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

[mercurio]

[how can prompto refuse that?]

[ardyn's words weigh heavy against the option to listen to the voice prompto thinks to remember belongs to his father's, and the decision on what he should do becomes clear.]

[he doesn't reply to ardyn not because he's being cruel or rude, but because of his current state; he finds himself detached, in a way. he heads straight to ardyn's place, a bit of difficulty with the current circumstances, but manages nonetheless.]

[finding it easy to sneak inside, he's immediately met by a swishy tail of one of the cats, making him laugh as he's tickled by it.]

Alright, alright! At least you're not trying to eat me!

[drenched as he may be, he's safe and sound.]

[daemonized]

[At first, Ardyn's concern remains at an even keel. Not having a response come from Prompto is worrying, to say the least, and he can only hope that his words managed to get through to him. For a while, the man even considers going out to find the boy, though it would be a long and arduous task, given their new sizes.

It's only when he hears the mewing of a cat and Prompto's voice does that concern finally dissipate, and he moves to find the young man somewhere in the entrance hall. He doesn't even bother asking how he got in, he only walks to him in long strides and places a hand on his shoulder. The subtle pressure of his fingertips belie his relief.]

Prompto, are you all right?

[Of course this is the first thing he asks. The boy is sopping wet, but he's obviously referring to his mental state more than his physical.]

[mercurio]

[the smile prompto gives ardyn is a humourless one, even if he tries to cut past what would make the other worry. it's hard to cut away from not trusting adults to entering the realm that adults do--and can--in fact show concern for him.]

Been better.

[with the back of his hand, he brushes the wet of the rain from his forehead and slicks his hair back, gel a moot point under the circumstances]

Sorry for worrying you, s- ... Ardyn.

[his face starts contorting, biting his lip to keep himself from trembling with a sort of emotion he would be too embarrassed to display, gaze downcast as he angrily tries telling himself to calm down]

[finally, he croaks, mostly at his own insistence:] I'm fine.

[daemonized]

You're not fine.

[How easily Ardyn can see past that obvious untruth, that he's willing to dismiss it with his own observations so simply.]

I can tell you're not; you wear your heart on your sleeve, young man.

[He exhales a bit, though it certainly isn't out of frustration.]

You can be honest with me. I can't imagine the experience you just went through was very... pleasant. And I'm liable to think that you'll feel better once you get it off your chest.