loveless marriage && advanced

The alarm went of and he sat up from his position on the bed. The sun wasn't up yet, but that didn't matter. He had to get to class and teach. College had been stressing him out as of late, and most of his students were failing his class. It wasn't his fault, he did everything to help them. He taught them, gave them tips and tricks, and let them decide their own schedule to turn in their assignments. He was the perfect teacher. So why was it that half the class was failing, and most of his students hated him? Arthur didn't see a problem with his teaching methods, but he could see why they hated him. Arthur was the hardest professor in the school, and with a personality that of Gordon Ramsey when it came to teaching then sue him. He was a harsh grader, and a rather stubborn man. He rarely smiled, or showed any emotion in fact, but that didn't stop him from teaching. This course was the last course that was required of a Psychology major, and he was one of the few teachers whose teacher recommendation letter that actually had value to. Many students had tried passing his course, with only very few actually passing, and had failed trying. Most of those failing students had to retake the course under a different teacher, whose recommendations weren't as pristine as Mr. Arthur J Wallas. So who was the body that slept next to this unlovable man? Well someone who hated Arthur more than any of his students combined, his wife. He was 34, and had married someone who was somewhat younger than him, and someone who certainly didn't want to marry him in the first place. Well, he wasn't 34, and she wasn't what her age seemed to be either.

The only thing about Arthur that didn't involve being extremely boring and self-centered was the fact he was an immortal god. Some might call him Eubulus, other called him Pluto, and by some Death. So what was Death doing in the realm of humans with a woman with something about her that was unearthly It was simply boredom. 200 years ago he had this wonderful idea to live a life as a human, of course he put someone in charge of the underworld while he was gone, and he always checked in now and then just to make sure chaos hadn't erupted the damned souls of humans. His true name was Hades, and the Greeks were absolutely right about their mythology about him. His wife, Persephone, had loved the idea of finally being among humans full time for a little while. For Hades, it was simply a chance to actually get a breather and settle down in a little house and become a teacher. Why a teacher, you might ask? Well, why not give humans hell when you're the god of the underworld? However, in the last 200 years of their life as 'humans' Persephone or the woman her renamed herself for the humans sake, had seen a change in her husband. They had been in love before their move to the over world, but now it seemed like there was no love at all. Arthur had lost all sense of himself, and seemed to enjoy solitude and cruelty to the humans than actually paying attention to his wife. Instead of allowing her access to the outside world, he kept her locked up in the house with no way out. She was trapped, and she was sick of it. Now all they did was fight, and the constant war that happened in the house would make any human tremble. The seasons remained as normal (just cause it would be weird with no winter c: )

Persephone no longer smiled, no longer doted on her husband who had grown cold, and their relationship turned a total 360. The garden that grew in their wonderful backyard was dead, and every time Arthur would return home would be greeted with a demand to be let out. Since Persephone was technically in the 'over world' there was no point in her leaving his side. Demeter had turned a blind eye to her daughter the moment she had professed her love to Hades. Now that she was in the over world, she was left with no one to visit with. The nymphs couldn't see her due to Hades protective border around the house. Persephone was left a prisoner in her own home. That didn't matter to Hades though. He loved the fresh air, but there was more to it. For some reason he was unable to feel emotion again, or actually wanted to. This whole new persona that Hades had turned into had forgotten his love for Persephone and only wanted to go through the life of a human. It was as if the man was turning into a human in personality. A cold, uncaring, selfish, greedy man who had forgotten his roots.

Arthur looked to his wife, who he had never responded to her true name anymore, and let out a small sigh. Class would start in an hour, and as a punctual man he was he had to start getting ready. He leaned down to kiss her cheek, but was met with a hand pushing his face away. So she was awake. Growing annoyed at her reluctant to allow him to show his affection, he simply slipped out from under the covers and turned to the closet that held the same boring clothes of Arthur Wallas. A gray button up shirt, with gold threads outlining the cuffs of his sleeves, and black slacks. Grabbing a black tie he began the same routine he did every morning, and for some odd reason enjoyed it. When he first took the name Arthur and began his life as a 'human' he had a hard time adjusting to the clothes of 'modern days'. His days in the underworld had him wearing robes and elegant sandals, and when he first got to the over world he had missed his elegant black robes. And in the beginning Persephone enjoyed dressing her husband up in an outfit suited for a human. Those were different times though, and the more they stayed in this world the more Hades seemed to change. It was as if the human world truly was changing him into a human and not in a good way. "Today, I would like something vegetarian." He stated simply, already wondering what breakfast was like. Persephone now a days didn't even bothering listening to a damn thing he said, but he would always demand things to be done. At times he was harsh, and the relationship would grow violent in which she would then listen. He didn't want things to get violent just to make her listen to him, but if things needed to get done then he would.

"(your chosen name), please get up." Arthur finished the work on his tie and stood over the bed in which she laid curled up in the covers. Her bare shoulder peeked out from the covers, but it wasn't pristine, clean skin. It had a bruise on it from last nights fight to actually be intimate with one another had been a little too rough for his liking. There was no guilt in his onyx colored eyes, instead had a look of growing irritation. "Did you not hear-" In which she had snapped something at him, and he grunted, "Then you should have answered me the first time. Like I was saying before though, vegetarian meal tonight, and I will be home around noon." Walking to his desk, he pulled out the stack of papers he had graded. Not one having an A written on the top of the papers. "I want to go with you." His wife had finally said, and she was serious. When he turned to face her, and give her the same answer as always, she interrupted him again, "I'll do anything you ask without a fight."

Arthur had heard that bribe many times, and always responded with a no. When he opened his mouth to continue to say no, she had interrupted him quickly and this time pushed the covers off of her and quickly stood to stand tall. Even though she was small compared to his 6 foot 3 body she had an air of confidence about her he hadn't seen in awhile and it made him raise a brow. "I want to go to class with you, and we don't have to go no where else after. I just want to attend the class and at least learn something about humans."

In all their time in the outer world she hadn't been outside with the humans and she wanted that feeling again. Arthur grumbled, and rubbed his chin in thought. Looking at her, and her determined gaze he decided, "Fine. But you will not interrupt my class." The look of pure joy widened, but he didn't smile. Just kept that emotionless gaze, and picked up his gaze, "I leave in 10 minutes. Hurry and get ready."

Arthur didn't feel the excitement that radiated off of her, most living creatures would have been in awe and joy when the great Persephone would become happy. The fact that she just wanted to go to class was ridiculous, but Arthur knew that there would be no harm. Afterwards he'd just take her right home, and as long as she listened to him no one would have to get hurt. Arthur looked at his watch, he'd be later than he'd like to be. Normally he arrived in the class room 30 minutes early, but it looked like he'd get there just as students would be walking in. "Caroline." He let out a hiss of annoyance, "Will you hurry up?" Even now, he watched her dress and he didn't even take a minute to admire her. Usually he would have made a small comment, give her a quick kiss, and continue to showering her with compliments. Arthur was a boring man. No longer one who took joy in complementing his wife.

In the underworld, he would give her lavish gifts-- gold jewelry, fine silks, and books from the mortal world that she would miss out on while winter was here. His home in the underworld had everything she would need to be comfortable, and his hell hounds were there to keep her company while he did work with the souls. It was a simple relationship in which he would come back from work to a love wife, and they'd watch the mortals from their spot in the underworld. Now what did they do together? Have dinner together, with no eye contact? Space between them in a bed? A cold conversations that were only made to make small talk.

Adjusting his tie for the 3rd time, she finally got ready. There was a moment where he looked at her and almost complimented her on outfit. But what would be the point? Compliments about outward appearances never really mattered. Instead he just nodded his head curtly, let out a small sigh and walked towards the garage. His stacks of papers which usually would sit in the seat next to him, was preoccupied with his wife's body. That was abnormal, and it through off his "groove" as one would say. "Hold these, will you?" He put the stack of papers on her lap, the fate of his students were in her hands now. Most had failing scores, but it was what it was. Due to their inability to get into Arthur's head and what he desired in their work, they would end up with failing grades by the end of the year. He was the harshest grader, and one student in particular seemed to be too stubborn to get a low grade.

"What I expect you to do in class, is to sit quietly. If you must, sit in the back of the classroom. I don't want you distracting my students. If anyone asks, you are simply a student who applied late. You will not mention that we are husband and wife. Do you understand?" He certainly was lecturing her, he took no joy in it. But this was her first exploration out into the real world since they had gone into the underworld. When she was taken from him during Spring she would certainly party with the humans, but in this day and age it was different.

Arthur grunted as she responded to his demands. At least she didn't fight him on this. The only thing he didn't desire was her lashing out at him for being so selfish. It wasn't like he had the ability to tell the students not to think he was soft or anything, but he didn't care. She could give herself a different last name for all he cared, but gods.... he wanted Caroline to at least keep the words husband out of her mouth. When he parked into the student parking lot, he exited the car, not bothering to open her own. There would have been a time he'd get on his hands a knees to kiss her feet for just letting him be in her presence. Now what was she to him? A simple woman made to look like an ordinary wife? Their marriage on the failing side of things?

The school was large, and most of the students were swarming the area. Arthur looked back just to make sure his wife was following him, but made sure to keep his distance. He didn't want any of his students catching him with her. If she were to wonder, that would certainly be annoying. He told her she could attend his class, not have a tour of the whole world. Flicking through more papers, which he had grabbed from her earlier, he made sure all of them were graded. Only one student passed, and that was Rajik. The damn man certainly was stubborn in failling this class. He was the only man to actually get 100 percent and that was Arthur trying to find one ounce of mistake on his paper about Nature Vs Nurture. He took such a neutral stand on the topic that he made it perfect.

When in the empty classroom, he spoke to her, "Alright, Caroline." He stated so business like that no one would ever guess she was his wife, "sit in the back. Don't talk, don't raise your hand. If you do any of these things, I swear by Zeus himself, you will not leave the house again. Are we clear?" He emphasized the clear. Sometimes his wife was up in the clouds with imagination. If he wasn't telling her exactly what he wanted from her she could simply forget and do the opposite of what he wanted. Perhaps Hades would have loved that empty, imaginative, and creative head of hers-- Arthur didn't. He sought professionalism, and he was very serious about his image. It was as if he was a god pretending to be a human and that human had a God Complex. That was the best way anyone could describe Arthur.

Already students started piling into the huge room that held 100 students. He looked at her, awaiting her answer. To most, he probably looked like a teacher lecturing a student. Even Rajik, who sat in the back had arrived, and didn't give Caroline a second glance. The class was so big, half the students didn't know who each other were.

Arthur grumbled, "Professor" though she had already corrected herself. He disliked her from trying to push the boundaries. If one had sniffed out her ability to call him by name, they'd all start calling him by name. That would be a riot. How would he calm them down from all that? "Alright class!" He yelled out, giving her one last glare to make sure she was listening, and walked up to the front of the class all in hopes to get their attention on him. Slamming the papers down on the podium he called out, "All of you disappoint me." The students all groaned, all except one. Rajik. The man who had moved to America to graduate with a medical degree. All he needed was this class to pass.

Seeing the interaction between the professor and this mystery girl, Rajik could only imagine this girl was new to the class. It was already half the year, so why would someone try to play catch up? It was a waste cause the professor wasn't easy on anyone. "Hey." He hissed to the new girl, "You better sit, professor doesn't really stand for... standing." He gave a small smile. The girl certainly was beautiful, and was worth the look up and down. Certainly the only eye candy in this whole lot. How did the professor just ignore her?

"Maybe sit next to me? No one is usually around me." Rajik offers, and Arthur snapped, "Rajik, quiet down." Rajik gave an innocent look, but gave her a charming smile. He was arranged to be married, but that didn't mean he could flirt and hang out with him.

"Don't mind the old goofball." He whispered under his breath once she was seated close. Of course, Arthur still watched, but wouldn't interrupt. He couldn't keep telling them to shut up every second. Besides, it would give him a chance to fail Rajik on a subject if he wasn't paying much attention. Perhaps Caroline would be helpful in this prospect. So instead of telling them to quiet down, he instead began the lecture on marriage and marriage therapy. Rajik just simply smiled at this woman, commenting in his head how she certainly had the beauty of a goddess.

He opened his books, but noticed she had nothing, not even a book bag or a notebook. Where was her pencil? Was she even prepared for the test next week? Looking at the woman with interest now, he asked, "Don't you have anything to write with? Or to write on?"" He teased, "I doubt you could even memorize a line out of that god awful mouth of his." Rajik, tapped his pencil on the desk trying his best not to stare at her too much.