As if to continue the gods-damned theme, Hephaestus only had the barest idea of what Elpis was speaking about.
Speaking. That was the thing, wasn't it? What a clear voice she used, not at all muddied by despair. It was almost as though Allegra were sitting right there in the room with them, as she'd always been.
"You don't need to love me," he rumbled, more affected by talk of trees and mountains and love than he dare let on. His thoughts flicked briefly toward Aphrodite, then Athena, a knee-jerk reaction. Hephaestus pulled himself away from gold and silver, focused on the here and now, on Elpis and her fine, fey features.
You don't need to love me, but you do love Allegra. The words hung before them plain as day, plain as the beard on Hephaestus's craggy face.