The S.S. Olympus -under refurbishment

XXXV: Itineri

Words have meaning; names have power. 

"Oof!" Cornelia mumbled as the carriage bounced along the long dirt path leading to the main Roman road and architectural marvel known to most as, Appian way. Another lurch in the carriage forced a curse from her lips, and she exclaimed, "You drive like a barbarian." Despite the heat of her annoyance, an unwelcome shiver tickled its way up her arms. The pace of the carriage created a forceful wind that chilled her to the bone. Her teeth gritted as she pleaded to the sun god to release more warmth into this winter day. Instinct pulled the deep red garment closer around her as evidence of her continued breathing burst into the air with the disgruntled sound.

Apollo ignored her as he whistled happily in the driver's seat, seemingly impervious to the cold. 

The mildly arctic temperatures of a Roman winter never brought out the best in her, "I am not sure why I have to wear this now? No one is around." The newly red-headed Cornelia groaned. She frowned at the sound of the voice that came out of her mouth, "I sound like a stupidus." Her fingers fidgeted with the wax nose, "and look like one." 

"But, I love clowns!" Apollo protested brightly. Her impotent glare met a vexatious smile crowned with golden wavy locks of hair, "besides, you do not have nearly enough makeup." 

"I hate you, I hope this carriage hits a ditch, and you fall face-first into it, thereby smashing that grin from your face," Cornelia grumbled under her breath.

"You are a dreadful damsel," Apollo gasped as he clutched his chest in feigned injury. "no gratitude for your rescuer, your soldier in a toga, your handsome prince--?" 

Cornelia cut him off before he hurt himself with a litany of romanticized masculine rescuers. "You are the true stupidus," He feigned tears at her accusation, "ugh, you are so dramatic!"

 Apollo smiled, and then a hand shot up, releasing the reins completely as he 'fainted' into the carriage seat. His mouth hung opened in a wide oval shape as his tongue rolled to the side. It was not lost on Cornelia when he opened one eye to see her reaction, then immediately shut it and continued his charade. 

"Oh for --" her words were cut off as she launched forward to grab the reins over Apollo's 'passed out' body. Cornelia gritted her teeth as she overcorrected the reins and the horses slammed straight into a deep crack in the road.  The wheel bounced and groaned against the stone edge until, with sweat trickling down her forehead, she was able to guide the carriage back onto the road. The carriage lurched to an abrupt halt, and she dumped the chilled contents of her waterskin onto his smirking expression.

He sputtered and floundered forward under the throes of surprise. After a short moment to catch his breath, and then he shot her a fresh smile."Now, who drives like a barbarian?" A golden tan-skinned hand brushed away the hair that was plastered and dripping to the sides of his face, his cheeks rosy from the cold, yet his unctuous expression shown through.

"I learned from the best," the words came out through bursts of laughter as the ridiculous nature of her predicament hit her. "I guess I have been a bit of a harpie," the look on his face forced an unbecoming snort to escape her pursed lips.

"I missed hearing you laugh," Apollo said with a smile as he sat up and took back the leather straps; he added, "you are too pretty for a harpie." The statement coaxed a quiet smile from Cornelia. Apollo almost wiggled as he let the compliment hang in the air for a mesmerizing moment. He quite enjoyed the light blush to her cheeks that it had elicited, but he also could not help himself so he finished the rest of the thought. "They are beautiful, alluring, sensuous beings; but, terrible for your health."

Cornelia shoved her shoulder into Apollo's side and rolled her eyes. "I have heard Artemis describe you in the same way."

"I will take that as a compliment," he said with a jovial harumph.