New Avengers: The Symposium
Synopsis: The New Avengers take a night off between world-saving adventures, but their night is about to go in an unexpected direction thanks to a secret wager between Eros and Sersi. A story about love for adults and those mature in manners of the heart (not to mention a tip of the hat to "A Midsummer Night's Dream").
Category: Marvel
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: M for mature themes, sex, adult language, and odd pairings.
Author's Notes: This story is based on canon but kind of continuity neutral, because I wanted to use the characters that I wanted to use and that was the end of it. I never liked the New Avengers concept while it was going on (being a deeply traditional Avengers fan), but considering what we have to work with these days I miss them now that they are gone. This story is a love story about the loves that got away, never happened, or maybe that you did not appreciate fully while you had them.
Prologue: The Invitation
The story goes that all people were created by the gods.
But then the gods got bored.
So then the gods created love... and then they wern't bored anymore!
It looked so much fun that they decided to try it for themselves.
And then they invented laughter... so that they could stand it.
"Feast of Love"
Two glasses of red wine sparking in candlelight.
A man and a woman, eyes locked in mischief.
A fireplace, a balcony, a bearskin rug.
Tender laughter between them.
Any observer would see the bloom of love in such a scene, but they would be wrong.
"That is such a wicked plan, Eros." Sersi laughed. "Would you truly go to such lengths to prove a point?"
"When the point is one I have debated with you all these centuries, Sersi? I would go to any lengths."
As their names implied, these two had lived very long lives and figured into the mythology of people that were now dust. Having spent a great expanse of time on different planets, they had mutually hoped that this debate would not surface upon this meeting. They had hoped that the intervening years would have wiped it from the memory of the other. However, given the purpose of the visit it was probably a forgone conclusion that it would rear its ugly head. The gods, it is said, have very long memories.
"Could we not just forget this silliness and go to bed?" Sersi asked before sipping her wine.
"That is the substance of this endless debate." Eros sighed "It is not something that we can just enjoy like this meal that we are finishing. It is something more."
"Am I the only one that gets to see this side of you?" Sersi laughed.
"Well, I do have a certain reputation to maintain, but that is another matter."
"So here we are again." Sersi sighed "Pondering that vexing question."
"Does love conquer all?" Eros said "You know my answer."
"And you know mine."
"After all these years, do you not remember Odysseus?" Eros pleaded.
"After all these years, have you forgotten Persephone?" Sersi laughed.
"Touche." Eros said "There is only one way that we can settle this."
"Normally I would not even venture to play this game with you, but your plan is so utterly repugnant that I cannot help but see the upside. Mortals do not appreciate your meddling any more than they savor being transformed into pigs. Trust me in this."
"Love is transformitive in itself. It knows no bounderies or limitations, no laws or rules or strictures. Love is a song written on the very air we breathe."
"Spare me the poetry." Sersi laughed "I have heard many such pretty tongues, even though I found them fit for only one other task."
"Do we have a deal, then?"
"Consider your foul wager struck." Sersi said in a sultry tone as she slowly stood from the table and pushed the thin straps of her dress from her shoulders. "Now to bed!"
"As a mistress commands, a man must obey." Starfox said with no sign of regret in his tone. "We will send out the invitations tomorrow."
As they walked together to the bed, he shed his robe and she divested herself of her nightgown. They took one another's hand and walked together without a hint of modesty about their mutual nakedness.
"Do you wish to be the man or the woman tonight?" Sersi asked as they both sank to the soft silk bedding.
"Surprise me." Eros said with a smile.
Dramatis Personae:
Eros - An Eternal of Titan
Sersi - An Eternal of Earth
Steve Rogers - Captain America
Sharon Carter - Agent of SHIELD
Peter Parker - Spider-Man
Mary Jane Parker - Jackpot Prize
Logan - Wolverine
Jean Grey - Pheonix
Matt Murdock - Daredevil
Maya Lopez - Ronin
Luke Cage - Don't call him Power Man
Jessica Jones - Private Detective
Danny Rand - Iron Fist
Colleen Wing- Butt kickin' Samurai Babe
Tony Stark - Iron Man
Natalia Romonova - The Black Widow
Jessica Drew - Spider-Woman
Jack Russell - A freakin' WEREWOLF!