Summer Abroad – Part 10
Author's Note: Please forgive the inconsistency in the release of this fic. I was actually doing well at first but it is difficult to write an upbeat fic during a difficult time in one's life. I am hoping to finish this over the next couple of days so please be patient with me. Thank you.
The next morning was one of the most exciting in Prompto's life. Noctis had to go deal with certain political affairs which meant that he had almost an entire day to explore Altissia to his hearts content. The city was dwarfed by the capitol of Lucis, Insomnia, if one measured worth in size. But Altissia seemed to be teeming with life. It was hard to explain exactly how alive the city felt, and Prompto was not sure he could convey it with words. But he was going to do his damndest to do it with pictures.
He started at the docks, which even at this early hour was bustling with activity. The ships traveling to and fro around the harbor. The fishermen at the edge of the water, some fishing for work and others for play. The tourists stopping at all the pier-side trinket shops. Perhaps it was the new location, or the sudden rapidly approaching deadline, but Prompto was feeling far more confident about the photos he was taking. There was such power behind them. These were no static landscapes and no mere poses. These were a blending of natural action of humans and the picturesque scenery.
"I'm on to something here," Prompto pondered aloud after snapping a particularly satisfying picture of a group of tourists waving to a gondolier.
"You look like you're having fun," came a familiar and delightfully cocky voice.
Prompto looked upwind from the sudden scent of cologne that caught his nose and saw Dino sitting at a table enjoying breakfast. Prompto assumed that the drink he was enjoying was mixed with liqour as always.
"Hey Dino! So you really did make it to Altissia," Prompto grinned.
"Oh yes, and maybe it's the smooth as silk Altissian libations speaking, but the gems that I craft are naught but pebbles compared to this diamond of a city," Dino exclaimed in an unusually theatrical tone.
Clearly Dino was "drunk still".
"I take it then that Coctura continues to reject your advances?" Prompto asked, taking a seat beside him.
"A man of class such as myself can only wait so long," Dino replied. "Besides, I've got my eyes set upon a new prize."
He pointed towards a tan-skinned server wearing a crisp uniform with a maroon vest. He was bald, but sported a neatly trimmed beard, with a few hints of grey.
"You like 'em old huh?" Prompto teased.
"I like older men. I prefer women to be around my age or younger. Strange double-standard I know," Dino explained.
"The heart wants what it wants," Prompto shrugged.
"The heart needs to wait its turn," Dino said, then sniggered at his own filthy joke. "But I'm babbling. What about you, buddy?"
"Me? I don't think I'm your type," Prompto laughed.
"No, no, no silly," Dino said, revealing his inebriation with each passing syllable. "I mean what are the latest details of your love quest?"
Humiliating as always, Prompto thought. But then this was Dino and he was drunk which means Prompto could for once enjoy feeling a bit less than pathetic for a change.
"Well when I was at Cape Caem, I finally confessed my feelings for Cindy," Prompto said. He omitted the three day journey of embarrassment that had led to it.
"Oh really," Dino said, leaning in conspiratorially. "And how did that go?"
"Well, I'm not one to kiss and tell, but she did give me a nice sendoff," Prompto said, reveling in an unusual feeling of manliness.
"Well aren't you the lucky duck," Dino laughed. "It does my heart good to know that love can flourish so. Ah, this calls for a toast."
"Don't you think you've had enough for one morning?" Prompto asked. "I mean I find you delightful like this, but it would ruin my vacation if you got alcohol poisoning before lunch."
Dino tapped his nose and nodded. "I get ya. And I would not want to be too... incapacitated," he said this word with enormous difficulty, "for the wedding."
"Uh, you're getting a little bit ahead of yourself," Prompto said, only realizing after he'd spoken that Dino probably was referring to Noctis's wedding.
Dino took it in stride by giggling like a fool and letting his head hit the table. After a moment of him not moving, Prompto heard the distinct sound of snoring.
"We were just talking... how long have you been up Dino?" Prompto asked to nobody in particular.
He patted Dino's back and Dino shot up as though he'd been struck by lightning.
"Oh! I feel our time is at an end for today," Dino said. "I don't suppose I could convince you to escort me back to my hotel. The spirit is willing but I can't remember my legs."
Prompto sighed, stood up and lifted his friend up out of his chair, holding one of his arms around his shoulder as he supported him down the pier towards his bed.
"You are a true friend, Prompto," Dino said drunkenly, with every indication of sincerity albeit somewhat marred by the realization that he could pass out at any moment. "Your cup runneth over with the wine of human kindness."
"Well your cup just runneth over with wine," Prompto retorted.
"I'm gonna die alone, my friend," Dino said, sounding sober for the first time all morning.
"Hey, don't talk like that," Prompto said encouragingly. "Hell you haven't even tried to put the moves on that waiter."
"Men like me are good for a night, but not so good for the mornings after," Dino sighed. "And that's why I'll always be alone."
"That's the booze talking," Prompto replied. "You'll feel better after a sleep and an hour or so of puking."
"That's true. At least I got good friends like you."
This back and forth went on for some time during the unfathomably long walk down the short pier. Prompto finally made it to Dino's room where he laid him on his bed pitched over the side in case he felt the urge to vomit in his sleep.
"Am I a good person, Prompto?" Dino asked, all of his boisterous swagger depleted in the privacy of his room.
"Ah most people are good," Prompto replied. "We just all do lousy things. Dino, you've done nothing since I've known you to make me think you are a bad guy."
"Sage words, my friend," Dino muttered. "May you find what you are looking for."
"And may you actually get some sleep," Prompto said, leaving his friend alone in the dark.