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]

"And . . . that's . . . a bad thing."

This is a genuinely confused Titan.

[callipygos]

"When I haven't done anything it is," she sighs.

"Or-- I don't know-- when I'm not really a part of anything, the way they think I am. It's not as if a handful of believers is going to rehabilitate me."

[2020sight]

He props his chin on his hand.

"So half a believer is not better than none." His eyebrows draw down. "Shit, how'd you feel before these people showed up?"

[callipygos]

She snorts faintly.

"I wasn't really keeping tabs."

[2020sight]

"And you don't remember?"

So weird.

"Whatever. Look, okay, let me see if I'm following you here."

He starts ticking off points on his fingers. "One, you're not like you were back in the glory days. Two, you met some people who think you are like you were back in the glory days. Three, they ask you for stuff like the glory days, but don't actually expect anything of you because they'll be happy just 'cause you're around. Four, you can't give them what they ask for like you once could, so you freak out and go date a supermodel who's got the flu."

Or something, whatever, metaphors aren't his strong suit.

"So you feel bad because you can't help them the way you think they wanna be helped, and they feel bad because you're not around -- presumably -- and ultimately everyone feels like shit because unfortunately, Ambologera, even we get old."

Beat.

"Did I get it?"

[callipygos]

Aphrodite's mouth opens abruptly.




But then she shuts it.


"That's," she manages after a long moment, "surprisingly astute."

[2020sight]

Epimetheus looks absurdly pleased with himself.

[callipygos]

"Oh shut up," she murmurs with a rueful smile, settling back in her seat.

[2020sight]

"Aww, and I was on such a roll, too."

[callipygos]

She huffs, neither confirming nor denying this.

"So-- what exactly are you saying? You think I should go back?"

[2020sight]

"I don't know." He shrugs, finishes off his first beer, and picks up the second. "I'm a hell of a lot better at running away than dealing with shit."

[callipygos]

"Well you sound like you're saying I should go back," she muses.

[2020sight]

"You're not happy here, are you?"

[callipygos]

Aphrodite pauses.

Carefully, she sets her cider on the table.

"No."

[2020sight]

A shrug.

"So go back. Do what you can for them. What's--" He stops, snorts. "I can't believe I'm saying this to you, but what's the worst that could happen?"

[callipygos]

Aphrodite blinks.

Then she bursts into a startled laugh.

"Wait-- are you really asking, or just trying to be motivational?"

[2020sight]

"Both?"

[callipygos]

"Well," she giggles, "the worst thing that could happen is the universe comes crashing to an end."

[2020sight]

He rolls his eyes.

"It's doing that over there anyway. Try again."

[callipygos]

"I guess the worst thing that could really happen," she admits, "is I ruin everything."

She casts a slightly defiant, defensive look in Epimetheus' direction.

[2020sight]

He frowns. "For the mortals you've taken a shine to? Or like, everything everything?"

[callipygos]

"... I think the first one."

[2020sight]

"Well, your track record is mostly pretty okay, right?" he says, diplomatically. "I mean you have your high points. I mean usually, usually the worst that happens to people in love is they get their hearts broken."

. . . That was supposed to end as diplomatically as it began, but he may have missed the mark a tad.

[callipygos]

At that, Aphrodite's eyebrows shoot up incredulously.


"I'm okay?" she says.

[2020sight]

Defensively: "What?"