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[color=gray][right][sub]Flashback - Morning after the events at the Luncheon
]𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. [color=#5C5248]A[/color][color=#77555A]n[/color][color=#92596C]u[/color][color=#AD5D7E]b[/color][color=#C86190]i[/color][color=#E365A2]s[/color][color=#FE68B4]’[/color] [color=#DF72B7]H[/color][color=#D077B8]o[/color][color=#C07CBA]m[/color][color=#B081BC]e[/color]
𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. [color=#7845b8]Hera[/color][@smarty0114] | [color=#ed1c24]Ares[/color][@Legion02]
𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. [color=5C5248]Anubis[/color] [@metanoia], [color=FF69B4]Aphrodite[/color] [@Akayaofthemoon], [color=a187be]Isabel[/color] [@Legion02][/sub][/right][/color][hr]

Despite the rays of the multifaceted and benevolent morning gracing the world and the City of Seattle with her brilliance, something that, under normal circumstances, brings Anubis some semblance of peace or even a rebirth of one’s mood (as it typically did), he couldn’t say that was the case now. And this is for a myriad of reasons, but something was in the air and it had been since before first light.

Last night was an unorthodox night for the Guider of Souls. After returning from his private time spent at Illicit, Anubis received a call from an associate that nobody in their right mind would refuse. Ares, the Greek God of War asked a favor of his and he happily obliged. It was to see a human woman by the name of Isa. Their session was fine, or as fine as Anubis confidently could feel. Truth of the matter was that it went in a direction that he hadn’t expected.

Revealing their existence to someone outside of their species. Anubis had tried to ease her, but that wasn’t exactly what happened. He gave Isabel answers that only he could. Pensive as he was about it, how she reacted was…understandable, yet it plagued him well into the night. By 3am, he finally slept with the aid of one too many melatonin tablets, but he woke up just three hours later to a series of text messages on his cell phone. A series of texts that were from a former patient, sexual partner, and general bane of the entire Egyptian Pantheon’s existence.

[quote=From Apep][color=9966cc]Nooby Nooby, how I missed youuuu

We should play again soon! 💋[/color][/quote]

There have been very few to ruffle the nonexistent hair of his mane, but that chaotic serpent goddess, the technical queen-adjacent of his pantheon, somehow to always get under his skin regardless how much distance he put between them.

For the hours that followed, Anubis had gone out of his way to block out all of these feelings, but that one text was just the icing on the ominous feeling he had. Not even his famous shakshuka shook that overall unease. He only consumed half of it and had downed two shots of his preferred coffee of choice, which was Cuban coffee. Strong as it was, one just wasn’t enough.

As he finished the dishes, he heard a knock on his door. A series of knocks, actually. In the back of his mind, he feared it was Apep. She would be the type to text him and then show up at his condo as if nothing happened between them the last time they saw each other. With a deep sigh, wearing only his bed gown - a deep brown-colored pajama-like gown that he found comfort in that covered all parts of his body except his collarbone and slit down the middle in the shape of a V that went down the middle of his pectorals - and a pair of expensive and comfortable fluffy slippers, he opened the door after the third round of some urgent knocking.

[color=5C5248]“Sorry--”[/color] Anubis spoke as he was opening the door, only to find two women on the opposite end. Both of whom he knew, but one in particular immediately brought an unknowing smile to his face. [color=5C5248]“Isa?”[/color] He questioned, blinking a few times as he wiped his eyes free of dust. His eyes scanned the human woman for a few seconds, gauging her face for any clues to explain her presence here. [color=5C5248]“And…Aphrodite?”[/color]

Okay, Anubis was officially confused. Given the state that the human daughter of war had left his condo last night, he didn’t expect she’d willingly come back, much less be in the company of a Goddess, especially one so…infamous like Aphrodite. [color=5C5248]“Been a long time, Aphrodite.”[/color]

To say Aphrodite reflected Anubis’s internal confusion would be a massive understatement. It was clear that this God knew her but her mind wasn’t supplying any recollection to this extremely gorgeous face which in itself should have been a sin to forget. She gazed into his eyes, the windows to one’s supposed soul and found a familiarity in them, a kindness which made her feel soothed and created a feeling of safeness but still nothing was clicking. It was only when she drew her eyes downward to take in the rest of his appearance that a smile graced her lips at the sudden recognition, sliding into his personal space, hands gliding over the exposed skin of his chest, reaching upward to rest them his jawline. [color=FF69B4]”That it has. Quite the new appearance you have, Anubis. It suits you.”[/color], Aphro purred, admiring the Egyptian jackal in a new light. 

They had always been friendly when pantheons were mingled in the past before the mess of her slumber and the fall but she wouldn’t mind being even [i]friendlier[/i] now. She had always enjoyed the view of his physique, wondering how nice those hands would feel against her form and what he could do with those muscles but unlike Zeus, animal forms were not quite her cup of tea which had left friendliness and light-hearted flirting she did often to others. This was a positive difference. A [i]very[/i] positive difference. [color=FF69B4]”I hope we didn’t interrupt anything important, but we require your assistance. Isn’t that right, Isa? …May we come in?”[/color], she asked, briefly glancing over her shoulder when addressing the other woman before ignoring her once more, leaning closer to the God before her, lips lightly brushing against the shell of his ear as she continued with a whispered tease, [color=FF69B4]”Or do you need some convincing?”[/color] She grinned with a cheshire grin that might have put Bast to shame, pulling completely away to give Anubis some space once more.

[color=a187be]“We should’ve gotten you some clothes.”[/color] Isabel groaned to herself as she rolled her eyes at Aphrodite who stepped up closer to the Egyptian god. She just raised a curious eyebrow at whatever the goddess was whispering. Well, she could garner a guess. Promises of tangled bedsheets and shaken worlds. [color=a187be]“Anubis.”[/color] Isabel cut through it all. Her tone was not playful like Aphrodite’s. There was an insistence in it. [color=a187be]“We do need to come in. It’s important.”[/color] She said, her eyes were burning as the hollow sense in her chest was growing again. For every minute she wasted finding her father he could be bleeding out somewhere. Some pleasantries would have to wait.

Anubis had frequently enjoyed the playfulness of others, especially that of Aphrodite’s unique way of teasing, but he could surmise that the half-mortal, half-divine woman did not share the same sentiments (as noted by how quickly and abruptly she cut the Greek Goddess of Lust off). He saw the way Aphrodite reacted to it, but he understood and just nodded and stepped to the side, letting both women into his condo. As he closed the door, he guided them both to his living room. Isa would remember it well as it was the same area of his home that she had her session.

As Aphro sat down and Isa chose to remain standing, Anubis also kept his vertical base. [color=5C5248]“Before we begin, could I interest either of you something to drink? Tea? Water? Perhaps something stronger?”[/color] At that last offer, his deep gaze went to Aphrodite. He remembered how much she enjoyed the unique blend of spices and fermented grapes that was the Divine version of Egyptian wine. Strong in its alcohol content, it was a pleasurable experience on the palette.  

[color=FF69B4]”Something stronger is always welcomed, especially with the current situation.”[/color], she smiled softly. She might have seemed relaxed and unworried compared to Isabel but one of her babies was missing and to know Ares was also missing was extremely concerning. She didn’t know who to lean on without causing more concern. When she had no one else to turn to, she did what she did best by showing nothing was faltering or affecting her. It might be silly to some but it had gotten her through many times when she felt like giving up completely or crumbling.

[color=5C5248]“Current situation?”[/color] Anubis inquired. He could make an educated guess that something in the air was troubling. Not even eight hours removed from when Isa had darted out of his condo after their session, he could tell she was in even more distress than she had been. [color=5C5248]“Allow me to get you some wine, Aphrodite. And Isa, I will get you some chamomile tea. Perhaps it will help you. It will just be a moment, I promise.”[/color]

And in five of those moments, Anubis came back to his living room area with a tray that had three glasses on it. Two glasses of a deep purple wine that was imported from Egypt, something that Anubis had been quite fond of for the longest time and a hot but not too hot cup of chamomile tea for Isa. [color=5C5248]“I put a sprinkling of honey in your tea, Isa. I understand it might be hard, but if you can, please at least drink it. Many of my patients find the flavor of Chamomile to be quite relaxing.”[/color] Anubis said as he sat, though he wasn’t sure if Isa would take him up on the tea. Regardless, it was there if she wanted it. [color=5C5248]“Now tell me what happened.”[/color]

[color=a187be]“My father is gone.”[/color] Isabel didn’t touch the tea. She didn’t need to feel relaxed. If she did, she would’ve stayed with the literal goddess of it. No, right now she had to be tense. She had to be razor sharp. [color=a187be]“And he didn’t leave like before.”[/color] She quickly added. Her father did have a tendency to leave her alone for months on end. But then he’d always come back. She pulled out her phone and showed Anubis the video message her father had left her.

The message was straightforward: Ares explained that if she received the message that he was either captured or killed. He explained that there is a family secret he carried around and gave Isabel a handful of names – mortal names of the Olympians – who would explain that secret. The message then began to stutter. The audio cut out. By some cosmic maleficent chance it appeared that the video had been corrupted somehow. Only a few words could be understood: proud… love… anger… release.

[color=a187be]“I couldn’t understand anything at the end of it.”[/color] Isabel said. Hearing her father’s voice gave her a sense of melancholy. Normally – in a situation like this one – she would’ve called him already. She had called him. Over a dozen times. Normally he would’ve answered fast. Not now. And it made her feel a little more alone. [color=a187be]“I need to find him, doc.”[/color] She said to Anubis. It wasn’t a demand. It was almost a plea.

Anubis’ own expression grew tense, matching the severity of what had been eating away at the Daughter of War. It’s true that Ares was a mysterious individual, but in his time of having past dealings with the Greek God of War, Anubis always had this impression that he was one who stuck to a schedule. This clearly exceeded that routine and, if he was being absolutely earnest, it was frightening. Often, Anubis felt a certain grief when life was lost. Yesterday he felt that loss when those children of death were slain. 

[color=5C5248]“This is truly dire, Isa. I am truly sorry. But one thing I can tell you with absolute certainty is this.”[/color] Anubis leaned forward to give her his full attention. [color=5C5248]“I know your father is not dead. Something about myself, as well as I believe all those of us whose domain is the domain of death, I know when life is lost. I feel it in my heart and in my soul. I become overtaken by an unexplainable and outworldly melancholy that no mortal could possibly fathom. I felt it yesterday morning. About this time yesterday, but I have not felt it since.”[/color] But what troubled him more was those last words. What could they mean? [color=5C5248]“Please, if you take comfort in anything, let it be that your father still has a chance of being saved from…whatever may be responsible for his sudden disappearance.”[/color]

The words of the Egyptian were pretty and Aphrodite hoped that they were in fact truths and not a way to calm the pacing child. If it wasn’t true, she didn’t wish to know for fear of what that meant for those she cared for and if it was true, then she almost desperately wanted to ask what sense he had about Pothos. Her hands tightened around the almost polished off glass of wine, the usually exotic spices would be savored on her tongue but she couldn’t find a moment to fully appreciate it. It was a shame that it took so much more for immortals to feel the buzz she most definitely craved. Heck, there were quite a few ways she would like to be distracted from the nerve-wrecking anxiety of the unknown. 

[color=FF69B4]”Isa stated that the last place she saw her father was here. We were hoping that perhaps he shared his agenda with you or that you might have any ideas of where we can search next. He said something about the Festival when he was explaining what happened yesterday but I don’t know where that is or even what it is to be honest.”[/color]

Anubis could sense there was an atmosphere of dread between both Aphrodite and Isa combined. Naturally both had a certain investment in making sure that Ares was safe. Isa was his daughter and Aphrodite was the mother of several of his children. Anubis, too if he admitted it to himself, wished to see Ares' safety if not for the sake of the two women in front of him.

Looking between the both of them, though his immediate gaze fell on the Goddess of Love. [color=5C5248]"Regretfully, I cannot say with certainty where exactly. When Ares came here last night, he did so to leave Isa here with me. He was supposed to be back by 2am, but he never showed."[/color] Though Anubis wanted to respect the privacy between him and Isa's session last night, he knew to be as helpful as he could, he had to provide, at least, the bare minimum of why Ares was here in the first place. [color=5C5248]"You mentioned the festival. As I understand it, there was a luncheon held at the Olympic Club yesterday. Perhaps it might be a long shot, but could it be possible that's where he went? I admit, I had prior engagements yesterday so I couldn't make it myself, but I felt the events as if I was there to bear witness to the passing of our own."[/color] Anubis stared at the glass of Egyptian wine in his hand, staring down at it with a profound sadness in his eyes and on his face.

Aphrodite set her glass down and moved to Anubis’ side in an instant, taking his free hand gently into her own while her other hand rubbed his thigh gently since she was not sure how else to comfort him. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have death affect you without even being present for the events. The emotions once told of the event, sure, but to feel it as though bearing witness sounded like a painful sadness. It was a look that reflected in his eyes and it didn’t sit right with her. She wished she could fix it. Instead, she turned her attention to Isa for a brief moment before stating, [color=FF69B4]”Even if it is a long shot, I think the Olympic Club could be worth a try if we can manage to get access.”[/color] Her focus then switched back onto the God beside her. [color=FF69B4]”I’m sorry that you had to experience their passing in such a way. Death was never my forte and has not been one of the major qualms of my life but if you ever wish to talk, I would be happy to listen when the timing is more appropriate.[/color], she said softly, giving his hand a squeeze. [color=FF69B4]”For now, I really must thank you for providing a lead but by chance do you have an address or know which Greek owns the establishment? I can only assume with the naming that one of the [i]brilliantly creative[/i] members of my pantheon owns it.”[/color] 

Anubis gave Aphrodite a small smile, one that was bleeding with graditude and gave her hand a light squeeze in return, acknowledging her gesture and her compassionate words. He was appreciative of them, as well thankful for them. His abilities, even long since before the fall, was a heavy burden for him to bear but he always did so with a positive outlook on the unfortunate passing of souls from this realm to the one he one day hopes he may return to himself. Death was not the end of a journey. As the Guider of Souls, he not only believed with every fiber of his existence, but also as a man of Earth, that even without deities to control the passing of these lost souls into their respective afterlifes, he had to believe something or someone was still at play. He couldn’t entertain the notion that this wasn’t the truth. His entire belief system depended on that being absolute.

He shifted gears away from the melancholy of what consumed his mind for a few moments onto what the Greek Goddess of Love asked, almost musing a laugh in response but he remained composed. [color=5C5248]“I regretfully don’t know [i]who[/i] owns it, but I do have the address. Hera, your pantheon’s queen, as I understand it, was the one who hosted the Luncheon yesterday. She was…very thorough. Made sure everyone who should have attended had the address and I still have the envelope it came in, though that might not be necessary as I memorized it.”[/color] Anubis reached for the table in front, grabbing his notepad that rested on it with a pen attached to it. He wrote the address of the Olympus Club on it, tearing the piece of the pad that had the address on it, and handed it to Aphrodite.

Isabel moved like a cat to snatch the piece of paper from Anubis’ hands. She knew a token when she saw one. And while the good doctor probably didn’t intend to trade for it, she wasn’t in the mood for whatever games Aphrodite and him would play with that piece of paper as a prop. [color=a187be]“What’s Hera’s… mortal name?”[/color] She quick asked as well as she started looking at the address with her phone.

[color=FF69B4]”[i]Of course[/i] she hosted it, practically screams Hera a mile away since she has a need for control.”[/color], she snickered at Anubis comment leaned back against the couch, crossing her legs and adjusting the uncomfortable coat material against her skin. She had been about to receive the address to pass to Isa since she was better at directions but it seemed the woman had other plans. [color=FF69B4]”Rude.”[/color], Aphro muttered with a roll of her eyes at the snatched paper from her fingertips, letting the incident slide but still moving to rub her temples. Why did it have to be Hera? At least it wasn’t Athena but it still wasn’t good in any case since they had always had a rocky relationship, the golden apple mess had not helped with the Queen’s jealousy and irritation at her. 

She gave a side glance at what was Hera’s grandchild and wondered if the knowledge of her existence would outweigh the Queen of the Gods hatred for herself if they needed to speak with her. It would be wise not to further upset Hera with the knowledge of Ares' disappearance but sadly, as a mother she did have the right to know and might have connections. It felt like a double edged sword and if it wasn’t for her own baby missing, she would suggest to Isa that they part ways here but she wasn’t sure that was a smart idea. Maybe she could just convince Isa to remove that factor all together unless they got caught. She grabbed her glass, tapping her fingers against it to keep her hands busy as she spoke, [color=FF69B4]”Do you really need her mortal name? Perhaps we should just avoid her and focus on the task at hand.”[/color]

For the moment, Anubis had just realized just how deep the Greek drama went, how much there was to it. Anubis had sworn to himself he wouldn’t ever become too entangled in their family drama, but that part of him that always felt like he needed to help those who were in need of it - the empathetic side that always led him down some very dark, melancholic periods - never shied away what made him visibly uncomfortable. [color=5C5248]“Isa, unless this is related to the situation at hand, I’m afraid I can’t divulge that information, for it is privileged information. Even for someone who is as…infamous as the Queen of Olympus, she is entitled to her privacy.”[/color] In truth, something about the way that Isabel was acting, the change in her demeanor, he couldn’t put his finger on it, but it was unsettling. His first instinct was to let his purple smoke calm whatever it was that pained Isa, but he couldn’t do that without her permission.

[color=a187be]“Unless it is related?”[/color] Isa said. She felt herself getting angry. [color=a187be]“My father… her son… vanishes and you sit here and talk about privacy?”[/color] It hit a nerve with Isabel, who was ready to do just about anything to get her father back. Someone else’s privacy did not matter at all right now. But she couldn’t lash out now like she did before. This anger, she had to focus it. So she closed her eyes for a second and took a single deep breath. [color=a187be]“I got what I need then I suppose.”[/color] She said. The tone in her voice was unnaturally cold after the outburst. But it wouldn’t take a therapist to recognize the internalized anger.

It afforded her a dangerous clarity of mind. The guide of the dead had given her all he could at the moment. In fact, he gave her more than he expected. Sure, he would not divulge the name but he linked her to an event. A little social engineering could pry the name from the Club when she visited. [color=a187be]“Thank you, Anubis.”[/color] She said as she got up. [color=a187be]“I’ll take my leave.”[/color] The tea remained completely untouched.

[color=5C5248]“Of course. I apologize that I couldn’t be of any help to you, Isa.”[/color] Anubis let it show on his face through a gentle smile that hid a mind that was analyzing Isa’s subtle change in her demeanor. Even as he watched the demigoddess leave his condo and the door closed behind her. He understood, at least on some level, that she was likely holding something closely resembling a grudge against him because he didn’t divulge Hera’s mortal name to her.

With a sigh and he leaned back against the couch. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. An immense disappointment overwhelmed the Guider of Souls. Not just in himself but because he couldn’t bring himself to help Isa in the way she wanted him to.