sparkstrikes | empatheias IC contact. (archive)

[This is a pleasant surprise. There's an accidental warmth that she sends back before she says anything, and she doesn't notice that it's even there at all, but it's nice to hear his voice again. It's been in passing when she'd occasionally visit the Eos house with coffees, but she never really stayed long enough to really catch up.]

If I could be doing one thing right now?

[She smiles to herself.]

Do you want me to say grabbing coffee with you?

[BUT IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION? Does Prompto even drink coffee?]

[ He certainly doesn't need to drink it for the energy boost, and he's nowhere the fanatic that Ignis is, but he won't turn down a coffee run with a friend. Especially when he feels that warmth coming over their mental connection. Navigating all of this is is still...tricky, uncertain of where he really stands with most people here, but he wants to make things right. Right as they can be, at least. ]

Hey, what d'you know - that was gonna be my answer, too! You got a few minutes?

[ They can always plan for later, but if she's available now... ]

Really. Could've fooled me. [Truly.] Was half expecting you to come up with something like visiting Klaus.

[Lightning hasn't forgotten how much he loves his giant birds, and it would have come as a surprise to her if Noel hadn't mentioned it to Prompto at the very least. She'd be disappointed to learn that he has no idea.]

Yeah, I'm free. How about you come here, I'll make us something? My treat. I've got leftover cake in the fridge that needs to get eaten, too.

[He smiles warmly; her offer of direction is both discreet and welcome, and he allows their arms to link together comfortably before starting in the direction she'd indicated, letting his cane inform him of whether or not the way is blocked.]

I see you're as punctual as ever.

[Lightning has always managed to beat him to their appointed meeting places with some regularity. He offers her a brief nod of thanks as she pulls out a chair for him, easing himself into it and letting his cane rest against the table before he carefully reaches for his cup, closing his hands around it a moment later. He's getting better with regards to spatial awareness, his ears growing sharper.]

I hope that doesn't mean it was unwelcome?

[Of course, he knows it wasn't.]

You think if it was, I'd be here right now?

[There's an amused lilt to her voice, and Lightning lets her arms unfold so she can cradle the warm paper cup between her fingers. There's a chillier breeze that sneaks into the cafe anytime the door opens, so the extra heat is a treat for her hands.]

Just wasn't expecting it is all. Something on your mind?

[Not that she doesn't think he would invite her to have coffee just because, but she sees no harm in asking to be sure.]

Edited 2018-01-29 04:50 (UTC)

You know me too well.

[He laughs softly, pausing to take a first sip from his own cup. The first taste of a cup of coffee is always exquisite in its own way, and he exhales a moment afterwards.

There were plenty of instances of them taking the time to get coffee or lunch just for the sake of enjoying each other's company, but those outings had always been planned ahead. She's right-- this is different.]

I was hoping we could... catch up.

[ Visiting Klaus might've been a close second, and to be fair, once he stops on over he may just end up asking after the chocobo's whereabouts for a quick neck scratch or two.

As she's offered... ]

How can I turn down free cake? [ Like, that'd just be crazy. ] You sure? I-I don't mind pickin' us up something on the way. I'm a great gofer!

[ And also, he hates to impose like this, out of the blue. ]

[Lightning opens her mouth to give him a soft protest to that – "we see each other all the time" – but her intuition makes her close her mouth and she pops the lid of her cup off to hide behind a sip. She doesn't have much to update Ignis on that he doesn't know already, so whatever he needs to say, she's there to listen.]

Something bugging you?

[And how can he turn down free homemade cake? It's not the most perfect cheesecake, not like the ones he'll find in a bakery in the city, but close enough. It's a little cracked from the baking in the oven, but it's still delicious.]

It's fine. We've got tea if coffee isn't... your cup of tea. I'll leave the door unlocked.

[She's already started prepping the coffee pot, and adding some water to the kettle just in case.]

You know where we are, right? By the lake?

[ Cheesecake? Oh, now they're talking. He'd learned nebulously where Lightning her friends lived, but "by the lake" is clear enough for him and if he really needs to, he can always "call for directions", as it were. Handy thing, telepathy. Until he accidental broadcasts his shopping list or a daydream about chocobos, or something. ]

Mh-hmm! I'll be there in, like...a jiff and a half.

[ ...Whatever that means.

But he's already on his way out the door by the time he's thinking this, so it won't be too long at all, considering the extra spring in his step as he goes. He's not a slow walker at the worst of times, but when he's looking forward to something, he all but skips. When he arrives, he does knock first, crisply so, before nudging the door open. ]

- Hey, Lightning! It's me! I'm coming in! [ ... ] And by "me" I mean "Prompto"!

[The entire bottom level of the house smells like a mix between coffee and lemon – not the most common blend of scents but it feels like home. Daisy the goat trots up to Prompto to greet him with a happy bleat once he's inside and she nudges his leg with a clumsy head butt to grab his attention.]

In the kitchen.

[Lightning calls from down the hall, where she's slicing a couple of pieces of cake for them and drizzling some homemade strawberry sauce over them. On hearing the noise Daisy makes, she straightens and rolls her eyes. The damn brat... at least let Prompto get his shoes off first.]

Mind the goat. She likes getting under your feet.

[Seriously, Machina's still feeling more than a little raw from Selenium. But it's that which compels him to check in on Lightning. He's been trying to let her have her space but it's been a month. He doesn't know what it's like to lose a spouse like Snow did, but he does know how it feels to have a sibling taken away from you. And frankly, he's still terrified that Izana could up and vanish at any time.]

Lady Lightning?

[ Whoa, she's got a pet goat? Way to bury the lead. And as Daisy has so ungently made her presence know to him, far be it from Prompto not to give her due attention for a moment, a sort of incredulous laugh slipping out of him as he scratches the goat around her scruff. ]

As if I could mind a cutie like her! [ Just, like, don't eat his shoes or something. With a final pat on the head, Prompto trots down towards the kitchen to join her, his face lighting up at the smell that greets him. ]

That's smells amazing! You really know how to make a guy feel special, huh?

[Just like any other bit of contact someone makes via the crystals to reach out to her, it startles Lightning enough to make her stop what she's doing. It's been a whole year and then some, and she still hasn't grown used to it... what happened to good, old fashioned phones?

She clears her throat before she opens the communication, her voice free of any malice.]

Yeah? What do you want?

[...and please stop calling her Lady Lightning, Machina.]

[Snow's shoes are the only shoes that little one will eat, thankfully. It's much better than eating Lightning's... Daisy happily trots alongside Prompto, looking up at him and clumsily tripping over her own hooves. She gets too enamored with new friends for her own good, but she can be a brat about it too, once in a while.

Seeing him, Lightning smiles wider and slides the newly decorated slice of cake his way.]

I know how to make you feel special.

[She points a fork in Prompto's direction, like this is a very important distinction that needs to be made. It really isn't.]

I just want to make sure you're comfortable.

[He's tried just thinking it! Only it blurts out anyway.]

I...

I wanted to see how you were.

[This was dumb, wasn't it? It made sense in his head, but now he feels awkward about bringing it up.]

[He exhales a bit, and it comes out as a soft huff.]

I'm that obvious, am I?

[He smiles faintly, but it fades a moment afterwards.]

There has been something weighing on me for some time, in fact, that I've been unable to speak of until recently-- and certainly not openly. Beyond you, only Steven knows, and I don't intend to tell anyone else. I trust the both of you with my life.

[There's nothing dumb about it. Although Machina can't see it, Lightning smiles to herself. It would be a lie to say that she didn't appreciate people reaching out to check on her, especially after everything that's happened in the house in the last month or so.]

I'm alright.

[It's not entirely true, but it's not all that false either. Frankly, she has no idea how she feels right now.]

You got the news too...

You're not exactly subtle.

[She fixes him with an intent stare when she sees his smile fade and, shifting slightly, she lifts her cup to her lips without taking a sip, her eyes not leaving Ignis' face once. Her voice turns delicate, lacking any of the humour or amusement from earlier.]

If you wanna talk, then talk.

[And she will listen. Lightning has a couple of ideas on what this could be about, but she isn't going to make any assumptions... not out loud.]

Yeah, I did. Lord Snow told me.

[Of course, Snow also was blaming himself and that hardly seems a thing to bring up. Not really Machina's news to share.]

Do you need anything?

[Because he desperately wants to help, but has no idea how he can or what to say.]

[That's a good question... does she? Lightning doesn't really know herself.]

No. I'll be fine, with time.

[Maybe that's all she needs, some more time. She thought there was more than enough of that to go around here, but she was proven very, very wrong, and quickly, too.]

Do you need anything? This seems sudden.

[He grimaces, though only slightly. It's not quite that simple, and he's certain this must seem out of the blue to begin with, but he'll do his utmost to handle this situation with grace and tact.]

When I first returned from my trip home, you asked who did this to me.

[She'd been quite intent on finding out, if he recalls.]

What happened wasn't so clear-cut as all that. We were fighting against the Empire, yes, but I wasn't attacked.

[She licks the taste of coffee from her lips and purses them together, nodding, even if Ignis can't see it. Lightning remembers the day he returned well, like it was yesterday. The panic that had set in upon discovering him, and in the state he was in...

She remembers feeling angry for him, and at the Empire who dared hurt him. She remembers thinking that if she could reach through the divide between their worlds, she would bring her wrath down on them...

... Which is why she sounds so confused now.]

What do you mean, you weren't attacked?

[Had she misunderstood it all?]

Not really. That holiday was...

[Yeah no, he doesn't want to talk about bits rubbed raw by Selenium.]

...

...

...it would have been different if Izana weren't here.

I should apologize, though.

[Even if Machina can't see it, he certainly might be able to hear the eyebrow raise in her voice.]

Apologize to who? Your brother?

[Because as far as she knows, there's nothing for him to apologize for to Lightning.]

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