[ IM. HELLO? idk we're. in the food court when lavi sneaks up on her. she jumps when he makes himself known, her plastic fork clattering onto the sad excuse for a salad she managed to frankenstein together from the different fast food places... ]
Like how you're the goddess of spring and vegetation. And how you're also the goddess of death, so humans aren't allowed to speak your name directly -- so instead, they call you by a bunch of different names.
[he looks expectantly at her like he's waiting for her to confirm that she is indeed the true ruler of death,]
[lavi's getting an inkling that maybe he shouldn't have mentioned it? maybe? just a little,]
Kind of? The one where you're the goddess of spring is the most well-known. The others all differ depending on the culture, and some people like taking creative liberties with the gods. Like Zagreus -- there's one where he's the son of Zeus, and another where he's the son of Hades.
[ and just like that, it's almost like lavi is talking to a different person. persephone suddenly drops her hair, going from bundled in her arms to framing her face so that he can only see her eyes—almost seeming closer red, now, more so than pink—staring coldly back at him. ]
[Lavi has given so many people nicknames here, and some of them most of them dislike, but he's always been quick on the uptake -- in that he doesn't really have to be right now, since Persephone spells it out for him very clearly,
he swallows once, eyes frozen on the look in her eyes]
...Sorry.
[SCARY..... but there's more than just fear, there's the awkwardness of knowing he made a blunder, and all the shame that comes with it -- ]
I won't, promise. Um... [HE FEELS KIND OF TOO ASHAMED TO CALL HER BY HER NAME?] Sorry, again. My Gramps always tells me to be more careful...
[ ... it takes her another couple of seconds to come back to reality, and when she does, she's almost mortified to realize that was her reaction. though she can't exactly ungrow her hair, she at least brushes her bangs out of her face and tucks some hair behind her ear. less of the wrathful goddess look... ]
N-no, I should be the one saying sorry. I just... have bad memories associated with that name. It's nothing against you, I promise. [ beat ] If you want to use a nickname, Perse is fine. Or... anything but that.
[NO... HE FEELS BAD!! even though her reaction was scary -- it struck Lavi as very human at the same time, maybe that's why he feels guilt instead of awe at having upset her,]
Bad memories that I brought up. [he has no idea how bad those memories are, but he's familiar with trauma -- and how it's so out of one's control.
he tucks his hands into his pockets though, his voice lighter than before.]
Think I'll just stick to Persephone. You've got the most interesting name out of all the gods for a reason, after all.
[ well, of course—the gods fashioned mortals in their image, after all. but anyway, she seems more than ready to move past the topic without any further discussion. ]
People have called my name a lot of things, but I don't think "interesting" is one of them.
[ there's something about being in this jail cell right now that makes this place really feel like hell.
though her eyes are dry now, it's clear that persephone has been crying for a while. it's probably for the best that she's never been a huge fan of makeup. there's a redness in her eyes that doesn't seem to be the result of her tears, though... it's almost like her sclerae themselves are almost the color of blood.
she's not quite sure what to say when she steps off the ferry, so... she doesn't say anything at all. she just gets as close as she can to lavi, then... holds out her hand. ]
[If Lavi's surprised to see Persephone when she comes on in, then he doesn't mention it. Instead, he looks down at her offered hand, and -- somewhat tentatively, reaches out to hold it with his own in return.
...If he looks at her hand like this, then he doesn't have to see her face. If he sees her face, then he might just really, finally break.]
[ she croaks out the words as she squeezes his hand, grip simultaneously firm and soft all at once. she can't quite bring herself to look at his face, either, so... turning their gazes down as they try not to cry is how this is gonna go, apparently. ]
[STOP NO he's seen so many faces, all different levels of neutral or distraught, but tears... Persephone's one of the first. It reminds him of Lenalee, and the comparison makes him swallow his grief,
He tries to keep his voice light, even though it's hard. Even though it hurts.]
...Imagine if I still didn't. Then someone else would have taken the fall, and I'd be somewhere wishing it was me.
. . . How much do you remember? I—I know it's not going to change anything, but... if there's anything we can use to make sure it doesn't happen again...
[ she's scared. scared for him, scared for herself, scared for everyone else in this shitty set of isles of hell. it's not like she'd made light of things before, but there's something just so much more real about the whole situation now. ]
[His grip tightens on her hands, not too tight though. Just in a way that he hopes is reassuring, even though he has no words to comfort her, or even help.]
I remember everything. If you've got any specific questions, then I'll answer them.
[for now...]
...The thing is, neither of us wanted to kill each other. We said as much to each other when we woke up together in the theater. But I can't help thinking that's why the octopus was there. To push us into it, no matter who died in the end.
It was my fault. The octopus -- we followed it back to the aquarium cause of that drink. Then when it attacked, we all started fighting. I only realized I killed Cosmos by mistake after I landed the hit, but I still killed him.
[oh no. oh no... the tears are a hit, but the apology -- when she mentions not getting to tell him her history? that one hurts too, more than he thought it would.]
Never seen a goddess cry for me before. [still, he musters a smile, curling his hand around hers] That's definitely one for the books.
[even if he can't learn anything else, he can write at least this.]
Don't cry, Seph. [IG HE DECIDED ON A NICKNAME] I'll be grateful as long as someone here knows your real story, y'know?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 0, thursday
Are you really Persephone?
[this is such a rude question to ask but he's curious...]
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Wh— what kind of question is that?
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lavi bends down to grab it, starts holding it, stops, and then puts it in the bin. he gets another fork,]
Sorry, did I scare you? [YES?] I've heard the myths about you, so I was curious to see if they were true.
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There are...myths about me? [ beat ] Like what?
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[he looks expectantly at her like he's waiting for her to confirm that she is indeed the true ruler of death,]
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[ she says it slowly, almost... fearfully? hm. ]
That's not—I... is that really how people see me?
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Kind of? The one where you're the goddess of spring is the most well-known. The others all differ depending on the culture, and some people like taking creative liberties with the gods. Like Zagreus -- there's one where he's the son of Zeus, and another where he's the son of Hades.
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[ beat ]
Wait. Did you say son of Hades?
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Yeah! -- Right, that'd make him your son too.
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WHAT
1/2
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wait
maybe this is spoilers...............]
S-sorry... Do you guys not have any kids...?
[surely that's the problem here]
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[ AAAAAA??? OK LIKE... she takes a breath... ]
Y...you said Zagreus? The same Zagreus that's here? He's my... son? With Hades?
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Y-yeah... I mean -- he said so, but he didn't say anything about you. So maybe it's different for him?
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Ohhhh my godsssss my mother is going to kill meeee
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It's fine as long as it's not true, right?!?
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[ GRABS HIM BY THE COLLAR ]
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I dunno?! I'm not the one married to Hades!!
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[ THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING she just hides her face in her hands as her hair starts to billow out again... ]
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Sorry... I guess I got caught up in the moment.
[watches her hair billow....]
But I'm glad ya like each other. [thanks lavi]
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I'm Lavi, by the way. Nice to meet ya!
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...You already know who I am.
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[which means, he's curious about persephone...]
Can I call you Persie?
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Never call me that again.
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he swallows once, eyes frozen on the look in her eyes]
...Sorry.
[SCARY..... but there's more than just fear, there's the awkwardness of knowing he made a blunder, and all the shame that comes with it -- ]
I won't, promise. Um... [HE FEELS KIND OF TOO ASHAMED TO CALL HER BY HER NAME?] Sorry, again. My Gramps always tells me to be more careful...
[does lavi listen tho? he does not]
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N-no, I should be the one saying sorry. I just... have bad memories associated with that name. It's nothing against you, I promise. [ beat ] If you want to use a nickname, Perse is fine. Or... anything but that.
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Bad memories that I brought up. [he has no idea how bad those memories are, but he's familiar with trauma -- and how it's so out of one's control.
he tucks his hands into his pockets though, his voice lighter than before.]
Think I'll just stick to Persephone. You've got the most interesting name out of all the gods for a reason, after all.
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People have called my name a lot of things, but I don't think "interesting" is one of them.
WEEK 2: saturday
though her eyes are dry now, it's clear that persephone has been crying for a while. it's probably for the best that she's never been a huge fan of makeup. there's a redness in her eyes that doesn't seem to be the result of her tears, though... it's almost like her sclerae themselves are almost the color of blood.
she's not quite sure what to say when she steps off the ferry, so... she doesn't say anything at all. she just gets as close as she can to lavi, then... holds out her hand. ]
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...If he looks at her hand like this, then he doesn't have to see her face. If he sees her face, then he might just really, finally break.]
...Hey. [...] Thanks for coming.
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[ she croaks out the words as she squeezes his hand, grip simultaneously firm and soft all at once. she can't quite bring herself to look at his face, either, so... turning their gazes down as they try not to cry is how this is gonna go, apparently. ]
You didn't even know.
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He tries to keep his voice light, even though it's hard. Even though it hurts.]
...Imagine if I still didn't. Then someone else would have taken the fall, and I'd be somewhere wishing it was me.
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[ she's scared. scared for him, scared for herself, scared for everyone else in this shitty set of isles of hell. it's not like she'd made light of things before, but there's something just so much more real about the whole situation now. ]
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I remember everything. If you've got any specific questions, then I'll answer them.
[for now...]
...The thing is, neither of us wanted to kill each other. We said as much to each other when we woke up together in the theater. But I can't help thinking that's why the octopus was there. To push us into it, no matter who died in the end.
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[ . . . ]
But... why? Why did someone have to die?
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It was my fault. The octopus -- we followed it back to the aquarium cause of that drink. Then when it attacked, we all started fighting. I only realized I killed Cosmos by mistake after I landed the hit, but I still killed him.
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[ the dam breaks. persephone can't help but look up at him now, eyes welled up with tears that shine against her rose-tinted skin. ]
I didn't... I didn't get to tell you my real history. I thought we'd have more time. I...
I'm sorry, Lavi.
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Never seen a goddess cry for me before. [still, he musters a smile, curling his hand around hers] That's definitely one for the books.
[even if he can't learn anything else, he can write at least this.]
Don't cry, Seph. [IG HE DECIDED ON A NICKNAME] I'll be grateful as long as someone here knows your real story, y'know?