Hestia (heart_h) wrote in olympian_rewind, @ 2009-03-29 20:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | dante lot, hades, hera, hestia, june marris, tessia sloac |
Who: Hera, Hestia, and Hades.
What: A meeting
Where: Hera's office
When: BACKDATED to the 27th, Friday
Warnings: Some tempers flaring, but not much.
For the hundredth time, Hestia smoothed down the lines in her skirt as she walked with Hades to the front of their sister's office. She felt... nervous about this. Why? Therapy is a good thing! Finally a chance to work on some of their issues, to have an actual talk without either or both of them breaking down into tears. Usually her. But with the look on Hades' face just screaming that he obviously did not want to come, she suddenly felt like there was an omen of doom hanging in the air. Stepping in, she held the door open for him before walking up to Hera's secretary. "Ah, hello, I'm Tessia Sloac. I have an appointment?"
Hades didn't want to be here. He didn't want to be anywhere, to be fair. He merely looked around the waiting room, glancing at the art he had studiously somehow ignored up until this point, popping the new mint M&Ms into his mouth lazily. If a couple of them weren't M&Ms, it wasn't his problem. They were all delicious comfort to him. Not that anyone notice the difference while he was snacking.
The young woman at her desk didn't appear to even need to look at her appointment schedule or computer, she merely nodded and smiled politely. "Mrs. Marris is ready for you. You may go in whenever you would like."
The doors to Hera's actual office were closed, though not locked. The space within had a comfortable couch, as well as plush chairs. Some art, shelves and counters took up space within the room itself, allowing for long sessions in complete comfort. A coffee maker was brewing fresh on the main counter top, mugs and some snack items next to it. The quilt that Hades had given her actually took up a large space as a wall hanging, with tasteful vases of peacock feathers below it. The one in charge of the room was behind her desk, going over a few self written notes, looking as calm as normal. No one would guess her relation to those about to walk in.
Hestia gave the lady a smile and nodded, reaching for Hades hand to go inside.
The reach and the touch jolted him out of his numbness of heightened thoughts and he flinched away from her touch. Hades stepped forward and then plopped himself into one of the plush chairs. The sooner they sat, the sooner it would be over.
Hera looked up as they came into her own office, out of the waiting area, and nodded to each. Closing the folder on her current papers, she set them into a drawer, then stood and went to the office door. This she made sure was firmly closed and locked before glancing over the pair. Hmm. "Would either of you like something to eat or drink?"
Hestia didn't frown when he flinched away; she knew she was getting used to that, as sad as it sounded. Once seated, she shook her head in reply to her younger sister's question. "I'm good, but thank you."
"Know where the coffee machine is," Hades muttered as he continued to pick through the bag of candy he had brought with him, "If I get thirsty, I'll get up and pour my own. Don't worry about me." And then he went back to quietly looking around the room.
"Very well. There is tea, water, and some juice as well, if any of those would be of interest." Her hostess duties done, she took a seat for herself. Facing both, favoring neither. Well, this was an interesting scene. Goddess of marriage, she had no need for note taking. First she looked at Hestia, then at Hades. "Let us start with the basics. You are here because this is my office. It is not a bakery, and it is not a basement. It is not your home, and it is not your work. For the two of you, this is neutral ground, as it were. While you are in here, you will not be distracted by other things. The focus is on you. Dante," she arched an eye brow at him. She intended to let the tone be different from a one on one session. "What do you hope to gain from being here?"
"Why's the foc..." Hades back pedaled his words as he snapped his head to actually attention and looked to Hera. He had missed the period and heard a comma, but understood it finally. He set aside his candy and lowered his gaze again to pick at the fabric of his pants that rested along his knees in agitated tension. They might be on neutral ground, but he couldn't promise not to be distracted. "Sorry. What I hope to gain here..." And he paused, focusing all his attention on the thought. He had made a habit to think out each action and sentence lately but now he really had to think. "Is to find an understanding."
Hera stayed quiet for a few moments, in case he had more to add. Understanding of what had happened so far? Of what was expected of him? Of Hestia? With Hestia? There were many things people sought to understand or gain understanding in. But when it seemed clear that it was all he would say, she did not press, and turned to Hestia. "Tessie, what do you hope to gain from coming here?"
Hestia also took her time in considering, then said quietly and calmly, "To solve any issues that we can... and try to better our communication and relationship." That sounded good, to her anyway, so she nodded.
Ah, perfect. The opening that she needed. She continued to face her sister, serious in her expression. "What issues do you have?"
"..." Hestia's face flushed a bit. "Well. There is a recent one. It is... my fault." She shifted uncomfortably.
She arched an eyebrow, waiting for it to be said. Whatever it was would not be new to Hades, and Hera was the only other one in the room.
"I, um, was kissed by another man," she said quietly. Somehow it was even more shameful to admit it to Hera than to anyone else.
Hades went back to eating from his M&Ms bag, trying to relax in his chair but finding it completely impossible no matter how plush.
With the gossip Hera had heard in her time in her office, there was little, if anything that would surprise her. Even the odd fetishes would not phase her. She was, after all, married to Zeus. For the time being, she ignored Hades. If he had something to add or say, he would speak up in time. And if not, she would give him his own due time. "Did you return the kiss? Or return more than a kiss?"
"I returned this kiss. But nothing more."
"Why nothing more?" she asked, sounding a hint curious.
"Because, it was just... physical attraction." Oh gods. Hestia looked like she in fact desire to crawl into the woodwork and hide. "He never pressed it farther than that, either."
Hades shook his head, clear that he didn't believe her and then frowned when he was nearly out of his M&Ms and the few pills he had slipped in their midst, but he said nothing.
"What did the two of you do after the kiss?" Hera asked. She saw the head shake and frown, and though her hands were calmly in her lap, lifted one finger without looking at him, as if to say 'wait'. He would get his chance. At the moment, she was focusing on Hestia and trying to get her to talk about this first issue that she brought up.
"Then, nothing more. He stayed for a bit longer -- he was at the bakery, visiting to try some food and give me some of the Norse recipes -- before he left. A week later, he invited me over to Erato's home for some company. I accepted, but chose to leave when I felt the, um..." Pause. "Sensations. And I told Hades what happened."
Very well. Perhaps it was time to slip into the Greek, if her sister was going to be slipping names. "[When did you tell Hades, and what, exactly, did you tell him?]"
"[The truth. That I kissed someone else, that I was sorry. I didn't mean to wait so long... it's just, when it happened, I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if just a kiss was serious enough to warrant a confession, and I was worried about how he'd react. So I kept putting it off... when I was tempted again, I realized if I didn't get it off my chest, I was afraid something worse would happen.]"
"[I was very rational about it,]" Hades muttered yet again as he tore open the M&M bag and then pressed it back together, only to open it again and then begin to tear it apart. He was now surprised that he could have been rational at all at that point... or now. Ever really.
They both seemed to miss Hera's question. Clearly Hestia had waited to tell Hades it had happened, but how long? It only mattered a small amount, so she decided to forgo the question. "[I am sure that you were, Hades,]" Hera mentioned in return, a small slip from the roles they were currently in. Tiny, really. She quickly went through what was said and unsaid, and turned her attention to her brother. "[What were your thoughts when Hestia revealed her actions and impressions to you?]"
"[I asked her why she had kissed him and why she had enjoyed it so. Her guilt was proof that she liked it.]" Hades tore the wrapper in half, and then in half again, smaller and smaller and smaller. He thought his sentence out in his mind, even if his brain had decided remembering the conversation and kiss with Persephone was more fun to torment him with... He had sent her away without hope and she went to talk to the Devil not long after. Why?... but the Journal... Tearing the paper even smaller still, he pushed the wonder away and returned to the memory of Hestia in question, "[I didn't care about the what as much as the why. You know as much as I do, Hera, the why is the important part in something like this.]"
"[I do.]" Seeing what he was doing, Hera stood gracefully and went to her desk. She picked up a small waste bucket and brought it over to him, along with the day's paper, and set them to the side within easy reach. Despite her desire to tell him to stop, it would be far easier, and more productive, to allow him to continue. Hopefully he would at least clean up any mess he chose to make. She took her seat once more. "[What did you decide were the reasons?]"
"[What I decided is the apt question considering I couldn't get an answer from her. She claimed it was just because he was attractive but women aren't unfaithful in this way out of mere lust and it would have been nipped in the bud if it had been that.]" The wrapper was too small to tear any more and he at least put it in the waste paper bin. But now he had a bin to play with and he let his hand rest atop it, and drum his fingers along the rim. His other hand was left to open and close on itself. Anything to distract his mind from itself really... numbed emotions or not, thoughts were the enemy. "[However, when I brought up the fact that maybe I wasn't the emotional support she needed and that's why she enjoyed Baulder... It went downhill from there.]"
The newspaper was there if he wished to tear that up as well, but she decided that she would not point that out. He seemed content enough with the bin. Hera's eyes shifted to her sister. "[Have you ever physically lusted after someone before?]"
The hearth goddess shook her head. "[Only Hades.]"
"[Do you ever notice the physical appearance of other men?]" she questioned.
Hestia paused this time, considering. "[Like, how?]"
"[Handsome, strong, nice bone structure, tight ass, smooth chest...]" The goddess shrugged. She could go on in example for a rather long time, but doubted such a thing was needed.
Of course, at the second-to-last words, Hestia went red as a beet. Her answer was just above a whisper of a squeak: "[Um. Yes. Just, I mean, once or twice.]"
There was no embarrassment in Hera's expression or posture. "[And how did you feel when you noticed such things?]"
"[I... Warm? A bit... I don't know what it was like. Like, when you drink champagne, and you can feel the bubbles all the way down sort of feeling. Or, or fresh muffins,]" she said, a little bit of a smile coming to her face as she thought of those other things she liked. "[It was only for a split second. I never dwelt on them. It was like noticing a really colorful flower or well-done dinner.]"
"[It is common for women to notice other men, and know that there is physical attraction. The distinction is between the emotional, and the physical. If the feeling was fleeting when physical, than your reactions to Baulder were not. Again, it is not unusual, but I would suspect that it is a new emotion and reaction for you.]" Hera watched her sister, expecting a flat out denial of the statement, of what exactly it was that Hera was implying. "[Do you think there is truth to what Hades says?]"
Hestia didn't audibly sigh, but it was almost there in her voice. "[No. If anything? I thought about him more than I did Baulder. And the other men I noticed never said or did anything to me. Wouldn't that mean I'd react differently?]"
"[Perhaps. But when I asked about the issues you say you two are having, this is the first one that you mention. Baulder himself isn't the issue, it is what he may represent. How you respond to him and others in the future is something that needs to be acknowledged and addressed, if you do not wish it to be a blockade in the future...]" She arched an eyebrow, giving Hestia a chance to respond if she wished.
The goddess frowned, but her guard went down. Just a tad. "[I don't.]"
Hera nodded, then glanced at Hades. He could be the tricky one. "[Hades, if Hestia found herself attracted to someone again as she did to Baulder, with the desire to kiss him, and perhaps more, ideally, how would you like her to respond and react to the situation? What, ideally, would you have her do?]"
Hades stopped tapping the edge of the rubbish bin at the sound of his name, and more importantly as his latest dosing of abused prescription drugs began to take effect, overlapping with any already in his system. He leaned back in his chair and thought about it. "[Ideally, I would like her to shove the next Baulder away and resist her desires to stray. I would like her to tell this next Baulder that I am important to her and that she does not wish to stray even if her body seems to deny that. Ideally, I would like her to not have the desires at all...]" He took a breath and dropped his eyes and attention to one of his arms, beginning to pick at his skin a little bit around his mala bead bracelet. "[However, it is not her being attracted to Baulder that bothered me. Quite frankly, I'd might be attracted to Baulder; that's his whole point being beautiful and everything.]" And the Greeks were not known to be the straightest beings on the planet and Hades would not deny that to himself or others. "[I was bothered that she would seek such attention consciously or unconsciously because she was not having her emotional needs met at home.]"
"[What emotional needs do you see as not being met for her at home?]" Hera asked. She wondered if Hestia would deny such things or not.
He would have blinked at the question if he hadn't known it was coming. Hera was acting in a professional role and professionals always asked questions, whether or not they knew the answer. Hades firmly believed she knew the answer though. "[She fell in love with a man who seemed to be a happy, hopeful person, ready to put aside his past griefs to look for a brighter future. Things changed. I cannot provide that... Am I surprised she was taken back by Baulder? A happy, hopeful man? One that gave her such pleasant affection? No, I am not.]" He pulled his Mala bracelet from his wrist and snapped it against his skin.
They asked questions, because the things that needed to be said needed to be said also by the right person. Hera could tell each of them so many things, but for one, they would get sick listening to her, and for another, it meant more coming from the actual person. Everyone knew this, Hera merely put it into practice. She looked to Hestia. "[And what do you think of that?]"
"[I think he's wrong!]" Hestia sighed and brushed back her hair. "[If I didn't have any 'needs' being met, would I stay? I don't think so. Yes, we have some problems, but we're not perfect. But no, I don't feel like I want to leave and go off and find some happier or better person.]"
"[Why do you not wish to leave?]" A blunt question, but it was taken from Hestia's own words.
"[I wouldn't blame you. I don't even want to live with me,]" Hades muttered, barely enough to be heard, but he had certainly said it. He started picking at the skin of his palm, not being comfortable in this room, in his body and definitely not in his own head. But he didn't feel like he had any emotions beyond discomfort right now either, which was quite a comfort ironically.
"[Because I have a family, and a lover I care for,]" she said, though a slight glare was cast directly in Hades' direction. Yes, you.
Even though he was picking at his skin he could feel that glare and glanced over at her. It made him narrow his eyes just slightly and then shake his head, "[You being angry at me for my beliefs and opinions is a whole other topic.]"
Now was a time to tread very carefully. "[You are not here to bicker, only bring to the open thoughts and feelings and start to open communication.]" She paused, then decided to turn her question to Hades instead. "[Hades, before this, what do you enjoy about being in the same house as Hestia.]"
"[Before this?]" Hades closed his eyes and rested his head along his own shoulder as he scratched ever-growing circles along his palm. He chose to interpret the question as 'When you were happiest' and responded accordingly, "[When I was happiest in the same house, I enjoyed being loved without struggle, living without being judged for my flaws and crimes, being cared for while being respected.]"
"[In a manner, happiest when there was no past to overcome,]" she summarized. "[I will assume that such a thing has changed. It is, at times, the inability to look at the present and forget or forgive what has occurred in the past in favor of building something that is strong. While I do not say that you are such a couple, there are some who are very forgiving of situations in the start, then begin to no longer forgive the same mistakes as time pass. The reason it becomes a problem is less because it not forgiven, and more because it was not admitted as a problem before the forgiveness was withheld. Do you understand this concept?]"
Hades nodded, "[Yes, I understand the concept, but I'm very good at seeing the present for what it is.]"
Hera turned to Hestia, waiting for her answer.
Hestia winced, just a hair, at his tone "[I do,]" she said flatly.
Touchy subject? The tones weren't missed at all, as she looked from one to the other. "[Very well.]" Hera paused, letting them each think over the topic for a moment. She leaned back in her own seat, legs crossed. "[While this may be a mistake, I believe a classic step must be taken. Hestia, is there anything you would like to say to Hades?]"
"..." Hestia turned to look back at Hades, eying him lightly as she considered her words. She took a deep breath and, hands curling up lightly in her skirt, said softly and calmly, "[I wish you talked to me more. It feels like... you feel I can't handle or understand you. And yes that's partly true. I'm learning, even if I make mistakes. I'm trying my best. And I do love you. I just want you to understand that, at least. Even if your feelings for me have changed, in any way.]"
"[Only because you wouldn't be able to handle it even if I did tell you every little thing, or more likely wouldn't want to.]" Hades looked away from her and then nearly leapt up to his feet, turning from both his sisters to get a cup of coffee. At the coffee machine, he paused to breath deeply and pouring the caffeine laden liquid into the cup, he looked over his shoulder both sisters, but mostly to Hestia. 'You're condemning her, too? Just on a condemn streak, ain't ya? Well, keep going...' His own voice echoed in his mind and he shook his head, only in dismay. "[You don't want to handle my problems. You're too caught up in your own pain to see past it.]"
Hera sighed, barely. The more she saw, the more it confirmed her gut reaction to the growing situation. She already knew what she would suggest, but perhaps there was a small amount of damage control that could be done now. Perhaps. "[Hestia, when you are stressed or in a bad mood, what do you do to help yourself through it?]" she asked, trying to distract her, and also give Hades a moment for himself.
A distraction was needed. Hestia's slight curling of fingers had turned into fists. Her hopeful look she'd worn when she'd come into the office was all but gone. At Hera's answered, she straightened, replying near instantly, "[Cleaning. Cooking. Gardening. If that's all done, maybe watch a little TV.]"
Hades drank the coffee like it was a shot of booze. The heat of the drink should have bothered him, but he couldn't really feel the discomfort. Even without the prescription drugs in his system, he was much too focused on his own thoughts. Placing the cup down, he closed his eyes and took another breath. He had to hold together and not just strike out...
"[What do you watch?]" Hera asked, continuing to give Hades a bit of time, and also looking for some answer that only she understood the point of seeking.
Hestia glanced at Hades. Part of her wanted to reach out and comfort him. But mostly, she just wanted to stop looking for now. "Travel Channel. The news. Food Network." She shrugged. "[I'm not a big TV person... It's really just whatever's on.]"
Her desire to do so was almost a physical thing to be felt from where Hera sat. "When did you last take a vacation?"
Hestia blinked blankly. "[I've never taken a vacation,]" she said as plainly as if Hera had asked her if she'd ever burned down a house.
"Then perhaps it is time that you did." Standing, Hera walked over to her desk and sat down so she could access one of her drawers. "[It does not need to be a long one, but at least three days. You can travel however you wish, but you will travel at least three hours away. You will also leave the twins in the care of someone else. Not their father. Perhaps Melpomene, or myself and Zeus.]" She stated this matter of factly, without hesitation and in a tone that said she did not expect either of them to argue with her. She had her reasonings and logic. "[Do you have any place that you would like to see?]"
Any success Hades had had at regaining his center and resemblance of inner calm was washed away by Hera's words. His soul might as well have been screaming in betrayal, but outwardly he seemed perfectly calm. Oh, the beauty of drug... He calmly picked up the coffee mug he just had and calmly tossed it up in the air. He then calmly caught it and even more calmly chucked it against one of the walls of her office as hard as he could. His voice even sounded calm but his eyes were anything but, "[Who do you think you are saying where my children will be?]"
Hera looked up, and met his eyes. She did not break eye contact as she stood, and leaned forward on her desk. Her brother lord of the Underworld could have a strong will and fierce temper, but it could just as easily be matched by her own. She held his eyes for a moment, and answered as calmly as he spoke, as if one of the mug had not just been shattered. "[I am not choosing where they will be, I am recommending where they will not be. They will not be with their mother who needs time and space to think and return to the calm she had when she first met you. They will not be with you, because when she thinks of them as she will, I do not want her thoughts to be lead to thinking of you and worrying about all of the current problems, could have, should have, and what ifs. That would serve no purpose of having her leave if she were to do the same worrying she is already doing here.]"
Hestia jumped up out of her seat, a complaint at the treatment of the cup already in her throat, but stopped when Hera spoke. She closed her mouth and watched Hades carefully. This wasn't the Hades she knew... this wasn't even the one she knew from recently. What the hell was going on? "[I think I agree with Hera. We could use a refresher, a little bit of time to ourselves... we haven't had anything like that since the babies were born.]"
The oxycontin numbed his emotions, but they rarely numbed anger and betrayal... not when experienced under their influence. The coffee was forgotten, snacks were forgotten. Love, joy, pleasantry, pretty much forgotten as he stormed back to in front of the desk. Did she think she could cower him into submission? His eyes darted to Hestia when he planted his hands onto the edge of the desk, "[Perhaps I shouldn't doubt you would agree with her. Maybe you came up with this plan before we got here... I will not be tricked to set some prescendant to giving my children to others. They are with me or you, and I will always get to see them.]" His thoughts rolled over each other in his mind like a wave, a brutal surging wave. His children were millstones around his neck. If they weren't here, he might have fled... A terrible thought. The worst thought he had had in a long, long time. And it would have caused him to shudder if not for his anger fueled by drugs. Ironically, his anger was the least out of character thing he had done so far in the session. But they were his precious millstones and he loved them very much. "[And even if the children were gone, we would not have time to ourselves. Even in some mad world where I let Zeus care for my sons, or I give them to Mel so I can't go and watch them, we would not be on our own.... And Hera doesn't sound like she's suggesting us go together. And on that note...]'
He snapped his eyes back to Hera, "[Recommendations, huh? Sounds like your recommendation is for me to lose my sons while Hestia goes to a spa. So what do you recommend I do while you cast me into exile from my sons?]"
"[I would hardly call three days from your sons exile. If Hestia chooses to be away longer than that of her own violation, that is her decision, but I would not propose a break between you and the twins greater than that span unless that was your desire.]" Hera stated calmly, continuing to meet his gaze. She would not push him, would not challenge him, but she would also not back down or be cowed. "[For you I recommend something much the same, but I have more confidence in your ability to choose a location without assistance.]" Or she had, until he had shown his temper. "[I would also recommend for you to take someone with you. Or, if you choose to find a place within Miami so you are not far from your sons should they need you, that you do not spend the time constantly alone.]"
"[Oh, maybe I'll take Zale and Delaney with me, the other two children under my care,]" It came out as an accusing growl as he leaned a little more forward to ensure that Hera knew she was being stared at. Glared at. "[You... You have no say in my children. You don't get to choose to move them around. You want to move children around get your own or are you just upset you didn't get to give any children away with the peace accord? Any of my children away.]"
"[Hades, stop it!]" Hestia said, her tone a mixed plea with its own edge. "[You forget, they are my children as well! And I think Hera's right. We both need a break, and how can we take care of the boys best in this state?]" she asked. "[Really, it's for their own good we try to take her advice.]"
"[You forget you don't get to override me and give our children off to people just because you're their mother.]" Children need their mother. She is more important than... Not all children have them, now do they? Why is that agai.... Not like you can protect them anyway. What can you really d... Hades closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe to an outside observer it was to calm his temper, but really it was quiet his thoughts all turning against him. With a second and third breath, he could almost begin to feel the numbing effects of the oxycontin he had just taken minutes ago starting up again. Maybe he wouldn't be able to feel this betrayal soon. Slowly, he opened his eyes. His anger was quieted but still there, wrapped in his pain, "[You think Hera's, right? Fine. You think we need a break and that means our children should be in a strange house, away from their home? Fine. See, how good we are when you come back from the spa...]"
"[Their own relatives are not strangers,]" Hestia replied. Even as he struggled with his temper, hers began to flare. Smoke curled up warningly from her shoulders and hair. "[Stop making it sound like we're tossing them into a dumpster to go have fun. I don't want to leave them for any reason, any more than you do. But I fail to see how staying here is good for them at all!]" She pointed to the coffee cup pieces on the floor. "[Or do you want to wait until you start doing that at home, where they can see you?]"
Hades waved his hand dismissively at the comment, a regal gesture he often purposely repressed returned to him; they had already seen him through things. It would be nothing new to them. "[I didn't say strangers, I said in a strange house. However, to them, they might as well be strangers to them. They know Hera okay. Mel a bit... ]" He shrugged his shoulders and then moved away from the desk, simply to pace. Anything to rid him of the impulse of anger at the sight of her smoke brought on. "[I fail to see how confusing them and keeping them from both their parents from three days is good for all of us, but go ahead. Do it. I dare you to do it. I'll find my own ways to see my kids.]"
"[Three days, not three years. For them, it'll be an adventure at most, they'll be fine. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're too overprotective!]"
"[You seriously think this is a good idea, even though I hate it...]" It came from him in a whisper.
Hestia frowned, temper cooling. Just a bit. "[We have to do something,]" she replied back, reaching out to brush her fingers along his arm, in some attempt at comfort. Or to see if he'd even respond to her touch anymore. "[Sister is the expert. I trust her advice.]"
Hades stood frozen, "[Yes or no?]"
"[Yes, I do.]"
He nodded, frowning deeply as he pulled his arm away from Hestia's fingers, "[Don't touch me.]"
"..." Hestia said nothing and let her hand drop.
Although neither were looking at her, Hera gave the smallest of nods to herself, then dropped her eyes to the desk. She had never said spa, but it was clear Hades would think of it as no other thing. It was clear, also, that he would think of this as a betrayal. He was angry at them both. In the quiet, Hera sat down at her desk, and looked at both of them. First Hades, then Hestia. She considered, a small tap of her fingers on the hand rests of her chair. "[Hestia, may I have a moment alone with Hades?]"
"[Sure.]" No argument there. The goddess stood and exited the room without another word, and proceeded to wait patiently in the next room.
Hera waited until the door was firmly closed, then looked to her brother. "[Tell me, brother, what it is that you are not saying.]"
Hades sat back down in his chair, leaning his elbows on his knees to put his head in his hands. "[About what?]"
"[That is for you to tell me. I know that you are upset at the mere suggestion of spending time without your children, but your reactions seem rather extreme. Even your attitude within first entering seems mildly unusual for you.]" She could be off the mark, but as she had watched the most recent exchange, she had simply the feel of something being held back. It would not hurt to ask.
"[It seemed like a plot...]" Maybe it wasn't. Hades shook his head in his hands, sighing heavily. Then, and only then, did he look up to Hera with as little movement as possible. Maybe he hadn't thought things out fully enough but... Now he had thought things out and he didn't feel much better. "[But now I'm just tired and angry... She always makes things about her.]"
Ah, here we were. Arching an eyebrow slightly, Hera then pushed from her desk, stood, and moved to take a seat closer to Hades. Her movement and expression to him simply offered him the chance to continue speaking, and that she was willing to listen. In fact, she wished to have him speak a bit more on the topic.
Hades lowered his eyes back to the floor when she moved. Her movement translated more into her leaving her 'professional' role and back into the one of his sister. It brought down his defenses a little, "[When she told me about Baulder, it somehow got turned on me. Somehow she got to be the one who got mad... Her pain is always more important. Her sadness that much stronger. She gets upset, I should drop everything and attend, but I'm upset? No... I don't see the same. I see her twist it into her own pain yet again. And now this?]" He tried to laugh but it clearly didn't sound like he succeeded; Hades figured he lost that ability along with the one to smile, "[She was willing to do something that I obviously hated and was hurt by... For what? To make us better? That doesn't make us better... I feel one hundred times worse now.]" Which was rather impressive. He really wanted to take another pill now.
He was talking. That was her goal. She had learned that, at times, it was easier for him to speak when he did not have to speak as loud, and when he knew she was there without looking to her. Subtle cues were always given when speaking, more than most people recognized. Hera had learned to listen to them. "[While I would be inclined to agree that it was the incorrect answer, I also suspect she heard a different question. You are thinking of her answer in terms of 'she would do something that hurts me' while she is saying 'I would trust my sister's judgment in this matter'. I honestly do not believe that Hestia knows how to understand what you are saying, verbally and non-verbally. She is correct in that you need assistance communicating, but I am not certain she understands the depth...]"
"[If someone loves someone and they know they're in pain they reach out to help them...]" What does that say about you? You know she's alive.... You want her to be alive and suffering. What does that say? You do hate her... Hades shook his head again and slouched back in the chair, gripping the arms of it tightly, "[If they can help... But... why don't I get that?]"
"[You do get that.]" Leaning forward just enough to touch him, Hera placed her hand on his, as if she would take it. She was slipping to her sister role far more, but clearly it was what Hades needed at just this moment. "/It is a shame our sister's learning is coming with such poor timing to you. You are suffering from it. But she will not listen to me if I suggest such things, as she claims that she already knows./" The switch to French was a subtle marker to acknowledge that they were siblings, and the hint of the smallest annoyance in her tone was implied. "/That is why I suggest the break, in hopes that she will think over your reactions to her actions, and hopefully find another view on them to gain understanding. If I could see such a thing done, I would encourage a romantic fling. However, I do not see such a thing as likely, and would in part fear what it would mean in relation to you./"
He flinched when she touched him, but steadied and did not pull away. His eyes clenched shut, "/She shouldn't have to learn... sometimes it isn't hard./"
"/Sometimes she does not know how to show her love./" He was not pulling away, and Hera did not either. She kept her touch light.
"/That's terrible... Now I feel even worse./"
"/You should not. Merely because she does not know how to show her love, does not mean you should not ask for it-/"
Hades pulled his hand back and leapt to his feet, his speech slipping back into Greek, "[I am done asking and begging for love.]"
Hera brought her hands to her lap and leaned back against the cushions to peer up at him. "[You are not begging for love. You are not asking for the love. You are asking her to show you in a way that suits you best. Her love is there. It is unrefined or shaped.]"
"['Will you love me' and 'please love' are the same thing.]" Hades crossed his arms over his chest and clenched his shirt between his fists until his knuckles turned white. Maybe it would help him hold himself together... Why was everyone trying to make him wrong? He glanced around the office with the appearence of a lost man before looking back at Hera. Even Hera was doing it now? "[Her hearth burns for me, but only when I feed the flames it seems.]"
Hera shrugged, then looked down at her hands. She would not point out the flaws in her own relationship, with her own husband. This was not the time nor place. She appeared to study her nails as she chose her words before looking back up to her brother. "[If I tell the two of you to separate, you would both be miserable. She would wonder how she failed and you would think no one in the world loves you or is capable of loving you. If I ask you to continue to work and stay together, you will say that she does not work for it, does not understand you, and does nothing, while she will flounder trying to correct mistakes that she did not make or understand things she does not need to understand in an attempt to make you happy. You have said she makes everything about her. Then she needs to realize or learn to not take everything personally and as only having to do with her. Which, again, will make you uncomfortable and possibly suffer emotionally because it will prevent her from acting out the show of love that you need.]" She arched an eyebrow. "[Or do I misunderstand the situation entirely?]"
"[Is the no-wins situation you just described supposed to make me feel better?]" Thank the gods Hera was the goddess of marriage and not doctors; her bedside manner sucked. Of course, the god of doctors was Apollo, so maybe it wouldn't have made much of a difference in that regard. Hades shivered lightly, "[I have nothing else to say. Quite frankly, I learned more than I wanted to today...]"
"[There is hope for things to be worked out, but I cannot wave a magic wand and make it happen instantly,]" she retorted. "[Communication needs to be open between you. Hestia does love you, and wishes dearly for both of you to be happy, together. She does not know how to make such a thing happen and thus has come to me. If it will improve your mood any, I had thought that if you entrust the twins to my care, I would make arrangements easily for you to see them. It is merely important for her to not think you are being favored in a manner she is not. If you choose to take a small break, and together choose to have the twins with another, I hope that you will keep my offer in consideration.]"
Hades nodded a little, quieted by her words. "[She'll just have to accept we won't be happy together... and it ain't always about something she did.]" He paused and let his arms drop from his chest, "[Though right now, it is her. I didn't want to come here but yet again, I am wrong and she is right...]"
Hera stood from her seat. "[I told her this was with both of you and that I would not meet anywhere besides here. The conversations would have been different otherwise.]"
"[It probably would have been better...]" After all, it only calmed when they weren't all in the room together. Hades took his seat when she stood. "[Do I get sent out now?]"
"[I did not intend to, unless you are ready to call an end to this session.]" She watched him as he moved. Perhaps not better, but calmer at least.
"[Figured you would talk to her separately, too. You must believe I am the actual problem if I get special attention...]" Hades wasn't sure how to feel about that... The Oxycontin had finally kicked back in and properly numbed his emotions properly.
"[I do not see either of you as the actual problem. You are simply different individuals, and each of you have different difficulties.]" Hera began to walk back toward the door.
That was just a nice way to say they were both fuck ups, and honestly, Hades was okay with that. He sat quietly and subdued, only breaking his stillness by drumming along the arms of his chair.
Taking that as meaning he had nothing more to say on the matter, Hera opened the door to wave Hestia back inside. Really, the session had had enough ups and downs already, and it would hopefully be a decent time to call for a close until they could meet again.
Hestia looked up and gave her sister a small smile, standing to pick up her purse and head back inside. She glanced to Hades as she sat back down in her chair. At least he looked calmer... Sigh.
With the others already seated, Hera took her own seat once more. "[Now, while this caused a disagreement before, I would like to ask again, what are your opinions on my suggestion of a weekend break?]" She looked first to Hades.
"[I still don't like it but...]" If everything occurred as promised by Hera... And if it didn't there would be Hell to pay. Possibly literally. Hades shook his head and cut off the thought at the pass... the flood of thoughts, all cut off in pleasant numbness. He drummed faster along the arms of the chair, not looking at either sister as he spoke slowly, almost in contrast to the rythem he was making. "[If it will make Hestia, happy than I will abide. In the end, one of us should be...]"
Hestia tried, really did try, not to look saddened by his words but they were impossible. "[Well... I like the idea of it... if you think it's good, sister. I just want us to do better. Maybe after I return, Hades could have a turn?]" she suggested, looking up to Hera. She wasn't the only one with issues, her words said.
"[I will give Hades my recommendations for how he could spend the time you are away in a manner that will hopefully aid both of you. If he chooses to leave the city will be his own discretion.]" In other words, Hera knew well that getting Hades to do something simply because she thought it would be good was unlikely to happen. She only needed to point to the recommendation of getting an apartment of his own for evidence. "[Together, you can choose a weekend and who will watch the twins, though I do recommend that you do this as soon as possible.]"
Hades would point out that he did get his own apartment for a very little while and he hated it, but he was not a telepath luckily; he had enough of his own voices in his head. But now he perked up... Though it only dawned on him what was being said when Hera had repeated the proposal. It was different than the first proposal. "[Wait, so the twins are not leaving their parents' hands?]"
"[By saying 'who will watch the twins' I mean who you would like to watch them. Someone who is not either of you. Again, I suggest myself or perhaps Melpomene and her mortal. You know the needs of those within your care, and there may be someone I am not familiar with that you would choose in preference...]" She kept her tone even as she spoke, knowing it would be a choice they would have to make.
Hades stopped his drumming only to rub his face with both his hands. He was suddenly confused and he wasn't sure if it was because there was two different ideas on the table or if it was that he was on drugs... But it never occurred to him that the drugs should be stopped, instead he asked, "[Are you two saying the same thing?]"
...What? Hestia blinked at him then to Hera. "[It's the same thing, Hades...]"
"[Then why are we going on different weekends if the twins are being watched by a third party?]" Hades let his hands drop and rolled his head along his shoulder to look at Hestia now. He still hated this idea, his irriation over it flickered in his dark eyes, but he couldn't be brought to truly feel it right now... And Hera had said they could arrange for him to see them...
But what Hera had said to him privately was meant to be kept just that way. "[I would hope that both of you would take a break at the same time.]" But, as she had said before, she could not see Hades not being within an hours reach of his sons unless they were in Hestia's care. She left that opinion unsaid.
In fact, Hades wasn't going anywhere, but he didn't need to bring that up right now. He sighed heavily, "[Get it over with in one shot, I guess...]"
"[Which brings it to the two of you. You must decide a time and agree on a sitter.]" Was she the only one who was finding this redundant? She looked at Hestia, cueing her to speak up.
"[Not Mel,]" said Hestia, looking over to Hades. "[She has enough to deal with, with a newborn of her own... Would Persephone mind taking Delaney and Zale back for a few extra days?]"
The poor oxycontin tried so hard to keep him calm, but no one in this room was making its life easier. Hades closed his eyes, resisting them urge to clench them shut as he stole a moment away to just be silent. In his mind he could almost hear how she would be screaming if she was being tortured, along with her silence if she was dead. He could easily imagine her ghost wandering if it had escaped and shuddering in anguish if it had not... And he knew intellectually that all of it horrified him into sorrow and vindicated him through justice. But thankfully, he couldn't feel either... the oxycontin was at least doing that. "[No. She is not in town right now.]"
"..." Hestia sat silently and watched him. Something had passed over his face, and she ached to reach out and comfort him. But all she heard was his demand to not touch him. She kept her hands to herself. "[Okay...]" She put on a pleasant face and smiled hopefully up to their sister. "[Would Zeus mind?]"
"[I think my husband would be agreeable to the situation.]" And if he was not, then Hera would make other arrangements. It was that simple.
Hades tried not to glare at everyone in the room as he remembered how much he exactly hated this plan, even with the secret knowledge that he could visit them. He shouldn't have to visit his children in someone else's home. "[I still don't like this. I want everyone to know this.]"
"[Well noted,]" Hera agreed, giving a small nod of her head. "[Though if you have another choice you would like to have considered, you would do well to speak it now.]"
"[How about, I don't know, I just keep my sons with me? Them away from me is not a vacation for me...]" Hades closed his eyes once again, only to stop himself from glaring at people. He returned to drumming, his irriatation clear in it even if it was much more subdued. "[It's a punishment.]"
"[It is not designed to be as such.]" Keeping back a sigh, she glanced at Hestia. This would not be nearly as neat a plan as she had hoped for, but hopefully it would be enough. "[Do you think that knowing your twins were with Hades would be more helpful, or disruptive to your reflections?]" There was middle ground, but she would offer that after Hestia made her response.
Hestia didn't bother holding back the sigh. "[I don't mind either way, I'm sure they'll be fine. If Hades is so determined? Then all right.]"
Hades was glad his eyes were closed or he would have glared again. He didn't understand why his conditions were so sigh worthy... It churned up resent deep in his being, but that, too, was something he understood intellectually. He couldn't feel it. At least he now knew how long it properly took for those pills to truly kick in during an overlap. "[Fine.]"
That could have been phrased better on Hestia's part, but there was nothing to be done with that. "[Very well, if that is the preference of both, then Hestia shall take a trip over a weekend out of the city.]" Briskly she rose to her feet and went to her desk. It was not nearly as close to what she recommended and considered the suitable option, but she would not try to force them.
Hades hoped Hestia felt better because he certainly didn't. "[Are we done?]"
"Yes. I will speak privately with each of you as I need to." Reaching her desk, she resumed her seat. "If you choose to arrange for another session together, we will do so after the weekend. Do you have any other questions or things you wish to discuss?"
"Not that I can think of... Oh! Um, like I said, I've never gone anywhere... Any suggestions?" Hestia asked.
"I will send you a few choices and suggestions, and we can discuss it together." Hera responded.
The elder sister nodded in agreement and stood, guessing it was nearly time to go. "Thank you for seeing us."
"It is not a problem. Hopefully I will be able to help you both be happy." Yes, both. She glanced at Dante to see how he was doing, and if he was still annoyed with her. The session could have gone much worse, but it could also have gone better.
Hades stood up, once again crossing his arms over his chest. He was currently too apathetic to be annoyed at her and as long as he didn't actively think about anything, he would remain as such. "[Your check will be in the mail.]"
"My assistant will be the one to tend to it when it arrives. I doubt there will be any difficulties." She would in fact be surprised if there were. Looking up, she watched them both, hoping that things would smooth out at least some.
Hoping... Hestia smiled to her sister and, after giving her a hug, started to head for the car. She hated to say it, but she almost agreed with Hades. What on earth was she going to do on a sort-of-kinda vacation to help their relationship? Hestia and taking time off matched about as well as a cat and water... but her sister was the expert. She had to trust her.
Hades simply walked out of the office. He was done with this. He had been done with this before he even stepped foot in the office, but now he just had more things not to think about. What he needed was more pills and more M&Ms. Unfortunately, he was all out of M&Ms.
Once both were out of her office, Hera saw the door firmly closed, and went to the coffee maker herself. Her siblings would prove a vast challenge, but with the difficulties they were having, she doubted she could make things any worse. A small smile came to her lips as something occurred to her about that idea, and she poured herself a cup. Now, to work on the choices for Hestia.
Summary: As planned, Hestia and Hades head to their first every conjoined therapy session. It has its ups and downs, but eventually a plan is made. If not to the best of everyone's wishes.