Enter a lost advisor

[coeurdefeu]

Ignis is not one to mince words, or have histrionics. If he finds himself in a desperate situation, he'd never panic. He wouldn't even let his initial confusion overwhelm his observations.

"...A question? I see. Give me a moment."

He visibly gathers himself, regardless of what the Nexus demands. In fact, he pushes his glasses up on his nose, as he decides what he'll ask.

"If anybody has any advice on changing the future, I'll gladly take it on board."

Comments

[not_the_question]

Ah. That. He should have known.

"Messing with Time is a dangerous thing. So, this person dies, I presume? And you want to save him. Have you thought about the others around him who might die if he doesn't?"

[coeurdefeu]

"Yes."

That's a very simple answer for a very difficult topic. So clearly, he's thought this through. Totally and completely.

"If the exchange is my life for his, so be it."

[not_the_question]

The Doctor is just blank-face for a moment. Why do all the pudding-brains think it's so simple? Well, there it is: they're pudding-brains.

"That isn't really how time works. Usually where death is involved, it's best to leave things alone. I once tried to meddle with it and now I can't even remember the person I cared enough to try to save."

[coeurdefeu]

Ignis would be thoroughly offended to be called a pudding-brain, Doctor.

Although that last bit is enough to give him pause. Which would be worse? To keep the future unchanged and lose...everything? Or forget everything and be without even his memories to hold him together?

"That's...not the answer I wanted to hear," he says quietly. Resigning himself to the facts and hating them.

[not_the_question]

Most people are, but when you're as old and experienced as the Doctor, when you can hear and understand what everyone in the universe sounds like - they all sound like children.

"It's not the answer I want to give." He gives a small shrug. "The universe is a demanding mistress."

He tilts his head. "So what is your story? Why is such a drastic change the only solution?"

[coeurdefeu]

"So I'm beginning to discover."

He rubs his mouth with the flat of his palm, contemplating how much he should tell to a perfect stranger. Granted, he did ask for advice, but still.

"I'm a man who is trying to save his friend, at the heart of it. It's...a rather detailed and long story. Needless to say, I can only hope I'm not stranded here."

[not_the_question]

"And I'm a super-intelligent, alien being who flies in time and space. Now that introductions have been made, tell me your story."

Because who needs names? He gestures to a nearby bench, no reason to stay standing if it's a long and detailed story.

[coeurdefeu]

"...I beg your pardon?"

He's heard some strange things in his life, but that sort of takes the taco. Bemusedly, he follows the Doctor's gesture and sits down, blinking up at him because what. He recovers just enough to give a basic outline. To an alien who flies around time and space what.

"I'm, erm. An advisor and bodyguard to a prince. His name is Noctis. He's had his entire kingdom stolen from him, and we're trying to get it back. There's an evil empire involved, it's all rather cliche if one thinks about it too hard."

[not_the_question]

He sits down after Ignis does.

"Most things are cliche in my life. But, well, I've experienced a lot. Seen a lot of planets and times and even universes."

It's almost boring if he thinks about it too hard. That's partly what he needs companions for - to remind him why he does everything.

"And this prince is the friend who you think might die? So do you want to save him because he's your friend, it's your job, or he's the prince?"

[coeurdefeu]

"All three?"

He says it as a question, but it's definitely wry and world-weary.

"But mainly the first one. We've been friends since we were small children, and I can't see a future without him in it. As oddly egotistical as that sounds. ...Are you seriously an alien?"

He's not over it, clearly.

[not_the_question]

The Doctor nods. He understands enough to be able to ask the question like that. He understands the answer as well. But he'll deal with the last question first.

"We're all aliens here. I mean, this isn't my original world, is it yours?"

Because saying 'yes I'm an alien' is too easy.

"You said you had sort of a premonition. So follow it through. Say you save the prince. What then?"

[coeurdefeu]

He opens his mouth to answer, and then thinks about it. Closes his mouth. And shrugs his shoulders.

"A valid point. Very well."

As for the rest of it, that's where it gets harder. Mainly because the prophecy is incredibly vague...but his glimpse into the heart of it was enough to show him the real stakes.

"That...is why I'm asking for advice. Because if it doesn't happen, I'm afraid the consequences will be...world-ending."

Literally.

[not_the_question]

He knows it's valid. Hence why he said it. Unusually makes things easier in the long run.

"So you don't save him and your planet is destroyed. And if you do? Where do the ripples go? Do they turn into tidal waves until the whole of everything is destroyed?"

[coeurdefeu]

He's getting a solid dose of reality, but he still doesn't like it very much.

"I don't know. I would hope not. I've always been of the thought that there's always more than one solution to any problem, but this one...I don't know."

And he really hates not knowing.

[not_the_question]

The Doctor might hand out membership cards to the 'hates not knowing' club later.

"Sadly, I don't think you're from my universe, or we'd pop inside the TARDIS and take a peek. Some decisions simply have to be made. Whether or not you know the answer or the future."

He sighs.

"All you can do is make the best decision with the information you have."

[coeurdefeu]

"...No, you're definitely not from my universe. I think we would have heard tales of an alien that can travel through time and space."

That actually gets a little smile out of him, there and gone a moment later.

"But I suppose you're right. That's all any of us can do, when it comes right down to it."

[not_the_question]

"Not necessarily. Humans can be very unobservant when they want to be."

Or they invent their own histories or they simply ignore things because it doesn't make sense.

"It's a touch job, but we all have got to do it."