Who: Hades and Thalia What: A business meeting turning into a family visit. Where: Hades' office When: Today, afternoon. Warnings: None.
Thalia had made sure she left her house in time, she was still not used to the Miami roads and her little navigation computer, after taking a wrong turn only once she arrived at the address Dante Lot had given her. She was pretty excited to meet with Mr. Lot, she had heard that he could open doors nobody else could. Connor could use all the help he could get, he had talent, he had a muse but in this world that was not enough and she hoped that today she could get Connor's script read.
After parking she took a deep breath and got herself into full muse mode, she really wanted to help her writer and she would inspire Dante if she needed too. After checking she had everything and making sure she looked professional she entered the building and made her way to where she thought she would find Mr. Lot's secretary.
Mr. Lot's secretary, his personal assistant, was indeed where someone would look for her, in the main office, beside the doors that led to his private one. Partly obscured by the four computer monitors, the young redhead had her eyes lowered to the PSP in her hands. Loco Roco was addictive. Dante was right. But feeling eyes on her, she looked up after pressing the pause button.
Someone was indeed there. Julie was quick to bring up the schedule on one of her computers and remembered that someone was supposed to come meet him in this moment of calm before the interns strolled in in the afternoon and ruined the quiet and the peace, "Ms. Wilson, right?"
Thalia smiled as she saw the young woman play on one of those hand held computer game things, she had never gotten one. She could handle a normal computer without any trouble but when they got smaller, she still couldn't get her navigation computer to work properly. She better stick to comedy and poetry.
"I am Ms. Wilson, Joanna Wilson." She gave the other woman her trademark smile, "I have an appointment with Mr. Lot."
Julie smiled back as she clicked some keys on her keyboard, saving the fact that this woman actually appeared before IMing Dante to give him his fifteen seconds warning. "He'll be right with you," she said brightly, "As soon as the door opens for ya…"
Meanwhile, inside the office, Dante… Hades sighed heavily before closing the IM screen on his laptop. "[Okay, just be a pleasant business man for the nice woman for a little while. It isn't so bad. It's just like being a king… except the being pleasant part and having to help her and…]" He sighed and checked to see if his infant sons were asleep and carefully hidden behind his desk, "[Okay, so its nothing like being a king. But you've been doing this for decades now…]"
Coaching away brooding he may have been doing previously, he pressed the door opener and the door to the office swung open. He was ready. He was ready for anything an associate for a comedy writer could throw at him.
Thalia beamed at the nice girl, and got out a "thank you" just before the door opened. She wondered what kind of man this Dante Lot would be, she had dealt with Hollywood people before and wondered if this would be the same. She walked toward the door, taking another deep breath letting a little bit of her power drift inside before she entered.
As she walked in Dante finished writing what he had been working on and shoved it aside. That little bit of power that drifted in touched him and it did ease away some of the things that had been plaguing his mind and mellowing his near manic mood that the coming of this spring had placed upon him.
He rose to his feet as he pressed the button again to close the door behind her and was completely ready to begin his normal, almost generic, business greeting when he finally got a good look at her. All that came out from his lips then was, "You…?"
The moment Thalia saw who Dante Lot really was she froze, a little blush crept up her face. Mel had told her that not Hermes but Hades had been the one who had given her the mask. And that she hadn't hugged Hermes but Hades not once but twice. ["Uncle."] She greeted him with a small almost shy smile and a reverent bow, she stayed near the door for now not sure if the hugs would get her into trouble yet.
"[Niece,]" Hades responded in returned greeting as he eased himself back to his black leather office chair, giving up the business charade. He motioned for her to come forward to the chairs in front of his desk. Sure, he didn't smile at her, but smiling was rarely how he greeted anyone outside a small circle of people. Though her shy, blushing smile and reverent bow amused him. His judging eyes could see what worried her, "[So, did you find me out or is this a coincidence?]"
Thalia quickly came forward toward the chairs, she didn't sit down just yet. He had not yelled at her yet and that seemed to be a good thing, not that she really thought he would yell at her but still being here with Hades was a bit unnerving. ["This is a coincidence."] She replied politely, ["Pomene did tell me you are not Hermes but she didn't tell me what mortal name you are using."] She and her sister had been talking about many things, and for a moment she wondered if maybe Mel had told her and it had just slipped her mind.
Somehow Mel not telling Thalia did not surprise him. He often wondered if Mel forgot that his mortal name was just not his screen name. It was a distinct possibility considering how they interacted but that was no matter now. "[Sit.]" Hades said in an authoritative tone, but then caught himself. He had been feared within his family for years and he had nothing truly to show for it. It was just so easy to fall back into old ways when people bowed and were polite. "[Sit if you would like,]" he quickly corrected, "[And you are not in trouble.]"
That last sentence was what Thalia needed to hear, the moment Hades said she was not in trouble she relaxed and sat down. ["Thank you."] Her bright Muse of Comedy smile returned in full force. ["Why did you tell me you were Hermes?"] The moment she asked the question she mentally kicked herself, great way of staying out of trouble.
He leaned his head one of his hands as he had done thousands of times when he had judged the dead to think of a response. He knew his multiple reasons why he had done so, and quietly decided which to confess to the happy muse, "['I am the dread lord Hades and I have your sister's mask.' Is that what you honestly wanted to hear?]"
Thalia laughed, her laugher danced around the room like one would expect from a muse's laughter. ["When you put it that way..."] She thought about it a bit more, she never had disliked Hades, then again she really didn't know him that well. Would she have stayed if he had told her who he was when the met in the zoo? She might have, she would not have hugged him of course. ["I might have been more careful and I might have thought that Pomene was dead."]
"[If you had believed Melpomene was dead, you would be highly distraught.]" Hades paused his words only because of the sheer novelty of having actually said Mel's name in its entirety. It had been a long time since he had done so… and he blamed the muse in front of him for that to amuse him in the strange way it did, "[I had no wish to upset you. I told you what you would rather hear.]"
["That is very kind of you."] Thalia hadn't been actively been using her power on Hades, she had done that in the zoo before she knew the seemingly depressed man was a family member but now she knew this was her uncle Hades she would not make that mistake again. Of course being the muse of comedy she couldn't help the effect she had on people. ["I am really glad you told me where to find my sister, I really missed her."]
It was the fact the amusement didn't feel out of place why Hades didn't call her on it. She probably had nothing to do with it, but at the same time, there was no reason not to blame the muse of comedy for an amusing thought. He leaned back in his office chair, slightly tilting it as he shrugged, "[She missed you as well. What was I going to do? Keep you apart?]"
Keeping them apart? No, Thalia couldn't picture Hades doing such a thing. She was sure there were family members who would, but she was just too happy at the moment to be able to come up with one name. ["I am glad you didn't keep us apart, uncle."] She played with the strap of her bag as she spoke, ["but I don't believe you would have."] This was not sucking up, this was just Thalia, honest about what she was thinking.
Hades wasn't completely sure that in a different time and a different place he wouldn't have. But he would rather not ponder the dark pieces of his psyche right not. A happy muse of comedy was pleased to see him and his infant sons were peacefully asleep at his feet. It was no time for dark thoughts, "[Thank you for your assurance in that fact… Did the reunion go well?]" He knew it had on Mel's end, but he wanted to hear it from Thalia, too. Call it pride in his work… er, meddling.
["It went more then well."] More happy smiles and feelings radiated of Thalia. ["We have met several times after that and I met her boyfriend."] She was getting into babbling-mode but she caught herself just in time. With a little grin she wondered how Hades would have like her in full babbling-mode. ["There must be a way we could thank you."] She made a mental note to talk to Mel about thanking Hades for his help.
He dismissed the idea with a motion of his hand, "[You are both my nieces and you hold me in some favorable way. That is good enough for me.]" He may be a wealth god, but he was not greedy… Not greedy enough in this moment to demand more than just to be thought of favorably.
If this was any other God Thalia would probably have hugged him again, ok, maybe not any other God because there were a few more she would not dare hug. ["You have moved to the favourite uncle spot on my list."] Still she felt like she could do something more to show him how grateful she was, maybe she could cook dinner? No, she wanted to thank him not poison him. At this moment she couldn't think of something but with the help of Mel she was sure she could.
Hades smiled. Sure, he knew that she only had a choice between two uncles, but deposing Poseidon stroked his fancy more than it should have. His eyes fell to his sons, "[Do you still have the power to bless?]"
["I still can bless."] Thalia wondered why he asked, she hadn't done it in a very long time though, usually she inspired. ["Is there someone you think needs my blessing?"] She was always happy and eager to help if she could.
"[Two people.]" At that, Hades meant down, slightly turning his chair and lifted the bamboo basket bassinet onto the desk. Both boys stirred from their slumber just slightly, but instead of waking up just yet, they cuddled closer to each other, resettling in their blankets. They were used to their father putting them on the desk, it was not worth waking from their baby naps to investigate just yet. Baby naps were some of their favorite things to do, right after eating and being showered with affection.
Hades turned his black eyes to the muse, the pride of fatherhood clearly aglow in him. "[I only want the best for them. They have gone through too much in their young lives…]"
Thalia's face lit up at the sight of the two little babies, they were adorable. ["They are so cute..."] She had been a mother, a very long time ago but still she had been a mother and the sight of those little ones her heart warmed. ["The best is only good enough for sweet babies."] She stood so she could look at them more closely but she didn't touch them yet. She didn't want to disturb them they looked so content sleeping like that.
The babies stirred again. First, Eric, then Edward at the sound of a new voice so close to them. Their deep brown eyes opened and both turned to the sound of the voice. That was not their mother! Edward reached out toward the blurry image he saw, giggling as he kicked the blankets demanding attention and to say hello. Eric was more reserved, his own brown eyes with their already silver film futilely looking to her…
Hades watched both carefully and boldly, he grabbed Thalia's hand and brought it rest on his youngest son's fuzzy blond head. Only then did he light up, giggling and demanding attention like his elder brother before him. "[They like you.]"
["They are perfect."] Thalia gently stroked the head of both little boys. ["Yes, you are perfect."] She turned to them, smiled at them and letting a little bit of her power tickle them. She didn't bless them yet, Hades hadn't even told her what he wanted but making babies giggle was always good in her opinion.
The babies giggled harder and reached up with wild flails of their arms to touch her now. Motor skills were still not their strong suit…
Hades smiled softly, but then brought his attention to her, and realized she was waiting on him. It made him snicker, "[You know, you are the happy immortal here. I am the one that brooded in a land of shadow and night…]" The short burst of amused happiness mellowed then as he brought his eyes back to his sons. "[I want them to be happy. I don't want them to grow up and be like me…]"
Thalia looked up at Hades and smiled, ["There is nothing wrong with them growing up like you."] She meant what she said, Hades had been kind to her and Melpomene and he was obviously a loving father. ["But I can bless them with a happy outlook on life, the ability too see comedy in the things around them."] She looked at the older God hoping that this was what he wanted for his children.
Hades nodded in response before touching his sons' heads in passing. They were still too young to touch skin to skin for any real length of time. He would not argue that growing up to be like him was a horrible fate. All he ever did was screw things up and argue the merits of compliments away… This thought process proof of his flaw. "[Please, Thalia.]"
Thalia looked at her uncle and gave him another warm smile wishing she could do more then just bless his children. ["If you don't mind I would like to bless them one at the time, can I hold them?"] She could of course just bless them like they were but these were not just any children, these were Hades' children. ["If you tell me what their names are I can address them more personally."]
"[You can hold them.]" Hades was not one of those fathers that feared people holding his children, especially when the person in question was thousands of years old and had practice doing so herself. He touched his eldest son first, "[This is Edward, the oldest, my first born son.]" And then he touched his youngest, "[This is Eric, my youngest son.]" He looked to the muse and knew he needed to say more, "[They are Hestia's children.]"
The last part of Hades' words came as a bit of a surprise to Thalia, she hadn't expected these boys being Hestia's but it was not her duty to judge anyone besides, babies were blessings. They were happiness and hope all rolled into one cute little bundle. She picked up Edward first, she did it carefully and noticed that it was not a skill one forgot. ["Hello pretty little man."] She greeted the eldest of the two boys, before looking back at Hades. ["I am ready to bless him now."]
Everyone would be a little surprised that these boys were Hestia's if they came into town after Persephone did, but Hades would not omit her name from their heritage, even by accident. These children were hers and they always would be. His soft smile returned to him he watched her lift his eldest, and made a point to bring a blanketed hand to his youngest so he didn't whimper sadly at the departure, "[Don't let me stop you.]"
Thalia bowed her head to Hades as a sign of respect before turning her full attention to the little treasure in her arms. ["Edward."] She started, letting her power touch him, this time not to tickle him but to give him a little gift that would be able to help him through the hard times he might face. She had decided not to go with big fancy words, a blessing was a blessing big words were in some cases just show. ["The gift I have for you is one to help you in your life, it will open your heart to feel the goodness, happiness and comedy in everything around you. Even in the more difficult times this gift will make those times easier to face."] She kissed the top of Edward's head. ["You will be able to be share the happiness you have inside you with your mother and father and all you hold dear."] She knew happiness grew when shared, she looked down at the little boy a bit longer giving her power time to touch the baby a little bit longer.
The little boy's eyes widened wide as the power touched him, but instead of fear or any negative emotion he cooed gently, snuggling to the warmth of this woman. Not as warm as his mother but it would have to do for snuggling. He didn't understand the words or the meaning said over and to him, but that didn't trouble him. He had found something shiny, maybe a button on her shirt to gum.
Hades couldn't help but laugh softly at his eldest. He had no doubt that he would be untroubled by anything happening around him. He remembered the words his sons had shared with him before they were born. How Edward merrily was playing with his feet while his brother fretted. He would soak up this blessing like a cat did the sun. But that memory also brought his eyes to focus on Eric.
He waited, allowing the moment of quiet, only interrupted by baby cooing, before speaking softly, in hushed tones, "[I know Eric is more the type to worry than his brother. More serious, more fretful...]"
Thalia gave Edward one last kiss on the top of his head before putting him down next to his brother. ["I will keep that in mind."] She said as she put her hand on Hades' arm for just a split second. She gently touched Eric, not yet picking him up so he could get used to her first.
It was good Thalia had touched him. Hades was beginning to remember his youngest son's question to him. Would he love him if he wasn't perfect? Not even born and asking questions like that. It almost caused the older god to shudder, but the muse's touch washed that instinct away.
Eric touched his brother, feeling with his sensitive bare feet his brother's legs and on some level understood his brother was returned and safe and all was as it had been. It allowed him to wildly try to grab onto this person touching him, this new not-mother-woman with the pleasant voice. A hand and foot touched her, trying to put a presence to a voice. He looked all around futilely with his dark brown-silver eyes.
Thalia fully concentrated on Eric now, gently picking him up. ["Hello there, little prince."] She kissed the top of his head, letting her lips linger a little longer then she had done with Edward giving the little boy enough time to feel her. She let her power wash over him as she looked into his obviously blind eyes. ["My gift to you, little Eric, is the gift to see happiness in the hearts of the people around you."] She deliberately used the word see, there were so many ways of seeing things and she knew that this sensitive boy would find all of them. ["Also, you will be able to, like your brother, see the happiness, comedy and goodness in everything that happens to you, even if you worry you will be able to see that there is sunshine behind every dark cloud."] She smiled at the little boy in her arms, giving him a second kiss on the top of his head like she had done with his brother. She did not put him down yet though, she wanted him to see the happiness inside her, the happiness she felt about being able to give him and Edward this gift.
Eric no longer futilely looked around. Instead, he turned his little face to Thalia completely. With his very heart he could see her happiness, a warmth and glow that delighted him to realize. He settled calmly in her arms, reaching out and clinging to her shirt before 'looking' around more, shyly peeking from her chest. Other people were happy, too! Edward and Daddy both!
And Eric was right, Hades was happy. Not because of some magical inspiration, not because he could so fully spite Demeter with the spring, not even because his precious wife would be home when he returned at five and they could share dinner the same as they could share their lives. No. None of that. Hades was just happy.
Thalia felt the happiness around her, giving this gift never seemed to deplete her power, happiness wasn't really given or taken, it was shared. She put Eric down next to Edward giving them both a tummy tickle at the same time. ["Nothing is better then shared laughter."] She told them, grateful that she had gotten the chance to meet these delightful little souls.
The twins giggled at the tummy tickle, wrapping around themselves again at the gesture. They were happy to be tickled, and happy to be together, and happy to warm and loved. So was the simple beauty of an infants' mind.
Hades simply watched for the moment. His miracle children and their carefree joy. For once he truly felt like a good father, and didn't worry himself with if he was going to make some grievous mistake they would never forgive him for. "[Thank you…]"
Thalia removed her hands and smiled up at Hades. ["No, thank you."] Again she touched his arm for a brief moment before moving away completely. She looked down at the happy little boys, ["I feel very blessed to have been able to give you all this gift."] She meant the twins and everybody they would touch in their lives when she said all, because she was sure they would share the happiness in turn.
They already had. Hades smiled down at his children before carefully lifting them from the desk and returned them to their normal place on the floor, safely hidden by his desk. The boys simly cooed at each other, seemingly have a contest of who could do it louder. But with them off the desk, he was able to focus a bit more on his niece before him. This was just funny, "[You know, I don't remember why you came here...]"
Thalia sat back down on the chair she had been using earlier. ["I do, but that is not important right now."] She was in full muse-mode right now and business could wait until another time. ["We can talk about that later."]
It would come to him later. And then he would just agree to help this comedy writer of hers. He wasn't stupid. Writer inspired by muse of comedy was a gold mine. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, in a rare but naturally content mood, "[Do you like ice cream?]"
["Who doesn't?"] Thalia grinned and enjoyed Hades' mood, it was nice to see that her gift was already doing it's work. ["I love ice cream."] She was lucky that muses didn't put on weight like mortal women, she would be the size of Miami if they did.
"[I know a place that delivers. Let me order us some sundaes.]" The rare happy Hades, an endangered species of the Hades god, was a generous being, almost silly in his warmth. This silliness was probably due to its complete lack of knowing how to reach out and desperate need of not only practice but acceptance in its attempts to do so. Besides, Miami springs were hot and buying ice cream is what favorite uncles did, right?
["Chocolate?"] Thalia asked, not looking her age at all now, not that she ever looked several thousand years old of course, but now she was almost bouncing up and down like a child. She just loved ice cream and the happiness in the room was so powerful it made her even bouncier then she normally was.
"[Of course.]" Everyone like chocolate but him it seemed, but no matter. He always got the same flavor ice cream anyhow when his rare sweet tooth demanded satisfaction. He was just going to get mint. He knew this ice cream parlor because they had it without the chocolate chips. He flipped open his phone and ordered the sundaes, getting rainbow sprinkles for Thalia as well. A good father and a good uncle? In the same day? That was the makings for a good day in his book.
Thalia couldn't help but glow as she felt the warm blanket of happy feelings in the room, happiness, family and ice cream, was there any better way to spent the day? She thought not.
Summary: Thalia makes an appointment with Dante Lot to discuss Connor's script, she is surprised to see that Dante is Hades but after a few awkward moments she meets the twins and gives them a gift.