[hr][color=787b81][sup][h1]
[center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/de/c9/5d/dec95db4359bd62f359c2a84788871a1.gif[/img]
[b][center][color=787b81]best laid plans[/color][/center][/b][/center][/h1][/sup]
[right][sub]location: The Olympic Club
interactions: [color=#ed1c24]Ares[/color] [@Legion02] | [COLOR=DC143C]Hathor[/color] [@Akayaofthemoon]
mentions: Hati [/sub][/right][/color][hr]
[color=gray]

Ares could never read people well. He never had to. The games of politics were at best a slightly less dull pastime to him. That’s why he sat back in the shadows as his mother made her speech. Pothos came in as well. She was such a talented singer. Not even Ares could deny that. The fact that he had a plate hanging on his wall back home attested to that. Still, he wished she would apply herself more. If she wanted to she could’ve battled for the top spots in all the world's charts, but she was going easy now. She took more after her mother oftentimes.

The gleam of the golden apple pendant did make Ares lean forward in interest. Ages ago, so far that it had become pure myth, an apple just like that sundered two great powers and countless heroes. Ares himself had fought on the plains around Troy. What was his mother playing at? She didn’t do small acts of kindness. Was this something to rile up the younger gods? Was she fishing for another divine war?

Those questions vanished the second the doors opened to lt the latest goddess in. Smelt her first. That delicious scent of sweet chocolate and sinful alcohol. The blood in Ares’ veins warmed up through her presence alone. Before everyone had been at their best [i]possible[/i] behavior so it wasn’t a very thrilling situation.

Tlazōlteōtl’s entrance changed that immediately. He spotted her and for a sweet second he locked into her beautiful, topaz eyes like he had done so many times before. In a split second plans changed. The serene place he would invite her to faded. Something else would have to be done. Ares got up. There were other, secluded places. Even here. Especially here. He gave Tlaz a small, taunting smile. Enough to make sure that she knew he saw her. Then he started walking towards the gardens outside, where he vanished from her sight into the hedges.

Storming into the main hall, where everyone was seated, did nothing to quench the fire burning under her skin. If anything it served to keep it going. Especially when the target of her rage was spotted getting up from his hiding place, only to scurry off to another, having the nerve to smirk at her. He wasn't getting off that easily. Tlazōlteōtl quickly took chase and hunted him down, finding herself in the gardens and losing sight of him completely.

Scoffing and sighing heavily through her nose, throwing her arms up in frustration and venturing deeper into the hedges, seeking her man. [color=#00CC99]"I swear to [abbr=Aztec god of sun, war, and sacrifice]Huitzilopochtli[/abbr], Ares, you're not getting off with a warning."[/color] Grumbling to herself it was clear that she had no directional sense of where she was or where she was headed, only that smacking the shit out of Ares was the top of her list. If only she could [i]get[/i] to him. 

Taking a deep breath she halted her movements. [color=#00CC99]"Ares, [abbr=my love]yōltzin[/abbr], come to me~"[/color] Her voice, sultry and low, easily carried through the vegetation surrounding her. It is better to catch flies with honey than with vinegar after all.

[color=#ed1c24]“You called?”[/color] Said a soft voice from behind her. Before Tlaz knew it she was grabbed around the waist. One hand covered her mouth so she couldn’t scream. Soft lips kissed her neck in a bid to rile her up even more.

To Ares it was all a game of course. This wasn’t the first time he teased the Aztec goddess so mercilessly. It was their wicked way of playing with each other. She’d return the favor, he was sure of it. In her own way she’d torture him after this. So he was going to have his fun. At least for now, before he’d have to breach the subject of Madrid. It was an ever looming thing Ares knew would have to be discussed sooner rather than later. But that didn’t take away that he wanted to enjoy his short time with Tlaz first.

As quickly as he had grabbed her he let her go again, except with one hand he spun her around so she’d be facing him. Again he gave her a daring smirk.

He was on her quicker than she realized, her wrath clouding all senses except for the desire to rip her claws into him and tear him apart. A blessing in disguised, honestly. There was such short amount of time where his lips touched the exposed skin of her neck, the warmth radiating from him called out to her. To succumb to the desires they both still harbored for the other. How she wished to just fall back and melt into him. It was something that was as ingrained into their being as being able to breath. Always with a tease, a taunt, a smirk. Loving words spoken as if nothing else existed before turning it around and playing more games. A hunt, a chase. Though the moment was cut in twain and standing there, facing that stupid, attractive smirk of his she was reminded of why she stormed after him.

A coquettish smile graced her painted lips as she looked him over, stepping closer, one hand to his chest running up to his tie to grip it tight. Before he could make a move or speak once more, Tlazōlteōtl raised her hand and brought it firmly across the side of his face. The sound that emanated from the force of the slap was enough to get even the smallest of creatures dwelling in the gardens to hold their breath. Her own chest heaving with everything she wanted to say. [color=#00CC99]You [abbr=asshole]axno conetl[/abbr]!"[/color] The fire that was dwindling in her veins from his grip was ignited in that contact with him and as she continued to stare at him, it only seemed to grow. [color=#00CC99]"You [i]left[/i] me?! No note, not call, no contact!? Nothing."[/color]

Tlaz raised both hands into fists as she proceeded to beat on his chest, each landing with less and less power behind them. As furious as she was there was no denying how wonderful it was to be in presence after so long. It only served to remind her just exactly how lonely she’s truly been all this time. [color=#00CC99]”Just… why…”[/color] her words, whispered, seeped out from loose lips as the fire seemed to ebb back into an ember. 

She slapped him, she was hitting him yet Ares’ own fire was burning down as well. The intensity of Tlaz’ hate had melted away in an instant. Still he took the hits. She need this, he knew that much. When it all became too much everyone becomes a creature of physical expression. So he let her hit him as he felt her fire burn out. He didn’t answer her questions either, not yet at least. That’s not what she needed right now. As the power behind her punches weakened more and more Ares moved his own arms to slowly embrace her.

When Tlaz was finished, Ares was holding her close. [color=#ed1c24]“I’m sorry.”[/color] He said softly. He meant it, though he knew it wasn’t enough. Not at all. But he still needed to say it. Everything she accused him of was true. He did leave her.

[center][i][color=#ED1C24]T[/color][color=#D92A2D]h[/color][color=#C53937]i[/color][color=#B14841]r[/color][color=#9E564B]t[/color][color=#8A6554]y[/color] [color=#628268]Y[/color][color=#4F9172]e[/color][color=#3BA07B]a[/color][color=#27AE85]r[/color][color=#13BD8F]s[/color] [color=#13BD8F]a[/color][color=#27AE85]g[/color][color=#3BA07B]o[/color][color=#4F9172],[/color] [color=#76745E]M[/color][color=#8A6554]a[/color][color=#9E564B]d[/color][color=#B14841]r[/color][color=#C53937]i[/color][color=#D92A2D]d[/color][/i][/center]
When he woke up that morning, thirty years ago, Tlaz was still asleep beside him. Outside it was still dark but he didn’t want to go back to sleep. For a time he was happy to just lay down beside her, with his head on his pillow and watch her. She had a cute nose. Everything about Tlaz was beautiful but her nose was cute. Aphrodite didn’t have a that. Or rather, Ares realized at that moment, he never cared to notice such things about the Greek goddess of beauty. Right now though, he felt happy. But then a fear crept into his heart. Was this him? Truly him? The Ares that fought on the fields before the great walls of Troy? The Ares to which King Leonidas and his Three hundred prayed to?

He was changing. Being with Tlaz, it was changing him. He got up. His blood began to boil. Why? He wasn’t fighting? He wasn’t loving? Why was it boiling? He needed to cool down. Light from a street lamp shone inside the bathroom of the hotel. Ares rushed over to the sink. Something was happening and it was wrong. He splashed water in his face to cool himself down. It only confirmed how hot he was running. Physically hot. Tlaz was changing him but he couldn’t change. He couldn’t become soft now. Athena’s endless taunting would drive him to the edge if he let his skin thin. Zeus’ constant disappointment would wear him thin. The Olympians were toxic and you only survived them by being able to weather every jab and insult, or by being loved by everyone. Ares was not Pasithea or Hebe. He needed his walls around him.

This metamorphosis had to stop. There was only one way to do that. He pushed himself away from the sink and grabbed his bags. Ares always travelled light for a reason like this. In ten minutes he already had a foot out the door but he stopped and turned around to look at Tlaz one more time. Something deep down him told him he’d regret this. Sooner rather than later he’d regret it.

[center][i][color=#ED1C24]T[/color][color=#CB3534]o[/color][color=#A94E45]d[/color][color=#876756]a[/color][color=#658066]y[/color][color=#439977],[/color] [color=#00CB99]S[/color][color=#21B288]e[/color][color=#439977]a[/color][color=#658066]t[/color][color=#876756]t[/color][color=#A94E45]l[/color][color=#CB3534]e[/color][/i][/center]
And now he did regret it. [color=#ed1c24]“I hurt you. I know that now.”[/color] He said. [color=#ed1c24]“There are no words in any language that I can use that will earn my forgiveness.”[/color] Not that he would even be able to use them. Weaving honeyed words was an art Apollo practiced. Ares never saw a use to it. Until now, at least. [color=#ed1c24]“I want you back though. I want to [i]earn[/i] you back. If you’ll let me.”[/color]

Tlazōlteōtl wanted to scoff at his words. He would absolutely have to earn her back. Though it was a futile battle to participate in. Ares was a master of war and she already lost her heart to him. There was no need for him to fight, not really. But she needed him to hurt just a fraction of how badly she had been hurting these last few decades. Being pulled into his warming embrace, held tightly, having him whisper these words to her made the embers in her ignite once more into something of love rather than rage and hate. Tlaz had missed this. [i]Craved[/i] it for so long and now that she has it, she is content to fall back into a gentle rhythm with him once more.

[color=#00CC99]"You did more than hurt me, [abbr=my love]yōltzin[/abbr]. I want nothing more than to go back to before, for you to be mine and I yours…"[/color] Her words were muffled against his chest. So close, if she focused her eyes she would be able to see the individual threads that made up his suit jacket. See that there were colors of plum blended among the grays and blacks that made up the majority of his wardrobe. It was refreshing to see him branch out. The thought alone, of him growing and changing and not because of [i]her[/i], brought the somberness back into her head and heart rather than the fury. [color=#00CC99][sub][i]'Give it time...'[/i][/sub][/color] the voice inside her spoke.

Pulling back enough to look up into his face she managed a small smile, for even though her heart was fractured he was there, with her. Right now. Not the other woman. [i]The other woman[/i]. It's when the questions came flooding back and she needed to hear it from him. If he were serious about wanting her back, to try to [i]"earn"[/i] her back as he says then he needed to start answering her. [color=#00CC99]"Who is she? The woman. Melissa mentioned you were on the phone with someone. Someone you love."[/color] It was now or never, Ares. What was going to be his play? Will he run away once more or stand on the front lines and take damage? [color=#00CC99]"If you mean what you say [abbr=my love]yōltzin[/abbr], you will answer me. If there is another..."[/color] Tlazōlteōtl let the statement hang in the air. Mostly for show, as a threat. Partly because she didn't know what she would do if his love was directed to another. It was a situation Tlaz was not familiar with and one she didn't like to find herself in.

A plan truly never survives first contact. In his mind, Ares had planned it all out. He was going to tell the tale of the last thirty years slowly. Until Tlaz mentioned Melissa. She should’ve known the woman would work for Tlaz. She was far too beautiful to be a simple guide to rich idiots. An old, ever simmering fury began to boil up once more. Melissa betrayed him. If that had happened even half a century ago Ares wouldn’t have tolerated such a thing. He would’ve yelled and screamed, and then fired her at the very least. Of course, a vengeful part of him might’ve gone further still. He would’ve turned the poor woman’s life into a living hell. It was easier to destroy lives than most people thought.

The god of war took a breath to stop his own furious thoughts. He had to be better than that.

[color=#ed1c24]“There can never be another like you.”[/color] Ares said. He did keep hold of Tlaz’ hands. In a way he was almost afraid to let her go. Truly, the English word was lacking though. Love meant too many things. It was an odd thing he only learned a few years ago from another human. The Greeks had at least seven different kinds of love. [color=#ed1c24]“You are Agape to me. My love to you is boundless and unconditional. Should you walk away now I’d still love you. I could never stop.”[/color] He paused for a moment, to calm his own heart again.

[color=#ed1c24]“The other woman you speak of… the other girl really. I love her in a different way. I won’t lie to you. She is dear to me.”[/color] He squeezed her hands lightly. His heart dropped. If she wanted to walk away he would not hold on. It would be her choice. Yet he knew his own body would betray him if she did. His heart would fight for her. He took a big breath to steady his nerves. For two millennia had been shot and stabbed, yet this made him nervous.

[color=#ed1c24]“She’s my daughter. Someday… I hope you can accept her as well and we three can share a life together.”[/color] Every second of silence after he said that was like torture. His muscles strained against themselves.

Then an idea ignited in his mind. He would fight for Tlaz, as he promised. And it would start with acting instead of speaking. [color=#ed1c24]“I propose dinner. I’ll ask her to come to Seattle in a week, after the whole festival of life, so she can join us and you can meet her.”[/color] After all, Isabel always wanted a family.

His hold on her had not waned in all these years but the words he spoke just couldn't quite reach her, even as she listened intently to them. [color=#00CC99][sub][i]'Another woman... a daughter... dear to him…'[/i][/sub][/color] They stuck out like a sore thumb and Tlazōlteōtl couldn't be bothered to look past them. Of course she would love any part of Ares. It was inevitable. That included his children, of which he had many with the goddess of love and beauty - a notion she had always been envious of. However, it never once deterred her from him. So what was it about a new one that rubbed her the wrong way? [color=#00CC99][sub][i]'The fact that he's just now divulging this to you is one reason. How old is she? Did he leave you for another and this child was born from their budding romance? Why else would he continue to hide her from you? To hide himself from you? Guard your heart…'[/i][/sub][/color] Her internal thoughts were screaming at her to see the signs, read between the lines he shelled out.

Tlazōlteōtl squeezed his hands back, reassuring him that she had heard his words, that she was there for him as he claimed he was for her. It was as much for his benefit as it was to calm and ground her. Should she dwell on the thoughts too long she was bound to start hitting him once more. But before she could get a word in edgewise to answer his questions, to say anything on this bomb of information he dropped on her, something from the bushes caught their attention. 

After his conversation with Anteros, Hati excused himself and followed after the [i]loving[/i] cross pantheon couple expecting to find destruction in the wake of Tlazōlteōtl's wrath. She seemed more agitated than normal when it comes to Ares and since acquiring this new client, it would behoove him to follow and gain any gossip to pass her way.

So there he stood, among the high bushes, intently watching the scene unfold around him. Snapping pictures on his phone, recording bits and pieces - with and without sound; just to piss Isabel off. Their words were meaningless to him, though when Ares dropped that he had a daughter, a [i]new[/i] one things began to click in place for him. This mysterious mortal woman wishes to know more about this godly man? Of course, he was her father. But why did that mean she had to resort to stalking and investigations to get to know him?

Another presence crept up on the couple and Hati moved further down wind to ensure his cover wasn't blown until he was ready to approach War on his own terms. For now, Hati was content with watching the scene unfold before him. 

Unlike the prowling wolf that remained hidden, content with observation of the scene unfolding, Hathor was far from amused when her dark eyes landed on the pair and had no plans to let this conversation continue. Ares was a weakness for Tlaz, easily slipping past her defenses because her love for him willingly let him in and left her vulnerable. Did she wish for Tlaz’s happiness? Always. Did she think the person to provide it should be Ares? Absolutely not. He didn’t have to deal or see the aftermath of his actions, Hathor did. It wasn’t him to dry the goddess’s tears and to slowly collect the fractured pieces of her hurt heart before building her back up, that was her. If Hath had to be a shield for Tlaz so the emotions didn’t sweep her away in that moment and could give her some space to think logically, she would. Protecting people, especially women, was her purpose so even though she was in immense pain, even though all she wanted to do was sit down and relax, she found herself squaring her shoulders, putting on a strong front and gliding across the grass with all of the grace of the queen she should have been had Ra keep his promises. [COLOR=DC143C]”Tlaz, there you are! I have been looking for you everywhere.”[/color], she said to capture the pair's attention, her tone playfully friendly and light as a bright smile lit up her features.

She physically took Tlaz’s hands from Ares, placing them in her own as she lightly brushed her lips to kiss each of the woman’s cheeks in greeting. Hathor turned her attention towards Ares, making sure to lock her gaze with his own as her eyes changed from the soft shine of delight into something dangerous. The smile she had worn moments ago dropped from her face before she spoke, all the warmth devoid from her tone and taking on a strict business attitude because the last thing she needed was a fight in her condition so some [i]politeness[/i] was needed.[COLOR=DC143C]“Ares.”[/color], she started, giving him acknowledgement before continuing, [COLOR=DC143C]”It is always [i]such[/i] a pleasure to see you again. I’m sure you won’t mind if I steal Tlaz away. I have a private matter of great importance that needs to be discussed and unfortunately it can’t wait.”[/color] Hathor didn’t give him an opportunity to dispute her demanding words, already working to lead the Goddess of Sin away from the God of War. She was thankful that in this moment, her words were actually true in some capacity. 

[/color]