It's a start, sure. But I don't want to leave it up to chance, not when I'm the one who fails to save her
[Based on what he's heard, he's... not the most reliable method of helping her in this situation. what if he screws it up again, even knowing how it goes?]
[Most of it, anyway. He's not sure why he asked if he wasn't prepared to talk about it yet, but... gods, he's not thinking straight. It would've been worth it if it saved Luna, but if he can't get anything from this, what's the point? It's not as if he wants comfort from this. Not from a stranger, or a possible enemy. Or. Whatever Ardyn is, now.
Truth be told he doesn't know if he believes the man or not, but silence won't help him figure it out, so after a long pause of nothing he sends-]
[A longer pause that time; like Ardyn was writing out a response, thinking better of it, and starting over several times. But, after a minute or two:]
My betrothed, Aera.
I failed at a critical moment, and she died in my place. Neither of us even realized I was unable to be killed in the first place, so it was all for naught either way.
[As more time passes it's less pain and more worry and urgency- it hasn't happened yet, but right now it's a certainty for the majority of his companions from Eos. He's the only one it hasn't happened for yet- which means it's up to him to fix this.]
I don't know yet. I'm trying to figure it out, but easier said than done.
She has a brother, but I seriously doubt he'll want to carry on that legacy. Luna said it's the duty of the Oracle to help the chosen of Lucis but he hates me. he just wants to kill me.
[He can only imagine that getting worse if Luna dies for his sake.]
Far as I know he blames us for Niflheim killing their mother.
[The most logical of decisions. Though now that time has given his temper a chance to cool, he can at least recognize how young they all were when it happened. He can barely recall the finer details, but there are glimpses of memory from that day: clinging to his father's shoulder as they run for their lives, the desperate cry for help from a wounded Ravus as he sits with his mother's body, Luna's sad resignation as she remains behind to be captured by the enemy, unwilling to abandon her family. It was enough to traumatize any child, surely. He can attest to that much.]
I am not sure I would know where to begin. To hear Verstael talk one would think the war to have gone on for an age already. Things such as that don't sprout up from nothing, and I fear no one single person could truly illuminate the circumstances surrounding it.
How much illumination do you need? he's not lying about the timeline. Niflheim started the war almost 400 years ago bc they wanted to steal more land for themselves
they've been taking over regions all over the world ever since. they broke the peace and they've been killing people for centuries. then they lied and offered to sign a treaty (and we SURRENDERED) just so they could get into Insomnia, kill my dad, and steal the crystal
sorry if I don't give a damn what their circumstances might be. nothing's gonna justify what they've done.
I was not trying to imply they were somehow justified in their acts. I would presume that 'looking for an ancient daemonic weapon' rather disqualifies the empire from any concept of good will that might theoretically have driven them, regardless.
I merely meant that to truly understand a four hundred years long war requires at minimum some passable knowledge of history that transpired while I was on a forsaken miserable island. Conflicts that are clearly black and white rarely if ever truly exist.
[There's a long pause where Noctis sends no reply; he has to get up for a minute and pace around, cool down a bit. He's going to start another fight at this rate, and he's- well, he said he would try. So he's trying, dammit.]
maybe try asking him why the war started. my guess would be some kind of spin on "power" and "glory" and "subjugation of the peasants" made up to sound noble somehow
[Okay okay okay try again. Gods, this is hard. There is no neutral in this universe for him when it comes to the conflict.]
from what I remember, it goes like this: Niflheim starts the war. Tenebrae falls, Accordo falls. The king uses the Crystal's power to raise a barrier around Lucis. Over the years the barrier is pulled back more and more until it only protects Insomnia and Niflheim keeps advancing. We lose territory, they gain it. Rinse and repeat until- what I already told you.
While all of that's happening, daemons and the Starscourge spread across the world, and THAT didn't start until the war did, so maybe they caused that to happen, too. It's hard to find fights they DIDN'T start.
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[Based on what he's heard, he's... not the most reliable method of helping her in this situation. what if he screws it up again, even knowing how it goes?]
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I'm sure you won't believe me, but I understand that sentiment well.
I'll still listen, if you wish to continue.
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[Most of it, anyway. He's not sure why he asked if he wasn't prepared to talk about it yet, but... gods, he's not thinking straight. It would've been worth it if it saved Luna, but if he can't get anything from this, what's the point? It's not as if he wants comfort from this. Not from a stranger, or a possible enemy. Or. Whatever Ardyn is, now.
Truth be told he doesn't know if he believes the man or not, but silence won't help him figure it out, so after a long pause of nothing he sends-]
who'd you lose
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My betrothed, Aera.
I failed at a critical moment, and she died in my place. Neither of us even realized I was unable to be killed in the first place, so it was all for naught either way.
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[He has no idea who that is, but that's kind of? eerie?]
are you sure i'm some weird kind of descended twin for your BROTHER and not like
you
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[That must have sounded pretty wild, even to him.]
it's just
we were supposed to get married, too
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Is there no way such a thing could yet be prevented?
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I don't know yet. I'm trying to figure it out, but easier said than done.
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Is there anything I can do to help?
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[Since as far as he knows, that's what kills her.]
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wait was she an oracle too
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Aera Mirus Fleuret was the first to bear the title of 'Oracle', yes.
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Lunafreya Nox Fleuret.
The last
[Gods, even typing that hurts, his chest aching at the very thought of it.]
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I am, in some sense, glad the line was able to persist so. Does Lunafreya have no other family?
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[He can only imagine that getting worse if Luna dies for his sake.]
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[The most logical of decisions. Though now that time has given his temper a chance to cool, he can at least recognize how young they all were when it happened. He can barely recall the finer details, but there are glimpses of memory from that day: clinging to his father's shoulder as they run for their lives, the desperate cry for help from a wounded Ravus as he sits with his mother's body, Luna's sad resignation as she remains behind to be captured by the enemy, unwilling to abandon her family. It was enough to traumatize any child, surely. He can attest to that much.]
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This... really feels like someone else would be more qualified for the job, but...]
I don't know what I can tell you, but if you've got questions, I can try.
[At the very least it's not like it'll hurt to tell Ardyn about the world he should know in thirty or so years.]
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they've been taking over regions all over the world ever since. they broke the peace and they've been killing people for centuries. then they lied and offered to sign a treaty (and we SURRENDERED) just so they could get into Insomnia, kill my dad, and steal the crystal
sorry if I don't give a damn what their circumstances might be. nothing's gonna justify what they've done.
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I merely meant that to truly understand a four hundred years long war requires at minimum some passable knowledge of history that transpired while I was on a forsaken miserable island. Conflicts that are clearly black and white rarely if ever truly exist.
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maybe try asking him why the war started. my guess would be some kind of spin on "power" and "glory" and "subjugation of the peasants" made up to sound noble somehow
[Okay okay okay try again. Gods, this is hard. There is no neutral in this universe for him when it comes to the conflict.]
from what I remember, it goes like this: Niflheim starts the war. Tenebrae falls, Accordo falls. The king uses the Crystal's power to raise a barrier around Lucis. Over the years the barrier is pulled back more and more until it only protects Insomnia and Niflheim keeps advancing. We lose territory, they gain it. Rinse and repeat until- what I already told you.
While all of that's happening, daemons and the Starscourge spread across the world, and THAT didn't start until the war did, so maybe they caused that to happen, too. It's hard to find fights they DIDN'T start.