Arcadian Forest Party

[askmenosecrets]

This was more work that he usually bothered to put in, Pan thought, especially here, at home, but everything was set.




At first glance, it appeared to be a forest clearing, beautiful and wild but nothing different than a hundred other clearings spread throughout the woods of the Arcadian mountains. But when you looked again, Pan thought, you saw something quite different. Hidden in the trees were a series of structures suspended in air, hung with ivy and dew, and through the mist-shrouded branches you could see the faint glow of light, and you could smell the scent of fire and food. There was the fire pit, a circle suspended in the arms of a large oak with a crackling golden fire, a roast, and bowls of marshmallows, chocolate and crackers waiting. There was the bar, stocked with a rich variety of wines and alcohols and staffed by two of the satyrs. And then there was the forest floor itself, bare now, but waiting for the dancing. On all sides of the floor, there were cushions on the low branches and benches of fallen logs, each accompanied with wooden buckets full of wine and beer bottles and glassed suspended with vine.

"Well," he said to Zaffre, currently wrapped around his neck, "I think we're ready." Pan flicked a leaf off his forest green turtleneck and looked around with approval before pausing. "We're almost ready," he corrected, and pulled his pan flute up to his lips.

The forest filled with music as he played, music that began as the mystical songs of the flute, but transformed as he let the instrument fall to his side - transformed into thrumming, sensual rhythms and intricate guitars that would encourage the party-goers to...well, Pan thought with a sharp grin, to be bad. Very bad.

"Let the games begin," Pan said.

[Notes: Everyone in fortuna_invicta is invited, the more the merrier in Pan's opinion. If anyone needs directions to the right section of the forest, let Pan know on the SWS post. Mingle! Get drunk! Stuff your face! Find a secluded tree and do naughty things! Pan approves highly of all these pursuits. Format = narrative third person, if you please!]

Comments

[lovedoftwogods.livejournal.com]

Hyacinthe shivered when Apollo lifted his chin and spoke to him as he used to, the antiquated speech a comfort, bringing with it the memory of poetry exchanged as they lay near each other. As such, the shiver was not unpleasant and his smile grew only wider. The tension went out of his shoulders and his guard seemed to drop, just enough for the youth Apollo had once loved to become visible again.

"All the same, you are due at least heartfelt thanks, though so many will not even consider what a burden it is to keep them all alive."

[bringsthelight.livejournal.com]

If Hyacinthe wanted archaism, Apollo had no problems quoting by the hour. Mercurial as ever, he could launch into iambic pentameter or harmonic ballad at the twitch of the breeze, whichever tickled his fancy at that particular moment. Hyper activity? The golden deity was one of the co-founders, oh yes.

Nevertheless, he gazed upon Hyacinthe with ageless tenderness and unfading love, willing the spirit he'd known so every long ago to come once more into the blessed light to be warmed in the golden sun. He gently reached out, enfolded one of his hands in his own and curled it against his chest, directly over his heart.

"Then I will take what thou sees fit to offer me, my sweet one. For even the smallest favor from thy pure heart would be e'en greater than all the gold 'neath the soaring mountains."

[lovedoftwogods.livejournal.com]

Hyacinthe's pulse jumped to feel the god's heart beneath his hand and he took a step closer, returning his glass to the bar. His cheeks were brightly blushed now, with a mix of intoxication and emotion and when Apollo mentioned favors he couldn't help that his gaze drifted and lingered on Apollo's lips before he looked away and went back on his guard, just a little, composing himself.

[bringsthelight.livejournal.com]

He wanted to urge the other to release that defense, to be uninhibited and wild, as they had of old, but patience was a lesson which Apollo had unfortunately learned the hard way. And he had no desire to cause another discomfort at the expense of his own wants.

Still, this was his Hyacinthe. His Hyacinthe. Forever would he recall that horrible day when damnable Zephyrus expunged his festering jealousy. It was only the divine hand of Zeus which kept Apollo from dismantling the wind god in his blinding rage, and the breach between sun and wind had yet to heal.

Yet, to have his belovèd here, standing flushed before him, was a temptation almost to cruel to contemplate. Thus Apollo slid from the barstool, stepped forward and, carefully placing both hands against Hyacinthe's blushed cheeks, lowered his head and brushed a soft kiss against his lips, a bare breath of caress.

[lovedoftwogods.livejournal.com]

Hyacinthe made a sound, a half-stifled, half-mad laugh of relief and joy before he leaned up and pressed a more urgent kiss to the lips of the god.

"Beloved..." He whispered against Apollo's lips. In this moment, he didn't care that millennia had separated that, that they had both perhaps known others in that long time since Hyacinthe had died at his lover's feet, his last thoughts confusion and pain. If he received nothing more than a kiss, it would be enough.

[bringsthelight.livejournal.com]

A low groan stifled from Apollo's lips as Hyacinthe returned his hesitant affection and immediately strong arms encircled him, holding tight and wedging him between the god and the bar counter. The kiss returned was hard, fierce, but no less wanting than the million more given and bestowed eons ago.

To have this precious creature in his arms again was a blessing not even the deity had ever contemplated. Yet nor would he question it; for the Fates and their whims were ever a mystery. Finally lifting his head from such a torrid embrace, Apollo breathed against Hyacinthe's mouth, "...I have missed you for too long, lover...far too long..."

[lovedoftwogods.livejournal.com]

"I've missed you too." Hyacinthe murmured, curling his fingers against Apollo's sides. "So very, very much." He swallowed thickly and looked up at Apollo through the fringe of his lashes as his hands moved over Apollo's chest and arms. "To be in your arms again, to feel your warmth and your strength..." He could not find further words and he kissed the god again, trembling a little.

[bringsthelight.livejournal.com]

"Mmm...and you will never...want of it," was the fervent promise given between hastily pressed kisses. Apollo felt the boy shaking against him and resolutely clamped a strong resolve on his own racing desire, seeking to keep his wits about him, especially here.

Lifting his head, he sighed deeply and simply held his belovèd, pressing Hyacinthe's head against his shoulder and stroking his hair gently. "...oh, my love...shhh...it is well, for I am here with you again..."

[lovedoftwogods.livejournal.com]

"It's alright." Hyacinthe promised, though he nervously tried to shy away from Apollo's comforting hand upon his head, fearful the god's fingers might brush over the roughness of his scar. He kissed Apollo's throat. "I'm alright. I just..." He blushed and cast a glance at the saytrs who tended the bar he was pressed up against. "Not...here, though I'm sure Pan has no qualms about the bar being used for such distractions, the other guest might." He caught himself and chuckled.

"I'm sorry, I am being presumptuous..."

[bringsthelight.livejournal.com]

Apollo had to chuckle at the other's reticence. "My dear one, I do believe we could amuse ourselves the night long in this very spot and no one would give us a second glance, our host least of all." No, the god of pandemonium would probably cheer them on, Apollo thought with a smirk.

But nevertheless, he took a slow step back, reluctantly releasing his new-found love and resumed his former seat. The satyrs behind the counter knew far better than to remark or even glance in the deity's direction, least of all his young companion.

"Presumptuous?" Apollo echoed with a soft smile. "How so? If I may, Hyacinthe, know that I consider you quite reserved, given what I know of thee." And yes, that was a naughty twinkle sparkling deep within spring green eyes.

[lovedoftwogods.livejournal.com]

Hyacinthe smiled sheepishly.

"I have grown careful in our time apart." He said. "Wary of all things and subject to mortal standards." He took his own seat again, fidgeting with his glass. "Believe me, I long for the days when I could run naked in the fields and lay with you in the long grass without shame or fear."

[bringsthelight.livejournal.com]

"Come back with me," Apollo invited immediately. "To the island. It is far from Olympus and quite secluded. No one dares trespass there."

Again, he reached forth and captured one of Hyacinthe's hands, bringing it to his lips to press a gentle kiss on his knuckles, nuzzling into the boy's palm. "I wish to keep you for myself, for I am selfish, belovèd, and would be the only recipient of your sweet touch."

[lovedoftwogods.livejournal.com]

Hyacinthe's eyes widened and he almost pulled his hand from Apollo's, though the kisses made him ache terribly for his god.

"A-are you sure?" He asked. He feared Apollo's asking was motivated by obligation or guilt and he could not impose so selfishly upon the god he loved. But he wanted it so badly, to run away from everything and go back to living as if nothing had changed.