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I assure you, no one was more surprised than me.

I'm perfectly fine now. You don't need to underplay anything for my sake.

im not rly there just isnt much 2 say

its just like the worst case of stasis ever ever ever

Is there anything I can do to help?

[...said like he hadn't already because why is he like this]

[yeah about that]

pretty sure you did enuf already

id ask u to kidnap me away from the collective worry-fuss-lecture @ my place rn but im pretty sure ur house would be just as bad

Likely so. Would you like company that promises not to lecture you, at the very absolute minimum?

if ur asking bc u wanna come over and see my awesome self u have my permission

not gonna promise a timespan of consciousness tho take me as i am

That's fine. Should I just let myself in and spare you any extra effort?

umm just come in, should b unlocked or pyra can let u in. or iggy w/e

[then, a few minutes later-]

can u bring malasadas from the cafe too

Anything you say. I'll be there as soon as I can.

cool

[He's going back to dozing, because what the hell is energy these days, but Ardyn can easily find him in a blanket nest in his room, little more than a tuft of black hair sticking out of the collected fabric. Umbra is curled up comfortably behind the lump that vaguely resembles legs.]

[He did come by soon after, quietly setting down a bag of several malasadas and tapping lightly on where he assumed Noctis' shoulder was.]

Sorry--are you awake?

Uh-huh.

[It's done with some reluctance, but after a few seconds the top blanket is pulled back and Noctis lifts his head, drawn by the scent of sweets. He looks kind of pale, and visibly tired, but not otherwise wounded in any way. The only exception is his middle finger- devoid of the ring for now, the band of scarring where it sat is a little darker than it was before, a series of faint spiderveins stretching from knuckle to the first joint.]

Thanks for the snacks.

It's no problem at all. I'm glad to see you a little more awake.

[He smiled faintly, looking a little more tired than usual but in decent condition besides. He tugged his left sleeve down a little further over his left hand, shrugging slightly.]

[Noct's gaze is drawn lower as he moves his sleeve, lips pursing tightly and fighting back a wave of guilt before he glances away and reaches for the bag.]

I won't lie and say I'm glad to be awake, but I'll get there.

[Probably. Maybe.]

I'll just have to be grateful for the both of us. How are you doing?

I'm okay. Seriously, all I've done is lay around in bed and sleep this off. Getting better, too. Pretty soon I won't have an excuse to get pampered anymore.

How terrible.

[A small smile.]

You might find it terrible if people ask you every ten minutes how you are when the answer hasn't changed all day.

[A pointed look.]

[Ardyn laughed softly, at least managing to look apologetic.]

I'm sorry. I'm sure you've heard it more than enough.

I'm sure I'll hear it at least a few times more.

[He's resigned to his fate, anyway. He takes out one of the snacks and holds the bag out for Ardyn if he wants it.]

... [Ardyn hesitated like he was going to protest he didn't need it, then thought better of the idea and reached out with his left hand to take one.]

Hopefully, I can do my best to refrain.

Sure, sure. [Said like he totally believes it, for real, you bet.] How are you doing, though? I know that was, um. A lot.

[He'd felt how much pain it was while it was happening, so... he knows how much Ardyn took. And yeah, he's seen the man's body shatter into pieces and come back unscathed afterwards, but that doesn't mean he couldn't be affected by anything- especially when part of this pain was from the ring's magic, and that's what was meant to kill him in the end.]

[Ardyn didn't answer right away, looking everywhere except directly at Noctis in much the way he often did when debating how much of the truth really needed to be told.]

...I will be fine. It would be a lie to say that my actions haven't had consequences lasting longer than I expected, but that is my responsibility to bear and no one else's.

Uh, we did kind of go overboard. Figure I should at least take some responsibility.

[He doesn't mind sharing if they all made collective stupid ideas, but they already went over this back when it first happened, so he doesn't like that it's still persisting. Pyra seems keen to take on a lot of the blame, too. Had they both forgotten who it is that decided to take the Fetter into his armory in the first place?]

Perhaps so. But I can't find it in me to hold it against either of you.

['Stupid shit happens' was a phrase Ardyn wasn't likely to say, but the sentiment was there somewhere.]

It was an accident, as we said, and everyone involved will be fine before long. Right?

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