The Olympian God of Destruction

by derpmaster9000

Pardoned from his initial erasure by the Omni-kings after his universe's defeat in the Tournament of Power, Beerus is sent off to the universe of Greek Mythology for a second chance at life. How will he fare, being reborn as a god in the wacky, and at times, downright absurd world of ancient Greek Myth? Only time will tell...

38. Chapter 38

The Olympian God of Destruction:

Chapter 38: Aftermath IV

Atop Olympus… Sometime later…

The air upon Olympus was noisy, energetic and cheerful.

Within the vast courtyard of the mighty mountain's peak alone, where the foes defeated by Hera and Demeter alone had been removed, thousands upon thousands of gods whom had pledged themselves to the Olympians' cause, bustled with activity.

Some engaged in relaxed, but enthused conversation as they sat or lay upon their chosen plot of the lush, green land with one or several of their cohorts, all while sipping or – in some cases, downing – a goblet full of golden, glowing liquid. The latter causing some small rivers of gold to spill forth from their lips and douse down on their tunics for most, but none cared in the slightest.

Others, meanwhile, walked or flew about, some in animated discussion and some not, and either holding goblets full of the same liquid themselves, or a bowl of a golden substance more solid than the liquid, which they picked up in pieces with their hands and tossed into their mouths to eat.

Plenty of deities, mainly the Nymphs, also danced to their hearts' desire, both over the land, and in the air. Some moving, bobbing and twirling their curvaceous bodies about with grace and elegance, either alone or as part of a pair for an added bit of fun. Others, while drinking heavily at the same time, were more erratic and wild in their movements, as the heavenly beverage they spilt down their throats, clearly, at least for them, had powerful alcoholic properties. The kind capable of intoxicating even beings of their physiology, and getting them to let loose more than their peers.

In the latter's case, this was evidenced by their more erotic shaking of their hips and butts, and the utterly unsubtle thrusting of their chests out toward their male counterparts' watching eyes, as their hands came up behind their heads, for those who were alone. For those who had a partner, which was the smallest group of all, yet no less noticeable, their 'dance' was more of a grind against each other, with a few already locked in a passionate pressing of lips and duel of tongues. The ones that involved two partially inebriated, aroused Nymphs, getting the most attention from every male god watching, especially given the daring looks they'd get shot by the minor goddesses, who clearly enjoyed the observation they were getting.

Leaving that aside, gone unnoticed by none, was the land itself upon the peak of the mountain, which many also took the time to marvel at during their discussions and consumptions, for it was now free from all scarring that'd taken place earlier, thanks in great part to Demeter. The young goddess having taken it upon herself to use her newfound divine powers to fix up the previously battle-damaged area. Her power transforming it into what many would argue was an even more beatific state than it had ever been previously, with grass that seemed to shine with graceful magic, and various other plants of different shapes and sizes dotting about the region. Each of which were just as gorgeous to look upon, if not more so, as they all glowed like the grass did and waved about with the wind's gentle caress.

Speaking of the wind itself, from the perspective of those on Olympus, it seemed to sing in every direction, creating the very melody that the dancing deities did move to the beat of, as the brothers who embodied its course in all directions – the Anemoi – frolicked about. All of them in a fully solid state, but allowing their domains to flow freely and represent their current moods.

Up close, they all varied in their winged appearance, with only their light-olive skin-tone and matching, whitish-grey eyes being the same among them. Each of the eight gods having either chosen to don a cloak or free-flowing robes, which also varied in colour with different shades of brown and white, to cover their lithely muscled physiques up, at least, for the time being.

Some had beards, ranging from long and shaggy – in the case of the one which every minor deity knew as Boreas, the north-wind, who's hair was much the same, with both coloured a deep brown – to short and well-kept, in the case of Kaikias, the north-east-wind. The latter's hair looking straight alongside it, with both a jet black in colour. Their other two bearded brothers, Eurus the south-east-wind and Skiron the north-west-wind, as everyone knew them, ranging between them, in terms of hair-style and facial hair, along with hair colour, with the former leaning more toward Boreas, while the latter leaned more toward Kaikias.

Some held no facial hair whatsoever, and instead, ranged in how old they appeared, with Apeliotes the east-wind looking the eldest, being a handsome, clean-shaven man with well-combed, light-brown hair who looked to be in his early-thirties, despite obviously being far older. Notus the south-wind, Lips the south-west-wind and Zephyrus the west-wind, all in that order, ranged downward, with the former two appearing as young men around their mid and early-twenties respectively, with long and short, dark-brown hair between each. The latter and youngest-looking of the bunch, the west-wind, appearing as a dashing youth that, by modern, mortal standards in other dimensions, had only just reached adulthood at eighteen, despite his true age being far greater, with shoulder-length, light hair.

Each of the eight brothers either held a large goblet of golden, glowing liquid in-hand themselves, along with a bowl of the same golden substance as other deities, or in Apeliotes' case, a cloak full of ripe, juicy fruits and dry, but no less delicious grains. In either case, each of them drank and ate from plentily and happily. All while also offering plenty more from their own personal stock, which they could freely summon at will, to those around them, who'd also brought out the same.

"There, there, fine steeds. You'll get your fill too." Zephyrus, in particular, remarked with an almost boyish smile, as after offering and giving away some of what he had to plenty of the closest Nymphs and a few Satyrs, he came next to a group of five mighty steeds that had parked themselves relatively close to Beerus' palace. Four of which were all tied to a badly damaged chariot of purest gold, which glimmered brightly, almost like a star, while the steeds themselves had leathery skin that also glowed a golden hue. The other horse near to them, meanwhile, had a lone, empty saddle atop it, and in contrast to the other four horses, glowed a slivery-white hue.

Like the gods themselves, the stallions all ate happily, as the youngest-looking wind god used a bit of his own magic to borrow from his brother Apeliotes' fruits and grain. The air itself sailing the items gently into the hungry mouths of the five steeds, who chomped down on the delicious food without hesitation, giving soft grunts of approval at the taste.

"It's good, right? Might not be as nice as what's being served in the palace to your masters, but my brother Apeliotes knows how to make some fine fruit and grain." The god of the west-wind continued, going so far as to pet each of the divine horses, as he floated by, and made his own food and drink float beside him. Each of the five creatures having zero issue with his affectionate caressing of their heads and necks, as he fed them well. The one with the lone saddle even going so far as to rub its head against him when he petted it, to show its own affection, as it merrily chewed on its food, which Zephyrus responded to by chuckling and bringing his other arm around the animal's back and using his hand to pat its side opposite, while the other brushed over its head.

Neither he or his seven brothers had been part of the war, nor were necessarily invited to what had become a party, but nobody protested them being there, just as nobody protested the horses being there, or the deities that ridden over to Olympus on them. When it came to the wind gods specifically, some did this purely out of politeness, while others, simply because they knew the brothers had gotten it rough during the fighting that'd taken place on this very day, while the war still raged, and saw it best to let them join them. The eight deities having been viciously rendered unconscious by Themis during her assault on Atlas, before being brought back to consciousness by Hestia's flame like the rest of the gods who had participated in the war, for the Olympians side.

Were it not for the younger goddess, they may have been upset with the Titaness, for harming them as she had, during her bout with the Titan general. As things stood now though, none could find it in them to be angry at Themis, whom had already apologized herself to them earlier, when they'd first arrived, as Hestia's aura calmed them and made it easier for them to understand the position she'd been in, at the time, from a logical standpoint.

One thing was for certain, when looking out upon the vast courtyard. In stark contrast to how many had been earlier, before ascending Olympus' lofty height, there wasn't a frown to be seen or a negative emotion to be felt all around. Every last one of the gods who did lounge or move about the large, lavish courtyard, did so with bright-eyed smiles and harmonious laughter that added to the lively 'song' of the air, as they all simply enjoyed the freedom to be relaxed and lively, without the threat of being attacked or the atmosphere of war. Their current moods thanks in no small part to the same goddess who'd had an effect on the Anemoi, and who'd purged them all of any ill thoughts or fouler feelings with her aura that soothed their souls, allowing them to take in and enjoy this moment in time for what it was.

The only exception to this, was the lone goddess who lay on her back away from anyone else, incapable of moving, even at this very moment, outside the occasional spasm that she had no control over.

They all look so happy… It must be nice, knowing that they won, and being able to celebrate… Kalypso thought to herself,her blonde hair matted against the ground, while her eyes watched and her ears listened in to the merriment of the gods and goddesses around her. An expression of glum on her face the whole time.

A part of her wished that she'd been knocked unconscious, and didn't have to view the celebration of those who had been her enemies. For all the sight brought her was pain, knowing that they'd been victorious, and she'd been part of the defeated side, all of whom were slated for a punishment for standing against the Olympians. A punishment that would only take place tomorrow, after those around her had gotten their time to party to their hearts' content.

To her, it felt like that punishment had already started, having her be forced to spectate the celebration of the Olympians' victory, and of Beerus conquest of his father, Kronos. To see their pleasure, while feeling her own sorrow. It was cruel, but she had no doubts that a worse fate resided for her, in the future, when the next day beckoned.

The only slight reprieves she had been given, were not even by her aunt, Theia, who had evidently been smart enough to switch sides during the final battle, and had been accepted, if the lack of hostility toward her, was any indication. All she'd gotten from her was a pitying look, with no gesture being made to help her, in case doing so might've caused friction between her and Beerus' side.

Instead, her reprieves had come from the goddess Hestia, the twin of Beerus, as well as the destroyer himself, surprisingly enough.

For the former, she wasn't talking about the aura of calm she projected. Not that it had much of an effect on her, to begin with, seeing as it was exclusively targeted at those who were not the foes of her and her kin.

No. She could feel the first small mercy the gentle-spirited goddess had given to her. Wrapping around what would otherwise have been her nude body, was a new, brown tunic that helped to cover her torso and legs, leaving nothing of her breasts or crotch exposed, as they had been before. Not just to the elements, but all wandering eyes, of which there had been quite a few, from the male gods that'd spotted her.

The second small mercy, granted to her by Beerus himself, who ordered one of Styx' children, in Bia, to do so, was in being moved away from her original spot of defeat, to a place much closer to the edge of the mountain-peak. All so that she'd be more easily out of sight from the other gods who roamed and made themselves at home, on the courtyard.

The latter had not been a decision born from kindness to her, but to Hestia, who, once again showing a merciful side that Kalypso couldn't believe she'd chosen to show her, had requested of him, if it'd be alright to move her, before the celebration began. Something which, in the incredible mood that he was in, he had accepted and casually ordered to have happen, at her behest, before making way for his palace.

The daughter of Atlas was stunned, to put it mildly, that the very same goddess, whom she had brutally attacked, and launched from Olympus just earlier this day, and whom she'd fought against even before that, along with her other siblings as a foe, had showed her compassion like that. As a matter of fact, Kalypso was shocked she'd even bothered to take notice of her defeated form, outside of a passing glance, when she'd showed up on the peak, in the first place, holding her twin brother's hand with such affection.

She could've easily ignored her existence, left her where she'd been, and allowed some of the gods who eyed her naked figure with lust to carry her off elsewhere, perhaps to a more secluded spot on the peak of Olympus from the others. And until tomorrow's rise, she would've been little more than an unwilling plaything, for their sexual wants and desires, which could've acted as part of her upcoming punishment, for being part of the wrong side.

Instead, she'd paused in her stride, when their eyes met, and made the decision to approach her, to crouch down by her side, when she didn't need to, and give her a sliver of dignity back, when she didn't have to. She'd done it purely out of the goodness of her own heart, and nothing else.

"I am sorry things had to go this way for you. I'd have much preferred if the war we all just fought had never had to happen, and that you and I didn't have to be enemies, like we were, which has led to your current predicament, but alas, I don't have control over the tides of fate. I know it isn't much, but please, accept this mercy, that I wish to give you. For I believe your dignity has been tarnished enough, for one day." She had said to her, as she crouched down by her with a sad smile upon her features, before she'd hovered a hand over her immobile body and conjured the tunic for her.

That had been engraved into the older goddess' mind, just as much as the sight of the goddess' brother, Beerus was, when he had stepped over behind her, and had looked down at her with those frightening, yet gorgeous, golden eyes of burning amber. Ones that she could feel the new power of overwhelming destruction radiating from, which he had used to eradicate Kronos from existence itself.

There hadn't been a shred of sympathy in him for her, unlike with his sister, and despite the positive mood he appeared to be in, she couldn't bring herself to speak a word. A fear for the power he had, which could reduce her to nothing in an instant, had her mouth as paralyzed as the rest of her body, leaving her just staring up at him dumbly, which he seemed to get a small bit of amusement out of.

That probably would've been the best time to beg forgiveness, to plead before him to be merciful, in his punishment, and tell him that she would be loyal to him, and do just about anything for him, even allow him to use her body as much as he wished. Just so long as he didn't do to her, what he'd done to his father, to close out the war. Anything but that. The thought alone filled her with too much dread still, to comprehend.

Instead, nothing but uncomfortable silence reigned from her, as Hestia asked if it was alright to move her. The look she'd sent him speaking of a bond they shared, as though he looked bemused by the request, as he probably saw it as pointless, he had agreed, and then had Styx' daughter do the deed. And furthermore, likely because of a non-verbal request this time, from the look she'd sent him, because again, he held no pity for her, he had told all the gathered gods to leave her be, until tomorrow, where her and all their other enemies' fates would be dealt out.

All she could hope for now, was that Beerus was in a pleasant enough mood when the time arrived to decide that destruction, for them, was not the punishment to be doled out. Though, she worried greatly that in her father's case, due to his being Kronos' must trusted ally, and what he had done today during his battles alone, in tearing down the sky, that even with a good mood, destruction would still come his way. And perhaps just as bad and terrifying as having herself be erased, was to see the father she looked up to and loved, be erased before her eyes. To feel his essence be eradicated, without her being able to do a single thing to help him.

As these harrowing thoughts ran through her mind, the blonde suddenly felt a shadow be cast over her, as something – or rather, someone – landed next to her, bringing her attention to them, as the minor gods and goddesses inhabiting the courtyard paid her no mind. The lot of them simply enjoying the festivities.

Said minor deities inhabiting the courtyard were not the only ones enjoying such festivities, however. One need only look towards the towering, exalted structure that was Beerus' palace itself, which like the courtyard, had been fixed of all damage done to it during the final battle earlier.

Upon its finely-cut steps leading up to the main entrance, several dozen other gods did float by or sit themselves down comfortably in pleasant, jubilant discourse, speaking of the same myriad of topics that those flying and laying feet or body upon the soil beneath them did. All as they dined or drank of the same golden food and drink supplied to the others.

Inside of the divinely-constructed home of the god of destruction and his siblings itself, primarily within the golden-floored central hall, a few thousand more deities made themselves at home, taking up all corners and plenty of the wide space around the massive table at its centre, with their presences. And like with their cohorts outside, they were all smiles and merriment, as they floated around or stood in groups, eating and drinking the golden, glowing food and drink from their own finely crafted bowls and goblets respectively, while speaking to their fellow deities.

Some of the Nymphs had also taken to dancing, either on the floor or in the air, like their cohorts on the outside, for the entertainment of those within. Some rising high enough to reach near the ceiling, as they put on a show for those beneath. All of their cheeks flushed a rosy red hue in a form of excitement, highlighting their youthful, beauteous features, as they all gave their best effort, though in the case of a few, their blushes may also have been from slight inebriation, like some of their fellows out around the courtyard.

At the centre of the room and betwixt the other gods, the large, sublimely crafted table stood, and seated around it were several hundred more gods, the lower number allowing for plenty of room between each, while dining. Most of the deities being sat upon extravagant-looking, conjured chairs of the finest silver, while seven deities in particular, who were known to all, rested upon their throne-like, golden chairs, which were easily twice as eye-catching.

Sat at the centre of this wide table, in his own throne-like chair, with bowl upon bowl of the same golden substance the others ate from, as well as all kinds of fruit, grain and vegetables that glistened and gave off an ethereal, entrancing lustre arrayed before him, was Beerus himself. A superbly-crafted goblet of shimmering gold next to him that looked capable of holding a full litre of liquid within, looking halfway drained as the golden fluid within rippled, reflecting the face of the destroyer within, and the utter bliss that'd overtaken his countenance.

"Mrrmm!... Delicious~!" The destroyer exclaimed, not caring how loud his voice was, as he somewhat roughly placed his now empty, large bowl into the hands of a long, dark-haired Nymph that bore a similar appearance to Metis. The minor goddess quick to accept it, before he reached out and took hold of two more bowls of equal size. One containing the golden substance that most of the other gods ate, and the other containing fruit, grain and vegetables.

And no sooner had he pulled them in, did he waste no time at all in grabbing a banana with one hand, erasing its skin with a brief burst of purple aura, and then taking a large, pleasure-ridden bite out of it. His cheek puffing out as he chewed into it, his eyes watering in delight unbound, as he savoured every last morsel of it in his mouth, before downing it as he picked up a sizeable piece of the golden substance, and chucked that in to his waiting gob right after it, with a noise of purest joy. All before he dumped the rest of the banana into his maw, and eviscerated it with his teeth in glee, before moving on to more.

"Delicious! Delicious! Delicious~!" The god of destruction all but sang with reddening cheeks, that one single word seeming to be the only thing his brain was capable of processing at the minute. Other than the compulsion to devour more and more of all that was in front of him, on a comparable level to those Saiyans from his old universe, with a seemingly bottomless stomach to match, with this body of his, that is!

In the back of his head, the god of destruction wondered immensely, just how in Zeno's name had he only gotten to dining on truly divine delicacies like this today!? Why had nobody – excluding his siblings who'd been trapped with him inside Kronos' belly, and thus, just as clueless as he – told him, shortly after he'd first bust his way out of Kronos' rancid gut that food and drink like this existed, and then brought him some as soon as possible!? Better yet, why had he not asked sooner, and then requested it!?

He'd had high expectations for the ambrosia and nectar, for which was the golden, glowing food and drink before him, that the Nymphs aligned to him had spoken of in passing. Said expectations had not only been met, but far, far exceeded!

The ambrosia and nectar, as far as food and beverage went, had set his taste buds alight like never before! The golden, glowing delicacies, from the very first bite and gulp, respectively, sent his senses reeling well beyond the brink, thrusting an incomprehensible shudder throughout his body, along with a sublime heat across every nerve that made him feel weightless, as his mind went blank with ecstasy. Enough to where his body of this world, as a reaction to the pleasure, developed quite possibly the most intense erection he'd ever felt, threatening to rip through the lower part of his tunic with how badly it bulged against it, were it not for him using his power to contain it.

In any other situation, he'd have been quite irked by that, but in his current state of bliss, he couldn't be bothered his ass to care. For it was as though his mind and body had been dropped into nirvana itself, as the celestial flavour assaulted his mouth, as he chewed the ambrosia, or crashed against his tongue, as he sucked in the nectar. That very sensation only getting stronger, once he inevitably swallowed either down his gullet, plunging them down to his stomach, and filling him with an urge unlike anything he'd ever felt before, to consume more. More. More!

About the only familiar thing he could taste from either, when compared to all he'd eaten before, was the sugary tang within both, that was neither too much, or too little, but as perfect as could be. A flawless level of sweetness so scrumptious, that it blew anything he'd ever had in Universe 7 right out of the water. Even that ball of food that he had, which he'd come to find out after the fact, was created to be the most delicious food ever made, in said universe, wasn't as good as the ambrosia or nectar was. He'd known that from the very first bite he'd taken of the golden food, and then shortly thereafter for the golden liquid, when he'd taken his first gulp.

The difference in the latter's case wasn't anywhere near as extreme as everything else he'd eaten or drank, when it came to a comparison with the glowing, gold substances before him now, but still noticeable. And when combined with the fact that neither made his bowels want to eject from his body shortly after he swallowed them, like said ball of food had, just made the difference between them that much starker, in his opinion!

The golden nourishment and fluid, was not all that he had laid out for him, though. Not by a long shot, as within just as many bowls as the ambrosia, was a whole assortment of many different fruits, vegetables and grains, which had been provided to him by his sister Demeter. Something she'd called her way of showing her gratitude for all that he'd done for her.

If this was her form of 'gratitude', then Beerus could honestly say that not only was it accepted readily, but also that whatever debt she might've felt she owed him for his help, was fully paid and then some! In all honesty, after tasting as much of her food as he had now, and having plenty more to go, he genuinely felt as if all he'd done for her, up to now, was paltry compared to what she'd done for him, his tastebuds and his stomach, now, with what she'd offered up to him.

Quite frankly, the more he ate of her servings, the more he felt he owed her, for the sublime delicacies that she had offered up to him, and he did not admit to that lightly! Not when eating her produce sent him spiralling even further into euphoria and his aroused state of being, hitting his loins just as hard as they did his black hole of a gut, which sung for the stars, the more what he ate and drank dropped down into it.

All of what she'd given him, he'd had before, on Universe 7's Earth, at Bulma's residence. However, he frankly felt like even making such a simple comparison was an insult to both his sister, and the concept of food itself. They might've looked alike, and were both recognisable as the same kinds of vegetables, fruit and grain, with undoubtedly many of the same ingredients within them, but that was where the similarities between what Bulma's chefs had served up, and what Demeter had made, ended.

The bananas, apples, oranges, figs, raisins, pomegranates, celery, cardoons, fennel, leeks, carrots, cucumbers, marrows, grapes, chickpeas, lentils, oats and beans were on the next… actually, no, that would be downplaying it. They were ten, maybe even a hundred levels above Universe 7's! It wasn't even a contest!

Each and every one of the items of food the blonde beauty had given him, it was as if their natural flavours, each unique to them, had been driven up above what their maximum potential should've been. Each of their individual flavours risen to a level so heavenly, that whatever expectations Beerus had initially had for them, were surpassed even further than what he'd expected of the ambrosia and nectar, it was that extreme! No matter what he ate from one of hers, each and every one of the items of food she'd given to him, was, to his amazement and shock, even now, just as tasty, as the golden substances!

"Ehehe… You're really enjoying what I made for you, huh, Beerus~?" A familiar, feminine voice giggled near him. One which he barely picked up, but nonetheless nodded at vigorously, as he continued to chow down on his food.

Said voice, naturally, belonged to the one goddess who was most certainly not complaining about this, or even the slightest bit put off by Beerus' passionate carnage against his servings, as she watched him eat and drink his way into a stupor, and that was Demeter herself.

The blonde was sat directly to Beerus' right, closer to him than most others at the table were to each other, as while many sat roughly a metre or two apart, the young goddess sat not even a third that distance away from him. Barely a foot, in fact, as she sat there, with her half-finished goblet of nectar propped up on her armrest opposite of Beerus' direction, with a half-eaten bowl of her own ambrosia on her lap, going unattended for the moment, as she leaned over the side of her chair. Her elbow resting on the armrest closer to him, as she placed her cheek on the palm of her upturned hand, and just watched him go at his share. A wide, joyous smile etched over her face, eyes twinkling brightly with pride, as she saw him devour what she'd made for him with just as much gusto, as he did the ambrosia, leaving multiple empty bowls in his wake, which with a little magic from her, had been stacked neatly upon each other quite neatly, right between their seats.

Up to now, she'd been a silent, but gleeful observer, as the destroyer fell in love with her food, right in front of her. The blonde simply taking in how smitten her older brother became with what she created for him, with a focused use of her power, going from a first taste, where he'd shown a little concern over how well he'd take to her goods, after having ambrosia and nectar beforehand, to scarfing as much of her edibles down, as fast as he could. His zeal with which, had her heart racing ever more in happiness, as she took her time eating and drinking her own ambrosia and nectar, while spectating him.

"There's plenty more than just this, Beerus. All you need do, is ask, and I shall give you as much as you want~." Demeter beamed. Her expression as bright as a shining star, seeing him so overjoyed by something she'd done, which went well beyond anything she'd ever managed to coax out of him before, and well beyond anything a certain sister of hers had ever managed either, which made it all the sweeter for her.

"Umfh~! Ohh… That's wonderful~! You're too kind!" Beerus' mind managed to force itself to answer her properly, getting his blonde sister's smile to broaden further, before the destroyer fell back completely into the sea of never-ending paradise his senses had been submerged within. All as his wide-grinning face bit into a pomegranate, and forgot everything else around him, other than his meal, once again.

"Yes, indeed. That's… very kind of you, sister…" Hestia remarked with an awkward kind of gratitude, on her brother's behalf. The goddess sitting directly to her twin's right, almost as close as her younger sister did to him. A somewhat strained smile on her face, as she glanced in the blonde's direction, while a bead of sweat trickled down her temple, as despite her presence, an unpleasant air tickled her senses. One that came from the goddess next to her, her youngest sister Hera, who's glare shot across the table and bored a hole through the second oldest sister's smiling head, with a potent scowl slapped over her features.

"Yes. So kind of her to make such food and serve it exclusively to our brother and nobody else. I'm sure there's no ulterior motive behind that, at all…" Hera all but hissed, in response to Hestia's words. The gorgeous goddess' temperament one of displeasure and irritation, to put it very mildly, with her tunic repaired from its prior damage.

"Hmm? What's that, little sister?" Demeter eyed her younger sibling over their brother's head, her smile turning just an extra bit smug, as her eyes practically glimmered knowingly. "It might just be me mishearing, over the sounds of our brother absolutely adoring what I've created for him, but I could've sworn I just detected some envy there, from you."

If possible, Hera's scowl deepened twice over, as her glare became like daggers trying to puncture through every inch of her older sibling's face. "Envy? For what?" She scoffed, while grabbing her own goblet of nectar off the table, clutching it more tightly than necessary in her hand, almost causing it to dent. "I think you're allowing your imagination to run a bit too wildly, dear sister. If your absent-minded self were paying any real attention, you'd know that envy is the last thing I'd ever feel, for one such as you."

Hestia almost wanted to face-palm, as she heard Hera say that, while Demeter simply giggled. The look in the blonde's eyes gaining a certain viciousness to them, as she easily met Hera's borderline death-stare with a gleam of mirth.

"Oh, so snappy. Why do you bring such hostility against me, sister? Especially during such an occasion as this, where we are celebrating our brother's defeat of our father, and our conquering of our father's forces? All I've done, after all, is shown my gratitude to our dearest brother, as part of our celebration, by offering him what my power allows me to make, which he has taken to quite happily, I might add." She said with increasing smugness, which Hera found to be incredibly obnoxious, as one of her eyes twitched irritably.

"Is that so wrong?" Demeter then asked, as she picked up her goblet and took a sip of the fine fluid within, before turning her gaze back to Beerus, who was currently in the process of annihilating an apple with one massive bite after another, while his other hand picked up an orange. Her eyes then briefly dipping lower, her close proximity to him allowing her to just about make out the hefty bulge between his legs, which only added more confidence to her voice, as well as her inner-excitement. "Because I'm afraid that if you say 'yes', our brother, greatest of us all, would highly disagree."

Hera had to supress a growl of fury at that, born from a seed of jealousy she refused to admit to, as she ripped her gaze away from her elder sister, and grumbled into her chalice.

"All I got for fixing his damn palace was a simple 'thank you', while food, of all things, has him filled with such passion, that nothing from before could bring out of him? Unbelievable…"

Only Hestia heard Hera's words, given how low they were, as well as the fact that her dearest brother's attention was too drawn to what he ate and drank.

The older sister felt some bit of sympathy for her younger sister, as well as a strange form of empathy she couldn't fully place, for her current predicament, as she watched her begin gulping a good deal of nectar down her gullet. For what she'd said was true, in that the compete reconstruction of the previously ruined palace had all been on her. And that was thanks to her total control over the air allowing her to piece back together nearly all of what had been blown apart, and then fill in the gaps, using her magic to convert dirt and soil into the same material the palace and its damaged chambers were made from.

They had been made aware of that as soon as they all transported themselves up to Olympus' peak, which explained how Hera hadn't noticed their brother's returning presence sooner.

It had been a wonderful gesture. The kind that had greatly pleased their brother, and had him very grateful toward her, especially when he knew it'd fixed his bedchambers, in particular. From her perspective, the gratitude he'd shown through his expression was a bit more than just a 'simple thank you'.

That being said, she'd be a fool to compare that to how Beerus was reacting to his feast, where Demeter's food was contributing just as much to his current, euphoric state, as the ambrosia and nectar were. His incredible mood from before had practically ascended to heights she'd never anticipated or seen before in all the time she'd known her twin. And while she felt quite happy to see him in such overwhelmingly strong spirits, a part of her felt oddly stung, at the same time, that she hadn't contributed to that, and she had no idea as to why.

Pushing that lesser, but noticeable feeling to the side, she didn't fail to notice the tension that'd set in between her sisters, which was thick in the air near them, and did not go unnoticed by various other deities around them. Several of which threw sympathetic glances Hestia's way, for having to be in-between them.

Beerus, was not among them, for the god of destruction was much too distracted on more important, present matters to take even a sliver of notice to his sisters' clashing spirits. Those matters, obviously, being what he'd eat next, before taking another swig from his heavenly drink!

"It's like he's in his own little world right now…" Poseidon couldn't help but comment, as he stared from across the table in disbelief at his brother, with a sweat-drop on his temple. The younger god seated roughly a metre to the left of Hades, who sat exactly opposite of their brother, who might as well have been a whirlwind of motion, taking in and eating one piece of food after another without rest. His arms almost a blur, as they flew back and forth, between the destroyer's mouth, and the food in front of him, or the goblet at his side, while paying no notice to their sisters' tension, which he normally would've recognised, otherwise. "I knew he was looking forward to this, but I could've never imagined he'd become this enamoured by the food and drink…"

"Hah! Well, I suppose that's our eldest brother for you. Yet again, he finds a way to surprise us." Hades remarked back with a humoured grin, a bowl of his own mostly-eaten golden substance in-hand, as he stared over at his brother, looking genuinely amused at how fast and ferocious their older sibling was, in devouring everything that was in front of him. "He looks more vicious with that which he feasts upon, then he ever did in battle with any of our enemies. I don't think even Kronos and his demise had him looking this excitable!"

"Heh. Agreed. Our dearest brother has never looked as ecstatic as he does now!" Zeus, who sat to Hades' right, at the same distance as Poseidon, chuckled a bit with both an amused and bemused smile of his own. A small sweat-drop also showing on his temple, as he too watched his eldest brother become a natural disaster to any piece of edible food or drink near him. The silver-haired deity's goblet of golden delight being held in his hand, half-full and going un-drank for the moment, as he borderline marvelled at his brother's unparalleled zeal. "It's kind of astounding, really. I know what we're dining on tastes incredible and all, but with the way our brother is taking to it, you'd think his immortal life depended on its consumption!"

"I'd wager he's become addicted, at the very least." Poseidon snorted, before partially turning to Hades and Zeus. A grin forming despite the disbelief he still felt at what he was witnessing. "How many bowls has he gone through, at this point?"

"Fourteen of the ones holding ambrosia, and just as manyof the ones holding what Demeter made for him. The two he has now, are his fifteenth for each." Hades recounted, before partially looking towards the dwindling goblet of nectar beside Beerus, which he'd drank down by two-thirds, at this point, even just as they had this small discussion. "And despite him touching it much less, he's also about to finish his seventh goblet of nectar, if I'm not mistaken."

Just as he said this, the same Nymph from before, who had moved away at some point, came back, using her magic to float the same bowl from before, which Beerus had given to her, now refilled with ambrosia, and placed it right back where he'd picked it up in the first place. The bowl joining the many others, dozens in total, which took up Beerus' space at the table, as the destroyer rampaged his way through his latest two, already halfway down both of them.

Considering that each bowl before him was near three-times the size of his head, with the bottom of each being a foot-and-a-half down from the rim, that was the furthest thing from something to scoff at, when simply going through one, let alone the thirty that Beerus was closing in fast on getting to.

"That many already, and I'm only halfway through my second bowl of ambrosia, while I still haven't finished my first goblet of nectar…" Poseidon shook his head, in partial incredulity and partial awe, as he took a look down at his goblet for a split-second, where the liquid reached three-quarters of the way down.

"Well, in your case, you probably would've been on your third bowl by now, along with a second goblet, at least, had you not spent so much time admiring the dancing Nymphs around us, before you started ogling your brother's savagery toward his share of the feast, Poseidon." Metis chose that time to speak, glancing from her spot beside Zeus toward Poseidon in a knowing way, as she sipped on her own goblet of nectar. The goddess seeming to be taking Beerus' devouring of his share easier than Poseidon or her consort Zeus.

Either that, or she was just better at hiding her own surprise, at Beerus' gluttony.

"I suppose you have a point, there." Poseidon conceded, before his grin broadened in her direction. "In my defence, though, as far as the Nymphs are concerned, they're seeking to entertain, and I'd say it'd be rather rude for me to not watch them. Speaking of which, I think it's time I got back to viewing something easier on my eyes."

With that said, the younger god turned his head up away from her, and from his brother's massacre of food and drink, letting his thoughts on the latter fade, as his gaze shot up to the Nymphs air-dancing well above their heads. His eyes paying particularly close attention to two raven-haired, olive-skinned beauties who had taken to doing a duet of sorts, with each clasping one of their dainty hands with the other, as they glided about. The duo twirling and thrusting their bodies around in ways that perfectly accentuated their curves, especially their shapely hips, ample, C-cup bosoms which jostled and jiggled, and their lithe, supple legs.

"Heh. I'm definitely going to be taking those two to my bedchambers later, before anyone else…" The second youngest Olympian remarked, solely to himself and no one else.

Not that this stopped Hades from snorting, as he heard it. "Doubtful, with your luck, brother. Though, I do suppose stranger things have happened." The ghostly-pale deity sniped, though in mostly his own form of a playful manner, as he grabbed his goblet and turned it to his lips, taking a nice, long sip of his own nectar.

Without even looking back at him, and while keeping his eyes on the same two Nymphs above his head, Poseidon gave out a snort of his own, as he raised an arm and jabbed a finger toward Hades' face. "Just you watch. As I said before," He then jutted his thumb toward himself, with confidence. "I'm getting some action today. The pleasurable kind. Once I show them my charm, they won't be able to resist me."

"Mmm-hmm. Whatever you say, little brother." Hades simply rolled his eyes, not even bothering to remind the god a second time of what'd happened on the last occasion he'd shown some lesser goddesses his 'charm' and how well that'd gone.

Turning his attention away from his younger sibling, Hades sent a somewhat pitying glance in Hestia's direction for having to be between Demeter and Hera like that, before he took the time to glance around the table. Mostly out of a hint of curiosity, really, to see how others reacted to his elder brother's digestive destruction of his food and drink.

Those who weren't embroiled in their own conversations, dancing away like the Nymphs were, or viewing the Nymphs' dancing, either at or away from the table, who had sight of the destroyer, were in one of two camps, for the most part. Either they were doing their best to ignore the god's impassioned feasting, which almost bordered on bestial, or were openly staring even worse than his brothers had, plenty with a slightly disgusted sense of awe. Some, in the latter case, even being put off from their own meal entirely, for the time being, at the sight of him.

Folks like Themis, who sat two chairs to Beerus' right. Styx, who sat three chairs to his left, with her children arrayed beside her in their own, sans Bia. Pan, who sat five chairs to the right. And their side's most recent addition, the former follower of their bastard father, turned traitor, in Theia, who sat seven chairs to his left. All of them were primarily in the first camp.

The elder Titaness of divine law and order, for a start, seemed to be occupied in her own thoughts, as she ate. Perhaps about whatever it was that Beerus had to tell her, along with what she herself planned to tell him in return, as to how he could pay back his debts to her.

The god of the wilds, meanwhile, simply ate and drank at a much slower pace, while being potentially the closest to the destroyer when it came to being passionate about what he dined on. At most, throwing a look or two in his brother's direction, though not out of disgust, but oddly enough, or perhaps, not so oddly, given the goat-legged god's own dining habits, out of respect, seemingly for the way he tore through his share with monstrous glee.

As for the eldest Oceanid, though, she snuck the occasional glance Beerus' way too, though mostly not at the god himself, with a small, amused smile, whilst appearing completely unbothered by his feasting, as she sipped her own nectar and spoke with three out of four of her children. Each of which did the same as her, and looked to be in various, well-humoured states, with Nike in particular shaking her head, as she glanced in the same direction as her mother, not even looking surprised, at this point, at what she was seeing.

What she saw, and what had her mother and her two brothers looking amused, in their own ways, was the last member of their family unit, who fell mostly into the other camp, as she stood behind his brother's throne, just off to his right, with her gaze locked directly on him. The goddess having refused to sit down, like her mother and siblings, and instead having opted to stand, almost like a guardian, close to him, with a mostly-eaten bowl of her own ambrosia held in hand. Her intense gaze holding no disgust in it, unlike others who stared, instead looking weirdly entranced by how forceful he was in demolishing his way through the food and drink before him.

Though, personally, from Hades' perspective, given the look in her eye, and how she'd acted earlier, it wouldn't shock him in the least if she was imagining him putting his hungry mouth elsewhere, in the future. Something that almost made him chuckle, and quickly understand why Styx and her other children held the expressions that they did. Doubly so, given Bia was doing this right beneath Hera's and Demeter's noses, who both paid her no mind, despite how close she was. An utterly comical sight, in a way, to anyone who could see it.

Moving on from Styx's daughter though, and before he reached Theia, Hades' gaze trailed over the two Titans who sat in the chairs between Themis and Pan, Prometheus and Epimetheus. They were like Bia, in the sense that they fell into the second category of openly staring at Beerus. Though, in their case, they almost seemed to be entertained by the glee with which he ripped through his servings with how they laughed to each other, while casually eating from their own bowls of ambrosia, in front of them.

"How many do you think he'll have, before he finally stops, brother?" Hades strained his ear a bit, over all the chatter going on around him, to hear Epimetheus ask in good spirits, as they both leaned over and watched his brother feed.

"At the rate he's going, even I don't know." Prometheus answered honestly, before throwing a grin back his brother's way. "If I had to guess, though, I'd say he'll go through at least fifty bowls of food, and ten goblets of nectar, before he's done."

"Heh. I'll bet you he manages to get through at least a hundred bowls and twenty goblets, before he stops." Epimetheus replied with a cheeky, but challenging smile, as he slung one of his arms over the back of his seat. The numbers he pitched being downright ludicrous, if they weren't witnessing someone tear through both with a speed and fervour that was unheard of. "Whoever's right, or the closest to the number, owes the other a favour of the winner's choice. What do you say, Prometheus?"

"Challenging me to a game of chance, Epimetheus? I would've thought you were smarter than that." Prometheus responded back just as cheekily, before offering a hand to his sibling. "A favour it is, then. And when I win, don't worry, I won't keep you in suspense, over what I'll request of you."

"Pfft. Don't get too cocky, now." Epimetheus laughed again, as he took and shook his brother's hand, while both fully turned their sights back to Beerus. "And just so you know, when I win, I'll give you the same courtesy you would've, had you won."

Prometheus simply laughed back at that, his eyes flashing gold for an instant, and Hades shook his head in small amusement, knowing that Prometheus was about to abuse his future-sight in some way to give him an advantage.

Sight finally moving unto Theia, he noted that she herself seemed to do her best to keep her gaze away from him entirely, not even allowing herself a glance, as a way of showing politeness and respect, as far as he could gather, as she ate from her bowl of ambrosia quietly. Most likely out of a concern that if she didn't, there was a chance Beerus would be less receptive to what she wanted to request of him to do. He doubted that would matter much though, if his hunch was correct, in that her request involved her brother-husband, Hyperion.

The trio of deities lined up after her, in their own chairs, whom he and his siblings had only become properly acquainted with today, due to their neutrality during the war, were a different story.

Sat closest to her, was a youthful-looking, beardless god who bore a handsome appearance that was striking, even amongst his fellow beings.

To start, he was adorned in flowing, purple robes that emitted a soft glow, and strapped over one shoulder, leaving the other, along with his arm and pec bare, exposing his lithe muscles. His skin was white, with a glossy sheen that highlighted well against the garment he wore. His attractive features angular, with a strong-looking chin and jawline, contrasted with high, regal cheekbones and an almost effeminate-looking, slim nose that lent toward him being a perfect blend of boyish, yet mature.

Crowned atop his head, was a resplendent, golden helmet housed within a circle of white-gold light, which had tendrils that rose from various points, curving like the flames of a fire, as it emitted dazzling rays that beamed all around him, like the sun itself would down to the earth. Housed beneath his helm, was his brilliant, bright locks of golden hair, which streamed down his temple gracefully, stopping just above his piercing, orange-gold eyes, which radiated the same ethereal luminescence of the brightest stars themselves.

His appearance was quite fitting, given that, as he'd introduced himself to them already, he was the sun itself. The Titan god whos' magnificent rays of light always shone down on those below him, and lit up the endless sky in a way no other could. Helios.

"You know, I have to say, from what I had observed of him before, I never would've guessed that Kronos and Rhea's eldest son would have this kind of side to him, brought out by something as simple as food and drink…" Helios remarked, his words being caught by the pale god's perked ears, as the 2nd generation Titan leaned over, careful not to knock over his bowl of ambrosia or goblet of nectar on the table, as he openly stared out toward the feasting destroyer. His expression holding only a sliver of disbelief, coupled with what anyone could tell, was mostly mirth, at the sight he beheld. "And here I'd thought, from my lofty position in the heavens, that I had seen all of his character laid bare."

"He's certainly of the… excitable sort, from what I can judge." Commented one of two goddesses beside him, who were of splendid beauty, surpassing the average Nymph.

The first, who sat next to him, and had been the one to speak just now, had remarkably pale skin, outdone only by Hades' own, which looked just as glossy as Helios' did, and radiated a soft, white hue that reminded anyone who looked upon her, of the lunar light of the moon. Her beatific features sublimely symmetrical, with soft, pinkish-red lips, a button-nose smaller than even Hera's, regal, high cheekbones only slightly less distinct than the male god next to her, a petite chin and soft-looking jawline. Her high forehead only marginally smaller than the daughters of Rhea, with pair of striking, silver eyes that, even more than her skin, shined with lunar rays that made them remarkably distinctive.

Atop her head, she wore a crown of shining gold, and rising above it, was a circle of purest white light, which like Helios', sent out its illuminating rays all around her, softer than Helios', but no less noticeable or attracting to the eye. Beneath her crown, her rich-tressed hair of darkest midnight flowed down to the centre of her back, with not a single strand framing her face, and adorned upon her shapely body was white, fluttering robes that travelled down to her feet. Only her creamy-white arms laid bare, along with her neckline, leaving barely any window at all toward the ample cleavage beneath her garment.

Like Helios, again, her appearance was fitting, as she was the Titan goddess who personified the moon itself, which cast its light down upon all that belonged to the earth, when Hemera, the day, fell to Nyx, the night. The sun god's sister, Selene.

Said Titaness held a light frown, as she too looked across the table, toward the purple-haired god. "During the time of night, I only ever saw him at his calmest, and have never been privy to any of his real eccentricities, until now… Gazing upon him at this very moment, had I not sensed his father's destruction personally, and been capable of tracking the origin of such terrifying power, which had yet not existed, to him, I'd find it hard to believe such a jovial-looking god to be capable of what he did."

"Indeed. As of now, he certainly doesn't look the part of a ruthless destroyer who slew and caused his father to vanish from existence itself." The other goddess, who sat next to Selene, and who was also a sister to both her and Helios, opined, as she too stared over at Beerus, but in contrast to her sister, did so with an odd smile, and a light blush upon her cheeks.

This goddess was almost identical to her sister Selene, in terms of her facial features, if not for a slightly larger nose, and eyes that glowed with the pinkish-red beauty of dawn. Her skin was of a darker complexion than either of her siblings, but lighter than Poseidon's was, with the same glossy texture, with a pair of white, feathery wings not unlike Styx' children spread out from behind her back, reaching close to two feet out from her, on either side.

The garment she wore, arrayed in shades of pink and red, like the mist she emitted, was as long as Selene's, but more form-fitting, showing off more of her slim body's curves, and presented a plunging neckline, that exposed a plentiful amount of her perky, D-cup breasts. And along her supple, exposed arms, and indeed her entire frame, was a thin, but radiant mist of pink and red, arguably more pronounced than her eyes, which grew strongest around her fingers, giving them a rosy hue.

The mist also flowed especially well off her hair, held in behind her head in a sizeable bun, with a few strands resting neatly alone the upper-side of her temple, which was a splendid shade of auburn. One that, thanks to the gentle, rosy hue rising off it, like the rest of her, contrasted well with her own crown of glamorous gold, laid upon her head.

Her name was Eos, the Titan goddess who, due to her visage and domain, was given an epithet that'd been mentioned by several gods and goddesses, since her arrival with her brother and sister, which in Hades' opinion, was quite apt.

The rosy-fingered dawn.

"I can say with utmost confidence, what that mighty god, who shall soon rule over the cosmos, does look the part of, though." Eos continued, as she propped her chin upon the knuckles of one of her dainty hands. "In my mind, he's that of a handsome deity that has caught my interest."

No sooner had she uttered that statement, did Theia stop her quiet eating of ambrosia, and turn to the younger goddess with a raised eyebrow, though notably, with an expression that held no hint of surprise, as the goddess of the dawn continued.

"So young and full of vigour… much more so than my prior consort, in uncle Krios' son, Astraios… If he's got even half the zeal he displays for the food and drink given to him here, while locked in passionate coitus, he'll make a superb lover."

"If you'd said that not even yesterday, within my presence, dear daughter of mine, I'd have slapped you upside the head and admonished you for such thought, given who he is and what he's done, particularly to your father." Theia sighed, grabbing her rosy-fingered daughter's attention, along with her other daughter and son in part, as she appeared to lightly smile. "In light of my current position, and how surprisingly… amicable he has been, when I'd expected far worse treatment, given our previous status as enemies, I more so feel unsure as to whether or not I should encourage you. All in the hopes that you somehow succeed tonight in joining him in his bedchambers, and thus, potentially further increase the chances that he doesn't just hear my request out, as he has said he will, but goes through with granting it, as well…"

"How very cheeky of you, mother. Already so willing to take advantage of my desires for your own ends, even if they're understandable." Eos giggled, getting a small roll of the eyes from her parent.

"You call that cheek, when you and your siblings arrived without invitation to the celebration party of a victory within a war that none of you took part in, and made yourselves at home to the hospitality of the Olympians." The elder Titaness rebutted with a wry smile, as she picked up and brought her goblet of nectar to rest on her lips, as she sipped its divine contents. "Not that I don't appreciate you all being here, my children, but your presences were certainly not expected, even if Beerus and his siblings were kind enough to allow you to take part."

This time, it was Selene's turn to giggle, as she thumbed in Helios' direction. "As was made clear when we arrived, my sister and I merely followed our brother in intrigue, after we made our way out from our home to check on him, when he fell from the sky and crashed down to Gaea's plane, once the stars had stopped their descent. He's the one who was so adamant on being here, once he discovered that a celebration was taking place here."

"Well, I do enjoy a good party, what can I say?" Helios shrugged in a rather relaxed manner, as he leaned back into his chair, while grabbing and taking a swig of his chalice. "And besides, as I made clear to our hosts, when we arrived, their final battle, specifically that of Beerus' brothers and Atlas, resulted in me being torn from the sky, and not only badly damaging my blessed chariot in the process, but also putting my precious steeds at risk! I was hardly about to let that go, without seeing if I could procure some payment for it, which this celebration certainly is." As he said this, Hades saw the Titan's radiant eyes swivel to him, for a brief instant, making it clear he knew he was watching and listening.

Heh. That didn't shock him. He'd heard from Zeus' consort Metis once, after all, that the sun was easily one of the most perceptive beings in creation. Fitting, given his father was Hyperion, and how even the strongest magic could not fool that bastard's eyes.

Selene knew he was watching and listening in too, as her eyes also, for an instant just as swift, shifted in his direction with amusement.

"Speaking of those brothers, though…" Helios continued, and Hades could practically feel the humour in his tone, as he turned his gaze upon his sister, the dawn. His expression questioning, but in that way which made it clear to anyone he already knew the answer to whatever it was, he was about to ask. "They're all younger than Beerus, and appear to be handsome, in their own right. Any particular reason you've chosen to ignore them, and show interest only in the eldest, sister?"

"They might be younger, but you know, as well as I, Helios, that they don't look it." She stated boldly, while shaking her head. "Not with all that hideous hair that they allow to grow from their faces. Makes them appear much too aged for my tastes."

Hideous hair? The pale-skinned brother of Beerus quirked a brow, while rubbing a hand through his beard, almost feeling slightly insulted for the disrespect shown to his beard, which he honestly thought suited him well.

It was hard to take even the smallest bit of offence though, when Helios looked like he was struggling to hold in a laugh at his sister's brazenness, knowing that he'd heard every word.

Cheeky prick was having a joke out of this, wasn't he?

"Unlike his little brothers, Lord Beerus does not obscure his beautiful face of youth behind a beard that makes him look older than the father he destroyed." Eos said, already using that respectful title for his brother. "Why his younger siblings, or any god, in fact, chooses to sully their features with what should be reserved exclusively for their heads puzzles me to no end." She went on, with a disappointed look, shooting it in Zeus' direction first, then Poseidon's, then Hades', and when she met his gaze, her eyes made it clear that she knew of his eavesdropping too, as she gave him a look that read, 'no offence'.

At this point, Helios had to clamp his hand over his mouth to stifle the laugh that threatened to blast out. All while Hades himself actually felt the jab at his appearance this time, though only a little, as he'd heard and thrown worse verbal jabs with his brothers during spars.

"Though, in saying that, he's not the only one who has caught my interest." The sun's sister went on. Her eyes then momentarily wandered beyond the table, toward a few other, minor male gods enjoying a drink together, all lithely muscled and with features more boyish than Beerus, while also lacking any facial hair, leaving their delectable features as exposed as the destroyer god's were.

Her gaze then flicked between them and Beerus, as she bit her lower lip. "Even if I can't have him, I'm hardly starved for choice, on my preferred kind of lover. I'd love to get my hands on all of these youthful-looking gods, and whisk any one of them away from here, to my humble abode for a night of passion."

"Take my advice, sister. If you're going to do that, it's probably best that you focus your attention on one of those other gods, instead." Selene cut in, as she threw her gaze over to Beerus' direction once more. More specifically this time, to the goddesses that surrounded him. "For even if the destroyer, as some have come to call him, shows the same interest in you, as you do him, you're not exactly alone in your attraction to him, and I don't think those that feel such a way about him will take too kindly to you strutting in and trying to take him for yourself, even if just for a single night." She noted, before turning to Eos with a mirthful grin. "Unless you're willing to deal with that, leaving him be, for now, is the better choice, at least, in my opinion. Much lower chance of getting cursed."

"Hmm… You do have a point there, Selene." Theia acknowledged, as she looked across again, and focused on the tension surrounding Beerus' sisters alone, as the god somehow remained ignorant to it all, while he voraciously ate and drank his fill. And she could tell it was ignorance, and not merely him choosing to pay them no mind, as her vision was strong enough to pick out such details, if the latter were the case. "While success could mean better odds for him accepting my request for your father's rejuvenation, with those two in the way, attempting to seduce him in any way today could end badly."

Eos sighed somewhat sadly, as she too, took note of Hera and Demeter, before her features quickly brightened, as she turned her sights back to the youthful-looking gods from before. "Hrmm… Well, looks like I'll be taking one of them home this evening, then. Bit of a pity I couldn't get the most handsome god here, but it's not a great loss."

"Hmm. Not to say he isn't handsome, but I personally prefer our brother or the youngest Olympian, Zeus, over the destroyer." The Titan goddess of the moon opined casually, getting an almost comically appalled look from her sister, in return.

"Helios, I can understand, but Zeus, sister? The one with easily the ugliest, scruffiest beard of anyone here?"

"Krrmh!..." Helios was at a point now, where stifling his laugh was near impossible, while Hades, previously slightly offended, found himself holding in his own laugh, at the boldness of the goddess, due to her preferences, as he found himself turning to his youngest brother.

Out of the corner of his eye, as he did, he noticed that Prometheus' seat had been vacated, oddly enough. Hades didn't bother questioning it though, as whatever reason said Titan had chosen to transport himself away, for the moment, was his own business.

Once his gaze was on Zeus, it was clear that the silver-haired deity had evidently managed to hear her, this time, if the irritated twitch of his eye, was any indication. That, or the comical way, at least in Hades' mind, that his little brother's face scrunched up, just for a moment, as though his pride were wounded.

The ghostly-pale god couldn't help but find it both amusing and strange, at the same time, that a god who could take and throw vicious barbs at himself, Poseidon, Beerus, or any of his predominantly male foes from the war without much trouble, could be so easily annoyed by such a simple insult. All because it came from the mouth of a pretty goddess, who was no enemy of his.

As his older brother, especially given his own older brother's influence, Hades felt it was sworn duty to not let such an opportunity slip by, to tease his younger sibling.

"What's wrong, little brother? Is there something that troubles you?" The pale-skinned deity asked with mock concern. "Because I haven't seen you pull a face like that, since that time you and Poseidon sparred against Beerus, and he ended up pulling you both along by the ear, while slamming you, and there was nothing you could do about it. No matter how humiliating that was."

"Hmph! To have that instance brought up twice against me in one day? My luck must be waning." Zeus rolled his eyes, his vexed expression disappearing, for the most part, as his electric-blue eyes swivelled back again on to Hades. "Such a moment of humility, on my part, is in the past, brother. Beerus taught me a valuable lesson that day on not getting too overconfident in my thunderbolt, even when it lands head-on, lest someone who can withstand it, and Poseidon's trident attack simultaneously, makes me pay for it. I shall not err like that again, in combat. At least, in regards to our eldest brother."

"Really now?" Hades smirked.

"But of course." Zeus managed to smirk back, seemingly in his element now, and with Eos' words forgotten, as he outstretched an arm and raised a fist up to Hades' face, before his shield of resplendent bronze formed over it, crackling slightly with electricity. "If you don't believe me, though, I'd be more than happy to demonstrate all of what I've learned, as well as what I've gained from the Ophiotaurus' boon, against you, if you're up for it."

Unbeknownst to either in that moment, the gleam from Zeus' shield was so strong that the light reflecting off it, made worse by the sun and the moon's presences nearby, bounced right into Beerus' face. Something that caused just enough irritation from the unsuspecting destroyer to force him to squint, as he was pulled from his reverie, right when he was about to finish his latest two bowls of food. His eyes, holding a partial glare then, for what he perceived as rudeness, focused in on where the light had come from, only to find Zeus' new shield staring back. A small curiosity then flaring up, upon seeing that tool up close, about how it came to be in Zeus' possession, as he got the sense right away, that there was something special about it.

He wasn't the only one, for Demeter had noticed his pause, and found her eyes travelling where his did, and it was the same with Hestia and Hera too, though mainly due to the light that briefly emitted from it catching their attention. The tool snagging all three of their momentary intrigues too. Something which, to Hestia's inner gratitude, caused the tension between her sisters to temporarily lessen tremendously, leaving her in a spot where she hopefully wouldn't have to send out a stronger blast of her aura to take away the hostility between them.

"Heh. I saw plenty of the latter during our fight with Atlas, but I certainly don't mind sparring with you again." Hades chuckled, before focusing in with curiosity on Zeus' new shield, as the god retracted his arm. "That aside, though, I must admit to some intrigue on the origins of that shield. Did you form that yourself at some point, perhaps have the Cyclopes construct it, or did you find it somewhere and chose to make it your own?"

"None of them. It was a gift." Zeus' expression softened, gaining a more pleasant smile, as his eyes hovered over his new, defensive tool. "Amaltheia, the goat-Nymph who helped to raise me, made the decision to assist me one final time, by converting her entire essence into the shield you see before you, capable of withstanding even the strongest shocks and charges from my power, without even the slightest bit of weakening. A true aegis. One that I'm very grateful for."

"Her entire essence? But doesn't that mean…" the older of the two trailed off, all traces of teasing gone, as he stared wide-eyed at his brother's 'aegis', as he called it.

"Yes. My caretaker chose to act as a permanent source of protection for me, for the rest of eternity, even though she didn't have to. Her sacrifice for me, shall never be forgotten." Zeus stated emphatically, which all but confirmed, that the Nymph Hades had gotten to know as the slothful type, who preferred sleep to most other things, had converted herself into a tool for Zeus' use of her own free will.

"Well, damn. I knew she cared for your wellbeing, but I never would've assumed to this extent." Hades opined in astonishment, genuinely impressed by the Nymph's character, to be willing to go that far, for his brother's sake. "I almost wish I'd chosen to get to know her a little better now."

"She was a wonderful mother-figure, and an even better lover, before I met Metis." The silver-haired deity continued, as his mind went back to that fateful day he'd arrived on Crete alone, and had, after some small talk, asked if she wished to assist him and his siblings in the war. A question that, at the time, he'd thought she'd refuse, and had only asked, because he secretly took a small bit of added solace in her presence near him.

She had surprised him then, by offering herself up, without hesitation for his cause, on the condition that, one last time, he'd show her the same passion he had once before, prior to his consorting with Metis.

"Keep it as our little secret." She had told him, with that naughty smile on her face. "Metis is one of those few goddesses who would perhaps take some issue with her consort engaging in coitus with another. What she doesn't know, won't harm her, so long as you don't make a habit of doing this."

And so, he had, promising that he wouldn't, even though a part of him felt Metis would understand, in this scenario, before allowing himself to give into temptation, when they coupled together one final time, within the very cave he'd once called home. All in an act of perhaps the most passionate lovemaking he'd had to date.

"And now, just as she's already been, in the battles I fought today, she will also be perhaps my greatest form of defence, in future conflicts." The youngest Olympian went on, praising the Nymph-turned-aegis, rather glowingly. "I cannot thank her enough, for her kindness. Truly."

"Hmph. Wonder if I'll find someone like that?" The two brothers heard Poseidon ask himself. The tan-skinned god having evidently been listening in as well, despite continuing to watch the Nymphs above.

"Maybe… mmrph… about the time you… nngup… finally start showing that 'charm' you keep talking about, Poseidon." Surprisingly to all three, Beerus' voice cut in, his tone one of mockful teasing, as his three younger brothers' gazes returned to him, seeing that he had just then finished both of his latest bowls of ambrosia and Demeter's food, with a lick of his lips.

"My now, I wasn't aware you'd come back to us, dear brother!" Zeus remarked teasingly, earning him a partial glare, once again, from the eldest male Olympian, though he knew not of the first.

"You can thank that blasted 'aegis' or whatever, for that. Do try to keep whatever light may bounce off of it – or perhaps I should say her – awayfrom my eyes in the future, if you know what's good for you, Zeus." Beerus informed him none-too-kindly, as he let go of one of his bowls and gave a small rub to his eyes. The only reason he didn't show more aggression toward such a slight, while he was eating, being yet again, due to his otherwise phenomenal mood.

"Ah, so I take it you heard all of what was just said too, hmm?" Zeus asked rhetorical, as the answer seemed to be obvious, before his eyes fluttered and spotted his three sisters looking over as well, and chuckled, as he pulled the shield away from Hades. "And it would seem that my three older sisters might have, as well. That saves me having to give another explanation later, I suppose."

"Indeed." Hestia nodded. Her surprised, yet beatific smile sending a certain sensation through Zeus that he did his best to ignore. "I can't believe Amaltheia gave up her own autonomy, just to be of assistance to you, Zeus. A gesture like that shows a deep love for, and desire to protect your person, even over her own existence. Such feelings are something I hope you continue to respect, no matter how long passes from now."

"Believe me, dear sister, I intend to." Zeus stated emphatically, as he brought the aegis close to his face, seeing his smiling features reflected back at him. Amaltheia's presence being felt, even in her new form, to the god of thunder and lightning. "I am nothing, if not loyal to those, who are loyal to me."

Hera did not seem as impressed by the goat-Nymph's sacrifice. If anything, she seemed somewhat displeased, especially with a certain detail that her younger sibling had mentioned prior. "We shall see, in time, if what you say is the truth." The youngest daughter of Rhea began with narrowed eyes, as she placed her goblet down on her chair's armrest. "For if what you said about her being your lover once was true, then I can't help but feel that your inability to stick by her, as a consort, and leaving her for Metis already demonstrates that your loyalty may not be as strong as you think."

"Hmph. You speak of that which you know nothing about, Hera." Zeus narrowed his eyes right back at his other sister, seemingly taking offence to her words. "Though we were indeed lovers, the sexual aspect was not some marker of our relationship having blossomed into something greater, it was but lustful passion on both our ends, as I was still coming into my own." He then glanced toward the Oceanid who was his current consort, and who was gazing back at him somewhat expectantly. "And when Metis made herself known to me, I'll have you know that Amaltheia was more than fine with allowing me to consort with her, even encouraging me to pursue her, as she knew even better than I did, at the time, how good of a partner she'd make for me."

The silver-haired god then flashed a charming smile at the Oceanid, which was received positively by Metis, as she grinned his way. "And I hope I've made a good one back."

"You have." Metis nodded. Her dazzling turquoise eyes something Zeus could lose himself in for days, if he let himself, as he saw his visage reflected through them. "That's something that will never be in doubt." Her gaze then briefly shot to Hera none-too-kindly. "No matter the opinion of someone who has yet to be involved in such a way with someone. And given her current attitude, I doubt ever will."

Hera bristled at the very intentional jab, hands clenching hard enough that if either had held her goblet, in that moment, they would've shattered it, as her nigh-flawless face scrunching up, with her cheeks turning partially red from both embarrassment and anger, as the Oceanid backed up Zeus. "You…!"

She stopped herself from retorting though, as despite no ceremony having been given, in a sense, Zeus and Metis were joint enough as consorts to be considered wed in a spiritual sense. At least, as far as her domain was concerned, for because of that, she was able to feel that her younger brother had not been faithful to the daughter of Oceanus. Infidelity had already occurred, and she had a hunch that it involved the goat-Nymph who had been turned into his tool of protection. A parting exchange, perhaps? Not that that really mattered, in the grand scheme of things.

The goddess had no idea if that was something that Metis would've been fine with or not, as again, she herself, as she'd discovered, was exceptionally rare in her thinking, when it came to loyalty between two beings considered consorts. However, she didn't get the feeling that Zeus had mentioned such an escapade to the Oceanid, which spoke volumes about how he may've thought she'd perceive such an act, as opposed to how most of their kind would.

She kept her mouth shut on this knowledge, all the same. Not because she wanted to give some faith to Zeus, in that his infidelity was a one-off occurrence that he wouldn't repeat, but out of spite instead, so that Metis, if Zeus repeated such an act, would learn a lesson the hard way, when she eventually found out, after the insult she'd just given her.

"Teehee! You two truly are cute together." Demeter giggled at the two of them, taking some inner satisfaction at feeling Hera's reaction to that barb, which in her mind, was absolutely true, before turning her sights to Beerus, where her gaze became desiring. "I aspire to have something a little similar someday, myself."

"If you keep up how you've been going, I'd say you'll have that in no time at all, at this rate." Beerus unashamedly remarked without thinking, or caring, how that sounded. His words getting Hestia's smile to become more strained, yet again for reasons she couldn't grasp, Bia to stiffen and Hera to flinch in surprise and dismay, from how open he sounded to that. The latter snapping her gaze toward him again, whilst the god quickly moved both empty bowls before him aside. One toward the Nymph from before, who quickly took it for another refill of the golden substance, and the other towards Demeter, whom he quickly turned to, with a wide smile of glee on his face, at the prospect of more of her food. "And by the way, seeing as you offered before, I could do with a refill of both this, and all the other bowls that were discarded, if you wouldn't mind, please?"

Taking note of his added politeness towards her, Demeter blushed and beamed back at him happily, in response. Especially to the first part of what he'd said. "That'll be no problem at all, Beerus~!" She replied with unmasked joy, as she took the bowl from his hand, while also using a bit of magic to levitate the empty stack of bowls beside her into the air, and conjured up a new set of fruits, vegetables and grains to take the place of what he'd ate of hers, in all of them.

As she did, Beerus couldn't help but find her even cuter than before, as she placed all the now fully filled bowls down near him, just in time for the Nymph to return and place down the refilled bowl of ambrosia as well. "You have my thanks."

"And you, mine." Something then occurred to her, getting her eyes to light up even more. "Ooh! Speaking of which, I have an idea!"

"And that would be?" The destroyer rose a brow, only for Demeter to surprise him, by moving her chair even closer to his, via magic, until the sides were practically grazing off each other, as she picked up one of her bowls of fruits, vegetables and grains.

"How about I show my appreciation just a little more, by feeding you myself?" Her eyes almost glittered, as her smile shone as vibrantly as the ripest, juiciest produce she'd made for him.

"You want to what!?" The tension from before rose back up to a fever pitch, as Hera's voice rose, the wind picking up around her with it, as outrage shone on her features.

Bia, meanwhile, to the increasing amusement of her mother and brothers, gained quite the glare to her, before she stalked forward.

"Please, sister of Lord Beerus, refrain from such. There's no need for you to take part in such a task that is fit for a servant. You have done more than enough, giving to him the feast that you have." The daemon said as respectfully as she could, knowing that coming across as rude here may displease her lord, as she came up to his other side, almost scaring off the Nymph responsible for refilling his bowls of ambrosia or nectar in the process.

The winged goddess then picked up one of Beerus' bowls of ambrosia, which caught said god's attention, as she flashed a subservient smile toward him. "Lord Beerus, kindly allow me to do that instead, if you are to have someone tasked with feeding you." She said, before forcefully slapping a hand to her chest, and giving a light bow. One that put her line of sight right on the bulge of his tunic, unintentionally, getting her excited, as she realized how excited he was already. "It would be my honour."

Hera's and Demeter's eyes both narrowed into slits, at the daughter of Styx' intrusion. Demeter's smile fading, as an aura of danger began to present itself around her, much like her younger sister, which only made the tense atmosphere twice as bad.

"I have to hand it to her, if nothing else, she's gutsy to insert herself like that between those two, especially considering she's actively getting in the way of Demeter's progress, right now." Nike murmured lowly to herself, feeling some concern for her sister, as she watched this interaction play out. "Be careful, sister. I know you like to charge in, but do remember, Lord Beerus' younger sisters are currently stronger than you are, and you and I both know they have a vicious side to match."

Meanwhile, over by Theia and her children, Eos felt a bead of nervous sweat fall down her temple, as she and just about everyone in the palace felt the hostility increase. Okay… not focusing on the destroyer was definitely the better choice. They're far better acquainted with Styx' daughter than they are with I, and yet just that one move to gain more of his liking, was enough to get both of his younger sisters to look ready to tear her throat out!

"Apologies. Bia, wasn't it?" Demeter suddenly smiled again, only this time, in a sickly-sweet manner that held little in the way of pleasantness, while holding a dangerous edge to it, as she gazed right into the goddess of force's eyes in a way that almost had the older, but weaker deity shiver. "I'm sure you mean well, but you've got the wrong idea. What I wish to do for my brother is hardly the task of a servant, as you put in such a silly way. I merely heard from a few Nymphs that there's something special about the intimacy involved in helping to feed a loved one, which while slower than them feeding themselves, usually, ends up being a better experience for the one being fed, because of the loved one's assistance."

Glaring her down then, in a way that came across as a clear warning, the blonde said, "No offence, but while you're an appreciated ally of ours, I wouldn't call you a 'loved one'. If you fed him, the act would mean absolutely nothing, and simply waste my dearest brother's time, so please, if you don't mind, be a good girl and either sit down with your mother and siblings, or go back to where you were before, so that you don't become an eyesore. Okay?"

Well… that certainly didn't sound like a threat, or anything. Hades thought to himself sarcastically, as he and everyone else who could hear them felt the 'or else', that was left unsaid, but implied, as Bia's confidence seemed to waver a bit, but tellingly, she did not move, which only served to aggravate Demeter and further increase the tension. She looked so smug when it was just Hera she had to put down, due to her advantageous position, but now that someone else stepped in and on her toes in even just the lightest of manners, she looks just as prepared as Hera to get violent, if necessary. It's almost painful to watch. And no doubt worse to be in the middle of. The pale-skinned god then hovered his eyes over Beerus, who despite his mighty power, was beginning to look a little uncomfortable.

His older brother had his pity. He'd feel the same, or worse, were he in his position.

"Oh, and I suppose it only means something if you're the one feeding him, sister?" Hera scoffed back, the wind generating from her becoming strong enough to make hers and everyone else's tunics and robes in the palace rustle or flutter, as she scowled at her sister, more than Bia.

"Well, it might mean something if you did it too, but we both know you wouldn't dare." Demeter shot back harshly, as she levelled her gaze back on her. "Reconstructing his palace is one thing, when you can do it mostly in private and avoid any embarrassment from showing too much affection, but this? Not when your pitiful pride means more than openly giving back to our brother, where all can see, in an act of intimacy."

Hestia's face was in her hand, as she sensed the building eruption, and began to feel that her getting involved may end up an inevitability, at this rate. And so soon after she'd broken up the last one, too, before getting up here.

She wasn't the only one who sensed violence steadily looming forward, as the palace quietened down, with even the Nymphs, regardless of sobriety, having stopped or slowed in their dances, as they all cautiously watched what was going on with some nervousness.

"'Pitiful pride'?" Hera hissed those words back, her hair beginning to float up, of its own accord, as her red aura surfaced around her. "That's rich, coming from an absent-minded idiot like you!"

"Was that the best you could come up with?" Demeter snorted, as though she found it funny, when she obviously didn't. The goddess, once again, not intimidated by her little sister in the slightest. "You've used that same insult countless times already, during our spars. I suppose a lack of creativity is another negative of yours that we can add to the list. You should really-oomph!?"

Most of the assembled deities, even those like Themis, who had previously been detached from most goings-on around them, stared wide-eyed, as the bowl that Demeter held, along with the one held by Bia, were both suddenly flung out of their hands by powerful gusts of wind. The one holding the blonde's produce nailing her first, in the side of her head, smashing her fruits, vegetables and grains all over her, dirtying her hair and face, as the bowl shattered into pieces, before the one carrying ambrosia slammed directly into her face next. That bowl smashing too, while mashing the golden substance into her already messy face and hair, further sullying them, as Demeter was nearly knocked off her chair.

Oh, come on…! Beerus' face morphed into one of comical horror, with his jaw hanging open, hand outstretched momentarily, twitching as much as his right eye, as he saw such indescribably delicious food going to waste. Outside his dismay and annoyance – which would've been outrage, were it not for how high his mood had been – at that, though, he couldn't help but feel even more uncomfortable now too, as he barely suppressed a groan, at how things continued to escalate.

He didn't mind this side to them, when it occurred during spars or battles in the war. Heck, he actually liked it, in his own way, under those circumstances. But here, when he was supposed to be feasting? And on the tastiest food and drink he'd ever had, no less? Not a damn chance in hell!

"Was that creative enough for you, sister?" Hera asked rhetorically with a mocking sneer, taking some cruel humour in paying her sibling back for earlier, when she'd tripped her up.

The outline of an orange-green aura, as Demeter's messy hair rose up similar to hers, was her initial response, as the blonde's murderous-looking eyes revealed themselves soon after. "You just can't help but be a pain, can you, sister?"

At this point, it would've been wise for Bia to back down, and bow out before things potentially got uglier, seeing as both seemed to have forgotten her presence, for the moment. Instead, despite feeling intense apprehension, her own red aura raged forth, as she brought out an arm in front of Beerus protectively. Uncaring for the fact he didn't need her to do that at all, with the immeasurable power he had, as she simply saw it as another way to demonstrate herself to him, as her eyes zipped between his two sisters.

Both of which took notice of her act, and immediately put her in their crosshairs again, as well. All while Beerus just sat there, in the middle of it all, mourning the loss of the finest food, even if it was easily replaced, as well as wondering how he should put a stop to this, given he was far from mad enough to start beating the crap out of them. And given how all the food could still be continuously conjured, unlike, say, the pudding that that pink puffball Majin Buu had refused to share with him, back in his Universe 7 days, before foolishly threatening to turn him into candy and eat him, it was highly unlikely to reach that point.

Well, that and also the fact that, he was irksomely horny right now, making rational thought much harder than it should've been. Because his body of this world was as weird as always, and had gotten him highly aroused from eating and drinking his fill of the finest delicacies he'd ever had. Something he'd ignored before, but increasingly couldn't do, the longer he wasn't dining on said delicacies, and being wrapped in an incomparable euphoria, because of it.

"You know, I've been silent on it up to now, and mostly taken amusement in watching their antics, but this is why having the interest of more than one deity, on a level like this, is never as good as some like to believe." Metis whispered, as she brought her chair closer to Zeus', and leaned close, catching said god's attention again.

"What do you mean by that? I was under the impression that most of our kind slept around rather frequently, and neither side was bothered by it." The silver-haired deity pointed out, recalling both what he'd been told and what he'd observed himself.

"They do, but what you're thinking of is not the same as what's going on here." She shook her head. "Those are mostly casual encounters, with the simple desire to have sex and nothing more. Mere lust for the body, in other words. That would be easier to settle than the issue your brother has before him now, which is what no god or goddess should wish to have, in my opinion, and which he has allowed to fester unchecked. That being more than one individual vying for their affection at the same time, whose desires, at least for now, run a little deeper than simply wanting a session of coitus."

"Ah. I see. Because as things have been with my sisters, in particular, for a long time, it can get competitive, I assume?" He proffered, getting a nod from his consort.

"Correct. Their reasons for why each of them feels the way they do about him are irrelevant. What matters is that they do, and that he's the only one that any of them have interest in, as of right now. As to what they seek out of coupling with him, outside their obvious attraction being sated, could be anything, really. From simply wanting to use it as a way to worship him, to maybe bearing and raising his children. Or perhaps because, like I do with you, they might see him as the only one for them, though unlike, say, you with me, they're dreadful when it comes to taking the necessary action and gaining him as a consort, whether by getting him to act first. Just to guess a few."

…Something tells me at least one of those wasn't a guess… The god of lightning thought with a sweat-drop, as he noticed the brief look his consort shot toward Hera, as she said that last one.

"Regardless, what Beerus has on his hands right now isn't a favourable position, so long as he proceeds to be mostly passive about it. Possibly because, up to now, like those before him to a certain extent, both god and goddess, he felt a certain stroking of his ego by having several pining for him, simultaneously. It's quite hard not to, as I understand, seeing the lengths that each will go to, in order to gain more of his favour, while he, for the most part, sits back and enjoys the spectacle. At least, until it starts getting too ugly to watch."

The youngest Olympian couldn't help but furrow his brows, as he frowned. "You sound like you've witnessed this yourself first-hand, before…"

"A few times." She admitted, not looking pleased at having to recall the memories, as she picked up her goblet and took a sip from her nectar. "On two occasions for brothers of mine, and once for a sister. This may not be the exact same as any of them, but seeing this definitely reminds me of those affairs. And what I can tell you right now, is that each of those eventually ended in disaster, one way or another, with curses being thrown about with reckless abandon, resulting in misery for all, until my father stepped in and was forced to rectify the situation." She explained, getting a cringe out of Zeus.

"Oof. And you think something similar may end up happening with them, as well?"

"Given who's involved? I struggle to see how it wouldn't. Especially given your sisters almost came to blows already before we even got up here for the celebration." She bluntly stated, before her gaze focused momentarily on Hestia, who looked increasingly bothered, understandably, at her sisters being ready to go at each other's throats again. "Your eldest sister stopped them then, and she may stop them again, here, but even if she does, I don't think she can keep that up forever. She's only delaying the inevitable, from what I see. Eventually, something's going to have to give, despite her interference, and is very likely to get messy, to say the least."

The Oceanid's gaze then focused entirely on the purple-haired deity. "That being said, Beerus has surprised me before, though, so who knows? He might manage to do what my siblings wish they could've done, and get them, as well as any others who might seek his interest in the future, to settle down with him despite whatever differences they may have. All so that he may have numerous close consorts, along with whatever benefits each brings to his life, without any of the negatives." She couldn't help but snort at the notion, given how improbable that was. "Either that, or at the very least, figure out some sort of compromise that works for each, which'll keep things relatively peaceful."

She had to suppress her snort this time for the second instance, as while more likely, the odds were still terrible, primarily due to a certain goddess' involvement, and what she currently sought, but stranger things had happened, she supposed. "Regardless of if it's those, or more likely, something else, with all due respect and no offence intended, now that there's no longer a war and a common enemy to distract, if your brother doesn't nip that growing conflict in the bud, in some way, he'll end up with a suitable 'reward' for his foolishness. That much is for certain."

Meanwhile, as she relayed all this, Beerus himself, with his incredible hearing, now that he was paying more attention to the goings on around him, picked up on everything his little brother's partner said. And given the way he could feel her eyes on him, along with her particular wording there, at the end, it was rather apparent to him that she recalled this aspect of him, and was fully aware he'd heard virtually every word of hers, with complete clarity.

He didn't like the fact that she was practically pinning most, if not all the blame for his current situation on himself, for how Hera and Demeter – and he supposed Styx's daughter now, too – were acting. Nor did he appreciate her assuming, in one instance, him perhaps wanting multiple close consorts – or in other words, he assumed, wives – when he still had no interest in getting married, for several reasons.

However, he couldn't deny that her logic was sound, on this little feud that surrounded him. Things were indeed liable to get out of hand, if something was not done, now that the collective distraction that was their war against Kronos and his gaggle of morons was over and done with, which left them all free to pursue and do exactly as they please. And he couldn't just rely on Hestia continuously, to keep the peace, as that didn't really solve the issue. Not to mention that it would be unfair to his favourite sibling, to keep putting her in such an uncomfortable place.

With that in mind, and this being a new experience he wasn't used to handling, along with just wanting to get back to feasting, both to help ignore his erection again, as well as enjoy what he'd earned, the destroyer decided to go the first route he could think of. Something he'd done plenty of times, during spars with his siblings, when he believed they needed it.

Tell them off.

"Could you three just stop, please?" Beerus suddenly asked, perhaps a little more aggressively than intended. His voice holding some annoyance to it, and being more than audible enough for not just the trio creating such a tense aura around him, but for most of the gods in attendance within his palace, as well, on account of all other noise having quietened down so much.

The god of destruction couldn't be bothered to care about that little detail, though, as he grabbed Bia's outstretched arm, something that he noticed, bizarrely, got a blush from her, as he pushed it away from him, and continued. "There's really no need for this... I hope you realize you're just embarrassing yourselves, right now."

That seemed to be enough for Bia, who, undoubtedly because of her newfound, zealous subservience to him, backed down immediately, aura fading as she looked away in shame, upon hearing him say what was an obvious admonishment. The winged goddess murmuring an apology for 'overstepping her boundaries' that only he could fully hear.

"What?" Hera, however, stubborn as he, if not more so, did not back down. Nor did Demeter, as both their auras remained on their persons, though the latter's felt like it'd lessened a bit, as both threw their glares partially to him.

Beerus chose to meet Hera's glare first, with one of his own, as he elaborated. "In case you've forgotten, this little get-together is supposed to be a celebration – my celebration, as well as yours – for a job well done, in winning the war. So why don't you actually get into the spirit of it, and have some fun, instead of engaging in the kind of nonsense that you are now, which is starting to get in the way of me enjoying my meal!"

"Heh. Wow. And I'm the only brother who is getting slighted for his charm…" Poseidon couldn't help but remark with a light, low chuckle to himself, while crossing his arms and shaking his head at his elder brother's efforts to quell their sisters' aggravated airs. "Damn… Practically demanding them to have fun, while admonishing them for getting in the way of his dinner. Hehehe! Smooth. Very smooth, brother."

Beerus scowled in the tanned god's direction, eye twitching irritably, as his ears picked that up, and he felt his annoyance spike, especially at the amused sarcasm that oozed out of his younger sibling, on the last bit.

He stopped himself from retorting, though. Just barely. It was practically on the tip of his tongue, and near irresistible, in his current state, but he managed, because there was nothing to be gained from engaging with him, at the moment, even just to shut him up.

Bloody fool had no clue how difficult it was to appropriately squash a squabble like this without violence, or threatening destruction, all while aroused as hell, with much of his ichor circulating around his groin, rather than up in his head.

He'd destroy said arousal, using his power, to get rid of his erection, but with the knowledge granted by the Ophiotaurus, he knew that wouldn't be a good idea. Destruction was tied to creation, after all, so in destroying that, something else would be created to fill the void right after, dramatically affecting his current mood, and not in a good way. And naturally, of course, he wasn't about to rip his own dick off to get a similar effect, like he had that one time, knowing it'd just grow back instantly, as that would definitely tank his mood, too, and call him selfish, but he wasn't willing to do that, right now.

"Dearest brother, believe me, unlike our younger sister, I haven't forgotten what we're supposed to be partaking in…" Demeter soon said through clenched teeth, bringing Beerus out of his temporary thoughts and centring his gaze on her, as she controlled the urge to retaliate against her sister, for smashing food into her face. "As a matter of fact, I'd love nothing more than to be partaking in the idea I came up with before I was rudely interrupted, instead of dealing with Hera's spiteful envy!"

"Tch! There you go, again. I am not envious of you, you lovesick buffoon!" Hera railed back with a snarl, a bang echoing, as her palm slammed down on the table, sending an immense quake through it that toppled over multiple bowls and goblets, spilling their contents unto the table-surface, floor and gods alike. Though, miraculously not breaking it, thankfully, as that would've been much worse.

"You are too, you damned liar!" Demeter met her aggression right back, slamming her palm against the table, and causing much the same effect as her sister, rattling it and causing even more bowls and goblets to tip over. Though in this case, having had it happen the first time, the would-be victims, which included Themis, Epimetheus, Pan, Styx and her children, Theia and her children, Metis and the blonde's younger brothers, all managed to react in time and stop their food and drink from toppling entirely.

One of the gods the food and drink did spill on, however, much to Beerus' now skyrocketing annoyance, as he took immediate notice of, when it happened, was Hestia herself. The goddess flinching back with a gasp, as their contents wettened and dirtied the lower half of her tunic.

"You've been sitting there, being miserable since I served Beerus what I made, with that jealous look in your eye, because of how happy it made him!" The blonde went on, scowling through the food that stuck and hung from her features, as she pointed accusingly toward her sister. The goddess failing to take note of the state she'd put her elder sister in, which was something that Hera, despite her anger, had noticed, like Beerus, if the way her eyes widened, was any indication. "Deny it again, if you want, but it won't change anything! Oh, and if I'm a 'lovesick buffoon', then what does that make you? I'll tell you what! An arrogant, unpleasant coward who-"

"ENOUGH!"

With a loud, bellowing shout that echoed across not just the palace, but the whole of Olympus itself, making the very mountain shake, for a split-second, a massive surge of purple aura rippled out, striking everyone and everything across Olympus' peak in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile… Outside the palace…

The intensity behind the shout and rippling wave was enough that all gathered gods within the courtyard, no matter the state they were in, halted in their tracks. Whether they be sober, drunk, or either, in the middle of conversations, eating or drinking, simply relaxing, or for certain couples, were either snogging it out in full view, or in a more secluded spot and in the process of undressing while engaging in different forms of foreplay. It mattered not, as that one shout rang out alongside the blast of aura that quaked the ground beneath them, catching everyone's undivided attention.

That included the horses, even. Their heads bucking up in alarm, front hooves rearing up, as the urge to flee nearly got to them, if not for the fact that they could sense their riders and the lack of danger they were in, which allowed them to calm down somewhat.

At her place laid out on the ground, Kalypso felt it too, and if it were possible for her, she would've flinched in unease at the power that radiated out.

"Well, I'll be. I didn't think there'd be anything today that could get him riled up like that." The voice of none other than Prometheus spoke next to the motionless blonde, bringing her eyes over to him, as well as the Titan standing next to him, who didn't look like such a bellow that was joint with a wave of power had done anything good for his nerves.

Iapetus swallowed nervously, as his eyes trekked toward the massive, reconstructed palace following his son's words. The son of Gaea sweating bullets down his temple, as uncertainty and fear clawed at him.

Sensing this, the future-seeing Titan looked his dad in the eye, as he laid a hand on his shoulder with a sympathetic expression, now that they weren't enemies any longer. "Father, it's alright. I'm sure he'll be back in a good mood soon enough. Even so, though, coming here during the celebration was ill-advised. I understand why you did, but believe me, it's best if you wait until tomorrow for what you're going to do. Neither of my brothers who fought alongside you are in any danger of being punished, today. My dear niece, laid out by our feet, has told you that much, before I even appeared before you."

"What if he changes his mind, though?" The Titan who surrendered asked with apprehension. His voice filled with worry. "What if he decides, at some point later today, that he's just going to have all those who opposed him destroyed like he did my brother, and just carry that out right then and there!?"

"He won't, trust me." Prometheus rebuked confidently, with a small smile. "I know him better than you do, and so far, he hasn't gone back on his word on anything. He made it clear to us all that the celebration came first, and then the punishments come tomorrow."

"He wants to enjoy himself, before he goes out handing judgment to us, grandfather." Kalypso decided to pipe in, with some words of her own, nabbing both Titans' attention, as both felt the distress in her tone, as much as they saw it on her face. "That being the case… I fear if you try to go in there now, and disturb him, regardless of his mood, you might end up doing more harm than good."

"Well said." Prometheus nodded. The Titan admittedly feeling some bit of pity for his niece and her predicament, as she was obviously terrified of what may be coming, in her future. And though he'd like to tell her not to worry, and that Beerus wouldn't give her the same end as Kronos, he wasn't actually certain of that. Not yet, anyway. He was planning to broach the subject as soon as the next day arrived to Beerus. Better to be assured of such things, rather than make an assumption that would only get her hopes up for nothing, that is, if she even believed him.

Leaving that to the side, for now, he turned his attention back to his father, as he placed his other hand on the 1st generation Titan's other shoulder, with a light, compassionate squeeze. "In case that's not enough, listen, if anything changes, I'll be sure to let you know, okay? I'll even help you to try and convince him away from bringing Kronos' fate upon my brothers, and my brother's daughter." He said, while shooting one more quick glance down at Kalypso, who looked at him stunned. "If he decides that is to be their punishment, that is."

"I had a feeling you might." Iapetus breathed, trying to cool his nerves, as he met his son's eyes again, managing the smallest of nervous smiles. "You may not get along with them, especially Menoitios, for reasons I can't fault you for, but I know you would not wish upon them such a horrific fate as what became of Kronos."

"I'll be honest, as far as my brothers, specifically, are concerned, it isn't just for their sakes, but for mother's too." The Titan of foresight admitted, cringing at the thought of how she'd react if Atlas and Menoitios did get treated to the same fate as the annihilated god of time. "She'd probably be inconsolable for all eternity, if those two perished like your former leader, and I don't want to allow such grief and sadness to overwhelm her, if I can help it."

"Hmm. If only I'd seen sense sooner, and tried my best to have those two remove themselves from the war, as unlikely as that would've been to work. Of course, me being the fool that I am, I honestly thought we would win," He commented, while his expression turned bitter. "All while convincing myself until the last day that I could've convinced my brother to spare you and Epimetheus his scythe's blade."

"I know. On the positive side, at least you ended up realizing your mistake, just before it was too late, father." The Titan of foresight granted him, already feeling the tense air outside created by Beerus beginning to rapidly fade away, with activity returning, as unbeknownst to him, someone from above who'd peered inside the palace, had given the signal to all that is was nothing for them to worry about.

Focused on his father, though, Prometheus let out a light chuckle, as he thought back to his parent's surrender. "Although… in saying that, I'm pretty sure Epimetheus would've appreciated if you'd come to your senses before you punched a hole in him and knocked him unconscious, but hey, I'm sure he's put that behind him, already. We had worse during some of our spars, back a few hundred years ago, after all." He shrugged with the most light-hearted grin he could manage, as he tried to make his regretful parent feel more relaxed.

It seemingly worked, somewhat, as the older Titan manage a snort, in return. "That you did."

"If you want, you and I, along with Epimetheus, and perhaps even Atlas and Menoitios, if fate allows it, and those two aren't too obnoxious to deal with, could reminisce a bit, on those times later. Have a laugh at what we did, what we messed up, and so on."

"Yes... If fate allows, I'd like that." Iapetus nodded, thinking of Beerus, when he said that, which soured what would've otherwise been a pleasant thought. "It all depends on what he ultimately chooses to do."

"You really don't give him enough credit, father. Beerus is more reasonable than you're making yourself think. Just ask Theia, if you don't believe me. He was willing to accept her, after she switched sides, and is also willing to hear out her plea, after this celebration is finished, and grant it, provided she does something for him, in turn."

"I was aware of her presence here, and her apparent defection, because of Kalypso, but I was not aware of that last bit." Surprise showed on his features. As well as a small bit of hope. Something that Kalypso herself also felt as well, hearing that, as it demonstrated that the god of destruction could be bargained with.

"Again, as I said, he's more reasonable than you think." Prometheus replied, as he let the older Titan's shoulders go. "I give no guarantee that he will agree to do anything for you, but I can say, that the better time to come forward to him, will be after he's enjoyed himself here, today. He should, hopefully, be in a great mood starting off, and that'll be the best moment to approach and speak to him about the upcoming punishments. Until then, keeping away from here, is your best choice. I'll meet with you out here, again, once Hemera's daytime peels through Nyx's night-time, alright?"

"That… will do." Iapetus acquiesced, after a moment's pause, letting out a breath to even further calm himself. "I shall entrust my faith to you, my child. And hopefully, the cruellest fate that is now possible, of existence ending for your brothers, my sons…" He turned to gaze down empathetically at Kalypso, the child of Atlas. "and my granddaughter too, will not come to pass."

Meanwhile… Back inside the palace, as the aura-wave was released…

As the wave struck, plenty instinctively raised their arms in defence. Pan, in particular, after what he'd felt happen to Kronos, was especially quick to throw up a guard, as his face turned to terror, temporarily, as irrational as that was, as he and many others expected to be pushed back by a level of raw force that never came. At least, not for the majority, anyway, who to all their surprise, were unaffected by whatever Beerus had just done.

The only two who were affected by the wave, were the destroyer's quarrelling sisters.

Before everyone's eyes, both Hera's and Demeter's auras were practically eviscerated away, along with all aggression and negativity they'd been spreading, including the wind the former generated, as it flew by. The sudden sensation of their increasingly foul emotions undergoing destruction leaving them in shock, as the aura also destroyed the mess that'd been made of the latter's face and hair, as well as that of Hestia's tunic, leaving them both in pristine condition, once more.

The eldest Olympian, as well as Beerus' twin, couldn't help but snap her surprised gaze to him, feeling the anger emanating off of him, now, and beginning to overpower his prior euphoric state altogether, making it but a memory, until he dined again.

She briefly thought about using her power to soothe him right away, but one look into his eyes told her that he was already reigning his wrath back in, and that he might not need her, in this instance, as the purple and gold aura that had suddenly blossomed over his form, began to recede.

"Both of you, just stop!" The destroyer said – no, commanded – of them. His voice coming out as gruffer than usual, almost like a growl, as he forced himself to calm down, though the intensity remained, whilst turning his head and swapping his glare between the two younger goddesses. One that made it clear he was no longer in the mood to tolerate any perceived nonsense."I don't care what your reasons are for this, this little spat of yours is dragging down our celebration!"

He stressed the word 'our', there, instead of what he'd almost said, which was 'my', as despite the latter being just asaccurate, in his mind, the former was more palatable, in this situation, for his needs. Unlike, he'd begrudgingly acknowledge, his prior reprimand, which Poseidon had mocked him for.

Speaking of his tan-skinned little brother, he smartly chose not to bring that up, even if only Beerus heard him. Good on him, for reading the room properly.

Ignoring him, though, as well as everyone else, for the moment, with the exception of his sisters, the destroyer quickly thought about what to say next, seeing that both of their attentions were fully fixed to him. He resisted the urge to threaten them with destruction so they'd shut it, like he would've done in his old life, and certainly how he would've done in this one, too, had it been anyone else, aside from those closest to him, that'd managed to sully his prior good mood to such an extent. Even if he didn't actually intend to go through with the threat at all.

That was for two simple reasons. The first being that they wouldn't believe said threat, at all, as he'd freely admit, it would be nothing more than a bluff. He just didn't have it in him to go through with it on them, not even with Poseidon, no matter how irritating he may get, which just went to show that, once again, he'd gotten softer.

The other reason pertained solely to Hades and especially Hestia, as he was convinced that they would never get him like this to begin with. He simply couldn't perceive it. Not when Hades was much too respectful for this garbage, and Hestia far too kind and considerate of him.

"Y-You… How did you…?" Hera stumbled verbally, still too stunned by the sudden eradication of her rising power and fouler emotions, the former of which knocked back down to its normal, suppressed state, to properly voice her thoughts, as her and Demeter's eyes were now firmly set on Beerus.

The destroyer, understanding what she was trying to ask, anyway, with relative ease, turned his glare to her, and simply replied, "There's nothing I cannot destroy. You'd do well to remember that." He then glanced at Demeter. "Both of you would."

Bia shivered uncontrollably near him, her legs shaking weakly for a moment, as a wild smile that looked out of place compared to everyone else in the room adorned her, while muttering hotly in awe under her breath, "I know I will!"

Despite hearing her, Beerus patently ignored the daughter of Styx and her unique brand of quirkiness, in that moment, as he focused on his trouble-bringing sisters. "That aside, I'll make this clear, seeing as Hestia's words earlier weren't enough. If you two can't help yourselves, and want to fight each other, the least you can do, is save it for later, instead of escalating and doing it now, ruining the feast." His bloody feast! One with the best damn cuisine he'd ever had, no less!

They'd already caused quite a bit of such perfect food and drink to spill and be ruined, and that was bad enough, seeing it wasted, even though they had an abundance of both that still had yet to be used, but causing it to spill over on Hestia just then, made it worse. His favourite sibling didn't deserve that kind of inconvenience, minor though it may have been, nor the inconvenience of being in-between these two, as they were pettily going at each other.

It occurred to him now, that in hindsight, he should've ensured Hera and Demeter were more separated from each other at the table, enough to where it'd be difficult for them to verbally communicate, as that might've led to less of a bother.

Well, either that, or it would've had the opposite effect and had things become just as, if not more volatile, if he'd agreed to have Demeter-

It was then that Beerus recalled the catalyst behind the added escalation, and couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. "And to think, you two would have it escalate close to a fight, over something that's not that big of a deal. Hestia!"

"U-Uhm, yes brother!" His twin flew to attention, now that her name had been called by him, no doubt wondering why.

"Do me a favour and take this, first." Without missing a beat, Beerus took one of the bowls of ambrosia that was his, and slid it over to her, on the table, where it stopped just in front of her. His twin glanced to the bowl, then back to him, a small, awkward, but no less pleasant smile coming over her at the generous gesture, as his aura faded away.

A 'thank you' was on the tip of her tongue, but Beerus wasn't done. Using his power, he did something he'd known he was capable of, since the boon and its knowledge was dropped, but hadn't needed to use, while fighting Kronos, as his hand moved. The space around it warping, as it seemed to mostly vanish from view, to the intrigue of those who watched him.

The space above Hestia's new bowl of golden, glowing food then warped as well, as to the goddess' surprise, Beerus' hand appeared! The appendage moving down and grabbing a piece of the golden substance with its two longest fingers and thumb, before, to Hestia's further surprise, raising the piece it held up to her lips.

"Go on," He said, making her gaze thrust itself to him again, in even greater surprise, as his expression schooled into something far less irritated-looking. "Open wide for me, if you don't mind."

His twin's cheeks burned red, with a bit of embarrassment, at this being done in-front of everyone, and a bit of something else she wasn't quite sure of. "O-Okay…" Nonetheless, she acquiesced to his request – which admittedly sounded more like a polite demand, but she didn't mind – and parted her lips and teeth just wide enough for the food in Beerus' hand to be put inside. Something that was done with the kind of gentleness her brother always showed her, as he pushed his spatially-displaced hand forward and placed the golden substance inside her mouth, right on top of her tongue.

The glowing-eyed goddess barely suppressed the shiver that threatened to come over her body, as the tips of his fingers unintentionally traced down along her lips, as she closed her mouth while the hand pulled away. It was strange to say, given it was the same food she'd been eating, already, but something about it being fed to her by him, in this manner, as she began to chew, somehow made it taste all the better. Something her somewhat embarrassed visage expressed, in the form of a more tender, grateful smile. "Mmm~! It's delicious, brother. Thank you!"

"No problem." Seeing her reaction and hearing her gratitude, Beerus found himself losing most of his remaining irritation, as unbeknownst to him, in that moment, he grinned a bit himself, as he felt a bit of a jolt go through him on the inside. The god unable to help the fact, that whether it be simply from his already intense arousal or not, his mind couldn't help but visualise his twin and her expression as quite possibly the cutest thing he'd ever seen, as a small moment was shared between them, that he hadn't even intended.

Admittedly, he could've reached across to her bowl without using this power, as they were close enough for it, but doing it this way was easier, as it meant he wouldn't have to rise from his chair to do so.

Nobody bothered calling him out on this strange bit of laziness, as they were more distracted by the ability itself and what he did with it to care. Even if someone – probably Poseidon – did though, he wouldn't give a shit. Because, after all, what difference did it make?

In any case, the daughter of Styx, as well as the younger daughters of Rhea, couldn't help but stare at this scene, particularly at the eldest Olympian and her reaction to Beerus' act. Not a one of the stunned goddesses knowing what to say, nor did much of what Beerus would call 'the peanut gallery' watching this play out all around them, because they had nothing better to do, than gawk like a bunch of imbeciles.

One thing that was for sure, was the envy that began to show in Demeter's eyes, as well as Bia's and Hera's, though the latter did her best to hide it.

That emotion didn't even last a few seconds for the blonde, before surprise replaced it, as Beerus turned, his other hand snaking over her chair's armrest and picking up the same amount of ambrosia from the bowl in her lap, which had managed to elude Hera's wind-powered bowl thrusting. The destroyer not even hesitating to look her in the eye, as he brought the golden substance up to her lips, just as he had Hestia.

"Go on, then. You too, Demeter. This was your idea, after all." He said to her, now sounding as casual as he could get, in his current predicament. His grin from before still present, which he put all the blame on Hestia for.

The blonde felt a small urge to correct him, in that her idea had been for her to feed him and not the other way around. Instead of vocalizing that, however, her cheeks bloomed a pinkish-red again, as her giddiness from moments ago returned at the concept of him doing this to her. "A-Alright! Will do!" She beamed, her gaze swapping between his piercing eyes and the treat in-hand, before she eagerly opened her mouth, allowing for him to place the chunk of ambrosia inside her moist cavern, right upon her tongue, too. And unlike her older sister, she did not suppress the shiver that went down her body, as his fingers traced down her closing lips, and she began to chew what he'd given her.

"Mmm~! It's so good…!" She moaned, while resting her palm against the side of her face. Her expression actually comparable in cuteness to how Hestia's had been, which took Beerus a little by surprise, as she felt the same sensation that her older sister had, which enhanced the taste of the food she'd already had, as a warmth permeated her form.

The blonde was quick to seize the opportunity, despite her bliss though, as she took a piece of ambrosia from her bowl as well, in much the same way Beerus had, and brought it up near his mouth without a moment's hesitation. Her eyes practically sparkling with a wide, happy smile, as she looked at him expectantly, hoping he'd go along and let her do it right back.

The destroyer simply rolled his eyes, feeling more relaxed now, sans his immense erection, obviously, as he opened his mouth, to which she responded excitedly by shoving the golden treat inside. The lightest of shudders surprisingly passing through him, unnoticeable to the naked eye, and only felt by Demeter herself, as the burst of flavour from the ambrosia hit him, bringing him partially back to the world of euphoria from before. The brief tang of the blonde's flesh accompanying it, as her fingers brushed against his tongue, bringing out a sweet, earthy taste that he hadn't expected, but absolutely welcomed, along with the added warmth it brought.

While he was enjoying that, he caught the blonde beauty cheekily licking her own fingers, making a pleasured noise, as she did, tasting the residue of the ambrosia, as well as Beerus himself, to a small degree. A pleasant sight that had his third leg acting up just a bit more.

Huh. Maybe he'd downplayed this idea, just a bit. This actually did feel better, in a way, than just feeding himself. Then again, maybe that was just the arousal talking.

"Hmph. Ridiculous…" Hera, watching this happen, struggled to contain her deep frown, as she pulled her gaze away, in an attempt to stave off the seed of jealousy that was beginning to grow within her.

She didn't get much longer to stew in newfound negativity that she tried to mask, though, as before she knew it, space warped above her bowl of ambrosia, and a familiar hand popped out to grab a piece, before presenting it toward her parted lips, as her eyes widened.

"Well? You just going to sit there and stare at it all day?" The goddess' head snapped back in Beerus' direction, as he spoke those words in a casual, almost teasing tone, after seeing her do nothing but stare for a moment. His eyebrow quirked upward, as he looked at her, while his other hand had been raised above him, his fingers already parted, as Bia could be seen chewing happily with what had to be the most blissful look she'd seen on her, outside of when she got hit by Hestia's aura. Evidently having been given a piece by him, herself.

"Mmm~! Your generosity is deeply appreciated, my lord!" Bia sung in an uncharacteristically girly cadence. One that had the destroyer's eyes float to her for an instant, as her cheeks settled into a blush like Hestia's and Demeter's with an exuberant smile, as one of her hands latched against the top of Beerus' throne, as though she were struggling to keep herself upright.

Styx, who continued to watch from the side-lines, giggled once more in mirth, at her daughter's behaviour, finding it even more adorable now, to witness her most aggressive child act in such a manner, as she rested her elbow on the table, and propped her face up against her palm. And it seemed as if the god she'd chosen to follow agreed, to some extent, with the way he looked at her.

She wasn't the only one who was quite relaxed now, as many of the other guests, seeing that a potential crisis had been totally averted, began to get back into the swing of the party, now that, in their minds, Beerus had things under control, and any menacing aura was gone. Discussions started back up, while the Nymphs resumed their dances, though a good few shot envious looks toward the goddesses at the table, who got to be fed by Beerus, in the kind of joy-inducing way none had expected of him to do.

Eos joined them a bit, in that. The Titaness pouting at the sight of the trio enjoying a light serving from him, wondering if Selene hadn't exaggerated what might happen if she went over there, before the appearance of another cute, youthful-looking god caught her attention, and had her head turning as he flew by.

The remaining deities, while also much more relaxed, watched the scene at the table just a little longer. Specifically, they kept their eyes trained on Hera, to see how she'd respond to the offering, given how most of them knew her to be, from observation.

Feeling herself under scrutiny, Hera swallowed a knot, as she looked back at the piece of food, honestly considering it, before narrowing her eyes, as her pride took hold.

"I'm fine, thank you." She said, after a bit of hesitation. Her tone managing to come across as genuine, to those not paying close attention, or who didn't know her all that personally, as she glanced back at the destroyer, while folding her arms by her waist. "Unlike our sisters and Bia, I don't-"

"Hera…" Beerus cut her off, with an almost tired-sounding, borderline-deadpan tone, just raised enough to come across as assertive, and have her still in her seat, as his eyes bored into hers. "Quit posturing and just eat the damn food, already."

"P-Posturing!? I'm not-" Cheeks flushing with a bit of colour, Hera's prideful side felt like arguing that she wasn't, and that the feeding wasn't necessary, but gazing deep into those unflinching amber pools, there was something within them that made that side of her crack and falter, on this one occasion.

Swallowing again, and unable to stare into those eyes of his any longer, she turned her sights back to the piece of golden food held in his spatially-displaced hand, her teeth biting against her soft lower lip.

W-Well… I suppose it is just a bit of food. What's the harm…? With that slightly uncertain thought, Hera's luscious lips parted wide, presenting her tongue and the inside of her velvety tunnel, at which point, the hand moved forward, pushing the piece of ambrosia inside.

"Ngnn!..." Holding in a small quiver at the feel of his fingers grazing against her tongue, as the food dropped on it, the goddess' mouth closed a little faster than the rest, unintentionally latching her puckering lips around his fingers, for but the briefest of instants. The moment sending a jolt through both that was felt fully by the other, as she instinctively sucked the ambrosia further back to chew it, while simultaneously suckling on his residue-covered digits, getting a proper taste for both, in the process.

The ambrosia was basically the same as before. It tasted good. The other flavour that was with it, however, which hadn't been present before, enhanced the sensation it gave, even before she started eating it. The second tang was hard to place, but it most certainly brought an added punch to it that had her taste buds singing, as she let out an involuntary croon.

The colour of her cheeks expanded and darkened at this, even as his fingers pulled away with the lightest sounding POP from her lips. Some embarrassment flooding her, as she saw the small string of saliva that followed from his wettened appendages, before drooping and splitting, falling down to her chin. That embarrassment wasn't nearly as bad as what she felt, when she almost whined at his digits' retreat, though, instinctually lamenting their departure, after such a brief visit.

Yet even that was dominated by the warmth she felt resonating through her, almost comforting her, in a strange and unique way, as she ate the chunk of food she'd been given. The goddess closing her eyes while savouring every last one of her several munches, before ultimately swallowing. A pleasured smile reaching her face before she was even aware of it, that made her already sublime features shine ever more.

Someone definitely enjoyed that, anyway. Beerus thought with amusement, as he watched her visage for a bit, like he had their two sisters, and saw the absurdly cute expression she pulled like the others. It was comparable to them too, easily. And he'd dare say, as shocking as it sounded, that it might even be the cutest of the lot, despite the stiff competition. It was hard to say, given they were all – and yes, that included Bia, in this instance, despite her lesser beauty overall – at such a high level of cuteness, just from eating a piece of ambrosia from him.

He had practically gone from being surrounded by uncomfortable hostility – though not aimed at him, specifically – to being surrounded by levels of cuteness that made anything he'd witnessed in his many millions of years in his old universe seem ugly, by comparison.

He was then met with two hands being raised near his face, one from either side of him, with the hand coming from his left holding a piece of ambrosia within its dainty digits, while the one from the right held two plump, juicy-looking dates in theirs.

Hestia and Demeter's gazes met, and before Beerus' swivelling eyes, both sported an even more adorable blush, as they saw the other going for the same act they were.

"I-I merely wish to return the favour…!" The older sister stuttered out to explain herself, as she then turned her gaze more to him, with that same wonderful smile of hers, just with an added bit of shyness to it, this time. "It wouldn't be fair of me to accept your kindness and generosity, without giving my own back, Beerus."

"I-I suppose that makes sense…" Demeter nodded, feeling a tad bit suspicious, but given this was Hestia of all people, the blonde felt willing to believe her on that, as she turned her gaze to Beerus too, immediately brightening her smile. "We can feed him together then!"

Heh. Now that's more like it! The destroyer thought to himself giddily, as he readily accepted that decision. "You'll hear no argument from me, there!" He said, as he opened his gob up, allowing for both to push their pieces of delightful, delicious food into his piehole. And as soon as they did, he felt the extra earthy flavour of Demeter's skin, along with Hestia's, which felt like inhaling the sweetest form of burned incense imaginable, that accompanied the unique tastes of the divine delicacies they'd given him, before he started chewing.

"Mrmmh~! Now that's simply to die for!" He moaned while he ate, officially having entered heaven once more, and at a higher level than before!

Both of his sisters beamed at his response, feeling tingly and warm inside, as they couldn't help but giggle at him together, in what those still watching found to be a rather wholesome display.

It didn't end there though. Far from it. For before Beerus had even swallowed both of those treats, a dainty, pale hand popped out from the space distortion that was still active, just above his own appendage, with another piece of ambrosia between several of its long-nailed digits.

"D-Don't get the wrong idea, now!" Hera stuttered this time, cheeks inflamed, as Beerus' head and eyes shifted in her direction, seeing her arm stuck through the distortion on her side, while she gazed at him embarrassedly. "Like our dear sister Hestia, I'm merely returning the favour to you. That's all!"

"Oh wow! Look how flustered she is!" Demeter, while irritated by this, also couldn't help but point at and laugh at how her little sister carried herself. Finding it far more entertaining than she probably ought to, given she was still inserting herself where she'd prefer she wasn't.

"I-I am not! Quit lying, Demeter!" Hera snapped comically toward the blonde, her cheeks only going redder, as her denial convinced nobody, especially with the way her gorgeous features twitched nervously. She then turned her sights back to Beerus, almost looking desperate. "C-Come on, Beerus, what are you waiting for!? Quit stalling and just eat the damn food, already!"

Oh, by Lord Zeno's robes, this is getting even better! Struggling to hold in a laugh, at her behaviour, especially given she'd damn near thrown his exact words to her from before, right back at him. It was actually incredible, when he really thought about, just how badly her confidence vanished, in a scenario like this, especially given she'd been bold enough to flirt with him before, even though it'd been a while since she last did.

When he'd awoken in her arms, after the Hyperion fight, if he wasn't mistaken. That was the last time she'd been open with him, when it came to flirting. Since then, when he'd flipped the tables on her, she'd been like this.

Either way, Beerus threw her a bone, so to speak, and shrugged before opening his mouth, allowing Hera to push the chunk of ambrosia inside faster than anyone else had. Not that that stopped him from getting a cheeky little 'revenge' on her, undoubtedly spurred on by his arousal, as he closed his maw before she could fully pull her hand back. His lips trapping her digits inside for a split-second, much like hers had, and suckling the residue off her fingertips, while bring the ambrosia further back into his mouth to chew.

The same jolt from before, just as strong, was felt by both, as the tang of the golden substance, combined with Hera's unique tang, which was something he couldn't quite pin down, unlike Hestia and Demeter's, struck his tastebuds. It felt oddly familiar, though, tickling at an incredibly old memory from his days in his original universe that refused to surface, giving him an odd, but pleasant sensation that bordered on nostalgia, as it added a firm wallop to the taste of the golden treat in his mouth. One that was on-par with Demeter's and Hestia's.

"Hgnn!?" The shocked sound that Hera made, one filled a storm of emotions all rolled into one embarrassed mess, was music to the eating destroyer's ears, as she recoiled back, her hand and arm shooting away and out of his spatial distortion in the blink of an eye. Her face even redder now, as she stared down at her hand, and saw her three saliva-wettened fingers.

H-He actually sucked on my fingers! She mentally screamed, as her mouth fell open. She was aware she'd done it first, but that had been an accident, on her end! It wasn't intentional, unlike what his was, right now!

"B-Beer-oomph!?" She wasn't given a chance to speak, to respond to his actions, before his hand, still sticking out through the distortion, grabbed another chunk of her ambrosia and promptly shoved it inside her open mouth, giving her a second dose of his and the food's flavour combination. And outside of a groan, as she subconsciously closed her maw and took to eating the golden substance, the goddess was silenced, as the blissful warmth hit her again, and Beerus' hand retreated back through the distortion, which remained there beside her.

"No whining. Only… mmrmh!... Eating!" Beerus declared, as Bia – cheeky goddess that she'd become – chose that moment to pick up a piece of ambrosia herself and jam it inside his talking trap. Not that he minded, given the sweet, wondrous taste of the food that hit him again, which he would never get tired of, combined with the forceful shot of flavour she injected, as he tasted her too.

The winged goddess quivered in elation at this, seeing how positively he reacted to her action, before she went and reached for another piece to feed him, and she was hardly the only one to do so, either. As despite what she'd said before, about simply returning the favour, Hestia brought another piece of her own ambrosia, gifted to her by her twin, toward and into his mouth without hesitation. An act that was followed swiftly by Demeter, who pushed some celery into his mouth just as he'd swallowed Hestia's handout. And then right after that, his mouth was accosted by both Bia and Hera again, the latter's hand shooting through the distortion once more, as both thrust their chunks of food inside at roughly the same time.

All the while, Beerus gave back to them too, all but jabbing any piece of ambrosia in his or their bowls into their mouths, in retaliation, never once touching Demeter's food, as he seemed to be adamant on being the only one eating that, funnily enough.

This, on both ends, created a feedback loop, where the four goddesses ended up sharing with him, and he shared with them back. Hera being the slowest, at first, but it didn't take long before any remaining hesitance evaporated, with another chunk or two of ambrosia thrust into her oral canal, courtesy of Beerus, and she was moving just as fast as the others. All of them becoming involved in a building period of intimacy that nobody could've foreseen.

"Well… this is definitely not how I would've thought this would go, anyway. Yet again, you have found a way to surprise me, it seems, brother." Hades commented to himself with a bemused grin, as he watched this all happen with his goblet of nectar in-hand. "Who would've guessed that this was all it would take to get those two to play nice with each other, even if just for now." The ghostly-pale god snorted in mirth, swivelling his eyes between Hera and Demeter. The duo having gone from being ready to rip open the other's throat, from the way they'd glared at each other, to both happily feeding their brother food, while he fed them back, just as well, along with Hestia and Bia.

Meanwhile, as he started taking a swig of his nectar, Poseidon also watched the feeding loop occur, and was left somewhat flabbergasted at how well his elder brother had managed to get himself a highly pleasurable scenario, such as this one.

Was that what I was missing all this time, when it pertains to how I flirt? I just need to be more assertive, is that it? The new god of the seas thought to himself, after having seen how his brother accomplished such a feat, especially with the ever-competitive Hera and Demeter as part of it. He'd been fully expecting a flop from his elder brother, in the situation he'd been in, and yet he'd been able to turn it into this, by asserting dominance and then just getting them to go along with it, through a bit of coaxing.

The tan-skinned deity turned his attention back up to those same two dancing Nymphs from before, and fixated on the bobbing and jerking of their curvy forms, before feeling himself internally shrug, as he decided he would give his eldest brother's 'method' a go, himself, soon enough.

Whilst he did that, Zeus watched on himself, looking quite impressed as he stroked his beard. "It appears as though he has managed to both handle the brewing storm between my two sisters, as well as get himself a most favourable position between them, as well as dearest Hestia and Bia. I must admit, my brother's good fortune has me rather jealous, right no-oungh!?"

The silver-haired Olympian was cut off on that last bit, as Metis, with no hesitance, copied what the five deities before them were engaging in, and shoved a sizeable chunk of ambrosia into Zeus' mouth to quiet him. The god glancing toward her into surprise, but at the same time gave no objection, as his consort's fingers pressed against his closed lips, while his teeth began to chew.

She smiled teasingly at him. "Don't go forgetting you have your consort beside you, Zeus. Admitting to being jealous only makes me feel inadequate, you know."

Zeus swallowed his food, before grinning sheepishly, as he grabbed her hand, and gave it a light kiss. "Apologies. It appears I spoke before thinking, and thus, did not word myself properly." He hadn't. Not really. A significant part of him did genuinely believe his brother, at present minute, to be quite the lucky bastard, being able to essentially get their three unbelievably beautiful sisters, plus Styx's daughter, who was attractive in her own right, to engage in such an activity with him.

"Hmm… If you say so." Metis, ever the sharp goddess, gave him a look that made it clear she didn't fully buy that. However, at the same time, was willing to let it go, as she focused part of her attention on Beerus and the goddesses around him, yet again. "As for the first part of what you said, I would add that he's only managed to 'handle' the brewing storm temporarily. The problem very much still exists, and he has yet to truly address it in a way that genuinely resolves it."

Beerus, despite his state of euphoria having been re-achieved twice over, while moving at a much slower speed than before, was just about able to hear what the Oceanid said, as his fingers plunged ambrosia inside both Hera's and Demeter's mouths at the same time. All whilst Hestia fed him another piece of it herself, and Bia picked up another chunk for him.

Zeus' girl wasn't wrong, when she said that. It probably would be a good idea for him to fully address it now, and get it over with, but…

"Here comes another, Lord Beerus~!"

"Open wide for me, brother! I made this for you, after all~!"

"T-Try not to get too excited with this next one, Beerus!"

"Please, have another piece, brother!"

Beerus' eyes almost rolled back into his head from extreme exaltation, as one piece of divine delicacy after another – sometimes two at a time – found its way into his mouth and down his gullet, with increasing gusto. The lingering taste of each goddess left behind for him, as they fed him, and he, going on auto-pilot, fed them back, both with their dishes and his own. The latter being something he normally wouldn't do, or at least wouldn't have, back in Universe 7, but right now, he was more than fine doing so.

His tastebuds and stomach sung out their salivating tune for more, and the four cute goddesses were only too happy to help, and though they together didn't match up to the speed he was devouring his meals at on his own, they didn't need to. If anything, the slowed down pace allowed Beerus to enjoy the splendour of his food even more, and that was without adding in the extra dose of flavour present in each bite, when any one or more of them put his latest portion inside his jaws.

He couldn't feel how painful his erection was, anymore, as he swam even deeper into his food-induced nirvana, and sought to go even deeper still! Even deeper with the aid of the goddesses surrounding him.

What had he been thinking was probably a good idea to do, some moments ago? He already couldn't remember. Whatever it was, it could wait for later. When was later? Hell, if he knew. He was far too comfortable and deep into the passion that only food like this, served by the cutest of beings, could bring to him, to even bother wasting the energy to think about it.

He wasn't sure when it was, but at some point, after his three sisters had ended up pushing a piece of each of their food into his mouth at the same time, which gave it the best taste yet, Demeter had given him his goblet to help wash it down. The nectar that flushed down his gullet was as great as ever, but he couldn't help but notice the new bit of flavour, which reminded him of alcohol, something he'd sampled plenty of, back at Bulma's place.

Had she made that change? Maybe, though it could've also been someone else. Probably the Nymph who helped refill his bowls and goblets, sans the ones housing Demeter's creations, and continued doing so, as both objects were depleted of their contents. Not that it mattered, either way. The new version of nectar tasted even better, if he was honest. Not by much, at all, but enough to where he demanded whoever had done it, to make everyone's drink the same as his, just so that it'd liven up the atmosphere even more. Or something like that. Maybe it'd been for another reason, but he couldn't be bothered to remember, if it was.

The celebration went on, time passing by swiftly, and as he ate and drank more with everyone, the vast majority of which went at it just as heartily as he did, after a point, getting through one goblet after another, things eventually started to blur.

When they did, he wasn't sure when, but Demeter had started to lean herself over her chair, looking a little tipsy, with her cheeks as red as could be, as she circled an arm around his shoulders while giggling to herself. The goddess possibly using him for stability, as she took his goblet, but instead of bringing it to his lips, she brought it to her own, gulping down some of it, before sucking in a mouthful, as she placed the goblet down on the table.

Her glittering eyes were even more daring than ever before, as without asking if he was okay with it or not – not that it mattered – she puckered her lips, which already had a bit of the gold fluid leaking out down her chin, and then squished them against his! The liquid being haphazardly fed into his mouth through hers, causing a portion of the liquid to spill down to his chin as well, while the rest gushed down his throat and she kissed him deep, moaning into his maw, as she clumsily felt around his clothed chest with her hands. All as one of her pliable, perky breasts squashed and rolled over along his pec, within her tunic, in quite the delightful manner.

The moment didn't last long, though, before she was unceremoniously pushed away from him by a dainty hand, and sent crashing down over the side of her chair with a drunken-sounding yelp on the back of her head.

Beerus found that to be funny, given how comical it looked, as her smooth, sublime, upturned legs began twitching from shock, but he wasn't given much time to laugh, before that same hand that'd shoved her away gripped his shoulder, and brought his attention towards the culprit. Said culprit having just forced Bia out of the way, sending the winged goddess, who looked even more red-faced than Demeter had, as well as out of it, stumbling back before falling roughly on her ass.

It was Hera, just as red-faced and glittery-eyed as Demeter was, but looked rather frustrated. He wondered why? He also wondered when it was she'd gotten out of her seat and came to his side, as she took a gulp of nectar out from her own goblet.

Those rather meaningless questions didn't matter, when her puffy-cheeked face came bounding in, with a gaze that looked much less restrained, oddly enough, and did as her sister did, deeply pressing her lips against his, while feeding him the nectar trapped within her moist cavern. Even more of the delicious fluid spilt past his lips and down his jaw this time, drizzling over his and her tunics, while her soft, perky and bigger bosom squished up against his chest, as the rest of the sweet nectar washed down his gullet. All while she continued to munch faces with him, her glossy lips wrapping around his in a similar way to how they'd done, when she'd first kissed him like this, all that time ago, as part of her vengeance, or whatever.

He even felt her tongue probe against his, after a beat, and begin to wrestle with it like she had before, just much clumsier, and with him finding he rather enjoyed it this time around. Not that it lasted long, before Demeter got up and pulled her away, literally lifting her off her feet and dragging her over his chair, where her hip and thigh briefly bumped up against his bulge, as she was soon thrown gracelessly over the stumbling blonde's shoulder. Her back striking the floor, as a yelp escaped her, and Demeter lost her balance, falling comedically on top of her, where both got into a confused tangle of limbs, trying to get away from the other. At which point, he was sure they started whining and bickering in what, to him, came off as nonsensical, yet humouring gibberish at this point.

While they were doing that, and Bia was desperately trying and failing to pick herself up off the floor, while repeatedly losing her balance, Hestia's soft hand came to rest on his arm, bringing his attention to her. Her wonderful face just as beautifully flushed with the colour red as their two sisters were, and likely as his was too.

She smiled at him, her speech coming out badly slurred, but still intelligible, as she asked him if this was what he'd been hoping for, with the celebration, as a ruckus went on around them, with whatever the other partying gods were doing.

Not giving a damn by that point, as rational, sensible thought and action had long become foreign concepts to his mushy brain, as had any sort of clarity with his emotions, he leaned over and reached for her face, as his uncoordinated body nearly tripped over itself to the floor.

When his hand touched her cheek, his fingers partially splaying out over her silky-smooth hair, he pulled the surprised and drunken Hestia over, and laid a wet kiss upon her forehead, in his shoddy attempt to not have her be left out, given Hera and Demeter had already gotten a kiss.

"It ish now~!" He giggled half-jokingly-half-serious, as her face started to blur before him.

She then pulled a face he couldn't quite make out, before she placed a hand on his cheek, and just as he'd done to her, pulled him forward. Only instead of the forehead, like his had landed on, her lips managed to meet his, just like her sisters had. Hers, while it had its own hunger to it, was much less aggressive than either of her sisters, to the point it almost came across as chaste, and maybe it was, though he couldn't tell, as she soon separated from him of her own accord, rather than being pulled or pushed away, like the other two.

"N-No… Nnnow iht ish~!" She giggled back, feeling quite pleased with herself, even through her heavily drunken stupor, as she shakily reached for another piece of ambrosia, before placing it inside his mouth, as he remained leaning over his chair, for a moment. Her fingers tracing over his gums before they came out and dragged down past his lips, as his jaws awkwardly closed and began eating what she gave him, while dumbly smiling back at her.

It wasn't long before Hera and Demeter got up then, and even Bia finally managed to pick herself up off the floor, as they all stumbled back over. And soon enough, they were all back to sharing their food and especially their nectar, until eventually, things blurred together too much for the god of destruction to keep track of anything, anymore.

One thing he did know, was that it was a wild time. One that he very much enjoyed, and wished could've gone on way longer than it did.

Even if he didn't remember most of it.

AND CUT!

That's the end of this one, and man, with all the other stuff going on, on my end, did it take far longer to come out than it should've! Things are set to be much less hectic in these last few weeks of August for me, so I should have more than enough free time to get on this, as well as other fics.

One small upside for you guys is, this chapter also ended up being longer than anticipated, lol. I was thinking that this would only be around 15K, and yet it ended up being over 27K, making it the third longest chapter of this fic. So much for me keeping these chapters shorter, anyway.

As for the chapter itself, as promised, it focuses primarily on the celebration itself, and mainly a few moments within, before we get to the ending portion, where things started to get just a little bit spicy. And for those of you who have been waiting for it, the lemons aren't far off now.

On another topic, the poll I mentioned before will be up later, possibly around midnight, early morning tomorrow at the latest, and shall be one I keep up for the foreseeable future, as the story progresses, most likely. It's mostly just for fun, though you're all free to take it as seriously as you want, in terms of what you pick.

Either way, I hope you all got some enjoyment out of this chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one, where we'll have plenty of stuff setup in prior chapters to do!