It was a cheerful Spring afternoon, mild in both temperature and in events. Hermes was seated on a rock underneath the partial shade of a tree, reading a book called "Medical Self Care Resource: Ankle Injuries". He frowned and set it aside briefly to slather some white goop on his face, shoulders, and arms.

"Stupid Helios... couldn't you try being a little less ultra-violety on my poor sensitive skin? My back is still pink from that trip to the beach... The thought of Zeus putting the sunblock on my back may have been repulsive, but so is the thought of skin canc-"

Hermes was interrupted by bubbly looking individual dressed in green with.. flower type attachments or something... as they bumped into his rock. And his foot.

"Oww," Hermes said blandly, more from habit then actual pain. White lotion dribbled onto one winged-sandal. "Smoothly done," he offered sardonically, eyeing the newcomer.

"I didn't do it!" denied the Zephyr, West Wind. "It just.. happened. And anyway, I'm in a hurry, so it's not my fault. See, I'm like, the bringer of Spring. So I just like, brought it."

Hermes pondered this a moment, and then looked around. "Gee. It looks like Spring is already here."

Zephyr rolled her-um, his eyes at the stupid god. "Go suck an elf. You're rather thick-skulled... one of Zeus' brood, then?" Hermes winced. Zephyr continued. "I already brought Spring, I just wanted to make sure it had worked out okay. You know, the whole growing-stuff deal. So, have you seen Harry Potter?"

Hermes blinked. "Err, I didn't know a hairy potter lived around here."

"Oh.. oh well!" Zephyr declared bubbly, taking a seat on an adjacent rock. "I think I'll wait here with you a while. Say, do you have a mirror I could borrow?"

After what seemed, quite literally, like an eternity, the South Wind arrived, and the West Wind wandered off to - as Hermes understood - suck on elves.



Notus sauntered in, slouching with a sort of indifferent nonchalance. He was chewing gum, his jaw moving almost mechanically up and down. The air grew noticeably warmer. More humid, too.

Hermes swatted a mosquito and fanned himself, regarding the arriving wind with reservations. Summer. Blech. Hey, when do you think Winter will be along?"

Notus offered a shrug in reply. Except it couldn't be really called a shrug. More of a half shrug. Or a one third shrug. "Dunno. After Autumn?"

Hermes pondered this. "Gee, that's helpful, Notus... Hey. Your dress is too small. And too.. like, neon orange."

The wind changed his stance, settling comfortably into one hip. "It's not a dress. And I usually go by Angel... Or sometimes Aladdin."

Hermes digested this. "Right. Oh look, it's time for me to go get Persephone, now. Bye No-um, Al..."





Hermes did the usual fleeing thing, and ran right into Eurus. "Ouch.. you know, that foot-in-head thing is really not as much fun as it looks," he informed the East Wind testily. "You guys are all over.. I just left Alad-I mean I just left Notus."

Eurus' eyes widened. "Notus? You didn't by any chance ask him if he had been to the South Pole recently, huh?"

Hermes blinked, eyeing Eurus. "Can't say I did. Why do you care about the South..." he trailed off, noticing the stuffed penguin tucked underneath the wind's arm. "Right. Gotcha."

Eurus lifted the penguin onto his head enthusiastically and thrust one wing at bewildered Hermes. "Say hi to Pete! Do you like penguins?"

Hermes clasped the han-the wing-dubiously. "They're all right... I rather prefer ducks, though. With green heads. The shiny kind, yah know."

"Ducks?" scoffed Eurus, cackling slightly. And then he began dancing about in a way that was oddly creepy, proclaiming, "Goody-goody-two-shoes, goody-goody-two-shoes..."

Hermes inched away from the wind. "I'm going to go fetch Persephone now." A reason to escape! Who would have ever thought this job had perks? Leaves were beginning to turn gold and crimson as Hermes pivoted and took off.

"Ook!" the wind called to the messenger's retreating back.



Persephone wriggled out of Hermes grasp and flounced in front of him on the way to the Underworld, chattering away happily. "And then see, I'll get to wear my tiara again! Well, at least until Spring..."

Hermes raised one brow. Once the whole debacle had been settled, Persephone had seemed quite contented with her role. Of course, being Queen of the Underworld wasn't exactly the worst fate in the world. No, that would be Hermes' fate. In one certain opinion, at least.

When they reached the gates, Hermes was happy to get rid of the babbling child. He bid her farewell and wandered off to wait for Winter to arrive, so he could return to his task of playing chauffeur for Persephone. Goody.

Hermes had drifted off to sleep when a stray snowflake landed on his nose and roused him from his nap. (A messenger must be a light sleeper) He opened one eye and came face to face with Boreas.

"Eeesh!" Hermes proclaimed eloquently. "Don't do that, it's creepy."

'Sorry," apologized the North Wind. "But have you seen my palmetto bug? I've lost it."

"Erm, no... Hey, why are you wearing a wedding veil?" Hermes blinked a bit. "Is my name... Kathy?"

Boreas stared at Hermes, "No. And you're singing in three keys at the same time."

Hermes looked indignant. "I'm not singing!"

"Well," amended Boreas, smiling smugly, "You're thinking in three keys."

Hermes shook his head slowly, and pulled one sandal on. "Righto." The other sandal followed. "You have fun..." he lifted his hat, and flew off to Mount Olympus. Then, remembering he was supposed to be getting Persephone, he altered course for Hades.



A poor landing wrenched Hermes' ankle in a way that joints just shouldn't be bent. One of Hades minions, watching from nearby, winced. "Have you considered orthotics?"

Hermes stroked his imaginary beard thoughtfully.. "Hey... now there's an idea. I just might! Tell Persephone to hurry up, will you?"

After a moment, Persephone walked out to join Hermes. "Spring already? Just when I was spending some quality time with my tiara." A sniff.

Hermes pulled the girl by one arm. "Yes, quite tragic. Now come along, I have an errand to run after I get rid, I mean after I deliver you to your mother." He smiled to himself. Bwa ha ha. Orthotics. Take that, Zeus!