[ now that is a difficult question to answer. pain flickers across his face in a subtle flash, and for the first time since waking, hythlodaeus turns his gaze away from hades. ]

No. Yes.

[ the truth is far more complicated than a simple answer. for the sake of love hades has done terrible things, committed wrongs that can never, never be righted, and no matter how pure his motivations were, his means.. his means were unforgivable, heinous, shocking. and yet it is not up to hythlodaeus to forgive him, if that is even something hades seeks at all, for he was not the one who was wronged. but to know what he has done, to look him in the eye, to see the blood on his hands..

hythlodaeus' heart wrenches in his breast. ]

I cannot in good conscience condone what you have done, however.. what matters more to me is what lies ahead. What choices you make from here.

[ his gaze flits back at last to hades' restful face, the agony of his struggle writ clear across his delicate features, though there is fondness there too, and an enduring, faithful dedication that is unwavering even after so many long years. dipping his head, hythlodaeus catches another kiss, this one slow and lingering, both hands sliding upward to cup his strong jaw. when he speaks his words are but a breath against hades' lips, tender and trembling. ]

But I love you. I shall always love you, no matter what you have done, no matter what you will do.