An attempt at an intro log

[manforflowers]

Who: Inigo and you ♥
What: Trying to be a coolguy
Where: Outside on campus or in the city
When: July 8th
Warnings: Fighting, sad attempts at flirting

What an ominous sky. The more he stared at it, the more it seemed to feel like he escaped one apocalyptic landscape, only to jump willingly into the arms of another. What else could he do, though? The vision that had appeared to him through that rift was no lie - the evil, purple goo was bubbling up in the city now, creating violent clones and destroying things in their wake. Someone had to protect the innocent townfolk from being overrun.

But Risen these were not. They were powerful, and regenerated quickly - wielding a sword only did so much to them, and he had to attack relentlessly. His missteps weren't many, but all the same they were costly. It was quickly wearing him down. Inigo wasn't sure how much longer he could keep fighting these clones... not alone, anyway.

Comments

[stopstaring]

"S-sorry!"

And just like that, she shifted away. Somehow she didn't think it'd be any different with someone else, but for one reason or another, she felt like she reddened more in his company. Because he was her son? Could she really believe that?

But then if someone in Ylisse could pose as a famed hero, then didn't that mean weird things could happen in the academy as well?

"I wasn't trying to-" She shook her head quickly and nervously weaved her hands together. "I mean... It's just a shock. I... guess you do look like me..."

[manforflowers]

Inigo recovered quickly - perhaps the fact that she was still so shy around him made him subconsciously bolder. He wanted to put her mind at ease, after all. Maybe this first impression could be salvaged.

"I'm glad you think so!" he remarked, a smile gliding back onto his face like he'd practiced a thousand times before. It was rather flattering for Olivia to think he resembled her in any way, though. It'd always been his hope growing up that he could match her for even a fraction of charm and grace. Not that Chrom was unattractive by any means, of course, but crashing through walls wasn't what any dancer aspired to do.

"I've always been told I resembled father more." Oh, but wait. "You have met father already, right?"

[stopstaring]

He had a nice smile. That was easy to pick out about him. It was charming. He, as a whole, was charming. Where did he get that from? Certainly not her, but if she said that aloud...

Well. She got the impression he'd try to correct her and who could blame him?

"Your father...?" Right. Because it took two people to make a baby. And if she was one half of the equation, who was the other half? There was something familiar about the glint in his eye, but where had she seen it before? "I don't exactly know who he is..."

[manforflowers]

Wait, what? Had she really not met Chrom? This was shockingly early in her history, moreso than Inigo had expected. He was certain she'd be able to tell - if not from the hair, then the Brand would've given it away for certain.

But... what would happen if he told her? Would it change their first meeting? Being as shy as Olivia herself, he could only imagine what it'd feel like, someone from the future telling him that he was fated to marry royalty. Why, he'd probably be too scared to even speak to them!

On the other hand, though, what if he didn't say anything and they simply... never ended up together? That'd be his whole existence, erased!

What was he supposed to do?! If only Laurent was here - he'd probably know the answers, out of anyone. But right now, he had to come up with something. Play it cool, he repeated to himself. Never let them see you sweat.

"Rest assured, you marry a wonderful man," he told her. "One who'll make you very happy."

[stopstaring]

It wasn't like she hadn't thought it. Of course it was the first name to pop into her head. But the sheer concept of it was... bewildering, really. She, a girl of her calibre, of her nature, marrying a man of his. Yet this boy was proof of it, wasn't he? Proof that the impossible was evidently possible.

"...Why... did your father choose me? I'm..."

Not good at much of anything. Not good at this. Horrible at this. Wouldn't make a very good mother. Hardly make a good dancer.

"...nothing like him." Because she knew, as much as she wanted to deny it. The hair was a dead giveaway. And maybe that was the confidence she saw reflected in his smile. Because Chrom was always confident.

[manforflowers]

Inigo blinked. The look of recognition was in her eyes now - well, it turned out he couldn't hide what was plainly obvious. Not that he'd ever been that successful at hiding much from his mother for very long, much to his despair.

Of course, he had to turn this around somehow. What kind of son would he be if he couldn't reassure her? Grinning, he casually remarked, "Well, Chrom's not exactly like most lords, is he?" It was so hard to picture the prince, now Exalt in Inigo's time, having any interest in most of the highborn ladies at court.

"You've got more charm and kindness and beauty than you know, Mother. Why, if I wasn't already your son, I'd ask you on a date myself!"

[stopstaring]

"No... I guess he's never really been what I thought of when I thought of lords."

If anything, Chrom's open behaviour and willingness always caught her off guard. He was kind and thought about everyone. Every man and woman in his service had his attention and he was dedicated to them. He genuinely wanted everyone to be content. And he understood what he had to do to acquire that.

And he had quite the sense of humour.

"I-it sounds weird when you say it like that," Olivia stumbled as carefully as she could over her words. "You must mean the person I grow into. I'm not very charming at all right now. There's nothing charming about a woman who can't speak up."

[manforflowers]

It almost seemed as though this Olivia was even shyer than the one he remembered. But then again, he'd only ever known her as a wife and mother - never the woman she was before she found love. Perhaps it was joining the Shepherds and meeting Chrom that helped her find her courage, one small step at a time. Either way, seeing her lacking in such confidence only spurred Inigo's bravado further, as though making up for its lack.

"Don't be silly, Mother! You've always been captivating - even moreso when you blush. When you dance, everyone falls in love with you a little. I only wish I had the same allure..." It wasn't quite the same effect when guys were bashful. Women wanted men who were invincible, not weepy and unsure of themselves.

"Besides, even if you're younger than I remember, you still have the courage to fight to protect others. You saved me, after all."

[stopstaring]

He said she was always captivating. Moreso when she was flustered. Even moreso when she danced. She could believe the latter. He wasn't the first person to say it and she doubted he'd be the last. And to be honest, when she put so much effort into her dancing, she wanted to be able to take pride in it.

At the same time, it was hard to take her future son's opinion into consideration. Of course he loved her. Of course he was going to say kind things to her.

"I... did, yes," she admitted with some hesitance. "Normally I wouldn't have. I don't even know why I did. I just... before I even knew it, here I was." As if Fate had a part in it. Meeting Inigo was something she was meant to do. Saving him came as something from a distant future where Inigo was meant to live. She liked it more when she thought of it like that.