AN: I haven't done much writing recently. Life. Ya know how it is.

But I have gotten massively obsessed with the Webtoon comic Lore Olympus: a modern retelling of the taking of Persephone by Rachel Smythe.

It inspired me so much. If you haven't read it, you need to. ASAP.

I have since written a short collection of one shots for LO. I wanted them to live somewhere other than my google docs.

Enjoy.

Minthe Toothpaste

(CW: swears and mention of torture and death)

"Are you coming tonight?" Persephone asked through a mouth full of toothpaste, a sudsy toothbrush in hand. "To the party? You know-" She paused to gurgle a fist full of water. "Blach. Toothpaste is terrible, they need to add something to it." She dried her hands and came over to lean over the couch Artemis was draped on. "You know, we could take you. I could ask him to drive one of his larger vehicles."

Artemis winced and flipped through a magazine. "No. I've gotta work tonight. You kids have fun." She shot a glance at Persephone who completely missed it.

"But you work every night." Persephone pouted.

"Yeah, well, it's kind of an everynight thing." Artemis sighed and slapped the magazine down on the coffee table. She reached back and rubbed Persephone's arm. "It's the best excuse in the three worlds." Her grip on her arm firmed. "Besides, I didn't think you were going tonight." Artemis's eyes asked a question that her words didn't.

Persephone played dumb. "No. I'm going."

"But you know who's going to be there."

Persephone dug through her purse and pulled out some chapstick. "It's a large party. There will be lots of people there." She shrugged, capped the chapstick, and popped her lips. "Well, he'll be here in a minute. How do I look?"

"Well, Perse. You look great. However." Artemis smudged her finger over the corner of her lips. "Most people brush their teeth before they do their makeup. I fixed it. You look stunning."

"Thanks." Persephone beamed.

"You seem . . . excited." Artemis's eyes narrowed.

"I'm always. . . excited." Persephone countered lamely.

"What's up?"

"It's. . . just, this is the first party we're going to. . . together." She touched her fingers together and drew in a deep breath, held it, and then let it escape in a sudden rush.

"You're nervous." Artemis nodded.

"No. I'm just. . ."

"You're nervous." Artemis grabbed her wrist. "If you don't want to-"

"No. No. I want to. I want to." Persephone laughed. "I promise. I just want to make a good impression." She steepled her fingers together. "There's. . . a lot of pressure. A lot of eyes." Her voice wavered. "And a lot of judgement."

Artemis took a deep breath and released it slowly, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Persephone. Look, I know I haven't been the most. . . supportive."

"Or accepting." Persephone muttered under her breath.

"You know how I feel about him." Artemis said each word on their own, carefully and with purpose. "I need you to know that I will always be on your team. Even if I don't really get it, I do support your ability to choose your own story. And If you ever need me to cut off his-or anyone's dick or shoot anyone in the face for you, I'll do it. Or if you just need someone to talk to and a spot on the couch, I got you too."

Persephone scrunched up her face. "That's so sweet." She straightened up. "But I can take care of myself. I want you to trust me that I can handle it. If there's a dick that needs to be cut, I can handle that too. I've spent a lot of time pruning, mind you." She winked at Artemis. "I will take you up on the couch part though."

Just then the doorbell rang.

Persephone bent down to kiss Artemis on the forehead then sprinted to the door. Artemis sighed and picked up the magazine again. She waved lazily at Hades who offered a cordial hello after an awkwardly long hello kiss.

When they were long gone, Artemis scanned one of the gossip columns, checking for new rumors about her brother to mock him with. Then she gasped. "Oh, this isn't good." She ripped out the page and crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash. She paused and groaned. "Trust her. She can handle it." She said to herself. "If she's going to do this, then-" She finished the rest of the thought in her head as she marched over to the trash can, uncrumpled the page and took a picture of the column. She pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over Persephone's name. "This is going to hurt." She hesitated. Then shrugged. "If nothing else, maybe she'll dump him."

Sent.

"One drink and then we can leave?" Persephone eyed Hades. Her knee bobbing.

"You read my mind." Hades smiled, he held his hand out and Persephone grabbed it. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look?"

"Multiple times."

"Not enough. You're look beautiful." He raised her hand up to kiss the back of it, then set her hand back in her lap with a quick pat. He noticed her bobbing knee and bit his lip. "You know, I may look tough and all, but I'm actually kind of nervous about tonight."

"You're nervous?" Persephone bauked.

"Yes."

Persephone frowned. "Why?"

"I hate parties." He shrugged.

"So." She looked at her hands. "It's not me? You're not nervous about us?"

"No." Hades shook his head. "If anything, I might be too proud of the fact that you're with me. I don't like attention, but if it's because you're with me. . . that's not so bad. I could get used to that." He tapped lightly on her thigh and smiled. "Don't let anyone get to you, okay? I know this is all new for you. People are just jealous."

At a stop light he leaned over and kiss her cheek. "Just one drink. I promise."

Persephone melted into the seat, memorizing his touches, letting them burn her skin as if to leave a mark. Her phone buzzed.

Artemis: I think you need to see this. Maybe you shouldn't go to the party.

( )

She clicked the photo. She could barely read the words of the column the page was so crumpled.

Hades, God of the Underworld has decided to attach himself to a little farm girl that no one has heard of.

Rumors started when she drunkenly arrived at his house

last month after she partied too hard in a private room with Eros. She's been making the rounds ever since, so heard tell from a very knowledgeable source.

No one knows why Hades is so infatuated with this little flower girl.

She's not particularly pretty or powerful. A downgrade from his previous relationship in every possible way. It's obvious why Hades likes having her around. She's young and naive and will do everything she's told, like a little pet.

We all know how Hades likes to collect dogs. Persephone is just another bitch to add to his menagerie.

M

Persephone held back tears. Her hand started to shake so she clutched the phone to her chest. She stared at the column again, determined. "M"

"Minthe." She hissed.

"What?" Hades raised his eyebrow.

"Oh, nothing" Perse bit her lip. She took a deep breath and slid her phone in her bra. "Nothing at all." After a moment, a smile began to creep on her face and she grabbed Hades hand that rested on the stick shift. "I was just thinking that maybe we should stay for a dance or two. That would be fun."

"You wanna dance?"

Persephone opened up her puppy dog eyes. Hades traced a finger along her cheek bone. "You'll have to take your shoes off."

Persephone blinked. "Why?"

"Because you'll need to stand on my feet if we're going to dance."

Persephone squinted. "You've thought about this before, haven't you."

"I think a lot about you in general." Hades smiled.

Hades tossed his keys to the valet and opened up Persephone's door. Cameras flashed everywhere. Lines of paparazzi made a tunnel around them. "Hey love birds, look this way." Hades blocked them his body and grabbed her arm to escort her safely inside. "Gods, paparazzi. I never understood it." He straightened his tie. "Sorry about that."

"I thought you said you didn't mind showing me off tonight." Persephone raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I just thought." Hades.

"You just thought you were protecting me." Persephone smiled sadly and bit her lip. "Let's see if your brothers are here." She made her way to the main floor where a swarm of people were clustered around standing tables of horderves and champagne. Some were jiving, some were full on dancing.

"They wouldn't be here." Hades whispered into her ear so he wouldn't have to yell in the noise of the mass of people. He pointed up. There was a second level that overlooked the main floor, lined with a glass railing. "Ah. Yes. There they are." He nodded to five shadows. "Would you like to meet them?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Well, you've already met Hera and Hestia."

"No. I mean. Do you want to introduce me to them. . . as.. ." Persephone left off.

"Yes. I'd very much like that." Hades grinned and held out his arm. They climbed the staircase together after security opened the rope for them. Casual tones turned into whispers.

"Silly" - "young" - "slave" - "what is he doing with a baby?"

Persephone felt Hades arm tighten. He threw a glance at a nearby table. They fell silent.

"You're amazing, you know that?" Persephone shook her head.

"People are scared of me." He shrugged and his eyes glowed red. "I don't know why."

Persephone giggled and hit his arm playfully.

"But I don't frighten you." He bent his nose down to her temple.

"Why would I be afraid of you?" She stopped at the top of the stairs while he was a few steps below so that they were at equal height.

"Well, the fact that I'm king of the underworld usually does the trick."

"Do you want me to be scared?" Persephone tilted her head.

"No. No." He raised his hand to her check then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "But you have to admit I- well, as someone once put it-try as I might to cover it up, I still reek of death."

Persephone bent his head down and kissed the top of his hair then took a big inhale through her nose. She hummed. "I like it."

Hades raised an eyebrow incredulously.

"No really. It uh." Persephone pulled him up the remaining stairs. "It kind of turns me on." She winked at him.

Hades jaw dropped.

"Hey howdy hey!" Poseidon boomed, jogging over. "You gonna hog this one to yourself all night or are you going to introduce us."

Hades shook his head out of the gutter. "Um. Sorry. We were just making our way over. Poseidon, this is my-" He stopped to look at her beaming smile. "This is my Persephone, goddess of spring. Dove, this is my brother Poseidon ruler of the ocean yada yada yada."

"Haha!" Poseidon clapped them both on the backs, knocking Persephone in to Hades arms. "It's so good to finally meet you. He's been keeping you locked up away from everyone, I'd almost thought you'd been kidnapped." He chortled. "Come on, I want you to meet my wife."

They walked closer to the cluster of shadows they'd seen from below. Persephone straightened her shoulders. Act like a Queen. Be a Queen. You are a Queen. Not yet. But if you can think it you can be it. Positive. Thoughts.

They all stopped talking and stared at Persephone expectantly.

Poseidon motioned towards a beautiful woman with red braided hair, crystals in the shape of raindrops placed delicately throughout. "This is uh. This is um Ca-Amphitrite." He bent down to kiss her check, but she smacked him upside the head. "What at least, I got there this time." She rolled her eyes.

"Persephone, is it? It's so lovely to meet you. You are as dainty and cute as I had heard."

Persephone's smile froze on her face as she shook hands.

"And Hades, it's so lovely to see a smile on your face. I hardly recognized you." Hades kissed her hand politely. "Amphitrite, it's good to see you too."

"My turn!" Zeus pushed Poseidon and Amphitrite to the side. He grabbed Persephone's hands in his and turned to Hades. "My my, Hades. How on earth did you manage to pull off getting this charming little thing?"

"Well, first off it was not on earth but the underworld." Hades pushed up his glasses. "And secondly, I have no idea how this smart, funny, and talented woman decided to look my way."

Persephone blushed.

"Hello. I'm Persephone." She said, trying to figure out how to shake his hand while his were still clasped around hers.

"She likes formal introductions." Hades grinned.

"Oh, where are my manners. Zeus, God of Heaven and Earth and Sky and all sorts of other things. It's really a shame Hades is so attached to you, you are absolutely adorable."

Persephone furrowed her eyebrows.

"Leave the girl alone." Hera placed a hand on his shoulder. "Persephone. My how you've grown." Hera stepped forward and ran her hand down her hair. "I remember the first party we were at together. Do you?" Her face was warm and kind, but something in her tone sounded disapproving.

Hestia came beside her. "Yes. Such a beautiful young lady. My dear, it's been too long. Just yesterday I feel like I was changing your-"

"Dear, would you mind getting me a drink?" Persephone asked loudly. Hades glanced at her apologetically. He kissed her head. "I'll be right back. Don't let them scare you." He whispered into her hair.

"So." Zeus wrapped an arm around Persephone's shoulder. "How are you? We know being by his side probably isn't always pleasant. Are you doing okay?"

"Wh-what?"

"Does he have something against you?" Hera raised her eyebrow. "Do you need help?"

Zeus elbowed her in the side and she returned a quick slap to his ribs.

"I don't understand." Persephone shuffled her feet, her ankle momentarily popping and her heel slipping underneath her. She caught herself, but she still felt unbalanced.

"Well. It's just, you're so. . ." Hestia motioned at all of Persephone. "And Hades is well, Hades."

"Yes. We've established that. I wouldn't be interested if he wasn't . . . well, Hades." Persephone squared her shoulders. "Look, I know I'm-"

"Persephone!" Hermes flew up the stairs and straight passed her then double backed. "I heard you were here."

"Hermes! Hi, how are you?" Persephone felt slightly relieved to see him.

"I'm sorry to interrupt" He bowed to Zeus and Poseidon. "but I think you need to be aware of something."

Persephone grabbed his arm. "What's happening? What's wrong?"

"It's Minthe. You should take a look for yourself." He nodded over the banister.

Persephone looked for Hades but didn't see him on the main floor. She did see Minthe standing in the center of the dance floor, talking, loudly, with large hand movements.

"What's up? I don't understand."

Hermes looked over to. "Oh. Well. I guess he's left, but she had been like, grinding up on him and trying to get him to dance with her."

"Yeah. I managed to get away." Hades sighed. He had been standing directly behind Persephone. "She's nothing."

Hera stepped forward. "You should really do something about Minthe." She hissed at Hades.

"That's not all." Hermes tapped his flying sandals together. "She's calling you names. Loudly." He winced.

Persephone worked hard not to grin. She relaxed her shoulders. "What names?" She asked calmly.

"Uh. I really don't think-" Hermes shook his head.

"What names?" She asked again.

"She called you an ugly dumb gold digging slut." Hermes repeated then clapped his hands over his mouth. "I'm sorry."

"Good." Persephone took in a deep breath. "She also called me another bitch to add to your dog collection in a gossip column."

Hades fumed and loosened his tie. "That's it. I'm going to-"

"Do nothing." Persephone spun around and put a hand on his. "This is my fight. Let me settle this. This is about me and Minthe. I can handle this." She held his hands to his lips.

"But"

"I've got this." She said authoritatively. "Besides," She leaned in towards him. "I want to show everyone that I belong here. I want to show you that too."

"Belong where?" Hades was still furious.

"Belong by your side." She smirked and kissed his hand again.

"You don't have to prove anything."

"I need to go take care of this." She leaned away. "Hermes?"

"Yeah?"

"Be a dear and hold my shoes will you?" Persephone balanced on Hades as she took her heels off one at a time and handed them to Hermes. She released her hair from the clip it was tied up with and it bounced lightly on her back. "I'm so sorry everyone." She called out to the olympians. "I know murder always puts a drain on a party."

Hades moved towards her.

"Trust me." She asked. "Stay." She ordered. Hades backed away. Her eyes lit with green energy. She then took the champagne glass still in Hades hand and downed it in one. She turned and began sashaying towards the stairs. With every step, the hard floor turned into a patch of inviting green grass where her feet would meet. As she glided down the stairs, the patches of grass rotted up into thorny knots.

As she moved onto the floor, her hair began to grow till it just grazed her ankles. People were in her way, though she could clearly see Minthe in the center. Someone noticed her and then patted their neighbor who then pulled back someone else until a clear path had formed of gawkers. She let their stares burn into her.

As she drew close, Persephone called out to her. "Minthe. Hi. We've never met in person. I'd like to introduce myself. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The whole floor grew silent.

"You see, I think we got off on the wrong foot." Persephone smiled, but she started circling Minthe.

"Wrong foot my ass. Listen. I'm gonna be real with you, because apparently this whole fucking place is full of a bunch of cowards." Minthe picked up on the circling and began to do so as well, like a duel. The crowd around them backed up and gave them space. "It's sweet that you think you can waltz in here with a king on your arm, but it's not gonna last hunny."

"It's true what they say about you, Minthe." Persephone never blinked. "You really are so pretty."

Minthe disregarded her compliment. "He just wants your tight pussy and from what I've heard, it's not that tight. Is it?"

As they circled, the path around them became covered in soft grass trails made by Persephone's feet.

"Minthe, I just wanted to thank you. You know, if it hadn't been for you, I might not be so happy right now."

"You're just a baby. Do you think he really wants a baby? He's got an entire kingdom to run and he doesn't have the time to babysit you."

"I can see why he liked you." Persephone smiled, but her eyes were narrowing more harshly by the second. "You know, that color green looks so good on you." The grass beneath their feet began to grow taller.

"Green?" Minthe scoffed, she looked at the floor. "You think a patch of grass is supposed to frighten me?"

"You really shouldn't have said those things about me." Persephone sighed. "I feel like we could have been good friends."

On the second level Zeus paced and taped Hades shoulder. "Should we do something?"

Hades shook his head. "She's perfectly capable. I would warn security and the maids." He turned back to the scene below him. "Minthe's greatest mistake was underestimating my Persephone."

Minthe still circled. "I would never hang out with someone so commonly and ugly as you." Minthe spat. "I don't care who you're dating, you have done nothing to deserve any special treatment."

"I don't want special treatment. I never asked for that. However, Minthe. I do expect respect."

"You're just a young little flower with little significance." Minthe seethed. "You're nothing. What? Flowers and shit? Are you trying to intimidate me? I live in the underworld, baby. You're just a floozy visitor with a weak stomach."

"You know with that color of jealousy and your skin tone.. . You know what that reminds me of?" Persephone stopped circling. "Roses."

Roses began to grow at an alarming rate around the circle of their "duel".

"Wow. Flowers? How . . . impressive." Minthe rolled her eyes. The roses bent towards Minthe. The flower still red, but the stem grew up taller than it should be possible.

"Careful. Minthe. Some flowers bite."

Minthe laughed, but then suddenly the stems wrapped around her legs. The thorns ripped into her calf and thighs. "Wait. Ow. No." Thorns kept growing out and wrapping around Minthe. She tried to escape, but everywhere she moved, thorns tugged on her harder. She tried to move her feet. Her heel got caught and slipped off, moving her whole foot onto a briar patch. "This is what's going to happen now." Persephone moved towards her, the thorns moving out of her way, while still covering Minthe. She whispered something in the close approximation of Minthe's ear though it was hard to tell because she was a blob of thorns now. "I'm going to pluck you out like one of my silly little flowers. Chew you up, and spit you out. And there's nothing you can do to stop me. And yes. It's going to hurt."

Minthe squirmed and cried out in agony-a thousand tiny stabs. "Moving only makes it worse." Persephone smiled and shaped the thorns taller, pushing Minthe up into the air, held by tiny spikes.

Minthe screamed in torment. "Stop! Stop! Stop this!" There was heaving sobs that only begot more screams.

"What's wrong, Minthe? It's just some silly flowers." Persephone laughed dryly. "Don't worry. I won't kill you, Minthe. No, no. Because then your soul will be roaming around in his kingdom and I can't have that. No. I'm going to plant you in my garden and bury you under dirt that I'll scoop out with my own two hands."

The only response was a high pitched whine.

"This is the punishment for crossing me." Persephone glared at everyone on the floor, who were slack jawed and horrified. "My judgement is swift and it is final."

Persephone raised her hand in the air. The screams of Minthe were muffled by the many layers in casing her. Persephone then squeezed her hand into a tight fist and the ball of thorns clamped down onto itself. Minthe's screams stopped. Ichor oozed out of the vines, splattering everyone in the nearest ten foot vicinity. The majority of the blood splashed onto Persephone. She lowered her hand to her side, and the tightened ball of thorns sank to the ground. She opened her palm and twisted her fingers. Stem by stem, the thorns peeled themself away. A few stems curled their way up into Persephone's hair, a flower crown of roses budded. Three sharp thorns protruded in the front, like a makeshift tiara.

People gasped as the final stems lifted, revealing what was left of Minthe. A nymph shaped herb bush laid in her place.

Persephone kneeled down and grabbed a sprig of leaves. When she stood up, she stared at everyone staring back, still speechless. "Does anyone else have anything to say about me?" She paused. A pin drop would have cut the silence. "That's what I thought."

She then commanded the left over rose stems to swirl together, forming a tough stalk. She held onto it as it grew even taller. So tall, she was able to jump off at the second level. She straightened her hair out and adjusted her rose crown.

As she traipsed towards Hades, who fell to his knees before her.

"I'm sorry about your friend." Her eyes had calmed down but she couldn't look him in the eyes just yet. Hades didn't move or say anything as she replaced his boutonniere with the sprig of plant. Her hands were still splattered with Minthe's blood. "If it's any consolation, we could always plant her in the garden." She plucked a leaf and popped it into her mouth. "Mmm. You know, she would taste great as a tea. Hmm. It smells good too."

She took a deep breath then shined her puppy dog eyes up at Hades.

He smiled in awe and then he smiled wickedly. "You." Kiss. "Are." Kiss. "Absolutely." Kiss. "Terrifying."

Persephone beamed. "Really?" She bit her lip. "Are you frightened of me?"

"Yes. And I'm madly in love with you." He picked her up into his arms and kissed her hard and deeply. Their mouths moving as one yearning to be closer than ever.

"Mmm. You taste different." Hades murmured.

"It's Minthe." She spit out the textured leaf then resumed kissing him.

When they came up for air again Persephone whispered, "Let's get out of here."

"You don't have to ask me twice."

Hades carried her past Zeus and Poseidon and their wives, waving goodbye. "Duty calls."

"It was lovely to meet you!" Persephone leaned out of Hade's arms to wave too.

Poseidon and Zeus both looked at each other, then in tandem said "An excellent Queen of the Underworld."

Persephone asked to be put down at the bottom of the stairs. A path was already made for them by everyone wanting a look at the couple, but keeping a fair distance. Everyone was sweating. Persephone never set foot on the floor as grass still sprung up to meet her feet. When they walked outside even more cameras had gathered to get a look at them and to cover the story of what just transpired. They paused at the threshold. Hades looked down and smiled at Persephone who grinned back. Hand in hand, they strode slowly through the flashing lights only looking at each other.

"So." Persephone started as they waited for the car to be pulled around. "Do you think I made a good impression?"

Hades chuckled. "Kore, I think you'll fit in just fine with my family."

AN: WOW. Thank you so much to everyone who has read/followed/favorited/and reviewed this collection so far. Every comment means so much to me. Thank you! It gives me the courage and motivation to keep writing.

xoxo Goldie