Chance Encounter (Patreon)

Kaciart

he was not expecting to see Prom so disheveled

I kind of imagine Promto being like

'I'm sorry, do I know you?'

Because when he was given the parting talk he was basically told to not approach Noctis

That he's no longer a part of their circle

'Are you alright?'

'What do you want to hear Ignis? What will let you go back without a guilty conscience?'

Prom faking his cheerful voice

'I'm totally fine dude! Everything is great!'

He cant afford his contacts anymore so he has to wear glasses

Being part of Nocts entourage made him an enemy of the refugee community

and when he was cut off, he wasnt liked by insomnians either because he had to have done something to deserve it

I kind of imagine him sarcarstically laughing

Telling Ignis it was a good thing he got the training he did, its kept him going

'So hey, thanks for that'

I feel like they were probably doing as best as they could with the Prompto hole in their lives

Things slowly returning to normal

Noctis is not a very happy camper but he does his duties

Gladio and Ignis are also better trained to put things behind them and move on

But this chance meeting has everything coming back to the surface for Ignis

He can feel the bones in his grip

So he starts to look back into what happened

Maybe it was somethign to do with Prompto's training

He was accused of stealing or some such

A few of the recruits took it to Cor and there was *something* that very unfortunately coincided with their claims

Like a video of him grabbing some stuff and shoving it in his bag

But maybe they had set him up making it seem like an initiation thing

So he looked totally suspect

Looking around warily in the surveillance

And that kind of a thing is an instant kick out

And Noctis couldnt be seen to be with someone like that

So he was stripped of all his friends just like that

So Ignis is now looking back into the footage

And they just cut him loose

No one listened to him

But Ignis is now looking at what happened on either side of the recording

And then he finds it

Footage of him talking to the people who reported him, theyre clearly giving him orders to do something but there's no sound

And his lipreading is only so good so he'll have to ask someone else

Then they get to see Prompto being told to get the stuff he was accused of stealing

I kind of imagine Ignis sitting down heavily

Where do they even begin to fix this

It's a huge mess because they need to also deal with the other recruits

There will probably have to be an inquiry from higher up because Cor himself was involved so he can't handle it without bias

Not that he would be biased

gnine

Had Noct even believed it to begin with?

Kaciart

Probably not

But they also know Prompto isnt the best off

Ellaygee

:: and doesn't ask for help cough cough ::

Kaciart

So yess

They get an independent team in to carry out the investigation

Prompto probably has to be called in

Requestioned

But the questions are probably a little different this time

'Has Cor Leonis ever shown prejudice toward you?'

Maybe Prompto had ignored the summons letters he got

Not wanting ot bother with them anymore

and then a black car, tinted windows shows up and he's ...encouraged to come with them

There's no accusations though this time

Maybe the last time he'd even said it was some kind of hazing but no one believed him

because he's not goign to admit to it

Yeah I imagine Ignis didnt tell anyone, was probably requested to keep it to himself too

Until they had answers

I imagine they'd be asking him if he planned to take the case to court

That the Citadel were willing to offer him a settlement to avoid that

Prom's like 'I don't....what?'

Maybe he's been cut off as well for the shame of what he 'did'

Probably dropped out to try and get some income going so he didnt die on the streets

So Noct might not really have seen much of him since the whole thing happened

But yes, Prompto doesn't want to go to court - he still cares about Noctis

He's not about to drag their name through the mud

He's given a huge ass settlement

Regis probably wants to meet with him to formally apologise

I'm kind of imagining him taking the Kings apology and accepting it

All flustered because he always really looked up to Regis

When he's leaving Ignis is waiting, bows deeply to offer his own apologies

Proms like 'I assume this was you?'

'I'm sorry it took so long'

'Right, thanks'

And when Ignis goes to see him out

'It's fine, I know the way.'

They have a lot of work to do

I figure Noctis goes full on COURTING

First thing Prompto does is buys an apartment

In a nice ish area

And the gifts begin

...He'd totally get a puppy

for his apartment

So he's not lonely

Yeah, he'd probably snort when he see's Noct's scrawl

Bring the gifts in

He's not mad at Noctis

Maybe after a week or two of that he opens the door to Noct standing outside scuffing his shoe on the ground

'Can I come in?'

'Does anyone know you're here?'

'Uh yeah, Ignis drove me...'

'Okay, didn't want the Glaive storming the castle thinking i'd kidnapped you'

'Thats a yes?'

'Duh, dude'

They play games

Keep it light

I figure Noctis asks him when he's coming back to school after a few visits and Proms like 'oh uh...i'm not.'

He's been doing it online

He doesn't want to deal with that again

Noct's like 'oh...can I still ocme over after school?'

'Yuh'

I figure this is a story where the game events dont happen the same

He'd probably eventually broach the subject of Pormpto rejoining the Crownsguard

Prom spends 5 minutes laughing

Noct sulks

The recruits probably got booted out and were warned that they were very lucky Prom accepted the settlement

Cor probably got a suspension for negligence but he's too valuable to let go

I imagine Noct telling Prompto this and his jaw is on the floor

'They...suspended??? Cor the Immortal???'

Ellaygee

meanwhile cor is prolly like "fair"

Kaciart

Yes

Definitely

I'm kind of imagining like

Prompto going on to college for Photography

Him and Noct stay steady 'friends' throughout

Maybe he takes self defence classes himself

And then later he gets hired as the royal photographer