hugtopia | How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,

But it is your face nonetheless. And the last the thing you should feel is the need to hide it within your own home.

[He finishes getting his tea ready and sits down at the table to let it steep.]

Will you not trust in me and allow yourself that small comfort?

[Trust him. Yeah. He can do that. He can do that...]

...Alright...

[He takes a slow deep breath, solely to calm himself. Then he reaches up. The hood is pushed back first, revealing dark hard that's starting to go ashen. The goggles are pushed up next, set down upon the table. And then, finally, he pulls down the gaiter to settle around his neck.

He blinks dead eyes at Hythlodaeus and bears half a Glasgow grin.]

If you... change your mind... I understand...

[Hythlodaeus inhales sharply through his nose, eyes going wide, but then he closes them again and slowly lets out the breath he just held.

Teo has been honest with him, and so it is only right that Hythlodaeus offers him the same courtesy in turn.]

I will not lie to you. It is a bit... upsetting to see. I'm unused to death. [the word even feels strange and wrong to say] My people return to the star of their own accord once we feel our purpose in life has been fulfilled.

[He folds his hands and leans his forearms on the table, opening his eyes once more.]

But I stand by what I said: you should not feel the need to hide your face within your own home. In fact, I must insist you leave it off while I am here.

[He winces, just a little, at that sharp breath. It's about what he expected, maybe still less- he's not scrambling back or screaming. Still, the man does his best to recover and he offers his patience in turn.

He nods at the honesty and his head tilts a little at Hythlodaeus's explanation of how death works. It's strange. It's a little fantastical. Choosing to die when you were ready... He can only imagine such a thing through more depressing lenses.

Still, even as he thinks this over, there's a noted blankness to his face, like he's not quite seeing or not quite there, despite all evidence to the contrary. It's only until that very last comment that the remainder of his mouth pulls slightly in amusement.]

Must I...? Maybe... I like... my masks...

[But despite that, he doesn't pull it back up.]

So... Jasmine tea... I guess I'll... try it...

[And just like that, Hythlodaeus is beaming again.]

That you may, but if that is how you wish to proceed, why, I may be forced to don my own in return.

[He chuckles softly.]

Shall I get a cup from the cupboard? Or would you like one made special? A housewarming gift, if you will.

[That draws a faint rasp of a laugh, bordering a cough. Finally, he smiles.]

You don't... have to... You've brought... Tea... Besides... I have nothing... to give back...

[He gets up before Hythlodaeus does. He retrieves three mugs from the cupboard and carries them over with now fully gloved hands.]

My sense of... taste... is very dull... I'll bring... my friend a cup... and take... the strongest brew...

Ask, and you shall receive, my friend.

[He gets the cups ready, setting the strongest of the brew by Teo's seat, and gestures to the remaining.]

Pick whichever of the two you would like to take to them.

[Here comes the aforementioned housemate/friend, though the moment he's far enough down the stairs to see a stranger(?) and Teo with his face uncovered, he pauses, staring.]

[.....]

[...He tugs his hat down slightly.]

I'm interrupting... my apologies.

[He turns around to head back up the stairs-]

[He blinks and looks up just in time to see Faust tuck his hat down. He scrambles to his feet.]

Wait, wai-- [He coughs.] Faust...!

[He catches the man's hand, glad to at last have full gloves so he can do so.]

Come back... You're not... interrupting... I want... to introduce you... and give you tea... [He attempts to lead Faust back to the table.] This is... Hythlodaeus... he was able... to sense what I was... and he brought... tea...

Indeed! You are more than welcome to join us at the table, my friend. You've not caused any trouble at all.

[The man--Faust's--voice sounds somewhat familiar, but Hythlodaeus can't quite place it at the moment.]

After all, technically I am the one doing the intruding.

[Teo grabbing his hand is a little startling, but despite clear discomfort with the situation he doesn't resist his hold or being led to the table. Someone else who was able to sense something was different about Teo... a wizard, then? His eyes linger only briefly on Hythlodaeus' face before drifting to the mask hanging from his neck, then to the tea on the table. The smell is tempting...]

...Where did you find tea?

[Sorry he's not great with pleasantries.]

[He ducks his head a little to hide the way Faust's poor manners make him want to laugh. Really, He's surprised Faust didn't pointedly clarify that he's not anyone's friend.]

Good question...

[He doesn't have the answer to that.]

Hythlo... this is Faust... We met... in the last world... He sensed me... like you did...

[He goes to take a seat, releasing Faust's hand, but not before sliding one of the mugs closer to him.]

It's Jasmine...

[Hythlodaeus sits up straight, eyebrows arching.]

You are gifted with aethersight as well? Or something similar, in any case.

[Rare as it is, even among his kind, it's almost comforting to know there's more than two here who can. If it truly is the same thing, he reminds himself.

To search for familiarity is one thing, but to search so desperately as to cling to any small amount and declare it the same is just.... well. Desperate.]

As to your question about the tea, I simply created it for us to use. I'm not terribly fond of the sort the replicators make, you see. It always leaves a strange aftertaste.

[He lets Teo introduce him as he hesitantly sits down himself, glancing briefly at Teo before taking up the tea. It's just enough of an incentive to keep him from finding an excuse to retreat back to his room.]

I'm not familiar with that term. I am a wizard, if that means anything to you.

[He frowns at the tea. He simply... created it? Impressive... though now he's not sure how it will taste...]

I was only able to get that thing to produce some sort of powder. [Spoken distastefully; he didn't bother trying to make use of it.] If I had access to the right herbs, I would grow my own... but conjuring it out of nothing is beyond my ability.

Different worlds... different magic... Faust sensed... a curse on me... and you... it was souls... you said...?

[With Faust settled at the table with them, he immediately feels much more content. He draws his own mug closer, letting it warm his hands through his gloves.]

If there's... any sort of thing... I can do... Errands or... something... We'd appreciate... more tea... more often...

[He speaks this to Hythlodaeus, and though he says "we" he of course means the tea will be for Faust.]

A common sentiment, from what I've been told. [The lack of creation magicks, he means.] But I would be more than happy to furnish you with whatever sort you would like. The only payment I require in turn is the occasional cup and the joy of your company.

[He looks to Faust]

And Teo has the right of it. I am capable of seeing the aether that flows through the world, as well as the unique color of an individual's soul. In Teo's case, while his soul is undeniably present, his corporeal aether closely matched that of the deceased.

'Twas a sight I had never seen before, and thus was my curiosity piqued.

...The tea would be for me, though my company would be a poor offering next to Teo's.

[Is that a compliment to Teo or a dig at himself? yes.]

Aether is akin to magic, then? At least, that's what it sounds comparable to in my world. There are things I can naturally sense that a human wouldn't, though sight doesn't play into it in this particular case.

[But that aside... he focuses on Hythlo more directly.]

...Clearly you've now seen what he is more directly. Now that your curiosity has been satisfied, what do you intend to do with what you've learned?

Your company... is fine...

[He offers the quiet assurance even as his head ducks over the complement. He speaks somewhat less of a whisper to Hythlodaeus.]

If that's all... then that's...

[He was going to say it's fine, but the warmth fades from his face as Faust speaks directly to Hythlodaeus. He glances from one man to the other. He considers speaking up but part of wants to hear whatever answer may come.]

[Hythlodaeus blinks, looking to Teo and then back to Faust, cupping his chin in thought.]

I'm not sure that's my place to say. Ultimately, it's Teo's decision.

[Hythlodaeus closes his eyes and cocks his head to the side.]

But to speak to mine own desires, I should like to continue to converse. The more, the merrier, as they say, and a new friend is always welcome.

[Teo's assurance is wasted on him. At Hythlodeaus' response he relaxes just a little. He finally takes a sip of his tea, taking a moment to quietly savor it. He may have left it up to Teo, but-]

...Teo could use more friends. But it's important that his condition not become common knowledge. I don't trust that he will be safe here if that happens. Do you understand?

[He feels strangely detached from the conversation then. What's being said doesn't bother him beyond the subject itself of the threat over him, in fact it's kind of... strangely flattering having people interested in his company and his survival. But something...

He listens to the caseworker talk while he sits, arms folded sullenly, at the back of the room.

"And you believe you'll be a good fit? Despite what I've told you?"

"We know this kind of thing takes a lot of care. We believe we can do this."

He scoffs in disbelief, "Not even going to ask me anymore?"

He makes a faint whine, pressing a hand to his head and then giving it a shake.]

... Sorry... [What was he saying?] I, uh... I told him that... I'd be in trouble... if people knew... He said that... there were others... able to sense...

[Hythlodaeus nods to Teo.]

Indeed, and I shall tell Faust the same thing that I told you: there is another I know with the selfsame abilities as my own, and should he ever learn of Teo's condition, I swear him to the same silence I myself shall uphold.

[And because he can't quite tell if Teo's uncomfortable with the conversation (he did seem to zone out there, but with the glassy eyes it could simply have been Hythlodaeus's imagination), it seems a change of subject may be in order.]

But come! I would know more of the two of you. You met in a previous world, did you not? How exactly did that go?

[He glances over at the quiet whine with a small frown. Maybe he remembered something? But he doesn't press.]

...I see. I suppose I should have expected as much, with this many people here from different worlds...

[Maybe he can fashion a charm to help conceal him from that sort of detection... something to think about later. Right now he's being unwillingly dragged into small talk.]

...There isn't much to know about me. There isn't much to say about how we met, either... I had been there about a month or so when he arrived, and he revealed his affliction to me the same day.

[He's still a bit nervous about this other person. He's still nervous about Hythlodaeus in truth. But so far, things have been okay and for that he's grateful and his faint smile likewise.

And then he outright snorts.]

That's just... plain not true...

[He shakes his head. Faust's life is his to give out, but he knows there's plenty more to Faust.]

I was stuck... on an island... he rescued me... I was both... an ignorant human... and... clearly worse...But still...

He asked me... what he sensed... and I thought... I didn't have... a chance against... magic people... but... maybe...I could plead for... his trust... if I told... the truth...

[He beams at Faust.]

He's been... looking out for me... since then...

[Ah, yes. Now this is familiar.

Hythlodaeus grins from ear to ear.]

Oh dear, whoever shall I believe?

[He covers his mouth as he laughs]

By all accounts, the two of you seem close. Full glad am I to see so wonderful a friendship come to be, even in the dark times the two of you had to live through.

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