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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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.]

[Ignis draws in a startled breath when Gladio presses the kiss against his fingers. The gesture isn't unwelcome; he was just expecting a lot of things and none of them were that. There is just enough time for him to start feeling the warmth blossom in his chest and then Gladio launches his attack. A small shriek of surprise that Ignis will never admit to follows and then he's fighting for his life to escape...

...or at least to not send them both sprawling off the log they are seated on while he gets away from those devilish hands.]

Traitor!

[The word is gasped out between muffled bursts of laughter. Noctis. Prompto. Where are you when he needs you?]

[Ignis is much more concerned about staying on the log than Gladio is and, honestly, getting that little shriek out of him is the most satisfying thing that's happened to Gladio since arriving. So while Ignis squirms away but not too far Gladio all but tackles him off the log, away from the fire of course but still to the ground.

And he's not about to stop tickling him, not until he begs.

Or Prompto or Noct come to his rescue.]

[What Ignis should be doing is attempting to get his hands on Gladio's own ticklish spots to find out if they are still ticklish or not. What he is doing, after the big lug topples them off the log, is attempting to catch his breath while not choking on laughter at the same time. His hands push ineffectually against the Shield's chest, as his face turns red from the laughter and the struggling.]

I know what you want and I refuse! I flat out refuse!

[Of course, considering how breathless he sounds, he might have no choice here very soon.]

[There is one side effect to tumbling off the log that Gladio has not thought through. It doesn't even occur to him until Ignis' hands are against his chest, the blond flushed and breathless and Gladio's on top of him, pinning him down with his weight but still tickling. Ignis shifts under him and Gladio has to give up one hand to balance himself so he doesn't fall over on top of him.

And he is abruptly very keenly aware of their position, of how good it is to hear Ignis laugh like that and how beautiful he is, cheeks flushed and smiling and the very thing he told himself he wasn't going to do is at the forefront of his mind again. There wouldn't even be much distance to close between them.

The wiggling of his fingers slows, stops, but he's still leaning over Ignis, smiling, breathing almost as hard just from laughing at him. And there's a hesitation, one brief moment where everything sort of stops, even Gladio's breathing.

And then he sits up, chuckles again and reaches down to pull Ignis back up into a sitting position.]

At least one of us is still ticklish. [But why does he sound almost.. shy about that observation?]

[When Gladio has to give up one hand to balance himself and the tickling slows, Ignis almost counts it as a sign of victory. With the tickling a little less intense, his mind clears enough to think of all the ways he knows to reverse the position they are in. Moves he knows will let him give Gladio a taste of his own medicine; moves he's spent countless hours training against this very man, but as he's considering that, he suddenly realizes Gladio's stopped tickling him completely and is still above him.

Of course, that allows his mind to process even more things as it completely clears. His heart is beating hard enough it might burst from his chest, but at the same time, he's not as embarrassed as he really should be about this whole situation. Flat on his back, with the log to one side and Gladio's familiar weight above, he's sheltered from anyone who might mock him for this bit of childish behavior.

Ignis can't help but wonder if Gladio would mock him if he asked from them to stay this way just a little longer, because it feels like something is about to happen. Ignis has no idea what, though. It's just like things are paused. Waiting...

Maybe he should have read more of those silly romance novels when Gladio offered them to him.

The moment is gone about the time Ignis finishes that thought, and Gladio first pulls himself up and then pulls the advisor up after him. Ignis finds himself sighing and listing over to lean into Gladio's shoulder as he finishes catching his breath.]

We'll find out if the other is soon enough. Mark my words. Vengeance will be mine.

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[MU] - MAY STORYTELLING

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