daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[He shrugs a little, not terribly bothered by his own admittance of having terrible sleeping habits.]

It isn't as bad as it sounds. Maybe it's just the way I was made; sleep is fleeting, but I can still function. It's more of a blessing than it is a curse.

[Another sip of his coffee, then he holds the mug on his lap, fingers lacing around the ceramic to feel the warmth seep through.]

Especially for a mind that's been thinking too much for its own good. All this business with Retrospec and memories leaves me wide-awake at 3 AM fairly often.

I feel bad that I don't really know what that's like...

[is he lucky? or just immune to this bullshit that's been going on. in fact, he's just fortunate that he is easily distracted from something hanging over their heads like this with his day to day activities.]

Y'shouldn't think yourself to exhaustion over it, I think.

I should only hope that you never have to experience it, Prompto.

[He raises one hand to make a dismissive motion. From down one hallway, a faint jingling can be heard. Another cat, a tortoiseshell, saunters in, tail up and curious as to what's going on. Ardyn doesn't seem to pay it any heed for now, too used to the felines skulking around his house at night.]

But I'm not trying to garner pity from you. It's my decision to mull over strange memories; apparently, I'm -- was -- a healer. [He laughs.] Can you even imagine?

[but prompto notices! and upon doing so, he's leaning on his side (to not disturb shadow) and his arms spread over the couch's edge. glass down on the floor, he clicks his fingers in hopes of getting the tortoiseshell cat's attention. that cute jingling...!? rufus has perked up, raising his head to peer at the cat, and prompto hopes to be blessed with a sniff or two from the new cat...]

[he's listening to ardyn though, and pulls a full-stop at the admission of a second memory. what's going on?]

A healer?

[peels away the layer of video games, and religious 'healer' leaders, and lands himself on a more normal idea of: doctor]

I... Like a doctor, right?

[You don't have to pull away the video game layer, Prompto, it's exactly that.]

No, not a medical doctor. A healer. The sort with a magical touch, the kind that cures people suffering from an unfathomable plague.

[Said as casually as if he's talking about the weather. But he's had time to linger on it, so its impact -- while still very confusing and strange -- has lost its oomph by now.

The tortoiseshell cat (named Morla) seems interested in Prompto enough to walk over to him, sniffing at his fingertips, but remaining just out of reach to be petted properly. Ardyn tries not to look too amused at the sight. It's such a cat thing to do.]

[he wiggles his fingers, unable to reach morla... he still tries, despite looking away and up at ardyn. rufus has closed the space between his nose and the cat, snifing and huffing at the ket in a non-threatening way.]

Maybe this is your past life? You know, reincarnation and stuff.

[a tilt of his head and he sits back up, sinking into the couch's cushions]

You're generally good at looking after others though, so it's not that crazy to consider.

[he's got a simple way of looking at this]

[Morla just... continues to sniff at Prompto's fingers, sitting down (still out of reach), swishing her tail. She then sniffs at Rufus as the puppy draws closer, but not bothered enough to do anything about it.

Ardyn arches a brow.]

I'm not actually in the habit of looking after many. These cats have been the recent exception to the rule, but nothing else.

[It says something for Ardyn that he doesn't consider anything else he does as actually "going out of the way" to help.]

Not to mention you're rather quick to adhere to the reincarnation theory. That was just a superfluous idea many people were tossing around, for the lack of a better explanation.

Well, I meant... people, y'know. [uh]

[feels awkward suddenly, so he just scratches at the back of his head]

I guess I don't really have a good theory for it, and it's the only one that seems even remotely possible. Whatever the case, I can't come up with a good answer for it.

What kinda thing did you see in your memory?

[He wraps his fingers around his mug again, considering. His tone, while as casual as before, seems to have the smallest tinge of seriousness to it now.]

People who were sick. People who were dying. [At least, he thinks they were. How could they not have been, enveloped in that kind of suffering?] Men, women, children. Rich and poor, young and old. I remember-

[He reaches out a hand, idly in the air.] -healing them with touch, traveling around the world to do so. Taking their suffering from them, so that I could carry it instead.

[that's so cult-y?!]

[prompto can't help the surprised expression on his face]

Wuoh... That's something else. So, forget just reincarnation. How about a parallel universe? You know, like the Mandela Effect.

[you've come to the right man; prompto knows enough video games and sci-fi movies and conspiracy theories to feed into these ideas as Normal, and not crazy at all.]

[It is cult-y sounding, and Ardyn is more than aware of this. In fact, it'd be a bit comical if it didn't feel so real.

He huffs out what might be an amused-sounding scoff.]

I think you've been playing too many video games, Prompto.

[Calling him out on it! But-] If there is another me out there, going around healing people from a mysterious disease, then I'd like to meet him. He leads a far more interesting life than I do, and I have too many questions that need answered.

[prompto has the dignity of looking slightly ashamed at the accusation of playing too many videos games, a quiet eheh... and a look to the side, (because it's true; he somehow finds the time for this superfluous addiction)]

[but he takes it in stride, because ardyn is going along with his theory even though it isn't much of one]

[his eyes flicker back to ardyn, on a more serious note]

Considering this hypothetical scenario, do you think he also is getting flashes of your life? [a pause, because he doesn't feel comfortable saying more... but, the general growing closer to the other over the past several weeks push him onwards] He must think it's nice. Interesting in its own right.

[prompto doesn't want ardyn to sell himself short?!]

[Meanwhile, Morla moves to the middle of the living room and decides it's as good of a place as any to lie down. Ardyn seems to give a hum of consideration at Prompto's musings.

He's not so much selling himself short, he simply cannot imagine how a man that goes around healing the sick with magic can possibly be enamored with that of a law professor's life.]

Interesting in a novel sort of way, maybe. I can at least take comfort in the fact that he's probably just as lost as I am.

[normalcy can be a thing those in magical settings crave for]

[you could ask the main villain in the video game that came out last november, eh]

I mean... Yeah? I guess it does go without saying. To have implanted sort of memories...

[rufus settles back down, and erebus twists so that his belly is up and for prompto to scritchscratch at. which he does. his eyes, instead, focus on morla]

There may not be a definitive answer, but... I think you're pretty great, sir.

[um]

[That video game main villain would probably never admit it out loud, but that mundane, normal life of a law professor? He'd likely prefer it a million times more to an eternal life of apathy and being a monster.

But, you know, just sayin'.

Still, Ardyn looks at Prompto, then huffs out a light laugh.]

Well, thank you, Prompto. How could I not appreciate such high praise? I'll not have you misunderstand, though. I'm happy with my life as it is now. It's just difficult not to be curious, as I'm sure you would understand.

[prompto grows embarrassed. yikes.]

It's nothing!

[that sounded more huffy than intended...]

I get it, though. It's like reading astrology or taking a personality test and thinking, that's totally me. I wonder what it'd be like if I acted slightly different. [??? probably sleepy babble]

I guess it just sucks that these things are happening and we don't know why?

[Sleepy babble or not, Ardyn understands the gist of what Prompto's getting at.]

That's the sticking point for everyone, yes. [A beat.] Have you heard that some people have even undergone physical changes lately?

[all of a sudden, prompto's massively interested]

What? Like what kinda things? How, even?!

[this is sounding more and more like a vidya and he digs it]

Eye color has changed. Marks on the skin that weren't there before, that sort of thing.

[He pauses long enough to take another sip of coffee.] There may be more instances that I'm not aware of.

[prompto, don't be selfish and say you want these things to happen to you too...]

[he actually manages to keep himself from doing so, even if his expression tells a different story.]

I can't imagine how terrifying it must be.

[okay he's a little wee bit bitter]

[When there's no response, Ardyn almost squints in Prompto's direction.

Instead, one more long drink of his coffee. He's already almost reached the bottom of the mug.]

You're hoping something like that happens to you, aren't you?

[the burst of passion about the topic is almost immediate]

What if I have elven ears?!

[even erebus shakes his head to be wtf at this]

Or have a memory of a special skill like being able to do magic or something... Oh! Maybe flying!

[too much vidya]

[oh my god you almost startled Ardyn, calm down boy]

You-

[Okay, he has to openly laugh at Prompto's enthusiasm.]

You want elven ears. [Ha.] Well, you'd certainly stand out, I can promise you that. Though even you must admit it'd be a little... disconcerting?

[this is the first time he makes ardyn laugh proper...!?]

[it catches him off-guard momentarily, but he quickly recovers and continues]

It'd be! But consider the benefits! [wait for it] Super hearing! Or just a really cool look.

RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

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one day ill respond to the right tag

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