voidtreckerexpress | Anytime you need a friend I'm gonna be by your side

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Anytime you need a friend I'm gonna be by your side

Characters: Tony, Ignis, Madoka, Prompto, Gladio and Peter
When: About a week after new arrivals
Where: Dining carriage
Warnings: Tony
Summary: Growing family dinner

Ignis had called on the fellow members of the Crownsguard to come to a family dinner one night. Normally he made dinner just for them and then had another dinner with Tony afterwards, but tonight was different and so he busily prepared something akin to the Skewered Wild Trout and Spicy Long-Bone Rib Steaks, those being some of Gladio & Prompto's favourites respectively. Working with this month's recipehs too, he made Cheese & Rosemary Focaccia as an appetizer without any onions.

He'd been given fish and meat from the townspeople that he'd helped rescue on the last mission on the ice world. Of course he'd tried politely to decline anything but the young father who'd mistakenly thought Madoka as his daughter (at the time) refused to hear it and the advisor didn't want to insult the man. So when Ignis came home he had just pounds of meat and fish that he stored away in the freezer for a special occasion.

Well now was one such as that.

Having informed Tony of his idea, the Red team leader then invited Peter to come meet the other side of the family. Madoka of course was all for it and she busily started working on side dishes and dessert. Normally the advisor had no problem tanking everything but he wanted Madoka to feel included and she'd worry he was taking too much on by himself. That was nonsense in Ignis' book but the bigger rule than his pride was not to make his daughter worry. It happened once and since he couldn't handle the onslaught of those eyes, he'd silently vowed to never go through that again.

Like ever.

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Ignis sat there quietly as he waited for his coffee. He watched Tony and Prompto get into some sort of animated conversation and Madoka was so busy smiling at them just enjoying the company. She was such a source of joy and inspiration that he couldn't help but smile whenever she walked into a room.

When the shield returned with the mug, he nodded with a smile on his face. The cards then came out and before he could reply, there was a devious smirk on the advisor's face once he saw the pack of cards. "Like old times you say.." There were a lot of thoughts that went through his ind when he heard that particular line.

Edited 2020-03-23 02:37 (UTC)

"That's right." Gladio grinned widely and tapped the cards where he'd set them on the table. "I'm told you guys don't play? Well that's gonna change! We can teach Madoka." He laughed and looked around for the pink haired teen, didn't find her so shrugged and turned back to Ignis.

"You wanted a family dinner, Igs. Some of the best memories I have of us is sitting in those damn motels or late at night at camp sites playing games like these. Might not be what some of these guys would call fun, but..." It was one of Gladio's fondest memories. All of them together, relaxed, laughing, brushing off the stresses of the day and if only for an hour or two, they could pretend there wasn't a care in the world. They could pretend they were their age and didn't have the weight of destiny and duty on their shoulders.

The advisor shook his head. Leave it to Gladio to want to play cards again. There were times he hadn't played but when the other three went to go busy themselves with something else, he would snatch the deck and play a few rounds of solitaire. And he would learn more ways to play the games they played because when he would play, of course Ignis loved to win, all the while playing it down of course.

There was a genuine smile at hearing the shield want to include Madoka, that was just heart achingly sweet of him. The girl had worked her magic on his fellow Crownsguard members just as he was sure that she would.

"They were fun for us and that is what counts." Ignis wouldn't replace any of those memories when it was just the four of them.

Edited 2020-03-26 04:01 (UTC)

Of course he'd want to include Madoka. Even that odd kid, Peter, if he was interested. He already knew Tony would be up for a game. Though when he thought about it he wondered if the card games they played were the same that Tony had on his world. Or that Madoka had on hers? Maybe he could be taught a thing or two? It did please him to know that poker existed on both though, but even then the rules could have been different in each. It would be very interesting to find out when the time came. Gladio was looking forward to it. The excitement shone in the grin he flashed Ignis' way then.

"And it can be fun for everyone else as well. And that's what I want. These guys won't know what we went through back home. They couldn't understand. But then, I can't understand the things Tony's been through, or the world Madoka came from. We've all got our differences, Iggy. But sitting around, laughing and just playing a simple card game. None of that matters. Past or present, who we are, what we've done, none of that matters. We'll just have a good time and to hell with the rest."

Ignis sobered up when Gladio said the part about what they went through. Tony knew the most, Madoka knew bits and pieces. But their secrets weren't his to reveal, such as Madoka seeing a friend get eaten or Tony sacrificing himself to save his world much like Noctis would have to do. The advisor hadn't told the shield what he knew and he wouldn't even tell the king himself. That last part was because he planned on finding a way to circumvent that future. If he could find the one or ones responsible he'd personally put an end to their plot to have the king die. His oath was to save the king not let him go to his death.

"Well mayhaps we can learn from them. And there's plenty of food and drink to go around." He'd made sure of that, and he might have to rope Madoka into sitting still and playing. But he was sure that she would delight in having this many people be willing to sit and spend time with her.

He didn't know that much about everyone's pasts, just the bits that he had been told. He assumed that he would learn more as time went on. He wasn't in any rush nor was he really fishing for information. It just was what it was and he knew it was bad enough that they could all use a damn break and distraction. And a mindless, fun card game was just what the doctor ordered!

"Who knows? They might have different rules than we do back home or different games." Gladio grinned, the excitement plain in his expression. "I'm lookin forward to it!"

"It's too bad you two don't have your phones, but then again you might not be able to introduce the other people here to King's Knight anyhow." This was a good thing, the last thing people needed was a train full of distracted people with cellphones in hand.

Gladio and his enthusiasm were ways to put a smile on the advisor's face. It was so good to have his old friend and companion back. "There's always games going on in the game room as well."

A smirk.

"Have you ever heard of a game called Hungry Hungry Hippos?"

Gladio laughed in remembrance. Playing Kings Knight with the others had always been a happy and relaxing time for him. It had been a nice way to bond that didn't involve actually risking their lives.

But then Ignis was saying words and Gladio gave him a funny look. "What's a Hippo?"

A smirk played on the strategist's lips. "It's a mammal on a planet called Earth. It spends time in the water and eats plants. But this animal in particular is plastic and is in a game that is a favourite of Madoka's. The object of the game is to gobble up all of these marbles before the rest of your opponents do."

So basically the one that has the most wins.

Gladio just stared at Ignis for a long few seconds waiting for a punchline that never came.

"... Are you pulling my leg?" He finally asked. Because Ignis couldn't be serious, could he? What the hell kind of game was that? It sounded strange. It sounded... like something Iris would probably have liked. Gladio shook his head and chuckled softly. "You're not expecting me to play that, are you?"

Punchlines can't be delivered if they're not a thing.

"No I'm rather not." Ignis smiled. "But yes I am..moreover requesting you to play." Gladio was more of a game player than himself but he would always play the game at his daughter's request. And Madoka would have the Crownsguard playing with her he was sure.

"Requesting, huh?" Gladio gave his old friend a narrow eyed look. He did not think that this 'game' was his thing. "I'd have to be very, very drunk to play something like that, Iggy."

Or, maybe, if it was just him and Iris. He would have played it then. But then again he would have done almost anything for his little sister.

Ignis' green eyes crinkled with mirth. "I see. Then if that is the way you're playing it, then I may have to simply revamp my strategy."

If he brought Madoka into this, he knew Gladio would bend to those cute eyes that belonged to the pink haired girl.

"Plying me with booze so I can play a kids game? Iggy, just how bored are you here?" Gladio laughed, very much confused why his old friend was so hell bent on him playing a game with hungry creatures and marbles? Was it really that fun? From the way it was described it didn't sound it.

"Unless you're upping the stakes? Do you guys play for money or does the loser have to suffer a forfeit?" See now, if you made it interesting, maybe he would play. Invoking Madoka would not work on Gladio. He had a sister. Big, innocent eyes were not enough to bend him to their will. He had become immune to such things at a very early age.

"No alcohol around children thank you very much." Ignis replied crisply. "And you'll most certainly need your wits about you." There was a slight smirk. "I quite assure you that I've plenty to do here, but hopefully one day you'll be kind enough to help me out." How was yet to be revealed but that would come at another time.

His head shook. "I have heard of strip poker and things of that nature." There was a smile as he thought of Gladio's beau but no actual comment was made. "But you'd have to inquire as to games for stakes."

"Helping you out by playing a kids game?" Because it very much sounded like a kids game to him. He had no idea what else Ignis was planning, and didn't even pay it any thought. He was far too amused.

He burst out laughing. At no point did he mention of even think about strip poker. At least not while he'd been speaking to Ignis. The guy had come to that all on his own. "... Your mind is a strange, strange place, Ignis. Can I thank Tony for that?"

"No..not helping me out by playing a child's game." There was another smirk. "I've got a better use for you." Better to let Gladio stay where he was at for now.

But the outburst of laughter was so refreshing to hear. There was a bit of smothered laughter and a knowing gaze. "You most certainly may." And while he was standing together with the shield he wondered when that change had precisely happened.

The older man had taken Ignis' entire neat orderly world and flipped it upside down. Maybe the relationship had changed him more than he thought.

Gladio cast his friend a suspicious look. He would question him, but when the guy was being mysterious like that he knew questioning wouldn't get him anywhere. He'd clam up and that was that. All he could do was shake his head and wait to see what Ignis had planned. And then tell him no when it happened.

"Heh I figured." There was no judgement, just amusement. He liked Tony. He was a good guy and very good for Ignis, clearly.

Ignis just smiled and appreciated that he wasn't getting twenty or thirty questions like say Prompto would do. Noct might even pull the same thing as well. The shield knew him well and should, after having spent so many years and so much time at each other's side.

The advisor's mind was a strange place to most people anyhow and he was sure Tony just had fine tuned it along lines that were more compatible with his. But still, it was something to think about.

"I'm delighted that you approve of him." Really, he meant that, especially considering that they started off all wrong.

"You could have done much worse." Gladio chuckled. He didn't know how, but he was sure Ignis could. Though Ignis has always had good taste and he supposed that extended to all areas, including husband material.

"So what actually attracted you to him?" Gladio asked then, honestly curious. "Was it just a heat of the moment thing? Something brought you both together? Did he romance you?" He smiled, there was no teasing to his voice, just honest curiosity. "I'd figure options are limited for romance here. What the hell do you guys do for dates and things?"

Wisely Ignis kept his mouth shut just as he had all of these years and just smiled. He hadn't gotten into it before and wasn't about to change that and get into the details now.

He let out a little bit of a self conscious laugh when Gladio asked him the question about attraction. Well he could tell that story. So with another laugh he shook his head. "It wasn't a matter of heat of the moment..not on my part at any rate." He went through his mind trying to figure out what it was. And after another moment's thought, his eyes met the shield's.

"I believe it was the sincerity and constancy in his attention. He would always ask how I was which I somehow considered rather odd considering I was still a stranger to him. And he would seek my company out..which was confusing to say the least." Another thought occurred and he went on. "And what really got my attention was that he was making up some ludicrous story and when I bowed out of the conversation, he chased after me to try and explain. Needless to say he didn't have to do such a thing."

There was another smile and Ignis blushed about the dates. "We had a date as a sort of picnic in the dressing carriage. And of course we have dinner together every night. And I'm sure with this planting project underway there'll be flowers and all that." But then he realized there might be a wheel or five turning in Gladio's head so he smiled. "Him rescuing me what was what brought us together honestly."

"We've danced at my birthday party and we spend time together. Dates are what you make them, because you can have a dinner together anywhere and lay a blanket down. Gather music or take a long shower together or whatever either of you may consider to be romantic."

Asking a direct set of questions seemed to work this time! Gladio sat and listened, a gentle smile upon his lips as Ignis explained how he and Tony had came to be. It seemed so deceptively simple that Gladio wondered if Ignis was leaving something out, but he decided not to poke holes in the story and take it for what it was. And that was another piece of the puzzle that was Ignis' life before he arrived on the Voidtrecker.

Gladio chuckled, his smile broadening. "Sounds like you have it all sorted out. I'm glad, Iggy. And glad he's good to you. He is good to you, right?" And no, he wasn't asking about what they did in private!

It really was that simple, Tony was both persistent and consistent. Romance hadn't featured in his life, and had showed his love by all the things he did. Everything he did was due to being oath bound, but beyond that and binding him deeper still was a love he never spoke of until he boarded a train in another world.

"Oh Gladio." Ignis said with a small bit of red appearing on his face. "Of course he is good to me." And no, he's definitely not getting into personal private things.

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Anytime you need a friend I'm gonna be by your side

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