𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒¹

𝐻𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑆𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝐻𝑜𝑚𝑒

‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊

WHEN ASTORIA WOKE UP she found herself at the Jackson apartment. More specifically the front door. Without her backpack. 'How nice of him to drop me off here.' She thought sarcastically. Her eyes scanned the empty walkway. To the left, she noticed a middle-aged man wearing a mailman uniform and a safari helmet with sprouted wings attached to it. He carried a boxed package, one that Astoria remembered quite clearly.

"Hello, Hermes," she greeted from the floor.

The god raised the tip of his helmet, a mischievous grin decorating that sly twinkle in his blue eyes.

"Hello, dear," he said. "Ah, one moment." He pulled out his caduceus and disappeared for a moment, no doubt to drop off Olympus' gift. Astoria hummed. Soon, Stinky Gabe will no longer bother Sally and Percy, and the thought of it made her overwhelmingly happy. Hermes reappeared and offered her a hand up. She took it respectfully, and dusted off her worn out clothes.

Again, thanks to Hades' benevolence.

"How was the quest?" Hermes asked not unkindly when they began walking. There was a twinge of anxiety in that smooth tongue of his. Astoria knew exactly why.

"It was as expected for the most part," she answered. "Although your son has a knack for acting ambitiously."

Hermes winced.

"It's all in the past, though, so don't dwell on it," Astoria smiled sheepishly. "I hold grudges, but only for the ones that truly deserve it. You know," she looked at the god with an "innocent" look in her eyes, "as an act of forgiveness, I would really appreciate my backpack that I left at Hades' palace. You know, the one I got from the Waterland amusement park?"

The god eyed her carefully, and for a second, she thought he wouldn't do it.

But he did.

Holding out his hand, her bag materialized before them in the same condition she lost- er, left it.

"Here." He held out the gift in front of her.

"You must really love Luke," Astoria said absentmindedly, taking her possession. She checked the pockets inside her bag. 'Bingo. The Lotus Card is still here.' She zipped up her belongings and shifted her attention to the god again. There was a distant look in his eyes, which caused Astoria to suspect that he was thinking about Luke and his mother. They walked in silence on the streets of Manhattan. Despite the sun shining brightly today (thanks to Apollo), Astoria could see a dark cloud of sadness hovering over Hermes. She sighed.

"Unlike the gods," Astoria spoke up, "every moment is precious for us 'mortals'. At the same time, we forget a lot of important things. You can try to make amends, and if it doesn't work," she shrugged, "at least you tried. Maybe it'll wash off some of your guilt. Your depressing aura is getting suffocating." When she finished speaking, Astoria immediately regretted opening her mouth. A twelve year old consoling an immortal being was too much. Even more so when she was offering advice to a being that persisted through eons of human suffering.

"That's very bold of you to lecture me, little mortal," Hermes then said. Astoria dared not to look at his face and closed her eyes shut. She heard the god sigh. "I guess my sorrows have been affecting you. Perhaps I'll reflect upon your advice if the Fates allow it."

Astoria let out a breath she never knew she held in.

Danger avoided successfully.

"I must go now," the god said. "I'll see you another time, Astoria. For better or for worse."