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[scourgingstars]

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[carbungle]

I was talking to Era and it just kind of came up.

[Probably not best to explain the full context, considering who he's talking to.]

If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Might be fun anyway.

[scourgingstars]

It sounds feasible enough, given that moving them is rather the whole point. The question just comes down to a matter of simple control.

[A little hesitantly, he called up his own Armiger; a collection of unrecognizable phantom swords and the outline of his own greatsword in bright scarlet revolving around him.]

[carbungle]

[Even with the moment of hesitation, it's still startling to see all the swords appearing around Ardyn, and Noctis can't quite help a small step backward in response. He's just as quick to take a breath and force himself to relax, though- he'd asked for this, and for their family, this is normal. He just has to remind himself of the world family a few times.]

You've got so many... are they all real, or can you conjure extras out of magic?

[He's only ever seen Ardyn use the one greatsword, so the rest are a surprise.]

[scourgingstars]

Ah--sorry, I should have said something first. [He looked off to the side, under the pretense of watching the swords themselves.]

...Magic, primarily. I've never thought much about it so I couldn't explain how it works.

[because like, what the hell is episode ardyn gameplay logic i don't know]

But the only physical sword I have with me is Rakshasha, so if the others ever existed, they aren't anywhere that I can reach.

[carbungle]

Oh.

[Well, that explains why it's not something he's ever been able to do. Even if it was a normal ability for a Lucis Caelum (and he has no idea honestly) his magic talent would be too lacking to do the same. Still, he's not totally hopeless, since he's got a number of proper weapons at this point. It just won't look so impressive.]

So... can you move them around, you think?

[scourgingstars]

Well, I’m not sure...may as well try it and find out.

[Ardyn paused in concentration; even when he did fight, style wasn’t quite his thing. While they had both been trained by the same Blademaster, one brother took away speed and power while the other chose finesse and strategy. But on the other hand, Ardyn had learned a fair collection of new things since he’d been here; one or two more sounded astoundingly possible.]

[Gradually, the swords broke formation—not into wings right away, but reforming into a circle of horizontal blades end to end, continuing its rotation without pause.]

[carbungle]

[Well. He could bring out his own Armiger and try to move them himself... or he could take out his communicator and start recording, for proving Era wrong educational purposes, watching how Ardyn moves to make them shift like that.

Yeah, he's doing the latter.]

Are you just thinking about doing that, or does it take anything special? Like envisioning a badass pair of wings or something.

[scourgingstars]

I don't think it's anything particularly special; more like the same kind of concentration it takes to use them in the first place, if that makes any sense.

[carbungle]

I think so.

[He's certainly not noticing Ardyn doing anything special to make it move, at least.]

They're not wings yet, though.

[scourgingstars]

You don't need to rush me, I wasn't going to jump into doing anything flashy without a grasp on the concept first.

[That required sorting them out in his head; longer blades on the ends, smaller as they went inward with Rakshasa as a spine between the two. After a moment he had a construct that might reasonably have passed for wings, looking over his shoulder and then to Noctis.]

How does that look?

[carbungle]

[Don't @ him uncle, he's excited.

Noctis stares for a moment, then quietly tilts his communicator sideways to capture the full stretch of the "wings", walking in a slow circle around for the whole view.]

...Yep, I knew it. It looks badass as hell.

[scourgingstars]

...Does it?

[He looked a little more confident at the indirect praise, straightening up with a smile.]

[carbungle]

[Gods. Even if it didn't (and it did), or even if it wasn't working as intended (it totally is!) this would be worth it just for the added enthusiasm on Ardyn's part. He finishes his circle around and backs up.]

Sure, it's a cool visual. Can you move them like that, do they still work the same way?

[scourgingstars]

It should, I see little reason why it wouldn’t still function correctly.

[The wings spread out a little as Ardyn made a slight hand gesture—the longest sword on one end detached to shoot into the ground a short distance from them before returning to formation.]

[carbungle]

Oh my god, I hate how much that is both awesome and super unfair.

[He has! So much control! Noct is gonna burn with jealousy for days.]

If it functions just as well, it should be just as good for defense, right?

[scourgingstars]

[He laughed under his breath, shrugging.]

It does stand to reason, does it not?

[carbungle]

...Only one way to find out.

[That's your warning! He dismisses his communicator, trading it out for the Ultima blade, and takes a swing.]

[scourgingstars]

Wh--wait a second-!

[Ardyn flinched in surprise, blades moving almost on instinct to intercept and block in a flash of magenta.]

[carbungle]

[Here he is, not waiting a second! At least he knew better than to use the Mystic? The deflection is swift and heavy enough that as he's pushed back he phases into a backflip and lands in a crouch a few feet away, blade dismissed and a pleased smile on his face.]

Hey, that was pretty good. And Era said it'd leave you too open!

[scourgingstars]

You didn't have to startle me like that.

[you TERRIBLE MENACE]

[carbungle]

Most attacks don't come with a warning.

[And what are you gonna do about it~]

[scourgingstars]

You- [putting forth a good attempt of acting irreparably offended] are terrible.

[carbungle]

I've never claimed otherwise.

[Nor does he look especially bothered by this new title.]

[scourgingstars]

An absolute menace to society. Simply the worst.

[it's hard to look at all serious with giant pink sword wings]

[carbungle]

Big talk for a guy who just stood there and took it.

[Are you and your pink sword wings gonna play or what?]