more or less plotted starter for @ofhades
The gift of soul sight was not rare among Ancients, and even though Hythlodaeus’ talent for it exceeded that of his companions, it came as a surprise when the Convocation of the Fourteen actually approached him, offering him the seat of ‘Emet-Selch’. Why him? Because of his soul sight? Did they not know that this was pretty much the only talent he had? No. He couldn’t accept. He had to turn down the offer, but Hythlodaeus had someone else in mind who would fit that seat perfectly. Hades. They had been associates for a while, colleagues and Hythlodaeus would even dare to say friends, even though Hades would most likely deny it. But Hythlodaeus himself could have not felt prouder when, after a bit lot of persuasion, Hades accepted the offer of the Convocation. And he would officially be inducted the following day. This needed to be celebrated, but Hythlodaeus had something else in mind. He asked Hades out for lunch, something he had done several times, but always while pointing out that it was just spending time with a fellow colleague.
Today would be no different. All Hythlodaeus wanted was to spend a calm afternoon with Hades before he would officially become Emet-Selch. At least that was what he was trying to convince himself to believe. The truth would probably tell a different tell. A tale of how Hythlodaeus caught himself glancing at Hades when the other wasn’t looking, a tale of how he very much noticed the way a smile was tugging at Hades’ lips whenever he listened to his companion passionately talking about the creations he had approved that day. They were colleagues, nothing more.
“Don’t be like that. You know it is custom rule to take off hood and mask when you want to enter Elips without being employed there. It is all for your own safety, you do not want to be attacked by freely-roaming creatures, do you?”, Hythlodaeus teased the white-haired man walking by his side, the ever-present stern expression on his face. It was something he adored about Hades, because on a face like that a smile was rather rare and felt even more as a reward whenever Hythlodaeus managed to tease it out of him.
“Hermes granted us permission to spend the afternoon here without being on official business. I had to beg him, so please try to play along?”
It was another tease, a gentle smile on Hythlodaeus’ face as he led Hades towards a tree that was big enough to provide some shadow. Then he handed his companion the small basket filled with self-made cake while Hythlodaeus himself knelt down to spread out the silky blanket he had brought.
“This is your last calm afternoon before your official business as Emet-Selch begins, thank you for spending it with me, old friend.”
