izunia lucis callout

[founderinglight]

you will pry twinzunia from my cold dead hands let's do this

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[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn leaned heavily against his brother in the silence that followed, burying his face in Izunia's shoulder and knocking the goggles on his head crooked in the process.]

I just...I thought I...

I only wanted to help.

[founderinglight]

I know. I know.

[It's why he was the perfect tool, the perfect victim.

For now, Izunia reaches up to run comforting fingers through his brother's hair, untamed mess that it always is.]

[scourgingstars]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left you alone, for whatever I did wrong, anything that's happened I don't yet know about...I'm so sorry.

[founderinglight]

That's my line, brother.

[He squeezes, just a little, before going back to running his fingers through Ardyn's hair.]

You didn't leave me. Never that.

[The gods took you away from me - but at least he can put one of his brother's worries to rest.]

[scourgingstars]

I wouldn't...I'd never want to. You know that, right?

[founderinglight]

Of course I do.

[Even at his worst - Ardyn had still carried that scarf, perhaps even long ignorant of what it once meant. My love goes with you - ]

We entered this world together. We were always supposed to leave it in the same way.

[ - I'll wait for you. No matter how far you go, I will always be there to welcome you home.]

[scourgingstars]

Always.

[His voice cracked, and Ardyn spent a few seconds in silence to put himself back together before pulling back slightly.]

Where-...where are we, exactly?

[founderinglight]

What - oh.

[Forgive him he completely forgot about the scenery because you were here?]

...Crown City Insomnia, some two thousand and change years after where you are now.

[scourgingstars]

...hm. So this is what becomes of Solheim someday.

[Ardyn smiled faintly, half clinging to his brother's arm.]

It's spectacular.

[founderinglight]

Rather less in the way of flying vehicles than I think you would have preferred, though.

[Ardyn is definitely the flying cars guy. No wonder he went to Gralea instead.]

It's a bit better with people, but we can still walk around, if you like. I'm hardly the best tour guide, but I know at least a bit of the city.

[...In its dark, ruined form, but no need to tell Ardyn that yet.]

[scourgingstars]

Anything you want, little brother.

[founderinglight]

It's up to you, Ardyn.

[My dear shadow, he almost says, but bites back. Even if this is still the Ardyn who stood between him and innumerable lamps while he was trying to work, that has a different meaning that this light-hearted, younger version doesn't deserve to bear.]

[scourgingstars]

Don't start being difficult now. Show me whatever you like.

[founderinglight]

Let's wander, then, and perhaps reach the Citadel eventually.

[Arm in arm, the apparent gap between their ages disregarded, neither wanting to let go.]

[scourgingstars]

You know well that I should follow anywhere you might go.

[Ardyn, luckily, always had ridiculously long legs that made it no problem to keep up even as young as he was.]