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]

Which is all the prompting Epimetheus needs to launch into a story of a crystal mountain in the deserts near Persia, so clear that it can't be seen, and the foolhardy explorer he'd traveled with to try and find it, and how when they finally did -- battling through sandstorms and the occasional hungry lion who left them well alone, eventually -- it was by the traveler, who walked straight into and knocked himself cold.

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

It's Stheno who laughs at that, although the other two giggle.

"Idiot," but her shoulders are shaking with amusement.

[2020sight]

"You wouldn't believe. And then there was the time he -- no, I shouldn't tell that one around Euryale."

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"Hey!" Euryale looks at him, wide-eyed and pleading.

"C'mon, Epimetheus...."

[2020sight]

"Stheno will disembowel me for corrupting you," he says, winking at her.

(If there's a flicker of something else across his face -- well, there is. It is what it is.)

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"How about if I give my permission?" Stheno asks, grinning at Euryale.

[2020sight]

"To corrupt her?"

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"Stories are okay. Sex, and I'll castrate you."

[mycursedface]

It is about then that Medusa starts coughing.

[2020sight]

Epimetheus pushes a cup of water towards Medusa and shoots a glance at Stheno.

"That's not comforting, Stheno."

[mycursedface]

Water?

Is accepted.

Blush?

Is visible even in the lamplight.

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"And why am I not allowed sex?"

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"Because you are young and innocent and need to eat your vegatables."

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

Euryale says something in their triplets' own languge, short and insulting.

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

Stheno?

Smirks at her.

And then looks back at Epimetheus.

"Reassuring is for other people."

[2020sight]

"Clearly," he replies slowly. "Well, as long as stories are all right . . ."

The following story is long, complicated, involves several yards of rope, identical tents, a mirror, a burqa, and a goat.

[mycursedface]

And all three of the sisters?

Are bright, bright red.

"You're a wicked man," Medusa informs him.

[2020sight]

"Aw, he had it coming."

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"He did!" Euryale says through her giggles.

[2020sight]

Epimetheus winks at her and Medusa.

"Let that be a warning to you all."

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"Ye-es," Stheno says drily. "Let that be a lesson to us all; do not mess in the affairs of Epimetheus, for he is creative and does interesting things with rope."

[2020sight]

Aw, a wink for Stheno, too.

"Only if I have to."

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"So, not of your own inclination?" She asks, proping her chin up with her hand.

[mycursedface]

Stheno?

Is kicked under the table.

[2020sight]

Epimetheus grins -- almost the first time since arriving here -- and says nothing.