adelphoi | IC INBOX @ ACATALEPSY;

[ He shouldn't do this.

They still don't know each other all that well yet. She's probably got plenty of other things to keep her busy. She'd already helped lift him up once, and that was one time too many. He might be jumping the gun still. There are still so many things that are uncertain. He shouldn't burden her like this.

He can come up with a million reasons why he shouldn't do this, and yet here he is, doing his damnedest to dull the panic in his voice, to speak calm and collectedly. If he had given it a bit more forethought, he would have sent this message via text, but it's too late for that now. ]

H-hey...Alisaie? —S-sorry to bug. You busy?

[ He's going to give her about twenty chances to back out of this, naturally. ]

[ communicating this way is not unlike using a linkpearl, but nevertheless it is strange to get used to..

anyway, she's vaguely surprised to find prompto calling, though she supposes she shouldn't be - he is more or less the closest thing she has to a friend in this place. brothers don't count. so it isn't long before she picks up. ]

No, not particularly. What is wrong?

[ he sounds strange.. ]

[ Aaand immediately she asks what's wrong. He's quick to set that straight, as if he has an aversion to the question being asked, as if there is, in fact, nothing wrong. ]

Nothin'! I'm just...kinda bored, hangin' around the Temple all day, y'know? Thought I might see if you wanted to...meet up, for a bit.

[ This was a bad idea. ]

[ look, he's nervous and stammering, it's obvious that something is up, whether bad or good. but who knows, maybe he's just nervous, to talk this way? ]

Oh, yes, I've a need to stretch my legs, anyroad.

[ being stuck here doing nothing is basically The Worst. ]

Where are you?

[ To be fair, he would probably be nervous and stammering even if he had only called her to chat about the weather. But there's more to it than that, and...Prompto is woefully ill-equipped to approach it. Maybe he won't at all. Maybe a distraction will be all he needs, a chance to get his mind off of things. Put off figuring them out for awhile longer. That doesn't sound so bad. ]

'M just outside the temple. By one of those weird...rock circle thingies. [ You know, like Stonehenge. ] We could...talk a walk?

[ Yeah. Just a walk. That's not asking too much.

(He hopes.) ]

[ ah, what a good description. there are so many rock thingies!!

but the temple isn't very big, and prompto is pretty, uh.. noticeable, most of the time. she will find him easily enough. ]

That sounds lovely. Stay put, I will be there shortly.

[ she's already pulling on her boots and slipping her rapier into place on her hip. ]

[ "Noticeable", huh? What's that supposed to mean??? ]

Great! [ Despite his general demeanor, he sounds genuinely joyful at that. ] I'll, uh—just stay put and wait for you. See you soon, Ali.

[ And true to his word, Prompto will stay put, though he isn't still. Alisaie will find him pacing around somewhat frenetically, amplified by his ability and quickly wearing an indent into the grass. This sure is some intense pacing... ]

[ you know exactly what i mean, chocobo butt head..

also, ali?? that is going to take some getting used to. no one has ever given her a nickname.. anyway, he's easy enough to find, though why he is pacing a groove into the grass is anyone's guess. alisaie watches for a moment, one hand on her hip. ]

Do be careful not to set your heels aflame.

[ He's used that nickname on her before you nerd!!! But, sure, it'll take some getting used to. Prompto is partial to his fun nicknames, after all...just wait until he makes the "Alibae" discovery all over again.

But anyway. Despite his distracted demeanor, Prompto jumps when Alisaie addresses him, glancing over at her quickly and skidding to a halt. Given his power, setting his heels aflame is a valid concern, though he hasn't quite got them smoking yet... ]

A-Alisaie! Hey! That was quick. [ But then again, it's not a huge place. Anyway. ] U-um—

Thanks for coming.

[ He says it like he's almost expecting her to leave again now. ]

Of course.

[ he's sure acting weird. i mean, he's always weird, that's just the sort of guy he is, but this is different. he seems almost.. nervous, and while sure, he's always come off as a bit jittery, this is not the same.

she ambles up to him, her eyes narrowed as they sweep over him, appraising. ]

Are you certain everything is all right?

[ You know...Alisaie is a bit sharper than Prompto would like sometimes. A bit sharper...and a bit more direct. She doesn't make it easy to dodge her scrutiny, but still he attempts to. It's not meant to brush off her concern—really, he's touched by it, just as he had been back in El Minha—but he doesn't want to worry her unnecessarily. It's not like...he can talk to her about what's bothering him. He...doesn't even know if he's correct in his assumptions.

But like hell he's going to ask Noct or Gladio and find out.

Gods, this is such a mess. ]

You bet! I-I'm peachy keen. I, just, uh—wanted to get out for a little bit. [ And quick to deflect the conversation away from himself, as he starts to walk: ] H-how've things been since we got back, anyway? Haven't seen you since El Minha.

[ Maybe in passing, around the kitchen and such, but they haven't stopped to catch up in some time. ]

[ it's the elf eyes. and the genius thing. she sees all.

she also sees that prompto is deflecting, but.. well, far be it for her to pry where it isn't wanted. whatever is bothering him, clearly he does not want to address it or speak about it; she has given him two openings to do so, and he's slunk away from both, so that is that. he's made himself clear, and alisaie, as a very private person herself, will hardly begrudge him his secrecy.

even if it's eyerollingly obvious that he is far from peachy keen.

but anyway!! she falls into step beside him easily enough, her eyes on the treeline. ]

Oh, hardly worthy of note. New faces forced into labor, of course, but things have been quiet.

[ She doesn't press him again and...he's not sure how to feel about that. Should he have said something? That would've felt awfully presumptuous. She can't want to hear about all his issues, all the things that are weighing down his mind. And even if she did...is he ready to talk about them?

...Hadn't that been part of the reason he'd called her?

—Whatever. He missed his chance anyway, so...small talk it is.

At least the weather's cleared up a bit, and Alisaie's company is undeniably nice. ]

Heh...'course you'd say that. [ He slants a grin at her. ] You seen Astoria around at all?

[ prompto don't say the red button word!! ]

I have not seen her even once.

[ not unless you count the barely-there memories of, you know, being knocked unconscious and kidnapped. the way alisaie's mouth sets into a thin line more than clearly reinforces the fact that she.. is definitely still mad..

but she hardly wants to argue with him about it again, especially when he seems so nervous, so she'll keep her sharp words behind her teeth, beneath a sigh. ]

'Tis.. for the best, like as not.

...Yeah. Probably so.

[ If she were around, he would undoubtedly have more questions for her, and honestly, he feels lucky to have had even the conversation he did with her. Having to wait until they were back from El Minha to speak with her had nearly driven him crazy. If he had had to wait much longer, he might've lost his mind—or worse, confronted the others about it.

But now, his suspicions have been all but confirmed, and he is feeling no better for it. Was he better off in the dark? ]

Kinda strange how she seems like she's here, but isn't here, isn't it? —A-anyway, I think she might be responsible for all the rain.

[ why are we still talking about astoria!!

though, to be fair, it draws attention away from prompto, and whatever is bothering him, so i mean, it's working out in his favor. ]

Why is that?

[ Well, whatever it takes... ]

I, uh, talked to her. Recently. Said she thought she was sick. If she has as much control over this place as she does, maybe...her being sick can affect the weather, too?

[ Does that mean the rain has been like her snot??? Gross... ]

[ wow gross??

alisaie scoffs softly. ]

How convenient for us.

[ that astoria is powerful has already been well established, but to have emotions that can inadvertently control the weather?? good lord. nevertheless, prompto does not deserve to be the displaced target of her frustration; count to ten, alisaie.. ]

Did she tell you anything else of import?

[ ...On second thought, yeah, bringing up Astoria was a bad idea. Of course Alisaie would ask this—she's sharp and focused and interested in learning what she can about this world and the one who brought them here. They have certainly talked about other things...but...

Man, he's terrible at this. What does he want here? He can practically hear Aranea's voice echoing in his thoughts, asking him this same question. He was supposed to be getting better at this, at opening up and being honest about his feelings, but this is all so sudden and unfamiliar and new and Alisaie is the closest thing he has to a friend here, outside of those from Eos. He doesn't want to...mess this up. What if he scares her off, the moment she realizes just how anxious and worried he is all the time?

Is it worth the risk? ]

She...asked about El Minha. I...tried contacting her while we were there, too, but...nothin' but static. Guess she was out of range...heh.

[ meanwhile, during prompto's inner turmoil, alisaie is busy being irritated. it isn't prompto's fault, and honestly, she's glad that he is able to give her at least a little bit of news, but it's difficult for her not to be aggravated by the very mention of astoria, and alisaie is.. not really very good at concealing her feelings. ]

Considering she can pop around to other worlds to snatch people from their business, I highly doubt she could be "out of range."

[ seems fake, tbh.

but alisaie soon sighs, and attempts to smooth her hackles. jumpy as he seems to be, she should not vent her spleen at him right now. ]

Anyroad, how have you been? I trust your journey back was as uneventful as mine.

[ That's...fair, though Prompto isn't wholly convinced Astoria can pop in and out of worlds. She can just reach into them somehow, maybe. But he's learned better than to argue over Astoria's virtues (or lack thereof) with Alisaie. ]

Eh...can't complain. I got to leave El Minha with a few souvenirs and a bunch of batteries for my camera, so I made out petty well! Aaand I got this thing.

[ Ah, why didn't he think to show her this sooner? It's good and distracting! Prompto reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small metal cube, holding it aloft in his hand for her to see.

It sure is...a metal cube. ]

Check it!

[ hey look, it's a metal cube.

alisaie's brow creases, and she gazes into his palm, bewildered. is this some weird eos thing, too? is she supposed to be excited?? ]

Check what?

[ what does he want her to check it for?? ]

[ She might not be excited yet, but just wait! Prompto waves a hand as if to reassure her, tossing the metal cube up and down in his hand. ]

Think of something and tell me. Anything. Er—as long as it's not alive.

.. anything?

[ anything not alive?? does that.. count plants, too?? help, she has option paralysis!! tapping her chin, alisaie frowns thoughtfully. ]

A.. stuffed moogle? A spoon? A pillow?

[ an unladen swallow?? ]

[ He's going to go with a stuffed moogle, because a spoon and a pillow are kinda boring!! No offense, Alisaie. Plus, moogles are cute. Prompto holds up a finger and stops in place, turning to face her. ]

One stuffed moogle, comin' right up! Feast your eyes—

[ Prompto lets the moment linger, to drum up the dramatics, of course, before he concentrates hard on the little metal cube. It begins to shift and pull, the metallic surface giving way to soft, plush fabric and a mix of colors. As it comes to a rest once more, Prompto is now holding a stuffed moogle in his hand—although it is still fairly small. He only has so much surface area to work with!

Holding it out to her with both hands, he beams over the crown of the doll's head at her. ]

Just call me a genie, gurl, 'cause your wish has been granted! [ ... ] You don't...really have to call me a genie. But how cool is that?! Ten out of ten, right? A real showstopper!

[ Shockingly, he's thrilled. ]

voice / brrrreaks this in sometime after leaving el minha!

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