nysalogs | [ OPEN ] ❝ you are a stranger here, why have you come ❞

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[ OPEN ] ❝ you are a stranger here, why have you come ❞

Who: Prompto (

punshots) + YOU
What: Questing and helping deserters.
When: January!
Where: Wyver and nearby quest locations
Warning(s): N/A for now!

I. TOMB RAIDER (QUEST: DISTURBING THE DEAD).

[ Don't worry. He's played video games.

...And, you know, has a fair amount of experience spelunking in real life, too, but that somehow seems secondary to everything he's learned about tomb-raiding from video games. Is he bound to booby right into some booby traps? Undoubtedly. But that's why he brought someone along with him! To be a second pair of eyes when he gets a bit too Prompto about things.

At the unassuming entrance to the crypt - unassuming if you use a freakin' ton of human skulls in your decorating, anyway - Prompto turns to his companion, clicking on the flashlight clipped to his vest. He also has a whip, despite not knowing how to really use it, because of course he does. ]

Remember - idols? Don't touch 'em, especially if they're on pedestals. If you see any giant boulders, run. Just - run. Oh - and if you see anything diamond-shaped, for the love of the Six, definitely - I repeat, definitely do not step on it.

[ Boy, he sure sounds like an expert, doesn't he? ]

...After you!

[ Or not. ]

II. THE CRYSTAL SHARDS (QUEST: PREACHING IN A MATERIAL WORLD).

[ Whatever man, this guy likes his shiny pieces of rock, he's not one to judge. Compared to most of the other jobs, this one seems relatively safe and, uh, legal, which makes it an immediate draw for him. He's a decent enough swimmer, too, so it should be a piece of cake!

Unfortunately, he's woefully uneducated about the enchanted pools the crystal drops are found in, so he doesn't give it a second thought as he strips down to his underwear and dives deep down into one of the many lagoons outside of Wyver to scoop up the coveted gems.

If he's down there a little longer than should be normal for a human, don't worry - that's normal (thanks, Volkkran Pact). However, that only gives more time for the enchanted waters to really get to him, and...boy, are they getting to him.

When Prompto resurfaces to dump an armful of crystal shards onto the ground, he pushes his mop of wet hair out of his eyes - and that's when he at last notices he is not alone. ]

How long've you been here?

[ Rather pointedly, nowhere near his usual warm disposition. Huh, weird. ]

III. TOUGH TO BEAR (LATER JANUARY).

[ With citizens on every corner calling for a move against Olympia, the city has gotten juuuuust a bit much to handle lately, and when he catches wind about the deserters from some gossipy guards, Prompto decides it's time to take a little day-trip outside Wyver proper to see what it's like for those neutrally aligned himself. Fuck the popo, those people are in need and if he can do something to help, he's going to.

And he's gonna get there on a bear, because he can.

He spends a good chunk of change cleaning out some vendors in the market one morning before loading up his mount's saddlebags with food and medicinal herbs before traveling to some of the neutral camps east of the city. He may have asked a close friend to come along with him, or maybe he bumps into a fellow refugee once there. Either way, he complains as he dismounts: ]

Man, that was unbearably boring! Nothin' but trees, trees, 'n' more trees...

[ Yes, even on a bear, traveling is still dull. Then, with a nod: ]

You gonna give me a hand with this?

[ Or, perhaps, you encounter him later on in the evening, after he's stayed too long helping the refugees and his mount is now beginning to become unruly. The bear starts to snarl discontentedly while Prompto pats its neck in a futile effort to calm it. ]

Th-there, there, Fuzzby! Just a bit - whoa -

[ Watch as he attempts to hold onto his saddle while the bear tries to buck him. Should be quite the spectacle. Or help him, perhaps, if you are so inclined. ]

IV. WILDCARD.

[ Have something else you'd like to do with Prompto this month? Hit me up at retroscape! I'm happy to set up closed starters for more particular plans as well! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ bad prompto, don't look at those trees!! you're gonna stay right here like a good boy. or, well, walk beside her like a good boy. she's already tugging him down the sandy path. ]

No doubt there shall be, but with any luck, it will not be quite so [ annoying ] problematic as this one. Besides, it is my turn anyway, so you needn't worry.

[ she will brave the enchanted waters.. ]

About me, you mean. I'll still worry about you.

[ What if something like this happens to her? Or worse? Still, he follows her lead as they step along towards the southern lagoons. ]

Of course you will, but I will be fine. I've swam these lakes before.

[ and funny stuff happened, yeah, but nothing terribly dangerous. uncomfortable at the absolute worst. so when they arrive at the next lagoon only a few paces later, she shrugs off the canvas bag and approaches the water without hesitating, though she looks over her shoulder with a smile. ]

It's nice to know you've inherited the blessing of the Kojin, however. It may prove handy in a pinch.

[ By now the paranoia has worn off enough that he doesn't go chasing after her to pull her away from the water's edge, but he's still...wary. He probably would be, even if he hadn't recently been affected, and he starts to strip down again, to be ready at a moment's notice to dive in and assist if she needs him to.

Her comment, however, earns her a geniuine grin. ]

Y'know, you're right! Like the next time we have a swimming race. [ She won't have such an advantage anymore , heheh... ]

[ it's true.. underwater breathing definitely helps in swimming races, but she'd probably thrash him anyway simply by merit of being an excellent swimmer. can you keep up, quicksilver??

thankfully it seems as if he's returning to normal.. twelve be praised, she doesn't feel the itching need to babysit him anymore. man, that was annoying!! that nice bright smile is back. ]

We shall see, won't we?

[ but she's diving neatly into the still waters just after, cutting a path straight to the sandy bottom of the lagoon. ]

[ It's true, she would still thrash him...but at least he would stand a better shot than before!!

As she turns to dive into the water, his smile fades, however, and he watches her as best he can through the rippling water. What kind of strange effects would this lagoon have on her?

He waits, perched anxiously on a rock at the water's edge, to find out. ]

[ waiting anxiously is just fine, definitely better than bolting into the wilderness, though even while she's down there she can't help but be paranoid herself that, by the time she emerges, he'll be nowhere to be found..

but that is a problem for future alisaie. for now, she's snagging as many good-sized crystals as she can, hauling them to the surface only once she's got enough to feel she might not be able to resurface again for the weight of them. but gosh, it feels oddly easy to swim back up again.. easier even than usual.

well, anyway, she breaks the surface and piles her plunder onto the sandy shore. ]

That should pull in a good sum, I should think..

[ pay no mind to the.. scales on her face and shoulders, silvery-white and pearlescent. or the fact that in place of ears she now has.. something distinctly more finlike, in the same shimmery, iridescent hue. ]

[ The moment she breaks the surface, it becomes clear that something is...up.

Prompto's eyes go wide as saucers and a hand flies over his mouth as he takes in Alisaie's altered appearance, her shimmering scales, her fins in place of where ears would be. It reminds him a bit of Mipha, honestly, but he's not thinking about that right now. All he's thinking about is how bizarre this is, and how torn he is between concern and amusement.

His girlfriend is turning into a fish...

Finally, he manages: ]

U-um, Alisaie...?

[ well it's good to see him in good humor again, but he's laughing at her, which is a bit less nice. alisaie's expression flattens out, her eyes narrowing. ]

What? Is there something on my face?

[ wait for it - those fin-ears are twitching and laying back in aggravation. ]

[ He should...maybe be more concerned, and he would be if the effects of his swim hadn't been temporary. He's relatively sure this will wear off in time, and when she asks such an on-the-nose question, he can't help a snort of a laughter. ]

Hm - yeah. You...got a little somethin'...

[ He touches his ears with his hands, still giggling uncontrollably. They're kind of cute!! Look at how expressive they are... ]

[ what?? alisaie stares at him quizzically for a few moments, before lifting both hands to touch her ears, and - oh, for the love of the twelve.. ]

Oh.

[ UGH. WHY IS IT ALWAYS SCALES?? this is what happened last time.. sort of. scales were involved. heaving a great sigh, alisaie plants her hands on the nearest boulder to haul herself up and out of the water, the sooner this wears off, the better. but her legs feel.. heavier than usual?? and it's not easy to drag herself onto the stone's face, for reasons that become.. readily apparent, very soon.

yeah, that's a tail. a big, shimmery silver-white tail. she's a goddamn mermaid. ]

[ Oh. She has a tail. Prompto's expression lights up anew with amusement, his eyes flitting over the fish-half of her body. It's...sort of hot??? He's never kissed a mermaid before...Noct would be so jealous. ]

You - [ he's not laughing, no, he's very concerned, VERY ] - you're a mermaid.

[ He creeps closer, running a hand over her scaly skin. Okay, scales are not as sexy to touch, but it's sure a weird sensation. ]

[ YEAH HE LOOKS REAL CONCERNED.. >:(

she jumps a little at the brush of his hands though, because it feels just as weird for her as it does for him, that's a very.. different sensation, okay. dammit!! why this.. maybe the paranoia would have been better after all. though on second thought, she can probably swim really fast now.. ]

Yes, I have figured that out.

[ she says, TESTILY!! and frowns, struggling to haul herself fully up onto the flat top of the stone until her.. tail.. is fully out of the water. the sooner she dries, the sooner she'll be back to normal. ]

[ He gives her a hand as she pulls herself onto the stone, even as a few lingering giggles seep out of him. Once she's settled he sits down at her side, and he can't help but prod the seam between her scales and her skin on her hip with his fingers. It's...so weird... ]

How does it feel? I mean...

[ How would she...go to the bathroom??? ]

[ PROMPTO... GOD... YOU CANT JUST ASK HER HOW SHE WOULD GO TO THE BATHROOM. she probably has fish parts?? good lord ]

Strange. Will you - stop!

[ she swats his hand away, her face flushing a warm pink that goes straight to her ears. this is so embarrassing and he's making it worse!! ]

You should just.. go. Leave me alone, I will meet you at home once it wears off.

[ He's not asking!!! Just...musing.

He pulls his hand away, frowning. ]

What? No! I'm not going anywhere. Mine didn't last that long. I'm sure you'll be back to normal in no time.

[ she's pouting. this is probably like.. a first. alisaie gets crabby, but she doesn't often get pouty - enjoy it while you can. especially when her fin-ears are pressing back against her head in clear aggravation and embarrassment. ]

I just - don't.. stop looking at me!

[ all she wants to do is get back into the water to hide but THAT WON'T HELP.. it'll only make it last longer. red-faced, she looks away, though her entire field of vision is filled with fish-tail. ]

[ Yeah, this is...an odd situation he hasn't often found himself in before. It's hard to resist the grin curling on his face, but at least he doesn't laugh again. She's clearly not enjoying this - why wouldn't she? seems kind of cool to be half-fish for awhile - and Prompto has enough self-preservation to at least try to not make it worse. ]

Why? I think it's cute! In a...sort of weird way, buuuut...you look fine! [ He clears his throat, adopting her accent. Badly. ] Try not to worry overmuch.

[ he's definitely making it worse. weird?? way to ease her self-consciousness. alisaie crosses her arms hard over her chest, and the pouting intensifies. how will he ever earn mermaid makeouts? a shame, maybe noct won't be so jealous after all. ]

Please, just. Turn away!

[ she's gonna die. ]

[ Okay, okay, time to get serious, as difficult as that may be. It seems a little silly for her to reacting like this, but...he's never really seen Alisaie anything but comfortable in her own skin before. This must feel so entirely different, and he just has no idea. ]

Hey... [ He reaches out, cupping her cheek in his hand, turning her face to meet his eyes. There's no longer anything teasing in his gaze, just a genuine, familiar warmth. ]

Why would I turn away? You're beautiful, just like always.

[ And he's not just trying to flatter her nerves away. He means it! ]

[ she's not silly, you're silly!! look, she's picked his feelings up off of the floor a hundred times, let her live.. she's just not very used to feeling foolish, that's all, but prompto's gentle mollification seems only to make her feel more the fool. through no fault of his own, of course - mayhaps she is being silly. this is just weird, okay!! ugh.

her face is still flushed hot when she lifts her eyes to his face again, her cheeks puffed and her lower lip just barely stuck out. ]

I look like I belong on a fishmonger's cart.

[ and it's.. hard to say that and not crack the slightest of smiles. ]

[ She's making a pouty fish face...of course she is. But he notices that slight smile in her expression - he has all of her smiles mapped to his memory by now - and it's a start, so he runs with it. ]

Nah, you look like you belong in the open seas, luring sailors to the depths with a catchy tune...

[ No fishmonger's carts for his mermaid!!! ]

To their deaths, you mean.

[ wow it's not a fish face!! it's.. okay, yeah, it's a fish face. ]

Unless you mean to say that you are the sailor.

Well...that, too.

[ It was implied! Still, she seems a little less crabby (heheh) now, so he continues to follow this thread. ]

Depends. Are you tryin' to lure me in?

[ SHALALALALALA DON'T BE SHY ]

[ lbr here, prompto is scuttle in any kiss the girl scenario.. ]

For dinner, mayhaps.

[ a moment's thought - ]

Though I am not sure you would be worth the effort.

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