Excuse the mess but we live here.

[callmegladio]

Who: Gladio and... anyone! If someone from Blue Team wants to come assist, they can!
What: Gladio has a mission. And is bored. So bored.
When: Egret 19, dawn. Or as dawn as you can get. And will be going on almost all day till he gets to the cabins.
Where: Currently the dining car. But he will be everywhere!
Warnings: Just a bunch of silliness, really! ^^ Gladio has only one working arm currently so this should be highly amusing. Come help him, chat to him, judge him as you pass by, whatever floats your goat.



Gladio was no stranger to getting down and dirty with the troops. His father had taught him well. Just because he was the Kings Shield didn't put him above others, he needed to do his part to the cause, so to speak.

Which was why, when the Shield discovered that his 'Team' had chores to do, he found himself in the store carriage picking through the cleaning supplies to get a start on doing just that. What else did he have to do, exactly?

After picking through the cleaning products that he would need, Gladio headed for the next carriage. For now he was only going to clean the common areas, without having permission from the other passengers he wasn't about to go barging into bedrooms demanding they get the hell out so he can tidy up their mess. No, he would start from one end and work his way through. The dining carriage was his first port of call. He had polish and cloths for tables and chairs and anything else he could find that undoubtedly had layers of dust. The kitchen he bypassed and up he went, armed and ready to do battle with dust bunnies and coffee rings.

The fact he only had one usable arm did not deter him. He didn't really need two to clean, right?

Comments

[faithfulsupport]

There was just some days work took precedence over everything. After having breakfast with the lads, Ignis got to work on cleaning his own bedroom to start. Tony had wandered off as had his other roommate, which left the advisor to get things done.

Drat, he'd left his cleaning supplies in the hall, hadn't he? So with a sigh and a shake of the head he decided to set down the blanket and tucked it tightly and neatly on the bed before going out. He could use another cup of coffee too, and then there was more cooking to be done. Just like back home, there was always something for him to do or attend to or keep an eye on.

So he headed to the dining carriage and got a cup of coffee, quickly surveying how much room he and Madoka would need to get their projects started. Evie would be joining them too, so he had to get that prepped. Cleaning now though so the advisor turned the corner.

And almost crashed into the Shield.

Green eyes narrowed slightly at the other. "I don't believe you should be overdoing it with that arm." He knew if he offered to help chances were real good that he would be shot down.

[callmegladio]

"I'm not using that arm." Gladio pointed out reasonably. He'd heard Ignis coming and had managed to step out of his way, just narrowly missing being knocked into. Clearly Ignis hadn't seen him there, though how that was Gladio didn't know. It wasn't as if he was inconspicuous.

"Sitting around is driving me insane. So I'm doing this." He shot Ignis a look. "Hope you don't plan on making me stop. I'm bored. I'll find something else to do. And it'll probably piss you off more than cleaning and making myself actually useful."

[faithfulsupport]

There was a sigh. Nagging and fussing were Ignis' way of showing that he cared and the Shield was a longtime trusted friend. "Then at least try not to overdo it." There was a lot of guilt on his end about how that mission went and no matter how many times he replayed Tony's message that it was okay and it wasn't his fault, it was still his responsibility. He was the only leader of the team though he had been thinking about nominating someone else to help.

"It's too bad there isn't an out of doors to let you loose in." That would give Gladio something to do. But really he hoped there was no more outer space for any of them. The head shook. "I've no intention of doing so. Just don't overdo it."

The last part came out softly. Blinking once at the shield, he sighed again. "Just come to me if you're in pain."

[callmegladio]

He had no intention of pushing himself too hard. He knew his limits (when not in the heat of battle of course), and he knew if he pushed himself past those limits there were several people he would have to answer to. He just needed to do something more than sit around. It was driving him insane. He'd never liked it back home and he hated it more even now.

But he kept his expression calm and now he knew Ignis wasn't forcing him to stop, he was even able to smile. "Good. I'm just doing a little, Iggy. Just as much as I can. It's our job after all, right?"

[faithfulsupport]

He hated when he and Gladio disagreed on things even if in the moment he never looked like it. Anything that was said was silently gone over later a thousand times and it replayed. But seeing the shield here with him now had him hope they really didn't argue over things anymore.

His mind worked through so many replies and he tried to maintain a hard ass look but when he thought of disappearing and not being there for Gladio when they first got back, he blamed himself for that.

So the shield got a lowered tone and a steady gaze. "Yes..I suppose you're right."

[callmegladio]

Gladio was quiet as he waited for Ignis, he could see the gears working in his head, but when he spoke all Gladio could do was stare. Had he said something wrong? If so what the hell was it? He tried to think back and couldn't see a thing wrong with what he was saying or doing. So why was Ignis looking at him like that and using that tone?

"The hell...?" Gladio muttered under his breath and tossed the cloth in his hand down onto the table before he turned to properly face Ignis. "The hell is wrong, Ignis?" He demanded then, tone firm. "The hell do you want me to do? Just sit around and twiddle my thumb? There's no outdoors to set me loose in like a damn dog, but there's work to do in here. Work our Team is tasked to do and I should do my part since I can't damn well do anything else! So what's the problem? Tell me? Because right now I'm feeling damn useless and this, surprisingly, is helping!"

[faithfulsupport]

If he didn't know Gladio, Ignis would've backed down with a quickness as there was no need in poking the bear so to speak. He listened to the shield and all he could do was shake his head. Let him loose? Well he was right in the fact that there wasn't anywhere to go and letting Gladio do such a thing was always beneficial back home. It was good to let him have space to breathe, think and calm down.

Here there wasn't that benefit.

Years of knowing the man before him made Ignis not argue. He got closer to Gladio and couldn't seem to find the words he wanted to say. So all the shield got was an apologetic sort of look. He knew Gladio was doing the best he could with what he had and doing the best he could. It was he who failed the shield, not the other way around.

[callmegladio]

Silence was not the best way to deal with Gladio right then. Just looking at him and not replying to his questions, his pleading, was not the way. And that look? Gladio was getting angry. Why wasn't Ignis answering him? What the hell had he done to the guy to deserve being ignored? Why wouldn't he just talk to him? Why the hell was it so damn hard?

Anger washed through him and at his side his hand balled into a fist. Never before had he wanted to hit Ignis as much as he did right at that moment.

But just as quickly as the anger came, it was followed by guilt. And fear. The memory of Prompto's tales of back home, of how he was. Of anger. He swore he wouldn't be like that.

The fist at his side uncurled and the fight just... left him. He dropped himself down into a seat and slumped forward. "... Dammit, Ignis... If you're not going to talk to me... then go. Just go..." Because he couldn't take it anymore. He was just so damn tired.

[faithfulsupport]

Guilt flooded through Ignis and he waited to be struck. There would be no fight in return and no tattling because leaving the shield's side (as well as his team's) to go fuck off and disappear for who knew what reason was no excuse at all. He felt like he should be punished for something even if he had no control over it.

So green eyes widened in surprise as the tense moments ticked by and Gladio dropped. The strategist was almost disappointed he didn't get hit. After watching the other slumping forward, leaving was what he thought to do but then he reconsidered. He wasn't the only one suffering here, that much was so very plain.

Instead of turning away, Ignis got down on his knees and studied the shield for just a moment, deciding if what he planned next would be alright. Well it was a calculated risk so either it would be accepted or he'd get hit. And either way he was alright with the outcomes.

And that's when he reached for the shield and pulled him in for a hug.

[flatteries]

Apparently Gladio has his work cut out for him, considering the current state of the dining car. It seems some people haven't exactly been very clean eaters. And one of the culprits is still sitting there, if the fact that Inigo is eating some bread and the table in front of him is just completely littered with breadcrumbs is anything to go by.

The boy curiously looks up when he hears someone entering the carriage, staring at Gladio as the older guy makes his way into the car with the cleaning supplies. Maybe this would be a good moment to start to feel guilty and at least scoop some of his own mess up. But alas, it seems Inigo hasn't quite arrived at that conclusion yet. No, he's way too distracted by Gladio's current state, judging by what he speaks up with.

"Are you bwoing all wat with one arm?" Yes, he's speaking with his mouth full. That's exactly why there's only more crumbs falling down! Apparently you can raise a royal kid with manners all you want, but they fade the moment you throw said kid out into the wilderness for years on end..

[callmegladio]

"Say again?" Gladio paused in what he was doing, which was putting his armful of cleaning supplies on one of the tables. He looked over at the guy who was busy making more work for him, but the guy had been there first and using the room for it's intended purpose, so he couldn't exactly yell at him for it.

What he could do was grab one of the cloths he'd brought and set it down on the table with a big grin. "Do me a favour? When you're done, clean up after yourself." He didn't know the guy to judge him, but he was making more mess than he'd ever seen one person make.

[flatteries]

"Bwhat?!"

The surprise almost seem to make him choke mid-bite - or maybe it's the fact that he's still talking with his mouth full. Inigo seems to realise that's not really helping the communication here along though, so he quickly chews in order to have his mouth free enough to be easier to understand.

"But-- what about all those other people?!" He gestures with an arm at all the empty seats that also clearly still have trash and other kinds of dirt left behind. He knows this is a very childish argument, but granted, Inigo doesn't really look like he's an adult. Especially as he starts pouting like he's doing right now. "Why am I the only one who has to suffer?!"

It's as if Gladio asked him to walk into an arena of bloodthirsty wolves rather than asked him to clean up something..

[callmegladio]

Gladio was good enough to wait for the kid to finish chewing what was in his mouth before he laid into him.

"And if those other people were here they'd be getting told the same thing. You're here. Making a mess for no damn reason. Are you three years old, kid?" Gladio gestured with his one good arm to the guys mess, stunned one person could do that and actually think it was okay to complain about the mess of others.

"If you don't wanna suffer, don't make the damn mess and make me suffer having to clean up after you when you have two working arms!"

[flatteries]

Holy Naga! It's not as if other people on the train can't be stern as well, but Inigo still didn't quite see something of this level coming. It's so very obvious that it catches him off guard too, since the poutiness about him instantly fades, only to be replaced by his jaw dropping in the face of this.

It's not even that he's scared. Inigo rarely gets genuinely scared. He's more just baffled. It renders him unable to do anything but just stare at the man for a moment before he seems to regain his mind and grabs the cloth to start cleaning up. He's not even half-assing it!

But in the face of the fact that he has no idea how to respond to any of that, Inigo just quickly plasters a smile on his face as soon as he can while working. "So.. do you usually scold people that intensely or should I savour the special occasion?"

Maybe making a joke is the dumbest thing to do in this situation, but Inigo has no other default to fall back on.

[callmegladio]

Gladio would have folded his arms if he could, but since he couldn't he just stepped back and watched, making sure the kid actually did what he was supposed to. The kid was actually doing as he was told, which satisfied Gladio enough that he was considering going back to his own work when the guy opened his mouth again.

Despite himself, Gladio snorted a laugh. "Special occasion. Don't usually find a people making such a damn mess of themselves and actually argue about it." He flashed the kid a smile then. "Don't make me more work to do and I won't have to scold you again. Deal?"

[flatteries]

"You've clearly never been to Ylisse.." It's mumbled under his breath, but it's probably still audible enough, since it's not like Inigo really minds Gladio hearing it. His friends so would have argued about who would have to clean up for ages. He really isn't the odd one out here, don't make him look like it!

But yes, yes, he is actually cleaning up the breadcrumb mess he's made. Even though he still seems kind of sulky as he's doing it. At least he is doing it.

"Besides, it's not as if I intended to make a mess! I was just eating, and it just happe--" He's mid-swing of his arm to make some dramatic gesture to accompany his story, only to realise that said swing managed to swoop all the breadcrumbs off the table.. and right onto the floor. For a moment Inigo just stares at it, clearly baffled and frozen up, but then he dives to the ground to gather them back up with a yelp. "That one wasn't intentional! You can't yell at me for that..!"

[callmegladio]

"Clearly not." Gladio had no idea what that place was but he was sure it wasn't on Eos.

And then he lifted his one good hand to cover his face. The guy, who he still didn't know the name of, but was starting to think of as Idiot, had moved all of his mess onto the floor. Gladio didn't know if he should laugh or sit down because he was getting a headache.

"... Not going to yell. Just clean the damn mess up." He said with a sigh as he dropped his hand. "And get some spacial awareness. Always know what's around you and your impact on it. Even breadcrumbs."

[pleple]

His one arm is about the size of an entire Ple Two anyways, so he wasn't really slowing anything down. Which... didn't mean she wouldn't check in on him while doing her own cleaning duties in case he might work a little too hard, stressing his arm out.

She popped in, watching for a moment. "Cleaning going well?"

[callmegladio]

"Well enough." Gladio said with as much cheer in his voice as he could muster for something like cleaning. For something that was supposed to have been helping cure his boredom it sure wasn't. He wished he had music. ANY music. Even that annoying pop music would have done. It was so silent.

He shook his head and straightened up to look over where Ple Two was stood watching him and gave her a grin. "How's it going on your end?"

[pleple]

Simple mindless tasks were - if you could focus on them, and not let your mind wander, almost therapeutic at times. At least for some. Ple Two liked the chance to turn her brain down a bit.

"Simple enough as well."

[callmegladio]

That was partly what Gladio was aiming to do. But also in part it was because he was feeling restless and sitting around doing nothing was definitely not his style.

"Need a hand?" Gladio asked, grinning as he wriggled his fingers at her with his one good hand.

[pleple]

Keeping active was important, especially in such an enclosed space. "You look like you could use the spare, actually." She nodded, a moment later. "But if you can get higher spots then I'll go low."

[callmegladio]

He'd mostly been teasing her, but she was completely right. While he could happily work on his own with one hand, it took time to go from one thing to the other and back again.

"I'll go high and you go low. That's a plan." And he was more than happy to roll with it. After all, two hands were better than one.

[pleple]

Ple Two was teasing back - wasn't very good at the right tone for it, but she was also correct.

And a lot shorter. It was a pain getting too low, in fact. "Then we'll get this done quickly, right?"

[callmegladio]

"With any luck." Gladio agreed. While getting it done quickly was a good thing, it left him wondering what he would do with himself when it was done. But that was something he could think about later.

He smiled and grabbed up the polish. "Lets get this done." So he went high, spraying the polish and then swapping out for the cloth to wipe things down.