[He lunges forward again, taking aim towards an area where the wings would make for a more sensible shield. He's eager to test the boundaries- and truthfully, he's been really thirsting for a good spar lately. This meet-up may or may not have become awfully dual-purposed.]
[And regardless of how much of a pacifist Ardyn was, he kept up without a problem--barely moving unless he needed to and letting the Armiger's wings intercept nearly every strike to block and parry without breaking a sweat. Not that he really did that.]
[If they were actually trying to kill each other, this might actually be worrisome, how difficult it is to connect sword to target. And if he were thinking about that more deeply, he might worry somewhat about his future capabilities when they face one another back on Eos.
But they're not, and he's not, so instead there's a confident grin on his lips, barely visible between the swift movements he makes trying to find an opening: phases, airsteps, dodges, the full roster of non-deadly techniques in his arsenal. He's lost count of the number of times that the flat of his blade has connected with those protective magic swords. And while he is sweating, he doesn't look especially bothered by his lack of success.]
[Luckily enough, years from then Noctis would have more magic bullshit and Ardyn would care much less about defending himself. But for now, he was perfectly adept at utterly stonewalling him at least partially just to annoy the poor kid.]
My brilliant intuition.
[He rolled his eyes, the answer coming in flat sarcasm.]
[It would probably be more frustrating to be stonewalled if he wasn't so into the spar. Feels way too long since he's had a really solid challenge, and he's feeling that old boss-fight excitement. Much as he loves to sleep, this boy clearly wasn't made for the lethargic city life after experiencing so much adventure.
Eventually he does back off, though, hunching over with both hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.]
Damn... you really don't let up. How long can you hold that thing, anyway? My Armiger's never lasted this long.
[In a flash and flicker of crystal the Armiger finally vanished, Ardyn tilting his head.]
I do not tire as the rest of you do. Now that I think of it, I presume they must exist in some capacity--but if so I have no clue what those limits might be yet.
I didn't forget, I just figured it had less to do with physical and more magic limits, or... I dunno.
[He's trying to hold on to the enthusiasm so he won't feel discouraged, okay. Outside of the Marilith attack and his own capabilities, he hasn't had a lot of Armiger exposure.]
Either way, I think that satisfied the test of whether or not it's an effective guard. Did I even hit you once?
[He scoffs at that; a fair point, yeah. Still, at least he'd put a suitable amount of effort in. At the following compliment, he smears the back of his glove over his forehead to wipe away a bit of sweat, feigning disinterest but secretly pleased.]
Good, because I worked my ass off. You mind if I show Era the photos sometime?
Oh... [He awkwardly raised a hand to the back of his neck, looking away--not upset by the confession, but distinctly awkward the concept existed in the first place.]
It's...alright. Really--I've no reason to be angry with you or anything. By now I doubt there's much she could find out about me that would change her opinion as it is.
[He'd not entirely sure what could cause Era to change her opinion of them, but this isn't it. Hell, even if she was the type, she'd kind of be a hypocrite to point fingers. He hadn't really expected Ardyn to be angry either, considering his... well, everything.]
It's just kind of personal, right? I didn't go into a lot of detail, but I told her to ask you if it's something she wanted to know more about. Wanted to give you a heads up first.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
[And that is a warning, because he's moving in for another playful swing, blade manifesting. This is a spar now, kinda.]
no subject
no subject
[Noctis pushes back against the blade, though his expression is dissatisfied; he'd expected the wings again. They're there to be used, surely.]
You want me to write you a letter first? "To my esteemed uncle, at precisely 11:47 AM, I am going to swing my sword at your left shoulder-"
no subject
[The sword vanished, Ardyn folding his arms.]
I see you won't be dissuaded from this. Very well--come at me, if you wish to.
no subject
[He lunges forward again, taking aim towards an area where the wings would make for a more sensible shield. He's eager to test the boundaries- and truthfully, he's been really thirsting for a good spar lately. This meet-up may or may not have become awfully dual-purposed.]
no subject
I take it you're enjoying yourself.
no subject
But they're not, and he's not, so instead there's a confident grin on his lips, barely visible between the swift movements he makes trying to find an opening: phases, airsteps, dodges, the full roster of non-deadly techniques in his arsenal. He's lost count of the number of times that the flat of his blade has connected with those protective magic swords. And while he is sweating, he doesn't look especially bothered by his lack of success.]
How can you tell?
no subject
My brilliant intuition.
[He rolled his eyes, the answer coming in flat sarcasm.]
no subject
Eventually he does back off, though, hunching over with both hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.]
Damn... you really don't let up. How long can you hold that thing, anyway? My Armiger's never lasted this long.
no subject
[In a flash and flicker of crystal the Armiger finally vanished, Ardyn tilting his head.]
I do not tire as the rest of you do. Now that I think of it, I presume they must exist in some capacity--but if so I have no clue what those limits might be yet.
no subject
[He's trying to hold on to the enthusiasm so he won't feel discouraged, okay. Outside of the Marilith attack and his own capabilities, he hasn't had a lot of Armiger exposure.]
Either way, I think that satisfied the test of whether or not it's an effective guard. Did I even hit you once?
no subject
[unfortunately, even if noctis scratched him there is no evidence of such a grand conquest.]
...You did very well, however. I'm successfully impressed.
no subject
Good, because I worked my ass off. You mind if I show Era the photos sometime?
no subject
no subject
Um... about Era. I gotta apologize for something... I kind of let slip about your... memory-taking thing. I didn't know you hadn't told her.
no subject
It's...alright. Really--I've no reason to be angry with you or anything. By now I doubt there's much she could find out about me that would change her opinion as it is.
no subject
[He'd not entirely sure what could cause Era to change her opinion of them, but this isn't it. Hell, even if she was the type, she'd kind of be a hypocrite to point fingers. He hadn't really expected Ardyn to be angry either, considering his... well, everything.]
It's just kind of personal, right? I didn't go into a lot of detail, but I told her to ask you if it's something she wanted to know more about. Wanted to give you a heads up first.
no subject