Grecian Urn...

*backdated before the Dite cast her spell*

There was a disadvantage to many who suffered from a powered polarization of powers. Zelos himself was not as badly off as others, which was to his advantage. While his skill with manipulating his talents was hardly as proficient, he had far more talent than Athena did. That was her down fall, ultimately.

In the mist of the night, and turmoil, the entirety of the mountain was far more obsessed with their individual woes to take notice of one star fading.

His work had been ugly, and she had cost him more than few injuries. But when it was all said and done, one Goddess of War was no more… He would have to remember to thank Apollo for his ignorance at some point.

He had been quite pleased to send a message to Aphrodite, informing her the task was done and he would await a audience with the new Queen of Olympus. As for his mother, he would simply explain that sometimes blood was needed to assure her that plans could unfold without suspicion. And in both cases, the once god of Jealousy would have his way.

Vengeance and greater power.

"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.

"You'd think he'd have held onto it better then. I'm sure he does appreciate your... support, dear. I have nothing against the Smith, but I do think Hades better suited... though to be fair, I remember when Hades was green."

She glanced toward Reb with a frown, sue she just misheard Styx.

"What do you mean, Cronus is back?"

Shortly after Thanatos had left for his meeting, Styx had grown restless. She'd tried drinking more wine, reading a book and just relaxing, but nothing worked. Her skin began to feel tight and flushed. Clothes suddenly seemed to be a hindrance. There was no doubt in her mind what was happening to her. She’d been married, she knew what desire was, but this, however was just unacceptable to her. There was a time and place and this was not it!

When the temple began to feel stale, she opened the door for some air and the sight that greeted her, made her recoil in shock. The shades wrapped around one another, copulating in a mad rush like the human animals they once were. She shut the door before they spotted her and flocked around her again. It seemed she wasn't just love, she was lust and it was affecting everything around her. She began to pace, excess energy radiating from her like sunshine. Suddenly, the desire that had been building in her came to a head, creating a fire that desperately needed to be banked. She needed to get out of here.

There wasn’t a set place that she wanted to go, she just knew she was looking for something specific, so she focused on that and teleported out of her temple, unwilling to walk anywhere near the shades. The world stopped spinning and she found herself outside a random packed college bar.

“Perfect.”

A blink and she was dressed in the tightest black dress possible. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t sit in it, it wasn’t going to be on long. Pushing the door open, she stepped inside and immediately all conversation stopped as every hormone in the room jumped to attention. Surveying her prey, she walked up to a table of able bodied, attractive young men and women, and pointed to three of the boys and one of the girls.

“I’ll take you four.” Chairs scraped back faster than melting ice on a hot day, as the ones she’d pointed to moved to stand, following her as she moved away towards the bartender. He was an overweight, middle aged man and running her fingers along his jaw line, Styx whispered in his ear her request. He nodded and pointed towards a door on the other side of the bar. “Lovely. Thank you.”

She turned and looked at the captive crowd, “You have fun while we’re away, alright?” As soon as she and the four she’d chosen entered the office, the crowd outside began to pair up and soon a full on orgy was in effect. The shades, it seemed, weren’t the only ones affected by Styx tonight.

...

Several hours later, Styx looked at the four exhausted college students. She’d thought young mortals had better stamina then that. A sigh. Well, at least she didn’t feel like a over extended balloon ready to pop any more. Leaving the room, she made a quick stop in the bathroom to make sure she was presentable. Engaging in a fivesome on a desk was one thing and perfectly alright, but looking like she’d been in one? Unacceptable.

Outside the office, the bar crowd slept off their orgy soundly and she worked her way around the bodies scattered this way and that. It was time she paid a visit to Olympus, and let her displeasure at this situation be known. Without a backwards glance at the mortals sleeping behind her, she left the bar and teleported to the mountain. She had every intention of first seeing her children, and then finding out what, if anything the meeting had uncovered.

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."

Limos didn’t leave his mother’s home, not when the other’s had. Instead he read, and ate. Mostly read, though. Lethe’s world tumbled out before him, with the eloquence that could have only come from the tongue of a muse, the emotional drive to give the emotion backing to her words. As though she would forget again.

But then, he supposed she would, much like he would stop sprouting trees and flowers. Much like any of their siblings would return to normal. (Such as Hori-Boy, who had returned from his trip and promptly tumbled over into his bed, as though nothing in the world could bother him.) Only the idea of her forgetting brought the idea of her being abused by themselves all over again. And they had, hadn’t they?

He looked at the page again forlornly, wondering when they had all become so selfish that they didn’t treat Lethe as a sister any longer, but rather as a quirk in nature that none wanted to deal with. Except Hori, it seemed, who dealt with all their siblings (save Lies and Falsehood) with equal pleasure.

And so he read more, engrossed and then…

It took every fiber in his body to hold the journal steady, though rage began to build. He had taken the news of Elpis with grace, having no real care either way. But this…this was worse than any hatred a sibling could have for another. This was a crime against his blood…a repeated crime!

Ate…. he almost screamed for her, but did not. Instead he stood in one flood motion. The book closed and politely stashed to out of the way of anyone who could stumble upon it and read. No one else needed to know. He and Ate could deal with the crimes…

Would.

Eyes narrowing, Limos left his mother’s home and stalked across the greens to Aphrodite’s palace. No scenes. That would be what Ate would say…

When he entered Love’s Temple, though, he ignored the glances of his sister’s, his eyes searching out the two beings he loathed the most in that moment, surpassing his hatred for Demeter herself.

He didn’t even wonder about what he could really do to them. He didn’t care. Son’s of war or not, the would pay.

Zelos had listened to the tired, beaten messenger God as Hermes delivered his news. He could see the haggard way things were wearing on the man, as if something was wrong but unlike others it did not manifest itself in the direct manner. One had to look at him, to really see it. Really look at him.

Hermes eyes were dull, and dim. They lacked the eternal curiosity that had always pushed him forward, and in so many ways the god looked…younger. As if he were unconsciously retreating into a youthful form, hoping that child like innocence would carry him on.

But Jealousy, or rather ‘Trust’ as he seemed to have become, didn’t keep the boy there to inspect him. Study him. Instead he passed word to his siblings, and turned to leave the temple of Zeus…which was now, by virtue, the Temple of Jealousy. And to think, a Daimone with such a temple? It was unheard of before now. He would gain rank, though. He would become something more than a spirit, a powerful creature that was very much a god…but still much less than those like the twelve.

Walking along the path, the ancient being regarded the younger godlings that darted about in worry disarray. Someone did creative, destructive work. He would have been jealous of the work, if it had still been a part of him.

So instead to warded the mount, aiming to speak with Dite for a moment, before the whole of the mount came down to raise their pitch-forks and torches, ready to lynch the man responsible.

He’d say someone close to Dite knew exactly who that was, he would put money on it. No King or Queen in history ever escaped the fate of a loyal servant knowing something they didn’t.

He left Kratos with the strictest of instructions not to let anyone save himself into Zeus' temple. Bia and Nike were likewise told not to leave the temple. He wanted, in some manner, to give the appearance of holding the fort. Assuming, that was, that Zeus was still alive.

That was what drove him to the depth of the Underworld, seeking out his mother in a manner. He was not rushed in the affair, taking his time to inspect what the depths of darkness had become in the absence of a King. He wanted power, with so much of it roaming free, he felt he deserved power...

But he would need support as well.

The seams on his pants were sharp and pressed as Zelos walked though the empty halls of Zeus' palace. He remained there, though Zeus and Hera had fled. Technically he was still loyal to them. He's ancient oaths binding him until such time as he was released. But while they were gone, what was their's was his. For now, for a while. He would use it to his advantage, but without risk to his...freedoms either.

Still it was nice to have the temple to himself, to his family. His mother would not leave her river, but his younger siblings had gathered around to fortify the main temple with him. He was pleased to note that thus far, even Athena was too busy too notice, or unwilling to challenge them for control of the temple.

Nike, though, had voiced her concern for Zelos' loyalties. He dismissed such concerns, reminding her that once he had served as a part of Love's court as well. And while it was a long time in the past, and before Zeus came into being, it was not a loyalty to be ignored either.

But it didn't matter. For now the four of them lived like kings and queens. And soon, Zelos would find a way to make a change to the siblings functions upon the mount.