[prompto's been at cloud's apartment enough times to feel like he's more than welcome in it. that doesn't mean that cloud's exempt of prompto trying to break and enter at least once. which is what prompto has done, today, after checking with cloud what time he would be home after work and whatever other errand he had going on.]
[listen, he has a good reason to be doing this! as startled as he is that cloud arrived, without much warning (i mean, it's his apartment...). on the small table that cloud refers to as The Dining Table (that's sad), there's a small cake, one candle lit, whereas prompto holds onto the lighter. his expression goes from terrified (?!) to excited, an abashed smile on his features.]
Hey! [don't ask how he's in before you--] I didn't know what you liked best, and asking would've given it away, so I'm hoping you like chocolate?!
[it's a small cake, for all intents and purposes, and it might as well have been so; prompto doesn't think he could have afforded a bigger one, not from the luxury brazilian bakery he ended up getting this from.]
[Cloud comes in and doesn't even have time to set his apartment keys down. From the little entryway, he can already catch movement in the distance, and next to the dining table (it is a dining table; he sits there and dines, so it qualifies!) stands Prompto.
He is, understandably, confused. How did he get in? Did he leave the door unlocked?]
Prompto-
[But the question dies before he can speak it. He's cut off by his his brother's exclamation, brimming with enthusiasm, enough to derail anything he was going to say. He steps closer, eyebrows raised, then sees the little cake waiting for him, coupled with a "happy belated birthday" from Prompto.]
What? [He looks at him, blinking, then... well. Of course he smiles. This is touching, in ways that completely washes away any confusion that settled in him when he first arrived.] You didn't have to do that. You-
[He actually laughs; it's light and low, but it's there.]
[cloud laughs, and prompto feels a swell of pride which completely washes away whatever uncertainty he had at doing this (would it be too much too soon? would it be intrusive?). testing their boundaries as brothers is terrifying, and prompto's willing to take a plunge after realizing that cloud doesn't mind the sentimentality and the baggage that he's dragging behind him most days.]
You're right. If you don't like chocolate, you're basically a criminal.
[he finishes lighting the other candle, and admires his work, before slamming his hand against the light switch by his side.]
I wanted to! It felt wrong to have missed your birthday by a few weeks. It's an excuse to celebrate, isn't it?
[...he points at the fridge, even if only his outline can be seen in the warm glow of the two candles]
I got booze and some pasta, too. [then, back to cloud, going over, hand bunching up part of his shirt, as he tugs him closer to the table] Make a wish! It's not too late, yet!
[He watches the candles flicker a little, then burn steadily on the little cake. His smile hasn't left, subtle thing that it is.]
Yeah... sure, it is an excuse to celebrate. Or just eat cake.
[He chuckles a little. His birthday had been spent as a relatively normal day (he did receive a phone call from his dad, and a little package in the mail from him as well), but he didn't think anything of it. Having no friends or acquaintances to come over and throw him a tiny celebration was nothing he was going to lose sleep over, but it's strange how much he can appreciate now with Prompto standing next to him now. He's silent for a moment, considering this to himself, before he looks at his brother and where he's indicating towards th fridge.]
Booze, pasta, and cake. What else do we need?
[A wish, though... He turns back to the candles, which continue to cast a warm glow in the vicinity. Give him a moment to think.]
[it still feels kind of awkward to call him 'dude' or 'buddy' or even 'bro' out loud, but prompto's in a way still getting used to the idea of having a brother named cloud; that cloud is a name that's going to have a (hopefully) permanent presence in his life from now on.]
[all yours, the cake and the wish-making. the pause is respected, prompto taking in the silence to grab his phone and switch on the camera app. he's going to take a picture in the dim light of the candles, because crappy pictures without a clear focus are, at times, the ones that are closest to reality.]
[He only gives a brief sideways glance as he sees the light of a phone screen illuminate at the corner of his vision. It's greeted with another lopsided grin, and an almost-shrug, before Cloud merely turns his attentions to the tradition of wish-making.
It's silly, really, if he thinks about it. That he should make a wish here, much like a child would, expecting anything to come from it. And yet Cloud is not so cynical, not s jaded, that he would dismiss it so easily. If he was to make a wish, he was going to take it seriously -- and honestly, why not do so with actual consideration this year? Something meaningful, something... reflecting the newfound family that he's stumbled across. He's determined to believe it's a blessing in its own right.
And so, his wish. It flits across his mind in a less than a second, as sincere as it is plain.
I wish that I can be a good brother to Prompto. I hope I can make him feel like family.
And with that, he leans forward to blow out the candles.]
[prompto got the picture just in time, just before the candles went out. he grins excitedly, leaning onto the wall to flip the light switch on, looking down at his camera for the end result.]
I hope you actually made a wish.
[he sets the camera down momentarily, going over to pick at a knife and some plates. he's also getting the promised pasta from inside the oven; it's still warm, in its plastic container, and prompto brings it over to the table.]
Hungry? Oh, the beers.
[.......he's not 21 yet. don't ask how this happens. he returns from the fridge with two bottles, setting them down on the table.]
[He straightens, then looks at Prompto with a small grin. There's something knowing in it, but of course he'll not say what.]
Yeah, I did. Hopefully it comes true, too.
[He's going to take a plate and a knife, and he'll take it upon himself to cut the cake once the candles are taken care of. He eyes the beers, then asks:]
Some things are better best in the unknown. Life is full of mysteries. What's one more?
[he grins right back, opening one of the bottles and sliding it over; he does the same with the other. easily enough, he sits down and entertains the idea of lactose-induced pain for the sake of celebrating. that's why it's a small cake, so he wouldn't get tempted.]
[he picks up the candles from where cloud left them and pops one's end into his mouth, just to savor the chocolate.]
I never did ask. When exactly is your birthday? [he waits for cloud to drink]
[If you think he wouldn't cut a piece for Prompto and slide it over to him, gently, then you'd be very wrong. It's exactly what he does first, before cutting a second for himself, and then reaching over to eventually crack open a drink. He answers in the meanwhile.]
[prompto snickers, taking the offered slice of cake. he'll just skip the icing, okay?]
Did your dad call you?
[these questions about james... are innocent in their curiosity. prompto is genuinely curious about how cloud and james' relationship is like; father and son. there's no jealousy nor envy in his voice whenever he brings up these questions. he just wishes to live vicariously through cloud's experience.]
[he grabs the phone with one hand because it's a stupidly endearing picture. not--because of cloud or anything, but at every moment of thought that was put into the gag gift]
[he lets go soon enough, letting cloud have his phone back] Tell me you kept them!
[prompto simply offers a duh expression at his brother]
I was you, I'd be wearing those glasses at every single opportunity I could manage. Pretend nothing was off when people looked at me funny or asked 'bout it!
[Though it would honestly be pretty hilarious if he wore them to work one day. Alas, if only that were his personality type, to do such things on a whim.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
9/07 evening
[listen, he has a good reason to be doing this! as startled as he is that cloud arrived, without much warning (i mean, it's his apartment...). on the small table that cloud refers to as The Dining Table (that's sad), there's a small cake, one candle lit, whereas prompto holds onto the lighter. his expression goes from terrified (?!) to excited, an abashed smile on his features.]
Hey! [don't ask how he's in before you--] I didn't know what you liked best, and asking would've given it away, so I'm hoping you like chocolate?!
[it's a small cake, for all intents and purposes, and it might as well have been so; prompto doesn't think he could have afforded a bigger one, not from the luxury brazilian bakery he ended up getting this from.]
Happy belated birthday!
no subject
He is, understandably, confused. How did he get in? Did he leave the door unlocked?]
Prompto-
[But the question dies before he can speak it. He's cut off by his his brother's exclamation, brimming with enthusiasm, enough to derail anything he was going to say. He steps closer, eyebrows raised, then sees the little cake waiting for him, coupled with a "happy belated birthday" from Prompto.]
What? [He looks at him, blinking, then... well. Of course he smiles. This is touching, in ways that completely washes away any confusion that settled in him when he first arrived.] You didn't have to do that. You-
[He actually laughs; it's light and low, but it's there.]
Who doesn't like chocolate?
no subject
You're right. If you don't like chocolate, you're basically a criminal.
[he finishes lighting the other candle, and admires his work, before slamming his hand against the light switch by his side.]
I wanted to! It felt wrong to have missed your birthday by a few weeks. It's an excuse to celebrate, isn't it?
[...he points at the fridge, even if only his outline can be seen in the warm glow of the two candles]
I got booze and some pasta, too. [then, back to cloud, going over, hand bunching up part of his shirt, as he tugs him closer to the table] Make a wish! It's not too late, yet!
no subject
Yeah... sure, it is an excuse to celebrate. Or just eat cake.
[He chuckles a little. His birthday had been spent as a relatively normal day (he did receive a phone call from his dad, and a little package in the mail from him as well), but he didn't think anything of it. Having no friends or acquaintances to come over and throw him a tiny celebration was nothing he was going to lose sleep over, but it's strange how much he can appreciate now with Prompto standing next to him now. He's silent for a moment, considering this to himself, before he looks at his brother and where he's indicating towards th fridge.]
Booze, pasta, and cake. What else do we need?
[A wish, though... He turns back to the candles, which continue to cast a warm glow in the vicinity. Give him a moment to think.]
no subject
[it still feels kind of awkward to call him 'dude' or 'buddy' or even 'bro' out loud, but prompto's in a way still getting used to the idea of having a brother named cloud; that cloud is a name that's going to have a (hopefully) permanent presence in his life from now on.]
[all yours, the cake and the wish-making. the pause is respected, prompto taking in the silence to grab his phone and switch on the camera app. he's going to take a picture in the dim light of the candles, because crappy pictures without a clear focus are, at times, the ones that are closest to reality.]
[after a moment, he offers] --make it a good one!
no subject
It's silly, really, if he thinks about it. That he should make a wish here, much like a child would, expecting anything to come from it. And yet Cloud is not so cynical, not s jaded, that he would dismiss it so easily. If he was to make a wish, he was going to take it seriously -- and honestly, why not do so with actual consideration this year? Something meaningful, something... reflecting the newfound family that he's stumbled across. He's determined to believe it's a blessing in its own right.
And so, his wish. It flits across his mind in a less than a second, as sincere as it is plain.
I wish that I can be a good brother to Prompto. I hope I can make him feel like family.
And with that, he leans forward to blow out the candles.]
no subject
I hope you actually made a wish.
[he sets the camera down momentarily, going over to pick at a knife and some plates. he's also getting the promised pasta from inside the oven; it's still warm, in its plastic container, and prompto brings it over to the table.]
Hungry? Oh, the beers.
[.......he's not 21 yet. don't ask how this happens. he returns from the fridge with two bottles, setting them down on the table.]
All good?
no subject
Yeah, I did. Hopefully it comes true, too.
[He's going to take a plate and a knife, and he'll take it upon himself to cut the cake once the candles are taken care of. He eyes the beers, then asks:]
How'd you get a hold of those?
[Not that he seems to care. He's just curious.]
no subject
[he grins right back, opening one of the bottles and sliding it over; he does the same with the other. easily enough, he sits down and entertains the idea of lactose-induced pain for the sake of celebrating. that's why it's a small cake, so he wouldn't get tempted.]
[he picks up the candles from where cloud left them and pops one's end into his mouth, just to savor the chocolate.]
I never did ask. When exactly is your birthday? [he waits for cloud to drink]
no subject
August 11th. It was on a Friday this year.
[You know, random trivia.]
no subject
[prompto snickers, taking the offered slice of cake. he'll just skip the icing, okay?]
Did your dad call you?
[these questions about james... are innocent in their curiosity. prompto is genuinely curious about how cloud and james' relationship is like; father and son. there's no jealousy nor envy in his voice whenever he brings up these questions. he just wishes to live vicariously through cloud's experience.]
no subject
[Sliding a beer Prompto's way, too, so he can crack one open. Beer and birthday cake, what else does a pair of young men need for dinner? Nothing.]
He sent me one of those gag gifts... well, he just thought he was being funny. You wanna see it?
no subject
Huh? Yeah, of course. I have this very limited idea of what your dad's like.
no subject
It's a selfie of Cloud with pink shutter shades on.]
no subject
Dude!
[he grabs the phone with one hand because it's a stupidly endearing picture. not--because of cloud or anything, but at every moment of thought that was put into the gag gift]
[he lets go soon enough, letting cloud have his phone back] Tell me you kept them!
no subject
Yeah. Of course. Stupid gift or not, I can't throw away a birthday present.
[He takes the phone back, then slips it into his pocket.]
You wanna see?
no subject
I was you, I'd be wearing those glasses at every single opportunity I could manage. Pretend nothing was off when people looked at me funny or asked 'bout it!
[he actually wouldn't but]
[he's not the one with the glasses]
no subject
[Though it would honestly be pretty hilarious if he wore them to work one day. Alas, if only that were his personality type, to do such things on a whim.]
no subject
no subject
[He considers this.]
I can wear them right now if you want to see them in person.
no subject
[he's taking his phone out so he can film this]
no subject
no subject
[he's recording starting NOW]
no subject
[-he says as he goes to get it anyway. He comes back, but he hasn't put them on yet. They're grasped in his hands.]
Now he's just going to think I'm going crazy with boredom or something.
no subject
[snickers] And I doubt this could be considered anything but excellent creative insight.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)