daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[Ardyn waits patiently for Prompto to regain his composure, for words to come back to him without sounding terribly shaky and strained. Even if the boy is facing away from him, he's still taking in everything he can about his body language, and focusing on every word he has in response.

He'll feel the slight pressure of Ardyn's touch on his shoulder, fingers lightly pressing into skin. A gesture of reassurance and comfort, and a moment passes before he responds.]

Don't define yourself in that way. [A "mess of hang-ups". As if this were all that made up Prompto.] You're merely human, with merits and flaws, just like the rest of us.

And though thanks isn't needed... you're welcome, all the same.

[it takes him a moment, and he feels he might fall back to uncontrollable crying at those words validating that he, too, is allowed to feel and suffer and laugh, much like anyone else--but he takes it for what it is, builds a sense of comfort around those words.]

[he simply nods, appreciative.]

...I was stupid, when I fell off my scooter. I'll...

[his wounds hurt less, and they're mostly cleared up. he rubs at his eyes again]

I'll get them checked out. [...] Uh, can I use the bathroom?

[not that he needs permission, but he feels it important to show how sorry he actually feels]

[At this rate, his wounds will only mostly be... sore. Little else. Prompto can get them checked out if he likes, but it's nothing that won't completely heal on its own.

Ardyn's taken most of the burden from him, after all. The pain settles all across him, becoming easier to notice now that Prompto has begun to calm down, but he doesn't let it show. He refuses to.]

Of course. [No need to ask for permission at all. Ardyn just nods, and he'll still be here, sitting, when Prompto returns.]

[prompto will make his exit to the bathroom, where he will wash his face with water and try to grab a hold of himself. his face burns with embarrassment at the previously shameful shouting match he had with ardyn...]

[how uncool]

[but how equally cool that ardyn would go ahead and find it in him to forgive such insolence. prompto finds himself with some mixed feelings about the whole thing (but, mostly, he's thankful).]

[when he returns from the bathroom and to where ardyn awaits, prompto takes out a folded photograph he kept inside his phone's casing. it's the mysterious selfie he had received some days back, after he had lit himself on fire with dante's help. he stretches his arm, handing it over.]

The fire... Look, we got it under control. My hair got a bit burnt, is all. I think it helped me remember something, though.

[this, the one thing he hadn't told ardyn about.]

I remember this guy sitting on a throne surrounded by flames. It was... hellish. The flames burnt hotter than anything I've felt before. The next day I found this picture in my room. I've got no idea on what to make of chill Satan other than I may have been part of a cult.

Edited 2017-06-25 01:28 (UTC)

[Ardyn takes the photo from him, peering down at the selfie. It's... mind-boggling, honestly. He's never seen anything like it.

His brows knit together, his lips press into a thin line. Just what exactly is he looking at?]

Prompto...

[The fire, that man in the background, wielding a giant sword, his head adorned with horns. Posing with Prompto? And where was this? Some sort of city?

Ardyn appears to squint down at it for a second or two more.]

Edited 2017-06-27 23:31 (UTC)

What is that on your face?

--why does everyone I show this to keeps asking me that? Shit, I think it looks a bit cool!

[of course he would, but there's a bit of given-up-laughter in his tone as he shrugs his shoulders momentarily.]

I like how that's what everyone focuses on. Chill Satan? Nope, let's rail Prompto for his life decisions. Seriously...

Well, can you blame me? It's the first thing the eye is drawn to.

[NOT THE SATAN FIGURE IN THE BACKGROUND...]

But- [He peers down at the photo again, then with his free hand taps at the picture of the horned man.] Do you remember anything else about this... person? Giant? What are we calling him?

[he makes a face at the obvious jab, but lets go whatever commentary about it soon enough in favour of looking through what this figure in the background could be about.]

[gingerly, prompto takes a seat beside ardyn--keeping some distance, still raw over the fact that he was crying like a baby a few minutes ago--and glances at the photograph once more (as if he hadn't done so before, obsessively, several nights in a row).]

Chill Satan.

[he answers casually]

[but, he sobers up]

...it was me and some other guys. I think, three? I couldn't really make them out. This guy here, he was sitting on a throne of fire, and he was attacking us. I guess we were meant to fight him? I ... got this sense of finality about it. It was really hot. Not sure what it means, though.

[Chill Satan. Ardyn scoffs a little, but listens to the rest before responding. Prompto has no reason to feel self-conscious, because the professor's eyes never leave the photograph.]

A throne of fire...? How very dramatic.

[Despite how odd it all seems, there was an air of danger about it. They were supposed to be fighting that... thing? Look at the size of the sword in its hand; not to mention that Prompto had been smiling while taking the photo?

All of this makes barely a lick of sense, but he doesn't expect the boy to really understand it any more than he does.]

So you went from fighting behemoths to fighting Chill Satan. And look at you, you're smiling.

Whatever was happening at the time, you were very brave, weren't you?

[he stretches his legs, ankle over ankle, and considers this whole tale about being brave. he really doesn't know. he's looked at the selfie and felt a cringe-worthy recognition of how he's faking the cheer, like that's a forced smile of his. he knows it because he displays it a lot in front of the mirror when he's having pep talks with himself after a shower.]

[and he also looks older. it feels like he's older.]

Dunno, maybe I was? A monster hunter of sorts.

Has a nice ring to it.

[he settles for the non-committal response.]

Does this ring any bells? ... With your memories, I mean.

[Forced smile or not, Ardyn finds it impressive. There are very few who would smile with that devil-like being at their backs, flames licking at their heels. Ardyn is pretty certain that he wouldn't be smiling at all.]

A monster hunter... it's possible. I do remember a handful of monsters, after all, and whatever world we came from must've been brimming with them.

[At least, one can make that rather safe assumption.

Ardyn shakes his head at the last question, and opts to hand the photograph back to Prompto. His expression still one of faint confusion, brows knitted softly together.]

I don't, which is a shame. [bc this thread was forever ago and let's make this a july regain later] If I remember anything, however, I'll be sure to let you know. Chill Satan, I imagine, is rather a difficult man to forget.

Yeah.

[he rubs carefully at his nose, aware of his half-bruises and cuts at this point. he glances over at ardyn, in a bit of awe, now that it hits him that the man did in fact manage to heal his wounds.]

[what kind of magic is that?]

[it's insane]

[turning to look back at his hands on his lap, prompto opens and closes them into fists. could he also have magic? to heal? to fight monsters?]

...I wonder what kind of world it was. If it ... really is 'home,' so to speak.

[He just lifts his brow at Prompto ever so slightly at that look. Yes, he had healed his wounds -- and yes, the pain had been a bit more than what he was used to feeling, but at least now it begins to fade, ever so slowly. He still makes a point not to show it on his features.

He only answers Prompto's spoken statement.]

It doesn't much feel like home right now, does it? To me, if feels like nothing more than a faraway world, full of things we don't quite understand.

It would be strange, I think, to start thinking of it as "home" someday. Isn't this place our home? This... reality, or whatever it is we're calling it?

I guess you're right. Doesn't really feel much like anywhere I'm familiar with.

[it's an odd notion, but prompto continues to entertain it for some reason]

...but, if it were.

[here he rubs his hands together, in some show of nerves, but manages to thread his fingers together to keep himself from fidgeting much longer.]

Maybe it's a lot better than what it is now? I mean, if magic... exists. That's crazy to think about, but also kind of cool.

[also, maybe his shitty childhood wasn't shitty there??]

[Ardyn's not sure how to take that, honestly. It's not a thought he'd even stopped to consider.

He sounds skeptical, rightfully so.]

Would it really be better? Choosing to live in one world rather than the one you were born in, well, that's- [foolish] -excessively bold, isn't it?

...After all, you'd have people who would miss you.

If it means understanding something that seems to be a big part of myself... Why not? No matter what comes of it...

[this is a brave statement from prompto. but it's equally foolish, and he realises it so. which is why his response is more defensive than anything else. still, regardless, he's feeding on curiosity more than anything else.]

[he offers an easy-going statement]

Besides, if I got injured then I'd probably worry people less.

No matter what comes of it. [He seems to mutter the words, echoing them to himself. Words that one could grow to regret; and yet, Ardyn can't say anything. He feels similarly about trying to understand.]

What makes you so sure of that?

Because, clearly, I'm an expert monster hunter and I'd know how to take care of myself!

[he nods]

And it's likely that maybe I could use magic, too!

[he wants to believe]

You may not be a monster hunter in this life, Prompto, but you've proven that you can take care of yourself. [Most...of the time.]

What sort of magic do you think you would've used?

[Believe, Prompto....]

Dunno.

...maybe like, casting elemental attacks. Like a wall of fire?

[he knows a jab when he sees one so he decides not to press that further...]

[It's not that big of a jab, come on now.]

It would've been difficult for you to fight Chill Satan, then. Unless the saying of fighting fire with fire literally applies in this sense.

Well, water, too, maybe.

[he shrugs, thinking back on all the JRPGS he likes playing.]

[aaahhh now he wants to play...]

In any case... the plot just gets weirder and weirder. Honestly, not what I wanted when I said I also wanted memories back. They're more terrifying than anything else.

A shame it seems like we don't have a choice but to recall them at this point. They may be frightening, but I'd rather be disconcerted than oblivious, wouldn't you?

Fair enough.

[he concedes that point. prompto rolls his wrists, particularly the one that got most of the brunt of his fall, but he manages to roll them with ease because of the halfway healing that ardyn managed to do over him. even if the topic of conversation pushed towards something else entirely, prompto's still a little--a lot--embarrassed about how he reacted, even though he knows full well that ardyn would never hold it against him.]

[the slight pang of guilt and regret is on the tip of his tongue, and although he already apologised...]

...I didn't mean anything bad by saying that you aren't my dad. I know it sounded wrong, [his voice is small, his head turned to the side, as if this embarrasses him; admitting anything at all] and I know you've been looking after me quite a bit. I don't ... hate that you're doing so.

I just have a hard time knowing what being treated like this by an adult outside school is like.

RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

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