1032/Hades' Bargain

Hades' Bargain
Date of Scene:	07 April 2020
Location:	Midtown
Synopsis:	Hades offers Karla a bargain.
Cast of Characters:	Karla Sofen, Alexander Aaron

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Karla Sofen has posed:
Midtown Manhattan. A central hub and also where Dr. Sofen enjoys spending most of her lunch hours in.

It's been a busy enough morning back at her office, meeting a couple of long-time patients, with all their little problems and complaints, to where she simply listens patiently, speaks a few words of wisdom and collects her fees. Not exactly the most demanding of patients, but it is what it is.

Still, lunch hour is a good time to do some people-watching, she currently sitting at one of the outside tables of a restaurant, leaned back on her chair, watching people go by.

She currently dresses in her work attire, which means a silk, white blouse, buttoned up, skirt to the knee, those heels of course. All very professional as is her motto. A glance to her phone.

> One hour until your next patient, Doctor

A message from Deanna. She sighs, sometimes her assistant is a bit too efficient. She turns her phone screen down.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    It is a brilliant Spring day, and there is such warmth to the weather, Winter long forgotten. People rush hither and yon with the urgency of the day, moving from place to place upon that sidewalk. There are some there at the restaurant as well, sharing her outdoor space, a few having spared a smile for her. And, to be fair, the waiter seemed rather taken with her. But he did not make any outward sign to it, she was just enough of a student of humanity to read people. And that attraction was there.
    Yet all of it was likely so very dull. Mundane. The same things she has seen a million times in Manhattan. But then there's a voice that breaks her reverie. A voice that is unlike any she has heard, deep and resonant and over her shoulder.
    "Dr. Sofen?" A glance toward the voice would reveal its bearer. A tall man, well to six foot five, perhaps more. Dressed in an exquisite blue suit with a white dress shirt. It does little to complement his auburn hair, pulled back into what seems like a pony tail though a short thing. He has a beard, perfectly trimmed, lining his handsome jawline exquisitely. A bright series of rings mark his hands, one of which rests upon the top of a cane where the grip is crystalline. Yet the most interesting thing of note... were his red eyes.
    "I had been hoping to run into. If I may?" He gestures with a bejeweled hand toward one of the empty chairs near her.

Karla Sofen has posed:
Sofen does what she often does. She studies. Both the waiter that seems taken by her, the busy people running to and fro, a life of such mundane proportions that makes her want to just start laughing out at these people. Yet she endures, isn't it her life now too? Away from her past?

And then that break on her thoughts comes, a glance about a shoulder, one of her blue eyes watching the well-dressed man. The exquisite suit is different from what she'd expect out here though the features aren't exactly lost on her. Some resemblance of recognition there? Though it's the eyes that capture her attention finally. She sets her gaze there, calculating and studying in that manner of hers.

Yet eventually the corner of her mouth lifts in a faint smile, dimpling her cheek. "Please do. And whom do I have the pleasure to be speaking with?" she questions, brushing some of that long mane of hair out of her eyes.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Call me Theios." The man's accent is thick as he voices that word, Mediterranean assuredly, and then he adds another to it, "Theios Addes." He smiles, a single diamond seeming to glimmer in one of his teeth as he settles down to rest his large frame upon one of the chairs opposite her, a grimace touching his features even as the metal of the chair complains due to his considerable weight. He sits there, legs partially spread, hands upon the crystal grip of his cane as he smiles to her.
    "I believe you know my nephew, Alexander." The way he says Alexander there is an emphasis on the X and a roll with the tongue. "I was walking along and saw you, and thought to myself that I should check in and see how he is doing. How he passes the time. Yes?"
    As he says that the waiter comes back around and asks with a smile, "May I get you anything else, ma'am? Sir?" Looking to the new arrival.
    "I will have the seltzer water, yes? With a touch of lemon."
    The waiter nods, then awaits Karla's words before he rushes off to fulfill their wishes.

Karla Sofen has posed:
Mmmm, why does the name seem to ring a bell? Karla watches Addes in a thoughtful manner still, one of her arms spreading about her waist while she props an elbow on it, hand on her chin, a fingertip taptapping on it in a cadence. "I know a few Alexanders." is her reply, but the way her eyes turn into amusement show she most certainly know who he is talking about.

But at least she doesn't laugh out when the man mentions he was 'walking about'. She knows there are no coincidences in this world..., or in the other. "You do sound a very thoughtful uncle though, yet I am sure you know I like to preserve client confidentiality between patients and me."

The approaching waiter gets a brief, dismissive glance from Karla. "I will have the same as the gentleman." is what she says, waiting for the waiter to rush out before she speaks again.

"He's proving to be quite the interesting young man though."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Ahhh, so he is the patient?" Addes says lightly enough, eyebrows rising as he smiles a smile that would be supportive and gentle if it weren't for the crimson eyes and the diamond gleam in that toothy smile. "Curious, I would not think he needed your services quite yet. So harsh and horrid a life he has led, yes?"
    The large man is heavy, perhaps three hundred pounds or more, yet his frame speaks not of overweight, more simply a massive man with large hands and a pumpkin-sized head. Yet his manner is friendly, perhaps affectedly so.
    "And has he told you what he is? Spoken to you of his father?"

Karla Sofen has posed:
"Many people are my patients without even realizing it yet." Is what Karla replies, head slightly canting to the side, almost as if she was considering Addes as one too. The arrogance on this mortal! But she leans forward slightly, regarding the red-eyed man more closely, the smile continuing rather affectionate too even if her words speak of a strength beneath them.

"But I know who he is." She admits with a slight inclination of her head. "And by extension I am aware of whom you might be as well, Mr. Addes." the tone is solemn, how quick she shifts from arrogance to putting an inflection of respect to her voice, she clearly quite trained in projecting her voice to exactly what she wants others to hear.

"He hasn't spoken to me of his uncle though. Is this something good or bad?" She then asks Addes, her smile turning up into more of a grin.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Oh it is good then." Addes responds with an open smile though it's more pronounced on one side making it seem a little more sinister than he may be wishing. He tells her calmly, "Good you know who he is. Good you know who I am. Good all around." He spreads his hands wide though still resting them on the grip of that cane.
    "I know you are not too terribly familiar with our family. You know not the ins and outs between us, for we are an old family. We carry our grudges. And Alexander? Alexander is young. I would not have him infected with these grudges. His father and I, we are family. But we are not friends. In fact I would say we are less so."
    He shakes his head sadly. But then smiles to the young man who is their server as he brings their drinks to them then quickly departs even though he should likely have stayed to take their entree order. Yet whatever the reason, it leaves them there to continue their conversation, without further interruptions.
    The drink is taken up, the small wrapper on the end of the straw is tossed aside onto the table, then he stirs the drink some as he speaks. "Alexander, he is so young he has not learned to think for himself. I would spare him the old ways. I would welcome his friendship. I try to tell him so. Yet his father has poisoned him against me. What we need, Dr. Sofen, is a friend in common."
    A pause, "Could you be that friend for me? For Alexander?"

Karla Sofen has posed:
No answer comes from her when Addes starts speaking about Karla not knowing much about the ins and outs of his family. Let the old God think what he wills. She watches him calmly, that deep blue gaze thoughtful, taking in what he tells her and reveals, a mmm given and a nod when he mentions Alexander being young. It's as if she was back at her office, but instead of taking care of some old money millionaire it's a God she is handling. Nothing like aiming high.

"Family is never what we wish them to be. They can be a burden, but also a great source of motivation." Karla says in way of agreement. She reaches to take the seltzer, a brief sip.

She considers in silence for a few moments, mulling over her drink. "Fathers do have a way of not being able to see the whole picture, to turn too protective when others wish to ..., open someone's wings so to say. Is this the case then?" she inquires.

"What do you believe young Alexander is in need of right now?" A mix of curiosity but also study, she continuing to map old Addes's intentions in that way she often does.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The older man's seltzer water is sipped again, and his lips part with a small 'ahh' of sound, pleased as he looks out across their surroundings. Watching the people going about their daily grind. He shakes his head a little, "What Alexander needs to see now is that his life is not chosen for him. That he has options before him." That shake of his head was rueful, and it is given again as if saddened. "Now he believes he is set on one path and there is no deviation. I would have him know that with his life, he will have many years to ponder the missteps of his youth."
    That said he says, "But in any case, that is enough about him. Yes? Let us talk of each other. Let us talk of what you can do for me, Dr. Sofen. And what I can do for you." He sets that glass back down upon the table.
    "So many, I offer my hand in friendship and they turn it away. Why? I cannot say. I am not without power. I offer those who are loyal many gifts that my brothers cannot. I am a shrewd man."
    A pause, then he lifts his chin, "Know you the tale of my brothers and I? After we saw to our parents?"

Karla Sofen has posed:
That much Karla can agree with. Noone's life is chosen for them at the beginning, they do what they must to persevere and go above and beyond what they were before. The same way she did, never conformed to simply be a psychiatrist, no matter how good she might be at it. "And you believe you have answers that his father would not be able to impart on him?" she questions, again with that same studying curiosity.

"Our youth can often be filled with missteps that only going through them is the way we will learn." Karla muses, brushing one hand through that long hair of hers. Yet when Addes shifts the subject to both she and him a nod comes from her. "From history you have always been noted with some negativity surrounding you." 'some', "Many do not wish to be associated." yet at the question she shakes her head, gesturing as if willing to listen.

"Please, hearing or knowing of a tale isn't the same as knowing it from the source. I would certainly listen to it."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Ah it is a simple tale, albeit an old one." Addes sits up a little and rests his cane across his lap, then takes hold of his chair with both hands upon its arms and lightly shuffles forward so he is more underneath the table, able to rest his forearms upon it as if it were but another dominion for him to rule over.
    "After my brothers and I dealt with the evils of our parents, we took counsel together. Together we sat at a table, much as we are here now." He smiles to her, one hand motioning to the side, "Upon Olympus, as we pondered what there was to be done. Gaia still held sway over the land, the mother of all earth. We wished her naught save peace so she held that as her domain. My brother, Poseidon. He was first to choose, and he wished only to have prominence over what he loved, for he had ever loved the sea, yes?"
    A small smirk lights up those crimson eyes as he looks to Karla, "My other brother, Zeus? What amused him the most was to thus in turn claim the sky. If only to lord over my other brother, always the trickster he. Yet that left it to me. I felt at least one of us should see to some duty, to some standard above the desire to further my own interests or to make light of my siblings. But what was there? Earth, sea, sky? I chose instead to preside over peace. I chose death as my domain."
    He shakes his head, "And for that simple altruistic act, my reputation has been besmirched through the ages."

Karla Sofen has posed:
"It does not sound as simple you may want to let it be known." Karla muses, gesturing with one hand slowly. "As no business with Gods ever is. Yet I do thank you for putting it in easier terms for the mortal minds." she listens in silence throughout the tale, a finger tapping on her cheek, no judgement or any type of expression that tells of approval or disapproval in her expression.

Instead she puts in her own skills in being quite the listener, a nod given in those right moments, a very faint smile, commiserate to the sacrifice Addes had to make.

"We all make our sacrifices. Death though, it is indeed something that most of us do not enjoy thinking of. It reminds them of mortality and the end of it." a look towards the people walking by, going on about their lives.

"They all seem so busy, without a care that soon enough they will be dead. Forgetting is often one of humanity's greatest strengths, mmm?" but then her eyes fix on Addes and she asks.

"And what steps do you want young Alexander to trail?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "For now?" Addes leans forwards, resting his weight partially on that table, seemingly engulfing that end of it with his massive presence. "I simply would speak with him, to share words with my young nephew. I have only rarely been able to converse with him and only through proxy."
    His eyebrows lift, "Did he tell you of what he did? Why we are all grateful to him?"
    A pause as he perhaps awaits a response, or perhaps feigns waiting for one as he presses ahead in any case. "He saved all of us. Olympus was besieged and it was only due to his efforts at the last that turned the war upon those who sought to end our stewardship. So I hold him no ill will." That last said with such earnestness, it almost might be believable.
    "Quite the opposite in fact. And would have him aid me in my efforts to insure the safety of my family. If you could convince him of as much, Dr. Sofen. Or even perhaps arrange it that he would be at a place of my choosing at a particular time? Well..."
    He smiles a little crookedly, those crimson eyes severe despite their attempt at warmth. "Someone who makes friends with death need not fear it, yes?"

Karla Sofen has posed:
"You could always just do what you just did." Karla replies, her attention fully on the man now when he leans forward, "Passing by near young Alexander, strike conversation. Do you believe he'd not look upon you with good eyes?" she wonders, though the way she asks it seems almost as if she'd know the answer to that by now.

"If I was to agree with this though, bringing him to a place of your choosing, what then would you be willing to offer me?" she asks, always the one prone to making a deal. But then again she is also curious about this whole ordeal.

As for whether she is willing to betray one or the other, well, that's still to be seen. Listening though, she always does. She leans forward just so. "Because I'd certainly prefer to make friends out of death than enemies."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Ah, but his father would take it ill, and likely young Alexander would react strongly. Best if he come somewhere of his free will and I am there." With that he nods once solemnly, "There are many rules we hold to, reasons we must conduct ourselves so to maintain peace in the family, you see."
    But when she offers that 'if', the 'if' she was to agree, she'll see his smile broaden. "Oh well, as to that. Making a friend of death is the answer to life's woes is it not?" The massive man leers a little, as if knowing that his particular flavor of bribery and compensation might well fit the foibles that Karla has.
    He elaborates, "I could not make it so you would never feel death's sting. For in truth, all things must ultimately die. But I could make it that you would need hold no fear for it. That if you chose to pay me due homage, to respect my position, to even grant worship to me as a patron. Well then..." He uncurls a large hand, gesturing to the side. "You will have peace when you pass if that is your choice. Or if you feel that you would wish to return to the realm of the mortals, I can make that so as well. There are many who have passed that had sworn fealty to me in the eleventh hour. You doing so in such a prime of your youth, you would hold a place of prominence."

Karla Sofen has posed:
A slight narrow of her eyes when Addes mentions swearing fealty, as if that was something Karla did not look towards kindly, the kind of woman that has always trudged through by herself, without the need to hold herself in others care. She lets out a considering mmm, a brow arching just so. "Fealty." she echoes. "That is not exactly what I'd call a good bargain, to keep myself tied to someone, be them a God or not. I have always cared to be independent of such .., attachments." she states, raising her shoulders lightly.

"And there is very little I fear..." as if saying that death may not exactly be one of those things. But still, she smiles in that gentle manner of hers that hides her more predatory nature beneath. "Death has always been present in my life. Yet..." and she pauses here. " ... a favor for a favor I would be willing to accept. With the same degree of importance as you'd take this bringing of young Alexander to this place of your choice."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Oh you would not have to do so, I merely meant that some had and known the rewards from it. Serving my wishes, however, does bring with it some positive benefits." As if swearing fealty was just another layer of possible involvement.
    But then when she makes her counter offer, he nods slowly as if finding that acceptable. "A favor for a favor? Such is how the world works is it not?" The man with the crimson eyes keeps his smile there upon his features, nodding. "And if you serve me well in this sole singular capacity," He quickly adds those qualifiers to perhaps not worry her so much as to the service aspect, "Then I will be inclined to look upon future endeavors with a grateful eye."
    The cane then clicks light upon the pavement, "I think we understand each other."
    With that said he pushes himself back to his feet, groaning a little at the shift of his great weight. "Ah, do not get old, Dr. Sofen. It is such a burden." As he says this he smiles to her, then nods. "I shall be in touch."
    That said he begins to extricate himself from the table and the restaurant itself.

Karla Sofen has posed:
"Such are normally the rules, Mr. Addes. But an exchange of favors to begin with I believe would be more than acceptable. As I have told you, I am not the type to easily swear fealty. Specially to someone who I have just met." And then her grin turning all but predatory when she watches the man starting to get up. "And specially when I have yet to learn of their intentions."

Karla remains sitting at the table, one long leg crossed over the other, regarding the large man. "But please do. I trust you will know where to find me or how to contact me. I shall look forward to it." again that inflection to her tone, the respect. Does she truly mean it though? Hard to tell, but she does play the part. Always one with those loyalties that noone exactly knows where they may lie.