lina_musebox | ;rey&poe

"Ah-" Was too much? Was he already being clingy?

"I thought I might, yes. Only if that's okay with you, though. Whenever you like." The last thing he wanted to be was clingy and scare her away. Poe had never complained before but one never knew.

“N-no..” ahh, how could she put this without sounding childish?

“I didn’t think you’d want to visit again, so soon.” Or be worth the trouble of it. He was Hades, he had a role to play in this world whereas Rey was still young and trying to carve her own existence more or less....or at least live up to Demeter’s expectations.

“It’s more than fine with me,” she reassured him, her smile returning to her face.

“I’d...I’d like that.”

His smile bloomed over his face again, all of his features lighting up. "Thank you. I'd like that, too."

It suddenly occurred to him that he needed to bring a gift. She was working on something for him. He had to do something for her. "I'll bring you a present, too. We can exchange them at the same time." He's seen mortals do that before, and Poe sometimes spoiled him with finery. It'll be fun!

"Perhaps I should get going for now and leave you to your work, though. I don't mean to be a distraction."

Receiving a gift was the last thing on Rey’s mind. She would have been happy if Finn showed up tomorrow, and the next day. She wasn’t hard to please and honestly, she valued his company over any gift.

“You don’t have to?” Honestly he didn’t. “I mean, not if you don’t want to. And you’re not a distraction. This....this has been nice.”

Wonderful, nice...same thing, right?

“You can stay as long as you would like. It’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of.”

"I'd love to bring you something," he said with a little more confidence than he felt. This has been nice, she said. Their time together was nice.

And it was. Finn smiled warmly to her, already thinking through gift ideas.

"Thank you. I... think I'd like to stay a little longer. So long as you don't mind. I like listening to your ideas."

A faint blush danced along Rey's cheeks and she had to fight hard not to look away or bow her head. Finn was insistent on bringing her something, so she couldn't object. It was nice....and a nice feeling to know someone wanted to do something for her. NO strings attached, or lessons to learn. Nothing conditional.

She let out a soft chuckle, tucking a strand of dark hair behind an ear.

"If I did, I would've said so. But...." she paused for a moment, debating about which idea she wanted to share with him. Eventually she settled on talking about the different flowers she had in mind for fall. A few that were bold in color to help with the cooler season.

Finn listened raptly, nodding when he liked something in particular and asking questions when he got lost. His forte was the souls of the dead, not flowers. He didn't know much about what Rey could create but he was eager to learn more.

Eventually, the hours stretched long and he began to wonder if Poe was missing him. "I... suppose I should get going," he said reluctantly, glancing to the ground that was very far away suddenly. "I'll see you tomorrow, though?"

[ooc: It went okay! I flew down, and my car got to Orlando before I did, but hubby is still in the west coast. So....physically, I'm okay, emotionally? Nah. Also, let me know if you wanna time skip to Rey being in the desert because Demeter said so.]

Time flew by faster than Rey expected. As immortal beings, time meant nothing, but in this case, it meant that Finn had to go. He had duties to attend to, as well as his other half. While Rey understood why he had to go....she didn't want him to. Which, was odd, considering they had only met, but, she had been lonely for sometime and having someone else to talk to...she wanted to hold onto it for a bit longer.

"Probably....wouldn't want Zeus or any of the others to start questioning things.." she tried to hide her deflated mood, which picked up hearing that she'd see him again tomorrow. Not next season...but tomorrow.

"Y-yeah. That's fine, I look forward to it." Honestly, she did. At least between now and tomorrow, she might be able to create something for the Underworld. She didn't want to disappoint him.

And as if sensing how nervous Finn might be with climbing down from the tree, Rey coaxed more branches to appear beneath the two of them, acting as stairs for them to climb down on.

"Be safe on your travels."

Finn wasn't totally sure why Zeus would question this or why what he thought even mattered. Perhaps it had more to do with Demeter, though, and Finn didn't ask. He certainly wasn't going to let himself worry about Zeus.

In a stroke of extremely hesitant bravery, he reached for Rey's hand and pecked a kiss to her knuckles. It was fast, though, face aflame as he skipped down to the ground again. "I-" He paused to clear his throat. "Thank you. I'll see you soon..."

But he had to go now. At least it wasn't too much of a hardship since he was so excited to talk to Poe.

He walked a bit away and, like a shadow, he was there and gone again practically with the whims of the wind.

The kiss to her knuckles made her cheeks flare up. Rey was left stunned by the act, unsure of how to process it. If it was an innocent gesture or affection, or if it meant more. But....it felt nice. She watched on, her heart beating hard against her chest as Finn left her, fading into the night and disappearing.

She looked back to his vacant spot, already missing it. She enjoyed talking to him and just....being near him. A feeling she had with Artemis but not this strongly? Or maybe she was over thinking things. Either way, she eagerly looked toward for tomorrow....

Which, sadly didn’t turn out the way either God intended. Demeter found out her daughter had a visitor. She scolded Rey for getting close to someone she didn’t know and as punishment, sent Rey to the deserts. The young goddess was tasked with surviving in such a harsh climate and creating plants that would thrive too.

So when Finn went back to the same spot, he would find the land bare and tree withered.

The sight of the withered tree and no Rey in sight was the most pain Finn experienced in a very long time. He rarely got worried like this for anyone, but something clearly happened to her. Something was wrong.

Not knowing what else to do except to keep calling out for Rey in a field he knew was empty, he returned home to the Underworld. He'd told Poe everything he could recall about Rey the night before. He wasn't sure if his other half could help but... what could he do? He was too panicked to even think right now.

"Poe!" He ran through the halls, quickly finding his beloved and latching on to his arm. "She's gone. Rey's gone. Something's happened. She wouldn't just vanish. Her tree- The tree she made was dead. Something's wrong."

Could she have died? No, that can't be. They would have heard of a God dying. They would be the first to know, right?

Finn had told him that he'd planned to go back to the surface to visit his new friend - "friend" - so he hadn't expected the other god to return so quickly. He started a little bit as Finn grabbed him - worried for half a second that he'd accidentally let a soul slip free from the river into their quarters - but then relaxed when he realised it was Finn.

That relaxation didn't last long, his brows furrowing quickly and a frown pulling down his lips.

"Slow down," He said, taking Finn's hand and gripping it.

"What do you mean, something's happened? She was just there yesterday. How does a tree die that fast?"

He already knew the answer as soon as he said it: they didn't. He may specialize in the souls of the sinful, but everything on Earth died. Sometimes easing the souls of animals and plants into the shadows of the afterlife was the only real peace Poe could find in his work. He always, always left the kind human souls to Finn. Without fail.

"Okay, look, just - just slow down and tell me exactly what you saw."

Slow down. Sure. He could do that.

Okay, but really, panicking wasn't helping. Finn took a deep breath and tried to gather himself.

"I went to where we agreed to meet, but she wasn't there. The tree she worked hard on yesterday, the one she said she created for nymphs, it was withering and dying. She'd never let that happen. I know she's not dead, but... who would take her? She mentioned Artemis, but she isn't-... Demeter?"

Poe's face grew darker as Finn spoke.

"... Yeah. That'd be my guess. I knew it was too good to be true." It was hard to keep that edge of real honest rage out of his voice, even low as it was. If it were up to him, Finn would have a high seat of honour on Olympus. He would be recognized and treated as equal among them. Instead, by whatever fate had bound them together in the underworld, he was reviled and mistreated and misunderstood. Finn was better than any of them, and yet Demeter had probably stolen Rey away simply for speaking to him.

He turned his head and whistled sharply for his dog.

"Okay. Look. You just stay here, and try to set it aside for now. I'll deal with it. I was planning on going topside to meet her anyway - Beebee and I can find out what happened and where she's gone."

"Poe-" Too good to be true? Deal with it?

... Was this his fault? "I could help. I could do something." Though, what, he had no clue. Beebee did have a good shot of tracking her down and someone had to be in the Underworld these days.

"I'll-" Dammit. He felt so useless. "If something changes here, I can let you know. The dead talk all the time. If they see her-"

"One of us needs to stay here." That was the rule. The dead flowed to them at a near constant rate. They couldn't leave the gates unmanned.

"If they see her, send word. But I'm sure between the two of us, Beebee and I can find her."

On cue, the huge hound appeared, its three heads bright focused at attention. Poe reached up and patted its flanks, as his own clothing changed. Black grecian armour, with a black cloak lined with a bright blood-orange stripe and a helmet with a blood-orange crest suddenly graced his person.

It would keep any mortal who dared to look at him from daring to speak to him, at least.

"I'll find her."

His eyes flashed purple and a doorway appeared and he clicked his tongue for the dog to follow him. He didn't turn back again - he didn't want to see Finn's face. Didn't want to know what lay upon it. Worry or grief or hopelessness - none of them were things he ever wanted to see on his lover's face.

Actually finding Rey was another thing all together. But the dog caught her scent at the tree, and time and space had no bearing on their hunt.

They'd find her. No matter where she had been hidden.

He wanted to say something. He should have said something. Instead, Finn watched as Poe and Beebee disappeared beyond their realm.

What if Rey really had been lost? What if he lost Poe, too? His lover left armed for battle. Finn couldn't lose him, too.

But what choice did he have now? There was nothing he could do except remain in the Underworld and hope they returned to him.

His hands gripped at his tunic and he fled for the river. If all he could do was listen to whispers, then he'd do it.

Rey didn't realize what a stir she caused in the Underworld. She didn't realize how worried Finn was. She didn't think it would matter, considering she wasn't an important goddess. She wasn't one of the ones most celebrated or worshiped, which was fine with her. Demeter had given her a new assignment, created out of a mother's love for her daughter, and she would strive to finish it...

Though her mind kept wandering back to Finn, hoping he was alright. Hoping he would understand why she had to leave. Doubtful Demeter would allow Rey to talk to him again, or anyone that wasn't in her circle of...trust? Or, good side?

The sun was glaring down on her, but she managed to create a few shrubs and plants that were thorny and prickly in nature. Something to test out with, but....it didn't feel right. It didn't look right, and she was getting frustrated. She didn't want to argue with her mother, but she wouldn't listen! Demeter didn't want to hear that Rey had enjoyed herself and that nothing happened! She had wanted to give Finn her gift and now...

Now he probably would hate her for breaking her word.

"Damnit!" she cursed, pushing back her long bangs as another creature withered and turned to ash. She was surrounded by rock and sand, and her mind was too focused on Finn. She shouldn't care what he thought of her...but she did. And that was aggravating! Why....why did it hurt so much to think about him?

It was the hound that found her first. His keen nose had him leaping through fields and over mountains in single strokes - Poe following behind.

But it was the dog that ran over the rock and sand toward his found target.

He barked, high and sharp, though oddly... friendly... for a massive dog with three heads.

He also didn't seem to be about to slow down as he barrelled towards Rey.

For a split second, Rey thought she was imagining things. Thought the heat from the sun might have messed with her mind, or her mental block was causing things to sound and appear out of thin air. Or worse, another test by Demeter. But, she heard it--the sound of massive paws hitting the earth and then a bark.

She turned her head, taking in the creature and three heads it had. Three heads--

Cerebus?

FINN!?

No, it couldn't be. Shit, it was barreling towards her, ready to pounce. Artemis had a kinship with the animals, not her! Still, she had to think of something!

"Stop!" she yelled, preparing to conjure thorny vines to act as a shield to protect herself or tie it down. She didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't want to pinned by it either!

The great hound skidded to a stop at the last second, tongues lolling as all three heads panted happily, the one on the furthest right giving another sharp yip of a bark.

Slowly, the dog began to shrink, and as it did so, the desert behind him slowly became visible - as did a darkly armoured figure, walking towards her.

Perhaps at a distance, he may have looked like Finn. Same height, similar build. They could have worn each other's clothes. The helmet hid part of his face, but even then, as he came closer, it became more and more obvious that this wasn't Finn at all.

Well....Rey wasn't expecting to really work. However, she was glad it had! A smile slowly crept over her face, happy to see the beast shrinking to a smaller size. But, that happiness was short lived when she saw a figure dressed in black in the distance.

That wasn't Finn. He didn't have armor like that, then again she had only met with him for a day. He wouldn't approach her in such a manner. Her eyes narrowed at the figure while she heard her mother's voice whispering in her ear.

"The world of man is not kind, Rey."

"Zeus and his brothers are brutes, they would like nothing more than to add you to their list."

"You must fight. You must stay away from them."

She moved away from the pup, focusing her energy on creating vines and thorns to form a staff in her hands.

"Turn back," Rey warned, voice low and eerily calm even though her heart was pounding loudly in her chest.

He raised an arm, pulling his helmet from his head, but did not slow his approach. The dark curls framed a face that was pulled into a tight, serious frown.

Beebee tilted one of its heads and then started to circle around her, as if preparing to herd her towards Poe.

"We came a very long way to find you," he said bluntly, tucking the helmet under his arm. "Do you have any idea how worried he is about you? How did you get all the way out here?"

If the poor pup tried to herd Rey towards the stranger, she wouldn't budge. No. This was a trick. This was what Demeter had prepared her for. Rey's grip on her staff tightened, still prepared to fight if it came down to it...and judging by how serious the other looked, the possibility of a fight was strong.

"I didn't want to be found." A lie, it tasted so bitter on her tongue. Demeter didn't want anyone to find her, but she should've known better.

As for 'He'....he couldn't have meant Finn. Hearing his name made her heart ache, but she wouldn't lower her guard. Another test. Another trick, and if she failed...Demeter would be disappointed, or worse. But...there was only one other person she could've talked to. Did she dare lose an opportunity to not know how Finn. How could she be sure?

"It's best if he doesn't worry...or think about me. What I promised him, I'll deliver, but you..." she had to keep herself from looking around in case Demeter was watching.

"You need to go."

"So you lied to him." His tone was sharp, pointed, a flare of righteous anger in his chest. He could have dealt with it, if it was Demeter - if she'd squirrelled Rey away but Rey hadn't actually wanted to go. The idea that Rey would promise to meet Finn and then just leave him - leave a withering corpse of a tree for him to find, as if mocking him--

There was nothing in the world like Poe's rage in defence of the man he loved.

He reached out his hand, black and purple smoke curling from in, extending, until soon he had a long pole to match hers. No sword. He didn't want to hurt her - Finn wouldn't forgive him - but he wasn't going to let her try to smack him around, either.

But it wasn't a trick that a mortal man could do.

"What you promised him was to see him. And you let him find death, instead. If you didn't want to see him you should have told him." His expression darkened further. "Was this a game, to you? Did someone put you up to it? Try to taunt him?"

♥!!

❤️❤️❤️

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AAAHHHHHHHH HELLO

OH HI. Also I moved

east coast, best coast lol. are you doing okay with the move?

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♥♥♥♥ i hope it gets better soon ;; and yeah a timeskip would work!

Thanks! It gets better each day

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