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[ayes]

Steady as she goes! You've reached You Watanabe, so leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I possibly can! Talk to you soon! Byeeee~!

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[ayes]

[It's not that she's not meeting his eyes; she's kind of only half-facing him, looking more at the stove and the kettletop than anywhere near him. Though what he says does get her to turn and glance over her shoulder in his direction, even if not directly at him. It sounds... sort of similar to hers. Vaguely.] Really? What happened?

[punshots]

...We...fought back.

[ What else could they do? Even if it wasn't Noctis' destiny, they would have done it anyway, seeing the injustices wrought by the Empire that they had. Prompto doesn't really think of himself as some kind of renegade, an insurgent - he was just one guy who wanted to stick by his best friend and do the right thing for everyone. But even so, the choices he made during that time in his life were his most important. He could have left, could have abandoned the fight to lead a safer life. Gods know he didn't love spelunking in caves and fighting grotesque monsters. That's not why he did it. ]

There were a lot of times I wanted to give up. Times I...came really close to actually doing it. I know how to fight, but I'm not...I'm not a soldier, and there I was, right in the thick of it. I barely kept up, and I was in waaaaaaay over my head.

[ He shrugs casually, but there is definite weight to the slant of his shoulders. ]

But day by day, things just...got a little easier. I got a little stronger, I guess. I just had to let myself have enough time to learn all that, and figure out who I wanted to be in the world.

[panzersoldat]

[ She shouldn't have said that, because now he's getting ideas. Crazy ideas. Hopefully, he'll be able to find a tailor that's not her... ] They are fun to sing. I think I might have just found a second favorite music. [ Sorry, You, nothing tops the Hoff in Rein's heart. Nothing. But her little idol group is a close second. ] Maybe some time, we can sing them together, Ja? And you can teach me the dance that goes with it? I promise I'm a good learner.

[ayes]

[It makes her laugh, a little.] ...yeah, okay. I'd like that. I think I might have to adjust the choreography a little, though. Maybe you can't do all the moves?

[panzersoldat]

[ That laugh is totally what he's going for and he's definitely going to make sure to hear it again. ]

You are right. I'm probably not as flexible as an idol, but I will make up for it is energy to never give up until I have it right! So, whenever you want, I'll sing and dance with you.

[ayes]

I probably can't do a leapfrog over you, either... you're too tall for that! [She's just kinda smiling to herself, though.] Um, thanks, Mr. Reinhardt.

[ayes]

[She listens to him talk.

A few times, she thinks that maybe, what he's describing sounds like what she'd been going through. Wanting to give up. Feeling over her head.

The tea kettle whistles and she takes it off the heater.] That sounds like it was really hard.

...and also a little sad. [She says, quietly.] Did you want to fight? Is that who you wanted to be?

[punshots]

[ His eyes flicker to her for a moment as she takes the kettle off the heater before his gaze turns back to the floor, shaking his head slowly. ]

Nah. Not...not exactly, anyway. I wanted to be someone who could protect my friends. I...wanted to be the kind of person who would stand up and do something, even when...everything else seems lost.

[ayes]

[The sort of person who would stand up and do something. That does sound nice.] I just don't think I could hurt someone. I mean, maybe. But I don't know. [She hesitates.] Um, one of the kidnappers... got shot right next to me. I don't know him, and he was pretty terrible to me and the others, so it's not like he was a nice person. But I can't stop thinking about how he looked as he died. I-- I don't think I can do that to people, you know? So maybe I'm useless.

[punshots]

[ Prompto shakes his head slowly, morosely, allowing himself to look more tired than she's probably ever seen him before. It's not often he leaves himself so emotionally...bare, laying out his hurts like this, but he has to make sure she knows that everything he says is sincere, and that he knows where she's coming from. He's been there. ]

It's not...easy to take a life. It never should be. [ Prompto had shot and killed his creator, a man who had done unspeakably horrific things, and even that nearly tore him apart. ] You, you're not weak because you don't want to hurt people. That makes you stronger than you even know. Because it means...you'll find another way to fix things. A better way. One that's all your own.

[ And he believes she can. He really does. ]

[ayes]

[It is a change. She's used to seeing him so cheerful and outgoing, that seeing him this different is unusual.

Then again, they're both different than normal like this.] ...I guess.

But what if there's not a different way? What if there are people who've been kidnapped and this time everyone's counting on me to rescue them, but I can't?

It's not like I can-- make dresses or sing at the kidnappers, or anything.

[punshots]

I dunno. That might surprise 'em enough to give you an opening.

[ Okay, that's a little bit of a joke. His tone is lighter, but still sincere, and his smile warms somewhat. When he speaks again, however, he's serious once more. ]

Not everyone has to be on the front lines, You. There are a lot of ways to fight back that don't mean putting a weapon in your hands. Sometimes that means inspiring other people to go on, like with a song. Giving them something to smile about when everything else is going wrong. Or...back when everyone was getting sick, did you ever ask anyone how grateful they were for all the hard work you were doing? Because believe me, they were.

[ A beat, before he adds: ]

If...if you want to learn to shoot, I...I can teach you. But you don't have to to make a difference.

[ayes]

Maybe. [It's not a rejection, mind you. She can hear the truth in his words.

She just feels useless, even still.] But what if it comes down to just me one day, and I can't do it?

[She's quiet for a moment, and then she shakes her head.] But I don't want to learn how to shoot. I don't want to learn how to hurt people.

[punshots]

Then...you can't do it. Sometimes, the good guys lose.

[ He's witnessed it firsthand, when Noct had disappeared into the Crystal, when darkness had come to reign over Eos. They were supposed to protect people, supposed to save the world, and while there was still a prophecy to come to pass, for the time being, it had felt so very much like a loss. ]

But...you won't be alone. We'll all have each other's backs, for as long as we can.

[panzersoldat]

You could if I sat down on the ground! But you are right. It's probably best if we didn't try that. But I still want to do them with you. And who knows, maybe I can get you into a dirndl and teach you the Schuhplattler

[ayes]

...a what? Teach me the what?

[ayes]

[Sometimes the good guys lose. It makes her wince, a little... but it's true. They couldn't keep their school open, no matter how much they tried. Maybe that's a totally different level from this, but it's the same principle.] I guess you're right. ...but thanks for saying that, Prompto. [She manages a smile. It's a tired smile, barely a smile, but it is a smile.] Oh-- the tea! [She reaches out to grab the kettle with her bandaged hand, and then winces again.] Um, could you?

[punshots]

[ A smile is a smile, and even seeing her wear that small of one makes this difficult conversation worth it. He steps over towards her without a second of hesitation, taking the kettle in hand. ]

No sweat! [ He pours the tea into the cups, and actually manages to hit his mark, for the most part. Minimum spillage! ] And, You...anytime you need to talk to someone about this stuff, you know I'm always here to listen, right?

[ He won't ever pressure her into sharing anything she doesn't want to, but if she needs to talk...he's here. ]

[panzersoldat]

A dirndl is a traditional dress that German girls wear. It's very cute. And the Schuhplattler is a dance. Also a tradition. It's also called the shoe slapping dance and I was the 5 time champion of the Crusaders at it.

[ayes]

Oh! ...German stuff, I got it! [She sort of does. She's imagining the whole lederhosen look.]

So it's a dance all about slapping your, uh, shoe?

[ayes]

(Good place to wrap this up?)

[panzersoldat]

Ja! German stuff!

It is. Give me a second and I'll send you a visual message.

[ What follows is the sound of fumbling and then there's Reinhardt in living color, grinning like a loon and standing so he's clear of anything breakable. ]

It's like this.

[ He performs a very energetic dance. His thigh smacks and claps are like thunder and his stomps shake the video. He's having a grand old time at it though.

After...]

It's usually done in groups, so imagine 20 to 50 men and women my size doing this!

[ayes]

[Oh.

Oh wow.

That's silly, but also weirdly endearing...?] That's-- wow!

Er, I can't really imagine 20 to 50 men and women your size, period. [You're big, Rein.]

[panzersoldat]

[ He laughs loudly, his smile bright. He beams at her. ]

Well, back when I was young, my army group, the Crusaders, were all my size! And we would shake the castle walls during Oktoberfest! It was glorious.

[ayes]

All your-- What do they put in the water in Germany?!