sleepytimejunction | hadesvania

...They wouldn't. Not a doctor. Erm — what I mean is, Elysium is for warriors who were glorious in battle. That's essentially the opposite of where I'd expect to find someone who devoted their life to helping people, frankly.

[BUT AT LEAST SHE'S NOT WITH THESEUS SO THERE'S THAT.]

All right, then they're in Asphodel. Which means you'll have to go the wrong way back through Elysium and a whole lot of exalted shades with nothing to do with their afterlife except battle anyone they lay eyes on, and then after that bypass Lernie, and then start floating around Phlegethon on skull boats and hoping for the best.

[He pauses, considering, and then sighs as his shoulders drop.]

All right. My trip to the surface can wait. Come on, I'll take you there. It'll go easier if I'm with you, at least.

I know what Elysium is. [He snorts, irritated, which causes him to stumble over his next words. Which he despises entirely.] I meant more in-- my-- that is, Dracula. He is a complicated matter.

[Wait.]

What the fuck is Lernie?

[Anyway.]

If it's out of your way, why are you bothering to help me?

He certainly sounds like it, mate. I imagine he'd have to be, if it's your suspicion that he'd give even my father a hard time.

[Not that he does not also give his father a hard time, but that's not the point.]

Lernie, the Lernaean Bone Hydra? Lots of heads, hisses frequently. He's the guardian of the exit between Elysium and Asphodel. We're...somewhere close to an understanding, I think! Mostly I talk to him and he hisses and then promptly tries to kill me. I'm sure you know how it goes.

[ZAGREUS.]

Anyway, you don't know the way. I know you don't know the way because I barely know the way, and I've been at this for a fair while. Unless I'm mistaken, this is your first venture down below. And since you're still living, you've a lot more at stake than I do. So it's better if I look out for you.

If you just said Bone Hydra, I'd have known what you referred to.

[This guy. THIS GUY. What is his deal? Alucard folds his arms and considers his options. Which, admittedly, are not many. Even Death did not know he was here, though he probably could predict it eventually. And the chambers change on their own, to ensure the dead stay where they are.]

Do what you want, then.

The people of the surface call me Alucard.

Ah, sorry. Can't help it if I'm on a first-name basis with him by now. And...now with you, apparently.

[But, now that we've reached the point of sharing names, that makes it well about time for Zagreus to reach into...somewhere and produce a jar of nectar, which he offers obligingly.]

I'm Zagreus. Son of Hades, unfortunately. Cheers.

[Well. Mostly. Still, Alucard does not correct him or add more. Though Zagreus doesn't seem to know who Dracula is, miraculously, he does not add more.

Then his brows raise at the offering.]

...What.

[He gingerly takes the bottle of nectar and peers at it.]

What's all this then? You expecting something back?

Wouldn't be much of a gift if I were expecting something back, though I understand if you feel a little compelled to make things even with me. A lot of people do.

[Thus showing his hand a little too much, and thereby revealing that he does, in fact, just. Go around giving bottles of nectar to everyone, apparently.]

If you need a reason for it, consider it a "Welcome to the Underworld, appreciate you being kind to my dog" sort of thing.

[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?

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