multi-purpose multi-thread post!

[untiedtheknots]

This post is a jumping off point for bar-shaped shenanigans.

Assume that, by default, there is a bar and that Artemis is in it.

The rest is up to you.

Comments

[callipygos]

"Artemis! Just who I wanted to see!"

Aphrodite's sun-streaked hair is loose and beachy, her lips perfectly red and her sunglasses gigantic. She beams as she wraps Artemis in a brief, one-armed hug (her other hand is holding a tumbler) and smacks a kiss to her cheek.

"First of all, I want to tell you about my juice cleanse. Second, I have gossip."

Whatever's in that glass, it only incidentally smells like juice.

[untiedtheknots]

"Hey, pretty lady."

Artemis plants a kiss of her own. Her hair might be charitably "windswept."

"And can I have that second part first?"

The word 'cleanse' has always seemed weirdly ominous to Artemis.

[callipygos]

Aphrodite siiiighs, and settles gracefully into the seat beside her with a theatrical sip of her drink.

"All right," she says, "I can be flexible."

She smiles, foxily.

"It's about Eppy."

[untiedtheknots]

Artemis laughs.

"Married again?" she guesses.

[callipygos]

"--He was married?"

Oh Eppy, Eppy, EPPY.

You've got some 'splaining to do.

"Wait, tell me that story next: I don't know about marriage, but I caught him canoodling in here the other month with a very pretty boy."

[untiedtheknots]

"Yes? To Coyote? But I'm pretty sure they got it annulled. Or divorced. And I think there were ghosts involved."

2008 was a weird year.

"Oh really? What do we know about the boy other than his prettiness?"

[callipygos]

"Ghosts ...?"

Coyote?!

Aphrodite's brow furrows, but that gives you wrinkles and there's hotties to discuss. She makes a little effort, smiles again, and primly crosses her legs.

"Well his name is Matt," she says. "And not only does he seem very sweet--he gave me a maple sugar candy--but you won't believe it, he's a little bit of a sorcerer."

[untiedtheknots]

"Magic?"

Artemis blinks.

"It's been forever since I ran into anybody like that."

Which, considering she's a goddess in a multiversal bar, seems like a terrible oversight.

"This a serious thing, or a good-time thing?"

How much teasing is appropriate, is what she's asking.

[callipygos]

"Wait wait I didn't even get to the best part," Aphrodite gushes.

And drinks.

"It's sex. Sex magic. Erotic worship, that's what he told me he does."

[2020sight]

IN ANOTHER PART OF THE BAR...

... Epimetheus, oblivious to other goings on, wanders in with a guitar slung over his back and heads for the bar, whistling "Tombstone Blues."

[untiedtheknots]

When he gets there, he'll find a glass of very excellent whiskey waiting for him.

(Once upon a time, if you asked, the Treasury Agents would tell you they shut that still down. The locals would tell you it burned.

The truth is that it just went missing. And Dionysus can still be persuaded to share with his sister.)


"Would you look at that?" Artemis has a glass of her own and a beatific smile. "It's like a family reunion today."

[2020sight]

"Hey, booze!" Epimetheus says, and then, in the exact same tone, "Hey, Artemis!"

What a delightful turn of events!

"Cheers, cousin."

. . . Wait.

"What family?" he asks, picking up the whiskey and taking an appreciative sip.

[untiedtheknots]

"Mom was here earlier."

Which is not entirely a lie! (It was more like yesterday, but that is indeed 'earlier.')

Mmm, good whiskey.

"And you just missed 'Dite."

[2020sight]

"Hey, Leto." Leto's decent people -- Uncle Coeus's kid -- shame about the thing with Zeus. "How's she doing?"

[untiedtheknots]

Yeah, lots of people made that mistake.

"She's good. She's on a baking kick, so if you want some slightly burnt baklava, Bar's hanging on to the leftovers for me."

[2020sight]

He chuckles into his drink.

"Aw, thanks. Soon as I finish this, I'll take you up on that."

Very casually, he adds, "'Dite already left?"

[untiedtheknots]

Artemis makes an affirmative sound around a mouthful of whiskey.

"Blew through here in a cloud of cheerfulness and gossip. Also something about a juice cleanse."

She shudders theatrically and takes another comforting sip of booze.

[semicharmed]

At some point or other, Matt's at a booth in the bar.

He feels a bit twitchy, given the whole recent kidnapping attempt, so to distract himself he's making charms. At this stage, the project mostly involves arranging metal flakes, salts, and bunches of herbs; picking odds and ends from a shoebox of leather strips, thread spools, and old jewelry; and setting the latter alongside the former to see how they suit each other.

Now and then, he swallows a spoonful of the curry at his elbow.

[untiedtheknots]

The curry smells excellent. And those leather strips look like they would make excellent playthings and/or chew toys...



Which is to say there is a dog--a large, reddish-brown hound--slinking ever closer to Matt's table. She is doing her best to be stealthy, but not necessarily succeeding.

[semicharmed]

Matt's fairly absorbed in his task, but not absorbed enough to miss a big dog in his line of sight. He doesn't see many canines in here.

(Assuming this is a creature that self-identifies as a dog, and not a shapeshifter or fairy or wizard or something.)

"Uh ... hey," he greets.

[untiedtheknots]

This is most definitely 100% a dog. Indeed, the best of dogs.

Certainly a dog worthy of petting or even some snacks.

She lays down near Matt's chair and looks adorable.




Somewhere across the bar, someone whistles sharply. The dog ignores them.

[semicharmed]

Matt laughs, charmed. He likes animals well enough, he just never really became a dog or a cat person--his parents didn't let them have pets growing up. Something something allergies, something something expensive furniture.

The dog may ignore the whistle, but he glances up quickly.

[untiedtheknots]

There's a tall brunette who looks like she's just stood up from her seat at the bar.

She's looking around the room--not worried, but definitely looking for something.

[semicharmed]

He frowns.

And glances to the dog.

[untiedtheknots]

The dog looks back.

"Aminta," the woman calls.

The dog's ear twitches. Nope, nowhere else to be.