alphabet challenge - r

[felicitygs]

  Hades is excellent, Loki is excellent, they’re both excellent.

 

This would happen in the same verse as L and N, though you really don’t need to know anything about those other than the Vanir being related to the Greek Olympians and Sigyn being a Vanir.

 

R. Life

 

He’s somewhat expecting to see him when he arrives, though the fact he was invited has absolutely nothing to do with that. Loki has been known, on more than one occasion, to refuse invitation, or accept and then refuse, or accept and then not arrive at all. A fickle creature, but he supposes that is what makes the match with Sigyn all the better.

 

“Hades,” Loki greets with a flash of a smile. Charming.

 

Hades has ever had little use for the charm of the living.

 

“Loki,” he greets, a bit flatly. He is aware what it is Loki comes to him for, and is half-tempted to direct him to Hecate and let her sort out the entire mess.

 

But the souls of the dead are his domain, and the dead are divided into their realms irrespective of where they die and, in Atlantis’ case, how death arrives. He understands that it is different on Asgard, but leave it to that kingdom to over-complicate the matter.

 

Dead is dead, except when it isn’t.

 

They talk, aimless pleasantries. Loki refuses offers of food and drink–of course he would, but there are whispers that Loki is half-fae, fae whose food and promises are much more binding. Hades refuses Loki’s offers of gifts–everyone knows there’s a string attached, or a prank, except when there isn’t. Eventually, they arrive to the heart of the matter at hand.

 

“Sigyn is pregnant,” Loki says, and though he smiles his eyes tighten at the edges.

 

“My congratulations,” Hades says, as warm as he ever gets. “I had heard, but you know how rumour can be. There had not been an official announcement.”

 

“Indeed, and thank you,” Loki says, with an incline of his head. “It is a delicate matter, and difficult pregnancy. We would keep it quiet until we are more certain of the results.”

 

Hades nods and stays quiet, half-intrigued to see how Loki will spin this to make it seem less important; it is not as if he cannot guess what the trickster desires.

 

“I want both the child and mother to survive this,” Loki says, blunt. He is not smiling, eyes serious, and he has stopped walking. “Until the child is born, his death would be under your care, and hers will always belong to you.”

 

“You speak as if you expect them to die at any moment,” Hades says, genuinely surprised.

 

Loki’s mouth tightens, but he does not speak.

 

“You do, then.” Hades considers this. Already, Loki has tipped his hand.. If not for how serious Loki is and how commonly known it is he adores his wife, he might consider this a trick with no clear sight of what the end goal is. As is, Loki’s actions have ever given away what his words would not.

 

“You will invite me to the child’s christening,” Hades says, decisively. “And I would have your aid–your aid, not your mockery of jest that undoes what work a man does–in a more personal matter.”

 

Loki considers a moment.

 

“Persephone,” he says, looking mildly surprised himself.

 

Hades allows for it with a casual nod.

 

“You could,” Loki points out, with a sly smile, “simply steal her.”

 

Hades rolls his eyes.

 

“And have her resent the match for the rest of eternity? I wish a wife, Trickster, not a prize and prisoner.”

 

Loki shrugs.

 

“You didn’t say that,” Loki mocks, but Hades can already see his mind churning, sorting through different situations and scenarios, weighing. Loki is not Cupid, to cause a maid to fall blindly in love, but he is yet a trickster and love certainly has made fools of greater beings than they two.

 

Just look at Zeus.

 

“I believe,” Loki finally says, “that something could be arranged.”

 

Hades smiles.

 

“Then I believe,” Hades says, “that we have a deal.”

 

Loki smiles, sharp and bright, and not for the first time Hades finds himself grateful that Loki belongs to another realm. He can only imagine the headache Hel will have when the trickster dies.

 

Provided he stays dead. There is that.

 

“Most excellent,” Loki says. “I will need a pomegranate–one of yours, from your garden–and to borrow sweet Narkissos’ soul.”