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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:

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[ Surprise, Gladio! He's gotten used to the help, especially after saving a Prompto. ]

That was my own fault, [ he admits quietly ] I [ had a lot to think about ] wasn't paying attention enough.

... Thank you for the rescue.

Anyone can hit ice, Iggy. Cut yourself some slack. [His smile widened.] No problem. Been a while since I had to save your ass. Sure, it's from snow this time, but I'll take what I can get.

[ A-ah, been a while since I had to save your ass sticks out to him the most. His feelings are complicated to say the least considering what he recalls last from home, but he'll gladly have Gladio here; their little family is completed. ]

... I suppose so.

[ He smiles a little himself, regardless. ]

Careful, you don't want to jinx this place and it's weirdness.

[ It has been safe enough, but it can put people's lives in danger sometimes too with it's weirdness. He sighs as they get to the cafe, nudging the door open. ]

[Gladio groaned softly and shook his head. He'd matched his pace with Ignis', and his gaze constantly scanned the ground ahead for anything the cane might miss. But it was hearing about weirdness that bothered Gladio.]

And here I thought this place was supposed to be nice and peaceful.

[He'd have to find the one who told him that and give them a swift kick. But for now, as they reached the cafe, he stepped ahead and opened the door.]

[ He steps inside and once they're both through, he makes his way towards the back, surprised that the couch there isn't taken. After he gets himself situated: ]

It is nice and peaceful here, but strange things do happen.

[ He exhales softy. ]

A bee stung me some time back and left me paralyzed, Ardyn saved me that time. Or people were suffering from sleepwalking spells not that long ago.

[ Ignis folds his arms across his chest as he's been talking. ]

[Gladio followed after Ignis, and waited for him to sit before he took the other end of the sofa and dropped himself down.

And promptly laughed. Then stopped, because he realised Ignis could maybe think he was laughing at the wrong thing.]

Shit, sorry. Just the thought of Ardyn saving any of us... [A shake of his head.] You're alright now though?

[ The laughter has him confused, but then he listens to Gladio talk. Ah, that's what he was laughing at. ]

You said you've ran into Ardyn, he isn't the one from home.

I'm quite alright, that was some back.

Neither Ardyn I've met was the one from home. Least, not the one from my time. Or yours.

[Before and long after, sure. But not the point where Gladio would have happily lopped his head clean from his shoulders.]

Sorry I've not been around... Guess I took the long way gettin here.

[ That gets him to headtilt a bit in Gladio's direction. ]

Neither Ardyn?

[ Ignis gives a small shake of his head. ]

No need to apologize. You're here.

[It was here he realised he hadn't actually explained that bit to Ignis. He was starting to feel like a broken record with how often he said it, he was starting to forget who knew and who didn't.]

That train I told you about? I met Ardyn there. Noct and Prompto were there too. And you. When I left there were two Nocts on the train. You'd left a month earlier.

It was a wild ride.

[ Ignis is quiet for a moment, he gets it. ]

... When I first arrived here, I was told that I was here before and left, but I don't recall it. [ It had made things that much more difficult with people knowing him after all. ]

So I believe you.

[ He inhales a shaky breath, almost too afraid to ask now that he knows that the crew had been aboard this train. ]

The others, did they tell you anything about Altissia?

So you were around before?

[He gave a slow now, he supposed, in the messed up worlds they found themselves in, that made more sense than it didn't.

The breath caught Gladio's attention, and he started to frown, wondering what Ignis was working himself up to. When the question came, he sighed.]

Right... yeah. You, the you there, could see. He didn't get into a fight with Ardyn, but he was at Altissia, he was pulled before the fight. Noct and Prompto though, they were. I know what happens there. And after.

Indeed, but I hold no memories of my time here before. It's troubling, but I've adjusted to it.

[ Ignis could see on the train? He's not too surprised to hear that, considering he's starting to think that there are different version of themselves out there. How else does he explain his memories being gone of this place from before?

He's quiet for a long, long moment, letting that sink in. He knows about Altissia, but how much? ]

What exactly do you know, Gladio?

I know [I failed to protect everyone]... Lady Lunafreya is killed. I know what you did to lose your sight... I know what happens on the train... and the crystal.

[Gladio shifted around so he was facing Ignis. He pulled a leg up onto the sofa with him, an arm rested on the back and on his arm, Gladio dropped his head.]

I know it was a shit show from start to finish.

[ Ignis exhales a breath, as he needs a moment to let that sink in too. Despite being further behind the trio already here, he knows a lot.

Noctis and Ardyn know about him using the ring, he'd told Noctis and thanks to this places weirdness, Ardyn found out, but only told Ignis recently. Now, Gladio knows.

Without realizing it, he's covering the hand that the ring had been on, lost in his thoughts. Everything past Altissia had been a nightmare from start to finish. ]

.... I see.

[ A small pause, then: ]

I did it to protect Noct. Now it's the price I'm paying for it.

[ Ignis knows that he's lucky to come out of that one alive. ]

[Gladio watched Ignis' hand move, he remembered how Noct had reacted to his touch, but decided that he was going to be the very definition of insanity. Maybe one day he'd get a different result?

He stretched out a hand and gently covered Ignis.]

And you protected him. You did it and lived. Think only you could've.

[He had no doubts if the roles had been reversed, if it had been him facing down Ardyn and putting on that ring, it would have killed him. It had needed a different kind of strength...]

[ Ignis does jump a little at the touch, partly because he wasn't expecting it. But he's getting used to people touching him just from how this place works.

Gladio must know what he said to Ignis too, about leaving him behind. Yet, this Gladio just saved him and that means a lot more than he's letting on. They had to put their differences aside to work together and never got a chance to talk things out. There was always some part of him afraid that Gladio might leave him behind, but the Shield wouldn't do that, even he knows that. ]

I know I'm lucky to be alive from that, Gladio.

[ His shoulders slump a bit, a tired sigh coming out of him. ]

... We really could've used you here last week.

We're lucky you're alive. Not sure what we'd all do without you, Igs.

[When the hands weren't immediately pulled away, Gladio took another risk and curled his fingers around them and gave a little squeeze.]

Sorry about that. I'd no control. If I had...

[ He turns his hand over, grabbing onto Gladio's, it's honestly a comfort to feel his touch right now. That also means a lot to him, to know that he's needed, it's something that he's been working on here. Finding his footing into helping people again. ]

It's alright, no one faults you for that. People come and go whenever the Gods choose to.

Ain't that the truth...

[He was a bit surprised when Ignis went ahead and actually held his hand, but Gladio's smile softened. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all?]

It'll be alright now, Iggy.

[Even if all he could do was support, he would be there.]

I... thank you.

[ Gladio had described Noctis being guarded, but he can see why, Noct probably hadn't wanted to scare the Shield first thing. ]

... Noct's hurt and Prompto got sick.

Yeah, I was told.

[He have a low laugh and a fond little smile.]

Met Noct's girlfriend. She explained. Noct... didn't.

[ Well, now he's curious. ]

What all did she tell you?

[ Pyra had seemed.... hesitant at first to tell Ignis what she did to save Noctis, but she did tell him at the end of it. In no way does he blame her at all though, she saved his life. ]

She said an item came from her world corrupted. They put it in the armiger and it hurt Noct. She said they'd fixed it, and him, and he's getting better.

When I saw him he was tryin, but he's still weak from it. He was hiding it.

[And part of him got that, it just damn well hurt... because he knew what it could be liked without those walls around them all. And he hated seeing them there again.]

Didn't ask any more. It wasn't done deliberately and the thing was neutralised. Noct's getting better. That's all I needed to know.

[If it HADN'T been dealt with there would have been a LOT more questions. But as it was, he had wanted to reassure Pyra more than anything. Gladio had no idea what she'd really been told about him, but she'd feared judgment. Only Gladio hadn't judged her in the slightest.

Shit happened. And with magical things, it seemed to happen a lot more than it had any right to.]

[ A-ah, Pyra left out a key detail here. He grips onto Gladio's hand before he speaks, his voice giving off a slight tremble to it. ]

She saved his life, Gladio.

[ almost died she said. ]

She wasn't alone in that, she brought him to his dad's house, but ran into Ardyn instead. Together, they saved him.

[ Hearing that, Noctis almost died, had most certainly rattled his cage in a big way. Not with he knows about Noctis' fate. ]