Her mouth opened to give an automatic denial, then snapped shut again. While she wasn’t really up for a party just then, but Doc had a point about burning away stress. It wasn’t her thing at all, but it might just be his. There wasn’t a feeling of closeness between Asklepios and Artemis, at least not that she could pick up on, but she was still his aunt. Her death had to have some negative effect, even if he was really good at hiding the way he felt.
After all, look at Philammon. His grief was far easier for her to read, but that was perhaps because his mourning process was closer to Philotes’ own. Just because Asklepios mourned differently didn’t mean that he wasn’t hurting. If he thought the party was a good idea for her, it probably meant he needed it himself. And she’d be a very poor friend if she’d deny him that.
But she couldn’t just say she was going for him. That would make him feel bad. She bumped her shoulder playfully against his, and gave a teasing wink. “You asking me on a date, Doc?”
It was a weak joke, but the best she could offer in that moment. Before he could give his answer, she gave hers. “The party sounds good. I’m sure Peitho will be there, and Hedy. It will be good to see them, so yeah, let’s go.”
Her eyes strayed again to Philammon. She really wished they could have met under better circumstances, maybe had Oizys introduce them. Maybe then he would have liked her. Well, he might still like her, eventually. She’d just have to work on that a bit. Once they got past all this mess. But in the mean time, she was making him uncomfortable in his own apartment and that really wasn’t fair at all.
“If you see Oi,” she told him quietly, “can you please tell her I was looking for her? I just want to be sure she’s alright.” And that’s where quiet ended. “Oh. And tell her that she looks pretty. I sort of gave her a make-over and I think she’s a little uncertain about the results, but her hair looks so much prettier down, especially without all the make-up hiding her lovely eyes, and it’d be nice if somebody could tell her that she’s beautiful because she really, really is, but I think she thinks she’s not and that’s why she’s still a virgin which I think sort of makes her a little scared of sex because she’s got this whole thing built up in her mind, like it’s some big scary thing because she’s put it off for so long and if she’d just get it over with I think it would make her far less nervous to think about it or even talk about it, and I really think it would do a world of good for her self-esteem, which is why I did the make-over in the first place and she… uh… just… just let her know I stopped by, okay?”
Cheeks rapidly heating at her loss of control over her mouth at such an inappropriate time, Philotes decided now would be a good time to make her exit. Swiftly, she crossed the apartment, aiming for the front door. “Again, I apologize for intruding, Philammon. I’m so sorry.
“Doc,” she smiled at her friend, “drop by the farm to pick me up for the party. I’ll introduce you to my goat.”