Dante Lot (unseen_miami) wrote in olympian_rewind, @ 2010-07-14 22:56:00 |
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Entry tags: | cato jube, dante lot, hades |
Who: Cato and Hades (who goes unnamed in narration)
What: Random Meet up
Where: In and near a Greek Diner
When: June 12, 2010, Early Evening
Warnings: none
He sat at the back booth drumming lightly along the table with his spoon. His clothes were clean and crisp, a small true smile graced his face as he waited. His meal had been devoured – the shepherd's pie simply gone. His caesar salad likewise gone. All the bread, not even a crumb remained. And he waited in the small little Greek diner, eying the little Spanish waitress who was getting his baklava dessert in the early evening. But when she turned to glance at him, he looked away.
It wasn't right to be caught eying her, no matter how attractive she might have been.
If she had noticed him looking, she didn't show it at all as she turned back to the table she was serving. She offered the blond young man sitting at it a smile, though it seemed more one of affection than seduction. A smile from an older sister, really, not a possible lover. The doe-eyed youth returned it happily as he started his order, not yet aware of his uncle sitting just a few tables down from him.
The elder of the three of them in the relatively empty diner at the moment continued to smile at her display. He had spoken to her before. About how she was taking double shifts to pay for her mother's medication now that her mother lost her insurance. Her virtues shown around her just highlighting her physicality... and her obvious kindness to all her customers, him and the youth ahead of him only made that more obvious. She brought him his dessert in the take out container and he waved to her goodbye, waiting for her to turn from him again. Then and only then did he dig around in his pockets and just emptied the cash he had... the cash he had acquired lately.
Getting up, eating his dessert on the way out, he leaned to the youth, “Make sure you give the lass a good tip. She deserves it. Been on her feet for ten hours.”
The youth yelped, pulling away for a moment in surprise before realization caught up to him. When it did, he barked out a happy laugh. "Uncle!"
The elder laughed in return, turning around and taking a couple of steps backwards continuing to the door, “That's right. Give in and do right at that table.”
"Wait!" Quickly digging out a ball of cash, more than enough for the meal and a tip, he stumbled after his relative. "Where are you off to in such a rush, uncle?"
Hmm, the Spanish people used “Papi” to address people. Maybe whatever culture this youth was from used “Uncle”. Somewhere in his mind, he knew the Japanese did, but he didn't know why he knew that nor did he ponder it. He simply paused, “Because I have a lot to do. Isn't that why everyone rushes around?”
Cato laughed, placing a hand over his heart as if his pride had been wounded. Of course, that would require an ego, something he sorely lacked. "Touche. Do you mind if I follow along then?"
The elder lower his eyes a little, his good mood momentarily disturbed as he thought before looking back at Cato. He then glanced at the waitress before bringing his attention solely back to him. The two of them were alike... at least he believed. Good and kind hearted. He had no room for a sidekick in his dark world of vengeance. He shook his head, regaining his smile, “You shouldn't go with me. Why would you even want to?”
"I have a lack of other things to do. And I like spending time with you," said Cato, listing off his reasons on his fingers. Holding the two up, he wiggled them around as evidence. Two perfectly good reasons! "Unless I'm a bother."
Like spending time with him? What did that even mean? Was this youth coming on to him? Was he some sort of prostitute and that was his approachment line? The elder shook his head. Even if he was interested in that, he had just given all his money to the cute little Spanish waitress with legs that went on forever. He placed a hand on the youth's shoulder, “Do me a favor? Get off the streets and be safe, okay?”
Cato blinked at his elder, tilting his head to the side in confusion. Something was... off about Hades. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something had changed in the way the god of death held himself, the way his face changed expressions, and a glint in his eyes he couldn't recall having seen before. "I'm not sure what you mean, Dante," he murmured with a tone of worry. "Did... did I say something?"
The deep sorrow the god of death carried was gone from him. The misery that always darkened his black eyes was gone, replaced by hope and optimism and surety of a better world. With just a little confusion. This youth was confusing. Dante? That name sounded right... “Not sure. Might not have been paying proper attention. But I really do have a lot to do, but I meant what I said. Be safe. You're a good man.” He could tell that, whether or not he was wrong about him being a prostitute. “Don't want nothing to happen to you, mate. This world isn't tamed.”
"Tamed..." And a memory clicked in Cato's head, fuzzy and loud, like someone turning on a VCR. Words between brothers, two kings, murmured threats and desires spoken for realms lost. "This is the living world, though," he replied quietly, confused as he recalled the words Hades had said to his father.
“Good people try to live.” They just needed help. They needed the evil to be uprooted was all. Then the people and nature could live in peace together. A flash of determination flickered against his eyes as he turned away. “But so many people just try to strangle the life right out of it. It's kinda sad. Good people struggle while corruption prospers..:” He sighed a little. That isn't how the world should be. “Should get going.”
Staring after his uncle's back for a moment, Cato felt a moment of confusion. But only a moment; he knew what he wanted to do. Whatever his uncle was so determined to do, he would help. "Then let me help you," he offered, putting a light hand on the god's shoulder, "and try to help them. You can't do it all alone, right?"
The elder lowed his eyes again in thought at the touch and the words. Unlike at other times, he didn't flinch the unexpected touch. Maybe he could use a side kick... No. What kind of madness was that? He didn't even have powers... He looked over his shoulder at the youth, “You sure you want that kind of burden? You don't know what you're asking.”
"If it's for a good cause and help you, I don't see much of a problem," replied Cato with complete honesty.
And the elder could see that honesty, almost as clearly as he could see the youth's blond hair. It made him laugh and he turned just enough to give him a friendly clap on the shoulder, “Don't worry about it. It'll all work out.” Just because the work was hard and daunting didn't mean it was impossible. “But I'll tell you what, if I get in trouble with my busy work, I'll keep you in mind for the call.”
"You make it sound like you're on a secret mission," chuckled Cato, trying not to stagger under the friendly blow. "What are you up to? Something for the kids?"
“Maybe I've said too much... though if it were a secret mission, I think I would have to kill you now, no?” He couldn't help but snicker a little as he shook his head and pulling back the fork he had jammed into his baklava, continued to eat it as he began once more to walk away, “But children are our future. Everything should be about them. Now, really. Must get moving. It was nice talking with you.”
Cato followed like a puppy, tagging along Dante's heels and occasionally tripping as he focused more on the conversation than his feet. Only after a few moments did he realize that Dante was trying to ditch him. Aww. Well, he was a busy man, he couldn't fault him. Coming to a halt, he instead waved goodbye instead of continuing his pursuit. "Um, okay. Call you later, then. Have a good day!"
The elder looked up at the darkening sky, before finishing his dessert and tossing it into a garbage can, “Have a good night.” Though how he was going to call him later was a mystery to him. How long had he been roaming the streets that random youths could call him? Maybe he had a bitchin' symbol that they could shoot into the sky. If he didn't, he wanted one. “Get home safe.”
And with that he kept walking until he thought the youth would not see him anymore and ducked into the alley. Alone in the shadows, he reclaimed his invisibility. There was no more time for pleasantry tonight... Whether they be that of conversations, meals or thoughts of his city calling him to her assistance. There was work to be done and she didn't have to use a spotlight to call him to do it. And blood would have to flow until she was safe...
Summary: Hades took a break from his busy schedule to eat and Cato ran into him at the same diner. They talk until Hades ditches him.