These days I've been taking that heavy so lightly [Group text; action for Arcrion]

[photoshooter]

[The good news first: Prompto has a job!

The not-so-great news: They're still trapped in another world with no idea where they are, why they're there, or how to get back--or whether there will be anything left of the world if they do. Every time he thinks about his talk with Stella, dread churns uncomfortably in Prompto's stomach, and he can't let go of his worry for Noct, for Ignis, for Eos. For himself. What's happening back home, if Noct's springing Ardyn's trap only to find Prompto not there? Will he be okay? Will Prompto be okay, out here, with no idea how to support this other Noctis by himself?

There's also the fact that Noct appears to be turning into some kind of lion cat, and Prompto doesn't know where to even begin wrestling with that. He's choosing to pretend it isn't happening, as much as he can. As long as it isn't bothering Noct, he can deal.

So Prompto's trying to focus on the positive, for now, and he really does love his new part-time work walking dogs in the city. They're really great dogs, different kinds, big ones and little curly ones and all of them his new best friends. Dogs are so good. Mankind doesn't deserve them. And they leave him plenty of time to take photos and explore his surroundings, though he hasn't had much luck finding out more about those weird cultists who brought them to Eludalsia.

Part of the problem is he's been tired. Taking care of the city's cute puppies isn't really strenuous, but it's like the sun itself boils the life out of him; but then at night, when he could rest, he feels fine. So it's not like he's sick or anything. Reasonably, it must be stress, but he's got to keep it together. He's one of the grown-ups. And he's tired of not pulling his weight.

That said, most of his research has been limited to trawling the weirdly official-like information he can find online on his retooled phone (thanks, Yuusei!), and he hasn't found much.

Today, when the light of the noontime sun is just too much, he retreats to his favorite off-leash dog park, lies down on a bench in the shade, and sends a group text to everyone who took a phone and gave him their number:]

anybody find out anything about some group called the joyous???
when i described the people who summoned us, that's the answer i got. "that sounds like the joyous order." but the coffee guy didn't know much more than that. just that they're a cult and he doesn't think they're ""dangerous.""
if you've got any other intel pls share with the class! thnx!
- prompto a.

[Anyone visiting the park in Arcrion this fine day may come across a familiar blond supine on a bench, one freckled arm thrown over his face, looking a little washed out as a Maltese, a Dalmatian, and a big, fluffy mutt frolic nearby.]

Comments

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[planetary_bonds]

Or perhaps not us as we were. They may have planned to use us for something, if those chains were for us. What for, I'm not sure. I don't remember seeing anything in that garage that could have been used for anything but holding us. Unless they planned to take us somewhere else?

text

[photoshooter]

okay now that's REALLY creepy
what do you mean not us as we were?? do you think they were gonna sacrifice us??? or eat us????

text

[planetary_bonds]

I'm not sure.

I've seen cultists sacrifice people to gods, and my friends and I...we had all been pushed past our own limits in various ways, to try and awaken our latent abilities. Whether it was forcing us to relive painful memories, or imprisoning us or finding other ways to isolate and torture us...those people had all been trying to use us for something or other. It could be any one of those things, or something beyond that.

[photoshooter]

THAT'S *REALLY* CREEPY!! ゞ◎Д◎ヾ

what do we do??? if they're willing to do that kind of stuff to us for whatever reason, i don't think we should be trying to hunt them down anymore!!

[planetary_bonds]

It's either that, or let them come to us.

[Paaaauuuuuuse.]

Or let them find others.

[photoshooter]

.......

okay no that'd be a real lousy move. UGH i guess it's up to us, *as usual*

[lostcompany]

What I'm wondering is why drag people here from other WORLDS instead of just kidnapping people from this world. You know, like a normal, respectable creepy doom cult.

[photoshooter]

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A NORMAL RESPECTABLE CREEPY DOOM CULT!!! ヾ(;ﾟДﾟ;)ｼ

[planetary_bonds]

No, I get what you're saying. It should have been easier and more convenient for them to just grab people from their own world. They must have gone through extra trouble to drag us all here.

Either something's preventing them from using people from this world, or we have something they want. Whatever it is, it's not normal.

[lostcompany]

There is no way that interdimensional summoning magic is more practical than kidnapping orphans or something. Not to be too cynical or imply that's a GOOD thing to do but you know. I'm going with option 2.

[photoshooter]

but i'm normal! or at least i don't have anything worth kidnapping for! i mean, except for my friendship with noct, but that doesn't apply here at least!!

[planetary_bonds]

You never know. There might be something about you that you haven't discovered yet. We don't know what these people's motives are, after all.

[photoshooter]

[oh no no nonono.]

ahaha, nope. nothing hidden beneath the surface with me! i'm just a normal guy living a normal life, wysiwyg. no secrets here!!

- prompto a.

[planetary_bonds]

[...]

I used to think the same about myself, until recently. It always seems to strike people who don't want it, whatever marks them.

[He can't help but think of the other Signers...except Jack. Jack always wanted greatness, so he doesn't count.]

[photoshooter]

[Whatever marks them.

It's really a good thing this conversation is just blowing up everyone's phones, and they're not having it in person. No one but Prompto's dog walkees can see him tug nervously at his wristband.]

yeah, well
well there isn't really any way to rebut a statement like that, BUT
i'm 10010% sure i've got nothing going for me that anyone would want so if those cultists were expecting literally anything except a normal dude who can't even fight that well by himself, then
they're in for an astronomic bout of disappointment

- prompto a.

[lostcompany]

Oh dude ANYTHING is normal once it has enough money.

[photoshooter]

that
is the most jaded thing i've ever heard anyone say
hal you're too young to be so worldly come play some video games and restore your faith in a decent universe

[lostcompany]

I'm 15!!

[corruptedcoil]

I am 16 and I agree with Hal.

[photoshooter]

[This will not stand.

After a minute or so, both Hal and Alisaie (and, well, everyone in this group text) receives a link. The link will take them to something like this in the app store.]

both of you download this right now

[corruptedcoil]

What is downloading? Is this urgent.

[photoshooter]

it means putting some data on your phone and YES it's a matter of life... and *death*

- prompto a.

[photoshooter]

so?? i'm 20, i still play video games!

[lostcompany]

No that's fine. But dude I'm not a kid! I know how things work!

[photoshooter]

no matter how much money and power something has, if we believe hard enough and draw on the strength of our friendships, we never have to bow our heads and say it's normal!

[ROW ROW FIGHT DA POWAH]