daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[There's a brief pause before the next text comes through. There's that eking of kindness again, the sort that Ardyn can't quite detach from himself even if he really tried. (Well. Perhaps not for awhile yet, at least.) He kind of feels sorry for him.]

I can pick these items up for you after my class is finished. Would you like for me to drop them off where you are?

[There was no harm on checking up on an ailing not!student, after all.]

[this catches prompto by surprised]

i couldn't possibly want to take up your time??? fhfh

I don't have anything better to do after my class. It's hardly an inconvenience to me.

Send me your location, and I'll be there as soon as I'm able.

[prompto will lament sharing his location with ardyn when certain regains happen. for now, he's none the wiser, even if he hesitates before forwarding his MAPS location with the professor in question.]

the lobby door never locks so.. uh 8th floor the last apartment in the hall 8-F
door's unlocked

[THESE SAFETY MEASURES...]

[it might be a little awkward. suddenly his stomach hurts more because he's dreading this ? ? ???]

[when ardyn arrives, whenever that may be, he'll find himself in a surprisingly well-kept apartment building (if not for the abysmal security), and the hallway of the 8th floor smells nice, is clean, and some of the doors have potted flowers or other cutesy decorations outside the doors. prompto's has an ironic and slightly unoriginal plaque on the middle of the door. it'll open easily, giving way to a small apartment. it's well-kept, by all imaginable standards. the balcony door in the kitchen is open, allowing a cold draft of air inside; the reason it's open is to allow clothes to hang to dry across the kitchen and onto the building blocking the view. clearly, the kitchen doesn't see much use, neat and empty as it is. instead, photography supplies and books from his lectures litter the counters.]

[just on the other side is prompto's bedroom, separated by no door at all. the wall is covered by a collage of photographs and a bookshelf shares its space with both books, comics, and an old television screen, and a closet at the very end. it is clear prompto spends most of his time here; if not on his bed on his computer, then at the desk in the corner. the floor in the bedroom area is a mess of books and clothes and shoes previously discarded there. the bathroom/storage room is, most likely, the door by the entrance.]

[where is prompto, though?]

[probably bathroom]

[Ardyn tells himself to refrain on making a remark about the very... lax security they have in this apartment building, but if Prompto had been visible when he entered, he wouldn't have been able to help himself.

As it stands, he's nowhere to currently be seen, and Ardyn takes a moment to gaze around at his surroundings. It's neater than he had expected from a college student, and he takes in the feeling of a cool draft blowing in nearby. The sight of photos collaged together in the distance (is that his bedroom with no door?) isn't terribly surprising, either.

While it's very tempting to just meander around such a place with so much personality, Ardyn's not dismissive of personal space to do such a thing, even if he was invited. And so, after closing the door behind him, he kind of hovers near the entryway and calls out:]

Mr. Argentum? I come bearing tea and club soda.

[Which is indicated by the plastic bag he's carrying, with the items within. It rustles lightly with each movement.]

[there's an audible shit coming from the closed door in the entryway, and a lot of hurried shuffling around. it's really not what it seems or sounds like!]

[a click and a door opening later, prompto walks out of the bathroom with a blank expression--face and hair damp (no usual chocobo-do...). he covers his face with the back of his hand, and greets the professor with lesser cheer than is usual]

Uh, hi, thank you.

[he makes his way towards the kitchen--a real journey, this one--and sheepishly starts cleaning up some space.]

Sorry... uh, [this is the first time an adult is in his dumb flat and he feels the judgement] sometimes I feel like, throwing up... when it hurts a lot.

[which is why he continues to cover his general mouth area]

[Ardyn lacks any sadism that he might have carried with him in spades in another lifetime; because of that, Prompto's obvious state of feeling like crap isn't met with churlish amusement, but rather a flicker of concern manifesting in his expression. He knits his brows together. This was quite a difference from the usual energetic Prompto that he's used to seeing.

His eyes follow him into the kitchen, and Ardyn takes a few steps further into the apartment.]

Is it that bad? [The tea, then, might provide little more than comfort in warmth, smell, and flavor, and he wonders how effective it might be in actually easing the pain. But every little bit helps, and so Ardyn follows up his question with an offer:]

Shall I make you a cup of-- well, whichever it is you'd prefer? I brought all three. You should lie down if you can.

[boy you're a wreck right now]

[prompto just shrugs at the question. he's good when he's got his medicine, something he foolishly forgot to stock up on. he should probably just ask lunafreya for a prescription under her name and be done with it.]

[stepping around the professor, prompto makes a feeble attempt to remove some of his... laundry... from being in the way... why didn't he think this was gonna be embarrassing as it was?]

Mixing all of them's no good, right? --just the ginger one, I guess.

[and, with one arm layered with damp clothes, he tries to find a kettle in one of the lower cupboards. it's like he never stops ahhh]

[Will his politeness never end? It's almost admirable, if not for the fact that his not!student looks rather pathetic with laundry slung over his arm, weakly going through cupboards for a kettle. It's like watching a kicked puppy, and it really presses all of the right sympathy buttons for the law professor.

Ardyn takes it upon himself to move further into the kitchen, close enough to put a hand on Prompto's shoulder.]

Prompto. Sit down. It's just tea, you realize. I could make it with my eyes closed, and you look like you can barely function as it is.

And don't worry about moving your laundry about for my sake. A little mess doesn't offend my delicate sensibilities.

Uh...

[having a dumb moment, because ardyn did just use his teacher voice--and prompto feels both foolish and embarrassed. don't recognise his clothes as an issue!!]

[this only means that he leaves the ones he had picked off to the side, stops searching for a kettle, and makes his way to get his desk chair to sit himself by the kitchen counter]

Thank you, sir.

[immediately he's shifting and keeping his hands over the side of his front.]

...did Noct show up at all?

[Now that Prompto is doing as he's told and taking it easy, Ardyn sets the plastic bag on the nearby kitchen counter and crouches down to continue searching in the cupboards for a kettle. There's the occasional sound of things clanging, but overall Ardyn is being careful not to move anything past where he found it, or make too much noise.]

He did. And he only almost fell asleep this time.

[Aha. The kettle. He takes it out and closes the cupboard door, straightening to his feet. He moves to the sink to fill it up with water.]

Imagine that.

[prompto's relaxing to the point where he's lounging a bit on the chair, bouncing his feet slightly against the floor]

Noct's pretty smart. He just... doesn't wanna do things.

[insert tragic au backstory]

[nah, let's not excuse the shitlord]

...glad he showed though. [nods to himself; he can't control what his friend does, but he wants noctis to excel, always.] Was that your only class of the day?

[sure is talkative still though]

[Kettle filled up with water, Ardyn turns off the faucet and moves over to the stove. He flips it on and places the kettle over one of the burners. Now it's just a matter of waiting.]

Yes. He's actually quite intelligent. He's just lazy.

[Which is basically what Prompto just said, just harsher. It perhaps might not be fair, given that Ardyn does not know of this tragic au backstory or whatever, but-- well. He's always been a little tougher on Noct, a little more critical. He wants to see the boy succeed, and if there's a nagging something there that makes Ardyn want to pick on him more than the rest of his class, he usually does keep it withheld. Usually.

When it does rear its ugly head, it's only out of frustration because he knows Noctis can do well if he only bloody applied himself.]

That's right, just the one lecture. [He moves to the plastic bag now, unearthing a box of the ginger tea.] I'm as free as a bird, at least until I return to my gilded cage of grading when I'm back home. Where do you keep your mugs, Prompto?

Cupboard over the sink.

[he has three cups! all from a matching set. college life, mothertrucker.]

[on the one hand, prompto is a bit sad he missed today's lecture. he learns quite a bit, even if he's basically sneaking in for free. the metaphor--or however ardyn tried to dramatise his life (lol)--makes prompto smile.]

Ah, so this is like a welcome rest for you! I was already thinking maybe I kinda forced you to come. Would've been awkward. --did you come by foot?

[He opens the cupboard above him, and... three cups. He's half expecting a tumbleweed to burst out at the same time.

Still, he grabs one, then readies one of the tea bags inside the mug. The kettle is still simmering for now. He laughs lightly.]

You didn't coerce me. [Definition time!] You didn't threaten me, or intimidate me, to act in an involuntary manner. No, I offered to bring you your tea, and so here I am. And I drove. It was easier that way, since I had to stop by the the store first.

[prompto slumps further on his chair... not only did the professor drive here, but also stopped by the store. this was clearly implied in their earlier exchange, but prompto had somehow not connected the dots on the amount of effort and going around that this would imply.]

[he feels like he owes ardyn big time]

Uh...

[he's quite obviously not used to adults pulling nice stunts on him]

I mean, thank you. I'm sure this'll help me out for a while.

[he peers over the counter, his eyes scanning over the surface, like he wants to not be overtly obvious of his self-inflicted embarrassment.]

[And Ardyn, only the other hand, feels as if the gesture was nothing, really. It's so evident in everything about the man -- his casual air, the way that he moves with ease around an apartment that isn't even his. It's almost as if the gesture of kindness isn't even worth mulling over.]

You're welcome. [And his response is plain.

The kettle begins to whistle, lightly at first. Then it crescendos, prompting Ardyn to remove it from its burner. He flips off the stove.]

Tell me if I'm prying, Prompto, but might I ask what's the issue with your stomach?

[prompto's eyes follow from atop the surface of the counter, and he blanches at the question. it's not necessarily a bad thing--or an odd thing to be asked. he's not very keen to share his health history with just about anyone, but the man did come all the way here to check up on him and help him out with some homemade remedies.]

[so he just... quietly groans and leans back on the chair, hesitating before answering, his biggest sin...]

Well, you see, the thing is...

[stalling...]

I'm, uh, what some would call lactose intolerant...

[Aaaand Ardyn arches a brow, even as he's pouring in the hot water and letting the tea steep for now. He turns his head to look at Prompto, tone vacillating between amusement and bafflement.]

All this because you... drank a glass of milk? Hm?

[He's not trying to tease, really. (Maybe.) But at least it's clear he doesn't sound particularly disapproving, one way or another.]

More like pizza for dinner.

[he knows he did a foolish thing, but sometimes he's a foolish guy who forgets that he doesn't actually have extra capsules of his medicine elsewhere. sure, he had taken two capsules before he ate pizza last night.]

[but his breakfast...]

[he suffers for being all over the place sometimes.]

...and breakfast.

[Prompto...]

Prompto...

[He picks up the mug when he's done, and puts the kettle back on the stove to let it cool. Then Ardyn finally makes his way to where the young man is seated, offering him the tea.]

So you're telling me that your mortal enemy was nothing more than an entire pizza? You should be more mindful.

[oh! sits up straighter at the proffered cup, careful to not spill anything and blow on it for a bit... trying to think of an intelligent comeback]

[nope]

When you say it that way it does sound kinda stupid.

[kinda. he's giving himself the benefit of the doubt!]

It was just so hard to resist... [takes a short sip, testing how hot it is]

[Ardyn will take it upon himself to settle into a chair across from Prompto. He won't overstay his welcome, but he won't stay on his feet when entertaining a conversation, either.]

Then think of how you're feeling now, the next time you hear the siren song of a pizza. You don't want to spend more time than necessary bowing down to the porcelain god, do you?

[He hums in amusement at his own words.]

How's the tea? Careful not to burn your tongue.

It was an honest mistake!

[who in their right mind is really awake for breakfast time? --best not to ask that outloud, prompto knows he's rightfully in the wrong here.]

[now, he takes another sip of his tea, a more meaningful one, tasting the ginger in his tongue, as ardyn takes a seat across from him. prompto pulls his feet under his chair, linked at the ankles, a practiced motion. the tea's hot, but he can handle it. does end up making a face at the slightly spicy flavour. (okay, he totally burnt his tongue a bit.)]

It's--alright. Never had ginger tea before though. [he stares at the liquid, then back at ardyn] I'll make sure I have my medicine next time before I decide to voluntarily eat something that'll make me sick. Thank you, sir.

[Ardyn leans an elbow on the surface before him, gesturing at the mug with his hand. There's a glimmer of something akin to amusement in his eyes, more casual than what he exudes when he's in class, teaching.]

"Alright". Alright is just a polite way of saying you're not sure if you like it. I can hardly blame you; ginger is something of an acquired taste for some.

And you can thank me by being more careful next time. Nothing more, nothing less.

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