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Tweak says, "'C' is for cookie!"

ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛᴏ ᴀʀɢᴇɴᴛᴜᴍ (xpro) wrote in arrivedic,
@ 2019-01-08 20:14:00

Entry tags:

!network, dragon age: fenris, final fantasy: noctis lucis caelum, final fantasy: nyx ulric, final fantasy: prompto argentum

network post ➢ Prompto
There's always something kinda sad about the holidays being over, like we have to go back to our real lives and that part never really stops sucking, does it?

[Praespero filter]

Now we're all back together, I think it's time we talked about going after Valgardson. Let everyone kinda weigh in on it like usual.

Even with the fact we could use his desperation against him, it's still not gonna be easy. He's not gonna make it easy, but it would be worth stopping him from hurting anyone else. On the other hand, it's going to be dangerous, so I hope no one feels obligated to go after him either.

Thoughts?

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	PROMPTO. broody 2019-01-15 08:09 pm UTC (link)
	Fair. You are a romantic. It is easy to see such possibilities if you wish to see them. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	FEN. xpro 2019-01-15 08:21 pm UTC (link)
	Maybe I am, but that doesn't mean I'd see something that's not really there. If there's a possibility, it means there is something. If you don't want to believe me, should I call some if the people who were there? Or maybe send you some of the pictures I took? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	PROMPTO. broody 2019-01-15 08:40 pm UTC (link)
	[...] Pictures? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	FEN. xpro 2019-01-15 08:46 pm UTC (link)
	Yeap. I got a lot of really nice ones. Wanna see them? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	PROMPTO. broody 2019-01-15 08:49 pm UTC (link)
	[ The response takes seconds. ] I'm coming over. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	FEN. xpro 2019-01-15 08:51 pm UTC (link)
	Okay. 😊 (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

broody
2019-01-15 10:20 pm UTC (link)

[ Fenris tried not to rush over. Really, he did. But he knew acting casual wasn't going to cut it when Prompto was so damn perceptive, and given the subject matter, his friend already knew the stakes were high. Fenris sighed. All that time spent teasing Aveline when she'd acted the fool over Donnic, and here he was, doing the same. Hubris, truly.

He set a mug of tea down in front of Prompto when he arrived in a gesture of goodwill. Fenris didn't like accepting favors such as these without offering something in return, no matter what the intentions. If he was a little anxious about this, well. Prompto was kind. Fenris trusted him, even if he shifted from foot to foot for a moment. ]

Well?

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xpro
2019-01-15 11:11 pm UTC (link)

[ As he sat, clicking through some of the saved pictures, Prom hoped that Fenris didn't think he was being invasive. Even with the best of intentions, Prom knew that this was a really personal thing and he knew how he would have felt if someone tried to pry when they weren't welcome.

Smiling at the mug that was placed in front of him, Prom put his camera down on the table next to it before looking up at Fenris. ] Thanks, [ Prompto said warmly. After a moment or two, Prom laughed quietly and gestured towards one of the other chairs. ] You wanna sit down? Or are you gonna pace?

[ Prompto could feel the nervous energy in the room and he hoped to try to lift a little of it, if he could. ] I didn't have time to get any of them printed or anything but. [ Turning the camera back on from sleep mode, Prom scrolled back through the photographs to find a couple of the ones he took of Fenris and Dorian together and handed it over. ] You can kinda zoom in if you do this... [ Prom demonstrated by closing in on their faces.] And there's a few of them so you can look through them by hitting this button. [ Tapping it, another picture of the two of them popped up. Pressing the button opposite it, Prom went back to the previous one. ] And that's how you go back. If you needed to.

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broody
2019-01-15 11:39 pm UTC (link)

[ It never entered Fenris' mind that Prompto was being invasive. If anything, he'd always been impressed by his friend's ability to capture the emotion of any given image, not simply the event itself. He was no artist, but he could appreciate a skilled artist's work when he saw it, and Prompto was absolutely skilled. Fenris was simply flattered to be captured in any picture at all; it meant Prompto had been inspired by him on some level, and that was humbling.

He grunted, though, at the jest. ] Perhaps I want to pace, [ he countered, but sat a moment later, back ramrod straight. This was far more nerve-wracking than he would ever admit to, and he accepted the camera with a great deal of trepidation. Fenris even eyed it warily for a moment, as if it might suddenly gain sentience and bite him. It didn't. Small miracles.

Nothing could have prepared him for seeing the actual pictures, though. Fenris barely breathed as he clicked through each one, lingering on two in particular. He vaguely remembered making some kind of joke, because Dorian's laughter had made him feel delighted and jittery at the same time. He'd been too distracted to notice Dorian's smile, which was. Well. Radiant was the only word for it, really. And in the next photo, the mage was looking at him with such unbearably sweet fondness that Fenris did, in fact, forget to breathe.

He sat with that picture for a long moment, admiring it before he spoke in a soft voice. ] I like this one.

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xpro
2019-01-16 12:13 am UTC (link)

[ It was just a part of Prompto's nature to be anxious over things sometimes, or to jump to the worst conclusions before slowly pulling himself back. He was getting better at not giving in, but the old habit still crept up on him more often than he'd like. So he just focused on the fact that Fenris didn't seem upset, and pushed the rest of all of that out of his head. [

I mean... if it makes you feel better, run laps if you need to. [ Prom didn't really have any issue with Fenris pacing if he wanted to, or being kinda jittery. It wasn't like Prompto was known for his ability to sit still. But he just wanted his friend to relax a little. Which.... he didn't at all, considering he looked almost comically rigid when he sat down.

Silently, Prompto watched Fenris's face as he scrolled through the pictures and how the memories seemed to light up in his eyes. Peeking over Fenris's shoulder when he spoke, Prompto glanced at the photo on the screen and smiled, reaching to zoom in on their faces. There was something really sweet about it, the way they were looking at each other, the warmth in their expressions, the way they were standing, turned towards each other and a little too close to be casual but not enough to be suggestive. ] I can print a copy for you. And I could send it to your phone, too, if you wanted.

[ A pause. ]

Do you see what I was saying before though?

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broody
2019-01-16 01:20 pm UTC (link)

I don't run if I can help it. [ Despite how dryly the words were delivered, Fenris wasn't upset at all. He knew many people tended to assume he was upset or angry by his tone, but Prompto never seemed to make such quick judgments about people. He listened, and he was patient, and Fenris respected him all the more for it. Besides, he'd likely run through a few of his stretches later. That would help.

He did, however, notice the slight sign of anxiousness in his friend, and forced himself to relax his posture a little. The last thing Fenris wanted was to upset the very person who had helped him countless times over, today notwithstanding. ]

Both, [ He replied softly, a little distant. The memory of that moment was a warm one, too warm, wrapping him as if by a fur-lined coat around his shoulders. It was a memory Fenris would carry with him for a long, long time, and he didn't know how to thank Prompto for bringing it to light like this. He was about to try, lips parted around the words, when the question stopped him. ] I ... yes.

[ Finally tearing his eyes away from the image, Fenris searched Prompto's gaze for a moment, unsure how to phrase what he wanted to ask. ] How? [ That wasn't right. He blushed a little. ] It happened so fast. I don't ... [ Fenris made one of his many annoyed sounds and glanced back down at the picture again as if it held the answers. Somewhere, Aveline was laughing at him. ]

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xpro
2019-01-16 03:32 pm UTC (link)

Pfft, you sound like my dad. I only run from responsibility, son, [ Prom quoted, making his voice deeper as he imitated his father. Sometimes, in moments like these, Prompto almost forgot that his parents were gone. He missed them a lot, missed being able to call them when he felt overwhelmed, or needed someone to just listen. Prompto was just thankful that he had been able to be with each of them when they passed away, blissfully in their sleep and not at the hands of the daemons. So maybe he was a little sad that they were gone, but it didn't show on his face.

Smiling warmly when some of that tension melted away, Prompto hoped the rest of it would break down too after Fenris was able to look at the pictures. Even if it didn't, Prompto wouldn't be upset; he just wanted to see his friend smile. ]

I can do both. I'll have to see if Ira can put something together? I definitely know we don't have a printer. But I can put it on your phone whenever. [ Prompto made himself stop rambling as he listened to Fenris's reply. And then his confused, vague question. ] That's just the perks of having a friend who's a photographer. I'm really good at catching all the really special moments.

[ Prompto couldn't help but think of the old SD card he had tucked away full of all the pictures he'd taken on their roadtrip all those years ago. Even now, he can still remember the moment each one was taken, little stolen and immortalized moments in time, though sometimes Prompto had a hard time looking at the digital version of the photograph Noct had taken away with him that day but he always hoped it had given him some small comfort ]

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broody
2019-01-16 03:53 pm UTC (link)

[ Fenris huffed something approaching a laugh. ] Your father was clever. [ He could tell by the subtle shift in Prompto's eyes that the man in question was no longer living. While he didn't remember what it was like to have parents, if he'd ever had a father at all, he knew how memories could become bittersweet with time. So, after a pause, Fenris leaned forward to rest his hand over Prompto's and gave his friend a gentle squeeze. It wasn't much, but he wanted to convey he was there if needed. ]

The phone is ... good, [ He replied, half-wondering if he should share it with Dorian. Part of him wanted to keep this entirely to himself, already feeling that possessive instinct begin to creep over him. That would need to be dealt with soon. The last thing Fenris wanted was to ruin this by making Dorian feel stifled, or worse, trapped.

Prompto's reply actually made him chuckle, though, a rare smile finally tugging at his mouth. ] I meant these feelings. From what I've observed of other people, this takes time to grow. [ Fenris clicked through a few of the other pictures, as if searching for evidence to refute what he knew in his heart to be true. The images of his own face were proof enough of that. ]

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xpro
2019-01-17 12:54 am UTC (link)

Yeah he was. [ Being a young kid with older parents who weren't around all the time had been hard on Prompto, but he knew they loved him. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough for him and no matter what anyone said, no matter where he came from or what the bar code on his wrist said, they were his real parents. And it was a little bittersweet, because there were so many things he wished that they could have done together, so many times he wished they were still just a phonecall away. Not just for the sad things, but for the happy things too. Prompto wished that he had more than just memories, too.

When Fenris's hand came to rest over his own, Prompto smiled, a little taut, but genuine, before shaking away the thoughts of his parents. He didn't want to pull this moment down with his melancholy feelings, but he appreciated Fenris's kind gesture and that was clear in his expression. ] Thanks. [ Prompto added. ]

As soon as you're done looking, I'll send them to you. [ Seeing Fenris finally smile, Prom's grew a little brighter. It was nice to see him look so happy. ] Sometimes? But then..... maybe you found someone your soul just.... knew? I don't really know how to describe it, but I felt it a long time ago and I fell pretty quick too. All time did was make it stronger, you know? But that feeling? Being in love? I had that right from the start.

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broody
2019-01-17 05:51 pm UTC (link)

[ Fenris watched the expression on Prompto's face shift. It reminded him of Hawke in the days following their mother's death; distant, pensive. At the time, he didn't know what to do. Nothing he said could have changed her passing, so he focused on being present. With any luck, that would be helpful to Prompto, too. ] Do you want to talk about him? [ It was spoken simply, no judgment or expectation in his tone. Fenris was curious about the man who raised his friend, but he didn't mind if Prompto preferred not to share that right now.

At the very least, his small gesture of solidarity seemed to help. He disliked touching in general, but right now, he didn't feel stressed by it. And that was nice. So Fenris offered a nod in response to Prompto's gratitude, though he hardly needed it. He owed his friend far more. ]

That is ... something we briefly discussed. Knowing each other's souls. [ It still surprised him that Dorian had felt the same instant connection. To hear Prompto describe it similarly helped. It meant this wasn't an isolated case. Fenris glanced up at his friend, searching his gaze this time, curious. ] It grows stronger? [ That was ... mildly alarming. And a little exciting, too. Feeling his ears turn red, Fenris handed the camera back, grunting. ] Take it.

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xpro
2019-01-19 08:40 am UTC (link)

My dad? [ The question took Prom by surprise, and for a second, it showed on his face. Prompto hadn't talked about either of them with anyone; he couldn't even remember if he'd told Gladio or Ignis about them passing away. For a moment, Prompto didn't know what to say, if anything, but he really did appreciate that Fenris reached out to him. ] He was a really quiet man, but his had this habit of just.... dropping an emotional statement on me from behind the newspaper. [ Prompto let out a huff of laughter that also sounded a little like a sob. ] Simple things, but it always meant a lot to me, because he didn't really talk about feelings. He just wasn't that kinda guy.

[ It felt like it throat was closing up and Prompto realized that he should probably steer this conversation away from his parents. Maybe he still wasn't ready to talk about them. ] Sorry, [ he said then, sniffling a little but trying to smile despite feeling a little sad. ]

Yeah? Well, I don't think someone who's not serious about their feelings would talk about being soulmates with someone, Fen. [ Prompto almost laughed at the comical reaction, the camera being shoved back at him with another one of those disgruntled noises. ] It's kinda like a wildfire at first and it scared me in the beginning? But... all I really knew was that I was in love and even if they didn't love me too, I still wanted to be by their side. I could live with that burning feeling if I could still be close to them.

[ Prompto looked down and chuckled, mostly at himself. The more he talked, the more he just sounded like a hopeless romantic. ] I don't know. It's always gonna be intense when you care for someone like that, but it's a good kind of intense. At least, I think so.

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broody
2019-01-21 02:10 am UTC (link)

[ Fenris felt immensely honored that Prompto would share these memories of his father with him. He grew quiet, but attentive, listening closely so that he could try to imagine this man his friend had grown up knowing. It was easy to picture it—a solemn, yet kind-hearted person, who taught Prompto the value of empathy and patience. ] You are similar, [ Fenris told him, because it seemed important to mention that. ] Your wisdom comes at unexpected moments, too. He would have been very proud of what you accomplished here, if he is half as good as you make him seem.

[ The tears didn't surprise or upset Fenris. He shook his head to dismiss Prompto's apology, only saddened by the fact that his friend felt the need to apologize for expressing an emotion. He knew that feeling all too well. ] I enjoyed hearing that. Thank you. [ Perhaps it was a little stilted, since Fenris was still unused to having close friendships like this outside of Hawke, but he wanted to try. Especially so that Prompto knew his value in his friend's life.

It almost made him squirm, the change in topic, but Fenris endured the flash of embarrassment. He had invited this subject matter, treacherous as it was. ] It's not that I don't believe him, [ he said more quietly, and this time, he couldn't look at Prompto when he spoke. So he stared at his hands. ] He is charming, and clever, and kind, and funny, [ and somehow, all the compliments sounded like accusations, ] and he is ... being stupid. I don't understand.

[ Another sound of frustration left him, and Fenris was up again, pacing, trying to stop his hands from forming the words he couldn't express verbally. It would just look like flailing if he did. ] You call it burning when it is madness. How can you live with it?

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xpro
2019-01-25 09:21 am UTC (link)

Yeah? [ Hearing that felt like a weight being taken down off his shoulders, or like a fear being quieted. Prompto had always hoped to be like his parents, to somehow feel like he was as smart and strong as they were. When he'd learned of his heritage, he suddenly became terrified that he was something else, something monstrous and evil. He still struggled with that. ] I hope so.

[ Prompto glanced down then, made himself take a deep breath. ] Thanks for listening. [ He lifted his gaze back up and that gratitude was woven deeply into the smile on his face then. ]

Stupid for what? Liking you? He'd be stupid not to. [ Maybe Prom was a little biased, but he'd come to really like Fenris. There was a lot that they had in common, and it was easy to talk to him about things that he had trouble talking about, even with Noct or Gladio. ]

I mean.... it's kind of funny, but I remember this class from high school where we were talking about the origins for words we use. Like how passion? Comes from a word that means suffering. [ Shaking his head, a laugh bubbled up inside of him. ] I never really understood that until I fell in love, but I definitely see how they can get tied up with each other.

[ Prompto watched Fenris pace for a few moments, not missing the way he seemed to fight against himself to keep his hands and arms still. At the party, Prompto had noticed how the way their hands moved almost looked like they were having a conversation without words. It was fascinating even though Prompto had no idea what they might have been saying. ] I'd... rather live with it than without it. [ He answered eventually, voice hushed and quiet. ]

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