unknownballad | Hybrid Kingdom PSL

[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.]

(( 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...?

[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.

(( 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…

[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.

(( 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. ))

[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.

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.

[Poor Emmanuel... Osiris can only enjoy his shyness and modesty for so long before seeing him in such discomfort just becomes too much to bear. Between that and the audience, there's not much joy left in the idea of sitting out in the sun anyway. Emmanuel's company beats sunbathing every time.

He heads back to his lounger and puts his light button-down back on (shooting a glare at the opposite side of the pool when someone boos), then slings the unused towel over his shoulder and returns to Emmanuel's side.]

I may have become too modest for this level of exposure, honestly. I didn't intend for it to be a performance. [He often wore little more than a linen kilt and jeweled collar in his true form... how things have changed.] Besides, as the day of our first true battle grows ever closer, time spent with you is far more valuable than such simple leisure.

(( His modesty would be far less of a problem if he didn't harbor such carnal desire for Osiris. There are plenty of exceptionally good looking men and women around this pool in what would also be described as being in nearly naked states that aren't causing Emmanuel any distress. It's not Osiris, it's absolutely Emmanuel.

Once the god is more covered (a relief!), Emmanuel moves beside him, but doesn't lead them more than few steps when he judges Osiris's shoulder with his own. ))

Push me, please.

(( Into the pool. He really needs to cool down in a way he doesn't think the hotel's air conditioning can help with. ))

[Osiris blinks at Emmanuel in surprise, sure that he must be misunderstanding. Push him into the pool? But there's still some heat in his cheeks that hints at the possible reason, and again Osiris finds himself fighting a smile that would definitely be considered rude.]

If you insist...

[Luckily, the act of pushing someone you care about into a pool tends to be lighthearted and teasing by its very nature, so Osiris is able to let his smile loose and even burst out laughing without looking too mean-spirited when his shove does the trick and Emmanuel topples into the pool.]

Hybrid Kingdom PSL

basically current timeline, pre-fake war

I want to do something silly with Captain Serious

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