Action | Open

[this_loser]

Who: Prompto + Open (+private to Noctis)
Broadcast: Nope
Action: Open Iskaulit, Closed Planetside
When: Present

ACTION - Iskaulit

[The planet is a great distraction. But it's not quite enough. Sometimes the stretch of a white field is a little too familiar, and he expects to see the blocks of a Niflheim base over the crest of the next hill. Sometimes Pryna races ahead of him through the trees, and he has to stop himself from tripping over his feet and looking for MTs laying in the snow.

Getting back into a routine helps, and a big part of that is heading over to the Iskaulit every morning and running.

His music is up louder than usual, and he's a bit lost in his head. But he'll offer up canned, smiling, greetings to anyone he does happen to notice.]

PRIVATE to Noctis

[It's a good thing, Prompto thinks, that this planet has fishing. Because getting Noctis up and out of the ship was a must. It still hurt to have Luna and Ignis gone. Some days, he still expected to wander out and find Iggy working on breakfast. He couldn't imagine how much harder it was for his friend.

The dogs were happy to lope around and stretch their legs as well. Gods, he was ever so happy to see Pryna. What a bittersweet gift that had been.

He's happy to play with Umbra and Pryna in the snow while Noct does his thing with the fish.]

Comments

[this_loser]

[He smiles once he spots her and slips into the booth a moment later.]

Didn't mean to keep you waiting.

[He orders a water for himself while he scans over the menu, though nothing really jumps out at him. His stomach is a little knotted up now that he's here. The idea of talking things out is a good one. Actually doing it - that's something else entirely.]

[axi]

Don't worry, you didn't.

[Once she's decided what she wants, Kaname places the menu on the table. Since she's across from, she can't help but look at Prompto and bite back a smile she hopes he doesn't see. There's something she's trying really hard not to ask him.]

There's no rush, either. You can take your time deciding.

[this_loser]

Yeah. Cool. Um... [He sets his menu aside, having decided. Something light. Something his stomach won't rebel against. Anyway, he doesn't want to take advantage of her hospitality.] Thanks, for this, by the way.

[He clears his throat.] I had all that stuff in my head, and now I can't figure out what to say.

[Which is funny, because normally he can't shut up.]

[axi]

I'm up for it anytime, there's no need to thank me.

[She exhales softly in amusement before trying to help him out.]

Hey, you don't need to talk about anything specific if you don't feel like it. Whatever you want to say or ask is fine. For example...

[Kaname looks contemplative for a moment as if she's debating within herself before she goes for it.]

How long does it take you to do your hair?

[this_loser]

Just...don't wanna be a downer, 's'all.

[He blinks, and reaches up to tug on the longer strand that hangs down the side of his face.]

My hair? Um... I dunno. Depends on how much time I got, I guess. [Camping out with four guys, cramming into hotels with one bathroom between them, and keeping to Iggy's schedule meant learning to toss it up in a hurry if he had to. But he didn't have those constraints here.] Twenty, thirty minutes? [Closer to forty, if he was being really picky with it.]

[axi]

That's not something I'd be worried about. Besides, I invited you out because I like spending time with you, real talk or not.

[His candor receives a chuckle from her.] That's longer than it takes me most days. Color me impressed.
[She pauses.] Hm, then again, I haven't been concerned with keeping it in place for performances that much here...

[Kaname reaches for her juice and takes a drink.] All right, don't think too hard on this one. Name three things you don't leave home-- or your ship-- without.

[Fun word games, go?]

[this_loser]

O-oh. Thanks. I, um. I like spending time with you, too.

[He clears his throat, and blushes right through the freckles.] Have you seen Noct and Iggy? It takes a lot of work to keep up with fashion plates like them.


[He doesn't need to think about it, and smiles easy with a tilt of his head.] Oh, easy. My camera, my gun, and this thing. [He lifts his right wrist and shakes the black bracelet fastened around it.]

[axi]

Are you okay? [The stammering reply earns him a concerned look from her.] But yes, I have. Everyone's hair is always impressive.

[Kaname nods at the mention of the camera and gun, but looks curiously at the bracelet.]

Now that you mention it, I don't think I've seen you without that. Is it special to you?

[this_loser]

Yep! I. am. fine. [Don't be concerned over his bouts of anxiety and awkwardness.

Though he might be a little less than fine. He doesn't like keeping things from his friends. And maybe he doesn't need to here, anyway.]

Well, I like it a lot. But, um... [He brings it down to fiddle with the strap.] It's also necessary.

[axi]

[Now that's just a puzzling statement. Kaname tilts her head slightly in confusion, looking from the bracelet to his face.]

What do you mean?

[this_loser]

[He doesn't say anything for a moment, debating. It shouldn't be as hard as it is. He told Noct and Iggy and Gladio. He passed this hurdle once already. But it's really hard.

But finally he takes a deep breath and unclasps the bracelet and thrusts his arm across the table so she can see the barcode etched over his wrist.]

[axi]

[She blinks, taken aback by the sudden action, but quickly notices his demeanor. Kaname pauses before slowly meeting him half way and taking his hand in both of hers to steady him. Gaze on the barcode, her thumb traces across it, brow furrowed.

It's a tattoo, but it clearly has a story he's not fond of sharing. That alone speaks volumes to her, and something like this wasn't what she had in mind when she asked him to join her. Still, she did say he could talk about anything.]

Prompto... You don't have to tell me anything that you don't want to, all right? Of course I'll listen, but please don't feel pressured.

((Episode Prompto spoilers in following tags. TW for self harm.))

[this_loser]

[There's a burn scar over the tattoo that's well-healed that she might notice if she's looking at it closely.

He shakes his head.]

No. I...I want to. I kept it a secret my whole life. It's one of the things that's been stuck in my head. With the snow and stuff, I couldn't help it... um... that probably doesn't make any sense. Sorry. [He bites his lip with a frown.]

[axi]

[Kaname sees it and feels her insides constrict at the meaning it holds. Initially, she was under the impression everything was about Ignis and Luna. With how close the group was, it would make sense that he's still broken up about losing them. But this, whatever this is, seems like a whole new layer to topics she can't even begin to imagine.]

All right. [It's all she can really say. A part of her wants to tell him not to apologize, that he has absolutely nothing to be sorry about, but for some reason, she stops herself. Instead, the singer stands up and moves out of her seat and around the table, holding his hand the entire time. She slides into the one next to him, sitting just close enough so that their shoulders are touching. In a way, it's to let him know she's there for him as well as to give him a little privacy from the rest of their surroundings.]

[this_loser]

[Ignis and Luna are still very much A Thing. But he's been working through that with Noctis. Or, rather, helping Noctis work through it. It's ... kind of the same thing. Like he said, there were a lot things going on his head.

He scoots over some to give her room when he realizes what she's doing, a little baffled that she never once lets go of his hand. Equally baffled that she's moved closer.]

Are you sure? I haven't even told you what it means yet.

[axi]

[His confusion might have caused her to hesitate in anything if she hadn't seen the scar. However, she has, and she knows it's a deeper issue than he might make it out to be.]

I said I'd listen. Besides, this seems to be a pretty big thing to share. Sometimes it helps having someone at your side.

[Also literally in this case. Despite her words, Kaname doesn't meet his gaze this time. It might be to avoid having him see the possibly maybe kinda embarrassed expression she has on for being as forward as she was.]

But if you change your mind at any point, tell me. [Her grip on his hand loosens, but she doesn't let go entirely.]

[this_loser]

[His presses his lips together and nods.] Yeah. Thanks. [Another nod, more sure.] Thank you.

[His eyes flick down, then away. He only ever takes off his bracelet if he's bathing - and tries to avoid looking at his wrist even then. So, might as well, just...] I'm, um... I was made in a lab. That's what that means.

[axi]

Of course.

[Kaname keeps her voice quiet and calm, though her brows draw together when he tells her the meaning. Thoughts of people back home creep into her mind, yet she shoves them aside, not willing to draw any similarities until he elaborates-- if he does.

She does squeeze his hand in support once more.]

Is that different in your world?

[this_loser]

[He pauses, mouth popping open, then shut. Different?]

It's, um. It's not a good thing. It's not normal. [He's not normal. His voice isn't quite steady, but he goes on.] I'm a clone. One of like, thousands? More than that? I don't know. I was supposed to be a soldier. A-a weapon.

[axi]

[His words are met with silence at first. She's thinking of what to say and how to say it. It might take longer than she realizes; silence does stretch on for a long time when it's most inconvenient.

When she speaks, there's a small smile in place as she squeezes his hand again.]

I may not the most objective person to hear this from, since cloning isn't uncommon at home, but... [She trails off, trying to find the words again before switching gears.] I want to say it doesn't matter, but that's not true. It does matter a lot to you, and I don't think that'll change.

[Kaname shifts a little to look over at him, smile soft.] What you were supposed to be doesn't bother the people who really care about you. Genetics doesn't define who you are or who you'll be on a level that really matters. Try to trust me on that. I know it doesn't have a bearing on what I think at all.

[this_loser]

[The stretch of silence worries him. He bites his lip and frowns at the table until she decides how she's going to end their friendship. He just hopes she won't make a scene.

So it's a relief when her answer is nothing of the sort. He releases a pent up breath, hand squeezing back, and eyes prickling.]

That means a lot to me. Really.

[He reaches for his bracelet. It feels weird, not wearing something. Like being exposed.]

It's ... it's normal where you're from?

[axi]

[She nods, nudging him with her arm when he exhales.] So does you sharing it with me. I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to do that.

[Her eyes flicker to the bracelet, and she releases his hand so he can put it back on.]

The first space war cut the population of Earth in half, over three billion gone. Coupled with humanity migrating to the stars, they had to increase the population. They stopped over a decade before I was born, but meeting people whose parents are clones isn't unheard of.

[Kaname pauses before offering something else.] And, back home, there's someone important to me who's one as well. Learning that made no difference in how I feel.

[this_loser]

[He keeps his eyes on his bracelet, fastening the buckle, twisting it in place, fiddling with the many straps cut across the front that make it seem like multiple bracelets instead of just one. He liked the design, despite the worry one might could see the tattoo peek through sometimes, if they looked close enough. But no one ever did.

He's listening. Humans created for a good reason. He can imagine it, but it seems so strange at the same time. He saw the clones housed in those tubes, floating in liquid and black scourge, wearing his face. He remembers finding the termination orders, the list of numbers - no names, they didn't have names (he didn't have a name in the beginning) - assigned to clones that were to be incinerated. Did they do that on her world? Incubate. Cull the good from the bad.

He doesn't really want to ask. He's probably been quiet for too long.]

Sorry. Um, I... [He laughs, hand ruining his hair as he scrubs through it a little nervously.] This probably isn't what you were expecting. I didn't mean to dump all this on you. [Despite what she said.]

[axi]

You're right, it really wasn't. [She can't help the chuckle that escapes her, mostly out of nervous relief that he's speaking again.] But it means a lot that you trust me enough to share what you did, so you don't have to apologize.

[Kaname glances over at him, eyes moving to the hand on his head.]

Um, Prompto, you're messing up your hair. [Even after how long it took him to get ready.]

I... I have to ask. How did you think I'd react to this?

[this_loser]

It...it means a lot that you listened.

[He draws his hand away from his hair with a wince and rubs it on his pant leg. He'd put quite a bit of product in his hair to keep the shape. Oh well.

He looks down, and lifts his shoulder with a shrug.]

I dunno. They say you should hope for the best but expect the worst, yeah? I've had this thing for as long as I can remember. [He touches the black bands hiding the tattoo.] My folks drilled it in my head that if anyone ever saw it, something bad would happen. I've been afraid my whole life, even before I knew what it really meant.

I figured ... I dunno ... You'd either be okay with it or ... or you'd ... not be. And this would be it.