originallutece | (no subject)

You'd mentioned before. I figured now was a better time than ever to exercise the option.

[ Which is pretty telling to how stressed he still is. Noctis follows Rosalind inside and follows her to the front room. When he sees steam blowing over two mugs of hot chocolate, he can't help the little sleepy smile. It's little gestures like that which make Rosalind seem less intimidating than she might be at first glance.

It's a clear reminder of how things had been when he was younger. Noctis realized hours ago that he was in some need of nostalgia and the feeling of being home again.

He takes a seat, reaching for the mug. ]

Thanks.

[ Looking to Rosalind, he takes a moment in silence to mull over what he came for. His glance shifts to the mug. ]

Talking's enough of a distraction on its own.

[ A beat. ]

Hasn't gotten any easier for you either, huh?

No.

[She watches him carefully. He's got bags under his eyes, and she wonders just how much he's been sleeping these past few weeks.]

I don't care for mysteries like this. I don't care for danger like this, and even less so when we're all but being forced into it. The memories and idle changes were one thing, but this . . .

People are getting hurt. Superficial injuries, from what I've heard, but it's only a matter of time before something worse happens.

[ He takes a sip of his cocoa. It brings a good bit of comfort, and Noctis sighs to the feeling of warmth in his chest to it. He's extremely appreciative of the gesture on Rosalind's behalf; she was always good at making him feel better. Especially during the tougher sick-days Noctis had as a younger kid. Just with talking, really. ]

Not gonna lie, I felt pretty cool fighting off monsters. Wasn't good at it, but...

Yeah. I'm weirdly missing London.

[ Hence why he's here. ]

I barely made it. Prompto could've gotten killed if his head had been hit any harder.

I'm relieved you guys are all okay, but. This is a lot.

[God. It'll take a long while for the sight of Prompto, bloody and dazed, to leave her mind's eye.]

To say the least.

There's something to be said for normalcy. I never thought I'd be eager to teach undergraduates again, and yet here we are.

[She sips at her cocoa, then adds:]

How is he? I know he's off investigating the subway system, and I spoke to him recently, but.

[But you'd know better than me.]

[ He won't be able to get any of that day out of his head. Or anything that's happened in the last few weeks-- He's still having nightmares about that damned crystal for crying out loud. Rosalind's mention of normalcy brings a bittersweet kind of smile to his expression that fades quickly behind the rim of his mug. He takes another sip before responding.]

He's fine. The wound's scabbed over by now, so he's healing.

Honestly, I haven't been able to see him much since this all went down with the team situation.

[ Which he is extremely down about. ]

But he's safe.

[She pulls a slight face, sympathetic and tinged with her own disappointment, as he mentions he hasn't been able to see Prompto. Yes, she certainly can sympathize with that, can't she . . .?]

That's all that truly matters.

[She pauses, regarding him for a few seconds. Normalcy, she'd said. They both miss it, and yet they're lingering on the topic of Retrospec, on the monsters, on their fear for their friends. And it's not that they oughtn't, precisely, but . . . it seems better to think of other things.]

. . . tell me: what is it you two have been up to, beyond monsters?

[ Noctis sets down his cocoa on the coffee table for a second, settling back down on the couch and letting himself sink into it a bit. This couch is pretty comfortable. He sighs. ]

Man, stuff that's completely uninteresting in comparison to killing monsters. Almost nothing.

[ School hasn't started yet, he's been barely hanging out with other people and getting fully acclimated here. But it's all been video games, staying up late talking, and normal, boring crap young adults still almost fresh from high school do. ]

Started a gym membership to go with him. That got interrupted.

Ah, you did start that. Good.

[And it's silly, really, silly and stupid, the thought that comes to her next. But that's precisely what they need right now, and so:]

Go on. Flex for me.

[ Noctis wrinkles his nose, looking a bit embarrassed when Rosalind makes such a request. He awkwardly laughs a bit. ]

I've only gone twice.

[ Still, he does anyway. And that arm is just as scrawny and shapeless as it was before. ]

I'm thinking two more sessions.

[It's absolutely a noodle of an arm, but Ros smiles, so . . . worth it?]

Is that all it takes. Good, then you can start helping me lug around scientific equipment.

Hell, I could carry equipment in one arm and an entire desk over the other.

[ Clearly a joke, because this is the same guy who couldn't even drag the sword he found.

Noctis exhales, turning his head to stare up at the ceiling. His arms fall back to his sides. ]

If this ever mulls over, I'll keep trying. Pretty sure Prompto won't give me a choice anyway.

There are worse fates.

[She hides a yawn behind one hand as settles more fully on the couch, her legs stretching out.]

Besides: it's rather nice having something regular each week.

[ Noctis finds it a bit easier to relax as more time passes. He reaches over again for his cocoa, resting back against the couch and taking a sip. At her comment, he dwells on the routine with his friend. Weird as the last two sessions were for him, he didn't hate it.

So, he softly smiles, staring into his cup. ]

Yeah.

I'm okay with it.

And it's a fair sight healthier than those video games-- which, by the way, I can now beat you on at least one of them.

[ He perks a brow, looking at Rosalind. Obviously amused. ]

Oh yeah? Which one?

Mortal Kombat. I'm officially better at it than my assistant, which is saying quite a bit.

[That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but whatever.]

[ That makes him lean forward a bit. Noctis is clearly in disbelief here. ]

Mortal Kombat?

[ There is no way. ]

I'll believe it when I see it.

Anytime you'd like. I'm getting quite good at ripping out spines.

[ Noctis snorts. ]

You do realize who you're talking to, right? I've played every single one since childhood.

Yes, but it's me.

[Like, buddy, have you met her, she's a genius, and clearly that extends to all areas.]

[ SIGH ]

Good point.

[ She's probably researched how each character works in great detail. ]

Still, I'm the seasoned veteran here.

[YOU BETTER BELIEVE SHE DID]

Shall we bet on it, then?

[ He reaches his hand over in an offer to shake hers. ]

Oh, you're on.

[They've sealed their fate with one handshake.]

Hmm . . . a bottle of wine, I think, should I win. And you?

[ They shake on it, and Noctis purses his lips to stare up at the ceiling in thought. ]

If I win, I get...

One "Get out of an essay" free card. When school starts.