melodiesofeternity | Event || Camp Curtisy Retreat

Event || Camp Curtisy Retreat

Who: All characters
When: July 17th - 22nd
Where: Nah Nami Reserve
What: Characters go to the campgrounds to do some team building exercises and build CR.
Warnings/Notes: See prompt D for Mognet glitches

A. Arrival

[On the morning of the 17th, Mogaruru directs the outworlders and Curti Center employees who have signed up to the airship headed to the Nah Nami Reserve. Counselors hand out pamphlets with maps, general camp rules, and the week's itinerary. This place loves their pamphlets. Fortunately, most of the rules detail common sense: quiet hours are at 10pm, no smoking or alcohol, no harming the forest wildlife, no setting off fireworks.

After they touch land, the arrivals are free to pick their cabins and set up their rooms before gathering at the mess hall for lunch.]

B. Team Building

[It's not a corporate retreat without ice breakers! On the first day, every splits into groups sharing their names and one interesting fact about themselves. Throughout the day, there's all sorts of get-to-know-each-other events. Maybe Never-Have-I-Ever (alcohol is replaced with juice). A game of Truth or Dare? Trust falls? If it's meant to foster friendships, it's here.

There are also races and obstacle courses for those that want to compete as a team.

Mogaruru oversees the main activities, even leading a workshop in building paper-mache Moogle masks, encouraging everyone to find their passion.]

C. Actual Camping

[There are important life skills to be learned when living in the great outdoors. Hiking, learning about local flora and fauna, and cooking are included in the itinerary. Complaining about the sun and constant reminders about staying hydrated, too.

In the evenings, there's campfires for any type of socializing. Perhaps now is the time to have heart-to-heart chats over roasting marshmallows or swap scary stories about the Camp Lake Ira Killer.]

D. Late Night Hijinks

[After dinner, campgoers are allowed to use Mognet to catch up with news and chat with friends...though considering the glitches that occur during this event, it may prove to be less relaxing considering the glitches that occur in Kupoto's charge.

Things are fine on the 17th. On the 18th, however, messages to and from the Curti Center are delayed by 10 minutes. In an effort to fix this issue, Mognet is down at the Curti Center on the 19th. On the 20th, it's fixed...but all posts are made public. On the 21st, this is addressed, but now every subject line begins with "!Kupo".

Someone is going to have a stern talking-to when Mogaruru returns.

But that's fine. Campers are free to ~~sneak~~ travel outside in a group for totally legal activities. After all, no one would sneak booze or fireworks or play pranks on the other cabins, would they?

At least, if they don't get caught. Otherwise, it's cleanup duty for the rest of the trip.]

E. The Great Outdoors

[The Nah Nami Reserve boasts beautiful forests and a beach. The weather is beautiful. There are no monsters on the reserve...unless one considers the large fish living far from the beach shoreline to be monsters. Or if they are unlucky enough run into one of the larger animals in the forests. Fighting back can be overlooked as long as they don't grievously injure their opponent, ideally escaping without harm to either party. These are protect species, after all. It shouldn't be a problem if they are with Camp Curtisy counselors, but chances are there are some hiking groups that decided to explore the entire island on their own.

The beach includes a long stretch of sand, rock outcrops with tidal pools, and a net for volleyball. Some counselors have "TEAM LAVODE" shirts left from last month's Blitzball tournament, especially the Hypello lifeguards.]

F. Lessons Learned

[Now's the time for the campers to shine. Counselors lead workshops on arts, crafts, survival skills, and languages, but slots are open for all participants to lead a class of their choosing. Want to teach the history of your homeworld? Have any other skills you wish you share? This is your chance to show off what you know!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Prompto pushes his hands in his pockets, wondering because it's so easy to become fractured like this. For words to become stilted, and he knows if Noctis leaves, there's little he'll be able to say. He's lived it. He doesn't know what would happen to them without Noctis.]

[Instead, he offers some rare insight into his mind without meaning to.]

Family's bad luck. With me, I mean. So it's probably okay that we're not really.

[He doesn't like Gladio less than he did yesterday, he's just disappointed in himself for not offering value. He isn't angry with him, but himself. He feels he didn't measure up to Gladio's standards.]

But...I mean, you're forgiven Gladio.

[Some part of him will always wonder if Gladio will leave him behind, walk away and never come back. The younger version of him wanted to grab onto him and hold on for dear life, like his friends are his lifeline, because they practically are, but he thought he decided to stop being so desperate.]

You just had things you had to do.

[Excuses, he's making the excuses so Gladio doesn't have to.]

[He knows he's pathetic.]

[Anything to keep him by his side.]

[Gladio has no idea what Prompto means by that. How can family be bad luck? And seriously, there's no way Prompto can forgive him this easily - it's not okay. Prompto should be laying into him, telling Gladio how much his actions hurt and upset him, how he was angry and (maybe) worried, literally anything that isn't him saying 'it's all good now'.

Because it's not all good now.

It's almost like Prompto is used to this kind of behavior ... like he expects it.

The thought rocks Gladio to his core.]

I - Prompto ... I completely abandoned you and everyone else without any thought or warning. There is nothing, literally nothing that could ever excuse that. Ever. [His voice is earnest, wholeheartedly believing what he says and trying to impart both the truth and sincerity to the blond so clearly trying to hide something behind his blind forgiveness.]

Prom ... y'don't have to say stuff like that just to make sure I stick around. You're allowed t'be mad at me. You're allowed to want nothin' to do with me until I prove that I won't walk off like that ever again. You're allowed to be upset with me. M'not gonna give up on bein' your friend just because I hurt you - if anythin' I'm gonna try t'be a better friend.

[Family.] Family doesn't - shouldn't - walk away. Ever. No matter what.

You're my family even if you don't think I should be... even if you don't want me to be part of your family. An' I'm not gonna walk off like that again. I swear it.

[A mild hitch in his breath.] But please... don't feel like you have t'lie or say sweet things just to keep me around. Or to keep me from beatin' myself up. I always want you to be honest with me - always have, always will.

[His interpersonal relationships have been small and fragile, and sparse, so when people turn their back on him, it's his biggest fear, and something he partly expects. He worries about it, and he knows it's not their fault, but his. If it keeps happening, it's him.]

You don't have to worry about me Gladio, I'm not- you should be worried about leaving Noct or Iggy or whoever.

[Not him, never him.]

It's not that I don't want that I mean, don't misunderstand me, I just mean I'm not right for it, you know?

[He shrugged. He was hurt, he'd been upset, he'd felt abandoned, but he also recognized that wasn't Gladio's fault. Gladio owed him nothing. His feelings are all out of whack and disproportionate. They always had been. How he felt wasn't on Gladio.]

I'm not lying. It's really okay. I just...

[He glances at the mug he'd given to Gladio.]

I just want to make sure you're okay.

[Was Prompto seriously about to say he's not as important as Iggy or Noct? Gods, had he made Prompto feel that way?

Gladio felt a little sick, and not from the cocoa.]

Noct thinks I'm the world's biggest jackass, Iggy's probably disappointed or furious or both, and Ravus won't even talk to me or acknowledge I exist. You an' Hope are the only ones who are talking to me right now, and so far I'm figuring that between the two of you Hope is the only one bein' honest about how he felt. [He had to take a deep breath after that, trying not to get overwhelmed again by just how much he messed up.]

I'm not okay Prom, not when one of the whole two people currently speakin' to me is trying to hide how upset he is and how he's feeling.

[Gladio looked up at the blond and put as much gentleness as he could into his voice, trying to get him to understand.] I'm not okay, but I will be. Eventually. And part of what I need to get okay is you tellin' me exactly how you felt when I left like I did an' how you felt when I was gone. Because until I know the extent of the damage my actions caused I won't be able to do right by everyone.

[Making things right with each of them individually will be a start, but it won't be enough. And Gladio knows that.

He also knows that it's difficult for him to learn from his mistakes without knowing all of the painful, ugly truths about how all of his friends felt.]

[He is quiet for a moment, turning over his request in his head. It was incredibly difficult for Prompto to express things like that. He didn't want to put a burden on his friends and he saw how he felt as an overreaction. But Gladio wants to know it and he begins fidgeting a little with his gloves.]

I'm sorry.

[He's sorry for making Gladio worry, and struggle, and he's sorry for imposing his feelings onto him when he knows they're out of proportion.]

I guess that I...

[He takes a breath.]

I guess that I uh, couldn't, I mean, couldn't help. You didn't want me to. And I know that's unfair because you don't have to need my help. I just...felt helpless. And I like Iris, and I'm sorry she's gone and just, mostly I feel bad because you feel like that.

It's..not the anger you're expecting, I know, but mostly I'm worried about you.

But you know you don't have to take that into account right? How I feel? Because I mean...

[He runs his hand through his hair.]

I understand she's your sister and this was a thing you had to do without us. I'm sorry you didn't find her.

[Heedless of the others around the campfire with them, Gladio gently tugs Prompto down to sit next to him and puts an arm over the blonde's shoulders.]

Prom... [He waits until the anxious boy is done speaking, wanting to fully hear everything finally being shared. Prompto deserves that much, at the very least. So Gladio takes a sip of his cocoa and listens.

When Prompto finishes expressing himself, Gladio's heart is ready to burst - partially out of anger (at himself) for making their family's ray of sunshine feel so badly about himself and his value but also out of happiness because Prompto finally opened up to him about his feelings and that level of honesty means more than words can say.]

There are so many things I have to say, Chocobo ... [A pause as Gladio gathers his thoughts.]

First, you absolutely could have helped. And considering what I mess I was, I probably needed it. Might've been dumb enough to push Noct away but there's no way I could've done that to you.

[A side-hug is always awkward but Gladio does his best to give Prompto a decent one.] There's nothin' bad about wanting to feel needed, and I do need you, Prom. You always manage to pull out the best parts of me just by bein' around and you're always makin' me n' the others smile. Maybe you really are a chocobo. [Gladio can't help the remark and chuckles a little as he ruffles Prompto's ~~feathers~~ hair.]

Your feelings are important to me too, blondie. But I understand why you think they aren't and I'll work on that, because you shouldn't have to wonder about somethin' like that.

[He sighs a little, hoping Prompto hears the truth of this next bit, which is every bit as painful to say as it is to accept.] I didn't have to look for her without any of you. It was a choice, and I made the wrong one.

... And thanks for this, Prom. The cocoa, opening up, still worryin' about me - all of it. [Gladio pulls Prompto a little closer, trying to convey his gratitude in a way that words fail.]

You're a far better friend than I deserve.

[He settles in with Gladio with a soft sigh, appreciating the hug even if it was just a side one.]

I didn't want to bother you if you didn't want me to. I mean...I wanted to help, but you left like that.

[Prompto rubs the back of his neck.]

It's not your fault, I'm just...it's how I am. I worry about stuff like that all the time.

[It was a small window into his mental health which could be better, but he seemed to be naturally disposed to some things - or perhaps they were caused by his traumatic infancy and childhood.]

I forgive you, Gladio, anyway. [He puts an arm around his middle.] I...don't know about that, I'm sure I've done things that wasn't good but...but you guys forgive me and accept me and everything. So don't be sad?

[Gladio softly squeezes Prompto closer when the blond's arm wraps around him.]

You're never a bother, Prom. And I'll to what I can t'ease some of your worries, if you'll let me.

[He relaxes into the friendly embrace and takes another sip of his cocoa, smiling softly. Maybe things won't be so bad...] I can't think of a single shitty thing you've ever done, to be honest, but I do know that there's nothin' you could do that I wouldn't forgive.

And thanks ... for forgiving me. [Another ruffle of blond hair.]

I can work on that not being sad part too.

[For now, he'll just bask in the warmth offered by his friend and enjoy the fire. And the cocoa.]

I'm...I'm okay. [It's not that he's skeptical, but he kind of is. He worries all the time.]

No problem Gladio. [He pats his back gently.] It was just some hurt feelings it's not- The other stuff you know, and I'll let Noct and Iggy tear you one for it, but that's not really my job. [He smiles, because it isn't. He could, if he had to, but the other two would take care of it for him.]

Hey, it matters that I hurt your feelings. So if you want to tear me one, go ahead. I deserve it. [This time, Gladio's words aren't spoken with hurt or sadness. Just simple honesty.]

I meant what I said though - M'not gonna run off like that ever again. And I'll be there for you when you need to get some worries off your chest. I promise.

[He knocks his head gently against Prompto's.] You're my friend, Prom. And I'll be a better friend to you from now on.

I know, you're my friend Gladio, and I'll be okay, even with hurt feelings, is all I mean. I don't need to yell at you or beat you up..you're already doing that. [Just an observation.]

Thanks, though, Gladio. I hope you don't leave us again. We'll have to hunt you down.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Event || Camp Curtisy Retreat

Everyone makes mistakes

This was more than a mistake

As long as you learn from it Gladio

Dammit Prompto

He is stubborn

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