this is gospel

[scourgingstars]

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.]

Comments

[shatteredlenses]

[Ardyn's answer is met by silence for as much as Ignis wants to deny what he has heard, he knows it's the truth. For once, it is the honest and direct truth. No amount of denying will change that. Not when he can remember how Noctis told he and Prompto not to try and save him. His king--his friend--told him straight to his face to let him die because it had to be done to save everyone else. There was no other way. They shouldn't even bother to look.

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

[scourgingstars]

What? Don't start in on some attempt to appeal to the humanity you're imagining exists. it's spite, very plain and simple. I want the gods and Crystal alike to burn, and if the line of Lucis goes with it then that's no longer my concern.

...But I think we both know who's truly at the heart of the planet's malady, and for once it is not me-

[scourgingstars]

[Either awoken by the sound of voices or the tension in Ardyn's shoulders, there came the sound of short wings fluttering and the telltale chirping kweh of a baby chocobo.]

[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.]

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis opens his mouth to explain that is, for once, not really what he's thinking about, but finds himself snapping it closed a moment later when he hears the flutter of wings and...]

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.]

[scourgingstars]

Are you quite finished?

[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.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis takes a deep breath as if he actually is trying to stem his laughter, but as soon as he realizes what the chocobo must be doing from the sound of it's feet and chirps, he loses it again and no amount of putting his hand over his mouth can muffle it. Eventually, he manages to whisper.]

Hardly.

[Before dissolving into another fit of laughter.]

[scourgingstars]

I hate you and I hate that we just established killing you is pointless.

[shatteredlenses]

[Eventually, Ignis' laughter calms, replaced by the smallest mischievous smirk.]

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.

[scourgingstars]

Cease your nonsense before I more carefully weigh your value against how irritating you are. [He picked up the excited chocobo, scowling.]

...Her name is Hresvelgr.

[shatteredlenses]

Goodness. Well, I can see where my help's not wanted.

[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?

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn answered with a short laugh, placing Hresvelgr back on his shoulder.]

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.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis makes a tsking sound in the back of his throat.]

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.

[scourgingstars]

And why should I ever want to do something as ridiculous as that? The only person so interested in resurrecting the past was Emperor Aldercapt, and I don't think you want to know how poorly he turned out.

[shatteredlenses]

There is a great difference between wishing to resurrect what is better dead and learning from the past so it isn't repeated. Perhaps things would have gone better for the Emperor if he had realized that.

[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.]

[scourgingstars]

You severely overestimate the intelligence of the entire Aldercapt dynasty, to be perfectly honest.

[listen, ardyn knows crazy and aldercapt was crazy with a capital 'holy shit']

[shatteredlenses]

Perhaps, I do. They fell for your tricks, after all.

[scourgingstars]

Oh, now that's just hurtful. True, however--it was much less of a challenge than I'd hoped. A little magitek and suddenly I'm their Chancellor within the week, I was at least expecting someone to care enough to be suspicious.

[shatteredlenses]

It's not like you're subtle.

[Ignis gestures vaguely at Ardyn's outfit. As much as he hates to assume anything, he's going to have to assume at the moment it's still the same old pile of starves and a trench coat.]

Lucian colors and all. Did they just assume you were in a rebellious stage?

[scourgingstars]

...

[And that...actually got Ardyn to start laughing, a sound that was cold but perhaps a little less mocking and painful sounding than it usually was.]

And not a single person questioned it--!

[shatteredlenses]

[The laughter is much improved from the last time he heard Ardyn laugh--a broken, painful sound that was far too honest to be comfortable considering who it was coming from--so Ignis can't help but smile slightly.]

I suppose they figured getting a straight answer from you was a lost cause. It's certainly not been an easy task here.

[scourgingstars]

How would things be any fun for me if I were to bother with something like a straight answer?

[shatteredlenses]

Oh, but just think of how confused I would be if you did give me a straight answer. Why, I would probably not believe you in the slightest since it would break your pattern. Certainly that would bring you a great deal of amusement, now wouldn't it?

[scourgingstars]

That would just prove annoying. I go out of my way to be accommodating or even tell the truth on occasion, and all I'm met with is suspicion? It's terribly hurtful. Goodness, I do have feelings when the stars align just right, you know.

[shatteredlenses]

Oh really?

[Ignis manages to cock his right eyebrow just high enough to be seen over his sunglasses.]

Because I'm pretty sure I remember someone insisting he had nothing of the sort. Aside from the prerequisite hate and rage, of course.

[scourgingstars]

And here I thought you knew how sarcasm worked. I'm disappointed.