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“So, what did Hermes need?” Freddie asked, staring into the endless city before them.
Grace sighed, almost apprehensive at discussing the thought. None of it felt quite right to her. She thought that Orpheus could’ve been, stronger, perhaps? But in this case, he wasn’t. He simply took the easy way out, because he lost hope too soon.
“Well, Orpheus came here from The Underworld..ultimately, to find love, I guess?” She said.
Freddie gasped, “Orpheus?! Like, the Orpheus?”
“Yeah..” Grace chuckled, sheepishly.
Freddie’s expression shifted to one of curiosity, “Wait..didn’t you like, steal his throne? He wasn’t angry?”
“Guess he..got over it?” Grace shrugged, “Anyway, Hermes thought that I could help..guide Orpheus. Help him figure himself out, I guess?”
Grace stared out into light-polluted night, sighing. This prompted Freddie to speak up, “And..how’d it go?”
Grace then looked down, staring at the street below her. Her eyes seemed distraught, almost. Part of her didn’t want to talk about it, it was all so raw in her mind, still. Hermes had only just left with Orpheus. By now, Orpheus was likely on his way out, if not already gone. And despite barely knowing him, something in Grace felt..uneasy, about the outcome of their talk. She’d been responsible for what, two deaths now? Technically three, counting Freddie’s temporary stay in the underworld. She regretted agreeing to help Orpheus in the first place, truthfully. She’d even told him herself that she didn’t see herself as much of a problem solver. Yet, she still tried, and Orpheus still chose oblivion.
“Orpheus chose to be with Eurydice..” Grace replied, now leaning on the edge of the roof. Her eyes held a look of conflict. As if she were back in that concert hall all over again, adrift in the endless dark sea of her own thoughts.
“But that’s—that’s good, right?” Freddie asked, “He did all of this because he missed Eurydice, right?”
“Yeah, but—I just thought he’d..try harder..? That maybe I could convince him to stay and find his place here, in the mortal world.”
Freddie raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure that’s the only reason this is bothering you so much?”
Grace sighed for what felt like the thousandth time that evening, looking away from Freddie once again. “I just really thought I could actually help someone this time, you know?” She began, “Take Aphrodite, for example. I was supposed to talk her out of passing her eidolon down to Venus that night. I was supposed to inspire her. But, she chose—well, she chose oblivion. Just like Orpheus did.”
Freddie placed a gentle hand onto Grace’s shoulder, prompting Grace to look back at her. Her gaze felt hopeless, in a way. Freddie knew that Grace still struggled to find her place—she knew that even being on tour, Grace felt like there was more for her, but she didn’t quite know what that more was.
“But that’s okay, Grace. Both of them made those choices because you helped them realize that those outcomes were what they needed. Maybe you couldn’t convince Aphrodite to stay, but your pushing showed her that no matter what, she needed to go through with it.” Freddie pulled Grace into a tight embrace, “And I know it hurts..but you’ve done so much good for the idols, even if it doesn’t feel like it.”
Grace held Freddie tight, burying her face into her shoulder. “But they all gave up so easily..I couldn’t convince them to stay because I just, wasn’t good enough.”
“That’s not it, Grace..” Freddie said, brushing her fingers through Grace’s hair, “You did everything you could, but their decisions were what’s best for them. It’s not your fault that they chose to go..if anything, you helped them see that leaving is what they truly needed to be happy. You’ve made so many lives better, including theirs.”
”I guess you’re right..they were both so..hopeless. Maybe what they needed was for their stories to end.”
“Exactly. Plus, Venus may decide to stay when the time comes. You never know—but what I do know, is that you’ll definitely help her make the right choice.” Freddie smiled softly, hoping to lighten Grace’s mood.
“Thanks, Freddie..I needed this.” Grace looked up at Freddie, holding both of her hands securely in hers.
“Of course. The inspiration of a muse does wonders, doesn’t it?” Freddie smirked.
“Definitely.” Grace chuckled, before raising herself up slightly to lay a kiss upon Freddie’s lips. Freddie smiled into the kissed, cupping Grace’s cheek lovingly. No matter how low life would get for either of them—they had each other, and that was enough.