omnicrafter | Duplicity IC Inbox

[Yes, he does recall she did seem to find a strange kind of amusement in unravelling him, despite the situation. What a time and place for it... although, true, it seemed the shadows would tolerate little else.]

If not my responsibility, then whose? Those thoughts were not planted in my mind by another, they are mine alone.

Quite how you found fun in such a situation is beyond me. I fear that for my part, the memory is tainted by cruel whispers, taunts, and the unforgivable pressure put upon you to act. It is not one I wish to look back on. If only it were possible that the memory could be written anew, free from shadows and guilt, then I might look upon you without this feeling of deepest shame.

Edited 2019-10-01 09:33 (UTC)

Perhaps it would be easier to understand if I put it this way: I had fun with it because I like you a lot.

And, well... we could rewrite it anew, just... as a suggestion. But I won't pressure you into it. I already feel like I've traumatized you enough.

[As he reads over the message, he groans slightly - that was not quite the intention of his message, but the answer fits only too well. To create a happier memory to mask the terrible one...

...and it would probably help Irhya as well. He can’t have her feeling guilty for it.]

You have not. It was my nightmare, a creation of my mind, and I will hear no more unwarranted apologies from you.

Your actions were not unwelcome then, and they shall not be unwelcome in future. I only ask that there be no looming shades of doubt and anxiety present, for they distract me from what is truly important.

[Would he have been able to say that out loud? Probably not. Did it take him several attempts to compose that statement and several awkward seconds of hesitating over the send button? Absolutely.]

"In the future"... so you mean...?

You're sure? I won't be barking up the wrong tree if I offer?

[ At some apparently random day of the month, there is a box left outside Irhya's apartment door. It's fairly plain, with only a dark blue ribbon to hold it shut. But there appears to be shifting sounds coming from inside...

Should she open the box, she will find a small kitten coloured dark grey-blue. It sports a pair of diminutive whiskers which give a light shock when touched. A baby coeurl.

There is no card or note left behind but it carries the same sort of aetheric feel that her Amaurotine minion does. ]

[Yeah, like she wouldn't put two and two together within two seconds of seeing it.

Irhya marches herself to Hades's door and knocks, crossing her arms and looking at him at a slight angle when he opens it. There is a very peculiar smile on her face, though.]

Don't think I don't know who sent it, you. How did you know it was my nameday, anyway?

[ He is expecting to see her, but her question leaves him with a confused frown. ]

I did not know it was your nameday. 'Tis a return gift for your Starlight present.

...Eh?

[Oh.

She stares at him blankly, blinking a few times open-mouthed before she comes up with a response.]

How convenient, then. I wasn't actually expecting you to return it either way... What made you decide to after the fact?

[ A slight tilt of his head. ]

Is it not a common courtesy to offer a return gift? I'm fairly certain that was the custom of the holiday. The only reason I had nothing prepared on the day is because I was not expecting any gifts to begin with.

[ Least of all from...well, her. Any of them. ]

Why wouldn't I? I told you I don't hate you, and like it or not, we're... close, I guess.

["Close" is a loaded word, meaning more proximity-wise than emotionally, but it gets the point across.]

I guess I just didn't know if you'd participate in it or not. You... [a hesitation,] still have it?

[ Ordinarily, he thinks to himself, one doesn't give presents to those one doesn't already like either. He sighs though and nods. ]

I keep it on my desk. Along with every other gift I was given on the day. Why? Did you think I would dispose of it?

[She stares in silence for several moments, her ears slowly tipping downward.]

I... I wasn't sure.

[Which is silly, really; he may think of them as lesser beings, but he also hasn't ever displayed open malice with them, either. Even if it didn't mean all that much, it didn't seem his style to take their kindnesses and throw them in the trash.

...She'd told herself it'd be fine even if he did, but maybe that wasn't quite true.]

Can I... come in?

[ He glances over his shoulder as if assessing the state of the room then steps back and holds the door open for her. Since the last time she visited, it has undergone a radical transformation thanks to Felih. Marine themed decorations suffuse the apartment and a light blue, undulating screen of water aether hangs over the wall-length window which looks out upon the city, giving the space a feel of being underwater. A snap of his fingers turns the screen 'off', restoring natural light to the room.

The kitchen looks like it's just been used. There are a few neatly arranged dishes and utensils drying by the sink. There are also appliances which certainly hadn't been present before. ]

Would you like some water? [ he asks once he shuts the door behind her. ]

[Irhya peers around, intrigued by the changes. She utters a small laugh at his offer.]

No, I'm fine, thank you. Especially when I feel like I'm under six fulms of water already.

[And perhaps it's some sort of irony, being themed as the bottom of the ocean, but...]

What prompted the redecorating? It's nice.

Felih said he missed the sea. So I allowed him to decorate the place.

[ The screen, though - the screen is all his doing. There's a flat piece of blue crystal on the wall by the window that suggests it's what normal people can use to turn it on and off.

He strides over to the couch and collapses into it with a small sigh, sliding down until he can rest his head on its back, eyes shut. ]

If you want to check that your globe is unharmed, 'tis in my room, on the desk as I said, [ he says, lifting an arm to gesture carelessly in its direction. ]

[Does he really not care that she goes snooping about? There's a moment of bewildered staring as she's unable to come to a conclusion.]

Oh... Thanks, I guess.

[But now that he's outright invited her to do so, she might as well. Perhaps seeing little trinkets like that in his room will make it seem more personal, right? She pads off in that direction, opening the door cautiously even though she knows no one else could be in there; it just seems invasive, going in someone's room for reasons other than sex these days...]

[ It is readily apparent once she sees his room why he may not care who wanders in.

There is very little by way of personal effects inside. Even his desk, which does indeed have her snowglobe upon it amongst his other Starlight gifts, only has two notebooks set neatly in its centre. There are, perhaps surprisingly, a variety of pens and pencils in a holder, all of varying thicknesses and hardness.

A thick, handbound tome sits to the side: a collection of plays from Eorzea with beautiful illustrations, noted inside the cover as being compiled by 'The Radiant Matriarch' and a friend; beside it, an ornate music box done in the Amaurotine style plays a gentle tune (Neath Dark Waters) when opened; and finally a larger globe which seems to have no immediately obvious purpose. At least not while the lights are on.

Meanwhile of the two notebooks, one contains scribblings related to his work and the other contains diagrams and sketches written in a foreign language. They seem to be designs based off the technology and concepts he has found here.

The only other point of interest are the drawers beneath the desk, one of which is soundly locked. The other merely contains blank notebooks, spare stationery, a collection of small, empty crystals bought from the market, and some neatly arranged electronic paraphernalia. His bed is freshly made and smells clean. The closet merely holds his usual outfits.

The en-suite bathroom is unremarkable. ]

Edited (I KEEP FORGETTING THINGS) 2020-01-19 10:20 (UTC)

[Mostly mundane, other than that locked drawer, which forces her to swat away terrible ideas at how to force it open, or learn to pick the lock or something. Assuming it is a thing of importance and not simply something he doesn't want to see... It's also a chore prying herself away from those concepts, her curiosity over his creation magic still burning bright.

Irhya emerges from his room, looking oddly dissatisfied at first before circling around behind him, placing hands on his shoulders and speaking with a coy tone.]

What's in that locked drawer? Anything good?

[If this were Aymeric, it'd be his secret candy stash, or something like that. Haurchefant, probably something explicit. But what does Hades value so much as a material possession that he would lock it away? The only things he seems to truly care for are rooted in his life in Amaurot, but he couldn't have just obtained something from a long-lost civilization like that, right? So what else had personal significance to him...?]

I'm going to guess it's not a sex toy.

[ His eyes flicker open. He stares up at her, hands folded loosely in his lap, legs crossed, a deadpan expression on his face. ]

'Tis most certainly not a sex toy.

[ He hopes she never sees the item inside as one. That would be a poor joke. ]

And it is also certainly none of your business what is inside that drawer.

Edited 2020-01-20 15:19 (UTC)

What could be so important that you'd lock it away? Scared someone will steal it?

[Her head peeks around one side to grin at him.]

You don't have to show me or anything, I just wanna know.

You will want to if I tell you.

[ It doesn't matter how many promises a hero makes to the contrary, he thinks sourly. They will always do the right thing. And if the right thing happens to be snaring an Ascian and destroying them body and soul, well... He scowls at her. ]

Mayhap not now, but you will.

What does that even mean? A weapon...?

[But she has one of her own, so that makes no sense, does it?

Mayhap not now, but you will.

Then, the thought occurs to her as she puts the pieces together, recalling the moment Urianger gave it to her in the first place. It's a long shot, but after a pause...]

...The auracite.

[ His gaze hardens; his lips thin. Abruptly, he sits up and gets to his feet, striding to the kitchen. He doesn't say anything as he pours himself a glass of water from the fridge. But then again, he doesn't have to, does he? ]

[Her mouth hangs open as she processes his reaction. So... that is it, then. No wonder he keeps it locked. As both a weapon and something he doesn't want to look at, most likely.

Perhaps it was better not to ask in the first place. Too late for that, though.]

I'm sorry.

[She sounds bewildered. At least she ascertained what she wanted to, but... she doesn't feel like leaving just yet. And, unfortunately, nameday sex doesn't seem to be on the menu.

Irhya circles around and kneels on one of the couch cushions, peering at him from afar.]

Come sit.

[ He glances at her sidelong, like a wary predator. Like he doesn't trust her with the knowledge she now has. But he brings his glass of cold water back to the couch and sits, maintaining a pointed distance while he sips.

He still doesn't say a word. ]

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