Chapter Text
Ignis Scientia was a precise man, he liked everything done in an orderly fashion and to be exactly on time. When the road got a bit bumpy, he went over it with relative ease. Yes, there was nothing Ignis couldn't predict, he was always prepared, the man with a plan!
But he wasn't prepared for this. Not this.
But then again, who would expect to see the former High Commander, Ravus Nox Fleuret standing in their office? Ignis analyzed Ravus for a moment, noticing the strange way he seemed to occasionally move his fingers, perhaps it was a nervous twitch? He would have to brush that aside. "Ravus, I can't say I am unsurprised to have you here. But please, why don't you have a seat?" Ignis gestured to the chair across from his desk, yet Ravus didn't budge. "I would prefer standing, to lessen the pain of asking someone like you such a thing, no matter how much use you may be of to me." Ignis rolled his eyes, the huff of exasperation was a mild one, but he had grown to live with this.
"Just say you need my help."
"I refuse to stoop to such levels. Technically, I do not need anything. Rather, I am here on my sister's request."
Now that piqued Ignis' interest. Lady Lunafreya? What use could she have sending her surly eldest brother his way? Despite the glowering feeling of pride at being deferred to by the Oracle, Ignis couldn't help but feel unease at the prospect. If Lunafreya couldn't get through to Ravus, there wasn't the slightest chance that he would be able to. Ignis swallowed heavily before clearing his throat. “Well? Then speak.”
”I need...a suitable way to confess feelings.”
If Ignis wasn’t floored before, he was 20 feet below now. “Beg pardon?” A flash of frustration changed Ravus’ features as he snapped “You heard what I said! And I won’t repeat it!” Ignis said nothing, taking off his glasses and cleaning them before perching the specs perfectly on his nose. “....yes, well....it is surprising, coming from you." "Never mind all that, I just want a simple response, can you h- assist me?" The solemn nod that the King's advisor gave did nary to show the conflicting thoughts inside of him. "I do believe I can, yes." The way Ravus' shoulders slumped slightly was a telling sign of his relief, but Ignis wasn't ready to let his guard down just yet.
"So, dare I say that I can guess the lucky lady?" Ignis hummed after he sat Ravus down and gave him an Ebony, hoping to settle the Tenebraen Prince a little bit more. Ravus didn't make a sound but raised an eyebrow as he was taking an experimental sip of the beverage. "Well...I noticed that during social gatherings you seem to mostly be around a certain Miss Lightning Farron-!" Ignis' words were cut off with a harsh creaking noise and a shatter as in a matter of seconds, the can, or what was left of it, was crushed and coffee had decorated the floor and a bit of Ravus. "I didn't come here to discuss anyone, I came here for advice." Ravus curtly replied. "Or is the King's advisor unable to do his job without poking his nose where it doesn't belong." Ignis settled back in his chair, shock gone and replaced with a smirk. "Ah, it seems I know you better than you might think. She's a lovely woman."
Ravus jolted to his feet, immediately narrowing his eyes. "This shouldn't concern you, Scientia, you may have my respect and some confidence, but you are a far cry from being able to pry into my personal affairs." “Rather touchy today, aren’t we?...or more so than usual.” Ignis added as an after thought. “....well, I fear I can’t help it. You see, this is a new experience for me, I haven’t the faintest idea what would be the right actions to take, or if I should even say anything at all.” Ignis sighed quietly, glad he had worn down on Ravus in order to activate his ramble mode, but even more so troubled. The thing was is that he knew next to nothing about Lightning.
"Ravus."
Ignis finally had to say something, or else the man would carry on forever. "I will help you. But be assured that I know little of Miss Farron, so my assistance will not be sound" Ravus didn't say a word, but his feelings were evident by the gratitude in his voice. "....very well, I suppose I will accept your offer." Ignis let out a sigh of frustration. But this was Ravus, he shouldn't be all that surprised.
"Hey, you wanted me to meet here?"
Ravus nearly jolted when Lightning's voice sounded from behind him. She seemed skeptical as he turned about to face her. "I suppose I did, yes." He remarked curtly, only for Ignis to come in through his transceiver. "That is not the way to win anyone's heart! Act nice!" The transmission cut as Ravus sighed softly, "...why don't we sit awhile?" The rosette next to him blinked before a small smile appeared, "If you say so." was the airy reply as she took a seat on the bench. "So....the park, huh? I thought this was going to be a tea time chat...instead we get to watch kids accidentally injuring each other." Ravus choked and looked over at Lightning, beginning to doubt his location. "I-!" "It's a nice part of the park, I just didn't expect you to like it." the Prince of Tenebrae closed his mouth, holding back his protest and looking in the other direction.
"Talk to her, make small talk! Then slide in an invite to dinner!"
Ignis' voice buzzed in his ear, the insistence making Ravus wince before mumbling "Silence." "I didn't say anything." Lightning replied, making the other man freeze again as he glanced back at her. "....I was curious, do you enjoy dinner?" Ravus inwardly facepalmed, what kind of question was that?! He felt like he would die on the spot as Lightning arched an eyebrow. "It's kind of essential to life, isn't it? Best way to keep healthy?" A deep breath in helped stabilize the High Commander before he inquired again. "I...I mean, do you have a favorite restaurant...or food?" Lightning's eyes lit up, although Ravus didn't notice as he was doing his best not to look at her. "I know of a place that serves amazing steaks."
".....Interesting."
There was a pregnant pause that seemed to stretch out for an eternity, Ravus screaming inwardly as he knew interesting was a horrible way to respond, but it had been said, and he knew nothing else that could remedy it. Lightning hadn't replied either, which led to him fearing the worst. "Well? What's going on?" Ignis' voice came through in a confused crackle, wondering why they stopped talking. Ravus said nothing, he simply turned off the device and focused blankly on nothing.
"...do you wanna go sometime?"
Ravus couldn't believe the words he was hearing as he looked over with an incredulous expression on his face. "....I beg your pardon?" "To the place I told you about. Perhaps, some evening? Like next week?" Ravus blinked a few times before immediately scoffing. "You say this out of pity, don't you? Has my sister been filling your head with nonsense that I spend all my nights in? Because I only spend a few of them as such!" Lightning huffed quietly and set one finger on his lips, shutting the High Commander up. "Luna has said nothing of the sort. I just wanted to go with you. Is that so hard to understand?" Ravus blinked a few times before shaking his head no. "So will you come?" the pause that followed wasn't nearly as long as before, as Ravus swallowed and slowly said. "....I suppose."
"Great. It's a date."
Ravus could barely process Lightning walking away, snapping out of his daze as she looked over her shoulder and called back. "Same time next week, meet here, look nice!" the silver haired man nodded in affirmation, only once the rosette left was he suddenly keenly aware what had happened. Lightning had went and did what he was attempting to do. A facepalm was in order, yet he couldn't bring himself to do it. He switched on the device as Ignis yelled "Bloody hell, man! Give me a warning next time!....did you succeed?" Ravus didn't respond right away, as he hesitated before remarking.
"....In a strange way, yes."