It's strange how easily a party breaks out in the Underworld.This is a question I have contemplated occasionally.The only conclusion I've been able to formulate is the "spiritual salve" theory; everyone of us down here deserve and want to be down here. Except for Persephone (at first, anyways). It’s a strange place to exist and wearying as well. Yes, apparently we're all masochists. So are you, or you'd never have started reading this. That’s why Hades is always attempting to weasel out of his responsibilities. It’s hard to co- exist with so much sorrow. So what better way to combat unhappiness? Right. Get drunk. It works well in several ways: while inebriated, life’s great, and everything is hilarious. Then, when you’re puking up your toenails the next morning, you’re too busy focusing on your own misery to worry about anyone elses'. And naseau masks that constant reminder that it's there, in the pit of your stomache.

If it wasn’t a party, it was a fight. I had already had several that day, I fear that strife is something that helps me thrive. As long as I’m causing it, that is. Hel, on of our permenint and devine fixtures down there, fought with me daily in hand- to- hand training, it being a an excellent way to sharpen skills we both had. As well as relieving tension a matter more mortal- friendly than annihalating a small (or even large, what the hell!) village.

Pardon the pun, but Hel is a hell of a fighter.

We join our regularly scheduled fight- sequence already in progress...

With terrifying precision we stepped; a dance that would certainly have spelled Thanatos (wouldn’t he have LOVED that) for most. Hel’s staff, affectionately termed the “Whomp- Ass Stick” flew at my head. In an arch of killing silver I blocked. The wings of the dragon hilt bit deeply into my palms, but I felt no pain, only the sickening thrill of adreneline and the promise of blood. I turned offensive, and our limbs seemed to cut the air with the same razor- edges that our weapons had; a true test of abilities as no blow was ever pulled, and broken flesh the main objective. Hel feinted high, and I went to block, surprised as her staff slid neatly beneath my defenses, and hit me full in the mouth. My lips split between my sharp white teeth, and the bleached, colorless skull that graced the top end of her staff. It hurt, but I was forced to smile at her, no doubt a captivating sight for gore fans.

“First blood,” I panted, and then spit some of the harsh wet taste out of my mouth. A stange grin of her own answered my bloody one. It matched the unnerving glint in her orange eyes.

The smell and taste of blood, even my own, rode with sharp spurs on my back, kicking my blade (simply called “the Bitch”) to slip her guard and cut thirstily into her calf. “Nice, Hec, tricky. I’m impressed.” Coming from Hades' female incarnation, this was big praise.

Blood for blood. The fight was over. Both had been appeased. Simultaneously, we stepped back and relaxed our stances. “Jeez...look at this place! Whatta mess!” It had been awhile since such true words had been spoken in the UnderWorld. Limbs of long dead trees had been flung carelessly on the barren stone ground beneath out feet. Hel, a la Whomp- Ass, and the end of my long braid, lethal in combat, had kicked up this mess. We’d also booth made the large, morbidly floral patterns on the floor, deep red color showing black as the shadows emerged to to swallow our blood and grow strong. To each their own down here. The better the fight, the bigger the mess, in my opinion.

Hel now limped, and I had effected a most enchanting lisp as we walked away, chating about the mundane. Our wounds would heal, but it would take a few hours. My direction was NightRealm, or the Netheregions as it was also called. My demense, part of which was in the Underworld, hence my preference for it’s dark, cool climes. Hel was pointed towards Erebus.

“You coming to party tonight?” she called after me.I turned and walked backwards.

“O’ course! I made vodka jello shots! Don’t tell Seph; it’s a surprise!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~