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,lyric1]i am noctis, prince of lucis and
[attr=class,lyric2]king of fishing
[attr=class,bulk] Alex had apparently been trying to cast a sleep spell on Cindy, which wasn’t something Noctis had heard of, but the warrior of light had some weird stuff in his arsenal with his blue magic. As for why he’d been casting Sleep, the blond man didn’t really have time to explain himself before Cindy slapped him, which was honestly 100% deserved. If Noctis had to fill in the blanks though, Alex had probably been trying to knock her out since the rest of them were panicking about her being there. It had been…a choice, but Noctis could almost follow the logic, so he was ready to move on after taking a long drink of the beer that Tifa had gotten him.
Except that was when Prompto started yelling.
Noctis had known that his best friend had gotten off on the wrong foot with Alex, but he had severely underestimated just how much. Prompto wasn’t one to voice when he was uncomfortable, but here he was basically begging him to do the breakout without Alex, until the prince was left just starting at him uncertainly. “Prompto…” He was uncomfortably aware that Alex was right there, and he really didn’t want to have this conversation in front of him. Not when Ignis and Gladio were on the line, so he lowered his voice a little. “Look, can…we talk about this? Caius can’t do the actual break-in, remember? We need help.”
He planned to take Prompto outside, maybe let him cool off, but that was when Alex exploded. Noctis stared between the two of them in shock, stepping forward to intervene until one line rocked him back on his heels. Noctis can’t protect you this time.
It was a stupid throwaway line in an argument, but it still made something cold sink in his stomach because he hadn’t protected any of them, had he? Not when Ignis lost his sight, not when he’d thrown Prompto off a train, and certainly not right now when Ignis and Gladio were suffering and he couldn’t even put together a functional party to go rescue them.
It was suddenly suffocating in the bar and even when Alex said incredibly mean things to Prompto, Noctis couldn’t find the words to step in because he was in so much shock and weren’t they supposed to be friends? He’d never seen him like this before. Sure, Alex had always been a little rough around the edges, but so was Gladio, and he’d thought he could still count on both of them when it came down to it. Now though. Now he didn’t know. Maybe Prompto had a point in his outburst.
Alex stormed outside with his drink, and Tifa offered to go outside and calm him down. It was incredibly nice of her when she wasn’t involved in any of this, but Noctis couldn’t muster much more than a weak smile for her. He still felt too numb from the shock to do much of anything. At least until Prompto bolted for the bathroom. “Prom-” Noctis stretched out a hand and took a step forward, but the bathroom door clicked with the definitive sound of a lock behind him. The prince was left standing there, his arm slowly lowering as he took in how devastated and pale his best friend’s face had been.
Oh. Well there was the rage.
Noctis snagged his beer bottle off the bar counter and stalked towards the front door because even if the anti-magic barrier was in place around the outdoor tables, he was going to smash this godamned bottle over Alex’s head-
Weirdly enough, it was only Caius that kept him from getting into a fist-fight with Alex on the streets of Sonora. “We don’t have time left to spare. If there is a plan to be made, it needs to be made soon.”
Noctis paused with his hand on the doorknob, his heartbeat echoing in his ears as he stared down at the bottle in his hand. Astrals, if Gladio and Ignis could see him now. Or god forbid Luna and his father. With a bitter laugh, Noctis let go of the doorknob and turned to face Caius and Cindy. “Forget him then. We’ll do it alone.”
Doing his best to swallow his emotions, he walked slowly back to the counter, not quite looking at either of them. He wasn’t sure what they’d see in his face if he did. “You’re right. We need to talk. Prompto…has most of the information though. He’s the one who saw the prison in his visions and talked to Cissnei, so he has the layout but…”
But they’d all heard the lock click shut behind him. Shame suddenly sprung up in Noctis that his first instinct had been to go punch Alex instead of checking in on one of the guys when they obviously needed it. “Shit,” he muttered, hopping back up and making a beeline for the bathroom door. After a moment of hesitation, he quietly tapped his knuckles against the door. “...Hey man.”
Post by Cindy Aurum on Feb 22, 2023 0:45:12 GMT -6
TEACH THEM BOYS A LESSON
Cindy just had to roll her eyes when Alex mentioned he didn't deserve the slap she had given him. Of course he did! Sure, she wasn't meant to be a part of whatever they had going on, but there was no need to do that. Cindy would have understood if they had asked her to leave, or to at least sit away from them. Of course she would make the three make it up to her later with a round or something, but it wouldn't hurt her feelings.
Then Alex went off. Honestly, Cindy didn't know what to say during it all, but it did piss her off just a little bit. She didn't know what the boys' relationship with Alex was, but what he had said about them did not sit well with her. They were her friends, and Alex was saying some not so nice things about them. He was a Warrior of Light? She had no idea what that was, but that didn't give him the right to act all high and mighty with them.
When he stated that Prompto was 'pitching a tent', Cindy almost wanted to slap him again. How dare he bring something like that up while yelling? Sure, past differences and all that, but that was personal. She instantly looked over to Prompto, knowing very well he wasn't going to be able to take all of that. He was a sensitive man, and that was one thing Cindy liked about him.
Caius then spoke up, and mentioned that the boys would have to be the one to tell her. "If this is about Gladio and Ignis, I want in. I'll understand though if you don't want me there." Cindy wasn't sure what the boys had gotten themselves into, but if they needed help, she wanted to be there for them. They were good men, even if they weren't the brightest sometimes.
Prompto had been trying to get words in while Alex was yelling, but it had failed. Prompto had been backed into a table, and Cindy just stood there. She wanted to move. She wanted to help, but she couldn't. Everything happened so fast, so many words were said. Then Alex left, then poked his head in, and closed the door again. Tifa said she would go talk to him, which was odd, but either way would have been awkward for her. Cindy started to walk over to Prompto, but he fled to the bathroom and locked the door. Staring at the door for a moment, Cindy felt her eyes water just a little bit. She felt terrible for Prompto, he didn't deserve any of that! Slumping down into a bar stool, she took a drink of her beer. She almost spit it out when she saw Noctis heading towards the door with his beer bottle in hand.
Caius' words seemed to have stopped him, and he turned around with slightly unnerving laugh. She didn't know what to say on the matter, since she only could guess what the night was supposed to entail. His next statement confirmed what was going on. The boys were in prison, and they were all here to plan a breakout. She had interrupted, which made everything go downhill pretty fast. Suddenly, Cindy felt at fault for the chaos that had ensued. Turning in the stool she was sitting to face the bar, Cindy put her hands around her beer and just stared at it.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Feb 22, 2023 6:40:04 GMT -6
The Dragonblades
Caius had been trying to be helpful. Practical. Trying to get their minds off Alex’s malicious rant while focusing on what would get Gladiolus and Ignis free as soon as possible. But his expression immediately changed when Prompto spoke up. As soon as Caius saw Prompto’s face, he softened as the realization of how hard he was taking this set in. Caius muttered a bitter curse under his breath. Of course Prompto would need a minute, how could he be so stupid and tactless? “Of course. Take what time you need.”
Caius’ gaze moved to the bottles behind the bar as Promoto fled the battle into the bathroom. Would Tifa mind if he just took one and put the gil on the counter? Or did it have to be that weird digital currency? Either way he decided it would be better not to redirect her ire towards himself. However, as she wasn’t present, Caius stepped out of the bar just enough to use his magic and summon something behind his back. He noted Tifa and Alex conversing as he returned with a half-drinken flask in hand. It was empty and hidden soon after. He was nowhere near intoxicated enough to put up with all of this.
But as he returned, Noctis stormed past him while clutching a beer bottle. It didn’t take much to figure out the Crown Prince’s intentions with it. Caius stopped him with a large hand on his slim shoulder. The grip was firm, which probably explained the lack of hesitation this time around. Caius intended to stop Noctis if His Highness tried to go further.
“I understand your feelings, Your Highness. But Gladiolus and Ignis must come first. You can beat him over the head later.”
Caius didn’t even try to defend Alex because there was no defense to be made. But it did need to be delayed for later. There was no time left for them to squabble amongst themselves.
Once agreed, Caius returned to his seat just as Noctis openly spilled the beans that they were in fact plotting a prison break. Well, there was no cluing her out now. Caius didn’t know if it was an emotional lapse in judgement, or confidence in Cindy. Considering Cindy actually wanted in, however…
“We do need someone who can get you guys out of there quickly” Caius pointed out, remembering that Cindy had expertise with vehicles. But then they heard the bathroom door lock. Caius muttered yet another curse under his breath. Caius was no counsellor, and he wasn’t really a part of this “family” unit that everyone else here (sans Alex and maybe Tifa) seemed to be a part of. There was little he could do. Caius couldn’t help but feel a bitter sense of helplessness, as he knew that it was best to hand this over to Noctis.
And so he did. His gaze first moved to Noctis, then shifted to where Prompto was held up. Then back to Noctis. Noctis soon left to speak to Prompto, leaving Caius and Cindy alone.
Caius was no empath, counsellor, therapist or anything even remotely in that ballpark. But it didn’t take any of those things to see what Cindy was thinking. He reached a hand over, but hesitated for a brief moment. For Prompto earlier, it had been to awaken him out of a trance. For Noctis, it was intended to stop him from making a mistake. Both physical shows with a clear objective achieved by that physicality. Caius knew how to do those things. This was different. He had been told that a hand on the arm or the shoulder, or even a hug (by Yuna’s example, though Caius was not ready to attempt that by any means) could be used as an act of support for emotional pain. However, he also knew that some, like Celes, were averse to physical touch. Which meant that alongside his own insecurity with not being used to this kind of thing, he had to weigh the risk. Human emotions, feelings, wants, needs and preferences were varied and fickle. Oftentimes even unpredictably volatile. Someone with a friendlier disposition could still become greatly uncomfortable and very volatile at physical touch.
It was a deadly game of Sonoran roulette if you were not able to find the answer prior to acting. And if not for how extreme the circumstances had become, Caius probably wouldn’t have even weighed the risk at all. But these were not ordinary circumstances, and his friend needed aid in every way that he could provide. Even if she would not voice it.
That moment of hesitation passed, and Caius gently rested a hand on Cindy’s arm. It wasn’t too firm, a tell that he would remove it should she grow uncomfortable. It was there not to enforce, but to support.
“Cindy,” Caius spoke softly then. “I know what’s on your mind. I think you know this, but you couldn’t have known. No fault lies on your shoulders. This should have been handled better on our end.”
Alex’s end, actually. But they should have stopped him.
“By the sounds of it, Noctis would have clued you in regardless. It seems you have a closer relationship than I was initially led to believe.”
Noctis and Prompto knew her better. Either one of them would have been the better choice to do this. But they were both occupied, and yet Caius could not in good conscience leave a friend to their suffering.
After the message was delivered, his hand slowly slid off. He did not desire to overstay his welcome on that front.
“Is there a story behind that? I suppose we never really got into how you know the royal retinue the way that you do.”
He knew she had worked on the Regalia. But it seemed to go even further beyond that. Someone who was just their mechanic wouldn’t immediately want “in” on breaking two of them out of a Sonoran maximum security prison. He hoped perhaps telling a good story would lift the mechanic’s spirits.
Final Fantasy XV
21
YEARS
Male
Desperate
Bisexual
125 POSTS
Fin
I can't choose where I came from, but I can choose where I'm going
[attr=class,lyric1]gonna keep on keeping on the only
[attr=class,lyric2]way i know how
[attr=class,bulk] Drip. Drip. Drip.
The sink was broken. It was a steady sound, just a little off kilter that struck every few seconds. Just a steady little leak that might have come from the pipes freezing in the middle of a very long, very cold winter. The single toilet clearly wasn’t neglected, but it gave off a stale smell of water that had been sitting too long. Prompto’s forehead pressed against the rough denim of his jeans. They were wet around the knees with tears that wouldn’t stop flowing. His face was a mess of salt and tears and mucus.
Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.
Prompto tried to get a hold of himself. He really did. He wondered what the others would say if they saw him like this. Gladio would call him a wuss which he was. He always had been. But when whatever feeling hit him, there was no stopping it. It was like a steam train to the face and all he could do was feel it. He’d always marveled at Gladio’s resolve. He was cool and strong and manly in a way that Prompto never could be. Prompto wasn’t much of anything, really.
If he was gone, what would they all have lost? Somebody to play videogames with at camp. Somebody that always used up the most potions and phoenix downs. Gladio and Ignis had trained for this all their lives. What did they need him for?
’I’m tired of your charade, you creepy, passive aggressive gremlin!’
Is that what they all thought of him? Gladio? Ignis? Cindy? Cindy had been standing right there when Alex had said…
When he’d said…
Prompto jumped at the knock at the door. Shit. He tried to wipe his face, but it just left a trail of snot across his coat sleeve. Noctis was outside. Noctis sounded awkward. He’d made Noct worry.
Damn it damn it damn it!
”I, uh…Just a sec!” He tried to sound cheery, but his voice wavered as he jumped to his feet and found that all that crying had left him light-headed. He stumbled towards the sink and gripped it hard to keep himself steady. Noct was waiting. He couldn’t keep Noct waiting, even if that meant going outside and facing…
Oh Astrals, what would Cindy think of him now? How could he face her? The thought sent a new panic up to his throat, strangling him. He gripped the sink tighter. What was it that Ignis always told him?
One thing at a time.
One thing…at a time…
He took a shaking breath and looked up at himself in the mirror. It wasn’t a pretty sight. His hair was a mess from his hat and the hands he’d run through it. His eyes were red and puffy. His whole face glistened with tears that still wouldn’t stop coming, and then there was his nose as red as the rest of him. His face had a way of turning red every time he cried. Damn his pale complexion!
His pale, Niflheim complexion…
Prompto cursed under his breath and grabbed for the roll of paper towels. He tore off a piece and scraped it furiously across his face and then tossed that one and grabbed another piece and another until everything was dry and itchy and then he took another and blew his nose on it. Yeah, Noct would definitely hear that from outside the door. Did they all know he was in here crying? Yeah. Probably.
’Stay focused. We have a job to do, and Noctis matters most of all.’
That’s what Ignis had told him when he’d first joined the Crownsguard. Or…it had been something like that anyway. The first part he’d needed to hear. The last part, not so much.
Noctis had always mattered to him. More than anything. He couldn’t have him worrying about some nobody like him. Some creep like him. Some wimp so useless he couldn’t even stand up for himself when it mattered most.
He couldn’t make Noct worry so when he looked in the mirror, he tried his best to get his hair back in order and he made sure that he wasn’t crying anymore and his cheeks were dry, but his eyes were still red and puffy and his face was all flushed. Nothing he could do about that. He’d just have to pretend everything was okay and hope that everyone else was nice enough to pretend they didn’t notice.
He grabbed his hat off the floor, shoved it back on, bit his lip, and slowly, hesitantly unlocked the door.
He opened it.
”H-hey,” he said, leaning back on one heel casually, rubbing the back of his neck like he was embarrassed but not nearly as embarrassed as he actually felt. ”Sorry about that. Hope it hasn’t been too long. I just…needed a minute, you know? I’m better now. Just had to get some air.”
The sink continued to drip behind him. The air in the room still smelled like stale toilet water.
”A-anyway. Guess we’ve gotta figure out what to do, yeah? Now that Alex won’t want anything to do with us. Oops.” He tried for a weak laugh.
They’d needed Alex. And now he was gone. How could he have been so stupid?
[attr=class,lyric1]i am noctis, prince of lucis and
[attr=class,lyric2]king of fishing
[attr=class,bulk] Cindy seemed to have worked out enough of what was going on that she said she wanted in on the action. Noctis wasn’t surprised that she’d put two and two together—none of them had been watching their words that closely since Alex had tried to cast the Sleep spell—but he was a little taken aback that she wanted to help directly. Back on Eos, her work on the Regalia had saved their skins more times than he could count, but she’d always stayed back in the garage. Maybe Cindy was feeling more out of her element away from Hammerhead than she’d let on in their first meeting if she was ready for a prison break. That or she’d gotten as fond of the four guys as they all were of her.
“I can’t ask you to put yourself in that kind of danger,” Noctis said, though he glanced at Caius at the man’s suggestion that they needed someone who could get the four of them away from the gulag quickly. “That’s true,” he admitted. “Between me and Prompto, I’m the only one with much driving experience, but I might be busy.” Potions took Lucian magic to make after all, and he didn’t want to think about what shape Ignis and Gladio might be in. “I guess having a getaway driver wouldn’t be the worst idea…” He was still hesitant about involving Cindy, but she had offered. He’d at least let the idea simmer while he went to go comfort Prompto.
His best friend took a worryingly long time before opening the bathroom door after he knocked. He was fairly certain he heard him blow his nose too, but finally Prompto slipped out. Noctis recognized that he was doing his best casual impression as he insisted that he was fine now in spite of his puffy eyes and red cheeks. It wasn’t the first time that Noct had seen the act after all.
It was when Prompto tried to apologize that Noctis cut in. “Why are you sorry? You told me that you two didn’t get along, and I brushed that off. I’m sorry, man.“ In the prince’s defense, ‘not getting along’ had been one hell of an understatement from what he’d just witnessed, but that wasn’t the point right now.
“And you’re right. We do need to make a plan, but…none of what he said about you was true, Prompto. You know that, right?” His friend had never had the best self-esteem, so he had probably taken every word of it straight to the heart like an arrow. That just meant that Noctis needed to stop and take the time to break off some arrowheads though. “I’ve never thought that you hide behind me. And I’m pretty sure Cindy likes you fine just the way you are. I know I always have.” Noctis had to rub his neck a little self-consciously since they were usually more inclined to laugh about life and play videogames together than talk about their feelings, but. You know. Sometimes that stuff was important. This felt like one of those times.
Post by Cindy Aurum on Mar 7, 2023 23:47:24 GMT -6
TEACH THEM BOYS A LESSON
Cindy should have guessed Caius would be the first to notice her mood had changed. Of course, there were a lot of things going on that neither of the two could really help at the moment, so it was only natural he would notice the person sitting close to him. ”Yeah well, I should have noticed it was a get together and that I wasn’t meant to be here.” She knew the boys would think otherwise and they were always happy to see her. She was starting to feel better but still thought it would have gone better had she not shown up.
Giving a small chuckle, she took a drink of her beer as she turned to Caius. ”You could say that. I’ve helped them, they’ve helped me. They grew on me, whether I’ll admit that or not. They’re some good guys to have in your corner, and I know they’d help me if I were in their position. If Gladio and Ignis need help, I’m there for them.” If Gladio wasn’t fighting, and Ignis wasn’t cooking, she knew they were suffering. She was in on this.
”Nothing too big. They popped by mine and my Pawpaw’s shop with the Regalia. We all got to talking and became friends. They’d call if they needed me, I’d do the same. We just bonded over all that I suppose.” She really did miss that car, but she missed their surprise visits even more. It always put a smile on her face to see them. Noctis mentioned getaway driver and she grinned madly. ”Oh you know I’m down for that! I’ll find the perfect vehicle for it, if I have to build it myself.” Though they probably didn’t have time for that…
Cindy didn’t hear most of the conversation Prompto and Noctis were having, but she did hear her name and listened better after that. Smiling, she jumped off the stool and made her way over to them. ”He’s got that right. You’re a great guy Prompto, don’tcha ever forget that. Now come on, you’ve got some friends to save, and those are two guys I don’t want to keep waitin’ any longer.” With that, she grabbed his hand and started to gently pull him back towards the rest of the group.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Mar 8, 2023 20:55:40 GMT -6
The Dragonblades
Cindy had her doubts. This was understandable, but Caius chose to look at things a bit differently. “Perhaps it was for the best" the mercenary tried to assure her with logic. "You may not agree, but I think this conversation needed to happen at some juncture. It is clear there were underlying aspects to this before you arrived, that could have potentially caused a problem. Everything is now out in the open and can be settled before we act.”
Since Noctis had agreed to it, well, they now had a driver too. Considering what he had learned of Cindy both in their world and in meeting her properly in this one, Caius was confident in Cindy's skill. And in her loyalty to this cause, after she outlined how they knew one another. These boys were amongst her only true links to her home, and they were close to boot. So it made sense that she wanted to help, even if it was dangerous.
“Besides, we need a skilled driver. We were very fortunate that you walked in, Miss Cindy. I truly do believe that.”
Prompto had popped out from the bathroom, and Noctis gave him the big old pep talk. Cindy soon joined him and tried to drag Prompto back. After a few moments of sitting there awkwardly, Caius pocketed his flask so Tifa wouldn't see it went to join them. Caius actually even managed a small smile as he reached out from over Cindy and pointed towards Prompto's chest as he... Tried his best to be helpful and think up some level of helpful encouragement.
“Confidence and courage comes from your own heart. Alex does not dictate when or if it comes out. You do.”
Perfect. Probably.
“Well, Prompto. You heard her. And you shouldn’t keep a lady waiting either.”
Caius was socially daft. But not daft enough to overlook Prompto's reactions to Cindy in particular. That, and Noctis told him.
Final Fantasy XV
21
YEARS
Male
Desperate
Bisexual
125 POSTS
Fin
I can't choose where I came from, but I can choose where I'm going
[attr=class,lyric1]gonna keep on keeping on the only
[attr=class,lyric2]way i know how
[attr=class,bulk] They were looking at him. Prompto was looking directly at the wall beside Noctis’ head, but he was sure they were all looking at him. This would be easier if they weren’t all looking at him. Were they all looking at him?
Prompto glanced over at the bar counter where Caius and Cindy sat, looking at him. Big mistake. He felt himself blush even harder as he hurriedly looked back to his safe little patch of wall.
This is what he got for making a scene. It always came with a walk of shame.
Noctis practically cut him off, asking why he was sorry, and saying he was sorry instead, and Prompto felt his throat tighten up as he sputtered, ”Yeah, but-!” But Noctis wasn’t the one who’d made a mess of things. It was almost worse that Noctis didn’t blame him. Because then that meant that Prompto had to think about whether what he was thinking about himself was actually true or if Noctis was just trying to make him feel better and then it got all complicated, swirling around until he couldn’t tell up from down.
Why wasn’t he telling him he’d overreacted? That’s what he deserved. Noctis really was…the best friend ever.
Prompto felt his eyes swell up again but he fought it back this time, hurriedly wiping both eyes with the back of his gloved hands. Crying always came easier once you’d opened the gates and started in the first place. And here was Noctis, saying all kinds of nice things about him on top of the first nice thing. He liked him just the way he was, he said.
”Noct…”
Prompto didn’t know what else to say. Somehow it felt…warm hearing him talk like that. He imagined Gladio telling them to knock all that feelings talk off, but Gladio wasn’t here right now. He wished he was. That was familiar. That was safe. And while it felt warm, it also added to that swirling chaos feeling where Prompto had to question himself, and he didn’t like that.
Prompto rubbed the back of his neck, looking resolutely down at the ground as he rocked back on his heels and tried to think of something more to say. He couldn’t. Not until Cindy piped up behind him and Prompto remembered she was there. Hearing her agree, hearing her jump off her stool and come right over, it shocked him out of his head enough that he looked up, startled, and saw her standing right beside Noctis with that classic Cindy smile.
”He’s got that right. You’re a great guy, Prompto, don’tcha ever forget that.”
R-Really?
Cindy said he was a great guy. A great guy! And didn’t they have some friends to save? Where Prompto’s heart had warmed with Noctis, it was absolutely soaring at Cindy as she took his hand and started leading him back to the bar counter like nothing had ever happened.
Such a benevolent goddess!
”Y-yeah! We’ve gotta save them! And I’ve got a plan for it and everything! I’ve gotta rethink it a little now, but…”
But he had a plan. A stupid plan. A suicidal plan. A plan that he’d pieced together with the help of a forest witch and a burlesque detective, but it was still a plan nonetheless. They needed one of those, no matter how good or bad it might be.
He was feeling pretty good about himself when he reached Caius who was still seated at the bar, and Caius met his eyes and looked at him and pointed straight towards him to make sure that he heard every word of his wisdom.
”Confidence and courage comes from your own heart. Alex does not dictate when or if it comes out. You do.”
”Uh…”
Prompto stared at him, dumbstruck. Was that…supposed to be a compliment? He didn’t like the way it sounded. It sounded like way too much pressure. Was he telling him he should’ve been more confident and braver so this wouldn’t happen at all? That’s sure what it sounded like.
And there was the spiral again. It surged up with all his insecurities whispering like snakes in his ear. ’You thought you were good enough for this? Good enough for Noctis? How could you be? How could you be anything but-?’
But a coward. But some nothing kid. But a copy…
Prompto swallowed hard. No. No. He wouldn’t do this right now. He wouldn’t listen to those voices right now, not when Noctis was watching. He’d figure something out. His friends were in danger. His friends needed him.
His friends were probably doomed. But hey, at least he could say he tried.
”So um…” He was still standing there. Awkwardly. Exactly where Cindy had led him. He should probably be sitting, shouldn’t he? Caius was at a bar, but it would be hard to plan at a bar counter, wouldn’t? They needed a table or a booth so they could all look at each other, hunched over the notes that they’d definitely be taking. That’s how they did it in the movies.
”You guys want to sit down? I’ve got kind of a lot to share.” He waved lamely at one of the tables nearby. Some quiet part of him had accepted that while he didn’t want Cindy involved, she definitely knew what was happening now. She could hear what they were going to do. It’s not like she was going to be helping them with it or anything.
Before he could actually make a move to sit, the door opened and Prompto stiffened at the flurry of cold air, but it was just Tifa coming back, looking mad. He couldn’t blame her, going out there dealing with Alex while he was raging. Prompto relaxed a little as the door clanged closed behind her and he gave her an awkward little grin, feeling as deflated and embarrassed as it was possible for a man to be. Cindy might’ve not listened to what Alex had said about him, but what about Tifa? Tifa didn’t know him at all. And Alex had gotten…really specific.
Prompto didn’t have much time to worry about it though before the door opened again and this time it was him. Alex. For real. At first, Prompto was frozen in place, staring at him like a deer in front of a semi truck. Caius was behind him. Cindy was beside him. Noctis was a little farther away, but they were all united this time. Weren’t they?
Alex’s eyes drifted down to the floor in a play at shame as the door shuddered closed behind him. Then he looked up, finding his own little patch of wall the same way Prompto had when he’d come out of the bathroom. At first, Prompto didn’t know what he was about to say. What could he say after all that? Maybe that he’d forgot his keys? But what he actually said was so much worse. ”So uh…What’d I miss?”
Just like that. Like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t called Prompto…all that. Like he hadn’t backed him into a table and shoved a finger into his chest. Prompto felt an all new heat rising up in his chest. He could feel it leak into his eyes, into his stance, into everything about him as his gloved hands curled into fists and he glared at the man with every bit of the rage he felt.
Prompto had never been good at hiding his feelings. And his feelings right now told him to start another bout of drama, round two.
Instead, he glanced back at Caius, the one who was closest to him and who had managed to keep his cool last time. Caius had a way of doing that. Always keeping his cool. Noct was the one in charge, but Caius…
Caius would handle it better than Prompto could.
”We were just about to start talking about our plan,” Prompto half-mumbled with an edge to his voice that didn’t sound much like him at all. ”Caius’ll be on support. Then me and Noct will go in for the offense. We’re good at sneaking around by ourselves.”
By ourselves. He hoped Alex caught that part. He hoped even more that the rest of them did. That they agreed. That they finally saw what Prompto had been trying to say in the first place.
’He won’t follow your lead. He’ll just do what he wants because he’s not like us! And if you make him mad he’ll just try to make you more mad until you can’t pay attention to something dangerous!’
How much time had they already wasted dealing with Alex. A lot of time. What if something like this happened while they were trying to sneak inside? What if Alex got it in his head to abandon stealth and charge in without so much as a glance at Noctis? He couldn’t work as a team – at least not without being the one in charge. That’s how Noctis had gotten as far as he had before. They’d all been working as a team.
Prompto’s eyes drifted up until he caught Caius’ gaze and looked at him imploringly. Please, please don’t let him in on this.
He hoped that this time, they’d back him up. He hoped that this time, they’d agree.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Mar 19, 2023 11:31:20 GMT -6
The Dragonblades
Noctis had cheered him up. Cindy had cheered him up. Then there was him.
It was pretty clear that what Caius said didn’t hit home. In fact, it only seemed to confuse Prompto, potentially making it even worse. The mercenary’s expression dimmed as he realized this, before he let out a long sigh.
“Apologies. I am not good at words” he spoke up then. Gods, he was just going to keep digging a hole if he kept talking but he couldn’t stop. He was too stubborn to accept that he’d made things worse. Prompto didn’t deserve that. “But what I’m trying to convey is… I know you can do this. This, and anything you set your mind to. The courage to press forward is in there. In your heart, I mean. I know it is. You’re already showing it by being out here, trying to take charge and share what you know even when you’re nervous. Even being here at all, in a place like this, took fortitude that many don’t have. And what Sorel said doesn’t change what’s in there.”
Caius scratched his head sheepishly, averting his eyes a moment as the mercenary struggled to properly word what he was trying to say. Even Caius had his issues with confidence. But it was the ability to press forward despite those issues that made a person, right?
“I… Guess the point I’m trying to make is. Being hard on yourself is normal. But you should have more confidence in yourself. All of us know how much heart you have” Caius brought up, managing a small smile as he motioned towards Cindy. “I know she does. And I think it’s incredible that for all the times you’ve possibly been afraid or wanted to hide, you were still the one to knock on our door, get me on board, then make your way here, for the sake of your friends. So, to put it simply. You’ve got this.”
Caius knew he probably should have shut up a few paragraphs ago, and he was quite happy to return to sweet stoicity when an enraged Tifa returned. Oh thank the Astrals, now he could buy a drink. Maybe even a strong one. Of course, next came Alex. Asking what he missed.
“Nothing to do with work. You know how delays are. But we’re ready to continue now” Caius couldn’t stop himself from a bit of sass on that front. He then looked to Tifa. “We appreciate your efforts, Miss Tifa” he brought up at that, not yet having the courage to ask the clearly fuming brunette for a drink. He would… Give it a few more minutes. So with that, he motioned Prompto towards a table. “Pick a table. You’re the man here.”
With that sorted, it was time to start. Caius on support… But in what way? However, he did catch what Prompto said to Alex…
Then he looked to Caius.
Sh*t. He was actually going to depend on him for this? To get him out of working with Alex directly? Why him? Why wasn’t he looking to Noctis? Caius couldn’t even get an encouraging speech right.
Caius made a face, but quickly cleared his throat as he considered each member and what he knew they could bring to the table. Maybe… “If I can make a suggestion. The two of you doing the springing is best if you know your stealth. Even if I could fight, there’s too many of us to all sneak around in the prison. Even three of us together combined with Iggy and Gladio will be too risky. So what I propose is this. Two stealth, two loud. I will draw attention outside the prison, I’ve scouted the area and already thought of a possibility. There’s a behemoth, high grade, making its territory nearby. If I can lead it into the guards’ range, they’ll have no choice but to engage. That could be the opening for Noctis, Prompto… And Alex.”
Yes. He said Alex. He shot Prompto a reassuring, “just trust me” kind of look.
“Sorel is both loud and capable in combat. And I’m counting on that fact. If he’s willing to go directly inside, I think he should hide and wait on standby, only attacking if there’s risk he’ll be caught. As discreetly as he can. Once Noctis and Prompto free a single living thing in there, any hope of true stealth is out the window no matter what we do. Once he hears commotion that indicates it’s go time… That’s when Mr. Sorel can let loose. Draw as much attention as you can. The more attention Alex attracts, the easier it will be for the royals to escape. Just ensure Alex leaves room for himself to escape. Wear masks too. Don’t let them see your face.”
By what he knew of Alex, tempting him with the chance to cut loose might prove fruitful in tempering the fact that Prompto was uncomfortable with stealthing alongside him. Despite it being personally motivated, Prompto’s decision wasn’t without practical merit. And they could not afford any room for error here.
[attr=class,lyric1]i am noctis, prince of lucis and
[attr=class,lyric2]king of fishing
[attr=class,bulk] Cindy not only backed him up in trying to cheer up Prompto, but she succeeded way more than Noctis had by taking his hand and dragging him back towards the bar. The prince could tell by his friend’s face that he was far more elated now than by anything Noctis himself could have done. He didn’t entirely understand Prompto’s fascination with women, but he was grateful for it in this case. “Thank you,” he mouthed to Cindy, trailing back over to join the two of them and Caius at the bar. The kingsglaive was stowing away what appeared to be a flask, which. Yeah. That was fair. Caius hadn’t signed on for any of this. He did try to offer his own words of encouragement, which only seemed to rile up Prompto even more, so Noctis just winced and tried to break the tension.
“Welcome to the gang,” he joked to Caius and Cindy as he brushed some of his own hair back. “Emotional turmoil and prison breaks. That about covers our trek across Lucis, right Prompto?” The best jokes were self-deprecating, right?
…Right?
Thankfully Prompto seemed to be feeling better enough to pull himself together. He had a plan he wanted to share, which was good since he was the one with all the information. Honestly, Noctis couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say. It was usually him or Ignis making a plan, so he was a little proud of his friend. He wasn’t going to say it right now though. That would just make Prompto sputter and lose confidence at this point.
“Sounds great, let’s get a table,” he said, finishing off the dregs of his beer and leaving the bottle on the counter. “While you were gone, Cindy offered to drive the getaway vehicle once we’re done. If you’re really sure, Cindy.” He gave a faint smile to the blonde mechanic, recalling what she’d said earlier. “You definitely don’t have to build anything. The more it blends in with the rest of Sonora’s cars the better probably.”
Before they could all move to a table, Tifa came back inside looking irritated, so Noctis felt the need to apologize. “I’m really sorry for the scene,” he said a bit sheepishly, feeling responsible since he was the only one who had even known Tifa prior to this. Hell, he’d suggested her bar as a friendly meeting spot. “We’ll take this to a table and be quieter, I promise.” Thankfully they were the only patrons right now, which is why Noct had suggested an off time and day to begin with.
Of course that was when Alex decided to come back in, and Noctis had to wonder if all his promises had just gone down the drain as he asked what he’d missed. Oh astrals no.
“Actually Tifa. If we could get a round of straight whiskey before we move to that table, that would be amazing,” Noctis ordered for all five of them as he leaned over the bar before subtly stepping forward so he could move in front of Prompto if he had to. His friend surprised him though by addressing Alex directly with an edge to his voice that Noctis didn’t get to hear very often. Yeah, this was dangerous. Prompto was seriously mad, and while Noctis was too, he was doing his best to reign that in now. He couldn’t exactly look Gladio and Ignis in the eyes if he got in a street fight when they were supposed to be planning their rescue.
“That wasn’t cool,” he said firmly to Alex instead. Better to just address the behemoth in the room. “Ignis and Gladio are what matter right now, but I asked you here as a friend. If you had an issue with what Prompto said, we could have talked about it. You don’t explode on people like that.” Maybe it was too late for any of that to sink in, but Noctis was honestly a little hurt under everything else. He’d been staying with Alex ever since he’d first arrived in Zephon, so he trusted the guy, plain and simple. That was why this whole night had hit so hard.
Thankfully Caius spoke up and was the voice of reason, suggesting that perhaps Noctis and Prompto could stealth in while Caius was the external distraction and Alex was the internal distraction. It was a good idea to involve everyone while keeping them a little bit separated, but Noctis looked over his shoulder to meet Prompto’s eyes before he voiced that opinion. “What do you think? You have all the info, and I trust you, man.” He tried to keep his face reassuring to convey the real meaning there. Are you okay with that? I’ll go with what you decide.
