No Accounting for Taste
Fandom: Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent
Words: 827
Summary: Modern AU shenanigans between Prome, Stead, and Millard
Prome was reading in the living room when Stead walked in, carrying an open pickle jar in one hand, and stated, “I need a favor.”
Looking up from his book, Prome raised his eyebrows and asked, “And what is this favor?”
“Well first of all,” Stead said, delicately swirling the liquid in the pickle jar like it was some fine wine, “I need you to not tell Millard.”
“That sounds like a favor I should not grant,” Prome admitted.
Stead hummed, taking a sip from the jar in his hand, “Okay, but I promise I’ll make it worth your while. You see-”
Prome lost track of what Stead was saying, his focus instead narrowing in on the pickle jar, the slightest hint of nausea in the back of his throat, “Did you really drink that?”
Pausing, Stead looked at the jar in his hand, then at Prome, then a slow smirk curled its way across his face. “Of course, why let it go to waste?”
Revulsion rocketed through Prome, and he stared at Stead in bewilderment, he opened up his mouth to argue, but he was cut short by Millard appearing, looming up behind Stead and asking, “Did I hear someone say my name?”
Stead’s eyes went wide for a moment, but he quickly put on a casual smile as he turned around, “Millard! You must’ve misheard, we haven’t mentioned you at all. Right Prome?” Stead asked, glancing over at Prome.
He didn’t answer, simply staring in disbelief and a little disgust as Stead took another drink of the pickle juice.
Millard didn’t notice, brightening up in interest as Stead drank, “Oh! May I have some?”
Stead raised an eyebrow, “You want a drink…” he lifted up the jar, “Of this?”
“Yes please.”
“Be me guest,” Stead said with an amused shrug, handing the jar to Millard while the corner of his eye flicked to Prome.
Who could only watch as horror as Millard happily swallowed a mouthful of brine. The only conciliation Prome had that Millard had not gone fully insane was that Millard frowned in distaste after drinking it.
“This isn’t pickle juice,” Millard said, “Why are you drinking gatorade out of a pickle jar?”
Scratch that, there was no conciliation in this. Had he been transported to another universe? Why did Millard sound so disappointed that he wasn’t drinking pickle juice?
“Hold on,” Stead said in surprise, “You honestly wanted to drink pickle juice?”
“Yes?” Millard answered in confusion, tilting his head to the side, “I like it as a treat, though it’s been awhile since I’ve had some. Not since I was a kid, I think.”
Stead stared at Millard like he had grown a second head, “Pickle juice is a treat?”
Millard frowned, “Sometimes you crave salt, and pickle juice is a yummy way to get it. Plus, it’s good for you.”
Stead’s surprise faded, replaced with amusement as he teased, “Why not just eat the pickle?”
“It’s not the same,” Millard stated, “It doesn’t satisfy in the same way.”
Prome felt lightheaded, feeling far away as he asked faintly, “Are you certain you do not have some nutrition deficiency that has you craving pickle juice?”
“No,” Millard denied, oddly fierce, “My Mom had me tested for such things, and nothing came up.”
Crossing his arms with a smirk, Stead quipped, “Did your Mom get you tested because you kept drinking pickle juice?”
Millard’s shoulders came up to his ears, gaze glancing down and away from Stead as he replied, “... I don’t have to answer that.”
Stead’s delight was palpable as he exclaimed, “She did!”
“I didn’t say anything of the sort,” Millard muttered, backing out of the room, Stead’s jar of gatorade still in hand. “You can’t prove anything,” Millard continued, disappearing around a corner and into the kitchen, "I am leaving this conversation. Goodbye."
“I’ll just call your Mom later and ask her!” Stead called after him, to which there was no response.
There was a beat of silence.
Then Stead turned.
Stepping quickly up to Prome, he said in an almost urgent tone of voice,
“So about that favor you owe me.”
“Owe you,” Prome repeated, not quite comprehending.
“Yes,” Stead said, “I need you to-”
Millard’s voice cut through the house, incredulous and indignant, “Stead, what did you do to all of the glasses!?”
“Oops, nevermind. Too late,” Stead said with a shrug. “See ya later Prome,” and with a smirk and two fingered wave, Stead strode past Prome and out the backdoor.
Prome watched him go for a moment, but then sighed as he returned to his reading, the sounds of Millard’s yells as he chased Stead around the yard and Stead’s chuckles as he evaded Millard wafting around him as he did.
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Hey, I've been really enjoying CotC and also reading through all the work you've done for the translations of the Japanese game, as well as your thoughts and analyses of various characters and settings. One of your earlier asks you mentioned Prome being a heretic, which is fascinating to me bc I have no idea how that'd even look with how the cleric class and religion in the game story seem to be set up (even Mattias arguably wasn't a heretic per se, since Galdera was still part of the pantheon of Orsterra's gods). However I have been unable to scrape up any other information on Prome past what you mentioned in the one ask and general stuff about his stats, and I was wondering if you could explain his character a bit more, since his character story hasn't been translated or uploaded, nor has like, the recruitment card. If you can't, no big deal, I know the gacha aspect of the game makes it hard to learn the story of every single character and I'm sure I can piece stuff together when he eventually gets added to the worldwide release if I'm patient, but what you said did get me pretty curious about him. Thanks for taking the time to read this regardless!
I am very glad you're enjoying playing the game and even more so that you have watched our videos and read my posts! That makes me happy to hear! Thank you so much!
Prome is an extremely interesting character, I did call him a heretic as it is true. But, also not true. The reason he is considered one is because his views on the Orsterran religions is not of the norm, nor is it accepted within the church, but he believes it all the same. To put it simply, he's a "heretic".
Since you asked for a translation of his summon card, this is what it says:
A good and sincere wandering priest. He is well-behaved and admired by the people.
However, in reality, he is a "heretic" who denies the teachings of the Church of the Sacred Flame and preaches his own doctrine.
Prome is very loyal to the teachings of the Flamebringer. He grew up in a home of other members of the clergy, but as he grew up, he began to believe in his own way. Seeing the fault in the religious teachings and trust me, there is a lot of fault, you'll find out in Bestower of All's chapter 6 Part II! he now wants to share his interpretation. He's not aiming to prove the other way of worship wrong, just doesn't believe in that way.
He believes that the Sacred Flame is meant to purify, which technically isn't wrong, fire is used to do this, as it's one of its symbolic meanings. Fire is also meant to burn away waste to cleanse the world and start anew. He believes that the Flame needs to do this more often, so in Aelfric's place, he chooses to do so.
Knowing about the Chosen One and the rings, he does seek them out in order to gain Aelfric's approval. Despite being a little irrational, for lack of a better word, Prome is very dutiful and chooses to listen to the Chosen One when they tell him that his way doesn't seem fully correct. What I mean about this, is it's probably clear that the Chosen One does half agree with Prome's way, as they have to stop evil as well, but if death was an option to be avoided, I'm sure they would avoid that. So if Prome could teach sinners a well needed lesson, but give them a chance to atone for their sins rather than ending their lives, it is a better option.
What's also kind of nice to learn is people like Prome a lot. He carries a very welcoming demeanor when he recites his sermons, and though people recognize the way as different, a lot of people agree with what he says about the use of purification and the Flame. He also loves playing with children, which I think is really sweet. He gets along well with them, and they enjoy Prome's company just as much.
Without too much spoilers about the whole story, as this one is going to be uploaded very soon. (October 23rd for the Recollection, and October 24th for the Traveler Story)
In his story, another priest chooses to try and frame Prome for murder on one of the many targets Prome has attacked, but didn't kill, simply because the Chosen One said not to. When this happens, Prome asks the Chosen One if they believe he never did it, and seems relieved when the Chosen One says they trust Prome's word. It doesn't take long for the two characters to figure out who does it, thanks to a list Prome has about past sinners he's met.
That's all I will choose to say about the story plot specifically as it will be uploaded soon!
And that thing about Prome enjoying playing with children. After being framed for murder, one of Prome's first concerns was not being allowed to play with the children again. </3 Poor guy.
By the end of the story, Prome chooses to travel onwards with the Chosen One, and Marlowe (the priest from Millard's story) trust that the Chosen One will watch over Prome. Marlowe is a past mentor to Prome and one of the few people Prome trusts to support him.
Speaking of support, that's really all Prome needs. Someone to help support him and know when he may have crossed a line. Both Marlowe, and now the Chosen One, have taken this place.
That being said, if for whatever reason you want to ship Prome with someone. It has to be someone pure hearted to kind of "rub off" on Prome. Basically characters like Millard.
If you or anyone is interested in one day going for Prome in the English version, he would most likely be added alongside arena characters L'eeto (4th Champion) or Gertrude (5th Champion), as he originally released with Gertrude, but both her and L'eeto are weak to fire magic.
I was going to go into more detail about Prome and his story, but it will be uploaded soon, so I chose not to. I hope this was enough to pique your interest more until October 23rd/24th. Thanks again for the support!
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