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She is.

..

Thank you.

[He was glad to leave that unexpected emotional curve ball behind. It was much more fun to watch this young man squirm]

You could inquire about the reason behind the joke, the type of relationship she and I have and perhaps the relationship I have with her husband, or anything to get to know these strange people you're now living with.

Or you could just sit there and picture it.

[Smirk.]

[Really, Tony had no intention of dropping the subject of this non existent affair thing. So Ignis sighed and listened to the ridiculous theoretical questions that he was supposed to be asking about these other people.]

I am completely fine with not picturing anything, unless somehow any of this has to do with me personally.

[Seriously this was none of his business unless someone decided to ask his advice about it. Advising he could do, but prying wasn't something he would do.]

[How was this guy so good looking and so lame at the same time? He was getting sick of people around here who couldn't indulge in some harmless flirty once in a while.

Still, no reason to give up so easily.

His gaze drifted downward and he raised an eyebrow.]

Eunuch?

[Ok now he's offended, confused and a little angry. Why is Tony so determined to find out things about him like this?]

I beg your pardon? Does your line of questioning have a point other than to be invasive? If that is indeed the case, then I suggest you flirt with someone who is interested in your nonsensical banter.

[And now he's leaving. Ignis had almost suggested that if Tony had something of substance to talk about that would be fine. But the advisor feared that would just bait the hurricane into more pointless flirting.]

Alright, alright! I was just joking around with you, Ignis.

[He reaches out and catches the other man's forearm.]

Sorry. I'll stop. You just.. you remind me of one of my friends back home and I used to tease and joke around with him. I know you're not him and we don't have that kind of history. So..

[He lets Ignis' hand go and steps back. He holds up his hands like he was surrendering and starts backing off. He wasn't good at this apologizing thing, but he may still have been in rare form because of his joking around with ]

Just.. sorry.

[He turns to leave.]

[He wasn't sure what Tony was doing, reaching out to him like that. This gesture only served to add to the confusion the advisor was already experiencing. Ignis wasn't sure what to do, especially when the other put his hands up and backed off. On top of all of this, why had Tony rushed to catch up to him? Surely the nonsense could've waited for another day. Somehow though, the other walking away wouldn't bode well for future run ins. So he put his professional face back on but his tone was lowered and he stayed where he was.]

I accept your apology, and I thank you for coming to find me.

[Tony glances back at that very formal acceptance of his apology.

He was so weird! He felt he could really use a drink after that strange interaction. Not only that but he heard that 'don't flirt with me' pretty strongly. He would have to take some time to reflect on how similar in personality he was to Captain.. and how painful that was.

Either way, he didn't know what to say or respond to that, so he just left. It wasn't like he hadn't had his advances rejected before, but had that really been what he was doing? He didn't know. Maybe he'd just been cooped up in this place too long.]

[Ignis is still thoughtful, so he decided to go sneak back into the dining carriage later though it wasn't his team's rotation. He wanted to cook and feel useful because he didn't have the answers that he needed. Knowing he wouldn't get them on his own anyway, sitting around drowning in ambiguity wasn't going to help either.

He'd thought of practicing with his daggers but that wasn't going to work either and he knew it. The advisor tried to sit in the cabin too and it hadn't worked. Once in the dining carriage he spotted a familiar dark head of hair and stopped, hesitating. It looked like Tony was drinking something and Ignis wasn't sure what to do at first.

His first thought had been to turn away, but again the advisor had his stubborn streak and he wan't going to be the one to walk away. So without a word, Ignis passed by but lightly clapped a hand on Tony's shoulder briefly instead of sitting down or talking.]

[Their conversation earlier was bothering him. It seemed whenever Ignis was around he ended up doing or saying something revealing and regretting it later. It was true the flirting hadn't been in the best taste but, was it wrong to miss that kind of companionship? He wasn't trying to sleep with man. He just.. he had a wife and she wasn't here and being here, even in this crowded place could be eerily lonely. He missed her. But no, that wasn't really who he was missing, was it? He pinched the bridge of his nose lightly as he felt a headache brewing.

He hadn't even noticed anyone else was in the room when he felt a friendly hand on his shoulder. Looking up, was like waking up, suddenly aware of his surroundings again. To his surprise, the person standing next to him was Ignis. He stared for a moment, simply dumbfounded that the man had obviously come in here by mistake and found him or had sought him out. What did it mean that he was here?

Sounding more tired than anything, he finally found his voice.]

I thought I'd offended you enough earlier you were wanting some space from me.

[Ignis was concerned since Tony had seemed like he had spaced out. And the tired tone in the other man's voice didn't alleviate that either. And so for several long moments, green eyes looked into dark ones and he struggled with what to say in response.]

I'm afraid I got space whether I truly wanted it or not. So one would think it was you who needed it.

[There's no condemnation or anger or anything, as his voice is still the same soft tone that was used earlier. Everything was still on his mind, the running after, the look, the question. Nothing was resolved for Ignis and Tony was the only one who could provide the answers that he was looking for. But some of them would be prying and respect was something that he was all about. It wouldn't do to start asking personal questions such as the one levied at him earlier.]

Edited 2019-09-13 03:29 (UTC)

[Tony felt an initial reaction to deny this, but when he couldn't think of something to say in response he was forced to simply consider the suggestion. His gaze dropped back to the cup of tea he'd been.. well staring at as opposed to drinking.]

Maybe. I thought I was doing what you wanted. You're not easy to read, Ignis.

[That comment got a smile.]

It's a quality I excel at.

[Ignis isn't going to deny that.]

But I appreciate the fact that you were doing what you thought I wanted you to do.

[He couldn't explain that no one really reached for him unless it was Noctis and that was duty. No one really cared about what he personally wanted and no one asked either. His opinion was sought on other things but not on a level like that.]

[Ignis looked good with a smile on his face, Tony couldn't deny that.]

Is that the goal, though? To make it impossible for someone to read you and judge whether you'll like or dislike something?

[He sighs and shakes his head. He really wishes he had alcohol. Maybe he should try taking his sleep aid instead and just crash for the night. But then he might dream if he goes before he's truly exhausted. He couldn't risk that.]

Something I do red about you is that you seem the type of person who will keep a secret. I'm not wrong am I?

[This was the part where Tony was confusing him again though Ignis fought not to show it.]

That would depend entirely on the person that I'm dealing with.

[Those words are a legitimate honest answer. But his head tilts at the dark haired man's question and the he nods.]

Of course I can.

That's fair.

[He shrugs as he concedes Ignis' point without protest.]

Despite the fact that I hold more authority in this train than anyone else, I've bent over backwards to take care of everyone here, and came up with the council idea, I didn't have them vote on me because I didn't want to see if they'd actually vote for me or not.

[He shakes his head and pushes the cup away from him. It had lost its warmth a while ago.]

How pathetic is that?

[He listened and his heart reached out to the man who definitely seemed to be the leader here. So once Tony pushed his cup away, Ignis knelt down and reached a hand up to touch the other's arm.]

I don't believe it's pathetic as you call it. A leader pushes onward always, accepting the consequences and never looking back.

[The saying was for a king pushes onward always, but in this situation it applied. So he tried to smile, amazed to hear that this man had done so much for so many and they had no idea. Ignis then removed his hand from Tony's arm with a nod.]

Hearing this proves that you have a big heart and you take good care of others. That in itself is something to be admired for.

[Tony watches Ignis, curious what he was doing. His gaze shifts from where he was touched on the arm up along his shoulder, chin, face, and finally his eyes again. What was happening here?

He shakes his head again. He couldn't accept too much of that credit. Not after all the failures he'd had in his life. Except, it meant something that this man was looking at him like he might still be worthy of this kind of praise.]

I'm sorry I called you a eunuch.

[He really didn't know why he was even sharing any of this. Was it just Ignis' presence that begged to listen or was there something about the man's mannerisms that were so familiar it gave him a false sense of home.]

The man you remind me of, is a really incredible hero in my world. Captain America- our country's name- was his title. To me, he was just Steve. I have a.. uh.. rough edge a lot of times. I don't get along with a lot of people. I'm not sure really why I've been getting along so well with people on this train, but I know it's not going to last. It didn't last with him either.

[Ignis lightly coughed and shook his head at the apology. And that's when he stood back up to his full height.]

I'll forget you mentioned that at all.

[He listened though as Tony went on about his friend. So America was a country and a man was named after it? No, the man had a real name.]

I'm certainly no hero, but your friend sounds like a good man.

[His green eyes locked with Tony's for a moment and gave him a half stern look as he took the teacup. It was his intent to get him a fresh cup.]

You shouldn't expect to get along with others all of the time.

[Putting distance between them, Ignis proceeded to get to the tea. And as he did he had to find something out.]

If I remind you of this person, then might I be so bold as to ask if that's why you seem to walk away?

[Steve was a good man. It's why their 'break up' or 'civil war', if you will, was so painful.

He couldn't help notice just how tall Ignis was when he stood. From where he was sitting, the man was suddenly a giant. Maedhros and how he kept mentally referring to him as 'monster elf'. That was the only real reason he didn't stop him with the teacup. It clearly had nothing to do with how those green eyes had pierced his soul. What had he seen? Wasn't it appropriate he was now walking away?

Wait, what was he saying? He'd missed a comment in there, he was pretty sure.]

I seem to walk away from what?

When we chat.

[Tony totally deserved Ignis walking away, though he was only going so far as to wait on the other man, not out of room or the entire conversation. He gave Tony a half worried look because one of the other times they'd chatted and the other had left, Ignis had gotten questions as if their conversation wasn't being paid attention to.]

Are you alright?

[And by the Six if Tony walked out, Ignis was so going after him this time.]

I do?

[He looks sort of baffled by the idea but it was also due to the fact Ignis had gotten up.. freshen his drink? He looks at the cup a moment in confusion and then back up at the man.]

I.. uh.. I didn't realize.. I don't know.

[He was being much too honest with this guy. It was starting to freak him out. Then it suddenly occurred to him why he left the first time.]

I get, uh.. anxiety attacks sometimes? So. That first time.. I had to walk away. I didn't want to have an attack in front of anyone again.

..

Least of all you.

[The concern isn't abating. But a fresh cup of tea appears before Tony within minutes and Ignis shakes his head. These questions and spacing out were precisely what he was referring to.]

You should probably..

[But the advice to rest and relax just stopped as he caught the last part of what was said. There Tony went again, being baffling. And here the other had said he was hard to read. So it took Ignis a few moments to complete a thought.]

If you had an anxiety attack I would most certainly help you though I can certainly understand not wanting to have one at all.

[A thought, he's curious.]

Is that..because I resemble your friend?

[Oh god, please don't say rest. It's what he kept telling Peter to do. Please don't.. oh good, they were getting distracted to another conversation.]

No.. what? No. It's not the attack I'm worried about. It's..

[Tony huffs out a frustrated breath. He sucks at this emotions stuff? Why couldn't Ignis just read his mind like Pepper seemed to always be able to do? Of course, she's known him like a million years and he put her through hell and why in god's name was he comparing Ignis to her again?]

Look, you're one of the few competent adults on board this train. The rest of them are kids or teenagers. I have to be in charge here because, who else is going to do it? You, Sarai, and Dread.. and I guess the elves, but I don't know if they really count.. either way, the point is.. I don't need you knowing what a mess I am, even though clearly I just told you so.. what the hell?

[He rubs his face in frustration, trying and failing to figure out why he couldn't find the off switch on his verbal diarrhea tonight.

The truth was, he was exhausted. He was trying to be the adult in the room and he was still recovering from what he'd seen and experienced. It was overwhelming and he could really use a drink to cope.]

[He finally decided to sit across from Tony though his usual mannerisms would have him ask if it was alright first. He set his coffee down on the table and listened.]

Then I don't see why you call yourself pathetic if you're the one clearly qualified to be the one to get things done.

[A slight smile.]

Even if you are a mess, I have yet to see anyone that is in complete control of themselves and their lives at all times. But you have others to help you, your council that's been appointed. Surely you can relieve yourself of some of the burdens of constantly being in charge now.

[But the smile fades quickly as the exhaustion in the other showed.]

Now when was the last time you got a good night's sleep?

[Tony never thought about stuff like that. He'd been raised in high society, wealthy families and snobby people, but he'd always looked at them with a level of disdain. Sometimes his manners showed, but apparently now wasn't one of them. Right now he was finally confiding how hard this trip has been on someone who he really didn't know well enough to be doing this. It made him think he had to be losing his mind a bit.

He tries to smile at the compliment and the logic that he could relax some. He didn't know if he should or not, but he could feel himself slowly doing so.]

It's not so easy.

[He could elaborate but he couldn't find the words. His attention is brought back to Ignis at his question about his sleep. He hadn't really noticed he'd been staring at the tea instead of the man again.]

Uh.. I don't know. Not since the power went out. It brought back some hard memories. But, I'm okay. Really. I just have to stop all this bitching and get my act together, right?

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[After dinner with Renee]

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