seasonsrpg | Quest/General Catchall Jan-Mar

Of course.

[He tugs E'kayan upwards with one arm, tail working to quickly push them up and to the surface. As they reach the shore he hauls E'kayan up first, before pulling himself onto land. The sun on his scales is quite a pretty sight, as he waits for his tail to shrink and dry. Slowly, he'll become more of his usual self- the whites of his eyes return, the fangs disappear, and all that's left when all is said and done is Hythlodaeus- in not a stitch of clothing, no less, but there's nothing he can do about that and he's learned not to care much. Especially when he can just create more robes and get dressed when he can stand.]

How are you feeling now? I confess, my legs will not be carrying me far for a while.

[Good thing he can teleport home...]

[He does try to help, kicking here and there, but he's exhausted after being zapped to within an inch of his life by his own aether and by the time they're half way to the surface he's more or less letting Hythlodaeus do all the work.

On shore he crawls up a little away from the water and then flops down on his stomach, laying there for several minutes before slowly rolling over onto his back.]

That was terrible. Let's never do it again. [He says, his voice a soft, slightly dry croak before he clears his throat.

E'kayan sits up, glances over at his companion, and–]

Oh, gods— [—immediately covers his eyes with a small squeak of embarrassment.]

Hythlodaeus.

[Hythlodaeus laughs and shrugs. He's long since gotten used to the indignity of having no clothing immediately after his legs return.]

Forgive me. I should have warned you.

[He stands, wobbles, but forces himself to dress in the robes he conjures up. Then he sits back down, groaning.]

Perhaps Emet-Selch would assist us...

[It's easy to want to turn to his lover when he feels so completely exhausted... he knows he would complain, but if nothing else they'd be in good hands.]

[That's going to be a sight burned into his brain for a while. Goodness.

He doesn't peek until Hythlodaeus is clothed and then peels his own shirt off to wring the water out of it. Creation magic feels like it would be incredibly handy right about now.]

Hades would lecture us both, and then hang me upside down for electrocuting us. And I'd deserve it!

[His eyes go a little wide as he looks out at the water.]

What in the name of the Twelve was I thinking? [And then, to Hythlodaeus, playfully accusatory.] And you let me do it!

I'd take a lecture from Hades if it meant getting home in one piece! Ah, but I suppose I am more used to them than you are.

[He chuckles, which turns into a laugh when E'kayan goes on to accuse Hythlodaeus playfully of going along with his scheme.]

Of course I went along with it. You surely didn't mistake me for the responsible kind, did you?

[This is the man who casually retrieved Ifrita from the restricted section of the Bureau for Azem, knowing he was about to rush headlong into danger. Of course he'd let E'kayan electrocute them.]

[He is relatively sure he could weather a scolding from Hades but that doesn't mean that he wants one! Still, with Hythlodaeus there to serve as a buffer...

E'kayan shakes his head quickly. No, no, what is he thinking. Clearly the electricity fried too many of his brain cells. He flops onto his back and spreads his arms and legs slightly, his pupils narrowing to slits as he looks up at the sky.]

I could never mistake you as the responsible kind, Hythlodaeus. [He looks over at his friend with a grin.] I wouldn't dream of insulting you like that.

[Then his nose scrunches, and he laughs, and his ears wiggle slightly in a display of good humour.]

My stuff should be... somewhere. I left it with my chocobo. You don't see a large black bird standing around anywhere nearby, do you?

Full glad am I to hear it!

[Hythlodaeus giggles before looking around for the chocobo and pointing to it.]

It's over there. Could you call it to your side?

[He certainly isn't getting up and chasing after it, he can't muster the energy.]

Ugh—... yes, hang on.

[He has to pull himself back into a sitting position, but he lets out a sharp whistle to get the creature's attention and soon enough the sound of chocobo feet thudding along is more than audible from where they are sitting.

And he doesn't really want to get up but after a little grumbling does so, retrieving water and some snacks from one of the bags attached to the saddle. The former, he offers to Hythlodaeus first.]

Not needing any equipment to go that deep is useful... but I do keep finding myself in predicaments.

[Hythlodaeus takes the water and sips on it gratefully- he isn't in any danger of drying out since he was just underwater, but his current mer-form does need more water than he used to need, and he'll take it if it's offered. He leaves plenty for E'kayan, though.]

Thank you.

[He hands it back, and sighs.]

Is that what we're calling it now? A predicament?

[Chuckling, he lies back on the ground. Ugh.]

I mean--

[He sits back down with a little 'uff' sound and two apples. After a moment of consideration and a mouthful of water he lies back down as well, the side of his head lightly touching Hythlodaeus' arm.]

I've fought dragons, primals, primals we thought were gods, ascians, ancients and extradimensional beings. I've travelled back in time over twelve thousand years and I defeated a literal embodiment of despair trying to destroy the entire universe. And I had to fight four different interations of Hermes because he wouldn't stay down.

[That last one is important. He lazily lifts a hand to rub his nose.]

My judgement of dangerous situations might be a bit off.

Hermes can be quite stubborn when he puts his mind to it, aye.

[Something that apparently never changed twelve thousand years and an entire sundering later. It warms his heart somewhat.]

Very well, I suppose you have a point. Electrocuting yourself and your friend whilst fighting a giant moray underwater does pale in comparison.

[A soft snort.]

You know something, though..?

[He props a hand under his head.]

All those almost unbelievable enemies, and some random beast I come across in the middle of a forest can still get the jump on me. How does that make any sense.

[Then he twists slightly so he can look up at the other man, a little frown pinching his brow.]

Hey, can I ask you something?

It is interesting, but I cannot claim to know how your mind works. Nor can anyone, I suspect- least of all you.

[He grins, though it fades slightly when E'kayan frowns up at him.]

Oh? By all means. I am an open book!

[He does smile a little before he answers. It isn't terribly important but he has wondered, and never really had an opportunity to ask.]

Am I... am I like Azem? At all?

[Oh, he knows they are different people. He knows all they share is a fragment of a soul, and yet... He can't help but wonder if Azem would have done similar things to himself; made similar choices.]

It's— it's fine, if you say no. I just... wonder, sometimes. If we're alike.

[Hythlodaeus thinks on that for a moment.]

You are your own person, but... yes, you are somewhat alike. You both relish adventure, and helping others. And when your heart is set on something, I have a feeling it would be difficult to sway you. Azem was also quite fond of telling us about his travels. I think he would have written many a good book on them, if he'd cared to. He was mischievous, and knew exactly how to get under Emet-Selch's skin. And he was also the type to electrocute himself and his friend if he believed it was the only way forward!

[He laughs again- he doesn't mind, they didn't die and that's what matters.]

[He listens, feeling a little warmed by the evaluation. Hythlodaeus is quite right on all counts when it comes to him, and his way of pushing forward is one of the main reasons that he's still around right now.

Then he laughs along with the other man and gives him a playful little nudge.]

Do not tell Hades I did that.

[E'kayan can take the lecture. He can! He would just rather not.]

... So... [Yes, there is another question.] A shark, huh?

Oh, don't.

[Hythlodaeus chuckles and rests an arm over his eyes as if to hide his face.]

Unless you'd like for me to accidentally mention to Hades that you electrocuted us.

[He pauses, then sighs.]

'Twas the world before this one that changed me in such a way. Alas, I remember naught of the world... when last I was brought back to this world, my memories were strangely faded.

[He giggles a little as Hythlodaeus covers his face, then groans and lightly bonks a pointy elbow into the nearest part of the man he can reach at the idle threat. Please, sir.

But then he looks up again, watching what he can see of the other man's expression, and he hums softly in thought.]

You don't remember anything? That's passing strange. [E'kayan knows there are other people here who have been to different worlds that pulled them from their own before this one. He supposes he is somewhat unique in that it happened to him back home once already.]

Did you bring anything else peculiar along with you..? Or just the strangely on point aquatic transformation.

[Heh heh.]

I remember that Emet-Selch was there, but not the one that is here. And I recall a couple of people, here and there. Otherwise... my memories are hard to grasp. They're not unlike dreams, the kind that you recall for a brief moment before they slip away as quick as they returned...

[He rubs his head, as if trying to recall too much gives him a headache.]

Just the transformation, and if you ask me that was far too much already.

[Goodness, but he sounds like Emet-Selch.]

[A little snort.]

You sound like him.

[He tilts his head up to briefly look at Hythlodaeus again then sits up with a small groan, stretching his arms and shaking them as if they still tingle.]

Maybe it's better, though... Seems it must have been a strange place if it could do that to you.

🔥 Diluc Ragnvindr	🐈 E'kayan Tia	💮 Guizhong	🌱 Alhaitham
💎 Edmond	🌊 Neuvillette	🐍 Baizhu	💀 Thanatos

Quest/General Catchall Jan-Mar

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