thekissoflife | Inbox for empatheias

[He didn't respond today. It's eerily reminiscent of a couple of months ago, when Prompto temporarily went home. She— hopes that something similar happened again. Or perhaps he just overslept or got caught in something, or—

...?]

Noctis...?

[She thinks to ask him, but there's... she can feel that tired sadness over the connection, and her thoughts fly back to Prompto.

An icy coldness grips her heart. For a moment, she doesn't say anything. She doesn't want to ask the question, because she's afraid of the answer.

But maybe he wants to talk about something else. Her voice comes, hesitantly, softly.]

Of course.

[She eventually comes up beside him, noticing that he's focusing rather hard on the tree. After a moment, she turns her head to look at it as well.]

... I never visited the memory tree myself. Well, at least, not with the intention of taking advantage of it. The only times I've ever been in there was because I felt a friend's presence from within it.

[her voice jolts him out of his thoughts, and he tilts his head to the side a bit to acknowledge her presence with a tired smile. he really does look like he's been through a lot these past few days]

I've used it as a landmark for meeting people before. And I came here with Narukami once. But because of what it does, I tend to avoid it.

[a pause]

What do you mean "a friend's presence?"

Ok. Are you... at your shop? Or the bathhouse?

[Once he's got her location, Noct tells her he'll be there soon and heads over, double checking to make certain he has everything Prompto labeled with her name.

It's only once he's knocking on the door that he recalls that she probably doesn't know that he's been home for ten years and come back. But it's too late to give a heads up. He just hopes he's still recognizable enough despite the beard and older face.]

-- Fuuka? ... hey.

[Shit. How does he even start?]

[She looks at Akira, gaze softening slightly with sympathy. He looks run ragged.]

I can feel others'... auras, I suppose, when they're within a certain distance. Juno, my Persona, magnifies that ability. On my own, though, I can feel probably up to, hm... probably about ten meters away?

At the shop.

[Fuuka is adjusting a clock when Noctis arrives, and she looks over, giving a start.]

Oh, Noctis! You went home.

[Her eyes then fall on the things that he's carrying. For some reason, she feels her blood run cold.]

And what's... all this?

[His expression twitches into something of a grimace, as he shrugs.]

Yeah for a few days. [Well... a few days here time, anyway. He waits to answer her question, however, until he's come over to her counter and set the things down. He shuffles a little until he comes up with the right envelope and he holds it out to her first.]

I uh... that is... [He stops and swallows and looks away.] Prompto went home. [pause] Um... not like before. Name on the wall home. [Assuming she's taken the envelope, he rests his hands on the counter, curling his fingers into fists and digging the nails into his palms.] He left some letters and things for you, and I ... grabbed some extra photos of his I thought you might ... [might like to have. sorry - he's not really good at stuff like this so complete sentences are kind of hard.]

[oh. oh! he knew her navigator abilities were strong, but not that strong]

Amazing. . . I didn't realize you could still sense people, even without summoning your Persona.

[you'd think he would've learned by now though, smh Akira]

I see what you're saying now, though. Maybe we'd better get out of here before we accidentally wind up sharing something.

[A few days... here, she assumes. He easily looks several years older now. She blinks at his faltering, reaching out and taking the envelope, and then her eyes widen a bit. Even before he continues to elaborate, she already knows what he means.

Prompto went home.

The air slowly dips in temperature around Fuuka while her mind and heart struggles to come to terms with this. And then, instinctively, she reaches out with her amulet to connect with Prompto.

Prompto?

The silence is deafening.

Prompto... please...

The air is rapidly cooling, more and more around her. She blinks, trying to focus instead on what Noctis was saying. She missed half of it, but... Oh, his photos...

.........Prompto?

Nothing.

Little bits of frost start to spiral from where her fingers are touching the envelope and she gasps, quickly moving to put it on the table lest she ruin it.

She lets out a breath, staring at it. She can feels her eyes start to well with tears.

Please come back.

But he was... gone. Back to his world.

The tears escape her eyes and run down her cheeks. They freeze before they even hit the ground, clinking against the floor. Her gaze remains fixed on the envelope as she speaks to Noctis, her words a mere whisper.]

Thank you.

[She blinks, then looks at Akira in confusion, though she nods at his suggestion, ready to start following him.]

Can Sakura not do that?

I guess I've never asked her.

[he turns to leave, completely unaware that the slight gust that his picked up around them has blown a couple of flower petals from the tree, which are beginning to float his way]

I always assumed she couldn't, but--

[and said flower petal brushes against his hand, the lightest of light touches. but it's enough]

[enjoy this memory suddenly flashing before them both, Fuuka!!]

[Fuuka's so caught off-guard she doesn't even realize immediately what's happened. She blinks belatedly at the memory in confusion, realization sinking in just as—

Makoto screams and Fuuka's shoulders jerk in surprise, her body stiffening with alarm. She looks like she's seen a—

... ghost...

Goodness gracious, in between Futaba thinking she had died, and Makoto thinking he had died, is there any surprise that Akira is so stressed out?

She looks at Akira, hesitating for a moment before she decides to just go for it— she steps forward and gently loops her arms under his, giving him a wordless hug of comfort.]

[Akira actually jerks back when he feels the flower petal brush against his hand. his gaze falls on Makoto's ghostly form, and--]

[he immediately looks away, arms falling to his sides, fingers curling into fists. great. . . the one thing he hadn't wanted to think about today, replaying itself right before his very eyes. thanks for nothing, tree of memories!]

[he has an excuse prepared on the tip of his tongue when the memory fades, and he opens his mouth to come right out of the gate with it. but then Fuuka is pulling him towards her, arms wrapped warmly around his back, and he just]

[sort of]

[freezes?]

[like he didn't expect this to happen, and isn't quite sure where to go from here]

Ah. . .

[there's a beat. and then another one, before he realizes that he can't leave her hanging. carefully, but with some hesitation, he loops his own arms around her shoulders to return the hug, which]

[now that he thinks about it?]

[is far more welcome than he realized]

[Oh, good... she relaxes a bit when the hug is returned, having been a bit worried that perhaps it may have been unwarranted, but Akira simply seems... more uncertain than anything.

Almost as though he's... unaccustomed to being comforted?

She pulls back after a few seconds, letting her hands rest on Akira's shoulders as she gives him a soft smile.]

It'll be okay.

[She isn't just saying that to comfort him; she sincerely believes it. Things were difficult now, but she has faith that they're temporary, that soon the cause of this phenomenon would be found and things would turn back to normal.

But she understands how hard it is to be patient. Even so... she gives his shoulders a little squeeze.]

I promise.

Edited 2017-10-08 04:23 (UTC)

[he is unaccustomed to this kind of comfort. he's gotten more of it from the Phantom Thieves as of late, but every hug still takes him by surprised. especially when it comes from someone he doesn't expect to give it]

[and although those words are simple, although the message is one that could be given by anyone. . . for some reason? the fact that Fuuka is the one saying them makes him actually believe they'll be true]

[an exhale, and he smiles]

Thanks. I know.

Fuuka. Hey, I haven't talked to you in a while. Been going through a few things and now that they're done, wanted to see how you were doing.

[Especially with how hard she must be missing Prompto. They'd been rather close from the little he'd seen. Close and happy. And now gone.]

Oh, Auron. Hello.

[She's definitely not as perky as she was when Prompto was around. She's a touch on the quieter side, in fact, but at the very least she doesn't seem to be sending any traces over sadness over the connection.]

I've been alright. [Recently, she means recently. She doesn't want to worry him if she doesn't have to.] How about yourself? Is everything okay?

Just trying to figure out where my life should go. The usual. Something I think I can empathize with you on.

Aragaki kinda told me a bit what had been happening with you.

[Which sums up quite a bit so she doesn't feel she has to elaborate at all.]

Inbox for empatheias

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10/15 Voice

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