𝐇𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬

@-FortheLoveofYou 
            
            “They don’t? So… So my parents are there, but it’s… it’s not really them? How do they watch over my brother and I then? How do they protect us from trouble?”

@sunnyruler 
            The king sighed... it wasn't an uncommon question.  Mortals and those who lived in the worlds between often asked the same... he couldn't give a n answer that would ever give them any reassurance, 
            "That's... not quite how it works.  The souls... have no memory.  They do not worry nor do they care to.  Their minds... their identity... it has no place beyonds the walls."

@temptingnemesis 
            The king of the mines seems... less amused than he often would be.  The warmth of the world above could be a clue as to why, but that itself seemed rather shallow of an answer.  He crossed his arms, breathing out the smoke that spilled from his lungs, dark as the coal fire smog that kept the world within the walls rolling.  
            "Lucifer." his voice was calm, albeit sharp and cutting as if attempting to mask his distaste for the other's words... his offer.  He didn't move forward, never cared to... very few beings within the realms of death ever really made him desire to step closer.  
            "The kingdom within the wall stands strong... and the work is always going... and everything beyond is not of my concern.  The wall stands, and it does not fall." his dark eyes flashed, curious of the other's reaction, "And you, as well as I, know that the ones who exist after do not have needs for gifts in the way my brothers and sisters above ground.  I have no use for it... and I will have no interruptions to my shades.  They're quite busy with their work."

@MoonlitPoppies- 
            His eye twitched, flickering red for a moment as if threatening to show something far different from his humanlike form.  The king of the mines was clearly unhappy of someone sitting in the seat across from him that wasn't his wife.  His hand clenched in his lap... before he took another sip of his own drink, "I do not care... this is my wife's affair, not mine.  I have my space to do my work or see her when I please, the workers stay in line as I command and I can still leave to check on those much lower and receive report from the mines..."

. ݁ ˖【 @-FortheLoveofYou 】. ݁ ˖
            
            
            Thalassa watched the smoke curl from his breath, slow and deliberate as a tide that never rushed for anyone.
            
            “So the vision’s hers,” she said, letting the words drift like a half-smile across the table. “Figures. Only Persephone could build a room that feels like both a heartbeat and a funeral hymn.”
            
            She slid into the empty seat the server had ghosted away from, the faint scent of salt water following her as if it refused to be left outside.
            “But it still carries your signature,” she added, eyes catching the amber gleam of his bourbon. “The stillness in the walls, the quiet that waits for people to notice. That’s you.”
            
            Her fingers traced the rim of the untouched glass, a soft hiss of seafoam in her voice.
            “Tell me, Hades—do you like it better when they forget who keeps the lights burning down here, or when they finally realize whose shadow they’ve been dancing in?”
            

@MoonlitPoppies- 
            The king sat at his held table, reclined slightly in his chair as the game in front of him was clearly mid-play, the queen having run off to help someone at the bar, leaving Hades alone.  He breathed out, smoke curling around his lips as if he was smoking something, though nothing held in his hands nor his mouth, 
            "My wife's.  This place is only mine as an extension of my domain." he replied, his voice calm and cold, as it'd been for more cycles than any mortals around in the room had even been dreamed of.  He took a sip from the glass of bourbon, before raising a hand, a server with blind eyes and head angled low appears from the shadow, "Top off your queen's drink before she gets back.  Gin.  And summer's rain." the server nods before picking up the glass set for the seat across him before turning and disappearing into the shadows again,

@sunnyruler 
            "oh there is." Persephone grumbles before Hades sighed, 
            "Seph and I will... be perfectly alright.  You should get going girl... no girl like you has any business being caught out in this cold... not unless you want the vultures and ravens circling... they know how to pick a good snack." he hisses... his arm getting squeezed tighter before they walk into the other direction, the duo seemingly disappearing into the cold mist

@-FortheLoveofYou 
            
            She found herself nodding at Persephone’s words, taking note of how the two interacted with one another. The way the smoke left the man’s mouth, the way the woman kept such a pleasant presentation while keeping a tight leash on her husband. 
            
            “Thank you. I’ll remember the kindness and bring you both something the next time I visit.” She smiled, lifting the coins momentarily before tucking them into her coat and turning to take her leave. She paused after a few steps and turned back towards the couple, glancing to the sky momentarily.” There’s a storm coming, I think. It’s getting colder. We should both find our shelters for the night quickly.”

@sunnyruler 
            "Hello Aurinko." She said, pulling her husband by the arm... the mighty king seemingly angered to be demeaned like a disruptive and naughty dog rather than the king of iron, the king of steel... king of the mines and the underground... and yet his wife's grip tightened, "Not a word out of you..." 
            "Lover, you know the girl mea-"
            "Oh that's the only reason she's not a plant.  You better enjoy a Mint Julep when we get back." she growls, her nails curling tighter into his arms, his mouth puffing out smoke at the sudden pain through his arm... the queen then smiled softly at the redhead, "My husband did not lie about that... a brother of mine runs the train station... he'll take a coin or two, but he also won't ask for more...he's... quite caring to travelers.  I would go there for the night, dear."

// <3

After a few too many particularly rough cycles of seasons… the king of the mines and his queen played dominoes as she complained… hungover from gin… of the heat.  Of the electric light.  Of the worker’s nonstop labor… of the machinery… of his wall that surrounded his domain
            
            And oh how he bristled… before he thought.  Why not carve a place for his wife… not truly beyond the wall, but close enough her precious mortals could enter… even if they never found their way out.
            
            And so the construction on the bar began… Hades let her tend to her whims as he worked in the upstairs… so much work to do… never ending…
            
            
            But when his lady calls… or when he so desires her… he is at their table, setting up the game of dominoes for them…
            And she always relents

But kings ensure their queens remain with them at their side… and he was no different than his brothers to their wives.   He invited Persephone, who so clearly trusted him with the naïveté of a young queen, to play a game of dominoes.  Between games, he offered her a seed of pomegranate… she took each one from his hand… her lips stained red…
            
            By the time any god had reasoned what had happened, the girl was bound to him…
            Half a year above ground… half a year below.
            
            
            So Hades did what he could… offering her riches and jewels that the workers dug from the ground… but when it seemed his love would not be enough… oh how cold the heart of the king behind.
            
            Everything he did… he did for his lover.
            
            
            He bound her neck with a choker of gold and precious jewels… tied her wrists with silver bracelets… and bound her to him with a golden wedding band.