JUNE OPEN LOG

[sailmods]

[but, hey: you shouldn't be left out of the camping fun just because you didn't think to sign up, or you only got here yesterday, or actually you only got here today and you have no idea what's going on! because the camp can come to YOU!

meaning, shortly after seeing the others off, Friday returns to the atrium and begins setting up a few items she's brought from... somewhere, one assumes? a pup tent. two sleeping bags. a tent stove. s'mores accoutrements. there's a fake potted plant that she decided looked enough like a tree. all pushed together in the middle of the atrium.

at her spot behind the desk, she looks visibly pleased with herself. she's doing her best.]

Comments

[ktizo]

"Why not? You may make a friend in the process. I believe Nostradamus and I get along quite well."

Well, they get along well enough for two people thrust upon a ghost ship from different times and places.

"Wherever will you sleep, then?"

[lachtara]

They reach the elevator and Emet-Selch presses the button to take them to another floor. Now they need to wait for it to arrive.

In the meantime, he shrugs his shoulders. "If I can't find something to my liking then I will create something to my liking." In other words he isn't entirely sure.

[ktizo]

"You haven't a clue, then. Noted." Shrugging in response, he smiles.

"Would that we could share a room together... alas, I don't think it possible. We will manage just fine, however. This I'm sure of."

It's not like they can't visit each other in their respective rooms, after all.

[lachtara]

Emet-Selch lets out an indignant huff in response and crosses his arms to match. It shows his displeasure with the statement well enough even if he doesn't remark on it. No, he doesn't know, but that doesn't mean he has to point it out so plainly.

The elevator arrives with a ding and he steps into it while expectantly waiting for Hythlodaeus to follow.

"Be that as it may," He motions his hand in the air and summons a simple shield spell around Hythlodaeus. Maintaining much more potent spells had never proved to be difficult, the least he could do is try and be cautious with someone so important. "I would rather err on the side of preparedness."

Perhaps the notes warning did have him somewhat...concerned.

[ktizo]

He smiles warmly at the spell- a thoughtful gesture, one that plainly shows that Emet-Selch cares. He waits for the lift to start moving before leaning against the wall, posture relaxed in contract to Emet-Selch's stiff stance.

"Are you expecting to be accosted on the way to get drinks? Well, I do suppose you have a point. It wouldn't do to let our guard down too much in such a strange place."

When the doors open again he steps out and waits for Emet-Selch to follow before looking around curiously.

"Now then, I am sure there has to be a place to get drinks somewhere around here..."

[lachtara]

Caution has not been something he has taken into great consideration in the past. Usually he had the advantage of time or immortality to consider. Here, though, he is quite aware that he has someone to lose. That more than anything will make him take considerations he might not have made before.

When it's over cautionary existence is pointed out, however, he merely looks off.

"This way." He says in an effort to guide the conversation (and the direction they head) away from having to answer the question he was asked. "Perhaps when we find you the drink you so eagerly seek, we should consider beginning with something easily consumed."

[ktizo]

"Something lighter, then?" He won't dwell on the topic of Emet-Selch being cautious if the other man doesn't seem to want to, as fun as it would be to tease him more. No response is boring, after all- Emet-Selch knows how to shut down Hythlodaeus' teasing remarks almost as well as Hythlodaeus knows where to prod to wind him up.

"Well, let's see... how about here?" The Drunken Sailor, it's called. It smells delightful in there- they clearly must do food as well as drinks, and that's enough to entice Hythlodaeus to drag Emet-Selch that way.

[lachtara]

Emet-Selch gives the restaurant a disapproving wrinkle of his nose. "Very well. We are not spoiled for choice, after all." There is nothing overtly wrong with this place - outside of the barstools that look wildly uncomfortable - it merely needs to prove that it lives up to his lofty standards. Which is nearly impossible to do.

He makes his way to the bar with the aforementioned stools and slips into one with a short section of counter; long enough that it would only allow one person to sit at his side. His friend being that one exceptional person that he would invite to sit there without complaint.

The menu is slid between the two seats so that both of them could see it. "Here is what they have on offer. Is there anything to your liking?"

[ktizo]

Hythlodaeus sits dutifully beside Emet-Selch and eyes the menu. "Well, you wanted something light... a cider wouldn't be a terrible choice." He's hardly going to get drunk off a few ciders, at least.

Especially not with the choices of food available. They can go somewhere later for the harder drinks, but for now he's content with cider and... hm, perhaps shepherd's pie? The description makes it sound appetising.

"Perhaps we could share this?" He points to the food on the menu.

[lachtara]

Emet-Selch's eyes quickly flick up at his friend when he mentions the idea of 'sharing'. Considering the last time they shared something to eat on their arrival, his mind quickly considers the possibility of Hythlodaeus trying to give him food again. And whether or not to spitefully accept such an offer. "Perhaps." He says simply.

Aside from that, he looks up at the bar around them. It's... empty, isn't it? At least, more empty than successful restaurants usually are. "The service leaves something to be desired. We may not 'share' anything if there is no one to provide it for us."

cw for alcohol just incase

[ktizo]

He shrugs. "Perhaps we're supposed to 'order' it the same way we 'purchase' goods. It's worth a try!"

Otherwise he isn't really sure what the actual point of this place being here is. He feels a little silly ordering from thin air but he hides it well, and once he's done he cants his head as two bottles of cider and two glasses float on over to the table and a shepherd's pie just... appears.

"Oh, that was fast." He prods at the pie with his fork. It's hot at least. Then he shrugs and pours himself some of his cider.

[lachtara]

The customs here are certainly tiring. "At least they are consistent in their absurdity." He remarks as he looks at the food that has appeared in front of them.

Emet-Selch picks up a fork to begin eating. Well. Almost. Instead of digging in right away, he picks up a fork full and offers it to Hythlodaeus with a flat look on his face, clearly in an effort to mimic their interaction before. How would he like it to be teased in such a way?

[ktizo]

Hythlodaeus blinks at the forkful of food before leaning in, making direct eye contact with Emet-Selch, and taking the fork into his mouth. Pulling back with the food, he smirks before humming, pleased.

"Mm, this isn't bad, you know!" He scoops up some on his own fork and offers it to Emet-Selch; he started it, surely he can handle being on the receiving end? Just two friends feeding each other, nothing weird going on here at all...

[lachtara]

His expression shifts - only just - as he maintains eye contact with Hythlodaeus throughout. Perhaps his friend didn't understand the worldly implications of such a gesture but he certainly does. It causes a sort of flutter in his chest, one that he aims to dismiss with a huff and glance in the opposite direction.

Emet-Selch lets his arm fall back to the table. He gives Hythlodaeus a disapproving glower as if he intends to dismiss the gesture he's given in return. But he leans forward and takes the bite that is offered to him in one quick - almost spiteful - motion.

"Now that you've had your fun, let us go back to eating like those with proper table manners," Emet-Selch says as he starts picking at the food with a fork again. Is he completely disregarding that he technically started it this time? Yes.

[ktizo]

Pleased that Emet-Selch took the food, Hythlodaeus smirks as he uses the same fork to scoop up more for himself. He gets the implications but with Emet-Selch, he feels they're close enough that it shouldn't matter. Also, he likes to test his friend's limits.

"Who is here to judge us, pray tell?" He takes another mouthful and sets about pouring his cider into a glass, and once he's swallowed he takes a sip. He'd ask if it was the implications that bothered Emet-Selch, but he's not quite ready to voice that question yet.

[lachtara]

"Me." He says firmly. "Concerning myself with the volatile interests of is much too bothersome." Maybe he would have been more conscious of how he appeared to others many thousands of years ago, but that has become less of a concern as time has passed. Or - at the very most - a situational concern.

"In my judgment, I know that I am capable of doing it myself. I'm not a child." He takes a glass all the same and takes a drink. It is certainly not about the judgment of others, but more a habit formed in years long past to be cautious with 'vulnerabilities'.

[ktizo]

Hythlodaeus shrugs good-naturedly. "Then I shall never again assume otherwise. Satisfied?"

He can't say he's personally satisfied with the option to not tease him over it any more, but he doesn't want to push it too far.

"In any case, how would you rate the food? I rather like it, personally." Though Hythlodaeus has never been fussy, really. He's not hard to please.

[lachtara]

Though the obvious answer to that question is 'yes', he can't help but wonder why he feels so conflicted about it. He'd gotten what he wanted without struggle. So why? Hm.

"Mmm." He says as the verbal equivalent to a shrug while he continues to eat. Emet-Selch picks at the food with his fork. It's not dissatisfying, but her certainly has tasted better. "You have much to catch up on in terms of cuisine." That is all he says on the matter.

Emet-Selch gives him a look and his tone changes to something infinitely more heartfelt. "Many new things have passed you by since the days of antiquity, but I shall see to it that you see them all regardless of our confines."

[ktizo]

Of course it makes sense that, as Emperor Solus, Emet-Selch would have tasted far finer things. But Hythlodaeus knows little and less about Emet-Selch's other lives- besides what he was told on the moon by the Warrior of Light. He's not had a chance to ask Hades as much, either.

He pokes at the food idly, wondering how to start that particular conversation. "There is much I need to catch up on, indeed... and not just in terms of cuisine."

He tilts his head a little, watching his dearest friend with a smile. "I feel as though I both know you, and yet do not know you all at once. So much time has passed, I am sure you are a changed man for it."

Whereas he feels like the same old Hythlodaeus for the most part. Sure, he's been having nightmares of the Final Days and he most certainly did not used to have nightmares at all, and he now knows how terrible death can be. But he hasn't changed much on the outside for it, he thinks.

[lachtara]

The usually stern expression he wears fades into wistfulness. Their time together in the Lifestream had been brief, and certainly not enough to recount each troubled day since their last meeting.

Every time he thinks about speaking of his past with Hythlodaeus looking back at him, all he can think is that he would watch that expression wither into disapproval. Then to hatred. Thinking about that is too much to bear.

The words he says are much quieter than usual. "Mayhap that is a blessing. I must wonder if you would sooner despise me for my many failures."

[ktizo]

His own expression melts into something softer, before he shakes his head with a smile.

"Despise you? I would do no such thing." Leaning forward, the food temporarily forgotten, he makes pointed eye contact.

"Do you truly believe that I could ever hate you, my friend? We have been through too much, mourned each other for too long."

Certainly, he could forgive Emet-Selch for anything.

[lachtara]

Though he meets Hythlodaeus' eyes initially, he averts his gaze when asked that question.

That is precisely part of the concern. He had mourned his friend for so long. His people, his home, and those precious to him who had served as his sole motivation through the long years have all vanished. There is such precious little that remains of what he held dear and if he were to lose Hythlodaeus forever on top of that, well, he could not imagine being able to bear it.

This he keeps to himself. Voicing it out loud may serve to only influence the opinion in an unintended way.

Emet-Selch sighs through his nose. Keeping such a thing from Hythlodaeus forever is surely impractical, and he longed for someone to confide in besides. "I believe that no matter what you decide, your decision is your own." He looks at Hythlodaeus in earnest. "I cannot regret fighting for that which I love."

[ktizo]

"I would not expect you to regret it." He tries to recall what the Warrior of Light told him in Elpis- that the Ascians had been causing calamities to try to rejoin the shards of worlds. Emet-Selch had built a replica of Amaurot- complete with Hythlodaeus shade- in the meantime... and then he'd died at the hand of the Warrior and his friends. He doesn't know much else beyond that. He doesn't know anything about the Garlean Empire, or Emet-Selch's role as Emperor. He doesn't know the extent of Emet-Selch's loneliness, how Elidibus began to forget himself and Lahabrea went mad.

"Do you recall our time in Elpis? We were told, in brief, what would happen by the very same opponent who bested you in the end. I did not run from you then, I will not do so now... no matter what you choose to tell me."

[lachtara]

And he had felt all the same then as he does now regarding what others felt about him. Though it seemed less tangible back then as he lacked the experiences that went with it.

Emet-Selch folds his arms and sighs. "I will tell you the sum of it. All I ask for is time. It is not easily said nor is there a small amount to say." Some too much to account for in one sitting.

He looks up, "Notably, I am not the only one who has had time pass betwixt now and then."

[ktizo]

Hythlodaeus shrugs a little as if it's not a big deal. "I cannot say that my time between the sundering and our reunion was too exciting, alas."

Really, he thinks he got it easy compared to Emet-Selch. Sure, he was trapped for 12000 years, unable to move on... but he spent most of that lonely time in a daze, and the years flew by like minutes. Emet-Selch had to endure every agonising year with the burden of his people upon his back.

"I can speak of it if you would like me to, however."