Between realizing halfway through eating his breakfast burrito that he could really only taste the tortilla and then discovering some weird program that can't be deleted on his phone -- and that's with the Wall software on his device -- he just kind of needs things to be normal for once, thanks. Which is why he's still going to the gym. He's going to punch his cares away. Like any decent human being.
On his way through the gym though, he passes the treadmills and catches sight of someone. A really, really scrawny someone who looks like he could really use the workout. He looks weirdly familiar, is the thing. And, well, going to the gym is as much a social outing as anything, so Gladio thinks nothing of striking up conversation, in a completely normal way.]
You know there are settings other than "grandma's afternoon stroll", right?
[Seriously, is the guy jogging or shambling?
Gladio is lowkey checking the guy out, not because he's checking the guy out, but he's seriously trying to place him. His hands are in his hoodie pockets as he looks the guy over. Gladio, meanwhile, definitely looks way more filled out than he did as a teen. He was never small, exactly, but he didn't start caring about keeping in shape until the tail end of when he knew Noctis.
Though the judgmental tone would definitely be familiar, considering how much he picked on the kid. So he may or may not be jogging some memories himself.]
[ Honestly, he’s trying. But getting out of bed to do this is way more trouble than he’s willing to stomach. The doctors have all been bothering Noctis to get in shape for years, especially due to his condition. Whatever it is...
But it’s Prompto who’s actually convinced him to give this a shot. Normally, he goes with his partner, but Prompto has some huge photography critique for school before the winter break kicked in, and he figured he could somehow surprise the guy by coming home smelling like the gym. Or something. Either way, he’s been debating just going home because he can’t stand watching his scrawny ass awkwardly fumble on a treadmill in the mirror.
It’s not that he’s out of shape— he’s gotten better over the last few months. Could probably keep up for a good while with Prompto, but his motivation is pretty low when he’s by himself. Ah, but it’s all for Prompto, right? If he’s healthier, he’ll worry less.
Except he hears someone talking to him, in a mocking fashion even, and Noctis furrows his brow as he turns his head to glance at the obnoxiously fit dude commentating on his speed choice. Noctis keeps his jog going, mouth pursing just a moment before he outright wrinkles his nose in a scoff and goes back to looking forward.
He doesn’t recognize Gladio at all. ]
I know the roid-rage body builder corner’s back there, too—
[ He jabs a thumb behind him to point towards the weights. Noctis pants through his words as he continues. ]
[Gladio can't help but grin in disbelief when the kid actually starts mouthing off at him. Guess he's sensitive about it, whoops. He laughs because the insult doesn't bother him at all, and he also doesn't move to sulk off to the weights. Or the punching bags, which is where he was really going.]
Wow, you really didn't like that, huh?
[Gladio doesn't double down 'cause he's honestly got bigger problems right now, and figuring out who this scrawny guy is is definitely the least of his worries. But it's really bugging him, and he looks the kid over again, when finally--
He snaps his fingers.]
No way. I knew I recognized you from somewhere. You're Noctis!
[ The first time he decides to go to the gym by himself, and Noctis is absolutely regretting it. He's not exactly a fan of talking to anyone outside of his small group of friends, much less strangers. Noctis clicks his tongue as he shuts off the treadmill and takes a step down. ]
Come on.
[ He's saying that to himself, mostly. Because of course he's uncomfortable here. Usually Prompto is with him. Talking to someone he isn't familiar with is difficult because nine times out of ten, he makes a fool of himself.
Just as he's about to step off and ditch this jock, he hears that snap. Noctis halts. ]
Wh--
[ He's not normally recognized for who he's related to in Recolle. The Caelum family is talked about more across Europe; not like they aren't unknown here, but it's just not a big deal. So, naturally, he's confused.
Until he stops and gets a good look at the guy. ]
Gladiolus?
[ The full name. No shortened version. Because the voice is definitely familiar and he's instantly made to remember the tall, rough-looking teenager fathered by his father's colleague and closest friend.
And yeah. Dude seemed like a total jerk and picked on him plenty. So Noctis is instantly turned off.
Why is it that his short-term memory from here had to go in the coma? He would have been fine to forget his smothering, awkward childhood. ]
[ Way bigger. It's kind of intimidating in a super obnoxious way. But he's not going to say that, because you don't need a bigger head than you already have!!!!!
Noctis takes a heavy inhale to calm himself down, crossing his arms as he looks away. Only because, yeah, he remembers his sister being a sweet kid. ]
it likes hot dogs so you need it to slow down? that's a leap so is this some kind of test then cause i'm not interested you could just talk to me, you know, like a person
when i said you run like a granny? i was just teasing, noctis, it's not that big a deal if it makes you feel any better you run better than my grandma and i'm glad you're going to the gym it's good for you
well my form isn't great to be honest it could do with some improving and right? my bestest friend ever tells me the same! i should totally listen to him more call me noct let's not be formal
[Being six feet tall tends to have very many advantages. Shelves for example, are never an enemy. Unfortunately during this, one of the rarest moments of his life, Ignis has found himself facing a formidable foe.
Library shelves.
They've never been this tall, have they? Or at least he's never faced one so darn pesky before. For a city he's never heard of, their public library is very well-stocked. He's perused a few sections already and happens to hold at least four other books in the crook of his arm, a novel to bring back to the apartment to read on his free time, a text on pathophysiology, a text on pharmacology for nursing care, and a book on home cooking. There's one more thing he'd like to add to his assortment before he checks them all out.
Now, if only he could reach the darn thing. Ignis takes a step back to set his little pile of books down on the ground, searching around for rolling ladder or a step stool, something to make this a little easier on him, but nothing is in sight. Is it just misplaced, or was it a careless mistake? Regardless, he's really not interested in asking for help. He's not small. ...okay, a bit on the scrawny side, but that's not the point.
With a heavy sigh and an adjustment of his glasses as he glances upward at the top most shelf, just within reach of his fingers, Ignis decides he'll just have to go about this his own way.
And so hopefully no one passes by when he steps forward and reaches up, balancing on his tiptoes to get enough height to latch his knee onto the edge of one of the shelves. It should be just enough to let him get those extra few inches he needs to snag the book he wants and be on his way.]
[There are a few extra perks to being six feet tall, but even more when you're six-foot-six.
Gladio reaches over the shoulder of the guy climbing the library shelves, just to be a dick, and snatches the book he's reaching for and holds it above his head.]
You know they make ladders for that.
[He tucks the book he was reading before he was distracted under his arm and flips the other guy's book open.]
I'm pretty sure you can get in trouble for climbing the shelves like a spider monkey. But what's got you so desperate?
[If the stranger attempts to take the book back from him, he's pulling it out of reach. He just wants to see what the book is about.]
[Okay, so maybe he slightly deserves this. It's not exactly becoming of an adult to climb shelves like this. But what he doesn't deserve is to have the book dangled over his head like he's a child. He carefully rights himself, feet back on the ground.]
I've been waitlisted for the past three weeks and didn't receive a single email about its return. [He'd say something about how he's not letting the book get snatched up from under his nose, but unfortunately that's already happened. So he can't help but glower up at this towering menace who isn't helping his irritation one bit.
However, unlike this moron, he has manners. Ignis extends an open palm.] So may I have my book, please?
[The Ultimate Pet Health Guide: Breakthrough Nutrition and Integrative Care for Dogs and Cats]
[Ah wow... The accent... That sure takes Gladio back. For someone who was just halfway up a shelf in public, this guy's really polite. In the English way, anyway.
So Gladio shrugs and hands over the book, but not without comment.]
Planning on adopting a... [He squints briefly at the other man's whole, you know, self.] ...cat? I guess it'll be pretty pampered if you're waitlisting guide books about it.
[Honestly, Gladio doesn't know shit about pets. His sister constantly tried to bring stray cats home, but she was the one taking care of those on the few occasions she actually got to keep them. His minimal input was feeding them table scraps while she wasn't looking.]
[Ignis "Excessively Polite and Very English" Scientia, at your service.]
[Thank goodness this doesn't have to turn into a scene once he finally gets that book back. And not only that, he has to at least give this person points for assuming he'd be a cat-owning sort. Dogs are not his favorite. At all. (Noct's dogs don't help with this)]
I don't have any pets of my own and haven't made plans to take one in. However I. Have a flatmate.
[There is a noticeable pause there, because Ignis almost thought to refer to Noctis as a friend before he realized he. Doesn't really fit that description.
And then he remembers. Right. You don't call them flatmates in the states.]
Roommate. He has two cats and two dogs, so I thought it would be a good idea to educate myself on how to help with caring for them. I've never had pets before.
[Gladio doesn't bother letting this guy know he's definitely familiar with the English terms. Gladio considers himself lucky he doesn't have a noticeable accent, but that also leads to people assuming he's a born and raised American.
Which... isn't the worst assumption, just a wrong one.]
That's a lotta animals. Pretty nice of you to go out of your way to help out with his pets.
[Gladio would just ignore them. They're the roommate's problem.
[He sort of has to. Not that Ignis will mention so. It's sort of a rude, blunt statement to make. Even if it's very much true. So he just decides to say nothing about the comment and move on.
Surprisingly enough, he didn't expect an actual handshake out of this or an introduction. Apparently the man has manners after all. Ignis waits a moment before extending his own hand (he almost expects Gladio to yank away) to take the other's.]
Ignis. I'm no longer a student, these are just for personal reference to assist with my job. I'm a caregiver, recently moved here.
[Very smoothly, with little inflection:] The accent sort of gives it away.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Between realizing halfway through eating his breakfast burrito that he could really only taste the tortilla and then discovering some weird program that can't be deleted on his phone -- and that's with the Wall software on his device -- he just kind of needs things to be normal for once, thanks. Which is why he's still going to the gym. He's going to punch his cares away. Like any decent human being.
On his way through the gym though, he passes the treadmills and catches sight of someone. A really, really scrawny someone who looks like he could really use the workout. He looks weirdly familiar, is the thing. And, well, going to the gym is as much a social outing as anything, so Gladio thinks nothing of striking up conversation, in a completely normal way.]
You know there are settings other than "grandma's afternoon stroll", right?
[Seriously, is the guy jogging or shambling?
Gladio is lowkey checking the guy out, not because he's checking the guy out, but he's seriously trying to place him. His hands are in his hoodie pockets as he looks the guy over. Gladio, meanwhile, definitely looks way more filled out than he did as a teen. He was never small, exactly, but he didn't start caring about keeping in shape until the tail end of when he knew Noctis.
Though the judgmental tone would definitely be familiar, considering how much he picked on the kid. So he may or may not be jogging some memories himself.]
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But it’s Prompto who’s actually convinced him to give this a shot. Normally, he goes with his partner, but Prompto has some huge photography critique for school before the winter break kicked in, and he figured he could somehow surprise the guy by coming home smelling like the gym. Or something. Either way, he’s been debating just going home because he can’t stand watching his scrawny ass awkwardly fumble on a treadmill in the mirror.
It’s not that he’s out of shape— he’s gotten better over the last few months. Could probably keep up for a good while with Prompto, but his motivation is pretty low when he’s by himself. Ah, but it’s all for Prompto, right? If he’s healthier, he’ll worry less.
Except he hears someone talking to him, in a mocking fashion even, and Noctis furrows his brow as he turns his head to glance at the obnoxiously fit dude commentating on his speed choice. Noctis keeps his jog going, mouth pursing just a moment before he outright wrinkles his nose in a scoff and goes back to looking forward.
He doesn’t recognize Gladio at all. ]
I know the roid-rage body builder corner’s back there, too—
[ He jabs a thumb behind him to point towards the weights. Noctis pants through his words as he continues. ]
— But I stay in my lane. Buzz off.
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Wow, you really didn't like that, huh?
[Gladio doesn't double down 'cause he's honestly got bigger problems right now, and figuring out who this scrawny guy is is definitely the least of his worries. But it's really bugging him, and he looks the kid over again, when finally--
He snaps his fingers.]
No way. I knew I recognized you from somewhere. You're Noctis!
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Come on.
[ He's saying that to himself, mostly. Because of course he's uncomfortable here. Usually Prompto is with him. Talking to someone he isn't familiar with is difficult because nine times out of ten, he makes a fool of himself.
Just as he's about to step off and ditch this jock, he hears that snap. Noctis halts. ]
Wh--
[ He's not normally recognized for who he's related to in Recolle. The Caelum family is talked about more across Europe; not like they aren't unknown here, but it's just not a big deal. So, naturally, he's confused.
Until he stops and gets a good look at the guy. ]
Gladiolus?
[ The full name. No shortened version. Because the voice is definitely familiar and he's instantly made to remember the tall, rough-looking teenager fathered by his father's colleague and closest friend.
And yeah. Dude seemed like a total jerk and picked on him plenty. So Noctis is instantly turned off.
Why is it that his short-term memory from here had to go in the coma? He would have been fine to forget his smothering, awkward childhood. ]
I'm outta here.
[ GONNA WALK OFF NOW. ]
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Just Gladio, okay, wait, hang on--
[He moves into Noctis' way and cuts him off.]
You can't just wander off. Do you run away every time someone tries to talk to you?
[I mean, probably. Look at him.]
We should catch up. It's been, what, how many years? I can't believe you're in Recollé too.
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What makes you think I'd want to catch up with you? You're a jerk.
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[See how different Gladio is? He's bigger now.]
Besides, my sister liked you and I never got to see what all the hype was about. We're off to a great start already.
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Noctis takes a heavy inhale to calm himself down, crossing his arms as he looks away. Only because, yeah, he remembers his sister being a sweet kid. ]
Fine. Let's "catch up", Gladio.
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[Gladio claps Noctis on the shoulder and leads him over to a nearby bench.]
What brings you to the city, then? Pretty far from the UK. You got a job?
[Yep. This is happening. Gladio is making small talk.]
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we shouldn't limit hedgehogs' potential
did you change your mind about giving me the silent treatment noct?
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[what]
[is this]
even if the hedgehogs a real jerk that likes hot dogs?
i guess i'm willing to give you a chance
ruin it and i'll hack all your bases though
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that's a leap
so is this some kind of test then
cause i'm not interested
you could just talk to me, you know, like a person
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or something or another
anyway this was a bad metaphor and it escaped my gloved hands
iii mean it's not /not/ a test? but listen
what you said/did to me before really hurt my feelings so you gotta understand where i stand
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i was just teasing, noctis, it's not that big a deal
if it makes you feel any better you run better than my grandma and i'm glad you're going to the gym
it's good for you
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well my form isn't great to be honest it could do with some improving
and right? my bestest friend ever tells me the same! i should totally listen to him more
call me noct let's not be formal
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oh yeah?
who's this bestest friend?
you've never mentioned him before
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well it's not you obviously
i'm not allowed to make friends now or something?
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Library shelves.
They've never been this tall, have they? Or at least he's never faced one so darn pesky before. For a city he's never heard of, their public library is very well-stocked. He's perused a few sections already and happens to hold at least four other books in the crook of his arm, a novel to bring back to the apartment to read on his free time, a text on pathophysiology, a text on pharmacology for nursing care, and a book on home cooking. There's one more thing he'd like to add to his assortment before he checks them all out.
Now, if only he could reach the darn thing. Ignis takes a step back to set his little pile of books down on the ground, searching around for rolling ladder or a step stool, something to make this a little easier on him, but nothing is in sight. Is it just misplaced, or was it a careless mistake? Regardless, he's really not interested in asking for help. He's not small. ...okay, a bit on the scrawny side, but that's not the point.
With a heavy sigh and an adjustment of his glasses as he glances upward at the top most shelf, just within reach of his fingers, Ignis decides he'll just have to go about this his own way.
And so hopefully no one passes by when he steps forward and reaches up, balancing on his tiptoes to get enough height to latch his knee onto the edge of one of the shelves. It should be just enough to let him get those extra few inches he needs to snag the book he wants and be on his way.]
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Gladio reaches over the shoulder of the guy climbing the library shelves, just to be a dick, and snatches the book he's reaching for and holds it above his head.]
You know they make ladders for that.
[He tucks the book he was reading before he was distracted under his arm and flips the other guy's book open.]
I'm pretty sure you can get in trouble for climbing the shelves like a spider monkey. But what's got you so desperate?
[If the stranger attempts to take the book back from him, he's pulling it out of reach. He just wants to see what the book is about.]
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I've been waitlisted for the past three weeks and didn't receive a single email about its return. [He'd say something about how he's not letting the book get snatched up from under his nose, but unfortunately that's already happened. So he can't help but glower up at this towering menace who isn't helping his irritation one bit.
However, unlike this moron, he has manners. Ignis extends an open palm.] So may I have my book, please?
[The Ultimate Pet Health Guide: Breakthrough Nutrition and Integrative Care for Dogs and Cats]
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So Gladio shrugs and hands over the book, but not without comment.]
Planning on adopting a... [He squints briefly at the other man's whole, you know, self.] ...cat? I guess it'll be pretty pampered if you're waitlisting guide books about it.
[Honestly, Gladio doesn't know shit about pets. His sister constantly tried to bring stray cats home, but she was the one taking care of those on the few occasions she actually got to keep them. His minimal input was feeding them table scraps while she wasn't looking.]
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[Thank goodness this doesn't have to turn into a scene once he finally gets that book back. And not only that, he has to at least give this person points for assuming he'd be a cat-owning sort. Dogs are not his favorite. At all. (Noct's dogs don't help with this)]
I don't have any pets of my own and haven't made plans to take one in. However I. Have a flatmate.
[There is a noticeable pause there, because Ignis almost thought to refer to Noctis as a friend before he realized he. Doesn't really fit that description.
And then he remembers. Right. You don't call them flatmates in the states.]
Roommate. He has two cats and two dogs, so I thought it would be a good idea to educate myself on how to help with caring for them. I've never had pets before.
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Which... isn't the worst assumption, just a wrong one.]
That's a lotta animals. Pretty nice of you to go out of your way to help out with his pets.
[Gladio would just ignore them. They're the roommate's problem.
Gladio offers a hand to shake.]
Name's Gladio. You a nursing student?
[He nods to the other books the guy has.]
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Surprisingly enough, he didn't expect an actual handshake out of this or an introduction. Apparently the man has manners after all. Ignis waits a moment before extending his own hand (he almost expects Gladio to yank away) to take the other's.]
Ignis. I'm no longer a student, these are just for personal reference to assist with my job. I'm a caregiver, recently moved here.
[Very smoothly, with little inflection:] The accent sort of gives it away.