estdeus_innobis | The Most She Will Do Is Throw Shadows At You

Current Location: the Marks Ranch
Current Music: Billy Joel - She's Always a Woman

Entry tags:

cain,
eris

The Most She Will Do Is Throw Shadows At You

The Mark's Ranch
Afternoon, Thursday, 23 October

Pausing on the stoop, feet from the door, I take in a deep breath.

I have not seen her since our disagreement. I do not know if I am still her worshiper. I do not know how the death of Ares has affected her.

It is quite possible that she has already left Excolo. I cannot sense her the way that, I suppose, Kaeli sense Lúgh. I have seen him, anyway. At Laurence's church this past Sunday. It was odd to see him there. A god attending the service of another god is strange, especially when the other god is touted as being the Creator, the greatest of all the gods. I have not met many gods that were comfortable knowing that they are not the strongest or most knowledgeable or the eldest.

I inhale deeply again, step forth, and rap my knuckles against the door. The breath escapes in a slow exhale as I await an answer that I do not know will arrive.

~~[OPEN to Eris]~~

[CLOSED]

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There is a sound.

A sound and a breath that comes through the darkness that surrounds me. They pull me out and I rise from the bath in the floor. I silently curse Ares for the lack of servants.

Then I remember he's not here any more.

I don't bother with towel nor robe. Who cares if I drip all over the carpet? Who cares who sees me disrobed? I pull open the door and manage to hide my surprise at the visitor.

"Cain," I say.

Eris answers the door in the nude and I am not in the least surprised. I am surprised that she is dripping water on the floor and cannot stop my eyes from tracking more than one rivulet as it rolls down her height.

My eyes jump back up to hers when she says my name. In surprise. At least I am not the only one.

"Eris. I have heard and have come to offer my condolences."

I bow my head slightly.

"You have our thanks." Then I turn to go, because I will not let someone who has left me twice see my pain.

She thanks me, though it is cold, and she begins to turn away, as though we are already finished.

"Eris. Wait." I hesitate and realize I have stepped forward to place my hand on the door and keep it open. Were she to want it closed, I would not present much obstacle to that goal, but the action of it may speak earnestly enough to her. "I am sorry. About how our last conversation went. I- I was wrong."

I pause and the barest smile flashes across my lips before I turn back to him.

"Come in," I say and let him shut the door. "How were you wrong?" I ask, is if I don't even remember our last conversation and haven't relived it over and over in my head.

There is a moment of consideration where I know she could still go either direction with allowing me entrance. Finally, she turns to me and invites me in, asking, "How were you wrong?" as I shut the door.

"It most certainly was not you that victimized Laurence and I should never have accused you as having done such a thing."

"You should never have?" I ask, raising a brow in curiosity. "And why is that, Firstborn?" Not caring for my state nor the furniture, I lean back on a plush sofa. I feel Aphrodite move about my head and I stroke at her absently.

The couch she sits on is far too nice a thing to be sitting upon it wet like she is. It seems the departing of her brother has led her to a state of apathy where their possessions are concerned. Granted, she is a god. It is easy to assume that she feels the item in question will fade long before she does. I hope that assumption is right.

"You are not that cruel."

"Am I not?" I ask with a tiny wry smile. "Your little redhead seems to believe that I am. Which of you is right? It cannot be both."

My lips set into a thin line at the mention of Kaeli. She turned away from Eris and I thought she had turned from Lúgh, too. I think she did for a time. It is not an easy thing to forsake a god, even when it feels like they have forsaken you.

"I do not concern myself with right or wrong, Eris." I smile a little at her, remembering something we talked of often. "That is rhetoric best kept by the politicians and the clergy."

"Mmm," I say and feel a smile tugging at my lips. I do not fight it too much. A part of me wishes to ask after Kaeli. She hates me, though, I know it. Sometimes I can feel it, from all the way across town. It is stronger than the little shards I receive from that Glass. "She would not be pleased to know that you are here," I finally observe. "Especially if you have designs beyond apologies and condolences. What is it you want, Cain?"

Eris smiles slightly and hums softly. I cannot tell what she is thinking, but then she says, "She would not be pleased to know that you are here. Especially if you have designs beyond apologies and condolences." I blink at her in surprise. Ture, she displays herself right here before me, but that is hardly different from her usual behavior. True, I cannot stop looking, but what man could. Well, what man that is interested in women. "What is it you want, Cain?"

I move further into the room and sit down across from her, keeping to the edge of the couch with my arms on my legs.

"To know where I stand with you, Eris."

I give him a lazy look, like I do not care at all where he stands with me nor I with him.

"Where should you stand with me after last we spoke, Cain? And where should your apology have brought you?" I ask. I love it when they practically dole out their own punishments.

I stare at her for a moment, uncertain of what my answer may be.

"After we spoke, perhaps, no within your favor." Were I she, I would not. Lilith's presence in this town does too much to remind me of that aspect of myself. "Now? I know not where it should have brought me. Only do I know where I would like for it to have."

I slide off the couch to one knee, bringing me close to her, and I take her olive-tinged, soft-as-silk hand in my own.

"Within your grace."

He goes down upon one knee, holding my hand in his and my heart leaps up into my throat. How I have missed him.

How I still miss him. Even taking him back, things are not as they were. He has moved on and lives now with that skila who condemns me with every breath.

I squeeze his hand slightly, a small sign of my forgiveness. My forgiveness itself is grand, but so rarely given. I nod slightly, reaffirming the action. Again he is mine, when so little any more belongs to me.

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The Most She Will Do Is Throw Shadows At You

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