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Chapter 15: Self-Destructing Dinner

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Hades was panicking a bit.

When he gave Hecate the green light to invite the one she described as Kore's 'big brother', he wasn't expecting for an extra seat at the table. Then again, he hadn't told anyone that he had invited Minthe and Thanatos to Dinner too. It wasn't like he had much of a choice when both just hijacked the situation with the former lamenting how it felt like he was trying to 'set himself up with pinkie'.

As much as it felt frustrating to be called out like this, the God of the Underworld knew that it was less of the scandalous stab and more what Kore may think of this. Ever since he met her, he had been feeling... happier. It wasn't like it took him much to achieve that nowadays, but the way she carried a sense of genuine sunshine in his life made him feel way lighter than he felt deserving of.

Maybe he was overthinking this, or maybe this idea held some merits. The girl was bright, and she had been sent there by Hera. Why? Well, he was slowly understanding that it had to do with Hera picking up the feels he had on the girl. The call they shared when he demanded to know the reasoning of this imposed recruitment left him mutedly agreeing.

The girl is cute, she is smart and, best of all, she felt something for him. Something that Hades was sure was returned by him in a way that Minthe could only hope about. It wasn't like he hated the nymph, but at times she sounded so demanding and... 'superior' to him. It was pleasant in intimacy, and quite infuriating elsewhere.

Which is why, with a lack of intimacy in their previous relationship, that he found her to be quite detestable when compared to Kore.

And this Dinner was going to be... the main competition. Not by his own will- in fact, he would have preferred it to not be the case, but Hades noticed one thing about Thanatos that made him question how far both would go. The conspiratory look, the preparation behind their gazes- it was like they were expecting him to keep them out. But he didn't.

So, rather than being chewed by those two, he ended up chewed by Hecate herself. Which was a touch or more troublesome to handle at this hour of the day.

"We will have a long talk once this is all over."

It was a promise, and not a pleasant one. Especially when she had been looking forward for this to be a bit of a double date. The child adding up to the list? Not much of a problem as he could personally see as the little girl was as polite as a child her age could get. Only issue, if it could be seen as such, was the fact she was unable to understand them but her current caretaker.

Small nitpicking was, nonetheless, nitpicking. Sitting down and starting the dinner with the things he had personally prepared, he was pleased to know no one had nothing to complain about. Minthe did look ready to say something, but Thanatos made a positive comment which seemed to keep her from insulting anything she was eating.

The few hints on her face that appeared pleased by the meals confirmed that it would have been comments born from pettiness and... Hades knew it was time to pick a topic to start a conversation. A topic that would hardly focus around him.

"So... John, right?"

The single mortal at the table blinked. "Yes, sir?"

"Is it true that you and Hecate-"

"Yes, we are dating," Hecate interrupted sharply, then softening a bit. "And sorry, it's just that many people are surprised of this topic and it can get very frustrating."

Hades nodded as he understood Hecate's frustration but-

"Would it be that much of a shock that many are merely questioning how a mortal ended up having a lasting relationship with a deity?" Minthe asked, clearly trying to stay on that subject.

"To some, yes. Mostly mortals, but gossiping to that extent is quite limited among deities," Hecate rebuked, only for the nymph to sigh. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"Only that it seems curious for someone that hardly care for social interactions to know how these works."

"Well, I never had this kind of issue being too widespread, and I do interact a fair lot with people," John quipped, snatching Minthe's attention back on him.

Rather than commenting back, she just stared and then shifted the focus elsewhere.

"Speaking of interactions, I heard that you had a few with Apollo, Kore."

Did she? Kore looked a bit nervous, and Hades felt as if the situation wasn't a mere case of 'mistakes'. Still, Kore answered that question.

"He is a friend since he is... Artemis' brother."

"Well, he is a handsome fellow. How do you feel around him?"

"...If I have to be honest... I feel like he can be too pushy."

Minthe didn't look pleased with that. "He is a confident guy-"

"I asked him a few times to stop being too flirtatious because I felt he was being too much and he still keep doing it," Kore interrupted, her honesty barely leashed at this point much to Hades' surprise and... delight.

"Sounds like a lame reaction, maybe you should-"

"Or maybe she should not," John interrupted, his face showing little to no sympathy to the nymph. "My apologies, what are you doing?"

"Just being curious. The same curiosity I have on how you ended working in Olympus."

"The explanation is simple: I have worked dutifully under Lady Demeter, and then Lady Hera decided to provide me with a job due to recommendation. I believe this is a common practice for people to make career in the Underworld too as Hecate told me as much."

"Yes, we do provide recommendations and-"

"It still doesn't explain why someone like Kore ends up working under Hades-"

"Lady Hera was the one to provide this to her," Hecate replied but-

"She is just some minor goddess, what about it?!" Minthe snapped. "How come everyone just jump to defend her?!"

"For the same reason why you are being invited!" It wasn't Hades that retorted this, but he had been tempted to do so. Instead, he found his attention briefly stolen by the mortal at the table. Irked, angered and... something on his face and overall frame was familiar to him. In a not-so pleasant way actually. Where did he see these angry eyes before?

"That you are worthy of respect by the host of this place," John continued to say. "Yet, here you are, using all turns and chance to just try your best to ruin what should have been a lovely dinner spent together with other guests."

"I-"

"And I am sorry to say this, but I think this is where I will announce my leave with little Amaterasu," John interjected Minthe, standing up while holding the fox-eared child in his arms before turning to Hades. "Lord Hades, your cooking is amazing and your hospitality worthy of a King, but I am afraid that I have a moral obligation to keep this little one out of potential troubles of heart. I would be more than happy to be the collateral damage if this had been different, but I had a responsibility with this little one first."

"It- It's alright."

Hades' response may be seen as 'weak'. In truth, the stuttering was fruit of self-restraint at the anger born from this reasonable point- this should have been a simple dinner, one where everyone should have had fun and... this wasn't going to happen again.

Hecate tagged along, Kore pretty much knowing she couldn't stay if either didn't keep around and... it was just Hades, a 'happy Minthe' and a very nervous Thanatos as the latter seemed to know his boss was far from calm at the moment.

"Minthe dear, we need to have a long talk. Same for you Thanatos, and get back on your seat!" Hades said calmly as Thanatos tried to make a run to the nearest window.

AN

A rocky first impression, but next chapter will entertain a 'solo' Hades-John conversation. Things will quite go funny there as these two may have a few (or many) things in common.

REVIEW Q&A!

Coldblue2015:
1) The first encounter is meant to be 'icy' and awkward. Especially when Minthe is quite the hideous individual at this point due to how poisonous Thethis is.
2) Maybeish; There is going to be another interlude coming quite soon with a POV that will confirm that something is up with John and... it will terrify said individual to the bones;
3) No. Hera keeps many secrets from Demeter, and since Demeter has no reason to nag and badger Hera to the point of milking that info, it's relatively impossible for that to happen;
4) Not in these few chapters, but soon? Maybe. After all this 'solo Hades-John' Conversation will focus on Hades being a dork to try and gain support by Kore's Italian Brother to date her. It will be glorious.
4)