faderift | Can't stay in one place 📷

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Can't stay in one place 📷

WHO: Prompto and you~
WHAT: Various shenanigans
WHEN: Throughout the month of Solace
WHERE: Throughout Kirkwall; see prompts for specifics
NOTES: Will update as needed, but none anticipated

A) But first, let me take a selfie

If one finds themselves in the Gallows, or even the docks nearby, they may see a peculiar sign:

WANT A PORTRAIT? DON'T HAVE THE TIME, MONEY, OR PATIENCE FOR A PAINTING?

THEN YOU'RE IN LUCK!! SEE PROMPTO IN THE GALLOWS FOR A PORTRAIT YOU CAN HAVE IN AN HOUR! FIVE SILVERS ONLY!

**Supplies limited, so first come first serve! Will take reservations if all remaining spots for this month are filled**

Curious now? In the Gallows, if you look in the right places, you'll see signs pointing to where Prompto is in the Gallows. Follow those signs and eventually you'll come across his little set up. He's staked out in front of the supply closet he commandeered for a dark room. In front of is him in an old stuffed chair, fiddling with his camera. When he hears someone approach, he looks up and grins.

"Welcome!"

B) You gotta snatch and sneak, or your future's bleak

So Prompto's made the mistake of walking through Lowtown alone. At night. Yeah...

Needless to say, even though he's trying to hurry, he inevitably finds himself being tailed by some, uh, shady characters. It's the Carta or the Coterie; Prompto doesn't know who is what yet, he's just heard the names get tossed around. He grew up in a city, and while Insomnia is far safer than Kirkwall for the most part, he's no stranger to watching his back at night and knowing when he's being followed. And that's definitely what's going on.

Worse yet, since the city's a maze, Prompto gets himself a little turned around trying to lose his tail. As he emerges out of an alleyway, his heart slams into his ribcage when he comes face to face with a small group gathered loosely in front of him. So much for losing that tail, he just got corralled into a trap.

"Heeeeey guys," he says nervously, glancing around for an escape route. "Look, I got a few silver coins on me. But that's really all I have, I haven't been here long." He digs them out of his pocket. "Don't want a fight, so I'll just lay them on the ground and walk away, okay?"

"Nah," one of the thieves says. "If nothing else, those clothes are worth something." He motioned to the others. "Get 'em."

Prompto breaks out into a run, gunning for another small alleyway. He barely misses being grabbed by them, but he can hear his pursuers' pounding footsteps behind him. "I could use a hero in shining armor right now!" he yells as he sprints through the streets. "Or a good Samaritan! That'd be great, too!"

C) Is it worth the waiting for if we live til eighty-four, if all we get is gruel?

Prompto's not one to bite the hand that feeds you, but... well, what he's being fed is so not great.

He's been relying on the Inquisition's food provisions to get by, but after being spoiled for so long by Ignis' cooking, he's developed a particular palate that no longer allows him to enjoy mediocre grub. Today he's finally hit his limit. With a scrunched nose, he shoves aside his plate of... some kind of stew, and sighs. "What I wouldn't give for Iggy's cooking."

D) Let's be alone together

In a corner of the library in the Gallows, one might find Prompto hiding amongst some books. It's clear he's been reading, but the books have been pushed aside for now in favor of something else. Anyone who's not a Rifter from a technologically advanced world won't recognize the device he has in hand. It's not his camera, which he happily flaunts. No, this is something much more personal.

Prompto doesn't often look at it, and with good reason. He's reminded why when he looks at the battery indicator, and it shows as 50% charged. The reality sinks into his stomach like a cold lead weight. Once his phone dies, there's no turning it back on. When it goes, he'll lose his last remaining tie to his home. Sure, he'll still have the device, but what good is it dead?

Not that it's much good here, what with no reception and no means to access, well, almost anything. Save for his photos. The photography hobbyist in him rarely uses the phone as a camera, as he has a much better one at his disposal. But occasionally he did snap some pictures on it, when it was convenient or when his camera was charging. Those photos are now all he has of his friends and life in Eos. He only uses his phone to look at them; using it otherwise drains too much battery. He shuts it off when he's done, but all his battery conservation techniques only delays the inevitable.

Still, he can't help but scroll through the photos he has, lingering on the expressions of his friends. The sights around them comfort him too: cars and paved roads and cities, all against the natural backdrop of Eos.

49% now. Prompto knows he shouldn't linger much longer, but he just needs another minute or so, just to get him through. Of course, being so absorbed in his phone, he might not quite catch anyone walking up to him until they say something.

E) Wildcard

Hit me with your own starter!

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Iskandar had taken to patrolling around Lowtown since that seemed to be where the greatest problems were. It gave him a taste for what the people here were up to and even gave him an idea of how to deal with it as a result. Because of this, he'd noticed the young man being followed, his hairstyle suggesting that he was, in fact, a Rifter. There was no telling what sorts of skills came with that but he wasn't about to try to guess in this moment at the risk of his safety.

So he followed.

Seeing the trap sprung, he moved quickly, calling to his mabari pup. Achilles Alexander was much smaller than most mabari due to his age but he was still well trained and could at least slow people down. However, that wasn't where he was sending him. No, he sent him to run in front of the young man.

The dog barked twice then took off so he could lead him to safety while Iskandar, a man made of solid muscle and nearly seven feet tall, got between the blond and those chasing. "I think you've gone far enough," he said to the men, unsheathing his sword with a smile.

"So will it be all of you at once or one by one? I can handle you lot either way. I'm faster than I look, after all."

Ask, and ye shall receive. Someone's come to help!

...and that someone is stacked. Damn, and he thought Gladio was built like a tank. This guy puts him to shame easily.

Prompto skids to a halt, glancing at the mabari before glancing back at his master. He begins to walk towards where the dog went, though he's worried about his rescuer. Sure, he's got the build and a weapon to boot, but he's outnumbered...

"You sure you're gonna be-"

Suddenly, he sees someone sneak around a barrel, where apparently they'd been hiding. As the other attackers slowly back away from Iskander, the one in hiding draws out her bow and notches an arrow.

"Archer!" Prompto calls out, seconds before she draws back the arrow and lets it fly.

Iskandar was huge but he moved fast. With a slash of his sword, he cut the arrow before it could it him. Recognizing the target and eliminating it. With that settled, he pointed his sword in her direction, red eyes calm.

"Much as I admire cleverness, underhanded techniques will not be to your benefit against me. Now I would suggest all of you leave if you wish to keep your lives of freedom. Or your lives at all."

His eyes glanced back to the others, to the one he believed seemed to be a leader of sorts.

"What shall it be, my friend? Your lives and freedom? Or death and imprisonment for those who live? I may be but one man but you do not know the power you face."

With that, he lifted his hand, revealing he was a Rifter. Many Rifters would hide their status from the world but he refused to be one of them.

Well, Prompto had to give the guy props. He had guts, and he had the muscle and confidence to back it.

The leader grunted in frustration. This was supposed to be an easy mark, but now it's turned into an ordeal. A deadly one, by the looks of it. And a Rifter to boot; even he knows not to fuck with 'em, if he's heard the stories right. He lets out a "tch" and signals to the others to retreat. "Blighted Rifters," he mutters as he and his comrades break into a run. Live today, prey on a different hapless bystander tomorrow.

Prompto lets out a "whoosh" of breath in relief. "Thanks. I owe you one."

When they were all gone, he sheathed his sword again and turned to the young man he'd saved. He blinked then laughed, waving his hand as if this was no big deal. Then again, it really wasn't to him. Just another day in the life.

"No need, no need. I am just pleased you are alright now. Come, I will walk with you back to better parts. Where is it you were trying to go, my friend?"

Might as well start there anyway.

"I was heading back to the Gallows to turn in for the night." Gods, he got saved by this guy and he doesn't even have a fun reason for being out to give him. Laaaaaaaame. "Stayed out too late. Ugh, usually I don't stay when it's dark. That's what I get for pushing it, I guess."

"Mm. And this city is confusing enough in the day already. It must have been even easier to become lost during the night." He wasn't judging though, really just stating what the facts of the situation were. His new friend got lost because that was the disadvantage of a confusing layout for a city.

His mabari (small still because he was still growing being a puppy and all) moved closer to Prompto to nudge his leg, looking up with what looked like a silly grin. Iskandar laughed softly. "He's asking for attention. He is fond of people."

"This place is a maze!" He's glad it's not just him, then. Prompto's learned the main paths, mostly, and where to get to his usual spots, but he went a different way, and with him having stayed out too late, well... "Whoever designed this city way back when should have gone into a different career. Or something. Anything but city design because wow."

Luckily, before he could wax more on about poor urban planning, he feels that nudge against his leg. Prompto beams and kneels down next to the pupper, reaching over to scratch behind his ears. "And I am always happy to oblige. Is he a mabari?"

"Given the history of this place, I imagine it was intentionally designed to be difficult to navigate so it would be harder to leave." He looked up at the walls around them, stroking his beard slowly. It was a dark thought but he couldn't imagine why it would be inaccurate all things considered. One of the best ways to trap a slave was to make it hard for them to find their way to safety.

Shaking his head, he focused now on his mabari and the boy paying attention to him. "He is! This is Achilles Alexander. He is still a pup but he is growing quickly."

The dog gave a bark and sat there so he could enjoy the attention he was being given, melting into it almost instantly.

"Er, but what does..." His words trail off as Prompto thinks it over. He already heard about the history of this place with slavery. If the design of this place was deliberate, then it's not a huge leap to conclude why that is. His expression darkens a bit at the thought. "Oh. Slave owning jerks. I get it." The bastards.

Luckily, there is a puppy on hand to alleviate such awful thoughts. Prompto can't help but smile as he gives him all the attention and pats he could ask for. "They sure are smart dogs. And pretty cute to boot. How old is he?"

"A few months now. I have a cat and a horse as well. If you have time we could stop and see them. They would enjoy the company."

If not then he could always offer to have him meet them some other time. Iskandar hardly minded making time in his day to introduce his companions to people. Even if those companions happened to have fur on them. They were still loved no matter what, after all.

"He's gonna get huuuuuge. But still pretty cute." All dogs are cute, okay. Prompto perks up a bit at the offer. Honestly, after having been chased down tonight, he could see some endorphin-releasing meet-the-pets time. "You wouldn't mind?" He's still not sure what to make of horses, honestly, but cats? Cats are always good.

"Of course not. Come. Hephaestion Alexander should be with Bucephalus. That is his favorite place to be when he's not with the boy and I." He waved his hand and changed directions to head towards the stables. It was where his horse and cat were likely to be at this time. Well, the horse for sure and the cat very likely.

Prompto follows along as bid, though as he walks, he can't help but ask, "Those names are, uh, mouthfuls. Are they named after someone?"

"Bucephalus was named so for his size. You shall he is very large for a horse. Hephaestion Alexander was named for my dearest friend in life and myself. Achilles Alexander was named for my favorite hero and myself," Iskandar explained to the boy.

Prompto keeps nodding along. Okay, so a friend and a hero. He can understand that. It'd be like naming a pet of his after Noctis. ...actually that seems a little weird now that he's thinking about it, but hey, to each their own. "What about Bucephalus though? Is that someone you know who's very large?" Which, in comparison to this guys is... kind of scary.

"Ah no. Bucephalus means ox-head in my native tongue. He was named so because he is massive!" Considering the size of the man in question that meant the horse had to be enormous. Iskandar grinned with pride at the boy. "Not to say that there aren't people bigger than me in my own world, why there are those bigger than me in this on! More than it seemed suitable that he be named so. He certainly lives up to his name!"

You know, back before Prompto left Insomnia, this would sound like the most intimidating creature ever. Thanks to run in with daemons and a Zu or two, it no longer is, but it's still impressive, given what he's seen of the species. "There are people bigger than you? Ah, no offense, but... holy crap."

"There are! I once fought another King who was nearly twice my height!" That wasn't an exaggeration either. He really meant that the King of Persia had been twice his height, standing at what must have been eleven feet tall.

He's kidding, right? He has to be kidding. People reaching seven foot tall are almost unheard of, let alone... what would that make this guy, twelve feet or something? "How does... someone grow that tall? Like, his poor spine. And his mother for having to cook for someone who'd need to be eating constantly!"

"Well he was a King. I imagine it wasn't that hard to have serving people always preparing him food." As for what made him that tall, well it could be any number of things really. Though he somehow doubted that sometimes people were just huge was the right answer here. The fact that the boy was so amazed though was rather cute!

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Can't stay in one place 📷

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