"...alright."

He exhales shakily.

"The Thunderer. Is - the one I'm talking about. He wanted me, and - I didn't want - that. So..."

"...oh, Uncle Zeus," he says, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I suppose he would be your uncle, yes. I hope you aren't - offended."

Zagreus lets out a choked half-laugh and runs a hand through his hair. "No. I—no, not at all. The Olympians, they... don't really..." He sighs. "They don't deal with people who aren't gods very often. Not in a, a more mundane capacity. It's always god of this, deity of that. And I think Uncle Zeus is..." He pauses for a second then shakes his head. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

"Well. Thanks. Anyway, you can see why I'm... a bit wary of gods."

"Yeah. I—yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry, if I had known—" He cuts himself off and runs his hand through his hair again. "I—hope I didn't pressure you—"

"You didn't. Well, not any more than I needed. I've had a lot of time since I died, I'm not - fragile, anymore."

"Well. Good. I am glad. Especially since I would love a rerun, if you'd like."

"Surely not already. Are you a satyr in disguise?"

"Well, no, not right now, we have some shades to temporarily disable on our way to the surface. But, you know, if you look hot while fighting again I might want to tackle you on the way there, fair warning. ...consensually tackle."

"As long as you warn me first so I don't stab you on reflex."

"Well that just sounds hot."

"Putting that aside, you must admit it's not conducive to a successful escape."

"A successful escape is a very long affair that requires many pauses for rest and recovery!"

"You are simply impossible. I will not stab you recreationally during our escape attempt. You may at your leisure try to convince me to stab you recreationally between attempts."

"Oh, fine." He shuts the glass window of his keepsakes' shelf and starts walking. "Let's begin, then."

"Let's!"

Agatinos follows with a bounce in his step.

Zagreus leads the way past an archway to a balcony that overlooks all of Tartarus, looks around, and leaps over the railing of said balcony into the darkness below.

...well, alright.

Agatinos hops down after him.

They land, an imposing (and closed) gate to the House of Hades behind them, the river Styx to either side, and the way to Tartarus ahead.

And right there, waiting for him, is... a pebble. It looks like every other pebble, ordinary and simple and small, and yet...

"What is that."

"Lady Athena, probably. This area here... between my father's realm and Tartarus, Nyx can't or doesn't shield it as much. So the Olympians can immediately see when I favour them." He taps the owl brooch. "...I'll make sure not to pick Zeus's while you're around."

"...I don't want to limit you. And I'm sure his boons are powerful. Please don't - hinder yourself for me."

"Aphrodite's actually my favourite," he stage whispers and winks. "Don't let the others know, though."

Then he shrugs. "Besides, they'll often leave boons lying around regardless of whose keepsake I'm taking anyway. It's mostly this first encounter where they can see... more... that I'd want to spare you from."