originallutece | (no subject)

[Another pause.]

Victoria was very . . . vivacious. Very bright. I was sixteen and she was twenty, and beautiful, and charismatic. It was hard for even the most experienced people not to be pulled in by her, and I wasn't particularly well socialized, so you can well imagine how dazzled I was. I was desperate to have her notice me, and each time she did I felt as though I was on top of the world.

But it was a one-sided affair, unfortunately.

[Though they'd at least made out once, one drunken night, but she won't say that, because there's some things you don't share with your son.]

That being said: I did have a girlfriend once, later on. And that worked out far better.

[ Noctis listens intently, paying close attention because, while it's not identical to his situation? There's still enough in the explanation here for him to make a connection to.

Still, the second he tries to even fit Prompto in there, it's like his brain puts up a wall in front of it. ]

I mean...

It only happened one time. I could just be overthinking the situation. Haven't exactly had a close friend like him before either?

[ He doesn't want to be in a one-sided situation like that. Suddenly, Noctis isn't taking much comfort from the story. ]

Then ask yourself: do you only want his attention? Or do you want him to kiss you?

[ He veers back from her so fast. ]

That's... A pretty loaded question, don't you think?

Not particularly. I'm not about to go and tell him no matter what your answer is, Noctis, and it's a reliable method of checking.

[She tips her head at him, entirely unperturbed.]

It's not unusual to want to be the center of someone's attention. But when you start craving their company above all others, when you start to think of them in all the idle moments of your day, when you're not certain . . . it's best to think of something firm and inarguable like that.

[ Noctis' face is incredibly red, but he keeps a pretty level head. It's not that he's scared or uncomfortable, he's just confused. Uncertain. He sighs again as he rubs at his face, really trying to think of a proper answer for the question, but he's not entirely sure what to say. Or if he even wants to say it. ]

What, was asking yourself something like that when you were younger what helped?

Yes.

[There's a bit of color on her cheeks now, but Rosalind's voice is perfectly steady.]

I asked myself what I'd do if she were to, ah, to make a pass at me. What my reaction would be, and I forced myself to think about each outcome.

[ What?

Not at all something Noctis could ever imagine before this. While her cheeks get red, his face seems to get hotter. The advice is... Sound. Not completely out of left field, considering the subject, but putting Prompto in the picture?

If he were to make a pass at him? What would he... ]

--!

[ Noctis shakes his head fast. Nope, nope. ]

I don't... Think that would be appropriate to do in your house.

[ He turns his head, sitting up straight and crossing his legs, one hand covering his mouth. ]

I'm good. Don't think that's necessary.

I said imagine, Noctis, not anything further than that.

[ If his eyes open any wider, they would fall out of his head. Noctis' hand is still over his mouth and he is visibly tense. ]

I wasn't suggesting anything further.

[ He lowers his hand, closing his eyes and waving dismissively. Almost defiant in tone. ]

And I'm not going to imagine Prompto making a move on me.

Suit yourself.

[She won't press, not anymore. Rosalind finally sips her cocoa again, draining the mug. She's smiling, but it's fond, at least.]

Sexuality aside . . . thinking about someone eagerly and repeatedly is a fairly sure sign of affection. That's how it's worked for all my relationships.

[ Oh god, this conversation got incredibly embarrassing really fast. Thanks for that, Mom. ]

Isn't that what friends do normally? There's no way what we do is weird for that.

Not . . .

[Okay, how to say this without actually saying this? Hm.]

It isn't just that you want to spend time with them. It's that they occupy your thoughts constantly. It's that your every thought is about them, or so it seems. You're giddy when you speak to them, and you make up any excuse in the world to see them, no matter how flimsy. It's . . . it's a rush, almost, especially in this stage.

[. . .]

Trust me when I say I know what it is to feel something for someone close to you, and not be certain what it is, or if it's that kind of affection.

[ All flustered entertainment aside, Noctis starts to simmer down when Rosalind clarifies. His shoulders slack a bit, gaze staring at her rather wide-eyed when everything she says makes too much sense, but falling to something somber again as he looks away and down to the floor.

He can't be absolutely positive that this is what's going on. Prompto might as well be his first friend, so how is he to know that this is just how he feels for the first close companion he's ever had? There's nothing to compare to. And his head hasn't exactly been in the right place lately. ]

Mmfh.

[ He rubs his face, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. ]

Okay, so... Let's say in a hypothetical situation.

[ A shrug with one shoulder, a forcibly aloof expression and tone: ]

That's what's happening. Then what?

Then you decide what you want to happen. Ignoring the other factors, even ignoring the other person . . . make certain you know what it is you want to happen.

[ He raises a brow. ]

Ignore Prompto until I can confirm whether or not I want to make out with him.

No. Ignore factors like what does Prompto want, how has he been acting, what does this look mean, so on and so forth. Assume that whatever you want, he wants too, because it will make it easier to decide what you want.

[ While Noctis' tone is rather dismissive and sleepy, it's all a front. Because the more they talk about this, the more his stomach twists and churns.

He slouches against the couch. ]

I doubt that's the case. He's not actually gay.

What did I just say?

[ His cheeks puff a bit, just for a split second. ]

I get that.

But what good would that even do? He's not into guys.

[bitch what did she just say--]

Did he tell you that? Explicitly?

[ How does a straight face look with an absolutely glowing, red complexion? Just as hilarious as you might think. ]

Thaaaaaat he's not gay.

Edited 2017-08-13 05:41 (UTC)

Tell me precisely what he said.

[It's just she doesn't want a hilarious misunderstanding like "you're heavy" "now I have to lose weight before I can be friends with Noctis"]

[ Noctis takes a deep breath, exhaling something very akin to yet another sigh. ]

"Dude, I'm not gay!"

[ This is accomplishing nothing. He's also totally trying to mock Prompto's manner of speaking, and failing. Because he constantly sounds like he's half asleep. ]

Edited 2017-08-13 05:45 (UTC)

. . . what precisely were you two doing?