Schooled (part 4)
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Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
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20th September 2013
09:12 GMT +3
…
"Yes."
Hades leans forwards slightly. "Is this some manner of jape?"
"Ah. I think Eris is probably laughing now, at me, but your forgetfulness isn't the joke."
"Was it your idea?"
"… Yes, but as a solution to a pre-existing problem. Um. I'm not really supposed to tell you any more."
"Your have been ordered to hold your tongue?"
"Yes."
"By whom?"
Several of the court clerks cringe.
"Duly designated authority. There's a plan, and it's… Well intentioned…"
He sits back. "Is this my nephew's idea of a prank? I had thought that he was more serious than this."
"Ah. No."
"My brother, before you sent him on his sabbatical?"
"No. My lord, please stop asking."
"The Serpent of Avarice? Your Controllers?" He studies me. "No, I see that it is not."
There isn't an Ancient Greek story about not ruining your own surprise party, is there?
"My lord-."
"I assume that your consort has accompanied you here because you intend to ask me to accept guardianship of her soul."
Jade doesn't frown. "I was going to ask for myself, Lord Hades."
"Ah. Then let me be clear. Traditionally, a good deal of the decision-making relating to what happens to a soul in my court come down to piety. How well an individual has honoured the gods in word and deed. Many things are taken in the balance, but I am not feeling particularly honoured right now."
"My lord-."
His right hand grips the arm of his throne and cracks… Whatever it's made of. "Who has the authority to gainsay me in my own realm!?"
"No one."
"Then-!?"
He stops. His right hand unclenches, and crumbled chunks of throne fall to the ground.
"No one."
"I suppose you could make a case that Death of the Endless does, but for all relevant purposes, no."
He narrows his eyes thoughtfully. "I ordered you to do this."
"You authorised is, yes."
"I ordered you to cause me to forget the heritage of one of my aides?"
"That was part of it. My lord, please stop asking."
"Am I suppose to forget permanently?"
"No, the duration is until certain things happen. And as far as I know, they haven't, so please stop asking and just carry on with what you're doing."
He considers me. "Does anyone else know about this?"
"Melinoë does. But please, you told us to do this, and if you mess it up, the consequences will be unpleasant."
"For the Hellenic pantheon?"
"For you personally."
Hades considers me for a moment.
"I can hardly pass judgement on your decisions without knowing why I gave you whatever order I gave you. And I can hardly pass judgement on myself."
"Your wisdom is-."
"But mark my words, Pavlos." He leans forwards again, but this time with less menace. And I think he's shrinking? "Once I regain my memories, I will pass judgement on all those involved in whatever this is."
"Of course, my lord. I wish you all success."
He slumps slightly. "In what, in particular?"
"With regard to the thing you ordered me not to tell you about. I appreciate that it's disconcerting, but it really is for the best."
"Then I shall take your word for it, for now." He turns his attention to Jade. "Approach, postulant."
Jade takes several steps towards the throne, stopping a respectable distance away.
"You are not Greek. Why would you choose us, over your own peoples' gods?"
"You provide a better value service. And Vietnamese religion is kind of a mess."
"I assume that Pavlos spoke in our favour?"
"He did. Mostly in your favor."
"You're wearing a uniform. Does your profession not have a god?"
"Yes, but it's probably Nemesis."
"And?"
"I'm probably overdue for her attention myself. I've done a lot of bad things in my life, and I'd like to make up for them before drawing her attention."
"Ah. You understand that if you aren't able to make amends, you will be punished once you arrive here." His eyes drift to me for a moment, before returning to her. "Though if your marriage to Pavlos lasts any time, I will take that into account on the credit side of the balance."
"I know. I accept that."
"Then in the fullness of time, be welcome. But for now, return to the land of the living."
09:12 GMT +3
…
"Yes."
Hades leans forwards slightly. "Is this some manner of jape?"
"Ah. I think Eris is probably laughing now, at me, but your forgetfulness isn't the joke."
"Was it your idea?"
"… Yes, but as a solution to a pre-existing problem. Um. I'm not really supposed to tell you any more."
"Your have been ordered to hold your tongue?"
"Yes."
"By whom?"
Several of the court clerks cringe.
"Duly designated authority. There's a plan, and it's… Well intentioned…"
He sits back. "Is this my nephew's idea of a prank? I had thought that he was more serious than this."
"Ah. No."
"My brother, before you sent him on his sabbatical?"
"No. My lord, please stop asking."
"The Serpent of Avarice? Your Controllers?" He studies me. "No, I see that it is not."
There isn't an Ancient Greek story about not ruining your own surprise party, is there?
"My lord-."
"I assume that your consort has accompanied you here because you intend to ask me to accept guardianship of her soul."
Jade doesn't frown. "I was going to ask for myself, Lord Hades."
"Ah. Then let me be clear. Traditionally, a good deal of the decision-making relating to what happens to a soul in my court come down to piety. How well an individual has honoured the gods in word and deed. Many things are taken in the balance, but I am not feeling particularly honoured right now."
"My lord-."
His right hand grips the arm of his throne and cracks… Whatever it's made of. "Who has the authority to gainsay me in my own realm!?"
"No one."
"Then-!?"
He stops. His right hand unclenches, and crumbled chunks of throne fall to the ground.
"No one."
"I suppose you could make a case that Death of the Endless does, but for all relevant purposes, no."
He narrows his eyes thoughtfully. "I ordered you to do this."
"You authorised is, yes."
"I ordered you to cause me to forget the heritage of one of my aides?"
"That was part of it. My lord, please stop asking."
"Am I suppose to forget permanently?"
"No, the duration is until certain things happen. And as far as I know, they haven't, so please stop asking and just carry on with what you're doing."
He considers me. "Does anyone else know about this?"
"Melinoë does. But please, you told us to do this, and if you mess it up, the consequences will be unpleasant."
"For the Hellenic pantheon?"
"For you personally."
Hades considers me for a moment.
"I can hardly pass judgement on your decisions without knowing why I gave you whatever order I gave you. And I can hardly pass judgement on myself."
"Your wisdom is-."
"But mark my words, Pavlos." He leans forwards again, but this time with less menace. And I think he's shrinking? "Once I regain my memories, I will pass judgement on all those involved in whatever this is."
"Of course, my lord. I wish you all success."
He slumps slightly. "In what, in particular?"
"With regard to the thing you ordered me not to tell you about. I appreciate that it's disconcerting, but it really is for the best."
"Then I shall take your word for it, for now." He turns his attention to Jade. "Approach, postulant."
Jade takes several steps towards the throne, stopping a respectable distance away.
"You are not Greek. Why would you choose us, over your own peoples' gods?"
"You provide a better value service. And Vietnamese religion is kind of a mess."
"I assume that Pavlos spoke in our favour?"
"He did. Mostly in your favor."
"You're wearing a uniform. Does your profession not have a god?"
"Yes, but it's probably Nemesis."
"And?"
"I'm probably overdue for her attention myself. I've done a lot of bad things in my life, and I'd like to make up for them before drawing her attention."
"Ah. You understand that if you aren't able to make amends, you will be punished once you arrive here." His eyes drift to me for a moment, before returning to her. "Though if your marriage to Pavlos lasts any time, I will take that into account on the credit side of the balance."
"I know. I accept that."
"Then in the fullness of time, be welcome. But for now, return to the land of the living."