lifeaftr | this is gospel

Who: Ardyn, Jaune, a new companion, and otherwise open.
What: [muffled chocobo theme in the distance]
When: The 26th and onward, I can count.
Where: Islet #4, Storyteller's temple, and a wildcard!
Warnings: None apart from blanket XV spoilers, will update if necessary

[a; islet 4 shack 1]
[By the time Ardyn got back to the islets with Jaune in tow, his immediate rage at the situation had calmed into the usual undercurrent of fury he always felt. Gods were the same no matter where you went, even if this one had rightfully called out the Astrals as hilariously incompetent. Something would have to be done here as with Eos; that little white nightmare had made things personal as far as Ardyn was concerned, and he couldn't let that stand.]

So, we'll want to begin by experimenting with that sigil. Leaving it in various places, perhaps having it drawn on our hands in some measure, see if that produces any notable results.

[First things first; upon walking in he snapped his fingers to light the usual small fire only for nothing to happen. He frowned at his hand before holding it out; had he actually run out of fire magic? No--that wasn't it, the power just wasn't responding. Thunder next, then Blizzard; he tried both for the same lack of results. Held out his hand for the Blade of the Mystic...nothing.]

Side-effects indeed, you smartmouthed little-

[Whatever complaint he was about to lapse into under his breath was interrupted by the sound of sudden cracking from a corner of the barely-repaired shelter, followed rather swiftly by a telltale kweh that changed Ardyn's tune rather quickly.]

...My, isn't that late.

[b; storyteller's temple]
[Eventually, Ardyn's usual habit of wandering near sunset found him back around the Storyteller's temple; observing it as if he was examining for anything out of the ordinary or perhaps hoping to see a glaring weak point.]

[Perhaps breaking up the slightly menacing illusion was the softball-sized black bird sitting in the hood of his scarf like she nested there.]

[c; wildcard]
[anything else! Ardyn usually spends the brightest part of the day at home, coming out closer to sunset/night/early morning now with his round bird-shaped companion either in his scarf or following behind him.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Hresvelgr.

[The bird perked up at her name, skittering past Prompto and directly to Ardyn, who knelt down and offered a hand for her to jump right into.]

I think you'll find she's mine, actually.

Bless you.

[Normally he wouldn't say something polite to Ardyn, but it was just a natural response after a sneeze.

At least he thought that was a sneeze.

He looked almost distressed as the chocobo scampered away. So close to fluff, and yet so far.]

What? How come you get a chocobo?

It's her name, dear Prompto. Do refrain from abducting birds you don't know, it's impolite.

[Ardyn straightened up and rolled his eyes, setting the bird on his shoulder.]

And I would presume I have one because I thought to ask that miserable white nightmare calling itself a god.

[This? This is a stunning revelation, and if he'd gotten it from anyone else he would have been purely ecstatic. As it was, he struggled to keep his excitement down because it was Ardyn.]

He gives out chocobos?!

[Can Ardyn guess what Prompto was going to ask for next?

Still, he was fidgeting with his camera, still wanting to snap that pic, but now Ardyn was right there.]

All right, I get it. She's yours. You can set her down, I won't take her.

[Just put her on the ground where Prompto could get all the adorable pics without Ardyn in them...]

Apparently. [He glanced over Prompto with a slight smirk, knowing quite well what the little camera-obsessed gunman might want.]

[Well, whatever. He was in a decent enough mood, all things considered. So he just set the chocobo back down on the ground, where she stood beside Ardyn and occasionally scratched at the ground like she was bored.]

[Prompto's eyes followed the chocobo like a cat followed a laser. All his attempts to play it cool were completely failing, as it was obvious he had an itchy trigger finger for that camera button. The only point of hesitation: Ardyn. He was still right there. Watching him take pics. Which was kind of awkward.

But Prompto decided to brush that aside and go for the shot. He knelt down and framed his shot, praying for this one to come out. One click, and one check of his picture later and he frowned again. By now he was quick to check and get his camera back up and ready. A second pic. Nothing. He sighed and went for a third one.]

[And in the background of the third one, having moved while Prompto occupied himself with his camera?]

[Just Ardyn. With this face.]

[Rarely was he happier than when someone's day was being ruined.]

[The relief Prompto felt when he saw the camera finally worked was blown apart by what he saw on the picture.]

Ardyn!

[Have the most frustrated of boys.]

That was supposed to be a picture of her!

[And instead he could maybe see a feather peeking out from behind Ardyn's hair.

Still, there was something awkward about trying to yell at Ardyn. Not that they weren't pretty much mortal enemies by now, but he was still talking to someone who generally seemed like an older man of prestige in comparison to him. The feeling of being on equal standing didn't tend to be there.]

Oh, was it? Dear, and I've gone and spoiled a perfectly adequate scene. How terrible of me.

[get dunked prompto]

[All that effort and all he had to show for it was a picture of Chancellor Izunia. The last person he really wanted to be around.

He grimaced, leaning forward like a kitten eying a piece of string, but he didn't trust the person holding it. No doubt Ardyn would just ruin the pic again. Maybe he could sneak a good one later. Surely the cogs could be seen turning in his head as he decided how he would resolve this dilemma.

Finally he tried to play it off cool, trying not to show too much irritation.]

Well, whatever, it's no big deal.

[Missing a shot, no big deal? He was obviously planning on fixing that at some point. He just didn't want to let Ardyn see he was getting under his skin.]

I hope you know how to take care of a chocobo.

[Did he need a babysitter?]

You say that as if I've never had one. I know exactly how to raise a chocobo, for your information.

Never really saw you at any chocobo races. You seemed to be more into getting around on that aircraft of yours.

Gralea does not exactly have stables, and I regrettably had little time to linger around Duscae in more recent years.

...Honestly, of all the things I have lied about, what would be the point of making up whether or not I know how to care for a chocobo? It's not as if I'm going to eat her or something patently absurd such as that.

[It really would be a stupid thing to lie about. But Prompto felt like being quite contrary considering the last time he saw Ardyn back home. After all the nonsense on the train, and then that nice 'welcome home'... He'd certainly had times when he gave Ardyn far too much credit before that and he was feeling so betrayed.

But he wasn't the debater. Ignis had been surprised he even managed to make it through high school, and he definitely had no formal training when it came to having a sharp tongue.

He shifted uncomfortably on his feet, feeling like an argument but not quite having something here to argue about. It was just Ardyn. He should be mad at him for stuff. A hasty retreat probably would have been the best option when he didn't have any clever words at hand, but he lingered a bit longer even as he took the first step back.]

As long as you don't let Jaune near her. He doesn't know which birds are meant for eating or not.

Oh, fear not--I'm quite aware of the dear boy's cluelessness on the matter.

[Ardyn smirked, tilting his head slightly; as cold and calculating as ever even as he delicately picked up the hatchling and set her back on his shoulder.]

[...It was probably a very surreal image, all things considered.]

I assure you she's quite safe with me.

Yeah.

["Safe with Ardyn" didn't sound like a thing that could be real.

But, what was he to do? He couldn't birdnap her. Even if he could, it wasn't like Ardyn wouldn't be able to figure out where she was, and then there'd be problems. He pursed his lips, clearly deliberating on what to do. In the end he chose to flee. He'd feel a lot better back with his companions, anyway, than hanging out with Ardyn. Despite everything they'd been through, he still briskly jogged away after awkwardly excusing himself, somehow managing to retain some amount of energy.

Next time, chocobo. Next time he'd have his picture.]

this is gospel

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