Who: Shiri & Sam What: Aunt-Nephew bonding Where: Sam and Adam's living room When: Saturday morning Warnings: There's a reference to an unposted scene in there, but otherwise no.
Shiri didn't quite know when she fell asleep. That was the problem with being asleep. Unconsciousness often blocked the logical thought required to figure out such things.
Instead, she sat in front of Adam's bedroom door, having made it passed the living room door that was left unlocked. She hadn't questioned that, but did question why his bedroom was. And why he hadn't claimed he lost his key and given her one. It had worked for her after all and her dorm room. However, she sat in front of it asleep, slightly curled up around a lap harp that she had been playing. Every so often in her doze, she strummed it softly…
The door next to it, this one belonging to Sam, creaked open. The hermaphrodite yawned as he stepped out in his pajamas -- covered in various little broken hearts, of course -- and ran a hand through his hair. It always returned to its natural long length during sleep, the same length Salmakis's hair had been. Blegh. Cutting his hair every morning was a pain. But he was distracted from that when he saw the Muse propped up against Adam's door. ''[Aunt?]"
Someone was talking to her and she couldn't see them. Uh oh! Fell asleep… or blind. Hmm, hopefully fell asleep. Shiri opened her eyes slowly and let out a sigh of relief. Not blind. With a yawn of her own, she turned her eyes to Sam and titled her head at the sight of his long hair. Hee, they both had long hair now… She woke up a little more and smiled at him, "[I think I dozed off…]"
Sam smiled back and offered the elder goddess a hand. "[It would look like it. You could've slept on the couch or something, you know.]" Or in Adam's bed. Unless he had the door locked? That sounded weird... "[Where've you been?]"
Shiri put aside the harp to the floor and took the younger god's hand to draw to her feet, "[If I had known I would doze off, I would have gone to the couch.]" But she tried to ignore her amusement at his long hair and focus on his words. "[What do you mean? Where have I been? I was in my room… Then I woke up and I saw this huge mosquito.]" She showed the size of the monster thing with her hands, while shuddering lightly, "[Now they are spraying my whole floor…]"
The erote winced. Ew. Insecticides might not be able to kill immortals, but it didn't exactly make them feel sunny, either. "[Ew. And I always thought the rats in Paris were something to be feared. Want some breakfast?]"
"[That would be nice. I do not want to impose, though…]" But she did want to tie back his hair. It looked so soft and if he was going to cook, it was going to get in the way. She pulled the ribbon her own hair was tied with and slipped behind him, securing his into a ponytail with a simple bow. Bows were the only way to tie ribbons… everyone knew that.
Sam froze, a little startled out of his sleepiness but relaxed once he realized what she was doing. "[I was going to cut it, silly.]"
"[Oh. It is so pretty though.]" Shiri shrugged and then undid the bow, only to move it and the ponytail higher then. If he were going to cut it, it would be easier now. "[But short hair is all the rage now, for either gender.]"
"[Really? I hear girls love men with long hair.]" He happened to think it was hot, too. What sort of god of feminine men would he be if he didn't like feminine features on them? "[It's just a bother. And people would notice if my hair grew a few feet overnight.]" That done, he moved to the kitchen, digging out some pans for bacon and eggs.
"[I think girls say that and then do not mean it in this age. Why else would not only so many men have short hair, but women as well?]" She followed him to the kitchen area and sat at one of the chairs near where he was cooking, "[If you kept it long, you would not need to explain eventually and then you could braid it.]"
"[Kids these days are too confusing for me to figure out.]" Hrm. Maybe he would, then. He put down two pans, one for eggs, one for sausage. "Omelet or scrambled?"
"Scrambled, please." She watched him merrily in her chair. It was still such a novelty of having a man cook for her. She had easily spent the last fifty or so years with that not being the case. "[I could braid it for you if you wanted. If it became too much trouble. I am very good at it with all the sisters I have…]"
Sam loved cooking, either as a man or woman. It gave him the sense of being useful, being the one to nourish others. He chuckled and started the eggs first while the bacon sizzled. "[I say we ask Adam what he thinks first. We live in a democracy now, you know.]"
"[I doubt he would mind.]" She said with a soft shrug of her shoulders and pulled the troublesome trap to her violet dress back up. Casually, she folded her arms on the table and placed her head down, while still watching him, "[Adam told me you two watched '300'. How is that movie? I never saw it.]"
"[It's okay.]" Mashed up eggs were soon placed in front of her, along with pepper and salt should she want it. Back to bacon. "[The sex scene was hot. I don't remember Leonidas looking like that, though. He looked more like Grandpa.]" Snicker.
Shiri lifted her head and dusted her eggs with both the salt and the pepper, and poked at it with her fork, "[I saw a commercial for it. I do not remember all those weird monster people.]"
"[Me neither. I guess epic battles for the freedom of Greece just aren't interesting anymore without turning it into Dungeons and Dragons.]" Sam gave that comment a hard roll of the eyes. Bacon was soon added to her plate. "[Juice or milk or bourbon?]"
Offering him a smile in gratitude, she cut her bacon and put some of the eggs atop it before beginning to eat. But she did look at the clock on the microwave. It was so early, "[Um, juice please. A bit too early to be hitting the bourbon.]" Quietly, she went back to eating a bit more, "[I did appreciate in the commercials their decision to have the Spartans not wear breastplates…]"
"[Or the fact that he made fun of Athenians with their boys.]" Sam snorted. "[I was in Sparta. I saw them. But what can you do?]" He handed her a cup of apple juice before sitting down to some bacon and eggs himself. "[It was fun, though. Adam needed the distraction.]"
"[I did up and leave randomly again on him.]" Her eyes lowered a little sadly remembering why. Her anger about the whole event was gone, but all wounds don't end with the anger. Her poor sister… She really hoped there wasn't some pattern with muses being kidnapped and brutalized. But she quickly shoved aside the sadness and returned to cheerful. "[At least I told him I was gone this time.]"
"[Why did you go?]" asked Sam curiously before biting into his eggs. Mm, protein. And after he swallowed, "[You didn't really say why. I guessed you'd only be blunt if it was an emergency.]"
"[It was an emergency. I should not really speak about it. Not my business to tell to be fair.]" She bit into her eggs and bacon a bit more before growing curious herself, "[How did he take it?]"
"[A little bummed out. I get the feeling he felt like you didn't trust him with whatever you were dealing with.]" Sam arched an eyebrow. But it seemed she didn't trust anybody with it. "[He said you seemed annoyed with him.]"
Shiri carefully put down her fork. Maybe she truly was Daddy's girl, but it wasn't even an accident about being too blunt. It the fact that Adam had been right about sensing her annoyance at him… but it was toward all mortals. She sighed lightly, "[It was not his fault. I was angry with a lot of people that night. I am glad you kept him company.]"
Sam shrugged. "[We had a good talk. I'm glad I was there too help.]"
"[Of course, I had no doubt you would be there for him.]" She picked up her fork again and returned to eating, "[When I am not with him, you are, after all.]" That was how it worked, right? That's how she thought it worked.
The smaller god/goddess blinked. "[He's your boyfriend,]" Sam reminded her.
Now the muse blinked, "[So? He is your roommate…]"
"[But not my boyfriend. He's more yours than mine.]"
Now she scratched her head, losing her pale begins within the loose white locks, "[But I already spend more time with him… so, um?]"
"[He's yours. I don't want to mess that up...]" Sam poked at his eggs a little. "[I asked him last night if I was bothering you guys.]"
Wait, was an Erote…? What was going on? What crazy conversation had she stumbled upon? Her confusion was so clear on her stark features. "[He is mine, but… Why would you be bothering us? What is going on in that pretty head of yours?]"
"[He said he didn't want to be shared. And, in my experience, goddesses are possessive of their mortals.]" He shrugged again and sipped his small cup of bourbon. Mmm. Its sharpness helped wake him up more. Such a bedhead. "[And... well.]"
Shiri rested her head in her hand and rubbed her temple in one motion. The confusion was only mounting, though that only made her smile more. It had finally become strong enough for her to delight in the sensation. However, it was still confusion, "[He was not being shared? I… I simply assumed whenever I was not in his bed, you were. Is that not the case? Because that bed is always warm. I am going to have to look for a space heater under it or something.]"
Sam blushed and muttered, "[I'm not very good luck for relationships.]"
"[That does not mean you cannot have some fun with him.]" Shiri shrugged, amused at his blush and reached out to place a hand against his cheek, "[Besides, I told him I did not mind.]"
"[No, I mean, I'm really not good luck for relationships. Period.]" He sighed, pressing into the cheek a little. "[I'm to the Erotes what Melpomene is to the Muses when it comes to love affairs.]"
The muse continued to smile at the younger god, rubbing his cheek softly. She felt no need to tell him that her involved with Adam was just a tragedy waiting to happen. Either she would watch him die, or he would be killed, or… She refused to think about if the tragedy came from her side. She was accustomed to the first two endings. "[Well, do not use your powers on us, and we should be fine.]"
"[It's usually just my relationships,]" Sam continued, softly. "[But I don't want to be the cause of your guys' breakup as well. You're good for each other.]" They were. The love god knew. Don't argue with the love god!
"[I still do not see what this has to do with having fun with him. He is part Greek. That means he has the urge to have sex with men, right?]" Shiri was pretty sure that was the case.
"[Because me having sex with him equals to me having a relationship, if not entirely emotionally, with him. And he only really enjoys it when I'm a woman, anyway.]" Le sigh. "[Blowjobs are gender-less, though. But... I don't want him to be hurt. I like him. He's a good man.]"
Somehow she became even more confused, "[But that sounds like you have been with him enough times to know that… But, if that is the case and what you say is true…?]"
"[Then I should stop. It's just... so hard!]" Sam ran his hands along his hair, ruffling it out of the ponytail. "[Sex isn't just sex for me. It's a drug. My opium, my meth, my crack. You can't live without music and word. I can't live without knowing someone finds me desirable... But the last person who did before Adam is...]" He choked up. Oh gods. "[He's dead.]"
"[Aww]," Shiri got up and moved to stand beside him, wrapping her arms around him in a tender hug. "[Now, now, do not be so sad. Lovers die sometimes. My last mortal was blown up in his car…]" Those words crossed her lips with a shudder before repressing the memory and kissing Sam atop his head, "[But what if it is not just you? Would that help?]"
"[Mine always die though. Or they're ruined. Before that, it was Alyssa. She was stabbed by her ex for sleeping with me.... Before that, Marcus killed himself because he found out I had a lover on the side. The list goes on.]" Even if they'd lived, they hadn't lived happily. "[My own first time was a rape. What else can I be?]"
Double aww. Shiri was purposely not going through what had happened to some of her other mortals with him. This was not a game of one upmenship and he probably had more. And the rape part would have crowned the victory anyway. Her first time always made her blush. It made her blush now, but she hid her face against his hair and head, giving him another kiss, "[I promise I will not stab you for sleeping with Adam. I have only drawn a knife on you once.]"
"[I needed new pants after that.]" A small smirk from Sam, though, and he pushed his head against hers like a kitten seeking attention. "[Besides. New relationships need time and space to grow.]"
She nuzzled him right back. Her muse instincts couldn't help the action, "[I am fine with our relationship staying right here for a while.]" She knew he loved her, she loved him… he was worshiping her… Honestly, that next step could wait.
"[Hmm. You should tell him why you left. He's a little confused. And whatever it is, he can be trusted.]" A good man. Sam was actually kind of happy Shiri had come along before he'd gotten into him romantically, for reasons just previously discussed.
"[I made it up to him Tuesday.]" Though, she was now unsure if she had offered him any explanation. She hadn't truly considered it a problem and her memories of Tuesday were a touch suspect with how high Adam had made her. Hmm. Oh well. Shiri released Sam and quietly pushed his hair from his face and tied it back once more with a grander bow. "[I want you to be less sad, okay?"
Sam smiled softly and nodded. "[As long as you aren't either.]"
"[I am rarely sad. And when I am, rarely for long.]" Moving to sit back down, she went back to eating her food before it got too cold. It was made for her after all; it would be rude to let it go stone cold. "[You are not in our way. On the contrary, I am probably more in yours.]"
The love god scoffed, and went back to his own food as well. Mrr, the bacon was a little too crunchy! "[I don't see how.]"
The muse liked crunchy bacon, and ate some more with relish. "[Well, I am always here for starters…]"
Sam shrugged. "[There's other mortals to sleep with around here. Watch out for the Spanish professor, by the way, if you ever garner an interest. He has a spanking thing, but he can hit a little hard.]"
Shiri shook her head slightly, "[No other mortals.]" But now clearing her plate, she placed her fork across and it folded her hands on her lap. "[And besides, you have some early classes and share a wall with him…]"
Sam laughed. "[Remember what I said about sex being my drug? Your early morning romps are my coffee. Better tasting than the sludge they serve in the common room, anyway.]"
She wiped her brow, playfully as a joke to show her relief, "[I just do not want to be upsetting you or making this feel like this is not your place. You live here. I do not.]"
He nodded and tipped back his head to drain the last of his bourbon. Mmm~ "[It's okay. I'd be more worried if you didn't.]"
"[I do not want to make you sad.]" She sipped at her apple juice not that her meal was gone, and smirked at him. She had hurt her family enough. "[Even if your pouting is very attractive.]"
Sam fluttered his eyelashes seductively. "[I have had eunuchs and whores, kings and queens. No one can resist my androgynous charms~]"
Giggling at his display, she couldn't help but ask, "[How did you have eunuchs?]"
"[Just because they are no longer considered men doesn't mean they can't kiss like fire,]" Sam sighed happily, a drowsy smile of looking into memories crossing his handsome face. "[Bartholomew. He was so ashamed. I saw myself in him. He was the only one to safely walk away.]"
"[Bartholomew?]" That was a Western name. Now she was curious, "[Was it done to keep his singing voice?]"
Sam nodded. "[Against his will. But he sang like Apollo himself.]" He paused and then did a quick check, maybe to make sure Apollo hadn't heard. "[I adored him. I poured everything into making him happy... and his revenge.]"
The story made the muse smile. "[I always adored mortals like that one. When I found them, I made a point to inspire them if no one was looking at me too closely…]" And even if they were, a couple of times with some interesting results, but now she was thinking about Apollo singing. Her cheeks blushed and she was lost for the moment.
Sam saw that, and giggled. "[We sound like a pair of old women, discussing our old lovers. I've never told anyone about my history among the mortals. It's nice.]"
"Huh… oh, [Sometimes it is good to talk.]" Especially when the conversation wasn't centered on her. "[And we do not hang out enough.]"
The hermaphrodite smiled warmly. He missed his brothers like he would miss parts of his soul. But aunts and uncles were a close replacement for their company. "[Want to watch 300 with me, then? Since you haven't seen it.]"
"[If you do not mind watching it again.]" Shiri stood then and took both their dishes and placed them in the sink for later washing, before retrieving her apple juice and sipping it again, "[We could snuggle up under a blanket.]"
"[Not at all.]" Sam, mind watching a bunch of men with rippling muscles in leather thongs? Oh gods, yes please. He stood and went to go turn on the TV. "[And the blanket is mandatory.]"
Shiri looked around and caught sight of a big blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders before lying down on the couch, waiting for her host to join her, "[So is there any scary parts?]"
"[I wouldn't say so. Unless you're scared of a little fake-looking blood.]" She snuggled as close against her as their flesh allowed, purring. He had the remote in his hand and turned it on. "[Thank you, auntie.]"
She put her arms around him since she was further back on the couch, understanding the couch snuggle rules and snuggled right back against him, getting comfortable between him and back couch cushion. "[For what, nephew?]"
"[For talking to me,]" he said simply, not sure how else to express his thanks as he curled up to her as the opening shots began to roll. It was good to have his family back again.
Shifting slightly to tuck her chin over his shoulder so she could see, she tried not question why they had to CGI that wolf and squeezed her nephew tight, "[You are too adorable sometimes. No wonder you are Adam's roommate.]"
Summary: Shiri is put out of her dorm as it is sprayed for bugs and Sam finds her curled up outside Adam's door. The Erote makes the Muse breakfast as they talk about the absent mortal and other aww worthy things.