[ OPEN ]

[daemonized]

Who: Ardyn Izunia (daemonized) & YOU!
When: Event things! All throughout October.
Where: All around.
Warning(s): None... yet. Will add if necessary.



i. market district;

[He wasn’t nearby when the explosion had shook the market district, though panic spreads quickly, and the aftermath of such an event is impossible to ignore. Even more so for Ardyn, being part of the royal guard — being delegated orders to provide aid and investigate, it is his own curiosities that truly drive him farther into the area to assist. Granted, his form of “assistance” might be lacking compared to those who are rushing to and fro, enveloped in a frantic need of wanting to help. Instead, it’s easier for him remain calm, more unaffected, eyes taking in the area with a sense of detachment that’s perhaps less than appropriate for the situation at hand. If you need to talk to him, he’s easy enough to spot in the crowd. More specifically, a few things that take place are:

A.) An elderly man, a vendor whose wares had been toppled over completely in the explosion, requires help retrieving his goods now strewn all about the street. Textiles and clothing of various colors, one of which seems to hang high up, caught on the corner of a rooftop of a nearby building. It billows, not unlike a flag flying in the breeze. Ardyn cranes his head up to look at it. Then he says, to the person closest to him:]

Be so kind as to retrieve that for me, will you? I’ve already my hands full.

[And so it seems he does, various unravelled yards of cloth hanging over his arm.

B.) There are, of course, looters. As to be expected, people who would take advantage of tragedy for their own benefit, and the ironic part is that Ardyn generally would not care. And yet there are a couple of young men who are being so bold as to do so right in front of him — only down the street, where they appear to be scrounging around another vendor’s (not currently present) property: an array of decorative items, small enough to be thrown into a bag and carried off nonchalantly. Covered in filigree and adorned with precious gems. Certainly possessing high enough market value to sell for a quick profit.

It’s easy enough for Ardyn to close the distance, of course. A flash of magic, sword in his hand, and suddenly he’s warped from where he was standing to directly in front of one of the men — blade pressed up against his throat. The other looter freezes in shock, mid-crouch, in the midst of picking up a shiny bauble to steal.

The smile Ardyn gives them is… amused, but a little disconcerting.]

At least wait until the cover of night like proper thieves.

[If the second man is slowly reaching for a dagger at his hip, there’s zero indication of Ardyn either noticing or caring. What do you do, passerby?]

ii. red light district;

[Now it’s time for an investigation proper, and who says that all manner of secrets and rumors do not eventually make their way to the red light district? This is where you can find Ardyn tonight, skulking through alleyways and hovering near the edges of crowds, sometimes asking around, sometimes not. He is, of course, dressed in plain clothes, a hundred times more subdued than his usual tastes. No guard uniform, no outfit from Eos to turn any heads. Only Ardyn, looking like a commoner, hair tied back. His only indulgence is a maroon scarf, hanging loosely around his neck.

He is absolutely drawn to the sight of individuals speaking in hushed whispers, for often times they are not being as discreet as they believe. This time, it’s two women, huddled in an darkened alleyway, and Ardyn eyes them from where he stands. He catches something about “Wyver”, but will have to draw closer to hear anything more.

Are you a fellow refugee wanting to unravel this mystery further? Join him in figuring out a creative way to move closer without drawing any unwanted attentions. The women do seem to be on the lookout for anyone snooping around. Alternately, he may speak to you first, muttering:]

Just how inconspicuous can you be?

iii. wildcard;

[Open for future threads, or any prompts that you’d prefer to play out if none of these work! I can be found at aurajen to plot further if you’d like!]

Comments

[originallutece]

It's only an insult if you think such traits are poor ones. I, however, do not. And heartlessness is a quality many have ascribed to me.

[daemonized]

As cold as ice, Madam Lutece. Truly.

[It's phrased as a joke, but he clearly does seem vaguely impressed by this admission.]

Not even the smallest tinge of empathy for the ill?

[Even Ardyn felt that once, a long time ago, geez Ros.]

[originallutece]

[She tips her head, her acceptance as mocking as his compliment. But she's pleased at the glimmer of respect in his gaze.]

No.

[She shrugs.]

I don't know most of them, and those that I do will heal soon enough. Why should I waste my time weeping over them?

[daemonized]

You assume that they will heal soon enough, you mean.

[They are past the apples now. He wonders when she'll let go of his arm.]

I'm not saying that you should weep sorrowful tears for them. But I have a feeling you're in the minority. All these people, rushing about, they're all very worried. They feel empathy, a humaneness.

[His turn to shrug.]

Their reasons for healing are different than yours. It's an observation, not a criticism.

[originallutece]

[maybe never, ardyn, maybe this is your new fate

No, but really, she's half-forgotten she's even doing it. It's not that she's so comfortable around him, but how many hours has she spent walking on Robert's arm like this?]

People have a tendency to feel more than I do in general.

But what good will those feelings do them? Some amount of them aren't so bad, but after a certain point, they get in the way. Their worry will turn to fear, and they'll let it command them. They'll panic. And they'll get nothing done, making their problem even worse.

[daemonized]

[Welp. Looks like he’s going to be escorting Rosalind around on his arm for the time being, then. He won’t remark on it, or even pull his arm away. Instead, he forces himself to be malleable, and think little of it — easy enough.]

And so you’re more effective, more productive, with emotion thoroughly nestled out of the way.

[Interesting.]

Have you always been that way? [Or did immortality twist her into something more like what she is right now.]

[originallutece]

I was criticized for my lack of emotions when I was human, if that's what you mean. But . . . it's far easier to be impartial nowadays.

And yourself?

[She glances up at him.]

What difference did immortality make on your personality?

[daemonized]

[gurl.

He looks ahead as they walk, as if this question needs considering. In reality, he's already come up with ten different ways to give a not-so-straightforward reply.]

Not as much as you would believe. [This is F A L S E.] I'm older and wiser now. Far more observant, because people are easier to read when you have thousands of years of practice doing so.

My sense of humor hasn't changed one bit, however.

[originallutece]

Every silver lining has a cloud, I suppose.

[His sense of humor is hideous.]

Any deep observations you'd like to impart on the human condition?

[daemonized]

[At least he has one, Rosalind.]

Deep observations? [A wry look as he does glance down at her now.] Mankind is transient and impermanent. Anyone of import eventually dies just like the rest of them, and even the legacy they leave behind becomes lost in the great chasm of time.

Deterioration, degradation. Entropy. You'd appreciate that word.

[Then again, Ardyn was the harbinger of the end of the world, so. Maybe this is fitting.]

[originallutece]

[She hums softly at that acknowledgement, but her mind lingers on what he's said. Truthfully, it aligns with her own point of view, and normally she'd be eager to agree, but, well . . . that doesn't make for much of a conversation topic, does it?]

My other half would disagree with that.

[Oh, he most certainly would. Mm, what would Robert say . . .]

He'd say you're discounting the vitality of the human spirit. That yes, everyone dies-- or at least, most everyone--

[#immortallife]

--and while their legacy might be lost, the impact they have on the world may still be felt thousands of years later, for better or worse. And he'd certainly take issue with the words you chose; it's only a society that doesn't strive to go forward that deteriorates or degrades.

[daemonized]

[Strange, hearing that. It would've been the stance he had taken thousands of years ago, when he was still mortal. That flickering wish that mankind did not deserve to decline, that there was validity in humanity existing.

Now, to believe such a thing is too... empathetic for him. Apathy strains his soul, makes it difficult for him to care one way or another even if this is the case.

It should be a small revelation for him, that he's been two different people in his lifetime. But Ardyn is already aware of that.]

Your other half was a very optimistic person. Did he find himself very disappointed?

[You know, when things didn't turn out that way.]

[originallutece]

He found himself more distressed than I at times, certainly. But . . . he was pleased by how things turned out more often than not. He thought that the acts of kindness and goodness he saw far outweighed the cruel ones.

[daemonized]

Act and kindness are all well and good, but how quickly they fade in the face of the cruel ones.

[They can philosophize as much as they want, yet Ardyn is quick to skew the subject in a different direction altogether.]

Tell me more about this other half of yours.

[originallutece]

[She pauses for just half a moment, running through what she wants to say and what she wants to keep to herself.]

. . . his name is Robert. And as I mentioned, he's the more optimistic of us. He's kinder, more caring, more ready to see the best in people. He's more human than I ever was, even before we died.

[daemonized]

[He continues his habit of subtly prying, a true art form.]

It sounds like the two of you would hardly get along. Or is it an instance of opposites attracting?

[originallutece]

Mm, no. We're different enough to keep things interesting, but for the most part, he's very much like me.

[It's kind of a joke, as all her references to Robert are a joke. But she wonders how long it will take Ardyn to catch on. Ordinary people, being dull and lacking cleverness, most certainly wouldn't, but he's different. He has two thousand years worth of experience to draw on, and besides: he had seen a glimpse of a man looking just like her.]

Simply . . . more idealistic.

[daemonized]

[He's careful to pluck information delicately away, piece by piece, before drawing conclusions. Though perhaps he already has an idea -- the similarities of their likeness, her talk of varying universes when they had first met. He wonders if it's jumping to conclusions, but perhaps he wishes to make that connection, anyway, which is obvious given the nature of his next question.]

And where do you think this idealism came from? If you've none to spare?

[originallutece]

[Ah, that's a bitter topic. There's none clear in her expression, of course, but for just a moment her mouth tightens.]

He grew up as a golden boy. He had everything he ever wanted or needed at the tips of his fingers. It was natural for him to think the world a kindly place.

[daemonized]

[Bitter topic? Why don't we plunge straight into it? Fair's fair.]

And you didn't?

[originallutece]

. . . our world was not particularly inclined towards women in the sciences. So no. I struggled a fair bit more than he did.

[Not just in the work force. Everywhere. Romantic relationships, friendships, their relationship with their parents . . . it's easy to grow bitter over something like that, but she tries to remember the other end of it.

Robert had all that, after all. He'd had everything he ever wanted, and he'd still given it all up, just for her.]

[daemonized]

One might think you’d be bitter because of it. Of his unfair advantage given to him, merely because of his gender.

[He shrugs again, because that obviously doesn’t seem to be the case.]

And yet you’re obviously close with this other half of yours. You know, he looks an awful lot like you. I daresay he’s not quite family, though, is he?

[originallutece]

Isn't he?

[Her tone doesn't change a bit, but there's a glimmer of amusement in her gaze now.]

And what else might he be, Mr. Izunia, if not family?

[daemonized]

[He would hate to disappoint her and that amusement by giving a rather dull, mundane answer.]

Someone even closer than family. Someone you know, perhaps, almost as well as you know yourself?

[originallutece]

[Oh, and here's a thing that won't happen often: Rosalind laughs. She looks utterly delighted, in fact, her eyes bright as she glances up at him.]

Do you know, you're the first person in twenty years to put it together? I wrote an entire book on trans-dimensional travel, and still no one understood.