Argenti's Palace

[beautifulknight]

The stage is set they say;
They don their masks and shields,
Shadows creep and cover their minds;
Now, what beautiful role shall they play?

𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮


♫

Comments

[gardenful]

[ She doesn't like this, the white of his hair and the gold in his eyes reflecting none of the warmth that she had grown accustomed to. This isn't like the man she accompanied down a dirt road a few weeks ago, talking about life and the things that are most important to them.

This isn't like Argenti at all.

And yet... she knows he's in there somewhere. He has to be. Anything else is simply unacceptable. ]

I'm here to get back my friend.

[ Because that's what he is, despite all of the complicated feelings and mixed up thoughts she had about him after Fuyu's death. He made a point to reach out to her, to extend his trust, and so she will do the same. Right here, right now. ]

I know you're in there somewhere, Argenti.

[beautifulknight]

[ There she is.

Argenti's gaze is upon her, no less different than it has been when he greeted her; as if nothing is wrong. Though, of course, his words spell a different story entirely. ]

...Have you not considered that your friend has been lost forever?

I shall be ready to show you the error in your presumptions soon enough.

[ This, apparently rings true, given he seems more prepared to welcome everyone to battle. ]

[gardenful]

[ Lost, huh... she wonders what exactly that means for Argenti. Is he, like Idrila, lost to everyone, his heart buried so deep in his chest that no one else can find it? Is the real Argenti buried deep too?

For just a moment, she thinks of Cloud, and the way she's been looking for him, the real him, every second that they've been together. Over time, she's started to see glimpses of the real Cloud, of the one she knows lies underneath everything that he has to have been through. That she's seen glimpses means that he's there, and if Cloud can be pulled out of the darkness and unearthed like a long lost treasure... then so can Argenti. ]

Being lost means that you can still be found, no matter how long it's been. You can find your way out of the darkness and towards the people that care about you. That's why we're here—we're going to do all we can to search for you, to search for Argenti.

Friendship is like a light that can guide you through the darkest tunnels, and right now we're extending that light to you. All you have to do is grab onto it. Even if it's scary and you won't know what to do once you're out, we'll be able to help you. You can lean on us, tell us your fears, trust us... and we'll give every ounce of that right back to you.

There's a real kindness in you, Argenti. It's only fair that you're given it in return. Even if that means we have to fight you, I hope you'll see it, and that you'll grab onto it.

[beautifulknight]

[ Argenti wishes that no one would try to reach deep inside of him to pull out what remains.

All that he thinks that is left is only darkness, after all. What can they see in him like this? What can they see in that?

Aerith's words apparently provide the answer, spoken sweetly yet genuinely not unlike with the soft power of a spring breeze's gust, yet steeped firmly like roots from an ancient tree nestled within an old forest. ]

...You waste your kindness on me.

[ Is all he can say. It's the only defense, or response he can think of.

And then, he begins the battle. ]