emet_sulk | [avalon] IC Inbox

Hades is lucky that that is enough distraction for his friend - at the very least, for now. Hythlodaeus is not stupid in the least, but he would rather not ruin today yet. He smiles in an infuriatingly smug way.

"Do beg my pardon, most venerable Emet-Selch! I see now that I shall have to put in a lot more effort."

"Hmph. See that you do. I would hate to be bored."

Smirking, he steps forward and impulsively kisses Hythlodaeus by the corner of his mouth. Before his friend can react, he is already turning away and wandering closer to the museum, fingers tangled in Hyth's own.

It affords him a moment to let his mask drop. For the pain to cross his face before he shores everything up again. Would that he could let Hyth remain ignorant of all the unpleasant things. Were Felih and Irhya and the rest not here, perhaps he would have tried to do just that. As it is, it is only a matter of time before the truth comes out.

At least he can enjoy this moment while it lasts.

"And I told you not to call me that."

The kiss is unexpected. Hythlodaeus's eyes widen in surprise - enjoy having taken him unawares, Hades, - and afterwards he has to press a hand to his face, trying to hide the smile that he just can't help. Such open affection from his friend is still almost surreal... He follows the light tug on his hand, skipping a little to catch up.

"Ah, if only I had confessed openly all the way back then! Truly, I was but depriving myself of your affection," he laughs, half-jokingly. The words are true, but as ever it's easier to say them under the pretense of a joke. "And if you dislike that mode of address, are you still certain you do not want me to find a nickname for you? I promise it would be a good one."

"Hmm... I would hear your idea before I permit you to use it. I'll not accept names which make a mockery of me," he says, humour a little more genuine as he smirks upwards at his friend. "If I hate it enough, I may even toss you into the water over there."

He tips his chin towards said body of water nearby. Don't think he won't, Hyth.

...He was going to elaborate on the nickname he'd come up with, but there is no way Hythlodaeus could ever pass up an opportunity like this. He looks aside at the lake, making a thoughtful hum, then back at his friend... then grins, letting go of his hand to instead wrap both his arms around Hades's neck, slumping onto him. He is certainly heavier than Hades himself. Do you even lift, Architect?

"To think that the academic I once knew would finally take up honing not only the mind, but the body as well! Oh, do not deprive me of this chance to witness your newfound strength!"

...Hythlodaeus is indeed quite heavy. Hades certainly hasn't slacked in maintaining this particular body's fitness, but that doesn't mean he can lift a taller man than himself.

But as he's struggling to manage the weight, an idea suddenly comes to him.

With a glint in his eye, he cups Hythlodaeus' face in one hand and touches their foreheads together. Their faces are mere ilms apart.

"'Daeus, playing the fainting maiden does not become you. I think I had best find a more...productive use of that mouth of yours."

So saying, he closes the distance with a far deeper kiss, curling his fingers into Hythlodaeus' shirt. With the other man thus occupied, he slowly takes one step, two, moving as though he simply wants to devour all he can of his good friend's poise and to hell with anyone who might glimpse them. So it is that Hythlodaeus may not realise Hades' ulterior motive: not until he steps into cold, cold water.

It is then that Hades suddenly shoves him away and down, causing Hythlodaeus to topple straight into the tide.

If there's anything Hades's got on Hythlodaeus during the twelve-something millennia (and time in Duplicity), it's certainly experience in this particular sphere. Hythlodaeus colours almost instantly at the sudden proximity, eyes widening in surprise--but that surprise is nothing next to the shock that goes through him when Hades kisses him. He only manages a brief whimper into the kiss, feeling as though his face is aflame and his heart beating faster than a hummingbird's wings. The distraction is more than effective - even when he steps into the water, his mind registers the sudden cold sensation as something faraway and unimportant, especially when compared with his efforts not to let himself just melt into Hades's arms, much like a fainting maiden his friend had compared him to--

--which last for all of a handful of seconds before Hades pushes him away, and then the freezingly cold water becomes incredibly important indeed. Hythlodaeus's brief exclamation is quickly swallowed under the water - as is the man himself. It seems like the lake is not nearly as shallow as it seems, and cuts off into the depths just a short way from the shore.

Fortunately, Hythlodaeus is not a bad swimmer, and surfaces quickly, coughing and spluttering. He's got water in his nose, he's got water in his throat, he's got water everywhere and it's an almost-winter morning with appropriate temperatures... and yet, despite everything, he can't find it in himself to be mad. This is easily among top ten funniest things Hades has ever done.

"Hades!" he calls out through alternatively coughing and laughing. "I-I did not even give you any nicknames!"

He tries to get out of the water, but... it's a little harder than expected. The underwater dropoff is pretty sheer, and it takes Hythlodaeus a little bit to gain enough purchase to pull himself up onto the shallow end, where he sits up, panting, before trying to stand up. That is no simple task, either, between the weight of his soaked clothes and hair and the post-adrenaline shakiness from the sudden dip. Hythlodaeus sways and staggers as he stands up, but finally manages to pull himself upright, throwing back his sodden hair and trying to shake off the excess water from his sleeves. Even if the clothes Felih had helped him pick out were not tight-fitting enough before, well, they sure are now.

"I-I must needs admit, I did not think you were that serious."

Hades waits by the shore, stepping neatly out of reach just in case his friend has any funny thoughts about dragging him into the cold lake as well. He crosses his arms smugly, watching as Hythlodaeus struggles out of the water, a sodden, coughing mess.

"Well, I hope I have disabused you of any such notion. Consider that...a warning," he says with a smirk. He finally takes pity on his friend and moves closer to help wring out some of the water from their clothes.

If he side-eyes Hythlodaeus' body in the process, well, that's just a bonus.

"That is a much more effective warning than your usual ones," Hythlodaeus responds with a laugh that still ends in a cough. Gee, sure hope someone doesn't catch a cold! Unfortunately, by coming into range Hades also makes himself open to having some of the water on Hythlodaeus's hands being flicked into his face. Consider that... a revenge. The man does not seem apologetic about it in the least, grinning widely.

"As much as I fear for my health, I cannot say I dislike the fact that you've finally discovered a taste for mischief proper! I've a feeling that the future will certainly be interesting," Hythlodaeus adds with a smirk, before... pulling his shirt off to wring it out properly.

He clicks his tongue, as though calling a pet - which he is, because in the next moment his firebird glides into existence next to him out of whatever dimension the familiars disappear to when their masters have no need of them. The phoenix gives an annoyed trill at seeing his master soaked like that, but settles on his shoulder, lowering its wings to half-cover his back and chest and preening through some of his wet hair. What a good thing he has a portable heater for a familiar.

He endures the flick of water with a slight wrinkling of the nose, wiping the droplets off with his sleeve.

As he's about to respond to Hythlodaeus' comment, the man pulls off their shirt without any hesitation or preamble whatsoever. Hades stands there, mouth slightly open, staring. He's quick to shake himself and scowl, turning away to check that no-one else is around to see.

"You idiot. Why would you bare yourself so readily? Would that I could produce a towel..."

Well, technically he could, but there's a dearth of convenient wool or cotton lying about. Unless...

Sighing, he turns back and gestures impatiently for the shirt. "Give that here."

Hythlodaeus only blinks at his friend in confusion, unaware of the implications going on through Hades's mind.

"What do you mean? You know 'tis rather dangerous for the body to remain exposed to the cold, and it is much easier to dry my clothes and myself like this."

He forgot they were not in Amaurot, where people would easily know not to intrude upon such a scene. He hands the shirt over obediently, though.

He shakes his head. "I am aware, but men and women are likely to oggle any flesh you might bare in their company here. At least crouch behind a bush if you intend to strip down next time."

Heading to a flattish rock, he takes out a piece of chalk from his pocket and scrawls a rough circle, drawing runes with a frown of concentration. Once he's done, he pockets it again and whistles for his familiar. The gwiber appears promptly out of a dark portal, attentive and curious.

Hades lays the damp shirt in the centre of the circle, out of the way of the chalk lines, and focuses. One snap of the fingers and a flash of light later, it transforms into a damp towel.

"Here," he says, picking it up and holding it out for Hythlodaeus to take back.

Edited 2020-12-10 11:03 (UTC)

The admonition has the desired effect: Hythlodaeus colours a little, wrapping his arms around himself. He is not exactly shy about his body, but the idea of being stared at for it is... strange, to say the least, and he's grateful for the cover his familiar's wings provide - not to mention the warmth they give.

He watches Hades carry out the little ritual curiously - what a strange thing it is to watch his friend be reduced to using such basic, crude approximations of their concepts and creation magicks. In a way, it is amusing; in another, sad. The arrival of the towel is more than welcome, though, and Hythlodaeus takes it gratefully, wrapping it around his shoulders.

"Ah, my thanks... Although I wonder if I should be thanking you for finding a solution to a situation you quite literally pushed me into," he says with a chuckle, gathering his hair to wring the water out of it as well. "May I suggest we head back, if only for the time being? My teeth are starting to chatter."

"Of course."

Not quite how he envisioned their, ah, outing concluding, but for a few moments he had felt such lightness. He takes off his own coat to wrap around Hythlodaeus as they walk, seeing as the man now lacks a proper shirt, and walks with him back to their room at the inn.

"I apologise for ruining whatever plans you may have had afterwards," he says as they draw closer towards more populated streets. "But in all fairness, you were asking for it."

Hythlodaeus gives a drawn-out hum, as though he is very seriously analyzing the situation, before finally nodding.

"I suppose I did ask for it, for once!" he answers with a chuckle, despite his shivering, and then directs Hades a sly look. "Although... I would not say the situation has been entirely to my disadvantage."

He wraps the coat tighter around himself, closing his eyes briefly as he rests his cheek against the collar. Implications? What implications? He was just cold, and no one can prove otherwise.

He stiffens and glances away, setting his mouth into a firm line. Gods above, what an embarrassing man his friend is.

"When we return, you are taking a hot shower immediately. Understood?" he says, more irritably than he feels. "And I will boil some water to make you tea."

Do not think about using his own body's warmth to keep the chill at bay, he tells himself. Do not.

For better or for worse, Hythlodaeus has long been adept at reading the difference between Hades's outward reactions and the way the man is actually feeling. The grumpy proclamation of caring is heartwarming, if not quite enough to be bodywarming, too... but Hythlodaeus is more than certain he hasn't taken nearly enough revenge for the sudden soaking, and so he leans in close to Hades, lowering his voice to murmur in his friend's ear.

"And had you let me pull you in, you would be taking that shower with me."

Oh, now that murmur sends a sharp jolt up his spine. He sucks in a sharp breath, bites his lip, and elbows Hythlodaeus away from him.

Mayhap his friend doesn't realise the effect those thoughts have on him. One doesn't spend a year in a city of pleasure and come away unaffected by it. In the same way Hades had not been able to help his thoughts straying towards taking his friend to bed a little while ago, he finds himself wondering how his friend must look stripped bare.

"Don't be ridiculous," he grates out. "Then we would both be freezing to our deaths. Now stop playing about and hurry up."

He walks a little faster, just enough to keep ahead of Hythlodaeus so the man can't see his conflicted expression.

Hythlodaeus can't help snickering triumphantly as he follows, letting Hades take the lead for a while and get his bearings again. Despite what his friend might think, Hythlodaeus is not entirely unaware of the effect he's having.

"Yes, yes, father. I suppose this means we shall have to have breakfast at home, then... I dread to think where else you might push me out of embarrassment, should we go out again!"

He shakes his head ruefully. Missing out on breakfast may be the most disappointing part of this day. Must they really?

"No... If you feel better after your shower then I would not mind heading out again. I would like to know where you planned to take me," he says awkwardly.

He catches up with Hades again, brushing his fingers against his friend's arm. How adorable it is when he worries...

"I think you know as well as I do that in this case 'tis the company that matters, not the setting," Hythlodaeus replies with a smile. "Though, of course, I do want to take you somewhere nice."

Fortunately, the inn isn't far, and Hythlodaeus spends the rest of the way much more quietly than anyone would expect, for the sake of conserving body heat and not tiring himself out too much. Once inside their room, he beelines straight for the bathroom, pausing only to take off Hades's coat and give his friend a quizzical look.

"Where should I leave it? 'Tis a little damp, I fear."

He reaches out to take the coat from Hythlodaeus and makes a shooing motion with his other hand.

"I will leave it out to dry. Make yourself warm."

Meanwhile, he shall get started making some tea. He would make himself coffee, but if they decide to head out again then he may as well wait.

Fortunately, Hythlodaeus at least does not want to make his friend wait for too long, so instead of lounging for an hour he takes a quick hot shower - though not so quick that he doesn't get warm through and through. He emerges about half a bell later, thoroughly dried but with only a towel around his waist, and pokes his head into the kitchen.

"So, how about that tea?"

He turns, pausing to give the other man an exasperated look when he sees their attire. Does Hythlodaeus intend to lounge about with only that towel? Sighing, he turns back and pours out some hot water into a mug, the string of the little tea bag inside wound about the handle to stop it slipping in. A modern convenience he has grown used to.

He sets this mug on the table and falls into the opposite seat, gesturing. "Your tea," he drawls.

He certainly intends to lounge about half-naked, evidenced by the fact that he sits down like that. He... seems to be perfectly aware that it's exhausting his friend.

"Truly, what a lucky man I am! To be able to sample tea made by the Architect himself," he says with a grin as he takes the mug. "I am filled with reverence at the thought of how much effort it must have taken out of you!"

He wraps both hands around the mug to drink. He's plenty warm, but more can't hurt.

"Oh yes, and what was your other curious title? Emperor? I gather I should be honoured about that, too."

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me, typing this: you absolute gay fuck

hythlodaeus? more like hythlo-gay-as

I HATE HIM SO MUCH?

I HATE HIM TOO

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fun fact hyth thinks the shooing gestures are really cute

Hyth you think everything about him is cute

it's true but he'll still say it