izunia lucis callout

[founderinglight]

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

Comments

[scourgingstars]

But that's...that's impossible.

[And though he tried to laugh it off, the corners of Ardyn's smile held the slightest tremor to them.]

Come now, Izunia--if this is your idea of a joke you could stand to try harder. We would never hurt each other, not even if our very lives depended on it.

[founderinglight]

[The words are almost too much to bear and Izunia pulls him close again.]

I would never want to hurt you. Please, never doubt that. Never in all two thousand of my years...

[So very long did he believe their lies. So very long did he rally his family against the monster that took his brother.]

But we were set up from the very beginning to fall. I made one mistake in recklessness and so very many heeding the lies of the divine and I am so sorry, Ardyn.

[scourgingstars]

I know that--I trust you completely, I've no doubt you would never wish harm to befall me.

...I don't understand. I thought-...no, I am saving people. You can not expect me to believe that to be a lie--or worse, to stop entirely.

[founderinglight]

[The confidence and trust Ardyn has in him is almost worse than hatred. One burns, but the other is like shards of glass in his heart, cutting him fatally at every beat.]

I know you won't. I know.

[That's why he was the perfect tool for the job.]

But eventually, the amount of Scourge that you take into yourself will...

...It won't allow you to die, Ardyn. All of the pain and anger of the daemons trapped inside you will keep you alive for two thousand years, unable to find rest or pleasure in anything.

[scourgingstars]

...And what is it you would have me do, brother? I can not give up on this effort; if I do that, countless innocent people will die pointlessly.

[Ardyn was (for once) quiet as he answered--seeming far older than only twenty himself.]

My life is nothing, placed next to that.

[founderinglight]

Tell me. The me in your time, the one who hasn't - has yet struck the blow that will make you Accursed.

[Can he change anything? Is there even a point?]

Share your burdens with those who love you, so that we don't - so that we don't destroy each other on top of the gods destroying us. It is not your life I fear for, Ardyn, it's everything that comes after. I don't want -

[He has to stop, with a small, pained sound. It is a purely selfish wish, perhaps, something that will change nothing in the long run, and yet, and yet - ]

I don't want you to go into that darkness again thinking that I hate you.

[scourgingstars]

It is not my wish to burden him with something like that. So much is uncertain, and he worries for all of it--the elder brother's role is to carry what the younger can not.

[founderinglight]

Ardyn, I beg of you - stuff that elder brother complex up your ass for once and share your burdens.

[Izunia only ever swears when he's serious, when it's something like this.]

If you love me, then be honest and so prevent me from doing something that I will regret for literally the rest of eternity.

[scourgingstars]

If the alternative is hurting you this way, you know I will do anything to see another outcome. I'm the one who should apologize--I never would have wished for things to come to this.

[founderinglight]

You get to apologize for nothing because you did nothing to deserve what happened.

[Now shut up and accept him crying on you while squeezing you half to death.]

You didn't hurt me. I destroyed myself with my own foolishness, along with you.

[scourgingstars]

But you’re in pain all the same. So I should apologize for failing you, when I should have protected you from any such unhappiness.

[founderinglight]

I'm hardly your baby brother anymore, Ardyn. I haven't been for a long time. Even back then...

[Even back then, he had wanted to support Ardyn. He'd simply been at a loss for how.]

Five minutes means less than nothing at even your age. Let me stand with you, for once, and support you when you falter.

[scourgingstars]

I can look after myself, contrary to popular belief. Is it so terrible that I should wish to protect you?

[founderinglight]

It's very frustrating that you won't let me return the favor.

[scourgingstars]

I already have Gilgamesh looking after me, and even that tends towards being unnecessary. I don’t want you burdened by worrying over me.

[founderinglight]

One: Previously established Starscourge related side effects of healing are a damn good reason to worry.

Two: I will worry anyway, no matter what it is you do.

Three: It's not a burden to care for you, you bloody doornail, it never has been.

[He's two thousand years old and has finally learned to use his words!]

[scourgingstars]

... [Ardyn laughed under his breath, pulling Izunia a little closer and leaning against him.]

I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell you of consequences that none had any power to change. I thought...if I could save people, if I could make this a world you could live in happily, then whatever became of me would be a fair price to pay.

I love you and always have. There is nothing I would hesitate to risk for an outcome that would see you alive and safe.

[founderinglight]

And because of that, I did not live happily. Living happily for me... Would be you by my side, even as a monster.

[He leans against Ardyn. This young, innocent version of his brother... Already bearing such a burden.]

My love goes with you wherever you go. But that can't replace having you there.

[scourgingstars]

Oh, Izunia... [Ardyn carded a light hand through his brother's hair, even now sounding as comforting as he possibly could.] You've been terribly alone all these long ages, haven't you? I'm so sorry.

[founderinglight]

Not so alone as you.

[He had the company of the other kings, in a way, all the way down the line. And Gilgamesh at his crag still had the souls of his men around him... All three of them, persisting for thousands of years, in their separate ways. But only Ardyn was truly alone.]

[scourgingstars]

It's not me that I'm concerned with right now.

[founderinglight]

Too bad, because then we'll just be going in a circle of concern that ends in me smacking you for being a fool.

[scourgingstars]

Brother dearest, I care not at all how old you might be, you smack me and you’ll be getting as much right back.

[founderinglight]

You can try. You'll find I've gotten quite a bit better at phasing, though, I'm afraid.

[scourgingstars]

Brat. You’re just the same as ever.