she's so mean.

—  SWEETIE, I MAKE FORCES OF NATURE.

Hades looked the girl up and down, a quirked eyebrow and a half smile at her attitude. “Assuming you don’t smell like meat, you’ll be fine,” he replied with a shrug of his shoulders, “Of course, most creatures consist of meat, so maybe just mind your limbs. He can be a little tripolar, at times.”

♡

“Gross. I smell like perfume.” Vidia’s nose crinkled in disgust at the idea of walking around smelling like ham all day. What a strange joke to make. She took a step back from the dog. “But I will... keep that in mind.”

HERCULES felt dumbfounded by the shock of his own… well stupidity. He should have double–no, triple checked the poster and copped it was a horror from the fanatics with terrible hats and homemade finger knives. “I guess I was just hoping for a Christmas in July vibe...” he confessed with a sad sigh. “Hey– can I sit with you? I don’t want to bail on this in front of everyone but… this kind of stuff gives me the creeps.”

♡

“I’m kind of with a friend already...” Vidia didn’t have a hard time telling people no, usually, but there was something about this man that made her feel just a little too guilty to keep walking. He looked like a genuinely good person. You didn’t run into those too often. “But I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you joined us,” she added, kicking herself for having a conscience. “It gives her the creeps, too.”

“Don’t talk,” he said with an impish grin as he pulled his head back in the window. “Got it.” He offered his hand to help her in and then went to hunt for some nice clothing that wasn’t too nice just in case she was being serious about stealing his clothes if he said the wrong thing. “Bathroom’s through there if you want to grab a quick shower.” He said, passing her the pajama bottoms and sweatshirt

♡

“You can’t talk without saying something stupid? You should get that checked out.” She quirked an eyebrow. “Don’t take this the wrong way, sweetie, but you could be one of those creeps that have cameras set up in their bathroom waiting on moments like this. I think I’ll pass, thanks.”

Persephone looked downward toward where she had gestured then nodded in understanding. “Perfect, I hate when people show up and take all the good one first.” She missed the home grown fruit from her mother’s orchards. Nothing was the same but a stand had to be better than somewhere else. “Oh, you’re welcome. Happy to help.” The girl went to leave before pausing, curious now. “What’s your name?”

♡

“People are selfish like that.” Not that she was any better, of course. If she showed up first, she’d pick out the best fruit too, that was the point. The early bird gets the worm and all that. “Vidia. And you are---? Besides my savior.”

Iridessa wasn’t sure why she chose this movie for a friends night out. She would’ve settled for last weeks singing in the rain but it seemed the other girls wanted to see something more scary. So Dessa put on a brave face and convinced herself that she’d get through it. Boy was she wrong. “Sure, if you’re like heartless I guess.” Iridessa joked and then completely froze when Vidia wrapped her around around her. She knew Vidia liked getting under her skin but Dessa was never the wiser. Feeling a lump form in her throat as she tried to respond, feeling her cheeks heat up as she stuttered. “N-No I p-prefer to keep it like this. Thank you. B-Besides I just know I’m going to look at the worst possible time.”

♡

“You could say that,” Vidia shrugged a shoulder. She knew Dessa was joking, but it wouldn’t be the first time she was called heartless. It didn’t bother her. She did care, she was simply selective over when to care, and she was just fine with that. She’d hate to be empathetic and sad for everyone else, even people she didn’t give two shits about. “Why did you even want to come if you’re not going to watch the movie?” She demanded, letting out a soft sigh, her arm still around her friend’s shoulders. “Fine, what if I promise to tell you when all of the jump scares and gorey parts are coming up?”

He heard her before he saw her, his hackles raising as he leaned out into the rain, big fat droplets splashing on his cheeks as he laughed out loud. “Hey! Did you miss me that much?” He knew teasing her would be dangerous. “Why don’t you come in. I’ll get you a towel and you can use some of my clothes until you dry. No strings attached.” He offered her his hand with a grin.

♡

Vidia wasn’t one to trust walking into people’s houses, but Max struck her as the kind of guy that couldn’t even hurt a fly, and she absolutely hated the feeling of her wet clothes sticking to her skin. Ignoring his teasing, she gave in. “Alright,” she sighed, taking his hand to climb inside, “but if you say anything even remotely stupid, I’m leaving and taking your clothes with me.”

Persephone smirked a bit, looking down at the cement. “A man probably made it then.” She was glad to help regardless of the situation. It wasn’t in her nature to be cruel, that was Hades. As harsh as he could be she saw a bit more sympathy towards the world, even if they didn’t always deserve it. “Where’d you get all the fruit? I now have the hankering for a peach.”

♡

The comment brought a smirk of her own to Vidia’s lips. She wasn’t wrong. “There was a stand just down the road.” She gestured in the direction she had been walking from. “Looked like there were plenty of peaches left. Thank you, by the way. I appreciate it.”