Open: And they're gonna bend their branches down to lay their fruit upon the ground

[vineleaves]

Dionysus is in a kitchen, apron tied over a purple dress with vine details, singing to himself as he uses a melon baller to scoop out a watermelon. The large bowl next to him is already full of honeydew melon and cantaloupe, and he's got a few other ingredients nearby ready to add in once he's done with the watermelon. Mint leaves, some honey, some lemon juice, and some lime juice.

It has been quite an eventful time lately, but overall his life is pretty great right now.

Comments

[vineleaves]

"He's got all sorts of powers, but, yeah, summer's one of 'em. He can help plants grow. Incredibly useful for his career as a melon grower."

[temnota]

"It is a very useful skill," Aleksander agreed. He took another bite and sighed happily. "The sweetness is perfect. Was that him, do you think, or is it all you?"

[vineleaves]

“Well, I added a little bit of honey just now, but I think they wouldn’t have ripened so well without Magnus’ help.”

[temnota]

"We are making a very fine community here. When I first arrived, I remember thinking that it would not hold. People were people and we would splinter into factions sooner or later and start fightin for power. I have never been glad to be so wrong," Aleksander said thoughtfully.

[vineleaves]

"I'm sure it helps that there's still relatively few of us." He does wonder what it will be like here in a hundred years. In a thousand years. Will people keep arriving at the same rate? At some point people will probably start having babies here too (as opposed to acquiring babies, via bringing them from other universes as happened with Sunny). The population won't remain small for long. At what point will people begin feeling it necessary to have someone in charge? At what point will the person in charge become someone doing it for the wrong reasons?

He makes a deliberate effort to stop thinking about it.

[temnota]

"Undoubtedly," Aleksander agreed. His thoughts, had he known it, were running along the same lines as Dionysus's. If people kept arriving at the same rate then at some point, the community would grow too large to function without a government of some sort. With government came law and order but also conflict. It was a thorny problem but one Aleksander was content to leave in the hands of others. When the time came that someone needed to step up and lead, it would not be him.

"Do you ever worry about the mortal population?" he asked after a moment. "And what happens as they age and we do not?"

[vineleaves]

Dionysus looks up at Aleksander, surprise at the suddenness of the question apparent on his face. Of course he worries about the mortal population, but it's no different than at home. If anything, there's a much higher percentage of immortal and near-immortal people here than he has ever experienced at home. He blinks, then responds, "Of course I worry. There hasn't been a day of my life since my wife died that I've not worried about that." Thoughts of having to bury Mercutio, and Étienne, and everyone else, flash through his mind. "It's the worst part of being a god."

[temnota]

"I did not know you had a wife. I am sorry for your loss." Aleksander said, his face stricken. He had never married but he had taken a few long-term partners over the course of his long years and had watched death claim them all.

Alina would have been different but as always, he tried to push his thoughts of her aside. That hoped-for future was gone and there was no use in dwelling on what might have been.

"It is hard. Grisha live longer then most because our connection with the Small Science but that only goes so far depending on how strong they are. I've seen too many I care about wither away and the pain never becomes easier."

[vineleaves]

"Her name was Ariadne. She died... a long time ago. I was in my forties, if that gives you any indication." But from his tone it's clear he still feels it like it was a recent passing. "I was having... let's say disagreements with an asshole named Perseus, on what sorts of liberties the people living in a particular city-state ought to have. He was one of the types who like to keep people from doing what they want, or in the case of some sections of the population, existing at all, more or less. He ... he knew he couldn't kill me, so he turned her to stone."

Dionysus takes a deep breath, to keep from crying at the memory, and the emotions it always brings up. Her panic-stricken expression, from where she realized in her last few seconds what exactly it was Perseus was holding, her crown knocked from her head and lying by her stone feet on the ground--

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in. "All of my children, all of my friends, they've all passed. I try to cherish as much time with people as I can while I still have it."

[temnota]

Aleksander listened in horror. He had witnessed many variations of this story during his long years and very rarely had it ended well for the one standing against the autocratic leader determined to rule things their way. A few times he himself had been the one fighting for justice and had his own loved ones suffer for his audacity. It was cruel and unfair and his heart hurt for Dionysus.

"Oh, Dima," he said, the diminutive slipping out thoughtlessly. He stepped forward to embrace Dionysus then checked himself, unsure if he would be welcome. It was times like these that being a living amplifier was a hindrance.

[vineleaves]

Aleksander might hesitate, but Dionysus doesn't, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug, honestly not even noticing Aleksander hesitated. He also doesn't pay attention to the effects of the amplification, just glad to be getting a hug right now. "Thank you, sweetheart."

[temnota]

Maybe one day he would feel comfortable enough to embrace his friends without them initiating the contact but he was not quite there yet. Aleksander wrapped his arms around Dionysus and held him tightly, ignoring the flare of power passing through him with the ease of long practice. "It is so hard, I know it is so hard."

[vineleaves]

"I'm... unfortunately used to it, at this point." He squeezes the hug tight before finally stepping back. He would like to give Aleksander a little kiss on the cheek as well, but, well. He can't reach, so he abandons that thought.

[temnota]

The hug having reassured Aleksander that contact wouldn't be unwelcome, he bent his head to press a soft kiss to Dionysus's forehead. "That does not make it any better or easier to deal with."

[vineleaves]

"It doesn't, no, but--" he shrugs. "Life goes on, I suppose." Forever.

[temnota]

"Would you tell me about her?" Aleksander asked softly. "If it would not be too difficult, that is. She clearly was an exceptional woman."

[vineleaves]

"Oh, she was. She saved this guy who was supposed to be sacrificed to, uh, well, a, um. Monster? I guess you could call him?" This is an extremely simplified version of the story that leaves out multiple key details, such as the monster actually being Ariadne's brother, the fact that it was her dad who demanded people be sacrificed in the first place, or that she saved the guy because she was in love with him and then he just straight up dumped her on a random island afterwards. Details. "She was so bright and so -- so good. And -- ah, so funny. Quiet about it, but she was so good at just giving me a look, and I would know exactly what comment she'd be thinking. And then, sometimes when she could let her guard down, like if it was just us, she could be so wild and carefree and beautiful about it."

[temnota]

Aleksander listened wistfully. It was clear to him how much Dionysus had loved his wife and how suitable they had been for each other. What would it be like to have a partnership like that? Even with the few long-term relationships he'd had, he had always held something back and none of them had ever known the truth about him or his past. He'd never even told them his real name. "She sounds a remarkable woman. Thank you for telling me about her."

[vineleaves]

He smiles a wistful little smile. "Of course. She deserves to be spoken about."

[temnota]

Aleksander wanted to speak, give Dionysus some more words of comfort but in this moment, his words fled. So he gently kissed Dionysus's forehead again and pulled him into another hug. It might be a part of life, the price of such a long life span but knowing that did not make bearing that loss any easier.