Apollo was grateful to return home-- after what seemed like hundreds of promises to return and thank yous to Larsa, he was left alone, swearing up and down Olympus to the Emperor that he would not be long unattended.
His range of motion and confidence both had improved during his stay in Archades, and Apollo managed to navigate with little mishap through his home. He was still cautious, however, and only made it to his bedroom after a slow, calculated walk through the house. He changed from the extravagant palace garb (at least, he could only imagine, given the texture and nature of his former host's hospitality) and folded it, smiling faintly-- he hoped dearly he would soon see the extent of its grandeur.
Apollo had no idea what he was putting on, but what mattered, at least to the former Sun God himself, was that he was able to do it at all. He returned to the ground floor of the house to wait for Hyacinthus, wondering faintly where his pets were-- his cat and Chrysilla both were absent. Assuming the best (that they were being taken care of), Apollo sat on the couch and waited for the boy to arrive.
He saw Apollo the moment he materialized in Hawaii- he was seated on the couch before him, dressed in mismatched clothes.
Somewhat hesitantly, he reached forward, taking a seat beside Apollo and placing his fingers over the former god's. "It's been some days," he said quietly, still a little mad at Apollo. But the time apart had cooled his hurt temper somewhat, and if anything, he was still worried.
Apollo didn't see him arrive, of course-- but he heard him, heard the slight, soft sound of his breath and the sound of his clothes rustling as Hyacinthus moved toward him.
He'd missed this boy, his eromenos, terribly and immediately leaned into the warmth beside him. They were due for a grave journey with disastrous consequences, but Apollo couldn't help but smile as he squeezed the hand covering his.
"It has," he replied in the same quiet tone and leaned in, lips brushing his cheek in a slightly misplaced kiss. "Forgive me."
The kiss undid him- he smiled, even though it was just a small quirk of the lips, and he wrapped his arms around Apollo, missing the warmth that used to be him.
"You're forgiven," he whispered, settling back and placing a hand on his face. Then, pausing a bit as he wondered how exactly this would all turn out, he asked, reluctantly, "What... What made you decide to speak to the Titans? And how will they help?"
Apollo thought he felt him smile, but he couldn't be sure as he was enveloped by those handsome arms in an embrace-- by the gods, he'd missed this, in more ways than one.
He hesitated when Hyacinthus pulled away, unwilling to release him just yet; he leaned into his hand, wanting instead to kiss him now and explain later. However, his voice won out over desire and he spoke, calm but edged with apprehension.
"How much do you know of Time before the Olympians?"
"Not much," he admitted a little shamefacedly, stroking a thumb across Apollo's cheek. "The primary focus was always on the Olympians- the Titans are frequently mentioned, but I never paid attention when the tutor was teaching."
But clearly, they were to play an important role. Hyacinthus wished he'd listened more to those old poems, paid more attention to the forces that had literally created his world. But who would want to know something as distant as that when there was life to be lived?
"As it should have been," Apollo chuckled, unable to resist thinking of Hyacinthus sitting, bored and wishing he was outside, running and wrestling while his royal tutor prattled on. He sobered quickly, recalling the myth-- history, really-- with an expression that resembled something like sentimentality and pride. "Even I know little of that time-- the world as it was before our birth was chaotic and mad, and it was only when the Olympians rose up to fight the Titans that order came into being.
"We imprisoned the Titans who fought against us in the War in the deepest pits of Tartarus, beyond Acheron and her five tributaries; they live-- if you deign to call it as such-- down there, further than most ever dare go. Helios is son of Titans-- that much you must know, he is the son of Theia and Hyperion; if they can help us, there may be a chance we may be able to usurp the usurper, Helios.
"It will not be an easy journey, even with Hades' blessing. We will be in constant danger for however long we are to remain there-- it matters not, for it... is the only way."
Hyperion, Hyperion... Hyacinth frowned, the name stirring up an old memory. That was vaguely familiar...
Then it clicked, and he looked at Apollo, brow creasing. "But he was not one of the Titans imprisoned, for he did not fight the Olympians. I remember that being mentioned, at least. Will he be in Tartarus?"
"If he were not bound to it by the treason of the Titanomachia? No." Apollo shook his head with a heavy sigh.
"However, I know not where he dwells-- I do not even know what he looks like. I was granted my own patronages following the War, and knew not how to harness them. It was Mnemosyne who found me weeping on the shores of Delos and granted me the knowledge to fulfill my divinity. That was long after Hyperion and the other innocents left."
If he was not bound in Tartarus, then... Hyperion could be anywhere in the world, perhaps even in another world. Hyacinth's head spun from thinking about the sheer expanse of land they might have to comb.
Apollo's words startled him out of that train of thought though, and he looked at his erastes, really looked at him. He had never thought that Apollo would have to learn how to manage his patronages. Were all gods like that? Surely not. Apollo had always been powerful, and all-knowing.
Bit by bit, Hyacinth realized that Apollo was no longer the being he once was to the boy. The veneer of omnipotence was giving way; Apollo was becoming more like a human to Hyacinth, and the boy was realist enough to realize that this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
"How are we going to find him?" He leaned to his side, against the couch. "And-" He paused for a bit, still unable to believe that Apollo had once been helpless. "It was a Titan. Who helped you."
"Not all Titans are-- or were, our enemies, Hyacinthus." He replied unsteadily, hearing the hesitation in the boy's voice-- was his honesty working a wedge between them? He couldn't hide his faults forever, especially now, as weak and pitiful as he was in this state.
"I do not know any other way to begin to find him, other than meeting with the Titans who remain in Tartarus-- we could be searching for thousands of years, if not more, if we attempted this on our own. Of course..." Apollo trailed off, tilting his head away, instinctively, to the east. "We will not be without aid, I do not think. As I said before, Hades will protect us to some degree; we may be able to ply my brothers and sisters for help-- there are many boons owed to my person, after all."
He turned back to Hyacinthus, his pale eyes hopeful, however unfocused they were. "I need you steal something for me."
"No. I was merely surprised." Then slightly teasingly, he added, "I did not think that arrogant Apollo would have cause to ask a Titan to help him with his own patronages."
That Apollo could turn to his siblings for help was reassuring, but- at the same time, the possibility that the search for Hyperion could span thousands of years was terrifying. Apollo would have to suffer his near-mortality for that long. Hyacinth didn't think he could bear it.
He blinked momentarily- steal something? For a moment, Hyacinth hesitated, but then he nodded. This was for a good reason; he would do whatever was needed."What do you wish for me to steal?"
"There was not yet cause for such arrogance in my youth," He looked to Hyacinthus, a little regretful, and somber. He remembered that day with burning clarity, the almost suffocating burden of the blessing of such power; such... responsibility. He wept inconsolably then, unable to even know where to begin-- Music? Poetry? These things had yet no meaning, but these and many others were coming into his mind in endless droves, begging to be brought into existence, to be made tangible by his hand.
And it was the gentle Titaness, Mnemosyne, who bade him to stay his tears. It was the first time he really Saw, and it was then he was able to fulfill his birthright.
And now? Now he was going to regain what was rightfully his.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize Hyacinthus had spoken again, and it took him a moment to remember what he had asked for. "I suppose it is not truly theft, for what I want you to take belongs t-- Close the curtains. All of them in the house."
He suddenly cursed himself for having such grand windows in all rooms of the house; Helios would be able to look in and know of their plot. He was positive the Titan was aware of his return; but he couldn't have him knowing anything else.
The request startled him, but as he looked out the windows, he realized what had prompted it, and he hurried to draw all the curtains. Damn, both of them had forgotten that Helios ruled the sun now, it seemed, so used were they to taking sunlight as the most benevolent of the various natural forces.
It took a while, but the curtains were all drawn at last and the house gradually thrown into dimness. There was still a little light filtering through some of the thinner curtains, but it was enough that Hyacinth felt sure that Helios wouldn't be able to see.
"Something that belongs to you?" he prompted, when he returned to the couch. "What is it?"
"It is a flask," Apollo began, strangely finding comfort in the darkness. "Gifted unto me by a naiad-- I remember not these days her name, but it is something that I knew, eons later, that I would need. For Hyacinthus, you see--" He gestured aimlessly, frowning when he realized the irony of his statement, "The water of the Underworld is tainted. Especially the rivers down which we must travel; down there, there is unbearable thirst that cannot be quenched save for drinking of the water and binding oneself to that realm forevermore. This flask, dear heart, can ne'er be emptied-- she enchanted it as such so that the freshest of water always filled it.
"But it must be stolen, for it is with my other treasures on Olympus. Helios no doubt has discovered the trove by now; he must think it his, a prize amongst others Father has unfairly given him. You must go, and take it by any means necessary."
He rose then, unable to bear the thought of Helios stealing every last one of Apollo's things. "I will go now then," he said, laying a light hand on Apollo's shoulder, as farewell. "If anything, he has stolen your things. The sooner we find Hyperion the better- I don't want to see him as the sun for any longer than necessary."
His range of motion and confidence both had improved during his stay in Archades, and Apollo managed to navigate with little mishap through his home. He was still cautious, however, and only made it to his bedroom after a slow, calculated walk through the house. He changed from the extravagant palace garb (at least, he could only imagine, given the texture and nature of his former host's hospitality) and folded it, smiling faintly-- he hoped dearly he would soon see the extent of its grandeur.
Apollo had no idea what he was putting on, but what mattered, at least to the former Sun God himself, was that he was able to do it at all. He returned to the ground floor of the house to wait for Hyacinthus, wondering faintly where his pets were-- his cat and Chrysilla both were absent. Assuming the best (that they were being taken care of), Apollo sat on the couch and waited for the boy to arrive.
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Somewhat hesitantly, he reached forward, taking a seat beside Apollo and placing his fingers over the former god's. "It's been some days," he said quietly, still a little mad at Apollo. But the time apart had cooled his hurt temper somewhat, and if anything, he was still worried.
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He'd missed this boy, his eromenos, terribly and immediately leaned into the warmth beside him. They were due for a grave journey with disastrous consequences, but Apollo couldn't help but smile as he squeezed the hand covering his.
"It has," he replied in the same quiet tone and leaned in, lips brushing his cheek in a slightly misplaced kiss. "Forgive me."
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"You're forgiven," he whispered, settling back and placing a hand on his face. Then, pausing a bit as he wondered how exactly this would all turn out, he asked, reluctantly, "What... What made you decide to speak to the Titans? And how will they help?"
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He hesitated when Hyacinthus pulled away, unwilling to release him just yet; he leaned into his hand, wanting instead to kiss him now and explain later. However, his voice won out over desire and he spoke, calm but edged with apprehension.
"How much do you know of Time before the Olympians?"
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But clearly, they were to play an important role. Hyacinthus wished he'd listened more to those old poems, paid more attention to the forces that had literally created his world. But who would want to know something as distant as that when there was life to be lived?
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"We imprisoned the Titans who fought against us in the War in the deepest pits of Tartarus, beyond Acheron and her five tributaries; they live-- if you deign to call it as such-- down there, further than most ever dare go. Helios is son of Titans-- that much you must know, he is the son of Theia and Hyperion; if they can help us, there may be a chance we may be able to usurp the usurper, Helios.
"It will not be an easy journey, even with Hades' blessing. We will be in constant danger for however long we are to remain there-- it matters not, for it... is the only way."
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Then it clicked, and he looked at Apollo, brow creasing. "But he was not one of the Titans imprisoned, for he did not fight the Olympians. I remember that being mentioned, at least. Will he be in Tartarus?"
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"However, I know not where he dwells-- I do not even know what he looks like. I was granted my own patronages following the War, and knew not how to harness them. It was Mnemosyne who found me weeping on the shores of Delos and granted me the knowledge to fulfill my divinity. That was long after Hyperion and the other innocents left."
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Apollo's words startled him out of that train of thought though, and he looked at his erastes, really looked at him. He had never thought that Apollo would have to learn how to manage his patronages. Were all gods like that? Surely not. Apollo had always been powerful, and all-knowing.
Bit by bit, Hyacinth realized that Apollo was no longer the being he once was to the boy. The veneer of omnipotence was giving way; Apollo was becoming more like a human to Hyacinth, and the boy was realist enough to realize that this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
"How are we going to find him?" He leaned to his side, against the couch. "And-" He paused for a bit, still unable to believe that Apollo had once been helpless. "It was a Titan. Who helped you."
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"I do not know any other way to begin to find him, other than meeting with the Titans who remain in Tartarus-- we could be searching for thousands of years, if not more, if we attempted this on our own. Of course..." Apollo trailed off, tilting his head away, instinctively, to the east. "We will not be without aid, I do not think. As I said before, Hades will protect us to some degree; we may be able to ply my brothers and sisters for help-- there are many boons owed to my person, after all."
He turned back to Hyacinthus, his pale eyes hopeful, however unfocused they were. "I need you steal something for me."
Reply
That Apollo could turn to his siblings for help was reassuring, but- at the same time, the possibility that the search for Hyperion could span thousands of years was terrifying. Apollo would have to suffer his near-mortality for that long. Hyacinth didn't think he could bear it.
He blinked momentarily- steal something? For a moment, Hyacinth hesitated, but then he nodded. This was for a good reason; he would do whatever was needed."What do you wish for me to steal?"
Reply
And it was the gentle Titaness, Mnemosyne, who bade him to stay his tears. It was the first time he really Saw, and it was then he was able to fulfill his birthright.
And now? Now he was going to regain what was rightfully his.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize Hyacinthus had spoken again, and it took him a moment to remember what he had asked for. "I suppose it is not truly theft, for what I want you to take belongs t-- Close the curtains. All of them in the house."
He suddenly cursed himself for having such grand windows in all rooms of the house; Helios would be able to look in and know of their plot. He was positive the Titan was aware of his return; but he couldn't have him knowing anything else.
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It took a while, but the curtains were all drawn at last and the house gradually thrown into dimness. There was still a little light filtering through some of the thinner curtains, but it was enough that Hyacinth felt sure that Helios wouldn't be able to see.
"Something that belongs to you?" he prompted, when he returned to the couch. "What is it?"
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"But it must be stolen, for it is with my other treasures on Olympus. Helios no doubt has discovered the trove by now; he must think it his, a prize amongst others Father has unfairly given him. You must go, and take it by any means necessary."
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