Cindy had been friends with Makaria for a while now, and she liked to think she knew the girl fairly well. She noticed quirks and tendencies of hers. One thing she noticed was just how thorough the girl was when it came to meeting up for… well, anything really. She was rather punctual. Partly because she was just used to being so due to her job, and partly because she didn't want to waste any of the free time she had from it.

So it was just a little odd that she was running late to their movie night. Cindy had already had everything prepared. The movie was loaded up and ready to play, there were snacks all laid out, and she had even gotten Dylan out of the house so he didn't get up to his usual antics and interrupt them.

But the young goddess was nowhere to be seen.

It wasn't like she had a way to contact her either. She didn't have a phone, and Cindy didn't know how to contact other gods from the Greek pantheon. Or any pantheon for that matter. She wondered if she should head to the forest to check on her, but then thought that she might show up after she left.

"Are you alright sweetie?"

She looked over her shoulder and saw Olevia standing nearby. "I'm fine maman. Just a little worried. Makaria has never been late. Like ever," she explained.

"Well, I'm sure that she'll be here soon. And even if she isn't I wouldn't be too concerned. You told me she's quite the fighter herself, and knowing who she's related to I doubt anything will-" The two suddenly heard knocking, and both mother and daughter turned their heads to the front door. "Oh, that's probably her now."

Cindy smiled and flew towards the door, but then slowed down when she felt something off about it. It was definitely a divine aura, one pretty similar to Makaria's too. But it wasn't her. It was…another god?

"Back away from the door Cindy…"

Both Olevia and Cindy looked up and saw Dai Tai making her way downstairs, a serious expression on her face. She had sensed the divine aura as well, and immediately began making her way down. A god or goddess showing up from nowhere at her house was not a good sign. Especially since she couldn't recognize who it was.

She could have picked up if it was someone from her own pantheon, but it most certainly was not. And she hadn't been expecting any other gods to come by. She would have been sure to alert the rest of the family if she had. Cindy nodded and took a few steps back, and Olevia prepared to back her up.

Dai Tai walked over to the door, and then opened it to reveal a woman.

She had long dark red hair, adorned with flowers throughout it. She wore a dress that was a mix of dark and light green, and had flower bracelets around her wrists. She smiled and offered a wave towards Dai Tai. "Hello. I'm so sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions," she said.

Dai Tai looked at her skeptically. She didn't seem hostile, and she certainly wasn't used to other gods or goddess greeting her in such a casual manner. But she wasn't willing to let her guard down just yet. "That depends. May I ask just who I'm talking to?"

The women nodded. "Right, of course. How rude of me not to introduce myself. I'm Persephone, the goddess of life, death, and grain, and destruction. Although that last part shouldn't give you the wrong idea. One little temper tantrum and they brand you for eternity," she said waving her hand.

Dai Tai looked back at Olevia, who just shrugged. Cindy meanwhile looked rather surprised. "Wait, Persephone? The Greek Goddess Persephone? Are you Makaria's mother?" she asked.

Persephone looked down towards her and nodded. "I am! And you must be the friend my daughter has been spending her time with lately. It's so nice to meet you," she said.

Cindy smiled and nodded back towards her. "It's nice to meet you too." She honestly didn't ever think she'd get the chance to meet any of her family. Makaria always said they were so busy with their duties to the pantheon. Of course that begged the question of why she was here instead of her daughter.

"Oh, and of course it's a pleasure to meet you as well Dai Tai, Goddess of Revolution," Persephone said, curtsying towards her. "I've heard a lot about you. You've made quite a few changes for the better to your pantheon according to my daughter." She then looked towards Olevia. "And you must be… I'm sorry, I forgot the title."

Dai Tai was about to speak up, but Olevia beat her to it. "You can just call me Olevia, and it's a pleasure to meet you," she said.

"The pleasure is all mine."

Dai Tai hummed. "Not that it's not… nice, to meet you. But if you don't mind me asking, why exactly are you here? Has something happened to Makaria?" she asked. She very much hoped not, but she could only assume that was the reason one of her parents would have shown up.

Persephone waved her hands. "Oh no, nothing like that. Well… technically. I had been trying to find out just what she was up to today, but I think she was on to me and went off somewhere else. I've never been good at spying," she said, looking rather embarrassed. "I should have borrowed my husband's helmet…"

Dai Tai and Cindy shared a glance, and then looked back towards the goddess before them. "Can I ask why you were trying to spy on her?" Cindy asked.

The goddess reached up and rubbed her head. "Well… admittedly it's because I'm a bit of a nosy mother. I can't help myself. I worry about my children. And with her being gone from home so much lately and not giving us many details, I wanted to see what she was up to," she said.

Dai Tai clicked her tongue. On one hand, she couldn't exactly say she approved of her spying on her daughter. Not that she was going to say anything to her about it. She seemed nice enough, but when it came to the gods even the smallest of things could bruise their egos. She imagined parenting was among them.

On the other hand, she also understood that she was worried about her daughter. She was honestly a little surprised about it. She'd met plenty of gods and goddesses who 'cared' about their children, though it was usually just in the sense of not embarrassing their name or seeing what they could get them.

She still remembered how many pushed their children to try and befriend Cindy when she came of 'courting' age. But Persephone seemed a lot more genuine. As if she actually cared about the well-being of Makaria. That being said, she wasn't sure if she should tell her or not. Or if it was even her place to.

She glanced back at Cindy, who seemed to be thinking the same thing. "Um… well, to be honest we were just going to have a movie night. Do you know what movies are?"

"Oh, I do. I peek in on what humans get up to every now and then," Persephone explained. "So you were just going to have a casual move watching at night? With snacks and such I assume?" Cindy nodded. "Well, that's nice! I'm so glad she's taking time to just have a little fun. She works so hard helping out her father and I. She deserves to have some time to just relax with a friend."

Cindy felt a little relieved at that. She knew Makaria said her mother was nice, but… well, the standards of 'nice' in the human realms and the gods' realms were very much different. Persephone walked forward, and both Dai Tai and Olevia looked a little on edge as she moved towards Cindy.

But then she reached down and grabbed both of her hands. "I want to thank you for being friends with my Makaria. She's always been a bit on the timid side, and she… well, doesn't get along well with her cousins. But she seems to have had an extra pep in her step lately, and I think it's because of you."

Cindy looked a little surprised, but then smiled back at her. "You don't need to thank me. I like spending time with Makaria," she assured.

"Well, thank you nonetheless," Persephone said before turning back to Dai Tai. "I'd also like to apologize. I know all of this seems rather sudden. Me just barging in and asking questions about my daughter. I must seem like a crazy person."

Dai Tai and Olevia both looked amused. "No… well, a little. But mothers go crazy over their kids, so we completely understand," Dai Tai said.

"I'm glad. I didn't want to make a bad impression or scare you away from spending time with my little Makaria… oh, there's one more thing I should bring up," Persephone said, snapping her fingers. "I've heard a few rumors that you and your family are on friendly terms with a number of titans."

The three other women in the room tensed up. They had been hoping that she really wouldn't bring anything up about the titans. It was a tense topic for just about every god, particularly those of the Greek pantheon. Persephone seemed to read their reaction, and quickly spoke out.

"Let me just say that it's really none of my concern who you and your family choose to spend your time with. And that I don't have anything personal against titans… well, I did a long time ago, but they're dead now…" The three other women went wide eyed. "Oh my, that sounded so much more threatening that I intended it to."

Dai Tai cleared her throat. "It's true that some friends of my family are titans. And I know that your pantheon has a pretty shifty past with them, but-"

"It's my son," Persephone said, cutting her off. They all looked at her curious as she grew a serious expression on her face. "It's not his fault really. He's had… a very bad experience in the past. I don't want to get into too many details, but he still carries quite a grudge against titans."

Cindy was curious. Makaria had mentioned the same thing about her brother. It was really strange. The Greek pantheons seemed to hate titans in general, but Makaria and her family were all exceptions to the rule. All except her brother. Just what had happened to him?

"I'm not asking you to stop spending time with your friend. And I don't presume to tell you or my daughter who they can spend their time with. But I'm just asking you to… well, be careful," Persephone said. "It just might be best if you try to avoid having him come into contact with any of your titans friends. For safety reasons."

Dai Tai raised an eyebrow at her. She really wanted to ask for more details since she felt like this would be trouble down the line, but she also didn't want to pry. At least not for now. She would leave that to Cindy. It would probably be easier for her to talk to Makaria anyway. "We'll keep what you said in mind," Dai Tai said.

"Well, I don't want to bother you any longer. I should take my leave."

"It was no bother at all. Pretty pleasant all things considered. I appreciate you being so forward with us. This is honestly one of the easiest introductions I've had with another god or goddess. My own pantheon included," Dai Tai said before bowing politely towards her. Cindy and Olevia did as well. "It was an honor to meet you."

Persephone bowed back respectfully. "The honor was mine. And I know what you mean. My husband and I don't exactly find most of those in our pantheon… let's be nice and say agreeable. Which is, again, why I'm so glad my daughter has found some pleasant company to spend time with," she said.

"And before I go, I'd like to give you a little thank you gift." She held her hands out, and suddenly a rather stylish pot appeared in them. In the span of just a few seconds, a bundle of flowers began growing out of it. "These won't wither! And they secrete a pheromone that helps soften the skin! All the ladies of the Underworld love them!"

Dai Tai looked interested. "Really? You can just grow skin caring flowers? That's pretty amazing… what else can you do?" she asked.

Persephone laughed. "Well, I've messed around with quite a few methods of plant growth, and come up with a number of nifty little tricks like that. Maybe I can come by some other time and show them to you?' she asked.

Dai Tai looked towards Olevia, who smiled and nodded, then turned back towards her. "I think we'd like that. Very much," she said.

Persephone looked at Cindy, and then leaned down and hugged her. "And I know I've probably said it too many times already, but thank you. My little Makaria has been so much happier lately, and she's always so eager to socialize now!" she said.

Cindy smiled nervously as she hugged her back. She was sure she was at least part of why Makaria was socializing more, but… she got the feeling it was a certain young titan that was really encouraging her. "No problem," she said. "Like I said, I like spending time with her too. And it was really nice to meet you Ms. Persephone."

Persephone waved her hand. "Oh please, you don't have to be so formal. You all can call me Kora. Or Kore," she said. "Now I really should get going. When my daughter realizes I'm not tailing her anymore she'll probably head to whenever she was planning, which I'm guessing was here. When she shows up, tell her I said hi."

"She was HERE?!"

Cindy giggled as Makaria buried her face in her hands. "Yeah. But you shouldn't worry. It was no trouble at all. She was really nice. She gave my moms flowers and everything," she said. "Why were you so freaked out about her following you?"

Makaria leaned back on the couch and huffed. "Because… she babies me!" she whined. "You just didn't see it because we weren't both here. But if she had been… she would have completely embarrassed me. She's so doting."

Cindy clicked her tongue. "Well, I didn't think so. But there are plenty of times I think my mom is embarrassing… especially when Dylan tries to teach maman slang…"

"Your mom became a goddess less than a hundred years ago. My mother had been babying me for over a millennia."

"Also a fair point," Cindy said. She was quiet for a moment, and then turned towards her friend again. "I really don't want to pry, but… you mother was pretty worried about your brother. And I just want to make sure. On the off chance he ends up finding out about Dorado, how do you think-"

"My brother has gone after other gods just for trying to court me. I don't think it should take much to imagine how he'll react to Dorado…"

"Oh…"

A/N: Commission for Laylaylamode, introducing Persephone! I thought it would be a cool idea for her to be the doting mother type (especially towards Makaria) and I also like the idea of her being 'mom friends' with Dai Tai and Olevia lol. The Underworld family is a little less caught up in the politics of the Greek Pantheon since they're barely around them (too busy sorting out all of the dead) so they're a bit easier to get along with. Hope you guys enjoyed!