Who: Homonoia and Kyle What: Safe dinner after a not-so-safe meeting with an Olympian When: Jan 26, 2011 after this Where: Kyle's place Warnings: Likely nothing, but tbd otherwise
Homonoia was never one to go out looking for trouble and that day was as close to her jumping into trouble as she liked to get. Now it was time to wind down and knowing that meeting any Olympian, especially one as powerful and intimidating as Poseidon would need some sort of calming of the nerves. She had taken his suggestion of them and dinner as an invitation to a date, though she so far hadn't appeared giggly about it. She was looking forward to it, but for now she figured easing him out of the shock of the day was better than actually going to a restaurant.
Which was why she had suggested take out. If things progressed between them she'd probably end up making dinner instead of ordering it. The Praxidikai were pretty good cooks! So Chinese it was, though pizza had been a serious alternative. She knew of a nice place near Kyle's apartment that was authentic and not the Americanized version of Chinese food. She had even picked chopsticks over a fork.
It was a little strange that she was at his apartment again in less than twenty-four hours and her sister had even giggled and poked at her suggestively. Her mother, on the other hand, hadn't been all too pleased with the circumstances of her daughter going out that day but promised she was only a phone call away. All three could materialize when necessary. Now as Homonoia stood once again in Kyle's apartment she was glad the day was almost over. She was watching him closely for any signs of stress. She knew it couldn't have been great for him to meet this particular god, even though he couldn't actually say so aloud. "If you need to flail about meeting Poseidon you're welcome to."
His legs were still a little wobbly. Meeting Poseidon hadn't exactly been like meeting Dionysus, Ariadne or now Homonoia. He could still feel his heart in his throat, worried that somewhere during that scene he could have lost his cousin for sure because of her stubbornness.
He was glad that Homonoia had come over to help him relax. He'd just seen her the night before chatting away like some high school teen who had a crush. She'd left that night and nothing more had happened than a cheery musician asking to see her again. There could have been stars in his eyes, but really he wanted the chance to ask her how she felt about him. He was intrigued by this girl, and in the last few days he'd felt a little more himself.
Seated on the couch, Kyle sat starring off into space. "Oh my god that was Poseidon," he said simply still feeling a chill race up his spine.
This was part of Homonoia's life. Seeing and meeting with other gods. Taking care of 'business' where it was written out or ordered by the Fates. So this encounter, even if it wasn't hers was just another encounter to her. Had her mother been there she suspected the other goddess would have intervened but Homonoia knew better.
There was a knock at the door and instead of waiting for Kyle to get it she went to the door herself. After paying for the food she set it out on the coffee table she watched him for a moment. Being who she was it was hardly ever a shock to her, but being mortal she knew Kyle couldn't possibly take it well.
"He's not the sweet, cuddly type they made him out to be in Disney." Disney, what a joke. Had they ever made a version of the Praxidikai they'd probably sue for rights. She sat down next to him, still keeping her eyes on him. "Lets just hope you never have to do that again. At least it wasn't Zeus," she pointed out, though she did have some respect for the King of the gods.
She brought the food over and he sighed heavily. "Yeah I got that. Was jus' tryin' to make sure V didn't go off on him. She's stubborn like that." Kyle ran his hands through his hair, shuffling that blonde mane as she sat down.
"Thanks for comin' I'm glad you didn't need to intervene. My heats still poundin'." He paused picking up one of the containers and breaking apart some chopsticks. He was trying to process.
He looked over at her after stuffing a mouthful of noodles. "Is Zeus worse?" he'd always imagined him as the big guy with a beard and a hearty laugh.
"It's good nothing happened. Does she understand now? Who he is, I mean? Or does she still not believe?" It was kind of hard to miss the water part and anyone who still refused was just in denial at that point.
Homonoia's OCD was starting to show through as she took a pair of chop sticks and very carefully began to eat, holding the chopsticks as though she had been raised that way. She couldn't watch other people eat because it drove her crazy, which was why she didn't look at him when he started. She shook her head, "It's part of what I do and taking care of mortals is part of the job."
"Perhaps, but he can at least control himself. He doesn't act tough and he's good about how he handles things. Although I would never want to anger him. Remaining neutral is a good thing." Of course these days there wasn't much to be neutral abut.
"i think she does, yeah. I mean he seems to like Bernie i think." He swallowed the noodles, he hadnt thought he was that hungry. Here recently the more he was away from Dionysus the more he slept and ate properly. It made him feel more like a person again instead of walking in a haze.
When he finished up he tapped the chop sticks against the container before tossing them into the box. "Well I'm glad you were there even if nothin' bad happened. Thanks."
"Good," she said with a nod. "It's better than she know exactly who she's dealing with. Of course, I don't actually know your cousin so I don't know her tendencies apart from you saying she's stubborn. That won't get you far with the sort of people she's dealing with. Not with any Greeks, really." It was all simple advice, even if she'd say it more than once. It never hurt being told again. She had noticed he seemed more... well, not in a drunken state when he wasn't near Dionysus. It was hard to miss.
She was slower in eating, perhaps looking a little too proper. But it was how she worked. She offered a smile, "You're welcome. It's the least I could do. Did you tell her there were others standing by watching? I saw Hermes there, too."
"I think so," he tapped his hands against his legs, a common habit he had as a drummer when he was nervous or thinking. "She's great, Bernie's great, I'm jus' worried what that means for the both of 'em now. Bein' his kid an' all. He wouldn't hurt them would he?"
Kyle opened up the bag for an eggroll. "Oh my god this is so good," he mushed. Either that or he just hadn't eaten this well in a while, his mind quick to change between subjects. It was easier to cope that way.
"Hermes? Wow." it was still a little mind blowing.
She thought about how best to answer that. "Look, I don't want to worry anyone. But honestly?" She paused. "I don't think he'd hurt his own child, not on purpose. But if he were angry enough I'm sure even his own flesh and blood wouldn't be safe. I'd be worried about his wife too. She's done some horrible things to his lovers."
Homonoia had finished and didn't dig in anymore. She couldn't blame him for wanting a change of subject, but then again she also didn't like watching people eat. It grossed her out, no matter how proper others were being. But she let him enjoy his meal because the last thing she wanted to do was make him self-conscious about eating.
She nodded, not at all amazed at the presence of another god. She always thought Hermes was attractive, but she decided it was better not to say that aloud. Somewhere in her mind she thought momentarily how she was glad it hadn't been Aphrodite. "How many of us have you met, anyway?"
Kyle nodded finishing up the eggroll and brushing crumbs off his hands. It made him worry less, but anxious in a lot of other ways. "Ah like Medusa? Or was that Athena?" He knew his stories but right now his brain wires were crossed. "Tho I don't think V would even think of bein' with him again." He turned around to face her getting the idea that she'd feel better once he was done eating.
"A few. Dion, Ari, Beroe, an maybe a few more of Dion's friends but not a lot of them," he smiled, "An you and your crew." He meant her mom and sister or whatever. "Would you like a drink?" he asked quickly hopping up to the fridge.
Her brow rose at that, "No, that was Athena because Poseidon defiled Medusa in Athena's temple. It wasn't Medusa's fault at all and yet the poor woman ended up being made an example. She was a beautiful woman before that. Back in those days it was practically a curse to be beautiful. Helen of Troy, Psyche, Medusa, Scylla. I could go on and on. It's probably not any better today, but at least the gods have learned some self control." She looked relieved at that, "It's better for her in the long run. They're both similar in that they're stubborn, though your cousin doesn't sound like a jackass." It was the first time she'd cursed in front of him, though it wasn't foreign to her.
She nodded, "It can be overwhelming, I know. We all have something we rule over. I'm just waiting for my brother and dad to pop up somewhere." She shook her head at the offer, "Water's fine."
"I'm guessin' this guy was never a nice guy. An here I thought Dion was somethin' to be reckoned with." Kyle sighed heavy getting her a bottle of water and himself a coke. He was hoped up on sugar when he wasn't drinking alcohol. He supposed that was an addiction in itself, but it was better than that Dionysus infused world of bright colors, loud music and pounding headaches. He liked this. Getting to relax and just be himself.
He laughed at Mona sitting down beside her again, this time a tad closer than before as he handed her the water. "Who's your dad and brother?" He felt like a complete idiot, but he was still learning.
"Not many gods are really nice, to be honest. If you saw us, I mean the Praxidikai, taking care of something you'd probably think we were horrible and never want anything to do with us." Which was how it usually turned out, "Besides, Dionysus has done plenty of bad things. Although I give him the benefit of the doubt if he was ever drunk, which was usually the case. Then again, we're Greek and there's a lot we do that people today don't think is normal but was normal back then."
She had leaned back to get more comfortable, kicked off her shoes, stretched her legs and crossed her ankles. Her feet hurt but that happened on a daily basis. She smiled, taking the water. "My dad is Soter, god of safety, preservation and deliverance from harm. And my brother is Ktesios, protector of house and property. Our family is very protection oriented in case you hadn't noticed." She grinned at that.
"I've noticed," he said far more shyly than the outgoing Kyle at Naxos would. "I know when Ari left I think I lost everything until his mood switched. I ain't afraid of Dion, but Poseidon looked crazy an' intimidatin'."
When she relaxed he did sinking into the couch. "Well good to have you around then. Don't feel like nerves are all over the place," he smiled again sliding forward to set his drink on the table, settling back onto the couch closer.
She wasn't entirely sure which part he had meant that for but she didn't ask. He seemed shy about it so she figured it was better left 'ignored' for now. "What do you mean 'lost everything'?" She gave a dry laugh, "Sometimes it's the ones who seem potentially sane who are the worse." She could have easily been talking about herself, but in this case it was more about the more popular gods. "It's probably safe to say most Greeks are crazy. Not all are intimidating, but most try. And the ones you least suspect are the ones you have to look out for." Greeks, they were a crazy bunch all together.
She smiled and shrugged, "It's part of what I do. Harmony of mind, you've agreed to let me help you before so I'll continue to do so, and as long as my mind isn't all cluttered yours won't be either. As long as I'm near and Dionysus doesn't try to take over," she added as an afterthought and the last part was almost like her saying aloud she understood and respected Dionysus' claim. That didn't mean she hadn't noticed the closer Kyle kept getting and was going to stop it. For now.
"The band kicked me out, said I was gettin' outta hand or somethin', and truthfully I don't really remember a lot of what happened for that month or so. But she came back and things are better now."
His shoulder slid and touched hers which earned a moment of silence before he just said it. "I like you, you're pretty great," he said. Sometimes it wasn't so bad having that boldness that Dionysus infused.
"Well I'd ask how things went with the band but that's obvious." She sighed and shook her head, "I'd say watch yourself if she ever goes off again but you never know how things will affect you. I respect mortals but you all aren't exactly immune or have a high tolerance for the powers of the gods."
A light blush appeared on her cheeks. It wasn't every day that someone admitted to liking her but she couldn't be certain he hadn't meant in that way. "You mean like hey you're a great friend or..." she paused for a second, "like like?" It was an awkward conversation and no amount of experience could ever prepare her for these situations.
"Like like," he said so simply as if she should have known that already. He propped his own feet up on the table, turning one of the bracelets on his arm as he waited for her response. He certainly didn't expect an immortal girl like her to ever have any attraction in him.
She nodded slowly, though didn't say anything right away. This wasn't just something she could easily dismiss and it wasn't like a school girl crush. "I like you, too. Even if I've only known you a short time." She still looked deep in thought, "But I need you to understand something. I've lived a long time and I've seen people I care about grow old and pass on. It's not something I take lightly. I don't really know why I'm saying it, I just... you need to know where I stand on this sort of thing."
Kyle smiled big nodding his head. "I know, I know it's all kinda whack. I jus' needed to tell you an' all. Didn't expect you ta like me too."
But he was glad she did. It meant he wasn't reading the wrong vibes.
Being cute and lovey wasn't something Homonoia was used to. She had OCD, she was a protector slash punisher and she generally kept to herself. Most of the people she knew was either because they were family, co-workers or because they were people who had approached her. It was all still very strange and new to her even if she had lived for centuries.
She nodded, this time smiling reassuringly, "You're surprised?"
Kyle wasn't quite the flamboyant romantic like Dionysus, but he was a good guy. He shrugged. "Yeah since your immortal and all that, didn't think you'd be the kind to date let alone someone like me." Someone that would eventually fade from this world while they carried on. It didn't mean he wasn't going to try.
Homonoia looked surprised at that. "You forget I'm Greek. I have needs just like everyone else and to be honest, I haven't lived all these years and just ignored those needs. Not that my mom likes it, but I usually feel closer to mortals than my own kind. Probably because we work so closely to them." She almost felt like she was rambling now. "You're not the first mortal I've liked, Kyle. It shouldn't come as a surprise."
"Right," he said embarrassed running a hand through the longer side of his blonde hair. "Of course, why wouldn't you ya know? You know I was jus', I mean," his words were getting a little tangled. "Ah never mind, jus' that's cool." He cleared his throat going for another swallow of his coke, maybe that would calm him down as he'd worked himself up a little. He should have known better, he wasn't normally such a basket case. The day had been a big one and somewhere even with her relaxation tendencies, he was still a mess.
She watched him closely. She wasn't shooting him down at all, but she was probably speaking too much. At least, not the right kind of words. That sort of thing had cost her in the past. She usually just had this feeling about people and Kyle was one of those few who she had taken a liking to. He could count himself lucky or unlucky, it was his choice. And though she wasn't always bold and the one to approach others first she did something she felt was the right move. She pressed her lips against his, if only for a moment. Maybe that would prove her words.
His breath caught in his throat, gentle lips pressed to his, and he returned the sentiment keeping her there in the moment a little longer than she may have intended.
"Cool," he said again, only this time there was a level of excitement there.
There was a little smile on her lips, "If you don't believe that then you have problems." It was a lame attempt at a joke but maybe he'd appreciate it. Joking wasn't exactly her area of expertise.