Chapter Text
There once was a man named Jason. To onlookers, he seemed merely a nobody. Some drifter with one spur, moving about as such people do. Whispers and rumors, however, always followed in his wake. Some believed that he was the heir to a powerful mining company, and that after the president’s tragic death he planned to collect. No matter what, though, none of these rumors were said to his face. Jason was shifty-eyed, always looking as though someone was on the hunt for him. People tended to worry around him... though whether for him or about what he might do was a coin toss. Either way, people whispered their hushed prayers to the gods when he was around.
Jason opened the door of the tavern with a painfully loud creak. Untying his horse, he mounted it with his usual flourish and was off. It was a long, dusty road as he came closer and closer to his destination. On the side of the road, though, something caught his attention – an old lady, lying unconscious and not far from death. It was instinctively that he pulled his horse off to the side, dismounted, threw her over the back of the saddle, and continued onwards. The rest of the journey was rather monotonous, though once they neared the town she came to. With a flash of light, she transformed.
“Jason... I am Hera, one of the greatest gods. Your kindness to one such as I does not go unnoticed, nor unrewarded. Take within yourself my power, the ability to twist the weave of the Fates. Even should horrible, horrible things befall you, there will always be a way out.” The man gaped, trying and failing to muster a response. Before he could, though, she had disappeared. Questioning whether he was suffering from heatstroke, he went into town.
Shortly, he’d reach the imposing headquarters of Iolcos Mining. Tying his horse to a hitching post outside, he took a deep breath and pulled open the door. The man behind the desk offered a bored wave, but looked up in surprise when he noticed Jason’s singular spur. He excused himself with a nod, rushing into the back room. Jason could only hear low whispers, and then a table being slammed as someone marched out of the room. It certainly wasn’t the man at the front desk.
Pelias might have been his real name, but everyone just called him The Man. After the previous president of the company had died, Pelias immediately took over. This wouldn’t ordinarily be suspicious, but he hadn’t been too high up. Some people suggested it to be jealousy, while others believed it to be greed. As far as Jason was concerned, it was both. After all, Pelias knew that the president had an heir. He simply didn’t care. He had done things he wasn’t proud of (and that the media was very fond of) to get to the top, and he wasn’t giving it away. The Man glared at Jason, composing himself before he spoke.
“You must be Jason. How’s it going, kid?” The young man looked at the older with surprise.
“No idea how you know that, but guilty as charged. And I ain’t just some kid. In any case, you know why I’m here. I ain’t leaving until I get it.”
“Oracle told me about people with single spurs. Anyways- Look, kid. You gotta understand something. The media... your daddy never did tell nobody about his heir. And as much as they love harping on what I did, they know I’m legally the owner of this place. So who do you think they’re gonna believe? The feared owner of a great company, or some brat who claims ol’ Aeson was his pappy?” The young man sighed, knowing deep down that he was right.
“Well, let’s say I’m not in it for the money. Let’s say I’m doing this on a sense of principle, and to get this place to treat its workers right. What would you say to that, Pelly?”
“That’s a bluff and we both know it. How about we both put our cards on the table, huh? It would make it a lot easier for the both of us.” He raised a cigar to his lips, inhaled, and released a puff of smoke. Jason’s eyes narrowed, waiting as he sidestepped the puff. “Look, kid. If you can give me more than I could earn from this place in the next ten years, you can have it. With all the enemies I’ve made, I hardly expect to live that long anyways.” The Man chuckled softly, grinning wolfishly. “Let’s say... A hundred grand. Think you can do that, kid? If not, get outta here and don’t come back until you got it.” With a pause and a low groan, Jason slammed open the door and left. By the time The Man took a look outside, Jason was long gone.
Another door swung open, Jason strolling in and sitting down to order a whiskey. Drink was what kept him going sometimes, and at this point he honestly felt it would help him come up with a solution. As he sipped it, he overheard a conversation. Figuring there was nothing better to do, he listened closely.
“Didya hear about that bank robbery? They say the man stole 500 grand worth of gold. I don’t think you have to give it back if you get the man.” Jason perked up a bit. Sure, he wasn’t too much of a fighter, but he knew how to use a gun. And that was far more than he needed... if he were to find some others to help, they could all split it. Maybe... three or four others? He shrugged. He could get to that later... but then again, this was a place with a bunch of people there. Before he could stop himself, he yelled out to the room.
“Hey y’all! Anyone want to help me get a piece of that?” The conversation quieted for a few worrying seconds, before a few people stood up and approached. Jason grinned. Hera’s luck must be working!
“U-Um... I’m Orpheus! Everyone calls me The Bard. Feels a bit medieval, but it’s true.” The first man didn’t seem very imposing, nor did he look armed. As Jason was about to comment on the man’s foolishness and ask him to stay away for his own sake, Orpheus pulled out a harmonica. Inhaling softly, he began to play a tune on it. The music pierced straight to the root of the busy tavern. People stopped in their tracks, enchanted by it. But they weren’t the only ones affected. The very wood beneath their feet seemed to awaken and warp, growing out into small patterns on the floor. “Erm... music that strikes a chord - pun not intended – with everything might be useful to you.” He stepped aside as the next man approached, everyone recovering from the tune just played.
“People call me The Healer, but my name’s Asclepius. I was in the War, but too much hurting and too little healing made me stay on the back lines. Maybe if I join I can finally be of some use. Not even death can stop me if I do my stuff right. Anyways.” He shrugged, stepping aside for the last man. As Jason saw him, his eyes widened. He knew this man from his face alone, and so did everyone in the room. An awed silence filled the room, just as in Orpheus’ tune.
“... I’m Heracles, some can’t get it right and call me Hercules or The Legend. I might not be able to bend people to my will or heal the dead, but I’ve more strength than I care to mention. Anyways. I’d like to come along, just to have something to do.” He paused, stepping back to see if there was anyone else. The three looked at each other, then at Jason, and nodded. “Guess that’s it. Let’s go, sometime between now and tomorrow.”
Jason heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed greed wasn’t a bad motivator, and it was nice to have allies in times like these. In any case, he paid for a few rooms for the night. He nodded to them, and then headed upstairs to sleep for the night.