izunia lucis callout

[founderinglight]

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

Comments

[scourgingstars]

Oh, dear brother, that sounds terribly ungrateful.

[founderinglight]

Those brandy chocolates were foul, I tell you, I would rather have taken poisoned ones. You would think the combination impossible to ruin, but...

[scourgingstars]

I do hope you at least praised the effort. Or did you just ruin my delightful reputation as well?

[founderinglight]

Fortunately they were delivered by post, and thus no one save Gil had to see me spit it out in disgust.

Unfortunately, she sent three more boxes between then and the wedding.

[scourgingstars]

I'm sure she was crushed, along with half the kingdom.

[founderinglight]

Terribly so. The rivers flowed with both wine and tears that night.

[He reaches for Ardyn's hand, squeezes it again.]

You would have loved it. Fireworks and drinking as far as the eye could see.

[scourgingstars]

Ah, two of my favorite things.

[After a short hesitation, he squeezed his brother's hand right back.]

...I'll admit I missed this.

[founderinglight]

You were missed. Beyond dearly. Even the fireworks seemed grey without you.

[scourgingstars]

...I suppose it's good to see you again.

[founderinglight]

[That makes it Izunia's turn to laugh.]

Say it like that and someone might almost think you want to be here!

[scourgingstars]

Don't push your luck.

[founderinglight]

Well, you've already sentenced me to staying by your side forever. If you were to leave, I suppose I would have no choice but to follow.

[scourgingstars]

Good, I see you learn as quickly as ever.

[founderinglight]

As though it's not an excuse to be exactly where I wanted to be.

[Arm going over Ardyn's shoulders again, Izunia leans them together.]

Where to, Your Majesty?

[scourgingstars]

...

[Miserable useless gods, did it feel good to hear that in all sincerity.]

Wherever we like, Your Highness.

[founderinglight]

If you've truly got no preference, I confess I would like something a bit less embarrassing of a royal arsenal.

[scourgingstars]

Well, then. It sounds as though we've quite a bit of traveling to do, in that case.

[founderinglight]

That a problem?

[scourgingstars]

I don't recall saying that. So long as you can keep up.

[founderinglight]

I'll be right behind you.

[A pause.]

But first -

[Izunia's Armiger is, indeed, much smaller than Ardyn's. Aside from the Blade of the Mystic - Ardyn's sword, held in common - there's only a paired set of narrow blades, rapier and dagger with matching guards. Royal Arms in their own right, smithed after Izunia threw aside the blade that cut his brother down, unable to bear the sight of it. Never used, never entrusted to a tomb for future generations - his alone. Until now.

Izunia catches the pair with a deft hand and proffers them, hilts first, to Ardyn.]

Fair is fair, I think.

[scourgingstars]

Are you...?

[processing]

...Are you asking me to stab you?

[founderinglight]

[...]

If you decided to go that route I don't think I have any grounds to object, however...

[scourgingstars]

Fair as that would be, what exactly am I meant to think you're doing?

[founderinglight]

Large as your collection might be, I know you don't have this one, so take it.

[scourgingstars]

...

[Ardyn looked from the swords to Izunia in completely honest confusion.]

I-...why?