Underworld.
Dead Drunk was quiet, a rare thing these days. As the origin of the betting pool that started the Battle of Queens, this bar was always full these days.
But today, there was no people.
The bar’s owner, a minor god with a round belly and a nose permanently red from drink, sat hunched over his counter.
His stubby fingers flipped through his account book, and with each number he saw, his grin grew wider.
"By the king... I’ve made more this month than I did all of last year!" he whispered to himself, eyes glittering with greed. "All thanks to those fools throwing drachmas at the Battle of the Queens pool. May this betting never end!"
Usually, with these sales, he should be open so he can earn more, but this god has been beyond exhausted. He hasn’t gotten any wink of sleep since the betting started.
That was worse than when he was working twenty hours a day under Lord Charon! At least he actually gets to sleep for at least an hour!
Just then, the doors creaked open.
He jumped like a startled rabbit, slamming the book shut and nearly dropping it.
"Ah! Dear custors, apologies but w-we’re closed for today! Co back tom—" His words died in his throat.
His eyes widened seeing those who entered his bar.
Hecate, Hera, Aphrodite, Deter, Persephone, and Nyx, all walked in together.
The room seed to darken, then brighten, then tremble in awe. The bar owner froze mid-breath and his knees wobbled, his eyes almost rolled back to his head.
Six goddesses. In his bar. Or rather, five of the highest ranking goddesses, and one primordial who is the forr lord of underworld all ca to his bar at the sa ti!
He scrambled to bow so low he nearly hit the counter. "O-oh! Y-your excellencies! Forgive ! Please! Take any seat, any—no, take the entire bar if you wish!"
They ignored him entirely, sliding into a long booth like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Nyx leaned back with the calm dignity of a primordial, while Aphrodite flicked her hair and imdiately stretched her legs across the seat, putting them over Persephone’s.
Persephone, glaring, promptly shoved them off.
"Get your dirty feet away from . It stinks!" Persephone snapped.
Aphrodite smirked lazily. "Oh, don’t be such a child, Kore. You’ll wrinkle your pretty face."
"I’m not a child!" Persephone pouted, crossing her arms. "And stop calling Kore! It’s Persephone! Only mother and Lord Hades can call that!"
Deter sighed, rubbing her temples. "Co on, you two are starting again already?"
Hera chuckled, lifting her hand to signal the bar owner. "Wine. Your strongest. And bring snacks. Lots of them. This feels like it’ll be a long night."
"Yes! Yes, my lady!" the owner stamred, already running.
Hecate’s eyes glowed faintly as she stirred the shadows at her feet. "I’d prefer absinthe. Black, if you have it."
Nyx rely raised one elegant brow. "Red wine for . Sothing that has aged longer than Olympus has ruled."
The poor owner nearly fainted, "L-Lady Nyx...we don’t have wine that old."
Aged longer than Olympus? He’d like to try one as well! He hasn’t even seen one!
"I see. Then your most expensive one." She sighed. It’s a rare thing for her to go out and relax, and she can’t even find a decent wine.
"Right away!"
With that, he imdiately went to fetch and prepare all their orders.
By the ti the drinks arrived, Aphrodite and Persephone were still at it.
"You know, it’s cute that you think that climbing the rankings ans anything." Aphrodite said between sips of golden ad. "Think about it, child, do you honestly think Hades would choose you over ?"
Persephone slamd her cup down, wine sloshing over the edge. "At least I’m not running brothels across two realms while pretending to be pure!"
That earned a sharp laugh from Nyx, who almost spilled her own drink. "She has you there, Aphrodite."
"Oh, please," Aphrodite waved her hand, unbothered. "Purity is a matter of perception. And I’m very good at managing perceptions."
"Yeah, cuz you’re a manipulative bitch!"
Aphrodite laughed, not minding Persephone’s words at all. She leaned across the table, pinching Persephone’s cheek. "Ah, you’re so cute when you’re angry."
"Stop touching !" Persephone squeaked, swatting her hand away again.
Deter leaned toward Hera, whispering loud enough for all to hear. "I’m starting to regret bringing her tonight."
Hera smiled. "No, it’s alright. She’s more entertaining than the Furies on a festival day."
Hecate finally sipped her wine, her voice like silk and shadow. "Children bickering. Gods gambling. Souls stirring. And here we are... gossiping in a tavern. How low we have all fallen."
There was a beat of silence before Nyx snorted into her glass. "Speak for yourself, dear Hecate. I’m here for the free alcohol."
The bar owner stood frozen in the corner, tray in hand, staring at them like he’d just seen six storms sharing a drink.
Free alcohol? Who says this is free alcohol? Since when did he serve free alcohol?
Oh, it was Lady Nyx who said it? Then fine. Free it is! Anyway, he has money to waste now!
The owner, trembling, poured drinks for the goddesses, setting them carefully on the table before retreating like a mouse escaping cats.
Hera raised her cup first.
"To the Battle of the Queens," she said dryly, "may it never end, for the Underworld seems far more entertaining now."
Nyx chuckled softly, her voice deep and calm.
"Entertaining for you, perhaps. For , I just enjoy watching all of you scramble." She sipped her wine with the air of soone who had seen everything and nothing could surprise her.
Anyway, she doesn’t really care much about the rankins. Whoever marries Hades doesn’t matter, because at the end of the day, he’d always co back to her.
Aphrodite leaned forward with a teasing smile.
"Scramble? Oh please, not ever. I can stand still, and n will trip over themselves. And apparently, so girls too." She winked at Persephone.
Persephone slamd her cup on the table.
"Tch! Don’t you dare lump in with your crowd." She jabbed a finger at her. "You only have popularity because you show too much skin."
Aphrodite’s smile widened. "And yet, it works. Maybe you should try it. I hear Hades has a weakness for nape and shoulders."
"Shut u—... really?" Persephone leaned forward, looking eager and curious, cheeks pink, which only made everyone laugh.
Deter sighed, sipping her drink slowly. "My daughter has been corrupted... This whole contest is making her shaless."
"Hmm, I’m pretty sure she has always been shaless." Hecate said smoothly, raising her glass. "Besides, it’s been ages since we all sat like this. Let the girl have so fun."
Hera nodded, her lips curling in amusent. "I must agree. It’s strangely... pleasant. We always et during work, work, and even more work. It is rare for us to just sit down over a drink and talk."
"Exactly." Nyx smiled at Persephone, "So relax a little."
Persephone pouted, before glaring at Aphrodite, but then grinned. "Fine. But don’t expect to lose to you. The next round of bets will push higher, just watch."
Aphrodite lifted her cup toward her. "Good. I like a challenge. But rember, little spring flower, no matter how high you climb, you’ll always bloom under my sun."
The table burst into laughter, even Nyx smiling faintly as she swirled her wine.
The owner peeked at them from behind the counter, utterly baffled.
The most feared goddesses of the Underworld, sitting together, drinking, laughing, bickering like old friends.
But it doesn’t matter. It’s none of his business anyway.
He just felt pain looking at the drinks.
Are they really not going to pay?
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