Willy

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx watched Hex go, waiting a beat before turning and headed back towards the remains of what had once been a village.

He wandered quietly at first, poking around in the remains of buildings, and inspecting things he found discarded. There was a sadness here. Something broken. Lost. He could taste it in the air, like chalk and dust.

"Are you still here?" he called out. "You must be, I feel eyes on me. Come out. Come speak."

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[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx leaned into the touch without even realizing he was doing it.

"A gift?" he asked, though he was purring just at the idea of being given something. Anything. Gifts were always good.

[willysilver]

"Mmm," he hummed while he nodded.

Willy walked away, stopping at a chest in the next room. He had to move some things off of it, and then opened it to reveal what very well could have been cobwebs. He reached in and lifted out a gossamer tunic. Lightweight, transluscent, and utterly transparent.

"You will be more comfortable in the heat in this," he said. "It will shield your skin- don't go naked."

His tone of caution evaporated when he smiled.

"I would love if you wore it when you returned."

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx held the tunic, then nodded.

"I will wear it," he agreed, looking it over, then smiling in return. "Tomorrow," he promised again.

Holding it tight, he scurried off back the way they'd come. Back to Hex.

[willysilver]

Willy watched him go, trusting he could make his way through the dark to the stairs. He returned to enjoy the food Nyx had been overwhelmed by.

He was curious enough to see if Nyx would be true to his word. To not only come, but to wear the revealing tunic and bring him chocolate.

As the sun climbed higher, Willy came outside to enjoy the day while he could stand it.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx spent his evening as he always did, curled up with Hex and just enjoying the other man. When morning came he saw Hex off to work, before getting dressed.

He hesitated a beat, then pulled on the new tunic. He took a moment to admire himself, studying the way it hung on him before heading back off to Willy's home. He knew the path well already, and it wasn't long before he was at the edge of the fallen village.

[willysilver]

Willy spotted him and stepped into the open, admiring Nyx outright as he approached.

:You are a vision,: he smiled.

[tempting_the_fates]

"It is very nice, I like it," Nyx said, nodding his thanks. "I came earlier today," he added, in case Will hadn't noticed.

[willysilver]

"I am pleased we will have more time," he smiled.

"Did you bring me anything?" he asked then, trying to not sound impatient.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx nodded, pulling out a little bit of silver foil with a tiny bit of chocolate wrapped up inside.

"This is not the best chocolate, it's from rations, but it is still good," he assured him.

[willysilver]

Willy took it and studied it for a long moment. He sniffed it and smiled, then nibbled just the corner.

A look of wonder overtook him as he let it melt on his tongue.

"It is delicious," he decided.

[tempting_the_fates]

"It is one of the best things they make," Nyx nodded, watching Willy, then daring to get a bit closer. "It is sweet, and silky. They put it in cake sometimes."

[willysilver]

"I have a cake," he said. "It is not like this. It has birdberries in it."

He took another small bite and savored it, noting the candy was melting on his fingers.

Unbothered, he started for his door as he sucked his fingers clean.

[tempting_the_fates]

"Do you still want to play?" Nyx asked, watching Willy go, his head tilted slightly in confusion, and ears twitching just a little.

[willysilver]

"Not out here," he replied. "I cannot conceive how you do not find it unbearable on the surface."

He loped along, trying to enjoy the chocolate, and also salvage it before it melted away in his hands.

[tempting_the_fates]

"I like being hot," Nyx said honestly, following along, keeping close as they headed underground.

[willysilver]

"How odd," was his only comment, and then he ducked into the cool darkness and descended below.

It was remarkable that the tunic Nyx wore kept him comfortably warm, even underground.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx kept close until they reached Willy's room, moving away to explore and examine things again.

"You sleep here?" he asked.

[willysilver]

"You have only come into the entrance of my home, my friend," he said warmly. "Would you like a tour?"

He flashed a quick smile and wrinkled his nose.

""Playfully", he assured him.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx nodded a little, gesturing for Willy to lead the way.

"Where do you find all your nice things?" he asked.

[willysilver]

"I find things all over," he admitted. "Some things come from visitors from other lands. Some come from other stars."

He took Nyx down a hallway this time, and pulled a thick, heavy curtain aside.

Inside was an exhibit. A display. Trinkets and oddities, jewels and riches. Creatures, as well, alive and thriving in cages.

"These are my favourites, so they greet me when I choose to admire my things," he said.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx looked a bit surprised by the creatures, observing a few, and frowning.

"You keep them locked away though? That's no life for them."

[willysilver]

"They are not of this world. They cannot go free. And they have no way back," he explained. "I meant to eat them. But these, I am fond of."

[tempting_the_fates]

"Oh," Nyx said, still not sure how he felt about it. "Okay."

He poked around a bit more, then continued to follow Willy.

[willysilver]

Willy moved through an arched doorway, into a chamber. It was enormous, and filled with piles and stacks of the most random assortment of decor, riches, and technology.

And cages.

"The rest," he grinned proudly.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx kept away from the cages, then picked up a small necklace, holding it up to see it better.

"Pretty."

He didn't look at the cages, didn't mention them- Just knowing they were there made him uneasy.