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[The faintest pause, though Ardyn does not allow it to linger overlong.]

Yes, they did.

[That hopeful promise that he's not forgotten, but finds it unlikely that it shall ever happen.]

They've filled many heads with grand promises, haven't they? Did they ask you the same?

They did indeed.

[ He cants his head at his friend, eyes on his expression. ]

What did you tell them?

Well... I said that I would accept. For what harm was there in indulging myself in wishful thinking?

[He shrugs, and looks at X'rhun. His expression is neutral, that curve of a smile still on his lips. The one that lacks any manner of sincerity.]

The worst that could happen? They cannot cure me, and I continue on living as I have. I saw no reason to deny them at the time.

[ Oh. He had expected another non-answer from Ardyn, as is his wont, but instead he gets a response that is incredibly telling. He had wondered where Ardyn stood on the matter of the darkness in his veins, whether he had fully accepted it as a part of him or wished it gone.

Now he has his answer, and once again, it lends credence to his line of thinking that Ardyn is not completely the monster he makes himself out to be. ]

Would that it could have come to pass. Now it looks as if no one will be getting anything they asked for, unless we can discern what happened here and find our wayward, space-faring friends.

[ “Friends.” ]

[X'rhun already knows so much about himself, he deems it pointless to not share what he wish would've been. Though he'll not be one to linger on the subject, so perhaps Ardyn's openness still only extends so far.]

And yet there is not even a trace of a hint of a clue. None that I have stumbled upon, at least.

[Though it was difficult to even know where to start, if one did wish to investigate.]

And so for the moment, I suppose that's all we can do -- to come up here and check on those who continue to sleep. Or to continually fall asleep.

[ It’s true, they have no idea where the Natha have gone or what may have happened, and still this all so very far above his head. How does one scour the vast openness of space for a person, or even a dozen people?

Gods, how he longs for a problem that he can face down with blade and magic, and not all this far-flung technology he barely understands. ]

“Continually”? How do you mean? Or, rather, who do you mean?

Hm, surely you remember him from Prompto's wedding?

[He gestures vaguely in the direction from which he came.]

Noctis. I believe this will be the third time he's gone into stasis -- not counting, of course, the one time from home.

[He grins wide at that, as if it were its own sort of inside joke.]

[ To be awake and then gone thrice over is almost crueler than having been in stasis the whole time. He wonders how Prompto must be faring in the wake of Noctis’ return to slumber – additionally, it does not escape his notice that Ardyn has kept tabs on the boy, either.

As one does with the person fated to end your very existence, he supposes. ]

Hold on, hold on. You mean to say he was in stasis on your world as well?

Indeed so. A long and lingering slumber, for ten years. Within the Crystal.

[Those ten long years of darkness, when Eos was crumbling to daemons and the Starscourge alike.]

To become stronger, finally, when he awoke.

[ Ah, it’s not hard to do the math on this one. Ardyn has already said that the Noctis of ten years ago was not ready. ]

So that he could face you at last, per the prophecy, yes?

[Observant as always, his friend.]

That's correct. Ten years of growing in power, courtesy of that wretched Crystal. Ten years until he could finally face me within Insomnia. But fate, as cruel as it often is, apparently had other plans for the both of us.

Though it kept the theme of sleeping, it would seem.

[ But of course. Ardyn so nicely laid everything out for him, after all. It’s not half as much a struggle to put the pieces together as it used to be. ]

Indeed. I wonder why he seems to go back and forth so much. Would you take me to him?

[ He assumes Ardyn knows right where to go. The man has his hang-ups, and he’s learning that this boy is definitely one of them. ]

If that's what you'd like, then of course.

[He'd be right; Noctis is indeed one of his many hang-ups, for the young man represents a means to his end. An unreachable one, even so, given the circumstances. But never let it be said that Ardyn wasn't the sort to ruminate on things until they grow rotten in his mind.]

Follow me.

[He'll lead him, then, down the aisles of the sleeping and frozen. Until they come upon a section of those from his home, and Noctis' pod is naturally among them.

He gestures at the sleeping boy's pod with something of a flourish.]

I present to you Noctis Lucis Caelum, crown prince of Lucis. Isn't he a rather unimpressive-looking creature?

[The introduction is of course unnecessary, but Ardyn is always one for a dramatic flair.]

[ That is really not the best thing to be said about anyone, Ardyn. We need to find you a new hobby.

X’rhun only met Noctis but briefly, at Alisaie and Prompto’s wedding. He had been so very glad for Prompto then, that he had a friend from his world there with him, but it seems it was not to last. At the very least, Prompto has Alisaie there will him to help him through his hurt. ]

Don’t be rude, Ardyn. I doubt you would cut a very impressive figure, either, were you frozen and sleeping.

Who's being rude? [Look at him!!! That skinny boy!!!]

I cut a more imposing figure compared to him, no matter if I'm awake or asleep and frozen.

[Which is not untrue, but Ardyn is also a little biased. There are a number of complicated emotions that exist when it comes to Noctis.]

With that hat? Oh, I very much think not.

[ It’s been too grim an afternoon… too grim a few days, even. When in doubt, resort to teasing. ]

I beg your pardon!

[Ardyn will of course roll with it, though days that are dark and grim don't appear to affect him in the same manner as most.]

I could wear ten of these hats, and be more imposing than most I meet.

[Ten of them!]

[ Ardyn pls. It gets a laugh out of him, in any case, the sound bouncing between the rows and rows of cold glass tubes. ]

My friend, there is not a soul in existence who could wear ten hats with any amount of dignity, even you.

Well, you've never seen me attempt to wear ten hats at once, X'rhun.

[Someone stop them.]

I guarantee that you'll be speechless. Absolutely brought to your knees by just how ineffably dignified I would be.

Ardyn, please. You would look a fool, and I would only be brought to my knees from how hard I’d be laughing. In fact, I daresay I would have no end of things to say about how ridiculous you look.

[ Sorry they’re having this conversation right in front of you, Noctis. Be glad you’re unconscious. ]

[Even asleep, there is undoubtedly some small part of Noctis' slumbering soul that is screaming out in ferocious agony right now.]

You wound me, X'rhun. But I still think you're wrong. Maybe I'll prove it to you someday.

[Yes, definitely ferocious agony.]

Please do give me advance warning so I can have my camera ready.

[ SORRY NOCTIS. At the very least he is able to break from the absurd conversation long enough to give the still form of the young man a glance, and a slight, respectful, nod of his head before he figures it’s best not to linger. He begins to move away, trusting that Ardyn will follow. ]

Is he the only one you keep tabs on up here or are there more?

There are more, of course, though my interests vacillate between them all.

[None as quite fixated upon as Noctis, for obvious reasons. He needn't explain that much.

Regardless, Ardyn does follow easily enough, only a step or two behind.]

Are you overcome by curiosity? Would you like to see a few?

[ X’rhun turns on his heel, walking backwards as he addresses his friend. ]

If you would be so kind as to introduce me, I wouldn’t say no.

Well. [He stops and disappears behind a row, going a different direction. Best follow him, for he calls out:] Right this way.

[The first he'll settle next to, if X'rhun follows as expected, is none other than the sleeping King Regis. Peaceful in expression, like all of those here sequestered into a pod, dreamless and unmoving. He is dressed in his kingly raiments, all done in various shades of black and dark grey; overall, an older gentleman with a regal bearing.]

This is an interesting one. Another of the royal line -- Noctis' father.

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