Iasion Jason was nervous. He wasn't sure why, though. They'd gone out to dinner the other night and it'd been nice. True, it'd been kind of a last minute deal and they'd both been dirty from work, but, it was still nice. Maybe it was because he was going to her place? Or maybe it was because since their last run in, he'd been thinking about her. A lot. More than a lot, actually. And underneath it all there was this pull that said he knew her. They were close. Or had been. Maybe it was a past life kind of thing. He wasn't sure though. But, he was a little nervous. He'd gone and picked out a very nice bottle of wine (or so the person at the store said) and made his way to her place. He did a final check of himself in his visor mirror, "you've known her for years. You've got this, man," then headed to her door. He rang the bell, bottle of wine, and a box of very nice chocolates to go with said wine, in hand, and waited.
Demeter Demeter was nervous, too. Though, unlike Iasion, no, she had to remind herself again and again, Jason. He didn't know who he was yet, but unlike Jason, she knew exactly why. Having dinner with the man who she loved, but who didn't know her, or know he loved her - if he even still did - was nerve wracking. She'd dressed in a simple black dress and black heels. Maybe it was too fancy? But she heard the knock at the door just as she was beginning to rethink her outfit. Too late now. Standing in front of the mirror by the front door, she tried to fix her hair a little bit, but the curls kept falling in her eyes. Oh well. Clearing her throat, she turned to the door and opened it. "Hello. Welcome to my home. Come on in." She moved aside so he could enter. Gods. She just wanted to touch him. To kiss him. But no. She just gave him space to come in.
Iasion He was looking around as he waited for the door to be answered. When the door did open, he looked back towards it with a smile, though his eyes widened just a little. "Oh wow." He suddenly felt very underdressed in his jeans and simple button down shirt. Though, for a brief moment, he saw not Aithley, it was.. somebody else. Somebody more. So much more. And his mouth just sort of hung open for a moment, before shaking his head. "I.. Wow. You look amazing." He stepped into her house, smiling over at her, and holding out the wine and chocolate. "Thank you for having me over." Something was telling him to hug her. Kiss her. Do..... other things. But, no. Wow. Where did that come from? They went out ONCE.
Demeter She took the offered gifts and took a chance. Leaning in, she kissed his cheek on a whim and then lead him into the home. It was nice, not large, but comfortable. It seemed like there was too much space for one and, in truth, she'd purchased it for a family, thinking that she would have one of her own, one day. It'd just never happened. And now, well. Now things were very different, weren't they? "Thank you for these, by the way. And would you like a glass now?" She lead him into the open kitchen that looked over a small dining area. There was a pasta cooking on the stove and a basket of bread warming in the oven. "And thank you for the compliment. You look nice, too. It's far past time I had you over. I've wanted to for a while. I just... never took the opportunity to do so."
Iasion His eyes closed for a moment with that kiss. Things flashed behind his eyelids and he couldn't explain what he saw, really. But, he did react fast enough to return the cheek kiss. His vision blurred just a little again and he took a deep breath as she pulled away. "Hmm? Oh! You're welcome. It's not proper to come to somebody's house empty handed." He'd been raised right, after all. He smiled again, nodding. "Yeah. That'd be nice. And, things smell amazing." He hadn't been expecting dinner. Just drinks. So, it was a very pleasant surprise. "I'd be lying if I hadn't thought about seeing you outside of work for a bit, too." Why he hadn't taken that step before? He didn't know. But, here they were now.
Demeter "Please, have a seat." She nodded at the table and brought down a couple of classes, opening the wine and pouring. "I took a guess at what you'd like to eat. I figure there aren't a lot of people that don't like speghetti." After setting the wine down, Demeter began to serve up the food and brought it over for him as well. Setting it down before him, she took a seat across from him. "Well. We're here now. Having dinner. Outside of work." She reached over and touched his hand, feeling the life beneath his life through his pulse. It was all but impossible to not blurt everything out, to tell him who he was and who she was. To shake him awake.
Iasion "Can I help with anything?" But she was directing him to sit, so, he did. He felt a little weird with her serving him. He felt that she should be serving her. He was just a simple man and she was so much more. Though he didn't know what that meant or even where that was coming from. "I love it. I love any kind of pasta, really. So, it was a good call." Pasta was great. He smiled and thanked her when she set down the glass, and the rest of the food. "Yes. Here we are." He shifted his hand under hers, taking a hold of her one and gave it a squeeze. He looked across the table at her, his head tilting a little. "Do you ever just know you've known somebody before?" That was a weird question. He was sure it'd be weird for her, too.
Demeter She returned the squeeze to his hand and then pulled it away and started to eat. "Yes. I know that feeling very well." It was too much to hope for her. That he might remember her? That he might awaken as Iasion, right here in her house? Demeter took a deep breath forced herself to make eye contact with him. She didn't have the same skills that her neice did, but she had love for him in her heart. "It's the feeling that you're comfortable with someone, even though you have no real reason to be. That... you want to share your soul with someone. Even though that seems like so much for a simple dinner."
Iasion When she started to eat, so did he. And everything was just as good as it smelled. "This is very good spaghetti." So very, very good. Maybe the best he'd ever had? He'd make that statement. Jason nodded when she said that, smiling. "Yes. That. Exactly." He took a few moments to eat a little more, nodding again. "I.. don't know what's changed. Maybe nothing? Maybe we just started to work closer together recently. And.. that's how I feel. About you."
Demeter "Thank you. I'd like to take credit, but I found it online once and just stuck with it. My family is mostly French, so pasta isn't really in our blood." She laughed and dug into the food, listening to him talk. "I feel the same way about you. That I've known you for a while. I mean, beyond work." She smiled at him, keeping eye contact the entire time. She could see in him so much. It was so hard. "Perhaps we knew each other in a past life. IF you believe in such things. Which... I do. Believe in."
Iasion He chuckled a little, "I think that's how most people do it nowadays. I.. don't even know of any family recipes from my roots." They didn't even really have a solid base. They were mutts and came from all corners of the UK and Europe. At least that was what his dad said. His smile widened just a little at that. "Yeah? Well. I think that's pretty nice. I mean. More than nice. It's good." Why was he sounding like a complete moron? Ugh. "No. I believe in things like that. I just.. I dunno. Living one life and that's it? It just sounds so... sad." He smiled again, eating a little more, nodding. "I think maybe we did. I keep.... seeing flashes of something that I can only call past lives."
Demeter She pushed her food aside, no longer really hungry. This conversation was too close to the surface. "I know what you mean. And you don't sound crazy. Not at all. So I don't want you to think that." Demeter took his hand again and held it. "Just tell me what you think that you're seeing. I promise I'll believe you." This was risky. She might come off sounding crazy and he might leave. But she covered his hand with her other and smiled. "Maybe I've... seen some of the same things."
Iasion "I'm pretty sure if I told you everything I've been seeing lately, you'd think I was nuts." He chuckled a little, turning his hand over, holding hers. Yeah, he wasn't very hungry anymore either. At least not for food. "But. I guess. I don't know. Maybe it won't sound too crazy." He was quiet for a moment and nodded. "Things like... us, but not us. Tilling fields atop a large mountain. Large, fancy parties. Lightning bolts. Clothes that you only ever see on those old clay pottery pieces."
Demeter "I promise I won't think you're crazy." She held his hand and did her best to remain patient. She knew this was difficult, because she knew what he was going through. She'd seen things and felt things so vivid before she'd awakened that were enough to drive her insane. When he started to talk, she held his hand tighter to encourage him. When he finished, she took his hand in hers and kissed the back of it. "If I only knew how to tell you... Yes. I've seen those things, too. Those very same things. Beautiful things. You aren't insane. You're... you're not insane."
Iasion He sat there for a moment as she held his hand so tight. He couldn't think of anything to say right then, either. He just held onto her hand even tighter. He looked at their hands for a few moments, thinking about the things that he'd just said, and then what she'd said. "I.. Tell me what?" Because, that was for sure something weird to say, right? What could she tell him? Was there something to tell him?
Demeter She closed her eyes and winced internally. She really had said too much. Now how could she take it back? Sighing, she looked at him once more. "That you aren't losing your mind. I wish I knew how to reassure you. But, even if I tell you that I've seen the same things and that I believe you, I suspect you still feel like you're losing touch with reality, don't you?" Demeter was near tears. She wanted him so badly to remember her. Maye inviting him over had been a mistake.
Iasion He squeezed her hand again, nodding. "Yeah. I mean. I'm glad you don't think I'm nuts. But, it's hard to not feel that way. That's just really the tip of the iceberg though. I've seen wars and all kinds of horrible things with it, too." Jason just shook his head a little but smiled none the less. "I just... I want to get it all sorted out, you know?" Especially in his head. His thumb brushed over the back of her hand. "You're the only constant in those... dreams? Visions? I don't even know what to call them." Memories?
Demeter "Yes. I've seen those things, too. The wars and the bloodshed. And the beautiful fields full of grains so golden they look fake. And you. I've seen you." Reaching out, she dared to brush her hand over his cheek and let it rest there. "Tell me as much as you want. I'll help you sort through it." She had no ability to speak of. Nothing she could give him. No proof of what she was saying, but gods, did she want him to remember her. When Hades had asked if she had a family, she'd had to tell him she was alone. And Demeter was loathe to admit it, but looking into her lost husband's eyes, she realized she wasn't just alone, but she was so lonely.
Iasion He leaned into her hand, closing his eyes as he did. He knew her touch. It felt so familiar. He remembered it in the spring, when it was so warm and loving. Even in the winter, when she was cold and distant and oh so very sad. He remembered. But he didn't remember why he remembered. Everything was just right out of his grasp, and that was the most frustrating. "I don't know how to sort me through it, though. There's this... thing. It's so big, too. But, it's out of my grasp. And I can't figure out how to bring it closer so that I can grab a hold of it." And he wanted to so badly.
Demeter "Iasion, remember..." She whispered to him, thinking she could risk using the name she knew him as once. It was so close. Now Demeter really was crying. This was too hard. He was so close and so far away. And now that she knew him, she wanted him back. "Don't think so hard. Just let the memories be there. Let them crash over you and just remember. Remember me." With her other hand, she brushed her fingers through his hair and then let it fall away. She couldn't do this. She couldn't have him and not have him. It wouldn't be fair to him.
Iasion That wasn't his name. But it was. It was just as much his name as Jason was. Or maybe she tried to say Jason and her accent slipped out? Though she'd never had an accent before. Like. Ever. He wouldn't have even known she was French if she hadn't said it tonight. He closed his eyes though and tried to just do what she said. One hand lifted to hold onto the one on his cheek. He was glad she was there. He was glad that she was closer. "I know you. I want to remember knowing you." He was just trying to let it just wash over him. He wanted it to. Maybe he wanted it too much? It was so frustrating!
Demeter She couldn't take this. His touch was nearly painful. Leaning in, she kissed him. It was a risk, because he might leave. Tell her it was too much. But Demeter couldn't help it. It wasn't a deep or passionate kiss. And there were certainly more romantic spots it could have happened, but she just had to kiss him. Leaning back, she drew her hand away and looked down at the table. "I - I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. It was too much. Too soon."
Iasion He'd gotten a shock once before, when he was young. He'd been dumb and been dared to grab onto an electric fence. His hand had almost instantly clasped around the fence and he didn't release it until they'd killed the power to it. That was what the kiss had felt like. He even gasped a little when she pulled away. It had rendered him speechless for a few moments. He barely realized that she was talking and couldn't even tell you what she'd said at first. He'd heard sorry. Then too much too soon. And, he was trying to puzzle piece his brain back together. But she'd pulled away from him and that made him feel raw and exposed. He reached out and took a hold of her hand again, squeezing it. He shifted a little, turning to face him, each second another little piece being slotted back into place. And when he finally looked at her. "I know you."
Demeter She let him hold his hand, but she was afraid to look. What if he was about to reject her? Demeter wasn't sure she'd be able to handle that. Or, worse, what if he never remembered her or anything at all and she was further cursed to know he was there, but he wasn't there with her? When he talked, though, she dared to look up, her eyes wet with tears. "Of course you know me. We've worked together for years, Jason. I've been... ridiculous tonight. And I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound crazy. I've just been dealing with so many headaches and so much stress. You have to think I've lost my mind." Because she didn't dare hope that he remembered her as Demeter. She couldn't think that. It would hurt too much when it wasn't true.
Iasion He blinked slowly, tilting his head to the side as he looked her over. Really looking at her. The tears and the longing? Was that longing? It'd been so long since anyone had looked at him like that. But, he was pretty sure that was that was. His lips curved up into just the smallest of smiles. "Oh. So. You're not my Demeter then? Because, well, I was pretty sure that was who I was remembering you as. But... if that's not you....." He slowly started to pull his hand away. Oh so slowly. Not really intending to pull his hand away at all
Demeter At that, she nearly flew out of her chair and threw her arms around his neck. She didn't care if she knocked him off his and onto her floor. They were gods. They could take it. "Say my name again. I want to hear you say it." She was crying in earnest now, and her entire body felt like it was ready to explode. "Oh, Iasion. It is me. It is me and I am yours. I am always yours."
Iasion He was not expecting that so, yes, she did take them to the ground. But, it didn't hurt. Too much. Ok, it did hurt, but he didn't care. His arms wrapped around her and he just held her oh so close, laughing a little. "My Demeter. Oh, how I've missed you." Without even realizing that he was missing her. But, maybe that was why he was just so alone. He leaned back after a moment, looked up at her, smiling like the fool that he felt like. "And I am here again. And I am just as much yours."