So, this was like - a date. Or at least, Alexis was pretty sure it was a date - because Kassandra (of Sparta) had been her second round speed dating match-up and they talked about doing something the next weekend (which was now), and so after Alexis was all bold as a tasty French roast and just outright asked, she assumed that she wouldn’t need to clarify that this was indeed a date.
Plus, stargazing was super romantic - especially out here in the woods, in a clearing where they’d have a perfect view of the night sky. It looked so cool, like the sky was a giant pitch black birthday cake and the stars were sprinkles of sugar - in every direction there were just so many and Alexis was kind of in awe. Because she was only one speck in the universe, and times like these sort of brought that point home pretty well.
Ninety percent of the time she wore skirts, or dresses, preferring to show off fabulous legs - but out here in nature that probably wasn’t a good idea, so for once she had on jeans (or they were actually jeggings, whatever). Her blouse was cute, floral print with a self-tie belted top and it had a nice plunge to it in front - but she’d brought plenty of bug spray plus a blanket to sit on and, as the pièce de résistance, a thermos full of pumpkin spice latte. Because it wasn’t fall weather yet but people even in Vallo seemed to jump the gun on this little flavor, so, she’d take advantage and introduce a newbie to the delight of it all.
“Okay, so I never learned anything except...there’s a belt? And a dipper?” she said, pouring them both some latte in the little cups. Cheers! “You’ll have to tell me what all the stars are. Maybe not all because that’s a lot, but some.”
Kassandra didn’t really understand the concept of ‘a date’, but she did get the concept of sitting under the stars with a pretty lady she was trying to impress. She’d done this back home, too, just finding the beauty where she could, and taking advantage of the sweet in a life full of bitterness and violence. None of them had really ever lasted long, but it hadn’t ever been the point. It was just about having fun and finding joy where one could.
Unlike Alexis, Kass was a little less put together. She only had one nice thing so she’d just worn her toga again. The previous times her armor had suited, but none of her good ones were actually here so the toga would do. She’d kept it clean and everything. She wished she’d brought wine, but she knew none of the good ones here. Another thing she’d have to learn.
She took the cup as it was poured and sipped at it. Different, but not bad before nodding. “Yes, but none of them are here.” It was the oddest thing to be unable to orient herself with the brightest one like she’d done back home but she was learning. “I asked and know a few.” Then she grinned because she couldn’t resist. “But the brightest one is here, so tell me more of yourself Alexis.”
“Oh, so sweet,” Alexis preened a bit, batting feather duster lashes, holding the latte cup between her hands. She did enjoy a bit of pumpkin for the onset of fall - or like, the last few weeks of summer that continued to cling like a koala to a tree in a tornado, refusing to give up or give in. But eventually it would, and maybe they’d see some color-changing leaves.
Or not. Vallo was super weird sometimes - she didn’t trust that there would be ‘normal’ weather patterns.
But let’s see, more about her? What about her wild and crazy life could she talk about? “Well, I was a child actress and model. And a singer,” she tacked on, though she wouldn’t mention her hit single A Little Bit Alexis, not yet. She was still trying to get Kassandra caught up on most things pop culture but it was a lot and for someone from Ancient Greek Times she was doing great. “My mom is an actress, so I guess it just like - ran in the family? But then we lost all our money and had to move to this sad little town my dad once bought for my brother as a joke. Only it wasn’t so sad, it turned out....pretty okay. I finished high school and did a college program there and like, my brother got married and everyone was a whole lot happier than when we didn't have to worry about stupid things like getting an invitation to the hottest party, you know?”
That was probably a lot.
“Not as sweet as you,” Kass easily gave back with another grin. She had set her own cup aside because while it wasn’t bad it was definitely an acquired taste, and she was still working on the ‘acquired’ part of it all. A lot of stuff was just out of her diet. She was trying plenty, but a lot of it just didn’t suit her and she couldn’t be convinced to pay for food she could just as easily hunt herself.
Kass didn’t follow all of it, but she did understand ‘actress’. Somewhat. “Women cannot act where I am from, so this is impressive. I am sure you do a far better job then any man trying it.” She didn’t have much she could add, as her life was fairly different then Alexis’. And Gods help anyone showing even the littlest of interest in Alexios. She could just imagine how poorly that would end. “Neither of my brothers have married. Stentor probably should. He’s the only responsible one of our lot.” She probably should too, if even just for her grandfather’s line to continue but while others might consider her to be too old, she did not.
“He’s a wet blanket of a Legionnaire though. Gods help any woman dealing with him.” Usually she would impress with her skills, or do something for Alexis so this was new. She liked it though.
It was true, pumpkin spice anything was an acquired taste - some things just hit the palette just right, others didn’t. Alexis loved introducing people to new things though - she was like a marketing guru slash tour guide, and maybe the part she also loved was making others happy. A new, novel thing for someone who had gone so long taking a selfish here and there, more than she needed or deserved to. But things changed.
She wasn’t going to complain if Kassandra wanted to hunt and gather and bring back like, a boar to roast or something - no suitor had ever done that in the past. It was usually just buying her a drink or splitting an ecstasy tablet.
“I do lots of things better than men,” she winked, shifting on the blanket to get more comfortable. “So you have brothers back home - what else? What did you do? Fight a lot of things?” Everyone was so used to that but her.
“I bet,” Kass gave with another grin, then she winked. Talking about herself was easy though, just as long as she skipped over the truly awful parts of it all. “I am a Misthios” She realized that didn’t translate well, but she didn’t know the word for it and even though she understood what Alexis was saying, some things didn’t come through. “I get paid to do jobs. Sometimes I hunt people, animals. Do the odd jobs that require some force. I don’t hunt for bounties, but sometimes that’s part of it. It’s hard to translate exactly what I do. But yes it involves fights.”
“I even won the Olympics,” she added with a grin because it was a nice thing to be able to say. “Champion wrestler. Women aren’t supposed to be able to compete but,” she gave an extremely rude gesture and rolled her eyes. “And I am the leader of the Daughters of Artemis, ap position I won by hunting all the largest of animals, including a Nemian Lion. Beautiful animal really, it was shame to have to put it down but it needed to be done and it was a glorious hunt.”
“Do not discount or measure yourself against others. Measure yourself against your best self, no more.”
“Misthios,” Alexis repeated, whipping out her phone to do some Googling - did she even get reception out here? Well, she’d see. It seemed to be working because she made an ooh sound a moment later, studying the glowing screen - the lightbulb switched on and while she was no idiot (a lot smarter than people gave her credit for, in fact), she didn’t speak Greek fluently (only a little, because Stavros had been Greek and that was a whole adventure or more like a rollercoaster). “A mercenary,” she said. “I get that. That’s really cool.”
She liked listening to Kassandra’s tales of hunting, wrestling, and basically telling men that they could fuck all the way off - like, into the sea, and keep going yet. “I’ve never dated anyone who has won the Olympics before,” she stated excitedly. “Your best self sounds really neat. I’m still figuring my best self out, I think? Before I thought my best self was one way, but now it’s totally different. Arriving here has helped to show me that.”
Now she had a word for it in this language at least. “Yes,” she gave with a smile. “That.” Alexis seemed a lot more used to the device then Kass was, which was good really. Then she laughed, wishing she’d still had her laurels. “Well now you can say you have.” She nodded, understanding that growth could take a bit of time. She wasn’t the same person who had left Kephallonia, and she doubted she’d remain the same person now she was here. She could pretend to be the same misthios, but all it would be would be pretend.
“Always learn, that’s the important bit. Like with these stars,” she motioned up, “The brightest is not the same here but if you follow that one,” she motioned to one of them. “You will come to the city. Handy to know if you ever find yourself out here.”
The twinkling glitter-lights were so neat, glowing fireflies against black satin. Alexis followed the trajectory, twisting to look up at one of the brightest. “It’s the North star back home - or at least, I think that’s the one you follow?” she guessed. In ancient times, in any time, people used the stars to navigate - so it was a little comforting to know that some things just never changed. That you could rely on at least one thing in life.
And because of the fact that she was kiiiiiind of a touchy person, she scooted closer and leaned against Kass, cozying up - though it wasn’t like she had the excuse of it being a chilly night or anything (it was more balmy than anything else) but she just wanted to, so.
“What else?” she asked, eager to keep the learnin’ going.
It was easy enough to go and try to put her arm around Alexis’s shoulder, using the excuse to point up at the sky again. “Like home, there are tales attached to the stars. I don’t know too many of them, but I am learning. But from home, most of them are sad. Heroes who have died, or people who have been cursed. The Gods are assholes.”
She didn’t really want to spoil the mood however. “There is one however. It starts sad, but the ending is sweet. Back home there is a star sign called Ariadne’s Crown. She was a minor princess in the House of Minos, but is known for the tale of the Minotaur. After Theseus slayed it, he took her with him. Briefly, because any child of Poseidon has their father’s temperament and eventually left her on an island called Naxos. She was bereft, resigned to death. Until Dionysus came along and asked for her hand. When she agreed, he gave her stars and put them in the sky to commemorate her.”
“That’s so beautiful,” Alexis sighed, feeling her heart do funny twisty-twirly things (and not because of a murmur or anything either). She liked stories with happy endings - especially since she was still in the middle of trying to find her own happy ending - not like, the massage parlor happy ending. You know.
Something like how Ariadne found her happy ending. She knew that, back home, it had probably been time for her to move on from Schitt’s Creek - she and Ted had broken up, amicably, and he wasn’t coming back anytime soon anyway; he had his dream job in the Galapagos researching animals, and she couldn’t ask him to give that up. David was with Patrick, and her parents had their own plans - arriving in Vallo was a fresh start for Alexis, and she was pursuing her goals and doing what she could to make it easier for people who appeared here randomly.
And getting to go on dates with pretty ladies in togas was just a bonus. “I would totally hang stars in the sky to commemorate someone. It’s way better than giving flowers or something, though those are nice too.”
It was the thought that counted.
Flowers were an easy thing to acquire in the middle of a field so Kass used her free arm to lean down and pluck one of the nearby ones off the ground. With a smile she offered it to Alexis. “As the lady asked for.”
Alexis let out a little exclamation of surprise, taking the flower excitedly - she was blushing too, of course, but it was probably difficult to tell in the dark. When was the last time someone gave her flowers? Or a flower? It had been awhile - and sure, this little beauty was just plucked from the ground here but it meant something.
“Thank you,” she laughed, tucking the flower into her hair so it made for a pretty accessory (she had a half-updo crown braid, half flowy thing going on, so it worked well). “Are you trying to get into my pants, Miss Kassandra? Because it will probably work. On the next date.”
Hey, she wasn’t that easy - well, not anymore. And not that she judged people who hooked up on the first date, but she was just trying to go for a little mystery here, that’s all.
Kass was still a little shaky on what exactly a date meant, but she’d hardly mind trying to impress Alexis again. She’d just have to find another way of doing that. “Skirt, but. Yes.” She gave honestly. Alexis was pretty, and unattached. There was no harm in any of this. And flirting was part of her nature, no matter how hard she tried to portray herself as a tough Misthios.
“Tell me more of this little city your father bought.” She couldn’t exactly say that was a right thing to do, but considering the fact that she sold her own services she didn’t exactly think she had much of a leg to stand on. “And you said you have seen Greece.” Kass paid attention to things. “Have you seen Athens? Technically, we were at war but as I am not technically a Spartan citizen I have no true stake in that, so I found it to be a lovely city. More crowded than it needs to be, in my opinion but I am used to this.”
“Skirt, then, “ Alexis’s subsequent giggle was sweet like summer rain - and alright, she did tend to prefer wearing skirts to pants. “Well, I definitely am okay with getting into your toga so next time I’ll have to come up with something to impress you too.” Hey, it didn’t have to be only one person doing that part - she was all for wowing in equal quantities.
She got cozy on the blanket, lying back and looking up at the night sky, careful not to dislodge the flower she’d placed into her hair. “Well, the town was called Schitt’s Creek - and that’s the worst name ever but apparently the Mayor’s ancestors named it, I don’t know,” she started, thinking of Roland and all his wacky shenanigans. “But it was full of these people who were just like, super decent? And had all their local businesses and stuff. Their idea of a fun night out was a bonfire or grabbing a drink at the sketchy bar on the edge of town. At first we hated it because there was no decent acupuncture therapy place, we were out of money, and I had to share a motel room with my brother - but we got back up on our feet eventually.”
It changed them as people too. Alexis learned that she actually loved her family - who would have thought?
“And yes, I’ve totally been to Athens. I used to date a Greek shipping heir, so you’re not the first Greek person I’ve dated. Definitely the superior one though,” she grinned, blue-green eyes bright and happy.
“You need do little to impress me, for you already have.” Kass was fairly used to being the one to impress. Very few of her other liaisons had gone through much of the effort, and she’d never minded. It had been the thrill of it, really even with those few where it hadn’t worked out so well.
She turned so she could watch Alexis, not really following everything she was saying. Kass didn’t get the joke of the name, but she did get the concept of what Alexis was talking about. And in many ways, their lives had been somewhat similar. Save for the whole being thrown off a mountain bit, and then being hunted by a Cult because her blood was different from a regular human’s.
“I’m glad you think so.” What ‘shipping’ actually was she wasn’t too sure about but she surmised it was probably someone who owned a boat and traded via it. She’d met plenty of those. “I have a ship too. Well, sort of.” Barnabus would find her and kill her if she claimed it as solely hers. “Her name is Adrestia, and she is as inescapable as her divine namesake. Many a ship has fallen to her, and while I should like to lay claim to it’s victories, I know it was also due to my crew. I will tell you this though, I still get sick on her.” She added with a smirk. “No matter how often I sail with her. I never adjust.”
The idea of a great huntress (and mercenary) like Kassandra being felled by seasickness was kind of cute - it made Alexis smile bigger, at any rate. “That’s okay, even the best of us need to take a Dramamine before getting on a boat,” she assured. “...that’s a motion sickness tablet. A very convenient modern invention.”
She sighed then, a content sort of sound, and reached out to bat at Kass’s hand and lazily lace their fingers together. “Thanks for saying yes to coming out with me tonight,” she added. “I’ve had a really good time.”
A moment of sincerity from Alexis Rose, who often was all about putting on a show and doing what she could to tend to other people in an effort to shift her focus from how much she missed her family - but this was good because it was for herself, and she was having fun, and there was nothing wrong with enjoying that moment either.
Kass gave a laugh to that, “Barnabus kept swearing on eating fresh caught fish. It never helped. Perhaps this modern medicine thing might.” Which reminded her she really needed to call those who had taken up Hippokrates’ work but she set it aside. She had better things to worry about right now.
Smiling she laced her fingers with Alexis’. “I am glad. I have been enjoying my time as well. If nothing else, this strange adventure has led me here. And I can hardly regret any of this.”
“Good! And you got to try pumpkin spice, which is like - just one more thing to check off the list,” Alexis pointed out. Maybe it wouldn’t end up being Kass’s favorite, but that was okay. They had plenty of time to figure out new things for her to try and like Aladdin said, it was a whole new world.
That reminded her to also bust out the animated version of Hercules - if nothing else, that would surely be entertaining.