melodiesofeternity | Crystalline Chill

Entry tags:

Crystalline Chill

Who: Residents of house C-01 and friends!
When: All throughout May, see prompts and individual threads
Where: House C-01
What: Monthly catchall for the XV House shenanigans
Warnings/Notes: There's likely going to be spoilers for Kingsglaive and the main game up to Chapter 13 somewhere in the comments.

A. Sometimes you just want to ride...
Late in the morning of the 1st, there is a low purring sound of an engine going down the street. One that wasn't accustomed to travel aside by foot or chocobo claw. Yet, somehow, a certain man manages not to clip a single thing. And it sits there, in front of House C-01, black, shiny, and very much a wonder to a few moogles. Especially since the convertible's roof is airship-grade plexiglass.

B. [Insert "I'll Make A Man Out Of You" joke here]
There was one upside to living with the once-deceased leader of the Crownsguard, and that was one didn't have to go far for a training enthusiast. There was also one downside to this: not having to go far for a training enthusiast. It's the crack of dawn when the nice little symphony of insects and kwehs get interrupted by the sounds of wooden weapons clashing and spells being practiced.

Rest in pieces, light sleepers. They apologize in advance.

C. That's it!
Of course, no one can train or go through the day on no fuel. And one person in particular has taken upon himself to at least ensure a few others can eventually cook eggs without burning them. The real question is: Will Ignis come up with a new recipeh involving that jar of kupo nut butter?

D. I want to ride my chocobo all day~
If anyone is surprised at the fact that there are two or three (depending on the date because Chocobo Eater event) lovely birds, then they clearly don't understand at least 50% of the household's love for the magnificent creatures. The black one in particular seems to be particularly happy with their nice little stack of shiny objects...

There may or may not be a pair of glasses on the top of that pile. Sorry, Specs.

E. Hold my Ebony
(Feel free to come up with your own prompts, guys; these aren't the limits to our zaniness.)

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Noctis blinked a couple times, setting down the mug. He heard that correctly, right?

"And here I thought you'd say that about Cindy, considering." You know, waking him up at the crack of dawn to try and get a picture of her. Without her knowledge. And talking about her all the time.

Yet regardless of the tease, he almost seemed... flattered? Despite not really knowing what to do with that confession. "You're important to me too, Prompto."

They all were, which is what made knowing what's to come all the more painful.

He groaned and turned bright red. "Noct!" Why does he have to call him out like that?

"Look, I like Cindy." He did like her. She was attractive, and strong-willed, outgoing and brave. He also knew she didn't seem all that interested in him, which he understood because honestly he was a nervous wreck. He couldn't talk to her, because his anxiety jumped through the roof.

"We...ugh, I can't talk to her." That was a very big barrier to getting to know her. Then again, he had at one point, had a difficult time talking to Noctis too. It took someone willing to let him work through his anxiety to get to a point he was comfortable.

"It's not the same, I think." He rubbed the back of his neck. "...Thanks."

It was nice that someone out there thought he was important at least.

Because the dark clouds over their heads were threatening to pour down again? You tell him, man.

Still, seeing him flailing (some internally, some externally) about more like his usual self was a small relief. Enough that he smirked in amusement.

"Nervous, huh." It's okay, Prompto. He knew, but that didn't mean that he was exempt from Best Friend Teasing™. He'd always do that. Just like he'd always have his back and vice versa.

He leaned forward slightly, hands clasped before him on the table. "Hey. I mean it. I don't just make time for anyone." Or hug them. Or anything beyond a handshake. Really, it should be pretty obvious.

It was true that darkness was looming above them and he didn't want to be so sad either, so it was better to joke around.

"I-shut up!" His cheeks were pink, and even his ears. "I, yeah, but I don't know how to just..I've never managed that. You remember me my whole teenage life." He was mildly frustrated with himself, but honestly, he understood the problem, but it didn't mean he could fix it.

"I know you don't. I'm really..honoured." He was flattered, and honoured and he felt so warm when Noctis looked at him. He adored him with all of his heart. There was no one else he liked like Noctis. "I'm so glad to have you."

If he expected Noctis to shut up at that, he was sorely mistaken. Instead, he chuckled a little bit. Prompto was far too easy to tease about this sort of thing. Especially having known him their whole teenage lives.

Noctis nudged him gently, a genuine smile crossing his lips. "Hey. That's my line." Because he genuinely was glad to have Prompto at his side. Of all their former classmates, he'd have no one else.

Prompto knew better than to expect him to acquiesce to his request. His best friend was a jerk like that. He was pretty easy to tease sometimes, and Noct was good at finding the topics that riled him up.

He didn't particularly mind, after all, they'd been friends for five years yet.

"Yeah, well, too bad I'm keeping it." He stuck his tongue out playfully at Noct.

Excellent. Because as much of a jerk move it is, it... was good. To see him cheer up a little bit. And that tongue stuck out at him earned Prompto a roll of the eyes. Really, Prom? Really?

Yet he was glad for it, despite how immature it was.

Silly and immature and beneath them definitely, but it helped ease some of the tension in the room, some of the sadness that was hovering over them like a shroud. Prompto was used to casting those kinds of feelings aside, to push the light through the clouds and this was too much for him, at least, until he'd processed it.

"I can't wrap my head around this Noct. It's just...sorry, I know it should be you and I'm terrible for being so.." Affected, at least, in front of Noct who had his own problem.

"Sorry. I should be focused on you and not-" He shook his head. He had find some of that light, that inner burst of sunshine he seemed to carry around with him.

Noctis listened quietly. Listened, as one of his closest friends tried to form the words but trailed off both times. His gaze fell briefly, glancing at the bracelets for but a few seconds. Of course it affected him. Why wouldn't it? After all, they...

"Prompto." He said at last, calm and measured. At least, as calm as he could get. "I know. It's a lot to take in at once." Or at all, really. Yet he smiled faintly, trying when Prompto could not. "And I'm glad- that you're being honest with me on this."

And so many other things. Noctis sighed, gaze attempting to meet Prompto's again. "It's hard to ask about someone else's pain, but so much harder to talk about your own." Which, is why he never said anything in the first place. "So, don't worry if you can't right away. It's been a month and I still can't..."

He swallowed. It was a lot to take in at all, so difficult when it came to actual realizations that Noctis would be leaving them all too soon, way too soon. He needed to stop crying.

"I just feel like I shouldn't tell you, I mean I'm not the one who's gonna-"

No, he couldn't say it. He looked away at the table, at his fidgeting hands. If ever there was an appropriate time to be distressed, this was it.

"Iggy and I aren't going to sit back, you know?" He told him suddenly, now meeting Noctis' eyes.

"We're not. We're going to do everything we can. There has to be something."

Prompto didn't care if he sounded desperate, because he was desperate.

"Everyone dies," he replied, not hesitating like the other to say it. Even though it tears him up inside to do so. "And- I'd rather not be treated any differently."

Please don't treat him like he's made of glass. He couldn't handle that if that's how he's treated the rest of their time here. Yet that desperation and determination in Prompto's eyes eased some of that worry.

"If only we could weaken him somehow beforehand."

"I...I won't." Prompto answered, and he knew then that he was going to have to find a way to process this and compartmentalize this like he does everything else. He never intended to treat Noctis differently anyway, he just wanted him to know he was loved.

They would try for him, try and change the future. Whatever they needed to do.

"Yeah. Iggy said he's going to look in the library for anything that could help and he'll keep us up to date and I'll..." He swallowed. What could he do?

"Listen for anything anyone else knows maybe." Prompto was sorry that he had nothing else to offer. He felt like he wasn't able to pull his weight in this situation. The best he could do was maybe look after Noct.

"But...as long as we're here, that won't happen." He moved to offer a punch to Noct's arm. No, he wasn't going to treat him too differently.

Noctis seemed to freeze at the mention of his adviser. Were it not for the chair, he'd have likely fallen to the floor again at that casual admittance. His oldest friend and confidant, he... he knew? For how long? And why didn't...

That punch to his arm snapped him out of it, and though he looked hurt, it wasn't because of Prompto.

It was because pieces that he hadn't connected before were beginning to fit together in a horrifying light and he had no idea what to do with it. "Yeah... I know." He tried to sound relieved, he really did. Yet, quietly, he added, "So, Ignis knows too, huh."

Just how many did in this house without telling him?

"He told me the other night."

The question could be turned around, how they all knew and he didn't? But no, Ignis took the time to explain it, no matter how disappointed he was.

"I confirmed some things for him. He thought it wasn't true." He sighed and slouched on the chair.

"I want you to be with me always Noct." In case he was unclear when he made the promise. "So I'll do anything to help."

"But... how?" He can't help but ask it aloud, though to say he won't go directly to the source would be laughable. Once Prompto's calmed down a bit more. "I mean, the Draconian was there to tell me, but..."

It doesn't make sense to him. He tries to shake off the feelings, but that his friend... No. He wouldn't think like that. Not about family. And if he thought that none of it was true, then he can't blame him for not saying a word. Yet he tried to dissuade him. Even if Ignis doesn't recall it.

It left him feeling more exhausted than he had before.

"I'm not going anywhere." He promised, trying to stifle a yawn. "Except maybe to sleep." It was a lame attempt to lighten the mood, but also kind of serious.

"I'm not sure...something he saw, I think?" Prompto answered, looking a bit worried about that. "Like a vision maybe? You could ask him more about it."

Whatever details Ignis had told him, had been completely overwhelmed with the emotions attached to the news, so for Prompto his recollection of the discussion was a little spotty.

He laughed softly and reached over to run his fingers through Noct's hair and check his head for injury.

"You didn't hit your head when I took you out did you?" He smiled, he knew what Noct was doing, he could play along. "I could totally kick your ass now."

"Oh, I will." Because vision? What? He frowned thoughtfully, trying to put together a puzzle he didn't have all the pieces to. At least, until suddenly those thoughts were interrupted by a laugh and a hand running through his hair.

Huh? What? He blinked, raising an eyebrow at Prompto and trying his best to look like he didn't like that (he does) and maintain some semblance of dignity. The latter he found easier with a bit of teasing.

"Only because I don't actually want to set you on fire," he replied with a quiet hint of amusement in his tone and a smile. He batted the hand away lightly. "I'm fine."

Well, as fine as he could get.

He chuckled and pulled his hand off of his best friend's head and rolled his eyes. "See you say that, but I'm pretty sure in this very long friendship of ours, you have threatened to set me or my things on fire at least once. I can't remember an example right now but I'm pretty sure it happened. Maybe all this time you've been a pyromaniac, waiting to become a black mage!"

It was bordering on silly again, but that was fine, anything to stop feeling so miserable.

"Uh huh, sure, but if we spar now I'm gonna win." He flashed him a grin and a victory sign.

"One time, sophomore year. You kept trying to take photos while I was studying for the exams." There. One example. He doesn't even seem to care that he was really just fueling the argument against himself. "I think the exact words were, 'If you don't stop I'm setting that memory card on fire.'"

Bordering on silly was better than the rain cloud pouring down on their heads.

"Is that a challenge?" He smirked back, resting a fist on his hip. Because he can always switch to Ninja...

Edited 2018-05-24 19:38 (UTC)

Prompto chuckled. "Oh yeah, I remember that, you were studying and I was studying you studying. It was for my final project!" He snickered. "I couldn't even use you as my muse, you were too grumpy. I had to start over."

As if Noctis was going to be his school project, but that was going to be his defense.

"Maybe it is, what would you do?"

"Who isn't grumpy during finals prep?" He pointed out, but chuckled in the next breath. "Good thing Umbra came by, huh."

Best dog. He deserved all the pets that week.

He pulled out his slate, opening the program for the asterisks... "Oh, just this."

It would put him at a slight disadvantage, having not really done much to practice with his second asterisk, but... he smirked. And, with the combined speed of black mage and ninja, was already on his feet and moving to trap Prompto in a noogie.

Act fast, bro.

"Umbra, yeah, Umbra is great." He grinned, even though he was more partial to Pryna for certain reasons, Umbra was a very good dog and all the petting and cuddling was well deserved.

Prompto was used to being faster, fast was one of the things he was good at but when Noctis moved ninja-fast he had no hope.

He let out a squeak as he was grabbed and subjected to a noogie.

"Aaaaahhh!" He flailed and tried to punch at his shoulder, not terribly hard, but more of a protest.

"If you don't stop I'll have to take you down!"

Watch him, bro.

"Yeah. Pryna gives the best kisses, though." He knows, bro. He missed Pryna, too. That white ball of fluff never left Luna's side in Tenebrae. Which meant that she was almost always nearby. Best puppies. Hands down.

He smirks in triumph as he got Prompto in an elbow-lock, not too tight, easily breakable, roughly rubbing a fist in his hair. That squeak earned a hearty laugh. That shoulder punch getting a small 'ooh' out of him. He's so terrified. Really.

"Oh, will you now?"

He dares you, bro.

Edited 2018-05-27 10:11 (UTC)

"I will totally lay you out, just watch me!"

Although, he wasn't a mage anymore surely he could put a bit of weight into a hip check, moving his foot around him in an effort to trip him at the same time.

Prompto was ready, if Noctis went down, he had better be ready for a wrestle because he was planning on pinning him properly and make him give up.

"Huh huh, sure you w- whoa!"

He did. He did put a bit of weight into that hip check, but inexperience on this job equated to him still getting knocked on his ass a little too easily for comfort. He grunts, but takes Prompto down with him.

It.

Is.

On.

What he lacks in pure strength, he makes up for in flexibility. Ninja is a naturally nimble asterisk, so pinning him? Good luck. He's already rolled with it to the point he could easily pin Prompto if the other pressed hard enough.

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