want a good ol’ romance // oxo // closed

Xellis knocked on the door, and upon hearing no response, pushed it open slowly.
He quietly padded to the side of the bed, smiling down at the boy. He was… cute, when he wasn’t scowling and admitting he didn’t want to be caught up in celestial games.
Xellis had taken off his pilot’s cap and actually tried to comb his hair, although it didn’t really go as planned. The reddish tufts still went in any direction they wanted, although just slightly more tame. And based on excitement, his golden eyes were brighter than ever.
With a small shake, Xellis began to rock Scipio awake.
“Good morning,” he said calmly. “Or evening, rather.”

“Yessir,” Xellis said cheerfully.
He walked over to stand by the door, clicking the tip of his right shoe on the floor impatiently when he got there. He slipped his hands into his pockets. The feathery quill was still tucked behind his left ear, the ivory color stark against his hair and matching his shirt well. Knowing Xellis, he most likely had more than one quill.
He shot Scipio a warm smile— one that looked much more sorrowful than the teasing others.
“You ready?” he said, his lighthearted tone not fitting his expression.

Xellis gave a sigh, not even trying to fight it. He sucked as a god and he knew it too well. And… this soul wasn’t helping.
“Y-yeah,” he stuttered, trying to keep up his happy demeanor. He grit his teeth, one of his hands clenching and unclenching, fingernails digging into the skin of his palm.
Everything would be fine. He just had to show everyone here tonight that he was worth something. Worth a soul, at least. For a single night.
Xellis sucked in a breath, holding it momentarily before letting it seep slowly back out of his lungs.
He raised a hand, and in the doorway stood another portal. The ring around it was a beautiful rose gold, and on the other side stood a giant table, many gods already seated around it.
“After you,” Xellis said politely, although his words barely echoed any sense of charm anymore. It was useless.

“They’ll go over council stuff,” Xellis replied. “To which I am not important in the slightest.”
He pulled out a chair toward the end of the table, lowering his voice and eyeing the other gods. He was extremely worried to run into Kieshara, considering he had taken her war recruit. But the looks on the other gods’ faces were priceless.
Low murmurs echoed from the table as Xellis and Scipio were seated. Because they were so hushed, Xellis could barely tell the subject of conversation. Although he was almost entirely sure it was about the fact that he had brought in an associate.
Xellis leaned over to Scipio slightly, keeping his gold eyes fixed on the other gods but talking to the soul in a hushed tone.
“Though, toward the end, they’ll ask for gods to introduce their new associates. All I have to do is get up and say your name, so you don’t have to do anything.”
He paused for a moment, his eyes quitting their wandering while he pursed his lips.
“And… after that… you’re free to go.”

“It’s not necessarily Hell…,” Xellis murmured, leaning forward with elbows propped on the table. His voice got the slightest quieter as the gods began their council activities.
“It’s more like… an empty place. You would become blind and deaf, and just your other senses would help you wander the afterplane as a hollow-body. Endlessly. It’s tiring and terrifying, but if you’re up for the challenge…”
He trailed off, hoping to have made it sound as unappealing as it really was. Xellis had always hated the afterplane.

He cocked his head, looking back to Scipio with excitement littered in his juvenile eyes.
“Wh-what? Really?” Xellis said slightly louder, a wide genuine grin spread across his face. “You’d do that?”
He took a deep breath, clenching his hands together.
“And yeah, of course you’ll get to do stuff. That’s the whole point of you being my associate.”

“Well, good to hear,” Xellis said, truthfully. It was wonderful to hear, actually. He had never wanted to listen to another word spoken if it didn’t make him feel this absolutely ecstatic.
His smile stayed but he looked back to the council, who had just decided on a solution for some issue Xellis hadn’t even ever been effected by.
The evening dragged on in a series of boring events Xellis didn’t even know half of. It wasn’t until the very end did he get to shine.
The God of Knowledge, Ivodyr, was the one who ran the meetings. He always sat at the head of the table, his silvery hair flowing elegantly behind his shoulders. He stood up, calling attention from every member seated at the table.
“It is now time to discuss new associates. Does anyone have a soul to present?” he asked, his voice as elegant as his looks.
With a smack of his hand on the table, Xellis shot up from his seat and held a mocking smile. He resisted the urge to stand up on the table as he said, in his most melodic voice, “I have an associate to present.”
The table quieted immediately as Xellis cleared his throat.
“This is Scipio Alesso Ricci,” he said confidently. “A soldier who died a valiant death and offered his soul to live out his days as one of my house members.”

Xellis clearly took a large amount of pride in Scipio and his demeanor. He even considered taking a page out of his calm and collected book. Maybe then the other gods would respect him. Besides the fact that he had an associate now, of course.
With another charming smile and a gleam in his eye, he sat back down, awaiting Ivodyr’s next words.
The knowledge god remained standing, not giving Xellis even a second glance as he replied, “Anyone else?”
Xellis locked his jaw, his eyes narrowing for a split second before he noticed the other gods’ eyes still on him. No one else presented, and Xellis recognized that they all still had their regular associates. He had been the only new case.
Ivodyr nodded when no one else rose, and in return, he ended the meeting with a bow. The other gods followed suit, all bowing, as did Xellis. In a matter of moments, they all dispersed.
From some of the nicer gods, Xellis got congratulated. After the majority had left, Xellis looked back to Scipio, beaming.
“You. Are. Wonderful,” he cooed joyfully, giddy with his newfound confidence. “I can’t thank you enough, Scipio.”

“Just that you agreed to this,” he said, voice still holding just as much truth. “It’s been… a long time since I last had a soul.”
And it’s been a long time since I was praised by other gods, or taken seriously, he finished silently. He’d tell Scipio the story, but it was certainly for another day.
“Also… lighten up a bit, hm?” Xellis asked, raising an eyebrow. “You’re in the afterlife now. Leave all your life’s worries at the door and… ironically, live a little.”

Xellis narrowed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
“That’s a story for when we’re drunk on the top of one of the Golden Hills at three in the morning, alright? Not any sooner, not any later,” he murmured.
Xellis momentarily looked back to the door, then back to Scipio. This guy was certainly… tight. Xellis just had to figure out how to get him looser. Food? A drink? He didn’t know. It had been forever since he last interacted with a soul.
“Are you… alright?” he asked quietly.

“Okay, then let’s get you out of here, shall we?” Xellis said calmly, his voice as soft and comforting as he could make it.
He held up a hand, twirling his fingers until another portal appeared, one that looked about the same as the last. The only difference was that it lead off to the manor instead, the bright chandelier shining against the otherwise dark room. It must have been dusk by then.
“After you,” he offered, blinking back to Scipio.

Xellis stepped in after him, the portal stifling to a close behind the two. The manor was quiet— Zayanzar hadn’t returned yet, and knowing her, she probably wouldn’t be back for a while. She would most likely go back with Ivodyr to discuss some controversial subject. She rarely made it home on the meeting days.
Not that Xellis wasn’t glad. He’d have the manor to himself, considering the other gods inhabiting it were away on various trips fulfilling prayers. Xellis was rarely at the manor with other gods there.
Xellis walked forward, giving Scipio a slight bigger bit of space as he asked, “Can I get you anything? To help, maybe? Or do you just want to… sit down, or whatever? Maybe get fresh air?”

Xellis watched, concerned as Scipio slid down the side of the wall. Slowly Xellis slid down with him, sitting beside the other boy cross-legged.
He slowly lifted up his hand, hesitating before resting it on the boy’s head.
How do mortals comfort one another? he thought frantically, gritting his teeth. Hugs? I don’t know how to give hugs? What.. what do they do?
He slowly let his fingers drift through the other boy’s hair. It’s all he could think to do, although the action felt extremely unnatural to him. He hoped Scipio wouldn’t feel the same.

No clue, Xellis thought to himself. He’d never witnessed this before at all. But the way Scipio shook only reminded Xellis of fear… something he was pretty familiar with.
He began to remember talking to the actual Goddess of Fear. Her name had been Gaizodar, and she ruled over all kinds of fear. Even her general appearance was wretchedly threatening.
But she had told Zayanzar about something called post-traumatic stress. Xellis had only half-listened in on the conversation, thinking he’d never even need the information in the future.
“Don’t worry,” Xellis muttered softly, trying his best at a comforting tone. “You’re safe. You’ll be okay… I promise you that. Just take deep breaths, alright?”

Xellis swallowed hard. What was he supposed to do? It was only now he wished he had actually listened to Gaizodar when he could.
Gods damnit, he cursed internally.
He slowly let his hand fall from Scipio’s head and on to his opposite shoulder, draping his arm across the boy’s shoulders stiffly. Did humans do this? And if they did, did it ever help at all? What was comforting…? Or— did the boy need space? Shi— what the hell am I supposed to do?