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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 🥳

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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. ]

[ He doesn't know if he regrets this. It's difficult; if this was really the best time for this, or if there was never going to be such a time. Robby rubs a hand over his mouth as Prompto goes to sit on that curb, his hands off the cart. Quiet at first, but then he takes a step over. ]

...Not really. [ And he lowers, to take a seat beside him. Knees up, arms draped over them so he can rub his hands together this time. His own voice a note lower. ] We found out last month. But this place is fucked up, and-- they have a lotta control over us. If we can't find a way to change or stop it, it'll keep going. 'Til they're satisfied.

[ He's not looking at Prompto but at his hands, the white cloud of his breath. Remembering the room of photographs, the crazed sounds of conflict mingling with a stereo playing joyful music.

Isn't it more wrong to keep downplaying what can happen to them? What's happened, what will happen, if this goes on? ]

[ there will never be a good time for learning things like this. he sits there absorbing the information and conscious of the weird feeling in the pit of his stomach that sinks lower and lower, legs outstretched and his fingers still gripping tightly to his phone. he should put it away, but he can't really move.

it makes sense, doesn't it? why whoever's behind this would have chosen him to arrive first and be alone for months without seeing anyone from his world. because he's not anyone important. he doesn't matter.

he's just... ]

I figured stuff wasn't right, you know? Just 'cuz of the way things are, but... [ prompto had never imagined this. ] Why's no one talking about it? Or, I dunno, tryin' to find a way to leave? Feels like this shouldn't be happening.

[ maybe people have done those things, and he's just been in denial too long. ]

Shouldn't be, but doing something's easier said than done.

[ That's the problem, the biggest issue--what the fuck do you do? He looks up from his hands and around their environment. The buildings, the asphalt. There's no fog around, but somewhere else there is, and Robby feels it without seeing it. ]

People've been trying to get through the parts of the city that make you turn around since I've been here. No one likes to talk about it on the network 'cause they don't want the people doing this knowing what they're planning so easy--but they'll find out anyway, even if you don't use it. Seems like the case anyway, [ he admits, rubbing his hands again.

Sure as hell didn't stop the rebel party from getting fucked up. ]

I don't know what the hell we can do. 'Cept sit and wait and hope someone comes up with a better idea that isn't throwing shit at the walls.

Yeah...

[ it's a dejected sort of sound, acknowledging everything robby's said. what else can they do? he's felt restless for days, weeks. it's partially why he'd sort of let a whole month go by without really paying attention to anything, and now... was there a point to any of this? ]

I'm sure we'll think of something. Right? I guess as long as everybody tries to talk to each other somehow.

[ and it's then that he finally sets his phone down so he can reach out and take one of robby's hands. he's not thinking about it as he gently tries to rub some warmth into his fingers. his are cold too, but it's a gesture he needs, mostly just a way to center himself and remind himself that he's there with someone else and not alone. ]

[ He would give some kind of agreement painted as reassurance, if not for his lagging mind that sticks particularly to the thought of everyone talking to each other, and then the more distracting part: the hand that takes his. Robby sees if from in his periphery, and he glances at Prompto, his confusion brief; because he understands what's going on, and he eases the expression on his face. ]

Sorry for the shitty news.

[ If only there was better to offer. ]

[ he's always been a touchy-feely sort of person, and maybe that's not exactly usual for some. but prompto doesn't know any other way to be, wishing he could somehow make this entire situation better. it probably goes on a little longer than necessary, though he eventually gives robby's hand a squeeze before letting it go and shoving his hands into his pockets.

just swallow it down. he's used to this. ]

Not your fault. At least I found out the nice way.

[ his smile is slight, trying to lighten the mood. ]

[ He tucks his hands back together when Prompto lets his one go, first where they had been, and then closer to his stomach, as if to protect the effort he put into trying to warm it.

Robby sucks in a breath, then lets it go. ]

Cheesy as it sounds, you're not alone. I can tell you more, but...we're not going anywhere, whether we like it or not. We need ways to distract ourselves.

[ And, given the circumstances-- ] Is making some explosions a good distraction, or do you want something else?

[ He's trying to be positive, to offer it. They can do whatever Prompto wants, if the mood has been ruined. ]

[ he appreciates the attempt. he really does. it's nice to know that there are some things he doesn't have to struggle through on his own, and as much as he doesn't want to burden someone else with his problems, it's comforting to have someone next to him.

even if they're stuck together without much choice. ]

Guess you're right. [ prompto makes an effort to pull himself together, glancing past robby towards their cart. ] Wanna keep shopping and then get something to eat? Maybe we can come up with a loose plan of what to throw together while we do that.

[ he pauses then, looking back at robby. there's a weird sort of anxiety in the pit of his stomach. ] Unless you wanna do something else?

[ If Prompto's getting up at all, Robby will too; but regardless, he feigns dramatics with the thoughtful look and its pouting lower lip for the moment he makes the face. Does he wanna do something else? ]

Nope, sounds good to me. I'll show you where that music shop is later if we have to ditch the fireworks. Dunno if anyone's ever tried making bombs before. I know this place doesn't even have baseball bats.

[ And with how absent weapons are, Robby wonders if there's any particular core ingredients that could be missing. Prompto might know. But then, would anyone have tried to make them before now?

...Probably. That's his guess on the kind of people around here. ]

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