[A quiet spin of his cane, pleased that his memory has not been altered by whatever changes he’s been imbued with in this world. Some things, perhaps, are ingrained deep into one’s core — poetry, an old companion of his since childhood, would certainly qualify.]
Good to know that my usual walk will always be the scenic route.
[A sound of amusement.]
Yes, let’s. The clothes that I was… given recently are rather lacking. [Though beggar’s shouldn’t be choosers. Better than the scrubs any day of the week.] Not much in the way of fashion.
[in they go, then, prompto animatedly showing his resignation by moving his arms about and shrugging—racks of clothing around them denoting different price points and sale discounts on colorful, animated screens.]
Yeah, they're not the best. They're donations so people always just give whatever they think is lame anyway.
[clearly, they're heading for where the colors run darker and prompto's just going to stand on the side making idle commentary.]
Just have a look, I guess? Couple of shirts, couple of pants, whatever.
[engages in an online game so he's not hovering over v's choosing stuff too much. he'll carry stuff if the other gets a little too purchase-friendly.]
[He follows and continues following until brought over to the clothing rack lined with various tops, neatly arranged in a row. Prompto is right to have led him towards the darker colors, as V would’ve meandered this way eventually. He doesn’t have a reply for the other young man, not quite yet, only allowing himself to indulge in why he was brought here — to find suitable clothes.
His tastes as V, as compared to his other self, might run along similar lines at times, but they mostly diverge in regards to a preference towards the color black. A few shirts — plain but comfortable-looking — are easily plucked out among the choices. Some of the bolder colors, dark or not, are skipped over, with the exception of sometimes blue. He doesn’t ever seem to give red hues a second glance.
A cane hooked under an arm allows for easy shopping. Prompto doesn’t have to wait long until V walks towards him, a handful of shirts and a couple of dark pants and jeans draped over an arm.]
[at v's approach and consequent question, prompto grins and raises his hand to make show of a set of leather cuffs—black material twined into designs, dark beads one layer; black with metallic circles, intricate skull badges around the center—all part of his aesthetic.]
I got what I wanted.
[exiting from every distracting application on his implant, he busies himself with looking through v's selection of clothes (an innocent habit of getting his nose in other people's business, if nothing else) and keeping a mental count of them.]
At least you're consistent. [blacks and blues. he gives a pat to the top of the clothes on v's arm] Y'wanna check out shoes real quick or you good?
[He eyes the leather cuffs at first, noting that there seems to be a trend with Prompto's style -- not that V takes any issue with it. In fact, it runs rather close to what he might wear on any given day, but he saves that comment for some other time, even while Prompto noses through his choices.
But for now, it's time to head over to where they keep the shoes sorted. He motions vaguely at his companion to follow.
Fast forward a few minutes, and V is plucking out a certain pair from the rack, holding them up by their black straps.]
[at least he's honest about how he doesn't actually like open-toed shoes. there's something weird about them.]
[hooking a finger over one of the straps, he turns one of the sandals over and checks the price.] Thirty-eight credits... [they're pretty expensive for shoes that don't actually cover the whole foot, but. to each other own. he shrugs and takes his hand back.] You wanna try them on? You could technically wear them and pay for them. They just need the bar code.
[taps at the side of the shoes, where a sticker presses to the faux leather material]
Boots are fine, I suppose. [He drops his hand, then begins to crouch to the ground in order to take Prompto's suggestion to heart; time to try them on.
But not without pushing his cane into the other's hands, so that he can free up his own to get these awesome jandals strapped to his feet.]
Hold this.
[Once they're on, the sticker is easily peeled off, and V moves on his heels a little.]
Comfortable. Isn't that what matters most?
[LOOK AT HIS TOES!!! His Morningstar-given shoes, an old pair of sneakers, sit on the floor next to him.]
[he takes the cane, helps out with the clothes, and takes a few steps back as he watches v simply minding his best interests and putting on the sandals. prompto snorts and just shrugs his shoulders, as if giving up whatever stance he had against the shoes in the first place, and grinning.]
Dude, you're so weird.
[it's the kind of revelation prompto can't help making over and over.]
But, whatever makes you happy, I guess.
[he passes v his cane back, leaning down to pick up the sneakers from the floor by their tied laces. he'll carry your shit--en route to the register, where he dumps the clothes on and motions for v to slap the sticker onto his old shoes (which he'll probably never wear again).] I'll keep an eye out for places with sandals, I guess.
[to the person at the register] Hi! We'll take all of these. [the wristbands he picked out are also on the pile] He's got the shoes on, but here's the bar code for it, thanks.
[pleasantries, pleasantries, prompto leaning into the counter as they get rung up. what are the chances of prompto paying for everything? very high. he'll just say he got distracted and didn't think about it. he's just a very giving kind of person.]
[suddenly, v will get a message on his implant. prompto's conversing with the guy across the counter ringing up the total, but he has mastered the art of texting and talking; it's called multitasking, baby.]
[Bad username or site: prom @ argentum] oh i nearly forgot now that you have your id and all i can send you what gaby sent to us at the safehouse here you go:
[Weird, just because he likes the sandals? There are a myriad of other things that are weirder than that, all of which can be applied to V, but he'll not argue the point. It's not as if Prompto is banning his choice altogether.
And V, who is also less used to multitasking to this degree, is very much distracted when the message crops into his vision. Suddenly, he's met with a very important tidbit of information, completely shattering his focus on whatever was happening at the checkout counter.
As a result, he'll he won't get a chance to argue the fact that he can pay for his own clothes. A shadow passes through his features.]
This is-
[A blink, and then.]
[Bad username or site: vee @ blake] The tone of this message seems sincere. Whoever this may be, they're genuinely grateful.
[Bad username or site: prom @ argentum] there's so much we don't know about the people working behind the scenes it's clear gaby doesn't know who this is either
[as he gets the receipt on his implant for the purchase. he takes the provided bag, and pats v's shoulder to usher him out of the store.]
Let's go, let's go.
[back outside now, and prompto's swinging his arms wide as he makes his way across the other side of the street, keeping mind of v keeping up.]
[And out they go, V only vaguely aware of Prompto ushering him to the exit. He's too busy re-reading the message a second time, his cane finding his way to his hand again only via instinct alone.
He lags behind Prompto at his usual pace.]
In a way. As I understand it, it's only a name given to what you already knew; that there was something existing within your bodies, some change you couldn't account for.
[A hand comes up and gestures at his sternum, where the blue glow often emanates from.]
[prompto stops at v's words, waiting for him, and picks up walking at the other man's pace.]
Yeah. It just really makes it appear that much more relevant now.
[he frowns at rubs at his nose, tracing his way through an online map to the nearest store to get some food and snacks.]
...nothing actually shows up on x-rays. There's nothing inside us in the physical sense, I mean. It really pushes the question of what it is we're ever 'carrying' though.
[His hand grips the hilt of his cane a little tighter.]
That only means it's something that x-rays can't pick up. That isn't as wide of a scope as you might believe.
[At least where certain magic or energies are concerned. When they're talking about the warping of time and space to even bring them to this world, they need to start thinking bigger.
[prompto knows nothing about x-rays, to be fair. at the question, though, he hugs the bag close to his chest and keeps on walking backwards, keeping a distance from v and squinting his eyes a little.]
You can pay for the food! It's no big deal anyway.
I don't want to be in your debt more than I already am. [He doesn't want to be someone just siphoning help away from Prompto, both in altruism and in money.] There's a reason I was given a stipend.
[at least prompto stops halfway through turning around and deciding to ignore v's pleas and seems to give it some thought. he turns back to the other, stopping all movement, and shrugging before accepting.]
Fine.
[he can understand not wanting people to spend money on himself, to the point where he felt somewhat of a burden and an opportunist (he's just pretty dang excited to have a roommate he seems to get along with just fine).]
[almost as soon as prompto assents, a screen will pop up on v's implant; it includes the recipient of the trade and the total.]
All you gotta do is press accept and you'll be several credits lighter. It wasn't much though, don't you think? Thrift stores are the best.
[V has seen many strange things, even if some of them only exist in the memories he carries. Even so, the suddenness of a screen brought up by the implant is jarring — it’ll take a little longer to get used to the way it hovers in his mind’s eye, the light and flickering words waiting for input on his own side. He halts his walk, tilts his chin up to view it like one considering how to approach a problem.
Then, following Prompto’s command, he sends him the credits. At least V is begrudgingly adaptable.]
Perfect for a man on a budget. Like myself.
[He’s glad enough that his future roommate conceded.]
For now, anyway. Hopefully you'll get a job soon enough and you won't have to worry about your financials too much.
[but prompto gets the impression that v isn't someone who would be obsessed with spending a lot of money on himself, or others for the matter. almost like he could get by with the minimum. prompto grins momentarily at that, before swinging the bag with clothes around and keeping up with their adventure in going to the store to get some food and later to the apartment.]
[it's a pretty quick trip. prompto gets two small--the size of his palms, really--strawberry pies (pricey, but it's his birthday and he feels like he can treat himself to something a little fancy). they get a few more things, prompto mostly deciding on what to get to prepare food later. they split the costs without the need of v to request for a fairer arrangement. except for the pies, that's prompto's alone.]
[it doesn't take them long to arrive at the apartment building, cross the lobby, and board the elevator to their floor. prompto's going on and on with explanations on the city and how things work, broaching the subject of his job a little, explaining their time in new tokyo, the like. just a bit of a condensed version of all that's happened--until they reach the apartment.]
Anyway, home sweet home. [it's a quiet fanfare, not really that enthused, as prompto uses the implant to unlock the door and it reveals the inside. it's a small place, considerably, but it's spacious enough that two people can live in it quite comfortably.] It's pretty new so I haven't really had a chance to organize a lot. The rooms are down the hall. [he's walking, still holding the bags, opens up a door] This is the bathroom. Anyway, I'll get you a copy of the scan code to unlock the door before the end of the day. You got any room preferences? Oh, until you can get a job we can just split up the food money and like, toilet paper or whatever, if that's what you'd prefer?
[he's doing the thing where he asks/says too much of different things.]
[He appreciates the condensed version of what's happened recently, remaining mostly quiet until they reach the apartment, food and strawberry pies in tow. Once they're in the room, Prompto once again assaults him with all manner of questions, as if he's supposed to tend to them all in a single reply.
V really is starting to wonder if he realizes how conversations are supposed to work.
JUST ANSWERING ONE THING, THEN-]
I'd like the room furthest from the entrance. [Avoiding the noise of foot traffic when/if Prompto invites some of his friends over. He has a feeling that might be a thing that happens.]
[with v's usual ability to stop prompto from talking to himself endlessly by answering his every question, prompto comes to a halt and registers the situation at hand as the one to give priority to.]
[he heads on over to the door at the end of the hallway and presses the button open; it's mostly walls, with a very small window.]
This one, then.
[handing the bag with clothes over to v, prompto smiles and nods. there's already a bed in it, a table and chair. the bare minimum, really.]
You can add more furniture to it later. Pretty alright in size, right?
[Is the concession he gives when he enters the room, which means that V is fine with it. The sparseness doesn't bother him. In fact, it's likely very little will change between now and however long he must stay in this world. There's a beauty in the simplicity.]
It even has a window. You spoil me.
[He knows which corner he's going to utilizing the most, when he reads.]
I won't need much. [Grabbing the bag of clothes, he moves over to the bed, setting it down for now.] It's fine the way it is.
[this seems to be going well. prompto nods, smiling.]
Well, let me know if you do! For now it's fine, I get it.
[there may come a time when v feels like he needs a shelf or a drawer compartment or maybe just a plant or two. curtains, even! but people get to adjust first and then everything else will come.]
So.
[it's still his birthday--but prompto's feeling pretty content with the fact that the apartment is not empty. it might be quiet, but there'll be that reassuring feeling that there's someone else around.]
I'm just gonna unpack stuff [pointing behind himself, over his shoulder] and like order something to eat later or whatever. [embarrassingly earnest] Anyway, roomie. Welcome!
[He lets a breath out, but it's coupled with a faint grin.]
Well. Thank you for having me.
[Prompto's about to make his departure, and though V is a little tired from their trek through the city, he does appreciate the effort gone to making him feel slightly more oriented. And so-]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gay crisis #18231283
Good to know that my usual walk will always be the scenic route.
[A sound of amusement.]
Yes, let’s. The clothes that I was… given recently are rather lacking. [Though beggar’s shouldn’t be choosers. Better than the scrubs any day of the week.] Not much in the way of fashion.
no subject
Yeah, they're not the best. They're donations so people always just give whatever they think is lame anyway.
[clearly, they're heading for where the colors run darker and prompto's just going to stand on the side making idle commentary.]
Just have a look, I guess? Couple of shirts, couple of pants, whatever.
[engages in an online game so he's not hovering over v's choosing stuff too much. he'll carry stuff if the other gets a little too purchase-friendly.]
no subject
His tastes as V, as compared to his other self, might run along similar lines at times, but they mostly diverge in regards to a preference towards the color black. A few shirts — plain but comfortable-looking — are easily plucked out among the choices. Some of the bolder colors, dark or not, are skipped over, with the exception of sometimes blue. He doesn’t ever seem to give red hues a second glance.
A cane hooked under an arm allows for easy shopping. Prompto doesn’t have to wait long until V walks towards him, a handful of shirts and a couple of dark pants and jeans draped over an arm.]
This should do for now. Nothing for yourself?
no subject
I got what I wanted.
[exiting from every distracting application on his implant, he busies himself with looking through v's selection of clothes (an innocent habit of getting his nose in other people's business, if nothing else) and keeping a mental count of them.]
At least you're consistent. [blacks and blues. he gives a pat to the top of the clothes on v's arm] Y'wanna check out shoes real quick or you good?
no subject
[He eyes the leather cuffs at first, noting that there seems to be a trend with Prompto's style -- not that V takes any issue with it. In fact, it runs rather close to what he might wear on any given day, but he saves that comment for some other time, even while Prompto noses through his choices.
But for now, it's time to head over to where they keep the shoes sorted. He motions vaguely at his companion to follow.
Fast forward a few minutes, and V is plucking out a certain pair from the rack, holding them up by their black straps.]
I like these.
[He likes these.]
#1 public enemy thread
You like those.
[intoned kind of like a question, very much displaying his disbelief and most likely disappointment?? it seems he got the wrong impression about v.]
[so prompto just kind of ... stares]
I guess they're... comfortable?
[he isn't thrilled]
you love him and his shoes
You don't appear to approve. Not a fan of open-toed shoes?
talk to my lawyer
Not really. Boots and sneakers are more my style.
[at least he's honest about how he doesn't actually like open-toed shoes. there's something weird about them.]
[hooking a finger over one of the straps, he turns one of the sandals over and checks the price.] Thirty-eight credits... [they're pretty expensive for shoes that don't actually cover the whole foot, but. to each other own. he shrugs and takes his hand back.] You wanna try them on? You could technically wear them and pay for them. They just need the bar code.
[taps at the side of the shoes, where a sticker presses to the faux leather material]
no subject
But not without pushing his cane into the other's hands, so that he can free up his own to get these awesome jandals strapped to his feet.]
Hold this.
[Once they're on, the sticker is easily peeled off, and V moves on his heels a little.]
Comfortable. Isn't that what matters most?
[LOOK AT HIS TOES!!! His Morningstar-given shoes, an old pair of sneakers, sit on the floor next to him.]
no subject
Dude, you're so weird.
[it's the kind of revelation prompto can't help making over and over.]
But, whatever makes you happy, I guess.
[he passes v his cane back, leaning down to pick up the sneakers from the floor by their tied laces. he'll carry your shit--en route to the register, where he dumps the clothes on and motions for v to slap the sticker onto his old shoes (which he'll probably never wear again).] I'll keep an eye out for places with sandals, I guess.
[to the person at the register] Hi! We'll take all of these. [the wristbands he picked out are also on the pile] He's got the shoes on, but here's the bar code for it, thanks.
[pleasantries, pleasantries, prompto leaning into the counter as they get rung up. what are the chances of prompto paying for everything? very high. he'll just say he got distracted and didn't think about it. he's just a very giving kind of person.]
[suddenly, v will get a message on his implant. prompto's conversing with the guy across the counter ringing up the total, but he has mastered the art of texting and talking; it's called multitasking, baby.]
[Bad username or site: prom @ argentum]
oh i nearly forgot
now that you have your id and all i can send you what gaby sent to us at the safehouse
here you go:
[and there it be, the copy paste of the text.]
no subject
And V, who is also less used to multitasking to this degree, is very much distracted when the message crops into his vision. Suddenly, he's met with a very important tidbit of information, completely shattering his focus on whatever was happening at the checkout counter.
As a result, he'll he won't get a chance to argue the fact that he can pay for his own clothes. A shadow passes through his features.]
This is-
[A blink, and then.]
[Bad username or site: vee @ blake]
The tone of this message seems sincere. Whoever this may be, they're genuinely grateful.
It's no wonder Gaby seemed so perturbed.
[Odd. A little disconcerting.]
no subject
[Bad username or site: prom @ argentum]
there's so much we don't know about the people working behind the scenes
it's clear gaby doesn't know who this is either
[as he gets the receipt on his implant for the purchase. he takes the provided bag, and pats v's shoulder to usher him out of the store.]
Let's go, let's go.
[back outside now, and prompto's swinging his arms wide as he makes his way across the other side of the street, keeping mind of v keeping up.]
"Carriers" is pretty disconcerting though, right?
no subject
He lags behind Prompto at his usual pace.]
In a way. As I understand it, it's only a name given to what you already knew; that there was something existing within your bodies, some change you couldn't account for.
[A hand comes up and gestures at his sternum, where the blue glow often emanates from.]
Isn't that right?
no subject
Yeah. It just really makes it appear that much more relevant now.
[he frowns at rubs at his nose, tracing his way through an online map to the nearest store to get some food and snacks.]
...nothing actually shows up on x-rays. There's nothing inside us in the physical sense, I mean. It really pushes the question of what it is we're ever 'carrying' though.
no subject
That only means it's something that x-rays can't pick up. That isn't as wide of a scope as you might believe.
[At least where certain magic or energies are concerned. When they're talking about the warping of time and space to even bring them to this world, they need to start thinking bigger.
And then, belatedly-]
...Did you pay for my things? I have money.
no subject
You can pay for the food! It's no big deal anyway.
What kinda food do you eat?
[diversions]
no subject
Anything that keeps this body functioning.
[AKA it doesn't matter]
I don't want to be in your debt more than I already am. [He doesn't want to be someone just siphoning help away from Prompto, both in altruism and in money.] There's a reason I was given a stipend.
no subject
Fine.
[he can understand not wanting people to spend money on himself, to the point where he felt somewhat of a burden and an opportunist (he's just pretty dang excited to have a roommate he seems to get along with just fine).]
[almost as soon as prompto assents, a screen will pop up on v's implant; it includes the recipient of the trade and the total.]
All you gotta do is press accept and you'll be several credits lighter. It wasn't much though, don't you think? Thrift stores are the best.
no subject
Then, following Prompto’s command, he sends him the credits. At least V is begrudgingly adaptable.]
Perfect for a man on a budget. Like myself.
[He’s glad enough that his future roommate conceded.]
no subject
[but prompto gets the impression that v isn't someone who would be obsessed with spending a lot of money on himself, or others for the matter. almost like he could get by with the minimum. prompto grins momentarily at that, before swinging the bag with clothes around and keeping up with their adventure in going to the store to get some food and later to the apartment.]
[it's a pretty quick trip. prompto gets two small--the size of his palms, really--strawberry pies (pricey, but it's his birthday and he feels like he can treat himself to something a little fancy). they get a few more things, prompto mostly deciding on what to get to prepare food later. they split the costs without the need of v to request for a fairer arrangement. except for the pies, that's prompto's alone.]
[it doesn't take them long to arrive at the apartment building, cross the lobby, and board the elevator to their floor. prompto's going on and on with explanations on the city and how things work, broaching the subject of his job a little, explaining their time in new tokyo, the like. just a bit of a condensed version of all that's happened--until they reach the apartment.]
Anyway, home sweet home. [it's a quiet fanfare, not really that enthused, as prompto uses the implant to unlock the door and it reveals the inside. it's a small place, considerably, but it's spacious enough that two people can live in it quite comfortably.] It's pretty new so I haven't really had a chance to organize a lot. The rooms are down the hall. [he's walking, still holding the bags, opens up a door] This is the bathroom. Anyway, I'll get you a copy of the scan code to unlock the door before the end of the day. You got any room preferences? Oh, until you can get a job we can just split up the food money and like, toilet paper or whatever, if that's what you'd prefer?
[he's doing the thing where he asks/says too much of different things.]
no subject
V really is starting to wonder if he realizes how conversations are supposed to work.
JUST ANSWERING ONE THING, THEN-]
I'd like the room furthest from the entrance. [Avoiding the noise of foot traffic when/if Prompto invites some of his friends over. He has a feeling that might be a thing that happens.]
no subject
[he heads on over to the door at the end of the hallway and presses the button open; it's mostly walls, with a very small window.]
This one, then.
[handing the bag with clothes over to v, prompto smiles and nods. there's already a bed in it, a table and chair. the bare minimum, really.]
You can add more furniture to it later. Pretty alright in size, right?
no subject
[Is the concession he gives when he enters the room, which means that V is fine with it. The sparseness doesn't bother him. In fact, it's likely very little will change between now and however long he must stay in this world. There's a beauty in the simplicity.]
It even has a window. You spoil me.
[He knows which corner he's going to utilizing the most, when he reads.]
I won't need much. [Grabbing the bag of clothes, he moves over to the bed, setting it down for now.] It's fine the way it is.
no subject
Well, let me know if you do! For now it's fine, I get it.
[there may come a time when v feels like he needs a shelf or a drawer compartment or maybe just a plant or two. curtains, even! but people get to adjust first and then everything else will come.]
So.
[it's still his birthday--but prompto's feeling pretty content with the fact that the apartment is not empty. it might be quiet, but there'll be that reassuring feeling that there's someone else around.]
I'm just gonna unpack stuff [pointing behind himself, over his shoulder] and like order something to eat later or whatever. [embarrassingly earnest] Anyway, roomie. Welcome!
no subject
Well. Thank you for having me.
[Prompto's about to make his departure, and though V is a little tired from their trek through the city, he does appreciate the effort gone to making him feel slightly more oriented. And so-]
I'm here if you need me.
(no subject)