Of course I will. Do you think he'll actually be forthright about it?
Likely he'll have disparaging comments about Lady Lunafreya, and veiled threats to anyone you may know here, all whilst managing to act like the victim. Those are the fastest ways to get to you, and he'll likely be looking to provoke you again.
The best thing you can do is offer him nothing in return, and trust all of us to look after ourselves. The moment you feel the need to balk out of protection, you've lost to him.
[ As usual. Ignis's advice is solid, sound, and pulls zero punches. Why should it when Ardyn won't? Better for him to hear it now, from him, than be unprepared when he goes to speak to him. ]
I have no idea if he'll lie to me but I don't know what reason he'd have to keep it up. I'm already going to give him what he wants. There's not much he can say to threaten that so there's no point in him holding back right?
He has no reason to do most of what he does, and that's the part that I worry about the most.
[At least this is something he can do. Facing the facts, trying to determine outcomes, and think of ways to either prepare for or circumvent them.]
While I'd like to believe he wouldn't harm you here, given that he needs you back on Eos, given his experiences me may not place very much stock in actions here mattering for outcomes back home. After all, he was more than happy to reveal a potential future to you, which speaks to a confidence that you either can't or won't change it.
But you're correct. He has nothing to hide or protect. We have no leverage against him. Be cognizant of that.
I couldn't forget it even if I wanted to. The only thing I've got to use is my cooperation with his goals, and if I try to threaten that I won't go along with them he'll just start hurting you guys.
I'll be careful, I plan to listen more than I talk. Not that that's hard with him. I get that he's gonna do everything he can to hurt me, at least with words.... and if he can make me snap and have an excuse to hurt me physically too that's even better for him.
[He hates that: The idea of Noctis cooperating with his goals, knowing what the end result of those goals are. But they'll gain nothing from his arguing about that right now.]
I don't believe he'll keep himself from that even if you do fully cooperate, truth be told. While he's pleased at the acquiescence for now, I'm sure he'll end up like the proverbial couerl, spending longer playing with his prey than actively consuming it.
I can't honestly believe he'd happily idle day-by-day here, so long as we're around for him to funnel his hatred towards.
I'll be gladly at your side. And if you'd prefer I stay out of your conversations with him, then I'll do my best to attempt that as well. You understand what's at stake and what he'll likely do, which is all I can ask.
[ It's... factual, everything that Ignis is saying. It still doesn't make it easier to read, absorbing the message that torture will be Ardyn's form of entertaining himself. Does he disagree? No. Is it palatable? No. To accept that burden on his own head is one thing — something that does scare him; he isn't above that — but to know he can't help his friends too? ]
Ignis you know I still have to do what I can. We can say w/e we want to but I'm his main target. I don't wanna be, I don't want any of it, but if I'm already in his sights it doesn't make sense for me to not try to keep it just limited to me.
I get that he's a loose cannon. But I don't want to make it even worse. So I want to at least make it look like I'm talking to him solo.
[Nothing about this is easy. Ardyn doesn't make things easy. Melodramatic and flippant both, difficult to predict, and even harder to prepare for.]
Accepting yourself as his target and bearing it willingly is noble and selfless of you, Noct, but he likely knows that attacking you directly isn't the way to make you hurt the most.
Very well. When you meet with him, I'll stay back.
It's the opposite of noble and selfless, as much as I wanna take the credit. Would you rather get hurt or see us get hurt? [ Taking the damage is a lot easier than not. ]
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no subject
Likely he'll have disparaging comments about Lady Lunafreya, and veiled threats to anyone you may know here, all whilst managing to act like the victim. Those are the fastest ways to get to you, and he'll likely be looking to provoke you again.
The best thing you can do is offer him nothing in return, and trust all of us to look after ourselves. The moment you feel the need to balk out of protection, you've lost to him.
no subject
[ As usual. Ignis's advice is solid, sound, and pulls zero punches. Why should it when Ardyn won't? Better for him to hear it now, from him, than be unprepared when he goes to speak to him. ]
I have no idea if he'll lie to me but I don't know what reason he'd have to keep it up. I'm already going to give him what he wants. There's not much he can say to threaten that so there's no point in him holding back right?
no subject
[At least this is something he can do. Facing the facts, trying to determine outcomes, and think of ways to either prepare for or circumvent them.]
While I'd like to believe he wouldn't harm you here, given that he needs you back on Eos, given his experiences me may not place very much stock in actions here mattering for outcomes back home. After all, he was more than happy to reveal a potential future to you, which speaks to a confidence that you either can't or won't change it.
But you're correct. He has nothing to hide or protect. We have no leverage against him. Be cognizant of that.
no subject
I'll be careful, I plan to listen more than I talk. Not that that's hard with him. I get that he's gonna do everything he can to hurt me, at least with words.... and if he can make me snap and have an excuse to hurt me physically too that's even better for him.
That's why I want you close.
no subject
I don't believe he'll keep himself from that even if you do fully cooperate, truth be told. While he's pleased at the acquiescence for now, I'm sure he'll end up like the proverbial couerl, spending longer playing with his prey than actively consuming it.
I can't honestly believe he'd happily idle day-by-day here, so long as we're around for him to funnel his hatred towards.
I'll be gladly at your side. And if you'd prefer I stay out of your conversations with him, then I'll do my best to attempt that as well. You understand what's at stake and what he'll likely do, which is all I can ask.
no subject
Ignis you know I still have to do what I can. We can say w/e we want to but I'm his main target. I don't wanna be, I don't want any of it, but if I'm already in his sights it doesn't make sense for me to not try to keep it just limited to me.
I get that he's a loose cannon. But I don't want to make it even worse. So I want to at least make it look like I'm talking to him solo.
no subject
Accepting yourself as his target and bearing it willingly is noble and selfless of you, Noct, but he likely knows that attacking you directly isn't the way to make you hurt the most.
Very well. When you meet with him, I'll stay back.
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Thanks, Ignis
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[also he would get hurt for noct, but not necessarily for prompto so ymmv]
No thanks necessary. But you're welcome, regardless. I hope you learn what it is you're trying to.