middleofsomewhere | Let it Snow: Blue Start

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Let it Snow: Blue Start

The moment the doors open for purple to jump the train is speaking again. “Blue team to doors. Void shift imminent. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one” The train lurches and shudders as the windows flash the colour of the void for a split second before it shakes again and they are back in that frozen tundra.

The doors open and blue can jump down into a large snowdrift. They are at the foot of an impressive mountain range. Snow swirls around them, the wind hows. Ahead of them, half obscured by snow is a tunnel entrance.

Even getting there is exhausting, wading through the snow. Inside there is no snow but it is cold. The walls and floor shine with ice and the way is treacherous. It is pitch black.

Their task is to find those hiding in the tunnels. Some have formed makeshift camps in large caverns, others have fled into the small tunnels and have gotten themselves lost.

The voidtreckers are lucky to at least have a map on their SCA though it does not show where anybody else it. It is time to start the task of rounding everyone up and making sure they can survive the storm.

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This place was so cold, he wondered if they would find anyone alive here in this place. But he'd come armed and was ready to face it. It was all he could do not to fall on his arse and stay upright though somehow he managed it.

Hearing someone come up beside him, Ignis turned and looked over at Madoka. He was relieved to see she was alright and hers had been the very first face that he'd been looking for. As big as the blue team had gotten now, he still tried to keep his eyes out for the most vulnerable members which to him were Madoka and Romeo.

He's surprised that she takes his hand and holds onto it and can't help but recall how they'd played together in the snow. Obviously the circumstances were very different between then and now, but still. That tiny little hand in his lifted his spirits and he smiled at her though it might be hard to see.

"That is perfectly fine." It went unspoken that the advisor would of course protect her with his life. For now though, he was just going to enjoy her presence and this was one way to take a load off of his mind.

There's some relief at him saying he's alright with her holding his hand like this. Sure, he hadn't protested when she had grabbed his hand before, but these are very different circumstances. She'd understand if he had to focus on the situation at hand and needed both of his hands free for that.

But she smiles up at him at the acceptance. The smile is a little thin with how cold everything is, but there's genuine happiness in it. Somehow things feel more safe now, when she's right next to him like this. There's no one more reliable than Ignis.

"Thank you. If there's anything I can do to help.. please let me know. It must be tough to look after everyone."

One look revealed how cold she was and he was going to offer his scarf, but she already had a scarf.

There were a lot of times Madoka rendered Ignis speechless and her offer of help and saying it was tough to look after others just floored him. But he was the Team leader and even if it had been quickly thrust upon his shoulders, he wouldn't trade it for anything. That little smile and happiness in her face solidified his already firm resolve to protect her and the team and keep them all safe. They would all go home safely. So he smiled back at her, and nodded.

"Another set of eyes on the team would most certainly be appreciated." And if she wanted to do this more often, the advisor was going to have Tony make radios for them. It was probably a good idea anyway so his team could keep in contact and Ignis would help as much as he could.

"Another set of eyes.." She repeats his words as if she's pondering them, but then she nods up at him. "Alright..! I can do that!" It's said with a kind of resolve, but.. you know, said kind is the cute kind. She's even making a tiny fist with her free hand to show she's extra determined to help him out. Even if Ignis is pretty amazing, he's only one person. Surely with the two of them together they can keep an eye on everyone It's double the eyes!

"I guess it really is better if we all stick together, huh..? These tunnels seem so big.." She stares ahead of them into said tunnels as they fade into the darkness in the distance. "I can only imagine how scary it'd be if anyone was lost in there all by themselves."

Her resolve is adorable and admirable. As cold and as miserable as Madoka must be, somehow being responsible to help with the team is enough to cheer this girl up.

"It is best to stay together, considering these caverns all look the same." There's something of a scowl in his tone because he's worried about his team and about them getting lost. Plus they had to find the locals who are starving, lost and cold.

Madoka nods again.

"Don't worry, that's why I'll stay right here by you, mister Ignis..!" She swings their joined hands a little, as if to put emphasis on the fact that it'd be literally impossible for her to get lost when she's attached to him. "And I'm sure everyone else understands too that it's dangerous to run off by yourself in there. Our team is really responsible, after all! Right?"

"That is a lovely thought." Ignis smiled. He really tried to not ask Madoka why she was swinging their hands together because the girl seemed really happy and in good spirits despite the cold and danger.

He nodded to her question and stopped for a moment. "Even though the team has gotten bigger, I still believe that we have the best team."

Madoka is willing to agree with that last sentiment. Not that she'd ever put the other teams down, but she does really like their team. She's still not too sure how to feel about some of the more recent arrivals, but the ones she knows well are all so nice, and she's so happy to be sharing a team with all of them.

And although she's aware she probably only plays a very, very tiny role in the team at best, she still feels a little proud to hear Ignis say it anyway. Maybe her contribution does matter, no matter how tiny?

Rather than questioning it though, she instead giggles a little. "Don't tell mister Stark that, I don't think he'd agree." Considering he called himself the most handsome man on the train.. then he'd probably think his own team was the best too, right.

Ignis had to laugh at Madoka's assessment. "That is a subject I wouldn't dare bring up." There was an exaggerated eye roll for her benefit. They'd probably play argue and of course he knew that Tony would just get louder and louder until the advisor 'gave in' and agreed. But he would always favour his own team first, after being made leader by some sort of default and he hadn't cast a single vote for anyone nor even tried to get on the council. It was a position he suddenly found himself in though and didn't even try to get out of. He accepted and did his best and in his eyes he'd been fortunate to have the best team.

The older man was full of himself in so many ways, but deep down, Ignis had seen right through to the insecurity and worry. He'd seen how hard the man tried to be accepted and liked even if he went about it in all the wrong ways. The man had a big heart and that was why the advisor fell for him. It was just like Noctis in that way too, the same kindness, the same willingness to sacrifice for the sake of others, to do what was right and what was needed.

Pulling out his phone, he swiped the screen and showed her the pictures that had been taken of them at the last stop. "I keep meaning to show these to you."

"Oh!" She looks a little surprised as she realises what Ignis is trying to show her, but then she leans closer to the screen already in order to take a good look at the pictures. She had ran off so soon after taking them back there that she hadn't had a chance to look at them yet..

"These are so nice.." If not just since it's nice to see people happy together like that. Even when she's one of said people. Suddenly she seems to realise something though, and she can't help but giggle. "Look, mister Stark gave you bunny ears."

Some people might consider him a little too old to pull a prank like that, but Madoka apparently thinks it's cute.

It was nice to see Madoka smiling. It really gave him a sense of peace when she, Romeo, Joss and the other children on the train were happy and could forget about things like missions and death, pain and suffering.

There was a put upon sigh at the observation though it wasn't directed at the girl in any way shape or form. "Yes, he indeed pulled such a thing, didn't he?" And the only reason he didn't chew Tony's ass already was because it was a once in a lifetime memory, even if it was an odd one.

Ignis just shook his head. Tony won this round.

~~Parents arguing isn't allowed in front of the kid!!~~

Madoka giggles again. Ignis may be sighing, but she just thinks it's kind of cute.. If anything, it feels like a sign of how close those two are. "It looks cute on you though, mister Ignis." Especially since he's so serious most of the time. Sure, Madoka thinks his ability to always be serious and responsible is super admirable, but ever since they built that snowman she's been wanting to make sure he can just indulge in fun and silly things too. And that photo definitely is one of those things.

"Now you'll just have to ask him for a photo again after the mission and sneakily give him bunny ears this time."

How she could giggle in the cold like this was beyond him though he admired her tenacity. Ignis had to at least smile because while bunny ears were fun, he had other ideas that weren't so innocent.

"A capital idea Madoka." he acknowledged, knowing he wouldn't do it. Still, he appreciated her suggestion all the same.

The advisor would've suggested that they build another snowman but here they mainly had ice.

There's indeed not much they can do with a whole lot of ice. And besides, no matter how much Madoka would rather be doing fun things right now, she knows they have a very important mission to take care of. So she'll just have to try and do her best to focus.

"Come on, mister Ignis. We should try to start looking for the people here now, right..?"

"Of course." Ignis said with a nod. First he was going to check his supplies before departing. There were so many hungry and cold people that he felt like he couldn't possibly over prepare.

Supplies checked, green eyes turned to Madoka. "Is everything in order?"

Edited 2020-01-22 02:22 (UTC)

The girl nods back at him. "I think so."

But despite answering that, she still looks a little hesitant. Like she's thinking about something, but as usually when it comes to Madoka, she can't say it quite easily. She trusts and likes Ignis though, so she slowly manages to voice her opinion after a moment or two.

"Do you think there'll be enough for everyone though..? Of course we took the whole team into account, but we have no idea how many more people could be out there.."

Ignis saw the look on Madoka's face and he smiled gently at her touching concern. He didn't want to lie to her but he wasn't looking to make her worry either. Walking over to her, he knelt down in front of her as was his custom when dealing with her at times.

He'd gone without at times or had eaten very little to make sure his team ate even when there was plenty. "I'm sure we'll have what we need. And if I need to go try and find more supplies or somewhere to cook, I can do that as well."

And if some of those beasts out there bore meat, Ignis was going hunting too.

He better make sure that she won't catch him in the act of eating little, she'll definitely make sure to feed him more! Ignis is so important to the team and he's working so hard, no way he can sustain himself on so little food.

But since she has no idea about that, she just nods. What he's saying sounds very reasonable, after all. Of course Ignis would know the solution to anything.

"If we need to cook some more food, I can help too." Even though it obviously won't be as easy out here as in the actual kitchen back on the train.. "It'll be easier with more people helping, right?"

Madoka's attitude towards being helpful and kind just reinforced how proud Ignis was of his team and the members on it. They were so good hearted, Madoka and Romeo he'd especially gotten to know and spend time with.

Normally Ignis took a solitary approach to cooking, but he couldn't just say no to the girl. He never had been able to even if it infringed on his own cooking territory. Romeo had slightly done the very same thing and they got away with it. Funny that Tony had yet to be able to cross that threshold.

So he nodded. "Of course. And with so many people that we can see and those still lost and hungry out there, teamwork will definitely be most helpful in this situation."

Honestly, if Madoka knew that Ignis usually didn't cook alongside other people, she'd feel even more proud that he was letting her do so.. But she seems happy enough at the idea of cooking together in general, especially when it's in such an important situation. People have to make sure to eat well even more so in this kind of weather, right?

She smiles a little as she nods in return.

"There's probably kids lost in the tunnels too, right?" There's no way any place nearby here happened to only have adults.. "I can make fun food for them to cheer them up! I'm really good at making apple bunnies and octopus sausages!"

He sighed and nodded. "Unfortunately I'm sure there are children who've been separated from their parents in the tunnels." It bothered him to think of them crying lost and hungry but he couldn't discount the possibility.

"Fun food?" The mention of cooking definitely got his attention so he listened as she went on. "Apple bunnies and octopus sausages you say..." Well these were new recipehs so he had to learn more about the things Madoka knew how to cook. Looking at her, she got a nod. "Cooking for others is fun, especially to see their faces light up."

And Ignis would certainly know a bit about that.

"Have you never made apple bunnies or octopus sausages before, mister Ignis?"

At least she doesn't really sound surprised anymore when she says it. Considering Ignis hasn't done other fun things before, like playing in the snow, he's probably been more practical about the kind of food he's made.. And maybe he didn't have a mother or father to make those for him when he was little?

The dusty blonde head shook. "No I'm afraid that I can't say that I have." Ignis did sound properly disappointed too. "However, I'm more than willing to learn how." The dishes did sound intriguing at least. And it would give him the opportunity to look for octopus here.

Plus should he indeed find some, he could let her take the lead and display some confidence that he knew was inside of Madoka somewhere.

It's definitely a good way to draw out the confidence, since Madoka already seems to smile now as she says: "Oh, of course I can teach you..!"

Sure, it's partially just because Madoka is happy to do just about any activity with Ignis. But she does feel extra proud if she's even able to learn something, no matter how small it is. It's not like apple bunnies are going to save the world or anything, after all, but at least they're fun...

"It's really simple, so of course you could do it, mister Ignis. You're like a cooking expert."

Anyone else (with the exception of Romeo, Renee or Evie) could never get away with saying they taught Ignis how to cook something. But especially Madoka had Ignis wrapped around her little finger so tight it was unreal.

Seeing that bright smile melted his heart and he'd give her the world if he had it.

He had to laugh and shake his head. "I'm not quite sure that yu should reveal such a secret to the man who considers himself to be the most handsome on the train."

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