( It's a good job she can lock the office door and tell people to bugger off. It saves them seeing the smile that comes to her face at seeing him. At least he's okay, and that's enough to help Kate shrug off some of the irritation at finding the clinic and guard HQ separated on this new planet. )
'M good. ( Though not entirely sure that the shorts and t-shirt she was wearing to combat the heat indoors is the correct attire for this new climate. Way too much like home in the bad ways. ) Guess we know why the Null wouldn't look here.
( If the only option was to divide the city into four islands. )
[He smiles slightly when she does, looking altogether less strained than he did when she first answered the phone. They're all going to need a change of wardrobe (back into mostly black for Ignis, most likely) but it feels like the least of their problems at the moment.]
Mm, I suppose we do. [Ignis sighs and brushes a few stray strands of hair back off his forehead.]
( It is, but sometimes concentrating on the little things helps when you have a medley of other things to worry about. It's better than thinking about the fact that each island is going to need a clinic base, and supplies for that.
Regardless. It's good to see him, and the simple phone call is enough to put the list of things she needs to consider out of her mind for a while. )
House is on another island.
( That much she knows for sure. She's checked out the horizons from the roof and she can't see the new housing, this section of the city ends before that would begin. )
Saying that we can make the best of it seems rather platitudinous at this point.
[His expression flashes with brief irritation - a tension along his jaw and a lightly exhaled breath let out through his nose. Of all the inconveniences that Hadriel puts them through, this has to be the most irritating one of late.]
Noctis wasn't home when it happened. I have no idea where he is.
( Ignis, are you making that word up? Even her nerd brother didn't refer to things as platitudinous.
It's easy enough to note the irritation, but more importantly: )
He hasn't answered?
( Logically speaking they should all be on an island. Fear is at least competent enough to do that even if he can't put the HQ and clinic together as they were. But that doesn't mean that nothing has happened. )
[He was trying to keep Noct close by so that this would not happen, and yet, here it is again. If he's been hurt, some temples may be suffering for it.]
[Maybe it's odd how he doesn't even seem to notice.]
I'll take that under consideration. [He replies, a little stiffly. They never really have got into the real depths of Ignis' attachment to Noct, for as much as this is a sure indicator.]
But the question remains a valid one no matter how we eventually traverse it. Boats are easily sunk.
Do not address me as if I'm an errant child, Kate. [He bites back, objecting sharply to her tone and choice of words with a brief flash of fire in his eyes.
Though it is likely he would choose not to, that consideration is undoubtedly there, layered under a burning concern for Noctis that has only been fuelled by recent events.]
I don't expect you to understand, but don't mistake my devotion to my king and my duty as idiocy.
[He's angry. It doesn't show in his voice - calm, level, as always - but rather in the subtle tension along the line of his jaw and in the smallest muscles around his eyes. Very few things can rile him up so quickly.]
If I truly intended to be in the water we would not be having this conversation. I trust that satisfies you?
( It takes a great deal of self-control, not to mention a stark awareness that this isn't a conversation she wants to be having via the phone, in the office of the clinic. The doors are locked but that doesn't make it any more private. Her eyes leave the screen, glancing over to some vague point in the office for no reason other than she needs to look at something that isn't Ignis for a moment. Needs to collect her thoughts as her tongue runs over her teeth and she bites back several responses in favour of silence. )
[He gives her the chance to take her eyes off him unintentionally as he lowers the phone, giving and upside-down view of some rough grass and a cliff edge. The noise of the breeze across the receiver almost covers the sound of a slow breath draw in, briefly held, then let out.
When he brings the phone back up his entire demeanour has shifted. Calmer, quieter, without that diamond-sharp edge that had begun to form along the edge of his every word.]
( The irritation in her gut doesn't disappear, and some petulant part of her is a little frustrated that he had to apologise rather than give her an excuse to hang the phone up bitterly, but the tension in her shoulders and face dissolves slowly at those words.
[And he truly doesn't. It doesn't come as a surprise to him that he wouldn't wish that upon her - he loves her - but the fierce wash of it breaking of him is a little more unexpected.
The angle of the camera drops as he sits down, exhaling a soft breath through his nose. This is difficult, and he can't find the words to explain to her how difficult it is when his life has been spent keeping his own troubles at bay for the sake of others.]
( Her eyes narrow in concern rather than anger, the irritation all but gone now through muttered admissions and his soft exhale. They're stuck on different islands until who knows when, and she wishes they were face to face. This is so lacking in so many ways.
She turns in the chair, raising the angle of her phone just a little with the movement. )
[He doesn't doubt that at some point he is going to have to explain why he lashed out so abruptly. It isn't the usual behaviour he displays to her, but right now is not the time and like this is not the way to do it.
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video | after the move;
'M good. ( Though not entirely sure that the shorts and t-shirt she was wearing to combat the heat indoors is the correct attire for this new climate. Way too much like home in the bad ways. ) Guess we know why the Null wouldn't look here.
( If the only option was to divide the city into four islands. )
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Mm, I suppose we do. [Ignis sighs and brushes a few stray strands of hair back off his forehead.]
This is going to be very inconvenient.
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Regardless. It's good to see him, and the simple phone call is enough to put the list of things she needs to consider out of her mind for a while. )
House is on another island.
( That much she knows for sure. She's checked out the horizons from the roof and she can't see the new housing, this section of the city ends before that would begin. )
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[His expression flashes with brief irritation - a tension along his jaw and a lightly exhaled breath let out through his nose. Of all the inconveniences that Hadriel puts them through, this has to be the most irritating one of late.]
Noctis wasn't home when it happened. I have no idea where he is.
[Priorities.]
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( Ignis, are you making that word up? Even her nerd brother didn't refer to things as platitudinous.
It's easy enough to note the irritation, but more importantly: )
He hasn't answered?
( Logically speaking they should all be on an island. Fear is at least competent enough to do that even if he can't put the HQ and clinic together as they were. But that doesn't mean that nothing has happened. )
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Not yet.
[He was trying to keep Noct close by so that this would not happen, and yet, here it is again. If he's been hurt, some temples may be suffering for it.]
I wonder how safe the water is.
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But Ignis no. It's a bad idea. Trust her, she knows bad ideas. )
Wouldn't go swimming in it.
( Kate you can't even swim. )
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[And he will deal with worse still, not that he's quite aware of all that just yet.
Stop him, before he begins seriously thinking about going in the water.]
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Don't be stupid. No idea what's in it.
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I'll take that under consideration. [He replies, a little stiffly. They never really have got into the real depths of Ignis' attachment to Noct, for as much as this is a sure indicator.]
But the question remains a valid one no matter how we eventually traverse it. Boats are easily sunk.
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Ignis. ( Her voice is sharp. ) Tell me you're not going swimming.
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Though it is likely he would choose not to, that consideration is undoubtedly there, layered under a burning concern for Noctis that has only been fuelled by recent events.]
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( Asshole to English translation: Stop worrying her, please. )
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[He's angry. It doesn't show in his voice - calm, level, as always - but rather in the subtle tension along the line of his jaw and in the smallest muscles around his eyes. Very few things can rile him up so quickly.]
If I truly intended to be in the water we would not be having this conversation. I trust that satisfies you?
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Fine.
( That satisfies her. )
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When he brings the phone back up his entire demeanour has shifted. Calmer, quieter, without that diamond-sharp edge that had begun to form along the edge of his every word.]
I'm sorry.
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Right. This is a stupid argument to be having. )
I don't-- want to see you hurt.
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[And he truly doesn't. It doesn't come as a surprise to him that he wouldn't wish that upon her - he loves her - but the fierce wash of it breaking of him is a little more unexpected.
The angle of the camera drops as he sits down, exhaling a soft breath through his nose. This is difficult, and he can't find the words to explain to her how difficult it is when his life has been spent keeping his own troubles at bay for the sake of others.]
I don't want you to have to see that, either.
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She turns in the chair, raising the angle of her phone just a little with the movement. )
... See you soon, aye?
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Ignis nods slightly to her question.]
I sincerely hope so.