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
Them? Aimee grimaces at the list and the update in particular. "Just try not to bring any of that here. You know how Maman is." She sighs then smiles a little and nods. "I'll keep an eye out for her."
There was a nod and Itisha placed a hand over her heart, "I promise, Aimee, I will do my level best to keep the king of the lightbulbs as far from here as possible. I don't want people hurt because of me." Not again. "Thank you."
And the first person arrived. Katra flashed into the room and approached Itisha briskly. The blonde woman put her hands on Itisha's shoulders and looked her over. An almost panic on her features before she seemed to relax just a little, "You are okay, right? No one hurt you? Apollymi told me what happened. Since you were inviting Artemis and Nick, Sin said he would be here shortly to help." Frankly, she felt Apollo deserved what he was going to get. A glance towards Kyknos and she frowned.
Aimee waves at Kat as she heads off to answer a hail from a nearby table. Here's hoping Mushu can keep that promise.
Kyknos arches a brow at the newcomer then decides silence is probably the best option right then. The frown has him doing little more than incline his head to the woman who bears a striking resemblance to Artemis
"I'm alright, Katra. I am thankfully hellishly paranoid when people happen to be looking for Mushu rather specifically and I don't know them. Apollo is trying to trade me in with one of his swans. Or claims to at least." A shake of her head before raising her brow, "Sin is coming? I mean, hell, I appreciate the help thoroughly, but I am so not going to pretend it isn't because he is worried about your safety more than mine."
Katra frowned and studied the swan a bit and then her again, "He would never give up one of his swans." Then she gave a soft sheepish smile, "Well, he does rather like what you plan on doing, but yes he is worried about me. The more high powered help we have for this, the better. Though you might bring down Zeus' wrath just because he feels an imagined slight against his person for his son being killed." A frown and she finally looked at Kyknos before speaking to him. A shift to step towards him and hold her hand out tentatively, "My name is Katra. I am a friend of Mushu's."
He really wishes he knew any of the people mentioned. Especially given one is apparently named Sin of all things. "Why do you think I thought it best to strike a deal with her rather than follow through with what he wanted?" Kyknos says dryly. The offered hand is eyed then gripped briefly before being released. "Kyknos. Apparently the thing the sunspot wants second to wanting her." He tilts his head to indicate Mushu then backs off half a step from them both, not wanting to risk being particularly close to either of them right then. This was a really stupid idea.
"Are you only saying that before or after you agreed to try to kidnap me and I figured out you were up to something stupid when I met you?" Itisha asked the swan with a raised brow. Yeah, they were so killing Apollo, "Don't worry, Kyknos, after his you can get the swans free and I am sure there is a safe place for you all very far away."
"It was a spur of the moment decision," Kyknos admits with a slight shrug. "Of course I never had any intention of doing exactly what he intended. My original plan was to free Albireo then hightail it with whoever you happened to be." He hadn't expected her to be stronger than any olympic god he directly knew.
"Well, at least you are honest about it." Mushu mused at the swan. Though, her brow rose slightly at the other. He really hadn't intended to hand her over? Not that he sounded all too convincing. Honestly, Kyknos sounded somewhere between blaise and panicking that this was going to end really badly for him, "It is a good enough plan, I think. Apollymi likes it." Which, frankly, should have been mildly concerning. Then again, one of Polly's goals was to kill Apollo. So she was happily going to assist. It was a form of keeping a promise after all.
Katra was about to say something when there was another flash into the room and she looked over her shoulder to see Nick standing there looking as cheerful as ever. Honestly, no one generally knew how to find him. So she wasn't sure. She knew him from a relatively safe distance and by word of mouth. Never had met him before so instead she looked at the swan keeping a distance, "You are safe around Itisha, Kyknos. If she says she is going to help you, she will bend the rules of the heavens and Earth and beyond to do it. The fact she called us here so quickly meant she already had a plan for what to do about Apollo."
Nick glanced over to the other male in the room and silently ignored him. Although he walked up to Itisha with a saunter and dipped his head in a respectful sort of bow and held his hand out to her. When she set her hand into his, he drew it up and kissed her knuckles in a caste manner before dropping it, "So, what are you planning to do about the Lightbulb, cher?" His accent was thick and he looked at the male again, "And who are they?"
"That is Kyknos and Katra. Sin and Artemis are supposed to be arriving shortly. Which is when I will be sitting down and explaining the plan to everyone. In short, I plan on replacing the idiot with someone better and making sure to deep fry his ass so entirely out of existence that he might be a whisper of a memory if people care enough to remember him." Then she looked towards the door and then pulled out her phone, "You guys hungry? We might as well fuel up before we traipse off into the unknown."
"I certainly hope it's a good one or I just royally screwed myself." The newest flash diverts Kyknos' attention to the new male and he has to fight to keep from dropping into a fighting pose at the feel of the kid. Instead he watches as the kid greets Mushu. The introduction gets him to incline his head to the as yet nameless kid. "Not particularly."
There's a quick rap on the door before it opens and yet another male walks through. "Mushu. Nick." Sin nods a greeting to both and passes a curious glance at the unknown before inclining his head to him as well. Any further greetings are put off as he moves to his wife to claim a kiss.
Nick watched Sin walk through the door and frowns as he moves to lean against a wall. Though he eyeballs the swan as he acknowledges him. "Might as well take advantage of the food now while you can. Fights tend to get ugly pretty fast even if they sound simple." Although, he had to wonder who they were replacing Apollo with. There was a small nod at Sin in greeting.
Katra perked up just a bit at seeing her husband, kissing him back. A lingering bit more than chaste before smiling at him. Hand moving to reach out and curl into his, "Mushu was just about to order us some food. Want anything?" And another flash into the room revealed what would look like a near doppelganger for Katra. Rich auburn hair denoted the most difference and the fact she was shorter than Katra.
"Must be important if you are talking to me again." Artemis stated flatly and then looked over everyone. Eyes lingering on Nick for a long bit before eyeballing the swan in the room, "I've seen you around before. Aren't you friends or something with one of my brother's swans?"
"This won't be my first fight, kid," Kyknos informs the youngest of them dryly. Once more he finds his brow raising as he looks over the latest person. Is that a Sumerian?
With a soft sound of satisfied pleasure Sin twines his fingers about Kat's then looks at Itisha. "I'll take anything not swimming in barbecue sauce." Spend a week with a charonte and you'll never want to see barbecue anything ever again. Or at least not for a few weeks. The arrival of Artemis has Sin just barely repressing a snarl.
Kyknos curls his lip at Artemis' question. "Or something. Can we please get on with this?" He really doesn't like Artemis any more than he likes her twin.
Mushu at the lot of them as she texts her order down. Food for the lot of them. Even if someone decided they didn't want to eat, "Nick is right though, we are going to want to eat. Which I promise food will be very barbecue free. Now that everyone is here…" She moves towards the round table in the room and picks a chair and turns it, sitting down with her legs straddled as the ends of her coat floof up from the sudden drop, "Short version: Lightbulb thought it was a good idea to have me kidnapped. Unfortunately for him, I am incredibly tired of his shit. So, I am now asking for help in a way long overdue plan to kill his ass and replace him with someone more appropriate than the sun spot."
Nick frowned and looked at the whole room and then at her, "Who do you have in mind?" Frankly, of the people present, everyone but himself and the swan were already full gods. At least he assumed so. He shifted a bit uncomfortably when Itisha gave a very silent pointed look at him. Seriously, he hated when she- "Oh fuck no. Are you insane?"
Katra leaned against her husband a bit and blinked as she looked at Nick and then the Atlantean goddess. Hopefully that exclamation was enough to distract Sin from the fact her mother was in the same room as him. "Ah, Iti- Mushu, are you sure? I mean people might lose their heads given what Nick is." Seriously, how was making a Malachai the sun god a good idea?
Oooh, grumpy. Artemis gives a glare at both him and Sin before pausing. A frown pulled hard at her lips, "He finally really did piss you off enough." Though she had to agree, Itisha had to have been insane. A glance over at Nick and she frowned, "So, how are you going to keep me from dying?" Not questioning her sanity. Hell, Itisha probably was one of the more sane people there in a manner of speaking.
"I have to second that.." Kyknos eyes the young Malachai. "Wouldn't that screw up the balance he's supposed to have with the seph? Unless you plan on giving Artemis' powers to that one." Which he's all for if it's doable. If not.. he doesn't want to destroy the world trying to save his brother. They kind of need it.
Sin grumbles wordlessly and accepts the tiny distraction. The things he'll do for love. "Lose their heads?" he laughs and gives his own head a bemused shake. "You're mucking with Source things, Mushu. I hope you have a really good plan for this. I kind of like existing."
"No reason one person cannot be balanced by two people. More anchors the better. Sephy can be Cloud's balance and Artemis can be the balance of the moon to the sun." Itisha shrugged slightly, "I will probably hear about it later, Sin. I need Kat to yank stuff from lightbulb and shove it into Nick. That way we keep the balance because the power is still going somewhere. The sun still has a god, so few there are, so it will hold up a little." She gave a thin smile as she adds, "I'll be a touch busy holding the fabric together while we rip the seams. I am going to need help with that. Of course we need the man power to wear out and kill the sun god in his own domain. Well and break the curse the Appollites are under, which I imagine can be done in one fell swoop."
Nick stared at the woman for a long time. A flat look towards Kyknos, but… "How do you make insanity sound sensible and easy?" It really would not be so easy. Not at all. Wait… she was a… "Hell, Itisha, anything else you can do? Are you the Source walking around as an annoying smart ass dragon who romances gods for fun?" He didn't realize he said her actual name until he saw her glaring at him. Gods he could feel that empathy and his energy tried to rise up to meet it for the challenge. He gripped his arms tightly as he shoved it down and he could see her realizing it too and her taking a few deep breaths. Volatile the both of them.
Katra stayed very still as though they were in between a couple of lions about to fight at any second. A lot of strong powers in the same room. So many strong powers and… her dad was downstairs. A blink as she could hear the music suddenly change and it filtered up from downstairs. "We have to weaken Apollo enough to get the power out of him and moved so we don't accidentally end the world. He won't just hand it over. How will you make sure he won't hurt anyone as a hostage?" Katra asked softly. Watching Itisha try to work through it all.
"I am betting the swans are the hostages." Artemis said, motioning towards Kyknos. Of course Itisha's children could become hostages as well as a many number of other people. This was a shit show from the planning stages already. A scowl at the odd place downstairs, "What the hell is that music?"
Itisha heard the music and started swearing. She forgot something, "Son of a- I need to get a hold of Styxx. I wonder if Polly can do it." Because yeah… she needed to make sure they had as much willing help as possible without everyone strangling each other. A look around the room and she frowned, "Why are all the most capable people also the people that want to murder each other."
"Who's Cloud?" Kuknos asked. Is that a nickname for some other celestial god?
Sin eyes the unfamiliar male and Artemis then grumbles. "I knew you only wanted me here for her. No one needs me anymore." The last is directed at Kat with an actual, mock, pout. Upside of all this, he gets to beat on at least one of the annoying ass twin gods. Downside, Kat's gotta touch the guy.
Kyknos narrows his eyes at Artemis. "Yes," he bites out. "They are." And if he didn't know that Apollo's territorial attitude towards Artemis was more akin to concern for a possession than a person he'd suggest striking a trade. A sister for a brother would be highly appropriate. "Because the other people are asses? Or related to the ones everyone wants to kill?"
Nick could almost snort laughter at Itisha's reference to Final Fantasy. He was young enough to recognize the game reference at least. "You guys don't have video games where you all are from." And this was why he actually could stand Itisha. She had a wicked sense of humor and no one was spared from it. "There is a video game. Sephiroth is the major villain for the hero named Cloud."
Itisha chuckled, not really hiding it, "I try to be practical." Try, She then motioned towards Nick, appreciative of his answer. She had kids and they all played games. "Oh psh, Sin, you know I wanted you here for your bad assery. Just figured you were having more fun in Vegas with all the insane shit going on over there. Which seriously, invite me to that party any time."
Kat shakes her head and gives Sin a kiss, "You know I need you, Sin. I think as it stands, Mushu is a bit frazzled. She would have asked for you if this wasn't a last minute plan being sprung." Gods knew that Kat knew something about what Itisha had been fretting about. Itisha had needed someone she felt safe to speak to after all.
Artemis levels a glare at the swan. Attitude, "And how long do you think the swans will live if the idiot finds out what we are doing?" Styxx? A disgusted look and she frowned at Itisha, "Do you have any normal friends or is everyone you meet a psychopath of some sort?"
"Including you? No, Artemis, all my friends are 'odd'. Though don't you dare get on Styxx's case because I will blast you into a wall faster than it takes for Disney's Father Of the Year to impregnate someone." Itisha threatened as she dug out her phone and started to dial, "Now hush, and if Ash and Tory get up here, you all better behave. I will punch anyone who actually starts a fight in Sanctuary. This is important."
Itisha's could hear the ringing tone on her end and she waited for the other end. Come on Styxx, pick up
Ash gave a little smile at the music playing. It was mildly entertaining that they had that song set for him. It didn't really bother him to see a good number of the customers running to clear out, after all he was happily beside his wife. His pregnant wife. Though he wasn't sure if he was nervous or not with who Tory was supposed to meet.
Despite the once promise to not avoid him or keep from hanging out with him after he found the person Itisha insisted he would meet one day, he found that she had vanished without a trace. If Tory had not said anything, he wouldn't have even remembered her, which was bothering him more. Though it made him realize how often Simi often ran to go visit Itisha.
Though… gods what the hell was going on upstairs? A look around for Aimee, "Hey Aimee, is Mushu here?" Suddenly he wanted to send Tory home.
Tory blinks around at the bar and smiles at the familiar faces. A comforting hand is placed on Ash's lower arm even as she looks towards all those powers. "Can you tell us who's with her?" Because that group can't possibly be here with anyone frowned a little as he focused a bit at the ceiling while Aimee confirmed who was there.
"Nick. Katra. Sin. Artemis. Someone I am not familiar with." Then she added, "She told me to send you two up when you got here. Just make sure her trouble stays far away from here. She said something about changing a light bulb." A cant of her head to them both, "Want anything? She ordered food for everyone else."
Why the hell did she have that many people all clustered together like that? Especially when most would end up murdering each other. Ash frowned deeper then when Aimee mentioned a lightbulb. It took a second and he cursed quietly. That asshole better not have hurt her. That surge of protectiveness pulled at him hard and he had to take a deep breath before he lost his temper, "I'm good. What about you?" He looks down at Tory then. "I wonder why Itisha called you." Especially with everyone else there. Itisha did make some interesting friends.
Nick and Artemis. That figures. "If anyone tries anything stupid I'm getting my hammer," Tory mutters. A blink then she smiles at Aimee and shakes her head. "Nothing for me right now, thanks though Aimee." No need nor want to find something new to upset her stomach. "Ready to go ask?"
"I don't think you are supposed to try to hammer anything while pregnant." Ash said with a bit of a smile. Gods she was a little spit fire and he loved that about her. He gently moved to lead her as he thanked Aimee and headed back towards the door at the kitchen, "I guess I have to be ready. Not sure how long you can have those people all in the same room and the roof still be attached to the house." And yet they were about to add two more people. He really hoped the dragoness knew what she was doing.
"Psh. Like anyone else is going to try stopping me." Thank goodness her mother-in-law can't manifest or she'd likely end up eating those words. Tory grins at Ash and wraps her fingers about his as she walks with him. "Well, our roof is still there." And they have all sorts of crazies in their home all the time.
"I could try stopping you." Ash said with mock offense. Mind you he wouldn't try hard unless things got seriously dangerous for her. If anything were to happen to Tory… he shook his head and blinked as he waved at one of the bears guarding the downstairs and went up, "Artemis left." Not sure if that was a good sign or not. Then he laughed. A bit of a smile showed for his wife, "Well, I did have to keep fixing it for a while. Simi thought it was a great source of fiber. Took a while to convince her not to eat the roof." Ash joked.
"Try," Tory agrees with an amused smirk at Ash. "I felt it" That's one god she'll always be able to track, if only because of the promise to beat her ass if she crosses a line with Ash ever again. "Simi thinks everything's food," Tory says dryly as she reaches to open the door. Not entirely sure what she will find.