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

[missleadingquestions]

[Without missing a beat--]

Office security.

[photoshooter]

Hahaha! [It's a light, honest laugh.] Let me guess. When you have uninvited guests, it asks them to leaf.

[missleadingquestions]

[That gets a grin out of her and she sits up suddenly, shoving Prompto in the arm--- which might leave water on his skin. From the water bottle's sweat, maybe?

But hey, she's laughing now, which means he's amused her enough that she can't come up with a better pun.]

[photoshooter]

[And her laughter sets off his laughter, for real, even as he rocks away from the push and rubs at the wet spot and then flicks some of the moisture back at her, into her hair.]

I hope it's got a really commanding bark, too!

[missleadingquestions]

[She swats at the flick, futile though it may be, and leans away from him.]

Well I keep telling him, if he works hard enough he might even become branch manager!

[photoshooter]

[He follows into her space, still grinning.]

As long as he roots out enough baddies, his promotion should get all greens.

[missleadingquestions]

[She giggles into her hands, shaking her head before looking him square in the eye, leaning juuuust a bit forward in retaliation, and sticking her tongue out.]

Shhhhh!

[stop making her laugh she's gonna run out of breath JEEZ]

[photoshooter]

[Grinning and satisfied, he sits back again and kicks his heels a little against the ground, like a kid.]

Anyway, I can see why he's a valuable member of the team, protecting you guys from am-bush. Okay, I'm done, last one! That was the last one, promise.

[He leans his elbows on his knees, laughing and looking up at her. Prompto's never felt clever before.]

[missleadingquestions]

Ohhhh my goooosh.

[Maya groans, rolling her eyes despite a grin. But she gives him her full attention, at least, turning that grin his way.]

It better be. You're terrible!

[she claims, very convincingly indeed.]

[photoshooter]

Yup. I'm the worst.

[He sounds so mock-proud of himself.]

This is nice. Man, I don't think I've gotten to goof off like this in... way too long. [He nods at her.] We should do this more often! Like, set a time to chill together every day.

[Mmmmmm-hm.]

[missleadingquestions]

--Yeah!

[Agrees Maya, unhesitant.]

This is fun! I'm always ready to goof around.

[And then with a dramatic sigh--]

Most people don't even know how to have fun anymore.

[photoshooter]

Ugh, I know.

[S I G H.]

Truly, the greatest tragedy of our time. Times. Worlds. You know what I mean. What I'm saying is, obviously the universe could learn a thing or two from us, Maya.

[missleadingquestions]

It's true. A pair of bold souls on the road to fun, and no one else seems to know the way.

[Another dramatic sigh and she leans back against the bench with a huff before giggling a little more, pushing her hair out of her face, and frowning a little when she has to flick water drops off her hand again. She doesn't remember touching the water bottle again but she must have put her hand on it when she moved back. Alas.]

We should go out to eat!

[The most fun activity of all.]

[photoshooter]

Oh--yeah! Yeah, totally! Food always tastes better with friends.

[Hanging out, eating food--hanging out and eating food with a girl... it's starting to sound like a date, actually? But maybe not. Man, he's never been on one, how should he know? Is hanging out and having fun with someone a date? Has he been dating Noct, Iggy, and Gladio all along?]

Hoooowww about burgers? There's burger joints all over the place around here.

[He remembers.]

[missleadingquestions]

[and, as clockwork as putting a quarter into a gumball machine, Maya eats that suggestion right up.]

Yeah! We can hit up all of them eventually, I bet!

[Well congrats Prompto you've gotten her all excited about your little date. Outing. Date.

The promise of a continued friendship and burgers appear to be the key to girls hearts???]

[photoshooter]

Every burger joint in the city, huh? [He straightens and sort of tosses his hair a little, then nods.] Ambitious. I like the way you think.

[He leans forward, holding up a finger.]

We can take notes, see which one's the true burger king of Arcrion.

[missleadingquestions]

[She preens a little as though proud of her own ambition and nods.]

It is the only way to find out. And we'd be doing Arcrion a favor.

[photoshooter]

We could make a blog for our adventures! It doesn't seem like there are too many of those online, here.

[missleadingquestions]

Oh-- yeah! Maybe they have something you can use the phone from, too, like um-- I dunno, twitter or something.

[FOOD BLOGGING. sounds great.


...as long as an actual computer is not required]

[photoshooter]

We can find out. If not, we'll still have done the city a service. Everyone oughta know where the best local burger place is. Everyone.

[Truly, they are the heroes this community needs.]

[missleadingquestions]

Perfect. Then, it's settled.

[She even holds out her fist for a fist bump.]

We're doing this.

[photoshooter]

[Bump!]

We're locked and loaded!