Prompt Post

[ffxv_kinkmod]

 Welcome to Round Two of the FFXV Kink Meme!

CLOSED for prompts | OPEN for fills

Please have a look at the extended rules here.

The important rules in short:

• Post anonymously.
• Negative comments on other people's prompts (kink-shaming, pairing-bashing etc.) and personal attacks of any kind will not be tolerated.
• Don't be an asshole.
• One prompt per comment. Warnings for common triggers and squicks are encouraged, but not required.
• Prompts should follow the format: Character/character, prompt.
• Keep prompts to a reasonable length; prompts should not be detailed story outlines.
• Fills should have the word "Fill:" at the start of the subject line.
• Otherwise please avoid changing the subject line.

Please direct any questions or report any problems to the Ask a mod post.

Prompt, write, draw, comment, and most importantly have fun!

(You can also check out our Pinboard for Filled or Unfilled prompts)

UPDATE 3/2/2017: Per the Rules thread: Do not hijack prompts. If someone posts a prompt for one pairing, don't comment to say "I want to see this for [other kink]" - post your own prompt for the other kink). To that end, if you are unclear on a prompter's kinks/DNWs, please feel free to ask about them. If you ask about kinks/DNWs or to clarify a prompt, you are in no way obligated to fill it.

Additionally: Do not repost prompts from the previous round in their entirety. By this we mean copying and pasting prompts without any changes. If you see a similar prompt to a prior prompt, that is not a repost. Obviously prompts that are reposted per the above rule do not count either. (After all, they will be similar but not the same.)

ROUND TWO IS NOW CLOSED FOR PROMPTS!

Go ahead and keep on filling away, we will open up round three for prompts at 0000 EST, Saturday April 22, 2017.

Comments

Re: [Fill: 2/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

===

Every morning, as he had for the past four years, Prompto collected his lists.

First he visited Chancellor Izunia in the parlor, bearing a tray with tea and cream and scones. Then he tapped on the door of Commander Caligo's study, to deliver half a grapefruit and the sugar jar. Finally, he sought out Commander Loqi in his chambers, with a platter of toast and bacon.

Prompto brought his lists downstairs, where he read them in the kitchen while he took his vitamins. His allotted rations included just one meal each day, and experience had taught him that eating it in the morning would leave him miserably hungry by mid-afternoon. So he drank a tall glass of water while he examined his chores, trying to convince his stomach that it was sufficient.

Then he set to work.

First, he collected the breakfast dishes – scoured and dried and put them away. Then he moved on to his allotted household chores: washing the laundry, and scrubbing the floors, and dusting the shelves. Next was upkeep: mending the clothes and patching the roof and weeding the garden. By noon, it was time for the heavy labor, and he spent two long hours chopping firewood and gathering stones for the ground walls.

After that, he ran through his training regimen – a strict series of drills that all MTs were required to perform daily, regardless of assignment.

At last came the lists. They changed from day to day, sometimes each twenty items long. Depending on what they contained, Prompto put in the requisition orders for their supplies, or maintained the Imperial machinery, or took on some of the commanders' own duties. When Chancellor Izunia was feeling particularly uncharitable, he called Prompto down to work with him in the estate's basement.

The metal table there was made of brushed steel, and there were straps on it designed to restrain. Chancellor Izunia had stretched him out on it, once, when he'd dropped a 2,000-gil crystal champagne flute while washing it.

Prompto never wanted repeat the experience.

And so he worked, clumsy but earnest, with a very real fear for what failing to finish might bring.

It would have been a reasonable amount of work for a crew of five, but Prompto saw to it all alone. He never seemed to have enough time – slept in snatches, a bare handful of hours a night, and woke before dawn to repeat it all again.

Those precious few hours were his escape. When he closed his eyes, Prompto drifted away, far beyond the walls of the estate, far even from the gleaming metal and harsh lights of Niflheim. He dreamed of bright stars and soft fabrics; of meals that comprised more than protein bars and vitamin supplements; of a mysterious boy with dark hair and a fond smile.

They were not things Prompto should have known anything about. He'd had little enough experience with life's simple pleasures, in his time on Eos. And yet, they came to him all the same, tentative and trembling, like a bird landing on his shoulder.

The good dreams, with their soft edges and warm light, arrived each night with a permanent fixture: a small white creature, mostly ears and eyes.

It sat beside him in his dreams, and it listened as he spoke. It let him pet its head, and it climbed upon his shoulders, and it pressed its small, wet nose against his cheek.

They were sweet, these dreams, for as long as they lasted.

But they were dreams; that was all.

===

Once upon a time, there was a boy whose father loved him very much.

He loved the boy's wry smile. He loved the boy's odd, teasing sense of humor. He even loved that the boy, at nineteen years of age, still plucked vegetables out of his meals like a picky child of five.

But he did not love the boy's isolation.

He was a proud father, an attentive father, but he was also the king, and he could not be there for his son as often as he might have liked. The boy was lonely; the king could see as much. He had no friends, no confidants. His favorite pursuits were solo ones: hours spent fishing in the gardens or attached to a video game controller in his room.

So the king went to his advisors, and asked what he ought to do. "Have the boy take a wife, sire," they replied. "A wife will keep him company."

But the king knew his son better than that. He knew that Noctis would chafe if he was forced to wed, and he did not heed the advice.

Instead, he went to his son's advisor, the clever young count who always had Noctis' best interests at heart.

"Hold a series of balls, Your Highness," Ignis suggested. "Invite guests who are unattached to the court. Perhaps he will find companionship among these new acquaintances."

It was an excellent suggestion.

The king conceded, and he appointed Ignis to plan the events. Before the week was out, all the kingdom knew: each month for the next year, the Citadel would host a celebration the likes of which Lucis had never seen.

Re: [Fill: 2/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

This is both the saddest and greatest thing..... <3

Re: [Fill: 2/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

Ahh, thank you. It wasn't meant to be so terrible to poor Prompto, but I apparently can't resist being terrible to poor Prompto. ^^

Re: [Fill: 2/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

I wonder if, instead of Prompto having to sneak out to a ball, Ardyn will make that one of his tasks...

Re: [Fill: 2/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

The answer to that lies in the next section. :)

I decided to go with a fairy godmother figure, since OP wanted something similar to the traditional tale.

Re: [Fill: 3/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

When Chancellor Izunia first mentioned a ball hosted by the King of Lucis, Prompto paid it no mind.

Such things were for people, not MTs; besides, he had no time for distraction.

It was not until the Chancellor announced that he and the commanders would attend, for the sake of diplomatic relations, that the affair became Prompto's concern. A ball would mean ironed formalwear and a transport in presentable condition. A ball would mean a whole slew of small disasters, on top of the ones Prompto faced every day.

He worked himself ragged, during the leadup to the ball. He saw to every need, ensured that every small detail was in place. The clothes, pressed and freshly laundered, were laid out on the beds of the Chancellor and both commanders. Dinner was served precisely at 4:30, plenty of time in advance. The MK-Helios model, designed to seat four, had been scrubbed until it gleamed, all of its parts in working order, and it was parked out front at half past six, waiting for its passengers.

When at last Chancellor Izunia's retinue stepped into their gleaming metal transport, Prompto did not think to be jealous. He did not pause to wonder if he, too, might go to the Citadel. He only crossed an item off his list and turned to the next.

It was half an hour later, midway through polishing the stairway banisters, when the sound reached his ears: a small squeak, oddly familiar.

Prompto turned to see what had made the noise, cloth still in hand. Then he dropped the cloth in a rumpled pile on the hall floor.

He stood for a long moment, frozen and staring. For there, curled up on the bottom step, was the small, white creature from his dreams.

As he watched, it squeaked again. The air around its head shimmered and grew hazy, and letters appeared in a cheery block font. "Hi, Prompto!" the words read. "Are you ready to go to the ball?"

Prompto opened his mouth. He closed it again. He said, "This is a dream, right?"

The creature squeaked, and more text appeared: "You're awake. We'd better get you dressed, though. The longer we take, the more you're going to miss."

Prompto didn't move. He was, quite understandably, still convinced that he was fast asleep. He said, "But my lists."

The creature squeaked a third time. "Shh, don't tell anyone," the text read. "I can do magic." Beside the words, hovering in the air, an image of a laughing face appeared.

It didn't wait for a reply. It only hopped up on the boy's shoulder, as it had so many times in dreams. When its small, wet nose brushed his cheek, a wave of something surged through him, powerful and clear. Prompto grabbed for the banister – missed, and sat down hard on the bottom step, head in his hands.

The creature squeaked at him again – nudged him, more insistently this time. And Prompto lifted his head to discover that he had been transformed. In fact, the whole world had been transformed, the usual blur of everyday shapes crisped and sharpened by the pair of glasses that now sat across the bridge of his nose. Through them, he saw all the rest.

In the place of his dreary grey work uniform, he wore a shirt of a delicate, pale yellow silk, beset with a row of tiny buttons. The collar was smart; the sleeves were trim and well-fitted, long enough to hide his barcode from view. Over the shirt sat a brocade vest in cream and gold, elaborate embroidery picking out a flowing motif not unlike the shapes of clouds in the dawn sky. His pants, slim and flattering, were a cream to match the vest.

Gone, too, were his worn and battered work boots. In their place were a pair of slippers as light as the rays of the sun. Commander Loqi had several pairs similar; they were all the rage in the Imperial court, these days, simple shoes that hugged the foot without the aid of laces. Prompto's were sleek and stylish, pale leather with gold thread.

He reached for one, wondering – drew up short at the sight of his own hand. It was clean, the nails well-groomed, the palm free of blisters or splinters. When he ran his fingers through his hair, it wasn't a haphazard bird's nest, but instead was carefully styled, slightly stiff with gel.

The creature watched him with wide, luminous eyes. "You like?" said the text above its head.

Prompto swallowed, throat tight. No one had ever done anything this nice for him. "It's incredible," he said.

"Great!" squeaked the creature, the text above it providing a ready translation. "Time to get moving, then. Just make sure you're at the base of the stairs by midnight, and I'll get you home."

"Wait," said Prompto. "The Chancellor will be there. If he sees me –"

The creature was not listening. The text above its head shimmered and changed. "Say hi to Noct for me!"

Then the world shimmered and changed, and Prompto was standing before the Citadel.

Re: [Fill: 3/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

OP here. And oh my goodness! I honestly didn't think this prompt would be filled, so seeing the response it got was super exciting! And I love the story! The background and acronym are really clever. And I love that Carbuncle is the "fairy godmother" figure as well! This is great! Thank you so much A!A (sent this to my best friend so she can squee over it too)

Re: [Fill: 3/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you so much, OP, for the kind words! I'm having a lot of fun writing this, so thank you for the great prompt, as well! I really enjoyed coming up with a background for this story to work with. :)

Re: [Fill: 3/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

This is so good omg. Carbuncle is the cutest fairy godmother.

Re: [Fill: 3/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

Carbuncle is the cutest everything. Glad you're enjoying it so far! :)

Re: [Fill: 3/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

omg The glasses. The glasses will hide his identity! lol

Re: [Fill: 3/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

...I had to. I had to do the thing. XD

That said, the poor boy also just needed glasses. Let him see. :(

Re: [Fill: 4/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

The Citadel was a masterpiece in glass and steel, the sheer scale of it overwhelming. It reflected back all the lights of Insomnia, tiny twinkling points of brightness that glittered in the dark. The plush red carpet that stretched away into the high arc of the entryway ferried in couples, stunning ball outfits as brightly colored as the feathers of an exotic birdbeast.

And Prompto stood there, at the base of the steps, gaping up at it all like an idiot.

It took him five solid minutes before he could convince himself to move, and with each step, he became more certain that he was dreaming. No place this beautiful could actually exist. There was no reality in which someone would hold the door wide for him and say, "Right this way, sir."

If he thought the outside was lovely, it was nothing compared to the interior. The ceiling was hung with a chandelier, brilliant crystal that glittered and glowed and cast warm light across the room. The floor was dark, polished stone; the pillars were carved with elaborate attention to detail; strains of music, ethereal and lovely, drifted on the air.

There in the center, couples swayed together and came apart with the grace of swirling birdbeasts. There along one wall, a table stretched for what seemed like miles, every square inch laden with elaborate and enticing plates of food. There in the corner, some thoughtful soul had set out plush high-backed chairs, upholstered in rich black fabric, set apart from the noise and the crowd. Prompto, overwhelmed, picked his way toward them.

He sank into the one nearest the wall, the one that blocked most of the room from his sight, and he set his elbows on his knees and his head on his hands, squeezing his eyes shut. He was shaking a little, breathing like he'd just finished his training exercises. If this was a dream, the sheer scale of it dwarfed anything the white creature had shown him before.

He was just beginning to wonder, with a dawning sense of panic, what precisely he was going to do if this was not a dream, when a voice spoke beside him. It was a wry voice, not unkind, and it said, "I know how you feel. Kind of too much, isn't it?"

Prompto opened his eyes. And there, seated in the chair beside his own, a nearly-empty plate of food across his knees, was a boy about his own age.

His face was pale and elegant, like a sculpture of marble carved by a skilled hand. His hair was a soft, dark halo, and his suit was crisp and fashionable, all blacks and charcoal greys. He looked strangely familiar.

Prompto glanced around briefly, startled, looking to see who the boy was addressing – realized, belatedly, that there was no one but him.

"It's, uh," said Prompto. "It's really something."

The boy snorted. "Let me guess. Not from Insomnia?"

Prompto shifted in his chair, suddenly aware of how much an idiot he must have seemed, from the moment he set foot onto the Citadel steps. "That obvious, huh? This – this is all pretty new." He faltered to a stop, unsure what to say. He knew only, with a sudden, awkward urgency, that he wanted to say something. He couldn't remember the last time someone had talked to him for any reason besides giving orders. "What's your name?" he decided, at last.

The boy fixed him with a flat, disbelieving look. Then, slowly, the expression thawed into something milder. "You're really not from around here, are you?"

"Sorry," said Prompto, but the boy was pushing on already.

"No, it's fine, just – you know what, nevermind. Call me Noct."

He knew the name. It was the one the white creature had called out after him, just before it sent him on his way. But how do you say, "We might have a friend in common. Do you know a talking cat-fox?"

So instead Prompto said, "Noct, huh? I like it."

Noct shrugged, noncommittal. "How bout you?"

"Me?" Prompto blinked back at him.

"Yeah." The space between Noct's eyebrows creased slightly. "Your name."

Prompto was silent for perhaps a beat too long. Protocol insisted that he give his designation number, identify himself as an MT unit, and ask if the inquirer had any orders.

But Noct hadn't asked for a number. He'd asked for a name.

"Prompto," said Prompto.

He waited for someone to call him out on it. He waited for Chancellor Izunia to appear, deceptively unthreatening smile in place, and take him down to the metal table in the basement. But a moment passed, and then another. Nothing happened, and Prompto let go of the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Re: [Fill: 4/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

Of course the lonely boy prince would find the only other lonely boy at the party. Regis, when he finally manages to spot Noct, is going to be ecstatic.

And then furious, when said boy disappears off the face of the earth and leaves his son more sosponsenr than before. Hehehe I love this so much!

Re: [Fill: 4/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

They kind of need each other, poor lonely boys. Regis, when he finally shows, will indeed be ecstatic to find out that his son's opening up to someone. :)

Re: [Fill: 4/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

OP here. Wow that description was so vivid! *o* I could just imagine everything... And yay! First meeting with Noctis! I loved that bit at the end about names vs designation numbers. It's good for Prompto to at least have a small moment where he's not answering to somebody. Even the prince XD

Re: [Fill: 4/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

Ahh, thank you! I waxed a little poetic on the narrative there, haha. I was trying to keep this in simple fairy tale style, but it's veering all over the place. Oops. ^^

And yes, I really wanted Prompto to get to experience what it's like to -not- be treated as an MT all the time. (And for Noct to experience what it's like to not be treated as a prince all the time, conversely.)

Re: [Fill: 5/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

"So where are you from, anyway?" Noct said.

Prompto fidgeted with the buttons on the cuffs of his sleeves. "Niflheim, originally. But we moved, awhile back."

"You're in Lucis now?"

"The outskirts," Prompto said. His lips curled up into a smile. "It's pretty. Everything's so green."

"I've never been to Niflheim," Noct offered – then laughed softly, when Prompto scrunched up his nose.

"You're not missing much," said Prompto. "Metal and concrete, far as the eye can see."

He might have added more – was warming up to the unusual notion that someone was willing to listen when he spoke – when a voice rang out beside them. "Am I interrupting?"

Prompto jumped – twisted in his chair. But it wasn't the Chancellor or either of the commanders at all. It was a somber boy in a button-down shirt, immaculate tie, black vest, and glasses.

"Sorry," said Prompto. "I'll go." And he was halfway to his feet when Noct caught at his wrist to pull him back down.

"Stay," he said. "It's fine. This is Ignis, my –" He hesitated. "The one who made the tarts at the buffet."

"The tarts?" Prompto asked.

"Indeed," said Ignis. "Such a notable act that it seems to have become my title."

Noct fixed him with a long, pointed look. Then he turned back to Prompto. "Did you try them? They're pretty good."

"Try the tarts," Prompto echoed, blankly. He felt like he was missing something important here, not the least of which was why anyone would ask whether he'd dared to sample the food. He wasn't allowed anything beyond his rations; that was common knowledge. Chancellor Izunia had been extremely displeased on the one occasion he'd caught Prompto snitching leftovers from a plate instead of putting them into the trash.

But he'd given Noct a name, and not a number.

And sure enough, Noct was reaching onto his own plate, where a single lonely tart remained. He held it out to Prompto. "Want to try?" When Prompto made no move to take it, he said, "Come on, just a bite. If you don't like it, you don't have to finish it."

So Prompto reached out to take the offering, aware in a distant kind of way that his hand was shaking.

He flashed his gaze to Ignis and then to Noct, half expecting this to be some sort of joke, but neither of them said a word. "Thanks," said Prompto, uncertain. Then he bit into the confection.

Pretty good, Prompto decided immediately, was the understatement of a lifetime.

The crust was flaky and buttery and rich. The filling was sweet and bright, topped with heavy cream and a small sprig of mint. It was the best thing he'd ever put in his mouth, ever, and even though Noct had said only one bite, Prompto crammed the rest in before he could think better of it.

He had it down in two hasty chews and an urgent swallow, then licked the crumbs from his fingers with great care. Already, his stomach was shifting, interested – wondering as it always did, in its hopeful way, whether he would send down anything more substantial, this time.

It made an inquisitive gurgle, and Prompto flushed, glancing up to see that Ignis and Noct were both watching him with intent expressions.

"They're, uh," said Prompto. "They're really good."

Ignis looked him over again, more thoroughly this time. At last he seemed to come to a conclusion. "I'll just fetch you another one then, shall I? We'll talk after the ball, Noct, if you don't mind."

Then he was gone, weaving his way through the gathered crowds.

"Sorry about that," Noct told him. "He doesn't really know how to unwind."

"No, he's fine," said Prompto, almost tripping over the words in his haste to get them out. "You're both fine. You're –"

Being so nice to me, he wanted to say, but the words caught somewhere in his throat. Instead he waved one hand, helplessly.

Noct snorted. "Forget it," he said.

But Prompto didn't want to forget it. He wasn't ever going to forget it: the plush velvet of the chair back, and the taste of tart on his tongue, and Noct's pleasant, mellow voice. He stared around him, trying to sear the image in his mind. If he never got another night like this one, he wanted something to hold onto.

Re: [Fill: 5/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

This is incredible. This is incredible. This entire fill is just so charming, and I've just read all the parts so far and smiled the entire way through. I love the fairytale style. I love Noct's '? are you serious?' reaction to being asked his name. I love poor suffering Prompto being overwhelmed by the smallest kindnesses. I love every second of this, and I sincerely hope you'll post it to AO3 when you're done so I can bookmark it.

Re: [Fill: 5/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

Ooooh my god, he's going to throw up all that rich food tho.... XD And meanwhile Ignis is like "Who is this anorexic boy Noct just befriended???"

I wonder if Carbuncle is going to show up to warn him he's about to turn back into a pumpkin, lol. Or maybe Loqi spots him? (Loqi seems most likely as the "target audience" of this ball)

Re: [Fill: 5/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

Uuurghhh poor hungry baby chocobo D':
I almost feel bad for prompting this, knowing he's gonna suffer before the happily ever after happens.
Almost. But then this amazing fill wouldn't exist.
I get the feeling Iggy's already figured out Prompto's not being fed well. I'm half expecting him to come back with a full plate.
-OP

Re: [Fill: 5/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

Ahaha! What must be going through their heads right now about this starving boy from Niflheim who is obviously not of the aristocracy.

Re: [Fill: 5/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

I'm normally a shameful Lurker on here, but this fill is just absolutely amazing. How all the characters talk, how Prompto's view on them lets us gauge those characters, without spoon feeding us their motivations or how they feel. it's all so painfully believable and wonderful. You've very talented.

Thank you so much! ;-;

Re: [Fill: 6/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

(Ugh, I am dumb. Please don't read that other Part 6, it is an earlier version of the file. Mod, if you happen by, would you mind deleting that for me? Sorry. -_-;)

===

"We should probably go find a spot for the fireworks," said Noct, some four hours later, apropos of nothing.

Prompto had heard of fireworks, of course – cultured discussion in passing, when Chancellor Izunia had guests at the estate. Accordo, apparently, was renowned for its firework displays. He hadn't known that any were planned for tonight.

"There's fireworks?" Despite the drowsy contentment that had settled over Prompto like a blanket, he perked up at this, setting aside his now-empty plate. It had been a gift from Ignis, laden with another tart and a small assortment of mini-sandwiches. With its contents now in his stomach, Prompto felt... euphoric might be an overstatement, but not by much. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so happy.

At first he'd been on edge, worried that the Chancellor would spot him.

But the ball, Noct explained early on, stretched throughout twenty of the Citadel's chambers. The chances that Chancellor Izunia would happen to glimpse Prompto in a secluded corner, hidden mostly behind a chair that dwarfed him – much less recognize his scruffy MT in fancy party-wear and spectacles at a distance – seemed less and less likely as the night crept onward.

"Sure," said Noct. "Dad likes them. They're set to start at midnight, so we've only got like five minutes."

Prompto was just opening his mouth to ask why Noct's father had any bearing on the entertainment – was he responsible for some of the festivities, as Ignis apparently was? – when the final sentence caught up to his brain.

"Wait," said Prompto. "Midnight?"

He was on his feet in half an instant, looking for the door.

"What is it?" Noct asked him. "What's wrong?"

"I've got to go," said Prompto, spotting the exit and making toward it.

Noct kept pace, just to his right. "Already?" he said. "But what about the show?"

Prompto felt a pang of – something. Longing, maybe. Regret. Some combination of both. "I can't stay," he said. "I'm sorry. I wish –"

It crashed over him like a wave, so sudden it nearly floored him. Tomorrow morning, he would wake up in his cramped little cubby by the hearth. He'd fix breakfast for everyone but himself, and no one would listen to him ramble on about how he liked spotting shapes in the clouds, or how much he wanted to see a real, live chocobo. No one would tell him about the best fishing spot at Galdin Quay, or elbow him amiably in the side, like they were sharing a secret.

"I wish I could stay," he finished, miserably.

"Well," said Noct. "You'll be here next month, won't you? I'll see you then?"

"What's next month?" said Prompto.

"The second ball."

Hope pounded in like a summer storm at the sudden possibility that there could be another night like this. A month from now, he could have a few more precious hours of light and laughter, somewhere with incredible food and people who called him by his name.

There was nothing in the world that Prompto wanted more. But he needed the cooperation of the dream-creature, and he wasn't sure if it would – or could – bring him a second time.

"I'll try," he said, with all the sincerity he could muster. "I swear, I'll try."

Noct nodded, reluctantly – pulled up short, just beside the entrance. He schooled his face into something smooth and cordial, and he gave Prompto a nod more polite than familiar. But the smile, when it came, was far more intimate. "See you then."

Prompto flashed him a grin in return, pure sunlight. He waved once, wide and exuberant. Then he dashed out the door and down the side stairs – tripped, lost a shoe, and had to go back for it.

Less than a minute later, midnight struck, and Prompto shimmered and blurred at the edges, overcome by the same dizzying sensation from before. He closed his eyes, hard, and when he opened them, he stood in his grey work clothes, streaked with dirt, in the kitchen of Chancellor Izunia's estate.

In his hand, he clutched three lists, and every item on them had been crossed off.

Re: [Fill: 5/?] Noctis/Prompto Cinderella AU

[(Anonymous)]

"This is Ignis, my –" He hesitated. "The one who made the tarts at the buffet."

"The tarts?" Prompto asked.

"Indeed," said Ignis. "Such a notable act that it seems to have become my title."
How is this fic so sad and so cute at the same time. Ignis Scientia, Master of Tarts.