lifeaftr | take a one way ticket to the bacchanal

Who: Connor and the Jormun and y'all.
What: It's a weed party.
When: Weed Day
Where: The Monkey Compound.
Warnings: I mean. Drugs. There's drugs in this post and a disappointing lack of Alan Cumming dressed as a goat.

Connor kind of only means to invite the Jormun over because it's 4/20. He can't, like, not do anything for 4/20? Then it kind of occurs to him that after the utter disaster of the last island and the, uh. Questionable? Findings? On the new island, people might actually want to have a party.

So he scribbles a invitation somewhere on the rock:

Party on 4/20
Monkey Compound
Be there or be square
The party itself is kind of - there's a fire? And something is roasting over it? There's a couple tables, none of which are remotely the same shape or size because they're all that kind of wooden table. You know, the kind that rich people get to look rustic. There's also some chairs and benches, but let's be real: this was a party put together by a dumpster fire of a human being. Aside from the baskets on the center of each table that contains some fruit and a bunch of assorted bowls made out of coconuts - some of which contain suspiciously blue milk - there's not a whole lot of decoration. It basically looks like the kind of party that might show up if you searched "sad birthday parties" on a stock website.

He tried, okay? There was a serious attempt, given that realistically Connor actually was just gonna hang out with the Jormun and get high until he decided that other people might actually. Want to hang out or whatever?

Besides, we all know you're here for weed jokes anyway so it doesn't really matter what the actual party is like. Pretend like this is playing in the background or something.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's surely difficult when one doesn't recall what love feels like. Even the desert couldn't rectify that; all it did was quiet the endless noise for a time.

Does one really need to remember? Memory is such a funny thing. What one thinks is lost comes often comes back once one decides to no longer look for it. Besides, you speak as if there is some kind of single definition of what love feels like. That's not how it works.

Emotions and sentiment don't reside in this empty shell anymore. It's all long since been drowned out by enough bitter hatred to end a world.

You all contend with too much. Something that doesn't want to be saved.

You've said that before, yet hatred is an emotion. A strong one at that. If one emotion survives within you, that means others can be awakened. After all, one can only hate strongly if they once loved just as strongly. Otherwise, they would just not care.

[Yet, it will take effort on Ardyn's part and if he really doesn't want to, in the end, nothing they can do will make him.]

But, if you truly don't change your mind about wanting it all to end, the promise I made him still stands.

And what happens when one's simply comprised of hatred? What then? There's naught else to be done, right? Obviously.

Hardly. There's always something to be done if one is willing to try. Were you not listening when I just said how close love and hate are? You just need reason to remember the love instead of the hate.

...That sounds well past impossible and into 'outright insanity'.

Perhaps, so if you are so hellbent against it. Maybe if you just let things happen for once instead of planning every little thing, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised.

The last time I just 'let things happen', I wound up executed and exiled. Not looking to repeat the experience.

You speak as if I would allow a repeat of that to happen.

And you speak like you won't. You're really funny, you should go into comedy once the monarchy crumbles to dust.

I promised I would help you find the permanent rest you seek if that was what you still wanted in the end. I said nothing of torture and I won't allow others to do it either.

[Ardyn let out a short laugh, more tired than bitter.]

I'll believe that one when I see it, little flame.

I shall endeavor not to let you down. After all, that has happened far too much to you already.

[Ignis leans forward to rest his chin on the top of Ardyn's hat. Not as nice as resting it in the man's hair, but it will have to do.]

I know what you're going to say, so don't bother. There are some things one can't escape and my loyalty is one of them.

...I went to talk to the Storyteller. So that I could be certain none of you went behind my back to enlist his help in your ill-advised crusade to salvage whatever you find worthwhile here.

[How's that for knowing what he's going to say?]

He claims himself able to change this. Turn the unfortunate shell to something living and human. But it can not be done unless I ask for it.

How funny. A god claiming to value free will, offering something so freely. Why, that's the best joke I've heard in centuries.

Must it be a joke?

[All right, so Ignis has to admit that wasn't what he was expecting to hear, yet he's also not surprised to find Ardyn did such a thing. Ignis would never have asked the Storyteller for help in this matter, but why would Ardyn assume that with as much reason as he has not to trust? In fact, Ignis finds himself feeling relieved that the Storyteller will only act if Ardyn agrees to it. As much as he wants the redhead to find and accept the good in himself again, he doesn't wish it forced upon him. That's been done too much already.]

You know I have more reason than most to hate divine power, but after talking to the Storyteller before we went to fight at the Water, I can't help but feel they are different. Innocent in a way that the Astrals never were. There is part of me that wants to believe in their good intentions, while another still screams that we must be cautious.

...m'not stupid. Gods can't be trusted. Doesn't matter how benevolent they act.

[Despite the seriousness of their discussion, Ignis can't help but smile softly at Ardyn's mumbled statement.]

That's all right. I'm fairly certain we've already determined that I'm the foolish one in this relationship.

Relationship's rather pushing it, you know.

A 'relationship' is merely how two people interact with each other, or--I dare say--how they are connected to each other.

[Ignis' smile shifts a little bit closer to a smirk.]

Would you rather I call it a 'friendship' instead?

I don't have friends. Don't really need them.

Yes, I do recall you saying that a time or two before. Something about having them being equivalent to putting target on your back and handing them a dagger.

[See. He listens. Sometimes.]

I suppose whatever this is will just have to remain undescribed. All well, a little mystery keeps things interesting.

take a one way ticket to the bacchanal

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