InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "One small step for Jaffa."

Europa/Ευρώπη (whenyouarefree) wrote in nevermore_logs,
@ 2012-12-07 23:24:00

Entry tags:

europa, zeus

Who:

Europa and Open

What:

Christmas shopping

When:

Saturday

Where:

Random Shop'R'Us

Warnings:

TBD

As she shopped, Europa hummed under her breath. The holiday songs were catchy, and she was one of those odd beings to enjoy them. She hummed and drifted through the store, trying to find something. She had a few friends she wanted to give presents too, and she wondered if she should contact her family.

Then again, her sons had grown and started families of their own. She wanted to catch up and get to know her grandchildren, but she feared being blamed for starting the entire mess. She considered the options open to her, and stopped when she noticed a figurine.

It was like Fate was pointing something out, but she couldn't figure out what. When she picked it up she raised an eyebrow. She certainly didn't remember being so casual about the entire affair. In fact, if she remembered right she'd been stuck between 'oh Gods the bull is moving' and 'please don't fall in the ocean'.

In retrospect, maybe it all hadn't been such a good idea. And she certainly didn't need more figurines, but the myth was so tied to her she couldn't resist. It was good enough people still remembered, and at least she'd be able to get a smile out of it whenever she'd see it.

She set the figurine in her basket before continuing. She'd pushed the memories aside to focus on the present. It was much more agreeable.

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skydaddy
2012-12-10 04:49 am UTC (link)

"Interesting choice," Zeus said, eying up the figure the woman had just picked up. He'd followed the blonde into the store, feeling that she was one of the Greeks and somewhat familiar, but beyond that the girl was a mystery. Perhaps it would be of use to find out more.

He was well dressed in a suit, on his lunch break from the nearby court, and he took in the young woman's appearance. (Not so young, she just looked it. Old like him, this one.)

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whenyouarefree
2012-12-10 05:19 am UTC (link)

The voice and whom it belonged to was probably the last thing she wanted to hear or see. But despite her penchant for running off with anyone who gave her a friendly smile, she wasn't dumb. She was clever in her own ways.

so she knew a few things. She knew he did not recognize her. She knew she wore nothing that would reveal the tattoo on her skin (and she thanked the weather for that). She knew that he gave her that look before, seconds before he'd smiled and given her gifts.

She also knew all her three boys had gone unharmed from Hera's hands. Perhaps they'd been too far, and certainly they'd held anger from other gods, but never from the one she'd feared the most. No Hera had left her alone. She wanted to continue that trend.

But mortal blooded that she'd been, she knew better. She'd known better when he'd shed his bull shape and revealed to be a man. She let herself show no fear. She'd been Queen, she knew how to put the mask of Queen back on. And she wouldn't be able to lie. He felt her as she felt him. Powerful Zeus, still powerful.

She'd still find an excuse to avoid his bed though. He couldn't force. Not now. Not with so many unknowing about him. In that she had shelter. So she smiled and let her stance relax and drop into what was nothing more then tame obedience. Let him see she still honored him. It'd save her heartache, in the end.

"Great One. Honored above all." She spoke in the old language. Flattery was best around Zeus. Once he'd claimed her for her beauty, but she'd not lived if she hadn't had her flattery. "It is because the story is my own O

Basileus

." There was no hiding about it, so she didn't. There was no point.

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skydaddy
2012-12-10 06:41 am UTC (link)

She was treating him with the proper respect, which went well for her. Too many of them these days didn't understand that they were still under his command.

Although she spoke of it being 'her' story... did Zeus now have to try and remember every woman he'd gone near that involved being a bull? It felt like it was probably a long list. But there was a familiarity to this face and after watching her for a few moments he said, "Europa," sure of it now.

She'd been quite the beauty this one, quite the prize. And he'd rewarded that beauty with gifts from Hephaestus' forge and impressive beasts. She'd deserved them.

"Still very beautiful, my little queen."

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whenyouarefree
2012-12-10 06:58 am UTC (link)

"You are gracious to recall my name Lord of the Sky." She'd rather he hadn't, that it had annoyed him and left her be. But she wasn't so lucky. She was however, still smart. She'd survived him once. She could do it again.

All she had to do was remain aware and seemingly subservient. As long as he didn't demand her presence, she'd be fine. There were was no jewelry of Hephaestus' to smooth her kidnap over now. She tried telling herself he had nothing over her.

But she didn't believe herself either. This was Zeus, who could have all he wanted. This was Zeus, who always had what he wanted. She prayed he was bored of her.

"I am but humble before you Gracious King of All." No bull now to tempt her to touch him, and but for a moment sit on his haunches. A man, powerful in his own right, but without rights to claim her without her true consent. But he'd still noticed her and followed.That alone was troubling.

But she put on a pleasing smile and drew herself up as regally as she'd been born to do. Princess born, Queen made by his own hands. She remembered. "What brings my Great Lord out today?" Then knowing she ought to she continued, "and how may I be of service to him?"

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	skydaddy 2012-12-10 10:12 am UTC (link)
	Zeus liked her smile, liked her respected - whether it was feigned or not he couldn't be sure. "You can have a drink with me," he said to the blonde woman. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

whenyouarefree
2012-12-11 09:54 am UTC (link)

She kept her well practiced smile. She knew better then to deny him, but she wasn't about to go anywhere less crowded either. She could always find some excuse for that later. "Of Course great King." She set the figurine back, she'd come back for it if it remained there before turning to him. "I am ever at your service. I know a very good place not far from here."

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skydaddy
2012-12-13 09:52 pm UTC (link)

Could he sense hesitation in her? Unlikely. Europa had been a lucky young woman once, blessed with his attentions and made royal and famous for it. Without him, Europa wouldn't even have been there.

"Then you should lead the way," he said to her with a pleasant smile. Beneath it he was considering all sorts of options for what to do with her, but until then he would simply wait. This wasn't Greece - some of his kin didn't recognise that, but Zeus did. You couldn't just snatch women off a crowded street and expect to get clean away with it just because you were a god. Which was a pity.

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whenyouarefree
2012-12-13 10:11 pm UTC (link)

She straightened her jacket and smiled before moving out of the store. Thankfully the bar wasn't very far away. She didn't think it'd be worthy of a God, but it was the best she could do. It was high scale and she'd been taken there a few times since coming into the city, so she hoped it would be decent. At the very least.

She just hoped Hera wasn't watching. But the influence of Gods had long waned, and she didn't think Hera bothered unless another child sprung up. Something she'd avoid if it killed her.

She pushed the door of the bar open and was soothed by the warm air and the people. She removed her coat and gave it to one of the attendants before finding a place to sit, almost knowing Zeus would follow. While she waited for her drink she set her hands on the table.

It was awkward to speak to a former lover, especially one who had forgotten you. "Do you know if my sons are here?" She doubted he paid much mind to anyone save his favorites, but it was something to speak about. She hated awkward silences.

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skydaddy
2012-12-15 01:05 pm UTC (link)

Zeus was watching Europa carefully, taking in the movements of her body and her reactions. He'd never been overly fond of humans, but some of them were truly beautiful and that was worthy of his attention. Europa was one of them, meant to be more than just another forgotten human because of that face.

Her question drew Zeus from his own thoughts and he furrowed his brow just a little as he said, "you'll have to remind me: which are you sons?"

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whenyouarefree
2012-12-15 05:01 pm UTC (link)

Doubtful he knew of them then. But it was better then sitting here in silence and dreading what came next. She showed nothing of her internal features, keeping her smile. "Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon." Her sweet boys, grown to fast. Maybe she should have never told them.

"I heard that they became judges of the dead," an honor if there ever was one and it showed in her voice. No one had enjoyed going to the court of Hades, but she'd been so proud when her boys had proven worthy. She was sure there'd been some politics behind it, but trying to follow Olympus was cause for migraines so she'd never tried following it. "They did so after I passed though so I never saw them preform their duties."

She gave a light shrug and set her fingers around her glass once it arrived. She was still looking for ways to escape. "I only wish to know if they are in the city."

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skydaddy
2012-12-19 01:56 am UTC (link)

Minos: that one was familiar to him, even if the others weren't. A judge then - that had received his laws directly from Zeus - and a judge now as well. (Although he remembered a Sarpedon, that had been at Troy and Zeus had wanted to change the fates to save him. Was it the same boy? Time was a hard thing to keep track of.)

"You worry about your boys?" Zeus asked her, not really answering the question she'd asked but well aware of that fact.

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whenyouarefree
2012-12-19 02:03 am UTC (link)

She sipped from her drink, then set it down. "Yes and no. They're all quite grown and have had families of their own. They don't need me to fuss over them, but they are still the same boys that I carried and then gave birth too. A mother doesn't stop her worries." specially when they had been god born. She'd always worried for Hera's vengeance, even if it never came.

She decided not to ask about that. Even she knew Hera was a touchy subject. "But I'd like to be able to be in contact with them. I know Minos had children, one who married Dionysus himself." It was a thing to be proud of, circumstances aside. "Even if it's for occasional meetings, being alone isn't quite as grand as I once thought."

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skydaddy
2012-12-19 02:09 am UTC (link)

"Someone as alluring as you should never be alone," Zeus commented but then, without even giving her a chance to respond to that, he said, "Minos is in the city. I see him from time to time. He's a judge and he's well." He seemed well, anyway. Zeus didn't really do a whole lot of bonding with most of his kids. Minos had all his limbs and wasn't deformed - what more could a parent need?

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	whenyouarefree 2012-12-19 02:14 am UTC (link)
	She knew she'd run right into that response so she just smiled. It turned softer when he mentioned Minos though, "oh good." She'd find out if Minos was as well as Zeus said and if he needed anything. She wouldn't interfere though. He had his life to live on his own. "I'm very happy to hear that. I'll make sure to get in contact with him. Thank you." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	skydaddy 2012-12-19 04:17 am UTC (link)
	In Zeus' eyes, Europa now owed him. He had given her something and would, at some point, expect something in return. But not today. Instead he pulled out his blackberry and asked her, "have you got a pen? I can give you his number right now." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

whenyouarefree
2012-12-19 04:29 am UTC (link)

She smiled and took out her own phone, "please." She wasn't Hera, to toss away children like they were nothing, to use them in the great game the Olympians played. She'd nursed her little boys, all three of them, and had seen them walk and smile. It was her weakness, and she didn't care. They were blood of her blood and flesh of her flesh. If he wanted to hold this over her, he could.

He hadn't really told her anything she wouldn't find out in her own time. She put in the number without issue before sparing a glance at the time and her empty glass. "I must go. I have an appointment with a photographer. I model now." she shrugged, and was glad it was not a lie. Her agent would probably call soon to remind her. "It was a pleasure fair King."

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skydaddy
2012-12-20 11:49 am UTC (link)

Zeus considered, for a moment, commanding her to stay. How would this one react to such a demand? But instead he put away his phone and gave her a nod, something he believed to be an incredibly benevolent gesture on his part. "A fitting career," he told her. "We'll see each other again very soon, Europa." There was a gentle smile on his lips but it was very clearly not idle words, something Zeus hoped she was smart enough to realise.

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