what you're given, what you live in

[fatedfinality]

Darling, it finds a way to live in you

Who: Ardyn & You
What: A catch-all log for Ardyn and the various shit he's bound to get up to outside of events (so: quests, misc. interactions, etc.)
Where: All around Town
When: The last months of 2024

Warnings: Blanket warnings for suicidal ideation, self-harm tendencies, alcoholism, and others that will be specific to the threads and noted in the subject line!

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Comments

[heliographic]

Ardyn wanting to help just because he wants to will be the last thing Prompto ever jumps to, at least for now. Probably for a while. But the reality is that help is here, and succeeding now, and Prompto is going to push things as far as he damn well can to get out of here and get home. He is not about to let everything come to an end in some dank mine just for some weird sense of pride or stupidity. Pride isn't what keeps a guy alive in the end.

The fact he is a kind soul will definitely bite him in the ass someday. How he wants to believe in those who wish to do good. Even someone seen as an unforgivable monster, or a foe. That people can be good if they want to be. Probably.

He wants to roll his eyes and groan at the pun from Ardyn, even as he seamlessly responds to the blond's call with a well aimed frost attack. Instead, his goofiness decides to rear its head, a habit from when he would fight alongside his found family- his loves- back during what feels like another lifetime. He pumps a fist as the tentacle freezes and shatters. "Whoooo! Ice job!"

Oh, no, he totally just said that out loud. To Ardyn.

There's no time to dwell on that fun tidbit, not with the monster just another good shot away from being driven off, or perhaps killed. Prompto feels a burning start deep in his chest, and knows just what to do next. Focusing in, he unleashes a jet of green, misty breath that sizzles and burns as parts of it drip onto the ground below. Most of it splashes with a direct impact onto the creature, melting through flesh in a gruesome display. The thing shrieks again, flailing, tottering in place before it topples over and writhes about for the very last time. Then, stillness. Quiet.

"...Didn't get any kinda warning about things like that down here," Prompto comments, trying to slow his pounding heart. "I dunno if I wanna start guessing what motive you had for giving me a hand."

[fatedfinality]

That is, of course, completely valid and understandable that he wouldn't presume Ardyn's reason to be anything just. Even Ardyn is still a bit surprised. He has Jhank Troth's influence to thank, sure, but that was just a decision he made... mostly on his own. Strange. He isn't going to dwell on it though. Or rather, he can't afford to.

His brain does the equivalent of a record skip though at his stupid quip not only being acknowledged but returned in kind. He'd figured it would draw an eyeroll, groan, or some further affirmation that he's 'cringe.' (He knows better what that means now and, actually, might lean into it because it'd be funny.)

"And here I thought I was toxic," he says, to that interesting show of seemingly acidic breath. He does nudge the icy, poison-drenched creature with the edge of his foot. A little of the leather sizzles though and he draws it away and stomps it off before more damage can be done. "But I was in the area is all. Heard some poor soul screaming and went to investigate, then happened to find myself in a fight." That's all there is to it, he'll continue to swear by.

[heliographic]

"Wouldn't count you out of that just because you don't spit spicy green stuff, man."

Well, at the very least it seems Ardyn has chosen to behave for now. Prompto's hackles- chocobo feathers?- remain up, but there's proof in the fact his life just got saved that he isn't on the guy's menu for anything horrible or dangerous.

For now. He chews on his lower lip, trying to keep thinking about his and Gladio's talk. He wants to be the boogeyman. So taking that away is power in and of itself, right? There's no trap to set or prophecy in this world. The part that remains difficult to settle for Prompto is just what to do with someone capable of the horrible things he witnessed and experienced firsthand. How to shrug off the fear that comes with his memories. To quiet the deluge of terrified what-ifs buzzing through his head like a swarm of angry insects.

"Was just in the area. Riiiiight. That's the sorta goofy excuse people use for pickup lines in bad cartoons!" Never mind the fact Prompto absolutely used the same tactic himself once with Cindy when he kept showing back up around her at Hammerhead. It definitely didn't work.

"What, not fun enough to watch that freak thing eat me? Pfft."

cw: mentions of vore for the gag

[fatedfinality]

Prompto would know best about how toxic can be literally and metaphorically, wouldn't he? Granted, he only deigns to be when it suits him. And right now? It doesn't. So, the boy is safe.

"Well, you obviously weren't consenting to that vore," Ardyn comments mildly. Don't worry about how he knows what vore is. It's just for the bit. "Besides, I've since learned it takes it quite out of Charlie to revive those who die." From person experience, no less! "Perhaps I'm trying to make it up to him by preventing other people's deaths where possible. No sense in exhausting the deity who is seemingly on our side so far."

Seemingly, if only because Ardyn doesn't trust most deities as far as he can throw them. For all his interest in Charlie, Ardyn won't be surprised if he eventually isn't on their side after all. That's just how these things tend to go when dealing with men and monsters. "If you want to get devoured though by some other creature deeper in the minds, don't let me stop you."