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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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"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..."

Themis is glad he can give Erichthonios the affection he deserves. Not the awkward and distant love that Lahabrea had for him, or the twisted desires that Athena did (which he knows most certainly did not count as love), but genuine fondness, a true desire to be near and be with this other soul, to make him feel as though he's important and wholly wanted.

After such awkwardness in their inexperienced kissing, some breath is eventually needed and they need to pull back. But Themis feels they've gotten on to a good enough start at the very least. There's warmth between them, a strange feeling pooling in the pits of his stomach and to his groin that's making him feel like he wants — needs more.

"Erichthonios..." He murmurs like a happy sigh, giving his friend a light nudge toward their new shared bedding. There may be a lot of fabric between them, but at least their robes' workings are familiar enough to them both that getting rid of them should be easy. Tempting as it is to use magic, he thinks it should be more special to use his very own hands, undoing ties and pushing the black material out of the way.

Oh he needs more alright. That is becoming painfully obvious for Erichthonios. His tights beneath his podea are already becoming somewhat strained as he realizes the arousal beginning to build in the pit of his gut. Whereas he has no idea what Themis has (or hasn't!) gotten up to before, he knows what it's like to distract himself by, well, touching himself. Sometimes it was out of boredom or as a way of relieving himself of stress, but the thought of doing similar things with someone else made him feel way hotter. Everywhere.

He lets Themis begin to disrobe him, only to attempt to fumble and do the same, pushing back the fabric to expose more of that milky white collarbone of his. It has him swallowing thick at the sight, a thumb immediately tracing the cut of it.

"You're quite beautiful to look at, you know?" The words fall out of him as he pushes the bother boy's robes off his shoulders to expose his chest. The sight of him really is a lot to take in.

Edited 2022-12-11 06:09 (UTC)

Themis, as Elidibus in any case, probably didn't have distractions that he felt the need to indulge in like this, though it's difficult to say with the way he seems rather collected right now. His mind is running wild with emotions and his body is almost stifled with this new sort of excitement it feels, but he could not dare show some kind of weakness or inexperience.

And while the sight of bare skin is hardly new to him, it's different when he reveals more of Erichthonios' flesh beneath the robes. It's extremely satisfying to lay eyes upon his form as more of it is bared. His own wandering fingers are stopped only by the words spoken to him.

He blinks. "Beautiful?" Had anyone ever said that about his appearance? He's sure he's never heard it before. It's strange and his blood rushes to his ears as his heart pounds at the compliment. Erichthonios thinks he's beautiful, and for more than just the once pure soul his peers had decided would be perfect for their god. "I ..." He doesn't know what to say about it at the moment. Instead, he reaches to kiss Erichthonios again, rocking his weight forward so the two of them can fall back against the bed.

Themis seems surprised by the compliment, so much so he's speechless. It causes Erichthonios to raise a brow but before he can question it he's falling back onto the bed with Themis in his arms. It catches him off guard and he grips the other boy with a laugh, pressing their foreheads together lightly.

They're kissing again though and so his question will have to wait while his lips are busy, a small hum slipping forward out of him. It feels incredibly indulgent but that's not a bad thing. Not by any means at all. When they do break apart for air he's smiling up at him cheekily.

"...What? Have you never looked in a mirror?" He's teasing of course, just because he feels he can, a hand reaching up to card through fluffy locks. His hair was so soft...

He hoped to keep Erichthonios too busy to round back to that compliment, not knowing how to handle it and how happy it truly makes him to hear it from these particular lips. But it seems he is not able to escape. In his favor, at least, his answer is rather innocent in its straightforwardness. "Why would I?" For much of the time, he did not even have a reflection, probably. Regardless, he had no reason to look into mirrors! Nor has he been vain ...

But now that they've toppled onto the bed, he can crawl over Erichthonios' larger body (at least it is not nearly so gargantuan as his father's...) until his knees are on either side of the other's hips and he is sitting firmly upon him. That means of course he can feel Erichthonios' excitement building beneath him and pressing against his backside.

He hasn't decided quite what he'll do with that yet. For now he has the rest of the black robe to bunch up and push out of the way, leaving Erichthonios bare on top and only his lower half left to be rid of. It's still plenty to admire, the fine bit of muscle definition the younger man has, the velvet dark of his skin, exposed nipples begging to be touched ... "Hmm.." He muses aloud, pressing down against Erichthonios' body as he places a kiss against one nipple to see what happens.

He doesn't follow Themis' question with an answer, far too distracted suddenly by the fact he's clambering atop him and straddling either side of his hips. He isn't heavy against him by any means, if anything the weight and warmth of him is welcome, but that doesn't mean it doesn't leave him breathless. A breath hitches in his throat as he stares up at the other boy, unsure of what he has in mind for them, especially when his robes are pushed off and aside.

Not only does it feel as if he's eating him up with his eyes, but it feels as if he's staring right through him, body and soul bared. Still, he can't keep the smile off his face, happy to simply have his friend as close as he is. The hum has him tilting his head on the bed, for a better angle to observe Themis at, only for his eyes to go wide when the Emissary leans down to kiss his nipple. His lips are warm and soft, cause him to suck in a shaky breath. It's such a small touch and yet it feels incredible already.

"Ah..."

Just as planned. Not that Elidibus has all of this as planned out as he'd normally like, of course. Most of this is very experimental and following a physical instinct he's not even sure he had until it was required of him. It seems to be working, at the very least, so that's fine. Mostly he's discovering that he is really enjoying trying things to see how Erichthonios reacts to them...

Had he the soul sight like Emet-Selch, he would tell Erichthonios how brightly and beautifully his soul still burned, how it was precious and he would (never again) forget the precise shape and color. But showing his appreciation through his body should also do the trick. His own form continues to warm, threatening to squirm right on top of Erichthonios in his excitement.

His experiment a success, he leans in to kiss again, this time dragging his tongue over the delicate skin as well. First time jitters mixed with a sense that this feels almost a bit ... taboo? sends excitement straight to Themis' groin, and with how his pants are already stretched as he straddles the other boy, the tightness of growing arousal teases a moan right out of him. It feels a little too good, and certainly no one in any lifetime had ever expected that kind of sound out of the Emissary....

Maybe it's embarrassing that it doesn't take much to get him going, but Themis doesn't seem to mind and Erichthonios himself is too enraptured by the boy atop him to care how he looks right now. He's hard in his leggings and there's no way his friend can't feel it, but it's a relief to realize, as Themis presses down against him, that he also seems to be half hard.

The sound that slips forth from the Emissary has the warder's eyes wrenched wide, his face burning ever hotter. Themis was moaning, for him, because of him. Not because he was even being touched but simply because he was teasing the boy beneath him and seemed to enjoy it. Seemed to like touching him. Oh stars what had he done to deserve such attention?

The warm, wet tongue against his nipple has hitched breath escaping him as a soft groan, a pleading, needy sound. It's unseemly but if anything Erichthonios has always been honest about his feelings to a fault. Not sure what to do or even say he lets his hands settle on Themis' hips, thumbing the bones beneath his podea. He truly is lovely to behold.

It could be embarrassing, but what do they know? And what do they care, at least in Elidibus' case. He doesn't imagine he's going to share this side of Erichthonios with many, if any, people. He's perfectly content to keep it his own little secret. As for his own behavior, he's not gunning to have everyone else know about it either.

Yes, sure, he's already moaning when he himself has been barely touched, but it's fine. Erichthonios' responses are just that pleasing. He hears the neediness in the other's voice and he answers to it, putting his mouth over the nipple and sucking firmly before he goes to tease the other. Apparently these are points of the body to be remembered.

Certainly not all there is to enjoy though. Much fun as it is to torment Erichthonios' nipples, and encouraged by the hands on his own hips, Themis sits up a little bit to pry at the fastenings of the podea. These too must come off...

Admittedly, Erichthonios would be jealous if he had to share his friend with anyone else. Maybe it's wrong of him to think that way, even selfish, but couldn't he hope to be just a little bit? Themis atop him is an enrapturing sight, the light of the room illuminating his hair in a way that made him look even more divine. As he leans down again, this time to suckle a nipple and tweak the other, he's unable to stop his back from arching, his nails digging just a bit into the other boy's soft, milky sides.

As the fastenings of his podea are worked open he's unable to keep his hands still, letting them wander higher up Themis' sides to squeeze and touch his beautiful, unmarred skin. He lifts his hips to help facilitate the removal of his bottom garments, the flush so deep on his face it still shows through brightly on his dark skin. How tender he felt for this boy indeed. Right now he was more than willing to go along and do anything he asked of him.

"You're warm." He blurts out suddenly, feeling the need to fill the silence that had fallen between them. "I-It's...rather nice."

Themis would love to hear that. Perhaps later down the line once they've met more people, he can coax it out of Ericthonios. For now, they have each other and that's what matters and it's beautiful and Elidibus has not felt so alive for a thousand thousand years.

Once Erichthonios' under garments are taken care of, Themis sits back to look over all of him, committing it to memory like he's certain it will vanish. The squeezes and touches along his sides both make him grow hot and shiver at the same time, his arousal stirring from half to fully stiff. "You look good like this." He breaks his own silence with the comments, his own cheeks flushed though he has no idea.

"Erichthonios," He begins, rather serious as he settles back down against the other's lap. "I want you to touch me more." It was glorious and he has decided he's not had nearly enough. Although the question of what the next step in the intimacy process is is on his mind. Perhaps he should have consulted with Emet-Selch (or even Lahabrea) about this topic at some point.

When was the last time he was bared naked to anyone? Honestly he cannot recall. Perhaps not since he was a child being bathed by his parents. There's a light chill to his skin as the rest of his garments are set aside but he quickly finds himself warmed by the heat radiating off of Themis. The praise only helps to turn up the temperature as well, but he always had been weak to praise.

At the sound of his name he refocuses on Themis' face like an obedient dog, waiting to listen for a command from their master. It's a demand he's more than happy to follow, sweeping his palms over the front of the Emissary's chest, thumbs teasingly (and curiously) rubbing over perky pink nipples. They're soft, just like the rest of him is, and he can't help himself from tweaking one between said thumb and index finger.

"You look good like this too."

He feels lightheaded.

Lightheaded is one way to put it. Themis feels the same, even if he would not easily admit it to most people. Erichthonios has always been someone he felt he could rely on and confide in, though. He'd be glad at least that they feel the same. If Lahabrea's son desires to be praised, the least he can do after all this time, is indulge him. Not that it's difficult at this point when Elidibus is so pleased to remember and be whole and live again, here in the arms of someone so beloved.

Though he'd teased Erichthonios in the same way, he isn't expecting the reciprocation, or for it to feel as pleasantly surprising as it does. "Ah..." Oop, another sound escapes his lips. He feels his body tremble a bit, in newly discovered pleasure.

"We," He pauses a moment, to gather his breath and to allow himself to rock gently against Erichthonios where he sits upon his lap and his clear arousal. "Have only just started..." And that's kind of an amazing thought. But he's definitely looking forward to seeing what makes Erichthonios squirm next.

What a nice sound. He wants to hear it again. Wants to be the reason Themis makes it again. The fact they've only just started has his lashes lowering as the heat in his belly grows when Themis rocks against him. Stars...they've barely done anything and yet he's already straining against his undergarments, hands squeezing his friend's sides instinctively. The Emissary will find it won't take much at all to make him squirm.

"Ah...I suppose you are correct."

They have only just started, which is quite the concept indeed. Hopefully he wouldn't finish embarrassingly early when there was still so much more to explore and experience.

Ericthonios can at least take comfort in the fact that no one else is the reason he makes sounds like that, unbecoming as they may be for an Emissary of the Convocation of Fourteen. And speaking of stars, he's definitely seeing some when his gentle rocking creates a surprising amount of friction and it all goes immediately to his groin and the pit of his stomach.

He did not know that physical bodies could feel pleasure in such a way.

"Unless ..." He is starting to wonder if he'll be able to hold on without finishing too fast or doing something utterly embarrassing at this point. "You would rather take it slower..." He's sure their captors would be understanding about it. If they weren't, they could be dealt with. They would be.