carbungle | IC Contact

I believe it's meant to be something that he isn't expecting.

[See? He knows how to people.]

Where do you live?

...So, just as a tip for the future, the word you're looking for is "surprise".

[Good grief.

FINE, IT'S FOR YOU, PROMPTO...]

If you meet me at the cafe and pay for a round with the cats, I'll do it.

...I don't see how that's different.

[They both describe the same thing, after all. Worked fine for him.

He considered the offer for a moment. It might come out to more than he would like, but... It would get the job done.

Hopefully this cafe wasn't ridiculously overpriced. Needless to say, he had spent much time at cat cafes.]

Very well. At what time?

Of course you don't.

[Like talking to a rock sometimes. How can a guy so smart also be so stupid?]

One hour.

Very well.

I will meet you then.

[An hour later and Noctis is there waiting for him; he arrives early, which might be a surprise, though the reason is predictable enough to those who know him. He's tucked in a corner with some cake and a cat already curled up in his lap, playing on his phone one-handed as he pets it.]

[It took Verstael a bit to arrive. Mostly because he expected to see Noctis outside heading there, waiting by the entrance with a box about the size of a large computer tower. It took him a moment to realize Noctis had already gone in, which surprised him.

No matter, though. They could get their business over with faster.

His eyes scanned the room when he went through the entrance. Clearly he hadn't visited before. But he didn't linger. Just like with the message he was direct, heading immediately for Noctis and setting the large package on the table.

His eyes shifted down to the cat Noctis was petting. He neither had any particular animal affinity for nor aversion to them, tending to mostly be more interested in their usefulness or general importance for having a healthy world.]

I'm unfamiliar with the prices here, but if you tell me it's 500 dora I will know it's hogwash.

[...wtf that's a much bigger delivery than he'd expected, considering the source. Noctis blinks up at it for a moment, genuinely baffled. What the hell is that. He'd actually move to try and lift it to gauge its weight, but he doesn't want to disturb the cat.]

You kept me waiting so the cost went up. [It's been like, five minutes, maybe.] Don't worry, it's still within your cheapskate budget. What's this all for, anyway? Are you guessing at his birthday?

Birthday?

[From the furrowed eyebrows and confused question, he clearly hadn't been thinking birthdays.]

No, I've never much bothered with those. I'm keeping a promise.

[One he wasn't positive Pyra would even remember he made. She was potentially high at the time.]

If you attempt anything too high, you will have to do your part to earn the money as well.

[Handholding threats? Perhaps. But he mostly saw it as being efficient.]

A "promise", huh. You know you're gonna have to explain yourself properly if he asks you.

[He's honestly not sure if he wants to know, but... he does reach out and poke the box to see if it moves easily with a finger. Nope, feels kind of heavy, actually.]

It's not anything weird, is it? You didn't grow it in a lab?

I wasn't planning on staying.

[Meaning no explanation would ever be necessary. He could take his gift, Verstael could fulfill his promise of contact, sort of, and they could both move on.

He continued to look bewildered by Noctis.]

My labs aren't even setup for that. It is versatile and practical for a variety of situations, and the quality will assure that it lasts for a lifetime, making it an ideal gift.

[So, he thought pretty highly of his gift-giving abilities. They'd have to wait and see what Prompto thought of it.]

Edited 2020-04-29 13:32 (UTC)

The right answer to that question is, "no, of course not, that would be a creepy gift".

[He sips at his drink, knowing full well that Verstael wouldn't likely find it weird at all. Good thing about his labs, then...]

Well, whatever. As long as it doesn't explode or make a mess, I'll take it back.

I don't see why that would be 'creepy'.

[He was, of course, right. Verstael saw labs as perfectly normal, and plenty of things were grown in labs. Including Prompto.

But, as long as he was getting the job done.]

Very well, I'll pay then.

[And he did just as promised, seeking out a hostess in order to pay for the services. He had no particular intention of hanging out with Noctis, so he would do his part and head out.]

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