Melpomene (depressed_muse) wrote in olympian_rewind, @ 2008-05-09 21:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | melpomene, melpomene smith |
Who: Julie and Mel
What: Getting supplies
Where: Julie's house
When: Weds Night
Warnings: None
Mel had stayed in the little hide away that Hades had suggested with him, keeping a silent vigil, and taking care of the both of them as she needed. There was little for her to do, and she'd only left the space he was in to get food, or a blanket, or some other small thing before returning once more. Now she was making the trek to get the few other things he would need before traveling out into sight of the world again, things she hoped would comfort him. Pulling up in her blue convertible just over four hours after she'd texted Julie, it showed that, once again, things weren't perfect in Melpomene land. There was a lack of sleep, and the pants looking a hint tight across her waist. But at least the clothes were clean, her hair pulled back from her face, as she went up the steps to knock on the door. Hopefully she wouldn't have to take too long on this errand.
Two cars were parked in the backyard, turning into a parking depot for the one family house: a cute, red, vintage VW bug and sleek black jaguar obscured only by a Union Jack car cover. Inside two figures sat on the floor, a young woman and a small ferret. One of them then squeaked at the knock on the door and it was not the young woman.
Julie didn't even realize ferrets squeaked. But she had more important things to consider and worry about now. “Who is it?”
She blinked. She was expected, right? She had the brief impulse to just turn around and walk back to her car, forgoing the needed and yet unneeded items. Hands were shoved deeper into the pockets of her jeans. "Mel."
The fact that she was expected was the only reason for the question. Otherwise it would be taser time. However, Julie was expecting Mel and put Jerry, the ferret, onto her couch to hide between the cushions as she opened the door, “We gotta stop meetin' like this. Really. C'mon in.”
Mel stepped within the house, looking around briefly for the ferret she knew was there, somewhere. "I'll tell the Fates." Though that would probably only encourage them to think of even worse ways to met, and really, Mel didn't want that.
Julie closed and locked the door. She would have guided Mel to the couch but she knew a little ferret was hiding somewhere in it now. Best to wait until he peeked out curious before sitting. Besides, the redhead figured this was beyond social calls. Dante was in over his head. She could feel it. “So, is it a cult he just escaped from?”
Wha? Mel glanced at Julie, her brow frowning as she did so. A cult? He hadn't been gone that long. "Why do you think that?"
“No reason.” Quietly, she scratched it off the list in her mind and relaxed just a little. Less than a little. Half a little maybe. Now it was a mystery and Julie didn't especially like mystery problems. She dug her hands into the pockets of her cargo khakis with a frown, “Is he really okay?”
She was talking to the wrong person if she wanted answers. Mel still hadn't thought up an excuse for him to be gone and cut off from everyone, and also not bad in some way or another. She shrugged and went for the first answer that came to mind. "He will be. He got sick."
“Sick? Oh...” Sick was something she could imagine. Julie had seen Dante 'sick' before, always explained by him from mundane causes. And it was much better to imagine than her previous thoughts that he was in over his head. It made her heart beat much more calmly. “No middle ground with that bloke when it comes to bein' sick.” Letting out a sigh of relief, she walked over to a small table with a compact duffle bag on it. “Got what ya told me about.”
"Thanks. It all got charged to him?" She wanted to make sure that the costs weren't going to be putting Julie out, with no word when he'd be back to his more normal self. Things were odd enough as it was, and Mel knew from past experience, it could take a rather long time to get emotionally numb. At least, she guessed that's what he was moving to. Mel followed behind, eyeing the bag slightly.
“I ain't puttin' no six hundred dollar phone on my card.” Julie replied with a shrug and then tossed the duffle bag over to Mel. “Besides, I'm one of the people with authorization to use it. So, um...” The redhead lowered her eyes and became very interested at the floor for a second. This was all odd. It was usually her being the secret agent. She wasn't sure she liked this side of the fence, “Do ya know how much longer he's out?'
She shook her head, taking the bag and shifting her hold on it. Maybe she should have requested some of his favorite soups as well. "All depends on how bad he is, and right now, it's hard to know." She tilted her head slightly to the side, and took in Julie's stance. She wasn't used to seeing her uncomfortable. "... I'll have him contact you..." Once he was coherent enough.
The young redhead nodded a little, the words making her more uncomfortable than comforted. She was being kept away and she didn't understand why. It happened more and more in Miami... And it made her sigh softly, “But he'll make it, right? Ya ain't usin' the most hopeful words here...”
"I'm only good at being optimistic when I'm acting," Mel mentioned. Maybe she should have told a flat out lie and let the shit fall later. At least Julie wouldn't be worried then. "But he'll live. I was promised that."
“Was promised...” The question was cut off quickly. Julie knew when a secret was being danced around and she decided to let it go. If Dante wanted things quiet, it was better to do so. Everyone was usually happier when he let the secret go and wasn't forced to reveal it. At least in her experience, “Well, tell him 'zurückgekommen' for me. Hopefully he'll understand.”
Mel nodded. 'Come back'. Fitting, really. She didn't doubt that he would return to his old life, but she hated to try to commit him to anything. "I'll let him know." She wanted to give her some bit of hope, of comfort, and started to turn back toward the door to leave, unsure just how to do it without making false promises.
That was enough. The promise brought a smirk that verged on mischievous to the younger woman. No one successfully remains close to Dante without learning how to fill phrases with extra, secret meanings and to use inside information when speaking through others. The redhead wondered if the other girl would actually do it and would pronounce it right, but it was something to hold on to, “Thanks. I put everythin' asked in the bag. He lucked out that I had some Clash downloaded... Oh, and I put these Oriental ringing balls in there, too. Found them in his desk.”
Mel's head snapped up to look at Julie, mild surprise on her features at the mention of the medicine balls. "Ones with a dragon and a phoenix on them?" She knew that they'd been sent over, but she couldn't recall when.
With a snap of her fingers Julie nodded, “Yup. Those be them.”
"Did you touch them?" Oh.. that could be interesting...
The young woman only blinked, “Well, when they fell out of the box when I was rummagin'....” The silent question was why she was being asked.
It was amazing that Mel didn't flinch at the mention. She eyed Julie, wondering if there had been any effect. Maybe she and Thalia had failed... "You're okay?"
“I guess. Been runnin' around mad thinkin' worst case scenarios for a while.” Julie dug her hands dipper into her pockets as she answered the bizarre question. They were just medicine balls. Not like they were magic. “I figured he would want them. I know they cheered me up a bit but then I put them back into the box and returned to my crazy mission...” First the Phoenix, then the dragon...
"It's like ying and yang, slightly. Dragon is darkness, Phoenix is light." She shrugged. Let her get marked down as following symbolism a bit much, it was easier to believe then the truth. "... Do you know what his favorite soups are?"
"Maybe I shouldn't have balanced the Dragon on the back of my fingers then. Always pick the wrong one like that." Not that Julie suspected magic, but she was more than happy to blame a little dragon chime for her worried mood. If it were its fault then she would feel better how this whole thing shook her so much. Dante had told no one where he was going and his wife was gone with him… It was the part that still bugged her. Where was Dahlia in this? Why didn't Tessia even know where he was? But she doubted Mel was going to give her those answers... She would just have to answer questions and be helpful. Later she would get answers from the source maybe, "Soups? Minestrone, I guess…"
"Does he eat any of the canned ones?" Never having been around him much, she had no idea how picky he was about food. She wouldn't put it past some of her family to reject things simply on principal, but she was hoping her uncle was more practical then that.
"Dante?" Julie blinked and her confusion grew. Oh, how was it better to be confused than worried. She liked this, "This is a man who says Chef-Boy-R-Dee tastes better cold and still in the can…"
Mel shrugged. "I've never cooked for him before." But it as good information to have. She mentally put it on her list, considering what else she could get for him.
"He isn't picky…" Suddenly Julie flashed back to actually living with Dante and nearly smirked again as she shook the series of memories away, "Except when he is, but that's only when he's bein' an arse about things or some bloke just tried to cook his favorites and did it poorly."
Somehow, Mel could see that. She doubted he was going to be in an overly picky mood just now, except on the topic of eating or not. That was more secondary to her mission though. She nodded at the information and headed once more for the door. "Thanks."
As Mel turned for the door, Julie moved from her place and went to the couch. Little Jerry had peeked his head out from between the cushions and she swept him up into her arms with another squeak from him. She decided to focus her attention on him and not the girl leaving her house, "Take care of him, okay?"
A squeak! Mel glanced back to note the missing ferret and was inwardly pleased to see him about to comfort Julie. She gave a nod. "I'll do my best."
Questions answered, but so many more not. Julie sighed lightly but smiled as the ferret stretched up and put its little front paws at the top of her tshirt. But then again, that's the best she ever got out of Dante. "Good luck and take care."
She nodded once more. "Take care of yourself." Turning, she hefted the bag more securely in her hand and headed out the front door, back to her car, and back to the uncle who's sanity was in high question. After she made a quick stop at the store.
Summary: Mel goes to pick up the items from Julie, not helping with the easing of her concerns.