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 [color=black]Covetous Eyes[/color]
[color=#9c64a4]Covetous Eyes[/color][/h1][/sup][/center]
[right][sub][color=gray]location: The Olympic Club
mentions: [color=e9d66b]Melinoe[/color] [@KZOMBI3] |
a [@horangi] & smarty production[/color][/sub][/right]
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In a private suite tucked away in the west wing of Seattle’s most luxurious country club, Hera preened in front of a mirror. Delicate, slender fingers pulled her hair into place, and fastened it with a pin, pearly white and inlaid with diamonds. She’d arrived hours before, and had been working tirelessly on her image, while the employees below worked to arrange the luncheon she’d arranged. With Anteros joining the fray, she was putting the finishing touches on her [url=https://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Cate-Blanchett-Brings-High-End-Glamour-To-The-IWC-Zurich-Film-Festival-Dinner2.jpg]look.[/url] Perfection could not be perfection without a little bit of work, after all.

By now, the [s]servants[/s] employees had finished with their preparations, and the other deities had arrived, bringing with them the stench of desperation and classlessness. The only thing she enjoyed about these festivities was the opportunity to posture over the others. It was her arrangements on which immortality rested. Sure, Persephone tended the garden with her bastard hands, but it was Hera who brought them together, Hera who allowed them to eat. Or so she liked to think, at least.

Giving her reflection a once over, she decided that she was done. She smiled at herself, and strode out of her room, long legs carrying her forward with all the elegance and grace of a true queen. In her strut there was power, authority, dignity. Mortals, clad in the country club uniform, scurried out of her way, already well aware of the stories detailing Marilyn Montgomery’s infernal rage. 

The stairs into the foyer provided her with an overview of the assembled deities. Piercing green eyes scanned the crowd, sizing up each and every one of her rivals. She saw Loki, the foul heathen, smiling his conman grin, and Zeus, whoring his way throughout the room. If it was up to her, they’d both be barred from the festivities, left to rot in their mortal bodies. Alas, access to the fruit was not truly in Hera’s control, loathe as she was to admit it. Zeus and Loki were painful reminders of her failings in this regard.

Artemis stood against a wall, alone, thankfully. The country club had been given a very explicit guest list, mainly to ensure that none of the Moon Witch’s savage girls made it through the doors. Surely they were watching the perimeter, but at least Artemis would have to rely on her own ears to gather information today. Anything that weakened Zeus’ bastards, was worth the fuss.

Lips curled in a practiced smile, Hera waved over a waitress as she descended the stairs, swiping a champagne flute from her tray, a fork from a nearby table, and raising both in the air. [i]Clink clink clink[/i] went the fork against the glass, a summons of divine importance. 

[color=7845b8]“So, we find ourselves here again. Another year, another festival. Oh how the time does fly,”[/color] Hera said. Her words dripped with the saccharine sweetness of a practiced politician, a woman who chose her words with care. [color=7845b8]“It is truly wonderful to see you all once again. Truly. Lunch will be served shortly, and then, a bout of my favorite game. I’m sure you all know the prize. So, go and do what you are best at. Eat, drink, and be oh, so merry.”[/color] Hera punctuated her speech with a sip of champagne, before gliding forward to play the game she truly favored. The politics of the gods.

No sooner had she stepped onto the board than her favorite player arrived, dressed to kill. 

[color=C08290] “Word on the street is you’ll be able to put away your smoke signals kit soon thanks to your second favorite grandchild, love that for you!”[/color]

Hera did not need to feign a smile for her granddaughter. She wore a rare grin as Pothos took her place beside her. 

[color=7845b8]“Darling! Did you see my speech? It was a good one this year, not that anyone here can appreciate it,”[/color] Hera punctuated her boast by finishing her glass and leaving it on a passing waiter’s tray. [color=7845b8]“How is the music going? Well, I presume?”[/color]

The brightness in Hera’s smile cast away the gloom that dared to creep up in Pothos’ subconscious, daring her to turn from the beauty of her mother and give into the wrath of war that coursed through her veins, but Hera was a safe haven for her, whom had been abandoned by all but her brother. Pothos returned the smile and released a breath that relaxed her shoulders, her arm slipping away from Hera’s to give the woman a once over and then an approving nod, [color=C08290] “I got in near the end of it, but you’ve always had a wonderful way with words. The music?”[/color] Pothos repeated her brows furrowing slightly as she pondered what a good answer would be to that. 

Of course in the span of her perpetual life her music career was great, but in her current life she, as Amor, she had yet to release her Sophomore album,[color=C08290] ” It’s going, still working on the second album, but art takes time, you can’t build an empire on a single track list, ya know?”[/color] Pothos was content with that answer but wanted to avoid further conversation about her music career, lest she be subject to disappointing someone else in her life and so she cast her eyes to the growing crowd of gods,[color=C08290] “Seems like the crowd is still quite large, I see that some of our [i]favorites[/i] are still kicking around..” [/color] Pothos’ gaze wandered over the crowd and landed on her brother and his peculiar companion, [color=C08290] “Ant made it seem like you were looking for me, was it just because you missed me or did something happen?”[/color]

Hera clapped her hands together, surprise and excitement bubbling over as a gasp slipped past her lips. [color=7845b8]“Yes, yes, I almost forgot,”[/color] she said. Reaching into her clutch the Queen of the Gods produced a black, leather box. Popping the lid back, Hera revealed a pendant, a small, shining, golden apple, attached to a thin chain, and nestled against the black velvet of its box.  

[color=7845b8]“Once upon a time, your mother and I went to war over an apple like this. Heroes fought and died for a fruit that they would never taste. We fought and fought and fought, and that apple remained untouched. I thought…”[/color] Hera paused, ran her thumb against the edge of the box, [color=7845b8]“well, I saw it and I thought you should have it.”[/color] Hera pushed the box towards her granddaughter, a softness that most would’ve found alien, overcoming her usual icy poise. [color=7845b8]“A reminder that it’s far more advantageous to be coveted, than to covet.”[/color]

Pothos’ eyes widened as she appraised the necklace that was thrust into her hands, she snuck a couple glances at her grandmother’s face as the reminder she shared hung in the air. [i] Did she know?[/i] The thought popped up as she lifted the necklace by the dainty chain, her eyes glanced over the swarm of gods once more as she undid the clasp, [i] there’s no way she knows… no she definitely knows![/i] Pothos held up the unclasped necklace to request her grandmother’s help before turning and lifting her hair, only just realizing how silent she had been while her mind raced,[color=C08290] “I love it!”[/color] her words came out in a rush, an octave off from her usual tone and she grimaced at the forced sound.

After a beat she cleared her throat and tried again, [color=C08290] “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting to receive something so beautiful, really, I’m grateful for this… and for everything you’ve done for me, for us.”[/color] Pothos reached a hand to touch the pendent that rested against her clavicle, [color=C08290] “I won’t tell Ant you gave this me, he’ll get jealous.”[/color]

 Hera smirked, content in believing her gifts took everyone’s breath away. She placed her hand softly against Pothos’ shoulder, protective and firm all at once. [color=7845b8]“You always did know how to keep a secret,”[/color] the matriarch said, eyes flitting out to scan the enemies that walked amongst them. [color=7845b8]“Do me a favor, and keep an ear open today. You can never be too paranoid, especially at a festival.”[/color]

Pothos simply nodded at Hera’s words, though her thoughts lingered on trying to pick apart her tone, [color=C08290] “Speaking of paranoid, have you talked to your likable son recently?”[/color] Pothos started and leaned forward against the stone ledge to search for the face of her uncle,[color=C08290] “He stopped by the studio when I was on my way out the other day, he didn’t seem… [i]well[/i], like not sick but something was definitely bothering him.”[/color] Pothos turned again, away from the party and to cross her arms over her chest as she rose a curious brow, [color=C08290] “Also, guess he’s not in on the family drama, he thought I would have information on Ares-pfft, yeah, barking up the wrong tree with that one.”[/color]

It took Hera a moment to place exactly which child her grandchild was referring to. [color=7845b8]“He did stop by the office last week,”[/color] Hera said, looking off into the distance as she recalled her most recent meeting with Hephaestus. [color=7845b8]“I thought he was there to discuss his campaign, but he was asking about the family as well. Something about Athena, maybe?”[/color] Hera waved her comment off; she’d never given much thought to Hephaestus, despite her oh so maternal nature. [color=7845b8]“I wouldn’t give it much thought. He’s sentimental, in his own ways.”[/color]

Pothos pursed her lips while taking in her Grandmother’s expression, for a moment she opened her mouth ready to pose her next question, but held back and pulled her lips into a smile as she straightened from her position.

[color=C08290] “As much as I adore all the time I spend with you, duty calls. I’ve got to make my rounds as the Super Star around here, and you’ve got to be the Hostess with the Mostest.”[/color] Pothos grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief as she touched the Golden Apple again, [color=C08290] “Or rather, I need to put myself in a better position to be coveted.”[/color]

Hera smiled, genuine and full of pride; she might have made plenty of mistakes, but her grandchildren were not among them. [color=7845b8]“That’s my girl.”[/color][/color][/indent]