THREE ✻ VIDEO

[mercurio]

[shaky camera handling, this isn't prompto's best moment behind it. the recording seems to be in sections. first, the sound of crunching grass and leaves under prompto's boots, dark surroundings but for the flashlight from his phone, and the appearance of these flowers as he walks on.]

Does anyone else hear that? There's music coming from the woods...

Ah, that--

[it cuts off. some minutes later, there's another video. this time the camera is facing prompto's face; his surroundings blurry, it's clear that he's running, and the rain doesn't help in capturing a clear picture.]

They're--here!

[he pants between his words. clearly he's been running for a while. what's this blair witch bullshit? however, prompto doesn't sound scared; he sounds anxious, almost excited.]

Wait!

[the feed cuts off again, cutting short a yelp of surprise from prompto.]

[the final piece of video is the most coherent one, if only because the camera is still. it's still pointing towards prompto's face but he's not concerned in looking at the camera straight on. his hair is heavy and wet from the rain. in fact, he's entirely soaked at this point.]

[the panting between his words, this time, is not because of physical strain. he's shivering.]

My dad's calling me. [a pause, his eyes glancing past the camera towards something in front of him] He says they've been waiting for m--

[he shushes abruptly]

Just now... Did anyone else hear them?

Comments

[redarm]

[-- Yeah he can't type fast enough to feel like he can stop Prompto in time, so he's switching to voice as well.]

Why the hell would your parents be in some woods with weird flowers???

Something doesn't seem right here Prompto.

[mercurio]

No, listen, you don't understand! Dad's saying he's sorry but that he's back now. I gotta give him a chance, y'know? I never thought he would come back in the first place.

[redarm]

[-- Oh abandonment. He knows that one well. But instead of pining, it's easy for him to opt for anger. He even knows his words are going to be harsh, but man, he really does have a bad feeling about this.]

If he's worth giving a fucking chance to, he can come to you, not make you go into some creepy woods.

He left you, you shouldn't have to go to him.

[mercurio]

[prompto stops at that because, yeah, that makes sense. it's logical. prompto never turned much towards anger when it came to parents even if that was a front he would use at times. given the chance, he'd want to have a family again, despite all the wrongs and the pain.]

[mercurio]

And if this is my last chance to see them again? I don't... know if I could...

[not give it a shot and completely miss out on a what if, and then later feel okay about it.]

[redarm]

[There's a pause at that. Noah...doesn't remember his birth parents, not at all. All he knew about them was that they abandoned him, maybe even sold him. It was easy for him to hate them. They were nothing more than faceless figures that caused him the pain and misery he had experienced before he met his adopted dad.

But for Prompto who remembered his parents...it was probably a lot harder.]

Then it'll hurt even more later when they leave again. [Because parents like that would. Noah's sure of that.] If they're too stupid to see what a great guy you are and come running, then they're not worth your time.

[mercurio]

--that's the thing. I want to show them how I'm better now.

[the steady sound of the pouring rain ultimately signals that prompto has not moved any further (but neither has he moved back, either), anchored momentarily with the conversation he's having with noah.]

[there's so much he needs to get off his chest before he can gather the courage to finally meet his parents because, in the end, he's terrified.]

[would he be good enough for his parents, now? his father left when he was young for a reason. his mother left him alone for another family for a reason. he's done so much to improve himself, but will it be enough?]

[his voice is almost drowned out by the rain, but it's still audible, with how close he's keeping the phone to his face.]

I just... want to know what they think of me now. After all these years. If they ever ... missed me.

[redarm]

Prompto...

[There's a lot he could say to that sort of notion. Parents who skip out until their kid was "better" weren't parents. Parents were supposed to be there to make sure you became a better person. They didn't get to just check out and then reap the benefits of work they didn't do.

But instead of pointing out that hard truth out, he'll use another tactic]

Do you want to come to dinner? Ari usually orders take-out, but since the portions are massive now, it's way too fucking much for even me to eat.

I'll even let you play with Timcanpy. He's a camera....sorta.

[mercurio]

[timcanpy? --oh yeah, he had met the thing, briefly. a camera? sounds suspect, but prompto is a curious person, too.]

[he seems to struggle coming up with an answer, because he still wants to go see his parents, see if he really can be part of a real family again where he isn't unwanted. even if it is the smallest of chances that this were possible, he wants it badly.]

What if I don't get to see them again, ever?

[forever was not something prompto dwells on too much]

[redarm]

Then that's their loss, not yours.

[His tone is almost pleading. This whole thing worries him. Not only does it sound like a set up of a horror movie, but it sounds like a good way to get Prompto hurt]

Please Prompto. Something's not right about this.

[mercurio]

[prompto's quiet]

[he doesn't speak, even if it's clear that he's walking. back? forward? the answer becomes clear once he speaks up again.]

You're right. After almost two decades they wouldn't change their minds. ...I'm going home.

[redarm]

[It's strange, he feels both relieved and really sad for Prompto at the same time. Even if he knows whatever was waiting for him the forest wouldn't be good...he knows what it's like, to want to be wanted, to want a family. It hurts, not having your actual family want you.]

I'm sorry, Prompto.

[mercurio]

Not your fault.

[he says quickly. noah's being a good friend right now, prompto recognises that, and although the offer for dinner sounds both delicious and fantastic, prompto wants to be alone right now.]

[at least for a bit]

I'll talk to you later, yeah?

[redarm]

Yeah...talk to you later.

[He can get it, the wanting to be alone. The dinner invitation was sincere, but, he wouldn't fault Prompto if he didn't take him up on it.

It's never easy to be reminded you're unwanted. Noah knows this]

Be safe, okay?