Ch.2: "Trouble in Paradise" / Volcanic Paradise Island Arcadia

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell says to Leto in aside, "Well, Hera DOES have to live with Zeus. Maybe she's afraid of losing him if she applies a consequence. Or she doesn't have a consequence that will actually work on him, so making life hard for those he seduced is at least enough to make them not want to have anything to do with him."

Not letting go of Vin's hand, she reaches out to put her other hand on Hess, pulling the girl to her to comfort her.

She thinks to Helix, Could you tell if Zeus were taking the form of Vin to try to seduce me, do you think? It would certainly be a threat to my virginity.

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto frowns. "How has she put up with him for all this time? If it were me, if I were into men at all, I would leave him the first time he cheated. And I don't see how any of his victims would want to be with him after that. Taking someone else's form to have sex with their beloved is despicable."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell tells Leto, "Well, she IS the wife of the Chief Immortal. Maybe she's into the power or prestige that goes along with that. And maybe at some level she really does love him, but not enough to insist that he stop. Or, since it sounds like Zeus is pretty voracious in his appetites, maybe she doesn't want to have to be on the hook to satisfy him at that level. Or maybe it's a little bit of everything I mentioned and she's conflicted. She likes the power and prestige, doesn't want to have to satisfy Zeus' appetites because she finds that much mindless sex distasteful, AND despises what he does all at the same time."


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[Ireth]

Leto

Leto nods, looking thoughtful. "You'd know more about these gods than I do. I'm hoping Hera does feel bad about hurting the victims rather than Zeus; maybe she's trying to work out how to confront him about this. Maybe she can fix it."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

ORACLE: "Great! I'll take one last question from the nymph, and wrap it up."

HAGGAR: "For my daughter, I will keep this form. This is who I am."

RAMAZON: "I'll gladly fight this injustice if I can leave town as a human, or even like this."

IO: "I just hope you can find happiness, Wilbur."

"I have," says Wilbur. "Her name is Jenny, but she might not marry me because of us. But what about you? Can you ever be happy?"

Io looks at the mayor.

IO: "I'm not the only one of my kind. Maybe there's a bull-headed man who can look past my past, as I hope Jenny can forgive our little roll in the hay."

ORACLE: "And Callisto, we'll end the show with your reply. What do you want from the outside world?"

CALLISTO: "Artemis. I want her. I don't care if I'm stuck in this bear form for the rest of my life. I just want my best friend back. I want her to know what really happened. It's a silly thing to ask, I suppose. Olympians don't just go around talking to mortals. But if any woman were to travel to Sardis, I'm sure the spring is full of her other nymph friends. If they know the truth about me, it'll get to Artemis."

ORACLE: "That's a big ask, Callisto, but for any viewers who would like to help, let me remind you that men who enter Sardis never return. That neck of the woods is strictly ladies only! Which is why any show I do there is remotely via Graeae eye. And when will we have a show in Sardis? Keep watching! We like to surprise our viewers! Schedules schmedules!"


The Wicker Bros collapse unburnt after the flames go out.

"Bummer," says Nana.

Koko pulls a tiki torch, which is apparently a secret lever.

The ground beneath the Wicker Bros begins to sink.

Nana says, "Well, we can't sweep the ashes down there if the wicker men ain't burned to ash."

Koko agrees, "Yeah. Let's deal with it in the morning."

The beach party crowd disperses, leaving only our heroines and their allies gazing into an unattended stairwell that leads underground.

Vin says to Kell, "So that's how nymphs are born! I'm sorry about Niobe." Regarding Zeus' seduction in disguise: "If Zeus tries anything on you, just know I've been saving myself for the wedding night. If I ever tell you different, it's not the real me whether it's Zeus in disguise or me compromising my principles."

Helix thinks, If you don't stick with this guy, I'LL keep him as a boyfriend.

Oh, please tell me you know I'm half kidding!

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell looks at Vin and raises the hand that's been comforting Hess to stroke his cheek. "I knew there was something special about you," she tells him with a warm smile. Then she whispers to him, "I'd kiss you, but Niobe always told me to never kiss any man on the first date, not even one I really like. But, if you can see your way to asking me on a second or maybe third date, I see a kiss in your future if you want one, Vin Cobbler." She wants to give him the freedom to say 'no' if he really wants to, and to assure herself that he's moving closer to her because he wants to.

And with that, she lower her hand back to comforting Hess, who it seems is worn out from speaking for Bob Oracle, though isn't precisely asleep. She seems to be in more of a trance-like state, as far as Kell can tell.

She tells Vin, "In case you were wondering, Hess is neither my nor Leto's child. We are simply watching her for a friend. And right at the moment, she needs a little quiet time. It's probably not a bad idea that the rest of us get what sleep we can as well, if we're to be at the peak at dawn, and assuming we don't need all the time between now and then to get there."

She gives Vin a questioning glance, both about the possibility of a second or third date, and about how long it will take to get to where the fiancées are.

She decides to ignore Helix for now, knowing he can read what she's feeling. She'll update him later.


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[Legendary Sidekick]

As soon as Kell takes her hand off of Hess, she moves in a trance-like state down the steps in the dark. The floor is covered with ash, making it impossible to see anything in the underground passage until Hess lights the hearth below.

Vin responds to Kell. "Okay... third date. I can wait that long for a kiss." He laughs nervously. "Can you?"

The group follows Hess and Vin goes on, "I know Hess can't be your daughter. The bone knife wanted your blood. Sorry. It's hard to keep this sort of thing a secret with a magical knife around. But then, I'm not sorry to know this about you. You can make me wait for the hundredth date before I get a kiss if you want."

Kell mentions the plan to get to the peak. Vin turns to Ben, Jerry and Wil. "I know it's your fiancées up there, but I think rushing is a mistake. It's six hours until dawn, and I think we should be well rested. I say we find a good sleeping arrangement down here, and we attack with a decent sized force tomorrow."

Buck L'Orange replies to Vin, "If you wake up to start a fight, I insist you have a hearty breakfast."

As our heroines enter the underground lair, they see Hess crawling through the flames of the hearth. The flames part a few inches to make way for a green haired fairy. It's Midori. She is tugging on a tiny arm, "Oh, c'mon Sapphie! What're you afraid of?"

Desma is holding Phoebe as she descends the steps to the Hearthland. She asks Kell, "Where exactly are we?"

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell winks at Vin, her eyes warm. "A man like you is worth waiting for. Maybe we don't define the exact moment for the kiss, just say that it needs to be special. I think I can live with that."

She tells Desma, "The Underground, not that I'm completely sure what that is. But Phoebe's friend Sapphire lives here, as well as some other friends of mine."

She gives Buck a hug. "Hey, my friend, how are you? It seems we are invading your place again. This is Vin, Wil, Ben, and Jerry, and we helped rescue them from being sacrificed to the Lava Demon, and need to rescue Ben's and Jerry's fiancees, as well as the woman Wil hopes will be his fiancee. And the women with us are the Van Donk sisters. Bridgette, Sonja, Nissa, and I am forgetting the fourth one. They've offered to help us fight the Lava Demon. Then there's Desma, who's carrying Phoebe - Sapphie's Phoebe. She is a friend of mine from back in Nyse, and it so happens she befriended Phoebe. She's quite an amazing baker."

"Everyone, this is Buck L'Orange, and he helps those who...." she looks at Buck, uncertain how much he wants known. "How would you put it, Buck?"

Suddenly Kell remembers Helix. Can you make it down the stairs, Helix?

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto smiles upon seeing Buck, and adds to Kell's introduction of the van Donk sisters. "The fourth one is Hanna. It's good to see you again, Buck."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Buck is wearing striped orange pajamas when he comes out to greet everyone. After addressing everyone, old faces and new, ee says, "It seems our Hess can crawl from this hearth to that. I have never seen her do this! To think I can vacation in Arcadia cheap without having to deal with those weirdos in fairy costumes!

"Ah, but this side is filthy. I will need a cleaning crew to deal with the mess in the morning. If you wish to rest, why not come to the Ogygia side of the hearth."

Helix thinks, Stairs I can do, but I ain't squeezing through no hearth. I guess you can have some people carry me through in dolphin form, but what's the plan? Spend the night down underground then head back up in the morning? How about I stay here and keep watch?

Meanwhile, Midori finally gets Sapphire to follow her. Phœbe is already standing on the hearth. She runs to Sapphire who embraces her, then starts rubbing her back. "Phœbe? Your wings!"

"I can live without them. It's you I…" Phœbe's voice trails off. It seems she doesn't want to talk in front of everyone.

Sapphire says to Kell, "I was expecting you to send a messenger bird, not her! I am really glad we talked." She notices how close Kell and Vin are. "I hope you're never in a situation where you need the same favor done for you, but if you two find yourselves apart and need someone to pass messages along, I'll help if I can."

Buck says, "Our little Hess looks very sleepy. I suggest you all crawl through before the flames become the normal kind of fire that burns you. Regarding the sleeping arrangement, the men can have floor space in my room and the women can sleep in the infirmary. There are four beds, so you must decide how to make that work."

Desma, the van Donks, Kell, Leto and Hess outnumber the beds two-to-one. Sapphire and Midori carry Phœbe to the small level above where the fairies can find a place to sleep.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell says, "I suggest we stay here, everyone. It will definitely be safe. But we need to step lively, like Buck says. Leto, why don't you go through first, and I'll bring up the rear? I suggest we women draw lots for who gets the beds and who gets the floor, though I'm volunteering for a floor spot, and I insist that Hess take a bed, since she's a child."

She says to Vin, "You go on through now. You don't need to risk being burned after having having been cut earlier today. I want you in good form for fighting and whatever else we may find to occupy ourselves with tomorrow. I want to spend as much time with you as possible while I'm here." And she raises the hand of Vin's she's been holding and gently kisses it.

As everyone files through, she thinks to Helix, Your standing guard sounds like a good idea, though we will be in Ogygia and I am unsure if you'll be able to hear me and your horn may start homing in on my location. I'll try to contact you once I'm there and we can test out whether I can talk to you from there or not. But if not, rest assured, we'll be back to your location in the morning.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Vin gently squeezes Kell's hand and says, "I guess Noibe would approve of this kind of first date kiss." He takes Kell's hand, and if she allows, kisses her hand. As he steps through the flames, he doesn't let go. "Allow me to help you through."

The area between Arcadia and Ogygia is a red tunnel of flame. It is comfortably warm here, like the perfect temperature for a hot bath, but dry. If the spell were to end, would those inside remain in a world of ideal comfort or would they burn to death. Hess' glowing eyes remain wide awake until all have safely crossed through.

Vin bids Kell good night and follows his friends to Buck's room.

In the infirmary, Hess says, "I can fit someone else on my bed. I don't mind sharing."

Desma says, "I don't mind either, but I can't fight. I'd rather let those who are risking their necks to take beds if we can't make room for two. I'm the first who should end up on the floor." She calls up to Phœbe. "How are you doing up there?"

Phœbe replies, "Better than ever. You need a wake up call tomorrow? You have an early shift at the Tiki Mix."

Desma says, "Wake me up, but I'll be here fixing breakfast. Did you see Buck's kitchen? What a waste of my talent if I don't get to help out here!"

Desma patiently waits for the other women figure out where everyone will sleep.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell allows Vin to kiss her hand, a grin coming over her face as he does so that continues to hover around the edges of her mouth until she goes to bed. "Niobe would definitely approve," she assures him.

Kell suggests, "Nissa, you're the smallest of the adults. Would you mind sharing a bed with Hess? Perhaps the more physical fighters can take the beds while the less physical ones and Desma take the floor. That puts Desma and me on the floor, and I'm thinking maybe Leto?"

Once the pallets are made up and everyone is starting to settle down for the night, she calls out to Helix, Can you hear me?

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

The van Donks accept Kell's offer. Nissa removes her bronze armor and sleeps at the foot of Hess' bed. Hanna hands her eyeball necklaces on her bed post, and Sonja does the same with her mermaid top. Bridgette doesn't even remove her boots, which hang over the edge of her bed.

Desma sets up some blankets and pillow to make the floor as comfortable as possible. "There's plenty of room for three," she says.

Sonja taps Leto on the shoulder and whispers, "Room for two up here if you take off that bulky armor." She then lays on her side at the edge of the bed, leaving plenty of space at her back.

Helix replies to Kell, I hear you. And I trust you too, seeing how I'm too far away to stop you and Vin from sharing a bed. Tell me my trust in you ain't misplaced.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell giggles, then thinks to Helix, Vin is sharing a room with the other men. I'm in an infirmary sleeping on the floor and it's the Van Donks, Hess, Desma, Leto and me in here. Relax, Helix, the most Vin and I have done is side-hug and kiss each other's hand. Though we did sort of agree to a kiss at an unspecified point in the future. He told me he would wait 100 dates to kiss me if that's what I wanted. I figure we need to go slowly the first few times until I get a fairly good sense for what my nymph effect can do, for Vin's sake. I like him a lot, Helix. If he's really what he seems to be, he's someone I could care for deeply.

Though those stories from the HearthVision have got me thinking...if Zeus came to me in Vin's form and tried to seduce me, do you think you would recognize him? I think you heard Vin say it's his intention to wait for his wedding night to be with his woman, so we have that. But supposing I'm really sleepy or out of it for some reason, can you recognize an Immortal when you encounter one? You've been around Aphrodite and Hephaestus. And one other Immortal as well, that I know of.

She doesn't think she's told Helix about Hess being an Immortal, so she hopes this will be a good test of his Immortal-detection abilities.


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[Legendary Sidekick]

After Midnight
Helix replies, I can spot a fake. My fear is that if Zeus is after you, he'll block me out and you won't hear my warning.

You remember what Vin said. If he'll wait for wedding bells, marry in Aphrodite's presence. I'll protect you until then.

But sleep well tonight. Zeus won't mess with you in front of his big sister.



At the Crack of Dawn
Leto finds herself on the floor (whether she chose to sleep on the floor, or accepted Sonja's invitation to share a bed, but fell off). Her arm brushes against Kell's, which is cold and damp.

Kell sits up suddenly, her face dripping with sweat. The smell is a surprisingly pleasant one, as if someone doused Kell with rosewater.

The van Donks are still snoring away. Desma and Hess are not in the room.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell frowns, the remnants of her dream still on her mind. When she sees Desma and Hess are gone, she assumes they've gone to fix breakfast. At least, she hopes that's where they are.

She decides to go find out, and maybe find out if there's a place she can bathe the sweat off of her. Sweet-smelling though it may be, she doesn't want to be damp if her chiton should need to zap someone. She also wants to try to send a message to Callisto to see if she dreamt of being with Artemis before she was with her when she conceived her son. But for that, she needs some paper and a pen. She figures she can call a bird to deliver the message.

Wandering toward the kitchen, she looks around to see who may be awake.


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[Ireth]

Leto

Leto blinks as she wakes to find herself on the floor, which is not where she started out. She's about to get back into the bed she shared with Sonja when Kell jerks awake. Leto tilts her head and frowns in concern. "Did you have a strange dream too?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

By the Fire
Kell gets up and heads to the kitchen, ignoring Leto not out of rudeness, but because her mind is still in a panic from her nightmare.

Thankfully, everyone else seems fine and everyone is where they're expected to be. Desma is making something over the hearth. "Pancakes!" says Hess.

Buck says to Kell, "I hear you and Desma go way back. Can you vouch for her cooking. Sure smells good." Buck gets a whiff of Kell's sweat, but his remark is directed at the smell of Desma's cooking.

Vin bids Kell good morning. "Did you sleep… well…?" He gives Kell a look of concern, but looks relieved as Sapphire comes to Kell's rescue.

The fairy signals Kell to follow her.



In the Bedroom
Sonja leans over the bed, her long blonde hair hanging down over her bare breasts.

"Morning, Leto. Whatchya doing down there?"

Hanna moans, "You probably knocked her over with your butt."

"Ohhhh… not again!"

Hanna says to Leto, "Our folks didn't plan on twins, never mind quadruplets, so our room only had space for one bed. When we were five, we got a bunk bed. Of course Nissa bunked with Bridgette, so I'm the one who got woke up by Sonja's hip checks throughout my childhood."

Nissa says, "Yeah. We really should have let you two have the bottom bunk."

Bridgette snores loudly.

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto laughs as she stands up and stretches. "Well, I apparently didn't land hard enough to wake up, so no harm done." She sniffs at the air and smiles. "Something smells good. Let's go eat!"