originallutece | (no subject)

[Of all the things she was expecting, that wasn't it. Rosalind stares over Prompto's shoulder, her eyes wide, her arms held a little awkwardly at her sides as she tries to understand what's happening. He's . . . hugging her. He's hugging her, and for the life of her, Rosalind doesn't understand why.

And further, frustratingly, she doesn't understand why she doesn't understand.

Why shouldn't he hug her? She'd been kind in coming over and taking him out. She cares about him, and yes, that's unusual for her, but it's not unheard of. Doesn't she care for Noctis? Ardyn? Fawkes? She has her loved ones, so why should this sudden display of affection leave her so shocked?

(Because it's not him, some quiet part of her heart whispers, too faint to be heard. It's because it's not him and he's the only one, it's always been him and her, she and her gentleman, he's the only person--)

She's being foolish, she thinks, and closes her arms around him for a long few seconds before he draws back.]

Prompto . . .

[Her smile is uncertain at the edges, but that's nothing to do with him, not at all.]

. . . all that I said extends to myself, as well. I shan't leave you if you make a mistake, or vex me in some way.

Edited 2017-07-28 01:17 (UTC)

[he nods, sudden determination in his eyes. he's a little ashamed to have hugged rosalind without any kind of warning or context, really, but he tries to be a brave boy about it.]

[showing feelings is not a weakness]

I guess I owe a couple of people an apology.

[For just a moment, there and gone, Rosalind thinks to push her hand through his hair. But that's a childish impulse, silly and too affectionate, and so she curls her fingers and keeps them at her side.]

Was there a fight?

Kind of?

[an uncomfortable shift, and prompto starts walking, waiting for rosalind]

...so, like, I got a gun, right? Retrospec sent it to me. Found it in my mirror cupboard, actually, but I just knew it is mine. I actually went for safety classes, right... but, so, I told Ardyn about it, and he got angry at me because I hadn't told him earlier, then he sent officer Togusa to give me shit about safety and whatnot.

I was annoyed.

[they were treating me like a kid]

[She's a little surprised at Ardyn's reaction, truth be told. He's a caring man, but he only seems to get vexed when someone he loves puts themselves in danger. Certainly he's gotten annoyed with her a few times, but that was because she tends to get a little reckless in her enthusiasm for experimentation.

But it doesn't sound as though Prompto was waving it about. Perhaps he was, of course; he is young, and certainly a gift like that is exciting. (God knows she'd been fair foolish with her own gifts from Retrospec, but that's neither here nor there). But . . . angry because I hadn't told him, no, that is strange.]

Why did he expect you to tell him?

[She falls into step next to him, sipping at her water.]

...I guess he kind of feels responsible for me.

[like a dad, is what prompto knows but doesn't say. it's true enough.]

[he shrugs his shoulders]

I probably should have, but I wanted to sort it out by myself first.

[She tips her head in acknowledgement of that, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.]

. . . so he got angry. And did you argue with him?

I basically hung up on him.

[And then he'd texted her, panicky and in tears, because such an action would surely come with terrible repercussions.

What had he said? I know Ardyn expects more of me but I can't bring myself to be 100% honest all the time, that certainly makes more sense now, doesn't it?]

Well. That, at least, deserves an apology. But I don't know if keeping your weapon from him does. That's something you two are going to have to sort out on your own, I suspect.

[he glances at her, fidgeting with his bottle. it's a nervous tic although he doesn't realise it at all, when he fidgets with his hands]

You think he'll really want to talk to me again?

Of course he will.

[She doesn't hesitate for a moment on that answer.]

He doesn't scare away so easily, to begin with. He's not so fickle as to give up on a friendship simply because of a few harsh words; he and I never would have lasted if that were the case. And besides which . . . it's an argument based on the fact that he cares about you, enough to grow angry that you kept something potentially dangerous from him.

[A few seconds pass, and she adds:]

Trust the logic of it, if not the sentiment. The evidence points in your favor.

Yeah. The evidence...

[then he looks back up at her, turning his head]

I imagine what I feel about him... is a lot like a dad. Him, being like a dad, I mean.

[that's embarrassing]

...and now that the embarrassing's out of the way, [he's actually flushing] I just don't wanna let him down. I don't know what standards are there to keep.

[It's not entirely a surprise that Prompto feels that, but still Rosalind smiles faintly to hear it. Good, then. One could do a lot worse than Ardyn Izunia to look up to as a father figure; he's caring and warm, sweet without being soppy. God knows her first instinct is to flee to him when she's upset; small wonder Prompto feels such a thing.]

I don't know if there are any standards, really.

[She thinks briefly of her own father, but dismisses the thought almost immediately. He was-- is, really, he's still alive-- a distant man, cold and disapproving; there's nothing to be learned from him.]

I don't think you'll disappoint him, though. All you have to do is act like yourself.

..I'll try to be a little better than just myself.

[is what he says quietly, smiling distantly at rosalind's vote of confidence. having others believe in him is actually pretty nice.]

[they're approaching the red car again, and it's only now that prompto notices it. it's so out of place here, it's most likely rosalind's. it's... most definitely hers, really. prompto removes his hat and fixes about his hair a bit.]

Walking helped.

I'm glad.

[She means it, too. Rosalind glances up at him, then towards her car. They're at his home, and presumably that means they ought to part ways, but . . . well. There's something about his smile she doesn't like. It's genuine, that's for certain, but it's slight and wavering, and she doesn't feel good about leaving him be.

She glances up at him again. His hair's still mussed from the hat, and this time Rosalind gives into her impulse: she leans up, brushing her fingers through his hair, smoothing it out. Her fingers are slender and cool, and though it only lasts for a few seconds, she's attentive in her task.

But she won't linger. After a few moments, she steps back and says briskly:]

Want a ride?

[he is surprised at her touch to his hair, feeling a lot like a young boy. it's a nice feeling though, is what he thinks, and he's appreciative of it. he finally stops fidgeting with his hands, now that that's done with.]

[at her question, he can't help but feel a bit... confused. his place is right here, isn't it?]

[--oh]

Would it be okay to go to a bakery?

Of course.

[She smiles as she heads towards the driver's seat. Someday, maybe, possibly, she'll let him try driving it, because while she loves her car, she's also growing increasingly fond of Prompto, and surely that's a treat.

But for now, it's enough that he'll get a thrill out of riding in it. The ride is fantastically smooth, the engine so silent you can barely hear it, and Rosalind adores pushing past the speed limit.]

Hungry for something in particular?

[this car is so pristine inside and out that prompto's afraid of moving around too much.]

[at her questions, he edges around for an answer, settles for keeping his eyes out on the road... considering... and then turning to glance back at her]

I wanna buy a cheesecake. Noct likes sweet things.

[??]

--do you also like sweet things? Would you want some?

[Oh, lord, but he's sweet. Rosalind smiles again, startled and pleased by the question.]

I like sweet things on occasion. Not cheesecake, though. My preferences run towards biscuits-- ah, cookies, to you.

[Americans.]

A pity I don't any any English sweets. You might like them - our chocolate is superior, frankly.

I can't really have anything with milk in it.

[he looks down at his lap and puts his hands against his tummy. he loves sweets, but why you gotta make him sick for it...]

Chocolate's kinda hard for me to like.

But... [he's determined!] If there's something at the bakery you like, let me get it for you, okay?

[She makes a note of that. It's not that she's about to start baking him things, but hey, if she ever feels inclined to get him something sweet, now she knows what to avoid.]

A cookie, then, if you please. Perhaps you can even come in this time when you deliver it to my home, hm?

Wow. You mean you don't live in your office?

[clearly, he's teasing. and, clearly, this is a sign that he's feeling slightly better. and that he finds himself comfortable enough around rosalind to joke around like this.]

[he turns with a bit of a smile]

It'll be more than just the one, uh... biscuit.

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WOW THIS IS A RUDE TAG

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