pines application - ignis scientia

[chauffeuring]

PLAYER

NAME: Kate.
CONTACT: enabled
OTHER CHARACTERS IN THE PINES: None.

CHARACTER

NAME: Ignis Scientia.
CANON: Final Fantasy XV.
CANON-POINT: On the way to Altissia, prior to the Leviathan fight.

DOSSIER

HISTORY: Wiki link, contains spoilers for the game.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTER'S STRENGTHS?:

Intelligence is something that most would think when they know Ignis and would be asked about his main strength. Out of the four he is the one that is trained most to be the smart one, the one who comes up with the tactics for a battle before it starts. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of those around him and just what to do when needed for maximum efficiency. Basically Ignis is the one to go to for the ideas, he was smart enough as a youngster to be sent to a school for the gifted and to be picked out of the bunch to be the retainer for the Crown Prince growing up. Throughout the game Ignis is shown to be the one to go to when things need to be explained, even though some of the others (Prompto) tire of the long and drawn out explanations and ask for it to be simplified. This also shines through in the latter chapters of the game when Ignis has been blinded. Ten years later finds him still blind, but able to get around without the need of assistance. He can fight too, back to the same ability level of where he had been prior to the incident and it's only due to making sure to re-learn these things and adapt that he's able to do so.

Steadfast and loyal are also strengths that Ignis holds. He doesn't waver in his beliefs that what they are doing is correct, nor does his belief in Noctis ever fail. Even when the worst happens in Altissia, Ignis still follows Noctis without even questioning it. There is no doubt in the prince or his friends and Ignis will easily go with Noctis until the very end no matter what. It is Ignis' duty as well to be there for Noctis regardless and Ignis will hold on to that for as long as he can. If someone came up and tried to talk the retainer out of it, he would tell them to take a long walk.

Composure is another strength that Ignis holds and is also something he's proud of. No matter what happens, it's rare to see Ignis completely lose his shit. He is able to keep his composure is the face of adversity, even when everything seems to be on fire. Ignis also managed to stay mostly calm when he loses his sight later on, only putting his foot down loudly when it seemed the rest of the group was starting to come apart. Whilst there is frustration in places, for the most part Ignis keeps it to himself even if it does mean people may think of him as cool and aloof. It's a double edged sword in that aspect, but enough that the others know if Ignis is visibly stressed or upset then the world is most likely ending.

And oddly enough, Ignis can be very nurturing. He makes sure that everyone is fed and well throughout the journey. It's a side-effect of his job to make sure Noctis has everything he needs and due to that Ignis is often cooking, mending clothes, or just generally cleaning up after others. Due to this he can't help but make sure that his friends are all okay in that manner, probably earning him the nickname of "team mom" at some point in his lifetime. Ignis also applies this with his intelligence to often poach other people's recipe ideas when they eat at diners, or simply gives him the ability to look at a potato in the wild and come up with a new dish. It's been said that Ignis doesn't actually enjoy the cooking, but it's the reaction on other people's faces when they eat his food that make it worth it.


WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTER'S WEAKNESSES?:

Ignis is a perfectionist and that alone can be a problem for him. If he has his own way things need to be just so, not because of compulsion but because in his mind things simply work out for the best that way. Things that are sudden and not going to plan are enough to unsettle Ignis, but he's able to adapt to them when they do happen. He would just prefer that they didn't happen in the first place. This is also apparent when it comes to driving; Ignis will outright refuse to drive at night unless he believes Noctis is strong enough to deal with the daemons. He will also not let Gladio or Prompto drive, especially after the latter of the two nearly crashed the Regalia to avoid a dog sitting in the road.

The retainer also barely has a sense of humour, or the little he does have manifests itself in strange ways that raises eyebrows. He doesn't laugh, opting for just a smile here and there, and on rare occasions he'll make puns that are just terrible. His jokes, when made, are dry enough too and so for the most part the funny things are left for the rest of the group. Sometimes it's enough that he even misses the point of the joke that the others could be making.

Ignis is very married to his job, to the point that he will not entertain anything else. If something comes up that would put his work at risk, he will deny it outright. Basically, he's not one to be out having fun or hanging out with different crowds. His place is by the prince's side and nowhere else to the point it is almost detrimental. Certainly someone can ask Ignis to go out with them for a meal, or to go shopping with them, or anything like that, but if it's something that takes him away from doing his job or from Noctis' side, then it'll always be a no. Failing what he was brought up to do is just simply never going to be an option, the only time Ignis even contemplates leaving is when he's coming to terms with the fact he's now blind and can barely get around by himself. Even then, with the thoughts of slowing everyone down heavy on his mind, Ignis decides he's going to try to help anyway, proving that he's just as stubborn as he is efficient.

WHAT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES IN YOUR CHARACTER'S PAST HAVE IMPACTED THEM THE MOST?:

For Ignis, the circumstances that impacted him the most are basically meeting Noctis, and the fall of Insomnia. Basically meeting Noctis when he was younger is what has shaped his entire life, making sure to set him on the path to become what he is now. If he hadn't met the crown prince, he most likely wouldn't have ended up being trained to work with the other and would more than likely have just gotten an administration job somewhere. The fall of Insomnia ties into this, in the sense that not only does it prove that shit just got real, but also underlines just how important things are starting to get and that no matter what happens they need to make sure Noctis gets to where he needs to be. The fall of Insomnia also puts Ignis out of his comfort zone in a way, making sure to keep him on his toes to adapt to the new environments and people they come across along the route to Altissia.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOUR CHARACTER?:

Doing his job well is one of the major things that motivates Ignis. If he does his job then Noctis is able to do his own. His job is to make sure the prince has everything he needs, from military and political reports to meals and driving the prince around. Also he made a promise of sorts to Noct's father, Regis, that he would make sure that Noctis was looked after. Knowing that Regis was busy enough to not be able to as much, Ignis has made it his life's work and honor to look after the prince, doubly so after the death of the King. This also extends to the others in the group, and really, it's better than everyone being down and stressed to Hell and back. Ignis' job is what keeps him sane when everything else starts crumbling, though in reality it's more a way of life for him that something to get paid for and put on paper at the end of the day. Not only that, but the whole journey that started out as something so simple becomes more important the further they get. Noctis becomes one of the more important people when it comes to saving the world and it's inhabitants, and that mixed with his duty are what keep Ignis going.

WHAT IMPRESSION DO OTHERS TEND TO HAVE OF YOUR CHARACTER?:

First impressions of Ignis to others tend to consist of things such as cool, cold, aloof and far removed. Someone who doesn't know how to have fun and possibly someone who will be overbearing and demanding when it comes to getting things done.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES THAT IMPRESSION DIFFER FROM WHO YOUR CHARACTER REALLY IS?:

Ignis may come across as the things above, but in reality he cares much more than he lets show on first meetings. Even the others only know that Ignis gives more than half a shit because they've known him long enough to know better. Whilst he may make demands, Ignis is definitely not one to be far removed from anything that involves Noctis and his friends to some extent, and he also knows that pushing Noctis too much will result in getting nothing done.

HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER HANDLE CRISIS OR ADVERSITY?:

When some crisis or problem crops up, Ignis will be the first one to try and study it and figure out the best resolutions for said problem as quickly as he's able to. There's no point rushing in and making a bad decision, tactics are where his smarts lie and he knows it. Once he's decided on a plan of action, then he'll roll his sleeves up and get on with it, making sure that it's executed to perfection. Even if it's something that requires to act quickly and instantly, Ignis is certain to follow whatever happens and make sure it's done right thoroughly.

WHICH 5 THINGS WILL YOUR CHARACTER REMEMBER UPON ARRIVAL, AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THEM?:

Ignis will remember:

- that he worked for someone in the Citadel, but now who for.
- the recipe for Memory Lane cakes.
- the Regalia in all her perfection.
- that he would come up with new recipes often and be sure to get his friends to taste test them.
- that there are three very important and dear people to him, though no names or faces come to mind.

I feel that these memories are all important to him and keep Ignis guessing, but also they take him completely out of his comfort zone and enable him to be able to do more than what he's just used to. It's almost cutting his apron strings in a way, but in a manner that doesn't compromise who he is or what he believes in. This also gives him the ability to explore new avenues without wondering or worrying about things that would usually hold him back.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU FEEL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER?:

Ignis wears glasses but he doesn't actually need them. In a discussion during a drive it comes up, and Gladio reveals that Ignis' sight is only improved by the slightest fraction, and that he wears them because Ignis is the kind of person who prefers everything to be crystal clear.

He has probably also spent half of his current life trying to get Noctis to eat vegetables and it may be the only thing he's truly failing at.



He's also beauty and grace. Unlike Prince Faceplant there.


SKILLS, ABILITIES, & PHYSICAL WEAKNESSES:

Ignis is an athletic styled fighter, the kind of is able to land blows precisely and avoid incoming attacks too. He's skilled with daggers and lances for the most part and can use magic when provided by Noctis. His agility is probably his strongest point when it comes to battles, that and the ability to look into an enemy's weakness and exploit it to take them down faster.

That being said, Ignis also falls into the typical agile class tropes; his attacks may be faster than others but they aren't as strong hitting. Not only that but Ignis is mostly restricted to melee range, leaving the ranged attacks to Prompto and sometimes Noctis.

INVENTORY:

-Recipe book; throughout the game Ignis poaches recipes and comes up with his own on occasion, making sure to stop what he's doing and note them down. It's something he takes pride in and is methodically organized and neatly kept.
-Regalia keys; Ignis is the one who normally drives the Regalia. Nine times out of ten the keys are in his pocket and in the Pines this is no exception. Would be nice to have the car to go with them, but then good things come to those who wait.
-Daggers; what it says on the tin. A pair of daggers to dual wield with efficiency.

SAMPLES

PROSE-HEAVY: Sample 1; a younger Ignis before they leave Insomnia. Sample 2 because everyone wants to be stuck in a cave with Gladiolus Amicitia.
DIALOGUE-HEAVY: Text meme thread.