[As soon as he's in the door he looks around for the telltale signs of change; Aera not immediately greeting him is a big one, as she's been so fond of smiling and hugging him on sight since the truth came out. He says nothing at first, just... sighs, quietly.]
You're right, you should have said something. [Here they'd all been grieving their losses, with Ardyn comforting them, and he'd felt that same pain alone.] I'm sorry...
[He didn't look up as Noctis came in, or when he spoke. As exhausted as he sounded, Ardyn seemed...unusually calm apart from that. Perhaps not unusual for him in general, but certainly a little more so than the situation called for.]
She was already gone when you sent that message, and I worried more for the rest of you.
[He can imagine a few things to apologize for - being selfish or not noticing, for starters - but it's usually pointless to argue such things with Ardyn, so instead he closes the distance to stand next to him, leaning against the kitchen counter, his gaze still drifting around the place as if Aera might just pop back into view. Like she went out for some kind of mysterious Oracle stuff with Luna, like... they both could still be here.]
That doesn't make it any better, you know. We could've...
[He makes a vague, futile gesture. Helped? Mourned together? They could have done something.]
[Calmly, Ardyn set a cup of tea closer to Noctis on the counter before pouring a second for himself.]
I did naught but mourn her incessantly for every instant of two thousand years, holding to even the faintest traces of recollection until I could no longer separate dream from memory. Awakening from that was no different than becoming aware of a healed wound from losing an arm or leg; phantom pains from that which was lost long ago.
...I won't claim it does not hurt now. But that's all it is, now as it was then--a dull ache amidst a thousand others. Even had I the ability to shed tears for the situation, it is simply not something I have the capacity to do now.
He acknowledges the tea but doesn't take it; he's not here for that, and he figures Ardyn is just going through the motions of making it because that's what's expected of him. He's already aware that he doesn't have to eat or drink.
Instead he shuffles over until his side bumps against the other man's, his hand lifting to grip Ardyn's shoulder. It's gentle but firm- he has no intention of letting Ardyn run away from this. It's a start, and he holds for a reaction.]
Idiot... that's not better, either. Even if you can't cry, we're here for you.
[It was hard to care about being in pain when pain was all one had known for so long.]
[He blinked in surprise at the contact to his shoulder, not quite freezing up or pulling away. Ardyn just sort of...existed for a moment, processing what Noctis had said and trying (mostly failing) to come up with any sort of response. The silence that followed was starting to make his head hurt in a way defying description, seeming to underline how empty it felt now and calling forth memories of isolation he didn't want to consider now or ever again.]
I'm...sorry. [Ardyn raised a hand to his head, not looking directly at Noctis.] I only-...I didn't want to trouble any of you. I have perhaps never been the most forthcoming sort of person.
[Not like the majority of them are any better. He almost didn't tell anyone about Luna- had been tempted to avoid the subject entirely, the words difficult to speak. Text was... easier. And in the end he'd let the truth come out because hiding it would have been impossible.
When Ardyn doesn't pull away, Noctis shifts his position again, instead winding his arms around the man's shoulders to pull him in, tea be damned. He's bad at this, he might always be bad at this, but he'd been given this gift while he was falling apart, and he's not so proud that he can't recognize the needs of others above his own. Come on, you foolish man. Hug. Let someone else grieve for you.]
[It's the very least he can do, especially after what happened with Regis, and with Luna. He feels awful that he hadn't asked before- and even now Ardyn's showing him more kindness, being so careful in how he returns the embrace. Is the man even capable of taking care of himself anymore?]
[There's apparently no stopping Ardyn if he wants to draw attention to little snippets of affection, but... whatever, he's the one in need of comfort right now. Or rather, they're on the same level. He may not be especially used to it, but this place has, if nothing else, given him some small appreciation for a solid hug when it's necessary. Today feels like one of those days.]
Are you gonna stay here, you think?
[His own new house feels emptier without Luna, but he's not alone- Prompto is there, with the Messengers and Kaname's mercat. Full of life, despite a gaping wound left behind in Luna's absence. Ardyn's house feels far too quiet now.]
[He hated the silence, but he didn’t wang to entertain alternatives. What did it matter after eons of solitude, anyway? This was nothing in comparison.]
I think...for now it’s better this way. Intruding on anyone else would be of little help.
[Much as he liked Emet-Selch and Era, or Regis and the rest of their family...the fact remained that his only realistic options had dearly loved relationships of their own, and being around that sounded comparable to a sword in his chest at the moment.]
[That sounds final enough that Noctis doesn't push it, though it's obvious he doesn't agree. He doesn't have to understand to respect someone's wishes.]
Okay, well... that doesn't mean anybody's gonna let you be a stranger, either. We won't leave you to sulk here all the time.
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[...Yeah, that is weird. Not that Noctis has any room to judge, feeling exhausted all week himself. Still, it might derail his original plan.]
Did, um... did you tell Aera about Luna? I thought I'd stop in and see you guys, but...
[He'd really like to know walking into it.]
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[So the fact that there was a few seconds of dead silence on the line was a result of trying and failing catastrophically to give an honest answer.]
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Ardyn? Still there?
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[. . .]
...forgive me. I should have said something, but with all that was going on I would not dare have added to how upset everyone already was.
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[....
He hasn't heard from Aera at all. He hasn't seen her at all. Surely she would-
Surely they can't be so cruel to--]
....I'm coming over.
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[A quiet sigh of resignation; sometimes, there really was no point in arguing.]
[When Noctis arrived he would find the door unlocked, and Ardyn in the kitchen making tea he had no interest in or need for.]
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You're right, you should have said something. [Here they'd all been grieving their losses, with Ardyn comforting them, and he'd felt that same pain alone.] I'm sorry...
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[He didn't look up as Noctis came in, or when he spoke. As exhausted as he sounded, Ardyn seemed...unusually calm apart from that. Perhaps not unusual for him in general, but certainly a little more so than the situation called for.]
She was already gone when you sent that message, and I worried more for the rest of you.
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That doesn't make it any better, you know. We could've...
[He makes a vague, futile gesture. Helped? Mourned together? They could have done something.]
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[Calmly, Ardyn set a cup of tea closer to Noctis on the counter before pouring a second for himself.]
I did naught but mourn her incessantly for every instant of two thousand years, holding to even the faintest traces of recollection until I could no longer separate dream from memory. Awakening from that was no different than becoming aware of a healed wound from losing an arm or leg; phantom pains from that which was lost long ago.
...I won't claim it does not hurt now. But that's all it is, now as it was then--a dull ache amidst a thousand others. Even had I the ability to shed tears for the situation, it is simply not something I have the capacity to do now.
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All of that, he says all of that, and he's fine.
He acknowledges the tea but doesn't take it; he's not here for that, and he figures Ardyn is just going through the motions of making it because that's what's expected of him. He's already aware that he doesn't have to eat or drink.
Instead he shuffles over until his side bumps against the other man's, his hand lifting to grip Ardyn's shoulder. It's gentle but firm- he has no intention of letting Ardyn run away from this. It's a start, and he holds for a reaction.]
Idiot... that's not better, either. Even if you can't cry, we're here for you.
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[He blinked in surprise at the contact to his shoulder, not quite freezing up or pulling away. Ardyn just sort of...existed for a moment, processing what Noctis had said and trying (mostly failing) to come up with any sort of response. The silence that followed was starting to make his head hurt in a way defying description, seeming to underline how empty it felt now and calling forth memories of isolation he didn't want to consider now or ever again.]
I'm...sorry. [Ardyn raised a hand to his head, not looking directly at Noctis.] I only-...I didn't want to trouble any of you. I have perhaps never been the most forthcoming sort of person.
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[Not like the majority of them are any better. He almost didn't tell anyone about Luna- had been tempted to avoid the subject entirely, the words difficult to speak. Text was... easier. And in the end he'd let the truth come out because hiding it would have been impossible.
When Ardyn doesn't pull away, Noctis shifts his position again, instead winding his arms around the man's shoulders to pull him in, tea be damned. He's bad at this, he might always be bad at this, but he'd been given this gift while he was falling apart, and he's not so proud that he can't recognize the needs of others above his own. Come on, you foolish man. Hug. Let someone else grieve for you.]
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...thank you.
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[It's the very least he can do, especially after what happened with Regis, and with Luna. He feels awful that he hadn't asked before- and even now Ardyn's showing him more kindness, being so careful in how he returns the embrace. Is the man even capable of taking care of himself anymore?]
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[Long answer: nnnnoooooooo.]
As you wish. But I’m grateful that you came, regardless.
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[There's apparently no stopping Ardyn if he wants to draw attention to little snippets of affection, but... whatever, he's the one in need of comfort right now. Or rather, they're on the same level. He may not be especially used to it, but this place has, if nothing else, given him some small appreciation for a solid hug when it's necessary. Today feels like one of those days.]
Are you gonna stay here, you think?
[His own new house feels emptier without Luna, but he's not alone- Prompto is there, with the Messengers and Kaname's mercat. Full of life, despite a gaping wound left behind in Luna's absence. Ardyn's house feels far too quiet now.]
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[He hated the silence, but he didn’t wang to entertain alternatives. What did it matter after eons of solitude, anyway? This was nothing in comparison.]
I think...for now it’s better this way. Intruding on anyone else would be of little help.
[Much as he liked Emet-Selch and Era, or Regis and the rest of their family...the fact remained that his only realistic options had dearly loved relationships of their own, and being around that sounded comparable to a sword in his chest at the moment.]
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[And if he doesn't know, he should. He's been around them all long enough.]
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Okay, well... that doesn't mean anybody's gonna let you be a stranger, either. We won't leave you to sulk here all the time.
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[Somehow! Don't make him do it.]