goldandjewels (goldandjewels) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-01-26 20:27:00 |
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Entry tags: | hazel levesque, megara |
Who: Hazel & Megara
What: Coffee break
When: Recently
Where: The house of Hades and Co.
Rating/Warnings: Relatively low
Status: Complete!
Mmmm, coffee. The nectar of life, better frozen, pumped with praline syrup (that was a hard find, but she knew her caffeine wells), and fluffs of whipped cream trapped in the plastic dome-top. It was a necessity working in the movie business, or at least working for a hot shot director with frequent temper tantrums and a perfectionist streak when it came to filming scenes - it meant long, long nights, odd hours. Cocaine was the only other option but, nah, she wouldn’t take a page out of the ex-boyfriends book. A powdered nose wasn’t a good look for her.
There were two of these concoctions in her hands, one for herself and the other for the studious one. Megara’s presence was in the house more often and not so much in a professional sense anymore; she and Hades were serious with the talks of immortality and all, but she wasn’t going to just move in. It was another one of those steps that’d be taken eventually - there’d be enough time for it, but she wanted to be considerate on behalf of his mostly grown kiddos.
“Hey, Hazel, it’s me,” she announced, knuckles against the door for a knock, Pain and Panic circling around her feet to either pester her or somehow find a way to make her love them - whichever, whatever, but if they didn’t watch it she would punt them down the stairs. “Got caffeine, figured you needed a break?”
Hazel liked coffee. On occasion. She couldn’t have too much of it because she could barely focus as it was and caffeine always seemed to make a bad focusing situation worse, but she rarely ever turned it away because it felt like if she had caffeine it would help her have the energy to get through another painful assignment. She hated English. It wasn’t because she hated books, but because they always chose books with small print and words that seemed to swim on the paper. It was partly why she got books on tape and a subscription to an audio books thing. It did not help her when she needed to go and write papers, though, which was what she was doing at the moment.
She was used to Meg’s appearances and she barely noticed the change in reasoning behind it...or at least she didn’t really pay attention to it. It wasn’t really that important. Her dad had never really been with her mom, so the betrayals and the sleeping around hadn’t necessarily phased her. Maybe when she was younger and she didn’t understand why he wasn’t around, it might have, but...not now as much.
When she heard the knock on the door along with Meg’s voice, she turned in her seat. “English is killing me. Not literally, but…” She shrugged. “So a break is welcome at this point. One day, my computer will learn that it has to write my papers for me, but I guess I can only expect so much.”
“Don’t think we’re too far from that kind of technological breakthrough,” she snorted, interpreting that as an invitation to let herself in. Pain and Panic seemed determined to tag along like ducklings at her heel, chittering and chattering and wiggling their noses. So adorable, so obnoxious, those annoying little fluffers. The frappuccino was handed over, still nice and cold. “Here you go - there’s tons of espresso but the sweetness should balance it out, it’ll be a good pick me up.”
Megara was never the studious sort so kudos for Hazel for paying attention to her studies despite the clusterfuck of the OC, making her half-god with an array of powers. As if going through the motions of ‘figuring yourself out’ at the age she was wasn’t a mess enough. “And breaks are good, you don’t want to fry your brain with a mass overload of information you can barely process in an exhausted state.”
“I need a child of Vulcan to get started on it.” She paused for a moment before saying, “Er, Hephaestus for the Greek translation.” She’d also just take someone who was smart with computers, but she figured she’d go with the people who she knew. Or at least other demigods. “I know they have speech to text, but sometimes it doesn’t always hear what you’re trying to say right. Also it’s still not doing the reading and thinking for me, so I don’t know what to say about it.” She paused for a moment before saying, “It’s a shame we don’t have all of the books in the world translated into Latin. I could read super easily then. Do we know anyone with too much time on their hands who is also fluent in Latin?” A pause. “Besides me. But only half of that is me. I don’t have too much time on my hands. Just that I can speak and read Latin now. Reading is better than speaking at this point.”
She tried, but only because she got angry whenever someone assumed she was stupid or lazy because she couldn’t read like other kids could. Focus was also a problem, but she still did her best. “I’ll never be able to focus, but at least I’ll also be able to stay awake,” she said as she took the drink out of Meg’s hand. She turned and shut her book after putting a bookmark in it. “Thank you for the drink.”
“Hey, I’ve done my research on your patriarch’s payroll,” Meg chuckled, stirring the smooshy frozen coffee with her straw to get it just a bit more liquified before she went back to sipping - sometimes the ice clogged the straw, obnoxious slurping commence, so attractive. “We’re drowning in all sorts of mythology and the only prowess I have is the art of Google.” Books too, if she wanted to go particularly old school but this day and age was all about the digital access.
But she’d done her research on the myths and lore that existed here, all she could find that was relevant. Considering her involvement with a Grecian deity and his Roman demi-god children, it seemed like an important thing to do.
She settled at the edge of the bed, Pain and Panic climbing up the sheets and trying to be cute by curling up against her. Ugh. “Only language fluency dreams gave me was Ancient Greek, sorry, but you’re welcome for the nectar of life. Don’t worry about the texts, hon. Sit back, relax, breathe. Might help you focus in a little bit.”
“That sounds like a lot of reading,” Hazel replied. She’d done plenty of learning at Camp, which was why she knew what she did about the gods. She took a couple small sips of the drink before putting it down on the table next to her bed. “I have cursed jewels and precious metals, a sword, and the ability to navigate tunnels.” She shrugged. It was probably impressive to most people, but she was no Percy. She wasn’t even a Nico. Nico could travel in shadows. She’d never done that. He was the Greek demigod portion. Bianca too. Only she was pretty sure Bianca hadn’t had any of the dreams like they had.
Hazel didn’t mind Pain and Panic. They didn’t do all that much. Just added to their ever growing pet population. They were basically harmless. For a moment, Hazel had been confused about what Meg meant, but then she realized it was the coffee and not nectar as she knew it in the dreams. “Well, you’ll fit right in with the Greek demigods. There’s more of them.” It was okay, though. She wished Frank would show up. She missed him, which seemed ridiculous when she didn’t even know him outside of the dreams. If he ever did show up, she’d have to keep herself from hugging him immediately. Even if they were nothing more than friends, she wanted to be able to talk to him. She had Percy, but he didn’t know her yet. Not in the dreams. It was a lot.
There was a hint of a smile as she made herself a little more comfortable, pulling a knee up to her chest. “So what exciting things have you been up to today?”
It was impressive. Everything else Megara received was gratuitous Hercules merchandise, the white flower he’d given her (preserved and dried, as a memento), and, oh - a Grecian pillar that materialized overnight and crushed her to death. In actuality, however, she couldn’t say she was envious of those with some kind of special skill. Things like these could be a burden and curse, over complicating an already messy existence.
Oddly, she was content in being the ordinary mortal but even that was on the precipice of changing.
“Mmmm, today?” Her eyes squinted contemplatively after a sip. She was about to get ready to tear off the lid and tackle that whipped cream, too - it was the best part. “Nothing particularly exciting, no.” Did Hazel know what she and Hades agreed to? It’s not like she was a child that had to have her hand held throughout life, but she didn’t know if Hades had mentioned it or was maybe waiting for her to break the news.
All things considered it was her mortality she was giving up. “Did your dad happen to mention anything about him working up some kind of godly juice? For immortality?”
There was a pause and she looked at Meg for a moment as she continued to drink from her coffee. After a moment there was a quick nod. “Yeah. We talked about it.” She guessed that it made sense in some way. Her dad was immortal and having someone around when you were immortal was good? “I haven’t heard much by way of updates, though, so I can’t say how it’s going or if it’s going.”
She wasn’t sure what to say about it. It was less of the norm here. In the dreams, she never had to consider the weirdness that came with an immortal parent because she already knew he was immortal, so it wasn’t unusual. It was a little more unusual now.
It obviously wasn’t something that’d be done overnight, that little immortality juice - whatever it’d be. What was supposed to make Hercules mortal was a potion of sorts, so she assumed Hades was using that as some kind of base to reverse it. It’s not like she could make any strides towards an immortal life by acts of heroism, and honestly, that was more of Herc’s way of joining the ranks of godhood. Megara wasn’t interested in that aspect.
Moreso that she wanted the longevity, to be there for Hades, even if it meant watching those with a normal lifespan go through the natural course of life and pass away.
“It’ll take awhile, I’m sure, but I guess he ran you through the scenario of me taking it and being stuck with you guys for the whole rodeo of eternity?” she inquired, stirring the frappe with the straw as a more restless motion than anything. “Might have to pay the price of dealing with your father, but you can say I’m fond of him enough.”
Hazel nodded, but there was a hint of sadness to her expression. “He mentioned it, yeah. I’m glad he’ll have someone around for him.” She didn’t say that she wasn’t going to be around for all of eternity. She’d live a human life and get old just like everyone else. She was okay with that. She wondered how her dad would take it, but she hadn’t really talked to him about it yet. At least she was going to be able to grow up here. She wanted to know the life she saw in her dreams, where she was married. She’d looked happy.
“There are worse prices to pay than spending a lot of time with Dad.” She sipped at her drink. “Are you happy?”
On the bright side? Megara was literally a professional dealing with Hades on a regular basis. Really, she hadn’t even minded him all that much in the dreams - granted, she still had wanted her freedom after selling her soul to him all for the sake of looooove (choke on a dick, Adonis), but in actuality that really could have been worse. Until he put into motion his grand plan of usurping Zeus on Mt. Olympus. Eons of resentment and solitude in the toilet of dead souls would do that to you, she guessed.
“I am,” she chuckled, and don’t mention how she had absentmindedly gotten into the habit of petting the two disguised imps nestled next to her - this was a rare, peaceful moment between them. “But I’m going to be here for you as much as I’m here for Hades. Your siblings, too. I know I’m not your mom or anything, but I’m here for you if you need someone a little more feminine than your father to talk to.”
“I…” Well, she guessed it would be nice, but then she hadn’t really known anything other than her mom and Maria. “I guess it couldn’t hurt to have someone to talk to outside of Dad. He does get this sort of crazed look about the eyes if I even mention boys as something that I notice.” Not that she’d really been noticing any. “But I don’t really talk about them at all.” She wasn’t really sure what else she’d need. She wasn’t really sure what sort of things she needed someone feminine to talk to about, but then she probably just didn’t know until she needed it.
“I have a job now. At the ranch and Dad got me riding lessons at this place that’s close by. It’s actually really nice.” A pause. “Oh, and someone offered to teach me how to swordfight on a horse, but don’t tell Dad about that...because he’ll get all…” She mimed the flamey hair. “But I might as well learn, right? I have a cavalry sword.”
“He’ll put together an investigative team once you start dating, but I promise to make sure he doesn’t embarrass you too hard,” she smirked. Hades being overprotective over his littlest one wasn’t a surprise but she’d be there to balance him out, and also make sure Hazel didn’t make any mistakes like she did.
Granted, mistakes were how you learned, though she was sure they were all on the same board of not wanting her to hop onto the back of a motorbike with a moron on steroids out of impulse. Don’t be like Meg ten years back, Hazel.
The disguised imps nuzzled against the side of her thigh and she let them, for now. “I think he’s all up for you learning new skills, but it doesn’t hurt to let him know who is teaching them to you. I’m sure everyone on the network knows you’re the daughter of the death god, and I really doubt they’d do anything questionable, but let’s just try to keep the fire out as much as we can?”
Hazel laughed at that. It was true, though. Her dad would definitely at least attempt to put together an investigative team. She really hoped that that wouldn’t happen. However, she wasn’t really the sort to be very...impulsive about dating. She’d seen her mother and she’d seen her dad. She’d also seen the other kids at school and she was pretty sure impulsive was not really a trait she had when it came to dating.
“I guess that’s true. We’re trying to do some sword fighting in general. I’m pretty sure Dad can’t feel too upset, about him on a ‘what might happen’ level. He has a husband. Also he speaks French, but it’s not the same. I don’t understand him all of the time. Sometimes I understand, but not all the time.” She sighed. “But I guess I’ll tell Dad and ask him not to be weird.”
Meg could have tossed her head back and cackled, she really could have. Ask him to not be weird. Poor thing. That probably wasn’t happening, but she’d nod and suppress that widening smile in support.
“It’ll help him sleep better at night, and letting him know will at least make him act a little less weird,” she mused. “Might not entirely cancel the circus show that is your father, but you’ll have to let me know how the sword fighting goes. I might need to take up some self-defense classes for the hell of it - last time I was in a situation that required violence, all I managed to do was throw coke cans at demons.”
And it exploded into a sticky, sugary carbonated spray that surprised those hell-things. Megara was proud of herself.
Hazel let out the smallest of sighs as she shifted on the bed. She guessed it was too much to ask for her dad not to be weird about it, but it didn’t stop her from wanting to him to be cool about things some of the time. She was just hoping he’d be less over the top than usual. It was just sword fighting. She’d take some nectar and ambrosia to make any injuries better. At least for herself. He should be fine because he was mortal. Mortals didn’t get hurt by demigod weapons. At least not that she was aware of.
She reached over to lightly run her fingers over Pain and Panic. “How much of a circus do you think it’ll end up being?”
Meg clicked her tongue. “Well. In my professional opinion - considering I was raised in a circus - it’ll be up there. But I’ll talk to him and get it toned down to ‘stiff but civil fatherly gestures’ if he wants to meet your instructors. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Good thing she knew how to handle Hades. It came with the job of being his assistant, and now something more. Now? Putting up with his ass was out of love, not a paycheck.
Then, she winked. “I’ll let you get back to your books and knowledge, but I’ll be around if you require more caffeine pumped into you. Coffee runs make up the majority of my day.”
There was another sigh and a nod. She never wanted to go into things telling her Dad about them, but somehow she always ended up convinced it was a good idea. This was probably going to be how things went if she ever ended up interested in someone outside of the dreams for more than a few fleeting moments. So far...all she could claim was confused feelings for two dream boys who she’d probably never see again (Sammy) or meet (Frank). It was disappointing, but she guessed it could be worse. She could have to see them with other people. She didn’t really want to do that.
“Thanks. I’m sure I’ll still be frustrated by both things by the time the day is over.” She offered Meg a small smile. “But thank you again for bringing me this delicious beverage.”