we served a purpose, like a bloody circus;

[ladyfair]

Bam! You're dead.

Well, it might not have happened with a bam or a bang--maybe just a whimper. Afterwards, some psychopomp or another grabbed your hand and led you here, to this awkward waiting room on the astral plane.

There's stale coffee and some mediocre donuts. The chairs are moderately comfortable, and the paintings on the wall are pretty but somewhat unsettling.

Every so often one of the gods' messengers shows up and fetches someone to take them to their proper place in the afterlife.

It's kind of boring.

Comments

[ladyfair]

[ He watches her thoughtfully for a moment before continuing on the path. Fortunately they seem to be moving along it pretty fast considering it's the blackness of space and they're just walking.

Astral plane logic. ]

Nice trick.

[pummelgranite]

Was worried it wouldn't work without oxygen.

[ That IS good to see. She remains fairly nonplussed about all this cosmic wonder. That much, at least, seems a lot more appropriate than a waiting room. She tosses the pack back to him. ]

[ladyfair]

This is the cosmic sea. There's plenty of--well, whatever counts for oxygen around here.

[ He shrugs. ]

I'm not a scientist.

[pummelgranite]

Cool.

[ To cosmic sea or to him not being a scientist WHO KNOWS. ]

So since when does Aphrodite collect the dead? Bump off Hades while the wife was out or what?

[ladyfair]

Oh, gods collect whatever souls are of interest to them.

[ They're about halfway between Earth and Venus now, and he continues to walk unconcerned along the narrow path through space. ]

Or whatever souls prayed to them before death. What were you doing when you died?

[pummelgranite]

[ There's a long pause. ]

Not praying to her.

[ladyfair]

[ He laughs softly, a little cynically. ]

Yes, this is a temporary arrangement. But she--

[ He hesitates and glances down off into the blackness. ]

She has been in that place. She is and is not--

[ He makes a frustrated "how do you even explain this?" gesture with his free hand. ]

It was something to do with Persephone, wasn't it?

[ The darkness hums almost threateningly with the sound of the name, and he makes a small dismayed face. ]

[pummelgranite]

[ She takes another long, long drag. She's watching the dark, watching the stars. Watching the universe mouth her name.


Is it her name, still? ]

Uh huh.

[ladyfair]

The Queen of the Dead doesn't know what your place is yet. I have no idea how she's going to react. She may embrace you or--

[ He shrugs. ]

She may smite you, I'm afraid.

My holy mother has taken an interest in you in the meanwhile.

[pummelgranite]

Uh huh . . .


[ Just deeply, deeply unconcerned about any upcoming smites. ]

[ladyfair]

[ The light of Venus is coming up on the horizon, golden-orange and shining. He glances back at her. ]

Not worried, dear?

[pummelgranite]

[ The light reminds her of Inanna- like a perpetual, inviting dawn. ]

What's to worry about? I got everything I ever wanted.

[ladyfair]

[ A smile ghosts across his face. ]

That's the spirit.

[ He still looks slightly concerned. ]

...come on. There's a drink with your name on it at the Aphrodision.

[pummelgranite]

[ OK, that perks her up. ]

Literally or figuratively?

[ladyfair]

Well, there might actually be a cocktail at the bar...

[ He considers this for a moment as he walks. Venus looms larger against the blackness. The scent of it reaches through space, strange alien seawater and something like roses. ]

[pummelgranite]

There's cocktails?

[ladyfair]

Oh, goodness, you don't think Aphrodite is missing a fully-stocked bar, do you?

She loves to party. Not as much as she loves sex, but of course that's hardly mutually exclusive, you know?

[pummelgranite]

Sounds about right for a love goddess.


Still, good to hear. I could really use a party.

[ladyfair]

[ He glances back at her as he starts down the stairs from the star-path to the atmosphere of Venus.

It boils and bubbles beneath them. ]

So you're the partying type?

[ He smiles. ]

[pummelgranite]

Who isn't these days?

[ladyfair]

Oh, I don't know. There must still be a few shy boys and girls out there in this big world.

[ He gestures with the staff, and the rolling sea of the Venusian clouds parts before them. ]

[pummelgranite]

[ It's beautiful. She frowns. ]

Uh huh.

[ladyfair]

[ The atmospheric ocean seethes around them, but it doesn't seem to be choking or poisoning them, and up ahead an island rears up out of the sea. Set on a slope up the beach a white marble temple gleams. ]

That's the Aphrodision.

[pummelgranite]

Uh huh.

[ It feels like Amaterasu's wink.
It feels like Inanna's smile. Something too beautiful to be meant for her. She scrubs at one eye. ]

It's-- uh . . . it's not bad . . .

[ladyfair]

[ He turns to look at her, pausing to lean on his staff. His gaze gentles a bit. ]

You might be able to stay here if you want.

I don't know. Do you want that, darling?