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year 5, quarter 3
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Living in a city as large as Sonora had its ups and downs, for a man who could no longer see. On the upside, it was easy to find himself a cozy little nook to call his temporary home, he was able to absorb much more information about the world and expand his search for Noctis, and work was aplenty. After showing off what he was capable of to Cissnei at her cafe, the royal retainer realized he could put his baking and cooking skills to use elsewhere. A traveling, blind chef, as it were. He’d made connections well enough in the area he was staying in, offering to come in and help where he could.
Most people weren’t heartless enough to turn away a blind man, and not for the first time, Ignis knew he would have to take advantage of what his condition twisted in the hearts of others.
However, being surrounded by so many people, noises, smells and twists and turns was … difficult. Learning the paths through the city was taking much more time than a smaller town would, and there were very few resources for the disabled. Neglected sidewalks led to the occasional trip and tumble, snow tended to fall here and there, heavy and other times light, deafening the world around him and making it more difficult to “see”.
He had to hold out hope that Noctis would come to Sonora. It was the most similar to Insomnia that Iggy had found in his travels, and with limited resources and no other friends to lean on … It was better to stay in one place and get the word out, rather than try and travel again. He was making a name for himself in the cold, harsh city. If only he could push it further.
Ignis dried his hands on a towel sticking out of his apron pocket, before removing the garment entirely and finding the nearby hook to hang it up. It was early, likely around 8am or so, but baking required a much earlier start. He’d come down to Zapp’s cafe four hours earlier, prepping dough and frying donuts, baking scones and making cookies. The taste of his treats and the neatness of his handiwork hadn’t been lost on the owner, who’d been more than happy to have an extra set of hands so the older man could sleep in a bit.
Grabbing his sight cane, Ignis Scientia departed the kitchen, barely giving a tap here or there to the trail he knew well by now. He patted down his purple button-up, assuming it to be mostly presentable and flour-free. Grabbing a nearby mug, the blonde filled it with coffee from behind the counter, taking one small, daring sip. It was no ebony, but it would do.
A noise, out of place, began to catch his attention. What started as one drip quickly multiplied, two three four -- until it was pouring.
Oh, blazes. It was pouring rain outside! Ignis huffed at the window, annoyed with the sudden onset of ugly weather. He knew from experience that such a rain was icy and cold, and would soak a man to the bone in mere moments. It teetered on the edge of becoming snow or ice, threatening anyone caught unawares a terrible time. So much for heading out for the day. The few customers muttered something along the same lines, shuffling back to their newspapers.
Ignis sighed, and leaned back against the counter, sipping quietly at his coffee. Well, at least anyone who darted into the cafe could be brought back to an acceptable warmth with a decent cup of joe.
But its too late, to go back. I can see the darkness, through the cracks. Daylight fading, I curse the breaking. The day is gone.
Vincent was slowly getting used to life in Sonora. It felt similar enough to Midgar that he wasn’t entirely lost. There were plenty of people here with jobs that needed doing and they were mostly willing to pay. So he was getting by. Each day was easier than the last, even as he yearned for Gaia and home. For the peace he was beginning to remember. So far, he’d recognized no one in Sonora. Rumors flitted around about other possible people from Gaia in the city, but so far he’d been unable to corroborate them.
Oh well. One day at a time. That was all he could do, for now. He left his rented room early in the morning, hoping to beat other mercenaries and job-seekers to the boards. The streets weren’t empty, they never were in Sonora, but they weren’t yet crowded as Vincent slipped out into the early morning gloom. It was cold, as always, and he pulled his red cloak around his shoulders. He'd taken to wearing all black recently so he didn't stick out as much in the strange city, but the warmth of the red cloak couldn't be denied on a morning like this. He left his gold armor in the room.
He headed down one of the main business streets of Sonora, past shops and cafes. Many of them were just starting to open up for the day’s business. Sleepy shopkeepers unlocked doors and rolled up metal grates. The smells of baked goods and coffee filtered through the normal harsh and unpleasant smells of the city. He ignored his pang of hunger. He’d stop for food only after he checked the job boards. He’d learned the hard way that the good, well-paying jobs didn’t last long in Sonora.
Vincent was nearly at the square when thunder rumbled above. He cursed and glanced up, just as the freezing rain began to fall. It was only just warm enough to not be snow, but even through the cloak and his thick black clothes, Vincent felt instantly chilled to the bone. The rain started as a trickle. But it didn’t take long for it to become a downpour, drenching him and plastering his black hair to his face and back. Vincent shivered and looked ahead at the square. Even if he found a job he didn’t exactly want to go out slaying monsters in this weather.
He shivered and pulled the wet red cloak closer, even though it did no good. He had enough gil, for now. Mercenary work would have to wait until the weather wasn’t quite so miserable. With a last grumble of annoyance, Vincent ducked under the awning of a nearby cafe. The writing on the door proclaimed it to be Zapp’s Cafe. The smell of coffee and the promise of warmth was too enticing to ignore. Vincent tried his best to wring out his sodden hair and cloak before pushing through the door to the sound of a merry bell.
The cafe was warm and sparsely populated. Perfect, in his mind. He stood, dripping in the doorway for a moment, taking in his surroundings. A blonde man in a purple shirt stood at the counter. He looked like an employee and Vincent nodded in greeting to him. But then he saw the long white cane beside the man. Blind? So he walked forward, knowing the man would hear the sound of his boots against the floor and the sodden drip of his wet clothes.
Vincent glanced at the pastries and sweets displayed in the counter. “Hey,” he greeted the man. “How much for a coffee and a scone?”
The harsh patter of rain outside chilled Ignis without even really experiencing it. He’d been in Sonora long enough to have gotten caught once or twice in the frigid drizzle, gasping as it nearly took his breath away. The feeling of an icy rain brought about an unpleasant, albeit foggy memory for him. The downpour put a damper on his spirit, and laced him with thoughts of failure. Why, he feared he would never know.
The door opened with a gentle chime, betraying the harshness of the world outside. The sound of the downpour quickly became muffled once more as the door closed behind the newest customer, who was clearly soaked to the bone. While he couldn’t see the person, Ignis could easily imagine a soaked cat -- flustered and grumpy, its fur sodden with water. The person walked forward, wet, leather boots threatening to squeak against the tile. There were a few steady drips of varying pitches, falling from different parts of the person’s garment.
Ignis attempted to offer the customer a warm smile, knowing well that nothing he could offer would permanently clear the cold from their body. He set his mug of coffee on the counter, straightening up as the man greeted him -- his voice quiet, a little rough around the edge.
A coffee and a scone. Something warm, sweet, and dense.
The baker shook his head and gave the man a casual wave of the hand, “It’s on the house. Considering the unfortunate situation that brought you here, I feel as though it's the least I can offer.”
Ignis gestured the man to the bar seating just to his right, before turning around to grab a mug and pour a fresh cup of steaming, warm coffee for the poor, sodden fellow. Even the subtle aroma of the house blend would, hopefully, give the man some warmth for his soul. The blonde placed the cup of coffee on the bar, before turning to grab a scone from the case.
“I wish I had known how common these icy downpours are in the city,” Ignis mused as he reached for the bakery case, only fumbling once before opening it and grabbing a pair of fresh tongs, “I would have invested in an umbrella already.”
Instead of placing the scone on a plate, Ignis turned and used the tongs to put the treat into the nearby warmer. As tasty as a scone was without being warmed up first, if it were him dripping on the other side of the counter, he knew he would appreciate the gesture.
“A few moments for the scone, then,” Ignis turned back to the bar with a smile, “If you don’t mind, sir.”
But its too late, to go back. I can see the darkness, through the cracks. Daylight fading, I curse the breaking. The day is gone.
Vincent stood dripping in front of the counter. The water-logged red cloak felt like it weighed him down. The blonde-haired man gave him a warm, heartfelt smile but his eyes didn’t completely focus on Vincent’s face, confirming that he was indeed blind. When he spoke, his voice was soft and kind much like his smile. Vincent hadn’t been in Sonora for long, but he’d already determined that most of its residents weren’t so genuine. The other shopkeepers and restaurateurs he’d encountered had been distant and bordering on impolite. Not that Vincent generally minded, as long as he could get what he needed. But this employee of Zapp’s Cafe seemed to genuinely enjoy his job here.
He felt almost startled when he offered the coffee and scone free of charge. “Ah. Well, thank you,” Vincent responded finally. He wasn’t sure if offering gil again would be more or less rude, so he opted to silently slide into the tall bar stool the man gestured him towards. He was starting to warm and dry, at least a little. He watched as the man worked behind the counter. Despite being unable to see, he clearly knew exactly where everything was. He seemed barely affected by his disability at all.
A mug of steaming, black coffee was set in front of him. Vincent gratefully wrapped his hands around the warm ceramic, feeling instantly a little better. Its scent was subtle but delicious. When he brought it to his lips he found it was also the perfect temperature. It wasn’t too hot to drink, but it was plenty warming after a walk through freezing rain.
Vincent snorted softly at the man’s lament at not having purchased an umbrella. Something about the man’s generosity and affability made him feel comfortable and at ease, more willing to carry on a conversation with a stranger than usual. “Don’t bother. I bought one when I first got here and a storm broke it almost immediately.” The flimsy thing hadn’t stood up to the gusts of wind that accompanied the freezing Sonoran rain. He hadn’t seen a point in trying to find a new one.
The man fumbled every-so-slightly with the bakery case before placing the scone into a warmer. It was another unnecessary but kind gesture. Warm pastry would certainly taste better than room temperature. “No problem,” he responded to the man’s request to wait. Vincent could still hear the rain pouring outside. He had no intention of leaving any time soon. “What brought you to Sonora?” he finally asked after another few drinks of coffee. He’d learned that there were many people here, like him, pulled from other worlds. But there were also those who’d lived their whole lives here. He was curious where this baker fit in.
Ignis couldn’t help the hearty chuckle that escaped his lips as the stranger mentioned his plight with his umbrella. It was cruel, of course, to laugh at the unfortunate circumstance of another. But, he couldn’t help but imagine himself, fighting with and cursing an umbrella as it betrayed him and flipped inside out to soak him in the unforgiving rain. As if he didn’t have enough issues walking around the city as it was! No, he would stick to wearing a thick coat and dealing with the icy waves as they came.
The rain continued its angry downpour, with no intention of letting up anytime soon. That was the terrible thing about Sonora this time of year, a few of the older crowd had explained to Ignis as he’d settled into the job. The rainy season mixed the already dreary, cloudy atmosphere of Sonora with icy pellets and sometimes heavy snow, making an already freezing trip to the store nearly unbearable. He wondered how long the rainy season would last, as the timer for the warmer ticked down slowly. A watched pot never boiled, but maybe the same could be said for a timer that one was all too aware of?
The sodden stranger was quite kind, though, and that was enough to warm anyone’s heart away from the dreary, freezing temperature just beyond the door. The oven pinged, and Ignis felt the warmth spread over his fingers as he opened the door. A quick snatch with the tongs, and the warm, delectable scone was on a plate and ready to serve. A cranberry orange scone, if he remembered its placement correctly. A blend of sweet and citrus-y tang.
As he turned to put the plate in front of the man, that deep voice spoke up again underneath dripping clothes, rough enough around the edge to keep it from being too soft, “What brought you to Sonora?”
Ignis set the plate down before the man, before reaching to grab his coffee from the surface behind the counter where he’d left it. He took a quick sip, relishing in the warmth for a moment before giving his answer, “I’m looking for someone, as it were. This city is more like home than any other I’ve been to, so I thought …”.
Ah, well, he’d thought. And wished. And prayed.
Ignis waved a hand in front of his face, as if to push away any further thought of Noctis, and his current failures to find the crown price, “My tale is no different than many other people I’ve bumped into here or there. I simply settled, instead of continuing to wander aimlessly.”
The blonde smiled, despite himself. The struggles were very real, and his disappointment in himself was immeasurable. All of this time, and not a word of Noctis. He knew the prince was among them, or else he would have no access to his weapons. Even more than that, he knew it in his heart. His dearest friend was in the world, somewhere, somehow.
“Oh, where are my manners?” Ignis wondered aloud, offended at himself for simply telling his own story without trading names with his customer first. He bowed his head slightly, one arm at his side while the other kept his coffee cup up as he spoke politely, “Ignis Scientia, of … well, Zapp’s Cafe, at the moment.”
He came back to his full height, glancing back at the stranger for all the good it did him, “And yourself? I doubt the charming weather is what attracted you to the city of Sonora.”
But its too late, to go back. I can see the darkness, through the cracks. Daylight fading, I curse the breaking. The day is gone.
The scone smelled wonderful as it was set on the counter in front of him. Vincent couldn’t quite place the scent, but he caught a hint of citrus. Whatever the flavor was, he was certain it would be delicious. But he let it cool just slightly before tasting it, sipping the coffee and focusing on the blonde-haired man as he answered Vincent’s question.
Vincent scrutinized him when he mentioned that Sonora reminded him of home. Was this man from Midgar? It was possible, of course, Midgar was a city of millions. And while Vincent had never called the hulking mess of steel and mako home for long, his hazy memories of it were much like Sonora. I simply settled, instead of continuing to wander aimlessly, the man added, as explanation for his life here in Sonora. That was common, he supposed, to want a place to call home. To be honest, Vincent was the opposite. Much of his life had been spent roaming the world and pointedly not settling. He’d not left Sonora since arriving here and it was starting to grow old and repetitive. He might have to pick up his old nomadic ways again soon and see what this world had to offer. Unless he found anyone he was looking for before that.
Vincent sympathized with the man’s hunt for someone he had lost. That was a common theme, here in Sonora. Everyone seemed to be looking for someone they’d left behind, hunting for a familiar face in the huge city. Vincent likewise had yet to find any of the people he’d been looking for, despite mounting rumors.
The scone was cooled enough now and Vincent took a bite. It was flaky and sweet, with a filling of cranberry and orange, explaining the citrus he’d smelled. He wasn’t usually one to care too much for sweets, but the scone was perfectly balanced. Sweet, but not overwhelming. The man was talented, that much was clear.
He introduced himself with a slight bow as Ignis Scientia. “Vincent Valentine,” he offered by way of introduction after finishing the bite of scone. “Sonora is much like a city I once knew, as well. Except the weather is worse,” he added with a snort of laughter. His clothes still dripped onto the floor of the cafe. His long hair was plastered to his back. “I guess you could say I’m looking for some people, too. It seems everyone in Sonora is searching for someone.” He shrugged. “But if I don’t find them, I might travel to other cities. I’ve done a bit of mercenary work here, but there’s always people needing help elsewhere, too. And I’m quite accustomed to a wandering lifestyle.”
Vincent finished the scone, making sure to leave only the tiniest crumbs behind. “Do you do the baking here?” he asked, after pushing the empty plate away and drinking the last of the coffee. He felt worlds better now than when he had first entered Zapp’s Cafe. It was amazing what a warm snack and drink and good conversation could do.
The man introduced himself as Vincent Valentine. A name that rolled off the tongue, yet Ignis imagined the poor, sodden man was likely not much of a flirt. Though, perhaps he was wrong, and that interesting last name of his told a fair share of stories. The silly, frivolous thought floated away as quickly as it had come, and Ignis took a sip of coffee in order to wish it well on its way from his mind. Though, that first name did stick … Vincent. Hadn’t he heard that name recently?
Well, it would come to him in time. For the moment, he needed to worry about nothing other than being a good host.
At least the scone had been delectable enough to eat. Ignis shifted his weight against the counter behind him as Vincent explained that Sonora resembled a city he once knew. They had that in common, at least! While Sonora was much more dreary than the crown city, they were both filled with life, with automation, and people of all sorts. It saddened Iggy that he couldn’t see the architecture of Sonora, that he couldn’t draw more comparisons. He’d only been able to map out the city with his feet and ears.
Much like himself, and many others, Vincent was looking for other people. Friends, comrades, fellows. At least he had a solid plan of mercenary work. Ignis smiled at the thought, remembering fondly the odd jobs here and there that Noctis would get himself involved in. Yes, everyone needed help with something, whether it was fetching gemstones or taking out dangerous monsters.
“Mercenary work will get you far, even outside of the city,” Ignis confirmed with a slight nod, swirling his coffee carefully in his mug, “I woke up in a city called Provo, and while there weren’t many people willing to let a blind man work for them, the few that did helped me earn my gil to travel. There is always work to be done.”
Setting his coffee aside, the blonde reached forward to take the empty plate that was pushed toward him with a small smile. Nary a crumb left. Well, if anything, Ignis could always take comfort in the fact that he could bake his ass off for a job. He turned and took a few steps, left hand finding the sink behind the counter and placing the dish carefully at the bottom. It could wait to be cleaned with the coffee cups, when they were finished.
“Indeed, I do the baking here as well as two other small cafes,” Ignis replied, a bit of pep in his voice as he found his coffee cup once more, “It’s not near as exciting as my former job, but it soothes the soul and pays the bills, for now.”
The torrential downpour just beyond the windows was beginning to slow a tad. The wind still washed the rain over in waves, but it settled enough to be able to hear nearby conversations at other tables and the quiet hum of the large oven in the back. On instinct, Ignis grabbed the nearby coffee pot and gestured toward his guest, offering a refill when the man pushed his cup forward.
There was still that nagging thought from earlier, though. Vincent -- why was it familiar? A common name, perhaps?
“Is there someone in particular you’re searching for?” Ignis inquired curiously, eager to scratch that unknowing itch in his mind. He set the coffee pot back on the warmer after refilling his own cup, turning back to Vincent with an eyebrow raised, “I do get quite the interesting customers here and there. Perhaps there’s a name or description I could listen for?”
But its too late, to go back. I can see the darkness, through the cracks. Daylight fading, I curse the breaking. The day is gone.
[attr="class","vvoverlap"]Too much hope is the opposite of despair.
[attr="class","vvbody"]Vincent sipped his coffee and listened intently as Ignis spoke. His voice was calm and sure, the voice of a quietly confident individual. He agreed that mercenary work was a fair calling in this world, including in the city of Provo where he’d first awoken. Vincent had heard little of Provo, mostly just that it was a southern trading city. And much less advanced than Sonora technologically. He could think of no appropriate response when Ignis mentioned that few people wanted the help of a blind man, so he stayed respectfully silent. He couldn’t imagine navigating the world without sight, but Ignis seemed to do it quite well. Vincent was impressed. The people denying him clearly hadn’t given him enough of a chance. [break][break]
Ignis confirmed that he was the baker, heightening Vincent’s appreciation and respect for the man even further. He’d never had any skill for this type of work and he knew a lot of precision and thought went into it. And he was again struck by how his sightlessness didn’t slow him down or keep him from doing what he was good at. “The scone was very good,” Vincent commented, though that was probably clear from his completely cleaned plate. [break][break]
Vincent’s coffee cup was refilled without him having to ask. He simply pushed the cup forward and it was again full of rich, black liquid. He thanked Ignis and gratefully wrapped his hands around the hot mug. The rain seemed to be lessening. And he was drier than he’d been before, but he was still soaked and near-freezing. A comfortable silence stretched between them for a while as Vincent drank more coffee and waited for the storm to clear just a bit more. [break][break]
Then the other man asked who he was looking for. Who exactly was he looking for? There were a lot of choices, after all. “Well…” he started and thought of who would be easiest to describe, especially to a man who couldn’t see them. “There were quite a few. Old comrades from home. Yuffie was probably the closest to a true friend, though I’d ask you never tell her that.” A note of amusement entered his voice at the thought of the utterly endless teasing he’d receive if she ever learned he’d said that about her. “Young woman, very talkative, sometimes annoying. If she still has it, she was well-known for a large shuriken weapon.” He paused to think. “Then there’s Cloud. He ddoesn't speak much. His hair was the most distinctive thing about him, but I’m not sure how much that helps. Very blonde and very spiky.”
[break]
[attr="class","vvinfo"]Never let Yuffie know. / Ignis Scientia
The honest praise did not go unnoticed. Humble to his core, Ignis only gave a brief smile in response to Vincent’s compliment, but inside he was quietly beaming. With very little to hold to his name these days, being able to brighten the day for a stranger with a well-baked treat was a gift, a prize. It warmed his soul to know that he had done some good in the cold, unforgiving city. It reminded him, briefly, of what he was able to share and provide to his closest friends. His worth, his meaning, his purpose.
The warm coffee accentuated his brief, momentary glow, and Ignis took the slight pause in their conversation to savor the moment. The padding of the rain, the scents of coffee and delicately layered, confectionery sweets. It was the closest thing to home for the blind man now, and he wondered for a moment; did the soaked stranger before him have a similar feeling at any time?
Or was he simply adrift, all the time, lost in the search for his friends.
Vincent began to speak, pondering on those that Ignis might have some chance of recognizing by description alone. The blonde set his coffee down on the counter behind him, mindlessly rolling up the bottoms of his cuffed sleeves as the sodden man began describing his first lost friend. Yuffie, who he spoke of with some amusement and teasing in his voice, talkative and known for a shuriken-type weapon. Ignis smiled at the description, finding it somewhat familiar. It must have been one of those lost thoughts of his, taunting him from the back of his mind.
And the second one--
“Cloud?” Ignis suddenly blurted out in response as Vincent finished his description, his working eye widening in surprise. What were the odds? Surely there weren’t that many young men out and about named after objects in the sky. Clearing his voice, and attempting to shake out the surprise, Ignis repeated, “Cloud Strife, perhaps? Very softly spoken, carries around a large sword or … many?”
But its too late, to go back. I can see the darkness, through the cracks. Daylight fading, I curse the breaking. The day is gone.
[attr="class","vvoverlap"]Too much hope is the opposite of despair.
[attr="class","vvbody"]Vincent kept his hands wrapped around his coffee mug as he waited for Ignis to reply. It didn’t take long. The man seemed to only think for a moment, smiling slightly at his description of Yuffie. But when he mentioned Cloud’s name, there was a spark of recognition in his expression. Vincent leaned forward, tense and anticipating. The baker repeated the name back in shock. Clearly it meant something to him. Cloud couldn’t be a common name here in Sonora, could it? [break][break] Ignis cleared his voice and spoke again, clearly working past his initial surprise. Soft spoken, carries a large sword. Yep, that sure sounded like the Cloud he knew. “Yes,” Vincent responded with a slight uncharacteristic tinge of excitement on his voice. “That is definitely him.” He hadn’t really expected any luck with finding the old crew from Gaia. He’d asked Ignis just in case and mostly to fill the silence with meaningful words. He hadn’t anticipated the man actually recognizing his description. In truth, he hadn’t even completely anticipated finding anyone else he knew in Zephon. Vincent had come to terms with that. It didn’t bother him, honestly. But now he had a lead on Cloud. Should he follow up? Was it a wasted mission? [break][break] “Where did you see him last?” Vincent asked. “And do you know if he was staying nearby?” He shifted on his stool, trying to pull his wet clothing away from his skin just a little. He took a few more sips of coffee and waited for Ignis to respond. And then he’d have to determine if and how to find his old companions. For all Vincent knew, Cloud wasn’t even in Sonora anymore.
[break]
[attr="class","vvinfo"]Sorry it's a lil short! / Ignis Scientia
