open: it's an old song - and we're gonna sing it again

[papadopoulos]

Music is love’s food
Heh, my son said that. Sort of.
Anyway, he’s right.


Summer has always been one of Apollo’s favorite seasons. That stands to reason – the sun is out longer, it is warm, and there’s plenty of light about. Spring isn’t half bad either, he has always been one to appreciate the beauty of nature in an early spring; though he is no nature god. It should be no surprise, then, that he is out and about exploring the woods these days, spending as much time out of doors as he possibly can. He flits from one activity to the other quite frequently, it’s hard when you’re a god with too many interests.

In the early morning, he can be found at the archery range. He’s always been an early riser (except when he was Lester, occasionally), and by the time most people are out and about, there is a fine collection of arrows embedded in the center of the target. He remains there for some time, enjoying the simple pleasure of being able to actually hit the target properly after his six months as a mortal.

A bit later in the day, Apollo is still outside, settled under a tree with his guitar. If anyone is out and about, they will hear him singing. The song is in Ancient Greek, full of the sorrows and longings and everything that he’s experienced in his short time here in the mansion – but above all, there is a small thread of hope running through it. It jumps from slow and contemplative, a shared grief to joyous and optimistic in quick succession –spring is the time for rebirth, after all. He may as well sing of the small hope the mansion has with the recent happenings. Those who encounter the song will hear something that is possibly the best music they have ever heard. It’s nothing altogether special for Apollo, of course, but in his playing he has forgotten to keep his powers tamped down like they usually are.

Comments

[papadopoulos]

The Greek gods are, in fairness, a special case. Much more human than any god ought to be, really. Apollo raises an eyebrow and smiles, taking his hand. There is a brief rush of warmth, almost as if someone has been standing in an enjoyable sunny spot fot some time -- but it fades into a pleasant late-spring heat fairly quickly. As he said, if he's got warning, he can be good at keeping a rein on things.

"True. Like Roman emperors, that's definitely worse."

[temnota]

Aleksander lifted his hand and turned his wrist so that Apollo's hand was on top. He pressed a quick light kiss to his knuckles then lowered their entwined hands back down. He could feel the current that was Apollo's power - it faintly resembled the way Dionysus's power had felt but he could sense there was something different, something uniquely Apollo's.

"Power hungry rulers who don't care what happens to their people as long as they have everything their hearts desire?"

[papadopoulos]

"Essentially that, yes. Rome is now a city in my world -- but a long, long time ago it was an empire that took up nearly an entire continent. I think I mentioned it before, but I have --um, history with one in particular. He liked using people as his toys. Literally."

He glances down at their hands and shakes his head in an effort to get his mind off that subject. The augmented power is fizzing through his veins pleasantly, a low-grade buzz that's just enough to keep him on his toes. "I'm sorry, this isn't the most pleasant of conversations. We can change the subject if you want."

[temnota]

Aleksander frowned, memories of similar rulers running through his head. He was curious but this was clearly a troubling subject. He didn't want to push - if and when Apollo felt comfortable, he would tell him. He had his own sore spots that he was not ready to share yet.

"I think I may know the answer but in the interests of being open and honest, I should tell that I do have other lovers. Will that bother you?"

[papadopoulos]

'All the shit Commodus got up to' doesn't seem the best of conversations to have on a first date, really. He may as well save it for later. At Aleksander's words, though, he laughs a little and shakes his head. "I'd be kind of a hypocrite if it did, wouldn't I?" He has been known to be jealous in the past; but that was long, long ago. "I don't yet. Probably I will at some point or another; but I'm fine with that."

[temnota]

"It can be only a matter of time," Aleksander teased, running his thumb alongside Apollo's. "You're handsome, charming and talented. I am truly surprised I am not fighting off a horde for the pleasure of spending time with you."

[papadopoulos]

He laughs, low and warm. "I am the god of flirting, you know. It just, uh -- hasn't been the best time for flirting around here, lately." ...He is not, as we know, the god of flirting. But let's let him continue with that.

[temnota]

"That is true," Aleksander said, his earlier amusement fading. "But time goes on and there is some hope that Shen Yuan will come back. Either way, there will surely be a line for your attention."

He squeezed Apollo's hand lightly. "I promise you I will not object or be jealous." Much, at any rate. "I will never ask of you more than you are willing to give. As long as we talk with each other about what we want and need, I am content."

Would he like to be someone's primary? Yes but he could hardly imagine that happening. It was enough that he had opportunities in the first place to love and have relationships at all - anything more felt like asking too much.

[papadopoulos]

“Maybe,” Apollo says cheerfully. “My brother seems to have grabbed up all the cuties before I got here. Lucky he’s open to sharing.” But he turns his attention back to the matter at hand.

“I’ll try my best to not be jealous; but it’s a work in progress as you know. I’ll also try to keep all that in mind. Turning over a new leaf, right?” He returns the hand squeeze with a tentative smile.

[temnota]

Aleksander laughed softly. "Oh, not all of them, surely. But I can't deny he has charmed his way into many hearts. It is quite impressive."

He paused for a moment, enjoying the feel of Apollo's hand in his. "New leaf, new beginning. It feels like that should be marked, somehow."

[papadopoulos]

“Mm. Maybe I’ll write a song about it.” He picks up their entwined hands and presses a soft kiss to the back of Aleks’ hand.

“Do you want to go for a walk, or laze under this tree some more? I’m open to either.”

[temnota]

Aleksander smiled at the kiss, enjoying the jolt that passed through him at the contact. "Let's walk," he decided. "It would be a shame not to take advantage of this beautiful day."

[papadopoulos]

"Alright," Apollo says, leaning to grab his guitar and sling it over his back. "You've been here longer than me, show me your favorite place outside here."

[temnota]

"It would be my great pleasure." Aleksander let go of Apollo's hand so he could rise to his feet. Once up, he smiled and held out his hand in case Apollo wanted some help up. "Have you seen the gardens yet? I spent a lot of time there."

[papadopoulos]

"Only really the parts where Sissy has his vines growing. I've mostly been spending my time in the woods." He takes the offered hand and presses a playful kiss to it before he stands, enjoying the little spark that flashes between them as he does.

[temnota]

It struck Aleksander that this was his first proper courtship. He had meant to move slowly with Sagramore but in the aftermath of the corpse attack with adrenaline high, he'd thrown all caution to the wind and let himself act on his desire. With Claudius, the truth curse and its fallout had been the catalyst that changed their relationship from friends to lovers. Here with Apollo, there was no ravaging horde or inconvenient curses - just the two of them and the pleasant weather.

"In one of the corners, there's a quiet spot where there's a small fountain surrounded by benches and lilac bushes. I find it a beautiful place to sit and think about nothing at all. Maybe you will too." He smiled warmly at Apollo and started to lead the way.

[papadopoulos]

"Sounds nice. I've always been fond of flowers." Nicely scented ones, in particular. "Whenever you come to my room, you'll see --I've got a whole lot of plants. Keep showing up out of nowhere, but it's okay. A little weird that there aren't many dryads here, though."

[temnota]

"When?" Aleksander asked. He sounded scandalized but the teasing glint in his eyes very much said otherwise.

[papadopoulos]

Apollo just gives him a charming grin back. "Maybe I meant platonically. You're the one inferring things, my dear."

[temnota]

"Ah, platonic. Of course." Aleksander said, amused. "I am corrected."

[papadopoulos]

"Mmhm." Apollo has a very similar teasing glint in his eyes as he squeezes Aleksander's hand. "Unless you were hoping for something else, I guess."

[temnota]

Aleksander grinned and nudged Apollo's shoulder ever so slightly. "You've caught me out. I've been longing to admire the view from your bedroom. One look out of the window and I will at last know peace."

[papadopoulos]

"I mean, they are nice windows, I don't blame you. I get a lot of sun." Right now, though, they are still making their way through the gardens.

[temnota]

As they passed by a lavender bush, Aleksander stopped so he could run his hand through the stalks and smell their delightful scent. "It would be strange if you didn't," he teased. "Is that not a rule of sun gods?"

[papadopoulos]

"It is. It's also why I go south for the winter. Hate the cold. Though I guess there might be some fun things to do stuck inside," he says with a flirtatious, mostly-joking leer.<sup>1

1</sup> Who are we kidding, he doesn't need to be inside to do those sorts of things.