☍ LINK-STRIKE.

[alternas]

Who Noctis & co. ( multiple prompts! )
What A series of unfortunate inclement weather events.
Where Various locations.
When Duration of the blizzard. ( January 2nd-5th )
Warnings May cause heart failure.



DAY I:

( noctis leaned against the window of the apartment, a mug of something steaming in his hand. the cup was still mostly full, filled with coffee that he was clearly nursing. he couldn't help it... it just didn't do it for him. maybe if he added more sugar next time...?
oh well, at least it felt nice and warm in his hands, looking over the clouds that had been brewing most of the day. )

Looks like it's going to get nasty out there. Good thing we have nowhere to go.

( famous last words, anyone? )

DAY II

( annnnd now the power had gone out, great. noctis had already resorted to taking the blanket from his bed, wrapped underneath it but rubbing his arms all the same. who had expected a futuristic place like nova city could still be plagued by a weather outage?? not noct apparently, who seemed woefully unprepared for the whole thing. )

T-this is probably the worse camping story of them all. ( he managed through chattering teeth, his words puffing clouds into the air. ) How about a f-fire, Gladio?

— or —

( good sense had left him the moment he saw that face, those eyes... and those injuries. it was with little more than a few shouted words that he was already out the door, navigating his way, perhaps poorly, through biting winds and snow that whipped him constantly in the face.

pausing, his shoulders heaving with breaths, he tried to get his bearings, eyes slightly wild as he tried to see through the storm. ) It has to be... this way...

DAY III

( it had been... an adventure to say the least, but somehow they had made it back in one piece. noctis is looking rather haggard from the whole experience, rubbing at his eyes and trying to stay awake. he hadn't felt a cold like that since the frostbearer's touch, though it probably still didn't quite measure up to that.

he's a little lost in his thoughts, not really noticing anyone that approached, at first... )

DAY IV

( finally, noct had started to feel warm again. the storm clouds seemed to be lifting too, making this day seem even more like a dream. looking everyone in the room over across from what had become their campfire-pit mid-living room, trying to recount the series of events. there was a bit of a smile on his face however, as he prodded to ask— )

So you're really telling me a guy in tights was the first one to find you guys?

Comments

DAY I ( closed to any at noctis and prompto's suite )

[alternas]

DAY II

[alternas]

indoor camping ( open to anyone in the apartment building! )

[alternas]

[shieldyourass]

[ Grits his teeth, it's cold as Shiva's tits in here, temperatures are falling fast once power is cut ]

Not like you've got a fireplace in here, do you?

[ Stands from his own blanket nest, heads toward the kitchen: ]

I'm gonna need to build you a chimney or we'll die from choking on smoke instead of freezin to death.

[ Now, what could he scavenge to make one? Coffee cans? Metal tubing? Did they have some spare dryer vent tubing maybe?

Six damn it but it was cold. ]

I might need t'get out and get buy a heater.

[alternas]

Can't we just... open-nnnn the window? ( that has to be good enough, right??
look gladio, he doesn't want all of you to turn to entouragcicles, himself included. )

Not like most heaters would even work in a power o-outage. ( then, under his breath— ) And forget getting anywhere in this storm.

[shieldyourass]

If you want to just lose all the heat a fire's gonna give us, and give us a foot of snow inside? Sure. Let's do that.

[ He might be just a little crabbier than usual, sorry there Noctis.

Gladiolus has given up on the kitchen, and has decided that your drier venting is going to be sacrificed so they can breathe clean air. Don't worry, the hardware store has replacements for cheap. Takes out his utility knife. ]

Kerosene or propane works just fine, y'know. But, what do I know, right?

Though. ... They'd probably be sold out anyway.

[alternas]

( as another shiver goes through him, noctis rubs at his arms again. he doesn't seem particularly concerned one way or the other what needs to be sacrificed... as long as it meant warmth! and heat!!

work your magic, gladio. though he understands your grumpiness too... )

Reminds me of those nights we had to camp without you... ( you know, during your spirit quest? he looks over to ignis and prompto as he says it— ) We could barely get a fire going then, too. Heh.

( memories... )

poor storm decisions ( ota out in the storm )

[alternas]

[chocobosnap]

[Well, with that kind of video transmission, going out in the storm is a given at this point. Prompto sure as hell isn't going to let Noctis go alone, and he walks up beside his bro as he's getting ready with his black knit cap.

When Noctis isn't looking, he swoops in and tries to pull it on the king's head.]

Can't let you freeze yourself to death. [He grins in explanation, if he's not successful, he'll just hold it out to Noct, and yes, he's already got his winter jacket pulled on and zipped up.]

[alternas]

( noctis is shaken. of all people to show up in this place he hadn't ever even dared to hope that luna would be one of them. the nightmares he'd had since that day, all the times he'd reached out to her across a void that he could never hold...

but he's pulled from those dark thoughts as a hat comes down on his head.
still a bit dazed from it all, he turns to see... )

Prompto... ( and notices that he's already dressed for the occasion. ) You're— coming with me?

[shieldyourass]

[ Pulling on his coat, face grim and serious, Gladiolus isn't far behind Prompto.

He wants to argue against any of them going - he wants to say he'll go out and retrieve the Oracle himself - but he also knows any argument would be a waste of breath.

Gladiolus sees the look on Noctis' face - he knows that look. All the daemons in Eos wouldn't be able to stop him from going out there, now.

And where he goes, Prompto will follow. Of course he will. ]

Don't think you're leavin me behind, either.

Someone's gotta make sure none of you get lost out there, in the blowing snow.

[chocobosnap]

Of course I'm going with you dude. [He rolls his eyes, it's not only his job and duty to protect his king, but Noct his his best friend.]

If you turn into a snowman, I need pictures. [He jokes with a grin.] Blackmail material. Maybe I should bring a carrot.

[He winks, he knows Noct is upset, he knows, but it's okay, they're going to get her and she'll be safe with them.]

I bet Lady Lunafreya would like my pictures. [He teases, she'll be fine.]

+ a brief timeskip (if that's okay!)

[alternas]

( gladio too...? he looks up at his burly bro... the expression on his face clearer than any thanks he could attempt to voice. and, looking down, there's a not-so-forced chuckle that escapes him. )

A snowman, huh? Yeah... ( he can't think up a decent enough quip, they can probably tell that he's just that distracted. but prompto's efforts don't go unnoticed. gathering himself for a brief moment, he nods at both of them, turning heel and breaking into a run.

Luna... I'm coming. )

- - -

( noctis, perhaps in his haste, seemed to be vastly, vastly under-prepared for this excursion. even through his coat, with his arms crossed, he clung to himself for warmth, clenching his teeth as he looked ahead into the vast... white... nothing. )

Gladio— ( survival bro to the rescue, right? ) Are we— is this even the right direction?

(that's fine with me!)

[shieldyourass]

[ At least one of them knows where they are, where they're going, and also exactly how much shit they're in right now.

He tries to keep an eye on both Prompto and Noctis in the snow, even as he keeps his bearings. The wind is fierce and biting, and he's concerned as much about frostbite as he is about getting lost. ]

We need to keep moving.

Keep your faces covered, if you can. [ He pulls up the high collar of his own coat to demonstrate, hunching a little. Ridiculous looking? A little. But keeping warm is more important. ]

Noct, grab hold of my coat - Prom - grab Noctis. We don't wanna get separated in this wind. Only got time for one rescue op today.

[chocobosnap]

[He's not as inexperienced as that, the wind is biting and boy does he have memories, so many that his mind is kind of drifting, which is not a great sign for his health condition, but he hears Gladio, in a bit of a distant way, this is kind of a bad idea.

Noct wouldn't be dissuaded, he knew that, so he had to do his part to keep him safe, after all, he even sacrificed his hat to Noct.]

I'm fine! [He calls over the wind, at least, he's fine-ish, but he nods and wraps both his arms around Noct's arm, if he'll let him.]

Got you buddy, we'll get through this mess, right?

[His cheer is a little forced, but he'll manage.]

DAY III ( ota at the suite )

[alternas]

[guidingmoonlight]

[ this is so late i'm so sorry

Lunafreya sits on the couch in the living room, wearing one of Noctis's shirts and huddled in a blanket. Things were not uncomfortable in this place -- merely awkward. She felt almost as if she was intruding on the life he had established in this city. A small sigh escapes her as she ponders - yet again - on her circumstances and what might come from it.

Although, it hasn't escaped her the shirt has the faint aroma of fish... ]

[alternas]

( it had been the first shirt he'd found, truth be told. seeing luna appear like that, with her ruined dress, the blood still looking fresh against the stark white contrast of the fabric...

closing his eyes for a moment, he tried to clear the mental image that crept in. thinking of how she must have died, all because of...

drawing in a breath, he opened his eyes again, looking almost a little surprised to see luna sitting just across from him. had he been so consumed by his own thoughts he hadn't notice her? chastising himself inwardly, he tore his gaze away from her, feeling suddenly so much like the little boy he'd been the last time they had been together. )

Sorry I— it's a work shirt. I've... probably got something else. ( he probably doesn't. laundry wasn't exactly one of his strong suits. )

[guidingmoonlight]

[ she shook her head. ] It's more than fine for now. Please, there's no reason to fret over it.

[ the cold, and current living arrangements? those were something to fret about. Lunafreya looked out over the room again. it was a place that Noctis had moved into with his dear friend. a place of their own - a refuge from the strangeness of this wrold. if anything? she had imposed on it. she frowned ever so slightly. ]

Once the storm has passed... then I should set about learning this new Star we've found ourselves on. A place to stay, and any way I might be able to help...

[alternas]

You're— going to leave that soon? ( he moves to the edge of his seat. looking a little... surprised? bothered? having just gotten her back in what seemed like an impossible twist of fate... he wasn't exactly keen on the idea of letting her go again. even if... it was just out of his sight. )

I mean— ( crap. ) You don't have to, there's plenty of space to... ( he's saying everything except for what he really means: don't go.
falling silent, he clasps his hands in front of him, not wanting to hold her back in any way, and yet... )

There's something... I want to show you. ( he lifts himself to his feet with that, moving to offer her a hand up. )

[guidingmoonlight]

I... [ Lunafreya let her gaze drop for the briefest of moments. ] I did not wish to impose on what you have with the Crownsguard.

[ she fell quiet then, fingers working circles into the fabric of the blanket draped over her. the silence remained until he offered his hand. her head turned enough to look up at him, placing her hand in his without hesitation. she hoped that it would say things that she wished to say. even if they were not her place to say them.

'being by your side would mean the world to me.'

instead she stood and waited for him to guide her. ]

[alternas]

( impose on...?
the gloved fingers of his hand wrapped around hers, offering her a gentle pull if it made it easier for her to rise.

he shot a look at anyone else that might have been in the room, his eyes narrowing for them not to dare say anything as he led he betrothed in the direction of his bedroom. he moved for luna to enter first, slowly latching the door behind them with a quiet click. he made a motion for her to sit with a wave of his arm towards the bed, thinking it would probably be most comfortable.

he took a seat as well, reaching to rummage through a bedside drawer... )

It's not imposing, it would never be with you Luna, because... ( out from its hiding place, he has in his hands now... the lovers' notebook. )

You've always been a part of this— ( of me ) since the very beginning.

[guidingmoonlight]

[ she rose with his tug, following behind him to his bedroom. a simple glance was sent behind her in wonder what the others might say. she tugged the blanket on her further, doing her best to hide her frame from prying eyes. with a brief nod she walked into the room and sat on the bed as he instructed. her hands folded neatly in her lap as she waited.

out of everything she could have expected to see... it was not their notebook.

a single hand withdrew from the blanket, trembling as it lay on top of notebook. fingers spread over the familiar and worn leather. tears gathered in her eyes, but she shook her head to keep them at bay. there was no need for him to see her cry.

all she could do was give a small nod in understanding. ]

[alternas]

( although his hand was on the bottom and hers on top, noctis was sure that somehow he felt the warmth of her touch radiating through all the pages of history they had shared together.

with his other hand, he leaned in, tucking a few stray pieces of her hair behind her ear, slowly and with the utmost care.
this was no longer eos, and perhaps their engagement held little to no water somewhere so far from home, but... noctis had no desire to let lunafreya go. )

I want... you to stay with me. ( not just because she was hurt. not even just for now. but because... of the way he felt about her. ) Always.

DAY IV ( free for all )

[alternas]