Prompto Intro ~ OTA

[kings_knight_rocks]

Open/locked?: Open
Who: Prompto and whoever finds him
What: Arrival in Auradon
Warnings: Possibly some panic attacks/flashbacks? Nothing graphic though


The figure out on the quad stood out from the snow in the all black ensemble, neither the colouring nor the short sleeves particularly suited to the weather, though his light hair and white feathery wings did a much better job. Anyone would be able to see just how confused he himself was to be there. Confused, and none too happy either.

Prompto had no idea how he got here. Or where ‘here’ even was. The chill and the dusting of snow definitely wasn’t a Longwythe feature, neither was the- was that an actual castle? He looked around, trying not to let panic creep in just yet. But a second assessment only proved that this was, in fact, not the rocky plains near Longwythe Peak. It appeared to be a well maintained yard. From what he could see under the snow at least. He was glad for it. The weather brought memories of a different tundra, but the architecture here was all wrong.

The bigger issue, he was realising, was that Noct and the others were nowhere to be seen. He looped his camera strap around his neck and pulled his wings close in an attempt to keep warm. “Noct? Iggy?” He spun around again, squinting against the glare of the sun off the snow. “Gladio?”

This wasn’t good. He reached for the familiar pocket of space of the Armiger, looking for his phone, but all his hand met with was empty air. Oh, really really not good.

“Okay. This is fine. Totally fine. I just need to not panic. Yup. I can do that. Not panicking.” He took a deep breath and turned towards the castle. Hopefully there he’d at least be able to get out of the cold, if not find someone who could tell him where on Eos he was. He fluffed his feathers, hugged his arms over his chest, and started walking.

Comments

[aquawayfinder]

She had been exercising outside - big surprise, right? - when she heard a familiar voice. Her head came up as her hand found a specific Wayfinder in her pocket. A warm smile rested on her lips and she turned, heading for her friend.

She spotted him, and missed the differences at first as she rushed forward and gave him a huge Aqua hug. "Prompto! you're here!" she said. "I'm so glad to see you again. Xion and Roxas are here, so is their friend Lea."

No she has not yet let go.

[kings_knight_rocks]

He'd started turning at the sound of someone approaching, but didn't have time to take in much more than a streak of blue before he was being tackled by a pair of strong arms. He startled at the contact, wings flaring, limbs locking for a split second before he managed to get ahold of himself and step back out of the hug. He pushed the arms off with probably a bit more force than necessary. Oops.

It took him a second to register her words over the pounding of his pulse in his ears. "You- I- Sorry?" He tried to place her face, but he was really quite sure he'd never met her before. How did she know his name?

[aquawayfinder]

"Oh..." She shook her head. "Sorry. I know another reality version of you. Why don't we get you inside so you can warm up, and I'll fill you in on this place, and answer any questions you have, alright?"

[kings_knight_rocks]

"Another reality? What-" Another shiver rattled through him. "You know, inside sounds good right about now."

He turned back towards the castle. "Obviously you know my name, so what's yours?" Hopefully he was headed in the right direction. The cold was uncomfortable, and it stirred up memories he'd rather not think about.

[aquawayfinder]

She led the way to the dorms, since more people was there and it was close.

"Apologies. I am Master Aqua." She wasn't going to stop to bow properly. Getting him warm was the higher priority. She did slide a hand into her pocket to touch the Wayfinder she and another version of him had made together, back on planet Speed.

[kings_knight_rocks]

"No worries miss Master." He tried for a cheesy grin over his shoulder at her, though at that exact moment it felt a bit strained. Between the cold, and the memories pushing for him to look at them, his mood was a bit tense.

"Sorry I'm not the ah... The Prompto you hoped I was?" He wondered what that other Prompto was like.

[aquawayfinder]

She gave a small chuckle. "It's fine. The Lea and Xion here aren't any of the ones I've known either. Professional hazard, I suppose. But there are people here who will welcome you, even if we don't know this you and you don't know this them. Or any of us at all. I for one would love to get to know this version of my friend Prompto. And of course you are welcome to join my morning lessons if you want."

[kings_knight_rocks]

"That's a relief." He ignored the little voice in his head that tried to ask if he was even worth getting to know. He shivered, pulling his wings in tighter around himself. It was strange to see a human without them. There were the few flightless he'd met before, but it never managed to soften the ache that bloomed in his chest at the sight. He held back the urge to ask; it wasn't polite.

So he cleared his throat and asked instead. "So uhhh, what do you teach?"

[aquawayfinder]

She opened the door to the dorm building with a smile. "A number of things, all summed up as Mastery."

[nobodys_puppet]

He wasn't the only one out in the snow in dark clothes. Xion was trying to get out to the water without being spotted. Usually she could manage it. But snow did make it harder. They were told the weather would get worse soon. That was still so weird. Weather was just... weather... right? But still, Axel explained that she might not be able to collect shells as easily soon. So she had to get as many as she could now.

She stopped though when she saw the dark outfit. She panicked at the tall slender darkness before her brain could register that it wasn't the same outfit or a face she knew. Instead she turned and fled.

So he would see a small dark clad figure approach, stop dead, then turn and run like he was some sort of terrifying monster.

[kings_knight_rocks]

"Hey, wait!" He started after her at a jog, not necessarily trying to catch up, as she obviously seemed a bit spooked. He'd probably just startled her, right? It wasn't him...? "I uh, mean you no harm?" Oh flying chocobos, that's exactly what a creep would say, wasn't it?

He just really hoped she might have answers about what was going on, so he tried to keep her in his sights without pushing too close.

[nobodys_puppet]

Oh no, he saw her! She tried to run faster, shoulders hunching as she heard him coming after her. She looked around for a roof to jump on, or something.

[kings_knight_rocks]

Ah, this was not going as he had hoped. He was starting to wonder if he should just give up, let her run off... He called out again, to see if she would respond or stop. "Sorry if I startled you! I was just hoping you could tell me where we are!" Great, now he just sounded crazy...

[nobodys_puppet]

She froze. Axel would want her to help... she knew he would. But she didn't want to talk to some random Somebody. But... maybe she... could point him to where Axel was?

She lifted a shaking hand, and pointed to the dorms.

Axel... Axel would want her to help, but she didn't have to talk. Right? Right?

[kings_knight_rocks]

"Oh uh." He slowed to a stop a ways back to give her space. Followed the line of her finger towards the castle she was pointing towards, looked back to her, back to the building. "Is that place... Important? Like, someone important lives there?" He wasn't sure if he understood exactly what she was trying to say. At least the exercise had helped him warm up a bit if he was going to try and play charades with her.

[nobodys_puppet]

She was so confused.

Frustrated, the word was frustrated, but she didn't understand that word and wouldn't have claimed it if she did. But never mind.


She didn't want to talk, but how was she supposed to do this if she didn't talk?

She sighed and turned and headed for the school. Maybe if she just walked he'd follow and she could find Axel and let him take over.

[kings_knight_rocks]

"Oh... Hey, do you want me to-" She was pretty fast for just a shorty. He jogged to catch up and settled into step a few feet from her side. Maybe she was mute? "Sorry again about earlier. Are you uh... Are we going inside?" Man, this was worse than when Noct was in one of his moods.

He fluffed his feathers, extending them out wide before tucking them back in. It helped to shake off some of the nervous energy winding up behind his ribs.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea, wearing his Organization coat for utilitarian purposes, had been attempting to clear the school's walkways in the most efficient manner he knew, namely by being a human flamethrower. Fortunately, that part was done now so the walkways were relatively clear for the present. All that remained was to scatter ice melt salt on them before the now wet pavement and flagstones could freeze over. Thankfully, there had been plenty of the stuff tucked away in the gardener's shed, and thanks to Ben's foresight, it had been temporarily moved into the utilitarian hallway connecting to the kitchen's delivery entrance for easy access.

Which was where Lea had been heading when he spotted someone tromping through the snow covered quad in the school's general direction. Someone who didn't look at all dressed for the weather, from what he could see, though he was at the wrong angle to see their face just yet. "Hey!", he called out. "Over here!"

[kings_knight_rocks]

He swung around to face the direction he'd heard the voice from, fast enough he had to flare his wings to keep his balance. The stranger's long black trench coat was giving 'member of a cult', but Prompto was far too relieved to see another person to let that deter him from changing course towards them. Even if this was the base for some kind of cult, he'd rather deal with that than freezing to death.

"Hey! You wouldn't happen to know what- where this place is, would you?" His teeth were chattering badly enough that the redhead could probably hear it in his voice.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea was surprised when he got a proper look at the newcomer. Prompto! But obviously not the one he'd known on the train, not with those wings. So calling out to him now would probably only be confusing. Best get him inside and warmed up first before any potentially headache inducing conversations happened.

He moved to intercept Prompto at the point where snow gave way to the cleared off walkway. "I do, but it's kinda a long story," he said. "And definitely not one to tell standing outside in the cold. C'mon, we can head in through the delivery entrance; it's a lot closer than the front door and I was headed there anyway."

[kings_knight_rocks]

He shook off his boots as he stepped onto the cleared section, his wings fluttering in tandem. "Thanks. It's cold as Shiva's tiara out here. I feel like I'm going to break all my teeth." As if to prove his point, a particularly aggressive shiver ran through him, and he could feel his wings double in size as all his feathers bristled. Oh that was gonna be a nightmare to preen. He chuckled sheepishly, wings pulling in tight.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea smiled in return, sympathetically. "I can maybe help with that til we get inside," he said, moving to stand fairly close to Prompto. A moment later he would notice the temperature immediately around him noticeably rising; not enough to really melt any further snow aside from what clung to his boots and pants legs, but enough to calm his shivering at least. "That better?"

[kings_knight_rocks]

He tensed a bit as the redhead entered his space, almost imperceptible aside from the way his wings froze, the near constant minute movements stilling. He relaxed again quick enough after the warmth hit though. "Thanks, much. That's a pretty neat trick, how does it work?" Noct's magic wasn't nearly this subtle, and it was also linked to the crystal, so this was definitely something else. At the moment it was greatly appreciated though.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Given Prompto's reaction, Lea was glad he hadn't opted for the easier option of touching him. "A talent for fire magic and a lot of practice," he said. "If you're OK with me touching you, I can do even better, but if not, it's fine; just stick close and we'll be inside before long."

[kings_knight_rocks]

"Dude, that's sweet! You're like a human space heater!" He grabbed ahold of the redhead's arm, like Prompto was a little old lady he was going to help across the street.

"I'm Prompto by the way. Weird question; but you wouldn't happen to be part of a cult or anything, would you?" He eyed the all black leather coat, wings flexing slightly. "I wake up somewhere unfamiliar, no clue how I got here. And the first guy I meet has this crazy all black get up, you see how it looks right?"

He was mostly joking. Mostly. You could never be too sure though.