ΗΑΔΕΣ (underworldly) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-10-25 16:23:00 |
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Lordy. If there was one thing Meg wasn’t a fan of? It was cliches. There was a time where she even broke out into a full-blown melodic belch with the muses that had lines about how she despised the very thing. Yet she found herself living in one again, and it went from having sexual relations with her own boss (one of her favorite places to get bent over on was his desk, it was like a secretary affair porno come to life) to walking down the hallway of scratched linoleum tile of a hospital to deliver the most ultimate cliche of existence: true love’s kiss. Killian had risen from the level of ‘stranger’ to ‘acquaintance’ today by the nature of their conversation alone. He didn’t seem like he’d pull her leg when it came to something as serious as a man (god, technically, but semantics) in coma which had then caused his kids a fright close to tears - his suggestion was genuine and honest, and he seemed confident it’d work. Hades having a ‘stopped heart’ - which she assumed was a metaphor of some kind, not literal - seemed like the only thing that would make sense in this scenario. Maybe not the fairytale cliche of lovey smooches bringing upon consciousness, but she’d take it. Whatever woke him up. It was a quiet room, sans the subtle beep, beep sounds from the machines. He’d been well taken care of, only the best in the profession to look after him, except not even the best could decipher what was wrong with the slumbering god. Closing the door behind her wasn’t exactly allowed in the intensive care unit, not by visitors, but the curtains that oversaw the nurse’s desk were drawn for privacy and she sat at the edge of the bed upon arrival. “If you can hear me,” Meg began and she gently squeezed his hand, careful with the needle stuck in his veins and held there by clear tape. “Let it be known that this idea was proposed by your fairytale comrades. You’re Snow White, I’m Prince Charming, your dwarven children aren’t around at the moment but a kiss is supposed to wake you up from your eternal nap in this sanitized hellhole.” Hades didn’t belong here. He didn’t belong in this death sentence of a place meant for mortals, and she selfishly didn’t want him to be mortal for that reason alone. It was an innate instinct to not want nothing in the realm of fucking terrible to happen to your lover; whether it was a curse, a coma, eventual death. A hand went to push hair from his forehead, a gentle and comforting stroke that went from his scalp to the side of his face. “No chance, no way, I won’t say it, no, no - but if you actually wake up I just might, you fruitcake.” Megara’s lids closed, and she kissed his lips then. Zeus had banished him, and he’d gotten his wish - away from Mount Olympus Hades went, and not to ‘the worse place’ but instead to a sad state of in-between. The Underworld’s nature was decaying and hellish, red-tinted for a reason, which was why no matter what he did to build it in the likeness of a quaint coastal town in Maine, it would never be as beautiful. He was familiar with that concept - because no matter what he did, he’d never be as good as Zeus. Maybe trying to snatch the now-broken Olympian crystal for himself wasn’t doing him any favors, but he was just so angry. Ruling this Broken Kingdom didn’t help either. It was where he’d gone when he went under, that fateful day in his office - he couldn’t hear his loved ones telling him to wake up, couldn’t see how much this was worrying his kids, couldn’t comprehend the baffled murmurs of the doctors. There was simply his home, the Underworld, his prison, the weigh station between concepts of Heaven and Hell. Different from the first Underworld he’d dreamed of - this was more modernized, and the moaning echo of the River of Lost Souls, Acheron, something of a comfort to him. So he wandered. He hunkered down in his lair, beneath the library. He listened to beautiful sonatas and wondered if he’d ever see his family again. But then, during one of those endless walks, he found something. Something alive, a white flower - a symbol of hope. When he plucked it from the ground, everything began to change - his surroundings almost seemed to melt, the red tint replaced by what looked to be a shimmering light that enveloped him and was so bright he couldn’t see anything. In fact, he had no idea where he was for a second - Until he opened his eyes, and found himself looking into very familiar hazel ones - with the flecks of green and gold he liked so much. “Damn.” The first word he uttered in awhile. “That’s a face meant for close-ups. You probably could have put on a little blush though, Nutmeg. You look zombified.” If there was a shimmery burst of magic that spread, Megara didn’t notice - she was fixated on open eyes, and the fact that this entire attempt at saving him hadn’t ended in awkward, crippling disappointment. It worked, holy fuck did it work. That kiss trick actually worked and was probably cemented a relationship more than changing a status on social media. “I knew you’d say something stupid,” she deadpanned, but with a smile, don’t ask how she successfully managed that. There was also a bit of a glassy quality to her eyes she didn’t want to talk about and, no, that sniffle was probably because she was contracting a cold from spending her time at a hospital so much. Stop. “You’re to blame though, boss. You’re the one that decided to take a nap and not wake up from it, geez.” Alright, alright, the situation was much more complex than that but sarcasm felt appropriate, all things considered. Sarcasm and another kiss, this time with her hands practically crushing his cheeks in a show of desperate and appreciative passion. Ffffuck, chipmunk cheeks! Meg must have been really concerned, and this was totally serious business. Immediately, Hades felt guilty for that whole thing where he fell asleep and didn’t wake up - but since he was kind of coming out of a coma, that also meant machines were beeping a hell of a lot, his vitals were now strong and healthy, and he had about a thousand questions. One of which being, when the hell can I go home? But first he kissed Megara in return, carefully kissing her mouth and cheeks and eyelids - prepared to catch any salt water that leaked out of those peepers. Maybe he was a little misty too (not to mention hungry - the Lord of the Dead could really go for a cheeseburger right about now). “I love you too,” he said, since he knew what had shoved him into this state of comatose. He knew what would be the fix-it to giving him life again. And maybe it didn’t mean waltzing off to a chapel to get married with the backdrop of a sunset, but Hades had nothing to hide for once in his life - he was completely himself, completely unguarded, fully trusting. It was the scariest shit and he fully understood why people were afraid of love, true love, but the experience of it was entirely worth putting it all out there. Yeah, and speaking of it being all out there. “...how long have I been out? Where are my clothes? This hospital gown is drafty.” Not to mention the blanket felt like sandpaper, and he sounded like he’d swallowed a frog. Really concerned couldn’t even begin to cover the dread and distress all this had caused her but it was gone now, all of it, all because he’d opened his eyes and he was alright. Meg didn’t think she ever had to worry about something happening to him, not with his deity-status but hah - Orange County happily proved her wrong. What a peach, and also? Fuck yourself, OC. “Oh, barf,” she choked a laugh, wet cheeks wiped dry with the back of her hand. Nice to know the sentiment was returned, wasn’t it? At least the muses weren’t popping up for a musical sequel of embarrassment when it came to her feelings. “Your clothes are in the closet, moron, but it’s been, ah, a couple days? Bianca’s in town, Hazel’s stayed home from school, they’ve all been here with Nico a lot. No one could figure out what the hell was wrong with you so I sought out advice from your latest set of dream pals. Got the rundown about your stopped heart thanks to Zeus. Your feud with him goes reaaaaaaaaal deep throughout the universes, doesn’t it?” Maybe there was a chance the two of them could ‘play nice’ here, just for the sake of never repeating poorly made decisions thanks to their other lives. But she doubted Hades would go for it, at least not now. The idea of playing nice with his fucking obnoxious sibling was about as appealing as getting a root canal with a rusty pair of pliers. Dreaming of yet another feud with Zeus didn’t exactly instill a desire in Hades to call up his brother and shoot the shit - in fact, right at the moment, if he never saw the asshole again he’d be content for the rest of eternity. “Yep, it sure does,” he sighed, head falling back on the brick-like pillow. “That douchebag. I haven’t dreamed past being banished, but I guess I’m just hanging out in the Underworld.” Waiting for True Love’s Kiss, which he would never get because how in the crap was he supposed to even meet anyone down there? Shifting in bed a little, he began testing movements because he was eager to hoof it out of here. Testing his magical prowess would come later. “The kids are fine though?” Of course he was worried about them - he didn’t plan to kick off anytime soon, and it must have given them a fright to see their godly dad lying in a hospital bed. “You’re fine? Nutmeg, wind beneath my wings?” She’d saved him, just like he saved her. His heroine. How sweet. So talkative was her God of Death - seriously. Minutes ago it was mostly dead silence aside from the echoes of hospital machinery, now it was things like wind beneath my wings. Still made the perpetual cynic in Megara smile, and she cradled the side of his head with gentle fingers. “Kids are fine, fed, and will be cartwheeling once they see that hole on your face say embarrassing things. Animals are still alive - including Pain and Panic, unfortunately - and all your professional commitments have been postponed until further notice. You can relax.” Things had been busy during his time out, but now she could really breathe. “I’ll get the doc and nurses in here to make sure you’re in tip-top shape for your release, but first thing: are you okay?” He’d gone through the motions of dreaming of some awful curse that kept him in the Underworld, the stopping of his heart, and gods know what he saw behind those closed lids while he was in here. Darkness? Did he dream? What? “I’m fine. I feel okay, just kind of groggy,” Hades confirmed as he took Meg’s hand and kissed her wrist, and he supposed that made sense. He’d basically woken up from a very deep, very long nap. But he was made of tough stuff, and he’d bounce back quickly. Going home and seeing the kids (especially if Bianca was in town - his eldest, he hardly got a chance to see because of that thing called college, and the commitments and classes required), even seeing those Pain and Panic shits. Cesare and Cerberus probably missed him too. More so so Cerberus. Cesare was too dopey to care, as long as he got fed. He hadn’t dreamed anything new, like he said, but the solitude of the Underworld was enough to get to a person. It wasn’t exactly a thriving, happy community. “The Underworld in this set’s different than the one we know. Lots....redder. Just as depressing though.” “I bet,” she whispered, suppressing a sigh - that seemed to be his burden of the other worlds, didn’t it? Solitude in a hole of souls. At least nothing tethered him to the domain down below; Zeus wasn’t around for a divine feud among gods. “No incompetent minions, though? Not even one with killer legs and humidity-defying hair?” Wink. Hinthint: her. But probably not, no. Meg wished she could share this set with him. It didn’t matter what ‘villain’ role he’d play in it but she’d be happy enough to just be in the loop of things in case, you know, another anvil dropped - they were one for one now in regards to absolutely freaking the living fuck out of the other. “You’d have been a sight for sore eyes,” Hades cracked a grin - at least, the Megara with the dangerous curves and the sultry voice would have been. He doubted he’d get so lucky, as to have her involved in this set. Apparently, he was going to shack up with the Wicked Witch - and wasn’t that one hell of a spoiler. There hadn’t been any running into her yet, but Hades was kind of not looking forward to it. Call it that impending sense of doom, finely-tuned. Was there any way he could just teleport the fuck out of here? Because that seemed to be a solid plan. But no, he’d wait for the doctor like a ‘good’ patient. Sigh. “I think that both of us have to like, not die for awhile,” he pointed out, with a furrow of his brow. It just brought up the mortality thing again - first with her, then with him in some weird coma. All of it seemed to be a slap in the face, reminding him that he did need to make a decision. They needed to make a decision. Not die for awhile. What a concept. Megara’s smile faltered some - she knew that conversation lingered between the two of them, unspoken. Mortality versus immortality, the pros and cons, the whole nine yards and then some. Zee’s insight was a fresh echo in her mind, but they did need to discuss it among themselves. Sooner rather than later. “I’ll promise to do my best to keep away from any falling object,” she began, crossing her legs and cupping nearest hand within both of hers, resting it on her lap. “And you can do your best to keep yourself uncursed. As for what I think you’re not very discreetly hinting at? We’ll get there. That conversation’s going to require a lot of drinks, probably a lot of sex.” It’d make great pillow talk, wouldn’t it? “Going home to the kids first - they’ll be psyched to know you’re up and already being a smartass.” And she’d probably take some time to send Killian a fruit basket or something. She wasn’t sure what the proper etiquette for that entire thing was, but he’d given her the answer she’d been looking for - the one that worked, so she felt like she owed him something. Especially after making his baby cry upon arrival. “I’m not really hinting,” Hades grumbled, because he wasn’t exactly keen on discussion that seemed to have no right or wrong answer no matter what you did. Either he continued being immortal or he didn’t, but either way it would require a lot of the hard stuff - but talking and alcohol, probably. Oh, and the more carnal additions to conversations too. That helped stimulate blood flow. “It’s just...the purple elephant in the room, or something. But I’m sure we’ll get there.” He really did want to see the kids. The sooner all the ‘professionals’ gave him the official okay, the better. And here they came, all of them, to gaze in wonder upon the coma patient who made a miraculous recovery. Hallelujah. They needed to hurry up, as he was poked and prodded. One more second in this hospital bed, and the blue flame hair might appear - which signaled a certain god was disgruntled. “So am I good? I can go?” Right, yes. As soon as he signed a few thousand papers. Yes, he was good - miraculously so, the entire thing puzzled them but why keep him when everything looked good? Strong vitals, clean bill of health, there was no hidden strain of a flesh-eating virus lurking within or anything. Meg thought their befuddled head scratches and chin rubs were hilarious, and while Hades had his privacy invaded she sought out that tiny hospital room armoire for clothes. Clothes he had arrived here with, but she really didn’t think he’d mind considering the paper gown would just let the breeze slap his godly testicles around. It wasn’t long until he was separated from the needles and fluids and all that machinery - while the papers were being retrieved (there were a couple hundred, sure), Megara was finally able to close the door of the room to toss him his clothes. The medical pros had all seen the glory of his nudity, but she thought he wouldn’t mind the privacy now that he was conscious and tossed him his garbs. “I’m going to be stuck taking you through a McDonald’s drive thru after this, aren’t I?” she inquired, a brow raised in amusement - weren’t they serving breakfast foods all day every day now? Something like that. The drivu thru was still ten times better than this place, good god. May they never come to the ICU again for any reason. After however long of lying there unable to taste the glory of the processed ‘cheeseburger,’ yeah, Hades was in the mood for something gross and extremely unhealthy. “Hash browns,” he grinned over at Meg, as he put real pants on - this hospital gown could be burned into ash for all he cared. “Definitely an egg mcmuffin. Salty fries dipped in a chocolate shake. Maybe a frappuccino or whatever the fuck those things are.” He was hungry, okay, as if that wasn’t apparent. His stomach even growled like rolling thunder to accentuate the point, and he was quick about buttoning up his shirt. “Maybe after I ensure the kids I’m fine and everything goes back to sorta normal, we can go on a date or something,” he tacked on there. Not to McDonald’s, in case Nutmeg was concerned. But they deserved a nice night just with the two of them, after everything. Oh, what a guy - he at least knew to not take a date through the clown’s window for fake chicken nuggets and fries that were so chemically pumped they couldn’t naturally decompose. Not the best way to express that token ‘I love you’ sentiment, but she was behind the idea of doing something. Anything, after the month they’ve had. McDonald’s included but, really, that could be the weight of the moment talking. Meg went to at least help him do that last button, making sure the collar was all popped and not awkwardly folded. He might have just woken up from a curse-coma but he didn’t have to walk out of here looking homeless, mmkay. “I’ll make a note of it on your calendar,” she smirked, kissing him gently. “No rush, though - looks like you have one heck of a ride ahead of you when it comes to this new set of the dream plague. We’ll take it a day at a time.” “I can hardly wait,” Hades drawled with such lovable sarcasm. He was already convinced that this second set of dreams could fuck right off and not bother him, but naturally he wouldn’t be that lucky. He had to see what would happen, all these valuable lessons learned. No thanks. Since Meg mentioned she’d talked to others who shared the world of this second set, he supposed he should do that too. And say thanks for giving her the solution, otherwise his family and resident doctor friends would just continue to be baffled - and he’d be a guy in a forty-year-coma or something, it wouldn’t be pretty. But one day at a time, sure, that sounded like a decent plan first. “Alright, let’s go. It’s way too sterile in here.” He wanted fresh air, dirt and the trees and fried foods. Maybe even slobber from Cesare and the dangerous hellhound puppy - good to be back in the waking world, right? He definitely wasn’t going to take dog slobber for granted anytime soon. |