[ He takes note of the cracks in the ground - recognizing that particular emotion in someone other than himself for once. At her outburst, he remains unshaken, trying to stay calm for the both of them. ]
Yeah. Guess I let my guard down, too.
[ Which is a little shameful to admit for a shield, but he did let himself forget about it for a while. He'd be losing his mind if he were constantly on edge, always worrying that their tomorrow could be their last. If Iris got used to how things were, she certainly can't be blamed for it. ]
Tried to convince him to open up his own Chocobo farm here, y'know? Heh, turns out he liked those birds more than I knew.
[ And he would have never known, had Clarus not been granted some more time with his family. That's Gladio's takeaway from this, if he has to look at this from a half glass full point of view. It's not easy, though. Losing a father is one thing, but seeing his sister be in pain like this is more than he can take.
But he'll take it. He has to. This isn't the time to be losing his cool. ]
I... wanted him to live his own life here, free of duties, but all he ever wanted was to be part of mine. Tch. I reckon his biggest regret was not being around for us back home, but he got a chance to make up for it here. He was kinda luckier than most, in a way...
[ And now Gladio is the one with regrets. He really should have made more time for his old man here. ]
[ how could she not give into the temptation? they were together, as a family, after being forcefully ripped apart. she hadn't had a chance to say goodbye to him the first time, and even if she had made up for that in Empatheias, it feels as if it's happened all over again.
she lets out a short laugh, sniffling as she wipes her eyes. it doesn't laugh long, but it's something. ]
He had a soft spot for cute stuff. [ she takes a deep inhale and exhale, glancing at her brother. her eyes are still wet as she does her best to compose herself, but it's a risky move on her part. ] I think I spent more time with him here than I did back home... Is that weird?
[ It's unusual for what it is, only because of the circumstances. In no other world would a kid get to see their dad again after he already passed, but the fact that Iris did see him and spent more time with him as a result? Well, that's the natural outcome throughout this unnatural moment in their lives.
If anything, it would be weird that she didn't spend more time with him. ]
Iris... I'm sorry. You learned something that most people will eventually, but you didn't deserve it so soon.
[ He reaches out, one hand on her shoulder for comfort, while the other one is offered up for her to take. Maybe it's time they tried getting off the ground. ]
I'm just glad you're still here. And... I ain't goin' anywhere either. We'll keep dad alive by standing tall... together.
[ getting a second chance at all was definitely strange in itself. being together as a family again had reminded Iris to not take the time for granted, but at the moment it isn't dulling the pain of losing Clarus again so suddenly very much.
she does her best to smile when Gladio offers his hand in comfort, taking it and and rising to her feet while she uses the back of her free hand to wipe any loose tears away. she can't cry in front of him anymore - she's supposed to be grown up. ]
I'm glad you're here, too. [ she sniffles, but her lips are still turned upwards. ] Yeah... we need to keep making him proud.
[ In that moment, he picks her up with so much ease, it's as if she's still as weightless as she was ten years ago, and places her on the back of his silver chocobo. It's true that she grew up too fast, and he couldn't be more proud of her, but he's still gonna treat her like his baby sis every now and then. ]
Y'know... I never got to ask him what we're gonna call this bird. You got any ideas?
[ her surprise about being picked up is only momentary - considering how often it's happened over the course of her life, it feels more natural than she's willing to admit. though she wants to think of herself as an adult, she has a soft spot for her brother doing sweet things like this from time to time. ]
I dunno... it's gotta be as pretty as he is. [ he gives the bird a rub on the head, allowing him to coo into her touch. ] How about something like "Mist"?
[ As far as pretty names go, he doesn't consider himself so imaginative in that department. If anyone asked him, he'd say something like Iris, Claire or Sania (???), but alas none of those are boys names. So when Iris solves the name problem for him so easily, you can bet he's going to roll with that.
He gives Mist a gentle pat too as he smiles. ]
Short 'n sweet, I like it. Guess I should've come to you from the start.
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no subject
Yeah. Guess I let my guard down, too.
[ Which is a little shameful to admit for a shield, but he did let himself forget about it for a while. He'd be losing his mind if he were constantly on edge, always worrying that their tomorrow could be their last. If Iris got used to how things were, she certainly can't be blamed for it. ]
Tried to convince him to open up his own Chocobo farm here, y'know? Heh, turns out he liked those birds more than I knew.
[ And he would have never known, had Clarus not been granted some more time with his family. That's Gladio's takeaway from this, if he has to look at this from a half glass full point of view. It's not easy, though. Losing a father is one thing, but seeing his sister be in pain like this is more than he can take.
But he'll take it. He has to. This isn't the time to be losing his cool. ]
I... wanted him to live his own life here, free of duties, but all he ever wanted was to be part of mine. Tch. I reckon his biggest regret was not being around for us back home, but he got a chance to make up for it here. He was kinda luckier than most, in a way...
[ And now Gladio is the one with regrets. He really should have made more time for his old man here. ]
no subject
[ how could she not give into the temptation? they were together, as a family, after being forcefully ripped apart. she hadn't had a chance to say goodbye to him the first time, and even if she had made up for that in Empatheias, it feels as if it's happened all over again.
she lets out a short laugh, sniffling as she wipes her eyes. it doesn't laugh long, but it's something. ]
He had a soft spot for cute stuff. [ she takes a deep inhale and exhale, glancing at her brother. her eyes are still wet as she does her best to compose herself, but it's a risky move on her part. ] I think I spent more time with him here than I did back home... Is that weird?
no subject
[ It's unusual for what it is, only because of the circumstances. In no other world would a kid get to see their dad again after he already passed, but the fact that Iris did see him and spent more time with him as a result? Well, that's the natural outcome throughout this unnatural moment in their lives.
If anything, it would be weird that she didn't spend more time with him. ]
Iris... I'm sorry. You learned something that most people will eventually, but you didn't deserve it so soon.
[ He reaches out, one hand on her shoulder for comfort, while the other one is offered up for her to take. Maybe it's time they tried getting off the ground. ]
I'm just glad you're still here. And... I ain't goin' anywhere either. We'll keep dad alive by standing tall... together.
no subject
she does her best to smile when Gladio offers his hand in comfort, taking it and and rising to her feet while she uses the back of her free hand to wipe any loose tears away. she can't cry in front of him anymore - she's supposed to be grown up. ]
I'm glad you're here, too. [ she sniffles, but her lips are still turned upwards. ] Yeah... we need to keep making him proud.
no subject
[ In that moment, he picks her up with so much ease, it's as if she's still as weightless as she was ten years ago, and places her on the back of his silver chocobo. It's true that she grew up too fast, and he couldn't be more proud of her, but he's still gonna treat her like his baby sis every now and then. ]
Y'know... I never got to ask him what we're gonna call this bird. You got any ideas?
no subject
I dunno... it's gotta be as pretty as he is. [ he gives the bird a rub on the head, allowing him to coo into her touch. ] How about something like "Mist"?
no subject
[ As far as pretty names go, he doesn't consider himself so imaginative in that department. If anyone asked him, he'd say something like Iris, Claire or Sania (???), but alas none of those are boys names. So when Iris solves the name problem for him so easily, you can bet he's going to roll with that.
He gives Mist a gentle pat too as he smiles. ]
Short 'n sweet, I like it. Guess I should've come to you from the start.