★ // stay frosty royal milk tea

[scourgingstars]

Who: Ardyn + Ignis, featuring some assorted things later on
What: Replanting medicinal plants and chocobo snacks.
Where: Around the building and nearby
When: ~May 9th
Warnings: JRPG illness, again.

He's still a complete imbecile. Has he ever learned anything a day in his life?

[Ardyn complained as he was known to do in between emptying out the lockers of anything that looked like it would hold a plant; lunchboxes, mostly. He may or may not have acquired a couple of pots through questionable means, but it never hurt to be fully prepared. His own persistent cough had finally stopped over the new moon, but now that a few days had passed it was starting to return no matter how he hid it.]

When we inevitably run out of medical supplies because everyone's running about doing the most idiotic things possible, I don't want to hear a word of complaint from anyone. Unless we can come up with a case of bottled water or somesuch thing out of nowhere, I'll have absolutely no part of playing doctor.

Comments

[shatteredlenses]

He's learned I will give him the most withering of glares if he suggests having cup noodles more than one night in a row. Does that count?

[While Ardyn is adding to their makeshift plant container stock, Ignis is running his hands over each one trying to decide which plants should go where. The nicer pots he doesn't ask about. Honestly, it's easier that way. He might not approve of stealing, but he also knows that Ardyn needs outlets for his stress and there are a lot worse things he could be doing than walking off with a few pots here and there.]

I would not expect you to, especially with how your healing impacts you. If special abilities are going to be in flux like this constantly, it is best that we not depend on them except in extreme emergencies anyway. At least if these plants grow well, we will have a few less things to worry about.

[scourgingstars]

He's lucky I don't just knock him out for his own idiocy.

[Larger acts of villainy as stress relief were impractical. Petty thievery and the occasional threats were really all he had to keep his own frustrations in check. He muffled a brief cough against the back of his hand, closing the locker he'd been rifling through and turning back to Ignis.]

Is this going to be enough for now?

[shatteredlenses]

It would be a constant battle if you did that, beloved. If it helps any, I think he might have actually learned something this time.

[Ignis does a quick tally of the containers spread around him and then nods.]

It will be a good start. We can focus on the medicinal plants and the grasses for the chocobos first. If things go well enough, then we can expand to a few of the other seed types I have in my bag. Until we have a fairly steady source of water, I don't want to get too much going at once.

[This might not be quite the emergency Ignis was anticipating when he made that little bag of seeds up, but he is sure glad he has them now.]

[scourgingstars]

Pardon me if I find that highly unlikely. Shall we venture outside, then?

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis laughs and then pulls himself to his feet.]

Unless you want the others to knock our heads together, I think that's a good idea.

[scourgingstars]

They're welcome to try, but they'll not be pleased by the results.

[well let's just gather our stolen and borrowed inventory and head out, then.]

[shatteredlenses]

It is something I would have to advise against, that is for certain.

[Pack slung over one shoulder, he fills up his arms and then starts heading for the door. Please don't let him walk into anything Ardyn. It would be embarrassing.]

We are trying to avoid foolish injuries and the medical supplies they would waste after all.

[piercetheheart]

[He tries to tell himself he's not going to say anything, not going to add any more strain to their already strained relationship. He tries, for the millionth time, to consider all the warnings and advice and suggestions he's been given on how best to handle their resident apocalypse.

In the end he just sighs his resignation to whatever particular bout of abuse Ardyn feels like dishing out today and limps his way over to lean on the wall nearby the plants Ardyn is checking on, his latest round of blankets strung out behind them.]

Hey... [He doesn't really have a plan of what he wants to say just that he wants... some form of acknowledgement from the redhead, stupid though that might be.]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn sighed at the greeting, but didn’t lash out; he straightened up and dusted off his hands before they went to his pockets. The bandages were off by now, but his gloves needed repair before he could actually wear them again. Having anyone else see his hands was not a conversation starter Ardyn was inviting.]

What is it, Gladiolus?

[piercetheheart]

Just... thank you.

[Another sigh, shoving a hand back through his hair to push it out of his face. Right... why is he doing this to himself again?]

I know you don't trust us and all but... thank you for giving him that. 's safer for him.

[scourgingstars]

...

[Ardyn scowled halfheartedly, looking off to the side from under his hat.]

I don’t need your gratitude. I just wanted to see if it was something I could even do. Some of us never had an army to bestow such a power to.

[piercetheheart]

I know you don't.

[That wasn't the point. Gods dammit, why was this so fucking hard? Why couldn't he just... not make a fool out of himself for five godsdamned seconds.]

Don't need it, still have it. And it shouldn't be for an army. I get why His Majesty did it, we'd have been screwed without the Glaives, but... it should just be the people close to you. Important to you.

[People that deserved it, like his Dad, like Cor, like Ignis. As dumb as he feels right now he doesn't know what else to do with Ardyn than speak his mind and take whatever lashings he gets for it.]

I know it doesn't really matter to you what I think I was... just gonna tell you anyway. Which is stupid. I know, you don't have to say it. Glad you trust him, though. At least a little bit.

[scourgingstars]

...’Trust’ is a strong word for whatever that is. One I doubt I would use. But I suppose it defies description otherwise.

[He didn’t sound confrontational, at least. Without thinking, Ardyn reached up with a stigmata-scarred hand to push his hat back a little.]

It’s inefficient to refuse such a thing, regardless.

[want_to_belong]

[It was a bit odd when he found out that Iggy was linked to Ardyn's armiger. He didn't really know what to say about it. For one thing, he had his own questions about it, and in a quiet moment when they were alone and things were calm he decided to speak up.]

So, you can do that? I mean, let people use the armiger?

[scourgingstars]

Apparently.

[He raised en eyebrow at Prompto, hat tilted back just enough to look at him.]

I'd never tried before. It simply stood to reason that I could if my brother could.

[want_to_belong]

I never really thought about it. I wonder if it's all the same...

[Would it feel different at all from Noct's?]

But. It should be a lot better for Iggy. I feel better knowing that he'll be able to do some of his normal stuff again.

[scourgingstars]

[A shrug.]

Superficial differences, mostly. Think of it as similar to slightly different frequencies on a radio.

[want_to_belong]

What happens if Noct let you use his armiger?

[He knows this never happened, but. Now he's really curious about stuff.]

It's crazy trying to think about it. But. Thanks. 'm glad Iggy will have something at least.

[scourgingstars]

Either infinite recursion or a positively obscene amount of swords likely to be purple in color. I wouldn't know.

[ardyn, please.]

Don't bother thanking me.

swords

[bloodyashes]

[Sometime a day or two after their powers start to return in earnest - not just drips but the restoration of his fonon sense and his ability to actually use the damn thing - Asch shows up at wherever Ardyn's lurking with a greatsword on his back.]

Up for it, now that we've stopped feeling like hell?

[Exactly what 'it' is is hopefully obvious, given their previous discussions.]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn had taken up space in the library--with Hresvelgr, in his usual fashion of sitting with his back to a large comfortable chocobo.]

...That matter of sparring we were discussing?

[bloodyashes]

Yeah.

[Sparring, sure. They're probably both more comfortable calling it that.]

Though fair warning that I've barely used this one.

[scourgingstars]

Very well. [Ardyn closed his book and stood up, petting Hresvelgr before picking up the Rakshasa Blade.] Outside, then?

[bloodyashes]

Probably for the better.

[Two big swords and whatever magic they bring to bear? Yeah, let's take this out to that helpfully located field nearby.

Chocobo gets a chin scritch as he goes by, because she's a good girl.]

[scourgingstars]

[away we go then]

I should warn you I'm still in a bit less than ideal condition. I should be able to manage a simple match, however.