daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

The behemoth.

[He leads him down the stairs and into the living room, a place which Prompto should find very familiar with by now. He's more than free to flop onto the couch, as long as Prompto is willing to move one of his cats out of the way.]

I do have an idea; I recalled it myself, remember? [Though he hadn't been stalking it in the fog. His recollection was much more... generalized.]

Why were you going after it in the mist?

[prompto does spot the cat, but instead of moving it, he grabs the cat in his arms, sits himself down, and starts rubbing and scratching at the top of its head, blankets around him and the cat. sweet kitty, scaring away all of prompto's fears...]

[rufus decides to settle by his feet, protective of the boy in his current frazzled state]

Behemoth...

[he repeats the name, like it's the scariest thing he'll ever see]

I'm, I'm not actually sure! I think it may have had something to do with the chocobos. Why would I even chase after it anyway? I'm not that crazy!

[Erebus gives a half-hearted chirping noise when he's picked up, but otherwise doesn't seem to mind. He begins to purr as Prompto scratches his head, quite content to indulge in the sudden attention.]

That's a good question. [He refrains from saying, however, that he's not terribly surprised. Prompto is nothing but good intentions, but he has a way of finding himself in questionable situations. Somehow, Ardyn believes his past self might've been the same way.]

Remember we spoke of animals that might prey on chocobos? Something large? Do you think...?

[He sits on the other side of the couch, looking at the young man questioningly.]

[prompto gasps at ardyn's set of questions and what they imply, almost as if he had been intrigued by them as if the older man had been telling him a story. at least he's holding erebus who works as a good buffer for what would have been prompto's physical reaction (jumping off the couch)]

[he must be nice to the good cats]

No way! So I was trying to save the chocobos by potentially getting myself killed?!

[this is his logical conclusion]

[A gesture with both hands, as if to say, "Well, don't ask me."]

Don't you think you'd be brave enough to save a chocobo in dire need? Maybe it inspired some sort of unfaltering courage within you.

[Scratching at the stubble on his chin.]

Who's to say what the whole of your experiences might have been? Maybe you ventured into danger almost daily, and while having enough sense to still be fearful of the behemoth, it wasn't enough to stop whatever you were trying to achieve.

Like... some hero in a video game.

[he mutters to himself, taking in what ardyn is saying but not really letting it sink in. right now, prompto's immensely taken in by the idea that he has a hallucinomemory, or whatever they're calling it.]

Damn.

[he's impressed at himself]

I still felt pretty scared though, so I dunno about the unfaltering courage bit. Y'know what would be neat? If I had a picture of the behemoth... That thing was huge!

[A small hum of amusement. A hero from a video game, how silly.] Something like that.

[In any case, Prompto should be impressed at himself. A behemoth is a terrifying monster; even Ardyn will admit to that much, if pressed.]

You may not have a picture, but you can draw it from your memory if you're artistically inclined. Show it around. See if anyone else remembers such a creature.

I'm not really great at sketches, but I could ask someone who is and describe it for them. Maybe.

[he hugs the blankets closer onto himself and busies himself with brushing erebus' fur]

Do you think other people might think it familiar?

Maybe.

[A shrug.]

I told you Freya remembered behemoths, I think. Hers were different, but the general idea was the same. There may be others who are just waiting for something to spark that memory for them.

[he mulls over this, a blanket-covered hand on his chin as he thinks and considers.]

Maybe these are like... normal fauna. [...oh shit. looks back up at ardyn] You think this is from a whole different timeline?!

Than Freya's? [He blinks at Prompto as the revelation dawns on the boy.] I think it may be.

She explained a few other things to me; described monsters and the like. It didn't spark recognition, nor a memory.

Not to mention she feels as if the chocobos here don't look correct. They appear fine to me.

[this feels like coming up with a story rather than solving up a mystery. it frustrates prompto quite a bit.]

They seem fine to me too. Did she say why they don't look correct? There could be different... chocobo subspecies, y'know.

She said they're look "more domestic" here. Whatever that's supposed to mean. I may ask next time.

[...!]

Just like horses!

There's wild horses, and domesticated ones! Wild cats, and domesticated ones!

[LOOK! he thinks he's on to something!!]

[He might be?! Ardyn wouldn't have any reason to know better.]

A wild chocobo. It's possible. With different temperaments, maybe, and harder to tame.

[Just making stuff up at this point, basically.]

--Alison mentioned something about studying chocobos in the wild here in Recolle. But she didn't say anything about them being super different. Maybe they're the domesticated kind...

But, googling chocobos always gives out the same image result, like the ones we have here.

[weird]

It's possible that these "wild" chocobos only existed in Freya's world. That Recolle itself hasn't been graced with them just yet.

[a big sigh, as he stands up, cat in his arms, still covered in the blankets]

Grasping at straws sucks.

Oh-- before I forget, can I sleep here tonight? I'm maybe a bit scared of that behemoth. Not that I am, but, I could have another nightmare-memory.

Of course. And if you have another nightmare-memory, I'll not be far.

[He... motions at his blankets, though.]

Those... are my sheets, however. From my bed. I'll be needing them back.

[prompto seems to realise, belatedly, that he's still holding the blankets, and so quickly passes them on over to ardyn]

Sorry, didn't even realise I brought them down...

[an abashed giggle... and then he's grabbing at his chocobo print shorts--his pjs--as if the reveal now leaves him embarrassed at the exposure of his pale legs. nights are hella warm, okay!]

...could you also give me a ride to my place tomorrow?

[Ardyn takes the blankets, not minding that they're all wrinkled up in a few spots now. He folds them messily over his arms.]

No need to worry. You must've been quite startled, so I can't blame you.

[He's not judgin those pasty legs either]

Of course. Early in the morning, or do you plan on sleeping in?

I think I could do with sleeping in.

[his dog is here anyway, and he has no responsibilities, other than hiding his pasty legs from the rest of the world, least he blinds them. he flomps down onto the couch and makes himself comfortable.]

You got anything going on tomorrow anyway?

Just wondering.

[plz get him blankets..]

I am as free as a bird, as the saying goes.

[But yes, he will get him blankets for those legs of his. Those pasty, pasty legs.

He'll eventually disappear to bring back two fluffy blankets for him. He lightly tosses them in his direction.]

So sleep in as much as you like.

[and prompto hides underneath them fluffy blankets, a cinnamon roll]

Alright! Can there also be waffles in the morning? Fluffy, with syrup...

[you can tell that from the moment that ardyn went to get the blankets to him returning, prompto began dozing off. rufus, too, gets up on the couch and leans heavily against the boy under the covers]

My, my. Aren't we high-maintenance.

[He's kidding, naturally. It's obvious that the boy is right on the verge of falling asleep, and so Ardyn just grins with the faintest arch of a brow.]

Get some rest, and we'll talk about breakfast in the morning. Until then, good night, Prompto.

[Only seconds later, the light switch will be flipped off, though Ardyn makes it a point to leave the kitchen lights on, so that there is a bit of illumination in the living room. Enough to get by if for some reason he needs to wake up in the middle of the night, and not stumble around in the dark.

For now, Ardyn retires, to be seen again later in the morning, when the sun has risen properly. Go to sleep, chocobo child.]

RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

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