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Is the stuff those guys in there said true? I mean it has to be true, I'm here and those guys weren't human, right? So this has gotta be a dream or am I dead? Would I know if I'm dead?

[The video had started with a distressed looking blond man and soon that blond was wincing in pain after he's pinched himself. The test to see if he was asleep, not dead. So he at least got proof that one of the two was wrong.

He's got the magi-cam (a name that made him twitch hard when he heard it, propped up on a wall so he can stand and use both of his hands. Hands that were gesturing as he spoke, and paced.]

And no gettin back, right? That's what they said. Some mess about time loops and, damn, I should have listened better.

[The kid has bags under his eyes, a few cuts and scrapes and bruises, and those are just what can be seen on his face. They'd tried to patch him up as well as could be before he'd gone and run out. He was quick on his feet.

He ran a dirty hand through his hair and then gave a nervous laugh before turning back to the camera.]

Don't suppose this'll get seen by people, huh? My people? Noct, Gladio? Iggy... [A shake of his head.] What am I doing? I mean to say, I'm Prompto! I got here a few hours ago and this place is crazy!

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Got you that shaken up, huh? Can't say I blame you. Looks like you had a hell of a time.

[Noticing Prompto's drink, he went ahead and ordered a second. Saké, this time.]

You should try one of these. It's something different.

[Just a simple, friendly gesture, and a bit of a breather between talking about the hard stuff.]

So why were you traveling with the hero, then?

You could say that again.

[Another quiet laugh and now he looked at the other drink he was given. He reached for the little glass and took a sniff and then a little sip... and coughed. Okay, yeah that was strong. Prompto laughed again.]

Hella strong, trying to get me drunk or something?

He was... Noct was my bestfriend. That's why. But I was the odd one out. I'm, heh, it doesn't matter now. Like I said before, I'm no one important.

You caught me. [He joked, but he went ahead and took the drink for himself then, putting in another order, because why not try a few things?] Get this kid something fruity and light.

So you're the best friend of the hero getting tormented by the super villain, huh? Sounds like you got the short end of the stick. Hope your best friend was hot, at least. If my knowledge of heroes is correct, he's probably gonna swoop in and carry you off like some sort of princess.

[Prompto blinked and the reached over and took the drink back.]

Rude, never said it was bad!

He was a looker. But don't think he'd be coming to get me. [He'd been laughing up until this point, now he wasn't laughing so much.] Especially since it turns out I'm the bad guy too. Or sorta. Kinda. I... it's a long story I barely understand. But when they find out, they'll for sure hate me.

[And then he knocked back the sake. He didn't cough this time. Maybe getting drunk was a good idea.]

[He laughed and let him take it back.]

Y'know, no offense, but you'd make a terrible bad guy. Trust me, I know. I'm surrounded by them. You sure you're bad? How many people have you screwed over, or just screwed, since getting here?

I've been here a couple hours. How could I screw anything or anyone? [The language was a little vulgar for his tastes but he matched like-for-like.

Anyway, he couldn't help laughing again. Somehow Reno wasn't too hard to talk to.]

See... turns out I'm not who I thought I was. I thought I was born in Insomnia. But apparently I'm... I'm a clone. A clone of the guy who created the army that destroyed the city I love. And killed my bestfriends dad.

Oh, and my bestfriend kicked me off of a train. That happened. [Prompto winced and reached for the new drink that was put before him.] He was so angry with me...

But I really wanted to get back to them. And then I was captured and tor... and held hostage. I think they thought Noct'd come for me? But that makes me bad as well, right? Being the bait that gets my friends hurt?

[That was a lot to take in.]

Not sure I caught it all, but is cloning a normal thing on your world?

I would say... It sounds like having a twin or something. But there's always an evil twin and a good twin.

What were you two fighting about?

Nope! First I'd heard of it! [Forced cheerfulness followed by taking a drink. It was fruity. Strong too. Keep em coming, bar keep!]

Guess I've forgotten if I'm the good twin or the bad twin then.

... Heh, about that... [Another drink.] Remember that bad guy I mentioned? He made Noct think I was him. I didn't know that then.

Oh, so he was the one you're a clone of? Guess it makes sense to have a bit of a crisis if you're the clone of the super villain.

But if you want to be a bad guy, you got a lot more training to do. I can tell you right now, you're soft.

Nah, not him. Another guy. King of the nerds. Some military super scientist who forgot to pass his brains onto me... [Prompto have a shrug and sighed, he dropped an elbow onto the bar and then his chin on his hands. Then he snorted softly.]

Soft... maybe. I wasn't born a fighter. I was just... a guy, y'know? I went to school. Took pictures. Hung out with my bestie the Prince. I'm just a pleb. They taught me how to defend myself and use a gun so I could protect Noct. That's it really.

Scientists always have to be crazy. I think it's a requirement.

So a normal kid. Guess most people were normal kids at some point. Well, it's hard to follow the whole thing. I think there's a lot of pieces I'm missing. But I get that you've had a hell of a day. A few good drinks always helps me get through a fucked up day.

[It was a lot of information but he could still sympathize. He went ahead and kept drinking his own comfortably. He'd been okay himself; a few things to figure out, but nothing that bad.]

I take it you probably haven't had time to figure out much around here, huh?

I'm skipping over a bunch, I know. We'd be here all day... [And most of it he was still coming to terms with, still trying to wrap his head around. Prompto had tried laughing some of it off, even making a joke. But it really wasn't funny when he really thought about it.

Humour was a defence mechanism he supposed!

The drinks helped. He finished his drink with a sigh.]

Haven't figured anything out. Like you... we're you so nice? You've not told me a think about you. Uh... well I've been talking. But you can now. Who are you, Reno? What's your deal?

I'm a Turk. Worked as a 'clean-up guy' for the Shinra Electric Power Company. You can say that I'm the actual bad guy here.

[He wasn't going to hide it. They were what they were.

He pointed to Prompto.]

Given beatings like that and then some. But don't worry. I've got no reason to hurt you, and things have changed a bit anyway. Been here a couple weeks getting my shit together.

Edited 2022-04-19 02:06 (UTC)

[Prompto couldn't lie, hearing that had him on edge a bit... But he honestly didn't get the feeling that Reno was out to do him harm. He had no idea who he was so why would he? Unless he liked doing that stuff just for fun...]

S'you're the bad guys. Then what do you do here when you're not being bad guys?

Other than picking stays up off the street and getting 'em drunk?

[Hey, he had another drink in his hand! Nice!]

Been working on setting up a new business, since we can't rely on the one at home anymore. Nothing sinister, though. Just setting up a website and getting models and that kind of stuff. It's not like it's in our contract that we have to do bad things for the sake of doing bad things.

[He let out a short laugh.]

We were working on changing our tune a bit at home already anyway. But that's why I can tell you're not a bad guy. You look like you'd cry if I told you to go break some guy's nose. ...And that isn't necessarily a bad thing. There's got to be some people out there who have a conscience.

I wouldn't cry! You don't know what I can do!

[He answered indignantly, huffing and immediately drinking from the glass that was just filled for him.

He was already feeling buzzed. Probably didn't help he couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten. Booze on an empty stomach and very little sleep was a bad idea, right?]

I'm a badass! Pew pew, I'm a crackshot! Cor said I had natural talent!

[Reno brought his hand down on Prompto's head.

And ruffled that hair.]

[His hair was already a mess, but that hand made it worse.

And worse than that... It reminded him painfully of of Gladio. Of Noct. Now that could have brought him to tears. Instead his head dropped. He didn't even have the will to bat at the hand like he would have the others.]

Quit it... I know.

[Now the kid looked depressed. Well, he kind of came that way to begin with. With one last nudge of Prompto's head he let his hand fall.]

Don't be like that. I am what I am for life, but I wouldn't recommend it. You have to be willing to hurt people even when you don't want to. You don't get to have a family. Even if you make normal friends they're still kind of scared of you. And you have to be willing to live with the fact that a lot of people very reasonably want you dead.

Not the type of thing most would aspire to be.

...We are incredibly cool, though.

[Prompto shook his head.]

Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to you. I never said I wanted to be a bad guy though.

I just dunno who I am. That's all.

But... I guess I'm stuck here. So I've time to work it out now.

Can't really tell you for you. But you can probably stand to rest up and heal a bit before you figure it out.

Take it you haven't found anyone you know around here, though? [If he did they were kind of crap, leaving their buddy in this condition.]

Sleep sounds good...

Nah, least none replied to me yet. If they're here. [If they didn't hate him.

He sighed and leaned away from the bar to look down at himself. Yeah, sleep, a bath, he needed new clothes... He held out his hand and concentrated... and sighed again.]

Heh, figures... No Noct at least. Can't use my guns or camera. If he was here I'd be able to.

[He raised a brow at him.]

Why. He's got your stuff or something?

Sorta? He sorta had this ability... kinda like magic? He could store our weapons and stuff. And he can let people take a bit of that power? Share it? Okay, look, I used the thing and still don't get it.

[He wriggled his fingers.]

It let me just think and the thing was in my hand.

Magic weapon storing powers? Don't think we have a materia for that one.

Might be a bit of an issue, though, if using it means you can just lose your stuff.

So you were, or he was, carrying guns and a camera? Guess you could shoot with all of them.

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