God-Eater

Even with his nose buried in a book, the Chancellor seemed to recognize what was being flung towards him. The immortal gave an over lavish sigh and held up his hand, reaching to catch the pebble before it struck his hat off his brow. He supposed he could have let it hit and feigned surprise, but what would be the cause other than to allow the youth to continue with his games. Ardyn tutted his tongue against his mouth and tossed the pebble back.

Ardyn backed up and grinned wide as his friend started to shift and change. He cheered as the shape settled into a big black dog. His friend was the coolest! Distracted by the new animal, he decided to run up to his dog friend and pet him first.  “Nian your a dog! your very good!” He praised, “We should play fetch! Cause your a dog right now!”

He quickly searched around the area for something suitable. There was a ball, but it was too big, but there was also a big stick just like dogs played with in movies. That’d be perfect! He picked it up and waved at his friend with it so Nian could see it, than threw it as far as he could.  “Go get it Nian! Yeah!!”

A being, thousands of years old, playing fetch?

A part of the Astral was almost insulted, but the soft spot for the child won him over. The large dog dipped down and lifted up, wagging his tail as the mode should indicate, and then he bolted to chase after the stick. He trotted after it, finding it rather easily and taking it into his jaws, then he moved back. However, instead of dropping it at Dyn’s feet, he sat on his haunches and tilted his head, multiple eyes blinking.

| ❥   𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍     [   𝐀   𝐒𝐘𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋   𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄   ] | @scourgedaddy​​ asked |   💢 | 💢  :    your  muse  picks  mine  up   &   carries  them  over  their  shoulder .

He hasn’t been sleeping. He doesn’t sleep much anymore - not when he is aware that he is working on a time limit. The few remaining staff have long since retired and it is him alone, in his labs, caught up in his studies and research. There is so much he still needs to do before the Scourge fully consumes him. And if he has to push his body to its limits then so be it. 

He’s feverish but its only mild - probably. He’s still designing the systems for his precious Immortalis, he has no time to rest. He has no time to be sick. 

He doesn’t notice Ardyn enter, doesn’t hear if anything is said. He does, however, feel himself be lifted from his seat. He looks up in shock, only catching a flash of wine hair as he was dropped over the other’s shoulder. 

“No, you put me down right now.” He demands, though his voice is hoarse and weak.

If Ardyn was going to pay any heed to Verstael’s small whine of protest, the immortal didn’t show it. Instead, he kept the scientist lodged over his shoulder, carried like a sack of potatoes, and he moved to shift into the next room. 

“I will not.” He chimed up, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he flowed his way into the hall and down towards where Verstael was resting for this time frame. “You look about ready to collapse and, truly, I can’t have that, can I? What use are you to me if you’re entirely dead out across the floor?” Ardyn tutted. 

The Astral chuckled, that deep, gurgling noise that rumbled up from underneath his throat. He tapped his talons again against the child’s nose and stood up, robes falling down along Dyn. 

“Play?” He rumbled, though it was responded with a teasing smile.

The Abyssinian’s body swelled and shifted, swarming up in his own robes before seemingly collapsing into nothing. From the confines of the darkness, a large, shaggy black dog appeared, shaking at the shoulders. Golden eyes turned towards the toddler and he dropped into a sit, his paws moving up to tap near Dyn’s feet.

Sorry for going MIA

Multiple eyes opened wide, then narrowed towards the small child that came up with no fear. His might was large and towering, squashing the younger boy quite easily beneath the shadows of his ink-black cloak. Yet, all the God-King did was smile, wide and toothy, and squat down to the young boy’s size. When he spoke, his voice was dignified and triumphant, clamoring like maddening bells, but he kept it to a tone that would not frighten the lad. 

“Tickle? No. If I am honest, I barely feel it at all.” He offered, holding out a long taloned hand towards the much younger version of himself. “And who might you be?”