By Chance

Thirty Three

Bin, Cal, Cady, and Ari were seated at a table at the club. pouring over books and a map as the staff eyed them curiously and brought them more beverages when asked. They had been at it for hours, trying to find information and/or the location of the Great Hall. 

Ari had filled Cady in on the details of what was going on, and of course the best person she had ever met wanted to help. Cady used her bookishness and access to her firm's library account to gather anything she could find that could be of use. Deciphering fact from fable was proving to be a difficult task, though. Finally, Ari leaned back with a frustrated groan, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Gah!" she grimaced as all eyes turned to her, "Fuck it. Nope. Done. We're done. Let's go shit frogs or get spontaneously combusted or some shit. I can't look at this shit for another second. Shit!" She flopped her arms and legs in her chair and put her head directly on the table, "Unngh! I don't wannnaaa shit froo-o-o-ogssss!" she whined in her tantrum.

Bin laughed his pity as he reached over and rubbed her back, "Don't give up now, Jagiya. We need you for the translations."

"Fuck. Latin. My eyes are crossing," Ari glared at him. She was actually surprised that she was the only one of them that knew the language, given how often her mother said that it was *so* important to know it because it was her father's native tongue.

"There has to be an easier way," Cady admitted.

"Did someone say easy?" a chipper voice came from the door as it opened. "Why, Pumpkin, you didn't tell me it was a party!"

Ari and her group all turned to the door, wide-eyed and confused, as a curvy blonde bombshell walked in on the arm of Hermes. She had a floral-print sundress, somehow both flowing and figure-revealing, and her curled hair was pinned back in front but hung loosely to her waist. Ari smiled as her watched her friends' jaws hit the floor, knowing full-well that Dottie was seriously toning down the 1000-watt experience she had given Ari when they first met. Giggling, she decided to just let the boys hang there for a bit and soak it up. Aphrodite winked at her before beginning introductions with both men.

Hermes unhooked himself from the goddess and walked over to stand between Ari and Cady. Ari appreciated his floral button down, closely matching Dottie's pattern, unbuttoned low on top and untucked over oxblood slacks.

"Looking good, Daddy!" Ari praised, "Very Gucci."

"The only Gucci here is this face, Kitten," he smirked. Turning to Cady and offering a blinding smiles, he asked, "Who's your friend?"

"You have to know very well that this is my best friend," Ari giggled.

"I do," Hermes offered her from the side of his mouth, still facing Cady, "I want her to tell me."

Cade's eyes popped as she tore her gaze from the love goddess and landed them on Hermes' face. "Dios mio!" she exclaimed before collecting herself, "Um...Cady. My name is Cady." She offered her hand to shake, but the trickster took it and flipped it over, kissing the inside of her wrist in greeting. Cady flushed a high pink over her light brown skin, and Hermes' smile turned from flirtatious to triumphant.

"A true pleasure," Hermes drawled, elongating every word.

Ari shook her head as her friends got lost on the gods before them, smiling as she got up to get another round of refreshments. She brought back a tray of drinks to find that Hermes had taken her seat next to Cady, pulled up close to her, flirting shamelessly, and Dottie had taken the remaining seat between Cal and Bin. She delivered a drink in front of each of them, and went to put down the tray and grab a chair, but Bin caught her first and pulled her into his lap. He nuzzled into the back of her neck before propping his chin on her shoulder to continue being a part of the conversation happening between Cal and Aphrodite.

"So," Cal inquired, "You can get us into the Great Hall?"

Ari perked up as she joined in, "How?"

Aphrodite gave her a winning smile, "Well," she explained, "Your father has his parties, and they are as epic as you've heard. He never fails to invite me, so I can employ my powers to...well...spice up the mood," she winked, "And as such, I get an unlimited bring-along guest list!" She clapped her hands in a cute manner at her plan.

"Wait wait wait," Bin interjected, "Are you telling us we're going to go to a real Bacchanalia?!"

Dottie reached over and chucked him under his chin, "Oh, Sweetling, I would take you anywhere."

Bin blushed, but squeezed tighter into Ari, kissing her on the cheek. Ari was a little surprised honestly. She figured the guys would be drooling over Aphrodite twice as hard as she did when they first met, even in her toned-down state. They were flirting, for sure, but not in any serious way, and Ari couldn't help but wonder what magic was at work there.

As if reading her mind, Dottie smiled at her, "They're already in love, Cupcake. And so are you. You weren't, fully, when we first met." She sighed adorably, "It's really refreshing. To see it so plainly written on all of your faces. An artist rarely gets to enjoy their work. Speaking of written on face," she chucked her chin to Cady and Hermes, who were scooted even closer together and completely engrossed in their own little world. Hermes was leaned in toward Cade, giving his award-winning winks, and Cady was laughing with her hand rested on his knee. Ari smiled wide, glad they were hitting it off.

Turning back to Aphrodite, she asked, "So when is this party? What even are the rules here?"

"Oh, Darling!" Aphrodite laughed, "There are VERY few rules when it comes to a Bacchus House Party! Rule one," she held up a perfectly manicured finger, "Have fun. That means no sourpusses," she looked directly at Cal. "Two," she waggled another finger, "No entry to Manor Hall." She leaned in and whispered to Bin, eyes mischievous, "That's the rule we'll be breaking in order for you guys to peak the tapestries. Don't worry, I have a plan."

"So," Bin whispered back, "What's the plan?"

"I can't go into detail just yet," Dottie winked, "But it's going to have to involve getting fucked up and getting fucked in general."

"What the hell kind of plan is that?" Cal asked, louder than he intended.

"I can't say much in case there are little birdies," she pulled her ear, "But I will tell you that you should build your tolerance for alcohol and hallucinogens over the next two weeks. Both are prevalent at these things." With that, she booped Cal on the nose and stood to straighten her dress and flip her gorgeous curls. Hermes took his hint and reluctantly pulled himself away from his conversation with Cady.

"She's coming along," he said pointedly to Ari, hiking his thumb back to Cady as he let Aphrodite hook her arm in his.

"We'll pick you up at 10 the night of May 1st!" Dottie blew them all kisses, "Dress slutty!"

And then they were out the door as breezily as they came in. Ari, Bin, and Cal looked at each other, slight disbelief in their eyes, then turned to see a flushed and panting Cady.

"I...need...I need to go home," Cady mumbled, getting up and grabbing her things before making a beeline to the exit. Ari knew exactly how the poor girl felt, having had her own experience in the presence of Aphrodite.

"Use the Hitachi!" she laughed to Cade's back as she watched her run out the door.