(Untitled)

[untiedtheknots]

After leaving her wishes for the happy couple, Artemis takes a flask of not-to-be-wasted whiskey outside while she brainstorms on a more tangible gift for her dear cousin.

That was her plan, anyway.

But then she finds the blood on the grass, dried arcs and smears that tell the story of a fight between family. She crouches in the middle of it,

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[mycursedface]

When Medusa had vanished, she hadn't gone inside. Instead was a cage, instead was a temple splattered in her blood and echoing with screams and...

She couldn't.

She'd flown away, to the mountains and somewhere else, somewhere to try and think. But thinking wasn't happened, and now she was cold. Cold, cold, cold to the bone and inside was Lucifer and warm arms and warm magic, and inside his room she was safe and loved and-

Medusa swoops down and lands in a crouch.

"Artemis."

[untiedtheknots]

"Hey there."

She gestures at the blood with the flask. "Some of this yours?"

She makes it sound like a question, even though she knows the answer; there's only so many people whose blood smells like goddess and bird at the same time.

[mycursedface]

There was a stream, somewhere, to wash off the blood, but that pretty dress of hers is probably a write-off.

Not to mention the bruises.

"Most of it hers," she says, voice blank.

[untiedtheknots]

Medusa getting into a fight with somebody--a fight with a female somebody in the family--leaves only one option.

"I'm sure it is."

She holds out the flask. "The boys' whiskey. Want some?"

[mycursedface]

"Wouldn't say no." Straightening up, Medusa takes the flask from her and tosses it back. It burns her cut mouth, burns her throat and leaves her gasping with tears in her eyes...

But it's better than that numb shock.

[untiedtheknots]

"You two finally had it out, huh."

Artemis does not sound like she particularly disapproves.

[mycursedface]

"Something like that." The Gorgon sways, just for a moment, and then drinks some more. This time, it makes her splutter and hand the flask back.

"She said she was sorry."

[untiedtheknots]

"Long time coming," she says, tone adding just a hint of 'about damn time' to the sentiment.

Her fingers slip against the flask and she nearly drops it. She recovers, though, knuckles white against the stainless steel.

"She did?"

Her voice cracks on a note like hope.

[mycursedface]

"Yeah."

Medusa, in contrast, still sounds blank.

[untiedtheknots]

Artemis tips the flask back and forth, feeling the weight shift.

"What'd you say?"

[mycursedface]

She laughs, low and hollow.

"What was I supposed to say? I said nothing. Just. I did nod, though."

[untiedtheknots]

"Don't think there is a 'supposed to,' in a case like this," she says softly.

"Guess I was more interested in if you told her to go fuck herself or something like that."

But she didn't. She nodded. And that's a start.

[mycursedface]

"No. I didn't.

'Tempted, though."

[untiedtheknots]

"Doubt it was your last opportunity to say so, anyway."

She takes a sip from the flask.

"You hear Epimetheus got hitched?"

[mycursedface]

Medusa blinks.

Very slowly, her mind processes what she heard.

"EXCUSE ME?!"

[untiedtheknots]

"According to a note on the board inside, he got married to somebody named Coyote yesterday. My money's on at least one person in the wedding party being trashed at the time, but I haven't seen him yet."

Artemis holds out the flask again.