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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Where Erichthonios has found himself he isn't certain. All he knows is that 1) this is not Pandaemonium and 2) this is a different plane of existence altogether. What he and the other arrivals have been told they must do to live out their lives here has him blushing hot but he pushes the concerns he has for those requirements out of the way, opting to focus on exploring his surroundings instead. Surely he wasn't the only one here from Etheirys. The likelihood of that being true seemed far less than him being here in the first place.

He's proven right when he spots, with a wave of relief, a familiar figure in the distance. One he would never mistake. Hitching up his robes he's running toward him with a smile, calling out to him. Of all the people he'd come across this truly was lucky.

"Themis!"

It takes a moment for Elidibus— No, Themis — to realize that he is the one being spoken to. It’s been, well. He genuinely does not remember the last time he was ever referred to by that name. Lahabrea no longer used it. Emet-Selch likely remembered it but deferred to his title out of respect for wasting memories. Not that Themis would have understood or appreciated at the time, but he does now.

Themis.

And that voice. He pauses where he’s standing, muscles twitching beneath his brows as his mind polishes recently mended pieces of his memory. He looks at the fiery haired youth approaching him and recognition crashes into him mercilessly. It is not Lahabrea, but his son … a long forgotten soul, a once beloved friend.

“It’s you…” Perhaps they’re in the Aetherial Sea still after all? But no, those who seemed “in charge” of it all, their strange requirements, it cannot be so. “Erichthonios?” And while he has no soul sight the way Emet-Selch and Hyhtlodaeus did, he can see that he is whole and bright and alive. He doesn’t run to meet the other in return, but when they do get close enough, he reaches out to clutch at Erichthonios’ hands and sleeves tightly like he’s certain he will otherwise lose him if he doesn’t hang on. “You…”

Edited 2022-11-21 05:49 (UTC)

Themis looks...lost. Erichthonios can't blame him for seeming out of it though and thinks nothing of it. Arriving here was strange and disorientating to say the least. It's a relief though, to have him grasp at him so tightly. The hand that has hodl of his is squeezed back reassuringly, blissfully unaware that the friend before him has endured thousands upon thousands of years of hardship and horrors.

The only horrors Erichthonios knows are those he's responsible for warding over in Pandaemonium.

"Full glad I am to see you! Oh, I was worried I would be here all alone...but what fortune I have to be with you! Truly, I am blessed."

Edited 2022-11-21 05:56 (UTC)

He would not like that he looks as lost as he feels. It’s already such an adjustment to feel as though he’s in his own body and not one that pulled itself from Zodiark’s heart so long ago. How does he begin to reconcile what Erichthonios is clearly experiencing versus what he himself is stuck in the middle of? He forgot, shamefully, that Lahabrea ever had a son or that he had been in any way associated with him. He had said his goodbyes.

“Blessed…” He repeats, voice a bit weak as he feels tears well up in his eyes- Vibrant blue eyes that only recently he would have failed to recognize as his own. His gaze drops to the way their hands grip one another, neither of them threatening to fade. “You’re really here, too. Erichthonios, I —“ he turns his eyes back up to that smiling, grateful face. It’s almost too much. All at once, Themis feels his heart breaking and healing and breaking again, and those tears push past their threshold to drift down his cheeks. “After all this time, I can finally meet you again?”

Even though he didn’t finish his duty, or at least it hadn’t ended the way he’d planned. Blessed, yes, that’s what this moment is.

"I am here as well, yes..."

His voice trails away however when he sees Themis' face scrunch up, tears pricking at the edges of his brilliant blue eyes. The smile on his face suddenly disappears, replaced with a look of concern, his own eyes wide as tears roll down the other boy's cheeks.

After all this time...what did he mean by that? Why was he crying? Sure, arriving here was upsetting but for someone as strong as Themis to cry...

He acts on impulse when he pulls his friend into a tight embrace, squeezing him against his chest. It's been some time since he had a hug himself but he remembers all too well how reassuring it felt to be held in the past. Perhaps he could pass along some semblance of comfort to him by doing so.

"Hey...it's all right. I know the circumstances of us meeting here are strange, but surely if we stick by one another things will be fine."

The innocence with which Erichthonios replies almost hurts more than anything else, yet Elidibus is also glad for it. The magicks of this place are strong indeed if they could not only pull beings from beyond life but also from different streams of time. That had to be the only explanation, he decides. Erichthonios is from a time before even Themis was sacrificed to save them from the Final Days.

His thoughts of whether ruining such innocence with the truth are interrupted when he’s taken into a strong embrace, tears being forced out of the way as he blinks in shock as he’s dragged so close against Erichthonios’ chest. Who in the past would have either dared or bothered to hold him like this uninvited? Perhaps memories of his remain unrecovered, because he cannot recall a single soul. Not even Azem. This simple but pure and meaningful gesture only seems to make his tears fall stronger. He presses his forehead into Erichthonios’ shoulder.

“Stranger than you could ever know,” he answers, after a time. Whether he explains it or not, this Erichthonios could not possibly grasp how impossible it feels that they could ever meet like this again. He puts his arms around Erichthonios, returning the embrace with his own tight grip. “There is so much I could say…” He continues, muffled into the blessedly familiar fabric of that black robe. “But I am glad to see you.”

Blissfully unaware of the fate that befalls him or their beloved star, all Erichthonios can do is operate off of instinct. Everything about their situation is strange but Themis is warm and familiar, his presence a comfort. Perhaps he is overstepping by hugging him but there was nothing better, at least in his opinion, than to be embraced when one was distraught to the point of tears. Their people may not have been particularly open when it came to physicality but Erichthonios was different in that regard. Perhaps it was his father's burning passion that lit such a flame within him?

Either way, it didn't matter. What mattered was Themis was crying and he wanted to do what he could to make him stop. Holding him close he lets a hand reach up to stroke the back of his head. It's tender, perhaps even a bit too intimate for simple friends...but it feels like the right thing to do. His mother, despite what she had been revealed to be, had done this for him when he had been beside himself with grief in the past. It had always soothed him.

Hopefully for Themis it would have the same effect.

"And I will be glad to listen to every word you wish to grace me with, my friend...but please, do not give into sorrow. Whatever troubles may befall us here, surely we can shoulder them together?"

It feels utterly foolish to lose himself in front of another like he is, especially one not of the Convocation, but it seems that Elidibus truly can't help himself. It's as though he can no longer hold all the weight he's been carrying, faced with a loved one now as he is. The past returns to him, as well as the harsh reminder that he failed to save it.

But he is nothing if not resilient, and manages to calm himself a bit, breath slowing as he wills the tears to stop falling, even if a few still escape silently down pale cheeks.

"Yes. Yes, of course, you are right." He answers, distancing himself a little from the embrace. Fortunately, he doesn't completely revert back to business only. The emotion is far too strong for that. "Erichthonios, will you call me by that name again?" His true name, long forgotten and out of use.

"Themis?"

His friend may have pulled back slightly from him but Erichthonios keeps him close, a hand reaching up to dab at wet cheeks with the sleeve of his robe. He simply cannot help himself.

"Of course. I know you are of the Convocation and are Elidibus and duty bound...but you will always be Themis to me. If you will allow me to call you by your name, I will gladly do so, as many times as you wish."

"Thank you." Themis nods, finally allowing himself to smile at least a little bit. He stills Erichthonios' hand at his cheeks, but contents himself with merely holding it instead. "I don't know if you will believe it, but it has been a long time since anyone called me by that name."

And that's all he says of that for now, taking a moment to glance at their surroundings again at long last. Erichthonios was right. They have to figure out their current problem together.

"Did you just arrive here as well?"

He allows Themis to hold his hand, not taking it back, more than happy to let him continue to grasp it. There is a bit of worry about Themis' words and what they may mean when he says someone hasn't called him by his name in quite some time, but he does his best not to focus on that right now.

"I have, yes. I only just arrived. It was quite disorientating, but I am so relieved that you are here with me.

In due time, he figures. In due time he can decide what will or will not break Erichthonios to know, and he himself can learn a bit more about the time discrepensies here. For now, is it so wrong to wish to indulge in the other's company? Surely, even though their duty failed in the end, he deserves at least this much.

"Then I will do all in my power to keep you safe." That much at least he's sure he can do. "I do not know why they wish to hold us captive here under their strange demands. Perhaps if we play along for now, we will learn all that we need to know to get home again."

"And I you. Together surely we can overcome whatever we encounter."

Themis' promise has him smiling wide, the urge to hug him again close almost overwhelming. He resists however, stopping short of squeezing his friend to his chest.

"Mayhaps we will...the demands they want from us are rather peculiar I will admit." And embarrassing. Extremely embarrassing.

"Splendid. I'm counting on you then, Erichthonios." Even though he fully intends to take on full responsibility himself. Still, when he searches his mind for those faded memories of Pandaemonium, he can recall how quickly Lahabrea's boy stepped up to the plate and proved himself a worthy ally. He knows he can believe in him to truly do his best for them.

As for the requirements, Themis frowns a bit, recalling with mild distaste certain tristes he had witnessed his fellow Ascians engage in. Truly it had never been his style. But if it is to protect this precious soul from their beloved star, he will do whatever it takes.

"They are peculiar. But should not be so large an obstacle that we cannot surpass it." His smile is far too innocent as he turns it onto Erichthonios, confirming that indeed he is fully prepared to look into the matter with him specifically. "Together." As if he would let anyone else lay a finger upon his friend here now that they have reunited without either fading away as if a dream...

It feels wonderful to hear Themis say that he'll count on him. It causes him to brighten, happily, cheeks warm from the affection he feels for his friend.

Together. That singular word holds a promise to it, a weight that has him squeezing onto Themis' fingers tightly. Is it a proposition for what's to come in the future? Might as well be.

"Y-Yes...together. If you are willing of course."

If only Erichthonios truly knew how valued he is in this moment. Though, as good as he is with words, Themis still struggles to decide where a good place to start is.

It's definitely a proposition of sorts. He knows what he's suggesting and what such intimacy also suggests... but what other choice do they have right now? He is certainly not handing the son of the great Lahabrea, and his own dear companion, off to some unworthy person (whether they're whole of soul or not). This, surely, is his new duty now, to protect his people and keep them from harm.

"Our collaborative work in the past was always favorable. Of course I am more than willing." Themis answers in his clinical, professional sort of way. But a moment later, he pauses, studying Erichthonios briefly before his free hand comes to rest upon their joined fingers. "And. I do not know that I could bear seeing you in the hands of another. I lost you once ..." Twice, really, if you count his final goodbye and then later the loss of Erichthonios in his memory altogether. Either way, he isn't letting him go again. More words perhaps that won't be understood, but Themis means them wholeheartedly nonetheless.

If he knew he wouldn't know how to handle such information. Erichthonios has, after all, spent much of his youth feeling undervalued, trapped in the shadow of his brilliant father. Themis was the first in a long time to have him believe in himself, to feel as if he could accomplish something on his own.

The admission Themis graces him with has him flushing, despite the fact he doesn't fully understand what he means. "You lost me once...?" There's something ominous about those words and he's not sure he wants to know the true meaning behind them.

"Well...I'm not going anywhere. Who else's care would I rather be in?"

If they're going to have a lot of free time from now on, whether in this place or back in the lifestream, Themis will make sure that Erichthonios comes to understand what it means to be valued. He knows now that Lahabrea's distant methods were perhaps done out of love for his child, but it clearly did nothing for his son's sense of self-worth.

As for the comment, he merely gives a nod. "Yes. I believe that, if you are unaware of what I speak of, whatever brought us to this place is capable of pulling us not only from different worlds but different times as well." That's just his hypothesis so far.

But he smiles softly after a moment. "What is the last thing you remember, Erichthonios?"

"The last thing I remember is that we were in Pandaemonium together. At least that is the last time I saw you. If we met after that then I am unaware of it."

Which is kind of distressing to think about, if he takes a moment to actually take into consideration what Themis means. If they were from different times...what exactly had happened to him? What had happened to all of them?

But...there was no point in worrying about that. Not when there were more pressing matters to tend to.

He nods at that, for it's what he's come to expect by now. It's troubling though, knowing that Erichthonios is from a simpler, happier time, a time when Themis when young himself, eager to impress his associates in the Convocation and where working too hard was his greatest troubles. He looks down a moment but tries not to get weighed down by this reality again.

"And I am much, much older than I appear."

A man grown, more or less. Though he gave his life while still but a youth, he'd pulled himself out of their god fully grown. Looking down at himself, he has to wonder if it is the Warrior of Light and the Crystal Exarch's doing that he appears this way, or if the Lifestream has truly restored him to his purest form.

But he can ponder that later. Perhaps when he's alone. There are more pressing matters...

"We will take this one step at a time, though. Did they tell you where you're staying?"

"...You are?"

Should he...ask him how old he is? No, that would be impolite. He'll just take Themis at his word. Besides, what did it matter if he was older than him? He was already a higher ranking than him in society to begin with so what did age matter? He didn't have to feel inadequate over it...right? Themis was Themis.

That was the important thing to focus on.

"Aye, they did. It isn't far from here...if I remember correctly." And he lists off the address. "What about you?" Hopefully they wouldn't be far from one another.

He nods. "Yes. It is the simplest way to explain it." Without bringing in harrowing details, that is.

Well, even if he has returned to his true self, he is sure Erichthonios will learn soon enough that he's not the same person. A sad thought, but true nonetheless.

He blinks at the given address. "That is what I was given too." It brings a lot of new questions to mind, though none of them are important. He gets to stay with Erichthonios, that's good enough. "Shall we go there?" Whether they talk or take care of certain requirements, he'd rather keep Erichthonios to himself in private for a little while.

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."

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