#ardyn and ardyn have a conversation about ardyn and then

[a-world-in-grey]

You know, I always headcanoned that once Niflheim got their hands on some photos of the prince and his civilian friend, they absolutely knew that Prompto was an escaped clone. The resemblance to Besithia was obvious, after all. They just didn't bother to do anything with it, since it's not like they need that particular clone and it's not even like Prompto has a sleeper programming.

But in the Spark verse, well. Prompto is a child of an Oracle. And if Glauca is a thing, they might even know about her magic.

Either way, they really want to have her back.

I have been sitting on this ask for awhile, because I love it, but unfortunately the muses are not cooperating with me on it.

In most of my fics, Niflheim doesn’t really bother paying too much attention to Prompto - yeah, he’s the prince’s friend, but he’s civilian, and furthermore, not a member of his Retinue, so ergo, he can’t be that important to the prince. Not enough to be worth investing any resources into whatever aim they might want with Prompto anyway.

But in Spark au, Prompto is claimed as Noctis’ Heart far earlier than normal in an effort to protect her secret, and that makes Niflheim take a closer look at this civilian girl who’s gotten so close to the prince. And you’re right, the resemblance is uncanny if you know what to look for.

I feel like Titus wouldn’t know about Prompto’s magic. Noctis and the others are so very careful to keep her magic under wraps, and the cover of Prompto having Noctis’ magic so compelling, that Titus never realizes the truth.

Now, if they ever managed to get their hands on the Prince’s Heart long enough to somehow learn that carefully hidden truth… well.

That would change things, wouldn’t it?

[lulu2992]

This post is long overdue, but because I promised exactly seven years ago today that I would talk about this “later”, I want to finally do it!

So, prior to annoying everyone here about the Far Cry series, mostly Far Cry 5, and complaining about its nightmarishly-inconsistent lore, I used to annoy everyone with Final Fantasy XV and its... surprinsingly-not-that-inconsistent story. It’s not perfect, of course, and I’m sure many people could tell you more about it and its flaws better than I can, but considering it was told in the span of at least three years across four versions of the main game (which was updated several times to add more cutscenes and information), four DLC episodes, two films, two books, one animated series, one multiplayer expansion, as well as a few more spin-off games, demos, and trailers (not all of them canon), I still think it’s impressively coherent and that things could have been way worse.

Despite having never played this game myself (I don’t even know if I’ve ever said that), I fell in love with it, and more specifically with a character named Ardyn Izunia, a charismatic antagonist with a tragic past. Yes, I have a type.

Anyway, one thing I loved to complain about at the time was the English localization of the game. Although it’s far from being terrible, it slightly differs from the original Japanese version, and while some changes are appropriate and make sense (a localization isn’t meant to be a literal translation, after all), others are... questionable. The English version also had the luxury of having its own facial animations, which means the team didn’t even have to worry about being 100% faithful to the character’s original lip movements and emotions. And they weren’t.

Some of the choices that were made regarding Ardyn in particular are still upsetting to me. The way he talks about his name is unclear? People get confused. A sentence he finishes in Japanese gets interrupted in English for no apparent reason? That creates a non-existent mystery. A frown is turned upside-down? That erases a rare and therefore important angry reaction. He doesn’t chuckle at a key moment? That changes the tone of the scene and his feelings on the whole situation…

So, on March 19th, 2018, I said I wanted to talk about “when he sounds mocking and unimpressed instead of surprised and offended in the Pocket Edition”, so this is what I’m going to do, at long last. The mobile version of FFXV is interesting because it contains a few lines that were not in the original game and never included in the other editions (unless that’s changed; it’s been a while since I’ve studied this game). Those lines are exchanged between Noctis and Ardyn during their final battle.

From what I’ve seen and tried to translate thanks to online tools (I still don’t speak Japanese), the English conversation is nearly identical to the original Japanese version, but there’s one thing Ardyn says, and especially how he says it, that is very different to me.

When Noctis asserts he will save him from the darkness, in English, Ardyn replies, “Will you?” in a rather derisive and dismissive tone. In Japanese, though, he replies, “何?” (“What?”), and it seems Noctis’ words actually affect him. You can hear both versions below. Focus on Ardyn’s tone:

Original videos: English - Japanese

To me, the way he replies in English suggests he doesn’t take Noctis seriously at all. It’s like he’s saying, “Aw, that’s cute; as if you could do that”. In Japanese, however, I think he sounds shocked, like he can’t believe someone would genuinely want to help him despite everything he’s done and the monster he has become.

His reaction reminds me of the moment Lunafreya softly tells him he will eventually know peace… and he just slaps her. I could never decide exactly why he did it. I don’t know if it’s because he feels insulted and belittled by her words or if, on the contrary, he can’t stand the fact she’s showing compassion, not to mention right after he’s just mortally stabbed her. Does her kindness hurt him because he believes he doesn’t deserve it? Does she remind him of the man he used to be, the selfless, naive healer she somehow managed to still see, deep inside of him, despite the many layers of darkness he’s spent ages burying himself under?

In any case, it seems Ardyn is supposed to react strongly and be thrown off balance when someone believes he can and deserves to be saved, so what I wanted to say in 2018 is that I thought, and still think, that it’s a shame the English version of his line in the Pocket Edition doesn’t reflect that.

[blossom-adventures]

KupoCon: Pomfinity 7th, 8th & 9th Feb 2025

Wow… what a weekend!

First of all… Friday for Patreon Pre-Registration

A group of us met up at a Boba Tea place before heading over to the hotel for Pre-Reg, my best mate was also there so it was nice to hang out with him before hand. I had wanted to be with him that evening for a personal reason so to see him there was really good! We got our tickets and hung out for a little while before he went with some of his friends for food

At that point I decided to return to my hotel and have an early night

Main Event, KupoCon: Pomfinity

I made my way over and donned Ardyn once again, the opening ceremony was good and then I went on my way I had noticed my mate wasn’t about, so I checked his instagram and saw that his cosplay (the one I had been doing the fabric for) had been damaged in transit so he couldn’t wear it, I was devastated for him, he was really looking forward to wearing it and he wanted this to be his return to cons after spending most of the last year away. In the end he did come down (which I was very pleased to see) and we spent some time hanging out with the cosplayer he was helping

The guests… wow, the guests

Hedy was a bundle of positive energy, and Nina was lovely and was interested in everyone’s cosplays, taking the time to ask who I was cosplaying and complimenting me on it… but Adam… wow, Adam!

For those who don’t know Adam is the voice of Ignis from Final Fantasy XV, one of my favourite characters from the game, and also I owe FFXV a lot, playing that game changed my life for the better in way more ways than I can express in this post… so to meet Adam while cosplaying the main antagonist of the game was amazing, especially when his greeting to me was “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! SECURITY!” 😆

We had a brief conversation and I mentioned that I have the friends I do thanks to FFXV and finding KupoCon through that too and he was really pleased to hear that

Then there’s the cosplays… KupoCon is the type of convention where cosplay is taken to the extreme! There is so much variety and extremes! I managed to organise a meet up of villains which was a lot of fun

There were massive cosplay builds; automated wings, foam construction, props… everyone looked incredible!

I was invited to a small XV photo shoot during the day too, I’m looking forward to seeing the images from that

The quality of cosplay this time was so great that 2 cosplayers tied for the people’s choice (called the Nobleman Award) both being given 135 tokens! That was the Kafka and the Alexander! After a brief chat with the Alexander the organiser gave the Kafka the Nobleman and the Alexander the Dressphere (the staff choice award)

I had spent some time with the Alexander as he was who my mate was helping through the day and it was such a lovely - but emotional - moment when the Alexander surpassed my mates past record of 118 tokens, my mate cried, I had to give him a hug, I don’t think that moment will ever leave me

In case you were wondering, I was given 5 tokens ☺️

Then came the closing ceremony, there was chaos with Kazoos and then the Warrior of Light award which is given to someone who embodies the spirit of KupoCon and all its values, this year it was awarded to the legend, John Eric Bentley, voice of a Barrett from FFVII

John is so lovely and will take the time to talk to you, no matter what he’s doing, he complimented my cosplay as he walked past me while I was talking to a volunteer

Community Day

The community day was pretty chilled compared to the main day, this is when I did most of my shopping around artists alley as well as going to meet Adam again, this time, out of cosplay

I had to remind him that I was the Ardyn from the day before, which I didn’t blame him for (I do look a lot different out of cosplay) and as there was no one else waiting I managed to have a long conversation with him, fleshing out what I had said to him the day before about how FFXV had changed my life, I then told him that when I met Robbie in the summer I had to write it all down for him as I wasn’t in my cosplay and didn’t have the confidence to voice it (stating that my cosplay gives me so much more confidence) and he just put his arm around my shoulders as said “your not in cosplay now and you’ve just told me” I paused for a moment before saying “I suppose I did, didn’t I” I hadn’t realised how much more comfortable and confident I had become until he pointed it out

Also FYI getting life coaching from Ignis is incredible 😆

Then as I finished my chat with Adam, John came bounding into the room, showing all the VAs a little diorama of Barrett that a model maker had given him. I thanked Adam for his chat before he went for a wander to artists alley with Nina before congratulating John on his WoL award, he gave me a one armed hug and I took the opportunity to thank him for complimenting my cosplay from the day before and told him how he’d done so at every Kupo I’d attended and it meant a lot to me

John is awesome!

My prop didn’t get into the top 3 unfortunately, but the 3 that did were incredible and very deserved ☺️

Soooooo… that’s another KupoCon done… my Ardyn cosplay is in need of serious repairs, so that has been added to my todo list… until the next one, walk tall, my friends

[seradyn]

WIP WED- I mean Saturday

Thank you @blossom-adventures and @savage-rhi for tagging me on this, and also for your patience. Writing has been hard for me lately (aka the last 6 months or so) but yall have inspired me and I finally got a chunk I am happy sharing :) Hope you enjoy ~ 💕

As always if anyone who wants to do this sees it then please do. Share you works with us!

A Dream Come True Chp13

You were quite shocked by the crowd that had gathered around the gates when you got there. The area surrounding the road was overrun with people, held back only by imperial troops and MTs. A mix of paparazzi, citizens and press, given the near constant flash of cameras and how everyone was pushing and shoving their way to the front, trying to glimpse any of the nobles who passed by. Some were even bold enough to reach microphones over the crowd on long poles, hoping to steal an interview or two. They appeared ravenous, almost feral. Untamed animals held back by a thin layer of soldiers.

You pressed yourself into your seat subconsciously, hoping none were able to capture your face as you waited for the gates to open.

The inside was much less crowded, but no less bustling with excitement and activity. A line of cars slowly inched their way to the palace doors, only stopping to let out what you could only assume were the richest people in Niflheim. You’d thought the people outside La Compañera had been fancy, but these people were…almost excessive in their display of wealth. Some of their garments had so many seequines you found yourself squinting at them, while others had bunches of fabric that stuck out ridiculously. You were rather glad Ardyn had picked something more “normal” for you to wear, compared to these outfits.

As normal as it was for you to wear something worth more than your paycheck.

You felt your heart clench as you watched them, carefree and light as they walked into the palace. While they all made merry, all you could feel was a crippling sense of dread as you pulled up to the front, Justin stepping out of the car. Your hands went clammy - how were you supposed to mingle with these people? What could you even say to them? You were sure they would be able to tell you were different, the black sheep in their happy flock, just as you had always been.

Gods, what made you think this was a good idea?

You weren’t left any more time to ponder it. Your door swung open, and you instinctively stepped out, shielding your eyes from the lights. Laughter and the hum of distant conversations wafted down the stairs, enveloping you with what was to come. You stared numbly at the couples who ascended the steps, until you faintly registered the car hum to life, and Justin sped off into the night.

No turning back now.

One foot in front of the other.

Your legs began to move, and you followed the other nobles into the palace. The interior was unsurprisingly decorated the same way the exterior was. Servants darted about with trays of liquor in hand, and golden silk had been woven around the marble columns in the foyer. Another tapestry hung from the high ceiling, a dominating centerpiece with only the tilt of a head. The usual MTs that guarded the palace were replaced by regular troops, who watched over the party goers like a rooster over his hens. For the lack of MTs, you were at least grateful.

Even though the party was taking place in the main ballroom, a fair number of guests lingered here. Excited greetings were exchanged as old friends reunited, hands shaken and embraces given. Many quickly dove into conversation, too distracted by it to proceed to the main event.

You observed this all silently for a few moments, admiring the decorations before hurriedly crossing the room. You remembered what Ardyn had told you about getting to the ballroom, and you didn’t trust yourself to not forget in a fit of anxiety. You kept your head down and walked smartly, as Ardyn had shown you, trying to blend in to the crowd. It didn’t escape your notice though, how some of the guests turned their heads, eyebrows rising as you scampered past them.

Down the hall, third door on the left. Down the hall, third door on the left.

With every step you repeated the words, determined not to lose yourself in the winding halls of the palace. Justin’s week old warning rang hollowly in your ears, and you had no desire to make good on that threat.

Really though, you had no reason to worry; the grand ballroom was loud and lively, echoing through the corridors like a festive beacon. A wave of anxiety made your heart stutter as you followed the other guests, passing through a massive set of double doors to arrive at the gala.

The room was massive, certainly the biggest room you had ever seen. Much like the rest of the palace, it was carved of polished white marble from floor to ceiling, making the streaming overhead lights almost painfully bright. Pillars with elegant designs lined each side of the room, holding a beautiful domed ceiling. As your gaze followed them upward, you could see the ceiling was actually painted, what you guessed was a depiction of the first oracle and the hexathon.

You found yourself swallowing thickly as you tore your eyes away from the image, instead choosing to focus on the rest of the decor. Tables with gold and white linens were strewn about, while longer ones pushed to the sides were covered in a banquet of high end foods. To the left, a full bar had been set up, rows of colorful bottles reflecting the light onto staff as they mixed drinks for the guests. Farther back and to the right, a makeshift throne had been set up, complete with guards who clutched heavy assault rifles at their hips. The emperor would surely be making an appearance tonight.

Though what had you staring wide eyed into the expanse of the room was the massive ocean of nobles and the like that stretched from one end to the other. This…this was way more people than you had been expecting to see. You were expecting a crowd, yes, but…this was absurd. There wasn’t much space from one person to another, and whatever space there was got filled by the dozens of servants darting around, holding trays filled with everything from food, to liqueur, even to white roses.

It was all…It was all too much.

————————————————————————

That’s all for now. It’s up to 4K words so it’s coming along, just slow. Hope yall look forward to seeing it 🥰

[adagaium]

❲ @amoirsetpacis ❳

Ardyn hadn't been able to really sit down for a chess game, but with how the match ended, he wasn't really sure if he could call it a real game. He'd beaten his opponent rather soundly ... and he couldn't help but feel a little bad about it. It really wasn't a fair fight ... but it had been a nice way to get to know another person, because Ardyn hadn't been able to make too many bonds. Yet. Plenty of people had approached for fleeting conversations, because Iaso was rather adorable as a chick, and Ardyn was reluctant to let her out of his sight. Maybe if she was grown ... no matter.

❝ Alright, I would assume that another game won't be necessary- do forgive me for that. I could try to teach you more about chess, though, ❞ Chess was the one thing that he could still look back and say he enjoyed to do with Somnus- before everything went to hell. Before the darkness.

Notably, that darkness had faded quite a bit. Ardyn had been enjoying the sun, feeling relieved that he didn't have to wear so many layers. A plain tunic and pants had been sufficient, and the warmth on his skin no longer felt like fire. Maybe that was why his spirits were better. If this was the Beyond, it wasn't so bad at all.

❝ And to think I asked you for a game without introducing myself properly, where have my manners gone? Ardyn Izunia, at your service, ❞ the introduction is finished with a little bow and a slight smirk.

[nialltlynch]

kk fic master list (april 2025 edition)

the raven cycle / the dreamer trilogy

4000mg of ibuprofen | adam/declan, m - so tropey. but fun!

a thing with a name | adam/gansey, e - gonna be real fellas i wrote and posted this drunk and never looked at it again lmao.

ambilevous | handcat&matthew, handcat/declan, handcat/adam, m - secret night time encounters with a certain dream make certain people come to the most interesting conclusions.

be careful how you touch me | declan/ashley, m - outsider pov on declan. spoiler alert: he kinda sucks.

exhume our idols | declan-centric, t - moments and conversations about a certain absentee father all loosely woven together. (excised from a larger work that i may or may not ever finish so hopefully that explains why this is Like That.)

i am no excuse for your legacy | declan&mór, t - my first stab at writing mór. it's about her but really it's about declan.

i got more tongues than just this one | jh hennessy/mór, e - deadbeat milf sex. need i say more.

it's a gift to be simple, it's a gift to be free | aurora-centric, m - aurora is so normal. so normal. the high writing this fic gave me. oooough. good shit.

it's the sweetest in the middle | blue/declan, e - blue disrespects declan's time. by fucking him. at an event.

nothing in the shadows but the shadow hands | kavinsky-centric, m - rip kavinsky you would've loved the dreamer trilogy.

on concupiscence and other lesser forms of being | niall/reader, e - YOU'RE WELCOME

once upon a dream | gangsey but adam-centric, t - what if adam had a sword? also: im SO SORRY this isn't finished yet but im awful at writing gansey. i have the whole thing plotted out it's just. skill issue.

remembered | gangsey, g - the gang being besties.

smoke alarms, smoke alarms | declan-centric, t - a very declan childhood.

solipsism falsified | ronan-centric via jordeclan, t - ronan gets so horny he almost breaks out of the sweetmetal sea.

some things are best left repressed | declan-centric, g - a very declan childhood THE SEQUEL.

we're all falling into a deep oblivion | gansey/blue/declan, e - blue and gansey disrespect declan's time. by fucking him. at work.

without a me there is no you | mór/aurora, e - milfy clone fucking. need i say more.

final fantasy

in the garden sleeps a messenger (viii) | seifer&edea, t - i think seifer and edea had a weirdo fucked up thing going on and it was never properly explored. if there's one fic i could expand on it would be this one. i just don't have the voicing quite right. anyway. this one is dear to me.

bullet big enough to fucking kill the sun (xv) | prompto/ardyn, m - prompto didn't spend enough time in the anger phase of his grief and i was like. what if he did? just a little bit. as a treat.

piteous (xv) | gladio/prompto/ignis, e - i was so distressed by pitioss ruins i could only placate myself by imagining the guys fucking nasty in their endless boredom. hence.

oh no our stars got crossed (xv) | lunafreya/noctis, t - luna is so underdeveloped yet so compelling. wanted to play with her like a doll.

the atlas series

head games | callum/parisa, e - a snipey not quite hate sex competition for fun and profit.

[savage-rhi]

Mending Shadows // Chapter 14

Summary:

Y/N was a simple Scavenger of Lucis, until meeting a deadly blow at the hands of an infected creature. At the crossroads of death, they are found by Niflheim’s cryptic Chancellor with his own agenda. Now bonded to Ardyn Izunia, and tossed into the world of Niflheim, Y/N struggles to cope with their new life as an Imperial Icon all the while battling their feelings toward their fate and that of Ardyn’s.

Click here to read on AO3

The festivities of the Imperial Founding Ceremony were well underway. Streets leading toward the palace were closed down, and an endless line of cars and people were back to back and bumper to bumper. Loud orchestrate music pooled out of the palace’s large entry doors, beckoning warm bodies to enter into the dwelling to participate.  The grand hall was filled to the brim with people. Most hailing from the richer provinces within Niflheim, though on this day, commoners were allowed to mingle within reason. 

The atmosphere was a blur of chatter, the sound of feet scuffing against carpet, jewelry jiggling to the rhythm of it’s owners body, and bouts of laughter from those who hadn’t a care in the world except for whatever affairs were about to run amok this evening. The war and strife between Niflheim and Lucis might as well had been a bad dream. 

Ardyn peered through the large crowd that had gathered into imperial palace. He was leaning against the banister to the grand staircase where Y/N would be coming from, and already was nursing a glass of red wine. Once finished, he gestured for a server to come by and fetch the empty container. He looked up at the grand clock that was across the hall and glared. Y/N should’ve been here by now, and he began to wonder what the hold up was. 

In the distance, Ardyn could see Emperor Aldercapt, imperial councilmen, and the Tenebraenan Ambassadors all deep in the throes of conversation. Ardyn was thankful he didn’t have to entertain the guests for the night. He always considered his job to be half leader and half jester; for it was usually he who had to charm the crowds that Aldercapt wished to connect with. It seemed on this founding day, the old man had found some spirit he had been lacking, or perhaps he had finally drank enough alcohol to make himself entertaining. Either case, Ardyn felt fortunate he wasn’t right at the Emperors side, for he didn’t need to be scolded about what had become of the Lucian guest. 

Crossing his arms and legs, Ardyn looked ahead. There was an endless sea of bodies, of people vying for power, wealth, and connection. As much as he tried to tune out his ways as a healer, Ardyn felt a plethora of emotions coming off every person that arrived to the gala. The scourge didn’t help with the sensation, and further amplified the knots in his stomach. His fingers dug into his clothes, and he bit the inside of his lip. 

“Chancellor,” Verstael’s crackled voice broke Ardyn out of the spell he was in and smiled. 

“Verstael,” Ardyn mused, purposefully refusing to address him formally. That earned a huff from Chief Besithia as the old man chuckled. 

“You seem rather tense my friend,” Verstael commented. “Is your Lucian companion alright?” 

“I’m beginning to wonder that myself,” Ardyn murmured. “I haven’t heard word of them.” 

“Perhaps they got cold feet,” Verstael suggested with a smirk. 

Ardyn was about to say something witty to counter Verstael’s jab, but he stopped himself when suddenly half of the crowd went silent. Their gazes were turned to Ardyn’s direction. He furrowed his brows, wondering why everyone was staring his way until out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure standing at the top of the staircase. The bated breaths of many clamored in his ears. 

Ardyn caught Verstael’s shocked expression while he turned around. He smirked briefly at the old man being speechless, before his eyes peered up. The mischievous smile Ardyn wore began to fade little by little while his eyes widened then blinked. The last of his thoughts, and even the haunting voices of the scourge in his body ceased. The only noise he could comprehend was the sound of his own pulse.

There were no words to describe how Y/N looked. If Ardyn had anything, it would’ve been alluring. The outfit Y/N picked out complimented both their personality, and their physicality down to a dangerous T, and he found himself hypnotized much like everybody else. 

“Perhaps not,” Ardyn quietly said to Verstael’s previous remark, as his lips managed to form into a proud smile. 

Just breathe… Y/N said to themself on repeat. They couldn’t remember a time in their life in which they were surrounded by so many people in a singular spot. They felt like a plump seal surrounded by an ocean of sharks, paddling through with caution to find sanctuary, while the predators awaited them to make one noise of distress to enact a feeding frenzy. Y/N was frozen in place while their eyes guardedly met each and every pair that stared back. 

I can’t do this…I can’t do this… Y/N could feel their breath quicken until the sight of Ardyn had them pause. The smile he wore, and the softness of his gaze had their heartbeat slow down. While the upper class Imperials had been gawking at the sight of a Lucian in the flesh, Ardyn was looking upon Y/N like a work of art; admiring how the canvas decorated itself. At least, that was the comfort Y/N told themself. 

That’s when Ardyn broke out of his trance, quietly climbed the stairs, and offered his hand to Y/N. 

No going back… There was a moment of hesitation in Y/N’s features as they gazed at Ardyn’s fingers then met his eyes. The soft amber glow of his hues and the faint nod he offered was enough reassurance that the worst of the night would be over with. 

Y/N placed their right hand into Ardyn’s palm, and his fingers entrapped them. They felt their arm rise with Ardyn’s as he stood tall at their side. With his free hand, he took his hat off and put it toward his chest, and in unison Y/N and Ardyn performed the Emperor’s Bow; the highest custom any could give to an audience and to Aldercapt himself aside from falling to one’s knees. 

After holding position for a few seconds, Ardyn and Y/N slowly rose back up. The encatction was complete, and a roar of applause errupted throughout the grand hall. 

“It would seem you arrived,” Ardyn murmured quietly, offering a small grin toward Y/N before he turned his attention back to the crowd. 

“What happens now?” Y/N whispered toward Ardyn. They could see Ardyn smirk from the corner of his mouth, and wondered if it was wise to have asked him that. 

“We will descend once the cheers die down, for now, just soak it in.” 

Y/N felt him gently squeeze their hand against his, and his thumb combed over the goosebumps that littered the dorsal side of Y/N’s palm. 

“You’re trembling,” Ardyn murmured. 

“I’m scared shitless.” Y/N admitted. The snort Ardyn let out nearly made them want to shoot a glare in his direction. “There’s so many people here.” 

“Do you know what I do to curb such ill feelings?” 

“I can’t say that I do.” Y/N breathed, noting the mischievous glint in Ardyn’s eye. 

“I picture everyone I meet at these events stark naked.”

It took much will power on Y/N’s end not to crack up from Ardyn’s advice. He too seemed to be challenged at keeping a straight face. 

“Pray tell how that advice works?” 

“It’s quite simple,” Ardyn mused. “Underneath all the glamour, the dresses, the suits, is nothing but sacks of meat with a conscience. They may be of higher breeding than you, but you’re human as they are, and most importantly…” 

“Yes?” The way Ardyn’s voice drifted had Y/N’s pulse in their throat, wondering if they had made a mistake without knowing. It wasn’t until he turned his head and looked at them with a sort of reverence did they ease. 

“You belong in my company.” 

The five words were so feather light, that Y/N could’ve sworn that Ardyn’s fingertips gently glided over their skin and cupped their face. His voice felt like an embrace with an intimacy that only the dearest of the friends would give. Through the fog of warmth, a part of Y/N felt hurt when they could no longer gaze over Ardyn as he took the lead guiding them through the shores and into the sea of gowns, dresses, and formal attire. 

Coming to the bottom of the staircase, Y/N stood at Ardyn’s side in front of a balding older man. The first thing that popped out to Y/N, was his steely gaze. Though he smiled big, his eyes foretold he was feeling anything other than jolly. Given how unkempt his white beard was, it was obvious the years hadn’t been kind to him. 

“Chief Besithia!” Ardyn exclaimed with pride before he respectfully gestured to his guest. “May I formally present Y/N Y/L/N to yours truly?” 

This is the guy who makes my medication…? Y/N was stunned. Ardyn had talked a great deal about Verstael, yet Y/N imagined him looking different. They also reminded themself too of what Ardyn forewarned during etiquette lessons; despite his age, Chief Besithia was formidable. This was the man who was responsible for the birth of magitek soldiers. Caution and confidence was needed when dealing with him. 

“What an absolute treat ,” Verstael slyly remarked, shaking Y/N from their thoughts. He gently took hold of Y/N’s free hand, and bowed his head to their knuckles before letting go. “I’ve heard so much about you from Chancellor Izunia, but never once did he mention how enchanting you look. I must say the gods are smiling upon me for my eyes to be bearing witness to a Lucian such as yourself.” 

“You honor me,” Y/N replied, trying not to sound too timid. They caught the quick glare Ardyn shot at his associate, and the faint smirk Verstael gave in turn. “I’ve been wanting to give you my thanks for a long time now. The medication for my illness has been helping.” 

“That’s what I love to hear!” Verstael’s voice croaked. Y/N mentally pat themself on the back for shifting the conversation. “Perhaps when you are more integrated, the Chancellor would be so kind as to bring you for a tour of Gralea’s research facility. You’d be the first Lucian to ever gaze upon the full might of the empires labor.” 

“You honor me yet again,” Y/N offered a smile at Verstael’s amused chuckle. His eyes seemed to have softened, encouraging Y/N to put some of their formal language skills to the test. “However, I believe I should leave this arrangement to the Chancellor’s discretion. I don’t want to overstep where I stand.” 

Ardyn gently squeezed Y/N’s hand. They swallowed a small lump in their throat, worried they might’ve screwed up.

“What wise words for one of your kind,” Verstael chortled. His eyes peered up at Ardyn as he gave a head bow to his peer. “You chose well, Chancellor.” 

“Don’t I always?” Ardyn chuckled. 

“Aye, I can agree there.” Verstael mused and glanced between both Y/N and Ardyn. “I will let both you young lots pass through. After all, quite a number of Imperials would love to hear Y/N’s recount of their fearless tale.” 

“Chief,” Ardyn gave a nod. “A pleasure as always! I shall see you tomorrow in the labs.” 

Though Ardyn gave no indication he was in a hurry, Y/N could sense his demeanor shift for the briefest of seconds after they had left Verstael. It seemed Verstael had struck some kind of nerve within Ardyn, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what it could’ve been. The old man’s words didn’t help the sinking feeling Y/N felt. 

One of your kind… Y/N repeated in mind. It was one thing to be warned that this type of language would be quite common among high Imperial rank, but another to hear it face to face. 

“Is he always like that?” Y/N spoke up, both curious and not wanting to think further on the prejudice they had just faced. 

“Like what?” Ardyn chuckled. 

“Creepy.” 

“You should see him on his good days,” Ardyn huffed. He offered a small smirk, and his disposition changed, now appearing more like his usual self. “Alas, Verstael has the tendency to be, shall we say, obvious .” 

“Did I screw up back there with him?” Y/N whispered solemnly.

“Actually, you did quite well.” Ardyn’s lowered voice crept into Y/N’s ears as he finally paused in his steps, letting himself and Y/N gaze over the crowd for a moment. “If you can handle Verstael, then you’ll have no issue with the rest of the flock.” 

“I’m not sure that’s as comforting as you’re making it out to be,” Y/N couldn’t help but jest with sarcasm. “Am I going to be seeing the Emperor next?” 

“No,” Ardyn impassively remarked. “You won’t be having an audience with him this night.” 

“What?” Y/N made a face, taken aback. 

“It’s a good thing,” Ardyn reassured, then grimaced when he caught himself. “In...some ways it’s a good thing I suppose.” 

“Can you speak in laymen’s terms?” Y/N sighed. 

Ardyn laughed. “If you were paying attention to our lessons in manner, you’d know that unless you're invited into the Emperors circle by his very hand, it would be considered intrusive and quite insulting to approach him.” 

“And how is it a good thing that he passes over me?” 

“As I’ve said, he utterly despises Lucians. I could tell Verstael’s words pierced your heart to some degree. Aldercapt won’t show any mercy toward you, regardless of my vouch for your character.” 

“Oh…”

“Chin up,” Ardyn smiled at Y/N. “We’ve got this.” 

As Ardyn led the way, Y/N felt both nervous as ever and confident. The two feelings intertwined in a dance that could’ve gone on forever while Y/N took in the spectacle. The night was alive. Chandelier’s glimmeredd and bounced off an array of light, illuminating elegant clothes. Music from magnificent orchestras thrummed through bodies and pulsed against eardrums. Deep conversations came and went. The grand hall was filled with rich scents and smoke from candles that drowned reality. 

Now in the pulse of the ocean, Y/N truly felt like they were under water; in another world where they shouldn’t have dwelled, yet a siren had tempted their feet into the unknown. Holding onto Ardyn’s hand was Y/N’s only anchor they had keeping them from being cast off into the raging waters. It especially rang true when the crowds had come to gawk at the Lucian traveling at the Chancellor’s side. Like a horde of locusts eyeing a fine grain, they swarmed; asking numerous questions. Questions that sounded more like remarks scientists would make upon dissecting the corpse of a newly discovered animal. 

Although Y/N had rehearsed with Ardyn, they found themself stumbling at times, not prepared for the underhanded comments. The quirked eyebrows and snide remarks made Y/N’s nerves fire off, only to be quelled when Ardyn asserted himself and redirected. Y/N was grateful he did most of the talking, as were they grateful for the people who legitimately approached with curiosity and warm welcome. It seemed not every Imperial assumed the worst. 

“Chancellor,” An imperial guard approached Y/N and Ardyn after they finished wrapping up a conversation. He gave a respectful bow. 

“Yes?”

“Two ambassadors from Tenebrae and an envoy from Accordo wish to have an audience with you,” The imperial guard glanced at Y/N apologetically before continuing. “In private.” 

“Do they?” 

Ardyn wasn’t amused in the slightest. Y/N couldn’t tell if it was because he didn’t care for said company, or if he was upset at the guard for the obvious discrimination that wasn’t the poor blokes fault to begin with. 

“It’s okay,” Y/N reassured, giving a nod to the guard and met Ardyn’s furrowed brows. “I wanted to sample some drinks and food across the hall. That should give you plenty of time to talk.”

Ardyn took a step closer to Y/N, making sure the guard was out of earshot from their conversation. 

“Are you certain?” He whispered. 

“Yeah,” Y/N nodded. “I’ll be fine.” 

Ardyn didn’t appear to be confident about that, nonetheless, his obligations as Chancellor kicked in for he hummed in approval. He gently pulled up Y/N’s hand he had been holding onto, pressing his forehead to their knuckles much like Verstael had done earlier. Before completing the formality, he gave a faint kiss to Y/N’s fingers. 

“Don’t stray too far,” Ardyn murmured. He offered a smirk after seeing Y/N blush, then followed the guard after gesturing at him. 

Y/N watched as Ardyn disappeared into the depths of decorated bodies. Their mind dwelled on his affectionate act, knowing that wasn’t proper by any means, especially after he had thoroughly educated them on cordial etiquette.  Now alone, Y/N realized it wasn’t the time to ponder, for the sharks--the Imperials--could sense a disturbance along the current. 

Their eyes went to the grand imperial clock, seeing only an hour and a half had come and gone. Y/N sighed. It felt like an eternity of dealing with the same people, but with a different face. Nevertheless, they put their best foot forward and mingled. To say they were met with barriers was an understatement. Most of the upperclassmen ignored or blatantly told Y/N that they were preoccupied with another engagement. When Ardyn had begun preparing Y/N to be an Imperial Icon, they didn’t anticipate feeling so miniscule. So less than. 

As the night drew on, Y/N was beginning to regret letting Ardyn leave their side. Their confidence began to wane while they swirled wine around in their complimentary glass. Now near a pair of large glass windows leading to the balcony, Y/N fixated on the fireworks that were going off. The thundering booms did little to ease their nerves, but watching explosions was far better than dealing with people. 

“Quite beautiful are they not?” 

That voice… Y/N turned their head to the side, meeting Loqui’s grin. They never felt so delighted to see a familiar face, despite hardly knowing him. 

“I hate to say it, but Insomnia has you guys beat. Ours are bigger.” Y/N countered playfully, smiling when Loqui snorted and laughed. 

“We make up for it with better company!"

“Speak for yourself!” Y/N laughed. They took note of Loqui glancing about, his brow raising every so often. “What is it?” 

“Did the Chancellor really leave you alone?” 

“Yeah?” Y/N shrugged. 

“Does that bother you, considering this is…well, new?” 

“Somewhat,” Y/N admitted, furrowing their brows. “I’m surprised he wasn’t summoned away sooner to be honest with you.” 

Loqui nodded and smirked. “If it’s any consolation, he’s probably being interrogated just as badly as you’ve been.”  

“Pardon?” 

“Well,” Loqui made a face, rubbing the back of his neck. Y/N took this moment to glance over his attire for the evening. The rich imperial colors contrasted well with his military decorations. Y/N stopped when Loqui cleared his throat. 

“It’s not everyday the Chancellor has someone at his arm,” Loqui began. “My father told me Chancellor Izunia has been struggling with opposing nations trying to sway public opinion negatively about his lack of familiars. Your presence is sure to put out some of those fires.” 

“Why would people care about that?” Y/N asked. 

“Well, he’s a public figure,” Loqui furrowed his brows, trying to think of his words carefully. “Most public figures, especially those in power, aren’t…quirky like Chancellor Izunia. When you mix that with having a mysterious aura, people get nosy.” 

“And are you one of those people, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong?” 

“Was that sarcasm?” Loqui grinned. 

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Y/N teased with a shrug.

“Y’know, something that would help me sleep tonight,” Loqui paused. He smiled big, offering his right hand to Y/N, giving a gentle flex with his fingers. “Is knowing I had the pleasure of dancing with you.” 

“I--” Y/N tucked a strand of hair behind their ear, eyes looking at his gloved palm. “Wouldn’t that damage your reputation, dancing with a Lucian and all?” 

Loqui chuckled as he shook his head reassuringly. “You’re an Imperial Icon now. You abandoned your old life in favor of the sanctuary our empire has gifted to you. It would honor me a great deal if I could take these first steps with you. Not to mention, I think this would look good in your favor image wise, but mostly…I just want to dance with you. That’s all.” 

There was no sign of insincerity on Loqui’s end. The cadence of his voice, and the pride he had in his eyes was enough to get Y/N to bite the bullet. Y/N glanced around before taking Loqui’s hand. His grip was firm yet gentle, and he led them to a large gathering of people dancing to the swaying tempo of the orchestra. 

“I forgot to mention I’m not that great of a dancer,” Y/N chuckled nervously when Loqui and they made it to the center floor. 

“I don’t exactly have nimble feet myself,” Loqui laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll lead you through the storm!” 

“Awfully poetic.” Y/N teased. 

“I’m not a mere army brute contrary to popular belief,” Loqui quipped while he guided Y/N’s free hand to his shoulder as they got into position. Once settled with his arm around Y/N’s waist did he finish his sentence. “You’re easy to talk to.” 

“You honor me.” 

“No, your presence honors me.” Loqui corrected. “For a Lucian, you’re alright.” 

Y/N suppressed a laugh, shaking their head before the world began to spin. A series of twists and turns soon took precedence while Loqui led Y/N through the dance. Y/N had come to find out quickly that Loqui’s movements were not the most elegant, but his body had an energy that made the experience pleasing. They both swayed with each other, twirling around other dance partners before meeting back again to restart the journey. It didn’t matter the puzzled looks other dancers gave, for Y/N and Loqui continued to move, laugh, and jest throughout. 

The grand hall became a whish of gold and shiny colors as bodies and dresses disappeared into the background. Even as many eyes lurked upon the spectacle, Y/N didn’t pay it any heed. Thoughts of their old life drifted away. The faces of those they had unintentionally condemned were elsewhere. Concerns for Ardyn and what he was preoccupied with were cast off. Not even the pain their muscles felt from the scourge could pull them out of this trance. Y/N was truly having fun and they didn’t want to come down from the clouds. 

From afar, Ardyn zeroed in on Loqui and Y/N. The Tenebrae ambassadors and the Accordo envoy were still conversing amongst each other, but he couldn’t hear them. His expression was one of indifference while his fingers squeezed around the stem of his wine glass so tight that he scarcely realized it had cracked. Post Chapter

[krisssssssy]

I saw your take on Ardyn's birthday placing him a Taurus. Any opinions on fandom sunshine child Prompto being born on October 25th. Making his sun sign a Scorpio?

I think he might have a secondary sign be Sagittarius. But given his codependency with Nox, maybe libra?

Idk what are your opinions?

Prompto 😭 So yeah, he definitely gives off having JUST a Scorpio sun (though he does have a little of like, a punk look to him, which feels Scorpio-inspired), and considering Sagittarius follows after, I do think having a few Sagittarius placements (or Libra) makes sense.

Especially if we consider how overly positive he is. Now, he could genuinely be a very positive person (which would be reflected in the Jupiter-ruled sign of Sag), but his tendency to hide his own past, his tougher emotions, and remain cheerful for the sake of the group dynamic - that feels more Libra.

ALSO. Being into photography does make more sense for someone with some Libra placements: Venus-ruled, more creative, and especially when you think about what photography is, which is often creating balance of light, dark, as well as balance with the objects that appear in the frame as well - Libra seems like a good zodiacal archetype that supports photography.

So Prompto would be a Scorpio sun, with either a Libra, Scorpio, or Sagittarius mercury, and then I believe Venus can only be up to two signs apart, so he's either a virgo, scorpio, libra, sag, or cap venus. I think Libra Venus makes a lot of sense. We also never see him get angry, like, considering his past and everything he's such a genuinely good person it makes me cry 😭 And the Libra Venus would also potentially bring up the codependency you mentioned.

I kind of think maybe his tendency to make silly jokes and bring levity to conversations is more of a Sagittarius mercury thing. And Scorpio as a sign is also a placement that tends to stay loyal to a few people, and Prompto seemed to latch onto Noctis pretty quickly when they were in school (in the brotherhood anime), and went to great lengths to secure their friendship (like losing weight, something he literally didn't have to do).

I also want to say, I like the idea of astrology existing in this world to color Prompto's personality, because he IS different from Besithia (and would have entirely different birthdays), they just share, really, a skill with technology, except Prompto's entire reason to use weapons is simply to assist his friends (more Libra things). Although being so friend-oriented does call Aquarius into question as well, but I think Libra as a sign has more of an interest in partnerships (i.e. Noctis being his best friend) versus Aquarius, which is more about the group dynamic as a whole.

Like let's say he's an Aries rising, which would be Aries in the 1st house, so giving him a more "muted "Aries nature, i.e maybe more impulsive, a little impatience, more childlike and innocent, and then that would be Libra in the 7th, so say Libra Venus in the 7th, and then a Scorpio sun in the 8th (an 8th house sun would be more "hidden" but also emphasize his loyalty, and willingness to risk his life for someone he is close to). Although then that would make him a Mars-ruled person, tho he is highly motivated...idk I haven't totally thought this through lmao, I just wanted Libra sitting in the 7th house, to emphasize his focus on partnerships/closeness, and that puts Aries in the 1st!

I haven't given much thought to the Chocobros astrological placements, except, I mean, Gladio is definitely an Aries with an Aries Mars lmao. And probably Aries mercury too, dude has NO tact.

I can't write anything more coherent about this than a ramble unfortunately lol. Although Prompto is my favorite character aside from Ardyn, so I have given some thought to this prior to your question.

[ermora]

Ardyn x Drunk Reader

Here I am again with another Ardyn x Reader post. Decided to go with a drunk reader on this one, Ardyn is still probably going to be OOC but hey, the Reader is drunk soooo, yeah. Please enjoy!

‐----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You downed another drink with ease as you spoke with your friends at the table you were sitting at for the Niflheim Christmas ball. You were invited to come here with a friend and you gladly accepted the invitation as you’d never been to a ball in the grand hall before and wanted to make a good impression on your friend as you’ve had your eyes on him for quite awhile. He wasn’t around right now though as he was called away to talk to Emperor Aldercapt about some important matters regarding the empire. You tried not to be disappointed by this as you had plenty of friends here already since they worked in the palace but it had been quite awhile since your friend left and you had now downed several drinks.

“Hey, y/n, you should slow down a bit as you’ve been drinking quite a bit ever since you got here” your one friend, Tanisha, stated, you gave her a polite smile.

“I’m fine, beshides, I’m enjoying myshelf” you slurred as you poured yourself another glass of wine.

“I don’t think the Chancellor will be happy if he comes back and sees you drunk though” your other friend, Zeliek, pointed out, you waved your hand dismissively at him.

“He’sh the one who left me here with you guysh while talking to the emperor sho he can blame himshelf if he gets back to the table” you countered with a hint of frustration in your tone.

“You can’t blame him either as he’s the Chancellor of Niflheim which makes him a very busy man” Tanisha shot back.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know he’sh a busy guy but he’sh the one who invited me” you mumbled.

“I didn’t quite catch that y/n” Zeliek noted, you went to repeat what you said but the Chancellor came up to the table and sat down beside you.

“My apologies for that y/n the emperor took up a fair bit more of my time than I would have liked” Ardyn apologized.

“It’sh okay, I’ve jusht been hanging out with my friendsh here” you slurred as you downed the glass of wine in your hand. Ardyn let out a sigh and as you reached for the bottle of wine to pour yourself another drink, Ardyn quickly snatched it and put it to where you couldn’t reach it.

“It seems like I took far too long as you’re drunk” Ardyn noted in an unamused tone.

“We did try to convince her to slow down Chancellor, but… she stubbornly refused to listen to us” Zeliek said, you shrugged.

“I alsho told you guysh that I wash just enjoying myshelf” you quickly put in, feeling a bit annoyed that this conversation was happening in front of you.

“This isn’t exactly the best way to enjoy yourself at a party like this though” Tanisha pointed out, you rolled your eyes. Does it really matter how you enjoy yourself?

“Allow me to handle this as it is my fault for being away a bit too long” Ardyn stated as he stood back up before you could say anything else.

“What do you mean by that Chancellor?” Zeliek asked, Ardyn said nothing as he held out his right hand to you, you stared at it and then looked at him.

“Come with me y/n” Ardyn said in a low tone of voice, you didn’t reach out and take his hand.

“I’m not going anywhere with you right now” you mumbled in a rather short tone, Ardyn sighed and lowered his hand.

“You’re leaving me no choice but to carry you out then” Ardyn noted, you snorted while Zeliek and Tanisha stared wide eyed.

“You wouldn’t dare it” you spat, Ardyn smirked.

“Oh, but I do dare it as your current state is from my lack of attentiveness towards you” Ardyn countered as he leaned down and picked you up bridal style from the chair you were in. You let out an undignified squeak as his strength was more than you expected as you weren’t exactly the lightest person here and your arms went around Ardyn’s neck as you felt like you were going to fall as the room spun a little bit.

“Thatsh not fair… put me down” you demanded in a low voice so as not to attract anymore attention than you have as the people at the tables around you, were looking over curiously to see what was going on.

“Only once we are away from here” Ardyn stated and then left the hall with you in his arms, you crossed yours arms and felt a bit conflicted. On one hand Ardyn just ruined your fun time drinking but on the other hand, his attention was now on you.

“You really are shomething elshe right now, you left me to drink and then jusht take me away from my friendsh” you finally slurred after a few moments of silence.

“My apologies y/n, it was truly not my intention to leave you for so long” Ardyn said, you took a deep breath.

“You already apologized, jusht… put me down” you noted, Ardyn shook his head.

“Absolutely not, you are in no condition to be walking, besides, carrying you gives me a reason to tell people you are unwell and I am taking you home” Ardyn stated, you felt stunned.

“Didn’t you want to shtay?” you asked, Ardyn chuckled.

“As much as I like the spotlight, I dislike parties like this where I am unable to enjoy myself because I need to work instead of spending time with the ones I invite” Ardyn replied, you thought about his words carefully. Ardyn is quite a bit different than you initially thought and it feels nice to know that he wasn’t exactly fond of parties like this.

“I shee” you mumbled, silence fell between you two again and soon, Ardyn had walked you into an office.

“This is my office, it should be quiet enough here for us to enjoy a few drinks together if you’d still like to drink a bit” Ardyn noted, breaking the silence as he put you onto a chair, went over to his desk and pulled out a bottle of wine and two glasses. You smiled at him, you never thought that Ardyn of all people would have alcohol in his office, let alone wine glasses.

“Ishn’t it a bad idea to keep alcohol in your office?” you asked.

“I don’t think it is, not when I need a drink before some meeting as they can be a bore fest, now would you like some more wine?” Ardyn asked.

“Yesh pleashe” you replied, Ardyn poured wine into the two glasses and handed you one, you took it and you clinked glasses together before downing your drinks. Ardyn refilled the glasses and the two of you began to chat about life, it wasn’t until the bottle of wine was finished and you felt truly ill that you wanted to do nothing more than sleep it all off.

“Are you alright y/n?” Ardyn asked as you struggled to even sit upright at this point.

“I-I think I should head out and get home sho that I can go to bed” you truthfully replied, Ardyn smiled as he stood up from the chair he was in and came over to you.

“Allow me to take you home then” Ardyn offered, you shook your head.

“You’ve been drinking too” you pointed out, Ardyn’s smile grew.

“Oh my dear sweet little bird, alcohol hardly phases someone like me” Ardyn shot back, you went to protest but Ardyn leaned down and silenced you and your thoughts with a brief kiss. Your mind reeled from this and you were certain that this wasn’t quite real, when Ardyn pulled away you felt a sense of longing.

“Ardyn.. I… you…” you mumbled, unable to form a proper sentence.

“Allow me to take you home now” Ardyn stated, you nodded your response and Ardyn picked you up bridal style once again and he carried you out of his office. As he carried you down the halls of the palace you rested your head against his chest and let your eyes close. Tonight was totally worth it and you’ll treasure it for the days to come.

[itsgeecheebitch]

Until Darkness Descends

CHAPTER: 32

RATING: Explicit

MAIN PAIR: Ardyn Izunia x Reader

SEC PAIR: Gladiolus Amicitia x Reader

         You squinted from the harsh light beaming down from the sky as you emerged from the cave. It was also hot, thawing the ice from your bones and making you forget about the past 24 hours you spent in icy darkness. 

         The rush of the waterfall was a welcoming sound and you watched as the sun skipped across the river. One by one, you and the boys climbed down the slippery rocks, their surfaces bleached white from the ferocious sun in the sky. Judging from its position in the heavens it had to be early morning. 

          Once you all reached the ground, Prompto stretched like a cat lounging in the heat of the day. An enthusiastic smile pulled his lips ear to ear. “Ah, the sun never felt so good!” He exclaimed. “I never wanna leave it again.”

           Gladiolus chuckled, his hand finding its place in yours. “Don't get too comfortable. We just may have to go back to another cave”

              “Hopefully not too soon.” Prompto said.

               “Honestly.” Noctis sighed. “I could kill for a bath.”

               “And food.” The blond sauntered over to Ignis. “By the way, Iggy, what’s for breakfast?”

           The man in question faltered for a moment, taken off guard. “Well, if a haven is nearby I could whip up some pancakes for everyone”.

                “Woohoo, Iggy, you're the best!”

            The boys carried on as they walked ahead of you and Gladiolus. You took the time to examine your current state, the shock of red that sullied your tattered attire. There was no way you could return to the city looking like this. You would surely give the people a scare with the amount of dried blood that covered you head to toe. 

                 “Ugh, I’m covered head to toe in blood.” You said as you pinched your white shirt. Flakes of red fell from your top as you released the garment. “Everyone is going to think I just survived a massacre.”

                  “There's a change of clothes in the trunk. I'll stand guard while you change.”

              A tortured groan snapped you out of your conversation. Noctis fell to his knees while gripping his head. Alarmed, you and the others rushed to his side. Just as quickly as his distress started, it ended. 

             Prompto laid a hand on his shoulder just as the prince opened his eyes. “Noct, are you okay, buddy?”

            He blinked a few times, his deep blue eyes clouded with confusion. “W-what did I…where was that?”

                    “What is it?” Gladiolus stepped forward.

                    “A hole in the ground…something burning. The meteor?”

                    “You saw the disk of Cauthess?” Ignis whispered in disbelief.

            He had a vision? As far as you knew the prince never had one before, and accompanied by a headache as well. Goosebumps blazed across your arms, it reminded you too much of your predicament. “What does this even mean?”

                     “I dunno, but it feels like I’m being called there.” He said.  

            But why the disk of cauthess? That’s when your mind went back to the black book you found. The black star, was it referring to the meteor? It wasn’t coincidental that Noctis would have a vision around the same time you discovered that story. The sight of the meteor was important somehow, you could feel it in your bones. You guys needed to go there however you could.

            Gladiolus seemed to read your mind since he said, “maybe we should take a closer look at this disk.” 

                    “Then look no further than the outlook. We could use the viewer thingies” Prompto suggested.

            Ignis sighed, “it's no substitute for being onsite, but it would be a start. Let's see what we can glean of Noct's condition once we arrive.”    

           You and your friends made your way back to the regalia. After changing clothes, you were back on the road. A rock song you’ve never heard before blasted through the speakers, competing with the boys’ conversation about pancakes. But your mind wasn’t on food at the moment, your belly was as dead as a salted lake. 

            Your mind kept going back to the book, the tales it conjured, and its possible connection to the disk. If the book was true, then ,what you believe was an illness, fell from the sky. What you couldn’t understand was why it was compared to sin? You’ve read the history books, you knew this land was ravaged by disease a thousand times before the meteor impact, but never were they ever viewed as an act of the gods, or the heavens. 

           That also leads you to your next question, the question about this Adagium. Was that the name of the illness? You shook your head. Adagium was used as a noun, meaning it’s an entity of some sorts, and it's somehow connected to the illness that came with the meteor. That also reminds you…

                     “Oh I almost forgot, I found something while I was separated from you guys.” Green glittery light poured from your hand as you conjured the book. All of your friends’ eyes were on it the moment it materialized in your hand.

                     “What is that?” Gladiolus’ voice punctured through the music bleeding from the speakers.

           Ignis lowered the volume as you spoke. “It’s a book I found.” You handed it to your boyfriend. You addressed the others while he flipped through the pages. “I found it in some hidden room in the cave. It looked like it had been abandoned so I doubt anyone's going to miss-”

                       “Wait!” Prompto’s panicked voice cut your monologue short. He turned fully in his seat, his aquatic eyes blazing with fearful excitement. “ You're telling me you took something from a creepy daemon infested tomb??! What if it's cursed?? You're not supposed to take anything from a tomb!”

                         “Technically the book didn't come from the tomb. It came from a room in a cave that happened to also hold a tomb, so I doubt we're going to get struck by lightning if we read it.” Gladiolus reasoned. 

                         “So what’s so interesting about it?” Noctis asked.

                         “It talked about this thing, referred to as the black star, that fell out of the sky. It changed people, the writer said it revealed people's sins on their skin, whatever that means, but I think it was an illness they mistaken for divine judgment.”

                         “Sounds pretty medieval.” Prompto said, brushing his blond hair away from his face.

          Just as you were about to say more, Gladiolus interjected. “This doesn't look like Lucian. Is this a foreign language?” He asked as he flipped to another readable block of text.

          Prompto’s bright eyes lit up with intrigue. “I didn’t know you understood multiple languages, Aera.”

                          “I don't, but I was able to read it somehow.”

          The car tires screeched as the care slammed to a halt. The rapid momentum change nearly flung you out of your seat. Ignis turned away from the road, his eyes narrowed on the book in Gladiolus’ hands. “Allow me to have a look at it.” He flipped through the pages the moment the book was placed in his hands. For a moment the only sound filling the silence was the whisper of pages being flipped and the low tune humming through the speakers.

          After a few minutes, he turned to you again with an inquisitive glint in his eyes. “This is Proto-Lucian, a dead language dating back 2,000 years. This dialect has not been used for a millenia so how were you able to read it?”

          The air shifted and all eyes were on you again. You don’t know why the revelation slapped you into a stupor. You had a feeling the book was old, it was written as though the writer lived through the events as they were unfolding. But to hear Ignis say it felt like he dropped a massive pile of questions on your lap, ones you didn’t think to sort through before. 

           It did alarm you for a moment that you were able to understand a language you’ve never encountered before, or did you? Questions unfurled like a rose in bloom in your head. You had no answers to any of them. 

            With nothing else to say, you shrugged your shoulders. An air of foreboding wrapped around you as you said, “I don’t know…”

[holly-fixation]

Okay I've had an OC idea in my head for a while and if anyone's interested I'll put it to paper:

In the same AU as Until it's Useful, Safer Sephiroth's daughter is pulled into Dissidia/Opera Omnia alone. She appears on Spiritus's side with all the villains, including the actual Sephiroth. Spiritus explains that he chose powerful warriors for his side of the battle. Various game villains are arguing about how to take down the heroes and either break out of this world or control it. She is silent for most of the discussion, watching everyone carefully as they reveal their pasts in order to defend their positions. After Sephiroth joins in with a plan of controlling this world, it finally clicks.

"You're all failures." It wasn't an insult. It was simply a fact, a realization. Some villains tried to counter her argument, especially because she was completely new. She parried each answer with their own words. Spiritus chose absolute failures. Though Spiritus claimed to be a god of this world and that the fastest path to victory was small teams, she refused to join anyone that failed in their world's quest. In her eyes, only Kefka (FFVI) and technically Ardyn (FFXV) were worth her time.

Finally Sephiroth questions who she thinks she is. Her glowing red eyes met him.

She explains that He won in her world because he didn't waste his greatness toying with the humans by deliberately using Supernovas that would keep them alive. So he won the battle and the Meteor struck the city. He found her in a bunker by following the string of Reunion.

Sephiroth believes the story is nonsense. Why would he bother keeping a child?

She counters saying in her world, he couldn't understand Mother directly. And without keeping her, he never would have, even though it was only a partial truth. She also told him to keep his Jenova quiet.

His eyes widened.

So the teams are chosen. Sephiroth with Exdeath just like the actual game. Nova with Ardyn and Kefka. She quickly grows board of their efforts to defeat Materia's warriors, answering their questions and instantly slaughtering any monster they request her aid with. They're far beneath her skill. Her time is much better spent trying to find a way out. This world's dying life-force is not helping her cause. Neither is Jenova. She can only hear half of the conversation between Sephiroth and Jenova. It annoys her, a cheap failure compared to the one she knew but lost the connection to in this world. She occasionally speaks to her, usually to point out flaws in Her plan.

She discovers the Shinryu, the dragon that's eating this world's existence, and decides she'll destroy two birds with one stone. First she'll kill the creature to protect this world to get the heroes off her back, then she'll absorb its life essence and hopefully gain enough power to break out of this world without risking its existence and raising red flags on both sides of the gods' war.

Of course, being the successful Sephiroth's daughter, she knows Supernova. The issue is that supernova cuts a hole to another dimension with said event could temporarily destabilize the world she was currently forced to stand on. The moment she began fighting the dragon, the world struggled to hold together and both heroes and villains went to the epicenter to stop it before the world collapsed.

The dragon is far stronger than she expected, and it required a transformation. She did not have time for the massive intermediate form of rebirth. She becomes a Safer and, with one final supernova, takes down the dragon. Both she and the dragon collapse, her wing wrapping around her as her form reverts, her legs and right arm nearly destroyed from the reckless transformation. She absorbs every last drop of energy created from their battle, but the dragon's life force is far to weak to heal her. Or more accurately, far different than the Lifestreams and World Crystals or any life cycle she knew in her home.

The heroes find her struggling on the ground, and upon seeing the wing, Cloud gives into terribly dark thoughts. Aerith may not be in this world, but he could make Sephiroth suffer using this woman. Despite Nova's statements otherwise, Cloud approaches. She immediately lifts a magical barrier. This doesn't stop Cloud from attacking nor does it stop his teammates from failing to talk him out of it.

Sephiroth, who initially ignored the world tremors, is nearly brought to his knees by the pull of Reunion. At first he's confused, angry, but the logic hits him like a truck.

That stupid alternate daughter of his is in danger, and this pull is her way of calling for help. Whether intentional or not it didn't matter to him. He would make it stop. No one will ever have this kind of power over him.

But when he finds Cloud at the epicenter, his judgement could wait. He defeats Cloud's friends before calling Cloud to the defeated and suffering teammates. Cloud has no choice but to abandon his resolve, and Sephiroth uses a torsion to pull both himself and the useless girl away. Maybe after interrogating her, he can decide whether or not she deserved to live.

.

...on second thought, I'll just write this anyway. I still have more ideas and this post is getting pretty long 😆

[sk8theinfinitysims4-leavan]

SK8 ~Back to routine~ (July 26th until July 29th 2021)

After Kaoru and Kojiro and Carla's honeymoon and arrival back in Okinawa, they have to get back to the routine. And this is how they start it:

Kaoru, Kojiro and Ainosuke thoughtful, maybe they're thinking about everything that will come from now on?

Kaoru goes to watch TV, Ainosuke and Kojiro are left alone in the room.

These 3 guys should be working, Kaoru answering their messages, Kojiro looking at the restaurant accounts and Ainosuke should be looking at how his opponents are doing, but none of them are working.

Ainosuke fights against greenhouse pests

Later Ainosuke has a "big fight" with a gnome, they seem to be staring at each other, who will win this fight?

Meanwhile on the outside, Langa-kun is painting a very basic picture...

Miya is spending time with Kojiro, and consulting about his food and weight.

Reki at the computer playing a game, while waiting for Langa-kun

A short break for Koyomi

Somnus looks at Ainosuke who passes in front of him with that bearing he has and thinks: Is he from royalty? If so, which royal family is he from? 💢 Somnus Lucis Caleum from Final Fantsy XV Episode Ardyn

Dancing!

Kojiro has a serious conversation with Reki in the bathroom.

Ainosuke "taconeando" in the trash!!! Getting the stress out and letting people know he's happy! Taconear: Rhythmically moving the feet making noise with the heels on the floor.

And so much for the back to routine post. Reki, Langa, Miya and Koyomi are about to start their summer vacation and Reki's birthday is just around the corner! In the next post the continuation of the back to routine and almost the beginning of the summer vacations. Don't miss it!

LOVE AGAIN! 💗

SK8 MainStory:

Previous Post | First Post | Next Post

[blossom-adventures]

Kupo Con: Pom Central, Feb 24th & 25th 2024

Hey, everyone! It’s me, the elusive Blossom here with my post from KupoCon 2024!

My mum and I travelled down to Birmingham on Friday the 23rd of February, fully laden with cosplays for both Ardyn and Cloud it didn’t take long to get there by train and the walk to the hotel was short, as it was only across the road from the station. Once there we got settled, I unpacked my costumes and put them ready for the weekend, then I went downstairs and joined the attendees already hanging about in the bar.

It made me smile every time that I saw one of the guests arriving in the hotel lobby too, casually saying hello to David Menkin (Barnabas, FF16) as I got out the lift, or walking past John Eric Bentley (Barret, FFVIIR) having a long conversation with one of the artists who were attending

I reunited with friends that I’d met at Pom2 and met new ones that I’d missed last time, I traded Tripom (KupoCons series of trading cards, based on triple triad from the FF franchise) had drinks with friends, and had dinner and drinks at a restaurant called The Alchemist, then I headed back to my room at about half 10 for an early start on the Saturday.

An early start… I woke up at half 3 and didn’t get back to sleep 😆

We got up at 7 and went and had breakfast, I spotted David Menkin again at breakfast, as well as some of the Con staff, like Eric (the official photographer) who got some amazing pictures (honestly they’re incredible, they’re available on KupoCons FB page)

Then came the main convention, which was so fun! The queuing system worked so much better than it did at Pom2 which allowed me to meet the 4 attending guests; David, Lorraine, Christopher and Gideon (Barnabas, Charon and Gav from FF16 and Balthir from FF12 and Biggs from FFVIIR) they were all lovely and I was so happy I got chance to meet them all ☺️

Then I spent time catching up with friends, getting pictures, spending a ridiculous amount of money on official merch and artists merchandise, I’d saved up for this so damn it I was going to spend it all 😆

After the main event me and mum ventured out to get something to eat before making our way back to the hotel, we got in the lift with some other attendees and when we got out we saw Chris again and he asked if we were attending the evening party

Yes! I attended a party! I socialised… ME! I can barely believe it myself 😆 but I did and I had a great time!

Then came day 2, the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launch event which was just as good as the 1st day, I queued to meet the guests and managed to get there just before they were needed to go and do a panel, I met Caleb, Gideon again, John and Paul (Zack, Biggs, Barret and Cait Sith) who were all lovely, John repeated his actions from Pom2 and gave me a masquerade token for my Cloud cosplay, and he took the photo too because I couldn’t lean across the table because of the Buster Sword on my back, to which he replied “I’ve got you”

I had a lot of compliments about my sword, which really made my day! There was a Zack cosplayer, and a Cloud cosplayer that were really impressed with it (they had been following my progress on instagram) and my friend who printed the kit for me was really impressed with it too their compliments were so appreciated and I was so happy that they liked my cosplay and it made me feel proud that I had attempted it

Cloud was a cosplay of firsts; first prop, first attempt at armour, and first attempt styling a wig, I am so proud of it and to see so many people liked it really made me happy

[somnus-lucis-caelum]

That day had been cut short.

And it left Somnus with so many thoughts and emotions that it had made him feel empty and lonely watching Aerith walk away with her father. Yet these same thoughts did not allow him any kind of sleep. Circling his head like ravens over and again.

The next morning he was greeted by his father. An opportunity to talk. And yet he got told a lot more than Somnus wished. Of course Gilgamesh had reported to the King and Queen.

And of course his behaviour had consequences. Somnus was relegated to stay in his chambers ‘until the talks were over’. It wa shard to guess whether this punishment came to keep Aerith and him specifically apart… or whether they had simply decided that this would make him oblige more.

All the prince could do was cross his arms and glare at whomever dared to cross him these next days. Especially his brother, since Ardyn attempted another talk. But Somnus did not want to talk to him. He wanted… he did not know what he wanted. But if he could pick anyone to have a conversation with… surprisingly it would have been the Princess of the farmlands. He found himself wondering what she was doing, how she was doing, whether she shared the same predicament as he.  

Only on the third day was he allowed past the corridors of his immediate chambers again. And it was like taking a real breath for the first time in a long while.

Alas it was short-lived. Duty called. An assembly between the two families. An agreement had been found, apparently. And much to Somnus’ chagrin he could not ask any of the guards or servants what it was about. This would be the meeting where Aerith and he would be told. No one else. It somehow was like the walk to a scaffold – and yet Somnus did not know which option of the various scenarios he came up with would make him dread this truly.

Ironically it was the same hall that Aerith and he had eavesdropped on. Only, that this time there somehow miraculously were guards standing directly by the windows now.

The royals of either land stood a bit further down beyond the long table, where a balcony opened to the view of the sea. Walking in, Somnus’ eyes immediately travelled to the smaller figure standing a few steps away in front of them. Aerith, with her back turned to him. She was where he walked to – though he kept his distance, as court rules would demand. He could not avoid the glance to her, though, when he stepped up by her side. A myriad of questions in his eyes as he tried to read her face.

 “Somnus.”, his mother’s voice drew his attention ahead, though. It was just a little admonition, because then the word was given to his father – and to Queen Ifalna.

“We reached a conclusion in our arrangements and alliances. Lucis and the farmlands both are prosperous kingdoms that can not be lost to any outside threats. Our pasts make us heirs to similar beliefs and magic. It is our duty to join hands against forces that threaten our existences. Thus, Lucis offers –“

A sudden yell and door crashing open cut short whatever Lucis would bring to the table. Somnus could see his fathers’ irate eyes darting to where a guard had thrown open the heavy wooden doors to these halls. He still stood there, breathing heavily, with his own eyes full of fear.

“Your Majesty! My apologies… I- there was a Daemonsighting! In the forests and caves east to the town! At least three! The people are in a panic!”

Daemons. Somnus could feel the disbelief sinking into his bones. This was too close to the castle – to the town. Something like that had not happened in years, ever since he was a boy.

It was only a matter of moments until the King would have an answer, though. No doubt. Orders to exterminate this threat before it could take root. But when Somnus looked towards his father again, there was this one details that drew his attention away from the Lucian ruler. It was the way king Glenn’s head whipped around to Queen Ifalna, his hand grasping her arm and he only uttered one thing.

“Roran is there.”

Aerith watched as Somnus deflated with a sigh and sat upon the grass alongside her. He didn't seem upset, but she had burdened him with quite a big question. One that he answered openly, in turn she listened earnestly.

Her head tilted a little when he claimed his father needed to appear that way. She didn't think him an unkind man, but she would be a liar if she claimed that she did not fear him. How could she not? Her fate and the fate of her kingdom rested with him.

"Really?" she reacted more than she asked. That was a piece of history she hadn't fully learned. It was her understanding that the Izunia family rose above other noble houses and led the land of the astrals to an age of peace. Or at least as much peace as possible, the astrals no longer made the land tremble with their might, and the people were unified as one kingdom. But... there was still a trouble, she had learned overnight. A sickness.

Her head dipped a little when he spoke of power. All of the northern kingdoms were ruled over by people without magic — currently.

She wanted to question Somnus. To ask him whether his own powers felt like a blessing, or a burden. Her own hands flexed a little as she considered that very same question. She did not like being treated differently because she could heal... and it was something she had been born with. Not a blessing that was thrust upon her.

Her hands closed up to fists that she cradled against her chest. His father had helped him find calm in the chaos. There was a small piece of her that could relate. "I never thought him a monster." Aerith softly replied, smiling a little as her own memories stretched back. "Thankyou, Somnus. I think I understand better now. It... might be difficult to believe, but I think our fathers are more similar than they would freely admit." That was probably an act of treason to say such a thing.

"I hope that I have years to meet that side of him." It was a thought given voice that she should have kept to herself. "Oh!" Aerith sat a little straighter as she realised. That had been casually dark. "What I meant to say was... it would be nice to one day meet that side of him."

Just as she wished the ground to split open and swallow her up, a familiar voice called her name. "Aerith!"

"Dad?" she hesitantly called back in a questioning kind of tone, pushing up to stand.

"Where in the heavens — get down here!" The last place he seemed to expect her to sprout from was behind a bush. It seemed to deflate all the hot air radiating from him as he let out a huff. "Oh. You know you shouldn't —" and there was the Prince too. Fucking fantastic. "Wait. Were you.." He squinted a little, looked between his daughter and the Prince. ".. actually I don't want to know. If I thought I saw my daughter's face where it should not have been," he gestured to the windows up high, "I must have been sorely mistaken if she were in the company of someone much more responsible than that."

Oh. They were absolutely busted. "Must have been the wind." she offered.

"Uh-huh." Glenn wrapped an arm around his daughter, like a naughty child who needed to be guided along. "Come, we're going back to the villa. Have a good evening, Somnus."

And just like that they were being pulled apart. She had her questions to answer with her father, and he had the mighty judgement of Gilgamesh to face. They had only formed fragments of a plan together, but perhaps speaking with each of their own parents would be enough...

Aerith was the one who tossed and turned throughout the night. It ate away at her, not knowing how Somnus' side in their parent-discussions had gone down. The morning couldn't come fast enough. She seemed to be in a rush from the moment it arrived, hurrying with her hair, hurrying into her clothes, even tried to hurry through breakfast despite the watchful looks of her father who sighed a deep breath when she questioned when they would be attending the palace.

"Your father and I have decided that you can remain here today." Ifalna cut in.

"What?!" Aerith practically rattled the table while Roran cheered.

Both parents shared a look.

[koritea]

#14, 15 and 17 for the oc ask, specifically for your ffxv ocs Feidi, Calor and Chrysalis, whoever fits each question best 😉

14. How important is friendship to your OC? Do they prefer to have one or two close friends or a large group of casual friends? Or do they prefer their own company over that of others?

Fidei is terribly family oriented. The people that he considers family aren't related by blood, but instead a big group of orphans/adopted kids living under one roof. He, along with his brother Salus and their siblings/friends take care of roughly ten younger kids, each of with Fidei would give his life to protect.

Friends fall under a similar category, but it's a little more complicated. It is very difficult to become friends with Fidei as he's very closed off and avoids too much social interaction. The first person he'd consider a friend after years of self isolation would be Prompto, after he pestered them persistently for a month straight.

This of course led to him being brought into the chocobros group (and eventually the polyship roadtrip).

15. What places hold significant meaning or memories for your OC? Do they have a positive or negative association with those places?

Chrysalis holds a particular fondness for an old, withered tree out in the middle of a forest. She used to meet Ardyn there to exchange knowledge about the scourge and assist him with healing the sick. She misses those long conversations, and mourns the beast her friend has turned into.

17. Does your OC have an enemy? What happened between them? Is it mutual or one-sided? Is it petty or serious? Is one party seeking revenge? Does one person want the other dead or are they content to hate them from afar? 

Calor doesn't really do enemies. They're very good at regulating their own emotions and even just irritating them is difficult. You can certainly get on her bad side, but the only people Calor would consider true enemies are combatants in battle, and even then it's not really personal.

[stonecoldmeme]

❛  no one heard our screams for a long time.  ❜

Quotes That Broke Me starters | accepting but VERY SLOW

Even he could admit, if asked, that the idea of him keeping regular, run-of-the-mill, boring and magic-free pistols on his person seemed a little bit dumb. He still had the ones he kept in the Armiger, and those never needed maintenance! Somehow. For some reason. He never really questioned it.

He supposed he could probably keep others in there, but he just. He was never sure if he'd always be able to pull them out. Or if they'd have that same "magical maintenance" thing going on in the first place. Maybe they'd just disappear forever, he didn't know.

He did know that giving his hands something to do was important when he was hearing about Ardyn's past. Anything the man said, basically. Slide, disassemble. Wipe, oil, wipe, check the slide. Reassemble. Click, click, click. Helped him think, ironically enough. Helped him listen without reacting too much. That got... harder.

"Pretty sure they're still bouncing around, actually." He didn't look up, voice easily kept casual. A little distant. Like it was any other conversation. "The screams. I've heard them in caverns. In my dreams, sometimes." He didn't--

He didn't want to think about that.