Just a flock of birds, that's how you think of love

[photoshooter]

Who: Prompto Argentum photoshooter and open
What: A log that isn't about chickens! Come jogging, celebrate a special birthday with MEAT MEAT MEAT, witness something odd in the tech lab, or take a romantic picture in the rain.
When: April 2 - 8
Where: (i) The beach, baby! (ii) Keystone kitchen (iii) Tech lab (iv) Tempest Seacaves
Warnings: Nah.

Any day, early morning, Glitterstone Beach

[Prompto's been feeling better these days, what with the prospect of a new feathery addition to hype and his boyfriend moirail best bud in town. With his hugest source of anxiety quelled, he's been keeping more regular hours and a more regular diet, and the best way to maintain that is to get up early to get some exercise in.

Every morning, rain or shine--and it's mostly rain, this week--Prompto's out jogging down Glitterstone Beach. If it's wet, all he does is throw on a poncho made out of a garbage bag. Ain't nothing keeping a boy from his cardio.]

April 2nd, evening, kitchen

[It's not common knowledge, but today is a very special day for a very special meatstick. I mean man. And while Gladio might not be here for the boys to celebrate with, Prompto can't let his birthday go unobserved.

Besides, he's been wishing he could help out a little more. Most folks he sees in the kitchen lately are a little... well, they make him feel less bad about himself, let's put it that way.]

Let's see... I'm sure I've seen Ignis do something like this...

[There aren't any instructions on the packages of razorbone steaks, but Prompto swallows his fear like the manliest of men and reaches for the salt and pepper shakers.

Soon, there's a delicious smell of cooking pepper-crusted meats--venison-like, if you happen to have that kind of creature on your home planet--as Prompto, nervously humming, does his best to sear those steaks. They might come out overdone, or over-salted or -peppered, but there's buttery pre-made mashed potatoes heating up in the microwave to go with them and a variety of fresh fruit set out in bowls, and, hey, at least he didn't burn anything.]

Too bad we don't have any Cup Noodle. That would've really taken the cake.

[Also, at least he didn't try to make a cake.]

April 5th, late night, tech lab

[Mmm, machinery and the smell of grease--no better antidote for nightmares. Sort of. Maybe. Prompto can think of a bunch, actually, but it's too late at night to bother the chickens and he certainly doesn't want to wake anyone else. So, he's put his glasses on his nose and stuck his arm in the guts of something engine-like, trying to distract himself from the quavery chill of his dream by getting the thing started.

It starts, to some yelping, and Prompto yanks his arm back and away as the engine chokes out some dust at him, sputters, and then quiets to a jittery hum. Prompto coughs and shuts it down again, pulling off his glasses to wipe them on his shirt, still spooked by the noise.]

Ugh, warn a guy next time, would you? You scared me!

[He breathes on the lenses of his glasses to fog them up, then stills very carefully.

This close, even unaided, it's hard to miss the frost that's spread across the front of his glasses, forming delicate fractal patterns.]

April 8th, day, Tempest Seacaves

[But anyway, he's not gonna think about that.

Even though it's the fifth in a series of miserably rainy days, Prompto pulls on long sleeves and heads out--not to the beach, but just to explore the caverns, jacket against the wind. Now that it's stabilized, it's a lot safer down here, and he takes his time to snap photos of crystals and cool rock structures and those creepy fish things in the tidal pools.

Eventually, he finds his way to the eastern overlook, where he sits to eat a sandwich lunch. And just in time--the sun finally breaks through the clouds, and Prompto laughs and drops his sandwich back into the Armiger to take pictures of the resulting rainbow over the sea.]

Comments

[founderinglight]

Well, it smells delicious. And I wasn't even that hungry.

[Now he is, though, thanks Prompto.]

[photoshooter]

Have some! ...If you want. I don't know if I made enough for everybody, but definitely way more than enough for me. Especially if I'm filling up on Cup Noodle.

[Speaking of which, he opens it, pours in only half the flavor packet, and adds the hot water.]

[founderinglight]

First come, first serve?

[Don't mind him just whipping a plate out of the Armiger instead of going to the cupboard. So many dishes have already disappeared up this man's inventory.]

But thank you. Don't mind if I do.

[photoshooter]

Haha, enjoy! Bet the big guy wouldn't want it any other way.

[While the noodles cook, Prompto cuts himself some cubes of meat to stick in his soup, ponders the result, and then goes to get an egg and some spinach from the fridge to cut up in there, too.]

Lemme know what you think, like if there's anything I should add. I don't really know spices and stuff like that.

[founderinglight]

Simple does job perfectly well. We can always expand your knowledge later. Surprise Ignis with your sudden understanding of the power of cloves and paprika.

[photoshooter]

Paprika isn't what happens if you mix salt and pepper?

[Did Insomnia have its own version of Blue's Clues?]

[founderinglight]

...No? It's a kind of spicy pepper, usually ground. I don't think we have any here at the moment, unfortunately.

[photoshooter]

Aaaaand I'm guessing cloves probably don't have anything to do with clover, either.

[founderinglight]

Not a thing.

[He goes over to the spice cupboard and picks through it.]

...Hmm, out of luck there as well. I'll have to lodge a complaint with the management.

[photoshooter]

Hey, it's not their fault. They're stuck with whatever they can find, and it's not like they need to go out of their way for eats themselves.

[founderinglight]

I was just joking, don't worry. Though I wonder if they might be able to grow any from seed...

[Small hmm, and he closes the cupboard.]

Well, regardless, you certainly managed a great deal better than some of our other amateur cooks.

[photoshooter]

Haha, well, I've probably had a lot more experience messing it up than most of them have, if they've never tried before. And Iggy used to let me hang out and watch while he worked. I guess something stuck.

[There, he's added everything he wants to his Cup Noodle, but he won't start eating without Izunia.]

I hope it doesn't taste too bad. I just didn't want this day to go by without doing something special, you know?

[founderinglight]

[Just let him get some of those taters, man, whoever made these knew what they were doing.

He puts a shaker of red pepper from his Armiger as he walks over to take a seat.]

That certainly helps - a patient but knowledgeable hand to show you the basics, that is. Once you get that handled, you can turn to experimenting a bit more.

[photoshooter]

Uh-huh! I mean, it's not like he was trying to teach me, since I never, like, asked him to. But he let me ask questions and it was fun to watch up close.

[Phoo, phoo. He blows cheerfully on his Cup Noodle, surreptitiously watching Izunia from beneath his hair, waiting for him to take a bite.]

[founderinglight]

Learning any new skill is half paying attention and half actually doing it.

[Steak knife, steak knife, he's sure he's got - there we go, just keep your sharps in the Armiger where they will be whenever you need them. Moment of truth!

...Mmmm yes that's good.]

[photoshooter]

[Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii--]

Well? Is it any good?

[founderinglight]

It's good. Excellent, given that it's a first attempt.

[photoshooter]

[Whoa what is this sudden springtime bullshit, flowers and sunshine everywhere--oh, no, it's just Prompto, delighted.]

Oh! Great!

[And then he digs into his own meal, kicking his feet under the table.]

Just wanted to make sure I didn't, like, completely ruin all those steaks. Especially not on Gladio's birthday.

[founderinglight]

No, they're quite good. Bit of a pity he isn't here to enjoy them.

[photoshooter]

Yeah...

Well, I'm sure he's got something dead roasting on a spit back home somewhere. Or letting Iris and Ignis cook something for him. Oh, man, now I'm jealous. Those two aren't to be beat!

[founderinglight]

...Well, if you want to roast something dead on a spit, I still have a good chunk of that seagull.

[photoshooter]

[Prompto snickers a little and raises his Cup Noodle as if in toast.]

Uh, I'm good with this, really. Though I guess it's an idea if we run out of meat?

[founderinglight]

I was planning to roast it on our next expedition, if it lasts as long as the last one.

[photoshooter]

Ooh, that'll be fun! Hope the weather'll still be this nice when we go.

[founderinglight]

It's spring, I wouldn't count on it.

[He sounds amused.]

What was that line about April rain? Something that rhymed, I don't remember, it wouldn't have worked in my Lucian.