The Count Down To New

[thechurbyboxmod]

Sometimes feelings build up. Sometimes all it takes is a resolution, some liquid courage, and the rush of celebration to break through the silence. This is what happens on those nights



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[faithfulsupport]

Ignis smiled and didn't comment on the embarrassed look. "I suppose being a guard means you have to be quite observant." There was a little bit of pride in the tone, he knew he was graceful on the floor. But what was enjoying here was the wonderful feeling of being in Nida's arms. He felt very comfortable there and it was a very nice surprise.

They turned and he saw a very surprised Noct face pretty much staring in his direction and the advisor chose to ignore it though his face coloured a little. So he had to focus on something else. "Do you make any new year's resolutions?"

[skyward_eyes]

"It's sorta my job, to be observant," Nida agrees, chuckling to himself. But then, yeah, the new question. He, though, hadn't caught sight of anyone else looking at them.

In this moment, the world was just the warmth of the man in his arms. The one that would be gone once the song was over.

"Resolutions? Not really. Wouldn't even know where to start."

[faithfulsupport]

He couldn't help but laugh a little because Nida sounded just like Noct there for a moment. But he didn't say so and just nodded once. "So many people make them and act like they never did so it's quite alright."

Turning on the floor a little Ignis smiled a little more. "For someone who said he couldn't dance, you're doing quite wonderfully. And leading to boot." Here he thought he would've been teaching the other man all night. So the advisor was definitely pleasantly surprised to find out quite differently.

[skyward_eyes]

"I..."

Yeah, he had been slightly dishonest, hadn't he?

"I haven't danced with anyone since high school," Nida admits as he keeps them going on pace. Sure, his grace isn't perfect, but he had been drinking some. "It's been a long time.'

[faithfulsupport]

Questions raced to his mind and Ignis voiced none of them. They were answers that were absolutely none of his business. "In that case I feel honoured that you're showing me your dancing skills this evening." Of course Ignis was sincere in his words and it made this man interesting.

The song ended soon after and the advisor was loathe to move from his warm secure spot. But they had only spoken of one dance and it would be rude to assume the man wanted another, considering there were only minutes to midnight.

"Well thank you so very much for our dance this evening, it was wonderful." It was important to be polite.

[skyward_eyes]

"Wait," Nida says as the song ends. "Wait, please."

His words were soft as he released Ignis, because he won't hold the man back.

"Why dance with me, of everyone?"

There were so many other people that were better to consider than him.

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis didn't move far from Nida and smiled gently."Well you were so very polite and kind. And you were so very concerned about who I was going to dance with."

The advisor took a step forward. "And if you'd be so kind as to honor me with another dance sometime, that would be quite lovely."

[skyward_eyes]

Another dance sometime? Nida chuckles. He doesn't even know if there is another ball coming up any time soon. So perhaps...

"Now is a time."

[faithfulsupport]

He looked almost shy. "Yes there is that..but it's nearly midnight. And everyone will pretty much stop dancing to ring in the new year." Not to mention all the kissing and proposals and all of that. "But if that doesn't deter you, then I won't attempt to either."

Ignis smiled and felt shy all of a sudden and he didn't know why. And it occurred to him that he didn't want to dance with anyone else. Nor did he want to see anyone else dance with this handsome man. But it wasn't his call.

[skyward_eyes]

Oh. Nearly midnight.

“The musicians will probably stop playing,” Nida sighs. What a shame given he just wanted another dance. “I guess it would be strange to dance with no music. I’ve, well, I never went to one of these before. Will there be dancing again after? We could dance then.”

He could dance all night he thinks, if he has Ignis’s warmth in his arms.

[faithfulsupport]

"Yes. If you'd like we can head out onto the balcony where it will be much quieter after the music stops." Ignis wasn't sure the man wanted to just spend time with him but he could always just apologize and leave the man alone until it was time to dance again if that was an issue.

He looked around them and people were buzzing around, excited for the new year that would ring in within minutes now. And here he'd thought he might finally find someone to settle down with, and be able to let up on some of his responsibilities due to the Queen basically keeping the king in check.

[skyward_eyes]

A balcony, alone, with a guy he held a foolish torch for? Definitely a bad idea. Totally happening.

"I'd like that very much," the alcohol gives him the courage to say. "If we can find one that isn't already taken up."

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis gave a small smile and inclined his head. "We should be going then." That minute hand was moving a lot faster than he thought it would and it seemed they no sooner got out there when the Ballroom started erupting with the whole New Year thing.

He couldn't help but watch some of the men get down on one knee with their rings and witnessed people kissing each other. Turning his head away finally, the advisor just smiled at Nida.

"Looks like we got out just in time."

[skyward_eyes]

The noise. It's amazing all the noise that comes with the turning of a New Year, isn't it? It felt like it was never that noisy during the Long Night, people didn't mark the new years off with cheer.

It's so strange, to see people so excited about the cuture again.

"Seems like," Nida mused, before turning his eyes out toward the sky. "I'd never be brave enough for that sort of public display. Kissing or proposals or any of that. Especially when all the gossips are out looking for juicy news."

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis cocked his head to the side as Nida spoke about public displays. "I'm sure quite a lot of those are happening behind closed doors here as well. I'm sure not everyone wants to do the same thing as everyone else in quite a public setting."

In full view of the king and his court too no doubt.

The advisor then moved to sit down on a stone bench afterwards, giving the other room to move about with a smile. "Public displays aren't for everyone after all."

[skyward_eyes]

No, they really weren't. With the stone bench there, the space next to Ignis so inviting too, Nida moved to sit next to the other. With their hips touching.

"I guess... maybe for some of them they're just so caught up in the feelings that they can't help it."

Like Nida. Here. On this balcony. Sitting next to Ignis Scientia and trying to play it cool.

"Some people are just worth letting the world see your feelings for."

[faithfulsupport]

He was surprised when Nida sat next to him with an entire balcony even if it was smaller than some of the others. So Ignis couldn't help but to turn his eyes at the other in surprise even if the warmth and especially the company was welcome.

But he listened as the other spoke and he smiled. "I'm quite sure it's something along those lines." Not that he would personally know about these things for himself. From the observation of others though that had to be it. "They certainly seem to just get caught up in the moment and they're certainly not paying attention to anyone else around them."

He turned away with a sigh and looked at the ground. "They've only eyes for each other I suppose."

[skyward_eyes]

Ah, what a thing to hear. Nida hums thoughtfully and nods. And again his mouth runs before his mind can keep it in check.

"There are those who only have eyes for you."

[faithfulsupport]

That had Ignis sit up a little straighter and pull back a bit in order to look at Nida. There was a confused look at first as he tried to figure this out. But then he smiled. "Are there really? And just who might that be?"

There was only one logical conclusion with the blushing and all of that. No one was banging down the advisor's door to court him or even speak to him. And as the other had observed, Ignis only had one dance all evening and that was with a very happily married Queen.

One man had asked him to dance.

[skyward_eyes]

Technically one man had been asked by him to dance. But the guy had absolutely shown up for it. But the smile, it was enough to find Nida leaning forward. He did it slow enough for Ignis to pull away, and if the man didn't...

Well, he'd probably know that Nida's lips were chapped but warm. He might be able to taste the lingering champagne and chocolate on his lips. And he might well feel like he was stiff, perhaps scared to be pushed away.

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis wouldn't even think of pushing Nida away. Those lips were warm and he did indeed taste the chocolate and champagne, but he had no issue with them. All that mattered right now was what was going on. As he breathed Nida in, his hands slowly came up to gently touch the man's face though he would never admit they were shaking ever so slightly from being nervous.

This was his first real kiss after all.

[skyward_eyes]

It was a kiss. A good kiss. A lovely kiss that had Nida’s heart in his throat. But it was something good to have. Very good. Good to the point that when Nida pulled away it wasn’t real distance at all. An easy place to resume a kiss from.

“I hope that answers that, Ignis.”

[faithfulsupport]

He smiled and lowered his head in an attempt to hide the blush on his face. "Yes it does. However it does admittedly invites a few more questions." But he decided they weren't as important right now, so as he went to kiss Nida again fireworks started going off at the top of the Citadel. The blondish head turned to look at them with a slightly embarrassed laugh.

"I suppose that's the official word it's a new year."

[skyward_eyes]

Questions. Maybe questions weren’t the most useful thing in this moment. For right now he was happy just share the second kiss. In fact, Nida is leaning in, almost ready to deepen it when Ignis pulled away to regard the fireworks.

Thanks fireworks. Nida hates them now.

“I suppose it is.”

[faithfulsupport]

After they died down a little, Ignis leaned forward and placed his hands on the man's face again to give the kiss that had been interrupted by the fireworks. He wasn't going to ask anything tonight, overanalyzing any of this would be rude and ruin things. And he wasn't about to do that. So for now he was going to enjoy a simple kiss and be thrilled by Nida's shy and beautiful admission.