Who: Rhode (Open narrative) What: Sometimes you have to step back and just breathe When: Thursday afternoon Where: Cafe
Rhode hadn't really meant to be out for long. But the apartment was small and bright and silent, and it was starting to drive her a little bit crazy. So she filled Teddy's food dish, scratched him between the ears, then headed out. And really, could anyone blame her for wanting to take some time to herself? Like she'd told Triton, she always carried on. And right now, she was just tired of carrying on.
She didn't hail a cab, she just started walking, because that's what she felt like she should do. She tended to find the hidden gems of the city that way. So a few left turns, a roundabout, and one bridge later, she found herself standing outside what looked like the rock version of a tea shop. Posters covered the front wall and windows, and she could hear the wail of a guitar from the music playing inside. It made her smile, and so she headed inside. The clerk had a bright blue mohawk and stretched earlobes, but neither of them blinked an eye at the other. As the sign above their heads said, all were welcome. She ordered the biggest cup of chai they had, with some added honey, then took it to a booth in the back corner, curling up on the seat and sipping the hot liquid.
Bon Jovi started coming through the speakers as she sat there, and as she listened, the more she started to think the song could apply to Poseidon:
I ain't got a fever Got a permanent disease It'll take more than a doctor To prescribe a remedy
I got lots of money But it isn't what I need Gonna take more than a shot To get this poison out of me
She couldn't help but snort into her chai. That was him, to a fucking T. He had everything he could possibly want, and yet nothing was ever good enough. His own children weren't good enough, but apparently, half-breed bastards were. That thought made her clench her fingers tightly around her cup for a moment, before she let out a huge exhale and slumped back into her seat. Dwelling wouldn't do any good. Like asking the sea to boil, as she'd said to Helios.
The song switched, and for a few moments, she didn't even notice. She didn't even notice until some of the lyrics filtered through to her brain:
You can run away with me You can write it on your arm You can run away with me... Any time you want
And for a second, her chest ached so fiercely with the desire to run away, to take Helios with her and move somewhere near the ocean, somewhere sunny all the time, and never look back. Because he was really all she needed to be happy. But she knew, in the back of her mind, she couldn't leave her mother and siblings behind to deal with Poseidon by themselves. It wasn't that they couldn't take care of themselves, but it was better to present a united front, and she was only too happy to stand with them against her father when he was being an idiot. Which was most of the time.
The bell over the shop door chimed, breaking her out of her reverie. It brought her firmly back to the present, and she sighed and downed the last of her tea. She should probably go home eventually, but for right now, she was content to just sit here and pretend nothing mattered.
Songs: 1. Bon Jovi - Bad Medicine, 2. My Chemical Romance - Summertime
Hope this is okay! mostholy 2012-02-03 07:30 am (local) (link) There were days that Ariadne felt like she was drowning, and running too fast. She'd been having a lot of those, lately. She needed a break, from her work and her husband, but she couldn't see getting one. She couldn't leave Naxos behind, mostly because she couldn't afford to close it down. And she couldn't trust Kyle, because he was under Dionysus' sway.
And because of that, she felt helpless. She'd told Dionysus to stop hurting Kyle, but it went in one ear and out the other. He pouted, and the effect was felt all over.
So she was stuck with the headache of keeping the bar above water, and not enough time to herself. Times like this she wished the Meneads were around. At least she'd be able to shove those at her husband and get some rest.
With a need for coffee she pushed into the shop and walked to the bar, giving a tired order. As they made it she looked around, knowing that tingle just under her skin. Her eyes set on the young woman not far, and she got the impression of the sea. She'd always associated the sea with loss, but she smiled.
She grabbed her drink and made her way over. It wasn't her husband and anything different right now would be welcomed. "Hello. Can I sit?" (Reply to this)(Thread) Definitely! :D rhodus 2012-02-03 03:40 pm (local) (link) Rhode looked up at the blonde woman standing in front of her. Another Greek, unless she missed her guess, but apart from that, that was all she knew. Not one of her family, and maybe that was a bit of a blessing right now. So she sat up straight, pushed her hair out of her face, and smiled.
"Of course you can," she replied, waving to the empty bench across from her. "I'd be glad of the company. My name's Rhode." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
mostholy 2012-02-03 03:46 pm (local) (link) "Ariadne," she gave in turn before sitting down. She knew enough to know who Rhode was. A Daughter of Poseidon. Smiling she curled her fingers around her cup, realizing few would know her name. "I'm Dionysus' wife." However much that meant nowadays. "I didn't want to intrude, but I haven't seen you before. I have a habit of talking to people I find curious." It had been what had gotten her into all that trouble in the first place. If she had never said anything to Theseus shed remained an unnamed princess in her father's court, soon married off to some prince or noble from another city. (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
rhodus 2012-02-03 04:02 pm (local) (link) Rhode smiled. "It's fine, really. I think if I'd sat her silently much longer, I might have gotten lost in my own head. I haven't seen you before either, but I've heard your story."
It's kind of nice to know people find me curious," she added. "I can talk to you and not dwell on the insanity that is my family." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
mostholy 2012-02-03 04:06 pm (local) (link) She smiled to that, "some have. Only the first part though. Few remember the ending I got." Not so happy, but she still loved Dionysus. At the very least, she had her immortality.
She gave a soft laugh, "I know insanity all too well." Dionysus was mad after all. Something that was part of him, and she understood. It was just tiring. Smiling she sipped from her drink, "I'm related to your husband." It was an odd conversation starter, but in their pantheon most everyone was related to another. "My mother was his daughter. It's why most of us have blonde hair. She said it was the Sun in us." She smiled, "sorry I'm tired. My mind goes to odd places." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
rhodus 2012-02-03 04:21 pm (local) (link) Rhode nodded. "But that's their loss. And people always seem to want stories to have happy endings. So few seem to, especially in our little gang."
She laughed too. "Oh, don't we all," she agreed. "In some form or another."
"Really?" she asked, now curious herself. "I bet he'd like to see you again. Oh, he'll tease me about being his book agent, but I've learned to ignore that by now, he doesn't mean it." She touched her own hair, long and dark. Her children with Helios had hair colors to span the spectrum, and she'd always liked that.
"It's fine," she said with a smile. "I like finding out more about him, and by extension, his family. He tends to radiate the whole 'golden glow', doesn't he?" (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
mostholy 2012-02-03 04:53 pm (local) (link) She shook her head, "I wouldn't know. I never met him." Her mother's claims had always sounded odd when she'd been younger, but then she'd met and married a God. That she was related to a Titan wasn't too far of a stretch then. "So I don't think he'd like to see me again," she stressed on the last word. "I don't think he's ever met me to begin with. I don't think he had much cause. I was just his daughter's daughter, and mortal at that."
She shrugged, "happy is based on opinion. I had a good ending, better then most. I wasn't taken by my will and left to die on an island. He loved me enough to win my hand." She shook her head, "then again it's very hard to say no to a man who, literally, puts stars in the sky for you." She smiled to the memory. "I suppose it's why I stay, even when he frustrates me." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
rhodus 2012-02-03 06:34 pm (local) (link) Rhode tilted her head, then shrugged. "Sometimes I get ahead of myself," she admitted. "Wanting to make sure he knows he's got people in his corner. But I don't want things to be weird, or make anybody do anything they don't want to do."
"Well then, I'm of the opinion that I am happy," she said, signalling the barista for another tea. "I got lucky, I suppose, even though all of it, back in ancient times, was short-lived. And yes, being left to die would probably not make for a very happy ending. And hey, I think I would stay too, if my husband put stars in the sky for me. Frustration comes with marriage, I've learned. Sometimes Helios doesn't even remember who I am." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
mostholy 2012-02-03 06:42 pm (local) (link) "I'm sorry," she never had that with Dionysus. Not like that. "Dion he," she frowned for a moment and looked for words, "well you probably know what he represents besides good wine. He goes into himself. Sometimes it takes a bit to get him out of it all." She sighed, "the sharing gets to me too." She wasn't sure why she was telling this all to this goddess, probably because she was a neutral party in all of it. Or she was just that tired.
Then she shrugged, "but it's part of the package I suppose. And sometimes even the short time you get is enough. I mean I'm sure Dion thought it was all over too fast when I died. I suppose it's why he came and got me. I don't know what I can do for your husband but I'd like o help. And of course feel free to drop by Naxos any time. Gods and Goddesses never pay. Keeps me from being animal shaped."