Who: Thanatos and Lyra What: Coffee When: Wednesday Afternoon Where: Random coffee place Warnings: Fluff
Despite everything, he had missed Lyra. He had done what was required of him and not even she could sway him from that, but he'd still missed her easy smile and her chatter. She did brighten his existence and despite how complicated this all was he did appreciate it. He had given his word though. She would have time, and he would not push. It felt wrong to do so, and she needed to know her own mind. If she did not return his feelings it would sting, but he was used to that. She was not the first he had loved, but she was the first he'd admitted it to. Under Eros' spell, at that. He wished it hadn't happened, but it had. There was no point in crying over spilled milk.
So with a smile he walked into the coffeeshop he often frequented with Lyra and waved to the people behind the counters. It was nice to have a routine, and a place where people knew him. Easily he sat in his favorite couch while he waited for Lyra to appear. He wondered if he was permitted to give her a gift for the upcoming holiday, so he would ask. He didn't really want to do anything that made her shy away from him.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 04:55 am UTC (link) Track This When Lyra appeared at the coffee shop she was wearing her new and very bright dress, and spotting him she smiled and waved, coming over to sit with him, a bounce in her step. "Hi!" she said, dropping onto the couch beside him.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 04:58 am UTC (link) Track This He smiled at her appearance and shifted so she had room. "Hello. I like your dress." And he did. He liked the bright colors she chose. It offset his own dark choices rather well.
"Not cold in this autmun chill?" He sat up to wave to the baristas. They knew him and Lyra well enough to know their preferences. "And how is school?"
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 05:02 am UTC (link) Track This "It's like I'm wearing the sun!" Lyra beamed, running her hand over the soft fabric. "It's warm though, and I taxied here. I couldn't let it stay hidden in the closet!"
"School is good," Lyra told him brightly. "I think I'm in with a real chance to win the trip as well. There's a few others who might beat me out but I could always just kill them if they do." She winked to show she was joking, not that anyone could suspect she hadn't been if she'd met Lyra. She may have been somewhat obsessed with all things death but she also was a gentle soul to the extreme.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 05:10 am UTC (link) Track This He grinned, "well I agree. I was only concerned. And I'm not sure how Helios would feel about being worn." He smiled to the joke, "but it looks lovely on you."
Chuckling he took the mugs as they arrived and handed one to Lyra. "You could always cheat. Maybe a few have nightmares." He was trying to find borders of what was acceptable to joke, and what wasn't. He could only find them by trying. "But I'm sure you'll get it. If not, I'm sure I can call and get you a tour of the place?"
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 05:16 am UTC (link) Track This "What's he like?" Lyra asked with sudden interest. "I like sun gods, they must be so bright to be around! I liked Apollo when I was little, but now that he's real I'm a little wary of meeting him. He was... well, he did kidnap a lot of girls. But he had the muses and I always thought they were great. I used to pretend sometimes that I was Calliope and- oh goodness, I'm embarrassing myself again." Lyra closed her mouth and shook her head to hide behind her curls a little, peeking out at Thanatos with a smile.
"I still want to try and win on my own merits," Lyra said, not even considering the idea of cheating. Then she gave a small smile and leaned in to whisper, "but maybe if I don't win I'll let you help me get in."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 05:23 am UTC (link) Track This Smiling he shook his head, "hardly embarrassing. You are curious. There is nothing wrong with that. I never met Helios, personally. My duties took place when Night held sway. Most of what he was is in Apollo now. I hardly think he has enough belief to be his own anymore." He set his hand on hers, "I wouldn't let anyone hurt you. There are those who will speak good of him, and those who will not. If you'd like to meet the Muses a few of them are in this city."
He smiled to the tone of a shared conspiracy in her voice. "I can do that. Like I told you, we have a network. I'm certain there is someone with the ties to let you have your view of the place."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 05:34 am UTC (link) Track This He touched her hand and Lyra smiled warmly, feeling good that he looked after her. And his hand always felt good in hers. "You could really introduce me to a Muse? That would be so amazing!" She'd try not to be giddy about it.
"You're so amazing too, you know that?" she beamed, so pleased that if she didn't manage to win this she might get to see it anyway. (She'd prefer to earn it the real way... but if not this was a solution.)
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 05:40 am UTC (link) Track This Smiling he nodded. There were a few benefits to knowing him. Sooner or later she would realize this. "Of course. At last count there is Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene and Erato. I imagine any of them would be delighted at meeting you, although Clio may ask for some time. She is in the last stages of pregnancy."
He gave a shy smile to her compliment. Few ever told him he was amazing. "Thank you. You are very kind."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 05:44 am UTC (link) Track This "Oh wow," Lyra blinked. "Lots of muses." And then she added, "you guys can have children? Are they... mortal?" she lowered her voice then, realising she shouldn't ask such questions in a crowded cafe. "Or do they become gods as well?"
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 05:50 am UTC (link) Track This "It depends," this would require a bit of explaining, but he hardly minded. "When we were in our peek, lots of Gods had human children. Most of these remained mortal, but some became Gods. You know of Dionysus and Heracles I presume? both had human mothers, but became Gods. A half godling will always have parts of their immortal parent in them, but now we have fallen it is less. The most they will have is an extended life." He sipped from his drink, "in olden days some mortals even became gods. Ariadne was one who became immortal, because her husband wished it so."
He frowned, "gods become what we are through belief. There are many concepts of modern things that are deities. Humans create us in a way." He smiled, "along with the new ones there are those that are very old. Older then even I am."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 05:56 am UTC (link) Track This "I think I'd make a terrible god," Lyra said with a wrinkle of her nose. "But maybe I'd be okay as some sort of... rainbow goddess!" she laughed brightly then, for a moment attracting the notice of the nearest table.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 05:59 am UTC (link) Track This He smiled to the people beside them before looking back to her and letting the interest fade before speaking in a lower voice. "There is one. At least in our pantheon. She is a messenger. Her name is Iris. She married my brother, Morpheus."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 06:01 am UTC (link) Track This "Oh," Lyra said, slightly embarrassed. "I guess I should find these things out before speaking!" Her laugh then was much quieter and a little self-conscious. "Should I meet her and compare wardrobes?"
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 06:04 am UTC (link) Track This Again he shook his head, setting his hand over hers. "No it's alright. I don't mind sharing these things. Ask what you like. I won't look ill on you for having questions. They are natural." He smirked, "if you like. I'm sure you two could make for a bright spectacle."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 06:07 am UTC (link) Track This "I don't think I want to go standing next to goddesses," Lyra laughed, taking a sip from her coffee. "I think that would be crazy on the self-esteem! But I bet she's really nice," Lyra added happily. "Your brother is really nice so he'd only marry someone cool."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 06:16 am UTC (link) Track This "She is, but this is a different brother." He gave an apologetic smile. "I have a lot of siblings. Hypnos is my twin. He is sleep. Morpheus is my brother. He is dreams. It gets a bit complicated after a while, even for me. But she is very nice."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 06:42 am UTC (link) Track This "So many to keep up with," Lyra admitted, feeling a little silly once again. "I'd like to meet all of your family eventually. If you'd let me?"
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 06:45 am UTC (link) Track This "Of course," he nodded because he had no issue with that. His siblings knew how to behave themselves. He'd wait to introduce her to the Keres. That needed a lot of preparation. His parents were another matter. "And yes. My parents believed in a big family. Most of my siblings repeated them."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 06:49 am UTC (link) Track This "If you wanted," Lyra said cautiously, trying to be suave even though she knew she never was, "you could introduce me to them as your girlfriend." She was looking at her mug and was sure her cheeks were darkening.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 06:55 am UTC (link) Track This He looked up at her at that and blinked. He tried to catch up and released he could not. "If you like, I would love to do that." He wondered what had changed her mind, but in the end it didn't really matter. For the moment this was utterly his.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 07:00 am UTC (link) Track This "I've been thinking about it," Lyra admitted as she looked up at him. "And although I feel like I'm a little out of my depth... I do like you. Probably if I still thought you were just mortal I would have asked you out by now. I thought about it early on, but then I tried to kiss you that night and you didn't like it so I sort of stopped even considering it, but I'm considering it again even if the people surrounding you confuse me and, oh gosh, if I'd known I was going to go on this long I probably would have taken a bigger breath before I started."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 07:05 am UTC (link) Track This He smiled to her, setting his hand over hers again. He hoped it was soothing. "It's alright. Whatever you need to learn, ask me. If you prefer talking to others, I'll arrange it. I am on your schedule here Lyra. You know how I feel, and you are giving me a chance. It is very nice." He smiled "you will learn. I will help you. We are both out of our depths in different ways. I have never shared my feelings with anyone before." He shrugged, "but I would like to try. And I did like your kiss but I felt you should kiss me while not drunk."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 07:09 am UTC (link) Track This "I'm not drunk now..." she told him with a tiny smile, hoping that she wasn't being too subtle for Thanatos. Sometimes he seemed to miss these sorts of things.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 07:14 am UTC (link) Track This For a moment he didn't get it, but then a light switched on in his mind. He wished they were in a less private place, but he wasn't about to let the opportunity slide. Almost shyly he leaned forward until he managed to set a soft kiss on her lips.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 07:16 am UTC (link) Track This It was the first time she'd ever kissed Thanatos when she wasn't under the influence of something else. No alcohol, no love gods, just them. Lyra moved closer to him on the couch, her hand moving to his cheek as she kissed him.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 07:21 am UTC (link) Track This He liked this. A lot. But he was conscious of the looks people were giving them, and the hushed whispers that accompanied that. Next time he was going to kiss her in a place that had more privacy. Smiling he pulled back after a moment and ran his fingers along her cheek. "Thank you."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 07:23 am UTC (link) Track This Lyra grinned and brushed her hair behind her ear. "Usually people don't say 'thanks' to kissing."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 07:26 am UTC (link) Track This "Oh," he realized he was going to have to at least talk to his twin. At least so he would know what to do, and what not to do. He had never done this before. "I meant for considering me as well. I'm not very good at this."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 07:28 am UTC (link) Track This "I haven't dated anyone for years," Lyra told him. "So I'm sort of rusty as well." She slipped her hand down to hold his as they sat there and smiled at him.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 07:32 am UTC (link) Track This "Still more experience then I have in any case," he smiled and let his hand settle around hers. This wasn't too hard. He didn't think much had to change, but he'd make sure none the less.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 07:34 am UTC (link) Track This And now Lyra didn't know what to do. She'd said she'd like to date him and they'd had a little kiss and now they were holding hands.
And now... hmmm.
Lyra reached out and picked up her coffee mug again. "So... uh, how about that local sports team?"
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 07:38 am UTC (link) Track This He laughed, because he had no idea what else to do either. Greeks didn't have the best instruction magazine for dating. He released her hands and smiled, "I don't pay attention to sports. Your schedule Lyra. However I would like a proper date. Perhaps this Friday? I have a few places in mind I think you might enjoy."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 07:41 am UTC (link) Track This "Friday," Lyra agreed with a smile, squeezing his hand in hers. "I'll wear a pretty dress for you," she promised. "Maybe sometimes with less than three colours in it."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 07:45 am UTC (link) Track This "Then it is a date, as it is said." He smiled happily. This was nice. He had something to look forward to for this Friday. "Wear what you like. Everything looks lovely on you."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-10-12 07:47 am UTC (link) Track This "See, how could I not want to date someone who says the nicest things about me!" Lyra beamed at him and then leaned in to kiss him again, this time just for an innocent moment so the other patrons wouldn't stare.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-10-12 07:53 am UTC (link) Track This Smiling he accepted the kiss, quite happily really, and curled his fingers around hers. "I only speak truth. That much I can promise you. I would not lie to you."