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. ]
[Yyyyup. Like school and a job are mutually exclusive. He's almost definitely still on Daddy Caelum's dime.]
Huh. Okay. I went there too.
[Noctis is only... what, two or three years younger than him? And he's probably never had a job in his life.
Ruminating on this is sort of starting to piss Gladio off, so he just moves on.]
Computer science, though, that's... decent. Not surprising. You planning to run back home once you graduate? I sorta... stayed here. Got a job and an apartment.
[It seemed like the thing to do. He worries about his sister sometimes, since she's still high school age now, but honestly she can take care of herself at this point.]
The plan's for me to take the company over when my old man retires.
[ Said in a rather blase fashion, because it's not an attractive idea to him at all. Not that he's bad at the job. He knows the back end of things rather well, he's done some programming work for his father while he's been here, Gladio, so he totally has a job! Sort of.
The soreness on his back goes away at least. ]
What're you doing for a living out here? Can't say I've seen you at all.
[Oh, hey, Noctis is actually acting engaged in the conversation. Maybe he's not an antisocial asshole after all.]
Guess you can't help what you're born into.
[Gladio's just glad he dodged that bullet. Tech stuff isn't his thing at all. He barely remembers the password he uses for every account he has in the history of his life.
As for his job...]
Uh. I work at a ramen place. In Tisse.
[He rubs the back of his head. It's not exactly a point of pride.]
[ Not an antisocial asshole. Purely antisocial. Get it right.
But, yes, Noctis continues to make a strong effort. Much as he's not a fan of this guy, it's not like Gladio is wrong. they were kids, he was a shitty teenager, and he was a shitty preteen. It wasn't the most glorious of times for them.
Eventually, Noctis is comfortable enough to lean back against the bench they sit on. ]
The ramen place in Tisse? I order out from there almost every night.
[ Eh, this isn't as bad of a conversation as it could be. Noctis relaxes a bit as he leans against the seat, sighing and looking up casually away from Gladio. ]
[ Gah! There it is again. Gladio shoves him and even when he's gentle, it forces Noctis to budge a bit. He makes a face at that, still uncomfortable to a point. ]
He doesn't let me do whatever I want. It's not like I get free handouts.
[Still his dad's money, but also not. Hey, Gladio can actually respect that. But on the other hand...]
You mentioned taking over -- don't just resign yourself to it. It's obvious when you talk about it. Like it's a dreaded obligation. If you're going to do your duty, then do it. If you run off to do your own thing, then he can promote from within. But don't just half ass your career.
[Easy to say when you're a line cook at a ramen shop making barely over minimum wage rather than going into any of the careers your dad wanted you to be interested in. But Gladio hates seeing anyone force themself to do shit they clearly don't want to do. Especially people that are getting the cushy job of CEO handed to them.
It's easy to get sloppy when you're uninterested in what you're doing. Making bowls or takoyaki or whatever? It's fun. It feels good to create something and know someone's enjoying it, even if it's just one dinner at a low cost restaurant. It's fulfilling, and that's why Gladio doesn't get sloppy, even if he thinks he's got to find something else to spend the rest of his life doing.]
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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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[ That hurt! Noctis is most definitely forced forward a bit by the hit to his back. He's small and fragile, Gladio.
But he swallows his pride and continues, following Gladio and taking a seat. He rubs idly at his back as far as he can reach. ]
School. I'm going to Recolle U for computer science and law full time.
[ Which means daddy dearest is paying for everything. ]
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Huh. Okay. I went there too.
[Noctis is only... what, two or three years younger than him? And he's probably never had a job in his life.
Ruminating on this is sort of starting to piss Gladio off, so he just moves on.]
Computer science, though, that's... decent. Not surprising. You planning to run back home once you graduate? I sorta... stayed here. Got a job and an apartment.
[It seemed like the thing to do. He worries about his sister sometimes, since she's still high school age now, but honestly she can take care of herself at this point.]
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The plan's for me to take the company over when my old man retires.
[ Said in a rather blase fashion, because it's not an attractive idea to him at all. Not that he's bad at the job. He knows the back end of things rather well, he's done some programming work for his father while he's been here, Gladio, so he totally has a job! Sort of.
The soreness on his back goes away at least. ]
What're you doing for a living out here? Can't say I've seen you at all.
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Guess you can't help what you're born into.
[Gladio's just glad he dodged that bullet. Tech stuff isn't his thing at all. He barely remembers the password he uses for every account he has in the history of his life.
As for his job...]
Uh. I work at a ramen place. In Tisse.
[He rubs the back of his head. It's not exactly a point of pride.]
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But, yes, Noctis continues to make a strong effort. Much as he's not a fan of this guy, it's not like Gladio is wrong. they were kids, he was a shitty teenager, and he was a shitty preteen. It wasn't the most glorious of times for them.
Eventually, Noctis is comfortable enough to lean back against the bench they sit on. ]
The ramen place in Tisse? I order out from there almost every night.
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Bad plan. I spit in every third dish.
[A beat.]
Joking. My bowls are perfect. You're welcome.
[While his job isn't a point of pride, he also sort of takes pride in it in a weird way. It's weird. Working in food service is weird.]
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[ Eh, this isn't as bad of a conversation as it could be. Noctis relaxes a bit as he leans against the seat, sighing and looking up casually away from Gladio. ]
Good to know I should stop tipping.
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Don't even joke about that. That tip money's a lifeline to the floor staff. Us back end people? We don't see that money. So don't worry about that.
[He stretches and leans back against his arms in his seat.]
And I know you've got the money to spare. Your old man always let you do whatever you wanted.
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He doesn't let me do whatever I want. It's not like I get free handouts.
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['Cause Gladio would be happy to be proven wrong.]
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I’m doing work for the company off and on while I get my degree. So I can eventually take over when my old man retires.
[ Which he clearly sounds uncomfortable saying. ]
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[Still his dad's money, but also not. Hey, Gladio can actually respect that. But on the other hand...]
You mentioned taking over -- don't just resign yourself to it. It's obvious when you talk about it. Like it's a dreaded obligation. If you're going to do your duty, then do it. If you run off to do your own thing, then he can promote from within. But don't just half ass your career.
[Easy to say when you're a line cook at a ramen shop making barely over minimum wage rather than going into any of the careers your dad wanted you to be interested in. But Gladio hates seeing anyone force themself to do shit they clearly don't want to do. Especially people that are getting the cushy job of CEO handed to them.
It's easy to get sloppy when you're uninterested in what you're doing. Making bowls or takoyaki or whatever? It's fun. It feels good to create something and know someone's enjoying it, even if it's just one dinner at a low cost restaurant. It's fulfilling, and that's why Gladio doesn't get sloppy, even if he thinks he's got to find something else to spend the rest of his life doing.]