Hades: *sitting outside a cafe, enjoying coffee and a newspaper*
Cerberus: *sitting at his feet people-watching**A thud against the other side of the window they’re sitting beside makes them both look up*
Persephone, inside the cafe with both palms flat against the window and her face too close to the glass: CAN I PET YOUR DOG?
Uh… I did a thing, inspired by this here post. Enjoy!
There were perks to being a god.
Just like there were cons.
For instance, being invisible when he wished was an easy flick of his wrist and a soft mirage. And when irritation bloomed on his face as he listened to the chatter of the mortals he was forced to care for there was always his phone and wireless headphones. They came cheap when you were immortal and could therefore be rich as rich can be.
The cons were a different sort, growing bigger year by endless year. The main one, he had to admit was the loneliness.
Sure, there were other gods. Sometimes he bumped into them, ducked between buildings into alleys to avoid making eye contact and when they passed let out a mournful sigh of both regret and relief.
There was also the whole business of responsibility. These mortals with their short passionate lives were always dying. Left right and center there were wars, disease, hunger, sadness to take them and the job was taxing.
Before, when they had been more rowdy he had had to be the kind of god who terrified. Built up of blackness like the opening of an ebony rosebud he gave off the scent of chaos and dismay of horror and corruption.
That was enough, back in the day to keep souls in line. No nasty attempts to escape the underworld happened when your caretaker/captor had eyes that brimmed of fire and teeth that sharpened to fangs at the smallest infraction.
Nowadays he could take days off, considering people were not as keen on living. Once beneath in the warmth of the earth’s crust and seeing that the underworld had been updated somewhat staying didn’t seem so bad. Especially if they were given things to do.
Walking down the street, face half buried in his scarf against the still chilly early spring day he sighed, listening discontentedly to the soul that followed at his heels, ranting.
“There were six thousand two hundred and fifty two new souls processed for the underworld in the last hour.”
“Mhm.”
“Thirteen hundred and eighty two as of ten this morning.”
“Thirteen?” He glanced back at the vague shape of a woman. She had been someone important in the past, someone with clipped tones and a firm voice and that was why her soul had been so keen for his assistant job. She did her work well willingly and it kept her from doing the brooding thing souls sometimes were prone to. But damnit if she didn’t talk too much sometimes.
“Yes. There was a battle somewhere I’m afraid… big explosion. An extra thousand or so souls were taken. We expect it to even out by the end of the day.”
Rolling his eyes at the insanity of it all Hades sighed. You would think that after all the centuries their penchant for killing each other would have no longer surprised him but alas, there he was no longer in robes but jeans and hidden mostly behind an expensive black scarf and sunglasses against the damning bright of the spring sun, listening to music and still he found himself flabbergasted.
“Women, children?” He dared after a moment, pressing his hand on one of Cerberesus’ heads to soothe him before hearing the inevitable answer.
“Uh…” The soul sighed, knowing that if she answered truthfully he would be a moody waspish little bugger for the rest of the day and dreading it.
Sliding the blackness of his eyes to the soul floating behind him Hades stopped, fixed her with a stare that stated again who he was and what he was capable of before she sighed, rolling her eyes blatantly.
“Yes, there were both. A lot of both.”
“Unbelievable.” He snarled, twisting around to march onwards down the street plowing through humans as though they were the ocean. For reasons they did not understand they parted to make way for a freezing breeze that rattled inside the very marrow of their bones.
“Well, think of it this way…” the soul began conversationally ticking something off on an imaginary clipboard. “You would be out of a job if they lived forever, you know.”
“Oh yes.” Hades sighed deeply, storming ever forward so that his dogs (dog? he was never sure what to call Cerberus) panted to keep up. “Because that would be the very worst thing in the world.”
Deciding it was best to leave him then, considering the tone of voice being used his assistant saluted promptly and disappeared giving him the space and time he needed to brood in peace.
Persephone had snuck out of home.
Somewhere on some beautiful street in the most prestigious area of the city her mother was moving house. Their bathrooms she had decided, were not big enough.
“Look at this tub!” She had cried just that morning, waving a beautifully manicured hand at the marble tub which filled itself by a naturally styled waterfall pouring from the ceiling above. At the bottom of the pool made by the thrashing pour of water stones glinted in various delightful colors and Persephone had to admit she could spend several hours simply musing over the beauty of the rainbows made within the bubbles.
“It is not nearly big enough. I don’t know how you haven’t mentioned anything in the last century, Persephone. I mean honestly. You have to speak up or I will never know if your quarters are suitable or not.”
Persephone blinked rapidly at her mother, unsure of how to phrase the truth of the matter, which was largely that she raather loved her tub and did not wish to move. That didn’t matter however. Mother had decided and what mother decided happened. It had always been so.
It would always be so.
The sun had beckoned in that moment. Out the window the late winter was waning to spring and something in her ached. Out there people walked, birds chirped, things grew while inside…
Well, inside she was loved right to the aching marrow of her holy bones.
While Demeter ranted at the servants about packing the house and assembling the moving company Persephone let her eyes rest on the trees outside blocking the street that lay beyond.
One day. It was all she wished for.
One hour in fact.
One hour in the span of centuries was not a terrible thing, surely? One could still be a good and dutiful daughter and take one hour to herself, yes?
Her eyes slid back slowly to her mother whose hands were on her hips as she gave off a series of orders in military fashion to the poor woman standing before her.
Perhaps she could be back even before mother noticed.
Before she could think through all the possible negative outcomes of her decision she climbed out the window, fighting off a broad slightly feral grin.
It took a few blocks for her to realize that perhaps she should shroud herself in normalcy. People stared, awed by the dewy complexion of her face that seemed to glow in the brightness of the strengthening spring sun. They blinked as her hair danced in ringlets of brown and black threaded with deep gold only brightened by the touch of sunlight. Plump beautiful lips pulled back in a smile that stopped hearts.
Blinking long lashes she stopped and gazed at herself in the reflection of a vehicle window, noting that as she walked behind her trees had taken to blooming. Her freedom was a riot inside her and on the outside the world seemed to be blossoming in her wake.
No, it would not do. If mother were to realize she was missing she would simply step outside and follow the fragrance of the early spring bloom she was leaving behind to find her.
Taking a deep breath Persephone studied her reflection and watched as her hair became a more believable mane around her shoulders, reaching to her elbows in a wild delicious midnight fountain of tight spirals. Impossibly large doe eyes subdued themselves enough that only looking directly upon them showed their glowing depth and the beautiful darkness of her plump lips softened to a more manageable pink.
Adjusting the white skirt on her hips and the flowing blue top she sauntered forward again, determined to blend in. Her naivete was of course showing in the fact that even dampened down every living thing was poised to her steps on the cement.
“I think i would like some tea.” She concluded, wondering what she should do with her sudden and surely short lived freedom. “In a cafe."
She had seen cafes when her mother took her out for the day, rare instance that it was. She had read about them in the library that followed them from house to house as her mother found fault in their habitation.
They seemed dreamy sort of places and she imagined they smelled like lofty aspirations and sweetness and were filled with poets and other beautiful artists discussing life. Sometimes, she had thought as she examined the illustration next to the description of the cafe in her book, people brought their pets with them to cafe’s.
Oh how she longed for a pet. A companion to cuddle her when she was left alone for long hours, weeks, months or years depending on her mother’s schedule. Someone who would listen to her thoughts and perhaps lick her face when her tears were too many for her to wipe alone.
Shaking off these thoughts as best she could she surged forward, straining to keep herself from exploding in a riot of flowers and birds and wild curling hair once more.
No time to waste on melancholy. This was her chance to see something new before her mother found her.
Smiling brightly enough to hurt the hearts of those around her she sped away.
Helios blinked several times from across the street and tried very hard not to stare. It didn’t work that well. He was the staring sort and to be honest he rather liked what he was seeing. He liked it at a lot.
There went, if he was not mistaken, Persephone. Doted daughter of Demeter and neglected offspring of Zeus himself.
My, oh my.
The fact that his abode was near Demeter’s was no coincidence. He liked scandal and there was always scandal to be had with Demeter, sour as she was towards all male things. With a daughter as beautiful as Persephone there were many male things sniffing about.
He especially liked when she raged at them at parties. It made for some wonderful entertainment.
This, however had never happened before.
Usually there were other eyes on Persephone. Artemis, and her lot accompanying her everywhere she went if not her mother herself. Pouting was the usual expression seen on Persephone. No god with balls he wanted to keep dared speak to her with Demeter or Artemis around. Both knew how to wield blades for removing manhoods.
So she was admired from afar, her pout ever more tempting for it’s lack of attainability.
But there was no Artemis with her on this fine early spring day. No Demeter, Athena or otherwise. Giggling to himself Helios pranced across the street before letting his body disintegrate to sparkles of sunbeam riding on the breeze.
This, of course, he had to see.
Hades was in a right foul mood. Foul, foul and fouler.
Simmering with indignation he settled at the cafe table and with a silent order to Cerberus motioned for a waitress to wander over.
She did of course, drawn to his terrifying beauty as only mortals can be drawn to things that kill them. Eyes wide and young she stuttered out a greeting which he politely ignored before ordering something dark and sugarless to match his mood.
A glance to see if she had got the instruction afforded him a look at her face. She was a pretty little thing. Small boned, delicately structured. Zeus did have a way with sculpting humanity, especially pretty things. He could see that this one had been gifted the hair of fire, red as the burning embers of the earth’s heart and across her nose a smattering of freckles gave her a distinct look he rather liked.
For a moment he considered, as he sometimes did, reaching out to touch her cheek, to feel the warmth of her blood pulsing beneath her smooth skin. She would come willingly, of course. Few mortals resisted the advances of a god. Like bees to honey, like hummingbirds to nectar they thirsted for their lips and breaths, unaware that they were getting too close to fire.
As was his custom the temptation passed without ever setting roots and he turned impatiently away, severing the long held look they had exchanged and leaving the beautiful infant to stumble away, weak kneed and shaking to make his drink. Probably she would always remember that day when a beautiful creature looked her in the eye and her life flashed before her as death was said to induce. What would always frighten her most would be her desire to stay in the terror, if only to feel him touch her skin.
The next day she would quit her job in search for better things. Whether or not she found them was a different story.
Cerberus grunted something down by Hades’ feet then. A warning of sorts that Hades appreciated. A deity of some sort approached.
Without turning to look and see who it was Hades wove himself a cloak, energy and shadows knitted together around him as he flipped through his phone for something else to listen to. Something melancholy as his mood. He was usually not one to enter into conversations with other gods. They smiled wanly and tried not to touch him, and always asked ridiculous questions while at once annoyed that he was not inquiring after them and their family.
He never really meant to be rude, but when family was as knotted and convoluted as it was in Olympus it was best not ask.
"How is your brother?” Could also be phrased as “How is your husband?” and he had no time to keep track of which one of the two titles a goddess (or god) preferred at any given century.
Cerberus gave another snort of sorts, a secondary warning that said he was enticed by the incoming deity and Hades tapped him lightly with his shoe without looking up from his phone.
"Hush.“ He muttered. Artemis in particular had a way of making the damned demon dog angsty. Once upon a time he thought perhaps Cerberus had aspired to be one of her hunting hounds but having three heads sometimes made for arguments with oneself on a hunt and she had rejected him.
Hades counted it as a blessing. He rather liked his dog (dogs?), but then that didn’t diminish Cerberus’ annoyance with the goddess.
A commotion finally drew him from his infinite browsing, brows furrowed as he let his invisibility drop away like a forgotten cloak.
Inside the cafe through the wide window he could see a creature leaning on the counter with her elbows. A small waist was wrapped in a white skirt and despite it’s flow it accented the wide and beautiful curve of her hips as she leaned forward. Hips which were attached to long sun kissed legs and calves wonderful enough to wretch a feeling in his chest that was shockingly, painfully close to tears.
Supported on those leaning elbows was a mane of black and brown curls to challenge all manes. Each tendril shivered as it’s bearer shivered, excitement cruising through her so obviously it was like electricity visible to the naked eye and Hades drew in a long agonized breath as he realized despite his immortality that he might in fact be dying.
Hand to his chest he choked out a sound. The barista was staring with open mouthed awe at the creature, being, blessing, on his counter as she inquired about all the different teas and possible combinations of coffee. He was not replying, of course. Somewhere along the way, while she asked questions his lungs had seized to work.
Hades understood.
Beside him Cerberus gave another grumble before rising on his giant paws to press his faces to the glass, thumping it hard enough to make the beautiful thing within turn.
It was at once a disaster and a wish granted that she turned her face to him. Perfectly decadent brown features poised to surprise at the sight of Cerberus and she smiled so the apples of her cheeks ripened to a crimson shine, brightening the freckles along her nose and cheeks that were less freckles and more sparkles on her skin.
Rushing forward she pressed her hands flat to the window where Cerberus was now wagging his tail hard enough to jostle the entire table.
"Oh!” Through the glass Hades heard her voice, and felt the last of his sanity leave him.
“Please?” She turned to him then, tearing her eyes from Cerberus. “May I pet your dog?”
If he nodded he did not remember. If he said yes or agreed to hand over his lands and powers he could not deny it as he did not recall.
She was out of the cafe and at his side in a moment, filling the air with perfume and brightness, with life and warmth and as she rubbed Cerberus’ head, and then his other and then his other until Hades shook because this thing- creature-impossibility could see him for what he was, clearly. And yet there she was on her knees rubbing his dog’s belly.
“Who…” he began and stopped at the choked sound of his voice, not needing to add more as she turned to him, large brown eyes half moons of mirth as she extended her hand.
"I’m Persephone daughter of Demeter.“
Hades simply blinked, rapid fire shutter effect to capture her smile as he dared to take her fingers while lamenting the truth of what he was realizing.
Demeter would likely end him for shaking her daughter’s hand.
Still, he did not let go rather pulled it forward, watching as Persephone cocked her head, releasing butterflies from the wildness of her hair as she studied his movement.
Pressing his lips to the soft underside of her wrist he breathed out, tickling the warm skin there so that she stilled completely, as though the frantic joy had not gone away but been crystallized, as bubbling sugar turned to candy on a stove.
"It…is a pleasure to meet you…Persephone. I am Hades.”
Oh, Persephone thought as she stared into the endless darkness of his eyes, I did not think I was a thrill seeker.
But she must be, because she thought surely the feeling burning through her had a little bit of fear in it amongst all the heart pounding excitement.
Ink Child Writing 