awashlogs | Event Nineteen.

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Event Nineteen.

Shall I compare thee to a blasting hot stove?
Thou art more scary and more perilous;
As thou sit above thy towering treasure trove,
Thy breath is bad and thy voice garrulous.

t's yet another day in which a bunch of people ended up in the bottom of the well. It's very, very cold down there, though spring is at least slowly starting to make itself known --

But the people in the Town who would usually come save you might be a little distracted today by the glimmer of scales on the ground, and the unfortunate side effects that come along with them.

Don't worry, friends in the well -- as soon as you haul yourself out via magic powers or that convenient rope ladder dangling down into the water, you too can join in the chaos of picking up those sparkly, pretty scales.

Welcome to Awash's Nineteenth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event!

If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

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((OOC: Should we just continue the TDM thread here so you can count it for AC if you'd like?))

((ooc: absolutely down with that!))

It's been a long time, I get the feeling it'll be longer still.

[ And if it doesn't last longer then it means that the other outcome has been achieved. No matter what, Ardyn suspects he'll be winning regardless of what happens. It doesn't matter how amazing or loyal someone can be, if they still follow the path set out before them the end will always be the same.

Prompto gets a look for his comment, Ardyn raising an eyebrow as he tilts his head.]

You weren't that specific, Prompto. For all I know you've been to Zegnatus more than once. You could have lost Noct multiple times; these things happen you know, some people just enjoy wandering off.

...What you're saying is you wouldn't know. 'Cause you've been in Insomnia.

[But that doesn't entirely make sense, either, because how can they lose Noct again if he was lost to them permanently the first time? Prompto can't know if Ardyn's hinting they'll get him back sooner rather than later or if he's just being unhelpful--probably the latter--but it's a stinging, pulling kind of half-price, knockoff hope.

He glances away, jangling nerves accompanied by the swoop of his stomach. He wants to tell Ignis. He ought to tell Noct. He feels a stupid, desperate need to barricade their house and hide inside forever.

But he makes himself look at Ardyn again.]

You don't enjoy wandering off, then, huh? If you've been there all that time without keeping tabs on us.

If you wish to take it that way then be my guest.

[ Prompto at least hasn't given much of anything away and in a small way Ardyn is glad for it. It means he's going to have to find out what is going on the old fashioned way. All the plans and routes plotted back home are off the table now and Ardyn understands he's going to have to start from scratch again.

No big deal. Good things come to those who wait of course.

Who else is here? The fact that times are different is opening up a whole host of opportunities. How far back or forwards could this place reach? Could it even pluck those who were gone back from the clutches of death itself? Whatever it is, it's powerful and Ardyn would be a liar if he said he wasn't curious as to what could do that.]

I've been known to wander from time to time. I don't need to be there all day long to keep tabs on my friends of course. So now what? We stand here and stare at each other, tiptoeing around saying anything of worth until the end of time?

Dunno about you, but I have better things I could be doing.

[After another prolonged hesitation, Prompto returns his gun to the Armiger and backs away a step. Two--then he stops.]

Hurt anyone here, and I'll find you. Maybe I really can't hurt you, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

[Aw. Maybe he inherited a little of that spirit of experimentation from Verstael after all. The things we do for science.]

[ There is no doubt in Ardyn's mind that Prompto means what he says. In a way Ardyn is counting on Prompto to do something should someone be hurt; that is after all the point, to mess with others to get an end result.

Someone showing their hand so early just makes it interesting and Ardyn would be a liar if he said he wasn't a little impressed. It's a bold move, a statement with a promise and of all the people in the world it was coming from the gunner.

Ardyn gives a low, amused chuckle. How quaint.]

I'll be sure to keep that in mind, pun and all. Though it's just you and me talking here; who else is it I'm supposed to be hurting that would warrant you of all people taking a shot?

What's that supposed to mean? Anyone.

[Prompto, of all people? Why wouldn't he? The town's full of innocent people, people with hopes and dreams and senses of humor, people who give him the time of day even though they don't have to. Even the ones who aren't so innocent, he wouldn't let a single one suffer to Ardyn. Not after everything Ardyn's done to him. Not after everything Ardyn's done to Noct.

He swore an oath, the same one all Crownsguard vow to their king and their country. They're not the Glaive; they protect the citizenry, too.

And more than that, a bigger part of Prompto than any promise he could have made at the Citadel, remains one fact: He belongs to Noctis, and Noctis is good. Noct would never let anyone here be hurt. Prompto's no longer the scrawny, overgrown child who hid behind Gladio at the first sign of a stranger. If Ignis is the King's Hand, Gladiolus his Shield, Prompto might be something like his Voice, putting into words what Noct's unrelenting heart commands.

Noct loves, and Prompto does, too.]

I mean it.

No promises from me; I don't know who is here, for all I know there could be those who enjoy attacking others ready to take a shot of their own. Retaliation is fair game, Prompto. Keep that in mind.

[ It's a warning and Ardyn makes no note of making it anything else. He may be willing to play nice for the near future but if anyone so much as makes a move then all bets are off.

As for Prompto himself, unfortunately he falls into the category of "not Noctis" for Ardyn. The man has little respect for anyone who isn't due to be the King of Kings and it's that disregard which will ultimately bring his plans crumbling down around his ears. There is only interest in Noctis and then a kind of mild bemusement at anyone else, the kind that wavers depending on what the target even does. Sometimes they'll just do something noteworthy to catch Ardyn's attention for all of five minutes before he goes back to his usual routine.

It's a shame really. So many years and if Ardyn had bothered to look beyond himself he may have found things to be quite different instead of holding a grudge for the ages. That's where Noctis stands out from the rest; his friends and those behind him are what help him walk tall.]

Tell me. Do you like it here?

[Slightly baffled defensiveness melts easily into slightly defensive bafflement.]

Enough that I'll be pretty pissed if you mess it all up, yeah.

[Nani, Ardyn-san?]

Why?

[ Sometimes when the planets align and only certain constellations are visible, Ardyn may ask a question that is just that. It's hard to believe though and the bafflement Prompto shows gets another smile.]

I just find it strange is all. I don't know about you but I for one can't wait to find the exit. Things to do, places to see and all that.

[ Noctis isn't exactly going to become the true King if he too is stuck in a place like this. There's no crystal, it kind of kills any kind of long term plans off.]

Have fun with that, I guess. I'd recommend searching the woods. Like, super thoroughly. We definitely haven't looked hard enough out there, if there's a magic door, it'll probably be in a tree.

[And then Ardyn will be off in the woods and not here in town. Everybody wins!]

How charitable of you, Prompto. Perhaps one day I'll consider that and be sure to take all my friends with me to help search.

[ You know, the same day as when the Infernian starts coughing up snowballs.]

You do realize that being here prevents you from being back in our own world, preventing you from doing your job? [ Ardyn's gaze briefly rests on Prompto's wrists before flitting back up to the gunner's face. If the last thing he remembers is the crystal, then he also knows what his own deal is. Something to Ardyn to keep in mind for later....]

[Oh, yeah, he knows. When Ardyn looks wrist-ward, Prompto draws his hand back and hides it behind his back. He's not so self-realized he can display that barcode proudly; it's hidden beneath a band once more, and even so, he doesn't want Ardyn, of all people, looking at it all knowingly like that.]

...My job?

[Crownsguarding? Comedic relief? Selling photos to Vyv? Is Vyv even still alive, back there in Lestallum?]

What, figuring out how to shoot you in the head hard enough that it sticks and Noct can just chill when he gets back? I can work on that here, now that you're around.

[ Poor Vyv is truly missing out on some great photographs these days and perpetual darkness probably won't help in future either.

Ardyn says nothing when Prompto puts his hand behind his back, opting to just go with the conversation. He could really give the kid some hang-ups to think about that a wrist band wouldn't cover. Maybe later.]

We both know that won't happen, you'd be better off putting your efforts elsewhere. But we both know you'll do the opposite of anything I say, so perhaps I'll just wish you luck instead. [ Zero damns are given.] You are rather prickly today Prompto; are you going to be annoyed forever that your friend is in the crystal?

Uh, I'll be pretty annoyed until he's out of the Crystal, yeah!

[Like quicksilver, Prompto's temper is mercurial, flaring up and settling down again with little prodding.]

Not to mention everything else you did? Hurting Ignis? Murdering the Oracle?

Let's hope he's out soon then, that way you can direct your ire to other things.

[ Ardyn idly wonders how much Prompto knows in regards to what the King's job truly is. It must be a torment if so, the kind of dilemma that would keep a person awake at night. He even opens his mouth to ask about it, pausing when Prompto mentions something interesting.]

Hurting Ignis? [ No denial about poor Lunafreya, Ardyn will always own up to that one. He tilts his head, expression nothing but puzzled as his brows draw together. They'd had their fight, Ignis had gotten more than a few good hits in of his own, but the way Prompto makes it sound is on par with the killing of an oracle.
Probably just a friend thing. Unless....

Oh. Do they really think that? How delightful. ] You forgot to add the train to that list.

[He throws his hands up, exasperated.]

Sure, that too! And teaching a murderous psycho how to make daemon batteries out of babies! And locking me in a dungeon! Jaywalking! Am I supposed to know every terrible thing you've done? Pretty sure there's enough right there to justify my attitude, dude!

[If Prompto keeps up at this volume, there's no telling what passersby will hear.]

[ In all fairness Ardyn only mentions the train because even now he still can't believe how flawlessly it had worked. Undoubtedly there'll be more of that further down the line but for now the ex-Chancellor settles for a laugh.

Poor Prompto, he's so riled up.]

How did you know about the jaywalking? I'll have you know I paid that fine, thank you very much. Meanwhile I showed you all how to get to the Archaean, stopped said Archaean from squishing you all, stopped Ravus from taking you all out et cetera. You don't see me being so grumpy.

I'm pretty sure you also turned Ravus into a daemon!

[Those poor Nox Fleurets, what did they ever do to anyone. Don't answer that. Ravus did Some Things Wrong.]

[ They certainly didn't get the best end of the stick.]

Such a bold claim, Prompto. If you're going to say such things then it would be good if you could provide the evidence to back it up.

[ They both know Ardyn did it, but considering they're in a new place where anyone could be listening in or talking to them later on, Ardyn is going to opt to play the game as well as he can.]

Did you bring your camera?

[Unprepared for that question, he steps back.]

...Why?

[His camera means almost as much to him as his friends. He'd never let Ardyn anywhere near it.]

Oh don't worry I wouldn't be so crass to break someone's possessions like that.

[ Maybe.

Ardyn spreads his arms out wide, tone of voice cheerful like they haven't just been discussing all the shit he's done.]

We should take a picture to celebrate this occasion.

[ That and if Prompto does take said picture he'll have something to show his friends / throw darts at / burn....]

[Oh fuck no.]

No way in hell, asshole. Never.

[Spitting that out at him, Prompto takes another quickstep back and then turns to run for it.

Never, ever, ever again will he taint his most precious memories, the lens through which he sees and preserves the world, the digital film in which he's saved his friends' smiles, with this man's evil, twisted shadow.]

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Event Nineteen.

(wildcard-ish?)

spoilers below.

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