hugtopia_logs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

♥ 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

Less spurning, more saving you guys a headache. Can't imagine it was easy to accept your kids nearly the same age as you.

[Nearly, since Noct wasn't a baby, or a twinkle in the Kings eye, he wasn't too sure where Regis landed on that.]

Old habits die hard.

[Maybe if he just avoided calling him by name OR title he could get away with ever messing up? That made more sense than it didn't.]

It was less difficult than you may think. The oddness strikes me from time-to-time now that I am far enough along that I have lived through his birth, but I am so grateful for this extra time, that doesn't really strike me all that often. I suspect it affects Noctis a little more.

[But then again, there is a huge and very complicated series of events that Noctis has lived through that Regis hasn't yet. That makes a big difference.]

That they do, for good or ill.

[That plan may work, but then again a wily, not-quite-as-old king may just catch on too. After all, he's already been through this a time or two.]

[That would make sense, he supposed. If Regis had only lived up to the birth, Noct had lived through 20 years of having and losing a father. He knew it would be hard if he ever saw his own dad again...

And that would cause him not to say anything as well. But who knew? Gladio doubted it would be a situation he'd ever find himself in, so thinking about it didn't seem worth it.

Gladio gave a low laugh and tilted his head up to the sky where a few flurries of snow were slowly descending.]

Is the weather always like this?

[Regis brushes a few snow flakes from his dark hair before shaking his head.]

It wasn't snowing at the house at all, and I am willing to bet if we go the few blocks to my shop, it won't be snowing there either. Either that, or we'll walk into a blizzard.

[Never has the phrase "Take a few steps and watch the weather change" been proven more true.]

I've gotten into the habit of leaving an extra cloak or coat in the Armiger just to be safe.

Hah not a bad idea...

[He looked down at himself. His mission had partly expected the cold. The leather pants were a thick, hardy kind, same as his boots. Okay, the leather tunic wasn't the best but the shirt under was thermal and warm. And his own long cloak shielded him from the worst of the cold air. Gladio would just have to make sure that he kept the cloak handy for when he was out and about... or just wear it. That would work also.]

Spent the last four months in a place with zero weather. This is... actually good. For now.

I can't imagine being in a place without weather of some kind.

[His eyes shift in the direction of the shop and then back to Gladio.]

If you don't mind the weather, would you like to accompany me the few blocks to the shop? It's primarily for distributing potions to people in need, but I do keep some food and drink there. Cor and I wanted it to be a place people could recover from injuries as well as get things to prevent them. I can get you something warm to drink and a snack before you head back out.

You'd have hated it.

[He didn't think he'd known anyone who'd liked it.

Gladio's gaze moved to follow where the older man looked, curious. He grinned.]

Sure, a warm drink sounds real good right now. Love to see this place of yours and Cors.

I am certain you are right.

[Regis motions in the direction they will be taking to the shop and then starts walking.]

You might be surprised at what you find there. My side, unsurprisingly, was going to focus on selling potions while Cor was learning about making teas, soaps, and other herbal remedies.

[He chuckles softly.]

Then again, perhaps it won't be all that surprising. He was going above and beyond to take care of the Lucis Caelums who were here while he was. Nothing could be more in character for him.

Cor... making teas and soaps? You're serious?

[It was actually a surprise, though when Regis explained it he supposed not nearly as much. Learn and adapt. When there was nothing to fight, no reason to protect, you found other ways to be of use or become obsolete.]

This is something I definitely need to see.

[He was grinning as he walked beside the King, falling into step with him and matched his pace with ease.]

[Gladio's grin makes Regis chuckle again.]

Don't go thinking he let himself get soft. He still woke me up every morning at dawn for training. If he wasn't training me that early, then he was training Noctis. You'd think he would learn how hard it is to get one of us up so early, but it never deterred him. At least he started bringing me coffee when he drug me out of bed.

[Literally, drug him out of bed at times. Can't a king get a few extra hours of sleep now and then?]

I take it he never invited you to one of his tea services? He quite enjoyed them. All the little rules and traditions were relaxing for him to work through. It was a chance to display control in an environment that wasn't a life or death battle.

[All he could do was shake his head. He'd heard tales... But no, he'd never been invited and he'd never believed it was actually a thing! Though it did tickle a vague memory. Had Cor mentioned something? Gladio found memories really strange sometimes, things could be so clear and other things hazy at best. Whatever, he was just amused by the whole idea.

But not the training. Of course Cor wouldn't slow down. Though what he was fighting for her, Gladio wasn't too sure.]

Sounds about right for him. And soft? Cor? Nah, I'd never think that. He could dress up in a pink princess dress with fairy wings singing lullabies and he'd still be the most badass of us all.

[Shifting between worlds has a way of doing that. Regis has only been to this one and there are times when he thinks of home and the memories seem more distant than they really should be.

He tries not to think about it too hard. It's unsettling.]

A pink...princ...

[Sorry, Glaido. Regis gets just that much out and then has to stop walking lest he trip over his own feet while laughing so hard.

Just...give him a minute to process that mental image.]

[Gladio stopped and just stared for a second when Regis started laughing. It wasn't long after that he chuckled along with him, a broad smile on his face. It felt good he could make someone laugh.]

Don't think he'd suit it? I think he'd rock the look.

In his youth? Perhaps.

[Regis admits this after he has finally gotten his laughter under control.]

The Cor who was here was from farther in the future than the rest of us. Still Cor, of course, but... Oh, here I can show you!

[With a quick flick of his wrist, Regis pulls his tablet from the Armiger and dives into the photos he has saved on it. Eventually, he pulls up a shot before passing the tablet to Gladio. The picture was taken near the beginning of their stay here, so it clearly shows just how much older and more grizzled Cor had looked before the gods had been merciful and shaved a few years off his age so he could better "keep up with the youngins."]

I just can't picture that face in a pink dress.

[That face, of course, looking properly annoyed, but unwilling to dissuade his king from taking another picture that was probably going to cut his head off because Regis and technology was never a good thing. The joke was on him, though, as this particular image had turned out perfect by some miracle.]

[Gladio took the tablet when it was handed over and looked down at the picture with a puzzled frown. It was Cor. It was definitely Cor Leonis. But so much older than even he remembered him. He shot Regis a look before looking back at it.]

... I guess he came from an Eos further in the future than us, huh?

[His tone was one of quiet curiosity.]

By a fair bit, if I'm not mistaken. He said something about being a few years into the Dark, whatever that is. There were...things we didn't talk much about. Not after he accidentally revealed I was long dead in his time.

[Regis steps closer and reaches in so he can flip to a new picture. Something to lighten the dark topic he just had touched on. This one is Cor at an age Gladio will more likely recognize. They are in a dusty shop, and Cor--same annoyed, but also amused scowl--is looking back at the photographer. The smudge of dust on his cheek shows at least one of them is doing some work.]

We never did quite figure out how it happened so we blamed the gods for it, but a few months into our stay he woke up having had several years trimmed off his age. There had just been a bit of an upset with everyone here, and I couldn't help but tease that he wished hard enough for more energy to keep up with all of us that the gods granted his wish by making him younger.

The Dark, huh...

[Gladio frowned, it tickled a memory but he wasn't too sure... So he brushed it aside for the rest of what Regis said and the new picture of Cor. A Cor that was more in keeping with his memory.]

That can happen? Just waking up one day and being younger? [He laughed.] So the gods here can be nice. That's good to know.

Indeed.

[Regis smiles, relieved that Gladio is so willing to brush aside the more serious topics at the moment. He's just arrived and there's no reason to burden himself with things he can do nothing about.]

Suspicion is something that comes naturally for most of us, but at the same time, the gods have not been cruel to us since we arrived. Yes, there are odd things that happen, but generally it is just to encourage contact. They are not putting us into life or death situations. Considering they rule over mostly positive human aspects, I'm not certain if they would ever willingly do so.

Not being stuck in life or death situations'll be a novelty...

[And Gladio... was more than ready for that respite.

Was it really bad for a Shield to be so sick of fighting already?]

[Shields are still human and any human can get tired of fighting all the time.]

The only time since arriving here that I felt we were in real danger was when something from the outside managed to break through the barrier.

[Regis motions that they will be turning the corner here and then continues with his story.]

These large spider monsters poured through the hole in what seemed like an unending stream. I was able to patch the hole but it was only a matter of hours before the effort drained my magic completely. Fortunately, the gods were able to repair the barrier a short time after. I'm not certain what would have happened if they had not been able to.

Heh almost wish I'd been there for that. That's the kinda think I've been used to these past months.

[But at the same time a break would be more than welcome. Gladio was kind of looking forward to it.

He followed Regis, keeping pace with him still]

It's been good for you? Being here?

The danger still exists out there somewhere. I am sure we will run into it again someday.

[Though, if it takes some time to get to that day, Regis isn't going to complain. It would be nice if the battle was on their terms this time.]

I...

[Regis looks uncertain for a moment before nodding.]

I don't want it to sound like I am trying to escape what will happen back home, but this place has given me and a lot of other people a chance to do things they would never have been able to do otherwise. Ardyn is getting a chance to heal. His lost fiancee was even here for a while! Noctis and I are getting more time to just be father and son. Every moment of that is priceless no matter how hard it may be for us at the time.

Regis? You're well within your right to want a bit of peace. Whatever happens back home, at least here we get some kind of respite.

[Even on the Voidtrecker he'd felt the same. While it had been cramped and dangerous, it had still been a relief to not have to worry about the future of his own world. The down time helped him sort through his feelings, his own losses. Had allowed him to help Noct and Prompto through theirs... It had given him time to make friends. To love.]

You guys deserve time to relax.

[Regis takes a deep breath and then nods.]

Thank you. I know you are right, but it was easier when I had more people here to remind me. Now with so many gone, it is easier to listen to the doubts my mind throws at me.

[He takes a few more steps and then turns and gestures to the door of the building they are standing in front of.]

Here we are. Valeo.

Well, you've got me to tell you now. And I'm not goin anywhere.

[At least, as far as he knew. It was hard to really make a promise of that since it wasn't in his control, but for while he was around he'd be there to reassure Regis. Since it sounded like he needed someone in his corner.

When he was stopped outside of a building, Gladio took a few steps back to get a good look at it and whistled softly, impressed.]

This is it, huh? Love it already! [He grinned and moved forward to open the door and step inside to check it out. Though he did mind his manners enough to keep hold of the door for Regis.]