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The minotaur tore his eyes away from the guest list that was sat upon his podium, giving the two people in front of him barely a glance before looking back at the names on his list. He wasn’t searching for their names, just pretending that he was. “Not on the list.” He grumbled, expecting them to realise that they weren’t going to get past him and move aside so the line could keep moving. That didn’t happen.
The God in front of him looked almost giddy despite the refusal and the flower nymph beside him had to muffle a giggle into her hand. The bouncer didn’t look amused. He didn’t get paid enough to deal with dumb mortal realm Gods who thought that they could just stroll into Olympus and get into the King of Gods party.
Plenty nobodies and nymphs alike tried to sneak into Zeus’s parties almost constantly, tried to insist they were on the list when they knew that they weren’t. Assumed that there were so many people invited that no one would notice a little extra. This was no different. He knew who wasn’t and who was on the list just by glancing at them. Their clothes were enough to know. Sandals and mortal garments, they didn’t even have accessorises on them. His chiton had a grass stain on it. They weren’t invited, and if they somehow were they didn’t meet the dress code and wouldn’t be allowed in.
“You didn’t ask our names-“
“What is your name?” He raised an eyebrow, not looking up at them again. They were holding up the line and he was growing frustrated, his pen tapping against the podium. The nymph giggled again. What was so funny? The sooner he dealt with them, the sooner they could move on.
“Aidone-“
“Not on the list.”
“I didn’t finish.”
“Didn’t need to.”
Instead of growing mad, the tall blue man just grinned and looked at the short pink nymph beside him, who this time just exploded in hysterics. The minotaur was starting to grow pissed now instead. Why were they so pleased with being told no? “Yeah so if you could get out of my line now-“
“Her name is Perse-“
“I don’t care!” The minotaur snapped, ignoring the dangerous expression that flashed on the blue God’s face. He had to admit, he looked a little familiar, but he’d definitely never seen him in all his years working as Zeus's doorman so it didn’t matter. “I have people like you trying to sneak into the king’s parties all of the time. I know you’re not on the list. Look at yourselves!”
The God had the gall to look shocked, looking around as if someone would agree that this minotaur was ‘out of line’. “This is outrageous,” he said, though still smiling. His overdramatic display was furthering his friend’s laughter and the minotaur was sure they had to be drunk. They were standing perfectly fine but he failed to see the humour otherwise. “I demand to speak to Zeus. I have this personal invite, see?” The god suddenly produced a letter, waving it around for anyone to see.
“Zeus doesn’t send personal invites-“
“Maybe not to you, but he does to me.” His grin was sharp and his eyes flashed dangerously. “I’d go get him before you lose your job.”
His pink friend tugged at his arm, recovering from her laughter for a moment. “Now now, Aidoneus, it’s not his fault that he’s too good at his job. Though perhaps he does need to read up on his history.” She flashed him a look as well, her eyes were red unlike the pink he swore they had been a moment before. The minotaur couldn’t help but squirm where he stood for a moment. Nymphs couldn’t do that, perhaps he was mistaken… “Are you sure this is the hill you wish to die on?” He had to regain his exposure. They weren’t supposed to gain the upper hand.
“I’m sorry but if you really had a personal invite. I don’t have anyone named-“
“Aidoneus.”
“Named Aidoneus on the list, sir.”
The blue god still didn’t seem phased by this, humming as he turned to the Goddess (not nymph) that clung to his arm. “Sweetness, it seems I’m not on the list.” He hummed, that dumb smirk still on his face as the pink goddess hummed. The bouncer went to speak again but he was interrupted by the Goddess this time. Gods, when would this nightmare end.
“Am I on the list?”
“Ma’am, sir, I really don’t think-”
“Check if my wife is on the list.” The man said, smile nowhere in sight as he glared at the minotaur now. He looked dangerous. “Persephone. Her name is Persephone.”
He had to admit… That name did sound familiar. He sighed and actually consulted the list this time as the two in front of him stared expectantly. The minotaur was shocked to find the name and the surprise soon turned into nerves when he read her full title.
‘Persephone. Queen of the Underworld.’
Queen… If she was Queen of the Underworld, and the man she was with was her husband… He peered up slowly at them. The blue god, King of the Underworld, stared at him with a sharp smile. He leaned in close.
“May I go and visit my brother now?”
The minotaur nodded quickly, unable to trust his voice as he allowed the two to enter.
“Thank you!” The Queen of the Underworld exclaimed and, despite his reluctance to even give them a second glance, the King of the Underworld placed a few pieces of gold in his hand as a tip before they were gone.
Oh Gods, he hoped he wouldn’t lose his job for that.
-
“Scoundrel! 100% scoundrel!!” Aidoneus cackled as his wife playfully hit his shoulder, though she was laughing too. He couldn’t help but pick her up and spin around a little, ignoring the strange looks they acquired from other Gods and Goddesses as they passed.
They were unrecognisable after a hundred years out of the limelight and the feeling of being so invisible, so unseen thrilled the King of the Underworld. Though they still held those titles, most of the actual responsibilities had been passed to Hecate. All Aidoneus did was use his powers to keep Tartarus intact and deal with some of the more complicated shade judgements. It had even gotten to a point where he could last 6 months without needing to return to the Underworld, though his soul would forever be tied to the realm and he remained weakened the longer he went without a meer visit.
“Don’t say that like you don’t like it.” He purred back as he set her down and lead her to go and dance. “Besides, dressing down was your idea.”
Living in the mortal realm was a dream. She brought the spring and summer, he turned it to autumn and winter. The mortal children adored the snow just as much as Persephone had insisted they would.
His wife giggled. “Okay, it was a little funny.” She admitted as her husband pressed a kiss to her head.
It had been a century since he’d been in Olympus, though he repeatedly got invitations to parties his brother hosted, always addressed to Hades. Still, he hadn’t been Hades in a long long time. He liked it as Aidoneus.
“Come now, love, let’s see if my brother even recognises me.”