Title: New Me
Summary: Strife and his split personality. fanfic100 # 095 New Year

Strife flexed his hand open and closed, creating and reabsorbing flames of power. It was early morning and he’d yet to go to sleep. The celebration last night had only ended a short while ago and most of the revilers were past out in the common rooms. Strife felt jumbled. He was glad to have his powers back, his memories on the other hand...

As a god he had never really gotten involved with mortals on an everyday level. The only ones he had major dealings with were demi-gods themselves - like Herc the Jerk or Xena. But now he had three mortal friends (alright so formerly mortal thanks to Eris).

To be perfectly honest before this whole rebirth-no-memories thing he wouldn’t have given a second thought to the triplets. Oh, he would have USED them - but he wouldn’t have taken the time to KNOW them.

So now Strife had to merge the two notions of self: Strife, God of Mischief and Scythas, mortal with no past.

One would have hated being forced to sleep on the ground and never would have gotten along with the easy-going Joxer.

The other couldn’t imagine not being friends with Joxer and his brothers and might have even (though he’d deny it) enjoyed performing with the Bent River crew.

The ONLY thing the two parts seemed to have in common is their attraction to Cupid. The winged god was seriously hot, and recently single again. Strife got up from the window seat and rolled onto his bed. Cupid wasn’t going to spend time with a cracked god so Strife HAD to get over this dual-personality thing. He settled on his stomach and propped his chin on his hand.

So...

Three new friends, did he care that they were mortal? -- No.

Was he going to go make friends with the rest of Greece and be all touchy-feely-lets all get along? -- Not a chance. But he would send a little extra ‘good mischief’ vibes the BRP boys’ way.

Was he going to go back to being Scythas? -- Maybe for a visit now and again.

Did he want to live in the Mortal Realm? -- NO. Give up living in luxury for tepid baths and outhouses? Not this millennia.

Could he go back to using mortals for his own gain? -- Yeah, he really could. Hello? Still a god.

Did he want to fuck Cupid? -- YES, and YES.

Huh. That seemed to be all the big points. Strife could work out everything else later. The Mischief god swung his feet a little. A new him, a new look, a new year... Things were definitely looking shiny.

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Title: Teachers Three
Summary: Hera takes Blue to meet the Muses. fanfic100 #088 school

Blue sat nervously on the delicate looking chair hands folded in his lap. Apollo had spoken to him and then Hera and now they were waiting, for what he was not quite sure. Blue glanced out the window and wished he were outside. The room was sunny and having no wall at the far end the breeze swirled in keeping it pleasantly cool and bringing with it the scent of orange blossoms. But Blue preferred to be outside under the sun itself.

After a few minutes three women entered and Hera rose to greet them. Blue stood as well, nodding in greeting at each as they were introduced. Calliope the muse of Epic Poetry, Clio the muse of History, and Urania the muse of Astronomy. They had dark hair and startling violet eyes and wore wispy flowing dresses. Blue blushed as the three gave him appraising looks.

Hera wrapped her hand around his wrist and explained that he would be spending part of each day with them. He was to learn reading and writing, basic math and history. Blue looked wide eyed at the Muses. “Everyday? But what about my garden? And you said- you said I was going to learn to cook.” He bit his lip to stop himself from rambling on.

Hera laughed, not her scary laugh but a light sweet laugh, and pulled Blue into a hug. “Oh, Popet, you’ll only be spending an hour or so here a day. Your garden will do just fine with out fussing over it, mine does after all. And Hestia will be giving you cooking lessons twice a week in the evening. We’ll go and see here after we leave here, ok?”

Blue nodded enthusiastically. He wasn’t all together sure he’d enjoy his lessons with the Muses but Hera seemed to think they were important and as long as he still got to learn to cook and didn’t have to abandon his garden then he supposed they couldn’t hurt.

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Title: Greece in the Fall
Summary: Joxer in thought. fanfic100 #064 fall

It might have been a perpetual summer on Olympus but it was definitely fall in Greece. The air was turning crisper and all over people were busy with the last harvests of the year. Joxer tilted his face toward the sky enjoying the rain. It was refreshing when you didn’t have to worry about sleeping in it.

Jayce was once again gathering the Bent River Performers. The fall equinox brought a lot of festivals and they need to gear up for another tour before winter hit. The Bent River boys didn’t mind traveling but it wasn’t worth the effort to travel far in the winter. They’d come back to Corinth and most would hire out as ’in house entertainment’ at the local inns and taverns.

Apollo, disguised as Ilios, went with Jayce into the Sleeping Lion to get him a room. Then Apollo would be taking Joxer up north to where Xena and Gabby were camping. The women were making their way to an old friend’s homestead. The older man was having trouble with raiders, from the sounds of it barbarians at that, and they were going to winter there with him.

Joxer would have felt better about the coming conversation if Ares had been there rather than Apollo - not that Apollo wasn’t great but... His presents wasn’t as encouraging. Joxer just would have liked to know Ares was backing him up.

Of course Ares would probably have come if Joxer had ASKED. But Joxer had heard Ares and Strife discussing the virtues of Death of a Thousand Cuts verses scrambling a certain blonde bard’s mind so she couldn’t speak, read or write ever again. Joxer was positive that the ‘nagging, self-righteous bitch’ they referred to was Gabby.

Joxer shivered and pulled his cloak tighter around himself. He winced as a passing rider splashed mud and rain water, leaving him speckled with it. Oh yeah. Now he remembered why he didn’t like the rain. Joxer looked around the gray city and thought about how autumn had always seemed to shine before.

The way everything turned from green to flaming yellows and reds. Like one last fling before settling down. Joxer winkled his nose and hoped Apollo would be back soon. Reminiscing was fine but Joxer desperately wanted to get this over with so he could go back home.

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Title: Snow
Summary: Joxer and Apollo arrive at Xena and Gabby’s camp. fanfic100 #067
Snow

Joxer pulled his cloak tighter as he and Apollo materialized on a wooded path. It was colder here than it had been in Corinth and the damp patches on his clothing were already frosting stiff. Apollo noticed the immortal’s shiver and dried him with a snap of his fingers. It left Joxer’s clothes and skin warmer as well. The pale man nodded his head in thanks.

Apollo gestured down the rough road. “Xena and her companion are around the next bend, about a ten minute walk. They are setting up camp for the night. A snow storm is gathering. Not a bad one, but not good for traveling either.” The Sun god started off down the road and Joxer fell into step beside him. “I would have brought us closer but it’s better not to startle Xena. That woman has an exaggerated fight or flight response - emphasis on fight.” Apollo gave a fake shudder and Joxer couldn’t help but to chuckle.

Their pace was brisk but they didn’t beat the snow. Fat flakes were falling by the time they made it to the Xena and Gabby’s camp. The women had taken shelter in a clearing where the trees were dense enough to one side to shelter Argo from the snow. They had a lean-to built and Gabby was fiddling with the fire.

Xena had sensed their approach and had her sword drawn and stood ready to fight as Joxer and Apollo stepped into the clearing. The warrior woman narrowed her gaze when she saw them, her stance relaxed fractionally but she didn’t sheath her sword or move from her defensive position in front of Gabby.

“Joxer, Apollo, what are you doing here?” Xena asked.

“I came to talk to you guys.” Joxer shifted from foot to foot. “Apollo was kind enough to bring me.”

“And why would Apollo do that?” The dark hair woman asked, Gabby glared at the pair from behind Xena.

“Well that’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about.” Joxer hedged. He hadn’t figured out how to start this conversation, to late now to try so he was just going to wing it. Joxer bit his lip. He was so screwed.

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Title: Truths
Summary: Joxer finally has that talk with Xena and Gabby. fanfic100 #099 WC - Truth

“Some stuff has happened in the last couple of months that I wanted tell you guys. And to let you know I won’t be traveling with you guys anymore.” Joxer shifted his weight from foot to foot and took a bit of courage at Apollo’s presence beside him.

Xena shifted her gaze from Joxer to Apollo and back. “Fine.” She sheathed her sword and stepped back to the fire and Gabby. Her hand, however, hovered over her chakram.

“Well see, I met this man on the way to Corinth to meet up with my brothers. He was lost and had no memory - and well he turned out to be an injured god.”

“Apollo?” Gabby cut in.

“No. His nephew actually.” Joxer cleared his throat, he was just going to side step the whole ’who’ issue. The women would only go off on a tangent and he’d never finish what he came to say. “Anyway when they found him Jett, Jayce and I ended up on Olympus.” Xena snorted softly either in disbelief of the story or the situation.

Apollo glared at the dark haired warrior and touched Joxer’s back gently, to urge him to continue. “So we had dinner and mixed in with the fruit was some... Golden Apple slices.”

“What?!” Gabby screeched, almost drowning out Xena’s hard voiced, “How much?”

“Um, well...” Joxer shrugged. “Enough.”

“All of you?” Gabby sneered.

“Yes. That’s why- That’s why I won’t be traveling with you. We’re living on Olympus now.” Joxer spoke the last with more conviction then he’d voiced so far. “They like me there, and they treat me well, and I’m staying.”

“Yeah right Joxer! I can’t believe you get yourself into these messes. It’s obvious they’re using you!” She smirked at the pale man. “Well don’t come crawling back to us when they get tired of you-”

“Gabriel.” Xena put her hand over the bard’s mouth. “Let me handle this.” Gabby scowled but didn’t speak again. Xena stepped over to Joxer and grabbed him by the collar and drug him away from Apollo. “That’s how it really happened - some big cosmic accident?”

“I had no idea! Honestly.” Joxer pleaded with his eyes to be believed.

“You never do.” She muttered. Xena stared into Joxer’s eyes searchingly. After a moment she asked, “You’re happy then?”

“Very.” Joxer nodded his head vigorously. “All of us.” This wasn’t exactly the response he’d pictured Xena making.

“Alright. I don’t like the gods, don’t trust them but...” She huffed out a breath. “Just be careful, okay?” She turned her head to look at where Gabby was angrily poking at the fire. “You’d better get going. Have a good life, Joxer.” Xena clasped his shoulder briefly before making her way back to Gabby.

Joxer’s eyes stung a bit. He watched the women for a moment. He realized this was probably the last time he’d see them. Kind of sad but there was no way he could go back - wouldn’t if he could - so the only thing left was to move forward.

“Home?” Apollo asked as he wrapped an arm around Joxer. The immortal nodded and they disappeared in a small shower of golden sparks.

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Title: Run Ragged
Summary: Strife is getting adjusted again.

Strife was feeling a little ragged. He’d taken his duties up again and had spent the whole last week trying to get caught up. Not that his family had let everything go but he was woefully behind on all kinds of gossip and news. The Mischief god had to visit each of his priests and priestess at his lone temple and those at Ares‘ main temple. He had to check in on his special projects and the newly devoted.

He had finally got back on track but he was worn out between the backlog, daily things and trying to adjust to his powers once again. It was like going through puberty all over again, only he wasn’t dealing with being gangly and shy as well. Strife was however, horny. Teenage hormonal overload horny.

And that was all Cupid’s fault. Stupid pretty winged bastard.

The damn shirtless Love god always around taunting him with all that bare skin. Strife could remember the taste and feel of that glorious skin. How was he supposed to even think with such a distraction? If Cupid had ever been alone then Strife would have just jumped him. But Bliss was always in toe.

Strife couldn’t really complain about that though, since he enjoyed spending time with Bliss almost as much as with Cupid. The little munchie was all cute and evil and giggly, always hanging on him and smiling. So Strife didn’t foist the kid off on Joxer so he could molest his Cupid properly. Even if it was tempting.

Strife added a few drops of aphrodisiac potion to the wine goblet of a politician's wife. The resulting chaos would give him a nice power boost and disgrace the politician; leaving the way open for one of his followers. Strife vanished back to Olympus without even a glimmer to mark his passing. Tired he decided that he’d just crash early.

He tucked the bottle of potion into a chest on his desk, perching on the edge to kick off his shoes. He walked into his bedroom and pulled his shirt off when a noise caught his attention. Cupid was standing beside a table that hadn’t been there that morning. The Love god was stretching the seams of a pair of deep red leather pants. There were heaping dishes crowding the table and candles glowing around the room. Strife stood there in shock, shirt hanging off one arm.

“What’s all this?” Strife asked dropping his top.

“Dinner. I figured that you’d be hungry. Mom’s watching Bliss so I thought... we could do something special, just the two of us.”

Strife ginned at the blond and pulled him into a kiss. “That sounds great. But I need a bath first.” Strife started backing away toward his door to the bathing chamber. Cupid nodded, trying to hide his disappointment. “Join me?” Strife asked coyly, toying with the ties of his pants.

Cupid loped after the dark haired god catching him for another kiss. They walked to the large tub; Cupid draped over Strife not letting him get more then a few inches away.

Amazingly, Strife was feeling a lot less ragged.

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Title: Winter Fun
Summary: Strife has a bit of fun with Xena and Gabby. fanfic100 #061 Winter

Strife lay out along a bare branch waiting for his prey. He was high enough and far enough away that the travelers would just barely been able see him - had he been visible. He’d been planning for MONTHS, waiting to lull them into complacency.

Oh, but now, NOW he was going to have his fun. Strife felt his lips curl at the thought of all the pleasantly evil things he was going to do to them.

A moment later the snap of a twig sounded from down the path. Strife watched gleefully as the blonde woman screeched and tried to jump back out of the half frozen mud puddle she’d stepped into. Her jump only succeeded in braking the skin of ice behind her. Chilled and wet her voice turned shrill as she demanded her companion let her ride her horse as well.

After struggling out of her wet pants and into a dry pair the dark hair woman wrapped a blanket around the now sniffling blonde and they set off - both on the pale golden horse. Strife chortled softly to himself and flashed ahead to the next trap.

Ten minutes later the doubly burdened horse came into view. He almost felt sorry for poor Argo, but not enough to stop it. The golden horse trotted down the trail when his right fore-hoof collapsed a rabbit burrow. Down he went, his riders flung over head, horribly twisting his leg. Strife reached out with his hearing to eaves drop on the women.

“What in Tartarus happened?” The blonde moaned.

“You alright, Gabriel?”

“I flew off your stupid horse, Xena! Do I look alright?”

Xena huffed and stood up gingerly. She’d skinned her hands and smacked her head against Gabby’s in the fall. Once standing she made her way to Argo shushing the hurt horse and reached out to run a calming hand over his head.

“That’s just great! Check the horse before me.” Gabby whined and crossed her arms.

“Gabriel, you’re not unconscious or spraying blood and your arms obviously work the way you’ve been flailing them about - you’re fine.” Xena sent her a withering glance. “Argo on the other hand might not be. I need to see how bad he’s hurt; if we need to find a place for the night or can continue on.” She turned back to her horse ignoring the woman on the ground.

Strife knew the answer to that one. Poor Argo wouldn’t be carrying them anytime soon and the women would never make it to town by dark walking. He subtly brought the near-by cabin into sharper focus for the blonde. Strife would never have tried such a trick on Xena, the warrior woman would have been far to wary and much more likely to detected his manipulation.

“Hey, Xena. Look over there. I bet we could stay there for tonight, it looks abandoned.” Gabby pointed toward a slightly rundown cabin. Xena nodded and started to lead the limping horse to the building, she stopped to give Gabby a hand up.

Strife smirked, the twit had done just what he wanted. Now the fun could really begin. He would watch the rest from the comfort of home, the house would take care of the clean up without his presence. He might even save the events on a scrying mirror so he could watch it again and share the joy with his family. The Mischief god flashed away to the Halls of War, humming a jaunty tune.

Xena ducked inside first to make sure the house was indeed empty and not booby-trapped. Gabby took their bags inside the two room cabin and Xena led Argo around back. She tied the horse to the rail of the awning - pleased to see there was some hay bundled in the corner that was not too old or mildewed. She took a few moments to rub down Argo before she left him with a final fond pat.

Meanwhile inside Gabby had been nosing around. The cabin was dusty and had cobwebs along the ceiling and shelves. But everything looked fine otherwise. The table and chairs were sturdy; the bed lacked animal nests and there was a catch of firewood and kindling by the hearth.

Maybe she could talk Xena into staying here a few days. They could dry out, sleep in a real bed for a change and give Argo a chance to heal up. Besides as thick as the dust was who ever built the place had obviously abandoned it so no harm in staying. Gabby turned around surveying the room hands on her hips. A glint in the corner caught her eye. She wandered over and there under all the cobwebs was a metal box.

She dusted of the top and pulled it from the shelf. Behind her Xena came in latching the door tight against the wind. “Hey, Xena, come look at this.” Gabby turned the box over in her hands admiring the engraved swirling pattern. “Isn’t it pretty?”

Xena light the lantern on the table so they could see better and reached out a finger to feel the dull gray metal. She peered over Gabby’s shoulder as the blonde opened the lid.

Strife set forward in his chair, toes wiggling in anticipation, as he watched the two women handle the metal box. He pulled the scrying mirror closer. Any moment now...

The hinges of the lid groaned in protest as the lid lifted. Gabby gasped as a glowing gently pulsing orb was reveled nestled inside the metal box. Xena shot her hand up to close the lid but it was too late. Rays of white light spilled forth freezing Xena and Gabby where they stood. The light rebounded off the walls like sun off new snow. The light tinted blue and collapsed back in on itself, taking the women with it.

The box fell to the floor, rocked slightly from the impact and the lid snapped shut.

Strife laughed maniacally head thrown back, nearly vibrating from the high of success. When he had came down a little he snapped the triggering crystal and the box thumped to the floor in front of him. In Sparta at Ares main temple an injured pale gold horse appeared in the stables. The stable boy - a young acolyte started in surprise before moving to care for the animal.

Strife gingerly picked up the box, he ran a careful finger around the lid seam. It melted away leaving the box solid. Now he just had to find a good place to hide it.

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Title: Punishment
Summary: Xena and Gabby wake up lost. fanfic100 #100 Writer’s Choice - Punishment

Xena woke to the sound of banging. Her whole body ached from laying in the awkward position she’d landed in. The last thing she remembered was Gabby opening that box. Taking a look around she realized she wasn’t in the cabin any longer. Where in Tartarus was she?

Xena rolled to her feet, there was her saddle bag and bed roll but no sign of Argo or Gabby. She picked up her things and made her way cautiously toward the light to her right. Finally she stood at the mouth of the cave. It was a long way down but off in the distance she could make out a village.

Hopefully Gabby was also making her way there. Xena whistled for Argo but the horse didn’t come. Just as well, Argo would have had a harder time getting down then scraggly mountain side the she would.

*******

Gabby woke face down in the mud. Thick, gritty, smelly mud. She managed to stand up but not before slipping and covering her backside in muck as well. Her bedroll was off to the side but there was no sign of her staff. “Xena! Xena!” Gabby yelled. There was no response, the brunet must be to far away. Resignedly she started walking down the road.

Not to far along she found a sturdy stick, not as good as her staff but better then nothing. She had been walking for half an hour before boredom set in. Mental she started going over her best works trying to smooth out the flow. It wasn’t long before she started reciting them out loud, as they should be appreciated.

*******

It took Xena the whole day to make it to the village. Going down the mountain had been time consuming and painful; she’d fallen twice aggravating the scrapes she’d gotten falling off Argo. There was something... odd about the villagers. They kept giving her strange looks and gave her a wide berth. Xena surreptitiously sniffed herself. She didn’t smell strongly, a little sweaty but not foul.

Maybe they had problems with raiders and were just wary of outsiders. Xena decided that the best place to ask after Gabby would be an inn. If the village even had one.

*******

Gabby screamed in frustration as she found herself once again at the mud puddle she’d woken up in. The first time hadn’t been too bad, she’d found her satchel a short distance off in on the other side. But this was ridiculous. She’d been so careful to watch the sun making sure it stayed to her right. But now night was falling and she’d some how gotten all turned around!

This was just not fair! And where in the world was Xena! Had they really gotten so separated that the brunet had failed to find her? Gabby scowled at the trees around her. She was going to make camp here tonight, she couldn’t possibly go any further.

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Title: Punishment 2
Summary: Xena and Gabby - still in the box.

Xena wasn’t sure how things had gone so wrong. Not only did she fail to find Gabby but she didn’t even know the name of the village. Hardly surprising considering the residents had run her off. She had spent the night in the stables behind the what passed for an inn - that had been the last sane thing to happen.

After waking up she had gotten food at the tavern, the inn didn’t serve any, and tried to ask if anyone had seen Gabriel. Time and again she was ignored. At first Xena took this as unfriendliness on the proprietor's part. But not even the other patrons would speak to her.

Frustrated she left. Outside there was a lot of commotion in the town center, preparations for some festival from what she could gather. Again she tried questioning people and again she was ignored. Finally she had given up on getting anything from the villagers.

Xena turned around to leave and was almost hit in the face with a pole meant for a cart awning. Startled she stepped back. Right into a man pushing a load of melons. The wagon tipped sending the fruit rolling across the ground. The green balls had a rider’s horse high-stepping to avoid them. The horse knocked into a rickety stand collapsing it. Which lead to it’s neighbor's demise, thus startling another horse - this time attached to a wagon, the basket of fish inside fell out sliming people and taking out an old lady.

The whole square was in chaos. There was an argument, yelling, some threatening and Xena might have hit some... or a couple of someones.

That’s when they’d chased her. With pitchforks. Feeling less then her best, Xena had run rather then try to fight off what must have been the whole village. Now she was trudging along an unfamiliar road that was more like a horse trail, heading south through a large bramble patch.

Her day just couldn’t get any worse.

As soon as she finished the thought a fat rain drop hit her shoulder. The slightly overcast day had turned suddenly dark and wet. There was no where to go to get out of the rain. If she left the path it would take her ten minutes just to cross the bramble patch and her legs would be torn up. The rain was cold and falling fast, Xena was soon soaked through. She kept moving forward.

******

Gabby spent the first half the night tossing and turning, sure that she could hear a wolf howling in the distance. The fire she started almost died twice and she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to get it going again so she stayed awake.

Daylight greeted an exhausted wretched figure huddled next to a barely flickering fire. Gabby sniffed feeling miserable for her self. As soon as it was light enough to see she hastily packed her things and trotted off moving as fast as she could to get away from that thrice damned mud pit.

The god’s were surely laughing at her. There was no other explanation for her currant situation. Well she’d put a stop to that. Aphrodite still owed her a favor, all she had to do was find a temple and yell until the blonde goddess showed up.

Plan now firm in her mind she set off stubbornly across an open field. Gabby was already doing better then yesterday, she never made it this far with out getting turned around. Such a trial having the gods meddle in one’s life. She’d have to compose a verse about this. Busy writing in her head Gabby failed to notice the ground was becoming pock marked with deep holes.

She narrowly missed a few before stepping to close to the edge of one. The rim crumpled, her ankle rolled and down she went. When she came to Gabby found herself at the bottom of a pit, the opening feet out of her reach.

She screamed and cursed and kicked the walls. By the time she wore out her rage it had started to rain. Startled by the sudden cold her mind blanked. The she remembered a trick she’d heard of. She pressed her shoulders to one side and lifted her feet to the other. It was almost too much of a stretch.

Gabby started to ascend slowly. It was hard work made harder by the rain. It pelted her stinging her flesh and slicking the walls. Finally. Finally she made it almost to the top, just a little more and she would be out!

Gabby wiggled her shoulders higher and lifted her foot...

And fell all the way back down.

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Title: Solstice Time Again
Summary: Joxer, Ares and the approach of a winter holiday. fanfic100 #092 Christmas

Joxer sat idly playing with a scrap of shiny wrapping paper. Aphrodite had been kind enough to conger him up a roll to wrap his gifts in after he complemented her own sparkly red packages. He’d had a little trouble figuring out the tape stuff but worked it out with only a few mishaps. Joxer sighed and slumped forward on the table, chin resting on his crossed arms. His pile of gifts did look festive wrapped in the silver paper with it’s glittery blue snowflakes.

Now if only he knew what to get Ares for Solstice.

***********

Ares closed his eyes and braced himself for the usual visual assault of Dite’s Solstice decorating. He stepped into his study and... was pleasantly surprised. Ares eyebrows rose as he took in the understated decorations. There was no way Dite did this, the rest of his temple showed signs of her exuberant meddling so it wasn’t as if she had a change of style.

There were holly and evergreen swags over the fireplace and along the tops of his bookshelves dotted with plush red bows. There were silver bud-vases holding springs of mistletoe and thick red candles scattered around the room in little groups. But that was it. No weird red flowers crowed around the walls, no ivy creeping up the fireplace, no jangling stars and moons... Ares kind of liked the effect.

The War god sat down at his desk and found a note from Joxer. So the immortal was the one to decorate in here. Ares grinned and tucked the note away in a drawer before starting his paperwork.

***************

Jett was absolutely no help at all! Joxer didn’t know why he even bothered asking.

“Weren’t you working on something with Dionysus? Just give him some of the wine. Quit acting like a simmering virgin with her first crush! It’s not like he’s going to kick you out if he doesn’t like the gift.”

Stupid brother. Joxer flopped down on his bed. It might not have been a bad suggestion if Joxer had in fact been making wine with Nysus. The boisterous god had actually been teaching him how to belly dance. He’d wandered too far one day and came upon the sandy haired man practicing. Somewhere between apologies and questions Nysus had ended up talking him into learning.

Joxer blushed at the idea of dancing for Ares. He felt a curl of heat low in his belly the more he thought about it. Maybe... if it was JUST for Ares, no other audience. Joxer didn’t think he was quiet ready to dance like that in front of anybody else.

He tried not to think about WHY that was too closely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~