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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

[linkstrike]

[ he snorts at him for that, turning enough to be able to butt his head affectionately up against ignis. almost like a cat begging for pets. ]

I hope different means better. That wasn't much of a compliment, otherwise.

[blindsider]

[ And pets he shall have! Ignis slips an arm under Noctis, takes a moment to tug him over until he's draped over him again. It might be silly, after making him move, but he enjoys the warmth and the weight of him - and it better allows him to start his fingers stroking through Noct's hair. ]

Of course better. I tried not to think about how it might have been when we were back home, if it weren't for your status. I wasn't very successful, but as it turns out I'd underestimated just how good it would be.

[linkstrike]

[ he makes a drowsy little noise as ignis shifts him on top of him, but he's quick to settle again, stretching out over him until he can get all the skin-to-skin contact that he can. it's warm like this, and being so close to someone who loves him so absolutely never fails to make him feel... safe. like everything's okay, like it'll all work out somehow. ]

Y'know... if we get married, I'm just gonna make you read all my reports. And do all my laundry. [ like those aren't things ignis does anyway. ]

[blindsider]

[ Married. Oh. That's a surprise, but it's one that makes him smile and trail his fingers over the back of Noct's neck. ]

However will I adjust? Perhaps I should leverage all these responsibilities. Have you write vegetables into your vows.

[linkstrike]

[ that's enough to make him rear up a little, as if he's trying to see whether or not ignis is serious. ]

... we're about to get the fastest divorce in history.

[blindsider]

[ He is definitely not serious

but he is laughing, and looking completely unrepentant. ]

Surely as your husband it would be my duty to keep you healthy and well. I'll put a juicer on the gift registry, wake you up each morning with a nice, healthy glass of kale and ginger.

[linkstrike]

[ THAT IS ENOUGH TO GET THE LOUDEST UGH.

and he's rolling off ignis!! so that he can drag the blankets over his head and disappear under them. ]

[blindsider]

[ Alright, maybe the suggestion of vegetables combined with the phrase wake up was too much. He slips a hand down under the covers to find Noct's and tugs it up to his face, presses a little kiss against his knuckles. ]

I promise to honour and respect your stance on vegetables.

[ There is, conspicuously, no mention of his stance on waking up. Though he's sure he can think of better ways to do it. ]

[linkstrike]

[ ... well. he can compromise by throwing the blanket over ignis, and bundling them up together. ]

Thanks for reminding me to put a line about kale in my vows.

[blindsider]

[ Well that's better. He takes the opportunity to twine in close, hooks a leg over Noct's. ]

Not the vows, darling. Put in the in the prenup. Make it legally binding.

[linkstrike]

Binding, huh?

[ snorting a laugh into ignis' shoulder. ] Kinky.

[blindsider]

Oh? Well, the night is young.

[ He's teasing, of course. On the other hand, with the mood he's in he absolutely doesn't have it in him to deny Noctis anything. If he suggested they get married right now, Ignis would only protest long enough to iron his shirt. ]

[linkstrike]

[ that earns ignis a snort. ]

Not that young. I mean... you don't really seem like that kinda guy.

[blindsider]

[ As long as they've known each other, as dearly as he loves Noctis - Ignis cannot actually tell if he's being teased or not. He looks at Noct thoughtfully for a moment. ]

If I said something like that to you, I'd mean it as a challenge.

[linkstrike]

[ ... well.

it's an interesting idea, even if he can't see ignis going through with it. the one time he tried introducing spanking as a part of foreplay, he spent the week afterwards apologizing at random. ]

... and if it was a challenge? [ he's forgotten what curiosity did to the cat. ]

[blindsider]

That would depend on how serious you were.

[ Which probably sounds like he's trying to weasel out of it, but: ]

I'm sure we could make do with neckties, but if you wanted something more effective I'd need to take a look around the local shops.

[linkstrike]

Hey, I'm game. Letting you have your way with me sounds like fun.

[ and then, with a playful nudge: ] As long as your way isn't just tying me up and making me watch the news and eat vegetables.

[blindsider]

Noct. I'm serious.

[ He is. Noctis can be very active on rare occasions, and that's wonderful, but Ignis also very much enjoys the occasions on which he's able to just take his pleasure in giving pleasure to Noctis - and there's a certain appeal to having him tied up and immobile, being able to draw that out past the point where Noct would normally be grabbing at him and insisting he get on with it. ]

I can promise no news or vegetables. [ That comes out with a smile, at least. ] What I can't promise is that I won't make you wait for your resolution.

[linkstrike]

[ ... that earns a nose wrinkle. he's terrible at waiting. ]

You're not gonna, uh... leave me overnight or something, right? I don't really wanna die of blue balls.

[blindsider]

[ This is a serious conversation and boundaries are important, but just the thought of that makes Ignis laugh. ]

Even I don't have the self-control to leave you all night. But I do like the idea of seeing you... desperate.

[linkstrike]

[ his interest is definitely piqued. honestly, he's perfectly comfortable with the idea of giving ignis control -- he trusts him implicitly, and ignis has never failed to take care of him, but. ]

Y'know, you're setting the bar for yourself pretty high.

[blindsider]

I always do.

[ He's smiling as he says it, but he's definitely not joking. And Noctis looks interested enough, which is... promising. ]

You do keep things interesting.

[linkstrike]

And I trust you.

[ with a little nudge of his foot against ignis' thigh. ]

You don't have to make me sign a stack of forms for stuff like this, y'know.

[ even if all the insistence on his comfort is endearing. ]

[blindsider]

No forms. But if I didn't check, I wouldn't deserve your trust.

[ It's quiet, but gentle and affectionate. He's done checking, playful enough now to run a ticklish finger up along Noct's side in retaliation for the nudge. ]

[linkstrike]

[ the tickle is enough to make him squirm away, breathing out something that's very nearly a choked laugh. ... and then ignis gets a pillow chucked at him as retribution. ]

Good. Because sexy form-signing? Not my kink.