lifeaftr | June Event: Kaleidoscope Eyes

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June Event: Kaleidoscope Eyes

JUNE EVENT: KALEIDOSCOPE EYES

Who: Everyone!
What: The Jormun arrive and the kaleidoshell conservation begins
When: June 16th to 20th
Where: Ensō
Warnings: Mark as needed!

The Waves They Crashed Upon
The morning of the 16th begins with the cheerful calls and bustling of the Jormun along the beaches. Most predominantly, the snakelike people of the sea will be frequenting the stretch of beach found from E2 to E4. For those adventurers who may not have met the Jormun in past events, never fear: they do not come unannounced.

For some of you, however, those late to rise or late to bed, perhaps the first sign of Jormun activity will come in the delightful pitter-patter of tiny feet...in your house.

The Jormun are here to celebrate the event of the kaleidoshell hatching, and along for the ride are their children, curious and eager to learn all they can about the outside world. If it's not locked up or glued down, it's fair game to be picked up and trotted off to another location entirely - never stolen, no, but...misplaced.

Don't know your neighbors well? You're about to. Anything picked up inside a home will be put down inside a home, even if said home is not the original location. Following the children's example to enact some good old fashioned breaking and entering is always an option, but why bother with that when you can simply communicate with each other?

Or you can just break in, sure.

The Rocks That You Were Trying To Walk Along
Entirely unaware of the chaos their children are wreaking, the adolescents and adults of the Jormun people will happily set themselves up along the beachside - and just in time, it seems.

As the morning wears on, the many sandy mounds of buried eggs stir, the kaleidoshell hatchlings surfacing by the hundreds, then thousands, to make their way from the safety of lovingly crafted nests to the sea beyond. Not quite as colorful as their fully matured counterparts, they still leave the beach itself covered in a veritable, moving rainbow, swept up into the tide once close enough.

Or the open jaws of a predator.

While some of the interested creatures flocking to the shores are not necessarily predators to you, pterax are certainly large enough to enjoy the potential feast of tiny morsels crawling across the sandy beaches. Centipuppies are also interested in this potential smorgasbord, whilst the odd pack of slypers will certainly be trying their best to pinch as many young as they can- and your wallet too.

As mentioned in our OOC info post, the Jormun are fully invested in protecting the kaleidoshell hatchlings without painting the beach red. Those who elect to join the fray will find the Jormun equivalent of a training staff, a schlacknorkcvic, thrust into their hands. Hitting hard enough will certainly kill, but the effort involved is a bit higher than a bladed weapon or heavy mace.

Preferably, the Jormun explain, the staff will be used to keep the creatures at bay from the majority of hatchlings. A loss or ten is inevitable, but the majority will survive...so long as you continue playing baseball with creatures that would otherwise be interested in no kaleidoshells surviving at all.

And In My Head I Heard Them Play A Song
We promised a party as well, didn't we? Not to worry - a party log will be available on the 21st for all your boogie fever needs. In the meantime, be sure to check Munin's message to make suggestions on what should be included, or offer to make some contributions of your own!

Feeling a tad adrift? Make sure to check the OOC Event Post, which has details regarding the event timeline!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

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Ignis spends most of the first day much like Gladio does, working himself to exhaustion protecting the young turtles as they make their way to the sea. He doesn't use his daggers, though. Instead, he wields his own schlacknorkcvic as well as if it were one of his spears despite its weirdness. The odd feel of the surface beneath his fingertips was something he got used to back when he got it during the Jormun's first visit. Ignis was so honored that their own blind warriors were willing to take time to work with him that it made ignoring the almost living texture easy. In fact, during that first day, it's not all that unusual to see him working alongside one of said blind warriors for a short time before they move on.

One of those warriors must have noticed he worked the whole day without hardly any breaks because the next day, they make sure that Ignis does take a break or two or three, and it is during one of those breaks that he finds himself drawn both to Gladio and the children's laughter. He settles nearby in the sand, listening to their happiness, not wishing to interrupt. Unfortunately, a blind man is not much use in childish games. They tend to move too quickly for him to keep up. Still, listening to the sounds of their happiness is relaxing even as it sends him thinking of things he normally would not.

They were all young when they left the Citadel, and unlike Noctis and Gladio, Ignis was not all but required to think of having children to carry on a hereditary position. Yet, there were times when it crossed his mind. He would like them, this he is sure of, though he could make due taking care of Gladio's and Noctis' perhaps. It would all depend on duty. Or it would have.

Ignis doesn't know if all the change he's undergone here will even matter in the end, but if it does he knows his wants are different now. Or, at least, more specific.

If they can even be. Perhaps, in the end, Gladio will just be sent away like Soma was. Or, maybe, it will be his turn this time.

Should he even entertain these dreams?

Ignis ponders this as he listens to the sounds of Gladio playing with the children, his expression one of wistfulness and sorrow. There is so much he wants now when he never did before and who knows if he will get to have any of it.

Edited (Typo!) 2018-06-18 07:10 (UTC)

Somewhere along the way in his wonderings there's soft footsteps in the sand, the near silent padding of paws alongside. Gladio's humming something under his breath, a tune one of the kids was playing earlier. Then he's circling around behind Ignis, sinking onto the sand, chuckling when Leopold flops heavily beside them. An arm curls around Ignis and he tugs the blond back to his chest, settling a kiss to his hair.

"Sunshine and a warm breeze and all this celebrating... but you look like someone's stolen your bird." A nuzzle, his voice gentle and concerned but even Ignis' somber mood can't chase the smile from his tone. "What's the matter, babe?"

Even though his conscious mind is elsewhere, Ignis' unconscious mind picks up on the sound of the footsteps and humming. It keeps him from being startled when Gladio pulls him back against himself. He's tense for a moment before coming back into the present and relaxing into the embrace, head rolling to the side against Gladio's shoulder so he can face the Shield as they speak, his voice soft and a just little distant, "I was just thinking. Perhaps, a little too hard. You're really good with them, you know."

Edited 2018-06-18 22:23 (UTC)

Ignis shifts to face him and Gladio smiles. It's interesting that he does it when it doesn't benefit him any but the precision he has is getting better. He knows damn well that back home that precise focus on sound unnerved more than a few of the Hunters, made them wary of Ignis, earned him an awed kind of respect. "Don't think too hard, yeah? You need the break."

Part of him wants to tell him he doesn't have to but... he's pretty sure Iggy knows that. Besides this gives him the opportunity to kiss him, soft and careful, keeping one eye on the beach in case Leo or one of the kids decided the grown ups kissing was gross and tried to jump them for it. No such interruption comes and he settles the other man against him. "It helps I've got experience. Iris, Talcott, Ollie... Always had a kid around somewhere to keep an eye on, y'know?"

It's habit really. Even though he's been blind for nearly a year, it takes time to undo the habits of 22 years before that. Besides, it feels rude not to face someone he's talking to, even if it doesn't benefit him. Of course, in this case, it certainly does benefit him because he will never get enough of those soft kisses even if there is a part of his mind that is scolding him for not telling Gladio they shouldn't be doing this in front of the children. Ignis ignores that voice for the moment, chasing Gladio when he pulls away to give him one more light peck against the lips before settling his head into the crook of the Shield's neck.

"I'd hardly know what to do with myself if I wasn't thinking too hard," he chuckles softly before his mind tries to pull him into deep thought once more. Of course Gladio's had practice, but it seems like it's more than that. Something natural that has only gotten better as he's had more time to work with kids.

"You'll be an amazing father someday."

It's warm and comfortable. The sun and sand and the breeze coming off the water. It reminds him of Galdin, of before. And to be able to sit here and rest and just enjoy it with Ignis in his arms, leaning against him.

It's a little piece of paradise.

That statement has his breath hitching slightly, quiet but enough that Ignis would catch it. He lifts his head, watches as the game of tag drifts into the waters now and kisses softly to call Leopold back before someone gets carried away and his poor flower gets too wet. The salt water would be terrible for him.

"Prompto seems to think so too. Dunno if... if it's ever likely to happen now." Even if he does somehow survive as Noctis has said. Especially after this, after being here and having Ignis in his arms could he ever go back to Elle and be content settling for the life he was expected to have instead what he actually wanted?

"I've wondered that as well. For myself, I mean," Ignis reaches out for Gladio's arm as he speaks, intending to run his fingers down it until he can wrap his hand around the Shield's. "The world would be less for you not getting to be a father, though, either through adoption or blood."

He all but raised Noctis, so if he never has anything else, he has that at least. Of course, Ignis knows that Gladio can just counter that with the fact he did a lot of raising of Iris as well. It's why Ignis doesn't waste his breath saying it. Still, it seems he thinks it a greater tragedy for Gladio not to have children than himself.

"Can you imagine the three of us trying to raise children together? Me, you, and weird uncle Ardyn?"

It would be an adventure to say the least.

Ignis takes his hand and Gladio hums softly, content in the moment. The praise is unexpected somehow and he actually ducks his head a little, not embarrassed so much as bashful. It's not the sort of thing he's used to being complimented on.

The question, though, has his arm curling tight around Ignis, tipping his head to kiss the blond's temple. "Would you want to...?"

He'd argued so much with Prompto about this very question, too scared for the answer when it wouldn't be him Ignis would be building a family with. But even now, with the other man in his arms it's a little frightening. Thinking of a future they may never have.

"Have kids, I mean... with..." With me? With us? It's something so picturesque. Something normal and peaceful and the kind of life he'd given up on even dreaming of over a decade ago.

But Gods what he wouldn't give to have that.

Well, with Ardyn involved, peaceful might be stretching it a little, but there is an appeal to the whole idea that Ignis can't deny, peaceful or not.

"I can't imagine anyone who I would rather do it with. You and I have always balanced each other out. It's a strong partnership when we're not being fools and hiding things from each other." He can't forget how that partnership broke into pieces for Gladio. It's still hard to imagine things going so wrong even though he understands all too well how it happened.

Ignis flattens his free hand against Gladio's chest, fingers tapping lightly, "You have more riding on heredity than I do, so I feel as though I should be the one asking you if this is all okay."

Ignis shifts to put his hand to Gladio's chest and Gladio uses the motion to turn him a little more, ducking down to kiss him, lips firm and insistent against his. There might be the tiniest bit of a tremble that he tries to hide with the pressure of his mouth against Ignis'.

"Ollie can carry the lineage." If they didn't want to have children of their own. Heredity had nothing to do with it, though. He wanted to be with Ignis forever, to have the opportunity to have a family with him. And weird uncle Ardyn and silly uncle Prompto and their King. Together, like they're supposed to be.

Like he's been longing for for so many years.

"I'd... love to. Someday... maybe sooner rather than later but... yeah." Time is ticking for him, after all. He doesn't want to be pushing forty when his kids are born. Gods above he feels old.

A contented hum is Ignis' first response to the kiss, his hand moving up to weave its way into the hair at the nape of Gladio's neck. Despite the insistence, though, he does notice the slight tremble to the Shield's lips. When they separate, he tilts his head slightly, expression concerned.

"What is it? Something troubles you and I don't think it's just your biological clock ticking," he frees his other hand so he can run his fingers over Gladio's lips, the betrayers of his worries. "Are you worried about Elle or is it something else?"

There's a tightness in his chest suddenly. They've not really talked about Elle since their first meeting when she was mentioned and then Ignis didn't ask more because Gladio had declared their relationship 'complicated.' Could that complication be what is bothering the Shield now?

Ignis' fingers find his lips and he kisses them softly, his hand coming up to catch his wrist, making short work of the fastenings of his glove so he could tug it off and kiss his skin, lips drifting over his knuckles.

"'s not about Elle." A soft breath that's not quite a laugh. "Honestly it was just... convenient. And then she made friends with Iris and they got it in their heads that there was so much more there." He shakes his head a little, kisses Ignis' fingers once more before guiding his hand back up into his hair.

"Just... a dream I gave up on a long, long time ago." And even now, talking about it is nice but what would really happen? If they go back then he'll lose this, he'll lose Ignis all over again and Noctis will fall and what in gods name is he going to do in a world where the sun comes back but his friends are scattered and there's no need for jaded old soldiers anymore?

"Still... not really... practical, no matter how much I want."

"If there's one thing I've learned about emotions and the wants they bring, it's that they are definitely not practical," Ignis words are a little breathless as Gladio runs kisses over his fingers before threading them back into his hair. "All we have to do is look at the mess I've gotten myself into with Ardyn to know that."

Who ever thought that one of the most validating things he could hear from Noctis was that he knew an Ardyn who did learn to live again. It means that all that he wants for and hopes for Ardyn isn't just a fool's dream.

"None of us know how this is going to end. We may leave; we may come back. Perhaps, we'll even end up in someplace completely different like Noct did. Until we know for sure such dreams are impossible, there's no reason to let them go."

He squeezes Ignis a little tighter, leans down to nuzzle into his shoulder. Soft kisses to his shoulder, his throat, slow and thoughtful.

"Hadn't thought of it as an option in years, Igs." It wasn't letting go it was already gone. It made it that much harder to think that he could reach for that dream once more. But the fact that Ignis was here in his arms was proof enough that things he'd thought were impossible could happen.

"Maybe... I'd like that. Someday. If things ever work out that way." Another kiss, another squeeze. "Maybe Elle will have 'em for us." Because if they are going to consider children then he really should carry on the Amicitia lineage.

"Would she do that?" Ignis seems surprised at the very idea, surprised enough he would have jerked upright in Gladio's arms had the Shield's kisses not relaxed him so. It's strange, but there is a part of him that can't help but think she would hate him for stealing Gladio away from her. He doesn't even know her, but Gladio is a wonder man, even with his flaws. Who wouldn't be upset about having to at least share him?

Ignis' thoughts stumble to a halt when he thinks that. Isn't that what he's making Gladio and Ardyn do? Share him? And if they can do it, who says someone like Elle can't?

"Will you tell me a little more about her? You've said so little."

"If there's no daemons left to slay... I think she might." Asking her to step back from Hunting long enough to have a baby was unthinkable but in some mythical future after the Dawn? "She'd probably actually like the idea of being able to have family but not be responsible for 'em." A slight shrug.

"Her pops was a Hunter. She practically grew up in the back of a Culless truck." Hell she talked to Dave like he was her brother. "Leiden by birth, awkward as hell around Ollie but y'know she was always talkin about how much she admired Iris being able to be such a good mom, balance that with Hunts. Don't think she believes she could do it."

A hunter born and breed. Ignis can't say he's surprised. He's sure many were forced to become hunters after the darkness fell, but only someone who lived the life from birth would be able to keep up with Gladio and catch his attention--be that attention of the romantic sort or not.

Ignis finds himself chuckling as a thought crosses his mind, "So, in other words, I would need to brace myself for a lecture and/or an ass-kicking for hurting you before she became my friend. Good to know."

"She doesn't-" He sighs, shakes his head, curls his arms a little tighter around Ignis. He trails a few kisses along his throat, leans into him a bit.

"As far as I know Iris is the only one that has even... sort of figured it out. But I didn't tell anyone." Soft and maybe a little bit embarrassed. "I didn't... talk to anyone. About us... about you." It was his own stupidity that had gotten his heart broken. He hardly went around advertising that and he sure as hell didn't want anyone thinking ill of Ignis for it.

Ignis has to hold back a wince when he hears that. Even after all the hurt he caused Gladio, the Shield did his best to make sure no one thought less of him for it. He suffered all alone, hurt all alone.

"Gladio..." Ignis says the Shield's name with so much love and tenderness. He almost feels as if his heart will burst as he cups his hands around Gladio's face.

"I don't deserve you. I really don't, but I'm so grateful to have you."

Just hearing the emotion Ignis puts into his name makes his heart flutter and he tips his head down to press into the advisor's hands, nuzzling slightly. A huffed breath of laughter and he shakes his head a little.

"You deserve the world, spark." Utterly genuine, regardless of how much it sounds like cheesy romantic nonsense. And then he brings his hand up to cup Ignis' cheek in return, leaning in to kiss him slow and soft and sweet.

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June Event: Kaleidoscope Eyes

Like a bird upon the wind these waters are my sky

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