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]

[Prompto squawks and almost accidentally flings himself off the bench, then looks at Maya with pure, affronted incredulity as she greets the dog he's walking instead of him!]

Wow! Wow. Really, Maya? Really.

[Sitting up, Prompto holds the bottle of water by the top, points to Maya with the bottom, and addresses the Maltese instead of her.]

Come on, Silvia, don't tell me you're just going to stand by when she treats me like that! We've got a connection, right, Sil? We get each other. We're linked. ...Sil?

[Yeah, no, the Maltese is already enchanted, jumping around and putting her paws all over Maya and hardly standing still to get petted at all. Prompto frowns mightily and sinks into his seat, sulking.]

Fine. I see how it is.

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya gives Silvia little squeaky air-kisses, ruffling under the dog's ears.]

Good girl, Sil! That's right, ladies first!

[She looks over Silvia's wagging tail and smirks at Prompto.]

Come on! I even brought you water, don't pout at me.

[photoshooter]

I'm not pouting.

[He says, pouting.]

Pretty sure you threw this at me. Projectiles aren't gifts, Maya. They're acts of total cruelty. ...Though, thank you.

[He scoots over so there's room for her to sit, if she'd like, and opens the water. Maybe hydration's the problem. He feels so weirdly faint...]

So what're you up to today? Besides accosting innocent housemates at random.

[missleadingquestions]

Aww. Hit your ribs again?

[She teases, sitting down next to him and pulling out a bottle of water for herself. She elbows him gently before opening her own bottle.]

I'm taking a walk, and I saw you over here laid out like a dead bird.

[photoshooter]

[He sticks his tongue out at her while she's opening her bottle and then pretends he did nothing of the sort. Because they're both adults. Totally.]

Dead bird, huh? Flattering. Though I'll have you know my ribs are fine, now.

[Prompto lifts both arms above his head to show how totally awesome and unbruised he is after some TLC courtesy of a magic egg bird.]

See? Right as rain.

[missleadingquestions]

[She reaches over almost reflexively to prod him in the ribs again, just to check and see.]

Wow! You got better so fast!

[photoshooter]

[If Prompto flinches and makes a noise again, it's got way less to do with pain this time than with being ticklish. You fiend. He clears his throat.]

Theeeere may have been some magic involved. [He shakes his head and sits up straighter.] And also, I wasn't hurt that bad in the first place! Just some bumps and bruises, really.

[missleadingquestions]

I thought you said you got hit by a train?

[She isn't convinced!!!! But then again her friends can take a beating too.]

[photoshooter]

No, I got--I fell off the train. From the roof.

[It's a little more complicated than that, but close enough.]

I'm tougher than I look, but I don't think even Gladio'd survive getting hit by one. Let alone me. Gladio's our meat tank, basically. Like if you gave a bear a haircut and some bitchin' tattoos.

[missleadingquestions]

Oh-- like Gumshoe!

[Perfect mental image. That works.]

Well, I'm glad you're not hurt anymore. You should take better care of yourself! You're gonna wind up living like a NEET like Nick.

[photoshooter]

I'm not a NEET!

[...]

I could always go pro as a photog. I've gotten way better at action shots since I first started out, believe me.

[missleadingquestions]

--Oh. So, you're not a pro?

Why not?

[come on neet]

[photoshooter]

Because...

[BECAUSE HE'S A NEET okay no]

Because--well, because it's not really a great time back home? What with all the running from the Empire, and helping Noct, and trying to forge deals with the gods and everything. You know. Normal guy stuff.

[missleadingquestions]

Oh! So you have another job.

[She isn't super surprised. Everyone's world is in some level of disarray, it would seem, even her own! Though they enter the Dark Age of the Law without her knowing at first...]

Being Noct's loyal sidekick?

[photoshooter]

Wellllllll...

[Sidekick? Really? But on the other hand, among the four of them, if anyone's the heroes, obviously it ain't Prompto.]

Yeah, pretty much, I guess. [He nods decisively.] His friend, anyway. Someone's gotta do it.

[missleadingquestions]

What, you can't be both?

[Maya asks.]

I'm both. I'm the sidekick to one of the best lawyers where I come from.

[photoshooter]

Nick, right?

[See, he can pay attention.]

I'm just saying, if I had to pick one--I think Noct needs a friend more than he needs a squire. You know what I mean?

[missleadingquestions]

[And, for once in the conversation so far, Maya hesitates.]

Yeah. I do.

[photoshooter]

[Prompto looks up. He's not sure how to interpret that pause.]

...Same for you?

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya puts her bottle down so she can put her hands on the bench and kick her legs gently. She shakes her hair over her shoulder and moves side to side.]

I lived on a mountain with my family until I was sixteen,

[she tells him, unsure why she's feeling so quick to tell him something like this. In some ways Prompto is similar to Nick-- so maybe that just makes him feel more trustworthy.]

And there weren't a lot of cousins my age. [And they all kind of resented her a little for the whole Misty Fey thing.]

[photoshooter]

[It's the first time Prompto's been able to focus all day. The tired scatter of his mind settles into a pattern as he watches her move side to side, like a metronome. For once, he feels still and steady.

Maya lived on a mountain, and there's a mountain of things unsaid behind her words. For once, Prompto feels like the outline in the fog is a familiar one.]

...So maybe it's the other way. That you needed a friend more than you needed a liege lord.

[Noct was his first friend.]

[missleadingquestions]

...Yeah.

All I had was my sister back then, so... the first person I met, Nick? Phoenix Wright. He became my best friend.

[She shrugs, looking over at Prompto again.]

[photoshooter]

[Prompto chuckles a little to himself and looks ahead, watching the dogs play.]

...Noct was my first friend. Like, ever. We actually went to the same elementary school.

[He ducks his head, embarrassed.]

But I didn't work up the nerve to talk to him until the beginning of high school. 'Cause he was the prince, you know? Scary. [His gaze travels back up to the sky.] Ever since then, though... I mean. We're basically inseparable. I--I was gonna be best man at his wedding.

[missleadingquestions]

You? Scared? Who'da guessed?

[Smirks Maya, crossing her arms and leaning back against the bench, sticking her legs out and crossing them at the ankle.]

...Sounds like you turned out to be just right for 'im. [Ambiguously.]

[photoshooter]

Hehe. Thanks. I like to think so. I mean, if I only ever get to do one thing right, I hope it's that. He deserves it.

[He nods, turning to her again.]

Not to knock sidekicking! Just, I dunno. He's got Ignis and Gladio for that, too. ...Don't tell them I called them sidekicks. [With feeling:] They'll destroy me.