She was young, she was wild…

[crownedmostholy]

Unexpected things happen when you’re married to a god. It must be said, therefore, that Ariadne is not entirely surprised when she finds herself in a new place. It is plain enough to see that is not the Underworld, though Pluto and Persephone’s gardens are impressive, they certainly do not hold a candle to anything one can find in the mortal realms. She is in a garden, she can tell that much; but it has been so long since she has felt the warmth of the sun¹ that she cannot help but linger in it for a while before she sets to business. Ariadne is clever enough to realize that when unexpected things happen, her husband is usually somewhere at the center of it, and in a new place (without some yarn to guide the way), the best thing for her to do is wait. Surely he’ll be along sooner or later. She sits in the gardens, then, enjoying the too-long-missed feeling of the sun in her hair and the smell of flowers, awaiting the presence of Dionysus.

It’s getting cooler out, and as a result Dionysus is spending fewer hours each day outside. Once he finally thinks the sun has warmed things sufficiently for him to handle it, he heads outside, and as he approaches his garden he immediately regrets not coming out earlier.

For a moment he can’t believe what he’s seeing. He forgets to breathe, he wants to cry, and he’s not even sure how exactly he crosses the distance to her but suddenly he’s there, she’s there, he’s wrapping shaking arms around her and pulling her in for a very, very deep kiss.

She makes a slightly startled (if pleased) noise at the sudden arms and the kiss, wrapping her own arms around his waist with a smile. “Hello, dear.”

He draws back from the kiss just far enough to rest their foreheads together, both of his hands cupping her face. He can’t bear to stop touching her, to stop looking at her, because then she might cease to be. “You’re here,” he says. “You’re really here?”

“Yes,” she says simply, nuzzling a little closer. “Not – not permanently, I think this is just a visit. But it’s better than nothing.” It’s better than the underworld. Come to think of it, she’s certain it’s not the underworld, but she doesn’t exactly know where she’s ended up. “Where are we?”

Not permanently. Ah. So this is just… just what, exactly? It feels crueler than the normal pranks the mansion plays on them. It feels more wonderful than the normal gifts the mansion gives them. To only have her for a day. Well, it’s longer than the, what, five minutes they had twenty years ago? He should be grateful. He is grateful. He wants to scream and argue and fight with the mansion spirits to let it be longer than a day, please let it be longer than a day, she was so young when she died.

Rather than answer her question, he gives her another long kiss, then finally says, “Don’t know. A bunch of people just sort of… wind up here. Different dimensions.” And, because that’s clearly enough talking for now, he goes in for more kissing.

She returns it, of course, but she would like a bit more explanation than just kissing. The kissing is pleasant. It’s more than that, in fact, but she has pressing questions. “And how does a god come to wind up in a different dimension?”

“Don’t know,” he says, shrugs, and kisses her again. Oh, but she deserves more of an explanation than that. It’s really a shame he can’t kiss and talk at the same time. “Something – someone, I suppose, pulled me here. There’s no way to leave. …Except, of course,” he adds, bitterly, “for occasionally, when they bring us visitors.”

He grabs both of her hands and brings them to his mouth to kiss. “Love, I never thought I would see you again. And now – to only have you for a day--”

She smiles and squeezes his hands, coming to a decision. They can’t just sit in the gardens all day, after all. So, ever-practical, she replies: “Well. If we’ve only got a day, let’s make the most of it, hmm?”

“Of course,” he says, smiling back. And after another kiss he wraps his arm around her waist and starts leading her to his rooms.



¹ Hello, brother-in-law.

Comments

[crownedmostholy]

"Of course not, I was just wondering if we were going to be -- mm --" She pauses to give him a brief kiss -- "--Occupied all day. I wouldn't mind if we were."

She shrugs, and stretches out. "I do. It's -- not the same, it never will be you, but..." There's a wistful smile. "At least we have today, right?"

[vineleaves]

"We do," he says, and starts leaving a trail of kisses from her ear down to her collarbone, then stops, his arms tightening around her waist and his head resting on her shoulder. In a quiet voice, he says, "Stay. Please. I'm -- I'm sure we can -- figure out some way--"

[crownedmostholy]

"I would if I could, my darling," she replies, combing her hands through his hair. "I think your uncle is expecting me back, though."

[vineleaves]

He doesn't have anything to say to that. She chose staying in Hades over being with him once before, too.

It's only one day, and he'll have to go a thousand more lifetimes without her.

It's a whole extra day with her. He never thought he would get one more day.

After a while of sitting there, just holding her, he starts quietly singing. It's a song from when Ariadne was alive, one of his favorites from back then, about springtime, and trees growing, and one particular verse about two goats who are in love.

[crownedmostholy]

She laughs, a laugh that is definitely not hiding tears in it, and buries her face against his neck. "I wish I could stay. You're not saving the world this time, after all."

[vineleaves]

"Oh, Ariadne, you would love it here. There's -- there's a severe lack of travel opportunities, but -- you would like it other than that, I think, there's a beach, and -- oh the people here are lovely, my dear, are -- are you -- Pluto might not even notice, there's a lot of other people who have died--"

[crownedmostholy]

"There are," she says, still very definitely not crying -- nor is she wiping her eyes on the sheets. "I know you're not often one for rules, but I'm afraid they are very definite. Tell me more about everyone here, though --I'd like that." Maybe it would take her mind off of leaving.

[vineleaves]

He replaces the corner of sheet she's definitely not wiping her tears on with his thumb, carefully wiping at her face in an attempt to dry it. His own face may or may not be streaked with tears as well.

"Of course. So, I suppose first I should tell you about dear Étienne -- oh, love, I'm sure if you could stay here you'd love him as much as I do -- he's so smart, and talented -- he's so good at painting! And he can be so funny, he loves wine, he's, my goodness, Ariadne, you should see him when he's practicing his kickboxing, it's so hot -- ...He's sad, a lot of the time. He came here immediately after dying, he didn't even make it to the River Styx before he woke up here apparently, and his life wasn't exactly the happiest before that either, so you can imagine -- but, I think he's getting better. Adjusting. It's just going to take a while. Ah -- oh, he loves playing games, we have a game room here and -- Ariadne, do you know what pinball is? I imagine there's probably pinball in Hades, right? Game where the little balls go bounce around inside a box thing and rack up points? Anyway, I'm pretty sure Étienne has the high score on the one we have here."

This last bit is decidedly untrue, but Dionysus doesn't really pay much attention to the pinball machine, and is honestly just making an assumption here based on his own incredibly biased opinions, but he seems fairly convinced of it.

[crownedmostholy]

That is ...a lot to take in. But though it has been years, she is used to her husband's tendencies to go on and on about the people he loves. She nods, listening intently, and curls a bit closer.

"He sounds like a lot of fun. His hair reminds me of your satyrs, a little bit."

[futaille]

Speak of the not-actually-a-satyr, having given them a nice chunk of away time, Grantaire is now attempting a return. After listening for a second at the bedroom door just in case, he hears only muffled speaking, so chances a knock. "I can leave again if you want, but..."

[vineleaves]

"He's a lot taller than satyrs -- Oh! Sweetheart, come in, we were actually just talking about you!" he says as Grantaire comes back in. "I was telling her about how you're so good at pinball."

Notably, they are both still very naked, but that's probably not a problem, right?

[crownedmostholy]

It’s certainly not a problem for Ariadne. It may have been a while; but she is still married to the god of ecstasy after all. She will pull up the sheets, though, if Grantaire seems awkward at all about it.

“Hello again,” she offers with a smile.

[futaille]

"Not as good as some," he says as he enters, "but I can make a decent showing, even if Sagramore is an obvious cheat." That last bit is said as if Sagramore were actually present to hear the barbed aside. "Hello to you both. I'm sure you've managed to keep yourselves occupied."

[vineleaves]

“What? I thought you had the high score,” he says, but it ultimately doesn’t matter. He has two of the people he cares most for in any world here with him right now, and in this moment he’s determined to not let the looming threat of tomorrow ruin that. This might change at any moment.

He makes three glasses of wine, one for each of them, filled with their respective favorite wines. “I’m so happy that you two get to meet finally.”

[crownedmostholy]

Ariadne scoots up a bit in bed to better drink her wine. "Yes," she agrees, giving Grantaire a small smile. "Tell me more about yourself--Dionysus has told me a little, but it's best to hear things from the source, I've found."

[futaille]

He shrugs. "I'd say there's not much to say but I'm fairly certain Dionysus would give me a look for that. So... before I came here, I was a student of art in Paris who ended up studying Paris much more than I did art."

[vineleaves]

"Paris is a big city, sort of near where Thoas got bit by that goose that one time," he offers as some context for his wife, the ancient Minoan daughter of King Minos from the Bronze Age.

[crownedmostholy]

"Ah." She studies Grantaire for a moment, curiously. "Well -- if you're the one responsible for my crown," she nods upwards to the ceiling, smiling. "--Then I must say you did it justice."

[futaille]

"Thank you. I can't claim complete responsibility. But he missed your stars. He deserved to see them again."

[vineleaves]

"It's my favorite painting," he says before leaning to give Grantaire a kiss. "Since -- well, you know," since you're dead, and wouldn't leave Hades for me, "It's the closest thing I've got to having you here with me all the time."

[crownedmostholy]

"Yes, well -- you know how Pluto gets about mortals coming back from the dead. Remember how angry he was at Asclepius?"

[futaille]

"There are several stories in that genre, although I have it on very good authority that a lot of stories are inaccurate."

[vineleaves]

There's several arguments Dionysus wants to make, with regards to Ariadne's point about his uncle. Yes, Pluto doesn't like allowing mortals to come back, but he let Dionysus bring Will back. ...Granted, he did technically trade Xanthias for the opportunity. Pluto didn't know Xanthias was planning on staying, after all. He could also argue that the nature of this place is so utterly removed from anything his uncle has power over, or else Grantaire wouldn't be here right now. But he doesn't argue, he just wraps his arms a little tighter around her.

[crownedmostholy]

She sighs and gives him a soft kiss. "I know, love. I wish I could stay, too." There's a pause. "I could tell the children hello, though, if you'd like."

[futaille]

"Oh, I bet they're extraordinary children."