Either way, the door slides open pretty much immediately - Izunia's let his hair fall out of his recent acquisition of hairpins, which means that his bangs now swoop over one eye after months of letting his hair grow unchecked. He waves Prompto in - the room is as ridiculously eclectic as ever, with Verity curled up napping on the couch.]
[He's comfortable enough to offer Izunia a play-punch to the arm as he goes to take a seat near Verity. "Hey, fluffybutt," he murmurs to her and turns his hands palm-up in his lap as an invitation to nap somewhere warmer, with free pettings.]
[Fluffybutt lifts her head, but she is very comfortable on what's apparently her favorite cushion to judge by the amount of cat hair on it. She'll consider it.
Izunia settles in the armchair, after vanishing a small pile of children's books off it into the Armiger.]
I'm certain of it. You've been... an incredibly good friend, and much as I know you're quite capable of protecting yourself, anything I can add to your ability to do so is worthwhile.
[Prompto listens, then nods, then glances aside, hands still open in his lap. He breathes in, then out.]
It feels... I don't know. Not bad, not that, and what you're saying makes sense. I have kinda gotten used to relying on that magic when I'm in trouble. And I'm super honored. I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about asking you.
[Still, his expression is solemn when he looks back down at his hands.]
...I can't make that oath to you. The Crownsguard one. I already made it to Noct. You know?
I don't ask for any oaths, Prompto. I wouldn't make an offer and then turn around and demand such a thing.
[There's a brief moment where his expression turns into a smile.]
Besides which, I'm retired. There will always be times when my first instinct is to conduct myself as a king, but I don't consider that to be my role any longer. I'm a grandfather and a guardian of my people, and a support for Noctis or indeed any young leader who wants the wisdom of someone who's been around the bend a few times, and a warrior if I have need to be, but I'd rather spend the rest of whatever life I might have with family, good friends, and whatever research subject happens to have my interest at the time.
[And then the easy cheer falls away for a moment, Izunia's expression growing serious.]
And I would never try to insert myself into what you and Noctis have. That would do nothing but bring pain to everyone involved.
I know. It's just, that's the association I have. 'Cause I already had the Armiger, you know? Not like Astolfo and Jetshard and everyone, it means something a little different to me.
[It means something a little different to him than it does, he suspects, even to Ignis and Gladio. All their lives, they've belonged to the future king as much as they have to their brother. Prompto belongs to Noct.
He lays one hand in the palm of the other, rubbing at the lines with his thumb, then smiles wryly up at Izunia.]
It feels like cheating on him, a little. [But he chuckles and shakes his head, shrugging it off.] But I think he'd be glad to know I had some extra firepower. And grateful you were keeping me safe.
[Ignis had certainly seemed to be thinking along the same lines.]
But as things are now... I think Ardyn's way of viewing it, as a connection offered to family, is probably closest to the meaning it holds for me. An offer of security and support without condition.
[Something Prompto too needed, as badly as Maddie or any of the other children here raised without it. Izunia can only carry so many, but he has a responsibility to the people of Eos first, if they will allow it.]
I'm game. I mean, I can get behind something like that.
[Prompto sticks his hand out as if to shake--or as if to help someone up. An easy, friendly gesture he learned so long ago.]
I'm still gonna fist-fight every single member of your side of the family if it comes to it, just so you know. For him. Just so we're on the same page about what I stand for.
I wouldn't expect anything less. You also have full authorization to break my brother's jaw if you feel the need. I trust your judgement.
[That's what it all comes down to. The fact that Prompto is someone he can rely on for a solid grounding when he needs it, in a way that no one else really fills.
For Noctis, the fact that Prompto is the normal one means that he can relax and take off the mantle of prince. For Izunia, it's an insight outside all the things that are just normal to him, a person who can point out the twisted places he can't see himself.
He clasps their hands and lets the magic flow through and anchor.]
Unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't actually have any firearms at the moment. But I imagine the warping likely makes up for that.
[It's familiar, that color magic, and--despite everything--it makes Prompto feel more at home.]
Pfft, are you kidding, I can't warp! You know I'm only here so someone else can carry all the heavy machinery I'm gonna start looking for now I've got bottomless backpack access.
Uhhh, yeah, I didn't get my uniform until the day before we left Insomnia. I had some self-defense training with Cor before that since Noct said he was gonna take me on the trip, but, uh...
[A N Y W A Y, he's just gonna leave that dangling and move on.]
I think I've got it, more or less. Plenty of experience after that.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 12:48 pm (UTC)Either way, the door slides open pretty much immediately - Izunia's let his hair fall out of his recent acquisition of hairpins, which means that his bangs now swoop over one eye after months of letting his hair grow unchecked. He waves Prompto in - the room is as ridiculously eclectic as ever, with Verity curled up napping on the couch.]
Make yourself at home, as always.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 12:54 pm (UTC)[He's comfortable enough to offer Izunia a play-punch to the arm as he goes to take a seat near Verity. "Hey, fluffybutt," he murmurs to her and turns his hands palm-up in his lap as an invitation to nap somewhere warmer, with free pettings.]
...You really want to let me use your Armiger?
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 01:04 pm (UTC)Izunia settles in the armchair, after vanishing a small pile of children's books off it into the Armiger.]
I'm certain of it. You've been... an incredibly good friend, and much as I know you're quite capable of protecting yourself, anything I can add to your ability to do so is worthwhile.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 01:11 pm (UTC)It feels... I don't know. Not bad, not that, and what you're saying makes sense. I have kinda gotten used to relying on that magic when I'm in trouble. And I'm super honored. I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about asking you.
[Still, his expression is solemn when he looks back down at his hands.]
...I can't make that oath to you. The Crownsguard one. I already made it to Noct. You know?
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 01:20 pm (UTC)[There's a brief moment where his expression turns into a smile.]
Besides which, I'm retired. There will always be times when my first instinct is to conduct myself as a king, but I don't consider that to be my role any longer. I'm a grandfather and a guardian of my people, and a support for Noctis or indeed any young leader who wants the wisdom of someone who's been around the bend a few times, and a warrior if I have need to be, but I'd rather spend the rest of whatever life I might have with family, good friends, and whatever research subject happens to have my interest at the time.
[And then the easy cheer falls away for a moment, Izunia's expression growing serious.]
And I would never try to insert myself into what you and Noctis have. That would do nothing but bring pain to everyone involved.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 01:32 pm (UTC)[It means something a little different to him than it does, he suspects, even to Ignis and Gladio. All their lives, they've belonged to the future king as much as they have to their brother. Prompto belongs to Noct.
He lays one hand in the palm of the other, rubbing at the lines with his thumb, then smiles wryly up at Izunia.]
It feels like cheating on him, a little. [But he chuckles and shakes his head, shrugging it off.] But I think he'd be glad to know I had some extra firepower. And grateful you were keeping me safe.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 01:39 pm (UTC)[Ignis had certainly seemed to be thinking along the same lines.]
But as things are now... I think Ardyn's way of viewing it, as a connection offered to family, is probably closest to the meaning it holds for me. An offer of security and support without condition.
[Something Prompto too needed, as badly as Maddie or any of the other children here raised without it. Izunia can only carry so many, but he has a responsibility to the people of Eos first, if they will allow it.]
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 05:08 pm (UTC)[His face comes up smiling gently.]
I'm game. I mean, I can get behind something like that.
[Prompto sticks his hand out as if to shake--or as if to help someone up. An easy, friendly gesture he learned so long ago.]
I'm still gonna fist-fight every single member of your side of the family if it comes to it, just so you know. For him. Just so we're on the same page about what I stand for.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 05:15 pm (UTC)[That's what it all comes down to. The fact that Prompto is someone he can rely on for a solid grounding when he needs it, in a way that no one else really fills.
For Noctis, the fact that Prompto is the normal one means that he can relax and take off the mantle of prince. For Izunia, it's an insight outside all the things that are just normal to him, a person who can point out the twisted places he can't see himself.
He clasps their hands and lets the magic flow through and anchor.]
Unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't actually have any firearms at the moment. But I imagine the warping likely makes up for that.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 07:15 pm (UTC)Pfft, are you kidding, I can't warp! You know I'm only here so someone else can carry all the heavy machinery I'm gonna start looking for now I've got bottomless backpack access.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 10:47 pm (UTC)He winks.]
Never too late to learn.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 10:54 pm (UTC)[He illustrates his ZING with a wrist flick not unlike the Amazing Spider-man's.]
Like an ice skating episode, but with even higher breakneck velocity. And swords. Same amount of clinging to walls, though.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 11:02 pm (UTC)[In summary: Astolfo.]
You know everything else well enough.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 11:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 11:41 pm (UTC)[HE HAS CONCERNS?]
But if there's anything you need a better explanation of, you need only ask.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 11:51 pm (UTC)[A N Y W A Y, he's just gonna leave that dangling and move on.]
I think I've got it, more or less. Plenty of experience after that.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 11:58 pm (UTC)[No wonder Prompto was so civilian-like. He very nearly was a civilian, in over his head.]
I suppose it's true about experience being the best teacher, but even so...
no subject
Date: 2018-10-26 11:20 pm (UTC)Probably the safest place I could've been, trained or not, was on the road with the three of them. Not in Insomnia when it happened.
[He shakes his head, sobered.]
Funny how things work out, right?
no subject
Date: 2018-10-27 05:42 am (UTC)[It just upsets him that that was a thing at all. These kids, really...]
Well, training or not, you're more than a credit to the Crownsguard now.
[Let's just focus on the good things, right?]