Who: Clio and Open What: Not being great at actual healing When: Sunday night Where: Naxos Warnings: Angsty muse, tbd
New York never slept, and for that maybe Clio was grateful. She'd not slept well since the entire event that still left her pale and shaking (because she couldn't think about it, because when she did she'd break and no one was there to hold her. She was alone.) She'd asked Morpheus for help, and he'd given her some nights where she'd slept well, but still woke up screaming. She knew she needed help, needed to let all of this out, and that the whole problem with being unable to forget was she kept it all locked inside, but where would she go? Unless Calliope showed up, or Apollo said something, she was the eldest and de facto leader. Her sisters needed her to be strong and sure.
It's what she keeps telling herself anyway. She knows the Angels would help, but that was a temporary fix. She was jealous too, which she didn't want to be. Patrick was a friend, he deserved sunshine and love. But ever since Pierus, she'd never liked her neutrality anymore. Muses stood apart, 'record, but do not interact', and were neither God nor Titan nor mortal. Inspire artists by millions, that they could do. But getting close was tricky, and from the last time she'd tried a relationship like that she'd learned it tended to go up in flames. Then again, she'd been cursed then and curses never ended well.
Lesson: never mouth off to Aphrodite. Even if she deserves it.
She supposed it wasn't the worst thing to obsess about, but it meant not obsessing over that dark laughter and burning fingers she kept feeling. She was good at distracting herself, even if it meant wandering around the city like some lost lamb. When she ended up in front of her brother's bar she could only laugh. She knew the whole drinking a tad too much was probably becoming an issue, but it allowed her to relax and be a little less Muse. Maybe she needed that. Maybe this was the worst sort of self medication anyone had ever thought of but she was someone who often repeated her own mistakes. Myth's and Gods, you know.
With a sigh she stepped inside, at least it was warm here, and moved to the bar. Her brother's wife just smiled and made sure the Muse's tab was started. She ignored the former mortal's knowing look and removed her coat, soaking up the heat. Maybe she should take a vacation, but she didn't want to go alone. It'd depress her enough to see the Parthenon in ruins and know that Olympus was now just a mountain and no longer had her father's palace on it. She'd need a distraction from it all, even though being so close to home might help her. Maybe she'd go in March. It was the hardest month for her, seeing what flowers bloomed then, and a vacation might be the best tactic for that.
She'd decide that later, now she just wanted a drink and to put her mind elsewhere.
makethemlaugh 2011-01-10 04:55 am (local) (link) Thalia had to work tomorrow, which didn't really go well with pacing around her apartment late into the evening. Finally, she accepted she wasn't going to get any peace there, and headed out into the chilly evening.
She didn't really have a destination in mind, but sometimes just walking without thinking took her to the best places. Or sometimes she wound up exactly where she didn't want to be, but that was neither here nor there.
She'd just turned onto a street when she felt it, a strong presence in her head. Mousai. All of her sisters felt different to her, but similar at the same time, like shades of a color or notes in a song. She focused on it, and followed it until she got a fix on it, inside a bar. She went inside, looking around until she found her-Clio-and made her way over.
"Hey sis," she said, coming up next to her. "You look like you could use a laugh." (Reply to this)(Thread)
famedhistory 2011-01-10 06:50 am (local) (link) She smiled at Thalia and buried her feelings almost immediately. Not a wise thing but she'd rather not have her sisters worry about her. She had to look after them, not the other way around. And least of all she didn't want Thalia to lose her smile.
"Hey," She turned just so she could hug her sister, feeling that familiar connection grow stronger until she could ignore most of everything else. "sleepless night huh? And yeah, after the entire Finn debacle I really could." she released her sister and pointed to the bar beside her. "Drink's on me. I figure having Dion for a brother has some advantages." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
makethemlaugh 2011-01-10 07:08 am (local) (link) "Yeah, pretty much," Thalia agreed. "Sleep just wasn't happening for me tonight, as much as that sucks. So I just let my feet do the walking. Which has led me to some weird spots, let me tell ya-like a drag show at 2 a.m. on a Wednesday-and other times, it's like they're leading me somewhere. Like tonight."
She hugged her sister back. "Well that's what I'm here for. And eventually the mortals will pull their heads out of their collective asses, but until then, there's family for bitching and drowning your woes with."
"Oh, OK, thanks!" she grinned brightly. "I'll get the next one, if you'd like. And you're right, it totally does." She ordered a glass of wine from the pretty woman behind the bar, smiling when she received it. "Wanna sit down?" (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
famedhistory 2011-01-10 07:17 am (local) (link) She gave her sister a worried look, finding it easier to fuss over Thalia then it was to fuss over herself. "You should talk to Morpheus. He seems willing enough to help." she smirked then, "we can still follow the strands. We go where we are needed. Right now you're needed to share a drink with me."
She sighed, "I hope so. Texas already took parts of history out of the books completely. Don't want to offend anyone now do we?" She grinned, then. "And don't. I've already got a tab." She motioned to Ariadne before giving her sister a smirk, "already sitting lovely, but sure. Let's find ourselves a table. At the very least we can count on some good wine." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
makethemlaugh 2011-01-10 07:27 am (local) (link) "If it keeps up, I'll talk to him," Thalia promised. "And I know right? If this bar were packed with people, I could follow the feeling until I found you. Kinda nifty, like Muse GPS." She grinned.
"Life is offensive," Thalia said flatly. "I don't remember who said it, but there's this quote along the lines of 'Life is nasty, brutish and short'. Except for the short part, I've always found it fitting."
Thalia flapped her hands. "You know what I mean, goofball. You always know what I mean. And yay! I can't remember the last time I had some of Dionysus' wine. And only if you're sure about the tab thing. Last thing I wanna do is be rude to my sister."
As they made their way to a table she asked, "So what's up with you? Apart from being pissed at the state of Texas." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
famedhistory 2011-01-10 07:33 am (local) (link) She nodded, "good. He's cute so it does help." She laughed and shook her head, "built in homing devices. LEt me tell you though it's interesting being a professor. I get so many 'I am a historian, inspire me' feelings I've learned to shut it off. But in a way teaching is inspiring, so maybe I'm not that clever."
She nodded, "true. But people don't want to acknowledge that. This country is perfect, you know. I remember who said something similar. Rome." She hid her smile in her drink, "of course I do but I'm your big sister. I'm supposed to give you hell. And please. You couldn't be rude if you tried. I don't mind. I expect Dion to give us a discount."
She followed her sister to the table and sat down, "like you I couldn't sleep. To much going on in my head." It wasn't technically a lie. She didn't want Thalia worrying over the fact that none of them were as safe as they'd liked to be. "It's hard to shut off." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
makethemlaugh 2011-01-10 08:22 am (local) (link) "Oooh, is he really?" she asked, eyebrow raised in interest. I'll have to give him a shout, then." She giggled a little.
"I get that with comedians and sitcom writers," she agreed. "But also with people who are feeling down and need something to cheer them up, the ones who just want to smile again. And of course you're inspiring! You're shaping young minds, passing on the stories. You're helping to keep us alive, Clio. And that's awesome."
"They never do," she replied, sipping her drink and nodding. "I remember. They thought they could never fall. I've heard America called the new Roman Empire, and they're all proud of themselves! It's like, hello! Remember what happened to Rome? It fell! Not exactly a great model to go by, but hey. It's their country."
"Yeah, by about six days," Thalia said, sticking her tongue out and grinning. "Plus, you do it so well. Some of my writers can be kind of rude, though, did you ever hear George Carlin? Big fan of the seven words you can't say on TV. And yay discount!"
"You've got all of history in there, I imagine it does get a bit crowded," she said. "Being 'unforgetting Clio' sounds like it could play hell with your sleep cycle." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
famedhistory 2011-01-10 08:37 am (local) (link) She chuckled, glad for the distraction, "is he ever. Makes for nice dreams." She was always glad for Thalia's good cheer. Like now she needed it and it helped push everything away. She'd do the melancholy thing more when March came around.
"I do what I can," she wasn't as egotistical as she'd once been. She'd lost much of her pride and ego after Pierus. "Yes, and was corrupted from the inside out. Again, something that is happening here too. But Gods forbid you point it out." She rolled her eyes and sipped from the wine.
"Still older. It counts. And you know what I just realized? Poor mom." She made a face, "I had two children, a few years apart, and giving birth is never pleasant. But nine in a row? Poor mum." she shook her head then nodded, "I like him. He's frank and honest. And curses but you know, everyone does that. And please, do you remember Herodotus? I could have strangled that man for all of the nonsense he was making up."
She sighed, "it does, all this information keeps spinning and never goes away." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
makethemlaugh 2011-01-10 09:12 am (local) (link) "Now I must see him!" she laughed.
"I still think you're awesome," she said firmly. "And tell me about it, it totally was. It's been interesting to see the parallels between the two over the years. And they're so freaking touchy about it, too. They think it'll never happen to them."
"Holy crap, tell me about it. I had seven children. One after the other. At least mum got to spread hers out over nine nights." She winced. "That was exactly zero fun."
"He was, and I loved him for it," she said wistfully. "I took the day off work when he died, shut myself inside and spent it watching his specials. He was one of the better ones. And I remember Herodotus. I also remember contemplating asking him what he was smoking, and would he share." She grinned again.
"If it went away, I think all of us would suffer a little for it," she mused, sipping her wine. "All of us ought to be grateful. I know I am. I'm just sorry it's keeping you from sleeping." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
famedhistory 2011-01-10 09:25 am (local) (link) She grinned, "leave an offering and call for him. I'm sure he'll be thrilled at spending some dream time with a Muse. Hard not to be happy about that." She gave a smile and drank again, "you're giving my ego a good stroke there Thal."
She winced, "poor you. Although I am ever pleased that I never had that happen to me. It might be something in our blood. Sleep with a God, get a million children?" She smiled teasingly to that, "I keep wondering if that's what we got from mum, or from Father. Gods know we have enough siblings there."
She set her hand on her sister's and squeezed, "history remembers him." She rolled her eyes, "I spend most of my days yelling incoherent things at him. I still blame him for making it so history isn't as believed as it should be." She shrugged, "such are the side effect but I'm just glad I am helping. I like doing things."
She waved her hand, "So tell me Thal, anyone in your life?" (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
makethemlaugh 2011-01-11 10:46 pm (local) (link) "I'll have to figure out a suitable one, then," she said, a little excited by the prospect. "And I would hope so, we are kind of super cool."
She grinned. "That's my job, ego stroking! Which sounds kind of dirty, but that's not what I meant."
"Yeah, labor really wasn't fun. Though I could've slept with a worse God, you know?" she said, winking. "It probably is. Weirdest door prize ever, but hey, I guess that's how it goes."
"I know it does," she replied, squeezing back. "I just miss all of mine when they go. The world always seems a little less bright." She laughed, recalling. "You did! I know it's not funny, but at the same time, it was just a little bit. I mean, in hindsight, it's not now, because things got messed up...and I'm rambling." She shut herself up by drinking some more.
"No, not really," she said. "Between my kids and my sisters, I haven't even really thought about it. I wouldn't mind someone, though." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
famedhistory 2011-01-11 11:15 pm (local) (link) She couldn't help but grin, "I don't know, if you wear something skimpy I'm sure he'd take it." She winked and nodded, "of course we are." She laughed then, "that's what she said."
She nodded, "true, although I stopped after Hyacinthos. Kind of awkward to sleep with your son's lover. I'm just glad I missed that prize." She gave her sister a comforting smile and then kissed her fingers, "but there's always new ones. We all want mortals to last forever. Remember when Shakespeare died? We were all such a mess."
She grinned at the rambling, "I think it's cute when you ramble. I'm sure I invented new curses." She smiled, "same here, it's just hard to date and bring up the whole 'so guess what, I'm immortal' up." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
makethemlaugh 2011-01-12 04:20 am (local) (link) "I think there might be something I could find," she mused, eyes dancing. "We really need Badges Of Awesome, or something. If nothing else, it'd be funny." She clapped then. "See? 'That's what she said' is so versatile."
"Maybe just a touch," she agreed. "But then again, it's really common in our pantheon to sleep with your brother and/or sister. I think it falls under the 'It's a Greek thing' banner."
She smiled, but it was a little sad this time. "I know there are, but it still hurts a little when they go. And oh yes, I remember. It was like we thought the sun would never shine again. But the way the mortals keep performing his works, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he's out there somewhere."
She grinned. "At least someone does. Sometimes I think the teachers at the daycare think I'm on Adderall or something, but the kids think it's cool."
She took a big sip of wine, nodding vigorously. "I know! It's not exactly something you can casually drop into conversation. And half of the men I know, I'm related to. Which isn't all that weird, since, ya know, Greek, but whatever." (Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
famedhistory 2011-01-12 04:35 am (local) (link) She shook her head with a smile, "At the very least yeah. We can't do the banner thing anymore. Oh! We can make buttons showing our signs. Like a scroll for me, a comedy mask for you, and so forth." She rolled her eyes, "it's a horrible joke and I'm blaming you for it."
She chuckled, "incest. For us it really is a family thing." She winked, "but I'm trying not to do anything, which cuts my dating circle down a lot." She sighed, "mortals are fragile. They never last long enough. And are you kidding me? I'm still in mourning. I just hope you're right and he's out there somewhere. Probably avoiding you, me and Mel. The way we stalked him I couldn't blame him."
She ruffled her sister's hair then and smiled, "and they are the ones that matter. I try and date only immortals but I keep attracting men who are taken or share one to many things with me. And I tried dating women, but women are crazy."