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... ah.
[ In hindsight, really, she should've expected this. Maybe she should've given him a little more warning but... well, how do you prepared someone for a bombshell like that?
She hasn't got a tissue or a handkerchief or anything she can offer him so she sits there awkwardly for a moment, unsure of herself before she remembers -- the blankets, you idiot. There's one on her battered little sofa that's relatively clean so she hastens to her feet, grabs it and them makes her way over to his side. It makes her stomach twist a little to see him weeping so openly but she doesn't know what else to do other than offer him the blanket, to wipe or cover his face or anything. She's floundering a bit. ]
Here. I'm... I'm sorry. [ for what, she's not sure, but it feels like the right thing to say. ]
[ In hindsight, really, she should've expected this. Maybe she should've given him a little more warning but... well, how do you prepared someone for a bombshell like that?
She hasn't got a tissue or a handkerchief or anything she can offer him so she sits there awkwardly for a moment, unsure of herself before she remembers -- the blankets, you idiot. There's one on her battered little sofa that's relatively clean so she hastens to her feet, grabs it and them makes her way over to his side. It makes her stomach twist a little to see him weeping so openly but she doesn't know what else to do other than offer him the blanket, to wipe or cover his face or anything. She's floundering a bit. ]
Here. I'm... I'm sorry. [ for what, she's not sure, but it feels like the right thing to say. ]
[Hindsight is not only always 20/20 but often reveals the truths that you didn't want to see.
He does manage to look up from his crying at her approach to his side, but the blanket goes ignored -
in favor of throwing his arms around her and squeezing, with continued hiccuping sobs.]
Thank you. Thank you.
He does manage to look up from his crying at her approach to his side, but the blanket goes ignored -
in favor of throwing his arms around her and squeezing, with continued hiccuping sobs.]
Thank you. Thank you.
[Yeah, you know, last time a guy wearing that face held his hands up like that to him, Prompto got knocked off a moving train. His breath hisses in, 20% hatred and 240% terror, hands gripping the wall behind him just for something solid to hold.]
Wh--you can't play dumb at this point! It's so too late for that, dude! That ship sailed out of Galdin Quay!
[This is stupid. He sucks down another quaking breath and mutters to himself.]
Wake up, it's just a nightmare, wake up, Prompto, you know he's not here...
Wh--you can't play dumb at this point! It's so too late for that, dude! That ship sailed out of Galdin Quay!
[This is stupid. He sucks down another quaking breath and mutters to himself.]
Wake up, it's just a nightmare, wake up, Prompto, you know he's not here...
[Izunia just. Stands there. With his hands still in the air. Debating. Debating.
...Oh, to hell with it. It's not like anyone outside himself and this young man are ever going to know, and even if he was never the healer, Izunia still has a kind heart and can't very well just leave someone panicking at the sight of his face.]
...You do know what an identical twin is, don't you? Ardyn is my elder brother.
[Especially when - he remembers that name, Prompto. One of Noctis' treasured companions. One of the people who deserved so much better than the endgame between the Chosen King and the Accursed.]
...Oh, to hell with it. It's not like anyone outside himself and this young man are ever going to know, and even if he was never the healer, Izunia still has a kind heart and can't very well just leave someone panicking at the sight of his face.]
...You do know what an identical twin is, don't you? Ardyn is my elder brother.
[Especially when - he remembers that name, Prompto. One of Noctis' treasured companions. One of the people who deserved so much better than the endgame between the Chosen King and the Accursed.]
...Huh?
[It comes out more a creak than a word. He opens his eyes again, staring at the road as he tries to make sense of those words individually and then string them back together again. He still doesn't understand. But it's such a preposterous thing to say, and his dreams are usually either way more inane or more grotesquely horrific than this, this weird, unreal middle ground.
So he frowns. And eventually, without looking up, he says:]
That's... that's stupid. Twins? Nuh-uh.
I would advise you to ask him to confirm it... But as he is now he'd probably stab you on the spot.
[They... did not part on the best of terms, really. At all. In any way.]
Which is a form of confirmation, I suppose, but not one that leaves you long for this world.
[The worst part is, they even talk alike.
When Prompto looks up again, though, the man's outfit has changed just a little - the baggy Ardyn-like coat is still there, but the dress shirt and vests underneath are different enough to make him doubletake, and he's wearing high boots over his pants instead of Ardyn's spats and flats combo. Even as he's talking, Izunia is pulling the scarf loose from his neck to hang it more like someone would normally wear a winter scarf, its tails hanging down the left side of his chest.]
[They... did not part on the best of terms, really. At all. In any way.]
Which is a form of confirmation, I suppose, but not one that leaves you long for this world.
[The worst part is, they even talk alike.
When Prompto looks up again, though, the man's outfit has changed just a little - the baggy Ardyn-like coat is still there, but the dress shirt and vests underneath are different enough to make him doubletake, and he's wearing high boots over his pants instead of Ardyn's spats and flats combo. Even as he's talking, Izunia is pulling the scarf loose from his neck to hang it more like someone would normally wear a winter scarf, its tails hanging down the left side of his chest.]
[Prompto flinches at the word stab, like he has been. Stabbed, that is, by the word itself--or all its associated memories. Still, Ardyn's voice--Ardyn's supposed dream twin's voice hasn't gotten any louder, so he hasn't gotten any closer, and Prompto does, eventually, dare to lift his eyes again, darting and nervous.
Okay. Wait. What?]
...Whhhhy are you doing that?
[What is this nonsense dream at all supposed to be about, why is not!Ardyn (?) (he's still not convinced about the 'not!' part of that) changing his clothes in the middle of the street? Someone please help him. Luna, Pryna, Space Freud. Anybody.]
Okay. Wait. What?]
...Whhhhy are you doing that?
[What is this nonsense dream at all supposed to be about, why is not!Ardyn (?) (he's still not convinced about the 'not!' part of that) changing his clothes in the middle of the street? Someone please help him. Luna, Pryna, Space Freud. Anybody.]
[Hey it's not like he's stripping or anything!
...Izunia possibly just has a little more experience manipulating his image of himself than Prompto does, and the dream is reflecting it by showing him as... Somewhere in the middle between himself and Ardyn, apparently. He finishes adjusting the scarf and looks at the sleeve of the coat before shrugging.]
It's something of a long story and wouldn't make you any less incredulous to tell it, so suffice it to say I figured I may as well be more comfortable.
[If he's not being Ardyn then he's going to wear his own clothes???]
...Izunia possibly just has a little more experience manipulating his image of himself than Prompto does, and the dream is reflecting it by showing him as... Somewhere in the middle between himself and Ardyn, apparently. He finishes adjusting the scarf and looks at the sleeve of the coat before shrugging.]
It's something of a long story and wouldn't make you any less incredulous to tell it, so suffice it to say I figured I may as well be more comfortable.
[If he's not being Ardyn then he's going to wear his own clothes???]
[ As soon as he hugs her, Yuuri freezes, looking once again like a deer caught in headlights. She's so tense it's probably more like hugging a statue than an actual person and she's half leaning back from him like she's considering stepping away and out of the hug. It's funny, considering how much of a cuddlebug she is with her own family, but having it come from a stranger (a stranger wearing Ardyn's face, at that) it's a little uncomfortable.
... but he's family in a sense too, isn't he? He's certainly got more of a claim to that than Yuuri does. And as much as she likes to think she's been able to toughen up her heart, it's difficult to harden it too much to someone actively weeping against you.
So she lifts one hand and offers him a slightly awkward pat on the back -- it's clear she's trying even through her discomfort. ]
There's-- there's nothing you need to thank me for, not really, you know.
... but he's family in a sense too, isn't he? He's certainly got more of a claim to that than Yuuri does. And as much as she likes to think she's been able to toughen up her heart, it's difficult to harden it too much to someone actively weeping against you.
So she lifts one hand and offers him a slightly awkward pat on the back -- it's clear she's trying even through her discomfort. ]
There's-- there's nothing you need to thank me for, not really, you know.
[She's trying and that's what counts!
After a few more hiccups, Izunia seems to remember himself and very suddenly drops his arms away from her and pulls back. It turns out that he's got a handkerchief buried somewhere in that outfit, anyway, because he pulls it from somewhere (could even have been a deft sleight of hand from the Armiger, honestly) and starts wiping awkwardly at his face.]
Don't be foolish. It may not have been your intent, but - you've given me a gift beyond measure.
[Exhale - sniffle - proper inhale.]
And - thank you, for supporting him. I know it can't have been easy.
After a few more hiccups, Izunia seems to remember himself and very suddenly drops his arms away from her and pulls back. It turns out that he's got a handkerchief buried somewhere in that outfit, anyway, because he pulls it from somewhere (could even have been a deft sleight of hand from the Armiger, honestly) and starts wiping awkwardly at his face.]
Don't be foolish. It may not have been your intent, but - you've given me a gift beyond measure.
[Exhale - sniffle - proper inhale.]
And - thank you, for supporting him. I know it can't have been easy.
[After a moment, Prompto finally feels safe enough to move, taking one half step away from the wall--though not towards Izunia, of course, just away--and wrapping his arms around himself so he can grip his elbows.]
You're. Really sticking to that twin thing? Is that what you mean by a long story?
[He still looks like he's ready to bolt at the slightest sudden movement, the smallest change in the air.]
You're. Really sticking to that twin thing? Is that what you mean by a long story?
[He still looks like he's ready to bolt at the slightest sudden movement, the smallest change in the air.]
[Izunia's eyes follow him - if Prompto looks close, they're a sort of hazel, not Ardyn's unnatural yellow - but that's the only part of him that really moves in Prompto's direction at all. He's instead opted to fuss with trying to straighten the cuffs of his shirt.]
Considering that it's true, of course I'm 'sticking with it.' That's not even the half of it, really.
Considering that it's true, of course I'm 'sticking with it.' That's not even the half of it, really.
[He does consider it. It's the kind of thing that's just crazy enough to be true; they say that's stranger than fiction, right? He stares down at his own chest, trying to figure any angle Ardyn would have to offer such a super weird lie, then surreptitiously pinches his own arm.
When that doesn't wake him up, he smacks both his cheeks simultaneously. Yup, okay, no dice.]
I finally lost it. I'm completely gaga bonkers.
[He covers his eyes and slumps back against the wall, but he's given up on a conversation that makes sense, at least.]
What's your name, then? If you're not Ardyn.
When that doesn't wake him up, he smacks both his cheeks simultaneously. Yup, okay, no dice.]
I finally lost it. I'm completely gaga bonkers.
[He covers his eyes and slumps back against the wall, but he's given up on a conversation that makes sense, at least.]
What's your name, then? If you're not Ardyn.
Izunia.
[Yeah that doesn't sound like something totally fucking made up at all. The look on his face says that he's completely aware of what Ardyn used as an alias and knows what it sounds like.]
...Lucis Caelum.
[Fuck it if he's gonna do this he's going to just. Do all of it.]
[Yeah that doesn't sound like something totally fucking made up at all. The look on his face says that he's completely aware of what Ardyn used as an alias and knows what it sounds like.]
...Lucis Caelum.
[Fuck it if he's gonna do this he's going to just. Do all of it.]
[Prompto just stops. And stares at him, spreading his fingers so he can look through them and truly absorb how absolutely ridiculous this is.
He closes his fingers up again. Make a sound like the air hissing out of an improperly popped balloon, small and pitiful. Then he just lets himself slide down the wall to sit on the ground, groans pathetically, and flops over, hands still pressed tightly over his face.
Prompto Argentum has reached capacity, he is Done.]
He closes his fingers up again. Make a sound like the air hissing out of an improperly popped balloon, small and pitiful. Then he just lets himself slide down the wall to sit on the ground, groans pathetically, and flops over, hands still pressed tightly over his face.
Prompto Argentum has reached capacity, he is Done.]
...
[Well. He's certainly. Expressive in his disbelief.
No wonder Noctis likes him. If Prompto was a woman, Izunia might be tempted to argue that he should be married into the line immediately, because it's gotten downright somber lately. That's what people would expect from 'Ardyn,' after all.
Instead he's just. Having to deal with a kid who clearly doesn't believe a word of it and this. This isn't even the truly ridiculous part, yet.]
I did say it wouldn't make you any less incredulous. Please sit up?
[Well. He's certainly. Expressive in his disbelief.
No wonder Noctis likes him. If Prompto was a woman, Izunia might be tempted to argue that he should be married into the line immediately, because it's gotten downright somber lately. That's what people would expect from 'Ardyn,' after all.
Instead he's just. Having to deal with a kid who clearly doesn't believe a word of it and this. This isn't even the truly ridiculous part, yet.]
I did say it wouldn't make you any less incredulous. Please sit up?
Oh-- no, no, really, if anything, it should be the other way around! I should be thanking-- um, well, him, really, but...
[ She's a bit wrong footed and it takes her a moment to find her bearings again. Of all the things she was expecting or even hoping would arrive on the beach today, Izunia has been exactly none of them. So you can't blame her for needing to take a moment to recover from being blindsided like this. ]
What I meant is... when I woke up in that place, I didn't have much of anything left either. I certainly didn't have anywhere I could go home and my family were...
[ Pause. Swallow. And then the tiniest of smiles. But it's a little warmer and more sincere than the ones that came before it. ]
It's not like it was all a one way street. They've all given me more than I ever could've asked for -- and I love all of them very much. And that includes D-- [ OOOOOOOKAY LET'S PRETEND SHE DID NOT JUST ALMOST DROP THE PARENTAL WORD AND HASTILY VERBALLY BACKSPACE ] -- th--that includes your brother.
[ She's a bit wrong footed and it takes her a moment to find her bearings again. Of all the things she was expecting or even hoping would arrive on the beach today, Izunia has been exactly none of them. So you can't blame her for needing to take a moment to recover from being blindsided like this. ]
What I meant is... when I woke up in that place, I didn't have much of anything left either. I certainly didn't have anywhere I could go home and my family were...
[ Pause. Swallow. And then the tiniest of smiles. But it's a little warmer and more sincere than the ones that came before it. ]
It's not like it was all a one way street. They've all given me more than I ever could've asked for -- and I love all of them very much. And that includes D-- [ OOOOOOOKAY LET'S PRETEND SHE DID NOT JUST ALMOST DROP THE PARENTAL WORD AND HASTILY VERBALLY BACKSPACE ] -- th--that includes your brother.
[He is still trying to get himself in order - hey Armiger, what the hell, take his handkerchief so that he doesn't have to carry it in a pocket like some kind of rube - when she drops
that
syllable
...Come on, Yuuri, surely you didn't think he'd miss that because even having reached the point in experiencing every possible emotion today where he's kind of running out of them, Izunia is quick and clever just like his brother. He smells weaknesses like that.
Fortunately this one is embarrassing for both of them so he is just going to not quite look at her as he asks - ]
Astrals, am I an uncle?
[He is too tired to give that any of the excitement it should deserve, really. Too much good news, too fast.]
that
syllable
...Come on, Yuuri, surely you didn't think he'd miss that because even having reached the point in experiencing every possible emotion today where he's kind of running out of them, Izunia is quick and clever just like his brother. He smells weaknesses like that.
Fortunately this one is embarrassing for both of them so he is just going to not quite look at her as he asks - ]
Astrals, am I an uncle?
[He is too tired to give that any of the excitement it should deserve, really. Too much good news, too fast.]
[ Goodness, that's a fetching shade of red your face has gone, Miss Wakasa. She just splutters for a moment, not quite sure how she's supposed to answer that. ]
I-- well, um, it's-- it's not exactly anything official?! We're not even close to being blood related and I'd say I'm a little too old to be adopted or anything like that, but um...
[ There's literally no way to talk her way out of this one, is there? Megu-nee, please take the wheel. ]
And-- and in my defense! Junpei was the one who started it! [ ... Izunia has no idea who Junpei is. ] What I mean is-- It wasn't exactly my idea to start calling him-- well. You get the idea!
I-- well, um, it's-- it's not exactly anything official?! We're not even close to being blood related and I'd say I'm a little too old to be adopted or anything like that, but um...
[ There's literally no way to talk her way out of this one, is there? Megu-nee, please take the wheel. ]
And-- and in my defense! Junpei was the one who started it! [ ... Izunia has no idea who Junpei is. ] What I mean is-- It wasn't exactly my idea to start calling him-- well. You get the idea!
[Goodness does she fluster easily. Also, who the hell is Junpei.]
Relax, the last thing I'm going to be is angry -
[Especially at this point.]
... Actually, I think I'm rather too exhausted to feel much of any emotion beyond 'impossibly glad' at this point.
Relax, the last thing I'm going to be is angry -
[Especially at this point.]
... Actually, I think I'm rather too exhausted to feel much of any emotion beyond 'impossibly glad' at this point.
[ your idiot nephew! the Accursed Immortal has adopted no less than three (3) fully grown children, sir ]
Well, I suppose... After everything, it must sound like an amazing improvement.
[ not that she's any less red. at least Noctis knew what she was calling his Nemesis™ before they actually ran into him. It's more than a little embarrassing to have tripped herself up like that in front of Izunia of all people. ]
... I'm just sorry it couldn't have happened a little sooner. And that it had to be somewhere so far from home.
Well, I suppose... After everything, it must sound like an amazing improvement.
[ not that she's any less red. at least Noctis knew what she was calling his Nemesis™ before they actually ran into him. It's more than a little embarrassing to have tripped herself up like that in front of Izunia of all people. ]
... I'm just sorry it couldn't have happened a little sooner. And that it had to be somewhere so far from home.
[HE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER t b h his own children would be shaking their heads at him right now, probably.]
I don't think I'm actually going to be able to process it for some time. It's... A great deal to wake up to.
[He spent two thousand years as a ring with nothing to show for it and then some girl from another world just hands him the Dawn itself on a platter.]
And I know it does nothing to make up anything with Ardyn, but... Consider me at your absolute disposal. For anything.
I don't think I'm actually going to be able to process it for some time. It's... A great deal to wake up to.
[He spent two thousand years as a ring with nothing to show for it and then some girl from another world just hands him the Dawn itself on a platter.]
And I know it does nothing to make up anything with Ardyn, but... Consider me at your absolute disposal. For anything.
[He whines, literally whines like a child, rolls onto his back, and stretches his legs out so he can kick his heels moodily against the road.]
Why can't I ever get mysteriously spirited away to somewhere that makes sense? I wanna go back to Florida. Uggghhh.
[He rolls over one more time to put his back to 'Izunia,' just for a moment, but he does eventually acquiesce to sitting up and facing him like a big boy.]
Okay, I get it, everything everyone's been telling me is true, can I go back to, like, languishing in a swamp now? No offense, but I don't wanna hear about your brother's super tragic saintly past anymore, I get enough of it like every day from the other dead guys.
Why can't I ever get mysteriously spirited away to somewhere that makes sense? I wanna go back to Florida. Uggghhh.
[He rolls over one more time to put his back to 'Izunia,' just for a moment, but he does eventually acquiesce to sitting up and facing him like a big boy.]
Okay, I get it, everything everyone's been telling me is true, can I go back to, like, languishing in a swamp now? No offense, but I don't wanna hear about your brother's super tragic saintly past anymore, I get enough of it like every day from the other dead guys.
[... The hell is a Florida?]
I somehow doubt you've gotten the full story if you didn't know about the family resemblance, but... okay?
[He says it like he's never used theword before in his life. Being two thousand years old, it's possible he hasn't.]
Don't look at me, this is the first time I've said more than two sentences to someone who wasn't a relative in a very long time.
I somehow doubt you've gotten the full story if you didn't know about the family resemblance, but... okay?
[He says it like he's never used theword before in his life. Being two thousand years old, it's possible he hasn't.]
Don't look at me, this is the first time I've said more than two sentences to someone who wasn't a relative in a very long time.
Right. Like, two thousand years, right? Nnnggghh.
[Maybe his face can just live in his hands for the next two thousand years.]
If Pryna really brought me here, I guess she's trying to tell me you're real. I don't think I could dream this up. I mean, I don't usually time travel in my dreams. Do you?
[Maybe his face can just live in his hands for the next two thousand years.]
If Pryna really brought me here, I guess she's trying to tell me you're real. I don't think I could dream this up. I mean, I don't usually time travel in my dreams. Do you?
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