So this entire arc was based off a roleplay based on a version of this verse with my lovely girlfriend, Vestrais. The very end bit I had to tie up on my own, but nonetheless it was fun to write with her. Some of it has been edited to help smooth it out a bit.

This is set a long while after Tory and Ash got together and even after Itisha's discovery of her own lingering Ash issues.

The Dishonor on your Cow Arc also introduces some new characters of Vestrais' creation: Kyknos and Albeiro

"Protect her. I need to make sure she grows to meet my son."

"I think I stand out just a little bit."

"No more than her, really."

"I guess. So I know what she looks like, how will I know what he looks like?"

"Oh you will know. Plus between your personality and gifts from Aphrodite, he won't be as likely to shove you away."

"Are you trying to hook me up or this Tory?"

"Polyamory is not unheard of."

"No, but people don't like to share, Polly. People certainly don't want me. Not like that anyway. Thanks though. I will keep an eye out for Tory. Maybe when she gets older I can make it easier on myself and meet her. At least the age thing won't stand out too much."

"Thank you, Ghost."

Itisha frowned as she run her fingers through her bangs to ruffle them up after realizing she put the hair behind her ear again. A nervous habit she desperately wanted to end. There was a scowl the memory of that order still had a bite to it even now. Long white hair was bound up in a braid and coiled and pinned into a partial bun, the tail of it tucked and a fountain of hair coming out the center in curls. What else was she going to do with that much hair?

"C'mon Tory, where are you?" Itisha muttered softly. Course the woman knew her real name. They both bonded over mutually off the wall names. Tory and Tish were what they called each other. A hand tugged a little at the sleeves of her black coat and smoothed the black shirt as she studied the Quarter. This was so not her traditional color selection of clothes. At least not much as of late. Still, for whatever reason 'Polly asked her to wear it.

Of course at the moment, Itisha had delegated one of her hands to hooking her fingers through the straps of her boots, leaving her currently barefooted as she waited for her friend to meet up with her. Frankly unless she had to go inside somewhere, the woman hated shoes. Hated cars too. Which meant somehow she got there first on her motorcycle in an effort to get out of traffic as quickly as possible.

Pale eyes closed as she leaned her head back against a brick wall before she felt her skin crawl. An aggravated sigh as she straightened, "Really? Really guys? Couldn't take a day off or something?" She muttered as she saw a tall group of three runway-model quality men stalking through a group of people. One of them landed their gaze on her and she sighed and started approaching them.

"Look, I am going to give you a heads-up now. I don't play nice. If you don't move your asses, people are going to think you lit yourself on fire with your lighter there on accident and it will be very embarrassing for all of you. Go home, take a night off, I have shit to do and little patience to do it with." Was she agitated about this day finally coming up? Probably. This was so more of Eros' territory and nothing in her own. Of course that agitation spilled off her as they started to slightly surround her, sneering at her.

"No? Well, if you insist on the hard way." She lifted her free hand and snatched the lit cigarette out of the mouth of the one and flicked it at them. The cherry should have just brushed off of them, but instead it caught on the hair of the one and they screamed as their hair caught on fire and they flailed to try and put it out. "Mm, shoulda used heat protection there, buddy."

And she flicked the cherry-less cigarette at another Daimon and watched him reflexively back up as the flaming hair somehow caught onto his. A look at the last one who stared wide-eyed and she leaned forward and whispered, "Boo." And he screamed and ran. A flick of her fingers and the back pocket exploded into flames. It was a good thing it was somewhat quiet. Course at this rate, no one would see it. An illusion still there of a snow-haired woman leaning on a wall. Helped really, especially when she made sure the flames flashed hot and fast, engulfing the three and they became a smoldering dust. The fire vanishing and she shifts and leans against the wall again as the illusion vanishes. "Good Mushu." She murmurs to herself. A gold and red scale mail flower in her hair being the only bit she allowed of her colors in her outfit.

In the dark corner of another alleyway a man appears from nothing though if any had been looking in that instant they'd swear to seeing the after image of a glowing swan with wings spread in the same place. The amber and gold beads in the black and silver hair glimmer as he looks around before cursing under his breath. He'd been told she'd be here, dammit.

Eyes a blue so deep as to be black close as he focuses, gaining his bearings in this new place. The short black chiton with its amber colored stitching melts away to be replaced with a pair of black jeans and a plain black tshirt. The only bit of clothing that remains the same are the amber and black sandals bound nearly to his knees under the pants. Another bit of soft muttering at the uncomfortable feel of the clothes then he makes his way out of the alley in the hopes that he's close.

No sooner does he leave the shadows than he smells the faint scent of something burning nearby. What the hell, he doesn't have any other leads. Within moments he's standing at the mouth of the alley where the golden dust of recently slain daimons is still settling to the ground. And beyond that is the woman he'd been shown. The one he's to trade for his half brother's freedom. Dark eyes narrow slightly as he studies her, trying to determine the best way to go about this.

Meanwhile, Itisha decided that at least the benefit of wearing dark colors at night was that she wasn't seen as easily. Her normal colors stood out like a sore thumb, then again she was white as hell anyway. All she needed were some leggings and a cup of starbucks and she couldn't even. A mild smirk at her mental thought and she sighed, "I don't think she is going to come. Must be busy getting ready for Valentine's Day with Ash. Or the world is trying to end again." She murmured to herself. Even muttering that sentence out loud hurt. Stars, she was a pathetic mess.

The momentary self-loathing was paused when she swore she felt magic. A shift to look down and a raised brow at the dark haired male that seemed to just suddenly be there. Of course given who she was waiting for, she nearly thought it was Ash. Nearly.

Except the colors were wrong and so was the power surrounding this one. Most notable was the unfamiliar beads he wore and the height. Of course she was at a distance so everyone seemed shorter further away, "Aren't your feet cold?" She finally asked, watching the mysterious male for a long moment.

Mind you, she was standing there barefoot. A move to drop her shoes down and start tugging one on. Yeah, pot calling the kettle black. At least he had shoes on compared to her. Though soon she had them all covered appropriately.

A brow arches at the language spoken then he looks at her bare feet rather pointedly. "Perhaps less so than you," he retorts in a mild tone. "Are you Mushu?" Please let this be her and not a twin or one of those random, wholly unrelated lookalikes.

"Trust me, I am more than warm enough. I wear the shoes for everyone else's benefit." She shrugs slightly and then frowns as she pauses in pulling her shoe on. Eyes study the other intently. Especially that accent, "Depends on who is asking and why. If I don't like the reason, I tend to get a little violent. My mood is already testy, just to warn you."

Now she was just guarded. Itisha pushes off the wall and arms cross over her chest. Her feet shifted to a more balanced stance and ready to move fast in case she has to. These were not her normal fare for fighting clothes, but it was still fast enough.

Her answer is not surprising given what little he knows about the woman. Curse Apollo for his vagueness. The ready stance is noted as he slowly starts to approach her, empty hands held loosely at his sides. His stride may show he knows how to carry himself but he's careful to show no hint of aggression. This will all be moot if he scares her off before he can reach her. "I'm called Kyknos."

The dragoness frowns and she poofs from where she is standing and is out further on the street and behind him after he starts approaching her. Nope, not trusting that on any level, "So, unknown Greek dude is approaching me in the middle of the night and all I get is a name, but not a how or why. I am comforted, really." Eyes narrow at him, "Swan. Greek and swan. Zeus I swear to Polly, if that is you, Imma make you choke on your reproductive organs."

Kyknos very nearly swears aloud when she vanishes. When she speaks up again he stills then turns to face her but doesn't try approaching again. Not just yet. "Zeus?" He scoffs at the idea. "I hate the bastard. As far as I'm concerned most of that pantheon can roast in the depths of Tartarus." Especially Apollo. Gods, how he'd love to gut that bastard.

Well, it wasn't Zeus at least. A mild comfort. There was a minor shift at relaxing, "Good, because I am tired of being pined after by idiot gods who don't fucking know the meaning of the words 'no, I don't want your dick anywhere near me, I actually know where it is been because they documented it. In history.' Ancient civilization's sex tapes." She mutters, "Hades would not enjoy the sudden company mostly because he would want them to all shut the hell up. As much as I would enjoy finding replacements for everyone..."

Itisha trailed off and then refocused her thoughts on the male. So, Kyknos, again I ask, why the hell are you looking for a Mushu? Did you lose your way to Disney Land?"

Thank gods she took his little rant well. "Being male around them isn't any safer," he points out in a tone that says he'd love to kill a few of those gods personally. Unfortunately, they have very good leverage to keep him from trying. For now.

"Hades is the only one with a brain." Kyknos narrows his eyes at this Mushu in thought. Maybe he can get her to help.. "What are your feelings on Apollo?"

"I am aware of that." She responds dryly. Still, his words had the goddess studying the male a little more now. It was a bit too dark to get a good look. Mind you, she could see as well as any shifter. Just she preferred somewhere far better lit.

"Persephone should be included in that." She points out lightly. Then… she glares suddenly and takes another step back. Oh hell no, "About on par with my feelings for Zeus. Except I need to work out a way that I can replace his ass, not kill his sister, save the Apollites, and not have hell brought down around my ears for doing it. Please don't tell me he is trying to resort to kidnappings for hire now."

Studying he can handle. She's still there which is all he needs right now. "Hades is about the only male with a brain up there," he amends. And then he bites back a curse as she takes a step away from him. "He has," Kyknos admits with a grimace. "Though if you can kill him I'm all for making a deal."

"Eros isn't too bad if you get to know him, but a majority of the gods of any pantheon suck save for the rare few that don't have me wanting to choke them." In general, she loved to bitch, but there were a few that existed that she could handle. Frankly she needed Eros to just launch all of his hate arrows into Apollo's crotch and save her the trouble.

"Of fucking course he has. No idea why he is so fucking desperate for me." She snarls loudly. There is an exasperated sound then, "I can do it. Problem is, what kind of deal did you make and are you going to die as a result of me killing off the asshole. Plus we need another sun god. Though I have a few ideas for that."

Kyknos decides against making any further comments on that. He really tries to avoid the whole lot of them when he can. Especially the big names. "I really don't know." Nor does he particularly care. "The goal is not to die. And to free Albireo from him. Which he swore to do only if I brought you to him. If you're capable of fighting him off, all the better." Apollo never said in what condition he had to bring her in, after all. Pissed off and ready to gut the idiot god is the best condition he can think of.

"I am going out on a limb here and guessing that Albireo is one of Apollo's chariot swans." Capable was one thing. Still, just because she could do it didn't mean she should. Although right now she was tempted to hand herself over to Apollo dead. Have him deal with that bunch of bananas. The prick. "Did he swear on the River Styx or are you just trusting that he is going to keep his word?" She ran her fingers through her bangs and snarled quietly, "Gods apparently my love life fucking sucks. I really with Polly could step out just long enough to help me bitch slap the stupid out of that stupid son god." At that point she starts pacing back and forth.

"Also, bird boy, I warn you that if you touch me, you are as dead as Apollo is going to be. After I get a hold of some people."

'Polly, I need Kat. And an idea if I can get a hold of Nick somehow. Apollo is making deals with people to kidnap me now.'

'What?' The voice was cold and angry. Yeah, she liked the idea about that as much as she did.

Kyknos nods shortly at the apt guess then stills at her question. Dammit. "No. He didn't," he growls softly. Why hadn't he insisted on that? Oh, right. Because Albireo was bleeding and he'd been offered a rare chance to save him. Gods, he's an idiot. The threat has him raising his hands and taking half a step back though it galls him to do so. It's so very tempting to just snap the stupid collar on her but he knows for certain now that she can teleport just as easily as he can and he needs her enough to not risk it.

He really hoped this wasn't some sort of mistake.

"And that would be one of your first mistakes on making any deals with the burnt out light bulb." Mushu tells him quietly, "It would inconvenience him too much to find a new swan. Hell, he probably wants you too." Not that she could fault anyone for making offers to save someone else. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence.

'Yeah, you heard correctly, Polly. I need to talk to Kat and Nick. Probably Artemis too. Not sure where a safe place would be for that at the moment that won't lead to a metric ton of infighting. Unless Sanctuary counts.'

'I would recommend starting there. I will call for my granddaughter and hopefully someone can track down the latter for you and send him that way. My only regret is that I do not kill Apollo myself. Make it count.'

'Thank you, Polly. Also, if you manage to get a hold of Tory and Ash, tell them to hold on tight and maybe keep a close eye on the kids. This will probably go sideways on me.'

'You are welcome, little star.'

Itisha sighed as she rubbed her head after that conversation, "Okay, two most important things. My name is Itisha. Second thing, I am the Atlantean Moon Goddess. So seriously, don't do anything stupid. We are going to try to meet some people in Sanctuary. Can I trust you enough not to fuck me over, Kyknos?"

The words earn her a snort in response. "Probably. Except I don't match his color scheme," he retorts. Gods, how could he be so stupid. As she talks with.. whoever she's talking with he stays back and resists the very strong urge to beat his head on the nearest wall. Maybe if he hit it hard enough the stupid could get eradicated and he could make some sensible choices. Then he realized she was finished speaking to whomever and now to him.

"You're a- Great. Of course you are." And of course Apollo wouldn't mention the fact that he'd been sent after one of the very few living Atlantean gods. The rank bastard. "If we're in Sanctuary you're safe from pretty much anyone. And I'm god enough to be affected by the laws there. As for trusting me.. I'm only here to save Albireo's ass. You can trust me to do anything that will help with that."

"Colors can be easily changed. It's like watching Sleeping Beauty faeries have an argument about pink or blue. Not that Apollo would think that far ahead sometimes. I mean the idiot cursed his own kid to live for a breath of time even for a human." There was a flicker of sympathy for the male. He must be really worried about this other swan. Hopefully she could help save the swan before Apollo did something to him.

Admittedly there was some amusement at the ire of her would-be kidnapper. "Surprise. Most people don't actually know that bit yet. Might take scientists a few years to realize there is even a second moon hanging around the Earth." Sin and Artemis technically shared dominion over the same moon. Apollymi went and stuck Itisha on her very own moon. Which possibly affected her powers in some way.

"Hasn't stopped people from doing idiot things before. Mind you most people who try and fuck with Sanctuary tend to have Savitar climbing down their throat to tear them from the inside out." Then she shrugged and held her hand out to him, "Well, then hold onto me and we can poof on over there. Just try not to piss off the bears. They can get a bit cranky."

Kyknos inclines his head in acknowledgement of that point. "He isn't known for planning things out," he agrees mildly. Possibly the blindest, most obtuse god of prophecy in any pantheon.

A second moon. Right. He totally needed a headache on top of everything else. "I've seen the results of messing with his domain," Kyknos says dryly. "I have no desire to be the next great example." Though if it'd save Albireo he'd chance it. Which is why he'd warned… Itisha just what his limits for cooperation were. The offered hand is studied a moment before he cautiously moves close enough to take it. The cranky bit is met with little more than a soft snort. Bears, cranky. He never would've guessed.

Oh yeah, Apollo definitely lacked planning ability, "Like, what if the object of his obsessions becomes exhausted enough with his attempts that she is finally going to move off her ass and make him choke on fires hotter than his." Itisha muttered.

"In all honesty though, Savy can be a bit of a sweetheart. He will entirely deny that though." Itisha muses and she curls her fingers into the hand she takes and draws him a bit closer, "Trust someone who knows a lot of scary people very personally. Don't do something self-sacrificing when it could possibly make things worse. In the end, you realize it isn't worth it."

She takes a slow breath and there is a yank of magic from one place and then into a small alley nearby. Thankfully it was an empty one The music from the club could be heard from there, "Alrighty, follow me, Feathers. Oh and around other people, referring to me as Mushu is highly preferred."

A gentle tug to move the swan along with a hum as she spots Dev at the door. Those pale blues with a small light in them as she raises her hand to wave at him, "Heya Dev! I'm going to be meeting some friends here. So keep an eye out for me? I have a Lightbulb issue and I am going to finally answer the question as to how many Gods does it take to change one."

Fires? "You have to be the only moon god who slings fire.." Just what type of moon is it that she has anyway?

"I'm not going to test that." He likes living, thank you. With a great deal of reluctance born largely of the fact that he trusts her about as much as he trusts Apollo, Kyknos allows himself to be drawn closer before she winks them over to the infamous bar. A brow arches at the advice as much as the nickname but he doesn't comment on it, instead choosing to incline his head to her preference in name. While he follows along easily enough he isn't all too sure about allowing her to tug him about and their hands are eyed before he directs his gaze to the bear at the door. Hm. There's a slight nod of respect from one fighter to another before he's drawn inside the building. Gods, he really hopes this wasn't a mistake.

"I'm not the only god who can do it. Though I may be the only current Moon God who is also a dragon. Usually a Moon needs a Sun so likely I am both. I've never really poked at my aspects much."

"It's difficult to entirely remove an innate ability and if the god who gave you your new status likes you I doubt she'd want to remove any abilities anyway," Kyknos says with a slight shrug. Doesn't make it any less strange that there's a moon god with an affinity for fire though.

The announcement alone from Itisha has Dev raising a brow. "Shit, Mushu. Whatever you plan on doing to the Lightbulb, I say do it as far from here as possible. Who are you inviting?"

"The mirror, the cranky pants, and the funnel." Itisha said offhandedly as she led Kyknos in as Dev worked that all out as to who she meant. She had her own way of referring to people after all.

Itisha leads him in and heads to the bar and waves as she leads him back to the kitchen where Nicolette was. Itisha addressed her in a soft accent that made the French sound more like a song, "Miss Nicolette. May I please use the rooms upstairs? I need a safe place to discuss things with people. I promise no trouble will come to your door.'

There was a frown at her from the woman and then a look at the male she had with her, "Who are you inviting?"

"Artemis, Katra, and Nick Gautier in the least. I will make them all behave. We're going to be changing a Lightbulb."

There was a scowl at the list, "Go." She said shortly. Really, the amount of trouble that happened with several gods at once going about was a problem. "Don't cause any trouble in my home, Itisha." She told her in English.

"You know I always strive not to, Ma'am." Itisha answers and moves to get past one of the bear clones before moving to tug the swan up the stairs with her still, "Gods, I really hope they all show up and behave. This would be easier with Ash. Possibly anyway."

"You have interesting names for people." And apparently he's gained one given she'd already called him 'Feathers'. Strange woman.

The female bear is greeted with a slight inclination of his head. She seems cranky enough that he doesn't even bother attempting to say anything until Itisha is leading him away again. "Who's Ash?" Given the nicknames she's been giving everyone he somewhat dreads hearing the answer to that one

Itisha had waited until they were away from Nicolette to address the issue of her aspect, "Mm, true enough. I do believe she said something along the lines that I already had the potential to be a god anyway. Not entirely sure what it means. Guess it boils down to whatever my parents were or their parents." Sadly, she was never going to meet her grandparents and she couldn't ask her parents anything. "Luckily, Polly likes me."

"Usually means you're related to one god or another," Kyknos says with a shrug. "And it doesn't have to be your parents, it could be grandparent, aunt, uncle.. Anyone who has a direct blood relation to you." He's so not commenting on a god liking her. That's always an uncertain gift.

As she climbs up the stairs, the question makes her look back a bit, "Acheron. He leads the Dark-Hunters. He can technically and very easily kill a god. Except I… haven't gotten around to speaking to him since he met his wife." A small shrug at that as though it had simply been an issue of them being too busy,

Totally not because she was trying to avoid him or anything, "I try not to bug him. His phone goes off all of the time as it is. I am not going to prod him about my issues with Lightbulb." She got to the top and waved at the familiar face, "Hey Aimee. Got a room I can use to meet up with some folks?"

"Ah. I've heard of him." Who hasn't? Everyone with even the slightest connection to the greek pantheon knows of him though no one really talks about the fact. His dark gaze shifts from the white woman to a lightly tanned blonde.

"Sure thing, hun." Aimee picks up the last bottle from the table she'd been cleaning and wipes her hand off on a rag she keeps hanging from her apron then she waves them to follow her over to a door. A quick knock then she opens it by placing her palm on the reader beside the door. After a quick peek ensures there's no one inside she opens the door wide for them both. "Holler if you need anything."

There was a small frown, "Well, that makes all the shifters and such technically potential gods. We are all so wonderfully related to the asshole Lightbulb who made the two source Apollites that made the furballs we are today." A considering look at she peered ahead of her. Not that she was about to drop names or any clues about her parents. Her father's name alone was dangerous. Her mother's probably was too under the right circles.

Oh good, he knew enough of what Ash was. Made things easier. Itisha dipped her head in appreciation to the bearswan, "Thank you, Aimee." A thoughtful sound then as she considers the room before stepping into it, "Will do. So you know, I am inviting Artemis, Nick, Kat. So probably going to be a bit of hollering. Lightbulb tried to have me kidnapped." She told the bearswan , "So, I am finally going to deal with the idiot. I promise no world ending, but there might be a few groups of really happy Apolites later when the source of their curse is gone."

Then she added, "I was supposed to meet Tory later, so if she does come looking for me, I don't mind if you send her up." Okay, so Itisha did mind, but she didn't really want to put this off longer than she had been.

A rare spark of amusement seemed to flicker in Kyknos' eyes, ""Bit of a problem if they all realize that, isn't it?" Kyknos says slyly. Has he considered the possibility of causing a great deal of chaos with that? Maybe. All that kept him silent on that front till now was a lack of motivation. He inclines his head to the bearswan before following Itisha into the room. Here's hoping this thing isn't a trap for him.