[Ardyn stepped back from her and drew a slow breath, running a hand back through his hair; it fell back in his face in the same halfhearted mess as ever, gold eyes not yet meeting her directly.]

It’s alright, if you’re...startled by it. I’ll not be hurt by that, I know it’s unpleasant—I think I’ve only shown Lup the true extent of things.

[Another slow breath and careful step back; the color drained from his skin leaving it a deathly gray color, dark corruption running throughout like cracks in ice. Black scourge stained his eyes and marked his face, the same dark aura occasionally rising in brief smokelike wisps that twisted almost painfully in the light and evaporating. It was something unmistakably wrong, bordering on a near-tangible sense of dread and something deeply twisted. Behind him, his wings had turned halfway dark in the same way, blackened lines like spilled ink marring ash-gray feathers.]

[Ardyn himself shifted uncomfortably, hesitant to meet Honerva’s eyes and gripping his own arms in clear nervousness.]

...I’m sorry. I should have-...I should have said more on this before, I only-...I didn’t want you to think you had reason to be afraid of me.