isleofavalon | ☆ open

Entry tags:

☆ open - mingle ☆

☆ WHO: The cast of Final Fantasy XIV and YOU.
☆ WHAT: Reunions, New Meetings, and adventure!
☆ WHEN: Arrival Month!
☆ WHERE: All over the place!
☆ WARNINGS: Threads will be marked appropriately if they require warnings!

( Note: Feel free to pop in your own top levels or reply to others' in here! )

☆★☆★

» » » Some location prompts to get things going! « « «

☆ Arrival; People could be wandering around at The Bay of Avalon, right on arrival, or just at the Rent a Ride outpost. Whatever the situation, there are chances of meeting up and catching up as soon as they get there!

★ The Red Spring/City of Camelot/Brocéliande; Catch up with the lifestyle here! It could be a few days since arrival, or such. There's plenty of adventure to be found, especially in the forest- and some opportunities for trouble, or rescuing others if it comes down to it!

☆ Wildcard scenario; Thinking of doing something else? Wildcard it and let's rock!

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Hythlodaeus can't help chuckling at that admission - lightly, happily, as though the previous exchange hadn't taken place. In a way, he finds himself a little flustered, so rare it is for Hades to admit to any manner of affection... but right now he's more content to fall back onto their usual banter. He has a feeling his friend needs it.

"You wound me, old friend! I rather thought 'twas summons to social functions that were the worst part of your days," Hythlodaeus replies with a laugh, using the sudden closeness as a chance to briefly ruffle the man's hair. The sudden hug, however...

It's both expected and isn't, in a way, but fills Hythlodaeus with warmth and a sense of determination nonetheless. He hugs back, pulling Hades up just that little bit that he might need to stand on tiptoe, strokes his hair in slow, gentle motions.

"Ever did you have a flair for the dramatics," he remarks quietly. "But I do not wish to be parted from you, either. We shall find a way, Hades. Together."

There's a small sound of consternation when Hythlodaeus hoists him up. Just like that, the touching moment is gone and he thumps his friend (lightly) on the back.

"You may still be taller than me but that is no excuse to treat me as a child," he grouses. But he doesn't try to wriggle away. Any moment could be his last, again, with Hythlodaeus. "Let me go. We ought to take stock of this new land."

Hades should really know better than to say things like that to Hythlodaeus... but it's quite likely that he already does and simply resigns himself to the results. Rather predictably, instead of letting him go Hythlodaeus only hoists him up some more to spin him around.

"How cold, Hades! Here I thought you were enjoying our reunion!" He laughs before finally setting his friend down. "Although I cannot deny that this world is rather peculiar. I was... shocked to find that my Sight was gone. A most unpleasant feeling."

A sound of consternation follows the spin, he clutching Hythlodaeus' sleeve as he's set back on his feet. Hades scowls again (as expected).

"Mine as well," he admits. "Along with everything else. I was in another city before this one which managed to curb my power. Now I lack it entirely. I have been informed that I instead have access to...another branch of magic entirely."

Hythlodaeus nods. Despite his trepidation about the path that might lie before them and his shock from the revelations Hades shared with him, he cannot help but find some measure of genuine joy in the situation.

"Myself as well... Cognitive magic, I was told. Somewhat surprising, but mayhaps not so far off the mark for someone with the Sight. I assume 'tis the same for you?" He smiles impishly as a thought strikes him. "You know, Hades, for all your protests against being treated like a child... It seems as though we are but students once again, starting anew together. Do you remember our days of youth?"

... and the first time Hades must have realized that he was now stuck with Hythlodaeus and his antics.

This realisation does seem to slowly come to him when Hythlodaeus brings up the topic of their childhood. He exhales tiredly, rolling his eyes upwards.

"Mine is alchemy. The ability to transform matter from one form to another. I suppose 'tis not unlike creation, in a sense..."

Not quite something from nothing but close enough. But it is also a different sort of alchemy than what he is accustomed to.

"What does cognitive magic entail?"

Alchemy... It's not what Hythlodaeus was expecting, but it does feel fitting for the Architect. He smiles.

"Why, 'tis as the name implies: matters related to the mind. The simplest form appears to be the ability to extract the recent... 'memories' of an object, shall we say. Quite interesting, do you not find? Their discovery that the history of every thing is written into its aether, moment by moment? But the skills I could attain are even more intriguing. Entering someone's dreams, creating astral projections, sending my thoughts to others... even influencing their decisions, albeit on a minor scale." He smiles impishly for a moment, suggesting that he might just try that on his friend, but then his expression grows more serious. "I cannot truly say that the latter sits well with me. I've a benevolent nature, but if I were to change someone's mind I would much rather it is with words. And it frightens me to think that such power could be granted to someone with less noble intentions..."

His eyebrows climb further and further as Hythlodaeus lists the uses of his new magic. It is nothing terribly new for one of their kind, no, and were he - ugh - mortal he might find cause to worry about some of its applications.

But this is Hythlodaeus. His friend may possess an innate sense of mischief yet he has never raised a hand against another. Not even in jest.

"Then be glad that the power came to you and not another. Should someone seek to abuse it, you will understand best how to counter it," he says.

His face falls further at that comment.

"...Indeed. I shall learn as much as I can," he answers quietly. It's still... unbelievable to him that people would use their powers to harm others, but it appears that he is nearly the only person here to whom it is so.

...No, he would rather not dwell on that right now. He shakes his head, remembering something else that piqued his interest.

"You said you were in another city before. Not ours, I take it?"

"Yes. A rather depraved one at that..."

Does he explain? He gazes steadily at Hythlodaeus, unflinching as he elaborates.

"A city divided arbitrarily into roles of Dominant and Submissive, where each must pair up and bed each other regularly for the sake of some nonsense research into man's psyche."

Edited 2020-11-25 03:36 (UTC)

Hythlodaeus stares. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't this. He's always thought himself unshockable, but that was... well, back in Amaurot.

"You..." he begins slowly. "That is to say, you..."

He makes a helpless little gesture. The mind boggles at the thought of... well, Hades? Bedding anyone? He used to leave the room at times simply because Azem had walked in. Hythlodaeus even made bets with himself on how many centuries it would take for his friend to make any kind of move without getting in his own way all the time.

Yes, he thought that might be Hythlodaeus' reaction. Allowing his lips to curve into a smirk, he reaches up to trace his friend's lips with his thumb.

"I...what? Did I take others to bed? Yes, I did, and sometimes I even enjoyed it." Raising himself on to the tips of his toes, he leans well into Hythlodaeus' personal space, face mere ilms away. "Shall I demonstrate for you...?"

Hythlodaeus freezes at the sudden touch, eyes widening in shock... but what comes next is even worse, and he tries to lean back instinctively, raising his hands before him before remembering that with how close they suddenly are that would mean touching Hades. He feels the heat on his cheeks as he blushes, for the first time in millennia, at something his friend intentionally did.

"I, er, that is--" he stammers, trying to get his composure back. "No, I, I've no desire to watch you--"

He takes the smallest step forward, pale eyes gleaming like gold.

"Who said anything about watching, 'Daeus? I am inviting you to join me."

Unfortunately for his poor friend, Hades learnt to carry an act and carry it well.

Join? Hythlodaeus makes a small undignified squeak as he steps back. No, that can't be real, can it? For Hades to... to offer something like that, to him of all people? It feels like some sort of strange dream at best--

Ah.

Of course it's not real. Hythlodaeus finally relaxes and closes his eyes with a sigh, a smile on his face. He raises his hands again, this time in a gesture of playful defeat.

"...Fine, fine, I concede this round to you. A first, hmm? After... however long it is we've known each other, I daresay you've earned it." He grins, although it's still going to take him a while for his blush to recede and his heart slow down. "Does revenge taste sweet, Hades?"

Hades relaxes but the smirk doesn't leave his face. He does, however, step back to give his friend some room to breathe, folding his arms smugly.

"I will savour that look upon your face for however long I have left here," he says, gaze lingering on the blush in Hythlodaeus' cheeks. "Sweet revenge indeed."

Hythlodaeus hums playfully and curls his fingers around his chin in a familiar gesture of contemplation, clearly a lot more comfortable now that it's turned into their regular banter.

"Hmmm, I do wonder whether it fully makes up for all the times I've made you blush... But I shall be magnanimous and call us even. I suppose this means I'll simply need to try harder in the future!"

The grin is back, alright, and it's just as annoyingly smug as Hades must remember it. Hythlodaeus leans in a little closer.

"How long it would take me to one-up your twelve thousand years, I wonder... a month?"

Someone is certainly confident in his shitposting abilities.

Rather than back down, Hades' smile simply grows sharper.

"I'm sure you can do better than that, my friend. You were never one to hold yourself back."

Do your worst, that smile said. He would be ready for whatever his friend tried to pull. Twelve thousand years of living had to count for something, surely.

"By the by, have you claimed a room yet? If not, you are welcome to share - provided you don't try to wake me too early."

Hythlodaeus raises his eyebrows at that invitation to war, so to speak... but he looks no less smug.

"My, my, Hades, extending challenges to me now? You certainly have changed! I hereby solemnly swear I shall do my best not to disappoint you," he chuckles, putting a hand to his breast in an overexaggeratedly serious gesture. "And I would be most honoured to share a room with the most eminent Emet-Selch himself."

A measure of his playful manner leaves him, though, as he brushes his long hair forward over his shoulder.

"In fact, I was about to ask you whether you would let me use the shower. 'Tis an utter hassle to brush the salt out."

He rolls his eyes but points to the bathroom. "Of course. Take as much time as you like. Leave your robes outside. I will see if there is a place to have them cleaned."

With that, he waves lazily and makes for the door. Might as well take this opportunity to learn what sort of amenities are available for new arrivals. His familiar does not follow, instead content to nap on one of the beds with Hythlodaeus' firebird.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

☆ open - mingle ☆

me when this is precisely what i wanted: lmfaoooo what are you gay

you'll take this gay man and love him

smh you say that like i dont already

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