His plans to get to his bed as quickly as possible – gods, everything hurt, even his fingernails – were stalled by Pythagoras and Hercules, who were too busy clucking like mother hens or celebrating his win (political and physical) over Heptarian to realize how tired he was. Jason didn't really have to put in much effort, just an overzealous "mmhmm" every time they paused, and a quick smile here and there. Gods, he was so tired, his head felt like a bowling ball – not like anyone would know what a bowling ball was, though.
Jason finally gave in, his head sagging down to his chest. Pythagoras tried to be uplifting as he watched Hercules massage the muscles in Jason's broken hand: "You did the right thing" he stated, hoping to get a quick rise out of the young hero, who just looked so beaten, he could barely stand it.
Jason didn't even lift his head: "And what do I have to show for it?" he asked, the question obviously rhetorical. Hercules answered regardless: "True, we're still broke", putting a hole into Jason's theory that fighting in the pankration was only a good idea because it could bring them riches.
Pythagoras smiled gently. "Be grateful, you're still here. If you'd won, I very much doubt that would be the case." Jason was obviously confused: "Why? Why should it be?"
Pythagoras was confused at Jason's question. "Because those are the rules," he stated matter-of-factly.
Now it was Jason's turn to be confused: "But I thought you said there were no rules".
Suddenly, Pythagoras understood. "The rules of life, Jason, not the pankration". Jason was about to retort when a quiet "um huh" broke the air. Ariadne, in her brilliant blue dress, looking worried still, was instantaneously there. "I… I came to see how Jason is," she came to the end of the sentence awkwardly, looking at his friends more than he.
With her voice, Jason's head snapped up, fully and completely at attention. Hercules missed this visual cue, never looking up from Jason's left hand he was putting back in place. "His shoulder's on the mend, but I've still got a lot of work to do on his neck, and I'm a little worried about this left hand," he rumbled, only affording a quick glance at the Princess. It wasn't until he heard the usual hiss of "Hercules!" from Pythagoras, and looked at the puppy dog face of Jason, that he realized they should be leaving.
At this point, Hercules's mind had far from stopped working – he never could wrap his head around the awkwardness and attraction between Jason and Ariadne. After all, she was meant to be Queen someday!
With this, Hercules and Pythagoras started awkwardly walking toward the exit, both fully intending on spying on Jason and Ariadne when they were gone from sight. Hercules didn't want the Princess to know, so he tried to come up with a quick excuse of why they would suddenly leave their friend behind – besides the piercing gaze at their back. "We've just got to get, some, erm, bees" he squealed out as he and Pythagoras took leave.
Of course, always worried about their reputation, Pythagoras immediately questioned "Bees?! Why bees?". Hercules being too preoccupied with the idea of snooping on their friend hoped a quick "It was all I could think of!" would suffice. After all, he was never good at cover stories, neither under pressure.