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[blindsider]

[ He's done his research. There are the gondolas that are simply a means of transportation, shuttling people around as they go about their daily lives, and then there are... the other ones. They're ornately decorated, often bedecked with flowers, and the gondoliers will sing traditional Altissian folk songs as they row cash-flush tourists and lovestruck couples around. Tourist traps, twee and ridiculous.

Ignis wants nothing more than to ride one.

He could probably explain it away as an interest in the music (he had, in fact, developed something of a taste for it), but the truth of the matter is simple, and not something he's ashamed of. For as long as they've been together he and Noctis have never had the opportunity to feel like a normal couple. He wouldn't trade their time for anything in the world, and he's not sure things would have been much different had they not wooed in relative secrecy – given the freedom to do as he liked, Noctis would still probably prefer to stay at home – but there's something thrilling about this opportunity. The chance to walk hand-in-hand, to do the things that couples do without concern for propriety or reputation. Noct's relative obscurity here combined with the almost infamously relaxed attitude of the general public make so many things a possibility -

but first, the gondolas.

He seeks one out based on reputation, rowed by a man reported to have a leisurely pace, a wonderful voice, and an almost negligent regard for who is in his gondola or what they do so long as he gets paid. It's a short walk to the dock, and he extends a hand to Noctis without further explanation. ]

Indulge me.

Comments

[blindsider]

Clearly. And I was doomed from the beginning.

[ Not the very beginning. He remembers it clearly; Noctis saying specsacles as if it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard and dissolving into that oddly gruff laughter unique to small children, and Ignis feeling all shot through with cold at the thought that the young prince was making fun of him, that it was a sign Noctis disliked him. But then he'd turned his eyes to Ignis as if he was simply waiting for him get the joke too, and it had bloomed into something warm and special. The first time he'd made Noctis laugh on purpose remains one of his dearest memories - "oh dear," he'd said gravely, "I seem to have smudged my specsacles", and Noct's answering fit of mirth had included such a hysterical shriek that it rather alarmed their minders.

How lucky he is, that the person dearest to him has been in his life for almost the entirety of it. ]

I wouldn't have it any other way.

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[ he props himself up enough to be able to smile warmly down at ignis, reaching out to brush a wayward strand of the other man's bangs back from his forehead. it's always felt right -- the two of them together like this -- and it's nice just to be able to bask in being close. ]

Me neither. As much as all of this sucks, I'm... really lucky to have you. Way luckier than I deserve.

[blindsider]

Hush. If you know me at all, you know I'm vain enough not to give my heart to anyone who didn't deserve it.

[ It's said lightly, because he understands. Sometimes it seems so remarkable that they can be together the way they are, that it can feel like the world is falling down around them but they still have this, have each other. It's boggling, but wonderfully so. ]

I love you, Noct.

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I love you too, Specs.

[ and he leans down enough to press another kiss against the other man's mouth, lingering and swee. but it isn't the end of his thought, and that's enough to make him pull away to finish it. ] ... and when we get back home, I'm done hiding it.

I'm proud of you, and I'm proud that you want to be with me. I'm not going to act like I'm ashamed of it.

[blindsider]

[ Oh. Oh.

He should say no, of course. Or at least ask Noctis if he's sure, ask him to wait until things are done - because what can seem like a very good plan in the middle of so much wrongness can look very different when things return to normal. Times are not as they were, and there may not be as much resistance to a king openly having a male lover as there might once have been, but there's the matter of the family line to consider, of heirs -

but it's been so perfect here in Altissia, to walk hand-in-hand and kiss as any couple might, that he lets the hope overtake him and cups Noct's face in his hand, watching him with eyes full of love. ]

That sounds wonderful.

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[ he was expecting an argument, for ignis to point out all of the practical reasons why it would never work, and so... the acceptance he gets makes him melt with a little sigh of relief, expression warming with a genuine smile. he's not naive; he knows it'll be tough, that there are probably plenty of details that they'll need to work out, but...

it's worth it, without a doubt. he isn't going to be the kind of person to ask people he loves to live out a lie, and... well, if there was ever a time to make changes for the better, to cast out old traditions, why not after everything they've been through? ]

It's a deal, then. I'll get to tell everyone that you're my Kissypoo.

[blindsider]

[ His --

Ignis closes his eyes. He draws a slow breath in through his nose, holds it a moment, lets it out through his mouth -

and dissolves into quiet laughter. ]

Is that to be my official title? Chamberlain and Kissypoo to the King?

[linkstrike]

[ okay, hearing the nickname out of ignis' mouth is just too much, and noctis ends up collapsing into another little fit of... well, giggles, honestly. (not that he'd ever admit to it.) ]

You gotta admit, it has a... unique ring to it.

[blindsider]

Yeees... in much the same way that Prompto's experiment with cheese and ramen salad was a unique flavour experience.

[ Where Prompto got marijuana on their journeys is a mystery, but Ignis can only assume it must have been involved. The thought that it might have been pure inspiration is too much to bear. but depite the nickname and the jokes, he's too full of warmth at the thought of it to let it go, and he fondly tucks some of Noct's hair back. ]

It will be complicated. The reactions may be... difficult, at first. But we'll make it work.

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... I can't believe you just compared a gesture of my love to that.

[ making a face!!

but any offense is easily forgiven when all of him is warm and content with the knowledge that he's loved absolutely by someone he absolutely loves, so. ] Not like it's the first time we've had to deal with something tough. We'll figure it out.

Or... [ a little sheepishly. ] You'll probably figure it out, and I'll take orders.

[blindsider]

Will you just.

[ Again, with quiet laughter, because it's reassuring to know Noctis understand the difficulties and wishes to go ahead with it anyway, and that allows him just to bask in it. And, regretfully, to poke Noctis gently in the side. ]

You certainly weren't taking orders earlier.

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Yeah, well.

[ with a little purr, butting his head up gently under ignis' chin. ]

Sometimes role reversal is supposed to be sexy, right?

[blindsider]

[ He hums happily, ducks his face to press a kiss into Noct's hair. ]

I don't think I was prepared for just how sexy. A happy discovery.

[ And with his head tucked down as it is Noct can't see the smirk on Ignis' face, but he can probably hear it in his voice. ]

I'll have to send that gondolier a token of my gratitude.

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Speaking of him...

[ and now the grin on his face turns impish, eyes sparkling with a laugh. ]

Didn't you promise to sing to me once we were back in the room?

[blindsider]

[ Oh, bloody hell. He did say something like that, didn't he? ]

I'd had sudden rush of blood away from my head. I'm sure I can't be held accountable for the things i may have said in he heat of the moment.

[ But he's fairly sure that's not going to fly, and he pats Noct's bottom in urging. ]

You'll have to sit up. I can't sing with you squashing my lungs.

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[ except sitting up is hard, so.

he compromises by rolling off ignis instead, sprawling on his back with his arms folded behind his head and looking up at him expectantly. ] C'mon, Specs, no excuses. Your king takes promises very seriously.

[blindsider]

Alright. Just don't -

[ Don't look at him like that. It's not like Ignis to come over all shy, and not as if Noctis hasn't heard him sing before (he knows that he's occasionally burst into fragments of song while cleaning and not always been correct in his assumption that Noctis wasn't home), but there's something about doing it now, with such a large promise between them, that makes his cheeks flush at the thought of it. So he does what any rational adult would do - he sits up to better allow he air into his lungs, and flips the corner of a sheet over Noct's face.

The song isn't the one the gondolier sang. It's a little on the nose, probably, though he's reasonably confident Noctis doesn't speak enough Accordan - let along the particular Altissian dialect the song is in - to catch all the soppy lyrics about a man leaving for work early in the morning, jealous of the birds who sit outside a bedroom window anget to watch his love wake from sleep. Still. ]

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[ he snorts a startled laugh as he's suddenly covered up, flailing a little until he's able to push the sheet away from his face. and then he tucks himself up closer against ignis' side, resting his cheek on the other man's thigh and enjoying the sound of his voice.

he studied a little accordan in school, but not this particular dialect, and not nearly enough to even get a gist of what the song is saying. so instead of struggling to translate, he just lets himself get wrapped up in the soothing warmth of ignis' voice, tracing idle little patterns on the bare skin of his knee. ]

[blindsider]

[ His nerves leave him as he continues, helped immensely by the feeling of Noctis curling against him and the movement of fingertips over his knee. By the time he finishes the song he's relaxed into it, calm, one hand stroking through Noct's hair. It's a wonderful feeling - just to be together like this, to have this time to be close and warm, and the story the song tells reminds him of that. That's enough that when he sings the final note he's not worried about what Noct might think, and content just to trail his fingertips over the back of his neck. ]

There. Promise fulfilled.

[linkstrike]

[ by the time ignis draws the song to a close, noctis is half-dozing, curled up against him like a drowsy housecat. and the hand in his hair only helps to lull him that much further into a pleasantly warm haze. ]

Mm. [ and he butts his head against ignis' thigh, making a low noise of contentment. ] You gonna tell me what you were singing about?

[blindsider]

[ Ah. Well. Ignis does blush slightly at that, but honestly Noctis sounds half-asleep. If there's a point at which he can get away with outrageous sappiness, it's now. ]

It's about a fisherman who has to leave for the day while it's still dark out, thinking of his lover at home in bed. How he misses her face and wishes he could be at her side, and thinking he's jealous of the birds that sit outside their window because they'll be with her when she wakes up and he won't.

[ And he clears his throat quietly. ]

It's a traditional, but I know the feeling.

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He should just stay in bed with her.

[ squirming a little until he's able to look up at ignis, the corners of his mouth tipping up into a crooked little grin. ] Cuddling in bed is way better than getting up early.

[blindsider]

[ Such a simple solution. He can't help smiling back down at Noctis, tracing the curve of his smile with a fingertip. ]

Alas, for a fisherman in those days it wasn't an option. He probably never had the chance to learn that the way I have.

[ It's disgraceful, really. His whole life he's been aware that his duty must come first, that his diligence is key to his ability to serve as an adequate advisor - and he'd still rather lay in bed with Noctis any day, soaking in the gentle warmth of his body and easing him into the day with kisses when he wakes. ]

[linkstrike]

I dunno... Noct Gar never seems to have any trouble reeling in the big catches, no matter what time it is.

[ and his own joke is silly enough to make him laugh -- so he catches ignis' wrist, turning to press a kiss into his palm. ] Maybe no one ever taught the poor guy how to relax.

[blindsider]

Maybe so.

[ Ignis is feeling far too sappy to roll his eyes at the Noct Gar joke. He's aware that his own personality can ramp up towards excessive when he doesn't take time out to relax, and that he's very poor at taking said time out of his own accord. Another thing to thank Noctis for.

So he slips back down, laying alongside Noctis and pressing close. ]

I'm fortunate to have had such a talented teacher.