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

[missrecalled_mods]

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.

Comments

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"But it isn't because he's the prince that you love him, I suspect. Just as your status isn't a reason to love or hate you. Your worth shines through in your actions, expressions, and bearing. He could see it, the way you can see his."

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

"Of course not. I don't care that he's the prince... I just- I guess I just don't see what he sees. I'm not special." And everything he was was built on lies, but he couldn't make her understand that without explaining more than he wanted her to know.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"I think most of us don't see in ourselves what our friends see. At least, not at your age. Confidence comes with time and experience."

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

He sighed. "The old 'it gets better' argument, huh?"

Flight?

Another 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.

He stared at the echoes of the scene as it faded. Warmth prickled under his skin. In part, embarrassment. Even a fledgeling knew how to fly, it was yet another broad advertisement of how he was different. How he was wrong. And in part, because seeing the four of them together, unharmed and made up, made the knot in his chest loosen.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"Not so much it gets better as expe...." she stopped as the scene began, watching. After she gave him a small smile, but the look behind her eyes was... more conflicted.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

Of course, in his current mindset, he wasn't likely to interpret that conflicted look in any good type of way. He shrunk in on himself and turned his face away, a terrible smile twisting his lips. "You have to be pretty fluffed up to have wings and not know how to use them, right?"

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"I had a student once who had wings, but only sometimes. He never actually learned how to use them before he got to our school. He never learned how to use any of his abilities," she said a bit sadly, "until Master Xavier found him and started helping him. He was so traumatized that to begin with he was a danger to himself and others. Unless you suddenly grow into a two ton juvenile dragon complete with fire breath when you have a nightmare, I am pretty sure I've seen worse," she said, reassuringly as she reached to ruffle his hair.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

He choked on a half laugh. "No dragons here." Just the ever present possibility his MT heritage wasn't as far in the past as he hoped it was. "But... I've had these bad boys my whole life, what's my excuse for never learning?" Was Prompto like that too? Too traumatized, too broken to keep roleplaying his human life?

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"We all have our own lives and own reasons. What matters isn't the time you didn't learn. It is stepping up to try. Even if you fail. Trying is what matters most."

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

He shook his head. "I've never tried. I didn't even- I've been hiding my wings ever since I got to Insomnia. I couldn't even bear to let anyone see them. I haven't tried..."

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"Then... how about we try now? Together?" she asked with a warm supportive smile.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

He looked over at her. "You'd do that for me?" The question was small, his surprise clear in his voice.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"Of course, my friend."

And no one need ever know her fear of heights. After all, she had it mastered.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

Prompto looked away. Eyes and fingers on the band around his wrist. "Thank you Aqua. I..." He wanted to say 'didn't deserve it', but he didn't think she'd take that without another conversation. He wondered what she'd say if she new the truth, but he was too coward to find out, so he kept his mouth shut.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

She hugged him, if he'd let her. "Of course, my friend."

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

He was tense under her arms, but didn't push her away. His arms stayed in his lap, just his head dropping to rest on her shoulder betraying the comfort he felt. "How do you suppose we go about this? Should I just jump off the roof and hope? Or do you have another idea?"

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"I think we can start with something less dramatic," she said with a chuckle that hid the way her heart skipped a beat with a thump at that.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

"Probably a good idea." He laughed a bit.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"Shall we start with some exercises?"

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

"Exercises? Like... training?" He shifted uncomfortably at the word, just a bit. It was probably a good idea, there just weren't a lot of good memories tied to the term.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

She nodded. "I am a teacher after all. Don't worry though, we'll start slow. And I promise I'm not half as bad as Rren told people I am," she added with a small chuckle.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

"I'm sure you're a great teacher, Master Aqua." He smiled, a bit teasing. "What would you suggest we even do though?"

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"First some stretching, followed by some jogging to wake your body up to the training. Then we will work on some upper body strength, and I will try and come up with some exercises specifically to strengthen the muscles your wings work as I get a better view of how they mov with you. When we both feel that you are ready, we will start slowly and carefully, lifting off from the ground. We will not start at any height you cannot get to under your own power," she assured him. "And of course meditation twice a day, once a day with me and once a day on your own."

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[kings_knight_rocks]

He pursed his lips. "Seems like a lot of work for flying. Why meditation?" He was mostly teasing still. Mostly. It worked to cover the slight discomfort at the idea of her observing his wings so closely though.

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[aquawayfinder]

"Training is a lot of work. But it is well worth it. And meditation is an integral part of practicing any new technique.