maybe your memories will be... better...?

[softlyfalling]

Who: all y'all
Where: wheremstever you want to take memories
When: Day 354

[ decent odds your memories will be better than what's been going on around here, right ]

Comments

[runawayprince]

As ready as I'll ever be.

[Maybe after he'll buy some memories too? He's been meaning to.]

[tenebraecious]

Please, give us all grace . . .

[and pressing play on basically Episode Ardyn as told/represented by Mira, only focusing in on Ardyn's origin and the crisis of determining the first king]

[runawayprince]

[Experiencing it through memories and hearing bits and pieces before that are two different things. He's quiet for a long moment, not sure what to say.]

I'm... never going to be okay with what he did to you, but I get it now.

[He probably would have defied Bahaumut too.]

[tenebraecious]

[Aera* Why do I always want to call her Mira...]

I could not ask that of you. Thank you, however. Seeing the two of you clash was more than I could bear, so I wish only to keep peace between us all.

[runawayprince]

Yeah, I get that. Do you think that's something he cares about, though?

[tenebraecious]

He does, deeply. A fight between the two of you could bring suffering upon Baritones whom he cares for. So long as you do not strike him, then he will give you the same courtesy.

Remember, you are and were his deliverance. It is not something that he would chance.

[runawayprince]

We wouldn't do anything to Baritones. Cypress is seeing someone over there, I think. Or they're just friends. Besides that, I wouldn't punish other people just to get to him.

[He shrugs.]

I just want him to pay for what he did to you and Prompto. I still don't even know if he's okay and Ardyn would never tell me, even if I asked.

[tenebraecious]

Even if I asked you not to?

[starts, then thinking over her words]

I understand that you are upset; I do not mean to erase that. But I do not have any more room in my heart for sorrow.

[runawayprince]

I can't just ignore him or the stuff he's done. He has to know that too. Like I said - I'm not going out of my way to cause trouble for Baritones or Lilis. My issues with him are my own.

[Taking her hand, but not before hesitating. He's worried she'll pull away.]

I don't want to cause you more pain. I really don't. It's just... it's something between me and him. Something he and I have to work out for ourselves.

[tenebraecious]

[her eyebrows twist, eventually giving up and looking down. she takes his hand, holding on tightly]

. . . There is nothing to stay his hand here, Noctis.

[runawayprince]

There was nothing stopping him the minute I got here. I don't know that he and I will ever be able to get along, but... I'll try to not make you worry as much.

[He doesn't know what he'd do with himself if they did get along, honestly. He doesn't know if he can do it.]

It's my turn for a memory.

[If only to give her something else to think or talk about.]

[tenebraecious]

[keeping her head but nodding]

[runawayprince]

Right.

[Here goes? He wishes he could take it back.]

No. Ravus...?

[After he'd been feeling so unsure about him, guilty for how he'd acted towards him, this was the end result.]

[tenebraecious]

[freezes as she is able to place the location, holding more tightly onto Noctis' hand while she covers her mouth and looks away. trying to get a handle on herself]

[runawayprince]

Luna... I'm sorry. I couldn't help either of you.

[He holds her hand, but only so that he can bring his other arm around her as well.]

[tenebraecious]

[shaking her head, struggling to speak]

I thought— I had hoped I would see him again. To me, he could not fall. Mother, Regis, Nyx, Ravus, and you . . . It seems as if all those I love are ever greeted by death.

[runawayprince]

The Empire did that. You did everything you could for me, for Ravus too. I know it. He knew it too, or he wouldn't have tried so hard to keep you safe. We both failed you.

[He understands Ravus a lot better after reading those letters and it honestly kills him that they couldn't really mend things before it was too late. Was that just all their destiny?]

[tenebraecious]

No. Ravus could not protect me from myself. If I had listened to him, he would not have joined the Empire nor burned his arm away seeking power that was not his. I could have questioned Gentiana or told you the truth. I— . . . I was so misguided for so long, Noctis. I am sorry.