[ Each ilm of skin exposed by slipping robes is fresh territory for fingertips to explore. Emet-selch, ever the diligent surveyor, forges paths between speckles, and Viktor shuts his eyes to savor the feeling. Delicious, maddening, to be touched with such deliberate slowness. So distracting, Viktor only half hears when Emet-Selch eventually sets to talking. It takes a remarkable amount of effort to process his words. Viktor can half-believe this is some test of his mettle, but then, a pause.
Hades leans in and tastes his skin. Nuzzles the space so near his pulse, and Viktor bends his neck to give him room, threads fingers into his hair to offer gentle encouragement. He hums a soft protest when Hades pulls away, but does his best to listen when he goes on. Heartbreaking that even in the Sea, the cauldron of hope for their star, there should be the potential for such cruelty. Turning it over and over in his head pulls Viktor out of the moment. He frowns. ]
I s-see. [ Viktor angles his head toward Emet-Selch, glimpsing him out of the corner of his eye. ] 'Twas my th-thought that like might seek like. If not... reflections of the same old soul, then... those who had loved in l-life, who c-could not... bear to be separated again. [ A rueful smile crosses his features, fingers curling together and then parting to let Emet-Selch help him out of his robe. ] H-head in the clouds, I suppose.
[ Kindling fire anew, Hades handles his robe with a flourish that coaxes a weak but genuine smile back to Viktor's face. A huff of laughter escapes him, and then Hades is hooking fingers beneath the band of his smalls. His breath hitches. His heart aches. The faster he's naked, the sooner he can stop thinking about all the ways the world can go wrong, the better. But, a moment later, he decides to say more, softly, ] You have not done me a disservice. You have done the best you can with the time we have, and that is all anyone can hope to do.
[ His smalls fall. Viktor does not need Hades's arm for balance, but he wants it, and clutches tight as he steps out of his underwear and tugs stockings off. Unceremoniously, he drops his socks on the floor and turns to undo the cord holding Hades's dressing robe shut. Though still unsure where he is welcome, Viktor parts the robe and steps closer, into Emet-Selch's space. ]
I've made progress. [ He fiddles with the buttons on Emet-Selch's silk shirt, undoing the first of them before going on. ] If I close my eyes, I c-can feel... aetherytes, importance places, everything that m-mattered to her. A-and, were I to push, I think I could call more. Memories, hers and the lives who came before her. 'Twill become clearer with more connections. I must make them on each reflection.
no subject
Hades leans in and tastes his skin. Nuzzles the space so near his pulse, and Viktor bends his neck to give him room, threads fingers into his hair to offer gentle encouragement. He hums a soft protest when Hades pulls away, but does his best to listen when he goes on. Heartbreaking that even in the Sea, the cauldron of hope for their star, there should be the potential for such cruelty. Turning it over and over in his head pulls Viktor out of the moment. He frowns. ]
I s-see. [ Viktor angles his head toward Emet-Selch, glimpsing him out of the corner of his eye. ] 'Twas my th-thought that like might seek like. If not... reflections of the same old soul, then... those who had loved in l-life, who c-could not... bear to be separated again. [ A rueful smile crosses his features, fingers curling together and then parting to let Emet-Selch help him out of his robe. ] H-head in the clouds, I suppose.
[ Kindling fire anew, Hades handles his robe with a flourish that coaxes a weak but genuine smile back to Viktor's face. A huff of laughter escapes him, and then Hades is hooking fingers beneath the band of his smalls. His breath hitches. His heart aches. The faster he's naked, the sooner he can stop thinking about all the ways the world can go wrong, the better. But, a moment later, he decides to say more, softly, ] You have not done me a disservice. You have done the best you can with the time we have, and that is all anyone can hope to do.
[ His smalls fall. Viktor does not need Hades's arm for balance, but he wants it, and clutches tight as he steps out of his underwear and tugs stockings off. Unceremoniously, he drops his socks on the floor and turns to undo the cord holding Hades's dressing robe shut. Though still unsure where he is welcome, Viktor parts the robe and steps closer, into Emet-Selch's space. ]
I've made progress. [ He fiddles with the buttons on Emet-Selch's silk shirt, undoing the first of them before going on. ] If I close my eyes, I c-can feel... aetherytes, importance places, everything that m-mattered to her. A-and, were I to push, I think I could call more. Memories, hers and the lives who came before her. 'Twill become clearer with more connections. I must make them on each reflection.