runs_on_batteries | IC Inbox/ Interactions 2.0

"Give it a day. See how you feel. Call him if you really wanna apologise. But don't be shocked if you get more of the same. Ignis is... he's a good guy, Tony. He's had a lot on his plate here playing caretaker to Noct and Prompto." Gladio idly scratched at his cheek before he sat himself up again properly. "You wanna be his friend, right? That means accepting him, faults and all. If you yelled at him, you probably owe him an apology as much as he owes you one."

"... But give it a day to cool down." And get his house fixed.

Indeed it is.

[ He shuts the door behind Tony and quietly tracks the man with his ears, following quietly and arms folding across his chest. He exhales a light laugh. ]

Never judge food by the way how it smells.

[ Now that sounds more like him. ]

He sighed. "It was a lot easier making friends when I was famous, had more money than god, and was a world renowned superhero." Now he had to do it like a regular, poor, ugly person did. This was so not fair. "This was easier when he left and I knew I would never see him again. I could grieve and only remember the good parts." He looked over at Gladio, trying to keep some of the emotion off his face. "There were some really good parts."

"Should we put a bucket outside to collect some of this chocolate?"

"Then just remember the good times." He didn't actually want Tony to hate Ignis. Gladio had never hated him. It had just made him so sad to know his friend was right there with him but always out of reach. He remembered all the slights. All the time Ignis had treated him like he hadn't existed. It had hurt. But he'd never hated him.

"There's some pans in the kitchen if you wanna give it a try." He sighed and pushed himself up to his feet. "Just clean up any mess you make."

[He looked at Ignis funny at that remark, but he let it slide. He was more curious about the fact the man was walking so well without a cane. Hmm. That gave him some ideas on how to start his project...]

You're welcome to judge this. I used your recipe, but the replicators are being weird so if it's not perfect, let's blame the machines.

Gladio was far too good of a person to want that. Tony didn't know what it was, but something had been wrong with Ignis. He supposed after this, they shouldn't really talk about him again. There was no point. He might push a little more on Gladio forgiving himself for upsetting his whiny, fickle friends but that topic had run it's course too.

The only thing that was left hanging was what the hell happened last night and did Gladio need to talk about it. Tony rubbed his face, sensing more than seeing his friend moving away. He'd meant that to be more of a joke with the bucket.

He lifted his head and watched Gladio. He meant to watch him as in see where he went and get a feel for his mood. Instead, he found himself appreciating how his jean hugged him and remembering what it felt to have one of those arms around him. He forced himself to look away. "Have you had anything to eat? I could make us something."

Gladio wasn't really paying attention to the eyes on him. His own gaze was on the hole where his door had been. Would the natives be able to fix it? He'd been told they were pretty handy...

"Huh? Uh... No. Haven't really eaten. The replicator is acting up again. Was just gonna wait till later and head to Affurgato's for dinner." Gladio glanced back at Tony and grinned. "If you think you can cook somethin go ahead. I won't stop you."

[ Ignis side steps around Tony, having been tracking the other man and makes his way back into the kitchen. ]

If you'd please.

The replicator isn't working here either.

[ He sounds a little defeated over that one. ]

You arrived on this world at a strange time, I'm afraid. It probably isn't the best welcome to have bears attacking you or the chocolate rain.

[Tony set the cake down and stepped aside. He turned around leaning his back against the counter so he could casually chat with his friend (or whatever they were).]

Is it producing anything? When I tried, it kept giving me what I asked plus extra ingredients. Like I'd ask for flour and it gave me flour and three potatoes. Very odd. I can't complain about the chocolate too much. It was coveted on the train, so I have a bucket on our lawn collecting it. I'm quite certain Gladio's horrified by it.

[There was a brief pause and he took a breath to calm his sudden nerves.]

I uh.. the cake's a bribe actually. Or.. more like an apology. Yeah not more like, but literally, an apology.

It was the most helpful thing he could think of to do. So at that answer, he pulled himself up and went into the kitchen to wash up. It was strange being in a new kitchen. The items that had been purchased or created weren't on the counters nor the drawings from his kids on the refrigerator. There was no elven crafted, annoyingly beautiful tart left out for all to share. He'd always felt lucky when he'd happened through the kitchen after one of those treats had yet to be devoured by the teenagers.

Instead, it was ordinary, modern, basic appliances and utensils. It was so normal, it made him uneasy. The fact there wasn't ten other people in the kitchen trying to make a meal was also new. At least that one, he welcomed. Others might have found the ingredient list limiting, but they didn't know what truly deprived was. Those fries last night had been heavenly. Basic cheese, basic meat, basic noodles, tomatoes and spices all added up to spaghetti to him.

Just as he put the pot on the stove to boil, he came back into the room. A towel was slung over his shoulder and he wiped his hands off on it. "Hey, are you also allergic to vegetables or can I actually give you an adult meal?"

[ Ignis fishes around in one of the drawers for a knife. ]

It is, it's not giving me what I ask for. Ebony for instance is in there, but it's producing other liquids.

It's normally peaceful here, [ He finds what he needs pretty easily and pulls the knife out, shutting the drawer. ] and safe. These strange occurrences can put people in trouble if you're not careful.

[ He had a feeling that this was it, so he nods, giving Tony a chance to talk for a bit first while he starts on cutting the cake. ]

[He breathed a soft laugh hearing that name. Of course, the ever coveted Ebony. However, he wasn't going to bring a certain someone up again. There was no point. Like Ignis had said before, he wasn't the 'train' Ignis.]

I'll remember to watch my step then. As should you too. How long have you been here?

[ He pauses at that and thinks for a moment, recalling Noct's panic over him leaving due to some strange rumor some months back. But Ignis hadn't disappeared. ]

Four and a half months? That sounds right.

[ It sure hasn't felt like it. ]

Pyra, if you met her, she and I got trapped underneath a pile of snow last month.

[ He's pretty sure that they've met already, considering Pyra's... friendliness. He'll be surprised if they haven't. ]

[Okay, so they were both just going to ignore his apology there. It wasn't Ignis fault to know how rare those were from Tony, so he was ready to move on if the younger man was.]

Hmm. Yes, I have. She's the girl with Noct, isn't she? She's very friendly.

[He'd like to have words with her father, but that was neither here nor there.]

I've noticed how well you're getting along without your cane. I'm glad this isn't holding you back.

You'll get used to her, I'm sure. She's... easy to talk to and I'm happy for her and Noct.

Who else have you met?

[ He sets the knife aside, moving about the kitchen to dig out a few plates for them. ]

Ah, I live here. I'm used to the layout of the house. I still need it if I go out.

[ He smiles a little as he brings back the plates, setting them down. Ignis pulled out a pair of forks earlier, so he sets one on each plate. ]

Help yourself.

When Tony went into the kitchen, Gladio jogged upstairs and finished what was doing. The mattress was dragged in. The legs of the beds tied together and then, because he was nice, he made the bed for Tony.

Once that was done he headed back down to consider what to do with the door. He supposed he could hang a blanket up there. He wondered if maybe he could wedge the dining table up against it. It was rectangular, it was just a ball ache to get it in there and have to move it again if they wanted to leave.

He was still stood there considering when Tony exited the kitchen. "Yeah, no vegetables are fine for me." Gladio half turned and grinned over his shoulder. "I'll pretty much eat anything. But ginger. Really hate that stuff now..."

"Still with the ginger? Haven't you ever heard of letting something go?" Tony teased with a grin. He actually couldn't care less if Gladio ever ate ginger again, but it was amusing to joke with him about it. He looked toward the wall and sighed at the hole. "Peter's web shooters would've been really handy about now."

As much as those had been a pain in the ass, temporarily closing something off was very helpful. "I can have Mark 85 stand there and guard the door holding and umbrella?"

[Tony wondered about that pause. He didn't believe that the girl was unfriendly or difficult to talk to, but there was something Ignis wasn't saying about her. It made him curious.]

How long have they been together?

[He had to take a moment to think on that question.]

I've met.. Regis, Era, Pyra and Gladio- obviously, Ardyn, there was one man and woman I didn't get a name and the woman from the cat cafe. Not bad for less than four days.

[He looked at the two sets of plates and silverware being brought out. It was a very Ignis thing to do and made him smile. No matter what differences there were, this was still someone he knew well and cared about.]

Thank you. Go ahead and sit down. I'll serve you.

"I tried. Can't stomach the stuff now." He'd had ginger and molasses cookies when he'd first showed up. They'd been fine but the ginger taste had ruined from from being great and had left him feeling a little unwell. "I blame you, just so you know."

"Don't worry about it." Gladio grinned and turned fully so he could go and so what he'd planned. He picked up the dining table and carried it over to the door. Turning it length-wise he managed to get it as wedged up against the frame as he could, which he hoped would keep most of the chocolate out. He hoped the cold too. "Should do it. For now."

Tony chuckled. "I'll take the hit," he relented, playfully accepting the blame. "I've been accused of much worse things. Just remind me if I ever fix you a stir fry and I'll leave the ginger out." Maybe. He might try to sneak it in just to test that theory but it might be a while since he didn't see any of those flavors on this replicator.

He went back to get the ingredients in a second pot for the meat sauce. He washed the knife and cutting board before going back to the replicator to get items for a salad. "I hope you like fries. We keep getting potatoes with every item I ask this silly thing to make. We're up to four of them," he called from the kitchen. Good thing potatoes kept relatively well.

He stepped back out with a purple potato in hand. He laughed when he saw what Gladio had done. "A bit caveman, but it'll work. Lettuce, onion, tomato, cucumber.. anything else you want in your salad?"

"It'll keep the weather out and that's what matters." Gladio turned when Tony left the kitchen again and gave the potato a strange look, but he'd been asked a question and now he needed to think. "That sounds good. More greens would work, if you can get em. Spinach and kale go great in salad."

At least in his. He liked a more robust salad, but since Tony was actually making a meal and this sounded like a side dish, he wouldn't complain. Then he grinned. "And I like fries. So keep those potatoes. We can do something with them tomorrow."

Tony nodded. Gladio and he were going to get along just fine as roommates. He'd been leery about putting too much stuff in the salad, but hearing Gladio really was good with them, he went back and added both spinach, kale, and then some chopped up broccoli. He put together a honey mustard vinaigrette too, though he would've preferred more spices in it.

"Just don't mash these or they'll turn gray," he warned about the purple potatoes. He assumed they were like the ones from his world, though you never really knew. He went back to work and before too long, the food was ready. It was far from the best dish he'd ever made, but with the ingredients available he thought it sure beat a lot of the options he'd had on the train.

He fixed up two plates and made it look as nice as he could before calling Gladio over. It wasn't a candlelight dinner or anything, but an effort had been made.

Now finding himself without much to do, Gladio went and sat himself down to watch. He was tempted to offer to help but the kitchen was a bit too small for the both of them to comfortably work in. "Do they still taste fine when gray?" Because that didn't bother him at all. Little butter, little salt, they'd still be mashed potato and that as fine by him.

Despite his best efforts Gladio had started to drift off a little. The smell of cooking, the sound of Tonu bustling about, there was a soothing quality to it. He didn't actually fall asleep, but his eyes were closed and he had relaxed. When he was called, he yawned and sat himself up before heading over to get his plate.

"Looks real good. I think you can stay." Gladio grinned and grabbed a fork and his plate. "Uh... tables outta commission. So couch dinner it'll have to be."

Tony paused as he chopped and tried to remember if he'd ever eaten it once it turned gray. "I don't know. I'm hoping once the replicator is back up and running we can get better potatoes for mashing. This kind makes nice chips and fries." He might have gone into the history of regular potatoes and purple, but when he glanced back, Gladio looked sleepy. He found himself smiling and leaving it alone.

Once they had their food and moved to the couch, he could relax. He chuckled at the joke that he could stay because of his cooking skills. "Now the true reason you wanted a roommate comes out." He took a bite and chewed thoughtfully for a moment. "I might have overreacted to Ignis earlier. Just a little."

"Damn, you caught me." Gladio grinned and dropped down into the love seat while Tony took the couch. Sure they could have sat together, but this way he didn't have to keep turning or sit awkward just to talk to the other man.

"Yeah, you think?" With his plate balanced in a hand he took his first bite with an appreciative sound. "... This is delicious." There as still that slight 'off' taste that marked the ingredients as synthetic rather than fresh, but that didn't stop it from tasting damn good.

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