originallutece | (no subject)

[It's a good thing they know each other so well, because Rosalind has no qualms about catching him around the waist and holding him steady as he sways and wobbles.]

You do. I'm glad you called me, Noctis. Look at me, now-- do you feel sick? Are you going to throw up?

[ He feels worlds better when Rosalind supports him around the waist. Far more balanced, and he responds with an arm around her shoulders. Extra balance.

Noctis sniffles at her question, wrinkling his nose in thought. ]

Mm....

Nnnnno. All good up in hurr.

[ Noctis snorts, laughing at his own shitty joke. ]

[She can't help but laugh at that, though alas she's laughing more at him than with him. But it's meant fondly.]

Good. Then come along. We're going to my car, all right? I'm going to take you back to my apartment.

[ Noctis nods. At least his drunk brain can figure things out like getting a ride home. He'd call Prompto but...

No. No, he has a lot to think about there, and drunk him won't help.

Noctis hums as he turns his face into Rosalind's shoulder. ]

Mmkay, mum.

[ That he says very, very quietly. ]

[That makes the smile fade off her face as nothing else would. Pressed as close as he is, there's no mistaking what Noctis murmurs against her shoulder, and it's . . .

God. Mum, god, well, of course he thinks of her like that, and yet the word leaves her breathless from shock.

She thinks, suddenly, of the way he used to fall asleep as a child. How once she'd ended up hoisting him up over her shoulder and carrying him back towards his nanny, and how they'd traded off and Noctis had sleepily protested as he was jostled. He'd been so embarrassed about it the next lesson, insisting he wasn't a baby, and she'd bitten back a laugh and soothed his ego with an assurance.

Look at him. He's taller than her now, and there's little chance of her ever carrying him again, but they're right back where they started, aren't they . . .?

Very gently, she runs her fingers through his hair.]

Come on.

[She has to shift them, ducking under his arm and steering him towards the car, but they manage.]

[ Noctis doesn't catch his slip. Not now. But it's a thought that's gone through his head on plenty of occasions since childhood. Noctis never had a mother, given that she died after complications of giving birth. He never knew her, always had just his father, who never remarried or sought another woman. But Rosalind always seemed to fill in those gaps. He'd normally call Prompto in times like these, but he finds that Rosalind was the best choice. He's comfortable around her, there's no need to maintain a cool facade when she's seen him at his best and worst since he was 8.

He's not a baby, but now that he's an adult and realizing how complicated life really is? He'd kind of like to be a kid for a while. Seems fair when he's this drunk.

Noctis finds comfort in that gesture through his hair, saying nothing and simply following her to the car. It's a struggle, and Noctis nearly collapses into his seat, but he manages to flop down with nothing more than a little grunt. His head rolls along the back, and he covers his face. ]

Hgh--

Everything's.... S...Spinning.

Close your eyes. And tell me if you feel sick. I'll stop the car.

[The car makes virtually no noise as it starts up, which is a blessing. It's a smooth ride, and so hopefully they'll make it back to her apartment in one piece.

Mum . . . she glances over at him as she pulls out and heads down the street.]

A good party, I take it?

[ Noctis does as he's told, closing his eyes and trying not to focus on the movement of the car. He's not sick, but his stomach hurts just a little. Maybe from the movement itself, but he takes a deep breath to keep himself steady. ]

Was pretty good.

[ His words are slurred, and there's the slightest hint of an accent much like Rosalind's own. They're from the same country, but Noctis' constant traveling and form of education left him without one naturally. Every once in a while, however, when he's around the right people, it comes out. ]

Thhh...Think I had too much.

Do you remember what you had?

[Not that it much matters, but she's curious. She smiles to hear that accent, though. It's just in his vowels right now, little drawn-out sounds that are barely noticeable, but that she picks up.]

[ Noctis inhales deeply, exhaling as his eyes open and he makes an honest effort to try and remember how much he had. He holds out his hand, brows furrowed as he counts them until he eventually gives up. Noctis snorts as he drops his hand. ]

Nope.

A lot though.

[ He turns his head to Rosalind, frowning. ]

I texted late... M'sorry.

Woulda... woulda' called Promoto, but--

[ Noctis hiccups, looking down at his knees. ]

He's got s...stuff goin' on.

It's all right. I'm glad you did call.

[But oh, Prompto . . . she doesn't know everything, of course, but she does know that his brother is around.]

Have you spoken to him lately?

[ Noctis starts to sink in his seat a bit, slumping. He covers his face with one hand as he leans against the door. Having to talk about him is fine, but he immediately starts to think about how Dante had called him out. Asking when they'll become an item. None of it makes sense and of course he's already been having weird thoughts as is. ]

Texting, yeah.

He's fine. I think. Don' wanna bother 'im...

I should think he'd welcome your company now more than ever.

[ Noctis moves his hand over his mouth; the telltale sign that he's uncomfortable. He turns his head and shrugs quietly. ]

Did he say something to you?

[ He shuffles in his seat a bit. ]

Nah, it's not--

[ God, he's still slurring and absolutely messy. Which is to say he has 0 filter and he's completely incapable of really keeping much to himself right now. But even so, he finds himself nervous and uncomfortable. In need of validation or someone to help get his thoughts together. Rosalind has always been the best for that. ]

Miss--

Doctor...

Can I um.

CannI tell you somethin'?

[She glances over at him again.]

Yes. Of course you can. What is it?

[ At this point, his eyes are closed again. Because he's starting to feel sick, and it's probably just his nerves. But he's never put words to his situation, and now there's way too much going on in his plastered head. Noctis sighs as he presses his face to the window.

There's a lot that keeps his words in his throat. He's not sure what, because it's not necessarily fear. If this is how he is, this is how he is. But still.

He has to at least thank the alcohol for making it easier to say. Because this has been on his mind a while. ]

I'm gay.

[ Not "I think" not "I might be", because he's at least sure of that much. ]

[Ah. It's not a surprise, not truly, because she's suspected it since that first night he'd come over to her apartment. But it's good to hear it from him.]

All right.

[That seems a lackluster response, but she simply means that that's all right.]

Are you all right with that?

M'okay with the fact.

Dunno what it means from here.

I don't know if it means anything, other than the fact you prefer men over women.

[ Not totally what he meant, but he's also very drunk and very bad at explaining things. Noctis feels his face burning very hot, and all it does is make him think about how Dante called him out.

About Prompto.

Which is terrifying in itself because they're best friends. And the guy clearly isn't into him. There's no chance, and he's not into his best friend that way. Right? Right?

Noctis starts to feel his morale completely take a nose dive, and he falls completely silent. ]

[Oh, dear. Well, they're nearly there, and so she doesn't say anything else, not until they pull into the parking lot.]

Noctis . . .

[She pauses, then sighs.]

Come on. We're going upstairs, all right?

[And then they can keep talking, and he can react in any way he likes.]

[ His brain is just... Not functioning like it normally does. It's very easy for him to start feeling off or awkward. Especially when he has no idea what's going on when he's sober. Either way, it's partly brushed off when the car parks.

Noctis opens the door himself. His body slings sideways, him trying to get himself out. But there's a clear struggle when his legs turn into noodles, and he can't seem to get up. ]

When did--

[ He's still buckled in. ]

Oh, hell--

[Thank god he doesn't fall out, but Rosalind is fairly brisk as she turns the car off and comes around to the other side. Carefully, her hands firm but not cruel, she stabilizes him and helps him to his feet.]

Almost there, Noctis. Just up the elevator and down the hall-- you can do that, yes?