Zeus (thunderbearer) wrote in olympian_rewind, @ 2008-05-31 11:25:00 |
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Entry tags: | dante lot, hades, trystan jube, zeus |
Who: Zeus and Hades
What: Gossip
Where: Hades' office
When: BACKDATED to Wednesday
Warnings: None
Ahh, the rumor mill. One of Zeus' most trusted ways of gathering info. Usually they served him well, but this last one was not as comforting; tabloids claimed that local rich couple the Lots had split after less than a year of marriage. He'd refused to believe at first... but as he investigated, it seemed the evidence was rather strong.
Which led him to the one person who could confirm (or deny) the rumor. He approached his brother's assistant's desk and smiled down at the Brit. "Hello again, Julie."
Julie leapt in her chair. She had been too focused on trying to figure out a crazy memo she had been told to type to notice much of anything, but her name had been called, “Um, hello, Mister...” Damn, she had no idea who he was...
"Jube," he offered, giving her a once-over. Ooh. He liked redheads... No, no. He shook himself out of that idea. He already had one pregnant woman. His chances of obliteration rose highly if there were more than that. "I'm here to speak to Mr. Lot."
The redhead eased back in her chair, trying to ignore the once over. She was beginning to accept that half the people Dante spoke to would do so, but still. But she offered Mr. Jube a business-warm smile just the same, “Is he expectin' ya?”
"No. I'm hoping to speak to him about an important personal matter," replied the tall man.
“Well, he said he was havin' a very important meetin' in there...” Julie shrugged, “But I know no one is in there.”
"Think he'll let me in?" Trystan smirked. He knew. But that didn't make this game any less fun.
“Here,” She turned her head to look away, “I can't see ya, so if ya sneak in there and he doesn't like...”
"You're going to get a tip," he said as he pretended to sneaky past her. "I like you." He slowly turned the handle of the door and peeked inside. Normally he would have knocked but he had a feeling Hades would just turn invisible if he did to mess with him.
Besides, Hades was much too busy with his important meeting, which appeared to be him on the floor sitting with his two sons. Both of them were sitting up, heaving supported with form backrests and he held his mala bracelet with reverence before them. “Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha,” he spoke to them and let them put their own hands on the beads. He nearly smiled when they cooed out a sound that almost sounded like “Om”.
Zeus smiled at the sight and stepped inside, closing the door behind them. "Ah, so you are busy," he announced.
Hades jerked around like he was accepting an attack to come through the door at the sound. He was up to his feet in a crouch, ready to protect his sons to the death, but finally recognized his brother and settled back to the floor, quickly putting the onyx beaded bracelet back on over the more expensive bracelet it hid. “Very. Why are you here?”
"You panic too easy, as always. A simple hello is usually more polite than that, thank you," replied the younger brother with an upraised eyebrow.
“[You're the hospitality god. I'm the god of prisons and death.]” The older brother took a deep breath then brought his attention back to his sons. They had begun to realize they could try to knock each over. Children learn so quickly sometimes.
"[You should still be polite to family.]" He paused to take a seat, smiling at the boys.
“[You're my little brother. You're lucky I'm not giving you Indian rashes.]” Hades shrugged, not taking his eyes off his sons. His whole body had tensed. There could be few reasons for random social visits from Zeus and he didn't think it would be to give him another statue. “[Besides, you are the one who just dropped by when you know I hate that. Very impolite.]”
"[I would have dropped a note, but we both know you probably would've claimed to be busy. As you are now, according to your employees.]" He nodded to the twins as Eric gleefully pushed his brother over onto his side. Not seeming to notice he'd been defeated, Edward laughed along with him. "[I want you to answer a question for me.]"
Here it comes. Hades was pretending not to be listening as he righted Edward back up as he gently nudged Eric over. Fair was fair. Now both children were laughing and had been knocked over.
"[Is the rumor about you and my daughter true?]"
“[Depends what the rumor is, I guess.]”
No sense in pussy-footing around. "[That you're getting divorced.]"
It would have been funny if Hades was in any mood to laugh ever lately. He needed to get a rocket ship stat and see if the world was a cube. He was more in the loop, than slow, slow Zeus. But his answer was very matter-of-fact, “[Yes.]”
Zeus blinked. "[Ah.]" Color him surprised.
“[Don't pester her about it,]” Hades' tone took up a hint of his normal protectiveness when it came to his once-wife. “[Bad enough she had to deal with the public...]”
"[I was more worried about the other half of that relationship,]" admitted Zeus. He shifted a little uncomfortably. Divorces went very much against one or two of his domains.
Hades shrugged once more, “[We told each other to be well and that if we needed help we would be there for the other.]” His tone never ceased to be matter-of-fact, he was simply ignoring anything that he had done before he had spoke to Persephone. Everything he had done actually.
"Hm..." Zeus' mind was drifting off to his last visit here; when he'd admitted to wanting to send Hestia to Hades to be his queenly bride but had instead for his decision of Persephone, despite the drama it caused. What if he had decided for Hestia, instead of letting her make her choice of chastity? "[I am terribly sorry to hear that, brother.]"
“[Don't be.]” Focusing on the children before him truly made this emotional coldness easy. He could focus all his ability to feel to the boys and enjoy their presence. “[She's happy. Isn't that what both of us wanted?]”
Zeus shook his head. Denial. It was almost a talent among the Greeks. "[But are you?]"
“[At the moment?]” Hades lifted his children in his arms when they started to reach toward him. They clung to his dress shirt, cooing as they shifted and squirmed until they found a comfortable position. Ah, comfy. “[I am less than happy right now being questioned about all of this. Would you enjoy this if roles were reversed?]”
The younger god's eyes flashed. "[Hera and I will not divorce. But... I see your point. I am merely worried about you. Forgive me for saying so, but you were always more attached to her than her to you.]"
Hades looked over his shoulder. He couldn't help it now. It was like he had been smacked in the face with the very concept of surprise, “[And to think I am the one painted as the cruel one. Damn, Brother, what the hell?]”
"[The truth is cruel,]" Zeus murmured, head bowed in a rare display of apology.
“[Stop stealing my domains, or I will steal yours. And maybe your hotel.]” That might have been a joke. It probably was as Hades was imagining doing it with a very large hook from a helicopter.
It did make Zeus smile a bit. "[So what are you going to do now?]"
“[Going to do?]” Hades went back to looking at his sons, who seemed to be racing each other who could grab at the buttons of Daddy's shirt the fastest. “[What do you mean?]”
"[Are you leaving? Staying? Are you well enough to still aid us with the battle?]"
Hmm, interesting questions. Hades paused to consider them even though he knew all the answers. It was a bit of drama for his brother. Suspense, “No. Yes...” He paused and poked his leg. Seemed good, “Sure, I guess.”
Zeus couldn't help a sigh of relief then. "[I'm glad.]"
“[I'm always around to protect my family. It would be on my ancient business cards.]”
"[I know. I can't imagine going into that battle without you there. But I wouldn't wish to take you if you're not well, mentally or otherwise.]" Zeus stood up, trying to shake loose a desire to move in some way by straightening out some wrinkles in his pants.
Hades bothered to glance over his shoulder at his younger brother again, “[I was mentally healthy once?]”
"[You're better than some. And you are my brother.]"
“[Not really an answer to my question, but I'll let it slide.]” Hades returns his attention to his boys, placing them back against their form backrest. They were clutching at his hands and he did not resist, nor pull away from them. At the moment they were all he had...
Zeus chuckled and glanced down to the twins. "[They're getting big...]"
“[It's the nature of children.]” The twins' father meant nothing by the statement except exactly what it was. Besides he had to focus on watching his children. He was pretty sure Edward was trying to steal his bracelets, very poorly.
Walking over, he rubbed his hand on Eric's head. The boy blinked and tried to flail his hands up to the touch, babbling in surprise.
Hades looked up at his brother with similar but not so delighted surprise, “[What are you doing?]”
"[Letting my nephews get to know me?]" replied Zeus, arching an eyebrow to his brother. What, he wasn't allowed to touch kids now? He didn't go after boys THAT young.
“[Then get to know both. Not just one.]”
"[You need to have some patience. And you seemed to be busy with him, didn't want to snatch him from you.]" Sheesh, Hades! Smiling to Edward, Zeus tickled under the elder twin's chin, filling the office with his giggles.
“[I was busy with both but that didn't stop you.]” Hades shrugged once again and let their uncle dote on them. He laid back on the floor, pillowing his arms beneath his head. The boys would coo for him soon enough, but now he would just keep a very close eye on them as any father would.
Zeus played with the boys, being one who loved children and in the knowledge that he'd be having another one of his own soon. Shh, secret. But after a bit, he shook his head and stood. "[I should go.]"
“[Something I said?]” Hades was quick to question as he titled his head and reached for his little ones. As if on cue they cooed for him a sound that Hades had accepted to be Daddy, even if it sounded nothing like that in the slightest. It was more of a cross between a yalp and a giggle.
"[I did bother you during your time with the boys. Now that I have my answers, I should let you be.]"
Still laying on his office floor, the former king of the Underworld placed his eldest on his stomach and his youngest he lifted up over his brother flying the few inches overhead. “[Well, as long as that is your reason. Sorry I am not better company.]”
Zeus smiled down at him. "[Think nothing of it. Better than a lonely office. Have a good afternoon, brother.]"
No, the lonely offices appear around 6 PM. Until then they were filled with children and employees. Hades let his eyes drift to his brother smiling down at him. Somehow this seemed right. Zeus seemed very high above him at the moment, staring down from the heavens with no real idea what was going on on the lower levels. Just brief summaries. Somehow, the realization that used to make him brood thousands of years ago was a comfort now. It was a familiar feeling and he had few of those as of late. “[You, too, Brother.]”
Summary: The rumor mill finally catches up with Zeus, and he goes to check for the truth by asking his brother straight upfront.