A/N: Not historically accurate, so please don't use this as information in academic conversations. E.g. Reader to Supervisor: I learnt that "This and that was like that in Ancient Greece." Supervisor: "O.O Where did you get this information from?" Reader: "… This fanfiction I read…"
"For, alone of gods, Death loves not gifts; no, not by sacrifice, nor by libation, can you avail; Death has no altar nor hymn of praise; from Death, alone of gods, Peitho stands distant."
- Aeschylus, Fragment 82 Niobe
-I-
It was sunset, and the housewarming party was in full swing at Natsuki's place. Their guests had mostly arrived, and they were waiting for the arrival of their last neighbour before starting the dinner party in the dining room. Their neighbours turned out to be a group of interconnected friends, who went by the introduction "So-and-so" of "Rosa So-and-So"and Natsuki was trying to remember their names and faces. She remembered there were three sub-groups, Rosa Chinesis, Rosa Foetida and Rosa Gigantea, but by Hades, it was difficult trying to remember their names. She gave up. She was told to enjoy herself, and enjoying herself did not include struggling to remember her new neighbours' names. That would come in time. Or not. It didn't matter.
With Mai overseeing the victuals and Nao taking charge of the entertainment, Natsuki was told to just 'enjoy the party and take a break'. Evidently her parents' wishes for her to have a vacation from the strain of her work had been clearly conveyed to her childhood friends. The dark blue-haired goddess huffed as she stood by the door, welcoming their new neighbours. A good vacation, in her eyes, did not start off with a housewarming party, where she had to entertain guests from sunset til late. Mai and Nao had somehow got her agreement to do this event. She remembered the conversation well.
They were on their second day of their journey, and the weather was very pleasant, sunlight streaming through the foliage, a light breeze blowing against them. The shadows Natsuki and her beloved horse Duran cast on the forest floor seemed to dance as they made their way through to their next campsite. That was when Mai decided to strike. "Natsuki, let's have a housewarming party when we arrive!" Her orange-headed friend said in all in one breath, and beamed at Natsuki as she did so. "I promise that there'll be no olives too! An olive-free dinner party! What do you think? And I'll do all the shopping, all you have to do is be your charming self."
Behind them, Nao snorted. "Natsuki Macaria, being charming? Oh horrors, I cannot imagine the Goddess of Blissful Death being charming. So many have mistaken her for Thanatos." Natsuki grunted, refusing to react to Nao's barb. Grinning, Nao urged her horse forward and closer to Natsuki and Mai. "But I do agree. A dinner party will be a good start to our vacation. Being disguised as humans, we'll be free from the people's perceptions of our goddess personas. I won't be the scary Goddess of Revenge blahblahblah and you wouldn't be… Death." Natsuki only raised her eyebrow at the mischievous aura the red-head exuded, and shook her head. "We're suppose to spend our vacation in Garderobe as mere mortals, and not draw attention to ourselves. You both agreed! And this is my vacation!"
Mai tilted her head, pretending to ponder Natsuki's excuse. "It's our vacation too, Natsuki! Anyway, two against one, we win. We're going to have a dinner party, the day we arrive! Don't worry, all you have to do is not be rude to any of the guests, nor scare them away. You know, do that thing you do at the Olympian dinner parties that charms the other Immortals." Nao layered on Mai's well-intentioned speech with some of her usual humour. "You mean, gets those idiots to foolishly ply her with poetry and odes of admiration?"
Natsuki really didn't think it was all that funny. "They DON'T do that." She reared her horse, and set Duran on a quick trot. Nao was getting annoying, and it was such a pleasant day too. Her friend was undeterred, this teasing was just too much fun. "Only because they're afraid of your scary aura, that's all. I've seen more than a few approach you and then scurry off quaking. And really, why must be disguise ourselves as mortals? We're less likely to get some…"
A charming voice filled the room, and Natsuki's thoughts snapped back to the present. There, at the doorway, was Shizuru and her companion, a dark-haired girl with short cropped hair. Natsuki felt her heartbeat quicken, and she frowned. Did the goddess' charm extend towards everyone in the room? Natsuki looked around, and true enough, everyone's conversations had stopped and the guests were looking at Shizuru. Beautiful goddess, light brown hair falling around her shoulders in waves, wearing a robe in the latest fashion, colour of the deepest purple. Natsuki felt herself staring at Shizuru, and turned her eyes away before Shizuru could catch her gaze. This is getting ridiculous. Getting up, she moved to get herself out of there, but was stopped by the very same voice.
"Ara… Natsuki? Thank you for your invitation. This is my friend, Chie, daughter of Hermes, messenger of the Gods." Shizuru moved gracefully to stand before Natsuki, greeting her with a brief kiss on her cheeks. Natsuki knew it was a typical greeting in the city of Garderobe between friends, but she felt her cheeks warming up anyway. She cursed her genetic disposition to blushing, before remembering her manners.
"You and your companion are welcome. I am honoured to meet your acquaintance, Chie. I am Natsuki Kruger." Natsuki greeted the both of them and looked around for her friends. Spotting Nao among the guests, she hurriedly continued, "Let me introduce Nao to you. She's one of the hostesses of tonight's party too, along with Mai." Shizuru nodded, and placed her hand on Natsuki's arm, willing to be guided through the little gathering of people. Natsuki felt the warm touch of Shizuru's palm against her skin, and tried not to pull Shizuru closer. She felt odd, like there were crickets jumping about in her belly, but pushed those thoughts aside.
Making their way to Nao, Natsuki tried to keep the blush off her face. Nao glanced at Natsuki, curiosity piqued, but decided to keep her questions til later, lest Natsuki loose her temper at the dinner party. It would be their first time socialising with their neighbours, after all. Didn't want them to think their new neighbours were crazy.
The red-head turned towards Shizuru and Chie, a smile on her face. "Welcome to our humble dinner party. I am Nao, Natsuki's childhood friend."
Shizuru bowed slightly, and smiled winsomely, "I am Shizuru Viola, and this is Chie. We are also childhood friends." Chie nodded, and winked at Nao, who quirked her lips at the former's antics. Ah, another one used to the skills of charming youths. She might like this Chie. But first, her attention should be on Shizuru, whose hand was on Natsuki's arm, as though it belonged there- Natsuki had not slapped that offending hand away. Nao smirked. It might be an interesting and exciting vacation for us all.
"Alas, I was given to think that you were Shizuru Peitho, Goddess of Seduction? But Viola, I do not recall that name being linked to any Immortal." Arms linked with Chie, who did not seem to mind, Nao leaned closer to Shizuru as she questioned the brunette.
"You are not wrong, I am Shizuru Peitho. But when in Garderobe, it is fashionable for Immortals to attempt to disguise themselves as mortals. So here I am Shizuru Viola, because I favour the colour violet and various shades of purple. Now that my not-so-secret is out, what do you call yourself, my dear neighbour?"
Nao laughed lightly and replied in a silky smooth voice, which was definitely a trait she learnt from her mother, not her father. "I dare say you are far more interested in the true identity of Natsuki, my dear goddess. You hope that by knowing my full identity you will be able to deduce Natsuki's? If the name Natsuki Kruger doesn't ring any bells, perhaps Natsuki M-"
Natsuki glared at Nao, silencing her effectively. Nao is clearly not taking our idea of disguising as mortals seriously! Argh! I should have known it! Self-seeking menace… Shizuru opened her mouth, and Natsuki hastily interrupted. "Would you like some wine? Now that we are all here, let us adjourn to the dining room." Without waiting for an answer, she disappeared into the dining room. Grinning, Nao gathered the guests and led them into the awaiting feast. Shizuru and Chie were the first few to enter, and openly admired the food and wine set before them. A veritable feast indeed. Shizuru glanced at the stamp on the large jar of wine in the middle of the room. It read, "Authenticated red wine from Lesbos". Expensive vintage! All this for a housewarming party!
-II-
Freshly-baked loaves of bread and exotic fruit lay on the tables before the guests. The eleven guests and their three hosts chose their couches and seated themselves in a circle, with the food in the middle. Natsuki sighed happily as she sat down on the pillowed couch. The furniture Mai's mother provided was truly comfortable. The pillows were soft yet firm, and Natsuki was sure it wasn't leaves, but goose feathers in them.
Soft music played in the background by some musicians. Nao spent the day asking around for the best musicians in Garderobe and there they were, playing the latest tunes, at such short notice. A significant amount of gold was involved in hiring them, as well as the hired servants for tonight's party. Natsuki knew this, because her gold nugget was returned noticeably smaller than when she first gave it to Nao.
Natsuki took the glass of wine mixed with honey that was offered by a servant, and looked to her left and right to see who were her dinner companions. It was Shizuru and Nao. Groaning inwardly, the lithe goddess reclined on her bench and focused on savouring the vintage wine instead. Her attempts at remaining unapproachable failed however, as Shizuru turned to face her and started a conversation almost as soon as the feast began."This is truly a feast worthy of the gods, Natsuki. Your friend Mai has even laid out ambrosia for us who are Immortals. Your hospitality is astonishing."
At that praise, Natsuki felt her reluctance to play a good host diminishing. If Mai and Nao had gone all out to provide a lovely dinner party for their new neighbours, who was she to be the wet blanket. Natsuki mustered up a smile. "We want to begin our vacation in Garderobe on the right note. A lovely feast, indeed. Please, enjoy yourself. Perhaps you can tell me the sights and sounds Garderobe has to offer to its visitors."
"Ara, Natsuki is in a better mood already? Will Natsuki have some ambrosia with me?" Shizuru reached out and taking some of the golden nectar for herself. It was actually to test whether Natsuki was an Immortal, since only the gods and goddesses partook ambrosia. Natsuki was about to agree, before realising what it would mean, and stopped herself in time.
"It is not for me. I'll have some… oysters instead. Mai said these were the freshest available." Avoiding the little trap, Natsuki tried her best to slurp the oysters and swirl them around her mouth, pretending that she really preferred them to Shizuru's golden ambrosia. Good grief. No ambrosia for the night? Not even the marvellous Mayo ambrosia? Ah, Hades, grant me perseverance.
After the guests settled themselves in well and small conversations had begun, the hired servants began bringing out the dishes. First was fish, and then a dish of roasted duck in tangy sauce, a variety of cheeses, red lentil soup, and a rack of marvellously herb-crusted lamb, still soaking in its warm juices. The dining room was silent for a while as the guests savoured the delicious dishes, filling their stomachs so that they were no longer hungry. Conversation picked up again, and Natsuki found herself in amicable conversation with Shizuru. To her surprise, Shizuru did not try to test whether she was a goddess after that first attempt with the ambrosia. They talked about various topics, ranging from music to philosophy to horse-riding. Noticing Natsuki's disinterest in the current hot debate on the recognition of women's wrestling as an Olympic sport, Shizuru went on length about the thrills of horse-riding instead and Natsuki felt herself liking this goddess. She pushed all thoughts of Shizuru's goddess powers away, and determined to merely enjoy the conversation. After all, weren't dinner parties made of conversations such as this?
-III-
The sun had completely set, and the room was now lit with the soft light of torches. Throwing her piece of bread to the side, Mai stood up and strode over to Natsuki and Nao, pulling them up from their couches. Standing together facing the rest of the guests, Mai clapped her hands to gather all their attention. Two flutes began playing, and their melody entwined together as the young flautists swayed to their own music. Everyone realised that the second part of the evening was beginning. A song to the gods, and short speech and then the wine drinking would begin in earnest. The conversations, flowing merrily around the room stilled and the guests waited for the next part to begin.
Mai began singing, a hymn to the gods before the wine overflowed and the desserts were consumed. The guests listened to the opening stanzas of Mai's song before joining in. Cheekily, Mai decided to sing a hymn first to Athena, pouring some wine into a shallow bowl and pouring it slowly to a larger awaiting bowl. Natsuki held her breath, hoping to the heavens that Athena wouldn't decide to appear on a whim since it was her daughter who sung the hymn. That would certainly ruin any chance of a successful incognito vacation. Nao began singing as Mai ended the first song. What happened next nearly had Natsuki bite her tongue to prevent a yell as she heard the familiar beginnings of a hymn…
"Goddess of noble majesty, Lady of the nether world, and Champion of the saints who travel into Blissful Death, Daughter of the most august majesty, sovereign power of the world below, bless our feast..."
The goddess of blissful death stifled her yell in time. Trying her best to keep her eye from twitching, she interrupted Nao with a sharp nudge and looked to Mai for assistance. Mai grinned and was clearly not going to help her stop Nao. Natsuki swept her eyes around the room, checking for the reaction of their guests and settled on Shizuru, who was looking more and more intrigued at Mai's odd choice of hymn. The guests had begun fidgeting, it was an odd choice of goddess to invoke indeed.
Shizuru herself was puzzled and slightly worried at Nao's choice. Normally one wouldn't sing a hymn to the Gods of the Underworld at a dinner party, and certainly not with a grin on one's face. That would simply be provoking trouble. Who knew what the gods of the underworld would do. Even for the deathless Immortals, Shizuru had heard tales of the wrathful gods causing fellow gods who insulted them much grief. They were cold and merciless, and dangerous. Shizuru wondered why no one was stopping Nao. Perhaps the legend was true, that stopping someone in the middle of a hymn sung to the Gods of the Underworld was dangerous in itself.
Realising that the hostesses Mai and Nao were clearly not worrying about their choice of hymns, she looked to Natsuki instead, whose face was paler than it normally was. Well, at least one of the hostesses is concerned about our choice of hymns. Shizuru took a sip of her wine, gaze still on Natsuki, who was looking increasingly annoyed.
At Nao's "… may your beautiful visage shine down on us, as we drink the wine of Lesbos…" Natsuki decided that Mai's teasing was getting too far. "Nao! Don't be ridiculous. Stop it! I'm here in person and there's no way I'm going to respond to this hymn, and you know it's difficult not to since I'm actually here." Natsuki's harsh whisper finally got Nao to stop, and seamlessly switch to another hymn. This time it was to Aphrodite, and everyone gave a collective sigh of relief. Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, was a more welcome invocation than Natsuki, Goddess of Death.
After that hymn was sung, Mai poured the remainder of the wine from the shallow bowl away, and the guests took their seats once more, wine cups out for the hired servants to pour some more wine into them. Nao winked at Natsuki and blew a kiss towards her. Huffing, Natsuki leaned back on her couch, and was met with Shizuru's questioning gaze, as the brunette goddess lay on the couch next to hers. "Na-tsu-ki? Your friends have odd choices for the opening songs of tonight's wine festivities. Perhaps one of you knows the goddess of death personally? No one would dare to simply invoke her at a dinner party… "
Natsuki sidestepped the question. "Mai and Nao have strange notions of what hymns a good dinner party should have. Would you like some honey cakes? They're very good." At that, Shizuru decided to leave those questions for now and reached out for the cakes, but was a little too slow. Natsuki had dipped the honey cake she was eyeing into the whitish Ambrosia, the one Shizuru particularly disliked despite it's fame.
"Ara, thank you for your attentiveness, Natsuki, but I do not quite enjoy the Mayo ambrosia. Perhaps Natsuki would like that honey cake for herself?" Shizuru smiled sweetly at Natsuki and reached for another honey cake not covered by that whitish substance, and glanced at Natsuki from beneath her long eyelashes. Natsuki appeared to stutter at Shizuru's suggestion.
"Tr-try this? Ah, b-but I do not wish to be immortal, Shizuru. Partaking ambrosia-"
"Partaking ambrosia doesn't making one immortal, unlike popular belief. Otherwise, there will be plenty of newly-turned gods and goddesses in Garderobe, where ambrosia is available to anyone with sufficient gold in the marketplace." Shizuru bit into her honey cake, licking her lips slowly after the first bite. It melted in her mouth and she savoured it thoroughly, moaning slightly as she did. Looking up, she noticed Natsuki's cheeks were tinged with pink. Usually when I try this trick with honey cakes, the target swoons and falls into my arms immediately! Mortals, nymphs, demi-gods and gods… truly, you are one unique person, Natsuki…
Natsuki hurriedly got up from her couch, and almost landed in Shizuru's couch before she regained her balance and signalled to Nao to follow her to the outer rooms. Nao, who previously noticed Shizuru's little trick, smiled encouragingly at the now puzzled Goddess of Persuasion before following Natsuki out.
Natsuki pulled Nao close to her before whispering frantically. "The cheek of her! I could feel her using her charm on me, or her powers, or what have you… right there! A blatant misuse of powers at dinner parties! Don't her parents teach her to be better than that! That's it, you're switching couches with me when we go back in." Natsuki breathed in slowly, trying to calm herself down.
Nao tried to placate the pale goddess of death. "Aren't you overreacting? By the way, if she was really using her powers on you, you wouldn't have been able to stalk off, fuming, would you? You would be in her arms by now. I've seen how the goddesses that serve my mother work. They can really charm the clothes off you with a wink."
"You would know, wouldn't you? Spent much time with those goddesses, haven't you, instead of running off to war with your father, Ares?" Natsuki laughed, finally seeing the light-hearted side of things.
Nao joined in Natsuki's laughter, relieved that her friend was no longer taking things so seriously. "There you go! We know she's not a mortal, and she clearly has the hots for you. Maybe some feelings. This will be an excellent addition to your vacation, Natsuki!"
However, it seemed like the wrong thing to say. Natsuki sobered up, and Nao groaned inwardly, waiting for her friend to say something to dampen the mood once more. "Mortal or immortal, we all have feelings and desires. Doesn't mean you have to act on them. And have you ever thought about how she's the goddess of persuasion and seduction?" Natsuki's low voice was filled with disdain.
Nao tried to comprehend Natsuki's viewpoint and shook her head. Stepping back from Natsuki she whispered, so as to not be overheard by the guests in the other room. "Wait. You really think she's using her powers on you and you really dislike this possibility? Powers or not, it'll be a charming time!"
"So you think she's using her powers too?" Natsuki crossed her arms and leaned against a pillar smugly.
"Who cares if she is? Have you looked, liked, properly looked at Shizuru Viola? Who cares if she's using her powers or not?" Nao shrugged and moved past Natsuki to get back into the party.
"I do. Nao-" Natsuki followed after Nao into the dining room, unsatisfied with her friend's advice.
"Just enjoy yourself, Mutt. It's a bloody vacation." Nao waved cheerily and got back to talking to the blonde haired neighbour she was in some deep conversation with from before. Or what seemed to be a deep conversation, before the blonde guffawed at Nao's last sentence.
Natsuki got back onto her own couch, and smiled at Shizuru politely. The brunette turned from taking some more honey cakes from a servant and offered Natsuki one as well. Some of the guests were already very tipsy, cracking at the slightest humour. One with braided hair was dancing drunkenly with a taller one with cropped hair, bumping into furniture as they moved. Chie, on the opposite corner of the room, laughed at their antics, and sat back, satiated with the wonderful food and drink. The hostesses sure did know how to plan a party.
Somehow during the revelry the couches had moved, probably as they were bumped into by the dancing guests. Shizuru and Natsuki were both lying down on their sides, leaning on their elbows, taking a break from the drinking. With the couches so close to one another, and rather tipsy on the wine, Natsuki looked so open, and so bare. Despite her unfocused eyes, her beauty covered the dark-haired goddess like a mantle, and the shadowy darkness that seemed to emanate from her lessened to a faint glimmer. Shizuru could not resist attempting to douse her curiosity then. Here was Natsuki, so close to her. She did not dare touch the beautiful maiden in front of her, even though she dreadfully wanted to. Her hand reached out, caressing the pillow Natsuki was resting on instead.
"So tell me Na-tsu-ki… are you a goddess newly descended from Mount Olympus to spend time frolicking in this pleasant city?" She tried her most cloying voice, this trick had never failed her before. But this time it did. Natsuki stiffened. "Hardly. My home is not on Mount Olympus, Shizuru."
Shizuru sighed at her utter failure to get Natsuki under her charms, but continued, unwilling to give up the chase. "Well, then are you descended from the union of a mortal and a god? Such persons are not unheard of in Garderobe… a person of your beauty and strength, Natsuki… no mortal blood flows in your veins. There must be some immortal in it."
Natuski grunted dismissively, and looked into Shizuru's eyes as she replied, "Is this that important to you, Shizuru? Deciding whether I am worthy of your attention, labelled 'MORTAL' and 'IMMORTAL'?" Her emerald green irises shone under the golden light of the torches, and Shizuru felt herself drowning in that gaze. Falling, falling, falling… her resolve weakened.
"Natsuki…. No, it doesn't matter. No. If you do not wish to answer, then I cannot force it out of you." Shizuru murmured softly, still caught in Natsuki's emerald gaze.
Natsuki laughed, breaking off their eye contact. Shizuru blinked and drew her hand away from Natsuki's pillow as she heard the youth's exclamation. "Shizuru, you know for yourself those words are a lie. Are you not the goddess of persuasion and charming speech? You can get anyone to confess, anyone to fall to your seduction. Don't take me for a fool."
Shizuru looked down briefly, trying to think of a way to reply Natsuki's confident statement. She had used her powers of persuasion and seduction, but knew she they didn't quite worked as they should. And now, somehow, she knew that she wouldn't try anymore to charm Natsuki over with her powers. It was a sin to tame her emerald-eyed lady, fierce and wild, with spells and magic. A little part of her felt relief that Natsuki did not fall prey to her tricks from earlier that night, and her heart twinged at that realisation. Was Natsuki not at all interested in her? No one had resisted her charms before. Was Natsuki somehow special to her that she could not use her powers on the green-eyed mystery, even unconsciously? At that thought, Shizuru wondered if she had drunk too much. Really, why was she so bother by it all? The wine was excellent, and it was abundant.
Shizuru kept silent, her fingers trying her damndest not to touch Natsuki's sleek hair as they lay closely together on the two couches. She finally spoke up after a brief period of silence, "I did not mean to offend you, Natsuki. Perhaps when you know me more you will think better of me. Would you like to accompany me to the theatre tomorrow? There is this magnificent play being performed."
Natsuki looked at Shizuru and realised that the goddess was looking rather guilty and sorry, and some other emotion playing across her face that Natsuki couldn't quite decipher. She felt bad for causing Shizuru to look that way at a dinner party. Where was her hospitality! The youth quickly answered, "Think better of you? Shizuru- oh. Very well, I shall accompany you to the play tomorrow." Even thought part of her wanted to speak out against how Shizuru was misusing her powers for her own entertainment, she decided against it. It wouldn't be the right thing to do, not at a dinner party where everyone was happily socialising and drinking together.
Shizuru looked pleased at Natsuki's agreement. "Tomorrow, then. I will come after lunch, in the early afternoon?"
"Thank you. I look forward to seeing the theatres of Garderobe. More cheese?"
"That will be nice. I heard the goat-herds in the far north rear a special breed of goats that produce the most excellent milk for cheese-making…"
And so the night carried on, until most of the guests fell asleep on the couches, drowsy from their wining and dining. Natsuki got up from her couch and got a blanket out for Shizuru, covering her new friend who was fast asleep before leaving the dining room with Mai and Nao, who covered the other guests in blankets as well. She didn't quite know what to think about Shizuru, but she figured, Shizuru was a decent person, powers of charm or without. Unlike many people she met at dinner parties, Shizuru didn't make her feel bored or bothered. And perhaps the day at the theatres tomorrow would be a pleasant start to her vacation in Garderobe.
Author's Note: Shizuru and Natsuki, sitting in a theatre, la la la... Do leave a review, a comment on how you like where this is going (or not)!