Mina Corte-Real | Syrinx (syrinx) wrote in mythologs, @ 2012-05-09 22:55:00 |
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Entry tags: | hermes, syrinx |
[closed/complete]
Characters: Syrinx [syrinx] & Hermes [xpolytropos]
Date/Time: Wed afternoon.
Location: Supermarket & then police station.
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Hermes tries to help and it does not end well. Aka real life pacman is played in the supermarket.
The reasons for her to go alone to the supermarket had less to do with Syrinx wanting to be alone and more with her wanting to surprise people. For the last few days she had poured over recipes on the internet. Brownies, cookies, cake. That was why she'd ventured more down town, picking out one of the larger supermarkets in the area. The directions had been written messily on a piece of paper that was now crumpled in her pocket. Syrinx held a basket and began picking out what was required for her special cooking attempt.
It was probably going to go badly on first try so she made sure to get double of everything. Flour, milk, eggs, baking soda- and chocolate chips. Which she couldn't really find. She gave a quiet huff of exasperation, but couldn't find the courage to go ask an employee about it. Instead she lingered on the side, looking over and over again as if they would materialize out of thin air.
No luck.
No- wait, wait. There. Syrinx's eyes became comically wide as she spotted the last pack of chips on the highest shelf possible. There. That was what she needed. It was rather high up, but she was sure she could go and get it. Yes, yes she could. And so began the fateful attempt of the nymph jumping up and down and holding to the side of the shelves to try and grasp the chocolate chips. Just a little more.
Hermes enjoyed cooking for himself as much as he enjoyed eating out. That, and there was a joy to meeting people in the store. He ended up in the funniest conversations, with the most delightful people. The role of psychopomp would never be completely eradicated from him. He took delight in mortals and their life stories, even if he could scarce remember them all.
Thus, it wasn't unusual for him to approach a random bystander to help or to strike up conversation on something interesting - perhaps an eye-catching keychain on their bag or an intriguing purchase. As he caught sight of the girl bouncing up and down, however, he approached simply to help. Much taller than the girl was, Hermes encountered no difficulty plucking the chocolate chips from the shelf and holding them out for the girl.
"Here you go."
The effect of Hermes' presence was instantaneous. It was like the ground was removed from under her feet and Syrinx hunched her shoulders- uncomfortable and ready to bolt. She forced herself to face the man who was trying to help (but to her mind he wasn't helping he had her corralled between himself and some shelves with no route of escape unless she slid under his legs or something.
Syrinx seriously considered that option. Instead she gave him a wide-eyed look, "Um. T-that's okay."
And with more bravery than she thought possible she pushed past him, leaving behind her groceries and everything else. She just wanted to move away- her mind had blanked out anything but the need to move. Really, it wasn't Hermes' fault at all.
"Hey, you left your groceries!" Picking them up off the floor, he followed after her. For a moment it occurred to him that it was unlikely anyone was so forgetful as to suddenly leave their possessions, but he'd encountered many people unstable enough for random episodes. "Madamoi -- Miss!"
Owing to his taller height and consequently longer stride, he reached her in good time. "I could carry 'em for you, if you like." Usually a tactic he reserved for charming elderly women - nothing got them smiling like a young man eager to lend a helping hand. Their proximity to death made it even more like Hermes's old night job; they so loved to go on about their lives and times, which fascinated Hermes endlessly.
To anyone else, Hermes was being a gentleman. To Syrinx? He had turned into one of those ghosts from the pacman game who followed the poor pacman around aisle trying to eat him. She sincerely hoped he was not going to eat her, that would be very unfortunate for her. Really, his offer was fine and she was just... well, looking at him like a deer caught in the headlights as if she didn't quite understand.
Though he spoke another language altogether.
Syrinx instead continued down the aisle and took a sharp turn to the left, ignoring the fact she crashed into a display of boxes and toppled them over. She ignored that and made to skip past those to get onto the next turn.
He'd been quick to meet her pace, until the display of boxes suddenly came down in her wake. Fortunately, Hermes was quick on his feet owing to his professions - previous and current - so he caught himself just before he tripped. He scowled down at the mess for a brief moment, before his features were quickly rearranged into a pleasant expression.
He supposed he could leave the girl's bags with customer service, maybe have them held for her until such time that she chose to retrieve them. He'd spent too much time in the grocery, anyway. Softly whistling to himself, he turned back and made his way to the customer service counter.
Of course things were not going to be that easy for them (oh hell no). Apparently, security had been watching the whole thing with a less than pleased eye, and while Hermes had decided not to chase after Syrinx, the fact he had not made one of the guards take his arm with the assumption that he had stolen her things. "Excuse me, sir? Sir? You're going to have to come with me."
On the other side of the store, another of the guards had caught Syrinx by the waist and hauled her by the waist and over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes despite her kicking and flailing. In all the commotion the cops had been called to properly sort out the entire mess (though hopefully no one was going to really, get arrested... nope, not yet anyway).
The nymph flailed all the way to the customer counter, while the guard escorted Hermes very firmly by the arm.
Hermes was as calm as possible, offering no resistance. It was always best to let them think they were in charge. Steadily as possible, he spoke. "Officer, this is a misunderstanding."
He turned to Syrinx expectantly, on the rather off chance that she'd have something to say to take the burden off both their shoulders. Though he wasn't too hopeful of getting out of the sticky situation now - the man holding him had his lips set in a firm line.
There was a moment of worry - Hermes played on both sides of the law, but if he did anything to outright alarm either side... No, no. His tracks were covered. Unless this girl was meant to be a ruse... Too unplanned, too many dependent and radical variables. This had to be coincidence. Right?
Syrinx was looking at Hermes with big, big blue doe eyes. Not a ruse, not bait and certainly she had no idea what was going on. However, she had gone totally mute at the entire scenario and the men in blue did not look convinced, the taller one turned to Hermes, "Sir, I'm afraid you're going to have to come with us to clear this up at the station. Do you know this girl?" He eyed the fact that he was... well holding her things. Never let it be said that the road to hell is not paved with good intentions. It is.
Syrinx just looked up at the man who had set her down, then at Hermes, then back again and tilted her head. She couldn't speak. "Right. Miss? Miss, do you have someone you can call?"
"Larry, forget it, let's just take them both in. Sort it down there. It'd be easier than playing the guessing game with a mute." At this Syrinx gave a frown but didn't speak. She wasn't mute, but she didn't want to correct either, instead she rocked a little on her feet, she wanted to leave, but the way the officer was holding her shoulder she was shrinking and flinching and just. It was going to get ugly if he didn't stop.
And that was how a few nymphy shrieks and a pair of handcuffs later (aka half an hour later). Hermes and Syrinx sat side by side at the precinct waiting for Hermes' charm to get him out of there and for Syrinx to make her call to Aeneas.