[ hades' head grows heavy in his hands, and hythlodaeus feels his heart sink. this is inevitable, really, and they shall swing wildly between moments of bliss and deep pits of despair until they find some sort of equilibrium. and even then.. ]

I cannot know.

[ he admits, honestly, for he has ever been open and honest with his loved ones, and hades deserves no less than the truth from him always. ]

But it is the best that you can do, both for yourself, and for the star.

[ hades' power is great, his wisdom boundless, and hythlodaeus believes in him so deeply, believes that he has lived, and carried great weight, that he has endured far too much for any single man, yet he has learned from it. he still has so much good to offer the world, and honestly, he owes it to them. he owes it to the lives lost, to the families destroyed, to the worlds ruined and lost. and for his part in it all, hythlodaeus owes it to the world to help him do it, to keep them both on their feet and see to it that they do what they can to see etheirys thrive.

again, he kisses hades' mouth, slow and soft and gently, tasting the water that moves down their faces, whispering against the bow of his lips. ]

I will be here to see to it that you do not falter.