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"I know you would have, friend. I wouldn't doubt it for a moment." The smile he wears is easy this time, warming his face with the fondness he holds for the other man.

"Ere long, we will be reunited. I'm sure I look forward to the day." Perhaps the thought was what kept him sane up there on the moon. His brethren may have lost all hope, but Hythlodaeus is nothing if not persistent in his optimism.

He eyes Emet's clothing again before getting an idea. "...Would you indulge another of my whims, most benevolent Emet-Selch?" There's that twinkle in his eye, the one that says he's either excited about a prospect or up to no good.

"I have lived in my robe, as we all once did. But if I am to explore this new world, I should think some new clothing is in order. You know that I would be hopeless at choosing something, however... and so I turn to you. Pray help me to find suitable clothing for this new and exciting world?"

It may have been years - eons - since he's seen that look, but he remembers it well enough to know that there's something troublesome soon to follow.

And he's asked about clothes of all things. "You want me to pick you out something to wear?" Emet asks, voice bordering on condescending. That would take such a considerable amount of time given how clothes must be tailored from scratch here.

"Such a bother." Emet raises his hand in the air and snaps his fingers with a melodramatic sigh. The aether that makes Hythlodaeus' clothes begins to glow a bright white before reshaping themselves into a different arrangement altogether.

Where there was a black robe there is now a well-made black and purple garb perfectly fitted to his friend's shape. The shirt is one part black and the other part purple with finely tailored black trimmings; Purple pants with black stitching; and black knee-high books with thick gold detailing. The entire ensemble is lovingly tailored down to the last detail. "There. I hope they're to your liking." Emet says nonchalantly as he makes to take a sip of tea.

Hythlodaeus isn't quite expecting to have his clothes changed in that fashion, but it's... well, one way of doing it, he supposes. He'd been expecting a trek around the Crystarium to find a suitable tailor. He hums to himself, noting the way they fit and finding himself impressed. "Once again, I am envious of your ability to manipulate aether. And I must say... this is very well crafted."

He realises someone nearby is gawking at them, and arches an eyebrow. "Though it may have been better to do privately, if this is how the people here react to such a thing..." He wonders how they'd react to actual creation magic. He won't try it, though. No, it's better not to stand out, which was the entire point of the change of attire.

Emet clears his throat. Perhaps he's become more unconcerned with what is socially acceptable as time has passed. Next time (if there should be a next time) he will have to be more discreet. "I'll take that into consideration for the future." He mutters.

The teacup is sat back down on the saucer, now empty. "Perhaps a tailor is unnecessary, but we can still explore the archives if that is of any interest."

"Books are all well and good, but I would see the creations here with my own eyes, as we did in Elpis." He stands, his own cup empty, and has to take a moment to get used to how these boots feel on him.

"To that end, I would explore the wilderness. I'm sure you will be my valiant guide, and protect me from harm." He gives a little bow in Emet-Selch's direction, teasing. Then he chuckles.

"Come, now. Before we draw any more attention to ourselves."

Emet stands and rounds the table to make his way to his friends side. "I can't very well let you wander alone. Who knows what kind of trouble you would find yourself in?" Emet says with exasperation in his voice, but framed with a small smile.

"Although, I do have...certain obligations that I must fulfill before I can pursue that at length." The Warrior of Light would be succumbing to light at any moment, and he needed to ensure that the Exarch was out of the way so that everything would go according to place. He can't let that go unaddressed and risk putting the imbalance of the world to chance.

"Oh? Then I shall join you. Whatever it is, having two likeminded souls working on it will be faster."

He nudges Emet playfully with his elbow, looking at him fondly. "Where to, my friend?"

Of course, should he go with Emet, he will not like what he sees. No, better to leave Hythlodaeus to his own devices for a time. As... questionable as that usually would be.

Doubtful that Hythlodaeus would want to participate in confronting the so-called 'warrior of darkness' and her comrades. He would have to take leave for a time.

"The Source." He informs. Limsa Lominsa would be ideal - being one of the farthest outposts away from Garlemald. Less likely for those lot to have picked up a history book at some time in the past and notice any resemblance. Not that it would matter too much even if they had. Once more, surely it would be of interest to Hythlodaeus that he be able to watch ships that would come and go all hours of the day.

Emet puts a hand on Hythlodaeus' arm. More for the practical purpose of being able to teleport them both with ease than any obviously affectionate gesture. "You've made it clear that you would rather not participate in the tasks I must attend to, so I should take your leave for some small amount of time. Do try and keep the mischief to a minimum while I'm gone."

Hythlodaeus searches Emet's eyes with his own, before sighing. Ah, this business again... he places his own hand on top of Emet's, the one on his arm.

"Don't go." He doesn't want Emet-Selch to go running off to do nefarious things- he just wants to keep an eye on his friend. "Please? Stay with me. Come to this 'Source' and we can see the sights together."

His grip on Emet's hand tightens, just a little. Will he come back? Truly? And if he does, how will Hythlodaeus feel knowing his best friend is trying to destroy this world still?

"I would like nothing more than to do that." It's what he's wanted for so long now. Ironic that he would consider forfeiting the chance in order to continue his unhappy work.

"But if I do, then what of the world we used to have?" He asks quietly. "I don't do this because I enjoy such unpleasantness. I do this for you." Those words are quickly amended by, "And so many others we've known."

He squeezes Hythlodaeus's arm, but only just.

Hythlodaeus catches the slip and smiles, warm. "What if I told you I'd be content anywhere so long as we were together?" He leans in, earnest. "Mayhap we cannot have everything we once had. But you don't have to be alone any more."

He knows it's wrong of him to promise such a thing. It effectively means leaving his old life behind. He doesn't even know if the world will right itself one day and send him back whether he wants to go or not. But if it means Emet-Selch will cease this madness... if it will save so many lives, he will do it.

"Is that truly not enough?"

Emet fixes his gaze on Hythlodaeus' hand. That would mean having to live in a world that he had spent so long trying to dismantle. Every existing problem, every imbalance that he had a hand in would have to be faced if they decided to stay in the world as it is.

Who even knew how long the magic keeping him here would last? Could he be forgiven once Hythlodaeus sees this world as it is?

"Does that mean you intend to stay?" Such is the implication.

Nodding slowly, he offers an internal "forgive me" to the Emet back home. He had never intended to stay here- but if he can do something good for these people and ease the suffering of the Emet-Selch here... if can do something worthwhile, for once in his life...

"If you'll have me, friend. But no more death and despair... please." His expression settles on something somewhat hopeful as he continues. "Do you recall how you would help people all over Etheirys? If Azem needed assistance in solving someone's problems, you would help... however begrudgingly you did it."

Chuckling quietly, he recalls Emet-Selch helping the charybdis to fly. He won't remember it... but Hythlodaeus does. He remembers the look of contentment on Emet's face. No, this skulking around in the shadows to bring ruin upon people doesn't suit him.

"'Tis why you became Emet-Selch to begin with, is it not? Those of us who praised the venerable Hades did so because of his outstanding character, his wont to help others."

That seems like such a long time ago now. The only thing he'd been 'praised' for in recent times is for his wild ambition to expand an empire. Usually in textbooks, funnily enough. The commendations in person were usually so painfully insincere.

"Despite my inabilities to recall the same details you do, I have not forgotten the responsibilities and procurement of my name." He could have changed his name at any time. Who would be there to remember? But he has held onto it, as he has many other things.

He shoots Hythlodaeus a look. "I have not forgotten Azem jumping headlong into dangerous situations that she had no business handling alone, either." A frustrated sigh. "I've scarcely have known anyone so reckless." It sounds dangerously akin to a complaint, but there's an obvious fondness in his eyes. No matter how many times he had to swoop in to address a new and dangerous situation, he felt better when seeing the people's appreciative faces after the fact.

"And you had always supported such behavior." He scolds.

He smiles back impishly at the accusation. "Why, I would support my friends in almost anything they did." But not the destruction of entire worlds.

"Azem knew what she was doing, and as far as I'm concerned it would be remiss of me not to believe in her after the capability she's known previously." He hums, amused. "Ill-advised as many of her adventures may have been, you cannot deny she always got the job done."

He realises he's still holding onto Emet-Selch's hand, and squeezes it. "I know you long for those days. But... perhaps we could consider this a new chapter in our lives. There are new adventures to be had, and I for one am eager to get started."

"Those days are all that has motivated me over the centuries," Emet admits wistfully.

He looks up at the ceiling as he recalls. "When Etheirys was rent asunder, I woke up to a different world. It was devoid of everything I once considered important." It's difficult to remember what he did during that time - memories bled into one another. "I can never forget the emptiness when I realized that all that awaited me were an endless procession of days."

Everything since then had been in the service of getting back what he had before in order to quell that feeling "Taking it back seemed like the only way forward. Never did I consider I would have the option of traveling with you otherwise."

"And now that option has, miraculously, presented itself." He wants to move closer, hold his friend and comfort him. He hates the thought of the emptiness he must have felt. The pain of losing everything.

"Consider what we can do together now. We can find somewhere quiet, away from people, to make a home. We can travel when it strikes our fancy. We can help others, build a reputation again." He looks positively starry-eyed as he considers the options. A new world is at least nothing short of interesting.

"We will want for nothing- not adventure nor company."

There's a half-smile that tugs at the corner of his mouth, even if he resigns to shaking his head instead of indulging in any happy emotion.

Emet lets out a loud and extremely melodramatic sigh. "You've got that look on your face that says I'm in for a world of inconvenience." He lifts a hand and lefts it fall heavily to his side as if to say 'oh well'. "And where would you have us start with this grand plan of yours?"

"Well, you wanted to leave me at the Source. I suggest you come with me instead and show me around. You know this world better than I, and we'll need to scout out suitable locations to take up residence in."

As much as he enjoys the beauty of this world... well, perhaps they could have a home in all of the shards. The ones that aren't uninhabitable, anyway. The thought is nice.

"So, where would you have us go first?"

The two of them are surrounded by wisps of darkness in place of a reply. Once the dark coils fade, they reveal a dock overlooking the ocean. It's night and the moon shows brightly in the sky, providing a dim light in the absence of plentiful lanterns.

Emet lets his grasp on Hythlodaeus cease for the moment as he takes a few steps out on the creaky wooden dock. "I thought an ocean view might be desirable given all the possible options." The decks on Limsa Lominsa are quite the sight at night with their docked boats and ocean view. Although it's a place he has not visited in some time. "This is Limsa Lominsa, a port on the southern coast of Vylbrand. It's said to be blessed by the 'goddess of navigation' herself."

What better omen to one trying to find a new way forward.

The scenery and fresh sea breeze make Hythlodaeus smile, and he wanders along the dock curiously. "Yes... I daresay this will do nicely."

Turning to face Emet-Selch from a few paces away, he gestures around them. "I'm particularly fond of the view. You know me so well."

There's obvious affection in his voice as he glances back to the sea. "I bet it gets busy here during the daytime. We'll want somewhere inconspicuous, but not too far from the water." He thinks, his eyes falling on a boat. His head tilts. "...A boathouse... nobody would notice another boat docked on the water, and we could use it to travel besides."

Grinning, he looks back to Emet-Selch. "What do you think?"

"It's not a terrible idea." He says noncommittally, taking a few steps in Hythlodaeus' direction.

The idea of living somewhere so quaint while not pursuing the Rejoining of worlds is still a dizzying idea. It's been such a long-desired goal - his only goal - that just giving it one day seems illusory.

"Are you sure you want to commit to such a place without seeing what else this world has to offer?" Emet looks across the ocean where such places exist. "Forests littered with Sylph, mountains in the highlands, long-forgotten ruins, and so much more. There's a number of things to choose from."

"Who said I was committing?" Smirking, Hythlodaeus keeps his eyes on the water. "We could have many homes. As many as we desire... though such lofty aspirations have never been my inclination, I fail to see why we couldn't."

His point being, the world is their oyster right now. There's nobody to tell them otherwise. "For now, however, something on the ocean... well, I so rarely get the chance to see it, what with most of my time spent in the bureau."

Not to mention they could easily pick up jobs here, and supplies. It seems practical.

Edited 2021-12-30 17:09 (UTC)

Talking about traveling and seeing the world fills him with a fondness that has been all but lost to time. He hasn't looked forward to seeing the world in a long time. Now, it seems like it could be colored with good memories.

Emet steps up to Hythlodaeus' side and cants his head as if trying to picture their supposed new dwellings out there on the water.

"And what should this supposed 'ship' of yours look like?"

Hythlodaeus brings his fingers to his lips, thinking. "Hm... stylish, but cosy. Somewhere we can retreat to when the world gets to be too much. Mundane on the outside, but on the inside is what matters."

Turning to face Emet-Selch again, he places his hand on his hip and smiles. "I realise you need no assistance, but I would ask you to allow me to help anyway. We can make it together." It seems... fitting, somehow. "I will leave the interior decorating up to you, however."

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