pin_up_girl (pin_up_girl) wrote in olympian_rewind, @ 2008-12-02 22:03:00 |
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Entry tags: | erato, herakles, npc, teddy pullman, valentine ames |
Who: Erato, Herakles, Freyr and Freyra
What: Negotiations...that don't really resolve themselves
Where: Washington DC
When: Sunday
Warnings: Drama llama
Val shuffled up to Freyr's apartment building, bundled up in her winter clothes and pressed against her brother's side. "Now, you're going to be cool right? Because this is important...I know you want to make a good apology and so do I so...best behavior, right?" She smiled up at Teddy, petting his cheek.
"I'm not gonna punch in his cranial cavity," promised Teddy in a slightly monotone voice, because he'd been promising that since they left Miami. "I won't glare, scowl, mutter, or curse. I won't threaten. And I won't hide the body in a really dumb place." Well, okay, he'd just made up the last one. He grinned at her, not wearing much besides a T-shirt with the Dolphins logo and a leather jacket with jeans, and wondered how long it'd be before she caught that last bit.
"Haha very funny," Val replied, rolling her eyes. She approached the building, ringing up to Freyr's apartment.
Freyr had just relaxed into a nap on his couch when he heard his bell. And like anyone awoken just when he had fallen asleep, he sighed heavily. "I swear, I am going to disconnect that bell with a hammer," He muttered under his breath as he pulled himself to his bare feet, dressed only in a pair of cargo pants, as he reached his door and pressed the intercom button. He was just too lazy to use the little camera. Opening his eyes would keep him from napping, "Who's there?"
"It's me," Val called into the intercom, and then thought better of herself. He sounded sleepy. "Valentine." She glanced up at her brother. "And Teddy's here too."
The Elf-God yawned. He yawned again and raked a hand through his blond hair. Only then did his eyes snap open. "Valentine?" Now he pressed the little camera option and the two of them appeared on the screen near his door. "You're okay... and with a body guard."
Teddy leaned in close to the camera, his face filling up most of it. "I can hear that, you know."
Ahh, too much Herakles face. Jarrod pulled back a little, "You're saying you ain't her bodyguard?"
"Not saying I am, either. I'm here as a friend." His mouth pursed a bit. "An apologetic one."
Val had been ridiculously close to banning Herakles from the apology meeting, but she was able to breathe a sigh of relief when he seemed to calm a bit. She moved her way in front of her brother, peering into the camera. "Can we come in? I'm cold!"
"Oh, yeah, sure." Jarrod put his hand over the third button on the module, "You got three seconds to get through the door at the buzz. Then just come up the steps. My door'll be open." With that, he pressed the button and then returned to his couch to find his shirt.
A few moments later, the pair of Greeks appeared, with Herakles holding the door open for Val. He looked about the place with both curiousity and an unconscious desire to see how well it compared to his own place. Wow, his couch really did look like crap compared to this guy's.
It was a huge effort on Val's part to not bum rush Freyr when she saw him. She hadn't seen him in such a long time, but she wanted to be respectful of Herakles's presence. She walked sedately towards him, arms open to give him a hug.
His couch was pretty nice. His apartment would have looked much better if his planting pots and boxes were filled with growth like they had been with Val's first visit. Now they were empty except their soil. Jarrod offered the little Greek a smile, his tshirt barely rolled down over his chest when he completely her hug and then nodded his head to Herakles. "I see you found her."
Teddy nodded. "Subrosa," he said quietly, watching Val intently. If the conversation was going to be upsetting, maybe it should be held elsewhere. But Jarrod, and his family, deserved to know.
"Someone was trying to make a misunderstanding between our families," Val elaborated, resting her chin on Freyr's shoulder. "We wanted to come here to make sure that doesn't happen..."
"Oh. I'm glad you were rescued before you were killed then and your body placed somewhere." Leave it to the Norse Elf to come up with a conclusion that ended in death and bloodshed. He was the happy Aesir. Terrible really. Jarrod began to release her from the hug, Teddy being here and all.
Val was clinging, just a bit, but she could take a hint. "Actually, they were going to send me to some resort town to live out the rest of my years selling baubles, if you'll believe that." She laughed a bit, taking a step back. "But I know all the confusion must have caused bad feelings. I'm here to do anything I can to help fix those. Anything."
Ignore clinging... she was his friend, and she... well, she loved him. As much as it hurt him deep down, Teddy was a man. And everyone knew, boys don't really have feelings. His face was solid and sure as he replied, "I'm here to do that, too. I came here on a wrong premise, prepared to ruin the pact your leader and my father started, I'm ashamed to say. Whatever I have to do to earn your forgiveness, I'll do it."
Jarrod was clearly confused and he patted Val on her shoulder as his eyes focused on the other, larger Greek. "I'm not angry at you. I was a little insulted, but well... all the evidence did point to me. It's not like you would know off the top of your head I am one of the most virturous Vannir or Aesir ever." Scratching his head a little bit, he shrugged, "We could always have a conversation with our fists. That could be fun..." Yes, fight Herakles hand to hand. But it did sound more exciting and fun than being burnt to death by a flame sword.
"You want to fight him?" Val blinked, aghast at the suggestion. "Well I can't let you two do that...at least not while I'm around. I wouldn't be able to look." She crinkled her nose and stood between the two men. "Is there anything I can do to solidify the peace between our families?"
Teddy blinked as well, but a smirk was slowly curling on his face as if he hadn't heard Val's tone of horror. "You sure you could keep up?" he said with a cheerful chuckle.
"Our mortal followers terrorized yours out of their civilizations." Historically not completely true, but close enough. It was the late Romans that had to deal with the Vikings but close enough for a god of agriculture and the sun. And yes, he was using a variations of "my kid could beat up your kid". But Jarrod turned his attention back to Val, even if his smirk did not fade and the excitement did not leave his eyes, "Um, I don't know. The last peace negociation I was part of, I became an adopted brother."
"I highly doubt anyone in either camp is willing to part with a family member," Val replied, making a face. Numbers were too important these days. "Is there anything Odin might want in exchange for the transgression?"
Seeing the change in conversation, Teddy bit back the reply of 'at least I am remembered at all' and said, "Yes, is there?"
Jarrod knew Val could be persistant. Better to deal with her stuff, so then he could see how hard Herakles could punch. The irony that all he wanted to do was try to fight the younger god when they were here to apologize for things was not lost on the Elf-God, "I guess you would have to ask him. But he wasn't the one offended so..."
"Oh?" Val perked, seeing an opportunity. "Well who was offended? I could go talk to them and see what they want as a show of good will." She smiled, liking her role as peace keeper.
Jarrod flopped down on his couch in thought. "Well, when I calmed down when realized we had all been tricked, I stopped being offended and I get to fight Teddy so... And then we thought Loki was offended, but now it seems he was kinda amused by how many clan and your family exploded under the explosion of the event." He was clearly counting on his hands to help him focus his thoughts, "Odin was annoyed, mostly for the reasons Loki was amused, but then I think something confused him and that usually just makes him annoyed at being confused. So really, I think it was just Sis when things calmed down."
"And your sister is... Freyja? Freyka?" They had more confusing names than the Greeks themselves. "If I offended your king, I should be apologizing to him..." He gulped. "My father wasn't pleased at all, either."
"They got scolded," Val replied, shrugging her shoulders. She smiled politely at Freyr. "Maybe we could go talk to your sister and see what I could help her with..."
"Her name is just my name with an 'a' at the end..." Jarrod responded in almost an automatic fashion, like he had said it a thousand times before he frowned in confusion again. Scolded? Like a child? He didn't think Odin had ever done that even in their... But then he paused his own thoughts. His very domain of foreign cultures reminded him that the Greeks were different. Almost everyone was Zeus' child. He supposed that made sense then. "She was angry that it happened in her building. She gets protective of her building."
"Well is she home?" Val asked, quirking her head to the side. "Can I go speak with her? I'm sure we can find some way to make amends."
"I think she is." Jarrod rubbed his chin and pulled out his phone only to send a simple text before looking back to both Greeks, "Yeah, she's home."
"And me?" asked Teddy. Hm, would she team up with Freyr in a fight? That could be fun...
Magic from a distance really was cheating in a fist fight. But Freyr shrugged at his question, pointing at Valentine, "You gotta ask her. She's the mastermind."
Teddy looked to Val. "M'kay. Guess I"m coming with you. Where can we find her?"
"Next to the top floor. I should probably ask her if she doesn't mind seeing you right now..." Again, Jarrod took out his phone and texted his sister. He sighed after a couple of quick responses and looked at the Greeks again, "Talk amongst yourselves. This might take a bit."
Val nodded, moving back over to Teddy's side and taking his hand. She hoped she wasn't getting Jarrod into too much trouble.
"Glad he's not angry," said Teddy to Val with a smile before looking off out the window. Then, thoughtfully, "I wonder if he's a boxer... or a wrestler..." Ooh, or both! Yes! He grinned like a child about to get an early Christmas present. Joy to the world. Fighting was soon.
Val made a face, poking Teddy squarely in the chest. "Honestly. You men..."
Jarrod's texting stopped suddenly, but only because he stood up from the couch and was actually using the phone as a phone. And was speaking into it in a lyrical, beautiful lanaguge at rapid fire speeds.
"[That doesn't sound great,]" Val murmured, pouting as she leaned against Teddy's chest. She really had wanted things to be fixed, but now she worried that they were somewhat beyond repair.
Eventually, Jarrod pressed end and just stared at his phone for a second before tossing it on a chair. "Yeah, she'll see you."
"Everything okay?" Val asked, worried for Freyr. She took a step towards him and reached out to touch his shoulder.
It was not good to be an Elf in the Ridgekeep Compound today. Confusion was quite strong. Jarrod looked down at the little muse, her worry for him clear and he didn't really understand why. "Yeah. Everything's fine. Why wouldn't it be?"
"That was just a long...talk," Val shook her head, reaching out to take his hand. "Y'know what? Nevermind. Take us to see your sister?" Who knew what kinds of defenses the rest of the building had?
"It wasn't long because it was bad. Just... she assumed I was asking her if she wanted to come with me for food. No one would quite expect what I was asking her." Squeezing her hand to reassure the little muse, Jarrod shrugged and began to lead her out the door. He looked over at Herakles, "You're coming, right?"
"Course I am." Reaching for Val's hand, the giant god followed the Norseman out, ducking his head under the doorway as they went.
Jarrod glanced at Valentine for a second and then chose the elevator to the floor just shy of the top. Stepping out, he continued to lead them, knocking on the almost ominous and quite solid metal door, that contrasted greatly to the fine wooden ones that he and even Loki had. He knocked with much clanked and called out in Elven that he was here with their guests.
It only took a couple of seconds for the door to open and reveal a blonde blue-eyed woman of about 6'2" dressed in a fine blue silk dress that was draped along her form, and even though her ears were rounded and human they still peeked out from her hair anyway. "Teddy and Valentine?" Freyra asked and then smiled, offering them entrance to her living area. Where Jarrod's apartment was masuciline and functional, hers was ornate and its layout complicated perhaps just to be so. And it didn't appear like she lived alone, but she was now. "Please come in."
Valentine smiled, entering the apartment. It was beautiful -- definitely more to V's tastes. "It's lovely to finally meet you. I'm sorry I didn't get the opportunity when I visited last."
Teddy bowed respectfully. Apartment? What apartment? He paused as he took in Freyra. He had to admit... she was gorgeous. Very. The god shivered lightly and held out a hand to her. "It's an honor to meet you, [fair goddess]. Thanks for meetin' up with us."
Jarrod eased passed his sister and whispered in her ear before taking a seat in her living room area and kicking up his feet like a hick on her beautifully carved coffee table. He was at least careful to not to upset the half done puzzle of the a basket of cats however.
Freyra nodded to her brother, ignoring his actions and shook the large hand that was offered. "According to my brother, it was very important I meet with you two. Go ahead and take a seat." For once Herakles might not feel overly large in the furniture as the Norse all seemed to enjoy larger end pieces. Of course, that would probably only make Valentine look even smaller than she was. "I was not expecting a visit."
Val wasn't by any stretch of the imagination petite, but she did look (and feel) small next to the tall, athletic woman. She took a seat next to Freyr, sitting politely with her hands in her lap. She had caught the "fair goddess" that Teddy had thrown in. She cast him a sideways look, a momentary glower passing along her features. She smiled a moment later though, looking over at Freyra. "I know that there was a disturbance here recently...this is partially my fault as I was unable to prevent a group called Subrosa from enacting a miscommunication that could have had terrible results on the pact between our families. What we're here for...well, Herakles is here to apologize. And I'm here to see that the peace between our families is solidified. It would be a shame to let outsiders--mortals--to harm our households in such a way. If there's anything I can do to make things up to you, just let me know, and I'll do it without hesitation."
What? They were coming to apologize! He had to be nice! And it wasn't like it was a lie. "Um... what she said," he said, not sure how better he could put it than she had. "I really am sorry for barging in on your place, putting hands on your brother. But don't let Val fool you." He gave her a small smile. "She doesn't have to make up for anything."
Valentine shrugged a little. "Still, if there's anything I can do...I want to do it."
Both Vannir seemed to flinch visibly in unison at the 'shame to let outsider' line until the term 'mortal' followed it before both relaxing back again. Perhaps it was an instictive response.
Freyra pulled her hair back from her face and held it back with what appeared to be a golden clip that had been carelessly strewn to a side table as she thought. "Well... um... I was upset when Loki was threatened under my watch..." Which really was what upset her. He had been threatened in what might as well have been her new hall. Not that it was Loki. Never that. No one in their right mind would actually mind him being threatened.
"And I want to make it up to you," Val replied, her voice full of sincerity. "No one should feel as though their home is vulnerable..." She knew that feeling all too well what with the two kidnappings in a year. "Tell me what I can do to make it up to you."
Freyra was about to say something but then Jarrod reached over and poked her right between the ribs. It caused her to jump and it was completely possible that if the two Greeks were not there she would have taken one of her throw pillow and chucked it at him as hard as she could. But her frown at him was only momentary as he said something in their lyrical, beautiful language and both Vannir looked at Valentine and then looked back at each other. Sister responded to brother, and then brother to sister once more that could easily be translated to "Really? Really." no matter the language and then Freyra brought her bright blue eyes back to the Greeks. "Like Teddy said, it was nothing you did." Then she looked fully at the larger Greek, "My brother may have knocked down the door but you were the one who spoke the threats toward Loki to me."
Herakles nodded. It was the truth, after all.
"So, both of you want to do something to make this up to me and strengthen our alliance?" Freyra wanted to make sure she was clear with this.
Val nodded, practically on the edge of her seat with wanting to know how she could help.
Silly Muse... but if she wanted to, Herk couldn't really stop her. So, he nodded as well.
"Well, this should probably be brought to our own councils, but what I would like to see is a connection that isn't so easily broken like simple words. And considering this all started because of distrust and the belief that my brother would hurt you, Valentine, showing that hurting you would hurt him, is also important, so..." Freyra shrugged and glanced around her apartment before looking at her brother briefly and then back to the Greeks, "I think there should be a child. And Teddy, what you could to make amends is be supportive during this. I'm not saying for them to be married or anything like that."
All the blood drained out from Val's brain. That had certainly been expected, to put it lightly. "A..."
BUH?
"I'm sorry, say that again?" said the Greek, even though he was perfectly well aware of what they'd said. "Wait, what?"
He wasn't the only one with that reaction. The other Elf was sputtering much the same, "Wait, wait... Did you just say you want me to father a kid to make you feel better?"
Freyra raised her hands up as if to tell everyone to calm down, "What would make me feel better is to know something like this won't happen again. That none of our houses will feel vulnerable due to misunderstandings on either behalf. Obviously, we would bring it to the council and," she looked fully at the Greeks again, "And you can do whatever you do, to make sure both sides agree. But what would unite the two clans more in this modern age?"
The Norse goddess probably had a point, but Val's brain hadn't gotten far past "oh hey have a kid." She was looking pretty pale.
"No way!" Herakles was at full height now, not an apologetic slouch. "No way is my sister having a kid just to make up for my temper!" he boomed, voice loud enough to make anyone wonder if he'd ever truly been mortal to start with. "Pick something else, or we're leaving."
That snapped Val out of her daze pretty quickly. Perhaps it was all the mental training she'd been doing on the way over, being ever vigilent for Teddy's legendary temper. Now that it was here, her brain had to be ready to spring into action. "[Brother, it's okay...]" She glanced up at Freyra. "I'll do it. You took me by surprise then, but...it makes sense. If it can prevent something like this from happening again..." It was more than just Teddy's temper. She had had time to think when she was being held captive about all the things her family might have done to Freyr. She hadn't liked any of them.
"What? No! You can't have a kid just 'cause they say!" he argued, face growing ever red despite her words. "You were kidnapped! Why the hell if you wanna do it? Fuck, that doesn't make sense. I'm the one who almost ruined Dad's whole deal..." He threw his hands up in the air before they settled on his head. "Why don't I just have a kid with some Norse chick. Same damn thing."
"I guess that'd work too, but..." Val frowned, glancing down at her hands. "My..." She glanced over at Jarrod. "Our relationship was a weakness. One that Subrosa exploited. And they took advantage of your temper, Herakles." She gestured up at the large unruly god. "If we can make that bond stronger, we'll all be safer."
"That doesn't make you to blame," Herakles murmured. He took a moment to calm himself and unclench his fists to take her hands into his. "I promise. It won't happen again. But this isn't the way to make sure it doesn't. Not the way to fix things. Okay?"
"Teddy," Val smiled up at him, reaching up to touch his cheek. "You're...sweet to defend me like this, but I'm not doing this because I feel like I'm to blame. I'm worried about both our familes. When I was being held by Subrosa, I worried about what you might do to Freyr or what the Aesir might have done to you... If I can prevent that, I will. It'll be okay. Promise."
The great hero just shook his head, then looked back to the Norse wordlessly. Please. Not this.
Halfway through the Greek's debate, the Elf siblings had begun to debate/argue between each other and when there was Greek silence, both the Elves quieted and looked up at the towering Greek still standing. Freyra clearly sighed, fully realizing that perhaps she had made too great of a challenge and too hard of a pill to swallow, "I did say both clans would have to agree, you know... But would making it more fair make you less explosive, Teddy?"
Teddy looked to the floor, thinking. What had he done in the past? "I'll work for you. I've done it before, and for crimes far greater." Looking up, he nodded firmly. "However long you wish, whatever tasks. I can do that."
Jarrod muttered something under his breath and even though it sounded beautiful, it was certainly crude and this time Freyra did throw a pillow at him as hard as she could before looking up at Teddy again, "That is not exactly what I meant..."
Valentine wasn't always the brightest crayon in the box, but this time, it clicked. "What!? Why? Just because he suggested it? Did you not notice how red his face was at the time??"
"It does seem more fair..." Freyra shrugged a little. How red his face got and how loudly he shouted had probably made the idea at least more attractive to her, but, "But this is why we should bring it to the councils. Leaving anything to one person, unless they can mystically tell if its a bad idea, is a bad idea."
"Okay then. Two babies. On the table for discussion," Val muttered, sinking back into the couch. She had a headache.
Teddy blinked. Did they just miss the part where he'd offered himself to servitude? Again? How many times did that make that now, eight? "I was being sarcastic about the baby thing, because it's a bad idea. Hence, my other offer."
"Well, you didn't do anything bad enough for servitude. An off-handed threat toward Loki within the building that you gained access due to my brother is less of a crime and more of a pet peeve..." Freyra was now confused, and even in glamours, it was clear the two Elves were twins. They looked very similar confused.
"And this is why the Aesir have a council, " Jarrod interrupted, rubbing his own temples. He had been put up on the meat block, too, out of the blue. "Just because an idea would work doesn't mean we have to do it..."
"Yeah and we invented concept of it with our pantheon," Val snapped, a little skittish and headachey and tired from all of this. "We should just...defer to our families, I guess. It's too heated an issue for us to decide alone. We should probably stop discussing it too."
Teddy sighed. Couldn't they just be adults and figure this out themselves? But they probably had a point. As long as that point didn't involve children.
But then, he remembered something. "The Greeks don't have a council," he stated, more to himself than anyone else.
"We have the Olympians," Val muttered. "They'll have to do....the ones of them that are even around."
...She had a point. He sighed and nodded in agreement.
Freyra relaxed where she sat. Never had she considered how much of an explosion a simple suggestion would cause. It was like it was already done... Besides as her eyes fell to Valentine, she wondered if it was just jealousy that made the men protest so much. She could feel it in her own body that this was agreeable to Valentine's. But she merely shrugged, more to herself than to anyone else and offered an beautiful, and hopefully calming smile to them all, "Seriously, all I want is that I do not become annoyed about it again. On a deeper level, I do not want either clan to feel vulnerable to such things if we have a pact. When you ask a mature fertility goddess for a suggestion on how to achieve such things, you should not be surprised about the response."
Jarrod shook his head a little, "Having a united child... maybe two, is a bit more than mere suggestion, Sis. It's a big deal in this day."
"We already have a pact," She murmured in return, "It is bigger deal for us to be fighting and deceived. But again, just a suggestion."
"I guess we should bunker down in DC until this is decided," Val said with a sigh. "[I'm so going to lose my job.]" She glanced over at Freyr. "[At least I have a good story.]"
Teddy rolled his eyes a bit. Fertility gods. Sheesh... Part of him grinned as he imagined what it'd be like if Freyra ever met up with Pan. Instant population explosion. "We should go now, then, and let [Father] know." He glanced to the Aesir and gestured to them respectfully. "Thanks for your time."
The two Elven gods looked to each other and then to the Greeks and then back to each other. They could have sworn they just heard two different things. The brother, however, was the one to voice it, "Um, what was that?"
"We're gonna go find a DC hotel to stay at for a bit...and call our father," Val replied, glancing at the twins. "Unless you reconsidered having our families vote on this."
Both Elves moved in unison, their expressions the same even. They were confused but focused, and again, the brother spoke up, "No. We should definately have our clans vote, but... phrasing made it odd to hear. What you just said, I mean..."
Val nodded, taking Teddy's arm and heading for the door. She lingered a bit, as if expecting something from Jarrod.
Jarrod stood up and even saw how she lingered and could guess why, but he wouldn't offer her to stay with him. Because he could guess his sister would make a similar offer to Herakles and then it might not even get to be voted on. It would just happen. He sighed softly though and reached out to touch her hand, "I will give you this, it's certainly an interesting story with twists and turns." He then turned to Teddy, "Take good care of her."
Herakles paused, looking from the Greek goddess to the Norse elf. Right. "I will," he assured him, if not as confidently as before... Something in him rattled at her look to him. But it'd be handled. Later.
Summary: Erato and Herakles go to DC to see what they can do to restrengthen the Greek-Norse pact. Freyr's sister comes up with a creative solution! This is met with mixed response.