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

[outforblood]

[the touch seems to reassure him, gentle as it is; what little tension had built up even in the wake of hades' touch eases from his shoulders again. mitsunari shifts a little closer, listening for hades' sounds of pleasure as he keeps going, tongue curling against hades' cock as he takes more of it into his mouth.

his attentions are a little haphazard but still steady and careful. he digs his knees harder into the floor to keep himself stable and moves his hand up from hades' thigh to graze his other hip, pushing his head forward to take hades to the hilt.]

[rottings]

[ there's nothing particularly arousing for hades in the physical sensation itself. his corporeal body reacts, to be sure, but what causes the warmth in his chest is the sight of mitsunari pushing himself.

mitsunari might not be straining yet, but hades makes a soft sound of approval all the same, just as mitsunari takes him in all the way. he holds his hips steady despite the overwhelmingly pleasurable feeling of tight warmth around his cock. only his hand tightens in mitsunari's hair to an almost painful point, holding his head down as he feels himself getting closer. ]

[outforblood]

[that reaction is as good as any word of praise. at the slight pain, mitsunari shivers faintly, his own grip on hades' hips getting a little harder but not to the point of digging in.

he can't tell if hades is getting closer, so he doesn't relent. he uses his tongue to as best advantage as he can. his eyes have drifted shut, entirely dedicated to what he's doing, and he has no intention of pulling away when hades does come.]

[rottings]

[ that dedication is something else, really. hades smiles faintly down at him, lips parting slightly when he actually has to catch his breath.

he comes without making much sound beyond a huff of an exhale, spilling into mitsunari's mouth. he loosens his grip in his hair a moment later, though he doesn't start pulling away, just smooths down mitsunari's slightly rumpled hair with petting motions. ]

[outforblood]

[mitsunari tenses as he tries to swallow all of it, though he's not completely successful as is evident when he does, finally, pull away and some escapes down the side of his chin. he breathes a little heavily, fingers slowly uncurling from around hades' hips to drift down, back to his sides.

he doesn't shy away from the touch. instead he looks up at hades, considering if he should ask if he did well while knowing that the fact that hades is still this close, his hand still on mitsunari, probably answers that question completely.]

[rottings]

[ hades pats mitsunari's a few more times before sliding his hand under mitsunari's chin and pulling slightly, urging him to stand up. ]

Somewhat untidy. [ he lets his fingertips drag through the remaining cum on mitsunari's face, swiping it up and then pressing his fingers to his lips again. he rubs the cum over mitsunari's lower lip, then tries to do the same over his tongue. ] But, pleasant.

[outforblood]

[mitsunari stands when urged and doesn't seem to mind when hades' fingers run over his face, on his lip. he obliges the press against his mouth and lets hades into his mouth.

he's more relaxed now than he's been in a while, especially once hades speaks. he stays silent until hades draws his hand away.]

I'm glad I could be of service to you.

[his voice is fairly quiet. he absolutely means it.]

[rottings]

[ hades smiles when mitsunari accepts the cum into his mouth, an almost casual expression of pleasure, as if he isn't doing what he's doing at the moment. eventually, he retracts his hand, not bothering to wipe it dry on his clothes. ]

Come with me to lunch.

[ he doesn't speak of what's just occurred. ]

[outforblood]

[it's not a question, just a simple command, and mitsunari nods immediately, though he doesn't act right away.]

Do you wish me to change and clean up first?

[his own clothes, he knows, are still rumpled and bear the evidence of his own pleasure at hades' hands.]

[rottings]

[ hades shrugs slightly, which could mean anything, as he rearranges his clothes into a proper appearance. once done, he looks the same as he did before, not a hair out of place.

without clarifying any further, he departs to the dining room for lunch. ]

[outforblood]

[mitsunari decides, after hades leaves, that the option is up to him, and so he makes his way back to his own quarters to clean up and change before attending lunch.

it only takes him a minute or so, and he's swiftly at the dining room, looking no different than he did a moment ago aside from his clothes and the lessened tension in his shoulders.]

[rottings]

[ hades is at the head of the dining table, reclining on his side. he holds an olive in one hand for a moment, considering it, before he eats it in slow, small bites. he looks up at mitsunari when he enters.

his smile is slow. it might suggest something, as much as hades is capable of suggesting. none of the other seats around him are taken. ]

[outforblood]

[glancing around at the room as he enters, mitsunari sees no other guests, only the occasional servant, and makes his way to hades' side. with no one else around he goes to the seat on hades' left.

for a moment he hesitates, debating whether it's appropriate for him to sit, or if he should stand as he has in the past. eventually he does sit down, eyeing the food available with the same sort of distance he always does.]

I apologize for my lateness.

[rottings]

Hm. [ hades looks slightly to the side at mitsunari before his gaze slides away again. he finishes the olive before speaking. ]

There is still food.

[outforblood]

So I see.

[he suspects hades intends him to eat, and he can't dismiss it or argue this time. tentatively he takes some bread and contemplates eating it.]

... you said you would leave other things to me now. If I may ask ... what will they be?

[rottings]

[ don't just look at the bread! put it in your mouth and chew. come on, mitsunari. it's not that hard. ]

Hm. [ hades tilts his head to the side slightly, hair sliding off his shoulder. ] Wait here a moment.

[ he gets to his feet and walks out of the room with no other explanation. he's back within a few minutes, though, with mitsunari's sword in his hands. ]

[outforblood]

[he was going to! really, he was.

and then hades returns with the sword, and everything else becomes unimportant. everything else stops existing.

mitsunari sets down the bread very slowly and stares at the sword in shock. it's almost as if he doesn't believe hades is really holding it. he can't find words for a moment, and when he finally does speak, it's hoarse, almost choked.]

-- how?

[rottings]

[ hades is most definitely holding a real, tangible sword. he doesn't seem to notice its weight, though, as he comes to stand by where mitsunari is sitting. he cants his head to one side slightly, a smile curling across his lips.

it is not precisely the same sword (though hades could have obtained that, as god of all things under the earth and thus its riches, to be used for commerce—that would have simply taken longer). but it's still mitsunari's weapon, with the same weight, appearance, and every physical and even possibly spiritual indication of familiarity.

god of all things under the earth—that includes the dead, and the things the cause death.

he passes it to mitsunari almost casually before going back to his previous seat, without giving an explanation. he simply leans on an elbow and continues to smile at his slave. ]

[outforblood]

[mitsunari can't tell the difference. as far as he knows, it's his sword, the one that was destroyed in that last awful battle, left to rust and be trampled in the dirt - here now, whole and perfect, and as he takes it his hands are shaking.

for a few moments he just runs his hands across it, pulling the blade partway from the sheathe to check the blade. it's as if it was never in that last fight. there's no nicks on the blade that weren't there before. it isn't filthy with blood and mud. the weapon of his lord's will is in his hands again.

there's no explanation, but for now he doesn't ask for one. he sheathes it again, slips off the seat to his knees at hades' side and bows his head, gripping the sword like a lifeline.]

Thank you. [his voice is trembling, as is the rest of him. if hades intended to secure mitsunari's loyalty, this one act probably did the trick.]

[rottings]

[ hades watches mitsunari kneel by his seat, eyes dark and cool. ]

...hmph. [ he considers briefly reaching out, to touch him, but at this angle he'd probably end up just patting his hair—which, admittedly, is something that he already does, but he can see mitsunari shaking, so he does nothing for now. ] Do you know what it is meant for, by yourself?

[outforblood]

[he doesn't raise his head when hades speaks, working to control himself and not flat out press his head to the ground in gratitude. it's difficult. he never, ever imagined he'd have so much as a decent memory of his former life returned to him, much less his sword.]

To serve you as you see fit. [mitsunari takes a slightly shaky breath and seems to calm down.] You spoke of those who needed to be cut down for their slights. If this is something you require, I will act. And if not ... then I will not.

[rottings]

These requirements—are unspoken, as of yet. [ he doesn't reach for more food, but he does prop himself up on an elbow to get a better look at mitsunari. ]

You will know of these slights.

[outforblood]

[he's a bit calmer now, but he still doesn't look up or stand. slowly, mitsunari sets the sword on his knees, fingers wrapped tightly around the sheathe.]

The actions of those who would seek to undermine you and your authority. [after a moment - ] And that of your family.

[rottings]

In terms of family, I have no concerns. [ they can handle themselves, as far as hades is concerned. ]

And of my authority?

[outforblood]

[mitsunari nods, willing to leave them to their own defense. his grip on the sheathe loosens very slightly, then tightens again at the question.]

It is absolute. Those who deny it will pay with their lives. Those who doubt it will learn otherwise.