dovelike | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

The Athens Gate Hotel is one of the city's shining jewels in the hotel industry. Tonight it has been taken over by several hundred dignitaries in preparation for the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games on the morrow. And by 'taken over' the narration means it; both the ground floor reception room and the rooftop garden have been invaded by A-list guests, including movie stars, ambassadors and several deities.

The guest of honor is one Thallo Eirene, whose status wasn't something she was aware of until arriving at the hotel, and someone tried to whisk her away for a photoshoot with some of the other celebrities.

(It was a very reluctant photoshoot on her part.)

Now, she's ensconced in the garden with her date, mentally counting down the time they still have to suffer through before she can make a graceful exit and run away from all the media attention. The dress she's wearing isn't exactly helping with her attempts to be a wallflower.

"Your Holiness." Eirene glances up at the latest intruder, and smiles pleasantly. "Your Holiness. Thank you for coming, sir. I know that your followers are pleased to see you out and about."

That's right. She's talking to the Pope.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Clark feels incredibly out of place. But this is important to Eirene - even if she doesn't really want to be here any more than he does - so he'll smile and shake hands with people when introduced, and more often than not simply stand at Eirene's side quietly.

Especially now.

Eirene is only not making excuses and running because Clark is next to her, and not every dignitary apparently wants to brave the big guy standing with the goddess. Well, and the fact that the Roman Catholic Pope is smiling down at her with the sort of expression mortals usually reserve for their arch nemesis.

"Thank you for coming, Your Holiness. Have you met Mister Trump? Donald, this is His Holiness. Weren't you mentioning just last month that you wanted to contribute to his Non-Aggression fund for Africa."

She remembers to breath once the two men drift off, a hand sneaking over to find Clark's. "I'm sorry. This isn't ... yeah, I owe you big time for this."

"It's a long way from rural Kansas, that's for sure." He raises their hands to his mouth so he can place a gentle kiss on the back of her wrist. "I think it would be worse if I actually knew who most of these people were."

"Ignorance is bliss." Eirene wrinkles her nose, sidling that much closer to her boyfriend, and casts a gaze around the rooftop at all the guests broken up into little groups. Like a gang of gossipy chickens. Or, rather, gangs.

"Do you want to head down to the reception and see what they've got to eat?"

"Occasionally." Clark is likewise reminded of highschool, and all the little cliques people would gravitate into as the years went on.

"Sure. Food sounds like a good plan."

"Groovy. Lets go feed my man, then." And totally not use it as an excuse to get Clark alone in the elevator once they're out of the garden and inside the building.

Likewise, any kiss received might be a figment of someone's imagination. Or it might not.

Sneaky goddess is sneaky!

Clark isn't about to complain, of course, and that figmentary kiss is returned, although quickly enough that when the elevator doors open at their destination, they won't be caught unawares.

She is, isn't she. And, judging by the smug expression when they sweep out onto the ground floor, rather proud of it. A slim arm winds its way around Clark's sturdier one as they enter into one of the two rooms set aside for this private gala, and Eirene sneaks into place at the back of the food line seconds before she's set on again.

"Eirene."

She freezes, eyes locked on the tall, dark, and annoyingly handsome man.

"Ares."

Oh, great. Ares. This'll be fun.

Clark tightens his grip on her arm ever so slightly, in support, but he manages to offer a neutral smile at his date's half-brother.

"You look lovely." The war god's smile is just as neutral, mirroring the short woman's expression. There's an awkward span of silence, in which it seems neither sibling knows what to say to the other.

"You should introduce me, Eirene." His voice is soft and still manages to dredge up old memories, something she's never entirely sure is on purpose or not.

"Yes, of course. Clark, this is my brother Ares. Ares, this is my boyfriend, Clark Kent."

"Clark."

"Ares." Clark offers a hand for shaking and it's possible he won't hold back as much if the god takes him up on it.

"I've heard a lot about you."

Ares has little reason not to grasp Clark's hand in a firm handshake; in his experience, if the other man's fingers come away a little bruised, that's a good life lesson.

"Both good and bad, I assume. Eirene, go get me some wine." His voice is casually dismissive, she is only a woman, and Eirene finds herself stepping away to do just that before realization hits.

It is a man's world, here.

"Presumably." Clark won't show any sign of being affected by Ares' handshake.

He also doesn't let go of Eirene's arm, and tugs her gently back beside him. "I think they have people here who are being paid to do that sort of thing for you."

Ares seems faintly annoyed that his sister is not running to do his bidding, but its entirely possible he also assumes, correctly, the cause for her disobedience is the man beside her.

"The old ways, Clark, are adhered to by my father's wishes." He shows no sign of surprise that the handshake did not go as usual, but this god controls himself better than his sons.

"Are-- are you enjoying yourself this evening, Ares?" She's not going to acknowledge the tremor in her voice. At all.

His hand slides down Eirene's arm to entwine her fingers with his own. "Occasionally, it's helpful to catch up with the times." Said as genially as possible.

She's grateful for the support, though saying that outloud would only make her appear even weaker in her brother's eyes.

Ares making a 'hmmm' sort of noise, glancing between the tiny blonde and the large not-god consideringly. "I would like to talk to you later, Eirene. Alone. Clark, please enjoy all our country has to offer."

Eirene manages a nod, her voice quieter than usual. "Have a good evening, brother." She remains motionless until he bows his head and wanders off to mingle with other VIPs.

Clark also offers a nod and once Ares is out of ~~normal people's~~ sight, he turns Eirene to face him.

"You okay?"

"No." She's also misplaced her appetite somewhere. "Just give me a few minutes. I'm sorry." Once the terror and the queasy feeling go away, Eirene will be more herself.

"Come on." Clark leades her out through a few hallways until he finds an unoccupied and relative out of the way corner. And then he pulls her into a warm hug.

"You did good."

"I came very close to passing out," she mutters against his chest, eyes closed almost as tightly as the grip around his waist. The nausea hasn't quite subsided yet, so Eirene intends on remaining as still as possible until it does.

"No one died, so I think I can qualify that a rousing success," the goddess remarks several minutes later.

"But you didn't. You stood your ground." He says this soothingly, rubbing gentle circles along her back.

"Do you want to go home?"

She thinks about it probably longer than she should, taking into account all the people there to see her, and the other deities; balancing that with the certain knowledge that, although it's childish and serves no purpose, Ares will take away her enjoyment of the evening, and make her worry incessantly.

"I think that would be the prudent choice."

"Okay." He kisses the top of her head and lets her cling for a few more minutes before drawing back a little. "How about we make one more round inside to say any important goodbyes, and then we hit the road?"

That ... would soothe any feathers ruffled at her leaving, and still allow her to make good an actual escape. And, incidently, not have to deal with Ares on her own when she's already nervous.

"Ground floor, at least. I spent enough time on the roof that they shouldn't complain overly much."

He nods. "Lead the way, when you're ready."