[It's a few days after their arrival to the new planet that Kaname summons up the courage to do what she's about to. Messer's introduction to the fleet's put everything in her life into overdrive somehow, and she still feels disoriented to a degree, likely will for some time. Still, with all of those emotions, she knows she owes it to herself and Prompto to explain everything.
So here she finds herself on the First Breath, knocking on the door to his room without telling him she was coming. Any advanced notice might have her rethinking things.]
[Prompto startles some, propping himself up from the wrong end of the bed to stare backwards at door. He's not expecting anyone, and Noctis doesn't knock for obvious reasons.]
Hold on a sec! Coming!
[He rolls off the bed, trips on the dog bed taking up much of the floor space, trips again on - is that Noct's shirt? He kicks it off his foot, kicks aside a few other offending items, and makes it to the door unscathed. He opens it a crack to see whose out there.]
Hi yourself. [His surprise and backpedal from the question has her smiling already. She tucks some hair behind her ear, shifting from one foot to the other in a rare display of somewhat open nervousness.]
There's something I need to talk with you about, and I've been trying to figure out exactly how. Uh, may I come in?
[He bites his lip and looks over his shoulder at a room that hasn't been cleaned in probably never. And smells like dog.
But there's a lack of the confident air he's come to associate with her, so he reluctantly moves out of the way.]
Enter at your own risk. Have a seat. If you can find one.
[Cue nervous laughter. The bed is the only place to really park a butt. He bends and picks up a few things, looks hurriedly for somewhere to put them, and drops them in a corner.]
[She follows him into the room, only stopping for a brief moment to take in the clutter before carefully going to the bed and taking a seat on the edge. Kaname's been on many battlefields, so going through a debris ridden area isn't new for her. This can be sort of like that.
Watching him trying to move things makes her relax a little. Her hand pats the bed next to her for him to come sit down.]
Someone else from my world arrived a few days ago. [Honestly, for all the times she's practiced this in her head, it's hard for her to think of what to say. Even looking Prompto in the eye is hard.] He's dead back home.
[He attempts to kick another pile under the bed - he'll clean that up later - and takes a seat. Should he be worried? Is this a social visit or a Serious Conversation?]
[A sad smile crosses her face, and she nods a little.]
His name's Messer. He's very important to me, and seeing him again... [In her lap, her hands clench into fists. It's hard for her to talk about.] He died protecting me. His plane was shot down right in front of my eyes, and all I could do was watch...
[Kaname forces her eyes shut as she takes a breath to collect herself again.]
[Right. Something similar had happened with Luna - dead back home, but a second chance here. Noctis had practically hoarded her, to the point of hardly ever being present, and ... that was fine. Prompto totally understood.
So he doesn't hesitate to nod, 'cause that's where this is going, right?]
Thanks. It's been on my mind for some time now. [Moving away from his hand, she turns in her spot on the bed so she's facing him. If Prompto's looking at her, he'll see a bit of color appearing in her cheeks. She remains serious, but keeps a smile on her face.]
You're a really wonderful person, Prompto. I feel relaxed when I'm around you, you make me laugh, and it's never boring. I'm happy to have you as a friend.
[She stops, taking a breath to even things out.] But I like you. A lot. As... more than a friend. It's fine if you don't feel the same way, don't worry. Telling you was more for my peace of mind than anything else. And you have a right to know.
[The last few thoughts are a little rushed, but there's no way to mistake what she said. Kaname's gaze remains on him, her tapping finger on the bed the only sign of her nerves.]
[And that wasn't what she expected either. Kaname blinks, clearly taken aback by the return statement. ... but she wants to be clear. No presuming anything this time.]
Do you mean in the same way? As more than just friends? [Maybe her own face is heating up a little more now. Maybe.]
Oh. [That's all she can say to that. Kaname slowly turns back to her original position before scooting closer to lean against him and rest her head on his shoulder.
Quietly, a small smile makes its way to her face.]
That... makes me really happy. I didn't think you'd say that.
action!
So here she finds herself on the First Breath, knocking on the door to his room without telling him she was coming. Any advanced notice might have her rethinking things.]
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Hold on a sec! Coming!
[He rolls off the bed, trips on the dog bed taking up much of the floor space, trips again on - is that Noct's shirt? He kicks it off his foot, kicks aside a few other offending items, and makes it to the door unscathed. He opens it a crack to see whose out there.]
Oh! Kaname! What are you...? I mean, hi!
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There's something I need to talk with you about, and I've been trying to figure out exactly how. Uh, may I come in?
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But there's a lack of the confident air he's come to associate with her, so he reluctantly moves out of the way.]
Enter at your own risk. Have a seat. If you can find one.
[Cue nervous laughter. The bed is the only place to really park a butt. He bends and picks up a few things, looks hurriedly for somewhere to put them, and drops them in a corner.]
So, uh, what's up?
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Watching him trying to move things makes her relax a little. Her hand pats the bed next to her for him to come sit down.]
Someone else from my world arrived a few days ago. [Honestly, for all the times she's practiced this in her head, it's hard for her to think of what to say. Even looking Prompto in the eye is hard.] He's dead back home.
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Oh! That's ... that's good! Isn't it?
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His name's Messer. He's very important to me, and seeing him again... [In her lap, her hands clench into fists. It's hard for her to talk about.] He died protecting me. His plane was shot down right in front of my eyes, and all I could do was watch...
[Kaname forces her eyes shut as she takes a breath to collect herself again.]
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It's another reminder that pretty much anyone can show up or leave here, so you have to make the time count. I think I needed that.
[She glances over at him, studying his expression.]
Um, I do have something I want to say to you, if you'll listen?
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So he doesn't hesitate to nod, 'cause that's where this is going, right?]
Yeah. Of course.
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You're a really wonderful person, Prompto. I feel relaxed when I'm around you, you make me laugh, and it's never boring. I'm happy to have you as a friend.
[She stops, taking a breath to even things out.] But I like you. A lot. As... more than a friend. It's fine if you don't feel the same way, don't worry. Telling you was more for my peace of mind than anything else. And you have a right to know.
[The last few thoughts are a little rushed, but there's no way to mistake what she said. Kaname's gaze remains on him, her tapping finger on the bed the only sign of her nerves.]
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But that wasn't at all where he thought this was going.]
Oh... Oh! U-um... Are you sure? I'm mean... um... [Oh boy. Sweaty palms. He rubs his thighs.] That's great! 'Cause I-I-I, I like you, t-too.
[Is there room under the bed? Maybe now is a good time to hide.]
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Do you mean in the same way? As more than just friends? [Maybe her own face is heating up a little more now. Maybe.]
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Mmhmm!
[Is that ... good enough? It's not good enough. She deserves more than that.]
Yeah. Yep. Same, same way.
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Quietly, a small smile makes its way to her face.]
That... makes me really happy. I didn't think you'd say that.
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[He's flabbergasted, honestly, and at a loss for words. Amazing, right?
As soon as her head presses against him, he feels all fluttery. Very carefully, he puts an arm around her shoulder.]
Um, do you, maybe, wanna go somewhere that doesn't smell like the dogs and look like a car accident?
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This time, I have a feeling it's safe for me to think you're asking me on a date. And yes, I'd like that.
[The entire visit's going so much better than she ever envisioned it. A happy hum escapes her.]
But right now, I'm pretty comfortable.