sleepytimejunction | hadesvania

[Evidently, this man does just... give things to people. Which is strange to him. Does he really expect nothing back?

Still, Alucard dislikes the feeling of being in debt.]

As I understand it, Cerberus is just doing his job.

[look it's from one dog to another

There's a pause of consideration, then he pulls out a dark looking lyre, offering it to Zagreus.]

...Listen. I've no need of this any longer. It is what I used to find my way to the Underworld. I don't really know how it will benefit you in particular, but perhaps you will find some use for it.

It's not nectar, but certainly it has a unique value on the surface. So. There is that.

Oh, a lyre! Someone I know has one of these. Who knows, maybe I'll even learn to play it one day...

[He plucks a note on the strings as if by way of example. It's off-key and atrocious.]

...Erm.

[GREAT JOB, ZAGREUS.]

Right. Well! I'll put it with my keepsakes, it'll fit right in.

[..................................................nice.]

I suppose we should be off, then, but — can I just ask, what is it about these two people you're looking for, that you'd risk coming all this way just to find them?

...Try not to play it like that, if possible.

[wow that was awful]

But otherwise, do with it as you please.

[ANYWAY.

The question makes him hesitate. He doesn't know Zagreus, but he does seem the bumbling, well-meaning type. Perhaps the information he has to give won't come back to bite him in the ass if he offers a bit more.]

...They are my parents. You were correct in saying my mother is a human. My father, Dracula, is far from divine, but is-- was not human in the least.

...Oh.

[Now it's his turn to hesitate, shifting from foot to flaming foot while bits of flame flicker up and burn out from the laurels around his dark hair. But finally, he draws a breath and nods, something in his demeanor changing with the new recognition.]

Well, that's something, isn't it. I mentioned I was headed for the surface? Right, well. I'm — I'm looking for my mother, too. Just in the opposite direction as you.

[He blinks at Alucard, eyebrows slightly raised.]

Seems a little too perfect to be a coincidence, doesn't it? I wonder if the Fates had something to do with our meeting here like this.

Wait, what.

[It didn't occur to him to inquire about who Zagreus' mother is, and he certainly didn't expect to hear that she's on the surface. He hesitates, baffled.]

The Fates can fuck right off. What would be the point of our meeting in any case?

[sorry uncle death but fuck your sisters]

I suppose they wouldn't be the Fates if just anyone could discern the point behind their various whims. Still, I think the fact that you got in here at all speaks to their hand in at least some of it.

[A beat passes.]

Are you...hoping to take your parents back out of here with you? When you go?

[There's a soft huff from Alucard, but he can't really argue the point. Certainly not from a god, despite his irritable feelings about the Fates or any sense of it.

The question makes him frown and he shakes his head.]

Nothing of the sort. They deserve their rest. But... the last time they passed on, it was more miserable.

Suppose I want to make sure they're actually resting now, as it were. I know they were taken as gently as possible, but after that -- I need to know.

Erm. Surface-dwellers don't typically die more than once, do they? How many times have they passed on, exactly?

[At least, he thinks to himself, that tidbit will probably make it easier for Nyx to track down the particulars of their circumstances. Multiple deaths aren't exactly typical, after all.]

Astute. No, they typically do not, but their circumstances were quite unique. You may actually have Death Incarnate to thank for that part, albeit not directly. Most people, even Dracula, tend to just die the one time.

In any case, this is their second time. Ideally, the last, unless some fucking idiot on topside gets a terrible idea again. I intend to prevent that.

...Than had something to do with it? I mean, other than just the acquiring part afterward. Than facilitated someone being let out?

[WELL ISN'T THIS JUICY GOSSIP.]

I had no idea he was such a troublemaker! Learn something new every day. Or...night. Or. Well.

...Then I wonder if he knows where they are right now?

You wouldn't think so, would you?

[Alucard tries not to smile, fails a bit there.]

It's not just any favor he performed. He and my father have a history. I suppose that maybe he may know, but... admittedly, as far as the Underworld works, I'm in the dark. I know the basics, but beyond that my education is very limited.

Well, then, even more reason to stick close to me while we get you down there. Thanatos has something of a knack for tracking me down, so I'll just make a ruckus ransacking and he'll turn up sooner or later.

[He offers a hand, motioning with the other to the door back toward Elysium.]

Shall we, then?

Hm. I suppose we shall see.

[It would be good to see Thanatos.

The hand earns a glance. Perhaps once, he'd have been much more wary, but Zagreus gives him a bit of nostalgia in a way.

He takes the hand.]

Lead the way then.

[He's never actually tried taking this route backwards before. Truthfully, he isn't altogether sure that it'll even work — although it's not like he's ever really had any reason to make the attempt to go back down before, so why would he know either way?

Still, it's worth an attempt. Despite their earlier misgivings about each other, Alucard seems a decent enough sort, and, well. If he made it into the Underworld at all, and has the connections that he claims to, then it's probably all right overall.

So they head onward, past the keepsake chamber and its little fountain, back down and down into the cool green hues of Elysium, and the sound of shades cheering louder as they draw nearer to their destination.]

Ugh, I hope Theseus and Asterius are still recovering from our last bout.

[Or maybe they can sneak past. Or get up into the stands and see Friend Shade? Anything is possible.]

This way. We'll try to avoid the center of the Colosseum if we can.

[The fields of green are beautiful, even if he thinks it can be a bit wasted on gloryhounds like the famed warriors of Greece. But he does not debate this; Zagreus does not run the Underworld, after all.

So he keeps up, following after his flame footed companion, hearing the cheers get louder.]

Theseus? You fought Theseus?

[That does earn a look.]

Unfortunately. He's the champion of Elysium, along with Asterius — my father has them on duty to prevent me from getting out.

[He glances sideways at Alucard, thoughtful.]

I can never quite tell what parts of all this you're already familiar with, and which ones come as a surprise to you. You and your family have general knowledge of what all goes on down here, but less so with the particulars, is that it?

Asterius, the bull. I didn't expect him to be exactly Elysium material based on what I know.

[Ah. Well. That is a fair point. Alucard shrugs a bit.]

My father would have known more, but it wasn't something quite educated into me by either him or my godfather. Most of it I had to research myself, but even then it was scarcely limited. That lyre was part of my father's collection; I had to dig it out myself.

They're quite good friends now, apparently. Less so when they were alive, but Theseus was the one who had Asterius brought to Elysium, I'm told.

[Wait, hang on.]

Your godfather?

Theseus did that? Truly? Hm. To be quite honest, based on what I know about him, I didn't expect that manner of kindness.

[Ah. Right.]

Yes. An old friend of my father's. A hard worker, and someone I did not see often, but when I did he was very kind to me. I took to calling him "uncle" in most cases.

I suppose it just goes to show that even a sundial that's stuck at 7:48 is still right twice a day...or so I'm told.

[WHAT THE FUCK IS A DAY]

Really? Wouldn't it be a coincidence if it were someone I knew — put like that, he sounds a bit like Achilles, actually. Though he's less a friend of my father's and more a shade in his employ, but respected, certainly. I was lucky to have him, growing up.

That is an awfully specific time of day. Or night.

[DO Y'ALL NEED A CLOCK]

Achilles? Quite the celebrity in your life. I presumed he of all individuals would find himself in Elysium, but you say he works for your lord father?

[He supposes he should eventually tell Zagreus who he means specifically, but for right now he's gonna keep being vague. Honestly, he isn't sure how much Death would want Zagreus to know.]

We don't really have either down here, as I'm sure you can imagine. Day or night, that is. ...Or time, really. I'm sure it does pass, it's just...

[He waves his hand nebulously.]

Sort of there, I suppose? Life on the surface must be so strange by comparison. The whole world turning light or dark around you, and not because of anything you did but just because that's how it is? It must really be something! I saw the sun once, coming up over the ocean. I think I looked at it too long, it made my eyes hurt.

[It's actually hard to tell if he's this talkative about the surface because he's genuinely excited about it — which he is — or because he's avoiding answering the question about Achilles, which he...also is.]

...Achilles signed a contract with my father. He stands guard in our House...and trained me, I don't know why. Father wanted it, I suppose. Something to try to get some worth out of me, maybe.

[He shrugs.]

And he got something for it, in return. Elysium...wasn't what he wanted.

[It's a bit endearing to see how talkative Zagreus is, at least for the short amount of time Alucard has interacted with him so far. If he is being as honest as he speaks, anyway.]

Let me understand. You're escaping to the surface, you've seen the surface, but you're down here trying to escape again anyway. Is there a reason you return to the Underworld just to do it all again?

[As far as Achilles goes... that's an interesting matter on its own.]

I would say that perhaps he was too restless? But I can't imagine being your father's guard is anymore thrilling than warrior paradise. I suppose there would be a deeper reason.

Ah. Well. My first time up, I discovered the hard way that one tied to the Underworld, such as myself, can't survive long on the surface. Sooner or later the Styx calls me home, and I wind up back at the House. Back where I started.

[Inside the Colosseum now, Zagreus pokes around a bit before finding a back passage that leads up into the stands, and motions Alucard to follow him.]

I suppose you could say he wanted Elysium for someone else. He traded his spot away. Gave it up so someone else of his choosing could fill it. I'm surprised my father honored it, he's not usually so kind to shades. But — on the other hand, it's Achilles, so...

And yet, you're still determined to make it up there. Despite all that.

[Handy. Alucard glances around curiously before he quietly moves to follow after Zagreus.]

Mm. A name that is still well known, even in my country. Still, that is... quite selfless of Achilles, to give away his place for another. I can see why you admire him so with that kind of nature.

[Softly, he adds:] There wasn't much in my godfather's control, but where he could... he tried. And there are a great many things outside of our control. Your reaching the surface being but one of those things.

[Yet, they go on.]

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