Crafting a Blessing

The three goddesses followed the movements of the three girls below as they moved to the bath. Aphrodite scratched her head.

"These don't sound like devoted priestesses to me."

"No, obviously not." Athena said. "But I must admit this is the most accurate ritual of its kind I've seen in centuries." Hera looked back towards the main party. Hermes was just starting to warm the crowd up for Zeus's big speech. They could spare her a while longer. "What do you think?" The three looked at each other and shrugged. Why not?

As was only appropriate, Hera started them off. "I can help the bride find common ground with the groom's mother." She perused the girl's memories of past encounters with her." I don't think she realizes how much they're alike. Honestly, this isn't even a challenge." She cackled. "I'll have them teaming up against her fiancé in no time. As for fertility," she shook her head "I can't be expected to ignore prayers that well drawn,"

"She's on The Pill," Aphrodite interjected. Hera waved her hand dismissively. "Not an issue."

"Come on, give her a break," Aphrodite whined.

"All right," Hera said, giving in. "I suppose I could live with just one pregnancy. I haven't done triplets in a while." The others nodded. Hera wasn't in the habit of compromising. "OK, the next was a career request. Athena?" Athena leaned in to look more closely at the other blonde's ambition.

"I admire her perseverance. Unfortunately, she's broken so many oaths sworn against future awards I could never grant her main request." She reached into the water and passed her hand through the girl's chest, pulling out and fingering various threads of fate until she found one that hadn't been singed at the end. "She's never sworn on a Cleo."

"A what?"

"They're for commercials. And she's already acted in one on her own." She held out her arm and a large owl descended upon her wrist. "Glaucus here can pull her head shots through the dreams of a few Mad Men. We'll see where it goes. I can't guarantee anything." Hera patted her arm.

"It's not your fault. She didn't leave you much to work with." She turned to Aphrodite. "Last of all, a simple request for love."

Aphrodite looked down at the brunette. She remained silent. After a few minutes, Hera realized she wasn't concentrating. She was sulking.

"Aphrodite, you're up." She groaned and shook her head.

"You know I make it a rule to reward beauty."

"Tell that to Psyche," Athena muttered. Aphrodite shot her a dark look then looked back down.

"Well, this one knows her place, unlike Psyche. She honors true beauty properly when she sees it. I like that" She held her chin in her hand and nodded. "I can throw her a pity blessing." She abandoned her tempting yet awkward pose and settled comfortably before the water's edge. She gave Hera a beseeching look. "I need to know more about this Sheldon Cooper to make this work."

"Very well. Let's take a look at her heart's desire." She splashed the image and a new scene came into view as the waters calmed. They watched as a tall, thin man came into view, manipulating a half-finished geometric shape on the table before him. Hera tilted her head and looked at Athena. "Did I hear wrong? I thought he was a barrel maker."

"No, names don't work that way anymore. This one looks like an artist." She shook her head. "Not a very good one."

"Oh, goody. I love artists!" Aphrodite chirped. "All angsty and full of sexual dysfunctions! I love playing with them." Aphrodite reached down and swept a hand through his liver. She frowned. She drew her fingers through his heart. She frowned again.

"What's the matter?" Hera asked. "Is he gay?"

"No, that wouldn't be insurmountable for me but… I can't…" She threw her hands up, splashing the others as they leaned in. "There's nothing here!"

"Nothing?" Hera didn't try to hide her annoyance as she brushed the water off her samite robes.

"Nothing I normally go for. Nothing, you know…" she clenched her fists and drew them down to her belly "…lustful." Athena looked askance at her.

"Can't you just let Eros shoot an arrow at him?" Aphrodite jumped to her feet.

"Don't tell me how to do my job! I'm not stupid! There's nothing for the arrow to hit!" Hermes stopped the sight gag with the lyre and looked over, concerned. Hera shushed her and pulled on the end of her toga.

"Sit down. Don't make a scene. Are you saying you need some help?"

"I can do it." She sat back down and continued swiping at the man. When she didn't let up the man began shivering with every pass.

"Aphrodite…" Hera said warningly. She finally sat back and wiped her hands off on the grass.

"I suppose a second opinion couldn't hurt." Hera nodded and reached in to sweep his heart.

"I don't know what you're complaining about. Maybe no eros but plenty of philia in here. See, here; His friends are all there, even the one he calls a 'treasured acquaintance'." Aphrodite grunted and waved her hand dismissively. Hera continued. "Yes, I admit I still don't see any passion but the girl is in there. In fact, she has the strongest philia of all next to someone named Leonard… Storge for his brother, his sister, his best friend's mother for some reason. He has a strong sense of agape for his mother and grandmother.

"Ooh, that could be useful". Aphrodite grinned. "You can always twist mother love around." Then the confusion returned to her face. "But I still don't see any sexual fantasies, do you?" Hera wiggled her fingers and the man squirmed some more and burped. A series of static images of imaginary comic heroines and movie actresses floated to the surface of the water.

"What about these?"

"No, that's no help. He doesn't play with them at all." Hera creased her eyebrows.

"Are you certain he's not gay?"

"Yes! These have the right 'color' attached. He admires them at least. Most of the male images are tinged with envy." She sat back and looked to Athena to speak next, but she just sat there looking smug. Aphrodite reddened and glared at her but Athena only arched an eyebrow. Hera intervened.

"Athena? If you're not too busy?" Athena graciously inclined her head and swept her hand through his head. This time it was too much. He jumped up and began batting at his ears while he shook his head violently. They could hear him babbling about ladybugs.

"Wow. He's not an artist he's… WOW, I'm starting to see what she sees in him." Glaucus hooted and hopped up to her shoulder.

"Athena! Focus."

"Yes, yes." She took a breath and composed herself. "His head is full of her. Much more than the man, Leonard. He's annoyed she won't answer his texts while she's hanging out with the girls tonight. Even now he's thinking of the next conversation he wants to have with her. Vexillology. Lucky girl! I don't think she needs any more help."

"Obviously, she does. Look deeper."

"He's constantly thinking about his schedule and he's determined to win a Nobel Prize. All other interests are subordinate." She looked at Aphrodite, who looked confused. "That means not as important." Aphrodite narrowed her eyes, suspecting she'd just been insulted. "He did have a very strong negative reaction when he mistook an outing with a man as sexual. She wasn't wrong about the reason behind his reaction there. So you don't need to make him notice her, just change his state of mind."

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Hera said, "but I don't see this occurring naturally." Athena shook her head. "No, you're right. He's too comfortable with the relationship as it stands. It's not impossible, though. The girl just needs to know which buttons to push." She folded her arms confidently. "I can give her the strategy to move from philia to agape. I'm positive."

"Yes, but the eros?" Aphrodite waved her arms. Athena pursed her lips.

"Hmm."

"Could we ramp up the jealousy?" Hera asked. "You said even now he's annoyed that she's spending time with the girls instead of him, how would he feel about more men in her life?" Athena shook her head.

"I don't think she's the kind of girl to run around gathering wild oats". Aphrodite rejoined the conversation.

"Maybe not, but she's loosened up a lot lately. If I can get some men to approach her she might at least be receptive." She clapped her hands excitedly. "I'll send in Eros to enflame her libido, just enough to get her to leave her comfort zone. Then…"

Suddenly a golden apple sailed over the wall and fell before their feet.