One Minion, Extra Sass, Hold the Soul {Megara}

[Hades]

Well, this was unexpected. Hades had been downtown, mostly to check on the whole Vlad/Morgana situation (and potentially to see if he couldn't pop in at exactly the wrong moment; there was something delightfully wonderful in interrupting or, even better, just watching for a bit. Hey, it was allowed so long as he didn't join in. [It would be allowed if he joined in if Persephone also participated, though it wasn't like she was around for the moment]). Anyway, downtown, walking, when his undead senses started tingling.

Someone who'd made a deal with him was in town.

Easy enough to track her from there. Or, more accurately, to sort of guide her wanderings. Just a little coaxing toward the fun end of town. To a cozy Little Chapel. And yes, Hades was well aware of the setting's irony. He had a flair for the dramatics; he did help raise Dionysus, after all. But really, what better place to discuss soul dealings than a place dedicated to faith?

"Come looking for a little spiritual guidance?" he called from his shadowy place. He'd been hiding in the back, just a little off from the entrance, where the pews just got started. At least he didn't look too out of place in his suit; in fact, he looked almost like he could saunter up and start preaching.

Give him a bit to get started.

Megara

[Megara]

Why was she here again? Megara stared up at the chapel's altar and sighed. Right. She'd been walking around and had that... feeling. She shuddered again for what felt the hundredth time. It was as if her body, or something else, was reacting to... something. She snorted, rolling her eyes and walking to sit in the last row. Yah, she was losing her mind. Ever since arriving to this weird place, she'd been feeling off. But it wasn't like anything could hurt her. She ran away. She escaped her old life. Screw her ex and screw Greece and screw everything that was before now.

She relaxed, letting out a sigh, letting her head fall back and closing her eyes to relax into the bench. Funny how her 'safe place' turned out to be a chapel. Well, not like the underworld god could get here anyway, right? Wasn't that how this worked? She really didn't know much about whatever religion this place was for. She snorted again, eyes still closed. She was being stupid and she knew it. There was no such thing as gods. There was nothing but the flesh and things and certainly, there was no magic or anything of the sort. Those sparks had to be a trick. She took a deep breath and smiled, slowly sliding down the bench. At least this place was empty and quiet enough for her to take a nice nap. Another deep breath and-

"Zeus!" She jumped as someone spoke, sliding completely down the bench onto the floor. What the- She peered up from her spot on the ground, using the bench to lift herself up. "Who's there?" She asked in annoyance. A man in a suit. She rose an eyebrow. "You have fun stalking innocent ladies, pal?" What was it that he said? Spiritual guidance? She snorted again, dusting back as she stood up again. She looked at him up and down. "You a priest?" She wondered and then shrugged, not really caring. "Or are you looking to sell me something?" Well, the suit and all. "I'm not looking for anything, mister Stalker. This is just-" She turned to look at the altar and frowned. "A nice place for a nap." She turned back to him and smiled, "But I've been caught, so I should probably just leave." She sent him a wink, "Don't tell on me." Something was getting on her nerves and her instincts told her that she needed to get away from there as soon as possible.

[Hades]

Yep, definitely one of his. Cursing in his brother's name, no less. Hearing that had Hades chuckling, though he let her get through the rest of her little spiel. Hey, look at that, someone who could almost match him in the whole wit department. Right up there with sass too, when it came down to it.

"You're yelling for the wrong god there, sweetheart,' Hades drawled. He made no move, but he kept his gaze locked on her, watching her eyeing him carefully. "So much nonchalance there. Little Miss no care in the world, i take it? Hey, don't worry about me," he held up his hands. "I'm not one to go ratting out on someone," he looked around for a moment. "Plus, I'm pretty sure there are some rules about taking sanctuary in places like this.

"There's what you could do," Hades snapped his fingers, a puff of smoke leaving where the digits connected. He pointed his index at her, the digit smoking slightly, "go for the whole priestess look. I can see it now: swearing off men, wearing white, taking confession," he held his arms up, forming a frame which he looked through to get a good sight of her. Girl had curves... and brains, making her doubly more useful than Hades other current... let's go with helper.

[Megara]

Wrong god? She frowned, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. Nah. This was just some creep having fun in making girls feel uncomfortable. Well, Meg wasn't going to let herself be intimidated by some wannabe lecturer. She looked away from him, feeling his eyes on her. Talk about being creepy. And then of course, he called her out on her nonchalantness. She got mad. Was she really that easy to read? "You don't know me, mister Stalker." She insisted on the nickname, "But I appreciate the no tell." Weirdo. "And I've never been one to like rules." Yes, time to get out of there. She moved slowly, just in case he tried to stop her. He didn't. It was something else that did it. Smoke. Her eyes widened. She seen that before. Keep it cool, Meg.

Could he be who she thought he was? It couldn't be. It had to be a trick. Some priest wanting to scare her away from napping in the chapel, right? Yes. That had to be it. His words though... Do what? She stared at the smoke coming out of his finger. "Yeah, okay." She said, using one hand to wave away his pointing finger. Was that- was it hot? She felt her heart pound but she kept her expression as cool as her fear allowed her. "Shall I carry around a horn full of food and feed you grapes as Cupid plays us a tune in his harp?" What kind of joke was this? She walked around him, her eyes stopping at the exit for a second. "You don't have to worry about me swearing off men, pal. It's already done." So close now. She walked slowly, just so her back was to the door. Just a few steps until freedom.

"Not that this hasn't been..." She struggled to find the word, "Awful." Yes, that's the one. "But I really should get going." She smiled and took another step back, "Tons to do. Homework and- uh, lady stuff." Oh yes, men hated that. "Make up! And- ah," Her eyes turned to the door for a second, just to make sure she was going in the right direction, "Dresses. Tampons." Freedom was just a step away. ..

[Hades]

Hades just chuckled as the girl insisted that he didn't know her. Oh, how very surprised she was going to end up being. Yes, he noticed her moving, and he kept right on letting her. Let her talk, let her shuffle to the side. Already sworn off men? Oh look, and she was right in line with the door again.

When Megara turned back after looking for the door, she'd find that her last words weren't addressed to the man who'd been standing there. Oh no. He'd moved. Hades had simply been there one moment, and then behind Megara the next. "Oo, make up stuff! Are we going to start braiding hair next?" He asked, leaning slightly over her shoulder. He ran his eyes over her for a moment. The girl stuff certainly didn't scare him, and he was definitely admiring the girl's spirit.

"Kinda late to be swearing off guys though, isn't it?" he asked, before waving his hand. A contract appeared then, written in Greek. "Seeing as there was already this teeny, tiny, little deal you made back home, right?"

[Megara]

Woah. "Stranger danger." She muttered under her breath. He was still keeping close, still keeping that creepy smile on his face. Scaring him away didn't work and she forced another smile. "You do me first and then I do yours?" She joked, still trying to walk away from the situation. Tough luck. Deep inside her, she knew what this was about. Sure, he could be just a pervert trying to intimidate a young girl, but her body reacted to whatever he was. She felt sick, deep in her stomach. And that smoke was hard to miss. She'd seen that smoke before, just once before. Meg, you stupid, idiotic, braindead, lovesick, crappy-

There it was. Her contract. Her eyes widened and she lost the smile. "You." She whispered in recognition. Charade over. Here he was to collect what she so dumbly gave away. For a moment there, she was scared. What was going to happen to her now? Was she going to die? Well... Well, that sucked! She crossed her arms, already bored with this. Oh come on. As if she hadn't seen this coming. Deep inside she felt it. Sooner or later she'd have to pay for her stupid mistakes. And sure it would be sooner. Why not? That's her life, right? Just pushing the boulder up a mountain here.

"Well, I'm out." She said after a sigh, raising an eyebrow as she stared at him and looked bored, waving a hand for effect. "This isn't the first time some idiot falls for some man's lies, right? So, you can go ahead and destroy that. You go and take HIS soul for all I care. Pretty sure he's still in his current lover's arms right now. He was there last time I saw him." Painful memories, but she wasn't going to care anymore. Don't care anymore. "So jump there, back to Greece and take his sorry ass to your boss or whatever it is you're supposed to do and leave me alone."

She crossed her arms and looked up at him. So this was the god? Hades, was it? She snorted. This couldn't be it. He looked so... scrawny. Cute, sure, but not the all imposing god she'd been expecting. Was she so lame she only deserved some lesser little god assistant to collect? "What's with the pretty boy look, anyway?" She wondered, "I'm not complaining, you know? Just doesn't have enough... heat." She shrugged. Whatever. Time to go. She walked the few steps toward the door and turned, waving at him and winking his way.

"See ya, Stalker."

[Hades]

Hades let some of her comments just drift past. Let her say what she wanted, get it out of her system. When she simply stated "You," however, he had to bow slightly, extending an arm to the side. He rose back up, reading her posture. My, my, my, wasn't she a calm one? Acting all cool and reserved, almost bored. Hades kept quiet, eerily quiet, as the girl kept right on going. Lover boy walked on? Tried someone else? Poor thing. Love was such a fickle thing, wasn't it?

"Aww, you think I'm pretty?" offered Hades, giving her a slight smile. The moment she turned, however, she'd find that she wasn't facing the door, because Hades would be standing there instead. His eyes seemed to have lost all color, went completely black, darkness eating them away.

"Please, if I was just a stalker, would I have this?" he asked, holding the now rolled up contract in his hand. "Face it, Megara," he snapped his fingers, the contract dissipating in a puff of smoke, "You signed, sealed, delivered," he extended his hands, "and now you're mine, to do with was I please. But hey, don't worry," he winked, "I'm not that kinda guy. And I'm digging the whole," he gestured with his hands, indicating her curves, "sass mistress thing you got going on here. Very hip. Very cool. You'll fit in just fine around here. Which will be useful to both of us, I'm sure."

[Megara]

His smile was so unsettling and his bow didn't help things. Yes, this was the past coming to bite her in the ass. Had to see that one coming, Meg. Didn't help that he called her by name. She winced at the sound. Why else would he know her name? Well, maybe it was because it was written brightly on that piece of paper he was waving around carelessly. She almost complained to him that it was her soul he was playing with, but she knew deep down that would only make her case worse.

His. Her eyes narrowed as he said that, and this time she couldn't hide her disgust. Her heart was still pounding like crazy, but she tried her best to face him without showing her fear. This was the first time in her life she had her mind blown. Gods existed. Not only that, but now she was someone's possession. Like a thing. She shuddered and hugged herself. She felt gross. His words didn't help. Sass Mistress. Very cool. There had to be laws against a grown man calling a teenage girls 'mistress'. Useful he'd said.

"What do you want?" She asked, no tone added anymore, no more games. But her eyebrow rose. "And what would you do if I don't comply?" She dreaded to hear the answer.

[Hades]

Hey, there was the look of disgust that Hades had grown to pretty well expect on anyone's face when they looked to him. The words were starting to strike home: girl had to realize as much. Realize that those promises, those silly little words had weight. It probably helped that Hades was showing just enough of his power to prove the point over and over again.

No more games. Why was it that people always took that tone with him? Where was their gaming spirit? "Young people these days, no spunk," said Hades, sighing. He leaned on the closet pew, placing his hand on it, even putting some weight. He'd almost expected the wood to tingle with the inlaid desires or ideas of the holy place: they sometimes picked it up, if only to soak them in.

"Simple: I want you, to do what would come sort of naturally," he explained. His hands waved, smoke coming and appearing between the digits. "Get to know the people here. Get involved. Get to know a few of them. Bonus points if you can get one or two to think, wow, that Meg girl, she's got it going on in all the right ways," his gaze swept her over. "Should be doable. Then you sort of funnel information my way. Make suggestions to people who seem desperate. Be all hey, that Hades, he's god some good ideas." Hades nodded, flicked some imaginary dust off his suit.

"As for the what happens if you don't. Well,' Hades shrugged, "I technically own the bit of you that's you. That essentially bit that's just all Megara. So maybe I don't do much right away. Maybe I just let it wait till, you know," he drew his finger across his neck. "Then your soul ends up with me. You know," he smiled, "for eternity. Because if the gods are real, and the god of death is real, then death itself has to be very, very really."

[Megara]

No spunk. She snorted but then forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Forgive me if I don't jump up and down in excitement at the idea of eternal damnation. Must be this new internet thing I discovered." Were all gods this annoying? She surely hoped not, since she had always had a bit of a fondness towards Artemis. Call her crazy, but there was something appealing about a goddess who decides to wear short skirts and swear off men.

Ah, there she was. What he wanted. Wait, what? Natural? "Yeah, I don't do the whole 'get to know people' thing." She said with a wave of her hand, "I could give some amusing sarcastic commentary on your day to day doings." Yeah, she was better at that. Funnel information. That she could do. He wanted souls too. She rolled her eyes and wondered if her ex had been one of his minions and the reason he was dying was this. Just another soul. Were people just pets to this...god? Well, probably, with him being a god and all. "Why would a god need a cheerleader?" She wondered in a bored tone. He didn't need her, right?

"Yeah, I've always been called soulless." She'd been called many things before, none of them great, "I don't need a soul." Ah, but he then threatened her. He would kill her if she didn't comply. She crossed her arms, looking away. What an idiot she was. The gods were real. Death was real. And not only that, but eternity too. And eternity with a bored,, preppy, childman of a god? She was starting to believe in hell as well.

"Where do I start?" She said between gritted teeth, "Boss?" She spat the name out as if it tasted foul. It might had, considering the bitterness she felt inside her mouth.

[Hades]

She'd already discovered the internet? Kids moved fast these days. Then again, Hades had the whole fact that gods sort of existed in a lot of different times and places at once, and he'd always been fairly on top of things like that. Strange that she'd figured that out but didn't seem to like to get to know people.

"I don't need a cheerleader, and we both know you're about as spunky and cheery as a goth," said Hades, rolling her eyes. "I need someone who can find desperate people who wouldn't talk to a god counselor," he gestured at himself, moving the arms up and down. "Because if you can start funneling business my way, we both win. I can knock a little off your debt with each one. Bit by bit, action by action, you get ever so closer to your complete freedom."

Because she needed a soul. He could technically lean on it, could, theoretically, outright use his power to force her. Problem was that took a lot of energy and effort, neither of which Hades wanted, or needed to spare. He could just use his thinly veiled threats.

"C'mon, Meg, can I call you Meg?" he was beside her. There hadn't been movement: he was just there, an arm draped around her. "No need to get all... bitchy about it," he said, waving a hand. "It's just a little work you gotta do for the school counselor. In fact, feel free to complain about it if you want. Doesn't matter to me so long as you do it. As for where," he snapped, and they were standing outside the chapel. He pointed, "The school. Big building. Castle, lots of hormonal fools running around." He looked her over, grinning. "I'm sure you'll be a big hit there," He said, holding his hand up in the "okay" signal.

[Megara]

A goth? She rose an eyebrow. What the hell did that mean? He wanted desperate people to go to him. This guy was a counselor. An underworld god looking for unfortunate souls to collect was a counselor. This place was more messed up than she first imagined. Ah, but there it was. She could get away with it. She looked away from him, staring at up at the symbols at the front of the chapel. So there was a way to be free, and all she had to do was bring people to take her place. Have someone else give their soul for hers. Was she selfish enough to think her soul was worth more than however many souls she could get him? She almost snorted at the thought. Was Zeus a total hunk? If the statues at the temple in Athens were any resemblance of truth then, yeah-ha! Welcome to the national day of stupid, obvious questions.

"Only my friends call me Meg." She refuted but she knew it'd hold little power over stopping him from calling her whatever he wanted. She almost jumped when she felt him behind her. "How did you-?" Happy stupid, obvious questions day, everybody! A god. Right. And then he called her a bitch. "Hey!" She complained weakly, but then shrugged. Yeah, she was sort of bitchy and she'd been called far worse for it too so whatever. It was also really uncomfortable how he touched her so openly, with his arm around her.

"What the-" The scenery changed and she felt dizzy, and it wasn't only the disgust of having him stand so close to her. "You want kids." She asked in disbelief. "Kids souls." Yup. He was evil. "And you want ME to bring them to you." Nice summary there. "And if I do, you'll let me free." Megara didn't like this. She was so sure there had to be some strings attached. "What's the catch?" She wondered, staring up at the school.

[Hades]

"Aren't we friends, Meg?" asked Hades, tilting his head. "I mean, I've seen your soul. The real you. The you inside. And we're going to have ever so many close conversations. Probably go out for drinks a few times, you know, buddy around. Girl talk. all that good stuff."

Hades chuckled again, still keeping his smile and his general cheery demeanor as Megara started working through precisely what she'd be helping with. Souls. Her delivering them. "Doesn't have to be kid souls," he said, shrugging. "Just souls in general. And don't worry: they'll just end up in deals sorta like yours. Maybe different. As for the catch..."

He looked up, considering. "There's a buncha heroes up there,' he said, nodding. "Whole peck of them, all squabbling and causing problems. Heck, I can probably knock some time off your sentence just for helping to stir the pot, if you're so squeamish about souls." He looked back to the chapel, before leaning forward. "I thought you didn't believe in that sort of thing? Hard to be an atheist when facing the real thing, huh?"

[Megara]

Friends. The way he was looking at her made it clear they weren't friends. He looked like a cat playing with a mouse before the kill, just because it was bored. And Meg knew exactly what was going to happen after he got tired of playing with her. "Friends." She said between gritted teeth, in a tone that showed she didn't believe it. It was really annoying too how much he was enjoying this. Sicko.

Meg kept her eyes fixed on the castle. Not just kids. Heroes. She had to stir the pot. She had to mess with heroes. Heroes. Like in the stories told at the temples. That was real too? "See, I don't exactly have the muscle to fight heroes." She said, eyes still fixed on the building. Were they the kids of gods and goddesses too, like in the old stories? That couldn't be. It was impossible. She rubbed the bridge of her nose, letting out a sound of exasperation. This couldn't be happening.

The last question shook her, making her drop her fingers from her face and turn to him, eyes narrowing. "I don't." She said after a bit. No. She didn't believe in this. It couldn't be. "I didn't." Did she now? It couldn't be. It was just silly. How could souls even exist? They didn't. It couldn't be.

"I must be dreaming." she decided. Yes, this was a dream. "I just passed out and hit my head and all this is is just some sort of-" She waved her hands as her brain tried to come up with a good way to describe it, "cruel hallucination based on my conscience." Yeah, that could be it. Consciences suck. But there was some comfort in the idea. This just wasn't real. She walked away from him. Yes, it couldn't be. She just needed to wake up and just- what did people do to wake up in dreams again? Right! "Ouch." She complained, still walking forward, after she pinched her arm with her long nails. Okay, that didn't work.