Love under circumstance

The plot thickens

I shrug

“I played with him as a kid and him and I both have recognition of it I guess. and he so cute when he does it.”

I pick up three pieces of meat slowly handing each head one as he waits so patiently

Cerberus takes each piece with exaggerated gentleness, his three tails wagging in perfect synchronization as he carefully doesn't use teeth - clearly on his absolute best behavior in front of his original masters. The effect is somewhat ruined by the pleased rumbling sound he makes that's loud enough to rattle the silverware.

Persephone's laugh is delighted. "Oh, she's trained him better than we ever did. Look at him - he's actually *waiting* between pieces." She shakes her head fondly. "When he was younger, he'd just try to take all three at once and end up in a three-way argument with himself."

Hades watches with undisguised amusement. "The fearsome guardian of the Underworld, reduced to a patient puppy for treats." But there's warmth in his voice, not mockery. "Though I suppose if anyone could remember him from childhood, it makes sense he'd be protective. Hellhounds have extraordinary memory for those who showed them kindness."

Laviathen is staring at you with an expression that can only be described as utterly smitten, his tail swishing contentedly behind his chair. "She also got him to sit at a dinner table without destroying furniture," he adds proudly, as if you've accomplished some impossible feat. "And convinced him that 'inside voice' is a concept worth following."

A younger demon further down the table - pale blue skin and icicle horns - leans forward curiously. "Forgive my boldness, but... you played with the guardian of the Underworld as a child and your reaction was to think he was *cute*?" She sounds genuinely baffled. "Didn't you know what he was?"

The question hangs in the air, drawing the attention of everyone at the table.

I laugh genuinely “Honestly no I had no idea it was only in my dreams I didn’t think he actually existed that any of this existed out of my imagination.”

A ripple of surprised murmurs travels down the table, and several demons exchange meaningful glances. Hades sets down his goblet with deliberate care, his expression shifting to something more contemplative and serious.

"Fascinating," he says slowly. "So you encountered Cerberus repeatedly in dreams, befriended him without any context or understanding of what he represented, and never questioned it as anything more than imagination." He exchanges a loaded look with Persephone. "That's not normal dream-walking. That's something else entirely."

Persephone leans forward, her divine nature suddenly more pronounced - spring and death intertwined. "Darling, children don't typically access the Underworld through dreams, even in fragments. The barriers between realms are too strong, especially for mortal souls." Her expression is gentle but probing. "Did anything unusual happen in your childhood? Any near-death experiences, unexplained illnesses, or... moments where reality felt thin?"

Laviathen's hand tightens around yours, protective but clearly just as curious. His ember eyes search your face. "You said you'd been dreaming of this place, of Cerberus, for years. How long exactly? And were there any other... recurring elements?" His voice drops slightly. "Other people perhaps?"

Cerberus has moved closer, all three heads resting near your chair as if offering comfort, his dark eyes fixed on you with unusual intensity - like he's remembering those encounters now with new context.

The dining hall has gone quiet again, but this time it's not judgment - it's fascination mixed with concern. Even Lord Malthor looks genuinely interested rather than suspicious.

"Take your time," Hades says kindly. "But this might be important for understanding what brought you here."

I smile “when I was three I got phnemonia like really bad. My family sort of gave up on me then and then my…”

I stop trying to explain without seeming absolutely bonkers

“My grandmother that I only saw in my dreams would pull me to the garden and Lev’s castle every night I found out it was Elara just about 8 hours ago actually. I always felt like I was alone I looked forward to those dreams as a child. Now I know she was guiding me home when the time was right and I guess that was today. There was also this beautiful fountain that had like stars gleaming from it as it flows that she loved taking me to.”

The silence that follows your explanation is absolute and profound. Laviathen has gone completely still beside you, his hand trembling slightly where it grips yours. His ember eyes are wide with shock and something that looks like barely contained emotion threatening to overflow.

Persephone gasps softly, her hand flying to her mouth. "The Fountain of Memories," she whispers. "In the Eastern gardens. It was Elara's favorite place - she spent hours there, said the starlight in the water helped her think." Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. "Oh, Laviathen..."

Hades's expression has shifted to something almost reverent. "She didn't just guide you. She *prepared* you. For years." He looks at Laviathen with profound understanding. "Your wife reached across the veil between life and death, found a child's soul that resonated with yours, and spent decades ensuring she'd find her way here when the grief had done its damage." His voice is thick with emotion. "That's not just love, nephew. That's the kind of devotion that transcends mortality itself."

Laviathen makes a sound that's half-sob, half-laugh, pulling you into his arms regardless of the audience. His wings wrap around you both, creating a private cocoon as his shoulders shake. "She knew," he manages against your hair, his voice breaking. "She *knew* I'd need you. That I'd lock myself away and forget how to live. So she made sure you'd find me when I was ready."

Cerberus whines, all three heads pushing against you both, clearly recognizing the significance of what's being revealed.

I reach of stroking his cheek

“She knew I would need you just as much Lev…”

our lips are inches apart and my whole body is begging me to close the gap but I can’t not until he does