GODDESS / HELL

— THE DECISION TO TAKE THE TRAIN HAD NOT BEEN AN EASY ONE. it seemed like the smartest way to disappear into a crowd at the station instead of renting a car and leaving a trail that could be followed. then again, when hera had paid extra for a private compartment, blending in was a little harder but dio wasn’t complaining. it would be much harder to discuss tactics with inescapable eavesdroppers. settling into their seats, dio rearranged the scarf that she’d tied over her dark wig, the yellow one that aphrodite had given her on the first night. it had come in handy sooner than dio had anticipated. the color was a stark contrast to the dark brown wig she had chosen back at the villa, her natural blonde locks hidden away.

as soon as the compartment door slid open and neither one had called for anything, dio knew their plan was diverting - not a good sign so early on. but they couldn’t afford to let it get to them or show anything was wrong. dio widened her eyes in hera’s direction before acquiescing and moving to take the seat next to her and leaving the now vacant bench available to their guests. “of course.” she smiled sweetly in their direction before covering the papers on the table with her hands and pulling them towards herself. “i didn’t realize more people were joining us, how short-sighted of me.” 

Hera wasn’t a woman easily spooked by mere deterrents, especially when stranger things have happened in her line of work. Besides, she was a quick thinker and while she didn’t plan three steps ahead like Zeus, she was good at thinking on her feet. A feat she was about to prove right now, however unwillingly. The other occupants settled in, their mumbled French mixing in with accents that Hera couldn’t quite catch. Her French was getting better, but she still wasn’t up there, and not knowing what was being said made her sweaty. “It happens, my dear. Mix ups happen everyday.” And she waited for the other occupants to react, or look at them fishy.

Assured that none of them understood English, (or did a good job of pretending they didn’t), Hera sat back in her seat, and moved her hair back. This was going to be a long trip, and regardless of circumstances, she needed to get comfortable and she needed to make sure that Dio didn’t freak out, because Hera was panicking. “Are you excited about meeting uncle Ivan? I know you’ve never met him before, but he’s got a nice little house by the cliffs. And he’s always got some amazing toys that he makes, all by himself. He used to own a toystore, before business got bad and he couldn’t make ends meet.” Hera patted the young woman’s knee, her eyes imploring Dio to read between the lines. The man they were meeting was called Ivan; his toymaking business was his weapons deals and the cliff by the sea their meet up. The lie had slipped out from Hera’s lips just like that.

“You know what I think he’ll say? He’ll definitely say something how we’ve changed. He saw you as a wee little baby, after all. And I was...gosh, I was a kid myself.” This part was alluding to their disguises. They still had the chance to take these ridiculous wigs off once they got to the station if they weren’t feeling it, but Hera was...being extra careful with their every move.

There was something almost whimsical, sitting in the train carriage with their scarves and jackets. On one hand, Hera didn’t want to take this thing lightly; discretion was of the highest regard. But also, she wasn’t alone, and she wanted to show Dionysus some of the beauties that the French landscape offered. She paid extra for an empty carriage for the two of them, but there was a part of her that kept on high alert, hence the change in hairdo (it was a wig, don’t get attached to the bangs).

Hera was about to say something to Dio, using their decided names for this trip. She was going by Juno, as she called to “Becca”, when the carriage doors slid open. “You have to be fucking kidding me...” Hera would talk about that lost later, for now, she gestured for Dio to sit beside her. “Let the other people sit down, sweetie.”

Call it curiosity, or the need to make a mental check of every face she sees around the house, as Hera knocks on Apollo’s door. They were the only one who didn’t show up for breakfast, and she needed to know if they were still with them, and alive. She knocks once, then twice, and then pushes the door open, happy to find it unlocked. Because who knows, but Hera is always prepared to pick a lock just in case.

“So here is where our resident...computer expert resides, huh?” Hera looks around the room, studying Apollo and their equipment with an eager eye. “You missed eggs and toast, and I was getting worried.”

Hera runs her hand through the variety of clothing hanging in the wardrobe that Aphrodite had so carefully set up. She had noticed the bulk of baggage going towards her room, and in the hubbub of the bonfire, she had simply forgotten about it, till much later. Better late than never, right?

“Gosh, this is one beautiful collection. And is this...” Gingerly plucking a shiny golden piece from the hanger, and she held it over her body, “is it Ellie Saab? I swear, I’d die for those dresses, they’re beautiful.”

– DIO COULDN’T HELP BUT SMILE AT THE IDEA  that maybe killing everyone with a perfect crime was keeping her options open. It was an entertaining notion and, to be honest, if they all ended up dying at the women’s hand, dio wouldn’t be all that surprised or upset about it. there were probably worse ways to go. “i like the sound of that. keeping all options open seems like the smartest play this early.”

the smile stayed on her lips as she spoke about picking locks and making pasta. the girl could already do one of those things but considering how much time they were going to be spending in here maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try and pick up some other, less illegal, skills. “would you teach me?” she wasn’t sure why she was so comfortable asking that right off the bat but the ask was already out in the world. plus, it wasn’t like her own mother was taking the time to teach her anything like that…actually, dio wasn’t sure if poseidon even knew how to make pasta or anything other than something you had to reheat. “if you don’t mind, that is. i figure we’re probably going to have a lot of downtime being trapped in here.” dio nodded in agreement to hera’s comment about her name, interesting was certainly one way to describe it. “not sure what jokes you’re referring to. i’d much rather be hera than dionysus. it’s quite the mouthful. i think i’m going to insist people call me dio or something.”

“First rule about anything in life; be flexible. Because life goes tits up anytime, no warnings given, and then what are you left with? The crappiest plan in the world.” Hera gestured with her hands, moving them around the more she expressed herself. “But I don’t expect you to know that. It comes with experience, but I wish someone would have told me things instead.” She got rueful for a moment, a sadness crossing Hera’s facial features before she rearranged them into normalcy.

Hera smiled softly at the girl’s request; if Vida had been a kinder person, more nurturing than the cold statue that she was, she would reached for the girl’s hair and tucked that stray strand behind your ears. If she possessed that kind of softness, it would a day alright. But Hera wasn’t all that gentle, she wasn’t kind and she was cold. That smile was all that Dionysus would get. “Lock picking or pasta making? I don’t go easy on either, so make that choice wisely.” She shook her head, “I...I don’t mind. Cooking is one of the few pleasures I still enjoy in life. Along with diamonds and high heels, and a nice little house by the beach.”

When Dio said that, Hera shook her head. It must have been some cruel irony to their codenames, when Zeus decided to call her Hera. “Oh, I was expecting a mythology kicker about being a jealous homemaker, which...we shall not get into. Were you planning on going out? I could join you, definitely could use some fresh air too.”

Cole stared at the piece of pizza, it honestly looked bizarre but appealing. The cheese looked hot to the touch, gooey and savory just how he liked it. At the same time the constant nagging in the back of his head told him not to. He needed to watch what he ate, calorie counting was strict. Vida crossed her arm, and it didn’t phase him, but he knew what it meant. She didn’t scare him, but if any other person was in her way they should run. Cole relented and grab a slice, taking a tiny bite out of the corner of the slice. 

“I’m not going outside,” He grumbled taking another bite, his eyes staring at the illuminated light from the fire. “Not bad pizza.” He mentioned. Cole grabbed a glass of water for himself, taking a sip. “Whatever look your giving me is not going to work.” 

Vida wouldn’t say she had a lot of strong qualities, but getting people to do her bidding was probably one of her only talents. She was good at sweet talking, or strong arming someone into submission, and most often than not, people were easy to break like that. But obviously not Zeus, never Zeus. If she had ever met a man who was half as stubborn as Cole, she’d quit entirely. Despite all this though, it didn’t stop Hera from trying. Someday. When he finally took that slice of pizza, she gave him a beaming smile, “Thank you. For...trying it out.”

At his next words, Hera was frustrated. She rubbed her temple, trying not to get angry at him. This wasn’t a fight she wanted to get into, because there would be bigger things that took precendent than a stupid bonfire outside. “I know you recruited these people, personally picked each one of them. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know them a bit better. As humans, rather than assets.” The last bit gave Hera a bad thought; maybe all she was to Cole was an asset too. “Don’t sweet talk me with compliments, even though I thank you for that. I’m going to show face after a bit, and maybe you should come with me.”

“Arson. I’ve never been one for setting things on fire. There’s also grand theft auto, because I don’t know or care to learn to drive. And to be transparent, I have never been caught, so did I really commit a crime?”

“His apartment. Professor DuPont has a very generous…kissing technique.”

“I love my power suits and business skirts. But these days, I’m really digging the appeal of leggings and athleisure wear. It’s sexy yet practical, and that’s what I think every person needs in their wardrobe. Other than that…hmm…what would my aesthetic be?” Pastels, lots and lots of pastel. But with a black and white accent, because Hera liked her colours bold, but inviting. After all, she wasn’t trying to scare people off on purpose.

“Mmmm, nobody from the house, that’s for sure. The hit list is very personal to me, and I’m not comfortable sharing that list. Or all the names I’ve crossed off it in the recent years. Oh, don’t worry, I haven’t killed anyone! But I made sure they got what was coming to them.”

“Funeral couture washes me out, so I better make it out of this alive. Besides, I died once already, and I think I’ve reached my quota for the timebeing.”

“One of my previous partners stated that I apparently suffer from envy, that I’m constantly jealous and rather angry about all things. But he also thought I was too stupid to catch onto his ridiculous lies, so who’s the real sinner here?”

“All of them. They’re very interesting people, and I haven’t had the chance to study them.”

“Maybe it’s signing up for this…whatever we’re about to do. Maybe it’s shagging Professor DuPont on every second Sunday, when I do get to meet him. Life is full of regrets, big and small, if you look at them that way.”

“Good for people who believe in it, but it’s not for me unfortunately. I will never love or trust anyone like that with the rest of my life. And this doesn’t come from personal experience, because I have witnessed a lot of successful marriages in my time. I have just…never felt inclined to get hitched with anyone.”