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]

...I don't know anymore. I'd rather not think about it.

[it's too much to think about, really. prompto likes his world simple. simple like admiring how pretty ignis is. he finally takes his hand out of ignis's hair and rolls his pants back up.]

I mean, I can't imagine you with Gladio either, but it's just — I thought you'd go for guys... like... you? I dunno. Someone else who likes collared shirts and pinstripes and driving gloves. Like, I got this image of you dating yourself because, seriously, no one else really deserves you.

[blindloyalty]

Very well, I won't bring it up again. It's not important. [he pets prompto's hair again. that seemed to soothe him the first time.]

Oh, stop that. Nothing is more horrid than talking to someone too much like yourself. It's just an exercise in cultivating self loathing.

[he shimmies down into the bed to cozy himself, his eyes locked on prompto's face, his lips softly parted.]

You clearly like all those things, too, with your opinion of me. My self-image... well, it's just that. I care about my own appearance, sure, but there is a decent amount of peacocking that goes into my wardrobe.

[he nudges forward to kiss his forehead again. as an affectionate man, he was finding that being able to do these things with someone was really fun.]

I think you sell yourself short and begrudge your individuality. I like you the way you are.

[inlay]

[prompto most definitely enjoys having his hair petted — a dreamy smile plays about his lips as ignis's fingers card through his blond hair. it's a bit more dry now than it was a few moments ago. he smiles broadly at the forehead kiss, too, leaning forward to press a chaste return kiss to ignis's lips.]

I mean, I do like those things, yeah. But I guess I meant more like... you'd want someone who's got their life together.

[though the more he thinks about it, the less he can actually see ignis going out to have a morning cup of coffee with this theoretical pinstripe-loving boyfriend. ignis... enjoys a bit of chaos and unpredictability in his life, doesn't he? if he didn't, he wouldn't put up with all of this.

maybe he likes having things messed up so that he can have the pleasure of putting it all back together again.]

[blindloyalty]

Oh, but I'd be so bored. And the last thing anyone around here needs is two of me nagging.

[he said it with a playful air. it could be nice to have a spare of himself, but he thought grimly on his first sort-of boyfriend who had so many snotty little opinions. He knew that he himself had snotty little opinions too, but everyone dealt with him.]

I think that you would find the first man I kissed to be much like me. He had his life together, aside from being an academic fraud. He wore nice suits, he had nice hair. He also thought canned coffee was low class.

I don't need men like that around me.

[inlay]

Canned coffee's a dealbreaker, huh?

[prompto can't help but smile broadly at that little story. that certainly does help illustrate why ignis had ever thought kissing his ta would be a good idea — but it also helps prompto understand why ignis might not want to date a man more like himself.

he feels strangely comfortable now.

he rolls closer to ignis, snuggling into his shirt.]

It's okay. I like canned coffee. Sorry to say, I also like Cup Noodles — but I like your cooking best of all.

[blindloyalty]

Oh, canned coffee is just the tip of the smarmy iceberg. I'll regale you with all the stories at a later time— when my blood pressure's settled.

[he chuckles softly, peering down his nose at prompto. he could feel just about every one of his bones, but he also had pretty soft skin. it evened out.]

See, and you asked why I wouldn't go for someone like Gladio. I like Cup Noodles well enough, too, just... He would eat those damn Cup Noodles for every meal if we let him.

[he wiggles his ankle between prompto's as he presses his head into his pecs.]

I appreciate that, Prompto.

[inlay]

[sorry he's so bony, ignis... maybe he won't notice if you fatten him up on your good cooking.

prompto smiles at the way ignis looks, curled up against his chest; he reaches out and strokes ignis's hair the same way ignis was stroking his hair moments earlier. he has the strange urge to squeeze him.]

I... I might be kind of clingy, you know. You okay with that?

[blindloyalty]

More than okay. But we'll have to come clean sooner than not if you are.

[he leans in to the touch and closes his eyes. he could really get used to something like this. all this comfort and physical contact was so soothing. he hadn't realized how badly he even needed it before now.]

So... where would you like to go on a date? Our options are somewhat limited, but we could go somewhere on chocobo... or back into Lestallum for a night on the town. I believe we have unfinished business there regardless.

[inlay]

[the way ignis's ears stick out is... weirdly tempting. why had prompto never noticed it before? he rubs the tip of one between his fingers, working down the shell of his ear toward the earlobe.]

Huh? What do you mean, unfinished business?

[blindloyalty]

Noctis was talking to a few different people and promising a few different things. It wouldn't take too much prompting to remind him to finish what he started before his fishing escapades.

[he glances at his arm, his mouth twitching into a small smile.]

What are you doing?

[inlay]

Oh, that business. I thought you meant, uh... us business.

[oops, he used us. he's already getting clingy. that said, he stifles a laugh — a giggle really — and happily continues rubbing ignis's ears.]

You don't like this?

[blindloyalty]

Well. I suppose we do have unfinished business, but that will regretfully have to wait for another day.

[he reaches back, hand running down prompto's body to give his ass a slow experimental squeeze.]

I don't dislike it. Just something new. [he catches his hand, pressing kisses into the meat of his palm.]

You didn't answer my question. Is it too much for you right now?

[inlay]

Huh? Is what too much...?

[if ignis listens closely, prompto is half-humming under his breath. it's certainly not at a volume loud enough that noct or gladio might hear — though his humming does come to an abrupt end when he feels that booty squeeze. ordinarily prompto might yelp if ignis tried something like that, but as it is, he just smiles. he seems a bit sleepy.]

I just wanna rub your ears. And your shoulders... and the rest of you.

[blindloyalty]

Our date. Unless you're happy enough without one.

[he can hear the humming. its one part cute one part irritating. but he can't really sum up the ability to be annoyed when he came between his thighs so recently. he smiles, looking at prompto with heavy-lidded eyes. ignis definitely looked more on the tired side of things by now.]

Feel free, then. I won't stop you.[he says as he pets down his thigh as far as he can reach.]

[inlay]

Oh, yeah... our date... sorry.

[this is already a mistake, ignis. dating prompto was a mistake.]

Can't think when you're being all frisky.

[one of prompto's hands slides down to ignis's ass as well, giving it a gentle squeeze. it's barely more than a touch; even when he's sleepy, prompto isn't gonna give ignis's ass a nice hard squeeze unless he knows the man prefers it that way.]

...We can go to Lestallum, 'cause you can get good coffee there. 'N' you're always sooooo cute when you get coffee.

[blindloyalty]

I'm just getting the lay of the land is all. [he smiles as prompto mirrors him] Oh, now how am I to think?

You remembered that I liked their coffee... I'm glad you think that's "cute". But you're much, much cuter than I am.

[he tucks his head over prompto's head and a hand into his underwear band as he starts to doze]

[inlay]

Nooo... [prompto mumbles, half-slurred.] You're the cutes'...

[that's about all that prompto says before he drifts straight off to sleep, still with his hand on ignis's booty. hey, a guy's gotta stake his claim.]

[blindloyalty]

[he manages a chuckle before he, too, drifts off. ]

[In the morning, he is the first to wake- thankfully. He showers off again, gets dressed and steps out for coffee and just thinks. There might be a couple paltry errands, but they were being called across the sea. As he understood it, there would at least be a few days to orient themselves before any action. Altissa made a much better date spot by far.

The days passed with only the usual amount of incident. Ignis found himself rushing to Prompto's aid quicker, placing himself to intercept monsters, and tending to his scrapes with more sympathy.

The evenings were cool, crisp, perfect to huddle in the tent. He played cards happily, but wished he could sidle up against Prompto without looking like he was trying to cheat. No one seemed to notice when Prompto started facing Ignis to sleep, except Ignis, of course. Ignis was the first to lay down most nights. He would pull the sleeping bag up over his head to cut the light from the fire to settle down. He loved when Prompto would settle after, lining their bags up so that he could give him secret kisses in the dark.

Ignis wanted more of what they had before, but he was also a terribly patient man. As often as they camped, he made an effort to cook something he knew Prompto liked. By the third night, Noctis complained. He'd have to be a little careful with his favor, wouldn't he.

Ignis was always cool around the camera when he was driving, but for some reason he could feel his heart beat a little harder knowing Prompto was behind the lens. What was he looking at? What exactly was catching his eye each time. Their chats were lively as always, but a noticeable extension of Ignis' tolerance was on full display. He glanced over, reached out with his hand, and just pinched Prompto's cheek.

Once they were almost into Altissa, Ignis could barely contain the smile he beamed at Prompto. They got through the gates easily enough with Ignis' straight faced lie about all of them being culinarians. Preposterous. Once in, Noctis plodded directly towards the hotel, telling them to just call when they wanted to be let in. Ignis looked to Gladio, whose attention was glued to the chalk board happy hour details. They parted ways gracefully enough.]

[inlay]

[it's a miracle that noctis and gladio don't notice. for all of prompto's "well we shouldn't call each other boyfriends yet" crap, he doesn't make much of an effort to hide his attraction to ignis from their traveling companions.

prompto used to stay up all night, but eventually, he becomes the second to go to bed so that he can beside lie ignis even if there's more room in the tent. he praises ignis's cooking even more enthusiastically than before, clearing his plate even when the food isn't his favorite; he complains less about possibly getting fat. he takes way too many photos of ignis, even some abstract ones that venture into the territory of eroticism: he likes to photograph ignis's lips, his eyes, the sturdy musculature of his arms visible between his sleeves and his gloves. one time, he even wakes up early enough that he snaps a picture of ignis as he's getting dressed, buttoning his shirt while the early morning sunlight gleams off his abs.

he adores their moments of stolen affection.

once they're in altissia, noct takes up hotel room duty and gladio seems like he's about to grab himself more than just a few beers — so prompto slides over to ignis, smiling a bit more shyly than he would be if the others were around.]

So... uh... is it date night?

[blindloyalty]

It feels like we've been waiting a century... Let's have a coffee. I'll try not to get us lost.

[he's all warm grins and open body language as he heads towards a gondola, reaching to place a hand at prompto's lower back to lead him.]

I've looked at a few maps, but I can see not that they hardly give you a real feel for it...

[inlay]

Well, you know me. I don't mind getting lost. Actually, I think it's kind of fun.

[prompto hesitates a moment, and then snakes a hand around ignis's hips, too, so that they're sort of walking with their arms around each other.]

...I know this is our time, but I bet it'd be really nice to ride the gondolas with Noct and Gladio sometime, huh?

[blindloyalty]

Well, then we may as well get lost! My father used to say that there was no better way to learn a city.

[he smiles down at prompto, enjoying the little bit of awkwardness that came with matching your gait to someone with shorter legs and a lower pelvis. It was endearing. A few likely gay men smile and turn their heads to watch the couple from patio seating.]

I'm sure we will need to ride them with Noct and Gladio for our objectives... May as well get acquainted. They look terribly romantic, don't they?

[inlay]

Yeah, it'd be cool. Go for a still cruise down the water, take some nice shots...

...Though, knowing me, I'd just get upended and fall into the water. [some soft, self-deprecatory laughter, and then prompto slides even closer to ignis.]

Mmmm. You smell nice. I mean, as usual.

[blindloyalty]

I'll hold onto your belt, then. [he playfully demonstrates, pushing his jacket aside from his hip to take a hold and tugging gently upward. ] I would be remiss were you to restrain yourself here. I consider the city of my birth to be breathtakingly beautiful, but I would be lying if I said that it outshone Altissa's splendor.

[he tried to give himself a sniff as subtly as possible. he was on a date here.....]

I bathed, but it was with more haste than I care for due to the high occupancy of that house... That may just be how I smell.

[inlay]

Yeah, it's just... I dunno. Your scent? It's nice, it's like... underneath the soap and stuff.

[he's not terribly adept at describing smells — or describing much of anything, really — but at least prompto seems happy. actually, with ignis holding on to his belt like this, he feels kind of like a dog. arf, arf.]

Ooh, I bet there's a really good smoothie shop somewhere here. Places like this always have smoothie shops.