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Harbingers; War
1.1 - We all die, you either kill yourself or you get killed. (Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do?)

1.1 - We all die, you either kill yourself or you get killed. (Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do?)

A man stumbles into his apartment, shrouded in darkness. The apartment is messy. He throws his jacket onto the ground, kicking his shoes off. He stumbles over an empty bottle on the floor, and he bares his teeth before kicking it down the hall.

The bottle rolls into the living room, and Hades stops it with his foot. Hades stands next to a shelf on the wall holding a near-dead plant, holding a picture. It is of the man with another, but the second man's face had been scratched out.

The man stopped in the hall, straightening as he noticed the Hades.

Hades lowered the photo. "Good evening."

"Who the fuck are you?"

Hades laughs, shaking his head. "Nobody important." Hades stepped forward. "What is important is what I can do," Hades rested a hand against his chest. "to help you." Hades gestured towards the man with the hand that held the photo.

"Get out."

"You know," Hades lifted the photo. "You didn't deserve what happened. You're a good person."

"Get out."

"You must be so angry. He abandoned you, and for what?" Hades dropped the photo, "He was bored?"

"Get out!" The man shouted.

"Don't be rash. We could help you. You could be a man no-one would dare to ignore."

The man ran into the living room, pulling his fist back, but he never reached Hades.

Out of the shadows of the living room, Persephone lunged out, grabbing the man by the collar and slamming him against the wall. She caught his wrist when he attempted to punch her as well.

Hades sighed. "I was truly trying to keep things civil."

The man grit his teeth, his bones cracking as two additional arms grew from his side and he grabbed a fistful of Persephone's hair and yanking her head back.

Persephone stumbled back, clawing at the man's hand. Her scream was hoarse, almost silent. The man shoved her to the ground and Persephone kicked his shin. The man hit the floor with a (far more audible) shout.

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The man stumbled, and Persephone raised her hand. The plant on the shelf sprung to life, and vines grew along the floor to wrap around the man's throat.

The man managed to tear through them at first, but he began coughing and thrashing as they began growing into his mouth.

"Now, now, love." Hades crossed the room, kneeling beside Persephone and tucking some of her hair behind her ear. "Let's not hurt our new friend."

Persephone between the man and Hades, who smiled. "We can't help a dead man."

Persephone dropped her hand and spoke in a hissing whisper. "He touches you, and he becomes a new addition in my garden."

"Of course, love." Hades looked to where the man was sitting up, coughing up leaves as he pulled the vines away from his face. "But I don't think that'll be an issue."

The man wiped his mouth, "What do you want?"

"We don't want anything." Hades stood, "We just wish to help you."

"I don't need your fucking help."

"Oh, but you do, don't you." Hades stepped towards the man. "You've been wronged. Those you thought loved you forgot you. Those who you trusted now betrayed you."

Hades shook his head. "They never deserved you. You were too good for them."

"You deserve better than them." Hades said, stopping in front of the man. "And we can give that to you. Anything you could want. Everything you could possibly dream of. All yours."

"You want fame?" He continued. "Power? Love? We can give that to you, and even more, still. You could be a hero. A legend."

The man eventually spoke. "How?"

"We, my friend, are going to save the world." Hades grinned. "We'll be heroes. Gods, even." Hades spread his arms. "And who can say no to a god?"

Persephone came to stand beside Hades, as he held a hand down towards the man. "What do you say?"

"Don't you want to be a hero?"

Characters:

Hades:

5'6", 140lbs. A thin black man with long, thin dreads decorated with jewels and beads made of bone. Wears a mask fashioned to look like a death head hawkmoth that covers the top half of his face. Fashion is loose and flowy, with white and blue hues. Subtle patterns. He has runes painted onto his skin in white.

Persephone:

5'10", 170lbs. A muscular Celtic woman with curly auburn hair shaved on the sides with Celtic knots, typically braided with black roses and red poppies woven into the braid. Wears a golden skull mask that covers the right half of her face with a jaw that hangs loosely from chains. Wears a charm that hangs from her belt shaped like a scythe. Fashion is sharp and bold, in black and gold.

The man, for reference, is 6'2" and 250lbs.