Noctis Lucis Caelum (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kittycaterer) wrote2018-04-20 10:10 pm
kittycaterer) wrote2018-04-20 10:10 pm
Recolle AU/OU COMBO BREAKER PSL - Prompto, Ignis and Noctis
[ 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. ]
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. ]
no subject
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?
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[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?
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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...
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[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
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[ 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... ]
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[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!
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He doesn’t know why he’s bothering to make sure he looks good, both of them agreed that it’s highly unlikely they were an item in this shared past. But he does.
Noctis lingers on his hair. His face. He looks so much... Healthier. Even with the stress.
The second he touches his face, the doorbell rings. Noctis feels his gut lurch as he looks towards the entrance to his bedroom. He walks cautiously to the door. And he’s walking crooked, wincing when his knee softly creaks. Where the hell did that come from anyway?
He hesitates before opening the door, instantly greeted by Prompto’s smiling face. Completely the same, but without the piercing on his eyebrow, or his ears. Noctis is naturally struck by it, looking bewildered as ever. He forces himself to shake it off fast. ]
Hey. You got here fast.
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Your family's put together a pretty good public transportation system. Was it your dad or your grandpa...?
[it's rhetorical; he's not expecting an answer.]
[before he steps inside further, however, he stops and looks at noctis carefully--studying him.]
You okay? You got this look on your face...
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He closes the door as Prompto steps inside, struggling to keep up. The second he knows Prompto is suspicious, he clears his throat and straightens his posture. ]
Look? What look?
I’m fine, just... Slept weird, I guess.
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[he frowns a bit, but soon enough he's letting that go in favor of not putting his best friend into any sort of uncomfortable situation. prompto sets his stuff down on the couch and sits down on it, eager to whatever hanging out they'll be doing.]
Y'wanna order pizza and just play video games, or you wanna go out? I'm feeling like having a milkshake, to be honest. Thoughts? Opinions?
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This is just... He can’t put a word on it.
He leans forward, elbows rested at his knees as Prompto lists suggestions. All of it puts him at risk of not appearing normal; he kind of knows where his games are, but he’s not familiar with the games themselves. He doesn’t know if they have a usual pizza place (if they share a similar dynamic here, they absolutely fucking do), and he can’t navigate through the city for he life of him. There’s a pause as he mulls it over. ]
Milkshake sounds good... Any new places worth trying out?
[ New place. Because that means they’ll both be unfamiliar and he seems less out of place here. ]
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[he does a victorious quip, grinning as he leans forward and quickly taps through his phone, into an app or another, likely looking for the desired information]
Apparently a new Altissian-esque place opened up. Dunno how legit it is--not that I'd know--but people are going nuts over it. They have ice cream and waffles and milkshakes... Oh! Here it is. Locanda.
[he passes the phone over to noctis]
Some ten minutes away.
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Jesus Christ he doesn’t know what any of these streets are... ]
We hoofing it or...?
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[prompto snorts, taking his phone back and leaning back on the couch]
I guess we could. Y'think Iggy can prepare chickatrice leg rice bowl later for dinner? I've been craving it so bad...
[he bumps at noctis's knee with his own]
Hey.
[this is kind of too casual and could be considered flirty, except they're not an item]
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His brow furrows in confusion to the request. What the everloving hell is a chickatrice? Did he mean to say chicken?
Before he can even answer the request or react, he feels Prompto’s knee bump his own. The affectionate gesture isn’t unlike him, but he’s used to something to very different. Noctis jolts back into attention. ]
... Er.
Hey.
[ He doesn’t bump his knee back. He’s not even sure if he should. He feels a question coming. ]
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[he offers his best friend a soft smile]
...guess you're not super into celebrating your birthday, huh?
[there has been talk, about niflheim's caravan of royalty and whatnot traveling into lucis. while life in insomnia goes as normal, people are--with good reason--concerned.]
What's wrong?
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He should tell him. If he’s anything like the Prompto he fell for, he won’t judge him. He might think he’s a little crazy, but...
Noctis feels himself grow heavy, and he looks down at his feet. He mentally fingers through those files he’d looked at. The headlines on his phone. ]
Just... Feeling overwhelmed, I guess. I’m not a kid anymore, this whole war thing is getting closer to me.
[ There we go. Feign nervousness for your “duties”. It’s not totally a lie. ]
Wish I could just go back.
[ That means two things! ]
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[he doesn't put much thought into it]
You and me both, buddy.
[being an adult really does suck]
But... you know that no matter what, I'll stand at your side. [he does a bump of his fist against his chest, by his heart] It's a promise for life. So, that also means that anything that's bothering you, you can lay it on me. We're best friends, right? It's hard to keep things from each other.
no subject
His gaze shifts to Prompto as he lightly beats his fist against his chest. All noble and dedicated. Not at all unlike what he’s used to, but the context is so vastly different. He promises loyalty and support, and he might think it cheers Noctis up but in reality? It makes his chest tighten and his stomach twist. He can’t tell him now. He can barely wrap his head around what’s happening to him.
He’s not wrong that it’s hard to keep things from each other. Noctis wants so badly to tell him, but how is he supposed to?
“Oh yeah, now that you mention it! I don’t belong here! I’m actually a gawky, deathly-Ill rich boy from the UK who’s been forced to remember this life in tiny slivers, but it looks like the wires got crossed. Now I’m here and totally horrified!”
Yeah, that would bode over well.
Noctis curls his fingers into fists, visibly working over something in his head. Eventually, he forces a smile, nodding. ]
Yeah. I know.
[ He just can’t.
Noctis hesitates before reaching behind Prompto, patting his back like a good old chum. He gets up from his seat, struggling a bit when his knee cracks a little. It’s so stiff. ]
Let’s go get some milkshakes.
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[they have their milkshake, eat it, and upon exiting, prompto heaves deeply]
I'm stuffed... That was so much cream. But so good?!
[well, at least prompto in lucis doesn't mind how much he eats]
I might die if I had another one but I also want it so badly!
no subject
They’re out for a few hours. And weirdly enough? He’s at ease for just a moment, hair tucked in a hat so he isn’t too obvious to citizens. He keeps a low profile as they walk out. Noctis isn’t at all surprised that Prompto manages to easily make him smile in this existence too. There’s plenty of guilt, plenty of uncertainty.
He should tell him... ]
Yeah, I’m stuffed. Feels like my brain is half-frozen after sucking that down.
[ He should tell him.
Noctis stuffs his hands into his pockets as they turn around the corner. He at lest as a decent enough memory of where they came from. ]
Hey, think we can go hang at an empty park or something? Feeling kinda smothered after being around guards all day.
no subject
Dude, I know just the place.
[it's hard to find empty places in insomnia, but prompto lives in a pretty quiet neighborhood. there's an empty lot behind some buildings, and prompto leads them there, climbing to the top of the bleachers of the what-was-once a softball field]
--empty enough for you?
no subject
He’s alone with Prompto.
Noctis.. Feels the safest he’s felt since he was last in Recolle. He sighs as he sits down beside his friend, looking out. ]
Could probably hear a pin drop. So yeah.
[ He exhales, allowing silence to clear over them. Noctis eventually looks to Prompto, then away. ]
I’m acting weird. I know.
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[prompto, for his part, leans closer, shoulders bumping]
It's okay. You're still Noct, and whether you wanna talk about it or not, I won't mind.
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This is just. It’s almost too much. Because Noctis doesn’t feel like himself. He feels severely displaced and out of control for his life. He’d known for a long time that he was royalty, or another version of him was. And now it’s suddenly been forced upon him. Noctis looks across a city he doesn’t remember, and what little he does remember was shrouded in darkness and destruction. Walking through a Citadel that was whole, not in shambles...
He feels like he’s looking at ghosts.
His fingers curl over his knee, the words on the tip of his tongue but he’s too afraid to say anything. Prompto is opening himself up to this, wanting for Noctis to let him in. He should. He has to. For Ignis’ sake and his...
He bites his lip before speaking. ]
I’m... Gonna tell you something. But you can’t tell anyone else.
[ And he looks to Prompto, expression serious. ]
And it’s gonna sound crazy. Okay?
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