024 » hey mister dj keep playin' this song for me

[inlay]

[shopping in lestallum is always a hectic affair, so it doesn't surprise prompto when noctis says he's going to stay in their hotel room and take a nap. it also doesn't surprise prompto when gladiolus says he'll stay behind with noct: the prince's shield can't ever be too far from the prince, and all.

that leaves prompto to help ignis shop for supplies (potions, groceries, the usual) — which is a good thing, because prompto likes shopping. he's agreeable enough in personality that he doesn't question ignis's purchases, and he takes the heavier things without even being asked, out of consideration to ignis. which doesn't make sense, really, because ignis could probably outlift prompto any day, but prompto figures that the brunette does enough for all of them as it is — so helping him take stuff back to the hotel is the least he can do.

by the time they manage to escape the hustle and bustle of the market, their wallet is lighter and their bags are heavier — but prompto's cheery demeanor doesn't waver as he puts what ignis wanted him to carry down on the leville hotel kitchen counter and dusts off his hands like he's accomplished some momentous task.]

So! What were you gonna make with all this anyway, Iggy?

Comments

[inlay]

Not to be too crass, but you don't need a bed — a-and I'm loyal to Cindy!

[he adds that last part hastily, like he only just remembered to tag it on at the end.]

Anyway, no one said you weren't a young man, Ignis. We make fun of Gladio for being old.

[prompto wrinkles his nose in mock disgust at gladio's age, but at twenty-three, gladio's very much a young man, too. he leans over the kitchen island, staring at ignis while bent over at the hip.]

So you're saying dance halls are too loud for you, but the classy places are too stuffy, right? Maybe you need to try, uh... speed dating. Or, like... apps. You know, hot singles in your area. But I guess the time for that has kind of passed.

[blindloyalty]

I'd hope your loyalties laid with Noctis! [He chuckles into his wine glass. He moves a few pots around the burners. He pulls a mixing bowl and and starts wordlessly making a cake.]

I'm not sure speed dating even properly exists for gay men. There's too few of us to fill a roster for something so specific and disheartening as speed dating. I've had a look at the apps, and they're much too embarrassing to regard for more than seconds at a time... But, yes, the time has well passed now. We haven't more than a moments respite at a time. It's just enough to become a bit bored and little else.

[inlay]

Noct's... taken.

[that's all that prompto says for a moment before something that he just heard sinks in, and he looks up over the rim of his wine with half his expression comically distorted by the glass.]

...waaaaaait a... sec. I — what? Iggy, you're...?

[prompto doesn't finish his question, mostly because his voice rises to too high a pitch for him to say gay without his voice breaking.]

[blindloyalty]

Homosexual. [his voice is as flat as chests of the sex he's after.] Yes. It's not as if this was ever a secret, but I suppose it's old enough news that it isn't news.

[he sips his wine down, nearly emptying his glass.]

Besides that, I meant your loyalty as a subject, not a romantic partner... [You fucking walnut]

[inlay]

Oh.

[there's a pause, and then prompto winces hard enough that his eyes actually close.]

Ohhhhh... cheese fries.

[that is, apparently, prompto's idea of a comical swear word, as he leans forward and sort of wipes his face with his hands.]

Shit. Am I the only one who didn't know about this?

[blindloyalty]

[He has to laugh. He has to.]

Well, as much as it isn't a secret, I don't particularly broadcast it. It's alright, Prompto. I'm more amused to think that you could imagine me with a woman.

[Maybe it wasn't even that. But it was funnier to imagine that. As a matter of courtesy and to shift the mood he pours more wine into Prompto's glass]

I knew my whole life, really. But I had only addressed it at an age where I thought Noctis could handle it.

[inlay]

I-I don't know! You're just — I'd always think, "Why doesn't Iggy have a girlfriend?" I mean... girls should be all over you, you know? You're just — you're absolutely the perfect guy. You're tall and cool and you cook and you're responsible and stylish and — you smell nice, Iggy. You smell nice. I mean, I would date you. For real. I could not...

[prompto has to set his head on the counter for a moment. like, arms folded, face down on the counter. like it's preschool and the teacher's preparing a surprise.

he's not gonna be okay.]

This makes a lot of sense, but it's also... wow. Okay! Whew! I need a moment.

[blindloyalty]

The reason I don't have a girlfriend now should be terribly apparent! [he laughs as he catches the thread of this.]

What an honest admission, Prompto. You would date me? What's more, you think I smell nice.

Take all the time you need. [he fiddles with the pots and pans before refilling his glass. He places a hand on Prompto's shoulder]

It'll be alright, I can promise this.

[inlay]

You smell amazing, Ignis. You ever gotten the tailwind of Gladio's sweat after a long day's hunt? Grody. You, though... you just smell a little more... refined.

[the hand on his shoulder makes him jump. the downside to not wearing sleeves is, uh... bare skin. he feels strangely sensitive in the kitchen air.]

I don't know if I should be mad that I didn't figure it out, or that Noct never told me.

[blindloyalty]

Well, it's hardly any interest of Noctis'. Besides... he knows I used to be sensitive about it, so he does his bit in preserving the dignity of a younger, teenaged me.

Why should you be mad? Does this really matter that much to you?

[He gives a tight, sly grin. His hand shifts as he leans in, fingers moving under the cloth of his vest. He speaks softly into Prompto's ear.] Careful. It sounds as if you're trying to make me consider you with this flattery.

[He stays in pretty close. He can feel this air, too. But it seems like Prompto is the source of it.]

[inlay]

[it's all too telling how prompto freezes up when he realizes that ignis is reaching under his vest. blue eyes widen, his lips part. but, well, this is normal, right? they touch each other all the time. in battle. and stuff. this is normal. this is normal.

he stutters all too belatedly.]

Oh — nonononono! I'm not — that's not — I like girls! [very helpful, prompto.] I was just, sorta — I was wondering what kind of guys you're into? You know, just, curiosity, not...

[in his frantic gesturing, he almost drops his glass of wine; he sets it aside in a desperate bid to keep it safe.]

Nothing else!

[blindloyalty]

[He keeps his hand there because Prompto's reaction is really interesting here. He looks about the room. Still no one in sight. He withdraws his hand and crosses his arms, laughing.]

I can't very well tell you something like that. Next you'll be pointing out every other man in Altissa as if you're giving chase for the police.

I'll never have peace again!

[The more he insists over girls the more suspect it was. He softens he gaze, his natural purse to his lips revealing some teeth. ]

Plenty of men find it difficult to imagine that they could ever be with a man until they've already kissed one. There's hardly any shame in a bit of leading curiosity.

[inlay]

[prompto relaxes marginally when ignis restores his personal space; he can feel his heart rate drop back to something vaguely in the realm of normalcy. as it so happens, though, prompto's alcohol tolerance is not very good at all. he's had only about three-fourths of his glass thus far, but already his entire face is flushed, even his forehead, but especially his nose and ears. he looks rather like he's run a marathon. his mild intoxication doesn't make his protests very convincing... and it's lowering his inhibitions more than he realizes.]

It's not about me, I promise. It's just... guys like guys like Gladio, right?

[blindloyalty]

[ damn it prompto, come on. You don't get to look that cute and flushed and edge in on his privacy so dumb like this. ]

Not necessarily. You're focusing on his muscles over his personality. I suppose some go for it, but... Come now, Prompto, you can't think that every man is just vying to look like and be with him. For instance, I'm not particularly attracted to Gladio and I never want to be as bulky as him. I don't think I would turn someone down for it, but it's not what I look for.

[inlay]

[well, what do you look for?! prompto wants to snap, but he's already asked that question, so he just winds up awkwardly shifting his weight and folding his bare arms over themselves.]

...I couldn't get any bigger than than this even if I tried...

[which is completely off-subject, though true. he did try to bulk up a lot in the years before he approached noct, but he was fifteen then, and the muscle just refused to sit on his frame. it still does, actually.]

...Guess I wouldn't date Gladio, either.

[blindloyalty]

[he's being precious as all get out. What's he supposed to do with this guy ]

That's alright, I think you look good as you are.

[really he never gave prompto a very thorough assessment. Initially he was just Noct's for key friend. But he had grown into himself, hadn't he? That was an interesting little tidbit]

Who would you date then, Noct?

[inlay]

I already said, Noct's taken.

[that comes out a little too bitter, a little too angry, and prompto decides he's getting too worked up. he needs a distraction. suddenly, it seems like a good idea to take another sip of wine to clear his head — so he does, nursing the rest of his glass like it'll bring him comfort.]

...You think I look good, though? Really? I... think I always come out looking kind of awful.

[in photos, is what he means. but he's not thinking clearly enough to clarify that.]

[blindloyalty]

[ No....]

[No way in hell. ]

[actually. very possible.]

Is that's all that's stopping you from considering it?

[He really debates saying this part, but he'd feel worse ignoring his hunch. He says this with warmth and seriousness, trying to look him in the eye.]

Are you certain you don't like men, Prompto?

[inlay]

[prompto tries — he really makes an effort — but he just can't look ignis in the eyes; he squeezes his eyelids shut and rests his warm forehead on ignis's shoulders instead.]

...I don't know. I don't know about — guys or girls or whatever. I like Noct... I like you...

But, when we were in school... all the girls liked Noct. But they didn't like him for him, just that he was — hot and cool and the prince and stuff...

[he's rambling. this doesn't make any sense. he knows it doesn't make any sense. but he... he wants it to make sense. some desperate part of him is hoping that somehow, ignis will understand.]

If I'm the same way, I... I'd be just like them. No... I'd be worse than them. So I, I can't...

[blindloyalty]

[he lets out a breath, placing his hand back on prompto's shoulder.]

You're not like any of them. You know that. It sounds like your self-image is standing in the way of allowing yourself to consider what you really want.

[He usually lets him just kind of have space to play out his dislike of himself, but that clearly wasn't really helping.]

You're a good man, Prompto. You're handsome and kind, and one-of-a-kind. There's no need to measure yourself so ruthlessly against others.

[inlay]

...It's too late for things that I want.

[prompto says this very firmly, as if there's no room for argument.]

Even if I say that I like dudes now, nothing's gonna change. Or I'll just make everything really awkward. It's just better if... if I ignore it.

...Look, you're a stand-up guy, Ignis, but you don't have to worry about my problems. It's okay.

[blindloyalty]

I, too, have thought I wouldn't survive my love of Noct. [... ] Few things improve by ignoring them, especially since you can't know what lays on the other side.

[he pulls prompto's chin up by his index finger and decides that hesitation would destroy his point before he got to make it.

He quickly presses his lips against prompto's, lingering in the kiss for a moment longer ]

You've no right to discard yourself.

[inlay]

[there's.

there's so much going on that prompto doesn't even know where to begin.

on the one hand: ignis kissed him. on the other: did ignis just admit that he also had a thing for noct? and if they both had a thing for noct then why did ignis kiss him? also: ignis kissed him. ignis kissed him. ignis. kissed. him. the room kind of feels like it's spinning, and not because prompto is tipsy. he hasn't had enough wine for the room to spin.

the kitchen air doesn't feel cold anymore. it's just way, way, way too warm.]

Ig...nis...?

[blindloyalty]

Yes, Prompto?

[he was still in close, looking down at prompto through his lashes. He considers doing it again, but he's not trying to actually kill prompto. Even his own pulse was hastened by his moves. There was nothing to be nervous about exactly, but this was certainly a risky move.]

[inlay]

...Why'd you do that?

[he can't take his eyes off ignis. prompto's never been quite this close to him, not even on the rare occasion they've shared a bed together. his eyelashes are incredibly long. his irises are wonderfully blue.

prompto's cheeks are flushed; he still looks a bit like a cornered mouse. absently, he wonders if they've let the water boil for too long.]