lifeaftr | November catchall

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November catchall

Who: CT and you!
What: Hanging around, trying to recall her lost memories...or maybe just enjoying life without them
When: Early to mid November
Where: Enso
Warnings: None!

CT followed a ghost off a cliff last month, with a result that honestly shouldn't surprise anyone. The gap in her memory became apparent pretty quickly, but although she knows she's missing a lot, try as she might, she hasn't even been able to remember so much as a second of it.

On the one hand, that sucks. She hates not knowing what had happened to her, hates how cryptic Wash has been about the whole thing, hates the fact that she can't even remember the man who urged her to her willing death. Helplessness has never sat well with her, but in this case, there doesn't seem much that she can do.

On the other hand, she's living without the burden of a lot of pain and horror and loss that's been weighing on her for months. Rather than mooning over her absent fiance and dreaming of the day she'll get back to him, she's actually enjoying life on the islands. It is, after all, the first real home she can remember having. Intermittent horrors and punishments for dying aside, it's actually pretty nice here. She lives with her friends on a tropical island, she has no worries and no responsibilities beyond figuring out what to eat and how to get Wash to wear actual clothes rather than his armor once in a while, and whenever she's able to forget that gaping hole in her memory, she's actually pretty content.

The recent renovations to the huts and cottages mean that she's no longer working just to get the roof patched up and the floor resembling, well, a floor. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to do. Today, she's hanging around the cottage that she shares with Carolina and Wash, opening the windows, occasionally sweeping out dust, and going in and out of the door, occasionally picking a few wildflowers in the grass outside to take back inside.

God help you, Freelancers, your roommate's being domestic.

(Feel free to use the prompt or your own, or hit me up for a closed starter!)

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[ Well, if he's ready to embrace it, she is too. CT grins in delight, pushing Gladio's shoulder playfully. ]

We definitely are.

[ Just as she'd hoped, the style transcends universes even if the name doesn't. ]

Yeah. France - it's a country back on Earth. Uh, my homeworld.

[ Or humanity's homeworld, at least, though CT herself had never spent much time there. ]

I don't know if it actually is French, but...that's just what everyone calls it.

[ But whatever it's called and wherever it's from, Ignis is doing an admirable job picking it up. CT helps him a little, making sure the braid is neat and centered and that none of Gladio's hair slips out on the sides, but soon enough she's watching as much as guiding, beaming with pride. ]

You're doing great.

Oh, of course! That's why...

[Ignis' voice trails off because now he's got a mental imagine to go with the guidance CT has given him and that causes everything to click together in a way it hadn't before. He shifts his hands slightly to make the way he's holding the sections of hair easier to handle.]

So Altissian for us and French for you.

[If CT was proud of his progress before, she'll be even more so now as he picks up speed and even figures out a way to more easily check for stray hair without letting the braid loosen.]

Thank you. It makes me wonder if there is more about Altissia's culture that would match your French culture or if this is just a coincidence.

[There's something so devastatingly comfortable about this. CT playful and teasing, Ignis practically beaming with pride as things click in that brilliant mind of his and he finds one more thing he can do unhindered by his disability. Both of them sliding fingers through his hair. It's so easy and domestic and relaxing he doesn't even fuss too much about the fact that his arms are practically useless.

He just wants to stay right here and bask in the moment, appreciate how happy they both are, even if it is over something so simple as braiding his hair.]

We'll have to compare sometime, yeah.

[Soft agreement, almost uncertain of saying anything in case he puts his stupid foot in his mouth and breaks the atmosphere.]

This is... really nice. And I think, here, maybe braids are more practical?

[ She'd expected Ignis to maybe be close to a passable French braid after another two tries or so. Instead, she finds herself dropping her hands away, watching with frank admiration as he plaits Gladio's hair as elegantly and efficiently as he does everything else.

She's so impressed and enthralled that there's a noticeable delay before she responds to Gladio's question. ]

Yeah...yeah, definitely. You won't have to worry about it falling in your face, getting in the way.

[ Not that such concerns had ever kept her from her trademark hairstyle.

This is nice, though, and she shoots Gladio a quick look and a quiet smile before addressing Ignis again. ]

Ignis, you're amazing. I don't know why you thought you needed help.

[Ignis hums softly in agreement with them both. While it may seem like what he's doing is effortless, he is still learning and one misstep will have the whole thing coming apart a lot faster than it would for someone who can see.

A light blush does dust his cheeks at the compliment though, fingers stilling to prevent a mistake while he gathers himself.]

It's passable. I have a lot of practicing yet to do.

[Sorry, he's a perfectionist and that's not likely to change anytime soon.]

[Keeping the top pulled back did a decent job keeping his hair out of his face but the length he's gained since coming to the islands is making that style a bit less effective. Especially since he was rather loathe to cut it any shorter than it was, what with Ignis' fondness for it.

He reaches up when Iggy pauses, skimming his hand lightly over the front. The motion hurts, of course, and it's clear on his face and the way his breath comes out a little strained.]

Think I might make you do this most mornings though, babe. It'll be a helluva lot cooler too.

[All that hair twisted and pulled back, up off his neck at least. The problem with hair as luxurious as his is that it's thick and it's hot as hell in the tropical climate they're stuck in.]

You sure I can't shave at least some of it off again?

[ As the only one who can actually see the results of their work right at the moment, CT takes it upon herself to speak with authority here. ]

It looks way too good to shave off. I promise.

[ And the faint blush on Ignis' cheeks is endearing in a way that makes her grin, warmth blooming in her chest. He's so proud of how well he's doing, even if he won't admit it. She's not about to make this easier for him when he's clearly up to the challenge.

Speaking of making thing easy, though. She doesn't miss the way Gladio winces when he reaches up to feel the braid, and she gives him a nudge with her foot, concern masked by feigned censure. ]

Hang on, we'll find you a mirror or something soon.

I don't know. Do you want to trust a blind man with a straight razor to keep it shaved for you?

[Mischief brightens Ignis' expression. It's probably a horrifying thought to someone who doesn't know how skilled Ignis is with such implements, but he's had plenty of practice keeping his own appearance up now that it would really not be that difficult to do.

He's still eternally grateful that that barber's razor was among the things he was granted on arrival.

Ignis hums under his breath for a moment before continuing.]

Before you actually ask for anything, speak to Prompto. I believe he may have gotten a small mirror at one point, but I'm afraid I don't remember for certain. Mirrors aren't of much use to me, obviously.

Yeah, actually, you know I would.

[Of course. Iggy shaves his face with that straight razor with the same careful accuracy that Gladio shaves his face with the boot knife he'd arrived with. Well he had till he got that clever little curved blade with his whet stone.]

Don't need a mirror though, guys. Hyperion is always polished mirror glossy unless I've actively been killing things.

[And with that he gestures to the massive greatsword leaning against the wall by the door.

Assuming CT can lift it without her power armor and the extra height it gives her.]

[ She looks where Gladio is pointing, raising her eyebrows skeptically when she sees the greatsword. This seems a little unnecessary, but she's not about to back down from a challenge.

Besides, Ignis has got this. So she gets to her feet, walking over to the door and wrapping both hands around Hyperion's handle and gingerly attempting to just lift it off the ground, to start with.

It's not something that she could successfully defend herself with, or even bring up into any sort of battle stance. But it's not too heavy for her to get it off the ground, and she manages to carry it across the room to Gladio and Ignis with at least some semblance of dignity, grinning triumphantly at Gladio as she reaches them again. ]

Your royal looking glass, my liege.

Gladio, I want you to know I'm imagining the horrified look that would be on your father's face if he heard you say that and it's hilarious.

[Sorry, Clarus. At least it means the blade is holding up well against even the worst this place has to throw at it.

Once Ignis hears CT settle the sword in place so it can do its best impression of a mirror, Ignis shifts his fingers to flatten and secure the braid. The last thing he wants is for it to come loose while Gladio's admiring his handiwork.]

There you go. What do you think?

[Tease all you want, guys, the blade is wide enough that it's going to outclass any cute little hand mirror that Prompto got. He flashes a grin up at CT before leaning in to admire their handiwork.

It's definitely a helluva lot neater than the little half ponytail he's been doing, especially now his hair's gotten long enough to fall past his shoulders.]

I'm sure he used his sword for things other than the intended purpose over the years. Probably not as a mirror for himself but for Regis, definitely.

[He's got pictures of them both with their big wavy fop hair, okay.]

This is really nice though, guys. Way more efficient, I think.

[ CT just huffs in disbelief, rolling her eyes in an exaggerated gesture that makes no attempt to hide her amusement. ]

We give him a French braid and he thinks it's efficient.

[ With a quiet grunt of effort, she lifts the sword and maneuvers it back to lean against the wall, before going over to admire the braid for herself. ]

I think it looks gorgeous.

[Ignis raises his hand in an attempt to muffle the snort Gladio's comment pulls out of him, but it really does no good, especially considering the amount of amusement in his voice when he speaks.]

Gladio, that is the king you're speaking of. Have a little respect! I'm quite certain he had his own mirror close at hand.

[Even if he was just a prince at the time.]

Ah see, you are both right. It's merely a matter of understanding Gladio-speak. 'Efficient' might as well mean 'gorgeous.' It's a very high compliment.

You say that like he wouldn't've done it just to drive Weskham and Cor nuts.

[Imagine the aneurysm Cor would have about the misuse of such a fine blade. Just think about it, Iggy.

He grins up at CT though, shrugging an awkward lopsided gesture that doesn't quite ache as much as it could if he were less careful.]

Nah, you're right. It looks real nice. Just someone's been getting on my case for twenty odd years about calling myself gorgeous. [And while he winks at Cee he also leans back to nudge Ignis' legs.]

[ She smiles back, walking over to perch on a chair near where Ignis and Gladio are still settled on the floor. ]

That's true. We can't have you thinking you're handsome. [ She pokes his knee playfully with the toe of her shoe, then pulls it back, still grinning. ] Good thinking, Ignis.

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November catchall

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