Zili, 350 AD

[mycursedface]

Mauretania Tingitana was what the province was called. Is called. Definitions are hard when the legions are left, and people still live under Roman names. And Phoenician, and, yes, still Amazigh names, and, really, Zili is just another trading town on the outskirts of an empire that mostly forgets about it.

It's a quiet town, a little run down, maybe, but the farms sprawling out over the countryside are still prosperous. It is also a town that remains mostly unaware of Hera's Garden to the north, and the Gorgons' cave in the south.

All six sisters have worked hard at that, magic and protection and twisting of reality until unless someone knows exactly how to get there, finding either sets of triplets is pretty much impossible.

Especially when the sun will set soon.

(Luckily for Epimetheus, the Gorgon girls are out and flying)

Comments

[2020sight]

"Come on, Stheno, what did I ever do to you?"

He kisses Euryale on the cheek, disentangling himself, and sets her down -- and there's Medusa, crouching a little ways away, and she looks--

Well. The startlement on his face is unfeigned.

[mycursedface]

While her sisters just watch, Medusa stands up and tucks a braid behind an ear.

Lightly,

"Well, you did sorta vanish, Epimetheus."

[2020sight]

". . . I guess I did."

Glancing down, he rubs a hand across his cheek, leaving a clean streak in the dust.

"It wasn't about you three."

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, we, uh." Stheno steps forward and hugs him. Tightly.

And then pokes him.

"You still stink."

[mycursedface]

"You are so sympathetic."

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"Family should always be honest, Meda."

[mycursedface]

Medusa stares at her sisters, helplessly.

[2020sight]

Epimetheus hugs Stheno back, carefully.

"I know I do," he murmurs. "Forgive me?"

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"Well," she considers, "we do have a bath, I guess."

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"It's a good bath! A proper bath-house! And then-"

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"-we can feed you."

[mycursedface]

"If you wanted to stay for a bit."

[2020sight]

He opens his mouth, and then smiles.

"I'd like that very much."

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"Well, now that that is settled..."

Stheno grabs one arm and starts to steer him.

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

Grabbing his other arm (in case he was going to make his escape), Euryale adds,

"There is payment, though."

[2020sight]

(Yes. That was totally his plan. Well foiled, Euryale.)

He looks between them warily. "Oh?"

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"Stories!"

[mycursedface]

Medusa is, for the record, not giggling as she brings up the rear. Nope. Not at all.

[2020sight]

A slow smile spreads across his face.

"I can handle that, I think."

Bath first, though. Definitely bath first.

[mycursedface]

Definitely bath first.

By the time the three have escourted their cousin to their front gate (it wasn't there before, but humans mean adapting), the sun is nothing more than splashes of red against the clouds.

Not that the growing dark bothers the gorgons at all. Their pupils vertical slits, they can see as well as cats and in any case, tend towards being nocturnal. Beyond the gate, which Medusa opens, is an open area as would grace any farm. Chickens in their house, a couple of goats stoped from their quest to eat the vegatables by a cunning wall.

There are also three dogs who come tearing over to start their welcome-home dance.

[2020sight]

Epimetheus perks up as the dogs come bounding out, and squats to greet them by name and be tackled.

. . . It's not unlike greeting the triplets, really, but he'd never tell them he thought so.

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"You," Stheno tells the dogs, "are supposed to be fierce guards."

The dogs ignore her in favor of being deliriously happy.

[2020sight]

"I'm sure they're very fierce. Aren't you?"

YES YES YES YES!

Not quite laughing, he stand up, brushing off his clothes. "How long have you had them?"

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"These boys? About three years. In general? A few centuries."

[2020sight]

"They're beautiful."

(There's maybe a hint of personal pride there.)

"In any case -- bath?"

Now that he's all doggy, as well.