melodiesofeternity | Crystalline Chill

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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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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.

Prompto grunted as he fell with him, of course that sent him off balance because clearly his friend was a dick.

He yelped a little.

"You're a cheater or something! Ack!"

His shoulders hit the ground as Noct pushed and he squirmed, he wriggled and tried to sneak out from under him, but if Noct put his weight on him that might be quite difficult.

That yelp gets a smug smirk out of him.

"Not my fault you tripped me when I still had an arm around you~" He teased. But was someone trying to imply he's getting fat? Because first: rude. Second: Okay maybe he should join Prompto on morning runs, but shhh.

He put some of his weight into it, but he doesn't completely. That wouldn't make this little wrestling match nearly as fun if he won right off the bat.

He was not thinking that Noct was fat, but he was a solid human being putting some of his weight on him.

"I got this, okay, got it."

Prompto made a grab for under Noct's knee and if successful, his plan was going to try and launch himself into a full body roll and get his best friend off of him. He can hardly wrestle if he's stuck beneath him.

Good, but he probably should at least work on running. Because squiiiishy black mage.

His knees. His one weakness, along with his back that he's somehow glad Prompto had yet to discover. Yet he should have seen this one coming, especially as, with relative ease, Prompto caught him and all but tossed him off. His back hit the cabinet, and he was quick to scoot away from it to keep anything from breaking.

Ignis would have their hides if they broke anything in the kitchen and they just barely managed to keep the jar of kupo nut butter from being knocked onto the floor. Why it still sat on the counter, Noctis had no idea. But he's glad it didn't fall over.

This also distracted him greatly, leaving him wide open.

"Astrals! Shit!" Prompto followed through the rolling, but Noct hit the cabinet and that probably hurt.

"I'm sorry!" He got up on his knees to lean over Noct.

"You're not hurt are you? I keep forgetting you're not as strong!" He pouted slightly and stared at Noctis, as though trying to discern if he'd hurt himself or not, if he did, Ignis was going to kill them both.

Noctis looked up at his friend, so completely worried and fretting... and smirked. Prompto, it seemed, forgot one thing. He's a ninja, and that only meant one thing in this scenario.

He silently pushed off the cabinet, wrapping his arms around Prompto's waist as he put weight into pushing them both away from the counter and, hopefully, closer to the hallway. Less likely to break shit and really be in for it.

Yeah. He's fine.

Noctis was the biggest cheater ever, he probably did that on purpose and Prompto would swear that to the end of their days, just to catch him off guard. It wasn't because he was overemotional and concerned for his best friend.

"Eek!" He was startled by his sneakiness, because everyone knew ninjas were sneaky and he fell back, but he tried to use Noctis' momentum and get out of the way. Maybe, if he was lucky, he could get Noct to face plant, and sit on his back.

It wouldn't be quite pinning, but it would be a pain to get out of. Which he deserved, entirely.

"You are such a cheater!"

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