skullearring | For deathdefiance

For deathdefiance

She frowned. Heavily. Prominently. But then to expect much of anything else upon Megaera's face was something of a rarity. So often she was annoyed, agitated, and stirred to ire as opposed to the alternative. Or perhaps it was that if she had shown more than volatile demeanour, others might have taken her less seriously. Like her sisters, Megaera's reputation as one of the Erinyes was something she held to the utmost of importance. The moment thought she was even marginally softer was the same moment that she'd suddenly have to be concerned about how others saw her.

She... had not made a habit of that. Although perhaps on occasion, she had considered a certain Prince of the Underworld's opinion for longer than the batting of an eye.

He had gone up again. Right up the stairs from Tartarus and whatever smug remark he'd had to make in regards to his victory was one she'd not heard as she'd been sent right back to the fountain of blood. Another failed attempt on her part. Another harsh scolding from Hades himself. She practically braced herself for it. And if it wasn't coming from Hades, it was going to come from the one sister who could form a proper, more coherent sentence that wasn't obsessed with murder to some extent.

As she passed Hypnos, asleep on his chaise, she took a moment to eye the lounge, doubtlessly being affected by Zagreus' unnecessary orders. Or Dusa, she supposed. One or the other. Looking less like a mess of splinters from one of Cerberus' play dates and more like an actual place of reprieve. To wait there or, the prince's chambers.

Perhaps it was time they had a more proper conversation. Surely Theseus and his beastly comrade-in-arms would stop him. And if not the duo, then Hades. Either way, she suspected they needed more than simply exchanging blows with one another. Could she talk sense into him? Get him to change his mind? Wasn't it necessary to at least try?

But suppose he gets the wrong idea, she thought.

No matter how things turned out, he was going to get the wrong idea the moment he caught her in his room. At least she'd have the decency not to put her hands on everything. Maybe.

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[ another day, another death.

no, that's not accurate. for whatever counts for a day down here in the depths of hell, zagreus probably makes half a dozen escape attempts if not more. 'attempts' being the key word. of course he's yet to succeed, and of course that means every single time he thinks he draws close to the surface or to elysium or even to asphodel on some unfortunate runs, he fails. and that means he dies, whether to the minotaur's axe or the hydra's fangs or, on the happy occasion, to the coil of megaera's whip around his throat. well, what can he say? it's not as if dying is a happy affair but if he has to choose, he supposes he'd rather be killed by a friend's hand than to a wretch in asphodel or, god forbid, to theseus taunting over running him through with his spear.

despite everything, he does still think of meg as a friend. but their clipped conversations and her single-minded fury in battle makes him wonder if it's mutual.

it's his last attempt of the day (maybe) and he picks himself out of the riverbank, dripping blood from every limb and lock of hair. the residual agony of being gored through the chest is already slowly fading as he staggers to his feet. more agonizing by far is the memory of theseus's victorious laughter as the king had stood over his prone body, the sight of his ridiculous grin as he watched zagreus sink into the depths of the styx. 'farewell, damned fiend! until next we meet and i slaughter you again!' the sheer humiliation of it all hurt far more than any physical pain from a weapon. it bruised his pride more than pierced his chest; already the wound had closed to a pale scar and all he has is the memory. so he ignores hypnos' pleading requests for an autograph and just shoulders past the crowd of shades, ignores any scornful remark from his father and makes his way back to his room, in a soured mood.

any death would be preferable to that one.

but maybe that's why he perks up a little, seeing a familiar one-winged silhouette in his private chambers. here's a sight for sore eyes, or for his sore ego; he doesn't exactly gloat over defeating meg and sending her to the styx, but besting her at least feels like progress, when every inch of progress feels like hell to claw through and win. ]

Meg? Is that you? [ he probably looks a sight, still quite bloodstained from his most recent dip in the styx. foregoing talking to anyone in the entrance hall out of sheer frustration, itching to venture back into tartarus, return to elysium as soon as possible just to make that annoying king pay.

but, he thinks, he always has time to talk to meg.

especially, he's slowly realizing, seeing her in his room rather than in the hall or the lounge. his dual-colored eyes widen as this occurs to him. did she want a private talk? he closes the door behind him, feeling suddenly a lot more aware of her presence here in his bedroom. ]

Hey. Sorry if you were waiting, I just got back. [ maybe that much is obvious. he returns constantly and just as constantly, throws himself back into the fray, hungering to leave-- ]

Were you looking for me?

[It is, in truth, right about the time that she hears him that Meg realises this is likely a mistake on her part. Or a mistake in the making. What does it matter what he chooses to do with himself? Why should it even matter to her? In Zagreus' world it's always been whatever he's wanted. Can't live up to his father's expectations, of course it's easier just to run away from it all.

It's an unfair attitude for her take about it. Doesn't seem to stop her, though she knows and understands very well that there's more at work, whether they choose to speak of it or not. It remains nigh fact, however, that nothing she says is going to change his mind. It didn't in the past. It won't now.

Is... trying worth it?

Zagreus' voice breaks right into her thoughts, shatters them as if they were no more than delicate glass. Not unlike the mirror of darkness in the Underworld Prince's private quarters. Yet on the contrary, Megaera is almost positive that anything from Nyx is likely far sturdier than appearances may imply.

His response, transparent as it is, does not impress her. She cocks an eyebrow as she eyes him.

Yes. I can see that. It takes a lot of discipline to rein that comment in, knowing that ultimately, it's not helpful.]

No. I thought I'd go through your wardrobe and see if anything fit me.

[Megaera is often so deadpan that it is not unlikely some denizens of Hades' realm are incapable of seeing what little and dark humour she has emerge. She and Zagreus have been back and forth with one another long enough that she does not doubt he can read her enough. At least, enough to remotely understand her.

Inevitably, he doesn't know everything. If he did, fallout never would have occurred. Or the aftermath that accompanied it.

She huffs out a breath, an unamused scowl.]

What got you this time?

[ it's with a brief laugh that he approaches, waving a hand carelessly to his wardrobe in which chitons hang in varying shades of hades' royal red and black. ] Feel free to try anything that catches your eye, Meg. I wouldn't say no to an image change. And hey, I think you might look good in red.

[ there's something strangely appealing about the thought of meg wearing anything of his. a thought that only briefly surfaces to mind that might warrant unpacking, if he weren't so constantly preoccupied with leaving. his goal that overshadows almost everything else.

his room is slightly cluttered in the way it usually is, when he's a flighty and discontent young prince bent on escape, with things strewn about and the occasional tapestry on the wall, various regal decor. and there's some luxury chaise that he never uses, when he has rare occasion to do anything like relax; he nods towards it in indication that meg could help herself if she so feels like it. he himself remains poised as if ready to leave on another run at any time. the topic of his death prompts a crooked grin.

what got him this time, huh? every single time he runs the gauntlet and tries to escape, he dies and get sent back. hypnos may as well make a drinking game out of it. take a shot for every time zagreus gets speared, or takes a sword to the chest, or gets fatally bitten by any of the wide variety of native hellbeasts...

he tries not to let it get to him, but even he occasionally gets tired of being killed relentlessly too. ]

Take a guess, Meg. [ but he pauses only for an instant before answering anyway, while running a hand through slightly blood-wet hair, a gesture of distracted frustration. ] It's that king of Athens. He talks big, but he's no joke with that spear. I've fallen to him so many times... [ and to the hydra, and to megaera herself... he glances over at her through the fringe of his hair as he lets it fall over his face again. ] I don't suppose you had the pleasure of meeting him before.

[ actually, that's an encounter he'd like to see. ]

[Well. If he's insisting. It's amusing that she actually takes more than a few moments to entertain the notion of wearing something of his. She takes the time to more properly and truly eye his collection of garb, all reds and blacks and greys with the same motif. Different from her own. Alecto would probably look good in them too, honestly.

It's as he's indicating she ought to make herself more comfortable, or what she presumes is 'comfort' that she's contemplating the changes that she'd have to make given the singular wing sprouting from her back. Her attention turns onto the chaise in question and she contemplates. How long is she intending to stay? Did she ever have a real set plan?

No. Not exactly. She has found that attempting to make plans with Zagreus in the picture tends to... Well. They don't ever go as intended. Maybe... it will not kill her to stay for a bit. So she sits. A little bit awkwardly. It's not usually a place she lingers in.

Thankfully, he distracts her with conversation. Better to have trivial talk than to give either of them too much time to think. Not that Megaera suspects Zagreus does much thinking. Well, beyond his own person, that is.]

Theseus. [She confirms for him with some thought. Yes. She's heard the stories of both him and the minotaur. Their camaraderie. Their prowess in battle. Both worthy of being considered heroes to have an infinite afterlife in Elysium.

Megaera shakes her head at him.] My assignments keep me in Tartarus. Not that there's anything else stopping me from making a visit. [Perhaps she ought to, at that. Zagreus has provided her some food for thought.] One of these days—nights—whenever, I might have to make that a reality. If I could best him, then you could. I doubt he's as powerful as you seem to think he is. The bull is the bigger threat, I'd think. He's just a man.

[ if she puts it that way... ] You're not wrong, he's only human. [ was only human, maybe. death is the great equalizer, or so they say. ] His personality is larger than life, even if he's dead. Maybe it's that confidence, or...

[ he thinks about it as he watches meg sit, with just a bare touch of awkwardness maybe nobody else would notice. and something about that feels a little bittersweet. surely, in the past, they'd been so much more comfortable with each other. or at least he was, with her. but now he had his goals and she had hers, and they clashed constantly with each attempt he made through tartarus.

his thoughts turn back to the man who'd put a stop to his most recent run, however. ] The minotaur is a formidable opponent. And he even challenges me to single combat sometimes. Of course I prefer that to fighting them two on one. [ then a groan as he actually processes what the trouble is with this particular fight-- ] It's harder because they're both attacking me. If I just had to fight Theseus himself he wouldn't give me this much trouble. That, and he can use the gods' boons just as I can--

[ wait, maybe that actually makes the fight more equal. ]

What if you join me one day and challenge them with me? You and me against him and the minotaur. That'd make it more fair.

[ he throws the suggestion out there almost like a joke, with a quirked grin. but on second thought, it's actually a great idea. ]

[He calls it 'confidence.' She'd call it 'cockiness.' Megaera, though she has not met Theseus in the flesh, has heard the stories. She suspects she wouldn't be able to tolerate his company for more than a few moments before she was ready and willing to pummel his smug face into the masonry.

How does Asterius even stand someone like that? He seems like the one with a lick of sense betwixt the two. But she supposes her own off and on camaraderie with Zagreus is not so different. Zagreus is the often seeming reckless prince, who may not always think things through. Megaera is the Fury with a temper who, at times, may think overmuch.

Complements and all of that.]

That would be a sight.

[She huffs out a short-lived laugh, though it's more incredulous than anything else. No. She can't even picture it. Ultimately, it's laughable.]

You and me fighting alongside each other instead of against. I don't know if I could handle that responsibility. I've become so accustomed to enjoying beating you that I don't think it'd be half as pleasurable to work with you.

[But it is some food for thought. Look what he's started. He always does something like that. Opens his stupid mouth, says something stupid, and Megaera, for one reason or another, can't help but remotely entertain it.]

[ the rather half-assed suggestion he throws out is just that, a rather careless what-if? sort of idea. what if he wasn't alone in that 2-vs-1 fight? it's funny, the first time he stumbled into it cycles and cycles ago, he'd been so offended over how unfair the battle was, and true enough that very first time had ended very quickly with axe and spear practically gutting him simultaneously. ever since then the sheer indignation of the double fight wore off, the fact that zagreus is outnumbered became just that: a fact. he just had to deal with it.

but what if he didn't? the little hypothetical of having meg with him suddenly struck him like lightning. and it had an appeal that was somewhat inexplicable for some reason, but reality ensues with meg's response, because what kind of world would this be if she just rolls with his decisions? when she'd so often shoot them down as foolish or, in this case... unpleasant? he'd been brightening up somewhat in oblivious optimism, then blinks as if physically stunned--

a groan. ] Meg...

Do you enjoy beating me that much? [ well, probably not as much as alecto does. but he wins over alecto more, he thinks. ] I've gotten better at defeating you, too. What's our win-loss ratio again?

... Don't tell me, if it's greater in your favor. [ it proobably is. he had a lot of losses when he was just starting out, it'd take a while before his win streak would catch up to that first long string of losses. ]

I haven't been counting.

[Which is marginally untrue. Meg counts more than he likely knows and more than she's likely to admit to.

He brings up an interesting question, however. Does she enjoy beating him? A little. There's a part of her conflicted with all of that. Does she want Zagreus to be happy? Yes, though she'd probably never say it easily. Is it hard to stand against him and keep him away from that? Yes. A bit.

For some moments, she looks serious. More gravely serious than she normally does as she, not for the first time, contemplates if she's doing the right thing. Zagreus is a friend, at the very least, if nothing more. Perhaps it's more appropriate to help him than to stop him.

Fighting him is helping him, right?]

I could be convinced to take them on with you. But I want something in return for it. Nothing is free down here.

[ he's beaten the theseus-asterius duo before, even with the odds against him. so this whole affair isn't a matter of him not being able to defeat them, it's just...

maybe he's just smarting from his most recent death, maybe theseus' gloating just got under his skin a bit more than usual. maybe underneath it all he just wants to hang out with meg a bit more, in a situation where she's not actively trying to kill him. whatever it is, he noticeably perks up at meg even entertaining this option. ] Really? You would? [ actually, he's kind of amazed at her answer. maybe underneath it all he'd been expecting her to shoot him down as always.

but he's happy to be wrong.

even her stipulation only puts a dent in his enthusiastic grin. ] Well, all right, guess that's only fair. Nothing's free. [ it's worth it for meg agreeing at all. ] What can I do for you? Go on, name your price.

[He's not the only one surprised. That he even agrees to her ultimatum catches her unawares. Meg eyes him for several long moments. She didn't have something in mind.

Great. Now she has to come up with something. So what does she ask for? What can she ask for? What can he possibly give her that she genuinely would want? That's such a difficult thing to list.

She rises from the chaise he's invited her to sit on and for several long moments, she simply looks around his room, as if she's searching for something she can ask for from him. Maybe to keep something of his. As she moves, her pace is slow, a hand brushing over various belongings of his. The collection of chitons in his wardrobe. The mirror Nyx gifted him. A poster of... Achilles, lining his wall.]

My price.

[She still doesn't have an answer.]

You put off your little escape. Enough time for me to genuinely try to convince you to stop this nonsense. To stay here. Where you belong.

[With me.

She's tempted to say it. She wants to. As usual, she can't. The words just won't come out.]

With the rest of us.

[Close enough.]

[ funnily enough, part of him was expecting this answer.

but it didn't make it any less disappointing to hear. or maybe that's not the right word, but he's not sure what the right word would be. tired, maybe? that she'd bring this up over and over when his mind is already set on his goal. whatever it is, his bright grin quickly fades. ]

Meg...

I'm not going to agree to that. Not even for you. [ ... it sounds cold as soon as he says it, and he realizes it himself. he looks only briefly contrite, but he wouldn't do anything like take it back. ] I mean, it's defeating the purpose to go to Elysium if I said yes, right?

[ but he can feel something like a stark gap that opens between them whenever this topic is brought up. actually the topic of his escape never leaves, not when he constantly leaves, over and over again. he lets out a long breath, glances off towards the door almost as if to avoid her eyes. if it came down to it he could give her any of his belongings, almost anything really, even that treasured poster, as silly as it seems.

but not this. ]

You can't convince me. [ it sounds damnedly final, but he means it. ] I really have to do this. Sorry, Meg.

[Yes. She's anticipating just such a response. It's always been the same. Nothing she has said, nothing she can say, can get him to turn course. She's not sure why she expected anything different.

For several long moments, she simply watches him. Is this really what it's come down to? Just what is she supposed to say? How is she supposed to take this? The same way she always has—poorly. Why can't he get it? Why can't she get through to him? And why could he be like this back when she wanted him to be serious about something for once?

Rather, why was it that he couldn't be serious about her?]

I see.

[Was it even worth the attempt? She's lost count of how many times she's tried.]

I... guess I should be doing what I can to help you then.

[And that, for her is new. She's refused in the past. And a part of her could be genuinely doing it for him, but she wonders if there's a larger part of her that would simply be better off if he wasn't there. Because at least if he isn't in the Underworld, she doesn't feel like she's trying to have a dead-end conversation with him.

Even if she's the one who instigated it. The only way she can forget about him is if he isn't there.]

[ this may as well be the most or even first serious goal he'd ever conceived in his life, trying to reach the surface. the seeds of it were sown in his youth when he was discontent and struggling with tasks he never seemed suited for, the unease only growing until he'd discovered that letter behind hades' desk that fateful night. and from then his quest had crystallized: to escape the underworld. he'd be hellbent on it.

nyx or achilles or thanatos or meg wouldn't stop him or change his mind. but maybe only meg would actually stand in his way, even if it was her job. he's somewhat resigned to it now but the conversations rarely changed when they each had their goals and their goals opposed each other--

... wait. ] Did you say you'd help? [ that takes him by surprise and it shows as he blinks, his frown fades. ] Wait. Really? [ but some small ember of hope flickers. ]

Anyway I thought I was the one owing you a favor. [ this belatedly occurs to him, too. ]

[If she wasn't feeling so soured by another attempt to talk sense into him, his reaction might amuse her. Partially, it still does, though her immeasurable disappointment overpowers it.]

That is what I said. [She thinks, as still as a statue for some moments before she finally moves again. Her wing unfurls to stretch and folds itself back down. Megaera paces thoughtfully, from one side of his room and to the other.]

I'll have to be careful about how I go about it. I won't stand against you. I'll leave that to my sisters. If Hades asks, I'll say they caught you before I did. I know you can take them down.

[Meg frowns, a hand poised at her chin and she nods, as if to confirm her thoughts. It's not the first time she's considered all of this. She simply never wanted to come to a point where she'd say it.]

Maybe there are other things I can do. I don't know yet. It'll work for now, right?

[ meg's about-face is so unexpected it kind of stuns him. ] I... wow, okay. Yeah, that'd work. I mean, if you're really serious, I guess I'd miss fighting you though.

[ meg's sisters are... nice, for a certain value of 'nice', but there's nothing quite like being whipped to death by your ex. or vice versa, killing her brutally. just zagmeg things. he's so used to the fact that she opposes him that he has to take a moment to orient himself to this paradigm shift.

... he crosses the room to stand right in her way as she paces, crosses his arms as he may as well force her to a stop. his look is speculative, his eyes locking onto hers as if trying to gauge her sincerity. ]

You sure about this? I know I was the one suggesting this but... well, I didn't really expect you to actually agree. [ it's almost a little suspicious. he's a bit guileless, but only to a point. ] Wouldn't you get into trouble if you help me? I know Nyx and Thanatos have.

We can have some one-on-one sessions.

[It flies out before she has a chance to properly leash it. What she even means by that, she doesn't even know. It's one of the most ridiculous things she's ever said. She takes the time she has to avoid his gaze, thankful she has a wealth of other things to look at.

That lasts only up until he commands her attention. The audacity. But she can appreciate it for what it is. It doesn't take him long for her to begrudgingly find herself stopping. Perhaps it's a fidget, a tell of her own, but Megaera has a difficult time remaining still. Her hands drift over her attire, and she adjusts it, though it's not out of place in the slightest.]

Does it really matter at this point, Zag? You're looking for a way out of here. I'm just trying to make that happen quicker for you. [She pauses for a breath or two, gaze staring down into his.] What's the problem. This is what you wanted, right, so why are you questioning it. If you wanted to make me angry, there's so many other ways for you to do it.

[ he certainly wouldn't say no to one-on-ones with his favorite fury sister... probably anyway. if she was serious about not fighting him, his first thought is that he might not even get to see her much at all, when he's grown used to encountering her almost every single attempt through hell.

she's intimidating, but he knows her. he wouldn't even flinch if and when they try to murder each other, he meets her oblique threat with a challenging grin of his own. ]

It does matter.

I'm looking for a way out of here and I'll accomplish it with or without help. It doesn't really matter how long it takes. [ kind of a cocky thing to say, probably, when he's racked up countless deaths trying by now. but he'll get there and die more trying. ] And yeah, I do want you with me... but that's only if you're really sure about it.

I mean, you've punished Sisyphus for helping me before, right?

[ he doesn't blame her. it is her job, and sispyhus cheerfully continues to help him regardless. but that's just the fact of it: helping zagreus goes against the lord of hell's mandate. ]

[What a perfectly Zagreus collection of things for... him to say. She's not even surprised at this point. How could she be? He's himself. Of all things, Megaera has learned what to expect out of him, if she should expect anything at all. Usually when it comes to expectation and Zagreus, she knows not to... expect too much. If anything.

She scowls. Plainly. Transparently. There's no reason for her to hide it.]

I just want you to get out of here.

[With her help. Without it. Doesn't really matter to her too much.

There's a lingering pause until she prods him in the chest with her forefinger. Since he's there. Since he doesn't seem to have any intentions of moving. Since he seems more than happy to push her proverbial buttons.]

That'll happen quicker if I help you. And if Sisyphus helps you... Well. I guess I just have to look the other way and pretend I don't know about it, don't I. [It's not even a question.] Let my sisters handle him. I'll do as much pretending as I have to in order to get you the hell out. So you either accept it or don't, but now that I've offered it, you can never claim I didn't.

[ his eyes narrow for a brief moment as if coming to a decision how sincere she is, then...

you know what? she seems to be convinced. and even if it's unexpected of her, ultimately it's just not in his nature to be that suspicious of people. he'd rather trust her. so after a breath, he just relaxes a little, noticeably so. ] All right, I'll believe you. You're not wrong, I'd rather have you on my side than not. Guess I'd also have to get used to it though. [ but meg is meg, and she's a dear friend to him despite everything.

he raises a fist towards her, as if for a bump in solidarity. ] I'll be happy to accept your help, Meg. Appreciate it. [ whether some skepticism still remains, he'd make a conscious decision to trust. his smile is more sincere now. ]

Want to come with and help me with the whole getting out of here bit right now? I was just about to head back into Tartarus.

[At least he isn't pressing. She knows if he did, she'd erupt all over him. As she has in the past. Megaera can frequently keep her temper in check, but when it comes to Zagreus, there is something uniquely about him that keeps her frequently on her toes. It's not very easy to keep herself disciplined. Especially when he's so good at finding the cracks in her proverbial armour.

He remains where he is and she simply stares at him, evidently in no particular mood to begin celebrating or showing any sort of grand display of their so-called alliance. Whatever it is. She's sure she'll be hearing no shortage of complaints from his father.]

Yes, well. [Because what else can she really say? A decent portion of her wants to go hide in the lounge with Thanatos and discuss things at great length with him. Find out where he stands with everything. Figure out how he's handling things. Undoubtedly, he has a little more grace than she does.] No rest for the weary is what you're saying.

[There is a nagging thought there, however. If she travels with him, there's a likelihood, almost a guarantee, that they'll happen across her sisters. And that speaks for itself, really. A job is a job and she may not be able to say no in the face of her reigning lord.]

If you wanted to ask me on a date, there's better ways to put it. You might be better off there on your own.

[Alecto will never let me hear the end of this.]

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For deathdefiance

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SORRY FOR BEING SO LATE i got a little busy

NO NO. Take your time. It is okay.

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