[hr][color=FF0927][sup][h1]
[center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b1/66/d8/b166d841782f8e784aed26f05d91ab75.png[/img][/center]
[center][color=#ff58bf]𝓑𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓡𝓮𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼[/color][/center]
[/h1][/sup][/color][indent][sub][COLOR=#ff58bf]sᴇᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀsɪᴛʏ » ᴀʟᴘʜᴀ ᴅᴇʟᴛᴀ ᴘɪ[/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][COLOR=#638fb5]ᴄᴏᴄᴏ's ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ[/color] | [color=D87093]ʜᴇʙᴇ's ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ[/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr]
[color=BFAFB2]

	Comus was anything but surprised to find that Aphrodite had once again turned the situation to center around her. It wasn’t like Coco had any issues with the goddess of love, on the contrary, she adored her - she was fun to work with, good spirited and has helped the chaos wielder in many situations. However, after the stunt she pulled with her mist really put a damper on Comus’ already sour mood. [color=#638fb5][sub][i]'And after the mention of her husband’s murder no less… what was she tryna accomplish...'[/i][/sub][/color] the sour thoughts only seemed to increase the more she dwelled on them.

What [i]did[/i] surprise her however, was the embrace and words of her grandfather as Hades crouched down to her level. She wholeheartedly believed that he was only there to comfort his son, as Dio had more of a relationship with both Hephaestus and Hades… that did not seem to be the case. At least not in this instance. Speaking words in whispered tones, words of support and threats of violence against any and all those who would seek to do them harm. A grip tight on her shoulder was so foreign but it was warm, despite the cold words falling from Hades’ lips, and she found herself leaning into the touch. Seeking more.

It was then that the mist of Aphrodite encroached upon their little huddled formation. Comus, through bleary eyes, looked around to those in the room still. Aphrodite’s little parlor trick seemed to have been working wonders on those trapped in the room, though she couldn’t discern what exactly that entailed. Comus just saw… them. Those in the room. A far away look in their eyes as they relished in the visions that plagued their minds, or of contempt and sorrow.  [color=#638fb5][sub][i]'What exactly is going on…’[/i][/sub][/color] The only thing to pull her from her internal deductions was the iron claw like vice that was applying more pressure to her shoulder via Hades.

[color=#638fb5]“Hades… Hades… that hurts,”[/color] she tried to get his attention, the pressure building, the fabric of the mess top draping her shoulders now digging into her flesh. When the pain got to be too much, even by her standards, she released a squawk of agony, jolting the perpetrator from his revere. Before she knew it she was ripping his touch from her body and with an abrupt motion she was up on her feet and headed out of the room, slamming the door in the process.

The biting chill of the October wind would have caused Comus to hiss in retaliation, though the coolness of it all was a welcomed reprieve to the hot skin where Hades had bruised. And as luck would have it, as she examined it she noticed the skin there was beginning to change its color. [color=#638fb5]“Great,”[/color] a huff passed her lips as she wandered the quad in search of a place to just plop down. The grass beneath her jean clad legs was no longer damp from the early morning dew, instead favoring a chilly, crispness that crunched when she spread out. Leaning over just slightly in order to pull the crumbled pack of smokes from her back pocket, she pulled a spliff out, placing it precariously between her painted lips before shielding it from the soft breeze and lighting it. A trail of mixed smoke dancing from the tip.

[color=#638fb5][sub][i]Hephaestus is gone. Aphrodite has made it about her… somehow. Rome has now entered the playing field after being gone for who the hell knows how long. What in the fuck is even going on anymore?![/i][/sub][/color]  Coco pulled another long drag, deep in thought with her fucked up family tree, before exhaling upwards towards the sky. [color=#638fb5][sub][i]’We should have another party tonight… maybe Tlaz will host at the club… don't think Pol and Herc want their ‘rents at the Casa?’[/i][/sub][/color] 

Lost in her own little world, eyes trained on the clouds passing overhead, the birds chirping annoyingly to the students rushing across campus. There was a tinkling voice that floated through the air and it reminded the anarchic goddess of a certain youthful someone. Of days spent serving the others among the clouds of Olympus, sneaking sips without the other gods knowing. Running through the fields at the base of the mountain in the dead of night, only to cause some trouble for the mortals they found along the way. Comus sighed at the memories. She misses Hebe much too much and was in the process of making a mental note to seek her out when she felt something collide into her lounging frame and topple onto her. 

Said something let out a loud squeak, breaking the peaceful to-and-fro of the quad and causing several bemused students to turn their heads, some snickering at the sight in front of them. No-one would be able to miss the tangled mess of limbs, hair and headphones that was Hebe, who had abruptly tripped over the stretched out goddess. One second she had been happily making her way across the grassy lawn and the next, the ground had slipped from underneath her, world tilting sideways as she fell. Of course, any normal person probably would [I]not[/I] have closed their eyes whilst running but she’d been so caught up in the soothing flow of the lyrics, soft lips mouthing in time with the foreign words, which she only knew by way of incessant repetition. 

After a couple of bemused seconds, Hebe sat up, rubbing at where she had landed, rather roughly, on her arm. Luckily her topple had been cushioned by the relatively soft ground so she didn’t think it would bruise, although she could see the mess of grass & dirt that had been scraped against her skin. It wouldn’t be anything new anyway; she usually had at least a couple of them on her body from where she’d either tripped over her own feet or walked into some unsuspecting object. [color=D87093]“Oh my god! I’m so so sor-”[/color] Looking immensely apologetic, Hebe turned to see who she had tripped over, letting out her second squeak of the morning as her gaze landed on the one and only Comus. 

Large brown eyes widening in excitement, any pain that she may have been in was instantly forgotten. None of that mattered when [i]Coco[/i] was here. Scrambling up from her fallen position, Hebe lunged across to her friend, reaching to pull her into an affectionately tight hug. As she wrapped her arms around the goddess, she couldn’t help but cling on just a little too tightly. If there was any moment, any time, in which she needed her bestest friend in all the worlds...it was now. 

The ringing in her ears subsided some as Coco was once more embraced this day. [color=#638fb5][sub][i]’How many more times was this going to happen?’[/i][/sub][/color] Though this time was more welcomed than all the others. What distant memory she thought was playing tricks on her mind earlier was made flesh and bone in the death grip that found itself around Comus’ neck.

Amber pools starred up into her own as the goddess of youth clung to her. It took her only a split second before it was all clicking into place and she was embracing the smaller girl in her own affection. Face lighting up in the midday sun, or what little had decided to breach through the clouds [color=#638fb5][sub][i]’Apollo’s doing?’[/i][/sub][/color] She wondered briefly before all attention was brought back down to the woman in her grasp.

[color=#638fb5]“HEEBS!? I have missed you so~”[/color] If they had been in a standing position Comus would have most definitely spun the two of them around. [color=#638fb5]”It’s been ages since I’ve seen your beautiful face. How have you been? [i]Where[/i] have you been?”[/color] Coco pulled away slightly only after placing a plethora of quick kisses to Hebe’s hairline and temples, scanning the beauty before her, a giddy laugh on her lips. Spliff all but forgotten on the grass between them, the tumble having knocked it to smoldering, she made sure to grab it. [color=#638fb5]”Best not to start a campus fire just yet, hm?”[/color]

[color=D87093]”You’ve done worse.”[/color] Nose crinkling as she smiled at her friend, Hebe was unable to contain the childlike giggle that escaped from her lips. For a moment her gaze lingered on the thin tube of rolling paper, tobacco and cannabis. It wasn’t something that she often did of her own volition, but the gentle prod of a friend was usually more than enough to get her to join in almost anything. Yet this moment of temptation was interrupted by the feel of her heart quickening at what should have been an otherwise lighthearted question from an old friend. [sub][color=D87093]Where [i]has[/i] she been?[/color][/sub] That was something she wasn't sure if she could answer. At least not completely or truly honestly. 

[color=D87093]“Oh, well...nowhere really! Just trying to stay out of mothers way y’know…”[/color] A hesitant smile lit up her face as she caught her earlier emotions, pushing them down into a place where they wouldn’t threaten to overspill. Instead, she replaced them with an eagerness to share with someone she had once shared [i]everything[/i] with. During those initial decades after their fall, when she had been too scared to do anything but dutifully follow her parents around, Coco had been the one giving her a nudge in the right...or wrong, as it may have been, direction. Her fun-loving, chaotic, rebellious attitude was something that Hebe had always looked up to, and which she still admired even to this day.  [color=D87093]“I’m living on campus now - with Alpha Delta Pi! You should totally come over some time. We can have a-“[/color] Her words had been tripping over one another as they left her mouth, unbridled excitement etched across her face. Yet Hebe, now sat crossed legged on the grassy lawn, took pause. She was close enough to Coco to notice the slight redness around her eyes and the puffiness that came with unchecked tears.

[color=D87093]“Coco? Are you okay?”[/color] All of the eagerness instantly fell away as she realised that her friend was definitely [I]not[/I] her usual self, and she felt her stomach drop in concern. She hated seeing anyone upset but especially her friends...especially Coco. [color=D87093]“You look like you’ve been crying...did someone upset you?! Do you want to come back to mine? I have hot coco! Oh, and you can hug Stampy if you want! Or we can go out if you’d rather do that…”[/color] Trailing off, Hebe leaned back towards her friend, hands reaching to clasp one between her own. [color=D87093]“You can tell me anything you know...”[/color]

As the words left Hebe's mouth, her eyes searching her face, Comus could swear that her breath audibly hitched and there wasn't much she could do to take it back. Other than play it off as she had done since the beginning of time. [color=#638fb5]"[i]Psht,[/i] its nothing Heebs,"[/color] and as if to drive the notion home she waved the spliff in front of the young woman's eyes. But Hebe didn't seem convinced in the slightest, the lie she spoke didn’t even convince herself, why did she think it would work.

A long, heavy sigh breached her lips as she sat there in the grass, the campus bustling around them, a breeze picking up. Comus, if she allowed her mind to wander long enough, she could trick herself into thinking they were back at the base of Olympus with the sun beating down on them, their linen peplos billowing about them as they chased one another before crashing down in the fields… Coco allowed herself a moment’s beat as her eyes closed, hand running through the tangles of her hair before releasing the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

[color=#638fb5]”It’s, uh,”[/color] she was able to steal a glance towards her dearest friend, who looked at her with concern, clutching one of her hands within her own. Hebe has always been too good of a soul. More than what Comus ever deserved. With another shaky breath she pushed through, she was an agent of chaos for crying out loud! She can open up and be vulnerable for Hebe. At the very least. [color=#638fb5]”I’ve missed you so much, Heebs… and, and it’s been a wild ride. I’m talking with dad and Hades more... and the lot of them really, but it’s not like the past is gonna be erased with just a few drinks and conversations, ya know? And then the stupid fucking conclave with everyone shoved into this small ass room where the Morrigan, ughh, she thinks she speaks on behalf of everyone and drops the bombshell that is Hephaestus. Oh, don’t get me started on the appearance of fucking Rome 2.0, though he did bring his cute pupper - [i]not the point [/i]-,”[/color] the amount of air within Comus lungs could rival that of Aeolus himself as she spouted off all that had been weighing on her as of late. She refused to dig any deeper than the last 24 hours.

As Coco’s words spilled out, Hebe listened in quiet consternation, eyes blinking slowly as she tried to comprehend what her friend was saying. She could sense the worry… [i]the doubt[/i]...the frustration that Comus was feeling. Reaching up a hand, she lightly dabbed at a tear that had slid down the goddess’ cheek, wishing she could somehow make her feel better. 

[color=D87093]“I’ve missed you too. I’m so sorry I haven’t been around! It’s just-”[/color] Hebe suddenly paused at mention of the conclave, teeth moving to nervously bite at her bottom lip. She remembered getting the text but she hadn’t attended any conclaves in a [I]long[/I] time. The idea of there being so many gods…so many of her family in one room, was too much. Especially now. And none of these reasons had mattered anyway, for when she had woken up this morning, she had been far too preoccupied by that overwhelming and all consuming panic. All thoughts of the meeting had left her in that moment, and if she were honest, she had totally forgotten about it until now. 

Shaking herself out of her reverie, Hebe realized that she had been squeezing Cocos hands tightly. Letting go, she instead brought them back to herself, a palm reaching to idly rub at where the dirt had been smeared haphazardly across her arm.

[color=D87093]“Wait...Hephaestus?”[/color] Her soft voice broke the momentary silence that had landed between them, confusion etched across her features. [color=D87093]“Did he do something? Is he okay?”[/color] Hebe couldn’t help but feel a pit of guilt sink into her stomach. It had been a long time since she had talked to her older brother. Months…years maybe, she couldn’t really remember. At one point in time they had been close. He had always been a stable rock, someone you could rely on to at least be there…even if he simply sat and let you speak. But that had been a long time ago and she realized sadly that she couldn’t remember the last time she had spoken to him. 

Comus steely greys misted over once more. The tight grip Hebe once had on her hands she returned with vigor as she gripped onto the youthful  beauty before her. [color=#638fb5]"Hebe, he's gone."[/color] Coco wondered quickly if she should even spare her the finer detail that he was not just gone but murdered no less. Hebe was intelligent; she would either figure it out on her own or she would press Coco for the truth. She opted just to rip the bandage off and dive head first into the turmoil, [color=#638fb5]"He was murdered. That's what the meeting was about… mostly. No one knows who or why. Heebs, love, I am so sorry…"[/color] It still felt insincere, those words spilling forth from her. She hoped that the warmth and physical touch she offered her was enough to convey her sorrowful sympathy. There wasn't anything else for her to offer. Not at this time at least. Not unless Hebe asked for chaos to rain down upon the perpetrators, which she would of course gladly partake in.

Without another moment’s thought she pulled the girl into her arms, cradling her to her chest and placing well deserved and shaky kisses to her temple. They were silent for a moment as Comus tried to think of what else she could do to help. Something. Anything. But there weren't a lot of helpful things that Coco prided herself in. She was excellent at causing mayhem and chaos and just overall revelries! Not consoling and comfort. Comus was the worst person to seek those from. Yet, she needed to try for Hebe’s sake.

[color=D87093]“...Oh.”[/color] The word slipped quietly from her mouth, a mere whisper of a sound. Hebe tried to say something else but instead her mind just went into shutdown, trying and failing to process all that Coco had said. Her lovely, strong, diligent brother was gone. [I]Dead.[/I] Hebe, even more than most, shuddered at the thought of that word. It, in many ways, was the opposite of who she was. Her whole purpose, her whole life, had always been dedicated to immortality, to the everlasting, and the idea that someone could just simply exist to be was almost incomprehensible. [sub][color=D87093] She’d never see Hephaestus again.[/color][/sub]

As the words sunk in, Hebe suddenly realized that she had started crying. Silent tears flowed uninterrupted down her cheeks, the odd one falling softly onto the exposed skin of her legs. She could feel her heart begin to race again, her vision beginning to blur, but this time she wasn’t alone. This time Comus was here and she clung onto the girl as she was pulled into her embrace. They were both wearing far too little clothing for the weather and she could feel the cold on their bodies, but that didn’t matter. She was just glad she was here. 

[color=D87093]"Are...are [I]you[/I] okay?"[/color] After what seemed like an eternity, Hebe’s voice returned to her, the sound coming out as a dry croak. [color=D87093]"The conclave must've been horrible...is mother..."[/color] She glanced up at the nearest building, wondering where the meeting was taking place. Was it over already? Or were they all still on campus? Part of her wanted to run and find her mother, to try and comfort her. They may have had their differences over the last few centuries but she still knew how much Hera would be aching. She couldn't though. Like always, it was just too much. Instead, she used both palms of her hands to wipe at the tears, thankful that she wasn’t wearing any makeup, for it would've been smeared spectacularly across her face. 

[color=D87093]"Um, can we go do something...anything?"[/color] Looking earnestly up at Comus, Hebe kept brushing away the tears as she tried her hardest to be brave. Her instinct was to run home, to hole up until this was all over. But she knew that wouldn't help and she knew that Coco needed her as well. They needed each other. 

A crooked smile broke across her face, albeit wobbly. A distraction. Yes. That is exactly what they needed. Comus stood up slowly, the new position allowing for regular blood flow to pick up again, her legs prickly from their sleep. She gracefully, as best she could, helped the other girl up to her own feet, brushing off the little bits of grass and dirt that clung to either of them. The soreness of her shoulder throbbing slightly but was still not worth the space in the forefront of her mind. Instead she turned her gaze towards the smaller frame beside her, made even shorter with the heels Coco wore.

In a last ditch attempt to be as comforting as she could, she lightly wiped the last of a stray tear from Hebe’s cheek before booping her nose, goofy smile still in place, [color=#638fb5]“So,”[/color] an arm slung over Hebe’s shoulder, hoping that she would take lead, she had no idea where she was going. She didn’t really care, being in Hebe’s presence like she was, was among the few things that could calm the chaos within her, [color=#638fb5]“How do you feel about clubbing?”[/color]

Smiling gently at Comus as she tidied the pair of them up, a small strained laugh escaped from her throat. Just seeing Coco perk up made her feel better...even if a small part of her did know that they were both acting the part. It was the best they could do in the moment and she appreciated it nonetheless. [color=D87093]“Clubbing?”[/color]  Hebe paused at the suggestion, tilting her head as she considered it. She’d need to change before they headed out...unless workout attire had suddenly become fashionable among night owls and heavy drinkers. But she knew how much Coco loved any form of partying, and if that’s what she wanted to do, then so be it. [color=D87093]“Sure, why not. It’ll be fun!”[/color]

Grabbing a hold of her friends hand, she began to pull Coco in the direction of her sorority house. [color=D87093]“But let’s go back to mine first.”[/color] Hebe tried her best to remain chirpy, although the lingering thought of [color=D87093][sub]'Hephaestus is gone'[/sub][/color] remained persistently in the back of her mind. [color=D87093]“We can pick out some cute outfits…I think Sally might have some things you’d like if you wanna get changed. Though I love what you’re already wearing!”[/color] She couldn’t help but tease the goddess lightly, sticking her tongue out at her before continuing to haul the pair across the quad. 

The trek towards Alpha Delta Pi, where Hebe lived, wasn’t too terrible. Every now and again the sun would break through the clouds before dipping back behind. Almost coy like. As if they were being controlled by someone’s emotions. Comus laughed heartily at the notion and couldn’t [i]not[/i] divulge the thought to her traveling companion as well. When they had entered into the abode it screamed with the essence of Hebe. It was painfully obvious that the prime of life was a staple in the aesthetics around the place. Upon walking into Hebe's room she immediately headed for the closet and began throwing out articles of clothing.

[color=#638fb5]"We're going to need to dress the part for Topan~”[/color] she cheered, trying her hardest to move past the, well past, and enjoy the reunion of her best friend. If not for her sake than for Hebe. Time flew out the window as they sat and goofed off in her dorm like room. Hours wasted lounging on her bed, her floor, the plush chair in the corner; gossiping about everything and nothing. A pillow fight may have ensued at one point resulting in the both of them tumbling atop her bed and staring at the ceiling. Time wasters indeed. When the sun began to set it was deemed appropriate to head out, Comus thought more and more about it. Opting instead to order take out and bundle together in that mess of room. Thanks to her chaotic nature, no doubt. [color=#638fb5]“Heeb c’mon, we gotta watch something other than [i]‘When Harry Met Sally’[/i],”[/color] a common argument throughout the night. The somber moments of earlier were easily replaced with merriment and laughter, secrets told like they were young girls once again with hushed whispers as if Hera were going to come around the corner any moment to reprimand them.

Wiping a tear from her eye, Coco was able to wheeze out a laugh, [color=#638fb5]”I missed this…”[/color] and without asking she searched for Hebe’s phone and snatched it up in one fluid motion. Tapping it open she then began typing, [color=#638fb5]“Here! Now you have no reason not to bug me. Next time you’re free, you should swing by the Acropolis. Got some hunky hunks there who would be dying to see you~”[/color]

At mention of hunky hunks, Hebes head peeped out from where she was snugly wrapped in an overly fluffy blanket, only her face visible amidst the soft pile of fabric. [color=D87093]“The Acropolis?”[/color] She [I]may[/I] have known a little about the abode — social media being what it was — but she didn’t want to admit to Coco that she’d been paying attention. With her mind still preoccupied by thoughts of this, the goddess took her phone in her hands again, making sure to add some extra hearts and other cute emojis next to Comus’ name. 

After she’d triple checked it had saved, Hebe reached over to where they had acquired an assortment of snacks, grabbing a marshmallow and popping it into her mouth. [color=D87093]“Ilumushmallo…”[/color] Trying to speak with the sticky treat in her mouth clearly didn’t work, her words being instantly inaudible. [color=D87093]“I mean, I love marshmallows!”[/color] She laughed when she was finally able to pipe up again, shuffling closer to her friend and opening up the blanket to invite her into what she definitely deemed a mini blanket fort…even if the structural integrity of the fort relied solely on her head. [color=D87093]“So…”[/color] She paused for a moment, unsure how to ask what she really wanted to ask. [color=D87093]“How is everyone…the guys…the other people that you know…the guy people…”[/color] Hebe frowned at herself as she realised that she sounded like an absolute idiot, sinking deeper into her not quite blanket fort.

A full belly laugh escaped the model as she watched her friend stuff marshmallows into her mouth, the epitome of a chubby bunny face. A face she couldn’t pass up on snapping a picture of and quickly sending it to the squad’s snapchat group. Oh, Comus knew exactly what Hebe was trying to hint at, it was obvious, and she refused to look at her with anything other than a shit eating grin, [color=#638fb5]“[i]Hmm~?[/i]”[/color] she feigned ignorance for the sake of making her little Heebs sweat it out. [color=#638fb5]“The guy people… [i]mmm,[/i] no. I have no idea who it is you’re talking about!”[/color] Regardless she climbed into the blanket fort, basking in the warmth it provided. The movie still played in the background, reaching the point where they’ve decided to visit the museum and Billy Crystal decided to adopt some wacked out European accent and no matter how much she was opposed to watching the movie once again, Coco found herself mimicking along with the actors on screen.

After settling beside the brunette, aptly stealing a few marshmallows herself, she conceded. One look from those innocent doe eyes and she was putty. [color=#638fb5]“Ugh, yeah, yeah. They’re all good. ‘Pollo is the residential chef since the rest of us burn water… Hermes, well, he’s technically got his own place but dude is so whipped for Kore,”[/color] she paused just long enough to finish the puff in her mouth, [color=#638fb5]“Oh, that guy is so fucking clueless to just about everything. Someone in particular, but that’s a different story. Herc is, well… here, see for yourself.”[/color] Instead of just showing Hebe the Snapchat history and stories updating every few minutes, Coco added her to the group list.

With a shrug she simply replied, [color=#638fb5]“What?”[/color] Though a knowing grin was etched into her face. [color=#638fb5]“Oh, c’mon, like you don’t already follow him. If you [i]waaaant[/i], we can swing by the Acropolis later this week and ya know. Hang out with him. I mean them…”[/color] 

At Coco’s suggestion —as well as the rather embarrassing picture of her with a mouthful of mallows — Hebes hands reached up to cover her cheeks, where the faint beginnings of a blush had begun to appear.  [color=D87093]“I-, I dunno…”[/color] Hebe couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness as her gaze passed over the words and photos that made up the groups Snapchat story. Coco fit in so well with them and she could see that they were practically a family unit…a drunkenly adorable one, but one nonetheless. She was virtually an outsider now and she found that her heart had begun to race, for more than one reason, at the idea of seeing them…him, again. The mere thought of it sent her into a flustery panic. 

Yet as she looked up at her friend, she was unable to deny the eager look on her face. Hebe desperately wanted to keep Coco close to her this time, even if that meant doing something that sent butterflies racing around her stomach. [color=D87093]“Well, I guess...maybe. But only as long as you’re there!”[/color] She finally concluded, hands idly picking at the edge of the blanket. Gaze trailing back to the movie, her expression softened at the two fictional lovebirds. She may have watched them fall in love dozens of times but Hebe would never get fed up of it. And as one particularly cute scene finished, she turned back to her friend, nudging her shoulder lightly against hers. [color=D87093]“Thanks for this Coco. Did I tell you how much I’ve missed you?”[/color][hr][right] [sub]collab: [@Danvers] mentions: [@metanoia] [@smarty0114] [@pandapolio] [@sly13] [@Icy Hot] [@Mao Mao] [i]if you squint really hard[/i][/sub]
[/right]


[/color]