[Stones of Farspeech] A Request or Two

[shatteredlenses]

I realize most of you are busy with the new island, but if I can, I'd like to borrow a moment of your time. This shouldn't interfere with new explorations, fortunately. It's actually rather dependent on them.

[Ignis has been very absent since Gladio was sent home last month. Even now, it's hard for him to reach out and exploring in this mindset is not the best of ideas, but he also can't allow himself to idle any longer.]

Shion and I have been discussing the creation of a list of questions we can ask each new deity we run across so we can compare answers to look for patterns and other things that may help us begin sorting out the greater mystery of this place as we learn about each island we come across. There are obvious general questions we can ask, but we wanted to see if there were any more specific ones people would like added to the list. If you have anything, can you let me know? Your help is most appreciated.

[There is a momentary pause where the only sound is Ignis softly drawing a deep breath as he steels himself for the next topic.]

For those who aren't aware, Gladio has been returned to Eos. Prompto and I are going to do our bests to keep the lighthouse workshop stocked and in good shape. We're also going to try and keep his projects on the farming islet going since they are of benefit to us all. We could use some help, though, if anyone can volunteer.

Also, if you were working on a project with him, can you let either Prompto or myself know? We don't want any of those to fall by the wayside.

[His voice gets a little softer as he finishes the communication.]

Gladio wouldn't want that either and I want to do this for him.

Thank you.

Comments

[scourgingstars]

One could always open with 'first of all, how dare you', but then again one shouldn't take my advice on speaking to gods. I tend to shout at them.

[That was apparently what passed for a joke in an attempt to distract Ignis somewhat.]

...I suppose I could be convinced to assist you. I've little else to do at night.

[shatteredlenses]

[The distraction is a success if the soft laugh that proceeds Ignis' answer is anything to go by.]

So you're saying you would be better suited for the role of chocobo wrangler than interviewer?

[scourgingstars]

Unless we want every deity we meet to be quite irritated, yes.

[want_to_belong]

Ummm...

[He bit his lip. He wanted to ask some things, but he didn't want to make it too obvious what he was asking out of fear of Ignis getting hurt. It was silly, really. He should just talk straight to Ignis about his theories, but he really wanted to protect him.]

Maybe ask if Mu is really a dream space, or if all of the islands are actually like that?

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis thinks over what Prompto is asking for a long moment just trying to make sure he completely understands the question.]

So you are wondering if the other islands are also dream-like realities, just more completely developed? Do you think Enso is the same as them, then or different?

[want_to_belong]

I was just thinking how I usually describe Mu as a dream place to people, and it got me wondering if the truth is this whole thing is a dream place.

I mean, what kind of place has islands pop up and leave out of nowhere like this? None of the people or whatever we've seen have been normal. If we tried to describe this to someone back home, wouldn't they think it was a weird dream?

[At least he managed to keep it from going morbid.]

[journalname]

I am sorry to hear that.

[He is - Gladio was only an acquaintance, but a friendly one.]

I was not working with him on anything, but I would be happy to help with the farming, if you need anyone.

[shatteredlenses]

Thank you. He's going to be sorely missed by everyone. I never was quite able to figure out how he made friends so easily, but he was truly talented at it.

[Gladio was always the most social among them, so it's not too surprising to Ignis to hear from a few people Gladio knew that he didn't.]

Honestly, taking care of the farming is the area we need the most help in. I'm blind, so you can probably imagine how difficult it would be for me to keep track of where I am in a large, mostly flat, area like a field.

[journalname]

Oh, yes. I was temporarily blinded for a month after the trials - my own garden rather suffered for it.

[Not to compare the two situations or anything? But like, he Feels That.]

What sort of crops are you growing?

[forwearemany]

(Quiet sad chattering.)

We were not working on any specific projects though we have assisted in stocking the lighthouse and various tasks.

We would like to continue assisting with farming tasks and would also be willing to assist in the completion of projects.

[shatteredlenses]

Your assistance would be most welcome, especially with farming. I have my own small garden near the cottage, but my experience taking care of plants is very limited. Fields the size of what is over on the islet are much harder for me to find my way around in than a little garden would be.

[His garden has a system of markers in it to tell him where he is should he lose his place. Ignis hasn't bothered to set up a similar system in the fields. He's not had to before.]

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged. Though our experience with Earth agriculture is limited, we will continue to assist.

(They don't talk about it, but they did farm Quarian plants once.)

[motherfucking_ghost]

...Each new deity? As in. You guys have run into more than just Peter Rabbit. You just fuckin'...talk to random gods?

[shatteredlenses]

They generally refer to themselves as avatars, but they are the closest things to gods we've met so far so I feel the word fits.

[Okay Mr. Semantics.]

So far, most of the islands we've been to have had a deity much like the Storyteller on it. We even had to kill one. Fortunately, most encounters are calmer than that one was.

[RIP Bliss.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

That's...concerning. Most of what you just said is pretty concerning.

[savedbyasong]

Thank you for doing this Ignis. [Shion sounds, if anything even more tired than the last time they had spoken. Aster, Ceej, Gladio and now Nezumi. It was hard, draining to keep going, to not give in. Either to the despair threatening or the anger.]

I can help keep up the projects, I wouldn't want any of his work to go to waste.

[shatteredlenses]

Of course. I might not be able to do as much as I would like over on the farming islet, but planning and organization I can do with my eyes closed.

[It's a small joke, made at his own expense, but hopefully Shion will still find a little humor in it. He sounds far, far too sad. Lonely even. It's a feeling Ignis knows very well at the moment.]

Right now it looks like he may have had most of the projects wrapped up when he left.

[A small positive in among everything else.]

There is still plenty to do, though. Have you ever baked clay?

[serrata]

I'd be happy to help with the farming if that's what you need an extra pair of hands for. Gardening's a bit of a specialty of mine.

[ This is said with zero arrogance, but instead a straightforward matter-of-factness. Yuuri's good with plants, that's just how it is. ]

I'm a new arrival, so you'd have to catch me up to speed on anything I need to know, but I'd be happy to lend a hand, if you'll have me. Ah, I'm Yuuri Tenmyouuji, by the way. If you know Pyrrha-chan, I'm a friend of hers.

[shatteredlenses]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Yuuri. My name is Ignis Scientia. I'm afraid I haven't met this Pyrrha you speak off, but that going to be my fault and not hers. Unfortunately, I've not been able to get out and greet newcomers as much as I would like to recently.

[Between disappearing Kings, disappearing Oracles, disappearing Shields, and certain beloved Healer-Kings having breakdowns, it's been a rough few months.]

You don't know how delighted I am to have another volunteer to help with the farming. It's very much not my field of expertise, if you'll pardon the pun.

[ideismo]

I don't know how much use to you this will be, but I've done a fair amount of work with metal. It's something I like doing, and it's something I'm good at.

[So there's that.]

[shatteredlenses]

You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that, honestly. I'm afraid most of our little group's skill when it comes to working with metals is in the repair and care of weapons not in the creation of them.

[There is a bit of self-consciousness in his laugh. For all their training and preparation, they were still what many would call 'city boys.' At least, they were before coming here. Then again, they were never suppose to end up out on their owns and fighting for their lives either.]

[counterblows]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[It's a professional enough response - and distant enough that it's probably nigh impossible to tell what Wash feels about it, if anything.]

Was he doing anything with that refinery, do you know?

[shatteredlenses]

Thank you, Agent Washington. There is nothing I can think off of the top of my head at the moment, though he didn't always tell me all of his projects. Especially when he was plotting to surprise me.

[Ignis chuckles, the memories of Gladio's many surprises fond ones.]

I know Prompto is tossing around plans for trying to create wire and other small parts that may be used in generating electricity, but I have no idea if he's started any of that. I'm afraid that kind of thing is quite outside my area of expertise.

[littlemhigan]

All I can manage is some weapon an' armoursmithin', if you think that'd help at all. Ain't much of a farmer. I uh...I met Gladio briefly, durin' those trials. Seemd like a fine fellow, an' I'm sorry te hear he ain't here anymore.

[shatteredlenses]

Thank you.

[There is genuine appreciation in his voice. It's obvious he's not just saying that because he's expected to.]

May I ask your name? I'm Ignis, and you'll find I'm quite happy to hear you have those skills. I may know how to care for and do minor repairs to my daggers, but I would be quite at a loss if I ever had to make new ones. I'm an advisor by trade, not a blacksmith.

[He crafts with words, not metal.]