Of course it encourages Hythlodaeus. He lights up even more, because to him the "no" means "yes".
"But it's delightful! Oh, maybe we can find one for you too!"
He turns around, inspecting more of the cursed dolls, until - aha, there is one! He holds up another doll, beaming. This one is themed after an octopus - but still glittered up with crystals for the festival.
"I knew you would like it! I'll take these two," he turns to the shopkeeper with a smile, reaching for his coin pouch. Look, he's paying for things like a responsible adult!
"I have seen people attach these to their clothing," Hythlodaeus muses once the purchase is complete. He holds up both dolls to Hades, seemingly choosing somewhere to hang them on.
Aaaand he's bought them already. Hades sighs quietly to himself, resigned to having to look at the disturbing thing regularly now. He reaches out to take the octopus, looking it over.
"How impractical. It would be better off attached to a bag. I don't want such a bulky thing impeding my movement."
"That is a much too utilitarian view. Come now, Hades, you've walked along mortals much longer than me. Surely you know the merits of expressing your personality through attire and accessories?"
"For someone who has only been living outside of Amaurot for a few moons, you've already quite taken to this mortal way of living, hmm?" He crosses his arms. "Well, it's because I have lived so long amongst them that I can tell you 'tis a waste of coin. I do not need a second bag."
"Do you really think I would be so careless with it?" He reaches up and pokes Hythlodaeus on the forehead. "If you insist on a bag as well then know I won't use it unless it suits my tastes."
He glances aside as he thinks about this. Black is certainly a dependable colour. Simple, goes with anything. But he can't deny that living for so long amidst mortals has given him a taste for a little something more.
Still... He does not want anything terribly flashy. Utility is most certainly his chief concern.
"Black, yes... Natural colours are acceptable as well. Nothing which catches the eye needlessly."
Hythlodaeus takes a step back to look his friend over. With how his appearance has changed, maybe he can pick out a colour to complement it... White would be too impractical for Hades's tastes, pale gold - to match the eyes - wouldn't work with an item as big as a bag... some shade of brown?..
It still makes him feel uncomfortable. As Hythlodaeus knows, he isn't very self-indulgent. Anything he owns is either practical or given to him by others.
"We'll take that as the starting point, then. Who knows, we may even find a bag you will really love!"
Cheery as ever.
"Oh, but first..." Hythlodaeus stops to fish out his shellphone out of pocket and then steps closer to Hades, standing shoulder to shoulder with him and holding out the shellphone at arm's length.
"We should take a picture with our trophies so far! Hold your dolls up, Hades."
Hythlodaeus puts an arm around Hades's shoulder, holding up his own cursed Lafroufrou and beaming at the camera. In contrast to his friend's, his smile is extremely natural.
"Hmhm~ Let's see..."
He inspects the resultant picture, nods in satisfaction, and shows the screen to Hades.
"Not bad. You needn't be so shy, Hades!"
(The picture is extremely silly. On top of the discrepancy between their expressions, they're wearing narwhal hats and the dolls look very silly on two grown men. And yet it's entirely in Hythlodaeus's character.)
He gazes at the picture on the screen. Silently reaches out to take the phone to better look it over. Although Hythlodaeus has taken quite readily to the new technology, it's just hitting him now that there is tangible proof his friend is here, alive, and by his side.
He swallows past the sudden lump in his throat. Taps a few buttons to send himself a copy of the image before handing the shellphone back to Hythlodaeus.
"I'm not shy," he says quietly. "I just find such posing silly. Take as many pictures as you like."
Hythlodaeus can tell that there a subtle change in Hades's mood - not for the worst, but he does seem more subdued now. Well, of course, for him that's just the signal to keep being silly, in hopes of keeping his friend's spirits up.
"As many as I like? I'll remember that~"
He turns on the shellphone's camera again.
"Shall we give it another try? You needn't pose this time, simply do what comes naturally. I'd like to capture your innate charm."
'Take pictures while Hades is distracted', got it.
Hythlodaeus similarly attaches his Lafroufrou to a breast pocket - the corsair style of clothing allows for more roguish belts and buckles that work perfectly for this kind of thing.
"Oh?~ What kind of plans?"
He perks up at that news - it's rare for Hades to be proactive with spending time together... that is, spending time together that isn't simply being in each other's presence.
Well, that sounds intriguing, and Hythlodaeus wonders what it might be that warrants a private discussion. Then again, Hades doesn't like expressing anything much in public. But at the same time, him saying "if you are amenable"... Hmm.
Hythlodaeus nods in agreement and follows his friend to the stall, giving the seller a friendly wave. It looks like they are selling all manner of goods made of leather: bags of various sizes, but also holsters and belts, journal covers and even accessories... including some, hm, unusual-looking harnesses in the back of the stall.
"Do you see anything you like?" He asks, but his own eye is drawn to one of the leather-bound journals. It looks like it would make for a fine gift too, and particularly one that Hades would use.
The stall gets a fair bit of attention from Hades. He gently runs his fingers over the leather, inspecting the craftsmanship and quality with a critical eye. Were the stallholder not busy chatting up another customer at the moment, he would have occupied their attention himself. He notes a few items to enquire about later before his eyes catch sight of what's hanging on the back wall.
Hades is distracted, frowning at the unusual harnesses at the back, when Hythlodaeus prompts him. Without turning, he hums and gestures.
"Mm, there are some decent items here. But what are those?"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 02:56 pm (UTC)"But it's delightful! Oh, maybe we can find one for you too!"
He turns around, inspecting more of the cursed dolls, until - aha, there is one! He holds up another doll, beaming. This one is themed after an octopus - but still glittered up with crystals for the festival.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 03:12 pm (UTC)"Well... That one is a mite more acceptable. I suppose," he concedes.
Please, he just doesn't want the Lafroufrou.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 03:25 pm (UTC)"I knew you would like it! I'll take these two," he turns to the shopkeeper with a smile, reaching for his coin pouch. Look, he's paying for things like a responsible adult!
"I have seen people attach these to their clothing," Hythlodaeus muses once the purchase is complete. He holds up both dolls to Hades, seemingly choosing somewhere to hang them on.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 03:51 pm (UTC)"How impractical. It would be better off attached to a bag. I don't want such a bulky thing impeding my movement."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-08 05:34 am (UTC)"Is that so? What kind of bag would you like, then?"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-08 02:39 pm (UTC)He gives Hythlodaeus a pointed look. He's wise to you, friend!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-08 04:22 pm (UTC)You are not getting out of this, friend.
I FELL ASLEEP
Date: 2026-01-09 12:10 am (UTC)it's okay <3
Date: 2026-01-09 11:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 02:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 04:03 pm (UTC)"And what are your tastes these days? Before, I would have expected it to be of simple design, in black, but you do wear more colour now."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 02:11 pm (UTC)He glances aside as he thinks about this. Black is certainly a dependable colour. Simple, goes with anything. But he can't deny that living for so long amidst mortals has given him a taste for a little something more.
Still... He does not want anything terribly flashy. Utility is most certainly his chief concern.
"Black, yes... Natural colours are acceptable as well. Nothing which catches the eye needlessly."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 02:58 pm (UTC)Hythlodaeus takes a step back to look his friend over. With how his appearance has changed, maybe he can pick out a colour to complement it... White would be too impractical for Hades's tastes, pale gold - to match the eyes - wouldn't work with an item as big as a bag... some shade of brown?..
"How do you feel about maroon?"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 03:13 pm (UTC)It still makes him feel uncomfortable. As Hythlodaeus knows, he isn't very self-indulgent. Anything he owns is either practical or given to him by others.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 03:25 pm (UTC)Cheery as ever.
"Oh, but first..." Hythlodaeus stops to fish out his shellphone out of pocket and then steps closer to Hades, standing shoulder to shoulder with him and holding out the shellphone at arm's length.
"We should take a picture with our trophies so far! Hold your dolls up, Hades."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 03:50 pm (UTC)Awkwardly, he raises the octopus. Tries to smile (it's stiff).
no subject
Date: 2026-01-12 05:25 am (UTC)"Hmhm~ Let's see..."
He inspects the resultant picture, nods in satisfaction, and shows the screen to Hades.
"Not bad. You needn't be so shy, Hades!"
(The picture is extremely silly. On top of the discrepancy between their expressions, they're wearing narwhal hats and the dolls look very silly on two grown men. And yet it's entirely in Hythlodaeus's character.)
no subject
Date: 2026-01-12 02:59 pm (UTC)He swallows past the sudden lump in his throat. Taps a few buttons to send himself a copy of the image before handing the shellphone back to Hythlodaeus.
"I'm not shy," he says quietly. "I just find such posing silly. Take as many pictures as you like."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-12 03:25 pm (UTC)"As many as I like? I'll remember that~"
He turns on the shellphone's camera again.
"Shall we give it another try? You needn't pose this time, simply do what comes naturally. I'd like to capture your innate charm."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 12:59 pm (UTC)He fiddles with the octopus then decides to attach it to his belt for now.
"Let's look for that bag. I have plans yet for tonight, if...if you're amenable."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 01:05 pm (UTC)Hythlodaeus similarly attaches his Lafroufrou to a breast pocket - the corsair style of clothing allows for more roguish belts and buckles that work perfectly for this kind of thing.
"Oh?~ What kind of plans?"
He perks up at that news - it's rare for Hades to be proactive with spending time together... that is, spending time together that isn't simply being in each other's presence.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 02:05 pm (UTC)"...I'll tell you later," he says eventually. "When we're not in public."
He starts wandering towards a stall which looks to be selling a variety of bags, expecting Hythlodaeus to follow.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 02:45 pm (UTC)Hythlodaeus nods in agreement and follows his friend to the stall, giving the seller a friendly wave. It looks like they are selling all manner of goods made of leather: bags of various sizes, but also holsters and belts, journal covers and even accessories... including some, hm, unusual-looking harnesses in the back of the stall.
"Do you see anything you like?" He asks, but his own eye is drawn to one of the leather-bound journals. It looks like it would make for a fine gift too, and particularly one that Hades would use.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 04:43 pm (UTC)Hades is distracted, frowning at the unusual harnesses at the back, when Hythlodaeus prompts him. Without turning, he hums and gestures.
"Mm, there are some decent items here. But what are those?"