this is an open post and this image is the prompt

[heavyhead]

or maybe something less stupid if you want

Comments

[finethanks]

Lestallum? Is that in Europe?

[How far is he... What is going on? He looks completely confused, for once unable to hide it as he drops his hand away from his chin.] The last time I checked, I can remember my own home. My uniform says it here, you know.

[He points out the Yumenosaki Academy emblem on his jacket. See!!!]

[heavyhead]

I don't know what Europe is or that thing on your jacket.

[But rest assured, he does stand up and adjust his flashlight so he can point it right at Eichi for a second there, so he can see the emblem. Just a second. Give him his phone back.]

There aren't any academies this far from the capital, anyway.

[finethanks]

Even if I was thinking a lot of Alice in Wonderland, I didn't expect to actually be out of my world. If you're playing a trick on me, that's not very nice at all. I have a weak heart, you know? Be gentle. ♪

[He's playing along casually, but there are signs cracking through that he's actually nervous. What!! Is going on!! His smile is a little strained, for example, and he keeps moving to pace a few steps, stop, and then pace again. He still has Noctis' phone.]

[heavyhead]

[What does he do with this crazy boy who came out of the sky or whatever? Noctis isn't equipped for this. He can barely handle his actual friends having miniature breakdowns... argh.]

Look, it's— it'll be fine, alright? Calm down. [elegant, noct] There's... gotta be a way to figure this out.

[finethanks]

Do I not seem calm already? Ah, that's a shame. If you can tell, then I'm slipping indeed. I should be more careful, if I want to keep up my appearance...

[He stops his pacing, at least, even if he goes on smiling like it might break at any point. He's!! So!! Calm!!] It may be something where we can't focus on the "why" or "how," but instead move along as if things are normal.

[heavyhead]

[Somebody please help Noctis. Crisis management is also not his thing... He frowns, brow furrowing at the idea of moving along as if things are normal. There's no way he can just bring this guy into the group, but maybe they can... give him a ride to Lestallum? Let him figure things out from there?

He sighs, crossing his arms and looking down for a moment. Why couldn't this have happened to Ignis, Ignis would know what to do!!]

That's your plan? [...] I guess we can give you a ride to town. Tomorrow. [he doesn't need group permission, he's the king,]

[finethanks]

A town that I don't recognize? As much as I appreciate your effort, I don't see how that would be of much help at all.

[Says the guy with no ideas, but he can't help but point that out. Don't DITCH him?? His credit cards won't even work here!! And now, the night air is getting to him, and he crosses his arms after letting out a soft couple of coughs.]

That also doesn't give me much choice for what to do until morning. I was born with this weak body, you know? If you leave me out in the cold until the sun rises, I'll be one with the dirt and soil.

[heavyhead]

[Wow, rude. Noctis just gives him a look and sighs again, like come on, what is he supposed to do?? He was just trying to wander around in the middle of the night and he got roped into this mess.]

Seriously? [He asks, like it's an inconvenience. It's just because he's morally obligated to then do what he is about to do, which is already ruining his evening,] Fine, you can... share with me. Quietly.

[finethanks]

Would you be so kind as to share with me? Thank you, Noct. Fufu, I'm not often told that I'm a loud person, but are you trying to say that I am?

[Rude, he's very quiet. In like, the softspoken sort of way, at least. It's true that he never shuts up.] How interesting. I promise that I won't take up much space at all, since I'm used to sleeping in hospital beds while attached to various machines.

[heavyhead]

Attached to machines? [If he stutters a little on that, don't worry, he's just uncomfortable trying to say anything useful to this sick boy who suffers constantly.] Um... okay.

Just come on. Might as well get this over with. [He'll lead the way back through... or maybe around these bushes, since Eichi will probably get caught in there and die if he tries to go through.

I guess for the purposes of not waking up the whole crew there's more than one tent this time, and Noctis will stoop down and duck into the right one without any further comment. Come on... welcome to Hotel Zzzz. There's almost room in here for two people who aren't skinny dudes.]

[finethanks]

[Eichi coughs a couple of times but sticks close as he follows, finally ducking into the tent after him and finding a nice spot to sit down cross-legged. Taking up so much room like this... But finally, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out Noct's phone to offer it over.]

By the way, the friends you're traveling with won't attack me without warning if they find me in here, will they?

[heavyhead]

[Oh, finally his phone. Noctis looks at it like he actually forgot about this phone swap - he might have, after all the Ill Boy stuff - but he reaches into his own pocket for Eichi's phone to slide it over and accept his back. He does all of this lying down, of course, because he is already on the ground and ready to sleep.

So Eichi talking is already a Concern.] Probably not.

[.....well....] Just wake me up if you hear them coming and I'll explain. Don't worry about it. [good luck eichi]

[finethanks]

[What!! He pockets his own phone, moving after that to finally lie down. He's already nudging himself a little closer to Noct, propped up on his arms to try and keep talking to him.]

Words like that don't inspire comfort at all, you know. That long pause between answers... Should I actually be worried? If I don't wake up in time...

[He's going to die in this tent, he thinks. He's not prepared.]

[heavyhead]

[What's happening, why isn't he asleep immediately?? Like a true professional, Noctis has already closed his eyes, opening one after another pause to confirm that, yes, Eichi is trying to make a real sleepover out of this. It's like he's Prompto, but without the #squad advantage...]

Set an alarm. Then you'll be up to wake me up. [is he making this point clear enough yet]

[finethanks]

Have you noticed? The time on my phone is different from yours.

[Now he rolls to lie on his back, pulling his phone out to stare at it. Yes, his phone still thinks it's mid afternoon... What time does he set an alarm for? And then he coughs again. Can Noct sleep through all of this Ill and Talking.]

Mm, I'll do my best, so don't let me interrupt your sleep. I was amazed that you were awake while it was so dark outside to begin with. By the way, those noises in the distance... They were some sort of creatures, weren't they?

[He's not used to outdoor noises of any sort, let alone DEMON ONES]

[heavyhead]

Oh. [...he didn't notice..... never mind that. He shifts onto his side, resting his head on his arm so he can go to sleep. He's at least facing Eichi, and even with his eyes closed he's still listening, so it's a race to see how face Eichi can talk against Noctis' Need 4 Sleep. Just take his phone again to see the time, it's fine.

He is not going to talk about needing to pee. Instead, he sort of half-grunts again, to confirm those were probably just... deer. Just kidding,] You don't need to worry about it now, but you're lucky you showed up when you did.

the bush prompt was still great but now I'm like WHAT DO I DO NOW

[finethanks]

Saying it like that is the perfect set up for a scary story, but your face and posture tells me you'd fall asleep before even beginning. [Or pointedly not begin at all, he knows. He's aware.]

It's unfortunate, but I'm not tired at all. I suppose I can do my best to rest beside you silently, as awkward as it is.

the tent slides gently down a hill into Another Area and/or idol school

[heavyhead]

[Yep, his eyes are still closed, message transmitted. Thanks buddy.]

It's only awkward if you make it awkward... [For example, talking about it like that. Please. Too intimate.] I'll tell you all about it in the morning.

[no he won't]

tell mom before you have sleepovers noct

[cookingmama]

[no he won't

why won't he? Because in the morning, Noctis is not the first one awake at all. The grill is fired up; Ignis is probably making pancakes or something when he's decided it's time to wake sleeping beauty.]

Rise and shine, your high-- [That's not Prompto. Prompto and Gladio are with the chocobos. Ignis listens for another minute before he's going to just loom over Eichi and Wait.]

ignis makes the tent slide down the hill

[finethanks]

[The sounds of footsteps getting closer finally get Eichi to stir. He's ignored all of the breakfast noises since they remind him of home, and somehow, despite it being so much earlier for him, he manages to sleep. It was an exhausting experience, after all.

But as he blinks awake, he notices someone staring at him that he doesn't recognize, and it's frightening in a way he doesn't expect. He doesn't have the energy or reflexes to be able to react quickly, so there's just another slow blink.]

Ah, I didn't set an alarm... [He coughs gently a couple of times, shifting finally to try and push himself up into a sitting position.]

this is the most ic tag i've made so far

[heavyhead]

[Noctis is still asleep. Who knew.]

wake the fuck up noct

[cookingmama]

[Oh... Eichi is not some weird assassin that just chills in Noct's tent waiting to strike, so this is fine. Ignis leans back, and even offers a smirk. Who knows what he's thinking.]

No need. He wouldn't have gotten up for you, anyway. [He could take out his own phone for this, but after a second of thought, he's decided to just patting the side of his face instead.] He needs to get up-- [pat] and accommodate-- [pat]-- his guest. Your name...?

[finethanks]

[...Oh, this is fun to watch. He's extra sleepy because that was like a long nap, but he can wake up to the view of someone's face getting slapped around. He coughs again, covering his mouth with a loosely curled fist and resting back on the palm of his other hand.]

Eichi Tenshouin. It's nice to meet you. You must be one of his friends that he mentioned. I see that you have the solution to waking him up. He sleeps so soundly, but every time that I tried to inch closer, he managed to move further away. I'm freezing, now.

[heavyhead]

[Truly, Noctis is not only still asleep, but he's rolled so close to the wall of the tent that he's started to roll onto it, a little. Ignis chose the right time to come wake him, or he'd have rolled the whole tent into one of Gladio's stupid camping chairs.

As it stands, he makes a whole host of irritated, sleepy noises, pushing at Ignis' arm until he finally sits upright. His eyes are still closed.] ...Ngh.

[good morning assholes]

[cookingmama]

[Eichi sure does talk a lot. Thankfully, Ignis is a good multitasker, patting Noctis while he takes all this in.] It's a pleasure to meet you, Eichi. I'm terribly sorry to hear that. He's got terrible bedside manner, aaand... there he is.

[Noctis can shove his arm away all he wants, but Ignis still pats his back one more time as he rises back to his feet.] I'll pull out a blanket for you, shall I? Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes, it'll be sure to warm you up. Isn't that right, Noct?