A/N: Inspired by theslowesthnery's art on Tumblr
Flowers were always in bloom in Elysium, which was evidently very different from the living world. It was a welcome change, Asterius reasoned, because it meant that there was always different perfumes around the fields and chambers.
Asterius continued to draw the apple blossoms he'd passed on his way. It was difficult, with the clunky, massive hands he'd been cursed with, to capture its delicate beauty and scent. But still, he did his best.
He wasn't meant to be drawing. He'd been brought to the symposium as Theseus' guest which was (reportedly) a great honor. Asterius was given parchment and a quill for note taking, which he had earnestly tried to do. But he'd found the men to be long-winded, with vague and meandering arguments, and his mind wandered off. Asterius kept an ear on the conversation, but mentally he was looking up into a tree of flowers and fruit.
A pause in the noise caused him to look up. The shades around him had all gone silent to watch Theseus sit back contemplatively in his chair.
He took a long sip of wine to clear his throat and head. When he spoke, it was properly kingly and smooth. "While I see your point, my good man. But it seems that you're ignoring the subtleties of the situation."
Asterius suppressed a sigh as he lost any hope that this would be over soon. He was thankful, at least, that his parchment couldn't be seen by any of the hallowed souls who'd gathered for the debate. They could believe that he was properly taking notes while he decided that he wanted to add a few irises to the page.
Since coming to Elysium, Asterius had learned a great deal about the careful game humans had to play. He could speak gently, eat neatly at banquets, and of course perform heroically for fans within the coliseum. He'd become a wonderful mimic of their mannerisms, but that didn't and wouldn't make him human. The shades regarded him with caution, suspicion, and often outright disdain.
And it wasn't fine, but he had accepted this as a truth since before he'd even died. The tributes were incredibly chatty, so he'd heard exactly what humans thought of him. A monster, a beast, a mindless animal. He could be trained to perform tricks same as a dog could, but that was all.
Theseus had, and seemingly would, never come to accept this. He was convinced, as only Theseus could be, that they were always a very short way away from the population not only accepting his presence but embracing him as the prince that he was.
His enthusiasm was endearing, even if it was often frustrating. So Asterius allowed himself to be dragged about, introduced here and there and taught any lessons Theseus deemed necessary.
The latest was the invitation to the symposium, meant to get him excited about politics and philosophy. What this had really come to teach him was that humans must truly love tedium if they wanted to bring it to their paradise. At least, it might have been ideal for these sorts of men.
Shades who'd died elderly tended to like to talk, particularly to someone who preferred to stay quiet like he did. Everyone gathered here, far as Asterius knew, had chosen forms a fraction of their age. This became more apparent the more they disagreed, and grew more apparent as more wine became involved. It didn't even seem to matter what the subject was, or if the matter at issue had already been solved or not. They simply wanted to argue.
He belonged here less than nearly anywhere else in Elysium. No amount of learning how to speak and debate would change that.
He moved on to sketching the deer which grazed in the fields. He was able to create quite the herd before the wine was finally drained and the symposium broke up.
As had become their routine, Asterius was quiet over the walk back to their living space. Theseus had a glorious battle to recount, after all, complete with boisterous laughter and rampant embellishment. He didn't need much more than occasional affirmative noises to keep going.
Once they passed inside, he turned and brightly announced more than asked, "And what of you, Asterius? Did you relish in the victory as much as I?"
"Of course, my king," he agreed in his best attempt to stay neutral.
Theseus turned, and frowned as he asked, "What troubles you, my dear friend?"
Asterius gently cursed his partner's astuteness. It always seemed to kick in at the most inconvenient times. "I suppose…" He weighed his words. "I did not know quite what philosophy was when I agreed to go with you. I was never exposed to it in life."
Theseus' face lit up, "Ah, of course! It's difficult to be prepared for such an intense battle of wits!"
"It is," Asterius agreed. He put the scroll away on the desk as discreetly as he could.
"With proper training, you'll be as fearsome in debate as you are in combat!" Theseus gave him a firm pat on the back. "You'll have a seat at my right hand, and-!"
"Thank you, King," Asterius said, quickly but firmly. "It's a generous offer, but I'll have to decline."
"You don't wish to attend?" he asked with concern. After a beat, his brow pulled down a touch. "Did someone say something to offend you?"
"No," he said, quickly. "They wouldn't dare. Everyone invited to the symposium knows better than to disrespect a guest of yours." He headed to the bedchamber to change out of the formal attire he'd been dressed in.
"As they should," Theseus agreed, voice properly boisterous only to fall back, "I would like to know that you have a place to go when we are not training, though. I do worry that you are alone so often."
"I get by," Asterius assured him.
"I know you do, but it is best to stay as engaged mentally as one does physically… what are these?"
Asterius looked out of the bedchambers to find Theseus had unrolled his parchment. Had Asterius been able, he would have paled.
"I… I didn't mean disrespect. I was trying to-"
"These are glorious!" Theseus beamed. "I can nearly smell their fragrance!"
"You're too kind," Asterius muttered.
"Your gifts never cease to amaze me," Theseus continued. "It's no wonder you do not wish to join our debate. You belong with the artisans!"
"My King…"
"I'll get in contact in the morning or night, whenever we wake up! And you shall-"
"My King," Asterius said more forcefully.
Theseus turned, "Yes? What is it?"
"I appreciate your offer. Genuinely. But these…" He looked down at the plants and animals that surrounded the margins of the page. "I believe I'd rather be on my own for this."
"Ah…" his mouth screwed a bit, and then returned to his wide smile. "Ah, I see! There are beautiful things not meant to be shared, are there not? May I at least assemble proper tools for you to continue to pursue your mastery?"
Asterius nodded, more eagerly than he had the rest of the day. "I would appreciate that very much."
Theseus returned the parchment to where it had been stored, and headed to the bedchamber to likewise change. "I should thank you for humoring me today. The symposium can be rather long, even for those of us who are engaged in it."
"You don't need to thank me, my King," Asterius looked in relief at the rolled parchment. "I think today has been very productive."