Photo taken and edited by me~ (Dammit, he’s too handsome)
Tropes Pt. 2 for my upcoming project. Alas, the con at the end of this month is taking much of my time, however, I am making strides with making the fancomic mainly in writing that focuses on the interactions of Ardyn and his crew. So without further ado, here ya go! Fair warning, long read ahead.
Feel free to leave insight, commentary, heck even stuff that you would like to see come to life between the Ardynights~ For those who are just learning about this project for the first time, you can refer to the link below of the crew I have created for Trash Jesus during his time as a mortal man and hero to his people 2000 years ago:
Ardyn and his crew
Ardyn & The Lancer
If It’s You, It’s Okay – The Lancer lets Ardyn get away with a lot of things, granted he’ll more or less talk his ear off for it
Seeker: “Why do you let him do what he does if you are so vocal in your dislike for his choices?”
Lancer: “Once you’re in his company long enough, you’ll understand.”
Shield: “Ardyn is just…Ardyn.”
Ardyn: “Did someone call my name?”
Straight Man and Wise Guy – The Lancer as the Straight Man and Ardyn as the Wise Guy respectively
Ardyn and his team travel to what would later be known as Altissia to make a pact with Leviathan, the goddess of the seas who is known to treat those who so much as annoy her with an unbridled wrath.
Ardyn: “We board ship, commune with the Hyrdraean, and move that much closer to defeating the ultimate evil. Sound like a plan?”
Lancer: “The Hydraean is not known for her kindness, Ardyn. We must proceed with caution. The wrath of the sea would surely be upon us if we so much as look at her the wrong way.”
Ardyn: “Come now. I am the Astrals’ Chosen. What could possibly go wrong?”
(scene cuts to Ardyn and his crew holding onto the collapsing mast of the ship struggling against the goddess’ seastorm)
Lancer: “ARDYN, YOU POMPOUS TWIT!”
Ardyn: “I KNOW, I’M WORKING ON IT!”
Ardyn & The Shield
Get a Hold of Yourself, Man! – The Shield does this to Ardyn as he loses confidence in himself as Chosen. They brawl it out with the Shield seemingly having the upper hand despite Ardyn possessing superior abilities which further damages Ardyn’s ego, but at the right moment the latter sets his pride aside and overcomes his friend who smiles and proudly accepts his defeat.
Shield: “If you cannot defeat me, then you cannot defeat the daemons. You cannot defeat the Starscourge. So allow me to do us all a favor and end your life now since you have already surrendered to your failures.” (moves to attack Ardyn)
Ardyn: (dodges) “Shield! Have you gone mad?!”
---
Ardyn: “I know what you’re trying to do.” (sword pointing at the Shield)
Shield: (ended in a kneeling position and was unarmed by Ardyn’s last strike, he bows his head respectfully) “Is the king now ready to take his crown?”
I Owe You My Life – Ardyn saved The Shield when they were children, the former was too young to remember as he himself was in the mindset of playing the game of Hero. The Shield on the other hand remembers everything and dedicates his life to protecting Ardyn even after the fall of Solheim.
Ardyn: “What made you chase after the profession of soldier?”
Shield: “A little boy. He saved me from a fire when I was a young lad myself.”
Ardyn: “You of all people required saving?”
Shield: (nods) “Since then, I wanted to become stronger. To have the same resolve and courage as he did…does.”
Ardyn: “Ah, so you think he’s still alive? That’s good! It would be a great honor to meet him, my friend.”
Shield: (smiles)
(flashback – Ardyn single-handedly drags The Shield from the burning and collapsing building. Both boys coughing as they gasp for clean air)
Young Ardyn: (after he regains his breath) “…Are you alright?”
Young Shield: “I…I think so.”
Young Ardyn: (looks at him and smiles gleefully) “That was a most excellent time! I can’t wait to tell, Lancer! Let’s play again, yes?” (scurries off)
Young Shield: “……” (looks at the retreating boy with slight awe)
(flashback ends)
Lancer: “So that was you. And after all this time, I thought it was a story he made up.”
Ardyn & The Seeker
Only Friend – The Seeker has made many ties whilst wandering Eos in her personal quest, these people including the Oracle; however, she outright states that she never allows herself or anyone to get close emotionally. Over time, however…
Seeker: “It…has been a long time since I can openly admit to trusting someone.”
Ardyn: (shrugs) “You trust us enough to travel with us in our perilous journey. Three men, I imagine, is not ideal company for a lady.”
Seeker: “That is different. Saving Eos forces one to place reliance onto others because that is what is demanded. But trust…that’s a sentiment, a gift. Something I scarce allow…”
Ardyn: (smiles) “Is this the part where you confess your love to me? At long last?”
Seeker: “No.”
Ardyn: (fakes being emotionally hurt by her rejection)
Seeker: (she smiles slightly in response) “You are strange, Chosen.” (moves to prepare for their next objective)
Ardyn: “Seeker.”
Seeker: (turns to him) “?”
Ardyn: “I trust you too.”
Ship Tease - for the most part, this relationship seems very one-sided as Ardyn is a persistent flirt while the Seeker does not appear to be one for romance. Still, they have a interesting enough dynamic for this trope to properly be referenced to and one of many banters to match.
(Seeker treating Ardyn’s wounds)
Seeker: “Hold still.”
Ardyn: “It’s not that ba-hss!” (winces)
Seeker: “True. Lucky for you, you will not have scars.”
Ardyn: “Ahh, but the female masses fancy scars. Look at the Shield.”
Shield: (a short distance away, surrounded by fawning/fussing women though he nary gives them attention in return)
Ardyn: “See what I mean?”
Seeker: “I’m sure you can find safer ways to appeal to them.”
Ardyn: “I will try everything, risks and all.”
Seeker: “Sounds like a lot of effort to attract attention. You do plenty of that without even trying.”
Ardyn: “Whatever it takes to keep your eyes on mine. If scars are to mar my person on a regular basis to ensure the promise of your hands and attention tending to me…then the pain is worth it. I seek only to appeal to you.”
Seeker: (finishes dressing his wounds and dismisses him) “Enough of that. Go tend to the others, Chosen.”
Ardyn: “As you wish, my temptress.”
Seeker: (sighs)
You Are Better Than You Think You Are - they give each other lectures of this in the fluffiest of ways, here are my favorite moments.
(The Seeker telling this to Ardyn)
Seeker: “Ardyn, that is not true. The ring and the Crystal does not define who you are. It does not tell you that you are less.”
Ardyn: “Then who am I? What more could I be?”
Seeker: “A good man…that has taken the burdens none could carry to save the lives of all. One who evidently believes himself to be… a man of no consequence.” (A/N: I squealed when I wrote this tbh)
Ardyn: (chuckles)
Seeker: (smiles) “Ah, there is that man.”
---
(Ardyn telling this to the Seeker)
Ardyn: “Seeker…”
Seeker: “If this is another one of your advances to make light of the situation then hurry up and get it over with.”
Ardyn: “I just wanted to say…that you are worth more than you make yourself out to be, that despite your words and your actions, you are a good soul and the bravest person I know. It is your side that I will proudly stand by until the end itself.” (after a long-filled silence, he moves to leave her to her thoughts, but is stopped when she grips his sleeve, preventing him from going. He looks back at her questioningly and is taken aback when she further initiates physical contact by embracing him. No words were shared and he embraces her wholly, offering the comfort she wanted)
The Lancer & The Shield
Cultured Warrior – when not under the threat of daemons or battle, The Lancer passes the time with fine spirits and engages in deep political discussions, mostly pertaining to the recovery of Solheim should they succeed in their mission to purge the Starscourge. The Shield prefers discussing literature, but will not turn down a drink when offered.
Lancer: “Shield, whilst they are handling this task, I have a spotted a promising tavern nearby. We should discuss recovery efforts of the lands.”
Shield: “You just want to drink.”
Lancer: (sighs) “Very well. Pass me enough spirits and you can share your thoughts on your latest read.”
Worthy Opponent – The Lancer considers The Shield this.
Ardyn: “Back at home, Lancer and Shield would be sparring on the training grounds constantly.”
Seeker: “I’m guessing The Shield rose victorious after each session?”
Lancer: “Admittedly that is the case.”
Shield: “You came close, Lancer.”
Lancer: “Closer each time.”
Shield: (nods) “Then I look forward to the next.”
The Lancer & The Seeker
Deadpan Snarker – They can have a battle and we’ll never know who will win. This one is mixed with If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Him...
Lancer: “Ardyn has told me that I should apologize for my words about your home earlier.”
Seeker: “And yet by your approach, the gesture will not be made.”
Lancer: “How very keen.”
Seeker: “So then what is it that you wish to say?”
Lancer: “My brother is easily ensnared by the…fairer sex. He will trust you without reason. He has a warn heart.” (steps closer to her) “If broken at any time, the next moment will be my spear through yours.”
Seeker: “….” (glares at him, but then looks down)
Lancer: (follows her gaze to see a dagger pressed against his lower abdomen)
Seeker: (carefully puts the dagger away) “Sorry, reflex.” (with one last glare, she walks away)
Headbutting Heroes - when they first meet, Lancer was extremely distrustful of her, being a stranger that can hold her own in a fight and all of mysterious origins, and the Shield is not too keen on sharing personal information let alone her intentions either
Lancer: “Abstaining to share only makes us suspicious of your character.”
Seeker: “Look, if I wished for your demise, I would have left you all for the daemons to ravenously pick at back at the surface.”
Revenge Before Reason – They hate the daemons more than anyone considering their Dark and Troubled Past
(recounting why he wants vengeance)
Lancer: “I trust…you will not tell Ardyn what you saw. If he knew…”
Seeker: “I won’t. And I understand.”
Lancer: “….Thank you.”
Seeker: “They will pay.”
Lancer: (nods) “Every last one of them.”
---
(when the Seeker pursues her own vengeance)
Ardyn: “Lancer…did you know of this?”
Lancer: “Some fury cannot be quenched by love and comfort alone.”
Ardyn: “She will die! And you let her go?!”
Lancer: “When there is a wrath that burns that ferociously, the only price is blood.”
The Shield & The Seeker
Birds of a Feather - they both have made oaths to protect
Shield: “We share the same oath.”
Seeker: “Yours pertains to one ward, mine extends to all.”
Shield: “My ward has all resting on his shoulders.”
Hidden Depths – all have shades of this. The Shield is an avid reader and actually collects books during the journey.
Seeker: “Sir Shield.”
Shield: “Lady Seeker.”
Seeker: “I have taken notice of your souvenirs and could not help but recognize one of them.”
Shield: “Which one?”
Seeker: “The Indigo Character. We had the copies of the same story back in Memento.”
Shield: “A good read?”
Seeker: “You will not be able to put the book down.”
Shield: (smiles slightly, almost enthused) “That is what I hope for.”
---
Shield: “Here.” (hands the Seeker a book)
Seeker: “What is this?”
Shield: “A journal. The previous owner was a researcher that studied flora all across Eos.”
Seeker: “I am not one for flowers, truthfully.”
Shield: “Give it a look.” (this even would lead to the Seeker learning something from her homeland)