AU Plot: Gladiolus (FFXV spoilers within)

[leatherdaddy]

who: AU Gladio and various people (let me know if you want in)
what: Please refer to the AU plot announcement and below for deets.
when: June 15-24
where: Various locations
warnings: Possible discussions of death, suicidal thoughts, some adult situations, subject lines will have content warnings!


The Background:

Okay so basically in 10 years of darkness (we're talking no sun, no stars and pretty much non-stop monsters/demons running rampant over Eos) Gladio's undergone some significant changes - some of which are only insinuated and not well explained. He and the other Chocobros initially stick together but eventually go their separate ways - effectively joining the hunters in protecting the last bastions of mankind.

• He's 33 years old, his skin is paler, his tattoos slightly faded in parts, his hair is blacker and longer, tied into a half ponytail.
• The portal pulled him shortly after the sun returned; as dawn broke, it revealed that he was the last man standing... his friends dead.
• For those who know him, he is notably less easy to smile, tends to slip into quiet brooding or stoicism.
• The loss of his friends hit him very hard, but not so hard as his loss of mission/purpose - without a King to be Shield to and without anyone to protect, he's completely lost. He doesn't know what to really do with himself, since Demon Hunting is all he's known for the last 10 years.
• He engages in more risk-taking activity; harder missions/hunts, heavy drinking, sex. He's not a train wreck of self-destructive behavior but for anyone who knows him it's a pretty stark change and hints that he's a man who has nothing else to lose (except his sister).
• He still cherishes and dotes on his sister, but she's busy doing her own thing as a Hunter and doesn't want to burden her with his baggage.
• He's no longer able to use his arsenal or hammerspace, this power was lost with the line of Lucis. He still carries his best weapon and shield, although he has to lug them both around now.
• THIS IS A LOT OF ANGSTY HEAVY STUFF but really this just means he's less boisterous, less inhibited. He's almost out of out of fucks to give. That said, I won't just have every thread be sad and upsetting, he's fully capable of experiencing joy and amusement, he's SEEN SOME SHIT and obviously this has diminished him quite a lot.

i. Self Medicating; Closed to Genji

ii. Coming Home; Closed to Ignis

iii. Placeholder; Closed to Líadan

iv. Placeholder for Victor

Comments

[flowlikewater]

[ And it's good thing because Genji wasn't going to keep talking about it either. And, truthfully and terribly, he didn't much care one way or the other what his story was in the first place.

He tilts his head back a bit when he scrapes his teeth, feeling warmth roll down his body. Ah, yes, very nice. More of this—

And, well. When he does that Genji swallows thickly (but doesn't moan, not yet anyway, he has enough self control for that) and feels his toes curl again. Well damn. If he keeps that up he's definitely going to end up being one of Genji's regular booty calls. He's very much into it.

He looks back down, grinning as well, eyes hooded and pupils starting to widen. ] You asked just as many, pretty boy. [ Genji reaches up and puts a hand on Gladio's neck, against the newly blossoming mark he'd left. He presses his thumb not hard enough to hurt, but enough to feel. ] Let's see if you can impress me.