burstmodes | ic contact ( prismatica )

[ He doesn't know if he's surprised or not to hear from V. Maybe he shouldn't be, not after the things that have happened, but for a little while, he'd felt safe in his small bubble with Noct. Now, reality is starting to bleed back in. ]

Hey, V. [ Prompto hopes he sounds somewhat enthusiastic. ] Sure, sounds like it could be fun. What time?

[ Please say at least an hour so he can fix his hair and stop looking like a shut-in. ]

[ admittedly, he's focused on trying to help nero control his devil trigger. but he has a relationship with prompto he does not want to neglect. ]

Would seven be acceptable? [ that gives prompto a good two and a half hours. ] I do need to prepare the dinner, after all. Though I make no promises we won't end up eating take out.

[ Even if they're supposed to be in this together, he figures it's more important for V and Nero to bond than anything else. Maybe it's also why he's been hesitant to go back home, though that stems more from his own uncertainty than anything to do with V. And in an effort to feel better about all of this, he just laughs. ]

Nah, it's cool. I don't mind one way or the other. [ He's a champion of takeout, so. ] I can do seven though. Can't wait to see you.

I'm looking forward to it.

[ he smiles to himself and ends the call. meanwhile, he moves to the kitchen.

he warned about takeout, but he's assisted angela plenty of times and has lots of her recipes to check out. he ends up selecting a rosti recipe, and steaks. he also decides to roast some vegetables with the steak.

either way, when seven rolls around, it's all finishing up (or in the steak's case, resting). v himself is wearing a corset and slacks, along with a dark blue button up under it. ]

[ Prompto isn't nervous, which is good since there's no need for any of that, but he is somewhat wary, unsure if they'll talk about Nero or any of the other (embarrassing) things that have happened over the course of the last month. He tries not to think about it as he styles his hair and dresses in something not out of Noct's wardrobe; mostly, it's just the usual fare of skinny jeans, shirt and vest, arriving just a few minutes before and knocking on V's door with a slight smile in place.

It only occurs to him then that maybe he should have brought something. Wine maybe? Prompto doesn't have much of anything refined about him the way V does, but he could have snatched something from Ignis' kitchen...

Ah, well. Too late to do anything about it now. ]

[ v intends to avoid nero entirely as a topic - unless it comes up when talking to prompto about how he is doing. instead, when he knocks on the door, v opens it up, giving prompto a small smile and waving him in. ]

Come in. Make yourself comfortable.

[ shadow is not present, but griffon pops his head out to look at prompto, crawing a greeting. ]

Lookin' good, short stuff.

Ah, thanks. [ It's said to V's soft urging and the compliment, pulling off his shoes so he can look around. The place looks pretty nice considering, his expression settling into something a little more relaxed. ] So...

[ He draws it out, trying to find something to say. Small talk isn't something he's good at when he doesn't know what to talk about. ]

What's on the menu? I could've helped, you know.

[ v raises a hand, waving it gently in prompto's direction. ]

I know, but I wanted to treat you. Angela has been teaching me, and I wanted a chance to try it out.

[ he urges him into the kitchen. ]

Steak, and vegetables. And a swiss dish called rosti.

[ it's basically a giant latke, made with potato, cheese and other spices. ]

[ As if he has to urge him that much. ]

Iggy was teaching me back in Duplicity, but I'm not really that good at it. [ He sadly recalls those burnt eggs. ] Smells like you are though.

[ That's supposed to be a compliment, obviously, and before he can think twice about it, he reaches out to take V's hand. ]

Thanks for asking me to come over.

I'm not bad, at the very least.

[ he looks at prompto and gives him a small smile, retrieving the steak from the oven where it's been resting. the rosti is already sliced.

he was going for the plates when prompto takes his hand. v gently entwines their fingers, squeezing them. ]

You are welcome anytime. I thought it would be nice to have a quiet evening together.

[ again, hopefully implying there's no intention to speak on other issues. ]

I would also be happy to teach you, if you'd like.

[ Well... it can't be weird if they're supposed to be dating each other, right? So, he squeezes V hand in return and leans to rest against him for just a moment. Just long enough to help ground him because he still feels like he's being pulled in a thousand different directions. ]

It might be a lost cause, but I'm not gonna say no if you really want to show me some stuff.

[ Prompto squeezes his hand once more before pulling away. ]

You need help with anything else?

[ any awkwardness is just from v, honestly. when prompto leans into him, he raises his hand to rub against his shoulder, comforting. ]

Well, perhaps we'll just start with how to cook an egg.

[ he teases it gently before prompto pulls away. he reaches up, grabbing a plate and offering it to prompto. ]

It should all be ready, although if you would like to retrieve something to drink you're more than welcome.

[ There's a huff at the tease, rolling his eyes just a little, but the gesture is punctuated with a smile. It's not like V got any of the eggs, so he shouldn't be complaining about it! ]

Water's cool. I can grab you something too if you want it

[ Because he has to busy himself with doing things so he can sit with V and eat, including retrieving whatever it might be for V, and by the time he's actually sitting, he's back to square one with figuring out what to talk about. Just be cool and natural. ]

Do you, um... Have you had a lot of other dates like this?

Please, and thank you.

[ v gets them both plated up and the plates placed on the table. He hasn't decorated it ostentatiously; there is a candle going, but he hasn't tried to put on anything like mood music or the like.

when they sit, and prompto asks, v hums a little bit. ]

No, not many. This may actually be my first... Angela and I would eat together, but we did live together.

[ the past tense may go unnoticed, or may not. ]

[ He nearly drops his fork. ]

Your first dinner date? Or your first date-date? [ Does that even matter? It shouldn't, and it doesn't; mostly, he's just surprised since V is so... V. ] I'll invite you over next time and make you something.

[ That he can eat, obviously, and he hopes it's implied with the way he looks at him. Still, he does catch the way V words that last part, expression a little confused. ]

Wait... You're not living together anymore? Does that– Was it because of the stuff with me and Nero?

I have been on a date. [ he laughs gently, still smiling. ] But this is, indeed, my first dinner date.

[ the next part, though, with prompto confused, has v hastening to explain. ]

Ah - no. We sold the house we were living in. Angela has a partner she would like to live with, and ... I did not want to keep the house alone. I was having trouble sleeping in it.

[ he frowns a bit down at his food. ]

Bad memories, I suppose. Nothing to do with you and Nero.

[ ... oh. He'd really stuck his foot in his mouth there, hadn't he? It's not like he knows the exact details of his relationship with Angela, but that still had to be hard for V, reaching out to rest his hand on V's arm to give it a comforting sort of squeeze. ]

You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but you're always welcome to come over whenever. And we'll spend lots of time here with you too. [ Like there's nothing wrong between him and Nero, like it's just something that would naturally come from them since they're trying this whole thing out together. ] You're not alone, okay?

[ Which has nothing to do with anything other than the fact he remembers how upset V had been after losing Dante and that Prompto knows how it feels to be alone in such a big place. ]

[ he looks up at prompto and gives him a soft smile. he reaches out to take prompto's hand. ]

It is fine, I promise. We are still neighbors, [ he nods to the wall he shares with the flat next to his, ] and I am simply adjusting to not having Angela around all the time.

But thank you. I was hoping I would be able to spend more time with you, regardless. I did not invite you here to wallow in sadness, I promise.

[ He knows it isn't exactly the same, but Prompto nods in understanding and squeezes his hand. For a moment, he honestly completely forgets about dinner and just watches V, wishing he'd remembered to bring his camera with him. Maybe later, if he asks, V would let him photograph him in a different light. ]

I get it, V, but it's okay to feel sad anyway. We can still have a good time. [ He exhales. ] And I'm always free for stuff whenever you want. Even if you just wanna hang out or something.

[ if he asked, v would let him. at the assurance, v smiles a bit. ]

Thank you. It is important to remember that but... I do not wish to be sad. I want to enjoy my time with you. Even if it is just being here in companionable silence.

[ he rubs his thumb across the back of prompto's knuckles. ]

Speaking of which - how are you doing?

[ He glances down at the way V touches him, focusing on that as he tries to figure out the answer to that question. It's not a trick, nothing that would have some hidden subtext, but... Prompto doesn't want to worry him either, peering at V openly. ]

Fine, I guess. [ He bites at his bottom lip. ] I've been staying with Noct since, uh, you know, and I'm ready to go back home. But I can't really bring myself to do that yet either.

[ There's a partial shrug. ]

I'll figure it out. Could be worse, right?

It could be worse.

[ he doesn't pry on why prompto can't bring himself to do so, yet. there's a myriad of reasons he can imagine and he knows from nero they have spoken, once or twice. he'll let them sort it out on their own while he does what he can for nero's control of the devil trigger.

he gives a reassuring squeeze. ]

Should you need to vent, I am here, and it will remain private. But I did not invite you here to discuss that matter.

[ he tilts his head again, smiling. ] You are always welcome to stay here, if you need a change of scenery from Noctis' home.

I know. Sorry. [ He uses his free hand to rub at the back of his neck. ] There's not really a whole lot to talk about that isn't just me bein' weird about it. It's okay.

[ Prompto means for it to be just as reassuring as V's hand squeeze, smiling back at him. For the most part, he really is okay. He can't complain too much anyway, not when things have been good, and the offer, no matter how hard he tries to hide it, surprises him. ]

You wouldn't mind? I mean, I like being there too, but it's getting kinda crowded since Lady Lunafreya is staying with him and Iggy too. I don't wanna mess things up for you by being here though.

I can certainly find something to fill the time.

[ it's not meant to be flirty but it could easily be taken as such. either way, the discussion of staying over takes precedence. ]

I would not mind. I trust you, and I enjoy having you around. You're even welcome to stay if I'm not here.

[ a beat, ] Some days I do stay over at the other apartment because I am helping Nero train, but I spend most nights here. And like I said I have been.. adjusting to not having people around. So it would be pleasant for me too.

[ As flirty as it might have been, he's not paying too much attention to that because of their current conversation. (There is a slight bit of pink to his neck though.) ]

Then, uh, tomorrow? Not that I'd mind staying with you tonight either. [ Wait, that sounds like an invitation. Is it an invitation?! ] I mean, since this is a date, and —

[ Prompto groans mentally and drops his head, sighing quietly to himself. ]

Just for a few days, I promise. I don't want Nero to think I'm never coming back.

ic contact ( prismatica )

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