To: Pothos - From: Harmonia
Harmonia had been so confused that her brows furrowed and her face scrunched up as she stared at the name she was to be a 'Secret Santa' for. She didn't understand any of this. Who was Santa? Why was he secret? What was she supposed to do with this name she'd been given? It was her first winter away from the Underworld in thousands of years and she was so utterly lost. What was Christmas? Was that what people were calling the winter solstice these days? There had been no formal solstice celebration in ancient days that really coincided with this whole Christmas thing.
So, she made the mistake of asking Philotes who promptly squealed, baked cookies, made popcorn and plunked Harmonia on the couch to watch nearly three straight days of Christmas movies. Post movies she filled in the blanks on history and traditions and Balance had been so overwhelmed with Christmas this and Christmas that, that she completely went numb for about two straight days.
She's supposed to give a gift to Pothos and not let him know who she was until she gave the gift. That was tricky. Even with all things considered, and that she was staying with her mother from time to time to give Lottie some space, Harmonia wasn't sure if Pothos even knew she was back. And he was her brother. Well, almost-brother. She really wasn't related to him at all but he was as good as his brother because they'd kinda grown up together. At least a bit, after Iris brought him to Aphrodite.
But she hadn't seen Pothos, she had no idea what he liked or did anymore on the side of his duties. She didn't even know how he wore his hair anymore. Harmonia was no good at this gift giving thing. Especially since so many things about life were a mystery to her. What she finally settled on after much thought was a bottle of anise ouzo – a modern Greek traditional aperitif. She could have tied a note to and just left it at his door, but instead Balance decided it was time to see her almost-brother and get to know him all over again.
Harmonia stood outside his door, dressed in kahki's and a festive blouse with a Santa hat on and knocked three times. Smiling, she waited and hoped he was around. The only thing missing was snow. Other than on the peaks of mountains, she'd never seen snow. Did it snow in Asgard? Maybe she should ask Tyr to show her snow. No, that would be forward. Maybe Idun? No, Idun was still without Bragi and not likely to be in the mood to show this poor, inexperienced Greek all the fun to be had in snow.