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Entry tags:

ariadne,
hades

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Characters: Hades, Ariadne
Date/Time: After Hades' talk with Aphrodite
Location: L'Hôtel Jeu Ancien
Rating: TBD
Warnings: TBD
Summary: Hades approaches Ariadne to garner her support to prevent godly conflict.

The next person on his list was Ariadne, the former princess of Crete.

"Beg your pardon, Ariadne. My name's Ian Price, formerly Hades, I would like to speak to you if I may."

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"I think Aphrodite will play an important part in all this. Obviously, she can seduce and charm both Poseidon and Odin. Probably Seth, too, if she wanted, and I doubt even the noble Sir Gawain would turn down her attentions. She could be a valuable liaison, assuming she knows how to keep secrets," Ariadne mused.

"But... are you sure you'd want her as your queen? As your wife? I hate to say it, but I have a hard time picturing you two in wedded bliss."

Hades nods.

"In truth? There's only one woman I'd want as my queen. This is a political arrangement, nothing more. She supports me and I allow her her freedom." he smiles ruefully. "Wedded bliss..no."

"I didn't think so."

Ariadne frowned. "And if Persephone should make her appearance? What then? You've effectively promised Aphrodite the throne of Olympus. If you keep your bargain with her... it means either granting it to Poseidon, so long as he takes her to wife, a loveless marriage for the both of you... or you'll have to break your word if you want to be happy. And that assumes that Persephone will even want you back."

"I..I do not expect Persephone to want me back. if she has a life now I have no desire to impede it. All I want from her is a chance to tell her I'm sorry for everything I've done to her," he said, his voice tinged with regret.

"My happiness is not an issue, Ariadne. I will do what I must to secure humanity's future. It's not a perfect solution, but I see little other recourse."

"Spoken like a true ruler," she said.

"So, then. Strategy. Keep the Olympians off-balance until you have enough information regarding the other pantheons and can determine the best leader for the free peoples. Use Aphrodite if you must. She likes intrigues--I'm sure she'll take the role gladly."

"Meanwhile, I suggest you start courting her. Honestly doing so. I'm not saying it will turn int a grand romance, especially not if you expect her to have her dalliances, but if you can establish some genuine affection between the two of you, it will serve us all the better. It will keep her loyalty to your cause, and help us present a more unified front as a pantheon, regardless of who ends up taking charge of Olympus. Not to mention that, if the rule falls to you and her, I'm sure even a lukewarm marriage will be more pleasant than a cold one."

Hades pauses a bit, unsure if he was hearing Ariadne right. "That's..certainly not what I was expecting you to say. It has merit, but..I will try. My ability to woo women is limited, as if my history isn't clarification of that."

"And just what were you expecting me to say, Lord Hades?" Ariadne asked.

I suppose it just struck me with someone encouraging the Lord of the Dead to court the goddess of Love. Another time and place it probably would have been the beginning of a joke." Hades raises a hand. "I mean no offense, Ariadne. I suppose I'm still acclimatizing to the situation."

"Yes, well... I was born a princess, with several brothers. I was meant as a political bargaining chip. Alliances are stronger, after all, when sealed in blood. And leaders can't forget that they belong to their people, not to themselves," Ariadne reminded him.

"I'd start with getting to know her as a person. Then, if things go favorably and the mood is right... Well, she'll know what she's doing, even if you don't."

"You are right," Hades agreed.

"I will try. She deserves to be more than a mere bargaining chip. Though I hold no hopes of it really going past mutual respect, but that would be enough for me."

"You got her to agree to be your queen. I'd say you're off to a good start," Ariadne pointed out.

"If we aren't out of here before then, and assuming you two aren't otherwise occupied, maybe you should go back to her tonight. Talk to her. See what happens." Another sip of her wine. "You do care for her in some fashion, after all, don't you?"

"There are few members of my family I can claim to be fond of," Hades admitted. "She's one of them. Though that may be a lack of familiarity. You know the saying, 'familiarity breeds contempt'. That's doubly true for most of my kin. Perhaps I should I admit it certainly wouldn't be an unpleasant development."

He graces her with a rare, genuine smile. "Thank you for your counsel, Ariadne. I know the gods have not been kind to you. I appreciate your trust."

"My complaint has never been with gods, Lord Hades. It's with mortal men, though they often have drops of godly blood in them. My father, my brothers, Theseus... They were the wretches in my life. My husband and sons were by far a step up. Though it would be nice if Artemis had been paying a bit more attention where she was shooting," Ariadne said.

"Still, good luck. You'll need it." She sighed. "Perhaps I should see if my former husband has managed anything productive. With luck, I can recruit him into the plan."

"That would be appreciated, Ariadne. And thank you. I suspect I will need all the luck I can get."

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