lifeaftr | ★ // king and lionheart

Entry tags:

★ // king and lionheart

Who: Ardyn + open
What: Camping back on the desert.
When: 1/14 and onward
Where: Monsun C4, possibly more added later
Warnings: None yet.

[He'd gone willingly this time, for whatever reason. Maybe he just knew he'd end up in the desert sooner or later, and it wasn't worth arguing.]

[But the longer Ardyn spent under the canopy Gladio had put up with a giant black chocobo at his side, the less he really cared about that. Sure, occasionally he had to step out into the oppressive sunlight to handle the curious and antagonistic cactus population, but...was that really so bad? The people would need whatever safe haven they could get in a chaotic desert, and he more than had the power to provide as much. That--that was right, wasn't it?]

[By the time night fell, he'd taken off his hat in favor of simply tying his hair back into a short ponytail, idly petting Hresvelgr with the hand not currently holding a red-toned greatsword as she nudged at his shoulder.]

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Oh? [Ardyn tilted his head slightly, pausing for a moment in petting Hresvelgr who had planted her head in his lap.] It must be important, for you to want to speak with me.

Uh, well, ah...

[He stared straight ahead, a flush covering his cheeks. It was awkward enough talking to Ardyn. Moreso trying to start a conversation about this.]

I mean, I was just thinking. Like, you have a girl chocobo, and I have a boy chocobo, and if we, like... [He held his hands out in front of himself, moving them like he was patting together an invisible snowball.] If we, umm... put them together, maybe we could make more chocobos without using wishes?

Hm...well, I suppose that isn't such a terrible idea, so long as they like one another.

[you see prompto, when a boy chocobo and a girl chocobo love each other very much...]

I think I'd prefer that to asking anything more of the Storyteller, surely.

Really?

[Don't mind how shocked he sounded. He expected Ardyn to be against this. Not sure why, but he did. Perhaps an expectation of Ardyn being extremely protective of Fressy. His speech quickened as if he was trying to get it out before Ardyn changed his mind.]

I-I mean, I know there's an age difference, and yours is bigger, but it should still work, right? It's going to be a long time before any of the others are adults.

It...should, I think? I don't know an abundance on the matter of chocobo breeding, just how to raise one.

[yes but consider: baby chocobos.]

[Baby chocobos to be raised together? A little awkward, but Prompto hadn't actually considered that yet.]

Yeah. I guess that makes two of us? Although, this is my first time raising a chocobo, too... You think letting them hang out would do it?

[He was still just happy that he had unexpected success.]

More than likely. I imagine it would take a fair bit of time for them to adjust to one another.

Yeah.

[That was fine. No rush. Coco would have to exercise his romance muscles.]

We could start walking them together or something. Get them used to each other.

[Soft grin on his face, he visibly relaxed as he leaned back. This hadn't turned into the argument or negotiation he had expected and that was a weight off his shoulders.

It didn't even occur to him right away that he was having a kind of normal conversation with Ardyn.]

...Doesn't sound like a bad idea. You might have to take them on your own more often than not, however.

I could do that. But...

[He finally glanced up at Ardyn. This was still weird, just. Chatting. And it wasn't as if he had, or would ever, forget the things Ardyn had done.

At the same time, he knew Ardyn's grudge was against people, not chocobos.]

Like... I don't think you'd do something to Coco.

[Him? Maybe. Coco? Probably not. So he probably could let Ardyn watch him. Sometimes. Maybe.]

I admit myself capable of a fair amount, but chocobos have never done anything to deserve such a thing.

[He didn't quite look at Prompto, still petting Hresvelgr idly.]

Animals lack ambition enough to betray people.

Yeah, so, like, I'd let you walk him if you wanted to.

[Would be awkward but he thinks he could handle it. Maybe after the first few times he'd worry less.]

...At or after sunset, if that would be agreeable to you. Despite the current climate, I don't exactly get along with sunlight.

Oh.

[Well, that explained a lot.]

Yeah, sure. If they're both up and they wanna go.

[Simple enough. He let out a small sigh and stared down, fiddling with a piece of nothing on the ground in silence for a moment.]

...Hey, uh. Can I ask you a question? No laughing at me, though.

I can scarcely stop you, but I don't guarantee an answer.

Did you, uh.

[Oh man, this was embarrassing. Maybe he should not ask.]

Did you. Ever have a girlfriend? Like, when you were my age?

...

[There was a short silence, but not a particularly tense one--like Ardyn was carefully thinking over the question instead of plotting to throw Prompto into the river. If he concentrated, there was...someone, possibly? Someone other than Gilgamesh, someone he'd cared about in an uncertain measure, and yet trying to recall anything further came out in unclear static and white noise.]

...I don't remember. Why do you ask?

That long ago?

[It was hard for him to imagine forgetting being in love with someone, but he wasn't 2,000 years old.]

I mean, when we started on this adventure it was like a bachelor party. And even though Noct was getting married he didn't really act like it? And now look at us. Everyone else has hooked up.

Even you have something going on with Iggy.

It's been...a long time.

[a long time with a lot of trauma involved.]

What of it? I'm not sure I see where you're going with this.

Nothing.

'm just saying.

[Sigh.]

I need a date.

[He'd been grumping so hard about this Ardyn doesn't even know. Insanely jealous boy here, even when he was on the good side of Monsun.]

[Ardyn hurriedly brought a hand to his mouth to cover a smile and stifle a laugh.]

Really, nothing? Not even with His Majesty?

What? Wait. What? Did you think Noct and I were doing stuff, too?

[Obviously this wasn't the first time someone was implying that. And honestly, he sounded more surprised than offended or anything.]

I did have a suspicion or two.

['Your heart's desire' and all.]

Seriously? How many people thought we were together?

Maybe that's why I couldn't get a girlfriend...

Couldn't honestly say one way or the other.

...The Commodore likes you quite a bit, doesn't she? It's quite funny, she scares most people senseless.

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