[Asch squeezes again before letting Ardyn's hand drop. There's something fiercer in his expression, now, no longer gentle.

He knows what that comparison is to, and it makes him see red, briefly, before he can entirely get his temper contained. But to Ardyn, who genuinely doesn't believe that anyone would want to help him... Of course it would seem to be the same.

So he holds back the snap.

Instead, eventually, it's black humor that comes out of his mouth - ]

What, doesn't Lucis have some system for medical proxies for those who aren't in their right minds?

[He can't keep up the joke for long, but - ]

There's no one in the world with the power to fix this.

[He waves a hand at the memory that's finally starting to fade around them.]

But you're free of the world that only lets you down. Let this one be different.