NOTE: Backdated to before this, but after this



There had always been something immanently soothing to Philotes about going home. And by home, she meant the rambling castle/rabbit’s warren/termite mound of a structure in Erebus, the darkest corner of Tartarus. But just going into the Underworld alone was enough to make the tension in her shoulders relax, and her lungs breathe easier in the cooling air. This was where she’d grown up, where she’d had love and acceptance, as well as teasing and tears. This was where her family was, and Lottie loved it here.

( But today… )

The place was packed, which was how it was supposed to be. There were costumes everywhere... also exactly how it was supposed to be. Because it was Halloween. It was also Chicago and Americans went all crazy for the holiday. On top of that, it was Thirsty Thursday, something everyone in the American Midwest was familiar with. Professional drinkers, this lot, and Ninkasi loved them for it. Most of the costumed were immortal in some way, not just gods but nymphs and the like as well, but she was clearly allowing an occasional mortal in as well. There were rules outside to her bouncers for screening them properly.

Shortly, the specialty taps would be opened and her private brews would begin to flow. Which is what, she was sure, Kratos was hoping and/or waiting for. ( Wherever he was. )

Zeus paced for a good hour after Hermes left his office. The fact that the information needed to be delivered in privacy had automatically given the Olympian a sick acidic feeling in the pit of his stomach -the likes of which he couldn't even recall the last time he had felt. This was bad. It was very bad. Not just for Hades, but for Zeus as well. It was bad for Greece as a whole.

As soon as Hermes left, he first sat back in his chair and sighed. Then, alone in the privacy of his office, he leaned forward over his desk, drank some scotch and rubbed at his face while deep in thought. It was then that he stood and started pacing about the room. There was no good or easy way to broach this subject with his brother. Though, as much as he wanted to handle this as delicately as possible for the benefit of both himself and his brother, and their realms as a result, now was not a time for careful planning. Now was a time for action.

The longer Bragi -and creation help them all Idun was stuck there now too, remained in the Underworld while Zeus knew about it the worse this was going to look in the eyes of the Norse. Not even to mention that Hybris may have forced them to eat or drink down there. In which case, rules were going to need to be broken. Abducting an Olympian and holding her captive to serve as a bride because her mother was impossible was one thing. Kidnapping, imprisoning and possibly torturing two foreign gods was a whole other animal. Rules would be broken.

There was not time to consult Hera. He needed to talk to Hades immediately to rectify this problem in as expedited a manner as possible with as little collateral damage as possible. And Zeus was going to have to not only convince Hades that one of his subjects had seized not one but two Norse deities but also that it was in their best interest if they be handed over to Zeus to be returned to the Norse as soon as possible. It would give Hades the opportunity to deal with Hybris as he saw fit, Zeus a chance to save face for all of Greece in front of the Norse, and would hopefully keep all of Asgard from beating down the gates of the Underworld. For all the difficulties between he and his brother, Zeus did not wish that on him.

Which brought Zeus to the gates of the Underworld himself, scowling at Cerberus in a very alpha-dog manner in order to keep the creature from drooling on him and calling for his brother. “Hades. Brother. We have matters to discuss. Grant me passage.” He tapped his foot and stared at Cerberus. This was far from ideal. But to summon his brother to Olympus would probably be futile. No, Zeus hoped that by entering the Underworld that Hades would not be able to avoid the truth. He'd even force his brother to take him to Hybris to prove that he was wrong. And when he was right, he'd rub his brother's nose in it rather like a pup that had piddled on the floor. Hermes was a silver-tongued devil at times, but this was not something he would lie about.

“I demand entrance!” This time it was directed to whomever would hear him. If no one responded soon, well, he'd just use a Thunderbolt to blast his way in. That would serve his brother right for ignoring him. It wasn't so much that he couldn't just go in. But politics demanded he go through the proper channels and be let in.

He had five minutes before Zeus brought down the gates. Less if the cursed dog drooled on his suit.

Nyx opened a drawer with a yank only to close it a moment later with a frustrated sound as she did not find what she was looking for. Then she moved to the next drawer. The problem with her kitchen was that it had been modified repeatedly over the years, expanded and added onto, new walls added, new appliances included, until it was a bit of a Frankenstein of a room. Of course, that just meant that it fit in with every other part of her home, but it was not currently helping her locate what she wanted to find.

( She needed a knife. )