[ X'rhun has been through rather a lot in his life. Just when he thinks he cannot possibly come across anything new, anything more distressing and disorienting than what he's already been experienced, the universe turns right around and takes the rug out from under him all over again.

Twelve, but he wishes it would give him a break.

However, party though this may be, it is not the time for breaks. Once the heavy feeling has left his limbs and the fog cleared, he takes to the party proper. He's still very much in his white scrubs, something to mark him as a newcomer – though he's still wearing them for lack of another outfit and not because he knows it paints a proverbial target on his back.

But... he's also wearing a top hat.

With his hair shorn so (his poor hair), people kept asking him what happened to his ears, his “real” ones. True enough, his feline ears are quite obvious, but so is his lack of human ears. So, he bartered himself a hat from some other partygoer, a tall black thing with a white feather poking out of the florescent green ribbon tied just above the hat's brim. Not his first fashion choice by far, but when needs must. (His tail is still quite obvious, but people tend to think it's a part of his “costume” at least.)

So, here is this oddly-dressed fellow sidling up to the bar, turning to whoever happens to be next to him to... oddly cheerily remark, ]

No wonder this is a ball for insomniacs. I can scarce hear myself think with this music blaring so, but I suppose that's a part of the charm, is it not?

[ “““Music.””” ]

[ This is a far cry better than that godsawful party. He's managed to scrounge up some clothes, but it's quite obvious these are not clothes tailored for a Miqo'te. Figuring out what to do with his tail had been an... adventure. But with that all settled and his gaudy top hat still situated on his head, and looking a lot nicer than the rest of his outfit to boot, he's giving himself a tour.

Not that there's much to see, but still.

He pokes his head into the kitchen, top hat listing forward a bit with the motion. When he finds the place occupied, he steps inside. ]

Pardon the intrusion. I was just thinking it's about time for lunch. Am I free to help myself?

[ He seems in good spirits if nothing else. ]

[ X'rhun is a master at putting on a brave face. He's survived the invasion of his homeland, the destruction of his order, the supposed obliteration of his world, and he has even come back from death. All that sitting upon his shoulders and he still smiles, still sees hope in the darkness, and moves ever forward.

But that is not to say that he is not weary.

Privacy is hard to come by in the safehouse, but in the wee hours of the night, he finds a moment to steal into the mess area. He finds a darkened corner all his own to sit and to simply allow himself a moment to feel tired, to wonder what has become of the rest of his family, such as it is.

But a moment is all he gets, ears pricking forward with the sound of the door. He glances up from the hat sitting in his lap to... to...

It can't be. It can't be, but it is. He looks quite different, but then, so does X'rhun, thanks to their new haircuts. Still, he'd recognize this man anywhere. ]

Ardyn?

[ It's offered cautiously, because he knows by now not to get his hopes up. ]

[ Hit me with whatever you like. I'm available at exposition if you want something specific! (Yes, X'rhun will absolutely keep wearing that stupid top hat until he finds a better option.) ]