kingdoms_of_auradon | Let's See What's In The Cards (Mmhm)

The weather was still bitterly cold, and the snow was still thick on the ground, but it was finally possible to at least go outside by the front doors. The King and Queen have still forbidden anyone from staying overnight at the museum district in case it started snowing again. But the King could be seen outside trying to shovel snow enough to make a path to the castle at the least.

The snow was still too thick to get easily anywhere not shoveled, and the snow was so heavy that even beasted out, Ben needed to take constant breaks inside to sit down and dry off. This wasn't going to be a fast task.

It was only made harder when it started. For those who slept, it would start after they have fully awoken for the day. For those who don't sleep, they'd find that they had fallen into a pleasant daydream, even if it wasn't normal for them to do so. When they came out of it, that was when it would start for them.

But what is it, exactly?

Small snippets of memories, playing for anyone who was with the person remembering to see. But the thing was, these memories... were memories the person had not yet made. Memories of the future.

Not enough to give answers, probably not enough to give reassurances for much other than "oh hey, I do have a future after all," but generally pleasant, and short. Hey, it will give people a thing to talk about, at least. Especially since this will go on for the next two weeks or so.

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"Not that I know of. Not that it really matters anymore anyway. Insomnia fell, and the king did with it. No more crystal, and not many Kingsglaive left to miss it, as far as I know. Just a smoking pile of ruble..." He trailed off, a frown pulling at his mouth.

Sephiroth frowned deeply at that. "I'm sorry to hear it," he said. "I know what it is to lose your home."

"Sorry, didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

"It's alright. I think of it regardless. We have started to rebuild, at least. Will your people be able to do the same?"

Prompto shook his head. "I'm not sure. I don't even know how many people made it out... At the very least it will be a while before it's even a possibility. The place is probably crawling with daemons, and without the crystal, we have no way to keep them out. We were on our way to meet up with some refugees but..." He gestured to the library around him. His journey at least had been thoroughly detoured.

He startled as a future memory/possibly vision burst through the room.

Flight, Maybe?

The memory dawned like blinking awake on a sunny afternoon. One minute the library was dim and fire lit, the next, bright sunlight streamed through from beyond the rafters. The point of view was just behind memory Prompto and Noctis, looking over their shoulders. They stood on a jut of stone. A steep, if short, drop to the rocky ground below. Ignis and Gladio looked up from a pair of camping chairs down below.

“I don’t know about this Noct.” Prompto wrung his hands nervously.

Noct grinned. “C’mon, it’s easy. I told you; just like we practised, don’t freak out. Your body should just fall back on instinct.”

Prompto tore his eyes away from the ground to send a wide eyed stare in Noct’s direction. “What if it doesn’t? I’m gonna break my neck!”

“At worst it’ll be an ankle!” Gladio shouted up helpfully. “Don’t be a daisy! Jump already!”

“You got this.” Noct laid a reassuring hand on Prompto’s shoulder. Then grinned sharkishly and pushed Prompto over the edge.

"I can't believe he just-" He shook his head incredulously. "Did it work though?" He'd spent his whole life being grounded, the thought of one day maybe actually being able to fly was hard to even wrap his head around.

Sephiroth frowned. "I'm sorry. But it took us ten years to even be able to rebuild, so perhaps there is hope for your world as well."

He stared at the scene. It was easy enough to piece together what was happening there, especially for someone else with wings. "You've never flown before?" It was difficult for him to understand having wings and not using them.

He hoped so. Even if it took ten years. He wanted to see the glass skyscrapers refracting sunlight again. People bustling down the streets. Rooftop gardens overflowing with luscious green. The place had become his home, and it pained him to see it in the state the Empire had reduced it to.

As for Sephiroth's reaction to the scene. He couldn't really blame the man, but it still brought a burning flush to his cheeks. "Well, no but- it's complicated, okay? I wasn't exactly taught as a child, and then circumstances kept making it difficult. Besides, who wants to teach an adult how to do something every fledgling knows how to do. It's silly." He shook his head, fingers picking at the leather band on his wrist. The barcode hidden underneath felt heavy and hot. He wished, not for the first time, that he didn't have wings at all.

Sephiroth hoped for that for him ... for everyone who lived there.

He nodded slowly. "I see. I understand that would be awkward." He noticed the fiddling with the leather band but didn't comment, assuming it was just a nervous habit.

He scoffed, another self-deprecating smile twisting his lips. "I feel like awkward is an understatement."

He sighed. Glanced back up at Sephiroth. "Who uh... who taught you?" The older man had mentioned he hadn't been born with his wings, so how had he learned how to use them?

Sephiroth believed he hadn't been, at least. Later he'll learn he was born with two of them and retracted them in terror at a young age to protect them from his world's version of Hojo.

"I mostly taught myself from watching birds fly," he admitted. "Wings are not common in my world."

"I see... that's pretty impressive. I guess I've always been too scared to try." And the small detail that he had been hiding his wings almost since he first got to Insomnia, but that wasn't something he felt like bringing up.

"Thank you." A pause. "If you would like, I could teach you some things."

Or maybe he would prefer learning from his friends. Sephiroth would understand that. From the vision, if it is indeed a future memory, they will teach him later.

"Oh, um, I-" His wings curled in even tighter, till the muscles ached. "I appreciate the offer, really. I'm just not sure- I wouldn't want to be a bother." He wasn't sure why the idea of learning scared him quite so much.

"It wouldn't be a bother," Sephiroth said. "There isn't always a lot to do here. But if you would prefer to learn from your friends, that's fine."

Actually, if he could learn before he reunited with his friends, then he would never have to have that embarrassing conversation with them. "If you're sure... I just uh, need some time, but I would like that."

Sephiroth nodded, pleased to be able to be useful. "Just let me know when you're ready."

Prompto nodded, a small smile taking hold of his mouth. "Thank you. Again."

"Of course," Sephiroth said with a nod. He stepped back, probably going to leave if something else didn't happen.

Prompto let him go, glad for his company, and loath to take any more of the man's time. He was going to stay in his spot on the floor a little while longer to gather his thoughts.

Edited 2025-04-01 18:39 (UTC)

Let's See What's In The Cards (Mmhm)

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sounds like we're done, thank you for the thread!