× the fate's red string

@taeyong despite being a little more relaxed, there was still a pungent feeling in his chest – being uncovered like this, being out and about, was quite dangerous. and without the fates by his side, he doubted other creatures and curious divinities will stay away. he could almost hear them stretching their wings, whispering a little too loudly that the lord of the underworld walks the earth. and should everything die around him? perhaps, nature dies sometimes. but it would take a great deal of anger to have everything burn – he felt none. it was odd how calm and calculated he behaved given the circumstances – maybe the red string’s effect was stronger than he expected. he listened to romeo talk, he was so human. and by that he did not mean boring like most, there was a fascinating light in his eyes – something he recognised as a blazing soul.

hades leaned in, against his innate coldness – drawn by the small light he saw dancing. and for a second, he saw a little boy, twirling with a ribbon, stepping on adult feet with a grin. were his walls so thin, that hades could just fall into his memories? all that beauty, it will be robbed by the styx – the good, and the bad. he had to restrain himself, he almost wanted to touch him – how peculiar he was. but no, his touch would be too cold for someone so warm – hades knew. and for a moment, he fell back in his pit – cold walls surrounding him, chains rattling, distorted moans coming rising from his robes. and his crown was heavier than ever, and his face paler – it was that place that drained his happiness away. was this why his brothers refused to rule over such a deserted prison? sometimes, hades wished he could find elysium – yet, he was a mere immortal.

the boy’s suspicion could be fixed easily – but hades did not wish to use his godly powers on him, not on this one. with his red string, he had to be human – always human. he cleared his throat, he was silent for too long, lost in too many thoughts. “I believe I know what you mean,” with reference to the labyrinthine mind. his eyes fell on romeo’s hands – such soft, unworked hands. no blisters, no cuts – he was a perfect statue. “let us say, I am not like most humans when it comes to observation,” his lips curled in a half-smile, unable to stretch further. and he wanted to end it on that note, he did not want to allow more questions. truth be told – he could read the signs, but the muse was a dead giveaway.

“business is one way to call it,” hades touched the glass of water, his body still adjusting to earth’s temperature. unfortunately, his body hung onto the unnatural coldness of the underworld. for a brief moment, the glass caught ice crystals – and the water turned to snow. hades slid it right off the table before anyone could see it, that would be too peculiar. it spread across the entire floor – crystals of glass and water back to their natural state. the noise alerted some customers, and the muse-waitress. “I really do have my way with cups,” he wanted to pick up the shards – but stopped. he could bleed yes, he could get injured. that would not be such a bad thing – he barely felt pain. but his blood, his blood was gold – far too precious for mortals to have. the disasters a god’s blood could bring – he did not want to think of them.

“sir, I can get it,” the muse hurried, and crouched over to pick up the pieces. her eyes met hades’ cold gaze, and she swallowed air. most divine beings were afraid of immense power, and hades, along with his two other brothers zeus and poseidon, possessed a power unimaginable to them. it was normal, natural, and almost required to have beings be intimidated, scared, or panicked. “I’m sorry,” she lowered her head in submission, hades felt something he did not expect to feel so much today. he was embarrassed, the muse’s obedience was making him look peculiar. he straightened his back, trying to find a good explanation. but for someone who has just learnt centuries of human history, he could barely find any appropriate responses.

‘no matter, terpsichore’, he sent her a telepathic message. the muse covered her ears shortly – hades’ voice was incredibly loud inside people’s mind, almost like an empty echo. the muse complied, and got up with a smile, as though nothing happened. she looked at hades for a while, tears forming in her eyes. he swore muses were most sentimental – but he knew she was tearing up in gratitude. if he could erase this awkward moment – well, he could. however, starting all over was hardly the point, so he chose to suffer.

“I am a lawyer. tatiana was one of my clients. I got her out of a really bad financial and familial situation, and she is overly gracious,” hades explained, he hoped that was in order. his gaze fell on romeo again, resuming the conversation he so rudely interrupted. “my ancestors were greek royalty. a lost lineage, I am afraid. but I suppose tainted blood runs deep,” there was too much painful truth in his words.

@baekhyun Romeo watched with amusement swimming in gaze the color of gold embers when they caught the light as the waitress momentarily flushed, her cheeks brightening quite a lovely shade of pink but it was intriguing how it fell when she cast one look at the man who sat across from him; her eyes widened, color dropping from her entire being. pearly whites found his lower lip to refrain the chuckle that threatened to slip past. did Lysander have that much of an effect? sure, the man was handsome, ethereal in the grace he presented himself with but such fawning and blubbering was unusual. even the way they spoke...

the ballerino's eyes snapped up, searching the man's carefully. there was a semblance of a normal man but amidst the rigidness and the flair he carried himself with, an air of awkwardness nipped at Romeo's curiosity; from the luxurious coat to the shiny shoes he swore he could see his own reflection in, from the poise and stoic coolness to the occasional strange slip of his tongue, it mesmerized the younger lad with it's peculiar ways but he wasn't sure if he could pry. who was this man? so enigmatic yet so mysterious. and those who watched closely enough could see how tendrils of shadows danced around him, shifting and winding around his entire frame in caresses. for a heartbeat, he saw a scene that was not the quaint café the two sat in; there was this man, in robes the color of death and for all his dour black and stern expressions, all the whispered air of trick swords and cold brutality, he did not appear worthy of genuine fear. He appeared bored with life. Bored and in need of a nap. Romeo thought his eyes and mind to be deceiving him for a moment so he blinked alas... they were gone just as quickly as they'd come, a mere dream in passing. and the man, Lysander, looked as unfazed as ever. as if nothing had happened.

Romeo exhaled, fingers reaching out to the bottle of water that had been placed down and swiftly poured himself a glass, downing the contents in the matter of moments. had he been this parched? he took another moment, slowly breathing out in order to clear his mind and as if a tether to do just that, he reached for the bottle again, pouring the man in front of him a similar glass before refilling his own.

"did she just forget to take your order?" he wondered, diverting his gaze to where the waitress had disappeared off to. why did she seem familiar? it was habit for him to gnaw on his lower lips, especially in contemplation or in concentration. and it was just as often that Romeo found himself so lost in his own thoughts that the voice that asked him questions earned a raised brow. "oh.. apologies. i got lost in some thoughts."

the smile he offered the man didn't reach his eyes, clearly with his head still not back on the ground. but he tried nonetheless. "oh?" Romeo was sure he'd never mentioned anything about being a dancer and he doubted, big time, that observance and a keen eye for it would be enough to tell. wetting his lips with his tongue, he spoke. carefully, his words chosen. "was it just that? observance and my posture?" had he crossed a line? perhaps. which is why he decided, impulsively so, to indulge the man a bit more.

"well, i've been dancing since i could walk. my mother is sure she wins the argument that i could dance before i even walked," he chuckled, genuinely this time in fond memory of his mother back at his home in Bath. he took another sip of his water, placing his forearms on the table so he could lean on them, a few inches closer to the man in front of him. "what about yourself? i assume you're a businessman... or royalty from out of the UK?"

@taeyong hades felt amused, but perhaps he failed to show it. he heard the boy speak, but he did not turn his head to face him – the conversation felt quite distant, given hades’ habit to carry mundane discussion with his subjects. it was a little difficult to view anyone as an equal, save for a few of his godly relatives, or some creatures. he spoke with the same calm, and perhaps air of wisdom, he was used to speak with. “I took you for a man of arts, perhaps I am mistaken,” hades answered and followed to the chosen seat, he did not have much preference. yet, he appreciated the secluded corner, and subtle intimacy. he enjoyed quiet places most, given his home could get noisy. “explaining the allusion will make it less interesting now, will it not?”

the soft light of the place intrigued hades. after centuries of black decorations, seeing anything in any other colour was intriguing. ‘enjoy’, clothos’ voice repeated in his mind. if he was going to do this, he might as well commit to everything. that meant digging into a part of himself he has not seen in a while – someone who truly enjoys beauty, art and nature. it would be a lie to call hades anything but a man of taste, even his subjects knew of his keen eye. but he has not had any occasions to showcase it – only in the decorations he hung down below, but those could easily disappear in the coldness of the place. he observed the pale walls for a while, then moved his gaze to the window. the sweet autumnal visage made him feel at peace – all the colours that painted the world were mesmerising. for him, any season would look extraordinary, save for winter. perhaps the underworld was in a perpetual state of winter, despite it showing some signs of change from season to season. the weather routine, and static colour of his home, has made him frown at change. and perhaps if he did not allow himself to ‘enjoy’ it, he would be frowning right now, still wishing to go back home. earth was not so bad after all, but he preferred not to get his hopes too high.

hades heard the boy’s question, but did not answer right away. frankly, he had no idea what to eat. gods fed on prayer, and he fed on soul energy. he did not need any food, but not eating would be rude. he opened the menu, and moved his finger down the list, reading ingredients. he was unfamiliar with most options, but settled for a portion of shepherd’s pie, whatever that was. it sounded decent enough, he did not expect to taste much anyways. he was about to answer, when the waitress appeared at their table. hades looked up at her, and his face froze in a scolding frown. it was not the flirting that put him off, it was the girl’s true form he could see. her gracious existence, meant to help men of arts and kings, has been apparently tainted by the degrading acts of the modern man. she must have felt his presence, he knew that his return would raise some alarms, but he did not expect anyone to come for him so soon. least of all a muse.

the girl finally turned to look at him. fell open, and her natural instinct was to bow. but hades stood up before she could do anything that would jeopardise his cover. the girl, flustered, cleared . “I certainly didn’t expect you here, sir,” she said, so shy, she started trembling. if the boy’s flirtations made her flustered, hades’ presence made her incredibly clumsy. however, hades deduced she was there for the boy, she was called there by him, by his presence. she was humble enough not to make a scene, and hades had to force himself to make this seem less awkward.

“it has been a while, tatiana,” he read the name off her name tag, but he knew her real name is, and has always been, terpsichore. quite a mouthful to any modern human, it was understandable why she chose to change it. she looked into his eyes with a childish joy, muses were mostly harmless. hades was glad she was not entirely tainted, yet he could not risk exposure. she seemed to get it, as she immediately responded to romeo’s inquiry about wine.

“we have the finest wine. from dionysus’ garden himself,” when she spoke, her eyes were on hades. she wanted him to know she spoke the truth. hades was surprised that the god chose to share his wine with a local café, but he could not deny he missed the sweet taste of his wine. it was divine, it was so refined, like nothing anyone has ever tasted. and he was certain it was given only to special customers, there was no way the god shared more than a bottle with humans – he liked drinking too much.

“sounds divine,” hades sat back down, the muse was compelled to bow, but resisted the urge. she gave them both a sweet smile, noted romeo’s order but forgot to ask for hades’ before she walked away, completely flustered. hades sighed, then looked at romeo with intent. “I believe that would be called awkward,” hades was slightly more relaxed, perhaps the promise of good wine made him a little less stern. “tell me about you being a dancer. you have the posture, and I am observant,” it was half-true. he recognised his craft because of the muse who chose to hover around him, he must have been pretty good to attract the attention of the divine. perhaps he was finely plucked – hades could not complain about his red string being famous amongst the otherworldly beings. a golden sheep in a flock of white.

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[ x soundtrack; aurora - soft universe:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBZx2PtrT60

@baekhyun he didn't expect the retort to his analogy at all— in fact, Romeo had never meant someone with such a philosophical look at life. often so, gender norms got the best of the society and he, personally, was a victim of not only finger jabs but secretive and nasty whispers. but he was not someone to be pulled down by it all, was he? the corner of his mouth lifted into a mild grin, tongue poking his cheek to refrain from a bigger one; at the end of the day, they were all just mere souls indeed. this man was an enigma and it fired the curiosity in the young man further.

yes, romeo and juliet. ironic. for they were not stupidly starcrossed at all— they were simply a loveless couple and it was obvious to anyone who observed them, stripping off the facade that Romeo willed himself to put on every morning and he did not know it then but one peculiar man observed it all. he remained silent for the most part, casting a wistful glance towards the direction his girlfriend had walked off to. by no means did he wish ill on her, she had been a friend for a long time too, but there were times that Romeo simply just wanted her to shut up. was that too much to ask? he sighed, reaching down to pick up his backpack and pulled the strap over his shoulder, shoving his hands once again into the deep pits of his pockets then turned to look at the stranger he'd just met, only for his eyes to widen just a fraction at the proximity they stood in. when had he moved so close?

from where he, Lysander stood, Romeo could catch a faint smell that wafted off the man, something akin to musk or the wooden aroma that graced the golden halls of palaces in Dubai. he'd visited once and he remembered being enveloped into a scent of sensual spice, and the whiff he'd caught from the man was reminiscent of that perfume, tantalizing and absolutely charismatic albeit something incredibly strange underlying it. it pulled Romeo in, luring him like sirens did to pirates, men and even gods at sea. and what was Romeo, a simple ballerino, to do against such a force?

he blinked but did not move away. somehow the flush in his cheeks did not lessen— in fact, they remained there, staining his flesh like paint stained a fresh peeled canvas yet the smile that blessed his face said something else. to the man, he melted like an icicle on one's palm. "it's alright. she perhaps has more important appointments than hanging out with two men." the lie was smooth, or so he hoped. there was no way he could allow Juliet to taint the breath of fresh air he'd just gotten with her expensive perfume. the rest of the man's words earned him a chuckle— it was not rare of an occasion for Romeo to be called a cat. still chuckling, he pushed past the space he was in, following the man behind.

"oh, and it's Asher. unless you're making a pun to my name, it's offensive," he jested with a haughty huff and a raise of his proud nose. but his lips that were curved into a boyish smile told a story of mischief that laid under. he picked a seat in the furthest corner, cozy yet intimate, open enough to give them a view of the world with the open windows and the rest of the cafe which had the ambience and air of a restaurant too. he pulled his backpack off as he sat down, greeting the waitress a sweet hello as she handed the two men the menus, only to pause with a frown.

"do you know what you want to have?" he murmured lowly to the man next to him, brow raised slightly. was supper a bad idea? he should have thought of such a proposal before spitting it, right?

the girl in front of them leaned forward slightly, hovering over him with the lilt in her voice a bit too bright for it to be genuine but Romeo noticed the way her gaze raised up and down on him, as if a predator. "perhaps you would like the house specials today? it's very delicious." the purr in her tone caused Romeo to raise an eyebrow, his mouth curving downwards into a disgusted moue but only for a fraction of a moment, barely noticeable as he leaned forward, in turn overwhelming the girl's space.

ah, there he was. Romeo, the talk of town and the prince of not only the Royal College of Performing Arts but the theaters that littered the town too. he was no shy boy, not at all. everyone knew him to be just like his namesake, a famed bee who lived his life hopping from one flower to the other. a smirk played on his mouth, the kind that faltered people left and right, enough to poke at their hearts and invite them into the haze that was his being. he liked attention and he knew just how to play his cards right.

"oh, i will, darling." he huffed lowly only for her ears and followed by a loud clear of his throat, he leaned back into his seat, speaking clearly after. "i think i'll get a bolognese. what about you? and do you like wine?" Romeo turned to the man, the face of the playboy dropping. he found it awful to keep such a facade up with Lysander so he chose to be who he was, a simple boy. "would you like a glass of wine, perhaps?"

[ inspo: ]
cafe/restaurant interior: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a4/4f/bd/a44fbd3b3f78004202bb97a4bd3c6d72.jpg

@taeyong ‘don’t be so awkward, sire’. clotho’s words rang in his ears louder now, he could feel a pit in his throat, as if no words could ever be enough to interact with this being. is this what centuries of depravation brings? perhaps he should have had more conversations, he clearly lacked the ability to carry one successfully. not to mention most beings that addressed him, treated him as their superior. naturally, they kept their words short. and oh, how long has it been since he was allowed to talk about anything but business? even now, his mind was focused on one task alone – getting this human to the underworld. but it was not how it worked – he was craving for the connection. simply taking someone whose trust he has not earned, whose soul he has not read, would be as pointless as not taking anyone at all. ‘allow yourself some peace’, clotho said. he knew what she meant. that wall he built, that king-like arrogance will only make him sound unnatural.

he took a deep breathe, and for the first time, he smelled autumn. the sweet humid air dried his nostrils, and he could almost touch the beautiful fruit this season created. even between concrete walls, nature called for him. the wet ground, so fruitful and kind – hades could not deny that the earth of autumn was one of his favourites. he felt it, he let himself feel it. and with the soft coldness that hung in the air, he was able to see more. the wind that clung onto this human’s skin, how it coloured his pale face red – he was so much like a tree changing leaves. and how his eyelashes moved, slowly in the air of autumn. and his lips were chapped, a little moist – but mostly dry, welcoming an even colder air. hades forgot himself for a moment, and the human before him became an artwork, one he would hang on the walls of his vast library. the library where he kept all books, written and unwritten – post mortem, books never published but gifted to him.

“I believe it is in the nature of men to make such analogies. in the end, they are all souls, no matter what gender they have,” hades has never understood the underlining distinction between genders, he has always viewed that particular part of human mentality as severely underdeveloped. when the earth will claim them, and hounds will lead them to his palace, they will be – and they will step in the afterlife. and it will not matter if they were once men or women – in the underworld they will be souls. “a leaf,” hades repeated, trying to find the information in his mind. clotho did not give him much, but he has heard of green tea before. “I suppose it should be orange in autumn then. maybe I will try one in spring,” hades continued, and was taken aback by the foreign voice.

he did not react in any way, he kept his face unmoved. it was as if he became nature – just a presence, the background against which humans could create their stories. and for the most part, this was true. he was a mere observer, humans were the creations of his brothers and sisters, he merely claimed their souls after passing. because there is no place on earth or in the sky powerful enough to contain a human soul. he watched the scene unfold before him – an unhappy couple, falling apart in the wind. hades did not fail to notice the sadness written across the one named romeo, and the ignorance on the girl’s face. she was, if his judgment was not impaired by the earthly veil, claimed by avarice.

then, there were their names. such a beautiful story, filled with sorrow and a child-like innocence. just like romeo and juliet, they should live a tragedy. just like shakespeare’s most famous couple, they should live in ignorance of maturity, of true love, and in the wake of a lustful existence. hades has met many couples before, ones that reunited in the underworld, that arrived there together, or that never met again. he has seen countless romeos and juliets shimmer on his robe, all carrying the same fate – star-crossed lovers, killed by their failed understanding of real love. hades found them melodramatic, and the lovers before him were not much different.

“romeo and juliet,” hades spoke, and looked at the girl when he was introduced. she was beautiful, but her beauty was drenched in blissful pretence, in her own belief that the life she was leading was a dream come true. he failed to see how they fitted together, they were pieces of different puzzles. “a summer romance that has reached autumn,” perhaps the implication was not obvious, but hades always had his reasons for speaking the words he spoke. just like flowers, their love will welt, and by winter it will die. her annoyance beguiled hades, he will have a field day receiving her soul. he made a mental note to mark her down for a private chat after her passing. he would love to meet her again and trap her in his garden, just to entertain himself with her repeated failure.

hades looked at romeo with a newly found amusement. perhaps he enjoyed watching human failure walking around – if there was no flaw, there was no interest. not that his red string was flawless – it was just that next to her, he was barely noticeable. hades stepped closer, well-aware of the gravity of his presence. even above the earth, it was earthshattering. some humans could barely breathe around him, others would find themselves faltering in fear, tumbling down in impotence – there was no telling how one would react. hades had no control over it – the presence of any god on earth was extraordinary, especially one as powerful as him.

“I do not mean to intrude,” he spoke, his voice deeper, but somehow kinder. he observed the change in romeo’s cheeks, he found it somewhat endearing. he surprised himself with the feeling, but chose not to dwell. “but I believe you would make a better cat,” to recall the analogy, hades announced that romeo may do as he pleases. perhaps he did not have to say it, perhaps he just wanted to cut a little bit of the tension. “everyone is entitled to do as they bloody well please. supper it is then,” hades his heels, and only turned his head back enough to utter more words. “but I will be taking you, montague,” and he started walking, fully expecting to be followed. another kingly habit he could not put behind.

@baekhyun the beast in his arms was a source of comfort, perhaps a tether so Romeo wouldn't fall into the pit of black holes that stared at him and subsequently lose himself or maybe he found a companion too in the furry little puppy. the scratch on the pup's head continued, finding it a habit that was natural. but the sudden lurch of the pup from his arms caused him to frown, a little exclamation on his lips. "hey!" he really did think he'd begun to make friends with the creature. blinking in a frown, he turned his gaze to the man, almost stupefied at the handsome face but he caught himself; it was not a face that was common, planes etched with grace like refined marbles and the shadows on them hid mystery that made Romeo curious. who was this intriguing man, this stranger with a foreboding loom over his face and the weight of the world on his broad shoulders?

Romeo's mouth widened just a notch at the words spoke, a soft chuckle resonating in his throat. indeed, the soul always wanted what it couldn't have. Romeo knew that all too well. "i like to imagine you're right. i wonder what colour i am," he murmured under his breath, watching amusedly at the puppy listened quite attentively, albeit the excited distractions that rushed down it's body in waves. he found it endearing— pinschers were often quite smart and energetic animals. although this one was much smaller version of the beastly creatures, Romeo simply passed it off as him being almost a newborn. He didn't think much of the words the man said either; after all, what were the odds? his lips parted, words on his tongue which died soon enough due to the interruption.

the woman was beautiful and he dared even say she rivaled most celebrities and people he knew; dancers like him were picked for first their skills but looks were always second. he knew the most beautiful ballerinas and had the opportunity to be graced by the exemplary ones but none of them came close to the grace this woman walked and held herself with. ah.. somehow disappointment began snaking it's way into the young man's until she spoke. sister? Romeo blinked, gaze shifting back and forth between the two— it made sense, in a way. they were both gorgeous beings and held themselves with an unmatched poise and somewhere in their visages, he could see the mild resemblance. or were his eyes tricking him? regardless, the smile he'd donned stayed still, gracious and boyish as ever. "it's no problem, ma'am."

nerds are nice, it almost spilled out of his mouth had he not been quick enough to bite down on his lower lip, using the plump flesh as a barricade to keep his thoughts to himself. he watched the two converse and bicker, true like what any sibling would. he personally did not know what that felt like being the only child but he could only imagine. the thought and sight made him grin to himself, eyes widening in surprise at the influx of compliment the woman, Clarisse, gushed his way. a blush, akin to the lightest of rose blooms pecked at his cheeks, from the nipping cold of fall or from her excitement, he didn't know. clearing his throat, he nod his head bashfully. "o-oh, thank you. you're beautiful yourself."

he'd been told so far too many times to count but Romeo didn't believe it a bit— should anyone know his unabashed self, he wouldn't be considered 'pretty'. that was what he'd learned in his years, both as a dancer and as a man in society and he'd amassed enough pride that the loss of it all appalled him, even in thought.

the moment they left, in the blink of an eye, Romeo crouched to the ground, eye-level to the puppy for belly scratches and introductions.

"i'm Romeo, nice to meet you little fella! do you have a name? i hope you do or if not.. maybe i'd just name you Benvolio! you're a peacemaker and guardian, aren't ya?" Romeo cooed, lithe fingers reaching behind the puppy's ears to scratch tenderly, in turn earning him joyful rumbles and paws at his hand. he laughed at the enthusiasm, endeared by the sheer display of affection the animal showed. he knew that the kind were always stoic but this one proved to be quite friendly. it was a playful exchange and he had half a mind to maybe convince the stranger to let him adopt the puppy. ah, the stranger— he lingered in Romeo's mind, who simply blamed his own personal curiosity over anything. or maybe it was the bout of starstruck awe when he laid eyes upon the man.

as if reading his thoughts, the stranger walked back again, Clarisse right at his heel. with a final pet to the puppy on the floor who also immediately sat upright and on all fours proudly, finally the beast like he was, Romeo stood up too, hands patting down his coat idly. he didn't know what to do with his hands— was he to hold his hand out for a handshake or what? regardless, he donned his best smile, the kind that hung from his ears with innocence and turned to the lady, bidding her goodbye. "it was a pleasure meeting you, my lady. and please, it's not nece-"

“happy to oblige.”

oh... well, then who was he to refuse said 'fixing'? one last pat at the chagrined puppy and a wave to the lady as they walked away, disappearing into a crowd of stares, Romeo turned to the man. he felt out of place, barren and soul exposed but the sensation was still there— it was like, he was finally allowed to breathe and air was as abundant as anything else. what was that tingling sensation on his skin?

"oh, do not worry about it. my mother's always said that women and cats will do as they please and men, like dogs, should just leave them be. i reckon it's like that for siblings as well," Romeo chuckled, his hands finally finding the pockets of his coat and he shoved them in, folding his fingers in a fist. he followed the man's gaze to the spilled drink on the floor and he couldn't resist the laughter that bubbled past his mouth, finding the term funny. "you're not far off, to be honest. technically, matcha is green tea and that is a leaf. but i promise it's quite delicious. would you like to try one?" the question rolled off his tongue before he even knew, or thought it even but by the time he'd realized it, it was too late. so he simply decided to play along for when else would he get to satisfy his nosiness when it came to this peculiar stranger.

he had a funny way of talking, even when introducing himself. the name, Lysander, was odd. but perhaps like Romeo, the man's parents were simply avid fans of literature of sorts. wait- Charon... wasn't that the man who ferryman who led the deceased to be judged in greek mythology? the question bubbled on his lips but he couldn't say more. his own name, sounded far too shrill and loud in the cocoon the two were in, breaking it into what felt like a billion glass shards.

"Romeo Asher!" Juliet called eagerly, skipping her way over to where the two men stood. she held countless of bags in her hand, surely having spent her father's credit card but really, it was no place for him to say anything. he stood, rooted to the ground, as she approached him, casting a sideways glance to Lysander before leaning forward to peck Romeo on the lips. please make it rain hellfire right about now, he prayed silently, his smile tight. "who is this?" she asked, placing herself right next to him, her arm hooked around his as if sticking to his side.

"hello, love. did you shop well?" Romeo soothed, glancing down once at the bags she held— he counted five hefty ones, all top tier brands and he found himself wondering how he'd gotten stuck with this. again. exhaling sharply through his nose, he graced his face with his usual smile. although anyone who observed right could tell that it did not meet his eyes in genuine welcome at all. per usual, Juliet remained oblivious to it. "Juliet, meet Lysander. Sir, this is Juliet. My girlfriend." there was a little pause right before the word was uttered, subtle in its hesitation but Romeo was expert liar. shooting an apologetic grin to the man, he turned to her, resilience in his tone as he spoke.

"We were just about to grab supper. Care to join us or would you like for me to hail a cab for you, sweetie?" he asked, his hand reaching up to pat her head in the faux affection he'd always shown her but instead, it only earned him a raised brow. was he really going to not take her home like usual? yes. Juliet in a breath, gnawing on her inner cheek in dismay and Romeo knew her well enough to be able to tell that she was annoyed— she was the type of woman who got annoyed and threw tantrums when she did not get her way, hence why he was always so docile. but this time around, his curiosity and intrigue got the best of him. for once, he could dare to defy her.

she shook her head, unlacing her arm from his smoothly and stepped away, a composed yet rage filled grin on her face. "It's alright. Have fun and call me later." it was not a question. Romeo nodded, watching her walk away from the two in a whiff of sweet perfume and sighed once she was out of sight, his cheeks heated in embarrassment. had this stranger really just witness such an humiliating scene? Romeo mentally smacked himself, wishing he could go back in time just a few mere minutes earlier just so he could offer the coffee as soon as possible. bashfully turning to the man, he offered a shy scrunch of his nose in apology.

"apologies, sir. but if you will, may i take you for said supper?" he asked, bracing himself for a 'no'.

@taeyong he stood there, unaware of the basic social skills. to say he has not been in such a situation in centuries was an understatement – hades felt as though he was a red dot in the corner of a very bright page. barely noticeable, yet still there, still disturbing the natural order of things. he could march down cold hallways, dragging a robe much like the coat he is wearing, and hold his head confidently. but here, in the warmth of day, in front of unknown subjects, he felt exposed. he wished to return to his place, to take the string with him and just vanish. the world reacted with him, or because of him. he heard a distant thunder, and knew zeus must have noticed his arrival.

the small hound, as reckless as he was, tried to help. he sprinted from the string’s hold, after his hand, and started pulling at his master’s pants, whimpering. ‘twalk, twalk’, he repeated in his childish greek. hades cleared his throat, and tried to recall what the boy told him. frankly, he was quite lost – there were so many things he did not understand, he needed knowledge he did not have in order to speak with this being. he stood straight, and looked at the boy for the first time properly. hades’ eyes were dark, and perhaps brooding – he looked at everyone the same. he failed to observe the little things that made this human special.

“you are quite right. the soul wants what it cannot get,” hades looked down at the hound. the hound hid behind him shyly, and looked at the red string with a pup-grin. he liked him, he was excited to be there. not the same could be said about hades. “as much of a soul as a beast has. I suppose they have life flames. his is blazing blue,” he spoke without thinking. he realised his mistake, and tried to rectify it. “from the odyssey. souls have different colours,” he might as well have revealed one piece of information only someone who has been in the underworld knew. yes, every soul had a colour. and hades could see them, in the underworld.

“here you are!” clotho wrapped her arm around hades’, and slid closer. she was wearing a stylish dress, sunglasses, a beret, and pretty lipstick. she chuckled, and looked at the red string with a sweet smile. “excuse my brother, he is quite a nerd,” she grinned and elbowed hades’ side. this type of behaviour would not have been tolerated on any other day, but hades felt oblige to follow suit. or else his cover will be blown.

“and my sister is a simple-minded maiden,” hades responded, and clotho faked a laugh. she hit him playfully, and pulled him even closer. the hound yawned in confusion, asking questions hades ignored.

“oh, lysander. you’re quite the comedian, aren’t you?” she chimed, and released hades’ arm. “I’m clarisse, and this big dum-dum is my older brother. you’re so pretty, he’s so pretty right?” clotho’s excitement was hard to hide, hades’ scowl made her calm down a little. “if you could give us one tiny moment,” she pulled hades aside, and created an invisible veil around them to muffle their conversation. the hound found his way back to the red string, and sat down, tilting his head at the weird interaction.

“lysander? really, clarisse?” hades tried to contain his anger, clotho’s entire plan to bring him on earth, make him meet this supposed string, understand a new century, was unsettling him. nobody should dare mess with the lord of the underworld like this.

“I was in a rush. I found an identity for you, sire. and for me. lysander and clarisse byron,” clotho looked very nervous. hades’ hard gaze did not make it easier for her to explain things calmly.

“the one who releases men. the only men I will release are the ones that will tear—“

“that is not all! I can give you all knowledge you need for this century,” she nodded and placed a hand on his cheek. his eyes turned white for a brief moment, thankfully nobody saw anything unusual. just a brother and sister being affectionate with each other. hades blinked, and looked towards the street.

“a bloody car? that is what they named that weird, moving object? pathetic,” clotho smiled satisfied, she gave hades enough knowledge to allow him to get by. including the knowledge about his new supposed identity.

“we should end this conversation, sire. it starts to look a little suspicious. try not to be so, uhm, awkward? I mean, allow yourself some peace, sire,” clotho said, and hades frowned. she handed him a wallet, his own wallet – filled with everything he needed. “you forgot this at home, ly,” she beamed, then returned to the red string. the hound joined them again, happy and satisfied. hades suspected belly rubs were involved – or some form of touching.

“I should get going, I have loads of stuff to do. my brother should fix his mistake before he leaves though,” she pointed at the spilled drink, and then looked at hades with a smile. “and you will fix it, right?”

“happy to oblige,” hades answered with a note of sarcasm, the pup let out a sound that was eerily similar to a laugh. it was slowly learning. hades let clotho take the hound with her, to avoid any other disturbances. the hound looked sadly at the red string, and barked a ‘swee you swoon’. clotho turned some heads on her way, and hades tried not to slap himself. he agreed to this madness, and he was starting to regret it.

“I apologise for my sister, she can be a handful,” hades said, a little more comfortable. with the knowledge he has acquired, he could at least have a conversation. “I will buy you another grass drink,” something was not right. “is it grass? do they make drinks with grass?” he frowned a little, actually questioning the possibility under his breath. then he looked at the boy, and tried his best to give him a smile. but it was subtle, and a little bitter. he cannot remember the last time he actually smiled, it will take a while to learn how to. “my name is lysander. which name are you giving charon?” underworld register. hades felt so awkward he wanted to die, he needed this to get better somehow. he almost begged for the interaction to be interrupted. he almost begged for clotho to come back and take him away. and a king never begs.

--
[ x soundtrack one; hozier - dinner and diatribes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq5gesj6kmw
x soundtrack two; aurora - winter bird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYFNzSTVvJk

@baekhyun [ Pt. 1 ]

"Pointe and turn and assemblé!"

the coach's voice rumbled, reverberating against the mirrored and marble walls of the dance studio in haunting echoes. frantic footsteps muffled by the satin shoes and agile feet joined the cacophony of music, the music dwindling down for just a mere second before picking up. the pause lasted only a heartbeat, enough for everyone to settle down in place and for Romeo to take his place just in the corner, in the spotlight that beamed down on him.

little drops of sweat stained alabaster skin, his blue stranded dark hair sticking in rivulets onto his skin. the serenest of grins graced his lips, the perfect visage of a hero as he gave himself to the music. being premier meant a heavy load of burden on his shoulders, not to dance his heart out but to uphold the reputation he'd amassed over the years. the royal college of performing arts was the top tier dance schools, producing the most elite stars and Romeo was the epitome of the pride they'd produced; it took him 5 years, of calloused and broken toes, of twisted ankles and ruined pointe shoes but he'd achieved it. the spotlight was his and no one could take it from him.

the music changed, twisted and turned with the rhythm of the composer's frantic fingers and he followed suit, the routine he'd memorized and so painstakingly perfect almost like a second habit to him. it was often said that it were the ballerinas, the primas, who were always the stars but Romeo begged to differ and true to cause— the ballerino was known to be a perfectionist, the perfect doll that danced on strings pulled by the music that echoed against the halls of amphitheaters and grande halls. the name itself was enough: Romeo Asher was a born star.

the song began nearing the end, urgent in it's before finishing with a flourish and the young boy caved, twisting himself into a pirouette before landing gracefully onto his feet with the perfect example of an arabesque, the tips of his fingers daintily pointing outwards. it wasn't until a heartbeat and the sound of applause later than he moved, his grin hanging from ear to ear as he bowed gracefully.

"Perfecto!"

"Bravo!"

"Gorgeous!"

"Absolutely brilliant!"

"The perfect prince!"

The compliments were nothing short of what he heard regularly. and they never failed to make his smile grow or for his shoulders to be pushed back in pride but it was the shrill tone that rang amidst them all that caused his grin to falter just a fraction. but Romeo was quick to pick it up again, nodding his thanks to the audience before beginning to maneuver past the throng of bodies, grateful the instructor had called a fin to the day's practice. his hand rose, finding bony fingers which he allowed to slip between the spaces of his tenderly, his smile as serene as ever. made for the stage.

"Juliet, what are you doing here?" he asked, raising her hand to his lips so he could peck the back of it gently— given anything and everything, he was not one to simply not show any ounce of affection. he was the protagonist after all.

his girlfriend, beautiful in her own right, was a waif-like creature; small and dainty and in every sense of the word, a prima ballerina. Juliet had always been coined his perfect mate, the matching partner to his pas de deux for reasons that had to do less with their names and more so to the shared history. for as long as he remembered, he'd always known the girl, having seen her from the thin toddler she was and grown into a becoming woman. and somehow, it had always seemed like they were meant to be together. alas, for the man, it was not true.

perhaps it was greed that made Romeo seek more than what he had, search for something— he did not know what he was searching for but he knew all too well that he lived a facade with Juliet.

he gently pulled her to the side so he could begin to pack up, letting go of her hand so he could neatly fold his clothes and put it in his duffel bag. "Do we have a date today?" he began conversationally, distracted as he began untying his shoes.

"Well," she murmured playfully, perching down on the bench he sat on too. Romeo knew her well enough to know that whenever she used such a light tone that he was not allowed to say no or even remotely resist what would come next and per usual, he good heartedly put on a grin, free hand reaching up to gently ruffle her hair. "Shopping trip again, Jules?" he asked with a chuckle, the sound hearty. she was quite enthusiastic with her nod, pretty face etched with plea.

"Yes, please! The new Dior collection is here at the Bond Street store and I really want to go! Please come with!" she asked, latching onto the sleeve of the shirt he'd donned as he straightened up. how could he ever say no?

he offered her a gracious nod and she began a tirade of excited instructions and plans for the rest of the evening and Romeo could only watch, guffawed and lost in his own thoughts.

@baekhyun [ pt. 2]

hours later, he still contemplated how he'd ended up there— in a bustling café that sat right in front of the cartier boutique, the afternoon dwindling down. it was a breezy summer evening, fall right at the world's doorsteps which had begun to be covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon. he loved the fall for it always seemed like the one season of the year that a higher entity seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it. Romeo was no believer but he knew when things were out of ordinary mundane hands and autumn had quite an ethereal mood to it. it seemed to awaken his soul and that life would start again the moment the air got crisp, nipping at the tip of his nose naughtily.

he sat alone at a table outside, nursing a cup of a matcha latte under the comforting presence of trees that had begun changing colors yet the brighter notes of yellows and oranges were still odd spots amidst the stark greeneries. it was quite a sight and he allowed himself to get lost in his own thoughts, sweater paws wrapped around his drink for warmth.

for what felt like an eternity, he'd felt an emptiness in his chest, as if a particular puzzle piece was missing out of the big picture that perhaps the stars had painted for him. truth be told, he had everything he'd ever wanted but it hadn't felt right. was that why uncertainty of the morrow rested heavy on his shoulders? Romeo sighed, picking his cup to take a sip of his latte before setting it down, gaze wandering towards the direction his girlfriend had run off to. Juliet was supposedly his dream girl and it was often so that she talked about the plans of their future to him. her future. if Romeo was stripped down to the barest of his soul, would he still admit that he didn't want that future with her? he didn't want to come home to her after a long day of practice, to receive flowers at the end of his shows from her thin hands and nor did he want to lay his lips on hers into the tenderest of kisses. well, frankly... he didn't want that with anyone. he remembered murmuring to his nanny, Mrs. Jameson, back at the chateau he was raised in, his head on her lap as she hummed a lullaby to get him to sleep.

“So you intend to go through life never loving anyone? Just … things?” she'd asked tenderly, her fat fingers winding in his hair to create little tresses. the old woman had made it a habit to do that to him and likewise, he found comfort in his presence. far more than he did in anyone else's.

“No. I’m looking for something more.” the truth was easy to spill out of his mouth.

“More than love?”

“Yes.”

“Is it not arrogant to think there is something more than love, Romeo dear?” she huffed lowly, wanting to understand the mind of such a complicated boy.

“Is it so arrogant to want something that doesn’t change with the wind? That doesn’t crumble at the first sign of adversity?” he asked in turn, turning around on her lap so he could face the ceiling, eyes boring into it.

“Does such an emotion exist?”

“I do not know. I just... want someone who sees beneath the surface-someone who completes the balance. An equal.”

“And how will you know when you’ve found this... perhaps, elusive someone?” Mrs. Jameson whispered, her index flitting forward to his nose to tap gently in good mirth. she had always been barren but Romeo was much her son like he was to the masters of the house.

“I suspect they will be like air. Like knowing how to breathe.” They. he'd always been vague about it and he feared that speaking the truth would simply cause his own comfort person to turn her back on him. he liked men and he had always hid it. why was he so ashamed of th—

his reverie came to a halting stop, an abrupt hit to his table wrenching him out of his thoughts and he watched, frozen, as his cup of latte fell in a tumble of green liquid the floor right next to a little.. beast? his eyes slowly moved down, lips curving upwards into a gentle grin at the look of the puppy at his feet, the waggling tail and the wide mouth that lolled a drooling tongue all too enthusiastic. it made Romeo chuckle, lifting himself from his seat so he could crouch down by the little beast, his hand reaching over to gently scratch between it's ears.

"Goodness me, you're an absolute cutie!" he exclaimed in a hushed tone, in turn earning happy wiggles.

“I do apologise, my companion likes running around, and I cannot lose him. perhaps that made me a little irresponsible. I think your drink would agree."

had the air always been so cold? his oversized sweater and coat was suddenly not enough. had the world always been this... bright? as if colored by the most expert fingers? the voice that rang in his ears, gruff yet soothing, was a splash of cold water on Romeo's entire soul, freezing him to the bones yet somehow, lighting up the dull world around him. everything had begun moving slowly, the cars slowing down into snail paces, the people that passed by milling about for a heartbeat longer than necessary and Romeo could swear that he heard the clock tick by leisurely with no care for anything else. he dared lift his gaze, pools of embers noticing a peculiar sense of style that was way too formal for such a place and quite a built frame until it landed on the man's face. Romeo didn't know if his breath hitched in his throat or if he finally released the long pent-up breath he held in his chest but he could finally breathe. and it was the most ecstatic feeling ever.

giving the puppy another scratch between the ears, he lifted himself to his feet, too focused on this man— this stranger — to be able to pay attention to the sad whimpers and paws at his leg. he could feel his heart skip a beat before picking up a wild pace, as if a hummingbird begging to free itself from the cages that were his ribcage but he took a breath, forcing what was sure was an expression of stupor that was on his visage away and relaxed himself into a composed stance.

"oh, it's alright! sometimes, you cannot hold others from doing what they want to do most." he nodded, a sheepish grin becoming his face as his hand rose to rub his nape shyly. "i mean, he's still small. i think you can let him run around all he wants! he is a good boy, after all. aren't you, little one?" Romeo cooed, reaching down to wrap his palms around the puppy, lifting it so he could cradle the eager beast to his chest. yet no matter how much he murmured sweet praises to him, the yelps and soft purrs were distracted, the puppy's orbs fixated on the man in front of him.

[ inspirations: ]

✨The dance performed: https://youtu.be/ZvFWXWqSUrw
✨The coffee shop: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/58/31/80/5831803d0dbb64b676a40aa6a1dfdfc1.jpg
✨Romeo: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/13/7b/35/137b35c5cc9e03c2f42459e5527c30b8.gif
✨Romeo’s outfit: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/20/db/b0/20dbb06d26a05f6aae39be91a165d3bc.jpg

@taeyong hades wanted to say something, but she was gone too quickly. he blurted out a curse in ancient greek under his breath, and the hound looked at him curiously. he apologised, and started walking down the street. if he thought he looked odd, everything was out of a nightmare. he looked at the weird fast moving objects next to where he was walking, and tried to understand what they were. he saw humans inside, he could only guess they were used for transportation. he needed a handbook for this new earth, the last time he was out, there were no buildings that reached for the sky. his brother must not be too pleased to have humans reach so high.

“is this your dog? oh my god, he’s so cute!” a girl stopped to pet his hound, who snarled then whined as soon as he was touched. he heard her tongue and accent, and mimicked it in his head – he recognised the british accent, and remembered the encounters he has had with souls from here in the past. she laughed and proceeded to play with his hound. he realised he has lost sight of his red string in this unexpected wave of new and peculiar things.

“thank you, milady,” hades answered, and cleared his throat. she looked up at him as though she has just witnessed something extraordinary. hades has not looked at himself in a while, he was not sure if clotho made him look presentable enough. she then giggled, and covered , looking at the hound.

“your owner’s quite mannered, huh?” she scratched the dog’s ears, and hades frowned a little.

“he does not speak your tongue,” he pulled the leash subtly, making the hound come closer to him and stick to his side. the girl got up, and smiled at him.

“are you new around here? haven’t seen you before, but it’s quite-“

“I have no time. excuse me, miss,” hades said and started moving towards nowhere, leaving the girl behind quite dumbfounded.

now that he has lost sight of his target, he could feel his heart beating faster in a slight panic. he has not felt anything but peace for the past few centuries, and now he was completely overwhelmed and filled with all kind of emotions. damned be clotho, and her trickery. hades stopped next to a store to catch his breath, and caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window. he looked normal, maybe livelier than he has in while – he figured the sudden shock has set his body in motion. once he found his target, he could return to his home and have a civilised conversation. he has not quite figured out how to break the ice yet.

his hound barked ‘twere’, and freed himself from the grip. he started running away, and hades ran after him. he could not set a beast loose on earth, or it will start claiming innocent souls. it was still a pup, so the damage would not be irreversible – but still, he needed to be trained before hunting for souls. hades could not attract any unwanted attention, especially not from his siblings. he was out of breath by the time he caught up with his hound – all that time crammed in his room underground did not help his lungs. he may be immortal, but he was severely out of shape.

“you were allowed to come as long as you stayed by my side,” hades breathed out in ancient greek, the pup understood that tongue better. by the time hades wanted to grab him, he slid under a table. hades mindlessly followed him, ignoring the fact that an adult dropping under a table out of nowhere would look very peculiar to humans. “I will send you home,” hades hit his head on the table and groaned, the pup scurried away to someone’s side. the person was sitting at the table hades almost knocked over, enjoying the now spilled drink in front of him. hades got up, and realised he made a mess. he was ready to apologise when he saw whose drink he just spilled on the floor – fates be good, his red string was a little too close. great, now what? shall he kidnap him, and run away? no, that would make him look even more like a lunatic. he could use a library right now.

‘I fownd him!’, the hound wagged his tail, and sniffed the red string’s leg.

‘so now you are talking,’ hades responded telepathically, and gave the dog a scolding look. the hound knew he will not be freed of his leash any time soon.

“I do apologise, my companion likes running around, and I cannot lose him. perhaps that made me a little irresponsible. I think your drink would agree,” hades tried, it was good enough. what next? he did not know, but at least he apologised.

--
[ x inspiration one: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/67/9a/7f/679a7f068204ded4378a21cf58b8ac57.jpg
x inspiration two: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/44/37/ce/4437ce1f9177a37104cbe9e006a2a05f.jpg
x in hades one: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f3/4f/98/f34f9896347a85eef05c6978a13a941c.jpg
x in hades two: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/93/b5/7a/93b57a05a36ed11f44c30bd35b890bd8.jpg
x hades’ palace one entry: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/23/f2/8e/23f28ebcdfc54df09d4b6dd1b47ad1e0.jpg
x hades’ palace interior: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/0b/70/18/0b701884dc0b539de7914f2f4376ebd0.jpg
x soundtrack one; michl – kill our way to heaven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAPhp9LYq44
x soundtrack two; hozier – no plan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXq_J29V5Io

(2/2)

@taeyong eternity is lonely.

embarking on a never-ending adventure can be a slow torture. look at all of humanity’s brightest – most died alone, drunk, drowning in tears or in their own unfulfilled passion. but in the mind of the folk, they are eternal. what is eternity if it is wasted in sadness, and despair? what is immortality, if it clashes with mortal needs and desires?

immortality is punishment.

perhaps the reason why people do awful things is because they do not want to be alone in the end. killing, for example, becomes a means to mend the pain – it will be a problem for the judges of the underworld if killing will be justified just because some loser was lonely. of course, the order of the universe prevents such things from happening, and the judges have always been fair, and strict. of course, when they were alive, they always had someone. even if that someone hated them.

followers offer some fulfilment to less fortunate gods. the gods that have been casted away from grace, from the palace of light, from family and so on. for millennia, people worshipped death, and he was as happy as a child on christmas morning. he stayed chained, but he was freer than most. a prime lieutenant, perhaps his master has envied how welcoming people were towards him. but even death was met with scepticism, with souls that tried to cast him away and deny his only role – still, he met with them at the end of their time. and so, death met faces upon faces, heard stories, shared tears and smiles – even in death, those souls are not alone. what about their keeper?

✮ ✮ ✮

hades sat on his throne, and looked down. from up there, people looked like ants. and any follower who came through the doors – a soldier, a skeleton, or a ghost – they looked like grains of rice compared to him. his greatness was felt inside the hollow castle, and so was his loneliness. he wore a robe filled with suffering faces, the faces of those he has trapped in a dream – those who have wronged others or themselves, those he was prepared to send to tartarus at the end of the week. it was his responsibility to carry those who have been doomed, to carry the weight of their crimes on his shoulders until the day they were imprisoned. it has been so ever since he took over the domain nobody wanted – the afterlife, the earth, the unseen but always felt.

he was not allowed to visit his family save once a year – and even so, his chair on olympus was never dusted or missed. if one year he did not show up, nobody noticed. because just like death, his presence, and his role in the world were not appreciated. what if one day, he abdicates? the chaos that would be created on earth and on olympus, would be greater than anything that has been seen since the first titan war. and the loss, and the souls, and everything else would fall apart without him. but just for one day, he wanted to know what it feels like to sit at the dinner table and have a conversation partner. someone that does not come around to bring news, or report mistakes.

of course, his commanders and lieutenants were his company. but they had their duties too, just like any friends. they were not expected to sit around and dine like civilised folk whenever he felt lonely – and the lost souls that stumble upon his palace, or that get stuck to his robe, do not bring him any solace. at the end of the day, he is still alone – forced to pluck the fruit of his own garden, to warm his own sheets, to feed his own monsters. and with his followers gone or silenced, his loneliness has never felt emptier.

✮ ✮ ✮

“sire,” the soft voice of clotho, one of the fates, got him to straighten his back on his throne. he looked at the woman with his usual frown, and with the kingly authority he possessed.

“yes, clotho?” when hades spoke, the entire room felt emptier. his voice was like an echo, one that shook the walls of hollow building were they not built to last.

“my sisters and I have consulted the cards of fate,” hades was not really a believer, and he was not fond of clairvoyants. he respected the fates, like any good ruler would, but he brushed off most things they said and did with their ‘little cards’.

for the past few centuries, they have tried to set him up with various monsters, lesser gods or goddesses, minor deities and so on. most of these ‘dates’ have ended disastrously – because nobody in their right mind would date a king and take on everything that entailed being on a ruler’s side. the responsibility and strictness that came with the job were unbearable. and yes, he had a lot of riches to offer, but being stuck in the underworld did not cut it for most potential partners. besides, hades has always viewed these ‘dates’ as strictly business, and has treated them as such. which means, he never let his heart open – and a cold king has never been too attractive.

“for the last time, clotho. I do not need a date,” hades sighed, it was partly true. he meant to say ‘I do not need you to set me up, thank you very much’, but he did not wish to be impolite. the fates could spin the thread in an even worse direction if he acts like an arrogant arsehole.

“but sire, the winter solstice is around the corner, just hear me out,” clotho followed as hades started pacing around his throne room. he shrunk in size to appear the fate’s size – it was only polite that way. every year, on winter solstice, the underworld was closed for partying business. it was only one of the generosities hades has agree to offer them – they were allowed to ‘have fun’ one day a year. ever since orpheus visited them with music, his employees caught the taste of a ‘good time’. and since hades cannot allow such behaviour on the regular, he invented the winter symphony, to give his army some joy.

clotho took out a red string and showed it to hades. he recognised it as the string of the heart – some souls who came around carried it in their pockets, or around their necks as a symbol of everlasting love. he was compelled, and almost forced, to send those souls towards damnation or liberation together. sometimes he had to break them apart, and watch them burn in despair before reaching their rightful resting place. in other words, the string was like a fuse – and in hades’ eyes, it was cursed.

“did you go through atropos’ drawer again, clotho? I have vouched for your sincerity one too many times,” hades looked at the youngest of the fates as she blushed. whether he agreed with the sisters or not, he could not help being fond of them at times. they liked him best out of all gods, because he, unlike the others, left the doors open for them.

“no, sire. this one is yours. it appeared on your doorstep after our last reading. cerberus almost swallowed it. lachesis has made me swear not to tell you of it, but this is something! sire, I think the one has finally surfaced,” clotho’s excitement was read all over her face. hades quirked an eyebrow, and tried to figure out if her reaction was sincere – the sisters were mischievous and tricky most of the times. hades sighed. to his disappointment, clotho was being honest for once.

“even so, it does not mean anything. I have followed your guidance towards ‘the one’ for over centuries, clotho. and so far, cupid has not pierced me. I doubt a red string will change the course of his arrow,” hades opened the door to let one of his hellhounds inside. the pup has been scratching at the door for a while, and was exhilarated when his master let him enter.

“but sire. could you just check? and, if this time it does not work, we will never bother you about this again,” clotho said, and looked at the pup. the hellhound sneezed fire, and looked at her with cute puppy eyes. he was still very young – clotho guessed he was only a few weeks old. “can you not see, sire? a new hound! centuries have passed since a hound was born,” clotho was getting visibly more excited. hades picked the hound up, and wrapped him in a black cloth, placing him near a fire.

“winter harbours new hounds every now and then, clotho. with all the human suffering and despair, I expect more of them to be born. it does not mean anything,” he knew what he was saying was true, and right. but somehow, there was a newfound hope growing inside of him. could this be it? he must, however, not allow the fates to play with his divine soul again.

“he is human, sire,” clotho said, and got closer, leaning in to pet the pup’s head. hades looked at her, almost threatening. she stepped back and swallowed air, laughing nervously. “I mean, uhm. we never set you up with a human. I know you have not been above in a long time, but not much has changed. I can help along, I am not busy,” she grinned. hades sighed and scratched his pup’s chin.

“alright. but this is the last time, clotho. from now on, I will settle my own affairs,” hades said, and clotho bounced.

“I promise, the last time,” she grinned and disappeared. hades sat in an armchair next to the fire, and allowed the young hound to sleep on his lap while he waited for his fate.

✮ ✮ ✮

“are you sure wearing this monkey suit will make me look human?” hades checked his clothing, it was very peculiar. he was wearing ripped jeans as if he was a beggar, a white oversized shirt as if his mother forgot to buy it in his size, a pair of boots as if he has forgotten what season it is, and a long, black coat. he liked the coat, but everything else was just wrong. clotho has made him bring the new hound with him, and has provided a leash for him. even though he had no name yet, he responded to whatever hades called him. he was quite docile for a beast, almost like a human dog.

“I am sure. I used a fashion catalogue, it is where humans go shopping these days, especially here in london. right, your red string is right there. do not make any unusual movements, and do not introduce yourself just yet. I have to find a human identity for you, sire. just observe for now,” clotho nodded, and disappeared in the mist.

(1/2)

@taeyong @baekhyun sorry for the delay, happy roleplaying!