victory_road | [Open] Gonna take a..long walk outside today~

Nah, I get it. We've gotta defend these guys.

[ It's almost like they're bodyguards. Or parents. ...No, the former is more fitting. Prompto wouldn't want to think about what sort of creature could give birth to all these and be their parent. (Introduce this man to a Ditto sometime.)

But at that concern, Prompto shakes his head. ] I think... I hurt my ankle? Defending myself from that wall, I mean.

[Noctis is suddenly completely and totally focused on Prompto, gently taking a hold of both of his arms to steady him.]

Maybe we should just set up camp near the entrance or something for right now. There's no reason to push yourself. It's not like we have a deadline or anything.

[And he really doesn't want you hurting yourself worse, Prompto.]

...It's weird.

[ Prompto says, letting himself be manhandled by Noctis - yeah, that's a bit of blood on him. But he's gotta push himself. ]

Not having a deadline, I mean. If we wanted, we could set up home here and never leave. Buuuuut I'd miss the warmth of a bed.

[Snorting softly, Noctis gently leads him back towards the entrance so they at least have a little more natural light to set up camp with.]

Yeah I don't know if I'll ever get use to it. I kind of miss Gladio and Ignis hounding me to do things and that's not something I ever thought I'd miss.

[Honestly? He just really missed the two of them.

Once they're closer to the entrance again he drops his bag to the ground before taking Prompto's and setting it aside as well, nudging the other to sit.]

I'll get everything set up. You just rest.

What, you're not gonna take a nap?

[ He jokes, as he's sitting now - letting himself lean back, and begin to fiddle with his PokeGear. Now he can see the light, he can see a few Zubat, a few other Pokemon. He swears he sees some... puppies? Nah, they're gone into the dark now. ]

But you had 'em pretty much all your life telling you where to walk and what to eat and everything. It's gotta be weirder for you then for me, right?

[He can't help but snort, giving Prompto a dry look.]

I mean, I can if you want me to.

[Noct's too preoccupied by getting their sleeping bags out to notice any of the Pokemon that have been drawn close because of their presence but Bean has definitely noticed. And if Pride's soft growling is any indication, so has he.]

Yeah, I guess..but we were all on the road together for awhile before we ended up here. I'm pretty sure Ignis got plenty of mother-henning in on you.

[ As he begins to mess with the edges of his clothes - nervous to finally admit this - his Hoothoot sits by him. Not because he's nervous, but because of the wild Pokemon. ] Actually we weren't on the road at all because I came here before we set out?

[ Look at that awkward smile. He's been trying to hide it, but it's not too big a secret, as compared to... some things. He adds, quietly, not noticing any of the wild Pokemon: ]

We were gonna set out tomorrow. Uh, tomorrow from then.

[Noctis had been in the middle of spreading the sleeping bags out when Prompto spoke, the words causing the prince to go still.

They hadn't...what?

He sits back on his heels and looks at Prompto in the dim light, a confused and perhaps a little bit of an upset look on his face.]

You're..kidding, right?

...No?

[ His voice sounds almost like a kicked puppy. He wouldn't kid around about that. Even if he was a big kidder most of the time - or at least, seemed that way.

After a moment, he shaked his head - trying to move a bit before wincing. ] Need help setting those up?

[ Subject change, go? ]

Forget about the sleeping bags.

[It comes out quickly, Noctis shaking his head as he stares at his friend. Their Pokemon all seem to realize that things have suddenly gotten tense between the two trainers and have gone quiet--even Fluff.]

You don't...you don't have any memories of being on the road? Of everything that's happened so far?

How can I remember things which haven't happened?

[ He asked, his voice betraying his words. Quiet, he was glancing around. Just as he feared - he'd missed something big, hadn't he. (Was it missing it if he hadn't done it yet? He should have pretended to have been mothered by Ignis. Pretending would have been great. Just as it always is. Damnit.)
The only sound from their Pokemon is coming from IE.exe, who's chattering a little as she patrols to stop wilds from getting to her pack. ]

[He didn't know. He had no idea that Insomnia had fallen or that they hadn't made it to Altissa and that they were trying to get help from the Astrals to stop everything that was going on.

Noctis sank backwards, sitting heavily on the ground now as he sucks in a breath and let's it out very slowly. His head hurts a bit and he can't seem to look at Prompto or really anything for that matter, gaze flitting about as he tries to find words.]

You...

[His voice breaks--outright breaks--as he realizes that he's going to have to explain it all. He's going to have to tell Prompto and, in turn, relive it.]

[ The breaking voice is what makes Prompto realise just how much must have happened. He's about to joke - not a fairy-tale trip, huh - but he doesn't... want to.

He doesn't move. Just weakly nod his head, giving a look as if to say he doesn't need to know. (He wants to know. Good or bad - maybe he could help, if he knew just what happened. Be somebody to make Noctis smile.)

And that's when he moved a little more, to the sleeping bags. They just... need to be unfurled a bit more, right? R-right. He hadn't seen Noctis like this before, so he just needs to help him. ]

[Noctis stays where he is, staring down at his hands now because he doesn't--he feels helpless. This isn't the sort of conversation he expected to have. He had never considered that Prompto may be from a different point in time than him.

It takes him a moment, even after the blonde has moved, for him to find his voice, the prince taking a deep breath before closing his eyes as he lets it out.]

We...we got started on the trip. There wasn't a boat though and before we could catch one...Insomnia was attacked. It--it fell.

[ ...It took Prompto a moment.

No, not just a moment. His expression turned from 'are you kidding' to horror within a minute. As it sunk in. Lips trembling, he couldn't help but... laugh a little, that sort of awkward laugh as he tries to find words.

But his throat seems suddenly dry, as everything about that sinks in. That would mean-- everybody's gone. Everything's gone. And in the future for him - he can't change it, can he? If he could, then Noct'd have already changed.

Words eventually come to him. ]

...was it the Empire?

[ Or... did the Wall fall? Anything could have happened, and he felt sick just thinking about it. Having all these questions swirling around. But Noctis probably has... handled some of this already. If not all of it. Shit. ]

[He can't look at Prompto, can't bring himself to see the emotions playing out on the other's face. Noctis had already dealt with all of this once before and having to do it again was a little more than he wanted to deal with. Once had been quite enough.]

Yeah...they.. [A bark of sharp laughter escapes him as he runs a hand through his hair, looking out the entrance of the cave.] They claimed they were visiting for peace negotiations.

[Despite his best efforts, he's trembling and can feel his eyes starting to burn which seems to only frustrate him more as he hastily rubs at them with the hand that had gone through his hair.]

Goddammit..

[ He knows about it already. Well, not yet. In the future - he shouldn't need to know now, right?

(Damnit. Prompto had hoped this time travel shit hadn't come up. This was confusing. It was hurting his head and heart both. But of course it was them, of course they'd attack.) Prompto almost felt... he shouldn't be this affected. Because it hadn't happened yet. It hurt to even think about but it hadn't happened but Noctis wouldn't lie.

His knuckles had turned as pale as the rest of his body, gripping his sleeping bag. It took all his effort for the words to come out - raspy and holding back his own tears, voice lowering to a whisper. ]

...I'm sorry. I-- we don't need to talk about it, if you don't want?

[ Because he shouldn't know this yet. Because Noctis shouldn't be suffering like this having to think about it. Prompto had thought this would be a nice vacation away from nothing too big - but instead maybe it's an escape for Noctis. He's hurting inside from every little thought, of how much could have happened. Shit. ]

No it--you..deserve to know. You should know. This place..

[It messed things up a lot by taking them from different points in time. It made things a little awkward but not a bad awkward. Just..awkward.

There was so much that had happened; so much that they had gone through already and he didn't have that common ground with Prompto anymore.

Despite his best efforts a few tears fall and before he can do anything about it his Pikipek lands on his shoulder and gently gives him a nuzzle. Noctis gives the bird a weak smile that fades quickly, reaching up to pet the little bird as he looks down at a worried Bean.]

...My dad..he didn't....

[He didn't make it. And there had been so much Noctis still needed to say to him.]

[ And it hurt. It hurt to think about how much Noctis had to go though and now he didn't have that common ground. They couldn't have had happiness.

But-- the king was dead. Noctis' dad. He didn't need Noctis to finish speaking to slide himself over - come next to his friend. Even if he feels he doesn't know what to do - if anything could be done - to help.

At least let him be there, letting out a soft grumble under his breath. Not at Noctis, though - at the whole situation. ]

...I-- damn.

[ Prompto couldn't comprehend how much it could hurt. His family situation was complicated, but even he... could understand this. Trying to crack a smile - and failing, his lips still stuck in a frown, he let himself just sit there. Trying to hold back his own tears, to let Noctis have somebody to cry on. (He was failing - wetness staining his face.)

Before letting out a groan at his sore foot, as he felt something flop against it. His Pidgey had noticed the sadness and was trying to help, but he'd let out simply a groan and didn't move to get the bird to flap away. ]

[Despite everything going on, despite how distraught he is that Prompto doesn't have the same memories as him, Noctis still leans into the other when he gets close. He seeks out the press of another person against him even if it's just their shoulders and sides, needs to be reassured that this is real and that it's not just some screwed up dream.]

Yeah...it..yeah.

[What more could he say? Hell, he didn't want to say more but there was so much that Prompto still needed to know.

Maybe..maybe later though.

Right now Noctis just eases his weight off the other some at the sound of that groan, eyes blurred with tears as he peers at the blonde while wrapping his rams around Bean.]

You okay?

[ ...No.

He's not okay. He knows Noctis has so much to hold on to and he has so much to mourn but he gives a sigh, trying not to cry more. But anger enters his voice. He's not okay with his pain in his foot, but... Prompto can't hold back anymore. ]

I mean... if that-- with all that happening, then what does it mean? That everything we do here won't matter?

...That anything we learn here doesn't mean shit?

[ He doesn't get it. He really doesn't - if he learns this and goes home, he can't stop it - if Noctis is here and telling him. (He'd have to be believed by at least Noct if he'd told him, right? Or would he be seen as lying.) But he lets Noctis lean into him, putting an arm around him. Holding him. Time travel is weird... ]

I don't know.

[Because he doesn't. Sure they kept moving forward; sure they were still fighting and Noctis was going to have to start seeking out the Astrals for help but what good was it going to do in the end? Was it going to change anything? Those thoughts were ones that had been plaguing Noctis since Insomina fell though he'd never voiced them to any of the others directly.

It was just easier to bottle it up. (Not healthy though.)

The arm around him is a welcome comfort and a shaky breath escapes the Prince as he closes his eyes and kind of curls in around Bean some. The Munchlax rumbles softly and nuzzles against him, attempting to hug him around the neck as Chocochick nuzzles at his hair some more.]

I'm sorry..I'm sorry to dump this on you..

[ Fuck. Fuuuuck. Prompto simply sighs, letting himself rest against Noctis even harder. He sniffled a little. ]

Nah, man. Better now then later, right? Might have said something wrong.

[ But... he didn't. He hadn't cracked any inappropriate jokes, right? He felt his mind racing, going back to days before. Weeks before. He'd kept saying they'd go home and it'd been fine. But he--

Damnit. His leg feels like nothing compared to this. But he decides to at least... joke about that. Maybe loosen the mood, even if he just wants to cry. ]

Well, least you're standing. Not like I can right now.

[Noctis lets out a half-hearted laugh.]

I guess that's true..

[At least it was on the table and out of the way. It was probably going to loom over them for awhile but they'd get through it....right?

Glancing at the blonde, Noctis gives him a slightly worried look.]

Maybe we should go to a doctor..

[Time to start shifting the subject for the time being.]

[ ...Yeah, they'd get though it. Or he'd fall into one of those comas he read about and remember up to it... or later, maybe? Prompto didn't want to be the one handling being from the future, quite honestly, but it could be possible and then what would he do? Either or. ]

How long would it take to get to a doc from here? [ It's just twisted - Prompto is pulling his leg back from the Pokemon, however, moving-- nope, he can't move it to slip off his shoe. Help him out? ]

[Open] Gonna take a..long walk outside today~

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