Erinyes Game
You wake up, blinking pink and white stars out of your eyes, and thanking your lucky stars that you’re still alive.
“Good morning, Hestia.” Hades’s voice from the speaker. “And a good morning it is indeed.”
You’re not even in the mood to say anything bad to Hades. “Morning, Hades. Any shocking news for me today?”
He actually pauses, sounding surprised that you’re not snapping at him. “Well, um. Nothing, really. Tonight will be the final Moirae. And I believe you already know who you’re going to vote for.”
“Indeed I do.” You don’t say anything for a moment, waiting, before saying, “You’re really not going to tell me anything crazy? I mean, you didn’t make up a new rule or something?”
Hades actually laughs. “Maybe I have. I’ll tell you tonight, after Moirae. Have a good day, Hestia.”
You leave your room, wondering if this was too good to be true. Surely something went wrong, right? Was Hephaestus dead and now you were alone with Hera? Maybe Hephaestus was actually the Fury, and he killed Hera? You head down to the kitchen, wondering if you’d even be able to stomach anything.
All of your fears seem to be unfounded. Hephaestus is already there, and he smiles at you. Minutes later, Hera pops in to grab a snack.
“…Well then.” Hera merely nods at the both of you and leaves.
“I suppose she already accepts her fate,” says Hephaestus. “I hate to end things like this, but something in me is happy that at last, the two of us will survive this.”
You nod, agreeing with him. You don’t really feel like dwelling on this any longer, so you invite him to play some video games.
Together you explore the fantasy world, petting all of the animals you come across, ignoring the actual plot of the game. You’re enjoying yourself, sure, but something about Hera’s expression as she nodded at you that morning really struck you. The loneliness was unmistakable, though you knew she was far too proud to admit that.
Suddenly you set down your controller. “Hang on, Hephaestus. I’ll be right back.”
He shrugs. “Sure, I’ll pause it for you.” After doing that, he picks up a handheld console and starts playing that.
You leave the room in search of Hera and find her in the musical instruments room. You hadn’t ever set foot in here during the game, as you didn’t play anything yourself, so this was new territory to you.
Inside, you find her seated at a huge golden harp, playing a song with her eyes closed. As you watch, she starts to sing, her lovely voice adding to the lilting sounds of the strings. Though beautiful, the song is tinted with melancholy, almost making you want to cry.
Hera finishes her song and you start to clap, startling her out of her reverie. She turns and glares at you.
“What’re you doing here?” She snarls.
Unperturbed, you say, “That was beautiful, Hera.”
She blinks and lowers her hands from the harp strings. “Thanks, I guess. But you didn’t answer the question.”
“I just wanted to know if you would like to join me and Hephaestus in the video game room. We can play with three people, if you like.”
She looks utterly stunned at your offer. “What?”
“There are more than two controllers, you know. It’ll be fun, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to, of course.”
Hera gets up from her stool slowly. “Okay, then. Lead the way.”
She follow you to the video game room, expression stiff and uncomfortable as if you’re going to take back your offer any second.
You put a finger to your lips as you walk in, and she takes the hint. Quietly, you tiptoe into the room. Peeking over Hephaestus’s shoulder, you see that the game on his handheld console is one where you take care of tons of dogs and cats. Figures.
You take a deep breath. “Hey, we’re back!” You say loudly.
Hephaestus jumps about a foot in the air. “Stop scaring me like that, Hestia! Gods above.”
Hera actually giggles, putting a hand in front of her mouth.
“Anyway, good to see you, Hera. I’ve got another controller for you right here,” he says, handing it to her. He doesn’t look surprised to see her at all. “With three people, we can easily pet all the animals in the kingdom.”
She raises an eyebrow. ”Is that the point of this game?”
“It might as well be,” you reply, settling down next to Hephaestus with Hera on your other side.
At first, Hera complains about the long list of actual quests that aren’t getting done, but after a while she gives in and pets every cat she can find.
Eventually, as you pet one last dog, you actually unlock a hidden achievement for petting all the pets in the game world. Sharing a surprised look, you all laugh.
“See, Hera, I told you this would be worth it!” Hephaestus beams.
She rolls her eyes with a smile. “Maybe we should actually complete the main quests now?” She suggests.
“But where’s the fun in that?” Hephaestus complains.
“It looks like one of them is to tame and ride a dragon,” you say, reading the quest description. “And I think you get to keep the dragon as a pet.”
Hephaestus’s character is already walking away. “I’m in. Let’s go.”
As you play, you realize that you’re going to miss this. Spending time just playing games and ignoring the horrible reality that is rushing to meet you. You don’t voice this sentiment out loud, but Hephaestus bumps your shoulder and Hera smiles at you, sharing a bittersweet moment.
The time for the Moirae phase approaches, and though you know it’ll be easy, you don’t know if you’re actually ready.
“Good morning, Hestia.” Hades’s voice from the speaker. “And a good morning it is indeed.”
You’re not even in the mood to say anything bad to Hades. “Morning, Hades. Any shocking news for me today?”
He actually pauses, sounding surprised that you’re not snapping at him. “Well, um. Nothing, really. Tonight will be the final Moirae. And I believe you already know who you’re going to vote for.”
“Indeed I do.” You don’t say anything for a moment, waiting, before saying, “You’re really not going to tell me anything crazy? I mean, you didn’t make up a new rule or something?”
Hades actually laughs. “Maybe I have. I’ll tell you tonight, after Moirae. Have a good day, Hestia.”
You leave your room, wondering if this was too good to be true. Surely something went wrong, right? Was Hephaestus dead and now you were alone with Hera? Maybe Hephaestus was actually the Fury, and he killed Hera? You head down to the kitchen, wondering if you’d even be able to stomach anything.
All of your fears seem to be unfounded. Hephaestus is already there, and he smiles at you. Minutes later, Hera pops in to grab a snack.
“…Well then.” Hera merely nods at the both of you and leaves.
“I suppose she already accepts her fate,” says Hephaestus. “I hate to end things like this, but something in me is happy that at last, the two of us will survive this.”
You nod, agreeing with him. You don’t really feel like dwelling on this any longer, so you invite him to play some video games.
Together you explore the fantasy world, petting all of the animals you come across, ignoring the actual plot of the game. You’re enjoying yourself, sure, but something about Hera’s expression as she nodded at you that morning really struck you. The loneliness was unmistakable, though you knew she was far too proud to admit that.
Suddenly you set down your controller. “Hang on, Hephaestus. I’ll be right back.”
He shrugs. “Sure, I’ll pause it for you.” After doing that, he picks up a handheld console and starts playing that.
You leave the room in search of Hera and find her in the musical instruments room. You hadn’t ever set foot in here during the game, as you didn’t play anything yourself, so this was new territory to you.
Inside, you find her seated at a huge golden harp, playing a song with her eyes closed. As you watch, she starts to sing, her lovely voice adding to the lilting sounds of the strings. Though beautiful, the song is tinted with melancholy, almost making you want to cry.
Hera finishes her song and you start to clap, startling her out of her reverie. She turns and glares at you.
“What’re you doing here?” She snarls.
Unperturbed, you say, “That was beautiful, Hera.”
She blinks and lowers her hands from the harp strings. “Thanks, I guess. But you didn’t answer the question.”
“I just wanted to know if you would like to join me and Hephaestus in the video game room. We can play with three people, if you like.”
She looks utterly stunned at your offer. “What?”
“There are more than two controllers, you know. It’ll be fun, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to, of course.”
Hera gets up from her stool slowly. “Okay, then. Lead the way.”
She follow you to the video game room, expression stiff and uncomfortable as if you’re going to take back your offer any second.
You put a finger to your lips as you walk in, and she takes the hint. Quietly, you tiptoe into the room. Peeking over Hephaestus’s shoulder, you see that the game on his handheld console is one where you take care of tons of dogs and cats. Figures.
You take a deep breath. “Hey, we’re back!” You say loudly.
Hephaestus jumps about a foot in the air. “Stop scaring me like that, Hestia! Gods above.”
Hera actually giggles, putting a hand in front of her mouth.
“Anyway, good to see you, Hera. I’ve got another controller for you right here,” he says, handing it to her. He doesn’t look surprised to see her at all. “With three people, we can easily pet all the animals in the kingdom.”
She raises an eyebrow. ”Is that the point of this game?”
“It might as well be,” you reply, settling down next to Hephaestus with Hera on your other side.
At first, Hera complains about the long list of actual quests that aren’t getting done, but after a while she gives in and pets every cat she can find.
Eventually, as you pet one last dog, you actually unlock a hidden achievement for petting all the pets in the game world. Sharing a surprised look, you all laugh.
“See, Hera, I told you this would be worth it!” Hephaestus beams.
She rolls her eyes with a smile. “Maybe we should actually complete the main quests now?” She suggests.
“But where’s the fun in that?” Hephaestus complains.
“It looks like one of them is to tame and ride a dragon,” you say, reading the quest description. “And I think you get to keep the dragon as a pet.”
Hephaestus’s character is already walking away. “I’m in. Let’s go.”
As you play, you realize that you’re going to miss this. Spending time just playing games and ignoring the horrible reality that is rushing to meet you. You don’t voice this sentiment out loud, but Hephaestus bumps your shoulder and Hera smiles at you, sharing a bittersweet moment.
The time for the Moirae phase approaches, and though you know it’ll be easy, you don’t know if you’re actually ready.