Who: Poseidon and Daphne What: Time to make his favorite pet his bride. When: Modern times Where: New York Warning: TBD
She was headstrong, fiery, and broken her vows with him over and over again since he'd claimed her as his. He'd yet to ever give her the proper status as a woman under his possession. He'd had a wife before, he'd had a trail of mistresses, and then there was Daphne. He'd called her out for lunch (more like ordered her to come) as he had some business to discuss with her. She held his mark and his heart, it was time she held something else.
He no longer hung around the oceans, her new kingdom wouldn't hold gardens, temples or anything of the like, but she'd be roped to him now forever. He wouldn't dare let her out of his sight again, lest any man had his eye on her.
Well technically she'd never made vows to be broken. If she'd had made vows, she knew she'd be a lovely bear or some plant by now. Her laurel was special to her, but she wasn't it.
All the better really. When she'd gotten the call she'd only rolled her eyes when he'd hung up and re-arranged her plans. Keeping a god waiting, even in these times, was dangerous. So dressed nicely she'd gone, smiling at him when she'd seen him.
She moved to his table and sat down, "traffic." She had no control over that. "Why do they need so many cars? Things were perfectly fine with horses."
He'd sat at that table annoyed for the last ten minutes before she showed, the scowl on his face not going anywhere even as she gave her perfect explanation.
"They want to make bigger and better things," he said though his comment was snide as he'd seen some males in the room make contact with her figure.
Taking a hard swallow of the wine on the table he greeted her with a smile though it was quite forced. His last wife he'd taken by force and she'd been too scared to say no. She'd given him heirs but he'd found other uses for her until he'd grown bored with her.
Times were different now. Now Daphne wouldn't find herself at a crossroads between the ocean and her rivers.
"You'd do anything I ask of you, right?" he schooled her with a clever lift of his brow, his voice heavy and gravely.
She sighed, "I am sorry but I had no control over it. I told the taxi driver to take a different route but he insisted." She shrugged, she'd been put off sort enough by the erratic driving. She didn't like it and cars always made her nervous.
"True." She smiled, hardly noticing the other men. But she was a nymph, she'd catch eyes. Her kind was practically designed for it. The smile made her wonder but she didn't say a thing, just glanced to the menu.
"Anything I could do, yes of course. You know that." She smiled at him, setting her fingers on his and lowering her voice, "you are still my Lord. Did you need anything?" Maybe a mortal girl was fussing, or one of his associates. She'd always been good at making people do as he liked.
Nymphs were gods favorite past times, like a delicacy. Mortal men would hardly know what to do with one. He snorted sitting the wine glass down and leaning back in his chair comfortably.
"I do need something of you," he said heavy as if he were about to retaliate in the most violent of ways. He wouldn't, he hadn't ever harmed Daphne purposefully.
He eyed her hand, those delicate and pale fingers.
"You are unmarried," as so she'd claimed, he'd kept her from marrying before. He'd do it again. "You're place should be with me once and for all. As mine. As my wife."
She released his fingers as the waiter came and ordered her meal. Something was on his mind, but you didn't press gods. And she knew he'd tell her in his own time.
"Well say it and I'll see to it." She didn't think he'd hurt her. The times where he had it had hardly been in anger and he'd still kissed the bruises later.
She nodded to the comment, "yes. I am." She knew any man she'd marry would suddenly find himself drowned. His last words made her blink, then grin happily. "You mean that? You would have me?" This wasn't a candlelit proposal but she didn't need that. "Of course. Of course. I would be happiest being your wife."
She was right not to press him, though the interruption had irked him. He was not expecting surprise and joy out of the matter, the last wife had all but cried as if it were her death bed.
The difference was Daphne felt affection for him and he to her. "I wouldn't have spoken of it if I hadn't desired it." His face was stern and tone matched, but there was a bright light in those blue eyes. She was no other's to possess, and he would finally have her as he should have had her the day he took her innocence. Even Apollo, Zeus himself had not come to take the girl as theirs, though gods were known to fight among themselves for the lovers they chased.
He wasn't about to be the most dedicated of husbands, as long as she knew her place this would go as planned.
She lowered her eyes and quickly ran her fingers under them. She was beyond happy. She had never expected this. As a nymph she knew gods and their tastes. She knew what she was getting into.
Once she looked decent she looked to him, "I am honored and grateful. I will do my best to make you proud and honor your name." She knew there should be a bit of a fuss raised about it. Not that she minded. She would enjoy planning this.
"Better be," he said huskily, "I don't give that honor to just anyone." Women didn't often inspire him beyond how far he could drive them into the dirt. Few if any had inspired him since Daphne, she had staying power which was the only reason he felt compelled to claim what was rightfully his.
He took another glass of wine before their food was delivered. There was the smallest hint of enjoyment at her obvious happiness.
"You did better than the last," he sat back in his seat again chewing off the end of a piece of bread. "You don't look as if you're going to your own funeral."
She smiled to that, "well she didn't know the honor you were giving her. I do." With a smile she started on her own meal, calculating how big of a show his mortal alias would need. She knew she had money of her own to hire people so it shouldn't be too big of a thing.
While many women would want a ring, she was happy enough he'd asked her. She'd always wanted this. She wasn't going to ruin it.
"She was useful for brats and nothing more. Too easy to snap. I got bored." She was little to be remembered. This one would stick as long as she didn't try to control him.
He eyed her as she picked with her food, his plate near empty within a few minutes his mind already on her.
She nodded to the explanation, although she needed none. He could do as he liked. He was still a god and she only a nymph. She finished her dinner quickly enough and cleared her throat. "I would like to borrow your secretary. I need to know when you could be free."
"Do whatever you want with her, she's useless for the most part. I'm tempted to toss her out onto the pavement, let her kiss it and see how she works then," he snorted.
"You can call in the morning," he crossed his arms full after finishing the meal. "Tell her if she's late again I'll give her more than a pink slip out the door."
Smiling she nodded, knowing better then to argue with him. "Of course Lord." She set her hands on her lap and watched him, "did you need anything else? I should probably get started on getting everything ready."
He poured another glass of wine swishing the drops left against the crystal glass as he eyed her from the other side. His foot reached out from under the table hooking the chair leg and pulling her as close to the table as he could. Slowly.
"Trying to get away so fast?"
She hardly struggled and smiled at him once she was closer, "no. You know I like being with you. I just don't want to take up any of your time." She didn't want to impose on him.
He smirked finishing off his wine and getting up. He did have things to do that didn't involve throwing the secretary out the window.
"I do have business to take care of." He was about to walk past her before leaning down to whisper that dark voice in her ear. "Run later and I'll catch you." His invitation that he would require her presence and her time, which she more than likely wouldn't object to.
She was a bit sad he did have things to do, but she knew she could spend time with him later. She nodded and looked up to him. His whisper made her bite her lip and glance down. She did like running for him. It was so nice getting caught.
She just nodded before reaching for his hand, "thank you." He'd know why, but she still wanted to say it.