daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[He's greeted by a zombie at his door-- or rather, it looks to be Prompto. He peers over the top of his laptop, just in time to see the young man fall to the ground in a somewhat theatrical matter. Ardyn would be more concerned if not for the fact that he can tell when people are being overly dramatic, versus when they really do need help. He knows that the young man is still recovering from his sickness, but certainly nothing worrisome enough to be lying down on his floor.

He assumes, then, that something else is the matter. He continues typing.]

Something the matter, Prompto? You should've stayed home today if you're still struggling.

[Let him just... finish this... email. And then he can give him proper attention.]

I'm done f'the day...

[give me your attention NOW]

[there's groaning sounds from below, and prompto's positively writhing, turning around obnoxiously on the floor, as if he were unable to keep still]

...I was just ........

[silence, but for the typing]

--wondering 'bout somethin'.

[Is this what it's like to be a dad? This must be what it's like to be a dad. To have someone wriggling around on the floor, trying to get your attention, when you have the work of an adult to do. The typing does pause briefly, as Ardyn leans a little in his seat to catch a glance at Prompto. Still on the floor. Occasionally turning about.

Ardyn scratches at his chin, then concedes with a:]

And what is it you're wondering about? Do tell me.

[he lies flat on his back when ardyn concedes (YUS, IT WORKED), takes a deep breath, realizes he didn't rehearse what he wanted to say, and instead remains silent]

Uhm... [slightly high-pitched]

How do I know if someone's flirtin' with me?

[he wants to die.]

[He arches a brow as he waits for a response. For a moment he thinks about returning to his email until Prompto has his thoughts put together, but then he speaks.

Thus the lifted brow goes nowhere, but he does settle against the back of his chair.]

Well... if you have an inkling someone is, then they probably are. Such things are not often very subtle.

[Or if it is, it's a poor job of flirting, he thinks. Still, he continues.]

They're probably sending compliments your way, smile and look quite often in your direction, say things that imply they want to spend more time with you. In an... amorous sort of way.

[Plainly:] Who's flirting with you?

Edited 2017-09-12 17:56 (UTC)

[for as sick as he is and feels, prompto scrambles to his feet quite quickly. he goes around the table and then sits down on the floor beside ardyn, tapping away at his phone.]

I don't think you've talked to them before...

[sorry about your ship]

Okay, here. Look.

[he raises his phone, handing it over. screencaps...]

So, what's with this? Am I reading into it?

[Shh, if he has a shipping soul, no one will know it...

He's surprised at the sudden burst of energy, and blinks a couple of times as he takes the phone. As of now, the email he was going to write is definitely, completely forgotten.

Ardyn reads the text, then peers over at Prompto, giving him a look.]

This is definitely flirting. Blatantly, too. He probably wants to sleep with you, as well.

[You know, casual drop of that info right there. But it's still not whose text he was expecting to see.]

[anxious energy as he awaits the verdict, and then shocked silence. he looks up, staring right back at ardyn in disbelief.]

What, seriously? Where did you even get that idea from?

[there's a reason prompto came to ask about how to decipher flirting]

Prompto. He's asking to kidnap you for the night. If that's not an implication, then I don't know what else to think.

[He looks at him like really.]

I could be wrong, but based on my own experiences, this would definitely qualify as someone who's at least superficially interested in you. Beyond that, well... one cannot tell from a single text.

...weird.

[he quiets down, taking his phone back. his face burns and he's keeping his gaze low, to avoid ardyn's look that this somehow should be obvious to him. how embarrassing.]

[he keeps on tapping]

Can y'check all my conversations?

[he's feeling hilarious in a panic-y way]

Of course.

[In normal circumstances he'd laugh at Prompto's lack of experience with these matters, to the point where a bit of audacious flirting causes him to blush. But he doesn't want to embarrass him for the sake of embarrassment, so his response is measured. He nods.]

Show them to me.

[He's still wondering if there's a certain one nestled in there, somewhere.]

[prompto hesitates in silence for a very long time, seemingly looking down at one conversation... before he decides to hand it over to ardyn. the thread is one with noctis. it includes also the private thread he and dante had for a moment.]

[he seems oh so interested on the carpet, pinching at the thick threads, after handing the phone for ardyn to read.]

We're just jokin' around. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea.

[Ardyn waits patiently for Prompto to give him the phone. He scrolls through the conversation, though nothing warrants anything like... concern, which is what Prompto seems to be implying?

He hands it back.]

...Would it be so bad if he was flirting with you?

[prompto stays quiet at the question, doesn't even lift his hand to grab the phone back. doesn't realize that ardyn is trying to hand it back, even.]

[there's a lot of thinking going--but most of the thinking has nothing to do with prompto picturing him in a relationship with noctis, or yoon-sung, or any other guy for the matter. it's more about the essence of how it's just frightening and weird (it's gotta be, right?), at all these insinuations of guys hitting on him.]

[why are guys hitting on him?]

[thus comes the petulant murmur, turning his head slightly to the side, and away;] It's weird.

[The phone is still being held out, expecting for Prompto to take it, but he's met instead with the other not even lifting his gaze to meet his own. And so he places the phone down gently on his desk, trying to parse out the mystery of what's going through his mind.

It's weird, he says. Which part, was the question, and Ardyn takes a not-quite stab in the dark.]

That they would be attracted to you, or... something else?

[he stumbles on his words, struggles to put his thoughts onto words. instead, he uses his hands to express his frustration, falling back so he's pressed against the wall instead, slumped over.]

It's just that... they're guys.

I...

[it scares him, not because he dislikes or has anything against homosexuality, but because of what he fears will come of admitting that he likes men, or admitting any sort of behavior that goes against the norm.]

[Ardyn frowns at all this reaction, eyes never leaving Prompto. The flicker of hesitation isn't surprising, he supposes -- that which is a shame unto itself. He knows exactly why Prompto would be scared to admit to any of it.]

And which part of that are you fearful of, Prompto? I certainly wouldn't judge you for showing interest in any of them; that would make me something of a hypocrite.

[He's bisexual, didn't you know, Prompto...]

[prompto's slouching is evolving as the seconds tick by. he's got his feet up against the drawers of ardyn's table, and this really can't be comfortable. he's still a sick boy.]

Wait, explain. Hypocrite?

[Ardyn doesn't mind him kicking his feet up. He leans an elbow onto his desk, lifting a brow. He decides to be plain about it.]

I've dated men in the past. That's what I mean by that.

[his voice is so loud when he ultimately shouts out:]

WHAT?!

[PROMPTO CALM DOWN

You almost startled him, good god]

I didn't realize that would be so surprising to you.

But you're with Grell now!?

[listen, he never dared venture into relationships out of the norm. especially not in his most romantic of daydreams, romantic soul that he is.]

I am. And even then, some might call it an unconventional relationship.

[Not that Ardyn would give a damn. He doesn't. Besides, that isn't the point.]

But who I'm with now doesn't change who I've dated before. Men and women alike. And if judgment is ever cast my way because of it, I certainly couldn't care less.

[The point being... nor should you, Prompto.]

[so many questions]

[prompto picks himself up, slowly crawling up onto the desk. elbows on it, knees keeping him steady on the floor, he basically gapes like a fish, unable to actually formulate the questions he wants to ask]

It's really okay?

[with whatever 'unconventional' means with grell, with straying from the conventional guy likes girl set of beliefs]

[Prompto's innocence skirts the line of being both endearing and amusing. But this is something of a serious conversation, not one that he should take lightly. And so Ardyn meets his gaze, and quite confidently replies.]

It is. You cannot help who you're attracted to. And those who think differently? They're hardly worth your time.

RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

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