daemonized | EL NYSA IC INBOX.

I know well my own foolishness. You don’t have to tell me.

[ He is the sort of fool who believes in the good of others, who believes that no one is not worth saving. Who would fling himself in front of an immortal man to shield him. ]

What I don’t understand is you. You lied to me to, what? Prolong the inevitable? Now here I am, telling you that this is not the end you thought it to be, and you’re still pushing.

[Another assessment from X'rhun that is deadly accurate. Get too close to his core, and Ardyn knows not how to react, other than to push away. He hates being vulnerable, he always wants to be in control, in all things -- in information revealed, in leading a conversation to and fro. In his own level of comfort, which is beginning to wane in this little visit.]

Yes. To prolong the inevitable. We had fun, didn't we? Our quaint little chats, our daring adventures together. There was amusement to be found in that, I admit.

[Leave it to Ardyn to water it down into something as impersonal as "amusement".]

You may not see it, X'rhun, but it is an end. Because I ask you this -- if you want to continue to garner friendship between us, what is it that you expect from me?

[He cannot deliver it, he's sure.]

[ X’rhun’s brows knit together for a moment, ears pricking curiously. To hear it called “amusement” and little more stings a bit, truth be told, but he doubts that’s the whole of it. Another push. Another attempt at distance. ]

Just what do you think I would expect of you? I’m not asking you to move mountains for me, Ardyn. Was there something wrong with what we were doing before?

Edited 2018-03-08 03:41 (UTC)

No. Not wrong, exactly.

[There was nothing wrong with exploring, with talking, with simply being overly dramatic together. In truth, Ardyn had enjoyed it -- though he is many things, not all of them flattering, one thing that had not changed in a couple thousand years has been his sense of humor. He could indulge in it, in a shred of inanity, around X'rhun. It was a fine sort of distraction at the time.

But now-]

But knowing who I am, what I've done, you'll treat me the same as before? Do not think that'll be the case. There will be expectation from you now, I think, that I be better than what I am. I do not have it in me to give that.

[He wonders if he even has a willingness to.]

To say that I don’t look at you differently now would be a lie, but by that same token, I have had an inkling of what you are for a while now. You left me plenty of pieces, and I had but to put them together.

[ The sum of those parts, the whole that he is now faced with has surpassed his own expectations, true, but that does not mean it was wholly a surprise, either. And he has also been piecing together what few scattered bits he can in this conversation, as well. The things that Ardyn isn’t saying.

If he truly wanted an end to this… whatever it is, he’d have ended it himself instead of waiting for X’rhun to sever those ties.

He heaves a sigh, lifting his mug to his lips finally, only to discover the contents has gone lukewarm and he wrinkles his nose, setting it aside. ]

I have heard what I need to hear, from you and Prompto both, and I have made my choice, stubborn and foolish as it may be. From where I am, whatever it is that we have built remains standing. Should it crumble into dust, you may have the pleasure of saying “I told you so”.

Until then, I will call you friend.

[The frown only deepens. Only Ardyn Izunia would practically scowl at the idea of a friend remaining steadfast and refusing to give up on him so easily. But he can only see it as a waste of time, now that the truth is out. A way of just delaying the inevitable further.

He's sure that he'll be saying "I told you so" sooner rather than later.

Still, to Ardyn's credit, he gives no voice to these thoughts. If X'rhun wanted to try, then let him try. He would not change himself for the sake of someone else, no matter how pleasurable their company might be.]

Very well. If that is the path you choose to take. Simply do not be surprised when you discover it only leads directly off of a high cliff.

[A muscle in his jaw twitches, but he already knows what he wishes to say next.]

Did you mention my healing you to Prompto?

[He doesn't wish to really speak of it, but this is something he feels like he needs to know.]

[ It seems to X’rhun that this was the most peaceful way to end the conversation – he dares not push too much for fear that Ardyn will only push back harder. Better to admit to playing the fool than to call Ardyn out for wanting him to make the first move. ]

I mentioned that you had helped me, though I did not go into detail. Your tale remains yours to tell or to keep, as you see fit.

...Good.

[That is a tale that he is not ready to share with hardly anyone, though if Prompto knew how to coax and prod in just the right way, Ardyn might be inclined to speak of it. But he doubts the boy can utilize words like tools, in the same manner that he can.]

The boy has- [He pauses, wondering if he wants to even say this much, be continues anyway.] He's been particularly stubborn about talk of humanity and the like. I do not need you to share that tale with him just so he can make implications all day long.

Implications that you are something other than what you are, you mean?

[ Ardyn has already made it quite clear that he would change for no one, and he’s aware that Prompto can sometimes wield words with all the grace of a brick to the face, so he’s not too surprised to learn that Ardyn finds it bothersome. ]

Rest assured, I don’t intend to go blabbing about you to everyone I know. I assume these things were shared with me in confidence, and I will keep to that.

Exactly that.

[Wielding words with the grace of a brick to the face is right. Prompto often just comes out and says what's on his mind, so different than Ardyn, who picks and chooses at them carefully.]

And in that case, then I suppose there's nothing more to say on the matter. I should let you return to having some time to yourself. You look like you could use the rest.

That bad, am I?

[ He gives a small smile, but it’s a weary thing. ]

Very well, then. Thank you for hearing me out, at the very least.

I wouldn't call it bad. Just an unfortunate side-effect of mortality.

[And with that, he rises to his feet, that usual smile on his face. Gone back to his default manner, it would appear.]

You know where to find me, X'rhun.

[And Ardyn will see himself out, unless otherwise interrupted.]

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