TOTAL 1 (FFXV)

Instructions

So. I've started writing a Final Fantasy 15 fanfiction. (Keep reading, it starts here and continues into the notes and credits) Its called The One They Almost Lost (TOTAL). It follows the events of Episode Prompto going... A little differently. Key (for me and for reference) / / - Italics. For thought, memories, or emphasis. ≈≈≈ - line breaks. White. Cold. Windy. Freezing. “...what a way to go.” Prompto Argentum staggered through the snow, one hand raised as if it would do anything against the gusts of frigid air that rushed at him, slipping right through his gloved fingers to sting at his eyes. Frigid. At least he had a coat and beanie. Shivering. Alone. No, he wasn't alone, he had Noct and the others- Noct had pushed him off of a speeding train after trying to kill him. His friend’s words still cut deep, even now. /’What're you after, following me around this whole time!? It's all YOUR fault-’/ He blinked, and had to force his eyelids open with a painful crackle. He couldn't cry. Tears froze fast in the cold. /’Dude, are you seriously trying to kill me!?’/ /’WHY WOULDN’T I!?’/ Prompto stumbled as his legs gave out again. /No-/ He collapsed into the snow and laid there, wheezing softly, his tears barely making it a few centimeters from his eyes before freezing on his face. He heard the low rumble of a magitek engine descending, heard the crunch of snow under boots too polished to be anything but metal. Distantly, he wondered if his tears would freeze all the way up to his tear ducts. /Icicles on my face would look pretty cool, huh, Noct?/ His white, frigid world went blissfully dark. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ Prompto woke up strapped to a cold metal table. Panic set in instantly, and he yanked at his restraints. It was no use. They held fast. “It's awake.” He stilled as he heard a disinterested, clinical voice. “Do we give it another sedative?” A second voice, similar in cadence. “No.” A third voice, drawling with a slight lilt to it. Prompto’s head snapped up at that voice. Ardyn Izunia stood there, twirling something around his fingers. The man who had been there when Noct had- /Don’t think about it./ Instead, he focused on what the chancellor was twirling. He felt himself pale as he recognized his wristband, and he frantically twisted to peer at the bare skin of his right wrist. His barcode glared up at him, stark black against his pale skin, uncovered for the world to see. A fresh wave of panic rolled over him. He didn't get to thrash this time, as hands held him down, strapping his torso firmly to the table. “No no no what're you doing- put it back please put it back-” Words spilled from his mouth in a frantic mess, anxiety curling up his spine and tightening as he was restrained further. “Ah, don't worry. You'll get it back once you're properly fixed up.” Ardyn tilted his head with a pleased smile. “Though I'm sure you won't be needing it for long. In fact, you'll likely take it off yourself.” He leaned in close. “After all, they’re resetting you to factory settings, and there's really no need for an MT to cover up its designation.” The scientists descended with syringes and scalpels and other tools he couldn't recognize that looked wickedly sharp and equally painful. He was proved correct a few moments later. Agony shot through him, and he shook against his restraints, a scream tearing itself out of his throat as he felt something else tearing out of him. He could feel them taking it, things that made him himself, his thoughts and memories draining away. Like pouring water through a strainer, letting it trickle away until all that would be left was residue. All he could do was scream as they took away what made him Prompto and replaced it with something else. After a time, he had no more energy for screaming. As his vision began to fade to black, he thought distantly that he really should have told Noct about the chocobo chick he'd found and hidden in the Regalia's glove compartment. And then, even that faded from his mind, and he passed out, his mind going finally, terribly, blank. Empty. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈