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 Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:31 am
This was excellent, really excellent. Rio was almost as thrilled as he was sure his daughter was by the celebration at the Pantheon, if for different reasons (although the flooxes were cute, and it was tempting to try and lure one to him, but he would save that for later). A celebration meant a lot of mortals in one place, a nice concentration of easy targets. Of course, it also meant gods, which could be a problem if they happened to notice that someone had an arrow sticking out of them. But what was life without a little risk, hmm? Besides, despite the fact that it meant an hour of wasted work, it would almost be amusing on some level - how confusing it would be for the poor god! At least, if they didn't know him. If they did, they could very well guess.
Well, that was neither here nor there, really. He had work to do! There was some small part of him, one of the leftover mortal parts, that was made uneasy by such work - by declaring that this person should love that, and making it so, especially done in a random fashion. And so, earlier in the day, he'd mingled with the Pantheon's guests, making acquaintances, determining who might be suitable for whom...not that it was an exact science. He couldn't say for sure whether or not the resulting relationships would be permanent, but it was worth a try. And anyway, people had relationships that didn't work out all the time.
Still, faint misgivings aside, there were other difficulties involved. While the number of people made for a good selection, it also raised the chances of his being seen, and he was not the most inconspicuous of gods. He had relatively large, pink and gold wings that tended to draw attention. And so, reluctantly, he'd broken them off. It pained his not inconsiderable vanity to do so, but they would grow back. It was better than being caught! It wasn't like he'd never broken them before, although most of the time it was unintentional, and not so much of them - he'd only removed them almost-entirely twice.
He found himself envying Eamnonn's natural camouflage as he hid out of sight, waiting for just the right moment to fire his arrow, his current target a young woman named Bethany. She was going to be just perfect for Graham...
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:15 am
She had tied a thin violet silk skirt around her waist to give her a more formal look for the occasion. Arlecchino had thought she should wear a more formal dress, so she sent her for it. Then the goddess sneaked out while the aoide was gone. It was silly to try to tell her what to wear and it was good trick on Arle.
There was absolutely nothing better than a party. Nothing. And Lisana was sure this was the best party of all. First there were these little tiny brightly colored flooxes all over the place. She was planning to catch one later and take it back to her rooms. It would probably like the other critters she had. Secondly, there were so many people. Almost all of them were smiling and laughing and having fun. She loved the fact that they were so happy and the amusement just made her want to dance.
But it was the others that caught her attention. The scoffers and those who just did not seem to want to let themselves have a good time. Those were the ones she was on the look out for and she was armed. Armed with her bubbles that is. But when she thought about her weapons of bubbles, Lisana snickered wondering if she should have come dressed in camouflage and blackened her face as others did when waging war. Wouldn't that have caused a riot with Arle? She might still. And she was at war of a sort. It was a war of attrition against frowning and unhappiness- of just having no fun at all.
She walked past one man, her lips twitching. He could probably laugh very well, but instead he was standing with his arms folded watching the children in front of him. Such a shame to waste what should be a joyous occasion. A sudden smirk on her face, she stepped up silently behind him. "Laugh." she whispered at his ear, the bubbles whirling around them. The man began to laugh, his eyes blinking in surprise. The children thinking they had made him laugh, began to tumble and do silly tricks. A moment more and the man was laughing on his own as Lisana walked away.
"One down, and now to find another frown," she giggled at the rhyme. There was a definite twinkle in her eyes as she glance around the area.
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:30 am
...and just as he loosed his arrow and it found its target, another deity walked into the picture. Lisana, he recalled, having met her once before. Oh, dear. Certainly she would notice that one of the partiers nearby was now sporting a bright arrow to which they paid absolutely no mind. But she was Laughter, so perhaps she would not disapprove. Not that he could claim to know her, but domain was often a fair indication of disposition, although there were exceptions.
Keeping hold of his bow, rather than allowing it to vanish, he stepped from his hiding place to greet her with a grin, "Lady Laughter."
It ws a bit of a gamble, but it might turn out to be worth it! He didn't really want to have to spend another hour re-carving an arrow.
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:54 am
Blinking in surprise, Lisana stared as the arrow zinged past her. The person did not even seem to notice, and just as she would have pointed it out, she heard her name called. Turning, she stared for a moment, then began to giggle. If she remembered rightly, this was Rio. Love. Then it hit her what he was doing.
"I understand now," she laughed, accusingly. "You are up to mischief, Lord Rio." Lisana smiled merrily as she watched him, then she laughed. "I must confess though- that would be the pot calling the kettle black for I'm here for no less a reason. Those with frowns have them turned upside down with a little help from me. "
"So who have you picked out as that one's partner?" she asked indicating the one he had previously shot. "And can I help?" The goddess was definitely amused with the situation. She could look for frowns and unhappy people while he brought couples together. It seemed a good solution to her.
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:15 pm
"I simply cannot help myself," he responded with a casual grin and a helpless spread of his hands, letting the ornate bow disappear. It wouldn't do for too many people to see him with it - you never knew if they might connect the dots. The concept of Cupid had endured almost too well. "It is quite the occasion, no? One ought to make the most of it."
Including gods and unsuspecting mortals. "Ah, that would be Graham, an endearingly awkward young man I daresay could use the assistance." He was adorable, really, and could do with some of his selected match's cheerfulness. "Help? Why, of course. I suspect, between the two of us, we can make this even more of a party. Did you have anything in mind?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 4:55 pm
"A party is a good place for him to start though I'm sure you have a plan for him." She smiled. "Well, let's see what I can do to help him." He did look awkward standing. She carefully walked up behind him. "Laugh," she whispered, the bubbles swirling around them.
How could any girl resist a guy who was having fun? In the end the combination of the arrow and his amusement should be enough to pull the girl to him. She hoped so anyhow.
Walking back over to Rio, she giggled. "Just a bit of amusement. No girl should be able to resist a guy with a sense of humor and your arrow."
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:29 pm
"Excellently done," he approved, admiring the ability...and maybe the goddess, too. He really couldn't help it, although he wasn't obvious about it. What little wing he hadn't broken off twitched, trying to flex and 'preen' what wasn't actually there. Such sacrifices he had to make!
"Is that all it takes?" Rio responded with a pleasant laugh of his own. "If only it were so easy with goddesses." The flirtation was for fun, simply the way he interacted with others, and mostly not serious. Mostly.
"Let's see..." Two more arrows appeared in his hand. He'd prepared half a dozen earlier in the day, preferring to get it out of the way in one go, even if it was tedious to sit for so long. It was better than going about it in a start-and-stop fashion, pausing in between each target to make another arrow.
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:27 am
Lisana laughed again amused at the flirtation, but then Rio was Rio and it was expected of him. So she teased him back "And would you really have goddesses easy, Lord Rio? If that were the case. you might become obsolete. Romance and love are your domain and you would have no fun with no pursuit."
She barely stepped three steps to the right before she spotted a man who was wanting to laugh but he steadfastly held himself from it. Slipping up beside him, she whispered in his ear. The man began to laugh nearly crying as he moved forwards to join those having fun in front of them.
Turning back to Rio, she said, "That man simply thought he would make a spectable of himself I suppose. He doesn't realize everyone around him is also. That's what parties are for. A sense of humor is always a good thing," she replied glancing back at Graham. "So who are next? I imagine you have quite a list of targets."
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Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:40 am
"True enough," he admitted with a laugh. "Perhaps I should wish for more of you instead, then, so that I might actually have one to chase. All that I know are spoken for." Not that that had always stopped him in the past, and not that it always would now, but he would not 'steal' anyone while they were happy, goddess or god or otherwise.
"Indeed it is," Rio agreed, "Life is so much less fun without one."
"Next, we have James and Diane." Love paused a moment, thinking how to describe them. "Diane has red hair, and is wearing a magnificent blue dress. As for James...I'm afraid he doesn't stand out so well. Tall, but not enough to tower over everyone, short dark hair, blue eyes, t-shirt and jeans. Maybe I ought to have picked more people who would be easier to find."
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Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:36 pm
"I have only met Cosine, Karaskis, and Echo. All are taken as I sort of am. I suppose there does need to be more if what you say is so." Lord Water had not been around in some time and she began to wonder if he were ever going to return. But then there was her friendship with Arctang that had been growing in his absence. Yes. She was sort of taken. Turning to Rio, she watched him, a mischievious smile on her face. "Is there no goddess of Love to take your heart yet? Seems to me there should be."
Her attention shifted to the people he was describing. "Red hair and a blue dress. " Her eyes scanned the crowd of people. Perhaps she needed to be higher to find the woman. Maybe James would not be far from her. With a giggle, she said, "I have an idea. If we get higher, we might be able to see them better."
Using her bubbles to propel herself, the goddess moved upwards into the tree nearby. When she felt she was high enough, Lisana held onto the branch to steady herself and to keep herself from floating away. It was like moving against the wind and perpetually moving. Her balance was difficult to maintain. Then she laughed. "I think there is a woman like you described just there... On the other side of those three men standing in a group."
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Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:43 pm
"Sort of?" Oh yes, he was nosy. How could he not be? 'Sort of' taken wasn't the same was actually taken, so he wanted very much to know more about the situation - part self-interest, part simple curiosity. "Khiviance? That...that is complicated." She also had a habit of disappearing.
"...why, that's handy." She could float with her bubbles! Fascinating. "I can't even fly when I have wings." Delicious, but decorative.
"I guess we know where we're going, then."
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Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:11 pm
"Khiviance... I have heard her name as being here but not had the pleasure of meeting her yet. There was another.. my host seemed to know. Beryl I believe. Yes. That was the name. Yes... well.. sort of is the only word.. words I can think of that fit," she laughed. "I have been spending time with Lord Water, but he's been gone awhile now. I do miss him a great deal. But I met Arctang, the god of Numbers in the garden one afternoon. We have talked several times since and I like him a great deal. He laughs and I like him. We are friends. In fact I should ask him to tea again."
She let go of the tree limb, slipping backwards several feet before she managed to catch her balance again. Dropping down to the ground, she managed to get her feet under, but nearly toppled over a man standing there. "Oops. Excuse me." she laughed. "I can't always control my direction. My fate is often left to the wind."
"No problem, my Lady. It's not every day a beautiful goddess nearly drops into my lap." he chuckled at her pun before turning back to those he was talking to. "Enjoy the party. And the wind."
Hurrying back over to Rio, she said, "I don't see.. James, was it? Anyhow, I'm sure that's her. She's dressed wonderfully. Any man would be a fool not to be interested. She's got a lively expression on her face too. Now to find her match."
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:01 am
"Beryl is Eamnonn's mate, and it would be unwise to pursue something of the Hunt's. Regardless, I haven't seen her in a very long time. And so go my woes - you are all taken, sort of taken, or absent. Now, if fewer of the gods were monogamous..." Rio chuckled, half-joking and half-wistful, but paused just a moment. He was usually predisposed to like people, but mention of Water tended to set some corner of his mind on-edge with a set-in combination of unease and dislike, courtesy of having once been Alex; his host and Kaelin had had...understandable difficulties. Not that it was so deep-set it could not be changed, but as they had yet to encounter one another, it was of little consequence in the meantime. "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Arctang yet, though I believe my daughter has."
Love grinned at the little episode that played out. "I think you might have made his day."
"Well then. Would you like to continue the search while I...take care of Diane?" This was quite fun, really. Perhaps he ought to find a partner in crime more often.
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:28 pm
"You should meet Arc." Lisana smiled widely. "He's very friendly and with a good sense of humor. He and Mystery are good friends it seems. I like Taj too, although he seems more like my big brother than anything else. His servants are always warning me about things and helping. I suppose it's because Hasheem and those I have help them in the forge each day. His door is a closet door." A sort of giggle snort slipped free. "But you have to open it twice to find him. The first time I opened it, I thought it was a mistake because I saw some old dark closet full of boxes. It is a rather nice trick on people though."
"I suppose I did." she laughed glancing back at the man. "He seemed to be a very nice person. And he is having fun here already."
"Let's see... James.... " she walked around a bit further from Rio. There were several to the side and she listened to them quietly, her hands clasped behind her back as she stood there. When she heard the name 'James', Lisana turned, eyes searching. Then she laughed. He looked exactly as Rio had described.
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:18 pm
Crowds at once made it both easier and harder to go unseen; there were more eyes to see you, but more people with which to blend in. Someone in a crowd was less likely to notice him than someone alone, but it was also much harder to account for where everyone was and where they were looking. Fortunately, the Pantheon gardens did allow for decent cover, as long as he didn't do too much rustling around in the bushes.
It took a few minutes to accomplish his 'mission,' but he found his way back to Lisana as soon as he was finished - and went back to their conversation with ease. "A closet door, really? That is quite clever. You should try finding mine one day." Rio winked playfully. "It's not terribly obvious, either."
It took him a moment to realize she'd located James - goddesses were very distracting, really. "I see you've found the lucky man."
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