made some effort to cook. But back in those days, it was necessary to practice subterfuge. Ignis didn’t like the idea of lying to his daughter; how could he expect full honesty from her if he wasn’t willing to give the same in return?

“Something smells wonderful!” He announced after nodding acknowledgement at Aranea’s statement. Whatever the child had produced, it couldn’t be that bad, and at least she was showing some enthusiasm for cooking. That ought to be encouraged.

Allowing Aranea to show him to his seat, which was all a part of the little game, Ignis made himself comfortable and took a deep inhale of the various aromas around him.

“If I’m not mistaken, we are having chickatrice, yes?” His daughter’s delighted giggle told Ignis he was correct, so he continued to guess. “I’m detecting tarragon, which is always an excellent choice, especially with white meat. Well done, Aurora!” Praise was important. Praise encouraged someone to keep making an effort and Ignis was determined that his daughter should never be made to feel disheartened. Even if it was simply complimenting her choices in which herbs to use, Ignis would find positive things to say about her culinary attempts.

“I had better try my meal before it goes cold,” Ignis said, reaching for his fork and knife. With the kind of precision that might lead someone who didn’t know him to surmise that he was fully sighted, Ignis cut into his meat and sliced off a chunk. He could almost taste the anticipation which hung in the air, from both Aranea and Aurora, as he lifted the morsel to his mouth.

At first taste, it wasn’t terrible. Aurora had been a little heavy-handed with the seasoning and the saltiness of the dish would certainly see Ignis drinking plenty of water with his meal. The meat was also a touch over-cooked, which made it tougher than it should have been, but these were minor issues. From what he could tell, she’d added a good amount of wine, and her use of herbs was spot on. Despite what Aranea has said, the meal was far from being inedible.

“Your cooking skills are constantly improving, Aurora,” Ignis said, setting his cutlery down on his mostly clean plate. “I think you should make this again, but next time, I’d like to accompany you in the kitchen. You can talk me through how you’re making it and I can make a few suggestions here and there. For example, to taste before you season and to add salt in small amounts, testing all the while. The potential you demonstrate makes me thank the Astrals that you have inherited my proficiency in the kitchen rather than your mother’s.”

Offering Aranea a wry grin, Ignis stood to start gathering their plates and glasses.

“Since you cooked, please allow me to take care of the cleaning up. I’m sure you’ve worked very hard, so why don’t you take your mother through to the sitting room and relax. I’ll be through shortly.”

As he moved away from the table, Ignis paused and leaned over to kiss his wife’s cheek, then his daughter’s.

“Uh…” She glanced away from him, pushing up her glasses as she thought through what he’d told her, even as he struggled to explain himself. She’d honestly never heard of anything like that and she hadn’t expected such romantic notions from Ignis. He was more level headed than even her, if that was possible. So to hear he had gotten so swept up into someone else was… surprising, if nothing else. 

She never, in all the time she had known him, ever expected to hear him sigh like that. It was just too strange. And perhaps a little envy inducing, which was something she’d have to think about later in her own time. 

“Alright, uh, given the nature of the symptoms you spoke of, I think it’s likely best to begin with a blood test, and see if there’s any signs of parasites or other organisms.” It was really the only starting point she could think of. Frowning slightly to herself, she rose from her seat. “Stay here.” 

Celene slipped past him, and it took her only a few minutes to collect the things she needed for a simple blood sample from the locked cabinet in the laboratory proper. Returning to him, she motioned to the chair. “Please, sit, this part won’t take long, though analyzing the sample will take some time.”

“Parasites?” Ignis visibly paled. Of all the indignities he had ever suffered - blessedly few - this was by far the worst, and the most humiliating. Swallowing hard, Ignis removed the cufflink from his left wrist and began to roll up his shirt sleeve. A blood test sounded logical, and an awful lot less invasive than other examinations Celine might have suggested.

“Whatever the results may be,” he said quietly, sitting as invited. “I trust that you will observe the usual code of conduct for medical professionals and maintain my secret?” The last thing he wanted was for word of his having a sexually-transmitted infection getting around. He had a certain reputation that he wished to protect. Not to mention that he didn’t want people speculating about his sex life. Or lack thereof, because he couldn’t say for certain that he had, indeed, been sexual with the stranger.

“I expect this sort of thing happens often.” To other people, was the silent inference. Definitely not to men like Ignis, who prided himself of his upstanding nature and virtues, even if he had defected. “Hopefully whatever the treatment involves, assuming there is one, will deal with it swiftly and eradicate any traces of infection. You’ll be needing this...”

“Can you serve vanilla frappes during afternoon tea?” :D