i put socks on my feet

[rottings]

[ hades himself isn't much one for social pleasantries, but he there's great importance to dinners like these, and watching their interactions really is fascinating. the meal is already winding down, but the poet who's been declaiming for the better part of an hour is still going strong.

hades is mostly ignoring him and picking at his food, humming occasional acknowledgement to when people talk to him, as head of the house. most of the slaves waiting on them are positioned around the perimeter of the room, while hades has left mitsunari largely to his own devices. ]

Comments

[rottings]

You wouldn't run.

[ now, he places a hand on mitsunari's head, and after a pause, begins stroking his hair gently. ]

[outforblood]

I wouldn't -

[he starts at that contact, tensing visibly, as if ready to attack. but when it's not an immediate threat, he slowly tries to relax again, though his tone is more wary than before.]

... I would never commit such a dishonorable act. This may not be the place I have sought, but it is mine until you see fit to determine otherwise.

[rottings]

[ after that, hades goes quiet for a long while, but he keeps his hand on mitsunari's head, resting lightly on his hair without saying a word. he has things he could say, but it isn't time yet.

he can be patient.

also, he's interested to see if the man can fall asleep like this. he'd be impressed. ]

[outforblood]

[it takes a while for the tension to ease out of him again, under hades' touch. he waits to be left alone again, but it doesn't come.

after a while he just tries to sleep once more. while not entirely successful, he manages to doze, though the slightest movement is liable to wake him in an instant.]

[rottings]

[ human will is an amazing thing.

hades lets him doze, and goes very still, himself. not moving isn't very difficult for him. he can just let his mind think instead of moving his body, or let the edges of his consciousness expand beyond the boundaries of his body.

it's quite a while later before he does move, and only to lift his hand. ]

[outforblood]

[at that point, mitsunari's almost asleep enough to miss the movement. he shifts and opens his eyes when the slight weight lifts, glancing at hades.

a question forms, and his jaw tenses as he almost speaks, but for once he keeps his silence. for a moment he watches hades; then he shuts his eyes again, but he's listening, very closely.]

[rottings]

[ he senses rather than sees the shift in mitsunari's body; his gaze is following something moving in the distance. still, hades is aware. he always is, though he might not look it.

after another moment of silence, he reaches towards the side of the bed to take hold of one of the light covers and draws it over mitsunari's body—almost tucking him in, but also covering his face. hades expects him to not protest it, but, well. he's waiting to see. ]

[outforblood]

[briefly, mitsunari does consider a protest. he doesn't like being blind to the world. but here, in this place, there is little likely to attack him, or hades, he figures. and he can still hear.

so after a moment he relaxes again, as much as he can, and despite all his best efforts he drifts off. no matter how much he tries otherwise, he's still human - and it's hades' will that he at least attempts to rest.]

[rottings]

[ he didn't protest, so hades lets him be. without making a sound, he rises from the bed and takes a few steps to look out the window. he spends a while there, but doesn't leave the room.

it's quite a while later—around lunchtime—when he returns to mitsunari on the bed. with light touch he pulls the blanket back to expose his face, then leans down so close that he can feel mitsunari's shallow breathing on his cheek.

he doesn't move as he says, ] Mitsunari.

[outforblood]

[the effect is instantaneous: mitsunari's awake in an instant, eyes snapping open. he jerks away from hades out of instinct and his hand closes around nothing that should be something. for a split second he's confused, completely off-balance, but then he calms, recognizing hades again.]

-- yes? [he looks at the sun falling through the doorway and almost flinches.] I've been asleep far too long. Forgive my negligence.

[rottings]

[ hades makes a dismissive motion with his hand. mitsunari sleeping doesn't bother him much. ]

You sought something. You seek, as well.

[ he passes a hand over mitsunari's face, then lets his hand rest on his hair and strokes it casually. ]

[outforblood]

[he stares in silence for longer than necessary, tensing at the closeness, the casual touch.]

... yes, I do. Several things. Some will never be.

[every word is wary, carefully chosen. more care than he usually takes when he speaks.]

[rottings]

It's common. [ he speaks in a low tone, half-drawling, and finally just lets his hand rest in mitsunari's hair. ]

Did you sleep well?

[ it's an oddly mundane question, and abrupt, but hades doesn't seem concerned by any part of the situation. ]

[outforblood]

[mitsunari watches hades blankly for a moment, as if he's never been asked that question before.]

I ... suppose so. More than well enough to suit this body's demands.

[he'd sit up, but the hand in his hair keeps him still. mostly still.]

Do you have need of me?

[rottings]

Does the sky have need of the earth?

[ his hand slides along the side of mitsunari's face, cupping his chin gently. hades looks down on him, a faint smile on his face. ]

[outforblood]

[his brow creases in confusion, abruptly lost by the comparison.]

Is that relevant?

[mitsunari doesn't pull away from the touch, only shifts his arm to take some of the pressure off it.]

[rottings]

...it might be. [ hades' mouth tightens briefly before he stands from the bed, breaking contact abruptly. ]

Otherwise, still—there is a relation. Would you change it?

[outforblood]

[he sits up fully, watching hades uneasily.]

Even if such a thing were possible, no. [a moment of silence where he tests his own words, then - ] I do not do well with metaphors. If you wish something of me, then I've failed to understand it. The error is mine, but ... I still don't know what it is you desire.

[rottings]

If I asked you to try to change such things... you'd try and change them, hm.

[ but now, more importantly, he has other questions. not out of curiosity, now, but for entertainment. hades turns to mitsunari and without much preamble sets a hand on his stomach, fingers curling around his hip. ]

[outforblood]

If it's within the bounds of possibility, I will try. Anything else would -

[he jumps slightly at the sudden contact, at the fingers curling at his hip, looking down as if expecting to see a blade. there isn't one. he hesitates a moment before speaking again.]

- would be negligence.

[rottings]

I will not let neglect stand. [ his hand remains where it is, certainly solid but not very warm. ]

Was there one who did?

[outforblood]

[that confirmation makes him a little less tense, though his look reads that he's not sure how much of that is truth, and how much is just hades being hades.]

In ways, yes. Most people I've met are neglectful. [his expression hardens.] Wretched cowards that they are - it's only luck that they escaped the punishment they deserve.

[rottings]

Then punish them.

[ hades' voice is low and quiet, but steady. his smile, now, is sickly sweet. he rubs a thumb over the jutting rise of mitsunari's hipbone. ]

[outforblood]

Would that I had the opportunity, they would be permitted to redeem themselves only with their lives. With my blade I would make them atone by blood!

[he's not exactly paying attention; his eyes are fixed at some point past hades, seeing the lives - or one life, in particular - of said cowards. after a moment, though, his expression darkens.]

... but in your lands such things are not left to me.

[rottings]

[ hades makes a vague sound of acknowledgement, neither agreement nor disapproval. his hand drifts up mitsunari's side, fingers barely pressing down. ]

...inside, the heat that comes from rotting is rising.

I think I shall leave some more things to you, now. [ he brings his other hand to cup the side of his face. ] Mitsunari.

Do you have your blade?