[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.
["For now" sits on the tip of his tongue, but he pushes it down. He shouldn't think like that - even though it's practically the only thing he's thought about.
He lifts his head, dislodging Gladio's hand. His eyes are wet, and he looks off to the side.]
I know. S-sorry. I know. I just...
[He bites his lip, and then goes for the rest of the beer, because he has no idea how to articulate how upset he is that this has happened to him - again. How scared he is that one of the others will disappear next.]
Yeah. [He lets go of a long breath.] Yeah. One way or another.
[He could turn up here again. Or Prompto might finally get back to his own world. But in either case, there was a good chance Ignis wouldn't remember this world. Or he could be a completely different Ignis.
He looks up at Gladio with a forced smile.]
Just gotta be patient, yeah?
[He pushes his empty glass across the table, closer to Gladio.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
this_loser) wrote2019-07-26 04:31 am
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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.]
no subject
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?
no subject
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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He lifts his head, dislodging Gladio's hand. His eyes are wet, and he looks off to the side.]
I know. S-sorry. I know. I just...
[He bites his lip, and then goes for the rest of the beer, because he has no idea how to articulate how upset he is that this has happened to him - again. How scared he is that one of the others will disappear next.]
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Nothing to be sorry about.
I get it, Prom. I've been there too. And that's how I know we'll see him again. One way or another.
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[He could turn up here again. Or Prompto might finally get back to his own world. But in either case, there was a good chance Ignis wouldn't remember this world. Or he could be a completely different Ignis.
He looks up at Gladio with a forced smile.]
Just gotta be patient, yeah?
[He pushes his empty glass across the table, closer to Gladio.]
There more where this came from?