beauty of the dark

“I promise to invite you to the next war to make up for it. You can get your fill of killing and I won’t have to worry about you starting another one. Deal?” After another kiss she settled back into the crook of Cora’s arm, for the moment, at least, content. “I’ve been thinking about that. Between other things. I’m not sure it’s enough that some of the mortals know. We’ve told some and it’s made no difference at all. I think it’s harder to do one-on-one. So I was thinking maybe we should gather them someplace. Start with the ones we know, that we trust, that trust us. Get them all together and talk to them as a group. Try to figure out together what it is that we all need from each other.”

Cora rolled her eyes. “Fine,” she agreed, her smirk betraying her feigned annoyance. She listened intently as Caley spoke, no mortals coming particularly to mind that she could bring to the table. She hadn’t bothered to befriend any because she didn’t really care for anyone. “That’s a start,” she nodded. “The mortals that know could help convince the others. But mortals are so skeptical these days, so obsessed with ‘seeing is believing’. There’s no guarantee that words could be enough.” She squinted. “I don’t really have much to offer other than names and faces of who died before we came down here.” She wondered why she hadn’t brought something from home like some of the others had. Then again, she couldn’t recall Hades giving her anything that would have actually been useful anyway.

Sorry || Septhena

Caley rolled her eyes fondly. She knew she was far from perfect, but if Cora - the one who knew her better than anyone - thought that of her, she wasn’t going to argue. She caught the first spill of tears with her thumbs as she smiled and nodded. She held her tightly as they kissed, returning every ounce of love she felt in it. It was worth it, she knew right then, seeing that smile, the joy and relief. “I have no doubt you would find a way. There might have been more bodies, but…” she teased lightly. She took one of Cora’s hands, kissed her palm and pressed it to her chest. “This, us, we’re stronger than fate. I believe that with everything in me. I love you, so much.”

“It also would have been more fun, but you’ve always been a bit of a spoilsport, so,” she teased back. With all the weight now lifted, she felt less murderous and vengeful towards the Fates. She got what she wanted, so she didn’t care for them anymore. Finally, her life was headed in the direction she wanted, with who she wanted. Nothing could possibly go wrong from here. “I love you too. More than anyone,” she said with a smile, tears ceasing. “Now let’s find a way back home.”

lukexsorenson-deactivated201702

“Can’t cookies ever be free?”

“What is it?”

#convo: peter #brotp: you jump and i'll catch you

“Because I don’t do charity.”

“I need my kitchen counter fixed. Thalia was being Thalia and got a large crack in it.”

Sorry || Septhena

“I have a duty to you as well, and I promise I’ll do better at fulfilling it,” she swore. This was her sanity, afterall, here with Cora. In every crazy whirlwind, this was who kept her grounded. Caley nodded, hoping that the surprise was pleasant at least. “Yes, Atropos. She was reasonable about it. I explained that Hades was in agreement. She was concerned about the chaos it would create with your position vacant, but once I explained that Hades could choose one or all of the Furies, she was content,” she explained. “A couple of days after I spoke to her, she told me it was done. I don’t know that she’s included her sisters. Those three do keep their secrets from one another.” She cupped Cora’s face in her hands, thumbs stroking along fine cheekbones. “It’s true, Seph. You’re free.”

“You’re perfect the way you are already, you don’t need to swear anything to me,” she insisted. She hadn’t, for one second, felt that Caley lacked as a girlfriend. As Caley spoke, her vision slowly blurred with tears. Eons of being a prisoner, of suffering and pain and anger, of having to turn cold and cruel to deal with it all, of losing all hope that she would ever escape and be free to make her own choices... turned into this. She didn’t mind the tears, she was too overwhelmed with joy to be prideful. “I’m...” She chuckled, a tear falling down her cheek. Unable to speak, she leaned in and kissed Caley passionately, showing her appreciation through her lips until she could find words again. Eventually, her thoughts came back and she pulled away to speak. “I’m the lucky one,” she sniffled, smiling. “Without you, this wouldn’t be possible. Thank you.” She kissed her again. “Thank you,” she repeated.

Sorry || Septhena

“Half of them do that anyway,” she groused. “Your roommate among them. The point is, you shouldn’t have to wait.” She leaned up and kissed the underside of Cora’s jaw. “No matter what, I will always come back to you, you know that, right?” she asked softly. Caley shook her head slightly. “It’s your story, Seph. Make it what you want it to be.” Caley smiled, though it fell and she sat up, looking at Cora blankly for a moment. She groaned and wiped a hand down her face. “For the love of Gaia,” she muttered, mentally cursing herself. “Things have been so crazy. I haven’t told you yet. I was going to at dinner that night, but then got called into work and…” It was no excuse, she should have made a specific point of it and she hadn’t, further proving her recent failure as a girlfriend. “We’re not just close, Seph. It’s done. Atropos severed your tie to Hades and the Underworld. You’re free.” She shrugged and smiled a little sheepishly.

“The point is, you have a duty beyond just me and I accept that,” she countered. “I know, my love. I don’t doubt that for a second. I’d kill you if it were otherwise,” she joked with a small laugh. She looked at Caley when she sat up suddenly, a confused expression on her face as the goddess rambled before dropping an unexpected bomb on her. She sat there, taking a moment for Caley’s words to sink it. “What?” she responded in disbelief. “Atropos...?” She looked away for a moment, still not completely accepting what she was hearing. She was unsure how to react, a mixture of confusion, shock, and... joy, was somewhere underneath all that. But there was so many questions that prevented her from fully achieving that last one. “Just like that? No, of course not...” The Fates never gave free hand-outs, even the most tolerable of them. “Athena,” she looked at her, her heart racing suddenly. “What did she want in return?”

Sorry || Septhena

Another sip and Caley rested the glass on the cushion beside her, fingers curled around the delicate stem. “Because I am,” she insisted. “I know I get wrapped up in things sometimes, and I fear I neglect you when I do. And yet here you are, always able to get past any armor I think I’ve put up, knowing what I need better than I do at times.” She leaned to the side, resting her head on Cora’s shoulder. “Do you think the world is ready to update your story? Free of the Underworld, making the goddess of war weak in the knees.”

“Athena, I feel anything but neglected with you. I understand, without you the majority of these gods would be running around like chickens without heads. I can wait. That’s the perk of immortality,” she nudged her with a smile. “It allows me to always be here. And for you to always come back.” She rested her head against Caley’s, closing her eyes. “Does it matter if the world is ready?” she asked. “I’m ready. It will be... strange for a while, spending the rest of forever without death around anymore. That cold, miserable darkness did feel like home to me, for a long time. But I’m going to be so happy spending eternity with you, and Thalia, and maybe even my mother, and everyone else on Olympus and not have to worry about it all having a time limit. Five years ago, that was only a dream. Now we’re so close to getting it.” She sighed happily at the image, forgetting for a moment the current situation.

Sorry || Septhena

A ghost of a smile graced her lips. For better or worse, Persephone really did know her pretty well. She was still getting used to that idea, how defenseless that made her, and still discovering it wasn’t an inherently bad thing. “Not fair, you know my weakness for olives,” she offered with a mock pout. She heard the rustling and clinking of glass telling her that Cora was emptying the trash and wanted to stop her but exhaustion kept her planted in place on the sofa. “Seph, I’ll take care of that later,” she called out, knowing she’d be ignored. She slouched further into the cushions. Eyeing both glasses - briefly hopeful the one being extended to her was vodka - she took the offered glass and gave it a sniff. “Water?” She rolled her eyes but acquiesced and took a dutiful drink. “Thank you,” she said softly after licking moisture from her lips. “You know, sometimes I wonder what I ever did to deserve you. I’d thank Eros, but he insists he had nothing to do with this.”

Cora smirked at Caley’s reaction to the water, before taking a nice, long sip of her own glass. She licked her lips, savoring the all-too-familiar taste of delicious fermented grapes. She put the glass on the coffee table before responding. “You’re so convinced you’re the lucky one here,” she chuckled as she rested her hand on Caley’s thigh. “That’s what makes us special. We weren’t the result of some silly arrow, or woven to become this. This was entirely on our own.” She smiled softly, leaning back into the couch. “It’s funny, how one of the first friends my mother allowed me to have turned into the person I love most. Sounds like a very long story.” Her eyes drifted off into the distance, thumb softly caressing Caley’s thigh. “But a beautiful one.”

Sorry || Septhena

“If it makes you feel any better, it put up a good fight.” There was a moment partway through her limited breakfast when she wasn’t sure if she could finish it. Somehow she managed. She loosened her hold a bit more, stealing another kiss before letting go altogether and dropping onto the sofa. “Nothing heavy, please,” she begged, realizing that the facade was still there, it had merely expanded a bit to include Cora. For now they could pretend things were alright, that it was the world outside the door that was falling apart, not them and their family. For now, it was enough for Caley to know that this, at least, was the same. “We might have to wash whatever down with the vodka though. I think i’m out of everything else but a couple bottles of wine.”

She shook her head and chuckled at the egg response. “If you can stomach an entire brewery for days on end, you can stomach anything,” she countered, dialing and making her way towards the kitchen. “Deep down you know you want pizza with extra, extra olives.” She leaned her head sideways to hold her phone between her shoulder and ear, as she leaned in front of the trash can. “I’ll go grocery shopping tomorrow so your kitchen stops looking like Laurent’s -- hi, I’d like to make an order for delivery.” As she spoke on the phone, she lifted up the bag from the trash can and tied it closed. She placed it in a corner, which she planned to dispose of either later or tomorrow, and looked for another bag to put in the can. She finished ordering a pie they would share as she replaced the bag. She hadn’t forgotten about the wine, which was her next objective. She grabbed two glasses and the wine opener, but she only filled one glass with wine. The other she filled up with water from the sink. She finally returned to the living room and sat next to Caley on the sofa, holding the glass of water towards her. “Here, you need some hydration.”

Sorry || Septhena

“Good thing,” she agreed with a small breath of a laugh as she pulled Cora closer. She loosened her hold when Cora pulled back, just enough to meet her eyes again, the touch soothing as she nodded. “I had an egg this morning. Or last night. I’m not sure which. Yeah, food’s probably a good idea.” She didn’t even care what kind of food. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to eat much, but Cora was right. Not just about the alcohol. Until they got some powers back, she had to be more careful about everything. They all did. She leaned in, lifting slightly onto her toes, and kissed Cora. “I love you, Seph. Always.”

“An unborn baby chicken? You must be stuffed,” she said sarcastically. She actually didn’t mind eggs, she was just trying to cheer Caley up. She returned the kiss, smiling afterwards. “I love you too, sweetheart. For just as long.” She gave her another peck on the forehead. “You’re more than free to continue latching onto me, I just need a little room to be able to use my phone to call,” she joked. She hoped a meat lovers pizza, as much as she wanted to gag at the image, would help with something besides Caley’s stomach. For herself, she was more than happy sticking with a salad.

Sorry || Septhena

Her eyes closed at the kiss, the soft warmth spreading to soothe her mind and settle her rampant thoughts. “I know,” she said softly. The tension slowly drained from her body in Cora’s arms, her own wrapping around Cora’s waist. She nuzzled against the crook of Cora’s neck, drawing in the sweet scents that would always be associated with her. “I’ll always need you, Seph,” she murmured. “Even when I don’t think I do.”

“Good thing I know more than you do then,” she teased. She let the embrace linger for a few moments, enjoying Caley’s touch that she didn’t know she missed as much as she did until now, before pulling away slightly to speak again. “Now,” she began, tucking a few strands of Caley’s hair behind her ear. “We’re mortal now, so I can’t have you dying of liver failure. I’m going to order us food, and you’re not allowed to even look at that bottle of Grey Goose until there’s something in that stomach.”

Sorry || Septhena

Caley stiffened at Cora’s touch, wanting to fight, to push her away, to step back out of her grasp. But she couldn’t. Her feet were rooted in place, her body steadfastly refusing to move. She imagined she could physically feel her facade cracking, her body trembling as her shoulders sagged, dark eyes finally lifting to meet Cora’s as her words sank in. Atropos’ voice echoed in the back of her mind: …She will be free of you as well. Fresh tears sprung to her eyes. She nodded and drew a shaky breath. “Yeah, I’ll…see who still has something. That might help.” She reached tentatively, shaky hands coming to rest at Cora’s waist. She couldn’t hold onto anger, couldn’t push her away, not when time was so precious. “Thank you. For being here. I know you didn’t…a lot of people hated him. Resented him. I’m sorry he wasn’t the father to you that he was to me.”

She smiled softly, placing a gentle kiss on Caley’s forehead. “It’s not a loss to me,” she told her simply. “I’ve lived without him all my life. But it’s a loss to you, so I’m here for you. Always.” She pulled Caley in for a tight hug. She didn’t have much experience consoling others when it came to death, she had been so desensitized by it after eons of seeing countless souls that she didn’t exactly know what to do or say in such situations. But she could only hope that she could help Caley’s pain even by a small amount. “You have me as long as you need me.”

Sorry || Septhena

Cora’s words followed her into the other room, picking at the hatch she was trying desperately to keep closed. She turned and faced her, shoulders squared, jaw set. “I have to be,” she insisted. “I don’t have the luxury of breaking down like Hades, or celebrating or mourning or any of those things. The muses are sick. All of them. Alecto - a fury - was cut and is healing at mortal rates. And if all of that isn’t troublesome enough, the strongest of us all just died a very mortal death, and I am going to have to fight to keep Ares and Poseidon from trying to take his place.” Her voice rose as she spoke, her body tensing, her vision blurring until she blinked and tears spilled over her lashes, which she wiped away with quick, frustrated swipes. “I can’t afford to be anything but fine right now.”

#para: caley #otp: second time's the charm

“Athena,” she sighed. Pausing, she took a step forward and placed her hands on Caley’s shoulders. “My love, look at you. Pretending to be fine is hurting you more than letting yourself mourn.” She moved her hands up to Caley’s cheeks. “First off, no one in their right mind will ever support Ares or Poseidon taking his place. They’re like the equivalent of those mortals Trump and Ben Carson. Things may be chaotic right now, but the council would never be that stupid. Let them fight each other, let them be fools and show everyone how unworthy they are.” She smiled slightly. “You are the strongest and most amazing person I know, but this -- this mortal situation -- is an issue too large, even for you. You can’t solve this one alone. So don’t let it all rest on your shoulders when there are others who may be able to help. Some brought objects from Olympus down here, didn’t they? Perhaps now would be the time to use them.” She rubbed her thumbs softly against Caley’s cheeks. “It’s okay to grieve. The loss will never fully heal, but grieving helps with the pain. The universe won’t collapse if you take just a small time for yourself. This mortality thing will not stand for long. Especially if I have anything to do with it. My idea of spending eternity with you was not down in the Underworld as miserable mortals.”

Sorry || Septhena

Caley closed the door after Cora entered and followed her into the kitchen. She paused in the doorway, leaning against the frame, arms folded across her stomach. She eyed the bottle, tempted to open it and pour a glassful. That could wait. A slow blink and she refocused on Cora’s back, her expression unchanged. “I’m fine, Persephone,” she insisted. “Admittedly it was a shock at first. But that passed.” She dropped her gaze to the floor in front of her feet, let it flicker around, anywhere but Cora. She had strength to spare, even though it had been rocked badly by the death of her father. But never with Cora. And now was not a time for weakness. “You and the others can go celebrate. I’ve got to figure out a way to get us home.” She pushed off the frame and walked back into the living room, already regretting her words.

Caley’s words stung, but they were not unexpected. She stared, clearly not buying Caley’s attempts at seeming fine. She breathed out a humorless laugh, shaking her head as Caley walked back into the living room. It would be crueler to leave her like this, and Cora had her moments but leaving Caley would not be one of those moments. She followed suit. “What happened to no armor and shield?” she asked her as she entered the living room. “You forget who you’re speaking to. You know that I know you. You know that I know you always feel more than you show. You can’t lie to me and tell me you’re fine.”

Sorry || Septhena

Caley didn’t know how long she’d been staring. The last couple of days had been spent alternating between her thoughts chasing each other in circles until they exhausted themselves and long periods staring blankly at the darkened television, the wall, the ceiling. Her trash can was filled with empty bottles, having cleaned out what beer and alcohol she’d had in the house. She still had a few bottles of wine - kept for Persephone - but hadn’t touched those yet. Every emotion that tried to fight its way to the surface was shoved rudely back into a dark corner and locked away. If she let any though, she feared they would all burst forth at once and with the council meeting on the horizon she couldn’t afford to let that happen. She’d shut down everything but reason, as it should be. She blinked quickly at the knock, looking toward the door when she heard Cora’s voice. She rose from the sofa, the stiffness in her legs giving her some indication of just how long she’d been in the same position, and answered the door.

Seeing Persephone meant fighting another bout of emotion - love, hurt, frustration. All were bottled behind an impassive expression, though these left her stomach in an uncomfortable knot. She opened the door and stepped aside. “Come in,” she said simply.

Cora waited patiently, slightly surprised when Caley opened the door. Surprise turned into concern for the goddess. She looked lifeless, a certain darkness in her eyes that anyone would easily read as emptiness, but Cora knew there was anything but emptiness behind them. She knew Caley more than enough to know she had been keeping whatever grief resulting from Zeus’s sudden death inside. And it made the regret Cora had already felt for her words days before grow larger. The one thing she hated was the way Caley kept things inside, and she hadn’t helped her girlfriend’s case. Saying nothing, she walked inside the apartment and straight to the kitchen to put the bottle of vodka down. As she walked, her eyes fell on the small pile of empty bottles accumulating in Caley’s trash can. With a sigh, she placed the bottle she had bought on the kitchen counter, but didn’t turn to Caley right away. “I’m sorry,” she spoke softly, shaking her head. “I know better than to be so cruel to you.” She finally looked over at her regretfully. “It doesn’t matter how I feel about him. I should be here for you, to support you.”