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.]

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]

[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.

[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?

[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.

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.

[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.]

[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?]

[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.]

[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.

[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]

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?

[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.]

[maledictus_semper]

[The boy's anger caused Ardyn to chuckle once more. It really was all too amusing. Just seeing him so angry at losing his little blond friend that time on the train. He was still young. Before Ardyn's timeline. So, it was before the time inside the crystal. Interesting...]

Of course I didn't! I guided you to your next goal each time. Perhaps, you were just to stupid to see past your anger and foolish emotions. Saving your little friends was so important to you.

[Ardyn narrowed his eyes, before becoming ethereal and appearing behind Noctis once more. This game could go on forever.]

[mucked]

The party line is that we're to be the entertainment. [ but she draws a firm line under the implication that this is only what they're told, and not necessarily what they ought to believe. ] The Atroma, those aforementioned captors, tell us they record our lives and broadcast us to their audience.

[runawayprince]

I wouldn't have to save them if you'd stop using them like toys, you bastard!

[Another angry snarl, another moment of surprise when Ardyn disappears and reappears behind him. He was still trying to learn his movements and yet anger made him sloppy. Anger might put force behind his blade but it certainly didn't do much else in aiding him. Moving quickly, he warps himself across the room to get away before moving back again, running and warping as he swings his blade again. He wanted to make him hurt, damn it!]

Damn it, why don't you just die, huh?

[maledictus_semper]

Toys? Oh, but I didn't use them as toys. My dear boy, you have so much to learn.

[Another warp to the side this time, aiming to catch Noctis off guard. Ardyn smirked, as he aimed to knock the weapon out the boy's hand. It was a game of cat and mouse more than anything. Who could best who. There was something that was bothering him though in all of this. He felt his powers weren't up to what he was used to. They felt....weaker for some reason. Perhaps, it was the space environment playing havoc on them all. He could have warped to another room if need be but here he couldn't.]

Sorry, that's not going to happen. We both know that you need me alive, Noct.

[runawayprince]

[He was wearing himself out at this rate. All of the explosive anger was eating away at his stamina and ability to keep attacking. He knew if he wasn't careful and tripped up, Ardyn would strike. If he noticed anything about their powers being weaker, it didn't seem to register in that moment. He was too busy being pissed off.]

You're only alive because you can't seem to die. That's all.

[He gasps for air between words, feeling the adrenaline come down as he staggers forward again, aiming another swing at Ardyn with a closed fist.]

I will kill you. You'll die like the piece of shit you are.

[maledictus_semper]

[It seemed even part of Ardyn was feeling fatigue and that wasn't normal for him at all. He was damn immortal and never felt tired, or even needed to sleep. He had slept for enough life times already. His kept his amber eyes trained on Noctis, hoping the boy would tire soon and trip up.]

Getting tired, hm? It must be such a burden being king to the line of Lucis. So much pressure for such a young mind to bear. As for Lady Lunafreya...

[He offered Noct a sly smirk, as he warped once more out of the way of the swinging fist. Punches now? The boy must be desperate.]

Oh, but you're wrong. If anyone will die, it will be you. I'm starved of our fight together. Before I was pulled to this place I was waiting for you. We would end it there but not yet it seems for you. So young. A pity.

[More riddles. Ardyn knew that the boy was from his past and had no idea about their final battle in Insomnia. This gave the older man an ego boost and knew he had leverage over Noctis.]

[runawayprince]

Leave her out of it!

[Warping after him, he summons a lance this time, swinging upwards in wide strokes. He was trying to find an opening to injure him and trying to focus through the anger.]

Then let's end it. I'll kill you right now.

[If he could just get a hit on him, though how effective that is against an immortal remains to be seen.]

[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.