mperosx

[mperosx]

All’s Fair || Arawn&Eros

{{ Just getting this going for us before the switch happens! Arawn and Eros rarely get down time like this to share so I grabbed it! Continued from here with @mpxarawn

—*

   Eros bristles as he keeps watching the scrying mirror, his wings tucking closer to his body as a form of wordless self soothing that he doesn’t realize he’s doing. It stresses him out greatly when they do this. To be sure, the humans had always done it over time for this or that reason but still, each time he is left with the lingering question of how on earth did they reach that point? In his younger days, even he had briefly wondered if their creation had been the wisest choice as they seemed fit to rip at each other often.

  The god doesn’t notice the guard being sent out and almost doesn’t notice that Arawn is in fact speaking to him now. The only reason he does is that the word ‘love’ is mentioned and where it is spoken, he hears. He does look toward his friend then to listen better and to peel his mind away from the things he had seen in that mirror.

  “If you are speaking of Helen of Troy, please don’t remind me,” he says but offers a light laugh about it. His face cringes at the mention of Romeo and Juliet, his feelings on that matter being that he is floored that some people consider it ‘goals’ for their relationships and that the situations therein were nearly one hundred percent preventable.

  Tea is offered and the god is thankful for it even if for a moment he tries to politely refuse it. He needs it to calm his mind and detach from his worries. Arawn must know this as he pours it anyway and with a little sigh of gratitude, Eros makes his way over to sit down with his friend. “You’re right, I don’t look at them often. I sort of abandoned the practice when we all switched from inhaling vapors with oracles to doom scrolling on social media. I find both tools of divination equally surprising, if I may be honest, though at least with one there are more cats.”

   He takes a sip of the tea. It burns the tip of his tongue just a little and he would protest that but he’s trying to focus on relaxing again. After a little bit of quiet sipping that passes pleasantly, Eros speaks again, “I heard that your sabbatical came to it’s end finally. How are you feeling about being back?”

[mperosx]

As Fate Would Have It || Noel&Eros

{{ Finalizing things before the shift! Continued from this interaction with @mpxnoel

—*

   He knows that Noel wouldn’t really just drop by his house for the sake of having a chocolate treat. The young man isn’t the type of sweeties, nor is he the type to waste much time beating around the bush about whatever it is that he does want. The question is really more of an icebreaker to get the young charge to start talking. And talk he does after the initial shock factor.

   Chuckling at the light befuddlement that he causes Eros moves aside from the door to signal that the other can enter. “Go on,” he says as he leads the way into the living room of his house.

  The first question comes as the god deposits himself onto the couch and his expression goes unchecked. The surprise is evident that it is Noel asking him this type of thing for a few seconds before Eros corrects the look on his face to one of thought. He isn’t thinking of the answer— he knows it. No, the god is thinking on whether or not the answer is something that Noel will take well. Some people do take it well when they ask, but there are some who dislike it so much that it causes them brief upset before the acceptance of it settles in. 

 Worrying his lower lip a bit it takes a moment after the last question comes before he nods in sureness about giving him the truth of it. “Yes. People can be fated to meet each other. Some will have the joy of knowing great and deep friendship, others will be fated for the torment and rapture of love, and others that you meet are fated to come along and help you.”

  His eyes look to Noel. “It is imperative to remember that fate and love are two different things though. Fate can bring two people together but that does not mean that Fate brought them together for love—there is a lesson somewhere in each person you meet. And no meeting is trivial. No one is trivial.”

[mperosx]

Thread Log || Eros 04/20/2024

A collective of threads on this muse. For clarity on why things were dropped or listed in any particular way, please DM the typist! Recall, dropped threads are not personal.

From Hell with Love (My Turn):

*None. Muse is up to date.

Awaiting (Your Turn):

* Baby Don’t Hurt Me - @benji-mp * Hellish Pursuits (of Happiness) - @mparwyn * Late Night Circus - @amaterasuxmp * Closer to Love - @mpxalexander

Available Open Starters: * Coming soon!

Dropped (due to muse departure, time out on either side, etc.): -N.A; no current drops! Completed: + Super Shy - Ahri

Pending Ideas:

~ open to new things!

If you have questions or need clarification on any above threads please message me! This muse is available to take on more threads!

[mperosx]

Stretched Thin || Writing Challenge 002

{{ I kind of like these little monthly prompts! Self care is the theme and I have to say that while writing the entries for my muses I realized how little self care I give myself. I gotta work on that! I wish I had more time for yoga personally as it seems relaxing when you can really get in the zone of it. I don’t sadly! }}

   —*

There’s something decidedly humbling about being a whole deity in a yoga class. Eros sits on his designated mat and steadies his breathing out as he listens to the instructor, mentally trying to silence the cacophony of racers regarding love out of his head. It’s a feat that never really works out in the same way that those who can quiet their thoughts enough to engage in yoga do, but he does his best. He sort of envies other gods whose powers don’t operate the same ways as his for what he thinks is a slightly less troublesome time with the prayers of others. Perhaps they don’t hear them the same way.

   He inhales.

   The instructor says something else and he rounds his back to lean forward on the exhale. Perhaps…Eros thinks suddenly, they might hear the prayers louder or with greater frequency than he does. He takes hold of his ankle and breathes again as his mind worries over the thought of it. Perhaps they, like him, are always trying to find a bit of respite from it. A thought to encourage them to yoga passes through his mind and he exhales reaching for his other ankle.

   “Soften the neck, soften the jaw,” the instructor says as they pass between other quiet participants. Eros tries to deepen his calm and finds that more thoughts come. Yoga with a mind that is constantly thinking about things is exceptionally hard! Resigning himself slightly that this might just be how he relaxes - by calmly sorting things out in his mind - he follows the others as they sit up once again.

   Following the pace of the class Eros keeps trying to find the grounding energy he needs as his thoughts start to pass a little more slowly. It’s toward the end of the class when they’re laying in savasana that his mind finally gives him that feeling that he was seeking. It’s quick and when it hits all it makes him realize is that while his mind may always be busy, he finds that maybe that’s just as well. When he’s thinking he’s finding little pockets of happiness in his thoughts at least. 

[mperosx]

—*

   Eros watches the younger man look nearly anguished at the reply he receives. Mortals always look that way in the face of happiness and Eros, knowing too much, cannot interfere enough to tell them to snap out of it. He listens with the patience his calling allots him as his charge laments about Death and it’s pull and doesn’t chide the heat behind the questions. It’s a valid thing to wonder on and Eros himself had seen the many faces of Death and those that ushered souls to their ends and been curious about how they orchestrated it all too. Still though, the questions are not his to answer.

   So with all the understanding he has, he doesn’t answer those questions. He lets them fill the air between them and then lets them die where they may. It’s only when his charge turns things back into the realm of what he can do that Eros seems like he might speak again. A long and pregnant pause is the only thing that comes though.

  And when it seems like it might stretch on and that the god has ruled this conversation too much for the other, Eros does react then. The god reaches out with one hand and places it on Ben’s shoulder nearest him. The touch is nothing more than that for a few seconds before it warms the skin under his shirt and magic flows freely between them.

   Flashes. Brilliant and bright flashes of Ezra’s face, of Ezra laughing, of Ezra looking with tenderness at Ben flood from the god and into the mind of the demigod. heavenly scents of memories are there too, dancing just out of reach and spinning themselves into the images that flash before the eyes of his young charge. 

  Then- just as fast as they came, they vanish. It is just Ben that flashes in darkened ghosts of what could be. And he is alone, defeated. His eyes carry a sadness as they see Ezra again but at a distance that beautiful smile and tender look turned elsewhere. The god pulls his hand away then and the flashes stop.

  The buzz of the magic fades and he sits quietly for a bit letting the other recalibrate before he speaks.

   “I can see a plethora of ways that this can go. That is the one in which you don’t try.” There’s a sadness in Eros’ words before he brings his hands into his lap. “Being afraid is part of being in love. We are afraid to take the leap for it, afraid when we fight for it, afraid to lose it- we are afraid of it even. Because it represents what we deserve when someone sees that fear and loves us anyway. You don’t want to waste anyone’s right now, you say, but you waste it when you don’t try to be a part of it when they so freely want you there.”

  His eyes look at Ben then. “When I was created from the dust of Chaos, it was because it was Chaos being afraid of being alone. The leap to love- all kinds of love- is scary, but it’s worth it every single time.”

  Eros exhales audibly,”There is a path for you and it is marvelous. But you must, you absolutely must, step forth onto it. Or I promise you, the bleak outcome you saw will be the only one you have left and you will beg me to ask Death to help you.”

Ben stared at the other, unsure of what to say. Ben wanted to shout and cry like a toddler. It was his fault - it was because they were all around him, that had to be it. He's the common denominator. There was no way that all these people around him had just died 'just because' and no relation to Ben. It was him - he was his father's son. The son of a God of Death.

"I don't want to waste other peoples' "right now" as well. I can't help but feel like I'm the common theme." He scoffed and looked away. It wasn't towards Eros, not intentionally. it was about the Gods and Goddesses. "How does "Death" decide? Who is "Death" And how is it decided that the gods of Death represent it - do they cycle?" Ben had gotten off topic, but that was because he was spiraling and getting frustrated with the nasty thought that some God was playing a cruel game against him.

"I don't want to have to worry - and I want to give someone my all. I just don't know how to let that happen." Ben looked back at Eros. "That's why I've reached out to you. I need -" He stopped and cleared his throat before starting again. "I would like to get advice from you on how to learn to love without being afraid. I want to learn how to be able to love someone - what it means to learn to love. I've pushed so many people away that I don't know what love even...means."

Ben stared at the God, hopeful that he could help, or at least a bit of pointers. He wants to be able to give Ezra the love they deserve and should be getting. Not whatever coldness Ben was exerting towards the gentle demi-god.

[mperosx]

-End.-

—*

   He watches the dam of emotions break and flow from her. Relief, finally some relief is given to the things that she keeps in the silence of her worried heart. She had been for so long carrying these worries that they were like a boulder upon her. He understands and doesn’t pull away when the tears come freely from her eyes and roll down her face. He smiles in fact, as she wipes at them aggressively.

   Sure, using her sleeve is a little gross but it’s something that he has witnessed time and time again with his charges and even done himself when he is in the the throws of his moments. Eros chuckles a bit at her words about snorting on him. “It’s more than okay love, I’d be more concerned if you kept not letting yourself ..”snot” as you put it.”

   Their hands separate when she reaches for her phone and ever the gentleman, Eros doesn’t protest in the slightest when she finds the contact that she needs. He doesn't protest when she stands to go either. He only hands her a silk hanky from his pocket and nods, “Go friend. All you have is right now- make it worth it.”

  He’ll handle the table they shared once she goes.

[mperosx]

—*

    He can see the exact moment that his wife realizes the chase is on and only smirks when their eyes connect across the crowd before their game starts. There are delights all around them and sure they did and will continue to indulge in those for the night— right after they indulge in the adventure of each other. He remains still as she begins to move, as promised giving her the head start he mentioned.

   She weaves through the crowd with grace and ease, not alerting anyone as she passes them by. It’s only when she is free of the majority of the crowd that she starts to hasten her movements and Eros’ smile turns to a more mischievous angle. He moves now just as she had through the crowd in the same path she took until he’s free of it too. 

   Then, and only then, does the real chase begin. They fly through the park, down along the road and into the night! Ama is a fair way ahead of him but Eros keeps his pace behind her, light on his feet as his laughter mingles with hers. Theirs is a space that only gods can reach as they race closer to the forest. 

  “Darling,” he throws his voice so that it bounces off everything it can, “I’m gaining on you~. Are you letting me win or just being coy?”

Late Night Circus || AmaEros

{{ Your fresh starter love. This one’s for the streets @amaterasuxmp

—*

They’d had their time to meet and mingle with friends.

    They’d had their time to frolic and fawn through the performances, dark delights and tasty treats.

And he could let her run wild for a little longer

        But Eros’ got a game to play and the main player is his wife. 

   It doesn’t take long for him to spot her among the crowd of onlookers of one of the human sideshow performances. There in the crowd he can see her long dark hair standing out with a pretty golden clip that he fastened there before they left. The diamonds on it catch the glow of late night lighting and draw his gaze to her. She’s so pretty— and so unaware that it’s time to start a carnival of different delights.

   Smoothly Eros blends himself into the crowd as well but stays on the outskirts of it still. Just enough to see her reaction as he pulls out his phone to type up a text to her. It’s short and quick but she’ll know the chase is on for the night.

[Txt: to Sunny D]:   I’ll give you a head start babe xo 

[mperosx]

—*

   He watches the dam of emotions break and flow from her. Relief, finally some relief is given to the things that she keeps in the silence of her worried heart. She had been for so long carrying these worries that they were like a boulder upon her. He understands and doesn’t pull away when the tears come freely from her eyes and roll down her face. He smiles in fact, as she wipes at them aggressively.

   Sure, using her sleeve is a little gross but it’s something that he has witnessed time and time again with his charges and even done himself when he is in the the throws of his moments. Eros chuckles a bit at her words about snorting on him. “It’s more than okay love, I’d be more concerned if you kept not letting yourself ..”snot” as you put it.”

   Their hands separate when she reaches for her phone and ever the gentleman, Eros doesn’t protest in the slightest when she finds the contact that she needs. He doesn't protest when she stands to go either. He only hands her a silk hanky from his pocket and nods, ��Go friend. All you have is right now- make it worth it.”

  He’ll handle the table they shared once she goes.

Eros had a way of making Ahri feel at ease than nervous and she couldn't help but slowly start to relax. He seemed genuinely interested to hear her, despite her basically stalking him from bushes. So she leaned back on her seat and tried not to look like she was just about to burst into relieved tears.

When he congratulates her on her new relationship, Ahri blushed, her cheeks turning quite red and for a moment she remembered how Ayden first gently reminded her that he had asked for her to be his girlfriend and she had been oblivious.

"Oh, I guess I didn't think of it that way..." Her shyness turning into thoughtfulness. "He did choose me..." Her eyes drifted to her hands on her lap, warmth blooming in her heart.

"I..." She hesitated, her green eyes rising to meet the god's, only to drift back down unto her hands. "Not a lot of people choose me, I suppose." She looked up as the words spilled from her lips. "That's not a pity party again, just fact."

She sighed again. "And yes, I'm..." She bit her lip and her green eyes showed vulnerability. "I am quite scared of "diving in"...but Ayden...he is worth it. I'm just worried he'll look up one day and he'll regret asking his boss out on that date."

[mperosx]

Thread Log || Eros 03/24/2024

A collective of threads on this muse. For clarity on why things were dropped or listed in any particular way, please DM the typist! Recall, dropped threads are not personal.

From Hell with Love (My Turn):

*None. Muse is up to date.

Awaiting (Your Turn): * Super Shy - @mpahri * Baby Don’t Hurt Me - @benji-mp * Hellish Pursuits (of Happiness) - @mparwyn * Late Night Circus - @amaterasuxmp * Closer to Love - @mpxalexander

Available Open Starters: * Add Oil ; Dining Hall starter for mayhem for anyone * Oh My Gods ; Heavenly Reprieve starter for deities ONLY

Dropped (due to muse departure, time out on either side, etc.): - Not Gucci (Alexios) - LOVE TALK (Elias) - My Idiot Friend (Kaz) Completed: + Soothing (Us) - Ama

Pending Ideas:

~ open to new things!

If you have questions or need clarification on any above threads please message me! This muse is available to take on more threads!

[mperosx]

let’s see if this extra cup of coffee makes me good or evil

[mperosx]

—*

    The god settles himself more into the couch as he listens to everything that comes from Ben. The unsureness and the worry lives in every word- even the ones that are made lighter by the good memories that paint themselves across each one. He can hear the want to be open and ready to receive so much love, but he can also hear the fear.

   For the reason made obvious when Ben tells him that all his loved ones pass. Death, Eros knows, had always been a fair thing. It didn’t make sense to mortals when it struck down those they cared for or swept through and took the young among them, but it was always a fair thing.Even the god had watched it take away people he loved and had to hold his sorrows to himself. Even when all one has is sorrows wrapped in them are memories.

  It’s not until Ben has stopped speaking and Eros has had a little moment to take it in before he speaks. The topic is a grim one and it makes the demigod awkward but he understands that.

   “Death often takes away beautiful things from us,” he starts. “It takes away more beautiful people too. But maybe it’s because it does that so often that feelings like love and friendship and family exist. We’re given the time we have with people for a reason and even if later on it hurts and we lose them either to Death or to growing apart or even being ripped apart by them or ourselves— the time we do have with others is a sacred thing.”

   Eros adds softer, “If you spend all the time you have with someone worrying about losing them, are you really with them? Or are you with the idea you have of them?”

  He looks at Ben now and it’s in his eyes that he speaks from personal experience in this moment. He too, had loved someone and lost them. He too, had spent the time he had with someone worrying too much about the end of things and missed all the moments where he had everything with them. And maybe it’s because he’s had this pain at least once and watched it a thousand on thousand more times with his own charges that he says what he does next.

    “Please, all you have is right now. Don’t waste it.”

   He had always said it was best to love fully when one could, because he had never promised there would be time later.

TW: mention of deceased family (immediate and secondary )

Ben looked more confused as the other seemed to be over joyed at the things the kid just spoke. Nana jumped up on the couch as he sat down, he put the popcorn down and began petting her. "I don't know....the first time I think...we - we were in the states...New Orleans...." He stopped for a second to look at the god. "They ran into me and spilled their hot coffee on me." He looked down at his pants, almost getting transported back. A smile grew on his face as he was thinking about it before his face dropped. He zoned back in as the God started to speak.

"Everyone I've ever loved has died." Ben wasn't sure how to beat around the bush about the topic. "Sorry...uh. yeah." He opened the drink before sipping it. Nana had jumped up to sniff the flavour of this can. Kissing her forehead, he shooed her away. "Anything and everything. I don't know if it's just bad luck...or maybe my father has something to do with it." He frowned as he pet Nala.

"I understand, everything has a cycle...but it just ends too soon." Ben looked at Eros, assuming he also knew that feeling - as he was a God. But the God had been alive for more than a life time - or five.

"I don't want to loose them."

[mperosx]

Oh My Gods || Open Starter

{{ Open starter for any deity in the Divine Reprieve tent for gods! This takes place before the events of Add Oil later in the evening. }}

—*

    At last!

    This is the part of the whole circus that Eros was looking forward to the most. He had heard that there would be a tent strictly dedicated to godly beings with all the finery and offerings that they are used to and he practically melted in his office chair. 

   To be clear- he loves all his charges and all his friends who were demigods. Absolutely loves them! Would kill for them (well…figuratively for the most part)! But there are definitely times when he is close to ripping either his or their hair right out. While he has a bit of self care time this evening before he meets up again with his wife once more Eros wants to take complete advantage of this.

   Guided to one of the heated pools Eros lets out a sigh of bliss as he breathes deeply of the scented waters. He’s ready for a long soak in a warm bath! Taking a moment to just sit and clear his head, Eros is only slightly startled when someone reaches out and touches lightly at his shoulder to gather his attention.

  “Hm?” He hums in curiosity before he turns his gaze to them. “Yes?”

[mperosx]

Add Oil || Open Circus Starter

{{ For any muse visiting the Dining Hall during the Fates of Fancy Circus event! Eros is being a bit of a prankster in this one!This thread is meant to be a shorter interaction that happens over the course of brief bit in the dining hall, but can be used to kick start something else. First come, first serve(d). }}

—*

  That was good.

      But now he needs something with a little…mmm, zest to it. Eros’ eyes scan the grounds around him and fall with a growing mirth on the Dining Hall. It’s the second day of the circus sweeping through the city and tonight he and his wife are sans the children. Ama, his beloved, had gone off to mingle with her friends and Eros had made time for his own early in the evening with the promise to reconnect with his wife later on again. For now, the god was left to run amuck.

     A dangerous thing to do to let a love god with too much sudden time on his hands to do, in all honesty but he had been on his relatively best behavior as of late.

   A mischievous grin takes up residence on the god’s lips as the scents of foods seduce him closer to the hall. He recalls that there were many foods from all the pantheons within and intrigued to continue his side quest of food trying— he makes a sudden and determined beeline that way. 

  Stepping inside his senses are met with the most decadent of aromas; spices that buzz along the brain, sweets that make one’s mouth water, and arrangements of treats that the god has yet to learn about their flavors of! There’s so much to discover! He walks along the outer edge of the tables eyeing foods and friends and briefly recalls the delight of a few years back when a certain wine god spiking the drinks with his help was a thing. Eros eyes the drink dispensers….

    ….Don’t do it.

    His cheeks go warm. Don’t do it. You know it’s chaos if you do.

    Eros’ smile is almost infectious as it brightens his whole face, the soft amused glow his pink hair sports when he’s happy returning. He could make mischief another way— one less troublesome than making everyone have an acute case of innocent infatuations. He could give them a strange and amusing case of giggling sickness; that little shot of a crush during which the mere idea of them makes someone giggle.

   He teases his lower lips with his teeth in thought and takes one gingerly step toward the beverage area before a voice stops him.

    “Don’t do it Eros.”

    The god turns then and looks wide eyed at—

[mperosx]

Late Night Circus || AmaEros

{{ Your fresh starter love. This one’s for the streets @amaterasuxmp

—*

They’d had their time to meet and mingle with friends.

    They’d had their time to frolic and fawn through the performances, dark delights and tasty treats.

And he could let her run wild for a little longer

        But Eros’ got a game to play and the main player is his wife. 

   It doesn’t take long for him to spot her among the crowd of onlookers of one of the human sideshow performances. There in the crowd he can see her long dark hair standing out with a pretty golden clip that he fastened there before they left. The diamonds on it catch the glow of late night lighting and draw his gaze to her. She’s so pretty— and so unaware that it’s time to start a carnival of different delights.

   Smoothly Eros blends himself into the crowd as well but stays on the outskirts of it still. Just enough to see her reaction as he pulls out his phone to type up a text to her. It’s short and quick but she’ll know the chase is on for the night.

[Txt: to Sunny D]:   I’ll give you a head start babe xo 

[mperosx]

—*

    Between their hands a magic grows. At first it’s fragile and only held together by the tendrils that the god gave it, but then as Arwyn pulls his focus better, the little swirling cloud changes. It waivers, seems to beat for a second of time and then from its core starts its change. Warmth like summer sun blossoms in the center of the pink mass, its color soft and golden. It beats once… twice then finds a music all its own. 

    It takes a breath right along with it’s creators. That magic works in tandem with Arwyn now, the golden threads stretching up toward his chest and drawing that beautiful soul essence that makes up the serenity of his feelings. They flow from his memories down into that soul weaving itself into the magic between their hovering hands.

     Is it him? Or no? Eros asks the magic even as he watches the peace settle over the demigod's face at the mere notion of his lover. Is it his heart that can carry the weight of this kind of love; the acceptance of differences and pursuit of understanding regardless? Can he carry her love too?

   The mass gathers more, pink and golden clarity forming something solid finally. Eros moves his hands to be under the gift and ready to cradle this tenderness. When Arwyn speaks again their efforts are ready.

    “Yeah, you can open your eyes,” his voice is soft. There in the security of his hands is a heavy rose gold heart shaped pendant affixed to a simple black velvet ribbon. It pulses softly like a whisper as the god marvels at it. For a moment while the god waits for Arwyn to open his eyes he knows that this small gift will change a great deal when the time comes but for now, it will be the safe spot for what they make to grow.

   Eros smiles at Arwyn. “You’re young but you hold so much space for pure love. You’re the reason that poems still are made about this kind of feeling. Give this to her, she’ll be able to feel just how much you care through it.”

Hellish Pursuits (of Happiness) || Arwyn&Eros

To give a title~ Continued from here with @mparwyn

—*

  Eros’ eyes take in the grand display that the other had made; it was massive in size and the message was unmistakably clear. Affection, real and true, was seeped into the work and that in itself was admirable beyond words. The god smiles as his heart does a little flip at the effort made by the demigod.

   “Simple…hm,” he hums softly. Then his magic stirs and his hair begins to glow in that telltale way that it does when the god is genuinely pleased. “I don’t think simple is *always* the best method really. I think it applies greatly to some people, but for others- it ..well, simply lacks!”

   The god brings his hands up and holds them out a little in front of himself. Gentle magic livens the air between them, making a small palm sized ball of pink stardust form there. “I think, you should give her this and also,” he nods to his hands, “hold out your hands under mine. Then think- quietly!- of all the things that make you like her. Drum up all those feelings for me and shut your eyes as you think.”

[mperosx]

—*

   He hears her.

    And that’s the part that hurts. He can hear the joy that wants to bloom in full at the excitement of being with someone. He can hear the anticipation of opening up all ove again— and he can hear the fear.

    He can hear the way that there’s uncertainty because what if she opens up and the secrets she shares are cherished and protected? What if she opens up and the little joys she shows are later the little things used to belittle her happiness? 

      What if she opens up again….

             … and there’s really no one there?

   The smile that he wears is a sad little thing that doesn’t reach his eyes. It never does when he’s watching someone strangle their own opportunities. She can love him, he could love her. But she’s got to love herself enough to have her fears and still want to keep trying. 

     This is the way to love someone when they can’t do it all the way themselves:

   Eros reaches across the table with one hand, palm side up and offers his friendship. No judgements, no reservations, no conditions.

    “Sometimes, people will choose you and then they will choose themselves. And sometimes that choice means that they leave you behind with all the choices you made to give them space inside your heart.” And that’s the scary part of trying again. But Eros does smile now and it reaches his heart instead, “But when we choose to try again, we choose ourselves too. To see the lessons that those that left taught us about ourselves and our needs. We choose to see that we hurt once without them but we made space and in that empty house inside ourselves, we can choose to find peace. And if we’re brave enough…”

   He lifts his smile to her line of sight, “…People who choose us as we’re healing are the ones that make that house a home again. He’s worth trusting love, because it’s worth it to choose to trust yourself.”

      I’ll be right here always to guide you, he thinks in the garden of his heart. Flowers bloom there, even in the coldest months and some are just for her journey.

Eros had a way of making Ahri feel at ease than nervous and she couldn't help but slowly start to relax. He seemed genuinely interested to hear her, despite her basically stalking him from bushes. So she leaned back on her seat and tried not to look like she was just about to burst into relieved tears.

When he congratulates her on her new relationship, Ahri blushed, her cheeks turning quite red and for a moment she remembered how Ayden first gently reminded her that he had asked for her to be his girlfriend and she had been oblivious.

"Oh, I guess I didn't think of it that way..." Her shyness turning into thoughtfulness. "He did choose me..." Her eyes drifted to her hands on her lap, warmth blooming in her heart.

"I..." She hesitated, her green eyes rising to meet the god's, only to drift back down unto her hands. "Not a lot of people choose me, I suppose." She looked up as the words spilled from her lips. "That's not a pity party again, just fact."

She sighed again. "And yes, I'm..." She bit her lip and her green eyes showed vulnerability. "I am quite scared of "diving in"...but Ayden...he is worth it. I'm just worried he'll look up one day and he'll regret asking his boss out on that date."

[mperosx]

—*

     He’ll never really stop being impressed by the level of her love. It’s the sure thing in his universe- the love of his family. In his wife he’s found a tranquility like no other because she’s taught him how to love in ways that he didn’t even know he could. He’s broken pieces of himself off happily his whole life- since before the world breathed itself to life and the Goddess of All crafted the first wakefulness- and not thought about how they might be given back.

    And certainly not how they might be returned better than he had given them out. From the love that he had willingly given her, she had returned it a million fold with her compassion. In her infinite tenderness she had not only loved all the parts of him that were present but loved all the shattered and missing parts too. She had never once asked him to change— but made him change for the better.

  So when she stands to get him to join her and the perfect little family they’ve formed, he easily slides his hand in hers. He’ll traverse a cosmos to bring her whatever she asked, he’d wake up early to make her coffee in the morning. He’d watch the same movie they’ve seen a zillion times with her and the kids, and he’d smile even as she’d get frustrated when he forgets to do something and fusses at him.

    Because it’s her. All because it’s her. And their love is the surest thing.

-End.-

As Amaterasu nestled into Eros's arms, enveloped in the warmth of their shared embrace, she couldn't help but revel in the tranquility of the moment. With her head resting against his chest, she listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, a comforting melody that lulled her into a state of blissful contentment.

Feeling her husband's arms wrap around her, Amaterasu sighed softly, savoring the feeling of being held so close to the one she loved. It was moments like these that reminded her of the beauty and simplicity of their bond, a love that transcended time and space.

As she gazed into Eros's eyes, she found herself lost in the depths of his gaze, each flicker of emotion reflected back at her like stars in the night sky. His words washed over her like a gentle breeze, filling her heart with warmth and gratitude.

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the room, drawing their attention towards the doorway.

Evander's head popped up into the room, his expression filled with excitement in his youthful face. He asked if they could come outside soon. Cordelia's voice piped up from outside as well, inviting their parents outside as well.

Amaterasu exchanged a knowing glance with Eros, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. With a gentle nod, she rose from his lap, offering him a hand as she turned towards their children.

"Well then, let's not keep them waiting," she said, her voice filled with excitement. Leaning close, she breathes his scent in once more, centering herself and reveling in their little family. "They are excited to show you their surprise. So am I, quite frankly." Pulling away, her face filled with love and warmth for him.

"Happy feast day, my love."