[Hythlodaeus listens quietly, drinking slowly as he takes in the story. Naoya is older than he truly thought, for although Hythlodaeus is old he wasn't amongst the first of his kind to grace the star- not even close. Still, being history's first murderer isn't something Hythlodaeus would call a good thing.
And yet, he doesn't seem to be all that affronted. Killing one's brother is... horrible, yes. He wouldn't hesitate to say as much if asked. Still, is it any worse than what Emet-Selch did? What Eren did? The two men he loves the most would be called villains by those who came after. Perhaps it would be deserved.
Hythlodaeus ultimately is in no position to judge Naoya harshly. And so, he won't. It seems somebody else has already judged him, anyway.]
And so you seek to free yourself from the cycle of endless torture...
[Understandable. Hythlodaeus is surprised that Naoya is as composed as he is now, actually. So many lifetimes of suffering would have taken their toll on many others, he's sure.]
You cannot offer anything more than what you have. Would that He had been pleased with such a generous offering from your fields to begin with... but that is, I suppose, an argument that helps nobody now.
Indeed. Well, for what it is worth I hope that you find a means to free yourself.
[Some punishments are necessary, yes. Some, however, are cruel and unusual. Hythlodaeus doesn't think he could ever have killed a man to appease somebody else, but he also couldn't have inflicted several thousands of years of torture onto somebody either, so really neither Naoya or this God is coming out of the equation smelling of roses.
Still, he lifts his glass and holds it out to Naoya in a toast of sorts.]
To freedom, then?
[Even if freedom is just having the ability to rest after one's life.]
Ah, what kind of story? Is there aught you're curious about?
[He knows he's talked about his own life far less than Naoya has talked about himself, but given Naoya's lives have all been full of hardship he'd almost feel badly for talking about how wonderful his own was. He doesn't really like talking about the Final Days, though... but if Naoya asked anything that meant it had to come up, the least he could do was explain it. After all, Naoya trusted him with the story of his curse.]
[He closes his eyes, reminiscing, a smile on his lips. I remember a garden, and a sky, and a man.]
I was trying to return a concept crystal to my friend, Azem, as he had left it in my office. I was stopped along the way by many of my other acquaintances, which meant that I didn't get to him in time before he left... but I recall my dear friend Emet-Selch watching him go when I arrived, with a serene smile on his face. A smile so rarely seen, might I add. 'Twas a beautiful day, and the gardens were lush and colourful... but all I recall seeing was him.
[As he opens his eyes again he takes a drink, chuckling. And it is enough.]
[He would be genuinely unhappy if he did that, personally.]
As for Emet-Selch... he is my soulmate. He is not here, and so I feel his absence most keenly. Still, I have made some wonderful friends here all the same. Friends who make my heart feel full.
[Not in the same way that Emet-Selch did, but in their own, unique ways.]
I... wish to stay here, in some ways. I have those I hold dear to me here, and I would hate to forget them. And yet... I miss Emet-Selch. I should be in the Underworld, resting with him. It doesn't feel quite right, being separated in this way.
[Was that how Emet-Selch felt for all of those thousands of years...?]
[He sets his glass down and reaches out, putting a hand on the other's leg.]
It's only natural to want to be with those you cared about in the past while also wanting to hold onto those you care about in the present. You're not wrong for feeling that way.
I just wish you didn't have to. It's not... an easy feeling to grapple with.
[Still, he places his hand on the one resting on his leg.]
Perhaps it is selfish of me to wish for Emet-Selch to come here, but sometimes I cannot help but to want it. And yet... I have enough here that I am happy, still.
[Squeezing the hand on his leg, he drains his glass and leans forward to pick up the whiskey bottle again, refilling both glasses.]
[Given Naoya's positive response, he grins at the words and kisses him again, threading fingers through his hair. He keeps the kisses light for now, but he can't help but to nip at Naoya's lower lip before he pulls away a little, eyes lidded.]
Is this all right?
[He thinks the other man would say something if it wasn't, but he wants to be sure.]
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crouching_sin) wrote2024-10-06 10:09 pm
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labyrinthum]
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And yet, he doesn't seem to be all that affronted. Killing one's brother is... horrible, yes. He wouldn't hesitate to say as much if asked. Still, is it any worse than what Emet-Selch did? What Eren did? The two men he loves the most would be called villains by those who came after. Perhaps it would be deserved.
Hythlodaeus ultimately is in no position to judge Naoya harshly. And so, he won't. It seems somebody else has already judged him, anyway.]
And so you seek to free yourself from the cycle of endless torture...
[Understandable. Hythlodaeus is surprised that Naoya is as composed as he is now, actually. So many lifetimes of suffering would have taken their toll on many others, he's sure.]
You cannot offer anything more than what you have. Would that He had been pleased with such a generous offering from your fields to begin with... but that is, I suppose, an argument that helps nobody now.
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Or if they were, they simply didn't care.
[He takes another long sip and closes his eyes. It's... just frustrating.]
I've tried all manner of spells and rituals, but generally curses end when their originators are killed. So that seems to be the last resort.
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[Some punishments are necessary, yes. Some, however, are cruel and unusual. Hythlodaeus doesn't think he could ever have killed a man to appease somebody else, but he also couldn't have inflicted several thousands of years of torture onto somebody either, so really neither Naoya or this God is coming out of the equation smelling of roses.
Still, he lifts his glass and holds it out to Naoya in a toast of sorts.]
To freedom, then?
[Even if freedom is just having the ability to rest after one's life.]
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To freedom.
[Aaaand a big swing of that booze. It burns but it's a good burn.]
... Time for you to tell me a story, then.
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Ah, what kind of story? Is there aught you're curious about?
[He knows he's talked about his own life far less than Naoya has talked about himself, but given Naoya's lives have all been full of hardship he'd almost feel badly for talking about how wonderful his own was. He doesn't really like talking about the Final Days, though... but if Naoya asked anything that meant it had to come up, the least he could do was explain it. After all, Naoya trusted him with the story of his curse.]
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[He can probably learn a lot just from what the other picks, after all.]
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[He closes his eyes, reminiscing, a smile on his lips. I remember a garden, and a sky, and a man.]
I was trying to return a concept crystal to my friend, Azem, as he had left it in my office. I was stopped along the way by many of my other acquaintances, which meant that I didn't get to him in time before he left... but I recall my dear friend Emet-Selch watching him go when I arrived, with a serene smile on his face. A smile so rarely seen, might I add. 'Twas a beautiful day, and the gardens were lush and colourful... but all I recall seeing was him.
[As he opens his eyes again he takes a drink, chuckling. And it is enough.]
I hold that memory close to my heart.
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You must care about him very much, if that's one of your favorite memories. I...
[He swirls the drink in his cup for a moment, staring into it.]
I do miss being able to be around lush gardens without fear of wilting them. I can never harvest from the earth again.
[It's relatively minor in terms of curses, but still annoying.]
But I'm sure it was beautiful.
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[He would be genuinely unhappy if he did that, personally.]
As for Emet-Selch... he is my soulmate. He is not here, and so I feel his absence most keenly. Still, I have made some wonderful friends here all the same. Friends who make my heart feel full.
[Not in the same way that Emet-Selch did, but in their own, unique ways.]
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[Oh, well. This Emet-Selch seems much more interesting.]
But it's not the same, I imagine. ... Do you wish you were home rather than here?
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[Was that how Emet-Selch felt for all of those thousands of years...?]
I'm torn, frankly.
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It's only natural to want to be with those you cared about in the past while also wanting to hold onto those you care about in the present. You're not wrong for feeling that way.
I just wish you didn't have to. It's not... an easy feeling to grapple with.
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[Still, he places his hand on the one resting on his leg.]
Perhaps it is selfish of me to wish for Emet-Selch to come here, but sometimes I cannot help but to want it. And yet... I have enough here that I am happy, still.
[Squeezing the hand on his leg, he drains his glass and leans forward to pick up the whiskey bottle again, refilling both glasses.]
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[He just doesn't have someone else who does. Even Kazuya can't... truly understand.]
And even if it were, so what? You're allowed to be selfish sometimes.
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[Hythlodaeus leans back again, sipping at his whiskey and regarding Naoya with a small, grateful smile.]
Perhaps being a little selfish isn't such a bad thing.
[He traces light shapes over the back of Naoya's hand.]
Though if he ever does end up here, I know he'd hate it. In that way, I don't truly wish for him to arrive. I just miss him, that's all.
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[A little later...]
[Naoya's face is flushed a bright red and he's moved over to where Hythlodaeus is sitting, leaning against him.]
You've been kind to me... though I suppose you don't have the religious baggage with my story that most in my world do.
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I have no reason not to be kind to you, certainly... you've only ever shown me the same courtesy.
[And Hythlodaeus is naturally inclined to be kind to people, unless they irritate him.]
Would you rather I treated you differently?
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[He gives him a little bit of a smile, and it's... less troubled than it usually is.]
I like unusual.
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[The smile is nice. He enjoys it when he can ease his friends' troubles for at least a little while. He idly places an arm around Naoya's shoulders.]
So we are of one mind, it would seem.
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[He looks up at Hyth and blinks slowly. He normally doesn't drink this much, but...]
I trust you.
[There's just something about him...]
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[Hythlodaeus smiles down at him, a little flushed from the drink.]
And I do trust you.
[Reaching out, he tips up Naoya's chin and chuckles.]
Ah... the flush to your cheeks looks good on you.
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It's not a look I let most see. But you're safe to be around...
[Safe enough, at least. He leans up towards the other's face, in range of his lips if he wants to close the distance.]
I think everything would look good on you.
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[He's getting used to the idea that others find him attractive, and he can't say it's a bad thing.]
You flatter me...
[And such flattery does earn him a brief kiss, just to test the waters.]
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[He kisses the Ancient back, wrapping his arms around him. ... It's nice. It makes him feel young again.]
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Is this all right?
[He thinks the other man would say something if it wasn't, but he wants to be sure.]
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fading to black!