nano 2010

[perfect_enigma]

Olymps had originally been built on a mountaintop and then over time as the city had grown and was destroyed and rebuilt the mountaintop grew. Then the technology for hovering platforms using high powered turbines and the city grew further. The platforms were close enough to look like one giant one that extended out from the original mountaintop.

When they finally broke the clouds and could see it, it looked like a mechanical beehive. Small ships buzzed around the city, transporting people like the gyros in Pelia or the horse drawn carts in Thessali. The white marble castle at the center looked carved out of the mountain itself and glistened in the sun. Everything was pure steam power, drawing off water vapor from the surrounding clouds so the smog that hung over cities on land miles below didn’t exist there.

Olymps was the ideal.  The perfect city. Everyone wanted to be remembered as on par with Olymps on their mountaintop.

The court of Olymps, located in the ancient white structure, was elaborate and extravagant. Some said the building was the original one that had once stood in the city and had just been built up along with the city itself. Most likely it was stones from the ancient city repurposed. The ancient city could still be reached through a complex series of tunnels from people’s basements that had once been top floors. Buildings still stood under the current ones, going down to the special rooms built into the mountain itself in case the city ever came under siege. The rooms had been forgotten as the city had grown and it became established as a place of neutrality for a king of kings. The noble line of Olymps was the only line people would acknowledge as an appropriate mediator for any dispute between the kingdoms. Except for Thessali who refused to listen to anything that the rulers of Olymps said.

The first time they had come here with Orpheus, there had been constant teasing about Orpheus being the first Thessalian to step foot on the mountain. Now he guided them in skillfully, knowing the exact way to go. Jason stood over his shoulder more out of habit then a need to guide. Jason loved to be there whenever they approached a city for landing, or even when they were simply flying past one. He loved to see the ground from the air.

The radio crackled to life beside them, making them both jump in surprise. “Crew of the Argonau.” Whoever was on the other end of the line greeted.

Jason reached over to open their side of the connection. “This is Jason, captain of the Argonau, how can I help?”

“This is Tholo of the personal guard. Lady Hera has invited you to the banquet hall tonight. You will follow me.” Without waiting for any acceptance, the small ship turned and headed over the hovering platforms.

Jason puffed up his cheeks at the demanding tone but at Orpheus’s questioning look, he nodded. “Go for it.”

Orpheus shrugged and with a few switches and a gentle push, the Argonau was moving again, gliding smoothly through the air after their little guard.  They had to stay higher then the smaller ship so they didn’t accidently run over any of the taxis or scrap a tall building. Hera probably wouldn’t look at them too kindly after something like that. The guard led them to a different port area then they were familiar with. From the exterior of the ships already there, this was an area for official visitors of the courts. They had never been treated like official visitors. Typically they went to a tavern where a representative of Hera would meet them with their job and half the payment. At the end of the job they would meet at the same place and receive the other half. So far, they had never been let down or tricked and Hera always paid well so they didn’t mind the sneaky meetings.

“You can land here.” The guard instructed and the ship shifted so they would have enough room to maneuver. Orpheus stuck out his tongue at the amount of space they were given and purposefully twisted them tightly to get into position with as little space as possible.

“Show off.” Jason whispered so it wouldn’t be picked up by the radio.

“You like it.” Orpheus whispered back distractedly.

“Maybe a little.” Any other time he might have carried the teasing further but landing was always tricky, too much force and the landing legs would crumple under the weight of the ship. Hera really wouldn’t like them if they damaged some of the other ships around them.

None of the rest of the crew, not even Meleager who had known him for so long, really understood his connection to Hera. Orpheus didn’t even really know who she was, thanks to his sheltered upbringing. Jason had never felt right trying to explain it to them. They didn’t need to know he had royal blood, or that his original decision to fly the Argonau had been based more on a personal need to get away from the stepmother who feared and hated him as a threat to the position of her own son then a desire to explore. He was of royal blood but preferred the company of the bar to that in a council chamber. He truly fell in love with the skies after he was up here and had to learn how to care and love his ship like a woman.

Under them and around them he could feel it as the ship sighed as she came to rest on solid ground. It never felt natural for them to be still and he had to take a moment to adjust his stance to be on solid ground. Around him he felt the engine slowly start to power down, the vents sucking steam out to the turbines which were all slowing along with the turbines themselves until it was all silent. Their breathing seemed too loud.

“I guess we should see if Tholo requires anything else from us.” Jason finally said, uncomfortable in the heavy quiet. Orpheus nodded and breathed out some agreement. It took him a second to stand, hands remaining on the console for as long as possible. During a moment of drunken weakness, Orpheus had described the music he heard when he was flying so Jason knew he was in the exact same place Jason was right then. Zephyrus and Hercules were already waiting at the hatch for them. Neither seemed to show the same nervousness with the quieted ship but then neither of them lived for the skies. Jason didn’t miss the way Zephyrus didn’t quite look at Orpheus or the other man’s slight smirk but ignored it. He wasn’t a parent, they were all adults, as long as their issues didn’t affect the running of his ship he didn’t care. Pollux came next, fastening the leather strip around the back of his head to hold it all in place.

Meleager and Atalanta showed up within five minutes, looking surprisingly composed. Hercules popped the hatch, pushing open the heavy door and together they all went down to Olymps. They were landed on solid ground which was another oddity for them. Their usual stopping place was out on one of the platforms. There were three women waiting for them, all of them practically identical. Jason grinned, recognizing them immediately. One blushed but the other two smiled widely. The three were practically identical, they were triplets, daughters of Hera.

“Welcome back to Olymps Jason.” One stepped forward to greet them. Jason took her hand and bent low to kiss the back of her hand.

“Euphrosyne.”

She laughed happily and gently freed her hand. “You always could tell us apart.”

“That’s because you’re all different people.”

The one blushing, Eudaimona, rolled her eyes. “You’re incorrigible.” Behind him, Jason could hear soft snickers from Meleager and Pollux and probably Atalanta.

“I try.” Jason shrugged as if his behavior was out of his control which only amused Euphrosyne and the third, Aglaia. Against her will Eudaimona had a small smile on her lips. “So may I ask what we have done to be awarded such courtesy from her ladyship to be greeted by three of her beautiful daughters?”

“Flirting won’t get you very far today.” Aglaia chastised teasingly. “Your business is entirely with our mother.”

“We’re only here to show you to your rooms.”

“Three princesses?” Orpheus questioned in audible disbelief.

“Mother thinks that only we could make sure Jason and you all don’t wander off-“

“Or try to pocket anything.”

Jason gasped in fake hurt, and held his chest. “I am an honest thief ladies. I would never steal anything from her ladyship after all she has done for me.”

They all tittered and shook their heads, finally Euphrosyne gestured towards the door. “Come on then Mr. Honest.” Meleager and Pollux were definitely laughing at him now and Orpheus too most likely. Zephyrus was still too new to have the courage to laugh at him and Hercules was just stoic. Jason appreciated that, it was nice to know one of his crew wouldn’t openly mock him. The three women led them to the entrance to the castle. The initial hall was large and grand, obviously an entrance for important people. But then they were quickly led to the side through a hallway lined with doors. Even there it was still as beautiful as the outside. The walls inside were painted with stories of the gods and deeds of men. On any blank sections of wall there hung a tapestry or a beautiful vase of flowers sat. When she thought no one was looking, Atalanta plucked one from a vase and put it behind her ear. “Almost all these rooms are currently taken. Mother asked for four to be set aside for you all.”Euphrosyne said as they continued passing doors.

“four?”

“Yes. We unfortunately can’t spare anymore.” The way the three spoke made them almost interchangeable. Jason knew for a fact they could finish each other’s sentences amoung other things. “Three should house you all comfortably.” Another added.

“Why so many guests?” Orpheus asked.

“It’s the wedding of our older sister –“

“Harmonia in about –“

“Three weeks. “

“Guests have started to arrive as well as any extra staff that will be needed to prepare.”

“Who is Harmonia going to?” Pollux asked.

“Cadmus of Theb.” Agalia said with a soft sigh. “It will be beautiful.”

“But come,” Eudaimona gestured at three doors. Two on one side of the hall and the third across from them. “These are your rooms. There is dinner tonight in the hall at 8, but don’t worry it isn’t fancy-“

“It is the only place that can house so many people.”

Atalanta and Meleager immediately paired off and sidestepped towards a door. Jason grinned and gestured them towards it. “It’s all yours.”

“We hear you two enough as it is anyway.” Orpheus gagged, ducking behind Pollux when Meleager made threatening gestures towards him.

The three sisters turned towards the five men remaining.

“I reserve my right as captain to sleep alone.” Jason immediately informed them, stepping towards another door.

Orpheus was leaning against Zephyrus’s back, making the Boreadnai visibly uncomfortable. Jason made a note to corner Orpheus later and find out what was going on. It didn’t seem appropriate to go after Zephyrus right then. “Do you mind Zephyr?” Orpheus asked, dropping his voice to a more serious tone, ready to back off if the younger man asked it.

“It’s fine.” Zephyrus said hurriedly when it obviously wasn’t but Jason wasn’t going to stop them from being stupid.

Pollux held out a hand to Hercules who took it in his larger one and shook. “I guess that leaves you and me.”

“Guess so.” Hercules grunted.

The three sisters left them to get situated in their rooms. They weren’t anything extravagant. Behind each door was a small living area with a bedroom coming off of each. The living area consisted of a hearth, a few couches and a small table. The bedrooms were even more sparsely furnished with two beds and dresser in each. But the walls were just as elaborate as in the halls. Everything had color and there were flowers in the rooms giving them life and brightness. These were not the rooms for the high end guests but they certainly weren’t servant quarters either.

Jason followed Pollux and Hercules, figuring he didn’t have to be alone in the room he’d claimed just yet. Jason dropped down on a couch, letting his head fall back against the arm rest. “We’re getting a wedding gift.” He said confidently, fine with thinking out loud around Hercules and Pollux. Hercules liked it aboard and was paid too well to risk doing something stupid like sharing Jason’s thoughts to anyone who wasn’t supposed to know. Also, whatever kind of upbringing Hercules had had it made him a good person to bounce ideas off of. He was much smarter and aware of politics then he let on. It almost seemed royal to Jason. Pollux had been one of his best crew for years, it felt almost as long as Meleager.

“For Harmonia?” Pollux clarified

Hercules was off exploring the small wash room and various cabinets around the walls. “They’ve got a condensation filter in here.” He said in mild surprise.

Jason lifted himself up with one arm to look over the back of the couch. “A what?”

“Glass tube on the roof collects condensation from the clouds. Water trickles down to special pools and from there,” He held up a carafe partly full of water. “It can be directed to any room that wants it. Steam vents in the wash room can heat it.”

Jason grinned, definitely something royal. “Sounds like something that would only work in Olymps.”

Hercules shrugged suddenly uncomfortable and twisted something above a thin glass tube before taking the carafe away from underneath. “It is something that only works on Olymps.”

Jason flopped back down to the couch, listening to Hercules coming around to another one. “I can never decide if this place would be boring or not to live in.”

“Courts always get boring.” Pollux pointed out.

“True.” There was a clink of glass and when Jason looked over there was a small glass of water resting on the table within arm’s reach. “Orpheus managed for three months in Tartarun.”

“Thessalians are boring.” Hercules said with a grin.

Jason barked a laugh and sat up, resting his feet with a thump on the table. “Ok. So, we’re getting Harmonia a wedding gift.”

“Probably we’re getting Hera a gift to give to Harmonia.”

“Damn, talk about a lazy mother.” Pollux joked.

“Or one with very particular tastes.”

Jason blew out a long breath of air and sunk into the couch more, finally picking up the water and drinking. It was clean and refreshing in a way ground water rarely was, unless you were in a court that knew to boil and catch the steam before serving it. Often water wasn’t even offered, the safer wine and beer were the selections. “So no jewelry.”

“Diamonds?”

“Gold.”

“The golden horses of Helios.”

Jason laughed and they continued throwing around ideas for what Hera could want from them, each more ridiculous then the last. They had started making things up when someone knocked on the door. They looked at each other and then both decided not to get up. “Come in!” Jason yelled, hopefully loud enough to be heard through the door. The door burst open and Meleager walked in proudly, trailed by everyone but Zephyrus.

“We are ready.” Meleager announcd.

“Where’s Zephyr?” Jason prompted innocently.

All eyes swung to Orpheus who sighed and walked back out without a word. The door remained open and they could all hear as he opened the door to the suite he was sharing with Zephyrus. Their conversation – if they had one – was too quiet to be heard. They all still waited with bated breath hoping for anything worthwhile. Finally there came the shutting of a door, too distant to be the one in the hall and then a few heartbeats later the one in the hall closed as well and both Zephyrus and Orpehus appeared in the entrance to Pollux and Hercules’s room.

“Sorry.” Zephyrus smiled sheepishly, somehow managing to sink into his shoulders to make himself look tiny. It also made him look very feminine but Jason didn’t feel like telling him.

“Is it dinner time then?” Jason asked, looking from person to person.

“Yes sir. “ Atalanta affirmed. “Shall we?”

Jason stood and made a show of straightening his shirt and fixing his hair before coming up to offer his arm to her, ignoring Meleager’s flabbergasted expression. “We shall.” He said smoothly. Atalanta rolled her eyes, not buying into his charm but she took the offered arm, holding on almost delicately in her best impersonation of a girl. Meleager mumbled vehemently under his breath until Atalanta held out her other arm.

“Stop it Mel.” And then Orpheus cut in, smirking at Meleager as Atalanta wrapped her other hand around his arm with an amused laugh. “I feel so wanted.” She purred.

Orpheus kissed her cheek. “That’s because you are.”

“Mmm Orpheus.” She rested her cheek on his shoulder as they walked. “I never knew.”

“It is my most guarded secret my lady.” He said solemnly but his eyes sparkled.

“It must have been a burden to carry.”

“Oh, it was, but now it is off my chest and I feel lighter for it.”

“You-“ She got out between giggles. “Are so cheesy.”

Orpheus smiled widely and shrugged. Meleager was still grumbling behind them but a quick glance assured he was just as amused. He had mentioned to his captain that he and Atalanta had talked without actually telling Jason what the talk was about, but whatever it was it definitely helped with his jealousy. Jason knew more about his crew’s lives then he let on and he wouldn’t deny that he had noticed.

“There is a reason for that.” A woman’s voice cut in, making them all stop and half turn. Orpheus made an odd choking sound and stepped away from Atalanta. The woman was beautiful, tall, thick hair held back in elaborate knots and curls. She exuded confidence and power. And she knew all of that about herself if the high set of her shoulders and low cut dress were any indication. Jason was sure he had seen her before but he couldn’t place where which most likely meant it was when he was a child in Miinye living with Chiron or in his father’s court. “Hello Orphe.” She glided forward, arms outstretched and whatever it was that held Orpheus in place snapped and he ran forward, catching her tightly. With the distance closed, Jason could see now that she was shorter then Orpheus, though not by much.

“I see you were not successful.” She murmured sadly but they were all close enough now they could hear. Whatever he said back was lost in her hair.

Jason patted Atalanta’s shoulder and nodded down the hall. This was private, whatever this was (Jason could only confidently say this wasn’t Orpehus’s dead bride), they didn’t need to be there for this. “Orpheus, we’ll see you in the hall.” He said softly, not wanting to interrupt too much.

Orpheus gave them a quick nod, not seeming to care and Jason led the remainder of his crew away. Pollux took the chance to take Atalanta’s other arm, further frustrating Meleager.

“So who was that?” He asked as soon as they were out of earshot. Jason shrugged. He had no clue. Besides Eurydice and brief mentions of a mother stuck in Thessali, Orpheus had never spoken about any important women in his life. Not to mention any he mentioned would either be from Tartarun, and then Jason, Pollux, Meleager and Atalanta from all the time they had spent there would already know them, or they would be in Thessali and it wasn’t easy for anyone to get out of there. The lengths Orpheus himself went through to leave proved that.

“She looked royal.” Atalanta said.

“She looked like Lady Kleio.” Zephyrus said quietly. “Same eyes.”

“Could be the makeup.” Meleager pointed out but Zephyrus shook his head. Jason had a feeling he knew what Zephyrus was talking about but didn’t want to speak up, just in case he was wrong. They would all have to wait until Orpheus told them. The banquet hall was already full when they arrived and a young servant led them to a place on the table surprisingly close to the dais for the royal family and any special guests. Hera caught his eye as he sat down and gave him a slight nod. She leaned over and whispered something in a serving girl’s ear who quickly nodded and raced away, right towards them.

“Jason of Miinye.” She greeted, bowing slightly.

“Yes?”

“Her ladyship would like you to go up and greet her properly.” She said hurriedly, probably due to her excitement at this odd twist in court affairs.

“Of course.” Jason let himself be led away to the amusement of the four left at the table. He bowed low when he stood next to Hera and accepted the offered hand, kissing the ring before standing. “My lady.”

“Jason. I want to thank you for coming so quickly.”

“It was an honor.”

“I will send for you and your crew later, you only need to spend the night on solid ground.”

Jason laughed and bowed again. “You are very kind.”

She waved him off. “Go back to your crew.”

He bowed again and backed up until it was safe to turn to the table. The greeter had been going off this whole time, announcing each person or group as they entered.  The crew of the Argonau had been led around him for which Jason was thankful, he might be a guest of Hera but that didn’t mean he hadn’t upset someone else in the room.

“Well?” Pollux asked when he sat back down.

“We’ll be sent for later.” Jason settled down and reached for the wine. Water was wonderful, but he preferred the sharp acidic bite of a good wine.

“-and her son Orpheus!” The greeter yelled and this time a hush did fall over the crowd but Jason figured it was at the first part he had missed, but Orpheus’s name had clearly caught his whole crew’s attention. He was holding the arm of the woman who had caught them earlier, and there was an odd uneasy nonchalance with the way he walked that said he had once been familiar with this. His military training had clearly kicked in to save him. While the woman soaked it up.

“His mother?” Atalanta whispered.

“Who is she?” Meleager hissed back.

Jason listened to the other people around them, finally picking up enough. He glanced at Zephyrus who already seemed to have an answer. He lightly kicked his medic under the table. ‘Who’ he mouthed at him at Zephyrus startled look.

“She’s Lady Calliope.” He mumbled so his voice only carried to them. “Eldest sister of the Mussaka family.” They were all staring intently at them now, just like the rest of the room. Calliope and Polyhymnia were the most rumored about sisters after the family had been attacked. Kleio had reappeared, same with Thalia and Urania, in various parts of the continent under the protection of a kingdom. Euterpe was supposedly under the protection of Hera and Zeus in Olymps, but if she was at the banquet she wasn’t announced. Melpomene was assumed dead, killed in the initial raid along with Terpsichore. Many assumed Erato was taken as a slave. “Orpheus is part Mussaka.” Zephyrus elaborated. No one else knew what to say so they all sat there and watched as Orpheus escorted his mother to the dais.

Orpheus spent a few minutes up there with her and even from how far away they were, they could all make out his smiles. Atalanta finally broke their silence with an ‘aww’ when Orpheus leaned forward to give Calliope a kiss on the cheek. Meleager elbowed her and she elbowed back with a hissed ‘what’. The rest of the crowd had gone back to their own business with the Mussaka out of the middle of the room.

“Don’t aw them! He’s a grown man!”

“That makes it cuter. He loves his mother.” She jabbed his shoulder. “Did you love your mother?”

“No,” he swatted the hand away in annoyance. “She tried to kill me.”

“What?” Zephyrus asked, only catching the end of their conversation.

“My mother tried to have me killed.” Meleager said matter-of-factly. Meleager had told Jason about this years ago and Jason was still unable to understand it. Step-mothers were surely evil, that made sense, but for someone’s own mother he didn’t get it. “There was an accident and I was blamed, she couldn’t forgive me.” Meleager shrugged since in his own way he had dealt with it. Meleager was simple, all he needed was to get away from the problem, have a good meal and he could put it behind him. “I’ve seen her since, she’s apologized.”

“Your mother?” Orpheus asked, slipping into the open seat left between Zephyrus and Pollux for him.

“Yep. Old story.” Meleager said and they all turned to look at him. “But your mother is a new story.” He leaned forward, propping his chin on a bent arm.

“Do tell.” Pollux prompted.

“You’re half Mussaka?” Atalanta asked at the same time.

Orpheus flushed and sunk down into his chair at the sudden swarm of attention. “I should have accepted her offer to sit there.”

“Oh but then we’d only have more questions.” Meleager told him.

“We’d ask for all the details about the conversations, and we’d never leave you alone for weeks.” Pollux added matter-of-factly.

The mere thought of it seemed to physically pain Orpheus. “I haven’t seen her since I left Thessali. I didn’t even know she was Mussaka until the day I left. It’s not exactly something that can be shared.”

“What about your father?”

“What about him?” Orpheus asked, genuinely thrown off by the question.

“Is he here?”

Orpheus shrugged and Jason couldn’t help but grin. Orpheus was completely opposite him and Meleager, he was a mama’s boy, he never spoke much of his father. “Doubt it. He’s a general.” He glanced over at his mother who was laughing with the Lady Hera. “He wouldn’t like it here.”

“He married a Mussaka.” Atalanta pointed out. “That’s not very Thessalian.”

“Privilege. Thought he could change her. Marriage in Thessali is rarely about love.” He glanced back and forth at them. “Didn’t I tell you guys that? At some point?”

“Must have been too long ago.” Meleager answered smoothly. Probably lying through his teeth but Meleager was good at that. “Back when you first joined. Zephyrus has never heard.”

Orpheus looked at Zephyrus who shrugged, giving nothing away. The Boreadnai was intent on playing with his roll anyway, obviously caught up in his own thoughts. Orpheus looked back at Meleager. “I told him about Eurydice.”

“Well you told none of us that your mother was Mussaka.” Meleager stuttered, trying to cover up his mistake.

“It didn’t matter.”

“Explains a lot though.” Hercules finally chimed in and Jason nodded his agreement when he realized that he could be seen. Orpheus simply looked even more confused. Jason was fairly sure that torturing his crew members was a bad idea but some days it just couldn’t be helped.

“It is common knowledge Thessalians don’t have the wiring to smile.” Jason told him, taking a long sip of wine to hide his grin. “When Queen Persephone first told me about you, I almost told her no right away.”

“You’re a jerk.” Orpheus gestured at him with a fork and Zephyrus noticeably leaned back in his seat. Orpheus rolled his eyes and nudged him with an elbow, without looking up from his (thoroughly decimated) Zephyrus nudged back.

“I’m offended you would call me such names.” Jason pouted.

“You’ve been called worse.”

“By my own crew?” Everyone now turned to look at him so Jason had to admit that they had definitely used worse so Jason shrugged and poured himself more wine. “Oh, we’re being summoned after dinner but if you want to spend the time with your mother, I don’t mind.” ‘I understand’ was what he wanted to say but that didn’t sound as captain-y. From Orpheus’s expression he understood.

“I’ll join you.” Orpheus said casually, always the military man who put duty first.

Meleager reached around to smack the back of his head, leaving his arm draped across Atalanta’s shoulders. “It’s your family. Your mom! Who you haven’t seen in years. I like to think hanging out with us has given you a few stories to tell.”

“She’s not hearing about the time in Rohesia.” Orpheus warned.

“I think she’d enjoy it.”

“Don’t you dare Meleager or all your maps are done for.”

Meleager’s confident smirk didn’t waver, challenging Orpheus to fulfill his threat which they all knew he wouldn’t. To damage the maps put them all at risk until they could be redrawn.

“What happened in Rohesia?” Zephyrus asked.

“Later.” Orpheus grumbled reluctantly when Meleager’s grin grew dangerously.

Atalanta gave a long suffering sigh. “It wasn’t that bad really.” She told him, leaning back in her seat to talk around Orpheus. Obligingly, the pilot scooted his chair forward slightly to make it less awkward. “Orpheus just doesn’t like people talking about his sex life.”

“Especially his orgies.” Pollux chimed in, helpful as always.

“You were in an orgy?” Zephyrus asked, his disbelief obvious.

“No.” Orpheus snapped. “Later.” He repeated, stabbing a quail a little harder than necessary. Zephyrus patted him on the shoulder and the conversation finally moved on. Maybe in a less public place the teasing would continue but they all knew each other’s limits fairly well and when it was ok to push and when it was best to back off. Jason sipped more wine, enjoying the company and the atmosphere. These big banquets full of guests from around the continent in all kinds of dress, speaking languages Jason had never even heard of were the only things he missed about court. He loved people, the more beautiful and friendly the better. One in particular was trying to catch his eye, further down the hall towards the entrance (supposed to be a sign of lower rank). He openly eyed her, knowing the distance made it a bit harder to tell what he was doing, but he really didn’t care if she could tell or not. She would definitely be worth some interest later. Jason would have to keep an eye out for good places to sneak off to. He wasn’t rude enough to bring a tryst back to a shared room.

Hercules suddenly pushed back from the table, for someone who ate a lot he ate fast. “I’ll be in our rooms. Get me when it’s time to go.” He said brusquely, and stood. He turned towards the dais and gave a quick bow, looking uncomfortable with the action. Jason followed the direction to see who exactly he might be bowing at and realized both royal highnesses were watched. Lady Hera seemed darkly pleased with Hercules’s bow while Zeus’s look was more paternal. Yet in both was obvious recognition of Hercules which only affirmed Jason’s original guess of a royal background for their tall, rude mercenary.

None of the others seem to notice or care much about it, but that didn’t mean they didn’t at all. Jason wouldn’t allow them on his crew if they weren’t observant to some extent. Now was not the time though to worry about such things and Jason turned his attention back to his watcher. He waited a little longer before excusing himself. By then Zephyrus had been drawn out of his awkwardness enough to be caught in a heated discussion with Orpheus and Meleager about life in court while Atalanta occasionally chimed in with commentary about how much better life growing up on a ship had been. Until Orpheus pointed out that he had essentially grown up on a ship as well and then her line changed to growing up outside a kingdom. No one could refute that so they settled for ignoring her.

She was the only one who noticed that Jason was leaving and mouthed ‘good luck’ at him. He stuck his tongue out at her and with a dramatic swirl, finished off the last of his wine. The woman stood as well, noticing him – though really when had she been noticing – and followed him from across the hall. Together they made their way to the entrance. She got there first due to her proximity to the door and was standing on the other side, leaning casually against the wall. Jason went right up to her and stood there, within her space. Feeling her heat through their clothes, breathing in her scent.

“Hello Medea.” He grinned, resting one hand on her hip.

She smiled slyly back at him and straightened so his hand slid around to the small of her back. “Hello Jason.” She purred. Her smaller hands circled his neck and drew him down for a long kiss. The hallway was empty, everyone back inside the hall, even if it wasn’t Jason wouldn’t have cared. Medea tasted as wonderfully delicious and dangerous as ever.

“I don’t have much time.” He said when they parted.

“We don’t need it.” She led him down the hall, knowing the palace better than he did. She led them into a room that was used for storage. Old tapestries and tables and chairs filled the space. Medea sat up on one table, making sure it would support her before leaning back on her palms. One booted foot came up to rest on the back of a nearby chair, making her skirts fall back to her hips, exposing pale thighs. “Come on my captain.” Jason didn’t need the extra encouragement.