Ardyn Lucis Caelum (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
scourgingstars) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
lifeaftr2017-10-30 02:03 am
scourgingstars) wrote in lifeaftr2017-10-30 02:03 am
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.]
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.]
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[Ardyn was awake--of course he was, he never slept save for when the Storyteller apparently demanded it of them--and greeted Ignis with a sarcastic remark and heavily exaggerated sigh. He was sitting a short distance away, back to the wall and Hresvelgr sleeping on his shoulder.]
I really don't care to hear whatever further nonsense you have to say--if this is regarding payment I accept gil, sylkis greens, and leaving me alone.
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[Oh, this is off to a swimmingly good start, isn't it? Really, what did he expect?]
I dare say, when services are pressed upon a person unasked for, it's terribly rude of the one doing the services to demand payment in exchange. You really need to work on your offers. They lack a certain...allure.
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[not like he cares or anything]
How's that for allure--'don't get yourself killed because I won't care'.
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[Ignis folds his hands together, resting them lightly over his stomach.]
Which is what made your actions so puzzling. Why, it was almost as if I was with another person for awhile. It's a shame he doesn't come out more often.
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You lived because it was something that might benefit me. I care nothing for you or your useless friends, and I certainly don't waste my time on something as pointless as compassion.
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And, pray tell, how does this benefit you? Don't give me some excuse about the truce either. We both know how you feel about it and those involved in it.
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[Of course, without his magic Ardyn was a fraction of the danger he could have been--but he was the only one that needed to know that.]
[Silence followed that casual threat, Ardyn narrowing yellow eyes at the adviser--one of them could see with perfect clarity even in darkness. Maybe the truth would be rid of him faster; Ardyn could go back to being on his own rather than get into an endless argument and potentially stabbing the fellow strategist.]
...My, you wish for the truth so badly?
[His tone was as condescending as ever, even if the brief pause that followed it might have almost been heard as hesitation.]
You can't fight against the Draconian if you're dead. And, if I'm to be completely honest, I would love to see what might happen if someone actually cares enough to defy him.
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Do you truly believe I fear even your anger? I think we both already know just how much I will give to protect those I care about. My vision was the smallest of sacrifices.
[No matter the difficulty it's brought him or the blow to his confidence in his ability to do his duty, Ignis doesn't regret his sacrifice. If more is asked for, then he will give that as well with no regret.]
How fortunate for you, then, that I intend to fight him tooth and nail now that I know the truth of his plans.
[Despite the condescending tone in Ardyn's words, a small smile crosses Ignis' face.]
I do hope you enjoy the show. I would hate to bore you.
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People don't doubt Bahamut. He claims a healer to have been made a monster, and here we are. I know what people call me, and I know it was him that came up with the charming epithets to begin with. He claims a sacrifice will dispel the darkness, and goodness if a whole bloodline doesn't just throw themselves wholeheartedly into that without a moment's thought, from my time all the way down to His Majesty Noctis Lucis Caelum. No one has ever, since the founding of Insomnia, looked at anything the gods have decreed and said 'no.'
No one, except you.
And regardless of whether it amounts to anything or not--and I know that it won't--I delight in imagining the look on the Bladekeeper's face when he realizes even just one of his pawns apart from his Accursed saw him for the traitor he is.
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All because it had been prophesied so many years ago.
Ignis makes angry sound in the back of his throat, crossing his arms over his chest to keep himself from balling his hands into fists. It feels so deeply wrong to agree with what Ardyn's saying. Isn't an agreement with him a breaking of his loyalty to Noct? And yet, what does he do when Noctis himself is the one telling him to let him die? Does he do what his king asks of him or does disobey and protect the life of the king he's given everything to? Which is the path he should follow?
Damn Bahamut for forcing them into this situation! Why should they all suffer so much when they just did what was asked of them? They kept their promises. They sacrificed for their oaths.
His head tilts in Ardyn's direction, expression softening as if he's studying the man though he can't actually see him.
Are they really that much alike?]
1/2
...But I think we both know who's truly at the heart of the planet's malady, and for once it is not me-
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[Followed swiftly by a short admonishment in something far more arcane than even ancient Lucian, foreign with little to no root in any known language. The kind of thing that might have been found on the walls of Steyliff Grove or Costlemark Tower, if anyone had cared to stop to decipher runes with a pile of long-lost tomes and hours of spare time.]
[No matter how old and unknowable the language, the meaning was unmistakable; 'quiet', with a lightly scolding note to it. This was really not the time for that.]
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You have a baby chocobo.
[It's just a statement even if it sounds more like 'Why do you have a baby chocobo?' than anything else. He purses his lips for a moment, trying to remain stern. After all, he can hardly imagine that a young animal would actually be safe with Ardyn, but as soon as he hears that scold that's not really a scold, he just can't keep up the facade.]
Somehow I never pegged you as the nurturing type, but you are quite the good little mother now, aren't you? Your child sounds so happy!
[Don't laugh. Ignis, don't laugh. Oh sh-
Welp, so much for staying stern.]
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[Now you've got the chocobo going, hopping off Ardyn's shoulders and running around in circles with the same chirping noises.]
And you're not helping.
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Hardly.
[Before dissolving into another fit of laughter.]
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Come now, you mustn't speak so harshly in the presence of a child. They pick up things so quickly and you wouldn't want your baby throwing around such statements without knowing their true power. Why, the poor thing might unknowingly hurt someone's feelings!
[The corner of his mouth twitches as if laughter is threatening again, but he manages to stave it off.]
Now what's the the little one's name? Do we need to throw you a baby shower? It must be hard finding the right supplies for a baby on a tropical island.
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...Her name is Hresvelgr.
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[All right. As much as he's enjoying this, Ignis really doesn't want to push Ardyn into doing something rash, so he takes a deep breath and calms himself. When he speaks again, the laughter is gone, though there is still a bit of a smile playing around his lips.]
That's quite the name and not one I recognize. I assume it has some dramatic meaning?
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I see even you don't know everything. It's a legend older even than me, though I confess I've forgotten most of the details. Something about...a tremendous bird that perched atop the Fulgurian's staff, sending gale force winds on its wings to match his storms. Some might have called him the ancestor to the one that nests on the Rock of Ravatogh, if the story had survived that long.
[Ardyn paused, somewhere between thoughtful and uncertain he was even remembering that much correctly.]
Well, it hardly matters. I wouldn't expect anyone but myself to know of Solheim's remnants.
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I hardly know everything. There is only so much learning one can do in 22 years, after all.
[A distressingly small amount when compared to two thousand years, honestly. Not that Ignis is going to say that out loud. It does bother him, though, how much history has been lost over that time. Some of it, no doubt, is better lost, but some of it...
What if the answer to saving Noctis is in it?]
We could change that, you know.
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[Then again, if he had realized that it would mean the Empire was being ruled by a wise man instead of a power hungry fool. How different the world might have been then.]
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[listen, ardyn knows crazy and aldercapt was crazy with a capital 'holy shit']
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