[CLOSED/TBA for now?] august mayhem log

[weenwoon]

🧙 WHO: Hythlodaeus and the close CR! maybe others later, who knows.
⚔️️ WHAT: Recovering after his revival, fluff, trying to trail his murderhusband.
🕒 WHEN: First half of August.
🗺️ WHERE: Red Spring, Camelot
⚠️ WARNINGS: None as of yet, will likely have references to gore/abuse in the future.



A. Camelot; Polydegmon's

[TBA, I'm so sorry I just want to throw this at Chips before I go to bed]

B. Red Spring

[TBA]

C. Trailing (The First)

As Hythlodaeus's recovery progresses, his mind grows clearer. It's still a slow process, of course, but the treatments at the resort, the peaceful atmosphere and the security his friends' presence brings all work towards restoring not just his body, but his heart as well.

Unfortunately, that also means he is now in a state to notice things around him more. And one of them is the strangely late time that Hades returns to their apartment one night, as though he'd been out almost until dawn. It's quite hard to tell by his appearance, given that Hades looks exhausted at the best of times, but Hythlodaeus has been his friend for eons, and the many little cues are still noticeable to him. Despite his dodging and statements to the contrary, Hades is tired and clearly worried about something.

But the conversations don't lead to anything much, and so the next time Hythlodaeus resigns to try and follow his friend. He stays in bed for long enough that Hades would believe him to be asleep, then quickly gets up and gets dressed, his new familiar keeping watch of the street from the windowsill. Once he's ready, Hythlodaeus slips out of the house - just in time to see Hades turn into a darker alley at the far end of the street.

Heart pounding with worry, he tries to follow - but he's not so good at concealment, not in these circumstances. Though he tries to keep to the shadows and step quietly, an all too-obvious pool of silence and tension follows him. It's only a matter of time before Hades would notice he's being trailed.

Comments

[weenwoon]

Hythlodaeus is quiet for a few moments, tension choking him. Finally he manages to answer, voice hoarse and pleading.

"What good would that do me if you are already gone?.."

He grips Hades's hand tightly, trembling. He still remembers little of his own death and resurrection, but he remembers the horror of being alone and utterly helpless, and so the thought of losing his friend drives him mad with worry. He brings his other hand to his mouth, trying to stifle any noises that might escape and blinking rapidly to avoid crying.

[emet_sulk]

Hades is silent in the wake of that question. He can hear Hythlodaeus crying but he can't make himself turn back and face his friend. For a while he simply continues to walk on, their steps oddly loud on an otherwise peaceful night.

Then-- "I promised you I would live before, did I not? You know I do not break my promises."

If he dies it will not be because he throws himself on to the metaphorical sword. No, he'll fight and fight to live until someone else manages to steal his last breath from him.

"'Daeus..." Finally he glances over his shoulder, expression carefully composed. "When you said you loved me in spite of my past deeds, you meant it, yes?"

[weenwoon]

The promise is soothing, in a way - he knows Hades cannot lie, and so he can trust a little more in the fact that his friend would survive. Yet the fear does not dissipate so easily and he keeps his hold on Hades's hand, as if afraid that if he were to let go his friend would disappear.

But the pause at least is enough for Hythlodaeus's tears to dry, and the sudden question catches him by surprise. He blinks at Hades, then tries to hasten his steps so he can walk next to him.

"... Of course I did. Do you yet fear that I would leave you?"

[emet_sulk]

His own insecurities and misgivings lodge themselves in his throat. It's hard to swallow past them when he thinks about how the very hand currently holding Hythlodaeus' has strangled someone to death just yesterday.

"...Yes." There is no point in lying here. "Although we once bared our souls to one another and I do believe you loved me then, people change. I know that better than most. People change..."

Worlds, countries, cities - everything can change in the blink of an eye.

[weenwoon]

Something twists in Hythlodaeus's chest at those words. He can't quite tell what Hades means to imply there. Trying to reassure the both of them, he squeezes Hades's hand softly.

"Do you believe I would change?"

[emet_sulk]

"Has being a captive not already changed you?" He tilts his gaze upwards, watching Hythlodaeus carefully. His thumb rubs idly along the side of his friend's hand. "You know cruelty now. How could that fail to change anyone...?"

[weenwoon]

Hythlodaeus hunches his shoulders, as though trying to withdraw into himself, but the touch to his hand helps. He holds Hades's hand a little tighter, trying to steady himself emotionally.

"'Twould not be enough to make me leave you, Hades. 'Tis true that... I fear so much more now. I feel weak and helpless. Yet that is why I... I wish to see you happy. I wish for the world to be kinder, even if it is not our own."

[emet_sulk]

He slows to a halt, pulling Hythlodaeus close and wrapping him in a tight hug. With his face hidden, his expression contorts in anguish.

"Please stay home from now on, 'Daeus," he says quietly. "This city is safer than most, but just as thieves operate best in a crowd, the night belongs to those who need the dark to hide their deeds."

[weenwoon]

Though he is a little surprised by the hug, Hythlodaeus returns it readily, wrapping his arms around Hades.

"... I promise. I do not wish to..."

He trails off nervously, afraid to contemplate what might happen to him if he were to venture out alone again, and tightens his hold on his friend.

"But what of you, Hades?.."

[emet_sulk]

Breathing out slowly, he says, "As I said, I'll be fine."

Once he manages to compose himself, he peels away reluctantly and resumes walking.

"Shall I sing you to sleep? I think I still remember a song or two from those bygone days..." He tries to bolster the mood with a faint smile Hythlodaeus' way.

[weenwoon]

Fortunately for Hades, the distraction works. Hythlodaeus smiles in return, looking more relaxed now.

"I would love that. You've a wonderful voice, too."

[emet_sulk]

His cheeks colour and he hunches his shoulders, distracted, for a moment, from thoughts of his premeditated murder.

"You speak of my old voice. You have never heard me sing with this one," he mutters. Spotting the street which leads to the shop, he picks up the pace slightly and tugs Hythlodaeus along behind him. "I have not had any cause to sing in the past millennia. Temper your expectations."

[weenwoon]

He chuckles, amused by this quick return to their usual dynamic. But it is more than welcome.

"If you have not had the chance to sing yet, how can you know you would be bad at it? Mayhap there is an innate gift. And I must needs point out that lullabies are oft sung in a softer, lower voice, quite close to the vocal range required for a regular conversation."

[emet_sulk]

He rolls his eyes but does not offer argument. If Hythlodaeus is cheered by it, that's all that matters.

"The First Emperor of Garlemald, singing lullabies to a lover. If the people could see me now..."

He doesn't sound displeased. Call it rather 'exasperated affection'.

[weenwoon]

"Once more, my genius makes the previously unthinkable a reality. Are you not proud of me, Hades?"

His tone is more subdued than the cheery, cocky words would imply, but the effort is there. He wants, needs things to be normal. He yearns for a life where his worst fear, if that, was getting scolded by Hades for his mischief.

[emet_sulk]

"Oh yes," he huffs. "Terribly, terribly proud of you, my friend."

He squeezes Hythlodaeus' hand, keeping up a light (subdued) banter as they reach the shop. In short time they're back upstairs and he shrugs off his cloak as if having every intention of turning in with Hythlodaeus.

"Must I tuck you in as well, 'Daeus?" he asks teasingly.

[weenwoon]

The question earns another smile - in the time it took them to get back Hythlodaeus had fully calmed down, if only because right now it is quite hard for him to focus on anything that isn't the current moment. Both past and future slip his mind easily, too big, too frightening to comprehend... but at least this short-term focus is not without its advantages.

"If you've a mind to pamper me so, how could I refuse?"

[emet_sulk]

His expression softens. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pats the dishevelled quilt - no doubt left that way when Hythlodaeus slipped out after him.

"Come here, then. Let me hold you."

A lullaby from their time... It's terribly difficult to remember one now. He hasn't been a child for a long, long while, and the events of the world post-Sundering have caused such memories to fade even further.

[weenwoon]

Unable to keep the happy smile off his face, Hythlodaeus quickly undresses - and under his own robe he's still in his nightclothes, since it wasn't as though he had much time to spare. He climbs onto the bed, snuggling up to Hades and tipping his head briefly to give his partner a kiss on the cheek.

"Mayhap I ought to have you do it every night."

[emet_sulk]

"Remind me: how old are you again?" he retorts. He places an arm around his friend's shoulders and leans into them, willing himself to relax. Time is ticking away but he cannot slip up now.

"Besides," he adds, "if I sang to you every night it would cease to mean anything."

[weenwoon]

"Do you truly believe so?" Hythlodaeus replies with a chuckle, resting his head on Hades's shoulder and closing his eyes. This feels... right. This is what he wants his life to be, this softness and affectionate ribbing, a kind of peacefulness that he wants to cling to even more than ever before.

[emet_sulk]

Ah, this is terrible. If he isn't careful, he'll be tempted to fall asleep too. It's only been a few days since he has started cutting his sleep short but it's beginning to weigh on him.

Forcing his eyes to remain open, he nods.

"Yes. I wouldn't be me if I were the type to sing lullabies on demand." Carding his fingers gently through Hythlodaeus' hair, he clears his throat and begins to sing softly.

The song is in the language of their people. A quiet tune about the stars in the sky. Though it has fourteen verses - one for each constellation - it's rare for the singer to make it past the fifth before a child drops off to sleep. Hades hopes that will hold true for his friend as well.

[weenwoon]

Fortunately for Hades, between his general lack of energy due to still recovering and the exhaustion and adrenaline of trying to tail his friend earlier it does not take long for Hythlodaeus to start nodding off, though he does his best to stay awake until the constellation assigned to the Architect. He smiles as the nostalgic words wash over him, looking happier than he ever has since his arrival to Avalon, and after the verse is over he finally lets himself fall asleep.

1/2

[emet_sulk]

Although he can tell by the way Hythlodaeus grows lax against him and how his breathing comes slow and even that his friend has fallen asleep, he continues to hum for another minute until he's absolutely certain. Another kiss is pressed fondly to the top of Hythlodaeus' head. Then he gently eases them down on to the pillows and pulls the quilt over their shoulders.

Hades sits back and breathes out quietly. For a little while, he gazes at his lover with unfettered fondness. It would be nice to lie down and forget about thoughts of vengeance...

But when he blinks, he sees Hythlodaeus bruised, bloodied, cowering in fear of abandonment. He recalls how tightly the other man had clung to him, not out of love but out of panic.

I'm keeping him safe, he tells himself as he rises to his feet once more. Stealing silently out of the room, he fetches his cloak from its hook and wraps himself in its shadow once more.

"I'm doing this for him," he mutters to himself in the chilly late night air. "If I mix some sleeping potion into his tea before bed..." He's careful to close the shop door without disturbing the bell. Then he hurries off, hoping that his target is still where he last heard them being.

2/2

[emet_sulk]

It had been a good decision to start drugging Hythlodaeus' tea, he thinks as he tails his final target through the better part of the morning. Few would argue with the alibi that he has turned in to sleep with his lover - and Hythlodaeus himself is none the wiser for what Hades has been doing for the past two weeks. At least, he doesn't think they are.

All that is about to change now. He has the leader in his sights and he won't let anyone stop him from killing them.

As soon as he sees an opening, he calls to his familiar ("Nyx!") and activates the Soul Catcher. The people near him stumble back with shocked cries as he transforms into a draconic avatar. But he has eyes only for one person.

His target pales and immediately bolts.

Hades fights with reckless abandon, tearing up the street with his alchemy and firing aetherial bullets ahead of him. No injury seems to slow him down for long. In fact, they vanish almost as soon as he acquires them. A long gash down his arm here, cuts and bruises to his flank there - Hades takes them all in his stride until one last leap drops him squarely on top of his target's back.

They crash to the pavement with his weight crushing the air from their lungs. "No, please, no...!" they beg; he doesn't listen. They hadn't listened to Hythlodaeus. Why should he extend them the same courtesy?

Eyes bright and savage, he wraps his hands about their neck and begins to squeeze.