Chapter Text
“Orpheus, mate!” Zagreus says, the water of the Styx rolling off of him as he dashes up to the court musician, “Good to see you.”
Ever since rewriting his contract, Orpheus had been much more talkative as of late, his voice just a bit happier than the usual melancholy.
“Ah, hello, my friend,” Orpheus does not pause in his strumming, but his attention is on Zagreus, “How did your security run go?”
Hades isn’t at his desk, but he didn’t arrive in the pool before his son, so he can assume ‘not well’ is part of the equation.
“Not quite as well as I would have liked, unfortunately. Got bested in the tunnels before I could reach my father. Satyr poison burns something awful.”
Orpheus frowns sympathetically, “That sounds like quite the gruesome death, my friend.”
“Yes, well, I’m all better now! I was sort of wondering if you don’t mind me asking. How is it that you remember all the music you compose? I’ve never seen you with a music stand, or parchment and a quill.”
“Well, I can’t say my experience as a musician has been typical,” Orpheus laughs a bit, as if this is sort of an inside joke, “My mother was the Muse Calliope, you know, so my musical prowess has always been… supernatural, I suppose. I’ve never had need for copying down my work, even if my Euridyce insisted I do it.”
Zagreus isn’t sure how he didn’t know that. Even when looking over Orpheus’ files, it didn’t say anything like that, how he’s a demigod just as Achilles is.
“That’s amazing, Orpheus!” Zagreus is highly intrigued, “I know you had connections to Apollo, but I didn’t know you were a demigod.”
“Oh, yes, not every demigod is graced with strength, or speed. Some of us have a more artistic touch.”
“Did you get to go on any sort of heroic quests?”
“Of course, even if I do not sing of my own exploits very often,” Orpheus made a half shrug, as not to displace his lyre, “Perhaps I will tell you some time,” he said as they heard Hades’ chamber doors open.
“Sounds like a plan, mate!”
Aboard the Argo
It’s in Euridyce’s home in Asphodel after a few runs that Zagreus finally gets the chance to ask.
“Hey, Orpheus, do you think you could tell me some of your stories?”
Euridyce lights up at this, even as Orpheus blushes, easily visible on ashen skin.
“Oh, you want to hear about Orphy’s adventures? Well, I tell ya’ you’re in for a treat, he’s got plenty!”
“Please, my love… ” Orpheus says shyly.
“Oh, don’t be humble, hon, or I’ll tell the prince about the time you stumbled into one of Dionysus’ or-”
“No! No, nonono, that’s quite alright!” Orpheus waved a hand to stop Euridyce, mortified. She laughed, patting him on the shoulder.
Zagreus doesn’t know what that was about, neither does he have time to contemplate as Orpheus gestures for him to sit down at their kitchen table. Euridyce pours him an extra big bowl of porridge.
“Chew between bites, ok your highness?”
“Thanks, I’ll be sure to use my best table manners,” Zagreus laughed. Euridyce has some porridge of her own, and Orpheus a glass of nectar.
“What story shall I start with…” Orpheus idly strums on his lyre as Euridyce watches her husband with a mischievous little smile that Zagreus has never seen on her before, but he enjoys nonetheless.
“Tell the story of your time on the Argo, I love hearing that one,” Euridyce prompts.
“You were on the Argo??”
“Oh, yes, even though my only weapon is the lyre, it turned out quite useful, my friend,” Orpheus smiles a bit, but it still looks just this side of sad, “The creatures of the earth would come dance to my songs when I sang out in the forest, and fish would jump out of the water to better hear my music on the waves. Very useful for food, you know.”
“I wonder if that’d work with the fish that live in the rivers,” Zagreus wondered idly.
“That’s not even the best part of the story!” Euridyce obviously thinks Orpheus is taking too long to get to the good part, gesturing with her spoon, “He was vital to the quest! Jason couldn’t go without him! Prophesied and everything, the mission for the golden fleece would fail without my Orphy.”
“I think that’s giving me far too much credit, my dear,” Orpheus shakes his head, “I merely kept the sirens away with my song.”
“That’s incredible, mate!” Zagreus says earnestly, because it truly is. He knew the tales of how ferocious the sirens were, ripping apart men after they convinced them to jump into the deadly ocean, “Music to rival sirens is worthy of an epic all its own!”
“I do think I am included in the mortal myths of ‘Jason and the Golden Fleece’ still,” Orpheus admits, still looking just a tinge embarrassed, “I’m certainly glad I did not have to fight harpies or monsters of any kind.”
“Not everything’s about fighting!” Zagreus chuckles, “Even if I do do a lot of that, it’s admirable in its own right to use nothing but your voice and a musical instrument to overcome monsters?? I could never! No one else I know could!”
“I agree, your highness!” Euridyce gives her husband a kiss on the cheek and he looks away with a huff of laughter, “It’s two against one, you can’t argue with that.”
“I suppose I can’t dearest. I suppose I can’t.”