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sparkstrikes) wrote2023-01-01 12:11 pm
sparkstrikes) wrote2023-01-01 12:11 pm
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[ Wow, she can't ask that question! Except for on her birthday, Lightning can ask any question that she wants. But how is Prompto supposed to answer that? He knows better than to try and guess a lady's age!
He drums his fingers on his knees as he looks her over, as if gather important intel that will lead him to the truth. ]
You're...twenty-two. Twenty-three? You can't be much older than me. I don't think.
[ If it turns out Lightning is actually younger than him, it's going to rock his world. ]
He drums his fingers on his knees as he looks her over, as if gather important intel that will lead him to the truth. ]
You're...twenty-two. Twenty-three? You can't be much older than me. I don't think.
[ If it turns out Lightning is actually younger than him, it's going to rock his world. ]
Hm.
[Lightning stares at him for a while, silent and neutral-faced, with her lips pressed together. Then, she stands upright and walks out of the room without a single word, leaving Prompto alone with Stuffles staring right at him through his large beady eyes. 'Sup. Her movement to get up tilts his head sideways and forces his hand to drop back to his side.
It's not long before she returns with a plate of bacon in one hand, and a glass of orange juice in the other, both of which are placed on the coffee table between them. The drink is slid closer to Prompto, indicating that it's for him.]
Close. Try five hundred and twenty-three.
[Was that disappearing act even necessary!?!? Probably not, but she wanted to leave a bit of suspense!!]
[Lightning stares at him for a while, silent and neutral-faced, with her lips pressed together. Then, she stands upright and walks out of the room without a single word, leaving Prompto alone with Stuffles staring right at him through his large beady eyes. 'Sup. Her movement to get up tilts his head sideways and forces his hand to drop back to his side.
It's not long before she returns with a plate of bacon in one hand, and a glass of orange juice in the other, both of which are placed on the coffee table between them. The drink is slid closer to Prompto, indicating that it's for him.]
Close. Try five hundred and twenty-three.
[Was that disappearing act even necessary!?!? Probably not, but she wanted to leave a bit of suspense!!]
[ It absolutely is suspenseful, and from the moment Lightning stands up, giving him that stony look, he's sure he's said something wrong. Was his guess that far off?! He should've known better than to try and guess her age! For those few long seconds, he can only sit there and sputter, trying to form a cohesive apology or explanation or anything, but she's gone into the kitchen before he musters anything up.
And on her birthday, of all days...he exchanges a knowing look with Stuffles, who seems to have disappointment in his big, black eyes.
But then she's returning a moment later with food and an answer. Close, she says, and he fumbles the piece of bacon he just picked up as she gives her answer, his eyebrows flying into his hair. ]
F-five hundred andβ c'mon, you're pullin' my leg!
[ ...Isn't she? She must be. ]
And on her birthday, of all days...he exchanges a knowing look with Stuffles, who seems to have disappointment in his big, black eyes.
But then she's returning a moment later with food and an answer. Close, she says, and he fumbles the piece of bacon he just picked up as she gives her answer, his eyebrows flying into his hair. ]
F-five hundred andβ c'mon, you're pullin' my leg!
[ ...Isn't she? She must be. ]
[Her standing up and leaving like that was probably a lot meaner than it needed to be, but the walk to the kitchen and back for some food and a drink for him was worth every single second of his reaction she managed to catch. Her arm wraps around Stuffles as soon as she gets comfortable with her own piece of bacon, and Lightning pauses to munch on a bite before waving it at him.]
If you wanna lie about your age, why go for five hundred?
[Not that she's ashamed at all about being twenty-three (and then some), but if she's going to make anything up, she doubts she'd go for that.]
What... You don't believe me?
If you wanna lie about your age, why go for five hundred?
[Not that she's ashamed at all about being twenty-three (and then some), but if she's going to make anything up, she doubts she'd go for that.]
What... You don't believe me?
I-I wouldn't say that, I just...wasn't expecting...
[ There's really no good way to put it, but he crams his piece of bacon into his mouth anyway, to give himself a moment to chew and think. However, even once he's swallowed, he's no closer to an explanation. Or, at least, one that doesn't sound bad. ]
You just...wear five-hundred and twenty-three really well! Not a wrinkle on you! [ He chuckles, sheepish but warm. ] Sorry. I believe you. Unless you're just pulling an extra-special birthday bluff on me.
[ Which he doesn't really suspect, but how could she actually be that old? ]
[ There's really no good way to put it, but he crams his piece of bacon into his mouth anyway, to give himself a moment to chew and think. However, even once he's swallowed, he's no closer to an explanation. Or, at least, one that doesn't sound bad. ]
You just...wear five-hundred and twenty-three really well! Not a wrinkle on you! [ He chuckles, sheepish but warm. ] Sorry. I believe you. Unless you're just pulling an extra-special birthday bluff on me.
[ Which he doesn't really suspect, but how could she actually be that old? ]
[It's fine, really. It does admittedly sound very farfetched when she says it out loud like that, but there couldn't be anything closer to the truth. Though, she'll continue to go with twenty-three when (if) she tells others since it's a prettier number anyway.
As for the wisdom he's asked her to impart on him?
Lightning pauses to take one more bite of her bacon and stretches before she bestows it.]
Wanna know the trick?
[She leans forward and lowers her voice, like she's really about to tell him her ancient, long-kept secret.]
As for the wisdom he's asked her to impart on him?
Lightning pauses to take one more bite of her bacon and stretches before she bestows it.]
Wanna know the trick?
[She leans forward and lowers her voice, like she's really about to tell him her ancient, long-kept secret.]
[ His eyes flicker between the bacon and Lightning, anticipation drumming up inside him, absolutely certain he's about to hear something very cool. After all, even if Lightning weren't as old as she says, she would still doubtless have plenty of mind-blowing things to tell him. Though considering the circumstances, he's halfway convinced it has something to with bacon. ]
You bet I do. Lay it on me, girl.
[ He is hanging on her every word. ]
You bet I do. Lay it on me, girl.
[ He is hanging on her every word. ]
so i totally forgot what it was i actually wanted her to say.....
sparkstrikes
2018-06-23 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Thinking about it now, Lightning realizes that she knows quite a bit about Prompto but he knows very little about her. There are some things she doesn't share so openly with others, like what she's about to disclose, but if done in the right way she doesn't mind talking about it so much. Besides, it's not as if he's difficult to open up to. In fact, she thinks she needs to learn to do so more often...
No better time to start than now, right?
Despite the very real heaviness of her admission, she makes an effort to keep the tone light.]
Plenty of sleep β five centuries of it. You'll wake up without a wrinkle, and your skin'll glow.
[Lightning motions to the juice on the table.]
Or just drink a lot of fluids.
[SO PROFOUND...And not as clever as it was supposed to be!!!]
No better time to start than now, right?
Despite the very real heaviness of her admission, she makes an effort to keep the tone light.]
Plenty of sleep β five centuries of it. You'll wake up without a wrinkle, and your skin'll glow.
[Lightning motions to the juice on the table.]
Or just drink a lot of fluids.
[SO PROFOUND...
[ So, it doesn't have to do with bacon after all.
But what she does tell him is far more important than anything that could have to do with baconβor even sleep habits, even if that is what she couches her response in. It's a technique he knows well, buffing the edges of something sharp an unexpected with humor to lessen the blow, but the impact of it is still not lost on him. She's telling him about herself, about her past, and this unexpected part of it that can't be easy to explain. After all, they've just been over it. She doesn't look like she's over five-hundred years old, and there must be quite the story to go along with that if she was sleeping for five centuries.
Yet this doesn't seem like the right time to ask about it, even if she did bring it up herself. There's still so much he doesn't know about the life she led back on her home world, and perhaps he should have been asking about it sooner. Yet Prompto has never been one to pry, well-acquainted with the fact that some peopleβmany peopleβhave secrets they want to keep, and he would never want Lightning to feel obligated to tell him anything, even if she does know his own secret. Besides, that kind of thing isn't always easy to talk about, and that's not usually the kind of mood he tries to set.
Still, she's just told him something pretty major about her past, and he's not going to brush it off with a laugh, even if it takes a similar approach to her, lifting his glass of orange juice in his hand. ]
Hey, good advice. Just don't tell Noct that first part. If sleeping for five centuries is an option, he'd do it.
[ Little does he know... ]
Butβhey, I think that calls for a toast, don't you? Not every day you get to celebrate the big five-two-three!
[ An orange juice toast, yes. ]
But what she does tell him is far more important than anything that could have to do with baconβor even sleep habits, even if that is what she couches her response in. It's a technique he knows well, buffing the edges of something sharp an unexpected with humor to lessen the blow, but the impact of it is still not lost on him. She's telling him about herself, about her past, and this unexpected part of it that can't be easy to explain. After all, they've just been over it. She doesn't look like she's over five-hundred years old, and there must be quite the story to go along with that if she was sleeping for five centuries.
Yet this doesn't seem like the right time to ask about it, even if she did bring it up herself. There's still so much he doesn't know about the life she led back on her home world, and perhaps he should have been asking about it sooner. Yet Prompto has never been one to pry, well-acquainted with the fact that some peopleβmany peopleβhave secrets they want to keep, and he would never want Lightning to feel obligated to tell him anything, even if she does know his own secret. Besides, that kind of thing isn't always easy to talk about, and that's not usually the kind of mood he tries to set.
Still, she's just told him something pretty major about her past, and he's not going to brush it off with a laugh, even if it takes a similar approach to her, lifting his glass of orange juice in his hand. ]
Hey, good advice. Just don't tell Noct that first part. If sleeping for five centuries is an option, he'd do it.
[ Little does he know... ]
Butβhey, I think that calls for a toast, don't you? Not every day you get to celebrate the big five-two-three!
[ An orange juice toast, yes. ]
[She's appreciative of the fact that he draws no further attention to it. There's a time and a place for that talk, and now is definitely not the time – they have company and she's not sure how Stuffles would feel about them dampening the mood on her birthday... probably not very good! One day, the opportunity to tell him all about it will present itself, she's sure of that, and when it does she'll know.
For now, she'll settle for a toast. There's only one problem!]
I don't have anything to toast with.
[Whoops, in the middle of her attempts at being cheeky, she forgot to grab a glass of something to drink for herself. That's fine, there's probably a "when life gives you lemons" saying for situations like this, so she'll go by that mantra. Lightning picks up a piece of bacon and raises it at Prompto, and the corner of her lip twitches upward.]
To the big five-two-three, I guess.
[She probably looks really dumb right now, but whatever. She's in good company.]
For now, she'll settle for a toast. There's only one problem!]
I don't have anything to toast with.
[Whoops, in the middle of her attempts at being cheeky, she forgot to grab a glass of something to drink for herself. That's fine, there's probably a "when life gives you lemons" saying for situations like this, so she'll go by that mantra. Lightning picks up a piece of bacon and raises it at Prompto, and the corner of her lip twitches upward.]
To the big five-two-three, I guess.
[She probably looks really dumb right now, but whatever. She's in good company.]
[ He can't help a snort of laughter when she lifts the piece of bacon to toast with. He might've overlooked the fact that she didn't have a drink of her own, but this improvisation is even better. Chuckling warmly, he tips the lip of his glass to her piece of bacon, meeting her gaze with genuine joy at the corner of his eyes. ]
To the big five-two-three! May you have many happy returns.
[ And then he kicks back the glass of O.J., takes a few heart mouthfuls β before he swallows down the wrong tube and has to cough into the glass to avoid dying. He doesn't, however, avoid sounding and looking like an idiot, snorting orange juice inelegantly through his nose and turning his head to sputter into his shoulder.
What a toast... ]
To the big five-two-three! May you have many happy returns.
[ And then he kicks back the glass of O.J., takes a few heart mouthfuls β before he swallows down the wrong tube and has to cough into the glass to avoid dying. He doesn't, however, avoid sounding and looking like an idiot, snorting orange juice inelegantly through his nose and turning his head to sputter into his shoulder.
What a toast... ]
[What a toast, indeed... but there'll be many more toasts to come in the future that he can master the art in no time! She's sure of it. Whether it's birthdays or other, bigger celebrations, Lightning is hopeful that they'll be sharing more memories like this one, as simple as it is. There's something special about how regular this is (minus the fact that they just toasted to five hundred and twenty-three years!), and there had been a time when she'd forgotten what living was like. She could help save the world over and over again, but when it boils down to it, eating a slice of bacon next to a giant stuffed bear is truly living.
Lightning waits for him to finish his choking (why isn't she helping him!?!?), and after leaning forward to check if he's alright, she finishes off her slice of bacon as if it were her own glass of orange juice.
And as her smile warms, so does the room as the sun peeks through the window and basks them in its glow.]
Thank you, Prompto... for this.
[For everything.]
Lightning waits for him to finish his choking (why isn't she helping him!?!?), and after leaning forward to check if he's alright, she finishes off her slice of bacon as if it were her own glass of orange juice.
And as her smile warms, so does the room as the sun peeks through the window and basks them in its glow.]
Thank you, Prompto... for this.
[For everything.]
[Sometime in the mid-morning hours, Lightning is going to find a very large box at her house. Daisy is probably hopping all over it so no way to miss it. On it is a note with the following words:]
Caught a good haul this morning and thought this big guy would be perfect for you to try. Bet you can make a feast out of it!
— Rokurou
[When we say this box is very large, it is very large because inside not only is she going to find a good number of trout and other fish, but there's also this monster:
.
Enjoy.]
Caught a good haul this morning and thought this big guy would be perfect for you to try. Bet you can make a feast out of it!
— Rokurou
[When we say this box is very large, it is very large because inside not only is she going to find a good number of trout and other fish, but there's also this monster:
.Enjoy.]
Edited 2018-07-04 07:59 (UTC)
Lady Lightning, are you busy?
[There's something very important Machina needs to ask her. Because no matter how much they butted heads a few months ago, Lightning remains the one person he trusts above anyone else to see it done.]
There is... something important I need to talk to you about.
[There's something very important Machina needs to ask her. Because no matter how much they butted heads a few months ago, Lightning remains the one person he trusts above anyone else to see it done.]
There is... something important I need to talk to you about.
[UGH, why aren't there ringers or warnings for telepathic messages like there are phones? Lightning groans to herself, and it'll take her a few moments to recompose herself after the surprise of receiving one to answer. She almost feels the need to remind Machina to drop the title, but ultimately decides against it for several reasons, one of them being wanting to get this "call" over with as quickly as possible.]
Important enough that you gotta send me a message this way? ... I'm not, what is it?
Important enough that you gotta send me a message this way? ... I'm not, what is it?
[She's not the only one who's not fond of voices in the head. But without a COMM, this is the easiest way to reach someone.]
Yeah, it is. Is there somewhere I can meet you?
Yeah, it is. Is there somewhere I can meet you?
[Her eyes narrow in the brief silence that follows his question, as if he can see it, but she can already feel her stomach turning. What in the world could be this important? Guess there's only one way to find out.]
Yeah. You can come to the house. Just don't try anything funny while you're here.
[Because remember last time? Yeah, she still does.]
Yeah. You can come to the house. Just don't try anything funny while you're here.
[Because remember last time? Yeah, she still does.]
[He remembers. He doesn't have any emotions tied to that memory any more, but Machina does remember. But no snarky retort is forthcoming, no attitude, not even an annoyed snort. Lightning's house is safe from a repeat of before.
Flying over would be faster, but Machina opts for the mortal route instead, riding his work bike to the house. Once there, he stands at the front door spending his time thinking of the last time he was here. It was months ago. Before Snow left. Before Hope left. Remembering that they're gone just shores up his resolve to follow through on the course he's set his feet on. He's done with this world screwing with them and taking away friends and family.
Knock knock, someone at the door.]
Flying over would be faster, but Machina opts for the mortal route instead, riding his work bike to the house. Once there, he stands at the front door spending his time thinking of the last time he was here. It was months ago. Before Snow left. Before Hope left. Remembering that they're gone just shores up his resolve to follow through on the course he's set his feet on. He's done with this world screwing with them and taking away friends and family.
Knock knock, someone at the door.]
[The door opens almost immediately. Lightning had seen him coming up the front steps but waited for him to knock, all while wondering what had taken him that long to finally do it. When they're face to face, she looks neither thrilled nor upset to see him. She'll wait until he tells her what he has to say before she decides which one it is.]
Took you long enough.
[To knock, not to get here. That's her greeting as she steps aside to give Machina room to enter if he still wishes to.]
Took you long enough.
[To knock, not to get here. That's her greeting as she steps aside to give Machina room to enter if he still wishes to.]
Sorry. I guess I spaced out.
[He does that a lot under normal circumstances, and it's only become worse in the recent months. Thinking too hard has always been a problematic behavior, but now he often drifts out of thought into emptiness. Waiting for a voice that doesn't come to him here. Even now, he's struggling to keep a grasp on who he is, at least enough to make his request.]
I won't be long.
[Can't take long. Same difference, yes? So he steps in the house but doesn't make a move to go past the entry. Instead, he just launches off with the pertinent information first before he drifts again.]
I want to ask you to look out for my brother. Please.
[He does that a lot under normal circumstances, and it's only become worse in the recent months. Thinking too hard has always been a problematic behavior, but now he often drifts out of thought into emptiness. Waiting for a voice that doesn't come to him here. Even now, he's struggling to keep a grasp on who he is, at least enough to make his request.]
I won't be long.
[Can't take long. Same difference, yes? So he steps in the house but doesn't make a move to go past the entry. Instead, he just launches off with the pertinent information first before he drifts again.]
I want to ask you to look out for my brother. Please.
[She's already making her way down the hall to the kitchen by the time he blurts out his request, and when she turns on her heel to find that he isn't following behind her, she pauses mid-step and raises a brow.]
... You gonna come in, or you wanna have this conversation at the door?
[They will get back to his brother in a hot second, but no way is she standing around in the foyer like this. She's got a feeling there's more to it than just looking out for Izana and she fully intends to find out what it is.]
... You gonna come in, or you wanna have this conversation at the door?
[They will get back to his brother in a hot second, but no way is she standing around in the foyer like this. She's got a feeling there's more to it than just looking out for Izana and she fully intends to find out what it is.]
[Lots lots more to it and these days, Machina doesn't have much of a need to hide things. Or, he's got less fear and distrust driving being a sneak, anyway.]
Uh, yeah. Sorry.
[He'll pick up the pace to catch up. Still weird being here again.]
Uh, yeah. Sorry.
[He'll pick up the pace to catch up. Still weird being here again.]
[Once in the kitchen, she pours him a glass of water which she slides across the counter towards him before grabbing a container of fruit from the fridge should he want to help himself to a snack, too. They have an abundance, so why not? She doesn't pour herself any, nor does she make a grab for the fresh strawberries. Instead, Lightning drums her fingers once on the counter.]
So, you gonna tell me why you want me to look out for your brother?
[Getting right to the point.]
So, you gonna tell me why you want me to look out for your brother?
[Getting right to the point.]
[The water he takes with a grateful nod, while the fruit gets a curious glance. It's certainly tempting but what he's here for is more important than indulging the bottomless pit of his teen stomach.]
I...I might have found a way to keep him here, and Lady Serah. I don't know if it'll work, but I have to try.
[He looks Lightning square on in the face with the same intense seriousness as always. What Machina's not saying is what he plans to do is potentially very dangerous, but he doesn't care. Consequences be damned.]
I know you out of anyone will understand: I will do anything to keep Izana alive. And... there is no one on the island I trust more with him than you.
[Because more than Sora or Hizumi or even Regis, there's no one he knows who can understand the need to keep a beloved sibling alive, and have the strength to see it done.]
I...I might have found a way to keep him here, and Lady Serah. I don't know if it'll work, but I have to try.
[He looks Lightning square on in the face with the same intense seriousness as always. What Machina's not saying is what he plans to do is potentially very dangerous, but he doesn't care. Consequences be damned.]
I know you out of anyone will understand: I will do anything to keep Izana alive. And... there is no one on the island I trust more with him than you.
[Because more than Sora or Hizumi or even Regis, there's no one he knows who can understand the need to keep a beloved sibling alive, and have the strength to see it done.]
[Something else flickers across Lightning's expression β curiosity, with maybe a little bit of fear. For so long, she had been searching for an answer as to why people would come and go the way they did, and why some returned with their memories and others didn't. After Serah and Gladio returned without theirs, she had given up the search and concentrated her efforts on making the most of her time with them instead. All of that stopped mattering... until now.
There's one thing about this that concerns her, though... but first things first.
She folds her arms. Forgive her if she seems a little... distrustful.]
What is it? This idea you have?
There's one thing about this that concerns her, though... but first things first.
She folds her arms. Forgive her if she seems a little... distrustful.]
What is it? This idea you have?
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