Video @KingFisherman - During the flower festival

[brotrips]

(Noctis isn't sure when it happened, only that the flower in his hand was a trigger. One moment, he was himself, a normally-sized adult with an adult mind and features. The next, he was much smaller and the world around him much larger. Gone is the bravery and selective confidence, only to be replaced by the child that was even more painfully shy than his older self.

When the camera clicks on, Noctis is in his bed, smell legs crossed with a pillow in his lap; it hides most of his face.)

I... need help.

Comments

[11calls]

Me either, but we're going to be going home soon. That's what someone told me.

[brotrips]

Is it someone we can trust?

[11calls]

[Tiny!Alex trusts everyone so:]

Yeah. It's going to be okay.

[She just smiles.]

I promise.

[brotrips]

What if somebody comes before then? I could get in trouble for being here. It's dangerous.

[11calls]

It's not like you asked to come here. How would you get into trouble?

[Alex frowns.]

And as long as we stay in the walls we should be fine.

[brotrips]

If I tell you a secret, do you promise not to tell?

[11calls]

Of course!

[brotrips]

My dad is the king of Insomnia. If I go outside of his protection, bad things could happen to me. I promised I wouldn't go outside of the wall. I sneak outside of the castle sometimes, but Insomnia is safe.

[11calls]

Wait. Insomnia like when you can't sleep is also a place?

[Alex is enraptured by this.]

[brotrips]

Uh-huh. That's the name of our city. It's really big, and the palace has a lot of room, but it's kind of boring. There aren't really any other kids.

[11calls]

Why aren't there any other kids?

[brotrips]

Mom died when I was really young so I don't have any brothers or sisters. Ignis is here sometimes, but he's busy, and Gladio is mean.

[11calls]

Oh, I'm sorry. That's the worst. But I can play with you here, if you want!

[brotrips]

It's not always bad... I mean, um...Dad tells me a lot of good stories when he can. He's been busy lately, but I know he'll come back when he can.

(He's never able to.)

Thanks! What kind of games do you like?

[11calls]

All kinds! Tag, racing, hide and seek...

What kind of games do they play in Insomnia?

this tag got lost somehow. sorry for the delay

[brotrips]

I play with toys, and sometimes, Dad reads me bedtime stories. I like to pretend I'm him and beating all the big monsters.

No worries!

[11calls]

[Alex is just going to park her chin in her palm to listen.]

What kind of monsters?

[brotrips]

The strongest kinds, like behemoths and stuff! Dad's really strong so there's no monster he can't beat.

[11calls]

Wow! That sounds really impressive. Your dad must be pretty cool!

[brotrips]

He is, but since he's a king, he's really busy. I miss him sometimes.

Is it weird to miss your own dad?

[11calls]

No, I don't think so. Not if it's been like a long time since you've seen him. If it's been a while, I would miss my Daddy too.

[brotrips]

I see him sometimes, but he's busy so he can't play with me. He doesn't read as much either. Being a king looks hard.

[11calls]

Yeah, it must really stink to have all that responsibility. Like in the Lion King!

[brotrips]

You seem really smart.

Uh...what's the Lion King?

[11calls]

Thanks! My Dad says I'm too smart for my own good sometimes!

Oh! It's a movie! Haven't you seen it? We should find it and a DVD player so you can watch it!