Cupid's Karma | ONC 2024 ?

He returned to Mount Olympus in much lower spirits than usual. Those words were ringing in his head repeatedly, even though he had already known that his feelings were one-sided. But there had been a small hope against hope that shattered for good reason.

Ayra was right. They weren't meant to be together and their fates got linked just because the Morai wanted to make him pay for stealing their blade. It shouldn't be anything more than that.

But it still hurt, even though he tried to convince himself that it would eventually get better.

"Eros, what's with the long face?" A cheerful voice shook him out of his daze, and he looked up to see Hermes.

He had paused, trying to come up with a believable answer, but he was at a loss for words.

"Nothing. I just feel like I haven't had a drink in a long time," he remarked at last, knowing Hermes would be up for a drink or two any time.

He chuckled, assigning the rest of the mail to his little messenger cherubs. "True, we don't see you here as often either. It seems like you're too busy in the mortal world."

He noticed the teasing edge to his voice and sighed softly, "You're right. I didn't even get time to take my breaks."

"Come, we'll cheer you up nicely," Hermes led the way, half dragging the young god with him, "Dionysus rigged a chariot race and has plenty of money to spend. So, as our good friend, he'll definitely buy us some drinks if we keep him company."

Eros tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. However, he let Hermes take him to the bar where Dionysus would be causing quite a ruckus as always.

Perhaps a drink or two could quieten his thoughts.

It wouldn't get rid of the weird feeling in his heart, but it could at least numb it for a short while.

He felt quite detached as he joined Hermes and Dionysus for drinks; even the latter's jokes felt hollow. It was clear that his mind was elsewhere, stuck on a mortal who had shot him with an arrow.

Was it really a hunting arrow-his thoughts were deviating again-or had Eris one-upped herself and intentionally disguised one of his love arrows by painting the tip?

"Come on, Eros. Stop brooding and forget all your worries," Dionysus placed a goblet a strong whiskey in front of him then yelled at the bartender, "On the house!"

A few drinks later, he was spilling his heart out to Hermes, the only person he could trust with his current predicament. The messenger god was listening attentively, all the while thinking about how he could help him.

"And then Apollo showed up to make matters even worse and now even though I'm trying to let go of Ayra, he will keep causing havoc for her and it will all be my fault," the words poured out of him in a melancholic rush, "you were right, I shouldn't have gotten involved with this in the first place."

He patted his shoulder comfortingly, his honey-shaded irises softening in sympathy, "Do you think all the effort you put in to show her how love works made her change her mind?"

"I don't know... Sometimes, it feels like she understands what I'm trying to tell her. Other times, she will ridicule me but with good reason, and then I'm bound to think whether I really am shit at my job."

"Nobody is perfect, not even you. And we all make mistakes," Hermes tried to reassure him, "there was one time I accidentally delivered Zeus's mail to Hades. Didn't hear the end of it from Hera who got to read all the letters because Hades was already angry at Zeus for being insufferable and exposed him."

"Must have been quite a scene," he mumbled, his head dropping onto his arms folded at the counter.

"Eros, you've done your best. If you need help with Apollo, I can intervene. As for Ayra, you simply have to let her go," Hermes added though he knew his words would have little effect on his friend who was in the first stage of experiencing almost a heartbreak.