Who: Aphrodite and Thalia What: Chance meeting Where: the Mall When: Backdated, Saturday afternoon, the 2nd of August Warnings: None
Thalia was so excited, house shopping with Calliope the day before had been great and she was all in the mood for everything that had to do with moving. True, she was going a bit to fast, the house was not even really bought but she just had to go look at things to put in it. Not useful things either, just cute little fun knick-knacks that would make a house a home.
It had taken her a bit of time to find a parking place that was a bit shady so she would return to a car and not a oven, but now she was ready. She smiled brightly as she entered the nicely air-conditioned mall.
Aphrodite was just at the mall. What girl ever had too many clothes or shoes? She knew it annoyed Ares too when she brought back new clothes, and shoes when she practically took up two closets now. But she justified it by saying well she was paying for it, the only thing she MADE him buy is her underclothes that he always insisted on ripping off her rather then trying to take it off like a normal person. She rolled her eyes as her high heeled shoes clacked on the marble floor of the store she was currently in.
She was idly looking at some knick knacky things, thinking maybe she could find something or other to give to Ares. As of yet, nothing had caught her eye though. She turned and a tall young lady caught her eye. She tilted her head at the woman, and thought how gorgeous she was. She really did love beauty in all things, male or female. She watched as the happy go lucky woman bounced in looking at everything with such enthusiasm. She really was a woman of her own heart shopping with such gusto in her eyes. She continued to watch her thinking of a way of how to strike a conversation with the woman.
Thalia really could not help herself, on a normal day Comedy was a happy bouncy muse to be around, but this was not a normal day, this was the day after she fell in love with the cutest little house. It wasn't her's and Calliope's house yet, but she knew it would be... should be!
Her eye fell on a sweet pink little piggy, something that would probably not fit anywhere in an house inhabited by two adult women but it was just so cute and quirky and Thalia loved quirky. She beamed at the beautiful women next to the display as she picked up the little ceramic pig she really shouldn't even think about buying, but she just could not help herself.
Aphrodite smiled back at Thalia, and said, "That is very cute. Do you like pigs?" She knew it was a lame ice breaker, but she really didn't know anything else to say. The need to talk to the quirky little woman though very strong. She picked up a horse statuette that completely reminded her of Ares, as it reminder her of the breeder in him, and it was a gorgeous replica of a horse. She couldn't believe how well detailed it was. Every line, every muscle, rib, and strand or mane as put in detail on the little statue. "I can't believe how much work goes into one of these things. Look how detailed this is?" She commented to the other.
She turned it over and over in her hands, looking at it from all angles. She was really thinking about getting it for Ares, even though she knew he really had no need of it. However Maybe he would appreciate it?
"I like all animals." Thalia wasn't just comedy, she was also the muse of idyllic poetry. Lots of idyllic poetry was about shepherds and shepherdesses but sheep were barnyard animals these days, as were pigs. She moved over to check out the horse the lady was looking at. "It is really pretty." As a muse she appreciated all kinds of art and this was art. "Some people are really talented." She added with a smile wondering of one of her sisters had inspired the artist.
"Yes, it is. And animals are innocent, how could one not love them." She smiled and decided to get the horse for Ares. He deserved it for always putting up with her crap. However, he knew she loved it still a little recognition that she thought of him would make his ego get stroked. Even though the man really never needed his already huge ego stroked anymore, but she constantly did anyway.
"What are you looking for exactly?" she finally asked, her attention going back to her statuette fan beside her.
"Nothing special really." Thalia looked down at the little piggy in her hand deciding to get it even though she did not need it and it would probably just clutter up her bedroom. "My sister and I are getting a new house and I think this will look cute in the house I really really want." The smile on her face became even brighter, her power to inspire people to see the comedy in things rolling of her in waves. The happier the muse got the more she was able to inspire the people around her.
She looked the beautiful lady next to her in the eyes, "What brought you to this palace of clutter and quirk?"
"My boyfriend, and my need to get him some sort of trinket. He owns a ranch, and breeds horses." She lifted the horse statuette again and then said, "I think he may appreciate the detail on this." She nodded. She hadn't even looked at the price, money did not matter she had loads of it. They little statuette was 150, but it was made of iron, and well designed. The workmanship was very detailed so it was worth the price that was labeled on it.
"Your sister? I have sisters too." She laughed inside, and rolled her eyes... Many many brothers and sisters, she thought to herself.
"I have a lot of sisters, some of us are really close." Thalia loved the way that the muses had stayed so close even while being apart for centuries. "I am glad that we finally found a place to live, my little studio was getting a bit cramped." If it was up to her all the muses would live together like in the old days but it wasn't up to her and it was probably not a very realistic idea. "I live with one of my sisters and I am going to run a theatre with another of them."
She blinked. "Really? A theatre?" This was getting to seem very familiar. She smiled, she wondered if she had run into yet another one of her many sisters at the mall again. Which one she did not know, but she was thinking maybe one of the muses. "Tell me, do you like to inspire people to do things creative, and help them to accomplish that? Is that why you have a theatre?"
Thalia looked at the woman, "I do, I work for a screenwriter and my sister and I are going to have fun running the theatre." This could of course be someone that was interested in theatres but it was an odd question for a mortal to ask. Most would probably try to get a job when they met someone with a theatre and not ask about inspiring people.
For a moment she just thought about what to do next, would she try dropping some ancient Greek? If she did and this was another family member then it could be fun, if it wasn't a family member then the woman probably would just stare at her or something like that. ["Why do you ask?"]
Aphrodite smiled. Just as she thought, it seemed that for whatever reason she had a natural attraction to those that were her family. She wondered if it were like that with all of them. She didn't know but it would be interesting to find out. ["Yes, I asked because I had a feeling you might be one of the many muses that are my half sisters"]
["Am I that obvious?"] Thalia laughed, she probably only was to people who knew what they were looking for or who knew her in the olden days. She never really thought about how she acted and up until now only other Greek deities had found out who she was. ["I am Thalia."] She curiously watched the other woman, she knew this was not Artemis, but which of her many half-sisters was she. ["Who are you?"]
Shrugging her shoulders lightly, Aphrodite looked at her. ["Not obvious, just starting to get used to that feeling, like drawn to someone. It's hard to explain."] She shifted her weight on her feet, and then tilted her head trying to think of a way to explain, when she couldn't think of a way she just shrugged a bit. ["I am Aphrodite... Black sheep of the family."] She gave a bit of a curtsy with a playful smile on her face. She really was learning to hate that reputation though now. She wanted to change it slowly. How she did not know, as really she couldn't help some of the devilish things she got herself into.
Thalia really didn't think of Aphrodite as the back sheep of the family, in her opinion that honour was probably going to Ares. True, she knew that several of her family members were not big fans of the Goddess of Love but she could see the humour in a lot of things her half-sister had done. Then again, Thalia was Comedy and could see the humour in a lot of things.
["It is nice to see you again, Aphrodite."] She held out her hand for the other woman to take. ["I too seem to bump into more family here in Miami then I have in any other place or moment in time."]
She took the woman's hand gladly and shook it. ["Yes, it seems like there is a great concentration of us here."] She agreed. ["How have you been? What have you been up to? A screen writer, very impressive."] She smiled at her.
["I have been well."] Thalia looked down at the little piggy then looked back at Aphrodite. ["Want to pay for these and go for some ice cream?"] She couldn't help it, she loved ice cream and she loved company. ["I can tell you all about 'my' screen writer and his lovely wife."]
She smiled. ["Sure, a nice chair and some wickedly fat sounding ice cream sounds good."] She followed Thalia to the register, and paid for her prize for Ares, and then went toward the exit of the store, to wait for Thalia while she paid for hers.
Thalia paid for her little piggy and followed Aphrodite. "There is a really nice ice cream parlour in this mall." She switched back to English because the lady behind the register would still be able to hear them talk. "They have almost every flavour you can imagine there." She reached for the door and opened it, ready to lead the way.
Aphrodite smiled. "I think I am going to like you sister dear. Suggesting the sinful right on the bat." She winked at her, and followed her out the door. She followed her to the Ice Cream parlour and went in. She waited for Thalia to order first.
The good thing about being a Greek Goddess was that calories really weren't that important as they were for mortals. She ordered a big and very chocolaty ice cream, with whipped cream and a lot of sprinkles. The waitress smiled at one of her favourite customers, yes, Thalia went there often.
Aphrodite smiled at the waitress and indicated that what Thalia had ordered sounded grand to her. "I think I am really going to like hanging out with you again sister dear, if you take me to ice cream shops and lead me to such delicious decadence." Maybe she could replace the want of sex from others with other decadent things. Maybe, she toyed with the idea in her head, even just be faithful to Ares for awhile. She cocked her head at that thought. NO... One thing at a time, just respecting others love was good enough but could she really pass up a good looking guy that was single and as eager as her? Probably not.
She turned her attention back to Thalia and then asked. "So what is this Screen Writer like?"
"Connor is really nice and talented." Thalia smiled as she thought of him, it was rare to find real talent in a person. It was even more rare that that person stayed down to earth and open to inspiration. "He works mainly on tv shows at the moment, but he is working on a movie in his spare time. That will be a hit."
"Really? That is cool. Is he going to do any plays for your theatre?" She asked as they waited the little while for the ice cream to come.
The waitress brought their ice cream with a smile and an 'enjoy'. Thalia took a big bite while thinking about Aphrodite's question. That was actually a very good idea. "I should talk to Mel about that, I am sure he would do a great job." Next time she would go over to dote on her niece she would talk to Mel about the theatre after spoiling her first of course. She didn't want her sister to overdo anything, she was a new mom after all.
Aphrodite enjoyed her ice cream it was very good. "How are all the other muses, anyway?" She asked.
The mention of her sisters brought a smile on Thalia's face. "The ones that are here are doing well." She still couldn't believe her luck that so many of the muses were there. "How have you been doing? Isn't it strange how many of our family has ended up in Miami?"
"I am fine, getting back into things, and thinking of opening a shop of my own." She smiled, she decided to not share what had her missing for a few months, some didn't have to know, especially if they never knew she had been missing in the first place. Anyway, Thalia was so happy go lucky it was really a shame to burst her little bubble of happiness with things of sadness, or distress. It wasn't that she thought Thalia couldn't handle it if she did open up to her, it was just why make her upset, or worried over something that was just extra information that she didn't really need to know. Sometimes, ignorance of some things was better. She smiled at her sister muse.
She took another big bite of ice cream, and then asked, "Do you have anyone you love?" She wasn't sure why she kept asking this question to others, maybe it was because she was starting to get comfortable in her love with Ares. She wanted others to feel the same thing.
"Love?" Thalia ate some of her ice cream, she really was not surprised that Aphrodite would ask her about love. "I have my sisters." She said with a big grin, knowing really well that the Goddess of Love was not talking about sisterly love. "But not romantic love at the moment." She had loved many over the centuries, but it was hard when they were not immortal like her.
She nodded. "That's okay." Aphrodite said, placing a hand on hers. "When it comes, you will enjoy it for however long it is allowed to stay with you." She really had calmed down, and sometimes it frightened her. She was not used to this less intense part of herself she seemed to have got into, but it just really didn't seem worth it when really all that mattered was to have those around you that you loved. She shook her head, she wasn't sure if these changes since she got back were good or bad, but her frame of mind was just different now.
"I am sure it will." Thalia really didn't mind not having romance in her life at the moment. She had her large family which seemed to congregate in Miami, she had Melpomene and little Helen, her beloved sister muses and her job. She was happy, not just comedy and idyllic happy, but really truly happy.
She wasn't really sure who were all in Miami though, she had heard about family members who were there, she had met several already but she wanted to know who else she could bump into. "Have you seen many of our family?" She asked licking her lips to get the final little bit of ice cream.
"Not a lot, I saw Cadance not to long ago, of course, I talk to my son, Sam, and Ian, I live with him." She hoped she knew who she was talking about, as she wasn't sure she wanted to say their names in such a public place, and wasn't sure she wanted to speak greek in this place.
Thalia didn't know the mortal names of any but the ones she met, she knew that Candance was Artemis but she could only guess who Sam or Ian would be. She could of course understand why Aphrodite didn't mention their real names or speak their language. "I know father is here, with his wife and one of our uncles." Of course they had more then one uncle but how to describe Hades?
Aphrodite finished off her Ice Cream, and looked at Thalia. "That was very good. Any time you need an Ice Cream date you can call me," handing Thalia a phone number on a napkin she wrote out. "I have to go now though." She smiled and gave the muse a light hug.
Thalia rumaged through her purse and found one of her business cards, it had every thing on it, from cell phone number to address, from email address to home phone number. She handed it to Aphrodite, "I will, you call me when you need someone to go knick knack shopping with." She smiled at her sister, "It is nice to see so much family is here."
Summary: Thalia and Aphrodite meet, find out who the other is and have ice cream and a nice talk.