dutydriven | (no subject)

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It's the last thing Elidibus expected, after helping his greatest enemy of all. He expected his aether would be so thin that he would simply dissipate and, if lucky, resurface in the Aetherial Sea. His memories rushed to him like a great, heavy wave — so much stronger even than when the Warrior of Light had forced him to remember. Yet he'd barely had time to settle into them yet again when he appeared on a new plane altogether, a new world he did not recognize or know anything about, except for the sudden expectations listed off to each new arrival.

... Why was he chosen for such an affair? Had they kidnapped him, or was it some kind of mistake? Either way, it would seem for the moment that he and the large number of other beings from other realities are there to stay with no options of escape.

And so he wanders, a bit aimlessly, trying to get his bearings about him at the same time he attempts to adjust back to the man (the youth, really) he once was... No longer a primal, but fully aware of the duty he never finished, and everything that had led to it. And his friends, all his loved ones and friends, where were they? If he's honest with himself, he longs dearly to meet them again as he'd said. But in a place like this... well, it's not exactly the sunny skied paradise he'd had in mind. Especially when they had to do certain things to survive?

— One step at a time, perhaps. That's the best way to approach this. Still, curiosity has him wondering if he's truly here alone.

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Well if that's how it is then that's how it is. He''ll try not to dwell on it, especially when Themis has just told him something that sends a wave of relief over him.

"Oh, really? Fantastic! That truly is lucky." Or planned. Either way, does it matter? Erichthonios is more than happy to shack up with his friend. It would be less than ideal to live apart in a foreign world. "Let's go, yes. There is no time like the present."

Part of Elidibus really wants Erichthonios to understand. Part of him has no desire to hurt him with such fragile information. Perhaps it's his personal feelings versus his duty? This is a dichotomy he's not had to deal with in such a very long time. It's ... disconcerting.

So he just nods, going with the moment for now. It's best to relocate anyway. There could be others from their world, but he isn't sure how much time they should waste finding out.

"Hopefully it's easy to find, then." He offers to keep hold of Erichthonios' hand. Simply because he can.

Erichthonios has no reason to let go of Themis' hand, especially if he's not being made to. It's a small reassurance. Childish, perhaps, as he remembers being led through the halls of Pandaemonium by his mother in such a fashion, but he enjoys the contact none the less.

"Let us hope."

Off he starts to lead them, doing his best to follow the street names outlined. Eventually they arrive to their apartment. It's small but big enough for two, although it's apparent there's only one bedroom, and, subsequently, one bed.

"Oh."

Even now, Elidibus may hope that his hand brings warmer, more welcome memories than Athena’s. But that’s, perhaps, a thought for another time. For now, he helps Erichthonios navigate the strange new streets until they reach the apartment dwellings. Could be worse, one supposes…

As for the bed situation, he does not seem to be all that phased by it. That could be that he has not known sleep intimately for many thousands of years, or that he, as Themis, is simply comfortable with Erichthonios’ presence. Maybe both reasons.

“Is aught amiss, Erichthonios?”

Edited 2022-11-27 21:41 (UTC)

It certainly does bring him comfort and a warmth he hasn't know for quite some time. At the question he jolts, having lost himself in thought for a moment. Their hands are still together...

"Ah, it's simply that there is only one bed provided. It does seem deliberately big enough for two but..."

Is he getting flustered? Yeah, he's getting flustered.

"I would understand if you would rather not share."

“And I suspect that was no mistake on their part.” He nods, as if Erichthonios hasn’t told him anything particularly life changing.

Instead, he smiles at his friend.

“Of course I don’t mind it. I have already offered to assist you with this place’s demands, yes? I would imagine sharing a bed is little next to that.” Sorry Erichthonios, he probably isn’t helping much. But even Lahabrea could attest that Elidibus never sugar coated anything.

"I-I suppose you are right. You did, yes, and I accepted."

Gladly accepted, mind you, but that still doesn't stop his cheeks from browning a particularly deep shade of crimson. The Emissary really didn't beat around the bush, did he?

"I promise I do not snore. I swear it."

"If you change your mind, I will not hold it against you."

His cheeks perhaps pinken a bit, though not so much as they might have when he was truly young and innocent. It's merely the thought of being so intimate with someone he (finally) remembers caring for so much.

"Snore?" He tilts his head, briefly confused before he laughs some. "Ah. I was not particularly worried..."

"I doubt I will."

He can't exactly see himself changing his mind, not when it was a decision involving Themis. His laugh has his stomach feeling light.

"I am glad you aren't, in any case...besides our sleeping quarters, it does seem rather quaint. Far nicer than my accommodations in Pandaemonium."

“I am glad to hear it.” He nods, giving Erichthonios’ hand a little squeeze before he finally releases it.

“It does not seem that they mean to treat us as prisoners, at least.” He observes, looking around their new lodgings. Nothing like he’s been used to for the past eons, but then he didn’t really require a place to rest his head or eat or do anything else.

He certainly can’t remember what accommodations in Pandaemonium would have been like, if he set foot there. At least he remembers the important parts. “I suppose Lahabrea did not create Pandaemonium to be comfortable.”

"No, comfort was not a priority."

That gets a laugh out of him as he shakes his head, wringing his wrists gently. No, Pandaemonium wasn't meant to be comfortable by any means.

"Amaurot, at least the few times I ventured there, seemed far more better a place to live. Even my father's office is leagues above the room I have."

“You never spent much time outside of Pandaemonium. Out of Elpis..” Themis searches his recently recovered memories for all those thousands of years ago. His smile is somewhat sad to think of Lahabrea during that time, too. How different they all were, the Unsundered, from those happier times.

“Your father should have afforded you better lodgings.” He decides, as if it’s going to make any difference now. In his head he thinks, perhaps, that he himself should have championed for a better life for Erichthonios after their time together in Pandaemonium.

But he never did like to let his personal feelings interfere with his work. He was always telling people this. Ah well.

“In any case, perhaps we can modify this place to our liking, if we are to stay here for a while.” He glances at the bed. Cheeky. “I still won’t mind that, though.”

Perhaps his father should've made better accommodations for those who worked in Pandaemonoum, but as far as Erichthonios was concerned it was just how it was.

The mention of modifying their abode has his cheeks heating up, especially when he gestures toward the bed.

"I-I would not mind it either."

He really wouldn't. The more he thinks about it the more it seems like it would be nice. To have some sort of reassurance and company to fall asleep beside...it would be a comfort.

In any case, it's far too late to do anything about it now. Lahabrea would merely scold him for being foolish if he even mentioned it. Of course, Lahabrea isn't here, and though his fellow Unsundered is very dear to him, he hopes that it remains this way.

Especially if he is to witness Lahabrea's very own son being so adorably naive. It almost hurts Elidibus to think of doing anything to change that innocence. But if anyone here is going to, it should be him. He wouldn't let it be anyone else, anyway. With the not so friendly thought in mind, he turns to Erichthonios, smiling warmly.

"I am glad to hear it." He steps close to his old friend again, scooping up his hands. Letting go so soon was clearly a mistake. "I have missed you, Erichthonios. Though I may not have always understood what it was, I know that feeling was always there." Again, he knows this makes no sense to his friend here, but it does to him. And that's enough for now.

The warmth of Themis' smile feels like the sun upon his face and makes him feel subsequently hotter, especially when he scoops up his hands once again. To hear that he was missed, that someone had him in their thoughts...means more than he can express. For so long he felt neglected and forgotten, down in the pits of Pandaemonium.

There's a weight though to Themis' words he can sense, even if he cannot fully understand or appreciate it. If Themis wants to tell him though, he knows he will. His friend had never hid anything from him, not unless there was reason to. He squeezes those pale hands, the color of his milky skin contrasting brilliantly with his own.

"To know you've kept me in your thoughts...it's heartening. Admittedly, you have been in mine own as well. It may be selfish of me to say...but as much as I wished for our trials at Pandaemonium to be resolved, I had begun to loathe the day they would."

He doubts he'd have ever had the opportunity to spend much time with Themis again. The Emissary was a busy man, after all.

"Of course, it would have been impossible." If at least one thing hadn't changed about Themis, it was that he would never follow some fanciful thought over a logical fact. And him to stay behind in Pandaemonium or even have time to spend with Erichthonios back then would have been very unlikely. Although he recalls how Igeyorhm and even Lahabrea used to tease his younger self, tell him to go out and enjoy their beautiful days ...

That's what prompts him to continue a moment later. "But I wish I had visited more often." Or even dragged Erichthonios out of Pandaemonium for that matter. If only he had let his emotions get in the way sometimes instead of strictly never.

"We will just have to make up for lost time." If they're going to be stuck here, then it's the logical choice. They might as well benefit somehow.

Even though he knows it's the truth that doesn't make his heart feel any less heavy. It would've been impossible and, clearly, they weren't destined to spend much time together. That had been then though, an apparent future Erichthonios wasn't privy to and never would be. Which, maybe, is for the best. He brightens considerably at Themis' last words, giving him an enthusiastic nod. What did it matter where they had found themselves, so long as they had one another?

Ah, he really was a fool though, wasn't he? Just like his father his heart was what led him to be rash, left him emotional. Unlike the Emissary who had even-tempered judgement, the same couldn't be said for Erichthonios.

But that was okay. Maybe.

"Of course. I am more than happy to spend time with you, Themis. Especially if we are to, ah, get to know one another more i-intimately."

It's for the best, probably. Elidibus still has not decided what to do about Erichthonios' apparent ignorance to the future that he'll face. But, to set logic aside just ever so slightly, Erichthonios' thought is correct: They had one another!

And perhaps they can avoid the tragic ending to Lahabrea's tale, assuming nothing terrible happens while they're here. The worst has already passed, after all. Though his heart warms as he hears his name spoken again from the lips of someone who cares for him, he can't help but wonder if he deserves such a feeling. He did not succeed in his duty. This meeting itself is in no part thanks to his or Lahabrea or Emet-Selch's long, long years of effort. They had failed.

And yet, he feels happy? So happy that his heart could burst.

"Themis..." He repeats it softly, like not doing so will make it disappear again. Such a foreign but a comfortable sound. He shakes his head briefly.

"In any case, should we get on to that, Erichthonios? Or would you prefer to rest a while?"

Oh stars...now? Themis wished to do that now? Well, there was techincally no time like the present, and it only made sense to get it over and done with. Why wait around especially if he wasn't tired? Erichthonios doesn't think he could sleep right now even if he wanted to.

"I-If you wish, I would not be averse to it."

Eugh. He's stuttering his words. How unbecoming!

"If you yourself are not in need of a rest, of course."

It's not so much that Elidibus is gunning to do it now, he simply figures the sooner they get accustomed to it, the better. He had watched Emet-Selch woo strange mortal women (and probably men too) many times as part of his plans, and it did not seem wise to procrastinate.

Or part of him longs to experience what being so close to another is like. Though Themis chose to stay off the physical plane far more often than his counterparts, he's not completely without desire for it...

Especially now when his heart feels so full yet so light.

"I am prepared when you are." Probably.

Oh, Erichthonios is ready.

Or well, as ready as he'll ever be. Eyes wide he nods, perhaps a bit too eagerly, face hot as he bends down to untie his shoes. It's suddenly an incredibly difficult task and why he's decided that taking off his shoes is the first course of action he cannot say. It just seems unsightly if they're going to end up in bed together to still have his shoes on...it's best to discard them right at the start, right?

"I am, yes. I-" Don't mind him nearly stumbling over himself as he pulls off one of his shoes. Embarrassed he drops it, awkwardly kicking off the other one and nudging it aside. "Ah."

Well. Removing their shoes is indeed an important task that should be done.

Themis watches Erichthonios proceed to remove them, albeit quite clumsily. Ah, is he embarrassed? Maybe he should stop them and suggest they wait a bit. And yet it's so endearing at the same time, he really just wants to take Erichthonios into his arms right now.

He will start by removing his own shoes neatly, and hopefully that will make his friend feel better about awkwardly stumbling around all over his. "There." He stands up straight again once the task is done, and then closes the distance between them, peering up into Erichthonios' eyes.

Hopefully he is ready as Themis leans up on his toes (still small, even as an adult ...) and pulls down on Erichthonios' robes so he can push their lips together.

His heart stops in his chest, he's absolutely certain of it, as Themis fists his robes and closes the distance between them. It's his first kiss and it's with him of all people and it's something he never in a thousand upon thousand moons would've ever thought would happen to him. How could it when he was his Father's rejected son, confined to the depths of Pandaemonium and the far flung reaches of their star? Opportunities to meet people were slim to none, unsurprisingly.

Themis' lips are soft, surely softer than his own, and he gasps against them, the sound turning soft as he leans back against him eagerly. It doesn't take long for his eyes to close, hands shakily settling themselves atop the other boy's shoulders. If this is how warm he feels kissing his friend would he burn up entirely once they became truly intimate?

At least Erichthonios isn't alone in not ever having thought something like this could happen. Affection was pointless, it had nothing to do with his duty. His one love was Zodiark, and in that, his people and their star.

But he doesn't have any of that anymore. All he has is the here and now until he's returned to the Lifestream yet again. And somehow, despite the troubled feeling that lingers in his heart, he feels free and alive right now. Simply happy. Of course he has no real idea what he's doing in this kiss; it's probably sloppy and juvenile. But it is his and he's giving it to Erichthonios and that is all that matters.

In theory, this whole concept is bizarre but in practice it feels ... really quite good?? Enough so that he lets instinct guide him into pressing a bit firmer, encouraged by the way Erichthonios settles upon his shoulders. His own cheeks feel hot, his heart racing in excitement. Though his fingers loosen on the robes he's grabbed, he doesn't stop touching. Actually, his hands begin to explore the fabric tentatively, wondering how soon is too soon to be rid of it ...

Yet to Erichthonios the opposite was true. Affection was everything, at least for the scared little boy who had clung to his mother's robes so fiercely, who would've done anything for her and still would if he hadn't learned the truth. Mayhaps he was odd in that regard, inheriting his father's heart, but one couldn't, at their core, change their nature. As Themis' hands begin to roam his breath hitches, a hand of his own moving to cup one of his cheeks. He holds it there, fingers sliding back slightly to tuck away into fluffy light locks. Everything about him is heavenly. Lovely. Wonderful.

It feels good what they're doing. Incredibly good. Addictive even. Is this why they were always told to focus on their studies and not be distracted by physical urges? Erichthonios can see the danger in being so close indeed.

"Mm..."