He doesn't move or speak for a little while as the question turns over in his mind. Does it unsettle him? Not as much as it probably should. He dimly recalls his friend had unusual tastes - or rather, enjoyed novelty - in ways far more eclectic than Azem ever demonstrated (although sometimes the pair's interests aligned).
"No... It merely caught me off-guard," he eventually replies. "You have seen my truest form before, yet you still say you're fond of me despite that? Even when it reveals parts of me that I-- I'm ashamed of?"
He watches Hades from the corner of his eye as the man thinks, but soon enough it's Hythlodaeus's turn to ponder his own answer. He looks down at his glass again, then back up at Hades.
"... We've been close ever since we were children. After all that time, such things... no longer really matter to me. I know you, Hades, and I know that you are still you. Even if you may be ashamed of some aspects of yourself, they won't change how I feel about you."
His hand slowly slips off his face, leaving only his mouth hidden as he stares into his wine. He could probably count the number of times he has transformed since the Sundering on his hands, despite the long years. Even here. His transformations have been purely utilitarian yet rare, still. Doing so for no reason other than to...to show off? Well, if anyone would have the privilege of witnessing that it would be Hythlodaeus.
"...I can't freely change here. It seems it is only possible when I feel intense emotion. I hear there are ways to improve one's abilities - make them easier to access or use - but I don't trust such rumours."
"I... Maybe." He's quick to raise a finger before Hythlodaeus' face though. "I'm not saying I will necessarily take you to bed in that form, mind you! But-- this body feels stifling...at times..."
He gulps down another mouthful of wine and grimaces when the alcohol hits too fast.
"If you'd rather not then I-- I understand. I'm only using you to stave off my own loneliness after all..."
It doesn't take long for Hythlodaeus to regain his usual cheer at this news. He grins, wrapping an arm around Hades's shoulders and leaning against him more.
"Oh, I cannot believe you would still feel lonely when I am here!~ Mayhap I have been remiss in bothering you enough?"
He takes another draught of his wine and sets the empty glass down.
"... 'Tis not merely bedding you that I want, Hades. I would simply... like to see you as you truly are."
... Well, now that the serious matters have been largely settled, Hythlodaeus feels free to go back to being his cheery, somewhat annoying self. He reaches for the bottle to pour them another couple of glasses.
"For someone with such plans, you certainly were flustered at seeing that... outfit at the leatherworker's."
"In passing, when I had cause to visit houses of pleasure," he mumbles. A glare immediately follows. "I wasn't there for their services, before you ask."
"And here I thought I would get to see what you have learned over the years," Hythlodaeus sighs dramatically. Then he shoots Hades yet another smug look that says he is fully aware of how bratty he is being. "Although your usual shyness is very charming, too."
"I'm not some shrinking violet any more." Almost right after he says that, he realises the implication and hastily adds: "I mean that I'm not shy. I never have been. I don't know where you got that impression from."
Despite his earlier teasing, Hythlodaeus can't help flushing at that kiss. Even from his point of view, it's been a while since they were last intimate with each other.
"Well... does it not make sense, then, that I would test your- progress, shall we say, by seeing how you respond in public?"
Even as he says that, his free hand finds Hades's to intertwine their fingers.
The alcohol has finally loosened him up more. He closes his eyes briefly.
"I don't enjoy public indecency, Hythlodaeus, and I'd rather you didn't give others the wrong impression about our relationship. These mortals do not understand agape."
"There are all sorts of visitors to the taverns," Hythlodaeus remarks at that first part - and it's true, including couples who think nothing of being overly... affectionate in public.
But what Hades says about their own relationship makes Hythlodaeus's chest feel warm. Agape... It really is the best expression of what they are to each other.
But he wouldn't be Hythlodaeus if he didn't still tease Hades over it.
"You love me~"
Crooned in that sing-song voice of his that he uses when he knows he's being a little shite.
"Oh, shut up," he grumbles. There's no point denying it: he does love Hythlodaeus in his own way. It may not be a romantic love, but there's no other way to describe how his heart ached when they parted, and the way it soared when they were reunited.
"Now are you going to keep teasing me or do I have to kiss you until you stop speaking?"
Seemingly nonchalantly, he tightens his hold on Hades's waist slightly, fingers subtly probing at his clothes. The aforementioned teasing, one might assume.
"Well, you could always take matters into your hands, like you said. Or..."
Hythlodaeus turns his head to keep - very smug - eye contact with his friend.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2026-03-15 04:15 am (UTC)"Well, I would never have expected you to agree... 'twas only an idle fantasy."
He steals a glance at his friend.
"... does it unsettle you?"
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Date: 2026-03-15 05:05 am (UTC)"No... It merely caught me off-guard," he eventually replies. "You have seen my truest form before, yet you still say you're fond of me despite that? Even when it reveals parts of me that I-- I'm ashamed of?"
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Date: 2026-03-15 07:56 am (UTC)"... We've been close ever since we were children. After all that time, such things... no longer really matter to me. I know you, Hades, and I know that you are still you. Even if you may be ashamed of some aspects of yourself, they won't change how I feel about you."
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Date: 2026-03-15 02:13 pm (UTC)"...I can't freely change here. It seems it is only possible when I feel intense emotion. I hear there are ways to improve one's abilities - make them easier to access or use - but I don't trust such rumours."
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Date: 2026-03-15 02:44 pm (UTC)"... You mean you would be amenable to it?"
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Date: 2026-03-16 01:15 pm (UTC)He gulps down another mouthful of wine and grimaces when the alcohol hits too fast.
"If you'd rather not then I-- I understand. I'm only using you to stave off my own loneliness after all..."
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Date: 2026-03-17 04:55 am (UTC)"Oh, I cannot believe you would still feel lonely when I am here!~ Mayhap I have been remiss in bothering you enough?"
He takes another draught of his wine and sets the empty glass down.
"... 'Tis not merely bedding you that I want, Hades. I would simply... like to see you as you truly are."
no subject
Date: 2026-03-17 07:21 am (UTC)"Well, save that for when we move into a larger place. I'm not trying it here. Although... Although I would still like to spend the night with you."
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Date: 2026-03-17 12:33 pm (UTC)"For someone with such plans, you certainly were flustered at seeing that... outfit at the leatherworker's."
Said as he hands Hades his glass with a smirk.
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Date: 2026-03-19 10:23 am (UTC)"May I remind you that I have lived a fair while longer than you by now? I've seen my share of-- of lewd costuming."
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Date: 2026-03-19 12:45 pm (UTC)Hythlodaeus's grin says it all: he mostly wants to fluster Hades, but a part of him is curious about his... adventures in the mortal world.
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Date: 2026-03-20 03:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-21 07:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-22 05:48 am (UTC)"I'm not some shrinking violet any more." Almost right after he says that, he realises the implication and hastily adds: "I mean that I'm not shy. I never have been. I don't know where you got that impression from."
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Date: 2026-03-22 09:15 am (UTC)That elbow jab doesn't deter him in the slightest.
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Date: 2026-03-23 02:02 pm (UTC)Shifting more upright, he plants a decisive kiss against Hythlodaeus' cheek.
"I thought you already knew I respond better when we're alone."
no subject
Date: 2026-03-26 02:52 pm (UTC)"Well... does it not make sense, then, that I would test your- progress, shall we say, by seeing how you respond in public?"
Even as he says that, his free hand finds Hades's to intertwine their fingers.
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Date: 2026-03-29 02:07 am (UTC)"You know, I hear that some depraved few enjoy the thrill of being caught in public. I didn't realise that you were one of them."
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Date: 2026-03-29 02:17 pm (UTC)"Now, I did not say that! And anyroad, that was far tamer than what I have seen some other couples do in public."
(Are they a couple now? We just don't know.)
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Date: 2026-03-29 02:36 pm (UTC)The alcohol has finally loosened him up more. He closes his eyes briefly.
"I don't enjoy public indecency, Hythlodaeus, and I'd rather you didn't give others the wrong impression about our relationship. These mortals do not understand agape."
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Date: 2026-03-31 03:24 pm (UTC)But what Hades says about their own relationship makes Hythlodaeus's chest feel warm. Agape... It really is the best expression of what they are to each other.
But he wouldn't be Hythlodaeus if he didn't still tease Hades over it.
"You love me~"
Crooned in that sing-song voice of his that he uses when he knows he's being a little shite.
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Date: 2026-04-01 07:15 am (UTC)"Oh, shut up," he grumbles. There's no point denying it: he does love Hythlodaeus in his own way. It may not be a romantic love, but there's no other way to describe how his heart ached when they parted, and the way it soared when they were reunited.
"Now are you going to keep teasing me or do I have to kiss you until you stop speaking?"
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Date: 2026-04-01 01:36 pm (UTC)"Hmmm, I wonder~ Don't you secretly enjoy being teased?"
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Date: 2026-04-03 12:27 am (UTC)He frowns. Almost petulantly.
"Tease for too long and it can become torturous."
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Date: 2026-04-03 02:10 pm (UTC)Seemingly nonchalantly, he tightens his hold on Hades's waist slightly, fingers subtly probing at his clothes. The aforementioned teasing, one might assume.
"Well, you could always take matters into your hands, like you said. Or..."
Hythlodaeus turns his head to keep - very smug - eye contact with his friend.
"Is it that you want me to take the lead?"
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