OOM: The Raid

[dovelike]

There is a forest outside Eirene's door, one that stretches up the side of a mountain. The trees aren't anything like Midwestern America - most of them are smaller and bear fruit. Some even bear olives. She finishes moving forward to give Clark enough room to escape the small hut they are exiting from.

"Up there, behind the clouds, is my home." She points at the distance top of the mountain, currently shrouded in low-lying nimbus clouds.

Comments

[eirenikos]

"It's a fabric, made up of lots of life threads, and each one is important." Her voice is quiet. Maybe even awed. "Makes me feel less alone."

[hero_farmboy]

There's a slight nod. "I guess I can see how it can be viewed that way."

[eirenikos]

Eirene glances up at him, getting the vague impression Clark is viewing this not quite as she hoped he would. Alright, her mistake. She'll fix it. Somehow.

Softly: "We should probably head back."

[hero_farmboy]

"We just got here," he points out. "And you haven't been back in however long, so I don't mind if we stay for a while."

[eirenikos]

"Yes, I know. But you look somewhat uncomfortable, and I don't want to .." There is a right word or phrase here, she knows it! "Make you ..uh... well, I don't want you to be uncomfortable here, and if you are, then I can return someday.."

Oh, yeah. That was real smooth.

[hero_farmboy]

"I'm fine." Again, it's automatic, to the point that Clark allows a tiny, brief smile because it's not true, and they both know it.

"I mean, I'll be okay if you want to stay. It's your home. You should spend some time," he shrugs. "If you want."

[eirenikos]

"Was my home. Mom's house is my home now, at least until I find one of my own." She'll just stand there and watch the horizon for a few minutes, then look at Clark again.

"Just ghosts here and not much else."

[hero_farmboy]

"Fine. It's where you're from."

Then he nods. "Do you think any of the others ever come back?"

[eirenikos]

"I don't know. Maybe? Could be too painful for them. Not that I ever know what most of them think."

Eirene moves closer to the edge of the courtyard and settles along one of the low walls to gaze down on the empty city.

[hero_farmboy]

He's silent for a few minutes, and then "Is it for you? Seeing it like this?"

[eirenikos]

She answers quietly after almost a minute.

"In some ways, yes. Too silent, there aren't any revels going on below, or people laughing in the streets. I wasn't ever fully comfortable here, though. I'm something of an anomoly."

Well, every family has to have one.

[hero_farmboy]

"I'm sorry." He doesn't know why he asked and is just grateful she doesn't appear to be overly upset about it.

"We can go now, if you want."

[eirenikos]

"Don't apologize for something that isn't your fault." But her smile is wry, because she's come to the conclusion he apologizes for everything under the sun.

It's a familiar trait.

"So what will put a smile on your face, Clark?"

[hero_farmboy]

"Well, it was for just in case I made you feel worse." See? He's not apologizing for things that aren't his fault. It's for things he may not have even done yet!

"I think just being with you is reason enough to smile."

[eirenikos]

Eirene can't help it. She giggles, turning away from the celestial view to regard the young man still standing there, and readjusts her limbs in order to stand on top of the wall - it's easier to look into his eyes that way.

"Come here, flatterer."

[hero_farmboy]

The laughter elicits a smile. It seems just her is enough.

Clark does walk over to where she is, though. Never let it be said he can't do what he's told. Occasionally.

"You called?"

[eirenikos]

"I did." Eirene will not be able to wipe the smile off of her face for some time, so simply lifts her arms to rest them lightly against his shoulders.

"Thank you, Clark. For being brave enough to come here with me."

A'course, he might also get an eskimo kiss, too.

[hero_farmboy]

"Thank you for asking me. It means a lot."

Clark's arms slip around her waist and that eskimo kiss, well, becomes just a kiss in short order.

[eirenikos]

It's unexpected. Sure, Eirene hopes for something along those lines, but she's come to realize that Clark is reserved when it comes to affection, so each kiss is always a delightful surprise.

Clark always manages to sweep her away; with the knees buckling, and the shortness of breathe, and the heat flowing between them.

[hero_farmboy]

Eirene can get as wobbly as she likes. Clark is steady enough for the both of them and his hold is tight enough that she isn't going to fall anywhere.

There's a nagging voice in the back of his mind that this isn't the best place to be doing this. It might even be religiously offensive - not that he'd know - but he doesn't much seem to care. The taste of her lips does that to him.

[eirenikos]

Eirene always gets wobbly when she's being kissed by Clark. It's a fact of life, like the sun rising in the morning or birds flying south for the winter.

Also? He needs to read up on Olympian courtship practices. Most gods, minus Eirene and the virgin goddesses, took lovers to the mountain on occasion ... except for the whole bit about Clark not being a lover, it's rather par for the course.

Not that she's thinking of any of that. No, Eirene is concentrating on making Clark as scatter-brained as she is.

[hero_farmboy]

Were Clark better versed in any Olympian courtship practices, there's a good chance none of this would be happening. So Eirene may want to consider ignorance bliss in this case.

After another good few minutes, he breaks the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. "Now that's something I won't apologize for."

[eirenikos]

Ah... that's a fair point. This narration concedes it.

Eirene grins when she can see straight again. And think coherently. "Good. I'd be horribly upset if you did."

[hero_farmboy]

"Well, it was pretty presumptuous on my part."

Okay, so it's almost an apology, but he's still technically in the clear.

"You just seem to bring out that side of me. Sometimes."

[eirenikos]

"I do, huh." That smile probably doesn't mean anything good. This is not the giggling goddess you are looking for.

Especially when she says, "Then you'll probably think this is pretty presumptuous of me"

and brushes her lips against his again.