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

[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.

[axi]

I think I can understand that. [Her words are quiet so only the two of them can hear.] It sounds like they wanted to protect you, and that might've been the only way they knew how. Fear can be a powerful motivator.

[Still, the idea of a child having to be so careful and on edge isn't a nice one. Kaname leans over a little and lets her head rest on his shoulder in a show of comfort.]

I'm absolutely okay with it. You don't have to hesitate in telling me anything you want to, I promise. It'd take a lot more than that for me to abandon someone.

[And she means every word. Discovering something so similar about a friend back home did nothing to change her opinion then. Now is definitely not any different.]

[this_loser]

[He gives a little nod. His parents did the best they could, he's sure. He wonders how much they really knew, if they ever would have told him, if they were involved at all with his immigration into Insomnia. He'll never know, now.

He's a little surprised by the contact, but he's a tactile person. It's comforting, so he sighs and let's the tension that's been coiled up in him slowly unwind.]

Thank you, Kaname. You're a really good friend.

[axi]

[She lets out a small chuckle.] Well, you're welcome.

[A few more moments pass before she lifts her head back up and straightens, nudging him lightly in the side.]

Next time we go out [Kaname moves from beside him back to the seat across the booth] you can pay. Sound good to you?

[this_loser]

Yeah... [He sits up, takes a breath. Resets. Smiles.] Yeah. Sounds good.

[axi]

[And then food arrives, they eat, have a nice time, the end!]