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

[ 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.

[ no comment.... ]

Hey! I'm a hundred percent lean meat! I'd be delicious!

[ ??? why is he arguing this point... ]

But it is the fatty, tender meat that is truly the best.

[ and with a poke to his ribs. ]

You would no doubt be stringy and tough.

[ Gross, fatty meat...she can have all the gristle she wants!! ]

But I'm so tender-hearted! [ ... ] Never mind. Why am I trying to convince you to eat me?

[ Because it's distracted her from being embarrassed about her scales. Just as keikaku! ]

[ no you fool, gristle is gross cartilage..!! the fatty stuff is that nice marbled meat that's so delicious when cooked.. unless you're one of those heathens who prefers their steak well done, in which case friendship over. ]

Ah, so it is your heart I should devour.. good to know.

[ yeah tho you definitely did a good job of that.. maybe too good ]

[ what kind of a barbarian do you take me for ]

I mean, you kinda already have. You know. In a mushy, lovey-dovey kind of way.

[ Gross. Now they're just being embarrassing. ]

[ look, you never know what even your closest friends might be capable of.. buy good to know we can still be friends and prompto and alisaie don't need to break up

but oh my god that's super corny even for her.. alisaie's brows lift, her expression clearly reading i can't believe you..

..before she pushes him right into the water ]

[ if we can survive thor's hair we can survive anything

but oh my gods, it's revenge YEARS IN THE MAKING, or months, but it practically feels like years since they were in a similar situation and he unceremoniously shoved her into the lake. Ah, what a tactful flirt he was, no wonder she fell for him, hook, line, and sinker.

Now Prompto is the sinker, squawking with surprise as he scrambles to regain his balance - but it's no hope. He goes down into the water with a mighty splash, and it's a few moments before he's able to resurface.

When he does, he's full expecting to have scales like hers lining his arms, and like, whatever, if he does, maybe they can make out underwater again, or something. But he finds himself remarkably scale-free. His ears are still ears, and he still has two fully normal legs. Nothing seems to be altered about his appearance at all, and there's no strong paranoia or any other emotion flooding his mind, either.

So he winds up a triumphant, shit-eating grin and levels at her, and bellows

- ha!

...except he doesn't. Prompto moves his mouth, but no sound comes out at all. Not even a whisper.

Oh no. ]

[ this.. this is a true miracle.

she had fully expected him to emerge scaley and tail-ey like her, and when he bursts through the surface again looking, you know, entirely normal, she can't help but feel disappointed.

but oh, that disappointment wears off fast. after a few moments of bewildered staring while she works it out, alisaie barks a laugh, high and quick and definitely a little vindictive. sorry prompto, but not really sorry.. ]

Have you lost your voice?

[ did u trade it to the sea witch for the love of a man.. ]

[ Alisaie may laugh, but Prompto looks absolutely horrified. He can't...talk? What kind of a cruel joke is this??

Pale as a ghost, Prompto ignores her question - not like he'd be able to answer it, instead running his fingers along his throat like that will somehow fix the issue. No, this stupid water has enchanted him again, and just as Alisaie must wait for her fish tail to vanish, so much he wait to get his voice back.

This is going to be the most excruciating wait of his life.

With a sigh - he can still do that, at least! - he starts to wade for the rock, pulling himself up and hardly making eye contact with her. Stop laughing! It's not funny, he's suffering!!! ]

[ oh how the turn tables..

she can't bring herself to feel very sorry for him though, since she's pretty sure her punishment is way worse than his. so he can't talk for an hour, at least he isn't a fish!! ]

What was that? Did you say something?

[ nope, it must have been the wind. grinning broadly, she leans into his side, unable to help the playful way her tailfins curl. ]

[ She's the worst. This is the worst!!! But look at that smile...even if it's at his own expense, he can't bring himself to be too put out by the sight of it. And yeah, at least he isn't a fish???

Not talking is gonna be hard, though...

So he pouts exaggeratedly, but he can't quite hide the beginnings of his own smile as he reaches up to play with her ear-fins. Don't get sassy with him, fish girl, he still knows your weaknesses! ]

[ this is truly bizarre.. the only time prompto is this quiet is when he's, you know, dead asleep. somehow it is even more unnatural than alisaie having a half fish body.

her ears are apparently still just as sensitive though, because when he fiddles with them she can't help her giggle, or the way she instinctively twists away, color rising to her cheeks yet again. ]

No need to be cheeky, just because you have lost your favorite feature!

[ The fish ears are pretty cute, good to know they're still sensitive as ever. It's an alternative to tickling that doesn't usually end with him getting kicked in the ribs.

At her comment, though, he raises his hand to point to his hair. Look, he may be a chatterbox, but let's be real about this. Had something happened to his hair, he would've been devastated. ]

[ ah. of course. wow. he actually prefers his hair over the ability to communicate.. your priorities need some rearranging, prompto, and alisaie rolls her eyes emphatically. ]

Silly me. So you are telling me that you would rather not speak for the rest of your life, then have bad hair?

[ But is she surprised? No, of course not. Also, his priorities are just fine when his locks look this good!

In response to her question, he gives a noncommittal kind of shrug. It wouldn't be an easy choice, but...his hair... ]

[ prompto.. you are an embarrassment to your species ]

You know, it really is not that important. I would take your voice over your hair, always.

[ BUT CONSIDER: letting him live

At her comment, however, his cheeky grin softens into one more sentimental and genuine. Aw, she actually likes hearing him talk! Sometimes, at least.

So he leans over, pressing his lips against her cheek, but not in a kiss, exactly. Instead, he mouths the words "I love you" upon her skin. Don't push him in the lake for being cheesy again!!! ]

[ mmmm... nah.

but she does not miss the shape of those words against her skin, and a shy smile tugs at her mouth, her tail curling almost demurely down against the water - here's hoping that doesn't, uh, reset her progress. ]

Yes, I love you too, you great sap.

[ she says, bumping her nose against his, her cheeks flushed a rosy pink. ]

Even if your priorities are heinously skewed.

[ He breathes out a huff of laughter at that, eyes half-lidded and adoring as he winds his arm around her shoulders. The scales in her arm are still a bit strange to the touch, but his fingers trail over them all the same, just as they would if it were her skin.

He can't exactly argue, but he probably wouldn't, anyway. Instead, he presses fluttering kiss to her ear-fin before nuzzling against her again. If he can't talk, he might as well be grossly affectionate, and he doubts she's about to complain. ]

[ ugh they're so gross!! even alisaie is aware of how disgusting they're being. but no one is around to see it which means she can glut herself on it without shame.. what have you turned her into, prompto?? she used to be so respectable and tough, now she's a sappy cuddle machine.

alas. rip her terrifying persona. don't tell anyone.. ]

Mm.. a shame I cannot keep you like this.

[ she says through a grin, her hands resting comfortably against his chest. ]

Mayhaps I should bottle some, for the future.

[ remember when you said you loved her, like, ten seconds ago ]

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