#but this is my echo chamber god dammit I can ask whatever easily answerable questions I want

[nohr-selphias]

How do you guys write dragon age fanfic? Is it a longfic that follows and retells the events of the game(s)? One shots that add extra context to plot lines or relationships?

[7-wonders]

As Above, So Below Ch. 2

Summary: Your average, mundane life as a college student is flipped upside down when the man you thought you knew as your next-door neighbor turns out to be the God of the dead. When Michael lures you down to Hell, everything that you thought you knew about the world is proven wrong.

Word Count: 1920

A/N: The usual warnings for language. Not sure how I feel about this chapter. Did I try to fit too much in? Feedback would be greatly appreciated! 

Chapter 1 HERE | Chapter 2: Hope You Guess My Name | Chapter 3 HERE | Chapter 4 HERE | Chapter 5 HERE | Chapter 6 HERE | Chapter 7 HERE | Chapter 8 HERE | Chapter 9 HERE | Chapter 10 HERE | Chapter 11 HERE | Chapter 12 HERE |

You’re not sure how long you’ve been falling for; it feels both like seconds and hours, and it’s hard to tell with your eyes screwed shut. You only open your eyes when the wind stops whistling in your ears and you can feel ground under your feet. Michael’s smiling down at you, obviously enjoying your fear. It takes you a minute to process, but you shove Michael away from you when you collect your bearings.

“Where the hell are we?” You scan the room you’re standing in, a large hall with classical architecture. Michael’s lips twitch, filling you with anger at his amusement towards this situation.

“Exactly.” You throw your hands up in the air with a huff.

“That doesn’t make any sense! Michael, you need to take me home.” He looks confused at this.

“But...we are home now?” You can’t stop your hand from reeling back and punching Michael in the face. His head snaps to the side. His hand comes up to touch his reddening cheek before he slowly looks at you. “You’re much more feisty than I was told you would be.” Grabbing him by the collar of his stupid cloak, you yank him down to your level.

“You listen here. You’re going to take us to whatever hole you dragged me through, get me back to my house, and then I’m going to call the police and you’ll go to jail for kidna-” You don’t notice Michael bringing his hand to the back of your head. During your rant, he mutters a few words in an ancient language, knocking you out and sending you to the floor in a heap.

Michael grabs your limp body before it hits the floor, scooping you into his arms. “Achlys!” He calls. The minor goddess appears before his eyes, honey-colored hair swishing from the teleportation.

“Yes?”

“Take her to the chambers in the East wing, please. And alert me the second she wakes up.” Though Achlys looks small, she easily carries your body in her arms.

“Of course, Master.” She disappears through the large doors at the end of the hall. Michael groans and runs a hand over his face. Stalking over to the drink cart, he grabs a glass of absinthe already prepared for him.

“This was supposed to be easy.” He mutters. When a door slams, he flinches but doesn’t turn.

“Hey, dumbass!” A sharp voice yells, echoing against the walls. Michael rolls his eyes before turning around.

“Madison, listen-” A slap strikes him for the second time today. Michael rubs his jaw before glaring at the fuming woman. “I suggest you remember who you serve before you try that little trick again, Hecate.” The use of her old name sends the goddess of witchcraft cowering.

“I-I’m sorry, Lord Hades. Please forgive me.” Michael rubs the bridge of his nose, taking a moment before grabbing her hand.

“I’m sorry too. It’s just been a rough day.” Madison chuckles lightly, following Michael as he walks to his throne. The blonde man takes a seat on his obsidian throne, slinging his legs over the arm.

“Obviously. Did you really have to kidnap her? What happened to explaining it to her while you were Above?”

“I tried.” Michael hisses, downing the rest of his drink. A servant appears from thin air to refill Michael’s glass, grabbing one for Madison as well.

“What’s your version of trying?” She knows that his plans tend to go off the rails, and this seems to be the case.

“She likes paranormal things, so I thought that by showing her the Hellmouth, she would be more eager to go explore.” Michael explains as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. When Madison scoffs, he has reason to believe that this wasn’t the best idea.

“You would think being around for millenia would teach you to think before you act!” The confused look on his face is answer enough. “She’s a human, Michael. Most sane humans, no matter how much they enjoy the paranormal, tend to be a little freaked out when they come face-to-face with an actual portal to the Underworld.”

“I’m an idiot.” Madison doesn’t respond, but the look on her face is response enough. “What am I supposed to do now?”

“How about I see her when she wakes up, try and soften the blow a little bit? She might deal with the shock better if her kidnapper doesn’t show up.”

“I didn’t kidnap her! It’s all a part of the prophecy!” Michael explains.

“Again; your little mortal is human. Humans in today’s world don’t have any belief in prophecies.” The two immortals’ heads turn when the doors open and Achlys comes through.

“Lord Hades, she’s awoken.” Michael sits up in his throne before remembering his advisor’s suggestion.

“Thank you, Zoe. I’ll be there shortly.” Madison dismisses her friend (and sometimes lover).

“Make sure to be careful, she might punch you.” Michael jokingly warns.

“I’d be honored to be knocked out by the mortal who punched the Prince of Hell and got away with it.” Before disappearing, she winks. “Looks like you’ve finally met your match.”

You’ve been in and out of consciousness for the past twenty minutes, the shapes around you morphing into people at some points. When you fully wake up, your first thought is how warm your bed is. Your next thought is that this isn’t your bed at all. You sit up suddenly, ignoring the head rush, and glance around in an attempt to find out where you are.

“Mistress?” You jump once you notice the woman standing by the wardrobe.

“Who are you? Where am I?” You ask. She smiles, stepping forward and curtseying.

“I am Achlys, goddess of death mist. Most people today call me Zoe, though.” You stare at her with wide eyes before bursting into laughter. The woman-Zoe-looks concerned, and you really can’t blame her. “Mistress, are you alright?” You nod, wiping the tears that have formed out of the corners of your eyes.

“Oh my God, there was so much wrong with that sentence. I mean, I have to give Michael props for coming up with such an...immersive kidnapping experience, but seriously? A goddess? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Zoe.” You both look to the bedroom door, where a tall blonde in stilettos stands. “I’ve got it from here. Thank you.” Zoe nods, curtseying at you again before brushing hands with the woman. When the door shuts, you stand up.

“Who are you?” She smirks.

“I’m Madison. We’ve heard so much about you, (Y/N).”

“So you’re in on this-this whole kidnapping scheme?” Madison chuckles, and you have to hold yourself back from punching her like you punched Michael. It’s a split-second decision, but you shove her to the side and run up to the door. You yank on it harshly, but it won’t budge.

“Why don’t you sit down? We have a lot to talk about.” You don’t want to sit down, in fact that’s the exact opposite of what you want to do, but your legs have a mind of their own as they lead you to the bed.

“H-how did you do that?” Madison sits next to you, reaching for your hands.

“Dammit, of course he can’t do things the easy way.” She mutters. “So, my real name isn’t Madison. My given name, the one I am typically known as, is Hecate.”

You haven’t studied Greek mythology since elementary school, when everyone was obsessed with learning about the different gods and goddesses of a time long-gone. Even though it’s been years since you thought about the subject, you still remember a lot of the names, including this one.

“Like...the Greek goddess?” You ask slowly. Madison nods, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “You’re fucking with me. That’s not real, there’s no way.”

“You’ve seen what I can do. You’ve seen what Michael can do too, is that right?” You shake your head.

“No? Michael’s not-” The memory of you attacking him pops into your head. “Did he make me lose consciousness?”

“Yes. Do you know who he really is?”

“He’s not Michael?” You ask quietly.

“He’s still the Michael that you know, (Y/N). But he, like me, has a different name. Michael is the one that mortals call Hades.” You look at Madison/Hecate with a blank look on your face. You want to call her bullshit, say that this is some elaborate ruse and bust out of the labyrinth that you’re trapped in, but you can’t. You saw the cave you were dragged into, felt the magic coming from multiple beings in this place. You’d be more crazy to not believe the woman at this point.

“Holy shit.” You groan. “Are we in Hell right now?” Madison laughs.

“We prefer ‘Underworld’ but technically, yes.” You fall back against the mattress, trying to digest all of this new information.

“So did I get here through a portal? Why did that Zoe girl keep curtseying at me? Why did Michael drag me here? Can I go back home?” The questions start to flow out of your mouth rapidly before you can stop them.

“Sorry, these are questions for Michael, speaking of which,” She stands, pulling you into a sitting position. “get dressed. Michael’s expecting you for dinner.” Madison opens the wardrobe in your room, already going through the clothes hung up there, but you remain on the bed. Who is this man (this god, technically) to kidnap you, answer questions through a third party, and demand that you join him for dinner? He may have got you down to the Underworld, but there was no way you’d make this easy for him.

“No.” Madison turns towards you, two outfits in her hands.

“What?”

“No. I’m not going to dinner with him. I don’t care who, or what, he is. I’d much rather stay in here.” Madison looks stunned, and you’re assuming that nobody’s ever said ‘no’ to the God of the Dead. Without another word, she turns on her heel and leaves the room, clothes scattered on the floor. You scramble off the bed, locking the door quickly behind her.

It’s a matter of minutes before there’s knocking on the door. You know now that Michael could easily unlock the door with his powers, but at least he’s some semblance of a gentleman.

“(Y/N)? What’s this I hear about not wanting to join me for dinner?” You lean your head up against the door, and you can hear the chattering of multiple others outside.

“No. I won’t join you for dinner.” You try as hard as possible to sound strong, but your voice still comes out as a squeak.

“You don’t have a choice in this matter, my dear. Either you eat with me, or you don’t eat at all.” His voice is dangerously low, and your breath hitches in your throat.

“Th-then I guess I won’t eat at all.” You press your back against the door when Michael bangs on it.

“Then starve! See if I care!”

“Oh, fuck you!” You’re proud of yourself for how steady your voice stays. After a few more angry bangs, he finally leaves. Sitting back on the bed, you allow yourself to cry for the first time since this ordeal began. From now on, you decide, you won’t let this captivity take hold over you. Even though you’re a prisoner in literal Hell, you’re going to do anything to gain what little control you possibly can.