Recolle AU/OU COMBO BREAKER PSL - Prompto, Ignis and Noctis

[kittycaterer]

[ Often times, Noctis would wonder when he would become like the normal citizens of Recolle. When he would become blissfully numb and unaware of the oddities that often fell upon those who lived there. With the Retrospec app comes the strange awareness of everything, and when it's taken away? Nothing.

He watched Gladio go from being in disbelief to the world around him to being completely unphased. As if he didn't even notice anything. Often times, Noctis wishes the same would come of him. The second he opens his eyes to an unfamiliar apartment and equally unfamiliar bed, he realizes he's not even one step closer to that.

The alarm buzzing from the cellphone on a nearby nightstand is unfamiliar as it yanks Noctis from a dead slumber. His eyes open to the morning light spilling through the windows, and he rolls to his side to turn off the offending sound.

It's not his phone.

Noctis sits up quick to try and figure out how to turn it off. It's a smart phone, but not at all like the one he has. When it shuts off, he's met with a wallpaper. Himself and Prompto; not weird, but...

They're wearing uniforms in it. Prompto grinning his usual, stupid grin with his hair matted down, a green-striped tie loose around his neck in a blueish blazer. Noctis' hair is significantly shorter in this picture. Prompto and him never went to school together. He's only known him a couple years at best. It's then that a text message comes through, the name not unfamiliar but.

Definitely unexpected.

Dad:
Noctis, it is 12:30.
You were to be here for briefing at 10, as we discussed.
Son, I understand you are newly graduated, but please remember your duty.
You are two days from 20 years and no longer a child.
I've sent Ignis to retrieve you.
- Message sent Sunday, August 28th M.E. 755 12:30PM ]

What?

[ Noctis' eyes go wide, looking at the phone as if something has started to crawl through it. Not only is he being told he's 19 years old, but duty?

What?

He rips the blanket off of him and jumps out of bed. He's only in his boxers, but he doesn't think about that when he yanks the curtains open to see that this is not the city that he is familiar with. This obviously isn't his penthouse in Recolle, and this...

This looks like... ]

... This... Isn't right...

[ Oh god. Oh no. Oh no, this is Insomnia. ]

Comments

[amities]

[Ignis had started his morning early as usual, waking up at the same early hour, eyes bleary and the need for a strong coffee already aching in his veins. Until he realized the room he was in wasn't his room. None of it was familiar. And that's when his own panic started to swell.

This didn't make any sense.

Padding out of his room, Ignis found himself staring down an unfamiliar short hallway that lead to a living room, a small kitchenette. An apartment, it looked like, but not Noct's. Again, nothing was familiar. Everything was sparse, neat, tidy, the way he'd imagine he'd keep a living space and so he knew it was his but why? Where was he?

Ignis needed answers, but there were none to be found.

Two long hours were spent with Ignis hesitantly wandering through the entirety of the apartment, looking over every detail for some sort of answer, but nothing came. He couldn't even find a newspaper. Upon returning to his room Ignis found he had a bookcase full of books, but none of them were remotely familiar, all subjects he had no knowledge of, and flipping them open only added to his confusion. Names, people, so many things he didn't understand. Other than one.

Lucis.

A phone rang. Not his own, it looked nothing like his, but he answered and upon doing so he found Regis' voice on the other end. He'd barely been able to hold a conversation but he'd been hold he needed to retrieve Noctis from his apartment. And before he could urge further questions, the line was dead. Regis had hung up.

It made no sense. It made no sense.

And so Ignis did the only thing he could think of to do. He sends a call to Noct.]

[kittycaterer]

[ The city below is so... Vast. Busy. Recolle had its own sort of hustle and bustle, but Noctis could only compare something like this to Tokyo, Japan. The buildings are sky-high, large projections easily visible from where this apartment resides, where it's this strange modern-slash-futuristic vibe about it.

He knows what this is, he knows where he is. But only the fact itself. Nothing about the city below is familiar because any memories he'd managed to gather back home were images of destruction and darkness. Noctis recalls the description of "glittering skies" that Prompto had given him before, and one glance upward confirms it. There's a strange, almost otherworldy glitter, as if there's this transparent dome above.

If this is where he is, if his assumptions on duty are correct, then he's... ]

Crap.

[ He walks over to the phone at his side table, unlocking the screen to try and find a news widget. He doesn't at all know how to navigate this phone at first, but he's at least technically-savvy enough to catch on quick. He finds a few headlines...

Lucian Stocks Remain Active Amidst Ongoing War With The Empire...

His Majesty King Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII to Revisit Reach Across Nations To Niflheim

Noctis' eyes might as well bulge out of his skull. His heart rate starts to pick up, feeling nervous and frantic. He drops the phone on the mattress and pads over to the closet, almost out of breath when he abruptly opens the door. Noctis almost immediately finds what appear to be royal raiments; a pressed suit complete with adornments the likes of which he's only ever seen on Prince fucking Charles. ]

Oh no.

No, no, no, this is not happening.

[ He backs away from the closet, and it's then that he hears the phone go off again. This time, a phone call. Noctis cautiously approaches, seeing the image of a familiar face flashing on the screen. Coupled with the name...

Ignis Scientia.

Oh god. No, he can't do this. Would it be the Ignis he knows? His father acted as if there had been no separation between them for months since Retrospec cut off communication outside the country. What is he even supposed to say? Or do? Noctis slowly reaches for the phone, knowing he can't just ignore it.

He answers, slowly putting the phone to his ear. ]

H...Hello?

[amities]

[Ignis can do nothing but pace in a circle inside his apparent bedroom, eyes scanning the sparse room for hints, details, clues as to what in the world is going on but nothing catches his eye and he hopes dearly that Noct has some sort of answer--

There's a hesitant voice. It's Noct.]

Noct, I--

[And then it hits him.

What is he even supposed to say? What is he supposed to do? Explain that he's found himself in some strange room, in some bizarre location he doesn't recognize? Does that even sound remotely believable? What if Noct doesn't understand, what if he thinks he's gone crazy, what if he's not experiencing anything different at all what if

What if he's in Lucis. That place Noctis told him about. The place they're supposed to have some sort of connection to. What if... he's there, and Noctis is there, but he doesn't know that Ignis isn't?]

Noct. [His voice is tense. He's preparing himself for some sort of blow. He's an anxious mess and he's only felt this way upon standing outside a hospital room.]

Noct, something's wrong.

[kittycaterer]

[ Noctis feels himself start to shake. He’s yet to face anyone here, and he can’t at all gauge or measure. Nothing makes sense; what little memory he has serves him no purpose when he can barely wrap his head around being a prince, much less a king. A king with lofty responsibilities for what he’s hoping isnt a future here. He prepares himself for scolding about being late to this unknown briefing. Some sort of question he can’t answer but instead—

Somethings wrong.

Noctis widens his eyes, looking out the window again and reconfirming where he is. That tone in Ignis’ voice could mean anything. What he says could mean anything, and he doesn’t know the first thing he should say. ]

I...

[ Holy shit, what is he supposed to do? Noctis mulls over the words, hoping that he can find something that isn’t too risky to say. Something that would serve as a signal if Ignis recognizes it, and a silly joke if he’s wrong. ]

Yeah. I know.

Where... Were you last?

[amities]

[His breath catches in his throat as he tries to hide a sigh of relief, because that single initial response is a rather good indicator that he might not be going through this alone. However, he can't rejoice just yet, not until he gets verbal confirmation that Noctis must be going through the same troubling situation.]

My room. In your apartment, in Recolle. Please tell me I'm making some degree of sense here?

[kittycaterer]

[ Noctis is able to breathe a sigh of relief, which is audible on the other end. He runs his hand through his hair as he lets himself fall to sit at the foot of the bed. ]

Jesus Christ, I wish you weren’t.

[ He’s a nervous wreck. ]

Something must’ve glitched out with Retrospec— I looked outside, we’re in Insomnia.

[amities]

[Insomnia. The name sounds vaguely familiar... and slowly, Ignis begins putting the pieces together. Something brought about by Retrospec, most likely, the cause of all his strange dreams, these displaced memories, and it's coming back to him. A strange mismatch of information that doesn't make a lick of sense to him. Someplace called Lucis, a country Noct said he was from-- they were from.

He remembers... war, with another country. A king that headed the defense of Lucis at the time. This was many years ago, many. Everything's too hazy, but he's trying to think. The King... Lucis, the same namesake as Noct. The fight was with Niflheim, those magitek troops or whatever they'd been called. Then that kingdom, the center of it. The one sanctuary from the events of the war. Somewhere in Lucis.

Insomnia is part of Lucis.]

In, somnia... the city of Insomnia... in Lucis?

[He can't believe it.

It's not a dream anymore. It's not just memories anymore.]

[kittycaterer]

[ He doesn’t want to believe that this is happening. He honestly doesn’t want to believe it. This is likely the most horrifying thing to happen to him, and at the worst possible time. Noctis looks at himself in the mirror in front of him and he can barely recognize himself. There’s a moment of silence while Ignis processes this, where he’s just staring at himself. He can’t believe how he looks. Sure, still scrawny but... Healthy.

Noctis literally has no clue what to do here. ]

My geography knowledge on this place is fuzzy but... I think so.

[ Another sigh. Noctis wrinkles his nose as he nervously ruffles his hair. ]

Can you just get here? Or something. I’ll find the address on mail.

[amities]

[Great, absolutely great, they're both in a city they've never been to, have no experience of navigating. This entire country is going to be like this and he hasn't the faintest clue how they're going to get around.

How is he even going to make it to wherever Noct is?]

I'm unsure how long it will take me to locate you. Just. Please have patience. I've no idea where I am at the moment. A flat of my own? It's small, no windows. Haven't taken a look outside.

[Breathe, Scientia. That's all he can tell himself. Breathe, stay calm, keep your wits together and take it one step at a time. First order of business is to find Noct. That's the most important thing here.

He's hoping this phone has some sort of map application. Please.]

Prompto and Noct | 1 Day after “arrival”

[kittycaterer]

[ One more day until he’s 20 years old again...

This is bizarre. Horrifying, actually. There’s solace to be found in knowing he and Ignis are mutually at a loss here, filled only with the small gathering of memories Retrospec provided and suddenly thrust into this past existence they shared. Because apparently, that’s what this is. Noctis has been forced to essentially eat his own foot every time someone else has called him “Noctis” after assigning the title “Prince” in front of it. It’s disorienting seeing Ignis, normally the one win all the control and calm, just as lost as he. The two of them frequently asked if they’re ill each time they got lost in the citadel.

He doesn’t feel like himself; doesn’t look like himself. Noctis is sporting an almost embarrassingly shorter haircut, but he’s got more color in his skin than he’s ever seen. At least 20 pounds more weight. He would find comfort in the fact that he can breathe easier if he weren’t so distracted. He’s surprised to find how sensitive he is to the sudden ache in his right knee, which makes little sense to him. He can’t seem to walk without a slight hobble...

The first day had been brutal. Filled with royal briefings and dodging questions about his well-being and overall attitude because he’s acting “stranger than normal” to his father and those around him.

His father.

Regis.

Noctis still can’t seem to wrap his head around his old man being a king. And he looks... So much older here. It makes no sense. But he’s eventually sent back to his apartment to mind his thoughts. They wander easily; Ignis recalls everything from Recolle only, but he hasn’t heard from Prompto. Noctis stares at his phone for what feels like hours, knowing he should reach out. If he’s in the same boat, he’s probably panicking.

Gods, but what if he isn’t?

Noctis slowly pulls up their chat log, instantly finding conversations he doesn’t remember having. He skips them quick, not ready to know, instead sending something brief and not suspicious. ]

hey
anything going on?

[ Dont seem forced. Don’t seem obvious. Gauge from there. ]

[mercurio]

[prompto's life in insomnia parallels that of the life his other self lived in recolle. of course, there is no way for prompto to know that because as far as prompto is concerned, there is only insomnia, there is only lucis, there is only eos.]

[part-timing is still something that happens in this star, however, and prompto's got himself a rather healthy schedule part-timing at a magazine as a freelance photographer. it's good for the experience and it keeps him busy, especially with how much time he has off now that he's graduated from school and noctis seems busier.]

[also, it's noctis's birthday in t minus 48 hours, so there's a lot of side plotting to work on that needs not the suspicious eye of the prince.]

[prompto smiles as he pulls up his phone in the subway, holding onto the top railing for balance at a turn that puts them under crepera avenue.]

hey sup
just finished my shift
you busy with crown things?

[kittycaterer]

[ He’s not sure what he’s hoping for. A panicked text? Natural unawareness? Noctis stares at his phone with no understanding to his own expectations until it vibrates with an alert.

Unawareness.

Noctis looks at the message. Reads it over once, twice, three times. It doesn’t change. Prompto is likely just happy to see a sign of life from Noctis, but not at all for the reasons he somewhat anticipated. His heart sinks, but he thinks that maybe Prompto is putting up a front. Yeah. He’s gotta be playing a role here, because he wouldn’t just out and say it, would he?

Hinting at anything never works with him. He’ll have to be direct, but hell if he can’t... ]

no
guess im free today no one has called me for anything

[ Would anyone call him? Noctis glances over to a pile of file folders with political reports he’s been told to go over, but one glance shows it’s all gibberish to him. ]

you free?

[mercurio]

what are you talking about? i'm the only one who ever calls you

[calls just go through to ignis, as everyone's kind of worried about annoying the already foul-mooded prince. it's been tough for the council to handle such a temperamental young adult.]

i'm at crepera ave stop
in the sub
uhh i'll double back to lr citadel station aaaand

wait we meeting at yours or the arcade?

[kittycaterer]

[ Prompto sends in a flurry of names that Noctis doesn’t understand at all. And the more he texts Prompto, the more he starts to think he may not be in the same boat. Noctis isn’t at all sure what to feel, or assume. But each text takes at least ten minutes because he has no idea what he’s doing. He can’t just tell him!

Noctis frantically opens up the gps map on his phone to type in those names. The station isn’t far, but it’s not close. And there are about four arcades in the area, so he can’t exactly pinpoint the “usual spot” that Prompto is clearly alluding to.

His heart rate picks up again. This is a disaster. He can’t do this. He could just cancel, he could go back to bed and see if he wakes back up in Recolle again...

Twelve minutes since the last text. Crap. ]

my place is fine
we can figure it out from there ig

Damn it...

[mercurio]

[...the long silence was unusual, but not unheard of. noctis had a habit of ... being noctis. even prompto, the best friend, couldn't exactly escape the fact that noctis would shut down from time to time.]

[he decided to step off at crepera avenue stop and haul ass towards the other platform to head back around, just in case noctis made up his mind.]

ooookay buddy
do i still need to do the whole security check stuff
or did you tell your glaive of the day that i'm chill

[kittycaterer]

Glaive?

[ It’s getting worse. Noctis gets up to walk over towards his front door, looking out the peephole. Nothing. He slowly opens the door and peeks out the hallway of the apartment, not seeing anyone in particular. What the hell is a Glaive? Noctis slowly steps out, donned in casual clothes that still don’t feel like his own.

But he sees no one, and he exhales a sigh as he rubs the back of his neck.

“Your Highness—“

Noctis jolts, rapidly turning around to see a man in a heavily decorated cloak. He apparently is visibly shaken enough for the stranger to look concerned. The man asks if he’s alright, if he’s planning to leave his apartment for the day. Noctis stammers before slowly telling the man no, making the connection that this must be the Glaive Prompto was talking about. Apparently Glaive = Guard. ]

Er... N-No. Not yet.

Ah...

M...y friend, Prompto’s on his way. He’s cool, so...

[ “Very well. I’ll let him pass through, Highness”

The Glaive bows, punctuating with a strange salute before he turns on his heel and starts walking up the hall. Apparently he scouts the whole place.

Noctis can’t slip back into his apartment fast enough. His heart is rapidly beating out of his chest, he’s uncomfortable and out of place. He rests against the door while he catches his breath. Eventually, he texts Prompto again. ]

yeah i just let the guy know
youre good

[ Holy shit... ]

[mercurio]

[prompto thinks nothing of the delay again or anything, really, instead pretty excited to get to hang out with his best friend. they don't see each other on the daily since they're not in school anymore, so these moments are -- honestly -- his favorite part of the day.]

[into the lobby he goes, having to drop in his name and citizen id number at reception, and then he's allowed up on the elevator. he spots the glaive on the elevator, but just smiles sheepishly and waves, pressing the button.]

[...at least it's not the first and prompto's used to the silent guards...]

[eventually, he makes it to the door of noctis's penthouse. he rings the doorbell, obnoxiously so, almost]

No~ct!

meanwhile, in recolle

[mercurio]

[prompto's alarm buzzes, and happily he sends it to snooze. turning back around on his bed, he puts his arms around his boyfriend and cuddles closer. it's too early to wake up, and he knows he can only have about ten more minutes before he needs to get up and ready for his first shift of the day.]

[...maybe they can get in a quickie?]

[now he's awake]

Noct...

[prompto begins by kissing his throat, feather-light kisses]

[kittycaterer]

[ He was supposed to be up at 9 for a briefing with counsel at 10. But bleary eyes and a sleepy cloud over him tells him he’s slept in. Crap, his old man is gonna kill him.

He wakes up to an alarm that he doesn’t recognize, seeing that it’s 11:30. But it’s not the alarm that startles him, no. It’s the arm that drapes over him and the sensation of lips brushing across his throat. A familiar voice that yanks him from slumber fast. Prompto is laying next to him and kissing him?! ]

What the He—

[ He jolts up, sheets falling off his naked chest to a room that he doesn’t recognize. The form of his best friend next to him and his face is hot red. ]

Wh—

[ He’s startled. Speeches. And the form that shoots up is at least 20 pounds heavier and not nearly as pale as he had been the night before. Without the brow piercing.

And he looks positively lost. ]

Prompto??

[mercurio]

Yo, Noct--

[he's a little lost himself at the way noctis reacts. prompto reaches out but too late; noctis is already on the floor, looking bewildered. he gives his boyfriend a quizzical look]

Are you okay? What happened?

[kittycaterer]

[ He’s on his feet in an instant, gazing around a room that surely isn’t his. His glance shifts over to Prompto, who was apparently sharing a bed with him and... Getting fresh with him?

Since when was Prompto gay for him?!

Noctis looks around, absolutely lost. ]

Am I okay? I don’t even know where I am—

Were you just—

[ Kissing him??????? ]

[mercurio]

[is noctis getting amnesia again?]

What do you mean? If you're forgetting things again, then--

[he gets up from the bed, somewhat alarmed, in just his boxers, walking over to noctis]

Can you breathe fine?

[kittycaterer]

[ Again?

Noctis feels absolutely out of place. Practically naked in front of his best friend, who’s supposedly concerned about him forgetting things again and it makes zero sense to him. Prompto asks if he can breathe and that makes even less sense to him. He quickly looks around the room, finding a corner full of pill bottles and an oxygen tank.

He looks even more confused. ]

What is this place? This isn’t my apartment.

[ He leans to the side, looking out the large penthouse window. And the skyline is completely unfamiliar. ]

Astrals...

[ He walks past Prompto towards the window, looking out. ]

This isn’t Insomnia, what is even going on?

[mercurio]

[prompto stops abruptly]

... crown prince, Noctis Lucis Caelum?

[and you fucking said that we weren't the people from our memories!!!]

[kittycaterer]

[ Noctis pauses, abruptly turning his head to face Prompto again. He looks like Prompto grew a second head. ]

Who else would I be?

[ What the fuck???? ]