[video] what a happy nerd

[carbungle]

[The video opens with the camera up close to Noctis, where he's trying very hard to look serious while fighting off what can only be considered giddiness.]

Hey, question for Havenwell at large... I'm pretty disappointed right now.

[He turns the camera, revealing a little lake, sparkling blue-green in colour and surrounded by lush foliage. There's a soft splash just off the shore, and Noctis utters a muffled, "there you are!" fumbling with the communicator for a moment until a lure goes flying towards it, attached to a fishing line.

When the camera returns to Noctis, he is grinning like an absolute fool, holding his fishing rod.]

Why did no one tell me about this place? Or am I the first? I hope I'm the first. Can I name it? [His voice lowers, conspiratorial.] There's fish here.

[The video cuts off, but included in his message are the coordinates to what one might assume is the pond in question, where Noct can be found fishing all. Day. Long. There's a blue chocobo curled up on a nearby rock, waiting patiently for him to finish as she's done dozens of times before.]

Comments

[carbungle]

First I'm naming the lake, now I'm naming the fish... that's a lot of responsibility.

[Literally no one has told him he can name the lake yet, but he'll be damned if anyone tells him differently now.]

[iustaegis]

Think you can live up to the expectations?

[ He better have a damn good name for the lake, at the very least. ]

[carbungle]

I can come up with something epic, for sure.

[For the lake. That is the only guarantee. The rest might be garbage, it depends on how lazy he's feeling when he gets to them. (The lake might also be garbage.)]

[iustaegis]

You're epic. [ She says, endearingly. ] Why not name a lake or fish after yourself?

[carbungle]

[Stop, he'll blush.]

If I make it too egotistical, nobody'll take it seriously! Though something subtle wouldn't be too bad...

[iustaegis]

Ooh, such as-- Lake Night?

[ That is not subtle, Pyra-- ]

[carbungle]

That's definitely not subtle. [It's very sweet, though.] If we were gonna go that route, then Nightfire Pond.

[Is this how they flirt?]

[iustaegis]

[ neeerrrdddsss-- and that actually earn him a laugh, one where she clutches her abdomen. ]

Hmmm... If you manage to name it that, I'll give you permission to toss me into the lake itself.

[carbungle]

Aww, you think I need permission to do that?

[He does. He absolutely does. And he's pretty sure she could throw him in too if she wanted.]

[iustaegis]

....A good point. But. [ She eyes him, as if plotting. ] That means I don't need permission to, either.

[carbungle]

Damn, you caught me. [She's too quick to follow his line of thought, he's doomed.] I guess we could just resign ourselves to our fate and both jump in.

[iustaegis]

Into a pond with potentially alien whales? [ She'll take his hand. ]

I accept this fate.

[carbungle]

[He holds her hand for a moment, indulging... and then he realizes he's still pulling in the fish, and hastily tugs her closer instead, guiding her hand to the reel and closing his over her fingers.]

Wanna help me bring this one in?

[Maybe he can distract her with fish and avoid this terrible, terrible idea. The pond is probably full of scum and seaweed.]

[iustaegis]

[ Her fingers slide over his upon the handle, and she can’t help but joke: ] Trusting me with this task? It’s an honor.

[ But really, she likes the feel of his knuckles beneath her palm, and the closeness helps as she steps to him. They’ve fished separately— in VR— but never have they done something like this. ]

[carbungle]

There's always more fish.

[Which is not strictly true - he has no idea how this pond works - but it is true that there's always more days to fish, assuming the water doesn't go anywhere. Regardless, he doesn't withdraw his hand, instead guiding her through the careful process of wrestling with whatever's chewing on the line. It's less straightforward than a video game, and the tug on the rod is very real.]

[iustaegis]

[ She can't help but glance sidelong at him, seeing him both focused and at ease-- he's very much a man in his element-- but when the fish gives another tug, she has to stop admiring him to focus on the fish itself, too, following the gentle urging of his hands and how they direct her to reel the line in or tilt the fishing rod at a different angle. ]

But only one person I'd ever want teaching me how to fish.

[carbungle]

Now who's the honoured one...

[It's him, it is he. And she's taking his guidance well, which makes him appreciate her all the more (not that he expected anything less).]

How's it feel?

[iustaegis]

It feels as if it's ready to break the surface-- [ She says, giving it another tug, her smile turning excited as she looks back at the water. ]

Ah-- there it goes!

[ And here comes a splash of water from the fish! ]

[carbungle]

[Noctis can't help laughing; that feeling never gets old, but it's especially nostalgic now that it's been so long since he's had the chance to do this for real. Sharing it with her just makes it that much more special.]

Great! Now give it one last pull, and-

[He helps her yank back on the rod, the fish splashing more urgently as they drag it up out of the water, and a bit more reeling has it properly captured.]

[iustaegis]

[ She cheers when they at last manage to capture the fish, and her hand slips from the handle of the fishing rod, going to his shoulder so that he's able to wrestle the floppy animal himself. ]

...That's definitely not a whale.

[carbungle]

[He draws the line fully in and switches to a proper hook, holding it up and out so they can both admire their catch. It's... definitely not a whale, but overall, not a bad size at all.]

Sure fought as hard as one. It's got some serious muscle hiding under all those scales.

[iustaegis]

[ While he admires the fish, she can't help but steal a glance at him-- and there it is, a quick peck on his cheek. ]

And what now? We release it, or cook it...?

[carbungle]

[He smiles at her, tilting into it ever so slightly.]

Ah... I haven't decided yet. I've been putting them in the bucket until I figure it out, so they don't die.

[He does want to take them home and see how they taste, but he can't go too crazy for one household. Even if they share, he could totally fish up dozens before he even realizes it.]

[iustaegis]

[ She seems to consider something, and then nods, almost to herself. ]

Mm... Yes. I would still kiss you if you had fish-breath, so. [ A smile. ] You should have as many as you'd like.

[carbungle]

You sure about that? [He grins, leaning in closer.] How much fish breath have you smelled?