<a class="username" data-user-id="8" data-username="@Alchemy" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/8/">@Alchemy</a><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="2124" data-username="@Darious" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/2124/">@Darious</a><br/><br/>There are times when life seems like pure self-directed creation, and other times when destiny’s current is so strong that even the most ardent nonbeliever cannot help but be swept away by her invisible tides, redefining their world view if only for that moment. Today was one of those days.<br/><br/>“Hades!”, shouted Mrs Baker with a shrill voice that sent shivers down the side of his neck and produced an itching feeling in his inner ear. “The flowers! They have not arrived and our guests will be here in an hour. I don’t have time for this!”, she shrieked running through the entrance hall. “You did order them right?”, she said accusingly as she burst into his office stopping just short of his dark stained myrtle wood desk, her mouth pierced shut with eyes wide and wild looking. “First of all Mrs. Baker, how many times have I told you to knock before you enter? Second of all, wipe that bloody look off your face you are going to scare the guests. You look as if you are going to have a coronary, I don't want to be burying you today as well, though.... bahh, and for the love of all that is godly quit screaming.”, Hades replied with an air of annoyance. “Of course I ordered the flowers. I talked to that woman at the flower shop just yesterday to confirm. I will call her again. Please, in the mean time, calm down and get the rest of the place ready.”. Mrs. Baker had been working for Hades for just over five years now. She was a mild mannered, if excitable woman in her early sixties with white hair, a stocky figure, and the work ethic of a solder. He could count on her to get things done which was the only reason he kept her around, despite the fact that her voice, especially when she got flustered, was like fingernails on a chalk board in his ears. She lowered her head with a meek smile, turned around and walked forcefully back into the entrance hall, “You do have a way with people don’t you Hades, let me tell you this, if you where my son you would have a shoe up side your head right at this moment.”, she clucked bringing a smile to Hades face. “Along you go Mrs. Baker”.<br/><br/>Hades was a gruff man, stern and unpleasant, and while most under his employ at the Five Rivers Funeral Home found him hard to work for, he commanded their respect through his honesty and fairness. It didn’t hurt that he was also rather pleasant to look at. His dark brown curly hair fell neatly onto his broad shoulders which amplified his six foot plus frame, on top of which sat a rugged square jawed face adorned with a trimmed five o’clock shadow. His eyes were a deep brown, almost black, and hypnotic. He wore a dark brown suit, a creature of habit of course, with dark tanned leather shoes and a blue tie slightly loosened around his rather substantial neck. Despite his handsome, imposing, outward appearance, Hades hardly noticed the effect he had on others, he was far too engrossed with the funeral home and rarely would permit himself even one day off. In fact besides his three female Doberman Pinschers, Cear, Bear and Uss, he had no friends and absolutely no social life outside the home.<br/><br/>He watched Mrs. Baker leave his office before getting up off of his chair and closing the door behind her. It was a busy day that day, the patriarch of a rather wealthy well known family in town had recently deceased and they had chosen Five Rivers to hold the ceremony. Two hundred guests were expected, which meant a full chapel and reception hall, and all the extra work that went along with it. It happened to be an open casket funeral, which Hades particularly enjoyed even though he rarely prepared the bodies any more. There was just something about death, and putting it on display that appealed to him. Returning to his seat, he picked his phone up off his desk, entered his three identical digit pass code, said “Flowers”, and leaned back in his chair, touched the hands free icon, and let it slip back on to his desk, with his hands behind his head. It rang several times before he heard a familiar voice speak. He didn’t even take the time to listen to what was said or engage in pleasantries before he began speaking. “I have an order for over two thousand dollars that was supposed to be here an hour ago. I have guests arriving in 45 minutes and from what I am told there is not a single god damn flower to be seen. Did your delivery boy get lost, what is his name again, Herb? Harry? Harris? .... oh hell, just get bloody things here. There are other flower shops in town you know. And by the way, lets make that fifteen hundred dollars for my trouble. Got it?”.