@gaby

[vns]

[ this was supposed to be one of Gaby's days off. in fact, she's not in the safehouse when the message comes in. ]

Turns out that we're missing two new faces around the safehouse.

I'd play a guessing game as to why I wasn't told, but I don't care. These two faces apparently murdered two people that night.

I don't know who they are, but I do know that they're locked up. Any guesses as to what's going to happen to them?

Genuine question. Because I don't know.

Oh, and because some of you think you can do whatever the hell you want around here: don't think the way out for them is a jail break. Don't even fucking try it. And no, Morningstar isn't in the business of breaking people out of jail, because that would be stupid.

[ she's a little angry. no. a lot. but mostly she doesn't know how to handle this one. ]

Look. You know something? Tell me. You won't be "in trouble."

Comments

[kometes]

You’ve made me anxious.

I need to see you. I won’t say anything if that’s what you’re worried about.

[fessus]

You don't get it.

I want to be alone.

[kometes]

Why? Because of this?

[fessus]

No

@ardyn.sky

[daemonized]

[Is he here to contribute to this overall post?

Certainly not.]

Poor Noctis. What’s the matter? Your friend only seems concerned for you, there’s no need to be so cold.

[kometes]

Who the hell are you? You've got no business talking on my behalf.

[daemonized]

Oh, are you not concerned for him? My mistake, do carry on.

[Sure did ignore that question.]

[kometes]

It's not up to you or anyone to tell him what to do or how he should feel. Even if I am worried about him, he's not beholden to me.

I don't want to see you bothering Noctis again.

[daemonized]

Is that right? And here I sense an awful amount of hypocrisy coming from you.

I'm allowed to talk to him as much as the next person. Perhaps even more so.

[kometes]

[ Ardyn would be about right. Achilles is a huge hypocrite, and he's selfish too. ]

I believe a man should be able to do whatever the hell he wants.

But he's gotta deal with what happens after.

You sure you're capable of getting past me once I get my hands around your neck?

@prom.argentum

[mercurio]

achilles you should really not be talking to him much less taunting him
just a point of advice

prompto: just drops his identity like nothing

[kometes]

What makes you think I'd just bow my head and let him piss me off?!

@ojiro.juniper

[deicider]

Achilles???

[daemonized]

Is that a threat? You certainly don't waste time.

Tell me, why do you care so much about who talks to Noctis and who doesn't?

[fessus]

[ Almost immediately, he sees red. ]

Leave me the fuck alone.

[daemonized]

[Just what he wanted, cruel as he can be.]

That's hardly necessary. I don't deserve this kind of vitriol from you for merely checking in.

All this talk of murder, doesn't it just send a chill up your spine?

[fessus]

You deserve every single ounce of it.

Is this what you want? To piss me off and start a fight right here? I don't have anything to say to you, I told you to leave me alone.

[daemonized]

You know that's not going to happen, don't you? You and I, we're family. That's not a connection one does away with so easily.

Especially since you're so keen on pushing away those apparently trying to help you. Need someone to talk to? I'm a very good listener.

[fessus]

[ His knees are drawn closer to his chest in the darkness of the room he's holed himself up in, feeling like the solid wall behind him is something ephemeral that'll give up its support at any moment. Every sound in the room is loud, but none more so than the ringing in his own ears that starts up every time he leaves himself without a distraction for too long. It's getting worse, not better, and throwing himself into ill-advised arguments and trying to stay busy is turning out to be a worse coping mechanism than Gladio had ever advertised it to be.

Eyes close tight, cheeks warm as he drops his forehead onto one of those knees and takes a slow, shaky breath. Even with his power's ability to keep his need for sleep at bay, Noctis feels exhausted.

The message goes without a response, and it takes all of his willpower to look away from it for good. All he can do now is pray it'll be a while before the next one. ]

[daemonized]

[It’s the worst kind of sadism to let him hope that there might be a respite. That Ardyn might not reply to this, and to leave him to his thoughts from here on out. Moments pass, just long enough to belie a disinterest. Maybe Prompto’s text thread has distracted him. Maybe Ardyn’s satisfied, or inversely, maybe he’s grown bored.

If only it were so easy.]

Honestly, it’ll do you no good to ignore me. Shouldn’t you be appreciative that I’m the only one who seems to be even remotely truthful with you? So much has transpired, Noctis, would you really rather have lived in blissful ignorance?

[As if he did any of it for Noctis’ sake. Might as well be its own sort of insult.]

private

[fessus]

[ His stomach lurches when he sees the notification from him again, feeling sick, angry, and directionless. His name is like a shove back down underwater when he's just ready to get his bearings and take a breath. ]

She never did anything to you. She was helping me, she wasn't in the way, I was already going to fight.

[ Ardyn's questions aren't any he wants to think about right now, or ever. ]

private

[mercurio]

leave him alone
it's not the time and place for this

permaprivate

[daemonized]

I'm interested in what's he's been up to. Who he speaks with. Who his friends are.

So of course I'm going to say hello once in a while. I'm being nothing but polite, and you certainly have no power to tell me to do otherwise, Prompto.

Re: permaprivate

[mercurio]

i know you're not saying anything out of line but it's obviously doing something to him

[prompto is selecting his words very carefully, for one. could we say there's also some level of -- humility, in them? of obvious submission and full knowledge that his words weigh nothing to ardyn.]

please

i know it means nothing coming from me
but please

[daemonized]

Maybe I'll think about it.

[Or maybe he won't. But-]

Tell me something. Is this groveling born out of any sort of guilt on your part?