Noct's Apartment; Insomnia, Lucis; Eos. Sunday Afternoon [12/27].

[hashtag_chocobro]

There had been a little bit of redecorating around the crown prince of Insomnia's apartment over the weekend, redecorating all around quite possibly the best painting in the entire multiverse, of Noctis hanging from his sword from the top of the Citadel while the world spun around him, and there was definitely a singing fish and a burrito blanket featured heavily, as any great piece of art should have.

And Prompto had seen it probably a million times since Nina installed it, but he still couldn't help pausing every once in a while as they were all hanging out, and just sort of...marveling.

"It's almost hard to think that I know the people who painted that," he commented, not for the first time, shaking his head a moment before popping a chip into his mouth and trying to go back to focus on the game he was currently kicking Noct's ass in.

"It is a bit of a masterpiece, isn't it?" Ignis commented from behind the counter in the kitchen, where he was diligently putting dinner together for the lot of them. "Shame that it's hidden up here where so few people will even be able to bask in its glory. Perhaps I should talk to someone about having it moved down to the Citadel? I'm thinking the main entrance hall..."

"Don't. You. Dare," growled Noctis, doing a poor job of sounding intimidating with it. "It's fine where it is."

"I don't know, Noct," Gladio said as he placidly flipped the page of his book. "Iggy's got a point, it would look great hanging in the dining hall, too, maybe."

"Haven't we already been over this?"

"Only about five times every day since you got it, buddy!"

But Prompto really hoped they were joking about that. Not for Noct's sake, though, but rather for his own, because that painting was huge and a pain to move, so he'd be perfectly fine if it stayed right where it was.

He was pretty sure Noctis would miss it if it was moved, too.

[[ open for chocobrothers, chocosisters, chococalls and chocotexts! ]]

Comments

[i_hate_beans]

"You all heard the lady," said Noctis, with his own loftiness and a small nod of solidarity toward Nina. "It stays where it was intended to be."

"I don't know," Gladio ventured. "Just imagine it in the throne room..."

"Or a museum," suggested Ignis.

"Or on a billboard right over the gate to the city!" was Prompto's grinning contribution, then he shrugged. "And it's just a fighting game." Which he figured she wouldn't really be into, but he felt he should have at least asked. "I figured Noct might enjoy not getting his butt handed to him for a little while."

"Maybe I'm letting you win," said Noctis. "That's my Christmas present to you."

"Oh, yeah, sure, buddy. That is definitely it!"

[bookbeltof_love]

"I'm good, thanks," she said, smiling. It was nice to have been asked.

"If you can tolerate me in your kitchen, Ignis, I'll set the table????????"

[chef_chocobro]

"That would actually be very helpful, Nina," said Ignis, because it was certainly more help than he expected to get out of any of the others, "thank you. Perhaps when you're done, you can also help me with this sauce while I finish with the vegetables."

Since he was apparently going to be teaching this sort of thing now, he might as well get a head start...

[bookbeltof_love]

Nina looked deeply dubious at that.

She, ah, was not going to be the greatest of students, through no fault of her own.

"Maybe," she allowed, wandering over to get dishes out. "Though, like, you're going to have to explain why the sauce and the vegetables are being made separately..........."

[chef_chocobro]

"The sauce," Ignis explained as if the mun actually had any idea on the specifics of what he might be even making and wasnt' just being totally lazy right now, "is for the meat, and I plan to let the flavors of the vegetables on their own compliment it. We are thankfully well past the days when I had to hide all of the vegetables with sauces and smothering just to get Noctis to actually eat them."

"Well past seems a bit generous," chuckled Gladio from his chair.

Noctis made a face. "Just as long as it's not beeaans."

"Yes, we are all very aware of your particular disdain for legumes..."

[bookbeltof_love]

"Like, I'm not sure any of you would survive in my world," she said, amused. "No processed anything!!!!!!!!"

Not even coffee. Sorry, Ignis.

[chef_chocobro]

Ignis, who did not even think of coffee because he felt coffee would be an absolute given no matter what, passed a glance around the room at his three compatriots, before his gaze settled back on Nina.

"I like to think some of us might fare better than others in a situation like that. It might even be good for them. Reset their palates beyond Cup Noodle^TM and fast food burgers..."

[bookbeltof_love]

Nina grinned at him as began setting the table.

"The question is, would they survive the detox???????????"

[hashtag_chocobro]

Prompto lifted his hand high in the air before it returned to his controller.

"I survived a whole year on just salad," he pointed out. "I could totally handle it."

"So could I," Gladio said with confidence before he snorted a laugh, "but why would I want to?"

[bookbeltof_love]

"Noct??????????"

[i_hate_beans]

"Tsch."

Way to call him out on trying to slip out of this without answering, Nina!

"I guess I could," he shrugged. "...if I had to."

And there were no beans.

[bookbeltof_love]

She laughed, bright and happy.

"I have faith in you," she said, though it was more faith in the fact that Ignis wouldn't allow Noctis to starve himself to death due to the only options being healthier food. "Besides, healthy food tastes better!!!!!!!!"

[chef_chocobro]

"Maybe," said Ignis, with a faintly conspiratorial tone that made it clear he was mostly just saying this to Nina, "if they hear that coming from you, they might be willing to actually believe it."

"We'll believe it when we taste it, Igs," Prompto countered with a snicker. "What's that they always say? The proof is in the pudding? Maybe literally, in this case!"

[bookbeltof_love]

“He’s not even good at lying,” she said, with a sigh. “They’re going to believe me about as much as they believe you—-if I’m lucky!!!!!!!!!!”

So no.