now is the climax to our story
zeus steps a little further into the space, surprisingly barren, and cold, although one shouldnāt be surprised knowing his brother, knowing the kinds of decorations that were always sort of lacking from hadesā personal touch-- if one ever such existed. although, itās been so long now since zeus has seen hades on his own; of which is definitely true, thereās just no way persephone wouldnāt plant a flower somewhere or doodle a drawing on something, give it something lively. but a look around the place affirms a distinctly male setting, all pointed and with a purpose, serving a function with efficiency the same way zeus would always associate with hades.
still though, he blinks a moment down at the couch, debating whether itās safe or not to engage, before turning around and flopping down onto it, arms spreading out across the backboard-cushions, his legs crossing over themselves in a lengthened, comfortable way. every space is zeusā space, every drop of air, every ounce of breath belongs to him, and even when thatās not entirely true and even when thatās not entirely felt and even when thatās not entirely what he can get away with, itās still the atmosphere he portrays, itās still what he does everything to appear as.
he decides not to outright mention persephone, but something has to be addressed here. āso whatās the issue? this place is a wasteland-- are you depressed or something? desperate?ā another look around. āyou donāt even have a bookshelf or anything, are you planning on disappearing soon or what?ā he clears his throat, barely looking directly at hades while he prattles on but tilting his head slightly, as though in concern. āitās actually kind of important that i know, see, i was planning on asking if i could stay with you a while but if youāre heading out, i might as well just take the whole place. though i canāt imagine why youād leave now. or where youād go.ā another head lean to the other side. ādo you have a plan here or are you more just traveling through? like me?ā
a swipe of his tongue across his lips and a second later, he recognizes the fridge on the other side of the room. āhey youāre the god of riches, arenāt you? tell me you at least have some beer or something. come talk to me.ā
as usual, the cavalier demeanor zeus shields himself with is drenched and dripping with arrogance, a million dollar smile to encourage the charm, and enough ego to instill the matter, but thereās something sitting on his chest, something burning the tethers in his eyes that he knows he canāt hide well from his brother, not from hades. maybe anyone else in the pantheon, but hades had been there from the beginning, hades had been birthed and swallowed before him. like zeus, he can probably remember the universe before the gods, can probably remember that darkness. can probably see it in zeusā eyes, if he tries to make eye-contact.
so he tries not to.














