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"Azem!" Came a familiar voice from behind the white robed figure that was leaning down over a bed of flowers. A head of wavy honey brown hair lifts up slowly and a pair of bright gold eyes peers back at the approaching director. He had a grin on his face, a mischievous one at that, as if he had some sort of plan already in mind for her. She dusted the dirt off of her hands before turning around to fully face him.
"To what do I owe the honor, Hythlodaeus?" She would ask formally, trying not to crack a grin. He gives her a disappointed look for a moment, before breaking out into laughter. Before they both know it, both Azem and Hythlodaeus are both in stitches over some unknown joke shared between them. The two embrace tightly for a moment, leaving no room between them. The woman known as Azem lifts Hythlodaeus off of the ground for a moment, earning her a few quick pats on the back before she places him back down.
"I know you haven't met the Emet Selch yet," He started. "I was wondering if maybe you wanted to. I actually spoke to him recently and think it would be good for you both." Hythlodaeus confirms, causing Azem to raise her brow in confusion.
"I thought I met him upon receiving my role." She murmurs, placing a hand on her chin in thought.
"No, no this one is a different Emet Selch, I am sure you remember Hades from before. Our old friend." He offers up, waving his finger matter of factly.
Azem vaguely remembers, in fact her face lights up. "Oh yeah, the one that would complain all of the time when I would get into trouble but keep coming along despite it. He really became Emet Selch, huh?" She muses.
Hythlo nods repetitively in response and keeps going.
"Yes, yes. Actually, I was supposed to meet him for dinner tonight, but I got swamped with plans." He whines out, playing it up. "Rather than leaving him alone to his own devices for the night, I would like if you could go in my stead. You do after all owe me one." He gave her the usual charm and grin.
Who was Azem to refuse when someone was in need? It wasn't like she had a trip for another week, so going in Hythlodaeus' stead wasn't too much of as hassle. "Sure, but please inform him first. I would hate to have him leave simply because he didn't want to see me again."
"I can tell you; he wouldn't do that." The pastel purple haired man responds with a wink.
--
When she arrived at the restaurant that the reservation had been made for her hair was tied back and her mask was placed over her face. There was a slight nervousness in the pit of her stomach.
She remembered Hades from all of the times he had saved her butt in the past. It was no small surprise that she had been enamored with the man's eyes. How they had burned into her as if staring into her very soul, because they were. It made her feel incredibly vulnerable to him and thusly she had gone out of her way to try much harder to be less of a burden.
Azem spoke Hythlodaeus' name to the reservation counter and was escorted over to a small intimate table in the corner. He had insisted that his eminence would not stand her up and for some odd reason she doubted that. Especially if he knew Hythlodaeus was not the one coming.
It was of some considerable relief to her when the man in dark robes with the red convocation mask was walking toward her with purpose, not even missing a step. Late, but he had still shown up, and that was more than she had expected.
With the masks in place, she could only see the thin line his lips had taken the form of. She could not tell if he was looking directly at her. "So, I see that it is Hythlodaeus' wont to continue meddling in my love life." Hades spoke out with displeasure as he took his seat.
Wait, what... His love life?
Azem's heart beat out of her chest with uncertainty. Oh, that little brat had set them up on a date. She wasn't opposed to this though, unless of course Hades certainly was.
"You know he means well." She spoke out, her voice cracking as though she hadn't used it in a year. When Emet Selch gave her that curious look, she took her glass of water and sipped at it, her throat becoming dryer.
"So, I suppose we should just enjoy it while we have the chance." She offers. "I have not seen you in a while, congratulations on your promotion to Emet Selch. I was not expecting that so soon after Venat stepped down."
"I would rather not talk about my promotion while I am trying to relax." He slouches in his seat, resting his chin against his fist.
"Tell me more about you then, I don't entirely remember your name other than knowing you are now the new Azem as recommended by your successor." He was trying at least, which made the anxiety ebb away a little easier. There was slight sting in his words as he mentioned not remembering her name, but he probably met hundreds of people daily. Of course, hers would likely be forgotten.
"Well, I am Azem. We were in the same training courses together at one point and we share two best friends." This earns a chuckle from Emet Selch.
"Now, my dear. I didn't ask about our mutuals or your seat. I asked about you." Those words send a shock through her and paint her cheeks pink. As she looks over at him, she can see the smirk on his face and her heart tries to jump from her throat and throw itself at him.
"O-Okay. Well, correcting what I said before, outside of my seat I am known as Kore." This continues to amuse him, because by the aetherial sea, she is terrible at flirting and just having this conversation is mildly painful for her.
"I am currently on a break from going on trips for the convocation. I just returned a couple of days ago from a mission, as I am sure you are probably aware. Um..." She stumbles, trying to think of how to have this conversation as it usually isn't a topic that comes up.
"I really enjoy sweets!" She chimes out. This and her name catch his attention more so than the other information. "Yeah, I like a lot of sweets. Mostly pineapple flavored things." She admits.
"Pineapple." He states incredulously.
"Yeah, have you never tried it?" She chirps, seeming confused. Before he can even answer Azem reaches for one of the menus, looking it over quickly disappointment setting in. She glances around quickly to make sure no one was watching and then with a wave of her hand creates a cake that looks to have been turned upside down on itself and stabbed through with pineapples. There is also cup next to it filled with a murky yellow drink that looks less appetizing than the cake itself.
Emet Selch facepalms as she does this, in the middle of a restaurant no less. When there are no pineapple items on the menu. As usual nothing has change and he doesn't know whether or not to be amused by her eagerness to share it or terribly vexed.
She takes the fork that is on the side of the table and unwraps it from its napkin prison before cutting a piece of the cake with it. She pushes her mask up so she can get a better look, making the hair stand up on Emet Selch's arms. The practical part of him wanted to tell her to put it back on, but the part of him that was trying to court her wanted her to leave it off.
His eyes raked over her face, taking in the hints of freckles that were splattered across it like someone had smashed three different constellations together. The way her honey brown hair framed her cheeks and the way her eyes looked like someone plucked the center from two daisies and placed them in her irises, splattering more honey in random directions in them like a painting.
The way her pink lips parted as she held out a fork full of the sweet-smelling cake distracted him and without realizing he leaned in and took a bite. Earning him a smile that make his blood rush up to the tips of his ears.
The taste of the cake in his mouth drew him back to reality as he pushed his own mask up as he chewed. "I suppose it is to my standards. I might even have another later if you send me the concept for it." That makes her eyes light up and his own heart nearly thumps out of his ribcage.
"I would love that." She reassured.