Laughter from Hope was as infectious as it was unsettling. No great shock, then, that in its face Hephaestus went still and quiet. He stared stonily at Elpis, betraying nothing. Not scorn, not worry, certainly not light nor love.
Next to Elpis, he felt strangely empty.
"That's not your right." Hephaestus said the words slowly, as if feeling them out. Testing them on before really committing to his decision. Once they were out and hanging between he and Hope, a flicker of something crossed his craggy face.