hades

lord of the underworld and ruler of the dead

[obsidianpalace-blog]

heart of the matter | open

[cyprianess-blog-deactivated2020]

“You don’t have to leave for long!” Aphrodite encouraged excitedly She placed both of her hands over his, touching obviously not being a problem for her. “Four days. That’s really all you need. Four days! And you don’t have to go clubbing! Just go swim in the ocean and lay in the sand, or hike a mountain! Maybe meet an attractive, intelligent mortal to play chess with at a bar? Go to the world’s largest library! I don’t know! What do you like besides dead people and dogs?” 

[obsidianpalace-blog]

Hades stared at her skeptically, “Are you aware how many people die in four days? And with the overpopulation these days... China has a lot to answer for.” He grumbled, though he couldn’t deny the appeal of some sort of a change. “And I don’t like dead people and dogs. I’ve become to enjoy them in their own bizarre way. They’re really not so bad.” he pointed out.

[obsidianpalace-blog]

heart of the matter | open

[suckmythyrsus-blog]

Now this. This was a good question. This. Was a good. Question. “Oh well you’ve come to the right person. Rather, the right person’s come to you. What? You got an estranged mother in law visiting, or something? Perhaps a blushing bride to be? Sex workers? What are we talking about here? I mean it’s all the same to me, but to you….” Dionysus looked him up and down appraisingly, letting the sentence hang. Dionysus loved being helpful. Seeing someone in need make him want to rip them apart the rest of the way, shred them to pieces and put them back together. He liked owing and being owed. He liked all the weights and conterweights that favors brought. The hint of neediness in Hades’ eyes was better than any wine. Suddenly, he hopped off his seat on the table again. Glancing around for any fire alarms or rule enforcers like Apollo, he grabbed a cigarette from behind his ear and lit it. “Well, regardless. You’re gonna need party favors. So uh…pick your poison and I’ll make it happen.”

[obsidianpalace-blog]

Hades regretted asking the minute he opened his mouth and saw the look on his face. He audibly groaned when Dionysus spoke and made a mental note to never ask any sensible question from him ever again if he expected a reasonable reply. Reasonable to himself, because the two of them obviously held different opinions on the subject. “None of the above, I assure you.” he said, voice strained to a degree as he pulled his laptop closer to himself, in case it were in danger of being covered with more biscuit crumbs.

“No party favours, I beg you. Forget I asked. I will get a new Internet provider and they will like it.” he said with newfound determination, even if it did mean paying double for the service and finding a somewhat more profitable side-business. It was true that he was a busy man, but he would find time if only to avoid Dionysus’ mortifying comments on sex workers. Goodness, was he the only one with some decorum left?

[obsidianpalace-blog]

heart of the matter | open

[cyprianess-blog-deactivated2020]

Aphrodite’s eyes fix on Hades, saw the incredulous confusion on his face and breathed a soft laugh. “I am serious!” She replied confidentially. She kept her hand on Hades’ shoulder, but now her fingertips pushed against the depression of his collarbone to accentuating her meaning. Her hands fell naturally on flesh, it was easy for her to sense where it was pleasing. 

“You. need. to. find. a. place-” She started, her voice low and melodic, “that’s completely different from the underworld. A place that’s bright and living and vivid! Where you must socialize and participate in the environment. Disguise yourself as mortal, even! Hades, you need to get outside of your routine if not for a night! Go to Dionysus’s club! Or better yet, travel somewhere you’ve never been on this Earth, or rarely been, and exist there for a week or two without connection to the underworld.”  Aphrodite leaned back off the counter, crossing her arms in front of her. “I think it would be wonderful for you. Just because you rule dead people doesn’t mean you are one!” 

[obsidianpalace-blog]

Hades wasn’t entirely sure whether he should take offence to this suggestion or not. After all, he had spent centuries in his haven. She was right, however, because long ago had the place started to lose its appeal. It was, quite pleasant in the summertime, when no one had much interest in visiting, be it because of his uninviting nature or the uneasy coldness his palace seemed to appear to others. He enjoyed himself in either his library or the lower levels, doing some menial accounting. The winter months were never as pleasant, even with the company of his wife... or rather, because of his wife. As great as his love was for her, he could never quite help the resentment of having lost her affections in favour of a mortal baby. A baby! It had been more than embarrassing and as it was a public knowledge, he had resolved to see his family even less.

“I dread to think what Dionysus’ club looks like from the inside,” He said, cringing outwardly. It was a very unwelcome suggestion. “I know you mean well, Aphrodite, and while I wouldn’t mind a break from my admittedly gloomy house, I cannot afford to leave for long. There would be an uproar!”

[ashryverism-deactivated20171114]

x // Greek Mythology Meme: Olympians [1/6]

                                                                                  ↳ H a d e s. 

Doesn’t everyone want to feel in the night the beloved body, compass, polestar, to hear the quiet breathing that says I am alive, that means also you are alive, because you hear me, you are here with me. And when one turns, the other turns—

That’s what he felt, the lord of darkness, looking at the world he had constructed for Persephone. It never crossed his mind that there’d be no more smelling here, certainly no more eating.

- From A Myth of Devotion, Louise Glück, 1943

[obsidianpalace-blog]

heart of the matter | open

[suckmythyrsus-blog]

“Uh…hey man…” Dionysus scoffs at Hades’ reflexively shunned attitude as he pads lazily his way. His mouth is painted with his usual guiltless grin, lips wine stained as always. “Biscuit to your demented little heart’s content. Biscuit away! Biscuit freely!” He hopped on the table next to Hades’ laptop, ignoring any indication of personal body space as a concept. He also seemed way, way too proud of himself for using “biscuit” as a verb. “Sooooooooooo…sooooooo sooooo sooooooooooo…” His voice was sing-song as he flicked biscuit crumbs off the table and in Hades direction. Then, just as suddenly his expression changed to a dangerous mock-pout and he leaned in even closer to Hades. “Darling, you seemed very frustrated just now. Anything I can do to help?”

[obsidianpalace-blog]

Hades cursed under his breath and jumped back, having convinced himself that if he ignored the problem (eg. Dionysus) it would simply go away. He should have known better than to let Dionysus anywhere within ten feet of him. Inspecting the damage done to his t-shirt -- black, this time, therefore minimal -- he sought solace in the fact that it hadn’t been wine. Despite being an obvious hazard, Hades didn’t actually think any ill of him. Sure, he has a drinking problem and god knows what else, but really, who didn’t these days?

Hades considered the question, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes, “I don’t know. Maybe.” He chewed on his bottom lip with a rather strained expression, because asking for help in these matters was hurting his pride just a little bit. “What exactly do you do to entertain guests?”

[obsidianpalace-blog]

heart of the matter | open

[cyprianess-blog-deactivated2020]

“Don’t apologize.” Aphrodite said softly. She took a long moment to examine his countenance, her head tilted slightly as she lost herself in thought. 

What could be said about Hades? He reminded Aphrodite of the neighbor that never seemed to leave the house. As far as family generations went, Hades felt distant. He had along with Zeus and Poseidon shaped much of how Aphrodite knew the pantheon to be, but most of what Aphrodite knew of Hades was passed around, they never really had talked much.  

He must of cared for all of them, at least at some point. He was quite literally the brother that drew the shortest straw and was left with the underworld. Centuries later here Hades was, still tending to dead people. How could Aphrodite have ever had a relationship with him while she charmed and teased the living? 

Part of it was his damn wife. Aphrodite was happy for him, he needed some company to be sure- but she couldn’t forget Persephone’s trivial grasp at Adonis’s heart. Hades probably hadn’t loved that either, silly mortal soul or not. Hades would of had to host him as Persephone’s plaything before Adonis could return to Aphrodite… probably was a little awkward. 

But for all of the dramatics, here Hades was participating in their demise and being polite about it. Aphrodite suddenly realized she had began to frown at him, and jumped a little, coming back to reality. Very gently, she put her hand on his shoulder. “Hades.” Aphrodite’s voice was tender, less playful than usual. “I think you need to take a vacation.” 

[obsidianpalace-blog]

The vacant look on Aphrodite’s face was beginning to concern Hades, but before he could say anything or question her mental state, she spoke in a strange tone he’d never heard from her before. It pulled at his heartstrings and he was in the middle of scowling when her words really hit him.

“I- what?” Hades spluttered, entirely caught off guard as he turned to face her with an expression of undisguised bewilderment. No one had ever suggested anything more bizarre to him. He wasn’t even sure whether he was being mocked or if it was a genuine suggestion. “Are you alright?” he asked eventually, because there was always a chance she had simply discovered weed a couple centuries too late.

[obsidianpalace-blog]

heart of the matter | open

[cyprianess-blog-deactivated2020]

Aphrodite slumped. She supposed she couldn’t expect much, spending most of your time with dead people didn’t really help you be fascinating. “Oh.” She said somewhat disappointedly. “Well that’s not something I can help you with. Try Hermes? He is there about as much as you are and he’ll know more than I do.”  She leaned over and grabbed another bit of biscuit, picking at it. “Actually… why are you solving internet problems? Dead people don’t need Internet.” She mirrored his confused frown, almost too perfectly. It wasn’t long before a small smile broke on her lips and she couldn’t maintain the expression. 

[obsidianpalace-blog]

“It has probably just escaped your notice,” seeing as you find yourself the most interesting of all, Hades wisely left unmentioned, because while it seemed to be true, there was no need to be rude, “but the Underworld’s turning out to be more lively by each day. Modern times require modern updates and despite my many flaws, it cannot be said that I am a bad host.” He smiled blandly, making sure not to show any actual signs of amusement. He had a reputation to live up to. A dull and sour one at that.

“I love technology. I was thinking of getting a new filing system for the dead -- that old book is falling apart and as many have noted, sort of disgusting to handle at this point. Unfortunately that would mean hiring more employees.” He scrunched up his nose, having almost forgotten he was talking to Aphrodite. A moment later he blinked, and offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I get very bored.”

[obsidianpalace-blog]

heart of the matter | open

[cyprianess-blog-deactivated2020]

Aphrodite watched him explain himself, eyes widening in surprise of his visit, as well as his mood. She picked up a small piece of biscuit from his plate and popped it into her mouth. “Oh-” She started in response to his final comment, eyebrows raising in amusement. “Glad to see that having a wife warmed you up a little.”  She leaned over the counter to get a better look at him, unconsciously accentuating her breasts more so than the night slip already was. “Why so angry then?” She pouted sympathetically. 

[obsidianpalace-blog]

“I’ve had a wife for thousands of years,” Hades brushed off her mocking comments with a minimal amount of resentment. It was so typical -- always bringing up his love life, whatever conversation they were having. He would not have minded usually, but there was no denying it was a bit of a sore subject. And certainly one that had been discussed far too many times for his liking.

Hades watched as she picked up one of the biscuits, pleased she would trust him enough not to tamper with any of the food, but then it might have been obvious he’d had plenty himself. It was like one of those modern fairy tales -- Snow White and her evil stepmother or whatever it was. He’d only ever scanned the book once back when it was popular a couple hundred years ago.

Eyes dropping lower at the change in position, Hades frowned in confusion and shook his head, before focusing on the screen in front of him. “I’m not angry. I’m frustrated. The wifi connection down there is terrible. Everyone keeps complaining. I’m looking for an alternative provider.” With a vague gesture at his laptop, he took a sip of his tea. “What do you think of Sky? I hear they offer speeds up to 24 Mb.”

[obsidianpalace-blog]

heart of the matter | open

Sitting in the kitchen of the mansion, Hades tapped away on his laptop, surrounded by biscuit crumbs, teaspoons and scrapped pieces of paper. He was clearly very focused on the website he was browsing, absent-mindedly reaching for his over-steeped tea, that was at least forty percent sugar.

The little blue graphs on the screen didn’t seem to please him at all. No. He had just got off a call with customer support, talked for about twenty minutes and gotten nothing solved. “Last time I pay for this overpriced shit,” he muttered to himself, eyes narrowing, “It’s going to cost a fucking fortune to replace. Maybe I should start a side business...?”

His musings were cut short when he heard loud noises behind him. Sounded a lot like groaning, which wasn’t too surprising. Hades never understood why his family took such dislike to him. He was a delight to be around. “I know, I know. What the fuck is Hades doing in our kitchen? Eating our biscuits -- well, I’ll have you know I bought those. But I’m willing to share, because I’m nice like that.”

[obsidianpalace-blog]

all my sacrifice, will be worth to price forever I'll say, my stolen paradise will be worth to price and no longer I'll be a monster in her eyes

[thebookmarkedone]

[tomhiddletson]

Greek Mythology: Hades & Persephone 

“Aren’t you afraid of my darkness, my dear?” Hades asked with mischief in his eyes. “No,” Persephone replied, “You haven’t even seen mine yet.”  — kfg