@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

[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 forever and ever

[daemonized]

[No delay with this reply.]

The Oracle keeps the darkness at bay. Acts as a bulwark against its constant encroachment, so of course she had to go.

[It’s an oddly straightforward response, no pointed need to make it cruel, simply because it stands on its own.]

Were you really willing to fight tooth and nail? Tell me, how are you feeling about it now? Knowing that your life and mine will end, for the sake of bringing the light back. Are you ready? Eager? Accepting?

Or are you holed up somewhere, avoiding friends and acquaintances alike? Weighed down by grief? You weren’t ready then, you aren’t ready now. Don’t try to convince me otherwise.

bye

[fessus]

[ The darkness of the room plays tricks on his mind, making it feel like it's shrinking in around him as Ardyn accurately paints a picture of a young man, not yet wearing his crown with comfort, more desirous to be free of titles than ever. He's not strong like Luna was. He never has been.

There's never been that quality of grace, or bravery, or wisdom in him that she possessed in spades. How is he supposed to succeed where she failed? Especially if her "failure" was his fault? Everywhere he's gone death has followed, and Cor's words ring in his ears now more than ever: "how long will you remain the protected?" How many people have been sacrificed for him, and when is he going to pay that back?

He didn't want her to die. But he doesn't want to die either. He doesn't want to die...

Another shaky breath has him dragging a hand through his hair, feeling like he's spiraling and with an invisible audience of the last person he wants to be seeing him like this. ]

All that time she was in the empire's hands and you didn't do anything. You waited. Don't act like your hand got forced, you planned it to go like this.

If you think I'm gonna let you get away with it and not fight you when it comes time, you're wrong. I'm not gonna run from you.

why can't they just get along

[daemonized]

You were there at the time. I needed you to see it. Anger is a powerful motivator, and we all know how much of it you seem to lack.

[Is that an unfair assessment? No, he thinks not.

Ten years in the future, across a darkened and ruined landscape, Noctis was ready. He could see it in determined, weary eyes. Here? So assailed is the young king by matters of the past and future, it debilitates him. There is no pressing necessity, no Empire dogging at his heels, no threat of endless night, to keep him pushing forward. Here, he wallows in his own self-pity and memory of those lost. Here, he’s just stagnant, and there’s nothing that even Ardyn can truly do about it.

And that’s an utterly frustrating feeling.]

When the time comes, far from now, we’ll see. Right now? Prospects seem bleak.

i wonder

[fessus]

Then do what I already told you to do.

And leave me the fuck alone. I'm not enough right now? You need me to wait ten years?

Then stay the hell away from me until then.

[daemonized]

But I can’t. Or rather, I won’t.

[Simple as that, a lacking response that’s true all the same.]

[fessus]

Why.

If you hate me so much and you don't have to see me, why?

[daemonized]

You've just answered your own question. Because I hate you, Noctis. With every fiber of my being, in more ways than you could possibly hope to understand.

[The empathy bond might have illustrated this hatred, but Noctis felt it for seconds. How much does it twist a man into something no longer resembling himself, after so very long?]

Does my presence make you angry? Does every message from me make you sick with anxiety? Dread? Uncertainty? Am I a shadow, constantly lingering over your shoulder, reminding you of your failures, of your death to come, of a war between nations and a world choking on the dark?

Why would I be kind enough to grant you the respite of leaving you alone?

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?

[mercurio]

you know exactly what it is

[daemonized]

Maybe if you had told him everything you knew, instead of withholding information to keep you comfortable, Prompto, he’d not be in such a state.

[mercurio]

i know that

[he doesn't need much more goading from ardyn to realize how bad he fucked up. he'll gladly help push the knife deeper onto himself.]

[daemonized]

Then don’t tell me to hold my tongue when the lot of you? Are happy to coddle him.

[mercurio]

you can keep getting under his skin at another time
enough's enough for now

[when u try ur best but u don't succeed]

[daemonized]

Any discomfort that I lay beneath his skin can be cured with the power of friendship and understanding, hm? Why are you so worried?

[The facetiousness is practically dripping over text.]

Oh, or is it, maybe... that you're not on speaking terms? Is he angry with you?

[mercurio]

that doesn't matter
quit while you're ahead, you know

[daemonized]

No.