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

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

[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.]

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[The Maltese, Silvia, catches the first whiff of him.

She stops chasing the big mutt (Bruno) and freezes, every fiber of her tiny, ten-pound body quivering with this new smell. Or, no, not a totally a new smell--it smells a little like her new whiny friend who takes her for walks! And also, fish. Her butt waggles with unrestrained excitement.

And she's off, yipping twice, to Bruno's confusion. Pilar, the Dalmatian, also finds herself stymied for a moment, but suddenly she's bounding towards Noctis, too, ready to make new friends. Poor, slow Bruno decides he won't be left out, either. Boofing like a champ, he follows his quicker friends towards Noct and away from Prompto, who, for the moment, only turns his head to see what's going on and whether he needs to chase them.]

[ Oh god. Noctis is staring at the dogs suddenly screeching at him and boofing and--

He is not moving, frozen in fear - even if they all seem friendly, something in his blood is making him freeze... and start to let out a low warning sound. Don't you dare come closer, or he'll... he'll seem to hide himself more in the bushes, hissing deep in his throat. If he had a tail - oh please he doesn't want a tail he's already feeling aches all over his body - it would be as up as his fur felt. ]

[Bruno stops, because he may be slow, but he's not stupid. That is a bad sound. Pilar looks back at him, sensitive to the changes in her team.

Silvia, however, is tiny and knows no fear. She charges right into the bushes and Prompto groans, pushing himself up and calling after her.]

Silvia! Ugh, come on, princess, I don't have time to give you another bath before your grams wants you back...!

[Gods dammit, small dogs are the worst. Sighing, Prompto hauls himself to his feet, stumbles, and shakes his head to steady himself.]

Sil. Sil! Come here, girl! [Clap, clap, whistle.]

[ As the dog came in, there was a loud howling sound from Noctis - but as if by instinct, he had grabbed the yapping animal, gripping them hard around their body.

Why? Because he knew it was better to grab something and hold it away from you then let it... bark and lick at him. Whelp, she's... an okay girl. But Noctis is still looking rather worked up, sticks and leaves getting caught in his fur (and the fur of the dog.) For a King, he looks rather messy. ]

Oh. Hey, Noct.

[Prompto drifts to a stop and examines both his best friend and man's best friend.

Snicker.]

Uh, looks like maybe you both need a bath. Here, I'll take her.

[He steps forward again and holds his arms out. Silvia keeps wiggling and trying to lick Noct. He is a good boy! He tastes like fish!]

[ Do not mind the glare, but he's holding his arms out as well. To give the dog over. He is not happy. ]

...Hey, Prompto. Heard you around here.

[ He couldn't help hearing him! Everything is so loud. ]

[Prompto takes Silvia and laughs when she turns right around to lick his chin and face. HE LOVES DOGS. SO MUCH. Sorry Noct.]

Really? Was I being that loud? Sorry.

[Honestly, as soon as he'd gotten to the park he'd kind of just heaved a huge sigh and lay down. He doesn't think he was being disruptive...]

Not really. But, when I woke up...

[ He says, quietly... and then up pop the cat ears, the ones he's been pressing against his now-fur-like hair. Embarrassed.

But he's not frowning, at least. A small shine in his eyes, as he stands... and moves to put his hand towards the doggo. A little. ]

[Okay. This is probably terrible. His friend's body is changing and they're way past puberty. But also--

He kind of has to cover his mouth with his fist to keep from squealing. Or at least from squealing too loudly.]

Noct...!

[YOU'RE ADORABLE!!!!!

Silvia makes an excited noise one step below true bark and leans over to try to lick Noct's hand, little paws sticking out dumbly. Pilar and Bruno, better behaved, have come to stand by Prompto's legs, panting and waiting patiently to be introduced.]

[ He is not cute he is the future King of Truth or Ideals. But at the sound, the ears seem to tuck back into his fur.

And then he lets his fingers - half-covered in fur - get licked. And there's a smile from him, fully. ]

...These are your friends, then. Do you-- need to sit down?

[ He looks pale. Maybe he's tired. Maybe they should nap. That'd be nice. ]

[Prompto looks up, then shakes his head and crouches to let Silvia go. Now that she has Done the Lick, she's calmed down a bunch, and now she only runs around Noct's legs and jumps on him a little bit instead of a lot. Pilar and Bruno follow suit, minus the jumping. They are good dogs.]

I'm okay! [He's slightly less than okay.] Buuuut, these guys might be at it for a while. They've got a lot of energy to burn off, so we might as well sit and let 'em run around till they're done.

[He waves Noct over to follow him and heads towards his bench again, trying to muster all his powers of staying awake.]

Anyway, yeah, these are some of my new buddies. [He points to each dog in turn as they begin to lose interest in Noct and chase one another instead.] Pilar, Bruno, and you met li'l Princess Silvia there.

[ They're good dogs, Noctis.

And he gently strokes one of them - brushing his hands against Pilar and Bruno and giving a little soft smile at Silvia at least - before moving to sit... lay down on Prompto. He's finding it uncomfortable to just sit down - his legs feel so wrong. But he's not putting his weight on his friend - his gaze focused on the dogs. ]

...And this is a job? Taking them to play - it sounds strange. [ But nice. He's not judging you, Prompto, as he lets the cat ears flop out a little more again. ]

[Whoomph. Okay, Noct, you keep being a cat, he guesses. Idly, Prompto pats Noct once more, scritching between his ears, and leans into the back of the bench, feeling... weird, mostly. Tired. And a little vague.]

Well, people here don't seem to have the... the what do you call 'em? [He mimes holding something in one hand.] The pocket balls. So it'd be mean to keep their dogs inside their homes all day while they're at work. This way these guys get some exercise and a chance to, you know. ...Relieve themselves. Before their owners come home.

[ He can't help it, leaning into the scritches - a soft smile on his face. He'll let Prompto do whatever he wants. Even if he feels awkward looking this way. ]

I can imagine. But I don't keep my friends in those. These friends speak differently then mine. [ Yes he is just casually saying he can talk a sort of animal. ] Sounds nice. Is it a legal requirement?

[ ..........noctis no ]

[Whatever, why wouldn't Noct be able to speak animal? That's totally a thing princesses can do, so princes should, too. Obviously.]

...Actually?

[Hiring a dog walker is obviously a luxury, but...]

I think it's animal abuse if they don't have something in place, so, yeah? Either they come home at lunch and take care of it, or they make sure they're not gone too long or something. I'm not sure, I'd have to look the laws up.

It'd be different then Ei-os. [ He's getting used to the name - the name which seems too familiar, like it was somewhere he had been. But he can't remember. There's a little huff of frustration, as he looks up at Prompto with adoration.

Before looking back at the playing dogs. ] I'd take in any who were abused. [ He's not working, after all. He sounds super-serious. ] But they're happy. You...

...It suits you.

...Yeah?

[It might have bothered him a little, once, to be relegated to the safe places, the fun times. To not carry the weight of the star with the others.

But he's tired.]

I like it. I like... not having to fight anything. Or worrying about the darkness.

[He closes his eyes and feels, not the sun's warmth, but light on his skin, and wonders what it would be like to just evaporate into it.]

I'll go back if I have to, but. I just miss not being afraid all the time, I guess. You know?

I need to go home someday.

[ He had the pressure. The burden - but honestly? He's terrified of it, himself. Living up to being a Hero. Compared to that... ]

...But this is nice. You can stay in this light, and I don't need to awaken a dragon and unite a country.

[ He's... oddly okay with this, in other words. Except for being his soft cat. ]

[He nods.]

Yeah. It's nice. [And sighs.] A nice pipe dream, us living in peace like this. Even if it's a liiiiittle weird, with the cults and the kidnapping and your kitty-cat ears. Still nice.

[Just like every day with the others was still fun, even when they almost died.]

They could have asked before kidnapping us. [ He says, in that snarky joking tone. He's relaxed, and is... oh my gosh he's kneeding his hands a little on Prompto. He loves his friend. ] I wouldn't have been opposed to having a vacation.

[ ...noctis you just wanna sleep more and not need to be a hero ]

[Oh, god, what? Prompto laughs, startled, in spite of himself.]

Noct, dude, what are you doing? It's adorable, but seriously, man. Are you actually turning into a cat?

...I don't know.

[ But, oddly enough, he doesn't sound worried when he says it. He was always compared to a... well, a Meowth, but they were like the cats he'd seen here.

(Prompto had needed to stop him from just staring at cats he'd met.) ]

If I did, you'd adopt me. [ It isn't even a question. ] I could text you.

Of course I would! Dude, you are already adopted.

[Seriously. Not even a question. He keeps working his fingers through Noct's fur, because, damn, son, he's living the dream, here.]

But how would you text me? Cats don't have thumbs.

I'd use my nose.

[ He's only semi-kidding, as he is so relaxed. This is nice. But he adds, with a soft sigh - he's only in a little pain: ] My thumbs feel tingly.

Tingly?

[That... might be bad. Does that mean he might be losing circulation to them? Prompto's not a doctor.]

Want me to take a look at 'em?

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