darkinferno | [ic inbox]

That bad?

[he expects more, but dante really is hesitant, not saying much at all. prompto takes in a deep breath and then leans further back on the chair]

So... is it something worth talking about, or would you rather not?

[At first, he just nods to Prompto's question. Yeah... yeah, it really was that bad.

But when Prompto takes a deep breath, Dante does as well, glancing away, then down at his hands (unscarred, thanks to Ardyn), and finally back up at Prompto.]

Yeah. Sorry. It's just... a lot.

[Where does he even begin? He frowns, trying to decide... and he's just gonna force himself to say it, putting the facts out there for Prompto to hear.]

It was haunted. There was a family that had lived there, the Spinnatos... we don't know why, but the nanny poisoned their kids and the parents blamed each other for it. Every... every room we went in, there was something. A trap, or--or some sort of game.

[He's pulling his feet up onto the couch, resting his folded arms on his knees and folding into himself as he remembers.]

That's what happened to me and this other kid, Toushiro. We went into one of the bedrooms and the next thing you know, we were both tied up against the headboards and this ghost was dropping from the ceiling on a noose challenging us to play Family Feud against each other. He threatened to kill both of us if we refused. I tried to throw the game, but... I messed up. [Dante squeezes his eyes closed; it doesn't get any easier to admit, no matter how many times he says it.] The last question was about the Spinnatos and what had happened, and I... I realized what had happened to them.

He killed Toushiro. He... there were these giant blades over top of us that kept dropping lower, like a countdown if we didn't answer fast enough. When I realized that the parents had blamed each other because the servants were already ghosts, they... stopped. And then the one over him dropped straight down into him and I couldn't do anything...!

[One hand goes to his hair, running through and pulling at the roots as though it might help somehow. All he can see is the look of terror on the other boy's face just before the blade had dropped, the way he'd been pleading, the tears on his face... it's his fault that he'd had to go through that. He'd fucked up. He hadn't been able to throw the game because of his big mouth.]

They turned him into a ghost too. I had to carry his body with us until we got back to the city. And Ghost, he... I don't know how, but he took away everything I'd remembered so far. I couldn't summon my sword, I couldn't fight, and then we had to fight this wraith and all the other ghosts trapped in the manor and I couldn't do anything. And those other ghosts, they could--they could possess you, make you fight against everybody else...

Freya almost killed me before we managed to get the ghost out of her. I would've killed Ritsu if he hadn't been able to force it out of me. I don't know how many of us got possessed; there were so many of them and the wraith had these poisonous nails that could make your entire body shut down...

Even when we managed to kill her, it was only because Ryoji got stabbed. When it pierced his chest, something... something happened. We were able to take her apart piece by piece until she was gone. But by the time we got back to the city, Ryoji was dead.

[Because they hadn't been able to protect him.

Because he hadn't been able to protect him.

Dante takes a moment to breath, taking in a long, slow breath that comes back out with a bit of a shudder to it. There had been a lot that happened in Hell Manor, and he's definitely having trouble processing all of it. Sorry, Prompto--he isn't trying to be a downer, but it's hard not to be right now.]

[as if prompto would care that he was being a downer.]

[when dante ends his tale, prompto gets up and joins him on the couch, wrapping arms around him, trying to pull dante away from the otherwise upsetting memories. it's okay now, he hopes to transmit with his action. no doubt it was terrible, but dante and the rest are not in that manor anymore.]

That's fucked up.

[what else can you say]

But, listen... Nothing that happened was your fault. You didn't do anything to put any of you in that house.

[Dante's close with Ardyn, with Grell, with Togusa. By this point, they're like family; Grell and Ardyn have both come by and held him close and talked to him too.

But there are times where Prompto is closer than any of them, and right now, as Prompto joins him on the couch... it's one of those times. Dante unfolds without needing to be urged, letting Prompto close and even hugging him back, leaning into him. Prompto is one of the few that Dante trusts enough to let in even now, when he's fighting so hard not to crumble into a million pieces.]

I... I know. I just... can't get it out of my brain.

I keep seeing it happen and I can't tell if it's a memory or a nightmare, whether I'm doing it or if it's the other me--I found out she was right, that witch. He did lose his heart to the darkness. And something possessed him because of it, made him try and kill his friends...

I don't know whether it's me fucking up or him controlling me and forcing me to attack them or if it's one of the ghosts... I can't tell. All I know is that they're hurting because of me.

[He's not sure if he's even making sense any more--it's all falling out of him in a rush, all the fears and worries that have plagued him for weeks, since even before they made it inside of the mansion. He just... he doesn't want to be used to hurt any one. And Dante's afraid that no matter what he does, it's what's going to wind up happening.]

[no, dante isn't making much sense, but prompto thinks he gets it; 'he' is dante in the memories he's being getting back.]

From what I understand, he wasn't heartless to begin with. You said it yourself, something possessed him. [him, because it's not dante. it isn't him.] If you were anythin' like him, you wouldn't be hurting like this too, you know?

[it's okay, even if it doesn't seem like it.]

[prompto rubs dante's back, in what he hopes are soothing circles]

And if you really think he's controlling you and forcing you to do things you don't want to do, then we'll take measures for it, right?

No matter what, you aren't alone, buddy.

Edited 2017-10-08 16:33 (UTC)

[It helps. Honestly, just having the people he trusts nearby helps.

Dante nods, accepting what it is that Prompto's saying, but he also has to make one quick adjustment. One detail he can't let go unsaid.]

The other me... he was hurting too. [One hand comes up to his heart, remembering the way he'd felt in his memories.] Even after he lost his heart, he... he wanted to be sure his friends were okay. Even the one he'd been fighting.

It isn't him I'm afraid of. It's... whatever was controlling him, whatever took over him when he lost his heart. I'm scared one day I'm gonna wake up and it'll be inside me too.

[But Prompto's right. He's right. Dante closes his eyes, taking a deep breath and releasing it (and ignoring the way his entire body seems to shiver with tension), then nods again.]

But you're right. I know I can trust you guys, no matter what happens.

It won't happen again. We won't let it.

[We. Because while he doesn't trust himself to be able to control all this, no matter how much he'd like to, he does trust his friends. Prompto and Ardyn and Grell and Togusa... with their help, he won't lose. They'll all make sure of it.]

Thanks, Prompto. That means a lot.

[prompto leans back after dante thanks him, considering his words. dante's old self--or whatever the hell it is--wasn't happy, either. if any of what they're remembering is a sneak peek of who they are and who they are meant to become, then prompto isn't sure words are going to help much.]

[but still he tries, because he's a boy with a big heart that finds it hard to keep his feelings from spilling out. if the dante from before lost his heart, prompto is nothing but a bleeding heart all the way through.]

...if it's you, or if it's him... You're both my blood brother. In the end, it'll still be you. We'll figure this out.

[And yet, those words do help. They help, because while Dante can't believe in himself and his own ability to overcome this, there are several people now whose words he'll believe without question when it comes to something like this. Sure, maybe in the end the result would be the same... but he believes that they'll do everything they possibly can before giving up. He won't be alone, no matter what.

For what might be the first time since Prompto's shown up, a small smile crosses Dante's face--a real smile, showing both his relief and his gratefulness. He hadn't really thought for a second that Prompto wouldn't approach it in such a manner, but still. It's... really nice, to hear the words spoken aloud.]

Yeah. You're right. As long as we're all together, it'll all turn out okay.

I guess I just needed a reminder of that.

Anything ever feels off, you tell me right away. Yeah?

[he puts his fist up for a bump, a smile also on his face to mirror dante's]

's what brothers are for.

[HOW EMBARRASSING]

Yeah. [Dante will be returning that fistbump without question IT'S NOT EMBARRASSING AT ALL THEY'RE BROTHERS NOW IT CAN'T BE EMBARRASSING]

Just don't be surprised when I start calling you in the middle of the night. It's not exactly a great dream to wake up from.

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open the floodgates ig ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ i'm sorry for the length of this!!

Re: open the floodgates ig ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ i'm sorry for the length of this!!

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