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[youlosetrack]

It's ridiculous, how gorgeous this island is.

As soon as he'd found himself steady enough on the crutches to go more than a few feet away from the compound door, Mace had slowly spent each day going up and down the boardwalk, taking in everything he could.

The earth room on Icarus had nothing on Tabula Rasa. Hell, Earth had nothing on it. The

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[just_hormones]

The bakery's not exactly a place Aphrodite frequents, with her aversion to the drudgery of mortals and their need to eat. So she's about to breeze right on by the place, but when she catches sight of a cute and apparently injured guy taking a seat on the patio, she smoothly changes course.

"Hey, handsome," she said, pink-clad hips swaying as she walked over to his table with a bright and charming smile. "You holding up okay there?"

[youlosetrack]

Mace blinks.

That's a lot of pink and a lot of smile for a woman, but he takes it in stride. If being here's taught Mace anything, it's that there's no shortage of beautiful women wandering around.

He doesn't even have to work to talk to any of them.

"Yeah," he replies, and gives her a smile, brief and genuine. "I'm doing fine, thanks."

[just_hormones]

She sweeps over and joins him, perching herself on the chair next to his, because hello, who wouldn't want to be joined by the goddess of love? "Poor guy," she says with a sympathetic look. "Did you hurt yourself on the island, or before you came here?"

[youlosetrack]

This is an entirely new way of being talked to, and Mace isn't sure if she's playing some kind of game or if she just is. He's met enough friendly people - men and women alike - that he can't tell anymore.

Maybe it was all the sun.

"I was hurt pretty bad when I showed up," he replies, absently massaging his left hand. The bandages have been off for a while now, and he still finds it hard to look down at what's left of his thumb. So he doesn't. "Been stuck in the clinic and with this cast on for the last month."

[just_hormones]

As much as Aphrodite totally doesn't like war and fighting and whatever, being the sister of Ares in an age of warlords means she's seen her fair share of carnage over the centuries. A guy missing a limb isn't exactly new to her. Heck, her own husband had his deformities, after all.

"Bummer, dude," Aphrodite says. "How much longer do you have to have that cast thing on?"

[youlosetrack]

"Bummer," Mace repeats, and chuckles. He hasn't heard anyone talk like that in years. "Another week, I think. Give or take a few days and some physical therapy."

[just_hormones]

"Physical therapy," Aphrodite repeats with some interest. "What's that involve? There's so much I don't know about modern medicine, what with being from Caesar's time."

[youlosetrack]

Mace allows himself a moment of surprise. He's heard lots from Shari, has read some of the Council records, but it's still a little jarring.

"It's training muscles back to the way they were," he says, patting his cast. "I haven't used my leg at all for a month, so I'm not gonna be able to walk on it right away."

[just_hormones]

"Wow, that's pretty cool they can do that," she remarks, impressed. "Oh wow, I so totally didn't even introduce myself! I'm Aphrodite. What's your name, kid?"

[youlosetrack]

"Mace," he says, eyebrows lifting at both her name and being called kid. She can't be any older than he is. "Nice to meet you."

[just_hormones]

"Judging by your reaction, sweet pea," Aphrodite says, her own brows raising slightly, "I'd guess you aren't too familiar with the Greek gods. Or else you aren't easily impressed."

[youlosetrack]

"Little bit of both," Mace answers, having no problem admitting so much. He has vague ideas of the old Greek myths, but having given up on reading anything that didn't contribute to his work ethic (which meant just about everything), there were many things that passed him by. "Are you saying you're a god?"

[just_hormones]

Aphrodite lets out her signature giggle, scrunching her nose up in that way that somehow manages to be charming rather than annoying, at least to most. "Totally am," she confirms with a flourish of one hand. "Goddess of love and beauty...well, made mortal by this stupid island, but yeah, normally I am."

[youlosetrack]

It makes him smile, the ridiculousness that being on this island has led him to. Having a chat with someone who thinks she is -- or actually could be the goddess of love and beauty is not where he thought he'd be just a month ago.

"Goddess of love and beauty, huh?"

[just_hormones]

"That's me!" It's become depressingly norm to have people either not recognize her or not really care she's a goddess, and Aphrodite is so bummed out by that. People are supposed to be in awe of her, dazzled by her beauty, eager to worship her and give her cool stuff, but that so does not happen often enough around here. "Expert in love and everything about it. You need advice or a little help, I'm the gal to see."

[youlosetrack]

She earns a deep chuckle out of Mace. Figures that he, the last person who'd ever want or need advice, gets to meet the Goddess of Love and Beauty. If it really is her.

"I'm not looking for advice, but thanks for offering."