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[Rhea'li says nothing, only a slightly wistful smile on his lips as he plucks meat from the grill. Matters of the heart are rather a foreign experience for him and he has no inclination to pursue anything of the sort. The one time it might have mattered, it ended up being too late.]

In this land beyond the stars... I am glad you can still be together.

Mm...

[ They would have been together in the sea of stars regardless. A peaceful, uneventful afterlife as their souls slowly unravelled with all the rest. Hades had been looking forward to it but this new lease on life isn't so bad either.

For a while, there is no sound from him save the sound of eating. Then, quietly: ]

...Thank you.

[Rhea'li tilts his head, ears turning as his face scrunches in mild confusion.]

For...?

[The meal??]

For staying. For speaking with me.

[ It's spoken grumpily and somewhat reluctantly. ]

Being left alone is something I am used to but I appreciate your company.

[Rhea'li lets out a quiet breath of a laugh, gaze falling away as he turns some of the meat on the grill.]

Man was not meant to be alone.

[For what do they crave but companionship? Even those who spend long periods of time away from others are eventually drawn back to people, whether conscious or not. His tongs are held loosely in his hand as he stares into the middle distance.]

This star... one of its great marvels is knowing we are all connected in a tangible manner.

[His gaze flickers back to Hades briefly, before returning to the sizzling meat.]

You and I are connected, bond or no. I would not turn you away in your time of need.

[ He sighs quietly and seems to wilt a little. Indeed, they are all connected. Whether by the aetherial sea, the cycle of rebirth, or simply their bonds to one another, these connections persist between men of any age and any origin. Resurrecting the sundered members of the Convocation had been his poor attempt at restoring some semblance of it. Yet even with their memories awoken, they had never really been the same.

Perhaps their venture had been doomed from the very beginning.

Hades only eats a little more before he sets his chopsticks down. He's pleasantly full. There is yet a hollow left by Azem's abrupt departure but at least the night does not feel so dark any longer. ]

[When Hades sets aside his chopsticks, it does not take long for Rhea'li to follow suit. Hades does look better than he did when Rhea'li had summoned both the man and Azem. Less like soul crushing despair and more weight of the world.

Still... he has no idea if all the ancients are living together or if Hades would be left alone.

He finishes his drink. He waits for Hades to finish his.

He pays the bill.

It's only when they're outside and back in the cold that Rhea'li asks-]

Would you like me to stay the night?

Edited 2023-06-06 00:28 (UTC)

[ He doesn't answer immediately. Stay the night? Would that even help or would it simply reinforce the loss come morning? He should be waking up with Azem and Hythlodaeus. He should be grumbling and they would be laughing at him.

Rhea'li isn't like that.

In the end, he shrugs and starts to turn to head back to their lodgings. ]

Do what you like. You've never let a lack of permission stop you from following your heart before.

[Rhea'li falls into step beside Hades; at the very least, Rhea'li would escort him back to his lodgings. He says lightly-]

You are still allowed an opinion.

[Even if it might be one he ignores. A pause, before he asks.]

Does Hythlodaeus stay with you?

[If the other man will be at his lodgings, then he thinks his new old friend would do a far better job at keeping Hades company.]

[ He shrugs. ]

Sometimes he does. Sometimes he does not. Hythlodaeus will do whatever he pleases, whenever he pleases - as he always does.

[ Although he can't deny that his friend's company would be very welcome right about now. Not that Hades would ever dare ask for it himself. ]

If you want to stay then stay. I can create another bedroll for you.

[Ah, such convenience. He would be perfectly content to figure out sleeping arrangements, but it's certainly easier to have a solution conjured up for him.]

...Then I will stay.

[As he would for a friend who is hurting. His lips curl up into a wry smile.]

I'm certain your hospitality this time will be vastly improved.

[Compared to the invitation to the Tempest, to Amaurot, when he was dying from the Light. The comment holds no heat, only mild amusement.]

[ He sniffs but doesn't offer comment. His hospitality then had been intended to give the Warrior of Light the dignity of transforming away from prying eyes. It should have been a mercy. ]

Don't expect me to bring out the good tableware for I have none.

[ --ignoring the fact that he could simply make it. ]

[Rhea'li can't help but laugh lightly, an easy sound that carries in the quiet.]

Oh? Am I not even worth a little--

[And he snaps his fingers, in imitation of all those times that Hades made magic.]

[ He snorts quietly. ]

I will make your bedroll exceedingly comfortable and you will be satisfied with it. Understood?

[ There is a twinge in his chest as he says it, but it's easier to ignore now. ]

[Heh hehehehe. Rhea'li's gaze goes half lidded and his mouth grows wide with a smile that only promises mischief.]

I'll have you know I'm exceedingly particular about the comfort of my bedroll. [He is not.] I'll be certain to thoroughly inspect it so it meets my exacting standards.

Aye, you do that.

[ He huffs. It's not like any cheekiness from Rhea'li now could inspire any worse a headache than he already has. Right?

Once they reach his apartment, he will indeed snap into existence a VERY comfortable looking bedroll. In fact it seems he took a little inspiration from the futons here in making it. ]

There. Happy?

[Rhea'li doesn't immediately respond, making a great show of inspecting the created bedroll with a roving eye. It does indeed look quite comfortable as he circles it like a cat before suddenly throwing himself down into it.

Oh, yes. Comfortable, very.

Rolling over so he's looking up at Hades while still sprawled out, he says with half-lidded eyes.]

I would be happier if you were down here with me.

[ :) ]

[ Initially he watches Rhea'li prowl around the bedroll with some amusement. How catlike they are, despite their people detesting the likeness to the creatures. Rhea'li seems satisfied with his bedding though.

However, their implied invitation prompts him to raise an eyebrow. ]

Why?

[Rhea'li's grin widens, his elongated canines on full display.]

Why not?

[:)]

'Tis an exceedingly comfortable bedroll. It would be a shame to not share it.

[He pats the fabric beside him encouragingly.]

[ He closes his eyes briefly. Heaves a sigh. ]

Somehow I feel as though you mean something else entirely. But very well...

[ He carefully sinks down and settles on one side of the bedroll. He seems to be keeping a pointed (if small) distance between their bodies. ]

[His tail twitches, amused as he lazes about in the bedroll. In a way, he's glad Hades decided to join him.]

It could mean something else.

[He rolls onto his side, leaning on an elbow so he can look at Hades, a placidly pleasant smile plastered on his face.]

I seem to recall a certain incident in a hotspring. One you bade me forget... but how could I?

[It's not every day your ex-enemy jerks off in front of you, yells at you then runs away...]

[ His eye twitches. He had really been hoping that it would be an unspoken agreement to never mention that again. Clearly, too much to hope for. ]

I am sure I don't know what you mean.

[ He pointedly does not look at Rhea'li as he says it. ]

Rhea'li grins, all too mischievous.

"Is that so?"

His tail swishes once behind him.

"I heard something funny from one of the locals. About shadows that would secretly touch people who are... frustrated. In a sexual sense."

It explained much about the strange sensations he felt in the hotspring while he was with Dionysos... Though he wonders what it says about him that he only started feeling the strange sensations after Hades had left, and more strongly after Dionysos had transformed......

"And I wonder, mayhaps..." Rhea'li makes no move to close the distance between himself and Hades; he did seem rather skittish right now, like to run if he pursues too strongly. "Would you take me up on it? If I offered?"

"Ah," he says vaguely, thinking back rapidly to that night in the hot spring. "Is that so...?"

It would certainly explain the unexpected arousal. All he had been doing was enjoying the heat of the bath before Rhea'li entered. Shadows, though? Really?

He draws up his knees and hugs them to his chest. He can tell the miqo'te is grinning at him. Mischief is written all over their face.

"Are you only offering because of Azem?"

Rhea'li gives the question some thought. Were they back in Etheirys, he probably would not make the same offer. But here, where people have far more sexual freedoms and do not do easily conflate sex with love, he finds himself relaxing some of the rules he would normally abide by.

It helps that he is simply no one important here.

Rhea'li hums. "I simply think you ought to make the most of opportunities that present themselves."

It is, mayhaps, not a satisfactory answer for Hades.

"Of course, if you're not interested I won't be insulted. I'm quite content to rest in good company, knowing I will be safe."

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Lmao I'm gonna switch to prose coz it's easier to type on mobile

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