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[...Well. That sure was an attempt.]

...no big deal. Fish could be anywhere in the lake, there's no guarantee that the big one's gonna be further out. [Though in real life that would normally be the case, as they need more depth to swim properly.] Anyway, my first few casts were garbage too. [When he was like, ten.

He reaches over show her a decent speed for reeling the lure in, not too slow, but not too fast either.]

Slow and steady to bring it back, turn the rod a bit like this- you wanna bait the fish in, but if you move too fast it'll give up for an easier meal. Keep your grip firm and your hand steady, you don't want a fish yanking you right off the boat.

[ Letting his hands guide hers, she takes note of what force is needed and what is not to bring the line in at the pace he suggests. There's a balance to this, she realizes. In order to capture the fish, one must be patient and mimic bait itself. ] Mm, I think I understand now.

[ She casts out again, and this time it's much more successful. Pleased with herself, she lets out a soft hm and smile. ]

It's... like making the bait an extension of yourself-- as if... becoming the bait.

I don't know about that. You don't have to overcomplicate it.

[He smiles faintly, retrieving his own rod now that he's showed her the basics, drawing his line in and spinning it back out. No matter what's going on in his life, chaos or stress or misery, fishing always makes him feel better, at least a little bit. It's really been too long.]

Fishing is just... fishing. The whole point is to let it clear your head, to stop thinking about anything for a while. It's just you and a rod and whatever's down there.

[ She stares out into the expanse of the lake as he casts his line. She follows suit, after reeling back in her own a second time

Inhaling, she can begin to see what he means. It's peaceful, even if it's a VR, and there's a calming mindlessness to the repetitive motions of reeling and casting as the boat gently rocks beneath them. It is nice... if only because he seems a little bit more relaxed, and she wants nothing more than to facilitate that for him, whatever it takes. She's grateful that he agreed to this at all. ]

Quiet... then. [ She nods, softening her voice. ] ...I like it.

...Yeah. Me too.

[His voice is quiet as well, a hushed and half-distracted calm that's been absent from his tone for some time. It only lasts a moment before he shifts back to normal, but the effect this place is having on him is fairly obvious.]

Usually I've got an audience of backseat fishers. Kinda nice to have someone over here for a change.

[ Of course she's here with him. For him, really. Asking him for "help" to learn fish hadn't been about her in the first place. It had been a pretense for him. After a momentary's pause, she brushes her elbow against his side, nudging him gently as if to remind him that, yes, she's there. ]

Backseat fishers... with commentary, perhaps?

[ And who were the backseat fishers, she ponders. His brothers, or veteran fisherman gathered on the dock to see some prince incognito cast out his line? ]

[Less about forgetting she's there and more about forgetting everything else, but he appreciates the gesture nonetheless, glancing sidelong at her for a moment before returning his eyes to the lake.]

Plenty of it. They loved to let me know how they thought I was doing, like I couldn't mop the floor with 'em if it was a contest.

[The words are a complaint, but there's something in his tone that belies a deeper feeling behind them: familiar if subtle affection, a longing for simpler days when the most harsh of exchanged words were about how to reel in a pike. Most of his relationships involve a fair share of teasing, so.]

Hm... They really weren't easy on you, were they? [ She adjusts slightly how she sits, straightening her back in a lazy stretch as she watches the line bob within the water. ]

But they helped you. Like Gladio? With that one memory that we saw within the other VR. [ The one where he was carrying the giant fish Noctis caught back for him! ]

[Noctis pauses then, slowing the spin of his reel as he thinks back. Memory... the one on the mountain. Was that the last time he'd gone on a proper outing with Gladio? It, too, feels much further back than it actually is. They'd been so excited that whole day- from the moment at dawn when they ventured out, to the fated catch, to an incredible dinner at Meldacio alongside their fellow hunters, courtesy of Ignis and the borrowed base kitchen. It was... fun. A lot of fun.

Been a long time since Gladio smiled at him like that.]

...Yeah. That whole trip was his idea. He was the one who got me into fishing, back in the day.

[ ...She definitely brought up the wrong thing, there. Best to not inquire, or shy away from asking too much about any memories. She can understand how good memories may be clouded, changed to something bittersweet or stained with pain, after something heartbreaking has happened more recently.

So. ]

...Let's try to catch a bigger fish, today.

[Some memories are easier than others, it seems. Still, his issues with certain Shields aside, none of that can ruin their camping trips or his love of fishing, so he's content to jump back on the safer subject.]

Bigger than that guy? Bold ambitions. You need to get something biting, first.

[He gives her arm a light nudge and points to the left side of their boat.]

I've got a good feeling about that spot over there.

Fisherman's instinct? [ She jokes softly. ] Or is this another Eos-specific magic clairvoyance you have?

[ Looking over to where he indicates,she nods, reeling back in her line. All it takes is a little adjustment, and she's on the other side of their little boat, her back now against his. He'll hear her casting her line out again, the bait hitting the calm surface of the water before it sinks beneath. She's not exactly sure what she's waiting for here, or how hard a fish might tug upon the line, but she's ready. Or so, she tells herself that she is. ]

[He hums, leaning back against her.]

Neither. It's the words of a pro.

[A pro fisher, normally, but in this specific case a pro gamer. Sometimes fish in this GAme happen to favour a particular spot on the map, and he's noticed a pattern.

Very soon she ought to feel a sudden light tug on her line a couple of times, before suddenly it pulls- and the game comes to life. FISH ON!]

Whoa, finally got one.

[ Feeling the tug at her line, she nearly drops her rod in surprise. She leans back a bit against him, planting her feet against the bottom of the boat securely. ] Oh--!

[ What did he say before-- turn the rod a bit, slow and steady reel it back in, be patient, and...! ]

Got you!

[ It's maybe ten inches, snout to fin, but she looks proud of herself as she holds the fish up, still hooked by the line. ]

It's--... [ --still squirming around, flapping on the line. Pyra attempts to grab at it, only for its fin to slap at her fingers. She laughs, still quite pleased. ] Feisty little guy, isn't he?

Hey, look at you.

[A brighter smile is on Noct's face as he looks at her this time, taking in the sight of the fish. It's more of a guppy compared to what he's used to catching, but no fish is too small to celebrate in his book. He automatically holds a hand up to her, palm spread.]

Nice catch.

[ Oh, she knows this one! A high five. Her hand taps against his.

...Or was he offering to take the fish. Oh well. ] This is... my first fish! [ Excitedly, she brings the fish down into a bucket on the boat so it's not just dangling haphazardly upon the line. ] Hehe~ It's so... cute. Now what, do we name it?

[ Giggling again, she leans over to slip the hook from the fish's lip, careful. ]

Well... if it was a real fish, [-heh, reel fish-] I'd say not to, because it's gonna become dinner later.

[Never name what you eat! That's a major rule.]

Since this is a game, though, you can do whatever you want. So sure, go for it.

[ Immediately-- ]

--Mk. I Polaris.

[ WOo, she's so good at naming things. ]

...That's about what I expected, yeah.

[The name itself? Not in a million years. But the convention... yeah, it checks out.]

[ It is her first fish!

She prepares her rod again. ] So judging! [ She shakes her head with an easy, not at all serious smile. ] But when I happen to catch a hundred fish and more, giving them numbers will be useful! You’ll see!

Except that the way you do it involves remembering three names instead of one...

[He swings his own rod out again, reeling in nice and steady on the opposite side.]

Anyway, no judging. Just don't expect me to remember all of them myself.

[ She casts her line out. ]

It's not as if you've caught any fish to name yet, yourself!

[ How's that for back-seat (front-seat?) ribbing! ]

What's that? You don't want my help? In that case, lesson over- time for the exam.

[He gives his rod a quick expert twist at just the right time to snag something that, based on the size of the splash, is an absolute beast of a fish, steadily beginning to real it in. Seems she's awakened the spirit of competition in him.]

[ There's RNG to this game, whether either her or his line may actually bait a decent sized fish, although, he's absolutely right that the rest of it does indeed involve skill that she doesn't have. This won't stop her from trying to compete, however.

The boat rocks when he earns himself a catch, and she extends her arm out to the edge of the boat to stabilize herself as she glances back at him. It must be a trophy-sized fish, and he makes it look so easy, the way he's bringing his line back. ] Just-- what are you bringing up from this lake, a refrigerator?!

[ She feels no tug from her own line. Dammit, do something, game! It's making her eat her own words! ]

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