medusa, oh medusa

There’s a bright side to every wrong thing  If you’re looking at me through the right eyes

        “It’s even better at sunset, though perhaps you’ll see that, I’m not sure how long they intend to take pictures of you for,” he admitted, looking from her to the others working, his hand still gently caressing her own until she finally drew it back. His gaze shifted back to her again, trying to memories every inch of her far for when she finally did leave, especially if she decided not to return.

         Theo’s hands fell away, hitting his jeans before he shoved his fingers into his pockets. “I was actually taught to do this by some women who raised me and some others that kind of came in and out of my life and it all grew, literally, from there. How about you?” Theo asked, believing his words were true enough that he wasn’t lying, especially since he presumed her mortal. “Did you fall into modeling or pursue it?”

“I’m sure it is.”

He quirked an eyebrow as he pressed the overly sweet cup of coffee into her hands, “Why would they ask you for help?- Not trying to imply anything about your ability to be a good little helper, but the gods don’t give a fuck about us. If one of them decided to stroll up over here the best bet for us would be to run, regardless of what they know.” He beckoned her over to start the photo shoot, quickly getting into character while keeping the spite on the top of his tongue, “There are good ones, sure, but betrayal is ripe among the Olympians.”

***

Maddie’s jaw twitched at ‘good little helper’ but it was a fair question she supposed. “Because they might not give a fuck about us, but they sure seem to feel entitled to involve us where they please. No matter what the outcome for us.” He wasn’t wrong though in insisting they’d be best to run. “Why run when I can hide? Let me live my life and keep them in the dark for once.” She laughed lightly. “Trust me, I remember.” She sat beside him, posing for the camera, her eyes never leaving it as she added, “I don’t trust any of them.”

────  the touch of the hair had been nyx’s way of getting a reaction   &  it had worked.  if there were any doubt in her mind,  it would have vanished as soon as medusa pushed her hand away.    ‘ relax!  i just wanted to be sure. ’    she took a step back,  softening her expression.  she understood why medusa would want to keep her identity a secret.   the gods had  not  been kind to her.   honestly,   why so many of her fellow gods felt the need to prove themselves through murder was beyond her.   was being a god not enough that you had to assert your dominance in any way necessary?    ‘ i understand why you would want to hide your identity,   so your secret is safe with me. ’

Apate’s perfectly painted lips curled into a haughty smile. She shook Medusa’s hand. “Well, let’s get coffee and discuss it,” she replied. Watching Medusa’s reaction carefully, she added, “I was thinking maybe something with statutes? Like trapped by the patriarchy, but it’s stone.” 

***

Oh, that was on purpose. Maddie’s eyes jumped up to Apate’s, a flash of recognition quickly hidden. There was no doubt in her mind that Apate was not unaware of her past. “That’s an interesting idea. What gave you that inspiration?”

“It seems that perhaps maybe they were only to start crossing now.” Nemesis, while unsure about the other’s status, could only take it so far, knowing she had seemed like a crazier person before and hated the notion of dismissal. So, instead, she let her guard down. “Neme…I go by Neme. And you?”

***

Medusa shrugged. “Seems so.” She wondered how far Nemesis would push, trying to get Maddie to admit who she was. Not as far as she had expected, evidently. “Maddie. Pleasure to meet you, Neme.”

        Theo had actually had the place photographed a few times by magazines so when he was asked he simply assumed it was for some kind of food based magazine, a travel one or even just something about nature and the environment. So he didn’t really think too heavily on discovering why the magazine wanted the photos. Unless they asked to speak with him it didn’t totally matter, it was a nice pay cheque to supplement the general running of the establishment and gave him a day off.

          Pushing off the edge of the table he closed the distance between them so he could take the hand she’d held out to shake. He didn’t, not quite realising that’s what she’d wanted his fingers gently grazed the tips of her own until they were touching her palm, callouses on his skin obvious. “I will remember it,” he assured her with a tenderness to his tone as his opposing hand placed itself atop hers, a ring on one of them that was a thick steel, worn and old it was a crest with a small bee on it. “In case you decide you might want to come back.”

Maddie knew he was flirting. Men--and women--flirted with her plenty. The job seemed to invite it as much as her looks. She had no problem with his flirting, secure in the knowledge that nothing of substance would happen. So she let him take her hand as he did, with a smile on her lips. “I might just do that. What I’ve seen of the place, it’s beautiful.” Her tone was friendly, charming. Some might call it flirting, but if she were, it was more of a game than serious. Medusa would not fall again and risk ruin.

       Honey on her lips with some of the cracker dust Theo leaned back against one of the tables in the room, only a foot or so from her, letting out a gentle laugh when he eyes went wide. “You would be the person to know what is,” Theo offered lightly, only then letting his eyes drift away, glancing outside and seeing them set up for her. “Hopefully it wasn’t too strong, I wouldn’t want to ruin any of the work being done on you,” he continued, trying to be somewhat humble about his work and to potential lighten the words he’d said before.

       “With help, you can’t quite make enough to serve people if you do it alone, I’d be much more overwhelmed,” he explained, hips remaining against the wood of the table, having to consciously think about them being there so he didn’t simply start making things for her on the board. “Theo,” the God answered, it was him now, the version of himself he was content and happy with, any other name…well, it didn’t matter now, a name was simply a title. “Can I ask yours and not offend you that I don’t know it?”

His compliments were as sweet as the honey he’d given her. She was used to compliments again, as Maddie, but they were never unappreciated. The make-up artists had moved away, unintentionally giving her a chance to actually talk to him properly--at least until the director made his mind up about what he wanted. “Not at all, it’s wonderful. I’ve never had anything like it.”

        Theo nodded his head, he’d strangely expected her to be a little aloft or even maybe dismissive and rude like the models in reality tv shows but her words felt sweet as she accepted his gesture, somewhat surprised when she actually started with one of the olives that in her hand seemed an even more brilliant shade of green.

        “Yes, they are,” he nodded as he picked up the vase of water and began to pour the glass for her. “All of it is local, most of it is from me. The olives are from my farm, I make a lot of the cheeses myself with the staff here and the honey…well, I make that at home and only serve it here so it’s one of a kind, I even add a bit of chili so it has kind of a kick to it,” Theo described, the water poured for her actually also from his well and then filtered on site. “How does it taste?” he asked, eyes lingering on her lips.

“One of a kind?” Maddie raised her eyebrows, dipping one of the crackers into the honey as she did. It was sticky and sweet, but with that sure kick of chilli. Her eyes widened. It wasn’t really like anything she’d tried, but it was delicious. She took a sip of water to clear any remaining stick from the honey, noticing the way the man’s eyes lingered. “It’s beautiful.” 

“My crime was to get caught in the games of Gods. I didn’t deserve what they did to me. My biggest mistake was thinking any of them cared.”