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[A long pause.]

i'm afraid it isn't particularly pleasant.

[He wasn't expecting it to be sunshine hour, considering he needs to be prepared for this, but the confirmation is nice. There's a pause on his end as he does a quick sweep of the house to make sure it's empty, and to check in with Prompto and Pyra that they'll be out for a while, on the pretense of asking about dinner. All clear.]

come to my place

i'll be right there.

[And given how quickly he could move, it didn't take long at all before Ardyn knocked lightly on the door.]

[Noctis is quick enough to answer, having expected him, though his appearance is admittedly more... rumpled than usual. He's not unclean or anything, but he's normally more keen on looking fashionable and well-groomed, and right now he looks a bit like he'd rolled out of bed and thrown on the first thing that fit him. He also seems more tired, which for him is saying a lot. It isn't even early in the morning.

He still musters an awkward half-wave as a greeting and steps aside to let Ardyn in.]

Hey.

...hey.

[Ardyn looked about the same level of disheveled as he ever did, though...if it was possible, perhaps even more tired.]

I'm...sorry to bother you like this. I don't even know what talking about this will accomplish, but I...didn't know what else to do.

[There's something weirdly comforting about the mess that greets him on the other side. Very "same hat" mood. He sighs faintly, turning and heading for the kitchen where a kettle is already in the process of boiling, and there's a little tray of fruit tarts on the table. They may be a collective disaster, but at least it smells nice and homey in here.]

It's fine. I'm starting to get used to the idea that maybe talking things out actually helps sometimes.

[He's also used to the whole bury-the-sadness habit, so...]

I...recognize it's a habit I should work on developing myself.

[repression, the true lucis caelum inheritance.]

I'm sorry for asking on such short notice, I know things have been more than a bit chaotic as of late.

It's okay. What's the saying, strike while the iron's hot? We could turn into little kids again in the middle of this. Or worse.

[Though "worse" is a matter of perspective at this point.]

May as well talk while we're both ourselves.

Wouldn't that be painfully awkward. [A short, nervous laugh came with the answer as Ardyn uneasily settled into a chair.]

Have, er...have you spoken with Pyra recently?

[Um.

Noctis has a bit of a deer-in-headlights expression at that.]

She... lives here? So yeah.

Ah...sorry, stupid question.

[Ardyn looked off to the side, folding his arms and faltering to say much else.]

I-...forgive me, I asked to speak with you and yet I don't know that I'm sure how to start.

...Maybe I should, then.

[He won't share her secret - he'd promised - but he can at least coax the truth out, if his suspicions are correct.]

Did something weird happen?

S...something like that. I wouldn't--it isn't her fault, she didn't do anything wrong. It's my own carelessness if anything.

[Obviously he couldn't blame Pyra for something blatantly beyond her control.]

But it's possible I...witnessed something I perhaps wasn't yet meant to.

[...Ah. That confirms it, then- he saw her in that... state. He knows.

Noctis glances down, hands carefully braced on the counter, shoulders tense.]

You saw... something from the future.

[He knows, too.]

...yes.

[At least explaining that part was taken care of, but approaching the rest seemed an insurmountable task.]

I take it you did, as well?

Yep. Lucky us.

[He's trying to be matter-of-fact about it, but it's obvious from his body language and the subtle tremor of his voice that he'd been left shaken by the vision. There's no escaping more bad news, it seems.]

What was it?

I saw what we both already know. That...you're going to kill me, in what I can only presume to be Insomnia.

[....

Hah... of course. Of course it was that. Noctis isn't sure if he wants to laugh to cry, so instead he just rubs his forehead with a grimace.]

Got any wine left? I don't think tea's gonna do it right now.

[Ardyn made a vague gesture, last bottle of his Niflheim-made wine appearing from the Armiger and set a bit shakily on the table.]

I'm sorry. I--it's as I said. I didn't know who else to talk to about it.

[Oh thank god. The replicator wine sucks, and Noctis doesn't even like wine to begin with, but with the subject being this sore he needs it to loosen his tongue. He fetches a couple of glasses for the table and ditches the kettle, moving to sit down with Ardyn.]

It's fine. [Well. Maybe not fine, but he accepts the truth as it is. Not like he has a lot of people he can talk to about this either.] Sounds like you got part 1, and I got part 2.

[He hesitates then; keeping it vague is easier, but it isn't going to help either of them piece it together.]

I... saw myself die, too.

...

[Ardyn was briefly stunned into silence, because what did one even say to that? Another apology caught in his throat, halted by how empty and useless it would sound.]

Will...you be alright? Is there anything I can do--I could leave if--if you would rather...

[Noctis shakes his head, instead reaching for the bottle to uncork it and pour out the glasses. Whether or not he's alright - and he most definitely isn't - has nothing to do with the Ardyn sitting here in front of him. He's still working on being... okay... with seeing that face, but avoiding the issue isn't going to help.]

You weren't there. Must've already... [He gestures vaguely. Whatever Ardyn saw.] Anyway, shouldn't I be asking you that? I'm the one who's gonna do it.

It...isn't as though I'm all that angry about it.

[Not yet, at least. Anger was the sort of thing reserved for an Ardyn he didn't know.]

I'm not fully certain what it is I'm feeling right now. Shame and disgust at myself, most likely.

I shouldn't have to tell you that wasn't you.

[Though based on what he knows of the man, it merits repeating.]

If it was, you definitely wouldn't be here.

I know. I know that, but...does the distinction even matter anymore? Does anything, if all I am going to do is turn into that?

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