found this oneshot that i never finished while cleaning up chaos theory. instead of letting it gather any more dust, I thought I'd let yall have a gander
pls use ur imagination for the unfinished scenes 🫶
TW: yn is hades so... death. lots of it. teehee
"Aren't you tired of being alone?"
"Well, that's a wonderfully optimistic way to start the day," I muttered, turning from the window caged by black rock. It looked down upon the fields of asphodel, where barren ground roved for miles on end, broken only by the odd protruding rock or leafless, bone-like trees. Translucent spirits wandered amongst the dried, charcoal grass. They dotted the plains like sheep.
I set Naomi a bland look from across the throne room and stuck a hand in the pocket of my chinos, leaning back against the window sill. I raised a brow, as if daring her to elaborate.
"You've been alone for almost two millenniums," Naomi reminded, averting her gaze and pretending that the swirling wisps of purple magic that danced around her fingers was the cause of her redirected attention. "I think you oughta start taking more time for yourself. You work too hard."
I snorted.
"Nomes, no offence, but if I took even just one day off, the dead would flood the earth and the other gods and goddesses will be on my back for it," I muttered, crossing my arms and glaring once more out at the languid fields. "I'm the goddess of the Underworld. I don't get to have the luxury of a break."
I saw Naomi frown in the reflection of the glass.
"Now, cease these silly ideas and accompany me to River Styx," I said, voice louder. It echoed in the near empty chambers. My stare sharpened as I crossed my arms and turned on my heel to leave the castle. "Charon's been complaining that there's a lack of souls with drachmas to grant passage. The gates are getting crowded."
"Yippee," Naomi muttered. "This again."
"If you are complaining about simple tasks such as these, then perhaps you shouldn't have decided to accompany me when I took up my role here," I said sharply, eyeing Naomi from the corner of my fiery eyes.
"Please," Naomi snorted, stepping over my sheer cloak with care. "It's just that we have to do the same things every couple of decades. It's getting wearisome. We need some new life around here."
My brows raised. We stepped out into the cobblestone path that lead to the depths of my domain.
"That being said," Naomi continued with a curt grin. "As if I could leave you here on your lonesome. You'd go stir crazy without me."
My stern expression melted into an amused smile. Naomi brightened.
"There you are, you grumpy old bat," she snickered, elbowing my side. I rolled my eyes. "Seriously though, Y/n. I'm worried about you."
"Your worry is in vain," I reassured. "I'm perfectly content with my life the way it is. There's order and it's comfortably predictable."
"It's boring," Naomi corrected dryly.
"For you," I reminded. "And this - well."
We stopped at the edge of the riverbank, the Styx curling and coiling like oily snakes. Damned souls reached up to grasp their whispering hands around my ankles before slipping away with the current. Naomi grimaced, kicking her foot free.
Across the other side of the river stood Charon, holding back a bustling crowd of spirits that weren't buried with a drachma - a most unfortunate circumstance. They needed to pay to cross the Styx, less they be stuck at the waiting gates for all of eternity. Gas isn't cheap, y'know.
Unfortunately, like most things, a build up begins.
"My lady," Charon called, his skeletal hands slipping against the mosh. "Help!"
"How can you call this boring?" I teased, summoning my helmet of darkness with the fluency of having done it a million times tenfold.
"The underworld has its moments," Naomi reluctantly agreed, purple mist flooding from her palms.
