[Oh. Set had only ever talked to Zagreus once but he did know how important he was to Thanatos. Set has nothing to compare it to but he just imagines that Thanatos might feel...lonely? When he'd first been without Osiris, that was how he had felt.]
what do you want
[Set has no idea how this comes off but he is never worried about his tone with Thanatos. The other god understands him.]
[He does understand, and while others might take offence or think that Set didn't care, Thanatos knows very well that just the question itself means that the other god does care.
He's just not always the best at expressing himself.]
[The only reason he asks is that Thanatos' dwelling is much nicer. Set still lives in the inn because he has no idea how to get his own place. Although Set has no preference about where they spend time together, he thinks that Thanatos might care. After all, he is the one missing someone he cares about.]
[Simple. He thinks Set will appreciate that. Thanatos is hardly going to become a shut-in and he's quite happy to have his twin brother living with him now, but it's chilly outside and he feels the weather far more than he'd like to.]
[Things have been very quiet without Zagreus around. Thanatos loves his brother dearly, but it isn't quite the same. Right now Hypnos is out, possibly spending time with his current romantic interest, and when Thanatos answers the door to Set he looks visibly relieved to see his friend standing there.]
Come in. [He won't leave Set standing outside for any longer than necessary. There's no need to ask to know he dislikes being out in the cold - it's written all over his face.]
[Any glimpse of emotion on Set's face is usually hard to see. After all, he either shows no emotion or only irritation than he usually feels. Right now, he doesn't hide how this weather is making him feel.]
It's no problem. I...do not know how I can help but I learned that sometimes just being able to talk can help. If that is what you want.
[Sometimes just having someone with you can help. Thanatos is no stranger to being alone, but he had never really considered being lonely until he had spent some time here and finally put a finger on the peculiarly hollow feeling that he sometimes struggled with when no one else was around.
He smiles very slightly as he steps back to usher Set into the house, and he closes the door behind him quickly.]
I'm not sure where to begin. Only that I'm not as... upset... about it as I might have expected to be.
[It might come off as a prying question but Set only means to understand where Thanatos is coming from. Empathy is not one of his strongest points, as Thanatos knows, but by now his adoration of the other god is obvious. He wants to be able to help him and the only way he can is by knowing how he feels.]
[He did invite the question, and though he doesn't wave it off he doesn't immediately answer. Feelings are often... difficult for him to parse, and the softer emotions even more so. It had only been fairly recently that he had started to acknowledge that he felt them at all.]
I feel... [Hm...] I will miss him, while he isn't here. But it is comforting to know that should I ever make my affections known to him in Tartarus, he will reciprocate.
[Something like that. Though he couldn't say how long it might be, if he remembers nothing of being here, until he actually manages to express his feelings towards the young prince... he knows now that it's very much possible for him to do so.
And that is comforting in its own way.]
Still. It's going to be strange without him here. I'd grown used to having him around all the time.
[Set actually does think about this. Thanatos had mentioned having his brother here and when Set thinks about his own brother...well.]
You have your brother here, yes? You will not be so alone.
[Osiris had always bothered him. Set does not know if this is normal or this was just a thing with him and Osiris, but he thinks it might be worth mentioning to Thanatos. He doesn't talk about himself because he's not thinking of himself as someone to mention or include.]
Hypnos, yes... I think I will ask if he'd like to stay with me here.
[Thanatos is sure that his twin will jump eagerly at the chance to spend more time with him. Their relationship had not always been harmonious but while they had been here in this place... it had improved massively. He hasn't felt as close to his brother in almost as long as he can remember.]
And you are still always welcome here, as you know.
[This isn't a new revelation that Thanatos has let him know he's welcomed. The other god hasn't made this a secret, their friendship serious and earnest. Yet it still surprises him and leaves him unbalanced. Being so openly welcomed is still something he needs to get used to.
He nods.]
Thank you. [Should there be something else he says?] I like that you welcome me. [Wait that is very embarrassing! But he isn't sure what else to say?]
[Set's reactions to his own sometimes clumsy overtures of friendship have always been a source of curiosity for Thanatos. His fondness of the other god is nothing but sincere and even though Thanatos is not always entirely open and honest about his feelings he tries to be so with Set if only because it makes things easier for the both of them.
Set, he thinks, would struggle with Death Incarnate's tendency to avoid emotional honesty.
He smiles faintly, reaching out to lightly grip Set's arm.]
I enjoy your company. Welcoming you feels only natural. [And isn't Thanatos himself so, so aware of how it feels to be unwelcome?] It can't still be so surprising to you.
My company just isn't one people enjoy. It isn't that I don't believe you. You'd have no reason to lie to me, being a god yourself and me having nothing to offer.
[He speaks as bluntly as he always does. He's been given compliments but it was from the followers of his temple who had believed him to be the best for the throne. Not because they truly believed in him, they knew nothing of him. They only knew of his legendary slaying of Apophis. Their words were empty, only wanting the favor of a strong god. Others always had nothing but insults when they didn't think he could hear.
So to be told these things by Thanatos always surprised him. It just wasn't what he was used to.]
You're selling yourself short if you believe you have nothing to offer.
[Thanatos is always blunt in his words. It's something that most find off-putting about him but he knows it's something that Set values. He can be plain-spoken with the other god and not be concerned about him taking offence - in fact, he might be more offended if Thanatos tried to be any other way with him.
But the idea that he brings nothing in his company is not one with Thanatos can mutely agree with. He shakes his head slightly.]
Do you think that because you can't offer power or influence to me that you offer me nothing? I don't need your favour, Set. Your friendship alone is of enough value.
You are the only one who finds my company worthy. I have never been good company. [He had always been irritable, downright angry at any little thing some times. Although he could remember being small, trying to join in conversation but nothing he'd ever said was any good.]
I do not speak well. I've never had any wit about me. You are very intelligent so I am always surprised you find my friendship something that is worthy. I simply do not offer much other than being a royal god. Even then, I never had magic. Only my strength and so I wasn't of much use. I've never been very useful. That's all.
[To Set, this isn't him putting himself down. It's the truth. Lessons as a child had never made sense to him and so he'd always angrily stomped away because it was frustrating to not understand while it came so easily to his siblings. The looks he would get, wondering how he had ended up so dumb...he still thinks about those.
So to someone as smart as Thanatos, as calm and collected...Set doesnt think his friendship offers much at all. But he'll gladly take it. ]
[Thanatos is not and has never been someone to finds talking about his feelings to be an easy thing, most of the time. It takes somebody sliding into a certain level of comfort with him for him to be more open, and he was able to feel that way with Set fairly early on in their acquaintance thanks to so many similarities between their personalities.
Hearing Set talk that way about himself doesn't come as a surprise, even if he is completely missing the point that Thanatos is trying to make.
He doesn't need Set to be anything more than he is.]
I find you to be fine company. There is a reason I invited you here and not my brother. [Thanatos places his hand on Set's arm and smiles slightly.] I don't need you to be anything more than yourself. That is more than enough.
...I'm glad you think so. [And he takes a moment, trying to figure out what to say next. He settles on:] Thank you. I want us to spend more time together.
[Thanatos chuckles softly, and he finds himself infinitely glad that it was Set he invited here and not someone else. He squeezes his hand lightly around the other god's upper arm and smiles faintly.]
It would be my pleasure.
[And that is no small thing to say, given how solitary he has been for the majority of his life.]
Though I think only time will tell whether or not I can convince you of your own worth.
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Thank you.
Zagreus has returned to the House and I don't believe I can face my brother's attempts at sympathy over the matter just yet.
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what do you want
[Set has no idea how this comes off but he is never worried about his tone with Thanatos. The other god understands him.]
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He's just not always the best at expressing himself.]
Just your company. Nothing more than that.
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do i come over
[The only reason he asks is that Thanatos' dwelling is much nicer. Set still lives in the inn because he has no idea how to get his own place. Although Set has no preference about where they spend time together, he thinks that Thanatos might care. After all, he is the one missing someone he cares about.]
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[Simple. He thinks Set will appreciate that. Thanatos is hardly going to become a shut-in and he's quite happy to have his twin brother living with him now, but it's chilly outside and he feels the weather far more than he'd like to.]
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[Set also does not really like going outside lately. He finally got boots and a thicker coat but a god of the desert was never meant to handle snow.
But Set still makes his way over to Thanatos', knocking and waiting. He'll brave the cold for him.]
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Come in. [He won't leave Set standing outside for any longer than necessary. There's no need to ask to know he dislikes being out in the cold - it's written all over his face.]
And thanks for coming, Set.
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It's no problem. I...do not know how I can help but I learned that sometimes just being able to talk can help. If that is what you want.
[Set's really not good at this.]
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[Sometimes just having someone with you can help. Thanatos is no stranger to being alone, but he had never really considered being lonely until he had spent some time here and finally put a finger on the peculiarly hollow feeling that he sometimes struggled with when no one else was around.
He smiles very slightly as he steps back to usher Set into the house, and he closes the door behind him quickly.]
I'm not sure where to begin. Only that I'm not as... upset... about it as I might have expected to be.
[The word feels strange on his lips. 'Upset'.]
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[It might come off as a prying question but Set only means to understand where Thanatos is coming from. Empathy is not one of his strongest points, as Thanatos knows, but by now his adoration of the other god is obvious. He wants to be able to help him and the only way he can is by knowing how he feels.]
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I feel... [Hm...] I will miss him, while he isn't here. But it is comforting to know that should I ever make my affections known to him in Tartarus, he will reciprocate.
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We will not be here forever and so you will be with him once again. I understand.
[Or so he thinks he understands. But if the person that Thanatos loves does love him back here then nothing will stop him when they return.]
When we return home, you will have no reason to hold back.
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[Something like that. Though he couldn't say how long it might be, if he remembers nothing of being here, until he actually manages to express his feelings towards the young prince... he knows now that it's very much possible for him to do so.
And that is comforting in its own way.]
Still. It's going to be strange without him here. I'd grown used to having him around all the time.
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You have your brother here, yes? You will not be so alone.
[Osiris had always bothered him. Set does not know if this is normal or this was just a thing with him and Osiris, but he thinks it might be worth mentioning to Thanatos. He doesn't talk about himself because he's not thinking of himself as someone to mention or include.]
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[Thanatos is sure that his twin will jump eagerly at the chance to spend more time with him. Their relationship had not always been harmonious but while they had been here in this place... it had improved massively. He hasn't felt as close to his brother in almost as long as he can remember.]
And you are still always welcome here, as you know.
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He nods.]
Thank you. [Should there be something else he says?] I like that you welcome me. [Wait that is very embarrassing! But he isn't sure what else to say?]
It's a quiet place.
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[Set's reactions to his own sometimes clumsy overtures of friendship have always been a source of curiosity for Thanatos. His fondness of the other god is nothing but sincere and even though Thanatos is not always entirely open and honest about his feelings he tries to be so with Set if only because it makes things easier for the both of them.
Set, he thinks, would struggle with Death Incarnate's tendency to avoid emotional honesty.
He smiles faintly, reaching out to lightly grip Set's arm.]
I enjoy your company. Welcoming you feels only natural. [And isn't Thanatos himself so, so aware of how it feels to be unwelcome?] It can't still be so surprising to you.
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[He speaks as bluntly as he always does. He's been given compliments but it was from the followers of his temple who had believed him to be the best for the throne. Not because they truly believed in him, they knew nothing of him. They only knew of his legendary slaying of Apophis. Their words were empty, only wanting the favor of a strong god. Others always had nothing but insults when they didn't think he could hear.
So to be told these things by Thanatos always surprised him. It just wasn't what he was used to.]
I never know what to say other than thank you.
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[Thanatos is always blunt in his words. It's something that most find off-putting about him but he knows it's something that Set values. He can be plain-spoken with the other god and not be concerned about him taking offence - in fact, he might be more offended if Thanatos tried to be any other way with him.
But the idea that he brings nothing in his company is not one with Thanatos can mutely agree with. He shakes his head slightly.]
Do you think that because you can't offer power or influence to me that you offer me nothing? I don't need your favour, Set. Your friendship alone is of enough value.
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I do not speak well. I've never had any wit about me. You are very intelligent so I am always surprised you find my friendship something that is worthy. I simply do not offer much other than being a royal god. Even then, I never had magic. Only my strength and so I wasn't of much use. I've never been very useful. That's all.
[To Set, this isn't him putting himself down. It's the truth. Lessons as a child had never made sense to him and so he'd always angrily stomped away because it was frustrating to not understand while it came so easily to his siblings. The looks he would get, wondering how he had ended up so dumb...he still thinks about those.
So to someone as smart as Thanatos, as calm and collected...Set doesnt think his friendship offers much at all. But he'll gladly take it. ]
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Hearing Set talk that way about himself doesn't come as a surprise, even if he is completely missing the point that Thanatos is trying to make.
He doesn't need Set to be anything more than he is.]
I find you to be fine company. There is a reason I invited you here and not my brother. [Thanatos places his hand on Set's arm and smiles slightly.] I don't need you to be anything more than yourself. That is more than enough.
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[He's never told anybody that before, he thinks.]
I hope we can.
wanna wrap this up?
It would be my pleasure.
[And that is no small thing to say, given how solitary he has been for the majority of his life.]
Though I think only time will tell whether or not I can convince you of your own worth.