Not sure if this's a strange idea, but I would like to play an interactive-if game or read a fiction focus on Hephaestus, in which the Fire god decides to give himself a break, for he's really tired and bro had been a workaholic for maybe thousand years? Idk. Of course, he will return to Olympus as there got his workshop, and also, he takes his job really serious. And where would he go for the break? Well, color me surprised, he goes for the Underworld.
Now, now, look. here the ideas:
Hephaestus and Aphrodite got a mutual divorce, as he can tell Aphrodite's love to him is only friendship, when he hopes for more than that. He can see that she's in love with his half-brother Ares, and even if it means taking years to heal his heart, he still chose to let her go.
Forget the cheating scene. Forget it. Let Aphrodite be responsible and loyal to her marriage along with Hephaestus. She might not love him like a lover do, but that does not mean she'd ike to go out her way to get one-night-stand with multiple individuals at all times. It's tiring, and it's bad for both mental and physical health. Whoever is it.
Let Ares be respectful to other Gods. They'd exist for years and if they still not willing to let go of the beefs between them, it's really tiring. I want to see an Ares who, while not get along with Hephaestus and Athena, still remain and pay his mutual respect to them. Vice versa.
Hera who's deep down conflicting with her feelings towards Hephaestus. I want to see her apologize to Hephaestus, but I could also see her being unsure with the thought of putting down herself, and may think that 'I'm his mother! There's no need for me to apologize' in between 'I should perhaps talk to him... but would he be okay with it?'. Basically, Hera who's torn with her dignity and her guilt.
If I have to purpose one more thing, that would be Ares admiring Hephaestus, who's clearly older than him for years, and would make him toys. I also like to think that Hera may or may not told infant Ares the things Hephaestus used to do when he's back to Olympus, before breaking down to tears as she remembers her son weren't by her side when he's still an infant... leading to Area comforting her...
Now, what happened after the divorce:
Like I say, a break to the Underworld. From what I'd learned on the internet, Zeus's a guy who likes to go here and there (not fully settling down), and also am a very proud dad to his own child (though not all of it). As such, his relationship with Hephaestus is one major thing that kinda draw a red line between Hera and the latter, because he thinks his child is the best and Hephaestus is born only from Hera without any his help. So, technically, not his child then.
Due to this, there's no way Hephaestus could really take a break in the Olympus. Because not only that he won't have any break, he would have more work to do. What about the Sea, can he not go visiting his Uncle Poseidon? He can, but won't for too long. As water don't mix well with fire, he'd get exhausted.
Here comes my favorite part:
Hermes asks Hephaestus to go to the Underworld with him for his break. Because they could tell their half-brother don't likely have a place in mind, and they like him enough to share their favourite place with him. It will take a lot of nagging and persuasion though, because... while Hephaestus is not afraid of Hades’s reputation as the God of Death, he's afraid that he'd be troubling them (Hephaestus knew well that if Hermes are able to go their way to invite him, it meant that they alr got Hades’s approval.), which he wouldn't like.
Only for Hermes to knock him in the face and scold him for thinking so when the said invitee didn't even think that much. They later told Hephaestus to give it a thought, and may or may not joke that if he not able to gjve them an answer, they'd personally slip into his chamber and kidnap him to the Underworld
Which earned them a slight slap from their shadow, and just as Hephaestus think they're under attacks, Hermes quickly ensure him it's nothing and yell for their uncle to show up loud this instant (apparently Hades hid in their shadow when the God of Death need to deal some businesses), only for their lovers Hecate and Charon to show up and chose violence as they both give them a smack on each side before handling out an official invitation to Hephaestus.
And before Hephaestus can reject even more, they both give out a recording, which voices out Hades’s concern for Hephaestus, like: asking his colleagues if it would be weird to invite his dear nephew to his home? Consulting the activities they could do with him, what Hephaestus might like? Should they have more blankets prepared for the Underworld is hella freezing cold? etc.
In the end, we have Hephaestus going downward to the Underworld.
And this is only the beginning/prologue:-D
(One more thing I like to see on the Hades on this though, is that he's aromantic-asexual, and very happy in single.)
What are the plots: Having the Greek Fire god enjoying a good time during his stay below the Underworld; Family bonding section; Make new friends; Overcome griefs and guilts, clear out the misunderstanding between a mother and a son. (I have more, but they're unrealistic, or the way to describe them out may turn out weird so... no.)
What do you think?
(might delete this in future if I regret posting it... bye!)
