isleofavalon | January catch-all (open)

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January catch-all (open)

WHO: Emet-Selch and whoever
WHAT: Questing and getting up to (hopefully minimal) trouble
WHEN: January
WHERE: Camelot area
WARNINGS: Implied body horror for first prompt. There may be mild spoilers so let me know if that's something you want to avoid.

1. Bridge to the Other Side (Knight quest)

If he were in possession of his true magicks, Emet-Selch thinks sourly to himself as he gazes up at the bridge trolls surrounding him, then these beasts would be vanquished without a second thought.

The one in front of him leers and jabs a blunt finger in his face. "Hand over yer valuables if ye know what's good fer ye, little man."

He's sure that the brutes would be more intimidating to someone of shorter stature. Frankly, they would be intimidating to most anyone possessed of weaker wills. Emet-Selch, however, is not intimidated.

"I'm afraid I really must get by," he says evenly. "Don't you have better things to do with your time? Say, slavering over whatever it is you things eat?"

This produces a raucous round of grunts and laughter. Sighing, the Ascian unbelts his grimoire and flips through the pages to a new alchemy circle he has drawn for this precise situation. Actually, while he's at it...

"To me," he says quietly. His familiar materialises out of a swirl of shadows with a growl. At his silent command, it starts to glow and ripple violet. Emet-Selch's eyes glow bright gold and an arcane wind whips up around them, forcing the less self-assured trolls to back up a step and look on fearfully. A strangled gasp. He doubles over, convulsing - the gwiber joins itself to him, body and all, granting him part of its form and its power.

He is still a man, but he is also a dragon. His eyes gleam bright violet with gold edging, wings tear their way out of the back of his vest and shirt, flashes of dark indigo scaling harden across swathes of skin, and his hands and feet grow into thick, lethal claws. Most importantly, however, power thrums through him. Not nearly the same as what he ought to possess, but enough.

"Shall we see what I can make of your blood and bone?" he says, before bursting out into a guttural laugh. He holds the grimoire out before him, readying his spell for whoever attacks him first.

2. Shadlin Shakers (Knight quest)

It's quiet in the woods. Too quiet. During the day they had been unremarkable, and someone with less care for their work may have been content to leave it at that and leave before dark fell. However Emet-Selch, for all his laziness, believes in doing a job properly. He comes to the woods in the late afternoon and stays until night darkens the land. There are many creatures who won't show themselves except under cover of darkness. It is these creatures he wishes to see - if aught exist.

Fortunately for him, they seem to indeed. He can see and feel their eyes staring at him from out of the shadows. They aren't too unnerving at first, but the deeper he heads into the woods, the more their gazes bother him. He has grown used to making himself the centre of attention (for the greater good of his people) but he always had moments of reprieve. Private moments to himself and spaces to retreat to when it grew too much. Ultimately, the silent blinking eyes of the Dusklight Woods grows unbearable and he finds himself pivoting about, shouting.

"Are you quite done staring?!"

3. Reflections in Crystal (Mirror, Mirror TDM prompt)

Another cave. Emet-Selch strides in without a second thought, wishing people would stop hiding precious commodities in these dank sorts of places. Things would be so much easier if they had their necessary materials somewhere easily accessible.

Just as he's thinking this, an image begins to form before him. He halts, frowning suspiciously as the image wavers, clears, and materialises upon the ground. Not just one but many scattered all about the floor of the cave. Bodies. Cloaked in the dark robes of his people but he knows by their heights that they aren't his people.

"What trickery is this?" he mutters, walking over to one and nudging it over with his foot. It rolls over, white, nondescript mask falling from their face to reveal a lifeless Felih.

He reels to his feet. Checking the others reveals more familiar faces: those of the people he has grudgingly allowed himself to care about. Irhya, Jophrey, the matriarch, and more from long, long ago in his past. And past them all...someone standing before an altar to Zodiark, dressed in Ascian robes with a jagged staff of violet crystal in one hand, made again in the image of his god. He knows who it is before they turn around.

Is that how he looked like before? Cold, lifeless eyes behind a red mask sweeping detachedly across the dead. His illusory self fixes its gaze upon him last.

"Necessary sacrifices to bring back our star," the other him says. "Mere fragments, unworthy of your time."

There's another figure lying on the altar behind them. He steps around and feels his stomach drop. The name slips from his lips before he can stop himself.

"Hythlodaeus..."

Lying bloodied and mangled, as he remembers seeing them in the aftermath of the Final Days. But it's clear Hythlodaeus is not part of the other sacrifices littering the cave floor. No, those sacrifices are for him. His people. To bring them back to life.

He backs away feeling numb. This is the cost, writ plain as day. He has succeeded in ignoring it for so long but the toll is laid out for him to see. Everywhere he turns, another body. Closer to the walls, they pile so high as to nearly reach the ceiling. If he were to approach and turn over each one, he's sure he would recognise every face.

The other him lays an ethereal hand on his shoulder and leans in, whispering. "Why do you hesitate? Are you afraid? Then allow me to dispel your doubts..."

It raises its staff and the staff begins to glow. Emet-Selch doesn't seem to notice, rooted in place as he is and staring at the countless bodies stretching before him.

4. Wildcard

If you have other ideas for a thread using prompts either from the questboard or the TDM, send me a PM.

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There's no hiding the way Hythlodaeus startles at the sudden warmth of Hades's breath in his ear, lips pursing again to try and salvage some pride. Between that and Irhya's look, Hythlodaeus gets the feeling he's in danger.

"Whatever happened to valuing privacy, most eminent Emet-Selch? Though mayhap I needn't be so surprised, not after what you've done at the cafe."

It's up to Irhya to imagine what that was. Hythlodaeus isn't sharing yet.

"But I do agree with you, Irhya. For all our Architect tries to act confident nowadays, that resolve is rather quick to crumble, if you but assert a little dominance over him."

He's not losing this game.

"I beg your pardon?" Hades halts and glowers both at Hythlodaeus and at Irhya. "I wager Irhya could show you a thing or two about dominance, my friend. Besides which, may I remind you, Hythlodaeus, that I am your superior here?"

Because rank clearly equals dominance in bed. Nevermind that they're arguing this in the middle of a muddy road.

Edited 2021-01-10 14:09 (UTC)

Irhya grins slowly, and it becomes clear after just a moment that it's predatory. This poor boy has no idea the beast he's prodding at.

"Listen, I would do stupid things to see him topping you." Her ears fold back, just a little. "But don't you go getting me wound up about it if you don't plan on following through. And hey, what's this cafe story I'm hearing about? What'd you do?"

Irhya, you're gonna need to be more clear about who's doing what to whom here. Hythlodaeus points between himself and Hades.

"I him or him me?"

A very eloquent conversation, befitting of dwellers of utopia of knowledge.

"As for the cafe, mayhap I should leave it to Hades. I would wager he is proud enough of his antics that he would be only too happy to retell it."

"Um," she hesitates, "...either?"

She isn't sure. Actually, she almost looks like she's been caught doing something bad by Hythlodaeus questioning her meaning; her tail twitches and her ears lower slightly.

"Anyway, let's hear it," she says as she casts an expectant look at Hades. "You were fooling around, right?"

He would be more proud of his victory in the cafe if Hythlodaeus hadn't promptly won the bout back with his offer to share cake. Hades harrumphs and resumes walking, speaking as he goes.

"I seduced him in the cafe. That is all." A wry smirk curves his lips at the memory, touched with not a small amount of wistfulness. "If I had known how easy it would be to fluster him with his own tricks, I would have done so long, long ago."

Hades remembering that Hythlodaeus had turned the tables on him (only figuratively) does not go unnoticed, and Hythlodaeus grins and jerks a thumb towards Hades, winking conspiratorially at Irhya.

"That man," he begins in a smug voice, "had no shame whatsoever about kissing me in front of all and sundry, but could barely handle the thought of sharing our desserts. And ran away when I offered to dance."

Hythlodaeus turns his attention to his unfortunate friend again.

"Besides, I rather doubt you could have got the idea to pull off any of my "tricks" when you'd never even noticed what they meant."

"Yeah, that sounds like him." She has to cover her mouth with her hand to try and hide the breadth of her grin. "It's fine being grand and overt, but when it comes to something small and sentimental... yup."

Gods, they're really cute like this, though. It may not have been such a bad idea to hope something came of Hythlodaeus' feelings, after all.

"I hope you know, though, that's adorable as hell."

His ears grow warm and a flush runs up his neck. He pointedly refuses to look back at either of them, snapping sulkily.

"I told you: you acted that way in almost every interaction we had. How was I to know it meant something more?"

'Adorable'. 'Cute'. He dislikes how these words are becoming more common when the others speak of him.

"That said, Irhya, what interest could you possibly have in seeing us bed each other?"

"Ah--"

He's still stuck on that. Now it's her turn to blush, her ears pointing straight up.

"I mean, that-- I was-- I was just joking!"

She wasn't joking, but she may as well just stick to that story for now.

Well, unfortunately for Irhya, Hythlodaeus is more perceptive than his friend - in some matters, at least. He makes a curious, purposefully drawn-out hum, giving the girl a mischievous look.

"Oh, do not mind him, Irhya. He's never had much of a sense of humour. I, on the other hand, am quite the connoisseur! If you have more, I would like to hear it."

Do you understand why Hades hates him yet.

Edited 2021-01-12 16:01 (UTC)

He rolls his eyes. In typical fashion, he elects to ignore his friend's comment and address Irhya.

"This wouldn't happen to be for the same reason that city enjoyed flaunting sexual acts, would it?"

"No..." The response is quiet. She crosses her arms defensively. "I don't really wanna touch on it right now, though."

Better he has someone eternal like himself. Maybe it'll help her detach. Maybe Hythlodaeus himself can help her detach, too, if she just confides in him about it later...

"Why are we teasing me all of a sudden, anyway? What happened to Hades being more fun to prod at?"

Hythlodaeus frowns slightly behind his mask. He does still remember Irhya's concerns on the day they talked about this matter - could it still be plaguing her? He shoots Hades a look. Did he apologize to Irhya proper?

"Oh, he does try to direct attention away from himself. But he certainly is the most fun one to tease! He gets embarrassed really easily, even now. Those twelve millennia might as well not have happened!"

Hades doesn't notice the look, perplexed as he is with Irhya's sudden reticence. Did he say something wrong again?

"Fool. Anyone would be embarrassed by the nonsense which comes out of your mouth," he says disdainfully. "You have so little shame that you stripped out in the open without a moment's thought. I imagine more than your shirt would have come off too if I hadn't warned you off doing so."

That remark does make her laugh, but she doesn't loosen her posture. They really are good for each other, aren't they? She can't really be mad about that.

"Well, it lends credence to the idea he'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it." She smiles thinly. "Doesn't that count for something?"

"Well, he was certainly not the one who needed the shirt. Do you notice how masterfully he weaves his words, Irhya? Yet leaves out the most important detail, which is that the only reason I had to strip was because he'd pushed me into a lake! In the midst of winter! Can you believe that?"

He's being overdramatic about it, but still, wow!

Ah, and now he allows himself a broader smirk. He's very proud of that moment, thank you.

"Oh hush, 'tis impossible for idiots to catch cold," he says smugly. "I certainly didn't hear you complaining up until the moment you fell in." Glancing sidelong at Irhya, he adds, "Unsurprisingly, as I had a good teacher."

He makes sure she's looking at him before he licks his lips and smiles.

"Eh? I mean-- of course!"

Gods, why does he have to do this to her while she's having an internal conflict? Her ears prick up again, then lower as she grins, a little tepid.

"But you kept him warm after that, right?"

Deflection. Hades won't pick it up, she's sure, but she isn't quite as certain about Hythlodaeus. He may very well notice she's trying to be subtle about it, especially when she's already told him her thoughts on the matter.

Fortunately, Hythlodaeus is less stupid in some matters than his friend, and tries to come to Irhya's aid.

"About as warm as a damp towel on a winter day, which was what I got from him. I think he ought to learn from yourself or Felih when it comes to taking care of people!"

He throws his hands up in exasperation. "Your shirt was wet. Of course the towel was going to be damp," he retorts.

As his hands fall back to his side, he continues to puzzle over Irhya's body language. Unfortunately, it doesn't occur to him that she might be as jealous of him as she had claimed Hythlodaeus might have been of her.

Irhya sighs, running a hand over her ears. "You two..."

Honestly, it's really cute seeing them banter like this, but it continues to make her wonder if she has a place getting involved with it. So instead, she tries to steer things back to what they were attempting to accomplish.

"We could take shots out here all night, I'm sure, but I'm sure the ghosts will retreat come morning, so we ought to get there before then, yes?"

Hythlodaeus gives Irhya a small nod to catch her attention, then gestures at Hades with a thumb and rolls his eyes. An unsaid "he started it".

"I agree," he says out loud. "Though, is it not curious that spirits would only appear during the night? Why do you think that is?"

He shrugs, missing the gesture between them as he's still surveying the path ahead.

"In their default state, spirits are nigh impossible to see with the naked eye. If these natives lack in the ability to see aether as we do, it wouldn't be surprising that they are unable to spot them whilst the sun is up. Once night falls, these spirits become far easier to see and so they are attributed to the night."

He WILL go on if either of them let him.

"Yes," she says emphatically with a small amount of annoyance. "And stars don't disappear when the sun is out, even if half the population believes only what they see. Same thing. Let's move on."

But as she continues walking, she realizes she doesn't know what to say anymore. And if she's hesitant to continue natural conversation, what does that mean for her? Was accompanying them just a bad idea in the first place? The doubts start to gather.

"I... How long is this supposed to take? To get there."

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no longer joke tag want thread progression

Hyth IS the joke--

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