and every broken heart will mend

[scourgingstars]

[Not too long after the trial, a note found its way under everyone's doors, all of them written in the same neat handwriting that had been asking after a ring not that long ago.]

If any of you would prefer not to be left alone after all of that, I propose we meet in the dining hall. Nari has taken up cooking at the moment, and should anyone wish to talk I will be present regardless of whether or not the group at large should choose to join us.

-Ardyn

[True to his word, Ardyn was at a smaller table in the dining hall with an untouched cup of coffee in front of him; lost in thought leaning his head on one hand as the other turned a silver coin over between his fingers.]

[King in an empty hall, and savior of nothing. All that effort to prevent bloodshed, and it had come down to a situation designed to force their hand from the beginning.]

Comments

[buddyoldpal]

I ain't exactly jokin', I'm roomies with Roland, remember? Plus you're, what, 2000? I'd be more fuckin' surprised if you were just some normal civilian.

[ He's totally cool with sexy monster demons, why not... whatever the fuck Ardyn is? ]

Yer taste buds must be broken, pal. This shit's so fuckin' spicy I couldn't fuckin' taste anythin' for an hour. It's rank.

[scourgingstars]

Supposedly. I still have no idea where they got that number from.

[Ardyn shrugged, clearly intent on acting like this was nothing.]

I'm afraid I know not what to tell you. It simply didn't taste like anything to me.

[buddyoldpal]

Ya okay, then? Like, can ya taste anythin' at all? Hold up.

[ This is becoming a serious question. For science. Nishitani leaves for a sec and returns with some hot chocolate (that he definitely tampered with and made. Salty.) I was tempted to do the Symphonia 'It's hot! No, it's cold. JK IT'S ACTUALLY HOT' thing ]

Taste this. Tell me whatcha think. Anythin' weird about it? Might be a lil' sweet.

[scourgingstars]

[lloyd that is not how we make friends]

I'm not sure what reaction you might be after, but fine.

[He took a drink of it completely ignoring whatever temperature it might have been, pausing for much longer than one would usually take to process something like that.]

...Did you do something to that? Now you're just being childish.

[buddyoldpal]

[ Are you or are you not becoming an angel of Cruxis, Ardyn Lucis Caelum.

He grins, obviously not caring that he was caught in the act. ]

So, what'd ya think? Too sweet, or what? Ya can give it ta Larimer-chan if ya don't want it.

[scourgingstars]

[you may be less wrong than you think]

I don't think that's it, no. If you just poisoned me, do give me fair warning.

[buddyoldpal]

Nah, poison ain't my thing.

[ He'd stab you, not poison you, wow. ]

Izunia-san, be real wit' me fer a sec. Can ya actually taste anythin'?

[scourgingstars]

[...]

[. . .]

Does that really matter? And my name is Ardyn.

[buddyoldpal]

[ Well shit are you in a journey of regeneration to restore the mana flow to Sylvarant, Ardyn. ]

I mean, shit, don't matter ta me. I just feel bad for ya now.

[scourgingstars]

[how do you know he's not]

I think you'll find I really don't require sympathy or anything of the sort.

[buddyoldpal]

Hah! Ain't askin' if ya wanted any, Ardyn-san.

[ Since he's being pissy. ]

If ya want the booze, ya can have it. Sure as fuck, it'd kill anybody else.

[scourgingstars]

[CHILDREN, BEHAVE]

It wouldn't have any effect on me, so there's little point in taking it off your hands. Do whatever you like with it.

[buddyoldpal]

But that's bo-ring, Ardyn-san. Ya should drink it ta save us all the trouble!

[ Now he's just being obnoxious. ]