The Winter of our Discontent
"Why on earth are we here?" Krissy looks around the clearing. "Oh, look at that little blue angel with the books. Isn't she pretty? Look at those wings. I just want to put her in my pocket and take her out to look at her when it gets gory."
"Huh, I thought we'd be taken to the greek gods." Claire frowns. The fledglings look back and see Krissy, a look of distress and awkward confusion in their eyes. "Oh crap." Claire covers her mouth.
"Oh, Krissy girl human." They all flock to her and hug her, just one of them speaking for the group in that way they have when they're in sinc that kind of creeps Claire out a little. "We're so sad and we know you're sad. Let us give you kisses until you feel better."
"Aw, it's okay. I'm okay." She blushes as they start kissing her cheeks. "Don't be sad, you cuties. It'll be okay."
"But... but the baby.." A pink one looks like she's going to cry.
"What baby?" Krissy frowns.
"Children, come back here, please." The small blue angel calls, ushering them closer.
"Can... can I talk to you a second?" Claire hurries over to the angel as she herds the fledglings away from Krissy who starts to look a bit distressed.
"Do you know me?" The angel asks cautiously.
"No, sorry, but my friend, she lost her baby and she can't remember him. She's blocked it out, some psychological thing." Claire informs the angel who looks just as distressed. "She can't handle it yet, I guess, so if you just could maybe ask them not to... to..."
"She forgot her baby?" the angel looks like she's going to cry.
"Yeah, i know, it's well, it's better than killing herself I guess. We were trying to get to the greek gods, though. I don't know why we were brought here." Claire shakes her head.
"Are you trying to get the recipe for ambrosia for Thanatos?" Claire looks up at the question.
"You know Nat? He didn't mention knowing an angel. What's your name? I probably don't recognize you without a vessel."
"I'm just the librarian. It doesn't matter. Good luck." the angel turns away and goes back to the fledglings. "I'll let them know. Children, come here, there's...there's something you need to know about grief."
Claire shrugs and turns back to Krissy who's walking off through the nests. It takes a minute to catch up with her.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to be here. Why did it take us here?” Krissy hugs her arms to her chest.
“It’s okay. It’ll be okay.” Claire shushes, putting her arms around her.
“I don’t even know why I’m upset. It’s so stupid. Nat’ll be fine. Mortal isn’t ‘will die in a week’, right?”
“Probably not. I’m sure he’d have said.” Claire sooths her. “C’mon, let’s try again and if it doesn’t take us there, we’ll go home.”
“Okay.” Krissy follows her to the gate. “Did you see that angel? Didn’t she have the most beautiful wings you’ve ever seen? Like the inside of a seashell.”
“Yeah, I think I’ve seen one of her feather’s before. I had to seduce that nazi to destroy it. Oh, Rye’s current vessel is awesome. He came up with these sigil tattoos in UV ink. I hope he does go to the school. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.”
“Oh, yeah? You had to seduce a nazi. Was it good or just al-reich?” Krissy asks. Claire just stares at her silently and unamused. “You’re the one who said you seduced a nazi.”
“I didn’t sleep with him. He was so, so hot though.It was so wrong.” Claire groans.
“Is that why Hel’s so pissy because you had to flirt with someone else?”
“No, and I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Geez, fine.”
“I dunno. I think I might like to be a vessel.” Krissy muses as they walk through the flowery fields.
“No, you don’t. Trust me. We’ve had this conversation before.”
“No, I mean, instant healing, instant transportation, we’d save so much time getting parts for your junker at least, ultra strength, badass warrior. It’d be so useful you know. Like Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Fucking Awesome!” She punches Claire in the arm.
“You are insane, woman.” Claire rubs her arm. “We are badass enough for anyone, the last thing we need is some domineering angelic soldier ordering us around. Or taking one of us over. We’ll just find someone who has nothing better to do. Maybe Saul?”
“Yeah,he’d only be improved by being replaced by an angel.” Krissy snorts.
“Let’s see if Rye is willing, no matter what vessel he uses. He’s a healer so that’s useful and if he’s with us he’s not hovering over Miti and Zuri like a maiden aunt or something.”
“Why is he doing that? Does he think they need a chaperone?” Krissy rolls her eyes.
“It’s kind of closing the barn door after the horses are gone, in that case.” Claire glances over at her with a suggestive grin, waiting for the double take.
“What do you…. nooo.” Krissy gapes, almost laughing.
“Yup. They borrowed a willing married couple. Apparently there are new rules allowing that.”
“Knowing Bree I’m not surprised. Yeah, let’s ask Rye and Saul. Give the poor love birds a break.” Krissy laughs. “Wait, did Miti get the soul for her vessel back? Can she leave and return it if she didn’t. Or can you put a vessel inside another vessel like nesting dolls? How did that work?”
“Hades found and returned the soul as part of his settlement for trespassing in neiflheim and stealing your corpsicle.” Claire shrugs. “I don’t remember all the details, she totally devastated him though. It was great.” Krissy smiles at the proud look on Claire’s face. “Oh, look a temple.” She points off in the horizon. “Look, I like Nat, but be warned, I’m not having sex with anyone for this crap, or even pretending to be willing. Because i have had my fill of greek gods. I mean, you know what i mean…”
“Sure, sure.” Krissy tries not to smile and fails miserably. “Hel will never take you back if you start gadding around with other gods right away anyways.”
“She won’t take me back unless I give up everything and everyone I love but her so ask me if I give a fuck what she thinks of my love life now we’re no longer together.” Claire snaps, shoving her hands into her pockets.
“No, I hear you. Those pagan gods can be so possessive. Even Nat had his moments. He was jealous of Saul of all people. I couldn’t stop laughing. At least i think it was Saul, unless he has a twin or something. You know, who’s not a gambling whoremonger.”Krissy shakes her head. “Hey, look, I see someone.” She points at a figure between the columns. “Yooooo Halloooooo!” Krissy waves.
“Oh for god’s sake, Krissy, what’s wrong with you? That is not how you greet a god. Where the hell did you get yoo halloo from anyways?”
“Mary Poppins. Fox hunting I think. I dunno, british people. Why hunt those cute little fuzzy foxes anyway? With those big blue eyes, pointy nose, chasing mice and digging holes. tiny paws, up the hill, suddenly you’re standing still.” Krissy looks off into the distance and pauses.
“Oh don’t you dare.”
“What does the fox say?” Krissy starts to sing. “Cha-cha cha-cha cha-cha-chow! cha-cha cha-cha cha-cha chow.”
“Oh my god.” Claire covers her eyes as Krissy starts doing the dance. “Gonna to get us fucking killed.” she mutters.
“Is your freind ill?” a young woman with light brown curls and a face and figure close to Krissy’s walks over in a beautiful white dress with a flowered sash. “Has she been inflicted with madness?”
“Yes.” Claire says flatly.
“No, I’m sorry.” Krissy gives a laughing grin. “Just teasing my partner. Hi. Are you Proserpine? Persephone?”
“Persephone.” She says giving Krissy an odd look. “Where is your child.”
“My what?” Krissy frowns.
“Miss, Ma’am, your goddessness?” Claire quickly interrupts.
“Persephone’s fine.”
“Persephone. Are… are you aware of where you are? What happened to you?”
“Yes. I believe so. Word has gotten around from the aesir that this is Loki’s creation, though the details are thin. But yes, I do remember my time as both Persephone and Proserpine, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“It is. What happened to you and your husband, that was Anansi’s doing.” Claire informs her.
“Oh that wretched spider.” she seethes and starts to pace. “I will pluck his legs and feed them to the bird woman as he watches. How dare he do this to us? Turning us into such… horrible weak things. It’s unforgivable.”
“Oh, so, um, I don’t suppose you’d care to come out with us? Go back to Hades? They’re out of ambrosia and Krissy doesn’t want Nat to die either.” Claire babbles, pointing back to her partner, who’s rubbing her aching chest, and trying very hard not to think.
“Nat?”
“Thanatos. We call him Nat. They were lovers.” Claire says quietly. “Their baby died. She’s… not well. So don’t..” Claire starts kicking herself immediately upon speaking. Why is she telling this pagan goddess this? What the hell is wrong with her?
“And who are you that you could bring us back to life? Are you goddesses as well?”
“Um, no, we’re hunters. Freinds in high places.” Claire rubs the back of her neck. “We’re worried about the souls in Hades too. I think if it collapses we’ll lose a lot to Hell and nobody wants that. Hell is strong enough.”
“True.” The woman crosses her arms, looking thoughtfully into the distance. “I’m not leaving without my mother, though.”
“What?” Claire blinks.
“You do know she’s the one who got Anansi to do what he did, right?” Krissy asks, ambling back over.
“Don’t be absurd, she would never do such a thing.” Persephone shakes her head. “My mother loves me and maybe a bit domineering, but she’s nothing if not protective. She would never subject me to that, not knowing how happy I was with my husband.”
“Yeah, its called unintended consequences.” Krissy walks away again.
“Please forgive her, she’s not herself.” Claire apologizes.
“Her baby died?” Persephone asks just as quietly. Claire nods. “Was it Thanatos’ child?”
“Yes. She’s blocked it out. How did you know she had a child?” Claire can’t help but ask the lovely goddess.
“She’s lactating. The poor woman. Poor Thanatos. Nobody cares for him. It’s odd a hunter would, and that he would choose her. You know, he and his brother are very close.” She emphasises the ‘very’.
“Not surprised.” Claire crosses her arms, briefly before noticing the goddess looking at her very intently. “I’m sorry. I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Claire Novak, hunter, former psychopomp and assistant to Death. Hi.” She offers her hand.
“Hello.” Persephone smiles. “Come have a seat and tell me what exactly is going on.” She ushers Claire over to the temple.
“Okay, Krissy? Can we have a minute?” She waves to her partner. “If you’d not mention the baby again, I’d appreciate it.”
“No, of course not.” Persephone links her arm into Claire’s. “Let her enjoy the scenery. I’m more interested in you. How did a human become a psychopomp. Where you a valkyrie?”
“Oh, um, it’s a long story.” Claire blushes. “Krissy. Can we have a minute?” she asks as her partner comes back over.”
“Are you sure?” She raises an eyebrow.”
“Please?”
“Fine, I’ll make a daisy chain.” Krissy walks off to a group of flowers.
“Feel free to gather as many as you like.”Persephone says with a cool politeness. “I will discuss things with your partner here. Enjoy yourself and we will retrieve you when we finish.”
Persephone is a remarkable listener, kind, sympathetic, composed, asking all the right questions at the right times. She even laughs at the right times in Claire’s stories.
“You know that was what I liked best about Hades. He didn’t drink, didn’t play those stupid power games. Who is he now? Who even am I after all of this? Not Proserpine, not even really Persephone.” She sighs and looks away almost helplessly. “I just don’t know.”
“You’re the queen of the greek and roman underworld. That much is obvious.” Claire gives a half hearted grin.
“You’re so sweet.” Persephone puts a hand on Claire’s cheek. “Are you one of Artemis’ girls?”
“No. I’m.. a free agent.” Claire shrugs. “I protect humanity, but as far as I hear you don’t harm anyone. I’m not so sure about your mother. But i could arrange for you to come visit. It’d probably be better to keep her and your husband apart anyway.” Claire suggests gently.
“Sweet and considerate. No, I would not like my mother to run afoul of hunters either.” Proserpine sighs. “I’m not certain about returning to be Hades wife though. After all, that’s happened, everything that’s passed between us, I think maybe I need to find myself a little first and then come and find out who he is.”
“Well, marriage is usually until death and you did die. So marriage over, right? Though things have changed quite a lot since you died.”
“So I see. What is this material?” She strokes Claire’s leg.
“It’s blue jean. If… if you like, and would be willing to provide them with ambrosia, I could… we could show you around. You’d have to be okay with my hunting, of course. I mean…” Claire blushes as Persephone examines the zipper on her jacket next.
“What is this?”
“It’s a zipper. You.. you zip it. See?” She zips it up. Persephone laughs and unzips it again.
“And look at these cunning little buttons. You must be extremely wealthy to have such marvels.”
“No, not even a little. These are kind of common now.” Claire blushes. The two look over as Krissy places a small wreath of flowers on Claire’s head. “Krissy. Hi.”
“Am I interrupting something?” She asks giving Persephone a suspicious look.
“Not at all. I was just agreeing to join the both of you on your quests. And of course to provide my pantheon with ambrosia. So your darling Thanatos stays as godly as ever.” She smiles at Krissy in a way so fake the hunter is surprised that Claire doesn’t seem oblivious. “Your partner is such a fascinating woman.”
“Yeah. She’s great. You’re not going back to your husband?”
“Not yet. I need a little time.” She explains. “I’ve been gone a long time. I have things to learn.”
“I bet. Okay… can I talk to you a minute Claire?” Krissy grabs her partners arm and drags her out of the temple.
“What?” Claire protests.
“Have you lost your mind? You can’t take up with a MARRIED greek god. Do you even know what that’s inviting?”
“What? NO!” Claire blushes a little too deeply to be believed. “It’s not like that. She just wants to find herself.”
“Yeah,and I bet the first place she’ll look is your pants. You just broke up with Hel. It’s way too soon.” Krissy says firmly.
“I’m not… she’s married, Krissy, and straight?” Claire points out.
“No, she’s greek. And she is not coming with us.”
“Greek is not a sexual orientation, Krissy. and why not? We want her out. This way we can keep an eye on her.”
“I thought we wanted the recipe for ambrosia.”
“Oh, well, this is good too.” Claire’s cheeks stay red.
“Oh well? You’re thinking with your dick, Claire.”
“I don’t have a dick, Krissy.”
“You’re sure as hell acting like it.”
“I’m not going to sleep with Persephone, Krissy! Now stop it!”
“Fine.” Krissy looks back. “But she wants to sleep with you. She’s been making eyes at you since she came close enough to see you.”
“No, she…”
“Claire.” Krissy takes hold of her face. “Trust me on this. She wants that sweet nonexistant ass of yours.”
“I have an ass!”
“No, you don’t. Ow…” Krissy laughs as Claire punches her arm. “You are so butch, it’s not even funny.”
“I dare you to say that after you see the jumper I seduced the nazi in.” Claire challenges. “Look, it’s better that we’re able to keep an eye on her. Yes?”
“Yes, I guess. But she has to give them ambrosia.”
“Of course, I will.” They look back to see the goddess approaching. “Those souls are depending on me. And Thanatos shouldn’t suffer for my former husband’s mistakes.” Persephone pats Krissy’s head. “Shall we go, Claire, dear?”
“Yeah, it’s actually pretty easy. Just hold our hands, click your heels and say, there’s no place like home three times.”
“Very well.” She takes Claire’s hands. Krissy gives her partner a significant look that she pointedly ignores. Hopefully the language barrier once they’re out of the abyss will put a stop to the goddesses advances.