sunset_horizons | Catchall Post ☼ 01 | ❝Where faith and fear collide...❞

[It's still bizarre to hear Noctis call the King 'my old man' enough that it briefly boggles Prompto before he gives a little laugh, rubbing the back of his head.] Oh, yeah, that's probably true. Not exactly like you can play hookie or something without uh, setting off a national disaster or something.

[Scenarios play in his head like being killed on sight for 'kidnapping' the crowned prince, enough to wipe the look off his face and replace it with 'oh Six no'.]

Do you think you could talk to him soon-ish? [Is it hard for a son to talk to a father when the father is the king?] I'm pretty happy to keep these guys for a while, though!

[One day you'll get used to it, Prompto. One day. Until then he will try not to smirk at the awkwardness at hearing that. ~~This is what you get for befriending the Crown Prince, Prom.~~]

Not really, no. [And excuse you, he takes his classes seriously! Not... that he ever really shows it, but it's the principle of the matter! Also, if he knew his friend was thinking up those scenarios, he'd point out there was a very low chance of that ever happening.]

Depends on if his schedule's filled or not. [He's already texting one of his dad's personal attendants to explain the situation.] Sure your parents won't make a scene about it?

[Look somehow it really didn't occur to him that maybe at some point he was going to have to actually deal with the King! But uh, yeah! Not yet! Noct just has to go talk to the King (THE KING!) and get some permissions and they can go out, right? No big deal?

Except he's never been outside of Insomnia and basically has no idea what's going on out there... but who cares when they'd be going to a chocobo ranch!?]

Uh. [He swallows but quickly gives a little laugh, hiding the twist in his stomach.] Nah, pretty sure they'll be cool with it. You know how busy they are.

[It's such an easy, easy lie. Noct, if he can help it, won't know how little his parents are involved in his life. Little meaning basically none, but hey they send some money! So, it's all good. He can deal.]

[You say this as though the King isn't actually a teddy bear in a human disguise. (Noct, that's literally to you and your friends-) Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), the attendant replies saying that his dad's actually free at the moment, so he starts dialing the number but stops short of pressing send.

Mainly because he can't help but stop and give his close friend a look.]

Prompto. Unless my dad says 'no' and has a Glaive escort the little guys home instead, we'll be leaving the protection of the New Wall.

[~~Have fun with that mental image, btw.~~ Does he even need to say how weird it sounds that any crown citizen would be that flippant when there is little protection from daemons at night outside Insomnia's borders? But then, maybe it's just his dad that's overprotective ever since the attack.

... He'd better call before the window of opportunity closes. He presses the button, subconsciously straightening despite the constant soft 'kweh's and 'wark's of the baby chocobos around them.]

Noctis?

Yes- Your Majesty. [Well, if Prompto ever thought he'd never see his buddy even vaguely nervous, congratulations. He just hinted at it with that little hesitation.] Sorry to call unannounced like this, but there's something I have to ask about.

Not at all. It is well to hear your voice, my son. [Man, even he can hear the smile in his dad's voice, and it's hard not to mimic it.] Now, what is it you required?

Well, you see- [He starts to explain, when suddenly one of the chicks realizes how Noct's actually a bundle of nerves and decides the best way yo try and cheer them both up is to suddenly climb up his back and roost on his head.] Ack-! E-easy there, little guy!

Noctis?

[... He sighs, opening the camera function and snaps a selfie. Of the top of his head. And the chick. ~~Please don't laugh at his terrible aim, Prom, it's just a quick one.~~

And judging by the laughter on the other end, it does more than enough to convey what happened. Though he does go into a quick explanation of what led them to this point, and what he knows from the reports the first attendant sent him.]

I'm not asking to keep one, much as I'd want to. But, I'd like to go with my friend to return this little guy and his brothers and sisters. To the ranch in Duscae.

...That is quite a distance to travel, Noctis.

[He winces slightly.] I know.

-and a trip I would not have the two of you going on your own, nor at this hour. Cor?

[Wait king say what???]

Edited (html fail, i have) 2018-03-02 05:36 (UTC)

[First things first: Prompto, for some reason, finds it really weird that Noctis still calls his father 'Your Majesty'. Is that how they always spoke or is someone listening? He isn't sure what he expected but formality wasn't it, not when Noct always talks so informally about his dad... but Noct sounds, looks, kinda nervous about this call! Why? His brows come together, trying to figure this out, but the nerves don't last because Noct breaks out into a smile.

Then Prompto bursts out into a laugh as one of the chicks nestles right into Noctis' hair like he's a nest. He covers his mouth with both hands, thinking it's probably somehow rude to be heard laughing by the King or something like that.

But the laugh dies completely when Noctis' expression falls completely.

In the back, Noctis will hear the reply that suggests, just by luck, Cor is in fact in the same room as his father at the same.]

Yes, your Majesty?

[Considering either Clarus or Cor were always by his father's side, he didn't want to take the chance of making it seem like he'd forgotten royal protocol. If it had just been Gladio or any other guard or attendant, he wouldn't have cared. He puts a hand over the receiver to mutter an explanation to Prompto—]

Clarus or Cor are almost always there with him before nightfall.

[—which is literally the only reason he so much as slips out of his normal informal speech. Either one could tell Gladio to up the intensity of his training, if not take over for a day themselves. It looks like he's about to say something more when he stops, listening to the two converse.]

I would have you and Gladiolus escort my son and his friend to the chocobo post in Duscae. Consider it a part of the young Amicitia's training as the Shield of the Future King.

[There is something more there that is unsaid, but very much apparent between the two men and the son: Regis was as nervous about allowing his son out of the city as the son was to request it of him after what occurred all those years ago.

Noct kept the hand over the receiver until he's spoken to again, glancing at Prompto.]

Sounds like he doesn't want a repeat of last time.

[He'll tell Prompto about it later, if he doesn't realize it already. They had been elementary school at the time, and neither had really talked to each other then.]

['Before nightfall'? Is someone there with him different after nightfall? Who's Cor, anyway? Clarus... Prompto's pretty sure, if he's remembering right, that's the King's Shield, kinda like Gladio's supposed to be Noct's? Familial connections aren't quite known at this point (or, more likely, remembered) but he's got the basic idea on that, but Cor doesn't crop up as a name he can remember. Then again, he's not sure what either of those people have to do with the conversation at hand!]

Understood. [Cor's brisk reply, though Noctis isn't there to see the complex, if subtle, expression on the Marshal's face as he looks to his old friend and king, asking without words if he's certain. Still, he isn't beyond knowing that someday, at some point, the young prince will have to go out into the world and meet his destiny and he's already older than he was when he had left with the lot of them back in the day.

Not as if going to a chocobo ranch is quite meeting destiny...]

Last time? [The words slip out of Prompto's mouth in confusion before he really thinks about it. It's not like Noctis talks about what happened that terrible night, though there's been brief mentions of having stayed in Tenebrae before. Prompto gives Noct the 'we can talk about it later' expression.]

[No, that's just when Regis tries to tell them to go home and get some rest/spend time with their families. Something that occasionally works with Clarus, but Cor... He can almost hear the sigh that is on his lips but he doesn't want to talk over what the other two are saying.

What he doesn't hear is his father's solemn nod, nor the look in those tired green eyes that bespeaks volumes to one of his most trusted friends and marshal of the Crownsguard. He is, and if it would help him prepare to face the world and his destiny later, when he would no longer be able to protect him...

He would go into the details of why soon as they hung up.]

Then tomorrow, shortly after daybreak? [Because he knows his son's eating habits and just how likely anything remotely healthy for seven growing birds are to be found in his apartment.] You had best be awake and prepared, Noct.

[Noctis doesn't even need to see his dad's face to know the amusement that's glimmering in those eyes of his. They BOTH are terrible at waking up earlier than noon, and Noctis can't help the groan that leaves him.]

...Yes, Dad. [Fuck formalities when he has to be up before 6AM. He tries to ignore the chuckle on the other end as he hangs up, head in hands.]

It's for the chocobos... [He has a new mantra, now. Thanks, Dad.]

[Cor doesn't have the family to go home to like Clarus does, so that reasoning rarely works with him. Still, he isn't beyond knowing that sometimes Regis simply needs some time alone, but even in that knowing, he's never too far away. There is a friendship there that runs deep, but with each day that Regis weakens, Cor wants to be away less and less.

Not that Prompto would have any notion of such things, maybe not even Noctis. Instead, Cor meets Regis' eyes, then gives the slightest nod in return. They would speak when the prince isn't there to listen to the details.

Prompto's brows lift at both the groan that leaves Noctis - what did the King say? - and the 'dad' that follows instead of 'your Majesty'. That's more like what Prompto would have expected to hear from Noct! ...or, well, to a parent, he guesses...

Then he frowns when there isn't even a 'goodbye' and Noctis drops his head into his hands. The confusing whisper that follows has Prompto just outright staring, trying to piece the parts together that he's heard.]

Uh, did... he say we couldn't go?

[Regis knew, yet he still hopes in vain that his young friend would at least take a break in the evenings. He is surrounded by attendants and guards are posted at his chamber doors when he retires for the evenings. He's fine. Or, as fine as he can get.

In a way, the king hopes this can also serve as a small vacation for his longtime friend as well. Not that he would ever admit it aloud, knowing Cor for as long as he has. He's not even upset that his son fails to say goodbye. He knows it's there in how he dropped the formalities despite knowing of Cor's presence.

The prince sighs.]

Oh, we're going alright. [He says as the chocobo chick who used his hair for a nest moments earlier hopped into his lap instead, chirping happily.] Tomorrow. At daybreak.

[He should know by now just how notoriously a heavy sleeper the prince is by now. By all rights, that should also be enough to explain why he groaned and his head remains in his hands for a moment even as the little chick pecks at his sleeve.

...Shit, he's going to have to call Ignis and let him know what's going on, too. If his father, Cor, or Gladio don't beat him to the punch.]

So, we should probably get ready... and no doubt you wanna know who's escorting us.

[Ask your questions, bro. Maybe it'll distract him from the fact he has to wake up at at least 5am to get his sorry ass out of bed in time.]

[If Cor has heard the drop in formality, his expression gives no sign of it. Instead, they will fall into planning for this trip, perhaps both of them with memories of the past playing through their minds when they were younger men.]

Whoa, daybreak?? [Look even Prompto isn't exactly happy about *daybreak*. That's so early... but he also snickers in his head about trying to get Noct up at that point.] Hey, least I'm coming, so at worse? I can drag you out to the car.

[He wraps his arms around one of the chicks and cradles it to his chest, smiling despite the early wake up call. When there's mention of 'who's escorting us', Prompto blinks, thinking about it.]

Um... huh. Gladio and Ignis? ...Except Ignis' not really a fighter, huh... umm... [He has no idea on who else to throw into that equation, honestly.]

[For his part, Regis certainly will. Back when Cor was the little spitfire of the group.]

Yep. [Please don't make him repeat it again...!] Ugh, all because Duscae's so far away...

[Though with the constant peeping and the little guy on his lap, he can't keep the frown on his face. They're just too dang adorable.]

Well, you got one of 'em. Though I'd bet you he'll insist on coming along as well. [He smirks faintly.] And actually, he's been training with daggers since before Gladio started teaching me.

[Gently petting the little guy in his lap, he shakes his head.]

Nah, it's Gladio and Cor - marshal of the Crownsguard and one of my dad's closest friends from before he took the throne.

[Time to explain to the nerd all the things.]

[Peep peep peep peep! The whole kitchen is filled with peeping and coos and little chirps as the chocobos play and investigate everything they can. It's way too hard to be unhappy around such balls of feathery fluff.]

No way, Ignis is a fighter?? [That actually takes Prompto by surprise because it's really hard to imagine Ignis, who is always so pristine and in button up and vest and pressed slacks, doing something like getting sweaty in training or fighting someone.

Then that second bombshell. Whoa. Whoa. Even he knows that name. That's a pretty famous name of one of the people protecting all of Insomnia.

His jaw hits the floor.]

Uh. Like, the guy we've learned about in school?

[Way too hard. It's all he can do to focus on his friend and his questions instead of, well... suddenly going all soft because of the little peeps are melting his usual bratty nature ~~the power of fluff compels him aaaaa~~.]

Yeah? [He raises an eyebrow. Is it really so surprising considering he's almost always by Noct's side and was picking him up from school instead of an obvious bodyguard? Well, until they started hanging out more after school, anyway.] We were practically raised together, so he started weapons training a few years before me.

[He chuckles at Prompto's reaction, though is very careful to make it seem like he was laughing more at the feathery fluffballs antics behind him instead.]

The one and only. [A shrug.] Why?

[Maybe if he's so casual about it, Prompto won't point out how big of a deal it is... ~~pffft~~]

[The little fluffballs are finally getting tuckered out and they're coming in to cuddle up against one another and of course, the two humans taking care of them. As it turns out, they make tiny cooing sounds instead of snoring when they fall asleep.

Prompto is melting at the sight. It's too much. Cuuuute.

But THE MARSHAL... he doesn't even know what to do that! They'll be traveling with someone famous! What do you do around someone famous?! Not hyperventilate. Don't hyperventilate. Focus on the cute chicks.]

Ha, we'll be traveling with the Marshal. ...I'm the only one who doesn't know how to fight! Ha, ha, okay. [Okay even the chicks aren't helping as much as he'd like.] We'll get you to the ranch, little guys.

[Welcome to the club, Prompto. Fluff Heaven. They've almost reached it. Would if you'd stop worrying. Because he catches that look, and the uneven breathing. So he carefully maneuvers himself to reach out and place a hand on his buddy's shoulder.]

Hey. [Calm down.] I doubt there'll be fighting in the first place. Even then, we'll probably be told to keep watch over the little guys and girls.

[Even though he's more than capable now. He highly doubts his Shield or the Marshal will allow it unless absolutely necessary.]

[It's funny and kind of sad, he realizes, that yeah of course he's afraid of the actual danger of going outside the walls of the city, but he's more afraid and embarrassed on the idea of being completely useless if it were to happen. He doesn't know how to fight, not to even throw a punch, and to be like that in front of one of the most known fighters of the kingdom? Yeah. He's panicking, just a little bit. Gladio's a known, to some small degree, and he doesn't feel like a total fool in front of him (...okay he does).

But Cor the Immortal!]

Y-Yeah, you're right. [Excuse him while he hugs a fluff to him, a little embarrassed to even be embarrassed like this in front of Noct, who sounds so relaxed about the whole situation. But he's been outside the city before. Of course he's relaxed.]

... [Sigh.] Look. I'm just as nervous, but I think that's why my old man specifically said daybreak.

[Prompto doesn't need to be excused if he's hugging the one in his lap too, right? That's what he thinks, anyway. Even as his eyes go distant while he stares at nothing in particular.]

The last time- we were out after nightfall. A daemon attacked us, and my attendants were killed. I almost was too, when dad arrived. All because I wanted to see the fireflies...

[That fluffball in his arms is being petted. No, he's not going to mention how for months after, he wasn't able to walk. How it had taken a miracle for him to even awaken from the nightmare he'd been caught in. Nothing about how he'd only started to be eased back into his old self - he'll never be that kid again, but a part of him still lives any time chocobos, small animals or fishing's involved - back in Tenebrae before the Empire came for both royal families. Nor the look on Ignis' face when he'd realized he couldn't feel his legs. He's obviously gotten better, but...]

So, we're going to be avoiding travel after sunset. Where the actual danger is.

[...What? Prompto is staring at his friend, a deep mix of concern, surprise, and a hint of terror showing in his eyes. The fact that Noctis just called the King 'my old man' doesn't even register in the face of this. It's the first time he's ever heard about this, and the idea of it, of Noctis nearly having been killed by a daemon... it's hard to imagine daemons even being *real*, never mind one of them actually hurting someone he knows.

There's an audible swallow from Prompto before he says quietly-] I... Noct, I had no idea...

[He shifts, just enough to actually touch their knees together, giving a small supportive touch to his best friend.] Y-Yeah. Traveling during the day and all that. We're not gonna let anything happen to you.

['We're', as if Prompto has any say in the matter.]

Of course not. The Crownsguard kept it under wraps from the public. No idea if that changed after Tenebrae, though.

[He was too young and too distracted by the other surrounding events to really care. Preoccupied by the realization that the two friends he'd just made then were being held captive in their own home by the Empire. Especially Luna.

That little shift pulls him out of his thoughts, though he still gently petted the chickling in his hands and lap.]

I know. [He believes in you all.] Besides. Getting these little ones back to their mothers... That's more important.

[He pauses in petting the little guy, looking at the time.] ... Want to stay at my place? That way they don't have to look up your address to pick you up.

[Not to mention they'll need to clean up this mess, too... Damn, Ignis is going to be mad when he finds out.]

Oh, uh, yeah! I guess that makes sense, doesn't it? [Besides, he doesn't want to deal with the questions about where his parents are and all of that stuff. He doesn't want to talk about any of that. It's awkward and weird and he knows there's no point because he can't change anything.

So instead, he gestures to the lot of the sleepy chicks.]

We need to get greens for these guys to bring back to your place, then? I know it's probably against your life beliefs or something to spend money on anything green but I think these are worth it.

[Okay, so he's teasing a little, but he holds up the sweepy-wittle-chick and smiles over the back of the chick. See? Totally worth having to buy lettuce and things, isn't it Noct?]

[Prompto.

Are you seriously.

Trying to bribe him to buy leafy greens.

With sleepy and adorable chocobo chicklings?]

...

[Noct completely and utterly folds because chocobos. His ultimate weakness (which, really, is any animal, but still!).]

... Fine. So long as it isn't carrots.

[He may hate veggies but carrots in particular are like the seventh ring of hell for him.]

Okay, okay, no carrots. There's plenty of other stuff we could get them.

[He all but beams even as inside, he's laughing because what IS it with Noct and veggies!? They're not great but who cares-- and Ignis cooks everything amazing! Picky, picky.

Noctis' side is getting rubbed into by the top of a chocobo head, pressed into his clothing. The chicks are almost all asleep, looking content.]

...Sooooo... how do we get them back to your place? They all look so cute asleep.

Catchall Post ☼ 01 | ❝Where faith and fear collide...❞

P.S. I would totally play out that convo. XD

You know I'm game if you are XD

Psh heck yeah.

Then let's do this :>

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Kinda guessing on Cor?? If this doesn't work let me know.

works for me!

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1/3

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omg I laughed so hard

yesgood 8D

XD

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