As he paused for a moment, breathing heavily, Bes forced his arms to relax. The sistrum and knives were feeling unusually heavy, and he needed to catch his breath. As he stood there, his naked grotesque form grateful for the cooling shade, Bes came to one unarguable conclusion.

( He was out of his element )

It wasn't exactly a formal affair. She didn't want to have everything bogged down by formalities and niceties for the entire night. She enjoyed catching up with other rulers. There were always plenty of stories to share and things to learn from each other. In her experience, the rulers of the dead had a much more interesting view on the world of the living. A lot of gods stopped dealing with people after they bit the dust. The ones that were invited to the party did a lot of the work after that point.

Nothing had been changed for their arrival. The castle, non-drafty, was dark and looming. It had a classic Gothic design. It had dark corners, large stained glass windows which were highlighted by the candlelight. The carpets were all sorts dramatically deep reds mixed with black. The artwork were several macabre pieces. ( Hades' friend did like to have his fun. )

It was rare this time of year that he was able to sit down and put his feet up on the tasseled hassock in his study. Which was why, as he settled into the cushy plumpness of his red velvet chair, Santa began mentally reviewing his to-do list for today. Did he really have time to enjoy his peppermint hot cocoa, or had he forgotten something that would require his attention?

( The List )

Ibiza was one of the most beautiful places in the world. When she'd first arrived on the club scene, she didn't speak much Spanish, but she understood the root Latin enough to make some headway. It all didn't matter in the end, because her and her party friends eventually just dissolved into a giggling mess of bodies. It was a wonderful way to lose yourself and she loved the atmosphere. Everyone came to lose themselves or find someone. The music and the flashing lights transported you to a whole new world.

( Down here in the cave was no different. )

Something was wrong. He did not know what it was, but something was not right here. Nergal had come here for a battle, but there was just something…. Something different. He just could not put his finger on what exactly it was. But if something, or someone, were messing with his war he would be very unhappy.

( He walked around the battleground )

With a best friend that was the goddess of beer, and such an affinity for beer himself, sometimes Kratos wondered if they'd run out of flavors to try. And then mortals would go and do something strange. Like create Mamma Mia Pizza Beer. Seriously. Pizza beer. ( Who thought of that? )

Ninlil and Enlil's home was quainter than it used to be here on the Mortal plane, Baghdad had suffered too greatly from wars for them to keep their home there. It would have been suspicious for them to stay there too long with a near pristine almost palace. Ninlil missed the gardens there. What plants she'd saved had their own places of honor in the new gardens outside near the lake, but it wasn't the same. The gardens were wilder here, because she could keep them that way. She hardly had mortals busting down her door anymore. Enlil was hardly around either. She didn't blame him, but she did miss him. So that meant she needed to fill this house with voices now and then, and who better to have over than family? Nanna and Nergal would probably spend the dinner as they always spent their dinners. Ninlil had considered putting the knives away and cutting everything she'd just made into bite sized pieces..

( But she didn't want to be accused of treating them like children. )