#hades supportive shade

[purgatorrie]

It's them!!!

[musicalhell]

What's this? Diva's posted a fic and it's NOT PotO-related?

So yeah, due to excessive amounts of time playing the Hades 2 early release I came up with this little abstract short featuring a favorite side character from the original game who recently turned up in the sequel. It may/may not be first in a series, we'll see. But let me know what you think!

[written-with-blue-ink]

Patrochillies headcanons? Literally any in general, I love these two depressed gay men so much.

Hey! Here are a few headcanons! I love these two gay men so much <3

Patrochilles Headcanons, Hades 1&2

Odysseus is the one who sets these two knuckleheads together. He saw brooding Achillies fawning over Patroclus who wasn’t picking it up at all and set them up.

He picked some yarrow flowers and left a note for Pat to meet his secret admirer at the edge of camp, and left Achilles there for him to confess with a bouquet of the yellowish petals. 

Patroclus started writing poetry because Achilles had terrible nightmares when they were growing up and in the Trojan War and didn’t wanna sleep. Pat’s poems and running fingers through his golden locks were the only things that put Achillies to sleep. 

After Pat died, Achilles kept a scroll/book of all of Pat’s poems and would read it every night instead of sleeping. 

Achilles is really good with braids and other hairstyles. His mother taught him growing up how to take spectacular care of his hair (at least in Ancient Greece where Shampoo was a new invention).

All this led Achilles to do Pat’s hair in large communal baths, braiding it and helping it heal after years of neglect (because Pat seems like the type who doesn’t care about his hair and it fell into tremendous disarray after he died).

The first thing Achillies does when they reunite (after hugging and kissing and crying) is sit Pat down and comb his hair out, dipping the comb into the river Lythe to help wrangle the curls and knots

Achilles, as a child of a sea goddess and related to the sea nymphs, has a heavenly singing voice. Patroclus called it “his siren song” whenever he sang. 

Pat always talked about growing old together so when both of them died, they accidentally chose similar ages (around 50's) because they died around 25ish max.

Achilles has always been extremely protective and cautious around new items, especially if they would hurt Patroculus who was naturally really curious and danger-prone as a child.

After the events of the first game, the two pseudo-adopt Iphigenia (which I headcanon is the Supportive Red Shade).

She chose to look younger (well, younger than she was when she died) by a few years, around 11-14.

They ran into her when they went to watch a match between Zagreus and Theseus, tagging along in her loud and vibrant cheers before they ever realized who she was.

Things were awkward between her and Achilles on part of the whole “thinking they were engaged before the truth came to light that she was there to be sacrificed” thing.

They train her in combat and she tags along with Achilles sometimes to meet Zagreus (who immediately recognizes her and absolutely adores her).

Achilles loves seeing them get along, his pseudo-adopted kids and Pat make his world whole. 

They have monthly nights where they kick Agamemnon’s ass (Achilles' enemy during the Trojan War and Iphigenia’s abusive father for those who don’t know).

[everywishway]

Random Hades Game Headcanons

Zagreus gives the best hugs. He's tall, naturally really warm, and the right amount of muscle where he's soft but also strong. Plus he's just so comforting to be around <3

Cerberus has a little black spot on his tummy (i say little it's about the size of a hand print) and that's how he got his name (which means spotted)

Thanatos is trans and has top surgery scars under his cloak

Persephone actually used to party with Dionysus when she was younger and lived on Olympus (partially to numb the pain and to rebel against her mother)

Demeter (when she finds out about Zagreus being her Grandson and later Melinoe) spoils them rotten. Pinching cheeks and giving cash and cookies. The embodiment of a shitty mother but an awesome grandmother

Hypnos is actually really close with his sister Nemesis, she affectionately gives him noogies when nobody is looking (has to keep up her badass image)

Zagreus is a lightweight and can barely handle a glass or two of nectar and you'll typically get either that you'll get Flirty/Party animal Zag or Completely zoned out and rambling incoherently Zag. On rare days tho you get Traumadumping and Sobbing Zag.

Hermes has betting polls running at Olympian parties Zag will be at to see which one until Thanatos catches on and glares at Hermes to stop while he carries his boyfriend home

Every time he sees Zagreus and Persephone (and later on Melinoe) happy together, Hades can't help but feel guilty about how terribly he treated (and fucked up) his only son (as he should)

Odysseus gave up Elysium to stay with Penelope in Asphodel

All the rest of these are about the Red Shade who cheers on Zagreus in Elysium (i love them so much)

The "Supportive Shade" (as the wiki called them) is Iphigenia (the girl who was sacrificed to start the Trojan War) and she's just a bisexual teenage girl with issues who loves gladiatorial warfare (totally not because it's a healthy way to let out her issues).

She also comes down to Tartarus once a week to beat the shit outta her father because fuck Agamemnon

She also befriends and starts dating Cassandra bc I said so.

Ends up being adopted by Achilles and Patroclus (which is a little awkward at first since she almost married Achilles) but they bond over their hatred of Agamemnon

He ends up teaching her how to fight and she occasionally tries to spar with Zagreus

[uy8hg-art]

Do it for MY GOOD SHADE

[wylldebee]

Real Talk

What if the next update includes a mysterious mini-boss and you fight it and it uses Zagreus' moves and his weapons, and we're thinking this is a corrupted Zagreus— —only for us to beat it and it turns out it was a corrupted version of Supportive Shade, Zagreus' number one fan 👀?

[superkooku]

A missed potential in Hades (the game)

Ok, listen. I'm a fan of Supergiant Game's Hades (haven't played Hades II yet. Because my PC is a potato and I hope the full version will be in PS4). Yes there are bothersome inaccuracies, but...

The characters are fun, the game is surprisingly not repetitive yet consistent, the mechanics are cool, Hades and Persephone are actually compelling (a miracle in mythology retellings). And Hypnos is a fun lil goober.

But I feel like there was one huge missed potential. No, I'm not complaining about Dionysus for the 100th time or OdyPen being tossed in the trash in Hades II (gosh I hope it's a fake out and they're still together 🙏🙏🙏).

I'm talking about this guy :

This is Asterius, better known as the Minotaur. Yes it's the third time I talk about him today, but I just had an idea for him that I want to share.

I actually like what Hades did with him ! Again, I have more positive thoughts about this game than negative.

I'd even go as far as to say this is the best version of Asterius I've seen, imo.

He's an actual character, capable of speech. He's not always seen as Theseus' sidekick, even having his own moments with Zagreus. He's the more intelligent one, he's more human than Theseus and I love that about him. Like Achilles, but to a much higher degree, he mellowed down in the afterlife and lost his murderous rage.

The ironic friendship with his murderer is also very cool.

But we could've done so much more with this wonderful concept. Hades is essentially a game about mending broken relationships: Persephone and her family, Orpheus and Eurydice, Achilles and Patroclus, Thanatos and Hypnos... but Theseus and Asterius never really contributed to the main plot. They're just kinda there, doing their own thing.

I think adding ONE element would change everything, an important part of the Underworld (so Zagreus can interact with it) and something interesting for both Theseus and Asterius : the three judges. More specifically Minos.

A plotline where Minos and Asterius' abusive relationship will be discussed and Theseus actually being a good person for once and standing up for his friend.

Maybe with Minos apologizing and seeing that Asterius isn't a monster. And Zagreus being the catalyst for fixing the relationship, because in all those encounters, he learned to know who Asterius is.

Bonus point if Ariadne and/or Phaedra are mentioned. I see the latter appearing. Heck, maybe the former in a "Dionysus wants to resurrect her" storyline.

But this post is about Asterius and Minos. Between the underworld themes, the broken family of Crete, Asterius' humanity, Theseus humbling himself, it'd have been integrated so seamlessly !!

Just by adding a room for the three judges, with whom Zag regularly interacts, or fights as bosses, or just NPCs like Charon/Chaos with unique gimmicks.

Maybe fun interactions with Radamanthus and Aeacus too, though I have less ideas for them.

Please tell me there's a fanfic out there exploring that ! Or that Hades II will somehow do it 🙏.

[glorioustheseus]

Consider:

Supportive Shade being Aegeus.

It's hilarious to me. Showing up to a massive show that has your son that you knew for a month who accidentally caused your death because he forgot to change the sails like an idiot, only to root for that guy he hates a lot. It would destroy Theseus emotionally and mentally

[pagerunner-j]

Look who's here!

my heart is full

[maplenvibes]

spoilers for hades 2

supergianat games?

WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?

[sazzerzer]

I made some supportive shades from Hades, the game ✨️

I super rarely make fanart of any kind but. It happens every now and then when the stars are in right places and moon is up.

[yarnnerdally]

SO. I HAVENT BEEN AROUND IN A HOT MINUTE. Because Life™️ but also CON CRUnCH IS REALLLLL.

Headed to MAGFest tomorrow and I'm super excited that I'll be cosplaying the Supportive Shade from Hades.

Now. This lil guy has a cute banner and a cute hat and he just cheers on Zagreus when no one else does! I'll update with a full outfit this weekend but here's some of the accessories I made ;)

[xeniums]

YES THE SUPPORTIVE SHADE

SUPPORTIVE SHADE MY BELOVED

[littlerequiem]

Hello!! I hope you are having a wonderful day/night! I was just wondering if you have any good Levi fanfic recommendations? Preferably x reader and canon-compliant? Ik this is so random lol I just feel like you would have good recommendations!! And in general even if they aren’t x reader or canon-compliant. Your writing is so good and I just know you would have good taste🥰

Hi, of course, happy to share recs :D Excuse the length of this, but I somehow ended up giving you my 5+ years worth of i-am-once-again-hopelessly-addicted-to-Levi AO3 bookmarks, heh. I tried to categorize them best I can.

These beautiful stories are mostly x Reader, a few x OC. Please heed the tags & if you can, let the authors know that you appreciate their writing (:

LEVI x READER RECS

CANON* LONG-FICS (*some are pre-canon or post-canon)

Dust, Diamond by maotkitty

Death's Door by SongsOfApollo

Veins of the Citadel by cinnamads

Felines and Canidae by veratrance / @veratrance

Through Peril and Refuge by post_academic

To You, 2,000 Feet Above by PrettyxVenom99 / @prettyxvenom99

His Wounded Heart Beats For One by UrbanDeity / @urbandeity

North Star by sixpennydame / @sixpennydame

Silver Soul by oi_levi / @bibblelevi

First Time Anthology by Levmada / @rivangel

Freedom & Death by killerpillar / @killerpillar

silver underground by tothestrongones / @amywritesthings

One Brushstroke At A Time by missEmpress

AU LONG-FICS

Paychecks with a Side of Intimacy (sugar daddy AU) by Milmie / @leyyvi

A Soul Beyond Salvation (western AU) by ananimegirlhasnoname / @ananimegirlhasnoname

Lessons in Patience (college AU) by almondblossoms1000 / @capricornlevi

As the Sparks Die (zombie AU) by wellitcouldbeworse3

Project Arcane (urban fantasy AU) by missEmpress

The Romance of Reimbursements (modern AU) by taomyou / @taomyou

To Sing a Song of Steel (fantasy AU) by CaptainDegenerate

House of Cards (royalty AU) by darlingheichou / @h0neylevi

Percolate (coffee shop AU) by heichoe / @heich0e

Kintsugi (figure skating AU) by @humanitys-strongest-brat

BOUND BY DUTY (royalty AU) by mrsackxrman / @atruewarrior

dark side of the moon (sci-fi/yakuza AU) by sixpennydame / @sixpennydame

To You, 1000 Years From Now (isekai) by darlingheichou / @h0neylevi

Unspoken Words (modern AU) by chaos_on_main / @chaotic-on-main

ONE-SHOTS/TWO-SHOTS (AU and canon)

Melt by chimeragarden / @chimera-garden

Mise En Place by gothgril69 / @gothgril69

[watch me fall apart, watch me fall apart] by djmarinizela

the mortal price of crossing twice by heichoe / @heich0e

we're all alone, ride it by alleviate / @alleviate-ao3

Kiss It Better by oi_levi / @bibblelevi

It's a Wrap! by jayteacups / @jayteacups

Thundershower by Levmada / @rivangel

SHADES OF GRAY by mrsackxrman / @atruewarrior

One Step from Hades by silesy

waking reverie by captain-hawks

All Too Familiar by jayteacups / @jayteacups

Your Safe Space by humanitysstrongestbamf / @humanitys-strongest-bamf

Desperation by veratrance / @veratrance

Under the Mistletoe by youre_ackermine / @youre-ackermine

Welcome Home by FlameTrashira / @flametrashira

Tea and Therapy by misspearlmd

For the Living by BreakingGround / @thechaoticarchivist

Last category is a Levi x Erwin x F!Reader story that I always recommend bc it altered my brain chemistry.

this is a story of the sea by shinzouing / @shinzouing

I didn't go into specifics or share fics from Tumblr bc this post would never end but, if you want, check out my rec tag and go give the fics on here all the love they deserve <3

( also, adding to that: the stories mentioned in this post are simply what I've personally read, it is by no means meant to exclude other fics/writers. Truth is, I have not read everything out there as I am just one person, so if anyone has any recs to add, feel free to add and continue to show support for different creators! )

Happy reading!! Divider by @/enchanthings.

[cosmosrebellion]

I know we talk a lot about how hot the gods of Hades is, but shout out to our supporting heroic shades of myth. The grip these hot hot men have on my brain is crushing.

I am legit thinking about reading The Odyssey and The Iliad because of how much I love these characters now.

[xjulixred45x]

Yandere Poly ThanZagMeg

I'm TIRED of the lack of content of these three togheter, SO i'm fixing that myself!

Genre: Headcanons

Reader: neutral

Warnings: yandere behaviors, slight stalking tendencies, isolation, overprotection, some persecution, hyper-agretion, threats of violence(not towards Reader), unhealty mindset, the three of them are yandere, so the triple the trouble. Some Fluff.

• UFFF…YOU’RE FUCKED

• Okay, it’s not quite like that, but honestly, reader should prepare for a WILD ride if these three together are their Yandere. But let’s start at the beginning.

• I imagine that for these three to be interested in someone romantically, it would have to be someone that ALL THREE see on a daily basis, precisely so that a connection can be generated.

• Let’s say that reader is a shade. A mortal who lived beyond the underworld, but their life ended abruptly. Now they try to enjoy the afterlife.

• Reader’s family was probably Hades worshipers, so when they died, they received pseudo-special treatment, giving them a job to do in Hades’ house.

• Probably the first one to meet reader, for obvious reasons, is Thanatos, not only because he is the one who harvests their soul, but because, as reader, them is given multiple jobs, sometimes Than has to supervise. which, while initially a pain, is a nice break from constantly going after humans.

• We all know Than is a top-notch workaholic, so he gives Reader pretty harsh corrections when he sees them doing a poor job, or scolds them if he sees them taking breaks outside of the hour.

• Reader's other Shades for having to put up with Thanatos's grumpy attitude, it's a shame to have to deal with that even in death.

• Even Than ends up overhearing Reader talking to other Shades who say the same thing, that they should ask for another position, that Thanatos clearly terrifies them, etc.

• And honestly, Than didn't think Reader was scared of him, yes, he can be intimidating, but come on, they're already in the underworld. What could be worse than that? (the man tries to pretend he's not offended).

• What's truly surprising, though, is that Reader defends Thanatos, saying that he has a good work ethic, that while he's strict he does so with good intentions, and that while he can be a bit harsh, he's a good man-god? Whatever.

• From here on, at least, Thanatos starts to treat Reader less roughly. Which leads to them meeting a certain person.

• Zagreus!

• Zag probably met Reader in passing when they were talking to Thanatos, and when he goes to greet him, Than introduces them as a new worker at the Hades house.

• We already know that Zagreus enjoys keeping a good relationship with everyone in the house (except his father), plus he's very happy that Thanatos finally has something of a friend!

• When Thanatos eventually gets back to his routine, that's when Zagreus becomes more predominant in Reader's life, wanting to befriend this new person of interest to Than.

• Zagreus is much more talkative than Thanatos, more sociable, so it is not difficult for him to approach them, even if the reader may be somewhat unaccustomed after spending so much time with Than (who barely spoke).

• Zagreus wants to know as much about Reader as possible (as long as that's okay obviously), what things are like for mortals, their customs, their tastes, things like that.

• Zagreus tells Reader all about his outings, when he goes to see his mother, the mythological figures he's met and faced, etc. He likes to see the expressions of amazement and wonder Reader has when she listens to him narrate.

• He tells Reader when he starts to develop feelings for Meg (a girl who used to be his ex-girlfriend, but they seem to be patching things up) and Than, and in general Reader is nothing but supportive, happy for all of them.

• (they even gets to learn some stories about young Than and Zag)

• It's easier to befriend Zagreus than Than. Although now that Reader has both of them as friends, things start to get a little stifling.

• Now, every time Zagreus comes back from one of his runs, he goes straight to Reader. Which wouldn't be a bad thing, if it didn't take up all of Reader's time, to the point where sometimes they neglects their daily tasks and ends up getting scolded by Nyx.

• And yes, it's not so bad to do that a couple of times, but it's almost all the time.

• And it's worse when Thanatos joins in. Out of nowhere his work ethic goes out the window and he tells Reader that “they deserve a break” and that “Nyx will understand if they takes a day off” (HE KNOWS WELL THAT SHE DOESN'T)

• Reader has tried to talk to both of them about it, but that only results in them not talking to him for a day or two, and going back to the same thing. It's a cycle.

• This got to the point where Reader tried to hide from Zagreus when he came back from his escapades, so that they wouldn't be dragged out of work. Sometimes it worked, and other times... it didn't.

• On one occasion, Reader decided to take advantage of their break to go get something to drink at the cantina in Hades' house, they needed it.

• And when they sat down, a woman approached them to make small talk. They had seen her talk to Dusa a couple of times, so they didn't care much. They really needed to vent.

• They both talked for a while, Reader telling her about this recent “mishap” with their friends, about how they felt about it, that, although they loved--LIKE them and appreciated their friendship, They didn't want to lose this position in the house, etc.

• The woman seemed to understand the situation, but in a different way than Reader did... out of nowhere they felt in danger.

• When Reader properly introduced themself (realizing that they didn't know her name), they felt their blood run cold when the woman said simply, and with a mischievous smile.

• “Megaera, but those idiots call me Meg”

• Blood and darkness.

• Reader excused themself and tried to go back to work normally, hell, they even went to an area of the house they wasn't even allowed to clean (the files) just because they knew it was the only safe place for those three.

• And yet, thet felt like they were drilling holes into the back of their neck, watching them tremble in fear…

• Reader accidentally ended up falling asleep in the Archives. They was lucky that a Shade woke them up before Lord Hades arrived (and even luckier that Zagreus wasn’t a morning person).

• However, that was as far as their luck went. The next few weeks were based on Zagreus, Thanatos, and Meg cornering them to “spend time together,” and now that they had one of the Furies with them, Reader didn’t even dare show displeasure, too scared of what would happen if they refused.

• Now, to be honest, if it weren’t for the fact that they were practically forcing Reader into these dates, they would be genuinely enjoyable interactions. Things like seeing Zagreus fight Theseus in the Colosseum, or fighting Meg, the Matches with Thanatos, the different parts of the underworld besides Tartarus…

• Zagreus was sweet, trying to make them feel comfortable and happy (as much as he could at least), bringing them nice things he found on his escapes (some weren't even bought, they were things he found that reminded him of them) and he was the most openly affectionate. In any other circumstance, they would feel safe with him.

• Thanatos was more about actions than words, giving simple gifts that said a lot, stepping in when Zag and Meg were going overboard, being the most aware and considerate of all. Even if it was a little scary knowing he was involved in all this.

• Meg was hard to read at first, she seemed so rough and strong that reader was initially convinced that she had probably only joined this mess for Zag and Than, hoping to find, perhaps, an ally in her.

• What they didn't take into account was that Meg had her own kind of fascination for them, a more passionate, more primitive, more violent one. It was like a predator's interest in its prey, always looking at it with curious and intense eyes.

• This goes on for several days, with a strange forced relationship with the three, with reader praying that they'll get tired of them soon so that they can go on with the rest of their afterlife in peace.

• They had taken the job so they wouldn't go crazy with nothing to do in the afterlife, but this is the closest thing to it.

• Still, reader tried to carry on as best they could, until Nyx asked them one day, out of the blue, to clean Zagreus' room.

• Oh no.

• They knew, they knew that if they entered that room they would devour them alive, they would force them to choose that life.

• Reader tried to negotiate with Nyx in vain, telling them that either they did what she told them, or they could leave Hades' house.

• And Reader only did what their body had been begging them for months.

• they ran straight to the exit of the house, even bumping into some Shades on their way, it doesn't matter, they had to get out of there.

• They didn't even notice that Nyx was shouting something when they went through the door.

• Not to them, but to Zagreus, Thanatos and Megaera.

• The chase was short, after all, Zagreus knew the whole underworld like the back of his hand, it didn't take him two minutes to have Reader over his shoulder, and later. In his room.

• It was something simple, they would accept the three of them, they wouldn't have to work again, they wouldn't lose his position in the house of Hades, they would have every need met, but most importantly, they would only have eyes for them.

• Or else…

• If we go to the “relationship” itself, it's fucking chaotic.

• Dealing with the three of them separately is already a mess, but together? Good luck having time alone now.

• Zag, Than and Meg sleep with Reader in the middle (Than and Meg on the sides, Zag hugging them), it's lovingly suffocating, and there's no way to get out without one of them noticing and following Reader like a hawk (they sometimes think they're stealthy and don't realize they're being followed. How cute).

• As compensation for losing their jobs, the three of them try to give Reader hobbies and activities to do in his free time, Than usually brings books, Meg takes them out for walks with Dusa and they talk about the latest gossip, Zag remodels their bedrooms a bit so they have space to do things like painting, writing, whatever they want!

• There are days when Reader can leave the bedrooms, there are other days when they can’t, and they has to stay there until one of their “lovers” comes (meanwhile, sometimes Skelly chats them up and tries to cheer them up – this is better than being in Tartarus! right?)

• Among them they also want to improve the relationship that Reader has with each one, as I said, Zagreus likes to tell about the times when Thanatos has helped him get out of the underworld, his misadventures when they were young, etc. She also likes to brag about Meg, how despite everything that happened with her sisters she is still a woman of unbreakable character, how strong she is, etc.

• Meg is brutally honest, she tells the reader that Zagreus can sometimes seem a bit arrogant, but that he definitely loves them with all his heart, and that he only has to ask him and he will do everything to make them happy. Than is a grumpy god, yes, but he is loyal, loyal to his family, loyal to his principles, and now loyal to them, and that you should not doubt that he will do everything possible to keep them safe.

• Than, as we know, is more about actions than words, but he tries to improve that to benefit his partners. He tells the reader how the relationship between the three began, how things were with Zagreus before they arrived, and how they improved afterwards. Let them improve their lives as you improved ours, he says.

• It's a conflicting situation for the reader, on the one hand, they doesn't hate any of them, in fact, in many ways, they likes them, but at the same time they's so terrified of the consequences of upsetting two gods and an Eriny, that sometimes that affection is overshadowed by paranoia.

• Than, Zag and Meg know they make a strong impression, they know they shouldn't have done what they did, but worry (and jealousy) was eating them alive, it's better this way, so they can take better care of them.

• At least they try to appease their new lover's paranoia, going on more everyday and simple dates, giving them reassuring talks, assuring them that they not only see them as an equal, but that they won't do anything to them if they wants to give constructive criticism to improve their relationship (and therefore, make them happier in the their new life!), etc.

• They are overprotective, but they are aware of what they do.

• Because of this, they are also good at showing their friendlier side to the reader, and leaving their bloodthirsty side for all the people who kept them away from them for so long. Maybe breaking a couple of legs, a few cuts with the whip or the sword, letting them die by bleeding or by the scythe, whichever comes first.

• At least they have the decency to keep that side hidden from their lover's sight, they can't let them see that now, not when they is finally accepting them back.

• A charming, terrifying and intoxicating Polyamory.

Shares, reblogs and comments are very welcome!