aterat | If You Like It Then You Shoulda Put A Ring On It

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If You Like It Then You Shoulda Put A Ring On It

Who; Nida and Ignis
What; Engagement Ring Shopping
Where; The Markets
When; One Morning in April
Warnings; These two are sickening sweet?

An agreement had been made early in February, and Nida had taken his time to think about it, to be certain. He made it all the way into April before he awoke them early on their joint day off. Nida slipped from the bed early, made them a hearty breakfast, and then offered Ignis his hand.

Today we shop, he had said, which was basically a confirmation of 'yes, I'm sure about this'.

Dressed for the cool spring weather, and with the fog gone, Nida smiled and led his lover out to find a good jewelry shop or two. It was time to figure this out.

"So," he said as they walked arm in arm through the markets for the first target, "do you have any thoughts to start with on the rings?"

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"I promise, when it's the real ones, nothing could keep me from doing it," Nida says. "I want to only do it twice. Once when I'm giving you it, and once for marriage. So the memories are there, untainted."

In a brief moment of light and clarity, he realized that he had been wrong to proceed the way he'd been going and it was a bit of a shock. And it didn't make sense as to why this was an issue but he thought he'd try again. "I will ask for more clarity at a later time."

He then looked briefly over at the shopkeeper and debated, taking a breath. His gaze then went back to Nida. "Maybe we'll come back another day and look at rings." Leaving the other's side, he politely thanked the shopkeeper for his time and rejoined Nida.

"Let's go have lunch."

"Lunch seems a good way to go now," Nida agreed, voice soft. Whatever it took to make his love happy. At least he knew his own size, and maybe a metal. He'd talk to the jeweler another time, figure out Ignis's size, and they could talk about it in a more general fashion.

"Do I get to buy the food?"

The whole exchange left Ignis with a lot of unanswered questions and it was a conversation which was far better without an audience. But he was delighted when the redirection worked as he'd hoped it would. So they headed out the door and it was only then that the advisor's shoulders finally lost their tension.

"Of course." He was agreeable to Nida buying them lunch if it would make him happy.

Nida smiled, reaching for the other's hand and holding it with a warm smile.

"What do you want? A sandwich? I think I know a place with that. They're nice to the guards."

With the tension fading, Nida was happy again, excited. Changing, adapting to new situations, was an important thing for him to do. He'd learned it a while ago.

"I don't have a preference at the moment it seems." Ignis replied. The warmth in his hand was nice but what was even better was that Nida was happy. Of course he planned on broaching the topic he wanted to discuss, but not right at the moment. He really didn't care what they ate, because being out here like this was important.

"Ah," Nida said, keeping them going on. Was something wrong? He had to wonder. But he also trusted that Ignis would tell him. Faith in the man he loved was important.

"Well, if you come up with a thought, let me know. I live to make you smile."

There was a small smile in reply but he really started thinking. "Then how do you feel about the art of compromise, Mister Scientia?"

True Nida didn't have that last name yet, but obviously it was something that they were heading towards. And by calling his fiance by that name, it was a reminder to what all of this was about.

Way to make his heart skip a beat.

"Absolutely, if you call me that again."

Mr. Scientia. Oh dear, he loved the sound of that. So much.

Ignis smiled softly, loving the effect he inadvertently had on Nida. "I most certainly can comply to your request."

He reached over and gave the man a brief kiss because they were in public. "And in that case Mister Scientia, please do explain why sliding a piece of metal onto my hand for the very first time in trying rings on, would somehow taint the future gesture when the real thing happens."

Oh. Nida came to a pause. Was that was the concern was? Oh no, he'd made a mistake, hadn't he? The concern and regret was written on his face. To add to that, his fingers come up to move through his hair, a common Nida non-verbal sign of being worried.

"For me, it's the symbolism of the moment, the uniqueness of the memory and the moment too. The ones that are unique, that have power and symbolism, that are singular and defining, the stick better. Some of it is also about how those moments are seen in my world. That act of putting a ring on your finger is, in a way, the promise itself, the oath given. But the uniqueness is... I've told you that I don't remember my parents much, right? Have I explained why? The cost of power in my world?"

He wasn't liking the look on Nida's face but he of course understood the why. And this was one of the very few times he'd seen the other make that gesture. He wanted to reach out and lift the other's chin but something stayed his hand, preventing him from doing that gesture.

But Ignis listened as his lover went onto explain things, trying to piece the puzzle together. And he didn't want to interfere with any explanation given so he remained quiet until he was on the receiving end of questions.

"Yes you've explained about not recalling them. But no I don't believe that we've ever discussed the why or about power in your world."

Other than the whole sorceress thing or about Siren.

"There's a reason I don't remember them," Nida said. And with that he reached for Ignis's hands, hoping to hold them for comfort. "And a reason I think I forgot so much of the previous worlds. There are costs to GF use. They need something to feed them, a place to stay in our minds and bodies. They... Go go into the long term memory. Over time memories fade, faster than they would just from growing. I think losing so much in coming here was a factor of the worlds I came through distorting her when she finally had access to me again, a warping of the memory if you will. But the rest? Slowly she's taken them."

If those hands were in his, he would squeeze them, and he hurt. Oh how he hurt.

"The more unique a memory, the more emotionally weighted and powerful, the more they seem to stick. Some days I remember in all the stunning detail and wonder as I should have. Others? Not so much. I remember the first time I held my first polearm, but I had a named one back home, Selene. I can't remember the day I got her. That was probably about four years ago, maybe five now. I remember the day I graduated, I remember when I reached A rank. I remember missions. They were unique, powerful things, they linger. But other things I lose, and I will just keep losing them so long as I lack something to carry Siren when I'm not actively using her, so long as I have to sustain her alone."

That's the cost of power for him. The cost of magic. Maybe in a world that had more magic in it, in the air and in the ground and everywhere, the bond would be less powerfully parasitic. He doesn't know. This is the first time he's had her while in a world that wasn't his own. And she isn't racing through his memories as much, save for that sudden burst at the start.

"I don't know the cost here. Maybe the memories I lost coming here will serve as her price for the whole time I stay here. Maybe this world will sustain her better. Or maybe not, and the moment I'll remember is the first time I put the ring on you, and not the moment that matters."

Maybe he should just keep a journal, writing and drawing the important moments, to make them more concrete. But that hasn't occurred to him before. Just like a slow, carefully managed introduction to a chocobo hasn't occurred to him. Sometimes he's just not creative in his thinking.

Ignis allowed the hand holding and looked at Nida very Concerned and couldn't help worrying the more the man went on and it seemed to just go from bad to worse.

The news was quite disturbing to say the least and his mind turned over the situation with Siren over and over in his mind. Losing his memories due to hosting her. What kind of deal was that? And even if Nida indulged Ignis he might not remember it. What if..in time he was forgotten? Even though thing were being explained and some memories remained, at what cost?

After his hands were squeezed pretty tightly, he listened more and had to ask. "I don't suppose there's any way I could assist with bearing Siren." It wasn't that he wanted the power or magic boost. He simply wanted to share the burden and not have her bear down on Nida so much. Ignis just very much wanted to help.

Technology such as he knew was so sorely lacking in this place. "And since you brought this up, I will ensure we have plenty of pictures of our wedding." Video wasn't a thing here unfortunately, but hopefully photos would be enough.

What an idea. Part of Nida wants to shoot it down immediately, because being without Siren makes him weaker. But there are times when he's not out, not in a position where he might need her force, and then... Then he thinks maybe it might be okay. Sleeping and time together and the like. Yes, maybe it could work.

"It takes time to learn how to carry one. And even teaching you that, it might be impossible to teach you proper junctioning or magic. There will be a LOT of theory work first, so I can teach you how to give her back to me. And I need her for work and being around the city. If you can agree to all of this, I would be willing to ask her. She's sentient. She should have a say."

But he thought maybe she'd allow it. Ignis's elements didn't match up with her, but they also didn't conflict. Siren might be a GF aligned to wind and sea, but she was not as picky about what she shared with as Pandemona and Quez were. She only couldn't stand Carbuncle.

It was a lot to see Noct summon Ramuh and he knew how exhausted the king was whenever he summoned. Ignis knew the gods there would never work with him so he didn't ever offer to try and take one of them on, as they were for the Oracle and King alone. He wasn't sure it was something he could do here either but it was worth the offer at any rate and he clearly expected Nida to say no outright and even be a little angry or offended.

However, surprise was written all over his face when he heard another answer, so it took him a moment or two to process what he was hearing here.

"Of course." was his first answer with a small shake of his head. "I have no wish to keep her, and if that would be alright with her I'm simply trying to help." Really that was his only angle on this. Sure maybe the thought of having extra assistance somewhere might be a grand thing, but that wasn't what this was about in any stretch of the imagination.

Edited 2021-04-17 20:45 (UTC)

"She's still picky. I'll talk to her," Nida promised, moving to kiss his lover lightly. It worked so good for him, to know someone here could do this for him.

"I'm sure she'll agree. Gonna warn you, your hearing will be a lot sharper."

Ignis smiled, both pleased and relieved with the turn of events. He returned the light kiss in kind and nodded. "I suppose we'll have to see how it all turns out. However, if you're not hungry at the moment, we could take a stroll towards another shop to see about this wedding ring business."

Wait, he wants to try again? Nida's expression softened.

"Are you sure?" he asks, trying to not be too excited. He really would prefer to know. If this was something that wasn't working, he had to figure out how to make it better.

He nodded. "If the reason you've refused my request is due to the possibility of not recalling it at a later point, then that I can certainly understand. Why if Siren agrees to allow me to hold her for a time, my memory of such a precious moment may slip as well should it have been created."

Ignis said all of this matter of factly, but the thought of losing a memory so precious saddened him. However, assisting Nida overrode anything else. "So yes I am sure."

Oh Ignis, was it really right to accept the help when it meant both of them could lose so much? It made Nida's heart ache to think.

"I wish I could just find a matrix to store her when I'm not using her. Back home we found that other things could sustain her and her kind. We even had a way to secure them in computer systems for assignment to others. My metaphorical kingdom for a proper adamantine charm."

But he looks his arm around Ignis's.

"Would you be okay with me getting a stone set in the one I will wear? The color would be a pleasing way to draw the eye."

SO he had an excuse to tell people about his husband.

He leaned forward and gave Nida a brief kiss on the cheek. "Well unless we find one at the specialty shop, I highly doubt we'll find one simply lying about." And then he had a thought. "I suppose I could ask the hunters at my place of employment to see what they know."

It would be worth a shot in his own mind at any rate.

An amused look was his response to Nida's question about the stone as he turned it over in his mind. "If that makes you happy, then that is what you should do." He had no idea why Nida would want a stone set, but he meant what he'd said, he wanted Nida to be happy. That was his job, to make his fiancée happy and do everything he could to keep him that way for as long as possible.

"Sounds like a plan. Perhaps I should check in with Raimon. Maybe he'll have an idea."

Nida wondered if he could meet a price suitable for her. It would likely be so much more than he might ever expect. But wasn't it worth it to try? Yes, Ignis was right, effort mattered.

That said, Ignis was very wrong on something else. While he hadn't expressed it, there was no real truth in that it was his job to keep Nida happy. Happiness was a thing they were meant to find together. Nida should be responsible for his own as well. For now though he smiled.

"What can I say, I feel like I want my shiny to be extra eye catching. Maybe all this time around Julia has made me want to be a peacock myself."

"If anyone should have an idea, I would think he would be the person to inquire with first and foremost. But I will still check in with the hunters." It couldn't hurt to hit the ground running with more than one lead.

The ring being referred to as a shiny had Ignis chuckle good naturedly. "And what a handsome peacock you are." The idea of Nida somehow strutting his tail feathers in the sense of showing off his wedding ring made Ignis feel proud and honoured and humbled all at the same time.

"And yet of the two of us, you're clearly the one with a sense of style suitable to being considered a peacock," Nida offered. He didn't spend much time wearing anything but his uniform, and even wheat he did wear wasn't that fancy. Ignis, though, was always impeccably dressed.

"Maybe I just like looking good for you."

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