[avalon] IC Inbox

[emet_sulk]

I am currently not available at the moment.
If you were directed here by Hythlodaeus, kindly inform him that any messes he creates are his responsibility to clean up.

If this is Hythlodaeus: Please act like a bureau chief for once in your life and stop referring complaints to me.


(A place for private network messages or overflow threads from Isle of Avalon!)

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d i s g u s t i n g

[weenwoon]

He laughs, reaching out to ruffle his friend's hair affectionately.

"Worry not, Agesandros, I shall be the most watchful guardian of your dreams!"

...Actually, this gives him an idea. Hythlodaeus hums as he narrows his eyes a little.

"In fact... my magic does allow me to walk in dreams. Would you like me to visit yours from time to time?"

[emet_sulk]

He shoots his friend an annoyed look and cards the strands back into some semblance of order. The question, however, gets a more taciturn reply than he would like to give.

"I would advise against it," he says. "You would only find nightmares."

[weenwoon]

His expression softens at that. It's not like Hythlodaeus is unaware - he does hear his friend talk and sometimes even cry softly in his sleep, - but that's exactly why he chooses his answer.

"Then mayhap I could dispel them," he murmurs before leaning in to kiss Hades on the cheek. "I cannot have you fulfill your duties without being well-rested, after all."

[emet_sulk]

"Then you would be tired each night," he says quietly. "'Tis enough to have you by my side, 'Daeus. Pray leave my dreams be."

He thinks about the nights he wakes with tears in his eyes, a wordless name upon his lips. The nightmares where he abruptly jolts up from his bed out of breath from fleeing one of the Dooms. Or the times when he dreams of nothing more than a peaceful day at the Bureau, gazing up at Amaurot's graceful spires.

No, these are his sins to bear. He will not trouble Hythlodaeus to see them. He's seen enough.

ughhhh im SAD

[weenwoon]

Hythlodaeus strokes the side of Hades's face in reply, his touch gentle and affectionate even as his smile grows sadder.

"'Tis mayhap worth a try, nonetheless," he says quietly. "If I can lead you out of troubled dreams into peaceful ones, 'tis more than worth the effort. Or mayhap I could simply walk with you as you fall asleep, steer you away from darker currents. Certainly that would be naught that would exhaust me unduly."

you brought this on yourself!!

[emet_sulk]

Closing his eyes, he sighs and shifts to face his partner.

"If you insist... I suspect 'twould be more of a headache to keep denying you the chance to try," he says.

Much like the long bread discussion which seems unfairly skewed in his friend's favour.

Shhh

[weenwoon]

Even if Hades cannot see it right now, the familiar mischief finds its way back into Hythlodaeus's expression.

"That it would. You know full well there is practically naught you can resist me in... at least for long."

[emet_sulk]

That wording gets his eyebrows climbing.

"Naught I can resist, you say..."

Well, perhaps he can give this small concession to his friend. There is little he wouldn't give for Hythlodaeus' sake.

"I like not the implication that I would submit to your whims, 'Daeus." But he says it with a faint smirk.

[weenwoon]

This is a more pleasant turn of conversation than dwelling on night terrors, and Hythlodaeus is more than happy to take it right now. There is plenty of comfort to be found in these small everyday things, after all.

He flashes his friend a smug grin.

"I was rather under the impression that you normally do, one way or another. At times I even manage to make you think 'twas your idea in the first place!"

[emet_sulk]

"Hmph. Such impertinence from my very own second."

Shifting upright, he gently pushes Hythlodaeus' shoulder so that he can roll his friend on to their back, whereupon he hovers over them still wearing that little smirk.

"Keep that up and I am afraid I shall have to take disciplinary action against you," he says, idly tracing a finger along his friend's bottom lip.

[weenwoon]

How utterly unexpected! And it's also not expected by anyone whatsoever that Hythlodaeus happily lets Hades push him on his back, smirking in turn.

"My goodness. And here I thought 'twas a good workplace practice to encourage initiative!"

[emet_sulk]

"Within reason," he retorts. A light pinch to Hythlodaeus' cheek. "I cannot let a such a wilful agent of chaos run unchecked else order would collapse. But how shall I reign in this agent, I wonder..."

He lets the weight of his upper body settle atop his friend's, idly walking his fingers along the other man's throat. Like a lazy cat basking in the warmth of its companion.

[weenwoon]

Hythlodaeus tries not to grin, but doesn't put too much effort into it. There is... a sense of immense bliss and quiet happiness in this, in simply being together, in saying and doing silly things that are perhaps more befitting a pair of younglings than two of the elite of Amaurot.

He wraps his arms around Hades's back lazily with a satisfied hum, tipping his head back a little. How nefarious of him, indeed, tricking his poor friend into an embrace!

"Ooh, how frightening! But do you not normally threaten me with a censuring?"

[emet_sulk]

Is it really tricking when he goes willingly?

Hades allows a smug smile to show. "Ahh, but censuring would involve the others. No-one else need know about how I plan to try and discipline you."

See, he can do innuendo when he's in the mood!

[weenwoon]

He certainly can, and that's a rather pleasant surprise for Hythlodaeus, who has to try and keep his excitement out of his grin... though since they are literally lying on top of each other, it shouldn't be too hard for Hades to notice that his heartbeat is picking up.

"Do I get to know about your grand plans? Or is it meant to be a surprise?"

[emet_sulk]

With a thoughtful hum, he dips down and nips lightly at Hythlodaeus' throat.

"A surprise," he decides. "I wouldn't want to grow predictable, nor indulge your whims too much."

He lays his cheek upon his friend's chest next, closing his eyes. "Hmm, a fitting punishment for crimes against bread..." Long, something long. His lips curve as an idea occurs to him.

[weenwoon]

There's a pleased little noise from Hythlodaeus at that nip to his throat and he laughs, his hands coming to comb and stroke Hades's hair as he lays his head down.

"What will it be? An apprenticeship at a bakery, to teach me the true value of bread?"

[emet_sulk]

"No. Then you would attempt to spread your horrid concept to the masses and I won't have you corrupting their oblivious minds," he says tartly, making himself comfortable on his human pillow. "Mayhap I'll have you do my job for a few moons as penance. See how stressful the work is yourself."

[weenwoon]

Hythlodaeus, meanwhile, is more than happy to let Hades use him as a pillow. He closes his eyes contentedly before answering.

"But for the work to be stressful I would need a mischievous second, and where would I find one?"

[emet_sulk]

"Oh, don't worry, I'm sure my overbearing need for perfection and constant badgering shall give you even whiter hairs, 'Daeus," he says with a quiet chuckle. "And if it doesn't, why, I suppose I shall simply have to resign and spend the rest of my days in idleness."

theyre so soft im DISGUSTED!!!!

[weenwoon]

Hythlodaeus laughs, then tips his head to press a kiss to Hades's hair.

"I find it curious that your measure of success is bothering me, my dearest friend. Are you not meant to be the reasonable one out of us two?"

soft and sad :')

[emet_sulk]

"Reasonable, yes. A reasonable man attempting to wrangle his unreasonable friend." He smiles faintly as he says it, lifting his head briefly to kiss Hythlodaeus. "The Bureau would fall down around our ears without me to keep things in order."

The smile fades as he gently cups his lover's cheek. "Everything we achieved we achieved together as a people," he says softly. "Why did I ever think I could save them on my own...?"

He swallows past the sudden lump in his throat and drops his head to Hythlodaeus' chest, eyes hot with unshed tears.

:')!!!!

[weenwoon]

Hythlodaeus breathes out a slightly shaky sigh as he wraps his arms around Hades tighter, stroking his friend and lover's hair in an attempt to soothe him.

"...Did you truly have any other choice, Hades? I've... given thought to it. Our people... we do not know how to cope with such losses. We've never had to. We were never meant to. Mortals walk alongside death - painful, violent, pointless death, - from the very moment they are born. Yet even they, so much more used to it, cannot stand it for long. What, then, could be asked of you? Of one of us? Each one of our people would gladly give themselves to ensure happiness of others. Was that not what you were trying to do?"

[emet_sulk]

"It was," he agrees quietly. And there he falls mute, shaking, crying silently into his friend's shirt. All he had wanted was a return to those peaceful, idyllic times.

It doesn't take as long this time for him to pull himself together. He clutches Hythlodaeus a little more securely, curling up.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. "I'm sorry. Whatever choice I make here, I condemn a world. Forgive me for this selfish desire to see you live, 'Daeus..."

when will we stop making ourselves sad oh my god

[weenwoon]

Once more, and all the more keenly these days, Hythlodaeus feels that thin despair of being unable to reach out for his friend's soul, not truly. It had gone from annoyance to frustration to now panic at the realization that that part of his world is gone, truly gone, much like his Sight.

To make up for it he gently runs his hands down Hades's back in slow, affectionate motions, even as tears well up in his own eyes.

"...A fool you are and a fool you've always been, Hades," he whispers hoarsely. "How could I blame you when I wish for the same for you? To see you happy and safe once more, to know that you never need bear this burden again? If only I could--"

Hythlodaeus breaks off as a sob squeezes his chest. He clings to Hades, fingers digging into his clothes, as though he fears his friend would disappear were he to let go.

"Do you truly think you make that choice alone? If you would put blame upon yourself for this, then I share it in full! Were my life enough to change the fate of our world, I would have given it without a single thought! But we are forced to choose, and how are we meant to choose to let our people die?"

It's not like him, maybe, but a breaking point comes for everyone, sooner or later. Hythlodaeus has to bring up a hand to his face, covering his eyes and biting at his lip as burning tears stream down his cheeks.

"Why is it us who must perish?.."