Well there was no help for it. None at all. Rosmerta had checked every single bathroom drawer and gone through her make-up case three times. Her eyeliner was missing. Now, she could have misplaced it, certainly, but she was more inclined to believe that her almost-husband had actually taken it. No matter what his text said. Which meant that even if it mysteriously showed up in the next day or two, she couldn't use it again. It had been used on Loki, and Rosmerta had no idea where he'd been, but she'd heard rumors. ( A lot of rumors. )

Isis had really hoped Harmonia would have been around to see her by now. She was so very pleased that the younger goddess was back among the living. She also understood that after all this time, it was going to be more than a little daunting trying to acclimate herself in the world again. Things had progressed so far. It was one thing to watch the world change over the long years, and quite another to disappear from it and be startled by it all at once upon returning.

( cont... )

Ever since the party that Ninkasi had thrown, Isis had been troubled. The more time that went by, the more troubled she became.

So far she had done almost nothing. Sigyn had asked for help. Isis and Thoth had, for all intents and purposes, hidden behind a veil of diplomacy. Isis wanted to help, but she also knew her uncle was right; sticking her nose in where it didn't need to be would not be good for relations. Yet how could she just sit still, denying aid to both her friend and her Norse counterparts?

( cont... )

It was rare this time of year that he was able to sit down and put his feet up on the tasseled hassock in his study. Which was why, as he settled into the cushy plumpness of his red velvet chair, Santa began mentally reviewing his to-do list for today. Did he really have time to enjoy his peppermint hot cocoa, or had he forgotten something that would require his attention?

( The List )

Sigyn reviewed the table that was set before her, looking for anything that stood out as flawed. She wanted everything to be absolutely spot on, though she knew Isis would probably not mind if it wasn't. It was a matter of principle though. She was hosting a queen, she wanted everything to be exactly right for somebody of Isis' stature. More than that, she was hosting a friend, so she wanted everything to be perfect for someone she cared about and to whom she owed such a great debt. But it had taken longer to set things up that Sigyn had anticipated.

( Starting with the tea. )

Churchill Downs was all a flutter with activity. Which made sense. It was the most exciting two days of the year at the Louisville, Kentucky track. Zeus had been on site since early yesterday. Mostly for networking purposes, as while he had interest in the Oaks -the filly race held on Friday, from a gambling side of things, he had other things on his mind. He had a horse in the Derby.

( It was a very tricky business, racing horses. )

After putting the back on her second earring, Isis stood back and surveyed her reflection with pleasure. The simple red cocktail dress suited her skin tone, and red had always been her color. She'd left her hair down for a more relaxed look, and the gold earrings were the only adornment she chose for the evening. It was an elegant yet less rigid look than normal. She wanted to look her best. This was an important night for her, though many might look on it as something quite ordinary, boring even. Yet there were too few nights like this, and they seemed to grow more and more infrequent through the years.

( Her family was coming to dinner. )