Prelude - Long March Home

[comesunset]

His Royal Highness, Ardyn Lucis Caelum, took the chance to step onto the streets of Lestallum without the constant company of his retainers. Verstael had gone wandering off in search of information on the next tomb - a researcher to the bone, even at twenty, a year Ardyn's junior - and Gilgamesh had gone to meet with the Crownsguard. There were few threats in the city, the largest outside Insomnia itself, and after shedding his royal blacks in favor of a more relaxed ensemble, Ardyn practically vanished into the crowd, notable only for his red hair, his height, and the scarf draped loosely around his neck.

Three Arms down, ten to go. And the Lucian countryside hid them well - they'd found a fourth tomb, but with its relic missing, and information from the hunters pointed to a ruin that Ardyn's Shield had turned their trio away from. Ardyn, for once, hadn't argued, feeling the potency of the daemons within in practically the air itself.

For now, he takes his break wandering the streets, picking up a set of skewers from one vendor, a pastry from another, a locally mixed lemonade from a third, and making his way down to the overlook. They've only been in Lestallum a week, and he's already growing fond of the benches there, the view out over the meteor crater. The sunset provides the perfect backdrop as he recalls his meal from its brief time in his Armiger, careful to keep the royal magic out of the sight of any passerby before settling in to people-watch. It's not like he's totally reckless, Gil.

Times like this, with the crowd of the power plant's shift change bustling around him, are the times he most feels like he can relax. Rather than being the Prince, just another face in the crowd... With a smile, Ardyn sips his lemonade before taking another bite of the skewer held idly in his left hand. So refreshing.

Comments

[comesunset]

- Well, well. I daresay you're about the last person I expected to see here.

[And with that chipper comment, Ardyn glances around- ever watchful for the rest of his minders - before wandering over and taking one of the other chairs at Ignis' table. Verstael, Gil, or both will give him hell for not getting cleaned up first if they catch him, so he just needs to be casual and avoid being caught.

Not like he needs to worry about his appearance before a blind man.]

I do hope your trip from Lestallum was less eventful than ours.

[discutio]

[lot of shadows early in the morning, and let's be honest he doesn't care as much about subtlety at this point. Ignis could see well enough to call him out.]

Oh, it was nothing eventful enough to comment on. Have you had a difficult time of it?

[comesunset]

[But if he did that, how many more questions it would raise.]

I think Titan would have damn near smashed my skull in even if Niflheim had not picked that very moment to try and do unto him as they did the Glacian. It was, in a word, a mess.

[discutio]

Didn't go well, then. I hope you at least got the sword you were after.

[comesunset]

And Titan's blessing as well, at what I imagine to be the very last moment it was possible. I daresay I don't feel up to another of those any time soon.

[discutio]

I hear the gods are terribly draining, in their demands of mortals. Won't be chasing down more of them anytime soon, I take it?

[comesunset]

Certainly not. They can very well sit tight for a while.

[He rubs his hand unconsciously over his forearm, which is hidden under his sleeve.]

[discutio]

They've surely waited a long time. A bit more won't hurt anything.

[comesunset]

Except perhaps me, if they intend to make themselves known as the Archaean did.

[discutio]

Doubtful. I think most of them a bit less...present than the Landforger.

[comesunset]

Let us hope that your knowledge shall prove correct once more.

What brings you out this way, then?

[discutio]

I didn't know I needed a reason.

[comesunset]

[Don't bullshit him, now, Ignis.]

To meet again so soon rather stretches the definition of coincidence, don't you think? I'm yet a bit too tired for secrets.

[discutio]

I simply thought I might check in on you. Nothing more than that.

[comesunset]

Well, I do appreciate it. A friendly face or two is always welcome.

[discutio]

How kind of you to say.

[comesunset]

Is there anything I can get for you?

[Ignis just tell him to take a goddamn shower.]

[discutio]

I suspect you'll find I'm very self-sufficient. You needn't linger around here on my account.

[comesunset]

We're not going anywhere fast, I'm afraid. In all the ruckus, Niflheim rather made off with our transportation. And I am far too sore for chocobo-back today, a sentence that I'm sure will force Verstael to check me for an imposter should he hear it.

[discutio]

[Right...that. Noctis had hoped it would slow them own a bit--time to build character of sorts, Ignis had agreed.]

How terrible. I suppose you're stuck here for a while, then.

[comesunset]

Time enough to recover and take on a few hunts to restore our budget, I think. But today is going to be mostly the former.

[discutio]

The best priority to have, given the situation. How were you planning on spending this newfound spare time?

[comesunset]

Responsibility says sit down with the damage reports from Insomnia and try to get a better sense of exactly what is happening to my kingdom. Fun says 'go watch the chocobo races for a bit, perhaps with some company.

Most likely it will end a mix of both.

[discutio]

I'm surprised. That sounds practically reasonable.

[comesunset]

I don't know what's so surprising about it. Once more I must point out that the layabout prince is a cultivated reputation.