Our Lady of the Underground

her cheeks went a light pink before she looked to the floor. most assumed her mind was dark, filled with death just because she’s the daughter of hades. however, most forget who her mother is. she’s bright and full of colors. it’s hard to think she takes more after her mom when her attitude, clothes and anger point towards her father. her art is where she expresses her self most. “we are lucky, yes! oil paint based paintings are the best for interior design. especially for living rooms. it gives a more elegant look compared to regular acrylic.” she could ramble about art for hours and lucky for her, her mother always loved to list. “that’s good.” she paused for a moment before taking a deep breath. “i’ve met a boy that was able to make me melt on sight. i haven’t felt this way since michael from the 1800s.” 

Alexandros was still confused why this woman was standing here, wanting to reach out to him in order to help mend bridges. Brows furrowed as he watched the flower bloom in her hand, keeping his arms crossed as she reached it out to him. “If you are looking invite my family to something, you should speak with my parents. While yes, I hold my reservations about what your husband did to them, it’s their choice whether to mend bridges or not.” 

Persephone held out the flower for a moment longer before placing it on the counter. She sighed, bright eyes cast downwards. “I would like to. But I do believe that I would not be able to get a word in. Your mother is a strong woman, like a tree she plants her roots down. I was hoping you would extend my invitation. I would like to speak to your parents but I understand the delicacy of the situation. What my husband did was wrong and I make no excuse for it. I just...” She hummed trying to find words.”

Pain smiled from ear to ear. “Sure thing Seph Seph.” They spoke before transforming themselves into the cutests talking bunny you ever did see. They hoped up into the basket. Bunny was definitely Pain’s most comfortable form, and Persephone knew it. 

Persephone knew that Pain wasn’t all that comfortable with this being human thing and she wanted to make sure they always felt their very best whenever they were with her. As they hopped into the basket the queen smiled and scratched behind their ears. “I think we should start with the peonies. They are looking awfully drab. And I simply can’t have that.”

Alexandros watched the woman as she spoke, questioning what was happening here. However, when she spoke her name, and eventually her husbands, he fought to keep the huff from passing his lips. “I see.” He spoke simply. He knew he was truly his mother’s son, holding a grudge better than anyone in his family, and the wrong wasn’t even done to him. “And what is it that I can help you with, Persephone?” He kept his voice calm, mostly because he was curious where this was going. 

The huff, the attitude, it was all so familiar. The queen was tilted her head and sighed. She was knew tensions would be tough, she knew it wouldn’t be open arms right away but she wanted civility. “Well I was coming to officially say hello. I’m a busy, busy bee and I wanted to take a longer moment then i could have.” In her hand she let a flower bloom and she handed it over with a smile. “I also wanted to invite you and your family over.”

“yeah, i’m good. just lost in my thoughts,” she sighed before shaking her head. if there was one person she was open with about her feelings ( besides her brother ) it was her mom. there was something about the goddess that just gave lilith a sense of calm. especially, since she was just easy to talk with. a smile curled onto her lips as she looked around the museum. “the most i know is that the artist is female and tends to use a lot of oil paint. which is really good for wall decor, so you’re in luck.” she squeezed her moms hand before looking over at her. “how have you been?”

“Only six?” He stopped his strumming, eyes falling to the red carnation. A smile graced his lips and he tilted his head to the side, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Number one,” he strung a light chord, his eyes closing “You smelled of sunlight and mirth” Hades thought back to that first moment, seeing her in the fields, flowers seemed to blossom in her presence. “Two,” He strung another chords. “You looked at me without disgust.” He had never met anyone who didn’t fear him, thing he was abysmal or malevolent. “Three, you loved my songs, made me want to sing” Hades set his guitar to the side, his hand reaching out to touch her arms, pull her closer to him. “Four, your smile was magnificent, and your laughter sounds like starlight” he pulled her to his lap, his lips pressing to her forehead. He just wanted to hold her. “Five, you are a force, a protector.” he smiled at her lovingly, “And six, you loved Cerberus.” Hades cracked a smile a laugh shaking his chest. “But my love, there are endless ways I love you.”

Her eyes closed at his kiss, it was soft and sweet. She smiled at the memory, smiled at seeing him for the first time. He lurked in the shadows and she was bathed in sunlight. She was curious about why the king of shadows was lingering in her presence, but she never wanted him to leave. And she kept coming up with things to make him she moved around him for she was only intrigued and never horrified. Until she was in love. She was just a girl surrounded by flowers so long ago. She moved with his touch falling against him with no hesitation. His voice was melodic, calling to her, always pulling her closer. Arms dangled against his shoulders and she let him finish. She wanted to be angry with him, frightful anger, wanted to let out that frustration but it was disappointment that filled her heart and filled her head. And for some reason that almost worse. Persephone wanted to ignore it. So she did because she felt his laugh. Looking up catching dark eyes “I love Cerberus. He’s a good one.” Running her fingers against his cheek, she let her hand linger. “There are sometimes you need to be reminded, that’s all. I just wanted to hear it from you. I wanted to silence those voices that doubt you. They hurt to hear, but then i hear you and they drown. I need them to drown.”

Pain smiled at Persephone. “Good stuff.” They nodded. “Just missing my favourite boss lady.” They spoke, looking over at her. “Anything I can help you with?” They questioned, since serving Persephone and Hades was such a normal thing for them, they often offered their help. 

Persephone laughed lightly and she hummed in thought. “Well I was going to work in the garden, it’s a beautiful day and I can’t stand thought of staying inside. Could use a cute little bunny to help me.” Picking up her basket  the queen smiled and nodded her head. “What do you say?”

lilith was running late to hanging out with her mom. it was a very odd for her considering she always put things with her family first. but her thoughts were overwhelming heard, both positive and negative. from meeting the charming mardock that threw her feelings all out of wack to mal being her half sister. it was a lot. however, as she rounded the corner and saw her mother’s face, a sense of relief washed over her. “hey mom,” she greeted with a soft smile.

Alexandros looked up at the woman, curious as to why she looked so familiar. However, since he couldn’t place her somewhere specifically, he tried not to pass any judgement right away. Standing up tall, he was quiet for a moment before speaking. “I’m Alexandros.” He told her. “Is there something that I can help you with?” 

She perked up with delight. “Alexandros, how lovely to finally meet you again. You’ve become such a handsome young man. I was there when you were just a small baby. And again when you were bit older. But of course you might not remember me. My name is Persephone, Goddess of Spring, Queen of the Underworld.” When she was much younger she always hesitated to say that. But she was older, confident in who she was. “My husband is Hades....”

“Hi, sorry I’m a bit late! What can I get you?” Aurora asked behind the counter as she was getting ready to open the cashier as the customer gave her their money. “We’ve got a sale on cotton candy and giant gummy bears if you would like either!” She replied as she pointed over to both of the sweets despite them being so different.

Alexandros had spent the day dealing with yet another client who felt like they knew more than he did. So, he let them try and run the show, helping where he might be needed. Once they left, he stood behind the desk and sighed. “I swear I don’t know why some of these people actually want a trainer when they just tell me that I don’t know what I’m doing.” He told the clerk. Pausing, he looked up in time to see a new customer walk in. “Welcome to Panhellenios Fitness, how can we help you?” 

their was a time when persephone did not go back to the underworld but instead was kept up on mount olympus. her mother could never stand hades, hated him even after persephone decided she was going to be his wife. and it lead to schemes, schemes in which other people payed the price. while the flower goddess was gone hades got into some trouble and hercules had been one of the victims. she wanted to extend the olive branch to his family though. and she had head about Panhellenios Fitness. walking in she moved to the counter and smiled. “i’m looking for alexandros.”

@ofsixpomegranateseeds​

Pain was not sure how they felt about being in human form.. They didn’t like it per say but also liked being taken a little more seriously.. or so they convinced themselves.  They were sitting in the Helvede household when they saw Persephone walk into the living room. “What up Seph Seph?” They smiled. 

Tending to some flowers in the house Persephone wasn’t really expecting anyone to come to visit but her house was generally opened to whoever wanted to come over. She carried the vase into the next room when she saw Pain and she smiled. “Oh, Pain, what a lovely surprise!” Setting the vase down the queen moved to join them. “I’m just taking care of the house, what brings you over today?”

Nico wasn’t one to laugh or smile but it was hard not to when he was around his family. Especially with his mom not saying anything and just pulling him into a hug. He hugged her back, his head resting against her shoulder and he watched as the flower’s underneath them bloomed. This should have happened months before but he was glad they were doing it now, that this was happening. It felt right and he hadn’t realized how much he missed his mom until that moment. “What brings me here?” he asked and pulled away. “you. I haven’t seen you in months. You don’t think the moment I heard you were here, I wouldn’t come running?”

Persephone took a step back and looked her son over and smiled. Running her hands over his cheeks Persephone nodded. “Yes. I know you will always come running, come home. But I never want to bother you from your lives to that. You’ll always come home when you need to.” Taking his hand the dark haired woman pulled, as if telling him to come along. “I’ve these new blue carnations. I’ve never seen such a blue before but one day it just appeared.” It appeared when a certain child was let off the isle and Persephone knew who she was in that moment. “Reminds me of you all though.”

@ofsixpomegranateseeds​

Nico hadn’t seen his mother since he left the Underworld last and to say that he was missing her, was a huge understatement. Nico would never admit this but he was a huge momma’s boy and he relied on Persephone a lot. Even after 1,000 years on this planet, he still got lost and confused and the void of not having her around was weighing on him. But he had heard that she may be running a flower store in town, and how he had just heard of it blew his mind, but Nico decided to check it out to see if the rumors were true. When he came in and saw her behind the counter, he didn’t even know what to do. He just stood there for a minute, staring at his mom working, before walking forward and clearing his throat. “Uh…can I get a dozen carnations? Blue ones? Heard they kind of match my hair or something.”

Persephone loved her children. They were her world, her life and sometimes they left her for a good amount of time and she missed them when the were gone. Having a flower shop kept her busy, and helped her not dwell on the fact her family wasn’t together at the moment. Putting together some flowers Persephone wasn’t fully paying attention but then she heard the sound of her son’s voice. She turned so quickly and dropped the flowers she was working on. Pulling him in for a warm hug the flowers bloomed around her feet but she didn’t care. “You can have what ever you want, anything. I didn’t know you were going to be around, what brings you here my sweet boy.”