Time with Gus

[wheatencrown]

Demeter opens the door out into her garden where the moon's out and its starting to get hot and humid.

Everywhere something is blooming and the scents fill the air as Demeter smiles and leads Gus to a table set out in a little grove of trees.

Comments

[thesupersmeller]

Mmm, coffee... yes. Coffee and a shower would be amazing.

Coming up behind her for one last warm embrace and kiss, Gus slips off to take care of that in preparation for the day.

It's amazing how much he looks forward to working with her, usually words like 'harvesting' and 'weeding' translated to 'hard work' that he'd rather not be doing - but with Demeter? Sounds like a great way to spend the morning before head back to Juliet's party.

[wheatencrown]

The house is full of light and plants, the soaps and shampoos in the shower are all scented with local lavender and citrus.

From downstairs there's soon the smell of coffee and freshly baked bread.

[thesupersmeller]

Following his nose, a happily lavender-scented Gus makes his way downstairs to the kitchen.

"Mmm, a guy could get used to this... I'm surprised you don't have to beat men off with a stick."

[wheatencrown]

"Not everyone comes here and I can find men when I want them,"

She prefers having her time and space with her daughter and then visits mixed in. There are warm croissants, jams made from the orchard and garden and hot coffee.

[thesupersmeller]

He nods, warmed and honestly feeling a little bit special for being in both those high groups.

"I've, uh... I've been thinking about some of the stuff we talked about last night. I think, maybe I need to cut out certain things in my life." He looks down into a warm, flaky croissant smeared with a daub of sweet jam, hoping it's clear enough he means Her... the thing he shouldn't have let himself get wrapped up into.

[wheatencrown]

"Good, it won't be easy but you'll do better for it, Gus."

[thesupersmeller]

He nods again, taking a large bite and chewing slowly. After a long quiet, he admits; "I'm... I'm a little scared, I mean... she's... you know."

Scary.

[wheatencrown]

"Have you made any promises to her? Do you have any debts with her? If you don't then I think you should be fine. Don't let her scare you or use you, that's what she wants."

[thesupersmeller]

"No," he shakes his head; "I don't think so, I mean... she fixed my wrist, but I never asked her to."

He's thought considerably about anything that could have been construed as a contract. If popular culture has taught him anything it's that you should never sign anything from the Devil. And avoid Georgia.

[wheatencrown]

"Did she ask anything in return for that?"

Exchanges are important and dangerous.

[thesupersmeller]

He shakes his head again, playing over that night... he'd been drunk off the situation, vulnerable and lonely and needy.

"All she asked out of me was to... to... do things, a certain way." A blush warms him at the thought of what she'd drawn out of him; the bold, masculine dominance he could never tap into before.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter frowns as that sounds like something Zeus would do, get what he wants but make it seem like what you want,

"I see."

[thesupersmeller]

He doesn't like that tone, it's a scary tone...

"That's bad, isn't it? I don't like the sound of that..."

[wheatencrown]

"No, it just sounds familiar. My brother has done that many times, he's not exactly tricking anyone but he cares more about what he wants."

[thesupersmeller]

He swallows another bite, still not able to fully look at her as he considers the way it had played out.

"I wanted it, I think. I mean, not specifically... but it felt good to feel like I was in charge." He half-shrugs; "I don't know, it was probably pretty stupid of me to do that at all."

[wheatencrown]

"Yes, but Gus feelings like you're in charge isn't the same as having control Now you know that feeling and how everything wasn't exactly what you wanted."

[thesupersmeller]

He nods again, raising his eyes to her for a brief moment before looking back down - guilty as charged.

"Hopefully not too late."

[wheatencrown]

"No, I don't think it will be. Are you ready?"

She plans on distracting him with work that leaves him with dirt under his fingernails and a basket of vegetables. If Lucifer causes any trouble for him then Demeter will do what she can.

[thesupersmeller]

He could sure use the distraction, that's for sure.

"Mmm? Yeah, yeah..." He smiles reflexively, finishing off the last of his coffee with a gentle nod. "Lead the way, m'lady - to the garden."

[wheatencrown]

The garden surrounds the house but she takes him towards one of her vegetable gardens to show him what to weed and what to harvest. She'll be working alongside him and has brought them both big straw hats.

[thesupersmeller]

Admittedly, the hat feels a little silly, but he's not one to argue when a goddess tells him to wear a damn hat.

So, he falls in easily beside her - copying her when he doesn't know what he should be doing.

[wheatencrown]

The day passes by quickly and soon the sun's overhead and beating down on them as Demeter grins at the improved patch,

"A good morning's work. Come inside to clean up and I'll find you a door."

[thesupersmeller]

He's not tired, or aching like he thought he'd be - really, he feels centered and refreshed. Exactly the best sort of mood to be in when he heads into the party after the case that led up to it.

"I appreciate it," he smiles; finding a place to wash up easily enough. "Are you coming to Juliet's birthday party?"

[wheatencrown]

"No, I've got more to do here, go and have a good time and send my good wishes. As well as all that we've harvested today."

[thesupersmeller]

"I'll do that," he smiles broadly, leaning in to press a gentle kiss against her cheek.

"Thank you, again, I mean... I can't talk to anybody the way I talk to you."

And the way he doesn't talk, the way she just knows what he means.