Fallen Prince

┘ℑ┌  Once the hand was offered to the Infernian he stared at it for but a moment, before he started to move his own hand rather slowly at first. Before outright gripping Ravus hand as the fire around his body suddenly made itself known, spilling out over the exposed skin of the other’s hand the object he was playing in question began to ‘burn’ like hot iron. Without letting go it was as if Ifrit awaited some cue before releasing the other man’s hand, it appeared a rather colorful gem was left in the wake of noticeable burns and a flame still dancing off it. 

Casting a sheen of red about the room they stood within, one might even call it beautiful if not for the pain the rite brought about. Most would cower away knowing some intense pain would be involved of having a gem shard 'embedded’ within their hand, thus the lack of warning the Astral gave. 

❛Thou shall be thy caller, thou shall merely ponder and I shall cometh to thee, thy hand shall still be used as if no harm has cometh to thou.❜

Some underlying fear of fire, one Ravus never realized he had, reared its ugly head the moment Ifrit made contact with him. Memories of Tenebrae swallowed by flame flooded him and phantom pains coursed their way up his Magitech arm. Searing pain shot through him but he refused to let go. To keep himself silent Ravus grit his teeth and looked away as the object in his hand heated up and seemed to embed into his palm.

┘ℑ┌  ❛Doth thou see no other here?❜ A very monotone esque question, coupled with quite the stare at that too. Within this plane of darkness, no other form of life could be found besides those currently inside, many have tried to transverse this place. Only to vanish from this world due to the magic rejecting their presence, only those who this horrible prison deemed worthy may enter albeit not effortlessly. 

Just as the Astral was going to take the prolonged silence as a no, judging by how the grip upon the hilt of his sword tightened the other finally spoke. Upon the answer, Ifrit’s hand left the sword’s hilt rather slowly, clearly, he was still unsure of this but had to accept it now. Raising his hand the Astral reached into his coat, rummaging around before holding a closed hand out to Ravus as a means of saying: Give me your hand.

┘ℑ┌  A quiet stare met the other upon hearing the question presented to the Astral, one would have to think about such a decision like this. Yet, he already had a thing in mind ever since he saw this strange man, with the false arm that cleared all those obstacles within this vast pit of hell… ❛Thou shall serve thy Astral.❜ Those were the terms that he would comply with on the matter, if not then he could easily do away with this mortal man. A simple flick or touch would send him back outside, while Ifrit could not leave such a dreadful place he could ’purge’ it of other living things so to speak. Call it … Rejecting them.

​┘ℑ┌  ❛…❜ So this man did understand how he came to live in this dark recess that was nothing like his old home, there were days where the Infernian longed to see the sun again. After so many years he had all but forgotten about how it felt and what it even looked like, this was a perfect chance to leave. Yet, the words about this so-called ‘king of light’ made the matter much more disputable, he would have to make a pact with a child who clearly knew nothing and could likely not handle his power. ❛… If I am to leave here with thou, then let it be known that I will serve no such man.❜ Ifrit still clearly had a huge distrust and such thing has left him bitter, this place was awful and he would leave it any day if the magic did not prevent him from doing so.

┘ℑ┌  The fact that the other did not reach for his blade showed how smart he was if they fought, there was no way the other could ever even hope to win. Even if Ifrit was no serious it would play out the same, upon hearing that mankind needed the Astrals again his gaze turned by far colder than it was moments before. It was as if the Infernian were staring straight through the others very soul, funny, how humans revolted against him when they sat fit and now they come crawling back for help. ❛Free me?❜ That tone was less than welcoming, while he wanted to get out of this boring place to be commanded like a dog at some supposed kings whim… No. Once he was kind, once he gave mankind his fire and they revealed him, but after that betrayal… 

❛Thou doth not know my story, or thou would know how my presence came to be within this pit of hell.❜

┘ℑ┌  Oh, what’s this some mortal had dared to enter such a place like this, not only willingly but stateing to be here on behalf of his sister the Oracle no less. Ifrit could feel the old blood running through this man as well, only by far weaker than that of the girl’s presence which he could feel ‘miles’ away. What he was doing here and no her he could take a guess from the many 'obstacles’ along the path, after being imprisoned here for many years he scoffed at such poor Parkor it was too easy! 

Now here be this many covered in many injuries from no doubt falling and receiving the spike treatment, this fact bemused the Infernian by the expression on pale features. ❛Pray-tell, what brings thou here to a place of such darkness and despair?❜ It was clear that the Astral was on full guard with how his hand rested upon the hilt of a sheathed sword, if this man were to attack then he would show no mercy just as man-kind showed him.

↯ ℘ ↯  An action akin to a child followed by Prompto’s fingerless gloved-clad hand gripping the fabric of the other’s jacket, Prompto was still unsure just how ’okay’ Ravus was with the certain amount of touching so he always only did the most minimal possible. It was good to hear that the Empire was not tossing Ravus out like some dogs rag toy to all the enemies they have certainly accumulated, though he was still unhappy with how they treated the other in the first place and how dangerous they were. 

… 

If only the blond was taller than he was, ah well just being a little bit close like this is good enough he supposed. ❛Have you eaten anything yet? I managed to scamper off with some food when Iggy was not looking, see over there.❜ Prompto pointed out a blanket underneath a nicely shaded tree, along with what appeared to be a duffle bag of sorts no doubt containing the food he spoke of.

Prompto was so easy for the fallen Prince to read. He could see the want for more physical contact and he wasn’t one to deny those he cared about. His features were graced with a smile though it was small. Even with the tight grip to his sleeve Ravus was able to shift out of it and place his arm around the smaller man long enough to press a kiss to his head.

↯ ℘ ↯  Prompto let out a small breath of air upon hearing that the Empire was not here and that, Ravus would have said no in the first place after receiving the text the blond sent to his phone. Visibly relaxing as all the tension fled from his body a smile now replaced the nervous look, though he was still a little embarrassed admittedly. ❛Good! Good..good…❜ Crystal blue gaze rising to look up at the other man’s face, God he was so tiny compared to Ravus it almost hurt! 

A hand reached out to softly touch the arm that had not been replaced by machinery, he had learned that the other did not like to have it touched so he would abide by that. ❛They have not thrown you in any terrible danger, have they?❜ If he could reach Prompto would have touched the other’s face, but… That wasn’t going to happen anytime soon he would have to ’strain’ to maintain contact.

↯ ℘ ↯  A silent gaze was left upon the other man with quite a bit of intensity, mostly from the blond’s remembrance of how the other shoved Gladio back with such inhuman power with just one arm. Boy, what a coward like flinch he showed back then thinking about it now it was kinda–okay very–embarrassing. A hand reached up to rub the back of his neck a little likely due to the fact Ravus towered over him, being the smallest guy in the group (and seemingly in general) was hard on his neck. 

❛A–Are you sure this is, okay?❜ There’s that nervous little stutter he sometimes got, now was not the time for such a thing! No one else was around it was just the two of them after all, Prompto had snuck away from the camp as Noctis and the other’s fished it was easy with everyone backseat fishing keeping the prince going.

@lupusalba