[Hank's looking out for him and actually starts to go for a shoulder slap of his own, but being worried about the guy's not enough for him to totally forget he's not allowed to touch people anymore and he stops, giving Noctis a grimacing little smile instead.]
Hey.
[He turns the aborted gesture into a reach to take out his bottle, twisting the stupid little sippy top up and holding it out, looking the kid over.]
[Slugging his way along the edge at the slowest pace, as if trying to come up with words to say when he knows he doesn't really have to say anything, Noct actually doesn't see Hank first. Looking up as he approaches, giving this half-hearted smile because it is good to see him when it feels like it's been a longer time than it should, Noct looks at the bottle before grimacing.
It's not going to solve anything, but he can sort of forget for a while with it.]
I don't think just a little will do it, I can buy you a full one to repay you at least.
[It does. He’s having enough trouble getting more of this nasty shit, like he’s really going to turn down an offer to pay him back.]
Come on, if we’re gonna do this we oughtta find somewhere safe. They let just any asshole wander into the palace?
[He actually finds himself moving to touch the kid again, this time raising an arm toward the kid’s shoulder, before he stops himself. There’s just something about the kid right now that seems like he needs it. Hank pushes the bottle toward him instead.]
Oh uh, watch out, that kinda tastes like anchovies. But uh, lead the way, maybe the palace has some empty rooms we can use.
[Honestly he could just go buy his own and yet that would take time and effort he doesn't think the rest of the world really feels inclined to give him, not with the extra things happening now. Reaching to accept the bottle but not quite cracking into it immediately, agreeing that they shouldn't just do this out here, Noct gives a half glance around - he doesn't remember where anything is anymore, everything looks painfully familiar and yet distant.
The library will do well enough, as he turns to start walking back the way he came.]
I think I'll get past the taste if I drink it fast enough. [What is the quickest way to blackout? Maybe if he gets an energy drink with this, who knows. He can somewhat see that hesitance, unsure himself about why Hank doesn't want to touch him and yet he doesn't find it in himself to press. Maybe he just looks that pitiful, ha..]
Back to the library then, it's probably still empty.
[Shit, that even makes Hank frown. He doesn't have a clue where the library is, but he's not really focused on that; swimming behind Noctis means Hank can just focus on him.]
[He only gets a handful of yards into swimming before he turns, this tired half-smile on his face as he looks at Hank - it's more obvious there are bags under his eyes.]
I went home, and we went to Altissa. We worked with the local government to help the citizens take refuge, while we tried to protect the city at the same time as make a pact with a god. Who was under attack from the Niffs and didn't care.
[It's just matter of factly stated, despite how much went wrong right there and then, and it shows with how his expression wavers.]
[He leaves it at that for a while, like he needs to chew on the words before he can speak again - they manage to get all the way to the library before Noct opens the top of the liquor and even the first whiff is fish related - ugh. Honestly he has smelled worse, so he almost goes to take a shot straight from the bottle.
That's just rude, he should have brought a glass and for a moment, his eyebrows knit together as he tries to decide just what he can do and - maybe this was a stupid idea. He's supposed to suck it up and just take the emotional beating because he wasn't strong enough and he is the reason people keep dying and he doesn't think he's worth so many lives.]
I couldn't do anything. [Is he upset about not having a cup? Not really, but having no cup is making it really hard to drink politely when he thinks he could drown in a bottle.] She died.
[It's too bad Noctis doesn't know the bottle, specifically built not to leak underwater, is the best cup he's going to get. If he did, he could already be getting a head start on killing some brain cells.]
Noctis, I'm-
[No. No and fuck no. Hank's heard that phrase too many times; if he hears it come out of his own mouth he's gonna puke.]
Fuck. That's the, uh. The one you were going to go see, right? The princess?
[Somehow, admitting it doesn't feel worse - and maybe it's because he thinks he's already cried about it so much and yet he still doesn't think he's really going to work through it right. Nodding mutely for a moment, giving up about the lack of cup to bring the bottle to his mouth and take a hard swig, Noctis grimaces, but he doesn't spit it out. He's right, it's not great, but it's booze.]
She was protecting me. I couldn't do more than deal with Leviathan and pass out. [He's so angry with himself underneath his words, even as he speaks evenly and his eyes sit on the bottle again. Luna's death is an awful price, and then there's literally everything else happening. Sinking into one of the seats and being grateful the library really is empty, Noct looks to Hank again for a moment before he thinks he must look an idiot - so he looks away.]
Ignis did something to protect me too, I'm pretty sure, because he's blind now. Days are also getting shorter, so it means more Daemons are free to roam in the dark. [Basically, everything is on fire and he doesn't think there will be enough liquor in this bottle after all as he takes another big drink.]
[Hank still feels too stupid treading water to try things like sit in chairs so he just sort of floats there - not that he's thinking about that right now. This is... a lot. For a guy Hank didn't even know was gone, this is a lot. But Hank focuses past the weird parts of this; the real parts are what Noctis needs him thinking about now.
He finds himself reaching out - again. He sighs.]
Look, my- my thing, my power, or whatever. If I touch you you're gonna start, uh. Feeling what I- I don't know, telepathy, or something. I mean, you probably will. I don't know. Do you mind, or...
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magic is bullshit at all times.
ok i'm swimming along the outside. walking. whatever i'm doing i'm there somewhere
actually for this place having a bar lets go, i dont want to think anymore
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if u got urself some fancy shells or know sum1 u can get a stupid sippycup bottle all ur own if not u can share mine. yell wen u see me
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i dont think i've got any yelling in me, can a shoulder slap count
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sure thing man ill see u[Hank's looking out for him and actually starts to go for a shoulder slap of his own, but being worried about the guy's not enough for him to totally forget he's not allowed to touch people anymore and he stops, giving Noctis a grimacing little smile instead.]
Hey.
[He turns the aborted gesture into a reach to take out his bottle, twisting the stupid little sippy top up and holding it out, looking the kid over.]
I guess you need some of this, huh?
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It's not going to solve anything, but he can sort of forget for a while with it.]
I don't think just a little will do it, I can buy you a full one to repay you at least.
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[It does. He’s having enough trouble getting more of this nasty shit, like he’s really going to turn down an offer to pay him back.]
Come on, if we’re gonna do this we oughtta find somewhere safe. They let just any asshole wander into the palace?
[He actually finds himself moving to touch the kid again, this time raising an arm toward the kid’s shoulder, before he stops himself. There’s just something about the kid right now that seems like he needs it. Hank pushes the bottle toward him instead.]
Oh uh, watch out, that kinda tastes like anchovies. But uh, lead the way, maybe the palace has some empty rooms we can use.
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The library will do well enough, as he turns to start walking back the way he came.]
I think I'll get past the taste if I drink it fast enough. [What is the quickest way to blackout? Maybe if he gets an energy drink with this, who knows. He can somewhat see that hesitance, unsure himself about why Hank doesn't want to touch him and yet he doesn't find it in himself to press. Maybe he just looks that pitiful, ha..]
Back to the library then, it's probably still empty.
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[Shit, that even makes Hank frown. He doesn't have a clue where the library is, but he's not really focused on that; swimming behind Noctis means Hank can just focus on him.]
Is being back here really that bad?
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[He only gets a handful of yards into swimming before he turns, this tired half-smile on his face as he looks at Hank - it's more obvious there are bags under his eyes.]
I went home, and we went to Altissa. We worked with the local government to help the citizens take refuge, while we tried to protect the city at the same time as make a pact with a god. Who was under attack from the Niffs and didn't care.
[It's just matter of factly stated, despite how much went wrong right there and then, and it shows with how his expression wavers.]
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That's probably not what the kid needs to hear. Luckily, Hank doesn't need to totally get it to sound - and be - genuinely concerned.]
So. Some bad shit went down, huh?
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[He leaves it at that for a while, like he needs to chew on the words before he can speak again - they manage to get all the way to the library before Noct opens the top of the liquor and even the first whiff is fish related - ugh. Honestly he has smelled worse, so he almost goes to take a shot straight from the bottle.
That's just rude, he should have brought a glass and for a moment, his eyebrows knit together as he tries to decide just what he can do and - maybe this was a stupid idea. He's supposed to suck it up and just take the emotional beating because he wasn't strong enough and he is the reason people keep dying and he doesn't think he's worth so many lives.]
I couldn't do anything. [Is he upset about not having a cup? Not really, but having no cup is making it really hard to drink politely when he thinks he could drown in a bottle.] She died.
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[It's too bad Noctis doesn't know the bottle, specifically built not to leak underwater, is the best cup he's going to get. If he did, he could already be getting a head start on killing some brain cells.]
Noctis, I'm-
[No. No and fuck no. Hank's heard that phrase too many times; if he hears it come out of his own mouth he's gonna puke.]
Fuck. That's the, uh. The one you were going to go see, right? The princess?
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She was protecting me. I couldn't do more than deal with Leviathan and pass out. [He's so angry with himself underneath his words, even as he speaks evenly and his eyes sit on the bottle again. Luna's death is an awful price, and then there's literally everything else happening. Sinking into one of the seats and being grateful the library really is empty, Noct looks to Hank again for a moment before he thinks he must look an idiot - so he looks away.]
Ignis did something to protect me too, I'm pretty sure, because he's blind now. Days are also getting shorter, so it means more Daemons are free to roam in the dark. [Basically, everything is on fire and he doesn't think there will be enough liquor in this bottle after all as he takes another big drink.]
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He finds himself reaching out - again. He sighs.]
Look, my- my thing, my power, or whatever. If I touch you you're gonna start, uh. Feeling what I- I don't know, telepathy, or something. I mean, you probably will. I don't know. Do you mind, or...