Hybrid Kingdom PSL

[no1likeme]

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

Comments

[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.

[patchworkgod]

[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.

[theurgie]

(( 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. ))

[patchworkgod]

[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.]