"Well, they say the good die young and bastards live forever." Yes, Gladio is one hundred percent aware of who he's saying this to, and he's not remotely sorry. Although as far as that goes, he doubts he needs to be, anyway. He's pretty sure Ardyn will take a lot more perverse humor from his comment than offense. That's just the kind of guy he is.
Gladio had already been informed that Ardyn belonged to the Caelum line, so between that and the memory, Ardyn's remark about his brother doesn't catch him much off-guard. He hadn't known the exact family connection, but learning where it is doesn't change much.
"For whatever it's worth, I kicked your brother's Shield's ancient ass. Would've kicked it harder if I'd known how little he deserved the title." Gladio doesn't have a lot of sympathy for Ardyn, all things considered - he certainly hasn't earned any from him yet - but he's prepared to agree with him that Somnus and Gilgamesh are at least as bad as Ardyn himself, if not worse. (The memory Gladio saw certainly seems like it might have been the inciting incident of Ardyn's descent into whatever he is now, and while that doesn't absolve Ardyn of the responsibility of his own choices, it does mean Ardyn himself didn't pull the trigger that started the whole stupid chain of events. How exactly the levels of responsibility even out...that's a subjective assessment.) And he's at least willing to share the satisfaction with him of a guy who had thoroughly deserved a beatdown getting one at Gladio's hands.
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Gladio had already been informed that Ardyn belonged to the Caelum line, so between that and the memory, Ardyn's remark about his brother doesn't catch him much off-guard. He hadn't known the exact family connection, but learning where it is doesn't change much.
"For whatever it's worth, I kicked your brother's Shield's ancient ass. Would've kicked it harder if I'd known how little he deserved the title." Gladio doesn't have a lot of sympathy for Ardyn, all things considered - he certainly hasn't earned any from him yet - but he's prepared to agree with him that Somnus and Gilgamesh are at least as bad as Ardyn himself, if not worse. (The memory Gladio saw certainly seems like it might have been the inciting incident of Ardyn's descent into whatever he is now, and while that doesn't absolve Ardyn of the responsibility of his own choices, it does mean Ardyn himself didn't pull the trigger that started the whole stupid chain of events. How exactly the levels of responsibility even out...that's a subjective assessment.) And he's at least willing to share the satisfaction with him of a guy who had thoroughly deserved a beatdown getting one at Gladio's hands.
It's not enough, of course, but what could be?