flameinthedarkness | Duplicity Inbox

[Okay, at this point even Hypnos can't deny that something's weird here. Either Than's playing super coy for some reason or...this isn't Than. Checking where the message ended up would probably be the easiest way to find out, but when does Hypnos ever follow logic?]

Does this change your mind?

[He attaches a picture of himself wearing cat ears that blend in very well with his cloud-like hair, posing like a playful cat with fake paws and a bell collar and everything. Instead of his usual Grecian attire, Hypnos is wearing a maid outfit befitting of the establishment.]

I've gone the whole Nya-ine yards!

[...

O.M.G.

Siiggghhhh.]

Hypnos. Do u have any clue who youre texting?

[This is accompanied with, but not seen, Idia rubbing the bridge of his nose.]

cause i cant tell if you do or u dont

[Lets face it, it's Hypnos, it could be either way.]

[Hypnos scrolls up to the top of the conversation, zoning in on absolutely the wrong piece of information to try and solve this mystery.]

WHO IS PUSSYPARADE420?

[Well, not quite what he meant, but a start.]

the network is glitched. It gave you a random name. That's you right now... kinda fitting I guess? The whole cat thing...

[Ah, screw it.]

it's Idia, Hypnos. youre talking to Idia.

Idia! Hi! How'd you get into Than's inbox?

[The question has already been answered, really. Hypnos, unfortunately, not the best at connecting dots. And maybe a better question would be why was he messaging Than like that? Maybe that's just another cross that Thanatos must bear.]

[Has he face palmed already? If not, it's very much happening now. Enough it might had actually hurt with that initial slap of hand to face.]

this is MY inbox. the network is messed up right now. It's sending stuff to random people. U ended up texting me not Thanatos

Haha! That's so funny! Did you like my picture? I'm glad it at least went to somebody I know!

[SSSIIIIGGHHHH.]

...Why u even dressed like that Hypnos?

It's my new job! I think I make a pretty good cat if I do say so myself. What'dya think? Picture puuuurrfect?

Wait... ur at Catsanova?

[Scrolling back Idia sees he had said that, just... had been shocked by all that had came after that.

How...? Still,]

I guess there people with sleeping fetishes out there. And is rather cat-like.

Yep! Just started recently. I thought I might as well get a job and this one seemed perfect! Back home, you know, I was working really hard to keep myself active so I don't want to fall back on bad habits. When I'm being proactive I feel like I can be the sort of brother that makes Thanatos proud!

[Just a good boy doing his best.]

But if I can get away with sleeping on the job here and there I don't have to worry about getting yelled at. Sometimes I just can't stop myself! Did you say that you stop by sometimes? You should come say hi sometime!

[...all Idia ever saw Hypnos do was sleep or talk when he found himself in the House. Then again, he had only been there briefly, so what does he know? Maybe Hypnos was actually more active than he seemed... but he's also come across Hypnos just... sleeping, in random places, around town. So... maybe not.

Still, Hypnos wanting to do this for his brother... Idia can get that.]

make sure you work hard then. Thanatos likes being productive

[As for the rest of that...]

...maybe? it's weird knowing someone you know there when... going for that, ya know?

Really? I think it's more fun that way!

[Hypnos, of course, tends to lean a bit toward shameless. There isn't much that bothers or embarrasses him.]

Like putting on a funny show for someone! And I get pets which is always nice.

[Idia does not agree.]

i go there to get off for quota, not to be friendly. be kinda weird to go for someone i know, u know? just doing it to get it done

I can get you off, too!

[Isn't that part of just being friendly?]

i wasnt saying it because of that hypnos...

[How to explain this.]

the quota stuff is just to get done quick. i dont care about the person doing it. got it? using them more as a tool than a person. if i could get away doing it myself i would but this place doesnt count that

[Aka, he... might like your company. As a person. Not just a thing to use. Not that he wants to admit that and encourage you to hang around him more, Hypnos.]

Okay...

[But...none of that really makes sense to Hypnos. Isn't Idia basically torturing himself that way?]

But if we all have to do it anyway, why not have fun with people that you like?

[Look, it doesn't really make a lot of sense to Idia either, but his insecurities find it easier to do stuff like this with strangers and those he doesn't have connections with. Maybe because... he struggles with accepting that he wants connections, at all. He's so torn between wanting them and accepting he can't.]

i donno, ok? quota is just quota, its a thing to get done, not enjoy.

Sure but if it can be enjoyable too, isn't that better than being uncomfortable?

[In a very rare blip of insight, Hypnos asks:]

Do you make yourself unhappy on purpose?

yeah. got to.

[Fuck his curse. Really. Though Idia's not sure if he has to as much now, since, well, he's stuck in Overblot. Really needs to work that out sometime, needs a lab set up to do so.

Still,]

I donno how to do... any of this stuff. like, relationships. at all. not like dating stuff, i'm meaning anything. like, friend stuff either.

[For once, Hypnos actually doesn't immediately fall right back into his ridiculously. Of course, it can be kind of hard to tell with him, since he's an all-around ridiculous god. And text doesn't exactly do much for his tone, either.]

I know what you mean. I've never known how to talk to people or anything, so I generally only had my brother and for a long time he didn't really want me around. It's not until recently that I made a friend, and he really helped turn things around for me. I don't think I'd be doing so well if he hadn't been persistent, always stopping to talk with me when nobody else would.

So I don't blame you for not going out of your way or anything to try and make relationships with people, especially when you have so many responsibilities you usually have to take care of. But I think maybe if you find others reaching out to get to know you, you'll be thankful if you let them close.

[...oh. That... that all struck closer than Idia would had liked... or expected from Hypnos. Like, wtf, where did those brain cells come from, Hypnos?]

Me too. With my brother and I. Everyone else around us were adults and working. We only had each other. Didnt know how to talk to others my age, even after going to school. still dont.

the last place i was at someone said the same. that dont matter if try and push people away, theyll find a way to still get in. didn't believe him at first... but it was like that. but they gone now too

[...]

its hard to start that again. especially with the whole 'fuck each other!' bs they got here

It's nice to have the memories though, isn't it? Even if it isn't forever. Most things aren't forever--even Gods can die.

[Having no memories to reflect on at all feels even worse than the thought that having to say goodbye, at least to Hypnos.]

I didn used to think so... but yeah. back home... we have the Lethe, my family. I grew up knowing i was going to be forgotten

[It's... kind of easier say it to Hypnos. He would know the terms, right? Not needing to explain just what the Lethe does. What it can do...]

seemed pointless. but the people on the train... they remember me. even if no one back home does

[Hypnos definitely recognizes the term, so even if Idia's Lethe is different from his, the context makes perfect sense.]

I know I'm not going to forget about you no matter what happens. :)

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fuck you i had to make the icon

I won't apologize for something that we all deserve

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