LifeAfter Inbox

[shatteredlenses]

 

This is Ignis.  Please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.  Storyteller willing, I may actually be able to read messages left for me soon.
...
And, no, your Highness, this doesn't mean I will be too busy to make sure you eat your vegetables. 

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[shatteredlenses]

[Though he won't admit it, Ignis goes to Ardyn last simply because it means he can linger with the redhead as long as he is allowed. He won't have to rush to find someone else or to see something else before the enchantment on his glasses fades taking his eyesight with it.

With a tiny bundle of light blue feathers sleeping in his arms, Ignis knocks on the door to Ardyn's shake before stepping inside. His eyes scan the darkness within and he feels a small thrill in his chest when his vision adjusts enough that he can pick out Ardyn and Hresvelgr.]

Happy New Year, beloved monster.

[scourgingstars]

I'm in no mood, little flame. [He didn't look up, pulling his hat a little further over his eyes.] What do you want?

[shatteredlenses]

[Despite his own good mood, Ignis isn't surprised at Ardyn's response. What does he have to celebrate right now? What, that he will allow himself to acknowledge that is.

Ignis makes his way to where Ardyn is sitting and then settles onto the floor in front of him. Leilani hardly stirs when he places her into his lap, and then with his hands freed, Ignis reaches out to settle one against Ardyn's jaw, tipping his head up gently.

Now that he's so close, Ardyn should be able to make out the faint, blue glow of the sigils adorning the arms of the sunglasses Ignis is wearing.]

I want to see you.

[scourgingstars]

What are you...

[He tilted his hat back with the hand not now occupied with a baby chocobo, yellow eyes narrowed at the Oracle-blue glow and then back at Ignis. The scowl on his face and anger in his voice took root from a place of concern, one even Ardyn wasn't fully aware of yet.]

...Fool. You trusted that worthless god with something this important, what are you thinking-?!

[shatteredlenses]

[A fond smile crosses Ignis' face at the reaction. Yeah, he can't say he expected any different.]

You know my opinion of our local deity. Do you really think this was my doing?

[Come now. Who do they both know who trusts the Storyteller completely?]

[scourgingstars]

...He's an idiot. As are you, but at least you've sense enough not to do that. Now if you're quite content, get out and leave me alone.

[shatteredlenses]

So I am the runner up fool? I suppose I will take that.

[He's not giving in so easily on the rest of that, though.]

Dare I ask what has you so ruffled that you don't wish to spend time with a young chocobo?

[Because even when he doesn't want others around, Ardyn always has time for chocobos.]

[scourgingstars]

Oh, no. Not this time. You think you can get me to confide in you at barely a word, share an endless weight of which you have no power to even imagine?

Not anymore. I am not your pet daemon to be treated as though I need your attentions else I might wither away to nothing.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis almost jerks when the response comes. While he's come to expect the foul moods, this is something else entirely and it catches him completely off guard.]

Excuse me? And what, pray tell, has made you suddenly decide you are my pet and not my beloved? Did someone say something to you?

[Because he may just need to go kick someone's ass if that is the case.]

[scourgingstars]

Don't act as though I'm going to be so gullible forever. I'm your broken charity case at best. Yet you can't salvage me, so what else is left? I'm just your little daemonic pet to be called when you have need of me, and now that His Majesty is here surely that is no longer a concern.

[shatteredlenses]

You are the last person who I would ever call gullible.

[Ignis tries hard to keep his voice from becoming too angry, and while he has some success his resulting tone is very tense.]

I would like to remind you, in case you've forgotten, Noct has been here before and it didn't change how I felt about you. Why should now be different?

[scourgingstars]

Why shouldn't it? You've had plenty of time by now for it to sink in that I'm never going to change. So you can go back to your king who actually gives a damn about humanity and people other than himself.

[shatteredlenses]

Except that you have. You are willfully ignoring that right now.

[The young chocobo in Ardyn's lap finally starts stirring, now fully awakened by the rising tension between them. She lets out a small bewildered sound, head turning back and forth between the two.]

I've given enough of myself to him over the years. Forgive me if I wish for something outside of him for once.

[scourgingstars]

Don't be such a fool. [Almost automatically, his hand rested on the chocobo's feathers.] No matter what, it will always come back to this. Nothing in this ruined shell will ever be salvageable.

[shatteredlenses]

[Leilani coos softly at the touch, hoping to calm one or both of them. Unfortunately, Ardyn's words cause Ignis to shake his head sharply.]

You're just saying that because you're afraid to face the truth. You've changed, you don't know what that means, and it terrifies you!