brainiest | ic contact.

[ Should she be concerned? Possibly, but she's more excited at the prospect of seeing Ignis. ]

Of course. Do you want me to come over?

[Of course she shouldn't be worried. He has no plans on doing anything that will hurt her. But her eagerness at seeing him in return means that this is definitely something he needs to do.]

No, I'd like to meet in your library on the Iskaulit. I'm working in my garden right now, so I'm close by.

I'll be there soon.

[ And it really doesn't take her too long, even with the ships a little shaky right now. She makes her way to the library, hovering by the door before she steps inside. ]

Ignis?

[He turns at the sound of her voice, a smile on his face. Being in this room again reminds him of so many conversations they've had, so much pleasure he's taken in her company. While he cannot read any of these books himself, he takes comfort in the fact that they've kept Hermione company.

But there are more pressing matters than thinking about what he can't have anymore. Instead, his attention is focused on the woman who has just entered the room.]

Unless you know any other men who should be waiting here for you, then I suppose that would be me.

No one else springs to mind.

[ There's no one in her life apart from him, really, if they're considering the romantic sense. She's quick to move forward, to lean up and greet him with a kiss to his cheek, gently and a little bit shy. It's only then that she moves to settle nearby, tilting her head. ]

What did you want to talk about?

Well, that's a relief.

[And while he doesn't think she has anyone else in her life that she is currently entangled with emotionally, he still can't help but be a little pleased to know that he is, in fact, the only one for her at this point.

Her kiss is chaste and yet it does quite enough for him to know that this conversation must take place. He moves away from the bookcase and sits down in the nearest chair.]

I wish to discuss our relationship, Hermione.

[ She’s about to reply to his comment when he moves away and sits down; Hermione is happy to follow after him and take her own seat properly, watching him for a moment. She’s often struck by how handsome he is and how lucky she feels being allowed to lean up and kiss him, and it distracts her for a moment - but there’s no missing his words.

When he speaks she feels a rush of nerves and suddenly she doesn’t know what to do or say. Should she not have greeted him with a kiss? What if he wants to stop this and she’s made a fool of herself? Her hands fidget nervously and she breathes out, forcing herself to calm down. Ignis isn’t a cruel man - if he wanted to stop he wouldn’t drag it out. She believes that. ]

Okay. [ A pause, another deep breath, calming herself. ] You have something particular in mind.

[He can hear the change in her voice, the subtle shifting of her body language at his words and he realizes, a bit late, the way that she's taken them. In an effort to relax her, he reaches out his hand to rest upon her own and shakes his head fondly.]

I do, but if you've some notion that I mean I'd like to see less of you, then I suggest you stop that now. I...

[He stops, unsure on how to say this without sounding ridiculous and giving it up as a bad job.]

This past month has driven home the fact that I dislike being separated from you.

[ She doesn’t mean to be quite so obvious about her sudden discomfort, but clearly Ignis is aware of it. She doesn’t want to consider the idea that, maybe, he wants this to stop, but it burns through her all the same. It’s only when his hand settles over her own that she feels like she can breathe properly, her body relaxing back against her chair - which she then moves closer to Ignis. ]

I mean, I - I thought you’d have told me beforehand if that was the case.

[ Before she’d flung herself at him on the planet, before she’d kissed him hello. Ignis isn’t cruel, after all, and it’s one of the reasons she’s so fond of him. He keeps going, though, and she feels her eyes widen and her cheeks flare, just a little, her fingers turning to link with his. ]

Ive felt the same. I didn’t like not knowing where you were, being... so far away.

[ Her nose wrinkles a little. It had been nasty, really, and being close to him now makes her feel so much better. ]

I know I can’t guarentee that we won’t be separated again, but... it would be nice.

[Since his injury, other things—like body language and voice tone—have played a bigger part in his interactions with those around him. And with how much time he's spent with Hermione and going over all their conversations in the last few weeks, he knows her mannerisms rather well.

Or so he'd like to think.]

If I'd had no interest in you beyond friends, I would have never kissed you. I'm not in the habit of doing that.

[He smiles briefly as Hermione says exactly what he feels. It's good that he's doing this. Giving them some sort of...way forward, as it were.]

I have been thinking about where we are in our...relationship. And all sort of titles seem either juvenile or ridiculous. However, titles do give one a sense of purpose and security.

[He's very much aware of how titles definite roles in relationships. He serves a king, after all.]

And if I'm to be threatened about watching how I treat you, I would like the benefits of being more than just "friends that occasionally kiss."

[ There’s a warmth that spreads all the way through her as Ignis continues to speak, her heart beating hard in her chest. The last time she was in a relationship - before Cisco, who had always been kind and as sweet as this - her limited experiences had been Gilgamesh and Ron. Neither of those had been particularly mature despite the depth of feeling in the former case. This, with Ignis, feels better because she’s been allowed to talk about things, to actually plan things out.

It’s refreshing. ]

I’d like to think we’re both mature enough to not play with one another’s feelings. Mature and kind enough.

[ This is the crux of the matter though, isn’t it? Trying to decide what to call each other, what to say, dancing around the topic and avoiding the issue in case it’s awkward. Hermione knows what she wants, now, of course, but... She hasn’t been sure what Ignis wanted. She had been almost a little afraid of asking, just in case. ]

It’s up for us to decide, isn’t it? To see what we like best, or what works, or, um, if we want it...

[ But, wait, she frowns, turning her head to stare at him. Threatened? She thinks of the few people she’s spoken to about Ignis and one name jumps to mind, leaving her groaning and leaning back. ]

I told her to leave you alone... [ Hermione leans forward, just a little closer. ] I’m so sorry, Ignis. I spoke to a friend about this, just to try and process it a little, and she promised to leave you alone. I suppose she broke that promise quite quickly.

Edited 2017-11-28 07:39 (UTC)

[He can hear her frowning and instead of answering her, kisses her for a long time, his hand moving to the back of her head. She is far too rash and if she thinks he's going to let her go much farther with this information right then, she is sadly mistaken.

After a few minutes of attempting to kiss her senseless, he speaks again.]

I'm glad, as odd as that sounds. It means you have friends here that will look after you should anything happen to me.

[He leans forward to kiss her again, almost chastely.]

If you wish to yell at this Champion, I won't stop you. She did break your confidence, but don't be too angry with her.

[ The kiss does distract her, and it’s very nice. She leans into it, tilting her head into Ignis’ touch, her own hand lifting to touch him wherever she can reach - his shoulder, it seems. It leaves her a little bit breathless, her cheeks flushed and her lips a little redder than before, and she’s be more embarrassed if she hadn’t been enjoying herself so much.

It’s a good, long kiss, and Hermione thinks she must be practically neon. It’s a good thing they’re alone. ]

Yes, I... I appreciate what she was trying to do, but I’m perfectly capable of hexing you myself if you do something to hurt me. I don’t need people to fight my battles for me, even with good intentions.

[ She accepts the gentle kisses, softening her the edge of her bristling frustration. ]

I’m going to talk to her. She has to understand that when she makes me a promise she can’t break it - or do things that might jeopardise a relationship with someone I care about.

Edited 2017-11-29 07:22 (UTC)

[Her skin certainly is flushed and he likes what that implies. It goes nicely with her low, breathy voice and her soft lips that he enjoys tasting.]

As I told her, I cannot say that I won't do anything to hurt you. That's impossible and disingenuous. What I can offer is that I will try my utmost to take your feelings into account when I do things.

[She knows that he has a duty and he loves that she's respected that until now, but if push comes to shove.... He's not sure who he would be more pressed to protect.]

You know your friend better than I, so I will let you deal with her how you will. [Another soft kiss to soothe the last of her ruffled feathers.] However, you needn't worry that she has scared me away. If anything, I was worried about how you would react.

Prompto is sure that I can take her.

[ It's quite clear that she would be very interested in more of the kissing situation if it wasn't important for the two of them to actually talk - but perhaps, once they're done talking... ]

Neither of us can promise that. Friendships are difficult enough without... Other things being involved as well. I know how hard it is to keep everyone happy in your life. It's just not possible.

[ One day, she is going to go back to the Drabwurld, or back to her home world, and either way she is going to be losing a lot of people she cares about. She knows that she couldn't pick Ignis over her own duty, no more than she imagines he would pick her over his. ]

I'll speak to her. I'm not - it's not a bad thing, and I know that. It's just not good, either. [ She's independent enough that she will absolutely stick up for herself - even if Ignis inspires her softness. ] Why would you worry about how I would react? You have nothing to worry about, Ignis.

[It certainly is becoming a favorite past time, kissing. Perhaps, one day, it might even be more, but for now it's enough.]

It is not my job to keep everyone happy. Only safe. I see it as an honor, however, that I've been gifted the opportunity to see that your happiness can be determined by my actions nonetheless.

[And even if they do go back, he knows that they have their time together to concentrate on. Noctis' overall happiness is reliant on Lunafreya.]

Because I don't want to worry you, Hermione. Your friend obviously cares for you a great deal and you care for her as well, or you wouldn't have gone to talk to her in the first place. [He reaches out to touch her cheek, to reassure her a little bit.] I can't help but like someone who would go to such extremes to make sure that you're happy.

[ It's more than enough for Hermione, with her limited experience. It's nice, kissing someone she knows cares for her genuinely, without some kind of pretence about it. ]

You don't have to worry - my entire happiness isn't on your shoulders, Ignis. You contribute, but you're not the sole provider. That's not a healthy situation for anyone to be in, really.

[ The problem is she can't exactly say that she hasn't been in that situation. Her messy relationships with Gilgamesh and Dorian had been twisted and tangled like that; Dorian had been mad and lost in his own failings and twisted views and she had faith in him. She had been there to give him a good kind of happiness and while she had never thought of it as a burden... Well.

It's probably for the best she doesn't mention Gilgamesh. ]

She does care about me, and she's doing her best. I appreciate that, I really do. [ She leans into the touch, closing her eyes and breathing out. ] I'm glad I have people in my life that want me to be happy.

It might not be entirely my responsibility, Hermione, but it is something that I take serious. Your well-being and happiness seems to be a contributing factor to my own for all intents and purposes. So there is that to consider as well.

[Hermione deserves to be happy and to be spoiled and petted and cossetted and fed wonderful things. And Ignis wants to provide that to her, but he doesn't want to smother her either, because he understands just how independent she can be.]

Don't be too hard on her, is all that I'm saying. I can understand her point of view all too well.

I want to make you happy too, Ignis. It’s importsnt to me - it’s important that I do my best to make sure the people I care about are okay, as much as I can. I think I’ve made it quite clear that you’re absolutely one of those people.

[ She’s not entirely sure what she does and doesn’t deserve anymore, but she’s doing her best to feel like she’s allowed to find her happiness again. It’s been a long journey to get to where she is now and she recognised that. ]

I’ll be nice to her, I swear. [ Smiling, she squeezes Ignis’ hand. ] Is that what was really on your mind?

Hm, you might have made that point a time or two.

[How can he not help lighten her mood? This is an important topic, certain, but it doesn't need to be completely morose either.]

It's not all that's been on my mind, not entirely. I wished to spend time with you, of course, but even though you were happy to see me down on the planet, I could tell that you've been anxious about things as they stand.

What can I do to relieve that for you?

I try to make it clear.

[ They're trying to figure things out. It doesn't necessarily have to be easy; it just has to be done. It's part of trying to figure out what is happening between them. It would be nice, she thinks, to have some sort of boundary, some kind of understanding. ]

I... Well. [ She sighs, bowing her head. ] I'd just like to know where we stand. How we stand, with each other.

I would like to know where we stand as well, but I cannot answer for you. And you cannot answer for me.

[He closes his eyes, sighing heavily as he attempts to gather his thoughts. Something tells him that if he didn't care for her as much as he did that this sort of conversation might be easier. But then it would also be unnecessary.]

I would like to... be with you. Dating is a possibility, but I'm not sure that I would be any good at any informal association. I'm what Noctis would like to say as picky. I prefer precise, but it ends up being the same thing at the end of the day.

Which is why we're talking about what we want now, isn't it?

[ Shifting, Hermione leans over, taking his hands and holding them between her own. They rest there for a moment before she breathes out. ]

I want to be with you as well. I don't want anything... I mean, I don't think being informal would work for me. [ She holds onto his hands, bowing her head. ] If... If you want me, Ignis, I'm here. We can be formal about it.

Honestly, not talking about things before now is why we're both so unsure right now, I think.

[He keeps his hands in hers, unsure what more he can do. He is really not that great at this, but he wants her. And she's worth it.]

I am here because I want to be with you, because I want you. Spending time with you is a great source of joy for me.

[It's all so difficult to word this without sounding idiotic. He can face down Ardyn Izunia, fight Astrals, take down MTs, old god-like creatures. And yet.... he cannot ask a woman to date him.]

Six take me. I am as bad as Prompto, without the awkwardness that makes him endearing. Hermione, I would like to take you out on a date. Are you interested in joining me?

It's not entirely our own fault. We were separated by a cannibalistic planet, after all.

[ But she holds on to him, letting her fingers brush, gently, before she breathes out. ]

Ignis... [ Moving, she pushes herself up to her feet, leaning down to press a soft kiss against his mouth. He's incredibly charming and he has so little idea of it - of how much he captivates her, how much she wants to tell him how good and wonderful he is, how her heart warms just being beside him.

It's an old, nostalgic feeling, and she embraces it. ]

I am very interested in joining you, Ignis. I'd love to go on a date. [ Carefully, Hermione kisses him again. ] I want to be with you as well.

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