[ for all the near-death situations she's gotten herself into, alisaie has never quite experienced that whole.. life-flashing-before-your-eyes thing. if she thinks anything at all before the darkness surrounds her it's disbelief, because this is absolutely not the way she would ever have chosen to go. it's far too humiliating, not nearly as spectacular a death for her to ever accept.
mostly, she's only thinking that she cannot breathe.
distantly, she feels movement, grasping, the rush of water around her ears, but it's all like a dream, a thick blackness all around her, heavy and weighing her down, pulling. the pressure all around her is so strong, like the veil of sleep that clings and insists that she stay where is is warm and comfortable and easy..
but his voice cuts through, it calls to her, faint at first and then stronger, until -
with a great heave, alisaie's body jerks, water spilling from her mouth in a heavy, racking, rasping cough. her hands snap up, snagging at his shoulders as she struggles to breathe through waterlogged lungs, her vision blurry, dizzy - gods, what's.. what's happened..? ]
[ It happens quickly, and violently—Alisaie's body jerking beneath him, water spurt from her mouth and, unavoidably, into his. But he hardly notices it, as relief bowls him over in an instant, and no sooner have her arms closed around him has he wound his around her, holding her close and gentle, though his entire body trembles from pure adrenaline and emotion.
She's alive. She's alive.
He inhales a shuddering sob, hot tears spilling from his eyes as he buries his face against the crook of her neck, one of his hands filtering into the hair on the back of her head, cradling her near. ]
[ to breathe is such a simple request, but in the moment it feels like the hardest thing she has ever needed to do, every breath like agony, needles in her lungs, terror and adrenaline crowding out everything else in the world. she is not a person, only a set of lungs that struggle to open, a heart that pounds, a mind that spins. there's fear in the sound of her gulping breaths that are almost like sobs, but she holds to him tightly, her fingernails biting into his bare flesh, her stinging eyes squeezed tightly closed.
it takes some time, but she continues to follow his voice, her lungs clear as best they can, and her desperate, choking inhales settle into softer, but still quick breaths. still, she does not relinquish her grip, and his arms so tight around her feel secure and safe and strong. she needs a moment.
but at last her grasp on him lessons, though she does not let go, only loosens her grip. her breath shudders, her voice a rough, raw croak. ]
I'm sorry..
[ gods, what a fool she is - and she's upset him so terribly. ]
[ She breathes, she continues to breathe, and the sound and the feeling of it makes him happier than anything else in the world in that moment, rough and marred though it may be. Gods, he'd been so afraid...what if he had lost her? What would he have done? But that's not a bridge he has to cross now, and he clings to her just as fiercely as she clings to him, heedless of the amount of bare skin between them, and the way her nails hook into him. He will hold onto her for as long as she needs him to.
Even when she loosens her grip, he doesn't pull away, instead murmuring quietly right to her ear. ]
I-it's okay. All that matters is that you're okay. You're here.
[ A hiccuping sob rubs against a laugh in his throat. ]
Heh, you...you know how to give a real good scare, there, Ali.
[ She scared the living daylights out of him, honestly. ]
[ she laughs in a hollow, desperate sort of way, swallowing around her raw, painful throat. ]
I imagine..
[ and she's guilty about it, he's so kind, gods, he must've been terrified - but he won't want to hear a spill of apologies, she certainly wouldn't want to hear it, were their places swapped. as the adrenaline ebbs, she falls slack against him, the tickle of his breath to her ear eliciting a shiver down her spine. temples pounding, eyes closed, she drops her head to rest in the hollow of his shoulder. ]
[ She starts to settle against him, and his own breathing begins to even out as adrenaline runs its course. She's safe. Perhaps a bit sore and winded, but she's safe, and in light of that, his other senses begin to return, as well. Perhaps he shouldn't be thinking about the amount of bare skin between them right now, that he can feel her breath tickling his skin as she rests against his shoulder. She's shivering and pressed up against him, and the tips of his ears grow hot—but he doesn't let her go.
Not after what she's just been through. Alisaie may not be the type to give or accept physical affection easily, but damn if she doesn't probably need it right now, so his arms remain secure around her, his hands gently smoothing over the ridges of her spine. ]
It could happen to anyone. [ He turns his head just so, his smile widening against the corner of her jaw. ] Just...next time turn into a fish or somethin', okay?
[ she's not yet at the point where she's noticing or caring about such things, not while her lungs still ache and burn painfully, not while every breath feels like a lovely, wonderful gift.
but a wry laugh bubbles out of her soon enough. ]
I had not thought of that..
[ in her panic, it had not even occurred to her. mayhaps she should take this ability of hers a little more seriously, and take some time to.. practice with it. her hands curl against him, her eyelids dropping low. ]
I was able to breathe beneath the water, before she stripped my power from me. I hadn't even considered that I could.. no longer manage that.
[ He continues to hold her, his hands moving gently against her in soothing motions, even if his skin starts to grow warm. Maybe it's just that he's drying out, but if she glanced up into his face, she would no doubt see the blush creeping high in his cheeks. He's never held someone so close like this before, and certainly not an almost-naked girl.
But he doesn't even think of letting her go just yet, because she's still catching her breath, and he won't end this contact until he's sure she no longer needs it. It's...odd, to comfort someone so fiercely strong and independent as her in this way, but it feels...
Right, too, somehow, like she fits against him in the perfect way.
He shouldn't be thinking about this right now though, so he pushes it aside. ]
...So that's what happened. [ He'd assumed she'd just sucked in a mouthful of water on accident, but it's more than just that. ] Probably not the way you wanted to test that out, but...everything's okay now.
[ it's certainly a bit more sensible than having gulped in a lungful of water on her first dive - alisaie is a strong swimmer, after all - but it is nevertheless embarrassing that she had not the foresight to consider that she would no longer be able to do it. it had become as natural as, well. breathing.
but at last she lifts her head and swallows thickly, one hand rising to rub at her pounding temple, her features tight. ]
Aye.
[ a close call, but nevertheless, she is here. ]
I owe you a great debt.
[ he saved her life even after she concussed him!! ]
[ She lifts her head and he draws back, but only far enough that he can peer into her face and make sure she isn't concussed this time. But she seems with it and he finds a weak smile for her, the relief in it entirely genuine. ]
Nah. Just...consider it payback for giving me a peptalk earlier. [ He gently squeezes his arms around her. ] Besides...you would've done it for me.
[ If it had been him drowning on that riverbed, he has no doubt she would have done everything she could to resuscitate him. ]
A peptalk hardly compensates for a life, but I suppose I shall take it.
[ he's certainly not wrong. of course she would have done her best to save him, any decent person would have - thankfully he didn't drown himself attempting to save her as well, or they both would have been in a great deal of trouble.
with a groan, she sits up more fully, rubbing hard at her itching eyes. ]
[ As she sits up, Prompto draws back further his arms falling from around him to drop to his sides before she comes to the same realization that he already has, though maybe it wouldn't bother her as much. She obviously has enough to worry about having nearly drowned to think about the contact they'd just shared, the heat of her skin still clinging to his own. Yeah, can't...think about that right now. ]
Heh...yeah, it was. Maybe...we can do this again sometime. You know, as long as you don't try to breathe underwater again.
[ He slants a grin at her, but seriously. Saving her from drowning once is enough for a lifetime... ]
[ her face flushes warm, but it's far more with embarrassment over nearly drowning stupidly than being touched; she can't bring herself to care about that at all, right now. not to mention, prompto has made his feelings.. clear enough, at least, so alisaie has done her very best to push back anything even remotely -
- romantic? attractive?
anyway, she tosses him a weary, albeit grateful smile. ]
[ He inhales and exhales deeply, grateful they're both breathing like normal, before he lifts his hands to his head and pushes his lank hair out of his eyes. As the adrenaline ebbs away, he starts to feel quite exhausted, but it's too bad they didn't get to do more swimming. It was fun until she almost, you know, died. ]
Glad to hear it! [ He reaches for his shirt, plucking it from the grass where he'd tossed it earlier and tugging it over his head. ] Look, I know this goes without saying, but...
[ He glances back to her. ]
...I'm so glad you're okay. If something had happened to you, I...
[ He never would have forgiven himself. The only reason she was even out here to begin with was because of him. ]
[ Fine, she can continue to hang out in her underwear, while Prompto, meanwhile, is fully clothed again...his pants are so uncomfortable. Couldn't she have at least waited until he had them off to drown!! ]
...Right. Still, I...I'm glad. [ A beat. ] Are you...gonna hang around here for awhile, then?
[ Should he stay or should he go? If he goes, will there be trouble? If he stays, will there be double? ]
Or maybe not, because they've...already had a pretty intense day as it is, even without the drowning incident, and Prompto doesn't want his presence to wear on her. Still, he can't let himself go so easily, not until he's absolutely sure. ]
...A-are you sure you'll be okay?
[ Not gonna swim and forget to breathe again, are you, Alisaie!!! ]
[ honestly, as humiliating as all this was, despite the fact that she always enjoys having prompto around, she's.. definitely ready to spend a little time alone, reflecting on her choices.
but she finds a smile for him nonetheless, warm and sure. ]
Of course I will. Lesson learned.
[ even if she's sure she'll never live it down.. ]
If you would.. not tell my brother, I would be grateful.
[ Yes, she'll never live it down, just as he'll never live down falling off the wall when she touched him with her spider leg. That's just how things go sometimes! ]
—Oh, yeah, no prob. Your secret is safe with me.
[ There seems to be no harm in keeping it, as Alisaie is fine, and telling Alphinaud would only make him worry, most likely. Prompto has no siblings of his own to really understand how that is, but it can't be all that different from him and his friends, can it? ]
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mostly, she's only thinking that she cannot breathe.
distantly, she feels movement, grasping, the rush of water around her ears, but it's all like a dream, a thick blackness all around her, heavy and weighing her down, pulling. the pressure all around her is so strong, like the veil of sleep that clings and insists that she stay where is is warm and comfortable and easy..
but his voice cuts through, it calls to her, faint at first and then stronger, until -
with a great heave, alisaie's body jerks, water spilling from her mouth in a heavy, racking, rasping cough. her hands snap up, snagging at his shoulders as she struggles to breathe through waterlogged lungs, her vision blurry, dizzy - gods, what's.. what's happened..? ]
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She's alive. She's alive.
He inhales a shuddering sob, hot tears spilling from his eyes as he buries his face against the crook of her neck, one of his hands filtering into the hair on the back of her head, cradling her near. ]
Y-you're okay, I-I've got you—breathe.
[ It's a reminder for himself, too. ]
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it takes some time, but she continues to follow his voice, her lungs clear as best they can, and her desperate, choking inhales settle into softer, but still quick breaths. still, she does not relinquish her grip, and his arms so tight around her feel secure and safe and strong. she needs a moment.
but at last her grasp on him lessons, though she does not let go, only loosens her grip. her breath shudders, her voice a rough, raw croak. ]
I'm sorry..
[ gods, what a fool she is - and she's upset him so terribly. ]
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Even when she loosens her grip, he doesn't pull away, instead murmuring quietly right to her ear. ]
I-it's okay. All that matters is that you're okay. You're here.
[ A hiccuping sob rubs against a laugh in his throat. ]
Heh, you...you know how to give a real good scare, there, Ali.
[ She scared the living daylights out of him, honestly. ]
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I imagine..
[ and she's guilty about it, he's so kind, gods, he must've been terrified - but he won't want to hear a spill of apologies, she certainly wouldn't want to hear it, were their places swapped. as the adrenaline ebbs, she falls slack against him, the tickle of his breath to her ear eliciting a shiver down her spine. temples pounding, eyes closed, she drops her head to rest in the hollow of his shoulder. ]
You saved my life. I.. Gods, what a fool I am.
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Not after what she's just been through. Alisaie may not be the type to give or accept physical affection easily, but damn if she doesn't probably need it right now, so his arms remain secure around her, his hands gently smoothing over the ridges of her spine. ]
It could happen to anyone. [ He turns his head just so, his smile widening against the corner of her jaw. ] Just...next time turn into a fish or somethin', okay?
[ Don't scare him like that!! ]
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but a wry laugh bubbles out of her soon enough. ]
I had not thought of that..
[ in her panic, it had not even occurred to her. mayhaps she should take this ability of hers a little more seriously, and take some time to.. practice with it. her hands curl against him, her eyelids dropping low. ]
I was able to breathe beneath the water, before she stripped my power from me. I hadn't even considered that I could.. no longer manage that.
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But he doesn't even think of letting her go just yet, because she's still catching her breath, and he won't end this contact until he's sure she no longer needs it. It's...odd, to comfort someone so fiercely strong and independent as her in this way, but it feels...
Right, too, somehow, like she fits against him in the perfect way.
He shouldn't be thinking about this right now though, so he pushes it aside. ]
...So that's what happened. [ He'd assumed she'd just sucked in a mouthful of water on accident, but it's more than just that. ] Probably not the way you wanted to test that out, but...everything's okay now.
[ She's okay. ]
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but at last she lifts her head and swallows thickly, one hand rising to rub at her pounding temple, her features tight. ]
Aye.
[ a close call, but nevertheless, she is here. ]
I owe you a great debt.
[ he saved her life even after she concussed him!! ]
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Nah. Just...consider it payback for giving me a peptalk earlier. [ He gently squeezes his arms around her. ] Besides...you would've done it for me.
[ If it had been him drowning on that riverbed, he has no doubt she would have done everything she could to resuscitate him. ]
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[ he's certainly not wrong. of course she would have done her best to save him, any decent person would have - thankfully he didn't drown himself attempting to save her as well, or they both would have been in a great deal of trouble.
with a groan, she sits up more fully, rubbing hard at her itching eyes. ]
Well it was.. fun, while it lasted.
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Heh...yeah, it was. Maybe...we can do this again sometime. You know, as long as you don't try to breathe underwater again.
[ He slants a grin at her, but seriously. Saving her from drowning once is enough for a lifetime... ]
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- romantic? attractive?
anyway, she tosses him a weary, albeit grateful smile. ]
You can be sure that I will not.
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Glad to hear it! [ He reaches for his shirt, plucking it from the grass where he'd tossed it earlier and tugging it over his head. ] Look, I know this goes without saying, but...
[ He glances back to her. ]
...I'm so glad you're okay. If something had happened to you, I...
[ He never would have forgiven himself. The only reason she was even out here to begin with was because of him. ]
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You need not worry what you might have done, because it did not happen.
[ in other words, she won't allow him to dwell on it. ]
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...Right. Still, I...I'm glad. [ A beat. ] Are you...gonna hang around here for awhile, then?
[ Should he stay or should he go? If he goes, will there be trouble? If he stays, will there be double? ]
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At least until my dress dries, but you needn't linger if you've something to do.
[ so we can close up some more threads, that is!! ]
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Or maybe not, because they've...already had a pretty intense day as it is, even without the drowning incident, and Prompto doesn't want his presence to wear on her. Still, he can't let himself go so easily, not until he's absolutely sure. ]
...A-are you sure you'll be okay?
[ Not gonna swim and forget to breathe again, are you, Alisaie!!! ]
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but she finds a smile for him nonetheless, warm and sure. ]
Of course I will. Lesson learned.
[ even if she's sure she'll never live it down.. ]
If you would.. not tell my brother, I would be grateful.
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—Oh, yeah, no prob. Your secret is safe with me.
[ There seems to be no harm in keeping it, as Alisaie is fine, and telling Alphinaud would only make him worry, most likely. Prompto has no siblings of his own to really understand how that is, but it can't be all that different from him and his friends, can it? ]
I'll see you around, Alisaie.
[ And with a final wave, he turns to go. ]