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un: chocobro ( text )

[ it's early the next morning when prompto slips onto the network. he really needs to be more proactive about making friends and doing things to cheer people up. so!! ]

happy new year everybody 🎉
not sure if you celebrated or whatever but hope it was good regardless

anyway!!!

what kinda stuff is everyone looking forward to?
like resolutions and things i guess??
never really thought about it too much before but i dunno
feels kinda weird to want good things when part of me just wants to go home haha

if anyone's looking to hang out or whatever tho i'm around
or i guess if you wanna learn how to shoot or take pics i'm your guy

could find something fun to do and make it a real party 🥳

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ yes, please don't smirk. what if they get in trouble!! ]

Welllll... [ prompto shoves his hands into the pockets of his own hoodie, face scrunching slightly in thought. ] Mostly messin' around and figuring out what works and what doesn't. I got pretty bored when I wasn't running around with my friends.

[ honestly, it's a wonder he didn't explode trying to fit machine pieces together. ]

There's a few things we could try, but we might have to hit up a couple places.

My project's going nowhere. [ Tables? What tables, fuck that. ] Wish my option was to make explosives on my off time. Too many buildings in a city. And cops.

[ Getting the materials wouldn't have been such a big issue, with a five-finger discount. Damn, if only he ever thought about making explosives before. ]

Ah, well... we were technically on the run a lot of the time.

[ war and all that. prompto runs a hand through his hair and then tackles the bigger issue of where to start. as random as it might seem, he heads down the gardening section of the store. ]

Anyway, let's see what we can find. We might have to get a bunch of stuff and see what happens. [ and hopefully not blow themselves up. ]

[ Robby's following. He's got an idea of what they might need, but who the hell cares about an idea next to a guy who knows?

Actually, he's more interested in asking: ] Weren't you on a road trip for your friend's wedding? [ Or...something. ] Thought I remember you living comfy.

[ Granted, it's been a while. Maybe he forgot. ]

[ prompto's already crouched down by some bags of soil, squinting at them when robby asks that question. ]

It started out that way. Um... [ how does he shotgun what had happened. ] The wedding was more of a treaty sort of thing. Like, to keep the peace with everyone? Not that I don't think Noct didn't wanna marry Lady Lunafreya or anything, but yeah. Our country had been at war with this other one for as long as I can remember. [ before he'd even been born, actually. ] Stuff got super messed up. So, it was still a road trip, but also not?

[ he shrugs and then laughs in an attempt to hide the awkwardness of the conversation. ]

That part wasn't so comfy. It's also why we spent a lot of time camping.

Oh. [ Oh.

Well, that sorta sounds like a lot of shit Robby...is guessing he can understand. For as far as Prompto shares, and it's in his voice that Robby understands the awkwardness of the topic, which--fair stuff.

But it's mainly what brings him to lower down, bump his knee to Prompto's. ]

Big responsibility. No pressure. [ It's light-hearted, or meant to be. Though, really, thinking about it further... ] ...You really left a lot behind. Nothing like that was happening back on my world... I mean, I think there were some wars, but nothing back home. [ ... ] Nothing I had to worry about.

[ Out of sight, out of mind. ]

[ nothing quite sobering like remembering that the only home you'd ever known had been destroyed, but he takes it in stride. some of those things are old wounds, giving robby an appreciative little smile as he nudges him back. ]

People shouldn't have to worry about that stuff. [ he brings a hand to his wrist where a band sits, touching it almost absently before turning back to inspect more of the soil. ] I guess it's kinda nice not to stress about enemies droppin' in from the sky or creepy crawlies trying to kill you, but... I worry about what's happening there. You know?

[ he reaches for a small bag and pulls it up into his arms. ]

I'm sure you've got your own things though. Doesn't mean it's less important.

Sure. [ It's an acknowledging tone, he knows it isn't less. Yet- ] But hearing about what other people are going through back in their own worlds, hearing how different things could be...

[ Robby doesn't have the words for it, the feeling it inspires, if it's more than just a feeling in him. ]

I never thought about it. [ Rather: ] I never had a reason to.

[ But what does it mean, that he's thinking about it now? There's no outcome, there's nothing more than that statement--he isn't changing himself over it. What it is, is nothing that Prompto surely has to say or add to; so instead, Robby helps to brush it aside, reaching a hand for another bag to rest it on. ] We need another one?

[ Or is that one good enough? ]

[ it's certainly not the kind of topic that just comes up in casual conversation, and though it's a heavy weight, prompto adjusts to it as he always does and carries on. that robby helps is reassuring on its own, and prompto stands with the bag of fertilizer he's picked up, tucking it under his arm. ]

Nah. Don't wanna use too much and kill ourselves in the process. [ the joke is there along with his smile. ] We can probably get some oil or charcoal here and then... how do you feel about makin' a trip to the grocery store?

[ they could literally make something dangerous with what they've got, but it's no fun if they don't try different things. ]

Sure, what, for sodas? [ He's standing as he's saying that, the grin on his face not entirely serious. But he's also nodding down the aisle on they're on, since- ] There's, uh, large charcoal down here. Barbecue charcoal? Think it's down this aisle.

[ If it turns out to be a good enough charcoal for the plan, Robby doesn't know if there's differences. ]

[ he just rolls his eyes in a good-natured way. ]

Okay, so like. When you make a bomb, there's usually two parts to it. One's a fuel and the other is kinda like an accelerant? I guess that's a really simple explanation 'cuz there's definitely more to it than that. [ prompto moves in the direction robby indicates. ] I'm not really an expert. Guns are more my thing, you know?

[ there's a pause, considering. ]

It's not exactly the same, but have you ever made a molotov cocktail?

I wish, but I know 'em. [ And if he's remembering right: ] Alcohol, cloth, and fire? And, uh, the click of a gun makes the spark that sets off the gunpowder that pushes out the bullet.

[ He can see the similarities that Prompto's making, he thinks, and he figures that saying that much shows where he is on his 'how to make explosives' know-how. He's watched movies, maybe dabbled in random videos. Nothing actually serious because, really: what the hell was he ever going to need them for?

They'll need to reach the end of the aisle, which will start display the barbecue sets and fire wood necessary for those sweet outdoor activities that isn't about dirt and grass. Unless it's fake grass, and pebble bags--and nearby, the aforementioned bagged charcoal. ]

Yep! Like that. We can grab some alcohol and a few other things when we go. I think the most important part is what we put it all in, you know?

[ can't just have something flimsy that'll fall apart right in their hands. he nods at the bag and gestures for robby to pick it up. ]

Grab that? I've gotta get one more thing and then we can head out. [ which is said mostly over his shoulder as he lazily jogs back through the garden section to look for sulfur and a couple other things. it's wild what kind of stuff just exist on shelves, really. but if he can figure out how to make bullet casings, maybe he can make ammo while they're at it with the explosives.

he cradles the items he's picked up and meets up with robby again. ]

Uh, do you think we should put this somewhere and come back for it? [ it's not like they have a car to put it in. ]

[ Robby can absolutely grab that bag, hoisting it over his shoulder to rest it against. Easy enough, and he would have started to walk the way Prompto went to meet him, if he hadn't told him to stay there.

But regardless, the question asked makes Robby pause for a second--then a smile pinching on his lips as his eyebrows raise, before he nods towards their way out. ]

We'll take a trolley. Take it around town. Can grab anything else you want on the way.

[ With their own ass trolley!!! ]

Good idea! No one's really gonna stop us if we take it, huh?

[ even though it still gives him a little anxiety just taking things, he moves on over to one of the carts and dumps all of his things into it. once robby's added his bag to the pile, he pushes it towards the door and back out into the cold.

ugh! the worst part about this time of year. ]

Have you thought about where we should try puttin' this stuff together? I still haven't had a chance to explore everywhere in the city. Don't know where might be good or not so good.

[ Does Prompto want to push? If he's taking control, then Robby will walk beside, seeing as it's not that full to start holding onto the cart to help with steering. ]

Park? [ Well- ] If we wanna put it together inside, anywhere but an apartment block should work...

[ ...hmm. ] We'll find somewhere, [ Robby figures. ] We just need to find a big space--maybe there's a garage somewhere close?

[ To the convenience store, anyway. He huffs, an amused sound. ]

All I've been doing is looking around for stores, but I still have no clue where everything is.

Yeah, I definitely wanna avoid places people actually live.

[ it's going to be dangerous! and he hasn't yet thought to find a good location for a workshop of sorts. mostly for tinkering, but experimenting with explosives seems like an added pastime they could both get into and bond over apparently.

as prompto pushes the cart along, trying to avoid any major bumps, he hums thoughtfully. ]

A garage or warehouse might work? Not that I mind bein' outside for something like this, but my hands might go numb before we make anything good. [ not that it's super cold, but it's cold enough! he hadn't worn gloves or anything, though they might want to find some to wear while they're messing with chemicals. ] Wouldn't want to leave you doing all the work.

[ A huff, amused. ] Sure, yeah, let's look. What else we gotta do 'til the next experiment?

[ Such is their lives. Though that thought does remind him, and he nods towards Prompto's hands. ] You want me to take over so you can check your phone? Maybe someone else came up with a better idea than explosives. Don't know how else people keep from going crazy, here.

[ there's a casual shrug, taking that question in stride. it's not like they have a whole lot going on as it is. so he gets it. ]

Yeah, here. [ he pulls the cart to a stop and immediately checks to see if he's gotten any messages. nothing he can't reply to while they're walking. ] Hmm. [ a little hum, and he blindly begins to follow robby as he scrolls. ] Doesn't seem like a whole lot. Maybe everybody's real good at distracting themselves.

[ he takes a peek at robby. ] What've you been up to lately anyway? Anything fun?

[ Robby takes control, finding whenever he's walking around with carts pretty funny, but he'll keep that to a small smile, one that he hums with a little at Prompto's question. ]

Been trying to learn new things. Building, helping out with this gardening project--not really interested in plants, [ he admits with a bit of a scrunch to his nose, ] but it's different. Like the idea of making a shed or greenhouse for it more than the growing.

And then there's everything else going on. [ You know. Everything else. He looks at Prompto. ] You wake up in that exhibition?

[ Or did he get lucky and avoid it? ]

[ prompto keeps up without falling behind, noting the way robby smiles at such a small thing. it's cute. ]

Oh! I think I know which one you're talking about. Somebody was mentioning it on the post I made. [ he laughs a little. ] Dunno if I'm much of a plants guy either, but... might as well give it a shot, you know?

[ but at the mention of everything else, his smile falls away. right. that. ]

I heard about it. Guess I wasn't what they needed. [ he pauses. ] Did you?

Yup. [ Yuuuuup. ] Most of the rooms were fine. Just one wasn't.

[ Which he isn't sure how much he wants to get into, but he can give the basic details, can't he? Everyone should know, and so Robby's quiet a moment before: ]

They had a whole room about all the ways they killed off the other people before. The different iterations -- most of them looked like they came out of a movie.

[ He swears they were. ]

[ sorry, what???? ]

How they – [ prompto stops, phone gripped tight in his hand. ] What do you mean? Like, there were people here before we showed up? The ones who probably lived in all these places?

[ that just sounds awful and makes him feel... well, weird. sick almost? something. ]

[ Robby stops after Prompto does, looking back--and realising Prompto doesn't know. And that-- that makes sense, right? Though it confuses him briefly, how much this has been consuming him the past month. ]

No... we're not the first one this's happened to, [ he explains. ] We're the fiftieth -- it's been going on for years. Nearly a hundred.

[ his first thought is that robby isn't being honest with him. like, why??? and that's quickly overwritten by the very obvious: no one would make something like that up. right? he doesn't think so, and he trusts robby enough to know he's only telling him to help him. but it just makes him feel...

not good.

so not good that he has to take a second and sit down on a nearby curb despite how cold the ground is. ]

Do you know why?

[ the question is quiet, like he's struggling to put it all together without having a freak out. ]

un: chocobro ( text )

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