Hestia was, in fact, not having a good time.
She was having a great time.
Standing on a stool, she was currently stuffing her face with the high-quality cakes and foodstuffs of the Ganesha's banquet. She had utterly no shame as she gorged herself on the free food. She thought of how she could ferry it out for her familia as she took another bite of a fluffy cupcake.
But she didn't come here to gorge herself, no. She came here with a purpose. A purpose that was just temporarily put on hold for the time being, that was all.
Snatching a biscuit and quickly stuffing in her cheeks, Hestia was nothing if not diligent in making sure to savour the food that was most likely, in her mind, to be thrown away.
"Enjoying yourself?" A low voice teased behind her and it was one that she knew quite well. She turned around to see her old friend, Hephaestus staring down at her with a raised brow.
"Hephaestus!" Hestia called out in greeting, with her mouth full of food.
"Hestia, please at least swallow your food before trying to speak," The red-headed Goddess said dryly, daintily holding a glass of sparkling champagne in her hand. Hestia swallowed, albeit a bit reluctantly. Stepping down from her stool, she beamed up at the dubious-looking Goddess, smiling brightly.
"The answer is no." Hephaestus said, seeing her look, those simple words were thrown as bluntly as a brick through the window and one could almost hear the shattering of Hestia's smile.
"I-I didn't even say anything!" Hestia cries out,
"But you're going to ask for something. I know that look," Hephaestus pointed out and Hestia had no argument, choking out half-formed words, "And the answer is no. You are not getting a single valis off of me."
"W-Well good because I wasn't going to ask about that!" Hestia said with a smidgen of pride, "My Familia has actually been making a lot of money!"
"Legitimately?" Hephaestus asked.
Hestia nodded with a twinge of her eyebrow through the almost playful jab, beaming at the taller Goddess,
"Of course! Just the other day, my Familia managed to earn 20,000" Hestia said with pride
Hephaestus' single brow rose at the small Goddess, acting proud as she ignored the arrogant snickering of other Gods. For almost everyone here, 20,000 valis was little more than pocket change. For Hephaestus, one of the richer Gods in Orario, it was even less than that.
"I guess credit where credit is due. That's not bad for a single Familia member." Hephaestus said with lips turned up nonetheless,
"Ah, it's actually two well three technically," Hestia said almost by instinct and the single eye of Hephaestus widened slightly in surprise.
"Oh? two after your first, I'm impressed" The way Hephaestus said it made it obvious to Hestia that she wasn't expecting her to actually look for another Familia member, let alone two.
"Hehe...Well, you know. This and that happened…" Hestia said bashful, twirling one of her long twin-tails with her finger,
"This and that?" Hephaestus looked at her,
"It's...complicated?" Hestia said with uncertainty, putting an end to that line of questioning before she was forced to reveal, publicly, that it wasn't actually through her own efforts that she managed to gain another member but through Bell and his luck.
Hephaestus looked sceptical at the twin-tailed Goddess but decided to take the rather obvious hint from her friend.
"If you say so, Hestia. Hopefully, you haven't taken in someone troublesome at least." Hephaestus said while taking a sip, Hestia didn't really have an answer for that, but she smiled with just a tiny bit of strain nonetheless. She wasn't really sure how to classify her second child besides a few words and she felt like 'troublesome' only half fit.
"This is fun, never know parties could have this much food" the two goddess turn to see their fellow goddess Nike with two plates full of food.
"Nike, when did you get here?" Hephaestus said in surprise, giving Nike a one hand hug as they embraced in greeting.
"Just got down here, it's been great, got to know new people, eat delicious food, and now I have a new job" Nike said, happy to be here and be invited.
"A new job, already" Hephaestus asked, looking at her as Nike showed off her new shoes.
"New shoes, found out how much people wear these and got into the business, made this myself, even made Hestia's too" Nike pointed out as Hestia smiles showing off her new shoes as well. The other gods and goddess like what they're seeing, the shoes or the feet, either way gods were looking at them.
"I didn't even notice those shoes Hestia, they look great on you" Hephaestus complemented, Hestia smiled at the compliment.
"And you made this Nike?, you think you can make one of me?" Hephaestus praised looking at the shoes, Nike nodding.
"Absolutely, just come to Nike's shoes and I will give you the best pair" Nike smiles while showing off her shoes, Hestia raises an eyebrow.
"Isn't it called Shoes for all? Finch is still in charge" Hestia asked having seen the shop's sign.
"Not yet Hestia, soon it will one day be called Nike's shoes," Nike said, Nike will change that name to the shoe store. Hestia signs at her Nike's attitude until she remembers what she was going to do.
"Hey, Hephaestus. Can I ask you something?" Hestia asked her,
"If it's about borrowing valis-" Hephaestus was going to deny
"Geez, come on! It isn't anything like," Hestia tried very, very hard to hide the fact that she was going to ask for something else later, but one thing at a time she told herself.
"I want to ask if-" Hestia was cut off by the click-clacking of high heels hitting the marble floor could be heard getting closer and a sort of hush fell over all of the Gods present. Out of the corner of her eye, Hestia noticed a flash of long hair spun from silver threads and she didn't even bother to hide her grimace.
A woman approached Hestia and Hephaestus and like all God's, she was inhumanly beautiful. But even amongst them, she was simply too alluring. Her silver hair reached her lower back and it waved in the air like a river of argentite threads. Her expensive bright white dress hugged her womanly proportions perfectly, but she could've been wearing nothing more than dirty rags and still draw the attention of her fellow Gods.
This woman smiled warmly at Hestia and Hephaestus, a smile that could have captured the heart of any mortal but only served to irritate Hestia.
"Still as close as ever, I see."
"Freya?" Hestia said with a confused frown at the approaching Goddess who simply smiled back.
"Am I bothering you, Hestia?" Freya asked her, already knowing the answer but likes to ask.
"...I guess not," She said slowly, still frowning, "I just don't like you."
Instead of being offended, the unearthly Goddess simply laughed and the sound caused reactions in some of the closer Gods, in more ways than one.
"That's what I like about you, Hestia. That honesty."
Hestia crossed her arms, unconvinced. She almost rolled her eyes at Freya's attitude but managed to stop herself. Goddess' like Freya who flaunted their beauty and wealth, making the children of the lower world swoon with nothing more than a whispered word. Even Gods weren't immune to such heavenly charms.
"Wow, you must be Freya," Nike said in awe, first time seeing the beautiful goddess.
"Yes, and your Nike if I'm not mistaken" Freya looked at the new god as she smiled that made Nike blush.
"You are not mistaken, it's lovely to meet you" Nike said, blushing at the interactions with Freya.
"You too, and I love your shoes" Freya said, looking at the shoes.
"Why thank you Freya, if you want I can set up a few shoes for you" Nike offered, Freya gave her a beautiful smile.
"I like that Nike" Freya nods at the new shoes, making Nike blush at the sight, to the jealousy of other gods
The thoughts of Magnus, Bell or even Pebble being swayed by the Goddess made Hestia jaw clench after watching Nike be charmed by Freya and she felt a small sense of relief that maybe Magnus' suspicion about the Gods would win out their seduction.
"Oi! Loli Big Tits!" An irritating voice made Hestia's mood turn truly sour. She could recognize that shrill, skull-drilling voice anywhere. She saw a thin figure walk from the crowds of Gods toward her, dressed in a black dress that could've rivalled Freya's dress if it wasn't for the wearer's lack of womanly assets.
Loki approached her, but there was certain forcefulness to her step and an edge to her strained smirk. Her closed eyes almost seemed to be on the verge of opening ever so slightly. Her fists were clenched as she approached Hestia, staring down at her.
"What do you want, Loki?" Hestia snapped out. Feeling the air around the two burns, Freya looked on in bemusement while Hephaestus simply exhaled, placing a hand on hip and Nike looking at the two in shock and surprise.
Other Gods started to take notice and bets were placed on the seemingly inevitable brawl between Hestia and Loki. Their distaste for each other was almost legendary even in the heavens.
"Well, it's a celebration for one, Itty Bitty. It ain't so weird to greet old friends, yeah?" Loki all but said through gritted teeth. Conveniently, she ignored the other three Goddesses and it was at this point that Hestia noticed something off about Loki.
This wasn't how Loki would normally act. The smug Trickster Goddess wouldn't act so aggressive from the get-go.
"And well, I heard that a certain thieving Loli Big Tits was comin' to this little gatherin and I just had to say somethin' to her!" Loki glares at Hestia.
"T-Thieving!?" Hestia blurted out, shocked at the accusation thrown at her.
"Yeah, thieving!" Loki snapped, glowering at Hestia for a moment before quickly shaking her head, "Gah, dammit! Out of every God that would've taken them, he just had to choose you, didn't he?!" Loki continues, taking another drink while glaring at the goddess in question.
"ohhhh you stole from Loki, that's cool, what did you steal?" Nike gets excited like the other gods and goddess around them.
There was something in Loki's words that suddenly clicked in Hestia's mind. To her knowledge, she hadn't stolen anything from Loki nor would she ever lower herself to do.
Except Loki wasn't talking about an object. But a person.
"Are you talking about Magnus?" Hestia realised, which got a few reactions from other gods.
"You got Magnus from Loki?" Nike asked, not sure what's happening.
"Magnus? The magic boy with the gauntlets?" Hephaestus said, getting a look from both Loki and Hestia, while Freya smiles as well.
The other gods and goddess heard and started muttering about our favourite battle mage.
"Damn right I am! Oh sure, I had a bit to drink and might've come on a bit strong," Loki groused out aloud, drawing far more attention
"But da kids just Leveled up! And that cute little golem as well, seeing that little thing dancing was adorable and watching Magnus snuggle with it was so precious, and yet Magnus nearly stabbed me" Loki whines to the gods and goddess gasped.
"He what?" Hestia said in surprise, sure she was aware Magnus might have met a god or two but to stab one?
"My my, what an exciting child you claimed Hestia '' Freya smiles in interest, never that mortal threatening a god, much less do an action against them.
They all spoke out loud, making some of the Gods whisper among themselves. The Gods, above all else, craved entertainment.
Whether that comes from the children of the lower world or amongst themselves mattered little. They were also greedy beings, always on the prowl for the unknown and hoarding it to themselves.
And Magnus proved to me quite the mortal.
There was a reason why Hestia didn't want to talk about Magnus or Pebble. But it seems her rival had other plans. Despite this, Hestia couldn't help the almost triumphant grin spread face. She didn't know how Loki managed to find out or why Magnus refused to join one of Orario's strongest Familia. It's possible that he just didn't know.
But the bottom line was simple; Someone would rather join Hestia's Familia than Loki's.
Sorry Magnus, Hestia thought to herself with resignation.
"Hmph," Hestia let out a huff of pure and utter haughtiness, her eyes gleaming as she placed her arms under her full breasts, making Loki's face twitch,
"Maybe he thought you were a man offering him something else. With a body like yours, who could blame him?"
"You damned shrimp!"
"You're right about Pebble, he is so adorable, you should have seen the little shoes Nike's boss made for him. And I get to snuggle with him all day and night. And so smart too, always helping me and brightening my day, maybe I'll even dress him up later" Hestia brags to Loki, Loki grits her teeth in jealousy.
"You are dead Loli" In no short order, a scuffle broke out between the two Goddesses once again and bets were once again placed.
"Oh bother," Hephaestus sighed out as Hestia and Loki fought. All the while, Freya simply smiled and watched.
"Are they always like this?" Nike has heard about the rivalry but this.
"More than you were led to believe" Hephaestus said watching the fight.
The scuffle was over soon enough and Hestia rubbed her aching cheeks which Loki had squeezed. Despite that, the smug smile she gave was bright as she watched Loki storm off in a huff, red in the face and clenching her fists.
"Stupid brat! I'll get you back for this!" Loki calls out walking away.
"Heh," Hestia smirked, pulling herself up from the floor. Despite the indignity of it all, Hestia couldn't be more proud.
"Even now, you two still fight," Hephaestus said with a shake of her head,
"But at least you two didn't fight to the death this time. I guess that first child of yours really changed you, the one with the white hair and red eyes, right? What was his name?" Hephaestus trying to recalled
"Well, I'm not the only one that has changed," Hestia admitted, thinking about Loki. Their fights in the past used to be much more violent and chaotic than this little scuffle
The children of the lower world seemed to have that effect on the Gods, more often than not.
"Their fights get this bad?" Nike asked Freya to chuckle to herself.
"They actually last longer Nike, that was the shortest one this record" Freya chuckles to herself in memory.
"And you're talking about Bell. He's my pride and joy," Hestia said without hesitation, puffing out her chest in pride. Freya watched Hestia, peering at her as she finished the rest of her drink.
"Doesn't Magnus have white hair too?" Nike said recalling the mage, with Hephaestus nodding
"And what of your second child? This Magnus sounds very interesting, to strike a god, and make a golem, he sounds very gifted" Freya asked with a smile that set Hestia on edge, wiping away her smugness just a tiny bit.
"Ahaha...that's Magnus for you, always full of surprises," Hestia said to Freya, desperately trying to think of a way out
"He probably didn't know who Loki was though, he created his golem from nothing, and thought Loki was trying to steal him, Pebble's very precious to him" Hestia said trying to downplay the event.
"Oh? You're being awfully cagey, Hestia. Surely you could tell us more?" Freya asked with a smile
"Not to you," Hestia said bluntly with a mild glare at Freya's soft giggle,
"I wouldn't ask you anything private about your Familia."
"This is why I like you, Hestia," Freya said with a gentle smile, placing down her glass, "Then I'll take my leave."
"So soon? But you got here Freya" Nike asked, seeing her leave.
"I've already got what I wanted," Freya answered with an immaculate turn,
"And I've already had a taste of the men here. There's no point staying any longer. I'll see you later about those shoes Nike, I love their design" Freya spoke to Nike, who smiled at getting another goddess to buy Flinch's shoes; It was a chill that went down the spine of every God there after hearing her when she's taking her leave.
Hestia watched her leave with slightly squinted eyes as she ascended the stairs to the upper level. With the Goddess of Love gone, Hestia finally relaxed.
"When you received your first child, you wouldn't shut up about it to me," Hephaestus said to Hestia, looking down at her with a thoughtful crease on her brow,
"But then again you got Magnus of all mortals, so I can understand you keeping it a secret" Hephaestus said as Hestia got curious.
"How do you know Magnus?" Hestia asked, wanting to know how Hephaestus signs after taking a drink.
"Well it was a few months ago, one of my children came to me with an adventurer named Magnus, apparently Magnus came to her with a dagger make of some kind of monster bone of all things, my child wanted me to get a second look at it" Hephaestus recalled the day one of her familia came to her office with a strange Adventurers in a green hoodie holding a bone like dagger, Hestia and Nike pay full attention as the other gods did their own thing while still talking about Magnus.
"It was something I had never seen before, no monster could make a drop item as a weapon, when I asked him where he got, he said from the dungeon, and nothing more. The dagger was remarkable, the bone somehow absorb blood to sharpen itself and when it broke it used blood to repair itself, stronger than before, even grow another one" Hephaestus remembers that dagger, recalling the blade sharpen with a drop of blood and repair itself when Magnus broke a piece of it and smear blood on it.
"It was a fascinating weapon, never seen anything like it. I'd offer a fortune for one piece of it" Hephaestus signs moaning, welling to pay whatever for a bone piece.
Material that can repair and improve itself when fighting, something Hephaestus would love nothing more than to experiment on.
"Fortune?" Both Hestia and Nike asked simultaneously.
"How much exactly" Hestia asked her,
"Maybe ten million or even more," Hephaestus said, willing to pay more for a chance to study it.
"Ten million?!" Both goddesses said in shock, was the material worth that much.
"Magnus could have had ten million!" Hestia said in shock, Magnus would be super rich compared to most familias.
"He said no to all my offers" Hephaestus said, shocking them again, they have been getting a lot of surprises today.
"Why would he…?" Hestia couldn't believe her ears, Magnus was offered more than a fortune and yet.
"Did you ask why he said no?" Nike said, wanting to know more.
"When I offer for just a piece of that weapon, he looked right at the blade, looking so intensely at the blade like he wasn't in the room then he look frighten before saying no, when I asked he said whatever fortune I offer won't help him in the long run and he left taking the weapon with him" Hephaestus signs, recalling the event of Magnus taking the bones and leaving why she tries to offer what adventurers could only dream of.
Yet to Magnus it wasn't worth it, her. Hephaestus, goddess of the forge, wasn't worth it. That hurt her pride more than anything else.
This made Magnus even more mysterious than before to Hestia, sure she knew he was weird and a little insane going in the dungeon without a familia much less an excella but to say no to a fortune from Hephaestus.
Where did Magnus get such a weapon and what did he do with it?
"But enough of that, what did you want to ask me?" Hephaestus asked Hestia with a heavy stare.
Hestia gulped and gave her dear friend a shaky smile.
LINE
Nearby gods and goddesses were gossiping and chatting away.
"I hear Hermes is back" One god said, seeing the cowboy god around.
"I heard he got a monster disease in his travels, and can spread when you speak to him" Another god said seeing Hermes trying to talk to a few gods or goddesses but they all turn him away to his confusion.
"You hear about that clown that drops paint bombs all over the city" Another god mentions, recalling the clown making a mockery of everyone.
"hahahaha that was hilarious" a god said, remembering seeing people covered in pink or blue paint, with a few other gods or goddesses laughing.
"That's not funny, my familia came back early all covered in purple paint, wasting a day home instead of the dungeon" one goddess complained, as well as a few others who suffer from the clown's pranks.
"When are they doing to catch that criminal?" one god asked, not liking the clown making a joke of his familia and himself.
"I want to know whose familia he belongs to?" One goddess said, wanting to give the god a piece of her mind for ruining her day.
Nearby Dinoysus and Demeter were watching everything with a look of amazement.
"Surprised Magnus went to Hestia of all gods" Demeter said having heard of an adventurer that denied Loki and nearly killed her,
Rumours spread around about Magnus and his cute little Golem, some say he was abandoned by his familia and has to repent, other stay he was a survivor from Zeus or Hera familia.
Some say Magnus was half monster which is why he runs in the dungeon so much because it is his home, either way God and Goddess saw something unique and they wanted it.
Gods and Goddess send their familia members to seek him out or at least get that little golem, like Loki said the little golem is too cute and would be the envy of every other fellow gods.
But Magnus always said no, and Gods have never been denied of things they want. Which made Magnus more valuable.
However Magnus also works with a Plague doctor, mortals that can investigate and if needed disband a familia, someone that kept the gods from doing anything too drastic. Otherwise they would have done more to recruit Magnus.
"Yes, shame I was hoping to recruit him, someone like him could have helped my familia" Dionysus said, only having one familia member in his familia and would have loved to add Magnus.
"I personally would rather have a little golem, I only saw it once and couldn't help myself" Demeter said, wanting the little golem like every other goddess when first seeing the little guy run and dance, each imagining Pebble in different clothes.
Demeter would love to have the little golem in her bosom, she is so jealous of Hestia.
"Of course even I admit the little golem is cute running around" Dionysus agrees with her, seeing a little doll so life-like is encaptivating; a servant comes to them offering food, getting their attention.
"Why thank you" Dionysus said politely with Demeter nodding, both eating the food being offered and loving it.
"Now this is good food" Demeter said, happily eating the whole thing with Dionysus nodding.
"Didn't expect this, excuse me, sorry but what is this?" Dionysus asked the servant, wanting to know the food it was, never tasting anything like this.
"Glad you like it, something of my own making you see, just a mix of broccoli, cauliflower, garlic onions and a little coffee to top it off" the servants explain as he offers more which the gods took another.
"My complements then" Dionysus said, eating another as does Demeter nodding.
"Happy you like it, it brings me great joy to see your reactions" the servant smiles before walking away and offers others the finger food.
As the two gods finished their meal they felt strange, something in their bowels were hurting.
"Dionysus I don't feel too good" Demeter holds her stomach in pain with Dionysus not far behind.
Others god and goddess as well suffer the same, each of them holding their stomachs in pain as they all groan in pain.
"What's happening?"
"My stomach"
"Were the toilets?! I got to go!" A god started running to the toilet with others following behind him.
Ganesha looks around to see half of his guests holding their stomach and going to the toilet while some stop and look embarrassed.
"What's going on?" Ganesha asked, looking around as the gods and goddess were suffering diarrhea.
"What's in your food Ganesha?" A god asked him as he looks confused,
"Nothing out of the ordinary" Ganesha said, trying one of the foods, and eating it, the food tasted good.
"There is nothing wrong with the….!" until he felt his stomach turn as well.
"Oh no" Ganesha said, holding his guts.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
Everybody turns to see the servant holding the food laughing out loud while holding the stray.
"Hope you gods like the food, I made it myself Hahahahahhaah '' The servant laughs, going to the table and pulling the tablecloth without moving any dish or anything out of place.
A trick that would have gotten applause but gods were too preoccupied right now.
The servant does a few tricks with the table cloth, spinning it around and over himself, before throwing it away revealing the clown that is causing all the trouble.
Samenti the Jester
"Hahahahahaha" Samenti laughed as the gods and goddess groaned in pain and embarrassment.
"Get himmmm, ohh shit" Ganesha shouted before running to the toilet as well as Ganesha familia all ran to capture Samenti who laughed.
"hahaha well hate to eat and run, but duty calls, hahaha, till next time hahaha" Samenti jokes as he starts running away with the Ganesha familia after him, leaving the groaning gods and goddess to suffer diarrhea.
Truly a banquet to remember.
LINE
Bell was sleeping soundly in bed, having a long day of going in the dungeon and now has time to sleep, he snuggles in the blanket over him as he gets more comfortable in the bed.
Hydrobomb
SPLASH
"AHHHHHHHH" Bell shouted out, water covering him as he got out of the bed screaming his head off.
"Good you up, come on Bell, get dressed" Magnus said as he was already dressed as Bell looked wide awake before looking at Magnus.
"Why did you do that, Magnussss?!" Bell complains to him as Pebble lets out a laugh watching Bell waking up on Magnus' shoulder.
"We have a mission Bell, remember Flinch said Kraft has a mission for us, so get up and get dressed will ah" Magnus said, walking out of the room as Bell sign, already awake.
"I'm still wet Magnus," Bell complains, opening the door.
Fireball
A small fire ball surrounded him as he screamed ducking under the fire, feeling the heat as he stood up scared.
"You dry now or you want more heat" Magnus called out as Bell panicked.
"NO no no all dry thank you" Bell shouted as he quickly got change out of his clothes.
Walking down the stairs he sees Magnus making toast with butter on it, handing a slice to Bell, Bell takes a big bite of it.
"Come on Bell, Kraft leaving soon, breakfast on the go, let's move" Magnus said as he grabs the food with Pebble eating his on Magnus shoulder as Bell follows Magnus.
"Why did you splash water on me?" Bell asked, eating his food following Magnus.
"It got you up straight away and we need to move" Magnus shrugs as Bell looks around to see it still at night.
"What time is it?" Bell asked, looking around to see the streets are empty beside a few people.
"Early in the morning, Kraft leaves early to beat the morning traffic, he should be leaving now" Magnus explains as Bell follows him.
"Why do we have to go on a quest anyway, wouldn't going to the dungeon get more valis" Bell asked, confused on why they're doing a quest instead of going to the dungeon.
Adventurers get more money hunting monsters than doing quests, that's the main reason not many go on quests.
"Because these more benefits to doing quests then only valis my young friend, some quests have special rewards you can't get in the dungeon not to mention it will help Hestia reputations" Magnus explains as they walk.
"Really? How?" Bell asked him, willing to do anything to help his goddess.
"Doing this quest will increase the familiar reputations, which means more notice to Hestia, which means more members, better equipment, the works, Bell" Magnus smiles as he explains it to Bell.
Getting more involved with the public will help out the familiar in more ways than one.
Bell smiles, now understanding the benefits of questing as he quickly follows Magnus to do his first quest.
This is going to be exciting.