[ 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.
[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.
[ 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.
[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.
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.
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.
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?
[ 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. ]
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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.
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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.
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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. ]
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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.
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[ 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.
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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.
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[ 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.
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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?
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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. ]
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