Hybrid Kingdom PSL

[no1likeme]

{ the “beach” episode }
for some more light-hearted/chaotic stuff happening at the hotel throughout the plot

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POOL

[no1likeme]

There are both outdoor and indoor pools to enjoy.

basically current timeline, pre-fake war

[patchworkgod]

[When the newcomer, Inari, described his ability to grant wishes for those with appropriate offerings, Osiris knew right away that he had a wish for Inari to grant. He's infinitely more powerful than the Egyptians with the level of belief and worship he receives in Japan, so it stands to reason that he should be able to manipulate their forms in a way they themselves can't manage.

And so, after a meal of fried tofu on rice and extremely pricy sake, Inari granted Osiris's wish. It takes him another day to work up the courage, but two days later Osiris finally steps out onto the outdoor pool deck in nothing but swim shorts and sandals with a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses to shade his face. Maybe he's still a bit shy about this whole thing, but he hasn't been unscarred since before Horus was conceived and has never seen this form in such pristine condition.]

I want to do something silly with Captain Serious

[theurgie]

(( It's serious business when both David and Lucas are texting to him "come collect your man." So what if Osiris is at the pool? Should he not be allowed? Emmanuel's gained the sense that Osiris's scars are a source of concern for him, but if he's feeling confident enough to don swim trunks, why is that a problem?

It isn't until he gets to the pool deck and sees Osiris for himself that he realizes... No scars.

How...?

Emmanuel rushes closer, doing nothing at all to hide how openly his eyes move over nearly every inch of that exposed skin as if the answer is going to appear to him there. Never mind how it must look to the nosy nellies who brought him down here in the first place. Bafflement is painted plainly over his face, his mouth working before he can actually articulate a couple equally puzzled words. ))

What...? How...?

[patchworkgod]

[As much as Osiris has been looking forward to this moment, he's not ready for the intensity of Emmanuel's eyes on his bare skin and the trail of fire he swears his gaze leaves behind. And Emmanuel's just looking at him with confusion at this point, nothing even resembling desire! Osiris is the one who's down so bad that even this much exposure makes his heart beat that much faster.

He takes a deep breath and slides off his sunglasses to set them on the brim of his hat so he can look Emmanuel in the eyes. This is a huge moment for him, one that he's delighted he can invite Emmanuel into. With a beaming smile, he simply says:]

I had a wish granted.

[theurgie]

(( A wish? Emmanuel blinks several times. He can’t stop the thought from flicker through his mind. Who granted it? What did it cost? Was it possible to see Eli again… No. He always has to shut that down. It’s his weakest point and there are many demons, unfortunately, who have tried to manipulate it. Even if Eli were able to be brought back to him, it would inevitably lead to some sort of bizarre and evil “Monkey’s Paw” effect. He wouldn’t risk that, not with Elijah.

The confusion begins to abate and the realization of how intensely he’s been drinking in the sight of Osiris’s so very bare body takes its place. He feels his ears go warm before the flush springs to his face and something much more heated in his eyes (there’s that desire Osiris was looking for). Not only has he been utterly ogling Osiris, he’s done it out here in front of so many others! His throat go tight and he manages to squeak (literally squeak) a quiet: ))

...I see…

[patchworkgod]

[Ah, this is nice. Osiris simply can’t deny it. He’s felt no need to show off his physique to Emmanuel, but this obvious and not at all innocent admiration still feels incredible. Hopefully they don’t have any observers that’ll give Emmanuel a hard time for it… because Osiris will be recalling this moment later for his own gratification, and it’ll lose some potency if anyone has to suffer for it.]

I hope you don’t mind if I thank you for your unspoken compliment. [Teasing? Only a little, honestly.] One of our newer arrivals, the Japanese god Inari, is willing to grant certain wishes in return for material offerings. Have you met him yet? He’s about your height, with ginger blond hair and quite striking eyes.

[theurgie]

(( Perhaps it's his history demons, but while he's pleased for Osiris, he can't help but feel somehow worried. What if whatever price he paid isn't the full and total sum of the gift? Ah, no. Osiris is far more astute than to be tricked like that. It takes a moment — a moment in which Emmanuel does his very best to push his self-consciousness down - before he finally allows himself a very small smile. There's nothing untoward about being happy for someone most would call his friend. ))

Seeing you is the only pleasure I've had today.

(( Is he...? Is he trying to sound flirtatious? No, not intentionally. Alas. The priest is down bad. Someone call 911, he's fallen and he can't get up. ))

[patchworkgod]

[The very fact that he's never trying makes these sweet, guileless statements strike right to the core of Osiris's heart. His eyes widen with surprise and he smiles bashfully, then brightly, then finds he has to turn away and cover his mouth to hide a breathless little laugh that's just too giddy to be considered respectable. Oh, it's like his whole body is fluttering.]

Do you plan to stay awhile and enjoy the sun?

[Unfortunately, they couldn't go without being spotted forever - someone on the opposite end of the pool has noticed Osiris's unusually coquettish behavior and wolf-whistles at them. There's a group in the circular pool and another at the deep end, of whom anyone could be the culprit.]

Oh, honestly. [He shakes his head with a huff.] I'd also be happy to join you inside if everyone insists on being children.

[theurgie]

No.

(( He’d like to taje his shoes off and fling himself into the pool to cool down, actually. But he’s also aware of the optics. It would draw attention to their interaction and fuel speculation. And honestly, he is staring. It’s an embarrassment.

Then comes the whistle which makes him jolt where he stands. So he’s not doing a very good job of hiding it. How can anyone expect him to? He’s seen precious little more of Osiris than his head and hands (he barely recalls the god tearing off his shirt in the bathroom [has anyone ever been so grateful for a head injury?]) and now he’s in nothing but swimwear... ))

You’d have to put on something more.

(( Then, in little more than a whisper. ))

You’re nearly naked.

any time tbh

[daddysubscription]

[CANNONBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL]

[nightbarque]

(( ... and now she's soaked instead of just minding her business soaking up the sun. Good job. ))

[daddysubscription]

[It takes a moment for him to notice the havoc he's wreaked after he resurfaces, but Nephthys's glare bores so deep into the back of his skull that eventually he has to look over.

And burst out laughing.]

[nightbarque]

(( Let's see if he keeps laughing when she rises from her seat and stalks over to the pool edge... Only to dip a toe into the water to weakly splash him in turn. ))

Brat.

[daddysubscription]

[Okay, that was unusually charming for her. Sobek'll give her that one. He's laughing with her at this point, not at her.]

Why don't you come have some fun instead of just sitting around judging everybody? You're not hydrophobic, are you?

[His humour may not make it immediately obvious that he's trying to call a truce, though. It still hits the ear as rather brittle. He's trying!]

[nightbarque]

(( She’s trying hard to give Sobek a chance. He’s helping them instead of Set or even simply trying to stay out of the conflict. That should count for something. ))

Fun. Fun?

(( She looks off to the side before returning her attention to Sobek. ))

I’m drawing a blank. What’s that in our language?

[hisbride]

(( Oh no. Oh no, oh no! Siwan's eyes get wider as he watches Seb take a running start toward the pool. There's definitely going to be a big splash that the people who aren't paying attention aren't going to be prepared for! He's paying attention and he still doesn't manage to get his head turned in time (maybe because he's so fixated on Seb that he doesn't want to look away for even a second).

After the initial splash, Siwan wipes the water from his eyes and fights against the continued ripples to make his way over to where Seb landed, laughing all the while. Seb's always so happy when he's in the water. It's a little contagious. ))

[daddysubscription]

[Seb (he doesn't mind if he's still Seb to Siwan, even now that his real identity has been revealed) resurfaces and shakes his hair out of his face with a wicked grin, but it immediately softens into something more affectionate when he spots Siwan headed towards him. These may be dark times with darker still ahead, but every day that Seb gets to spend among his family and new friends with his lover as an accepted part of the circle feels dangerously like paradise. How can it not when Siwan's laughing and beaming as if he hasn't got a care in the world?]

Baaaaabe! [He reaches out his arms as he wades closer, then wraps them around Siwan's middle and kisses him with chilly lips that just make the inside of his mouth feel that much hotter.] The only thing better than a pool is a pool with you in it.

[hisbride]

(( He’ll always be Seb in Siwan’s mind. Sobek is just an addition. A wonderful addition, of course. But the knowledge that Seb’s an ancient god has done little to change their dynamic. And together in the hotel, surrounded by Seb’s friends and family, Siwan feels safe to indulge in just this sort of open and easy affection with him.

Even if it makes him feel a bit shy immediately after. He drapes his arms over Seb’s shoulders, melting into him and the contrasting warmth and coolness of his kiss. ))

Flatterer.

Pre-fake war

[hisbride]

(( Siwan is an infrequent visitor to the hotel. In spite of what's going on behind the scenes (and how much or little he may know of the finer details), he still has his own life to live. His job, his family, all the regular expectations to maintain. But whenever he can manage it, even if it's only for a few hours, Siwan shows up here. To spend time with Sobek, of course. He's not as directly embroiled in all this as some of the others. He's just bankrolling what they need.

Today's a little different. His wife is away for travel so he's been able to plan for at least a long weekend here at the hotel. It's been nice to simply lounge at the pool without worrying that someone might wonder why he's there. For once, he could say he's a guest and ergo belongs there. Mostly, he's stretched out on his lounge chair, dark swim trunks and a light polo-styled shirt on, watching someone else (Sobek) having a lot of fun in the water. ))

[silvernaphil]

[David doesn't spend a huge amount of time around the pool, being an indoor type by nature and still rather self-conscious around so many gods and their godly bodies, but he does get dragged out now and then. Mostly by Lucas but sometimes by Anubis or Sobek. It's thanks to Sobek that David first notices the handsome older man who sporadically shows up at the hotel and never quite seems to fit in - Sobek will take any opportunity to discuss his amazing boyfriend and apparently, David comes to discover, that's him.

Sobek doesn't mention whether or not he's human, but David has a hunch. Very few of the supernatural beings here look much older than 25 and The Boyfriend is at least pushing 40. That's what leads David to grab the lounger beside him after storming off on Lucas yet again and finally ask:]

Hey... you're human too, aren't you?

[hisbride]

(( Does he mention whether or not his amazing boyfriend is married? Cause that wedding band's probably a strong indicator... (Sorry, Seb, he never takes it off [because he's terrified of losing it or forgetting it])

Siwan blinks at the question. It still seems odd, even knowing what he knows. But the confusion is incredibly short lived, a gentle kind of smile replacing it as he nods. ))

I am, yes. Very human.

(( He sits up a bit to stretch out a hand in greeting. ))

Siwan.

[silvernaphil]

[OOP. David's eyes barely linger on the ring but he does notice. So many clandestine romances around this place...]

David. [He keeps the handshake quick since his own hand is still chilly from the pool.] I'm not xenophobic or anything, I swear, but... man, sometimes I just need to talk to another normal person for awhile. This is the most humbling place on the damn planet.

[hisbride]

(( He hums in agreement. Not even just knowing probably 80% or more of the people here aren't human... ))

It's a little unfair how attractive they all are.

(( Said extremely quietly. ))

[silvernaphil]

Right?!

[So it's not just David who can't stop noticing - even Siwan, who's dating (having an affair with) one of them can barely handle it! He's so excited by this revelation that he maybe blurts out his response at top volume after Siwan took such care to be quiet, but he does at least drop his voice back to a conspiratorial volume afterwards.]

Right? And in all different ways, too! Like - well, I don't need to tell you about Sobek, but Horus is this big, buff warrior-looking guy with the scar and everything, and then Osiris is prettier than any girl I've ever met but somehow still handsome too? And the newer guy... Anubis? Basically the reason cuteness aggression as a concept exists, I want to hug him and punch him into the sun at the same time. That's without even getting into the Japanese ones, or the fucking devil.

[So, yes. David is a very safe space for talking about good-looking men, Siwan. And no, he didn't bring up angels, but that's just because he's very angry at Lucas right now.]

[hisbride]

(( Listen! Siwan's very closeted, okay? Just because he's seeing someone on the down low doesn't mean he's used to seeing a lot of very attractive men parading around in next to nothing!

And please keep your voice down, David! ))

...The devil??