005 | Video

[clickclickbang]

Name: Prompto Argentum
Date: 2/8
Format: video

[In the background of this video, there's the (relatively) hushed sounds of a certain Sun King's voice, trying to get someone to stop and rest, as she should. He's being met with growls of "I'm busy!" along with some pots and pans clanging and chopping as she’s clearly trying to make Something. It might be a stew? There's still the remains of a varied breakfast and food packages that were just set on the table. Pointing this out does not appear to be much of a deterrent.

While all that’s going on, Prompto just sort of. Gives the camera a Look.]

So, I was going to let everyone know that hey, I'm back, Insomniac Delivery is back up and running, please do not try to eat my chocobo, photos will be back soonish, et cetera et cetera, but Caren dropped some interesting information at breakfast this morning and that takes priority. So.

[Pause for effect. An effect that is likely somewhat spoiled as more extreme measures of putting things on higher shelves is met with highly vocal protests decrying it as an unfair move.]

Apparently Dorchacht used to be a monster city.

[Yet another pause for further effect. And also a drink of coffee because boy, does Prompto need the (sugary, creamy, mostly everything but coffee) caffeine this morning.]

So, according to Caren's...contact? Before Drummond or whoever came around, witches lived in a separate part of the city because they were considered the dangerous ones. They said they treated the witches fairly and I'm pretty sure it'd be hard to treat people worse than how Dorch was when we got there, but, uh, maybe take that part with a grain of salt?

[And of course, in the midst of Prompto trying to explain, he’s interrupted by the menace in the background.]

This also could have been centuries ago so- no, I don't want tea. I don't feel like being drugged today, thank you!

That's not what-- [He lets it go. It's not that important right now. He plucks a ladle away from Caren.] It sounds as though they avoided the consequences of full moons without Bonds, but still engaging with one another.

[Prompto is just gonna ignore all that going on in the background. This is important. And also Ozy can handle Caren better than he can, let’s be real.]

They also told Caren about where Monsters and Witches came from, according to Dorchacht's lore, and what the Cwyld is...sort of. At least why it's a thing.

It's different from what they tell us here. According to their story, the Sisters freed the monsters from the True Fae and...Ozymandias! Don't put my knives there!

[And there she goes, back into the background. Specifically, onto the counter to save her knives. Her efforts are near-immediately spoiled as Ozymandias loops an arm around her middle and tosses her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.]

You're only going to confuse everyone worrying about something like that right now. If you’re not going to rest, at least focus. [He brings Caren back into view, setting her down, but keeping a firm arm wrapped around her. It would probably be a very nice hug under other circumstances.] What Caren was trying to say is that the True Fae then angered the Sisters by teaching humans magic. Thus, they created the Cwyld as punishment for their insolence.

Prompto, I trust you can manage from here. I'm going to remove the temptation to continue trying to cook.

[He barely waits for an answer before opting this time to at least princess carry Caren.

Prompto, meanwhile, stares in utter bafflement as they go off because that sure is a Witch princess carrying a freaking Chimera. Just for a moment, though, before he turns back to the watch.]

Yeah, what Ozy said. Anyway, uh. That was a lot, but there were other things Caren’s contact mentioned, but this is already pretty nuts so...any questions?

[[Prompto, Ozymandias, Caren. All three are available for questions!]]

Comments

[fiddlestick]

I know. The more you indulge it, the worst it gets. It's kinda like a spoiled child that way. And unfortunately, ignoring it doesn't do the trick either - then it throws tantrums to try to get your attention.

But there are ways to manage it. We can try those, okay?

[showsnopiety]

...all right.

I'm going to have to take a nap as part of it, aren't I?

[fiddlestick]

Aha...eventually, yeah.

But not just yet. Just hold on one moment- [There's the sound of him moving around, before he puts on a record with calming violin music to play in the background.

Look he'd play music himself, but it's a hard to walk Caren through this and play at the same time]

Sorry, I always find this easier to do with music. So the first thing we do...is take slow deep breaths. Inhale for ten seconds, and then exhale for ten.

[showsnopiety]

Ah-

[She does love music. So it's startling, but welcome , even as she nods.]

No, it's fine.

[But slow deep breaths? Al right. She takes in that deep breath, shaking a little as she inhales then exhales, slow and measured.]

[fiddlestick]

[Good for the love of music, as all help sessions with Elliot involve music its just a law]

Yeah...that's good. Keep going, nice and slow, a few more times.

[And after a bit, as he does some himself to lead]

Feel any difference?

[It'll be small probably, but breathing does tend to help a lot.]

[showsnopiety]

[It's the Elliot music law.

But she keeps it up, listening to the instructions, and trying to breathe.]

A little?

[She's honest, as always.]

I feel a little...shaky? Physically.

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot nods, even though she can't see it. It's a good thing that Caren is as honest as she is, because it does make stuff like that easier]

Yeah, that's pretty normal. You have been running yourself pretty hard.

[That isn't judgmental sounding, just stating the fact of it.]

Alright, so next part...we're going to talk about your fears, but first...I want you to think of someone you find reassuring. A friend, a family member, maybe even a celebrity you like. Just someone you can trust to be supportive.

Think of them hard enough so you can visualize them and hear their voice. They're gonna be here to support you, even if it's just in your head. Okay?

[showsnopiety]

[She may be a menace and a gremlin, but she's an honest one.

And a confused one. Someone she trusts to be supportive. Supportive...huh?]

I suppose you...Prompto...Ozymandias. Why would I think a celebrity would support me?

They wouldn't have a reason to care.

[fiddlestick]

Ahah...well it's less about them having a reason, and more if it's like a radio host who you find comforting to listen to. Or someone you always admired.

Point is... the person can be anyone, even someone that's not here. For me, I usually imagine my best friend back home.

[showsnopiety]

Oh, I see. My apologies, and thank you for the clarification.

I know who now. I'm ready.

[More or less.]

[fiddlestick]

Haha, it's no problem.

Alright... now, here comes the hard part. I want you to examine what your fears are saying, little by little. But instead of feeding into them, use that reassuring voice to look at them more rationally ... shine a light on them, in other words.

Like...sometimes, I get really nervous when one of my violin strings snap, because my fears tell me it's a bad omen. But I know Rean would say it's not an omen and it doesn't say anything about me, I just need to replace the string.

[showsnopiety]

[She made a quiet noise, and squirmed where she sat. Fears...fears...huh.]

I...you're correct. This is difficult.

[fiddlestick]

I know...it takes some getting used to. But I'm right here, we're safe.

[Maybe this is over the communicator, but he still wants to emphasize that.]

Let's try going through a couple together.

Are you scared of the Rathmores?

[showsnopiety]

Yes...right. Safe.

[She doesn't really feel it, but she'll try for his sake.]

Them? No. They weren't special.

[fiddlestick]

[Hmm...interesting]

The other nobles then?

[showsnopiety]

No. The only thing that makes them scary is the ability to fund a recreation.

A better one.

[fiddlestick]

So you're afraid it'll happen again, even though the ones who did the first one are dead?

[showsnopiety]

They've vandalized my home, they've harassed me and others on the street.

There's nothing to stop them or others from turning on us and using us to vent their frustrations.

They're not as shocked as they pretend to be. They're just regretting the Rathmores were caught with their pants down.

[fiddlestick]

Not all of them are like that, Caren. And for the ones who are ... I think the fear of imprisonment or execution will be enough to stop most of them.

[He won't promise it will always be safe. He knows that's not always the case. ]

So that leaves a small few. What reasonable things can we do to help protect against them?

[showsnopiety]

...murder isn't reasonable?

[CAREN.]

[fiddlestick]

No, that's definitely a crime.

[showsnopiety]

It's just a reasonable presumptive self defense.

[fiddlestick]

So you're going to murder any local that looks at you funny or says something mean?

Is that really reasonable Caren?

[showsnopiety]

No.

That's why it's a joke.

[fiddlestick]

Caren...

You're trapping your friends in their rooms at night. It's a little hard to tell what's a joke right now.