mercurio | 〈 recolle ic contact 〉

[He shakes his head.]

That I don't recall. [~~because this is dated before noctis told him~~]

But I know you had a purpose across the sea. Something you were... trying to get to, for whatever reason it would've been. Something important, surely. But no, we didn't know each other. It was our first time meeting.

So it's before that memory from the caravan. Maybe if we were traveling to the same place you joined us after we met?

[a tilt of his head, and then the server is back with their food orders. prompto's quick to bite into french fries]

[he seems pensive, contemplating something in silence, before--]

Did you throw something at Noct?

[A look of surprise. A moment of hesitation. And then:]

I did. It was a coin of some sort. How do you know?

I... guess it just came to mind?

Sure did hide behind real tall, buff guy. [frowns] Don't think I can make out his face.

Galdin Quay, huh.

Why did you hide?

[Oh, that slips out almost automatically before he can stop it. He curses to himself, mentally, before continuing.]

...Were you scared?

[if he were to dig for the reason why, prompto is sure that the answer would infinitely upset ardyn. a stranger, an unknown variable, not necessarily traveling in secrecy but there was some caution to be taken for it. was it because of the monsters? or something else entirely?]

[he manages a quick answer regardless]

I guess he just had that imposing big guy thing going for him, so maybe it was just a habit I picked up.

[prompto sits up properly, picking up one of the triangle-shaped cuts of the sandwich, and bites down. it's a few chews in when he speaks again.]

I wonder if the coin meant anything. It didn't seem like currency. [chew, chew, swallow] Nothin' comes to mind?

[He's right. It would've upset Ardyn, because he already has his own self-doubts on the matter. For Prompto to have underlined them even more would only make him think of himself as a worse person, this past self of his.

But the young man sidesteps it, for all the good it does. Ardyn feels... doubtful, but maybe he's eager to believe it, as well. He doesn't pry further.]

No. I don't even remember what the coin looked like. Only that I threw it, and one of the other men caught it instead of Noctis.

Did you know Noctis was related to you at the time? It didn't seem like he recognized you at all...

[that's weird, in any case]

Edited 2017-10-09 04:05 (UTC)

I... I don't know.

[Another part of his memory that remains fuzzy. A detail that he can't quite grasp at.

He can at least logic it to death.]

I knew my name was Ardyn Lucis Caelum. And I feel as if I recognized Noctis, so I must've known of him in some capacity. But we did not act like family.

...what exactly are you?

[this question would have a different weight in a different situation--]

To Noctis, I mean.

[Hell yeah it would.

Good thing he interprets it as only he can, with the memories he currently has.]

Who's to say? A long lost uncle?

Huh.

[...and prompto keeps eating at his french fries, leaning back on the chair and looking out. he should've brought his camera]

[it'd be nice if these memories had more context]

[Ardyn watches him for a moment, and sighs. Begins to pick at his own food which had been brought to them in the midst of their conversation, though he does go for a sip of coffee first.]

And there you have it. More inexplicable pieces to add to the mystery.

[he frowns]

Why do you sound more upset than usual about this?

[Eyes move to Prompto, frowning in return. His reply is immediate; it is a blessing to possess a silver tongue, otherwise he would've stammered.]

...Because I don't like the fact that there are more questions than answers provided to us.

[Lying. Through. His. Teeth.]

We'll get answers eventually.

[no reason to be so... ??? about it]

[but prompto isn't an investigative reporter or anything. at this point, he's just trying to be reassuring.]

At least we're all in this together. So, if something ever bugs you, y'can tell me, right? Just like how you've offered I go to you if I ever feel negatively about something.

...Yes. I know.

[There's that wave of guilt again, slamming into him in a rush. That he's been keeping certain details from Prompto (and Noctis) is something that he hates, and yet he cannot bring himself to be completely honest about the emotions he experienced in these memories. What good would come from it? Nothing, he knows, and he would rather just keep it pinned within himself instead of letting it overflow and hurting those around him.

Totally healthy.]

I haven't forgotten about that.

[He just hasn't taken him up on it.]

[prompto seems satisfied despite ardyn's inner turmoil, to be honest.]

The more we share and work as a team, the sooner we'll get around to figuring it out. It's nice to know that it isn't just monsters in our memories.

Galdin Quay is beautiful.

[Stop saying things that keep making him feel guilty!!]

It is. Was. [Is? Does that world of theirs still exist? Another question for another time. He looks out to the sea, waves lapping at the shore.]

The water there was very clear, so very blue. Like something out of a fantasy.

Y'know what they say, fantasies are usually based on reality.

[how philosophical ~~and meta~~]

[he shoves the rest of his sandwich into his mouth and chews in silence for the most part, handing out small bits of commentary here and there, until his plate is mostly a few fries and some spots of ketchup]

I'll try and talk about this with Noct later, maybe he'll remember something new about it. Though, not gonna lie, pretty curious about who these other two guys that keep coming up in my memories are.

[i see what you did there

Ardyn will eat with a bit more restraint, but he doesn't mind if Prompto basically wants to wolf the whole thing down on his end. His mind is too elsewhere to even comment upon that.]

Steadfast friends of yours? Business associates? [All conjecture.]

Hopefully friends.

[he admits without shame, sitting back, hands on his tummy]

Phoo, that was a lot.

Finished already?

[He smiles lightly at Prompto's already empty plate.]

At least here you can walk it off quite easily.

[He motions at the expanse of sand in their view.]

〈 recolle ic contact 〉

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