[Folkmore IC Inbox][un: hythlodaeus]

[modestpurpose]

hythlodaeus

This is Hythlodaeus! It looks like you missed me, so leave me a message.

Comments

[wewillwewill]

I have been studying the nature of this realm and the Fox who brought us here. Your particular insight as one who has been here longer would be a welcome perspective.

[ Despite the phrasing, Elidibus isn't referring to the highly perceptive sight Hythlodaeus is known for. But being kin, a peer? That's something he can grasp. ]

[modestpurpose]

Oh?

You are of course welcome to any insight I might be able to provide.

[wewillwewill]

Thank you. And forgive me for not visiting you in person. I have found myself occupied with the conclusion of the Fox's latest intervention into the Star Children's lives.

What are your thoughts on the true nature of the Fox? What facts... and what theory might you have cleaned through your experiences here?

[modestpurpose]

Her true nature? That, I cannot be certain of. She is quite unlike anything I have encountered before.

I cannot say if she delights in the disruption she causes or if she simply finds our reactions to it intriguing.

[wewillwewill]

I suppose we will never truly be. She reminds me... of a phenomenon given will. Whether this is something she has always existed as or that which became part of her being through outside influence, I know not.

What of the realm itself? I scholar I spoke to theorized this realm may not have been created, but a space the Fox filled with her power.

[modestpurpose]

Entirely plausible.

From my experience she does not create anything *new*. She seems only capable of recreating and replicating places and things from worlds that she has encountered via those she brings here. When she is not manipulating us directly.

[wewillwewill]

Ah, yes. Though I have witnessed new beasts, there is much I am familiar with. And I have yet to see some concept which is completely unknown to any of those who reside here.

What do you make of her desire to have us fulfill the potential she sees in us?

[modestpurpose]

Tis one thing I find truly puzzling.

Reaching one's full potential is a wholly subjective journey. If she is placing arbitrary goals based on her own estimations of us then we may never reach them.

[wewillwewill]

As you say, the Fox has envisioned potential we may yet reach. Setting aside our own personal desires on how we wish to fulfill our purpose, one could easily argue there is no one truly capable of reaching their full potential, as we are constantly capable of reaching ever greater heights.

[ Deciding one's life purpose has been fulfilled is different from one's potential. ]

And potential by itself is a vague promise. Does the Fox have a clear potential she desires for each of us? Or is it merely an impetus to drive us? These are only two possibilities. Though I suspect given her mercurial nature, the options more nebulous in nature will oft be closer to the truth.

[recreator]

...

[Emet-Selch says nothing. After all, what can be said? Much had been lost, yet rather than an emptiness, a void, their absense had ever felt like a palpable weight, one impossible to ignore. Instead, he considers what Hythlodaeus says next, his voice a low murmur.]

I see. So that is what befell those souls who gave themselves to Lord Zodiark. I do hope said dream was kinder than the reality of our situation. Or at the very least mostly inoffensive.

[Emet-Selch watches him, and the way that even now his friend appears to be trying to ease his burdens rather than apply a salve to his own. Hythlodaeus's touch is warm, his skin tingling beneath the softness of his lips in a way he hasn't felt in centuries, unashamed and unquiet. His eyes glint briefly, a kaleidoscope of color just waiting to be read.]

You always say that. [He chides quietly.] Even after all this time, I am left to wonder who it is that you feel you must convince?

I have never once found you useless, not entirely nor otherwise.

[modestpurpose]

Oh, psh, a middling skill at best.

[But he cannot hide the delight on his face at all when she produces what she brought for him. He takes the bow as one might lift a precious artifact and holds it in both hands, tilting it this way and that to admire the craftsmanship.

He certainly recognises that particular shade of amber-gold.

Hythlodaeus lifts the bow up and draws it slowly, his archers stance perfect despite his protestations about his skills (both then and now) and as he slackens the string again and lowers it down he lets out a soft whistle of appreciation.]

Tis almost too grand of a gift to accept.

[modestpurpose]

I suspect so as well.

But we are subject to her whims while we reside in her realm. Regardless of whether or not she created this space she holds full sway over it.

[wewillwewill]

That is a conclusion I have reached as well. The Fox's power is absolute here and I see no answer as to how to prevent her from simply calling us back again should we escape. I fear efforts to ward against such a force would be ineffective.

[ One might argue the cracks caused by the Sundering likely made it far easier for the Fox to get into the metaphorical hen house that is Etheirys and from there Time would have been nothing to one that seemed as powerful as this entity. Elidibus will certainly not do so on such meager hypotheticals. ]

I will not hide from you my desire and intent to escape, should the opportunity present itself. And if you are able to uncover any clues about this realm or her existence, I would be grateful for them. You may take them as a request from Elidibus, if you desire. But know with whatever you say, I will do my utmost to respect your choice whether to remain or be free of this binding.

[modestpurpose]

Hah...

[Yes, well.

His idle protestations as to his usefulness - or lack thereof - have never held any water with his closest friends. They allow him the indulgence, he expects, but none of them actually consider him to be useless in any respect.]

I know. I know, Hades.

[He shakes his head. Why he would say it was easy enough to explain. Against his friends he was nothing special in terms of ability or intelligence and his self-appointed role as a supporting character in their lives made it easier to simply fade into the background of their various accomplishments.

Still with the other man's hand held loosely in his he leans his cheek against Emet-Selch' fingers, humming softly in thought.]

Perhaps I'm only convincing myself. You certainly never put any stock in it.

[recreator]

[While Emet-Selch will allow him the display of affection, it is some seconds into it, whilst Hythlodaeus is still humming to himself, that Emet-Selch loosens his hold just enough to prod his cheek with his index finger. A calculated admonishment.]

No, I don't.

And I should like to think that I have known you for long enough to have a sound opinion.

[He watches him carefully, eyes narrowing, but not in anger or frustration. In fact, he thinks his suggestion a perfectly reasonable one.]

Though, if you will forgive me for saying so, if you're still trying to convince yourself even now, perhaps it was about time you tried another method entirely.

[astralera]

Says the man with the sharpest eyes in all of Etheirys.

[ She doesn't push any further, knowing with her own tendency to downplay herself she hardly has any room to speak. Instead, she observes him take his stance and draw the bow, letting out a pleased smile when seeing his appreciation of the gift. ]

It's a middling gift at best. [ Era teases. ] But if you feel the need to repay me you can lend me a hand with my garden.

[modestpurpose]

If it is framed as a request from the Emissary, then I can hardly refuse.

Not that I would have deliberately held information from you.

As for myself... I have nowhere else to go save for back to the Star, and despite my current situation... I find myself unwilling to hurry along to that end just yet.

[wewillwewill]

I admit I can imagine no other place than our Star that I should be. Though I would fear my patience while I must wait for a chance to return may not easily keep apace to your own.

[ But then they are not quite the same types of patience are they? Elidibus has become singularly focused on his duty. So much so that anything which stands athwart it must not be allowed to continue. ]

It seems I will not want for those to with whom I might trust to compare my findings then. Thank you, Hythlodaeus.

[modestpurpose]

[He reacts to the prod to his cheek, perhaps comically, with a little 'eh' as his attention slides towards it and he tilts his head so he can peer momentarily at the offending digit. Still with them clasped around the other man's, he lowers his hands to the table and keeps his eyes on them for a few beats.

It's strange. His protestations regarding his level of usefulness were almost always waved aside if not outright denied by his friends despite his persistence in stating them. It was almost like a little joke between them all, barely permitted due to Hythlodaeus' preference for a supporting role, but none of them would ever repeat the same things back to him.

That they were... allowing it had of course crossed his mind, though he had never really thought too hard about it before.]

Oh, there's nothing to forgive. [He shakes his head, patting Emet-Selch's hand before he moves to let him go.] But what other methods did you have in mind?

[recreator]

[Ah-ah-ah! The moment Hythlodaeus moves to release his hand, he'll find that Emet-Selch has made a play to capture one of his again, his fingers prepared to slide around the back of his palm and hold it there if need be.]

A demonstration of how useful you can be, perhaps? After all, if you see it with your own eyes, you will have little room to doubt.

"Seeing is believing" as they say.

[Emet-Selch lowers his voice until it is only just audible above the din.]

Allow me to put your gift to its proper purpose.

[modestpurpose]

[What can he do but allow his hand to be captured once again, and without complaint at that. Still, he'll take the shivering sensation of those fingertips sliding around his palm regardless as he makes a playful feint as if to pull himself away that is clearly not intended to be followed through on.

He's looking at the man intensely again, as if he's hungry for every word coming out of his mouth. They had been apart for too long, he thinks... far, far too long.]

A demonstration..?

[His head tilts, lips curving in a small smile. Just what was his dear Hades planning?]

Just what would you have me do..?

[recreator]

[Oh, don't be like that you insufferable tease! And after he's made an effort to hold your hand in public. Fortunately for Emet-Selch, he's managed to hook his fingers around the flat of his palm. Escape is still possible, but 'tis clear he isn't planning to release him just yet. Rather than let go, Emet-Selch's arm instead gets tugged further across the table, his shoulder dipping forward as he meets his friend's gaze.]

Need you ask? Absolutely nothing less than what you already want to do.

[It isn't so much a question as it is a statement, each word delivered with care. Emet-Selch looks as if he's about to continue when a timid "ahem" sounds from behind him, and with it, the arrival of their respective meals.]

[For his part, Emet-Selch appears a bit put-out by the interruption, but he at last returns to a more upright position, his attention drifting elsewhere, even as a wrinkle of vexation forms between his eyebrows. Perhaps he's more impatient than he'd prefer to believe.]

We will, of course, also touch upon this topic later. Along with everything else.

[modestpurpose]

[Ah, but he cannot deny that first assertion, and so he does not. Hythlodaeus only smiles wryly in that particular way of his and lets it be, polite enough to not continue to argue when being given a genuine compliment.]

With your garden?

[He looks at her in faint surprise. Hythlodaeus has, admittedly, never been an outdoorsy type and has certainly never dabbled in actual gardening. There are some of his people who insist upon such things (at least one or two in Elpis alone) but when one can simply create what they need...

The corners of his eyes pinch slightly as he smiles again.]

I'd be delighted, though you may need to teach me proper techniques. I'm not sure if it could be called a repayment on my part with that in mind.

[modestpurpose]

Of—... of course.

[By the Star, but do ignore the way that his face seems like it's burning again. How is it that this man keeps tripping him up again and again even with all the years they have known one another..? Even with all the years that he could have anticipated this, even if circumstances continually conspired to keep them from making the next step.

He would have liked Emet-Selch to continue, but the quiet sound of the server with their meals clearing their throat has him straightening up and almost tugging his hand free before he once again thinks better of it.

Along with everything else. How such a simple phrase can make every inch of his skin tingle.]

We should enjoy our meals, then. [He smiles, waiting for the server to leave before adding;] It sounds like we're going to need the energy.

[recreator]

So you say.

[Emet-Selch makes a sweeping motion with his free hand to indicate the two plates, one adorned with a delectable-looking vegetable quiche, and the other a tangy eggplant pasta. A small basket of bread has been set to one side with both melted butter and seasoned olive oil for dipping.]

I don't believe we ever clarified which dish belonged to whom. Choose whichever you like, as long as I won't be hearing about it later.

[Of course, this will all require two hands rather than one, and at last Emet-Selch prompts:]

After you. They won't be any good cold.