mercurio | 〈 recolle ic contact 〉

he is super nice... i'm really happy
he doesn't mind being my brother

i'll ask for the most expensive dish
i know the place
see you soon!!

[He's glad to hear about Cloud, and for a moment any apprehension he seems to be clinging to fades away. He can ask more about him later, perhaps, after they've the business of memories to get out of the way.

For now, though, the beach.

It's actually a relatively fancy place, despite a number of people seated who are dressed casually. But the atmosphere is nice, and it's departed enough from the usual beach-going crowd that it affords itself a peaceful atmosphere. Looking out, one can see individuals out in the distance, splashing around and playing in the sand.

Ardyn is already seated, waiting for Prompto. He's gazing out at the water for now, the smell of the sea catching in his nose. It'll be easy enough for the young man to spot him. Even in a crowd, the professor always stands out.]

[prompto's a bit late. when ardyn contacted him, he hadn't yet showered (it's sunday, let him live), so he cleaned up quickly, tossed some clothes on, and by the time he had put in the last of his earrings into his ears, he realized he would be running late.]

[no time to gel his hair; no time for contacts.]

[it's a casual meet with ardyn, anyway. there's no need for pretenses. that and, since he doesn't have his scooter in working order anymore, he's relying heavily on public transportation just so he doesn't arrive a messy sweat for dinner.]

[he grins, waving his hand as he arrives ten minutes late, taking a seat across from ardyn]

Sorry. Nearly missed the bus.

[at the very least, wearing his glasses does enough to hide the redness under his eyes. he hasn't cried recently, but the amount he's done the past few days has been enough for leftover puffiness.]

It's sure getting cooler. Can't wait for winter, to be honest.

[he's got a foot up on his knee, jogging it, tapping his fingers to the rhythm of a song he always seems to have in his head.]

Edited 2017-09-03 17:50 (UTC)

[He grins as Prompto slides into his seat across the table, not at all distracted by his casual look. Though he thinks that the glasses are always quite novel when he sees them.

A glass of water with a single lemon in it already waits for Prompto. Beyond that, he told the server to wait before taking any further orders.]

Don't apologize. I haven't been waiting long.

[If he still notes something red or tired in Prompto's eyes, he chooses perhaps not to ask just yet. Perhaps he already has an idea, and this is a circumstance where it would be better to wait and see if the young man brings it up himself. As such, he decides to focus on the task at hand for now.]

Neither can I. Then I can wear as many layers as I like without others questioning it, hm?

[A chuckle, but then his gaze flickers momentarily to the beach, a rare hestiation, before offering Prompto his usual airy expression.]

In any case... as I said, I wanted to talk to you about certain memories that have graced me recently. We haven't had much time to chat, given all that happened last month.

[prompto happily shrugs, smiling, and taking the glass of water waiting for him once it registers in his line of sight. he chortles into the water when ardyn jokes about his layers.]

[dammit]

Professor On-Onion Izunia... [snerk]

Ah, but yeah, last month was nuts. So much for summer break, more like break us into pieces.

Can't say I remembered anythin', though.

[Professor

Onion Izunia.

Are you serious.]

[SKIMMING PAST THAT PART.]

Fortunately for you, I've remembered enough for the both of us. A few are small and harmless, and a couple more are... well, less so.

[Ah, but here comes their server, asking for their orders. Ardyn will order something simple enough -- he's not really all that hungry -- and looks at Prompto afterwards.]

Which would you like to start with?

[He hopes that Prompto will choose the quick and easy ones first.]

[prompto's asking for a club sandwich, with fries. so much for it being a seaside restaurant... he's hungry.]

--uh.

[he's trying to figure out what ardyn means by "small and harmless" versus the ones that are less so.]

Whichever you think is easiest to explain?

[he lights up a bit, shifting on his seat as he brings out a notepad and a pen.]

I thought we should write these down.

[Easiest? He thinks, wryly, to himself that the easiest ones are not the ones that concern him, not really. But he supposes he'll start small enough.]

A good idea.

[Ardyn has already recorded these at home, but of course he'll not discourage Prompto from doing the same right now.]

Let's start with a cactuar. [He digs in his coat pocket, and then pulls out a small slip of paper with a little drawing on it. It looks like a cactus with a face, arms and legs. He hands it to Prompto.]

Does this look familiar to you?

[prompto doesn't even need to look at it twice. he already knows what a cactuar is. hell, he had to get rid of two of them.]

Yeah, I've seen it! In fact, I've had to fight two of those guys before!

It's called a 'cactuar'? It kept shootin' needles at me. --are they from where we come from?

You... fought them?

[He blinks in surprise, though immediately Ardyn's mind puts two and two together. Last month's stint of fighting monsters, of bringing in "unreality" that belonged in other worlds, but not theirs. It made sense.

He just wasn't expecting it.]

I... yes. They're from our world. They must be if you recognized them so easily. I even remember that they shot needles -- it looked like a terrible sort of attack.

[An appraising glance.] They must've been difficult to remove.

[prompto's smile is shy, finger scratching at his cheek. he's basically bouncing on his seat with energy, even as he leans forward and redraws a cactuar on his notepad. it's a scratchy thing; he really hates holding pens and pencils, and he presses the tip onto paper insanely hard.]

I had a hard time sitting down for a few hours, but we made them explode, sort of.

[cactuar, he writes, pleased.]

[There are importnat things to be said right now. Questions to be asked, more memories to talk about.

But instead:]

You...

[A pause.]

Did you get needles in your butt, Prompto?

[ARDYN SAID BUTT]

[...a pause, to let that sink in]

Heh.

[this is getting ridiculous very quickly. he's grinning despite himself, especially because he's imitating someone's knack for dramatics]

I don't wanna brag... but I was a bit of a hero on that day.

Edited 2017-09-13 00:30 (UTC)

[Despite knowing what memories he'll have to divulge later, and how those will make him feel uncomfortable without the luxury of being able to show it, Ardyn still smiles, lost in the silliness of it all.]

So that's a yes, then.

Were they difficult to kill? I remember them being annoyingly quick creatures.

[prompto dismisses having to confirm any of it by waving his hand around]

Kinda. They did move pretty fast.

Like I said, blew them up. Easiest solution.

Right. With your... rocket launcher, I assume?

[Mph. He exhales.]

Do you still have possession of that?

With a hot dog stand, actually.

[he leans forward on the table, taking his glass of water for a sip. he glances down, watching the ice cubes dance about as they float on the water...]

It's somewhere safe.

[cloud's broom closet. cloud probably doesn't know yet. it's wrapped up, in any case.]

Not gonna randomly use it. Noct hasn't bought me rockets, either.

I suppose I'll take what comfort in that I can.

[He's still going to worry. He's always going to worry.]

In any case, I'm glad you're safe and relatively needle-free for the time being.

[A silence lingers between them just for a moment before Ardyn chases it away.]

In any case... [Another pause. He gestures at their surroundings.] I was wondering... Does this place remind you of anything?

[when ardyn gestures around, prompto sits up and looks curiously at the scenery; the quaint but lavish seaside restaurant, the ocean waves lapping the shore, the salty breeze and the echoes of water-run distance.]

...

Should it?

[it doesn't really ring at any bells.]

If Retrospec were kind enough to you, then yes. Or is that really a kindness, I wonder?

[A breezy admittance, before he decides to get to the heart of the matter.]

I remembered a place called Galdin Quay, and you were in it. So was Noctis. [He sets his jaw before continuing.] It was a place much like this, and I had wondered, perhaps, if you remembered anything similar.

Galdin Quay...

How would you even spell that?

[for his notes, you see.]

[he makes an attempt on his notes, writing the name down several times.]

--have you told Noct? Maybe he'd remember. I haven't really remembered much from the world we come from. Were from. Whatever.

Edited 2017-09-23 20:53 (UTC)

[Ardyn takes the time to help Prompto spell out Galdin Quay, patiently enough. Strange, that he would remember such details, but he supposes it makes sense.

At the question, he nods.]

I have. He ended up remembering it as well.

Oh.

[does he feel slightly--bad about not remembering? yes, he does. if noctis remembered, too, then...]

Tell me more about it. Maybe I'll remember if you describe the place more.

[He can tell that Prompto feels bad about it, though that's certainly not his intent. But at the same time he'll not ignore the boy's request, and so-]

What about the words I uttered to your group? Maybe that'll spark something.

[This, he remembers with clarity. He even speaks it with that same lilt he remembers, in the exact same manner.]

"I'm afraid you're out of luck. The boats bring you here." And then you said, "What about them?"

[Prompto, with his apprehension... how could he forget?]

"Well, they'll not take you forth." Another man asked what my purpose there was, and I replied with, "I'm an impatient traveler, ready to turn ship."

[He pauses, wondering if that'll trigger anything for him.]

〈 recolle ic contact 〉

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