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I see... This does sound most inappropriate... [Isn't that called a "Yandere" in her beloved little grape's language?] Though this is no reason to bully children.

[ Imagine being bullied just for that! Humans are really terrible sometimes. ]

It will only cause them to shut in on themselves and grow even more obsessed as a way to compensate.

[ Also she feels like if she had been a human and had gone through high school, she would definitely have been on the side of the bullied. Sniff. ]

Ah, take it as a story more than anything else! Admittedly, I don’t have any personal experience with things like that since my upbringing was… Well, I’ll just say atypical.

[ Awful and isolated, he means. The Ravenlocks had enough children that they simply hired private tutors and taught them all together, so. The schooling experience that he’d seen in movies was just as foreign to him as it was to her, really. ]

But if that’s how it works, that does explain Vivian’s obsessions, admittedly

[ He laughs pleasantly, and with a sweeping gesture first, he starts to lead the way further into the gallery. The front may be more of a work in progress, but towards the back is more finished, and on this floor, it’s mostly sculpture. ]

We can workshop a pseudonym, though. I’d just hate for you to start our your secret career with people teasing you about the name, you know?

[ He's right, she would take it super poorly if people teased her about her alias. She'd start by panicking, then get angry and lash out, only to isolate herself even more as she'd feel inadequate and like a failure. ]

W-Well, this was an anagram... It's the most pleasant-sounding one I could think of.

[ There are others, but they sound weird. Maybe she just hasn't come up with the right combination. She follows him still, looking at the sculpture. Mhm... They're not bad, but she preferred the paintings.

There's something he said though... ]

But... Your sister. Do you mean to say she was bullied?

Ah, was it? My apologies for missing the cleverness, then! Though if that’s the best… Well.

[ He chuckles lightly as he shrugs. Maybe an anagram isn’t meant to be the solution, alas… Though he also wouldn’t really recommend that either, since if someone has the inkling that’s the case, they’d solve it. At least it’s a moot point, so he doesn’t explain it further. ]

Mm, but yes, she was. “Bullying” is putting it lightly, honestly, but my dear Vivian is an unlucky girl.

[ His smile does turn a little sad as he explains, but it’s still warm. It’s clear that he adores her, but it’s easiest to tell when he shares the story of her misfortune. ]

She was born with a cruel power to see the future, but only when it’s disasters and the like. She wasn’t quite Cassandra, since as she tells it, sometimes people would heed her warnings… But more often than not, they didn’t. So, she was blamed for causing them. [ He huffs out a humorless laugh. ] We humans aren’t exactly rational when we’re scared, are we?

[ He glances back to Ereshkigal, since he does feel like the story needs the happy “ending” even if it does sound a little self-aggrandizing when he thinks about it… He hopes she doesn’t take it that way. ]

So, when we met not long after her family kicked her out, I took her in. We’re not related by blood at all, you see, and it was just coincidence that we met. But I love her like I’ve always been her older brother.

[ Ah. She looks down to the ground for a moment. ]

This is a most unusual form of clairvoyance. [Most typical is just being able to see the future, period. There are those who can see everything that happens in the present, or the past... But being able to see only future disasters? It sounds perfect in theory, but when you take into account human nature:] A cruel one.

[ The poor girl. No human should ever hold such a power - let alone suffer the injustice that comes with it. Those she knows who hold this power... They're not entirely humans, if at all. And the weight of that power has affected their lives in many ways, none of which are pleasant. ]

Humans fear death more than anything. They would rather detest, vilify and discard that which reminds them of it, rather than acknowledge them and prepare for it.

[ She speaks from experience here, but... She imagines it's a near universal experience for those who remind humans of their mortality. And she absolutely doesn't think his conclusion sounds self-aggrandizing. Happy endings are nice sometimes, even when they are so uncommon. ]

She is fortunate to have you.

[ Hugo listens to her words with a thoughtful expression, because immediately… He thinks that her words are wise. Perhaps that’s to be expected of a goddess of death, and perhaps she’s better acquainted with that loathing than most. No wonder she reminds him of Vivian, probably. They’re both unlucky in how people must view them.

…Because he’s the perfect example of what she means, isn’t he? He detests this new body of his. He hates looking at his ghastly bones, hates feeling that eternal heaviness of water in his chest. It’s why he’s a coward that wears his glamor so stubbornly. So, her words aren’t likely to leave his mind any time soon. But even thinking that she’s probably right that it would be best to just acknowledge what he is?

He won’t be able to stop rejecting it.

It’s a good thing this a conversation about Vivian. Not him. ]

Ah, you’ll make me blush with praise like that~.

[ He’s more light-hearted in his presentation than he feels, but the more he talks, the easier it is to push down. ]

Thank you, I mean. I’m just as fortunate to have her too. Well. Have had, maybe? I certainly don’t want her showing up here… [ he would, frankly, lose his shit, ] But I think the two of you would get along very well. I think she’d be enchanted to talk to a goddess, in fact.

Maybe we'll meet in a more auspicious world.

[ She most certainly wouldn't wish for anyone she knows to be summoned in this world, not even Ishtar. Especially not Ishtar. Well, except maybe Gilgamesh. Not only he could use the humbling, but he would also be a huge help in getting something done against Patho-Gen. ]

That I can be summoned against my will now that I have a vessel is pretty novel, but I suspect this may be a more common occurrence than any of us realize. [She smiles.] If so, surely our paths and any others will cross in the future.

[ The only question being whether it'd be the current them or different them. Hopefully current, because other incarnations of her would possibly put his sister in a cage to protect her, based on his description.

... They may also put him in a cage, but that's another matter. ]

Have you thought about making a painting or statue representing her? She matters a lot to you, and perhaps this could help you to materialize those feelings in an artistic way.

Mm… That would be nice. In fact, if you happen to be looking over ours, I’m sure an assist for the Hollows would be appreciated~!

[ He’s joking, though. Ironic as it may be when he’s literally standing in front of a goddess and happily chatting away like she’s a normal girl, he’d still call himself an atheist… When it comes to his world, at least. It’s not even the normal lamentations of how gods could let cruel things happen in the world (to him), but rather, it feels more solidly practical.

Surely, if they existed, they would have at least made themselves known, right? His world stands on the razor’s edge of total extinction. Even callous gods would have to care about that.

When she asks about a representation of Vivian, he stops walking. ]

Ah, but I’m a step ahead of you there… I have drawn her, actually. It’s my most painstaking work, and thus, it’s in a private gallery.

[ He turns to walk back towards the way they’d entered. ]

By which I mean it’s in my home. I live on the fourth floor here, since why not? [ No reason to pay rent twice… ] We can make a little detour to see it, if you’d like.

[ Unfortunately, a lot of gods are total and absolute douche who wouldn't lift a finger to save the world from extinction. Well, it may be harsh... But really, most of them must see it as a trial for mortals to pass. And those who want to act directly probably have their hands tied for one reason or another.

If only gods could help whenever they wanted... But they have rules to follow. She could become a Gallû Spirit if she broke those rules! That'd be so awkward... ]

I definitely would love to!

[ Living in his own art gallery is honestly smart. Especially with money being so difficult to come by. ]

I can't wait to see your own work, ehehe.

Then let’s go! I’ll adjust our tour and we’ll just work our way down the building~.

[ He says it with a laugh, but honestly, he has a feeling that the pieces of art in his home will be more interesting to her than anything else. Which, fair enough! He’d certainly think the same if their positions were reversed…

But with that, he leads the way to the elevator to take them up to the top floor, and that might be a bit of an Experience™ for Ereshkigal all on its own… This used to be a factory, so it’s a large and practical freight lift, and thus… Just a little spooky. It’s fine! Hugo isn’t bothered by it, clearly, since he just operates the thing with the automatic gestures of someone who’s become very familiar with it.

Though the penthouse is much more stylish than the janky elevator. It’s a bit sparsely decorated since Hugo is pouring every cent into the floors below instead, but with an assortment of thrifted furniture and his own sense of style, it’s solidly cozy. And at this time of night, the (very thick) curtains are all pulled open to enjoy the view of the sky and sea outside. ]

And here we are. Welcome to my somewhat humble abode~.

[ Humble in decoration, but definitely not in scale… It’s very large, since it had been intended to be a penthouse apartment before Hugo obtained the place. Lucky for him! ]

[ She wouldn't call the lift spooky... Dangerous though, that she would! She doesn't have much experience when it comes to such human technology. Her Underworld has no such convenience, and the closest she's seen to that are the elevators from Moon Dubai.

It looks like several safety precautions need to be installed here. What if suddenly this breaks and they free fall? She's not so worried about herself, but he could definitely get super hurt.

Regardless, after she looked warily at their surrounding the entire time, she relaxes once they reach the floor. ]

Ooh... It's very nice. [She nods.] Spacious but not decorated with over the top, garish and scandalous things. [Guess who she's referencing.] It has a very cozy and welcoming feel to it too.

[ She could absolutely see it as a space she'd like to live. It's certainly infinitely better than the cavern she calls home in her home world.

Well, maybe it's not exactly the style she'd go for... She would definitely make it a lot darker and give it more of a noble look. Lots of skulls and death imagery, too. All places can be instantly enhanced with reminders that death is inevitable. ]

You can be proud of this place.

[ Her assessment gets him to laugh openly, because it’s so unexpected as a first impression. ]

Why, I get the impression that you’re referencing something in particular there… But I shan’t pry~.

[ He is curious, though. Secretly. If it’s anyone here, he’d enjoy being a gossip on something so inane, but he really won’t pry any more than that. He just leads her over to a detailed portrait of a young woman that he smiles warmly at, though on the way, Ereshkigal is likely to notice another.

Sitting by a window is a smaller portrait of a younger girl, and by the basics of her appearance, it seems like she’d resemble Vivian, but her face is also completely obscured in the drawing. Delicate lace covers her face artfully save for a warm smile. There’s no other detail other than her ears and the lilac hair. Yet, also tellingly, there’s a vase of fresh flowers underneath—white lilies and periwinkle.

The focus is Vivian, though. Hugo grins a little as he goes through the motions of introducing them as if Vivian were truly here. ]

Here we are— Ereshkigal, Vivian, and Vivian, Ereshkigal.

[ He even gestures between them both as if he were waiting for a conversation, but he’s just being theatrical for the sake of it. He straightens again as he looks at the portrait, and his smile softens. It’s clear from his expression that he not only loves her—he adores her. ]

…I’ve been working on it most of the time I’ve been here, actually. This is the version I’m finally happy with.

Edited 2025-12-29 18:52 (UTC)

[ Thank goodness he doesn't pry, because else she might have gone on a rant about Ishtar. Not everyone is so fortunate as to go along well with their sibling... There is something to be said about criticizing every aspect of your sibling's existence, but. They're a very special case.

For now, the paintings! She notices the smaller portrait, but focuses on the big one as soon as he "introduces" her. ]

Wow. [She beams.] She's so pretty...!

[ Flowers, elegant clothes, red eyes... Yep, they'd be friends indeed. She can tell as much just by seeing the picture. And the work on it is a touch above that of the other paintings in the gallery. She's probably even more important to him than she'd realized.

She approaches the portrait to look more closely at the details. She's not an art critic by any means, but-- It's obvious he's put so much work into it. ]

... You must really miss her.

Isn’t she? I think that was part of what gave me so much trouble. First, capturing her features, and then second, suffering over all the frilly, gothic outfits she likes to wear.

[ He laughs warmly for his struggles, though. He really had spent far too long learning how to draw ruffles of all things, but it just wouldn’t have felt like Vivian without them. Even if he’d say it jokingly, that effort was a testament of his love for her.

Hugo stays where he is as Ereshkigal takes a closer look. It’s all delicate pencil and pastels, which is what makes it look so soft and dreamy. So, his response is both immediate and unsurprising. ]

I do. Every day.

[ It’s sincere and warm, but there’s an understandable melancholy underlining it. It’s softened from the reality of his feelings, though. The portrait is done out of love, but it’s a similar, sad love to Serena’s by the window, just in reverse. He’s the one that’s died this time, but the outcome is similar. He doesn’t think he’ll ever see her again unless Patho-Gen is incredibly cruel and brings her here too. ]

We’re closer than I was to any of my actual siblings, you know. So, I miss our mundane little routines from living together. I’m a better cook than she is, so having dinner together. She’s better at doing my nails than I am, so having our weekly-ish movie nights where we’d work on our manicures…

[ He laughs a little, but it’s a soft one. This isn’t something he’d normally admit, but with Ereshkigal, it feels… safe. That’s the only word he can think of to describe it. ]

It’s lonelier without her than I would have ever guessed.

[ She most definitely has good taste in clothes... And that's not a biased statement at all just because this goddess so happens to have similar taste in clothes, if only slightly darker and less frilly, no no. It's just an objective matter of fact. ]

That sounds like the two of you were better siblings than most blood-related ones.

[ Ereshkigal being one of the most ancient example in human history of siblings not getting along well.

But... She really ought not to be summoned here. She can tell just from the portrait, the kind of horrors they suffer here might be too much for her. Humans adapt and survive to any situations, but there is always something that breaks in the process. It's going to be horribly lonely for him, but it's better that way.

... ... ... ... ...

She turns around and without warning take his hand to look at his nails. ]

Mhm... [She nods and then looks up at him.] If you'd like, I could do your nails every now and then. I've been doing mine on my own since nail polish was first invented five thousand years ago. [How did a Chinese invention make its way to the Sumerian Underworld? B-Better not question Fate/ logic] There's no way I could ever make up for her absence and I would never even dare trying. But if that could help you feel less lonely... That's something I'd very much like to do.

Edited 2026-01-04 19:04 (UTC)

[ He laughs and nods as he crosses his arms. His eyes don’t leave Vivian’s portrait, which is partially because he’s drawn into examining some of the flaws that only he can see… But it’s also to make what he says something casual. ]

Oh, absolutely. I came from a big family, and all of my siblings were terrible. Well, half-siblings, but it’s still a blood-relation, unfortunately~.

[ It’s the tiniest of lies, since not all of them were terrible, but he’s not going to get into explaining the other girl’s portrait, now is he? Besides, as she offers, Hugo looks at her with open surprise at first, but it’s quick to bloom into a smile. ]

Would you? [ Another laugh, but this one is almost bashful. ] I… would like that, yes. It’d be a lovely little routine to get back to.

[ Terrible siblings, huh...

It's okay she gets it. She knows what it's like to publicly tell your sibling is the physical embodiment of everything that's wrong in existence, but deep down loving her and missing her so much. Sometimes it's just complicated(tm). ]

Of course!

[ She lets go of his hand and smiles brightly. S-She's never really done that with someone either, but that sounds like a fun activity, and Hugo is someone she has grown to trust. ]

Next I come, I'll bring my nail polish. I'll just need to know your favorite colors.

[ What a relief that she doesn’t ask about it… He doesn’t like talking about his family, and especially not when there’s a much cuter topic at hand (literally). ]

Ah, that’s easy, at least. Purple is my favorite color. [ Which she might have guessed by this point, actually, since he tends to wear purples a lot. ] But on my nails I prefer black, usually. Any dark color works, though, since it matches my sense of fashion best.

[ aka they’re exactly the same in this ]

Color coordination is important.

[ It's good he can discern just using his favorite color everywhere wouldn't make for a great result. She tried long ago and the result was disastrous. She smiles and nods at him. She probably should think about getting back... And for next time: ]

Black is also usually the color I use. That or dark shades of red. I'll bring them with me next time.

Mm, I think we have rather similar aesthetic tastes, just based on what I've seen you wear here!

[ Though also, her thought was correct... She has a very similar sense of fashion to Vivian, so they're the ones that would get along perfectly in this regard. Though at least in both cases, there's definitely an overlap! ]

Just bring whatever you're thinking about, honestly. We don't have to match perfectly, but perhaps complimentary sets? I wouldn't want to trouble you by getting too much polish.

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