lina_musebox | ;rey&poe

"I'm not technically allowed," he offered, "but no one's stopped me yet." To his knowledge, no one's so much as said anything to anyone. They probably gave him a side-eye or something but didn't seem to care otherwise. Perhaps if it was his other half instead, the more hot-headed side, then they'd cause a fuss. Considering Finn's much calmer, they probably think he won't cause any trouble.

Certainly, he doesn't intend to. In fact, this is the first time he's done anything except observe on the surface in a long time.

He frowned a little at the mention of Demeter. "I heard about you from Ares, actually. Haven't seen Demeter in eons." The other Goddess wasn't exactly a talker or people-person, in Finn's opinion. Perhaps this was why. She had been trying to hide her daughter. Too bad not many people cared either way. Finn certainly didn't when he first caught wind of the rumor... Except perhaps Zeus, which made sense.

"I, uh... noticed that you can create life. What were you working on?"

“From Ares?” Rey replied, wrinkling her nose a little. That stuck up, God? The one who continued to brood or act out in tantrums? He didn’t seem interested in her, and Artemis told him to stay away regardless. Rey didn’t have an interest in him either, not that she was interested in anyone.

“He barely said two words to me. Only glared and muttered things under his breath,” she huffed, effortlessly creating a strap for her staff and slung it over her shoulder. Hades....Finn....he didn’t seem too bad, but he was related to Zeus. She wasn’t about to let her guard down around him. But...it did sound her that Demeter didn’t speak of her. She was a very private goddess, and she swore she did the things she did to keep Rey safe....but it still hurt.

“Like mother, like daughter, but I can create flowers and trees. Demeter does everything else, like the crops and other things.” Whereas Rey was still struggling to find her purpose in all of this.

“I was working on a new tree but...” she looked back to it, lying the height wasn’t where she wanted....and the leaves weren’t how she liked either.

“I think it’s meant to be a shrub than a tree.”

"Yeah, he's not too friendly." It wasn't like he and Ares spoke very often. He heard it from Ares but the God hadn't been speaking to him at the time. Loud mouth on that one.

Finn stepped forward after she seemed to move the staff away but he still kept his distance, not wanting to spook her. Instead, he looked up at her tree, tilting his head a bit to the side. "I like it. It looks nice as a tree or a shrub."

Not the best source for compliments as Finn liked all life, but this was also new and beautiful all the same. He'd like a closer look but, again, didn't want to spook her. "You say that like you meant it to be something different, though. This is already beautiful. What else did you have in mind?" Perhaps creation was like art and always took a form of its own.

There was a brief eye roll from Rey. Saying Ares wasn’t friendly was the same as saying Zeus liked women. Which was why Demeter had taken great care to hide Rey. She didn’t want the ruler of the gods to have his eye on Rey. And Rey didn’t want to be chased around by some lightening wielding, flirtatious ass.

“You’re better off asking if Hera isn’t angry with her husband.” Bit of a joke there, she wasn’t all seriousness all the time.

She watched him out of the corner of her eye, mindful of his movements, still thinking there might be a trick or two up his sleeve....but he didn’t seem as hot headed from the legends. Maybe his other half held that mantle.

“I wanted it to be something for the nymphs to play in. Something they could hide in as well.” But it was a good first start. She had a rough draft of what she wanted, but did she dare keep trying?

“It’s a start....and beautiful in its own right, but I wanted it to be something....more?” Something that would really help or something that would do wonders...or get Demeter’s attention.

He smiled softly at the joke even if it was a little loaded. Those family problems were only funny when Finn refused to take them seriously, which he can't remember the last time he had.

His hands go to his hips and he sways a little, lost in thought. "I'm not experienced in this sort of thing. The underworld isn't for creation... What exactly did you have in mind? Maybe if you talk it out and explain it, you can more easily create it."

Rey saw that soft smile. She found it made him a little more handsome? Or maybe it made him more approachable. Yes, maybe that was it. He wasn’t as big and unapproachable when he smiled. More caring....kind even. But Rey was going off of what she sensed, Finn still had plenty of time to prove her mother was right; that others would only use her.

“But you allow for life to exist.” Which was true. There couldn’t be life without death. Life fed into death, and death fed into life. It was a never ending cycle, that much the young goddess knew.

“I....just think of it? I guess?” She tried to explain, looking over her creation again.

“I wanted it to have a slender trunk and branches. Something feminine, whimsical even. Different flowers that cascaded downward from the top...” she began to weave her hands about, drawing what she wanted out of thin air. The shrub started to grow taller, becoming what Rey envisioned little by little until it was a miniature willow tree with flowers in bloom.

“Ohh, that worked out better than I thought.”

"Do I?" he asked when she pointed out what he allowed to be. "If anything, I'm a servant to life. Or that's how it feels sometimes."

His words taper away as he watches the tree grown before a smile blooms over his face. "It's beautiful. Look at that." He'd love to step closer but alas- Maybe in a moment. "Is that what you pictured? It's lovely. You have a lot of talent for this."

“I thought you did?” Rey replied with a slight tilt of her head. She thought he allowed life to live, because...reasons? The great cosmic balance of things? Maybe? She honestly didn’t know. It wasn’t like she hung around other Gods too often, aside from Athena, or Artemis.

A shy smile graced her lips, making her avert her gaze for a moment.

“Thank you. It is, but...I don’t know. I feel like there’s more I could do, but this is perfect for now.” The flowers had bloom and the wind was picking up some of the petals to scatter about.

“I’m still trying to improve. Be as good as Demeter herself.”

"You're not Demeter. That's no reason for you to be. I mean, look at what you can do." Demeter handled different things, to Finn's mind. She gave life, sure, but not like how Rey could. It was life and art and happiness and home.

Not to mention Rey beyond her abilities. She was beautiful, especially with that bashful smile. Finn's heart thumped in his chest, a pulse he only felt with his lover... "I like your talent better, if my opinion counts at all.

"But, no, I wouldn't say I allow life to do anything. I merely take care of what comes after."

“I can make pretty things...not crops or wheat or anything useful.” Not yet anyway, she was working on it. Trying to push her powers to the limits of what they could do, but she still felt lost in what she should be doing. What Demeter wanted her to do.

“Have a lot to love to...but, thanks.” That bashful smile appaeated again, with Rey tucking a strand behind her ear. Finn was nice, nicer than what she had expected of a major deity. He was handsome too, but she could t let down her guard. Not yet, anyway.

“Well, you are synonymous with Death. It can come off as you take life, rather then taking care of what happens. But, mortals can get things easily confused.” A shrug of her shoulders as she went back to work on the tree, extending its height and making the branches longer.

“There we go...” and without thinking about, she started to climb the trunk, moving up to one branch to sit on.

“Perfect height! I can see more of the field !”

He was just about to reply when Rey suddenly bounded up the tree. Finn laughed, taking a few steps forward to watch her but unwilling to let that conversation drop there. "Doesn't that imply that pretty things aren't useful?" he called up to her. "What a desolate and sad place this would be without these touches of beauty in it. The living need reasons to live, and you provide some of that. I'd call it important."

Earth wasn't like the underworld. Their large stone structures were glorious in their own right but there was no life there, no light or warmth aside from his love. Rey seemed to be life and light and warmth personified. He wanted Poe to meet her. He suddenly wanted many things.

"Maybe the mortals are right. I wouldn't say that I'm the reason life ends but there is a cycle that makes it... important." Was that the right word? Didn't matter. "Can I join you up there?"

Rey didn’t think the conversation would end there. If anything, he may need to climb up to keep talking. Or start to yell and attract attention. Then again...could he climb a tree? There was a lot about the other Gods that she didn’t know about.

“It implies that there should be some beauty and functionality to something,” Rey called back, watching Finn with some interest. He wasn’t what she was expecting for the God of the underworld. Or one half of him. He ruled with another, at least that’s what she briefly heard.

“Demeter thinks that...things that are pretty for the sake of it, it’s not enough. I tried to change her mind once, but we butted heads over it. Glad to meet someone who is of a liked mind.” Really, it was. It wasn’t often that her work was recognized by another of her kind. Then again, she rarely interacted with anyone else.

“Yes, it’s important—very important. It would throw off the balance if nothing died or grew again. But...come up if you want. The branches are sturdy enough.”

She made sure of that. Her creations would t fail her, and with proper care, would grow into stronger and bigger plants. Even looking out into the field, there were a few of her creations scattered around. Almost as if she were trying to create a maze in bits and pieces.

“What made you want to come up here?”

He grimaced a little from his spot on the ground. "I never really got along with Demeter, to be honest. Not that I've really tried." There was no reason for pleasantries among their kind but Finn often tried to be pleasant enough. Demeter still always rubbed the wrong way. A bit too stiff, perhaps. Or maybe stubborn. He wasn't sure and didn't know her well enough to pin it down.

His mind flitted away from that topic, though, as he happily sized up the tree. No, he'd never done this before but he was very excited to try. Okay, rolling the shoulders, stretching the neck. He made a bit of a pounce and tried to mimic how Rey scampered through the branches. His technique... wasn't as graceful. Needed work.

Though it was slow going, he was marveled about it. He could already feel the life thrumming through this new creation as if the tree was excited about being here as well. The strings to cut it from its short life were thin and fragile and precious. He didn't touch the strings but admired how happily it clung to life.

"To the surface?" he asked with a grunt, pulling himself up to her branch, finally sitting down beside her with a bit of a laugh. She may not like him this close, he thought after the fact but figured a swift fall wouldn't hurt him too badly. "The underworld's beautiful but there's no life there. None that's still living, anyway. I've been coming out for some time to see this. Gain an appreciation for what we take care of after death. Seemed important to me at first, a learning experience, but no I hardly want to leave. It's beautiful here." In many ways.

Ah, that's right. He pointed between them. "Is this okay? I can move." He couldn't move. It'd be so much easier for him to just jump than move.

Should it really surprise Rey to know that Finn didn't get along with Demeter? She was....distant, and very strict at times. Very secretive too. Then again, what God or Goddess didn't have a secret or two? But, Demeter preferred for things to be about business, and once that was over, she moved on. Rey knew that first hand, and thought...maybe that was what love was about?

"She's....difficult to get close to," she confirmed for him, waiting for Finn to climb up the tree. Wondering if he would actually climb or maybe do something else to float himself up. To her surprise, he managed to climb up! Albeit it awkwardly, and not gracefully, but he got up! He showed determination, and he didn't harm himself! Quite impressive, really.

"Not bad. You may need some practice though," she teased, her smile returning, not bashful but teasing. He was...amusing in some aspects, and cute--in a adorable kind of way. He was trying--and sitting close to her. Okay...that was fine, as long as he didn't make any sudden movements.

"Mm, it's fine. It would be easier for me to move, but this is fine..." looking at Finn, listening to him laugh, a softer sound that reminded her of velvet and flower petals. He was an interesting one, very interesting.

"You get to see life at it's end, an echo of what it was, which can be beautiful in itself. To see a life fulfilled, or a mortal who had a loving family, or created happiness for others. It's not the same, but there is beauty in death.." Something she knew from watching mortals, or watching the things she created pass on.

There was a slight tilt of her head, continuing to look at Finn with curiosity in her eyes.

"May I ask you something? And, forgive me if this sounds silly but...if you're here, then what happens in the Underworld?" Did everything freeze? A bit naive to ask, but she was really curious.

He laughed at her teasing, delighted to see that she was opening up a little. "Never had a need for climbing before, but I suppose a little more practice couldn't hurt." Certainly not. Especially if Rey seemed to like the idea so much.

"But I suppose you're right. There is beauty in death. It's peace everlasting... for most of them. All of them, eventually. Many mortals don't see it that way, and I can't really blame them. It's a haunting beauty. Nothing like this." To signify what he meant, he leaned back a bit while his hands white-knuckled the branch, looking up at the tree. This was life thriving, chaos and growth shouting out. Finn was used to a lot of silence, but it was a good silence.

He hummed, looking back to her at the question and shrugging. "There's a bit of a backlog when I come to the surface but nothing I can't handle or isn't worth the trip. People still die whether Hades is in the Underworld or not. Their souls just... have to wait a little longer sometimes, all things depending. To be honest, the other half handles a lot of the work. It's kind of complicated, but I guess you can say that he judges them and I... forgive them?"

"Yeah, a few weeks...maybe a dozen years..." a slight shrug of her shoulders, hoping she could hear that sound again. His laugh, coupled with his smile it was....calming. Reassuring, and it made Rey look at Finn in a different light. She should keep her guard up, keep him at an arm's distance. It could be a test, be it from him or Demeter, to see if she was strong enough to resist some sort of...temptation?

Yet, the young woman was prepared to grab him, if he fell off the branch. He was holding onto it, leaning back to make a point and she was ready to take his hand. As distant as she had been, she wasn't completely heartless.

"They're afraid of what they don't know. It's not like anyone leaves the Underworld...or if they do there might be a price to pay." At least that's what she gathered, but mortals would find peace...eventually. Unless they were truly evil, and then Rey didn't want to know where they went.

"Mm, it does sound complicated, but...interesting? Maybe? You hear the stories of the mortals and gain some glimpse into their lives. Some insight to the surface; some of it's beauty, and some of it's cruelty--dealt by other mortals or gods." Judged for their actions by one half, and then the other...forgave him? Or, offered some sort of peace? It was hard to wrap her head around, but it was probably hard for him to know a life in this realm.

He did give a smile and laugh when she criticized his climbing so harshly. Not that he was opposed to the idea of a dozen years worth of practice, especially if it impressed Rey. Especially if it was with Rey. There hadn't been many people he liked this much since arriving on the surface, so he'd very much like to spend more time with her if he could...

"Mmm," he hummed in agreement. "It's not every day we let someone leave, though. Messes with the balance of things. This puts it in much more perspective for me, you know. I've always known my task was important but this shows me why. The mortals need guidance in death like in life. I can give them that." It felt like he was helping, not just doing his job. Finn hadn't found an instance yet where he didn't love life, even at its lowest.

"I'm not sure the others see it like that. Do you? Do you like the mortals at all or do you just do the task you're given?"

If Finn wanted pointers and practice with climbing trees, she would aide him in anyway she could. Whether it was creating new trees or branches for them to climb, or if it meant showing him and having him learn in a hand-on's approach was....it was growing on her. Their conversation wasn't one that felt like it was forced. There was some formalities, sure, but he didn't try to chide her for being young, or giving her advice when she didn't want it.

"I thought so. If things are thrown out of balance...I don't want to imagine what would happen then." If the mortals would perish, or if the world they had crafted would be swallowed up in lava and fire. It would be a shame, she had grown so fond of this place.

"I haven't been around too many of them, well, I don't know if the Amazons count." The group dedicated to worshiping Artemis, away from the world of men, and skilled warriors.

"It's...a bit of both. I do what I'm told, but I have seen them from a far. I know there are other places that don't have as much life and greenery, making their lives harder....and some would only look out for themselves rather than everyone else. But, Demeter has told me, as well as Artemis, that it's none of my business and to let the mortals do as they please." Which felt wrong in some aspects, because she could help, but the balance could be thrown off...

And the whole thing with interfering with the lives of the mortals was more to the Fates than to a goddess with a green thumb.

Finn swung his legs almost innocently off of the branch, taking a moment to think about that with a much serious facade. "The mortals are... well, alive. They're flawed and messed up but so are we. I think they have a tendency to value their time more because of being mortal if that makes sense. It makes a lot of them better. I think."

It was hard to say, really. His observations haven't been going on for very long humans were constantly surprising him. At least he could admit he knew little about them but he also couldn't help but admire them, in a general sense.

"I don't think I agree with Demeter and Artemis. We should let them do as they please, I agree. It's their lives and their mortality to do with as they wish. But it is our business, literally. What do we do any of this for if not to help the humans thrive? We all share the same space and we all give each other purpose." At this point, he was just thinking out loud, trying to think outside of the original confines he was given.

And that's when he started getting a little self-conscious. Was he rambling? Was he annoying her?

Rey turned slightly to face Finn a little more. She listened to him, letting him complete his thoughts, and to her it wasn't rambling. Rather, he was exploring other things that she had yet to hear another God speak about.

"It does. Some of them do value their time, because of how short it is. Others don't, be it to greed and other reasons that are more selfish." But, he saw mortals almost on the same level as her; beings who were flawed, and not perfect by any means, but would Zeus ever say such a thing? Only if he were guilty of something, sure. Beyond that? No.

"Exactly! They're here to serve us, as much as we should serve them. There is a balance to it--but we can't be involved too much because their choices must be their own in order for them to craft their own fate..." and now she was starting to feel a bit self-conscious about speaking her own opinions to someone of a 'higher' status than her. She averted her gaze for a moment, reigning herself back in.

"It's not often I come across another who has similar views. It's.....it's quite nice." Heck, it was nice to speak to someone and simply be herself. But, if she indulged too much....oh for Olympus' sake. If Demeter had an issue with her talking to someone else for this long, then that would be a foolish thing to be upset over.

Finn wasn't like the others she heard about; mortal or god. He wasn't here to trick her, or tempt her. He was....different. A good kind of different.

Finn nods feverishly at the bit about humans crafting their own fates. "They're alive like us. They should be allowed to be like us, to live free." It was a responsibility, he realized, to not interact. That made sense.

But then he was smiling and laughing a little, turning around on the branch to put his back to the trunk and face Rey. "I know what you mean. I don't talk to the others too often but they don't have these same perspectives anyway. I'd much rather talk with you."

Oh. His face grew a little hot there. Poe had been his lover for so long that he sort of forgot how to smooth around other people with the intention to impress. The only person he'd ever wanted to impress was Poe. Now Rey was here and-...

Was he doing something bad here? Would Poe not like this? Was it wrong to enjoy someone else's company, someone else's smile this much? Well, he'd just have to bring it up later. It's not like Finn didn't want her to meet Poe because he most certainly did.

"I-... Hmm... If I came to see you again, would that be okay? Would I be interrupting your work?" He didn't want to leave right now, though. In fact, he wanted to stay for quite a while longer.

Mortals should be allowed to live as freely as they could. However, how that freedom is acquired, or how long it lasts wasn't up to them. The Gods, in her opinion, were there to protect and to guide. They weren't there to rule all the time, least that was something Zeus had said and no one told her otherwise.

Rey's heart thumped a little louder in her chest hearing how Finn would rather talk with her than the others. It....it was nice. Compliments were so rarely given to her, she didn't know how to receive them. Or, how to react. So, instead of bowing her head shyly, she smiled brightly.

"The feeling is mutual." To talk to another, someone who agreed with her. Someone as kind as Rey thought they were...and handsome. But, she wouldn't dwell much on that for long.

Confusion and surprise danced along for her features for a brief moment, trying to process his words. Would he want to visit next season? That should be fine--because in her mind, that's how often she received other visits from Artemis or Demeter. Once a season, that was it.

"You wouldn't be interrupting my work. If you have the time to spare, I wouldn't mind." As long as Zeus or Demeter didn't throw a fit over it.

"As long as your other half doesn't mind. I wouldn't want him to think I'm distracting you, or anything."

Finn melted a bit in the face of that beaming smile. The similarities between his feelings for Rey and feelings for Poe were really starting to pile up to the point of being overwhelming. He liked it, though. He liked having yet another person to show him such beautiful smiles.

He had to get Poe to meet her.

"Thank you. I don't think he'd mind, though. I think he'd love to meet you. As far as my work-" Because what else could she distract him from? Even Rey's smile couldn't distract him from Poe, that's for sure, but neither could Poe distract him from Rey at this early point. "-it can get very busy sometimes, admittedly. I can't shirk that duty but time works a bit differently in the Underworld. I'm not worried about distractions."

"Meet me?" Rey shook her head. No, meeting one side of Hades was more than enough. She wasn't worth more than that, right? She had yet to find a calling that would satisfy Demeter. If she couldn't satisfy her own mother, what sort of value did she have? Not enough to meet Finn's other half. Not enough to make a good impression anyway.

"I don't think that would be a good idea. I mean, he has other things to do--like you. Both of you have important roles." Whereas she....didn't? Making pretty things was one thing, but it was a battle she was still wagging with Demeter.

"Besides, do you think it's wise to introduce your other half to someone you barely know?" Even if it felt like they had known each other for a while. A strong sense of familiarity, and how easily they fell in step with one another.

"Mm, I'd imagine time would work differently there--it's the same on Olympus, or so I've heard." Where time could pass by slowly, or quickly, depending upon the whim of whoever. Where mortals were governed by days, years, it was nothing to their immortal lives. The few times she had been on Olympus time felt the same to her. Then again it was for a brief meeting...more or less.

His head tilted to the side in confusion, smile falling a bit. "We all have important roles to play. I think he'd love to meet you, no matter how long you and I have known each other." But she didn't seem to want to meet Poe, so he wasn't going to push it. "I understand, though. Maybe some other time."

Didn't mean that he was very happy about it. Rather, he was a little put down now. Perhaps after they knew each other better, she'd want to meet him.

Anyway, Finn nods. "It sort of works like that. Hades controls everything in the Underworld. There's just surprisingly little there to control that's... any fun. It seems like most of what we do is what's necessary." Except enjoying each other. That was just for them.

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NEVER MIND I GOT THIS

ILU

♥

❤️❤️

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