The Perk, Monday Morning

[firstofitskind]

Having ordered a chai latte and settled into the usual table he sat at at the Perk, Liam proceeded to, uh-

Frown at his Global, mostly.

Nina’s birthday was less than a week away, and he still didn’t know what he was going to get for her. Ugh. He hated leaving things to the last minute, honestly.

[ooc: plz entertain me on this rainy holiday monday.]

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[chef_chocobro]

With the new schedule, Ignis had been spending fewer weekends in Fandom, and he was finding it a little difficult to balance his duties back home with his workshops at the beginning of the week and teaching his own.at the end of it. It bothered him far more than he'd admit that he couldn't get it quite right yet, and it certainly didn't help that his portal back today had somehow gotten the time wrong and he'd returned back to the island far earlier than he'd planned for.

Well. No point in looking a gift few hours of spare time in the mouth, he figured, making his way to the Perk to pick up a coffee and maybe have a stroll around the park or do a little research into the best spot for this week's lesson.

But, of course, once he had his drink and noticed Liam there, he would be remiss not to nod a greeting a lift his cup in kind.

"Liam. Good to see you."

[firstofitskind]

“Ignis,” Liam replied in kind. “How’s your day so far?”

[chef_chocobro]

"So far," said Ignis, "so good, excepting the odd little time hiccup that seems to have accompanied my portal today. Though I suppose if it should fail to adhere to the proposed schedule, it's better to have arrived too early than too late."

His tone, regarding the situation, was remarkably measured for how utterly disappointed he was in the whole venture, really.

"And yourself?"

[firstofitskind]

And see, Liam had noticed that Ignis was here a little earlier than usual, but hadn’t commented on it.

Because admitting he paid that much attention to people’s comings and goings was, you know. A little weird.

“Trying to figure out what I ought to get Nina for her birthday,” he confessed.

[chef_chocobro]

Ignis breathed a small laugh to go with his faint smile. "Ah, see," he mused, "and there, I've lucked out immensely with having to secure all the permits and security detail necessary for her party this weekend."

He was, of course, planning on getting Nina something else, as well, but not until after seeing the look on her face when explaining that was gift enough.

"Will you be able to make it? I trust you've received Prompto's email about the event?"

[firstofitskind]

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Liam told him solemnly.

That there existed the slightest potential for awkwardness given that the party was being held at the residence of the people who, legally speaking, held the titles of Nina (and Prompto’s) parents had, yes, occurred to him. But he was also given to understand that the chances of actually encountering them were... not likely. And he would’ve gone anyway even if such an encounter had been likely.

[chef_chocobro]

Luckily, then, Liam could rest assured that half the reason the party was happening at the Argentum house was because the elder Argentums would not, in fact, even be in the kindgom that weekend. Honestly, at this point, it practically was Prompto's in anything but title and deed...

Which was generally how his parents seemed to handle most of their domestic affairs...

"I figured you wouldn't," said Ignis, a comment that might usually hold a little bit of sarcasm with him, but, in this case, it was sincere. "It's going to be quite the event; Prompto is pouring a good deal of energy into it. I'm sure if you think of something to add to enhance the day for our guest of honor, he'd be happy to fit it in there."

[firstofitskind]

“I’m sure he would,” Liam agreed. “He’s a good-“ kid, he almost said, and then stopped, because, well. It seemed weird to call someone a ‘kid’ when talking to one of said person’s closest friends. “Guy,” he finished, after a barely-noticeable hesitation.

[chef_chocobro]

Kid would have been completely acceptable and, honestly, fit Prompto to a T. But, then again, Ignis was 21-going-on-80.

"His heart's always in the right place," Ignis said, with a nod and approving tone, despite continuing on to add, "though I wish I could say the same for his head. Still...he's come a long way from when I first met him five years ago. He still has a ways to go, but he's been a crucial addition to the team."

Which was a very round-about acknowledgement of the fact that Prompto was finally able to fill in that missing piece for what Noctis needed the neither he nor Gladio could truly ever provide.

But, in an attempt to infuse a little more lightness into the conversation, he smiled slightly. "I still can't believe he insists that there has to be a bouncy house."

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka bounced into the shop, the ruffles of her dress flying about her as she beelined for the counter and announced, cheerfully:

"One of everything you've got with chocolate in it, please!"

Alluka, no.

[firstofitskind]

Somewhere, Kathy was facepalming.

... At least there was bound to be a piece of fruit or two in there somewhere, if she ended up with some pastries?

“Starting the morning off with a well-balanced breakfast, I see,” he teased.

[that_oldsaying]

Kathy was absolutely facepalming somewhere, it was true.

Alluka giggled, smiling over at Liam.

"It's very balanced," she assured him blithely. "I'll have a bit of everything with my chocolate, after all!"

[firstofitskind]

“I suppose you’ve got a point there,” Liam said.

He might judge her food choices a little, but hey, Alluka was a grown-

Alluka was an adult. He wasn’t her dad.

[that_oldsaying]

He wasn't her dad. Or even her papa.

And when it came to years, she was older than him.

Alluka giggled again, paid for her ridiculous order, and then snagged a few items and came over to sit.

"Can, can I keep you company while they get the rest of my order ready?"

It would take awhile.

[firstofitskind]

“You bet,” he agreed easily. “How’s the shop doing?”

Liam hadn’t been by in a while, but he probably should, what with the changing seasons and all. Time for a refresh.

(Even if very few people would be able to tell he’d done any refreshing.)

[that_oldsaying]

She'd be able to tell there had been a refresh though so, as far as Alluka was concerned, that was all that mattered.

"It's doing great!" she enthused. "Winter clothes are cute but Spring and Summer just have so much more fun!"

[firstofitskind]

That was one of the reasons he liked you, Alluka; your taste in clothes might be diametrically opposite from his in nearly every way (today’s outfit being a shining example), but you appreciated quality.

“I’ll have to come by and see what’s new,” he mused, just going ahead and making the narrative text. “Get something a little lighter.” Material wise, anyway. It would still be black. Maybe dark blue.

[that_oldsaying]

She beamed at him.

"We've got some new linen shirts in that might suit you," she said, taking a sip of her hot chocolate. "And I'm always willing to special order if there's something you're looking for that we don't have."

Though she had an awful lot in store.

"But we can talk about that when you come in! How have you been doing?"

[chef_chocobro]

Any appreciation Ignis might have had for the artful use of pastels in the girl's uniquely eye-catching attire was completely set aside once actual words escaped her mouth.

And Ignis quirked a brow.

Why was he getting the distinct feeling that she was not exactly intending to entertain a small party of guests with all those sweets and that this was a very ill-advised event?

[that_oldsaying]

"Good morning!" Alluka chirped, noticing the man looking her way and unaware of any judgment he might be making of her food choices.

It was all for her, Ignis. All for her.

[chef_chocobro]

"Good morning," Ignis answered back with a nod. "That's....quite a lot of chocolate."

The subtext between pauses was infinite.

"For so early in the morning."

So much unsaid in so few silent seconds.

"What's the occasion?"

[that_oldsaying]

"I just felt like it," Alluka admitted shamelessly, even though she thought his question reminded her of Kathy when she was having too much sugar in one day. "It's kind of a gloomy day but that doesn't mean I have to be gloomy and, and this makes me happy!"

[chef_chocobro]

"I'm quite certain," said Ignis, mildly terrified of the prospect that what he was about to say might not necessarily be true for the girl, "that much chocolate would make me nothing but sick. And I daresay, that would make me far from happy."

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka glanced at him and then at the chocolate everything that was being made for her and shook her head merrily.

"No, no, this much is nothing!"

Sorry Ignis.

"One of my big brothers can eat waaay more chocolate than me and not get sick!"

[chef_chocobro]

"Does one of your big brothers have an iron stomach?"

Or...diabetes, maybe?

Sorry everyone Alluka.