Chapter Text
Artemis releases her grip on Persephone when they reach the great hall where everyone has gathered. She reads over the checks and smiles. “Totally worth it.” She flashes the check at Persephone. Her eyes become saucers. A thousand drachma? Jeez, that’s a lot for one song. “I can upgrade my bow and probably throw in a couple knives. What are you gonna get?”
“I-I don’t know. I didn’t expect that. I’ll probably save most of it.”
Eros walks over and plucks his check from Artemis’ hands. “Ooo, did Great Uncle Hades come through?” his eyes taking on a glimmer of mischief. “A thousand drachma! I know what we’re doing this week, cinnamon roll,” he grins.
“What?”
“Shopping spree. You must need some new clothes for school.” Eros quirks a brow at the flower goddess, gently picking up a piece of the soft white scarf still wrapped around her neck. “ Or work, ” he whispers knowingly. She blushes a deep magenta, but is relieved when Eros plucks Ampelus’ check from Artemis, leaving her side to deliver it to the purple nymph.
“Suppose I should give the last one to Hermes. Be right back,” the goddess of the hunt joins Hermes, Poseidon, and Amphitrite by the fireplace. She hands the messenger god the slip of paper, and falls into whatever deep conversation they’re having.
Relieved to finally have some room to breathe, she makes her way to an open couch and sits down, ready to dig in to the giant slice of cake. She cuts the tip of the vasilopita off with the side of her fork, scooping it up in one motion. When she closes her mouth around the fork, and pulls the metal tines away, the soft cake falls lightly on her tongue, sprinkling it with sugar. After the initial sweetness, Persephone moans over the burst of orange zest. This is delicious. I wonder what else he cooks.
She works her way through most of the piece when she bites down on something hard. She pulls the coin from her mouth, sucking off the remaining cake bits, and smiles. She slips it in her pocket. Good luck this year, hmm? She unfolds the paper Hades slipped under her plate as she finishes off the rest of her cake. Her brow quirks in confusion.
Ten thousand drachma. Is this a mistake? She reads the line of text spelling out the amount. It matches the number written. In the notes field there is something added. “A little extra for some scarves. ~Yours, Hades.” How many scarves? A mountain? Does he not know how much scarves cost? She sets her plate on the table in front of the couch. How much did this scarf cost? She touches the luxury fabric and inspects the tag. “Blueberry” Shit. THE Blueberry?
She continues to spiral as Hera rises to address the room. “20 seconds! Get ready for the countdown!”
The room cheers. Everyone starts murmuring about the new year. Zeus’ voice booms over the noise. “TEN.” The rest of the party joins in. “NINE... EIGHT.” Hebe bursts through the door. “SEVEN.” The youngest goddess slides over to her mother and grasps her free hand. “SIX...FIVE.” Everyone with a drink raises it. “FOUR.” Glasses begin to clink between guests. “THREE...TWO...ONE...HAPPY NEW YEAR!” Everyone cheers, throws back their drinks, and hugs the nearest god or goddess. Anyone married or coupled up shares a New Year’s kiss. Even Ampelus plants a chaste one on Eros’ cheek. Shock and recognition flash in his eyes before he scoops her into his arms and molds his mouth over hers.
“Hell, it’s about damn time.” Ares chuckles within the love goddess’ embrace. He sits back down, folding Aphrodite onto his chest.
“Ok, time for bed, little lady. Here’s your Kali for being a good girl,” the queen of the gods looks down lovingly at her little cocktail waitress.
“Wait, Mom, I still have one thing I gotta do.” Hebe runs up to her big brother and climbs into his lap. She stands on his thick thighs so she can whisper in his ear. A wicked grin splits the war god’s face, and he nods. He extricates himself from Aphrodite as he stands, hooking his sister to his side, in the crook of his arm, as he walks over to the front door. He nudges her into his opposite hand, changing his grip to hoist the little goddess up above head level. She reaches out with her tiny hands and pulls a red ball off of the door frame. Ares puts down the little spitfire and watches as she runs over to the goddess of spring. Before anyone can react, and with a shout of “Happy New Year, Persephone,” she chucks the red ball on the ground with all her tiny might. The ball splits open and what appears to be tiny beads and liquid shoot out all over the floor and Persephone’s lap.
“Ah!” the startled goddess bursts out laughing at the strong little girl. “You do take after your brother, don’t you. What is this?” She looks down at the beads she’s plucked from her lap. “They’re squishy, wet little things, aren’t they?”
The tiny goddess starts, “It’s New Year’s fruit. It’s—”
“Let me guess, tradition,” the pink goddess cuts in, grinning from ear to ear as she pops the six beads in her mouth, carefully biting down on them, uncertain of their texture. The juice from the seeds flood her mouth as the delicate membrane of each one bursts between her teeth.
The room falls silent. Zeus and Hera share a look. “Oh, fuck.” Zeus pulls out his phone and punches in a quick text to his secretary.
|| CANCEL ALL MY MEETINGS FOR TOMORROW.
|| BE PREPARED FOR A SHIT STORM. CODE GREEN
Hades walks back into the room with the two flutes of champagne, all eyes turn to watch him as he does. Poseidon appears at his side and claps him on the back. “Congratulations, man.”
Hades gives his brother a sidelong glance and turns back to the room filled with the most powerful members of the Pantheon. “What did I miss?”
~ Fin ~
A/N: If you’re like me and like to read tradition/translation notes first, I put spoilers in italics and within || (they don’t do anything on AO3, but they’re a nice visual cue. Traditions described in order of appearance:
Ta Kalanda is a Greek caroling tradition that actually takes place on New Year's. It is meant to bring health, wealth, and prosperity to the houses the carolers visit. It's tradition to give carolers money. Carolers usually visit family and friends since they are more likely to give a good reward as they are equally more likely to be embarrassed by the thought of giving nothing.
Ta Kalanda song lyrics:
Σ’ αυτό το σπίτι που ‘ρθαμε,
πέτρα να μη ραγίσει
κι ο νοικοκύρης του σπιτιού
χρόνια πολλά να ζήσει.
Translation according to the sources listed:
In this house we have come
No stone may ever crack
And the landlord
May live for many years.
Vasilopita is a cake made for New Year’s in honor of Agios Vassilis (the greek version of Santa Claus). A coin is baked into the cake, and whoever gets the coin in their piece is granted good fortune for the whole year.
Kali Hera is the tradition of giving money to children present after midnight when they come to visit on New Year’s. I don’t think the children have to be awake, || but let’s face it, Hebe would want to be awake. ||
Pomegranates are hung above the door during Christmas time. On New Year’s Eve, after midnight, the lights are usually turned off (I skipped this part), and the pomegranate is smashed on the floor or at the door. The more seeds are spilled, the better. It’s a sign of good luck and prosperity.
|| My thinking here was that Persephone wouldn’t have heard of this tradition since the pomegranate is Hades’ fruit from the Underworld. No way in hell, heh, would Demeter let her near one. Since they are from the Underworld, I imagine Artemis also would not practice this tradition, hence, they don’t have one above the door at her house. This was my cute way of having Persephone eat the seeds that bind her six months out of the year to Hades’ realm. ||
Non-Greek Stuff:
Saturnalia is the Roman festival (I bent time a bit, they’re immortal, it’s fine) we have to thank for the mistletoe tradition .
Myosotis are Forget-me-nots. Also known as scorpion grass (which I think is a badass name, why don't we use this??!?).