finally finished the dtiys that @ask-the-cat-cafe is hosting! honestly wasn't sure i'd make the deadline with finals crunch lmao

I just finished ffxv (the ending was rough) so like maybe the chocobros keep running into this one male hunter but oh no he’s hot.

110% read that in Squidward’s voice lmao but ANYWAY I HOPE YOU ENJOY I REALLY LIKED WRITING THIS!! Other boyos are under the cut

Ignis

The corners of Ignis’s lips turned downward as his eyes fell on the familiar hunter just across the street.  The frown wasn’t out of anger or distaste; Ignis’s feelings towards the man were quite the opposite in fact.  The frown was due to the fact it was rather out of character for the royal adviser to become so taken with someone.  Of course Ignis had had his share of relationships, though the number was on the lower side compared to some other colleagues, but none of those relationships had ever lasted all that long.  The job always came first and ultimately Ignis’s life was devoted to Noctis before anyone else.  This was the reason Ignis slowly began to stop entertaining the idea of dating.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t admire though.  

Ignis watched as the hunter chatted with the street vendor, the smile on the hunter’s face visible even from over here.  It was certainly a beautiful smile, Ignis thought to himself.  In fact, it had been the first feature that stood out to Ignis upon first meeting the man back in Hammerhead.  The hunter had approached Noctis and the rest of them to ask for help in taking out a hoard of daemons.  During that hunt Ignis had been rather impressed by the fighting skills of the hunter.  It was unusual for a hunter’s fighting technique to be so refined; often times hunter’s just hacked away at the target until it was defeated.  

“Hey Iggy, look who it is,” Gladio said as he came up next to Ignis.  The smile in Gladio’s voice was known even without having to look at the Shield.  

“Yes, I see him,” Ignis replied pushing his glasses up his nose in an attempt to hide his pink cheeks.  

“Why don’t you go over and talk to him?”  

“Because we have work to do, Gladio.  We needn’t waste our time with such trivial matters.”  Ignis heard Gladio let out a disappointed groan at the answer and in turn did his best to bury the own disappointment rising in his chest.  Ignis wanted to approach the man but what was the point when nothing would come out of it?  Ignis didn’t have the time for a relationship in general.  He certainly didn’t have enough time for a relationship while on this journey with the Prince.  And Ignis didn’t do flings.

“Whatever you say Iggy,” Gladio replied.  A feline smile curled its way onto Gladio’s lips.  “But you better have something to say to him because he’s walking over this way right now.”  Ignis startled and felt his eyes dart over to where he’d just seen the hunter and those green eyes trailed the man until he stopped before Ignis and Gladio.

With a smile that had Ignis attempting to catch his breath he said, “Hey, long time no see.”

Gladio

Gladio wiped the sweat from his forehead and the blood from a rather deep wound.  That bastard of a daemon didn’t go down nearly as easily as the tipsters had assured it would much to Gladio’s chagrin.  Briefly Gladio allowed himself to wish he had the other three with him to help in battle; they sure made it easier to take out these damn pests.  It had been years since all three of them had been together though what with Noctis in some ancient Crystal and Ignis and Prompto off on their own.  With a sigh Gladio hauled his sword up and let it rest on his shoulder as he began making his way back to the haven.  

Lucky enough to make it back before any other large daemons or monsters popped up, Gladio entered the small tavern with his usual swagger in his step.  His hair was still hanging in his face and he was still covered in grime but right now all he wanted as a good bottle of beer and some food.  Just as Gladio let himself all but collapse into a chair at the bar he saw movement out of the corner of his eye.  Letting his amber eyes slide over to his right he was greeted with a familiar hunter. 

“Glad to see you made it back in one piece,” _____ grinned, gesturing to the bartender to get him a bottle as well.  

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t easy work,” Gladio said before taking a bite out of his burger.  “I’ve got a bone to pick with the tipster that gave me that hunt.”

“Well that explains the unusual amount of blood.  Did you even clean that thing?”

With a shrug Gladio said, “I’ll get to it once I’ve eaten.”

“You’re a fucking moron, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Shit looks like it’s gonna end up infected.  Tell ya what, come back to my room and I’ll clean it up for ya.  I’ll also throw in a beer if that’ll help.”

Gladio let his eyes run over _____.  It was no secret that most hunters were good looking to an extent; the constant physical activity kept them all in rather good shape.  This guy though was something else.  His hair framed his face in a way that somehow kept bringing Gladio’s attention back to _____’s eyes.  And those eyes…Gladio sometimes wondered if he could let himself drown in them, just for a few hours.  

Gladio could have sworn he felt the ghost of a smile drift across his lips.  “Well if you insist.”

Prompto

Prompto was seated by the fire, camera in hand, stomach full from the ever delicious meal that Ignis had served for dinner that night.  It was quiet, peaceful, among the four boy and their plus one.  A hunter that they had run into back in Galdin Quay a few months ago had run into them again while they were in Lestallum.  He had been sent out by Dave to look for a missing hunter and had asked for the four for some help.  

It was always a nice change of pace when there was someone new along for the ride – kept things from becoming too monotonous.  It also didn’t hurt that the hunter joining them was super attractive too.  Of course, because he was so good looking Prompto had some trouble speaking coherently and not rambling.  It was easier when the two of them were alone; Prompto would join _____ in his Jeep occasionally during the ride to where the hunter they were looking for had last been seen.  When it was just the two of them Prompto didn’t have to worry about the other three guys watching his every move or possibly embarrassing him.�� Not that he didn’t dislike the guys of course!  It was just…easier to relax without them nearby.

“Damn you’re real good with a camera, dude.” Prompto jumped at the sudden voice and felt his freckles burn with a blush.  He hoped the light from the fire hid it well enough.  

“Oh, thanks,” Prompto said bashfully.  

“Any good ones of me in there?”  _____ bent over and Prompto felt his cheeks darken even more at the close proximity.  Keep it together Prom, the blonde scolded himself.  

“Uh, yeah, you wanna take a look?” Prompto asked, offering the camera to _____.  Slowly Prompto started flipping through the pictures he’d taken throughout the day.  There were handfuls of candid shots of the guys – in the care, in the field, around the fire.  Every now and then _____ would point out a photo that he liked and the compliments that followed had Prompto nearly glowing with pride.  

Finally Prompto got to the end of the reel, but the last picture had Prompto wanting to crawl into a hole.  It was a photo of _____ as he sat at the wheel of his Jeep.  There was an easy grin on his face and he looked so utterly relaxed as they drove along the dirt path towards the camping spot they were at now.  He looked…so utterly at peace as the light of the setting sun gilded his profile in gold. 

There was something in the way that the photo was composed, the care that shown through in the photograph, that had _____ blushing just the slightest bit.  “Hey, can you send me that one?”

“Uh, yeah, sure man.”

“Thanks.  Here, give me your phone.  I’ll give you my number.”

Noctis

Noctis was laying on top of one of the low, decorative walls that ran around the parking area in Lestallum.  The other three had gone off to buy a few things from some of the vendors and though they had insisted Noct join them the Prince was too exhausted from the hunt they’d just been on to do so.  So there he was, arm resting over his eyes and leg dangling over the side of the wall.  Noctis was drifting between some space between sleep and wakefulness when he heard a vaguely familiar voice ask,  “Are you ever not sleeping?” 

Moving his arm from over his eyes and immediately squinting against the sun Noctis was greeted with the face of a hunter.  It took a moment for Noctis to place him but in all honesty it wasn’t overly difficult.  There were few hunters that looked like this one, few hunters that had a crooked smile that made Noctis’s chest tighten and hair that made Noctis want to reach out and run his hands through it. 

“Only when Specs makes me,” Noctis said with a lazy smile.  “Why are you all the way out in Lestallum?”  Noctis swore that the laugh that came in response was something that he’d only hear in dreams.  How could a sound remind Noctis of every moment he’d spent playing with his father when he was younger and also feel as gentle as the sun’s rays on a spring morning?  

Noctis didn’t realize that he’d been staring until _____ said, “Hey, you good man?”

“Oh, yeah, fine.  Just tired.”“

“Of course you are,” _____ said with a roll of his eyes accompanied by that crooked grin of his.  “Well hopefully you’re not too tired to help me out with a hunt.”

“No of course not,” Noctis replied, moving to sit up.  

“Great,” _____ replied.  “You wanna get the other guys?”  Noctis looked back over his shoulder and watched as Prompto looked at the screen on his camera and showed Gladio a few of the shots from today.  Noctis’s eyes then drifted over to Ignis who was talking to one of the food vendors, undoubtedly asking about the recipe that he used.  With a small smile Noctis turned back to _____.

“Nah, I’ll let them know where we’re going on our way.”

With a smile that had Noctis’s own lips turning up at the corners, _____ said, “Sounds good, let’s go then.”

Enjoy reading [alt + ;]

My desire for LAB was to use it as a way to open up. To do things I normally would not do for various reasons; fear, lack of time, thinking its not important… Basically a lot of reasons. It was (still is) my playground. I started out thinking too much about all the people that will read my tumblr. I cared a lot to make it look nice, put something interesting in it. Thought more about the person/people who would read it and how would they react to it, then myself.

Then there was a shift. I changed. I started posting anything and everything that came to my mind. I started calling it my dump. Or a place where I almost vomit out thoughts, ideas, anything. There was little coherence in it. A visceral language came up. I guess, everything was just really intuitive… I liked that I let go of many things. I posted whatever I thought about. Played around with language. With drawing. With automatic writing. With ceramics, plastics, even went to metal. Worked with bugs and did edible stuff I’ve never done before. Also a few other things outside of LAB happened. I cook more, and without any recipes, I just see what I have and I mix it to make something. I started doing things I stopped, like making cosmetics and reading + writing.

I think, in one phrase - LAB has opened me up. I also see it in my department work, I did what I wanted. I listen to others, but then really try to do something that I want to do, or that works with me, otherwise it really doesn’t work.

In terms of LAB, I think I tried to get out of my comfort zone, the biggest difference I see is that I went to the workshops, it was difficult with the allergies, I cannot deny that, but it was also fun, and reminded me of why I love it. Why I chose this path, why I chose this school. Playing around in LAB also made me play around more with other things. Also with allowing them to flow more.

I think I tried, and I think to a large extent I did succeed to develop a lot this trimester. However, there is still a long way to go. I want to continue with this spirit of LAB, whatever it is. I’m hoping, that what I can improve on is the honesty. The honesty that comes from being straight to the point. I am like that often, but somehow not in writing for example. Perhaps its because I enjoy it so much?

I like that LAB makes me feel like I can just write as if it was a record of something. A thought process. A freedom. I think that’s amazing.

In terms of the collaboration. The same thing can be said - freedom. Manuel and I, we worked on quite similar things this past trimester. And I like that we both have similar ideas about various subjects, being a designer, walking, passing time, movement, intuitiveness. Hmm… I do enjoy working with him. I like that there is not much pressure placed on doing the best project ever (impossible), but more on the process, getting to know one another, and just having fun with what we will do. I think we both learned how to follow our gut :) more this trimester and to be more free. The confines within which we often keep ourselves, because of being quite analytical in our desire to already know what to do, are weakening.

I’m actually stunned with what Manuel wrote about me. His first points were that I am decisive and active. “You do a lot, seem to know what you want and you go after it, which I completely admire. It’s nice to see that you are on your way of achieving what you want. Not many people are able to do that. Your focus is set and you're open to new ideas. You are not afraid to say what you think and by that have a strong character. What I also admire is your ambition outside of school, how you create connections and are or seem at least to be self assured in your way of moving and talking.” I agree with him saying that I do a lot, that I am open to new ideas, that I am not afraid and have a strong character. I agree with all of that just… not at the DAE… Here, I often feel far more as someone who is weak, easily influenced, doesn’t have a strong voice or presence, not very interesting, fearful. Perhaps, something has changed, I do feel as if the me outside of school, where I do so much, am so open and strong in getting to know new people, opening up, doing things, trying things out, maybe FINALLY, this me is getting into the DAE as well. Perhaps, it’s due to two biggest factors - time and well, LAB. Deciding what I do and what I work on gave me a lot this trimester.

As for my weakness, I cannot argue with anything - “you have some difficulties in loosening up, being very silly and not do something with an outcome or a goal.” I definitely agree that I keep myself in a frame. A very strict guidebook of what I can do or should not do. I find reasons (sometimes absurd ones) for why I cannot do something, even if others can and I admire them for it. I realised, and still keep on realising, that a lot of the things that I think I should or cannot do is from Poland. It’s a place that is connected in my mind to so many rules and so many restrictions. About different subjects. People look at you and judge you all the bloody time. If you are looking too good, they don’t like you, if you are not looking “normal” enough (whatever that is) that is also not good. Really, barely anything is truly good. My time in Holland and at the DAE has opened me up in so many ways. SO many experiences, things I learned, did, suffered and enjoyed. I don’t feel like writing it out to be honest. It makes my heart hurt a bit, after all, it is the country I grew up in. But there are so many problems in it. So many limitations. So many restrictions. Now, every time I come back, be it a month, a few weeks, a year, I am different, I am more open. I am also more myself. I disagree, I speak my mind, I’m not afraid to be different. But I also understand where they are coming from. As long as they don’t force me to be like them, I’m okay. If not, all hell breaks loose. I shouldn’t drift off into this - it reminds me of the fact I’m not really looking forward to going home. I don’t feel as free as I do here. And I don’t mean - let’s party - I mean free in terms of freedom of choice, speech, representation of self. The things that should be our basic rights.

I want to finish this. What am I most proud of this trimester? Why? Anything you’re not proud of? Hmm. Proud? I’m proud of pushing myself to do stuff and trying new things. I’m hella proud of somehow becoming more together with my DAE self and non-DAE self. Of accepting more things about myself. Of being able to be myself. Of being able to be ok and not okay. Of just being without judging. It’s really simply f*****g liberating. In terms of LABblablab? Opening up. Trying new stuff. Definitely. What am I not proud of? Perhaps I’d like to have a 3D object in the end of the trimester, that emerged from my findings this trimester or rather my doings ;) However, it is far more likely dear A and P, that you will get a book. Because what I missed and wanted to do so much all along was that. SO perhaps, like my intuition, desire and everything else says, that’s what I will have? But hey, I’ve still got some time. Perhaps, I’ll surprise you and (perhaps most importantly) myself.

What needs to change in LAB? Schedule group meetings from the start, so we know how to plan. When we need to try and collaborate with someone, perhaps it would be nice if everyone knows they need to pick one word from what they’ve been doing and then say it to everyone. Based on this, we know what everyone is kind of doing and “aim better” for who to collaborate with? Like the freedom, don’t change that. Ever. Let them drown, sink and then float up. Maybe more little, two week collabs? They are fun and cute, when they work.

7. What are you missing in the academy in general? A red carpet.

More open attitude towards problems within the academy.

Hmm, I thought I wrote more…

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