100 Theme Challenge #49

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49. Alcohol

The cold liquid ran smoothly down his throat, soothed his spirit even if it hadn't penetrated his blood yet. He closed his eyes when the coldness pooled in his stomach for a few short seconds. He took another swing, but the sweetness of the ambrosia on his tongue wasn't enough. He needed something stronger, something that'd help his sorrow disappear for a time, just for tonight.

With a sigh he dropped his cup which fell with a tang on the floor, but he had no care for it. He focused and teleported in the mortal world, making sure his clothes were appropriate for the era and location. He was in a narrow alley, and loud music and voices announced him he had chosen right. He was met with the musky, damp smell of human mortals bathed in semi-darkness. They were dressed in leather, chains and black makeup, their mind cloudy for the most of them. He walked to the counter and ordered a straight whisky with no ice. He gulped It down and asked for another one as he sat on a high chair. The liquor was rich and burned on the way down; it was delicious. Without knowing it he was on his fourth one, and his world was a bit fuzzy.

"Um, sorry to disturb you. I couldn't help but notice how fast you're drinking that shit," someone said beside him, and he turned grey eyes at the man who was slightly swinging on his chair.

"None of your business," he grumbled. Instead the man leaned towards him.

"Well, you see, I'm too drunk to really care about boundaries, so why don't you tell me your worries I probably won't remember tomorrow anyway," he slurred a bit, but the god mostly understood. He did seem well advanced in a drunken state.

"You would be willing to incline your ear to my worries?"

He shrugged. "Sure, my friend ditched me to leave with some dude called Peitho — can you believe it? —, and you seem afflicted, under that mean attitude of yours."

Why not? There was nobody else willing anyway, never. He swirled the amber liquid in the glass, brooding a bit before looking at the other man again.

"What is your name?" The stranger asked, kind despite his slightly glazed eyes.

"I am Hades," he grumbled.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Persephone," he smiled at him. "Now tell me the reason of that scoff on that handsome face."

It was his turn to weakly shrug. "My brothers dislike me, but I suppose I deserve it."

"Why would you?"

Hades leaned over him, so close their face almost touched.

"Because I am the King of the Underworld, and everyone fear and loath me." With that he drank some more.

"King of the Underworld? You mean, of the dead people?" Persephone asked, but not because of fear or hate, he was genuinely curious.

"Yes, I rule what nobody else wanted to. I judge and am to punish evil beings who succeed to capture me instead, curse that Sisyphus."

Persephone cocked his head, confused a bit, but didn't say anything, and Hades continued. "People hate me for I am the one to put sentences on their head, but tell me who would be willing to take my place. No, I am doomed to rule by myself for eternity a Kingdom that everyone despises.

Persephone scratched the back of his neck.

"I don't believe everyone hates you, some devotes their life to death. And, well, I don't hate you. I kind of like you, in fact, I can feel you have a good heart." He placed his hand against his arm, smiling softly, and for a second Hades smelled the warm odor of the sun.

He looked at Persephone, really took a look at him, and noticed how his hair was shiny even in the dim light with his divine features and bright eyes.

"Why do you stay down here? You would be more protected on Olympus."

"I don't need protection, I like it here. Besides, not everybody tries to kill each other and cheats at every occasion."

Hades snorted. "Are you Zeus' son, by all means?"

"I am, but I'm closer to my mom, Demeter. She's the reason I'm staying on Earth, to be honest. She likes to keep me around, to keep an eye on me I guess."

Something glinted in Hades' eyes, and he drank some more of his new drink as he kept his grey gaze on Persephone.

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