I'm certain. I know you and I love each other. There's just a lot of time since you've been here so I don't know if your feelings have changed at all somehow.
[It's good for him to say it, but also he could have just asked her before?]
[considering as she glances off for a beat before coming back to him]
If they have changed . . . It is only that I held greater and greater hope for you. Being so cautious, it's difficult to be open with others, and raised as I was, I knew that I would require someone with understanding.
But I do not wish for you to correct every problem or issue that I may have, only to help me in learning to right them on my own. There was much wrong where we came from, but we can also be that much better than our circumstances.
Yeah, I know. [Affectionately brushing his knuckles along her cheek again when she averts her eyes, lingering when she looks at him again.]
I understand having trouble being open with others. I just want you to know you can be open and flawed. I'm not out to correct anything other than the fact that you want to shoulder everything on your own. You've already helped me so much... it cost you your life, even. We don't have to live that way anymore. I want to be able to shoulder it too, even the little stuff.
[Taking a breath.]
Sorry to get too real there for a second. It's just been on my mind, because I know you were careful about how much you told me. Were you worried about Ardyn and I fighting if I knew?
[covering his hand with her own, giving a slight nod before sighing]
It is more than that. You and I as we are now . . . I do not believe that we know the full extent of his cruelty, so I am scared to provoke him when he has been — Courteous thus far.
Only one person has seen what I recall of my death. He did not heed my plea to leave Ardyn be, and so I had to endure him calling me to gloat about what he did to a dear friend, nearly chastising me for the company I keep and chose to share my memories with. I cannot endure the same with you.
["Courteous" she says, when he's the one that apparently murders her. He almost scoffs at that.]
I get it. [As much as he'd love to go sock him in the face, he doesn't want to provoke him either. There were others to think about - not just Luna but Gladio or anyone else he decided to care about here.]
I'm not planning on picking a fight with him. He already stopped me from getting in his face once so there's no point.
[That was before he even knew he'd killed Luna. He still wanted to pick a fight with him about it, but he's trying to keep a cool head and just think for a change. Act like a King, as it were.]
[Grandpa-uncle why are you such an asshole???? God.]
Which is why I'm not going to pick a fight with him either. I don't want to put Lilis in his cross hairs. It's bad enough he apparently did something to not just you or your friend but someone else I'm friends with back home is missing.
[He hates not knowing his name :( Someday he would like to remember it...]
I'm... assuming someone healed him? [He remembers Lumen needing a new thumb. That must have been Not Fun to have to get a new tongue.]
Luna, you can trust me. I'm not going to let him endanger anyone else we care about. Even if it means trying to keep on his good side - not that I'm sure he even has a good side.
[He's trying to inject a tiny bit of humor into this whole thing, okay. Just a tiny bit.]
Smart. Would keep his Unit from finding out or Baritones from trying to target them in retaliation.
He knew my role and he knew to wait, to bid his time for me to realize my calling. He knew intimately about the ways of the Oracle, because his beloved was the first of our kind. She and I are near identical, Noctis.
. . . Perhaps, but . . . I am worried that he may be hurting others here, somewhere or somehow in a way that no one may realize. He could pursuing some new end.
Want me to try finding out? Don't know how much he'd tell me but this guy I talked to - Alexander - seemed to know him pretty well, since they're on the same Unit.
Without question. He is deeply in love with Ardyn which is already reason to question him. However, he has his own aims to achieve in the world that he hails from. I do not wish to bring destruction upon another world when our own is suffering so.
It wouldn't have changed anything, honestly. I'm the one who wanted to talk to him. I could have told you after he first talked to me, but I didn't. He did tell me you guys weren't on the best terms and I just went along with it because I wanted to know what he knew.
[See, now they're both keeping their secrets. He doesn't like it. Lifting her hand in his to kiss the back of it.]
I don't want to keep secrets like that again. I'm sorry.
[and covering the hand she's holding with her other one]
Then, I do not believe it a secret, but I have talked with Ardyn a few times. When Gladio and then you arrived in addition to our other conversations. I was hoping only to try to keep the peace between us all.
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runawayprince) wrote2020-10-03 03:32 pm
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[It's good for him to say it, but also he could have just asked her before?]
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If they have changed . . . It is only that I held greater and greater hope for you. Being so cautious, it's difficult to be open with others, and raised as I was, I knew that I would require someone with understanding.
But I do not wish for you to correct every problem or issue that I may have, only to help me in learning to right them on my own. There was much wrong where we came from, but we can also be that much better than our circumstances.
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I understand having trouble being open with others. I just want you to know you can be open and flawed. I'm not out to correct anything other than the fact that you want to shoulder everything on your own. You've already helped me so much... it cost you your life, even. We don't have to live that way anymore. I want to be able to shoulder it too, even the little stuff.
[Taking a breath.]
Sorry to get too real there for a second. It's just been on my mind, because I know you were careful about how much you told me. Were you worried about Ardyn and I fighting if I knew?
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It is more than that. You and I as we are now . . . I do not believe that we know the full extent of his cruelty, so I am scared to provoke him when he has been — Courteous thus far.
Only one person has seen what I recall of my death. He did not heed my plea to leave Ardyn be, and so I had to endure him calling me to gloat about what he did to a dear friend, nearly chastising me for the company I keep and chose to share my memories with. I cannot endure the same with you.
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I get it. [As much as he'd love to go sock him in the face, he doesn't want to provoke him either. There were others to think about - not just Luna but Gladio or anyone else he decided to care about here.]
I'm not planning on picking a fight with him. He already stopped me from getting in his face once so there's no point.
[That was before he even knew he'd killed Luna. He still wanted to pick a fight with him about it, but he's trying to keep a cool head and just think for a change. Act like a King, as it were.]
What did he do to your friend?
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Because he will not quarrel with you in the open, not when it poses a risk to his unit . . .
[a deeper frown]
He said that he cut out his tongue.
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Which is why I'm not going to pick a fight with him either. I don't want to put Lilis in his cross hairs. It's bad enough he apparently did something to not just you or your friend but someone else I'm friends with back home is missing.
[He hates not knowing his name :( Someday he would like to remember it...]
I'm... assuming someone healed him? [He remembers Lumen needing a new thumb. That must have been Not Fun to have to get a new tongue.]
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He wants you to suffer; he wants all to suffer. As sorry as I am for his circumstances, I am more heartbroken by how many have been hurt by him.
[slight nod]
Yes, someone from sensitIV that he trusted. Ever careful to cover his tracks.
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[He's trying to inject a tiny bit of humor into this whole thing, okay. Just a tiny bit.]
Smart. Would keep his Unit from finding out or Baritones from trying to target them in retaliation.
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[possibly because she looks like his ex but shh]
Do you think it ought to be exposed? Reveal what happened to both units?
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[Yep. Now he's scoffing. Sorry Luna.]
No. I get his reasoning, if that even was. Maybe it's an issue of his pride being bruised.
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. . . Perhaps, but . . . I am worried that he may be hurting others here, somewhere or somehow in a way that no one may realize. He could pursuing some new end.
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Want me to try finding out? Don't know how much he'd tell me but this guy I talked to - Alexander - seemed to know him pretty well, since they're on the same Unit.
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Do not trust him. You cannot.
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He seemed fine...? I didn't tell him anything you told me.
[Not the important stuff anyway.]
I just wanted to know what you weren't telling me about Ardyn at the time.
[Which was clearly a bad call and he should have trusted her to have his best interests in mind.]
Do you think he'd tell him I was poking around?
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No, I should have expected him to reach out to you. He has been circling me since my arrival here.
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It wouldn't have changed anything, honestly. I'm the one who wanted to talk to him. I could have told you after he first talked to me, but I didn't. He did tell me you guys weren't on the best terms and I just went along with it because I wanted to know what he knew.
[See, now they're both keeping their secrets. He doesn't like it. Lifting her hand in his to kiss the back of it.]
I don't want to keep secrets like that again. I'm sorry.
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Then, I do not believe it a secret, but I have talked with Ardyn a few times. When Gladio and then you arrived in addition to our other conversations. I was hoping only to try to keep the peace between us all.
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[Sigh.]
Do you want to stay here?
[You know, since they're up now apparently.]
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Would you like to go elsewhere?
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[Shaking his head. He realizes maybe he's just a little wired up after talking about Ardyn so he has to think carefully.]
Not unless you do. [Leaning in to kiss her.]
Sorry, just- thinking too much, I guess. Maybe we could get dressed? Unless you want to snuggle naked some more.
[He grins at that.]
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You make it sound as if you are opposed to it . . . [teasing, teasing] We ought to be presentable whenever they may return though, yes.
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[Another kiss, slow and lingering.]
Gladio would never let me hear the end of it.
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