forum You think your darkness is scary? You haven't seen mine. // oxo // CLOSED

Started June 02, 2019 by @croccin-champagne

tune

Persephone's eyebrows shot up, her question left to die on her lips as the ground opened up, and then closed once again, looking very much like nothing had even been there at all. What the hell?

Hades drove for a couple more minutes to his fortress, parking the car in the large driveway that was surrounded by blackened brambles. Ceberus padded up behind him, grinning happily to be back home. Chuckling to himself a little, Hades got out the cacti, which shone in comparison to everything else, and the water jug, its bright blue hue lighting up the space around it.

((Skip? If so, to when?))

Persephone blinked down at the paper in her hand, and a small smile flickered onto her face. He'd given her his number. Her cheeks darkening a tad, she turned, heading back into the shop to get back to work. Her father would be back from his errand soon. Though, even as she worked, she couldn't quite get the god out of her mind.

((Sure!))

Persephone wiped the dirt off of her hands onto her light green apron, before using the bandana keeping her hair back to wipe the sweat from her brow. She was out back, in her personal garden, and it wasn't exactly great gardening weather. So hot. Ugh. Deciding to take a break, she slipped back inside the shop, turning off the music playing from her phone as she did. It's almost lunch…I wonder what Hades is up to right now? What was the worst that could happen if she called? He didn't answer? Shaking her head, she dialed the number from the paper she'd spent plenty of time staring at, listening to the phone ring once, twice…

Hades jumped as the home phone next to him rang, interrupting the silence that he'd been immersed in for the last two hours. Grumbling in annoyance, he went to pick it up. "You've reached the underworld, yes?"

"You sound so happy to hear from me." Persephone teased, slipping through the plants to the stairs that led to the apartment above the shop. She made her way into the kitchen, pulling a pan out and setting it on the stove as she gathered ingredients and items from the fridge to make lunch.

"Oh, it's you!" Hades brightened at Persephone's voice. "It's Persephone, right? Sorry, I'm bad with names."

Persephone laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah, it's Persephone. Long day?" She asked, tucking the phone between her ear and shoulder to talk and cook at the same time.

"Sort of. You come down here, it's like you're immortal." He chuckled a little, sitting down in a gray velvet armchair. "What about you?"

"Oh, somewhat. I've spent a good portion of the day gardening, which is great and all, except it's almost ninety degrees, and there isn't a cloud in sight." Persephone said, snorting. "Not the best outdoor gardening weather. Oh! How are your cacti doing?"

"They're in the other room right now, but I saw them this morning and they seem to be doing fine, despite the…circumstances." He cleared his throat. "The underworld doesn't look kindly upon life, but they're fine right now."

"Make sure they get some light from time to time, even if you can't manage sunlight." She advised, the smile carrying in her voice. "And if they ever need a break from the, uh, dismalness, feel free to bring them by." The double meaning to her words was subtle but noticeable, an offer for him to drop by at some point.

Hades grinned into the phone, laughing a little. "I think I might at some point. I suppose it's too much to ask you come down here sometime?"

"Hmm…" Persephone hummed thoughtfully, stirring the boiling noodles in a pot she'd brought out. "I might consider it. I'd have to wait for a day off work though."

"That's fine, no pressure or anything. I'll probably swing by up top sometime anyway," Hades admitted, tilting his head with a smile and shooing off a skeleton that poked its head into the room.

"You should. And I'll see what I can do about visiting down under." Persephone promised, smiling as she moved the noodles into the pan with the olive oil.

"That sounds like a plan." Hades was a silent before speaking again. "Are you cooking?"

Persephone blinked, looking down at the pasta in-process. "I….am, yeah. How'd you know?"

"I could hear it," Hades admitted, shrugging. "I've been sitting in silence for a while, so it's easy to pick out smaller things."

Persephone huffed a laugh, nodding slightly, even though he couldn't see it. "That makes a bit more sense. I figured I'd go all out for lunch today. Usually, I don't even bother eating lunch."

"Aw, you should eat more," Hades coaxed, knowing full well he rarely ate at all. "Why don't you?"

"I'm a busy person." Persephone said, shrugging a shoulder. "Food takes time."

"Yeah, but something as quick as a sandwich should work. Really do try to eat more." He insisted.

"It's hard to make a sandwich when you're elbows deep in mulch and dirt~" She sang, obviously dancing around the core issue.