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

[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.

[shatteredlenses]

Sass. I know how sass works. And puns.

[Ignis makes a dismissive motion toward where he approximately thinks the chocobo ended up.]

Sarcasm's for the birds.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn quickly repressed laughter before it turned into anything more than the low chuckle that left him, Hresvelgr chirping what sounded like approval at having been acknowledged.]

You remain completely unbelievable, I see.