It had been a very long day and possibly night? The hours blends together and without the light of the sun to dictate how much time has passed. It could have been a few hours or a day. She wasn’t sure, but she was still upset too. Her anger wasn’t directed at Finn or Poe, but the situation they found themselves in.
When she was upset, she was able to run or walk or climb trees. Or, she could force herself to focus and create something, however, she wasn’t in the mood for it. Instead, she went out, walking around the castle grounds and trying to take her mind off the mess they were in.
She stumbled upon the other half of Hades, Poe, building and constructing pillars and other things. Power and strength combined. He was handsome, but what caught her attention more was how he was creating trees from the silver metal. Rey could’ve taken it as a mockery of her craft but, he was taking time with the detail of the tree. It was quite interesting to watch.
“....you’re very good at that,” Rey called out in a soft voice, not wanting to startle him.
He didn't startle, exactly, but he was surprised when her voice cut his thoughts and he hadn't heard or noticed her approach. He was used to just knowing everything about the underworld - to be able to feel Finn like a second heart beat. It was difficult to surprise him. And yet...
He cleared his throat, grunting as he paused his work, and turned to her. There was a slight flush to his cheeks as if he hadn't expected to be interrupted.
"We'll need more space," was all he said by way of explanation. Was she here to try to appeal to him, again?
"If there's something specific you need, let me know. I'll build it."
“No, nothing I need, but...” Rey glances from him to the tree he was crafting.
“May I get a closer look?” While she was sorely tempted to appeal to him again, she knew it wasn’t the right time for that. Though, the frustration she felt was still lingering in her body, she could put it aside for now. She wanted to see what he had done and study his work.
Yes, she created life but she was still curious about the world and those around her. To be honest, she didn’t exactly know what Finn or Poe did with the souls that entered their realm, or what other powers they possessed.
He felt suddenly self conscious about it, and he clicked his tongue, but then he waved an arm toward it as if to say "go ahead".
It was beautiful, in its own way, if strangely stark. He hadn't seen the tree while it was alive, so it looked more like a dead withered one that was somehow still hanging on than it did like a tree in full, beautiful, bloom.
"I thought Finn would like it," He said, a little defensively.
It was beautiful to Rey. He had done it out of love for Finn and clearly it showed. He took the time to carve out the grain in the mood and make it so....special. It didn’t dawn on her that it was supposed to be like the tree she made while Finn was with her.
“It’s beautiful....he’ll like it. You could add more branches if you want...I told Finn he could use the practice with climbing trees—!!” Shit, was she suppose to say that? She suddenly felt self conscious there.
“Sorry, if you want to. It....it was a poorly executed joke.”
He gave a slight snort, turning his attention back to his work.
"Did he try to climb a tree?" He asked, a note of amusement in his voice. Finn could have just appeared in the tree, but there was something incredibly endearing about him trying to climb it. "Honestly I don't even get the chance to see them much, I have no idea how many branches they're supposed to have."
He frowned, reaching out to run his hands over the silvered bark.
"He said you had thought of trying to make one that could grow here."
Rey shyly ducked her head as she realized Finn could have appeared in the tree rather than attempting to climb it. He didn’t have to...but he did.
“He climbed and succeeded. I told him he should keep practicing,” which was made as a joke. She felt such a kinship with Finn instantly, something she hadn’t felt before and having a friendship with him, it meant everything. But, she had gotten them into this situation and felt frustrated and guilty over it.
“You did well though. You captured a moment that’s hard to come by.” A plant that was between life and death, displaying a unique beauty that only few got to see. Which....it was sad to think about. That Poe nor Finn had seen much of the life on the surface, it’s birth and growth. So many of the gods took those things for granted....including her.
“I was yes, I was going to try and create something that would last here.” A tree, a flower....something.
She looked back at Poe, and bit the inside of her cheek. The frustration she felt towards him was dying down. Enough to shift her focus a little.
"He should," Poe agreed, though it didn't sound like a joke. He meant it. "It brought him a lot of joy, being up there. He absolutely should practice it more."
He was quiet for a moment as she continued. He looked at the silver tree as if he didn't quite know what it was - as if he'd created it without thinking about it very deeply. Which... well... was true. He'd just done it, he hadn't planned it.
He let out a breath.
"You can do whatever you like, here," He said eventually. "I can't let you leave, but you're not... This isn't a punishment, Rey. Or even meant to be a prison. You're welcome to use whatever you see fit, for whatever you wish." He shifted, his face pulled into a frown. "My original intention was to - I wanted to make it easier, wanted - I thought maybe you could visit us. Bring some life down here with you, when you did. That was all I really wanted, in the beginning."
Finn could practice with the tree Poe was crafting, though it wouldn’t feel the same. Metal and wood had two completely different textures. If he co queried one, it wouldn’t translate well to the other. But, to know Poe crafted this for Finn, it was truly touching. It was very evident how much he cared for him.
Demeter....her actions were different, or nonexistent.
“I would’ve wanted to visit..,I wasn’t sure if Demeter would let me, but I was willing.” To see Finn’s home. See the Underworld for what it was, and what things it held after their physical form faded away. While it was comforting to hear Poe wanted her to do as she wished, it was still irksome to know she couldn’t leave.
“I would still like to visit, but....that’s something for another time.” Because trying to change his mind wouldn’t work right now.
“Do you want to see the tree I was working on with Finn?”
"I think it's been made clear she wouldn't have." Something hard slipped into his tone again - even just thinking about Demeter right now was enough to get his blood boiling again. But he tried to set it aside.
He breathed out.
"That's what I was trying to build, with this," he gestured at the tree. "The one I found dying. But if you think you could regrow it here-- yes. I would very much like to see it."
"And I would've dealt with it," came Rey's colder reply. It was her business to handle. Her...burden? to bear. He didn't need to get involved, and it still confused her as to why he did--Finn aside, he didn't have to do anything. Which also begged the question if he was expecting anything in return. Something else for Rey to think about later.
Her eyebrows knitted together, looking back at the tree and how Poe had come across it. Demeter...had done it. She had taken what Rey had created and twisted. Whether it was meant as an insult to Finn or to Rey, it was unclear. But, she would try to push that away.
She took a deep breath and moved away from him, heading towards an empty area. Rey slowly bent down, hiking up her chiton skirt to let her skin touch the soil. Rich..hearty even. Plenty of nutrients from the life that came before it. Perfect for what she wanted. She pressed her palm into the soil and closed her eyes, focusing her power to draw out new life. She pictured the seed that the tree would grow from, where it's roots would spread and how tall it would become.
Soon she felt it, the faint fuzz and tickle of a sapling growing around her hand, reaching up to soak up the sunlight that wasn't there. Rey opened her eyes, smiling slightly at the sight of new life. Focusing her attention, she coaxed the plant to continue growing. Long, willowy branches, the trunk as wide as one of the columns, with branches that held so many thin leaves and flowers of various hues of blues and oranges. The orange color was added as that was more Poe's color of choice. A way to show the two sides of Hades.
As the tree grew Rey went from kneeling to standing up to her full height. She was recalling every last detail of the tree she and Finn sat in. It felt like a lifetime ago when they were chatting about the various plants and sharing interests.
When it was all done, Rey had sweat glistening off her forehead and breathing heavily, but it had been worth it. It was harder to create life in this domain, but seeing the tree again....it made her heart rise and ache at the same time. When she was done, she turned to Poe, a tired smile on her lips.
"I can add other colors or flowers, but this should last for a few hundred years." Maybe thousands if she tended to it every now and then.
When Rey turned to look at him, she would catch him with a strangely unguarded expression on his face: somewhere between awe and confusion, between longing and pain. When he realised that she was looking at him, a heat spread under his cheeks as he quickly schooled his expression.
It was beautiful. It was probably the most beautiful thing he’d seen, down here, beyond Finn himself. He hadn’t actually expected it to work. He’d wanted to encourage it, but he had expected it to be too hard, to not take—
He could feel his heart racing as if he were mortal, and the flush spread.
“He’ll love it,” he said quickly. As if to deflect from his own emotional response. “... It’s beautiful.”
"He will?" Rey asked, her smile brightening ever so slightly, happy to hear Finn would like it. Well, love it, but, having him like it was enough. The expression on Poe's face didn't really register in her mind, tired from creating life from nothing. It left her tired, but she was okay. A few hours of rest and she would be fine.
Though, being told it was beautiful....it made her heart ache. Poe unknowingly chipped away at the wall she put up. The reviews she received from Demeter usually starting with 'It's pretty, but...' and then commented where Rey could do better. Yet, with Poe...there was nothing else. He appreciated for what it was. Maybe the day had taken more of a toll on her than she realized, making her a bit teary eyed, but she held in her emotions.
"Thank you. It...it could grow bigger in the coming years. Enough room to sit on the branches, or lay down if you or Finn want to." She ducked her head down for a moment, taking another deep breath to collect herself then looked up at him.
"I added the orange flowers for you. It seems to be your color."
"I didn't realise something like this could truly exist down here," He admitted, his voice a little rough. He didn't qualify his earlier statement. Didn't hedge it. The tree was incredible, and if he didn't feel quite so guilty about forcing her to be here, maybe he could have said more about it. As it was...
"It is my colour," he agreed, his voice low. "I am the Fire of Hades. Finn is the Balm. I judge the wicked, he soothes the virtuous. That's how it's always been."
It's a poor attempt at an explanation, of sorts. A not-quite apology. He hadn't meant to turn the fire on her, but he fully intended to turn it on Demeter.
"I hope he finds comfort from it, for a long time." Even with the orange leaves, he still couldn't quite believe that anything about this beautiful thing was for him.
"I didn't think so either. I mean, I didn't know if it would be...welcomed?" Because this was the land of the dead. She didn't know if it would cause some sort of unbalance between the surface and the world beneath. Or, if it wouldn't work the aesthetic, or be welcomed by Poe.
Rey bowed her head a little, showing respect to the older god, one of the most important ones in their pantheon. He had a role to play in all of this, and she made pretty things. Nothing that gave much significance, but if it made Finn happy and only that....she could live with.
"He does have a way with people--calm, soothing. Very kind....I understand why you'd do anything for him." Hell, she know she would. She was willing to craft, create and give him any flower, any plant he wanted.
"I hope both of you find comfort from it. I.." she let out a shallow, half-hearted laugh. "I was still planning on creating other flora for this place. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them."
It worked with Finn, having someone to bounce ideas off of. Maybe it could work with Poe? Assuming he wanted to share anything with her. After how she acted, she wouldn't want to be around him either.
"I can't craft life," He murmured. "And none but the dead come down here. There's no reason that it couldn't, but. The majority of the gods like to pretend that we don't exist. Perhaps because we'll exist long after the rest of them." He mused quietly, slowly stepping forward and running his hands over the bark.
"He deserves better than this place," He said, a little stiffly, after a moment. "But I will give him anything in my power."
Even Rey. He knew better to say that out loud.
He let his finger nails curl against the bark, slipping into the cracks and crevices.
"... I can't say I have a lot of ideas," he admitted after a moment. "I don't go above as often as he does. Zeus and Ares tend to take issue with me. The mortals think I start plagues." He was getting off topic. He cleared his throat and frowned.
"Point is, I've never... I've never actually been above, with him. At the same time. One of us always has to stay here. So I've never seen him under a tree, or... in a field, or... by a stream. I'm trying to picture it."
Rey bit her tongue, holding back from saying he and Poe might out last all of them considering they picked fights with each other. But, that's what Poe had done. He had picked a fight with Demeter in 'kidnapping' Rey and now they had to wait to see what would happen. If or when she would retaliate and if Zeus would interfere.
A lot of waiting, and sitting on pins and needles.
It broke her heart to hear how he was treated by the others. They were powerful in their own right. They should be welcomed by the others, and yet they were only spoken of in whispers. As if they were afraid to incur Poe's wrath, or not deal with Finn. Whereas Rey, she was hidden away and kept secret, so those who knew of her...probably thought of her as lesser, but that didn't bother her.
What bothered her was their inability to simply enjoy life as it was before it crossed into their domain.
"The stream you're envisioning...is it a clear blue? Or deeper, like the ocean?" she asked, trying to figure out what would work next. Rey took a few steps away from the tree, holding out both of her hands, palms upward. She focused her attention to the roots of the tree, having them sink in deeper, anchoring it to their domain and more room to grow.
Soft, green grass began to grow around the tree and spread outward with Rey trying to create the field they were in yesterday. More life coming up from the soil, bright threads of light that she twisted and turned. She was pushing herself, but she wanted to give them both this gift.
Whatever blue color Poe describes to Rey, he'd soon find it growing beneath his feet. Rey couldn't bring water to the afterlife, but she could at least provide blue flowers scattered about to mimic a stream.
When all was done Rey's arms fell to her sides. She sunk into the grass, breathing in the scent of it as she tried to catch her breath. Creating life from nothing was taking its toll on her.
"Clear. Just the barest glint of blue when the light hits it."
He fell silent as she worked, his chest clenching painfully. It was incredibly beautiful. She probably had no idea what it meant, to have all of this, down here.
He watched her sink to the ground, his expression torn, and he gingerly stepped onto the grass. His sandals disappeared into black smoke, just to let him feel the blades under his feet.
"... I don't understand why you're giving us this," He whispered, frowning, one little blue flower just brushing his foot.
"I kidnapped you. You should be furious with me."
How could he possible answer 'better?'
Of course it was better. It was so beautiful that it took his breath away. But it just made him angrier at himself for forcing someone like this into the position she was in.
Made him angrier at Demeter for making her believe she wasn't worth anything.
Rey stayed silent for a moment, taking in the scent of the grass, and thrum of life beneath her fingertips. She pictured the sun shining down on the field. Pictured Finn's smile as he tried to climb up the tree she made, and maybe coax Poe into climbing it too. When everything was all said and done, and if she couldn't come back here...or see him, at least....at least he'd have this. At least both of them would have a piece of the world she held so dear.
The beauty she created, it wouldn't be wasted. It wouldn't be scoffed or scorned and would have the sole purpose of making two people happy.
That would be the greatest thing she will have ever done.
"Because you deserve it, the both of you. Regardless of what the others say, you should be able to go to the surface and see life when it's created," she replied softly, leaning back until her back touched the grass and her hair came undone from its three buns.
"I am angry how you treated me, but I could've acted differently. I am frustrated how I don't have a choice in the matter..." Much like how Demeter didn't give her a choice either.
"But, if the roles were reversed...if I had someone like Finn, I would do anything for them." If she could be loved by anyone, or destined to be an eternal maiden, but she didn't want to dwell on it. Honestly, it wouldn't make much of a difference....she had been lonely for a very long time.
"... It wasn't just for him." He said eventually, his voice tense.
"I'm sorry I didn't give you a choice. I won't actually keep you here. Not for more than a few days, anyway. I have to do that, because any less will see you in much more trouble, trust me. I'm supposed to be the villain in their little pantheon. Me kidnapping you matches the character they expect of me. But you--"
He breathed out, hard, through his nose. "Yes, I came because of Finn, but you really think I could figure out what Demeter was doing and then just leave you to it? Even if Finn had never met you, I couldn't in good conscious just leave you there."
Her eyes looked up at Poe, clear, focused and without missing a beat she replied, "Yes."
She expected to be left there. The only one who could be in contact with her was Demeter. Maybe Artemis, but only at her mother's wishes. She was kept apart from the others, for whatever reasons, and if she sought anyone else out....it would only end in more isolation and more heartache.
Rey should have been numbed to it. She should have been cruel and icy towards anyone and everyone but....she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"I don't expect anyone to come for me, or care. So when you told me Finn was worried, that I mattered enough to be in a thought or a feeling..." her words trailed off as she felt tears pricking at the edges of her vision.
"...I thought I was lucky, and cursed. I didn't want him to worry, I didn't intend to cause him grief."
Ugh. He hated it. He could feel the rage flare up in his chest even as he tried to keep it tempered.
"Your mother has a lot to answer for," He said instead, his voice crisp and tight. He stepped over to the tree again, running his hands over the bark to try to distract himself from the anger that was bubbling.
"You really don't see it, do you?" He asked finally, his voice still taut. "How much you're worth. Maybe they just advantage of life, up there. Maybe they don't see its value. Maybe they bask in the sun and pretend that it's worth nothing so that they feel better when their reckless, petty actions cause more death than Finn and I ever have." His hands clasped into fists at his sides.
"I don't know how you could create something like this, and still believe you don't even matter to be thought of. Nothing above or below would exist, without creation like yours. How the hell is that worth so little to you?"
"I make things that are pretty. No substance, nothing like what my mother does." Crops, nourishing and feeding the mortals who served them. She had been around for eons long before her. She was just...better or more powerful in creating life than Rey was. The young woman in the grass thought of herself as her mother's shadow, forever following behind and hoping to gain some sort of approval from her.
"I've been striving to do something that would make her proud. Something that would have her....want me around."
She took another breath, forcing those feelings down even as a tear or two fell from her face.
"My own mother thinks little of me, doesn't love me, why would I think anything else I do or create is worth it?"
"No substance?" Poe asked, flabbergasted. He stood and gestured at the flowers on the ground. "Everything alive had substance. A place. A purpose. Demeter's precious crops would never be pollinated, if the bees didn't have your flowers to feast on, before the crops were grown. I see them all, you know. Not just the humans. The animals. The beasts. The ones who die of exposure, wishing for shade. Shade that a single tree grown by you could provide. Every leaf, every vine, every blade of grass - all of it is needed, required, or the entire thing falls apart. You are necessary, and you are valuable, and somehow still you manage to create things like this!" He gestured back to the tree. "What is the point of life if there's no beauty to be found in it!"
He was getting angry again and he hissed, cutting off and clicking his tongue as he forced himself to look away. Damn it. Damn it.
"Your mother is a fool," He decided, darkly. "And a cruel one, to ever let you believe this. Jealous, maybe, I don't know. But if she won't value you the way you deserve, then I will make her suffer the loss she didn't know it'd cause."
"No!" Rey sat up instantly and got to her feet. The tear streaks on her face were forgotten as she looked at Poe.
"You do not get to judge her, or deal with her. If anyone has that right it is me, and I will deal with her as I see fit." Whatever that was. If it meant yelling at her, if it meant going to war--fighting with her, then so be it. While Poe's words, his compliments, were hard to swallow, Rey had to stand up for herself. She could stand up to Poe, to the Amazons and others around her, and it was about time she did it with Demeter.
"As badly as she has treated me, she is still my mother." And yes, Rey did love her...though she wasn't worthy of it. It was toxic, yes, but she would learn to distance herself. She would have to.
"Do not make me fight you over this, Poe. We've argued and yell over me being here, but I will not stand aside and have you lay a hand on Demeter."
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no subject
When she was upset, she was able to run or walk or climb trees. Or, she could force herself to focus and create something, however, she wasn’t in the mood for it. Instead, she went out, walking around the castle grounds and trying to take her mind off the mess they were in.
She stumbled upon the other half of Hades, Poe, building and constructing pillars and other things. Power and strength combined. He was handsome, but what caught her attention more was how he was creating trees from the silver metal. Rey could’ve taken it as a mockery of her craft but, he was taking time with the detail of the tree. It was quite interesting to watch.
“....you’re very good at that,” Rey called out in a soft voice, not wanting to startle him.
no subject
He cleared his throat, grunting as he paused his work, and turned to her. There was a slight flush to his cheeks as if he hadn't expected to be interrupted.
"We'll need more space," was all he said by way of explanation. Was she here to try to appeal to him, again?
"If there's something specific you need, let me know. I'll build it."
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“May I get a closer look?” While she was sorely tempted to appeal to him again, she knew it wasn’t the right time for that. Though, the frustration she felt was still lingering in her body, she could put it aside for now. She wanted to see what he had done and study his work.
Yes, she created life but she was still curious about the world and those around her. To be honest, she didn’t exactly know what Finn or Poe did with the souls that entered their realm, or what other powers they possessed.
no subject
It was beautiful, in its own way, if strangely stark. He hadn't seen the tree while it was alive, so it looked more like a dead withered one that was somehow still hanging on than it did like a tree in full, beautiful, bloom.
"I thought Finn would like it," He said, a little defensively.
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“It’s beautiful....he’ll like it. You could add more branches if you want...I told Finn he could use the practice with climbing trees—!!” Shit, was she suppose to say that? She suddenly felt self conscious there.
“Sorry, if you want to. It....it was a poorly executed joke.”
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"Did he try to climb a tree?" He asked, a note of amusement in his voice. Finn could have just appeared in the tree, but there was something incredibly endearing about him trying to climb it. "Honestly I don't even get the chance to see them much, I have no idea how many branches they're supposed to have."
He frowned, reaching out to run his hands over the silvered bark.
"He said you had thought of trying to make one that could grow here."
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“He climbed and succeeded. I told him he should keep practicing,” which was made as a joke. She felt such a kinship with Finn instantly, something she hadn’t felt before and having a friendship with him, it meant everything. But, she had gotten them into this situation and felt frustrated and guilty over it.
“You did well though. You captured a moment that’s hard to come by.” A plant that was between life and death, displaying a unique beauty that only few got to see. Which....it was sad to think about. That Poe nor Finn had seen much of the life on the surface, it’s birth and growth. So many of the gods took those things for granted....including her.
“I was yes, I was going to try and create something that would last here.” A tree, a flower....something.
She looked back at Poe, and bit the inside of her cheek. The frustration she felt towards him was dying down. Enough to shift her focus a little.
“I could still try....if you want.”
no subject
He was quiet for a moment as she continued. He looked at the silver tree as if he didn't quite know what it was - as if he'd created it without thinking about it very deeply. Which... well... was true. He'd just done it, he hadn't planned it.
He let out a breath.
"You can do whatever you like, here," He said eventually. "I can't let you leave, but you're not... This isn't a punishment, Rey. Or even meant to be a prison. You're welcome to use whatever you see fit, for whatever you wish." He shifted, his face pulled into a frown. "My original intention was to - I wanted to make it easier, wanted - I thought maybe you could visit us. Bring some life down here with you, when you did. That was all I really wanted, in the beginning."
no subject
Demeter....her actions were different, or nonexistent.
“I would’ve wanted to visit..,I wasn’t sure if Demeter would let me, but I was willing.” To see Finn’s home. See the Underworld for what it was, and what things it held after their physical form faded away. While it was comforting to hear Poe wanted her to do as she wished, it was still irksome to know she couldn’t leave.
“I would still like to visit, but....that’s something for another time.” Because trying to change his mind wouldn’t work right now.
“Do you want to see the tree I was working on with Finn?”
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He breathed out.
"That's what I was trying to build, with this," he gestured at the tree. "The one I found dying. But if you think you could regrow it here-- yes. I would very much like to see it."
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Her eyebrows knitted together, looking back at the tree and how Poe had come across it. Demeter...had done it. She had taken what Rey had created and twisted. Whether it was meant as an insult to Finn or to Rey, it was unclear. But, she would try to push that away.
She took a deep breath and moved away from him, heading towards an empty area. Rey slowly bent down, hiking up her chiton skirt to let her skin touch the soil. Rich..hearty even. Plenty of nutrients from the life that came before it. Perfect for what she wanted. She pressed her palm into the soil and closed her eyes, focusing her power to draw out new life. She pictured the seed that the tree would grow from, where it's roots would spread and how tall it would become.
Soon she felt it, the faint fuzz and tickle of a sapling growing around her hand, reaching up to soak up the sunlight that wasn't there. Rey opened her eyes, smiling slightly at the sight of new life. Focusing her attention, she coaxed the plant to continue growing. Long, willowy branches, the trunk as wide as one of the columns, with branches that held so many thin leaves and flowers of various hues of blues and oranges. The orange color was added as that was more Poe's color of choice. A way to show the two sides of Hades.
As the tree grew Rey went from kneeling to standing up to her full height. She was recalling every last detail of the tree she and Finn sat in. It felt like a lifetime ago when they were chatting about the various plants and sharing interests.
When it was all done, Rey had sweat glistening off her forehead and breathing heavily, but it had been worth it. It was harder to create life in this domain, but seeing the tree again....it made her heart rise and ache at the same time. When she was done, she turned to Poe, a tired smile on her lips.
"I can add other colors or flowers, but this should last for a few hundred years." Maybe thousands if she tended to it every now and then.
no subject
It was beautiful. It was probably the most beautiful thing he’d seen, down here, beyond Finn himself. He hadn’t actually expected it to work. He’d wanted to encourage it, but he had expected it to be too hard, to not take—
He could feel his heart racing as if he were mortal, and the flush spread.
“He’ll love it,” he said quickly. As if to deflect from his own emotional response. “... It’s beautiful.”
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Though, being told it was beautiful....it made her heart ache. Poe unknowingly chipped away at the wall she put up. The reviews she received from Demeter usually starting with 'It's pretty, but...' and then commented where Rey could do better. Yet, with Poe...there was nothing else. He appreciated for what it was. Maybe the day had taken more of a toll on her than she realized, making her a bit teary eyed, but she held in her emotions.
"Thank you. It...it could grow bigger in the coming years. Enough room to sit on the branches, or lay down if you or Finn want to." She ducked her head down for a moment, taking another deep breath to collect herself then looked up at him.
"I added the orange flowers for you. It seems to be your color."
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"It is my colour," he agreed, his voice low. "I am the Fire of Hades. Finn is the Balm. I judge the wicked, he soothes the virtuous. That's how it's always been."
It's a poor attempt at an explanation, of sorts. A not-quite apology. He hadn't meant to turn the fire on her, but he fully intended to turn it on Demeter.
"I hope he finds comfort from it, for a long time." Even with the orange leaves, he still couldn't quite believe that anything about this beautiful thing was for him.
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Rey bowed her head a little, showing respect to the older god, one of the most important ones in their pantheon. He had a role to play in all of this, and she made pretty things. Nothing that gave much significance, but if it made Finn happy and only that....she could live with.
"He does have a way with people--calm, soothing. Very kind....I understand why you'd do anything for him." Hell, she know she would. She was willing to craft, create and give him any flower, any plant he wanted.
"I hope both of you find comfort from it. I.." she let out a shallow, half-hearted laugh. "I was still planning on creating other flora for this place. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them."
It worked with Finn, having someone to bounce ideas off of. Maybe it could work with Poe? Assuming he wanted to share anything with her. After how she acted, she wouldn't want to be around him either.
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"He deserves better than this place," He said, a little stiffly, after a moment. "But I will give him anything in my power."
Even Rey. He knew better to say that out loud.
He let his finger nails curl against the bark, slipping into the cracks and crevices.
"... I can't say I have a lot of ideas," he admitted after a moment. "I don't go above as often as he does. Zeus and Ares tend to take issue with me. The mortals think I start plagues." He was getting off topic. He cleared his throat and frowned.
"Point is, I've never... I've never actually been above, with him. At the same time. One of us always has to stay here. So I've never seen him under a tree, or... in a field, or... by a stream. I'm trying to picture it."
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A lot of waiting, and sitting on pins and needles.
It broke her heart to hear how he was treated by the others. They were powerful in their own right. They should be welcomed by the others, and yet they were only spoken of in whispers. As if they were afraid to incur Poe's wrath, or not deal with Finn. Whereas Rey, she was hidden away and kept secret, so those who knew of her...probably thought of her as lesser, but that didn't bother her.
What bothered her was their inability to simply enjoy life as it was before it crossed into their domain.
"The stream you're envisioning...is it a clear blue? Or deeper, like the ocean?" she asked, trying to figure out what would work next. Rey took a few steps away from the tree, holding out both of her hands, palms upward. She focused her attention to the roots of the tree, having them sink in deeper, anchoring it to their domain and more room to grow.
Soft, green grass began to grow around the tree and spread outward with Rey trying to create the field they were in yesterday. More life coming up from the soil, bright threads of light that she twisted and turned. She was pushing herself, but she wanted to give them both this gift.
Whatever blue color Poe describes to Rey, he'd soon find it growing beneath his feet. Rey couldn't bring water to the afterlife, but she could at least provide blue flowers scattered about to mimic a stream.
When all was done Rey's arms fell to her sides. She sunk into the grass, breathing in the scent of it as she tried to catch her breath. Creating life from nothing was taking its toll on her.
"Better?"
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He fell silent as she worked, his chest clenching painfully. It was incredibly beautiful. She probably had no idea what it meant, to have all of this, down here.
He watched her sink to the ground, his expression torn, and he gingerly stepped onto the grass. His sandals disappeared into black smoke, just to let him feel the blades under his feet.
"... I don't understand why you're giving us this," He whispered, frowning, one little blue flower just brushing his foot.
"I kidnapped you. You should be furious with me."
How could he possible answer 'better?'
Of course it was better. It was so beautiful that it took his breath away. But it just made him angrier at himself for forcing someone like this into the position she was in.
Made him angrier at Demeter for making her believe she wasn't worth anything.
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The beauty she created, it wouldn't be wasted. It wouldn't be scoffed or scorned and would have the sole purpose of making two people happy.
That would be the greatest thing she will have ever done.
"Because you deserve it, the both of you. Regardless of what the others say, you should be able to go to the surface and see life when it's created," she replied softly, leaning back until her back touched the grass and her hair came undone from its three buns.
"I am angry how you treated me, but I could've acted differently. I am frustrated how I don't have a choice in the matter..." Much like how Demeter didn't give her a choice either.
"But, if the roles were reversed...if I had someone like Finn, I would do anything for them." If she could be loved by anyone, or destined to be an eternal maiden, but she didn't want to dwell on it. Honestly, it wouldn't make much of a difference....she had been lonely for a very long time.
"For that, I cannot be mad at you."
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"I'm sorry I didn't give you a choice. I won't actually keep you here. Not for more than a few days, anyway. I have to do that, because any less will see you in much more trouble, trust me. I'm supposed to be the villain in their little pantheon. Me kidnapping you matches the character they expect of me. But you--"
He breathed out, hard, through his nose. "Yes, I came because of Finn, but you really think I could figure out what Demeter was doing and then just leave you to it? Even if Finn had never met you, I couldn't in good conscious just leave you there."
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She expected to be left there. The only one who could be in contact with her was Demeter. Maybe Artemis, but only at her mother's wishes. She was kept apart from the others, for whatever reasons, and if she sought anyone else out....it would only end in more isolation and more heartache.
Rey should have been numbed to it. She should have been cruel and icy towards anyone and everyone but....she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"I don't expect anyone to come for me, or care. So when you told me Finn was worried, that I mattered enough to be in a thought or a feeling..." her words trailed off as she felt tears pricking at the edges of her vision.
"...I thought I was lucky, and cursed. I didn't want him to worry, I didn't intend to cause him grief."
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"Your mother has a lot to answer for," He said instead, his voice crisp and tight. He stepped over to the tree again, running his hands over the bark to try to distract himself from the anger that was bubbling.
"You really don't see it, do you?" He asked finally, his voice still taut. "How much you're worth. Maybe they just advantage of life, up there. Maybe they don't see its value. Maybe they bask in the sun and pretend that it's worth nothing so that they feel better when their reckless, petty actions cause more death than Finn and I ever have." His hands clasped into fists at his sides.
"I don't know how you could create something like this, and still believe you don't even matter to be thought of. Nothing above or below would exist, without creation like yours. How the hell is that worth so little to you?"
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"I've been striving to do something that would make her proud. Something that would have her....want me around."
She took another breath, forcing those feelings down even as a tear or two fell from her face.
"My own mother thinks little of me, doesn't love me, why would I think anything else I do or create is worth it?"
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He was getting angry again and he hissed, cutting off and clicking his tongue as he forced himself to look away. Damn it. Damn it.
"Your mother is a fool," He decided, darkly. "And a cruel one, to ever let you believe this. Jealous, maybe, I don't know. But if she won't value you the way you deserve, then I will make her suffer the loss she didn't know it'd cause."
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"You do not get to judge her, or deal with her. If anyone has that right it is me, and I will deal with her as I see fit." Whatever that was. If it meant yelling at her, if it meant going to war--fighting with her, then so be it. While Poe's words, his compliments, were hard to swallow, Rey had to stand up for herself. She could stand up to Poe, to the Amazons and others around her, and it was about time she did it with Demeter.
"As badly as she has treated me, she is still my mother." And yes, Rey did love her...though she wasn't worthy of it. It was toxic, yes, but she would learn to distance herself. She would have to.
"Do not make me fight you over this, Poe. We've argued and yell over me being here, but I will not stand aside and have you lay a hand on Demeter."
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https://i.gifer.com/origin/97/973bcd31b80507862844120a6f9d16db.gif
Accurate
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