[ Truth be told Gladio wasn't expecting a response beyond a message in his journal in that familiar chicken-scratch he'd grown accustom to seeing from Law. He'd been lazing about on the shared bed in the house when a muffled voice calls out from under his pillow - the first call of his name pulls him out of his own slumber, and the second spurs him to sit up.
Noct, move your ass. I gotta—
Law's voice gets clearer the instant he pulls it free, and immediately his brows pinch together at how rough his voice sounds. He must've just woken up like he did, huh? Either that or he caught some sort of cold which would explain both the silence and hoarseness. Either way, Gladio manages to wriggle free of Noct, the bear-skin blanket, and every other one they've all collected over the past few weeks. ]
Kid?
[ A low yawn, a hissed ow following a thunk, and there's more noise as Gladio makes his way through the cramped room, up the little set of stairs leading to the second floor, and beyond the small doorway leading to what counted as a "balcony". It wasn't really one, but it had enough room for a potted plant and maybe two small people to sit out on it. With his own size, there's barely enough room for him to sit but he manages. ]
[ how long has he even been in here? what day was it when he got hurt? he can't remember clearly. it feels like he's been here for ages, but also like it was just yesterday. most of the time he's in a deep, deep sleep—a bomb could go off and he'd probably miss it. if he's awake he's on the fringe of consciousness anyway, or it's a good sign his meds are wearing off and he's about to whining like an old, lame dog pretty soon. what a blur.
either way, he sounds... well, like shit, delirious and kind of slurring, but also just really, really disappointed. ]
I was gonna— gonna surprise you with somethin'. I'munna call Ignis so he can do it. [ slow blink ] I got your present jus' now. Why did you...?
Time flies, huh? It's still hard to believe I've been here for about two months now.
[ Would they ever return home? Gladio isn't sure, nor is he sure if he wants to. His duties as a Shield say yes. That he should want to, that he should be there to safeguard the people of Eos in Noct's stead until his return. ...If he ever returns from the crystal. His wants and desires as a person on the other hand say no. That part of him wants to stay out of a selfish need to keep his friends close and as safe as possible. Would that he could bring the others he loved most so they'd be safe in a world where they didn't have to fear the darkness.
But that's neither here nor there. ]
You don't have to do anything, Law. Truth be told I'm not even sure what I want to do for it... [ It's going to be the first one he's ever spent without the rest of his family. No dad, no Iris, no Jared... He's got the guys, but still. ] Why'd I what?
[ there's a sharp intake of breath when he goes to rub his eyes and remembers he can't move his other arm. he has to set the medallion down against his chest to do it, and then that just makes him realize he doesn't need to hold it up to his face to talk into it in the first place, so it can just... stay there. that gives him the benefit of being able to lay there limp, so his only challenge is just. staying conscious while he talks.
he's real goddamn determined to though, so it's not that much of a challenge. ]
N-No, I... I wanted to. But now I... mm, why'd you send me a present? An' so much. That Cup Noodle looks huge. I'm not just imagining it, right? It's huge.
[ Did he need a reason to send something? Not with his upbringing, no. It wasn't too uncommon for Gladio to leave little things here and there for his friends back home in Insomnia, but they'd always been little things. A candy bar here, a surprise coffee there, take-out from some fast food joint on his way to the Citadel or to someone's house, things like that.
But Gladio's attention drifts from the reason and instead circles what he think he'd heard over the medallion. ]
...You alright? You're not sick with something, are you?
[ Somehow he'd never even considered their immune systems here. Shit. ]
[ ah, shit. does he sound that bad? to be quite honest it's asking too much of him to be self-aware, hold a conversation, and like, breathe all at the same time, so he hadn't thought how it might come across. as if it will even help at all, he clears his throat a little and tries to make the conscious effort to sound... not unwell? hoo boy. ]
No, 'mnot sick. I'm just... kinna... tired. And I'm stuck in Coatepec, so I can't, mm, get over there to give y'your present, but I'll... I'll make it up to you, okay?
I'm gonna sound like Iggy, but you ought to take better care of yourself. If you're running yourself that ragged it isn't going to be good for your body in the long run. You get sick easier if you're lacking too much sleep, and I don't know what kind of medicine exists here. Colds are one thing, but pneumonia? That's something you don't wanna tangle with.
[ He's still got that little stash of curatives, but would they work on something like that? He doesn't know or think he wants to find out the hard way. Honestly, kids. They think they're invincible. ]
Coatepec's the place with all the healers and stuff though, right? So... You listen to them and do what they say. If you're that set on getting me something, I can talk to the guys about heading out that way. I've kinda been wanting to check their libraries out anyway.
[ he's yet to be on the wrong side of ignis's lectures, so he wouldn't know, but somehow he believes it. out of the four of them, he seems like the one who would say something like that. even more reason to call him next and explain things, right? he'll get it. his eyes drift shut, oddly comforted, but then blink back open again. and he chokes on his spit a little, whoops. ]
Nononono. You don't haff to come here. It's too far! Too dangerous. I, uh, I can just bring you books. When I come back that way.
You can't expect us to stay holed up in Kiichpan or Coba forever, you know. They've got those carriages, and even if I don't exactly trust the Spiracorns they use for 'em...
[ It beats walking! ]
Besides, you don't even know what kind of books I'm into.
[ play it cool, he tells himself, in his present state. yeah. hey gladio, have you ever heard someone who sounds like they're on death's front door and high as a kite try to flirt before? or. whatever this is supposed to be. ]
[ Fortunately (or unfortunately) he has heard someone who had just come out of anesthesia trying to hit on him. He'd been the poor dude's ride home, and man. That poor guy. ]
Hm... Historical fiction? That's my big one. I had this four-piece set back home by one of my favorite authors, but I lost track of the second book in the series before the big roadtrip. Certain fantasy ones, and...
[ it genuinely hurts to laugh, but he manages a great big hehhhhh at that. and wheezes painfully when he inhales again, but it's worth it. it is worth it. not much to laugh about the rest of the time, y'know. ]
Wow, okay. So, like, cheesy stories set in the before times. Got it. You're such a weird guy.
What's so weird about it? Can't imagine a big guy like me reading something called Captive Rose or My Highland Warrior?
[ That wheeze does get him to shoot the medallion a concerned look, but if Law says he's just tired? He'll take him for his word. Now if he gets sick, then he'll whip out the told-you-so. ]
Or is it that you can't imagine someone like me being into that whole forbidden romance between a princess and some dude living in the slums?
It's so not cool... don't you have a... an image to maintain, or something?
[ my god. not him too. he knows (and is too dopey) better than to be ~offended~ about the subject matter there these days, but... still, that's super barfy. and he better not be sick, dad's conked out and the last thing he wants is to wake him up making a mess everywhere.
again. ]
Gross, dude... what is it with you rich people and those kind of stories? Did you ever even meet a regular person in real life before?
[ Gladio snorts softly, but he's not offended by anything himself. If people have an issue with his hobbies, that's on them as far as he's concerned. ]
Prompto's probably the most "regular" out of the four of us, but yeah, I have. I went to public school and everything. Just 'cause my family was technically nobility doesn't mean I was some snobby rich kid who had an outfit for every single day of the year and ate fish eggs every night.
I dunno, tough? A total badass? Hard as nails and all that.
[ wow fish eggs sounds disgusting. just... clearing his throat weakly and trying to swallow calmly and evenly. it would be some rich people nonsense that makes him sick again. wouldn't it. ]
Ngh... ugh. Okay, but then you still have those weird fantasies, sooo... and aren't they, like, always the poor person being all helpless and impressed by the rich guy's power and thinking they can't do any wrong? It's basically prop... proper... prop—ugh. It's Renan filth.
[ sorry he can't big words (and sorry to his renan friends but you know what he's talking about OKAY) ]
[ He gets it. Once he got a taste of that "commoner" food, he was ruined for everything else. Were it up to him he'd probably have lived off Cup Noodle for his entire highschool career, but he had his own health to look out for too. Still, give him greasy diner food any day over those tiny ass "meals" from five star restaurants. ]
Usually it's the other way around. One of my favorites involved this badass barbarian queen kidnapping a princess for ransom money, but then it turns out the girl didn't wanna leave because she got her first real taste of a normal life without suitors, responsibilities, and all that stupid high-class stuff. That queen taught her how to sail, how to tame wild Chocobos, hunt for her own food, camp out in the wilderness, and even fight. Eventually both of them started to fall in love with each other, but it took a full book and a half and the princess nearly losing her life before the queen actually confessed. Not all of it is "Renan filth", kid.
A soft side, sure... but a cheesy romance novels side? I dunno, dude...
[ aside from almost making him barf, this is at least getting his mind off of things. or, uh. well. if he has to be conscious at all, at least this version of it is preferable. ]
A book and a half? Geez, get a move on, already. Life's too short.
It's not that bad. Sure, some can be pretty corny but I like 'em. I've never had someone sweep me off my feet, so getting to live through the characters in those books is the next best thing.
[ Sap? Sap. ]
In their defense there was... Five? No, six books in the series. I almost got one signed by the author but I chickened out at the last minute 'cause at the time I was embarrassed to be caught reading 'em by the rest of the guys at work. Still figuring myself out at the time, you know?
[ ...the fuck, that's cute actually. decidedly girly behavior to his mind of limited life experience, but he just so happens to like that kind of thing (usually), so it... is... confusing actually! he (laughs nervously) what the fuck?s that a little. which is also better than throwing up or being miserable, so hey. ]
H-Heh... well it'd be kinda hard to sweep someone your size off their feet literally... but you mean like... flowers and chocolates and all that mushy stuff?
Flowers, breakfast in bed, chocolates... Yeah, all that mushy stuff. I dated a girl for about three weeks who was obsessed with getting her hands on my hair and I think that's the biggest thing I miss about that relationship. No one else ever dragged my head down in their lap and did that.
[ Should he feel sheepish about admitting this? Maybe. Maybe he does, but beyond a little uncertainty in his voice it's hard to tell. ]
'Course if someone wanted to pick me up and carry me bridal style, I wouldn't say no.
Gonna be a long time before I'm picking anything up, but I'll see what I can do. A...aaaabout the books, I mean... a-and, okay, so maybe I know a flower guy... b-but like. Yeah.
Mm... I get that a lot. Big guy like me? It usually catches people off guard when they find out I'm serious.
[ Okay, definitely sheepish and more than a little self conscious. Still, he's not exactly ashamed of it! It's just. Funny-weird. ]
...I like gladioli, if that helps. That's, uh. That's what I was named after. Any sort of lilies, actually. And sage. Not rosemary, but the actual flower.
[ the surprises just keep coming and they don't stop comin. that's not a "hahaha lame" kind of smile in his voice, though. he's so out of it he's not entirely confident any of this is even real, but if it is, it is fascinating. ]
I've heard of lilies at least. They're like, kinda... with the onion-looking things on the bottom? I'll ask my, uh, top-secret source if they know anything about the other ones.
Yep. My full name is Gladiolus, and my sister was named after Irises. Everyone on mom's side of the family were named after 'em too, so that made dad the oddball when it came to pictures and the ol' family tree.
[ Poor, poor Clarus. He never stood a chance, did he? ]
They're sort of like an instrument, I think. At least the ones we had growing in the yard back home were like that.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
g a s p
Date: 2022-04-01 09:36 am (UTC)Noct, move your ass. I gotta—
Law's voice gets clearer the instant he pulls it free, and immediately his brows pinch together at how rough his voice sounds. He must've just woken up like he did, huh? Either that or he caught some sort of cold which would explain both the silence and hoarseness. Either way, Gladio manages to wriggle free of Noct, the bear-skin blanket, and every other one they've all collected over the past few weeks. ]
Kid?
[ A low yawn, a hissed ow following a thunk, and there's more noise as Gladio makes his way through the cramped room, up the little set of stairs leading to the second floor, and beyond the small doorway leading to what counted as a "balcony". It wasn't really one, but it had enough room for a potted plant and maybe two small people to sit out on it. With his own size, there's barely enough room for him to sit but he manages. ]
Nngh- No, s'not 'til tomorrow. Why?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-01 06:10 pm (UTC)[ how long has he even been in here? what day was it when he got hurt? he can't remember clearly. it feels like he's been here for ages, but also like it was just yesterday. most of the time he's in a deep, deep sleep—a bomb could go off and he'd probably miss it. if he's awake he's on the fringe of consciousness anyway, or it's a good sign his meds are wearing off and he's about to whining like an old, lame dog pretty soon. what a blur.
either way, he sounds... well, like shit, delirious and kind of slurring, but also just really, really disappointed. ]
I was gonna— gonna surprise you with somethin'. I'munna call Ignis so he can do it. [ slow blink ] I got your present jus' now. Why did you...?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-01 06:57 pm (UTC)[ Would they ever return home? Gladio isn't sure, nor is he sure if he wants to. His duties as a Shield say yes. That he should want to, that he should be there to safeguard the people of Eos in Noct's stead until his return. ...If he ever returns from the crystal. His wants and desires as a person on the other hand say no. That part of him wants to stay out of a selfish need to keep his friends close and as safe as possible. Would that he could bring the others he loved most so they'd be safe in a world where they didn't have to fear the darkness.
But that's neither here nor there. ]
You don't have to do anything, Law. Truth be told I'm not even sure what I want to do for it... [ It's going to be the first one he's ever spent without the rest of his family. No dad, no Iris, no Jared... He's got the guys, but still. ] Why'd I what?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 03:39 am (UTC)[ there's a sharp intake of breath when he goes to rub his eyes and remembers he can't move his other arm. he has to set the medallion down against his chest to do it, and then that just makes him realize he doesn't need to hold it up to his face to talk into it in the first place, so it can just... stay there. that gives him the benefit of being able to lay there limp, so his only challenge is just. staying conscious while he talks.
he's real goddamn determined to though, so it's not that much of a challenge. ]
N-No, I... I wanted to. But now I... mm, why'd you send me a present? An' so much. That Cup Noodle looks huge. I'm not just imagining it, right? It's huge.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 04:03 am (UTC)[ Did he need a reason to send something? Not with his upbringing, no. It wasn't too uncommon for Gladio to leave little things here and there for his friends back home in Insomnia, but they'd always been little things. A candy bar here, a surprise coffee there, take-out from some fast food joint on his way to the Citadel or to someone's house, things like that.
But Gladio's attention drifts from the reason and instead circles what he think he'd heard over the medallion. ]
...You alright? You're not sick with something, are you?
[ Somehow he'd never even considered their immune systems here. Shit. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 05:00 am (UTC)[ ah, shit. does he sound that bad? to be quite honest it's asking too much of him to be self-aware, hold a conversation, and like, breathe all at the same time, so he hadn't thought how it might come across. as if it will even help at all, he clears his throat a little and tries to make the conscious effort to sound... not unwell? hoo boy. ]
No, 'mnot sick. I'm just... kinna... tired. And I'm stuck in Coatepec, so I can't, mm, get over there to give y'your present, but I'll... I'll make it up to you, okay?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 05:22 am (UTC)[ He's still got that little stash of curatives, but would they work on something like that? He doesn't know or think he wants to find out the hard way. Honestly, kids. They think they're invincible. ]
Coatepec's the place with all the healers and stuff though, right? So... You listen to them and do what they say. If you're that set on getting me something, I can talk to the guys about heading out that way. I've kinda been wanting to check their libraries out anyway.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 05:30 am (UTC)[ he's yet to be on the wrong side of ignis's lectures, so he wouldn't know, but somehow he believes it. out of the four of them, he seems like the one who would say something like that. even more reason to call him next and explain things, right? he'll get it. his eyes drift shut, oddly comforted, but then blink back open again. and he chokes on his spit a little, whoops. ]
Nononono. You don't haff to come here. It's too far! Too dangerous. I, uh, I can just bring you books. When I come back that way.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 05:36 am (UTC)[ It beats walking! ]
Besides, you don't even know what kind of books I'm into.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 05:43 am (UTC)[ play it cool, he tells himself, in his present state. yeah. hey gladio, have you ever heard someone who sounds like they're on death's front door and high as a kite try to flirt before? or. whatever this is supposed to be. ]
Sooo... tell me what kinna books you like, then.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 05:51 am (UTC)Hm... Historical fiction? That's my big one. I had this four-piece set back home by one of my favorite authors, but I lost track of the second book in the series before the big roadtrip. Certain fantasy ones, and...
[ Wait for it. ]
Romance. Especially historical romance.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 05:55 am (UTC)Wow, okay. So, like, cheesy stories set in the before times. Got it. You're such a weird guy.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 06:07 am (UTC)[ That wheeze does get him to shoot the medallion a concerned look, but if Law says he's just tired? He'll take him for his word. Now if he gets sick, then he'll whip out the told-you-so. ]
Or is it that you can't imagine someone like me being into that whole forbidden romance between a princess and some dude living in the slums?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 06:16 am (UTC)[ my god. not him too. he knows (and is too dopey) better than to be ~offended~ about the subject matter there these days, but... still, that's super barfy. and he better not be sick, dad's conked out and the last thing he wants is to wake him up making a mess everywhere.
again. ]
Gross, dude... what is it with you rich people and those kind of stories? Did you ever even meet a regular person in real life before?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 06:28 am (UTC)[ Gladio snorts softly, but he's not offended by anything himself. If people have an issue with his hobbies, that's on them as far as he's concerned. ]
Prompto's probably the most "regular" out of the four of us, but yeah, I have. I went to public school and everything. Just 'cause my family was technically nobility doesn't mean I was some snobby rich kid who had an outfit for every single day of the year and ate fish eggs every night.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-04 06:54 pm (UTC)[ wow fish eggs sounds disgusting. just... clearing his throat weakly and trying to swallow calmly and evenly. it would be some rich people nonsense that makes him sick again. wouldn't it. ]
Ngh... ugh. Okay, but then you still have those weird fantasies, sooo... and aren't they, like, always the poor person being all helpless and impressed by the rich guy's power and thinking they can't do any wrong? It's basically prop... proper... prop—ugh. It's Renan filth.
[ sorry he can't big words (and sorry to his renan friends but you know what he's talking about OKAY) ]
no subject
Date: 2022-04-04 07:31 pm (UTC)[ He gets it. Once he got a taste of that "commoner" food, he was ruined for everything else. Were it up to him he'd probably have lived off Cup Noodle for his entire highschool career, but he had his own health to look out for too. Still, give him greasy diner food any day over those tiny ass "meals" from five star restaurants. ]
Usually it's the other way around. One of my favorites involved this badass barbarian queen kidnapping a princess for ransom money, but then it turns out the girl didn't wanna leave because she got her first real taste of a normal life without suitors, responsibilities, and all that stupid high-class stuff. That queen taught her how to sail, how to tame wild Chocobos, hunt for her own food, camp out in the wilderness, and even fight. Eventually both of them started to fall in love with each other, but it took a full book and a half and the princess nearly losing her life before the queen actually confessed. Not all of it is "Renan filth", kid.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-04 10:18 pm (UTC)[ aside from almost making him barf, this is at least getting his mind off of things. or, uh. well. if he has to be conscious at all, at least this version of it is preferable. ]
A book and a half? Geez, get a move on, already. Life's too short.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-04 11:17 pm (UTC)[ Sap? Sap. ]
In their defense there was... Five? No, six books in the series. I almost got one signed by the author but I chickened out at the last minute 'cause at the time I was embarrassed to be caught reading 'em by the rest of the guys at work. Still figuring myself out at the time, you know?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-04 11:22 pm (UTC)H-Heh... well it'd be kinda hard to sweep someone your size off their feet literally... but you mean like... flowers and chocolates and all that mushy stuff?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-04 11:44 pm (UTC)[ Should he feel sheepish about admitting this? Maybe. Maybe he does, but beyond a little uncertainty in his voice it's hard to tell. ]
'Course if someone wanted to pick me up and carry me bridal style, I wouldn't say no.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-05 12:01 am (UTC)[ well. he knows what he must now do.
erm. someday. ]
Gonna be a long time before I'm picking anything up, but I'll see what I can do. A...aaaabout the books, I mean... a-and, okay, so maybe I know a flower guy... b-but like. Yeah.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-05 12:10 am (UTC)[ Okay, definitely sheepish and more than a little self conscious. Still, he's not exactly ashamed of it! It's just. Funny-weird. ]
...I like gladioli, if that helps. That's, uh. That's what I was named after. Any sort of lilies, actually. And sage. Not rosemary, but the actual flower.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-05 02:24 am (UTC)[ the surprises just keep coming and they don't stop comin. that's not a "hahaha lame" kind of smile in his voice, though. he's so out of it he's not entirely confident any of this is even real, but if it is, it is fascinating. ]
I've heard of lilies at least. They're like, kinda... with the onion-looking things on the bottom? I'll ask my, uh, top-secret source if they know anything about the other ones.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-05 02:44 am (UTC)[ Poor, poor Clarus. He never stood a chance, did he? ]
They're sort of like an instrument, I think. At least the ones we had growing in the yard back home were like that.