emet_sulk | [avalon] IC Inbox

It feels like a hard lump has lodged in his throat. He swallows, gripping Hythlodaeus' hand in return.

"And I, you," he admits. "It has been far longer than a week for me, as you know. I... I still cannot quite believe you are here. I had resigned myself to dying alone with naught but a fading memory of who we once were entrusted to the mortals who washed up with us here."

Turning his face inwards, he breathes deep of his friend's scent. Old yet nostalgic, with a hint of modern soap thanks to the amenities here. Scent is difficult to forget. "There is much and more we have to speak about," he continues in a more muted tone. "Though I am more than willing to forge a bond with you, shall we continue these 'dates' in the meantime and reacquaint ourselves?"

It's a very strange, frustrating and wretched thing to have their mastery over aether curbed like this here. Instinctively, Hythlodaeus tries to reach out with his soul to brush against his friend's, to convey and express all that he feels - the fierce care, the grief and sadness at the fate Hades has been forced to endure, affection and protectiveness and vulnerability, all in one. But he can't, and it feels as though a limb had been taken away - while the mind remembers how to move it, there's no longer anything to be moved, and frustration mixed with panic fills his mind.

Hythlodaeus squeezes Hades's hand stubbornly, trying to chase away the unpleasant thoughts, and combs his other hand through his friend's hair gently. If touch and words is all he is reduced to now, he may as well make full use for it.

"Only if you promise not to throw me into, over or out of things on each one. While I appreciate your new mischievous side, I appreciate being warm more," he answers with a huff of laughter.

Though Hades is unaware of Hythlodaeus internal frustration, he closes his eyes and shifts to make himself more comfortable against his friend's side. It is enough.

"No? Not even throwing you on to the bed to ravish you?" he asks without any apparent mischief in his tone at all.

Keeping his voice even is what wins Hades this round. Had there been even the slightest trace, the slightest hint of teasing or mischief, Hythlodaeus would have shrugged off the suggestion easily, though maybe not without some private musings on it. But as it is, he freezes in place, suddenly and extremely aware of how close they are, of the warmth of Hades's body against his. Um. Well.

It feels like time slows down to a snail pace as his mind rifles desperately through possible responses. No matter what, he's still certain this is just another way for his friend to get back at him - he did get much better at it over those twelve thousand years, that much is true, but at the same time... At the same time Hades did also get a lot more, ah, proactive about certain things. Would it not also be enough for him to suggest something like this in earnest, now that they've agreed to be more than just friends? How much of it is a joke? To make things worse, thinking about it only reminds Hythlodaeus about their earlier moment at the cafe, with Hades very much so mocking him, yet apparently not entirely without sincerity. He closes his mind to recalling the actual words said because, well... because. Just because!

Slowly, Hythlodaeus raises a hand, curling three fingers in turn as though counting. Into, over, out...

"Orator that you are, you must have noticed that on was not on my little list of restrictions... Agesandros."

It takes a lot of effort, but Hythlodaeus manages to keep his own voice more or less steady - a rather pointless endeavour, it occurs to him just that little bit too late, because with how close they are Hades must certainly feel how fast his heart is beating. Well, he would just need to talk his way out of that if his friend decides to bring it up.

He chuckles softly, turning his face up just enough to press a kiss beneath Hythlodaeus' jaw. He is absolutely toying with his friend and he's sure the other man knows it. If they don't, they surely know now.

"Again, I think you mistake me for Lahabrea. I only see that which is in front of me," he murmurs. Placing his hand gently over where Hythlodaeus' heart would be, he sits up just enough to speak into his friend's ear. "Kiss me?"

Although it's now almost painfully obvious that this is a game, Hythlodaeus can't help the shiver that goes through him at the kiss, the frantic beating of his heart under Hades's hand, with no way to hide, the tight, burning feeling in his gut at the request. To make everything worse, this is a game that Hythlodaeus relies on outside factors for his retaliation in; in private, there are much fewer things that could successfully fluster Hades anymore. Damn him and his twelve thousand years and the ridiculous city he went to.

He closes his eyes, breathing out slowly, disregarding the blush on his cheeks because there's really nothing he can do about that, so he might as well ignore it.

"...Who would I be to ignore a friend in need?" Hythlodaeus murmurs in response once he regains his composure. If it hadn't been a question, he would have been able to dodge it as an order from Emet-Selch, and that would be a much easier field to play on. But once again Hades knows just how to pitch his voice, damn him, and calling his bluff directly would be like getting upset and leaving just because you're bad at the game. Hythlodaeus would like to hope he has more dignity than that.

So he raises his fingers to lift Hades's chin, cup his face gently, and lean in...

...to plant a kiss to his third eye again. He never got told where or what kind of kiss.

As Hythlodaeus may find gleeful to hear, Hades voices a small, indignant sound. How dare you outwit him, friend. Now his choices are to correct Hyth, or to take the kiss he wants himself.

He opts for the latter, tugging his friend down to capture their lips with his. It's an insistent, bold sort of kiss, reflecting Hades' forceful personality. Once he's satisfied, he leans back and sits a little more upright, licking his lips as he holds Hythlodaeus' gaze.

"None of that cheek," he says, glint in his eye, corner of his mouth hooked upwards into a faint smirk. "If I ask for a kiss, I expect a proper one."

Having had far more time to accustom himself to the arts of seduction, he shares none of Hythlodaeus' nerves. In private, it will be indeed far harder to unsettle him.

Hythlodaeus has the time to smile triumphantly at Hades's indignation, but the kiss rather quickly ruins his smug cheer, and this time it's Hythlodaeus who can't help a small noise of surprise and embarrassment escaping him as his face flushes. He kisses back as best he can, banking on the thought that maybe Hades would find it amusing rather than disappointing.

He has to catch his breath after they part, clearly flustered--but he's not going to give up so easily.

"Concepts with insufficiently precise specifications as to intended purpose and ways of usage are to be rejected, as you well know."

"Are you presuming to teach me my own job?" He raises an eyebrow and stares challengingly at the other man, smirk taking more prominence. "If 'tis specificity you desire, then how about this...?"

He reaches up to tuck a strand of his friend's long hair behind one ear before resting his hand at their nape. "Show me how you truly feel. Kiss me with all that passion which currently burns in your breast, 'Daeus. I know you desire me far more than you're letting on."

He takes a deep, careful breath - controlled, very obviously so. This self-control is not coming to him easily; there's something about Hades playing with his hair that feels even more intimate than a kiss. But... giving Hythlodaeus the initiative? That might have been a mistake on the other man's part.

Hythlodaeus brings up a hand to his chin in a thoughtful gesture, humming a little.

"Desire, you say... This from a man who could not bring himself to look at me for fear of his own desire? How sweet you are in your shyness, Agesandros."

A light flush runs up his neck, startling him out of character for a moment.

"I am not shy," he begins hotly. "I simply value my privacy, as you ought to well know."

He grins, delighted at having the upper hand again.

"Pardon me if I'm wrong, but... I would have thought our own room would have been more than private enough. Yet how careful you were not to let your eyes wander towards me..."

He's certainly having a lot of fun with this.

He narrows his eyes. Oh, this won't do. He's ceding ground. Without warning, he grips Hythlodaeus' shirt and twists, pushing the other man down on to the bed whilst he straddles their waist. Not once does he let his gaze falter or wander.

"I am looking at you now, am I not?" he asks, voice dangerously sweet. "But I wonder: if I were to silence that clever mouth of yours, how loudly would the rest of your body speak to me...?"

Hythlodaeus might have been able to handle the situation if not for that second question. Being pinned down was something he was expecting, if not exactly prepared for, but he freezes at the suggestion, face turning red. The boldness of it aside, the real worst part is that Hades is right: it is something Hythlodaeus would very much so enjoy, and he hates--if such a word could be applied to the situation, really--being confronted with it.

He swallows before answering, desperately trying to think through possible comebacks.

"I thought 'twould be me doing the listening... Agesandros. Was it not a lecture you promised me? The long-overdue censure, mayhaps?" He smiles smugly, as though he's finally spotted the joke. "Ah... Is that why you shielded me from it for so long, my dearest friend? Could you not stand the thought of someone else disciplining me?"

His smile sharpens and he dips his head lower, close enough that their breaths can mingle. That bob of the throat is not missed and he counts it as a point in his favour.

He has learnt much from his time amongst the mortal races and he's no longer that blushing virgin Hythlodaeus possibly still thinks of him as. For every embarrassing thing that slips out of his friend's mouth, he shall pay it back twice over.

"A lesson, yes. A firm one." He breaches the short distance to leave a chaste kiss, continuing to idly play with some locks of the other man's pale hair. "I know you hardly listen to anyone, 'Daeus, least of all me. But let us see if you can learn, hmm?"

All that said, he can hardly believe he's about to do this. It almost doesn't feel real. Hades trails his fingers to the hollow of his friend's throat, lingering long enough to feel the reassuring beat of their pulse. Then he starts to unbutton and peel back Hythlodaeus' collar.

He's mindful of any sign that his friend may try to stop him. After all, one can never be certain how much of Hythlodaeus is talk and how much true intent and action.

Hythlodaeus tries to unsuccessfully bite back a small sound at the back of his throat at that kiss - somehow the softness of it, the gently affectionate way Hades is playing with his hair is more overwhelming than something outright passionate would have been. At the same time... he can't deny how nice it is, how it makes butterflies dance in his stomach. The playful tone Hades adopts helps, too - as always, it's easier for Hythlodaeus to keep his composure and remain comfortable when there is a touch of joking in everything. It might have been strange otherwise, this entirely rapid pace of events that under normal circumstances would have taken them at the very least a decade to work up to, if not more - definitely a lot more if Hades was still the man Hythlodaeus knew before.

And although it feels very much so unreal for him, too, Hythlodaeus decides he's not going to squander this chance - not to mention give his friend any more ammunition for mocking him later. He closes his eyes, trying not to let his breath pick up too much from excitement, and slowly, exceedingly softly rests his hands on Hades's hips.

"Indeed. Shall we see how well you do as a teacher, most eminent Emet-Selch? If you would like, I am certain I could offer suggestions for improvement afterwards."

It's still very much so a challenge, a very thinly veiled implication that Hythlodaeus still thinks himself the more skilled of the two. How terrible would it be to be proven wrong! It is absolutely something he doesn't expect in any way whatsoever.

There's a flash of teeth from him and he nips at Hythlodaeus' throat. "Certainly," he murmurs.

Heart thudding against his ribs, he pushes back his friend's coat. It being winter, they are both of them wearing more layers than usual - but that's fine. The slow process might serve to mitigate how rushed it may feel to Hythlodaeus. He presses kisses next along his friend's jaw, moving leisurely down to the collarbone whilst his hands busy themselves unfastening whatever buttons or clasps bar him from the other man's naked chest.

He wishes he could rub souls with Hythlodaeus here. The physical barrier is an insurmountable obstacle but he will strive to overcome it all the same.

"You will tell me if anything is uncomfortable, 'Daeus," he murmurs as an afterthought. "This is meant to be a pleasurable experience."

Edited 2020-12-23 09:32 (UTC)

As nice as it is to be pampered, right now Hythlodaeus doesn't intend to lie back lazily. He walks one hand up to Hades's chest to start undoing the buttons of the man's vest, only halfway trying to hide the smile on his lips.

"Oh, you can be certain of that. When did I ever stay silent, particularly when it came to scolding you? 'Tis why you let me stay your chief of staff, after all. I can only imagine how much more tedious the office would have been for you, had your companion been someone who actually listens to what you say."

Allowing himself a shadow of a smile, he leans back up to kiss his partner's cheek. There's unmistakeable fondness in his tone as he replies:

"If I had fired you, you would simply make a nuisance of yourself elsewhere. Then who would have the authority to censure you?"

Once the vest is undone, he shrugs it off and drops it carelessly over the side of the bed. While Hythlodaeus works on his shirt, Hades' fingers delicately trace over the contours of his friend's chest. It isn't terribly well-defined; they had not had any need for martial prowess back in those days. But it is his first time seeing it in this context and he commits it to memory as the cold raises goosebumps along his skin.

"...You fool of a man," he says, but it sounds more like affection than chastisement.

Leaning back down, he kisses the other man properly. Gods above, there is so much lost time to make up for. Hythlodaeus is in his bed and he cannot decide how to have his friend. Nothing outrageous to start with, he thinks, but something to leave an impression...

Hythlodaeus gives a fond huff as he watches Hades drop his vest off the bed. Though he's still flustered by the situation, his chest rising and falling under Hades's hand rather faster than it normally would, it's incredibly comforting to see that despite the context there isn't much actual difference between this and their usual banter, alternating jokes and affection.

"Speaking of censure... You once scolded me for leaving my mask in your office, and now you are content to leave your garments on the floor? How things change, indeed."

He returns the kiss, face pleasantly flushed, slipping Hades's shirt off the man's shoulders, and laughs once he has his breath back.

"Come now, what did I do this time to deserve the name-calling? Steal your heart?"

"Completely and utterly stolen it, yes, with no intention of giving it back."

Another lingering kiss, shirt shaken aside before he draws back and turns his attention to Hythlodaeus' belt and trousers. He deftly tugs the former loose, shifting down to tug the other man's pants down. Wearing a lazy smirk, he keeps careful watch of his friend's expression.

"I thought I had nothing left to give after the Warriors made off with their own pieces of it. But I suppose I had always kept a part of it for you."

Edited 2020-12-23 11:23 (UTC)

It seems that the reality of the situation is only just fully dawning on Hythlodaeus, especially when Hades's hands move to his belt. Hythlodaeus raises himself up on his elbows, eyes darting between his own half-naked form--oh heavens, his pants are undone, he barely had the time to notice--Hades's bare chest, his friend's dangerously confident smirk. He stares at the other man, wide-eyed, face growing redder by the moment, then hurriedly looks away - as though that would help with his embarrassment and, ah, growing excitement.

"W-Well now, Hades, who's the one not embarrassed to say such things now?"

Try as he might, though, Hythlodaeus can't deny that he's certainly on the losing side right now, as evidenced by Hades's smug expression - and, refusing to simply look at it, Hythlodaeus quickly raises himself further and grabs his friend by the shoulders to drag him into another kiss, desperate and still a little amateurish, but certainly not lacking in passion. He tangles one hand in Hades's hair, the other arm winding around the man's waist as Hythlodaeus lowers himself back onto the bed, pulling Hades on top of him.

Caught off-guard by Hythlodaeus' frantic attempt to salvage pride, his hands pause their work on the other man's belt. After a moment, he smiles and leans well into the embrace, shifting to settle by his friend's side so they can kiss more comfortably. He tangles their feet together, circles an arm about Hythlodaeus' waist to keep him close.

"'Daeus," he breathes once he's allowed a moment to speak, "I do believe you're blushing."

And he'll soon give his friend more reason to blush when he reaches down between them and palms Hythlodaeus through his smallclothes.

He actually yelps at the contact in surprise, hips jerking involuntarily - and boy, is he blushing. Despite that, though, he manages to direct Hades a petulant look, just to let him know the teasing worked, and then slides a hand up the man's chest - full, unabashed touch.

"W-Why, Hades, would it not be an insult to your pride if it were otherwise? Or... am I simply not enough of a challenge?"

Hythlodaeus leans in closer to nip gently at Hades's neck.

"Do you not enjoy seeing me like this, my dear Agesandros? Flustered, at a loss for words? Here I thought 'twas one of your greatest fantasies..."

"Oh, it is."

He is savouring every single moment, pale, golden eyes drinking in the sight of his normally unflappable, verbose friend as they slowly come undone at his hands. He looks forward to the day when Hythlodaeus does present a challenge to him, even as he's equally happy to lavish attention on his friend. He aches for physical connection - something Hythlodaeus would realise if he but reached for Hades in turn.

"But...I see you have yet to be rendered at a loss for words. I must needs try something else."

Overlapping the hand on his chest, he brings it to his lips and kisses the backs of his friend's fingers - just as they had done to him earlier. Then, smirking, he nudges Hythlodaeus back on to his back and slips down, settling between his friend's calves. Finally - finally - his fingers play with the upper hem of his partner's. He watches to make sure Hythlodaeus knows exactly what he intends before slowly pulling those down as well.

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