lifenet | 12/4 - Evening

[A lot of you will recognize Gladio's voice, it's hard to miss and he's certainly loud enough at the parties. And as the first day of chaos begins to wind down with no sign of stopping things become much more dire, in Gladio's opinion. A certain Shield doesn't trust the Night. Surprise surprise.]

GUYS we're not going to be able to keep this up through the night, scattered like this. We need a place to regroup! If you're on the main island, Denny's the most defensible. If not... The light house on the farming island. If you can't defend yourself or just need a break, get there. Noct? You better have your ass in that building by sun down or so help me-

We need to stop these things from attacking the flocks. We just got all this shit from Harv we can't afford to let it all get eaten or washed out to sea now. Strength in numbers, right?

[It felt so familiar, like giving orders to the Glaives when he'd been helping Cor and Libertus over the years. Clear decisive action so those that are less experienced and scared have someone to look to. There's a moment where he abruptly wonders if this is why they made him king in the end. But this isn't Lucis, this isn't Insomnia. This place is far wilder than that-]

For Hearth... and Home!

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[ CT doesn't respond to the message, but she can't deny the relief that washes over her when she hears Gladio's voice, vital and commanding and alive. ]

[So remember how he apparently becomes King back home, Cee? Yeah this is why.

Still if he doesn't hear from her by sundown he will actively call her while he's getting the birds and horses to calm the hell down and share space peaceably.]

Cee? Head count. You and Wash okay?

[ No, see, she didn't give her permission for this. They haven't talked since the party, and while a part of her knows she's got to face up to him eventually, she'd wanted it to be on her own terms. Whatever - and whenever - those might be.

She hadn't been ready for him to seek her out first. For him to care.

So she frowns instinctively when she hears his voice, her tone shorter than she means it to be. ]

We're fine, Gladio. You don't need to babysit us. [ Her. He doesn't need to babysit her. ]

[He growls softly at the snappy response but he can't really blame her. It still doesn't mean he's not going to worry.]

Been herding most of the animals over to the farms. Ami with you or you want me to pick her up?

[Now isn't the time to fight. This is the time for action, that's it. So if her kitten needs an assist he will, of course, help. Talking can happen later. Or not. That's up to her.]

[ Holy shit, did he actually just growl? CT blinks, feeling even more uncomfortable. She hadn't meant to snap at him, but they both know that there are plenty of other people who need help more than she and Wash ever could. He should know that, anyway. ]

I've got her.

[ She drops a hand down to the tigerlily's head, sighing into her stone. ]

Look, just - we're fine, okay? Don't worry about us. Go and help someone who really needs it.

[ But she can't just leave it at that, can't leave him thinking she's mad at him. She's not. Really. She just -

She just doesn't know what to say to him anymore. ]

I'll meet up with you later. Okay?

[Go and help someone who really needs it.

It's a slap in the face. It's absolute bullshit. He was checking in because he cares not because he thinks she can't handle herself. He was checking in with her the same way he had Noctis and Prompto. His King can damn well handle himself but he's also important to Gladio so of course he's going to check in.

Shion can handle himself, Ignis can handle himself. It doesn't stop him from worrying. From caring. Never mind how many people have been split from their pets that he's doing his damnedest to make sure are safe.

It's not just turning down his help it's rejecting his concern entirely. And after the biting words on the beach it's enough to have frustration and hurt welling up, making his voice thick and his eyes burn in a way he can't afford right now.]

Got it.

[That's all she gets from him, all she will get from him. Once all of this is over, when everyone is safe again, he'll talk to Ignis about it but he can endure a lot, the constant rage and rejection from Ardyn should prove that much.

He's not sure he's got it in him to take that same abuse from her as well.]

Wh -

Gladio?

[ She'd fucked up somewhere, somehow. She hadn't even been going for self-sabotage this time, hadn't wanted to piss him off or drive him away. But from the sudden shift in his tone, the unexpectedly brusque reply, it's clear that she had.

She waits a few moments, just in case, but she's too afraid of starting a real fight to say anything more, and when he doesn't reply she curses to herself in frustration, stomping off to check on Wash and just...distract herself.

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. ]

12/4 - Evening

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