After Hythlodaeus makes it out of the dorms, he hurriedly scans the courtyard for the telltale hue of Emet's soul. Though he'd acted cheery enough before, now after the shock the atmosphere and the strangeness of this place weighs on him terribly, sending his thoughts into a panic. He stumbles through the courtyard, looking around wildly and throwing glances over his shoulder every now and then in fear that Ardyn might have followed him. But there's no one after him, thankfully, and-- ah, there...
"Hades!"
Hythlodaeus runs up to his friend, practically throwing himself at him. He looks quite a mess - his mask is gone, his hair ruffled and visible above the collar of his robes is a fairly deep bite mark on his throat.
For a moment, it doesn't quite register what is off about his friend's appearance. But then it clicks and he frowns heavily, catching Hythlodaeus as the man collapses against him. Something in him stirs. Something filled with cold, dark anger. As he gazes at the splotchy bruise on Hythlodaeus' neck, he is possessed by sudden, inexplicable fury.
He takes a moment to catch his breath, clinging to Emet - but with only one hand; he seems to spare the other.
"It's--someone I met here... The man by name of Ardyn Izunia. He..."
Hythlodaeus trails off, confused and scared - unsurprisingly, given that any kind of violence was utterly alien to their people. He takes a few deeper breaths to steady himself.
"We were talking about this game, and I volunteered to help him with one task... but once he had me alone, he--he took my mask away first, even though I told him 'twas not done for our people to bare our faces so easily... a-and... and he wouldn't listen when I asked him to let me go, and--"
He's starting to get lost in panic again, but he holds up a shaking hand to show Emet. One of the fingers is unnaturally bent and swollen, as though it's been broken. Who could have done this???
He gently covers the hand with the broken finger. Red lines of power circle his hand as he channels healing magic into Hythlodaeus'. The bone slowly heals - not as quickly as it once might have but well enough to use.
It is difficult to suppress his anger but suppress it he does.
"Didn't I tell you to watch yourself here? This is what happens when you trust too readily." He releases his friend's hand when he's done. A snap of his fingers conjures a new, albeit worn and cracked, mask. "Don't ever wander off alone again. Better yet, stay in public areas where many congregate."
hope he's not going to run into ardyn from day 3 on :)
Hythlodaeus winces and makes a soft pained noise as the magic restores his bone: even though it's much better than letting it heal on its own, it's still not entirely painless. But he gives Emet a look of gratitude, nodding guiltily.
"I... I shall. I simply... did not expect-- he was quite friendly at first."
He looks down, then raises his eyes to Emet's face again, pained confusion plain on his features.
"Why... Why would anyone do that? I cannot understand..."
:) but doesn't Hyth want to fuss over injured Emet?
His lip curls and his words are layered with contempt.
"Such is mortal nature. Kindness and generosity is rarely seen in them. Instead, such things as cruelty, jealousy, and petty anger rule their hearts. They can lie as easily as they breathe if it suits their purpose. They are selfish and self-centred. And even during those rare times when they can overcome adversity, 'tis forgotten in the span of a generation or three."
It sounds like a very bad joke to Hythlodaeus. People are not like that - are not meant to be like that. He can't even imagine being so dismissive of the others, to feel such things...
IF HE'S UNINJURED THEN HYTH WILL TEASE HIM MERCILESSLY INSTEAD :(
"Their short lives and even shorter memories. It leaves them incapable of maintaining any sort of peace for long, and the truth of events in ages past grows twisted in the retelling."
He fixes Hythlodaeus with a narrow stare. "It would be in your best interests to keep your distance from them. The warden of this place may espouse cooperation, but organising us into four distinct groups already suggests inevitable conflict."
I mean he's unsettled enough by Ardyn he likely wouldn't tease!!
He makes a surprised noise at the hug, but this kind of reassurance is exactly what he needs right now. He hugs Hades back, hiding in it even if he is the taller one; despite his initial cheer, confronting the cruelty of mortal worlds is a great shock to him.
Hythlodaeus had rarely needed comfort in the past. At least, not that he had ever seen. He isn't sure what he can offer now that will put his friend at ease, so he tries gently stroking the other man's hair.
"I will make sure this Ardyn doesn't threaten you again, Hythlodaeus. I will keep you safe."
The stroking... is unexpectedly pleasant, and normally Hythlodaeus would be a little surprised and perhaps flustered by it. Unfortunately, the ugliness of the matter at hand weighs on him still, and this time it's mixed with a different kind of fear - not for himself, but for his friend. He hugs Hades a little more tightly, as though letting go would put him in danger.
"But... Will you be safe? He is a mage in his own right, I believe..."
"Hmph. I have yet to meet a mage stronger than I. If he attempts to attack me, it shall be a good chance to see if any sort of law or order exists here."
While it is true that Hades is the strongest mage Hythlodaeus has seen, too, Ardyn... is rather outside of what he is familiar with. He frowns slightly.
"In truth, I wonder if he is more a concept than a person. His soul is like naught I have ever seen, and... His body regenerates so quickly, moreso than I would have expected in a living creature."
"I... had to injure him to escape, you see... I know not what he would have done to me otherwise--quite a few of his tasks were gruesome. Such as consuming someone's flesh, or drinking their blood..."
His gaze drifts once more to Hythlodaeus' neck. Something about it rouses more than anger, but he cannot quite describe what. Not quite hunger - a thirst.
Come to think of it, besides the food they shared the other day, he hasn't eaten anything yet has he?
"I see. That must have been quite distressing for you..." He finds himself leaning closer, until his lips press against the bruise and his tongue darts out for a tiny lick.
Hythlodaeus freezes in place at that lick - he has no idea what he expected, but... It was not that. It's startling rather than unpleasant, though, and tickles.
Hythlodaeus watches him curiously, tipping his head as Hades explains. With how shaken he is, though, he doesn't quite piece together what Hades means to imply - and it's not helped by the fact that there is... something... about his friend's expression that catches Hythlodaeus a little off-guard. He's used to angry glares from Hades, and sometimes petulant glances, but in general Hades rarely... focuses on him - perhaps because they've known each other for so long, so used to one another's presence.
Trying to get his thoughts back on track, Hythlodaeus blinks a couple of times and then looks in the direction of the bar.
"Ah... That is no good, Hades. I know you are prone to overworking yourself, but I thought we'd agreed we have more time here. You should eat something."
He gives Hades another confused look - but as is often the case with him, Hythlodaeus quickly gets distracted trying to poke holes in a given statement.
"... That is strange, is it not? Blood has its nutritional value, of course, but it is hardly the most nourishing substance. What of regular food? There would be little sense - and reason - in it if your body could no longer digest other foods. After all, blood, too, is an organic substance like many others. 'Tis not as though you need to eat, oh, rocks to gain sustenance, in which case there would indeed be significant enough changes in your digestive system."
He wants to sigh again and quashes a spike of annoyance. Had Hythlodaeus been this air-headed before? Can't he simply focus on the more important matter?
"How should I know? Mayhap whilst everyone else's changes were outward, mine were internal. I knew there was something off when we had those drinks. They were all but tasteless to me."
To be fair, it's not that Hythlodaeus is that air-headed, it's more that the Amaurot he is from still had little in the way of both grim and serious matters. Fortunately, he seems to finally understand what this is about.
"Ah... And I doubt they would have provided us with an easily accessible source of blood."
He thinks some more, then nods, seemingly having reached a conclusion.
"I could provide you with some, most likely, but... have you any idea how much you may need?"
... Of course, he's not thinking about the precise physical mechanics that might be involved in that - at most he would imagine draining some of his blood into a glass for Hades to drink.
Hades, unfortunately, knows very well how such things are meant to go. His expression doesn't change much as he crosses his arms. The tips of his fangs are visible now.
"If you would consent to my biting you then I would soon find out."
Hythlodaeus tips his head, a little confused about the additional confirmation Hades asks for.
"Well, of course. I doubt there are many other ways, at least as of now... My only concern that the amount required would be greater than what I can feasibly give. I would ask that you stop once I feel faint."
He inclines his head. "If I do not seem to respond to your words then I want you to give me a hard pinch."
Hythlodaeus' permission, it seems, is all the monster possessing him needs. He finds himself stepping forward again, grasping the front of the other man's robes. And then, if there are no last minute protests, he sinks his fangs into the same spot Ardyn had bitten his friend earlier.
There is no protest, but surprise does etch itself on Hythlodaeus's features as Hades steps closer, the slight roughness of the grab - but that is quickly pushed aside.
"Ah--"
Hythlodaeus freezes, feeling Hades's lips on his neck, winces and gives a small hiss of pain as his friend's fangs sink into the bruise - but somehow he doesn't find it in himself to move away. He's suddenly acutely aware of the closeness between them, Hades's body against his -- and he would perhaps be lying if he said he had never thought about anything like this, but... It's very embarrassing, and Hades will certainly feel Hythlodaeus's pulse pick up.
"Hades, is this--"
Hythlodaeus trails off with a soft whimper - even though the bite should be simply painful, there's some manner of... headiness to it that makes it harder for him to think, to understand how he feels about this.
Hot blood flows quickly and easily into his mouth. All at once he knows for certain this is what he's been missing, that this is the sustenance he needs. He gathers Hythlodaeus more closely to him and sucks harder as warmth and feeling spread to every extremity.
His body is no longer cool to the touch. One could almost say he feels like a living person again.
"Mm..." Eating is a pleasure in its own way, but this? This sends him to obscene heights of giddiness.
Hythlodaeus makes another flustered noise and grabs onto Hades instinctively. Some part of his mind notes with curiosity how his friend's body grows warmer, but most of him is still trying to process what's happening. The Hades he knows would never be so forward about this - if anything, he would have gotten grumpy and embarrassed even by the very idea of drinking Hythlodaeus's blood. But it's not as though this is unpleasant - almost the opposite now, that heady feeling only growing stronger. Hythlodaeus's hold on Hades's arms weakens, his breath picking up as he slumps against his friend slightly with a quiet whimper.
Though he had told Hythlodaeus to let him know when had taken too much, in the end it's Hades who has to stop himself.
The rush of blood naturally makes its way down further than he expects, causing an embarrassing hardness to press against Hythlodaeus' thigh. When Hades realises that the pleasure he feels is not only internal but external, he wrenches himself away with a shudder.
A trail of blood slips down his chin and he quickly wipes it away.
"I-- That is enough, I think," he says unsteadily.
Hythlodaeus is not much better off when Hades finally pulls away - his face is red and his breath hurried, a flustered and uncertain look on his face, as though he can't quite tell what just happened. Slowly, he raises a hand to his neck, brushing his fingers over the new mark.
"Ah... Hm. Um."
He blinks a few times, coming back to reality some more.
It doesn't help that he feels better than he has in a long time. The monster inside is sated. There is some visceral satisfaction in running his tongue over his teeth and tasting blood.
"I don't know." His voice is low, taut. He squeezes his eyes shut and focuses on breathing, willing his arousal to go away. "I think it may be best we avoid doing that too often."
Unfortunately, Hades' erection is all too visible without robes to hide it.
Fortunately, Hythlodaeus is shocked enough still that he does not comment further, simply staring at Emet's retreating back. Even though he's not the one with the... problem, as it were, he still feels strangely embarrassed and awkward, his fingers still at his neck. Eventually Hythlodaeus lowers his hand, and after a decent interval heads to the hotel as well - it's not like he has anywhere else to go (and who knows where and when Ardyn might show up; his team's dorm would at least have people to protect him), but it would be all the worse to make the journey together with Hades right now.
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Day 2, post-Ardyn shenanigans
After Hythlodaeus makes it out of the dorms, he hurriedly scans the courtyard for the telltale hue of Emet's soul. Though he'd acted cheery enough before, now after the shock the atmosphere and the strangeness of this place weighs on him terribly, sending his thoughts into a panic. He stumbles through the courtyard, looking around wildly and throwing glances over his shoulder every now and then in fear that Ardyn might have followed him. But there's no one after him, thankfully, and-- ah, there...
"Hades!"
Hythlodaeus runs up to his friend, practically throwing himself at him. He looks quite a mess - his mask is gone, his hair ruffled and visible above the collar of his robes is a fairly deep bite mark on his throat.
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"What happened?"
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"It's--someone I met here... The man by name of Ardyn Izunia. He..."
Hythlodaeus trails off, confused and scared - unsurprisingly, given that any kind of violence was utterly alien to their people. He takes a few deeper breaths to steady himself.
"We were talking about this game, and I volunteered to help him with one task... but once he had me alone, he--he took my mask away first, even though I told him 'twas not done for our people to bare our faces so easily... a-and... and he wouldn't listen when I asked him to let me go, and--"
He's starting to get lost in panic again, but he holds up a shaking hand to show Emet. One of the fingers is unnaturally bent and swollen, as though it's been broken. Who could have done this???
lucky for Hyth, healing was nerfed on day 3 not 2
It is difficult to suppress his anger but suppress it he does.
"Didn't I tell you to watch yourself here? This is what happens when you trust too readily." He releases his friend's hand when he's done. A snap of his fingers conjures a new, albeit worn and cracked, mask. "Don't ever wander off alone again. Better yet, stay in public areas where many congregate."
hope he's not going to run into ardyn from day 3 on :)
"I... I shall. I simply... did not expect-- he was quite friendly at first."
He looks down, then raises his eyes to Emet's face again, pained confusion plain on his features.
"Why... Why would anyone do that? I cannot understand..."
:) but doesn't Hyth want to fuss over injured Emet?
"Such is mortal nature. Kindness and generosity is rarely seen in them. Instead, such things as cruelty, jealousy, and petty anger rule their hearts. They can lie as easily as they breathe if it suits their purpose. They are selfish and self-centred. And even during those rare times when they can overcome adversity, 'tis forgotten in the span of a generation or three."
CAN HE FUSS OVER HIM WITHOUT HIM BEING INJURED
"But that... How is that possible?"
It sounds like a very bad joke to Hythlodaeus. People are not like that - are not meant to be like that. He can't even imagine being so dismissive of the others, to feel such things...
IF HE'S UNINJURED THEN HYTH WILL TEASE HIM MERCILESSLY INSTEAD :(
"Their short lives and even shorter memories. It leaves them incapable of maintaining any sort of peace for long, and the truth of events in ages past grows twisted in the retelling."
He fixes Hythlodaeus with a narrow stare. "It would be in your best interests to keep your distance from them. The warden of this place may espouse cooperation, but organising us into four distinct groups already suggests inevitable conflict."
I mean he's unsettled enough by Ardyn he likely wouldn't tease!!
"But... Just how long do mortals live? Do you believe we would stay here beyond their lifespan?"
Because if what Hades says is true then everything is okay if they just don't have to deal with that short lifespan and short memory, right?
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He finally decides to take pity on his friend and draws Hythlodaeus down into a gentle hug.
"You see why we must leave now? I'd rather not subject you to their savage whims a moment longer than necessary."
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"That... That is horrifying, Hades..."
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"I will make sure this Ardyn doesn't threaten you again, Hythlodaeus. I will keep you safe."
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"But... Will you be safe? He is a mage in his own right, I believe..."
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I.e. Whether the warden will intervene or not.
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"In truth, I wonder if he is more a concept than a person. His soul is like naught I have ever seen, and... His body regenerates so quickly, moreso than I would have expected in a living creature."
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Now that is something important to keep in mind. Hmm...
"There are many with such tumultuous souls here it seems."
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"I... had to injure him to escape, you see... I know not what he would have done to me otherwise--quite a few of his tasks were gruesome. Such as consuming someone's flesh, or drinking their blood..."
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Come to think of it, besides the food they shared the other day, he hasn't eaten anything yet has he?
"I see. That must have been quite distressing for you..." He finds himself leaning closer, until his lips press against the bruise and his tongue darts out for a tiny lick.
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"H-Hades?"
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"Ah, I remember now... Vampires are blood-drinkers."
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"'Vampires'? What are you talking about, Hades?"
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"My profile says I was possessed by a vampire. But I did not think that meant I had become one."
His yellow eyes seem a lot brighter than before. They gleam hungrily as he stares at his friend.
"And I-- I have not eaten anything since we were last together."
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Trying to get his thoughts back on track, Hythlodaeus blinks a couple of times and then looks in the direction of the bar.
"Ah... That is no good, Hades. I know you are prone to overworking yourself, but I thought we'd agreed we have more time here. You should eat something."
... Yes, he did not get the whole vampire thing.
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"No, you fool... I have to drink blood."
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"... That is strange, is it not? Blood has its nutritional value, of course, but it is hardly the most nourishing substance. What of regular food? There would be little sense - and reason - in it if your body could no longer digest other foods. After all, blood, too, is an organic substance like many others. 'Tis not as though you need to eat, oh, rocks to gain sustenance, in which case there would indeed be significant enough changes in your digestive system."
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"How should I know? Mayhap whilst everyone else's changes were outward, mine were internal. I knew there was something off when we had those drinks. They were all but tasteless to me."
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"Ah... And I doubt they would have provided us with an easily accessible source of blood."
He thinks some more, then nods, seemingly having reached a conclusion.
"I could provide you with some, most likely, but... have you any idea how much you may need?"
... Of course, he's not thinking about the precise physical mechanics that might be involved in that - at most he would imagine draining some of his blood into a glass for Hades to drink.
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Hades, unfortunately, knows very well how such things are meant to go. His expression doesn't change much as he crosses his arms. The tips of his fangs are visible now.
"If you would consent to my biting you then I would soon find out."
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"Well, of course. I doubt there are many other ways, at least as of now... My only concern that the amount required would be greater than what I can feasibly give. I would ask that you stop once I feel faint."
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Hythlodaeus' permission, it seems, is all the monster possessing him needs. He finds himself stepping forward again, grasping the front of the other man's robes. And then, if there are no last minute protests, he sinks his fangs into the same spot Ardyn had bitten his friend earlier.
I don't want anyone else's mark on you.
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"Ah--"
Hythlodaeus freezes, feeling Hades's lips on his neck, winces and gives a small hiss of pain as his friend's fangs sink into the bruise - but somehow he doesn't find it in himself to move away. He's suddenly acutely aware of the closeness between them, Hades's body against his -- and he would perhaps be lying if he said he had never thought about anything like this, but... It's very embarrassing, and Hades will certainly feel Hythlodaeus's pulse pick up.
"Hades, is this--"
Hythlodaeus trails off with a soft whimper - even though the bite should be simply painful, there's some manner of... headiness to it that makes it harder for him to think, to understand how he feels about this.
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His body is no longer cool to the touch. One could almost say he feels like a living person again.
"Mm..." Eating is a pleasure in its own way, but this? This sends him to obscene heights of giddiness.
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The rush of blood naturally makes its way down further than he expects, causing an embarrassing hardness to press against Hythlodaeus' thigh. When Hades realises that the pleasure he feels is not only internal but external, he wrenches himself away with a shudder.
A trail of blood slips down his chin and he quickly wipes it away.
"I-- That is enough, I think," he says unsteadily.
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"Ah... Hm. Um."
He blinks a few times, coming back to reality some more.
"Hades, what just happened?.."
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"I don't know." His voice is low, taut. He squeezes his eyes shut and focuses on breathing, willing his arousal to go away. "I think it may be best we avoid doing that too often."
Unfortunately, Hades' erection is all too visible without robes to hide it.
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"No, 'tis fine, I am not... I believe I am only slightly lightheaded. But do you feel any better? You look..."
He casts his worried gaze over his friend - and, unfortunately, his eyes drift down.
"... Ah."
For better or for worse, the realization leaves Hythlodaeus speechless as he stares.
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"I am going to take a cold bath," he says stiffly, turning away to march in the direction of the hotel.
hehehe "stiffly"