The Tide
A/N: This is a scene I've always wanted to write. I've decided it's more suitable as an interlude rather than its own chapter, as it's only one scene and doesn't contain any of the heavy stuff. Pointless really. But hopefully nonetheless emjoyable.
Interlude: One Man In His Time
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts
Shakespeare
The media footage of the royal engagement party came to a close on the television over the bar, and for that Ignis was grateful. His sensitive ears had picked up on the quiet audio despite the ongoing ruckus around him.
"Didn't take you for such a drinking man." Aranea slid down into the chair across across from Ignis. She pulled her jacket off and tapped his glass. "I think the last time I saw you you were in the same spot. You get out of here much or are you just drinking your life away in this place?"
Ignis smiled dryly at her blunt humor, pushing his dark glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I've spent much of my time on a plan to stabilize the society and finances of Lucis, since my previous financial plan is no longer."
Touche. Aranea frowned and pointed her finger at him accusingly. "You can't put that on me."
Gladio playfully nudged his friend's shoulder as he passed by. They'd both removed their formal crownsguard jackets since stealing away from Noctis and Luna's engagment party in the Citadel earlier in the evening. Gladio now carried his own heavy garment over the back of his broad shoulder.
"No sign of Noct yet?"
"No, but I imagine he'll be here shortly."
Over by the entrance, cold night air of a late autumn rushed over Iris as Prompto and Cindy entered the establishment.
Prompto was currently in mid conversation with some passerby outside, calling out to the stranger in a friendly though unnecessary exchange.
Iris shuddered irritably and Prompto proceeded to carry on the conversation, holding the door open as he hollered out into the night. The harshness of the air was relentless.
Cindy strut to the bar and pulled herself up onto a barstool beside Iris. "Long time no see!" The blonde woman greeted her. She was one of the few people in the room who wasn't present at the Citadel party, so she stuck out in her casual jeans and leather coat. "It's flurryin' somethin' fierce out there!"
She motioned energetically to the bartender. "Ey sir! I need somethin' warm! If it starts snowin' this winter I reckon I'll pack up Hammerhead and mosey down south!"
Heat washed over Iris once again as Prompto finally shut the door and joined them, ending the trail of frigid air that came her way. "Make that two!" He added cheerfully.
"I don't reckon you'll like my taste much." Cindy chided, ruffling his hair as he sat down next to her, to which he quickly pulled away and ran his fingers through his blonde strands to correct it.
"You don't think so?"
"You like the sweet stuff. Here, I'll order somethin' different for you."
Across the room Gladio and Lia were on opposing sides of the pool table, surrounded by a rather increasingly rowdy group of crownsguard.
Gladio leaned over the green felt-covered table, concentrating his aim silently.
"Don't work yourself so hard," Lia said tauntingly, leaning against the table in her sapphire gown. The sheer fabric hung off her curves enticingly. "Just shoot already."
Gladio maintained his posture, brown eyes flitted up to hers looking down on him. "Funny. Last night you were moaning for me to do the exact opposite of that."
Lia threw her head back laughing and covered her bright red face in her hands as the group around them roared.
At that moment, the entrance to the bar opened again and the designated couple of the hours entered, bringing a breeze of scattered snowflakes in with them. Prompto jumped up to send a flash from his camera their way, before pulling them both in for a simultaneous embrace and the couple exchanged looks of amusement and alarm as the room erupted around them.
"This one's for the grandchildren!" He exclaimed, laughing to himself as he previewed the photo on his camera; Noctis's hair was swept to one side from the wind outside and Luna's nose and cheeks beet red from the night's chill. Both had expressionless 'deer in headlights' look in the camera's direction.
"I didn't think this many people would be here." Noctis told her apologetically as they were greeted by a now slightly drunken crowd.
Luna only chuckled. "I would expect nothing less from a 'royal after-party.' Shall we have a seat somewhere?"
Cor sat by the fireplace with a copper mule mug in hand. The years had appeared to deepen the wrinkles at his brow, leaving the rest of him seemingly untouched. While in appearance, he lived true to his nickname 'The Immortal', but in spirit the recent years had taught him that he was anything but.
"Did you ever think you would see the day?" Monica nudged him, motioning to the King and his to-be bride as they were greeted a rush of mirthful well-wishers and drunken toasts by the entrance.
Cor had come far since his initial encounter with Gilgamesh. From the legacy of Regis, the birth of his only son- to the fall of Insomnia. He supposed this was the rise of the city again. And with the line of Tenebrae locked in, their civilization was on track for prosperity.
Of course, he knew that was hardly Noctis's intention in calling for the engagement, because the King bore the same benevolence as his father before him.
"No." He answered, distracted in the midst of his thoughts, "But I like it."
"This ends now!" Prompto had spotted the dart board and drink in hand, mockingly aimed a dart at the King before swinging around to shoot in at the dartboard. Dead red center. The crowd cheered belligerently.
Iris slid over to the the seat by Luna while Noctis indulged Prompto's games. She had been bombarded with strangers since setting foot on the premises only to be abandoned by her safety- and Luna didn't strike her as the outgoing type who thrived in these kinds of situations.
"Sorry for the crowd. Everyone was just so happy about you two. I don't think Noct could've left anyone out. People love having something to celebrate, you know?"
Luna chuckled and shrugged, sipping her glass of white wine before replying, "No apologies needed. I understand." She paused for a moment, before slyly adding, "I don't recall occasions like this in Tenebrae."
Somewhere behind them a plate was dropped on the floor, resulting in a stumbling Lia along with several other helpers kneeling down to clean it up. The bartender rushed over, ready with a broom.
Iris watched the scene and smiled. "Yeah, we're a little more... 'casual' in Lucis I guess."
The frigid night air swept into the great room yet again when Cid made his entrance.
"Paw-paw!" Cindy called and helped him out of his coat, passing it to Prompto to hang on the wall. "You came!"
"Of course I came." The elderly man huffed, bushy grey eyebrows furrowed. "Oi kid," He nodded to Prompto, "Grab me a beer, wouldja?"
"Which one of you sorry lasses is marryin' the King?"
"Don' go scarin' her, paw-paw," Cindy warned sternly, purposefully directing him away from Luna's direction, "Noct here was damn near trippin' over his own two feet waitin' fer her to come out here, ya hear? "
"It's true," Prompto confirmed, much to the consternation of his friend.
Aranea nodded to the barmaid who refilled their glasses. "I hear there's trouble brewing in Lucis." She confided finally. Ignis gazed in her direction sternly.
She'd wanted to bring it up to him for some time now. Noctis had appointed her as a general of the Lucian army first thing upon her return to Insomnia a year ago, and such a position offered her the liberty of hearing such things that may not be so obvious to the general population. It was nothing major- political leaders of various regions being difficult- Iris put a plug to some of that stuff but not all of it.
"You probably heard correctly," The bespecled man pondered thoughtfully, "I'm sure there will always be some trouble. I see it only as a marker of our growth."
As the pool game concluded, Lia triumphantly cheered with both fists in the air and Gladio couldn't help but simply run a hand through his hair and smile. Lia didn't take to losing well in public situations such as this. Maybe it was just as well she win this one.
"All right." He lowered in pool stick in mock surrender as his fiancee smugly approached him. "What do I owe you?"
Lia hmmed, cocking her head to the side, making her heavy earrings sway in the movement. She slicked her tongue in dramatic mockery. After what seemed like an eternity, she answered.
"I need your help with the house."
Gladio blinked. He wasn't expecting that kind of answer. "You want... help with the house?"
Perhaps it was the alcohol consumption but Lia was so suddenly sincere. "I mean, I can handle the technical things, you know that. But there's so many... personal things I don't want to disrespect. You and Iris grew up there, you know? I know you're both busy but I need some input from you on this." She swayed a little, seeking the table for support.
Gladio pulled her to him, tenderly touching her forehead to his. "I'm sorry. You're right. You shouldn't be doing this alone."
Luna bid farewell to Cor as he approached her to extend his last offer of congratulations for the night. She watched him wave to several crownsguard and give Ignis's shoulder a squeeze as he passed by on his way to the door.
She looked to Noctis as he was leaning over the bar beside her now, arms crossed and resting on the glossy wooden countertop. He was laughing shaking his head at the conversation taking place between Cid and Prompto nearby.
The light from the fireplace cast a rather flattering glow on his sharp features. He'd shaved his face for the occasion at the Citadel and the soft light only made him look smoother, younger. But she knew better. She had scattered shards of memories of the other side and sensing his feelings of pain and loss. She knew beneath his elegant combination of dark hair, almond shaped blue eyes and pale skin there where a multitude of marred flesh over his chest and back, from where his ancestral weapons had penetrated as he offered his own life to bring the dawn.
But for tonight she saw a different man. Perhaps he was a man more like was she had remembered of the small boy from her childhood, before her world fell apart.
He was happy, he was loved; and even despite her own experiences of playing many parts for the world, she was now happy too.
A/N: Not sure what the seasons are like in Lucis (In the game it always seemed hot, rainy, or in Gralea- cold AF), so I took a little creative liberty on this one for the sake of the kind of scene I wanted and threw some snow flurries in there! And also, I realize I've been throwing in a lot of adult beverage intake in my writing lately, but I feel like if anyone needs a drink it's these people.
Only 1-2 parts left! I have another trip coming up the beginning of November so I will try to get the next part up before then! Thank you for all of your input so far!
