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

[photoshooter]

[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.]

[n_octis]

[ 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. ]

[photoshooter]

[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.

[n_octis]

[ 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. ]

[photoshooter]

[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.

[n_octis]

[ 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 ]

[photoshooter]

[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.

[n_octis]

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.

[photoshooter]

...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?

[n_octis]

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. ]

[photoshooter]

[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.]

[n_octis]

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 ]

[photoshooter]

[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?

[n_octis]

...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.

[photoshooter]

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.

[n_octis]

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.

[photoshooter]

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?

[n_octis]

If you want.

[ He's not gonna protest, in other words. But he's also not gonna keep moving, remaining softly on his friend. (He's not gonna move until Stella Fucks Up [tm] )
It's clear, however, that when either of his thumbs are touched? They feel... a little thinner then his other fingers. But not only that, but it had shifted slightly backwards on his hand - but not retracted into the flesh. No, more like it was re-positioning itself. His nails also seemed to be positioned differently - fur covering them, but the nails were still visible.

But Noctis didn't seem to be complaining of pain - unless Prompto tries to move it at all, or touch the gap between thumb and finger. Then he'll pull back with a slight growl, glaring with his pupil growing thin and... even more cat-like. ]

[photoshooter]

[Okay, yeah. Fur is one thing, and adorable ears are another, but digits shifting and hunter eyes? These are things Prompto can't exactly ignore.]

Mmmhhh... I'm no medic, dude, but... my diagnosis is, you might actually be turning into a cat. Like, for real.

[Should he be worried? Is it--is it some kind of Starscourge thing? But Stella, if she's Lunafreya's sister, she's blood of the Oracle. She should know if it were, and she hasn't said anything about it. Not to Prompto, anyway. He doesn't know her that well, but he thinks if it were about something as important as Noct, she'd put her anger aside to tell him.

He settles on personal concern instead of panic, because. Because he doesn't want to burden Noct with his fear, not when he's never seen Noct so free to relax.]

Are you... okay? Does it hurt? [Are you scared?]

[n_octis]

[ From outside appearances, Noctis was calm as he is lazing around on Prompto. However, inside, Noctis is afraid, as afraid as he was when Genesect was free. And this time, he doesn't have his family or the Sages fighting back the fear. (Well, this isn't something he thinks could be battled.) He's hiding it, but all of this is freaking him out - he hasn't seen this much happening to anybody else. Is it because he's who he is? He needs to carry these burdens.

He lays back down and goes back to kneading (a little), letting his voice be soft and calm - as princely as the brat can muster. It's Prompto - they can have a bit of serious time in the shade. ] ...I'm feeling growing pains. Everywhere.

[ Noctis lets his tone say everything. He's scared but he can't show it. He has to be the one to stay strong. He's the King of Team Plasma, even if he can be free and relaxed. When issues come up, he should walk tall. ]

[photoshooter]

[Aw, man.

Prompto knows that tone. He knows the hollowness of it, the dark, closed space it builds around vulnerability, around everything Noct can't let himself be around his subjects. Around anyone. Even Prompto. He remembers thinking that maybe Lady Lunafreya would get it. They were made for each other in a way, she and Noct. They both knew what it was to carry the whole world, and Prompto--Prompto can barely manage his own negligible weight. Broly's right about him. He's weak, too weak even to commit to getting stronger.

He strokes Noct's hair slowly, then lets his hand rest on his friend's shoulder, warm, solid, and gentle.]

Anything I can do to help?

[n_octis]

...It'd be nice if... [ he starts, feeling his head relaxing onto Promptos' hand and closing his eyes, ] we could go shopping. I don't want to... [ Ruin his clothes, he would say if he wasn't trailing off in soft happiness. These clothes which he sort of gestures to - which look sort-of worn out. He wants some nice stuff, okay. He's used to nice stuff.

His tone has returned to his usual, however, as he begins to purr softly. Just this is nice, him and his best friend. After he pauses, however, he decides to speak again. ] The sea's nice, isn't it?

[ He'd never seen the beach before, and now he rested there daily. Hiding away from people but watching them and the ocean - and when the night came, he even fishes a little. The fish here are so weird, but there's no Magikarp either. He needs to learn how to cook them. ]

[photoshooter]

[Ah. He purr. Prompto returns to petting, slow and steady, so as not to overstimulate his chilling kitty bestie.]

Yeah. The beach is great. And we can definitely go shopping, buddy. You don't even have to ask.

[The wonders of having a friend with a job.]

I've got some free time tomorrow. Maybe we can hang out by the water. We can pack some food, take pictures... feel the ocean breeze in our hair. It'll be awesome.

[n_octis]

[ He has a happy cat on him and everything is nice. ]

...That sounds nice. I want pictures of myself there. [ Before he changes more, he would say, but he is ready for Prompto to rib him a little. He's glad fur hasn't covered his face, but who knows? But quickly, he adds: ] We don't need to do much. Maybe invite some friends.

[ He's hoping that Prompto has made friends. He's so hopeful - even if he's remained clinging to who he knew instead of meeting more people. More people means more people who'll rely on him, he worries. ]

[photoshooter]

Oh! You know who you should meet? There's this girl, Maya--she's our age, she's a lot of fun.

[Suddenly, Prompto is very excited. He's definitely making friends, Noct, no worries.]

She's a spirit medium, but she isn't even a little bit spooky, and she likes burgers and cartoons and things. I bet she'd love hitting the beach with us. Oh, man, I should text her right now.

[He switches petting hands so he can grab his phone. Friends! Meeting friends! THE BEST THING. He'll let Noct look on as he types:]

hey maya wanna come to the beach with me and noct??
say yes o(≧∇≦o)

- prompto a.