Mothers and Daughters | Demeter and Persephone
Persephone reunites with her mother after her first six months in the Underworld
Demeter had been waiting anxiously since Hermes had descended to reclaim Kore. It had been far too long, these six months. And Demeter didn't /like/ freezing the earth, but without Kore, she was just so depressed. And Zeus deserved the wrath he received. he had promised away her daughter without a second thought. He deserved to suffer. But now, his suffering could end for six months. Because there was her beautiful baby. "Oh darling," she cooed, holding her daughter close. Was it horrible? Was /he/ terrible to you? Tell me. I can handle anything you need to say."
Persephone frowned slightly, though she quickly soothed the expression as she pulled back from her mothers arms. "I'm fine," she said calmly, offering her an honest smile. "Hades was a perfect gentleman." Except for when he wasn't, and she hadn't been complaining - but she wasn't going to tell her mother that. "You don't have to worry."
Demeter stared at her. "Perfect gentleman?" she repeated, voice just a bit shrill as she considered that. She ran a hand through her blonde hair, considering her child. "Kore, he /kidnapped/ you."
Persephone shrugged. "I mean, /aside/ from that." What could she even think to say to get her mother to relax? "Everything was fine."
Demeter could not accept that Hades hadn't somehow... "He wasn't cruel? He didn't offer you unfair expectations or stifle you with his general... glumness?"
Persephone shook her head. "He wasn't cruel," she agreed. "He left me to my own devices." Which was true - he had left her alone. Until they started....she couldn't stifle the blush that heated her cheek.
Demeter noticed the colouring of Kore's cheeks and felt horror come across her face. "Oh Kore. You're traumatized. Don't worry. I'll take care of it. I'll speak to Zeus. This arrangement cannot continue." She reached over to tuck a bit of Kore's hair behind her ear. "I always knew that Hades was a terror."
Persephone balked. "Mother, no!" she said quickly. "No. I'm not traumatized. And I don't want you to stop the arrangement. And Hades is /not/ a terror."
Demeter looked at her. "You can't honestly tell me that you /enjoyed/ his company, Kore. You're nothing alike. He's so serious and dark and violent. And you're... well... you're my child."
Persephone frowned. "Hades was never violent, mother," she said sternly. "And I enjoy his sense of humor. I also enjoy him."
Demeter just... couldn't fathom that. It was insane to her. "Just... let's walk in the sunshine, sweetie. I think you've been deprived of the sun for far too long." And the darkness had gone to her head and somehow brainwashed her.
Persephone sighed heavily. She knew there was no way she could get Demeter to like Hades, and there was no way her mother would ever accept that Persephone had honest emotions for the god. So, she obliged her mother, moving into the sunlight even as it made her eyes water. She really was too used to the lack of sunlight.














