Ch.7: "Hot Fuzz" / Hesperides

[tbgg]

Ch.7: "Hot Fuzz" / Hesperides

Kell asks Piggie, "Who seems to be most responsible for the attitudes you see?" She pauses for a moment, thinking. "And when Hera transforms a person into a half-beast, do you know anything about how she decides what the animal half is going to be?"


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[Ireth]

Sigrlinn looks at Daphne, saddened by her despondence. "You're not ugly. Human or duck, you're elegant and graceful. I wish you could see yourself flying or shooting a bow." She wipes a tear from whichever of Daphne's eyes is nearest or pointed toward her.

After a pause, she frowns, thoughtful. "Have you ever spoken with Hera about your concerns? She's the goddess of marriage, after all, so wouldn't she be willing to help you find someone?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

KELLEIA

"That's just how it's always been, far as I can tell."

Piggie thinks a bit when asked about Hera.

"I don't know why. Maybe there's a connection between the person and the animal? I mean, I've asked 'why a pig'... not that I asked my mom or Hera."



SIGRLINN

Daphne responds to your touch. She is clearly comforted.

THANK YOU, she writes. I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO TALK TO HERA. I DOUBT SHE WOULD CARE. PIGGIE AND HERA GET ALONG, SO I SUPPOSE I COULD MEET WITH HERA. MAYBE I WOULD ASK IF THERE US ANOTHER LIKE ME.

BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I AM. WAS MY MOTHER WITH ZEUS? AM I A KIND OF HARPY? DID I HATCH FROM AN EGG OR WAS I BORN AS A HUMAN IS BORN?

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn nods slowly, absently turning the skewers of meat over the fire. "Those are all good questions. I hope you find the answers. I'd help you if I knew how."

 

[tbgg]

Kell tells Piggie, "There's a bit of a stereotype about nymphs. Many are pretty shallow and care only about who's sleeping with who and outdoing each other in terms of who is the most beautiful. Not all are - I was fortunate enough to have taken under the wing of a woman who saw I didn't much like being around other nymphs and who taught me to look below the surface into the heart of a person - and I know of one other who is the same. I also know of some who are genuinely helpful, but who have a minimal sense of sexual restraint. I can't tell you how many times I've heard what are essentially complaints about me not being willing to either show more skin or undress completely. The one time I undressed in front of others, I used my nymph effect as a weapon to debilitate our enemies. It was extremely uncomfortable to me, but I kept my eye on what I wanted to accomplish with it. I almost wonder if Hera picks the animals based on her perception of whatever lesson she thinks a person most needs to learn. There are some nymphs so vain that turning them into a half-pig would be an extremely good lesson for them. I don't know anything about your mother or what she was like before Hera changed her, but it kinda makes me wonder..."


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Sigrlinn

Daphne writes, THANKS.

She brushes her wing against yours, then uses the clean side of her stick to skewer some meat. She won't be able to write while cooking, which might make conversation tricky...



Kelleia

Piggy says, "Maybe it's about lessons... but that wouldn't explain the changes in Zues' victims. Anyway, I think your conversation with Hera will be interesting.

"As for your means of blending in, flopping around on the streets as a mermaid would call even more attention to you than your nymph form. But there is a way you can put your form to use and get close to the mayor. There is a performance in the Bay Area tonight.

"You would need to attend as my plus one. I'm sure my husband would prefer to sit this show out. It's not a date night anyway, seeing that I invited Daphne. Your friend could sit with her, as her plus one, and... maybe there's a way we can all sit together.

"Beats meeting the mayor in an office, don't you agree?"

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn is content to sit in silence while they both cook and eat their ham. Her gaze wanders all around their campsite, and she wonders what other sort of creatures might be in the area, whether beasts or monsters. Hopefully their trap is enough to keep them away, at least on one side. For the others, she still has her bow and arrows.

 

[tbgg]

Frowning, Kell asks Piggie, "While I am not opposed to going in my mermaid form if you think that's a good idea, I'm confused about something. If we go as mermaids, I get that we could come up on the beach, but wouldn't that require anyone we wanted to talk to to come onto the beach, too? I know we could arrange to meet Daphne and Sigrlinn there, but how can we be sure the Mayor will come to where we are? Isn't he half-bull?"


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Kell

Piggie assures you, "He'll be there. Can't be mayor and blow off a ballet with foreign performers."

 

[tbgg]

Ch.7: "Hot Fuzz" / Hesperides

Kell frowns again. "Perhaps I am not asking my question clearly enough. The primary frame of reference I have for events are the parties Aphrodite used to throw for festivals held in her honor and they were very lavish, and often very crowded affairs where, for a time at least, moving around was nearly impossible and the men attending like to grope the bodies of nymphs in the crowd. For me, those festivals were odious experiences, and I stopped attending them except during mandatory service projects, which were required for all nymphs attending the villa."

"Perhaps this ballet is much smaller. Aphrodite definitely favors large, lavish affairs and she's very good at throwing them."

She pauses as a thought occurs to her. "Why would you hold a ballet near the water, anyway? And who exactly are these foreign performers?"




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[Legendary Sidekick]

Kelleia
Piggie assures you, "The parties here are lavish, I think, but I wouldn't worry about being groped. The mayor has a daughter well into her teens. He doesn't want her to be exposed to men like that. I can't promise you won't get ogled, but the men should know better than to touch. They know that I know better.

"Oh... and it's the orchestra that necessitates a seaside performance. The dancers are foreign, but the conductor is local. She's part Octopus. I'm not sure where the dancers are from."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Sigrlinn
Once the food is cooked, Daphne writes,

I KNOW WHERE THE MAYOR WILL BE TONIGHT. THERE'S A BALLET. I CAN BRING A GUEST.

She looks nervous.

I'LL NEVER HAVE AN ANSWER IF I DON'T ASK THE QUESTION, RIGHT?

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A DATE. JUST TWO FRIENDS WATCHING A DANCE. BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE, RIGHT ACROSS THE MAYOR'S BALCONY. AND YOU CAN MEET THE MAYOR DURING THE INTERMISSION.

"Qvakt?" she asks shyly.

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn smiles. "I don't remember ever seeing a ballet before. I'd love to go with you as a friend."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Sigrlinn
"QVAKT!"

She doesn't write anything. Instead, she happily lifts some freshly cooked meat from her skewer. She uses a smaller skewer to piece a well cooked end. The loose end detaches. A wisp of smoke rises from the bite size piece.

Daphne offers it to you.

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn smiles and thanks Daphne as she takes the meat, blowing on it gently before eating. The ham is hot, tender and juicy; the only thing it lacks is a bit of seasoning. She checks on her own skewer of meat, finding a well-cooked part and offering it to Daphne in return.

 

[tbgg]

Kell smiles. "Ok, I'm feeling better now. But there is one more thing that would make me feel better. Would it be possible to put together something to cover my chest? My hair will help a lot, but I'm a bit concerned about how my nymph effect might influence those around me if I go topless. It doesn't need to be fancy because I know this is a last minute request. When I have more time, I'll try to figure out something better, maybe something I can wear under my chiton when I'm on land and using my legs."


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Kell
"How about we go to the house?"

Piggie holds up the red and gold top she wore in her kitsune form.

"I have a few of these in my closet. I used to perform--as a dancer. I'm sure I have some mermaid costumes, including a sea shell top--padded. The shells are real; the padding makes the outfit comfortable. Anything else I have would need to be adjusted."



Sigrlinn
Daphne takes the meat and eats as delicately as one can with a duck bill for a mouth.

 

[tbgg]

Kell smiles. "Thank you so much, Piggie. I'm sorry to inconvenience you, but I've never really liked the way I feel when men look at me, at least not until I met Vin, the guy I told you about who I think might be the one I'm supposed to marry. And if I'm given this nymph effect, then I want to unleash it only in cases where it makes sense to. I don't feel this ballet is one of those moments."

"Tell me about your home. Do you live uptown or downtown?"


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Kell
"Actually, I live by the bay," says Piggie. "Along the north shore."

 

[tbgg]

"With you having a fish tail, I guess that makes sense. Did your mermaid form have anything to do with why you moved there? And does that mean you live close to where the ballet is being held?"


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