vengefulness | Empatheias Inbox

[a lengthy pause, during which iris wishes she could just restart the conversation.]

Um, yeah. About that: he's, uh... he's here too. His Majesty is... a funny guy.

[don't ask. she thinks that so hard that she actually says it.]

...So you can imagine why living here's been really weird. Actually, everyone is from Eos! Er, except for this house-guest we have. She's only staying a week or so, I think, but she's invisible, or something? I can't get used to her.

Edited 2017-03-15 00:10 (UTC)

[Luckily for Iris, he won't ask. An extended conversation about people from Eos would just open Ardyn up to some questions that he doesn't have good answers for.]

It does sound busy. I prefer a quiet and peaceful living space myself.

[So there's really no need for her to ask her housemates if Ardyn can stay too. Really.]

Ah, but it is good to hear that you've been doing well. I've been spending my time holed up doing research. Unfortunately, none of it has been too fruitful as of yet. I'm starting to think we'll just have to make do here for awhile.

Yeah, I figured you might.

[she giggles. see, ardyn, no need to worry! she never planned to invite you over at all.]

I sort of came to the same conclusion. That's actually why I called.

[in the privacy of her room, she flops onto her bed and stares at the ceiling.]

Remember what I said about wanting to be a hunter?

[Of course he does. He can't say that he expected for her to still contact him when there are so many people she knows she could turn to, though. This definitely feeds into his theory that she's generally expected to be a good little girl and sit at home while big brother handles things.

That makes her easy prey.]

I do. Have you found a job that tickles your fancy?

I don't think my fancy is how I'd describe it...

[a little flash of amusement, as she laughs to herself, and then she rolls over and attempts to be serious.]

Apparently, it's hunting cave spiders? Um... they're just big spiders, I guess. Totally gross, if I'm being honest, and I'm probably gonna scream, but you can't be picky about the thing you're gonna kill, right?

I really wanna try it, but my brother would flip if he found out. I mean — he'd be okay with it, you know, but he'd want to come along. That ruins all the fun. And I bet if I asked anyone else in the house, they'd wind up telling him... So, will you come with me? You don't even know him, so you're perfect for keeping it secret!

[nothing could be more vulnerable than a teenage girl eager to prove herself on her own.]

So you're looking for insurance instead of someone to hold your hand, yes? A wise decision. It's never a good idea to venture off into the unknown without at least letting someone know where you're going.

[Which is not an option if Gladio would just hover around her as soon as she told him.]

Taking down a few spiders sounds simple enough. Have you procured a weapon yet if you need one?

Oh... well, you know, I have myself.

[there's an oddly dangerous tilt to the way she says that, but her next few lines are cheerful enough.]

Learning to use a weapon might not be a bad idea, though! There was another hunt bill up for fire cobras, which sound so cool, but I wasn't sure how I was going to kick something that was all fiery. Plus, I think they're more dangerous than the spiders, and there's no sense hopping into the frying pan. Know what I mean?

[she pushes herself off her bed and looks out the window.]

...But, yeah, I just want you to come along in case I'm biting off more than I can chew. 'Cause you... you'd give me space?

[after all, ardyn doesn't have an interest in protecting her... not the way everyone else does.]

...But you wouldn't just leave if anything happened, either.

[...right?]

[He picks up on that slight anxiety and makes an attempt to project reassurance in return, but in all honesty, he's not very good at this yet. It's going to take quite a few more classes for him to be able to give off a feeling that he's not actually experiencing.]

I'll not abandon you if that's what you're getting at. So I'll be playing support... it's been a long time.

[A trickle of dark humor makes its way through the connection, but Ardyn snuffs it out quickly enough.]

Perhaps in the future you could learn to use a ranged weapon to handle monsters such as fire cobras that it would be best to not touch, but for now I think your skills should be sufficient. I'd be happy to accompany you.

Great! Thanks, Ardyn!

[warm relief and gratitude washes over her — and, consequently, it laps at the edges of his mind, too. she really needs to work on keeping her feelings to herself. there's a pause, as she does the emotional equivalent of wrapping a phone cord around her finger (a kind of winding up, and winding down) — and then she just says, simply:]

So, I'll see you tomorrow, then? We can meet, um, there's a spot...

[...the benefit of telepathy is that she can just sort of show him what she's thinking of, rather than tell him. so she does.]

[That certainly is a benefit. It's a little more disconcerting than simply hearing a voice in his head, but he'll get used to it.]

Tomorrow it is. That will give me a chance to get some supplies together.

[He'll have to carry his things like a normal person. What a bother...]

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