She took a deep breath, even as her arms wrapped around Persephone to return the embrace. The scent of her, when Friendship closed her eyes, and the warmth of her hug always made Lottie feel like she was standing in the middle of a meadow of wild flowers. It was one of the very best things about Hades' queen, that she could convey all of that just by the way she smelled and moved and looked. There was no doubt in Lottie's mind that Persephone was one of the very best goddesses ever, because she so utterly and effortlessly personified her bailiwick. How many other deities could do that? Seph was just amazing.
When she began to lean back, the signal that the hug was coming to an end, Philotes fought the urge to cling. Not because she was a clingy type person, but because she truly loved the contact. She was an extremely tactile person; though that was something that not everyone appreciated, she knew. It gave her a mental reminder to go find her nephew. He always liked touching. And smelling. Not the same way she did, but still.
Philotes smiled at Persephone. “I'm well, but I bet you already knew that. I know you've got spies, everywhere. Just yesterday, I was about to do something rather naughty, but there was this batch of pansies and they were watching me with their little faces, so I decided to be good instead. And everybody knows that bluebells are horrible gossips, they've always got their heads together to whisper to one another.”
She was teasing, of course, but Lottie always liked to make Persephone smile. Or even better, to laugh. Actually she liked to do that for just about everybody, because she thought the world was a better place with more smiles in it. But for somebody she loved the way she loved Seph, it was a special thing to earn those happy looks.
“And I'm always happy to come,” she reassured her friend and queen. “You know that. I'm here for anything you need, even if it's just a chat. Is this? Just a chat? Or is it something more? Because I sort of cleared my schedule for the rest of the day, so I'm good either way, but if it's going to be one of those serious things, I could go get some wine or make some tea so we can get comfy while we chat, except could we not sit in the dirt this time when we do that, because I know you like to be near the growing things, and I totally get that, it's just that last time I ended up taking home two earthworms in my chiton and it sort of skeezed me out a little bit because really, I mean, they're worms and they were in my clothes and ew, but maybe if you wanted, I could put down a cloak or something, if you really need to sit on the ground but there are some perfectly good chairs down here that we could use instead. I mean, if this is going to be a long talk. If not, never mind.”