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[weenwoon]

HYTHLODAEUS

---

OFFICE 413, BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT, AMAUROT
LEAVE MAIL ON HEAD

© EFRYNDIEL

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action // late september

[scension]

[Not too long after Operation Pants, Sagi also acquires pants. A hoodie and a messenger bag, too. The effect is undermined somewhat by the spiky vambraces staying on, but he didn't know where else to put them. There are... a lot of things he doesn't know at this point, that he wishes he did. Danger or no danger, wandering aimlessly outside only does so much to clear his head in this unrelenting rain.

Presently, he comes back to the Pokemon Centre to dry off, two of his Pokemon following alongside. The crowd isn't as pronounced right now as it will be later in the day, but it still rates a solid "bustling" out of 10.]

Wipe your feet, don't forget.

[Pawniard and Mudkip chitter and burble up at him from the doormat. They didn't forget! They're setting a good example to kids everywhere. Their little animal sounds fill the silence, which he appreciates, but...

A splash of colour interrupts his unusually internal train of thought, and he looks over with a start. He's been staying here all month, for lack of anywhere better to go. When did they get that ominous giant statue in the corner, and what the heck is it wearing?]

[weenwoon]

[What the gaudy statue is wearing... Is a sparkly pink-and-blue puffy-sleeved shirt with a ribbon, cuffs that are more like elbow gloves at this point, just-below-knee-length tights with a kind of sarong draped over one side and a sort of tutu over that. The whole effect would not be quite so much, though, if he did not also have a hood made of black, yet immensely sparkly fabric, button-fastened to the shirt's collar and draping into a kind of short cape over his back. The mask, once Sagi can see again after being blinded by the glitter, might look familiar, though.

Hythlo is standing in the corner, peacefully sipping on a cup of boba, apparently doing nothing much at the moment. His immobility, however, is interrupted as a familiar ghostly fella pops into the air next to him, weaving back and forth in some excitement. Hythlo stares at him for a moment, and then turns his head to see what Hades is trying to point at.]

Oh! Master Sagi!

[scension]

[The mask and the voice combined are what nails it down for Sagi. He smiles. It does nothing to make him look less babyfaced.] Mr. Hythlodaeus! I'm glad they could finish it.

[He assumes the sparkles mark this out as a Pokemon outfit, since he hasn't seen many of those in the non-cryptid stores. Beyond that, the outfit doesn't stick out much in his mind. Probably not very waterproof, but eh, his clothes aren't either. They'll be out of here soon. They have to be.

His Pokemon are less accustomed to this level of Fashion from anyone who isn't Sagi, particularly someone well over 2 metres tall. Mudkip takes one look up at the glittering tower to the heavens looming above him and starts backing away, extreme sequin-induced uncertainty in his beady little eyes. Pawniard quickly putters after him, trying to reassure him with a head pat. Shh, shh. They'll defeat this evil together.]

How are things today?

i cant call it a fanny pack bc youre british

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo doesn't notice the poor Mudkip being scared of him yet, so delighted he is to see Sagi. Hades, meanwhile, studies the two curiously, wondering if they would do as prank targets.

Hythlo himself raises his cup of boba in greeting.]

I found this. It is quite tasty!

[The choice of words isn't accidental, but Sagi is a game protagonist, as far as he's aware eating and drinking things you found in the sewers or suspect alleys is perfectly normal.

But bragging about his dumpster diving makes Hythlo remember something, apparently, and he raises a finger.]

Oh, just a moment.

[Another addition to his wardrobe is a makeshift waist bag: really nothing more than an amateurishly sewn bag on a simple belt of the same "fashionable" fabric, but still very useful. He roots around it for a bit, and then turns back with a handful of Pokedollars.]

My thanks again. I would not be able to wear something like this back home!

SO IS EVERYONE IN FFXIV

[scension]

Oh? [Sagi is a little too surprised to pocket the money right away, although he's hardly going to refuse.] Honestly, it was nothing. I think anyone would've -

[He stops and looks down, his attention finally drawn by a weak light glinting off of metal - Pawniard just noticed the Duskull sizing up the two of them and has stepped in front of Mudkip protectively, gesturing from her eyes to Hades' with one of her little claws. Mudkip, still distracted by the glitter, does not seem to understand why.]

What are you two doing? [Despite him making a show of looking exasperated, his tone is mild and obviously fond.] Come on, we're not looking for any more fights. [Back up at Hythlo:] Sorry, two of them can be a handful. I'm still getting used to it.

action // pre halloween its regain time baybey

[scension]

[Why would a pure-hearted boy like Sagi be found skulking in a Mango City alley in the middle of the day? It's kind of a long story, involving a magazine. Not the kind of story that would have been in such a magazine - he'd be horrified at the thought. He just happened to see it lying out on a park bench, decided instantly that this was not an object he should leave in the vicinity of any local free-roaming preschool kids, and went to find somewhere less visible to throw it away.

After flicking through it. With his gloves on, because he literally doesn't know where it's been. Look, anyone would be a little curious.

But when he disposes of the hazardous object and goes to close the dumpster like a responsible citizen, something inside lets out a meep of surprise and darts out from under the lid, landing unsteadily on a nearby trash bag. It's small, it's fuzzy, it's purple, it's kitten-shaped... it's an Espurr! A little crumpled snack bag appears to be stuck to the fur on its front. Sagi doesn't know the name, of course; he only knows that it seems to have frozen up and is now staring blankly at him, as if it has Seen Things.]

A Pokemon!

[As ever, he's his own running commentary at normal speaking volume. He does crouch down to talk to the Espurr itself, though. The poor thing looks frightened out of its mind.]

Were you stuck in there? I don't want to fight you or anything, it's okay.

[...It's still staring at him. Presently, a light breeze dislodges the snack bag and sends it drifting down the alleyway.]

LETS FUCKEN GOOOOO

[weenwoon]

[In another alley, not that far away from Sagi's, but a lot more respectable, Hythlodaeus is having An Episode after having, on instinct, given some money, one of the forest berries and an old boba straw to a toddler who had wandered up to him to share an incredibly somber revelation. He had no idea what to say in response, and by this point he'd learned that people here exchange items as easily as words, and that was pretty much all he'd had in his pocket at the time.

After the mysterious child waddles away, Hythlo leans back against the wall, and slowly slides into a crouch in thought. Change his perspective, and reality changes? He wonders if the child had somehow... known of his predicament. After all, was that not fairly close to what he's been trying to achieve?

Although, come to think of it, he has not been trying to change his perspective, simply hoping that if he wishes hard enough he would be able to see again. But the child is right, this is a different world, the flow of aether is nothing like that back home, and perhaps there is a different way to see here. One that Hythlo has not discovered yet...

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He has no idea why that would help at all, but it feels like the natural thing to do in the circumstances. Now... perhaps he could...

The feeling is like a shockwave hitting his entire body, and he suddenly loses his balance--very much like what he'd experienced back in the forest, and through the dizziness he manages to briefly wonder if there is another Hatenna around--but the consideration is quickly abandoned as another "wave" passes through him, leaving him in no condition to think. He groans, raises his hands to his head in vain hope that that would stop it spinning, eyes shut tightly to the point of lights dancing in front of the darkness of his internal vision.

In Sagi's alley, the strange catlike creature slowly turns its head in a slightly different direction, as though it's trying to stare at something through a wall. It's mouth slowly opens, growing into an "o"... and it begins emitting a quiet scream that starts barely audible and gradually grows in volume.]

[scension]

[When the sound is small and still timid, Sagi leans forward and cautiously offers a hand - see, he's no threat, he'll pet it if it wants.]

What's the matter, kitty? What's in the wall?

[The creature doesn't even seem to notice. The wall it's fixated on looks like nothing more or less than solid brick. And the noise coming out of its little rock cattish mouth just gets louder, and louder...]

Nothing? How does something this small have the lungs for... nnghh.

[It hits the point where Sagi can't handle it any longer. He isn't getting a migraine or anything, things aren't like that these days, especially not here - it's just that piercing and unpleasantly familiar a noise, it makes the hair stand up on the back of his neck. He claps his hands over his ringing ears and stumbles back, bumping up against the opposite wall.]

Aughh, would you shut up!

[All he wanted was to throw away some litter from the park... why do things like this happen to him...?]

[weenwoon]

[In his alley, Hythlo feels like he can't breathe: the strange pulsations feel like they beat in time with his heart, only on a much grander scale, throwing his internal rhythms into disarray. It's like his nerves short-circuit, no signals arriving properly anymore, and he just about has the time to wonder if he's waking up, going back to the burning Amaurot to claim his last seconds of consciousness before death.

And then, as suddenly as it came, the pressure disappears, leaving only a persistent ringing in Hythlo's ears. He falls to his knees, gasping for air, trying to blink the tears out of his eyes. He can't think of swearwords strong enough to express his reaction to all this, and he feels like he's about to throw up.

It's only his luck there wasn't anyone around for this, he thinks, standing up and wiping his mouth on a sleeve. Normally, he would worry about having made a mess on public property, but right now he could not give less of a shite. He needs a nap, or like ten.

He turns to unsteadily walk deeper into the alley, hoping to make a shortcut to the Center, one hand to the wall to support himself... and then stops, and blinks.

Again.

And again.

Then raises a hand to his face to take off his mask in disbelief, unsure if his eyes aren't playing tricks on him... but no, even with the mask off it's the same.

He turns his hand over in wonder, then raises his head to follow the faint silvery lines dancing in the air around him. It's weaker, so much weaker than what he's used to, but it's there and he has no idea how or why but it's there--

Laughter bubbles up within him, first quiet, then growing louder, until he runs out of breath and dissolves into half-hysterical giggling. This is becoming a running theme.

And luckily for Sagi, the Espurr stops screaming as suddenly as it started, turns away from the wall and directs its blank stare at Sagi again, somehow a lot more intense than before. It seems to be waiting for something... for all of five seconds before it leans back a bit and slams its head against Sagi's ankle, and looks up at him again, even more insistently despite its expression not changing. Possibly that was to get his attention? Who could tell.]

[scension]

Wh-

[Sagi unfolds again with a start. He doesn't fully realise the sound has stopped until the Espurr waddles over and headbutts him. But it has, leaving only the sounds of a bustling city and an echo in his head.

Wait, no. Another sound. Someone fairly nearby, someone no more than a street or two away, is laughing - or crying. A man? Without getting closer, he can't put a finger on it, but it feels like he should be able to. Now that he hears it, it might not be that far off from the direction the little cat was staring...

It's not unusual for animals to figure out that people need help before the people themselves, Sagi knows that. He exhales. He'd better take a look. If nothing else, he'd prefer this thing not to start screaming again.]

OK, you win. I'll see what I can do.

[He dusts himself off and glances from side to side. Over there, behind the Espurr, the alley turns a corner in roughly the right direction... That'll do. He'll just follow it around.]

action // II off his post halloween tl bc the post makes my phone choke

[scension]

(from here)

[Sagi is aware that nobody has seen Atsushi since that night, though he's only gone out searching in the course of doing other things. A certain Spearow flew through a window not long ago to scream and peck at him before eventually disappearing with a surprised-looking poof, and that was the only clue he ever turned up - disconcerting in context, but hard to extrapolate from.

While he didn't expect to find Hythlo in the middle of this shortcut through the grounds around the cordoned-off tower, Hythlo's unusually sombre air and the Sentret curled up in his hood are two and two he can put together, for once.

He watches from a short distance away as the stone marker forms itself out of nothing and lowers to the ground. He has yet to see Hythlo work his creation magicks like that at this point, but it doesn't seem like a good time to show confusion about it. Besides, anything goes, these days. Including, apparently, people he thought he could be friends with.

He walks over.]

Did you... find him?

[There is no body under the marker, of course - he saw. It just seems so... final, to place it there and pray. He doesn't like it.]

weh... sons

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo looks up at Sagi. He wasn't really expecting anyone to see him, but at the same time it would have been foolish of him to think no one would: this is a public place, after all, and many needed to bring their dead here.]

I have not... and I thank the stars for that. We may yet have hope.

[He raises a hand to brush his fingers against the tombstone.]

...A beacon for him to follow, in this life or the next.

[scension]

But you were... praying. Weren't you?

[Or that's what it looked like, as little as he understood those bizarre, borderline ominous sounds. If that was a prayer of hope, he sure doesn't understand how.]

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo gives him a curious look. This feels like some kind of cultural misunderstanding...]

Do you not pray for the safety of the living?

[scension]

Well... I guess we do.

[His gaze drifts back over to the stone, and the circle marking on it. It's so weirdly ornate.]

Just not in front of graves.

action; some time after child shenanigans and before past spilling

[selfconcept]

[ It's a typical day in Melona and Hien decided that he would stay indoors for the rest of the day after a trip to the grocery store. He bought snacks as always to share with the other two and this time, he bought some hair care products, hairties, brush, and a comb. Before he was called Hien, he had a very high interest in hair care to the point his friends jokes about him being in a relationship with his hair on Facebook, or whatever the equivalent is elsewhere. Thanks to that, he still remembers some things, even though he largely doesn't care about his own hair that much anymore.

Anyway, when Hythlo returned from wherever he went, Hien suggested that he fix his hair. Whether Hythlo agreed or not, they're both sitting on the bed, with Hien getting a brush and working through any tangles or knots if he has them. ]

How do you deal with long hair...?

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo is pretty enthusiastic about the hair care, actually - it feels nice and relaxing, it's always good to have Hien fussing over him, and it's a good bonding activity.]

I must needs admit it's been harder to take care of it since arriving here... particularly before I could find proper lodgings or clothing. I think I've accidentally broken more than one comb, as well.

[selfconcept]

You broke a...

[ He sounds like he's in disbelief. Honestly, yeah. He can see it. He has a spray bottle and spritzes some water on Hythlo's hair before attempting to brush through it more. ]

Have you tried tying it so that it tangles less?

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo raises a finger triumphantly.]

Ah! Rhel braided it for me once. She had truly adorable bows to go along with it, too. I think blue is rather my colour. Don't you agree?

[selfconcept]

Blue or gold.

[ He looks thoughtful for a moment. ]

... I take that back. Blue is more your color.

[ He keeps brushing Hythlo's hair and wonders. ]

What kind of hairstyle do you like anyway?

action; > Traumatize Hythlodaeus Route

[selfconcept]

[ aka fuck timelines

Hien came back from checking out things in the PokeMart, because sometimes Lemonade is sold out for whatever reason and that's just what he's in the mood to drink. Not to mention the pokedolls that sometimes captures his attention. Despite having several talks with Joss about the past and what happened that is relevant to Hythlo, Hien never talks about it, and has been treating him the same as ever. Nothing changed.

The first thing he says upon coming back: ]

I want to eat belgian waffles in that cafe place for breakfast one day.

[ And if there's anything Hythlo might have learned from all the days they slept in the same room, it's that Hien never gets up in the morning unless there's some sort of crisis or appointment that he has to attend. And when he DOES wake up somewhere around noon, it's always accompanied with a large amount of coffee.

This is why breakfast at the cafe is a distant dream. /s ]

WAITING FOR DECEMBER MEMORY REGAIN THREAD TO TRAUMATIZE HIEN INSTEAD >8T

[weenwoon]

[Hythlodaeus looks up from his reading and--can't help laughing at that sudden admission.]

Oh goodness. Shall I carry you there while you sleep? Mayhaps the smell of their coffee would wake you up before the waffles go cold!

he'll be fine!!!

[selfconcept]

I'm a heavy sleeper that even the smell of coffee cannot wake.

[ He shouldn't sound so proud about it, but his voice carries a certain tone to it that sounds similar. ]

But I'd like that. Maybe. It seems like a good place to invite someone, right?

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo narrows his eyes curiously. Oho, is that what he thinks that is?]

Oh?~ You've finally found someone you wish to take on a date? Do tell me everything, Hien!

[selfconcept]

No date.

[ Much to Hythlo's possible disappointment. ]

I was talking to Joscelaint, who was thinking about how to make it up to Sagi. So I told him to take Sagi to that place to eat.