first entrance 2.0

[risen_from]

She steps out onto the sun-drenched Caribbean shore, delicately formed feet leaving equally delicate prints in the sand to mark her passage. Her skin is smooth and glowing, her limbs long and well shaped, and in bygone days, she might have worn only a garland of flowers to cover herself, or perhaps a strip of gauze

Comments

[reallyaduck]

Duck completely fails to notice Aphrodite's lack of clothing.

(Just think of it as having all your feathers plucked out.)

. . . well, that's a lie. She notices it a little.

"Gosh, that's a pretty color!" she says admiringly. Duck likes shiny things!

[reallyaduck]

"I got dropped down already, but then I got back to the beginner class - I'm definitely not gonna let myself go to probationary class again!"

Is Aphrodite familiar with the double fistclench of shojo determination? Because this is the gesture that Duck is making now.

"I mean, I dunno how much time I really have, but . . . I mean I guess I've been there kind of a long time already! Even longer than I've been coming here!"

Months are a long time, to a duck.

[risen_from]

Aphrodite's eyebrows arch in an impressed sort of way.

(Mortal children seem to have a conception of time almost diametrically opposed to your average deity's.)

"Well," she says, "I guess that is very important. I'm glad you've at least got the chance to practice while you're here."

[reallyaduck]

"What do you like to do when you're here, Miss Aphrodite?"

(Not even Duck would dare to -chan Aphrodite.)

[risen_from]

Aphrodite smiles, secretively.

"A lot of things," she says.

"... Mostly I like to meet new people." So many cute boys. "And take advantage of some of the cuisine. Have you had the fried paradoxes? They're awful for you, but awfully addictive all the same."

[reallyaduck]

Duck shakes her head, wide-eyed.

"Nuh-uh, I've never had anything like that! I don't think we have them in Gold Crown Town . . . are they good as pizza?"

(Pizza is a relatively recent discovery for Duck. It's SUPER DELICIOUS.)

[risen_from]

"Oooh ... tough call."

Aphrodite appreciates bodily indulgence, though primarily in ways that promote beauty. Still, even she isn't immune to the charms of junk food.

"I'd say that it depends on the pizza. There's nothing to touch Hawaiian, or maybe a little goat cheese and mushroom."

[reallyaduck]

"Ohhhh . . . they don't put goat cheese on stuff at the pizzeria at home. I guess 'cause it'd be rude to Miss Goatette!"

Or because Drosselmeyer is not very imaginative in terms of pizza. :(

[risen_from]

Aphrodite has the realization that she really doesn't want to know.

"Oh!" she says, politely.

"Yes, well, that is very considerate of them."

[reallyaduck]

"I guess! I mean, I guess it's good to be nice to people if you have a restaurant 'cause then people will want to come. If you're scary or mean, people aren't gonna want to eat there," Duck says, with sage business sense.

"Uh, I guess having good food and stuff helps too."

[risen_from]

"But you're right, though," Aphrodite agrees with a smile.

"It's all in how you sell it."

[reallyaduck]

That's not quite what Duck meant! Duck mostly meant: being nice to people (and not scary like you're gonna chop them up with giant cleavers) is better than being scary. Or mean. But Aphrodite's version works too!

"I guess!" she agrees, amiably, before being distracted by another thought.

"Say, Miss Aphrodite, do you like swimming?"

[risen_from]

Aphrodite's expression brightens.

"I love it," she says.

The swimsuit may have been a clue. Shhh!

"Do you, Duck?" A mischievous little smile. "You ought to, with a name like yours."

[reallyaduck]

Swimsuits: as far as we know, not yet invented in Gold Crown Town!

"Well, I know how to swim as a d-um, I mean, I kinda do, but not really as a - I mean, um, kinda, but not with arms," Duck explains. With a certain lack of clarity, perhaps.

[risen_from]

Aphrodite blinks.

"Like ... the dolphin stroke?"

[reallyaduck]

Duck shakes her head. "Oh, no, I dunno how to swim like a dolphin either!"