weenwoon | Escordvi Inbox

"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."

From:

emet_sulk

Hades freezes like a man caught in a catoblepas' eye. He's not unfamiliar with the concept of self-photography, it's just...

Awkwardly, he raises the octopus. Tries to smile (it's stiff).

From:

weenwoon

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.)

From:

emet_sulk

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."

From:

weenwoon

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."

From:

emet_sulk

"It won't be natural if I know you're watching," he grumbles.

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."

From:

weenwoon

'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.

From:

emet_sulk

Now he does look faintly embarrassed. As Hythlodaeus knows, Hades is not usually one for proactive gestures.

"...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.

From:

weenwoon

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.

From:

emet_sulk

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?"

From:

weenwoon

"Those?" Hythlodaeus asks, equally distracted by the merchandise he's inspecting. He looks towards where his friend points, and... ah. Well. Hm.

There are probably good, graceful ways to handle this. But what Hythlodaeus does is raise a hand to cover Hades's eyes, as one would a child's.

"Oh, nothing you need concern yourself with. Come now, we came here for something else, remember?"

From:

emet_sulk

He pushes Hythlodaeus' hand down with a frown. "What? Are you suggesting you know what they are? How could you possibly know something I don't?"

He sounds terribly offended by this lack of knowledge.

From:

weenwoon

"Well, I already know how to play more musical instruments than you," Hythlodaeus retorts smugly.

"But in this instance... Let us just say that the taverns I perform at have, mm, all sorts of visitors."

From:

emet_sulk

He stares at Hythlodaeus. His mind is clearly ticking over. At the tavern, he says--

His cheeks abruptly go red.

"I... I see." He turns away, crossing his arms tightly. "And how, pray tell, did you even recognise them as such? Did you...?"

From:

weenwoon

Hythlodaeus isn't sure if he's glad that Hades caught on so quickly, but the reaction is still as endearingly shy as he'd expected.

"Oh, no. But some of the regulars work in... that field. I hear very curious stories from them!"

He grins his most shite-eating grin and nudges Hades with an elbow.

"Why, are you jealous?~"

From:

emet_sulk

"No!" he snaps back - and he's not. Hythlodaeus can take whoever he likes to bed. He and his friend had their time together.

Unfortunately(?) his raised voice draws the attention of the shopkeep, who is finally done with their previous customer. They approach with a smile, asking how they might help the pair whilst their eyes dart uncertainly towards Hades.

From:

weenwoon

"Ah, greetings. We wanted to pick out a bag for my friend," Hythlodaeus explains to the shopkeep with a smile, gesturing briefly towards Hades. Hopefully, his own cheery air will make up for Hades's snapping.

After hearing the requirements, the shopkeep nods and selects three bags that broadly fit the colour scheme, though they differ in design and size. Hythlodaeus thanks them and picks up one of the bags to examine it: it's on the smaller side, but his eye is drawn by the brass buckles and subtle ornamentation along the edges.

"Mm... I suppose I should have asked what you usually carry in your bag."

From:

emet_sulk

Hades falls silent to allow Hythlodaeus to take the lead. The shopkeep does not deserve his ire. Once they're left with their recommendations, he pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs quietly. The bags get a cursory look.

"My current bag is larger on the inside, as I said. I carry my tools and a small selection of crystals," he says. "'Tis useful on expeditions. That's why I told you that I don't need another."

From:

weenwoon

"But you will need to carry the doll as well now, yes?" Hythlodaeus's tone is a little teasing: he knows full well that Hades would just protest that he has no intentions to carry the doll around, but also knows that his friend wouldn't refuse him.

Still... as fun as that sounds, Hythlodaeus is coming to realize that he does want to give Hades a gift he would actually carry with him. They are not always together. After those millennia of solitude a reminder of Hythlodaeus's presence could hold much significance to his friend.

"But... if you truly have no interest in a bag..." Hythlodaeus goes on thoughtfully, reaching out to pick up the journal he'd spotted earlier. "I thought this might be a good fit. To keep track of your work or record results."

From:

emet_sulk

He takes the diary and gazes at it pensively. Yes... Yes, a diary would be ideal. He's already gone through plenty up to this point. And he's sure he will fill in even more with Hythlodaeus dragging him on exploits.

A tangible record - and proof - of their existence.

"I could accept this," he concedes. He raises an eyebrow at his friend though. "I half expected you to decorate it with flowers or something equally lurid."

From:

weenwoon

Happy to find something suitable, Hythlodaeus breaks out into another grin.

"Oh, 'twould be rude of me to do that before we buy it. But thank you for the idea, Hades - I will be sure to!"

He calls the shopkeep over again, explaining that he changed his mind and would like to take the diary instead. As they chat, there is probably enough time for Hades to decide if he wants to get something for Hythlodaeus himself, too.

From:

emet_sulk

It had always been his intention to get Hythlodaeus something for the season. He casts his eyes about now while his friend chats up the shopkeeper. What would Hythlodaeus most appreciate...?

Well, Hades may not need a bag, but surely his friend does? And he can see a wider variety of them on the shelf, in patterns that he would not choose for himself in a million years. So he wanders over and eventually finds one that has embossing and stitched patterns of flowers on the flap and body.

"Would you like a bag for yourself instead?" he asks upon returning, holding it up for inspection.

From:

weenwoon

"Hm?" Hythlodaeus is momentarily distracted as he finishes speaking to the shopkeep - turns out they've heard some of his performances! - but his eyes immediately light up once he realizes this is a gift for him.

"Why, certainly!" He takes the bag eagerly, running his fingers over the patterns... and then gives Hades a sly look.

"You know, for one who claims to dislike such exuberance, you certainly have an eye for beauty."

Perhaps he'll have to decorate Hades's journal with matching flower motifs. Yes, that would be a good idea indeed.

From:

emet_sulk

He looks aside and crosses his arms.

"'Twas all the time spent amongst the people," he mumbles. "And I never said I did not appreciate the arts."

Well, he may have developed a fondness for theatre since ancient times, but...

(Thankfully he has no idea of Hythlodaeus' plans for his journal.)

From:

weenwoon

Hythlodaeus smiles at his friend's characteristically understated response.

"I do really like it. Thank you, Hades."

After the shopkeeper wraps up their purchases - although Hythlodaeus insists on wearing his bag immediately, attaching his terrible Lafroufrou to it - he turns to Hades with another smile.

"Where to now? I believe you said you had some particular plans?"

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