Event: Abort! Part Two (day 25, Egret). Luggage carriage

[voidtreckermods]

They are on world world#27462947582 for about five hours, helping, ushering people out of the city, fighting monsters, keeping guard. All seems well in the city itself, peaceful even except for the slight panic of people being told to move south.

Wherever they are, north in the desert, travelling through the countryside to the south or still in the city itself they will notice from their peripheral vision a darkening of the sky. Looking up they will see clouds. Strange clouds, appearing in the blue sky out of nowhere.

Their SCA’s start beeping, rapidly, flashing red. The clouds are too weird to be clouds, dark shapes in the sky. It might be that the Voidtreckers heed the warning and tap their SCA to evacuate to the train. It might be that they do not.

If they don’t then there is a moment, a moment of absolute stillness as those around them notice the shapes. A confused pause. Children stop their chatter, people stop their complaining, even the monsters seem to sense something and pause in their attacks.

The remaining voidtreckers are yanked away, even without pressing their SCA, they glow gold and disappear.

They all appear in the luggage carriage and not even a second later, with no warning the train lurches, flinging everyone off their feet as it enters the void.

It’s not really easy to tell speed in the void, but they will get the sense that they are moving fast. Faster than before, leaving that world and whatever those shapes were behind.

(OOC: Information on this event is here and part one is here)

Comments

[sonoflucis]

Noct laughed heartily. "I think you can live up to them. You set the bar after all." Gladio was always honest with him, even when the truth hurt. "You got this, Big Guy."

[callmegladio]

Gladio liked that laugh. It made him feel good whenever he could make someone laugh like that, especially when it was someone he cared for. He laughed again, low and deep and happy. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Noct."

[sonoflucis]

"Everywhere, huh?" Noct smirked playfully. "I mean, I didn't even flatter you earlier and I'm already in your bed!"

[callmegladio]

"Being dumb enough to have a top bunk is what got you into my bed. Flattery is what'll keep you there." At least until the reset and Noct gets pinged back to his room. That was always an annoying part. Or until Noct drove him crazy and he had to drag him back to his own room. But someone Gladio didn't think that would be happening. He wanted to keep Noct where he could make sure he was safe. At least until he could hand him over to someone with better medical knowledge. Or Prompto.

For now he was happy to keep Noct company where he was.

[sonoflucis]

Noct hadn't experienced being pinged back to his room yet, so that was something he would eventually have to live through. "Then I guess I'll have to keep it up. Have I told you how great your hair looks lately?"

[callmegladio]

Gladio burst out laughing and patted Nocts hand reassuringly. "Relax, you're here. I'm not planning on kicking you out of my bed any time soon." He grinned and, not quite able to help himself, gave a little wink on top of that. "What kind of crazy guy would ever want to do that?"

[sonoflucis]

Noct shrugged. "I don't know maybe someone who doesn't want to be caught with a younger man in their bed." He wasn't that much younger, but it was pretty funny.

[callmegladio]

"Wow, Noct. Way to make me sound like some creepy perv." Gladio rolled his eyes, but he was still smiling. Even though, by rights, he should have just thrown something at the King for suggesting that he was old.

[sonoflucis]

Noct snorted he was laughing so hard. "Couldn't help it. Trust me though, you're not creepy." Far from it, really. "I count myself pretty lucky right now."

[callmegladio]

"Suuure you do. Stuck in an old man's bed. You're very lucky." And Gladio with nothing on hand to throw. How annoying. He'd save it for later. When Noct was least expecting it he'd find something sailing toward his head and he helpless to dodge it. It would be perfect.

[sonoflucis]

"I am, though." Noct said. "I mean, you may be an old man, but you're buff and some of us are into that." He grinned. Easiest to let someone know you're into them if you're teasing... Right?

[callmegladio]

Gladio wasn't typically the oblivious type, but in this instance it went right over his head. He just assumed that Noct was being weird and admitting he had some kind of old guy kink and hey, it took all sorts! If Noct liked a more mature man, more power to him!

"You know, I think there's a few of those on the train. I could introduce you?" Gladio grinned widely.

[sonoflucis]

Noct waved him off. "No way, I'm really particular about what buff guys I'm into. Gotta have long hair, some scars, some tats... But mostly a killer smile."

[callmegladio]

"Narrows it down to about a dozen guys." Gladio laughed, though when he thought about it, he wasn't sure if all of them had tattoos. Not all had killer smiles. So maybe it narrowed it down to a small handful?

And yes, not he was being deliberately oblivious, because he thought Noct was just teasing him. Much like the young man and the creepy perv comments. It was all just teasing. Right?

[sonoflucis]

"Nah, just one." Noct said, his smile softening. "Not that I have a chance with him." Yeah, this wasn't teasing anymore. Noct knew Gladio would let him down gently. At least, he hoped he would.

[callmegladio]

The teasing smile fell away to be replaced by confusion at first, before things began to click into place. Noct... wasn't messing with him. What he'd thought was just idle banter was not at all idle.

Once more Gladio leaned back against the wall, just quietly watching Noct for a few moments more, before he spoke quietly. "Let me guess? You've been talking to Prompto?"

[sonoflucis]

Noct flushed and nodded. "It's not just that, though. I've always wanted to impress you. To be something more than just... You know, a prince."

[callmegladio]

"Noct..." Gladio sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "... You know damn well you're more than a prince. And you know damn well you impress me. And if I've not said that enough, that's on me. I've always been proud of you. I know what you're capable of. I know how strong you are." And maybe sometimes in the past he'd pushed him a little harder than others, but that was only because he knew Noct had it in him. Knew of the limitless potential he had within him.

He opened his eyes, his smile gentle and warm. "You've always been more than a prince."

[sonoflucis]

Noct smiled softly, heart swelling at those words. "I'm glad. I just... I don't want you to think Prompto pulled me into something I didn't already feel, you know? I've always admired you. Even when I was being a brat."

[callmegladio]

"Oh, you're still a brat." He chuckled. "And so is Prompto." And he would have having words with the blonde about talking about him behind his back. But that raised some other questions, and Gladio's smile became a frown. "... What's he been saying exactly?"

[sonoflucis]

Noct turned bright red at that question. "Well... He told me he's really happy with you. And that he... Um..." Geez, this was really awkward. He didn't want to lie, but could he really say that?

He kinda had to, didn't he?

"He wishes he could share."

[callmegladio]

Gladio just stared at Noct for a good while before he lifted a hand to check his SCA. "... You've been here just over a week... He really doesn't waste any time, does he?" He muttered with a little shake of his head, part amusement, partly exasperated. Prompto was like a damn puppy. Far too excitable.

[sonoflucis]

"I think because he and I are really close to being from the same time...? So we both missed each other even before he was brought here..." Noct scratched his cheek. "We never kept secrets on Eos... Why start now?"

[callmegladio]

Now he was wondering just what, exactly, Prompto had said to Noct... And whether he should be saying anything at all. Because he had his own conversations with the blonde before Noct had even boarded the train. But back then it had seemed like an impossibility. Prompto expressing feelings for Noct, confessing he loved the both of them and seeing validation and reassurance it was okay to do that... Gladio hadn't been sure how he felt about it. But now, with Noct all but saying the same damn thing...

He rubbed a hand across his eyes. "I wasn't talking about secrets, Noct... It's not exactly a secret he and I are together. And it wasn't a secret he loved you." He dropped his hand into his lap. "Before here... I thought you both were together."

[sonoflucis]

Noct got completely flustered then. "Did we really seem like that? I didn't even know he liked me until I came here!" He covered his face. "He just... You know... He wanted to tell me more, but I didn't want to know if you weren't comfortable with it... And... I was a little jealous, I guess."