He’s been staring out the window at the incoming snow drift with a stare the shade of death for half an hour now. Features sunken and set in stone, it appears, chiseled from marble as still as he is. Barely even breathing. He doesn’t jolt or start at Ardyn’s sudden appearance but turns his attention with eyes first and head second and his stare remains the unguarded thing of an animal. --- A creature, licking at his bleeding wounds.
“ I despise the cold. “ Is all he says, in a voice that rings of bitter story and disgust on the tongue. “ --- I hate this time of year, all of it’s white and cold ... do you ever have nightmares, Ardyn? About what was DONE to you ? “ ( I do, he doesn’t say. Doesn’t say that he woke from them today and swore he heard her voice, childish giggles as she ran from his door and down the hall, calling behind her in cheer -- pagauk mane, jei gali ! That he shook awake and remembered and the frost and cold set into his heart with a vicious bite. She isn’t here. )