#writing for Ardyn

[seradyn]

Not me scrolling the Ardyn x reader tag because I’ve fallen back into his madness and seeing how absolutely DESOLATE it is 😭😭😭😭

[ertrunkenerwassergeist]

Remember that idea about Regis thinking Ardyn is his brother and derailing the peace talks? The one you definitely were not going to write?

Anyway, how's it doing?

*makes the sound of a dying engine*

It's going. Somehow. And slower than a snail. The muses dared to abandon me for a few months there and I was not happy about it. At all.

------

For the first time in years - maybe even decades - Ardyn did not know what to do. The only reason he kept a grin fixed on his face was pure habit. It was the kind of grin that made both Aldercapt and Besithia grind their teeth loud enough that he could hear it. It was amusing. Regis's reaction, however, was a strange kind of bemused worry.

Ardyn wanted to be angry about it. He really did. But instead something deep within him seemed to relax. Just the tiniest bit. It made him feel like he was about to fall apart. Was this another one of Bahamut's tortures?

"Apologies, Majesty. I was too engrossed with this truly marvellous meal, to catch your gestion. May I trouble you to repeat it?"

The Lord Shield shifted in his seat like he dearly wanted to say something, but held his tongue. The King must have given his trained dog instructions on how to behave beforehand. How... cute.

"No worries, Chancellor. Our cooks have simply outdone themselves this time." Regis gave Ardyn a smile that could have been bland but somehow wasn't. Ardyn didn't know what it was. "I was simply wondering how you have come to hold the position of Chancellor. There must be quite a story there."

Ardyn did not know how, but somehow the King managed to communicate a kind of earnest curiosity that made his stomach churn. He needed to know what the King thought he knew about the situation. The question was how to go about it.

He took another bite of whatever was on his plate. It tasted like stale ash.

[serotoninbetweenpages]

TBT to when I finished playing Prompto's DLC and a 10 year old asked me: "what did you get about that ending?" The scene was Prompto, rolling away after bidding goodbye to Aranea and then Ardyn appears.

I was confused, and I hadn't thought much of it since Ardyn, as natural, was a pain in the ass during the whole game, making his apparitions and narrating his monologues. So I went: "Well, idk, that Ardyn was there following Prompto the whole time, and he know's where he's going?"

THE 10 YEAR OLD LIL' DUDE GOES: "I think Ardyn was Aranea the whole time". AND WTF, THAT'S GENIOUS? I DID NOT THINK ABOUT THAT, HOW A SINGLE DECADE OLD BABY CAUGHT THAT AND NOT ME THAT I'M ALMOST 2 DECADES OLD?

[sparklecryptid]

Look, you say, This is just how it is, I am monster and you are a saint. I was to devour you from the very beginning.

Will you regret it?

A monster doesn't regret what he is, to regret is to die. I'm not like that other one. I don't regret the claws, the fangs, the blood drying on my teeth. What is there to regret? I did as nature dictated. I am acting on behalf of the gods.

You are a lamb and this is your altar.

I am a monster not a lamb, but if Iwas a lamb, what does that make you?

The shepherd. The butcher.

[nemo-in-wonderland]

The Bliss of the Fall

Well, your love is worse Worse than cigarettes Even if I had twenty in my hands Oh, babe, your touch, it hurts More than hangovers No, that bottle don't hold the same regret

And my mother says that you're bad for me Guess she never felt the high we're on right now And my father says I should run away But he don't know that I just don't know how

Well, if it's unhealthy then I don't give a damn 'Cause even if it kills me, I'll always take your hand It's unhealthy, they just don't understand And when they try to stop me, just know nobody can You're still gon' be my man

"Unhealthy" - Anne-Marie ft Shania Twain

It had been a twisted game of hide and seek, between them that night.

Ardyn had seen the change in his wife.

She was hunting him down, and the thought caused a smile of satisfaction that grew wider with each passing moment.

Even now, as he enjoyed his glass of champagne - the first of many little transgressions for that night, he hoped- his eyes were following his wife.

Luscinia would move discretely, pleasantly entertaining her fellow colleagues with her silver tongue, a social butterfly as she always was during diplomatic events. Ever charming and filled with zestful vivacity, she was busy chatting and entertaining friends of old that she hadn’t seen since their wedding day, her cheeks flaming.

But Ardyn knew that her burning skin was his doing.

He could see it in the way her fingertips constantly reached for a spot on her neck, exactly below the sensual curve of her jaw. Just a single, daring brush of his lips in that sweet spot, moments before they were to meet the other delegates of Lucis; it had been enough to provoke a reaction in her that he was not expecting at all.

He had felt her shivering, the soft gasp that she had tried to strangle in her throat.

But it was her eyes that had given away that, this time, the shivering wasn’t out of uncomfortableness, but out of pure craving. Those eyes - the same colour of the sky at sunset- shining with desire, almost feverish

He knew, because he had felt the same warmth flare up in his loins at that sight, a blazing inferno in his stomach at the possibility that finally she might want him with the same voracity he wanted her.

Ardyn narrowed his golden gaze, smirking when he saw her excusing herself from the group of diplomats, trying to maintain her composure, but betrayed by the way her eyes and the way they flickered around ever so slightly, scrutinizing the room, scanning every single face, looking for him.

“I won’t have you, until you come to me willingly,” he remembered whispering on their wedding night, his lips merely a breath away from hers. “I won’t take you until you want me, until I hear the plea leaving your lips. I won’t have you until you will beg me to.”

He could see the scene even now, clear as if it had happened the day before: Luscinia laid against the cozy pillows and soft blankets, bare on their bed, ready to undergo her wifely duties, determined as she was to fulfill her part of that Accord that was meant to keep Lucis - to keep her brother - safe from the Empire. The Accord that had been her brainchild.

And she was willing to do whatever she needed to fulfill her part.

But despite the voluptuous way her body curved and the more than revealing lingerie she had worn , Ardyn had seen an emptiness behind her eyes - an impenetrable wall- that had made him uneasy. A starless night where no light burned. A gelid void that seemed to extend to all her being. And Ardyn had hated that sight, more than he had cared to admit. He had thought himself a monster often, but not the kind of monster that would take a woman against her will. And most certainly, not to take his wife against her will.

Two years had passed since that day.

And finally, the tide had changed. And tonight he knew, as he put his hat back on and left his hidden spot , starting to whistle a tune that he knew Luscinia would hear even among the crowd, that her cold wall had finally melted away. And that the moment he had anticipated for - that he he had started to wish for - was about to come to him, straight into his own open arms, and of her own volition.

bloody hell, ARTWORK AND STORY, ALL AT THE SAME TIME???

I have no idea what possessed me to do this, BUT ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I DID IT, FML.

I MANAGED TO FINISH AN ARTWORK AND WRITE FOR THESE TWO GREMLINS THAT ARE *CONSTANTLY* IN MY BRAIN- (but gods, I am rust AF with writing. I need to write more).

SO. A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.

You know Kingsglaive? The scene of the night BEFORE the signing of the Treaty, when they are all celebrating on the rooftop??

Well, if you remember, there is some sort of Aquarium thingy on top of a staircase, and beneath it, a huge door that I headcanon would bring to the lower level of the acquarium thingy.

WELL.

That's PRECISELY where Luscinia and Ardyn decided to *finally* give in to the freaking lust and craving that had been building up in the past couple of years since their wedding.

Also, I like to imagine that, after getting married, Ardyn would start to borrow his wife neckscarf and wear it around his wrist, especially when they are separated and he cannot be with her.

Like, the man cares about her, but he knows she is a freaking black cat that won't give in that easily.

AND THAT SONG. THAT SONG IS JUST *PERFECT* FOR THEM. Bless my husband for suggesting it to me for them, because omg, it is so perfect.

AND OMG I CANNOT EVEN START TO SAY HOW HAPPY I AM WITH HOW THE ARTWORK TURNED OUT.

I know I am still learning, but I have to be honest, I am truly truly happy with how it turned out! All those little details, the way I managed to draw the boobieeeeeees!! AND THE SHADING OF THAT LEG. I peaked at that. I will never be able to colour anything this well.

Honestly, my poor eyes are burning for how long I worked on this, I need to truly rest a bit!

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I HOPE YOU WILL LIKE THIS!

--Nemo

[phoenixwithapencil]

Thinking on the color of the Lucii being black. Of course, this makes sense as a dev design choice. It looks cool. It looks a little hot topic. It’s a color of death. Of mourning.

But-

Did Somnus choose it? After killing his brother? Was he guilty? Or was it just to maintain his image? Or was it a facetious jab at Ardyn?

Why maintain it for 2,000 years? Holding onto the loss that no one remembers, scrubbed from history.

Was it just one more tradition? Don’t question the crystal, don’t question the gods, don’t question scrubbing the faces of the previous kings and queens from history and leaving only inhuman protectors in their wake, don’t question why Somnus chose black as the royal color

Or did Somnus choose it to contrast his brother as a statement? He didn’t agree with how to handle the scourge, he saw his brother as a traitor, he saw his brother as a roadblock to a throne rightfully his own. He condemned the people with scourge. He condemned his brother. In a game with overt light and darkness symbolism, Somnus was cloaked in darkness before he ever ascended the throne. It was Ardyn who wore white.

Either way, it was likely a vestige of Somnus and Ardyn. Either way, even though Somnus did his level best to erase Ardyn from history, their conflict left its mark in the darkness cloaking the Lucis Caelum line from Somnus down to Noctis

[impatient-traveler]

My favorite part was when he said

and then suffered all over the place

[savage-rhi]

...some other pink variant but within the magenta category

[lioma-gaming]

While Ardyn as a guest party member doesn't appear in group shots, he does have a pose for when Prompto's taking a shot of him! Pictures below are manual snaps, though.

"Oh, this wretched piece of rock over there?"

"Let this world-weary traveler assure you that it is nowhere near as impressive from up close as you think it would be."

[dayasan]

📷 Wall Amplifier, Sector B, City Centre, Crown City, Insomnia, Lucis

[flowers-of-tenebrae]

I love that dffoo threw all these ff characters in a pot and decided that Noctis' new best bud would be Noel 😄

It works! And I think it's a sweet dynamic. They're somewhat similar but actually different personality-wise. Noel, from my recollection, is more confident, honest and straightforward. He's not afraid to say it like it is (to people's faces), and I'd say he's louder and more talkative too. But he's still kind and considerate.

Noctis has cuter mannerisms imo because he has his timid, shy moments. 20yo Noct tries to play it cool and tends to hide his deep, innermost feelings. His kindness does shine through his spoiled or bratty prince persona (he feels more bratty in JP). They're both absolutely snarky and sassy though lol.

[headfullof-ideas]

Accidentally deleted this trying to deal with the two reblogs of my last post that i accidentally did trying to reblog it to a community, so here we go again. These out of context doodles are a little different, they were more practice for angles. The first one I’m not too happy with, but i guess that’s what practice is for. Most of these are for scenes that haven’t been written, or haven’t even been outlined yet. The one with Ardyn and Kari and the spear-arrow thing im not even sure will make the Final Cut, though I hope i can fit it in because the fight it’s part of would be really fun to write, especially since it involves a lot of development between Ardyn and Kari

[krisssssssy]

Happy Easter to Jesus and also Ardyn - the evil Jesus

[slvrrseifier]

Ardyn Lucis Caelum/Izunia and.. why are you writing him that?

This post is related to Final Fantasy XV, fanfics/writing, and my personal opinion of how some people write Ardyn in their fics. If you do not like opinions, please scroll away and enjoy your day.

WARNING : this post will talk about/mention about SA (s*xual assault). Please read carefully or scroll away.

Let's start with the basics

1. LSS (long story short) : Ardyn Lucis Caelum, Somnus' brother, was a man blessed with the power of healing and was supposed to serve as the First King of Lucis, chosen by the Crystal the Lucis Caelums protect. When Somnus heard of this he was jealous, causing him to attack his brother only for Aera, Ardyns lover, to take the stab for him. Somnus took the throne and Ardyn was casted into the shadows, erased from history, hate for his brother growing as he was left alone for many years. He then awakened years after, found by Verstael Besithia.

2. What's my problem?

It's well known that Ardyn is a villain who has a reasonable crash out because of Somnus, his literal brother who he loved dearly, who also killed Aera. He's a villain so of course he's doing bad things all around the world, which includes helping Niflheim or basically making Noctis and his friends crash out as well.

My problem is that some people think Ardyn would r#pe someone, or S@ someone when he absolutely would not. He is a man who was condemned by his brother and practically nearly everyone, he would kill, he would taunt but never S@ someone. It genuinely annoys me when people write him like this, when he would never do that. He is a VILLAIN, not a assaulter. Hes more hell-bent on finishing his goal than S@'ing someone.

3. Opinion

Please be mindful that this is just my opinion. It affects nothing and it sure as hell doesn't affect canon or anything.

People can have their own interpretation of Ardyn but interpreting/portraying him as someone who would S@ a person is absolutely not it. And the unfortunate victims to this are Noctis, Prompto and Ignis.

[writermich18]

FFXV Writing Prompt

Ardyn has not heard his brother speak since they were kids. He communicated through gestures, written words, and signs he made up.

'Swords need no voice.' Ardyn stares, heart breaking, at the words Somnus had written in his journal over and over again. The ink spilled across the pages and their ripped state. The almost frantic, tear-stained words on the page.

Who told him that? Who taught him that?

Why had Ardyn never noticed? Why had it taken him (stealing) borrowing Somnus's journal for him to learn why, to question why?

[nemo-of-house-hamartia]

IT'S A DANGEROUS GAME

Prologue - The Accord

“At the touch of your hand, At the sound of your voice, At the moment your eyes meet mine,

I am losing my mind, I am losing control, Full of feelings I can't define.

It's a sin with no name, Like a tiger to tame,

And though no one's to blame

It's a crime and a shame

And the angels proclaim It's a dangerous game… It's a dangerous game.. Such a dangerous game…”

'It's a Dangerous Game"- Jekyll & Hyde

Luscinia cracked her eye open, hissing when a golden ray of sunlight coming from outside met her face.

She propped herself up on her elbows with a slow movement to look around the room, a cascade of her dark cobalt blue hair falling over one her face in a disorderly veil, her head throbbing with each pulse of her heart that, for some reason, was throbbing in her ears rather than her chest.

She shouldn’t have had all those Lestallum cocktails the night before. And she most definitely should have not accepted Libertus’ dare, damn him and his ability to get under her skin.

She knew that by accepting to play along, she was in for one hell of an hangover, the morning after, but she just couldn’t let him get away with all his idiotic insinuations about her and Nyx.

Didn’t matter that he was actually spot on in his thinking, for once in his life.

It was none of his business and that bet was still very much a matter of principle to her.

She never withdraw from a gamble. Never. Even if that meant waking up to a pounding headache, dryness in her throat and a grogginess that made her just want to put her phone on plane mode and hide in her bed for a whole week.

But, she thought, she didn’t have a whole week, not even if she wanted to.

And her last night of debauchery deserved to be celebrated in grand style.

Yeah. Her last night.

She turned her head -slowly, careful not to shake the bells that were already ringing incessantly in her skull- and the mouth of her stomach cramped almost painfully as she looked at the nightstand on her side of her bed.

Months and months of planning stood behind her, weighting on her like the sky on Atlas’ shoulders.

And after today, if all were to go according to her plan - and it had to go as she envisioned - she would have to forgo so much.

That was the way of the accord.

That was part of the price to pay, a price she herself had set up.

Rolling on her back with careful attention, she rubbed her eyes with all the intent of willing the grogginess away, when she suddenly felt a warm, callous hand caressing her cheek with tender care.

She turned just to see the young man lying in her bed, awake and looking at her with a warm twinkle in his blue eyes, accompanied by a mischievous smile on his lips.

“You are up, Sleeping Beauty,” Nyx murmured, his voice as soft as ever.

“Barely, and with every intention to go back to sleep, if this headache won’t kill me first.” she croaked back. ”Gods, I need a painkiller. How long have you been awake?”

“Long enough to discover that you snore whenever you are drunk,”

Luscinia snorted, giving a feeble slap to his bare shoulder.

“If it didn’t hurt so much, I would roll my eyes at you, Soldier Boy,”

Nyx laughed, dipping to catch her lips in a soft kiss.

“Want some coffee?” he murmured in between the kisses.

“Only if you make it. I won’t get out of this bed non even if Cor himself were to bust my door open and bring all the Crownsguard to drag me out of here, and sure as hell I won’t take the chance to just fall and make even more of a fool of myself more than I probably already did yesterday.” She murmured, expecting him to deny that something like that happened. When not a single word came from him, she turned to look at him, eyes wide. “Oh Gods, I did make a fool of myself yesterday, didn’t I?”

Nyx bit his lower lip, barely stifling a laughter.

“Does challenging every Kingsglaive at the the Chocobo’s Lounge to a duet at the Karaoke and fucking up all the lyrics count?”

“Fuck!” she hissed, wanting to hide her face in the pillow.

“You and Libertus did an “amazing” cover of “Love Shack”,”

“Bloody hell, I'm screwed”

“And when “YMCA” started, you managed to drag Tredd and Axis with you on the table,”

Luscinia muttered another curse, feeling her cheeks turning purple, as her brain started to work properly again and she was recalling all that had happened the previous night.

“I can’t help but feel that you are enjoying yourself thoroughly with this, Mr. Ulric,” she grumbled, poking his cheek as she tried to regain some composure.

Nyx chuckled at that, before speaking again.

“That's not even the best of it. In the end, I don’t know who cried more between you and Luche, with “My Heart Will Go On,””

Luscinia’s face blanched.

“Please, Nyx, tell me no one took a video,”

If her brother were to get his hand on any video of her drunk and singing all sort of songs - and badly at that, she was sure-, she would have to go directly to her father and ask to become an hermit.

Nyx bit his lip again, not even trying to hide his mirth, and Luscinia could not suppress a small shriek of frustration.

“Ok, that’s it! I won’t get out of this room ever again! Seal all the entrances of this apartment and LOCK ME IN!” she grumbled, covering her eyes with her bare arms.

But shame was not the only thing she wanted to hide. With each passing minute, sadness was starting to creep up, running its icy fingers to her throat with all the intention to grip to it mercilessly and choke her in her tears.

The morning was not even done yet, and she was already missing those moments with all her being.

“Drown everything, Cinna,” she thoughts, pursing her lips. “Drown everything.”

She heard Nyx chuckle again, his voice low in her ear and that felt like a jab to her heart.

Soft, fluttering kisses tickled her collarbone, following the line of her neck, his lips lingering on her pulse for a moment longer than normal before brushing her jaw with sensual sweetness.

“But, if it can be of consolation, you won the bet with Libertus,”

She gave him a small smile.

“Meager consolation. But I appreciate you tell him. Now I will never stop tormenting him with this.”

“That’s my girl,“ Nyx whispered between one kiss and the other. ”You know… your bet with Libertus got me thinking, yesterday night.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I know that when we started this whole arrangement together, you and I, we discussed with each other that we didn’t want any commitment, that what we are now would not go past this bedroom…but I wouldn’t mind cross the threshold with you and going “official”,”

“Official?” Luscinia asked, raising her arms to look at him, eyes wide. She didn’t like where the conversation was going. “What do you mean?”

“You and I, Luscinia…you know, making things official. Becoming more than just bedmates...becoming a couple. I think-“ he took a small deep breath, as if to find the right words. “I think I’m falling for you.”

Luscinia tensed at those words, her whole body turning rigid before she could stop herself. She was grateful for the darkness inside her room, the dusk dimming the fear that was written all over her face, because she realized that she was not able to put a mask of neutrality as she always did.

“You’d better not, Soldier Boy. Nothing good will come from that,” She just answered with a small nervous laughter. “I’m a difficult woman, and you know that with my work, I might disappear for months,” “ And nothing good would come from a broken woman that has sworn off love from her life. I am a broken empty cup,” she thought, lips quivering as she fended off memories that were coming uncalled for.

Nyx laughed, not catching the tension in her voice.

“What if I were not afraid by the challenge? What if we can make this work?”

Even in the sweet penumbra, she could see his gaze softening as he looked at her.

She could hear the hope in his voice.

“Oh No. No no no no,” she thought, pursing her lips, her jaw tensing to the point of pain. “He is serious.”

She felt her heart thundering in her chest at those words, blood flushing to her cheeks.

She had to call to all her strength of will to keep her breathing normal, to stop herself from allowing her thoughts to run wild.

He should have never said that.

It should have never happened.

It was supposed to be something simple, between them.

They had agreed to that simplicity when they had found themselves wrapped in each other’s carnal embrace in a secluded corner of the Kingsglaive’s Headquarters, drunk on the concupiscent desire that had been brewing in the deepest part of their bodies for months after their first meeting together; the same desire that was to be the only thread they should have allowed to connect one to the other, a passion of the senses not murked by any emotion, if not lust.

She realized that she was holding her breath, as she looked at him, her thoughts frenzying like sharks that had just smelled blood in water.

Please, don’t give me that look.

I want you.

I want-

But I can’t give more.

I don’t have anything more to give.

I am No One. Broken. Empty.

I belong to Insomnia.

You belong to someone that can give you all the love that you need, Nyx.

Not a broken woman.

She swallowed hard, letting out another nervous laughter.

“We are both too hangover to discuss about this. Let’s drink some coffee, and once we are both sober again - completely sober - we will see.” She murmured, giving him a small kiss on the nose before plopping back on the pillow.

Nyx gave her a long look, but this time, his expression was absolutely undecipherable. Without adding a word, Luscinia felt the man putting back his boxer and standing up, closing the door behind him as he found his way to the kitchen.

Left alone with her own thoughts, Luscinia realized that she was gripping to the dark satin sheets as if her all life depended on that graps. Releasing them, She took deep breaths, hoping that it would help clear her mind completely and would give chase to that pestiferous sadness that was so unwelcome.

She knew he was disappointed in her response, probably confused - or worse - resentful about her trying to evade his question with her lukewarm excuse -because she knew he knew damn well that her hangover was just an excuse to postpone that discourse.

They were friends. They had been friends for years, and bed companions for a period almost as long….why wasn’t it enough for him?

And more importantly, how did she not catch a hint that his feelings for her were growing stronger in his heart?

And what about her feelings?

Oh Gods, she thought. No. No. Stop now, Luscinia.

She turned rigid again, shutting her eyes and her mind door, before she were to start threading in waters she had no intention of even taking a peak.

Even if she had feelings for him - and she stop herself from thinking about, even before she could entertain the possibility - she would never act on them.

There was too much at stake, for too many.

The Accord.

The Accord was all that mattered now.

She wished she could explain to him, because she knew that he would understand then, bound by honour and loyalty just like she was.

But she couldn’t.

And she wouldn’t.

Secrecy was second nature to her, and the one rule she never -ever- failed to follow, no matter the personal costs.

Her father himself had ingrained it into her since a young age; It was all she had known since she began working for Lucis’ Intelligence.

And yet, she hated that she had hurt him.

She hated it with all her being.

The lump in her throat threatened to choke her again, as a tear rolled down her cheek, wetting the pillow.

Yes, she definitely still had too much alcohol in her body.

She never cried.

Never.

She bit her lip until she tasted her own blood, knowing that her physical pain would subjugate the ache in her tired heart.

Ding.

A muffled ringing sound came from her nightstand, catching her attention.

A text.

Taking one last deep breath, Luscinia dried her eyes, before turning her entire focus to the message that had just arrived. She stretched over the bed and opened a secret drawer on the side of the nightstand, where a burner phone was hidden from sight just beneath an old file.

No number.

She didn't needed it, though.

The context made perfectly clear who the sender was.

“I accept. I expect the signed document to be delivered to me by you - in person - in Altissia. You know where. Don’t take too long, Mrs Chancellor.”

Luscinia’s eyes widened at those words, her sentimental woes momentarily set aside as her head started to spin so fast she was grateful to be already lying on her bed.

Cold blood rushed to her temples, as fear and gratification melted into one bubble of emotions that left her both elated and absolutely terrified.

It was done.

Dear Gods, it was done.

It was over. …

Oh Gods, it was truly over now.

“Calm yourself, Cinna,” she murmured, patting her cheeks to get back to her senses. “There is still work to do,”

Her mind was a cauldron of thoughts, bubbling away, threatening to boil over if she didn’t compose herself. But she needed to calm down. She couldn’t allow herself to dwell on every single thought that was threatening to break her even more than she already felt broken, lingering dreams and wishes that, now she knew, she would do well to lock under key and never open ever again.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on what she always did whenever she felt like spiraling: she put herself in motion and redirected her attention to the work ahead.

Quick as a whip, she jumped off her bed, and started to recover her stockings and clean underwear, before rushing to her her wardrobe and produce a freshly ironed pinstriped dress out of it.

She needed to hurry.

Once she was completely dressed, she took the same burner phone, she dialed the first number that came up in her recently called.

“Come on, pick up, pick up, pick up,” she murmured, starting to pace the room while brushing the knots out of her hair.

“Pavus?”

Luscinia smiled hearing her codename.

“Yes, it’s me. Thalassa, listen well: the Hatter has answered. I need you to bring the documents up to the Penthouse for the Master to see them. It needs to happen no later than tonight.”

A short silence followed. For a moment Luscinia thought that Thalassa had hung up on her.

“Dear Gods, you truly did it.” she heard her whisper under her breath. “Are you...are you alright?"

“It doesn't matter how I am feeling, Thalassa. I need you to focus: clear his schedule and bring him the documents. The entire file. Send me a thrill once he is alone at the Penthouse and I will take care of the rest.”

“Copy that.”

The phone went silent once more.

Luscinia reread the text again and again, and each time she felt a cold shiver run up her back. She could almost hear his voice, pronouncing those words.

“Luscinia? Is everything alright?” she heard Nyx calling her. “I heard you talking at the phone,” She turned to look at the man, and her heart dropped, sitting on her stomach like a sack of bricks. There was something so endearing in having him standing at the door, mussed unbraided hair, a cup of freshly brewed coffee in each hand, as he looked at her with worried eyes.

If they were a couple, would he do that everyday?

Each day waking her up with a kiss, like a princess of the fairytale of old? Spending the mornings in bed together and share what happened to each other at work? Planning a life together?

Her stomach gripped with the same ferocity as before.

Focus, Luscinia.

Let it all go.

Leave it all behind.

It’s all over now.

“Yeah,” she whispered with a small smile, grateful that she was finally able to put her mask again. “Something came up at work and I’m needed at the Citadel.”

He nodded, his blue eyes turning sad.

“ 'Was kinda hoping we could spend the day together, today. But work is work,” he murmured, and with a melancholic smile, he offered her the warm mug. “You better drink this first, then. You’ll need the all the caffeine you can get,”

Luscinia barely managed to muster a feeble “thanks” as she took the coffee and drank it all in one go, uncaring that it burnt her tongue.

It was dark and bitter and strong as a slap across the face.

Altissia’s finest espresso, with just a dash of cinnamon and cloves that brought out the toasty flavour.

She looked at him, heart fluttering in her chest.

He always remembered how she liked her coffee.

He always remembered to put it in her favourite Moguri mug, the one with the broken pom pom.

Ever since she had told him the first time they had slept together.

Please, don’t do this to me, Nyx. She thought, trying to keep her lips from quivering.

Please.

I beg you.

“Will I see you again soon?” he asked, and Luscinia couldn’t ignore the hopeful tone in his voice.

She shook her head, offering another sad smile in return as an apology for breaking that hope.

“I don't know," she murmured in all earnest. "It might take me a few hours or all day, and if they decide to give me the assignment, it will take longer than that. You know how it is by now.”

He nodded, his face turning in a mask of solemnity.

He indeed knew.

“Go then. I wouldn’t want your superiors to give you some flak for being late. We will talk more about us-“ but he stopped himself, as if to ponder his next words. “We will talk again once you are back,”

Luscinia called upon herself all her considerable strength of will to maintain a neutral expression.

But it was too much even for her.

She brought one hand behind his neck, caressing his dark hair and tiptoeing, she planted a long sweet kiss on his cheek, uncaring about the bristles of his 5 O’clock. She kept her eyes shut, terrified that if she was to meet his gaze again, she would not be able to block the tears that were pounding behind her eyelids.

It was her silent apology for not having an answer for him.

Her silent “thank you” for all that he had done for her in all those years.

Her silent goodbye to all that could have been.

“Take care, Soldier Boy, ” she whispered against his skin, inhaling his cologne once last time before dashing outside the door, without looking back.

Be safe.

*****

“Come on, come on, come on,” Luscinia grumbled, tapping her foot with impatience as the elevator sped up toward the last floors of the Citadel.

She had waited all day for Thalassa’s call to arrive, all day spent pacing around town like a ghost, trying to find a distraction among all the memories that were weaved in all the places where she had hang out through out all her life, ever since she had joined the Royal family.

She had wandered aimlessly, letting her feet bring her around without stopping anywhere for more than a few minutes, terrified that the call of home might overwhelm her and make regret her decisions.

Terrified that, if she were to catch even a glimpse of something that might remind her of Nyx, she might be tempted to turn on her heels and go back to her apartment, running from her duties.

No.

Never.

“The Accord is all that matters. Insomnia is all that matters. It’s all that will matter.” she war repeating to herself even now, muttering under her breath, in her solitary ride in the elevator.

The small chime of the elevator’s bell brought her focus back on the task in front of her. She was at the last floor.

The Penthouse.

“It’s showtime.” she murmured.

She squared her shoulders and straightened her back, tilting her chin with certitude. Her face smoothed, almost transforming under her iron will as she canceled all traces of any sentiment she might have hold earlier, molding instead a mask of absolute inscrutability.

Taking a deep breath - the deepest one she could muster - she pressed the button that would bring her to the King.

The doors opened in front of her with a silent swish, welcoming her to the antechamber where armchair of soft leather were disposed elegantly for the visitors that were to wait before being received by His Majesty.

It was completely empty now, but she had expected that much, considering the time of the evening.

“Sire?” Luscinia called, her voice echoing against the tall wall of the King’s studio.

A small pang of melancholy came knocking on her heart’s doors as she found her way to the main room where the King held his private correspondence.

It had been years since she last entered that studio, years since she had to rely a news of that magnitude. She always left the reports in Thalassa’s safe hands, the only one she trusted to deliver any document that needed discretion and confidentiality, knowing that she would do the job quick and well.

Not this time.

The Accord was her brainchild.

This time, it fell on her to speak with the King.

She saw him, seated at his desk as per usual whenever his duty required him to partake in bureaucratic affairs. His hands were clasped together against his lips, his green eyes focused on the thick report sitting in front him as he combed through the sentences with meticulous attention.

Luscinia narrowed her eyes, and immediately recognized the file that the King was studying.

She felt her heart flutter, as a cold realization -a final awareness that her plan had come to its final stage- seeped through her vein like ice.

She had moved all the pieces, prepared the chessboard with painstaking finesse.

It was now or never.

He had to agree to the Accord.

He had to.

“All that staring and concentrating will give you more wrinkles than a crumpled piece of paper, Sire,” she said, raising her voice just enough to catch his attention.

King Regis looked up from the papers, the tense mask around his eyes not leaving him despite Luscinia’s attempt to bring some levity to the almost saturnine atmosphere.

He didn’t move, didn’t do anything to make her understand his mood of thoughts. He just kept staring at her with such keen attention, she felt as if he could see right to her bones.

Finally, he waved his hand, silently signaling her to approach.

Luscinia did as she was told, still not daring to utter a word until the King spoke first.

For a moment, she saw a shift in the man’s posture: his shoulders slumped just a little, his back not as straight as it had been a few seconds earlier, almost as if another weight had been placed on his already fatigued shoulders.

He was tired, she could see it in every little movement he made.

The King sighed, as if to confirm Luscinia’s intuition. He still held his silence, but now his weary eyes were looking at the young woman with resignation.

Luscinia returned the look with a neutral one of her own, almost feigning ignorance as to why she had been summoned.

But she knew why he had called upon her and she would not be the one to start that conversation.

Another minute ticked by, in the perfect still air of the studio.

Then, the King finally spoke, breaking the silence.

“What have you done, child?”

His voice, despite the tiredness of its tone, had a hidden sharpness in its words.

Was it anger, for having acted in the darkness? Resentment, for having chosen without consulting him first?

Or perhaps…was it worriment for his own blood?

Luscinia stood perfectly still, hand clasped behind her back, not allowing any emotion to trespass the barrier she had risen as she cleared her voice to respond with solemnity.

“What was needed for Insomnia and Lucis. I only had the welfare of this kingdom and the security of its citizens in mind, Sire. You yourself have imparted me with this lesson since you welcomed me to the Citadel. I am a Daughter of Insomnia and our Kingdom’s main Ambassador. My life’s only purpose is to serve the good people of this Kingdom by any mean necessary.”

Regis sighed, leaning against the back of his leather chair, bringing a hand over his eyes.

“What reason did you have to act in secret, going as far as to act behind your King’s back, without his knowledge?”

Luscinia maintained her air of neutrality, ignoring the sudden uneasiness that had started to crept into her chest.

“Despite having been advised the contrary -and believe me about this, Sire, I have been advised to not act as I did- I deemed secrecy necessary and acted accordingly. It was my own work, and the responsibility for it - for good or worse- is mine alone. I knew that you would have not…considered my point, if I were to come to you with this proposal. I needed time to gather enough evidences so that you could see the benefits we are to harvest, once you are to lend me your support.”

King Regis moved his hand from his eyes and raised his eyebrows, and gave the woman a long look.

“And whose support were you looking for, Cinna? The King…or your father?”

Luscinia pursed her lips, jaw tensing at the sound of her childhood nickname.

So, now he was wearing the Father’s mask.

She always found it was easier to deal with him as her King rather than her dad.

Much less complicated, with far less emotions involved and to deal with - something Luscinia always dreaded.

She let the question hang between them for moments that seemed to tick by as slow as hours.

In the end, she decided to play his game.

She unclasped her hands and slumped her shoulders ever so slightly, allowing her posture to relax. She even allowed her voice to turn softer - a daughter’s voice.

“Both. I need you to warrant me your support, Papa, both as my King and as my father. Did you read my report?”

Regis pursed his lips, brows furrowing as his attention was brought once more to the thick pile of documents sitting in front of him.

If Luscinia didn’t knew him any better, she could think that he looked almost forlorn.

“I did. In its entirety.” A sour smile graced his lips. “I must admit, Luscinia, I was impressed with how meticulous it was. It must have taken you weeks to gather all the data and verify their credibility.”

“Months,” she confessed in a whisper, rolling her eyes. “The Chancellor has the tendency to be erratic and hard to locate, when he puts his mind at it. He made my job much harder than it needed to be.”

Regis raised from his chair, helping himself with the cane that was always at his disposal, and slowly made his way toward Luscinia, his eyes never leaving hers.

Despite his stern expression, she could see something else hiding there as well: fear.

It was enough to take her aback: he had never showed fear to her. Not once.

“You are playing a dangerous game, Luscinia. The man seems to act like a fool, a buffoon strolling around without a purpose, but there is a reason he has been Chancellor for so long.” He murmured, allowing his worry to seep through his words. “Aldercapt relies on him in ways that extend way past his office’s duties.”

They exchanged a knowingly look.

“Then you know why I acted in secrecy and came to you when all that was needed was your signature to formalize this accord. The Empire is almost at our gate. It has devoured almost all of our territories. It’s planning to take over Insomnia as well, and they won’t stop until they do. I know you can keep the peace a while longer with the Wall-“ she stopped, her jaw tensing at the thought and its implications, trying to push the sadness down, locked away with all that was already under key in her heart. It was no time for sentimentalism. “-But regardless of this, Father, we need to act quickly. This could be the best compromise to at least stall the attack the Empire is planning and give us the time to actually work from the inside.”

Regis’ lips stretched in a wide smile, that hid none of his feelings for the stubborn woman in front of him. Sometimes it felt like looking in a mirror.

“Is that…a smile of pride, Sire?” Luscinia asked, amused.

“I have always been proud of you, daughter.” He murmured with kind voice. “ You have given me reasons aplenty. You know, perhaps…perhaps I should have been more forward and express my pride more openly. Maybe you would have had no reason to actually go behind my back to strike this agreement. However, I must admit that now my pride for you is overshadowed by a far greater concern for your own safety.”

The dark-haired woman tensed at his praise. She never knew how to respond to those affection, especially when that validation came from her father. While she never doubted his love, she was not always sure about his esteem toward her.

Hearing those words made her feel more more like an awkward adolescent rather than the self-assured woman she was.

So, she just cleared her voice, offering the King a somewhat embarrassed smile, redirecting the conversation on the matter at hand.

“Uh…No-no need to fret nor concern yourself over me, Father. I know what I am doing. Besides, I have been fending off for myself for as long as I can remember. You told me that it was the reason why you assigned me to Intelligence. I will get through this as well. We all be far safer and richer for it,”

The Kings frowned, his lips tightly pursed at her words.

“The Chancellor will never trust you, but will expect...the fulfilment of duties from you, may the Gods curse him a thousand times," he spat out the word as if they were poison in his mouth, and before he could stop himself, her wrapped his daughter in a hug. "You will be alone, constantly surveyed, all your correspondence monitored and possibly censored; Whenever you decide to travel, you will be followed around under the excuse of being escorted, and they will not allow you to be back to Insomnia alone - if they even will allow you to come back to us.” The King’s eyes filled with profound pain at the thought. “Cinna… you will be a prisoner in all but name. You will be a nightingale in a cage.”

Luscinia’s smile softened at his worry.

“You shouldn’t have read me that story so often as a child,” she joked, allowing herself to bring one hand to her father’s arm to comfort him. “You needn’t worry, Father. I haven’t earned being called “The Escapist” for nothing. Besides… I am not afraid of what they will do to me. I will fulfill my duties, whatever they might be. Considering what we know about their intention - their real intention - I just hope that this will help buy some time to you…and to Noctis,”

It was Regis’ turn to return the soft smile.

“You had been a good sister to your brother.”

She shrugged, shaking her head with sadness.

“Not good enough. If I could do more for him, I would. I truly would. But this is all I can do for him, to try and keep him safe. My gift to him. I will be the most loyal subject to him when he will become King, although I hope this won’t happen for a long time still. I will be his eyes and ears in the Empire. But until then, this is all I can do to protect my home and my family. Grant me the support needed to go through with this, Father.” She took his hands in hers, her gaze as resolute as it always was. “Trust in me.”

Regis sighed, his chest feeling constricted in a grip of guilt and worry, as he lowered his head.

Without another word, he walked back to his desk, each step feeling as heavy as if lead had been attached to his limbs, dragging him against the floor.

He sat back and took his pen, stopping his hand from the slight tremor that ran through his fingers.

He looked at his daughter one last time, and all he could see was the young child that would always come in his office and shyly asked to be read her bedtime stories, the child whose curious eyes would try and read whatever document he had on his desk because, all she wanted, was to help her papa with his homework.

How those years had flew by so fast, he still didn’t know.

How that bashfulness had transformed in steel resilience, he didn’t know either.

Yet it was all there, in the confident woman that stood tall and proud in front of him: a woman that loved her family to the point of sneak behind her father’s and king’s back, to strike an accord that would put chains to her hands.

He sighed one last time.

Then, with steady hand, he apposed his signature on the document in front of him, just beneath where his own daughter’s signature stood.

The official finalization of the Accord: Insomnia’s proposal of the arranged marriage between Chancelor Ardyn Izunia and Ambassador Luscinia Lucis Caelum, Daughter of Insomnia.

Bloody hell, I am done.

Don't ask me what happened or how I managed to finish the Prologue of this, because I myself am still wondering about it.

I just found myself thinking about my handsome bastard, and before I knew it, here I was pouring down word after word, while also making a moodboard banner for it .

But omg I am invested in this now.

INVESTED I SAY.

Well, I hope you will like this. <3

Sorry about the angst though.

It will happen again lololol.

--Nemo