Gonna have a party...

[bringsthelight]

Apollo stared around his beach-front villa with an air of pleased satisfaction. All was in readiness for his "shindig" this evening. And, thanks to a bit of fast talking and a lot of charming wheedlement, tonight would last for a good long while - which was a blessing in disguise for His Radiance, because Apollo was looking forward to a damned

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[theallseeing]

Helios had to admit his nephew had something good here. He'd found from the moment he was introduced to Apollo's beach house it was easily one of the most relaxing and enjoyable places to be. The only thing missing was a high place for him to perch and watch from above. He was grateful his nephew let him stay here those first few nights, and he enjoyed coming back here frequently from his wanderings to learn more.

Although tonight came as a bit of a surprise. Not that he entirely minded but it was unexpected. Instead of the peaceful abode there was a gathering with noise and distraction. At first he was tempted to leave and find a more peaceful place to spend the night. Then he lingered in his decision-making and found that it wasn't any worse than any of the other bars he frequented to watch the people interact with one another. So eventually he found his way to the bar

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Eros had swiped a glass of champagne from the bar on his way inside and detoured as he saw his uncle sitting unobtrusively in the corner. He'd say hello to the host later, and return his darling Ezmerelda, who was still curled on his shoulder.

"Hello again, Uncle," he said with a smile as he leaned against the bar and sipped his champagne. "Enjoying the entertainment?"

[theallseeing]

Helios' eyes flickered to Eros as the god of love and desire addressed him. He nodded politely. "Unexpected but not entirely unpleasant," his honesty was ever-so blunt as usual. He shifted to peer at Eros more easily. "Admittedly, it is odd seeing so many of the family again just yet."

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"No better way to reacquaint yourself than a beach party," Eros replied easily, taking another sip of champagne. "Still enjoying your sabbatical?"

[theallseeing]

"Yes," he replied while staring at his wine as he swirled it about. "Apollo is quite accommodating; he does not have to let me stay here."

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Apollo was probably hoping to keep Helios around so he couldn't slip away again before he took back the reins of the sun-chariot, but Eros couldn't say that. "I'm sure you're welcome to stay as long as you wish," he answered instead, glancing over at the distant golden head as Apollo laughed at some unheard joke.

[theallseeing]

Helios followed Eros' gaze and watched a moment before returning his stare back to the love god. He was silent for a moment.

"This get-together must be right up your...alley? Is that the term they use? ...I assume you find it enjoyable. Yes?"

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Eros laughed, but good-naturedly, having heard from Apollo that Helios wasn't necessarily up to speed on human figures of speech. "'Right up your alley' is what they use. This is a little more low-key- a little quieter and calmer than where I usually find myself," he corrected, "but it's nice to do something simpler sometimes."

He took a sip and continued absently, "I didn't realize it was happening until I got here, I was stopping by to see Apollo about...something else," he amended, too quickly.

[theallseeing]

Curiosity struck the sun god at the way Eros hesitated over his choice in words, but deigned not to let it rule the conversation. It wasn't any of his business and it would be impolite to pry. "I did not realize it either," he said instead, no hint at any of his brief slip of curiosity. "I was just coming back as I've been spending more time here than elsewhere. It is a nice place.

"I thought it was still concurrent to your personality. Easy-going, fun-loving. Plenty of people. I'm surprised you didn't know about it ahead of time."

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"Oh, this definitely suits me," Eros answered, looking around at the quiet - remarkably quiet, considering their family - gathering. "Especially after the last few days. I'm exhausted, and not in the fun way."

He tipped back the last few drops of champagne and took the bar stool beside his uncle. "Apollo sent me a text," he explained, pulling out his phone and holding it up, "but I'd just touched down on the beach when I got it. It's fine, I'll talk to him later, when he isn't busy. Probably just my imagination anyway; maybe I need a sabbatical."

[theallseeing]

Helios frowned slightly and mouthed the words 'not in a good way' in question form, indicating just how he didn't get that particular phrase in any fashion. He shook his head and concentrated on the rest.

"I see," he said as Eros showed him the text. That made more sense to him. He glanced back up. "Is something the matter?" he asked, finally unable to suppress his curiosity, especially if there really was something the matter with the other god.

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Eros opened his mouth to deny it, but closed it again. That was the question he'd been asking himself for hours. "I'm not...certain," he answered after a few moments of silence. "I was talking to- someone," he evaded, no reason to bring names into this quite yet, "and he said he'd prefer to speak in person. He seemed to arrive immediately."

But Eros wasn't convinced of that. He'd been watching the sun rising over the city, the shadows it left across the streets and rooftops of Paris, and he was almost certain it had been higher than it should have been by the time Loki appeared, even though Eros had no recollection of waiting for him.

"I feel as though I've lost half an hour of time," he said abruptly, glancing at his uncle. "I'm certain the sun was higher than it should have been, if Lo- if he'd really shown up immediately, but I have no memory of waiting for him." He held up his hand, palm-down, to indicate where the sun had been, then jerked it six inches higher to show the apparent passage of time without his knowledge.

[theallseeing]

Helios still saw everything when he made the effort to look but unlike before when he was permanently stationed in his Sun Temple above now the ancient god had many other things to distract him from using his power constantly. So he missed some things from time to time. It was enough to make him feel a twinge of homesickness, but it was gone almost as soon as it formed.

He liked it here. He wasn't ready to go back just yet. He didn't know when, or if, he ever would be.

"Unless Apollo was playing a trick on you that morning," which Helios actually seriously doubted, "then the Sun never lies. It is forever steady. Perhaps you are just misremembering it correctly?" Pause. That doesn't really seem right either. "What could have caused you to do that?"

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There was an unsteadiness in his stomach as Helios spoke in his serious, deliberate, considering tone. It reminded him of the way he'd felt when Loki had appeared: tense, stomach roiling, the dregs of adrenaline in his veins, as though he'd just been incredibly angry and it was fading.

...playing a trick on you...

"I don't know," he lied, pressing a hand to his stomach in an echo of the way he'd been when Loki had sat down, half an hour after they'd hung up.

[theallseeing]

Helios' eyes darted over his nephew, taking in the other's body language in his one quick glance and calculating the truth out of it with little trouble: Eros was lying, and he was very uncomfortable about something. Though horrible at personal interaction as Helios was it didn't take a genius to see this with the way Eros was holding his stomach and the look on his face that appeared as though he'd swallowed a live octopus. Which Helios knew he hadn't because he'd been watching him since they started talking.

But he had no words for this revelation and wasn't entirely sure that if he did they would be proper coming from him in either case. This was probably best left for someone closer to the love god and not a distant, nearly uncaring ancient deity that almost wasn't even a part of the family in technical terms.

He remained quiet and turned back to his wine with an awkward silence hovering between them.

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Never let it be said that an awkward silence could last in Eros' presence, and the lack of a reply made him glance up. He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes, and set a hand on Helios' shoulder.

"Thank you, Helios," he said sincerely and stood. "You've helped, though it may not seem so. I think it's time to say hello to our gracious host, and return his Ezmerelda to him. I hope to speak to you again soon." Then, though they didn't often bother with this custom, he held out a hand for the sun god to shake, with a more honest smile.