#possessive ardyn

[krisssssssy]

I’m pretty confident that Ardyn would despise cybertrucks

[itsgeecheebitch]

TITLE: Until Darkness Descends

RATING: Explicit

FANDOM: Final Fantasy XV

PAIRING: Ardyn Izunia x Reader

CHAPTER: 10

       “Is that so? If I recall correctly, he is from the Amicitia family. An old powerful bloodline that enjoys close relations to the Lucian crown. And by your own accounts this Gladio fellow holds the prince’s ear. A rather precarious situation you’ve found yourself in. To date a coworker and one of blue blood no less. Truly not one of your brightest decisions, my dear.” Your perfectly manicured brows creased, revealing the white hot stab of pain his words no doubt shot through your chest.

       You cleared your throat. “I take it you don’t approve, then.”

       “But how could I?” Ardyn asked. “What will you do if the relationship ends on an unpleasant note? He enjoys a closer relationship to the prince than you do and his family holds sway in the courts. You just might find yourself out of a job in the near future.”

       “Gladio wouldn’t do that.” You retorted, the quivering inflection in your voice revealed Ardyn hit a nerve. “Even if things don’t work out, the king won’t let me go just like that. He still requires a healer and I’m the only one in the entire world with the ability to raise the dead. I won’t get dismissed over a silly hypothetical break up.”

         You were right about that. Ardyn knew you wouldn’t get dismissed over a lover’s quarrel, no matter how powerful the Amicitias were. You were far too valuable to the courts to discard over something so frivolous. It surprised him that you were aware of your worth as well. You were always an insecure girl fraught with uncertainty. Your parents’ cruelty still whispered in your ears long after they passed, and from all the conversations he had with you over the years, it was clear you believed every word they said.

         It was a low blow, but Ardyn thought he could use your insecurity to his advantage. If you didn’t believe you were valuable or worth keeping around, then his words would’ve been an easy argument to sell. As a girl desperate to find someone who would love and value her, you would discard anything that would threaten the affection you craved. Or at least that's what Ardyn thought.

         Oh well. He sighed. Time to switch tactics. “Even if you don’t, who is to say your friendships won’t suffer as a consequence?” Your eyes widened slightly and Ardyn knew he hit the mark. “Ah, there is something you did not consider. Do you really think they would keep you in their little boy’s club if you become an inconvenience? Just think of all the years you’ve spent cultivating those friendships, are they really so meaningless that you would risk them for a chance with the Amicitia?”

          Your face pinched with conflicting emotions. “They’re not meaningless.” You whispered, bowing your head and gazing at the floor. An insecurity related to the first, the fear of being abandoned. Despite being as powerful and beautiful as you are, you never stopped being a slave to your inner demons. Your parents made a habit out of treating you like you were useless, like you were replaceable. You lived with the constant threat of abandonment hanging over your head.  

           Ardyn knew this well, he was the one you always confided in after all. What kind of friend would he be if he never read between the lines and found the source of your distress? Of course, your parents were never going to leave you. You were their lifeline. Without you they would have starved. You knew this. But knowing something means nothing when your heart doesn't agree with you. 

      Ardyn stuffed his hands into his pockets. If toying with your insecurities doesn't work then this one will. After all, would you really risk being abandoned, left without a friend in this city, and given the cold shoulder by the very people who used to smile in your face? If Ardyn knew you well, which he did, he knew you wouldn’t take the risk. “Really? Then why risk them?”

         “I’m not risking anything!” You shouted, it was enough to make his eyebrows raise. This was the first time you’ve ever shouted at him. His eyes flickered to the trembling fists at your side and finally up to your misting eyes. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?” 

       “Oh Aera, can’t you see I am only trying to look out for you?” Ardyn cooed, approaching you and cupping your face in his hands. He caressed your soft cheek and gazed into your glistening eyes. It was unfair how much you looked like her. It made him want to pause the conversation and kiss the tears away from your eyes. “I’ve watched you toil for everything you’ve gained over the years and I loath to see you lose it all, and over a boy no less. You should end it before it's too late.”

        You did something Ardyn wasn’t expecting, you shook your head. You stepped away from his hands and gazed into his quickly narrowing eyes. “I’m not ending anything. I’ve known Gladio for almost a decade, I trust him. If things don’t work out between us he wouldn’t make the boys treat me any differently. You just gotta trust me on this.”

         If Ardyn clenched his jaw any harder he was sure he would break his teeth. You always listened to Ardyn. He was your closest confidant, your guide, his suggestions were like gospel to you for years. When did that change? Gladiolus. He was the only change over the past few weeks. The reason behind your sudden disobedience. And to think, even while faced with all of your fears, you still chose Gladiolus. He was important to you, more important than your need to belong, and your fear of abandonment. 

         The older man scoffed. Did the Amicitia mean more to you than Ardyn did? The very man who stood by your side for all these years, who dried your tears, safeguarded your secrets, and paved the way for you to receive a new family after your previous one was mysteriously slaughtered. You would spit in the face of everything he did for you? As though the memories meant nothing, as though Ardyn meant nothing, as though your marital vows meant nothing!

         Pain engulfed the side of Ardyn’s face, like a million lacerations carved underneath his skin. He slapped a hand over his left eye and groaned. There was a ringing in his ears, an unpleasant keenness that drowned out your concerned voice. Your soft hands grasped Ardyn’s other hand. Your worried eyes searched his. 

        No, he never married you. But it didn’t matter. You wore her likeness like a costume and had the audacity to choose another man over him. That face, that voice, that skin, this body, none of it belonged to you. You were a guest in his late wife’s skin and yet you still had the nerve to lust after other people who weren't him. Ardyn refused to let you desecrate her image any further.

         He dropped his hand to his side. The pain that consumed the entire half of his face dulled into a gentle hum. You must’ve noticed the darkness inside of his eyes because you took a slight step back.

         “Do you not trust my counsel?” Ardyn asked.

          “No, that’s not-”

          “Then do as I say.” He hissed. “This is not up for debate.”

           You shook your head in disbelief. “Why do you even care so much?!”

           “Because you are mine.” Ardyn announced. You took a shaky step back and he followed you. “From the moment I first laid eyes upon you, you belonged to me and I am not one to share. So you will break things off with the Amicitia and you will do so tonight, unless you would like me to pay him a visit instead? Although, I can’t promise my delivery will be very…pleasant”

      “You can’t be serious. You’re joking…right?” You asked but you already knew the answer. The horror of the truth shone brightly in your eyes. Ardyn found he liked the look of fear on you. It called to a primal part of him, one that demanded your tears, your screams, your lust, and pain. 

       “Care to find out?” Ardyn replied. He snapped his fingers, stitching both you and him out of time. 

       Your eyes suddenly flooded with unshed tears. Your jaw trembled as though you were on the verge of emotional collapse. Instead you clenched your jaw and jutted your chin, summoning a confidence he knew you didn’t truly feel. “Leave…” You said. “You need to leave, now!”

      It was adorable that you thought you could send him away. And how did you suppose you would do so? Shove him with your tiny hands? Claw at his skin with your kitten nails? It was all laughable. Even without his powers he could subdue you so easily. “And if I don’t?”

     “Then I will scream.” Your voice shook. Your feet continued to back away as Ardyn stalked your every movement. You didn’t even realize where you were going. Should he warn you of the bed you were quickly approaching or should he let you discover that lovely surprise on your own?

      “By all means be my guest, but don’t be too disappointed when you find your cries go unanswered.”

        One final step was all it took for the back of your legs to crash into the edge of your bed. Wide-eyed horror consumed your visage as you toppled over and Ardyn was immediately upon you. You thrashed and squirmed like a mouse stuck on a glue trap. Seizing your wrists, he pinned them above your head in a tear jerking hold. With his other, he tore the towel away from your body. Just as Ardyn expected, even the rest of your body looked just like hers. 

[marmolita]

Lita's Kinktober/Promptober 2024!!

Okay let's do this thing!! I haven't found any official kinktober prompts list so I'm making up my own. I will provide three choices of prompt for each day (2 kinks + 1 trope), and if you want me to write a ficlet for you, please send me an ask with the day, prompt, and ship that you'd like it for and I'll put it on the list!

At this time, I'm open to writing fic only for the fandoms/ships/characters listed below. If I change my mind and add more fandoms I'll update this post. If you think you know me well enough to convince me to write something else you're welcome to come talk to me about it!

Who can send requests?

Literally anyone, anon is turned on as well. I would ask that you only send 1-2 requests to start, then if I don't get very many I'll take additional requests!

What info goes in my request?

Please include the day you want, the kink or prompt you want from that day's options (there are three choices for each day), and the fandom/ship you want. It's fair game to say "any prompt for XYZ ship" or "any fandom for XYZ prompt" or the like, but please give me a little bit of direction instead of just "idk any day any prompt any fandom" because the whole reason I'm doing this is that I can't think of stuff on my own. 😅 If you would like the work to be gifted to you on AO3, please give me your username. I'll tag you on tumblr when I post it as well, unless you specifically tell me you don't want to be tagged.

How do I send a request?

Put it in my ask box please! If you don't have a tumblr account you can also find me on discord and DM me there (marmolita), or go old school and email me, marmolita42 at gmail.

What fandoms and ships can I request?

Note: in all of these, "Other" means an OC that I invent to match the type of person/thing of your choice (e.g. "hunter" or "diner patron" or "Galbadian army soldiers" or "mindflayer" or something like that). I will not write reader insert fic or fic for OCs of other people's creation.

For prompts that aren't sex-related (like "office AU" or whatever) you don't necessarily have to provide a ship, just some characters.

FFVIII: Seifer/Squall, Seifer/Squall/Rinoa, Squall solo, Laguna solo, Seifer solo, Seifer/Ultimecia (including Ultimecia possessing others), Seifer/Other, Squall/Other, Laguna/Other

FFXV: Noctis/Prompto, Noctis/Gladio, Noctis/Luna, Noctis solo, Noctis/Gladio/Ignis/Prompto, Noctis/Other. I may be open to other Noctis ships as well, except not Ignis, Ardyn, or any Kingsglaive characters.

FFVIII/FFXV Crossover: Any combination involving Squall, Seifer, Laguna, Noctis. I could be talked into other characters if you have a really good idea.

Dune (Villeneuve): Paul/Duncan, Paul solo, Paul/Bene Gesserit, and I could be talked into something involving Chani or Stilgar, possibly. Keep in mind I have not read the books.

Scholomance: Orion solo, Orion/El, Orion/mals

Supernatural: Dean/Castiel, Dean/Benny, Dean/Jack, Dean/Claire, Dean/Mary but only for "something made them do it" type prompts, Dean/Amara, Dean/Other, Dean solo

Marmalade Boy: Yuu/Satoshi, Yuu solo, Satoshi solo (yes I realize this is a very random fandom to include but hey if I'm willing to write it I thought I should put it in here lol)

Prompts

I'll cross these off as they get requested.

UPDATE: all have been claimed, thanks everyone!

1. Orgasm delay/edging, Fisting, Sex pollen

2. Electrostimulation, Vore, Omegaverse

3. Exhibitionism, Impact play, Arranged marriage

4. Voyeurism, Uniform kink, BDSM AU

5. Omorashi, Mind control, Enemies to lovers

6. Train molestation, Tentacles, Dubcon

7. Royalty/nobility kink, Intercrural, Magic made them do it

8. Sex work, Bondage, Bad guys made them do it

9. Bruises, Collaring, First time

10. Knifeplay, Sex toys, Oh no they're hot

11. Gunplay, Face sitting, Friends with benefits

12. S&M, Overstimulation, Unwilling attraction

13. Voice kink, Body worship, Truth serum

14. Competence kink, Incest, Guilty attraction

15. Leather/Latex, Breathplay/choking, Trapped together

16. Pegging, Free use, Captured by the enemy

17. Bukkake, Dirty talk, Sex as part of job duties

18. Rimming, Object insertion, Enemies with benefits

19. Frottage, Anonymous sex, Undercover as lovers

20. Waxplay, Begging, Fake Dating

21. Glory hole, Chastity, Amnesia

22. Fucking machine, Clothed sex, Tabloids/gossip

23. Praise kink, Mirror sex, Office AU

24. Humiliation, Sex tapes, Hate doing the thing but have to do it to save someone

25. Sensory deprivation, Manhandling/Rough sex, Child soldiers

26. Cloning/selfcest, Size kink, Power imbalance

27. Noncon, Dehumanization, Seduced by the villain

28. Double penetration, Slut praising, Horrifying revelation

29. Gags, Virginity kink, Under the influence

30. Threesome, Face fucking, Normally reserved character gets to be sexy/horny

31. Orgy, Public/semi-public sex, Fighting as foreplay

(if you want to steal my prompt list for your own October fest go for it!)

[shih-coulda-had-it]

solheimian immortal prompto!AU i was cooking back in May, because I was avoiding finals and getting too obsessed with a specific dynamic between prompto and ardyn. this is technically a fill for a prompt i found on the ffxv kinkmeme, but i think i'll keep it as a wip until i figure out where i'm going with it.

the prompt:

Prompto has been alive for a long, long time, he's seen many things, lived many lifespans, and now he's secluded himself from humanity (the heartbreak of outliving his friends is too much). Even though the herd of chocobos he protects and shepherds keeps him company, Prompto is very lonely. Then, one day, he hears a rumor of an immortal being sealed on an island. Not wanting to be alone anymore, Prompto sets off to free this being.

+ Prompto can be older or younger than Ardyn

++ Ardyn and Prompto trying to understand modern technologies with mixed results

+++ Prompto helping Ardyn with the immortal thing

++++ Prompto breeding and protecting a herd of chocobos.(all with names of course) He also sends some Wiz's way.

wc: 4.5k

//

For three decades, Prompto’s been dreaming of the dark. This isn’t necessarily a new development; Prompto thinks he’s been alive for several millennia by now, and the darkness is a recurring feature of life on Eos, always narrowly stamped out by a short-lived Chosen One. 

These dreams are different, because they come with a stranger.

Hooks jammed into flesh, from his palms to his waist, chains held taut to where they’re welded to the walls. Hair hanging long and lank down his chest. He’s half-naked. Unaware of Prompto’s presence, fleeting as it is, but not so fortunate to be unconscious for his ordeal. He hallucinates other visions, at times pleading for an ending and at others just murmuring names. Gilgamesh. Aera. Somnus.

At first, Prompto only dreams of noise, of the stranger’s ragged, sobbing breaths. Then he takes a midday nap, and suddenly there is a shaft of thin light revealing a trapped man, forever undying.

It takes, shamefully, a week for Prompto to break. The consistency of the visions persuades him of their realness, but he’d cultivated his chocobos for a long time! He was attached to them! He had to offload all but one, and it absolutely broke his heart. Then he kept selling and buying chocobos for the next thirty years, because of course Prompto had to travel every mile on Eos before figuring out his undying stranger was trapped on Angelgard.

The world is pockmarked with hundreds of thousands of caves. Littered with ruins! And when one is scorned by the Astrals to the point of setting a disaster off every century, regardless of where Prompto’s holed up, well…

Prompto puts in a lot of legwork before he scores.

//

The keywords are Aera and Somnus. Having been out of polite society for more than, oh, what is it now… a century? Two? Bloodlines have been established, a ruling class instituted, and blessings from the gods distributed very showily to two distinct families. Prompto may be among the common folk, but even commoners recognize the houses of Nox Fleuret and Lucis Caelum as miracle workers.

But where, oh where, is the connection? Prompto turns up the charm and helps many rambling grannies and curmudgeonly old men in order to hear the history he missed out on.

A resurgence of the darkness. (They call it Starscourge now.) A wandering prince, known as the Healer. Too swift in his journeys to ever leave a name behind, but definitely either a Nox Fleuret or a Lucis Caelum.

They’ve stamped his name out of the texts, but not even royalty can exterminate living memory.

Prompto hears his fellow immortal’s name from the lips of a fading elder, a woman once cured of the Scourge after she made a pilgrimage to the capital, and had a lucky encounter. Prompto repairs the cracked gaps in her walls, seals them with pitch and tar to stop her from suffering a draft every night, and in return, she gives him a meal and gossip about Ardyn Lucis Caelum.

“He possessed a blessing and a curse,” she recalls in a reedy voice. “He was effective as a leech, when it came to healing the Scourge.”

“That’s specific,” Prompto observes through a mouthful of baked fish.

“I mean what I say. Oh, there was a pretty light show, and he led us to think that he was truly burning the sickness out… But what really happened was that he was taking the Scourge into himself. Like a leech.”

“And then what happened?”

“Well, young man,” she says, “what leech can hold its fill? The Scourge overwhelmed the Healer, and when his body was revealed to be tainted, King Somnus took the throne and cast his brother to the deep.”

Prompto perks up. “The deep? Is that a metaphor?”

The old woman gives him a dry look. “We are a distance from the capital. ‘Tis easier to speak vaguely than to grasp at details stoppered at the court’s lips.”

//

Angelgard finally comes to mind after Prompto has exhausted nearly every other option.

It’s gods-touched. He usually pays attention to those locations and avoids them as much as possible, which is why he hasn’t visited Lucis’s crown jewel of a capital yet. When Solheim existed, they used to collect a score of criminal offenders and drag the lot of them to Angelgard for celestial judgment.

It would be a poetic note to stash a gods-touched man there. The Six are nothing but aware of their posterity.

To avoid attention, Prompto goes the long way round and hops island after island, and he stops asking after stories of Aera and Somnus. Instead, he spends time remembering how to sail tricky waters. He relearns the art of fishing and foraging from tide pools. 

When Prompto is confident of his anonymity, he starts asking about the island.

Predictably, he’s warned away from the Umbral Isle. Not just because of the unmanageable conditions of the waves and Ramuh’s tempest. The kingdom of Lucis is invested in its untouchability, and woe to the soul who trespasses royal property. Supposedly, a fisherman confides in him, King Somnus Lucis Caelum ruled that not even royalty could walk those shores.

Prompto nods sagely when he hears this, and goes to prep his boat.

The conditions are nightmarish. Crossing the sea from the southern islands in a fishing boat results in a sunburnt Prompto who now looks forward to entering Angelgard and its miserable weather conditions. At night, he squints at the stars and consults his dismal memory, trying to remember when it’s the right time to slice past the riptides and avoid smashing his boat against the reefs.

He only just makes it. His gut instinct propels him forward, just as Ramuh’s tempest snarls awake, and Prompto spends his first hour on Angelgard swearing as he lugs the single escape route onto higher land.

“Come on!” he shouts at the sky, seeing the waves foam with fury while being pelted by icy cold drops of rain. “You couldn’t have given me a few hours?!”

Prompto crams one end of the boat under a ledge, and dumps several more rocks inside, in the hopes that he can prevent Ramuh from using one good gust to blow it away. After that, he takes a steel rod and jams it among a crop of boulders. That will hopefully draw lightning from his very flammable boat.

He throws a crude parting gesture to the wind, turns to fetch the oilskin sack in which he’s stuffed two dismantled guns, survival gear, and various sundries a half-naked immortal strung up for thirty years might like, and gets struck by lightning for his charm.

//

His muscles are still trembling with the regrowth of nerves when Prompto trips into the cell. It’s horribly embarrassing, as far as first impressions go, but the man strung up like a martyr isn’t even conscious enough to register how Prompto faceplants before his shackled feet. The sack of supplies remains thankfully closed.

Both of them wheeze in staggered, aching gasps, but only one of them manages to recover.

Prompto fumbles for the handheld gas lamp. It’s wrapped and cushioned by the spare clothes he’s brought for Ardyn. Blindly, he adjusts the water drip and snaps his thumb against the flint to ignite a small flame. First thing he sees are the tattered hems of pants. Then the heavy shackles around pale ankles.

He lifts his head to take in the whole picture. He can feel his eyes widen.

There will be no gentle way to release Ardyn; the flesh has sealed over the entry points, trapping him more thoroughly than any magical seal an Astral can conjure.

That’s where Prompto comes in, he supposes distantly. He gets to his feet and peers at his fellow immortal’s face, and he tentatively reaches up to tuck a long strand of hair behind an ear. Ardyn is unshaven, but it’s more stubble than anything substantial. He would’ve grown a tremendous beard if the Astrals hadn’t frozen him at this age.

The briefest touch causes Ardyn to stir. A whimper escapes him at the effort; he struggles to open his eyes.

“Shh,” Prompto whispers. It feels uncannily like trying to coax a feral chocobo to let him pet them. “Hey, hey. It’s alright. I’ve found you.”

“What…?” Ardyn manages. His voice is light with exhaustion, dehydration, and perhaps most prominently, confusion.

His eyes glow gold.

“I’m gonna get these out of you,” he says, just to fill the silence. Prompto attempts to inject as much joviality in his tone as possible, but he suspects Ardyn cares little for anything but the hand pressed against his face. “It’s gonna hurt. A lot. But if you’re anything like me, it’ll heal right up. Harm done, but harm gone, huh?”

Ardyn smothers his moan into Prompto’s palm, so Prompto taps into a well of apathy long-unused, and readies himself to yank each and every last chain from Ardyn’s body.

The quicker the better. 

//

It turns out, the only thing that hits harder than Ardyn’s despairing pleas are his wordless cries of pain. He collapses onto Prompto after the last hook is worked out from his palm, and Prompto curses under his breath at the sudden deadweight. Frantically, Prompto checks the puncture wounds. No blood. That’s a good indicator.

“You with me?” Prompto asks, turning his head to the stairs. He doesn’t want to be in here any longer, but it’s not as though there’s any other convenient shelter from the storm. 

There’s a breathless whine hummed into his neck. Just barely, Prompto can make out the words, “Out, out, please, out…”

“Okay,” he says. “Okay.”

Slowly, Prompto heaves Ardyn towards the entrance. He leaves behind the gas lamp. The journey is agonizingly slow, one step at a time, but they make steady progress. As a plus, Ardyn grows a little more cognizant the closer they reach open air.

Well. Cognizant is a relative term. He fades in and out, and his mutterings grow less pitiful and more angry.

“Somnus,” he hisses. “Somnus, the little wretch. I’ll tear him from that throne if it’s the last thing I do.” Out. In. “How could you kill her… oh, Aera, beloved…” Out. In. This time, Prompto tunes in to hear a weak, “Don’t touch me.”

“Good timing,” Prompto says brightly. He eases them down to sit at the first step, props Ardyn up against the wall. The weak light helps illuminate the finer details of the man’s appearance. “Hey, wait here, I’ve got a flask of water in the bag I dropped.”

He doesn’t wait for a nod. He doesn’t expect any expression of gratitude when he tromps back with his supplies (gas lamp included, can’t forget that), unscrews the cap, and helps Ardyn take his first sip before relinquishing the entire bottle and taking a seat across from him.

With that, so begins the introductions.

“Who are you,” Ardyn Lucis Caelum rasps. Prompto recognizes the signs of intimidation: narrowed eyes, bared teeth, raised voice. Prompto admits to himself that the front is impressive—pain isn’t really an opt-in, opt-out feature. He personally still yelps whenever he stubs his toe on a rock.

He blows out a breath and turns his eyes to the perpetual storm. 

And lightly, Prompto tells the truth. “I’m what you could call… a bad first draft! The Six have to figure out what makes a good Chosen One, you know. I didn’t make the cut. But they couldn’t exactly, uh, sweep me away, so… Hello, immortal, I’m immortal too!”

His fellow immortal takes a moment to process Prompto’s absolute word vomit.  

“What do you mean by bad,” the man finally says. “How can anything be worse than living like this?” And from his pores, black ichor seeps through, dripping its tainted substance down to the stone where it evaporates into miasma. It pools along the man’s eyes like tears and spills past his lips like bile.

Prompto grimaces. That’s pretty bad. He isn’t going to be the one to fight to claim pity points, because damn. That’s pretty fucking bad. 

“I go by Prompto Argentum,” he starts, trying to feel out the explanation he’d like to give. “I was born, oh… before Solheim fell. I had enough time to learn how to fix an airship and to do magitek armor maintenance.”

The man blinks, hard. It’s to be expected. Prompto doesn’t look old; he’s as tall as he ever would have gotten, and his whipcord frame never wastes away, even when he hasn’t had a bite for a week. His hair is in stasis, as is the attempt to grow a beard—Prompto can’t even take a razor to his chin. It just grows back the same almost instantly. Perhaps it’s better than having a permanent baby face, but Prompto would have liked a more dignified stage of growth.

“That’s… old,” says the man.

“Very.��

“But you paid no price? You get to remain as hale as a young man may,” the bitter, incensed rage gives the man a sense of being feral, “and I have to suffer the Scourge? Oh, that is a joke for the gods! If they’d already had their undying vessel, what did they need me for?”

Prompto presses his hands together. He’s messing this up. First time ever that Prompto gets to meet a fellow immortal, even a baby one, and he’s getting on the man’s shit-list for the rest of eternity. “If it helps,” he offers, “they try to kill me every so often.”

There’s a befuddled silence.

“I was being raised to fight the darkness. That’s what Solheim really invested in, towards the end,” Prompto recalls. “You call it the Starscourge?”

“… Yes.”

“Yeah. We just called it as it is: darkness.”

“Solheim fell because it betrayed its god-king,” Ardyn says, as though reciting a lesson. “And the Astrals would not abide a civilization that defied their will. A two-fold war, I believe. One to stop Ifrit from burning the world, and the other to stop humanity from burning their gods.”

“That’s common knowledge?”

“Inasmuch as one seeks knowledge of a doomed society,” he says a little more modestly.

Prompto laughs. “Looking for an answer we missed?”

“Fresh eyes on a disaster bring new perspectives.”

He turns his head to meet Ardyn’s eyes. They glow a little, in spite of the dim light Angelgard permits. Some of what Ardyn believes of Solheim is true, but not everything was put to record. Those secrets, Prompto suspects he may have to hold close to the chest.

“You call yourself a ‘bad first draft.’ A child raised to fight the Starscourge, and one who evidently failed by the time I was given the privilege to try again. What method did the Six try to gift you, then?”

“Not the Six,” Prompto corrects. “Ifrit. He was closest to humanity, and he saw first-hand the effects of the darkness on his worshippers, so he sought a solution on his own.” He tilts his head, smiles when Ardyn mirrors the motion. “Before we were flesh, we were clay. So the stories go.”

Ardyn snorts. “A myth proven wrong many times over.”

“There’s some truth to every legend.” He thinks about speaking freely of his origins, but Prompto holds his tongue. There are some things which could stand not to come back into the world. Civilizations after Solheim are groping their way back out of a dark age: roads are finally being paved again, which Prompto deeply appreciates.

“So Ifrit chose you, specifically? Were you of a unique bloodline? Possessed of some wondrous ancestry?”

“Ha! Not even close.” He grins. “I was one of the many humble soldiers for Solheim. A man of no consequence, as they say. I was, oh, thirty years old when Ifrit called for sacrifices. No relationships to speak of, familial or romantic. I expect that’s why the Six relies on royal bloodlines for their work now—you guys are like, built to obsess over fate, duty, loyalty…

“Ifrit dipped me into the sacred flame,” he continues. “Baked me a little too long. I came out immortal, but cracked. The Scourge never found purchase because it kept… spilling out, I guess. By the time Ifrit realized he messed up, it was too late to reforge me. He tried, and Shiva tried, and then Bahamut tried to smite me off the face of Eos. Nothing worked.

“Solheim got impatient over the darkness and scorned Ifrit. Got to a point where the Astrals worried about their, uh, superior position. They razed my home to the ground, and I was left to collect the remains.” He tries to maintain a bright smile. “No airships left, unfortunately.”

The man stares at him, mutely. The Scourge recedes, as if it too is confused. How many daemons did he take, Prompto wonders. How many can this man hold before his knees buckle beneath the weight of them all?

“Then what are you doing here?” 

“I heard that Ardyn Lucis Caelum wouldn’t die by his brother’s sword,” Prompto admits, because that is easier than the sentences: I dreamed of you. Did you dream of me? “Gossip said that your body was tainted by the Scourge you claimed to heal, and that you needed to be isolated for the good of the world. But you weren’t even a rumor in the western continent or the southern islands. So I figured you’d be here. I’m sorry I took so long.”

“You knew all that,” Ardyn croaks, “and you decided to unleash the monster?”

Prompto leans over and knocks his knuckles against the bulk of the man’s arm, adds a friendly grin. “I’m pretty confident you aren’t. Isolation isn’t going to do anything but let the Scourge pickle inside you. You deserve to at least try and figure out what’s going on.”

“‘Pickle’?” 

“Don’t sound so insulted, I’m not a fancy royal guy!”

“You never thought to rise above your origins?” 

“What’s the point of that? Courts come and go. I can’t even remember the names of Ifrit’s tributaries.” Maybe he should tell Ardyn that he hadn’t paid any sort of attention to the rise and fall of the Healer, and had in fact needed several seasons to learn the ways Eos had shifted Common’s vowel sounds around.

“Funds might help ease the pains of an immortal life,” Ardyn says flatly. 

“I get by!”

“And what, pray tell, is your current occupation?”

Prompto beams. “Before going off to find you? I raised chocobos. While I was finding you? I picked up odd jobs. Fixing fences, filling potholes, hunting the odd coeurl or two.”

“Were you never tempted to steer the future?” It takes a second for Ardyn to remember something, which makes him go paler. “You are—thousands of years old. Your memories are clearly intact of a civilization so great it frightened the gods. And now you make a living doing the petty work of man. How have you not gone mad?”

“I dunno, I think I’ve gone a little chocobo crazy,” Prompto jokes, but he sobers. This is important, he can sense it. The issue is that Prompto, even with several millennia in his pocket, does not have a good answer.

“Are you even capable of magic?”

“Nope.”

Ardyn’s mouth drops. “Then what is the point of living for you?”

His heart aches with all the silly reasons Prompto has to keep walking forward. The sun still rises. The chocobos still sing. The wind still cools the sweat on my brow. Mortals come and go, their lives practically matchsticks to his eternally burning torch. But he cares for them and their small insignificant dramas, when he comes across their settlements.

All he has is a body that won’t fall apart, no matter what the gods try, no matter how much the Scourge scrambles to find purchase in his veins.

“I find things to appreciate,” he finally says. “It’d be a miserable life if I couldn’t look forward to tomorrow, but that hasn’t happened in a while.”

Gold eyes give him a look so droll, Prompto bursts out laughing again. And if his eyes haven’t deteriorated, he thinks he sees a strange curl to Ardyn’s lips as well.

“So I have been rescued by a genius of a simpleton,” he concludes. “One who cannot even give a fellow immortal any advice on how to defy the gods.”

Lightning strikes the steel rod. Prompto can spot it. He makes another crude gesture at the sky and startles when Ardyn barks a laugh, itself sounding shocked and rusty.

“Ah,” Ardyn says in between a raspy snicker, “I suppose that lesson will suffice. What is your plan for escaping this damned rock, my precious savior?”

He’s handsome, even when he’s disheveled. Prompto tucks this thought away where he will only think about it when he’s alone, and shrugs. He admits, “We need to wait out this storm. Angelgard’s waters are passable only a few days out of the year, and I misjudged the timing.”

“We’re trapped here for yet another year?”

“I’ve got a boat,” Prompto points out. “If you have any special magic powers to get us past the riptides, we can try to outrun the Fulgarian’s wrath. Otherwise. Very human limitations here.” Aside from the fortified constitution, increased speed and dexterity, enhanced eyes—all qualities seared into the make-up of Prompto’s being. Oh, and he can’t drown, but that doesn’t mean it’s pleasant to walk Leviathan’s domain.

Ardyn tips his head back against the wall. “Perhaps you didn’t hear while tending to your chocobos, but I was rather tidily rejected by the Crystal last I approached. And seeing as the Crystal stands in for the Six, logically, I would no longer have access to my magic.”

“Did you try?”

“Did I—?” Ardyn shuts his mouth. His mouth thins into a tight line.

“Hey, we all get a little performance anxiety sometimes,” Prompto says reassuringly, and Ardyn glares.

“I am trying to determine whether you yourself have ulterior motives in freeing me,” he replies. “You act a fool, but I have seen my fair share of conmen while traveling the land to heal the Starscourge. Why should I not take your boat and take my chances on the sea alone?”

“Have you sailed before?”

“I’m a quick learner,” Ardyn snaps.

“Alright, alright,” Prompto says, and he flattens his hands on his knees, tries to give the impression that he’s non-lethal. Innocent as a chocobo chick, that’s him. “I wanted to free you because no one deserved that kind of fate. I’m not offering anything but a way out. I’d like to get you to the southern islands, at least, because heading straight for Lucis’s coastline is asking for a fight. I’ll do a few odd jobs, get you the funds for your own way forward.”

“And then we part ways?”

“If that’s how it goes,” Prompto allows himself to say flippantly. “I’m just happy to know there’s another immortal out in the world, yeah? Maybe by the end of this, we can arrange like, an annual meeting. Just to check in with each other.”

Ardyn closes his eyes and breathes. He says, “A moment to rest. I will endeavor to try using magic after.”

“We’re not in a hurry.”

Prompto judges the angle of the rain and decides that it’s safe enough to try and light a hand-warmer. From the oilskin sack he pulls out a beaten iron pan, three stubby legs protruding from the bottom. He arranges three palm-sized slats of wood in a triangle, and takes a knife to a dry block of wood, collecting the shavings for tinder.

Lighting the whole arrangement is the work of a second with the gas lamp. Soon they have a merry little fire crackling away between them, providing all the sound to fill a silence Prompto is resigned to leave alone.

He hopes Ardyn won’t hate him. That would really suck, for Prompto to finally know someone as unkillable as he is, and they end up spending eternity on Eos at each other’s throats.

“You really are without magic,” Ardyn mutters. His eyes are half-lidded, and he has a hand hovering over the flickering flames. “That was deeply painful to sit through.”

“Would you use magic for something as small as this?” Prompto teases. “I thought magic was for big stuff. Death-defying stuff, even.”

Ardyn huffs. With a flick of his wrist, he turns the hand over the flames so the palm faces up, and he wiggles his fingers to move the three lively spheres of fire in a circle. Prompto is immediately enthralled, perking up and wanting to clap his hands like a child.

“Neat!” he tells Ardyn happily. “Oh, man, that is so amazing to see! Is it a one-time ignition, or do you have to keep feeding it magic to keep it going? Wow!”

That strange curl to Ardyn’s mouth. He seems to be constantly reevaluating his notes on Prompto. ‘Genius of a simpleton’ hurts, but it’s a little too true to deny. “The initial drain is more substantial than what it costs to maintain,” he informs Prompto. “Fire such as this longs to be freed. Trapping it in my hand makes it hungry, and it needs to be constantly on the move in order to prevent extinguishment.”

“Huh. I didn’t think magic fire had feelings.”

“Not quite feelings. Just traits.”

He’s struck by a thought. “Uh, just so you know, this little fire,” Prompto gestures to the iron pan, “doesn’t need any supernatural help. If you add all that to the wood, the fuel’s gonna go poof.”

“Ah, we can’t have that.” Ardyn contemplates his handful of flames and then suddenly, viciously, heaves the spell up the stairs into his former prison. Those three little spheres blossom into a generous explosion, one which shakes their staircase.

Prompto has to bat the iron pan into staying in place, and swears when he singes his fingers against the hot metal. “Yikes!” 

Ardyn’s head jerks. “What? What’s happened?”

He shakes his hand out, and the burns fade away like nothing ever happened. A light touch of pain, and nothing more. “Ah, tiny hurt. Never did learn to not touch hot metal.”

Ardyn ogles Prompto. “You can still hurt? Even though you claim to be a broken vessel?”

“The brokenness is related to the darkness,” Prompto says. “Hey, are you feeling better already? Do you want to change clothes, get your hair re-tied? Clothes might be a little big, but that’s what the extra sashes are for.”

“You’re very generous.”

“I’ve had a long time to plan. You want ‘em?”

He heaves a sigh. “Oh, very well. If you insist. Are you also hiding a bar of soap in that bag of mystery goods? Judging by your face, I suppose not.”

“I had a long time to plan, but limited space?” Prompto tries with a winning smile. He digs into his bag and pulls out the clothes and a metal comb. “Here you go.”

“Keep the comb,” says Ardyn, accepting the folded stretches of fabric. Carefully, he rises to his feet. “I would rather risk de-tangling my hair after I have had access to a bath.” He staggers a few stairs upwards; Prompto turns his back to Ardyn, thinks ruefully that now would be the time for Ardyn to stab a suspicious character, and keeps carving curls of wood for the fire.

[lioma-gaming]

When Ardyn opened his eyes again, Noctis and Prompto were looking down on him. The Prince offered him a hand, and this gesture alone triggered a feeling in Ardyn he did not know how to place. Something filled a hole which he had not known existed until then. No one had shown him any compassion since Somnus had branded him a monster. Not Verstael, not Aldercapt, and especially not the gods. Everyone had only ever been interested in his well being for their own selfish reasons. And Noctis and his friends … Were they just mocking him? "Could this be … pity?" he asked sceptically. "You can also stay there if you want", Noctis said casually and Ardyn was willing to believe that this was all there was to it. No bribing. No lies. He was merely offering his help. Even though he possessed Somnus' features, he and Ardyn's brother could not have been more different. - Burnt Out, "The Path To Freedom"

[sparklecryptid]

Royal Bastard au and For want of a nail for the ask game. Specifically, Ardyn never notices Ace during that visit to Galahd so doesn't follow him to see him doing magic.

As though I have not thought about this extensively because it changes the entire thing and most likely the fic would take a MUCH darker turn.

Because the thing is; that is the best possible way for them to meet. It is much better for them to meet somewhere away from prying eyes than it is for them to meet publicly. It is much better for them to lay everything out on the table at their first meeting than it is for them to know that the other knows that they know the plans that the other has.

The two other ways for them to meet that have crossed my mind are uh. Not nearly as good.

(There is a man - barely a man, more of boy than anything - cut through MTs like he is possessed by a wrathful god. There is a man with silver eyes and magic racing through his veins like lightning that cuts through soldiers of flesh and metal alike.

There is a man who locks eyes with Ardyn and snarls with the rage of someone whose entire life is burning to ashes around him.

The man lunges at Ardyn and Ardyn laughs. He keeps the man alive - of course he does - the man is too interesting to let die.

(the other ending to this one is that he does in fact kill ace.))

(the market around them bustles and hustles as Ace moves through it, collecting supplies for the dinner he's been tasked with making tonight. he doesn't notice the eyes on him. he doesn't notice how the crowd stills until hes already run into the solid steel of an MT.

There is a gun at his head in an instant. Ace does not want to die.

He doesn't die because the chancellor takes a look at him and smirks as if he can see the magic leaking out of Ace's body.

"Oh," the chancellor says in front of Ramuh and everyone, "Aren't you interesting.")

[secret-engima]

I recently found this one soulmate fic where every time you loose something, it ends up with your soulmate.

Now please imagine how Interesting this might get in Nox verse, considering that both Nox and Ardyn have propensity for displacing their cell phones.

(Drautos tries to call Ardyn to report something important that he just learned in Niflheim. Except Ardyn is Not Answering for the longest time. After twenty minutes he finally gets through and opens with very cranky "How difficult it is to answer your phone, you bloody idiot?".

". . . Drautos?" says a Very Confused Cor who just found this random cell in his sock drawer.)

*wheezes*

That would be honestly so funny, especially if it happens with platonic soulmates and not just romantic ones.

Nox at least is *decentish* about not losing his stuff because he has armiger but that also means whenever he finds a Random Item in his camp he just assumes it's his somehow and tucks it away into armiger and forgets it exists so it is a VERY one-sided exchange most of the time when it comes to losing stuff.

He does wonder the first time he realizes some of the products he is finding in his possession are noticeably Feminine Oriented. And then depending on whether he knows soulmates are a thing or not this could lead to some very distressed shenanigans on his part.

Meanwhile Nyx is always kind of ecstatic when she finds something that isn't hers in the apartment because FINALLY. How organized IS her soulmate that he never loses anything ever?

Nox: *walking disaster vibes only staved off by his magic mary poppins level handbag*

I have no idea if you intended Cor and Ardyn to be romantic soulmates or platonic but I think platonic is WAY funnier so Cor just- finding a very battered unknown cellphone in his drawer and answering it and being- Drautos? Who are you calling?

Drautos: *internal screaming intensifies*

[ertrunkenerwassergeist]

Fire Priest!Ignis: five times somebody was surprised by Ignis knowing something random and unexpected, and the one time somebody figured it out.

(Bonus points if the person who figures it out is not Ardyn)

Ardyn figured it out within 3 seconds of meeting Ignis. He doesn't count. (He sits back and enjoys the show)

The first is when Ignis warns Gladio of when Iris's sickness will be flaring up again. Gladio doesn't really believe it. But then it happens. He really wants to ask Ignis how the fuck he knew that, but forgets to do it over caring for his sister.

The second would be when he tells a random stranger where he might find his mother's testament. The stranger is weirded out, Ignis is wondering why he told the guy that. Turns out he's right, though. It also turns out that the guy it Petra Fortis from the City Watch. So now Petra ows Ignis a big one :D

Third is when Ignis tells Cor that Gilgamesh is a hypocritic piece of shit and should not be trusted. He also gratulates Cor for cutting the man's/ghost's arm off. Cor is weirded out, becaus he never told the kids what exactly happened in Taelpar Crag. Before he can ask how exactly Ignis knows about this, he vanishes (and goes to track down Noctis in Deep City for the first time).

On his way down he meets Nyx. He tells him to talk to Petra. Nyx really doesn't want to do that. Ignis just tells him to say that Ignis sent him and to take him to one of the old cellars which were dug into the cliff Insmonia is build around. To incentivice Nyx, Ignis also tells him that he very much looks like his father Ilias. Nyx turns around at once and goes to track down Petra. He's convinced Ignis either got possessed by a Galahkari spirit, or is like the Wise One. Either way, he listens, and lo and behold, in that one wine cellar they find some very interesting documents and some stolen cultural objects.

Fifth is when he is looking after Solaris and Astra and starts to tell them stories about their ancestors. Stories no one should know about. Not that the kids know that. They're just happy about New Stories.

Noctis figures it out when one day, Ignis randomly drags him out of his clinic because 'it's time now'. He brings him to the grave of two Lucis Caelums which were buried close to the old palace. The first was Mendax Lucis Caelum II, titled The True (he's Somnus's son), and the second Atalanta Lucis Caelum, mother to Ardyn and Somnus. Noctis wonders why he didn't figure it out earlier. It's very obvious in hindsight.

[penthepoet]

(that second one is slightly outdated in a few ways but FITS for hte most part)

Fun Facts about the Lycoris Hoard (Lis/Ardyn/Gladio/Emet-Selch):

they all have magical wedding collars that reinforce a mental + Aetheric bond between them, which gives them a bit of a telepathic hivemind between each other

they co-rule a city-state (Lycoris, founded in Amaurot on the First)

they can all shapeshift (to an extent)

they can possess each other

they are deemed Faerie nobility by Feo Ul/Titania

they share clothes (Mostly! Obviously Lis is too small for them to wear her clothes but she almost certainly wears theirs and the other three swap clothes sometimes)

their memories, feelings, preferences and skills bleed through into each other sometimes, on account of the telepathic bond

Lis takes nesting insanely seriously, so lounging around in the nest doing things like reading or listening to music is rather common for the four of them in their downtime.

There are times where the four of them all get collective unspoken ideas for magickal rituals or plots/schemes in their head, which is when they usually lock themselves in the library or war room to strategize, sometimes for days at a time (which is why there's an additional nest hidden in at least one of those places, for those instances). They often emerge manic and ready to rumble.

Gladio and Lis like to grill for Ardyn and Emet-Selch on the Eorzean equivalent of Sundays. They take turns swapping off on who grills, but sometimes for special occasions they will grill together.

Every so often, they all feel the need to recreationally hunt for sport (whether it's hunting each other or others like monsters, Lis's Three Other Unlucky Devotees, some poor son of a bitch that's made an enemy out of them) or otherwise fight/spar. Naughty, terrible things usually result, before, during, and after.

Lis likes to bring her partners things like a cat bringing dead things to you as treats. She will also very often curl up atop them to a.) "leech their warmth", as she puts it, and b.) claim them as part of her hoard. Gladio especially gets cuddled often because he's a big warm guy and she fits perfectly in his arms, but she cuddles Ardyn and Hades just as much. Ardyn loves snuggling up to Hades, which Hades has cursed him out for in Ancient-speak more than once.

They are banned from at least one eatery. They have blackmailed their way back into the eateries in all but a single case. (Ardyn and Lis hold a grudge about that fucking bistro, and plan to burn it to the ground or buy it out someday.)

[savage-rhi]

Mending Shadows // Chapter 20

Summary:

Y/N was a simple Scavenger of Lucis, until meeting a deadly blow at the hands of an infected creature. At the crossroads of death, they are found by Niflheim’s cryptic Chancellor with his own agenda. Now bonded to Ardyn Izunia, and tossed into the world of Niflheim, Y/N struggles to cope with their new life as an Imperial Icon all the while battling their feelings toward their fate and that of Ardyn’s.

Click here to read on AO3

The palace halls to the residency were quiet. Save for the shuffling of Imperial Help preparing to turn in for the night. Ardyn made note how there was not so much a peep while he ventured to his dwelling. He sighed while adjusting the large grocery bag he had been carrying with his left arm. The contents rattled, and at first Ardyn assumed something had gotten loose. He paused in his stride, lowering the bag to look over his wares. There was nothing amiss, and thus he pressed onward. 

After fumbling with his keys--and nearly dropping the bag--Ardyn closed the door behind him once he reached home. He sat the grocery bag down at his feet while he tended to locking up. Once that was settled, did his eyes land on the large clock in the living room. Seeing that it was 10:45pm, Ardyn furrowed his brows. He knew he had been out long, but could’ve sworn it was 8pm just moments ago. Sighing, Ardyn knew it was useless to dwell on such mishaps. He still struggled with conceptualizing time although it had been decades since he had been awakened from Angelgard. Not that he would be bold enough to admit that to anybody. The thought of it made him grimace before he picked up the grocery bag, and carried on with his mission. 

Ardyn pressed the kitchen doors open quietly. He nearly jumped when he saw Tuti at the counter, putting away some dishes from the sink. She in turn gasped, and fumbled with one of the plates in her possession. It was by the fortune of the gods she didn’t drop it, having caught the edge at the last second. 

Once the initial shocks were worn, Tuti glared at Ardyn with contempt then went back to cleaning. 

Ardyn breathed through his nose, making a face while he tried to uphold some sort of civility. He walked over to the kitchen island, and sat the bag down while clearing his throat. 

“I won’t be needing your services for the rest of the night.” 

“Noted,” Tuti replied with a flat tone. 

“That goes for Y/N as well. You’re dismissed.” Ardyn added. He observed Tuti stiffen, and with a defeated sigh, she put away the last of the plates she had been cleaning. Once done, did she begin to dry her hands off with a towel hanging from the arm of the oven in front of her. 

“How is Y/N fairing?”

“Y/N’s resting right now. The flares today were dreadful.” Tuti wiped the last of the suds off her hands with her apron, and approached Ardyn. She was careful not to get too close to him. 

Tuti let out a breath. “Will that be all, excellency? I have much work to do outside of your quarters. I don’t want to keep the Palace Warden waiting.” 

If she was going for subtlety, she’s failing at it… Ardyn bitterly thought. Tuti’s disdain wasn’t easy to cloak. She wore it on her sleeve much like her bubbly persona. Ardyn fought against his instinct to shoo her off for insubordination, but he reminded himself that although he didn’t like her, both he and Tuti cared for Y/N. 

“Before you leave, I have something for you.” Ardyn took a few steps toward the kitchen island. His right hand rummaged through the grocery bag, and he pulled out a small pink rose and an envelope. 

“What’s this?” Tuti whispered, raising a brow as Ardyn approached and handed off the items to her. Her fingers pinched at the envelope, feeling how full it was. Conflict brewed in her eyes while she admired the pink rose. As much as Tuti wanted to throw it back at Ardyn’s face, she appreciated the beauty of the flower too much to insult its radiance. She carefully tucked the flower behind her right ear, and began to open the envelope. 

“Consider it tip for taking care of Y/N on my behalf.” Ardyn watched as Tuti’s eyes nearly bulged out from her skull. He faintly smirked before going neutral. 

“That’s almost five months of salary.” Tuti murmured under her breath. By the mercy of the gods did she gather strength to peer up at Ardyn, and glared at him. “I’ll have you know, that you can’t just buy someone’s forgiveness.” 

“I’m well aware,” Ardyn said as a matter of fact and sighed. “Is it working though?” 

“Well,” Tuti breathed. She counted the bills in the envelope and shook her head. “If I remember, the gods forgive all sin on Sundays. Including someone selling their virtue.” 

Ardyn let out an amused huff, watching Tuti carefully tuck the envelope into the back pocket of her apron. He was about to say something, until Tuti held up a hand and cut him off. 

“Please, I don’t wish to have a conversation anymore Chancellor. I want to perform my duties, and turn in for the night.” 

“Very well,” Ardyn gestured with his head toward the exit. “Don’t let me keep you.” 

Tuti offered a bow, and walked over to the doors. She paused for a moment, turning her head to the side to watch Ardyn go back to pulling things out of the grocery bag. There was a lot of food from what she could gather. A soft sigh left her lips, and Tuti cleared her throat. 

“Chancellor,” 

“Yes?”

“Y/N was adamant about speaking with you despite…well, what happened. You needn’t worry.” Tuti murmured. The face she wore was a mix of disappointment and awe.

Ardyn gave a firm nod after he hummed in reply, then continued to carry on, not paying heed to Tuti as she finally left. 

Hours later, Ardyn carefully approached a large bed. His eyes combed over Y/N’s resting form that was draped under the blankets. He paused when he saw their feet dangling off the edge, noting the scourge veins bulging out. Ardyn could only imagine what the rest of their body looked like. The thought nerved him and Y/N’s shallow exhales didn’t help. If anything, he felt worse about what happened this morning.

Hovering above Y/N, Ardyn canted his head while examining their features. They were lying on their side, half their face buried into the large silk pillow below. The scourge marks pulsated when Y/N drew in breath. Ardyn closed his eyes, focusing his own darkness on the daemonic aura that coursed through Y/N’s veins. A crackling sound echoed against Ardyn’s ears, and whispers began to rise and fall. His own conscience was nearly drowned out by the noise, but he firmly repeated in mind for the shadows to cease. When he opened his eyes, the world became silent again. 

Though Y/N’s infection was not even a fraction of Ardyn’s ailment, he could feel the toll it had on their body and the struggle to remain alive despite the horrendous pain. With resentment, Ardyn glared at the dark webbing on Y/N's skin. He crouched down until he was on his knees. His face now level with Y/N and the mattress. 

Thoughts ran through Ardyn as he sighed through his nose. He wondered if Y/N would be upset with his presence near considering what happened. Ardyn wasn’t one to apologize, especially in this incarnation as Chancellor, but even with all his justifications he couldn’t let this slide. Not when he knew in his heart of hearts, that he was in the wrong. 

“Y/N,” Ardyn murmured softly. His right hand reached to touch their neck, fingers gliding over skin until his palm gently cupped their cheek. He watched the scourge veins begin to recede; the darkness having listened to his plea from before. His features perked when Y/N groaned, and their eyes fluttered open briefly. 

“Y/N,” Ardyn leaned forward. His nose pressed to their skin, inhaling their scent before drifting up to their ear. A tired mix between groan and giggle left Y/N’s mouth, and he couldn’t help but smile like an idiot. 

“I have something for you.” He whispered into the shell of their ear.

“That’s a lie,” Y/N muttered exhausted while they stirred more from their rest. “We both know you don’t like charity.” 

Ardyn chuckled against Y/N’s hair. His lips gently pressed against the side of their head before he pulled away. He met Y/N’s weary gaze, and the marks he had left upon their skin. He felt nauseous gazing over the black and blue texture. 

“I’d like for you to join me at the table if you have the strength. I made us a meal.” 

Despite how drained Y/N felt from the scourge, their brows raised in surprise. “You didn’t have Tuti do that on your behalf? I’m shocked.”

“No. Not this time.” Ardyn admitted with a smirk. “Believe it or not, I can perform menial tasks by myself. I just choose not to.” 

“What’s the occasion? I thought I was in the hot seat.” Y/N’s voice trailed off and they swallowed. 

“You’re in no such position with me,” Ardyn shook his head. He moved a stray strand of hair out from their eyes, his touch lingering. “I...wanted to do this for you.” 

“This morning--”

“No, let’s not speak on it right now. Later we will. You have my word. ” Ardyn interrupted. His amber eyes lingered between Y/N’s mouth and their hair. Before he got too lost, Ardyn retreated his hand away from them and he gestured with his head to the chamber doors. 

“Let’s get you out of bed. I don’t want the food to run cold. Do you need assistance?” 

“Yeah,” Y/N nodded and winced when they moved their left foot. 

“I can carry you?” Ardyn offered. 

“I’d like to do this myself. Just let me lean on you.” Y/N murmured. They didn’t notice the hurt that crossed Ardyn’s face at their decline. 

Taking in a few deep breaths, Y/N let out a cry and forced the upper half of their body to rise from the bed. The motion felt as if they had run their entire body through a thicket of barbed wire. With every movement they made in the trench, it only ensnared them further into the spiky ends that dug into flesh. When Ardyn attempted to help, Y/N shook their head and gestured for him to stand down. They were surprised at his compliance, given the fierce look that carried through his eyes.

Y/N started to flex their fingers, getting them to wake up. After the wave of pain died down, did they gather the strength to stand. On their feet, Y/N wobbled like a bookcase whose shelves were not properly lined up. Their feet felt static as did their blood. The scourge constricting around their calves like snakes didn’t help with their balance, and caused them to fall forward into Ardyn’s chest. Through a muffled yelp, Y/N felt their body adjust as Ardyn gently pushed them back and went to their side. He coaxed Y/N’s body into leaning against his own, while his arm went around their waist for support. After finding their balance, did Y/N motion for Ardyn to move and begin their trek to the kitchen. 

The walk was a quiet affair, minus the whimpers and occasional groans that fell past Y/N’s lips. Every once in a while, Ardyn glanced down at Y/N to assess them; noting that their body had been severely taxed. He started to second guess waking them up in the first place, seeing the grey bags under their eyes. There was also the proximity piece that had his blood quake with each step. The texture of their skin, the sweet smell of their own scent intermingling with the essence of the scourge, and the weight of their body against him had Ardyn worried he’d go haywire. His pulse rose unsteadily, wondering if perhaps he himself was becoming ill. 

The second Ardyn felt Y/N’s breath faintly tickle the underside of his jaw, he stopped and let out a disgruntled sigh. “This is taking far too long.” 

“We’re almost there,” Y/N protested, and gestured with their chin to the kitchen doors. All they had to do was cross through the living room space. From Y/N’s perspective, it felt like miles of uncharted territory laid ahead given how much they ached. Nevertheless, they didn’t want to throw in the towel just yet. 

“I don’t understand the insistence of prolonging your suffering.” Ardyn countered, furrowing his brows at them. 

“It’s not that I don’t want your help,” Y/N gritted through their teeth while feeling the scourge slide across their legs. It felt like their skin was being flayed. “If I can’t do this on my own, I'll--” 

“Y/N,”

“Yeah?” 

“While I admire your tenacity, I’m imploring you to let me help.” 

Y/N sighed in defeat. “Ardyn--”

“I tire of hearing you moan in my ear every second.” 

Of all the things he could’ve said, Y/N didn’t see that coming. Sensing his discomfort, Y/N felt blush rising in their cheeks. Whether it was from their embarrassment or wanting to play off the severity of the scourge flare, they felt emboldened to make a jest. 

“You know,” Y/N coughed. “Most guys would be into that.” 

The look he wore was priceless. A mixture of disgust and intrigue traveled across Ardyn’s face, and Y/N couldn’t help but snicker. 

“I didn’t take you for a minx.” Ardyn huffed.

“Between the two of us you’d fit the bill of that better than I.” 

“Oh, that’s quite sinful! It’s rather sweet you acknowledge my prowess.” Ardyn teased in a sinister fashion. 

“I...” Y/N struggled to speak. “I wasn’t complimenting or--” 

“Then what we’re you implying, darling ?” 

He held Y/N’s gaze for several seconds, watching their laughter turn into nervous chuckling. Ardyn couldn’t help but smile at how pink Y/N’s face had become.  When they were at the precipice of expressing fear--at how he lurked over them like a serpent hypnotizing it’s prey--did he strike. 

“H-hey!” Y/N exclaimed, feeling their body and the world shift as Ardyn swept his arms underneath their form. “What do you think you’re doing?” 

“I’m speeding things up,” Ardyn teased, smirking proudly when Y/N instinctively wrapped their arms over his shoulders while he carried them like a newlywed bride. “By the way, you’re quite welcome.” 

“Damn you…” Y/N muttered under their breath, trying to ignore the laugh he let out at their expense. Their pride was wounded, but Y/N would be lying if they didn’t appreciate Ardyn pulling off that little stunt. Their aching body certainly respected what he had done, giving a much needed break. 

As Ardyn walked them both to the kitchen, Y/N felt their face grow warm when they caught a whiff of his scent. He always smelled rich, like sandal and rosewood; strong and earthy. The sweet undertone that intertwined with his usual musk had Y/N feeling an impulse to bury their face into his neck. It reminded Y/N of the fermented smell the scourge gave off, without the rotting stink. Whatever it was caused by, be it the long day at work or if he was trying something new, Y/N felt their nerves tremble as scourge and blood rushed through them. 

“Here we go,” Ardyn’s playful declaration stopped Y/N from succumbing to their urge as he gently plopped them into a chair. He was careful to push it in toward the table once Y/N got comfortable, and he ventured to the chair next to theirs and took a seat. 

Y/N's eyes widened, gazing upon the meal that Ardyn had laid forth. There was a fish of some sort on their plate, topped with a brown butter sauce. It was well seasoned with a nutty fragrance akin to hazelnut. The bed of salad it was placed upon looked just as delectable as the main course, and quite unusual. Y/N could see a mixture of apple slices with gouda cheese, red onion, olive oil, sunflower seeds, and another vegetable that smelled similar to a turnip. 

Y/N had never seen a meal like this before, not at the Gala, and certainly not when Tuti or other Imperial Help delivered meals to the residency. Y/N could scarce believe that Ardyn played a hand in this concoction. 

“What is this?” Y/N asked while using their fork to poke the meat. They couldn’t help but let out a laugh, shaking their head. “This has got to be take out.”

“I assure you, it’s no such thing.” Ardyn chuckled with pride, glancing between the meal and Y/N. “It’s grilled bass, and the salad is made with kohlrabi. I haven’t made this in over 2,000 years. Try it, and tell me what you think.”

2,000 years…?  Y/N almost had the audacity to jokingly ask Ardyn if this was his first time making anything in his life. Alas they relented, but the message sunk in how long ago that was. It certainly explained why the dish looked unknown, and just like it’s creator, otherworldly in a sense. 

At feeling their stomach rumble, Y/N eagerly and with caution took a chunk of the bass meat with their fork and brought it to their mouth. They blew on the meat a few times, feeling the steam rise off the scales before consumption. 

Different tones of flavors exploded against their tongue, and Y/N had no idea how to label each and every taste; for it blended together in a beautiful dance. Their expressions must’ve been concerning, for Ardyn looked worried. That is until Y/N went ravenous and began to eat more of it. 

“Wow,” Y/N murmured in between chews. 

“Well?” 

“It could be poison and I’d still eat it!” Y/N exclaimed in between bites, causing Ardyn to laugh. 

“Where were you 2,000 years ago?” He mused. 

“Somewhere in the dark. Not even an egg or sperm yet,” Y/N teased, blushing when Ardyn snorted at the crude remark. “Why do you ask?” 

“Well,” Ardyn began to carve the meat on his own plate, taking a small bite himself. “This was a poor man’s feast by the standards of yesteryear. Not many cared for it.” 

Y/N furrowed their brows. “I thought you said you were royalty?”

“That’s correct.” 

“But you ate poorly?” 

“Hmm hmm,” Ardyn nodded. His expression softened, almost appearing morose. “When I became a healer full time, I had forsaken royal decadence and relied upon the charity of those I serviced. Many didn’t have the means to pay, so if they offered food and shelter, I took it with grace. Overtime, I grew to love dishes like this one and I learned to prepare it myself.” 

“Why did you put yourself through that?” Y/N watched Ardyn’s amber eyes curiously roam over them. They couldn’t tell if he was intrigued or appalled by the question. 

“I mean, the way you are now or what I’ve come to know of you, it’s like you’re speaking about another person.” 

There was a long pause as Ardyn mulled over Y/N’s statement. He himself was puzzled at his own discernment. Furrowing his brows, he carefully reached for a bottle of wine that was in the middle of the table between himself and Y/N. 

“Do you remember our conversation long ago in Lucis, when you asked how I became as I am?” 

Y/N nodded. Their eyes darted to the wine bottle as Ardyn popped the top open, and poured himself a glass. 

“You said your kindness cost you everything.” Y/N murmured in reply. 

“Correct,” Ardyn met Y/N’s eyes, and gestured to their empty glass, offering to pour a round for them. He smiled faintly when they gave a nod, and proceeded.

“Back then, the blight or what became known as the star scourge made it’s debut when my brother and I were both young men. As it grew, Somnus believed that culling the flock was a necessary evil to prevent the spread. I found through my practice that certain people were predisposed to the scourge, while others were not even if they were around the infected. Alas, they were still carriers. My brother justified more sacrifices because of what I had discovered. Even with the knowledge that I could cure the infected myself, he wouldn’t budge from his stance.” 

Once he topped off Y/N’s wine, Ardyn gently slid the glass to them. “One day, I excommunicated myself from the kingdoms council under the guise that I was going on a pilgrimage, in honor of mine and Somnus’s late mother. I was to be gone for six months, but six became nine and nine became twelve. I traveled across Lucis healing those afflicted; trying to show the people, and Somnus that there was another way besides bloodshed. Hence, I became quite acquainted with peasantry and cuisine.” 

While Ardyn gave no reason to lie, there were some things that didn’t add up for Y/N. If it was true, that he could cure the scourge, then why did he drag them through this whole mess? It was one of the many questions that fired off in Y/N’s mind. They mulled over his story while taking another bite of the fish while he nursed generously from his own wine glass. 

“There’s no cure,” Y/N shook their head. They glanced over him, trying to find a hint of deception behind his confused gaze. 

“Pardon?” 

“How did you heal people from the scourge?” 

“How do you think I became Adagium?” Ardyn huffed with a smirk.

“I don’t know, you tell me.” Y/N countered with a laugh. It seemed Ardyn was more or less amused by the banter. Alas he sighed, as if preparing himself for a long winded speech before the Imperial council. 

“Well, I…” Ardyn bit his bottom lip while contemplating his choice of words. It had been a long, long time since he reviewed his past history. He had purposefully tried to dispose of his old self, letting the daemons inside his body eat away at him, and Ardyn was shocked he had quite a vivid recollection the longer he dwelled on it. 

“If it’s not something you want to discuss--”

“No, no,” Ardyn shook his head, gesturing with his right hand for Y/N to cease. “I assure you I have nothing to hide." 

“I can tell you’re lying.” Y/N snorted. “You’re nervous about it.”

“Am I that obvious?” Ardyn raised a brow. He smiled amusingly, seeing Y/N nod to his remark. 

“I have an idea.” Y/N suggested. 

“Let’s hear it then.” 

“If you don’t think you can tell me in five sentences or less how you became Adagium, then it’s probably something we shouldn’t discuss.”

To say Ardyn was perplexed as an understatement. He chortled before speaking. “I must’ve already drank one glass too many. Did I hear you correctly, five sentences or less?” 

Y/N nodded with a smile. “You sure did.” 

“I’m afraid I’m not following?” 

“In my experience, if a person is open and willing, they can get to their point within five sentences or less. Anything more, and they’re either lying or it hurts too much.” 

Ardyn hummed in thought at Y/N’s proclamation. He took another sip from his wine glass. 

“I suppose this mentality comes from your days as a Scavenger, no less?” 

“You’d be correct.” Y/N smiled, fiddling with their fork against some of the apple slices beneath the grilled fish. 

Ardyn was quiet for a time. Neither he nor Y/N said a word to each other while the latter continued to eat. Once they finished off the fish, and began working their way to the salad, did Ardyn let out a breath. 

“Challenge accepted,” He proudly mused, earning a double take from Y/N. He chuckled at their expense, eyes glancing at his own meal he had barely touched.

“The gods blessed me with the power to cure the scourge at the expense of my own health. I thought it was a worthy sacrifice, to forsake one for the many. Each time I took the darkness into myself, a little bit of my soul withered away. I fought it off as long as I could, but Somnus brought out the worst in me. He took away the only anchor I had left, keeping me human.” 

Each word was a pebble, which evolved into jagged rocks. By the time Ardyn finished his five sentences, Y/N could hear the pain in his voice that he desperately tried to cover with loathing. It all made sense how he got from point A to point B, and it should’ve been so obvious. Y/N felt like a fool for not putting the pieces together sooner. 

“Your anchor was Aera, wasn’t it?” 

The gasp left Ardyn so abruptly, it startled Y/N. They carefully watched him, seeing how every muscle in his body tensed as if he had been struck. The way his eyes bore into Y/N, had them wondering why he hadn’t screamed nor yelled yet. 

“Where did you hear that name?”

“I think I saw a memory of yours this morning.” Y/N replied cautiously. They could tell he was trying hard to keep himself together, and decided not to leave too much hanging for Ardyn’s sake. “After you struck me, I blacked out and woke up to a battle. There was a lot of blood, and I was losing. The man I fought, he was going to deliver the final blow until Aera got in between us. She died in my arms.” 

Ardyn was silent for what felt like ages. He never once blinked nor took his eyes off of Y/N. 

“What did you feel, when you held her?” 

“What?” 

“Answer the question, please.” 

His demand was neither imposing nor was it gentle. Y/N was beside themself while they tried to recollect those tender feelings they experienced. It was so hard to describe, yet the memory felt as if it had always belonged to them.

“I didn’t feel real anymore. All I felt was my heart, and everything about me, shatter. I kept so many from dying, yet I couldn’t keep the one person I cherished most alive. I felt all of Eos crumble in my arms.” 

Y/N hadn’t realized they had been crying until Ardyn had passed them a napkin. They sniffled, feeling their face flush and murmured a quiet thank you under their breath. After wiping their eyes, did they swallow back the remaining tears. Y/N felt foolish. This was after all, a memory of Ardyn’s, but they felt some ownership of the weight. 

“I saw what your friends did to you, back at the Quay. Everything.” Ardyn finally spoke up. It was now Y/N’s turn to handle the shock of such a declaration. He could see the fright in their eyes, and slowly began to regale. “I see why you were so miserable when you showed up to the inn. You really loved them all, didn’t you?” 

Y/N nodded. “And you really loved Aera.” 

Ardyn sighed through his nose. He made a fist, knowing this wasn't something he could shelter away. Y/N knew too much. 

“Was this a bleed through?” 

“Yes, yes it was.” Ardyn admitted. There was no use in trying to lie for the sake of pacifying. He knew deep down that Y/N knew the truth to begin with, but they needed validation for it to feel legitimate. He lingered on what happened in the morning, and everything he had experienced up to this point. 

“Y/N,”

“Yeah?” 

“The sylleblossoms weren’t your fault, nor were they Tuti’s or even Commander Pierce’s boy.” Ardyn averted his gaze, fixating at what was left of his wine. “I had a night terror about Aera, among other things. There was much blood in it.” 

“So the flowers did make you crazy.” 

“I'm not good at apologizing,” Ardyn bit the inside of his cheek, reminding himself that he needed to set things right even if it cost him his pride. He turned his full attention to Y/N, letting the shame that had been bottling up inside of himself come through his tired eyes. 

“I know I’ve attempted to rectify the situation with a meal, but I know that can’t suffice for what I’ve done. A sorry won’t sit well with me, and I doubt the same on your end. So…name anything, and it shall be yours.” 

Y/N was taken aback. “Anything?” 

“Anything,” Ardyn emphasized. “It can be at my personal expense or not. It’s only fair.” 

“Would you mind if we did a raincheck?” 

Ardyn was visibly confused at first. In the rare event he had found himself owing someone a favor, said persons jumped the gun in a heartbeat without thinking twice. There was always something to be gained from cornering the Chancellor. That had been Ardyn’s experience in Niflheim for decades, up until now. Y/N had puzzled him many times, but this was a moment that Ardyn filed away in his subconscious; there was no hidden motive with them. Perhaps there never was. Not even when he was so certain in the early stages of their partnership. 

He searched Y/N for any sign of deception, and alas was met with a smile. It was simple and conveyed enough to give him grounds to return one in favor before speaking. 

“Just say the word when the time comes. I’ll honor it.” 

“I’ll hold you to that.” Y/N mused. Their body tensed for a moment as they eyed the rest of their plate.

Y/N would be lying to themself if they didn’t feel at odds with the situation they were in with Ardyn. They had their share of physical altercations. It was something that unfortunately Scavengers would come across at one point or another, be it petty disputes between fellow workers or fighting off folks who had no legitimate claim to treasures. Had this been anyone else who had struck them down, Y/N knew redemption would be off the table. Had anyone acted like Ardyn, Y/N wouldn’t have stood for it. They swallowed, realizing the vast number of exceptions they allowed for him. The epiphany was both enlightening and held alarming context.

Y/N couldn’t afford to dwell on their leniency any further. Not when the scourge pinched at their swollen eye where they had been hit. They scanned over their plate. For as good as the food was, Y/N didn’t know if they could stomach anything further. At the very least, Y/N decided to eat a little bit more of the salad and finish off the wine; out of courtesy for the labor Ardyn had put into it. 

The rest of dinner went on quietly as Y/N and Ardyn ate. Neither party said a word, nor paid much heed after the conversation died down. It was only when Ardyn saw Y/N displaying obvious signs of fatigue did he finally pipe up.

“Tired?” 

Y/N smiled. “Exhausted and full.”

“That’s quite unfortunate,” Ardyn mused. “I made dessert, but I suppose that can wait for morning.” 

“Well,” Y/N hummed in thought. Their stomach felt like it was going to distend, but much like Ardyn, sweets were a temptation they couldn’t overlook so easily. “Maybe I can have a little bite?” 

Ardyn chuckled, shaking his head. “There’s no need to force yourself. Besides, there is another matter I need to discuss with you before we depart for bed.”

“Oh?” 

“How do you feel about weddings?” 

Y/N made a face, unsure what he was driving at. The question came so far out of left field, that he might as well should’ve asked if Eos was flat or spherical. 

“I’ve…never really been to many. Well, huge ones. I’ve attended small unions before. Why?” 

“You and I are needed for an engagement in Accordo, an arranged marriage.” Before Ardyn could express anything further, he saw the shocked terror that danced across Y/N’s face along with a blush that could rival the richest of burgundy silks that Aldercapt owned. He did a double take, making a face before the dots connected and he cackled like a child who had gotten away with stealing. 

“Oh come now!” Ardyn said in between fits. “I wasn’t implying us!” 

“Oh damn the six…” Y/N let out a breath in relief, shaking their head as Ardyn continued to laugh at their expense. They shot him a glare, their face feeling warm from misconstruing the situation. 

“You know, you could’ve worded that better.” 

“The fault lies with me there, I’ll admit that.” Ardyn snorted. He let out a breath, and smirked. “I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad, considering we seem to know each other inside and out at this point, quite literally…”

“What?!” 

“Moving on!” Ardyn raised his voice with a snicker, taking hold of the reigns before Y/N had the chance to verbally beat him down for the tease. “The betrothal is between an Accordian Senator, and a Niflheim Lead of Office. The Accordo envoys are hopeful this union will quell any rebellious tendencies in their own countrymen. Given the prestige of both parties entering the marriage, the engagement not only requires the presence of my company but that of yours.” 

After Y/N got over the embarrassment of Ardyn’s not so clever flirtation, did they listen carefully. Something didn’t add up for them. 

“Not that I’m opposed, but why do I need to go? 

“Being an Imperial Icon, it’s imperative you attend and leave a good impression; not only to make Niflheim look generous for taking you in, but to perhaps sway public opinion about Lucis and the monarchy.”

“What you’re saying is, you want me to talk shit about my homeland.” 

“Maybe not so vulgar in language, but yes.” Ardyn could see the reluctance in Y/N’s features. “I had a feeling you’d have a qualm, therefore I’ve already put together a script of sorts. We can go over it along with your other obligations this week.”

“Alright,” Y/N murmured. This shouldn’t have surprised them, but there was an uneasiness in Y/N’s stomach that refused to go away.

“Given what I know now,” Ardyn cleared his throat, earning Y/N’s eyes. “I understand this isn’t easy. However, we both have parts to play in this theatrical piece until the dust settles and I can make due on my oath.” 

“Don’t get me wrong, I get it.” Y/N remarked, feeling the weight somewhat shift off their shoulders at what Ardyn said. “That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard. You were once a Lucian. I’m sure it was difficult for you to fully cut ties despite what happened in the past.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Ardyn replied nonchalant. He let out a huff while his mind briefly recalled his 2,000 year exile, and the months after Verstael had freed him; only to chain him to a different cage. “Be grateful Verstael isn’t the one mentoring you. He certainly ensured my wings were clipped when it came to sentiment for Lucis, whatever was left of my adoration anyhow.” 

“Trust me, between an immortal monster and a guy who ages like a balding goat, I’d take the immortal any day.” 

Although initially appalled, Ardyn laughed at the candid remark. He felt some relief as well hearing Y/N join him in that regard. 

“Ah, you flatter me so!” 

“Eh, don’t get used to it.” Y/N countered with a giggle. 

“I’ll make note of that.” Ardyn grinned. He soon faltered when his eyes locked on Y/N’s. For a split second, there was a look of awe in their gaze that had his knees shudder; as if they would buckle though he was sitting down. It occurred to him Y/N must’ve caught on that something was amiss, for they shyly looked away. 

“I’d…like to try something.” Ardyn whispered, earning Y/N’s attention once more. He himself wasn’t sure where this was coming from, and although composed, inside he was petrified. “Is it alright if I touch you?” 

“Touch me?” 

Ardyn gestured to his own face to emphasize where. 

“Oh,” Y/N swallowed. Their stomach twisted in a painful knot, only soothed by nerves that seemed to be running amok in bliss. The contradiction was so strange. “I guess so…”

“No, this won’t do.” Ardyn shook his head. He scooted his chair so he could get closer to Y/N. Once settled, he continued. “It’s either an enthusiastic yes, or nothing at all.” 

“I didn’t take you for a consent type of guy.” 

“In some circumstances, it certainly calls for it.” Ardyn mused, trying to not venture into territory that could land him in hot water. Although he was certainly tempted to make a flirtatious jest at Y/N’s expense, it wasn’t worth making his heart rock further against his ribs. 

He gestured his hands out to Y/N, palms up, as if he was making an offering to the six; all the while demonstrating there was no weapon to be had. Y/N couldn’t help but notice that some of his fingers were shaking. 

“May I?” 

The softness of his voice pulled Y/N away from studying his palms any further. With another gulp, they nodded before giving a definitive answer. 

“Yes.”

His hands slowly reached out. Y/N’s shoulders tensed as did the rest of their muscles. Their eyes fluttered shut. Trembling, Y/N could feel Ardyn's hands cup their face, thumbs smoothing over fears of endangerment while pressing firmly yet gently against their bruises. They couldn’t help but wince, letting out a pained grunt. Ardyn’s soft hush made the trembling worse, but more so in their legs and feet. It was so strange, the power a voice could have over someone. 

A voice… Y/N furrowed their brows. For the briefest of seconds, they could hear an inhuman sound cradling the inside of their skull. There was no way to decipher what was being said, but Y/N felt on a primal level, that they understood what it meant. The image of Outpost 98 and the explosion flashed behind their eyelids, and then a tender bout of pain radiated against their face; causing Y/N to grimace. 

Before their mind could follow the voice any further down its dark path, they felt something warm under their skin; as if the life force of Eos had been taken into their blood and massaged all the knots and pains away. This felt different from when Ardyn would redirect the scourge. This was something else entirely. 

The chain of events lasted for a minute, but to Y/N, it felt like forever. Their eyes fanned open, meeting Ardyn’s deep amber eyes as he carefully looked them over; his hands remained in place, daring not to let go of them. 

A crooked smile fell upon his lips, and Y/N couldn’t help but mirror him. It was bizarre, seeing him in the state of awe he was growing into. 

“You’re healed…” He muttered as if he himself couldn’t believe it. “I never thought I could do that again.” 

“The blackeye, its gone?” 

Ardyn quietly hummed with a nod.

“How did you--”

“I’m not sure,” Ardyn whispered to himself. He adjusted the placement of his hands on Y/N’s face, brushing some strands of hair out from their eyes before his thumbs began to rub small circles into their cheeks. “Are you alright?” 

“Yeah,” Y/N murmured, faintly nodding against his touch. The sweet scent that had been whiffing off of Ardyn’s body began to make a comeback, and Y/N couldn’t help but lean in. If they didn’t know better, he was having a similar reaction. There was a look in his eyes that was intense, as if he had been put under a spell and couldn’t withhold the reactions his body was going to have. 

Y/N could feel the air from his nose hit their flesh. The hitch in his breath gave way he was inhaling their scent. Somehow, Y/N knew this had to be the scourges doing; drawing them together like two magnets. Fear and something else intertwined in Y/N’s chest as they tilted their chin up, their face gently pressed against the stubble on Ardyn’s cheek. His breath hitched again, Y/N heard him swallow, his fingers shuddered against their face, and then his strong nose brushed against theirs. 

“Ardyn--”

In a split second, the spell was broken and he let go. Ardyn hastily retreated, albeit not in a manner to suggest he was disgusted. His eyes blinked several times, seemingly confused at his actions. 

“I...I don't--”

Y/N breathed out. “That was…”

“Peculiar?” 

“Yeah.” Y/N nodded. 

They both acknowledged one another, as if trying to see if each had been hurt before Ardyn made his move. He let out a sigh then forced himself to his feet and began to gather up the plates and silverware, no longer wishing to indulge Y/N. 

Y/N furrowed their brows. “Ardyn?”

“You go on to bed,” He replied gently. “I’ll get this cleaned up.” 

As much as Y/N wanted to pry further, they found themself frozen; unable to say a word. Whether it was from their own nerves, the scourge bubbling in their stomach, or something else entirely it didn’t matter. Y/N whispered a good night, got to their feet, and somehow through the pain, coaxed themself to return to their dwelling within Ardyn’s residence. 

They didn’t realize he had long stopped collecting the dishes, and watched them walk away. Ardyn's fingers grasped the plates with a firm grip as he fought against calling Y/N back to him. 

[nirgilis]

SRNHNR 3 - FF15/VS13 and VR

Part 1 | Part 2 | Extra 1 | Extra 2

Part 3 focuses more on FF15/VS13-side of points from Part 2.

1.1) Story of Ardyn, Somnus and Aera might be distantly based on FNC myth, where Bhunivelze killed his mother Mwynn to be the only ruler of the world. Copying Noctis and Luna's appearance for Somnus and Area might've been for easier development of DLC, but coincidentally or not, in FNC copying matters.

Bhunivelze has 2 faces with each of them having their own battle-form. Since Ardyn and Somnus are brothers, and in a way can be called 2 parts of the same, they might've symbolized Bhunivelze's 2 sides. Or/like Pulse and Lindzei, who, as Bhunivelze is the "Double Deity" himself, might've been created by him in his image and are like separated copies of his sides. Bhunivelze's model.

Bhunivelze being "double" and not as omnipotent with ability to wield Chaos as Mwynn, might've been shown visually in FNC myth video.

1.2) Both FF13 and FF0 have a staged confrotation between Pulse and Lindzei, through which they conduct their experiments trying to find and open Etro's Gate. FF15 might be more similar to FF0, as there that confrontation happens at the same time as/is the end of the world, i.e. Tempus Finis.

When the time of Tempus Finis comes, those who are deemed as candidates for Agito will fight on Pulse's side against chosen by Lindzei's side individual, who through being possessed becomes Rursan Arbiter/Judge of the candidates. The roles Ardyn and Somnus/Noctis fulfill in FF15 might akin to them being Lindzei and Pulse's L'Cies respectively.

Ifrit, Ardyn and Ravus share some similarity and they might be FF15's analog of Rursan Judge, but Ardyn is the main one. Ardyn isn't possed by Lindzei's servant like it would've been in FF0, it might be said that in FF15 Starscourge does that instead, and if he refuses he's tortured into submission to the role given to him by illusions created by Bahamut-"Lindzei", like Bhunivelze tortured Hope with illusions.

FF15's Tempus Finis ends somewhat similarly to FF0, that humans proved to gods they're worth something, and like in FF0 Areshia removes crystals from Orience abandoning the experiment, in FF15 Astrals help Noctis to defeat Ardyn and disappear too.

If in FF0 the cycle the game went through wasn't the last, the gods would've started another one. FF15 might be making allusion to such restart, by, right after Noctis dies in overworld, playing in titles the scene from the start of the game where characters push broken Regalia to Hammerhead.

1.3) If story of Episode Ardyn was fully based on FNC myth, with "Bhunivelze" killing "Mwynn," than the one who Somnus would've intentially killed would have to be Aera and they would've had to have the same power, as Mwynn was the one who created Bhunivelze.

Unless Ardyn is supposed to be "Mwynn," with Somnus and Aera than being his descendants "Bhunivelze" and "Etro," which might not be likely, as that way Caelums would've had to barely have anything to do with Etro as the Goddess of Death, which isn't true from VS13 trailers. Thus, story of Episode Ardyn might be closer to Pulse, Etro and Lindzei, than to Bhunivelze and Mwynn.

In VS13 a story in some way similar to Episode Ardyn might've supposed to exist too, but possibly about how division between Fleurets and Caelums came to be.

Focusing more on aspect of "copying" and somewhat visualizing what might been in VS13 but with characters that are in FF15, FNC-like family tree in FF15 might be looking like this.

As Lindzei was created to be Etro's replacement and in FNC myth video their symbols are of similar color, Ravus and Luna/Stella being siblings to a degree might be coming from that.

2) Wasn't it decided to get Noctis out of Insomnia before the start of FF15, a part of what is "Nyx," might've been "Noctis." Likewise Libertus and Crowe to a degree might be like Ravus and Luna/Stella.

While Libertus might be the one caring more about Crowe on emotional level, it's Nyx who receives her "belongings," which later helped him.

Libertus, despite for the most part of the movie being either unable to do some things or doing counterproductive to Nyx's ones by siding with rebels, lives to lead the Glaives and in a way to repay for his mistakes. Which might be similar to Bhunivelze, who while asleep takes part in world affairs indirectly and him being the one who can rebuild the world.

Nyx and Libertus' passing of title "Hero" to each other, Libertus also being called "Hero" by rebels, might be like Noctis and Ravus in a similar way passing a title of "King."

Nyx's last words in Kingsglaive were intended for Noctis, but as Nyx himself might be "Noctis," these words might be addressed to other "King."

3) In FF15 both Fleuret siblings "give" Noctis some items.

Noctis receiving the Ring from Luna in overworld, where they both were dead at that moment, and Nyx receiving Crowe's belongings, most notably her wrist-watch, might be akin to receiving Etro's blessing from Unseen Realm.

In cutscene where Luna talks with Ravus, before the camera rotates so that Luna will be talking with Gentiana and the sun will hind behind an island, Ravus is placed so that the sun is above him/on his side. What makes the shot on his side somewhat similar to mirrored version of a shot from a cutscene with Lightning and Bhunivelze.

Light and Darkness in FNC can be roughly translated to Crystal and Chaos. Based on its animations, Armiger ability might of Crystal/Light-nature.

Somewhat putting it into KH-terms, Noctis receiving the Sword from Ravus to a degree might be compared to Sora receiving Kingdom Key Light from Riku.

4) Lucis might be similar to FF13's Paddra, nation of Gran Pulse but the one worshipping Etro. While it won't be known which fal'Cie's territory it was supposed to be, from FF15 portrayal Lucis seems to be a patriarchal nation, more befitting Pulse.

Paddra worshiped Etro and its ruler, through Yeul, was somewhat Etro herself. In Lucis' case, while it has such detail as Lestallum's power plant where only women work, and Etro as ruler of Chaos makes its circulation possible, so she might be compared to power plant of FNC. Lucis' rulers are mostly male, which reminds more of Yeul's guardians Caius and Noel.

In FF13 only women, Yeul and Serah, received Etro's eyes, while Caius and Noel in paradox ending received Etro's heart. Stella and Noctis both having VS13's analog of Etro's eyes, is something not seen in FF13.

Like the ruler of Paddra the seeress Yeul has a Guardian, Lucis' rulers from the retinue surround themselves with a Shield first.

5.1) From FF13's novel "Fragments After," like Bhunivelze created Pulse and Lindzei, Etro thought by imitating their creation by tearing her flesh she might create something too, so Bhunivelze would give her attention.

In Lightning's view, if Etro could understand human emotions, she would've understood, that as she watched Bhunivelze give her no powers, she wanted to shred tears, not blood. That her killing herself for Bhunivelze's attention is like her being a little girl not understanding why she was shunned by her father.

Although Lightning and Caius at some point likened Etro and Yeul to children, their love was enough to destroy the world. As Caius talking about Yeul looks at Etro's throne, it can't be said that he's not making any allusions to Etro herself.

5.2) Element of Etro's love might be present in FF15 in Ifrit/Shiva, Ardyn/Aera/Somnus and Noctis/Luna.

Like Bhunivelze created new world, but Lightning went against him and stopped the Soulsong, so he decided to destroy it. Ifrit gave fire to humans, but as they spurned him, he destroyed nations he helped to build.

Shiva changed her attitude to humans, from not caring much at first to feeling affection for them, which like in Etro's case comes from her admiration for Ifrit/Bhunivelze first. Her real body being dead, but her watching over Noctis' party in their travels in her mini-form of Gentiana is like Etro being dead in the real world, but being able to watch over humans in all ages from Unseen Realm.

Etro singing "Somnus," which is about Bhunivelze, might be somewhat similar to Aera's promise to Ardyn to always remember his name, but in Etro' case making Bhunivelze not forgotten as he sleeps, intentionally she does that or not.

Some Luna's scenes when she speaks about Noctis might be befitting Etro speaking about Bhunivelze.

6.1) Ardyn's curse not being able to die and constantly reviving is similar to Caius, who's cursed by Yeuls to remain with them and merged with Chaos to such point, that unless Chaos will be cleansed he won't die/disappear. What Noctis essentially had to do in FF15 to Ardyn.

Unlike Yeuls, it wasn't Aera who might've played the biggest part in cursing Ardyn, but Somnus, who also didn't competely die. Lucian kings' souls continue living in the Ring might be similar to Chaos from Yeuls' hearts, which was accumulated after their every life.

Somnus and partly Shiva both are dead, but are able to appear in the living world like Yeuls. Shiva asking Noctis to "save" Ifrit might be similar to how some Yeuls asked Lightning to "save" Caius. Although Somnus in the form similar to Yeuls or Shiva doesn't ask anyone to "save" Ardyn, out of characters in FF15 who have similarities with Etro, Somnus is the one most close to be a contradiction like Yeuls.

6.2) Plot of KH Re:Coded in a way might be similar to plot of FF13-2. Sora fighting the bugs in different worlds which make up his journey from KH1 might be like Serah and Noel trying to fix the timeline so that humanity will live, but as they do so, Yeuls die and build up Chaos.

Although FF15 doesn't have timetravel in its story, from Umbra having ability to bring Noctis back and forth in time, Costlemark Tower having return to exit/start buttons and in Pitioss Ruins if Noctis falls he's returned to the nearest safe point, it might not be said that VS13 wasn't supposed to have any.

Conglomeration of Hearless that built up in Re:Coded might be similar to FF13's Chaos from Yeuls' hearts, and in VS13 Chaos similar to Yeuls' might've been connected to Lucis' line and Noctis.

Both Ardyn and Caius somewhat taunt characters with a throne. The throne Noctis sits on in VS13 trailers is reminiscent of Etro's throne.

7) Bhunivelze's crest due to having a "heart" in it, might resemble some KH's symbols that feature Kingdom Hearts. Possibly symbol of the Book of Prophesies the most closely.

Platforms in Cosmogenesis in FF13-3 depict Pulse and Lindzei as Moon and Sun respectively, as picture on the platforms is very similar to FNC's myth video.

Going by symbolism of 3 entities, Sora and Yozora might be the Moons of their "universes."

With the character reminiscing Stella possibly being the Star like Kairi, that leaves that Yozora's "Ravus" might be the Sun like Riku.

But that might be not 1:1 relation. Yozora/Noctis might have design and narrative similarities with Sora, but he might have some with Riku too.

Riku wields Light and Darkness, and bc of the latter he became Sora's Dream Eater and is able to enter his dreams. Noctis abilities might've come from Crystal and Chaos, with Chaos being also connected to dream world.

From FNC-standpoint, Sora and Yozora's meeting might've happened by the same means as Vanille and Fang in FF13-2 entered Serah's dream to wake her up. But as Yozora is somewhat confused by the whole situation too, his "dream drops" might be more involuntary.

[tifacaelum]

Crown Princess Tifa attempts to dissuade her father from invading Lucis and pursue peace but fails in her efforts due to Chancellor Ardyn's influence over Emperor Aldercapt. Regardless, she feels duty bound to serve her country so she reluctantly takes part in the war where she encounters and fights Noctis for the first time. Meanwhile, Ardyn and Verstael secretly conspire to overthrow the Emperor by reprogramming the Magitek army to turn against the imperials once they outnumber their human counterparts. Noctis by chance gets his hands on these plans during a raid. In a show of respect but also risking helping his sworn enemy, he turns this information over to Tifa after their second fight. This makes Tifa trust Noctis completely (they ironically grow closer together during their banter and fights🥰). The Emperor realizes he has been duped into war for Ardyn's purposes this whole time and tries to arrest him and Verstael. Unfortunately for him, Ardyn is prepared and puts his plan into action. Most of the human commanding officers and soldiers loyal to Niflheim find themselves under attack by their own Magitek troops, along with fiends Ardyn lets loose in the capital. Ardyn personally enters the throne room and defeats the Emperor, transforming him into the monstrous Foras as further humiliation. Supreme Commander Ravus tries to protect his Emperor but is defeated and likewise turned into a fiend. Tifa has at this point returned to find the capital in chaos. Tifa with Noctis help, is forced to kill her father turned fiend, while the Chocobros deal with the transformed Verstael and Ravus. Tifa hastily succeeds to the throne as Empress and the surviving elements of the human Niflheim army pledge their loyalty to her. Unfortunately the remnants of the imperial army are unable to hold back the combined Magitek soldiers and fiends and Granea falls, much like Insomnia had before. Surrounded and outnumbered the heroes seem doomed but Aranea arrives in time to save the day and evacuate the heroes. Tifa is Empress less than a day before her Empire collapses, much like how Noctis is effectively King after Regis death but loses the title when his kingdom falls shortly after. Ardyn does not trap Noctis in the Crystal this time. Because Luna does not exist in this AU, it is the Empire that keep the Starscourge under control for their own experiments. But after Ardyn's treachery, he unleashes the Starscourge upon both the Empire and the rest of the world. Noctis and Tifa are forced to survive and fight through the encroaching darkness without the Crystal in their possession. But all hope is not lost as humanity is united and the Astrals rally to fight the darkness after being freed following the Empire's destruction. As the destined King of Light, Noctis is still actively fighting against Ardyn and not MIA for 10 years like in the OG. Because of this, the heroes are able to reach and destroy Ardyn in a plan devised by Ignis. Ardyn's reign of chaos lasts only a few months rather than a decade. Whether Noctis and Tifa survive or one/both sacrificed is up to you.🤔

Great AU. Love it so much ❤️ Could even have alternative endings depending on the choices made

[itsgeecheebitch]

TITLE: Until Darkness Descends

RATING: Explicit

FANDOM: Final Fantasy XV

PAIRING: Ardyn Izunia x Reader

CHAPTER: 9

Ardyn watched from a distance as Gladiolus walked you home. Not even the relief he felt when you didn’t invite the man up to your apartment could quell the molten rage that surged through his veins. Jaw clenched, he watched as you gave Gladiolus a kiss on his cheek and bid him farewell. When did this even start? You never expressed interest in the Amicitia before, at least not to Ardyn. He could have sworn you were single the last time he saw you.

        Were you hiding this from him? Why did Ardyn even care? It shouldn’t matter to him that you decided to date someone. All he should be feeling right now is cold detachment. You were a pawn meant to be broken in the cruelest of ways. Whatever you decided to do in the meantime shouldn’t matter to Ardyn, but it did. 

        Seeing you hug another man, kiss another man, smile happily for another man, it was like seeing her do it. Anger gripped him by the throat and didn't let go. You weren’t her but you paraded around in her likeness. You bat her sooty lashes at other men, kissed them with her lips. Eventually, you would spread her legs and give to others what rightfully belonged to him. 

        Ardyn gnashed his teeth, hands trembling with the need to strike something. When was the last time he was this consumed by rage? Possibly during his first encounter with Bahamut. Ardyn rarely lost his cool, he was always in control of himself. But when it came to you it seemed he was incapable of any rational thought. And right now the only thought on his mind was that kiss. He narrowed his eyes, this won’t do. He refused to allow you to betray him, make her cheat on him. You had no business dating Gladiolus or anyone else for that matter. He’ll make sure you never do. 

        Miasma bloomed around Ardyn’s diminishing form. When he opened his eyes, he was inside of your new one bedroom apartment. Shadows climbed up the walls of your room, escaping the harsh silver light of the moon that pierced through your bedroom windows. Steam billowed out from underneath your bathroom door and curled as it disappeared into the air. 

         Accompanying the steam was the groan of water pipes as they spewed liquid heat. Underneath it all was the mellifluous hum of your voice as you sung a tune he did not recognize. Ardyn leaned against the wall that was adjacent to your bedroom door and waited. Finally, the water turned off and you emerged from the bathroom a few moments later. Water droplets clung to your supple flesh, running down your neck, the length of your arms, and chest before disappearing into the fluffy blue towel that covered your nakedness. 

       You didn’t notice Ardyn standing beside your open door as you walked into your bedroom. Droplets of water splashed onto the cherry wood floors. He watched as they raced down your legs. His gaze traveled higher, to the sway of your hips and playful bounce of your ass. The towel left little to the imagination. It clung to your form like a second skin and made Ardyn want to sink his fingers into your soft hips. Leave marks for Gladiolus to find later. 

      Opening your dresser, you bent over and searched through its content. He wondered if Gladiolus ever saw you like this, scantily dressed, skin still wet from the shower, and smelling like sweet lavender. Did he devour your ethereal beauty just as greedily as Ardyn did? Did you allow him to? Ardyn’s eyes hardened. Did you let Gladiolus touch you the same way Ardyn used to touch her? Did you shiver and moan the same way she did? Was every inch of your flesh kissed, and fondled, and caressed by a man that wasn’t Ardyn?

       Closing his eyes, Ardyn exhaled quietly, willing the violent storm that brewed underneath his skin to quiet. Losing control at this moment would do him no good. 

       Once the turbulence inside of his mind had settled, he opened his eyes and gazed upon you once more. It was about time to make his presence known. “Good evening, dearest.”

      You leaped into the air as though fire nipped your heels and spun around just as quickly. “Oh my gods, Ardyn you scared me!” You said with a sheepish grin, holding a hand to your chest. 

       “Did I?” Ardyn asked, tilting his head. “Ah, my sincere apologies. I suppose this isn’t the best time to wish you a happy belated birthday.”

       “I mean…eh, doesn’t matter.” You said with a flippant wave of your hand. “I’ll just get dressed real quick, it’s good to see you again.” Turning around you went back to rummaging through your drawer, oblivious to the heated gaze caressing your form. 

        “Likewise.” Ardyn replied. He allowed a moment of silence to pass between you before saying, "has anything of note happened since the last time I’ve seen you?”

         You looked up for a moment and caught his eyes in your mirror. “Hmm, not really. Just same old. Well I did graduate high school so I’ll be working with Noct full time now.”

          Ardyn arched his brow. You were lying. Your nostrils flared. Even if he hadn't caught you red handed, he would’ve known something was amiss from that action alone. “Are you sure that is all?” He asked once again, giving you a second chance to come clean. 

         “Yeah, I mean my life’s been pretty quiet lately so I don’t have much to tell.” You shrugged.

         Ardyn tried not to show his displeasure but it was becoming increasingly hard. You never hid anything from him, most certainly not the truth. You were always honest to a fault, discussing your feelings, your worries and insecurities, your hopes, your nightmares, even your secrets. Yet here you were, lying through your teeth with the truth so clearly evident on your face.  “I disagree. I dare say acquiring a romantic relationship is something of note to mention. I saw you at our usual meeting place with the prince’s shield. And to think you intended to keep this from me, truly you wound me.”

       You spun around, eyes wide and mouth hanging open with words that refused to come. “ I didn’t….” You sighed, your shoulders sagged and this time you met his gaze. “We haven't told anyone yet. We started dating three weeks ago after prom, since it's still new we thought to wait awhile, you know? I didn’t mean to keep this from you. But, once we do go public, I would like you to meet him. Officially at least. I think you would like him.”

       He had to fight the urge to scoff. Ardyn didn’t need an introduction with the Amicitia, he knew the boy far better than he knew himself. But what irked him the most about your words was the unmistakable jubilation in your voice. The way your eyes twinkled when you spoke about Gladiolus, as though he was everything you ever wanted in life. 

       Jealousy sent fire lancing through his chest. He couldn’t take your happiness, the dreamy look in your eyes, and the girlish smile on your lips. It needed to be snuffed out, crushed under his boot until it withered and died. 

[krisssssssy]

WIP Title Meme

I was tagged by @savage-rhi!

Rules: Make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

So. My WIPs are pretty much entirely Ardyn lmao. Also I know the point of this is to post just the titles, but I'm gonna give a little summary.

All Fan-Fic WIPS:

To the Blessed Below - Ardyn/Reader - Reader is a scientist working in Besithia's lab when they rescue Ardyn on Angelgard. She assists in his recovery, witnessing his steady descent into villainy, despite her best intentions.

Unpunishable - sub!Ardyn/dom!Reader - Reader assists Ardyn in learning to control his (literal) daemons.

Untitled Gladio/Reader fic - I just want an excuse to write hate sex between reader and Gladio. They (begrudgingly) team up to take down a nest of daemons in the Darkness and arguments ensue over Reader's skill, with Gladio being his usual cocky, annoying self.

Wolf at the Door - Ardyn/Reader - Set during the darkness, your hunting partner has started acting weird - he's stronger, more talkative, and he seems like an entirely different person. You start to wonder if he's possessed. This fic is just me theorizing what Ardyn would do to pass the time during the darkness (i.e. kill a hunter and pretend to be them for funsies).

Inheritance - Ardyn/Reader - Reader is Iedolus Aldercapt's adult daughter, the future Empress of Niflheim. She grows increasingly paranoid of the Chancellor and his intentions, when her spies keep ending up dead. I want to explore how Ardyn might have operated in the Empire if Iedolus had a successor who was witness to his manipulations. Sort of enemies to lovers, but they're still enemies the entire time.

Liability - Mandalorian/Reader fic - Pre-Season 1 - Mando takes a bounty to return an escaped duchess to her husband, only to find she's more trouble than she's worth. I wanted to explore Mando's character pre-canon, where he's more mean, and force him to interact with an emotionally unstable, unpredictable Reader character lol. Will likely be very toxic, power dynamics, etc.

Untitled dom!Mando/sub!Reader fic - Pre-canon, Mando agrees not to freeze Reader in carbonite as long as she behaves.

Original Works:

Isolated Waters - Poetry collection, exploring my experience growing up with mental illness.

Tagging: I don't know a lot of people on here, so I'm just gonna tag a few! (don't feel any pressure to do this!) @hauntedadagium, @thecomfortgoth, @eddiessidegirl, @guildwarsgirl

[shslivalice]

"#well every final fantasy is canon to it#up to pre-16 since i dont wanna re-write stuff#but like... the ff5 ova? canon#all the bravest? canon#world of final fantasy? you'll understand alexander more if you know it"

That is awesome! (Not that I'm a sucker for anything that mashes the whole series together or anything.) Tell me more?

OH MY GOD I RAMBLE ABOUT IT SO MUCH ON PLURK BUT TIME FOR A PRIMER

So.

Ficverse/Espersong Saga. Began as my silly 'Sunderedswap' for Ascians, since I wanted to make a slightly different Eorzea. And Minfilia as WoL. Just a simple FF14 re-write.

Note: One of the sunderedswaps is a VA joke, the other is a pun. (Nabriales - who was Balthier back when Ivalice existed. Mitron? Well. I am amused at the pun Mitronbryda and it is so funny.)

(I also wanted to put some sundered souls in Scions, because Emets' soul being inside Thancred is funny, and then Sundered Lahabrea getting so pissed off and trying to possess him to wake him up.)

(Mitron also has been doing stupid stuff, like. Splitting soul in half so half can be with the sundered Loghrif and the other half can do Rejoining Stuff. Nabriales, meanwhile, is just getting freaked out by the fact several former FF12 souls have been reborn and maybe they'll figure him out?)

And then I sprinkled in Dissidia mostly, but then added more. Alexander, for example, being this high and mighty deity? Mixing that with 14 Lore has been so fun! Alexander meddling with time and trying to reconstruct worlds after Dissidia Shinryu devours them. And then claimed an avatar and well, they call it enthrallment because what else could it be? And then Ardyn is sleeping with Solus (it's not romantic, they just both miss their partners.)

And then me sliding in some of my other AUs and making them work in this Big Universe. It's just. My Passion Project and has so many funny facts.

I did begin writing and publishing it before 6.0, so some things have been re-worked - but some haven't. Damnit I chose a role for the Heart of Sabik, I'm keeping mine. But the Endsinger, for example, gave me the chance to be like 'okay shinryu hasnt eaten this world yet because got distracted'.

Also a link to the collection.

But like lmao you know how good I am at thinking of how FF things can go together. I helped you, after all!

[ermora]

Ardyn x Neko Reader

Back again with a random idea of Ardyn being with a neko reader. A bit of a master pet dynamic (just a hint) I guess, anyways hope you enjoy and I’m sorry about Ardyn being OOC.

_______________________________________________

You happily walked around your apartment with your ears and tail out as you cleaned your space, feeling relieved that you got the day off from work. The past week has been stressful and having to hide your ears and tail under different articles of clothing and hats is difficult over long periods of time. You knew you could probably have them showing but neko’s such as yourself were extremely rare in Eos and most times people took advantage of a neko by making them a prized possession of sorts to show off. It reminds you of a rich person showing off their latest accessory or gadget. Your ear twitched slightly as you could hear someone moving through the apartment hallways outside of your door again as it had been happening all morning. You shook your head and the bell attached to the collar around your neck jingles a little bit, you hated hearing all of the little noises but there wasn’t much you could do until your lease was up and you could find a new place to live. It wouldn’t be much longer now either, which was nice, as your one neko friend was willing to let you crash with her right after your lease was up. She was actually coming over today to talk to you about it a little bit more and it won’t be long before she shows up. As if on cue, there was a knock on your door and you put your stuff down before you happily made your way over to the door and opened it up, your stomach dropped as it wasn’t your friend at the door bit your boss, Ardyn Izunia. He seemed a little stunned as he took in your appearance and you bit your lower lip, what the hell is he doing here?

“What brings you here Chancellor?” you asked in an uneasy tone.

“I was coming by to see if you had accidentally put some of my papers into your bag as I happen to be missing some important papers after you left yesterday” Ardyn replied as he looked at your (h/c) ears and tail. You hesitated briefly, wondering why he wouldn’t try to text you instead of just showing up as he now sees you for what you truly are.

“I can check… why don’t you come inside though as I don’t need someone else to see me or wonder why you’re here” you suggested as you let Ardyn into your apartment and closed the door behind him. You quickly went off to your bedroom and grabbed your work bag before returning to your living room and going through your bag in front of Ardyn.

“This is a rather modest place for a neko to have” Ardyn noted as he looked around your apartment, you said nothing back as you found some important looking papers in your bag. You felt your cheeks turn red as you pulled them out and handed them over to Ardyn.

“Here you are Chancellor and I’m sorry about accidentally taking them, my brain must have been in Friday mode when I went to leave” you apologized, Ardyn gently took the papers and gave you a smile.

“It’s quite alright (y/n) I think we’ve all done something silly on our Friday’s, besides, this was worth the trip as I’ve not seen a neko in quite awhile” Ardyn noted as he purposefully tapped your collars bell, making in ring a little bit.

“Yes, well I ask that you please keep this to yourself as I believe the empire would use me as an accessory to show off or some sort of pet” you stated.

“I won’t say a thing but there is something I want in return then… a trade of sorts” Ardyn said as he put the papers down, you swallowed nervously. You could say no but at the same time you need the job you have and you want to keep a low profile, you sighed as the answer was obvious.

“Very well, what do you want?” you asked, Ardyn smiled.

 

“Whenever you and I are alone I want you to look just like this, tail and ears showing with that adorable collar around your neck and in return, I’ll keep your little secret, do you agree my little kitten?” Ardyn asked as he stroked your right cheek with the back of his left hand. His touch sent an odd sensation through your body that was one you loved but hated because it was gentle and yet dominating.

“There’s more to this than your saying Chancellor” you replied, Ardyn chuckled.

“You’re as observant as ever… yes, I do have another agenda but I promise that your secret would not be revealed” Ardyn admitted, your (e/c) eyes met his golden ones.

“You have to tell me what it is or I won’t agree to your deal” you stated, Ardyn's left hand went to your collar and he put his index finger under it and pulled at it a little bit.

“You will be mine my little kitten and will do what I ask without question” Ardyn said in a rather quiet tone. You felt a rock in your stomach  of course he was going to use you as having a neko makes anyone look good.

 

“You do realize that I’m heavily debating as to whether or not this is a good idea or not, correct?” you asked, Ardyn took a step closer to you and without warning he leaned into your right ear.

“Ah, but you do realize that your choices are limited and that at any point this could backfire on you… make the smart choice kitten or I’ll be forced to do something you may not appreciate” Ardyn whispered with a hint of a threatening tone in his voice. Your ear twitched as his hot breath in your ear sent a jolt through your system, your ears were always quite sensitive and you loved it when someone blew on your ears for some odd reason.

“Ch-chancellor, please don’t do that” you breathed in shock, Ardyn chuckled again.

“Please, just call me Ardyn my little kitten and accept my proposal” Ardyn stated as he moved down to your neck, your eyes widened as you realized that he was going to mark you to make you his pet.

“Ardyn, you can’t just…” you trailed off, unable to find the right words.

“Oh but I can and if you’d like to keep your secret safe, I suggest you accept” Ardyn said, you sighed and felt tears in your eyes.

“Fine, you win” you reluctantly agreed, Ardyn smiled and pulled away from your neck, you looked at him in confusion as he let go of your collar.

“Good, I shall see you in my office in a few days and please… if it’s just us, call me Ardyn” Ardyn stated, you nodded and he left your apartment. You stood there in shock, he calls you little kitten and did all that, just to never make you his pet. Was that his intention or is he planning something else? You shook your head to clear your thoughts, it’s no use worrying about it at this point as you’ve got a friend coming over soon.

2 Months later

You entered Ardyn’s office with some papers and removed your hat to show your ears while pulling your tail out of your pants and taking off your turtleneck sweater to show your collar. Ardyn smiled as you approached him and your tail twitched nervously, you’ve been doing this for two months now and you’re finding that Ardyn is quite charming for a human. He does, however, rub you the wrong way by calling you ‘little kitten’ whenever it’s just the two of you.

“Here’s the papers from Ravus you requested Ardyn” you noted as you put the papers in your hand onto the desk.

“Thank you my little kitten, may I please get you to file these away for me?” Ardyn asked as he patted a stack of papers on his desk.

“Of course you can” you replied as you grabbed the stack, went over to the cabinet behind Ardyn and began to file the papers away, as you did so though Ardyn’s hands touched your tail and you jolted as you looked at him and he looked amused.

“Oh my, I didn’t mean to startle you little kitten, I was simply curious as to how soft your tail was” Ardyn said in a not so innocent tone.

“A neko’s ears are far softer than their tail and we typically hate our tails being touched” you explained as you moved your tail away from his hands, he lifted as eyebrow and stood up.

“Are they now? I must test this myself” Ardyn stated as he lifted his hands and gently rubbed your ears, it felt… good as he rubbed your ears and you slowly began to fall into a state where you felt, safe.

“Ardyn… that feels nice” you mumbled in a calm, content tone.

“I know my little kitten, I’m not nearly as uneducated about neko’s as you seem to think” Ardyn quietly said as he leaned forward and breathed into your right ear. You let out a small gasp as the urge to want him as your master began to rise, he didn’t look it but he was extremely gentle with you and has kept your secret.

“Master… please let me be your pet” you breathed without a second thought.

“Oh my little kitten, you’ve been my pet for quite awhile now” Ardyn mumbled as he went down to your neck and gently bit it. You did nothing as he made you his pet and as he released you and stopped touching your ears, your mind began to clear up. A sense of dread followed as you realized that your instincts had betrayed you and you were now Ardyn’s pet and he was your master.

“I… you…” you faltered in your sentence as Ardyn grabbed your collar and sat down in his office chair.

“Your master is demanding that you come sit on his lap” Ardyn demanded, you did as he asked and without missing a beat, Ardyn pulled your collar close to him and your lips met. A jolt went through your system now as you realized that he wanted this the whole time, a master and pet relationship where you would be his and only his. You’d be unable to say no now as he had marked you and you were his pet, his play toy, his… little kitten. Ardyn broke off the kiss and released your collar, the belly letting out a soft jingle as his fingers gently brushed it.

“What do you plan to do now?” you asked, Ardyn grinned at you.

“You’ll find out soon my little kitten and I’m certain you’ll enjoy it” he replied, you felt uneasy but nodded, knowing that you were now at Ardyn’s mercy as his pet. You could only hope that with him as your master that you’d be safe as that’s all you wanted at this point, safety and a nice quiet life with your master.