Welcome to Adventu, your final fantasy rp haven. adventu focuses on both canon and original characters from different worlds and timelines that have all been pulled to the world of zephon: a familiar final fantasy-styled land where all adventurers will fight, explore, and make new personal connections.
at adventu, we believe that colorful story and plots far outweigh the need for a battle system. rp should be about the writing, the fun, and the creativity. you will see that the only system on our site is the encouragement to create amazing adventures with other members. welcome to adventu... how will you arrive?
year 5, quarter 3
Welcome one and all to our beautiful new skin! This marks the visual era of Adventu 4.0, our 4th and by far best design we've had. 3.0 suited our needs for a very long time, but as things are evolving around the site (and all for the better thanks to all of you), it was time for a new, sleek change. The Resource Site celebrity Pharaoh Leep was the amazing mastermind behind this with minor collaborations from your resident moogle. It's one-of-a-kind and suited specifically for Adventu. Click the image for a super easy new skin guide for a visual tour!
Final Fantasy Adventu is a roleplaying forum inspired by the Final Fantasy series. Images on the site are edited by KUPO of FF:A with all source material belonging to their respective artists (i.e. Square Enix, Pixiv Fantasia, etc). The board lyrics are from the Final Fantasy song "Otherworld" composed by Nobuo Uematsu and arranged by The Black Mages II.
The current skin was made by Pharaoh Leap of Pixel Perfect. Outside of that, individual posts and characters belong to their creators, and we claim no ownership to what which is not ours. Thank you for stopping by.
[attr="class","infoNotes"]Sorry...and not sorry... Song inspiration
[attr="class","crashLyrics"]The Angel on Velvet street
[attr="class","crashBody"] Here, tucked inside the dark curve of Sonora’s underbelly, was a place where one could indulge in the finer mala prohibitia. A certain enjoyment could only be gifted by giving in to those guilty pleasures. And the name of this masterpiece of an entertainment district was affectionately called Velvet Street. As smooth as jazz, as dark as crushed scarlet velvet, and as velutinously sensual. [break][break] When her work was slow, it was here she came to perform. The tips paid well. And she got her thrill from something that wouldn’t remotely kill her. Seemed a victory overall. It was also cleaner than Honey Bee Inn, even if the crowd was of similar scum. [break][break] There was a cramped, run-down bar jammed between two brick buildings. The sign flickered “Hell’s Angel” with a listing for the newest show of Madame Red. It was nearly a full house and one could hear the excited din of those too inebriated to care for inhibitions. Wooden tables -each with a candle in its center - and chairs lined along the stage. [break][break] The dark cherry curtains parted and the spotlight full on a woman with her back turned on the audience. Her hair was wild about her shoulders and she wore a red corset with a hi-lo bustle skirt. Her legs simply adorned with sheer black thigh-high stockings and heels. A matching parasol was held out to the side in her pose, her hip tilting. [break][break] The piano and sting played a slow and easy. And her voice rose with it, sad and yearning. [break][break] “There was a time [break] I don't know when [break] I didn't have much time for men…” [break][break] She peered over shoulder at her audience with a slight pout on her lips. [break][break] “But this is now and that was then, I'm learning…” [break][break] She spun on her heels to face her audience. Her parasol spun and landed on her opposite shoulder. She pressed her cheek into the fabric. Eyes closed to take in the smooth feeling of the fabric. Her posture closed into herself as she delicate ran her fingers down the length of the prasol. [break][break] “A girl alone, all on her own [break] must try to have a heart of stone [break] So I try not to make it known my yearning.” [break][break] She touched a hand to her breast as if she was so pitiful. Her head hung low as she lowered her eyes. She brought the parasol in both hands as she swayed side to side at her needy misery. Then, she brought her chin high, her hair falling over her shoulder as she touched a hand over her heart once more. [break][break] “I try to show I have no need[break] I really do, I don't succeeeeeeed.” [break][break] Her last words turned more voracious as her eyes fluttered open from her day dream and turned into a sly glance to the audience. A toothy grin touched her red lips. As if the music knew her mind, it silenced to emphasize her command. She only grinned and looked out at the audience. Her feet parted as she placed the tip of the parasol down in front of her. She gave it a gentle two raps on the floor. And her voice rose much more devilishly. [break][break] “SOOOOO LEEEET’S BRIIIIIIING OOOOON THE MEN! [break] LET THE FUN BEGIN!” [break][break] The string of the instrument plucked as if a thrumming pulse of a heart to which her hips swayed. Her hips swayed side to side before she spun her parasol over her shoulder, one hand on her hip to emphasize. [break][break] “A little touch of sin![break] Why wait another minute?!” [break][break] She spun the parasol back down to lean over it and stare deeply into the eyes of an enthralled audience member. Her leg bent up behind her, before stamping it back down. A smile on her lips. Then, she tossed the prop over her shoulder, and with such playful delight… [break][break]
"It’s time for us to play![break] They say we may not pass this way again.[break] So let’s waste no more time[break] Bring on the men!” [break][break] She flowed to her hands and knees, hips high in the air with the grace of a cat. A delicate hand came to touch caress his face as she drew near to gaze deeply. Then a soft sigh touched her lips before pushing him back by his collar. She moved to sit at the edge of the stage again. Her eyes closed as she sat up proper with her hands on her lap. Her chin was lifted as if she was the perfect angel again. [break][break] One of the ladies of the night called out support to her. [break][break] Cissnei lifted her skirt enough to cross her legs. She gave a gentle shrug and leaned forward as her fingers ran up her garters.The music became slow an easy again. [break][break] “I always knew, I always said[break] A silk and lace in black and red[break] Will drive a man right off his head. [break] Its easy” [break][break] She slid off the stage to walk the room. Hand on her hip as she touched cheeks, as if searching each face for something she wanted. Fingers ran along shoulders and she could smell cologne. [break][break] “So many men, so little time[break] I want them all, is that a crime?”
[break][break] She raised her hands up in the question. The audience raised their voice together in unison as they shouted “No!” She wandered aimlessly between the tables, before she took a seat along one. She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and leaned back in quiet despair. [break][break] “I don't know why they say that I'm too easy.[break] They make me laugh.[break] They make me cry.[break] They make me sick. [break] Soooo gooood knoooows whyyyyy” [break][break] Her last sentenced was the husky growl as she looked back knowingly to the audience. As if on queue, the music picked up into a more playfully jazzy jaunt. She was joined by the other ladies of the night rising to meet her singing as they flooded through the side doors and into the audience. Each one as scantily dressed and swaying. [break][break] “We say bring on the men![break] And let the fun begin![break] A little touch of sin![break] Why wait another minute?![break] Step this way! it's time for us to play[break] They say we may not pass this way again![break] So lets waste no more time![break] Bring on the men!” [break][break] As if thrown with passion, she slid back to lay along the table. Her back arced in her throws and her knees rose. She tousled her hair in her madness. [break][break] “They break your heart![break] They steal your soul![break] Take you apart![break] And yet they somehow make you whole!” [break][break] She reached up to grab the tie of the man sitting in the chair by the table, who seemed to be eyeing the whole scene. “So what’s their game?!” She cried in her song, before pushing back into the chair and sliding off the table and landing gracefully on her heels. She clasped her hands behind her back as she walked among the audience again. The music halted for her revelation… [break][break] “I suppose a rose by any other name…[break] The perfume and the pricks the same.” [break][break] She gave a wink as she danced across the room. The other ladies sang the chorus as the music rose again. It was then Cissnei nearly tripped on someone’s show and ended up falling against someone walking in.
[attr=class,lyric1]gonna keep on keeping on the only
[attr=class,lyric2]way i know how
[attr=class,bulk] For not the first time, Prompto felt like he was really, really not in his element.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like cities. He loved them, actually, that sweet, sweet civilization and all, but Sonora always made him uncomfortable (it was too much like Niflheim) and this place in particular, well…
Prompto didn’t know another word for it. Somehow, someway, he seemed to have stumbled into some kind of red light district.
Which would have been fine. Great, even if his friends were around! He could imagine himself begging Noctis to come somewhere like this that was all lit up in dull colored lights where the streets were never empty and smelled like whiskey and perfume. There were girls too. Lots of girls hovering around the kind of places that promised even more girls inside and more than once Prompto had to force his eyes on his feet, cheeks thoroughly red, just to keep from getting distracted. He was here for a reason. He had something to do. Something important. And he’d do it! Even if it meant resisting the call of the streetside sirens of Velvet Street.
Caius had told him where to find Cissnei and he’d gone there, but the office was empty and after asking around, this was where the people that knew her had sent him. He was starting to wonder if it was some prank. Or maybe she liked to gather information around here. That wouldn’t surprise him. If any of those women had sidled up to him, he’d probably have told them anything they wanted to hear.
His journey took him to a dingy looking place with a great big neon sign which read “Hell’s Angel” in flickering lights. It sure wasn’t the kind of place he was used to, and for a moment, Prompto just stood outside it, staring. He saw men go in and drunker, flustered looking men stumble out. All the windows were curtained so he couldn’t peek inside any way but the front door. And inside, he heard singing.
This was really, really not his kind of place – at least not without Noctis to give him some kind of support. But Noctis wasn’t here and that was the point and if saving his friends meant visiting a strip club then he’d just have to do what he had to do!
So Prompto steeled himself, took a deep breath, and started inside. He hoped he looked old enough. Did Sonora even have drinking age laws? What did a valid ID even look like around here? It didn’t matter because he was let inside no problem. He guessed he looked pretty mature for his age. That must have been it.
The scene he walked in on was loud and dark and crowded. The place was crammed with tables and the tables were crammed with men who looked really into the whole thing. On each table was the faint glow of a candle that was about it when it came to lighting. The whole place looked like a fire hazard to him, but he could still see mostly by the light of the stage which spotlighted a single woman rooted to its center. And as he saw her, standing there, time seemed to slow to a halt.
She was singing. He knew she was singing, but he couldn’t really make out the words. There was just her, fiery and beautiful with her hand trailing up her chest, swaying like a cobra captivating her prey. She was smiling. Was she smiling at him? No, probably not him. But it felt like him and he could hear his heart in his ears as his eyes trailed from her heels up her netted stockings and-
”Psst! Sit down! You’re blocking the view!”
”Huh?”
A man behind him called him something real rude and he blinked, shaking the fog from his head. Right. He was just kind of…standing there, wasn’t he?
But where was he supposed to sit?
And how the heck was he supposed to find that Cissnei woman in a place like this?
Well, first things first, he had to find a chair somewhere which he did somewhere uncomfortably near the back. He had to share the table with some guys he didn’t know and who looked about twenty years older than him. They didn’t seem happy that he was sitting with them, but he didn’t see anywhere else so he just sank shamefully into a plastic chair and hoped they wouldn’t say anything. They didn’t.
The performance continued though he felt a little more dispirited now than before. This place was so dark, so cramped, and so distrating that he had no hope of finding Cissnei. If she was even here to begin with. He was starting to think he’d have done better to just camp outside her office and hope she came back. He had lots of experience in camping. He’d just need a tent and a sleeping bag and maybe something to eat (he was starving) and-
The music picked up, and suddenly there were women everywhere.
Prompto almost yelped in surprise as wave upon wave of beautiful women cascaded in from the doors he hadn’t even noticed, and suddenly all of his worries were dashed away. There were tall women and short women, blondes and brunettes and some of a darker complexion and they were all pinched together in their perfect curves cinched at the waist with high heeled stilettos and curls swaying with their movements and one of them stopped near him and his eyes landed on her breasts swelling out of her corset and would any of them talk to him probably not but what if what if what if-?
In the center of it all was the red head. She was still singing as she stepped off stage. She was coming closer.
”Step this way! It’s time for us to play They say we may not pass this way again! So let’s waste no more time! Bring on the men!”
She was right there. Right in front of him. So close he could see the candlelight glistening against her dark red lipstick and the thin layer of sweat over her breasts and then-
And then…
The table erupted into whistles and hollers as she threw herself across it, sprawling backwards with her back arched and her knee drawn up and Prompto stared at that knee, bare except for the fish nets which ended at her thigh and the whole table whooped as she tussled her hair around wildly, but Prompto just sat there, frozen with terror, awe, and something else nameless that he’d felt before but never like this and she sat up just enough to grab a man’s tie and pull him closer and he thanked the Astrals that wasn’t him because he might have just had a heart attack but what if it was him how would it feel to be so close, staring into her eyes, smelling her perfume and-
And then she was gone. She was still dancing. Prompto let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
He didn’t like this place, he decided. It was too much. Way, way too much for just him alone. If he wasn’t careful, he’d end up getting hurt or worse -- getting his heart broken.
”I suppose a rose by any other name… The perfume and the prick’s the same.”
Prompto saw what would happen a moment before it did. He saw her heel catch on an outstretched boot, saw her lose balance, saw her fall against a kind of small guy in the entry way that jerked away in shock. Prompto didn’t think to move. He saw it all happen one thing after another and reacted with the kind of speed that could only be honed looking after your buddies in too many chaotic fights with monsters to count.
As the red-haired woman tripped, Prompto was already on his feet. As she collided with the man in the doorway, he was already behind her, and as the man pushed her away on instinct and she started toppling backwards, he’d slid under her, arms outstretched to catch her before her head could hit the floor.
She landed and he caught her and it was only then that his thoughts caught up to him and he’d realized just what he’d done and that he now held a beautiful woman in his arms.
He felt heat rise to his cheeks. ”Oh, uh. H-hey.” He felt his throat closing in on itself, threatening to strangle him. ”Careful there! Almost hurt yourself. Heheh.”
Maybe if he willed it hard enough, he’d sink into the floor and never rise again.
[attr="class","infoNotes"]Oh. Hello. Now we can talk
[attr="class","crashLyrics"]The Angel on Velvet Street
[attr="class","crashBody"] It was not the other person’s fault for pushing her. If she collided with someone when walking into a dark and smokey bar, it might have been her first reaction. Who knew who was going to steal your wallet. She could already see the upset confusion melt into an apology in the other man’s eyes at the realization of what he had done. The bouncer looked on helplessly as the situation resolved itself too quickly for him to act. [break][break] While that felt like it all happened in slow motion, her falling backwards felt like a blurry flash. She mentally prepped for her body to hit the floor. Her body responded on instinct to tense itself to lessen the impact…But the impact never came. [break][break] Her vision cleared and as she looked up, she saw two innocent, fearful blue eyes staring back at her. Her first thought was - spiky-haired blond man: this was Alex’s homewrecker. Then, she realized he held no big sword weapon. And by the smell of his fear and embarrassment, as well by his politeness to her, she doubted he was ruining relationships. [break][break] There was something about him that reminded her of someone else. She could not quite put a finger on it. [break][break] It was when Prompto spoke that she realized the entire room had gone quiet. They had an entire bar full of eyes. The performance had come to a crashing halt with her tripping. She hated to put the already embarrassed gentleman in the hot seat, but there was no smooth way out of this situation for both of them unless she finished the show. [break][break] She tilted her head back to look up at him, chest rising and falling as she let out a purring growl. Hungry. She picked her weight back up off of him, as she crawled forward over his lap. She gave a curious look into his eyes as she debated. [break][break] Then, a crooked grin touched her lips. Her voice rose low and slowly at first, as she made up her mind. Her eyes narrowed. [break][break] “I like to have a man for breakfast each day.” The music swelled again, as if to follow her lead. The horn was slow back and forth of duuun…dun….duuuun….dun. [break][break] She raised a delicate hand and placed it on Prompto’s chest. She could feel the material underneath her finger tips. Her eyes dropped briefly to her hand, then back up to his eyes. Ah. Perhaps that was it. His clothes. Though they all dressed in different ways, this style of clothing - the buttons, the material, the texture - it was very similar to Caius and Ignis' outfits. [break][break] Her smile widened as she inched nearly nose to nose with him. She continued to sing - breathy and slow. [break][break] “I'm very social and I like it that way. [break] By late mid-morning I need something to munch.” [break][break] She gnashed her teeth as her hand slid up to his neck and down the collar. Then, she stood up, lightly tugging him up. [break][break] “So I ask over two men for lunch.” There were hoots and hollers as she winked at the crowd. She tapped a finger of a free hand to her cheek as she gently guided Prompto across the room. [break][break] “And men are mad about my afternoon ‘tea-se’. [break][break] She turned back to Prompto and touched him under the chin as she leaned in to look closer at his face. One hand on her hip as she seemed quite pleased with him. Then, she leaned in to touch her cheek to his and whispered."They're quite informal. I just do it to please.” Pulling back, she looked back up at him as her lashes fluttered up. [break][break] Then, she turned to pull him closer to a side lounge. Along the way, she spotted another audience member close to them. Briefly letting go of Prompto, she bent over at the waist to inspect a second man in a top hat. She adjusted the man’s hat so that it was even and gave it a gentle pat, followed by a smile. [break][break] “Those triple sandwiches are my favorite ones.” She looked up thoughtfully, as if deciding on a meal. Then she turned back to take Prompto and let her eyes roll over him. [break][break] “I'm also very partial to buns.” She gave him a wink. She entwined her arm with Prompto’s, as if they were going for a casual stroll and she was confiding to him. [break][break] “My healthy appetite gets strongest at night.[break] My at-home dinners are my men friends delight.” [break][break] She guided Prompto casually into the side lounge. She let go of him to pull the rope on the side of the doorway. The curtains pulled back and she beckoned Prompto in with a curl of her finger and then a gentle gesture to come inside. [break][break] “When I invite the fellas over to dine.[break] They all come early...in bed by nine!” [break][break] She bumped her hip into Prompto to get him inside the lounge - a small alcove with a table, cushioned bench, and an ice bucket of wine - and then she suddenly drew the curtains shut with one hand. The music continued on without them as the other ladies sang the chorus once more. [break][break] Her back was still to him as she faced the curtain. Well. Now what. Was he really related to Ignis and Caius? She looked over her shoulder at him, before turning to finally face him with her arms crossed. “Thank you.” She said gently, “For helping me not be a pretty stain on the floor.” [break][break] She tapped the side of her nose. “I can smell fear from newbies here.” A joke the dancers told the crowd and there was some truth to it. He seemed so out of place and nervous here. And usually those types came - or was dragged - with friends. Yet, he came alone. Maybe he did not know what he was walking into then? [break][break] “Did you come here looking for a good time? You helped me, maybe I can help you.”
[attr=class,lyric1]gonna keep on keeping on the only
[attr=class,lyric2]way i know how
[attr=class,bulk] There were some things that Prompto knew he could handle. Monsters, for one thing. And MTs. He knew how to handle his guns and a camera and Noctis. There were also things that he knew he couldn’t handle like cars or directions or math tests. If he’d been asked on a good day, he’d have said that he could totally handle women too. Probably. If he had the chance.
And he would have been so, so very wrong.
As the singer looked at him and let out a deep, throaty growl, he realized too late that he could not handle this. Not at all. He had, in fact, never felt more out of his depth in his life. Then she was crawling on him and looking him in the eye and he felt things that made it hard to breathe and oh gods why was this happening to him?
He wanted to run. He knew for a fact that there was pure terror in his eyes. Had he gone paler? Redder? He didn’t know, but he hadn’t felt this scared fighting off daemons and he didn’t know what to do about it. He’d come here for a reason, some voice told him. He’d come to find someone. To help his friends. But that voice was a teeny, tiny speck compared to the dual infernos of fear and lust raging through him.
Why was she picking on him? Why, after he’d saved her from falling? Was she into him now? Did she think she was doing him a favor? What was she-?
She tugged him to his feet, and he was powerless but to follow. She had him on a leash, and she knew it. He’d follow her anywhere. Do anything for her.
Goddess, the voice whispered. He was transfixed by her power.
Time seemed meaningless as she danced across the room, tugging him along beside her. Every now and then, her attention would turn to another poor, unfortunate follower here to worship at her altar. Always, however, she would fix her gaze back on him and lure him closer once again.
Closer and closer until they were in another room and she’d pulled a rope and the curtains closed and-
And-
And what was she going to do to him now?
They were alone. Alone together. In a satiny room behind a velvet curtain in the red light district. And she was dressed like that and he was here and she’d brought him here and-
Oh no.
He stared at her in abject horror as she faced the curtain, back turned to him, her fiery hair a curtain over her bare shoulders. What was she going to do to him? What did he want her to do to him?
Noctis, help me!
She turned to him.
And then she spoke.
She thanked him. And told him that she smelled his fear.
He made a noise that was not dignified. Something between an 'Ah' and a tortured moan. Words would not come. They were long beyond him now.
But she asked him a question. A question he should probably answer. ’Maybe I can help you.’
Help him? He could think of lots of ways she could help him. Either by escorting him out or getting a lot closer than she was right now. But that wasn’t why he was here, was it? He was here because…
Because…
”I-I’m looking for someone,” he said before his brain could really catch up to him. ”I um. I came a long way to see her. She’s, uh. Supposed to be real good at finding stuff. Information, I mean. And Caius told me she was in Sonora but when I went to the place he told me, she wasn’t there, and someone said she’d be here and it really can’t wait so-”
So…
”So. I came here.” He swallowed. ”You don’t, uh. Know a Cissnei, do you?”
[attr="class","infoNotes"]I don't usually write Cissnei's internal monologues...but when I do...
[attr="class","crashLyrics"]The Angel on Velvet Street
[attr="class","crashBody"] He looked terribly frightened of her. His little squeak confirmed that fright, as well as his longing look at the curtains behind her. A scared mouse wanting to escape the fox’s den. She felt something hot well up in her. She couldn’t stop herself from a toothy grin. She brought a knuckle to her lips as she felt her neck and cheeks heat up. She trembled slightly with excitement. [break][break] That pleading look was too cute. [break][break] She wanted to see more of that face. No director of the Turks was here to stop her. [break][break] Ah. Get it together. He was finally stringing words together. And from the sounds of it he was a potential client. [break][break] Pity. He would have been fun to tease into oblivion. Probably would have given up all his sweet information. Whatever she asked as long as she let him go. Or so she assumed based on how he was rambling openly now. [break][break]
This friend of Caius came all the way to Sonora to see her. He must have traveled terribly far. “Ah, yes. She is terribly good at finding what one desires.” She settled into the seat next to him. She scooted a little closer to him, because she couldn’t help but let him be aware of her presence. [break][break] She mulled over toying with him more by pretending that she would indeed go look for this Cissnei. But alas, a potential client. She already broke him, time to build him back up. [break][break] And she couldn’t help but be a little curious why Caius would send her someone. It was bad for his business wasn’t it? Was it for the same thing Alex asked her about? ‘Or Ignis,’ she thought as she eyed his similar fabric and buttons. [break][break] “In fact, I am Cissnei.” She reached for the wine at the center of the table. The corked popped, and she poured him a drink. Her forearm along the table, she leaned nearer to him to pass glass. She would give him this win. [break][break] He looked too young to drink. But that didn’t matter on Velvet Street. [break][break] “And you braved the cold night to come all the way here~.” She smiled and her lashes lowered. She leaned her elbow against the table, as she lazily rested her cheek along the back of her knuckles to watch him. “It must certainly be more important than Caius wanting to pass a ‘hello’.”
[attr=class,lyric1]gonna keep on keeping on the only
[attr=class,lyric2]way i know how
[attr=class,bulk] Was she…enjoying this? Her face was all red, but she sure didn’t look embarrassed. The look in her eyes…it was almost too much. If she looked at him like that much longer, he might just forget about everything, forget about his friends, forget about his mission, and just…give in.
But she knew Cissnei. That was her answer. That Cissnei was “good at finding out one’s desires.” Well that…wasn’t really what he’d asked. But it shook some of the heat out his head all the same. ”Really? You know her?”
He’d barely gotten the question out before she sat next to him. Close next to him. He tried to shift away but she just moved closer. Then she reached out for the bottle of wine on the table.
”In fact, I am Cissnei,” she said, and Prompto felt his heart stop.
”O-oh.”
Oh.
All of Caius’ words came flooding back. ’She’s nice enough, but that woman always has her own agenda.’ ‘Don’t put your full trust in her.’ ‘I know a cold killer when I see one.’
’Especially don’t drink with her around.’
He watched Cissnei uncork the bottle of wine and pour him a glass. He stared at it and then at her. And in that moment, he understood.
He understood Caius’ warnings. He understood them all too well. Cissnei was dangerous. She was, perhaps, the most dangerous person he’d ever met in his life. And given his life, that was really saying something.
”I, um…”
Words. Words wouldn’t come. Words were a thing of a bygone era where he wasn’t at the mercy of an armed informant dealer in a corset and fishnet stockings. That should have killed any hold she had over him, but it didn’t. Because she still looked like that. Because she was still so, so, so close. Because part of him (the part he wasn’t proud of) still wondered just how far this would go.
She asked him a question, but that didn’t matter because her lashes were lowered in a steamy gaze set right on him, and he had to swallow back everything that made him want to do.
”Y-yeah,” he said. ”C-Caius didn’t send me. Er…he didn’t send me for him. I wanted…I mean, I need…”
Think, Prompto!
”I need…help. Finding my friends.” He closed his eyes. He needed a moment to collect himself. He couldn’t see her, but he could smell her perfume and that was almost worse. Still, he forced himself to breathe. His nails dug into the fabric of his jeans. Breathe. He had to pull himself together.
”I’m…looking for my friends,” he said again. ”They’re in a prison in Sonora. That’s all I know. It’s a prison out near the mountains where there’s still snow. And there was some kind of a magic wall around it. I saw them, but I don’t know where it is. And that’s…why I need help.”
Slowly, carefully, he opened his eyes. He was still in the same sleazy room with velvet curtains and satin benches. In front of him was the glass of wine that he couldn’t drink now because he hadn’t been watching it closely and Caius told him no. Then there was Cissnei. He tried not to look at too hard at Cissnei.
”Caius said you don’t work for free. I’d give anything. When I saw my friends, they were…in really bad shape. Which was why this couldn’t wait.”
He risked a glance at her. ”Do you think…you could find them?”
[attr="class","infoNotes"]I know you won't believe it, but she's really trying to behave.
[attr="class","crashLyrics"]The Angel on Velvet Street
[attr="class","crashBody"] The poor mouse went as white as a bleach sheet at the revelation she was Cissnei. He muttered an acknowledgement and shrank from her. She felt her heart racing from his discomfort. She kept her grin plastered on her face as she simply watched as he struggled to form words at this new knowledge. It seemed that every moment she let it sin in, made him want to sink deeper into the cushions. [break][break] Oh dear. What an effect she had on him. She simply needed to revel in the taste of it. She purred an “Mhm,” as she listened to him stumbled through his explanation. This might take a while. She reached for the bottle and drank from it herself. [break][break] He wanted - He needed - her? Only to find his friends of course. A similar request she often got. He closed his eyes tight and gripped his jeans. “Easy.” She melodiously spoke, running her hand down his arm and resting it over his fist. “I’m not going to devour you. I’m here to help.” Though it would be much more fun to devour him. To watch him be simply a puddle on the floor. [break][break] “And you are in luck.” She pulled her hand back and leaned against her seat. She tapped a finger along her cheek as she leaned her head one way. “I’ve a feeling I have already found them. Let me guess. One of them is a man with glasses, dresses very cleanly, and has impeccable manners. Dark blond with hair swept up and green, clouded eyes. Goes by ‘Ignis.’” She crossed her arms over her chest, watching him in silence as she contemplated how else to go about this. She had to feed him information before he believed her right? [break][break] He finally opened his eyes to risk a glance at her. The devil was on her shoulder tonight. “Eyes up here, darling.” She teased him with a wink. Then, kept his gaze. There was determination there. She felt herself soften. [break][break] Always those baby blue eyes, no matter if it was Zack or Prompto. He risked his comfort zone and safety to save his friends. [break][break] “Caius is not wrong, even if he could lighten up a little.” She shrugged a little. Well, he was not ALWAYS wrong. That seemed like a better axiom. Why had Caius left Prompto on his own to do this though? Seemed a little odd for him. Caius would have done the work for free, she was sure. He was a good guy. Now she couldn't stop imagining running in like some hero, only to be stopped by an entire squadron of military fire power. No finesse. [break][break] “However, you’ve already paid in advance. You kept me from getting hurt and helped me finish my show. In essence, I will be retaining my pay from the bar, thanks to you.” It was not a terribly steep sum of gil, but it was enough to keep her afloat between jobs, plus rebuild her arsenal. [break][break] “Also, others are footing the bill for the same rescue. If you are wanting a part of this, then you have to do as I say.” She reached out a hand and laced her fingers down his jaw before tugging his chin to look up at her. “If you fail to do that, it won’t be me you’ll have to be worried about.” She gave him a serious look. [break][break] “You want to save your friends, not join them.”
[attr=class,lyric1]gonna keep on keeping on the only
[attr=class,lyric2]way i know how
[attr=class,bulk] There. He’d gotten it out. Prompto felt a little better now that he knew he’d done his best. Find Cissnei? Done. Ask her for help? Also done. But he’d found Caius and asked him too, and he still remembered how he’d reacted. Caius had looked at him like he was crazy and then they’d had to talk in a closet because Prompto was asking him to go on a suicide mission and they could start some kind of international incident. Prompto didn’t really understand, but he knew it was bad, and he knew he was asking a lot, and he hardly had any money so why would she help somebody like-?
”And you are in luck.” Cissnei leaned back, head tilted with her finger tapping at her cheek. ”I’ve a feeling I have already found them.”
”You…wha-...huh?”
Prompto stared at her.
He stared at her as she described a tall blonde man with glasses. Who went by the name of Ignis.
So good he didn’t even have to say the name! So good she knew where they were before he even got here! Had she known he was coming? Had she known why and gotten a head start? He felt so giddy that he hardly even noticed when she teased him about his straying eyes. None of that mattered anymore because she’d found Ignis.
”Uh-huh! Yeah! I’ll do what you say! Whatever you say! I’m used to taking orders like that. Ignis always comes up with the plans.” He rubbed the back of his neck. He still didn’t quite know what was happening, but it had taken a turn in his favor, and he wasn’t about to complain. ”It’s um. Ignis and Gladio. Do you know about Gladio? I think they’re together. That’s what I saw, anyway. Back where we came from, it was me and them and…Noctis. I want to find him too, but Ignis and Gladio come first cause I know they’re in trouble.”
Which wasn’t how it was supposed to be, he knew. Noctis was supposed to come first, and he did most of the time, but right now he didn’t know where Noctis was and he did know about Ignis, and hopefully Ignis wouldn’t hate him for it too much for it.
”So uh. When do we start? Cause I want to as soon as we can, you know, so they don’t get hurt. But…I know this kind of stuff can take time. What do you think?”
[attr="class","crashLyrics"]The Angel on Velvet Street
[attr="class","crashBody"] He was certainly quite shocked at how she already knew. Of course, she would not mention it was because everyone and their mothers kept knocking on her door asking for the same thing. Well, that, and Ignis had hired her and in return he was her bakery. Then he suddenly disappeared. Ignis seemed to be a very important VIP to many lately. [break][break] She reveled in Prompto’s jaw drop. Of course she was good. It was her job after all. [break][break] But, Prompto took on a new tone. No longer was he a trapped rat, but a proud puppy. Should she pat him on the head and whisper ‘Good boy’ too? [break][break] “Whatever I say?” Trusting wasn’t he? If she told him to jump off a bridge to his impending doom, would he? Probably, if it was for his friends. “What happens if you come under pressure from the local enforcement? Will you squeal?” [break][break] She most certainly did not need that. “Also, keep it down. The walls have ears. I’d rather not draw attention to ourselves.” She pressed the tip of her index finger to his lips as he became overly excited. It was hard to tell if the police had spies in the Velvet district. There were plenty of busts, if one did not have enough money to have a cop turn a blind eye. [break][break] She leaned back against the seat, arms crossed in thought. “I have heard of Gladio, but I do not know him as I do Ignis,” she admitted. She had not seen this man around, but the people asking for her aid seemed to know him well enough. If they were going in for him. “As far as Noctis, I am also working on that case.” For Ignis, rather. There was much benefit in aiding royalty. [break][break] “Didn’t I say I already found them? So we have already started. I have an informant I am waiting to receive information back from. It may take a bit of time and convincing. But if it works out, he will secure the path to them. It's the best he can do to keep the heat off him.” She gave a shrug. “What part do you want? Pick up or delivery?” She started to talk about it like an online meal order. [break][break] “I suggest a small team to go in and get the two targets. The smaller the better to bring on less attention. But there will need to be another team ready to drive them outside of city limits. Preferably to a safe house. I imagine they will need a lot of aid.” But she was not a doctor. Only a middle man delivering on her job. [break][break] “What are you capable of? What skills could be helpful in getting them out?”
[attr=class,lyric1]gonna keep on keeping on the only
[attr=class,lyric2]way i know how
[attr=class,bulk] Cissnei told him to keep it down which was something Prompto was used to hearing, but he felt a little ashamed nonetheless. They were in Sonora after all, talking about breaking into a Sonoran prison. He really should have been more careful, but he couldn’t help it. When he got excited, he just couldn’t keep quiet, and boy was he feeling something right now. He felt like a neon sign flashing his feelings so bright it could be seen from space.
Still, he’d try to keep it to himself.
”Sorry,” he whispered, grimacing. He wasn’t sure that it was a quiet whisper, but it was better than nothing. ”How much pressure are we talking about? Cause I won’t talk just because they ask, but if it’s too much pressure, wouldn’t anyone talk? I don’t know.”
Maybe it had been more of a hypothetical question. He felt a little silly even answering.
She had heard of Gladio so that was good though apparently she knew Ignis personally? He wondered what that was about. Had they been separated at some point? It didn’t matter because she also said that she was working on Noctis, and Prompto felt his heart soar hopefully. ”You have? I guess…I guess Ignis would ask you to find him. If you’ve met him before.”
His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. This was a lot. Too much, some might say, but that was okay. It was all what he wanted to hear.
”Any sign of him then? Noctis, I mean.” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. ”I’m guessing you haven’t found him, but if you’ve heard anything…”
He bit his tongue. Yeah. He was getting his hopes up way too high.
For now, he needed to focus on Ignis. Cissnei knew where he was, but there was still a lot of work to do from there.
Prompto paused to consider what she’d told him. He wasn’t really used to coming up with the plans or helping to flesh them out once someone else had started on the idea. He was more the kind of guy who kept to the background and did what other people told him to do. But that wasn’t really an option here, was it?
”I’m a gunner,” he said slowly. ”I mean, I’m good with guns. Or any other tech, really. I’m best if I can put some distance between me and them, but I can use just about any tools I find on the way. I cleared out this one place all by myself once, swarming with MTs. Er…those are like soldiers except they’re made of daemons. I can drive a car if no one else is around to do it, but Ignis kind of banned me from getting behind the wheel again so…”
So not great credentials there, really.
”When I saw the prison, there was this big wall of magic around it. I didn’t like the look of it. Maybe there’s a way to turn it off inside. If I can find the switch, I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out. Plus any other security we might want taken down.”
It felt weird, talking himself up like that. Not that he never talked good about himself. He did a lot, actually, but this felt different. It felt serious. He hoped he wasn’t making himself sound more useful than he really was.
”If you want a small team, I’d say we should probably have three or four people. I’ve already got Caius on board so that’s two. Then…if you need a healer at the safehouse, I think I know somebody. Have you heard of Yuna? We’re friends and she works with Caius so I’m sure she’d help.”
His knee bounced up and down from the nerves. He wasn’t used to thinking this hard.
”So we still need one or two more to help us get in. And a driver.” Prompto glanced at Cissnei nervously. ”Does that sound right?”
