Oh, do remind me to. I think you'd enjoy seeing him as he is in my world! I gather he's more primal in yours.
[ Little Ascian jokes, from what he could gather. Shadows of what the being they drew from had been, for the most part. Formed of belief and aether, and extremely dangerous. ]
You're a magical man, my friend! I was wondering if you had some insight on what to do with his current predicament?
Oh yes, that he is. Why, he is in the most beastly form imaginable!
[He did sometime wonder what would happen were he to teach primal summoning here. What twisted being would spring forth from the imaginations of people from distant worlds?]
You refer to him currently being undersized? Were he a primal, I would say it was due to a dearth for crystals, or a weak mind doing the summoning... But I don't believe that applies in your Ifrit's case. How was he shrunken?
[ He'd almost like to see it. Bahamut, restrained and used as a glorified battery, however, oh... he would love that. Just a little slice of vindictive delight. ]
You know, I'm not actually terribly sure! It when I called up for a chat after arriving, I found him at his much reduced size. Perhaps it's being so far away from his own Star that does it, and he sacrifices his intimidating size to retain his fiery power.
[ It would be good. Teasing the Astrals at being so reduced was one thing, but Ardyn wasn't without empathy for Ifrit. He, too, had been cast down as a villain by Bahamut. Restoring him to his proper size, with the knowledge that the Draconian could still be much reduced, appealed to him.
Not to mention that he would be far more useful like that. ]
I can be at yours quickly enough, if you don't mind my dropping in.
[It had, perhaps, been a bit too long since he'd last left his own apartment, after all... And in any case, he misliked the idea of his things being singed if something went awry while he prodded Ifrit.]
[ There he was! That little blossom of darkness was very fancy. Ardyn wondered if he could teach himself to do something similar. There was probably no need; Shadowstepping did the job well enough, and he'd long passed the need to be showy with the Starscourge for Noctis.
... That was downright lie. But he was going to use different types of it, rather than just movement.
Ardyn made a show of checking a watch that he wasn't wearing. ]
Ah... oh! Just on time! What a gracious ruler you must have been, my dear Emet-Selch.
[ He got to his feet, took Emet-Selch's hand, and bowed low over it. He kissed the back, and through gloves or otherwise, the tingle of the Moonlacing was present. ]
Would you like some refreshment before I introduce you to my fiery friend?
Well, what can I say? As rulers go, I did set the bar quite high.
[His eyelids dipped in pleasure at the warmth of chroma. He really did enjoy Ardyn's manners. What would he have done if the only other proper person in this place had been a bore like his fellow Ascians? Expire all over again from sheer ennui, most likely.]
Oh, You needn't trouble yourself on my account. I must confess, I am quite eager to see this diminutive summon of yours.
Oh, very well. I suppose neither of us really need one, after all.
[ He let go of his hand, took a step back, and made a show of looking around. Then he raised his hand to his mouth and coughed into his fist, clearing his throat. ]]
Oh, yoo-hoo! Ifrit!
[ Even at his diminished size, the flare of heat that emanated from the Astral was immense. Ardyn straightened out his hand, and Ifrit's clawed feet touched down against his glove, blistering the skin and peeling back the fabric. He didn't flinch; he'd remembered being grabbed by those clawed hands, and how the searing flame had done little to him.
There had to be intent from an Astral to hurt a mortal, even if that mortal couldn't die. ]
Now, Ifrit, I know this isn't Grimm, but he's a dear friend of mine and I would appreciate if you were polite to him as well, yes? I know he's not another fire god, but he's ever so interesting all the same! He might be able to come up with something that will get you back to a size you're more used to. Wouldn't that be fun?
[ He, of course, did not need to speak to Ifrit to commune with him. Ifrit was irrevocably a part of Ardyn now, half and extension, half a bonded deity. The Starscourge rippled through his divine form, and that meant Ardyn rippled through it.
Speaking to him like an old chum was just a little bit of petty humour. He felt he ought be granted it, as Ifrit might not have been part of Bahamut's plans, but he'd certainly never shown a shred of remorse over them. From one maligned victim of the dragon to another, Ardyn just didn't approve of that. ]
Emet-Selch, meet Ifrit, the Infernian, the Fire God of the Hexatheon and the lover of Shiva the Glacial.
[Emet-Selch leaned down to scrutinize the diminutive deity more closely.]
You know, there was a Shiva where I come from, as well, though the original was a mere moral woman. Her lover was a dragon, or so I hear tell...
[Mere trivia, mentioned off-hand. It wasn't important or relevant, but one did need to make some conversation!]
Well, doe does not seem to have been sundered, at least. Not unless his original soul was of an absolutely extraordinary density, at any rate. He seems merely... condensed.
[ He could feel Ifrit's outrage at such an implication. For Shiva to have loved a dragon in their world, she could only have loved Bahamut. His barely sapient kin were not an option to the Infernian, and so Ardyn hardly considered them. And yet, he, as Ardyn Izunia, who had shared Emet-Selch's thoughts and mind, could imagine it. A woman, so in love with a being older by far and more knowledgeable than mortal ken, bridging a gap so wide that the ripples of it would be felt for generations.
He saw it the way a pet owner may look at the lineage of a dog, and raise their eyebrows at seeing they were once a wolf. It was fascinating, and told him something interesting, but it was not relevant to what he was asking.
No, what was was Emet-Selch's question. Ardyn hummed. ]
As I'm sure you can imagine, I haven't had much chance to test them out here. [ People would so notice if the city went up in flames, after all. ] From the little I have... no, he isn't. Not terribly, at any rate. His Hellfire takes a time to power up, however.
[ The tiny Astral flared, but did not erupt. Ardyn felt the heat in his hands and smirked. ]
If his potency has not greatly suffered, you may consider the utility of his present state. After all, he would be terribly easy to sneak into any place you wished to see burned to ashes...
Ah, but it would lack the proper gravitas, wouldn't it. Not much of a show in that.
I admit, there's a bit of us both that enjoys his grandeur/ [ He left that hanging, letting Emet-Selch remember, if he wanted, the feeling of Ifrit's majesty, how he was before he had been cast down, and even then before he had been corrupted by the Starscourge.
It didn't last too long. Ardyn gave a sigh not long after. ] I was considering seeing if it had something to do with Chroma... but a fellow called Grimm is quite taken with Ifrit, and though I let him hold him for several lazy hours, he's still just this size. [ He jostled his hand slightly, making Ifrit sidestep to keep his balance. ]
And I rather doubt it is a matter of your own chroma, if you have noticed no change. Gauche as it may be for me to mention it, I happen to have firsthand knowledge that you are not in short supply.
[He doesn't bother to not let himself look a bit pleased about that.]
Perhaps something about the process that brought you both here. Some aspect of it may have simply not been suitable for your summon.
Well... the obvious answer is that he's tied to Eos. [ Ardyn watched Ifrit as he simple stood on his palm. Those burning eyes were focused on Emet-Selch, and he half-felt the acknowledgement of one eternal being to another pass through in that gaze.
It sharpened how little he wanted to be one. ]
Of course, I have been wondering... well. [ He looked at his bedmate, remembering all those passionate moments. His lips on his, his body grinding against his... ]
If it may, perhaps, require more Chroma than I've yet to give. Or some guache example of the Chroma I have given, already.
[ Ardyn laughed, tilting his head back and closing his eyes in the simple pleasure of it. Ifrit made no sound, but he could feel the thrumming of his being through him, both amused and disdainful of this. How much of that was Ardyn, and how much of that was Ifrit? So hard to tell, these days! ]
Oh, Emet-Selch! If you do or say anything in front of Ifrit, it's as good as doing or saying it in front of me, these days. We're rather closely linked.
[ He tensed his fingers, and the black mottling on Ifrit's skin writhed. The Astral buckled in his hand, and soon vanished in a flash of flame and darkness. Ardyn idly patted out the part of his sleeve that had caught fire. ]
And while that wasn't my single intent... I'm not going to pretend it wasn't on my mind as a pleasant end to this conversation.
[ Ardyn was old, bitter, and focused mainly on getting his revenge before things blessedly ended. If Planet Prismatica did not seem to run on some energy that sex produced in abundance, he wouldn't have been likely to bother with it. And while he had enjoyed himself, and even been aroused by it before, it was always a means to an end, rather than something he anticipated.
Emet-Selch's offer, pleasing but by no means dismissive, wound something low and hungry in his gut, like a banked flame. Ardyn's gaze darkened, and his smile was long and languid. ]
You're quite the improvement over the last Emperor I dealt with, you know.
[ He raised a hand and swept the pad of his thumb over those cruel lips. The linger heat of Ifrit's touch burned low as he did so. ]
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[ Little Ascian jokes, from what he could gather. Shadows of what the being they drew from had been, for the most part. Formed of belief and aether, and extremely dangerous. ]
You're a magical man, my friend! I was wondering if you had some insight on what to do with his current predicament?
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[He did sometime wonder what would happen were he to teach primal summoning here. What twisted being would spring forth from the imaginations of people from distant worlds?]
You refer to him currently being undersized? Were he a primal, I would say it was due to a dearth for crystals, or a weak mind doing the summoning... But I don't believe that applies in your Ifrit's case. How was he shrunken?
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You know, I'm not actually terribly sure! It when I called up for a chat after arriving, I found him at his much reduced size. Perhaps it's being so far away from his own Star that does it, and he sacrifices his intimidating size to retain his fiery power.
Would you like to see?
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[He have a small shrug.]
Of course, I make no guarantees.
[At least this miniature Ifrit would be something of a novelty.]
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[ It would be good. Teasing the Astrals at being so reduced was one thing, but Ardyn wasn't without empathy for Ifrit. He, too, had been cast down as a villain by Bahamut. Restoring him to his proper size, with the knowledge that the Draconian could still be much reduced, appealed to him.
Not to mention that he would be far more useful like that. ]
My place or yours?
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[It had, perhaps, been a bit too long since he'd last left his own apartment, after all... And in any case, he misliked the idea of his things being singed if something went awry while he prodded Ifrit.]
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[ He hummed a little bar of the Chocobo Post jingle. ]]
Aaaand... one!
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I do hope I've not arrived late!
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[ There he was! That little blossom of darkness was very fancy. Ardyn wondered if he could teach himself to do something similar. There was probably no need; Shadowstepping did the job well enough, and he'd long passed the need to be showy with the Starscourge for Noctis.
... That was downright lie. But he was going to use different types of it, rather than just movement.
Ardyn made a show of checking a watch that he wasn't wearing. ]
Ah... oh! Just on time! What a gracious ruler you must have been, my dear Emet-Selch.
[ He got to his feet, took Emet-Selch's hand, and bowed low over it. He kissed the back, and through gloves or otherwise, the tingle of the Moonlacing was present. ]
Would you like some refreshment before I introduce you to my fiery friend?
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[His eyelids dipped in pleasure at the warmth of chroma. He really did enjoy Ardyn's manners. What would he have done if the only other proper person in this place had been a bore like his fellow Ascians? Expire all over again from sheer ennui, most likely.]
Oh, You needn't trouble yourself on my account. I must confess, I am quite eager to see this diminutive summon of yours.
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[ He let go of his hand, took a step back, and made a show of looking around. Then he raised his hand to his mouth and coughed into his fist, clearing his throat. ]]
Oh, yoo-hoo! Ifrit!
[ Even at his diminished size, the flare of heat that emanated from the Astral was immense. Ardyn straightened out his hand, and Ifrit's clawed feet touched down against his glove, blistering the skin and peeling back the fabric. He didn't flinch; he'd remembered being grabbed by those clawed hands, and how the searing flame had done little to him.
There had to be intent from an Astral to hurt a mortal, even if that mortal couldn't die. ]
Now, Ifrit, I know this isn't Grimm, but he's a dear friend of mine and I would appreciate if you were polite to him as well, yes? I know he's not another fire god, but he's ever so interesting all the same! He might be able to come up with something that will get you back to a size you're more used to. Wouldn't that be fun?
[ He, of course, did not need to speak to Ifrit to commune with him. Ifrit was irrevocably a part of Ardyn now, half and extension, half a bonded deity. The Starscourge rippled through his divine form, and that meant Ardyn rippled through it.
Speaking to him like an old chum was just a little bit of petty humour. He felt he ought be granted it, as Ifrit might not have been part of Bahamut's plans, but he'd certainly never shown a shred of remorse over them. From one maligned victim of the dragon to another, Ardyn just didn't approve of that. ]
Emet-Selch, meet Ifrit, the Infernian, the Fire God of the Hexatheon and the lover of Shiva the Glacial.
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[Emet-Selch leaned down to scrutinize the diminutive deity more closely.]
You know, there was a Shiva where I come from, as well, though the original was a mere moral woman. Her lover was a dragon, or so I hear tell...
[Mere trivia, mentioned off-hand. It wasn't important or relevant, but one did need to make some conversation!]
Well, doe does not seem to have been sundered, at least. Not unless his original soul was of an absolutely extraordinary density, at any rate. He seems merely... condensed.
Are his powers any less than they were?
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He saw it the way a pet owner may look at the lineage of a dog, and raise their eyebrows at seeing they were once a wolf. It was fascinating, and told him something interesting, but it was not relevant to what he was asking.
No, what was was Emet-Selch's question. Ardyn hummed. ]
As I'm sure you can imagine, I haven't had much chance to test them out here. [ People would so notice if the city went up in flames, after all. ] From the little I have... no, he isn't. Not terribly, at any rate. His Hellfire takes a time to power up, however.
[ The tiny Astral flared, but did not erupt. Ardyn felt the heat in his hands and smirked. ]
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Ah, but it would lack the proper gravitas, wouldn't it. Not much of a show in that.
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It didn't last too long. Ardyn gave a sigh not long after. ] I was considering seeing if it had something to do with Chroma... but a fellow called Grimm is quite taken with Ifrit, and though I let him hold him for several lazy hours, he's still just this size. [ He jostled his hand slightly, making Ifrit sidestep to keep his balance. ]
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[He smirks a bit at Ifrit's hasty maneuver.]
And I rather doubt it is a matter of your own chroma, if you have noticed no change. Gauche as it may be for me to mention it, I happen to have firsthand knowledge that you are not in short supply.
[He doesn't bother to not let himself look a bit pleased about that.]
Perhaps something about the process that brought you both here. Some aspect of it may have simply not been suitable for your summon.
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It sharpened how little he wanted to be one. ]
Of course, I have been wondering... well. [ He looked at his bedmate, remembering all those passionate moments. His lips on his, his body grinding against his... ]
If it may, perhaps, require more Chroma than I've yet to give. Or some guache example of the Chroma I have given, already.
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[He held Ifrit's gaze. How very different from the savage primal, this version was! He looked back up to the Astral's master.]
Why, Ardyn, are you propositioning me? Right in front of Ifrit? I am quite tempted to accept.
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Oh, Emet-Selch! If you do or say anything in front of Ifrit, it's as good as doing or saying it in front of me, these days. We're rather closely linked.
[ He tensed his fingers, and the black mottling on Ifrit's skin writhed. The Astral buckled in his hand, and soon vanished in a flash of flame and darkness. Ardyn idly patted out the part of his sleeve that had caught fire. ]
And while that wasn't my single intent... I'm not going to pretend it wasn't on my mind as a pleasant end to this conversation.
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Well then, who am I to refuse? In fact, if I might make a suggestion... Perhaps I might suck your cock.
[ His smirk somehow managed to turn a degree more predatory. ]
Would you like that, I wonder? To have an emperor on his knees for you?
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Emet-Selch's offer, pleasing but by no means dismissive, wound something low and hungry in his gut, like a banked flame. Ardyn's gaze darkened, and his smile was long and languid. ]
You're quite the improvement over the last Emperor I dealt with, you know.
[ He raised a hand and swept the pad of his thumb over those cruel lips. The linger heat of Ifrit's touch burned low as he did so. ]
I'm more than looking forward to this.
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I am an improvement over most Emperors, though I am none-the less glad to hear you say it.
[ His tongue darted out to lap suggestively at Ardyn's thumb. ]
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[ He closed the gap and tilted his head up to kiss him. ]
And where will you want me, your Radiance?
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[ He leaned down ever so slightly into the kiss and gave Ardyn's lower lip a small nip when they pulled apart. ]
Hmm, why don't you take a seat in the throne of your choice. You shall be the ruler today, after all.
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