Raise a Glass [OPEN]

[lordshield]

Who: The XV Cast and You!
When: June 6th
Where: Curti Center, Jiminy's Juicery (bar)
What: After saving innocents from the Dream Width, some people just need a drink.
Warnings/Notes: Alcohol consumption, possible violence, whatever people do in bars.

Their first foray into the search and rescue business in the Dream Width had been intense, to say the least. Stressful, heartbreaking, exhausting, and enlightening were other words some might use to describe the experience. After a night of rest and a day to somewhat sort things and people out, the next evening brings about a mighty need to head to the local tavern. Some drink to forget, some drink to remember, some drink to relax. There are even representatives of the Bard's Guild providing live music. You can try to make a request, but chances are they don't know your foreign songs.

Maybe you were invited by one of the excitable young men from Lucis, or maybe you came on your own. There's enough room in the bar for quite a few people, so long as they're of age. Sit right at the bar, or pull up chairs around a table, the choice is yours.

[OoC: Make your own toplevel or tag around. Please put content warnings as necessary. Have fun!]

Comments

[chocobosnap]

He didn't used to be the pained one, but some time at the hands of the enemy has made him feel raw and hurt, more hurt than he would have ever thought. He hadn't processed a way to push it down and forget about it yet. He was working on it. The nightmares tormented him every night.

Prompto wrapped his arms around Gladio's middle, distracted from talking about his chocobo. He spoke even if he was squished into the other man's chest.

"I was cloned to be an MT." He murmured. "I have a barcode like a can of soup. I just..." He sucked in a breath. "I found out the details and yeah. Not good. And your dad saw that. So he thought I was spying or something."

[hashtagdaddy]

Resting his chin against fluffy blond hair, Gladio is glad Prompto can't see his own pained expression. The kid sounds so ... broken and the Shield can only hope that holding him tight might help fuse some of those pieces back together.

"Prom ..." Shit, what the hell can he say to that? "Sometimes Dad gets carried away with his sense of duty. None of us ever thought you were a spy and I sure as shit don't think you're a spy now."

He loosens his grip a bit only to take a long swig of his drink, and to give Prompto a chance to do the same, before gently pulling the Gunner back into his side.

"An' you're way more valuable than some soup. You're a five-star character, blondie. So you gotta be at least one of those gourmet Cup Noodles - at minimum." Yup, that sure is a terrible King's Knight pun, but if it can pull even a half-hearted wobbly smile from the blond it's worth it.

And if not, he'll figure out something else to help their resident Chocobutt.

[chocobosnap]

He took the comfort offered, because he needed it, and he had some kind of deficit in his life and he figured he'd take it while he could get it. He hadn't had anything like it in the time he'd been in Zegnautus.

Gladio's words do earn a weak little laugh out of him and he just shakes his head a little. "You guys are the best really."

Prompto knew Gladio would have questions, but he could answer them sober sometime.

"What happened after, that I didn't want to say, was worse. So I just...yeah. It means a lot that you guys don't mind." Ardyn had a lot of time to fill his head with things, lies most likely.

[hashtagdaddy]

"You don't have to say anything you don't want to. Now or later." Of course he had questions, who wouldn't? But he knew better than to ask them here and he'd never try to make Prompto talk about something he really didn't want to discuss.

Hearing the slight laugh helped, but Gladio had a feeling his friend would need a lot more comforting in the coming days (or weeks, or months - whatever Prompto needed, and for however long, Gladio would make sure he received.

"You're one of us an' you'll always have a place with us. Where you're from doesn't change anythin'. Okay?" He really wasn't sure what he could say, but everything he said came from the heart and if Prompto looked into Gladio's eyes he'd see nothing but honesty and that kind of love that only comes from a friendship built over several years and a completely derailed roadtrip.

[chocobosnap]

He rewarded Gladio with a big squeeze around the middle as thanks for the kind words.

"I'll tell you..just not tonight. I already told Iggy and Noct. We had a talk before you came. About the future."

He breathed.

"It was better than what's happening when I am, things are so awkward we can't talk."

[hashtagdaddy]

"Then let's focus on getting you drunker and happier." Gladio nodded to the glass in Prompto's hand.

"Drink up an' I'll get ya another one."

He kept his arms around the slim blond boy, head spinning at the partial information and wondering what the whole story actually was.

But he'd gladly honor the kid's request - and keep his own promise to boot - by not asking for any more details tonight. Instead, he planned on keeping Prompto company for a bit longer before leaving him to his own devices (which really meant leaving him to seek out Noctis).

[chocobosnap]

"Thanks Gladio." He smiled a little and leaned against him. "I don't know about happy, but I can definitely do drunk."

He let out a sigh and shook his head. "Forgive me? I'll be cheerful tomorrow."

[hashtagdaddy]

"Nothin' to forgive, Chocobo." Gladio squeezed the young man gently and, in a show of deep affection, gave a soft kiss to the top of Prompto's hair. While Gladio never shied away from friendly hugs or slaps to his ass, he almost never brought out the hair or forehead kisses with his friends. But this was a special circumstance and he needed the freckled blond to know that absolutely nothing about their friendship had changed.

At least not in Gladio's eyes.

"Finish that drink an' I'll get you another. Then you can go on over to Noct over there - bet he can help you out more'n I can." He pointed to where said Prince was sitting to make sure Prompto saw. If nothing else, Gladio could at least help Prompto get drunk and send him to someone that could do more for him right now.

"Pretty sure you'll be hungover tomorrow, blondie, but we'll talk more when you're ready. Tonight, we get shitfaced."