Ardyn barely gets the first sentence out before Gladio's spun around, eyes wide. He immediately drops into a defensive stance, the soft shatter sound of the armiger accompanying his shield materializing on his arm. Hyperion is set aside up the hill and for a moment he curses himself for not using the armiger more freely.

It takes a moment for him to think beyond the rush of panic, to really focus on what Ardyn's saying. Just the soft cloying tone enough to make him feel sick. Welcoming them to Insomnia, siccing that fucking beast on them. Cor-

"I've got brains enough." Enough to know not to trust a word out of his mouth, not to want to engage in the slightest. He knew Ardyn was here but he was trying so hard to pretend that he wasn't, that he could relax at least a little, enjoy the sunshine and not have to worry about the Accursed for a little while. Just a little.

"What do you want, Ardyn?"