aftr_stories | [MU] - MAY STORYTELLING

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[MU] - MAY STORYTELLING

In the wake of what has occurred on Ziziphus, the Storyteller has not appeared for this night's sharing of tales. The campfire is ever-present, but a morose air hangs over the flames nonetheless.

There will be no voting this time around either. It seems the Storyteller is due for a break - and so are the rest of you.

It is time, once more, for you to tell a story. The setting will be familiar for oldcomers, and newcomers will recognize it from the introduction they received in their dreams. This too is a dream, and the ink-black dark is illuminated only by the bonfire surrounded by log seats. And seated around the fire are your fellow islanders, many of whom doubtless know the drill by now.

One by one, you will each have the opportunity to share your stories, as stories possess a certain undeniable power. Newcomers can tell whatever tale they wish, but for those who have been in LifeAftr for at least one Storytelling, only stories of their time in LifeAftr will count down the road. The story need not be long, or conventional, or even verbal; as long as the Storyteller knows it has been told, it will qualify. Those of the nonverbal persuasion have, as of a request issued by Ren (

catpiper), an alternative means of telling their stories if they so choose, in the form of the Chamber of Glyphs.

If you prefer to keep your mouth shut, that's always an option, though you're more liable to benefit if you do. Perhaps you'd rather not relive any of your history, varied and variegated as it must be. Or maybe you're something of a compulsive un-truther, prone to embellishments and long, fanciful tangents. As long as the core of the story is true to its spirit, you are free to spin your tale however you like.

So choose well.

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[Speaking of himself was not something Gladio was prepared for, certainly not with recent events. But everyone insisted he needed to talk, needed to heal, to let out some of the pain and he didn't know what they expected from him. He didn't know how to speak so openly about the things that pained him. But perhaps, there was one story he could tell. One tale that the others deserved to know.]

In Lucis there is a man hailed as being Immortal. Overcoming what all others had deemed impossible, surviving against insurmountable odds. He served his King with the kind of unwavering loyalty other men never dared. Loyalty that led him away from danger in his King's hour of need. That left him alone to guide the forces of a country devastated by war, to teach and to lead and to suffer the tragedy of carrying on while his King lay dead.

I was privileged enough to have this man as my mentor, my friend, my companion. There are lessons he taught me that, even now, I still have yet to fully understand. Without his king he devoted every waking moment to his last task, protecting the people of Lucis. Against all odds, against unceasing darkness, against despair. Even as the people fell to the ravages of disease, for years upon years as darkness swallowed the world.

One small city left illuminated against the darkness, the entire human race limited to the refugees able to scrape a living out under the shadow of a power plant barely able to keep up with the demands of so many people in so little space. The rest of the world dying around us, plants, trees, animals. Food becoming harder and harder to come by as the land itself lost all hope of producing anything edible.

Despite it all we carry on, we fight back the daemons, fallen friends, those we couldn't save, mutated by disease. Hoping against hope that the True King will return before the last of the light fails us, before the desperately limited supplies run out, before our hands are forced to chose who to save and who we must sacrifice for others.

[A slow breath, trying so hard to weave the tale without letting himself get too invested in it. No names, no real connections, just a story, nothing more, perhaps that way it wouldn't cut so deeply.]

Return he did, welcomed with open arms, hope restored to so many. And when the time came to fight, to reclaim the Dawn, the Immortal soldier stood beside his prince. Faced the Accursed - [A fleeting glance at Ardyn, a strange mix of guilt and uncertainty in his expression.] with a kind of determination that even the King and his Glaives had to admire, take heart from.

And when the King's Shield failed him... [His voice shook but he forced himself to continue, to finish the tale despite the weight of his shame.] the Immortal, seemingly so invincible, felled by a blow meant for his prince, the King, the Chosen One who would save them all. Even standing there burned and bleeding, knowing his time was come to an end he spoke only of hope, of victory... standing to face countless hundreds to buy the King time to face the- [No, he would not say it again.] face his fate.

There was nothing I could do.

[Ardyn narrowed yellow eyes coldly but said nothing, looking thoroughly too exhausted to even bother making a comment.]

[It's no easier now to hear of Cor's death than it was the first time Gladio mentioned it. Ignis tells himself that is the only reason he hesitates before moving to Gladio's side, but he knows that it's more than that. Ardyn's there--he always is--and Ignis doesn't want to make Gladio or Ardyn feel as if he is taking sides in this. He would comfort them equally if one wasn't so stubbornly dead set again it.

After a few moments, Ignis eventually stands and makes his way to sit at Gladio's side, blindly reaching to find the Shield's hand.]

Grieve all you wish, but please don't blame yourself. Do you know how much extra training he would put your through if he heard you talking like that?

[It's a gentle jest, one he hopes will bring forward good memories of Cor instead of those last moments that Gladio is so determined to focus on.

Ignis only hopes this won't backfire like his earlier attempts to help Gladio have.]

[He takes Ignis' hand as soon as he reaches out, twining their fingers together, shifting a little to lean against him. He's too tired and too raw after everything that's happened to protest the comfort offered or summon up the anger that still eats at him.]

He'd kick my ass. [A soft agreement, a sigh because it's not that easy to just let it go.] I'm sorry I couldn't... didn't say anything earlier. It's just-

[He shakes his head, it hurts too much and he doesn't know how to explain that so he simply squeezes Iggy's hand and leans his head on his shoulder.]

Hush now. You needn't make excuses. The time wasn't right.

[Ignis squeezes Gladio's hand back, his head tilting down so that his mouth is near the Shield's ear, voice low. It's as private a conversation as he can make it in this storytelling group.]

There is so much we need to talk about, so much to tell, but it will do no good to force it all out when we are emotionally exhausted. We take one step at a time, and this is the Marshal's time.

One step at a time... [A soft sigh, a nod. Yeah. maybe they can get through this if they just pace themselves. If everyone will just stop pushing so hard and let it come when he's ready.

Though there's some things he's not sure he'll ever be ready to discuss.]

Thanks, Iggy. [What would he do without you?]

[Well, depending on which Ignis we're talking about, he may have a lot less pain in his heart...]

You're welcome.

[Ignis falls silent after that, content to let his presence and warmth provide comfort since his words haven't always been right lately. After all, he means what he said about this being Cor's time. Not just it being the time when Gladio could finally talk about it, but also a time for reflecting and mourning one who battle gave no time to do so for before.

Still, after several moments of silence, he feels compelled to speak again, softly, almost tentatively, because he really doesn't want to say the wrong thing. And, when talking about his elder self, it always seems like the wrong thing.]

I don't want to become him, Gladio.

[The silence is nice, welcome after so much pushing. It might have taken weeks for him to really talk about it but now that he has there is a weight lifted from his shoulders. It's easier to step back and look at things objectively once he's told it, explained what happened and, in the telling, realized how skewed his own perceptions had become. Just having Ignis beside him again after so long without him is enough to ease his worries for a time.

For a moment Gladio doesn't understand what Ignis means. Then he sighs, squeezing his hand, turning his face in against hit friend's shoulder. What can he say to that? How does he explain that it's not Ignis' fault without telling him- Without explaining things that will only drive him away again.

Things he must keep to himself.]

You won't... [He wishes he sounded more confident in it though.] Things are already different.

Perhaps, but are they different enough?

[This is the hard part for Ignis. He doesn't know enough about how things went so wrong--even though he can guess a fair bit just knowing himself--to be able to lay his worries at ease. If only he could take Gladio's word for it, but while his heart may wish that, his brain doesn't allow it.

He sighs tiredly, releasing Gladio's hand so he can let his now freed one slip around his friend, finding the tension in his back and lightly kneading at it. At the same time, his other hand crosses his lap to take up Gladio's once more.]

You know how I worry. It's not so easy for me to let things go. Especially things that have hurt those I care about so much.

[For a split second he thinks it's too much, he's said something or done something foolish and given himself away and now Ignis is going to withdraw from him again. It has tension curling through his shoulders, so painfully obvious until Ignis' opposite hand finds his again and he remembers how to breathe.

Those I care about so much and Gladio squeezes his eyes closed, burying his face in Ignis' shoulder, savoring the warmth of him, the feel of his hands, the way the smell of fresh herbs lingers on his clothes. This moment is meant for mourning and yet he can't help clinging to it, selfishly taking what he knows Ignis doesn't mean to give.

Isn't this why it all fell apart? Because he took what was meant to be so simple and soothing, friendship and comfort, and twisted it into something else. Something that wasn't supposed to be there. It hurt and as much as he clung to him now he knew he would hate himself for it later.]

You don't need to worry. 's... not your fault, Ig.

It most certainly is my fault if what you've hinted at is true!

[Ignis actually jumps a little as he speaks, as if he is surprised by the sharpness of his own words. Still, he doesn't apologize or take them back. Gladio has always blamed himself for more than he should and the Shield has made it very clear in the short time that he's been here that no matter how much he's changed over the 10 years of darkness, that hasn't changed about him. If anything, it's gotten worse.]

I refuse to allow you to carry the full blame of this. Not when I know the inside of my own head as well as I do. I may have had my reasons for staying quiet, but I didn't have to be so bloody me about it!

[He lets out a soft huff then, burying his face in Gladio's hair for several moments before turning back out so he can speak again.]

If I need to remind you, we're an equal match when it comes to levels of stubbornness. Just agree to share the blame with me. It will save us both so much time and energy.

[His breath hitches a little, the faintest of sniffles, when Ignis gets so insistent about his part in it all. Gladio sighs, deflates further against him. This time it's Gladio that switches hands, his arm slipping under Ignis' to wrap around him, hand resting on his opposite hip and tugging him in closer. His other hand crosses over to go back to holding Ignis' hand.

There's something about what he's said that makes it clear that Ignis is taking too much of this on himself.]

Iggy... I haven't told you everything, okay. Don't blame yourself too much.

[Fine, he can at least tell him that much. That there's more but he's not ready to talk about it. Maybe it will make it easier for Ignis to give him a little space. Emotionally anyway. Physically Gladio wants Ignis as close to him as possible, wants to hold him and remind himself that however strange things are, here at least, he's not alone.]

[Ignis' lips pull into a frown at Gladio's answer. Wasn't his older self's habit of keeping secrets what caused this in the first place? How is Gladio not telling him the whole story any different? It's frustrating to be stuck with only a fraction of the whole picture when he could have more, but Ignis knows he has to balance his need for a clear picture with what Gladio can handle emotionally. One step at a time, he said, and if it must be by these small half steps sometimes, then he will just have to be patient.

A soft, assenting murmurer slips from his mouth as Gladio draws him nearer. There's something telling in the way the Shield pulls him physically closer even as he keeps his emotional distance.]

It's not time. All right. Just promise you will tell me when it is.

[Unconsciously, Ignis' hand moves up Gladio's back, tangling itself in the man's hair once again.]

Until then, I will stay here waiting as long as you need me to.

[He didn't know if it ever would be time. If he could ever bring himself to admit to Ignis his own part in the way their friendship fell apart. Letting him pull away from him again, forcing that distance between them once more would destroy him. He wasn't sure he could endure it again.

But for now Iggy's here with him, the two of them wrapped in each other comfort and support and understanding.

Will you though? He almost says it, bites it back, hums something soft and contented when Ignis' fingers find his hair again. If nothing else changed then maybe... maybe he could be content with this.]

I'm sorry. [Because this is going to drive Ignis crazy and he knows it but he just... can't.]

[Ignis hums softly in reply before shaking his head.]

Don't be. Patience is a virtue, or so they say. I've started to grow used to the idea that crystal clarity is beyond me. Not having it only drives me crazy most of the time now, instead of all the time.

[A small smile crosses his face and his hand slips free of Gladio's so he can walk his fingers up the man's arm.]

And you best laugh at that or else I will be forced to see if you are still ticklish after all these years.

[He does get a chuckle, sort of. A soft huff of breath, amused but not the depth of laughter he might be going for.

His hand slips away, fingers teasing up his arm and there's a moment where his heart is in his throat, his cheeks heated with a blush because tickling is not the first thing that comes to mind with Ignis touching him like that, voice full of mischief.

Gladio takes the out that's offered to him though, leaning back a little, trying to pull his arm away without really letting go of the hold he has on Iggy's waist.]

Oh no you don't.

[Fortunately, Ignis isn't looking for a full-fledged laugh right now. There is still too much pain lingering in the air, too much uncertainty. The chuckle is more than enough.

Small steps all the way.]

I suppose I will let you off with a warning this time.

[He lowers his head and laughs softly, fingers wiggling in what is suppose to be a threatening matter in Gladio's direction.]

But I am still curious, so best watch your back and your sides and all that.

[It's adorable and silly and sweet and Gladio's a godsdamned idiot but he doesn't make a conscious decision to do it either. He's a passenger along for the ride with his traitorous heart in control of his body. He catches that threatening hand, cups the wiggling fingers in his own to still them, raising Ignis' hand so he can press a kiss to his fingertips, smiling and soft.]

I will. [Quiet, almost like a promise and Gladio's certain he's going to choke on his heart any second. Or worse he's going to move his lips from Ignis' fingertips to something far more telling and he can't but it hurts so much. So he does the only thing he can think of to escape the consequences of his own actions.

He dives at Ignis, hands going for his sides, high up, the sensitive skin over his ribs and under his arms and even through the blond's shirt he will surely be able to get some reaction from him.]

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[ Noctis listens, and his heart aches for his friend. He hadn't realized that Glaio felt so, so guilty about Cor... and he kicks himself for not realizing. Still, he leans forward, hands clasped together, arms on his thighs. ]

... I don't think he would've wanted you to blame himself. Cor knew the risks.

[ His voice is quiet, and he locks eyes with Gladio. ]

As long as you kept on keeping on, Cor wouldn't be upset with you.

I still should've seen it coming. [He was younger, healthier, had his shield. Perhaps he could have withstood the blast where Cor had not.

But the idea of keeping on just makes him sigh, an odd smothered laugh in there, dark and humorless.]

Keeping on... Until the end. However little time that is. [Yeah, Noct he's 110% sure that he dies with you.]

No one did.

[ Noct straightens up and looks at him, blue eyes serious in the flickering light of the fire. ]

More time than I had. You, Iggy, Prompto--you guys survive to see the dawn.

[Whatever Noctis might have expected from him Gladio straightens, amber eyes wide in surprise and something that almost looked like fear. His breath catches in his throat and he stares at Noct for a long moment, disbelieving. ]

No... [ Breathless and lost, he shakes his head. No it can't be like that. He is destined to serve his King, to Shield him from all enemies. The idea that he should fail so utterly, that he should survive when Noct does not is like a physical blow. ]

I can't-

[ It eats at him. It has, ever since he's learned about it, and maybe it's not fair of Noctis to drop this on Gladio... ]

... If I'd kept it from you, it would have hurt more when I finally told you.

[ He bows his head. ]

I'm sorry.

[ He knows Noctis is right about that much. He can't help glancing at Ignis, knowing the careful lies of omission he'd fed them for years, knowing why he'd pushed them away so desperately now. It doesn't ease the pain any, not really. ]

I'm sorry. I should... I'm supposed to protect you.

[Cor. Prompto had only gotten to spend so much time with the man, but he had all the respect for him. He still remembered Cor praising him early on. It had been an honor to fight alongside him and he would have liked to have a chance to do so more.

They'd lost a lot. He didn't like to think about it, but even well before darkness fell many people had died. The people of Insomnia. Probably his parents. Noct's dad. Gladio and Iggy's families. People they'd grown up around. Jared. Lady Lunafreya. Even Pryna... And now Cor. They kept moving forward because there was no other choice.

He sat cross-legged near Gladio, idly fiddling with a wood chip he'd found by turning it over in his fingers, body slumped over silently. He didn't have words. All he could think was, "This hadn't happened yet where he was from". They could stop this. He knew Gladio didn't like his plans of fixing everything back home, though, so he kept quiet, only letting out a somber sigh.]

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[MU] - MAY STORYTELLING

The Legend of the Immortal

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