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[b][center][color=gray]Victory And The Moon[/color][/center][/b]
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[indent][sub][COLOR=gray][I]The Ball[/I][/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][color=gray]an [@smarty0114] and [@Icy Hot] collab[/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr]
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[color=5E74EE]“Ears open tonight ladies. We’re in the lion’s den now.”[/color] Artemis’ eyes never left the moon that hung high in the sky, her nose pressed to the cold glass of her limousine’s window. Despite her perceived lack of attention, Thalia and Zoe knew that Artemis was always watching, and they nodded with an almost religious fervor. [color=5e74ee]“Pay special attention to the Romans, but if [i]anyone[/i] seems off, check them out. I don’t want any surprises tonight.”[/color] The limousine slowed to a halt a moment later, and Artemis stepped out, cameras flashing to capture her [url=https://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Hunter-Schafer-2019-MTV-Movie-And-TV-Awards-Red-Carpet-Roundup-734x1024.jpg]gown[/url]. 

Zoe and Thalia trailed behind her, assistants to the mortal eye, but once the cameras were gone, Selena O’Ryan disappeared once more, just another face the moon loved to show. A flick of the wrist sent her girls floating off into the ballroom, looking for a morsel that might sate her hunger for knowledge. Artemis’ attention was not with them though, but with a woman, beauty personified. Pale grey eyes traced her body, cloaked in elegance, and she couldn’t help but remember the treasures that hid beneath the cloth. She smiled softly, and crossed the room, snagging two glasses of champagne on the way. 

She halted herself with an inhuman grace, her dress whirling around her at the sudden end of motion, her body a tornado of color for just a moment as she crept up behind Venus, bringing her lips close to her ear so that whatever words she spoke were theirs, and theirs alone. [color=5e74ee]“I brought you a drink.”[/color]

Venus turned slowly, face alight with warmth and a twinkling of desire in those honey eyes that drank in the gorgeous goddess standing before her. The conversation she had been having with some “hot shot” mortal was long forgotten once she turned around, and the sound of a huff and heavy feet moving onwards made her chuckle, [color=2aa2a6] “Just what I needed, and the drink is a plus.”[/color] Venus’s voice was almost a whisper, the proximity of their bodies didn’t require a volume greater than that. The live classical music filling the room was a background meant to set the atmosphere but not demand the attention of the guests. 

Venus claimed her drink gracefully and stole a quick peck from her dearest friend before she allowed space to fill them with a showy spin, the satin finished fabric twirling after her in a small sea of emerald green. The [url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFG5_L8XUAA2B9o?format=jpg&name=medium] Emerald Dress[/url] had garner just the attention she was looking for as she entered the venue, paparazzi and reporters asking about her coming winter lines and asking for confirmations on various pieces of gossip buzzing around.

[color=2aa6a6] “Did you just arrive? I figured I’d be strutting into a room full of gods, and yet you are the first I’ve seen, the great and terrible host included.”[/color]

Since their first meeting years ago, Artemis had always thought that Venus wore the spotlight better. Her spin only cemented that theory in her head as Artemis watched the Victorious One twirl in elegant circles. There was a magnetism to Venus, a pull over others that impressed the moon goddess. She was incomparable, a beauty that knew no equal.

[color=5e74ee]“Just a moment ago. If my brother’s coming tonight, I’m sure the rest of my family won’t be far off,”[/color] Artemis said, glancing at the entrance at the mention of Apollo. [color=5e74ee]“Augustus is certainly in for an eventful evening,”[/color] Arty continued, a smirk spreading across her face as she looked back at Venus. [color=5e74ee]“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. Everything going on… it’s been busy.”[/color] She didn’t need to utter Hephaestus’ name to get her point across. His death had hung over the entire city in the past weeks, though the mortals still seemed to be hoping for their mayor’s heroic return.

Venus waved off the apology with an understanding grace, [color=2aa6a6] “I am not so insecure to demand your attention at every passing moment- not that I would protest such an arrangement.”[/color] A small laugh passed through her lips as she took a sip of her champagne, [color=2aa6a6] “but I understand, the news came as a shock to us all. I just hope you have been tending to yourself in light of all the things you’ve got going on.”[/color] There is only room for sincerity in her tone as a gentle hand grasps Artemis’. Venus felt nothing at the news of Hephaestus’ death, and felt nothing for the Greeks in general but she had found herself worrying over Artemis and how such a fate would affect her.

Despite her curiosities Venus withholds the questions she wants to ask, at least for the time being. Instead of searching for answers and prodding for information she settles on something more easily digested, [color=2aa6a6] “The guest list for this event is quite peculiar, I’d be interested in learning who threw this whole soiree together… and on such a short notice at that. All the gods, even some who we [i]all[/i] believed were long gone, and only the most affluent of humans, I’m excited to see what comes of the night.”[/color]

Venus' words clued Artemis in to something peculiar; Jupiter was only playing the role of host. She could only guess as to what that meant, and she was anything but hasty. She tucked the thought away for later, and returned her attention to the only person in the room that could deserve it. [color=5e74ee]“We haven’t had a good show in a while. I’m sure tonight will change that.”[/color] 

The huntress took a sip of champagne, her eyes never leaving the woman before her. Venus was different from all the others. Dynamic and exciting and brilliant, she was the Mother of Rome, the woman who birthed a nation that had changed the world. She wasn’t prey to be hunted, but a fellow predator, to be respected, and admired. She was well aware of how complicated this would become, especially now that she’d placed so much trust in Poseidon’s will. Their families would likely be at each other’s throats before the night was through, and they’d yet to find Hephaestus’ body. If she was right, and they discovered that the Romans had been involved with his death, chaos was sure to ensue. 

[color=5e74ee]“You should come by, after all of this. Spend the night,”[/color] Arty said. The smile that followed was not so different from her brother’s radiant grin. Whatever chaos rained down on Seattle, she was certain her and Venus would slip their way through, somehow, someway.

Venus raised an eyebrow at the suggestion, letting her desire for such a thing to remain tempered behind a pleasant smile. The goddess of Love was not without her enjoyment of a bit of coyness, [color=2aa6a6] “Mm that is a thought..”[/color] she mused in a purr like drawl, the magnetism of her words drawing her own body closer to Artemis’ again, [color=2aa6a6] “I would quite like that.”[/color] her words drew on as she leaned into Artemis her own lips ghosting against her ear as she whispered conspiratorial words dipped in sultry honey, [color=2aa6a6] “Let us hope the secrets of our families coming to light don’t have us parting like the sea and sky have…”[/color] she pulled back slowly the light of a chandelier twinkling in her eyes, [color=2aa6a6] “or at least tonight not be the event for that. I’d much rather fall asleep to the sounds of our pleasure echoing in my mind than that of angered men and mothers.”[/color]  Venus brought her flute to her lips and space found real estate between them again as her attention diverted from Artemis for a moment to cast around the room taking note of the gods and goddesses that had entered, especially of a man standing alone dressed in green. [i][color=2aa6a6] Oh fate, how sweet you are.[/color][/i]

Her cheeks flushed red, a sight reserved for Venus. No one else could set her mind racing and her heart aflame. No one else could uncoil the knot she’d wound herself into. Artemis was a being of complexity, and no simple creature would satisfy her. So many words hung in her throat, begging to be released. If they were alone she would assure Venus that no one would come between them, not if the huntress could help it. She’d hold her close and remind her that the echoings of their pleasure need not cease. How cruel it was that they were born worlds apart, forced to cross so many lines to be together. Cruel as it may be, she’d cross every line if it led to Venus. Her hand, still pressed between Venus’ slender fingers, squeezed, firm and soft all at once. A grasp that said, ‘I’m never letting go.’  [color=5e74ee]“I’ll do my best to make you forget any mishaps,”[/color] Arty said, smirking. [color=5e74ee]“Fair warning, if you’re hoping for a private conversation, stay away from the girls in white.”[/color] Artemis nodded over at Thalia and Zoe, but made no other expressions. Alerting Venus to her spies was foolish, risky, a lover’s mistake. Perhaps she was in love then. Or just a fool. 

Venus couldn’t help the giggle that fell from her lips as Artemis made her aware of her spies, it was a sound purely of amusement and her tone when she spoke was filled with admiration, [color=2aa6a6] “How I could expect anything less from you is a fault of my own. I hope your family only shows their appreciation for you, you infinitely beautiful and brilliant woman.”[/color] Venus returns the squeeze, an echo of the sentiment Arty sent her first, but perhaps not as firm, or unwavering, or reliable as what shines in the radiance of the goddess holding onto her. Venus would much rather spend her night ignoring all else conspiring and gossiping with Artemis, but duty rings its bell as more people and gods arrive, she has celebrities and politicians to dress and gods to question. 

[color=2aa6a6] “I’ll be finding you again later tonight, try not to be too rough on anyone.”[/color] Venus’ parting kiss was gentle but long enough to leave her desired effect before she completely pulled away and lost herself in the crowd with the Governor and her Husband in  her line of sight.

Artemis bit her lip as Venus disappeared into the crowd, a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. She knew why they had called her Venus the Victorious now. Even against the cold stone that she had erected, the Roman found a way. If Greece fell once more, would it matter, if Venus was by her side? That kiss made her think it would not.[/indent][/indent][/color]