genessia | [video]

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My, if this isn't the most delightful surprise.

[The stranger spoke, looking at something just off camera. He smiled ever so slightly, shrugging it off as he walked about. Judging by the scenery moving behind him, he was likely somewhere within the central city still.]

Truly, I have yet to see a more accomodating set of cities in all my years. And I hear it's election season as well? I do hope I'm not too late to participate. Even though democracy is as foreign to me as this city...

[He smiled so sweetly, playing off the 'new arrival' card to its fullest. Yet if he truly cared about making his voice heard in such a way beyond idle musings, none could truly say. What was certain, however, was that this was bound to be far more interesting than he likely gave credit for, especially as he goes back to watch the debates... If he isn't rudely interrupted, that is.]

Best of luck to the candidates.

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[The fact that Prompto stays his own hand, gazing at him with such fear... Why, it almost makes him as pleased as the behemoth who cornered the chocobo.]

See? That wasn't so hard now, was it.

[You listened to your instincts. A+

He pulls out his phone again from his pocket, the darkness dissipating for now.]

Do say hello to your friends for me. I'm certain one of them is already on his way to save you.

[An event he plans to be long gone for. And with that, he fixes his hat and turns to leave. He doesn't want to cause too much trouble when he'd only just arrived, after all. There would be plenty of time for that in this godsforsaken world.]

[Even his parting words were crafted to twist the knife, him needing to be rescued like some fairy tale princess in a tower, but this encounter is over, he's outmatched and it would be stupid to encourage him to stay.

They need a proper plan. Instead, he lets his head fall back in the snow.]

Fuck.

[He's frustrated, tired, cold, sore and on the verge of a serious mental breakdown. He hates how he feels, trembling and weak like Ardyn says he is and that stupid bastard has won again. Everything inside him is pulling him in different directions and he doesn't know how to react, staring at the sky.]

[ Gladiolus rounds the street corner, toward the given address, and he's already pulled his sword out of the Armiger. Looks around for Ardyn, first - but the asshole is nowhere to be seen. ]

Motherfucker.

[ He dismisses the sword again, and crouches down next to Prompto. Balanced on the balls of his feet, ready to help him out or pull out a potion, he's not sure if he's hurt or just winded.

If possible, he wants them off the street and inside. Just in case Ardyn is waiting in the wings for them to drop their guard and strike both of them at once. Two Crownsguard with one blow.

But at least it didn't look like Prompto was cut open with a sword, or burnt from magic.

He offers an arm up. ]

Can you walk?

[Prompto hasn't moved from the ground yet, it is less the injury, which he had, but the fact he is still terrified, and now that the adrenaline is gone, he's stuck with that. He hadn't even picked up his gun yet.

He looks up when Gladio shows up, not exactly sure what to say. He takes his hand, it's easier than debating, and he holds on tighter than he might.]

Yeah.

[Step one is pulling him into a seated position and he grunts as he gets that far, his grip tightening.]

[ Steady and careful, having helped any of them up countless times before, Gladiolus pulls him upright. Letting Prompto determine the pace, but not letting him dally, either. His face is tight with worry and anger, but he's clenched his jaw and prioritizing. ]

Let's get you off th' street. Then we can heal you up.

[ If Prompto needs to, he can lean on Gladiolus, of course. Hell, he had been willing to carry him if necessary. Whatever got them into safety the fastest. ]

[He only stops long enough to catch his breath and he gets to his feet, stumbling a little, but he trusts Gladio to catch him.]

I...put my gun away?

[It's lying in the snow nearby. He puts his right arm around his body to try and support his ribs. He's feeling dazed and displeased.]

[ Of course he catches him - and when prompted, looks around for his firearm. There. Not too far off. ]

I'll prop you against the wall, here - and I'll grab it quick.

[ And, of course, does. Gladiolus places it in his Armiger just for the short term. The wall he's set Prompto against is probably cold, probably doesn't help him feel better, but Gladio moves fast when he wants.

Quick as anything, he retrieves the gun and returns, helping Prompto stand again. ]

I'm alright.

[He murmurs and leans for a bit before letting Gladio pull him off the wall again, he barely has time to think, which is good because his thoughts are just fleeting.]

Screwed up. I'm sorry.

[He's cold, his coat is damp from lying in the snow and his breathing is hitched and imperfect.]

Steady.

[ His voice is calm, even, only a hint of sternness which betrays his anger at the chancellor. Gladiolus is supporting Prompto as they move, even if his eyes are on his surroundings - prepared, mentally, to throw the younger man behind him to fight, if needed.

But at least, for now, they seem to be left alone. ]

Don't apologize. You think any of us run into that asshole without backup?

[ Well, Noctis ended up fighting him alone - but that wasn't by their choice. ]

Steady now. We're goin back to the Commons, it's closer.

[That's true enough, none of them can really take them on alone, and even Noct probably needs his ancestors' help. They aren't ready for him to be there, this is a terrible development.

He clings to Gladio's bicep as they move towards the Commons. His breathing sounds harsh in his ear, which means he shouldn't be talking a whole lot, but when has that ever stopped him?]

Doesn't like to talk Astrals. [He offers a bit of a sneaky smirk.]

Figure if he can cut open my wounds and pour salt in. Only fair.

[ Snorts: ]

No, I bet he doesn't.

[ Except for Ifrit, maybe. But, again, that'd be telling.

His arm holds him upright, and Gladiolus refrains from lecturing him from saving his breath. They all coped with stress differently. Prompto always did so by running his mouth.

A potion would help him soon enough. They were nearly there. ]

[He laughs softly, a little breathy.]

Then he won't mind talking about the Astrals.

[He's trying to be brave, he really is and he's got a bit of a troublemaking streak when it comes to irritating people who deserve it. Or friends, really, but Ardyn deserved whatever he can dish out, any manner to make him uncomfortable. If he didn't want Prompto to play dirty, he shouldn't be such a jerk.]

I think we should talk about nothing but that with him ever again.

I'd be happy to let our swords and bullets do the talking, t'be honest.

[ But again, he thought he knew what Prompto was trying to do. Unsettling and making your enemy off-guard was a good strategy for a lot of opponents. It wasn't a terrible idea - assuming that Ardyn wasn't immortal and completely insane.

Still. It was better to see bravery and bravado, than to see Prompto shut down completely.

He opened the door to the bottom level of the Commons, and lead them towards the ancient elevator. ]

Even if a face-stabbing won't slow 'im down for long.

[Prompto sighs softly and groans slightly.]

He can't be killed.

[He probably shouldn't know that, but he was there, he knows.]

I didn't want him to come after Noct. I thought...

[He doesn't know what he was thinking, and he wasn't thinking clearly, he still isn't. His emotions are so interconnected with this incident, it's a problem.]

[ Sternly: ]

Nobody can, here. Death's temporary. I've already been told.

[ Plus, of course, Ardyn literally couldn't be killed. But, even if he were mortal, Genessia would've changed that anyway.

He makes a frustrated sound, as the elevator reaches his floor. ]

I don't want him comin after any of us, specially not Noct. And - I don't know if he would, either.

Maybe he would, just to fuck with us.

[ And begins to move Prompto down the hall. ]

[He grunts softly, going a little quieter.]

Don't tell him that.

[He doesn't want to experience death and he has a feeling if Ardyn knew that, he'd be killed over and over for the fun of it.

Prompto quiets until they get to Gladio's room then, walking slow and pained, his breathing becoming slightly more laboured. He needs that potion soon.]

Not planning on it.

[ Especially since you'd have to give up something to come back.

He imagined Ardyn killing Noctis again and again, stripping him down bit by bit, and felt nauseous.

Opening the door, he lead Prompto inside, pulled out a potion from the Armiger. ]

Sit down. You're not breathing right. Take off your shirt -

[ He could see the boot-prints from the snow, suspected broken ribs ]

- and tell me what happened.

[ Prepared to break the potion over his skin, once the bruises were revealed. ]

[He could do it to any one of them, and that would be horrific, slowly being pulled apart.

He sits as instructed and unzips his coat first, now there's a slight tremor to his movements, his hands unsteady as he does.]

I was on a run. I turned the corner and there he was.

[He slides one arm out of his sleeve.]

I could feel it, my heart beating, but I moved without thinking, and I had my gun on him.

[He doesn't twist to pull the other arm out, he uses his good arm to slide it off his shoulder and remove it.]

He started taunting me, I told him to shut up. I fired a warning shot to keep him away from me, but it didn't.

[His words are coming out in a dazed tone, like it's sinking in, as he's moving slowly, gingerly to get his shirt over his head now.]

He got in close and kicked me. I dropped my gun, but when I went for it, he had that darkness stuff in his hands and I...that's bad. I withdrew my hand.

[He drapes his shirt over his lap.]

He left.

[ Seeing that tremor - Gladiolus tightened his jaw and began to think. Potion, first. Blanket, second - the comforter in the bedroom would have to do, it's not like he'd had a chance to buy anything better in the few days he'd been here. Hot drink, third, maybe tea. He had that, anyway. Something for him to hold in his hands.

The potion would help with the dark bruising on his ribs, and the rest should help with the panic and shock. He hoped.

And he listened.

As soon as the shirt was gone, Gladiolus broke the potion over skin, noting that there were no cuts or lacerations. Waited for the bruises to disappear. ]

I lost my cool, too. Tried to just warn him to stay away from us.

When he said he had you, I kinda lost it.

But you stayed alive. That's what counts.

[ Since Noctis wasn't there - there was no reason to give up his life.

He stands - ]

'm getting you a blanket - we should let your clothes dry a bit.

If I hadn't run into him, I'd have stayed away. Promise.

[He winces as the potion is broken over his skin and he waits as his ribs mend themselves. It's going to feel better in a few minutes, and he nods at his comments.]

Still alive. Not dead yet.

[He shivers and nods, curling in on himself. He doesn't know why he's so affected. He should be over the worst of it, but coming face to face with him, his mind had shut down completely and he let his instincts take over.

But not enough to not hear what he was babbling about, more about Besithia, who he could really never learn any more about.

He shouldn't listen to Ardyn.]

[ No, he should really never listen to Ardyn, and Gladiolus would tell him that if he knew.

He retrieves the comforter from his bed, comes out, wraps Prompto up in it. It should be warm, and heavy, and help center him after a shock. Which, right now, was what Gladiolus was most afraid of happening.

Steps back, toward the kitchen, to make tea. He talks as he works, helping to continue to offer some kind of point to focus on, outside of Prompto's own head. He can't imagine what he might be thinking of. ]

If I ran into 'im like that? Probably would've tried to put a sword in his face. Even knowing people don't die here. Even knowin we might land into some shit with the law in this place. He's the fucker who caused all of us so much pain - I want to put him in the ground.

[ Waits for the water to boil. Talking about this helps air his thoughts out, is at least helping Gladio. ]

But he can't die, and so - now that we're all wonderfully surprised that that asshole is here - we're gonna have to think of what to do. All four of us.

[ He looks toward Prompto. ]

None of us deal with him alone. Got it?

[He curls up under the blanket, pulling it around him, it's a good thing to focus on, even though he's trembling.]

Yeah...stab him right in the eye...

[It's a nice fantasy and he shivers.]

Got it. I didn't mean to it just...happened.

[ The kettle whistled, and he turned off the hob. Got out a peppermint tea bag, placed in the mug, poured the hot water. Like he'd do for Iris after a nightmare. The motions were familiar, soothing.

Soon, he places a hot mug of fragrant tea in Prompto's hands. ]

Not mad at you, Prom.

Or did y'not hear the part where I said I would've stabbed 'im?

[He blinks a bit when the cup of tea is pressed into his hands and he nods slightly.]

I..yeah, I heard you.

[He did, and he's holding the mug snugly, letting the heat seep into his hands.]

I wouldn't go looking for him anyway.

[He definitely wouldn't, it's a reminder that Ardyn knows how to play him, and he's stronger than he is.]

[ Sits across from him. Jaw tense.

He's not going to point out right now that it's far more likely Ardyn will come looking for them. Might come looking for Noctis.

Couldn't be sure, of course. There was no Crystal here, there was no reason for Ardyn to do anything. But, was there a reason for him to torture Prompto at the keep?

Gladiolus didn't trust the man as far as he could throw him. ]

... How's the tea.

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