Chapter Text
My hands held a precious treasure for my precious treasure. Two tulips —a red tulip and a blue one; the kind that mortals gift to each other in attempts to declare their endearment, although I am not quite sure the blue one is actually obtainable by natural means.
My wings fluttered exhaustedly over the top of my head, the air of the underworld feeling heavy and silent, just like death. (It is the land of the death, after all)
Time-comsuming labor I have been cursed with, having all this wandering souls, and letters to exchange, that have brought not a single opportunity on this past months to watch that little frown he makes when I say something stupid. It’s a small period of time taking into account my inmortal life, but considering the fact that if I had the chance, I would remain in their warm embrace for my entire timespan, it is rather much.
I would’ve brought a whole lot more tulips, but a minor inconvenience resulted on having limited span to pluck beautiful flora for them, so I’ll conform with these two.
Maybe, with enough time, I’ll bring Tiresias’ favorite flower accidentally; when that moment comes, whether he tells me or I guess, no doubt will I dedicate an entire garden to that specie, gathering a bouquet of it for every expression of skeptisim revolving my devotion to them.
I remain as quiet as possible, not allowing myself to even touch the moist ground. Maybe today is the day I’ll finally sneak up on them.
I slowly approach the mouth of the cave, checking to see where he located.
No one?
There is no soul inside.
I suddenly become conscious of how quiet and still the air is. Slowly, I levatate back to the ground, strolling inside mundanely to not overwork my wings. I already escaped from a goddess’ wrath, so might as well let them unwind while I wait for my darling in their chambers. Quite an empty cave, only a stone bed, a stone they use as a seat and…
My gaze lands on the single spark of faded color. A vase with a small, withered sunflower inside. The sunflower I gave them. A smile instantly blooms on my face, indirectly leading for the flowers to slightly open, as if they absorbed my happiness. It isn’t like I didn’t expect for them to keep it, but it’s nice they did; shame Helios’ rays couldn’t reach it.
I crouch to the rocky ground and lay down in the center, gently placing the tulips beside me. The floor has this solid sensation of coldness pressing against my back. I’ve never actually noticed the ceiling. It’s… rocky, like the mayority of things granting company to Tiresias. I know what! I’ll start bringing them all kinds of furniture, maybe a rug or some table.
I can’t recall last time I laid down alone. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve taken breaks previously—just not without affectionate of my lover’s grasp around myself. I allow myself—the god of speed and movement—, to calm for the first time in centuries. I become one with the ground, closing my eyelids and focusing on my breathing. My thoughts ease, regardless of the little bounces my leg makes…
…
Okay, maybe stagnation isn’t my speciality.
I sit up, straightening my wings with precision.
“I believe I’ve reached my limit on this for now.” I mutter absent-mindedly.
At the mouth of the cave, a small voice arises. “Divine Hermes? Was that from your lips?” I stand up immediately, my wings flopping happily against my head. I notice them holding a jar with water, perhaps the Styx’s.
“Greeting darling! I arrived expecting to your presence, but since I couldn’t determine where you were, I simply… rested… on the ground, as I awaited your appearance.” Their brows burrowed together, but they did not question further.
Ah, there it is. The unmistakable frown.
The strong desire clasp them into my bosom as I hold them dearly in my arms tempted over my mind, yet I refrain, for I had a task I needed to execute first. Crouching back down, I retrieved the gift into my grip.
They entered the cave innocently, placing with delicacy the jug beside the other vase before exchanging the withered sunflower into the other ceramic. Their finger caressed it with tenderness, expressing love that can only be truly seen with small actions. My lips couldn’t hold back but smile.
I approach them, placing myself before them. They turned back at me—with remarkable precision that may unnerve some beings—, which in return made me heed our height difference. Tiresias is a little taller than me, which I easily dismiss by floating.
“Ahem. Tiresias! As always, in my hands lies a small bouquet I’ve handpicked for you.” I set the tulips on their hand, intending for him to feel and recognize them. They gently rub their thumb on the petals, examining with attention every detail while forming a warm smile on their features. How much I’ll love to see their eyes. They are covered over a blindfold—which, curious datum, has sewn flowers on the surface of the blindfold by one of their daughters, Historis—, regardless of their stubborness over their supposedly unsightly scars trailing from the top of their eyebrows to their cheeks, and—reciting verbatim—displeasing eyes. My trail of thought is interrupted by a remark from them.
“Tulips? Manto’s favorite. Such lovely flowers. I really adored, when I had life and sight, watching over my daughters as they played over the field of tulips with their remarkable wide range of colors. May I know which colors possess this gems?”
I unconciously start flopping my wings keenly. “Red and blue. The blue one was proven illusive, so I opted for forming the botanic impossibility solely to enliven your day.”
A pregnant silence ruled over in both of those. Normally, I would fill the air with rhetoric statements, but with them, it is a contrasting world. They stroked the flowers, from the stem to the little petals, as if trying to obtain a mental picture. I watched in awe before realizing a severe blunder I had unrecalled.
“Love, I must ask a favour, kindly ensure the tulips are in a safe spot, for I have a duty I am compelled to execute."
They nod benelovently and set them next to the vase.
“May I be granted the knowledge on what you—”
I gently guide them into my arms, trying to not startle him, embracing them in a affectionate hug. My wings seem to have a mind on their own, attempting to reach for Tiresias enthusiastically.
A soft ‘Oh’ parts from their lips, wrapping their arms around me to return the gesture. They appear to be a little stiff —which is strange taking in account the times we’ve been physically close before I vanished for, possibly, eight months—, though a small smile carved on their face.
“Tiresias, I sense some uneassiness. Did my fowardness troubled your peace?” I ask, slowly retracting from them. “While I thought would be a preferable choice to express the desire of your presence beside me with actions, I fear my approach has been too presumptuous. Please forgive my impulsivity and inaccurrate assumptions.”
Before I could keep rambling with the barring apologies, Tiresias pulled me into their bosom. This time, their stiffness reduced, setting a one hand on my the back of my hair, I assume, to know I was actually before them. The hand digs into my curls in such bluntness and braveness I haven’t seen from Tiresias in decades.
“Foolish of you to dwell on naught.”
I perch upon the rocky chair, tangling my hands on the ivory chevelure Tiresias possess. It never fails to baffle me how they nurture such flowing cascade. I’ve been chattering about anything I expect to be, somewhat, of interest to Tiresias, while I undo any knot they have neglected.
“And then Eris seeked for my services, talking about their onus facilitating by Hera. I quote ‘Who would’ve forseen a singular apple could do the entire job?’ Austoundishing, indeed.”
Tiresias chuckles lightheartedly. I continue.
“Speaking about the Cow-eyed. I must say, Queen is quite some… agitating meddler.”
“Wherefore?”
“Wherefore? A better approach would be wherefore not! She’s been recently declaring it is, supposedly, incrediblely impudent of me to tarry on my lover’s embrace.”
A deafening silence takes over. I feel them tense on me, which makes me pause my hands on the spot.
“I beg your utmost pardon?”
Oh no. Eris should’ve flung that apple to my mouth instead.
“I reckon you should elucidate from sections, psychopomp.”