Only you can make that change.

[groupon]

Redemption Romance

Atonement is, in your eyes, a Sisyphean task. You'll never be able to redeem yourself, no matter if what you did was against your will and only allowed you to survive in a cruel world. Who could understand what you've done or think you could be forgiven when it comes to all your friends? Certainly you never believed redemption, so far away already, could come in the form of a person...or a romantic relationship. You know the drill. Comment, preferences, desired role, doot. Thread.

Comments

[sleepyscholar]

What?

[He uttered that single word so softly that it might as well have been caught in a breath.

Linhardt tugged his hand away as well, startled by Ardyn's reaction, and instead grasped his hands together in his lap.

His mind was reeling with revelations and each new bit of horrifying information. To hear that Ardyn had been imprisoned on a deserted island for those two thousand years was probably the most shocking part of all for how terrible it was to image.

Such a huge amount of time. Even for someone like Linhardt who valued his time alone, he couldn't even begin to fathom what that might have felt like. Who needed daemons to drive one to destruction when they had that?]

I should have realized.

[He whispered to himself, unsure why the thought hadn't occurred to him at all. Why would Ardyn wait so long for revenge if he had been free for so long? He had been imprisoned instead, and all of those horrible emotions had nothing to do but grow and grow until they were suddenly released back into the world.]

He won't. He wouldn't.

[At least he was convinced of that much. Noctis wanted to make sure Ardyn was no longer the threat he once was. Surely he wouldn't care if he planned to simply lock him up again.]

But I think I understand why you feel that way, now.

[Why he might be eager to die. There were stories that taught the lesson that immortality was more of a curse than a blessing. They were cautionary tales that Linhardt never really thought had a basis in reality. The sort of stories that taught you to 'be careful what you wished for.'

Well, Ardyn obviously never wished for his curse. No wonder he felt so much hatred toward Lucis and the gods.

But he was mortal now, wasn't he? Even if King Noctis wanted to imprison him for another two thousand years, he wouldn't be able to.]

I don't know if I can help change your mind. I'm nothing special.

[He wasn't a particularly happy person. His abilities made him little more than a tool that people dragged along on their missions with healing items in short supply. He never had a say, because when he objected earlier on, the people he did care about would explain why he needed to use his 'gift' to help the others around the area survive.

Eventually he stopped commenting on the pain he suffered with the use of his magic. Sleeping and naps were the best escape from the world, and he began embracing whatever it was that caused him to slip into dreams without warning. Even now, just trying to understand what Ardyn went through was making him feel exhausted in a way that suggested he was likely to fall asleep at any moment.]

All I can do is listen to you. And... [A few seconds passed where it looked like Linhardt might have drifted off. But then he blinked a few times, furrowed his brow, and continued speaking.]

...Would you allow me to come back tomorrow? We can talk more, and I can bring you something else you want.

[scourgingstars]

Most people didn't.

[Apart from that coldly sarcastic observation regarding his abandonment, Ardyn was silent as Linhardt contended with the former chancellor's outburst--attempting to calm down and resisting the urge to just shatter the now empty glass in his hand regardless. What was he doing? What was the point of any of this? All it had served to do was irritate Ardyn himself beyond measure and make this little pawn of a stolen crown look at him like he was some miserable, pitiable thing.]

[...Objectively, maybe that was true, but he still had some semblance of pride left.]

I can't very well stop you, can I?

[Part of him did admittedly want to hear more, to understand what form of twisted healing curse Linhardt himself had been burdened with. But today, he was just a little too lost in his own bitterness to think on the matter any further than that.]

[sleepyscholar]

[Linhardt picked up the tape recorder and rose to his feet. If he remained seated any longer he would surely fall asleep, and he didn't want that. He would prefer to escape to the privacy of his guestroom, burrow under the covers, and sleep the evening and night away.

Maybe that would be enough time for him to adequately consider the information he learned from Ardyn. The more exhausted he felt, the less he was able to handle overwhelming thought, and overwhelming thought exhausted him.

It often felt like he was cursed with two problems.]

No. You can't.

[There was no reason to sugarcoat Ardyn's situation. That would just waste both of their time.]

So tell me what you want. Otherwise I'll just bring you something I like.

[It took Linhardt a moment to realize he'd taken to staring at Ardyn. It was difficult to imagine him as the monster everyone claimed he had been. He had strong, handsome features, and surprisingly soft looking lips. That unruly hair suited his face quite well.

It wasn't too hard to imagine the king he could have been.]

[scourgingstars]

[Whether or not he was in better control of his emotions internally, the slow and arrogant smile began to cross Ardyn's face again; mask firmly back in place, at least for now. He slouched somewhat in his chair, one leg crossed over the other and head leaning on a hand. He lacked the serious dignity of Noctis on the Lucian throne, but even in his cavalier disregard for...well, everything...he carried some distinct authority somewhere in his demeanor.]

If you'll insist upon monopolizing my time? Surprise me, then.