adelphoi | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ being in insomnia again is.. strange. the city is the same as she had remembered, and yet so different, so strange after so many long years in tenebrae. this city seems so enormous and sprawling, sharp and stark in comparison, bright and chrome and full of people. though she remembers her time here, her earliest years, she was still quite young when her parents swept she and her brother back to the motherland, and those tender years of growth had been spent in a city very different, a home that she had grown used to, settled into.

and now they are here again, political tensions spurring her father to emigrate here, to lucis again. the empire has been still and quiet, and there have even been talks of treatise, but alisaie trusts her father's judgment, for all his political involvement. more than national pride, he hopes for his family to be safe and secure, and short of living in the bush, insomnia had seemed to him the ideal location. with the wall so strong, such a city must be impenetrable, yes?

alisaie does not know the details of it all, her father would disclose only so much - she and her brother were to focus solely on their studies, bettering themselves, and not to worry about such things outside of their control. lucis might not be a large nation, but insomnia is safe, and secure. it suits their needs just fine.

still, settling in, for alisaie, is not necessarily easy. unlike the rest of her family, smooth-talkers with political savvy, she has a hard enough time simply getting along with her own peers. her friends in tenebrae had been few and distant, their relationships thin and civil but little more. to have to start over again is.. a nightmare. but she is not here to make friends, she is here to finish her schooling, to graduate and prepare for university and beyond. there's nothing to be afraid of.

yet her knuckles are white around the books clutched to her chest as she climbs the stairs that first day, eyes forward, chin high, and it takes less than a week's time for her to earn a reputation as a haughty, conceited little snob, the little rich girl sort who is far too good to waste her time with those she deems beneath her - everyone, apparently. this is not entirely the case of course, but it suits alisaie's needs just fine. let them think what they want, so long as it affords her a wide berth and quiet time to herself, without the terrifying distraction of working her way into, and maintaining her place within, a social circle.

the weekend seems to take an eon to arrive, but friday is here at last. alisaie sits outside at a table on campus, alone, peeling the crusts distractedly from her sandwich, her advanced chemistry textbook open in front of her. three afternoon classes, and this horrible week will be over.. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ prom night comes.. far too quickly.

alisaie had accepted easily, embarrassingly pleased about it, but it wasn't until the following day that she fully measured what it is that she's committed to. something like prom - gods, she'd assumed she would not go at all. why would she? there's no real reason to, and not only does alisaie not enjoy crowds, she isn't particularly fond of dressing up, either. sure, her normal wardrobe is nice enough, but formal gowns are an entirely different game. she's going to look a fool, and she knows it. and she's going to have to dance with prompto, he is her date, and that alone brings with it.. oh, so many complications, stirring up a warmth in her heart she had not recognized. of course she is fond of prompto, she has always been fond of him, but romantic pursuits were simply so far off from anything she had planned for herself that any sort of affection beyond the platonic did not even register on her radar.

and yet, here she is, looking into her reflection in the mirror with her heart in her throat, butterflied in her stomach, impossibly excited to see him, to spend this night with him - for once, to act her age. she's checked her face for a hundred times, smoothed and straightened her dress even more, checked and rechecked her hair and very nearly simply dumping it all out her window and going to bed instead. this is terrifying.

even more terrifying is the sound of the ringing doorbell. is he early? is she late? oh my god. ]

[ To say that Prompto is nervous would be a colossal understatement.

He is beside himself with nerves, has been buzzing with them since the question had left his lips. Taking Alisaie to prom was something he had never planned on. Sure, he'd thought about it in his daydreams, about what it would be like, to hold her and spin her and tell her how beautiful she looked, but that was the extent of it. He hadn't intended to actually ask her at all, until he had, and then even more impossibly, she accepted.

He's well aware, of course, that she did so because they are friends, because Alisaie, for all her sharpness and rough edges, has a kind, loyal heart, and she would not turn him down if he earnestly asked. He knows how she feels about formal events, and so he considers several times offering to let her out of the deal, to absolve her of any guilt of presumed responsibility to go with him since he had asked. If he were being honest with himself, that was probably more of an excuse in place of his own fears and worries. There are secrets Prompto has kept from her, from everyone, that if she knew, there's no way she would have accepted his invitation, friend or not. He deserved that rejection, for what he was, where he came from. Such sweet things were not meant for him, desperate as his heart may be for love, but there is something stubborn in him that doesn't allow him to cancel on her, no matter if it may be what's best for both of them.

(That "something stubborn" is absolutely the way she had smiled when he asked her, the color in her cheeks, the warmth in her eyes. Had he really had that kind of effect on her?)

The night comes all too quickly, and soon enough, Prompto arrives at Alisaie's door in a midnight blue tux that feels far too tight and hot, his hair done up just perfectly (until his sweat ruins it, anyway). He's never worn something like this before in his life, and though he feels pretty sharp in it - if he may say so himself - that does little for his raging nerves. Not a moment later, the door swings open, and Alisaie's father gives him a cold, hard look. Will he turn him away without so much as a second thought? Prompto is almost expecting it when the Elezen huffs, stepping aside to allow Prompto inside, though he...does not go far at all.

It would seem he will observe them while they meet up. Awkward... ]

N-nice weather we're having, huh? Sure is...copacetic out there. Yup!

[ save him pls ]

[ ah, he is in distress..

the prospect of facing prompto before this inevitable hallmark event is entirely eclipsed by the knowledge of exactly how her father will react. she had not told him the specifics, only that she would be attending prom, but her prodigal smarts run in the family of course, and her father is more than sharp enough to put it together. even were it not prompto who was her date, it would nonetheless be a human, as they are the only elezen family currently living in insomnia.

she must rescue her boy in distress. snatching up her clutch from the top of her dresser, alisaie rushes out of her bedroom door and sweeps right down the stairs and past her father, snagging prompto's arm and tugging him right toward the door. ]

Thank you, Father, I will see you tonight.

[ good thing he's used to having a daughter who doesn't listen to him ever.. ]

[ Ah, and there comes Alisaie, more beautiful that Princess Lunafreya herself, and Prompto glances up to prepare himself for that stairway moment where she descends in her lovely dress, blushing but radiant...

And, well, okay, all those things happen, but in very quick succession. Not a moment has passed before Alisaie is all but flying down the stairs and dragging him out the door, giving him scarcely a moment to react. ]

G-good night, M-Mister Leveilleur!!

[ And then the door swings shut in his dismayed face. ]

[ honestly, slamming down the stairs and out the door made coming out of her cave much easier, though once the door is shut she still has to face the Moment. at the very least, prompto is a good friend, she is comfortable around him, and his simple presence always makes everything.. easier. always.

still, that cannot keep the warmth from her face when she turns to him, her hand still on his arm, and smiles. ]

You look very handsome, Mister Argentum.

[ there's the curl of a tease in her voice but she's.. being honest, too. he looks quite sharp in his well fitted suit, with his hair tamed into something a slight bit more respectable than the usual. ]

.. shall we?

[It's much quieter once they're outside, and with no parental eyes to bore holes into him, Prompto finally has a chance to look at Alisaie properly. He...can't help it, the way he takes in the sight of her, eyes lingering perhaps a little too long on those bare shoulders. But she looks amazing, and before he can think better of it, he says as much. ]

You look stunning.

[ And he's so taken in by the sight of her that there's not even a nervous tremor in his voice. This beautiful, wonderful girl is going to be his prom date? How in the world did he possibly get this lucky?

Grinning from ear to ear, he takes her arm, leading her to the car, which is definitely being driven by Ignis, because he pulled a few royal favors to make this night happen. But he wasn't going to take his date to the prom on the bus! And he didn't bother asking his parents if they could drive them. No, it's much better this way, and as they approach the waiting car, Prompto opens the door for her, a perfect gentleman.

(He may have gotten some pointers from the driver as well.) ]

Didn't keep you waiting long, I hope.

Edited 2018-05-24 02:27 (UTC)

[ his compliment floods her face with heat, most especially given how confidently he delivers it - who is this smooth bastard and what did he do with prompto?? alisaie chews her lower lip, but thankfully she is given an out in the form of an open door. ]

Thank you, kind ser.

[ lifting her skirts, alisaie slips into the back seat with a polite nod to ignis; normally she's not all about boys doing things for her, but she'll let prompto have this, this one time. just for tonight. once he's in beside her, she shakes her head. ]

No, not at all.

[ Don't worry, he'll insert his foot back into his mouth soon enough. But for now, he's too enraptured with her to pay his nerves too much mind. Even when they're seated in the car, he has trouble taking his eyes off of her, though he manages to do so so he can reach for the little container at his side.

Carefully, he starts to open it, his nerves at last returning. ]

Um, y-you don't have to wear it, if you don't want to. Buuuut seeing as how it's tradition and all, I wanted to get you one...

[ It's a simple, white corsage he holds up. ]

[ oh. she hadn't expected..

alisaie's surprise is genuine, and she looks from the corsage to his face for a few short moments before she smiles again, worrying her lower lip with her teeth and feeling utterly, completely foolish in the best sort of way. she lifts her hand to offer her wrist. ]

That is.. very kind of you, Prompto.

[ she'd all but forgotten that corsages were even a thing, she doesn't think about things like prom very often at all, but his gesture nonetheless has her heart flipping pleasantly. ]

[ She may have forgotten, but he didn't! Of course, a night like this is something he's dreamed of his entire life. It's no surprise that he would try to hit all the old standbys, to make this a night he won't soon forget. Hopefully all his preparation will do the same for her, too.

When she offers her wrist, his smile curls, a soft, breathless laugh slipping out of him as he ties the corsage on. His steadiness from the moment before is gone now, his fingers trembling, but he manages to tie it on without too much fumbling, He lets it rest against her wrist, his fingers lingering for a moment on her hand before he quickly draws them away. He shouldn't be so embarrassed - they are on a date, after all. But he wouldn't presume something so bold as to think she might actually want to hold his hand. They're just out as friends, right?

(It doesn't feel as if they're out as friends.) ]

Only the best for you, gurl! [ Ah, there he is, but a warm nervousness still edges his voice. ] H-hope you like it.

[ it in no way feels as if they are out as friends, and that is both.. terrifying and thrilling at once. alisaie has never really stopped to consider the idea of romance, that there might be more for her than passing friendships and familial love, but since that tense, sweet moment on the floor of her bedroom, when their eyes met, and he was leaning so close -

it's certainly been on her mind now more than it has ever been, and she is.. seeing him differently, thinking of him differently. prompto has always had a knack for making her smile, for lifting her heart, but it is so much easier now to notice how the light shines in his eyes when he smiles, how that lopsided grin of his makes her gut clench up, how his mere presence beside her makes her feel warmer, better, happier. he might be an absolute ridiculous human being, but his heart is tender and kind, his hands are gentle, his freckles are charming.

though her movements seem easy and comfortable, alisaie's heart is pounding against her ribs when she leans to press a gentle, chaste little kiss to his cheek, though her eyes drop immediately to the corsage. she just wants to inspect it more closely, of course, it has nothing to do with being unable to look him in the face. ]

I do. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

[ Did she just...no, she couldn't have...but the warm, soft pressure of her lips against his skin is unmistakable, and that Alisaie cannot meet his eyes afterwards is a favor to them both. His cheeks erupt with color and heat, so much so that he's sure she must be able to feel it radiating off his his skin. She just...kissed him. Sure, just his cheek, but —

Gods, that alone is wonderful, and he's all but beside himself at it, a wide grin splitting his face as he thoughtlessly reaches up to feel the spot on his cheek where she placed her affection.

It takes him several more moments to collect himself enough to speak again, and even then, it's a battle to make his mouth cooperate. From the corner of his eye, he could swear he just saw Ignis smiling in the rear-view mirror. ]

Don't mention it! Heh... [ He straightens in his seat once more, rubbing at his neck, but nothing can take that smile away from him now.

And then through the power of time skips, they are pulling up to a stop on front of the school. Prompto doesn't get out just yet to open the door for her, as eager as he might be to get in there and start getting down. First things first. ]

Hey...Alisaie. Before we go in there...

[ Ah, but he's sounding rather nervous again. ]

[ she can't see him, no, but what she can glean of his mannerisms from the corner of her eye is more than enough. she'd certainly surprised them both with that gesture, though he doesn't seem particularly unhappy about it, thankfully.

perhaps.. perhaps there will be more to this night than she could have hoped for. maybe even -

ugh, no, she's being gross again. they arrive at last, and alisaie is preparing to thank ignis and climb out of the car when prompto stops her - what could it be now? surprised, she looks into his face for the first time since kissing his cheek. ]

Yes?

[ He clears his throat, uncertain of how to put this, but decides ultimately it's better to be straightforward. Her gaze warms his cheeks when their eyes meet, his heart fluttering pleasantly in his chest. Would the whole evening feel like this? He wouldn't mind so much if it did. ]

Well, it's just...I-I know...this sort of thing isn't really your...scene. We don't have to go in there. If you'd rather just...go hang out somewhere, without any of the crowd or people watching, just say the word.

[ One last chance to give her an out. He wants this evening to be memorable for her, too, not stressful and uncomfortable. ]

[ not for the first time, his impossible kindness touches her heart. he is still so very much the same boy she had known when they were young, sweet and generous and docile, ever looking out for the happiness and well-being of those around him, before his own. to think she had thought him so changed..

alisaie's expression softens into a smile. ]

That does not sound as if it would be very satisfying for you.

[ she knows him. he loves this sort of thing. he had even gone so far as to procure a corsage for her, she knows how much he wants to hit all of the hallmarks of the night. ]

Perhaps.. we will leave a bit early.

[ she can't in good conscience deny him the entire night. ]

[ He's surprised to find that her answer...isn't exactly unexpected. Because just as he knows her disposition towards these sort of events, so does she know his, and for all Prompto is an introverted bundle of nerves, he enjoys celebration, he enjoys making the most of things, and truly, it wouldn't be much of a prom if they didn't dance together at all.

So he nods, smiling once again. ]

Got it. If I don't trip on my two left feet early, anyway. [ So he says, anyway. He may have a few tricks up his sleeve where that's concerned, too, but...he's definitely no natural dancer.

He thanks Ignis then, before slipping out of the door to trot around the car and open Alisaie's door for her. Once the door is open, he extends a hand to her. ]

Milady.

[ please do not tip your fedora, prompto.. though she graciously waits while he comes around, knowing full well that he's likely all but giddy to get the door for her. alisaie isn't really much for chivalry, but it makes him happy. she slips her hand into his. ]

Thank you, kind ser.

[ and after offering her thanks to ignis as well, alisaie carefully climbs from the car, sure not to trip on her skirts, and closes the car door behind her. the street is thronging already with their peers, all in their lovely dresses and sharp suits, but alisaie does her best not to look at them. she may have made friends with prompto, but he's about the only one, to most of them she is still that strange and foreign snob they'd assumed her to be when first she arrived. she's not really done much to dispel that belief, really..

nevertheless, they don't matter tonight. with a smile, she slips her arm into prompto's. ]

Shall we?

W-we shall.

[ She takes his arm and his heart jumps right back into his throat, beating hard and fast and making it difficult for him to breathe, but he doesn't seem to mind too much. It's exhilarating, behind this close to her without being hindered by his own nerves. He is nervous, but he's excited too, and for the moment, that is the louder voice in his head. He's at the prom with Alisaie!

And as soon as they're inside, he leads her to the dance floor, where after a few fumbles, he manages to lead her into a close, slow dance, and then another, and another. ]

[ she's nervous at first when he leads her to dance - it's been a long time since she has danced at all, and there are so many people around, her thoughts are thick as cotton and her heart is pounding in her ears.

but prompto fumbles, and she trods on his feet, and they both have a good laugh; soon enough she's wondering why she is nervous at all. this is prompto, her first and only friend, they have shared so many laughs and difficulties - of all people, she has nothing to be nervous about, with him. once she realizes this it gets much, much easier, and the tension in her posture begins to ease.

the music slows, and though her heart flutters alisaie does not hesitate to slip her arms over his shoulders, and it's not long before she's pulling in nearer, one hand snagged into the lapel of his blazer, her head tucked up beneath his chin, resting against his collar.

he's so.. warm, and he smells so good, so clean and familiar and comforting.. ]

[ She rests her head against his shoulder and he is certain that she must be able to hear his heart thundering against her ear. He's...never been close to someone like this before. It's different than the times when they have hugged, or even the time they had sat so close on the floor of her bedroom. His crush must be all but obvious to her, but even still, she remains so close, like she...wants to be here. With him. Tucked right up beneath his chin.

Could she...want that? With him?

Exhaling tremulously, he winds his arms around her waist as they dance, securing her close, though his fingers tremble terribly as he does so. She must think him so foolish and silly, yet she still does not pull away. She lingers close, and fills up his heart with a warmth he has never known.

After dancing like this for some time, he leans close to her ear, and murmurs: ]

You wanna...get out of here?

[ He's having a great time, but he still intends to make good on their deal. ]

[ though she can feel his hands trembling, this is.. a comfortable warmth between them, like she belongs here, fitting perfectly in his arms and right up beneath his chin. what a strange thought.. and so very unlike her, but one she cannot get off of her mind. how strange it feels to.. act her age.

his mouth so near to her ear sets a shiver down her spine when his breath tickles it, and she cannot help the way her insides clench up, or how her heart leaps up into her throat. but she pulls back just enough to look at him, still so close, near enough to feel the warmth of his breath, to make out the shine in his eyes. ]

Yes.

[ it's difficult to pull away, he's so warm, his arms around her so secure, but she makes up for the loss by slipping her hands into his own in order to tug him away, and off of the dance floor. ]

Did you have anything in mind?

[ He misses her the warmth and closeness the instant she pulls away, but then she's slipping her hands into his instead, and perhaps that's not such a bad trade. This night has already been more than he could have ever hoped for, ever have expected — his cheek still tingles where she had kissed him — but if they slip away to have a little time alone, maybe...

Gods, he's foolish to even think it. But he can't get the way she looked at him at the end of their last dance out of his head. He can't get the memory of her head against his shoulder out of his head. Is it so wrong, for him to have something like this? If...if it's what Alisaie wants, too?

His heart impossibly light in his chest, he steps with her through the doors. Prompto doesn't lead her to a waiting car, but instead sets out on foot towards a familiar beaten path. ]

I was thinkin' of a place...

[ As he leads her, fingers still shaking in hers, it won't take her long to deduce where they are headed, even if he doesn't elaborate further. There's really only one place the would wind up near here.

The park. She knows the one. ]

[ he could have any number of places in mind, but once they begin to draw near to the tire park, she realizes she should have known all along. it might be silly, but this place is.. meaningful. they spent time here as children, and more recently, this is where they came together again. the weight of this choice, and the connotations that come along with it certainly aren't lost on her, and not for the first time alisaie is wondering just how she managed to go so long without considering this. without bothering to untangle the complicated, but warm feelings in her heart.

that they're still holding hands also hasn't escaped her notice. but once they arrive, she's quick to drop his hand so she can rush ahead, immediately kicking off her shoes so she can move more quickly. they land some few feet away on the wood chips.

dress or no, alisaie is quick to hop right onto the nearest tower of tires, hauling herself upward like a little squirrel in a fancy dress. ]

Don't dawdle, Prompto!

[ Ah, there she goes, off like a bolt towards the tires, and a warm laugh bubbles out of him as he takes off after her. Coming here had absolutely been a conscious choice, and if she had taken him up on his offer to skip the dance entirely, this is where he would have brought her straight away. Sure, it's silly. It's just a playground, and they're nearly adults, but once Prompto had considered bringing her here, he couldn't get the idea out of his head. That she has taken to it immediately only reinforces the thought.

This was the right choice. All of this — asking her to prom, befriending her again, sticking by her side — was the right choice. He couldn't be happier in this moment, on this night, and he feels warm and carefree in an unparalleled way as he starts to climb the tire tower after her. ]

Dawdle? Who's dawdlin'? Not me!

[ her poor, pretty dress is going to be an absolute wreck by the end of the night, probably, i mean she's already tripping a little on the skirts, but eh, it's achieved its purpose, hasn't it? she attended the prom, they danced - it's fine now if it gets a little, you know. ruined.

true to his name, prompto catches up quickly, and by the time she crests the tower he is hot on her heels, though she shoots him a grin over her shoulder nonetheless. ]

I'm not so sure. Are you losing your touch?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

you don't deserve this!!!

i sure do deserve it!! :blush:

:nife:

wow!!!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject