[You are greeted with the sound of randomly disrupted static, at the end of which three melodic beeping signals are heard. Yep, that's your cue to leave a message!]
[There's a few moment of thoughtful silence from him, and then he answers.]
... I do, in fact. Slowly, I have been coming to think of myself more as Hythlodaeus.
[He sighs, as though he's about to admit something shameful.]
In the past week or so... I've taken to rewatching my memories. I do not feel brave enough to take new ones, and I could not stand being in the present for long... so I tried to lose myself in the past. It only made me feel all the more lonely and miserable, but there was something else that eventually came to me.
Right now, I may not be Hythlodaeus as he was back then... But he, too, did not stay unchanging forever. My friendship with you - with 'Hades' - changed me, even back then. As did becoming close with Azem. And I thought once again about what I told Cosmo soon after my arrival - that 'Levity' is simply Hythlodaeus without his memories. And about how you told me that I tried to become 'Hythlodaeus' too quickly, like he was a state for me to achieve. And after talking to Lily and Serenity and others... I came to realize that I am not a different version of Hythlodaeus. I am him and he is me.
[Except, well, he is a different version, but he'll metaphorically cross that bridge when he gets to it. Finding a way to stabilize his identity is hard enough already without adding nuance to it.]
... So that's why I say that you, too, are Hades. You are not how you were all those years ago, that is true. But at the same time... The man who became Emet-Selch instead of me was also not the boy I played with when we were children. But they were both Hades to me. And so you are, too.
[He is very proud. So proud in fact that he kisses the top of his head.]
I'm glad. That you found your answer. Had others to listen to. Listened to yourself. I only hope it come easier from here on out as you continue to discover yourself.
Levity smiles though, inclining his head into the kiss.]
I hope so too. But... if we did not speak today like this, I don't think I would have allowed myself to realize it. So... thank you. I feel like I can finally be with you again... my old friend.
I truly don't believe you haven't found at least one person on your unit to bully. But yes, I did agree to that. And my word I will not back down from.
You do get the 'thrilling joy' of reliving the moment when they are your own, it is true.
Very well. If you have any specific flavors of memories or certain times that you would like to see, do speak up. Else you are at the whim of my own selection.
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Re: Day 401
... I do, in fact. Slowly, I have been coming to think of myself more as Hythlodaeus.
[He sighs, as though he's about to admit something shameful.]
In the past week or so... I've taken to rewatching my memories. I do not feel brave enough to take new ones, and I could not stand being in the present for long... so I tried to lose myself in the past. It only made me feel all the more lonely and miserable, but there was something else that eventually came to me.
Right now, I may not be Hythlodaeus as he was back then... But he, too, did not stay unchanging forever. My friendship with you - with 'Hades' - changed me, even back then. As did becoming close with Azem. And I thought once again about what I told Cosmo soon after my arrival - that 'Levity' is simply Hythlodaeus without his memories. And about how you told me that I tried to become 'Hythlodaeus' too quickly, like he was a state for me to achieve. And after talking to Lily and Serenity and others... I came to realize that I am not a different version of Hythlodaeus. I am him and he is me.
[Except, well, he is a different version, but he'll metaphorically cross that bridge when he gets to it. Finding a way to stabilize his identity is hard enough already without adding nuance to it.]
... So that's why I say that you, too, are Hades. You are not how you were all those years ago, that is true. But at the same time... The man who became Emet-Selch instead of me was also not the boy I played with when we were children. But they were both Hades to me. And so you are, too.
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[He listens, slowly and carefully, taking time to mull over the words before he speaks.]
And you have found comfort in that?
Re: Day 401
I have. Everything... makes a lot more sense like that.
[he's coping! aren't you proud of him!]
Re: Day 401
I'm glad. That you found your answer. Had others to listen to. Listened to yourself. I only hope it come easier from here on out as you continue to discover yourself.
Re: Day 401
Levity smiles though, inclining his head into the kiss.]
I hope so too. But... if we did not speak today like this, I don't think I would have allowed myself to realize it. So... thank you. I feel like I can finally be with you again... my old friend.
Re: Day 401
Give yourself some time, Levity. You need not solve the world's problems in a day.
Re: Day 401
[...]
But to solve any of them, I need to solve a problem a day, perhaps. But there are so many of them I never know where to start.
[He closes his eyes, resting his head against Emet's shoulder.]
I missed you.
Re: Day 401
I know, but it will be alright.
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[He's teasing.]
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Well, this is one matter I don't want to prove you wrong on.
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[He laughs as well and simply holds Levity against his side, resting his head against his.]
Relax. Let some of the worries go. We don't need all the answers right now.
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Levity smiles, closing his eyes and finally letting himself relax. At last, he does feel like he... belongs, perhaps.]
Alright. I do hope we will find them eventually, but...
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[Instead of the mystery of "how do we solve the Final Days, preferably without selling our souls and/or brainwashing"]
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[Time travel is his answer to that! Well except for the Zodiark piece. His a good shaped friend.]
Re: Day 401
Is that an attempt to dissuade me from spending my energies on you? Here I thought you'd volunteered to be bullied by me.
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Besides, haven't I got a lot of catching up to do with you?
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Very well. If you have any specific flavors of memories or certain times that you would like to see, do speak up. Else you are at the whim of my own selection.
Re: Day 401
My. Is that meant to be a threat?
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