theairlock | Welcome to the Program

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Welcome to the Program

Good Morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the cafeteria in exactly one hour.

[The voice comes through not a large speaker, but through the device that's attached to each Champion's arm. Further investigation of the features of the device will reveal a list of profiles, a mini-map, and a list of rules. The hallways are shiny white and silver, with running lights along the floor and lights on the ceiling, and at the junction of the hallways is a sign with a knife and fork icon and an arrow pointing down the hall.

Welcome to the Excellence Program, Champions. Time to get to know your teammates.]

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[Prompto turns as soon as he's addressed, and then freezes inside and out.

He may have only ever seen her in photos, may have never seen her with her hair down like this, but he'd know that face anywhere. He'd know that voice.

He's been hoping to meet her for years, but now he looks like he's seen a ghost.]

L...L-Lady Lunafreya?

[There should be more surprise that someone who knows her was here. Yet she's used to being recognized since she was a symbol in her world. She nods with a small smile. With the lack of an accent from her home, she might wager an assumption here:]

Yes... Are you from Lucis?

Yeah. Y-yeah, I am. From Insomnia.

[His voice gets stuck in his throat, and he clears it, blinking his eyes wide.]

I... I know Noct.

[His mind is a blank.]

[So was he in the city when she arrived-

Her own eyes go wide as he says that name. Judging from his age and that he didn't carry himself like a guard... All she can do is guess as to who this might be.]

... Are you Prompto?

[He must be dreaming.]

You... you remember me?

Yes, though we have not formally met. You refered to Noctis as "Noct", and I very much doubt someone he is not friends with could get away with calling him that. And you look younger than what I imagine his guard must be.

[Deduction!]

Now that we have met I can thank you in person for helping Pryna and being a good friend to Noctis. So thank you, Prompto Argentum. For taking care of two important beings in my life. [She gives him a bow, a more assured smile on her face when she straightens up.] I for one am glad there is someone friendly here with me.

[She remembers him.

Prompto's turning pink even before she bows--the Oracle! To him!--and a startled, overwhelmed laugh bubbles out of him before he can stop it.]

I'm just glad you're alive!

[He still doesn't understand what's going on, he doesn't know where they are or how they got there, he's desperately afraid of what might come next, but there's one good thing about all of this: Lunafreya Nox Fleuret is standing before him, whole and perfect and beautiful and alive.

Nothing can stop the sunshiney, incredulous grin from taking over Prompto's face.]

Are you okay? Can I get you anything? Oh, man, I can't believe you're here!

[Luna would ask what he means by that. Of course she was alive! Why wouldn't she be? Is there something going on that she might want to ask Prompto about? Propaganda from back in their homes?

He seems happy right now, though, so she'll ask later.]

I am quite alright, and I do not need anything at this time. [He's such a ray of sunshine. That fills her heart with happiness knowing Noctis' friend was like this.] Neither can I, wherever here is. Have you found out anything?

[Right. The reminder of where they are sobers him up a little, and he shakes his head.]

No, not yet. Just what's on these tablet things. [He taps his to show her what he's talking about.] That and about half of the people here are kids, and we're either in outer space or a video game.

[Still, even this isn't enough to entirely gutter his excitement. He bounces once on his heels and asks:]

Who were you looking for? Nyx Ulric? Who's that?

[He doesn't really follow the who's who of the Citadel.]

A video game? I must admit, I have never played one of those. How would this be like one?

[Please teach her about them.]

Nyx Ulric was assigned to be my guard while I was in Insomnia for the treaty. A Kingsglaive. I was in his company when I woke up here.

W...wait. Wait, what?

[There's something more important to explain here than video games. For the moment, anyway.]

You... still think you were in Insomnia before you woke up here?

[Frowning, she nods.]

I had just arrived in Insomnia and been assigned a guard. I had been informed that Noctis had already left the city... The plan had been for me to go to Altissia, but the emperor and the chancellor had other ideas.

[The noise he makes is slightly too choked to be a proper scoff.]

Yeah, no kidding they did.

[He tilts his head down to think, covering his mouth, one arm across his chest. She doesn't know? She doesn't remember. If he thinks about it, that makes a certain amount of sense.]

Maybe it's amnesia... [He looks up, obviously concerned.] You're sure you're okay? Uh, your head doesn't hurt or anything?

I'm quite alright, Prompto. If this is amnesia, why would they need to take my memory in the first place? There would be no reason to.

[Are you sure you're the one that's not okay, Prompto?]

I'm not saying someone took your memories on purpose, but... there was, um. An accident.

[An accident named Ardyn Motherfucking Izunia. He tries to keep his voice gentle.]

See, from where I'm standing, everything that went down in Insomnia with the treaty--that happened ages ago. All five of us finally made it to Altissia. But if you got hurt so bad it made you lose your memory... then it makes sense why you couldn't let us know you were okay.

[This... Prompto, you are spoiling her for the future, yet still being vague...]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean about Insomnia. The city is safe, even with the Empire there.

...Maybe we should sit down to talk about this.

[This is the worst. Worse than Ignis waking up to his eyes bandaged and asking why. Worse than trying to decide what to tell Noct. Worse than Gladio trapped in hotel rooms that looked too small to hold his anger and grief.

Worse than sitting by himself and finding that picture of her wedding dress in his camera, still.]

[This is filling her with dread, but curiosity might just win out. Yet she lifts her hand.]

If it is too difficult for you to speak about, I can wait. Whatever you must tell me cannot be changed while we are here.

No... no, I think you should know.

[He shakes his head.]

Better to hear it from a friend than find out when we get there, right?

[This... Is going to be painful, isn't it?]

Then let's find a place to sit.

There's some kind of movie room at the end of the hall. [He points.] It'll probably be quiet there, everyone's supposed to be heading to the cafeteria. Will that work?

Yes, of course.

[Lead the way. She'll be right behind you.]

[Here we go, media room. Prompto goes down to the front row and takes a seat near the end, leaving her the corner if she wants it or the seat on his other side if she doesn't need the space an end seat affords her.

He rubs at his palm for a moment, quiet, before he finally starts.]

So the last thing you remember... was hearing that Noct and the rest of us had left for Altissia? So, before the treaty signing?

[Obviously. But he has to check.]

[Just in case he needs some comfort, she takes the seat in his other side. Placing her hands in her lap, she nods with a grim expression.]

My brother caught me trying to leave for Altissia, hence why I was in Insomnia instead.

Ravus. Right.

[Aw, man, is he going to have to tell her what the Empire's doing to him, too? Shiva grant him mercy, one thing at a time.]

So, um. The treaty was a trap. Really, they just wanted to get inside so they could take the Crystal.

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