"After all those years on the streets, I finally feel like I'm home"
"You're lying" Leo didn't even have to look up, he knew her better than anyone.
"You're right, I was always at home with you"
In which there's an unlikely friendship (... and ma...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
══════✮❁•°♛°•❁✮ ══════
The lights shut off, the video monitors went back to random coverage, and just for a moment, Aeolus's face sagged with weariness. Then he seemed to remember he had guests, and he put a smile back on.
"So, you brought me some rogue storm spirits," Aeolus said. "I suppose... thanks! And did you want something else? I assume so. Demigods always do."
Mellie said, "Um, sir, this is Zeus's son and Poseidon's daughter"
"Yes, yes. I know that. I said I remembered him from before, but I didn't know about the girl"
"But, sir, they're here from Olympus."
Aeolus looked stunned. Then he laughed abruptly. "You mean you're here on behalf of your father this time? Finally! I knew they would send someone to renegotiate my contract!"
"Um, what?" Alex chuckled awkwardly.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Aeolus sighed with relief. "It's been what, three thousand years since Zeus made me master of the winds. Not that I'm ungrateful, of course! But really, my contract is so vague. Obviously I'm immortal, but 'master of the winds.' What does that mean? Am I a nature spirit? A demigod? A god? I want to be god of the winds, because the benefits are so much better. Can we start with that?"
"Dude," Leo said, "you think we're here to promote you?"
"You are, then?" Aeolus grinned. His business suit turned completely blue-not a cloud in the fabric. "Marvelous! I mean, I think I've shown quite a bit of initiative with the weather channel, eh? And of course I'm in the press all the time. So many books have been written about me: Into Thin Air, Up in the Air, Gone with the Wind-"
"Er, I don't think those are about you," Jason said, before he noticed Mellie shaking her head.
"Nonsense," Aeolus said. "Mellie, they're biographies of me, aren't they?"
"Absolutely, sir," she squeaked.
"There, you see? I don't read. Who has time? But obviously the mortals love me. So, we'll change my official title to god of the winds. Then, about salary and staff-"
"Sir," Jason said, "we're not from Olympus."
Aeolus blinked. "But-"
"I'm the son of Zeus, yes, and this is Alex- daughter of Poseidon" Jason said, "but we're not here to negotiate your contract. We're on a quest and we need your help."
Aeolus's expression hardened. "Like last time? Like every hero who comes here? Demigods! It's always about you, isn't it?"
"Sir, please, I don't remember last time, but if you helped me once before-"
"I'm always helping! Well, sometimes I'm destroying, but mostly I'm helping, and sometimes I'm asked to do both at the same time! Why, Aeneas, the first of your kind-"
