seattle, wa - 2013

[callipygos]

There's a chill seeping into the air, and a fog drifting down from the mountains, and everywhere in this city, people look out at the damp streets and roll their eyes over the sudden absence of summer.

On this particular night, at a lone stool in a darkened bar, there sits a woman with hair as golden as a sunrise.

Her drink is mostly water by this time. People turn to look at her, men and women both, but even the men seem to know not to speak to her. There is a stage taking up one end of the space, on which a girl in blood-soaked white is doing a slow striptease.

The burlesque is pretty good tonight. With Stephen King as source material, Aphrodite wasn't quite sure what to expect, but she thinks the girl dancing Carrie is doing a lovely job. It's hard to be sexy when covered in pig's blood.


... At least, unless your significant other is into that.

Meanwhile, the ice in her glass continues to melt.

Comments

[2020sight]

A large hand lands on the bar next to her.

"Hey, John, one Manhattan for me and one whatever this lady's drinking."

[callipygos]

Aphrodite, at first, doesn't entirely register that she is being talked about. She's a little annoyed to be distracted from the show, though.

Her lips part, in preparation for delivering some scalding remark or other, but then--


"Eppy?"

[2020sight]

"'Dite," he says, grinning.

"What's a nice girl like you, et cetera et cetera."

[callipygos]

She laughs, though it's less summery-bright and more gentle glimmer, and puts a hand lightly to her hair.

"Gosh, I could ask you the same thing. But in my case ... I think these girls are plenty nice, don't you?"

She picks up her own glass, sips, then frowns at the taste and sets it back down.

"A little spookier than my usual, maybe. I might take you up on that refill."

[2020sight]

"I'm not gonna dignify that one with a response."

The girls are plenty nice. So are the boys. He's not blind!

"This does seem a little grittier than what I associate you with."

John, behind the bar, slides the plastic glass full of bourbon and bitters across the counter to Epimetheus. "Cosmo, right?"

[callipygos]

Aphrodite favors the bartender with a smile.

"Mmhmm," she says, crossing her legs.

"Cherry on top."

[2020sight]

"... You're going to make me regret buying you a drink."

[callipygos]

"Oh, Eppy," she says pleasantly, turning back to him, "when do I ever?"

She does not actually wait for a reply to this before giggling.

(The surprising thing is, she thought it would be hard to manage her normal smile-flirt-and-laugh routine. Old habits really do die hard.

If at all.)

[2020sight]

"All the time."

But he's pulling out cash anyway.

"What the hell are you doing this far north?"

[callipygos]

She smiles.

"Oh, it's really dreamy up here. Do you know what somebody told me about Seattle? 'Living here is like dating a supermodel ... who's sick nine months out of the year.'"

She lets out another little giggle.

[2020sight]

"Does she still put out?" he wonders.

[callipygos]

Aphrodite's eyebrows arch.

"Eppy," she scolds. "You know a lady doesn't kiss and tell."

"Cosmo," says John, sliding a cocktail glass her way, and Aphrodite smiles at him again.

"Thanks, sugar."

Her first sip is a long one.

"Anyway," she adds to Epimetheus, "what are you doing out here?"

[2020sight]

"You know eastern Washington's good farming country?" he says, waving a hand vaguely towards the street. "Lot of apples."

That's . . . sort of answer.

[callipygos]

Her eyebrows arch as she lifts her glass.

"Auntie Dem would be so proud."

[2020sight]

He folds himself onto the stool next to her, which causes a couple of other patrons at the bar to make passive-aggressive faces at having to lean to watch the show around him. (Carrie has left the stage covered in red glitter and fake blood, and a person of indeterminate gender in a bear suit has taken her place.)

"Auntie Dem would probably be a lot prouder if I was around for the growing part and not just the picking part." He picks up his drink. "Υγεία μάς."

[callipygos]

Aphrodite gives a faint, quirking little smile, and an eloquent flick of her wrist that is something like a salute.

"Cheers," she murmurs back.

[2020sight]

"But what about you?" he asks, curious. "You doing anything around here to be proud of?"

[callipygos]

Aphrodite's gaze has drifted to the bear-costumed individual on stage, who is still in the fully-dressed part of the act.

"Somebody's going to fall in love here tonight," she says absently.

"Unfortunately, he already has a sweetheart."

[2020sight]

Epimetheus tsks.

"That's rough, buddy."

[callipygos]

She shrugs philosophically, taking another sip from her glass.

"Love hurts."

[2020sight]

"It can be a real bitch."

[callipygos]

A soft snort.

"Original and clever."

[2020sight]

"Clever's not an epithet I get saddled with often."

[callipygos]

"I'm shocked," she says, with a moue of disappointment.

"Just shocked."

[2020sight]

Epimetheus cracks up.

"Yeah, I bet!"

"Hey, keep it down!" hisses a patron.