[OTA Log] Crystal Rain the Markets

[skyward_eyes]

Who; Nida, OTA
What; Crystal Rain and An Emotional Support Guard
Where; The Markets District
When; Week of the Crystal Rains, Jan 9th to 15th
Warnings; Trauma from memories possible. CW: Discussions of character death, suicidal ideation, and suicide in thread with Ignis
Note; To access any of Nida's memories (if you're interested), check here

A. The Start Of Something Strange
It starts not long after Nida starts on his shift for the day. He'd just been minding his own business, going through the morning market, considering the spice stand that he usually used to get little bundles of spice for Ignis. And then, out of nowhere, a blur of green glinting by Nida's face. He stepped back in shock, expecting some sort of threat, because there surely weren't birds here that were colors as vivid at that. And as he twisted away he stepped backwards and something struck him on the head, bouncing to the ground. Nida flinched and looked down and there, a golden, glowing crystal.

Touching it was foolish, Nida knew that, but there was something compelling him. His fingers curled around the small golden crystal and... there it was. An overwhelming sense of trust for... Tobey? That didn't make any sense. Fearful he dropped the crystal and stood up, looking at those falling around him. Without thinking he caught a crimson one out of the air. This one overwhelmed him with love, icy blue eyes, and a smile as sharp and quick as a dagger. The name almost came with a sob to Nida's lips before he felt Siren swelling in his head, reaching out and consuming the memory before it could settle.

"Everyone stay under cover," he called out to the nearby merchants and shoppers. "Don't touch the crystals!"

Of course people already were. Dammit. How was he supposed to stop people from getting caught up in painful memories? He was so tired of all of this happening!


B. Staggered by Memory
[Note: my intention is for Nida to access memories of people who interact with this one. So if you tag it and have memories shared, I'll select one to react to for the character. If your character doesn't have any, I'll have him experience one from another one of my muses.]

There was a lot to be said for the fact that the rain of crystals didn't end. Nida had gone to briefing with the captain and sighed when he heard there was little to nothing they could do about this new strangeness. Sure, the captain would deploy a team to investigate, and talk to the Aspects, but damn if that didn't really deal with the current problem.

Which for Nida was what he saw now as he stopped by a new stall in the market.

"Is this..." he said, reaching out to touch a bejeweled bracelet. One that was set with a stone that glowed with its own internal light. Was someone really making jewelry with these?

The only way to be sure was to touch the crystal. And when the memory within passed Nida growled in annoyance.

"How DARE you sell someone's memories as decoration!"


C. Shelter and Comfort

"Over here!" Nida called out from under the awning of the market district's guard outpost. It wasn't a very large building, but it was sheltered from the fall of crystals, and he had absolutely just seen someone pick up a crystal.

"I've got warm drinks and small pastries, and an ear to listen," he offered to the person who had gathered the crystal. "You know, if you want to talk. Or just to eat."

Comments

[faithfulsupport]

"You also need a break after dealing with things today. While helping others is quite noble and honourable of you, you can't pour from an empty cup as the saying goes." Ignis tried this point of view gently even if half of him really wanted to scoop Nida up and take him home.

Feeling his husband's head in his shoulder just sort of solidified his point, but he went with what he was hearing. "I don't know why darling. But we can talk about this for as long as you like."

Or not of course. Any which way it went, Ignis was going to firmly stand beside his husband.

[skyward_eyes]

Can't pour from an empty cup? He'd never heard a phrase like that before, and it was making his heart ache, because yeah, it might be true just because it sounds right.

Still, he worried, the words are a worry. It made him cling tighter.

"I should. I should tell you more. But fuck. I don't know where the one memory stopped for you. I don't know how to talk to you about it when you may have almost seen me die."

[faithfulsupport]

"Nida, you don't need to go into anything today or even tonight. And if it helps, it stopped with a glass shard in your hand. As for the rest..you filled me in." It almost made his knees weak to think about it. And if he had succeeded or hadn't gone to another world the precious man in his arms wouldn't be there.

That thought alone could drop him.

But he had to be strong, especially right at the moment.

His eyes were searching for Nida's superior, but he didn't see him. Ignis wasn't above asking to take his husband home because he was really in no condition to be a help to anyone else at the moment.

[skyward_eyes]

That... helps a lot. Ignis doesn't have to live with the pain of the choice. The weakness. The spreading color. It made him sick.

And here he was, stuck at his little outpost, because this one didn't have his superiors at it. It was just a little hub for this part of the markets, so he and his shift team could come out of the weather or make report paperwork.

"I'm sorry, I... You might need to go to the station house to see if I can leave early."

[faithfulsupport]

"I promised that I'm not leaving you alone. So you can come with me." Ignis replied gently, trying to smile for the other's sake. He had no doubt he'd get to take his husband home due to the way he looked though of course the advisor knew his other half would hide it as best he could.

But Ignis was known for having a silver tongue when he needed it, anyone could ask Noctis how they got into Altissia on that account. "And we can leave when you're ready, there's no rush."

And heavens help anyone that tried to mess with Nida at the moment.

[skyward_eyes]

That... is fair. Nida sighed and nodded. He'd have to agree to this.

"I don't know that I'm ready yet," Nida admitted with a sigh. "I hate it when things like this happened. It happened in both the previous worlds."

[faithfulsupport]

The advisor sighed. "I'm rather sorry to hear that." And he really was, because pasts were pasts and pasts were supposed to be private and remain so unless the person chose to bring something up.

"But I will wait until you're ready."

[skyward_eyes]

"I'm just sorry you saw some of the worst of mine," Nida sighed, moving to lean into his husband and be embraced. He just needed this.

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis took Nida into his arms and held on. It felt really damn good to hold onto his husband after seeing everything else. "I think I've seen enough with you getting this upset over it, although it's quite understandable as to why."

[skyward_eyes]

Yeah, he supposed he could accept that note. Nida sighed, not sure how to take that.

"I don't want you upset over me being upset. EVen if I understand that's the way it should be. That's what partners do, right?"

[faithfulsupport]

"That is indeed the way it works." Ignis smiled, giving Nida a kiss on the top of his head. "But I'm not so upset to the point where it's overwhelming or affects me as to the point of incapacitation."

It worried him too, but that wasn't the point of this. And he didn't need Nida worrying more than he already was.

[skyward_eyes]

And yet Nida was worrying more the calmer his husband was.

"You... I need you to know that you're the most wonderful thing, and you give me a reason to wake up overjoyed each day. The man you saw in those visions of my past, he's not around anymore. But he is part of why I want to be Scientia and not Nomura."

[faithfulsupport]

He pulled back slightly to listen to his husband go on about their life here. It made him smile of course because it would be totally hard not to. But he had to shake his head at the end and lifted a hand to gently touch Nida's cheek.

"Darling, you are a Scientia and that happened the day that you married me. I understand past is past and I do realize that's where it occurred and that is where it stays."

Ignis wondered of course if something else was bothering the man he loved so he had to ask. "You believe me when I say I trust you, correct?"

[skyward_eyes]

"Yes," Nida answered. He still wouldn't blame Ignis if the man was more cautious with him now. How could he explain that at this point those moments were many years ago and he'd fought tooth and claw under the caring attention of people around him to get to where he was now.

"I do. I just worry youshouldn't."

[faithfulsupport]

Somehow he was sure that even when Nida answered that question, his husband wasn't going to be certain. But the answer puzzled and disturbed him as he looked at Nida.

"You're saying I shouldn't trust you?"

[skyward_eyes]

"No," Nida said quickly, raising his hands defensively and shaking his head. "I think you should. I just... People often didn't after they learned this. They... hovered. Sometimes I needed it. But mostly it just felt oppressive."

[faithfulsupport]

The advisor's head shook slightly. "I take it you know when you need me more than I do. So I've no intention to crowd you and you've given me your word you will tell me if you do get that low again."

Ignis blinked and he reached for his husband's hands to take in his own. "I trust you."

Of course he would worry, but he would try and keep any interference or anything of that nature to a bare minimum.

[skyward_eyes]

"I always need you," Nida let him know, letting Ignis take his hands. He did hold onto them tightly.

In the moment he wished he knew a way to articulate how he was feeling. How being truly trusted, and knowing it was justified, made him feel. He was a spy after all. Trust wasn't something that he really felt he deserved a lot.

"You're my hero, my beloved."

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis had smiled at the softly spoken words. He knew that Nida meant what he said, especially with the squeeze on his hands. But his smile grew a little more as he was called a hero. That was something the advisor simply never considered himself to be.

"I do believe I can handle being my husband's hero."

[skyward_eyes]

Well that worked for him. Nida went to start gathering his things up.

"Then you'll like getting through today."

[faithfulsupport]

"I admit I'm rather fond of getting through every day." Ignis smiled at his husband, who was getting his stuff ready.

[skyward_eyes]

Yes, but that's something else entirely. He finishes packing his bag.

"I meant... it was different today, because today you're my hero."

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis smiled, and found that he was turning slightly red from the praise. Approaching his husband after the bag was packed, he gave Nida a quick kiss. "I'm your hero because I trust you, is that it?"

Really, he's trying to figure this out.

[skyward_eyes]

"Yes," Nida answered, because it's that simple. He hesitates before handing his bag over to Ignis. He'd feel better like this.

"I was a pro spy amonth other things, Ignis. I'm not used to people not seeing some issue with that."

[faithfulsupport]

He took the bag and slung it over his shoulder with his mind still going over their discussion. A part of him did worry a bit more than he had before. But then again he had his husband's word. And without trust between them, he might as well live alone and renounce their vows.

Which of course he would never do.

"You've given me no reason to doubt you or your word."