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"How thrilling. I cannot wait for him to return and provide us with an answer to yet another question nobody asked."

The deadpan tone being a dead give away that he is not invested at all in the nature of grapes, or water, or who is baking the desserts today. Back to the matter at hand. Emet-Selch concludes that in order to give a satisfactory explanation and to properly clear the air, they should start at the beginning.

"Listen well. I don't want to have to do this twice, it is awkward enough already despite me being the one who wants to do it." Honestly part of him wonders why it has to be right now, they were dealing well enough by ignoring it for the majority of the time. Such are the way of his whims, he supposes.

"The three of us were friends for a long time, when we were younger. You both irritated me to no end. You still do, at times." He pauses, time to get a little serious as he finally gets around to what he wanted to say.

"But then the Final Days happened, and everything which came after. And while horrific to the extreme, that long, long time alone with naught but my memories for company gave me ample opportunity to reflect on what your friendships meant to me. And how much I missed you. And--"

Of course the waiter is back at the worst possible moment. This time he has a friend. They pass out both the water and the wine, as well as serving the beginnings of their food- a salad which seems to be only three forkfulls of actual food yet doused in marinade, exactly one-third of a bread roll, and the tiniest bowl of soup known to man. The waiter is, of course, talking again about the origins of the food before Emet-Selch shoots a glare strong enough to possibly kill a man.

"As I was saying.." He calls out annoyed, watching the staff leave, "My point to all that was I missed you both, really missed you. But you most especially."

He pauses a moment, just because he realises that this is suddenly becoming a lot and now that he's opened his mouth he can't seem to stop it.

"And it took a while to figure out, but I eventually realised that my sentiments towards you when it came to our friendship were not entirely platonic."

Finally he lets go of Hythloadeus' hand, to pick up a fork and begin munching on the food provided.

"There is much more to say on the matter, but if we do not begin eating they are going to walk back over here and we shall never know peace."

The whole thing is a mix of emotions- amusement at Emet-Selch's self-inflicted predicament, mild annoyance at the waiters, who admittedly are only doing their jobs but he wishes they would read the room, and a seriousness as the Final Days are mentioned along with how Emet-Selch feels. As Emet-Selch lets go of his hand, Hythlodaeus eyes the food, picks up his fork, and pointedly shoves the entire salad into his mouth at once as if to protest how little there is.

It's much like simply eating a slightly larger forkful of salad, and he finishes it pretty quickly. At which point he dabs daintily at his mouth with his napkin, and tries to figure out how to say how he feels while the waiters hover poised to take their plates in the background. How very distracting.

"I suppose the best way to go about this would be to simply wait until we're finished eating, hm?" That rooftop could be a nice place to talk about this. It also gives Hythlodaeus time to figure out how to say what he wants to say.

Honestly, three words would get across his feelings succinctly. But he feels that maybe he should try to elaborate. He doesn't even recall when he started to feel differently towards Emet-Selch, though. As far as he remembers, he may as well have loved him all his life.

“After the dinner, then.” It would be enter without the instant interruptions, and they were here for dinner after all, so he makes a point of only discussing their meal for the time being.

The food is very good at least, even though they appear to be heavily leaning into the ‘quality versus quantity’. When the waiter returns to remove some empty plates, Emet-Selch plays into it by asking which breed of cow provides the dairy products used in the meals, and whether it is a particular cow with a name. Of course he does not give a crap about it or if that is even a real thing but the waiter is absolutely flabbergasted that he cannot answer, which is some quality entertainment in itself.

“Well now we know that a ten course meal here equals roughly one singular meal anywhere else.”

He has to turn his face away from the waiter to hide the huge grin on his face, and when the waiter leaves again he looks to Emet-Selch appreciatively.

"I was rather hoping to come away from here feeling at least slightly full, but... I am enjoying myself, regardless." So to him, it's money well spent.

As the last of the plates are cleared, Hythlodaeus sips at his wine (he's had a couple by now) and eyes the bill left on the table with some complimentary mints. "Mm... expensive, as promised." He gets up to pay, tips the waiters, and returns to smile down at Hades.

"Come, the garden awaits."

"If we ever eat dinner here again, we must make sure we eat dinner beforehand." So laughable, good thing they weren't coming here with high hopes.

"Though we still have money left. We can go elsewhere for more food later. Or stay here and annoy them by calling the room service twenty times."

Either way, it is definitely time to leave. Emet-Selch picks up his wine glass to finish the whole thing off in one, slow gulp before standing and heading towards the hotel elevators.

Of course they have a concierge inside, because pressing buttons is too above rich people apparently, so not even the ride up is a private affair. Emet-Selch simply leans against the mirrored wall, letting their fingers intertwine until they finally reach the rooftop.

"Finally..." some privacy at last.

With their fingers linked together, Hythlodaeus tugs Emet-Selch into a more secluded area where they can see over the city, but in relative privacy.

"Ah... it's beautiful up here, is it not?" Though he can't help but to see the city in ruins- he closes his eyes briefly as if to block the mental image, because he's not intending to ruin things for them now, his grip on Emet-Selch's hand tightening. No, if anything, he should appreciate this moment even more. He chuckles, mostly to himself. Nothing left unsaid...

"Never could I have imagined we would be together again like this." And he appreciates that they got this chance, truly. Turning to face Emet-Selch, he steps closer and takes his other hand, bringing his knuckles up for a chaste kiss. "We mustn't waste this opportunity. And so while I have you here, my friend... there is something I would like to say."

He's never confessed to anyone before. He's always been more or less the kind of guy who kept things fun and casual. But with Emet-Selch, it's different. He's the only one Hythlodaeus could truly say he's been in love with.

"It could be said in one short sentence, I admit. But I am going to preface it anyway by saying that I have felt this way for as long as I can remember. It was perhaps what kept me from losing myself to despair during those long years on the moon. And even now, after millennia... I still feel the same way."

He glances down at Emet-Selch's hands in his own, but he looks back up with a fond smile as he continues because truly, if he's going to say this then he wants to look him in the face as he does so.

"That is to say, I have loved you for an eternity."

Hythlodaeus’ words do not come as a complete surprise, the synchrony had given away most of it after all. But still, to hear them spoken so clearly and not leaving ay doubt, and to know it had been for so long, it warms his heart to hear.

“I thought perhaps I was the only one.” Holding their hands together tightly, Emet-Selch steps closer, to allow their foreheads to rest together seeing as nobody else is around. “It’s obvious there is something there now, but our previous time together was so long ago that I could no longer tell what was really there, and what I came to believe due to so much time reminiscing over the past and what could have been.”

Nothing left unsaid. Seeing as they are in this conversation, they should have it in its entirety. Emet -Selch pauses, lifting his head up in order to speak clearly, still holding their hands together firmly.

“You said it helped you on the moon. The truth is, the memories of our friendship were one of the few things I had left after everything was sundered. I told you earlier I missed you. I did not say how much.”

If he ever finds out later the reason for these current sentiments, he may actually be thankful for Malachite and the feelings of love they shared throughout the city. He may not have shared these thoughts otherwise, but it feels like such a relief to let them out in the open.

“I mourned the loss of our friendship and regretted how I downplayed it far too often. How, when asked, I would call you annoying but honestly that persistence was endearing. I realized what I felt was not simply friendship but more akin to love.”

And since they are letting it all out, he figures he may as well speak of the other thing that still weighs on his mind. However in the moment, it feels slightly awkward to discuss it. Emet-Selch is rarely embarrassed over things, especially these days, but he cannot help the dwelling sense of shame attached to it, especially once the memories of Ellis returned to them. Enough so that he finally drops Hythlodaeus’ hands from his own, choosing to instead lean on the balcony and observe the cityscape as he continues.

“In that time I spent far too long wondering to myself how you would act in any given situation, or what you would say to it. Sometimes it was not just imagination and I would simply act that way myself. Everything we were told on Elpis, happened. I filled a city with our dead. And you were there too. A shameful mockery, but it did not matter to me. I just wanted to see you again, to speak to you.”

One, last final declaration, relative to both the past and the preset they have witnessed. He turns to face Hythlodaeus once more, taking hold of one of his hands.

“I would have done anything to bring you back. I tried near everything. But nobody shall take you again, no matter what the fates or gods of this place have in mind. I will not allow it.”

One last thing:

“...Don’t breath a word of any of this to anyone I’m warning you. Especially not to Azem. I did not say a word.” It’s already enough that he’s even admitting to all of this, never mind letting anyone else know of it too.

He's quiet as Emet-Selch speaks, and once he pauses Hythlodaeus moves closer, stroking his thumb across his friend's cheek. To hear it laid bare, finally... he couldn't be happier, in that moment.

"It will be between us, you have my word." It's too personal to share with others. Even Azem... no, he will keep this close to his heart and respect Hades' wishes.

Leaning in, he presses a soft kiss to his lips. It feels different now that they've admitted their feelings. The synchrony is strong even with a simple kiss, and he's loath to pull back.

"I pray that we are never parted again." He holds Emet-Selch's hand to his chest- he wonders idly if he could feel his heart pounding with affection for him. To be so utterly in love... what a blessing and a curse, all at the same time.

"We won't. Not if I have anything to do with it." As a hand rests upon Hythlodaeus' chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat below, Emet-Selch's free hand lifts to rest on his cheek as he is now the one to lean in, returning the kiss.

The kisses are always nice but now that they are no longer actively trying to muffle the synchrony it seems to be even more potent, and Emet-Selch too finds he is loathe to end it, and perhaps would not if he did not already have something else in mind.

"Let us stay here tonight." He breaks from the kiss slowly, letting his hands slide down as the fingers of one hook around Hythlodaeus' own. "We have money we do not need and no commitments, and I do not plan on leaving this building until my hunger has been completely satiated."

He really hopes he gets given a room on a high floor, only because it will make the room service trips more annoying.

"Heheh... I like this idea." He starts to tug Emet-Selch out of their little area, back towards the elevator. They can come back later, but for now he's thinking of ordering expensive cakes.

"I said I was going to eat until I was nauseous, I still fully intend to do so." He's going to sample all of their desserts. Not all at once, though. He'll need to order a few at a time.

He keeps hold of Emet-Selch's hand in the elevator, leaning into him- he still feels warm and fuzzy from their talk, replaying the conversation over again in his mind.

They ride the elevator in relative silence, interrupted as it is by the chaperone, but simply leaning against each other during the ride is pleasant enough. Part of Emet-Selch cannot believe they actually went through with the talk this time, but it is such a relief to have done so. He does not experience this often, but one could say he feels happy right now.

It does not take long to ask for a room from the front desk, not when they offer to pay whatever is needed for a decent room with a good bathroom and a greater view.The elevator takes them back up to a higher floor and they soon enter their room- it does in fact have a spectacular view of the city in sunset.

"A breathtaking view, honestly. But we have something far more important to attend to right now.."

Emet-Selch turns and takes Hythlodaeus' hands once more, walking forward to kiss him, a proper kiss that is finally unwatched by nosy staff. This kiss is in no way chaste, for he has been waiting to do that ever since they entered the building, but he breaks away soon after, before they get distracted from what they truly want.

"Here." Reaching over to the sidetable close by, he picks up a folder and hands it to his companion. They have a whole night and there is no reason to start it off hungry. "I'm starving, order two of everything."

The kiss almost does distract Hythlodaeus, but then it's broken and he has to divert his thoughts back to food. He sits on the bed and orders two of every dessert that catches his eye, and another bottle of wine because they may as well have something nice to drink while they're eating. Then he sighs, undoing his suit jacket and throwing it over the back of a chair while he slips his shoes off.

"Time to get comfortable..." Undressing down to his underwear, he then flops into bed and groans. It's very comfortable... as it should be, considering what they paid.

"You can answer the door, can't you?" He chuckles, rolling onto his front and bunching a pillow up under his head.

"Well you've left me no choice, have you?" Emet-selch groans, seeing as that decision has already been made for him. "You'd better have picked something good to make up for it. Better yet, next time wait for your food before you strip."

Flopping down on that big comfy bed looks so inviting right now, and not only because a half naked Hythlodaeus is rolling around on it. But he knows that if he does that now it will be an effort to get back up and answer the door.

"They had better not take too much time." He doesn't want to be left standing all night, leaning against the wall until their food arrives, which is what he is doing.

Edited (what is spelling) 2022-02-17 05:46 (UTC)

"Well, only one of us needs to answer the door. What were you intending to do instead?" He laughs softly, closing his eyes. He could nap while he waits, but that would be a little bit mean and besides that, he really doesn't think it will take that much time.

As expected, the food comes quite quickly. There's cheesecake, chocolate cake, red velvet cake, lemon cake, strawberries with dipping chocolate, and a few desserts that Hythlodaeus wasn't sure about but asked for anyway. There's also that bottle of wine.

"What do you think? Did I order enough?"

Thankfully the knock at the door arrives before he has any real chance to complain more about it, the focus immediately shifting to the platter handed over to him.

"I'm surprised it all fit on this one tray.." Holding the tray in two hands along with the bottle of wine dangling between two fingers, Emet-selch unceremoniously kicks the door closed with a foot as he walks on in to the room, letting the bottle drop onto the soft bedding as he places down the tray, kicking his shoes off and sitting beside it.

"Lemon? Chocolate? Some fruit?" He glances over at his companion for input. "Or wine?"

"Wine and fruit, to begin with."

He picks out a strawberry and dips it in chocolate, then bites into it. It's good- he hums, satisfied, before deciding to actually sit up and eat. He dips the rest of the strawberry into the chocolate, and offers it to Emet-Selch with a grin.

"Exquisite... come, try it."

He leans over briefly, popping himself up by his elbows as he opens his mouth, letting his teeth lightly grab the strawberry from his friend's fingers as he sucks it into his mouth.

"Much more preferable." To both the fruit, and the method of feeding. Sitting up once more Emet-Selch works to uncork the new wine bottle, pouring out two rather full glasses before taking a long sip from his own and refilling it once more before handing over the second.

"I'll gladly take another strawberry as payment." He grins, as payment for pouring the wine of course.

He grins as he takes the glass, taking a drink from it before dipping another strawberry into the chocolate and offering it up.

"As you wish..." Waiting for Emet-Selch to take the strawberry, he sips his drink again before picking up one of the plates with chocolate cake on it. Who knows if any of this will go with wine, he's just eating whatever he feels like eating.

"So which do you think will happen first? Either I will become incredibly nauseous from the mixture of food, or I will become incredibly drunk from the wine because that meal was inadequate."

He leans in once more, using his free hand to hold Hythlodaeus' steady as he bites onto the strawberry and once again sucks it into his mouth, taking the extra time to lick melted chocolate from one of Hythlodaeus' fingers before letting go and moving to stand up. His friend had the right idea- the clothes may look great but are not that great to relax in.

"Likely the first, though I would prefer the second." He responds idly as he works to remove his jacket, tie and a few buttons of his shirt before sitting back down. Being drunk sounds better than throwing up. "Being nauseous sounds like a mess for everyone involved. And I'd joke about taking advantage of you while drunk, but considering you stripped before the glass even reached your hand..."

"How about we aim for a happy medium, hmm?" As if to enforce the point, Emet-Selch grabs a fork to take a bite of the lemon cake before leaning back against the headboard and grabbing his glass of wine again. Though if Hythlodaeus wants to eat until he vomits it up, or get so trashed he can no longer sit up, it doesn't really matter to him. Emet-Selch is just happy they can enjoy this time together in relative peace and the happy, safe and lighthearted atmosphere they have created for themselves here.

"A happy medium it is, then." He eats another strawberry before grinning.

"It likely need not be said, but you could take advantage of me any time." He slides his way next to Emet-Selch with the rest of the strawberries and chocolate, setting his wine on the stand beside the bed for now. He's content to snack on these for the time being, though he soon notices a small radio on the nightstand and gets distracted pressing buttons.

"How exactly do you- oh." Soft music fills the room, though not very loud- likely it's just for ambience, and after a moment he shrugs and goes back to eating, now humming to the music contentedly. He soon leans against his friend, closing his eyes for a moment while he enjoys his company.

"Oh I plan to, later." Once they've had their fill of food and drink. A luxurious room with a stunning view, it would be a shame to waste it.

Hythlodaeus moves closer after messing with the radio and Emet-Selch slips an arm around him, to make it more comfortable for the both of them as they take a moment to relax with each other, appreciating the light music which is now playing. After another long sip of wine he sets the glass down beside him on the side table, before picking up one of the smaller strawberries and eating it, before reaching for another.

"Open." It's said expectantly, as he coats the fruit in chocolate and holds it up in front of his friend's mouth.

He opens his mouth obediently, biting at the fruit before plucking the last one from the bowl and dipping it in the chocolate. He holds it up to Emet's mouth, but then taps it against his nose, laughing at the chocolate smear it leaves behind. As if he wasn't going to do that once, at least...

"Heheh... how messy." He'll be good and hold the strawberry still this time, still chuckling. Though his gaze turns fond, after a moment.

"We should do more together like this. There's a whole world to explore, and countless desserts to try I'm sure."

"You can hardly call it a mess when you do it deliberately you know." He sighs a little, brushing the back of his hand across his nose to remove the chocolate as he takes the fruit, cautiously, for he half expects it to be pulled away at the last moment.

On to the next contender. He reaches down the bed for the lemon cake he had taken a bite of earlier before settling in again, taking a forkful from it and letting the plate sit in front of them.

"We can, and should. Besides the city proper, and the sky station, prior to your arrival I only visited Primavera and its hotsprings, which was.." He pauses for just a moment, for how do you even begin to describe that mess? "an experience, certainly." Perhaps the less said, the better.

"There is plenty more to see. And considering recent events, it would perhaps do us good to see it, if this is to be our home for now." A phrase that still feels odd to say. 'Home' has not been a thing for a long, long, time. But if something were to go wrong, they need to know as much about this world as possible. Plus, it may even be a little fun.

"Or, you can simply fulfill your wish of gorging on sugar until you vomit, on every island this star has to offer."

"Hmm. It isn't a mess if I do it deliberately? Understood."

Yes, he knows that's not what Emet-Selch meant. He's going to be a shit about it anyway. He takes to dipping his finger in the chocolate dip and sucking at it idly, smiling at the mention of home. It's not Amaurot, but it's what they have and he would rather be grateful for that than upset at what he misses.

"As long as we are together, I will be happy. There is little more I could ask for." Though he does understand that here, they aren't guaranteed tomorrow. All the more reason to appreciate the time they spend together, he thinks.

Emet-Selch groans. He knows that his friend knew exactly what he meant by it, but of course he has to twist the meaning. When he thinks Hythlodaeus is not looking he dips his own finger into the left over chocolate, smearing it quickly over the other's cheek before retracting his hand. For no reason other than to be annoying in retaliation, because he can.

"We can be here together, but there are many things about it that I am not happy about." Ah, that came out wrong and it has him flinching internally. He quickly follows up on it with some elaboration.

"That is to say, our current living arrangements are not sustainable in the long run, so some time soon we should have a serious talk about finding someplace else with more space." They may all be good friends but Hades especially needs his space, being in a confined space means it would not take long for he and Azem to start getting on each other's nerves.

"Then there is the matter of last week. I don't intend to be caught out like that again. This star sapped me of my aether reserves and I intend to fully replenish them, no matter how much effort it takes." Yes he knows it is tied to manna here and the implications of such a feat, which is why he follows it up with a judging look.

"And yes before you even say it, I am well aware of how that sounds. Especially so when said to someone currently mostly naked on a bed with me. But I am serious. If I must even subject myself to being bored to death while holding hands with an acquaintance as we discuss the weather, then so be it." Hythlodaeus should know better than anybody that once Hades sets his mind to something, he will fully invest in it no matter what it takes.

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