emancipating | inbox / synflux.

[ she'll show him the ropes of being a spotter... at least it's not a hard job, and he'll be right that she's focused more on flexibility than anything. it's fun being able to touch your toes both ways, up and down.

and they're just!!! gonna go to the kitchen!!! it's fine. nowhere out, given... the weather... ]

You are? I guess good looking people always have a weakness.

[ mr hot foot can't handle spice... she'll remember that. ]

I was the same way though until I woke here. Um, more that I didn't really need to, but I could if I wanted to -- it just never really occurred to me to try anything, busy as we were. I barely had time to enjoy a cup of coffee before I was racing off again. [ ... she sounds boring, huh... ] But! I have found out that I like sweets, tart citrus fruits, and... potatoes. There's a lot you can do with them.

[ good looking people always have a weakness. stop, his heart can't handle this... he's trying to be so chill and normal and failing miserably. but this isn't about him, so— ]

I understand. There's always somewhere to be, isn't there? [ albeit for different reasons, likely. ] Citrus fruits like strawberries? From that one time, with the piglets.

[ where she beaned him with one... damn. ]

I think I remember seeing potatoes in my mother's garden during one of my visits. Er, brown and oval-shaped? A little knobby if you leave them out for too long?

I never thought of strawberries as one... but yeah, like strawberries! And lemons, and oranges. Kind of brightish flavors.

[ the description of potatoes is spot on though, and she nods. ]

If you eat them too soon, they can make you pretty sick... but too late and they get kind of mushy. What's your mother like?

[ maybe... a pair of simple fruit salads, or... smoothies. smoothies might be nice. requires a little more than good knife skills. or cheese soup. mm. ]

I see. That's rather fitting.

[ you know, since she's also very bright. anyway, the subject of his mother always makes him get a little wistful; he's only managed to reunite with her once before coming here. zagreus is determined to figure out a way to get her to come back to tartarus, or stay for longer periods of time on the surface. ]

She's very kind and warm. Inviting. She's the kind of person who everyone loves, even those who are typically difficult to get along with.

[ like a capybara... she does sound wonderful though, and malkuth smiles a little wistfully herself. memories of her own family are scarce, now. buried deeper. they hadn't understood her and her dream, but... she still missed them, and still does, even if the names are obscure, the faces shadowed. ]

It already sounds like you got a few of her traits, Zag. Even if "warm" might be literal. [ haha. ] Gosh, it'd be nice to meet someone like that again... An old coworker of mine was the same way -- she drew even the most stubborn and taciturn into her light, it was... nice.

[ refreshing. hopeful. made it all the sadder when that light was snuffed out, abrupt as any flame.

but! the kitchen! zag gets to have an apron too, dress up while she works on pulling her hair into a ponytail... it's tough, she's got too much. ]

[ he chuckles, ]

The fire puns are going to follow me forever, aren't they? [ not that he sounds very offended by it at all. ] But yes, that's exactly it. My father's realm is... well, it's not the most welcoming place, as you can imagine. But when she was there, she really breathed life back into it.

[ figuratively and literally, he supposes. he sees the gated off garden past his chambers, now dark and neglected. it's been sealed for as long as he could remember.

but anyway! the kitchen. he has no idea what to do with the apron at first but thankfully manages to figure it out, tying the straps behind him. once he sees malkuth struggling with her hair though, he pats his pockets, coming up with another hair tie. ]

Here.

Well, aren't you handy to have around. Mind doing it for me?

[ it's just easier when someone else does. he sounds like such a momma's boy though, which is... so cute, really. bringing life to the underworld... a big job for one lady. but if anyone'll be up for the task, it'd be someone who was a queen.

was, was... while he's doing her hair, because he's a sweet boy who definitely will, she'll ask a little softly. ]

Um, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want, but... what happened?

[ he had initially kept a spare around for gebura or any other long-haired individual who may need it. he's never struggled with it himself, but he's known thanatos and megeara for long enough that not having a spare hair tie around results in a bad time for everyone.

... and you know, maybe he's a little homesick. but it's fine. ]

Oh, sure.

[ he steps up behind her, gently gathering her hair between his fingers to begin plaiting it starting from her crown. it's been some time since he's done it, but it's easy enough to remember, his movements comfortable and practiced as he answers her question. ]

There was a prophecy that my father would never be able to have an heir, and so I was stillborn when my mother had me. Luckily, Nyx had the Fates bring me back to life, but by then, Mother had already left for the surface in her grief.

[ he doesn't sound upset by it. not anymore, at least. reuniting with persephone had put to rest most of his doubts; he knows there's still work to be done to fix things. ]

Father had forbade anyone from speaking of the truth. For a long time, I believed that Nyx was my mother, and I likely would have continued to believe it if I hadn't discovered my mother's letter.

[ the only person who regularly does malkuth's hair for her anymore, and this is conscious choice, is march, so it's... a little odd, for someone else to take such practiced care with it. not bad, though, and her eyes close in ease. it's relaxing.

it's also odd, still, to hear "nyx" in any other context of the world-ending disaster ryoji had spoken of himself, which is a whole other can of painful worms she's slowly dealing with. but she sets it aside for now, more relieved that it's a situation of "she left" instead of "she died". ]

So now you've got two mothers instead of just one, thinking of it one way. Why didn't your father just tell her what the Fates did?

[ it's something he doesn't really have to think about. malkuth's hair is long and soft, and it's just as relaxing for him as it is for her. it's a bit of a privilege, he thinks, for her to trust him with this, but he gets the feeling that perhaps this is just how she is. giving trust and affection freely; having the strength to care for someone with her whole self. ]

That's a good way to think of it. [ amusement enters his voice as he works on the last third of her braid. ] And that's what I'm trying to figure out. Well, at least until I was brought here. My father isn't the best at processing his emotions... I'm sure it hurt him deeply when Mother left. I think perhaps he felt it was best to simply let her go, rather than to seek her out only to remind her of a place he thought she'd wanted to leave behind.

[ if only he knew. in some ways yes, in others no; it isn't important right now anyway, his deft hands are. taking note ✔ ]

... I get it. It's kind of scary, not knowing the sort of face someone you love might make seeing you again. If they want to face you at all.

[ because sometimes, they just don't. and you live with that all your life. it infects everything you do, everything you think about, it haunts and twists around your reasons until they're stained with hurt and regret.

anyway, ]

I don't really remember my parents anymore, but I don't think they'd remember me either -- I'm not even sure they thought a lot about me after I left home. It wasn't a great parting.

Yes. I had the same feeling, when I decided to find Mother. I didn't know how she would react, or if she would send me away, but my need to discover the truth outweighed everything.

[ he supposes it makes him selfish; stubborn to a fault. always making decisions for others regardless of the consequences. he's been lucky that he's never had to suffer those repercussions just yet, but there will be a time when what he feels is right doesn't align with what is right. he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it.

he's quiet for a moment, securing the end of her braid with the hair tie before coming around to her side. he doesn't know what her parents are like or the circumstances of their parting, but— ]

I understand. [ his expression softens, a small, solemn smile on his face. ] That can't have been easy to carry with you.

Well, it get easier. I've been away for over a decade now. It just sort of... comes up, every now and then.

[ she gives her head a shake, grinning wider. nice and secure... malkuth'll get knives and a pair of cutting boards as she talks. ]

Thanks for the hand. Strawberries, milk, bananas, and... a peach. We'll make a couple of smoothies to kill the heat with. Was your mom happy to see you? If you managed to find her, I mean.

[ his understanding of time is likely different from hers, given what he is. but in the perspective of a mortal, whose life and time are so fleeting, he can imagine what a decade feels like. even if it may get easier to carry, it doesn't lessen the weight. he doesn't comment on it further, however, though the smile still remains. ]

Of course. Should they be cut into smaller pieces, then?

[ he has no idea what smoothies are, but he is Ready with his knife, okay, please tell him what to do. ]

I did manage to find her after some time. At first she tried to kick me out, which is understandable, given that she thought I was dead. But after we talked for a while... I'd say she was happy, I think. She was probably overwhelmed, more than anything.

Cubes about the size of your thumb.

[ the first knuckle anyway, wiggling hers for demonstration. ]

I think I would be too, if someone I thought was dead suddenly turned up at my doorstep. I'm really glad you found her though! Stories like that should have a happy ending, even if they aren't as common as I'd like. At least where I'm from.

[ bittersweet is as best they get, sometimes. most of the time. it's nice that in comparison, so many of her friends get exactly what they're hoping for... genuinely, because malkuth isn't a jealous person by nature. ]

I see. All right.

[ it's a little awkward at first, mainly because he's someone who has never had to work in a kitchen his entire life and it shows. but he does his best, which means the cubes are kind of uneven and maybe a little lopsided, but serviceable. he hopes. ]

Thank you. I'm glad I found her, too. It was... cathartic, in some ways, to be able to speak to her in person. There's still much work to be done, but, well. [ he thinks of her code name. one step forward. sometimes one step is better than nothing at all. sometimes it's all you need. ] I'm getting there.

[ little does he know that much, much later, all of that work would be undone. fate works in mysterious ways. but he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it. bittersweet is as best they get. ]

inbox / synflux.

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cries don't look at the timestamp

puts a hand over it

thank