::Music was something generally unheard of down in the Underworld, but yet it echoed clearly throughout the vast empty caverns. Hermes was literally lost in this musical world he was creating and was completely oblivious to everything, even his own thoughts. Skillfully he played a sad Celtic tune he once heard long ago and it would no doubt show anyone within earshot his true emotions, but in this lonely realm there was no-one about and if there was chances are they wouldn't care how he was feeling anyway.

However, there was someone, or something, that was quite interested in the music, but Hermes was too wrapped up in his playing to notice. Three pairs of glowing red eyes crept ever closer to where the little blue God sat playing his somber tunes. Hermes had no idea as to what was approaching behind him, but he did feel a sudden warmth flood the area in which he sat. Pausing from his playing, the blue messenger took the violin and bow down from his chin and slowly turned around and came face to face with a huge black snout.

A wide grin spread across his face. "Cerby! Hey, man, good to see you!" Hermes cried, setting the instrument on the rock and flying up a few feet to let the Underworld's three headed dog guardian see him. Cerberus ceased his growls and replaced them with soft grumblings that Hermes appeared to understand.

He patted the dog's middle head's nose and shrugged. "Dunno, man, like, something nutty happened with a plan Hades had in the past that I went along with."

The dog snorted and made a sound that sounded like something close to laughter. Hermes smirked, "Yeah, yeah, I know I shouldn't deal with that dude, but I was just caught up in the moment, and trust me, when I get home I won't let something like that ever happen again." Hermes knew he had some explaining to do to his long time friend and figured it best to start from the begining...again.

The huge canine was confused about all of this, but the story did fascinate him and he encouraged Hermes to to continue even though the messenger seemed hesitant at times. Finally, a worn out messenger landed back on the rock below and rubbed the back of his neck. His depression swiftly returning as he relived his tragedy over again in the telling of the tale.

Cerberus sensed his sorrow and the left side's head bowed down and nuzzled Hermes gently. The dog let out a soft whine and Hermes grimly nodded, "Like, I hope you are right, man. Cronos is the only being that can get me home and I just hope that Zeus can find him soon. Too bad you can't help me out in tracking him. Heck, with three noses how can you miss?" Hermes chuckled weakly and stared down at the violin in his lap then glanced up at the huge dog.

He and Cerberus knew each other for centuries and like all animals, the black three headed dog took a shine to the little messenger. Although Hermes didn't see much of the creature, they still remained friends when they did meet up on those rare occasions. Cerberus whined again and Hermes smiled back up at him. "Ok, like, I'll play more music for you. I can imagine how dulls-ville it gets down here without any music or stuff to listen to."

Hermes put the violin back under his chin and began to play something not as somber as before, but still just as moody. The huge dog sat back on his haunches and listened intently to the music. Soon, the tunes began to affect the animal and he began to whimper slightly. Hermes glanced up at Cerberus, but continued to play without a falter. Suddenly, Cerberus tipped his three heads backwards and with each head taking a turn, he began to howl. The sound literally sent chills down Hermes' spine and made him cringe and stop playing his violin and look up at the creature behind him.

Hermes flew up and hovered at eye level with the dog and reached out to pat him. "Awww, like, don't do that, man. You're gonna make me more blue then I already am, no pun intended." He then flew up higher and landed on the dog's middle head and patted him gently. "It's ok, I'll play something more pleasant and something to maybe put us in a better mood, dig?" The dog's right head nodded and Hermes smiled and put the violin back under his chin again and once more began to play, but more lively, though slightly held back, this time.

With the uplifting song underway, both friends began to settle down and feel better emotions going through them then the weepy sensations from before. However, Hermes didn't get too far in his playing for he felt the huge dog under him begin to tense and all six of his ears pricked straight forward. Someone, was coming, but who? No doubt it had to be Hades for who else would be down here?

Hermes stopped playing and waited for the intruder to show himself. If it was indeed Hades complaining about the music, the blue messenger planned on arguing the matter for he was given this intstrument and he intended on using it to while away the time. A silhouette appeared near by, but Hermes couldn't quite make out who it was for the shape was way too short and thin to be Hades, not to mention no flaming hair.

He then blinked in surprise behind his glasses as the figure got closer revealing it was a woman who was interrupting his little music session with Cerberus. Hermes quickly leaped from the dog's head and flew to the rock in which he set his Caduceus upon and traded the violin and bow in his hands for his golden staff. Hovering near the rock, he waited for the being to call to him. He wasn't about to make the first move this time.

"Hermes?" the very feminine voice said as she approached closer, recognizing him. "What in Hades' name are you doing down here much less playing that music of yours causing all that racket? You got that dog all worked up and the both of you are causing me to get distracted with my paper work and let me tell you something, I already have enough to do and can't be..." she stopped her talking as the blue messenger was completely in her sights.

He was different looking to her. Even though she rarely saw him, she still was current on what he looked like and this was not the Messenger God she knew. The once aggitated tone of her voice now turned cold and demanding. "Alright, bukko, who are you and what are you doing here?"

Hermes cocked his head. Apparently Hades didn't fill anyone down here that Hermes was residing in this place until Cronos came for him. He flew slightly forward out of the shadows to get a better look at this woman before him. Though it was still dark where she was standing and the purple lenses of Hermes' glasses didn't make things any better, he could tell that she was a violet in colour with a shock of short red hair on the top of her head.

Hermes lowered his glasses for a moment to peer at her and hovered where he was which was about three feet away from her. "Man, dig you. Like, I'm sorry babe, but Zeus is making me stay down here until Cronos can come and get me and Hades knows all about it. I am no doubt the Hermes that you know, but over a thousand years younger. I can't tell you the whole story right now because for one, I don't know who you are and like for two, I am too hungry and tired to be yakking about that nutty story again. Cerby is the third person I had to explain it too and frankly, I'm sick of repeating it, dig?"

"You told Cerberus? Uhhh yeah. Mister, you have alot of explaining to do, hungry or not, and do it fast because I have to get back to work and the longer I'm away from it the more I have to take care of. I am in no mood for Hades to suddenly give me more papers to file because he caught me out here with you so spill it now!"

The blue God blinked and a slight smile appeared on his face. "Whoa! So, like, you're that Belit demon chick he was talking about. Groovy!" He chuckled softly to himself and flew around her in a slow circle to check her out at every angle almost hoping to find a tail or some wings to verify what he imagined before.

The woman narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists about what Hermes said. "A demon huh? Is that what that Hades is calling me now?" She growled and glared at the blue God circling her and reached out to grab his Caduceus to stop him before she got dizzy. "Yes, I am Belit, Belit-Sheri to be exact, but I am no demon got it? I am an Egyptian Goddess that got stymied into this gig. Go read the book if you wanna learn more."

Hermes eyed her carefully and made sure he kept his distance from her and nodded. "Well, like, groovy to meet you, babe. You know my name already so I ain't even gonna go there." He paused and thought for a moment then the smile returned to his face as he remembered something. "Hey, like, Hades said if I'm hungry to scope you out because you'll cook for me. Would you mind? I haven't eaten anything since like yesterday or something."

"Feed you?! Why that no account so and so. Why I oughtta..." Belit trailed off and began to mutter angrily under her breath. Calming herself, she looked at Hermes and gestured with her finger to follow her as she began to walk swiftly back down the corridor away from the area. "C'mon, I have work to do and I need to know what is going on with you being down here. Hades doesn't like stray bodies roaming around and since it's obvious that he's gonna end up dumping you on me, I might as well show you the grand tour of where I spend way too many hours at."

Hermes nodded and flew after her before he paused and headed back to Cerberus and to the violin he left setting upon the rock. Scooping up the violin and bow, Hermes made the instrument disappear, sending it to where he puts all his deliveries. He then looked up at the huge dog and waved, "Like, sorry, man, but I have to get going. I promise I'll come back soon, dig?"

The dog's three heads bobbed up and down in agreement and whimpered something that made Hermes laugh and smile more. "You can count on it! I promise you I'll do just that! Catch ya on the flip side," he replied to Cerberus' noises and flew hurridly back to Belit and hovered at her side, following her to wherever it was she was going.

She glanced sideways at him and questioned, "Don't tell me you understood what that canine said?"

The little messenger nodded and rested his Caduceus on his shoulder. "Yeah, like, to hear all one must do is listen, babe," he simply answered and adjusted his glasses with his free hand.

Belit just rolled her eyes and sighed at his remark and poked him in the ribs. "You gonna give me your story or what?"

Hermes flew slightly from her, frowning at being touched, but quickly dismissed it and once more began his tale of how he became displaced in time and the Underworld's temporary resident. He was quickly getting sick of repeating his story, but she asked him and he wasn't one to disappoint.

Although Belit was silent during his tale, she did nod now and then to show him she was listening. She found most of it all unbelievable and in a way she felt sorry for the little god, but yet held her emotions inside for at the same time she felt it served him right for trying to do away with Hercules and for teaming up with Hades. Still, she felt it best to keep her mouth shut and stay solemn as was common with her.

When the pair finally stopped their slightly long journey they were in front of two huge wood double doors. Hermes looked at them then glanced at Belit. "Personnel?"

She nodded grimly and pushed open one of the doors allowing him to enter. "Yeah, home sweet home," she replied sarcastically, following him inside. As she closed the door and turned around she noticed Hermes was no longer at her side. She looked up and spotted the blue God flitting about her office looking like a huge humming bird as he flew from place to place, hovering for a moment then flying elsewhere. He was checking out all her office supplies and other material things hanging on the walls. Although those things weren't anything special to Belit, they fascinated Hermes as none of this stuff existed from his time.

Belit crossed her arms in front of her chest and walked to her desk and leaned against it while keeping an eye on the flighty messenger all the while. "Just don't break anything, pal. You break it, you buy it."

Hermes stopped, hovering in front of a wall clock and poked at the pendulum with his finger. He arched his dark blue eyebrows and turned towards Belit. "Groovy stuff in here, babe!" He then flew to her and hovered in front of her, smiling broadly. He then spotted an ink pen on the desk and reached for it, examining it closely. "What's this supposed to be?" he asked, peering at the item over the rims of his glasses.

"It's the best thing ever invented for a secretary to use," she smirked and took it from him. "Watch." She clicked the button on top of the pen and scribbled nonsense on a blank sheet of paper sitting on her desk. "It sure beats those blasted chisels the cheap-skate boss used to give me. Those quills were a pain too. I hate feathers when they shed."

The blue messenger grinned and flew from her and began to examine the stacks of papers, scrolls, and books against the wall and marvelled at the endless rows of bookshelves that seemed to stretch into eternity both horizontally and vertically. Hermes hovered in front of a filing cabinet and opened a drawer. Belit's eyes widened and in an instant she was at his side and slammed the drawer shut. Hermes flew back from the cabinet and frowned at her, hurt confusion on his face.

"Look, blue boy, don't go poking around my papers and stuff. I spent the last five thousand years or so putting them all in order and if you mess them up..." she trailed off and put her hand to her temple, massaging slightly. Just the very thought of all her hard work that took forever to organize suddenly strewn all over the floor in a matter of seconds literally sickened her. Sighing heavily she looked back up at the small God before her and said softly, hiding her aggitation, "Didn't you mention something about being hungry?"

Instantly Hermes perked up and nodded, "Good Zeus I sure am babe!" He flew back farther from the cabinet and waited for Belit to give him whatever goody it was she had and he hoped that it wasn't the bowl of worms like he would have got from Hades.

The violet skinned goddess walked to her desk and pulled open a draw and tossed a flat white box on a rare open space on her work area. "Here, I couldn't finish it, but you should like it." She then opened it and the smell of cheese, sauce, and meat filled the air, but the round flat object was something Hermes had never seen before. His quizzical look caused Belit to laugh softly and she smiled at him, "It's called a pizza, Herm. It's a rip-off import from China the Romans took credit for. You want it or not?"

Crooking his Caduceus against him, Hermes flew lower and snatched the box from the desk and looked over the interesting contents. He smiled broadly up at Belit and nodded his thanks. Glancing around, he tried to find a place to land or hover so he could eat this new dish, but the endless masses of books and papers didn't give him much area to work with. He knew he couldn't take something this wonderful smelling out to where he was with Cerberus for the big dog would no doubt try to take it from him, not to mention any of the other creatures lingering about.

Noticing the messenger's delima, Belit stepped back to the filing cabinet and removed the few books and scrolls that were scattered on top of it only to place them on the floor in a neat pile. "You can sit here, but just be careful. If you get any sauce on my stuff you're going to find yourself polishing the privies in Grand Central Station with a toothbrush."

Thanking her with a polite smile, Hermes flew up and landed on the metal cabinet and sat down. He set his Caduceus behind him and placed the box on his lap and picked a small slice to sample. "Mmm...man, thith shtuff rockths, babe! You sure got groovy taste in foodths."

"Yeah, whatever. Don't talk with your mouth full, it's gross," she cringed and shook her head. She always heard stories on how goofy the little messenger was, but she didn't think he was this bad. The time transferal had to do it, she thought and went back to her desk to continue her never ending task of paperwork.

Hermes soon finished the remainder of the pizza and made the box vanish into oblivion. He then reached around for his Caduceus and set it on his lap, folding his hands neatly over it. With his appetite finally satisfied, Hermes grew sleepy and stifled a yawn as to not disturb Belit. He leaned his back against the stone wall and closed his eyes hoping she wouldn't object to him dozing here. The sleep came quickly and put Hermes in a more relaxed state then before for now it would seem that he found himself a friend here in this harsh and unforgiving Underworld.::