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[wily-god.insanejournal.com]

Who: Eros, Anteros and Aphrodite
What: Eros brings mom a present!
When: Thursday morning
Where: Dite's place

Just as Aphrodite had promised there was a car there to pick him and Anteros up promptly at ten o'clock that morning. All he managed to keep Anteros in were the pajama pants. They were loose enough for him to move around without feeling constricted, until he became used to things. Eros hoped his mother could fix some of this, make the transition easier. As long as Eros took care of him he'd end up playing video games in his birthday suit as well. There was a time they did everything together, but he supposed this world was kind of an adjustment they'd all come into a second time. Eros had been around for centuries now, Anteros had to grow into the way things worked now. Everything was pavement, loud vehicles and bright lights. This wasn't anything like they'd grown accustomed to in the days of ancient Greece.

Even though Anteros was the one that Aphrodite wanted to see, Eros was the first to tackle her in a hug. He was the one that desired the most attention, who wanted the most. She was his mother and he hardly liked sharing her sometimes. Anteros was different. Whatever Eros had, Anteros had too.

Eros kissed Aphrodite on the cheek. "Maybe you can make him wear something else," he grinned.

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[happy-shiny-god.insanejournal.com]

Keeping Anteros in the cut up pajama bottoms was a feat in itself and he slipped out of them a couple of times. But with the threat of not being able to hang out with his niece over his head, he'd always put them back on in Hedone's presence. If Eros took on Anteros' naked traits instead of the other way around, Anteros would be thrilled. At the moment he stuck close to Eros. He loved Hedone and Psyche, but Anteros felt most at home with he was with his brother.

The world was so different and so.. loud. So many beautiful things but so much harshness. It was.. it was.. confusing. He smiled when Eros attacked their mother with love and he waited his turn. Despite being a sort of twin, Anteros was still the younger brother and Eros went first always and Anteros followed. But he looked excited to see their mother, literally bouncing on his feet in anticipation. It had been.. forever.

[aphrogenea.insanejournal.com]

Aphrodite had barely managed to sleep with the idea of Anteros being so close in the city yet so far. She had looked in the mirror that morning and thought she looked a fright from such sleeplessness. (But, of course, Aphrodite looked exactly as she always looked: perfect. A lack of sleep didn't affect the goddess of beauty, and she knew it.)

After hugging Eros it was to Anteros that she turned her full attention, eyes glistening with happy tears. "My lamb," she whispered before reaching out and dragging him into her arms so she could hold him tight and never release him. Too many of her children were out of her reach and she would cling to these that she could love.

[wily-god.insanejournal.com]

Eros wasn't easily jealous of his little brother, they shared. He adored him. He joined in on the hug, letting their mother coddle them as much as she wanted.

There had been some sinister vibes floating around Eros the last few weeks, it lightened with Anteros around. He wasn't so lonely.

Once they were inside Eros pointed to Anteros' flip-flopped feet and pajamas. "It's like he fell out of the sky. He doesn't want to wear clothes."

[happy-shiny-god.insanejournal.com]

Anteros hugged his mother tightly, cuddling into her and letting her treat him like a child which in many ways he still was. His happiness was easily felt and unmatched, as much as Eros was first in his life, mother ranked a close second. Not that anyone would say that to her..

He didn't mind sharing her with Eros, he'd share anything and everything with him. But when the hug ended, he still rested his head on her shoulder. He seemed put out when Eros brought up his fashion sense again.

"Mother doesn't care if I wear these wretched things. I am in the form that she created me. She loves me this way." he looked at her with earnest eyes, "Don't you, mother?" if anyone could understand Anteros' aversion to clothing, it would be Aphrodite. She was his creator, and when she had brought him to life, he had been naked. Not covered in pants, scarves, shirts, jackets, hats, underwear, and shoes. She'd love him regardless, wouldn't she?

[aphrogenea.insanejournal.com]

Aphrodite smiled at Anteros warmly before kissing both of his cheeks in turn. How could she deny that sweet little face of his? "My darling," she said to him. "My sweet little boy." She remembered him both ways: she remembered creating him of nothing, a playmate fully-formed for Eros, but she also remembered birthing him herself, nursing him at her breast and watching him grow. Either way he was her son, and Aphrodite would let nothing change that.

"I would have you anyway you wish," she told him, stroking his cheek gently. "But the world has changed, my little love. We cannot do all that we once did. Olympus has been gone for a long time." She hated having to admit that to her own innocent child.

[wily-god.insanejournal.com]

"Mom, he's not used to these times." A lot had changed, Anteros would have to grow up fast. There was a whine in Eros' voice as he poked his head around in the place.

"How's Rhode?" he asked.

[happy-shiny-god.insanejournal.com]

Anteros adored the affection his mother gave him, he loved giving affection but it always felt amazing to receive it. It didn't matter to him how he came to be, Aphrodite was his mother and always would be. The rest were just semantics.

He smiled when she stroked his cheek but the smile died slowly when she finished speaking. Home was always with Eros. With mother. But.. their world was now gone. He stayed silent as Eros talked to her and he let her reply to Eros first before he gently took her hand to make her hang back for a moment with him.

There was a profound sadness in his eyes as he softly asked the million dollar question, "What happened...?"

[aphrogenea.insanejournal.com]

"Rhode will live," Aphrodite told Eros quietly, touching his shoulder gently. "She's sleeping for now, so I can pay all my attention to my boys."

Poor Anteros, her poor sweet boy. Aphrodite drew Anteros to sit down with her and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "People have stopped believing in us," she said quietly to Anteros. "Where once the faith was strong, now..." Aphrodite sighed deeply. "We're considered relics and other gods have replaced us. We no longer have our old strength. I am..." Oh, Aphrodite hated to admit this more than anything. "Your mother is no longer all-powerful."

[happy-shiny-god.insanejournal.com]

Anteros sat down, looking at his mother with alert eyes, wanting to hear everything she had to say. Her arm around him was comforting but her words were distressing. It didn't make sense and his confusion showed on his face. He could never hide how he felt, he didn't know how.

Lost purpose. It was something that Anteros had felt since he'd arrived back. He didn't know that's what it was but his mother's words were like dark worms that were gnawing holes in his brain, trying to infest his thoughts. Relic. Replaced. Just words but yet..

The news seemed to have crushed him, it was.. a lot to take in. And much like a child, Anteros lay his head down in his mother's lap, curling an arm around her that was equal protection and comfort for both of them. He had yet to say anything and when the words finally came, they were soft, "You'll always be the most powerful to me.."

[aphrogenea.insanejournal.com]

His words made her heart ache. In days long passed Aphrodite could have (and had) destroyed people who even looked wrong at her children (She'd forced Ares to switch sides in the war at Troy just to defend the life of her mortal boy who lived in those walls.) But now she could do little more for them than any mother, and Aphrodite hated that.

So she stroked Anteros' hair gently as he lay in her lap. "I know it's a lot to take in, my lamb," she said to him. "I'll try to make all of this as easy as I can."

[happy-shiny-god.insanejournal.com]

Anteros trusted his mother, if she said she'd make it easier for him then he knew it to be true. He sighed and closed his eyes, just letting himself be coddled. Only after a few moments his hold on her tightened just a fraction as he asked, "Will I disappear again.." he sounded worried and not quite sure if that was the right thing to say. He wasn't even sure what happened last time just that he was and then he wasn't. But would he get to stay in this new world if it couldn't find a place for him?

[aphrogenea.insanejournal.com]

"No," Aphrodite said, and her tone was fierce and protective. "You won't disappear. Not again." Aphrodite wouldn't allow it. She may not have been as strong as she once would but she'd find a way to keep all of her children around this time. Already she was formulating plans to put into action.

In a gentler voice she said, "don't you worry about things like that, my little love. You're with me and you're with Eros. Nothing bad will happen to you."

[wily-god.insanejournal.com]

While Anteros and Aphrodite reconnected, Eros looked around in the kitchen for food. He couldn't wait for a handout. He had to bolt soon for work. After leaving the studio earlier the day before he had to make up some time.

He had a mouthful of a peanut butter sandwich when he reemerged. He kissed his mother on the cheek. "I have to bolt, mom. I'll be back later to pick him up." Anteros was going to go home with him.

[happy-shiny-god.insanejournal.com]

Anteros smiled a little, feeling better when his mother said quite forcefully that he wouldn't be going anywhere. He'd heard that tone, that was that mom tone that no one dared mess with. He didn't know what she was talking about, not being as powerful, she still sounded like a force to be reckoned with just like he remembered.

He lifted his head up when Eros showed up again, sniffing the air at the curious smell from the sandwich. Note to self: find the source later and eat it. He looked at his mother when Eros said he was leaving, "Can I go too?" still clad in his chic PJ shorts. Surely that would be enough covering so he could go out with Eros to wherever he was going.

[aphrogenea.insanejournal.com]

"If you want to go with Eros you'll have to dress properly," Aphrodite said. "Stay with me for now, my lamb," she cooed, kissing the boy on his temple. "Eros can have you later."

[happy-shiny-god.insanejournal.com]

Anteros watched as his brother left, a look of yeeeesh entering his features when she meant he'd have to wear clothes if he wanted to go with him. Well in that case maybe spending some time with mother wouldn't be so bad. He hadn't seen her in a long time. He still wanted to go with Eros but he smiled brightly, looking much like his old self when she kissed his temple.

He put his head on her shoulder, staying close and feeling safe with her. "Eros goes to a big building every day with lots of people. And lots of lights." he looked at her as if he was sharing a secret, "They wear more clothes than he does." giving a look like whats-that-all-about. He put his chin on her shoulder and smiled, "Do you and father do that?"

There was debate whether Ares was truly Anteros' father but because he was Eros' father, Anteros came as part of the package deal. Not that Anteros understood anything about violence but he loved his dad all the same.

[aphrogenea.insanejournal.com]

"That's his job among the mortals," Aphrodite explained, drawing Anteros a little closer to her. "These days to afford such lavish homes, we have to do work like humans." It was demeaning to have to explain it to Anteros. Aphrodite didn't think of it so often.

"For my work I run a- do you remember the hetairai in Greece, the courtesans? I control a very fine group of them here. And Ares-" she paused with a considering frown. "Actually, I have no idea what it is Ares does." Their marriage was based on passion; Aphrodite and Ares didn't tend to discuss their boring day to days.

[happy-shiny-god.insanejournal.com]

Anteros happily cuddled into his mother and listened, he gave a look of slight disdain when she mentioned they had to work as the mortals did. Not that he had anything against mortals but there was a separation of the classes from his time that seemed to not exist anymore..

"Father used to say war is a full time job, I am sure he's keeping busy." he looked thoughtful and then wondered out loud, "What will I do?" not that he wanted to work but if mom was working and big bro was working then Anteros should work too probably. Though he wasn't good at anything except loving people and being Eros' shadow, not exactly coveted skills in today's world.