#also I realize no one owes me anything like boosting my work or w/e

[mcalhenwrites]

I'm not going to pretend it doesn't make me angry that I spend months and years trying to peddle my work to make ends meet, that I spend so much time mentioning my books and comms and everything, and people ignore that consisently... But the moment I finally break under the hopelessness - when it's obvious that it's fucking futile, that almost no one deems my work good enough to share with anyone else - suddenly they're concerned and scolding me. I'm working several jobs, bathing, generally keeping things clean, and I do this with several health problems including chronic pain. I found out that one of my cysts is growing and I may need to have it surgically removed. Which means potentially missing work to recover. Which means more money I lose. I spend so much time crawling out of the hole and it goes ignored, but the moment I just give up bc I don't have any strength left, suddenly that's my fault and I'm mentally sick. And that kind of makes me wish my entire situation upon people, and when they whine that it's hard, well fuck you, you thought I could ace it so surely you can, babe! I hate being angry about this, but it's just so exhausting to tell people who accuse me of not trying that I HAVE I HAVE SO FUCKING HARD AND YOU DID NOT PAY ATTENTION THEN Or you know you're attempting to gaslight me by claiming I didn't try despite that I obviously have worked my ass off trying, and that's so much fucking worse

[benhardypout-archive]

GUNS AND FISHING RODS

RATING: T

PAIRING/S: NOCTIS x LIGHTNING ; PROMPTO x VANILLE

UNIVERSE: FFXV AU

“So where’s the bask–” Noctis pauses, seeing unfamiliar guests and the fish he is reeling in has escape. But the pink haired girl catches his interest. The girl is just sooo looking at him, looking into his soul. He looks away and tries to hold his composure. “W-who are they Prompto?”

A/N: So I hope you guys enjoy this little fic I wrote and I am sorry if ever you will find wrong grammar/s use of words here in my story because English is actually not my native language.

“Yo Noct! It seems like your fishing rod will lose anytime. Do you mind letting me give it a shot?” Prompto grins, pulling out his gun to indicate what he means. 

“Get lost, Prompto!” Noctis said in a boring tone.

He still feels sleepy but mother Ignis insisted for him to go fishing, and of all people, with Prompto, ever the troublemaker. But he got no choice. And in the very first place he hadn’t, especially the only person he would rather be with is still sleeping. But he has to do this because the only ingredients left are veggies, and he hates anything that is green.

Bang!

“Yeee-haw!!! And that’s what I’m talking about!!!!” Prompto boosts in laughter after he shot a fish dead. 

‘He thinks this is fun huh?’ Noctis thought.

He tries to give Prompto a death glare.

“Still sleepy, Noct?” 

Fails.

He just blew a sigh and continues fishing.

“You want me to tell the truth?” Noctis reels in his rod as his prey nibbles his bait.

“Aye Prince-y!” Prompto even saluted.

“You are not helping.” 

“How? I shot the fish for you.”

“It’s dead!”

Prompto, who seems to not understand what the prince meant, raises a brow. “So? … Ignis needs it dead, right?”

Noctis wants to give Prompto some Armiger about his ignorance. “Just get me a basket.”

“Yes, sir!” And thankfully, Prompto leaves him.

                        [ A R M I G E R - the means to wield the royal arms all at once ]

Prompto happily makes his way back to camp to get a basket for the prince as he sings to himself “Get a basket for Prince Nocty! Get a basket for Prince Nocty and serve his highness!” 

“WATCH OUT!” A girl’s voice shouts from a distance out of nowhere.

And Prompto did what the voice said; he dodges, ducking down at once and he saw strings flying off somewhere. He slowly stands up and searches where it came from. 

“I am sorry!!!” the voice speaks again. He follows it and spots a cute girl across the pond. He smiles and waves. “It’s okay!” he shouts back. Then he observes the girl from afar before finally deciding to approach her. Maybe she needs some help.

“You fishin’?” Prompto speaks behind the girl when someone also speaks in a stern voice after him. “Don’t move.” 

Prompto, carelessly turns when he was asked not to, only to see a gun pointing at him. His eyes widen . . . and shines.

“WOW! Where’d you get your gun?!” he beams.

“I said don’t move!” Then the gun clicks.

“Light, cool it down! I think he isn’t a bad guy!” the cute girl said.

“Yes, I’m not.” Prompto raises his hands in surrender and puts them down, still smiling. Then he starts circling around the woman called ‘Light’. 

“But who are you? I bet you’re not supposed to be here.”

“I am Vanille and she is Lightning and we resides at Galdin Quay.” The Vanille girl with cute ponytails holds out a hand to Prompto. “Nice to meet you….”

“Prompto” Prompto said and about to take Vanille’s hand when Lightning slaps his hand off.

“Ow!” 

“How could you trust this stranger easily, Vanille?” Lightning still on guard.

“Woah-wait! I am from Lucis and I am accompanying the Prince right now to get some breakfast.” He smiles then his eyes lands on Vanille and oh did he just love those innocent green eyes of hers.

“The prince?!” Vanille gushes. Her eyes literally shines “Oh take us with him. I want to meet him!”

“Vanille” Lightning grumbles. “Our only plan is to catch some fish and get back.”

“Good timing! The prince is fishing as well. I am sure he needs your amazing fishing rod!” He looks at Vanille’s cool fishing rod. And he leans on to Vanille and whispers “Since he sucks at fishing.” 

Lightning doesn’t approve of the proximity this Prompto makes. She just scowls from behind. Prompto’s phone rings, receiving a text message from Noctis asking where he is and the basket.

“Oh come on now ladies, and let’s not make the Prince wait.” Then Prompto, successfully, bring the girls with him. And as they are making their way there Prompto muses over their appearances. “Your names are kind of weird …in a good way, I mean. I actually like it. Vanille and Lightning! And Vanilla’s my favorite ice cream flavor by the way.” 

“Oh I love Vanilla; it’s my first time tasting it here.” Vanille gleefully said and she and Prompto seem to get along pretty easily. But Lightning has her doubts and that is if this guy will really lead them to the Prince. It’s not that easy to get and meet the Prince.

Or…

“Yo! Noct!” Prompto waves.

Maybe not.

The said Prince is quietly fishing and beside him lays a dark cloth with fishes on it.

“Genius, Noct! Your jacket as a substitute for the basket.” Prompto went closer.

“So where’s the bask–” Noctis pauses, seeing unfamiliar guests and the fish he is reeling in has escape. But the pink haired girl catches his interest. The girl is just sooo looking at him, looking into his soul. He looks away and tries to hold his composure. “W-who are they Prompto?”

“Friends!” As usual of Prompto, easy to make friends. 

“Hi!” Vanille waves and Noctis turn and give her a little nod then her rod catches his eyes.

‘WOW!’ he mouths and just looks at it without moving.

But Prompto notices it “The Prince likes your rod, Vanille.” he said like he predicted what the Prince was thinking.

“Oh! I would love to give it to you, your Highness but I just…can’t. It has sentimental value to me.” Vanille clasps her rod a little tighter.

Noctis blinks, feeling a bit embarrassed. “N- No. Y-you don’t really have to do that.” He manages a smile and glances at Lightning. 

Prompto leans down to Noct to tell him of his manners. Then Noctis stands up and dusts himself. “Oh… I-I am Noctis………” then his voice slowly dies down realizing how awkward it already looks, then still he adds “…. by the way,”

“We know.” Vanille said, smiling. “Mine’s Vanille and this is my friend, Claire.”

Lightning slightly twitches at the mention of her name and said “It’s… Lightning.”

She shots Vanille an eye. But Vanille just ignores her. “Want to borrow my rod, Prince?”

And Noctis is more than happy. He smiled. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” Vanille giggles and hands the rod to him and moves closer to Noctis to teach him how to use it.

Prompto feels jealous at the attention Noct receives from Vanille when the gun catches his interest so he approaches Light. “Hey show me how that gun works!”

Lightning was observing Vanille and Noctis when blondie, suddenly, appears beside her. He reminds her of Snow. She looks at the gun at her holster. 

“Say, you see those Arbas? Let’s shoot them.” 

“Sure.” Then she and Prompto set off to kill. Lightning just looooves huntin’.

Prompto isn’t a bad guy after all, Lightning thought.

Together they beat the Arbas while showing him how Blazefire Saber works.

[ B L A Z E F I R E  S A B E R - gunblade only issued to highly trained soldiers ]

“Lightning, we should hunt together in the future.” Prompto said as they get back to the camp.

Lightning carries the Prince’s jacket that’s filled with fishes. While Prompto and Noctis carry the Arbas they skinned and Vanille carries the fishing rods and other things. Ignis spots his two friends who got some company. He is currently reading a book as he waits for them.  He gets up and approaches his friends, fixing his glasses.

“No wonder you took so long.” He looks at the two lovely ladies then to Noctis and Prompto.

“Ignis, meet Vanille and Lightning, and girls, meet Ignis.” Prompto happily introduces. Vanille waves enthusiastically and Lightning gives a gentle smile.

Vanille reminds Ignis of Prompto as to how they look delighted in everything. And he somehow sees himself in Light. But he’s not sure; she just gives him that vibe. Ignis smiles back “Please to meet you. But where do you come from?”

“We’re currently residing at Galdin Quay.” Vanille simply said and Ignis takes note of the word 'currently’ but he rather not say anything more.

“Care to join us?” Noctis finally speaks, being a prince.

“Sure, we’d–” Vanille was cut short.

“As much as we’d like to, but sadly, we have to take down the offer as our friends are waiting for us too” Lightning said, politely.

“Too bad.” Prompto comments from behind. But Noctis manages a smile despite feeling dejected “It’s alright.”

A lie.

Then Lightning faces her back and starts to walk away and Vanille gives a little bow and goes after Light.

“L-Lightning, W-wait!” Noctis half run after them and stops as Light pauses and slowly turns in confusion. She just stares at Noctis, waiting for him, which makes the prince feel more gauche as he already is.

“Erm…. w-when do we meet?” 

Lightning is taken aback by his question; she blinks once and opens her mouth slightly to say anything. “….J-just come by at Galdin Quay if you have time…” her words left hanging like there’s something more to say, but she just gives an awkward bow-not knowing how to acknowledge a prince, especially he doesn’t give her some vibes of being one.

Then she adds…

“ So…s-see you around, Prince.”

And they completely left.