burstmodes | ic contact ( prismatica )

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.

Whenever you would prefer to do.

[ he smiles again, giving his hand another squeeze. ]

We can enjoy tonight for dinner and enjoying each other's presence. He... understands that you coming back is tied to his control of his transformation. And he's made progress.

[ he lets go of the hand with a laugh. ]

However, I'm more interested in what you have been up to. Have you taken any interesting photos?

[ His hand free, he tucks it under his thigh. ]

It's not really about that. I – [ He shakes his head, deciding that should probably stop talking about that. ] I dunno. Anyway, um... Not a whole lot? I've been pretty distracted lately.

I kind of want to get some shots of the other levels eventually, and maybe, well, I was thinkin' about taking some of you too. When you're not busy.

[ he is curious but he figures it's best to not query too hard. instead, he listens to prompto as he speaks.

he smiles. ]

I'd be happy to allow you to take pictures. I think we'd discussed that before, did we not?

Yeah, but that was before though.

[ Which shouldn't matter, but apparently it does? Don't ask how his mind works. ]

I'll have to set something up. [ He leans on an elbow, looking at V almost intently. ] Outside or inside?

Inside might be best. You can control the lighting and background a bit more reasonably, no?

[ he takes a bite of his steak before he continues. ]

Unless you'd rather catch all my sharp angles in natural light.

[ ...look. He might or might not have been thinking about certain inappropriate things, like how much of V's body he wanted to take pics of rather than just the light and angle, but he'll let that settle a little and eat first. ]

I think you'd look good no matter where I took 'em. Just thought you might have a preference. [ The tips of his ears are warm. ] Maybe we could even trade after a while.

[ oh, v has some idea - which is partially why he suggested inside. although the idea of laying half naked in some grass is also, to some part of him, tempting to do.

either way, he shrugs gently. ]

I am at your whim. I'm not used to being the subject of one's art.

[ at the trade though, he brightens. ]

I would like that. Angela send me pictures of Dante and Vergil after they had left, but I admit I'm not good with the camera myself. Having more would be lovely.

[ Prompto laughs a little, if only because he finds it kind of cute that V seems genuinely interested. ]

It won't be all that hard. I'll show you what to do. [ With both things. He pauses, poking around at his plate before lifting his head and smiling. ] What other stuff do you like doing for fun anyway?

[ Call him curious. ]

[ when prompto asks, v rests an elbow on the table - manners!!! - and rests his chin in it, smiling. ]

In general I'm quite boring. I like to read, or to take walks around Lunatia to make sure I am staying exercised. I'm just as happy curled up inside as anywhere else.

[ he shrugs a bit. ]

Nero has shown me some video games, and I'm not good at them but they are interesting.

ic contact ( prismatica )

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