isleofavalon | [OPEN][May Catch-all]

[It isn't that Zagreus doesn't get it, it's just...Thanatos has never expressed any interest in this sort of thing before, and he just wants to make absolutely, 100%, unquestionably certain he's got it right before he ruins everything with some wishful misinterpretation.

Then again, didn't this all begin with Thanatos' wish not to waste any more of the time they have together here?]

No, I...I'm pretty sure I understand.

[He squeezes Thanatos' hand again, gently and deliberately this time, in what he hopes is a comforting fashion. He speaks quietly.]

And I assure you, I have all the interest in the world.

[It's almost like being back in Elysium for all the butterflies that seem to be fluttering around in his chest, but he smiles as he brings his other hand up to lightly cup Death's cheek. And if Thanatos will allow it, Zagreus leans forward to press a soft, lingering kiss to his lips.

...and desperately hopes he did not misread this situation entirely. Somehow.]

[If nothing else, Thanatos' reaction should tell Zagreus that he definitely didn't misread the situation.

The death god doesn't flinch or pull away. His free hand briefly rests on the young prince's neck and then settles cupped just beneath his ear. He leans into that soft kiss and allows himself the quickest glimpse of Zagreus' face before he shuts his eyes.

Though it isn't too clear under the starlight when they part, he's certainly slightly flushed.]

Thank Tartarus for that... [He mutters with a sigh.] I was starting to get concerned you were planning to leave it to me to make the first move.

[Zagreus laughs, eyes bright and warm when he opens them.]

I just…didn’t want to rush into things, just in case I’d gotten it all wrong. But I’m glad you brought this up tonight, Than. To be honest, I was starting to drive myself a little crazy trying to decide when and how I should tell you how I felt.

[He gives Thanatos a sheepish smile.]

Edited 2021-07-15 12:30 (UTC)

Hmn...

[Thanatos makes a thoughtful sound, holding it in the back of his throat. Actually telling Zagreus this hadn't really made him feel that much better about it, since now the anxiety about telling him has been wholly replaced with the anxiety that now he knows, and the knowledge that Thanatos has very abruptly placed someone in a position where they are able to hurt him.

Not that he thinks for a moment that Zagreus would do that. Not... intentionally, at least. Thoughtlessly, perhaps, but intentionally? Never.

He takes one of Zagreus' hands in both of his and holds it gently.]

Well, here I am. Tell me.

[Ah. Well. Zagreus supposes he did this to himself, really.]

You're sure what I did just now didn't say it all for me?

[He's only joking, though (mostly). He glances down at their hands with a nervous little smile.]

Well, I care about you a lot, Than. In...in a way that's different than the way I care about most people. I want to be with you. If you'll have me. For as long as you'll have me.

[Thanatos does smile at that first question, because... yes, it did, really, but he still wants to hear it in more specific words. Mostly because...

Well, hearing it makes his heart race. Zagreus can't possibly understand how it affects him when someone really wants to be around him (and it never used to bother him that people didn't, but things are different now) and to know that someone wants something more from him is... It's exciting. And new. And he's never... No one has ever taken interest in him like that before.]

I care about you too, Zag. More than I could have expected to. [He lets out a soft, careful breath.] And I'll have you. Gladly.

[It's true that Zagreus doesn't, and can't, understand what it's like for Thanatos - any of this. What he does know is that Than is smiling at him, and he likes that very much.

He likes what Death says to him very much, too, and his nervous smile becomes a wider and warmer one. ...and then maybe just a hint of mischief sneaks in.]

So, does this mean I'm about to become the first mortal to experience the kiss of Death twice?

[Immediately, Thanatos lets out an irritated grunt and pushes Zagreus' shoulder very lightly with the heel of his hand.]

Not if you're going to start spouting lines like that. [Ugh, honestly Zag. Don't make him regret this.

He would, however, very much like to kiss Zagreus again. It's different to how he thought it would be, and he has to wonder if it would have been the same had they both still been in Tartarus... and how long it would have taken before he finally snapped and approached Zagreus himself.

Thanatos is no stranger to the concept of relationships. He's spent a good deal of time on the surface despite his dislike of it and he although he's never really understood mortals at all, he knows what they get up to up there. The act of kissing had always seemed strange, but he can see no end of value in it now.

He pulls Zagreus in and kisses him. A little shy, a little tentative, but definitely eager.]

[Zagreus chuckles, but before he can say anything in his (admittedly very weak) defense, Thanatos is kissing him again and that's much more important than whatever he might have said. He slips an arm around the other god's waist to pull him closer and slides the other one into his hair that gleams silvery-pale in the moonlight.

He doesn't plan to take things too far right now, of course - this is so new to them, and especially to Thanatos - but he kisses back with an earnest confidence that he hopes will convince his partner that there's nothing to be shy or tentative about. To reassure him that Zagreus absolutely wants to be right here where he is, and nowhere else.]

[Zagreus has always been a lot smaller than him, physically, but when he's wrapped around Thanatos like this the god of death hardly notices.

The tentativeness is not at all from any belief that this isn't wanted and entirely from a place of utter inexperience - something he would have expected Zagreus to realise thanks to his earlier stumbling. Despite his age, Thanatos' dedication to his work and the weight of everything it represents have kept him from many things, including any form of romantic entanglement.

Aside from no one that he knows of being at all interested in partnering with death incarnate, where would he even find the time?

When he needs to catch his breath, he puts his hand over the one lightly tangled in his hair and draws it around to press a kiss to the palm. No doubt looking delightfully dishevelled as far as the prince is concerned.]

Wait-- [And, ugh, he hates that word as soon as it falls out of his mouth, but this is... this is a lot.] I don't want to... rush this. At least, not while sitting in the middle of a field.

[The prince does indeed appreciate the look of a slightly rumpled Death Incarnate, almost as much as he appreciates this endearingly romantic gesture. He almost apologizes when he hears Thanatos ask to wait, but the clarification comes quickly, and Zagreus grins a bit.]

So, you're saying you would be perfectly fine with rushing it elsewhere?

[But he's only joking, of course.]

Where, exactly, did you have in mind then, Than?

Tch--

[He's definitely not--

No, that's a lie. If they weren't currently sitting outside he might have taken this further. The idea that he could take it further is... exciting.

But Zagreus puts him on the spot and he thanks the fact it's dark for concealing the flush he feels creeping across his face.]

Where? Somewhere with more guaranteed privacy. And a roof.

[Surely Thanatos wouldn't want more guaranteed privacy if he were just planning to go on as they have been...right? Though Zagreus wouldn't put it past him to get shy about even just this much in front of anyone who happened to come by. But that's perfectly fine with Zag.]

Fortunately, I think we can make both of those happen.

[He hops up to his feet and holds out a hand for Thanatos to help him up. Not that he needs it, obviously - he could just as easily float right off the ground into the air - but to be honest, now that he has permission to touch Death as much as he wants, not touching him at any given moment feels like cheating them both out of it.]

Although the privacy I understand, but the roof is a pretty specific requirement. Planning something I should know about, Than?

[He grins.]

[He doesn't need the hand up but he takes it anyway, sliding his fingers across Zagreus' palm like he's savouring the contact. It's been... a lot, tonight, and he's going to need a little time to sort it all out in his head, but for now he's happy to just have this.

To feel like he can have this.

Thanatos stands up, and he doesn't let go of the prince's hand when he does. The question, veiled in innocence as it is, draws an immediate heated flush to his face.]

I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. [Ugh, don't make him say it.] You can't play the fool with me.

[Zagreus chuckles, and he's quickly learning that he really likes seeing Thanatos flush like that, but he relents, holding onto that hand in his just as readily.]

Don't mind my cheekiness, Than. I'm just...so thoroughly pleased, that's all. I think I may feel a bit giddy, to be honest with you. We'd better hurry before I say something else just as harebrained.

I can think of a way or two to shut you up, if you do. [Thanatos muses, slanting his gaze down to the prince and allowing a very subtle smile to pull at his lips.

Yes, he knows exactly what he's saying. Relative shyness about intimacy aside he isn't entirely ignorant of it, and... well, maybe he wants to fluster the prince a little in return for the blush the other had already provoked on him.]

Shall we hurry home?

[Zagreus' brows lift in surprise, and some amazement, to hear such a thing out of Thanatos, of all people. The prince is absolutely not shy when it comes to the, er...more intimate parts of a relationship, but with Than, everything is different. It all feels new all over again.

So Death gets his wish, as Zag's face flushes a bit. Even so, mischief sneaks into his little grin.]

Ah, well, if those ways are as pleasant as what we've been doing here so far, maybe I should say harebrained things more often.

[He is more than ready to get back and pick up where they just left off, and he has to suppress the urge to do something silly like offer to race Thanatos back to the inn. (He learned long ago that racing Death anywhere is just asking for him to teleport to the finish line the instant he starts running. It's truly unfair.

He also has to suppress the urge to just start kissing Than again right here and now. But he wants privacy, and Zagreus is inclined to give it to him. Preferably as quickly as possible.

So he just nods.]

Let's go.

I wasn't aware you were making an effort not to.

[From anyone else, that kind of comment on Zagreus' tendency to say 'harebrained things' might have sounded like an insult. Even from Thanatos, until recently, such a thing might have sounded like an insult. But now, the words come out immeasurably fond and with a gentle smile that softens the edges of his features for a moment.

Though he has a vested interest in getting back indoors as quickly as possible given what they've been discussing, he'll still enjoy the walk back.

So he gives the hand in his a light tug and starts heading back towards the softly twinkling lights of Camelot, his mind suddenly buzzing with what has been proposed and... what he might do.]

You should know-- though I'm sure you would expect... I'm not experienced in such matters.

[Zagreus laughs, just a hint of wonder sneaking into it. 'Giddy' was the right word, he thinks - when was the last time he could laugh so freely with Thanatos, or anyone, really? And when was the last time Thanatos felt that he could indulge his own sense of humor? Sure, it's at Zag's expense, but he can tell the difference between an insult and fond teasing. And the fact that this is the latter makes him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He elbows Death with a light nudge.]

I'll have you know that absolutely nothing I say is planned ahead of time, thank you very much!

[It's heartwarming, too, to see Thanatos walking with him instead of floating along. Not that Zagreus would have minded the floating at all, but this seems to be a deliberate gesture, a way to enjoy something simple together. Still, Zagreus isn't one to walk slowly even at his most relaxed, let alone when he's impatient to get back to the part where Thanatos is kissing him. So he sets a brisk pace.]

That's perfectly all right, Than. Everyone begins somewhere. And I consider it an honor to be the one to introduce you to it all.

[It would be a surprise to many to find that the surly god of death in fact did have a sense of humour at all. Even his twin brother, the one who knew him best in all of creation, might be surprised to find it still existed. Maybe it's just that Zagreus brings it out in him, and it's so much easier to indulge such things here without the weight of his work and responsibility on his shoulders.

Despite Zagreus' quick steps it's easy enough to keep up with him. Thanatos' stride is far longer, after all, given he has a foot in height over the other god. He smiles faintly at the reassurance and squeezes his fingers around Zagreus' hand. Thanatos is not ignorant of how such things go, but when would he have ever had the time?

He's... excited, he thinks.]

There's no need to take it so seriously. [And he never thought a statement like that would come out of his mouth.] I just hope I don't... disappoint you.

[OPEN][May Catch-all]

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