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[b][center][color=#e96b7e] 𝖘𝖔 𝖎𝖙 𝖇𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖘... 𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖎𝖓[/color]
[color=#eed873]𝖘𝖔 𝖎𝖙 𝖇𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖘... 𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖎𝖓[/color][/center][/b]
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[right][sub][color=gray]𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. [color=#EED873]t[/color][color=#EDD173]h[/color][color=#EDCB74]e[/color] [color=#ECBE75]o[/color][color=#ECB776]l[/color][color=#ECB176]y[/color][color=#EBAB77]m[/color][color=#EBA478]p[/color][color=#EB9E78]i[/color][color=#EB9779]c[/color] [color=#EA8B7A]c[/color][color=#EA847B]l[/color][color=#E97E7C]u[/color][color=#E9777C]b[/color] 
𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. [color=#5e74ee]artemis[/color] | [color=#C08290]pothos[/color]
[sub][i]changing [color=#e96b7e]melinoë's[/color] txt color to #e96b7e for this collab[/i][/sub]
a [@smarty0114] | kz collab[/color][/sub][/right][hr][color=BFAFB2]

Apollo saw her before she saw him. It had always been like that, he thought. He played coy though, letting her eyes rake over him and all his glory. He couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips as he sipped his champagne. When he felt her gaze divert, he trained his eyes on her, watching as she took in the crowd. Her back turned, he moved from his space on the wall. He was bored, and Melinoë was oh so fucking exciting. It was a shame that Pothos wasn’t here to see the show, and yet, that didn’t stop him. 

The Bright One came up behind her, soft as the final notes in a sad, sad song. That was what this was to him after all; a song, great and loud and impossible to resist, one he hadn’t quite written the ending for. He didn’t know where it might go, but he knew he liked the melody, and he would indulge himself as long as he was able.

He leaned over her shoulder, whispering in her ear with that musical hush that drove mortals to throw out their best laid plans in favor of a life devoted to art and beauty and wonder. [color=eed873]“Long time, no see.”[/color]

With an utterance of a few simple words, Melinoë was transported back to when they would meet in the gardens. When he would play his instrument, soft tunes stemming from lithe fingers and full lips. Time seemed to cease to exist but only in those moments. Sun shining and warmth crept along her usually cold flesh. He uttered those words before, when he had stood above her as if she were one of his many worshipers, gazing down at her through long lashes, the sun's rays casting a halo ring behind him. He was beautiful, she remembers thinking in those moments. Moments that were only meant for the pair of them.

Now, however, as his breath hit the shell of her ear Melinoë couldn't help but to roll her eyes, a shiver running up her spine. And she tells herself it's out of disgust. [color=#e96b7e]"Long indeed~"[/color] She wanted to fall into him, lean into the warmth that only came from when you lay out amidst the sunshine. That's what he provided for her. Then and even more so now. Yet she refrained, instead plucked her own glass of champagne from a wandering server and tipped it back before finally turning to face the sun.

[color=#e96b7e]"Looking to break more hearts?"[/color]

[color=eed873]“I’m always in the market,”[/color] Apollo smiled, and took a sip from his glass. [color=eed873]“You look good. The Agatha Christie work’s still going well for you then?”[/color] He looked into those bright, maddening eyes and smiled wider, like no time had passed at all since their last meeting. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t like this game, one sided as it was. 

Artemis thought it cruel of him, but could he do much about his nature? She was drawn to girls, and he was destined to an eternal cycle of rising and setting. In place of stability, he offered blue eyes and a smile, promises of tangled bodies, twisted sheets and whispered words of love, dripping from them like notes falling from the strings of a lyre. He offered himself and made no mockery of it; only fools touched the sun, and were shocked when it burned.

Another sip to finish off her glass had her in a very different mood than when she walked in. [color=#e96b7e]"Got your attention didn't it?"[/color] It was coy enough to garner his fleeting attention. His games he plays. One of the many things about Apollo that infuriates her to no end. What was a game and what was truth? A game she could never hope to win at. Fairly or otherwise. Though she continues to try to compete in, regardless of the outcome.

How she longed for just one more moment of the past. Of feather touches while a gentle breeze shifted the tall grass around entangled bodies. A laugh so musical falling from lips she couldn't believe wasn't his. Endearing words that made her malicious heart soar into the blue sky above them; the only one to witness their time together. 

To go back to before everything came to light. The lies, the hurt, the burning that once stood for something passionate and lovely turned scorching and enraged. The familiar feelings boiled low in her gut and if she were to think too long on them it would surely come to the surface. Melinoë didn't want to ruin this moment. She wanted to pretend that those hurt feelings, feelings of getting burned, were all a dream and here in the now was what was true. 

Of course, with Apollo, the answer lay somewhere in the middle. He was a poet, and he buried his reality beneath layers and layers of honeyed words and enticing gazes. The game was the truth. 

[color=eed873]“That it did, that it did,”[/color] Apollo said. His eyes peered over the edge of his glass as he took another sip. One did not need an Oracle to deduce what was on his mind. [color=eed873]“I’m playing a set at The JJ tonight. Maybe I’ll see you there?”[/color] He brought a hand up to gently brush a strand of hair behind her ear, smooth even now, in the face of madness.

Melinoë played absentmindedly with the rim of her empty flute, stopping herself from leaning into the brief contact he provided; like a moth to an open flame. Instead, she looked up through her lashes into eyes like the sky, searching his face for any tell that he was toying with her. It wouldn't be the first and definitely not the last. A small drop of champagne clung to the corner of his lips, and as she mulled over his words - coupled with the action of him tucking her stray hair - Melinoë was filled with a sense of proclivity that came out of nowhere. [color=#e96b7e]"The Jade Jaguar, [i]hmm[/i]?"[/color] The faux pondering was strictly for show as she shifted her weight to the opposite foot closing what little gap there was between them. Her empty hand coming to rest beneath his denim, nails scratching lightly across the fabric of his dark shirt, stealing his cap in the process, [color=#e96b7e]"I'm sure I could make an appearance for my favorite musician."[/color]

She reached out to thumb the liquid off his face, bringing it to her own lips to suck off, [color=#e96b7e]"I’m going to need another refill, Sunshine~ Wanna join?"[/color] Melinoë gave a wink, proud of herself for being able to keep up in this game of his and for once coming out ahead. Even if it might be short lived she didn’t mind. Being so close to the sun this go round, she didn’t mind a few burns in the process. [sub][color=#e96b7e][i]’I’m prepared this time…’[/i][/color][/sub]

Apollo’s good mood remained unfazed. He let out a breath, suddenly struck by the goddess before him. His heart beat faster, spurred on by Melinoë’s flirtations. He lived for these moments, when she surprised him and took the reins in her own hands. [color=eed873]“I’d join you anywhere, Little Death. Just lead the way.”[/color]

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