Hades and Persephone

When a Bad Day Starts to Get Worse

It was Thursday afternoon, and Persephone was busy making drinks when Odysseus came into the shop. Usually, either Persephone or Psyche would serve at the till—Persephone because she was apparently the nicest, and Psyche because all the boys had a crush on her and it made up-selling easy—but as Persephone was in the middle of something, Arachne served Odysseus instead. As he was the last in line, it meant he was available for a chat.

"Where've you been?" Arachne asked as she tapped in his order without asking. He was a regular, so they all knew his order by heart. Persephone was already readying the cup for when she'd finished making her current order.

"Oh, it sounds like you've missed me," Odysseus said as he leant one elbow against the counter. "I apologise; running a business can be stressful and busy."

Arachne snorted. "Understandable. Also, I don't miss anyone. I just don't like out usual boyish and annoying regulars more than our other regulars."

"I'm touched that you dislike me less than you like others," Odysseus said as she handed back his change. Without looking, he put it into the tip jar next to him.

"Yeah, well, you have a dog," Arachne said, and she leant over the counter so she could peer through the front door, where Odysseus's dog, Argo, was sat patiently at one of the outside tables.

"Yes, and I hear Hades has also been coming here with his own dog," Odysseus said. "You must truly be blessed to see a three-headed dog. It's almost a three in one package."

"Ugh, don't get me started on Hades," Arachne said, and she scowled as she waved Odysseus over to Persephone's side of the counter. "I would never pet a dog from hell in a million years."

Persephone, who had been listening in on Arachne's and Odysseus' chat, sighed as she returned to making drinks. She expected nothing less from Arachne.

"I believe it's a misconception that the Underworld is hell," Odysseus said. "I assume you would get on Hades' bad side if you referred to it as such."

Persephone didn't imagine one would get on Hades' bad side if they called the Underworld hell, but she definitely could imagine him painstakingly explaining the difference in the exasperated tone he typically reserved for when he was explaining he was the god of the dead, not death.

"I don't really care," Arachne huffed. "I say gods shouldn't be allowed here full stop, but Cassandra says Hades tips well, so there's nothing we can do."

Gods shouldn't be allowed here. Persephone sighed again.

"What's that downcast expression for?" Odysseus asked as he drifted over to Persephone's side of the bar. He was in his typical laid-back attire, with his usual shorts and black beanie, but that day his vest shirt said home is where the heart is, but I lost mine at sea.

"Oh, please don't tell me you're going to demand a smile like all the other men I have to serve," Persephone said. She'd already handed off the previous set of drinks she'd been making, so she was now working on Odysseus'—a luxury hot chocolate, of course. "Legit the other day I was focused on making drinks, and a guy asked me why I wasn't smiling. Because I'm focused on making your drink!"

"I will fight him on your behalf the next time I see him, if that would please you," Odysseus said as he leant against the bar. "And I was only asking because usually you're rather cheerful. You don't agree with Arachne's view on gods?"

He wore a slight knowing smile, which was fairly valid, in his defence. He had seen her with Hades in the dog park, exactly two weeks beforehand when she'd gone out with Hades after she had visited work. Of course, he'd think Persephone would disagree on Arachne's views, especially when Hades was involved. She was dating him after all. Only, his knowing wasn't entirely correct, seeing as he wasn't aware that Persephone was a goddess herself.