Gathering. (Pt. VIII) (or... Pt. 8, for Egyptians)

[sia_dot_com]

The last beats of the song to which they danced ended in the sweet, slow draw of a solo violin. Sia dipped his goddess deeply over his arm, his hands strong and supporting. She was beautiful, graceful, strong... Everything he found desirable

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[nephthys_dotcom]

Nephthys pulled her arms around herself, and smiled a little at Thanatos. With the hood pulled up over his head, he looked positively charming, very similar to the Western caricature of their function

[swift_wings]

He humbly smiled at the goddess seated beside of him, the tone of her voice at the utterance of those reassuring words was kind.

Joined suddenly by Sia, Thanatos watched their exchange joyfully and allowed Nephthys to introduce them, although they had already met, seeing another side of her he hadn’t witnessed until then.

Smiling in return to Lady Death then casting his eyes toward Sia, “We’ve met, however thank you Nephthys, that was lovely to behold. ”

“How are you tonight Sia?”

[sia_dot_com]

He squeezed Nephthys tight and released her, before he stepped over to Thanatos and offered his hand in greeting

[swift_wings]

Thanatos had arisen respectfully from where he sat to take his elder's hand, "Yes, all is well."

He looked off in the direction of his mother for a split second, and corrected himself, blushing momentarily, "No, allwill be well soon...I'm sure of it. Nyx is going to join us. I think I remember you telling me you have already met her?"

Smiling he watched the play going on between his companions, finding himself more attracted, no it was more relaxed in the presence of this more confident and carefree Nephthys that was being displayed. This is what she had needed.

Widening his eyes as Sia dropped to the ground, he couldn't have imagined Sia's weakness and laughed.

And so it was...

Deciding to give aid, in an instance, a thought he was behind Nephthys with his arms wrapped about her waist, playing also, "Hurray! Now is your time to escape Sia! Before you are tickled too death!"

[nephthys_dotcom]

Nephthys let out a squeal as she felt herself being pulled back, away from her friend Sia. And then she started fighting, flailing her arms about, trying to get free. Anyone would have thought she was fighting to get free of Ares again, had they seen her and not known who it was who had captured her.

Sia, on the other hand, rose from the ground, dusted himself off properly, and reached out to Nephthys, taking her face in both of his large hands to steady her, and then kissing her soundly on the forehead. His eyes fairly shown with triumph. The plan had worked! Well, of course it had, he told himself, as he stepped backwards a good distance away from the pair

[swift_wings]

Thanatos gave a nod to Sia as he passed into the darkness. Enraptured in laughter he managed to keep his hold on Nephthys, wrapping his arms around her tighter to tame the struggle.

"Next?"

The laughs emptied from his gut, bellowing forth outward from smiling lips.

Teasingly, "Your choice of weaponry can not pierce through my impervious armor."

Without moving her form or his own, feet his body appeared in front of her, arms still coiled about her waist, "I'm not ticklish."

The smile disappeared, and the glee in his dark eyes were replaced with tenderness, "You must choose another weapon."

[nephthys_dotcom]

She stopped her struggling the exact moment he appeared in front of her. She braced her arms on his chest, her fingers resting on the tops of his shoulders, and peered up at him. The levity in the air was fading, and she once again became aware of the way his touch affected her.

But it was the change in his expression, the softening in his eyes, that truly shook her. Had she been wrong about Flidais?

"Ah... Is that so?" she questioned softly. "Tickling: no effect...Hm..."

Don't do this, Nephy, she cautioned herself. Oh, but she was going to

[swift_wings]

There was a still framed moment between the two of them, before Nephthys' arm had crept around his shoulder and she had arisen on the tip of her toes

[nephthys_dotcom]

Everything inside her leaped. She had to moisten her lips before she could even think about speaking.

"...Yes?"

She had expected to be reviled. Or laughed with. Or gently put in her place. Revulsion she could manage. Laughter, she could pretend at. She could even accept being put in her place, especially considering the possibility that he had feelings for Flidais, or she had feelings for him, or both. It had only been a fantasy to think that he would respond with anything resembling favor.

She drew away, her fingers coming to rest, light and hesitant, at his waist. Curiously, nervously, longingly, she looked up at him, trying to read his expression. What she saw there gave her hope, and hope always frightened her.

"Yes?" she asked again, trying to swallow.

[swift_wings]

There was a worry that he'd only been played with when she drew away and his eyes dropped to the fingers at his waist.

"Yes," there was a slight nod accompanying that reassuring word as he withdrew his downcast gaze to look in her eyes.

[nephthys_dotcom]

All at once she smiled... Not a malicious smile, not the smile of jokes, not a smile of amusement.. This was joy.

"Thanatos," she said, still smiling, still holding his gaze. "It may be terribly forward of me... But could I see you again?"

[swift_wings]

"If you wish too," was his humble response along with a shy smile.

[nephthys_dotcom]

She toed at the ground, her fingers lightly tugging at his waist.

"Yes," she said faintly. "Yes, I would like it very much. But... what of Flidais..?"

She had to ask. She had to know. It was artless, tasteless, but she had to know.

[swift_wings]

"What about Flidais? Oh! You think? No, it is nothing like that. Flidais is my friend," he smiled his eyes dropping back to the fingers tugging along his waist.

He thought, but in his state his thoughts may not have been as well guarded as he would have liked, "Oh Nephthys, Nephthys--I do so much want to see you again, but I'm embarrassed to say I don't know if I will be any good at this. I am so used to be being a solitary creature."

"You intrigue me. I only hope--ask of you, to please be patient with me."

[nephthys_dotcom]

Her hands stilled at his waist, and she breathed out a very soft sigh of relief. Flidais was only a friend. Oh, that felt nice to hear. She smiled softly.

And to hear her name repeated twice, and in such a tone as his... She looked back up at him, biting her lip. Gently, she stroked either thumb against his sides.

"A secret, to you, from me..."

Drawing much closer, and once more tiptoeing to reach him, she whispered against his cheek, "I'm not very good, either... I think we'll both need a lot of patience. But I'm willing. I'd like to try...?"

[swift_wings]

It was comforting to hear her say what she did, although he thought she was just being nice for anyone as lovely as her... and then he thought back to her timidity.

Beaming, "Yes, I'd very much like the same..."

There was a pause.

"I'm staying on Olympus right now with my sister Clotho...I'd love if you dropped by."