"Oookay. Before you ask, I got here fast because I teleported directly to the door and from the door. The not-too-good news is I couldn't solve it all in one move. The great news is things are now officially in motion. I just need to plan and make a few more moves outside the game. Incidentally, got the help of two really nice voices in my head while there. Is this normal? Don't worry, they didn't tell me to kill anyone." - Said Lucas as she appeared rather suddenly in Selene/Neruite's villa.
Neruite blinked.
"Slow down. Voices? What were they like?"
"Well, one sounded like the voice of a VERY sexy woman. The other... Well, are you a trekkie? Or, is your Celine part a trekkie?" - Said Lucas.
Celine/Neruite, nodded.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Think John de Lancie, as Q, then."
Hermes. And likely Venus. - She thought - Something must have enabled them to intervene...
"Well... You are not insane. The source of the voices is not mine to give, though. However, I am sure you have your own guesses now that I told you the voices are legit."
"Well... If it's gods, Venus and..." - Lucas paused - "...Hermes. The crossroads..."
Neruite smirked.
"Not gonna confirm or deny it. It is still not mine to tell. Anyways. Tell me, how did it go?"
Lucas proceeded to tell her.
"I see. Good. That opens up a lot of options for us, actually. We cannot be careless, but your move did help." - Said Neruite.
"I didn't do it alone, y'know." - Said Lucas, blushing - "This will sound nucking futs, but the voices in my head helped!" - She smiled.
"And we plain couldn't do it without you. So you're still getting at least some credit. Whether you want it or not." - Said Neruite, smirking.
"This isn't a job, though..." - Said Lucas - "You gave me enough stuff to last for eternity, I don't want to impose... It's not a task either, mind, I'm doing it because I want to."
"I don't see it as a job. The one that favors Lilly, however, might..."
"Uhm... Does that mean I'll get plots of land on Venus or...?" - Asked Lucas, perplexed.
"That is not mine to answer. I don't even know if she will 'pay' you anything." - Said Neruite.
Lucas shrugged.
"I'm mocking destiny itself. It's payment enough... Then again... I don't suppose she could give me some nectar and ambrosia...?" - Lucas smiled, only half-jokingly, then added - "I know who Tantalus is, yes..."
"Why do I get the feeling that you are more interested in them for their taste than for the part where they grant you immortality?" - Asked Neruite, smirking - "You can make them in your plot of land, Lucas, and so can Cass. You can even let people taste them, without any problem. The nectar and ambrosia made this way will not make anyone immortal, though. It just has the same taste, look and so on. So, not real nectar and ambrosia per se, but just like them..."
"Got it, it's like 'I Can't Believe It's Not Ambrosia', right? That's actually great, I didn't wanna force everyone that tasted it to be immortal. You know, I should experiment with my plot some more..."
"You should. Much more is there than the physical. Regardless, I don't know if Venus will be interested in rewarding you." - Said Neruite.
"As I said, she doesn't really have to. Anyways, I gotta go plan my next move. See ya, Neruite..." - Said Lucas, smiling, as she left to her place.
Neruite watched her protegé leave, thinking about some things she knew of Lucas. And of Venus. And some things she didn't know about Lucas as well.
I am pretty sure you were paid for this job in advance anyways, Lucas... - She thought.
"That is a job well-done, then, don't you think, Venus?" - Hermes smirked.
Venus nodded, wearily.
"It was... worth it. How come you are so awake, Hermes?"
Hermes smiled.
"Commerce has never been stronger in the world. Communications, speech. Persuasion. I am a young god, Venus. And one with many domains. You know that. I am close to the humans."
Venus nodded.
"I am glad we were allowed to... intervene..."
"What will you do if or when Lucas succeeds?" - Asked Hermes - "Surely you know that her sword, as you changed it, can do much more than save one child?"
"It is her payment, Hermes. For saving Lilly, or for trying, she can have the sword and the power it now has... I regret nothing..." - Said Venus.
Hermes smirked.
"You are planning for her to bring change to us gods... The same one that intends for gods and humans to walk together. Your purposes and hers mesh quite well indeed... Not bad. Not bad at all..."
"Believe what you wish, Hermes..." - Said Venus.
"I do." - Said Hermes, smiling like a fox - "With pleasure. Perhaps it is time I planned a visit to this one that would be a liaison between man and god... After all, if she succeeds, we would end up in the same line of work, would we not?"
Venus did not answer. She had drifted off into slumber again.
Hermes looked at Venus's sleeping form. On a whim, he conjured a blanket over her. It meant nothing; deities were above certain things. Yet, it most certainly meant something; deities were not above certain things.
Hermes left to his domain. Unlike most deities, any road and anywhere where trade was taking place would do...
