[It takes some time for a reply to come through. He's not sure he even wants to leave the house, much less go somewhere public. But he drags himself up and hits send.]
k
[He arrives short time later, peeking in the door to make sure Gladio is actually there before moving to the bar. He...looks like shit.]
[Gladio knew it was probably hit or miss whether Prompto would accept his invite, but when he got the reply he smiled to himself before setting the phone aside.
He'd sent Tony home for the day and the bar was closed to the general public. It'd be just the two of them.
When Prompto arrives Gladio is behind the bar. He says nothing as Prompto approaches, wordlessly he lifts a glass from behind the bar and sets it down in front of his friend. It's a squat whiskey glass with a warm yellow drink inside of it.]
Glad you could make it. Tryin my hand at cocktails. I call this the 'Chocobo Butt'.
[Even a breath of a a laugh was good enough for Gladio. It told him there was hope for the kid yet.
Gladio leaned against the bar and watched him neck the drink like a pro, then raised a brow.]
Sure, I'll make another. But how bout to taste this one next? I need your honest opinion.
[He flashed a grin and went about making another of the drinks. An orange juice base, a little lemon and honey syrup, rum, hint of mint to taste... Soon the glass was passed back to Prompto.]
[There was always hope. It was just muddy and hard to reach at the moment.]
What're you calling this one?
[He takes the next drink, giving it the same treatment as the first. Little sniff, and then tipping it all back. He takes it a little easier with the second shot, taking some time to actually taste.]
It's the same drink. Unless you can think of a better name?
[Gladio rolled his eyes and laughed but took the advice on board. The mint was no good. He guessed that was just his own tastes. It's one of the reasons he needed a second opinion.
As he talks he's making another, though he's gotten hold of the gin this time.]
Alright, no mint. Fruit your thing or do you like a straight burn? Still learnin here but I kinda like the fruity stuff. Hides just how drunk you're getting.
Good man. [Gladio nodded approvingly before he set another glass in front of Prompto.
This one was a drink that was a clear purple in colour.]
Grape. No mint. Plenty of booze though. You eaten today, by the way? Shouldn't be drinking on an empty stomach. I can rustle you up something? [He flashed a quick grin.] I've Cup Noodles in the back.
[Gladio didn't ask, what was the point? It just gave Prompto the chance to say no. He'd turned and headed into the back to cue up the replicator and the cup noodle.
He went with the original flavour, simple and elegant, no fuss, no muss. A few minutes later he came back with a steaming pot that he sat on the bar top along with a fork.]
You need to eat. Gotta keep up your strength if you want to keep helping me test out these drinks. How's that one? Worth adding to the list?
[He bites back a protest as Gladio gets to work on the food. But his stomach has other ideas. He really hadn't eaten today. And he couldn't recall if he'd eaten the day before. Resigned, he accepts the noodles.]
Thanks. ..Oh.
[The drink. Right. He downs the shot.]
Probably. I'd go with with less alcohol, more grape. But that's me.
[He takes up the fork and takes a bite of the noodles. They don't taste as good as they should, but Gladio is right. He'll regret not having something in his stomach.]
[Gladio nods, taking the assessment of the drink on board as he had the other and reached for the glass, giving it a critical look. More grape. He supposed he could try and condense the syrup down a bit more... Or maybe add another fruit along with the grape? Maybe pear, or melon?
He was considering this when he noticed the look on Prompto's face and chuckled.]
Pears... [Gladio nodded slowly, wondering if he could get himself some fancy pears as a replicator addon to make some interesting drinks with that? There were plenty of things he could make with pears, including cider. Yes, he would have to talk to Tony but he was sure he'd agree.]
I can work with that. You're a huge help, Prom!
And when you're done with that we can try with another drink. If you're up to the challenge?
[He tucks back into his food, flicking a thumbs up. He's already feeling a little fuzzy in the head, and honestly, he prefers it to how he's been feeling otherwise.]
[While Gladio is away, Prompto finishes off the noodles and chokes down what's left of the broth. He has to admit, he does feel better with some food in his belly.
He waits patiently for Gladio to return, trying to focus on the interior of the bar and the faint sounds of his friend in the back rather than the negativity swirling around in the back of his head.
[When he comes back, rather than cocktails in his hand, he has two pint glasses and a warm smile upon his lips. A little jerk of his head and he nods toward the tables behind Prompto.]
Come sit with me and I'll drink with you.
[Gladio headed down the bar and came out to the table he'd nodded to. Both the ice cold pints of beer were set down on the table before he dropped himself down into a chair with a sigh.]
[He feels a little floaty as he spins off the stool and makes his way to the table. He makes a little "oof" as he sits and wraps a hand around the glass.]
This regular beer, or something fancy?
[It looks like a regular beer, and he's perfectly fine with that.]
[He follows suit, though he only gets about a third of his down, or risk drowning. Gladio is right, it's not so bad.
At the question, he taps his fingers over the glass, and then downs another third.]
Honestly? Terrible. [He could stop there, but the drinks do their job and more words spill out.] I feel tired all the time, but I can't sleep. Don't want to eat. Can't even look at the kitchen. I haven't even looked at my camera.
I get it... It hurts. It's gonna ache like hell. [This time when he took a drink of his beer it was just a deep gulp, he wasn't planning on draining it just yet. Though there was plenty more where that came from.]
But you know he'd be disappointed if we dwelled on it too much, especially if you didn't look after yourself. You'll see him again, Prom. We all will.
[He leans forward, elbows on the table and palms pressed to his forehead. That they would see each other again was the only reason he'd taken the risk to be with Ignis in the first place. But it didn't hurt any less.
His head falls forward, hands dragging through his hair to clasp behind his neck.]
[He hesitated for just a moment before he moved a hand from his glass and reached across to rest his hand upon Prompto's hair.]
I know... I did, too. But Fate's a fickle bitch and she'll send us back when she's good and ready. But while you're here, we're here for you, Prom. It's not the same, but we're here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
this_loser) wrote2019-07-26 04:31 am
03 Sep - Afternoon
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k
[He arrives short time later, peeking in the door to make sure Gladio is actually there before moving to the bar. He...looks like shit.]
Hey.
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He'd sent Tony home for the day and the bar was closed to the general public. It'd be just the two of them.
When Prompto arrives Gladio is behind the bar. He says nothing as Prompto approaches, wordlessly he lifts a glass from behind the bar and sets it down in front of his friend. It's a squat whiskey glass with a warm yellow drink inside of it.]
Glad you could make it. Tryin my hand at cocktails. I call this the 'Chocobo Butt'.
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Sounds like my kind of drink.
[And you know what - a drink is looking pretty good right about now. He slams it back, coughs, and pushes the glass back.]
Not bad. Got another one?
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Gladio leaned against the bar and watched him neck the drink like a pro, then raised a brow.]
Sure, I'll make another. But how bout to taste this one next? I need your honest opinion.
[He flashed a grin and went about making another of the drinks. An orange juice base, a little lemon and honey syrup, rum, hint of mint to taste... Soon the glass was passed back to Prompto.]
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What're you calling this one?
[He takes the next drink, giving it the same treatment as the first. Little sniff, and then tipping it all back. He takes it a little easier with the second shot, taking some time to actually taste.]
Not bad. Not sold on the mint, but it's good.
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[Gladio rolled his eyes and laughed but took the advice on board. The mint was no good. He guessed that was just his own tastes. It's one of the reasons he needed a second opinion.
As he talks he's making another, though he's gotten hold of the gin this time.]
Alright, no mint. Fruit your thing or do you like a straight burn? Still learnin here but I kinda like the fruity stuff. Hides just how drunk you're getting.
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Nah. I like the name.
[He folds his arms on the bar as he watches Gladio mix up another.]
Fruit. I never liked it straight. Too pricy, and it doesn't even taste good.
[It's why he mostly stuck to beer, if he was drinking at all.]
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This one was a drink that was a clear purple in colour.]
Grape. No mint. Plenty of booze though. You eaten today, by the way? Shouldn't be drinking on an empty stomach. I can rustle you up something? [He flashed a quick grin.] I've Cup Noodles in the back.
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Haven't really felt like eating.
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[Gladio didn't ask, what was the point? It just gave Prompto the chance to say no. He'd turned and headed into the back to cue up the replicator and the cup noodle.
He went with the original flavour, simple and elegant, no fuss, no muss. A few minutes later he came back with a steaming pot that he sat on the bar top along with a fork.]
You need to eat. Gotta keep up your strength if you want to keep helping me test out these drinks. How's that one? Worth adding to the list?
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Thanks. ..Oh.
[The drink. Right. He downs the shot.]
Probably. I'd go with with less alcohol, more grape. But that's me.
[He takes up the fork and takes a bite of the noodles. They don't taste as good as they should, but Gladio is right. He'll regret not having something in his stomach.]
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He was considering this when he noticed the look on Prompto's face and chuckled.]
Not as good as back home. But it'll do for now.
[He leaned on the bar, arms folded upon the top.]
You have a favourite fruit, Prom?
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He thinks about the question as he swallows down another bite. He likes all fruits, but if he had to pick one...]
Pears, I guess? When they're really ripe.
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I can work with that. You're a huge help, Prom!
And when you're done with that we can try with another drink. If you're up to the challenge?
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[He tucks back into his food, flicking a thumbs up. He's already feeling a little fuzzy in the head, and honestly, he prefers it to how he's been feeling otherwise.]
I'll take anything you throw at me.
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And maybe by that time he'd be more open to talking.]
Tough guy, huh? Alright. You finish up and I'll see what I can rustle up for you.
[He turned away then and vanished through to the back once more to gather a few more supplies.[
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[While Gladio is away, Prompto finishes off the noodles and chokes down what's left of the broth. He has to admit, he does feel better with some food in his belly.
He waits patiently for Gladio to return, trying to focus on the interior of the bar and the faint sounds of his friend in the back rather than the negativity swirling around in the back of his head.
When Gladio does return, he sits up a bit.]
Are you gonna join me this time?
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Come sit with me and I'll drink with you.
[Gladio headed down the bar and came out to the table he'd nodded to. Both the ice cold pints of beer were set down on the table before he dropped himself down into a chair with a sigh.]
That's better.
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This regular beer, or something fancy?
[It looks like a regular beer, and he's perfectly fine with that.]
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[To prove it he reached for his own glass and tipped it back, making a good half of it disappear before he came up for air.]
It's funny. When it's cold you can barely tell it's all fake. It's not that bad.
[Gladio shot Prompto a glance then.]
Is it about time I ask you how you're doing?
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At the question, he taps his fingers over the glass, and then downs another third.]
Honestly? Terrible. [He could stop there, but the drinks do their job and more words spill out.] I feel tired all the time, but I can't sleep. Don't want to eat. Can't even look at the kitchen. I haven't even looked at my camera.
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But you know he'd be disappointed if we dwelled on it too much, especially if you didn't look after yourself. You'll see him again, Prom. We all will.
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His head falls forward, hands dragging through his hair to clasp behind his neck.]
I want to go home.
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I know... I did, too. But Fate's a fickle bitch and she'll send us back when she's good and ready. But while you're here, we're here for you, Prom. It's not the same, but we're here.
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