Chapter Text
Aunty Em is right saying the diner doesn't get many guests. She supposes most monsters are too scared of being turned to stone. She thinks they're a bunch of cowards for being scared about that, especially when it was a mortal who defeated her last, even though that was well over a thousand years ago, and not a thought she'd be sharing with aunty herself. Aunty Em only let Hettie slip once on calling her Medusa, every other time she'd reply with a commanding ‘It's aunty Em’.
Regardless of who comes in and out of the diner it still needs to be cleaned, and food still needs to be made for the three of them. There's still a garden to be watered and looked after daily, and even orders for statues. Hettie has yet to figure out most of the detail in how aunty Em operates her business, but she supposes she still has time.
Hetie doesn't think it took a full 24 hours for the gorgon to realise she didn't have clothes besides the ones she wore on her back, which started an argument between the two.
“I don't need clothes, Loulou doesn't have clothes like that so why should I?” Hettie whines. She knew she should stop, and just do what aunty Em says, but she hated backing down.
“Loulou isn't a mortal appearing, and mortal appearing mythics need clothes.” Em says as if it's final, while she heads to a room Hettie hasn't seen yet.
Hettie didn't glance over the word mythics. Mythic is the word monsters use for other monsters: the word mother Echidna refuses to use with Hetros as a reminder of who she is in this world.
“Then I'll change into a different monster!”. She knew about the idea of shopping, and it did not sound fun. She wouldn't let it go when she first learned of it during a trivia game, but once she saw the video all interest vanished. Too bright lights, with too loud noise, and too small buildings, she doesn't want to be near any of that.
“And when those two demigod friends come over what will you do? They won't notice you if you don't look mortal.” Aunty Em criticizes as she turns down another sharp corner.
Somehow this conversation interested Loulou as well; Hettie could hear his footsteps padding behind her falling heavily. In the corner of her eye she sees his shadow. He complains that she needs to hold own fight, as if she doesn't do that with him daily.
“I'll just wear your old clothes like I am now.” Hettie's currently wearing an old dress of medusa that was too big. A good portion was tucked up into rope that was around her waist. The colour of light blue, but deeper than sky.
“These are my clothes not yours. Aren't you curious about what a mall's like? Don't you want to experience something for yourself, and not just through a story from your aunt Phoebe?" her voice tinted with something nasty.
“I saw a video. I'm well aware of what it's like.”, Hettie would not fall for this, she is too smart for that.
“You're not aware of what something's like unless you experience it first hand. Feel it washing over you and the actual senses coming with it all at once.” Aunty Em lamented, as she pushed a door open.
That couldn't be true could it? She supposed the diner is different from any other she's seen in a photo. It feels different being there than just watching.“Fine but Loulous coming with us.” she said it as anyone would when they get the last word in. They ended up in a room that's empty except for one big thing covered by a cloth. Once Em pulled over the cloth it showed a sleek black car that looked on the older side.
“Excuse me?” growls Pansy "I did not agree to this.”
“Well I do.” lev calls. “I'm not afraid of something new unlike others.”
“Well Can't be the worst place we’ll ever go to can it?” Kiss drawls. He's referring to Tarurus; Hettie knows it. Tartrus is supposed to be the most terrifying of places, especially for mortals, but monsters should easily get over it in theory.
“I’ll get you whatever food you want if you just get in.” Hettie turned to chimara, hissing with vengeance. She doesn't have money, but she could steal. She really didn't know why they stayed siblings when they did nothing but argue.
“Sounds like a deal has been made. Get in you two.” It came out almost like a complement, but not right, as she opened the back door for the other two to get in.
Hetties first in stumbling all the way to the furthest seat, recalling her tail as she does to save space. Loulou follows in on the ground, before getting up on the seat to turn around fully. Making Panzs’ head, and Levs’ head faces the closing door, while Kiss faces the redheaded monster. Hettie knows about cars thanks to a trivia session from aunty Phe, but she's never dreamed of being in one before.
She could hear the rumble of the car starting up, and she pressed herself up to look out the front window to see the wall rolling back to show the light of the day.
It's nice going this fast, aunty Em put on sunglasses, and lets me roll the backseat window. Loulou growled in annoyance, Loulou's always enjoyed slow calm over fast bustle. All the heads unanimously agree to only take the chaos on their, and only their terms. Hetie on the other side loves the chaos, loves running and racing. Mother Echidna always praised her for rambunctiousness, and ruthlessness. It's fun trying to break the sound barrier, jumping, being tossed around. Hettie's been trying to find a creature she could shape into that could go this fast. It's a little sad realising that she may never be able to go this fast on her own feet. On the other side it was just mortals that invented this, other mythics haven't had need, so maybe there is a creature that can go this fast. Houses, and forests blended together, as they move far from the middle of nowhere they came from.
Eventually the forest disappeared all together. The world became nothing but concrete walls, and loud noises. It's strange. It is so different, but so similar from the forests she knows. There is no place in this world that humans haven't touched, she's aware of the noise that comes from humans but it's strange to hear it so prominently. There is no quiet space in this world, not if you know how to listen, but she doesn't think she's ever been in a place as loud as this. Most of the noise didn't sound natural, there's ringing, and loud belting similar to goats, but a thousand times louder. There’s no longer the rush of moving but gentle wind that the car catches between the stops instead. Eventually Hettie gave up on the wind, and rolled up the window. The sleek black car turned into a field of concrete, parking lot, that's filled by the remnants of the people who are currently in the biggest building Hetties has ever seen. Eventually the car stopped away from anyone else. Em got out first coming over to let Loulou out first, and Hettie shortly followed. When Medusa closed the door, her violit dress with different colored flowers on the bottom swirled around her. The redhead sat to admire the dress, and movement before they made their way up the parking lot toward the big building.
Light offended her eye once she moved into the mall; how could humans make a light brighter, and more painful, than the sun? The mall is big, but even big things can be too small. Is stifling the right word, maybe? Aunty Phe was very passionate about people always having the right words, and being vocal about it. None of these words or ideas made the mall any less strange. It feels like a shitty maze, despite how open the middle is she's sure there are still things hidden; no matter how bright it is. Whatever easy path there is is made harder by the bright disorientating lights. Lights are far too unnatural for any sane person to like. Any choice made thousands of times more complicated by all the other choices just like it. Whatever isn't too bright to look at is too colorful; distracting Hettie from whatever surroundings should actually have her attention.
“We’ll start with what's most important; your clothes. But there can always be more things to add.” Medusa states; straight forward, and without argument. Meanwhile the other two struggled to keep pace.
“I want food first.” Lev demands. Hettie’s honestly surprised that Levs the one that started this and not Panz.
Though Panz doesn't disappoint again, “We were told we get food, and we want food” he agreed. Hettie is truly trying her hardest to focus on her four companions, but it's so loud, and there are so many other voices it's hard.
“You two have stomachs where your brains should be.” Kiss lemants. Once one starts talking all three have something else to say. Like they all have to prove they are not the same one.
“My only complaint is the lights. Why in Tartarus' name would humans ever go somewhere so horrible.” Hetties jokes. Might as well have a little fun if she is going to be pained by something so bright and noisy. She can hear the hum of music in the background but can't hear it over the echoes of everyone talking, and yelling. Could humans somehow understand the idea of torture better than the gods? They created an echoey place that made humans gather in one place, and then added noise on top of the bustle of the stupid mortals.
“It is far too bright.” Kisses voice is tinted in disgust.
“One of the benefits of sunglasses, dearies.” Aunty Ems' voice sounds almost melodic. “but we’ll head to the food court first”.
The food court is a square corner carved out from the rest of the mall, its lining is dozens of counters with bright signs and colourful words made to be unique. In the middle are tables and chairs. There are so manny choices in what to eat; too many choices. Why do mortals need so many? Food is food; if it gives you nourishment and stops you from fainting, then it works. What does someone do when they face so many choices?
“Do any of you have preferences?” Em cut in.
“I want meat” Lev, and Panz stated at the same time.
“Do you two care what type of meat?” she asked.
“I want beef.” Panz manages to cut in first.
“I don't care.” Lev quickly follows.
Aunty Em hum for a moment looking at the bright lights above. Hettie takes a moment to look around at the mall. She tries to take in her surroundings as much as possible, to keep an eye on all the mortals walking by, to find the different exits. But it's all too much the lights are too bright she can do this. She can't focus on anything but the floor. She can't even hear her companions around the booming noise of everyone else around. How could people stand it? This hurt. Wasn't Hettie supposed to be strong? Mother Echidna is supposed to raise Heteros to be something strong, but she could even handle the mall.
Ems’ violet-vialed hat came into her vision. The gorgon must have knelt down to get her attention, and if she managed to get this close to Hettie without her hearing then that's bad news for the redhead. Aunty Em placed gentle gloved hands over her own, "I'm thinking about getting pretzels, are you ok with that Hettie?” This is the softest she has ever heard a Medusas’ voice; there are no hard edges, no cold tones, just gentle.
Hettie nodded in response. She thinks she could see aunty Em smile in response.
“Why don't you hold my hand so you don't get lost in the crowd? I promise I'll keep you safe.”
Hettie just turned to face Loulou asking him the silent question of would you look over me. Loulou has stated repeatedly that they can read Hettie's expressions even if Hettie couldn't understand his; this moment didn't prove him wrong.
“We’ll look after you.” was all Panz said, and it's enough for Hettie to change her focus on Medusa.
She nodded her head at the goron, and aunty Em replied by holding on to just one of Hetie's hands, before standing back up and leading her somewhere. Hettie just turned all attention to the floor, and Medusa's movement. Hettie couldn't make out her voice outside of the loudness of the crowd, but she could feel her moving, and shifting, and that's enough for Hettie to focus on.
She doesn't know how long it took before the three sat down, though she knew Loulou had settled for sitting on the floor with his food. It felt like forever passed since she stepped into the mall, and now she could finally eat. There were three different types of pretzel between the three of them; one wrapped over pig, another with just salt, and the last with just cinnamon. All three were pretty delicious. The meal went by quietly, and quickly as the three just sat there eating their food.
At the end of it all when aunty Em went to throw all the trash away, and came she spoke up, “I suppose you can only start shopping after a good meal, and full belly.” she smiled.
Hettie didn't think that's a sentence she would usually hear the gorgon say, but maybe she was trying to be funny? Aunty Em held out one of her gloved hands in front of Hettie, obviously trying to get her to hold it again. Hettie wants to refuse the hand she could stand, and protect herself, but the mall is still too bright, and too loud; so maybe she could hold on a little longer.
They weave through the people, every once in a while Hettie would look up, and see Aunty Em, or Loulou walking around her, and then she'd go back to looking down. Eventually they turned into one of the stores. Somehow this store managed to be a little dimmer than the rest of the mall, but still hurt a bit. Hetties surrounding weren't too busy either, but with the store came a strong perfume that attacked her nose. Em led her to where there were lines of carts.
While aunty Em grabbed one she pulled Hetties hand to the wire side, “hold on to the side while steir ok? I promise I will still watch over you.” Her voice became a little less soft, but Hetttie just stared at the colourful racks behind them.
While aunty Em led her through the store, seemingly looking for something specific, Hettie took note of how manny mirrors there were. There are so many mirrors. Hettie tries to shift her attention to the clothes instead but her eyes keep catching her reflection. Every time she peers into a mirror she lags a little, finding she can't stop staring at an unnatural ‘girl’. Hetros just sees a monster whose body changes every time she sees a new reflection- horns curl so far in they start pointing straight at her head, she wonders if her own horns could kill her. Eyes whose pupils won't stop morphing into different creatures, sometimes their slits, other times boxy, rarely almost human.
Eventually aunty Em stops in a section, “do you know what you'd like?” she asks.
Hettie shakes her head.
“Ok I'll help you find somethings, but if you see anything just let me know ok?” Hettie thinks Em’s trying to get a verbal response, but she's not going to.
Hettie nods again. She tries to focus on the colourful fabrics but instead she just keeps finding mirrors, and reflections. Fangs grow sharp enough to flay her lips. Scales replace the freckles. She thinks she hear Aunt em comment on the fabric, and stitching of clothes as she throws the in the cart. Nails sharpening, and growing, they're starting to feel heavy. Hettie wonders will Loulou is. Her tail lashes to the point it bruises her own legs. She can't even recognize herself, all she knows is it hurts and she's watching the pain. Hettie thinks she hears the gorgon talking about colours.
Aunty Em eventually leads them away from whatever section they were in into a new one. One with stalls, and mirrors galore. Hetties terrified, she wonders how Tarutous could be worse than this, and for the first time ever she’s scared what will happen once she finally dies and goes there herself.
Aunty Em rolls up to a stall and transfers her bucket of clothing to a stall that holds another mirror. Hettie stares at the floor, trying very hard not to scratch where the scales are starting to itch.
“- I'll be right outside waiting for you, and if you need anything just call. Keep one pile for things you like, and another for things to put back” aunty Em says.
Hettie nods, even though she missed part of the sentence. She moves into the cramped room, just as the gorgon moves out before closing, and locking the door in place. She's quick to turn her back to the mirror, but that just resulted in her back shoulders starting to itch more than the scales on her face. She needs to calm down, and get control over her body, at least enough to get dull nails; she's supposed to wear clothes not tear them. With every breath her claws started shortening, but her shoulders and arm began to grow more itchy.
The first fabric she touches feels worse than hey; she immediately jerked it on the ground. Most of the clothes are like that; too itchy, and hairy she couldn't imagine wearing. The first shirt she even liked ended up being blue with swirly purple patterns, and soft to the touch, though once she put it on it tightened around her shoulders, restricting her in an uncomfortable hug. She starting to feel heat crawling around her. Her skin became even more itchy, and uncomfortable. She doesn't want to be here. She doesn't want to be here, she'd rather be somewhere else. She finds three shirts that do actually feel well; they're soft, and too big to be restricting. The three shirts are an eye sore that will not help blend in, but she thinks she's rather an ugly colour, than an awful feeling. When she moved to put them in a separate pile, she caught herself in the mirror. She could see her bare back itching with feather, and scales. Heat burned through her skin again with that reminder that her body is deformed and wrong, and hurting. After that she moves on to pants, shifting around the pile until she finds the same soft comforting feeling. And for a monet that burning anger she took out on her enemies is gone. When she tries the pants on their no stifling joints, just a comfy hug. Though after that it just went downhill.
There were no more comfy fabrics, just ones that she wanted to tear into like any other enemy. Everything became wrong and uncomfortable, and wrong, nothing fit like the previous good clothes. Every fabric felt wrong. She wants to scream. She wants to tear into flesh, but there is no flesh but her own deformed flesh. There are no enemies to tear into, no life that needs to be saved, just pain, and anger. The lights are too bright, and she still hears music, behind the chatter of strangers. She feels sharpness tugging at her shoulder cutting into her. She immediately runs only to see herself in her deformity. She could see the feathers, and scales scratching into her. She could see her curled horns threatening her head, and anything else they pointed to. She can see her own claws tearing into her flesh. She can see her tail, no longer a snake, but something more thin and spiky. She can look into her own eyes and see something unnatural. It's hard to focus on any details with the bright light that distracts her, but she can tell she is nothing but a monster. Heat doesn't leave her as it burns her skin, almost more than any of the scales or feathers that get carved from her skin. She wants the feathers, scales to leave her, but she gets control; she can get her breath even. She can't shift her body back, can't call back the features that don't belong to her, but she wants them gone; she just has to tear them out instead. It hurts, tearing out the scale and feathers, but at least its getting them away.
She thinks at one point the pain gets too much and she lets out something strangled, and loud, but she doesn't care. This whole place is loud, why can she join in the loudness. It feels good, even though she knows she's raging against nothing but herself, but her anger needs to go somewhere. Heat doesn't leave her face as tears fall down past her chin. She can feel blood dripping down her body, and her voice waver, and shake. Eventually her throat is too sore to scream, and her arm became too tired to tear any more. She hears noise all around her; always too loud, and now she is a part of the painful symphony. She doesn't think it's been long, a vague idea that she should have more endurance than this steps through her mind. But it hurts, her body is covered in blood, and she is very tired. She wants to stop so she does. She sits there in a corner catching her reflection in the mirror as she once again sees her reflection shift; she wants to start crying again but she's used up all her tears.
She watches her body morph back into something she doesn't even recognize anymore. Her red hair is still the same mess of curls as it's always been. there's still pink- drown specks on her skin; that sometimes turn into scales, but there's always splotches there. Her eyes are no longer bright, but dirty, and mossy; her pupils small, and round. She doesn't even have horns anymore, nor a tail. Her claws are gone, replaced with short pale stubs. She can see blood covering her; looking like she lost a fight to some other stupid monster, and not just herself. She thinks even her skin pales compared to what it used to be; getting more peach under tones than any other color. She didn't even realise her shape shifted her skin to have brown, or green, or even purple undertones at different times, until just now. She doesn't feel any more feathers either; and she wonders how she could look so different. She feels so open, and weak. She's too tired to do anything else so she closes her eyes.
She feels something press up against her, and see Loulou's body once she opens her eyes. She sees Panz, and Lev's head respectively rubbing against her chest, and shoulder. And behind the Chimera she can see Medusa, aunty Em, the one who gave her the name Hettie, and made her something more than just an oddity. Medusa the most powerful gorgon, and the one who has given her protection. She's so tired, and has two people protecting her, she can sleep now.
The next time she opens her eyes she can feel a window against her face, and see light on the other side. She knows she's seen these sights before- she knows she was just here, and she was excited, but now she's just tired. Instead of being something exciting it just lulls her even further, the darkness encaseses her, and the nightmares come.