After The Fact

Ares stared up at Persephone's ceiling getting his breath back. Who knew that she would wind him so much? Glancing over at her, he had to say she looked just as good debouched as she did in a chiton staring defiantly at him. He had also thoroughly enjoyed himself and he had not been expecting it as much as he had. Then again, the tension between them had built for a long time and it had to go somewhere. The question was, was she regretting her action now? While he didn't, he was sure that if she regretted it, Ares would at some point; be wrath from Hades, Aphrodite, or the ire of both of them. He'd have to go into seclusion again and wouldn't that be oh so much fun.

If he was with a human lover, he would have already left without a word after having his fun. He would have satisfied his need and had his amusement. There would have been no need to fret about retribution from other members of the pantheon. Who was he kidding? Even if had to face the others this was something he wouldn't look on with shame or disappointment.

Unrepentant, he skimmed his hand across her stomach to rest on her hip bone thumb stroking circles on it as he propped himself on his elbow to look down at her. "So, your highness." He kissed her shoulder. "Was it worth it?"

Persephone lies in a state that a human might call meditative, and is the closest any god can come to sleep unless gravely wounded. She's simply enjoying the "afterglow" - the feeling of pleasant tiredness and satisfaction.

Ares' palm skims across her skin, tickling her and drawing a quiet noise of protest from her until his thumb begins to rub soothing circles into the skin of her hip. She can feel him scoot closer, but she keeps her eyes closed, refusing to give up her 'nap' until she absolutely has to.

Still, his touch is drawing her attention more and more, and the kiss he presses to her shoulder finally causes her to open her eyes. Giving him her best "you woke me up for this?" look, she pretends to consider for a moment before replying.

"I suppose," she says, smiling wryly and reaching out to toy with the silver dagger that hangs from his ear. "What do you think?"

Suppressed laughter dances in his eyes but he keeps the smile in check not quite letting how much amusement he was feeling show. His body however was very much relaxed and he felt rather lazy and in no rush to leave the warmth of either Persephone's bed nor the woman's body. Enjoying the feeling of her hip under his calloused hands, he recalled how very responsive she had been and found himself giving her a curious look. He had wondered how his uncle could have kept himself from her, but maybe she had resisted his uncle without realizing it? Ares knew that sometimes it was the conquest that was the thrill, afterwards, there was no challenge and therefor no reason to pursue anymore. That might have been what had crossed his mind ever so briefly when he'd first started chasing Persephone long ago. However, it had gotten to the point that he was beyond that. Perhaps his uncle wasn't and didn't see any reason to pursue his own wife?

At her answer, Ares arched a brow the expression on his face was put upon mock hurt. "You just 'suppose?'"

If he actually took her seriously he would worry about his reputation, as it was, he still needed to find a way for her to express something other than, 'suppose'. Yet what she hadn't said spoke volumes in itself. She didn't regret her decision either so he didn't need to worry about any avenging happening.

"I think," he stated glancing down at her naked form, "we should definitely do this again."

She laughs gently at his expression of mock hurt. It might just be the closest the god of war will ever get to 'puppy eyes', and she has to admit that she never thought she would see anything like it on his features.

"We'll see," she answers, tone amused and a little indulgent as she catches his glance at her body and shakes her in amused exasperation at his 'one-track mind'. She won't say no if this does happen again, but in the meantime, she needs plausible deniability - to be able to say that this was a one-off, just in case something goes sideways.

She sits up carefully, wrapping a sheet around herself and tucking the end securely before she stretches languidly, feeling the stretch pull pleasantly at the muscles in her shoulders and back.

"You know as well as I do that my door is always unlocked," she jokes, casting a glance back over her shoulder as she begins to comb the knots out of her hair with her fingers. It's part invitation, part defence mechanism - if he does take her up on it, then she won't complain. If he doesn't, she can always play it off as a poor attempt at humour made in a dazed state without any skin off of her own back, so to speak.

Ares watched with slight disappointment as she decided to hide her body with the sheet, but he did enjoy the view not put out in the least that her reply had been a loose 'maybe'. A chuckle escaped his lips at her stating the obvious about the doors and basically what it meant. Oh, he might actually take her up on the invitation and while he didn't voice that she was just as welcome to enter his rooms, he didn't think he should say it. They had their own reputations but with Olympians being who they were, it was bound to get out sooner or later. Ares just preferred the latter not only for his own sake, but for Persephone's as well.

Taking the woman's lead, he vacated the bed to slide his pants on, eyes glancing around for his other items of clothing. Locating them, he slowly started to retrieve them and put them on until he spotted something laying oh so innocently in a patch of bedding that had pooled on the floor. Bending down, he grabbed it as well as his missing wrist gauntlet. A smile curved his lips as he turned to face Persephone, humor very evident in his stance and expression. "Thank you for my compass."

Pulling out the vial of Lethe water he gave it a considering look before tossing the vial gently onto the rumpled bed. It was only fair that they exchange prizes. Ares had already used the vial for what he needed anyway. It was only 'right' that he give back what he hadn't used. While he'd contemplated keeping the remaining bit since you never knew when it would come in handy, Ares also did not want to ever venture down to Tartarus again. Twice was more than enough to last him the next couple of eons.

Ares had said he had been willing to negotiate for the compass and trading the items was in his best interest. Who knew when he might need a favor from the queen of the underworld? It would do well to end things on good terms.

She can hear him moving about behind her, vacating the bed in search of his garments. She's already putting her own accouterments to rights when he mentions the compass. The one that had been on the bed before they'd gotten... Distracted. Right.

"You're welcome," she replies with a wry smile and an eye roll. Admittedly she did 'give' it back to him when he first arrived, but she also stole it from him too. Still, there's genuine humor in his smile it seems, so she isn't overly concerned. What does surprise her is the soft sound of something hitting the bed, and a cursory glance causes her already raised eyebrows to travel further up her forehead.
The tiny crystalline vial is lying beside her pillow, still full of a few drops of a clear liquid that practically reeks of the underworld.

Picking it up, she looks up to thank him, only to hesitate ever so slightly. Being indebted to another god is a tricky business, and though she trusts him more than she did, she's still wary. So she settles for a smile and a barely perceptible nod as she sets the vial back down on the bed, resolving to make a visit to the underworld as soon as possible to return whatever is in the vial to its proper place.

"That's got to be a first," he stated slightly teasing. Then again, Ares would rather suffer than thank another god and if ever did, they would have made sure to rub it in. This was also the first time they'd actually been...friendly with each other as well.

Smirking at her expression and wanting to laugh, Ares contains it but acknowledges the nod of thanks even though he arches his brow. He really hadn't expected her to thank him as in his mind they were trading. The compass was useless to her, and at the moment, the water was useless to him and they both wanted the other's items for reasons known only to them.

It was strange. Now that he'd actually bedded the goddess, some of the pull towards her had waned but hadn't dissipated completely. There was genuine attraction he felt towards Persephone, that hadn't gone away at all nor did he expect it to. What he felt towards this particular goddess was quite different than what he felt for a certain other goddess. No one would ever hold the position that Aphrodite held in his heart, but he was beginning to think that Persephone might be added to separate part where he held Tobias at; possibly. If Ares didn't do something to ruin it.

Then again, Ares did like trifle and irritate. One did grow bored after all and had to have some kind of entertainment to amuse themselves with. Giving the goddess a considering look, he wondered when exactly she'd find out what he had done. In all fairness, he'd started his little game about the same time Persephone and he had begun their dance. Only part of his decision had been because of her, but for the most part, he'd wanted to rattle his uncle's cage.

The smart thing would be to leave the goddesses quarters, allow the fallout to happen at its own pace. However, Ares like to prod and agitate. Which was what he would be doing down on earth shortly as well. It was high time to cause some controlled mayhem. His eyes lit up with dark humor at the thought of what would follow when it was discovered that their were other children of the 'Big Three' loose.

"Things should get rather interesting now," he commented both about what had transpired and what would once things that had been started in motion came to light.

His comment draws her attention away from her study of the little vial, putting her on her guard again. There's something ever so slightly off about his conversational tone, and she can't help but take the bait out of curiosity.

"Oh?" she says, sitting down on the edge of her bed and crossing her legs. Her head cants to the side as she considers him, noting the sudden brightness in his expression that she's only ever seen when he's making - or about to make - mayhem. "And what exactly is going to make things so interesting?"

The pointed tone of her question marks, it seems, the end of their little truce. She can practically feel the two of them resuming their respective roles in their usual little tango - him the antagonizer, she the antagonized - and it's a bit of a relief if she's honest. The moment of peace between the end of their coupling and now seemed too strange, and though she doesn't regret what the did, it's almost soothing to return to their usual bickering.

"Do tell," she says, arching an eyebrow.

Making a noncommittal sound, Ares' lips pull back into a grin of anticipation. While he could feign as if he hadn't a clue that she meant besides their escapade in her room, he liked to rile her up too much for that. She was clever, in her own way and it would likely come back to bite him in the ass if he was dishonest with her now. While Ares might omit things, he didn't lie, much. Whenever he did resort to lying or breaking his word, it was usually if he ended up cheating in order to come out on top. His lies were used at his discretion mainly to those he could care less about.

At the timbre of her voice changed to something he was quite familiar with along with the eyebrow lift had him return and lock his gaze on her. Schooling his features, he considered what was going to happen. When he'd started all this in motion part of him had been controlled by the titan, but after he'd been freed from that Ares was still a bit keen on the idea, partially. It was in Ares' nature by now though to find ways to antagonize his fellow deities and it was a very hard habit to break, not that he'd want to. In every war there were casualties. It was a given fact. Innocents got caught up in said conflicts, that was another fact.

Ares wasn't going to try and make a bid for his father's throne. He'd already learned not to do that besides he didn't want the added responsibilities or trouble that would bring. No, he just wanted to watch his father and uncles go at it. Down in the darkest part of him that he kept firmly locked most of the time wanted to see them tear each other to pieces.

Crossing his arms, he gave the answer she should have expected from him as he returned her question with one of his own. "What's in it for me?"

She can't help looking down her nose at him, both eyebrows raised now in an expression that asks in no uncertain terms if his continued invitation to her rooms is not enough incentive for him to answer her question.

"You mean besides my not rescinding my open door policy?" she snarks, leaning back on the heels of her hands and tipping her chin up defiantly. He's in her space, he's going to play by her rules - especially now that his evasiveness has her fully on her guard. If he was proud of what he'd done, he would already be boasting about it to upset her.

If he's dodging the question, nothing good can come of it.

"Now are you going to tell me, or do I need to see you out?" she asks, daring him to make a choice. Although she's wary of what he has to say, and almost hopes he chooses the door, she's also morbidly curious about what fresh hell he's brought to Olympus this time.

Ares' lips curled up without his volition in approval and pride. Oh, this one learned quickly and he very much enjoyed it. He really had walked into that one hadn't he? She had a good point. This new dynamic between the two of them was still rather fragile and had to be felt out and tested. Having gained this privilege, he was rather hesitant to throw it away so quickly.

Giving her a look that stated quite clearly that he acknowledged her challenge and accepted her terms, Ares uncrossed his arms. One arm dropped to his side while the other rested on the hilt of his sword. Unlike his relatives, Ares had learned during their Grecian reign not to let his item of power leave his sight.

While he was cocky, brash, and impulsive, Ares wasn't an idiot. He knew that he had the option of just telling her that she would see soon and then leave. Part of him also knew though that while he could more or less predict what the other Olympians would do, Persephone was a wild card. More so now that she started to behave with more grit and actually acting out on her desires rather than bottling them and being passive.

"Let's just say that your husband if he doesn't already know, will be in for a surprise. As will dear old dad."

She really doesn't like the sound of that. He still hasn't fully answered the question, but his pronouncement has enough of an ominous tone to it that her eyes go wide. What has he done? Surprising the god of the dead and the king of gods is generally a bad idea, and by the sounds of it, it's not going to be a pleasant surprise.

"What did you do?" she asks, tone sharp with anxiety as she sits up to look at him properly. His posture speaks of a distinct lack of anxiety, save for his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, which could just be where his hand landed, or it could be the closest she'll ever get to seeing Ares have a nervous tic.

"Ares," she says, uncrossing her legs and leaning forward as if her posture would add extra emphasis to her words. "Tell me."

At the tone of her voice, Ares' eyes narrow slightly but the wicked glint in them doesn't dissipate in their intensity at all. Then when she said his name, all but commanding him, his body language subtly changed from relaxed to feigned indifference. His mind churned over all the possible options and decisions that the other deity might take if he included her in his machinations. Then again, he could hardly be faulted for taking advantage of a situation that his uncle and father had presented and started themselves. Ares was just...diverting their plots and plans that was all.

"I have done nothing more than what they've done; less actually," he amended after a brief second of thought. "It would have come out eventually."

And it would have as soon as the children of Hades used their powers. As for his other half brother, having exposed him to be the son of Zeus would make things more interesting. From his observations, dear old dad shouldn't expect a father's day card any time soon from the mortal. It wouldn't surprise Ares if the mortal ended up throwing his lot in with the Titans, if not declaring himself neutral.

Knowing that she would want to know exactly what it was that was going to come to a head, he gave her a dark humored grin. It concerned her, so she might as well know first. "Your husband has decided to put his children into play. All I did was expose it by sending dear old dad's unclaimed child to fetch them to their little camp."

Her brows pull together in confusion and worry as he speaks. It would have come out eventually? What would have come out eventually? There's a good-sized knot of fear forming in the pit of her stomach, and it's unfortunately justified.

As if he can sense her thoughts, he spells it out for her, and she does not like what she hears.

Children. As if she didn't have enough of a reason to dislike her husband after he kidnapped her and tricked her into marrying him, he now has children. Until now she's been loyal, patiently waiting in the underworld for him to return and pay her even the smallest bit of attention.

Well, any guilt - not that there was any - over her time with Ares is well and truly gone. A flash of bitter anger bubbles up in her throat, and she's hard-pressed to keep her expression neutral. There'll be hell to pay for this, but Ares doesn't need to know that.

"Because exposing my husband's stupidity is going to help?" she snarks, failing to keep the bitterness out of her tone. "Last I checked, an Olympian civil war is the opposite of a good thing."

Ares wants to laugh when he feels the anger build up in the petite goddess. She was doing a marvelous job of trying to hide it. It was unfortunate for her that it was he that could sense that emotion like a shark could blood. It was a useful talent and skill for the god of war and he manipulated it greatly when it benefited him. Ares had stroked Persephone's anger before for his amusement and to see if she would catch onto what he was doing. There was also the fact he'd wanted to see just how far he could push her before she would let it loose. Right now, it would not benefit either one of them if he inflated the emotion.

He shrugged at her first statement since it was a statement and not a question. It also amused him that she would say what she did. However, "I never said it was a good thing," he replied as if he could care less what would happen and only annoyed because she had put words in his mouth.

"As for your husband's children, they would have exposed him the moment they used their inherited abilities at that school he put them in." It was only a matter of time like he'd said. The children of the big three always had some kind of ability that went beyond the usual inheritance of their reflexes and senses being heightened.

"You're enjoying this," she snaps, her temper breaking for a split second before she masters it again. It's the truth as far as she can tell - that manic gleam is still in his eyes - but getting upset isn't going to fix her anger. Especially not at one of the two deities that seem to know she exists.

Making a dismissive motion with her hand, she takes a deep breath and reins in the anger that's flowing through her like a river. The children are a minor detail at the moment, given the impending consequences of her husband's apparent mistake. She might be new to this game of godly politics, but she knows well enough that there is nothing Olympians love more than choosing sides over a transgressed rule, and trouble usually follows when they do. The question will be finding a way to come out of this unscathed given her marriage to Hades.

"So they would have," she sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose between thumb and forefinger as she tries to sort through everything she's heard in the last few minutes. "I do so love my husband."

"I love my job, so sue me." There was no denying that he was enjoying it, was looking forward to the explosion that would happen during the next council of the gods. Unrepentant of the fact he just gave her a look that stated as such, how much it didn't concern him that everything would be shifting and that it would likely affect the demigod children as well. It seemed that whenever Olympians were squaring off against each other, their children formed similar alliances with the demi's of their parents' allies. Ares admitted that this might not be the best time for this, but it hadn't been him that had started this mess. He was just capitalizing on mistakes and having his own fun in the interim.

Ares watched the goddess curious as to which way she would go. He'd felt the flare of her anger and bit back a smirk as she reined it in. Seems like she agreed with him that her stepchildren would have been found out regardless. At her last remark, he couldn't hold it in. He threw his head back and laughed full throated. Oh, what he would give to be a fly on the wall during that conversation.

His laughter grates on her, and she rolls her eyes. It's just so typical of him to be amusing himself while the rest of the world falls to pieces.

"I'm glad you find this amusing," she drawls, irritation flashing across her face as she pushes at the curls that have fallen into her eyes. It's fine for him - he's not going to be caught in the crossfire when - not if, when - this goes sideways. A tiny part of her is grateful for his honesty, but the rest of her is aching to smack him and cuss him out for throwing her to the wolves.

"It must be nice to be so arrogant as to think this won't affect you too," she grumbles, standing up and beginning to pace with her fists knotted in her skirts as she tries, and fails, to think of a way to save her husband's hide and her own in the process.

I swear if I was mortal I'd divorce him yesterday, she thinks, letting out a frustrated huff as she turns on her heel and paces back towards the head of the bed. This has been nothing but trouble since day one.

"Oh, I know it'll affect me, highness," he all but purrs reining in his laughter but it was still visible in his expression. Ares was always in his element when it came to war, mortal or otherwise. Yes, he'd underestimated people at times but he was smart enough to learn from those mistakes and not repeat them. In fact, Ares was sure that he'd be cornered by his father sooner or later and penalized for what he'd done. In the meantime, he'd be getting his kicks.

He watched as she paced, before stepping behind her to force her to either stop once she'd turned to pace the other way or go around him. Honestly, he was curious as to what she was thinking and what her plans would be. Would she too blame him and try to get the fullest punishment thrown at him for his actions? All he had done was push up the time table and expose things that were already there if the Olympians had wanted to look.

"What I want to know," he states once she faced him again and gave her a searching look. "Is what you're going to do with that information."

She pulls up short of him, staring upwards as he gazes down, asking what her plans are. As if he has any right to know, she thinks, folding her arms across her chest. He helped make this mess, so the solution is none of his business.

"I don't know," she replies, tone sharp with frustration and anxiety. She's barely had time to process, let alone formulate a plan. A good plan will take a while, and this is exactly the kind of situation that calls for something well thought out and solid. A slapdash plan will only make things worse, and wouldn't Ares like that.

"Why do you care? This is a game to you," she says, shaking her head and wondering if he's thought this through at all or simply doesn't care. It's more likely the latter than the former, which is a slight improvement, but not much.

"And since when do you care what I do?" she adds, scowling up at him. Her doings have never bothered him before, as evidenced by his casual response to their little game of cat and mouse, so why does it matter now? "Shouldn't you be worrying about bigger fish?"

For the briefest moment fury flashes through his eyes before he can control his response and return his expression to one of the indifference she seems to expect from him. In fairness, he had rather suddenly got her caught up in this. At the time it was true, part of it had been a game to him, to push buttons. To see if this straw would 'break the camels back' as the saying went. He also knew however that he'd had to tread carefully because Persephone and Aphrodite were close and if he inadvertently hurt the goddess, Aphrodite would be very vindictive towards him. It was in his best interest to keep Persephone from the consequences of his actions.

Giving her a smile that only Aphrodite had been able to see past, he took a step back and replied, "You're right. This is a game, one that I plan on winning. Which means, I care what you're going to do." He was sure he didn't have to spell it out that whatever she did would affect his own plans.

At her mention of the other Olympians the muscle in his cheek twitched but he reeled in and bound his anger tightly inside himself. Sneering, the hand that had just been resting on the pommel of his sword slipped down further to where his palm was resting against the leather bound hilt. Jabbing his free hand towards her door to point towards it his voice dripped with acrid contempt. "They are the ones that should be worrying."

It took until that damn prophecy for the gods to evoke change. While it was happening what were they doing? They couldn't even come to the consensus about whether the demigod that would wither destroy or save Olympus should die or not. It was only fortunate circumstances that they'd avoided the outcome so far.

She arches a sceptical eyebrow. There's something entirely too honest about the smile he gives her, but what he says makes sense. He plays to win, so he needs to know how she's going to deal with this. For a moment she considers telling him to mind his own business - to go toy with someone else while she figures this out - but the split-second flare of real anger in his eyes tells her that it's best not to get in his way.

She's never heard him speak like that, and she can't help but glance warily at where his hand has slid down to grip the hilt of his sword. His ire isn't directed at her, and though she seems to have his measure, she doesn't want to test how far their 'chemistry' will go towards staying his hand if he were so inclined.

"My husband is an ass, but he's less of an ass than Zeus. For the moment the plan is to get out in front of this mess and try and slow it down," she says, forcing herself to be calm though her eyes are still watching his grip on his sword. "Remind everyone that Hades has barely crossed the line in comparison to Zeus and then try to ride this out while I come up with something better."

It's not much, and she desperately wishes she were a better tactician. She's good with people, not plans of attack, and for a moment she feels desperately out of her depth.

Damn him, she thinks bitterly, beginning to fidget with her skirts as a replacement for pacing. Why did this have to be the one mistake he made?

At the mention of his father's name, Ares almost winces and glances towards the door, his whole being tensing up, hand tightening on the hilt until his knuckles were white. While his father was more egocentric than his children and the rest of the Olympians, he didn't always show up when his name was invoked. One never knew when he would though so it was always best to err on the side of caution. His jaw clenches at the mention of his father yet again as well as that of Persephone's husband. While he'd slipped once and used his uncle's name while in the underworld, it was of no consequence. Here and now, there would be.

Ares stayed silent while he waited with baited breath and eyes narrowed until he was sure that his father hadn't heard them and then relaxed minutely. Turning his gaze back towards the goddess, his hand released the death grip on his sword hilt.

"Here's a tip then," he states coldly. "Don't invoke their name in places that reverberates their power."

While he knew that she usually stayed out of Olympian affairs, one would think she would know the cardinal one rule. You never spoke another gods name unless you wanted them butting in or listening. Even Ares who flaunted the rules however he could knew there were some you just didn't break.

Stepping further away from the goddess he ran a hand through his hair as he thought then frowned. Turning, he gave Persephone a critical look as he assessed her. "You could let this play out. Feign ignorance without volunteering anything until directly asked."

Hades had been playing this game longer than Ares and had a lot more invested. He was sure his uncle had his own counter strategies in place in case something like this happened. Anything that Persephone did to preempt the outcome, might actually hider and makes things worse.

She makes a frustrated noise, hissing through her teeth at her own mistake. Her earlier fear of being out of her depth doesn't even begin to cover how close she is to drowning in this, with all these rules of engagement that she hardly remembers. Embarrassment runs a hot flush up her neck and cheeks, though she manages to fight her urge to duck her head like a chastised child.

Mistakes you can learn from, she tells herself, pulling her shoulders back and forcing herself to stand up straight. You'll not forget that rule again.


She watches him walk away and then turn back, almost - but not quite - pacing as he thinks. His suggestion isn't unreasonable, though her stung pride is loath to let her take his advice. How stupid he must think she is, a child in a woman's body trying to play with the grown-ups, the little voice in the back of her head murmurs before she silences it and speaks.

"It's an option," she allows, forcing herself to meet and hold his assessing gaze. "I need time to think this over."

The flushed look really did become her, and he quite likes it. The fact that she recognized her mistake and the way she stood her ground accepting it caused his lips to quirk slightly. His anger had all but either been locked or bled away to be replaced once more with his usual facade. Still, as she met his gaze not backing down and all but dismissing him gives rise to a flare of approval. Giving a mock bow, he turns on his heel to head for her doorway.

Unable to resist and because he really did need to know, he paused without turning to face her. While he could outright ask her, he was sure he'd lost that privilege and he'd already learned how far he could push her before she was about to break. Not wanting a repeat performance, he instead opted to inform her, "I'm sure my minder will look forward to seeing you." That said, he went ahead to leave. The two were friends and she would surely value Aphrodite's opinion above his.

She watches his retreating back with a growing sense of weariness, silently glad that the only company she'll have is her own for a while. These games and intrigues are beyond her sometimes, and she wonders if she shouldn't just give in and go back to being Hades' obedient custodian instead of trying to punch above her weight.

"I'm sure she will," she agrees, thinking of her friend with a pang. Though she loathes having to keep a secret from the other goddess, she'll make do. Anything for some advice and companionship from someone who isn't trying to play games with her or trip her up.

By the time she's finished her thought the doorway is empty and she's alone again. The silence that blooms in the room is both blissfully soothing and strangely oppressive as she returns to the bed, ignoring the rumpled bedding and the tiny vial, and curls up near the headboard, looking for all the world like Ares hadn't been there at all.