hugtopia_logs | ♥ April (Lasai) Event Log

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♥ April (Lasai) Event Log

April (Lasai) Event Log
Lasai is a beautiful month. The weather is warmer, the sky is a breathtaking blue again, and with the flowers from Ainir growing nicely, the entire city of Havenwell just feels more alive with every breath. It's a time of renewal, of rebirth, of Ainea's greatest strength as her adherents open the temple gates to invite people and robots from all walks of life to enter and share together. What should be a joyous time, however, is suddenly interrupted as the earthquakes mount day by day through the start of Lasai. Those messages that people have been receiving since Nalom? It seems it's time for the gods to deliver on their promises.

❥ PROMPT I: The Wild Wild West (East, South and North)

side view of a large wall surrounding a city

As Ainir gives way to Lasai, one morning the earthquakes, which had been growing more frequent again, suddenly mount in their intensity. The entire city is shaking and the native residents cower despite their faith in their gods' protection. The guards along the wall shout alarm and abandon their posts as the walls start to shift under the strain. When the last of them are safely away from the walls, the barrier and the wall itself quivers. The citizens cry out in alarm and fear until they realize that the walls aren't falling - they're moving. And they're moving further out. As everyone in Havenwell looks on, the walls and its surrounding barrier fluctuates and expands, sliding through the city streets as if on hidden tracks, avoiding buildings and ruins, pushing the toxic air and the storm further away. They finally come to rest and snap back into place, new walls rising from who knows where to fill in the gaps. The barrier strengthens and the earthquakes stop, and as the dust settles, a cheer rises from the citizens.

"Praise the gods! Praise the off-worlders!"

Among the din of their celebration, however, other cries start up among the newly incorporated ruins. Cries that sound like howls and screeches, and certainly do not sound human. Grab your weapons and steel yourselves, off-worlders, with the addition of this new space comes the need to clear it of anything potentially dangerous that got caught up in the expansion. Not all creatures you'll find are hostile, but some certainly are. Docile ones might just fetch a nice price from the Research Towers and the Conservatory if you can capture a mating pair.

OOC: These are the creatures you can encounter in the city as you go through to clear it. It's not an invasion level of infestation, as the majority of creatures will prefer to remain inside their known territory beyond the original barrier, but you will on occasion need to take up arms and fight. Next to their names are the frequency with which you can find them, ranging from common to extremely rare.

Inky Black Spiders (common - hostile): These relatively small, black spider-like creatures have very basic melee attacks, using their fangs and their sharp legs to bite and claw at people. Those who were around in October when the wall broke will recognize them as the most common enemy back then. Their exoskeletons are hard and when they die, they smash into a black goo. They tend to travel in packs, using sheer numbers to overwhelm their prey.
One-Eyed Lizard (uncommon - docile): An iridescent scaly purple and green lizard approximately 8 to 10cm in length from tip to tail. It has a single eye at the top of its head that can rotate to see 360 degrees around it. This creature's main defenses are its tough hide and a spine on the tip of its tail which it whips at predators to dissuade them from eating it. It's more likely to run than fight, however, and can usually be found sunbathing on exposed rock with its eye closed.
"Bone Giraffe" (extremely rare - hostile): A nearly 20-foot tall, long-necked skeleton of a four-legged creature long dead with a single curved horn protruding from its skull and a sharp snout. It's usually found lying in a heap, as if it laid down and died that way. A black seven-petaled flower sometimes (but not always) grows from the skull and beneath the skeleton is an oily black film. Touching the oil slick activates the creature, which draws the oil up into the skeletal cage. Its main attacks are brute force, using its bony legs and neck to kick and slam against its prey, and its acid breath. It breathes a black fume that sizzles and burns anything it touches.
Rive Talon (rare - hostile - medium): In the past these creatures may have been canines of some form, now they seem to have melded with the detritus of the fallen buildings and creatures of the landscape. Extra spikes, ridges, and protrusions extend from its body at odd angles. Many of them are metal or stone, rather than bone. And some of the bones clearly were not originally its own. (Suggested by Sierra!)
Outskirts Hare (uncommon - docile): A shy creature, roughly the size and shape of an earth hare, covered in fuzzy-looking, curly pink hair and cat-like whiskers. Normally quite timid, this creature's poor eyesight causes it to flee when it feels threatened, and relies largely on a sense of touch to navigate its surroundings. Contact with this creature's fur is markedly pleasant, but its skin discharges an oil that causes mild skin irritation on contact when it's nervous. Active mostly at night time. (Suggested by Mel!)
Ansaurini (rare - annoying): a bipedal feathered bird with sharp claws and teeth good for chomping; some possess flight capabilities, but the majority are prone to a lazy waddle. Mostly harmless and deceptively unassuming until you turn your back- and suddenly it's run off with something it stole off your person! They are excellent at escaping, though they can be traced back to their hoard, and if their collection is raided they will make a lot of noise in protest. Just watch your back- they will try again until you leave their territory. Truly, a horrible thing.

❥ PROMPT II: Welcome to the (Urban) Jungle

Once the creatures are mostly taken care of and the newly revealed area is deemed safe enough to venture into, the city council will put out a call for those willing and able to assist the natives with a clean-up effort. The city outside the walls is badly damaged, left to the ravages of the time and the ever-present storm, which means clearing dust, debris, and flotsam is a high priority before people can begin to repair the new districts and salvage material or live there. Thick brown vines cover large parts of the city, grime from the storm is caked onto windows, rocks and scattered rotted bones and twisted metal can be found in roads and crashed through buildings. The atmosphere in this part of the city seems to mirror the decrepit state of the land, too, feeling heavier and grayer and more depressing than it has any right to be. Going out with people and helping together, taking breaks to lean against one another tends to help clear away any negativity that this land seems to bring to your thoughts, however. Since it's dangerous to go alone, be sure to take a friend.

The biggest concern is the vines, so natives offer to lend machetes to the offworlders to help the hack them away. The vines look brown and dead, the leaves withered and curled up. When characters hack into them, the vines release a puff of yellowish dust. Inhale the dust or get it anywhere near your face and over time, you'll begin to get sleepy - very sleepy. It's hard to keep your eyes open, no matter your resistance to poisons or magic, and eventually you'll find yourself falling asleep wherever you are. And once you're asleep? The vines start moving, crawling toward you at a snail's pace. Hopefully you did bring a friend because you'll need their touch to wake up and stay awake long enough to get away from the vines before they pull you deep within their grasp.

❥ PROMPT III: Take a Load Off

Not everyone can fight or clean or even wants to do it, so while those who are more suited to being on the front lines are off doing their thing, those who remain behind must begin the effort of preparing everything that people will need to live in these new areas. At the temples and in the main square, the priests have set up large rest areas with blankets and pillows, and are busily putting together repair kits for mechanics and explorers to use as they go through the ruins. Those who want a place to rest that doesn't require going all the way back to their homes might find these waystations more convenient.

At each, characters can find hot soups with chunks of hearty replicated breads and both hot and cold drinks available for any who wish it. They're trying to replicate pain medications and bandages for people who have been injured while exploring or fighting off the monsters who were unlucky enough to be left inside, and will ask you to try it if you're injured. Taking this medication might have some unintended side effects, however, like a feeling of euphoria or delusions of grandeur or even something as banal as turning your hair a shocking shade of chartreuse - the effect, if you want one, is up to you! The rest areas also have robots "skilled" in giving massages that are looking to test their newly acquired skills and with four pairs of arms, they can work on two people at once! In fact, they're rather insistent about giving you a free massage if they hear even the slightest hint of fatigue in your voice and will usher people into their curtained off booths regardless of whether they know the other occupant or not. These robots are still learning though, so anyone curious enough to try may need to work with their partner to give these robots pointers. They're trying, but not having fragile little flesh bodies is a major obstacle in learning how to have a gentle touch.

❥ PROMPT IV: That Which Remains

the remains of an abandoned factory with decrepit materials and equipment strewn about

With the opening of the city, there seem to be a lot of buildings that need cleaning. Some are so dilapidated that they're better off demolished than repossessed, and most are residential and commercial buildings reminiscent of the ones the offworlders are used to seeing everyday in the Havenwell they've all known up until now. However, among the ruins of these older sections, those intrepid enough to venture and explore may find a few unique gems awaiting them. Just remember: the first rule of urban exploration is to never go alone. You never know what might be lurking in those abandoned buildings or what obstacles might be in your way. Doorways blocked by rubble will need more than one person to remove them. Frightened (and frightening) animals might be lingering in the dark. And, most importantly, you don't want to fall through the floor and vanish into a basement. There seem to be quite a few weakened floors out there. In the following parts of the expanded city, characters can find these interesting ruins:

Northwest: The Arena - In the northwest of the newly opened area, characters can find what looks to be a ruin of a large open air oval building. The building itself is almost 3 stories tall with walls overgrown with brown vines and dead foliage. There are doorways that have no doors, instead being high archways through which people can access in the interior. Stairs lead up into what looks like worn stone benches and down below is a rubble-strewn open area. Part of the walls have collapsed over time but it's very clear this place was used once as some sort of viewing area. It'll take a bit of work to clear this place until it's usable!

There are archways with stairs that lead downward, but you'll need some help clearing away the rubble to get to what's below! If you're successful in getting beneath the arena, you'll find hallways with empty rooms that vary between large enough to possibly be some sort of training room to small enough to be just enough space for someone to put a slim single cot or bed and maybe a wardrobe to have a small private room. Some rooms have rusted metal that may or may not have been weapons at some point, while others have faded wall paintings, chipped and worn with age. It's hard to make out, but with enough reconstruction work, you may just learn who used to haunt these halls.
Southeast: The Baths - In the southeast of the newly opened area, characters will find a domed building unlike the rest of the architecture around it. It's extremely large, for one, and squat, while the rest of Havenwell's buildings seem to be lean and tall. The walls are made of the same stone, but the dome above is broken glass. There are several metal sliding doors set in the walls, but many are fused shut with grime and years of disuse. One main door, larger than the others is sightly ajar, however, and with some help characters may be able to force it open.

Inside, they find an expansive lobby with white floors that must have sparkled before all the grime, dirt, and broken glass took over. The dome overhead reflects the light, making the interior of the building as bright as outside. At the center of the lobby is a dry fountain with two broken statues - four armed humanoids holding urns. Their heads are missing and many of the arms are broken and lying in the dry basin. From the lobby there are alcoves in every direction and two hallways that lead further into the buiding in opposite directions. In each alcove are low stone seats and round basins sunk into the ground that are either dry with a black film around the inside, or full of a dark oily substance that's nearly coagulated.

Go down the hallways and you'll find identical looking chambers. First, you enter an open area with broken sinks and mirrors, with stone cubbies on the walls. Then when you pry open and push past the metal sliding doors, you'll find yourself in a wide open semicircular area filled with baths of different sizes, shapes and depths. Some are free-standing stone tubs, others are large basins sunk into the ground, and still others are rectangular and just big enough for one or two people to lie down in. Each of these basins are like the ones in the lobby, either filled with that same coagulated black ooze or dry with a black film inside. Looks like it's time to get cleaning because each basin also seems like they might be able to be retrofitted to produce water perhaps.
Southwest: The Factory - In the southwest, closest to the wall, the characters can find an imposing square building. It has small thin windows and boasts a plethora of chimneys and smokestacks on the roof, some of which are crumbling or broken with age and exposure. There are two square doors, both of which are large enough to drive a truck through and made of metal which needs to be pried open before accessing the inside. Once inside, the characters find a massive operation geared toward ore and mineral processing and metallurgical refinement. The machinery is old, but extremely well laid out, as it seems this plant was used to process huge volumes of minerals and ores before being lost to time. There are stations for every imaginable part of the refining process separated neatly so they can work efficiently, but all of the machines are broken or currently inoperable and will need significant work before they can start functioning again.

Explore the refinery and you may still find one or two of the ores lying about. They contain an unknown metal that gleams a slick oily silver. At the back of the refinery is an industrial elevator which is currently inoperational. Peering down through the cracks, however, reveals that the shaft goes a long way down. The view of just how far is obstructed by a shimmering rainbow-colored barrier, not unlike the one that is just outside the walls.

This event will run from April 15th to 30th, although due to the areas and effects not technically vanishing, feel free to continue playing with it for some time beyond. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A handful of days before month's end and Era's party, at a time when Ardyn is at the house while the others are not, there's a knock at the door, and outside stands Noctis Lucis Caelum: awkward, uncertain, but with an air of determination that was decidedly absent the last time they faced one another in person.

He's given himself most of the month- to settle back into his life here, to allow his wounds to heal, to reconnect two sets of memories into one comprehensible timeline, to separate two very different men in his head and his heart. He's listened to a voicemail, over and over. He's studied photos collected from friends. He's done everything he can do from a distance, but time and digital renditions can only heal so much hurt. It's why he's here, waiting for an open door, trying not to doubt his own conviction. This is the final test.

In his head is the same mantra he's told himself every time he listened to the voice, looked into amber eyes in photographs searching for the hatred that doesn't exist. It's not him. It's not him. It's not him.]

[Of course Ardyn opened the door, but the person behind it was the last person he expected.]

Oh- [He immediately snapped his mouth shut rather than actually speak. Quickly stepping back from the door in case Noctis wanted to either come in or leave on sight, standing rigidly still in a desire to make himself abruptly invisible rather than the casual invasions of personal space and slouching confidence. Even if the haphazardly tied hair in his face was the same blighted violet and eyes swiftly looking anywhere else the same inhuman yellow, whether consciously or not he couldn't have resembled his future self any less.]

[Noctis looks at him for a moment before reflexively, hastily glancing downwards, one last act of self-preserving cowardice. He studies his shoes, echoing that mantra again (not him not him), and then forces himself to look up once more- inside, directly at Ardyn.

It's weird; studying the man now, mere weeks after the simple act of seeing his face upon waking had pushed him into a state of horrible panic... it's hard to imagine them being the same person at all. It's like a final puzzle piece sliding into place, the missing connection he couldn't get from photos or recordings. Body language, subtle shifts in expression, reactions to his presence. Izunia didn't look as anxious as he felt, he didn't hold his tongue for fear of shattering the tentative calm that settles between them as the silence reigns. Izunia never looked as if he wanted to sink into the floor or retreat back into the dark, fearing rejection or causing harm to another.

This is Ardyn. Ardyn Lucis Caelum, a lost immortal, an uncrowned king, friend and family. It's not the one who murdered and destroyed and sowed chaos, who tormented and chased him all through the Keep, who-

It's not him. Don't think about him. It's not him. He's family.

They study one another, each a caged animal ready to pounce or flee, until Noctis drops his gaze again, shifting his hips and bending his right leg so as not to lean any weight on it, and breaks the silence at last.]

...My leg hurts.

[It's a simple, quiet admission, an unspoken question. A plea and an offer, both.]

...

[It wasn't quite a laugh that Ardyn responded with--a short and brief exhalation of breath that was equal parts disbelief and a lessening of the immediate anxiety he'd felt on sight. He'd come here of his own will, for a reason. That was already better than an accidental meeting when Noctis might have been looking for anyone else.]

...I can help with that. [His words were quiet and even cautious, still aware that just his voice alone was problem enough.] If you would like me to.

[The relief is mutual; Noct's shoulders slump a little, grateful that his resolve didn't falter, or that trembling sore legs didn't betray him and carry him away from the house at the sound of Ardyn's voice. Grateful as well that he wasn't turned away, that his selfish request after a month of forced exile for crimes the man didn't commit wasn't rejected. It's not as if he expected that, but- even so, the uncertainty had left him shaky. Instead, he's welcome here. And... he's doing good. He's doing okay.

He doesn't answer directly, unable to trust his voice not to fumble or break. Rather, he nods and steps inside, entering the space Ardyn had left for him. His limp is more blatant than it's been for a while now, at least since before he fell asleep, weeks of exploring, hunting, and too much physical activity and little relief. The request for aid may be just a pretense to come here, but it's nevertheless genuine. Unseen and silent, Carbuncle is also a half-step behind him, following along and sitting at his side to wait patiently for whatever comes next.]

You must be exhausted. [Still quiet and careful as he spoke, closing the door behind Noctis.] Please--sit down and make yourself comfortable. Can I get you anything?

No. [It's short and simple, but it isn't a struggle to get the word out, so after a moment Noctis purses his lips, swallows, and tries again.] ...Nah, I'm okay.

[The voicemail did help, it turns out. There's still scars left behind, still a subtle twisting in his gut, but he doesn't flinch, hearing the voice. It's clear enough that he can recognize the differences he'd been too panicked to notice before. His heart picked up as the door closed too, the obvious escape route blocked off, but he stamps down on that irrational thought before it threatens to run wild on him. This isn't the keep, this is his father's house, and he's safe. No daemons, no monsters, no threats. His family lives here, and he is tired, not just in body. He's tired of running and hiding from what he knows to be the truth: that no one will harm him while he's here.

He heads over to the chair at the kitchen, the same one he'd sat in the first time they did this, and he leans on the table, hands clasped tightly together in front of him. His back is facing Ardyn, shoulders tense. It's a bit like a cat showing its belly, a sign of trust and a little bit of a dare, the risk of claws looming if handled incorrectly.]

[Maybe it would be better to go with his first instinct and stay quiet, Ardyn wasn't really sure. If Noctis did panic and lash out--well, he wouldn't really be upset about it. It wasn't as though it would cause any lasting physical damage, and Ardyn was still of the mindset that he'd likely deserve it somehow.]

[First things first; there were more important things to worry about than whether or not Ardyn was going to be on the wrong end of a sword. He didn't dare actually touch Noctis' back, hand hovering just barely a few inches away as he called on his own unique magic. With no notable fanfare, the usual aches and pains drained away as easily as water off a chocobo's feathers.]

[He's braced for contact, so when it doesn't come but the relief does, his eyes widen and he glances over his shoulder in surprise. Being braced for it, there's no flinch at the sight of Ardyn standing quietly behind him, but he hadn't known it was possible without even touching. So much of the healing magic he's used to is based on touch.]

...Is it harder on you, if you do it like that?

[He has no idea, but Ardyn's being so careful he wouldn't put it past him to make life more difficult for himself in exchange for it being easier on another.]

Not significantly. Direct contact is often a bit better, but it's not such a difference that contact is strictly necessary.

[or 'a little, but you know']

[Yeah, he knows. But it's noteworthy that the sigh Noctis exhales is exasperation more than relief.]

It's... okay to touch me. I'm not made of glass.

[He knows that's not why, but still. He'd come over here prepared- expecting it. If he doesn't say it now when he's ready or comes to rely on this he might not have the willpower to go back on it later.]

I'm certainly well aware of that, Noctis.

[But he didn't argue, moving his hand close enough to lightly brush fingertips against Noctis' back. Just as cautious as he'd ever been in doing this, or perhaps slightly more this time.]

[The tension is still there beneath his hand, but Noctis doesn't jerk away, nor does he call out the Armiger and lash out. He pauses, holding his breath as he gauges his own body's response to the touch, until at last, satisfied, he turns to face forward again.

Doing okay. It's not him.]

Got too used to this... it feels worse than it used to. I was spoiled for too long.

[By this, by him. Already he can feel the difference, and that relief is balancing out his lingering anxiety. It's why he chose this, specifically: a way to be in Ardyn's presence again and feel less pain, instead of more.]

I would not call it spoiled to simply not wish to be in pain. Anyone would desire that were the option available to them.

[It was a relief not to be met with a sword in his chest, but Ardyn was sure not to let that much show in his answer.]

And it's certainly never been any inconvenience to me to aid you with it.

I did grow up with this, I'm used to it.

[It's not as if it's an unbearable pain; he wouldn't be able to get near as much done as he does if it was too much. But Ardyn's not wrong that it's... nice. To not have it, even for just a little while. He remembers the relief he'd felt the first time- beyond the shock, it's the same relief he'd felt every time since, the kind he feels now. The lifting of a familiar but unwanted weight off his back.]

I know that. But I do stand by what I said; there's nothing wrong with wanting to be rid of it now and then.

Now and then, sure. I'm still not planning to take advantage of this.

[At least... not in excess. Especially if Ardyn's moving the pain around to his body instead of getting rid of it. That part's only vaguely acceptable because helping with this had seemed to make the man happy, so at least the good feeling was mutual. He's glad that it's not, like, gratifying in some way to have his pain hurt Ardyn. Satisfaction is not a feeling he'd wanted to get out of this.

His hands tighten together on the table. He... should say it.]

Um. I'm glad. That... this is okay.

[For both of them, truly.]

...I am, as well. Truly, I would not blame you if you chose never to speak to me again--though I would regret it, I would understand such a thing without question.

[Once he'd finished, Ardyn slowly pulled his hand away and stepped back to give Noctis space, stretching out the temporary ache in his back and leg. It really was worse than usual; regardless of the complications, he was just glad Noctis had let him see to it this time.]

...Mm.

[Noctis lifts up a little, finally unclasping his iron grip and pressing his hands against the table to straighten his back. He lifts his knee, letting his leg swing for a moment to adjust to the feeling. He feels warmer, somehow. Like the pain was a chill he didn't know how to shake, and with a simple touch, the circulation's back.

He exhales faintly, and turns in his chair to face Ardyn, still uncertain but more stable than he'd looked at the door.]

It wasn't gonna be never. Even if it took months for me to get there, I... I want to believe that cutting things off forever wasn't in the cards.

[To a certain extent, he doesn't have a choice; eventually he will have to face Ardyn again, to fulfill the prophecy's demands. But that doesn't matter here. Here, it's just a matter of losing his family and wanting to get it back again. It's a genuine relief that it didn't take longer than this to at least face the problem head-on.]

I...would hope not.

[Ardyn shifted uncomfortably, arms loosely crossed and fidgeting with the fabric of his sleeves. He didn't quite look directly at Noctis, struggling with himself over what to say next or if he should say anything at all.]

[Because he knew, of course. He knew the gods would demand another to carry out their will, and destroy the life of their 'chosen' in the process. He knew what that meant for the both of them, if not the finer details of the matter.]

[Someday, somewhere, they would stand opposite one another, and both would die for the sake of the world. Ardyn's own purpose two thousand years late, and a role he had never wanted for anyone else.]

Noctis, I-... [He faltered, swallowing hard and a scarred hand gripping his arm tightly. Whatever he was about to say, Ardyn thought better of it. Paused, then tried again.]

I won't keep you, if you would feel more comfortable leaving. But when...when or if you would be willing, there is something I...would want to discuss with you. Please.

[It's such a painfully familiar gesture that Noctis recognizes it before the words even leave Ardyn's mouth; how many times has he had this moment in the last month, or even beyond that? How many times had he struggled, faltered, had to try again? He feels it, that palpable dread, but whatever this is, it's probably inevitable. Important. It wouldn't be so difficult otherwise.

Another exhale, and he scuffs a hand through his hair, shifting in his seat to find a more comfortable position. He pushes past his dread and opts to just... get it out there. Better now than later, when it would be more cruel to say.]

I'll stay. There's... something I need to talk about with you, too.

[Whatever he decides when it comes to telling his other friends, or his father- of all the people here, Ardyn has the most right to know about their fates, how their lives are meant to intertwine. Just as Ardyn didn't force Noctis to interact with the one who'd put him through so much torment, he won't force Ardyn to unknowingly be kind to the one who was born to kill him.]

[...Ardyn had the distinct chill of apprehension telling him that either things were even worse than he knew (and that was already nightmarishly bad) or they were both on the same horrible bloodstained page.]

[Taking a deep breath and letting it out with a quiet sigh, he stepped back again to sit down. The ache had already healed itself, but he felt better knowing he wasn't practically towering over Noctis simply by virtue of being taller. Leaving room between himself and the door, specifically--gods knew Ardyn understood what being trapped felt like, and so he was well aware of how to avoid it for anyone else.]

...I think you should perhaps go first, if you're prepared to.

[Oh, hell. He wasn't ready to be the first one out the gates. But he'd resigned himself to it, hadn't he? Soon as he spoke the words, he'd been prepared to admit the truth. Just... he'd expected a buffer, first. Time to think, to decide what the hell it was he wanted to say.

He ducks his head again, suddenly very determined to scrutinize every tiny detail of a crack in the floor tile.]

Um... before I came back here, I... found the Crystal. When I touched it, it pulled me inside. [He lifts a hand to grip his arm, growing even more uncomfortable; the sensation had been unpleasant to say the least, so it's not a good memory. Lots of not so good memories, these days.] Bahamut was there. He told me about you, about the Crystal, about... the prophecy. How to get rid of all the daemons, the Starscourge, and how to bring back daylight.

[His grip tightens, his breath shaky. The hard part. Admitting it.]

He said I have to kill "the Accursed". Izunia.

[If Noctis thought he was resigned to something, for a moment it was nothing compared to how well Ardyn took that. 'Well', in that he didn't panic or react angrily--he barely reacted at all save to continue not quite looking at Noctis.]

...I know. [The admission came with a quiet sigh, of exhaustion rather than anything else.] I...would prefer not to tell you how I found out, it isn't my place to explain. [Ignis was involved enough, and upset enough as it was. There was no chance Ardyn was going to risk making that worse for him if Noctis didn't already know his advisor had been aware as well.]

The edict of the Draconian is that the first and last alike of House Caelum have to die for the sake of the world.

[It wasn't even that anymore, was it? Even to the gods he'd once served without question, Ardyn was nothing but a nameless monster. Of course, he'd known that much for two thousand years--that he was unworthy, rejected by even the Crystal. But to hear it confirmed still burned like the sacred light had back then.]

[Ardyn might not be surprised, but Noctis certainly is; at those words he looks up, eyes wide, startled by the frank admission. He hadn't even been certain if he would share about the sacrifice yet. If it might have come across as some kind of concession to make it sound better on his part. "I have to kill you, but it's okay, because I'll die too!" How callous, how selfish. He'd meant to gauge Ardyn's reaction before deciding how to share that part, if at all.

It seems he needn't have bothered. He can guess how Ardyn knows, though he won't ask since he can't expect an answer anyway. He lives here with Cor and Ignis, and he's close with both of them. They know the truth, and it could have come out one way or another.

The surprise fades as the seconds pass, and Noctis shifts his gaze away with a grimace, his body going tense. It's easier that he knows, and at the same time infinitely more difficult, because now he has to deal with what it means, what it might change. Does it really matter how he found out? It's inevitable that he would, and it's just one less thing in Noct's life that he has control over. He should be used to that by now.]

...The blessing of the Six, as the legends say. [He wants to laugh, suddenly, instead sets free a pitiful half-choked noise that's there and gone in a second.] Aren't we the lucky ones.

x: wildcard; please accept nephew in lieu of angel

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