Hythlodaeus is a bit too easy-going to reassure him about his job prospects. But sadly his friend can't be completely idle.
"You can either visit businesses yourself and ask if they require workers or you can visit a job agency and see what has been posted there," he says, standing as the kettle starts to bubble noisily.
"...You still dislike manual labour, yes?" he asks, with just the faintest hesitancy in his tone.
It's faint, but Hythlodaeus does notice that hesitation. After all, they have been friends for so many hundreds of years.
"Oh, you know me, Hades. I don't have your or Azem's physique." He turns around in his seat, dropping an arm over the chair's back, and watches the kettle curiously. "Why do you ask?"
He adds a small spoon of tea to two mugs and pours the hot water in before bringing it over to the table. Even the mugs are plain ceramic. Hades has clearly been extremely stingy with his finances for this place.
"I suppose you could look for administrative work again. Or...if you're lucky, you may be able to perform at a tavern."
It really must have been a very long time for Hades to start doubting his memory of Hythlodaeus. He picks up one of the mugs, noting the extremely plain design; Hades was never one for much finery, but these have the bleak simplicity of something disposable.
"Oh, that sounds like it would suit me. I would rather not get involved with paperwork again. This is a vacation, after all!"
He's far away from Amaurot and unable to perform his duties through no fault of his own. What else is it but a vacation? He's definitely earned some months or years of rest!
He huffs and rolls his eyes. Well, even for himself he supposes it's something of a vacation.
"Well, you'll still need coin to procure an instrument." He warms his hands around his mug of tea. Yes, it's plain. Replaceable. He's grown so used to having to abandon his lives over and over again that purchasing anything sentimental will only hurt him.
"Or if you ask nicely, mayhap I could...invest in your career." He takes a sip, expression purposefully aloof.
Oh, Hades, will you ever learn? Hythlodaeus counters that aloof look with a smug smile.
"Oh? But if you haven't seen me in a very long time, then you must miss my playing as well. Shouldn't you be interested in procuring an instrument for me?"
It's also something of a way of getting to the heart of the matter; but given Hades's earlier reluctance, Hythlodaeus feels like it's worth it to take their time a little.
"I'll have you know that I've been audience to many a great musical talent over the ages."
The delivery is tart but his expression does shift towards being a little more mulish. He does miss Hythlodaeus' playing. Maybe he will fund an instrument for his friend.
"...Fine. But please exercise restraint. You still play the harp, yes?"
Hades follows Hythlodaeus' questing gaze. It takes a few moments for him to realise what his friend is seeking.
"There's sugar in the cupboard there." He points. Sugar? In his home?
"And yes - there were some minstrels who managed to move me to tears. Something your singing has never done," he says dryly. Which may sound cruel, but that's because Hythlodaeus has never really had anything terribly sad to sing about.
Hythlodaeus is about to raise his eyebrows at the existence of sugar in Hades's home, but instead he has to pout about his musical skill apparently being lacking.
Still, Hythlodaeus is quick to bounce back, as ever. He tips several spoonfuls of sugar into his tea before sitting back down.
"Ah, but my music always made you smile. Isn't joy more to be cherished than sadness?"
"You and your silver tongue," he replies in exasperation. But he can't help but silently agree. He can't really remember the last time hearing music made him smile. Genuinely smile and relax. The state of the star had never been far from his mind. How could he ever lose himself to art the way others do, with the weight of duty ever on his shoulders?
"I'll buy you one instrument. If you want to learn anything else then you will have to earn that coin yourself. If formal work is not to your liking then MANTA often post bounties and odd jobs that you can take on."
He briefly sticks out the aforementioned silver tongue at his friend. Did you miss his antics, Hades?
"Ah, yes, I recall that 'MANTA' being mentioned. I'll keep it in mind if I ever have need of coin." He takes another sip and then shoots Hades another somewhat sly look. "Do you make use of it, perchance?"
He looks like he's about to say more but drops his gaze to his tea. He had met the Exarch, who helped him find his clothes before abruptly reminding him of memories sealed away before the Sundering. Bewilderment at being alive had turned to shock, then despondancy as he struggled to establish himself in this new world.
"...I didn't know what to do with myself back then," he mutters. "So I chased down whatever caught my eye."
Hades stares into the depths of his tea. What happened? Where to even begin with that question. The world as they know it has ceased to exist, lying in ruins at the deepest depths of sea. The entire geography of their star has changed due to those rising waters, to say nothing of the calamities he and his brethren would later scar the land with. And no-one remembers anything of it.
"I died is what happened," he says shortly. It seems the simplest, easiest topic to tackle first.
Hythlodaeus raises his cup to his lips; it stays there as he stares at Hades. So he is from the future... but why would he speak of his departure so brusquely? And as for not having seen Hythlodaeus for a very long time...
He snorts bitterly, fingers twitching unconsciously around his mug.
"No. If you had, at least I would have been able to find you again in another life."
He brings the mug to his lips, but the hot tea does little to ease the tightness in his chest. "And before you ask: Azem did perish - along with every other living thing on the star."
Hythlodaeus looks completely taken aback. Whatever he expected Hades to say, this wasn't it. He snaps out of it after a few moments, taking a sip of his sugary tea again to cover up his confusion.
"But if both you and Azem... died... then why didn't I?"
Hades is silent for a long minute. To Hythlodaeus, it's a familiar sight: his ever-serious friend wearing a brow so deeply furrowed that he looks like a wizened elder.
"I...don't wish to speak of it right now. But your soul has long been out of my reach," he says roughly.
When he took a trip to the moon, to stare at their imprisoned god, to look at all the souls held within, he inflicted the pain of Hythlodaeus' loss over and over on his heart. To be so close yet held so far...
Hythlodaeus takes that minute to study his friend's new features - new, but familiar at the same time in the expression Hades wears. Whatever it is that happened, it must have been truly terrible, even more so than what Hades already told him.
He reaches out to cover Hades's hand with his own.
His fist clenches briefly. Then slowly slackens and turns over so that he's grasping Hythlodaeus' hand back. But the furrow in his brow doesn't slacken.
"For now," he mutters. "But you could vanish at any time. Just like our captain did."
His gaze settles on Hythlodaeus' soul, glowing so brightly with its distinctive hue. He never wants to let it out of his sight again.
He chokes on his next words. Wait? Wait?? He's been waiting this long already only to end up dying first. Who says there'll ever be a next time? The Exarch hasn't furnished him with explicit details about how the star had been saved so Hades has no idea if Hythlodaeus will be held indefinitely within their god's prison.
"I can't," he forces out past a tight throat and burning eyes. "This could be my only chance-- We may never meet again. Not even in our next lives."
For once, Hythlodaeus finds himself at a loss for words. It's obvious that Hades has gone through something that Hythlodaeus could never imagine. What can he say here?
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"You can either visit businesses yourself and ask if they require workers or you can visit a job agency and see what has been posted there," he says, standing as the kettle starts to bubble noisily.
"...You still dislike manual labour, yes?" he asks, with just the faintest hesitancy in his tone.
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"Oh, you know me, Hades. I don't have your or Azem's physique." He turns around in his seat, dropping an arm over the chair's back, and watches the kettle curiously. "Why do you ask?"
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He adds a small spoon of tea to two mugs and pours the hot water in before bringing it over to the table. Even the mugs are plain ceramic. Hades has clearly been extremely stingy with his finances for this place.
"I suppose you could look for administrative work again. Or...if you're lucky, you may be able to perform at a tavern."
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"Oh, that sounds like it would suit me. I would rather not get involved with paperwork again. This is a vacation, after all!"
He's far away from Amaurot and unable to perform his duties through no fault of his own. What else is it but a vacation? He's definitely earned some months or years of rest!
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He huffs and rolls his eyes. Well, even for himself he supposes it's something of a vacation.
"Well, you'll still need coin to procure an instrument." He warms his hands around his mug of tea. Yes, it's plain. Replaceable. He's grown so used to having to abandon his lives over and over again that purchasing anything sentimental will only hurt him.
"Or if you ask nicely, mayhap I could...invest in your career." He takes a sip, expression purposefully aloof.
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"Oh? But if you haven't seen me in a very long time, then you must miss my playing as well. Shouldn't you be interested in procuring an instrument for me?"
It's also something of a way of getting to the heart of the matter; but given Hades's earlier reluctance, Hythlodaeus feels like it's worth it to take their time a little.
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The delivery is tart but his expression does shift towards being a little more mulish. He does miss Hythlodaeus' playing. Maybe he will fund an instrument for his friend.
"...Fine. But please exercise restraint. You still play the harp, yes?"
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Hythlodaeus finally takes a sip of his tea - and starts looking around for the sugar basin. It's not that the tea is bad, but he does like it sweet.
"Have you ever heard anyone better than me?"
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"There's sugar in the cupboard there." He points. Sugar? In his home?
"And yes - there were some minstrels who managed to move me to tears. Something your singing has never done," he says dryly. Which may sound cruel, but that's because Hythlodaeus has never really had anything terribly sad to sing about.
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Still, Hythlodaeus is quick to bounce back, as ever. He tips several spoonfuls of sugar into his tea before sitting back down.
"Ah, but my music always made you smile. Isn't joy more to be cherished than sadness?"
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"I'll buy you one instrument. If you want to learn anything else then you will have to earn that coin yourself. If formal work is not to your liking then MANTA often post bounties and odd jobs that you can take on."
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"Ah, yes, I recall that 'MANTA' being mentioned. I'll keep it in mind if I ever have need of coin." He takes another sip and then shoots Hades another somewhat sly look. "Do you make use of it, perchance?"
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He looks like he's about to say more but drops his gaze to his tea. He had met the Exarch, who helped him find his clothes before abruptly reminding him of memories sealed away before the Sundering. Bewilderment at being alive had turned to shock, then despondancy as he struggled to establish himself in this new world.
"...I didn't know what to do with myself back then," he mutters. "So I chased down whatever caught my eye."
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Hythlodaeus looks down at his cup as well. Well, it seems like the time has come...
"Will you tell me what happened?"
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"I died is what happened," he says shortly. It seems the simplest, easiest topic to tackle first.
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"... Did I return to the star before you did?"
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"No. If you had, at least I would have been able to find you again in another life."
He brings the mug to his lips, but the hot tea does little to ease the tightness in his chest. "And before you ask: Azem did perish - along with every other living thing on the star."
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Hythlodaeus looks completely taken aback. Whatever he expected Hades to say, this wasn't it. He snaps out of it after a few moments, taking a sip of his sugary tea again to cover up his confusion.
"But if both you and Azem... died... then why didn't I?"
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"I...don't wish to speak of it right now. But your soul has long been out of my reach," he says roughly.
When he took a trip to the moon, to stare at their imprisoned god, to look at all the souls held within, he inflicted the pain of Hythlodaeus' loss over and over on his heart. To be so close yet held so far...
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He reaches out to cover Hades's hand with his own.
"Well, I am here now."
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"For now," he mutters. "But you could vanish at any time. Just like our captain did."
His gaze settles on Hythlodaeus' soul, glowing so brightly with its distinctive hue. He never wants to let it out of his sight again.
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Hythlodaeus squeezes Hades's hand gently, trying to reassure him.
"Even if that happens, I could return here again, I believe. Just like I suddenly arrived. You would just need to wait for me."
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He chokes on his next words. Wait? Wait?? He's been waiting this long already only to end up dying first. Who says there'll ever be a next time? The Exarch hasn't furnished him with explicit details about how the star had been saved so Hades has no idea if Hythlodaeus will be held indefinitely within their god's prison.
"I can't," he forces out past a tight throat and burning eyes. "This could be my only chance-- We may never meet again. Not even in our next lives."
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For once, Hythlodaeus finds himself at a loss for words. It's obvious that Hades has gone through something that Hythlodaeus could never imagine. What can he say here?
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Abruptly drawing his hand back, he stands and makes to walk to the bathroom. "I'm sorry, I need a moment."
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