Thanks so much to @highwindhq for coming up with a cheeky dialogue box. You just know that dessert with Ignis would be mind blowing. More blue stitches for me tonight.
Ignis and Aranea have decided to move in together. To Aranea’s shock, instead of an apartment, Ignis brings her on a tour of the very large (and very dilapidated) Cape Caem house. She soon learns why.
Sorry for that weird metallic noise in the background. It’s the armiger mode that is activated - - meaning this camera angle is actually Noct watching them (lol!)
We’re so excited to get this going! Here’s a reminder of the prompts again, however you don’t have to follow these—it’s just to help inspire.
Some of the prompts easily lend themselves to NSFW, and a couple people have asked if they have to create content like that. Not at all—Ignis could accidentally sit on Aranea’s face cause he can’t see her lying on the couch. Basically, work to your comfort level :)
Choose a prompt for the day (or heck, do both or something completely different!) and share your art/fic/drabble/edit/etc with #highspecsweek. We’re excited! Hope you are too!
Day 1, Sep 23:
Moving In / Drinking Together
Day 2, Sep 24:
Rainy Days / Teamwork
Day 3, Sep 25:
High Heels / Face Sitting
Day 4, Sep 26:
Illness / Shopping
Day 5, Sep 27:
Nightmares / First Time
Day 6, Sep 28:
Confessions / Virginity
Day 7, Sep 29:
Things Left Unspoken / Angry or Possessive Sex
BONUS: HighSpecs Babies!
AO3 version here: http://archiveofourown.org/works/12164622/chapters/27608661
A Truth and a Lie
Aranea Highwind swept through the bar in Lestallum like a woman on a mission. She had a terrible week in field, slaughtering countless daemons that had sprung up around a small settlement in the Duscae region. The people there refused to move, insisting instead on standing their ground. Cor had asked that Aranea and her team at least help them with a bit of daemon clean-up until they got their wits about them.
Well, Aranea hated that sort of stubbornness and she needed a drink. The lineup at the bar was too long, but she eyed a better alternative in the corner booth anyway.
She strode over to Ignis, Prompto, and Gladio, and picked up their half-full pitcher of beer without a word, chugging most of it.
“Sorry boys, it’s been a week,” she said.
“Is that the one and only Aranea Highwind, come to pilfer our hard-earned beverage?” Ignis said, giving a smile in her direction.
Her stomach immediately did a little flip, but she ignored it.
“I promise you that you did not earn this more than me after the week I’ve had.”
“Wanna sit?” Prompto said, gesturing to the empty spot next to Ignis.
“Sure, thanks. Oh, and next round’s on me.”
Ignis shifted over on the bench and Aranea sat down. She was glad that she had the foresight to have the fastest shower in the world before coming down here. A week of dried daemon blood sure stank.
“Cor’s got you working overtime, eh?” Gladio said.
“Yeah, he’s really putting me through the wringer. Not sure I appreciate it right now.”
“Take it as a compliment,” Ignis said. “The Marshall knows your skills.”
“I’m also very good at drinking, but you don’t see me doing that full-time.”
Ignis took his glass and offered it to Aranea.
“You can while you’re here with us.”
Aranea took the glass and drained it.
“Thanks. I swear, I’m getting you guys a round. Be right back.”
She got back up out of her seat, always fast and efficient with her movements. Or, Ignis wondered at the back of his mind, perhaps she didn’t like sitting next to him.
“She’s looking good,” Gladio said.
“Yeah, she’s a real hottie,” Prompto added.
“I shall take your word for it,” Ignis said, feeling around for the pitcher to refill his glass, whatever was left. Gladio pushed the pitched toward his hand.
“You’ve seen her Iggy,” Gladio said. “She’s still the same, just… freshly showered.”
“She smells great, doesn’t she? Like sylleblossoms after the rain,” Prompto said.
Gladio gave him a look and Ignis smirked. Of course Prompto was more interested in Aranea’s bathing products than anything else.
“Well, lucky me then,” Ignis said. “My sense of smell has certainly heightened.”
Aranea came back holding a large, unmarked bottle and four shot glasses.
“Okay boys, we’re having some fun tonight. I’ve got the cheapest home-brewed liquor from the bar and the biggest hangover you’ve ever had right here in my capable hands.”
“How kind,” Gladio smirked.
“Oh, but the fun doesn’t stop there,” Aranea continued, as she took her seat next to Ignis again. Her stomach did that little flip once more, but she ignored it. “We’re going to play a little game. We’ll go around the circle and take a shot. With every drink, you have to say one truth and one lie, and the rest of us have to guess which is which.”
“I feel like I already know everything I need to about these two,” Gladio said.
“But Aranea doesn’t know everything about us,” Prompto countered.
“Exactly. And I want to get to know my new friends a little better,” Aranea said as she divvied out the first round. Ignis caught a strong whiff of Aranea’s scent as she poured. Damn Prompto, but he was right; she really did smell like sylleblossoms after the rain.
“Okay, who wants to go first?” Aranea asked. No one responded.
“I shall,” Ignis offered eventually. He took a shot and grimace at the taste; it was truly something offensive. “My two things: I know how to play the piano, and I do 100 pushups a day.”
“Oh, come on,” Aranea laughed. “Give me something juicier!”
“Alright,” he said after a pause. “I write depressing songs on the piano, and I can do 100 pushups a day—naked.”
Aranea raised her brows and, truthfully, quite liked the thought of the latter.
“I already know the answer,” Gladio said. He looked at Aranea. “Care to hazard a guess?”
“Hmm... “ Aranea eyed Ignis up and down. “As much as I’d like to picture you doing naked pushups, that’s the lie.”
“What makes you think so?” Ignis asked.
“Your arms are toned, but not enough for 100 pushups a day. Plus, why in the world would you do it naked? There’s no logical reason for it. Now a secret troubadour, I can see that. You have to channel your feelings somewhere, since you’re so repressed all the time.”
Ignis scoffed, but then a corner of his mouth raised to a small smile. “You are correct.”
“What can I say, I’m good at reading even the most closed books,” Aranea said as she looked at Ignis, and she swore it felt like he was making eye contact with her. She quickly deflected. “Blondie, you’re next.”
“Okay, okay.” Prompto took a shot. “Something juicy… Well, I’ve been to a brothel, and I remove all the hair from my body.”
“Ha!” Aranea laughed. “You’ve clearly never been to a brothel, kid.”
“What makes you think that??”
“Oh, I don’t know… something about that hairless chest of yours, I guess.”
Prompto made a face at Aranea, and gestured to Gladio. “Your turn, big guy.”
Gladio took a shot. “I’ve had a threesome, and I’ve had a foursome.”
“So unfair,” Prompto moaned under his breath.
“I must admit, even I don’t know the answer to that,” Ignis said.
Aranea squinted her eyes at Gladio. “Hmm… The foursome is the lie.”
“What makes you think that?” Gladio asked.
“You want to have a foursome, but it’s still on your bucket list. You’ve only joined the three-way club. Devil’s three-way, maybe?”
“A gentleman never tells.”
“Devil’s it is.”
“What’s that?” Prompto asked.
“I’ll tell you when you’re older,” Aranea quipped.
“Your turn, Ms. Highwind,” Ignis said.
“Okay then.” Aranea took her shot. “I’m an orphan, and I’ve never been in love.”
“Whoa, this got deep real fast,” said Prompto.
“That’s the point. It’s a game to get to know each other,” Aranea winked at him.
“You’re not an orphan,” Ignis said casually.
“Why do you think that?” Aranea countered.
“Estranged, perhaps. But you still have people out there, don’t you? Or, at least you hope you do. It’s why you accept Cor sending you all over Eos—the hope that you might find someone you’ve lost touch with a long time ago.”
“You’re good, Specs. Real good.”
“So I am correct?”
“No. But you almost had me believing you.” Aranea laughed and took an extra shot. “I am an orphan. And I have been in love, once, believe it or not. A long time ago. It’s mostly forgotten now, except for a little bit of warning not to pull that shit again.”
“You don’t wish to fall in love again?” Ignis asked.
“Not if I can help it.”
“What happens when you can’t?”
“Can’t what?”
“Help it?”
Ignis kept his line of sight in Aranea’s direction, knowing just how much this seemed to unsettle her based on the subtle movements he’d been picking up on. The moment stirred with an invisible electricity.
“Well,” Gladio said, clearing his throat. “Prompto and I are going to play some darts.”
“We are?” Prompto said.
“Yeah, we are. Sorry Iggy, I know you can’t join just yet.” Gladio turned to Aranea. “Throwing darts in the dark is still a work in progress after the last incident. Let’s just say Prompto got in Iggy’s way.”
“Wish I’d seen it,” Aranea smiled.
“Anyway, we’ll be over there if you guys need anything. We’ll leave the cheap liquor to you.”
Gladio pulled Prompto up from his seat and the two left, leaving Ignis and Aranea alone for the first time. Aranea poured two shots.
“So. Should we keep playing?”
“Ladies first.”
—
The cheap liquor bottle was nearly empty. Prompto and Gladio had started an impromptu darts tournament with some other hunters, and Ignis and Aranea remained on the bench in the booth. They sat a little closer, a little more comfortably, though something tentative still hung in the air.
“I’m running out of answers,” Aranea said.
“Out of truths, or lies?” Ignis asked.
He had learned a lot about Aranea Highwind in the last hour. He now knew that she had remained adamantly single for the last eight years after her one and only experience of being in love didn’t end so well. He knew that she sometimes had nightmares at night, not for the things that she’s done, but for the things she hadn’t. He knew that she liked to be on top.
Aranea, in turn, was learning an awful lot about Ignis Scientia as well, like how he secretly wanted to have a child one day, or that he had gotten off in the tent once when all the guys were sleeping (he left out the part about it being after meeting Aranea for the first time—her aerial moves had apparently left an impression on the young strategist).
“I’m afraid I don’t have much left in me if I want to be of use tomorrow,” Ignis said, finishing his drink.
“Okay, last one,” Aranea replied, taking a shot. She studied Ignis’ face, the scars looking ever more attractive as they healed onto his skin, his face still handsome and alarmingly refined after so many drinks. Her own head was swimming, her inhibitions loosened. Why did he have to look so good, dammit.
“Which one’s a truth and which one’s a lie,” she continued. “I think Gladio is hot.”
“Okay…”
“Or, I think you are hot.”
Ignis blinked. Sure, they had been revealing personal details all evening, but this one caught him off guard. Inside, he felt butterflies at the implication. But outwardly, he kept his cool.
“Interesting options,” he replied coolly.
“Yeah? So what do you think?” Aranea leaned in a little closer.
“Well, I believe this is somewhat of a… trick question.”
Ignis tapped his finger on his lips.
“How so?”
Aranea licked hers as she watched.
“I believe that you do find Gladio attractive.”
“Oh?”
“Well, who wouldn’t enjoy his rugged good looks and impressive physique? But I think that, perhaps, you find me even more attractive.”
Aranea let out a small laugh. “And what gives you that idea?”
“Well, for starters, you have been slowly moving closer to me all night. Your breathing has quickened as you asked this question, implying that you’re a touch nervous. And...”
Ignis shifted in his seat so he was facing her, breaking the contact of their thighs—Aranea missed the warmth immediately. Ignis then lightly touched her cheek.
“... Your cheeks are hot, meaning that you may be blushing.”
Aranea wanted to move her face away, but his touch felt too good. Ignis gently took her wrist next.
“Ah, and there it is. Your heart rate is increasing. I dare say, you appear to find my touch… exhilarating.”
Aranea didn’t know how to respond; it was so forward of him. But not wrong—no, certainly not wrong.
“You seem speechless, Aranea.”
Damn, she liked hearing him say her name.
“Well, you’re giving me quite the analysis.”
Ignis took her hand and placed it on his chest.
“Do you feel that?”
“Your heart?”
“Yes. Apparently, I find your touch exhilarating too.”
A part of Aranea wanted to pull her hand away and run from the bar. She wanted to crawl into bed and forget that this ever happened. Pretend that she didn’t love the way Ignis smirked or how he just knew things. Push away the months of invasive thoughts about him that she had tried so hard to keep at bay. Why did she have to approach them in the bar tonight? Why did she pose that truth and lie?
But she stayed there anyway, hand on his heart, feeling it beating beneath her palm. Faster and faster and faster.
“I…”
She had no idea what to say—a novel sensation for her. She kept her hand in place and tilted her head so that it rested on Ignis’ shoulder. She closed her eyes.
Maybe it was the cheap liquor, but Aranea could suddenly see different futures unfolding in front of her eyes, one with Ignis and one without.
Without him, she was strong and independent. She made her way through the darkness with a singular determination to both survive and help as many people as she could. Emotionally, she was even-keeled. She was absolutely fine on her own.
With him, however, she was even better. She was a part of a team, someone to help her survive and help others. Someone to lift her out of darkness in those moments when it all became too much. She was still fine—but often, she was also happy. And scared, and warm, and angry, and safe, and exhilarated. In this dreary darkness, she was alive.
Aranea raised her head off Ignis’ shoulder and moved her lips to his ear.
“If this is so exhilarating, then what should we do about it?” she whispered.
Ignis traced her fingers with his own.
“Something tells me you already know,” he whispered back.
A flash interrupted the moment, so strong that even Ignis seemed to sense it. Aranea turned to see Prompto grinning stupidly with his camera.
“Sorry guys—had to! Noct will want to see this someday. Carry on!”
He jetted back to the dartboard and Aranea turned to Ignis, feeling slightly sobered from the flash.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” she asked, taking his hand. “Just a walk. Nothing more.”
“Nothing more,” Ignis echoed, but he knew better.
They both knew better.
He will kiss her, and she will kiss him back. They will stumble into a small room and make love in tangled sheets. He will find himself quickly falling in love with her, and she the same, though she will try to deny it as long as she could. Eventually, there will be no more denying. There would be no more lies.
This is a cross stitch design I drew a few months back that I would like to start stitching for HighSpecs Week. I can't finish it before the week is over, but damn it, I'm going to try! 💪 Eventually, I'd like to make one for each of my headcanons: Prompto and Cindy on a chocobo-themed date, Noctis teaching Luna how to fish, Gladio with his Cup Noodles, etc. Stay tuned to see my work in progress.
Last night’s stitching and tonight’s. I made some small changes to the scale of the table and chairs (too tall). Only a few more colors to add and I’ll be finished. I’m trying to decide if I should add a blue box caption like I did for my previous piece. “Recipeh for love” maybe? Whaddaya think?
