[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

[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?

[iustaegis]

[ She eyes his grin, her eyes sparkling playfully. ] Well, you did have sushi at my birthday party, didn't you?

[ And she still kissed him. ]

[carbungle]

That's true. You've got great tolerance for it.

[She's even kissed his morning breath.]

[iustaegis]

It's because your lips always taste sweet.

[ Guess she'll see how really sweet they are when he's had 4 servings of fish tho-- ]

[carbungle]

In that case... plenty of fish for the both of us.

[Which makes this one a keeper- along with whatever else he drags out of the pond.

Also her. She is very much a keeper.]

[iustaegis]

[ And so they continue to fish together on the pond. ]

You haven't happened to find anything other than fish, have you? Like artifacts or technology that might have been lost in the lake...

[carbungle]

Nothing so far. I'm expecting at least one boot, though. That's practically tradition.

[iustaegis]

[ And ancient robot boot. ]

We can put it in a museum.

[carbungle]

They do already have weird stuff in museums. Hairbrushes, toasters... [He pauses, then adds thoughtfully,] You know, I don't think we've ever confirmed if their bodies even had feet.

[iustaegis]

Oh-- perhaps... they all had flippers instead?

[ Or wings. Or tentacles. Or hooves. ]

[carbungle]

Maybe they just oozed across the ground like giant snails.

[iustaegis]

[ She laughs, nudging him. ] All that slime-- everywhere.... No wonder they might have wanted to adopt metallic bodies instead. Less messy.

[carbungle]

I wouldn't want to be on street-sweeping duty after they roll through town.

[Hopefully the locals don't mind them having a bit of fun. They need a mood refresher after the last month.]

Hey, maybe we'll reel in a giant slime someday. Like uh... flan.

[iustaegis]

[ She does recall him mentioning the flan of his word being monsters… ]

Do those monster flan come in… flavors? Because what if that slime was actually all chocolate syrup?

[carbungle]

Oof, got mixed feelings about that. I wouldn't recommend licking one of those to check.

[That's a fastpass to catch starscourge...]

On the other hand, if I fished up something that was dripping chocolate sauce, it might be worth the risk. Just because it'd make a good story.

[iustaegis]

It would be more organic than anything the replicator gives us...

[ But still. Ew. Yet she ends up laughing because of all of this silliness. ]

[carbungle]

That sounds like a dish Mythra would come up with. "Chocolate Slug Sushi".

[He's gonna get kicked in the lake if he keeps this up, but: worth it.]

[iustaegis]

[ At least Pyra can laugh at herself! It’s all in good fun. ] S-stop, stop! She’s getting grumpy!

[carbungle]

[Slyly, flinging the lure back into the lake,] I'll make it up to her later.

[iustaegis]

[ Well that's an unconventional look for him. ]

By letting her push you into the pond?