[ There's a bit of a pause. He knows where this conversation is likely to go, and it's not something he thinks he can talk about in public. So, he slides past Ardyn to unlock the door. ]
He belongs to a friend of mine. She... returned to stasis some time ago.
[ Door open, he motions Ardyn inside. Fenrir immediately bolts past them both and lays claim to the bed, flopping across the sheets. ]
[He allows Fenrir to bolt past him, watching as he claims the bed with the enthusiasm of a young pup. Ardyn merely moves to sit after invited into X'rhun's home, sinking into the cushions.]
I can see that. A shame to hear about your friend, however. How suddenly they fall asleep on us, without even the slightest warning.
[ It’s awfully heavy, that one little word. He can’t help but wonder, after all he’s been through, if those who wake and then return to slumber are afforded a peaceful rest or if they are made to suffer through what he has seen.
But he keeps all that to himself, finding his own place to sit. ]
I’m surprised you learned of what happened. I doubt Prompto would have told you.
Ah, now that is the million gil question, is it not?
[ A joke, or at least an attempt at one. ]
None of it was pleasant, though I suppose I needn’t tell you that. There are a great many ways I thought I might leave this life, but a slow death by poisoning was not on the list.
They were not particularly merciful. I am not surprised to hear that they would poison their captives, as well as physically abuse them.
[Their own group of hostages, tormented by lack of sleep, and terrifying nightmares. Abusive interrogation on top of all of that — any other man would find it repulsive. Ardyn is not a particularly good person, and therefore he thinks and speaks so easily regarding all of the above. He’s indulged in being a torturer himself, as X’rhun knows.]
You needn’t talk to me about the pain. About the interrogations, unless you wish to.
[He pauses.]
I suppose I’m here out of simple curiosity; your experience of death, despite my attempts to pull you away from it not all that long ago.
[ He breathes out a laugh, little more than a huff of air. ]
I should have guessed that’s where a man who cannot die would place his curiosities. I am sorry, for whatever it may be worth, for squandering your kindness as I did.
[ There is a pause, then, as if X’rhun is unsure whether or not he wants to recount his ordeal. But surely, he owes Ardyn that much, after all the other man has shared with him. He sucks in a deep, steadying breath, clasping his hands together in front of him. ]
It was no rest, like you might imagine. The darkness took me and for an all-too-brief moment I knew peace, only to be thrust into… into agony. I know not what the Natha did to bring me back, but every moment felt like a small lifetime of being painfully, slowly, torn asunder. Would that I could have screamed, to beg them to just leave me be, but all I could do was endure.
[ By the time he’s done, he’s squeezed his hands together enough for the grip to go white-knuckled, nails biting into his own skin. ]
[They can tread upon the subject of X’rhun wasting the gift he gave him another time. For Ardyn could argue that it was only expected — that even when he returns life to someone waning, someone being pulled into the cold grasp of death, they shall eventually find themselves back there again. Whether it be days, months, or years, all shall be taken by it.
Nearly all, at least.
Besides, what X’rhun describes instead is far more interesting. That he was welcomed into the void, only to be met with agony. Is that what Ardyn should expect? All that he had strove to achieve, so that it might end in his death… Was it not rest that was awaiting him, but pain?
Ardyn crosses his arms, to hide the way his own hands clench into his sleeves. No, surely that was not the case. It had to have something to do with the Natha, perhaps with the Storm. There was no possible way that after two thousand years (ceaseless toil, pain, regret, sorrow) that he should strive for anything less than a great, yawning void of nothing.
Silence rose up between them, thick as weeds. He finally spoke.]
[ Maybe it’s because he knows that this is mere curiosity for Ardyn, but it’s easier to verbalize everything with that layer of distance. Like it’s some math problem to be solved, a book to be read and not a thing he actually went through. ]
Stars. Hundreds of them, each one being torn apart. One by one, they were obliterated and left to float in nothingness like so much dust, myself along with them.
Just when I thought I could bear it no longer, I awoke in my stasis pod, no worse for the wear. At least physically.
[Stars being torn apart. X'rhun himself feeling the same sensations, the same pain. A visual to add to the unpleasantness of it all.
He hums with consideration, the slightest cinch of a brow seen in his expression.]
And what, do you think, this vision of yours means? Or was it merely observation, watching worlds and universes being torn apart, much like our own homes were?
I know not. As best I can guess, I would say it was a vision of the Storm, though I have no idea why I was forced to see it, and experience it, as I did.
[ All he knows is that he would go back to that godsdamned tower a dozen times before he would want to experience the agony of dying again. ]
What a shame, that your rest had been interrupted so unduly by visions of pain and the Storm itself. This place truly takes all that it can from us, in ways that we do not realize until it's too late.
[But he unfolds his arms, then gestures at X'rhun.]
But all that simply means you shall have to avoid dying again, henceforth.
[ Fenrir opts to stay behind, burying himself in the blankets instead. X’rhun leads Ardyn out the door and away from his home for a bit, until they happen upon a rather open and little-used side street. ]
[He stands where he’s instructed, not moving from his spot, though Ardyn is hiking up a brow while he watches X’rhun. He opens his arms wide in an over the top gesture.]
Should I be concerned for my safety?
[That’s a joke. He’s hardly ever concerned for his safety.]
[ It’s just an impression he gets, you know, with Ardyn being immortal and all.
X’rhun, for his part, just keeps walking. Ten yards away, twenty, twenty-five… and he stops, at last, a full thirty yards down the street from Ardyn. ]
Ready?
[ He sure hopes so because he’s going to do the thing. Much in the same way that he’s able to reach out with his magic to a target and propel himself towards it, he reaches out. There is a thin strand of light that ties his outstretched hand to Ardyn, but it’s only there for a moment before X’rhun pulls. There is a flash of yellow light at Ardyn’s feet, just enough to take him off the ground slightly and send him shooting down the street to X’rhun’s side.
They don’t collide, thankfully, though X’rhun does keep his arm up to steady his friend as his boots settle on the street again. ]
["Ready" only applies in a limited fashion, when magic suddenly hooks into you and sends you reeling forward quite suddenly, at a very high rate of speed.
To Ardyn's credit, he's a man who knows how to warp, so moving from Point A to Point B in a short period of time isn't what truly catches him off guard. It's the momentum forward that's jarring, the way that his body doesn't disappear and reappears where he wishes it to go. It's because he has no control over it, and this magic is not something he's used to seeing. Much less seeing it used on him.
The way he tenses is almost hilarious, but also quite telltale of a man who knows how to fight. Muscles coiling just underneath the surface, fingers twitching to summon a weapon out of habit and instinct. But because it's X'rhun, no such thing happens, only that he staggers forward a little when he suddenly stops in front him, pushed into his extended hand to steady himself.]
A little... warning would not have gone amiss.
[By the Six... there is a moment where Ardyn is trying to compose himself again, running a hand through his hair in his attempt to pull himself back together in what was a startling experience.]
[ This is probably not what Prompto meant when he asked X’rhun to be careful around Ardyn. In fact, this is probably the exact opposite of what Prompto meant. He sees the way Ardyn tenses, and he tenses himself, ready to displacement away if he must, but thankfully it doesn’t come to that.
He breathes out a little sigh, grinning a bit. ]
It would have been worth it, seeing you flustered like that.
[ There probably aren’t many things that can take Ardyn off his guard. It seems X’rhun found one. Would that he had the thought to take a picture. ]
You’ve seen the spell I use to zip to an enemy, yes? We call that corps-a-corps. After our little… incident with the chimera, I began to wonder if I could tool something to do the opposite – pull a target to me instead of pulling myself to the target. I’d say it worked rather well.
Ha, flustered? There’s a difference between that and being surprised, my friend.
[Whether or not flustered applies, now Ardyn has to deal with the buzzing thrum of adrenaline that had shot through his veins. His fingers flex, but he is well adapted to pulling himself back together in a matter of seconds — X’rhun gets to see that happen in real time, the way he straightens and then just shrugs shoulders, then makes a move to adjust a lapel of his dark coat.
The explanation makes sense, however. (A warning would not have gone amiss, as he said, but Ardyn is hypocritical on that front. He would not have warned someone, either.) But it is the last line that has Ardyn chuffing out a laugh in that low tone of his.]
And who’s the one oh-so-dramatically pulling me in their direction? If you’re looking for a reason to be close, you need only say the word. Being subtle is not your strong suit.
You have met me, correct? I’ve all the subtlety of a brick to the face.
[ Not entirely true, and they both know it, but his flamboyant manner of dress and even more flamboyant magic definitely lend some credence to that statement. ]
Besides, you’ve no room to talk after that stunt you pulled at the winter gala.
[They both could be described neatly (though not wholly) by the word “flamboyant”. And it’s true that Ardyn often feels that subtlety is overrated when it comes to daily conversation and mundane activities; or maybe he’s just a man who likes attention from time to time.
No matter the reasoning, he seems increasingly amused. X’rhun, bringing the winter gala back up? That was one night difficult to forget, for a multitude of reasons.]
Now, now. If you recall, it was that rather inconspicuous plant that pressed its influence into me. Otherwise, that sort of boldness on its own crosses into the territory of impropriety. Do I seem like that kind of man to you?
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[He gestures down at his feet, at the little creature.]
And who's this?
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He belongs to a friend of mine. She... returned to stasis some time ago.
[ Door open, he motions Ardyn inside. Fenrir immediately bolts past them both and lays claim to the bed, flopping across the sheets. ]
... He's rather precocious.
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I can see that. A shame to hear about your friend, however. How suddenly they fall asleep on us, without even the slightest warning.
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[ It’s awfully heavy, that one little word. He can’t help but wonder, after all he’s been through, if those who wake and then return to slumber are afforded a peaceful rest or if they are made to suffer through what he has seen.
But he keeps all that to himself, finding his own place to sit. ]
I’m surprised you learned of what happened. I doubt Prompto would have told you.
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[Bad tidings were always of more interest to people than good ones. Even if people would claim otherwise.]
So. Do you wish to talk about it?
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[ A joke, or at least an attempt at one. ]
None of it was pleasant, though I suppose I needn’t tell you that. There are a great many ways I thought I might leave this life, but a slow death by poisoning was not on the list.
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[Their own group of hostages, tormented by lack of sleep, and terrifying nightmares. Abusive interrogation on top of all of that — any other man would find it repulsive. Ardyn is not a particularly good person, and therefore he thinks and speaks so easily regarding all of the above. He’s indulged in being a torturer himself, as X’rhun knows.]
You needn’t talk to me about the pain. About the interrogations, unless you wish to.
[He pauses.]
I suppose I’m here out of simple curiosity; your experience of death, despite my attempts to pull you away from it not all that long ago.
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I should have guessed that’s where a man who cannot die would place his curiosities. I am sorry, for whatever it may be worth, for squandering your kindness as I did.
[ There is a pause, then, as if X’rhun is unsure whether or not he wants to recount his ordeal. But surely, he owes Ardyn that much, after all the other man has shared with him. He sucks in a deep, steadying breath, clasping his hands together in front of him. ]
It was no rest, like you might imagine. The darkness took me and for an all-too-brief moment I knew peace, only to be thrust into… into agony. I know not what the Natha did to bring me back, but every moment felt like a small lifetime of being painfully, slowly, torn asunder. Would that I could have screamed, to beg them to just leave me be, but all I could do was endure.
[ By the time he’s done, he’s squeezed his hands together enough for the grip to go white-knuckled, nails biting into his own skin. ]
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Nearly all, at least.
Besides, what X’rhun describes instead is far more interesting. That he was welcomed into the void, only to be met with agony. Is that what Ardyn should expect? All that he had strove to achieve, so that it might end in his death… Was it not rest that was awaiting him, but pain?
Ardyn crosses his arms, to hide the way his own hands clench into his sleeves. No, surely that was not the case. It had to have something to do with the Natha, perhaps with the Storm. There was no possible way that after two thousand years (ceaseless toil, pain, regret, sorrow) that he should strive for anything less than a great, yawning void of nothing.
Silence rose up between them, thick as weeds. He finally spoke.]
…And what else? What did you see?
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Stars. Hundreds of them, each one being torn apart. One by one, they were obliterated and left to float in nothingness like so much dust, myself along with them.
Just when I thought I could bear it no longer, I awoke in my stasis pod, no worse for the wear. At least physically.
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He hums with consideration, the slightest cinch of a brow seen in his expression.]
And what, do you think, this vision of yours means? Or was it merely observation, watching worlds and universes being torn apart, much like our own homes were?
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[ All he knows is that he would go back to that godsdamned tower a dozen times before he would want to experience the agony of dying again. ]
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[But he unfolds his arms, then gestures at X'rhun.]
But all that simply means you shall have to avoid dying again, henceforth.
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[ And neither does he wish to think about it much longer. This seems like a good a place as any to shift the subject. ]
… Actually, I have a little trick I’ve been working on to that end, if you would care you indulge me a moment.
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Indulge you? Well, since you asked so nicely.
[Show him this trick!]
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[ A pause, as he casts around his small house. ]
We should probably step outside.
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Then outside we go.
[He’ll stand and gesture at the door, only to follow X’rhun out when he’s ready, wondering what this could be.]
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Stand here, if you will. I need some distance.
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Should I be concerned for my safety?
[That’s a joke. He’s hardly ever concerned for his safety.]
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[ It’s just an impression he gets, you know, with Ardyn being immortal and all.
X’rhun, for his part, just keeps walking. Ten yards away, twenty, twenty-five… and he stops, at last, a full thirty yards down the street from Ardyn. ]
Ready?
[ He sure hopes so because he’s going to do the thing. Much in the same way that he’s able to reach out with his magic to a target and propel himself towards it, he reaches out. There is a thin strand of light that ties his outstretched hand to Ardyn, but it’s only there for a moment before X’rhun pulls. There is a flash of yellow light at Ardyn’s feet, just enough to take him off the ground slightly and send him shooting down the street to X’rhun’s side.
They don’t collide, thankfully, though X’rhun does keep his arm up to steady his friend as his boots settle on the street again. ]
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To Ardyn's credit, he's a man who knows how to warp, so moving from Point A to Point B in a short period of time isn't what truly catches him off guard. It's the momentum forward that's jarring, the way that his body doesn't disappear and reappears where he wishes it to go. It's because he has no control over it, and this magic is not something he's used to seeing. Much less seeing it used on him.
The way he tenses is almost hilarious, but also quite telltale of a man who knows how to fight. Muscles coiling just underneath the surface, fingers twitching to summon a weapon out of habit and instinct. But because it's X'rhun, no such thing happens, only that he staggers forward a little when he suddenly stops in front him, pushed into his extended hand to steady himself.]
A little... warning would not have gone amiss.
[By the Six... there is a moment where Ardyn is trying to compose himself again, running a hand through his hair in his attempt to pull himself back together in what was a startling experience.]
I could have stabbed you. What was that?
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He breathes out a little sigh, grinning a bit. ]
It would have been worth it, seeing you flustered like that.
[ There probably aren’t many things that can take Ardyn off his guard. It seems X’rhun found one. Would that he had the thought to take a picture. ]
You’ve seen the spell I use to zip to an enemy, yes? We call that corps-a-corps. After our little… incident with the chimera, I began to wonder if I could tool something to do the opposite – pull a target to me instead of pulling myself to the target. I’d say it worked rather well.
Either that, or you’re just that attracted to me.
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[Whether or not flustered applies, now Ardyn has to deal with the buzzing thrum of adrenaline that had shot through his veins. His fingers flex, but he is well adapted to pulling himself back together in a matter of seconds — X’rhun gets to see that happen in real time, the way he straightens and then just shrugs shoulders, then makes a move to adjust a lapel of his dark coat.
The explanation makes sense, however. (A warning would not have gone amiss, as he said, but Ardyn is hypocritical on that front. He would not have warned someone, either.) But it is the last line that has Ardyn chuffing out a laugh in that low tone of his.]
And who’s the one oh-so-dramatically pulling me in their direction? If you’re looking for a reason to be close, you need only say the word. Being subtle is not your strong suit.
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[ Not entirely true, and they both know it, but his flamboyant manner of dress and even more flamboyant magic definitely lend some credence to that statement. ]
Besides, you’ve no room to talk after that stunt you pulled at the winter gala.
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No matter the reasoning, he seems increasingly amused. X’rhun, bringing the winter gala back up? That was one night difficult to forget, for a multitude of reasons.]
Now, now. If you recall, it was that rather inconspicuous plant that pressed its influence into me. Otherwise, that sort of boldness on its own crosses into the territory of impropriety. Do I seem like that kind of man to you?
[(He totally is that kind of man.)]
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