“One can never have enough mattresses.” If the reply came out as a little too pat, it was because it was one that was given frequently. Hypnos did not understand why the number of mattresses that he owned was any sort of surprise to anyone he knew, or why it would be of concern on any level. He was the god of sleep. Of course he had many mattresses. He needed to assess them, obviously.
Frankly, he was a little surprised that his twin even needed to ask at all.
Hypnos waited as Than wiggled into place. It was a squirmy process, but it was not entirely unexpected. He'd asked his brother for his opinion, and Thanatos would give it to him. Though this was not a weighty issue requiring a great deal of thought, Than would want to be honest, and so he'd take his time trying to settle into the mattress. Hyp didn't tell him that it was probably pointless, that the mattress did not have a sweet spot as it should. He'd let Than figure that out on his own.
Which he did. When his brother voiced his questions, one side of his mouth tipped up in a half smile, pleased that his opinion had been vindicated. He was less pleased with the venomous look the salesman turned on his brother. Hyp's eyes narrowed slightly. It was hardly Than's fault that the bed was not up to snuff, let alone that Joe was such a poor salesperson that he could not cover for its deficiencies. That attitude was not going to be tolerated.
“I think you need a nap,” he informed Joe, holding the mortal's gaze with his own, asserting his will. “Isn't it time for your break?” Joe nodded, slowly, trance-like, though his face showed some confusion as to why he hadn't noted earlier just how tired he was. Hypnos smiled and suggested, “Then perhaps you should lie down now.”
After the salesman did so, literally asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, Hypnos looked at his brother. “When he wakes up with a back ache, he's going to realize what a poor mattress this is. I really do not understand how they can claim an adjustable airbed is the most comfortable thing to sleep on. Memory foam is much better. I have an entire room made of it now, did I tell you?”
He yawned then, and it seemed to break his train of thought, because he abruptly asked, “What are you doing here?”