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♥ Who: Gladio and OTA.
♥ Where: Everywhere.
♥ When: January 3rd.
♥ What: Gladio finding his feet and meeting the locals.
♥ Rating: PG-13

Another Strange Place:
[Gladio had been walking toward a small group of children, smiling as disarmingly as a man as large and seemingly intimidating as he could. The adults were nowhere to be seen, aside from some of the elderly. He'd hoped to gain some information. Anything, to help...

But between one step and the next... everything went dark. Not not a bad kind of dark. It felt... strange...

... When Gladio opened his eyes to see sky above him, white clouds, blue, clear sky... He turned his head slightly to see... nothing he expected. Instead of rustic houses, dirt paths, wooden fences and children at play, he saw white. White pillars and columns shaped like trees. Red and white ornaments. Strange looking birds. And he was laying down in the centre of it all.

He rose slowly, turned and dropped his legs over the edge of slab of carved stone he lay upon. When Gladio looked down he still wore the same clothes he'd been wearing (black leather pants, dark brown tunic, black cloak), so at least that hadn't changed. There was a sigh as he lifted a hand to scrub across his face.]

Damn train's done it again...

[Was this a side mission? Why had he been pulled away? And where was everyone else? When Gladio looked at his wrist he frowned, his SCA was gone. That didn't bode well. He was just contemplating calling out when a strange robot approached him... and that's where Gladio found out that he wasn't in Irivar anymore.

He was lead from the stone slab into another area to find more robots... he was handed a tablet, some local currency... and sent him on his way.

Gladio stepped out of the, what was it? He looked back and up. Temple... definitely a temple. He stepped out... and immediately sat himself down on the steps in the snow to try and work his head around what the hell he'd gotten himself into this time.]

A Teeny Tiny Fortune:
[Having noticed the strange booth, Gladio approached curiously. These robots were a strange thing, but so was the box that he was handed. He shook it as directed, a small, amused smile on his lips.

Then he was given a piece of paper.]

"The smallest things can bring the biggest rewards." Huh... good things in small packages, right? Thanks.

[Still looking very amused, Gladio shoved the paper in his pocket and turned to go.]

Stuck On You:
[Apparently he needed to look for a place to live. This was a big step up from a small room with a smaller bed shared between four people.

Gladio had taken his cloak off and had it wrapped over one hand. The laces of his leather tunic had been loosened and he was considering just taking that off as well, but figured near stripping in the middle of the street could be frowned upon.

He was so distracted by his surroundings that he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. Gladio bumped into someone. Automatically he reached out to stop whoever he ran into from hitting the ground... except that never happened. Wait, why couldn't he let go?]

Sorry! You okay?

Taking Stock:
[He'd found his way to the centre of the city it seemed. He'd found a fountain, an interesting structure that Gladio stood for a while, just looking at. He moved around it slowly, looking at all angles, before he sat himself down on the edge.

He stretched his legs out in front of himself and sighed.

So far this place didn't seem to have anything in common with where he had been before... He was starting to get a sinking feeling.

It was cold, there was snow everywhere, but nothing that was going to bother him so much that he was rushing to get indoors. He'd spent so much time inside over the last few months, even the snow was welcome.]

Home Away From Home:
[Houses... Small houses bunched together... And he was supposed to find one.]

Right... so how the hell does this work?

[Gladio walked up the street, then down it again, before he stopped in front of a house that appeared to be vacant. The tablet thing claimed it was unoccupied, so he walked on in.

After having a look around, he laughed to himself and did what was necessary to become the new owner... and then dropped himself down on sofa. Well and truly done.]

Wildcard:
[If you have another idea for a prompt, have at it, I'll run with anything. Though if you'd like to contact me I can be found on plurk and discord:

JustAnotherUsername | Theo#4816 - poke me as needed![

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You'll run into him eventually, and if he makes no comment about it then your soul is unremarkable to him.

[ She takes an unnecessarily large gulp of her drink. ]

Every soul has its own unique shade of colour and intensity. There is no hiding your identity from his eyes.

... I feel like I want to avoid him.

[He sounds almost amused.]

Thats a level of intimacy I don't want sharing with a stranger.

[His soul was his own, and it should be up to him to share its inner workings, not someone else to take a peek at its colours.]

Intimacy would be a mingling of souls, which is very noticeable.

His kind... The gift of soul sight was common, though varied in strength. Soul sense was how they identified each other, since all unique physical traits were hidden in public spaces. My first incarnation could not 'see' souls, but could identify them by their sound.

To him it's no different than a sighted person seeing the face of a blind man.

Depends on your definition. I think looking at someones soul is real intimate.

Might make sense where you guys come from. But I'll... keep an open mind.

[It was the best he could do.]

It isn't as foolproof any longer due to genetics and the extinction of his kind, but you used to be able to tell the general colour of one's soul by the colour of their eyes.

[ She finishes off her hot chocolate. ]

Do you know how I knew who you were?

I figured Prompto.

[Gladio still had a little more left, but he'd finish it, even if it was cold.]

His pictures?

[ A shake of her head. ]

You feel like one of Noct's, and I'd already met the others. It was easy to guess.

[... Gladio wasn't entirely sure how to take that, or if it was supposed to sound as strange as it did...

It took him a handful of seconds to formulate a reply.]

Right. That's different.

[ She shrugs. ]

I'm familiar with the feel of Noct's armiger.

That, yeah.

[He laughed.]

Makes a bit more sense now.

It took a little while, but once I got to know them better it wasn't too difficult identifying the different armigers!

[ She is understandably very proud of this.

She also tilts her head, angling her horn in the direction of the laundry room before setting about unfurling from her spot. ]

Your clothes are finished drying.

[Magic was so strange, but he could understand what she meant at least.

But knowing his clothes were dry was a good news.]

Then I can get outta your hair.

I'm not going kick you out the door the moment you're dressed. [ She places her mug and uneaten cookie on the coffee table and gets up, heading off to fetch his clothes.

Knowing the climate of Lucis was similar to Thanalan, Era spares a moment to gather up a nice, thick scarf and a winter cloak to go with Gladio's shirts. On a whim, she also grabs a dagger with what looks to be an ivory sheath and hilt, placing it neatly on top of the much more substantial stack of clothes.

When she returns she hands the pile over for Gladio to take. ]

Didn't think you would.

[But he didn't want to overstay his welcome too.

When Era returned with his clothes, and the extras, he gave her a questioning look as he took them. His shirt went on first, it was still warm from the dryer! The green jumper went over that. But the rest...?]

... You sure?

From what I understand, Lucian winters are mild at worst in most areas.

[ Of course her memories of Lucis are limited, and technically only memories of other people's memories, but from what she recalls feeling it was very much like Thanalan. Desert and savannah; larges swathes of dry ground with patches of hardy vegetation. ]

Because you're the brother of my brother I want to make sure you keep warm. And because I hit you in the balls with a tail I've used to cave in skulls I want to give you something useful.

[ She imagines that wasn't exactly a pleasant experience. ]

It's shape is multipurpose, and the hilt should be long enough to fit your hand—I always make them a bit larger, so Ardbert can use them too.

[She knew of their winters? Gladio was genuinely surprised by the things people seemed to know about him and his world who had never been there. It was something he had to get used to. Being surprised every time someone knew his name would get old real fast.

Her answer, though, caused Gladio to laugh loudly, a full, deep laugh.]

Yeah... a scarf is the least you can do for my balls.

[He was teasing, but his attention was brought to the dagger. When he picked it up though, the weapon was dwarfed within his hand, yet he could admire the craftmanship. While daggers weren't his preferred method, but he carefully pulled the blade free of it's sheath to look it over.]

Balanced well... it's a sweet dagger. You sure you're okay giving it to me?

The scarf is for your neck, not your balls. That's what the dagger is for. [ Era chuckles for a moment, amused, before quickly falling silent as she realizes how that sounds. She rephrases: ] It's for hurting your balls.

[ ...Wait, no. That sounds even worse. ]

...The dagger is recompense for the traumatic testicular injury I gave you.

And I'm very okay with it. I have at least eight others in the same style, though that one uses some of my better scales.

[Gladio just stared. He watched her dig a hole deeper and deeper. Worried his balls would jump back up into his body to hide from her since she seemed pretty damn intent on doing them actual physical harm!

But in the end he burst out laughing. Again.

What? It was funny. His nuts didn't think so, but he could see the humour in it.]

Then I guess I'll take it! [He grinned.] Just... lets not start a collection of daggers, huh?

[ His laughter is of a pitch and tone that feels nice to her horns. It does little to diminish the embarrassed blush that stains her cheeks, but she can see the humour in the situation all the same. ]

Ah— Yes, that would be ideal, I think. For that cost, at least. I'd rather the only balls I touch be my husband's or my ex-fiancé... [ That still feels like the wrong way to address Hades, so— ] our boyfriend's? [ That sounds a bit more accurate. ] Our maybe-boyfriend's. If it's all the same.

[ Yeah, that's it. Nailed it. ]

I promise if you would like weaponry or wine in the future the cost won't be quite so steep.

[A brow rose, but he didn't comment. The heart wanted what the heart wanted, after all. Though there was clearly some confusion over who this mysterious third man was, Gladio didn't question it.]

No offence, Era. Don't think they're up to bein touched right now even if you'd wanted to. [He grinned, damn near a smirk actually.] But hey, I'm down for checking out what weapons you have, next time. Not much of a wine drinker but not against it.

[ While she can reference more sexual acts with greater ease than a year prior, she still finds herself easily (and incredibly) flustered when it isn't about her partner(s). So despite having no issue in telling him she only likes touching her partners' balls, even the idea of ever wanting to touch someone else's leaves her momentarily overwhelmed. ]

Um—

I don't have too many weapons, unfortunately. Just a rapier, chakrams, a battle axe, various throwing knives, my grimoires, a short bow, long bow, a spear, and a large quantity of arrows. I've managed to draw out a sword to four fulms long, but it's still too short for my needs.

[ So just a small portion of the weaponry she normally would carry around with her. Alas. ]

I'm not a fan of alcohol, though I began making wine for fun near a year ago now. Supplying it myself means I needn't worry what it contains... [ And most importantly— ] And I couldn't resist once I acquired a caelum fruit tree. Noct found it very novel!

[Gladio just grinned, but he moved away from talk of his balls and onto the safer topic of weapons. The list she gave him was impressive, but a lot seemed a little on the small and light side for him.

While he could use an array of weaponry himself, he had his preferences.]

Greatswords are my preferred weapon. And shields. [A grin] It's in the name.

... A what tree? [He'd never heard of such a thing!]

[ Era's mind drifts to the shield in her backyard among the memorials she made, and how if a shield just like it hadn't faltered there she would have had one less memorial that needed making. ]

I dislike traditional shields. [ Magical shields are a different story entirely, and are something she prides herself on. ] If you've a large enough blade you don't need one.

[ Her fingers twitch, aching for her non-existent sword. ]

You don't need a shield to be a shield. You've your steel and your flesh and the love you hold for that which you protect. That is all you ever need. You are the shield, and nothing will ever harm your charge so long as your soul still burns brightly.

[ Gods how she misses it. That purpose. The freedom that comes with unleashing all that she is... All the emotions she keeps locked away in her heart, released in a flurry of bloodshed and rage and protection— ]

Shields can falter. Love cannot.

A caelumfruit tree. I've planted mine in the back. It's dwarfed compared to the size it should be, though it gives enough fruit to make up the difference.

Edited (phrasing) 2021-01-15 23:04 (UTC)

[Gladio wasn't too sure what was going on or what she was talking about. He couldn't say he agreed with her. His shield was as good as a sword, he could use it as a weapon as surely as he could a means of defence.]

Maybe... maybe I don't need a shield to be a shield, but I've trained 80 percent of my life to use one in battle. It's an extension of me as surely as my sword is.

[But clearly harm could come to his charge, no matter how much love he had for him, or them. Harm had come to him on Eos and here. On Eos he'd been unable to do anything to protect any of the people he cared about most. They'd all come to harm, each and every one of them... but himself.

He'd been spared that suffering to watch the others suffer.

And clearly he hadn't handled that well at all.

The shield AND his love had faltered in the worst way imaginable.]

I've never heard of a tree like that. But what I don't know far outweighs what I do. [So consider his world-view expanded just a little more.]

...Maybe it's different in your world, where magic is not something everyone wields. I have seen too many crumble against a powerful spell. It was how I lost my brother. I think you would have got along well with him—you've the same sort of spirit.

[ Haurchefant was so exuberantly supportive, loyal, hardworking, and strong despite the difficult life he had. He was near impossible to not get along with. ]

But I suppose if you end up requiring a shield you can come to me and we can design one to your tastes. I can show you how to smith it yourself, then add some protections to it.

It's a tree native to Dravania that produces fruit so sweet it's near sickening, which are then used to make some of the world's finest wines. I bring some to every gathering with the Caelums now... You should have seen their faces when they saw the wine label!

[ It amused her more than it probably should have. ]