[ He knows the way. Has it memorized, in fact, because he has taken this journey so many times before. How many times has he been up here to visit Noct before, when he'd previously been frozen? Gladio? Ignis? Gods, but it's been so long since he's heard their voices. What if he forgets them? Their warmth, their quirks? What if by the time they awaken again, Prompto is long gone, buried into the earth of this new world that would be his home?
As they head to find Noctis' pod, his heart aches more fiercely for Eos than it has for quite some time. The pain had numbed, somewhat, from Noctis' presence at his side, because at least they could share the loss of their world together, something Prompto hadn't been able to really do with anyone else. Alisaie is always there to support him when he needs her, but she misses Hydaelyn, not Eos, and for all the comforting similarities that exist between their worlds, they are not the same. They cannot truly appreciate one another's homes and feel the loss as keenly as that of their own. But having Noct with him had been a balm, for a time, had healed those long-unattended wounds, had reassured him. Prompto had almost gotten used to having him back in his life again, he'd officiated their wedding, dammit. He'd thought—
But of course, it didn't last. It was never meant to last. Not on Eos. Not here, either. Surely, it would be easier, if the scars left behind hardened him to the next time, and the time after that, and the time after that. But they won't. It's not in his nature. It will keep hurting just this much, and even more so, for each succession that rips his friend away from him once again.
His hand is painfully tight in hers as they reach the row in question, his jaw tight. It's only a few in, and he passes the faces of people he knows along the way. Alisaie may even recognize some of them from Prompto's photographs. But he doesn't stop to check on them as he might usually. Instead, he draws up to a cluster of pods: King Regis. Lady Lunafreya. And next to her—
Noctis, back in stasis once more.
It shouldn't be a shock, yet it somehow still is, like a slap to his face, as his breath catches in his throat. ]
[ alisaie is prepared for it. she had known noctis, is sad for his loss, but mostly her heart aches for prompto. he does not deserve this, he could never deserve this, but the kind and innocent always suffer, and prompto is no exception. she knows full well just how much his friends mean to him, how they are family, brothers, but most of the time that prompto has spent here he has spent alone, and without them.
she is not wont to feel insecure, but sometimes it feels as if she can never make up for their loss, never be enough to fill up all the holes in his heart, however desperately she might try. alisaie would never, ever attempt to replace them, but still at times it feels like a losing battle, like she could never be quite.. enough.
but this is not about her. she stands beside him and, after a moment, slips her hand down to his own again to entwine their fingers and squeeze them tightly, steadfast, to remind him that he is not alone here, that he needn't shoulder his loss alone. but her eyes wander, and alisaie's eyes soon settle on another nearby pod, and within it, a face she recognizes - immediately, her heart sinks. would that she could undo this, and keep quiet, but she cannot. better that he know now. with her free hand, alisaie gestures to the pod in question, and within it.. aranea. ]
[ Prompto recognizes the tone in her voice. She doesn't say his name as some form of comfort, or as some way to draw his attention away from his despair and back to her. She's directing him, his gaze at last breaking away from Noct's pod to follow her gesture. Dread clenches in his gut as his eyes travel to the face behind the glass, uncertain of what he will see, but when he sees Aranea behind the glass, he gasps aloud, his hand tightening around hers. No. Not her, too. Not the only other friendly face from home, one who had been here nearly as long as he had, had been through the worst of it with them—
Gritting his teeth, Prompto steps closer to Aranea's pod, lifting his free hand to press his fingertips against the glass. So, that's it, then. Only two remain from Eos, and one of them is Ardyn.
He's quiet, too quiet, as the weight of these two fresh losses settle over him. So many of them, gone now. Noctis, Aranea, Gladio, Ignis, and he can't forget the friends he made here that have since slumbered once more. Prompto may not deal with loss as poorly as Alisaie does, but neither does he deal with it well, especially with so much of it weighing on his shoulders at once.
He doesn't cry. He doesn't speak. He just closes his eyes and tries to hold it in, and tips his head forward to rest on the glass of Aranea's pod. ]
[ would that she could have sheltered him from it, protected him, but that would not have been a kindness..
so instead she can only maintain her silence, give him the chance to take it in, to absorb and internalize it. she cannot make it better, she cannot bring them back, the best she can do is stand beside him, with him, and offer what little support that she can. gods, if only she could do more. her presence alone feels woefully inadequate.
after a time, she squeezes his hand, and speaks softly. ]
Do you remember, you once told me that you fully believed that I would see my brother again? That he would wake?
[ When she speaks, he turns to look at her, his eyes distant, like he has been looking at something very, very far away from this place. He refocuses as he meets her eyes, however, his brow drawn and pale, but after a moment, he nods. Yes, of course he remembers. And Alisaie...
She hadn't been convinced. Not wholly, at least. Even if Alphinaud had eventually awoken, maybe it had been foolish for Prompto to make such a claim. Too audacious, too bold, to assume his simplistic optimism could somehow influence the way of this world, the random nature at which the Natha seem to operate.
He can't find any words just yet, so he waits for her to lead him to where she is going with this. ]
[ her smile is sad, but soft, and when he turns toward her alisaie lifts her hands to his face, tugging him down until she can touch her brow to his, until she can kiss him, slow and soft and gentle. ]
I did not believe you. It is so easy to be.. cynical instead of hopeful, so much simpler to assume the worst and not hope for the best.
[ and it's always been her way. she likes to think that she has rounded off into a realist as she has grown, even if her cynical streak persists and likely always shall, no thanks to him, she is more easily able to see the light. the idea that he might lose that.. gods, it makes her heart ache. but he is stronger than that, stronger than he things she is, and she trusts that warm heart of his to never grow cold. ]
But I was wrong. You were right to hope. And you will see them again, I am sure of it.
[ She leads him easily into that kiss, folding beneath her touch like a house of cards, shedding his tears at last. Does she...really mean that? It isn't easy for her, and he knows it. It's one of the many ways the differ greatly, one of the ways they complement each other. And even if she's leading up to it, he still doesn't quite expect those words, coming from her. But if Alisaie can believe that...
Then of course he can, too.
Slowly, his arms wind around her, pressing her near until there isn't a single inch of space between them. His tears fall in tune with quiet, shuddering gasps, his shoulders shaking, and the pain in his heart doesn't ease. It still remains, and it will for some time, until he adjusts, once again, to life without his dearest friend. But he knows he can do it. He knows he can do it because she's right. He will see them again, someday, somehow. And should he forget that...
He has her by his side to remind him. ]
Thank you, sweetheart. Y-you always take such good care of me.
[ No matter what. He doesn't deserve it, but he's eternally grateful to her for it. ]
[ much as it pains her to hear him weep, to feel his body tremble, it also brings her great relief. these feelings should not be contained or held back, he needs to release them through his tears and sobs, and though it will still ache, he will nevertheless feel better for it. alisaie spent too many long years internalizing her pain and grief, carrying it around and allowing it to fester inside of her, to manifest in a sharp temper and high walls built around her heart, but she had learned better. hopefully, these trying times will not unlearn this lesson from his mind. ]
I love you. I will always take care of you.
[ no matter what, she will protect him, she will bandage the wounds on his body and heart, she will hold him when he cannot stand. but just to be sure that he knows it - ]
As you will for me.
[ she's spent too much time painstakingly building up his self-esteem to allow him to forget this simple fact. ]
[ As always, eventually, the tears run out, leaving him feeling raw and hollowed out, but at least the pent-up grief is no longer there, sitting upon his heart. It is better to let it out, to spend it, even if it hurts, to acknowledge their loss so keenly. This isn't his pain alone. Alisaie knew Noctis and Aranea too, and even aside from that, it's just as she says.
She will take care of him. She will help him shoulder his pains.
And he will do the same for her. Every time, without question. As her wedding ring promises, with all of himself. ]
I love you, too. [ So much the statement alone nearly threatens him with tears once again. ] I love you. I love you.
[ But before his tears can renew in earnest, he turns his head to find her mouth with his, to kiss her ardently. ]
Let's go home.
[ And then they can begin to heal from this, together. ]
[ she holds him as long as is necessary, as long as he needs until the fierce, acute pain can dull into a low, bearable ache, until his tears run dry and he begins to still. whether he will want to linger she does not know, but neither is she surprised when at last he decided to leave.
hanging about here mourning for what cannot be changed will help no one, and were it alisaie herself in one of these cold tubes, she certainly wouldn't want prompto to be hanging about with his life on pause. so she nods, and gently nudges her nose against his own before pulling away, keeping hold of his hand to tug him along, back toward the teleporter pad. ]
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no subject
[ He knows the way. Has it memorized, in fact, because he has taken this journey so many times before. How many times has he been up here to visit Noct before, when he'd previously been frozen? Gladio? Ignis? Gods, but it's been so long since he's heard their voices. What if he forgets them? Their warmth, their quirks? What if by the time they awaken again, Prompto is long gone, buried into the earth of this new world that would be his home?
As they head to find Noctis' pod, his heart aches more fiercely for Eos than it has for quite some time. The pain had numbed, somewhat, from Noctis' presence at his side, because at least they could share the loss of their world together, something Prompto hadn't been able to really do with anyone else. Alisaie is always there to support him when he needs her, but she misses Hydaelyn, not Eos, and for all the comforting similarities that exist between their worlds, they are not the same. They cannot truly appreciate one another's homes and feel the loss as keenly as that of their own. But having Noct with him had been a balm, for a time, had healed those long-unattended wounds, had reassured him. Prompto had almost gotten used to having him back in his life again, he'd officiated their wedding, dammit. He'd thought—
But of course, it didn't last. It was never meant to last. Not on Eos. Not here, either. Surely, it would be easier, if the scars left behind hardened him to the next time, and the time after that, and the time after that. But they won't. It's not in his nature. It will keep hurting just this much, and even more so, for each succession that rips his friend away from him once again.
His hand is painfully tight in hers as they reach the row in question, his jaw tight. It's only a few in, and he passes the faces of people he knows along the way. Alisaie may even recognize some of them from Prompto's photographs. But he doesn't stop to check on them as he might usually. Instead, he draws up to a cluster of pods: King Regis. Lady Lunafreya. And next to her—
Noctis, back in stasis once more.
It shouldn't be a shock, yet it somehow still is, like a slap to his face, as his breath catches in his throat. ]
no subject
she is not wont to feel insecure, but sometimes it feels as if she can never make up for their loss, never be enough to fill up all the holes in his heart, however desperately she might try. alisaie would never, ever attempt to replace them, but still at times it feels like a losing battle, like she could never be quite.. enough.
but this is not about her. she stands beside him and, after a moment, slips her hand down to his own again to entwine their fingers and squeeze them tightly, steadfast, to remind him that he is not alone here, that he needn't shoulder his loss alone. but her eyes wander, and alisaie's eyes soon settle on another nearby pod, and within it, a face she recognizes - immediately, her heart sinks. would that she could undo this, and keep quiet, but she cannot. better that he know now. with her free hand, alisaie gestures to the pod in question, and within it.. aranea. ]
Prompto..
no subject
Gritting his teeth, Prompto steps closer to Aranea's pod, lifting his free hand to press his fingertips against the glass. So, that's it, then. Only two remain from Eos, and one of them is Ardyn.
He's quiet, too quiet, as the weight of these two fresh losses settle over him. So many of them, gone now. Noctis, Aranea, Gladio, Ignis, and he can't forget the friends he made here that have since slumbered once more. Prompto may not deal with loss as poorly as Alisaie does, but neither does he deal with it well, especially with so much of it weighing on his shoulders at once.
He doesn't cry. He doesn't speak. He just closes his eyes and tries to hold it in, and tips his head forward to rest on the glass of Aranea's pod. ]
no subject
so instead she can only maintain her silence, give him the chance to take it in, to absorb and internalize it. she cannot make it better, she cannot bring them back, the best she can do is stand beside him, with him, and offer what little support that she can. gods, if only she could do more. her presence alone feels woefully inadequate.
after a time, she squeezes his hand, and speaks softly. ]
Do you remember, you once told me that you fully believed that I would see my brother again? That he would wake?
no subject
She hadn't been convinced. Not wholly, at least. Even if Alphinaud had eventually awoken, maybe it had been foolish for Prompto to make such a claim. Too audacious, too bold, to assume his simplistic optimism could somehow influence the way of this world, the random nature at which the Natha seem to operate.
He can't find any words just yet, so he waits for her to lead him to where she is going with this. ]
no subject
I did not believe you. It is so easy to be.. cynical instead of hopeful, so much simpler to assume the worst and not hope for the best.
[ and it's always been her way. she likes to think that she has rounded off into a realist as she has grown, even if her cynical streak persists and likely always shall, no thanks to him, she is more easily able to see the light. the idea that he might lose that.. gods, it makes her heart ache. but he is stronger than that, stronger than he things she is, and she trusts that warm heart of his to never grow cold. ]
But I was wrong. You were right to hope. And you will see them again, I am sure of it.
no subject
Then of course he can, too.
Slowly, his arms wind around her, pressing her near until there isn't a single inch of space between them. His tears fall in tune with quiet, shuddering gasps, his shoulders shaking, and the pain in his heart doesn't ease. It still remains, and it will for some time, until he adjusts, once again, to life without his dearest friend. But he knows he can do it. He knows he can do it because she's right. He will see them again, someday, somehow. And should he forget that...
He has her by his side to remind him. ]
Thank you, sweetheart. Y-you always take such good care of me.
[ No matter what. He doesn't deserve it, but he's eternally grateful to her for it. ]
no subject
I love you. I will always take care of you.
[ no matter what, she will protect him, she will bandage the wounds on his body and heart, she will hold him when he cannot stand. but just to be sure that he knows it - ]
As you will for me.
[ she's spent too much time painstakingly building up his self-esteem to allow him to forget this simple fact. ]
no subject
She will take care of him. She will help him shoulder his pains.
And he will do the same for her. Every time, without question. As her wedding ring promises, with all of himself. ]
I love you, too. [ So much the statement alone nearly threatens him with tears once again. ] I love you. I love you.
[ But before his tears can renew in earnest, he turns his head to find her mouth with his, to kiss her ardently. ]
Let's go home.
[ And then they can begin to heal from this, together. ]
no subject
hanging about here mourning for what cannot be changed will help no one, and were it alisaie herself in one of these cold tubes, she certainly wouldn't want prompto to be hanging about with his life on pause. so she nods, and gently nudges her nose against his own before pulling away, keeping hold of his hand to tug him along, back toward the teleporter pad. ]
Aye.