mind in the sky

Aurora realized how much she had missed him now that he was actually there. Before it was easy to ignore it, to block out the feeling of missing something, or someone. Now though she felt that familiar warmth that was always so unique to his company. It was like feeling whole, something that was so rare for her anymore. Still it was hard to look at him without thinking about all the dreams, remembering that smile of his, of chasing him and their child around the house. 

Alexander felt sick to himself for lying to her. Even if it was a little white lie that most people would brush off. He never lied to Aurora. But then again, he promised himself that he would never tell her how he felt and look at what that did to their relationship.But if she only ‘cared for him more than she should’, then why did he see her expression falter a bit before coming back up when he mentioned visiting someone else? He shook that thought out of his mind, he was just imagining he was sure. So he nodded along with her, pretending that he wasn’t focusing on her expressions or tones to spot any differences.

Uriel wouldn’t lie in saying how excited she was when she realized she had run into Alexander in the woods. This made the night a hundred times better, especially if she could get him to come look at the stars with her. Which knowing Alex, wouldn’t take too much convincing. “Well it took a lot of work and a lot of balancing. But I have been dropping and picking things up the whole walk out here.” she laughed. “I wasn’t sure what to bring and I didn’t want to leave anything behind I might need. It isn’t really an easy walk back to my house.” she smiled. “What about you? What are you doing out here?” she asked.

Alexander laughed with her, taking a few things from her hands to help her out. He was used to carrying abnormal amount of stuff with him to the woods as well -- mostly books -- but it brought back good memories before everything happened. “I completely understand.” He said, “Some time ago, I dragged out everything as well because of the rumors of a new comet flying by. I brought everything but a quill. That was the worst walk of shame back to my home.” He smiled at the memory remember his brother giving him the weirdest look when he came back home. “Me? Oh, I find peace whenever I’m out here... No one ever comes out here other than nature lovers or astronomers with too much stuff to carry.”

Aurora almost felt as though she knew it was Alexander there, before she even turned to face him. There was this warmth, a strange feeling that always filled her when he was near, and it was something she couldn’t explain. Still she was surprised to turn and find him, her smile fading a degree as she saw the look on his face. Why had he even come? Surely not to see her. She couldn’t even remember the last time they had seen each other, it was just too painful for either of them. For Alex to come see her at the brothel it must have meant he had something important to talk about. She knew he didn’t like being here, just as much as he hated her being here. 

Why did he come? It was a stupid dream of his own little stupid fantasies of being happy with her. This wouldn’t be the first time that it had happen. But it felt so real, like it happened before. He felt his mind repeat to him. He shook his head-- trying to get that thought out of his mind before he gained anymore hope. Maybe he really was just as crazy as everyone said he was. 

If the University wasn’t going to let her in then she was going to have to do her own research then until she could convince them otherwise. She knew she was good, she knew she was smart. The only thing holding her back from being accepted was that she was a woman. So, tonight she was hauling her stuff towards where she could see the most stars. She wasn’t sure what she should bring with her so she brought everything she could think of. She didn’t think about how hard it would be to carry a telescope and its stand, about five or six books, paper and an ink and quill, different research and maps, a candle and a rug. She didn’t think that one through very well. Up ahead she spotted someone and she tried to give a wave to them, only to drop a few more things. “Hello!” she called out as she collected her things.

Alexander was sitting down on the forest floor, staring up at the stars. He found so much comfort in doing this, that he did it upon hours and hours without him noticing. Sometimes he would just fall asleep under the stars, not wanting to leave his tranquility. There wasn’t anything out in the forest to be afraid of and no one bothered him while he was out here. It was peace that he found and held dearly to his heart. Tonight, it was about an hour after the sun set that he gazed upon the stars before hearing a voice. He looked over, seeing a girl with stuff going all over the place. He pursed his lips before getting up and heading over. “Uriel?” He said, as he saw her more up close. He jogged over and helped her. “Wow, how did you managed to carry all of these this far into the forest?”

“You should have more wine.” She encouraged the man with a smile, pouring him another glass. “I’ve heard it is some of our best.” A lie of course, but something the man wouldn’t know. He was already a few glasses in, and at the moment she was only trying to help loosen his tongue. She had found the more charming she was, and the more the men drank, the more likely they were to feed her information. She in turn was able to give that information to the Titans, she was beginning to find her place. Sensing come up beside her she smiled, motioning at the bottle. “Would you like some as well?”

In the back of his mind, Alexander knew he should have stayed away from the brothel. He knew what happened there, what he would see when he came in, and knew that he couldn’t do anything about it.  However, something urged him to go, to go see her. Maybe it dealt with the small memory he had of her as of late. It was weird-- it was of her but not of her. He walked into the brothel and from the back of her head, he knew who she was -- almost cursing at himself for knowing so easily. He pushed through the crowd to get to her, his fingers ringing together as he mentally went through what he was going to talk to her about. He didn’t want to be awkward anymore between them, they had too much history for that. He wanted to be her best friend again, feelings be damn. If he could go through with it-- just being close with her is good enough for him again. 

“NO! This is only my third or fourth drink….I…I feel great. You feel great. We’re all feeling great here.” Colette said taking another fairly large sip. She could feel the memories coming back again. They always hit her like a tidal wave. She couldn’t deal with seeing her friends and family how they used to be. So, she was going to drink to forget all the memories. At least it could help for a bit

Alexander looked at Colette before smiling gently, reaching over for her cup. “Colette, you’re not going to be able to get yourself home tonight if you keep drinking like that. You should stop or at least share a bit.” He explained softly to her, his hand raised towards her. He could tell that she was trying to forget something, what that was-- he wouldn’t ask her.

“Just one dance is all I am asking!” she smiled at him as he began to dance. All though it seemed very reluctant. She could tell he was nervous about trying, too caught up in his head to let the dancing just happen. This wasn’t uncommon, he just needed something to distract him. So he wasn’t thinking only about the dancing. “Talk to me about the sky.” she told him as she continued to lead him. “Did you see it last night?”

Astraeus kept stumbling and messing up, his face abnormally hot at that point. It was a completely loss for him to learn this whole ‘dancing’ thing. Though he knew Eos liked doing it, he could’t never get the hang of it even when he practice. But when Urania started talking about the sky, his focus drifted a bit. “Why yes, I did have the chance to look at it last night. It was quite magnificent, especially with Mars peeking among the stars.” He responded back to her, relaxing a bit since he was talking about one of the things that he loved the most.

Nothing was going right. The Olympians, her brothers and sisters, were winning the fight against the Titans, her husband and her children. The death of her son had been the push she needed to start questioning where her loyalties lay. She couldn’t watch another one of her children, nor could she stand to see her husband, have the same fate as Pallas. 

As soon as he heard his mother, he relaxed immediately and tried extremely hard that he hadn’t just come out from the battle. He didn’t want to worry her anymore than she already was, especially with the state she’s been in recently since Pallas passed away. It was difficult for him to see his mother in such pain that he tried to make her feel better as much as he can. But try as he might, he couldn’t bring back his brother, her other son. 

It took longer than it should have to locate his brother, since pallas, Perses had constantly kept at least one eye on Astraeus, Olympian’s be dammed, if he would lose anyone else to their treachery. Even with everything that had happened, for a few moments after ever battle despite their loss, Perses felt a glow of excitement. The blood, the terror, destruction everything called to him and as much as Perses knew it was wrong he couldn’t help but get caught up in the thrill.

Astraeus visibly relaxed when he heard his brother before sitting back down in his usual place. He was glad that it was Perses of all people – possibly for the fact that he wasn’t dead and alive or maybe because he could talk about this whole situation and his brother would understand. He smiled at his brother as he approached. “I’m glad it’s just you…” Astraeus said with exhausted sigh. 

Eos could see that playful smile on Boreas’s lips, if she were to say nothing he and Astraeus would surely stay up all night. Her eyes narrowed a degree as Astraeus whispered in their son’s ear, laughing at the wide eyed innocent look. “Oh no, that look no longer works with me. You’re father has used it far too often for it to be effective.” She teased, helping to tuck Boreas into his bed and pulling the blankets up around him.

Astraeus smiled a Eos before looking back at Boreas. “Sweet dreams, Boreas.” He whispered to the boy, leaning down and giving him a small kiss on the cheek. He got up and walked towards the door, turning around and leaning against the door frame as Eos said her goodnight to their son. He watched even after Eos blew out of the candle, making sure that Boreas slept nicely before following out Eos when she grabbed his hand. 

“Well then it is a good thing my friend you have one of the best teachers there is. I am not he muse of dance but I am a muse, and dancing is one of things I do best.” she smiled at him, giving his hand a squeeze. “Try one small dance, that’s all you need to do.” she promised him as she slowly began to guide him through the dance.

There were few gods that felt the same connection to the night sky as she did. Astraeus had shared this love with her, which was one of the many reasons she often sought his friendship. “I don’t believe that for a moment, dear friend.” she smiled, pulling his hand towards the group dancing. “You have to!”

Astraeus stumbled when she pulled him into the dance, his face a radiant pink now. He wasn’t great at dancing, recalling stepping on a few toes -- mostly Eos when she tried to get him to dance, before giving up entirely. “N-no really, I’m terrible at it. I have-- I think what the mortals say-- two left feet...” 

Aurora’s smile only brightened as her son giggled and writhed around in her arms as he tried to escape. He was so much like his father, he would be up all night if he was allowed to. Still she needed to at least try and get him to go to bed, she certainly couldn’t stay up all night. 

Astraeus set the boy down, ruffling his messy curly hair. He looked over and grinned at Eos innocently as she talked about Boreas bed time. Who needed bed times? Certainly not their son. When his wife spoke to Boreas about sleeping, Astraeus whispered in his son ear about a trick that he taught him. When he pulled back, Boreas looked at his mother and pouted-- his eyes wide in innocence and pleading. “How can you tell him to go to bed with those eyes???” Astraeus asked, his face in an almost pout. 

[greek week]

Much of our life is spent wishing others understood us better than they do.