"I daresay your smile is never so sincere as when you see Azem off."

Hythlodaeus finds himself back in a garden, Azem's soul drifting further out of sight, and with Emet-Selch standing where the other man had no doubt left him. Of course, no sooner had he spoken did Emet-Selch's usual frown reappear. He finds himself musing, wishing the other's smile had lasted just a little longer.

"I presume you did not seek me out solely to etch new lines upon my forehead."

Hythlodaeus moves to stand by his friend's side as he watches the shape of Azem fade in the distance.

"It's a compliment. I find your smile quite charming, and only wish that you would grace us with it more often."

As the memory goes on, Hythlodaeus finds something strangely... off about it. Is he being watched? Hm. Perhaps, perhaps not. He's more interested in Emet-Selch- who begins to speak of how he's always so pleased to be there to say goodbye to Azem as he embarks on a new journey. Hythlodaeus teases him, Emet-Selch relents and elaborates, and predictably Hythlodaeus begins to giggle.

--

"I daresay your smile is never so sincere as when you see Azem off."

Wasn't he just here? Interesting. A case of déjà-vu, surely. He blinks it away and proceeds to his friend's side once more. A voice whispers in his ear. Gratitude.

"It's a compliment. I find your smile quite charming, and only wish that you would grace us with it more often."

It feels wrong, somehow. The shadows play on the ground in the opposite direction to the sun's rays. Whispers intensify. Patience.

And on it goes, every iteration of the memory becoming more confusing and muddled, until it all falls apart.

Given the lower half of a frilly pink fish and enough jewellery to start his own boutique, Hythlodaeus finds himself a newly-assigned merfolk. Breathing underwater is nice, he has to admit, but the lack of legs is... a pain, honestly! What is going on up on the shore? He wants to see! He's also curious about the flickering shape settled on his collarbone... it's a difficult job to see it properly for himself. He will have to ask someone else about it soon.

--

1. He has no idea what he's supposed to be doing, so he's off exploring. Singing to himself, swimming through the wrecks beneath the sea... hunting for treasure sounds like fun, so if he gets asked to search he'll happily do so.

"Is there aught you wish to find in particular?"

2. A hearty debate amongst fishy friends has Hythlodaeus pausing amongst the Porpoises, and joining in for the hot topic of the day. A spoon? Surely it could double as a mirror, if you're not looking for an accurate reflection... ah, the ruins of that luxury ship would make a fine hotel, of course. He quite cheerfully grabs his nearest friend and asks them for their opinion, though!

3. In the sea caves, Hythlodaeus pauses as the question of what he wishes for is asked. He wishes for his home, but that seems too big of an ask. He'll settle for a lyre, to better play beautiful music. But what do the sea witches ask for in return?

4. The underwater world is great, but what's happening on shore? Hythlodaeus is quite content to settle himself on the nearest rock to the beach and wait for people to walk by, calling out when he sees someone who looks interesting.

Fancy another scenario? PM me or hit me up at soulseer and we can plot something out!