Ch.3: "Silver Tide" / Nyse Lagoon

[Legendary Sidekick]

Aphrodite's Chamber
The van Donks look like they've had a long day with the Olympian who knew their mother. Bridgette looks exhausted and Sonja is trying to keep her sobbing under control, but isn't dong a good job of it. Hanna is comforting her as they walk out. Nissa gives a friendly greeting and says she'll fill our heroines in later. The four are off to bed.

Aphrodite's chamber is full of flowers and sea shells and handcrafted furniture. Of course everything about her place is beautiful.

She welcomes you both. There is a strange feeling when she touches you.

((Leto: #2d6 to magic and unarmed rolls; Kell: #2d6 unarmed, #2d6+1 magic.
Both of you cannot be forced to perform a sexual act against your will, or have the urge to, even through illusion magic or a convincing disguise.))

"I take it your lessons with the graces went well," Aphrodite says. "My blessing will give you control over your bodies as well as your minds." To Leto she says, "You may not have that feeling around nymphs anymore… unless you want to, that is. You can surrender to the effect to enhance the feeling, or block it completely. Whichever you desire at a particular moment.

"Make yourselves comfortable."

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn

Sigrlinn looks on in concern as the van Donks leave the room, with Hanna comforting a sobbing Sonja. She nods at Nissa's greeting without a word, and smiles faintly at Aphrodite's welcome. At the goddess's words, she says, "Thank you," then settles down on a large, soft cushion that feels as if it's stuffed with feathers.

 

[tbgg]

Ch.3: "Silver Tide" / Nyse Lagoon

Kelleia

Kell also glances with concern at the van Donks, and looks questioningly at Nissa, trying to discern if the four regret this visit or not. Realizing she really needs to worry about this later, she returns her attention to the goddess.

When Aphrodite gives her blessing, Kell feels odd an odd prickling sensation in her skull and tingling in her body, but it soon starts to dissipate, and once it passes, she realizes that she does in fact feel more in control of herself.

Thanking the goddess isn't easy for her, but she does so with as much sincerity as she can muster, though the words do sound a little choked to her ears. 'For the sake of this war I'm fighting in, I'm willing to make a truce with her. As allies, we NEED to trust each other.'

Sitting down with her legs curled beneath her, she tells Aphrodite, "Before we get started, I wanted to let you know that neither Leto nor I have contacted Artemis yet to let her know of our delay. We need a moment to take care of that, unless by chance you already have?"


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[Legendary Sidekick]

"The moon will soon pass over us," Aphrodite says. "I have my ways of speaking to her, or her nymphs if they're rowing without her. They often do—last night was the exception, not the rule.

"How about we chat first, and once you know where you are going next, I can either inform her you are on they way… or if you take another route for any reason, I will inform her of the delay.

"I do sense some concerns, and that you have another destination on your mind. But I will not force the thoughts from you. We will sit together, and you will say what you wish to say. Any thoughts you do not wish to share will not be taken from you."

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn

Sigrlinn can't think of anything in particular she wants to say to Aphrodite; this wasn't her trip, after all. But she looks at Kell and says, "You can keep calling me Leto if that's easier for you, but my real name is Sigrlinn. I remember that much thanks to the Graces helping me meditate." She won't mention just yet what else she learned; that's really a conversation for later.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Sigrlinn. Your friend called you by that name and also called you Runa. I had a feeling your memories would start to return after your session with the Graces. During it, of course, and after. You will remember more. It will take some time, but you will have your past back. Bad memories came to you--your face tells me this--but you have good memories too, Sigrlinn."

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn

Sigrlinn nods. "She called me both in my dream, but only Runa in real life, because she didn't know my real name either." She curls up a little and adds, "I know I must have good memories somewhere... I just hope they outnumber the bad ones."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell decides to address Leto...err, Sigrlinn first. "Wow, that's great you remembered. Sigrlinn". She tries the strange name over her tongue. Aphrodite's words seem to confirm her suspicions that there's more to the story, but she figures they can talk later. "I shall try to remember that."

Then she frowns at Aphrodite. "The only other destination per se that I currently have on my mind is Sardis. However, I do have an idea on my mind that could result in a visit somewhere, I suppose. Shall I tell you about it?"


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[Legendary Sidekick]

"She did not know your name is Sigrlinn. Interesting."

Turning to Kell, she says, "By all means, tell me what is on your mind. Especially if you think I can be of assistance."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell tells Aphrodite, "I DO think you might be able to be of use. It's why I wanted to talk to you. I don't know how well you knew my old tutor Niobe, but she and I were very close. She, too had a husband who strayed quite a lot, and when she finally gave him an ultimatum, he committed suicide. One of the regrets she had about that is that she didn't assure him enough that she still loved him, she just wanted all of the lying and unfaithfulness to stop so they could build a better future together. I'm not sure how you were approached about your infidelities of the past, but maybe you have some sense of why being approached with love and concern would matter."

"With that as background, I started thinking about Zeus. He's leading the side we're fighting, and from I've heard from others, those supporting him are doing so more because of who he is than because they particularly agree with him. That got me wondering what's motivating him to do all of this evil? Is he fundamentally evil, or just a flawed being who is in pain from something and is acting out about it?" She glances at Aphrodite to see if her words are resonating with the goddess.

"That led me to wonder if we could learn whatever's motivating him and then come alongside and offer to help, assuming his motivation is reasonable and not 'I want to take over the world!' Niobe used to say that the direct approach never got anywhere with her husband Neleos. In her case, she had to learn what he was up to by getting proof from elsewhere, then confronting him with it. So that led me to wonder who would likely to know why Zeus is doing all of this? And that led me to Hera. She's his wife, she lives with him, and at least in the past, she's had heartburn with some of the things he's done. Even if he's hiding stuff from her - and I'd bet he probably is - she might know who he might be likely to confide in. That led me to wonder how we might approach her, and an idea came to me."

"It seems to me like Hera's in a lot of pain from Zeus' infidelities. She keeps lashing out the women Zeus seduces and punishing them, which most of us think is wrong. She must be feeling pretty desperate. I mean, who would respect a goddess of marriage who can't keep her own husband in line, right? But what if we took Kell-Pi to her and offered her services? I know that would be a sacrifice for you and Heph, Aphrodite, and obviously I can't make you give up your counselor, but wouldn't it be great to give your parents the chance to come to the same place you and Heph have been able to get to? Maybe Zeus never comes to speak to Kell-Pi the way Heph did, but if she can help Hera feel better, hopefully Hera will be more likely to cooperate with us and help us learn what is motivating Zeus, and it might even help Hera to stop lashing out at Zeus' victims."

Kell pauses, gathering her thoughts. "My initial thought was that Leto and I would try to reason with Hera. I didn't think about sending Kell-Pi until later. But, Aphrodite, it occurs to me that if there's anyone here who might be well-suited to approaching Hera, it's you. You have an understanding of what motivates someone to have a lot of affairs. But you're also a woman and can understand a woman's pain. You've gone through the hard work of rebuilding your marriage and have seen it come out stronger, and you know how that process works. And if you've ever wanted the opportunity to prove once and for all that you're not the same woman...err, goddess...who had all of those affairs, I'm not sure there would be a better way than using your past to help someone else who's having a similar problem."

She's not really sure how Aphrodite will respond to this. She's never really struck Kell as a do-gooder type. But Aphrodite wound up on this side of the conflict with Zeus, didn't she? Kell hopes there's more to the beautiful goddess than meets the eye. She turns to face her expectantly, giving Aphrodite a moment to digest everything Kell just said.


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[Ireth]

Sigrlinn

Sigrlinn is pretty sure she remarked on Brynhild not knowing her name when she first met Aphrodite, but she doesn't bring it up again.

She tilts her head as Kell speaks, and chimes in, "Isn't it really up to Kell-Pi herself to choose whether or not to serve Hera that way? Just because she's made of metal doesn't mean she's not a person... does it?" She looks at Aphrodite. "Do Heph's maidens run on some sort of programming, or do they have souls?"

 

[tbgg]

Ch.3: "Silver Tide" / Nyse Lagoon

Kelleia

Kell says, "Yes, it would be Kell-Pi's choice. I just figured Aphrodite has enough of a relationship with her she could talk to her about it. And I did give Kell-Pi a 'heads up' before I left the Plambot Mansion that I might have an important mission for her that I needed to talk to Aphrodite about first. I suppose I should have added that the mission might come to her by way of Aphrodite as well. But if Aphrodite likes my idea and agrees to go along with it, perhaps she can explain to Kell-Pi that helping Hera is what I had in mind?"


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Aphrodite listens to Kell with interest, then replies, "Hera is my mother-in-law and not my parent. I hatched from the lagoon as you did. I may be the only one Hera detests more than her husband, but you are right that Zeus hurt her pride. Her virginity was taken by force from her own brother and so she married him. It was an awful marriage, and she didn't always punish the women on Zeus had on the side. She led a rebellion and Zeus tortured her. He hung her in the sky because he can.

"It's why he does things. He can.

"If you want to reach out to Hera, you have my blessing, but it won't be easy to convince her. In case you haven't realized, I'm a lover, not a fighter. I need to know Hera is willing to be reasonable if we're to talk. If you two want to head over to her little animal kingdom, feel free. I will not set foot in Hesperides unless she makes a sort of gesture to prove she won't set a trap for me."


((Gotta run, but I'll post what I've got in case either of you want to respond to what I have so far.))

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn

Sigrlinn shudders as Aphrodite speaks of Zeus. He sounds an awful lot like Loki in his disregard for anyone but his own desires. "If Zeus can do so much, and has done, how can we help to stop him?"

She looks uncertainly between Aphrodite and Kell at the mention of Hesperides. So much more to delay her speaking with Artemis! At least there's the possibility of sending Artemis a message, but the goddess wanted to meet her in person. Then again, it's all for the same eventual purpose, so... it could be worse.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell tells Sigrlinn, "I'm not actually sure that we need to see Hera before Artemis, except that geographically, it makes sense. I'll draw you a map later so you can see what I mean." Then she looks at Aphrodite. "Though I am unsure whether traveling the Underground takes the same amount of time as traveling on the land."

In response to Aphrodite, she says, "But what makes Zeus hurt people instead of help them? Niobe always said that with the majority of people, if you heard enough of their life story, you could eventually get some understanding of why they do even the most horrendous things. Like with you. You didn't wake up one day and start sleeping around with so many men for no reason, I'm sure. I don't know the details of your past, and I don't know of any reason why I need to, but if I had to take a guess, I'd say pain or possibly loneliness is what drove you to do what you did. You were, what? Trying to soothe your pain in the arms of your lovers? Who besides Hera knows Zeus well enough to know some of this?"

She finds herself thinking, Wow, Niobe was right. When you start really trying to put yourself into another's shoes, you can start to feel compassion for them!

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Aphrodite addresses her own bad habits first. "Honestly, Kell, I was faithful to Hermes. After our sixth child was born a boy, but developed a body that was as pretty as a nymph's, and just as female with an obvious exception, efforts were taken to embarrass us: Hermes and I. Eventaully, I was blamed for tampering with the nature of my body. I forced myself to age as a human woman just enough to get pregnant again. Like any human woman, a birth defect is possible. I still love my son and… you will see, perhaps. Now that you have greater control over your mind, you won't let humiliation unnerve you.

"It wasn't pain that made me sleep around. It was freedom. My marriage ended, so I let Hermes go because he wanted to. I found a man, and another and another. They were mortals; we had fun. The first few had more lovers than I had, but after a few centuries, I had been with millions. I tried to make my second marriage work, but it was hard to be with just one. I was having fun, Heph knew I wasn't a virgin bride, and… I didn't think he cared. When he caught me with his brother, he was angry at Ares but I was just the slutty Sex Goddess. I just went on to have my fun, Heph had his metal lovers—and yes, Sigrlinn, they do have souls…

"Artemis killed Adonis to avenge an amazon and so I was alone when Heph came to divorce me. And then you hatched, Kell."

Aphrodite is able to control her emotions. If she was about to cry just now, she willed her tears to stop. But Kell did see a look on the goddess' face that normally precedes tears.

"Perhaps you were born with a gift to put people on the right path. Isn't that the case for Vin—a good man working for the wrong side? And what you did for me… it wasn't intended, you had just hatched, but I can't deny your part in saving my marriage. Seek Hera. See how well your ability to relate to her pain works out for you. She won't turn you into an animal as long as you don't lie with her husband. She's like me—not a fighter. And unlike me, you haven't openly opposed Zeus. If any monsters you happened to defeat happen to be Zeus' minions, you still fought as mortals protecting mortals."

She turns to Sigrlinn, "The memory I cannot tell you about… if Zeus knows, he likely also knows the memory is hidden from you. Artemis' warning is only about Apollo, so if you go to Hera first, travel at night."

To Kell she says, "I will speak to Hera if she is willing, but I did openly oppose her husband. I know what can be done to me if I approach her and she makes this move… and I won't escape this fate. If you don't mind, I'd rather not describe what she and Zeus would do. They can't reach me here, and for some reason, they didn't go after me in Arcadia. They could have. I don't think they wanted to attack me in front of their son.

"Or maybe you are right that they're not as evil as I think they are. You have a beautiful way of looking at the world. Just be careful. Sometimes, people do ugly things because they desire to. Compassion won't work on the truly evil ones."

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn

Sigrlinn is quiet when Aphrodite speaks to her, wondering whether to bring up what Loki said in her dream-memory. It might be dangerous to ask who wanted her memory in the first place, and who blocked it out for her protection before Loki got there and made things worse.

A sudden thought occurs to her: Maybe it was Artemis who intervened to protect her. The moon was out that night, and Artemis does know about her past... but still, who was Artemis protecting her from? The other Olympians, the ones they're fighting against?

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell asks Aphrodite, "Well, what do you think about the idea of us taking Kell-Pi with us - assuming she's willing - to try to help Hera cope with what Zeus is doing? I'm thinking she should go with us to Hera if both of you are willing. Would you be willing to find out whether she'd be willing to help out in this way? If Hera won't have her, we'll just bring her back and drop her off here on our way to Sardis Forest."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Aphrodite says, "Let me have a conversation with Hera before I let Kell-Pi go anywhere near her. The metal maidens are strong. Honestly, she may have a better chance against Hera's wrath than I do. But there's another reason I can't allow this, which you will know in due time.

"I know it pains you when I keep silent on certain matters, but I have my reasons. One such reason is that the other Olympians have no qualms about reading your minds. If I am reading your mind, I will have the courtesy to make you feel comfortable, and let you know."

She turns to the Huntress. "Sigrlinn, I did inform you before I searched your mind. Had you pulled away from me, you would find I would not have stopped you. Some of us have secrets we wish to keep. It is unfortunate you have no choice in the matter. Or I should say little choice. The Graces have opened your mind. It's only a matter of time before you have every memory of your life back."

She pauses for a moment, then adds, "Yes. All of them. You will be envied for what thoughts may return to you!" Despite the goddess' ability to control her emotions, there is a moment (far shorter than a second) that our heroines believed Aphrodite was about to laugh.

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn

Sigrlinn blinks and tilts her head, smiling a little. "Envied? Really?" What's so special about her thoughts? She supposes she'll just have to wait and find out.