Who: Deirdre and Perseus What: Old time curses with bad drawbacks. (originally posted by Deirdre) Where: Outside random Bar When: Wednesday Night
The problem with being around mortals more was that, in the end it let to angry voices. She'd found some classes she enjoyed, and she'd caught someone's eye. Deirdre did not put much stock in her physical beauty. She did not want to get vein. It was easy when she recalled what it had brought. But the mortal had smiled pleasantly, and with the memory that really she ought to go out more she'd accepted the offer.
Which had led to this. Two mortals yelling at one another, with somehow her at the center. Her curse had been made by belief, and it struck in the oddest ways. And while at no length it was like what she'd first gone through, it was still awkward. She could say no, but no one paid her any mind. Somehow this all felt like an odd excuse to just be angry with one another. But she also had issue with speaking up for herself. She was looking for an excuse to leave, or just to get out of the way before the violence started.
It was like some strange kind of sixth sense Perseus had, and it was hardly surprising. He was remembered for saving a damsel in distress, and so when a woman nearby needed his help, it was like a pulling in his chest. It was unavoidable. Someone needed him and he would answer.
He had been out anyway, trying to do anything except go home to his sad little apartment where Eris had come for him. What if she showed up and tried to give him another apple? Would be have the willpower to refuse her? He doubted it.
While he crossed a street, he felt the tug at his chest and he immediately hastened his step until he was running. He caught sight of the altercation, two men yelling at each other and mostly ignoring the woman they seemed to be fighting about. Perseus raised his eyes at the altercation and then he glanced at her. He held his hand out, knowing if the men came after him he could easily deal with them. "Want to get out of here?"
For a while she was really trying to say something, but it never really worked. But then she'd felt a prickle along her skin that signified immortal and she'd turned and looked to the man who held out his hand. For a split second she felt her hopes rise, but it was nothing familiar.
She glanced to the mortals before taking the strangers hand, trusting he wouldn't harm her. She stepped out of their argument and smiled to the new man. "Yes please. And thank you." She knew how this worked, they would only notice her until one of them won out against the other.
She stepped away with this man, releasing his hand after a few steps. "Deirdre," she offered in a way of introduction.
Perseus watched the arguing men, ready to throw down if they decided to follow the pair as they left the argument behind. "Perseus," he answered, knowing it was safe to give his real name to another immortal. Not that he had any clue who Deirdre was. "What was that about back there?"
He was the second Greek she met, but she didn't know his tale too well. At his question she made a face, "me, in a roundabout way." She glanced back, noting they had lost their interest. She didn't want them to come looking. She smiled to the stranger. "I am a bit like your Helen. With less ships and more sorrow." She sighed. "I was born and they made a prophecy about me. My beauty would cause the exile of warriors, and the ruin of another."
She set her hands in front of her, "and of course as those things go it happened exactly like that. I lost everything, and only wanted happiness. Now it's a curse. Some see me and see my beauty and it causes strife between two men, who tend not to like one another. I am used as pawn and excuse, like you just saw. And I really ought to work on speaking up more. I am grateful for your aid though."
A bit like Helen, hmm? Perseus kept silent, letting her finish.
"So men just...use you as an excuse to be assholes?" Perseus asked, incredulous. The 'exile of warriors' part kind of unnerved him, but he ignored it to deal with the issue at hand, which was making her feel better.
"Sort of, yes." At times she felt she had been nothing but an excuse to fight over. She couldn't regret her actions though, not now nor not ever.. "We all have our tales though and mine is dreadfully sad. May I ask what yours is? Your name is familiar, but I must admit that is only because of a movie." She never put much stock in those. Her tale had never been on the screen and despite everything she was grateful for that much.
Perseus' face twisted with discontent as they walked. He hated That Movie. "They didn't pay much attention to my actual story when they made that movie," he grumbled. "In short, I'm the son of Zeus who was raised as a mortal. I was a hero who bested many monsters, including the gorgon, Medusa. Now I'm a firefighter and occasionally I head up to the mountains to help out hikers who find themselves lost up there. Not as glamorous as ancient Greece, but one does what one can. Why is your story so sad?
His reaction made her feel guilty. Her story was hardly ever told, but at least Holylwood wasn't telling it all wrong either. "I'm sorry, and I didn't think so. I read some of the myths and while not familiar with the majority of them I knew they had it all a bit backwards." She let out a breath and frowned for a moment. "It's a bit of a long tale so you'll have to forgive me. After I was born and given the prophecy they wanted to kill me. I was going to bring ruin to them, so they reacted. A man called Conchobar defied the edict of the druid and took me away. He had me raised in solitude by a druidess who was to prepare me for my inevitable marriage to him. He started the whole ball."
Talking about Conchobar always made her angry. He had done so wrong by her. "But the woman who raised me told me I would love a man with raven black hair and red lips. I was quite amused when Snow White came out." She shook her head, "either way she knew a man who fit the description. His name was Naoise and he was a warrior in Conchobar's court. Eventually I managed to meet Naoise. He was handsome and I fought against my fate. He wanted nothing to do with me, at first, so I tricked him." She made a face, "I shamed him into eloping with me. It was not my best moment, but I had lived in a gilded cage for so long I saw no other way out." She smiled at the memory, "for long years we had happiness. We had to leave our home of course. Together with his brothers we left for Scotland where we lived in exile."
She glanced to the nearby shops, "Conchobar didn't give up. I had shamed him and he wanted me back. He had no idea where we were though, not for the longest time. When he found us he send one of the most honorable men I have ever met to guide us back home under the promise that all was forgiven. He had to leave due to other obligations and we lodged in one of the warriors homes. I knew the trap was set when a man came to spy on me. Naoise tried to drive him off but it was too late. He ran and told Conchobar that I was still as pretty as ever. Then the fighting began." She set her hands on her arms, "for a while Naoise and his brothers held them off and those that were loyal to Naoise aided us. Until Conchobar called for their loyalty. He was their lord. They dragged me to his side and someone whose name I refuse to speak killed Naoise. I saw him die."
She let out a long sigh. "Then his brothers died. Conchobar took me as his wife then, but my heart had died. He had my body, I didn't care what he did. After a year of that he decided he did not like this so he decided to pain me even further by giving me to the man who had killed my beloved. Rather then face that, as they drove me to my fate I leapt from the carriage and dashed myself against the rocks." She gave him a small smile, "that's why my story is sad. That is why they call me Deirdre of the Sorrows. It's not just you Greeks that like your tragedy."
Greeks may have liked tragedy, but Perseus was not a fan. As she told her story, Perseus felt his heart sink lower and lower until he couldn't stand it anymore. He thought of his own precious Andromeda going through that and it caused him pain.
"I'm sorry," he said, a bit lamely. He wasn't necessarily great and comfort. "I can't imagine."
He had listened, which often enough was enough for her. "It's alright. It wasn't your fault. Sometimes fate cannot be avoided." There were days she wished they would have just killed her at birth, but those were rare and she'd heaped enough of her troubles on him.
"But I've said more then enough of myself. If it please you, tell me more of your tales."
If there ever was a damsel in distress, Perseus felt Deirdre embodied her. And Perseus always saved damsels in distress. She wasn't in immediate danger now, but she had suffered through such terrible things and even now the affects of her tale still followed her. Perseus willed himself to save her from her plight, no matter how long it took.
"Is that what you would like?" he asked kindly. "Are you hungry? We could talk over some food."
She nodded, "I can fill a book with my past I'd rather hear of other things. And like any other hearing about the slaying of monsters sounds exciting. The most I ever killed was a deer. Had I been male I think I would have liked going out and being a hero, rather then sit and wait for my fate to hit me." She glanced around for a restaurant, realizing she had yet to eat. "I am, actually. I was supposed to have dinner." She shrugged, preferring to be happy rather then sad.
"Let's have dinner then," Perseus said with a grin. "If you feel like going out hunting now, I could always take you. I don't often go, but my sister Artemis loves it. As far as slaying monsters...well I did have some divine help."
She nodded, letting him lead. She still wasn't too familiar with this city. "Sounds like a plan." She frowned, "Artemis is the virgin hunter, correct? I know the Roman names, the Greek ones do not always click. And I would like that. I haven't gone in ages. And please, do share. I'm just growing more curious now."
Perseus chuckled as they walked. He was headed towards one of his favourite bistros now. It wasn't too flashy, but it wasn't a dive either.
"Well when I slew the gorgon, a winged steed sprang forth from her head. He was my Pegasus. And he was white, contrary to some movies that came out lately. And together, we used Medusa's head to slay ketos, the sea monster." Perseus left out the part about saving Andromeda for now. He missed his wife so much it hurt, and didn't want to speak her name.
"Sounds impressive." she didn't know many of the tales of home that had a great many monsters or flying horses. It certainly would have saved her a bit of trouble. "Do you think he's still around, your Pegasus? A winged horse sounds rather remarkable. And a rather easy way of getting around." She shook her head, "this city so often confuses me. I so often get turned right around."
"I've lived here for a while. I can walk you home after dinner if you'd like. Or get you there in a taxi if it's far. It's not a winged horse, but it's better than stumbling around in the cold."
Perseus ducked into the bistro, holding the door open for Deirdre. They were free to pick their own booth and Perseus smiled at her. "After you. Sit wherever you like. They have amazing food here."
She gave him a thankful smile before finding a table and taking a seat. "Thank you, and a taxi would work better. I have no idea where I am." She shook her head, "I'm much more comfortable in a more rustic environment. I am a decent tracker there, but here I can barely manage to get to one point to another. But I have learned that the more I stay a hermit the more I lose track of the world around me."
She picked up the menu, "and here I can make myself useful. And it keeps me occupied. I've spend too long taking care of others to be left by myself."
"I don't think any of us immortals can stay a hermit for too long. It's too hard to live a life that goes on and on if you aren't out in it." Perseus shook his head and he smiled at Deirdre as she perused the menu.
"What kind of work do you do?"
She shrugged, setting the menu down once she'd decided what she liked. "I like solitude, but I like having someone there. I've always had a companion. And talking to yourself is really awkward after a while."
She made a face, embarrassed about this. "I don't work really. I don't know what to do. I have skills but I don't know how to put them on a resume, and I need new credentials. I am thinking about returning to school, but I've never considered what I wanted to learn. It was always decided I would stay at home and make myself useful there. And I honestly do not mind it, but it's just me now. I help Patrick out with getting some of our countrymen a home and work here when I can though, but it feels strange to ask for money for doing something others have done for me"
Perseus knew how that felt. "Yes...I have been in that situation too. Talking to myself. One of my fellow firefighters told me to get a cat, but after having a winged horse, everything else sort of seems...ridiculous."
"As long as you enjoy the work," Perseus said with a nod. "I feel strange getting paid to help people. That's something a Hero is supposed to do for free." Or women. But he didn't say that.
The image of it made her grin before she shook her head. "I've been considering a dog. If I can find one, an Irish Wolfhound. I always had those. They'd keep me safe too."
"I like being what the mortals call a housewife. I like taking care of people. But it doesn't pay the bills." She smiled, "It is odd, but being dashing no longer pays for rent. You can try and look at it as just reward, but I've never been in your situation."
"Wolfhounds are pretty good! Nice a big," Perseus said with an agreeing nod.
"The world is a new and strange place nowadays. So what would make you happiest is having someone to take care of?"
"And wonderful companions." They'd helped in keeping her and her little family safe so she'd always been fond of them. She just didn't know how they would manage in her little apartment.
She nodded, "strangely, yes. I think it's why I enjoy helping Patrick so. I get to look after people. Others may tell me to aspire to more but it isn't their life." She shrugged.
"I think it's your own business what you aspire to and if it makes you happy, no one has the right to tell you to want more." Perseus was stern about that. "You're lucky to even know what you want."
"Thank you," it was nice to have someone agree with that. Sometimes she wasn't always sure of how the way the world worked. "Of things to aspire to, family and love are nice goals."