week 7

[airlockedmods]

[For the first time in several weeks there is no new memorial in the garden. No new body in the morgue, no bloody mess for the roombas to clean. Choromatsu is still in need of time to heal and constant vigilance but he's alive. They're all alive for once on a Sunday and, even with the terrible realizations their returning memories may bring, there's a sense of hope for the first time in a long time.

There is no new floor this week.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday



[ooc: Don't forget to to turn in your activity for week 6, submit your memory regains and put in your threads for the Benefactors!]

Comments

[scourgingstars]

I think we'll gladly take 'stupid' over the alternative.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Psychotic? Murderous?

God forbid, boring?

[scourgingstars]

I was thinking more along the lines of 'in deep despair and terrified', but all of those apply just as much.

[h...a...]

[motherfucking_ghost]

You know me, I go for the funny instead of the, uh, existential ennui and reality. [Even if now he has A Concern.] Except when I'm feeling in deep despair and terrified. So. Looking up some tunes to croon at everyone next time we have a party here? Which we should absolutely do.

[scourgingstars]

I hadn't looked, no. I rather leave the party organizing to better suited people like you. But it might be a good idea, so long as half of us don't end up with terrible hangovers.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Hahaha, heh, better suited--oh shit, you're being serious. I just do shit and things happen. Now Queenie, there's someone we know can organize. I still don't know how she turned the garden into a cute date spot like that. Besides, y'know, magic. The power of secretaries is not to be underestimated.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn laughed to himself tiredly, leaning back against the wall.]

You manage well enough, even without her fearsome and overpowering secretarial magic.

[motherfucking_ghost]

My dudeliness, you definitely sound like you could use a drink. Just sayin'. [Leeeean against the bar.] You okay? Been keeping an eye on everyone or what?

[scourgingstars]

It's nothing. [He shook his head, hands dropping to his hips in some affectation of casual calm. Everything was fine, and nothing horrific was starting to catch up with Ardyn the longer he had nothing to do to distract himself.]

[Just a little longer, he reminded himself. It couldn't possibly have been long until PAL finally gave up on this, if he was making such a decisive move to motivate them now. And once this was over, he could deal with the aftermath however he chose.]

I'm just tired, nothing more.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[The problem with wearing a helmet nobody can see through is that he's not so used to hiding his facial expressions unless he thinks about it deliberately. So there's concern, and then skepticism, a hint of upset, and guilty resignation. He needs a distraction. He needs his glaive.]

I could teach you some terrible drinking games. Beer pong, my man. We could set up a beer pong tournament. Oh man, why didn't I think of that when I got glow in the dark balls?? It's perfect. Or I could sing you a couple tunes? I mean, listen, if Stand By Me can cross the boundaries of time and space, who knows what else we might both recognize.

[scourgingstars]

I'm entirely certain most of those options will land me with another headache in the morning that I am not prepared for.

[Right, he had to focus. He had to at least try to keep himself grounded in the present, forcing himself out of echoes of Lucis must forfeit all territories to Niflheim rule and rejection hurts, doesn't it and I have lived in darkness for ages--]

[Ardyn pressed a hand to his face like he already had the headache in question, falling silent like he hadn't yet realized he might want to say anything more than that.]

...

[motherfucking_ghost]

[This is how it's going to be, isn't it? Them pushing back against the tide, but watching Ardyn slowly erode himself away. Until there's nothing left. A slow decline into shadow. He wants direction, wants to ask what can I do? but it's...it's supposed to be on him. (On the kingsglaive, all of them.) He's supposed to fight back the night. For his king. For his friend. His--

Can't saddle Ardyn with his own job when just existing is hard enough. Church comes out from behind the bar and directly to him, pulls him in for a hug because he doesn't know what to do but he knows he wants to comfort.]

I was telling Yuuri stories when she had a rough time. If you let me, I could talk your ears off. You wouldn't even believe half of it. The half I haven't told you already. Or we could go down to the kitchen, see if we can't between you and me manage to actually cook something halfway to edible. Fuck, I could probably salvage the tat inks I took and we can decorate the hell out of you if you want.

[Something. Anything that isn't standing there letting the darkness seep through.]

[scourgingstars]

[Once he'd processed the sudden contact, Ardyn let out a breath he wasn't aware he'd been holding. This wasn't Gralea (spare me your sycophancy) or Altissia (you first, Lady Lunafreya) or even Insomnia (you and your Crystal against all I have become)--it was somewhere else entirely. With people that actually cared about him for some utterly unknowable reasons.]

[...He was losing himself again, Ardyn knew that. It was happening much faster now, without the block of a plague hindering his emotions or dampening the horror of what he had done and felt justified doing.]

[Just a little longer, he kept repeating over the cacophony of each memory darker and more vengeful than the last. Just a little longer, he just had to survive to the end of this.]

I-...

[He faltered for a moment, scrambling to find something that would serve as a distraction without burning the kitchen down. There had to be something-]

I...did promise you a dance, didn't I? [That came with a quiet laugh that was a little too strained to be more than nervous energy bordering on hysteria.] I think I said that, at least.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Listen, he would be down for burning the kitchen to the ground if it meant distracting. You don't want to know what he was thinking of looking at some of those boozes.

He pulls back enough, pleasant surprise clear.] Did--did you? I know you said, uh. That if we ever had to, you'd do it. Like for a...dumb fun motive or...something. [Kip hasn't been here for weeks. He was turned to dust and ash right over there. No, this is a distraction, this is Ardyn taking him on himself to distract.]

...How good a dancer are you, and with that question, what I really mean is, are you good enough that you could teach me, because I got it in my head that you probably like, fucking waltz or something, at big royal gatherings with ballgowns and shit, but that's not the kind of dance I've ever been to.

I mean cuz you've seen some of my attempts at dancing but those were under very different circumstances.

[scourgingstars]

I've little problem holding to a ridiculous promise, as long as I've nothing to lose from it.

[Another laugh followed that, more to disguise whether or not Ardyn might have been as shaky as the smile on his face than any real amusement.]

Well enough to get by in the upper rankings of Niflheim's politics when I needed to. I'm sure I'm a terrible instructor when it comes to matters outside of combat, but perhaps you'll be fortunate enough to catch on.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Eh, waltzes are supposed to be easy, right? One two three, one two three? [He lets Ardyn go and does a little spin to the mental beat he's set, one spin away, two spins away, three--] I don't uhhhh think the karaoke machine is gonna have the right music on it.

[scourgingstars]

You underestimate me.

[Ardyn glanced to the door, snapping his fingers; there was a fluttering sound from down the hall and Luscinia flew in to perch on the back of a chair.]

She's been quite annoyed today since I left my coat and scarf back in the room, but I think she may just cooperate for something like this.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Stare at Luscinia. Stare at Ardyn. Bird. Ardy. Bird. ..........Arbys.]

I know they're smart, but you're turning into a god damn Disney princess right before my eyes.

[scourgingstars]

I always did have an affinity for birds. But that's nothing, you should see how quickly a chocobo comes running at a whistle.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Princess Ardyn, the bird-whisperer. You think I'm the ridiculous one, when you ride ostriches in your world. Giant running birds. And I sometimes still can't believe you let a pigeon nest in your scoodie. [He will keep calling it a scoodie until it stops being both a scarf and a hoodie.] You're gonna learn to speak bird if you don't already at this rate. Pigeon man.

[scourgingstars]

You're mocking me again. What a terrible, impudent Kingsglaive I've come up with--one who does nothing but laugh at me and another who think I'm his father like some lost chocochick.

Do you want to learn something for a change or not?

[motherfucking_ghost]

Chocochick. [You goofed, Ardyn, you done goofed.]

I can be a quick learner. When I want to be. Sometimes. Depending on the topic. I literally do not have anything better to do right now than learn me something. [He gives an overdramatic bow.] By all means, after you, Chickadee.

[scourgingstars]

And now you're talking too much as per usual. [He stepped away from the wall, taking Church's hand as he did and pulling him to a slightly more open part of the floor.]

I can guide you through the basics easily enough. [don't get distracted by the other hand now apparently on your waist, you thirsty bastard.] I do hope you can follow along.

[not pictured: luscinia, judging you both]

[motherfucking_ghost]

Invitation to a challenge?

[Shut up he will not get distracted by that--in fact he won't even bitch that he's in the lady position because he's the one learning, he can't lead if he doesn't know. Just...places his hand up on Ardyn's shoulder and looks at their feet and back up at him. And then at the bird. Don't fucking judge you wanted this to happen you little feathery shit.]

Well I'm sure not gonna be tripping backwards in heels so that's already a plus for me.

[scourgingstars]

I'm sure you'll find a way to trip sooner or later. Just don't take me down with you.

[you see this bird? if pigeons can roll their eyes she just did. because she thinks you two are ridiculous and literally dancing around like fifty subjects.]

[But she did ruffle her feathers and gradually start something that seemed like a vague melody, Ardyn pulling Church along into a few simple steps at a time.]