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Yes...?
[Nope, not getting it.]
The second king of Lucis. Are you...sorry, are you trying to tell me you think there are one hundred thirteen kings named 'Noctis' to end with 'Noctis Lucis Caelum CXIV'?
[Nope, not getting it.]
The second king of Lucis. Are you...sorry, are you trying to tell me you think there are one hundred thirteen kings named 'Noctis' to end with 'Noctis Lucis Caelum CXIV'?
]...Insomnia. That was the Citadel, as it is right now. Noctis' hometown as well as my own, at one point.
[Talking was difficult. But it should have been. He didn't deserve this to be easy, didn't deserve sympathy for what had happened back in Lucis.]
My father built what would become the jewel in the crown of the Lucian kingdom--and I destroyed it. Insomnia fell to Niflheim's army--the army and daemons I engineered for them. I think Noctis already knows that Insomnia fell, but...not the rest. He doesn't know his world has already been brought to ruin.
...He can't remember that he's already salvaged it.
[Talking was difficult. But it should have been. He didn't deserve this to be easy, didn't deserve sympathy for what had happened back in Lucis.]
My father built what would become the jewel in the crown of the Lucian kingdom--and I destroyed it. Insomnia fell to Niflheim's army--the army and daemons I engineered for them. I think Noctis already knows that Insomnia fell, but...not the rest. He doesn't know his world has already been brought to ruin.
...He can't remember that he's already salvaged it.
...Yes it is.
[
]
Why would over one hundred kings have the same name, that's asinine!
[
]Why would over one hundred kings have the same name, that's asinine!
[ She's never forgotten who he is and what he's done but it's always so difficult -- almost impossible -- to reconcile the Ardyn she knows with the one he says he used to be. The same man who sat with her and braided her hair and is apparently getting married once all this insanity is over is the same man who near-single handedly brought a country to its knees and very nearly dealt the finishing blow.
She's grateful every single day that the man who woke up on the Fantasy Sweet was Ardyn Lucis Caelum and not Ardyn Izunia. ]
I... thought maybe he would. With, um... w--with how he looks, even though he'd forgotten so much but... god.
[ She rubs a hand over her eyes. ]
Do... do you know the things he's going to end up remembering?
She's grateful every single day that the man who woke up on the Fantasy Sweet was Ardyn Lucis Caelum and not Ardyn Izunia. ]
I... thought maybe he would. With, um... w--with how he looks, even though he'd forgotten so much but... god.
[ She rubs a hand over her eyes. ]
Do... do you know the things he's going to end up remembering?
Because that's how it works!
[ You know that voice she had when he was first done telling her about all the shit that went down in Eos and she sounded personally offended and like she was considering hauling off and fighting an entire country in the streets?
It's back. ]
What would be the point of sticking that number at the end of your name if you weren't named after your father? Is-- is that really just how it works in Eos?!
[ You know that voice she had when he was first done telling her about all the shit that went down in Eos and she sounded personally offended and like she was considering hauling off and fighting an entire country in the streets?
It's back. ]
What would be the point of sticking that number at the end of your name if you weren't named after your father? Is-- is that really just how it works in Eos?!
Because that's the number we are in the line?
[DON'T YELL AT HIM HE'S SO CONFUSED]
I-I don't know, take it up with Father or Bahamut, I had nothing to do with it!
[DON'T YELL AT HIM HE'S SO CONFUSED]
I-I don't know, take it up with Father or Bahamut, I had nothing to do with it!
...Better than I would like to.
[Ardyn fidgeted with the ring on his hand, faltering and glancing to the side.]
Among other things he'll recall his fiancée murdered, his advisor blinded, an entire city crumbling under the wrath of a god...his age discrepancy he'll realize is due to sleeping within the Crystal for ten years, waking to a world under endless night. And that's hardly all of it.
[Ardyn fidgeted with the ring on his hand, faltering and glancing to the side.]
Among other things he'll recall his fiancée murdered, his advisor blinded, an entire city crumbling under the wrath of a god...his age discrepancy he'll realize is due to sleeping within the Crystal for ten years, waking to a world under endless night. And that's hardly all of it.
Your worlds are the ones with ridiculous things like rabbits, don't start with me.
[Ardyn sighed, running a hand through his hair.]
Following royal naming conventions she wouldn't have, no. I think-... [He trailed off, uncertain.] Father's name started with an A, and hers...hers was with an I, that was as close to naming the two of us after them as it came. I-...Ia--Iacinthina, that was it. I'm almost certain of it.
[Ardyn sighed, running a hand through his hair.]
Following royal naming conventions she wouldn't have, no. I think-... [He trailed off, uncertain.] Father's name started with an A, and hers...hers was with an I, that was as close to naming the two of us after them as it came. I-...Ia--Iacinthina, that was it. I'm almost certain of it.
[ ... The line of Lucis really does do nothing by halves. Including terrible traumatising experiences, so it seems. ]
And you... um.
[ How does she say this in a way that sounds nice and not like she's accusing him of being a murdering bastard and driving the knife in when he needs it least. ]
You were... involved... with at least some of that, weren't you?
And you... um.
[ How does she say this in a way that sounds nice and not like she's accusing him of being a murdering bastard and driving the knife in when he needs it least. ]
You were... involved... with at least some of that, weren't you?
...All of that, and far more.
[No point in dancing around the issue.]
In fairness, I am not the one who kept him within the Crystal for a decade, but the rest was directly or indirectly done by my own hand.
[No point in dancing around the issue.]
In fairness, I am not the one who kept him within the Crystal for a decade, but the rest was directly or indirectly done by my own hand.
[ He's almost certain. That terrible thought about what it would be like to realize you'd forgotten your own parents is so close to being a reality that she almost regrets asking.
Maybe that's why, rather than respond with another question she finds herself saying -- ]
Our parents did the same thing -- or um, something like that anyway. Ruu-chan and me... both of us were named after our mother. Ryoko. They picked out our names using the kanji in hers.
[ It's the first time she's said much of anything about her parents since all of this began and even Yuuri looks a little startled to find the words coming out of her mouth. ]
Maybe that's why, rather than respond with another question she finds herself saying -- ]
Our parents did the same thing -- or um, something like that anyway. Ruu-chan and me... both of us were named after our mother. Ryoko. They picked out our names using the kanji in hers.
[ It's the first time she's said much of anything about her parents since all of this began and even Yuuri looks a little startled to find the words coming out of her mouth. ]
Is that right? It's certainly not an uncommon naming convention, to use elements like that.
[ She sucks in a breath and lets it all out again in a sigh. It's not... okay and she's sure as hell not going to tell him that.
But she can't just let him sit there with that look on his face. ]
And he... he has absolutely no idea. He probably... he won't remember what he's in there for, will he?
[ "He won't remember killing you" ]
Do you have any idea how much he already knows?
But she can't just let him sit there with that look on his face. ]
And he... he has absolutely no idea. He probably... he won't remember what he's in there for, will he?
[ "He won't remember killing you" ]
Do you have any idea how much he already knows?
Mm. It's, um-- it's not the same character in all of our names but it's the same meaning. "Distant". I'm still not sure why they decided to name us like that but... I guess it ended up being appropriate.
[ Does she sound just a little bitter? Surely you're imagining things. ]
[ Does she sound just a little bitter? Surely you're imagining things. ]
It sounds as though he remembers the first time that I met him, which places him well before...much of anything. I was on my way to Insomnia when we encountered each other, and the capital's fall was only the start--it was from there that he started traveling Lucis gaining the power of the gods and his ancestors.
In short, he knows absolutely nothing. He doesn't even know I'm anything more than the Imperial Chancellor, much less anything I did to him. No doubt he'll remember my real name at some point as well--I told him as much back in Niflheim.
In short, he knows absolutely nothing. He doesn't even know I'm anything more than the Imperial Chancellor, much less anything I did to him. No doubt he'll remember my real name at some point as well--I told him as much back in Niflheim.
[you really think he doesn't know bitter when he hears it.]
I don't think it did. Perhaps it was suitable once, but right now you're the farthest thing from 'distant' I can imagine.
I don't think it did. Perhaps it was suitable once, but right now you're the farthest thing from 'distant' I can imagine.
Mmm.
[ "Distant" is about right for her tone now, though. ]
Maybe not for us, but... hm. [ she's frowning a little, like she's trying to work out if it's somehow untoward of her to admit what she's about to say. ] She wasn't a bad mother -- she worked very hard and she loved me and Ruu-chan very much. I know that.
But I always felt... a little more like a guest on her best behaviour rather than her daughter. Does that make sense?
[ "Distant" is about right for her tone now, though. ]
Maybe not for us, but... hm. [ she's frowning a little, like she's trying to work out if it's somehow untoward of her to admit what she's about to say. ] She wasn't a bad mother -- she worked very hard and she loved me and Ruu-chan very much. I know that.
But I always felt... a little more like a guest on her best behaviour rather than her daughter. Does that make sense?
He won't exactly be pleased to see you when we managed to find them, then.
[ She says it like it's a foregone conclusion because allowing the alternative to enter her mind is just too distressing.
And ah, there goes the toast. Good, it's nice to have an excuse to make her hands busy as they talk. ]
Are you... are you going to be okay? Watching all this and seeing him talk about all that. I know it isn't going to be easy but I'm worried it might end up being a little too much. For you.
[ She says it like it's a foregone conclusion because allowing the alternative to enter her mind is just too distressing.
And ah, there goes the toast. Good, it's nice to have an excuse to make her hands busy as they talk. ]
Are you... are you going to be okay? Watching all this and seeing him talk about all that. I know it isn't going to be easy but I'm worried it might end up being a little too much. For you.
I was royalty, dear, of course it makes sense. [Ardyn leaned over and rested his head on one hand with a halfhearted smile.]
I can't recall having any negative memories of my parents, but...Father was the Founder King before all else, I think. There was a certain level of decorum expected of the crown prince that was not always easy to maintain.
...Though I can't quite imagine feeling that way when it's not necessary of your position.
I can't recall having any negative memories of my parents, but...Father was the Founder King before all else, I think. There was a certain level of decorum expected of the crown prince that was not always easy to maintain.
...Though I can't quite imagine feeling that way when it's not necessary of your position.
I...don't know. We parted on a rather strange note I find myself still having trouble comprehending. But remembering all of that in a short time may change things somewhat.
[Cryptic, but truthful.]
No matter what he says about me, it's true--I can't hide from that. And I can't simply turn away from this. I've no right to look away from any of it when the vast majority of what he has been through is my own responsibility, and I intend to accept that. Besides, I'm...worried about him despite everything. Or perhaps because of it.
...I've never been very good at ignoring suffering as long as I'm possessed of sanity enough to care about it.
[Cryptic, but truthful.]
No matter what he says about me, it's true--I can't hide from that. And I can't simply turn away from this. I've no right to look away from any of it when the vast majority of what he has been through is my own responsibility, and I intend to accept that. Besides, I'm...worried about him despite everything. Or perhaps because of it.
...I've never been very good at ignoring suffering as long as I'm possessed of sanity enough to care about it.
[Welcome to the weekly supply run! It is a fun activity where several of the surivors get out of the nice spacious house where they watch television and hop into the Temerity so they can go shopping in disguise and hope nobody figures out they're escaped reality TV stars.
It's better than it sounds.
This time around the sisters have finished their part of the work early, so after dropping off their groceries at the ship, they've headed for the nearby McDarkmatter's, where history is about to be made as Arianna curiously eyes the cardboard box in front of her.]
So this is a "Happy Meal..."
It's better than it sounds.
This time around the sisters have finished their part of the work early, so after dropping off their groceries at the ship, they've headed for the nearby McDarkmatter's, where history is about to be made as Arianna curiously eyes the cardboard box in front of her.]
So this is a "Happy Meal..."
[ The bad thing about learning to stop crushing your emotions into the dirt under your heel is that you start getting considerably less skilled at keeping them off your face. Which means that it's obvious to everyone in the nearest star system that Yuuri is, shall we say, just a little harried. She's been a little shorter than is her wont and her smile, when it surfaces, is a little strained.
But it looks like getting out of the house has done her some good and it's hard for her to be irritable when she's with Arianna. So the smile that comes to her face once they're sat down with their food is softer and more easy than the ones that have been coming up since Airlocked! hit the waves again. ]
I still can't believe it's taken us this long to get you something like this. I honestly half-expected us to be eating out every night just for the novelty of it.
But it looks like getting out of the house has done her some good and it's hard for her to be irritable when she's with Arianna. So the smile that comes to her face once they're sat down with their food is softer and more easy than the ones that have been coming up since Airlocked! hit the waves again. ]
I still can't believe it's taken us this long to get you something like this. I honestly half-expected us to be eating out every night just for the novelty of it.
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