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[b][center][color=FFFDD0]MOMMY ISSUES[/color][/center][/b]
[/h1][/sup][/color][indent][sub][b][I]A [color=7845b8]Hera[/color] & [color=7BDCB5]Hebe[/color] Collab [/I][/b][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][COLOR=white][b]
Mentions: Odin, Ares, Hercules[/b][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr]

Hera was many things in her life. Regal, proud, ambitious. Maternal, however, was not a trait that came easy to her, despite her station. Perhaps it didn’t come easy to anyone. Perhaps it was work, each and every day, work that Hera had long since grown bored of. With Ares, she’d been everything she thought a mother should be. Loving and supportive, in all things. With Hebe though… No. She had done what was necessary to protect her daughter. Hebe was not born for the battlefield like her brother. She was soft, and the world was not kind to soft girls.

As Hercules sauntered off, Hera took to hovering around Hebe, smoothing imaginary wrinkles in her dress, and taming invisible flyaways, clucking her tongue in disapproval. [color=7845b8]“I just… not everyone can be trusted, darling. I mean, first you start working for Odin, then you start taking rides from that man-child… I worry.”[/color]

There was a small part of Hebe that wanted to swat away her mothers hand. To beg her to, for once, trust her judgement. But, as always, this was soon swallowed by her persistent need to please. [color=7BDCB5]"Mother, I - it wasn't planned...I missed the bus and he just happened to drive by."[/color] Her eyes trailed over the ballroom, unable to make direct contact with her mothers ever watchful gaze. She particularly avoided looking in the direction that Herc had strode. [color=7BDCB5]"And Mr. Odin's a great boss! Honestly! Maybe...maybe you could try talk to him sometime?"[/color] Hebe's voice perked up as she spoke, her expression a picture of doomed optimism. 

Hera scoffed, smirked, and shook her head. [color=7845b8]“I’m sure he keeps his employees happy. There’s probably a bar on every floor,”[/color] Hera said, disdain dripping from her tongue. She did not trust Odin around her daughter, anymore than she trusted Hercules. He was a collector, and she imagined Hebe made quite the prize. Of course he would want to keep her around. [color=7845b8]“Are you enjoying it at least? He’s not asking too much of you?”[/color]

At the mention of alcohol Hebes outstretched hand dropped back by her side, ignoring the glass of champagne that was being proferred to her. Shooting the waiter an apologetic look, she finally turned to face her mother. [color=7BDCB5]"I mean, I guess it's kind of busy but that's okay."[/color] She smiled, genuinely having no qualms about her boss. In the two short years she'd been his assistant he'd treated her better than most mortals and gods she knew. [color=7BDCB5]"And I have to work for someone. I sort of thought you'd approve it being for another god…"[/color] 

[color=7845b8]“Immortality does not a god make,”[/color] Hera said, matter of fact in her pride. [color=7845b8]“Your brother,”[/color] Hera said, gesturing to where Ares sat, [color=7845b8]“is a god. You and I are gods. Even Artemis and her damned brother are gods.”[/color] Hera’s arrogance was unbridled today. [color=7845b8]“Those of us who dined on Mount Olympus know what power is, what responsibility means. We guided the mortals into ages of wealth and wisdom, while the others watched and waited and waged their petty wars. The mortals, savage as they might be now, would be much worse had it not been for us.”[/color] 

Hera raised a hand, gently caressing Hebe’s face. [color=7845b8]“Odin makes no deal that does not benefit him, and your work ethic is certainly not beneficial enough to a man like him. You are worth far more than some secretary.”[/color]

Hebe felt her cheeks flush at the unexpected compliment. [color=7BDCB5]"I..."[/color] She couldn't recall the last time either of her parents had said anything so [i]kind[/i]. Even such a small breadcrumb was enough to bring a spark of joy to the young goddess. It was moments like this that drew her back to Hera again and again, despite the dissidence in their views on the other pantheons. [color=7BDCB5] "Thank you...though I could never be as impressive as you Mother. It's so beautiful here today..."[color] 

[color=7845b8]“Oh darling,”[/color] Hera said, radiant as ever, [color=7845b8]“nobody could be as impressive as me.”[/color] The Queen of Olympus shared in her daughter’s admiration for a moment, all too happy to bask in her own glory, especially now that her daughter seemed to be returning to her rightful place, beneath her wing. [color=7845b8]“You are off to a good start though. Who knows, perhaps these gatherings will be your responsibility one day. Just remember to keep your focus, lest you become,”[/color] Hera spared a glance in Hercules’ direction, [color=7845b8]“distracted.”[/color]

[color=7BDCB5]"We're just friends..."[/color] Hebe mumbled, her blush deepening as she followed her mothers gaze. It was true really. She had known Herc forever and well...commitment just seemed to be off the cards for him. But she couldn't imagine giving up their friendship, that at the very least was something she wanted to hold onto. [color=7BDCB5]"But I dont think I'd ever be able to host something like this anyway."[/color] Wisps of blonde hair fell around her face as she shook her head in concerned insistence. Hebe had never desired to lead or to claim the spotlight. Her place had always been in the background, helping those who strived for greatness. [color=7BDCB5]"I'm not sure the other gods would listen to me like they do you."[/color]

A laugh spilled out of Hera’s lips, a sparkling sound that reminded the room why she had been named Zeus’ bride all those centuries ago. [color=7845b8]“Nobody [i]listens[/i] to me. If they did, we’d be far better off.”[/color] Hera shook her head, almost somber in her judgement of her fellow gods. [color=7845b8]“Leading is much less about being heard, and more about being feared. Fear is what drives most souls, mortal and immortal. These vagabonds will do almost whatever they please, but they return to my festival year after year, because they fear what the years might bring them. You must project strength, and remind them constantly that it is more than a projection, that it is a promise.”[/color] Hera gestured towards Loki with a slight nod of her head. [color=7845b8]“Take the Trickster, for instance. I would be a fool to believe I could ever tame him. But for one day at least, I can direct him.”[/color] Hera had clearly yet to discover the destruction of her carefully arranged seating chart.

[color=7BDCB5]"I don't want anyone to fear me though."[/color] Hebe muttered, a look of concern flashing across her face as she briefly glanced over at the Norse god. Was this really what her mother wanted of her? She was not Ares, she had not the strength and conviction that he so easily showed off to the world. [color=7BDCB5]"And I kind of thought everyone came because of the World Tree. It's not like they really have much choice."[/color] She idly chewed on her bottom lip as she spoke. Speaking of the tree always bloomed a well of sadness inside her, but she pushed the feeling back down, trying to ignore it. [color=7BDCB5]"I- I hoped some of them stayed because they still wanted to help mortals."[/color]

[color=7845b8]“Help mortals? What in the world have mortals ever done for you, my dear?”[/color] Hera did not like to dwell on the mortals and their short, small lives. With those thoughts came memories of fire and fear and pain. [color=7845b8]“Have the mortals ever helped [i]you?[/i]”[/color] Hera let out an indignant huff. [color=color=7845b8]“That is nothing but a fool's errand. A creature that can not help itself, is not worth helping.”[/color]

The young goddess paused in thought. [color=7BDCB5]"Well..."[/color] Some had been kind to her and many were fun to be around. But help...no she didn't think she could honestly say they had. [color=7BDCB5]"I guess not."[/color] Though Hebe did not dare to think about it often, her trust in mortals had become fragile. Her mothers words struck a chord of curiosity inside her; was this really how all the gods felt?  [color=7BDCB5]"But what do we do instead?"[/color] 

Hera shrugged. [color=7845b8]“We survive, and we remember and we wait. Remember who we’ve been and who we are, and await the day that our divinity returns to us, stronger than ever. And in the time between, we make sure this gathering of egos does not explode outward.”[/color] She swirled her champagne, her movements smooth and languid. [color=7845b8]“It isn’t exciting, and oftentimes they’ll never appreciate what you do, but responsibility is rarely full of thanks or excitement.”[/color]

Hebe frowned at her mothers words, unsure of the possibilities of which she spoke with such certainty. [color=7BDCB5]"That makes sense..."[/color] She replied softly, though there was no real intensity behind her words. Another thought had sprung into her mind, distracting her from Heras propaganda.

[color=7BDCB5]"What if I came to see you work sometime!?"[/color] Hebe practically bounced off the floor at the idea, hands clasping eagerly in front of her. She knew it was a long shot but maybe if her mother saw her less as a child, she might be willing to reconsider her friendship with Hercules. 

Hera maintained her stoic demeanor, even as her daughter’s excitement threatened to pierce her stoney walls. She’d never quite grasped this juvenile aspect of her child. Hera had never been afforded the luxury of juvenility. Her childhood had been lived out from inside her father’s gut. Nevertheless, she welcomed more time with Hebe. It wasn’t long ago that a Hebe shaped hole had enveloped her heart, and now, she was so close to filling it again. [color=7845b8]“I would adore that. Perhaps sometime this week? We can get lunch with your brother, brothers even, if Ares sticks around.”[/color]

At the suggestion Hebe beamed, genuine delight etched across her face. [color=7BDCB5]"I'd love that!"[/color]. It had been a while since she'd spent any time with either of her brothers, they were extremely busy after all and often not even in Seattle. [color=7BDCB5]"Thank you mother."[/color] Unexpectedly, Hebe moved to hug her, something which was not a usual occurrence between the pair. Normally she would not have dared, intimidation holding her back, but today she almost seemed to have forgotten who she was with.

[color=7BDCB5]" I can move some things around, so just let me know the day."[/color] She added as she eventually drew away, her previously pristine bun having been pulled askew amid the excitement. 

[color=7845b8]“I’ll have my people reach out,”[/color] Hera said, smiling with a certain warmth that only she had. [color=7845b8]“I’ll see you later my dear. A hostess’ job is never complete, after all. Don’t forget, you’re to help Persephone with the apples today.”[/color] Hera gently caressed her daughter’s face, happy that she seemed to be returning to the fold. With a royal elegance, she swept off into the crowd, ever the entertainer.

Watching her mother walk away, Hebe paused. She had forgotten she was supposed to help Perse...but the goddess was busy talking to Hades and it would be rude to interrupt the pair. Absent-mindedly playing with a strand of hair, she nodded politely as she was once again offered a glass of champagne. Taking it she smiled lightly to herself. Maybe she could just have a drink or two before she got to work…