Metempsychosis Log Community

Aphrodite was only half-dozing at that point. She could feel the solid weight of bodies on either side of her, and at first thought perhaps the twins had crawled into bed with her during the night. Fortunately, she was wearing a nightie (http://www.victoriassecret.com/sleepwear/silk-and-satin/satin-halter-slip-dream-angels?ProductID=94014&CatalogueType=OLS) just for such occasions.

But, when she heard the cursing, she knew it was definitely not her children in bed with her. And she hadn't brought a man home to her bed in quite some time. Alarmed, she sat up, startled.

Hephaestus. She was in bed with Hephaestus. And... She glanced to the other side, and was almost rendered breathless. Adonis too?

"Well. This is unexpected," she said, doing her best to retain whatever dignity she might still have.

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A voice. Voices. Adonis began to stir, knowing he'd gone to bed alone last night. He was also certain that he hadn't left the radio or television on, and there shouldn't be anyone e else in his apartment for any reason. Then he felt a slight shifting on the mattress.

He blinked his eyes open and saw her. "Is this another dream?", he muttered groggily. "I was just dreaming of you." Then he saw another man on the other side of her. And... handcuffs? He held up his hand, seeing it linking him to Aphrodite. He glanced down at himself. He was on top of the covers, wearing he same black boxer briefs he'd fallen asleep in. This wasn't a dream. He wasn't sure what this was.

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"Okay kid, just a fyi," Hephaestus said, working to maintain his composure. "we're going to have enough problems getting out of this without you reminding me you were one of my ex-wife's bits on the side. So let's keep conversation platonic, okay?"

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Admittedly, it warmed Aphrodite inside to hear that Adonis had been dreaming of her. But, for the moment, she agreed that remaining platonic would be best until they figured out what, exactly, was going on.
"Gentlemen, please, let's not get off to any worse a start than necessary. Hephaestus, dear, it was just a dream. I'm sure he dreams of many of us, not just me." She bit her tongue when he mentioned the "bits on the side"--after all, he'd had plenty of bits of his own outside of their marriage.

She looked around and frowned slightly. It was far too quiet, aside from the two men chained to her.
"...I don't suppose either of you might know where my children are?"

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Hephaestus was sure if Adonis dreamt of the others it wasn't quite the same thing. Still..he'd made his own mistakes during that time..even if he was still pissed about it it didn't excuse things. "Right, I'm sorry..both of you."

Dite's absent children put aside any past issues for the time. Hephaestus sat up. "Ivy? Anthony?" He called out for the two. "Are you kids out there!?" Concern tinged his voice when he got no answer.

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Adonis unconsciously made a face when scolded by the man on the other side of Aphrodite. "Hephaestus", he said, suddenly not as excited as he was a moment ago. He didn't like being called on things that had happened in a different lifetime. He'd been about to say something back when Aphrodite spoke up. Instead, he held his tongue for a moment.

He saw their concern for her children, and understood it, though he was a little concerned about their own situation too. "We seem to be the only ones here. Wherever here is." It was a nice suite, wherever they were. "Do either of you have any idea how we got here? Or what's with these?", he asked, rattling his end of he handcuff.

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Aphrodite sighed nervously.
"Well, they're good children. Hopefully they'll be all right," she mused, "Especially if it's like it's been the other times."

"Oh that's right--neither of you have been here before," she realized, "This is Gaia's doing. This hotel... it's a sort of pocket dimension, outside of regular time and space. She brings us here without warning, and no one can leave until we've managed to accomplish... something. Normally, we start in the lobby or the ballroom. I'm surprised she's put us in our rooms this time. And I haven't any idea why we're chained."

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"If you say so." Hephaestus wasn't entirely convinced, but Aphrodite knew the routine a lot better than he did. "I think I remember someone saying these trips usually have some underlying purpose. I mean if we're assuming the others are in similar circumstances..." Hephaestus trails off as he thinks to himself.

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"What could we accomplish like this?", he asked in response to Aphrodite's observation. He could think of something, but he wisely chose not to voice it. It was difficult enough to keep the smirk off his face.

"So we probably have to figure out a way out of the cuffs?" He didn't imagine that to be a problem, thinking that should be Hephaestus's territory. "Any ideas?"

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Aphrodite shook her head.
"I'm afraid I'm at a loss, aside from trying to find a key. As for what's possible in the meantime, well, obviously, our choices are going to be limited. Maybe after we've all had some breakfast and gotten as ready for the day as possible we can get to brainstorming."

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"Makes sense," Heph conceded. "Well let's try to get dressed with some dignity and get to it."

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Adonis took Heph's words as a cue and started to move across the bed, assuming they would all get off the bed on his side. He glanced at Aphrodite again. He couldn't help the feelings and memories that were bubbling up for him. "It really is good you see you again. Even under such crazy circumstances."

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"Thank you," Aphrodite said, moving as gracefully as she could toward the edge of the bed. "A shame the circumstances of our reunion couldn't have been more pleasant, but I suppose there's no helping it right now.

She ran a hand through her red-gold curls and sighed.
"I would dearly love a chance to get cleaned up, though I'm not at all sure how to manage it with these chains."

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Oh this wasn't super uncomfortable. Oh no, not in the least. Having your ex-wife and her ex-lover pretty much making googly eyes right in front of him, didn't bother Hephaestus at all. Nope, not one bit.

"Don't think we can, really," Heph surmised. "Not unless we can make this chain longer..okay I think I just had an epiphany."

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Adonis wasn't sure how they could get cleaned up either, especially Aphrodite, who was chained at both sides. Any ideas he did have were immediately followed by a few suggestive thoughts. He did realize he should keep these ideas to himself, as Hephaestus seemed to still be holding a grudge.

Adonis looked over at Hephaestus with interest. "Please, do share." Anything that couldn't help them out of he chains or at least make their situation somehow easier would be much appreciated.

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Aphrodite looked to Hephaestus, working her charm ever so slightly.
"You always were the best metalworker on Olympus," she purred, "If anyone would be able to free us, I'm sure it would be you. What's your idea, dear?"

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Hephaestus just raised an annoyed eyebrow at Dite. "No need to butter me up. I'm as stuck as you are." He raised the chain up. "This thing's enchanted. I can, I don't know, sense it. Maybe we have some kind of effect on if we..will it."

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"Will it? What do you mean 'will it'? Wish it were off us? Because I think we're already doing that." He wished he could think of a better idea, but he couldn't.

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"I think he means exerting a bit more effort toward trying to get it off. But one thing is clear: unless all of us are working together, I don't think we'll be going anywhere," Aphrodite said.

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"Yes, and yes," Heph confirmed to both of Dite's statements. "Looking at this thing, I'm positive we're not getting it off conventionally. 'Working together', as cliche as it may sound, may actually be the means to get chain off."

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"Okay..." Ben still didn't quite understand how they could affect it other than with a key or something hat could break it, but he was willing to trust them. "Just tell me what I need to do."

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"Perhaps if we all concentrate on it together?" Aphrodite suggested, "Out hands are already chained, so I'm not sure if holding them would make a difference or not."

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"That's exactly what I'm talking about." Hephaestus shook his head. "I don't think it's like holding hands and singing Kumbaya. Like if we were to get up and focus on the chains, maybe we can alter it. Maybe make it longer."

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Adonis still had his doubts. "Alright..." He took a couple steps back from Aphrodite and concentrated on the chain. "You might want to hold he chain", he advised her. "I don't want the chains to hurt you."

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