⌛ Who: Venti, Hypnos, Giovanni, Bloody Mary ⌛ What: Finally made a permanent log for closed top levels. Look at me go. ⌛ When: Various times. ⌛ Where: Various. ⌛ Warnings: Will note in headers as they are needed.
[Thanatos has been struggling with being here, to a point that he's having difficulty in hiding it from his twin brother. It would be hard to hide anything from him to begin with, but the way that the blurred border between life and death has been wearing on him is starting to show.
There's a moment between when Hypnos calls for him and when he appears. Few people actually call for Thanatos in that way, so when they do he pays attention. When it's family, he would almost always respond.]
All right.
[He appears with his feet on the floor, without his scythe, and without most of his armour pieces. What would be the use of them when he's just spending some time with his brother?]
[ He didn't want to turn this into much of a trip, but enough to get out of the house for a little while. There had been a hill he had seen in passing, and with so many gone at the party - it's quiet out. So it's really the perfect time to sit outside on top of his oversized cloak. So it'd just be them out there, enjoying the cool air and the stars. He wasn't just considering that it was good for watching to see if time resets, but a good time to spend with Thanatos.
And he knows that if Thanatos rejects the idea, he's ready to make adjustments. Right now - he just wants to be with his favorite person here. ]
Everyone else is out at that party, so it's a perfect time for us.
[Thanatos sighs, but it isn't the kind of sigh that usually comes before he says something sharp or unkind. It's a soft, tired-sounding thing before he nods and all too easily gives in to his brother's request. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad, and... maybe he would like to spend some time with Hypnos, too.]
Lead the way.
[And he steps up beside his twin, briefly and gently pushing a hand against the small of his back to get him going.]
[ He smiles towards Thanatos. The look is soft and affectionate. He loves his brother more than anything, so he's glad to share this with him. Hand on his back, he casts his brother a glance before he starts forward. ]
I know you are.
[ He's -- not nervous about the possibility of things getting reset. He's actually pretty unbothered by the idea. Still, he'd rather be with the most important person in his life than at a party if it were to happen. Because if things were to reset, then that means he'll be at his brother's side at the start of it all again. ]
I'm really glad you're here, Thanatos. As easy as others were to get along with, it's only ever felt right to me with you here.
[ While he's always been far more in touch with his feelings, he doesn't know how to explain it. Is it god thing? A twin thing? Or is it both - and simply a them thing? He'll be, for the most part, quiet for the walk as he leads his brother towards a hill that they can perch themselves at the top of. It's...quiet, almost empty here. It seems others had the similar idea to be with their people. ]
[His relationship with Hypnos still feels strange, but in Nippon it often feels that he is the only thing keeping Thanatos steady. Having him here provides a focal point, a reason to keep himself from sliding, and he is... grateful for that.
They used to be so close, didn't they. What happened?
He looks over at his brother, surprise written briefly across his face. Never felt right without him here? Ah, sometimes he forgets that Hypnos was alone here for a while. The idea of that is an oddly uncomfortable one - even though Thanatos' work has kept him away, they have at least always been in the same world.
Thanatos studies his twin's face for a few moments, then turns his attention forwards while they finish walking up the hill. Once there, sitting down together, he looks down at Hypnos' hand before he gently places his own over it.]
I'm glad you're here, too. It wouldn't have felt right without you.
[ It almost feels warm. He thinks it's been a long time since he's felt close to Thanatos. They hadn't spent as much time together in recent years as Hypnos would like. It wasn't that Hypnos loved his brother any less, or felt that there was a wedge driven between them. They had their own lives, and demands of work combined with their individual work ethics took them to very different places. Thanatos had a demanding job.
He thinks it's been even longer since his brother has reached out to him like this. How long has it been? He doesn't even remember. His eyes fall on their hands and smiles. ]
I'm glad.
[ He's not sure for which part of what Thanatos said, though. Is it because Thanatos is happy to have him? Is it because the other wouldn't feel right, too? Maybe -- both. He's relieved his brother feels the same way he'd feel. He turns his hand, intertwining his flingers in Thanatos', taking hold of his borther's hand. ]
We don't have to worry about that anymore, though. Because you're here and we're together again. And you can spend all the time you'd like with me.
[ Because no matter what, Hypnos would happily spend every moment with Thanatos, so he'll leave that part up to his brother. ]
Thanatos has had little occasion to give his wants any thought at all over the past... He's lost count of how long it's been since his work - his purpose - utterly consumed him. Had he spent more than five minutes with Hypnos since they were new gods? And how much of those short snippets of company had he spent simply berating his twin for his laziness and lack of work ethic?
He realises with a start that what he's feeling is shame.
The death god slants his gaze sideways towards his brother. He and Hypnos have many siblings but he has never felt as close to any of them as he does to his twin - the two of them cut from the same cloth, the same patch of darkness, all those eons ago.
Thanatos squeezes his fingers around Hypnos' hand.]
[ The words are so simple when he says them, but they do hold a lot of weight. It's not a matter of will he or won't he. It's so simple that it goes against his very existence to leave Thanatos' side. He feels so much better just being here with Thanatos. Better than it ever felt when it was him with the Olympians. And when Thanatos asks the question, it's just as good as him telling Hypnos that he loves and cares about him.
Or better.
No, it's absolutely better.
Because of course Thanatos loves and cares for him. Hypnos doesn't even doubt that on the days his brother is berating him (or maybe he had just always been so hopeful, he never allowed himself to believe anything else). He leans a little into Thanatos' space, his head settling against his brother's shoulder. ]
['Can't', he says. Not 'won't', but 'can't'. It's enough to have Thanatos glancing at him with a moment of open vulnerability. The choice of words does hold weight, as much as the question had to begin with, and although the startled look only lasts a moment Thanatos follows it with a soft, muted chuckle.
Of course he cares about his brother. There's no way that he could stop caring about him. Even his endless berating and sharp words had come from a place of caring.
Though it probably didn't always seem like that.
When Hypnos' head comes to rest on his shoulder, Thanatos tips his own and settles his cheek against his twin's cloud-soft hair.]
I won't. [For a beat, unobserved, his expression pinches slightly.] ... I can't.
[ Hypnos thought it was important for Thanatos to know that he would never make the choice to leave the other. That it's to his own detriment to be away from his brother intentionally. Not physically, of course, but... he's always felt a little empty without Thanatos around. When Thanatos leans into him, Hypnos is the happiest he's been in... years, he thinks. It's such a simple act of affection, and yet it makes him so happy to feel it from his brother.
Part of him always believed that his brother would say the same; however, he's glad to hear it. Confirmation is always nice to have, and he is finally getting it from Thanatos. ]
Good. You better not.
[ He lifts his hands a little and looks at them. ]
Because everything is weird without my favorite person around. I got along here okay without you, but it was always just okay.
[A long time ago, Thanatos might have easily said the same. There had been a time when he could not have conceived of being away from his twin for any real length of time, and yet... Work and duty and a steady numbing of Thanatos' emotions over the years of their existence had driven a strange wedge between them. One that it had taken the prince of Hell's determination to escape Hades to begin to remove.
When Hypnos lifts their hands up he doesn't resist, only looks at where their fingers are wound together. Hypnos' own are slim and bony, his own shorter, stronger, sitting between the sharp angles of his brother's knuckles.
A faint smile touches his lips.]
I forgot, I think... [He murmurs, shaking his head.] That we've always been two parts of a whole.
I understand why you forgot because you've always been so competent without me.
[ He leans into Thanatos at that, though. They've always been connected and Hypnos knows that's why why he always feel so good around his brother. Simply being in his bubble, holding his hand, leaning into him like this. He lets their hands fall to his leg. Hypnos has always known he could rely on Thanatos no matter what.
No matter what happened. No matter how different they were. ]
But I never have forgotten because it's like I'm complete when you're with me. But... it's meaningful that you don't need necessarily need me, but that you want me around.
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no subject
There's a moment between when Hypnos calls for him and when he appears. Few people actually call for Thanatos in that way, so when they do he pays attention. When it's family, he would almost always respond.]
All right.
[He appears with his feet on the floor, without his scythe, and without most of his armour pieces. What would be the use of them when he's just spending some time with his brother?]
Where are we going?
no subject
[ He didn't want to turn this into much of a trip, but enough to get out of the house for a little while. There had been a hill he had seen in passing, and with so many gone at the party - it's quiet out. So it's really the perfect time to sit outside on top of his oversized cloak. So it'd just be them out there, enjoying the cool air and the stars. He wasn't just considering that it was good for watching to see if time resets, but a good time to spend with Thanatos.
And he knows that if Thanatos rejects the idea, he's ready to make adjustments. Right now - he just wants to be with his favorite person here. ]
Everyone else is out at that party, so it's a perfect time for us.
no subject
Lead the way.
[And he steps up beside his twin, briefly and gently pushing a hand against the small of his back to get him going.]
I'm with you.
no subject
I know you are.
[ He's -- not nervous about the possibility of things getting reset. He's actually pretty unbothered by the idea. Still, he'd rather be with the most important person in his life than at a party if it were to happen. Because if things were to reset, then that means he'll be at his brother's side at the start of it all again. ]
I'm really glad you're here, Thanatos. As easy as others were to get along with, it's only ever felt right to me with you here.
[ While he's always been far more in touch with his feelings, he doesn't know how to explain it. Is it god thing? A twin thing? Or is it both - and simply a them thing? He'll be, for the most part, quiet for the walk as he leads his brother towards a hill that they can perch themselves at the top of. It's...quiet, almost empty here. It seems others had the similar idea to be with their people. ]
no subject
They used to be so close, didn't they. What happened?
He looks over at his brother, surprise written briefly across his face. Never felt right without him here? Ah, sometimes he forgets that Hypnos was alone here for a while. The idea of that is an oddly uncomfortable one - even though Thanatos' work has kept him away, they have at least always been in the same world.
Thanatos studies his twin's face for a few moments, then turns his attention forwards while they finish walking up the hill. Once there, sitting down together, he looks down at Hypnos' hand before he gently places his own over it.]
I'm glad you're here, too. It wouldn't have felt right without you.
no subject
He thinks it's been even longer since his brother has reached out to him like this. How long has it been? He doesn't even remember. His eyes fall on their hands and smiles. ]
I'm glad.
[ He's not sure for which part of what Thanatos said, though. Is it because Thanatos is happy to have him? Is it because the other wouldn't feel right, too? Maybe -- both. He's relieved his brother feels the same way he'd feel. He turns his hand, intertwining his flingers in Thanatos', taking hold of his borther's hand. ]
We don't have to worry about that anymore, though. Because you're here and we're together again. And you can spend all the time you'd like with me.
[ Because no matter what, Hypnos would happily spend every moment with Thanatos, so he'll leave that part up to his brother. ]
no subject
[As much time as he wants.
Thanatos has had little occasion to give his wants any thought at all over the past... He's lost count of how long it's been since his work - his purpose - utterly consumed him. Had he spent more than five minutes with Hypnos since they were new gods? And how much of those short snippets of company had he spent simply berating his twin for his laziness and lack of work ethic?
He realises with a start that what he's feeling is shame.
The death god slants his gaze sideways towards his brother. He and Hypnos have many siblings but he has never felt as close to any of them as he does to his twin - the two of them cut from the same cloth, the same patch of darkness, all those eons ago.
Thanatos squeezes his fingers around Hypnos' hand.]
You're not going to leave me, are you?
no subject
[ The words are so simple when he says them, but they do hold a lot of weight. It's not a matter of will he or won't he. It's so simple that it goes against his very existence to leave Thanatos' side. He feels so much better just being here with Thanatos. Better than it ever felt when it was him with the Olympians. And when Thanatos asks the question, it's just as good as him telling Hypnos that he loves and cares about him.
Or better.
No, it's absolutely better.
Because of course Thanatos loves and cares for him. Hypnos doesn't even doubt that on the days his brother is berating him (or maybe he had just always been so hopeful, he never allowed himself to believe anything else). He leans a little into Thanatos' space, his head settling against his brother's shoulder. ]
But that means you can't, either.
[ You're stuck with him. ]
no subject
Of course he cares about his brother. There's no way that he could stop caring about him. Even his endless berating and sharp words had come from a place of caring.
Though it probably didn't always seem like that.
When Hypnos' head comes to rest on his shoulder, Thanatos tips his own and settles his cheek against his twin's cloud-soft hair.]
I won't. [For a beat, unobserved, his expression pinches slightly.] ... I can't.
no subject
Part of him always believed that his brother would say the same; however, he's glad to hear it. Confirmation is always nice to have, and he is finally getting it from Thanatos. ]
Good. You better not.
[ He lifts his hands a little and looks at them. ]
Because everything is weird without my favorite person around. I got along here okay without you, but it was always just okay.
no subject
When Hypnos lifts their hands up he doesn't resist, only looks at where their fingers are wound together. Hypnos' own are slim and bony, his own shorter, stronger, sitting between the sharp angles of his brother's knuckles.
A faint smile touches his lips.]
I forgot, I think... [He murmurs, shaking his head.] That we've always been two parts of a whole.
no subject
[ He leans into Thanatos at that, though. They've always been connected and Hypnos knows that's why why he always feel so good around his brother. Simply being in his bubble, holding his hand, leaning into him like this. He lets their hands fall to his leg. Hypnos has always known he could rely on Thanatos no matter what.
No matter what happened. No matter how different they were. ]
But I never have forgotten because it's like I'm complete when you're with me. But... it's meaningful that you don't need necessarily need me, but that you want me around.
[ He's feeling sappy apparently. ]