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Dite's Decadent Delights, Thursday, Late Morning

The shop wasn't supposed to be open for a couple of hours yet, but she'd ~~handwavily~~ agreed to be up early to meet Fiona. They were going to look through some catalogs to help Fiona choose a gift for Griff. For this reason there were four different catalogs spread over the counter.

Aphrodite wasn't reading them, though. Her conversation with Gibbs had been running through her head since the previous night. An idea had been brought up. A ridiculous idea.

But now it wouldn't go away. Instead of the catalogs for Fiona, Aphrodite was reading something completely different. Whatever it was, it was hardcover, very thick, with small print.

And it wasn't making 'Dite happy.

"This is the kind of stuff they're teaching counselors now? No wonder mortals are so screwed up!"

(ooc: Post is open. Dite's at the store early for Fiona, but anyone's welcome after that.)

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Fiona knocked on the door to the shop, unsure if it'd be locked.

It wasn't, but the knock gave Aphrodite time to try to hide the book under a catalog.

"Come in, it's open!"

Please ignore the slightly flustered tone.

Fiona had always been told to wait outside of her Mother's office, so it was a tough habit to break. As such, she only slipped in when she heard the voice saying it was all right.

"Hope this isn't too early," she said as she made her way over.

"Nahh. You're right on time." Aphrodite began gathering up the catalogs, inadvertantly uncovering the book before dropping one back down on it.

She grinned at Fiona. "I have catalogs and I have nectar. Shall we adjourn to the lounging chairs?"

The mention of nectar made her smile a little. Of course there was the social aspect that was lost when one couldn't (or didn't) eat, but there was also the simple satisfaction of food. Nectar was a nice treat when she could get it.

"See anything good so far?"

In the catalogs.

"A couple of things. Let's get comfortable and we can start searching. I'm thinking blue would be a good color on Griff."

Coming around the display counter she moved smoothly over to her usual chair, catalogs ready. "Would you pour?" She motioned to a carafe sitting on a tray with two glasses.

She did just that, moving slow and careful to make sure she didn't spill one drop.

"Blue's my favorite."

She wore it pretty often, after all.

Dite's nose wrinkled as she smiled. "Mine's pink. Don't tell anyone."

Offering up a magazine, she showed a picture to Fiona. "Well, in blue, there's this (http://www.amazon.com/Mens-Charmeuse-Pajamas-Medium-Black/dp/B001U2WKUK/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1252010640&sr=1-30), with a simple cut and classic lines. Dark blue."

She flipped the page. "But if you want something that stands out a little more, there's this light blue set (http://www.amazon.com/Pajamas-TexereSilk-Color-Ocean-Waves/dp/B00114O2MQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1252010605&sr=1-8). The color is called Ocean Wave."

She pointed at the second one.

"I like the lighter blue. Something too dark will look silly since he's kind of pale."

"Yeah, I think you're right." She considered. "I think the only dark color he'd look really good in is black because it would be a good contrast. Anything else and he'd look a little washed you, you know?"

Aphrodite slipped another catalog on top the first one. "Now, are you sure you want to give him pajamas? Cause a nice silk robe (http://www.amazon.com/Mansilk-100%25-Sandwashed-Kimono-Indigo/dp/B002L32110/ref=sr_1_96?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1252011483&sr=1-96) would be just as good." She winked. "It's also easier to get rid of at -- certain times."

She blushed and thought of her own robe.

"Maybe. I mean. With mine. There was."

She was red.

"Mine was pretty nice."

Aphrodite smiled, not only at the blush, but just the look on Fiona's face. "Oooh, somebody really likes silk."

After a moment, though the smile remained, 'Dite turned serious. "Hey, Sweet Pea? Don't worry about it. A body is designed to feel things, and the mind is designed to interpret what we feel. And things can feel good. From -- a caress of silk to the touch of a lover, from -- a kiss on the lips to the feel of a body against yours. It's all meant to feel good. You don't have to be embarrassed about it. Okay?"

She rolled her eyes just a little before nodding, quickly.

"My head knows that. In fact, it knows the whole--" and there was a very unhelpful handgesture there "thing is silly. I shouldn't freak. But when he touches me, it goes from feeling nothing" she swallowed "to feeling everything."

"That's an interesting way of putting it."

'Dite wondered how to interpret that. She knew Fiona had problems dealing with emotions because of what had happened to her. Anger was a more constant companion than anything else, or so she understood.

"Are you saying that . . . when you touch Griff your emotions get stronger?" Aphrodite hoped she could explain this right. "Or are you saying that you really never feel anything, unless you touch someone?"

She really hoped it was the first.

She ducked her head.

"I never really feel unless I make myself," she said, "other than anger. That happens. Touching people makes it easier to feel... but I don't like touching people. Usually. Gotten better about it. Touching Griff is better."

Aphrodite tilted her head. "Why don't you like touching people? Do you feel like they're invading your space, or you're invading theirs?"

She didn't say anything about Griff. It wasn't surprising that touching Griff was better.

"What do you feel when you touch other people? Do your emotions seem to follow theirs, do they get stronger when you touch them?"

She was really trying to understand this. Fiona was unlike anyone she'd ever met, yet in some ways she reminded Aphrodite of Ares. Whether that was good or bad, she didn't know.

That got a wry smile.

"I just never liked people touching me. That's just me."

She'd always been that way. She and her brother had an unspoken agreement that they didn't touch unless necessary, but it'd been broken more and more after the hospital.

"And mostly I just feel..." that was very personal, but this was Aphrodite. Aphrodite who was so much like her Aunt Dallas, who'd helped her, who had trusted her after that mess with the nectar "less alone. More human. It doesn't have anything to do with their emotion, really, just that."

Just the normal magic of human connection.

"That's good. That's really good. Feeling more human is always a good thing."

A memory struck Aphrodite. Something from thousands of years ago. Of being mortal, feeling a mortal's touch. Her gaze turned inward for just a moment before she looked back at Fiona.

"You don't like people touching you. But -- what about you touching people? I know you have some good friends - Dinah and Karla come to mind -- are you okay reaching out to touch them? Does it help when you do?"

"Sometimes. And I do th--"

Which was when she noticed something, namely that her bag was moving. Moving on it's own. Moving... to reveal a fuzzy little black-furred head and big blue eyes.

It also meowed.

"Sorry!" she said, lifting Nyx out, though it was anyone's guess who she was apologizing to.

"Oh, my gosh, it's a kitten!" One hand went to her chest. "It's so cuuuuuuuuuuute!"

It's Aphrodite. What else could she say?

"Who is thiiiiiis?"

Conversation? What conversation?

Nyx meowed mournfully at the lack of petting. Fiona laughed.

"That's Nyx, my cat. Isn't she sweet?"

"Oh, she's gorgeous! Hi, little one!"

Aphrodite reached out to pet the kitty. "You're so cute, yes you are." She looked at Fiona. "Where did you get here? And did she keep you company while you were a kitten?"

Somehow she kept a straight face while teasing Fiona.

Fiona wondered why she didn't mind. She almost felt like she should but she couldn't with 'Dite so pleased.

Nyx was quite happy for the petting, though she stayed on Fiona's lap, half in the bag and half out.

"I got her at the pet store on the island. Though she was with Mr. Moxie while I was a kitten. Griff took care of me then and I stayed in his room."

Ah, yes! Griff!

Which reminded her of the conversation and the catalogs.

"Right, Griff!" She poked at the pictures they'd been looking at. "Have you decided, or do you want to keep looking? If you're thinking it'll be a Solsti-- sorry, Christmas present, you have plenty of time."

She was still petting the kitten. That wouldn't stop for a while.

"I like the ocean color," she said with a little grin as Nyx pressed her little head against the goddess's fingers.

"Okay, then. Would you like me to order it for you? I could even order some for the store and get you a really good discount on them." Listen to her, she almost sounded like a business person.

She looked down at the kitten. "What was the name of the store you got her from? I think I might go see if they have any." Dite glanced around. "I think this place could use a cat."

Maybe it would scare the fish into being more interesting?

"Everything But The Monkey," she informed Aphrodite, "and they had a few kittens. And yeah. I don't need the discount, but, if we could order it?"

"Absolutely." Aphrodite grinned. "I think the pajamas will look fantastic on him. I'm almost jealous I won't get to see him in them." She winked. "Almost."

Pulling her hand from the kitten, she marked the page for the Ocean Wave pajamas and put the catalog aside.

"We were talking about you touching people."

She nodded and started to play with the kitten. Fiona's desire to talk about this was... pretty small. Even if she probably should.

"I thought you said you had tried, right? And I think it's a good thing if you keep trying. The more you can reach out to the people around you, the more you can feel, the easier it will be."

Her voice got softer. "I worry that if you can't feel, if your emotions are so -- blocked that you can't feel anything but anger, then when you do get angry, it'll be easy for someone to -- use you. Because you won't have any other emotions to balance it against." Slowly, gently, she reached out and laid one hand on Fiona's wrist. "I know someone who would do that. I'd never want to see you in that position."

Edited 2009-09-04 02:28 (UTC)

The touch made her look up, almost startled, but she shook her head.

"No. I won't let anyone use me. Or change me anymore than I had to be changed. I already-- a lot of things are already different, but if I want to change now, it's because I want to. No one else."

There was a lot of strength in Fiona, and Aphrodite had always admired that. She nodded. "That's good, Fiona. I think that's a good decision."

With a sigh she leaned back in her chair, regarding her friend. The girl had come a long way since her first nervous visit to the store. Even from the angry teen she'd been just a month ago. It was nice to see.

"Hey, Fiona?"

She was once more playing with the kitten before she looked up.

"Hmm, yes?"

"Do you -- I mean, would you say -- have I --" She stopped. "Never mind. I still think it's a weird idea."

Now it was Fiona's turn to give the other goddess a look. Oh no. She was coming out with it.

'Dite threw her hands in the air. "It's dumb! There was this guy last night, a teacher at your school, and he made this crazy suggestion, and it made me wonder . . . "

She looked at Fiona. "Do you think I've -- helped you? I mean . . . you know . . . made you feel better about things, or . . . explained things you didn't understand? I know I've tried, but . . . has it helped?"

Fiona considered that for a moment, since she wasn't one to give false praise or try and 'suck up' to anyone.

"You helped me," she said with a firm nod after a minute, "and I'm pretty stubborn. Also, really lost. Was. Know what I mean?"

Leaning back, Aphrodite smiled. For a moment she was quiet, content to watch Fiona and the kitten.

When she did speak, her voice was very soft. "Yeah. I do know what you mean."

Maybe Gibbs wasn't as crazy as she thought.

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Dite's Decadent Delights, Thursday, Late Morning

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