Grecian Urn...

The light in her garden was darkening by the time she got back home. It had taken so long for someone to answer her call and for them to figure out just who Beau was, but she was satisfied she'd left him in capable hands for the moment. Psyche had every intention of visiting him in the morning. Right now, she just wanted to sit back in her garden and wallow a bit before she slept.

( Picking a piece of wisteria off her beloved vine )

It felt like a dream, the world frozen in the act of daily life. Some people were caught in midstep, while others stared blankly at news papers and mid-sentence. Even the piano seemed dead, though he could still tap out a tune on the keys. Logic told Beau that this was a dream… But it seemed to not end, no matter how many drugs he took, how much he slept, or how piss drunk he was.

Beau Cade was simply the only person in all of Athens that wasn’t frozen in time.

“I don’t understand,” he muttered to himself, scrubbing his face as he stared. “What the fuck…”

He pushed away from the piano to pace a little, weaving around couples that were caught in the middle of a dance, staring into each other’s faces lovingly. Biting his lip, he glanced around the ballroom, and sighed.

“What happen?” He asked a man who was staring at the dancers, waiting for a moment as though he would answer. It was ridiculous, of course, to think there would be a sudden change, that the man would come to life and answer that brief question before resuming his blank stare.

“You need to re-dye your roots,” he commented, “the gray is staring to show.”

Of course the best part of a frozen world was how easy it was to get rid of cops. Stupid Interpol had finally tracked him into Greece. Wanted posters with his face had started to pop up a day or so before everything froze. But since then, Beau had had the pleasure of blowing motionless fuckers’ heads off.

“Maybe I should go try some golf?” Which was more like going out to the driving range and seeing how many times he could hit the sad excuse of a caddy in the head. “You know, I used to be such a good kid.” He looked at the graying man again, and nodded earnestly, “I was. My mummy told me so…I’m not sure what happened, really. I just soured I guess.”

Shrugging, he slapped the table top before moving off into the floor again. “Probably just insane. Insane is what they’d call this isn’t it? Because…well, the world couldn’t stop. Isn’t logical at all. So it all has to be in the mind…and only a sick mind makes the world stop.”

He pursed his lips a moment, before laughing inanely. “Has to be insanity….” He looked back at the graying man, “I’m insane!!”

Or at least he was certainly going mad.

Maybe he was dead? Or…in a coma. Both were good excuses for insanity, right?

Home.

The one place she had always felt safe in. The one place she always knew was her refuge.

Psyche walked into the temple she shared with Eros and looked at the mess she'd left when she'd run out. Images from that night bombarded her and she closed her eyes in defense against them, but it didn't work. Eros filled her vision. Eros, his wings so dark. Eros with blood falling from his lips. Eros shuddering away from her touch.

Eros demanding she leave him.

With a wave of her hand she made the horrible mess disappear. She wanted no sign of their fight left to stare at. Now, all she wanted was just quiet. Someplace to lose herself. And nothing fit that like her garden. Moving outside, she sat under her wisteria and just let her mind clear. She didn't care about the mortal plane, she didn't care that time had stopped. She just didn't care right now.

It didn't matter anyway. The only journey's still in motion were gods, and she wanted nothing to do with most of them at the moment, let alone dealing with their issues.

She'd good and truly fucked up and she had no idea what to do about it.

The house felt way too quiet once Mel had left and with Anteros still sleeping off his early morning drinking binge, Psyche decided to take a walk on the beach. It was rare that she was anywhere besides Olympus, so she was going to enjoy this while she could.

A little girl with brown curly hair ran past her, shooting Psyche with a mischievous grin as she ran to collect sand for the sand castle she and her siblings were making. Psyche returned the smile, thinking about the child Eros and she always talked about having, but never got around to. Now that she'd cheated, she was unsure they would ever have offspring, let alone a marriage, once he found out.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, it took a minute or two for her to clue in that all the noise on the beach had stopped.

The ocean wasn't crashing. The birds weren't calling. And looking at the little girl she'd just smiled at, Psyche knew something was definitely off. She stood, bent at the waist, by the water's edge, her pail still gathering water that was no longer moving.

Psyche didn't even stop to think. She ran straight back to the house, calling for Anteros, the entire way.

Never once did she realize the nagging headache that had plagued her from day one of the switch was finally gone.

Warm. So warm and comfortable. Psyche stretched lightly as she regained consciousness. There was a hard male chest under her cheek and she woke up slowly rubbing her cheek over the tight skin against her.

Eros... She spoke to her partner with her mind before she woke up completely. Then her eyes opened. Drifting upwards, they widened. Oh my gods. That wasn't Eros. What...what had she done?

Luckily through the night, Anteros had drifted of to the side of the couch and Psyche had cuddled against him, so when she moved to escape, she didn't even have to move him. Quietly rushing out of the living room, she found the bathroom and shut herself inside with a lock. She started the shower, setting it to almost near burning hot and just tried to drown herself in it.

Three hours, four chocolate dipped apples the size of her head, five boxes of chocolates bagged for keeping her busy while she was away from home and an entire emergency chocolate stash completely re-stocked later, Psyche returned to Anteros' house.

Opening the door a notch, she peaked her head in. "Hello?"

No one answered.

She opened the door wider and looking around realized that Anteros probably had yet to return from his trip with Aphrodite, which meant she had the house to herself. Setting her bags on her bed, she took the time to explore the house a little more without anyone looking over her shoulder. It was a pretty house, she could see why Anteros had chosen it. There was evidence of his roommate, and Psyche wondered when she would meet her, or if she even would.

After she found Adonis in the backyard, she decided to finally hit up that beautiful beach she'd seen. It would be a great place to just let her mind work out some of her issues. Changing into something a little more sunny beach appropriate, she headed out with Adonis to walk along the water.

"Worse. Honestly, I'm glad she doesn't come up here often. She absolutely hates me for no real discernible reason. There are plenty of people with a reason to dislike me, sure, but I've never done a thing to the bitch."

She grinned at Anteros, looking at Psyche as she mentioned never having Chinese.

"At least tell me it's from some hole in the wall... they make the best spring rolls. You'll like it Psyche."

Never once during the trip from Aphrodite's to the bed at Anteros' did Psyche even make a peep. The stress of the day had caught up to her and she was exhausted. It wasn't until several hours later that she was awoken by the sun streaming into the window near the bed she was tucked into.

Slowly, she sat up, groggy and confused. This wasn't Aphrodite's temple. The bed was comfortable and the sheets were crisp, but she'd never seen them before. Getting out of bed, she looked down and saw that she was still wearing the sweater and pants combo she'd changed into the night before, so it couldn't have been a dream. Spying a door, she poked her head out and looked around. Nope, did not look familiar at all.

Leaving the bedroom, she walked down the hall until she got to the first door she saw. She pushed it open.

"Hello?"

Morpheus continued to walk the short distance to Dite's temple from Eros' and Psyche's place with Psyche. Off to see on the former goddess of love, the wonderful goddess of the Sea who just so happened to currently be it's Queen. He felt compelled to give her a can of Chicken of the Sea after seeing it in one of his mortal dreamer's memories. Poor Jessica Simpson couldn't figure out whether it was chicken or fish which he thought was hilarious since it was tuna.

Unfortunately giving her a can of Chicken of the Sea would mean conjuring it since he was no where near a grocery store and he was afraid since he wasn't accustomed to being a conjurer of real things that he might conjure something horrible instead of what he was aiming to conjure.

Still he swore when he got the chance he was going to send Dite a whole basket of Chicken of the Sea.

He looked at Psyche suspiciously after her inquiry about her. He abstained from answering the first question: "Yeah her. She who must not be named."

"Youse know I can't actually share the name with you? There is this whole Dreamer and Dream confidentiality clause that I actually authored in a binding contract after one of my siblings ratted someone out for something two thousand years back. It's hard enough for some deities to trust us, knowing what we know and can access."

There was nothing in all of Olympus that would have kept Psyche at Aphrodite's temple while she was gone. No way was she sticking around to not only be alone with Anteros...again, but then with both of them. Ten minutes was quite enough of that.

She had planned on going to Peitho's, but something in her drove her home instead. Once there she looked around and realized that she didn't want to be there. Not alone at least, anymore.

Concentrating as hard as she could she focused on her husband wherever he was.

"Eros? I've had an extremely bad couple of days. Anteros yelled at me in front of everyone. Morpheus annoyed me enough that I yelled at him, and according to Anteros, I'll probably have bad dreams forever now. I've had a headache the size of Olympus and you have been no where to be found. If you don't come home right now? I'm leaving. I'm taking myself off to visit all those places I've been dreaming about for forever. I don't care if you're hate or wrath or whatever. Just come home. You have a hour before I go."

With that she began to clean up the temple and pack some essentials.

Anteros with Adonis on a lead, parted from Flidais' beautiful Bantry Bay manor where he had stayed a few days after Ate had left he and Flidais. He wished he wouldn't have worried the entire time, but he had put it off long enough and stopped off at two shops in London to pick up a gift for his mother before winding up back on Olympus.

He carry a plastic shopping bag from Dolce & Gabbana that had a box of silver diamond strapped heels accompanying a second box that just so happened to be a box of Lindt assorted truffles.


Adonis had never been on Mount Olympus before and was pulling at his lead somewhat overwhelmed by the newness of the place. "No, no...This way. My mum's temple is this way."

( Read more... )

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."

Anteros escorted the ladies in his company to the right side of his mother's parlor that was thankfully away from his immature brothers who he had noticed was making eyes at Lethe before deciding to join his sister in law in a separate sitting area.

Anteros released Flidais and waited for the ladies to take their seats while he greeted Psyche, "It's been a long time."

Was Flidais right in assuming he was always a gentleman?

Had his personality stayed intact as much as Iris thought?

When faced with Psyche, who he had mixed feelings about, there was something a bit sinister in the words he had just spoken to her.

Her head just wouldn’t stop pounding.

The trip to Vegas had been cut short due to Peitho making waiter’s throw up and Psyche feeling like she’d been hit in the head with a hammer. It occurred to her that something was very wrong, but she just couldn’t muster up the ability to care. All she wanted was an ice pack and a soft pillow.

As soon as she entered the temple, she summoned that ice pack and headed straight for the bedroom. Hopefully, no one would bother her until this headache disappeared. She was not in a good mood and had no desire to listen to anyone’s problems, worries or fears.

The advice factory of Psyche was closed.

Psyche was searching for her husband. He had said he'd be at his mother's temple, but she couldn't find him anywhere. She had a feeling he was hiding from her, as she wasn't pleased with him at the moment. But that couldn't be helped. He needed to come out and quit being such a baby.

Seeing a doorway she hadn't looked in yet, she wandered over to it and entering ran straight into Peitho.

"Oh! I'm sorry!"