[VIDEO] 📷 UN: quicksilver80

[photoshooter]

--Guys! What the--aw, crap!

[And just like that, the afternoon skies open up. Prompto Argentum, missing for the better part of [x] time, yelps and throws his free arm up over his head as he runs up the beach. Poor guy's getting soaked; he's dressed for his morning run, not a late summer afternoon downpour.]

How did--did we get unstable again? I was running and all of a sudden the light changed, and I felt like--like someone was watching me, but no one's here, and--it wasn't supposed to rain this morning, what the hell!

[The last he yells up at the sky. Then, apparently realizing there's no way he's going to make it all the way back to the station un-sodden, he turns and, lowering his phone from his face, shouts into the rain:]

Hey! Are you there? Come on, this way, y--you're gonna be okay!

Comments

[photoshooter]

I am, too, I guess? I didn't even know I was gone!

[...]

Did--did anyone else come back? While I was missing?

[founderinglight]

He's not here, Prompto. I'm sorry.

[He knows who you're asking about and it is just. Not a thing he's sorry buddy.]

You get out of the rain and I'll bring you lunch down, if you want to talk.

[photoshooter]

Oh. No, that's okay. I mean, I don't have anything, uh, new to talk about. ...I'll take lunch, though!

[The last is the usual Promptonian forced cheer, but then hesitation crosses his face.]

But-- [And he looks around.] I thought there was... someone with me?

[founderinglight]

Not as far as I can see. Don't worry, Ignis and I have been keeping an eye on Sunshine. See you in the caves in ten?

[With, yknow, comfort food. Prompto looks like he could use some comfort food. And a towel.]

[photoshooter]

Yeah. [He still sounds distracted, but then he shakes his head.] Be there quick as a flash. ...Oh, man, Ignis! Poor Iggy, if I've been gone this long without saying anything--aw, crap, I gotta call him. See you soon, Zuzu!

-> Action

[founderinglight]

[Izunia can be heard making an amused sound as the video cuts out, but he's soon coming through the caves with a dim blue orb of light, about the size of a fist, following along behind him. Prompto might notice the faint addition of some kind of cinnamon cologne.]

Got your bearings a bit better, I hope?

[photoshooter]

I wasn't made for all this time travel, dude...

[Bellyaching is The Prompto Way, and the overwrought weariness takes a backseat as he shifts to try to peer around Izunia.]

Do you have Sunny with you?

[founderinglight]

She was asleep, and I couldn't bear to wake her.

[The Founder King has a x4 weakness against sleeping kids and pets.]

But I did bring you a burger and some cake.

[photoshooter]

Cake!

[He lights up, rising slightly on the balls of his feet, then lets out a little breath and tries to play it off.]

Aw, well, I shouldn't, I just ran, but... mmmmm, what kind of cake is it?

[founderinglight]

Coffee and chocolate ice cream cake, vanilla and chocolate ice cream cake, lemon sorbet cake with a touch of raspberry topping, regular chocolate cake, regular lemon cake... I may have gone a little overboard.

[photoshooter]

You made all those cakes? Dude! Did I miss a wedding or something?

[founderinglight]

Noctis and I have the same birthday, Prompto.

[Check your calendar and think through the implications.]

[photoshooter]

...Oh.

[Well, now he just looks several shades of sad.]

...You made your own cakes for your birthday? Heh, isn't that... I don't know, birthday illegal?

[founderinglight]

[Let's talk about cake instead.]

Well, I didn't really want a huge party or any such thing. Something quiet with the family, here meaning "making Ardyn tolerate me through the cake process and then formally adopting Maddie."

[photoshooter]

Awww, that sounds nice. Does that mean Noct's got a little sister now?

[That's how family works, right?]

[founderinglight]

I daresay she'd be a few generations ahead of him.

[Like, a hundred and ten or so.]

Speaking of which, when it's yours? I admit I have no idea.

[photoshooter]

My what? My generation? --Oh, my birthday. End of October.

[He swings his arms a little, looking away.]

It's not a big deal, though. I don't need anything special.

[founderinglight]

If you truly don't want something special... At the very least, though, you deserve a bit of cake yourself.

[He's not going to force a party on you, considering that he didn't have one himself.]

[photoshooter]

[He chuckles, at least.]

I won't say no to cake. Or spicy dinner. I know you've got my back on that one, Zuzu.

[founderinglight]

Dinner and cake it is. And some treats for Sunshine, of course.

[Can't neglect your birb on your special day!]

But I might be able to get a surprise or two together. Don't underestimate my ingenuity.

[photoshooter]

[He holds his fingers together.]

Small surprises! Small. I know you people, you'll find a way to put birthday candles on the moon if I let you. Be chill, okay?

[founderinglight]

[Izunia just laughs.]

Small ones, I promise. I do have some sense of scale, not everything needs to be the size of the Old Wall.

[photoshooter]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[[x] Doubt.]

I'll trust you. But remember, last time you surprised me, I shot you in the hat.

[founderinglight]

Last time I surprised you it was by existing.

[Mock-pout.]

[photoshooter]

Right! So remember, my surprise threshold is that low.