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๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Hades & Persephone's home, by the World Tree
๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: Vรกli @Hey Im Jordan & Persephone @Aewin
๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: Hades @sly13, Athena @metanoia || Melinoรซ @KZOMBI3 || Odin @KZOMBI3 & A Special Friend
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๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: Vรกli @Hey Im Jordan & Persephone @Aewin
๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: Hades @sly13, Athena @metanoia || Melinoรซ @KZOMBI3 || Odin @KZOMBI3 & A Special Friend
Vรกli had been in Seattle for less than a day, and already two things had gone wrong. Firstly, his father wasnโt responding to his text. Granted, Vรกli hadnโt exactly sent a text message with a lot to respond to, but Odin was hardly the type to ignore his only son that still liked talking to him. But that was easily overlooked; to Vรกli, finding Persephone at the world tree instead of at A New Leaf was more troubling.
Vรกli wasnโt a stranger to approaching people and having them be unaware โ he was naturally quiet and stealthy in the way he moved, especially for someone so large. But, he knew she could sense his presence, the plants would have told her that he was there, but why didnโt she turn to face and acknowledge him? โPersephone, are you alright?โ He asked with a frown, โThis isnโtโฆโ He thought for a moment, and then decided on a word. โ...normal.โ
Shortly after Thor had left her home, Persephone decided to take a walk on the grounds of Kalos Gardens. The benefits of building your home on a large sect of land filled with nothing but nature and fauna, she knew she had to take advantage of. Immediately stepping outside her home allowed her to breathe again, but she couldnโt call it refreshing.
The tree beckoned her every morning and night, and Persephone dutifully answered. She had done so since the fall, giving everything she could to nurse the life left for the good of the other deities, for her children. But what good did that do?
Vรกliโs voice from behind her was of no surprise. The rose bushes on the way to the Tree whispered of silence trailing after her. โToday isnโt a normal day, ฮตฯ ฮณฮตฮฝฮฎฯ.โ Persephone hesitated slightly before turning to face Vรกli, scanning him till she was assured he was safe and healthy. โYou didnโt come to the feast. I saved you an apple.โ
It seemed Persephone didnโt want to talk about whatever made this a strange day, and Vรกli was smart enough to not press the subject. Instead, he nodded at her comment about him not attending the feast, โI like to avoid Hera. Sheโsโฆ she really doesnโt like a lot of her family. And some of them donโt like her. It lights a fire in me that Iโve worked hard to quell. Thank you for saving me an apple,โ He gave her a smile, but couldnโt quell the curiosity he had wondering about whatever had happened. Looking her up and down, she looked alright which pushed the darkest thoughts he had out of his mind. At least he knew she wasnโt physically hurt, at least. โMy father hasnโt responded to my texts, was he at the feast?โ
Persephone remained quiet for a while, trying to think back to before Macaria and Zagreus crashed through the glass. She had been waiting with Hades at their regular table, discussing their childrenโs first attempt at rejoining divine society in so long. โIf Odin was, it must have been brief.โ She was finally able to answer.
There was another pause, her thoughts once again running a mile a minute. โHave you ever questioned your divinity?โ Persephone asked, her eyes glued to the tree.
Without hesitation, Vรกli responded. โYes. I was created by my father to extract vengeance. After I finished my task, the mortals told stories about me and worshiped me for it. And now, I live with this curse of a divine gift.โโ He paused, thinking about it a little more as he chose his words. โItโs difficult for me to eat the apple every year. I donโt know what I offer people as a mortal, and I donโt even know what the point is. Why do we get to live forever? For the dream of returning to godhood? I donโt know. I donโt think weโre all that special. I think I do it for my dad, I donโt think he could handle it if one of his sons gave up before he can reunite our family.โ Though Vรกliโs words were heavy handed, he seemed truthful in what he was saying, like it was something heโd thought about extensively.
After he spoke, Vรกli frowned again. Heโd gotten a little preachy, and even depressing there while he talked about it and he shook his head, โPersephone, what happened?โ
Persephone wanted to scream at herself for reminding Vรกli of nothing but pain. In her grief she had struck a sore subject for the both of them. Her hand reached out to offer comfort, but it remained stuck in the air between them as Vรกli questioned her in return. For the third time that day, she had to acknowledge the cursed events of the day. โMacaria and Zagreus were killed at the feast.โ
He didnโt say anything in response, not like there were any words that could be said. Instead of speaking, Vรกli wrapped Persephone in a warm but gentle hug. He held his friend for a few moments, and then released her before he finally spoke. โIโm so sorry. What can I do?โ Persephone was a large part of the reason that Vรกli was able to become the ฮตฯ ฮณฮตฮฝฮฎฯ he was today, and he would have tried to move mountains if she asked him. And then something dawned on him. โDid you say killed? Byโฆ by whom? Was there a fight at the feast?โ He should have been there, instead of his petty desire to avoid Hera. Maybe he could have protected them.
Alarm bells quickly started ringing in Persephoneโs head, pulling away from the hug in surprise. If she knew Vรกli the way she claimed she did, she knew that she was speaking to the God of Vengeance, not the ฮตฯ ฮณฮตฮฝฮฎฯ she was familiar with. Persephone had to push all thoughts of violence and revenge away, clearing her mind before allowing the tendrils of satisfaction to stick like they had that morning against Hati. โI donโt know. Athena is investigating, I trust her wisdom to guide us to their killer. For now, all I can do is grieve and protect Melinoรซ. Iโฆ I canโt let anything happen to her.โ Her hand touched her stomach, the ugly thoughts resurfacing again. She closed her eyes but all she could see was their bodies, forcing her to reopen her eyes to stare almost panickedly at the World Tree. โI donโt know what Iโll do if I see her body like Macaria.โ
So long as Vรกli drew breath, he wouldnโt allow anything to happen to Melinoรซ, if only to protect Persephone from going through this again. He made a mental note to reach out to Athenaโฆ though she and Vรกli hadnโt gotten along in the past. Maybe they could unite on this issue. โYou wonโt.โ Vรกli said in a simple promise. Even without his vigilance, he thought it unlikely another of their kind fell. Everyone would be on high guard, and there surely wouldnโt be anything too adventurous happening in the near future.
โThe boys are doing well. You should come down and see them again sometime.โ Vรกli gently changed the subject, trying to move it towardโฆ anything else. If they kept talking about the violent happenings and the fallout, then Vรกli feared the kind of mood heโd leave in.
The change in topics was a welcome one, allowing Persephone to relax as she engaged in conversation about Vรกliโs boys. It wasnโt long before the distraction became effective, Persephone smiling because of Vรกliโs antics just before landing in Seattle. โYou must have made Ericโs day, letting him be your unwitting hero.โ Persephone praised with gentle laughter. โBut please promise me you wonโt scare the poor boy like that again.โ
โHe was very brave. I just donโt understand why they always want McDonaldโsโฆโ Vรกli frowned. He struggled to think of a time when he would choose McDonaldโs when told he could have whatever he wanted for dinner. Why not steak, or lobster? Orโฆ something more exotic? Vรกli had eaten McDonaldโs so many times heโd gotten his order down to a science. โI think heโll be a good fit for my little family.โ
A soft smile lingered on her face as she saw the contentedness cross Vรกliโs face. She knew nothing purer than Vรกliโs love for his boys. โI bet James had something to say to Eric once he joined your family.โ Persephone eyed Vรกli with a familiar expression, one he would come to know as teasing. โI bet he told Eric all about your special friend.โ Vรกli had sweetly confided in her one day about his crush, melting the Goddessโ heart from the sincere way he talked about his friend. James, the oldest child in Vรกliโs Valhalla had come to join Persephone with teasing the God in front of her.
Vรกli couldnโt fight it as a light pink blush rose up in his cheeks. He didnโt like talking about his โspecial friend,โ but Persephone was right. James probably would tell the others to expect him to bring a girl home with himโฆ Vรกli didnโt even know the first step in getting a girl to go out for dinner, let alone getting one to go home with him. โHe asked me if I was going to bring her home this time. I donโt even know how Iโd do that. I mean, I donโt even know if she likes me back.โ In spite of himself, when Vรกli spoke of the woman he crushed on, he ended up sounding less like the god of vengeance, and more like a love struck puppy.
โHave you tried talking to her first?โ Persephone suggested. โStealing her away is old-fashioned, itโs all about building a connection in this era.โ She thought back to the first time she had spent in the underworld with Hades, the shy and tentative conversation slowly getting bolder as she had gotten comfortable around him.
Yikes. It felt like Persephone was going for the throat, and all Vรกli could do was try his best not to trip over his words while he spoke. โIโve talked to her!โ He protested. A โhi, how are you?โ wasnโt the most valuable conversation in the world, but Vรกli definitely felt it counted for something. โItโs not very easy for me to build a connection with someone. Thatโs why I live in the woods, Perse. Got any advice?โ Most of the Greeks were people Vรกli would never ask for relationship advice, but having been friends with Persephone for many years now and having watched her relationship with Hades, Vรกli couldnโt think of a better person on the planet to ask.
โFirst of all, it helps to be in the same place as her more often.โ Persephone started. โUnless you do what the mortals do these days and try texting her instead. Regardless, start by asking about her day and go from there. If the conversation grows quiet, ask her about something she may like. A connection is built by talking and learning about each other.โ Persephone may not have been a goddess of love, but she was more than happy to share what worked for her and Hades.
โRight. Texting. Asking about her day, that makes senseโฆโ Idle conversation was hardly Vรกliโs strong suit, and he had half a mind to ask Persephone to coach him through it with an earpiece when the time came, but decided that would be neither stealthy nor attractive. โIs it nice? Having the same person as your partner for so long, I mean. I reckon things must be near perfect for you and Hades both for thing to be soโฆ smooth.โ Vรกli sounded undeniably envious as he spoke with a smile on his lips. โI imagine most of the deities are jealous of the two of you. So far as I know, there hasnโt been a relationship thatโs worked out across the pantheons other than the two of you.โ
โฮตฯ ฮณฮตฮฝฮฎฯ, I assure you there isnโt anything you have to fear.โ Persephone knew that affirmations were the best way forward with Vali. Despite being one of the sweetest divines she had the pleasure of knowing, he often struggled with connecting with those he wasnโt familiar with. She only wanted him to see himself the way she saw him.
When it came to talking about her own relationship thoughโฆ Persephone couldnโt help but smile. Hades always brought out a feeling of comfort within her. It was a safe feeling, one that never changed even after their fall. โHades and I are not perfect by any means. The difference is that we always put each other first. Being united gives us our strength.โ If she had the chance, she would always gush about her Hades. โYou could be like us too, you know. Put yourself out there, like Hades did. Justโฆ not the kidnapping part.โ
Vรกli wondered if Persephone really thought he was capable of kidnapping the woman he had a crush on, or if she were just saying the warning as a jab at her husband. He thought about asking, but before he had a chance his phoneโs notification went off. โOh, this is probably my father, give me just a second.โ He said, and pulled his phone out, idly scanning the messages. After he finished, he looked up at Persephone. With his brow furrowed in confusion, he spoke. โI think I just got asked out on a date.โ He said, with a voice that conveyed the disbelief he was feeling.
He moved the phone so that Persephone could see the series of text messagesโฆ
From: Sunshine
Heyyyyy! Itโs Uzu! Thereโs a party tonight. At Acropolis. You know Hercules and Apolloโs party pad? I was thinking -- we should totally go! You know, with each other!
I mean as a date! You know, like officially or you know whatever. Doesnโt need to be! Itโll be funnnnnnnn!
โ...what do I say?โ
Persephone only had to blink twice before she responded. โTell her to meet you here, obviously! You want to go with her, right?โ
To: Sunshine
I accept. Can you meet me at Persephoneโs?