#gentledeath

@gentledeath​ | SC

     Ever since Aether last spoke to the Prince of the Underworld, their thoughts have not quieted.

     It must be perfectly normal to feel apprehension, they tell themselves, but there is more than that—a worry, a fear. Their kind are not often wont to feel, and if familial ties can mean little to the Olympians at times, then for primordial deities such as them, why, Aether fears that it may not matter at all. They’ve had no time to speak with the prince since then, and have been left largely alone to think themself to death over the prospect of a meeting with their mother, or one of their siblings. In their mind it is apparent that their family would not want to meet them, because truly, if they did, would they not have met before? Surely it would be so, especially if some of them truly are capable of traveling wheresoever they should please, the boundaries of the younger gods be damned...

     Their hopes of meeting with Zagreus once more have been all but dashed, after so many trips to the surface without even a glimpse of the prince, and yet even today, they decide to descend. The world is even quieter than usual, few animals stirring in this snow-dense forest; Aether finds their meeting spot, that rotting tree, and sighs.

@gentledeath passes through... | SC

     Patroclus recognizes the being stood before him, even if this is not the psychopomp that once guided him to this place, all those years ago. Elysium seems to shiver around him in the presence of Death; he threatens even the afterlife’s eternal greenery with his power. The air has run cold.

     “This is a new one,” Patroclus says, careful to keep his tone even. Mortals have many rumors to share about Death, about his temperance and such. The Myrmidon knows not whether Death hates man as much as his companions in life would have claimed, or if, like what few other gods he’s met... well, general indifference seems a far safer option to hope for. He wonders briefly if he should stand, or address him some other proper way, and... this will have to be good enough. “I imagined Death would spend his time bringing souls to the Underworld, not lingering here himself. What use have you for the already deceased?” His eyes flicker to the giant scythe over his shoulder, and he stiffens, briefly.

@gentledeath​ said: 🎁 for the spotify meme!

“I could be lonely with you.” comes the reassurance; bold of her, of course, to let such statement, such accusation escape her lips at all, hoping for her act to go unpunished - oh, but wasn’t she the very deity of the boldest, most stubborn deeds imaginable to mankind and heavenly creatures like her, alike? 

Wasn’t recklessness as such displayed right now the very essence of her being?

And so, she lets the offer hang in the air, a smile lingering on her lips; not a mischievous one, akin to the usual expression visible upon the young goddess’ features in the slightest, no. Not this time. This one is full of genuine sympathy for the chthonic god, a softness barely imaginable from a daughter of war, a heir to violence and destruction.

How misleading the sheer assumptions regarding their very nature could be at times...

And in regards to Thanatos, the very same seemed to be the case. Though death himself wasn’t exactly worshipped by mortals to the same capacity as her Olympian brethren, though his stern approach and distant attitude seemed to profess an indifference to such state of things, to the world at large, even...

It would not be the first time Spitha would witness an other attempt to disguise their vulnerable nature behind a wall, a mask of indifference. She knew better than to fall for it, by now.

And so, she remains at death incarnate’s side, for the time being, eagerly awaiting a reaction, an answer to her offer, curious as to what exactly it would be to encounter her, as she offered the other the time and space to process her words, to find an appropriate way to respond to them.

She wasn’t exactly the most patient one, even on her best days - but today, her temper decided to be generous enough to allow such entirely unlikely instance to occur.

Well then; perhaps it would not be the only miracle the fates would be kind enough to bestow upon them that day...  

@gentledeath has come forth:    "i can’t believe i let myself let you down." (from your "grave suggestion - light" meme; I was thinking this could be when Thanatos was younger, if that works for you?)

A brief hum would escape the woman’s lips, to which would have been curled upwards if but for a moment.

❝ Oh, child... What matters to me is that you are trying. ❞ 

She spoke calmly. She was not upset, of course... She seldom did let such things bother her, especially since he had the time to make mistakes still. Perhaps she ought to teach him they, too, are important...-

❝ Walk with me. ❞  she said, hand raising slightly to rest on his cheek, serving both as a token of her affection, and as a means to coerce him into following her. 

❝ Do you see all of these people? ❞  she began as they passed by the rooms  of  the  house,  ❝ Every single one of them has a duty. And just like you, they had to practice. ❞  a chuckle rumbled within her throat,  ❝ I truly wished Lord Hades was an exception to the rule, but I’m afraid not even he escaped that fact. ❞

She turned to him once again, ceasing her steps.

❝ My point is, you will have much to take care of, Thanatos... As much as you have been blessed with my darkness, there is plenty you have yet to see and learn. And believe me, your efforts do not go unseen. ❞

@gentledeath has come forth:    from your isolation prompts, to Nyx from Thanatos: “i’m coming home. it’s been too long.“ 🥺

❝ So it has been. ❞

Came her rather meek reply, a ghost of a smile gracing her features. 

She was very proud in the way he was managing his duties, of course. Thanatos was very hard working, and took well to her words about such matters. Still, seeing him around the house was always meaningful.

❝ I do hope my dark veil has aided you in your duty, child. And that the stars had guided your path. I helped as I could — though my presence is needed here, you were not forlorn by any means. ❞

She gave out a hand as he approached, and rested it briefly by one of his cheeks before coming back to its original resting place: folded on her front.

❝ Do tell me of your deeds whenever you can. And do not mind Hypnos, I’m certain your brother has missed you in his own special way. ❞

Gimme your heart! ♡ italics for ‘kinda!’ and bold for ‘ye!’ best viewed on blog for the colour

Heck ye let’s go

Split it up into 3 posts for each of your lads.

Thanatos

Zagreus

Whilst fortunate enough to have one of the most well regarded jobs given to him by Hades himself, motivation to actually work was at its usual all time low. The novelty of the scrolls inscriptions of which were at times gruesome and grisly, came and wentー leaving the languid God bored and eager for distraction right in the midst of his work day ( ...night ).

It was in instances such as this: the absence of the lord of the house, that granted great reprieve from his duties and led him to stray from his post far too often for anyone’s taste. Despite prior begging from Dusa, Hypnos slipped around a corner with full intention to hide in archives for a well needed nap. It would be to his (mis)fortune that he’d doze absently into the direct path of his brother.