paint it black

[scourgingstars]

Who: Ardyn + ota
What: Adjusting and generally being the obligatory weird neighbor.
When: ~9/8, late afternoon and evening.
Where: Islet 4 + Enso, ruins/mana pool.
Warnings: FFXV spoilers, nothing else yet.

[islet 4, shack 1]

[He hadn't done much of anything with the miserable little home yet, so the structure on the edge of the islet was easy to mistake for being uninhabited at first glance. But if investigated while the sun was out, one would find its sole resident in the shade of what was left of the roof--doing absolutely nothing productive whatsoever. At most he was tossing a coin to himself, or unfolding a multitool to take better inventory of what was in it.]

[When the sun started to set, however, Ardyn would be standing outside the half-ruined structure, examining the ruined building with what was probably a thoughtful look. No need to live in abject misery until he figured out what to do with this situation, after all. If someone happened to approach, he'd greet them with a brightly charming smile and:]

I don't suppose you know anything about construction, do you?

[enso e5]

[The ruins and mana pool had, for whatever reason, caught Ardyn's attention--as night started to fall he was lingering in the general area as if taking inventory of the immediate surroundings. It was possible that one might have caught a look of faint distaste or annoyance on his face as he looked over the temple remains, but otherwise that look of smug amusement was ever-present. As it grew later he'd be lingering around the mana pool near a small fire to guard against the dark and cold (or at least appear to be doing so.) Generally he seemed to be unfazed by being stuck on a mysterious other world with no regard for the linear nature of time, much less common sense.]

[But then again he'd certainly spent time on worse islands, all things considered.]

Comments

Enso E5

[esper_magic]

[ She hadn't been by the ruins yet, herself, though she was trying to explore more of the area. Sword in her hand, she was using the edge of her cape to clean it -- since she didn't have much else to use, obviously. But she didn't seem too troubled about being trapped in another world - or whatever this was - either. As far as she knew, there wasn't anything or anyone back in her own world waiting for her - although she might still want to go back one day. When she caught sight of a familiar figure though, she paused for a second, then resumed her steps. ]

Oh...! Hello, Ardyn.

[scourgingstars]

Good evening, Terra.

[Ardyn, as it happened, had shockingly little waiting for him at home. And yet there was little he wanted more than to get the hell out of here and go back to it as soon as possible. An odd sort of contradiction, he was aware, but so it went.]

And what brings you out here?

[esper_magic]

[ An odd contradiction for an odd man, perhaps? Terra smiles a little. ]

Oh - well, food, actually. [ She stepped closer, patting her backpack. ]

I found some fruit a short distance from here. I think I'm a little better at just gathering food than hunting animals. [ Unless she can just kill them outright by calling fire on them - then they're dead AND cooked. Efficiency! ]

What about you?

[scourgingstars]

Merely some light exploration; familiarizing myself with the terrain, minor things like that.

[Ardyn shrugged, tone as light as if they were discussing the weather and not an insane extradimensional island. Business as usual.]

Nothing of particular importance.

Islets because Ardyn deserves this.

[achievementhunter]

[The approaching party stops at his question, making a show of looking about, as if wondering whether someone else were behind them at this moment, looking like they knew a thing or two about structural integrity and DIY shack renovations.

Of course, the nearest person isn't all that close at all. Directing their gaze back to the man, Chara has no verbal response- they simply quirk an eyebrow at him, calmly waiting until he's ready to acknowledge that, perhaps, an eleven year old is not the right person to direct such questions towards.]

he sure does.

[scourgingstars]

...Sarcasm, my dear.

[whatever helps you not sleep at night, Ardyn.]

[achievementhunter]

Of course.

[Their expression clearly states they never doubted him, not for a moment.]

There is a man by the name of Kid who seems to have sound skills in home repairs- another by the name of Tim could also be of some assistance.

[scourgingstars]

[let him pretend to be cool okay]

How incredibly useful. I'm afraid I've never had to develop such a skill myself.

E5

[hyperlit]

[A lithe, berobed figure soon materializes beside the pool, having apparently just departed from the islets. Not that they're living there; they just had people they wanted to check up on. Now they're on a search for Ren once more, having not quite received the memo as to where those elves she was talking about have taken up residence.]

[The Drifter halts when they realize they're not alone. Not that this is unusual - the Ruins are frequently a hub of activity, they've come to learn - but they don't recognize the figure taking stock of the place.]

[Their head tilts to one side, and they lift one hand in cautious greeting.]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn raised an eyebrow at the Drifter as if expecting him to say something; at the greeting he responded with an equally simple one of his own.]

...Good evening.

[hyperlit]

[The Drifter, by contrast, says nothing. Not out of rudeness; they simply don't have the capacity for it. Instead, the companion at their shoulder has to hover in front of them to project a translucent HUD upon which they can impose a line of text:]

new here
?

[scourgingstars]

...Well, that's certainly different.

[Sure, this might as well happen.]

Yes, I am--my name is Ardyn.

Enso

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet is, quite literally, just passing through, heading for the mana pool to return to the islet where she's decided to set up her long-term camp after a long day of doing various useful things on the mainland.]

[She pauses at seeing an unfamiliar face, and gives him a smile that's surprisingly sweet and friendly for the sharpness of her fangs.]

Hello, there, I don't believe we've met.

[scourgingstars]

No, I suspect I would remember someone like you.

[...Not even remotely missing a beat.]

Ardyn Izunia.

[prettypurpleparlor]

Why thank you.

[She curtsies politely. Always nice to find a human who doesn't get too thrown off by her appearance.]

My name is Muffet. Are you one of the more recent arrivals?

[scourgingstars]

[He'd certainly seen stranger, but usually daemons didn't talk. That was the odd part of all this, really.]

It would seem that I am, in fact.

islet 4

[deranged_practicality]

I've built short-term shelters before.

[Isabella was interested in getting a roof over her head, and it's not like she has any canvas to pitch a tent. So it either use the ruins or start from scratch.]

[scourgingstars]

Have you? Oh, spectacular. I'm afraid my myriad talents are a bit lacking in this particular department.

[deranged_practicality]

Yes. Mostly in jungles and swamps, I'm afraid, but we can adapt that technique.

Enso E5

[noctanotheroneout]

The mana pool also caught Noctis's attention. He and the guys hadn't figured out how to replenish their elemental magic. Vessels they could scrape together, but the actual magic itself has been impossible to come by. He was going to test it out.

He hadn't been worried about not making noise as he approached the pool. What would he need to hide from after all? However, once Arydn came into view, Noctis stopped in his tracks. "You have got to be kidding me."

[scourgingstars]

"My, you almost sound like you didn't miss me."

So he was here after all. Ardyn couldn't say he was too surprised, but the sight was certainly an unexpected one. That made three of them, missing the ten years between Gralea and Insomnia. He wasn't sure if that was annoying or just confusing as far as timelines went, but it didn't really matter.

[noctanotheroneout]

Noctis stood his ground. Attacking Ardyn now without knowing the extent of his abilities would be idiotic. Also revealing what Noctis was capable of wasn't the smartest idea either. Did that mean this land would soon be engulfed in his start scourge?

"I'd rather never had seen you again, jester."

What was he supposed to do in this situation? Let it be? He couldn't.

Enso E5

[yallstupid]

[There's still just enough light to trek back from the ruins to the mana pools. With so few people now staying within the ruins, it still left them with a few valuable resources to pillage. Two hammocks were taken by the big man, both of which are slung over his shoulder, because like hell is he going to sleep on the ground in one of those crappy shacks, thank you very very. The damn buildings were awful enough as it is, he wasn't about to freeze his ass off at night by sleeping on compacted dirt. And the kid...well, he had to get one for her, too, clearly...otherwise she'd steal his or...c-climb into it with him like the bratty little baby she was. Tch!

Guzma's not expecting to encounter anyone one his way back, which is partially why he halts when she sees the time fire blazing just a ways away from the pool itself. He narrows his eyes - who in the hell would be loitering outside the ruins - shoving his hands in his pockets and gripping the handle of his knife. Sure, no one's been a total axe murderer thus far, but...well, there were rumors going about that a few newbies showed up. You never know what sort of sour folk that damned rabbit could be catering.]

[scourgingstars]

Good evening.

[If he noticed the potential hostility, there was no attention called to it. With a charming smile Ardyn greeted the figure surprisingly cheerfully, like he didn't have a single care in the multiverse.]

[(He didn't.)]

[yallstupid]

[Guzma's own expression doesn't change much, other than a raised eyebrow. Lord, that smile... This guy is either trying real hard, or is a Genuine Asshole. With a sigh, Guzma's grip on his knife loosens a little - he at least doesn't feel overly threatened just yet - and meanders over toward the very edge of the fire, well out of reach. Sorry, my guy, but even if you were a truly nice person, Guzma here wouldn't roll out the welcome wagon.]

Y'know, homie, s'probably safer in them ruins. [He jabs a finger over his back.] Ol' Cottontail even went and fancied up a few hammocks'n stuff in there for us. Y'all don't know what might be prowling out here at night.