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[mercurio]

@prom.argentum | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

Comments

@markus.manfred, after gaby’s post

[saviorexe]

Prompto, do you have a moment?

[mercurio]

if it's online, yeah
what's up?

[saviorexe]

I was wondering if you could give me more insight into just what’s happened with Noctis.

Normally I wouldn’t go out of my way to reach out to his friends about something that he doesn’t want to talk about, but I’ve been concerned.

[mercurio]

oh uhm

[if noctis hasn't said anything to markus, then it's probably safe to assume he doesn't want them to know, for whatever reason.]

[prompto doesn't want to be caught as the asshole who told everyone except noctis.]

[.....so]

i can't answer that
if he doesn't want to say... it's not something i have the right to tell anyone about

[saviorexe]

I understand that.

[And yet.]

But I would like to know if I need to worry about his safety from here on out. He mentioned a man named Ardyn, and I assume this has more to do with him than anything else.

[mercurio]

[if he asks questions like that, then that's easier to sort through and give a response to.]

yeah, ardyn doesn't like him at all and he might try to hurt him a lot
but he might try to get to noct by hurting the people he knows

[he worries at his lip for a minute]

...are you with him?

[saviorexe]

I’ve texted him to ask what was wrong. I may be seeing him later, but thought it might make sense to reach out to you now about it.

What does Ardyn have against him?

[mercurio]

could you let me know if you see him, if he's okay?
and i can't answer that sorry
i'm actually not too familiar with the details

he's the chancellor of niflheim, of the empire that is at war with lucis
seems like he has plans of his own
he's just bad news

[saviorexe]

I'll let you know, I promise. I think he just needs some time to think on his own for now.

What does this man have to gain by antagonizing Noctis? If it's just out of spite, then he's going to quickly learn that many of his friends won't stand for it.

[Actually-]

You're not a target too, are you?

[mercurio]

yeah, sounds about right

[more brain fidgeting over everything]

i honestly don't know why he has it so bad against him
it might have something to do with noct being you know royalty and all

i'm not, don't worry about me

[saviorexe]

[Mmmmmmmm]

You’d tell me if you were, wouldn’t you?

[mercurio]

i don't

[he struggles to type out. it shows that he's still typing, despite the pause between the first and subsequent messages.]

i'm not important enough to be a target to him
he has beef with noct and it's my duty to keep him safe so whatever happens to me it's cuz i'm looking after noct

[that much he wants to hold on to]

[saviorexe]

[The start-and-stop typing betrays Prompto’s uncertainty, which doesn’t bode well. The text itself isn’t much more encouraging.]

Admirable, and I’m not going to ask you to not look after a close friend. But that’s still the opposite of not finding yourself in danger, Prompto.

You know if you ever need me for anything, reach out. I don’t want anyone hurting you, either.

[TOO BAD MARKUS CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT LMFAO…….]

[mercurio]

[MARKUS IS TRYING. HIS SPIRIT WILL BE THERE, WHEN ARDYN TRIES KICKING PROMPTO OFF A BUILDING... nevertheless, prompto thinks that markus shouldn't be worrying about him. he's definitely not worth the trouble.]

i'm not used to having someone to ask for help, you know
outside of my friends from back home... it's not really the same though

[dealing with things on his own; managing the budget so he'd have enough money for food and the rent, which needed to be paid on time, studying despite his part time jobs, cooking for himself after a long school day, helping the neighbors in general home repair...]

i don't think it's something any of us would want you to get into trouble for

[...]

...could you keep an eye on noct if he ends up staying with you guys? i don't think he'll want to talk to me for idk how long even though i want nothing else but to be at his side right now
don't tell him that though

[saviorexe]

You might not be used to it, but it doesn’t change the reality of the situation. There are those here who’ll want to see you safe no matter what, and that includes myself.

[He’ll not repeat himself, or press the point further. But Prompto needs to know this is the reality, that he can always rely on Markus — for Markus always takes on the troubles of others, if he can help it.]

I’ll be keeping an eye on him, of course. But you know that if there’s air to be cleared between you two, it’s better sooner rather than later?

[mercurio]

[he'll reread through that sentence over and over, for the next couple of days. it's nice to -- read that, coming from someone else.]

[however, his focus is more on the emotional end, right now.]

i miss him a lot
i wanna be at his side right now

but

[he doesn't want that. whether it is what they both need, or what noctis needs, he doesn't want that--and he's got good reason not to.]

just make sure he's okay
that's all that can be done for now

[saviorexe]

I promise to you that I'll keep him safe. And that I'll try to do what I can to make him feel more grounded and happier, too, if I can.

[Whatever's happened, Noctis needs it. Though Markus is at a disadvantage by not knowing what's happened, he can try his best.]

What can I do for you in the meanwhile, Prompto?

[mercurio]

[prompto rubs at his face with his shirt, eliminating all evidence of his crying even if there's no one to really witness it.]

for me? don't worry about it
just keep me posted on noct if you can

[saviorexe]

I will.

Be well until then.