insideoflight | (no subject)

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[Exhaustion is hardly anything new for Naltryd. The moment she decided to become an adventurer, she knew that life ahead of her wasn't going to be easy, filled with hard knocks and barriers to overcome. Granted, those many years ago, she hadn't an idea that adventuring would lead to her at the very edge of the universe, fighting to save her world--nay, every world. Her exponentially growing adventures over time had lead to no small amount of injuries and near death experiences, though none had come quite as close to this one. Had that teleporter not appeared out of thin air, she knows she would have died alongside Zenos.

(The thought scares her less than she would have expected, but she's grateful to be alive nonetheless.)

Her friends and the healers in Sharlayan alike have done what they can for her, fixing up the most grievous of wounds, but even magic can only heal so much. The rest is up to her own body and time. It was difficult enough being bedridden for several days, and she's still only allowed outside of the Annex for stints at a time as she recovers (she's pretty sure the combined will of Alisae and G'raha will keep her from even accidentally stubbing a toe). Still, there's plenty of people coming and going to see her and keep her company, at least.

The person she wishes to talk to most, however, is still asleep. Not as if she knows exactly what she wants to say, granted.

Emet-Selch is the last to have awoken, though her worries have been lessened by Hythlodaeus' insistence that he's perfectly fine, just needs to sleep a little. Still, there's uncertainty there, as she doesn't know where this road is going to lead exactly. She doesn't know where the first step is going to fall.

And so she sits there at his bedside, still-healing bruises and scrapes across the skin of hers that isn't still bandaged, thumbing through a book. It's difficult to focus; she's not sure if she can recall exactly what she read on the previous page, and her eyes keep flickering over to the sleeping Ancient in the bed beside her.]

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Aye, and I ought not press my luck in a newly formed body. Best to assume my own tolerance is as though I've never so much as sipped watered ale.

[A snap of the fingers, and the bottle is tightly corked.]

I have to admit, though, I am curious as to how you are inebriated. Though I suppose Hythlodaeus would be more than happy to tell me a few tales..

Mayhap you'll be able to find out in time. 'Tis a very short list that have seen my guard so thoroughly lowered, however, and I certainly won't be doing so under such uncertain circumstances.

One day, then.

[She hums a little.]

How do you feel right now, now that you aren't starving?

As though I am in need of that bath I asked about earlier.

Come to think of it, you ought consider a hot soak for yourself, to see those bruises healed faster.

I ought to. I can show you to where the baths are here, if you're ready.

I would appreciate it. I suppose we can discuss order once we're there?

[He stands up, and his expression takes on a familiar, teasingly playful edge.]

Unless you planned on lingering in hopes of stealing a peek, that is.

That--

[She huffs, glancing away to hide the slight pink across her cheeks.]

You would only wish. Come, then, before I leave you to bathe down at the harbor.

[And she'll just. Be getting up and heading towards the door, thank you very much.]

[Oh yes, it is fun to be the one causing the fluster. He snickers, brushing the wrinkles out of his robe again, and moves to follow.]

Very well, very well.

[Naltryd just rolls her eyes as she leads him down the hall. Now that was just terribly unfair, but she won't give him the pleasure of hearing her protest further.]

You can go first. I suppose I should fetch you something to wear that isn't just those robes, though I presume Tataru will corner you soon enough for something more permanent...

Or you could make sure it is a far more pleasant experience than being cornered, if you trust in my guidance.

[ Welcome, both of you, to Hythlodaeus peering out of the next open door with a most radiant smile on his face. He can see Hades's aether glowing faintly with smugness and that is such a beautiful sight, especially with how it has been recently. ]

[He's very much in a better mood than he was in Ultima Thule. Clearly the rest, food, and a chance to talk to Naltryd without the fate of any worlds hanging over them have done him some good.

His expression softens at the sight of Hythlodaeus, and he just shrugs.]

I had been planning on simply Creating myself a new outfit, but I would not object to being spared the effort.

[She smiles when she spots Hythlodaeus, hoping that any lingering flustered look she'd had is gone now.]

She does tend to be rather aggressive about it. Even so, the results tend to be amazing. How are you faring, Hythlodaeus? As you can see, Emet-Selch has decided to stop napping the days away.

[Yes, she knows he needed to recover, but she's going to tease anyway.]

Only if you think resisting is a good idea.

[ He gives mistress Y'shtola a bright, polite greeting of parting for the moment, and steps into the hallway to join them. ]

She does enjoy her craft, and perhaps you can wait to see what she prepares for us and base your creation off those outfits.

[ Because he knows if Hades doesn't like what mistress Tataru makes for Hythlodaeus, Hythlodaeus will get something created for him also. ]

I may yet return to bed when I'm done in the bath, you know. I didn't get near to enough sleep on the First...

[All that awful Light.]

And I have my own thoughts on the sorts of clothing I find most comfortable, but as you say, I can simply modify things as I will if I disapprove.

If it makes you feel any better, I didn't get nearly enough sleep there either.

[The light had affected herself twofold--both on the overflowing, bursting at the dam level inside of her from taking it all in, and the simple fact that trying to sleep was aggravating while the light still shone in the sky before she defeated the Lightwardens of each area.]

As mentioned, she's got a talent when it comes to fashion, so you ought to be in good hands. I warn you, though, to stay on her good side. She can be... Hm.

[How to put it.]

Scary when she means to be. Even I fear her.

Well, that sounds like an excuse for a slumber party. That is how they call that, no? [ Blithely, and possibly far too energetically to suggest he is in need of sleep (it's complicated but on the whole he doesn't want to be too far from either). ] Unless you have other plans, of course.

[ The last to Naltryd, because it needs to be said. If she though she was done with being flustered, she has forgotten who she is dealing with. ]

And I think we will find ways to appease her and not bring out her scary side. She is perfectly reasonable most of the time, and extremely knowledgeable in what she does.

[ He likes her so he will probably get Hades to not be too difficult with her. ]

You hardly sound as though you mean to do much slumbering. Mayhap I ought to suggest some books that would help rectify that, so you needn't feel left out?

Slumber--ah. I mean, I...

[She clears her throat, trying not to look as awkward as she feels. Not uncomfortable, just awkward.]

Well, I suppose I wouldn't mind the company, and I'm sure that aside from sleep, we've all much to talk about.

[The fact she doesn't outright reject the idea says enough.]

I am very open to your suggestions, Hades. The building has quite the extensive library available, it is so lovely to be resident in a place whose objective is research.

[ Yeah he was already planning on reading through as much as possible because that's been thousands of years when his brain was ... not exactly stimulated and he wants to remedy that. ]

And I do like none of us being left behind. Of course, eventually we will all have things to do, but until then...

[ He's inviting himself to the bath party but also that's likely not exactly new - and it's been a long time since he's had the chance to wash and Hades's hair. And yes, by this point he can tell they are going towards a bathing space. It is a marvelous idea. ]

We do have much to talk about, though it need not all be talked of immediately.

[Ah, to be called by that name again. Since accepting the seat of Emet-Selch, there were very few he still allowed to call him by his true name, and even then it was only when in personal company. Hearing it now brings up a warm sense of nostalgia, comforting with the knowledge that those days aren't as gone as he once feared.]

I'm afraid I'm not especially familiar with this particular library. My own collection, however, ought to still be safe in the Rift betwixt the shards.

I shall have to collect it later, after I have had my relaxing soak.

[Right, Hades... She's still unsure if she ought to use that name. Despite her being more than half of Azem's soul, it still seems almost too intimate, though isn't entirely sure of how Ancient customs are when it comes to true names. For the Convocation members, especially.]

Raha's collected quite the library in just this building over time, and there's an enormous one in the city, should you care to see sometime. While I presume a lot of it may be knowledge already known to you, they could still be worth reading. And though it's in a much more concealed corner, there's a collection of fiction in the library here that I find has plenty of fascinating things to read.

[ Hythlodaeus's smile grows a little bit less... exuberant. ]

When it comes to natural sciences, I would assume I likely know most, yes. When it comes to social sciences, I am rather behind, I must admit. So I should have reading waiting for me for quite some time.

[ Yes, Hades, he'll be reading all about your political exploits that he missed. He's likely to have questions about some of them, as he goes along.

He already did say he's open to suggestions, but now he turns the smile towards Naltryd specifically. ]

Do you have favorites, among the fiction?

Some many thousand years' worth of history...much of it lost, though some details are not much to mourn. I suggest a strong drink when it comes time to read about certain aspects of the Third Astral Era...Allag was something of a mistake.

[And not just because it produced Amon, though Amon is certainly an...example of what he means.]

Fortunately, I am well familiar with present cultures, so you needn't worry about feeling like a proper, aquatic fish out of water.

Well, that bipedal shark was out of water, was he not, back on Elpis?

[She rather fondly remembers Hythlodaeus' rant before Venat joined them.]

Regardless, let us take things a step at a time.