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

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"Meda get Nemesised."

[mycursedface]

Medusa glances down, hand skating up to brush her snakes.

"You...heard, I presume, of my...well. Curse and murder and all of that?"

[2020sight]

"Yes."

A beat; he doesn't look away.

Quietly: "Know that you don't have to explain if you don't want to."

[mycursedface]

"No, I do. I mean, not that, but, after I came back and everything...well, I couldn't...I ran off to Mama's for a bit, and then we went to Egypt. I couldn't stay..." She gestures.

"But, of course, we do have our duty to do and my various things aside, guards can't very well leave, so...Nemesis sent me crazy."

A wry, bitter smile.

"Half surprised I didn't bump into you, actually. Unless I did, and I just don't remember, but then you would be confused, so. Um. You aren't the only one who....vanished."

[2020sight]

"I see."

His voice is tight.

"You're better now, though. You're back."

[mycursedface]

"I'm back. Perfectly...well, as sane as I was." Her smile vanishes, and then flickers back. "Thank Artemis."

[2020sight]

"I will."

He presses his lips together, and takes a moment to clear a few dishes off the table.

As he returns to his stool, he says quietly, "You heard Prometheus was freed?"

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"We did," Stheno says, for once without the acid in her voice.

[2020sight]

He sits, leaning his elbows on the table, head dropped. "I didn't think we could handle seeing each other. It seemed easier to stay out of the way."

Half a shrug. "I didn't think anyone would miss me, either."

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

The youngest Gorgon regards him for a moment, and then walks over to hug him. Arm around his shoulders, cheek against his hair.

[mycursedface]

"I think I can understand that," Medusa says softly. Today is don't touch me stay away, and she can't offer a hand or an embrace. Not today. Not right now.

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"Well, we did miss you. Do. You're..." Stheno stops, rubbing her mouth. "Cousin-by-choice, not just because of blood. "And if people didn't miss you, they can jump off a cliff."

[2020sight]

He puts a hand on Euryale's arm, closing his eyes.

It's . . . it's good to be like this, someplace contained and warm, after the grandeur of Olympus and the wide-open spaces.

It's good to be around family, even if it underscores who he's not with.

[mycursedface]

"So, um. Even if everyone else is...well, I don't know. But you can always come here, eyeh?"

[2020sight]

"Eyeh," he replies, not moving. "I know."

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"Good," Euryale says firmly, equally not moving.

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"Even if we aren't sure about where to put your long-legged arse."

[2020sight]

He laughs, a little hoarsely. "Just shove me in a stable and I'll be happy."

[mycursedface]

"Stable? We have a stable? I think I missed this..."

[themiddlegorgon.livejournal.com]

"I don't think you'd fit in the goat's shed. Or the chickenhouse."

[far-roaming.livejournal.com]

"There's the, um, lassarule mesh?" Euryale suggests, slipping back into the triplets' lanagague fro a moment.

[mycursedface]

"Mind sleeping where we store our piratical treasures?" Medusa asks the Titan.

[2020sight]

"I suppose if it's the only option . . ."

[mycursedface]

"Well, if you want to prove how manly and hardened you are to taking it rough, there is plenty of floor everywhere..."

[2020sight]

He smiles, and slips an arm around Euryale to hug her back, finally.

"Anywhere you put me, I'll be fine."