Welcome to AresJoxerCupidStrife

Name: The Choice
Author: Tosca
Rating: erm, about an R-16?
Pairing: A/J, C/S
Archive: Yep, go for it!
Warnings: none
Notes: For Xandria's Dream Challenge on the AJCS list.
It's a bit of a rush job Xandria, but I hope it'll
help you feel better!

The Choice

And the first challenge is?" Ares scowled at the
cloaked and hooded figure beside him. He wondered how
desperately he really wanted to fill that nebulous
nagging emptiness in his life. The Fates had told him
he would have to face three challenges to win what he
was lacking. He had only found out after agreeing
however, that the challenge cave was in the heart of a
mountain bordering Gaia's Valley, where no godly
powers could be used. He had had to arrive there by
walking and in some parts, climbing. He was hot,
sweaty, tired and battered and all in all, in a right
godly temper.

He walked to the centre of the cave and pulled the
rope that dangled from the ceiling. A bell rang out,
and the humanoid clad in bright blues and greens that
now stood before him had seemed to glide out of
nothingness.

"Welcome to The Challenge!" said the figure in
mellifluous tones "For our first test today, you must
choose the most important aspect of love. There is no
right or wrong."

High-pitched giggling erupted behind him and he turned
to see Strife, pale eyes under dark spiky hair
gleaming in amusement in a pale face, leather-clad
body leaning against the cavern wall. Beside the God
of Mischief stood his son, a contrast in bronze and
gold and white, his white wings shining with light.
The God of Love's handsome face was smiling but
solemn.

"Lurv, tru-uue lurv." crooned his second-in-command.

"Shut up Strife!" he snarled, blushing, and turned to
face forwards again. Several objects had appeared
before the throne - a scroll, a pair of matched
bracers, and a leather collar.

"Hey, hey, visual aids! Didja see that Indian book
Apollo nicked from the future? Wanna come home and
read my copy?" Strife leered at Cupid.
Cupid ignored him and directed a quiet comment at his
father.

"The scroll symbolises communication."

"Yeah, well that's the kinda communicatin' I like ta
do!" Strife protested. "Whadda 'bout the bracers? We
inta a little bonding spiciness here?"

"They stand for compatibility, babe, not kinky sex."
Cupid told his lover in an amused tone.

"Bor-ring! Ooh, ooh, go for the collar Unc! Though
Party Pooper Boy is probably gonna tell me it has
nuthin to do with D&S."

"Too right. It symbolises loyalty."

"Strife! Just shut up! I don't want to hear another
word out of you or when we get out of here..." Ares
tailed off in annoyed exasperation, a heavy scowl
darkening his face. Strife took one look at the little
glow lighting up his Uncle's eyes and opened his mouth
to protest his innocence. Fortunately the God of Love
quickly grabbed him and slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Shutting up now Dad!"

Ares turned back to the objects. Damn. Which one to
choose? Communication was all very well, but in his
experience lead to gabbiness - a thought that brought
a certain whiny blonde bitch to mind and caused him to
shudder. Compatibility? Sad to say but Strife was
right - bor-ring.

"The collar it is." He declared.

"A very good choice sir!" the figure answered "And now
we have the second challenge - you must choose what is
the most important aspect of your intended."

He waved his hand and the scroll, bracers and collar
disappeared, to be replaced by a cup of water, a
shield and a pile of coins.

"These symbolise empathy, protectiveness and
generosity" the God of Love informed his father.

"Mmmf mmm MRR mff hrr! mmff MMFF!!" Cupid had wisely
refrained from removing his hand from Strife's mouth,
and whatever the God of Mischief was saying on the
subject remained unintelligible.

Empathy? What the heck use is some bleeding heart
liberal going to be to me? And protectiveness isn't
really what I'm looking for. Generosity then, I
suppose. Door number three again.

"The coins." He announced.

"You're sure about that?" queried the hooded figure.

"Yes."

"Quite sure. Don't want to change your mind?"

"The coins" Ares replied curtly.

"Very well, and for our last challenge," waving an
arm, the figure banished the objects and three new
images displayed. On first glance they were of the
same man, until a closer look was taken.

"You're ideal mate is one of these three men,
triplets."

There was a pause and the first man was highlighted.
He had blond hair hair with an open face and smile,
wore silk and bright colours and was singing.

"Jace is the epitome of Love. He is always caring,
will be there to soothe you when you are down, a
helpmeet in a time of trouble."

The light darkened over Jace and shone on the next
triplet. His hair was black and he wore a sneer just
as dark. His clothing choices had a lot in common with
Strife's, and he was balancing a silver dagger on his
fingertips.

"Jett is an Assassin. He will help you in your battles
and fight to protect you, killing all who oppose you.
He would let no one hurt you."

The light dimmed over Jett and finally highlighted the
third and final triplet. His hair was brown, with
ruddy highlights. He had an open face that currently
wore an unhappy look as he gazed somewhere into the
distance. He wore an ill-fitting hodgepodge of armour
put together shoddily, and held a slightly bent sword
in one hand and a lute in the other.

"Joxer does not yet know what is or can be. He is
convinced he is a mighty warrior yet he cannot fight.
When he tries to help others he ends up needing to be
rescued. When he loves he loves faithfully and will do
anything possible to make them happy, even if it hurts
him. He is clumsy, loyal to a fault, will argue with
you if he thinks you are wrong, and will love you till
the end of time."

The light diffused over the third triplet and the
images of all three displayed once more, showing what
they were doing at the moment. Jace was on a stage,
singing. Jett was somewhere dark, moving quickly and
quietly towards his goal. A familiar blonde harridan
who had a tight hold of his nose was yelling at Joxer.
The look on his face was one of quiet desperation as
he suffered her diatribe.

Finally, the images faded away and the figure spoke
again.

"Choose."

So, which of the three? Blondie was the cutest, the
dark one the lest trouble, and the brunette the most
amusing. It was such a hard choice.

Which is the most appealing? Who do I want to spend
eternity with? He thought hard. Comprehension dawned
and he knew without a doubt what was the right choice
this time.

"Joxer!"

The figure looked towards the third triplet then back
at him.

"You're sure about this? Don't want to ask a friend?"

"mmmm mmmf mmm"

Ares turned to speak to his son but discovered not
only was Cupid still refusing to let Strife speak, but
whilst Ares had been perusing the three figures he had
exchanged his hand for a somewhat more intimate part
of his anatomy. He appeared to have forgotten his
father in his desire to kiss Strife into the wall
whilst manually stripping him of leather.

Ares gave an exasperated sigh. Kids these days. No
concentration.

"No. That's my choice." he told the figure.

An arm waved and the windows showing Jace and Jett
dimmed and disappeared. There was a bright flash and
Joxer sprawled onto the cavern floor.

"Joxer!" Ares exclaimed, holding out his arms to
embrace him.

Joxer looked up at the imposing figure of the God of
War and his face lit up. Ares looked into those
melting chocolate eyes and knew he had made the
correct decision.

Joxer lurched upwards into his arms and he bent his
head to ravage that beautiful pink mouth with an
adoring kis...

Arrrrrggggghhhhhhhh!

Ares jerked upright screaming. There was a flurry of
white skin, long black hair and various pointy steel
sharpnesses beside him.

"What?! What?!"

"Fates!" Ares groaned "What a dream!"

"Dream! You call that a DREAM? Tartarus! I'd hate to
see you piss Morpheus off and have a nightmare. You
just scared years off my immortality!"

Ares laughed and flopped back onto the pillows.

"So? Are you going to tell me this 'dream'?"

Ares sighed, rolled onto his side and proceeded to
relate his dream. He finished and looked at his
bedmate expectantly, hoping he hadn't hurt any
feelings. Blank eyes and an expressionless face looked
back at him. His stomach curled up into a little ball.

"I see what you're getting at."

"It was just a dream. It doesn't _mean_ anything."

"No, no. I give up!"

"Sweetheart..."

"You can have your damn house dog! Just don't blame me
when you choose an unruly pup that follows you
everywhere and piddles in the temple corners."

Ares relaxed at the evil grin blossoming opposite him.

"However," Jett leaned forward to pull his love close
"We are _not_ calling the damn thing 'Joxer'!"

END