Chapter Text
“Someone’s finally got herself a suitor, eh?” Timaeus asks, jostling Eurydice in the side.
The girl grunts. “He’s not a suitor,” Eurydice says, as she waves at Orpheus in the window. Turning to face Timaeus, she scowls, “Just a friend. A very good one; much better than you .”
“What’s this about a suitor?” Afra interrupts, a teasing lilt in her voice. “Aww, is baby Edie finally growing up? Guess you’ll be cradling a little one in no time, then!”
“Shut up ,” Eurydice groans loudly, hammering at a piece of metal with all her might. “I ain’t givin’ birth to no babies, not if I can fuckin’ help it. It’s disgusting, with all the blood, and it’s a waste of time.”
“How did you even manage to attract anyone with that mouth of yours?” Afra teases, taking the horseshoe before Eurydice breaks it with her hammering and handing it to Timaeus to store away. “Can’t remember if you’ve always been swearing up and down, y’know. It’s been a while since you first got here.”
“I’m gonna run this hammer at your knee if you don’t shut up,” Eurydice snarls, a frown on her face. Afra and Timaeus laugh, take turns ruffling Eurydice’s hair, and leave the girl be at her station.
Eurydice doesn’t know what Orpheus is, to be honest. The two of them are close friends, but she’s never thought of them as anything more than that. It’s been a long time since she’s had a friend her age, and it’s a welcome sensation. Eurydice and Orpheus hang out by walking around town while tossing treats into the other’s mouth; it’s the highlight of Eurydice’s otherwise mundane and arduous day.
Sighing, she glances around; Afra and Timaeus seem occupied, and Kimberly’s busy with another customer. She quietly sets down her hammer and slips out of the store, dodging past the squeaky step on the stoop and hopping down to onto the busy street to meet with the waiting Orpheus.
“Hey,” Eurydice says, smiling at Orpheus.
“Oh, Eurydice!” the boy says, his eyes full of happiness at the sight of her. “I didn’t know if you could come walk with me today. You see, I thought that you were occupied.”
“Eh, there’s nothing that the others can’t do,” Eurydice shrugs, tugging at Orpheus’ sleeve. “Now come on! I heard that Jason got a new shipment of glazed walnuts yesterday afternoon. Ooh, we could get taffy, too!”
“My treat,” Orpheus says firmly. Eurydice gives him a glare. “How many times have I said this?” Eurydice groans. “I don’t need you payin’ for me. I’ve got money.”
(That’s a well-formulated lie. Eurydice steals a couple shillings from Hades’ own pocket every now and then to pay for little luxuries like candy, but Hades never pays her. Food and board is already enough, in her boss’ eyes.)
“Well, let me treat you just this once,” Orpheus pleads, as they make their way to Jason’s confectionary store. “Come on, Eurydice.”
“Fine,” she sighs, to Orpheus’ delight.
(If she’s gotta choose a man to court, it’ll be him.)