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[he pulls his legs away when noctis leans over, so he props himself up instead, scooting closer and putting a hand over his friend's back]

That's how it goes. I had some weird memories coming back to me that made literally no sense with anything I ever did--or would do, rationally.

...do you want to tell me what it was?

[ He doesn't want to think of this as a memory. It's far too terrifying for him to even consider as a memory. It's what everyone here refers to these visions as, and it just...

Noctis would rather deny it.

He keeps his face in his hands, taking a few seconds to gather his thoughts, because he's still half asleep. Eventually, he takes a settling breath, dropping his hands to lean back against the couch. ]

I'm in front of his giant rock--

Crystal, I'm pretty sure. And when I touched it, I couldn't move away. It started... Pulling me in. When I tried getting my arm out, it pulled harder until it swallowed me up completely.

[ He sighs, shaking his head. ]

At least, I think it did. The memory is really fragmented, like it's in different parts.

[he takes his hand back before it's crushed between noctis and the couch, deciding to keep to himself and just... listen.]

[clearly it's not the same as seeing it happen, nor feeling the emotions that come with it (feeling so incredibly real), but prompto can see how goddamn terrifying it is. what with his claustrophobia kicking in when he leaves the door closed in his bathroom for a second too long that he needs to walk out into the hallway half naked with a toothbrush in his mouth to collect himself, the idea of a rock, whatever type it is, pulling him inside and keep him there for whatever reason...]

[prompto reminds himself that he needs to keep breathing]

[he closes his eyes and counts to ten, then gasps for air, focusing, and turning his eyes back on noctis]

...can we sit outside for a second?

[prompto points out at the glass door leading to the balcony]

Fresh air might help you feel better.

Edited 2017-07-27 23:26 (UTC)

[ The more Noctis thinks about it, the worse he feels. He's not at all claustrophobic, but he definitely gets that feeling when he has to reflect on the memory itself. Reliving it explaination makes him feel like his arm is being tugged forward again. It was hot, burning, this bright light engulfing him while he writhed and struggled with absolutely no success.

His skin starts to crawl, almost completely in tandem to Prompto's own panic. The suggestion snaps him back before he can panic. ]

Good idea.

[ Tired as he is, Noctis can't get up fast enough. He seems to make a beeline for the door because, yeah, it's suddenly really stifling in here. ]

[prompto follows, forgetting how cold the floor is, and soon as he catches up with noctis (it doesn't take much) he puts his hands on his friend's back and leads him out, towards the railing--]

[where prompto takes a seat, lets his legs dangle, and presses his face to the bars, taking a deep breath and looking down at the city. as scared as he is of closed spaces, height does nothing to him. it fascinates him. and, from here? the city looks so small, so quiet, so peaceful; tiny bleeps of light in very few places, very few cars zooming by, not really any sound but for the rustling of leaves from trees far below.]

[it isn't a very windy night at all, either.]

That's fucked up.

[he finally offers, leaning back and looking over at noctis, hands holding up his weight behind him]

I've had some pretty scary memories, too, but nothing quite like that. I... found that talking about it really helped out. Especially because it wasn't just what I saw, but what I felt. Scared, anxious, like my heart's in my throat. I can't imagine being sucked into a crystal as anything but mortifying.

[please tell him]

[ Prompto isn't wrong. Talking about it does help, even if reliving it has been taxing. He follows suit, seated similarly to Prompto where he leans against the railing, looking out to the night sky. He sits in silence as Prompto empathizes, tries to put himself in a similar spot, and Noctis is pretty grateful for it. Knowing that he's experienced similar fears makes him feel less alone, but it does nothing for his confusion. ]

I just--

[ Noctis looks to Prompto, eyes still tired. ]

What does this all even mean? Was that real? Are they really memories?

...I don't know.

[he turns his gaze away from noctis, down at the floor, chewing on his lip]

[he wishes he had answers for his best friend]

What I do know is that in one of my so-called memories, Ardyn was in it. He remembered the exact same thing. I don't know if it means our brains were messed with or that it actually happened, whenever ago, but it's something alright.

[finally, he lifts his gaze again]

Were you alone in your memory?

[ Just another drop in the hat for his life then, huh? No choices. Noctis has to wonder what this place is really about, because it just seems like his life has taken a pretty strange turn since he moved here.

Noctis looks away from Prompto, back out to the city skyline. He holds on to the bars of the balcony, thinking a moment. ]

I didn't see anyone, but...

It felt like someone was there. Just... Watching it happen.

[that's something hard to... try and be reassuring about. prompto sighs softly, and just lets himself fall against noctis's side, leaning against his friend]

...in the end, you're here right now.

It sucks, but you can't let yourself get all messed up by it.

[he pinches noctis's leg, then smiles, pulling away]

Now's the present.

[ Noctis just doesn't feel right. Like he's not in the right skin, or that his head is somewhere else. Was someone there? Why was he even in front of this terrifying rock in the first place? It's all a ton of questions that have zero answers.

Prompto pinches him, assuring him that he isn't there. That he's here, indicated by the cool breeze that touches him and the sounds of the city below. Eventually, he loosens up, feeling Prompto leaning against him and it somehow keeps him sane. Their dynamic is still something to get used to, but Noctis finds himself becoming more and more dependent on it.

He sits in silence, mulling over everything, glancing over to Prompto a second and realizing that his chest is tightening in that weird way again and he looks away.

Eventually, he playfully shoves his friend. ]

I'm going to become diabetic if you keep that up.

[prompto laughs lightly at that, and the playful shove, allowing himself to fall on the floor. he pulls his legs up from under the railing and kicks himself up to standing. he's not wearing sweats, so his pasty legs shine under the moonlight]

[enjoy the show of chocobo patterned boxers]

Whatever, you probably already are.

[...but, prompto's content.]

Noct. If you ever wanna talk about any memory you get, no matter how confusing, just tell me, alright? Is that the only one you've gotten so far?

Just another drop in the bucket.

[ He's already sick. Why not!

Despite it, he manages to relax a little, getting up to stand with Prompto. It's actually pretty nice out... He leans over the railing, mulling things over. ]

So far, yeah. That's the only one.

[ He turns his gaze to Prompto. ]

You and Ardyn crossed paths before?

[don't say that...]

Apparently. We were talking outside a caravan.

[he sits down on one of the lounge chairs noctis keeps out there (it probably came with the apartment, to be honest), loosely crossing his legs over the knee]

I was sitting, kinda like this, and he was telling a story.

...I've never told you about my memories properly, have I? [he knows he hasn't]

[ His arms are still over the railing, leaning forward. Noctis' brow raises, both at the notion of Ardyn and Prompto sharing similar pasts, and at the suggestion that he's already had a few memories hit him. ]

No.

[ Noctis pushes off the railing and takes the adjacent lounge chair beside him. He's far too awake now to go back to bed. ]

You've had a few?

[prompto counts in his head, then voices them out and counts them on his hand]

First one I got, it was this chocobo song. I wanna ride my chocobo all day, but apparently no one else is really familiar with it. Then, I remembered this... chocobo farm. It smelled terrible, but there was a cute black chocobo! And this huge demon lion Ardyn told me is actually a Behemoth. Apparently I was chasing after it, like I was some sort of monster hunter.

[he snorts, and continues counting]

I told you the one I had with Ardyn at a caravan. He was... talking about gods. We've concluded they're Astrals. He got a memory of their name 'cuz of Chill Satan... Ah, hold on.

[suddenly, prompto gets up and heads back inside. he brings out his backpack, and sitting back down, he opens it up and pulls out his wallet.]

There's not just memories, but also things. I received this in the mail after I had the memory about fighting Chill Satan. Kinda confirmed things for me there, since I was a huge skeptic.

Oh, and--don't freak out.

[prompto pulls out a gun from his bag]

Lion Heart. I just know that's its name. Found it in my bathroom about a week ago. Which, on top of apparently knowing hand-to-hand combat to some extent, really makes me think I was a monster hunter.

[this is a lot...]

Edited 2017-07-28 21:26 (UTC)

[ Noctis' brow knits as he listens to Prompto go on about... Astrals and Behemoths. It's weird enough knowing that he and Ardyn are from the same alternate existence, but hearing about what's contained in it? Completely bizarre.

Prompto hands him the picture, which doesn't make this situation any less weird. He looks... Older. Nevermind the weird as all hell pose of this giant demon-like deity in the background. It doesn't at all make sense to him. Nevermind the patch of hair on Prompto's chin. He'll keep that part to himself for now. ]

This... Actually happened?

[ He turns the picture to Prompto, but he's forced to pause when he pulls the gun from his backpack. ]

Whoa, hey--

[ Noctis veers back, away from the offending weapon. That's a fucking gun.

It's safe to say he looks officially confused, and maybe a little spooked. ]

Hand-to-hand co--

Prompto, that's a gun.

Yeah.

Had bullets and everything.

[he points down with the barrel and pushes the latch, releasing the barrel. it's empty. then, he shakes his bag a bit--and clinking sounds can be heard]

I removed the bullets a few days back, but I had no idea where to put it. So I figured I would carry it with me for now.

[putting the gun back together, he sets it down on the table]

Already registered, so...

[ It really doesn't make it any better when Prompto reveals that the barrel is empty. Noctis is still leaning far back. This is the closest he's ever been to a weapon at all, and the fact that Prompto of all people has one? A little freaky.

He still hasn't touched on the hand-to-hand combat thing. He's just now learning about this?

Noctis jabs a thumb towards inside. ]

How long has that thing been sitting in my house? You brought a gun here?

Uh... I've been carrying it with me all week since I got it...

[but, prompto bites on his bottom lip, realising that noctis is freaking out]

...are you angry about it? I didn't mean to keep it a secret, or anything. I just...

[ardyn got mad at him for this reason alone, and prompto tries to push away the guilt by bringing some form of humor into the situation]

If I'm fighting those monsters I've seen in my memories, then it's good I got some sort of badass looking weapon, that probably deals badass damage, right?

[ Noctis absolutely looks a little freaked out right now, but he slowly starts to sit back in a normal position, eyes hovering over the gun as it sits on the nearby table. ]

Angry... Isn't a word I'd use.

[ His brow raises, looking to Prompto almost meek. He's never been this close to a weapon at all. And the image of him fighting monsters? It's just... Crazy. ]

So you... remember using it?

[at least noctis is relaxing, and it helps prompto relax. he leans back against his chair, now toying with his bangs, clearly nervous for whatever reason]

...yeah, I'd guess so. It feels right on my hand, and I'm clearly holding a gun in that picture I showed you. To be honest, I'm glad to know I had a gun when sneaking after that behemoth.

Thing was at least twenty times my size!

[ He never took Prompto for a fighter. Not even close. Prompto talks about how the gun feels right in his hand, he glances at the picture, and it just seems so weird picturing him using a weapon at all. Prompto's the softest person he knows, and the disbelief is still clear on his face. ]

No way.

[ Twenty times his size? Noctis slowly leans forward, towards the gun, cautiously pushing the weapon by the barrel, forcing it to rotate slightly against the surface of the table. It's harmless as it is. ]

What... Did it look like? Did you shoot it?

[at that curious poke to the gun, prompto picks it up and offers it to noctis, handle first.]

[it's a bit weird how comfortable he is holding it and such, but it really isn't dangerous like this.]

Don't know if I did. In what I remembered, it was kinda fragmented, like the one you got. Some people were there with me, but I couldn't make them out. It was foggy as all hell, and the beast... was on all fours, prowling around. Smelled foul, and with every step the ground would shake a little. Purple-ish... had a tuft of hair atop its head... I think the best way for me to describe it is--

A demon lion.

Edited 2017-07-30 03:50 (UTC)

[ Noctis recoils only a touch when Prompto hands him the gun, cautious as he slowly reaches for it. It's harmless, but it's what it's capable of that makes it kind of intimidating. He looks at it in his hands, finger pressed adjacent to the trigger, but not on it. Noctis keeps it pointed doward, feeling its weight.

It's still kind of weird to know Prompto has just been casually carrying this thing around. But the description of the monster has his attention, brow furrowed. ]

There were other people with you?

[ God, the description is... Noctis can't seem to picture it as real, or anything beyond what he's seen in fictional movies and comic books. A demon lion, that's... ]

Like. Monster hunters?

Crazy, huh?

[a shrug]

But that's the only thing I can think of makes sense. ...or, well, at least that's what I try to tell myself. Why else would I go after this huge beast, right?

[leaning against the side of the chair, prompto watches idly as noctis examines the gun. cheek pressed to his hand, he mumbles]

...I wonder if just like Ardyn, if the other people I was monster hunting with are also in this city. That'd be wild.

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