Summary: The reader (Persephone), locked away in her personal haven by her mother, Demeter, catches a sight most rare- a visitor to her domain. Who is this mysterious stranger? What business does he have here? And why would he risk your motherâs wrath to visit you?
Authorâs Note- Hi everyone! This is my first ever (published) fanfic and Iâm super excited and nervous to share it with you all :) The concept of Springtime was heavily inspired by delicrieuxâs Greek AU fic, Parm! Go check it out if you havenât.
â Paring: Hades!Corpse Husband x Persephone!Reader
â Genre: Greek Mythology AU, fluff, angst, friends to lovers
â Status: OngoingÂ
â Taglist: Open
â Update schedule: Tuesdays and Sundays (writerâs block permitting)
Summary: Now alone following her motherâs visit, Persephone reflects on memories of the past and gets an unexpected surprise in the present.
â Paring: Hades!Corpse Husband x Persephone!ReaderÂ
â Genre: Greek Mythology AU, fluff, angst, friends to lovers, slow burn
â Word count: 1076
â Warnings: Bending of Greek Loreâąïž for narrative convenience
Authorâs Note- Sorry this is so late yâall I feel awful! I mentioned this in a post a little while ago but Iâm moving to Germany from the US and my lifeâs falling apart a little :( But I really hope you like this chapter. Sorry we donât get much Corpse screen time, the chapter was getting really long and I wanted to eek in a little more backstory and hint towards things to come ;) Also, Iâll add the taglist tomorrow morning. One last thing, sorry!: I re-wrote the entire Greek mythology family tree to get rid of as much incest as possible- I might post the reworked Lore if anyoneâs interested. Cheers!
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Watching Demeterâs retreating form drift up the side of the Mountain, tinged with a ghostly luminescence, always made it feel as though she took a piece of your soul with her, gently tucked away in her woven wicker basket. Her visits, all too rare, all too short, all too painful- filled your time together with jovial laughter and glee, leaving only a hollow, empty feeling in their wake. Â
Having parted ways with Demeter, you now sat alone at the edge of your pond and peered into the clear surface as the moonâs luminescence gazed back. Its speckled, serene countenance served as one of your only companions, as if cousin Selene herself sat beside you, arm tightly wrapped around your shoulders, whispering sweet affirmations into your ear- asking you about your day, perhaps tutting sympathetically as you wax poetic about your isolated existence, much like she did all those years ago.
âNone of this is hardly fair,â you mutter aloud to Selene- ah, - the moonâs reflection. You dipped your fingers into the waterâs surface and observed ruefully as the ripples spread throughout the pondâs veneer, warping and distorting your companionâs âfaceâ. Selene had, many years ago, been your closest friend and companion. The two of you spent countless hours together under Demeterâs watchful gaze, though your fondest memories were those in which your impish duo managed to evade her supervision entirely. Those memories, those long-gone moments of youthful bliss, were all you had to cling to at the best of times.
As fond as you were of these cherished recollections, all good things will come to an end, and end they did. Discontent, you remained crouched for a few moments more. With a weary sigh, you allowed your mind to run blank, slipped your eyes shut, and opted to drink in the ambient sounds of the crisp night surrounding you. Crickets chirped faintly, far beyond your reach; the creek that sloped through the eastern edge of your meadow babbled gently, familiar and steady as ever; and, to your great surprise, you heard something exceedingly unprecedented at this hour- footsteps. Â
You froze in place and screwed your eyes shut tighter, head inclining slightly to the side to better focus. Was your mind playing tricks on you again? Demeter had never visited during the nighttime before, and had certainly never visited twice in one day. To that point, she certainly wouldnât have spontaneously lifted the embargo! So, if not Demeter, and certainly not anyone else, what sort of creature might produce the steadily approaching footsteps behind you? Wracked with fear, the only âreasonableâ explanation you could conjure reflected that of your brief glimpses of your Phantom- you were more than likely imagining things, driven to madness. Â
Cautiously and slowly, you opened your eyes, trembling in cold terror and slowly rose to your feet. Predictably, your meadow before you remained deserted as always as you darted your gaze across its expanse. However, the footsteps continued behind you at a slow but steady pace- with each soft footfall crunching the grass, your heartrate increased its pace, hammering in your ears, spurred on even further as you spun with purpose towards the potential intruder.
And, there he stood, in the flesh, mere feet away from you- your Phantom. You froze at the sight of him. You would recognize him anywhere, from his crimson cloak and obsidian curls to the golden diadem perched atop his head. What you didnât recognize, however, was the inscrutable mask fully obscuring his face. It glinted in the moonlight, its features granted visibility by Seleneâs grace. Its golden visage gazed back at you steadily, adorned with a neat row of sharp, jagged teeth, a skeletal nose, and a pair of ramâs horns sprouting from the top. All in all, it served as a truly frightening sight, and your hands, drawn to your chest defensively, trembled openly as a result.
He watched you carefully from beyond his mask and took a few tentative steps towards you, one arm on its way to reach towards you while the other hung idly by his side. Reflexively, you stepped back, edging closer towards the edge of your pond, prepared to bolt at the slightest sign of aggression.
Seeing your reaction, he paused, clearly cautious, and you jumped at the opportunity to speak. Â
âWho are you?â you managed to choke out. Â
Mindful of your flightiness, he took a slow, measured step back of his own and dropped his hand back down to his side. âDonât you remember me?â he murmured. His rich, gravelly voice came almost as a whisper that you nearly swore you imagined until he spoke again. âYou would surely recognize me, wouldnât you...?â Â
You shook your head at him rapidly, eyes owlishly large. âI donât know who you are, Phantom, save for the glimpses I may catch of you at the edge of my meadow.â
A dry, airy chuckle sounded from beyond his mask. You couldnât say for sure, but you could almost detect a hint of pain- perhaps disappointment? - in his laugh, almost as if it might have expressed a hint of long-suffering resignation. âAh, Persephone. You donât remember me, or know who I am, and yet you fear me nonetheless.â
He shook his head softly and turned his gaze away from you and towards the tree line with a sigh, as if defeated. His soft, almost meek disposition sent a wash of remorse and desperation through you beneath the rolling waves of your fear, causing you to feel near-shame at your reaction to his presence. While yes, he may pose a potential threat to your safety, and more importantly, he more than likely wasnât allowed here, he was... someone. Someone else, living and breathing, here to expertly and cleanly break the usual monotonous flow of your solitudinous life- all of which you wanted so desperately, more than anything. Â
Having wrestled some control over your terror, courage fostered by his unwavering motionlessness and the prospect of company, you took a moment to consider your approach to the situation. Â
âYou say my name. You speak as if I ought to know you,â you mused slowly after a beat. âBut tell me, Phantom, if I should know you, then you should know me- that much is clear- and all who know me surely know of my mother and her restrictions on this land. Yet here you are. So, who are you, and why might you tempt Lady Demeterâs wrath?â Â
âAh, âPhantomâ, eh?â he chuckled, returning his focus to you. âYes, perhaps that is a fitting name to describe me. A shrouded memory of a corpse banished long ago, now free from the depths of Tartarus, here to haunt the fair Kore... But no, Persephone. I am no risen corpse nor a wandering specter.â He took a step towards you. âI am Hades, lord of the Underworld.â Â
In case anyoneâs worried (however unlikely I find the prospect lol) the next chapter of Springtime will drop tomorrow! Iâm moving to Germany rn and things are really hectic for me but I promise itâll be out soon :) Hope youâre all excited to finally meet Corpse!
Summary: Demeter, noticing a slight decline in the latest harvestâs quality, grants Persephone a rare visit in order to investigate.Â
â Paring: Hades!Corpse Husband x Persephone!Reader
â Genre: Greek Mythology AU, fluff, angst, friends to lovers, slow burn
â Word count: 1006
â Warnings: Bending of Greek Loreâąïž for narrative convenience lol
Authorâs Note- Like I mentioned in my last post, this is a Mommy and Me Day :) Itâs boring worldbuilding shit yk the drill as if the intro wasnât enough worldbuilding oops- Anyway lmk what ya think! Taglist is still open- if you asked to be added, tysm!! It means the world to me <3 And Corpse is gonna have a proper appearance next chapter, I promise!
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âTaglistâ (If your @ is in italics it means I couldnât tag you!)
@lunariasilver @jazzydoesstuff @neenieweenie @rosy-feelsâ @open-minded-chip101 @delicrieux
The sun dipped past the peaks above you and nighttime crept forth in return as you sat at your kitchen table with your mother. Loafs of bread, sweet spring fruits, and chilled water blanketed every available surface. Demeter visited so rarely that, along with the gifts she provided, you deemed it necessary to shower the occasion with every expense possible. She wiled away the hours, deftly spinning charming tales and recounting the most entertaining moments of life on Olympus- all of which, despite your best efforts to suppress it, tinged your delighted laughter and awe with a sense of bitter loneliness. You gawked openly at the recounted tale of Dionysusâs latest feasting hall exploits, cooed in amazement at the imagery of Artemisâs latest hunt, and swooned at the description of Aphrodite, which you only needed to gently pry from your mother.
If Demeter noticed your subtle envy of her colorful life on Olympus, she hid it well- her kind, glimmering eyes peered at you fondly over her chalice of wine, a small, sly grin of muted amusement gracing her weathered features as you gushed over this seasonâs harvest. The harvest, after all, and the months leading up to it, occupied much of your rather dull life. It was your duty, your raison d'ĂȘtre, and who were you to defy it?
Eventually, Demeter set down her chalice and uncrossed her legs, shifting her elbows to the table, slowing your steady stream of chatter to a halt. The shift in atmosphere was ever so slight, but you knew better than to challenge it. Mother had something important to discuss with you, and much like your very nature, Demeterâs will was not something you could ignore. You braced yourself, settling your wavering gaze on hers, and folded your hands in your lap expectantly.
âTell me,â she began, her gaze piercing, âwhat else has occupied your mind, child?â
Your carefully constructed cheery façade failed to fool her, it seemed. You furrowed your brow in contemplation as your mind began racing. Did she know about the shadow haunting the penumbra of your woods?  If so, she would surely put a stop to his visits, and as much as you dreaded the thought- as frightening as his presence may be, any company is good company in your eyes.
As such, you weigh the consequences of granting Demeter the truth. You are well aware of her brother, Helios, and his all-seeing eyes. It was him, after all, who informed Mother of the darling Nymph Eurydice and her husband- what was his name? Orpheus?- which lead her to send a viper after her, putting a swift end to her visits. You considered divulging the information you had to offer, but indecision wracked your reeling mind, and you could scarcely open your mouth to answer her before she made your decision for you.
With a low hum, she rested her chin on her hand, supported by a propped elbow with a sense of casualness that only you could have the privilege to witness, and pulled you out of your thoughts.
âYou are lonely, arenât you, dear?â she muttered wistfully, her eyebrows pulled together in a gentle expression of worry. Your eyebrows shot up, folded hands unfurling in surprise, and you cocked your head to the side.
âMother, that should come as no surprise- you know full well how lonely I am.â
She nodded, eyes slipping shut momentarily, before continuing. âOf course, Iâm aware, Kore. That much has never changed.â Her eyes drifted back open and her gaze returned to yours, unwavering as ever. âBut something must have happened,  dearest. Something to upset you, to scare you, toâŠâ she waved her hand in the air idly, and let it drop to the table with a discontent huff.
Pausing for a moment to collect her thoughts, she brought an apple to your attention. Its shiny surface reflected the gentle amber glow of the nearby candles dully as you studied it, confusion clouding your thoughts.
âThis, dear, is not your best work.â She set it back on the table and directed your attention to a head of lettuce. âNeither is this.â She leaned back in her chair and, in a broad sweeping motion, gestured to the contents of your little feast. âNone of this is your best work.â She crossed her arms loosely, eyeing you in a way that felt like she was picking you apart, and raised an eyebrow. âWhy donât you explain yourself?â
You felt heat rise to your cheeks at her pointed criticism. Did she find your apples sour, or your lettuce bitter? Did pride not blossom in her chest as it might have in prior seasons? Frankly affronted by her words, you mimicked her body language and crossed your arms over your chest stubbornly.
âIâm not sure what you mean, mother.â You pouted ever so slightly, careful to downplay your genuine frustrations, ever vigilant of her temperamental nature. âIâve been hard at work, day after day, just like always.â
She nodded to herself, almost distractedly. âYes, my dearest, that much is clear to me. However,â she chirped, and you braced yourself for her inevitable lecture, âyour foul moods effect those beyond the fringe of your glade, you know.â
You groaned loudly and slung your head back, followed by a carefully placed forearm which you masterfully crashed across your eyes, and wilted into your chair. âMother!â you wailed, deep in feigned agony. âI know, I know!â
Demeter sharply sucked in a breath and jolted back, fully offended by your childish display. âTut-tut, child, who raised you to act in such a way!?â She stood briskly and marched her way across the table, a jovial spring in her step as she fell knowingly into your usual lecture-avoidant trap.
You brought your free hand to your mouth, trying (and, to Motherâs delight, entirely failing) to muffle your giggles as Demeter descended upon you. She grasped your shoulders playfully, bending down to scold you, full of the warmest mirth and affection, allowing you to deflect the incoming storm.
Hey yâall Iâm chugging away at Springtime rn!! But I wanted some opinions- this next chapter is entirely a Mommy and Me Dayâąïž and Iâm worried itâs super fucking boring đ€Ș so please feel free to leave constructive criticism once it goes live! I promise Corpse will make a proper meaningful appearance either by the end of Chapter 1 or definitely by the start of chapter 2
Summary: The reader (Persephone), locked away in her personal haven by her mother, Demeter, catches a sight most rare- a visitor to her domain. Who is this mysterious stranger? What business does he have here? And why would he risk your motherâs wrath to visit you?
â Paring: Hades!Corpse Husband x Persephone!ReaderÂ
â Genre: Greek Mythology AU, fluff, angst, friends to lovers
â Word count: 506
Authorâs Note- Howdy yâall, itâs time for the intro chapter of Springtime! I wanted this chapter to be a little peek into y/nâs life as it currently stands without getting too in depth... yet :) y/n is fairly young and naĂŻve thanks to her motherâs overprotectiveness in case she seems a lil childish going forward lolÂ
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Four days in a row. Thatâs how often youâve seen him, flitting in and out of view, only ever out of the corner of your eye, shrouded fully in darkness granted by the rows of towering trees enclosing your cabin- and, by extension, your meadow.
Youâve long since abandoned trying to get a good look at him- a flash of a red cape, the glint of a golden circlet, or a blur of a mop of dark, curly hair- or, most often, merely a subtle hint of motion on the edge of your glade, gone in a blink of an eye- was the only evidence you had to confirm his presence.
At first, the prospect of another individual residing in your little corner of Olympus terrified you. While the only entities capable (while lacking permittance) of making the trek to your domain were other Gods, demigods, or the odd playful nymph, you couldnât help but let your imagination run wild. What if he was a Titan, risen from ashes and dust, here to exact his revenge upon Olympus, starting with you? Or what if he was something entirely foreign to your current knowledge of the worldâs denizens- a new kind of creature, forged from the depths of your lonely conscious, here to terrorize you, your own isolation manifested into a cloying phantom, teasing you with the prospect of company?
You couldnât say for certain, but the terror ebbed away gradually over the course of several days, loosening its grip on your heart and mind (while never quite letting go). Eventually, your common sense and rational brain made a rare, shy appearance, and you settled on the most likely scenario- he was more than likely a God, cutting through your little safe haven, on his way to the towering peak far above your residence. He obviously had no business here, after all. If he intended to simply pass through, it would make sense that he would have no reason to stop and greet you, right? Besides, your mother strictly forbid company, God or otherwise, and very few (Gods included) would dare defy her icy wrath. Curiosity and anxiety alike swirled in the pit of your stomach at the uncertainty of your situation, but no other explanation could satisfy your burning curiosity, so you felt content to carry on, business as usual, despite your new shadowy companion.
However, your definition of âbusiness as usualâ must have contradicted that of your motherâs. You sat in quiet surprise as you gazed at her steadily approaching figure, clad in her frost-kissed robes, basket of goods hanging idly from her arm, slowly descending from the strictly forbidden path leading to and from Olympus, rife with rocky terrain and neigh-impassible forestry. A swath of butterflies flitted around your head erratically as excitement bloomed from your chest. The half-finished and entirely halfhearted flower crown slipped through your fingers, fully forgotten, as you rose to your feet to greet her upon her approach.
âHello, my little Kore[1],â she said, alight with affectionate warmth. You beamed up at her, throwing yourself into her open, expectant arms, nearly knocking her basket to the ground, and buried your face in the crook of her neck.
âHello, mother!â You cried, squeezing her tightly. Little white flowers bloomed around the two of you, nearly as eager as you to greet Demeterâs loving touch.
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[1] An epithet for Persephone, meaning âthe maidenâ.
