Inbox for empatheias

[thekissoflife]

 ((Note that Fuuka doesn't yet have a bird to take written messages, so any threads here will initially be a private telepathic conversation between Fuuka and your character.))

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[thekissoflife]

[Fuuka is shelving some items when Noctis comes in, quietly working away until Noctis greets her. She looks up, then offers a friendly smile.]

Noctis-san! How have you been?

[thatgoodnight]

[He returns the smile with a small one of his own.]

Mm, all right. [Noct shrugs, eyes trailing to the shelves for a moment before fixing on her again.] You?

[thekissoflife]

I've been doing pretty good!

[She finishes off the box she was unloading and picks it up, turning to look at the other.]

Did you need something here? Or were you just dropping by?

[thatgoodnight]

[He nods and - well, now that she's asking, suddenly all the things he thought about saying instantly vanish from his mind, leaving Noctis floundering, at a loss.]

I, uh...

[Just give him a moment, Fuuka.]

Prompto told me you two went to the Flower Festival together... [On a date, he means, because he and Prompto totally also went to the festival together but that's totally different clearly!] And uh, I was wondering how it went.

[Wait that came out wrong.] I mean - what you thought. He obviously already told me about it. [Yeah he's just going to shut up now.]

[thekissoflife]

[She smiles patiently as Noctis tries to find his words, then tilts her head in the direction of the counter, where she leads Noctis towards with the box in tow. She listens to his words as he stumbles on them, briefly disappearing inside the back room to set the box down and then coming back to the counter.]

What I thought?

[She leans against the tabletop and reaches up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a soft blush as she recalls it. Though, she giggles a little at Noctis' words, quietly delighted that Prompto had told him about their date. She can only hope that means he enjoyed it as much as she did.]

To be honest, I've never been on a date before, but... [She looks up at Noctis, still blushing a bit, but with a pleased smile on her face.] That day was easily one of the best in my life. [She blushes a little darker at the boldness of her own words, but they're true. Prompto had complimented her on her dress, they'd held hands and he'd even helped her aim at a shooting gallery, among other things. All such small, wonderful things, adding up to a wonderful day.]

He's really wonderful, and... I'm really glad he chose me.

[thatgoodnight]

[It takes Noctis half a second to get what she's indicating, and then he moves as directed. As she blushes and smiles and seems absolutely delighted at her memories, he can't help but smile again too, crooked and maybe a little bit cat-like (as it had been when he'd told Prompto 'I told you so' over the date going well).

How she describes it is not all that different from how Prompto did - at least in spirit. Different words and a more effusive manner of speaking in Prom's case, but the radiant joy and the blushing for sure for both of them. He knows Fuuka isn't the first person Prompto has gone out on a date with - but she definitely seems to be the first person where they've both clicked, and at that Noctis is quite pleased. It's a far cry from some past experiences, that's for sure.]

Mm.

[Nodding and humming a positive acknowledgement, Noct props his arms on the counter, leaning against it. Honestly, it's the best kind of relief that she seems to so genuinely return Prompto's sentiments.]

If that's how you feel, then... guess I don't have to worry about you two.

whispers unintentional fish pun

[thekissoflife]

[She cants her head just slightly at his words. He seems pleased...

It takes her a moment to understand what reason Noctis would have for worrying. Was he looking out for him? That's so sweet...

She just smiles for a moment, though she honestly wonders... if maybe Prompto deserved to be with someone better. For some reason he thinks she is amazing and as flattered as she is, she can't understand it. She can be rather cowardly sometimes, timid and easy to push around, even if she has gotten better with it.

But who is she to tell Prompto what he should feel about her? She can only hope that she doesn't end up disappointing him...

Finally, she asks Noctis a question that she wasn't quite expecting herself:]

What is it he likes so much about me?

[And then she blinks with realization and blushes a little, embarrassed.] Oh, um... sorry, I'm not sure where that came from.

[From a place of insecurity, likely. Just like Prompto, Fuuka has her own demons, enough to make her question how good of a "catch" she really is...]

glub glub

[thatgoodnight]

[Noct makes an amused noise and then falls silent for a little while, thinking back on all the things Prompto has said in both word and gesture. He knows Prompto well enough to see some of his best friend's insecurity and uncertainty in Fuuka. There's a similarity in some of her body language, the blushing, the evasiveness.]

Well, after you agreed to go to the festival with him, he talked about you being way more smart, kind and pretty than he deserves. I think he really likes the way you tinker with stuff too. [He gestures to the bits and pieces of things she's put together or repaired around the shop even as he thinks of photos Prompto's showed him of Fuuka intent at work. Then he rubs at his neck for a moment, trying to figure out how to say what he wants to say.]

Honestly, Prompto's ... he's excitable and kinda flighty sometimes, but... he's really good at noticing things. Not just like... surface stuff or good angles for shots and stuff but... what's inside people. What they're feeling. So... whatever that is about you that he sees, he's -- drawn to it. Being around you makes him happy.

holy shit i'm so sorry you can totally drop this if you want

[thekissoflife]

[Fuuka stares intently at Noctis, hanging on to his every word. Her eyes widen a little and the blush on her cheeks intesifies as Noctis tells her just what Prompto likes so much about her.

When he finishes, she doesn't even realize she'd unconsciously brought her hands up to her cheeks, and...

... did a little heart just float out of her head?]

I-I see... [She smiles, and nods.] Thank you, Noctis-san.

no worries!

[thatgoodnight]

[He smiles back - especially seeing that heart. And he kind of wishes he had a camera on hand to take a picture of Fuuka with her hands up like that. Yeah, whatever worries he might have had about Fuuka and Prompto are pretty firmly assuaged.]

You should see him when he goes through his photographs at the end of the day. [Noct holds his hands out to mime Prompto flicking through the photos on his camera.] Normally he's watching whoever he's showing the photos to to see what they think of them - but when they're pictures of you, he's got eyes only for them.

[Still, he's a bit curious...]

What about you? What do you like about Prompto?

[thekissoflife]

[Oh my gosh??? Oh my gosh... Prompto... Her eyes are so wide when Noctis says that, and yeah, that sure was another couple of hearts. She's so hopelessly infatuated...

Sheer embarrassment keeps her from saying anything more, so she's glad for her turn to speak and turn the attention away from her.]

Prompto is... He's vibrant. [She smiles an open-mouthed smile.] So full of energy and smiles. And he's so... so compassionate and considerate. So supportive. He's just such a good person.

[She looks off towards the wall as she thinks fondly of him.] Somehow, Prompto fell for me exactly the way I am, and that's... It means a lot to me. But even if he hadn't, I still would cherish my every moment with him. Because it's never a dull moment with him, and I really feel like... I can completely be myself around him.

[Has she gushed over Prompto enough yet?? She blushes a bit more and ducks her head in self-consciousness.] Goodness, I sound so sappy... [But she's still smiling.]

[thatgoodnight]

Maybe a little. [He's smirking, though, to show it's a tease. Honestly, Noctis really doesn't mind listening to her gush about Prompto, especially because everything she says is true!]

I get it, though. ... I feel the same way about him. -- uh, minus the romance bit. We've never been -- like that. [Don't mind him being awkward and kinda rubbing his neck. Even if he and Prompto have definitely joked about it before, Noct definitely doesn't want Fuuka to get the wrong impression or anything.] But uh - I mean, he's one of the best people I know, and -- yeah. He just... has that way of letting you be you, no strings attached.

[It's part of why Noctis likes him so much. Part of how they became best friends so quickly once Prompto finally worked himself up to say hey. Of course, mutual interests in things like video games and chocobos had certainly helped but how Prompto has always seen past the surface and been supportive and always treated Noctis like a person rather than like a prince... Noct can relax around Prompto in a way that's hard to do around anyone else from home. So when Fuuka says she can completely be herself around Prompto, Noctis knows exactly what she means.]

[thekissoflife]

[Fuuka gives a little noise of amusement at Noctis stumbling over his words. It's fine, she understands what you mean!! Don't worry so much, nerdo... But she nods in agreement, looking around the shop.]

I was much more reserved about my hobby when I first came here. I really enjoy mechanics and tinkering around with things, but... [Her gaze drops, wondering for a moment if she should share this. But Noctis seems like a nice person, and she's been gradually coming to terms with this herself.]

I was embarrassed. Because it didn't seem very feminine to me. It still... doesn't, not really. But I don't mind so much anymore. Because when I told Prompto... [She smiles warmly, the air around her warming in turn.] All he cared about was my passion. He was so interested in how things worked, in my knowledge of my craft. He was just excited as I was and it was so... freeing.

[Her voice is laden with gratitude.] He really helped me... come out of my shell.

[thatgoodnight]

I'm glad. [he chuckles a bit.] Prompto's always been a technophile, but -- I'm glad you're less embarrassed, if it's something you love.

[Noct looks at her thoughtfully for a moment.]

Kinda tangential, but uh... Have you met Cindy Aurum at all? She's someone else here from our world. She tinkers a lot too - but uh... more with vehicles and bigger stuff than what you have here.

[Because meeting another woman into tech stuff seems like a good thing to him, if Fuuka is still even the smallest bit worried about femininity. Not that Cindy is the delicate dainty sort of feminine, but her confidence in herself is admirable, and the two of them'd probably find a lot to talk about in adapting technology to this world, he imagines.]

[thekissoflife]

Cindy Aurum? The name doesn't ring a bell.

[But another female Otherworlder mechanic?? She's definitely interested.]

Does she have a business here?

[thatgoodnight]

Yep. She does.

[He tells her the address.]

Uh... she hasn't been officially open all that long, though. I'm sure she'd be happy to talk if you went over or I can introduce you sometime if you want...

[... given that Fuuka seems kinda shy, he figures he ought to offer that option.]

[thekissoflife]

[Going over for the express purpose of meeting someone does feel a bit bold... and she smiles at Noctis giving that offer, but ultimately shakes her head. She doesn't want to put that on him.]

Thank you. I'll be sure to drop by when I have the time.