Ashencrwn - Tumblr Posts
SINCE COMING TO ELIAS , aurora had visited most if not all of the town’s locations --- except for one . not because she was afraid of it , but because she’d never had an actual reason to go there . the blonde had no relatives in town ( except for philip , but he was a separate case ) , much less a loved one buried underground . yet for some reason , she decided that today was the perfect day to check off another place from her list ; the cemetery .
the princess carried flowers in her hand as she wandered around the wide space , eyes reading each & every tombstone . she’d pause on every other grave to place a flower above it , trying to spread them around the cemetery as much as possible though it was rather upsetting to know that she didn’t have enough for everyone . hopefully they wouldn’t be too disappointed , wherever they were .
as she finished placing another rose , aurora straightened her posture once again , only then realizing a tall figure next to her . her eyes widened for a moment , yet she tried not to despair . ❝ sorry , i- ... did you know them ? ❞ she asked , assuming that’s why he was standing there . 🌹 @ashencrwn
「 ashencrwn 」
Hades couldn’t help it; he was curious. Before their plans would continue, he wanted to meet of the sources of Maleficent’s hate. Aurora.
The moment the young girl found herself brushing up close to his domain, walking through the scattered graves of dead buried deep in the cemetery, he was alerted to her presence. She was alone, and that was preferable. He took no time at all to pause his endless work to teleport immediately to Elias, appearing behind the blonde in a blink of an eye. His hands were tucked into his pants pockets as he took a step to stand beside Aurora.
He raised an eyebrow at her when she startled slightly at his presence. When she asked him if she knew the person, he glanced down at the gravestone at the name. “Quinten Sullivan,” he repeated the name, shaking his head as he looked at the girl now, “I know who he is now that he’s dead, but I certainly didn’t know him personally. I will tell you that he’s undeserving of your flowers; murderers don’t deserve your kindness.” He broke his stare at her to look around the graveyard, noting the flowers strewn about on as many graves as she could. “Why do you honor the forgotten? Many of these souls are lost. Your offerings would be better spent elsewhere.”
「 🌹 」
WHILE SHE HADN’T EXPECTED that kind of an answer , aurora did at least appreciate the honesty . somehow the man knew of this person , though it seemed they never properly met , & the princess found herself relating to that sort of feeling all too much . there were plenty of people she knew of , but never met --- especially her family . hopefully it wouldn’t be long til she could see them at last .
nevertheless , his comment about the deceased made her eyes widen a bit , only for the blonde to blink the surprise away . ❝ oh ... well , ❞ turning her attention to the gravestone , aurora paused for a brief moment , as if collecting her thoughts . ❝ i’m sure even someone like that can appreciate some kindness , even if they don’t deserve it . ❞ besides , if the man’s words were true , aurora guessed it was all the more reason to leave a flower ; because no one else would . upon hearing the question , she lifted her gaze again , letting it wander around for a moment . ❝ it seemed like the right thing to do , you see . this is my first time at a cemetery , & it’s impolite to visit someone’s home for the first time without bringing some sort of gift . ❞ or at least that’s what she was taught . ❝ besides , who knows how many of these people have someone who brings them flowers ? ❞ maybe it was far too kind of her to do so , but still . lifting her gaze to the stranger , aurora tilted her head to the side in curiosity . ❝ are you visiting someone in particular ? ❞
「 ashencrwn 」
Hades was quiet while he listened to the young woman, standing poised with his hands tucked away in his pockets. He hummed at her comment, lips tightening into a straight line as something about it gave him a sharp pang in his chest. He couldn’t identify what it was, but it was enough to make him turn his head to look at her while she continued.
“You believe that they deserve kindness when they’ve lived a sinful life? When they’ve taken another person’s life? Stolen and betrayed others for their own selfish gain?” Hades reiterated, skeptical of her answer. “They would take your flowers and more if they were alive and able. Why would you put yourself in harm’s way for the sake of offering them kindness?”
Hades found himself wanting a cigarette, unease settling in by the stark contrast between his own beliefs and the girl’s, but he held off. Curiosity kept him there. “Only you, Aurora,” he said simply, knowing that she had not introduced herself, and knowing that his answer was strange. “It’s not often that I see a girl alone in a graveyard, gifting the lost and deceased. Curiosity got the best of me.
「 🌹 」
❝ IF THEY HAD BEEN SHOW KINDNESS , maybe their life would’ve been different . ❞ the princess pauses as if to reflect over her own statement , adding a curt nod to it seconds later as if to reaffirm those words . aurora couldn’t imagine why someone would turn to committing such terrible acts , yet at the same time , she had learned to understand that not all people were as lucky as her . not everybody had the luck of being showered with nothing but love from the moment they were born . ❝ they’re gone , it won’t change what they did to people , but ... ❞ she trails off , burrows furrowing for a brief moment . ❝ maybe someone should have given them flowers when they were alive . it might have prevented a thing or two . ❞
aurora watched as the man explained his reason to be there , which led her lips to curl into a small , tight - lipped smile . ❝ i suppose it is a bit weird , but curiosity got the best of me . i’ve never had a proper reason to visit a cemetery before , so i- ❞ it was then that she realized what he’d called her . only you , aurora . how could he know ? she hadn’t introduced herself , nor did he look familiar to the princess . suddenly , she felt a twist in her stomach .
❝ what- ... what did you call me ? ❞ slowly , the princess started taking a couple of steps back . ❝ i’m very sorry , you must have me mistaken for someone else , ❞ yet it was terribly clear by the blonde’s demeanor , holding her flowers close to her chest as the color in her lips seemed to pale , that she was lying . ❝ who are you ? ❞
「 ashencrwn 」
♛
“And if they had been shown kindness, but never changed, what then?” Hades asked the girl, finding himself somewhat annoyed by her persistence to justify her deed, “Some people receive kindness and take it, but that’s all they do. They take, and take, and take, until there’s nothing left.”
“I called you by your name,” the god stated, not phased by Aurora’s startled reaction to his knowing her identity. “Even if it were possible for me to be wrong, you’re a terrible actor, Aurora. You need to work on your poker face if you want to be more convincing.” The god sighed, pulling his hands out of his pocket to check his watch for how much time he had to spare before he had to return to usher the newly deceased into the underworld. “I don’t care to lie to save emotions or prevent someone from fearing me, so I’ll cut right to the chase. My name’s Hades. You may have heard of me. I’m the god of the Dead. King of the Underworld. You’ll have to forgive me for my harshness regarding sinners and murderers. I might be kinder if I didn’t have their victims come to me first before they come to my doorstep. But, I have no sympathy for them, and in the end, it’s my job to make them pay for their sins for eternity.”
「 🌹 」
THOUGH SHE WASN’T HAPPY to admit it , aurora couldn’t really find a way to counter the man’s words . perhaps it was the way he seemed to certain of his philosophy that no matter how hard she tried , the princess knew it would be pointless . either that , or maybe she simply knew too little of people & their motives . being someone who grew up surrounded by love , it was hard for her to imagine anything but that . nevertheless , it was the way he continued to refer to her by her name that left her distraught . she didn’t know this man , so how did he know her ? who told him of her ?
as the man proceeded to introduce himself , a feeling of fear , of helplessness crept up on the blonde , who stood her ground and proceeded to curtsy for the god . though a part of her wanted to run , she knew better than not to pay her respects . the fairies had taught her well . ❝ hades ... i have heard of you , yes , ❞ but the thought of meeting the god never crossed her mind . slowly , the princess began to fiddle with her wedding ring , searching for any form of comfort & safety that thinking of philip might bring . ❝ in that case , i too ask you to forgive me for believing there’s a little bit of goodness in everyone , even if it’s overshadowed by evil deeds . ❞ though she wouldn’t dare tell a god how to do his job . swallowing the lump in her throat , aurora let her violet gaze wander for a moment , glancing down at her feet as she tried to find the proper words to say . ❝ if i may ask ... what is a god doing in elias ? i doubt you came looking for shelter & safety , ❞ unlike aurora , who felt less and less safe by the minute . ❝ did someone send you , sir ? ❞ she asked , choosing not to specify the certain someone in her mind .
♡ · ashencrwn
Rifling with life, the museum was unusually empty. Scatterings of art enthusiasts and starry-eyed artists in the making dotted the marble flooring sparingly. Lethargic guards lumbered around with slack enthusiasm, nothing better to do than to politely remind people to put away their open bottle of waters and to not get so close to delicate pieces. Their languorous behavior made it easy for a pylon of dark, viscous smoke to materialize in a dark corner of the museum unnoticed as a tall man stepped through with laced up, leather neiman marcus dress shoes.
The god of the Underworld had come to take a break from his burdensome duties, but there was more than an appreciation for art lingering in his dark blue eyes. His stoic features were normally challenging to read, but there was a distinct lack of satisfaction mixed in a complicated confluence of heavy frustration and unhappiness in the subtle way he clenched his jaw and looked forward with a dull look in his stare.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” The tall man spoke as he stepped forward into a room with a sole person in it. They were seated in front of a large painting of the fallen angel Lucifer concealing his tearful expression of anger, resentment, shame, and exclusion. ( the painting tw: nudity ) He took a step forward to stand beside where they sat on the bench, settling his hands into his pants pockets and exhaling sharply through his nose to resist an audible sigh. “This one is a favorite of mine.”
IT SHOULD BE OF LITTLE SURPRISE to most people that aurora had learned to appreciate art from a very young age . granted it was through books and the stories her dear ‘ aunts ’ would share but just like singing or dancing , the world of paintings , sculptures & the like had a place in her heart . that may not be where her own talents lied , but that didn’t matter . so long as painters continued to paint and share their gift with the world , she’d be more than content .
however , even with all that in mind , not every piece of art made her smile or filled her heart with joy . not because it wasn’t worthy , oh no — but becaused it evoked another sort of emotion . thankfull , the princess had only felt this way a handful of times in her life and while she knew all emotions were important in their own little way , aurora would much prefer to be nothing but a ray of light , radiating nothing but the purest warmth . sadly , it was hard to hold herself in such manner while gazing upon the painting before her .
upon hearing a familiar voice fill an otherwise silent room , the princess almost jumped from her seat in surprise . almost . ❝ yes , it is , ❞ her dulcet voice responded calmly , though a slight frown rested on aurora’s gentle face . ❝ it is also the saddest painting i’ve ever seen ... i feel bad for him . ❞
♡ · ashencrwn
✖
Hades’ lips twitched, a tug at the corner of them at the Aurora’s reply. He starred at her, puzzling over Maleficent’s intentions with this one. He shook his head briefly, interrupting the thought before he turned his head to look at the slender blonde girl.
His attention quickly returned back to the painting, jaw clenching rigidly. “I doubt that Lucifer cares that a mortal girl pities him-” he replied with a stern tone in his voice, letting a moment of silenced passed before he interrupted the quiet impatiently, “-but why do you think that?”
THE WAY HER SYMPATHY IS QUICKLY dismissed by the god causes aurora to press her lips together , sighing through her nose . she’s not ashamed or embarassed , he’s made it painfully obvious time and time again that beings such as him have no care for the opinion of mortals like the princess herself , but she finds the whole thing rather comical . a part of her refuses to believe that hades truly doesn’t care ; after all , how can anyone simply ‘ not care ’ ?
❝ i know each person has their own individual interpretation but , it’s in his eyes , you see , ❞ she began , gesturing towards the face on the painting . ❝ there are tears in his eyes , of both anger & sadness . he’s been shunned , cast out from heaven , and those he saw as his equals have turned against him . that’s why he covers his face ; he’s ashamed , angry , devastated all at once and worst of all , he’s alone . he feels betrayed , and one does not feel betrayed when they don’t care . when you lose something that’s important to you , when you lose everything , you grieve . you feel sad . ❞
♡ · ashencrwn
-
Hades remained silent, listening to her while he starred at the painting. He took a step forward, standing now beside the bench where she sat, hands still hidden away in his pants’ pockets that were perfectly tailored and creased. “Intuitive interpretation,” he remarked, refraining from sighing as he tilted his head to one side to look at it from a different angle. He walked a few more steps nearer to the artwork now to get a closer look at the fallen angel’s face. “-but you’re missing a part. Sad, angry, ashamed, frustrated, lonely - he is all of those things, you’re right about all of that.”
“But, his eyes tell us that this story far from over, that the true act of rebellion has yet to begin. Perhaps he conceals himself out of a refusal to accept defeat, even in his total failure. He’ll persevere.”
Hades tapped his foot on the ground, thinking to himself as he lost himself in the fine piece of artwork. He hummed to himself before turning his head and looking at her directly. “What is it about you, Aurora, that makes you so compelling to talk to?” He asked, casual in his tone, He didn’t understand why she wanted the girl so much - and for what. There was a light in Aurora that was blinding to those who lived in darkness like he did. Perhaps it was that sheer fact alone that was enough to make the Mistress of Darkness put a target on her back. “Why are you so important?” He mused aloud, forward and no longer in the mood to skirt around the questions he was looking for answers to.
THE BLONDE FEELS MUCH LIKE A tightrope walker , threading carefully and praying she will not lose her balance , that she will not fall . it is not that aurora is afraid of hades ( wary perhaps , but not afraid ) , but that she knows this isn’t a simple conversation about art . there is more hiding beneath the surface , and she has been chosen to scratch the tip of the ice berg . to even dare to , for whatever reason .
❝ i wouldn’t know much about rebellion , if i’m honest . ❞ she admits , feeling rather embarrassed by the fact that even after all this time , most ‘ daring ’ thing aurora had ever done was , well , marry philip in secret . not because she was uncapable of rebelling , but because she simply never felt the need to . diplomacy was much more appealing to her than the prospect of violent confrontation . ❝ do you think he’ll find peace that way ? ❞ the princess plucks up the courage to ask . ❝ i just-- i understand and don’t condemn people for having their pride , it’s important when in the right dose , but ... what if his actions only push him further & further away from what he’s trying to achieve ? ❞
brows furrow a bit as aurora tries to find an answer to the question , one that comes unprompted and catches her off guard . ❝ i wouldn’t know , most of the time i just try to listen . i’ve heard that not a lot of people do that , they just wait for their turn to speak . ❞ then again , aurora didn’t exactly have a lot of people to talk to growing up . if anything , the fairies did most of the talking ; not that she resented them , obviously . his second question surprises her just as much as the first one , leading the blonde to press her lips together , swallow the lump in her throat . why are you so important ? ❝ i’m ... not . there’s nothing special or remarkable about me . i don’t have magic or infinite power or a great lot of wisdom . i shouldn’t be important to anyone but my family . ❞ and yet , she still found herself looking in every direction when leaving home , then closing every curtain upon returning . ❝ you’d have to ask someone else . perhaps my husband or-- ❞ aurora trails off , though she lifts her gaze towards hades . her .
