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]

[Both can be true.]

Even if you were Niflheimir, I see no reason to reject a man based on heritage alone. I may have been raised in Insomnia, but I'm not as xenophobic as they; I am Lucian first, as a ruler should be, and that means looking out for all of my people. Even those who haven't decided yet if they want to be.

[discutio]

[what the fuck is going on.]

...I suppose you've successfully convinced me to linger a bit more, even if only from mad curiosity.

[comesunset]

[Ignis has found the most dangerous opponent of all - a genuine idealist.

May his king help him because we already know the gods ain't gonna.]

The way I see it is quite simple, really. No one should suffer needlessly if they don't deserve it, few people do, and it's a ruler's job to minimize that suffering where they can. That's what I try to live by, even if the current situation makes it difficult.

[discutio]

Such an absurd goal is liable only to cause you pain, you realize.

[comesunset]

You are terribly bitter, aren't you?

[Ardyn steps a little to the side, shifting his weight and putting his hands on his hips.]

I think that the trying is worth it, and I couldn't live with myself if I did not. That's simply the way it is.

[discutio]

Some might say so. I like to think I've a realistic grasp of the matter.

[comesunset]

And if I might be so bold, depression, resentment, and a general increase in misanthropy are also classic symptoms of the Starscourge.

[He's not... wrong...]

Even if it bites me in the ass, it's how I've chosen to live.

[discutio]

[...can't argue.]

Don't claim you weren't warned.

...Do you plan to spend all night in this alley?

[comesunset]

At the end of the day, no matter how much the hunters know about the coeurl, someone still has to go out and fight it.

[Beat.]

I'm amicable to going elsewhere if you are, or if you feel the need to be free of this conversation entirely.

[discutio]

I'd not mind entertaining this a bit longer.

[comesunset]

Cafe, then, if you're not amicable to a hotel room?

[FLIRT TRAIN NO BRAKES.]

[discutio]

...

[The look of fucking seriously needed no verbal confirmation.]

[comesunset]

[And Ardyn just laughs.]

I had to be sure!

[discutio]

A cafe is fine.

[he regrets everything today turned out to be]

Shall we?

[comesunset]

[And when you tell your king he's just going to laugh.

But Ardyn, still all smiles, leads the way gladly to a nearby cafe - one which, if Ignis is paying enough attention, has just a bit of Crownsguard oversight down the street. Yes, yes, royal military forces, your prince is here and safe again after the day's adventures.

In spite of Ignis' earlier refusal of something to eat, Ardyn even thinks to request a Braille menu for him. Local prince dots all his Ts and crosses all his Is. He spins the straw in his water glass idly, making the ice crackle as it spins around in the cup.]

Now, then, issues of ethics and morality and human nature aside...

[discutio]

[Noctis was going to laugh until he fell off the godsdamned dock, and Ignis knew it.]

[But for now he drummed gloved fingers lightly on the surface of the table. Of course he could get away without trouble from the royal guards--that was simple. Still, this had become far more trouble than he'd planned for--and it was yet to be seen if it'd pay off in any way.]

Yes?

[comesunset]

...I suppose my questions now have changed more from 'what' and 'how' to 'why.'

[discutio]

'Why' what, precisely? You're quite vague when you shouldn't be, Highness.

[comesunset]

Why offer me any help at all?

[discutio]

I see no reason to hinder the work of the gods' chosen savior.

[Very, very, very much the opposite.]

[comesunset]

'Not hindering' and 'helping' aren't exactly the same thing.

[discutio]

Is that so? I think the sentiment is the same regardless.

[comesunset]

I'd quite disagree. The majority of people are 'not hindering' us - they simply pass by living their own lives. Even for affairs as grand as these, they just don't care enough to get involved one way or the other.

[Another spin of the ice around in his drink.]

Even when it's obvious that someone needs help - I've seen a lot of broken-down cars by the side of the road these last few weeks. And most people drive past them. 'It's not my problem,' they think to themselves.

You didn't.

[discutio]

I didn't.

What of it?

[comesunset]

I'd like to know why. And 'just because I like helping' doesn't suit with the bitterness of the rest of you, so don't try that one on me.