Office Hours: Office #27; Thursday [02/04].

[chef_chocobro]

Another Thursday, another day back in his office, pondering over how this had all become routine rather quickly. Of course, it helped that things back home had been rather quiet lately, in a way that sometimes made Ignis feel a bit nervous, like it was some sort of calm before the storm, which he wished he could chalk up to mere paranoia, but thanks to experiences with this place via Prompto, he knew that this paranoia could be very well founded.

For now, though, he was trying his best not to think on it too much, focusing instead on his class for tomorrow and where to take them from here now that they'd covered a good portion of the basics.

Of course, it was also his birthday this weekend, but he was never one to make a big deal out of such an occasion, it was, after all, merely just another whirl around the planet, but it did amuse him a little thinking that perhaps that made it a good enough reason to have the students attempt to tackle a cake...

[[ open door, open office of course! ]]

Comments

[chef_chocobro]

They weren't really meant as compliments; they were mere statements of facts, as far as Ignis saw it, but at least it seemed that Nina was glad enough to hear his own approval in the matter.

Regarding whether or not I let Prompto be helpful? Of course I do. I would imagine me even being here now is a good indication of that. Both he and Gladio need to pull a bit more weight now that I'm splitting my time between here and Insomnia.

Although, really, it simply felt like he just shifted all his work to play catch-up on Mondays because they weren't quite doing as good a job as would have been done if he wasn't doing this, but he appreciated their efforts all the same. He'd just been used to maintaining a certain...quality, a certain way of doing things over the last, oh, nearly fifteen years now. Almost as long as the entirety of Nina's whole life.

NBD, as the kids these days were saying...

[bookbeltof_love]

Nina sighed at that response because it was, like, so perfectly Ignis...

Yes, but do you let them know you appreciate it???????????

Okay, like, she didn't think Gladio cared too much about Ignis' approval of their work but Nina knew that Prompto would appreciate hearing something.

I mean, like, it's always nice to be appreciated, you know???????

Then she paused.

Did... he... actually know?

[chef_chocobro]

Well, he was hardly the type who expected pats on the back for mere doing one's job! But Ignis was also no stranger to knowing what even a small bit of encouragement could mean to some people, so he considered Nina's next messages with a thoughtful pause and consideration for what she might really be saying there.

It wasn't that he was unaware of Prompto's particular...issues, especially not after that whole business with the possible future he'd experience while here, but...

He sighed, thankful for the quiet of his office to allow him a brief moment to remove his glasses and rub his eyes a little before placing them back and responding.

I'll be sure to let him know, Nina.

And, in an effort to sway the conversation slightly elsewhere, he asked:

Did you have a nice visit with him on Tuesday, at least?

[bookbeltof_love]

That was one of the things she appreciated about Ignis. He always tried to catch the things she wasn't saying.

He made me take a break and eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew he was going to fuss over me!!!!!!!! And then, like, Dad came over with food for ANOTHER break and we're all going to go bowling at some point??????????

That was a yes, Ignis.

Though I do remain a little confused as to why everyone thinks I'm going to starve while I work on a project?????????

Like, she got that they did it out of love, but it was weird. She was perfectly capable of feeding herself!

[chef_chocobro]

When one focuses on a single thing, they can often be blind to others.

[bookbeltof_love]

Speaking from experience???????? she wondered.

[chef_chocobro]

No, because Nina actually had people feeding her if she happened to forget...

I've never had difficulty with striking a good balance. It would be counterintuitive to not look after oneself when charged with looking after others.

[bookbeltof_love]

That was a new and fairly recent development for her, Ignis.

Despite everyone's assumptions and fussing, I've never had much of a problem with balance either.

Could a text be a bit petulant? It was trying to be a bit petulant.

[chef_chocobro]

The lack of excessive punctuation alone made it a good candidate for a petulant tone, if anything.

Clearly, such evidence to that fact does not prevent people from still caring all the same, Nina.

[bookbeltof_love]

Ha.

And no, she wasn't going to elaborate on that reaction.

Are you here this weekend????????? Summer's going to be showing off the work I did for her!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which was true.

And, like, you haven't seen me work much with magic, so I thought........ you might be interested???????

[chef_chocobro]

I am here this weekend, though I am starting to reconsider my scheduling to weekdays, considering how the last few weekends have gone.

Of course, he wouldn't. There was still a slim chance that being here on a weekend would open him up to information like that one weekend had for Prompto, which was a significant part of why he agreed to go along with any of this in the first place.

I would be greatly interested to see your work, Nina. Especially considering how much time you've been devoting to it. It would be a shame to miss it.

[bookbeltof_love]

Just wait until he had children show up!

Oh, but she hoped she was around if he had children show up!

I mean, like, it's probably not as impressive as you're picturing...........

Dirty lies, Nina. Dirty lies.

But Summer seems to like it!!!!!!!!!

It was just lies all the way down here.

[chef_chocobro]

Ah, excellent. Because the first thing that comes to mind when Summer is involved is her absolutely unquestionable taste.

Don't get him wrong, he liked Summer just fine, but let him remind everyone that his first interactions with her involved a man on fire and crimes against jello.

[bookbeltof_love]

Iggyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't say something was awesome if it wasn't!!!!!!!!!!!

She totally would.

And her definition of awesome was... about as questionable as Summer's sometimes.

[chef_chocobro]

But Ignis also knew that Nina had dedicated an awful lot of time and energy into this, and he'd never known Nina to be one to waste precious commodities such as those on something she wouldn't feel was worth it, either.

Well, then, I suppose I'll just have to wait and see for myself.

[bookbeltof_love]

Yes, you will!!!!!!!!!!! And, like, ohmygosh, you need to visit me at work sometime so I can show you the shop!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was criminal that he hadn't already!

[chef_chocobro]

That would be the bookstore, correct?

Yes, he knew full well it was the bookstore.

[bookbeltof_love]

His phone was now getting a million sad emojis.

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[chef_chocobro]

Ignis was utterly unmoved and unphased by your excessive emoji, Nina, no matter how sad and...numerous.

I'll be sure to stop by soon. I'll be quite interested to see what sort of selection you may have to offer.

[bookbeltof_love]

And they were numerous!

Good!!!!!!!!!!!!

A beat.

What are we doing in class tomorrow????????????

For.... no reason. Certainly not cake reasons.

[chef_chocobro]

I'm currently deciding on covering soups or perhaps a unit focusing on eggs.

It was probably going to be eggs. There was just so much to cover with eggs!

[bookbeltof_love]

And all the ways you find to add far too many things to them??????????

What?

Really, that's what they did here.

[chef_chocobro]

The art of an exceptional egg is rather deceptive in its simplicity.

Now you were definitely getting eggs tomorrow, Nina. Good job.

[bookbeltof_love]

I don't think you've ever made me eggs...........