kittycaterer | Recolle AU/OU COMBO BREAKER PSL

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. ]

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[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.]

[ There’s no way he’s able to rationalize this without at least a modicum of fear. What he sees is a young man who’s apparently carrying a full bill of heath. Save for the strange stiffness in his right knee, he’s... Awake. Always a touch sleepy, but there’s something significantly lighter about him. Nothing makes sense; he’d managed to settle somewhat with Retrospec’s ways, but now? He’s legitimately facing a country his alternate self was responsible for. He can’t do that.

Noctis looks out the window and sees bright sunlight shimmering through the strange barrier in the skies. But when he blinks, dark snowflakes fall. The city skyline is shattered and broken.

Noctis blinks again.

He can’t do this.

Noctis leans forward and covers his face, jogging his leg. He can head the sense of panic in Ignis’ voice and he’s not used to that. Ignis always has the answers. He always knows how to keep him grounded. And he doesn’t know how to calm Ignis down. Or even if he can. ]

Ignis.

[Ignis has started another walk through the small apartment, trying to find things he might have missed when he locates a briefcase off in a corner, neatly placed away in clear view. He must have been too stressed and in a rush to see it his first run through of the apartment. It may have a lock, he's not sure if he can figure out the code, but it's worth giving it a try. If it's his own briefcase, even in another world, another completely different universe, it's still him. He'd have to know the combination.

He's kneeling down to pick it up when Noct's voice comes through the other end of the phone, and Ignis freezes.

He snatches the briefcase up and hurriedly moves to a small couch. He sits himself down, cradles the phone against his shoulder in the crook of his ears and tries to fiddle with the lock. It jumbles in his lap, he switches sides with the phone, struggles with the lock again and lets out a hissed curse before he realizes what he's doing.

He's panicking, but Noctis is panicking as well. He's supposed to be a prince-- a king? To this entire city, this entire country. He has a kingdom. And he's been thrust into this location with all the burden of responsibilities he has no idea of.]

Noct, I'm right here. You can still hear me, correct? [Ignis shoves the briefcase onto the coffee table. That isn't important right now. He stands. Mail, there has to be mail here, an address book, something.] Noct, take slow, deep breaths for me. Remember, I'm here. Can you locate your address for me? I'm taking another look through the apartment for anything that may help. Focus, Noct.

[ The fact of the matter is he’s not ready for this. He’s never been ready for this. Noctis had barely started to cope with the displaced memories he had in the first place. Now he’s somehow in an entirely different body, different world and he’s being expected to suddenly appear at some royal briefing? This is so far beyond what he has the capacity for. He doesn’t know where he is, but he does and—

Focus, Noct.

He stops, hearing that calming tone of his voice seems to yank him back to reality. Noctis takes a deep breath and wills himself to stand. It takes him a moment to find words, but he does. ]

Y-Yeah. Address.

[ He stands up from the bed, one hand holding the phone to his ear while the other tangles fingers through his hair. He’s still in just his underwear, but he starts walking out to the living room nonetheless. ]

Address. Find an address. Uh...

[ Good god this apartment is completely unfamiliar. Why is he living in an apartment? Didn’t he live in the Citadel at some point?

No. Focus. Focus, Noct.

He pads over to the kitchen, looking around the counters. The place is a cluttered mess, which isn’t outside of his own habits. But he at least knows how to maneuver around his mess. There’s audible shuffling on the other line, a lot of Noctis murmuring “no, nothing, no” until he finally comes over to the kitchen table. ]

Mail, okay.

[ He shifts through the envelopes, until he finds his name. ]

Got it. Sending you a text.

[ Which comes very quickly. ]

[Ignis can very well be said to have the patience of a saint, because he says nothing the entire time he waits for an address to be found, doesn't distract himself with further looking about the apartment. Because he knows this is far more distressing to Noctis than it is for himself. He only knows brief snippets of information about this place, hardly anything else. Noct has started to gather an entire alternate history of events. People he knows, places he's been to, responsibilities he's had.

He's no longer just a regular person. He'll need Ignis' help more than ever now. This must be an incredible strain on him mentally.

There's a silent sigh of relief when Noct seems to finally find something, then the familiar buzz of his phone. Ignis pulls it away to glance at the screen to verify it's from Noct, which it is, then he replies.]

I'll need to get off the phone so I can focus on finding you, however if you need me for anything, send me another text.

[Ignis stands, and it's at that moment that he realizes he's still in his pajamas. While he honestly doesn't mind walking out as he is, it'd probably be a better idea to dress in something more appropriate, and if this is in fact his apartment he's sure he'll be able to find something else to slip into.]

Anything at all. Even if you just need to know I'm still here. [His words are bleeding tension, Ignis can hear it, and so he takes a moment to soften his tone.] Don't worry, I'm here. I told you I wouldn't leave again. Remember that. Understood?

[ Ignis is absolutely right in his assumptions; Noctis is a right mess. He realizes he’s shaking as he holds the envelope containing his address. Because his name is on it, and Noctis couldn’t ever imagine how it would feel to see that in this world. By the time he’s given the address, he has fallen completely silent, secretly hoping that Ignis would stay on the phone. But he realizes that’s unreasonable. He has to focus on getting here.

Noctis takes a slow, steadying breath when Ignis reassures him. He’s not going anywhere, he won’t leave, he’ll help him figure this out. Like Ignis always does. He’s his big brother, they’ve gotten lost together before. Noctis rubs at his face as he looks aimlessly around the apartment. He should get dressed...

He just needs to keep himself occupied. He can always just text Ignis... ]

Y-Yeah. I got it.

[ His voice is practically rattling. ]

Just.... Hurry. Please?

[Hearing the tremble in his words is gut-wrenching, and Ignis wants to just keep him on the line the entire time he's out looking for his place, but he can't do that. He needs to focus. They both need to focus.]

I will. I'll see you soon, I promise. I'm hanging up now.

[Those are the last words Ignis gives to Noct before he hangs up the phone and immediately goes to the bedroom to change.

The clothes he finds in the closet are, as he'd presumed, his exact size. There are a few shirts that he finds... very questionable. A deep dark purple button up with leopard print spots, a jacket with some sort of black lace lining, another dark shirt with a clear skull pattern on the back. There is... a lot of skull adornments, and he can't understand why. So Ignis opts for the most normal thing he can find and the easiest to slip into with his time constraints, a gray T-shirt with some strange emblem on the pocket (now that he thinks about it, he thinks the briefcase had the same symbol...) and a pair of black slacks, as well as a strange pair of loafers that are colored red on the soles.

Ignis doesn't bother fixing his hair, but fortunately, he's able to find a pair of glasses that fit him perfectly and are his exact prescription. Returning to the living room, he flips open the phone, looks through the text Noctis sent and writes down the address on a paper.

By sheer luck, he finds a map app on his phone, and thankfully it appears Noct doesn't live too far. About a twenty minute walk.

His preparations take him about fifteen minutes, so before he heads out the door, he sends Noctis a text.]

On my way out now. I know how to get there. Thank god we're still in the presence of modern technology.

[ Noctis isn't able to open his mouth and try at keeping Ignis on the phone. He's alone again within seconds, left to look in the wide expanse of this apartment. He sighs, turning on his heel to walk back into the bedroom, taking stock of the closet.

There's... A lot of black in here. It would be funny if it weren't for the fact that he hates finding any sort of similarities between himself and the Noctis who belongs here. His attention shifts particularly to a part-leather, part-cotton jacket hanging at the very front end of the closet. There are large pouches, adorned with skulls and smooth studs. A matching pair of pants hung neatly beside it with a black t-shirt riddled in smaller skulls. ]

So, what, he's a goth prince? Even I don't go this overboard...

[ He sounds frustrated. Because he is. Because this is so bizarre and he wants nothing to do with this. Noctis clicks his tongue and wrinkles his nose in protest as he sifts through the rest of the closet. Much the same throughout, but no skulls to be found elsewhere. He picks a simple black t-shirt, grey hoodie and black jeans. And at first glance, he worries the clothes will be too big. Turning back to the mirror reminds him otherwise.

Within a few moments, he's dressed. And it's then that the phone goes off again. Noctis turns on his heel fast when he's certain it's Ignis. ]

--!

[ The second he takes a step, he stops with a hiss. His right knee goes stiff, throbbing in pain in an instant where it feels like his knee-cap almost pops out of place. It's hardly pain that exceeds what he's used to, but it stops his mobility for a moment. When he walks, he's mindful of the crooked sort of limp he naturally has, but it's worse when he tries to loosen it up again.

But he pays zero mind to it the second he sees Ignis' name pop up on the phone. Carefully, he walks out of the bedroom again. ]

no sign of retrospec though
you close?
i hear footsteps outside of the door

[ Almost the sound of... Pacing? Marching? Noctis walks towards the front door and looks out the peephole, where he sees the form of a man pass by. A man seemingly in uniform... ]

i think...
i think i have /guards/?

[Walking through the city is a completely different experience altogether, akin to that of his arrival into Recolle, however it's nearly even more overwhelming when he remembers that he's in an entirely different world now. This isn't even Earth anymore. What exactly are the differences between Eos and home? Very little, from what he can tell, but just the thought that Ignis knows he not only doesn't belong here but doesn't have any recollection of what his purpose or history is here is almost maddening.

He's never been so paranoid of every step he takes. He just hopes nothing goes wrong.

When his phone goes off, Ignis retrieves it, looking over the message. It's then that he realizes he hasn't tried to look for the Retrospec app, and after a quick moment of doing so he also finds that it's no longer there.

Before he can reply, another message pops up. Ignis stops dead in his tracks. His face feels like it drains of all color.

Shite.]

That's a completely different obstacle that I have no idea of how to handle.

[He can go to where Noct is just fine. Getting by guards? He has no clue of how to handle that.

Bloody hell, he's a Prince. Noctis is a prince. He's trying to just casually meet up with the Prince of Lucis, how the hell is he going to manage this? Ignis keeps walking, ups his pace even though his heart is racing and he's panicking again.]

Tell them you'll be expecting company. If they're your guards, they should be willing to listen to demands.

[ The text comes rather quick, but not with words that he finds comfort in reading. That's a completely different obstacle that I have no idea how to handle.

As if he can?! Noctis clicks his tongue when his heart starts to race again. He just woke up. He's in a world he only knows little snippets of information about. Now he has to face guards as a prince? Noctis feels like the walls are closing in on him, like he's got absolutely no foundation to stand on. But he knows he has little choice here; if Ignis can't come up here, only Noctis has control over that.

He takes a deep breath. ]

no guarantees
here goes

[ Noctis takes a deep breath before opening the door. There's a sound of protest, where he discovers he nearly smacks the guard in the face as he's making his round the direction the door swings.

There's a moment where the guard looks puzzled, a curious "Your Highness?" when he sees Noctis quite literally freeze.

It takes him a moment, but he eventually goes on to explain that he's expecting company. When the name is asked, he says it plainly. ]

Er... Ignis. Ignis Scientia.

[ The guard snorts, apparently amused by the fact that Noctis regaled Ignis' full name in such a way. But he seems to take it as a joke, following a "very well" with tapping an earpiece he wears, presumably to a guard likely outside the building.

"His Highness's Retainer is on his way. Let him up."

He gives Noctis a respectful bow, low and appreciative before turning on his heel again.

Noctis feels like he likely shit out his stomach.

Retainer?

Bewildered and lost as ever, he steps back into his apartment, leaning against the door. He takes a breath as he looks up to the ceiling, bracing himself before texting Ignis again.

Maybe he'll... Tell him later. ]

youre clear
apt 1143

[It's a very nerve-wracking walk down the street, Ignis unable to place his phone back in his pocket as he just holds it in front of himself, shifts his gaze down to the ground, ahead of himself, back to the phone, continuously turning it on to check for a response.

Finally, there's the vibration of another text. Ignis' breath catches in his throat. he checks it.

Oh thank god, it worked. He lets out a heavy sigh of relief and walks a little faster as he types of a response.]

Thank you.

[After a few blocks, just a few minutes away from the location, the neighborhood stares to change. The streets are more sparse, less people are about, not as many houses. However he notices individuals walking in all black, ornate uniforms, all with the same emblem as what is on his shirt. A few of them nod to him in greeting, some even address him by name, and Ignis can only nod in return as he hopes none of them engage him in conversation.

Finally, he makes it to the apartment complex. It's... huge. The structure is minimally designed, but he can tell it's a pricey spot. It's a bit strange to know that this is the place where a prince is living, though it makes sense for Noct to have guards staking post outside his door. Why isn't he in a palace though? Why here?

Ignis approaches and sends one last text.]

Outside. I'll be up in a moment.

[Of no surprise, there's a guard at the entrance. Ignis is hesitant to say anything and yet once they make eye contact the man greets him by name and states that "His Highness is expecting you" with a surprisingly friendly disposition. Ignis only nods, gives an awkward smile in return and heads in.

There is a guard at the reception, two at the elevator, one inside the elevator. All of them greet him, all of them know him by name and it's so damn unnerving that he has to try not to rush his pace or just flat out run the rest of the way.

He reaches the right floor, exits, heads down the hall and as he counts down the apartment numbers down to where Noct's should be he finds those last two guards outside his door, just as Noct had informed him. They bow to him in greeting and step aside to allow him entry.]

[ He gets that final text. The promise that Ignis will be here shortly. And he's not sure why he's pacing back and forth in his apartment, but he is. He's chewing on his fingernails, running his fingers through his hair and making an absolute mess of it. It sticks up easier being this short. His knee is stiff.

Nothing makes sense.

Finally, he hears the door open, and Noctis stops. He sets his phone down, coming towards the entrance. ]

Ignis?

[ And there he is, appearance not much different. But... Somewhat. Like he's stronger, like he fills his jacket a bit better than it might have in Recolle. But Noctis finds instant comfort in a familiar face. ]

[As soon as he's through the door and he hears Noct call his name, Ignis rushes forward.]

Oh thank God, you're still here. I tried to arrive as fast as I could. Are you all right?

[Of course he doesn't mean mentally, because whatever must be going through Noct's head is assuredly a hurricane of thoughts. He must be stressed out of his mind. However he needs to know that he isn't under threat of having another attack.

Ignis looks him over carefully with practiced yet gentle hands, set on his shoulders then cupped against his face so he can get a better assessment. He seems to be breathing well, he's not trembling, his eyes look focused he... he doesn't look pale.

He doesn't look the way he used to.

Noctis looks... healthy. How...?]

[ He doesn't dare move the second Ignis approaches him. And while he normally protests to his fussing, Noctis actually welcomes it. His eyes are wide, vulnerable, simply marveled by the way Ignis looks here because it's different but not.

Noctis is easily 10-20 pounds heavier here, where his weight is distributed evenly. He's still scrawny, but it looks far more natural, less ill. Even his circulation is better here. ]

I-I'm...

My knee is stiff, but...

[ Physically? He's fine. ]

[He doesn't want to worry Noct further with the way he's looking at him, like he's become a completely different person, and so instead Ignis maneuvers himself to his side and tries to turn him around, arm pulled across his shoulders, wanting to keep him close at his side.]

Sit. We should sit.

[Ignis hasn't got a clue of where to even start, but if Noct is feeling even the slightest degree of pain then he wants to make him comfortable first.]

[ Noctis, to be honest, is absolutely shell-shocked. This is essentially his worst nightmare, his source of denial blatantly forced in front of him. And so he follows Ignis' direction without argument, leaning close against Ignis as they make way for the couch and sit down.

While his knee is stiff, it's not too terrible, but Noctis does walk a bit crookedly.

There's a moment of silence as he looks about the apartment. It's a right mess, obviously lived-in by a teenage version of him. Noctis stares out, still completely lost. ]

His... Dad...

--told me that I'm two days from 20. Like I went back two years.

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

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