[ Poor Ardyn, he looks rather like a drowned cat. He feels all right in finding that a bit humorous considering he fared only a bit better, if only because he didn’t end up in the water. He got showered all the same, and the poor feathers in his hat are still drooping. ]
It doesn’t have to be the sea. We could find ourselves something to fight on land next time.
[ Look, they’re both drowned cats— one a bit more literally than the other –but that’s an observation X’rhun keeps strictly to himself. ]
You were able to swim well enough.
[ Now, if Ardyn wanted to live in the water, gills would be much more beneficial, but that’s neither here nor there, and X’rhun opts for a slight shift in subject as they row. ]
I didn’t know you could teleport quite like that.
[ He makes a vague motion with one hand, mimicking Ardyn throwing his weapon. ]
[The mimicking causes him to arch a brow (come now, he doesn't gesture quite like that), but the amusement doesn't drain away from him at all.]
Another one of my many talents. I don't do it terribly often.
[There was a very, very long stretch of time back on Eos when he didn't do it at all. It would've been rather damning, and made things needlessly complicated... to say the least.]
[ Look, he wasn't trying to be accurate. He was just illustrating. ]
Mayhap a bit.
[ He was actually quite impressed. It's one thing to fling about spectral swords as he does, but there has to be a degree of confidence in one's own skill to be able to do what Ardyn did. He's never seen its like, across all Eorzea. ]
[His smile widens, as if he seems pleased by the concession.]
Then I'm glad to have provided a bit of entertainment.
[X'rhun was right about one thing; even in those brief moments of fighting, his sword flashing against the sun, Ardyn moved with a practiced confidence. A violent sort of force born of conviction itself, aimed at squarely defeating the serpent.
Now, he's all shrugs and loose smiles, and even his rowing is lackadaisical.]
I'd like to say I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, but a few of them have gone missing since my arrival here.
[ X'rhun doesn't think too much of it. He'll laugh and joke with the best of them, but if things become serious, then he's all business. All who fight must be like that to some degree. ]
Back on Eos, I had more than just my sword that I could summon.
[He recounts a few of them, lazily.]
A lance. Shield, crossbow, mace. And more.
[Royal arms, safely tucked away, attached to his very spirit. It nearly feels as if a part of him is missing, as much as he would hate to admit this annoyance that ran deep within him.]
But I've heard that being brought here tends to put a damper on all that one is capable of. Stealing away items and magic as if they didn't exist at all. Is that not the case with you?
[ Well that's... concerning. Not the fact that Ardyn once had more weapons at his disposal, though perhaps one day that opinion will change, but the fact that they're simply... gone. ]
No. Mine own abilities remain just as they were on Hydaelyn. I know that some of the others from there were having difficulties acclimating to this world's aether, but since my spells draw upon my internal store, nothing has changed.
Then you're fortunate, and I must admit that I'm partially jealous to hear it. This world was kinder to you than it was to I. You awoke in completion, whereas I...
[ He casts Ardyn a bit of a surprised glance, almost as if he's seeing him for the first time.
X'rhun is no fool. He's seen more than his fair share of battles, and he knows very well how embolden is supposed to work on a person, even one of above-average strength. It is not supposed to allow them to cleave the head from a sea monster in a single blow, and now here is Ardyn admitting that, whether by the effects of the Storm or the interference of the Natha, he is not even at full strength.
What a dangerous man he's befriended.
The surprise flits off his face as quickly as it came. He'll keep his revelation to himself, for the time being. In spite of the little hints here and there, Ardyn hasn't draw much attention to it himself, so X'rhun won't either. ]
I wonder why that is. An effect of the Storm, mayhap?
[If he notes the surprise, Ardyn does not comment upon it. It's true he has no reason to flaunt his abilities for no reason at all; in fact, it was often the wisest course of action to keep them close to his chest. Even those from Eos were not completely aware of all that he was capable of, and he preferred to keep it that way.
Still, with X'rhun, there is a level of honesty he feels comfortable with indulging himself in. And so-]
Perhaps, perhaps not. Either way, it's rather inconvenient. It is like... [Another pause as he searches for the right words.] Missing an inherent part of one's soul. A great chasm, where something once resided. I do wonder if the Storm is capable of these types of invasive changes.
[ He presses his lips into a thin line, the expression almost like a grimace, though there's sympathy at the edges. ]
I'm sorry. I've no idea what that must be like. Were I in your place, I would be... Twelve, I don't even know. Probably not happy about it, to say the very least.
[He hits the bullseye without trying terribly hard. Ardyn does not, to say the least, feel very happy about it. It was a source of some of his power, stolen away from him by forces beyond his control. And as controlling of a man that he is, this is not something that settles well in his mind.
Still, he doesn't show it very often. Difficult to unravel him to the point of outwardly showing anger, though it has happened on occasion.]
Such as it is. Little to be done about it now.
[They're finally getting close to shore, and soon the boat will be bumping up against the sand.]
I suppose not. I do wonder if the Natha would be able, or willing, to provide any answers.
[ X'rhun has never really interacted with them outside of the strange visions they shove into everyone's heads on occasion. He has no idea how approachable they really are.
But, yes, their little boat runs aground in the shallows near the shore in just a few short moments. ]
[Ardyn's interactions with them have been minimal at best, but it lingers on his mind, and not a thought he's shoved aside. But in the meantime, he focuses on getting out of the boat, avoiding the water -- a little silly, considering he's still drenched.
A motion to the serpent's head, once he's properly on land.]
Now then, we need only figure out how to carry that around long enough to collect our silver.
[He supposes he could stick it in his Armiger for now, but it's rather big, isn't it?]
[Ardyn gives X'rhun a look that says, That's way too much trouble, buddy. He exhales, crouching down next to the serpent's head, now pulled up to shore and lying in sand. Its dead eyes and torn flesh hardly seem to bother him. Nor the rather... fishy smell, which is pungent in the sun.]
Let's not worry about that, hm?
[A hand to touch the... admittedly slimy surface of the creature, and there's a moment's delay before it disappears in the telltale glow of his magic. Gone, as if it were never there.]
Mm. Well, that's different.
[In 2000+ years of existence, he has never carried a monster's head in his Armiger, but. Here they are. The lives they lead.]
[ Ardyn is just full of surprises today. He's not sure what the man's aim is when he wanders over to the serpent but not for the first, time he finds himself blinking in surprise at the results. ]
[He straightens and turns to face his friend, smiling, unmoved by the other's surprise.]
The same place I keep my sword, and a few other items of lesser consequence. It'll remain safe there, have no fear. This is easier than having to find a cart, and leaves our hands free in the meanwhile.
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no subject
It doesn’t have to be the sea. We could find ourselves something to fight on land next time.
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[Don't say that he looks like a drowned cat. It may be true, but even Ardyn might take offense-- well, no. He probably wouldn't.]
If one must fight, it should always be on land. If I were meant to swim, I would've been born with gils, after all.
[And thus begins the slow rowing back to shore.]
no subject
You were able to swim well enough.
[ Now, if Ardyn wanted to live in the water, gills would be much more beneficial, but that’s neither here nor there, and X’rhun opts for a slight shift in subject as they row. ]
I didn’t know you could teleport quite like that.
[ He makes a vague motion with one hand, mimicking Ardyn throwing his weapon. ]
no subject
Another one of my many talents. I don't do it terribly often.
[There was a very, very long stretch of time back on Eos when he didn't do it at all. It would've been rather damning, and made things needlessly complicated... to say the least.]
Were you impressed?
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Mayhap a bit.
[ He was actually quite impressed. It's one thing to fling about spectral swords as he does, but there has to be a degree of confidence in one's own skill to be able to do what Ardyn did. He's never seen its like, across all Eorzea. ]
no subject
Then I'm glad to have provided a bit of entertainment.
[X'rhun was right about one thing; even in those brief moments of fighting, his sword flashing against the sun, Ardyn moved with a practiced confidence. A violent sort of force born of conviction itself, aimed at squarely defeating the serpent.
Now, he's all shrugs and loose smiles, and even his rowing is lackadaisical.]
I'd like to say I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, but a few of them have gone missing since my arrival here.
no subject
Missing? What do you mean?
no subject
[He recounts a few of them, lazily.]
A lance. Shield, crossbow, mace. And more.
[Royal arms, safely tucked away, attached to his very spirit. It nearly feels as if a part of him is missing, as much as he would hate to admit this annoyance that ran deep within him.]
But I've heard that being brought here tends to put a damper on all that one is capable of. Stealing away items and magic as if they didn't exist at all. Is that not the case with you?
no subject
No. Mine own abilities remain just as they were on Hydaelyn. I know that some of the others from there were having difficulties acclimating to this world's aether, but since my spells draw upon my internal store, nothing has changed.
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[He seems to think.]
Oh, I'm at about eighty-percent, I think.
[If he had to put a superficial number to it.]
no subject
X'rhun is no fool. He's seen more than his fair share of battles, and he knows very well how embolden is supposed to work on a person, even one of above-average strength. It is not supposed to allow them to cleave the head from a sea monster in a single blow, and now here is Ardyn admitting that, whether by the effects of the Storm or the interference of the Natha, he is not even at full strength.
What a dangerous man he's befriended.
The surprise flits off his face as quickly as it came. He'll keep his revelation to himself, for the time being. In spite of the little hints here and there, Ardyn hasn't draw much attention to it himself, so X'rhun won't either. ]
I wonder why that is. An effect of the Storm, mayhap?
no subject
Still, with X'rhun, there is a level of honesty he feels comfortable with indulging himself in. And so-]
Perhaps, perhaps not. Either way, it's rather inconvenient. It is like... [Another pause as he searches for the right words.] Missing an inherent part of one's soul. A great chasm, where something once resided. I do wonder if the Storm is capable of these types of invasive changes.
no subject
I'm sorry. I've no idea what that must be like. Were I in your place, I would be... Twelve, I don't even know. Probably not happy about it, to say the very least.
no subject
Still, he doesn't show it very often. Difficult to unravel him to the point of outwardly showing anger, though it has happened on occasion.]
Such as it is. Little to be done about it now.
[They're finally getting close to shore, and soon the boat will be bumping up against the sand.]
no subject
[ X'rhun has never really interacted with them outside of the strange visions they shove into everyone's heads on occasion. He has no idea how approachable they really are.
But, yes, their little boat runs aground in the shallows near the shore in just a few short moments. ]
Ah, end of the line. Please disembark with care.
no subject
A motion to the serpent's head, once he's properly on land.]
Now then, we need only figure out how to carry that around long enough to collect our silver.
[He supposes he could stick it in his Armiger for now, but it's rather big, isn't it?]
no subject
Quite the quandary, isn't it? Unfortunately, my pockets aren't quite big enough.
I suppose one of us could go fetch a cart from the city and come back.
no subject
Let's not worry about that, hm?
[A hand to touch the... admittedly slimy surface of the creature, and there's a moment's delay before it disappears in the telltale glow of his magic. Gone, as if it were never there.]
Mm. Well, that's different.
[In 2000+ years of existence, he has never carried a monster's head in his Armiger, but. Here they are. The lives they lead.]
no subject
What did you do?
no subject
[He straightens and turns to face his friend, smiling, unmoved by the other's surprise.]
The same place I keep my sword, and a few other items of lesser consequence. It'll remain safe there, have no fear. This is easier than having to find a cart, and leaves our hands free in the meanwhile.
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[ Eloquent, as always. ]
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[It's so blunt that he can't dance around it.]
My magical pocket.
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Better you than me, I say. Shall we off to the city, my fishy friend?
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After you, my feline companion.
[And so off they go, serpent head in his hammerspace, to collect their silver.]