@Draconian The feeling of guilt that clawed it's way up his spine was the same every time. The bread he tore into like a rabid dog caught in his throat with every mouthful. But it wasn't his fault, he would always reason with himself, it wasn't his fault nobody would give him anything to eat, not even the scraps. The guilt was normally pretty easy to squash with bitterness after that.
Clothes hanging in tatters around his thin, bony frame, Ignis shuffled through the crowds of Adelan citizens, the rag that served as a hood pulled up over his white hair, though it was more grey than ivory at the present moment. He ws covered in filth, dirt stuck to jjust about every part of bare skin, while clothes were only just holding together. The picture of a pathetic street urchin.
Smothering a sigh, Ignis turned down the short alley that would let him out near the tavern popular for its less than stellar occupants. If he was lucky, he might be able to scrouge a few coins off the drunken thugs. Head bowed and tracking the movement of his feet, he payed no heed to the world around him.
Nervously she shuffled on her feet, the metal bits of her newly issued armor clinked and clanked together. The leather squeaked it was so new. The fabric was still crisp and brightly coloured and the hoot was pulled high over her head, only her pale chin and lips out in the light. She'd never learn if she didn't experience it for herself. Simple guard duty, an older soldier standing across from her on the main road to keep an eye on her.
Luna shuffled again, frowning at the dirty boy that just walked from an alley.
Was this normal?
A brief glance to her superior and she looked from him to the boy. He paid no attention and she blinked at him for a moment, shuffling over. Her own hair, pulled up into a ponytail and trailing down her front in a thick white rope of a braid before she reached and grabbed the boys shoulder.
"Are you lost?" She asked softly, pulling the hood back ever so slightly so he could see her face but the sun couldn't hit it, "I'm a guard," she finally said, "I can help you." She could, right? Maybe not get into the habit, she'd grow poor quickly other wise but... This one. Luna squeezed his shoulder, "My name is Luna, what's yours?"
Ignis jumped when he felt a heavy hand clamp over his shoulder, bright blue hues snapping around to scan the face of his attacker. It was with no small amount of surprise that he was met with the bright armour of a soldier. Blinking owlishly at the woman, his eyes traced the thick braid that hung over her shoulder, eventually alighting on her face.
Why was she speaking to him?
Confusion clear on his face, he swallowed, wetting his dry, cracked lips as he folded his thin arms over his chest, half defensively, half because it was getting later and the night was swiftly turning chilly, "I dunno," He murmured eventually, still observing her with a look that showed he didn't know if he should be standing here talking to her, or fleeing in the opposite direction, "Ig..Ignis...I think."
He thought?
Luna looked around, frowning. Where were his parents?
He couldn't be much younger than her and obviously one of them had gotten the short stick. Licking her lips, teeth digging into her lower one, she took a glance to the other guard, one hand still on the boys shoulder. "Wait here, Ignis," she stated, letting go for a moment before she started to back away slowly, keeping her eyes on him.
A quick rush over to the other guard, a short argument, a brief moment of yelling and Luna was back in a rush, hood pushed from her head, cheeks ever-so-slightly flushed and just as pale as ever. A silly smile on her face, "Come home with me," she stated, bright eyed and bushy tailed, "I convinced him to let me go early and We'll... Get you fed and rested," A gloved hand was held out and she wiggled her fingers.
A pull to help. Luna licked her lips again, nervous, would her parents mind? Maybe. Probably. A little. They were giving though and Luna wanted to help. "Maybe help you ... Figure out what's going on?" A little bite of her lip, "Do you know how to read?"
Ignis could only frown as he watched her movements, staying solidly in place until she returned. One could practically feel the disbelief radiating from him as he tilted his head to the side, pursing his lips as he considered her offer. He didn't know why she would help him, or if he should even trust her for that matter, but at that moment in time he really didn't care. He was tired, sore, bruised and filthy, not to mention hungry. What was the worst that could happen?
After what seemed like forever, he tentatively placed his dirty, slim hand into hers, his fingers little more than flesh and bone. At her question, a slightly affronted look splashed across his face, his lower lip jutting out petulantly. "Of course I can read. M'not stupid.".
He could read.
That was a good clue.
Luna smiled and gave his hand a gentle squeeze while they walked. It would a good fifteen minute walk or so and she intended to fill it with questions. "Well, lots of people can't read. What use is reading to someone who works on a farm? They're not going to read books. They're not going to study language. They're probably not stupid, just... Uneducated." Another smile and she tipped her hood back on to keep what little sun remained from her pale blue eyes.
"So, you being able to read means that you're at least a little educated so that's good." Her hand didn't leave his except for a few moments where she pulled the gloves off and her warm hand went back to his. "You have very pale hair," she said, having peaked under his hood, "Do you remember where you're from, Ignis? What the weather was like?"
Ignis frowned as she spoke, the expression a mix of thoughtfulness and annoyance. He sighed and tipped his head in reluctant agreement to her reasoning, before looking down at his feet as he thought. His mind was still pretty fuzzy if he tried to think back further than a couple of weeks ago, though his memories since his arrival in Ketra were all pretty much a mash of hunger and sleeping in cold dirt streets, so that wasn't saying much, really. "Um, not really..." He could remember the bright blue of the sky above him when he woke up, the dagger clutched tightly in his hand-he moved a hand to his hip to check the dagger was still there- and the cries of crows off in the distance. But if he tried to look further than that-
A sharp pain spiked through his skull, crippling his vision for all of one second before it was gone again. It was enough to draw a sharp grunt from him as he stumbled over his feet, "..ow."
Startled, Luna stopped walking, looking at the boy and frowning slightly.
What was wrong?
"Ignis?" Luna said softly, moving her hand to his shoulder and giving it a squeeze, "Will you be okay? It's not much father," he said softly, smiling gently and rubbing his arm with her hands before she started to tug him along again. "Warm food, warm bath, warm bed," she said, "That's what's going to happen tonight okay?" A brief look over her shoulder, picking up the pace a little. "Then, tomorrow, we'll get you some clothes, hmm? And we'll... Figure you out."
She didn't want him in pain, and she felt... Like she needed to help him. Like if she didn't extend a gentle hand to help she'd regret it forever. An odd pull, indeed.
Ignis grunted in reply, shaking off the odd feeling that hung around his head, like the very air was pulsing. It was...weird. Not to mention annoying. But it didn't hurt any more, so he quickly started walking again, keeping pace with the taller girl.
He had to admit, warmth period sounded nice, let along warm food. A small smile lit his face at that, brightening his features enough that was almost hard to believe. He didn't quite know how he felt about her claims to "figure him out", but he wasn't going to turn away from the first hand of friendship he had been offered in what felt like forever.
The pace was a mix of leisure and wanting to get to where they were going. Her hand never left his and she finally was met with a dimly lit house, windows warm and she pressed the door open, peaking her head inside before she tugged the boy in, set him in the foyer and go to find her parents. Still a trainee, she lived at home occasionally and this week, she was allowed to be here.
Luna pulled her hood off completely, illuminated by the candle lights. Her pale complexion and white hair gave her a sort of halo of light and she smiled over her shoulder at Ignis, "Mom! Dad! I brought a guest." Her parents appeared not long after, tall, tanned, black hair, golden eyes. A brief confused look to their daughter and then to the skinny thing beside her.
"Uh," her dad gruffed out, blinking at her. Why had she brought a street rat into the house?
"Well, dinner is in an hour," her mother said smiling softly, a little hesitant, "Best get our guest upstairs and cleaned up." she shuffled her husband away and Luna was left with the boy, giving his hand a little squeeze before she motioned to the stairs, "C'mon, the guest room is up there and we'll get you a bath and some clothing - might be a little big on you - and then have dinner." Luna grinned at up and pointed to the stairs again, silently indicating that he go up them first.
Ignis looked around the warm house with wide eyes, his expression openly displayed for once. It wasn't big, but it seemed large to him after the thin streets and tight spots he'd had to press himself into. It was warm and homely, the candles giving off a soft glow. He shrunk back when the two adults appeared, taking refuge behind Luna as much as he could; she wasn't too much taller than him.
He immediately disliked the man, but he was the nice girl's father, so he said nothing, turning his gaze to the woman instead. She was nice, with a kind smile and a warm aura, he liked her. She reminded him of warm sunflowers and white, puffy clouds.
Once the two had left again, he looked towards the stairs, glancing between them and Luna before he moved over and cautiously started to ascend.
Luna watched him.
"Well, get moving," she waved her arms at him, "The help will..." Luna paused, smiling softly, "well, help you." She gave him a little shove, "Unless you want me to go up there and help you bathe," She teased, giving him a look, eyebrows up. "They're paid to help you, you're my guest and you'll be treated appropriately. I can wait in the hall for you, if that makes you more comfortable?"
Ignis paused on the bottom stair and looked back, bright blue eyes unreadable once more, before he nodded, somewhat timidly, "If..you wouldn't mind?" He murmured quietly, eyes downcast to trace patterns on the floor. He knew it was probably foolish, but he only trusted Luna. Her mother was nice, but he didn't know her, or her husband. Then again he only knew Luna slightly better, and for all he knew she could be plotting to murder him in his sleep, but something told him he could trust her, and if nothing else, his weeks on the street had taught him to trust his instincts.
Luna laughed, smiling.
"Of course, I have books I have to read and we have chairs." A tilt of her head and she smiled, "I need to change for dinner too," She pointed to a clock, "Hurry up," She waved her hands at him to usher him up the steps, "Dinner is soon and Mother and Father aren't fond of waiting." Another bright smile and she rushed up the stairs, disappearing into a room shortly while the help ushered Ignis along to the guest room. There was a warm bath, a set of clothing set out on the bed.
When Ignis found himself finished with his bath and changed, Luna would be sitting in the hall like she said she would be, holding a book very close to her face while she read and in a light blue dress. More skin exposed, her hair tied back in a simple ribbon. It was clear she didn't look Adelan win her pale as milk skin and white hair, and with her head buried in a book she didn't notice the boy unless he spoke up.
Ignis couldn't help but giggle softly as he stepped out of the guest room and saw how close to her face Luna was holding her book, a shy grin breaking across his lips. Clean and dressed in fresh clothes, he looked like a whole new person, eyes bright and chipper while his pristine white hair hang to his shoulders in damp waves. The clothes were a little to big for him, as Luna had anticipated, but we're not overly so. He had rolled up the left sleeve on the oversized tunic to reveal the tanned, clean, skin beneath, but the right sleeve still hung long, the shirt slipping slightly to that side so that the sleeve covered his hand as well.
"Do you need glasses?" He asked softly, mirth in his voice and shy smile still in place.
Did she?
Lune blinked at him owlishly.
"I've never considered it," A moments pause and she pulled the book away, the words becoming illegible and awful and fuzzy. "Neither of my parents have poor vision," mostly Luna commented that to herself, but perhaps she did. Tucking the book under her arm, she stood up, the dress covering her shoulders and she pushed her hair over her shoulder.
A bell rang and she smiled, holding out her hand again.
"You should roll up your other sleeve so you don't ruin it," She smiled and nodded to the other one, "Or roll that one down. People will ask more questions if you're lopsided." A wiggle of her fingers, "Come along, we're going to eat and then we're going to tuck you into bed and then tomorrow we'll get onto of that head of yours." Luna impulsively pushed a hand through his hair before smiling and she began to lead him to the dining room.
Ignis looked down at his sleeve at her words, frowning as he realised what he'd ended up doing when he decided against rolling the right. Letting out a soft breath of either exasperation or just simple tiredness, he rolled the other sleeve down too, engulfing his hands in the fabric that was roughly ten inches too long for his arms.
He let her lead him downstairs without a word, smiling warmly at the thought of real, warm food as they descended back downstairs. Hopefully, if he kept quiet her parents wouldn't ask him too many questions, maybe they wouldn't notice him at all? Most people didn't notice him.
Before they entered the dining room, Luna fixed Ignis's hair and knelt in front of him to fix his sleeves. "You don't have to have them rolled all the way down," She teased, taking the end and rolling them until his hands poked through, "You need your hands to hold utensils, hmm?" If he had anything strange on his hands, Luna either didn't notice or didn't comment and she pulled out a chair for Ignis before taking a seat beside him.
Like he had wished, her parents didn't notice him. Or rather, they did notice him, they just didn't address him. Except for her mother occasionally explaining to him what they had being brought to them for food and that he didn't have to eat anything he didn't want to. Luna smiled at him and answered questions about her day and her dad spoke up.
"Don't you get to meet your dragon soon?"
Luna frowned slightly, "That's the plan, Father, then if one finds me suitable I get to train to be a Rider" he nodded and she smiled, "Good. Well, you'll have to let me know how that goes." A brief look to Ignis and she smiled, "In Adela, there are Dragon Riding Knights. To be one is a great honor."
Ignis nearly jerked his hands out of her hold when she rolled his sleeves up, his eyes flickering between her face and his red hand. Confusion flickered across his face when she made no comment, but he didn't have a chance to speak before she ushered him into the dining room.
He ate in silence for the majority of the meal, only shooting her mother a few shy smiles when she addressed him. Upon hearing her father speak of dragons, though, his eyes shot up from his plate, skipping between the two with awe-filled blue hues. "You get to ride a dragon?" He whispered, his voice stolen away by the sheer thought of it.
Somewhere in the back of his head, he realised he knew of dragons, maybe not much, but enough that he probably wouldn't be laughed at. He just couldn't remember it.
Luna grinned.
"That's the plan," she nodded, finishing her meal, "There needs to be a bond though, and training." Pushing her hair over her shoulder she just smiled and placed her hands on her lap. "They're all different," she nodded before looking down at Ignis and smiling.
"All done? Feel better?" She smiled to her parents and pushed her chair away from the table, "should I tell you more tails of potential Rider business while we tuck you into bed?"
Ignis nodded, placing his utensils down and standing from the table. "Thanks for the meal." He murmured shyly in the direction of Luna parents, before quickly nodding to her offer, "That'd be cool." He grinned, eyes shining with anticipation.
A bright smile and Luna nodded to her parents before she escorted the boy away from the room, closing the door to the dining room and tilting her head. "If you're tired," She started half way up the stairs, glancing over her shoulder, "You can go right to sleep." She stopped at the top of the stairs and pulled the hairclip from her head, letting it down from it's ponytail.
Having never been fond of cutting it, Luna's hair easily reached her hips in a long pale curtain of white. Still, she smiled, looking a little hesitant "We can talk tomorrow after you've slept."
Ignis followed her back up the stairs quietly, keeping his hand tucked into the fabric of his tunic. He smiled a little when she let her long, beautiful hair flow freely, taking heart from the fact that maybe he wasn't so different from everybody after all.
"Yea," he murmured, shifting his gaze from her hair to her eyes before dropping them to the floor, seemingly suddenly bashful as a feather light blush spread over his tanned cheeks. "T..thank you f-for helping me."
Luna smiled at Ignis, reaching a hand out and placing it on his head.
"How old are you, Ignis?" she asked softly, curious. He didn't look much older than her, younger even, though that might just be his general lack of care and nourishment. Luna meandered over to the door to the guest room and opened it, the bed was turned down and there was a few candles lit. She said nothing about the blush, instead smiling and taking a step into the room, "Hmm, we'll have to find you some night clothes," And she looked to the dresser with her lips pursed.
"Um," he frowned, his embarrassment swiftly forgotten as they stepped back into the room and his eyes raked over the lovely, soft looking bed. He bit his lower lip slightly as he tried to recall the knowledge he knew he should have, searching his mind frantically to come up with the answer, "Fif..fifteen? Fifteen!" He grinned brightly, then, shyness momentarily forgotten in the light of his victory against his missing memories.
Luna perked up, smiling at him while she rifled through the drawers to find something suitable. Ah, there it was. A plain grey sleeping shirt and she wandered over to Ignis, reaching forward to his neckline for the buttons to help him out of the shirt. "Really?" She said, looking him up and down, "You look much younger, I'm only two years older than you," Another smile and she plucked at the buttons, leaving it open before she pulled the night shirt over his head, "I'm sure you can get undressed on your own, hmm? Would you like me to read while you fall asleep?" She teased softly, smiling again, eyes flicking to the hand he tried to keep hidden.
Maybe he'd explain in due time.
Maybe.
Ignis shrugged at that, not really paying much attention as he slipped out of the tunic and started pulling on the night shirt, revealing his right arm in all its glory as he spoke, "I dunno, I don't really remember a lot else. Just...flashes of stuff sometimes." He explained, almost talking to himself more than her. At her kind offer, a smiled a little, a sparkle entering bright blue eyes, "Could you tell me more about the dragons?" He chirped brightly
Luna tilted her head for a moment, looking at his arm, curious. "I could," she stated, reaching slowly for his right arm before she gently took it in her hand, kneeling in front of him now while she examined it. Perhaps looking to make sure it wasn't an infection or a wound of some kind, "What would you like to know? There's a lot, so I imagine it would be easier if you just ask me some questions, hmm?" She smiled up at him, tilting her head.
Ignis stiffened as soon as her hand touched his arm, muscles tensing all the way up his side. The arm was cool to the touch, but not so much so as to be uncomfortable. It's surface was coarse to the touch, the plates slipping together perfectly to form a smooth contour. A swath of pale scars wrapped around the shoulder just above where the red started, tales of a gruesome injury in the past. Some of the scars almost looked..fresh.
It took a little while, but eventually the albino haired teen relaxed again, seeming to trust her a lot more than most. Frowning in thought for a little while, he stayed patiently still while she examined his arm, "Uh, well, how do you know which dragon is yours?"
A curious look to the scar on his shoulder, her fingers trailed along his arm and she tilted her head, pursing her lips. It wasn't easily identified, maybe if she brought him to a doctor? Luna licked her lips before she took both his hands, smiled up at him and swung their hands together while she thought of his questions.
"I don't know yet," She smiled, "But I'm told it sort of just... Clicks. Like a best friend. And then you get to go through the grueling training of becoming of Rider." Luna laughed before she stood up again, ruffling Ignis's hair and gently pushing him towards his bed. "I wouldn't be home. Have to stay in the barracks," Luna rubbed her arm and remembered the night dress before she opened that and pulled it over his head to cover up his torso, "Breakfast is ... Well, the maids will wake you up if you ever sleep," She stated.
"Anything else, Ignis? More questions?" She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him her best 'mom' look, "I will only answer them once you climb into bed."
Ignis grinned slightly at that, practically bouncing over to the bed and sitting down on it with what could only be described as an awe-struck expression. Laying back on it gingerly, he tensed up for a minute before melting into the soft cushions, a sigh of complete relaxation leaving his lips before bright eyes snapped open again, "Is it true dragons can talk? How long does your training take? When do you get to fly?"
Ha!
Score for Luna.
Tucking Ignis in, Luna sat in the chair beside the beside table, hands on her lap and she looked thoughtful for a moment before she got up and spoke, extinguishing all the candles in the room as she went - the fire in the hearth remained happily burning. "Some can," She nodded, blowing out one last candle before returning to the chair and sitting down, "Training takes at least a decade, you can't be a full Mounted Knight until you're... Decent at everything. I'm a trained guard now, if I don't get chosen by a dragon then I'll just be a palace guard, then maybe a knight."
She looked thoughtful for a moment - imagining herself in the sleek black Adelan armor and she smiled again "When the dragon can fly. I imagine there are a few that don't even fly," She shrugged, "I don't know the whole thing but.." She smiled and yawned, tired, "You should sleep. You've had a long day and I am also tired."
Ignis listened intently as she answered the torrent of questions, his eyes tracing her around the room before settling when she sat down. He grinned slightly when she yawned, unable to stop his own mirroring of the action. "Okay," he murmured softly, already feeling the first sharp tugs of sleep on his weary mind, the warm, soft bed beneath him drawing him further into the realm of sleep, "Thanks for..everythin'." And just like that, he was out like the candles Luna had so recently extinguished.
Luna smiled briefly, looking down at sleeping Ignis. Impulsively she reached a hand over his forehead and pushed his pale hair back. "Sweet dreams," she whispered before leaving. Paasively she wondered what had happened to put him in such a state.
The arm. The being an street urchin.
Actively she slightly worried he woud rob them blind.
Still, going to her room she changed into her sleeping wear and went to sleep peacefully. Though she tried her best to sleep light, just incase nightmares plagued the boy.
Mercifully, the night passed peacefully, nary a sound coming from the guest room throughout the twilight hours. The next morning saw Ignis up far earlier than one would have expected, dressed in the oversized clothes he had been given the day before and sitting on the edge of the bed, hands folded in his lap and a worried frown in place.
What if he wasn't supposed to still be here? Luna had said she wanted to help "figure him out", so that meant it was okay for him to stay, right? He had to make sure he was as polite as possible to her parents; she might be kind and accepting of him, but maybe they weren't. He had to be careful if he wanted to stay in this nice place.
Luna rolled over to the feeling of sunlight on her face and slowly she opened her eyes.
Morning.
That was good. Slowly she stood up, still in her nightgown and she stretched widely before remembering her guest. Right! Ignis!
Slowly, quietly, barefooted and carefully she made her way down the hall. Which wasn't far. Just a door. The only occupants of the upstairs except for the library, Luna knocked on the door softly before opening it up and poking her head into the room. There he was, dressed and she smiled at his sleeves.
"We'll have to tailor these," She stated in a soft voice, hair still messy and her face puffy from sleep. Again, she was on her knees before Ignis, taking his sleeves and rolling them up over his hands, "Do you feel better today? Rested, fed and clean?"
Ignis jerked from his thoughts when the door slid open, bright eyes snapping up as he tensed, ready to flee, before recognising the smiling face of his new...friend? He offered a small smile in return to her own, sitting quietly as she rolled up his sleeves and commented about getting them tailored to him. He wasn't so sure about that, most people he had met were either scared or disgusted by his right arm, which only led to unpleasantness for him, but he didn't say anything.
In reply to her question, he smiled, nodding slowly in confirmation, not yet trusting his tongue. Last night he had been exhausted, starving, driven by a need for warmth and comfort. This morning he felt he could see the world through wide open eyes for the first time in forever, and somehow he knew the familiar sensation of treading on eggshells.
A sigh and Luna looked up at her newest little companion.
"You seem self conscious of your arm," She stated blunty, "I'm sure you've noticed my colouring - It's not exactly common in Adela." Adela being the country of the tall, dark skinned dark haired beings. Golden eyes. It was a fairly common sight here. Even Luna's parents looked Adela. Luna however, did not. Pale as snow just about everywhere. Her hair, her skin, her eyes had the faintest shade of blue.
"Does it hurt you?" She asked, taking his hand in hers, "Does it make you feel bad?"
He blinked at her words, surprise flickering across his face. It was almost as though she had known what he was thinking, or, close anyway. It wasn't so much that he disliked the arm, it was simply an appendage to him, though one he had yet to learn the meaning of, but that it only drew unwanted attention to him. As such, he shook his head in reply, shifting is shoulders in a half shrug.
"People aren't exactly that fond of a kid walking around with a weird red arm." He replied bluntly, not afraid to confront the facts head on, "So it's better if they just don't see it."
Luna laughed and gave Ignis a look.
"So your sleeves are like my hood," She said simply, tilting her head and smiling, "I don't enjoy being stared at and in this country..." She motioned to herself, pulling her braid over her shoulder. "You gotta learn to live with it though, I guess," Luna smiled and gave Ignis's shoulder a squeeze, "mostly the hood is because the sun hurts my eyes now."
Ignis smiled a little at that, giving her hair an appraising look before the words tumbled from his lips, "I think your hair's pretty." He swallowed that for a moment, frowning as he began to realize what his traitorous tongue had done to him, before a crimson hue spread over his cheeks and he dropped his gaze to the floor.
"Thanks," Luna laughed, "I do too. But it took a long time for me to think that." She nodded to the floor, trying to motion to her parents, "I don't look them them, and I don't look Adelan. I'm different. My eye's are cold and my skin isn't brown." Luna took his strange red arm and ran her thumb over the back of it, "Sometimes, you need to ignore what other people thing. You're different, sure, but you don't need to be ashamed of it. People will either see past it or they won't care." Luna stood up then and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"I have to go get dressed, I didn't think you'd be awake and dressed so early. You can go down stairs for breakfast and then we can take a walk? Maybe try to find somewhere familiar, hmm?" Luna ruffled his hair before she turned to leave to get ready for the day.
Ignis frowned thoughtfully at her words, looking down at the arm with a new perspective, "I guess you're right..." He murmured after a few moments, a small smile pulling at his lips as he lifted his gaze to her. He smiled somewhat sheepishly at her saying she didn't expect him to be up just yet, refraining from telling her that he had been worried about whether or not he was still welcome here.
He simply nodded to her suggestion of trying to find somewhere familiar, uttering a soft, "Okay," as he tried to summon the courage to head downstairs alone. It wasn't that he was frightened of the help, or Luna's parents, more that he wasn't really sure how he was supposed to act around them, and he really didn't want to be making a fool of himself in front of the first people who had been kind to him.
Luna smiled.
"Of course I'm right," she said before departing the room, returning to her own to get ready. Pulling plain brown pants on, tying her hair back into a simple ponytail. Luna looked ready for the day in simple clothing and she shuffled her way down the stairs.
Lunas parents kept cool around Ignis. They didnt say much but they had hoped they'd given off a welcoming aura. Luna took a seat and eagerly ate her breakfast. A simple boiled egg and a piece of flame roasted bread. Finishing quickly she smiled at her guest.
"When you're ready we can go out. You can lead the way. Maybe find somewhete familiar, hmm?" She said cheerfully, smiling.
Ignis nodded, finishing off the last of his own small breakfast and standing from his chair. Offering her parents a quick thank you, he quickly retreated to the door, waiting patiently for Luna to join him. He didn't know why, but something had him feeling fidgety this morning, like there was something waiting for him to find it, or something. Shaking his head, he offered Luna a short smile before heading for the main door, playing with the rolled cuffs on his shirt absently.
Luna followed quickly enough, grabbing a coat of sorts with a large hood. After pulling that on and carefully draping the hood over her head, she fixed her own cuffs, fluffed Ignis's hair and pressed a hand to his back before she opened the door and stepped outside.
"Well," She turned to him, taking a few careful steps from the house, "This is day one of your new life," A tender smile on her pale lips and she reached out a hand so that they could walk together. A part of her hoped that her overly friendliness wouldn't put him off. Wouldn't sour him to contact. Luna herself figured that she'd be craving human contact and she gave her fingers an impatient wiggle.
"If you can't find somewhere," She stared, voice quiet, "Do you want to stay with us? Have a home?" Luna knew her parents were thinking that. It had been the dead of night when she'd snuck downstairs, careful of the creaky floorboards to her parents room. Woke them up. They had a talk. Of course they were weary of having a strange child in the house but... They trusted Luna's instincts.
"Maybe they can even adopt you, I could be your big sister!" She grinned, sticking her tongue out and again, an impatient wiggle of her fingers.
Ignis thought about that for a bit, frowning as he traced it down its many branches of thought. It sounded nice and all, in theory. He had seen a lot while living on the streets, how normal families lived, how nice it seemed. He knew he had had that, once, an instinctive feeling in his gut telling him he had known that happiness. He just couldn't remember it. Couldn't remember more than his own name.
He sighed, reaching to grab Luna's hand when she wiggled her fingers at him yet again. Offering her a small smile, he replied quietly, "I'll think about it." The answer was surprisingly mature, almost sounding tired. Not physical weariness, but a deep exhaustion that went beyond the body. In that moment, he looked years older than his age, a worldly weight settling over his eyes, before he blinked and it was gone.
He brightened after a few moments, casting his gaze up to meet Luna's own eyes, so similar to his own, and smiling in a more chipper way, "Can we go outside the city?"
The little 'I'll think about it' caught her off guard so all Luna could do was smile and look a little surprised. Still, she blinked at him and nodded. Still, she held her hand out for him to hold. "I'd feel more comfortable if you held me hand," She said honestly, smiling still, "We can go outside the city, it'll take a while though." She looked around and pursed her lips, they hadn't a stable. It'd be a long walk.
"Might take all day even to go there and come back," Luna smiled and started to walk, making sure her hood was on to keep her safe from the sun. While not allergic to it, it still hurt and made her skin burn easily. "Ready for a full day?" She patted a pocket with some money in it, "We can pick up something to eat for dinner on the way out."
Ignis just nodded, preoccupied with looking around the city. It was amazing, how different everything looked when his mind wasn't clouded by crippling hunger and fear. Strange as it was, Luna made him feel safe, like nothing could touch him. His slim hand slipped into her slightly larger one, thin fingers wrapping right around her own as he hummed slightly in response to her note about buying food.
Already, the sun was rising high, the last of the night's fog banished by the heated rays. Ignis winced slightly as he glanced up and recieved a face full of sunshine; momentarily blinded. Rubbing his eyes with his free hand, he smiled slightly despite the brief sun-blind-ness. There was a certain sense of freedom nipping at his heels this morn. He enjoyed it fully.