Grecian Urn...

She could feel, as the moments go by, her memory eroding slowly. Little things, here and there were just slipping away.... and she knew she couldn't possibly have long. That, coupled with the niggling feel of the call from assistance had her swallowing down a growing feeling of franticness. She needed to go see about setting things in motion, to make sure they'd be ok once she was useless to most of Olympus again... but she wanted, more than anything, to stay with Morph until she had to go. it just wasn't, wasn't fair.

"I... I need to go do something. And you need to do this, and figure out if your realm is ok. I shouldn't be log, and I will try to come back. And if I can't, well... You need to know. No, I need you to know I loved you. I love you now. And ... I'm going to try." She smiled at Morpheus, leaning in to offer a lingering kiss before she disappeared, arriving on her sister's door step.

With a knock that was hesitant at first, then growing towards demanding, she finally pushed the door open and stepped inside, calling out to the sister she knew was here.

"Ate? ATE."

She liked watching him sleep, she thought, as she looked down at the god sprawled beside her. His face held a certain calmness to it that she didn't see when he was alive... it wasn't the cherubic scowl Anteros often wore while sleeping, or the innocent countenance Hori had, but just a contentedness, without the jaded edge most gods wore so often. Granted, she'd only ever seen him sleep twice, both times after marathon bouts of sex, but she was sure e was beautiful whenever he slept. She envied him the relaxation, the comfort of curling up and drifting off.

She was careful as she untangled her limbs from his and slid off the bed, watching to make sure she didn't wake him as she moved around the room toward a dresser, pulling out a halter top and running shorts and slipping into the silently. Socks, then running shoes were donned and a peak outside the window told her dawn was just breaking. Quietly she moved to the door, taking her time to open it and sneak out, pulling it closed just as gently behind her. She paused to listen, not hearing anything that indicated he woke up, and smiled before heading to the front door and out into the world.

And then she ran.

It was quieter than normal... that was an understatement. It had never been this quiet before, never without the sound of some sort of life around, no matter how uninhabited an area was. To know she was in one of the more congested area of the New World and still no life surrounded her? a truly strange thing. and yet, in a way, exhilarating. There was no need to hold back, no questions that would be asked about the preternatural speed and stamina she was able to exhibit on occasion. Sure, the Litae hadn't been around much, but there was no need to keep out of practice should they show. Not that prayers seemed to have ever had much effect in Los Angeles...

It was strange to have to move around the immovable people, but grew humorous as the run went on... it was like someone replaced them all with mannequins, for they fell if bumped into, then lay where they were. Would they bruise? it was only a passing question, as she wasn't overly concerned with their welfare. All in all, while she'd not like it all the time, this frozen people thing wasn't half bad as far as she was concerned... and while she didn't like what was the obvious answer of returning to Olympus to determine what happened, not even that could really kill her high spirits.

It was a good two hours before she returned to the house, panting slightly at the exertion, a towel draped over her neck as she stepped back inside... with luck, she had time to shower and make breakfast before Momos was awake. She couldn't imagine him being thrilled with the idea of Olympus either.

Momos didn't even wait until Anteros and Flidais were out of the room before he turned around and wrapped both of his arms around Ate. He gave her a kiss on her forehead, before looking down at her and smiling.

"I like your friends, baby. Especially the foreign one. She says should you ever want to make out with her again, you're most welcome. I told her I'd let you know."

He waggled his eyebrows at her.

"If you want to take her up on the offer, I'm sure we can get her back here."

"Mmmm... back to what you want, I see... I'm starting to like you greedy."

She smiled, leaning back a bit to look up at him with a clouded expression... then smiled, transporting them both from the bar to the living room of the home she shared with Anteros.

"Home sweet home..."

She pulled back, hand reaching for his as she turned to move toward the hot tub. She led the way toward the back of the house, stoppng abruptly as she came to the doorway of the kitchen, spying Anteros and Flidais.

"I... thought you were in Bantry Bay?"

Momos smiled down at Ate, then walked her out of the garden, oblivious to the rest of the family.

Once they got to the outside of Eris' temple, he stopped.

"Do you want to go dancing, or elsewhere?"

"Not at all. Not at all, niece."

She sniffed and looked down her nose at Ate.

"Simply that as a spawn of my sister, I doubt you know how to properly prepare anything, let alone how to wash your hands."

Oh, that felt good. Very, very good.

Girl? Did he seriously just refer to her as girl? She just smirked and offered a bit of a shrug.

"I do clean up nice every couple of years, I suppose. I trust you're finding everything ok?"

She was tempted to introduce herself, but didn't think it really worth the effort...

    All in all, She was rather dubious about the idea of family dinner. It wasn't that she didn't want to see people... She was rather fond of everyone she was related to. Her grandparents were quite lovely, so far as she was concerned, and she did have things she needed to discuss with certain  siblings.

    On the other hand... she had a finite, short amount of time with Morpheus, before everything got all messed up again. She wanted to be irrational, and think up all sorts of ways to avoid what was going to happen... but she voiced none of them. She wasn't even sure he'd want that, if it was possible... and wasting time on theories and ideas seemed... well, a waste.

    She paused in front of her mothers house and listened, hearing the sounds from the back, and turned to face him, offering a smile.

    "It sounds like everyone's in the back. Sure you want to go? We don't have to..."

She was in the kitchen, finishing a few final touches on dinner as she heard the door swing open.

"I know I'm not dressed yet..."

She looked up, a grin forming a she saw it was Kia, and not Eris as expected.

"Ahh... it's you. Disregard that. You early?"

“I was hoping for a nice sit down dinner…”

“Well, Eris, You are rather certifiable.”

“Cheeky. That's no way to talk to your mother."

Ate laughed, and looked at Eris. “Oh, right… like any sane person would want to figure out the seating arrangements for this dinner, if they were hoping to avoid bloodshed? We’re doing a buffet. Listen to your caterer.”

“Caterer?”

“Mmm. You’ll get my bill. You’re sure you want to unleash this sort of crazy?”

“I just want everyone to get along.”

“You invited the wrong family for that.”

Eris lifted a brow at her daughter’s retort, and shook her head. “You're a horrible daughter. So, here in the garden, you think?”

Ate glanced around her mother’s garden, and smirked as she nodded. “You’ve got what... Venus fly traps, yellow trumpets, cobra lilies, hemlock, belladonna, fox glove, white oleander… I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to dine amidst the carnivorous and poisonous, but it’s not like you can uninvite the family now, is it?”

“You’re in a foul mood.”

“Gee. Considering I’ve been shanghaied into cooking for a dinner I don’t want to be at for people I don’t want to see in a place where I’ve been officially banned… and the easiest bit since it all has been convincing Hori that Curry with Sprinkles really wasn’t the thing to make… Yeah. I’m in a mood.”

“Bah. Away with you.”

Eris shoo’ed Ate toward the kitchen, and surveyed the garden. Ate did have a point… there was a lot less that needed doing if they were going to have it out here. She manifested some bistro chairs in various groupies around the garden paths, as well as some wrought iron chairs, and watched contently as a string of Chinese paper lanterns hung themselves along the privacy hedges and over the garden. Rather then candles, each one produced an orb of darkness – her parents would be bright enough for anyone.

Along the side of the temple near the kitchens she conjured a long buffet table, then moved it toward the pool, Thwarting any plan Ate might have of hiding in the kitchen all night. If forcing your child to mingle with relatives at a family party wasn’t part of parenting, she didn’t know what was. Pleased with the way the garden looked, she moved toward the kitchen, watching as Ate did her thing.

“Need help?”

“I’m good.”

“What have you made?”

“Fried chicken, baked ziti, potato salad, ceasar salad, pasta salad, Shish kebab… plus crudités and an olive tray for starters, and for dessert, svinghi and kataifi.”

“Impressive.”

“Eh. You taught me how to make most of it…”

“Ahh.. and that school in France had nothing to do with it?” Eris smiled as she saw the look on Ate’s face. “You didn’t think I knew about that.”

“Didn’t think you’d care.”

“I pay more attention than you think.”

“Any attention is generally more than I think.”

“Am I really that horrid?”

“Eris… I have a lot of stuff to do. Won’t people be here any minute?”

“So that’s a yes.”

“No, it’s… no. You weren’t. We don’t have time for this conversation right now.”

“Your sister thinks this is a good time to bury the hatchet.”

“There is no hatchet. We’re never going to have some deep mother/daughter bond you seem to want lately.”

“But we could be friendlier. We could both probably benefit from that.”

“Probably. You’re beating around the bush about something… spit it out.”

“I’ll spit it out if you tell me why you’re in such a bitchy mood.”

“Will it get you to leave my kitchen? Fine.”

“My kitchen… but yes. Very well… Apollo’s asked me to marry him. I told him we needed to talk to family first.. especially Elpis. But I’d like it if the rest of you were ok with it.” She canted her head as she watched her eldest’s reaction, a bit surprised at the total lack of response. “ Your turn.”

“The only thing bothering me currently is the fact that I’m going to have very little time to get changed.”

Eris frowned, a bit perturbed at the reaction, or lack there of, and was about to argue it a bit when she heard something in the front of the temple, indicating someone had actually arrived on time.

“Yes.. do change first. I’m going to see who’s here. Yell if you need anything…”

She swept out of the kitchen, leaving Ate to finish whatever it was she was doing with various bowls and trays, making her way to the main hall, a smirk growing slowly across her lips. Oh, her parents were going to just love this… she knew it.

Hori was doing surprisingly decent in the kitchen, and while she had a lot to do, She had a few other things to take care of before this little disaster in the making that Eris was planning... or at least, one thing in particular. After making her brother swear he wouldn't add sprinkles to anything, she left him instructions on finishing the potato salad, and stated she'd be back shortly.

With a cursory glance to make sure she didn't have flour on her, She relocated herself from Greece to California, outside of the one place she knew she could find Momos. She was here way too often, really... once for a favor, once for... well, and now She had to convince him that as far as anyone else was concerned, her last visit hadn't happened. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the club, flashing Cindy a light smirk before stepping further in to search him out.

She really shouldn't be here.

She shouldn't feel guilty... She had left a note. Sure, he couldn't read it... But she knew Selene would be able to. And chances were good she'd be back before sunrise, anyhow. She just needed to go... out. Be with people. Problem was... none of her usual haunts would work. But comedy.... comedy would work.

She slipped into the comedy club rather unobtrusively, eying the stage as she waited for the next act and finding a place at a table. She took a seat, waiting for a bit while waiting for the waitress to come by. She wasn't sure how long she'd be able to handle this, really... but at least there were people to inspire...

Apollo was asleep, and it was really no wonder... he'd had a rough day, and a rather active night. A lovely, incredible active night. And for some reason, she was unable to sleep...though she was content to blame this on her parents for now. She had committed to this party, and had told Hori she'd take care of everything here... And it seemed like there was no time like the present.

She could feel various people in her temple, and threw a ward up around her chambers to keep them from entering - last thing she needed was her father coming in and finding Apollo there while she was gone. Making sure she was looking her best (She'd need every bit of confidence boost she could conjure) she teleported out of her temple, to a courtyard in the Underworld. It had been..... eons since she'd been there, and it took a few moments for her to get her bearings. And her courage. She could probably have gotten Thanatos to do this... but he hadn't been back to her temple yet.. maybe he knew who was there.

Once she got a hold of a sense of direction, she made her way a short walk toward her brother's temple, finding the place mostly unchanged since she'd last been here. She almost walked right in, forgetting for a second that her days of free access were most likely over long long ago. Instead she knocked, waiting impatiently until the door was opened, offering a simple smile.

"Eris to see Momos..."

With luck, she'd have this over with before Apollo awoke....

As soon as Ate left, Momos moved to his office and tried to distract himself from the throbbing in his groin and the throbbing in his hand.

It was amazing, the entire time he'd been with Ate, his hand hadn't hurt a bit but now that she was gone, that was all he could feel. Well, with the exception of his libido. Gods, he was horny. Not that he blamed Ate at all, she'd been denying him for years, he really didn't expect her to just decide to give in because they kissed. The frustration was completely his fault.

He sighed. Looking around he saw that there was quite a bit of work that he needed to get done, but he couldn't even concentrate on it. If he was his old self, he'd go out and inspire some mockage, but it wasn't even as much fun when it was praise he made people shout.

Instead he moved to the one way mirror instilled in his wall, and just watched the people outside laughing at the random comedian on stage. He was never more at home then he was when he was here.

She left Limos plotting the reforestation of the Sahara or whatever was going to float his boat, and returned to the scene of the crime, managing to shudder only slightly as she felt the Mountain beneath her feet once more. She really needed better places to find people. Still... unless he left right after she did, This was going to be the best place to find her quarry...

She took a seat on the sie of the fountain in front of Love's temple, and waited for her uncle.

"Wow, Momos... the excitement is just.... rolling off you. Off the fucking charts. We'll go. Maybe Mom has apple pie waiting for us at home..."

She smirked a bit as she moved toward the door, keeping her arm around Thanatos', her words lacking the normal snark that would accompany them... she didn't really feel like fighting, but form seemed to dictate at least some snippy remark. Did form stand even after so long? She hadn't seen him other than in passing since before The Box, it seemed... She had the urge to try and get along, but was almost certain it was the pesky harmony inside her.

She walked out beside them both, blinking a bit at the sun... it felt like they'd been in there forever.

(Continue the meeting here. )

Apollo pushed past him, his arms around Eris as he laughed at Hermes. They all left him in the entry way alone, Dite's voice in his head as he tried to make sense...

Everything felt wrong. His hands were shaking as he reached out for the the door, only to pull back a moment later and look away.

It is all wrong Dite, he said softly, Apollo...

He drifted, stumbling back as groaned. It was wrong. It was all wrong. He moved from the entry way, and through Dite's more private quarters. A servant came running toward him, and Hermes jerked away, surprised and startled as he pushed her away.

"I know you were behind it, just fix it all." The girl hissed it at him as he back away, "Die...Die....Poor little Hermes."

"Get away from me!"

She stopped looking at him Maliciously (or that was what he saw) before she turned an ran out of the room, Hermes falling to the floor and crawling into a corner where he hide, curled into a ball and rockin'.

Its all wrong...I didn't do it....I...

Only he wasn't so sure anymore.

Chin up and full of confidence, she walked out of her salon into the main audience chamber, escorted by Deimos. She paused once inside, taking a quick inventory of those there... some were expected of course, and others posed quite the surprise. She pat Deimos arm lightly and released it with a smile.

"I'm going to make the rounds... if you'd like to rejoin your brother, that'd be fine."

If he wished to go with her he was of course welcome, but she doubted he was really in the mood. Seeing as how she already felt a pang of guilt for what she'd asked of him, she saw no need to torture him further. She decided to start at the back, moving to each group of individuals quickly, greeting each deity in turn, offering each a welcome of some sort, stopping only for a moment with each.

"Iris, thank you for coming."

"Anteros, please stop scowling... it's hardly flattering."

"...Flidais. What a surprise.. welcome to my home."

"Artemis. It's good to see you. Thank you for getting the ball rolling with the refreshments... There may have been riots. It's appreciated."

"Hephaestus..." To him she said nothing, just smiled as patted his cheek lightly, thumbing away the lipstick mark left by Artemis' kiss.

She moved closer to where the bulk of her children were gathered, and a small stand off seemed to be happening.

"Harmonia.. Do sit up straight, please.:

"Strife" She offered him a wink. "You're still here and sitting still? Wonders may never cease."

"Ate - It's been a very long time since you've graced my temple."

"Elpis. Welcome."

"Zelos... You already know I'm glad to see you."

"Limos.... my, you've grown up quite handsome, haven't you?"

"Lethe, a pleasure."

She bent down to kiss Phobos,the only one of her children present she'd not seen recently, on the cheek lightly. "You're plotting something, darling... I hope it waits till we're done here."

She straightened and smiled at everyone again, surprised at hose she noticed were missing.. Hermes, most obviously, and Thanatos - though she expected he'd return. Hermes, though - one could never be sure about. He could be dealt with later, though.

"Thank you all for coming. I do appreciate your patience. I wanted to say first that I realize everyone is being affected by this... and I kno no one is very happy. I do not know what has happened - but I plan on working hard to find out what it is, and restore everyone to their rightful selves. I know we're all anxious for answers, and while I can't promise any today, I do hope that maybe collectively we can perhaps pool our knowledge, and see if together we might be able to discover anything."