Vadimas Lugosi (hammerfall) wrote in olympian_rewind, @ 2010-06-20 03:44:00 |
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Entry tags: | atlas, hephaestus, natal maltose, vadimas lugosi |
Who: Hephaestus and Atlas
What: Reunions
Where: In Polyhymnia's neighborhood
When: After Atlas visits Polyhymnia
Warnings: None
Hephaestus drove his roadster sedately through the quiet community. It was getting late, but you would hardly be aware of it with the nearly-Summer sun shining brightly above. To the casual observer, it would appear as if he was out for nothing more than an ecologically unfriendly drive. That casual observer has made two very erroneous assumptions. Hephaestus' car was, in fact, electric and powered by a zero-emission, zero footprint power source of his own design. And Hephaestus himself had, in fact, a very clear goal.
He checked his dash-mounted PKE meter. It beeped impassively at him. Hephaestus huffed in irritation. Freyra had assured him that Atlas was no danger, and he had trusted her judgment enough to leave Miami with Atlas still MIA. However, her answers were evasive and, recently, had become nonexistent. With Freyra incommunicado, Hephaestus decided to check on the situation personally. There really was no substitute for firsthand observation. It also served as a good distraction from the other thoughts circling Hephaestus' mind.
His PKE meter started beeping insistently. Hephaestus took a hard left, something of a smirk on his face. He couldn't pinpoint Atlas' location from his home, but his PKE meters were infallible in the field. He followed where the beeping device lead until he spotted Atlas casually strolling down the street as if he didn't have a care, or shoe, in the world. Hephaestus pulled up behind atlas, parking and leaping out onto the sidewalk in one fluid movement.
"Atlas, wait. I wish to speak with you," said Hephaestus, his tone firm. He wouldn't pretend to be Atlas' friend, but he wouldn't Antagonize him, either.
Atlas stopped. Thoughts of Polyhymnia fluttered out of his mind as recognition flooded in. He recognized that voice. Atlas frowned. He didn't like that voice.
In a fluid movement of his own, Atlas spun. Using the momentum of his turn, Atlas lashed out with his fist. He caught Hephaestus on the chin, sending the younger god sprawling. Atlas put his hands on his hips, showing no further signs of aggression.
"Hello, Hephaestus," Atlas said in the same tone Hephaestus had used. "What do you want."
Hephaestus sat on the ground in a daze. His hand reached reflexively for the hidden leg holster that held his coil gun. Something stopped him from pulling the weapon. As his mind cleared, he realized what it was. Atlas had used his name. Hephaestus decided to give the Titan the benefit of the doubt. For now. He stood, brushing the dirt from his designer jeans. He was glad he had chosen against the utilikit.
"You could start by explaining why you hit me," Hephaestus said, rubbing his jaw. "When last we parted, you weren't so violent." Though Hephaestus had worried greatly that he would be.
Atlas looked at his fist, frown still on his face. He turned back to Hephaestus.
"I don't know," he said confidently, "but I don't think I like you very much."
As he checked one last time that all his teeth were in place, Hephaestus considered Atlas' odd yet earnest reply.
"That's fair," Hephaestus conceded. "I don't like you very much, either. However, I don't think such petty feelings outweigh the fact that you can be of incredible value as a member of our family. All of the actions I have taken with you were in service of that goal." This was the first time Hephaestus had explained his plan to Atlas. Atlas had said he had let go of his hatred. Hephaestus wanted to test that resolve.
"'Incredible value'? 'Our family'?" Atlas asked with a mocking chuckle. "You are not nearly as eloquent as some of 'our' family. Why now would an Olympian come to a Titan and claim kinship?" Atlas asked dubiously. "Why now after eons of hatred?"
Hephaestus eyed Atlas warily, debating just how much of his concerns to reveal to the Titan. He decided to play it safe.
"Your strength is unmatched, but you are alone," Hephaestus began calmly. "Together, we can work towards our mutual survival." It was close enough to the truth without making Hephaestus and the other Olympians seem overly weak or needy.
"Flattery?" Atlas asked with mild incredulity. "I am not so easy to convince. Besides, I have already found a place for myself in this new world." Atlas stubbornly crossed his arms, closing himself off from further coercion.
"At Ridgekeep," Hephaestus finished for him. It was not a question. He had concluded as much from Freyra's reports. Such a result had not been Hephaestus' intention, but it served his purposes just the same. "Very well. It was your choice to go to them, and it is your choice to stay with them. However, you will always be tied to my family." Hephaestus said coolly. He wanted to continue to propagate that idea in Atlas' mind, hoping that one day the Titan would be receptive to it.
Atlas merely laughed at Hephaestus' words.
"I know of my ties better than you, Hephaestus," He said tersely. "And now, by your leave," he said with a mock bow, "I have matters to attend to before I return to Ridgekeep." Without waiting for a response, Atlas turned and continued the walk that Hephaestus interrupted.
Hephaestus watched Atlas amble away, considering the conversation he had just had. Atlas had been his usual charming self, but his words had lacked their habitual air of menace. Hephaestus doubted they would ever be bosom buddies, but Hephaestus had learned something of friendship in recent days. He could not and would not rule out the possibility. For now, he was satisfied with their cool detente. The threat of Atlas had passed. Hephaestus hopped back into his car, pulling away from the sidewalk and heading for home.
Summary: Hephaestus catches up with Atlas. Atlas greets Hephaestus with a fist, but they manage to have a civil conversation. They part not as friends, but each has gained an understanding of the other.