unknownballad | Hybrid Kingdom PSL

(( Emmanuel doesn't always stay in the hotel. He actually has a home that he, occasionally, returns to. He still has his obligations as a hunter, as well. And, despite his departure from the Church, his contacts within it still funnel jobs his way. Not exorcisms, per se, but... well, they know what he's capable of.

Coming back to the hotel feels more like home these days. Since Sobek's partner bought the place, it's not like they have to check in or out anymore unless they want something from the concierge. He has a suite and its always available when he needs it. Not everyone stayed after the war was decided. Many had their own duties to return to, just as Emmanuel. But unlike them, he keeps coming back to see specific familiar faces.

What he doesn't expect at all as he rolls his suitcase across the lobby is that shock of of fire engine red hair. By now, the blinding hot hatred Set inspired in him has cooled to your run of the mill every day kind of hate. It's bitter that he has to swallow it because of who he is as a person. He can't forgive Set, not ever, but even Set deserves this second chance.

Does that stop Emmanuel from stalking over to him and hissing? Not at all. ))

What are you doing here? Get out.

[Well, of all the people Set could run into first, Emmanuel is probably the worst. At least this icy greeting makes for a good test of his determination to make things right, and will provide ample evidence of the same if he takes it with grace.

And that's exactly what he does, even if an old part of him would like to sneer at the priest who has succeeded in so many places where Set failed.]

Hello, Father Yoon. [Set lowers his head in a respectful nod.] My employer granted me three days leave to come here and see if there's any hope of - well, "making things right" would be asking a bit much, but at least having my apology heard.

Tha—

(( He bites his tongue to stop the correction from spilling forth. It's none of Set's business that that's no longer a station he holds. And Set certainly doesn't need to be the first to know, before the two who mean so much to him.

His eyes narrow and he peers around the lobby. Would his 'employer' (his jailkeeper, really) just let him leave on holiday? Without an escort to ensure his return?

And why is it so hard to keep from grabbing him by his shirt front, driving him against the wall, and returning a portion of the violence he inflicted on them? Ah, it's so vivid in his mind, Set's blood on his hands. He's a killer of monsters, after all.

But it would pain Osiris. ))

Your apology? Are you fucking kidding right now? What possible words can heal all you've done to your own family?

[If Emmanuel does decide to get some of his own back, there won't be much Set can do in retaliation. He has the strength of a human now, can't even regenerate to heal his wounds because of the seal branded into his skin, and only stands an inch or two taller than the little priest whose neck used to fit so snugly in one of his hands. All he can do is hope that decorum wins out over the animal instinct burning in Emmanuel's eyes.

As for his question...]

Nothing I could say or do would make up for what I've already done, I know that. [It's strangely galling, too, the idea that he could decimate something so thoroughly that he's the only one powerless to rebuild it.] But it felt cowardly to use that as an excuse to stay away forever. If they don't agree and just want me gone, I'll leave.

(( Emmanuel simply has to remind himself that not acting on his worst impulses is what separates him from Set. Also, this... this really doesn't involve Emmanuel. He's probably the least aggrieved. Oh, but he hated having to witness Set wrought on the people he loves.

That means it's not him who gets to decide the value of Set's words. Perhaps if Emmanuel weren't in such an internal rage, he could recognize the magnitude of the effort Set's making. The courage of it.

Emmanuel unclenches his fingers (when did that happen?) but there's still such unbridled hate burning in his eyes. It isn't his place to turn Set away, as much as he wants to. Horus and Osiris, and all the others, have been through enough. Even now that it's over, here comes Set to put them all through the ringer again. ))

It might be best to forget you ever had a family.

Edited 2025-05-27 16:19 (UTC)

[And Set almost, almost informs Emmanuel that it's not his choice to make, but the murder still hasn't left his eyes and Set hasn't forgotten the feeling of his skull splintering under the force of a bullet. For a human, Emmanuel is actually quite terrifying.]

Believe me, I've considered that eventuality. A lot.

[Emmanuel really will kill him if he says why his thoughts have been so haunted by the idea of forsaking them for good - beneath the insanity, the violence, the demented craving, beneath the only side of Set that Emmanuel has ever seen and the only one he has reason to believe exists, Set does love his brother.

He has no right to anymore, but he does.]

(( Terrifying is his best weapon as a hunter. His own family name will only instill so much fear. Being an actual menace to inhuman things? That's what buys him his wins. They hesitate, even for a fraction of a second, and he finds his way in. In Set's case, he foolishly turned his attention to Horus while Emmanuel was still breathing.

More importantly, whatever Set feels without the insanity, the violence, the demented cravings, no one, least of all Osiris, is obligated to return or even accept those feelings. ))

Did you say three days? Where are you staying?

(( For Osiris, Emmanuel will at least make sure Set's not out on the street for three days. ))

I haven't figured that part out yet, but I know better than to ask that much. Even I wouldn't let me stay under the same roof if the positions were reversed.

[He is, however, selfish enough to see if Sobek and his guy will put him up for a night or two if it comes to that. Set may be a better person now, but a good one? Nah. Someone's gonna have to sit him down and spell out for him all the harm he's done to Sobek before he'll feel any contrition in that regard - he just considers himself a vaguely deadbeat dad.

With Horus, and especially with Osiris? He knows he fucked up big. It's a start.]

I came straight here because I'm even harder to miss now, and I didn't want anyone to spot me and think I was trying to fly under the radar. [His hand settles over the branding scar on the left side of his neck, rubbing at it as though it still itches.]

I know a few hotels in town.

(( Thanks in part to Set himself. ))

They're not as nice as this, but they're clean, the doors lock, and you'll have hot water. Come on.

(( And a quick text to Horus to say he's borrowing the car and he'll be back soon. ))

[Okay, Emmanuel could just give him the names of these places. Maybe the names and addresses if he's feeling extra helpful. There's no real reason to take him there personally, and that makes Set take a cautious couple of steps back and give Emmanuel a suspicious once-over.]

There's no other stops on this trip, right? We're just going to a hotel?

[Not to neutral territory where no one will be able to prove it was Emmanuel that dragged Set's face across the concrete? Or maybe the middle of nowhere, far enough outside the city limits and up the highway that walking back will be a nightmare and no one's likely to pick up a hitchhiker?]

Maybe a trip to the store.

(( Unless he has a toothbrush somewhere the sun doesn't shine... ))

I'll even let you ride in the car instead of dragging you behind it. Come on.

(( This time he actually turns to the door, his own suitcase still in hand. ))

Edited (typo) 2025-06-04 21:54 (UTC)

[Oh, this is unsettling. This is profoundly unsettling. Emmanuel has no reason to be kind to Set and isn't making the slightest effort to appear friendly, and yet he's going out of his way to help... there's no way he hasn't got something up his sleeve.

So this is the condition Set'll have to meet before he can talk to his brother, huh? The murderously angry boyfriend test? So fucking be it.

He squares his shoulders and follows Emmanuel out the door to Horus's car, climbing into the passenger seat once it's unlocked and trying not to let his stiff, braced posture give away just how nervous he is. Hopefully the priest likes to play music on car rides because they're not about to make small talk, and the tense silence might just kill Set.]

(( Set has to stay somewhere but that somewhere can't be here. For the safety and well-being of everyone at the hotel and maybe a little for Set's. Emmanuel can't be the only one struggling with forgiveness. He keeps reminding himself this is for Osiris. No matter what, he has no hate in his heart and he wouldn't appreciate his brother being treated with undue cruelty.

Emmanuel puts his bag in the backseat (mostly so he doesn't have to open the trunk and lose sight of Set for even a second) then climbs in the front. The radio comes on, some local station with the volume low. It's mostly just background noise for him, so the content of the music doesn't matter much.

But before he puts it in gear to take Set away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and holds it out to him. ))

Put your number in there if you have one. I'll let the relevant people know you're here and they can reach out to you if and when they're ready.

[Tongue wedged into his cheek, Set turns his gaze sulkily out the window.]

I don't have a phone.

[He doesn't have a single earthly belonging aside from the clothes on his back, in fact. When he's at the brothel, everything he needs to perform his work is provided for him, but he doesn't actually own any of it.]

They'll have to call me at the hotel.

That's fine.

(( Maybe better since he won't have to play go-between for any communications that aren't face-to-face. No one can accuse him of withholding information this way. He tucks his phone back into his blazer pocket and they set off onto the road.

They're a mile or two down the road before Emmanuel speaks again. ))

If you do or say anything that causes Osiris or Horus any undue stress, I won't hesitate to put another bullet in your skull. That's your only warning.

[Ah, there it is. Set actually finds he's able to relax a bit now that the threat (let's be honest, the promise) is out in the open. Another thing he absolutely doesn't dare say aloud: under different circumstances, Set thinks he could've gotten along with Emmanuel.]

That sounds fair to me. Admirable restraint, honestly. [Though he admits, with a sigh:] I doubt I can see Horus at all without bringing on undue stress. I might just have to write him a letter.

It is admirable, thank you for noticing.

(( No, no, Emmanuel. Calm the attitude. Set's not a monster you're hunting anymore. You have to give him a chance. It's up to the others if they do, too. But... he is still someone who very much hurt people who are near and dear to the priest. ))

And you really think seeing Osiris is person is going to be somehow less damaging? I've dealt with all kinds of creatures in my life and you truly deserve the title of monster after what you've done to them.

[Just gotta make him really brood over all this shit, huh, Emmanuel? Won't let him just stumble into any part of this situation with the excuse that he acted without thinking it through?

Emmanuel may not notice since he's got to pay attention to the road, but Set really does look troubled as he considers his answer.]

Osiris... he's always held out hope for me. For the longest time I told myself that it was unfair for him to put conditions on his acceptance of who I was, family should just love each other no matter what, but - I don't even understand how I rationalized that to myself anymore. I fucking killed him. Brutally.

[There's a slight tremor in Set's voice now. He can't get rid of it, no matter how roughly he clears his throat.]

It's because I've been such a fucking monster that I want him to know... that I understand now. Why I had to earn it. Why I never did. How I just made things worse any time I did anything. After so many centuries and millennia, I just hope it'll ease his mind enough to make up for the shock of seeing me.

(( Yes. All of this needs to haunt him at 3am. It needs to make him wake in cold sweats and regret his life choices. In millennia, he should still feel embarrassed and guilty about it.

That Osiris doesn't hate Set is a testament to his (Osiris's) good heart. Emmanuel can't imagine a more unworthy brother than Set, though. ))

How long has it been? Since you killed him, dismembered him, and scattered his parts to the four corners of the world? I'd say you need about that much time before you even consider showing your face in front of him again since... the last time.

(( He inhales deeply, then lets it out. It's not his place to decide. ))

"Actions speak louder than words" is a saying we humans have. You may be sane and regretful now, but what about next week? Next year? Next century? How long are you going to make him hold his breath wondering when you'll lose your mind and hurt him or Horus again?

[The last time.

Now Set's out of arguments. There's no defense for that.]

If he agrees with you, I'll go and I'll stay away. Forever.

(( If it were up to Emmanuel... But it's not. It really isn't his decision to make at all. So... As he turns off the road into a smaller chain hotel parking lot, he glances over at Set. ))

I'll tell him where you are and how to reach you. Anything going forward is up to him. Do not come back to our hotel without his express invitation. (( Or you'll end up with a bullet in your brain again goes unspoken. )) Is that clear?

... or you'll shoot me in the head. Got it.

[If he sounds flippant, it isn't intentional. His body is as human as human can be right now and getting another body if this one dies would be fully at the mercy of the Duat crowd. He doesn't need to be dying at this moment in time.]

Father Yoon - I've got something to say to you, too, if you'll hear me out.

(( The car glides into one of the empty parking spaces and Emmanuel turns it off and unbuckles before turning in his seat to look at Set. His face is a mask of severity, eyes still blazing despite the favor he's about to do for this person who hurt his loved ones so much. ))

Go ahead. I'm listening.

[Here goes nothing...]

None of what I did to you was - necessary, excusable, rational? Take your pick. And looking back on it is basically the opposite of gratifying. I really was just an unhinged, violent nutcase terrorizing you for things that didn't have anything to do with you.

There's no way this is enough to make up for any of it, I know, but I am sorry. And I'm glad you survived.

(( Emmanuel's silent for a moment, contemplating Set. No, scrutinizing him. Looking for any tell, any sign that any of this isn't genuine, that it's some sort of game or plot. ))

It's a start.

(( That said, he turns to get our of the car so they can get Set all squared away with a room at this hotel. It's a mid-range chain hotel, nothing as luxurious as the one Osiris and Isis now own and Sobek's... person bankrolls. But, as promised, it's clean, secure, and has hot water. Once Set gets out, Emmanuel looks at him from over the roof of the car, then adds: ))

Don't forget I'm human. You won't have as much time to prove yourself to me.

Hybrid Kingdom PSL

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