Ignis Scientia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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fandomtownies2023-10-10 06:32 am
chef_chocobro) wrote in fandomtownies2023-10-10 06:32 am
Entry tags:
Luke's Diner; Tuesday [10/10].
Ignis Scientia was a man who was incredibly prone to fussing; he knew and would easily admit that he had a tendency to want to hover. But he also had an incredible amount of experience in having to toe that line between his capacity to fret and driving the person for which he fretted to the point of irritation. And while Liliana had shown herself not be even remotely as temperamental about it as Noct had always been, he certainly didn't care to stumble across that threshold if it could be avoided.
Which was exactly what he was repeating to himself as he came into the diner for his shift that day, adding another good check to his list of not hovering and giving her plenty of space if needed. And while he may not be hovering physically, there was nothing he could do about fussing still in his head, which lead him to be terribly distracted today, no doubt reflected in the rote recipes he threw out for his specials and the frequent checking of his phone just in case he had, somehow, missed an important alert as if he could stop paying attention to it.
Fine. Everything was fine. She would certainly be fine without him, it was honestly absurd to think otherwise, he should be grateful she didn't just shove him out the door and send him off herself, really...
Today's Specials
Toasty Rice Balls
(Salmon, Shrimp, Tofu, Vegetable)
Breaded Cutlet with Tomato
Cirtus Goat Cheese Galette
Luke's is open!
Which was exactly what he was repeating to himself as he came into the diner for his shift that day, adding another good check to his list of not hovering and giving her plenty of space if needed. And while he may not be hovering physically, there was nothing he could do about fussing still in his head, which lead him to be terribly distracted today, no doubt reflected in the rote recipes he threw out for his specials and the frequent checking of his phone just in case he had, somehow, missed an important alert as if he could stop paying attention to it.
Fine. Everything was fine. She would certainly be fine without him, it was honestly absurd to think otherwise, he should be grateful she didn't just shove him out the door and send him off herself, really...
Toasty Rice Balls
(Salmon, Shrimp, Tofu, Vegetable)
Breaded Cutlet with Tomato
Cirtus Goat Cheese Galette
Luke's is open!
no subject
It took her longer to make it from the door to the counter, her trip home and then into town taking far more out of her than she'd anticipated, even with rickshaws, but Liliana was determined to quash the appearance of weakness and vulnerability that radio seemed intent on creating for her.
"Hello, my darling," she said, trying to sound normal, never mind how much softer and breathier her voice was than normal. "I've come to save you from the period of a terribly boring shift. I thought, perhaps, a visit might be more appreciated than messages."
What with his noted dislike of the asynchronous method and also how she was certain he'd assume every message was a harbinger of something terrible, whereas in person, he could verify her well-being himself, at his leisure.
no subject
"A visit," he informed her, "is always more appreciated."
There was a small hesitation, borne from all of his attempt to fight against the urge to fuss, but any excess of concern could potentially just be swept away by simply tacking his job on after it.
"How are you feeling? What can we get for you today?"
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"I've been being careful," she assured him, "but I think the chance to get out and about a bit and freshen up with my own toiletries has done me a world of good."
Yes, she was pale as milk and her hairline was dewey with exhaustion, and she wanted very little else than to sit down and rest and catch her breath, but they were in public and she would die nine million deaths before she admitted a single word of that out loud.
"It's still unnecessarily warm out, so I think a glass of water would be just lovely," she added. "And I'll figure out what I'm in the mood for in my booth right over there." Where she intended to sit before her protesting body had her fall.
But yeah! Totally fine! Report that, squirrels!
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Creature comforts he certainly hoped might one day be more readily available, but he certainly wasn't about to say that out loud.
But a glass of water was easy enough to attend to at the counter, and so he poured her one and set it before her, and gave her a nod. "I'll come join you in a bit, then."
It worked well on both accounts, to give her the time she needed to feel unrushed to get settled, while giving him time to think of something to whip up quickly so he didn't arrive empty handed, to tide her over until she decided or while he prepared something more substantial for her.
no subject
"It may lack certain creature comforts, but it contains a treasure trove of books, all of which are new to me," she pointed out. "So I find myself feeling less deprived than I otherwise might." She took a long sip of her water, eyes closing briefly in relief. "Bathtub size notwithstanding," she teased once she was done, then turned to walk with slow, stately elegance to the closest booth.
Elegance that certainly wasn't a coverup for how slowly she needed to move overall, of course. And elegance that deserted her entirely once she sat, far more heavily and with less grace than her wont. Look, her legs had gotten her over here, even with that extended chat by the counter, she should be grateful for that.
And in the booth, slightly hidden by angles, she was just going to slowly sip her water, and lean heavily against the back of the booth, appreciating the opportunity to just rest for a few moments before she had to be fine again.
no subject
And he took his time, once he was there, first trying to make a decision and then taking care as he arranged something to bring out with him, to give her just that little bit more time before he returned, finding his way over to her easily, and setting down the tray of what he'd been working on before sliding into the seat across from her at the table.
"To hold you over," he said, "while you decide. And you actually have my roommate to thank for our extensive library. It will likely come as a surprise to most, but he's actually always been quite the bookworm."
Almost entirely non-fiction, though, Liliana had surely noticed, though the array of topics were vast and varied, though a bit heavier on the military history and religious texts.
no subject
A soft noise of surprise, of recognition, as he set the crostini down in front of her. She was not so crass as to say it aloud, their games generally subtle and unspoken, but the way her gaze jumped from the tray to his face, trying and failing to fight off her smile, the way she once more tangled their fingers together and this time let them stay, even if it made nibbling at her snack slightly more awkward than it needed to be...she knew.
"I had been assuming it was your library from before," she admitted, voice almost girlish with a soft pleasure that had nothing to do with books. "Perhaps I should have known better, considering your opinion of the last text of military history we discussed--before you decided to indulge in rudeness and terribly uncouth behavior."
Which was fancy person talk for 'booty call,' for those following along at home.
Liliana had zeroed on on several books that seemed to offer the most information about historical and cultural contexts and had been working her way slowly - for her - through them. "Had I realized they were his, I would have asked to borrow before bringing one along." As opposed to just bringing it, the way she'd done under the assumption they had belonged to Ignis.
no subject
"You took one with you?" he asked, sounding amused but somewhat not surprised at this revelation of Liliana as a book thief.
"But, yes, I enjoy that sort of thing much more when there's a sense of....relevancy to it. A sense of immediacy, really."
no subject
"I do not particularly care about tactics and strategies and warfare," Liliana admitted. "I couldn't help but learn some as a girl, since we were at war and my father was the General, and I tagged aft--" Oh look. A glass of water. Don't mind if she did. "But I am overall uninterested in battle strategy as a topic. But history, now, that I love. I find there are a number of more interesting lenses through which to view history than the study of this battle and that, but no one from Dominaria can deny that profound impact that warfare has on everything, especially culture."
no subject
"You'll find no argument from me there," said Ignis, especially consider how war had shaped his entire life profoundly up until this very point. "I just find that not nearly enough historians have mastered the written word quite as engagingly as they may like to believe. I find the data itself tells a far more compelling story, but perhaps you'll have better luck with your purloined publication than I have.
"That said," a small pause, "I am interested to hear what you might think of it."
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"Hardly purloined," Liliana sniffed, the barest hint of dimples in her cheeks. "Borrowed for the afternoon. To be returned safe and sound. Barely even notice it was gone." She nibbled on a crostini and leaned back to regard him, disengaging her hand as she did. "Tell me then, my darling, what books that you enjoy? What do you curl up with and listen to on a rainy day when you have nowhere to be? What books will I be hearing about in the kitchen as you excitedly tell me about a twist in a plot or a turn of a phrase?"
Their hands were no longer joined, but her leg slid out, foot wrapping around his ankle, and remained there as a point of connection.
no subject
He let out a soft laugh, and, with his hand now free, perhaps plucked up one of the crostini for himself as well. A little bit toward the current debt of food swiped from his prep table while cooking, arguably with interest. And his foot under the table shifted, sliding forward a little, to make her own foot's reach just a little bit shorter.
"I prefer listening to music, actually," he said, "and there's certainly no shortage of twists and turns in a good concerto or magnum opus, a lengthy symphony or opera. The audio books is actually a more recent distraction, but it's been hit and miss...mostly miss. I find so few of them able to keep my attention too long, irritated by little details and generally impatient for them to get to the point. But I was never much of a reader, growing up. There was very little time for many...personal indulgences, and most of my reading was spent on dossiers and itineraries, debriefs and reports..."
So, there. At least a little bit, then, about his youth...
no subject
and also asking about other people's history gave them more leeway to ask about yours."Oh," she said softly. "How you would have loved Silverquill. And Prismari. Oh and the Tenth District and the Millennial Platform and--" This time she reached for his hands with both of hers, taking them and holding them tightly. For a minute, she couldn't speak.
Sixty years, Ignis. It had been sixty years since she could share the wonders of the Multiverse with somebody. And that had ended in horror after a party on a nameless plane. But with these working planar portals--
She opened her mouth to ask him something mad, something wild and terrifying and brave and stupid, but she remembered herself at the last moment and the words in her mouth changed. "I am going to bring you such music."
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"Even some of those names," he said, "sounds like music all on their own. I can only imagine...the wide breadth of melodies you've had the chance to experience over the years..."