Hera's Olympus

4

Hera is lightly dabbing her cheeks with a golden highlighter, humming a tune to herself. She looks at the clock reflected in the mirror in front of her, reading 9:15. When did Bacchus open? "Ares!" Hera calls, focusing on her eyeliner now.

Ares appears, buttoning up his shirt, still not impressed with his outfit. "Did you need something?"

"When does Dionysus open his club?" Hera finishes up her makeup and turns around in her seat.

Ares gives her a blank look. "I'll google it."

"Alright, let me know by then." Hera walks out of her bedroom, going over to the center of the hallway, heels echoing down the red carpet. She folds her arms on top of the black rounded railing that looks over her living room, thinking to herself: what am I doing? Am I really doing all this for a bet? Or am I that pathetic to want some kind of thrill in my life? "I need to get myself together," Hera mutters to herself, sighing.

"Hera, there's not a specific time." Ares walks out of a room. "It says it's twenty-four hours," Ares stops next to her to show her what he found on his phone.

"We'll leave at ten." Hera muses, then asks Ares, "Do you think Eileithyia would like to join us?"

"Eileithyia? She doesn't seem like the type to go to these types of things."

"You aren't either, but here you are. You look very handsome, by the way," Hera pats her son's shoulder, smiling.

Ares does an awkward smile but feels better about the simple fashion he's wearing: A button-down shirt, slacks, a belt with a silver buckle, and dress shoes, all somehow different shades of black. "Thanks, and doesn't Eileithyia come back at around ten?"

"She does, but maybe she'll come back early," Hera shrugs and starts moving down the curving stairs.

The front door then unlocks, and Eileithyia comes in with papers wedged under one arm, screaming at someone on the phone, which is balanced on her right shoulder. "I'm not doing another twelve-hour shift!" She throws her phone, then throws her head up and groans. "Wait, I still needed that."

"How did you manage to get the door open?" Ares asks with a raised eyebrow.

"How did you—," Eileithyia starts, pursing her lips, "I'll come up with something later," she waves him away and goes into the kitchen on her right. "Mom, I need a new phone! Please!"

"You pay for it. You have a job, don't you?" Hera stands behind Eileithyia, skimming through her paperwork.

"Ugh! Why am I even working! I am a goddess! And you're rich!" Eileithyia spins around in her chair to look at Hera, her eyes widening. "Oh! Wow!" She leans back to take in Hera's getup, impressed. "Where are you going dressed up?" Eileithyia teases.

"Bacchus," Hera answers, pleased with her daughter's reaction.

Eileithyia raises her eyebrows. "You don't even like the god-- how are you two even on good terms!? Seme—"

Ares makes a cutting motion over his throat while shaking his head side to side, silently telling her to shut up.

"Nevermind, so where's my invite," Eileithyia says jokingly, writing something down on a sticky note. "Wonderful, you're coming with us," Hera says gleefully, sounding more like it was a must.

Ares laughs. "You're stuck with us now."

Eileithyia glowers. "Fine, give me fifteen minutes."

~~~~~