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

[punshots]

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! ]

Comments

[punshots]

[ This is quite the victory for him so far - which, of course, is why this will never last. Prompto isn't expecting her bite him - at least, not in a totally unsexy way - and when she does so, he jumps back, releasing her. ]

You - you bit me!

[ Not that he didn't deserve it. But still! ]

[adelphoi]

[ the very moment he releases her she skips backward and out of reach, hopping back to the shore where he can't find her with those betraying fingers!! she missed you, legs, you're so helpful.. ]

Yes, I did. And you tickled me. Don't look so offended.

[punshots]

[ He's made his point with his tickling well enough - whatever that point was, anyway - so he makes no move to approach, instead crossing his arms over his chest and shooting her a sour look. ]

Yeah, 'cause I didn't know biting was on the table!

[adelphoi]

[ don't use that icon on me.. it won't help him win!! foul play!! ]

Oh I'm sorry, I did not realize we were operating beneath a certain set of rules of engagement. Is there any other defense you deem inappropriate, ser?

[punshots]

[ Well, since she asked... ]

Uh, yeah! Kicking, scratching, hair-pulling...

[ He lists them off on his fingers as he goes, the last one said particularly disdainfully. ]

[adelphoi]

[ he's so whiny.. how did she fall in love with this? ]

Allow me to educate you, my love. [ she says, wringing out her hair. ] All is fair, in love and war. And in.. tickling, I suppose.

[punshots]

[ because of the freckle butt ]

I'm gonna remember you said that. For...next time.

[ But for now? No more tickles. His hand still stings! ]

[adelphoi]

[ yeah.. yeah that's gotta be it. ]

Yes, you do that.

[ she says, condescendingly, while tugging her dress back over her head. ]

[punshots]

[ Don't you use that tone with him!! Except it's a little difficult to keep his sour expression on his face when a smile is pulling hard at his cheeks.

It's regrettable, though, that they're putting clothes on, but he follows suit, tugging his shirt on over his head. ]

All things considered, I think we got a pretty good haul.

[adelphoi]

[ she flashes her own smile in response; it seems that more biting is on the horizon.. ]

But yes, we did. I daresay it was worth the tail and fins.

[ she steps into her boots, piling the remainder of the gemstones into the canvas bag beside the others; oof, it's getting heavy now. the weight of wealth.. ]

[punshots]

And the not-being-able-to-talk thing.

[ We can't forget about that!! Or he can't, at least. He offers a hand to take the bag. ]

Want me to carry it while you get your land legs back?

[adelphoi]

[ with great effort she hefts it up, but hey, she's not too proud to make him do the work. what else are those guns for, anyway? with a sharp exhale, she shoves the heavy bag into his arms. ]

If you insist.

[punshots]

[ That's right, these guns can lift! Also, he still feels a little bad about the whole clinging paranoia thing, even if she pushed him into the water and cursed him again. And bit him. (He kind of deserved that, admittedly.)

He lifts the bag onto his shoulder before taking her hand, threading their fingers. ]

What d'you keep me around for, if not to carry your stuff?

[ That's, like, the first rule of boyfriends. ]