Eros the god of sensual love is banished from his home on Mount Olympus after making a “deal” with Hera the goddess of marriage, women, and children that he can obtain all three without some form of sacrifice. In addition to this, he must be stuck in the body of a cat, unless he meets a potential lover. After 3,200 years he meets a young girl who he lives with for 20 years until one night after she drunkenly nozzles the cat he returns in a human form. Avoiding conflict Eros tells the human that her cat ran away, on a journey looking for the "cat" with the girl he'd been observing from afar he begins to realize exactly how he feels about the young woman. This is inspired by the myth of Eros and the Psyche
A long time ago two gods bickered endlessly in the skies above, Eros tried his best to show respect for the Queen of the Gods but the cracks in his composure were forming growing larger and larger with each rebuttal Hera provided.
"There's no way in hell I'm allowing that marriage it's simple, do you think I would allow my daughter, my Hebe to marry that sweet talker? After what he's done?"
"Your majesty, Lady Hebe herself-"
"Hebe is still too naive to understand what marriage means. Go back to her and tell her the answer will always be no. I won't let her marry Heracles." she folded her arms, looking away, her eyes full of disdain as people scattered in the background, some vigorously fanned her.
Eros had only been asked to relay the message of the Princess of Olympus, Hebe that she was marrying Heracles, her bastard brother from another mother. But it's ok because they're gods and in Ancient Greece DNA wasn't a concept and wasn't considered when thinking about gods and how they breed like bunnies with their siblings. There was no doubt this marriage was happening whether or not Hera agreed to it, they would just go to some other God outside of the Pantheon to get it done. Hebe and Heracles had been in love since Heracles had been reborn as a god and naturally, it's been 3 days and they wish to marry. Despite Heracles being a convicted murderer that didn't stop Hebe from wanting to make a happy home out of something that came broken. The product information warned her and yet she somehow chose him over any other half-cousin on Mount Olympus (as if that was much better).
Little did everyone but Hera know they were getting married as she spoke, everyone around the throne room observed from afar, waiting for the second they would have to dash from the room to protect themselves from her wrath which was everything but possible as the Palace employed solely married people, so either way, they were incredibly fucked. The only one who had a chance of leaving the upcoming blizzard was Eros. He was one of Hera's grandchildren, and his mother was one of the only
gods that could bend the King himself backward so most times Hera herself had no choice but to spare Eros despite his frequent and barely peaceful hijinks.
Eros just wanted to spite her, he wanted to lay out all the planning and prep that had been done to avoid her knowing. That in itself was a suicide mission and betrayal to every god he had promised to keep quiet to Even though the truth was inevitable.
To keep quiet or to spill.
Dust angels made from blue grids danced on Ero's shoulders, one slow dancing the other doing a panicked jive.
"Say it, you know you want to Eros." the devilish side giggled seducing himself with what might become of the chaos that would ensue. He could think of several things;
1. Hera could go ballistic and kill every nymph and spirit that lived within a 50-mile radius. Impractical and Hera knows she can't do that, possible though.
2. She could kick Him off of Mount Olympus
3. She could turn him into an animal, an inanimate object
4. Force him to help do her dirty work
or,
5. All of the above
and more.
"Yes but think of the innocent people around you" Good point, Eros felt like he should've cared more, and he did but spirits don't stay dead forever, at least not the spirits that worked at the palaces.
They were natural beings whose energy could never be destroyed, so they would just come back, and most if not all of them were wiser than any entity on the planet. Some just chose to work, to fill their time, or to help guide the ways of the world back into its natural state.
'Think of the spirits' the Angel yelled, in Eros's ear. 'think of the people that will be affected by your next choice'
'Oh come on they're older than anything that has and will ever exist' the little devil shrugged, 'they'll have no problem doing whatever they want to, trust me they'll come back within minutes of them "dying", it's no big deal." Angel Eros pondered for a millisecond before bursting out in a short laugh. 'You're right, now that I think about it there was no point in me fighting you Dearest' the tiny being wiped tears from her eyes, then stopped, 'Wait why does a literal god have a little Angel and devil on their shoulders' the Angel asked her male counterpart 'something has to represent our conscience, I guess this is just something easier to understand?' The angel tilted her head 'oh yea I never thought about it like that before' she giggled as she and her counterpart faded out of Eros's mind.
Eros sighed, he did want to say it, but why was a huge lump forming in his throat as he struggled to spit the words out? His heart felt pain for some reason, he couldn't tell why though, he was just... nervous I guess. He spoke slowly, watching as Hera's jaw clenched more and more with each word and he could imagine the fumes coming out of her ears like a boiling kettle. "The truth is your majesty, Heracles and Princess Hebe are on their way to a different pantheon. I'm unsure of which one but they, by now are probably married. They asked me to keep it a secret." Her eyes looked of disdain and subtle sadness. She placed her hand on her chin and pondered for a moment. Taking in a deep concentrated breath swallowing what she wanted to say in place of calm words. "Eros there is nothing I can do about this now, it is out of my jurisdiction." She paused, "Eros, I've known since you were born. I am of all things a wife, a mother, and a queen." She paused, her voice speaking with uncertainty, and a certain subtle shakiness. Something that Eros has never felt from the Queen before. "I as Hebe's mother, wish her the best, I can do nothing but wish my daughter a prosperous marriage."
She looked back to Eros "But that doesn't mean I can excuse this you've passed a limit a long time ago." He put his head down. "Yes your majesty, I understand."
Mere moments later Eros was falling, his wings no longer flapped, nor did he feel anything at all. The only thing in sight was a sea of clouds that separated like the Red Sea of an insanely popular story. They weaved around him as if he had the plague as if he was untouchable.
The clouds faded into obscurity as he could see water. It was all around him from each of the horizons. The closer he got the more fear began pushing through him, he hadn't felt fear like this in forever this was more than fear. He could feel each heartbeat and the words he should've thought while in the palace. He felt all of the emotions smack him at once as he plunged into the water, far faster than he had expected or even thought. His brain lagged like it had forgotten for a moment. He was sent here to do something
"Eros have you ever been in love before?" Hera asked as she sipped Ambrosia. Eros was taken aback, but her question did spark a train of thought, had he ever been in love? Yes, he was the god of Eros, a sexual love more physically intimate than any other but had he ever been in love? "Like love? Like the kind of love that you would tear out your heart and place it on the scales of truth to get back. The kind of love that would make men wage war and die for?" Eros felt sure of the fact "You've (I've) never been in love" they said in unison, Hera, chuckled, downing the remaining fluid in her goblet like it was nothing. "It's painfully obvious" she walked down the tall staircase that separated the two. It took a minute of walking down them and alas Hera and Eros were eye-to-eye, Hera stared into Eros's Hazel eyes. "Eros until you can meet these 3 conditions you won't be allowed back on Mount Olympus
1, You must fall in love, and this person must love you back, this love has to be true and no divine intervention is allowed.
2, You must be in a romantic partnership with this person, it must be consensual, and you must be their only partner whether you elope, marry, or chose to just live together as partners I don't care.
3, You must have a child, in some way you must experience parenthood, I don't care if it's your child or not, you must be there for any child your partner has. I'd love to see the look on your face if someone helps your child marry someone you're against especially if you trust that person."
Eros wanted to ask why these conditions but before he could get a chance he was already off and falling.