New Kid on the Block

[soter_dot_com]

There weren't many times when Soter wasn't busy. Mankind had exploded all over the place and no matter where they went or what they did, they always seemed to want to hurt each other. The cities were the busiest, of course. Muggings, rapes, good old fashioned robberies with a gunmetal twist... There was always something for him to do, and there was

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[moirae_dot_com]

Cloey had been staring at the remote intently. The remote at the temple she'd shared with Khesis and Attie had been lost almost from the instant they'd acquired it - they found it periodically, but it basically consisted of numbers, channel up, and channel down. They changed the channel most usually by force of will, and the same went for messing with the VCR tape. This was one of those crazy ones, with a million buttons that all looked almost exactly the same.

There was a bit of divine knowledge invoked to figure out which one would make the tape play.

The popcorn smelled most tasty, and she grinned up at him as the tape started to play.

"This is ace, Soter! Thank you so much!" Unconsciously, she was bouncing slightly in her seat. She didn't know how to let her earlier sadness taint things like competitive squirrel water skiing; she simply put it away for later, especially now that she'd had a good cry about it.

Her eyes turned to the screen, and as she watched the intro to the show, where they showed clips of the squirrels skiing, she was already "Awwwing" enthusiastically.

"They are soooooo cute!!" she squeed, then paused.

"I think I need a pet," she said thoughtfully, turning to him. Then blurted, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

And then she turned bright red.

"Not that I'm saying I want you as my pet. Or that I want to be your girlfriend. Not that you wouldn't be a lovely boyfriend, I'm sure." The awkwardness and embarrassment just kept building and building the more she talked, but she couldn't stop. "And not that boyfriends are pets. Because they're not. But. I mean, that's not what I'm trying to say."

She squinted and forced her mouth closed, wishing the recliner would swallow her up.

This could be a finalist for the most embarrassing moment ever, surely. Even more than the cottage cheese incident.

[soter_dot_com]

She made her smile more than he had in quite some time. Watching her bounce around in his recliner over what was smirkable at best... there was something just adorable about it. Wow, she could really squeal on high notes, though. He shook his head and took a drink from the bottle in his hand as she pondered the idea of a pet.

Promptly he spewed Bud Lite everywhere in his surprise. Did he have a girlfriend indeed!

He wiped his mouth, stared at her incredulously, and tried to follow her stammering. But by the time she was squinting, he ended up fighting very hard not to laugh. She looked miserable again, and he didn't think laughing would be the nicest thing right now, but oh damn. DAMN, that was funny!

He stood up, wiping his hands over the opposite beer-dripping arms, and then looked at his shirt. "Heh, um. I need to change, Clotho. Can you hold on a minute? Thanks!"

He hurried off toward his bedroom, which he knew was down the corridor to his left. As soon as he was out of view, however, he just shimmered the stained clothing away and brought another t-shirt up around his form. Standing there, he just shook his head. Clotho was straight crazy! And damn, if it wasn't charming.

When he headed back into the living room, Clotho looked ready to bolt. He sat down on the arm of the recliner that she wasn't using, then twisted so he could look at her.

"No, Clotho, I don't have a girlfriend. And yes, I know you wouldn't want to keep me as a pet. Or a boyfriend. Don't feel bad, little orchid flower, I understand! Sometimes two thoughts totally unrelated get mixed up with each other and then they don't sound right when they come out. Is that the way of it?"

He'd been around mortals too long not to be a really good reader. Gods, he was discovering, weren't all that different. At least, Clotho wasn't. He ruffled her hair softly, braided or not. He didn't want her feeling all uncomfortable, when she was supposed to be relaxing and forgetting about what was troubling her, and letting him make her feel safe.

[wisdom_dot_com]

Athena did her best to not invade on the pair, but desperate times called for desperate measures. The Wisdom Goddess cleared her throat in the company of the two, head bowed respectfully in hopes to not gain too much flack for her intrusion. With her hands clasped in front of her, Athena waited patiently to be noticed. When she finally had their attention, her grey eyes fell to Clotho with a seriousness she had never wished to hold.

“I am sorry to invade your privacy, but I am afraid that urgent matters at hand have brought me here.” Athena explained apologetically, “Thanatos has sent me, Clotho. We need your help.”

Almost uneasily, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other and spared Soter a glance before addressing the Fate with the message the Death God had ordained her with. Athena brushed her dark hair from her face and then sighed; she did not desire to broadcast Hades condition - so she shared a private thought with the Fate.

’Hades is very ill, Clotho. Something bad has happened and if we cannot get you to help…he very well may die.”

The thought made her shiver once more…What a simple mistake that could lead to such tragedy. Unheard of, that’s what it was. Simply unheard of, Gods dying like men. Unfortunately for Hades, it was so close to the truth that he himself would soon fail. Athena pursed her lips…daring not to think of what might happen to the balance if it truly did happen.

[moirae_dot_com]

Clotho's eyes widened, her hand clapped over her mouth, and she blushed harder when Soter spewed his beer. When he sat on the arm of her recliner, she looked up at him cautiously, her cheeks still tinged with pink, even as he spoke gently to her, and touched her hair. He was making her all wobbly inside, because he was so, so, so cute, and so, so, so lovely. She swallowed it, but it caught in her throat and kept her from being able to speak. So instead, she nodded at him, because he was exactly right again, but then...

Athena?

Her smile of greeting was already wide on her face, but it faded as the grey-eyed lady spoke, shifting to a furrowed brow as she concentrated on the threads - on Hades' silvery-black one in particular. He wasn't doing well at all - all in knots and frayed and whatnot... and if Than was calling her about it...

"It sounds kind of serious, 'Thene."

Her eyes went up to Soter, and she bit her lip.

"I'm really sorry, Soter. I'd really like to stay but... I think they really need me."

There was no hesitation about going to help. She wasn't one to turn down someone in need in the first place, much less if Than was asking. She could never deny Than anything at all.

But she didn't want Soter to stay her by himself! Maybe he could come with her?

She was struck with indecision, and she looked at him as though he could give her the answer without hearing the question.

[soter_dot_com]

Soter was more than surprised to see another guest in his home. Before he could offer her anything to drink, however, she was speaking her purpose and speaking it plainly. Who WAS this woman, anywa---

"It sounds kind of serious, 'Thene."

Oh. Athena. An older goddess, who very well could be his sister. He didn't know if she was or not, but he sat up a little straighter on the arm of his recliner. Despite his respect for his maybe-sister, he still felt defensive of Clotho. She'd been through something that had reduced her to tears recently. And now she was being taken out of his protection. His hand snuck down to her shoulder and pressed there softly. He tried to let her know that everything was going to be all right, he tried sending comfort through that touch, and hoped she felt it.

But then he caught her gaze again, and there was The Question there. He answered immediately.

"I could come with you, if you wanted, Clotho. It's not really like I have anything else to do!"

He took the remote from her lap and clicked off the particular chittering squirrel on water skiis that was about to jump a ramp.

"It's up to you, of course, though."

[moirae_dot_com]

His hand was on her shoulder. His hand was on her shoulder! Warmth and security spread through her from where he touched her, which was lovely enough... but Cloey struggled not to squirm at the tingles that rippled through her along with them.

He was. SO. Cute.

When he offered to come with, she smiled brilliantly at him with genuine pleasure.

"That would actually be really lov- good, I think," she nodded. Yes. He could come with them. And maybe he could help. Or touch her shoulder again. Or hug her.

She turned to Athena, and said,

"Would you mind? I think that he might be of some help. Oh! I'm sorry," she said, "'Thene, you know Soter, right? Security and safety and things? And Soter, this is 'Thene - Athena - wisdom, war, crafts, et cetera."

She nodded, satisfied that she'd done the polite thing.

"So, I think Soter might be helpful."

The truth was, there were possibilities that existed where he could be very helpful, in fact. And those were why she wanted him to come along. Really.

Definitely.

[soter_dot_com]

Soter gave Athena a polite smile.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry for not offering sooner - would you like anything, while you're here?"

He glanced down to Clotho, who looked much happier now that the suggestion that he tag along with her was out on the table. But apparently, it wasn't Clotho's call; it was Athena's. He still didn't pull his hand away from Clotho, however. It was a rather protective gesture, and he wanted it clear to Athena that he would watch over her, no matter what. It was part of what he did, after all...

[wisdom_dot_com]

Athena smiled whistfully at the two, they were like a couple of children who were falling head over heels for one another. Happiness, it seemed, even in the darkest of times could ease her worries if but for a flicker in time. She lowered her hands to her sides and gave a slight bow of her head.

"..very serious." Athena affirmed, her eyes moving to the handsome Soter - safty, preservation..perhaps they could use his company. "I am sure Hades will not mind if you come to the Underworld...the Dark Lord is in a very fragile position. I think the more of us that surround him, the more comfort he will feel."

"It's been some time since I've seen you, Soter. I wish the circumstances were better." Athena said softly, "Your offer is kind, but..I just don't have the time. If you two would join me..I'll guide you back to the Temple. Everyone will be waiting.."

[moirae_dot_com]

Clotho nodded seriously, rising from the chair. Something in her shifted just slightly; the hoodie remained, the sneakers, the pigtails. But her expression and carriage took on a very subtle bit of poise that seemed to indicate that it was time to get to Work.

"All right, it's all settled then, I suppose," she said.

"Let's be off."

[soter_dot_com]

He smiled secretly, proudly, when the shift in Clotho occurred. Letting his hand slide from his shoulder, he instead offered his arm to her to escort the little lady.

"I will do what I can, willingly," he offered to Athena. "Please, lead the way."

The Underworld. He had never been there before. He wondered what it would be like.

[wisdom_dot_com]

Wisdom looked between the two of them and then turned, motioning for them to follow her. The path left open for the two into the underworld. They would emerge outside of the doors that lead into the room the Hadean King slept in, the temple around them a huge monolith of amazing proportions. The hall around them had red velvet seating with floors, cieling and walls made of flawless black marble. Violet tapestries swept the wall, scrawled in black ink with the mark of the Underworld God.

Athena turned to them and smiled weakly, "Let's wait until Thanatos returns..M'lady Persephone has just arrived. I do believe they need some privacy right now..."