001 [video]

[maledictus_semper]

Who: Ardyn and YOU
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Aboard the Marsiva
When: Now

-is this on? Ah, what curious technology I must say-

[The video snaps on to show a rather scruffy looking man wearing a black fedora and is dressed in rather fancy clothes. His wine-coloured hair slightly over his eyes, as he attempts to communicate through the device.]

-hello? Hello. My name is Izunia, Ardyn Izunia. For those who do not know me I am Chancellor of Niflheim. I believe there has been some kind of mistake.

[He looks around at his current disposition and marvelled at the architecture before proceeding in his deep but pronounced voice.]

Would a helpful someone please indulge me as to what exactly is going on here? I'm a rather busy man and this....practical joke has gone on long enough. I don't belong here, wherever this is, although, it is a fascinating place. I just require some answers. It's not too much to ask, is it?

[He adjusts his fedora and offers anyone who's watching a charming smile.]

Comments

action;

[runawayprince]

[He knew it was too good to be true that Luna could be here. Of course Ardyn was here too, damn it. Noctis wastes no time finding him, clearly full of some pent up rage he hadn't released since the last time he saw him on the train. They'd been on their way to Gralea to retrieve Prompto when Ardyn appeared, knocking Gladio and Ignis unconscious. He would have probably done something to him too had Gentiana not stepped in.]

Son of a bitch-!! It isn't enough you just follow me around wherever back home but you show up here?!

[Seeing him in the flesh made him even more angry. Moving quickly towards him, he makes to grab for Ardyn and take a swing.]

[maledictus_semper]

[Ardyn knew that voice and he knew that anger behind the words coming from it. Ah, his Highness was also here. It seemed they were both lost in space this time.]

Your Highness such a pleasure-

[He saw the boy move fast towards him crossing the room and aiming to punch him. Tsk. Silly boy. Ardyn moved fast also, dodging the punch and almost warping to the other side of the room. He may have his powers capped but at least he could still point warp some distance.]

-to see you here too. This time, I have to admit, it is not I who brought you here.

[runawayprince]

[Noctis followed him to the best of his ability, also Warping and aiming to throw another attempt at a punch at him.]

I know that-!!

[He was practically seething with rage as he tries shooting magic at him, lightning to be specific.]

You're still a bastard and I still want to kill you.

[His words are ground out between clenched teeth, fists clenched.]

[maledictus_semper]

[Ardyn couldn't help but let out a low chuckle at this aerobatics display between them. How long would it last? All he knew was that his prey was in the room with him. If there would be no fight back in Insomnia, then he would gladly end the boy out here in space.]

Now, now, Noct.

[Ardyn used his powers to shield him from the magic and wondered just when Noctis came from in his timeline. He Warped behind the boy and smirked.]

You're a rude young man who deserves to mind his tongue.

[runawayprince]

Says the son of a bitch who has done nothing but ruin other people's lives for his own gain!

[When Ardyn lands behind him, he turns summoning a blade with which to swing in his direction.]

You're dead meat!

[maledictus_semper]

Poor misguided, Noct.

[He was expecting the blade if not sooner, as he too, summoned his own blade, crossing it in front of him to block his opponent's. He shot Noct a coy glance, before stepping backwards then Warping to the other side of the room.]

How long will this spar last? Do you so wish to defeat me, Noct? After all that I've done to aid you with your quest? You wouldn't be half the man you are now without me guiding you, aiding you at every turn. You need me.

[A bold admission but one Ardyn believed had to be said. The boy would be lost without his guidance at every barrier. Stopping the Magitek troops from murdering them all. Ardyn had a hand at every move.]

[runawayprince]

Shut up!!

[Another swing, doomed to be parried by Ardyn. Another angry snarl-like sound follows as he tries again and again to leave a mark on him.]

You did it for yourself! Your aid was for yourself! It wasn't for me.

[If only so that he could get past his obstacles and get closer to their final bout. That was all Ardyn saw ahead of them. It had nothing to do with Noctis personally beyond that.]

Action

[servantnotserving]

[Lumiére is happy to stand by and let Ardyn and Noctis get their...issues solved before eventually speaking up. He's not getting involved in that, n.o.p.e. ]

So, you already met Noctis, hmm? It's comforting to have someone from home here, no?

[maledictus_semper]

[A talking candlestick. What trickery was this? Ardyn just stared for a good few moments just perplexed. Perhaps, he should stay off the drink for a while.]

Indeed I have. You could say we know each other very well.

[The same blood even.]

I have to ask. You're a talking candlestick. This is the most bizarre conversation I've ever had in my life. Are you an illusion of my mind, perhaps? Or something more?

[servantnotserving]

I can tell. You both seemed to be getting along so well~

[He chuckles to himself, but come on guys, don't kill each other ok. He'd be stuck here alone. ]

You are very observant my friend! But I promise you that I am no illusion.

[maledictus_semper]

We're getting on delightfully well.

[Like old times. Fighting was second nature between the two men. Ardyn just like to think one step ahead of his Majesty mainly because he always was one or two steps ahead.]

I do my best. Then, may I?-

[He grabbed the candlestick and squeezed. Yep, it felt quite real.]

[servantnotserving]

Seems you are best friends, no?

[I mean, honestly, he'd call Cogsworth his best friend and they beat the crap out of one another on a daily basis, so-

Aside from a moment of brief surprise, Lumiére doesn't seem all that bothered by the manhandling. ]

See, I'm solid. I'm as real as you are, my friend.

[maledictus_semper]

Not quite. Yet, you seem to be well-informed about the matter. Ardyn Izunia.

[He held out a...hand for the candle man to shake. If candlesticks could indeed shake hands. He would soon find out.]

Are you bewitched by some sort of fancy magic?

video »

[mucked]

[ -- peggy often keeps herself aloof from the newer arrivals. partly because she is ever disinclined to nurture attachments, and partly because it's always the same old song and dance. question and answer. indignation and resignation. ]

Niflheim. [ she repeats the name with mild disbelief. and yet, colour her curious. curious enough to break habit and respond to a broadcast from the marsiva. ] Isn't that something to do with Norse religion?

[maledictus_semper]

[Ah, a beautiful young woman aboard the space station. It seemed there were women aboard after all.]

Niflheim is where I hail from. The Empire's heartland and a place I would call home.

[For reasons better left unanswered more than anything. The Chancellor can be a tricky customer the best of times, yet he's willing to indulge this woman up to a point.]

Norse?

[mucked]

Yes, well. Perhaps not Norse exclusively. Sounds wonderfully Scandinavian, all the same. [ she finds herself all too often in this language-based conversation. given the augments, really, it's more of a headache than it's worth. ] Could be merely a coincidence. Could just be a translation quirk, courtesy of our captors.

[maledictus_semper]

Ah, alas, these words fall on deaf ears. I don't know what Scandinavian is, but could you tell me where here is?

[Since he had answers. Lots of them. Perhaps she could help him?]

[mucked]

-- No one else has been helpful enough to fill you in yet? [ tiresome. peggy puffs a sigh, but ultimately obliges. ] You're in space, Chancellor. Specifically -- aboard the Marsiva. Think of it as a waiting room, of sorts, before your billet gets assigned.

[maledictus_semper]

Not yet, no.

[He was very annoyed at being dragged here and even more so by the lack of information.]

That part I already grasped. It's the part about why I'm here and what anyone wants to kidnap me for. A pointless exercise if any. Hm, how interesting. The Marsiva, you say? We all get assigned? For what?

[ video also SPOILER WARNING ]

[luxoraculi]

[ The moment she hears the familiar sound of Ardyn's voice, Luna's stomach goes into knots. This is irony, she thinks, that Noctis should appear within the Fleet at the same time as Ardyn. Now more than ever she wishes she could get over to the Marsiva. Not for Ardyn's sake, but for Noctis'... she can only hope that they haven't bumped into one another yet.

Her face is a mask of neutrality as she finally decides to answer. She still has her dignity, after all. ]

Chancellor Izunia. What an unpleasant surprise.

[maledictus_semper]

Lady Lunafreya.

[Now, here is someone he wasn't expecting to see...alive. She was dead back in their home world and had been dead for over ten years. Yet, she was alive and he could now see that look in her eyes. She knew that he'd killed her.]

Now, I'm curious how this ship brought you here alive. As I recall you didn't survive summoning Leviathan. A pity, really.

[Ardyn was now questioning who had such power to pull not only living people here but the dead too.]

[luxoraculi]

You must be getting senile in your old age. I survived summoning Leviathan. What I did not survive was you plunging a knife into my abdomen while I was at my weakest.

[ Her answer is quick and blunt; but it's not like it's a lie. ]

It certainly takes a coward to strike when their foe has a moment of weakness... but you knew about the price of the covenants, didn't you?

[maledictus_semper]

[Senile? Did she just say he was senile? That caused him to ruffle his feathers a bit.]

I may be old but I have all my wits about me just as I always have.

[He knows. He always knows. It seemed she remembered the attack just as if it were yesterday. Did she feel the pain of the knife slipping inside of her? Ardyn wanted to know just how she came back alive.]

Of course I did. So did your darling brother, Ravus.

[luxoraculi]

[ She sure did, Ardyn. ]

I must disagree with you there. Only someone insane would go to the lengths you have to make people suffer.

[ She can more than feel the pain, and can see the damage done every single night as she gets ready for bed. Ardyn had certainly left his mark on her abdomen. ]

Ravus had my best interests in mind. You, on the other hand...

[maledictus_semper]

[How rude. He might be old but he's still got his wits about him.]

You think me insane and senile? Really, Luna. I must protest at your image of me, as it feels most insulting.

[He was playing with her, since he knew she was angry at what he did. To Noct, to Ravus and pretty much to everyone else.]

They haven't suffered compared to me.

[His voice was deadly serious, the smile wiped from his face. It was almost as if he hurt when he spoke the words. Years of pain and hatred burnt onto his heart.]

Of course he did. To keep you locked up in your room like a prisoner so nothing could befall you. Oh? Do go on....