The winter solstice was here yet again - another time for the twelve Olympians to argue and boast, while Hestia tended the fire. She was always there in case her peace-making skills were needed, which was often. The throne room was freshly cleaned for the occasion, white marble gleaming. The sun shone brightly down, and warmth filled the room despite the cold weather. Laughter and voices drifted in from outside.
"Air disasters are more spectacular!"
"No, sea disasters are better!"
Zeus and Poseidon were arguing about which domain was better, again. Hades sat nearby, not willing to get involved. Demeter glared at him from across the room. Athena, Ares, and Hephaestus were debating on battle strategies, the only ones doing something useful at the council. Artemis and Aphrodite glared at each other, no doubt fighting over relationships.
Surprisingly, Apollo and Hermes were bickering about something. Considered close friends by most of the council, this was unusual. Apollo looked a bit insulted, while Hermes just seemed downright furious.
"Mine takes half my day," Apollo said.
Hermes glared at Apollo. "Excuse me, but MY work takes a LOT longer than that!"
Apollo cleared his throat and recited, "My job is hardest. Apollo is right not you. His job is easier."
Hermes seemed to deflate. Now Apollo was arguing with his horrible haikus? "Last line was six syllables," he pointed out, "and you're still wrong."
"My job is hardest. Apollo is right not you. His job is easy!" Apollo redid his haiku, counting on his fingers the number of syllables. He beamed at Hermes, blinding him.
Hermes was not so amused. Had Apollo just called his job easy? Delivering mail for hundreds of gods and goddesses, not to mention demigods and nymphs? Going through pile after pile of junk mail, and keeping George and Martha under control? Hermes couldn't believe Apollo said his job was easy. The argument was starting to attract curious stares from some of the other Olympians, as it wasn't often that those two argued.
Hera stood up, her gaze raking across the squabbling gods and goddess. She frowned at seeing two of her husband's illegitimate children practically yelling in the throne room. She disliked most demigods due to one thing: most of the half-bloods were children of Zeus' illegitimate children. None of them should exist.
"Quiet down! What could you possibly be arguing about now?" Hera snapped. Nine heads turned to look at Hera, then Apollo and Hermes.
Hermes still looked like he wanted to throttle Apollo, his hand clenched tightly around his and Martha wisely kept quiet. Apollo stared obliviously at Hera, who was seething with impatience.
"Well? Aren't you going to say anything?" Hera practically hissed. She seemed to be in an extremely foul mood today. Apollo and Hermes kept quiet, but Dionysus looked up from his magazine.
"Oh, those two? Quarreling over whose job was harder. Acting as immature as those demigods at Camp Half-Blood," Dionysus muttered, "where I'm still stuck." Zeus glared at Dionysus from across the room, then glanced at Hera. Her gaze was still trained on Apollo and Hermes, her mouth set in a straight line.
"Apollo, Hermes, do you have anything to say?" Hera said, still standing. Apollo and Hermes didn't know what to say. What could calm down an angry Hera? They just sat there, soshe continued to stand.
"Do you have nothing to say? No apology? No explanation?" Hera ranted on and on and on. Poseidon made some popcorn appear. All of the gods and goddess were intently watching, wondering what was going on.
Hera spoke a bit quieter. "Since you two seem to have issues with your profession, maybe you need to understand each other a bit better." Hera zapped out the throne room, Zeus following a split second later, but not before giving Apollo and Hermes a stern stare. A short silence followed.
Quiet murmurs broke out among the rest of the council. What could Hera be planning? Were Apollo and Hermes angry with each other? Where did Zeus and Hera go? Has anyone seen my sock? Apollo and Hermes glanced at each other, overhearing many of the comments.
Dionysus looked up from his magazine again, which was probably a record for him. "Dear me, looks like I won't be the only one with a punishment. Maybe Zeus will take note of my good behavior and replace me with you two. Then you can deal with the little brats." He lifted his magazine up to read again.
"My kids are not brats," Apollo started, "I hope that-"
"That's okay, Apollo," Hermes cut off Apollo before he begin another haiku, "But just to be clear, my job is not easy." Apollo frowned at that.
"Hey, my job is the one that's harder!" Just as Apollo spoke, Hera and Zeus teleported back into the throne room. Hera sighed.
"Fighting again already, I see." She said. Zeus straightened his tie and looked at Apollo and Hermes.
"Hera and I have decided that your ... argument has shown after three thousand years, you still don't know anything about each other," Zeus paused to take a breath, "so for the next week, you shall have each others' job." He finished, and Hera smirked at the Apollo and Hermes.
Hermes and Apollo weren't sure if they had heard Zeus right. They were supposed to switch jobs? The rest of the council gaped at Zeus and Hera. The king and queen couldn't possibly mean that-they must have something else in mind.
Hermes protested. "But-"
"You will drive the sun, and Apollo will deliver the mail. Our punishment is final." Zeus finished, dismissing the council.
First chapter of my first story! :D Should any other Olympians have to switch jobs?