Farewell Spring! (Proserpina, Tiana, Gabriel)

[Tiana Sinclair]

Proserpina arrived at her temple in a swirl of flowers. Normally her son would be with her, but it was Pluto's turn. He did miss his little one so when he wasn't around. Sure, he missed his wife too, but less could be done about that one. So every three days, Casilius changed hands. And presently, the little angel was in the underworld. It just so happened that this turn of events was on June 20, 2017. The last day of spring before summer officially started. As usual, she was hosting a gala to bid spring a fond farewell till next year. Today she was dressed in a floor-length pink silk dress with embroidered flower bodice and a veritable bouquet woven into her hair. She looked every part the goddess of spring. Now to pick up her step-son and his guest. He never did say who he was inviting. All she knew was that he had once had the misfortune of falling for, well, a slut, so she was a little worried about his taste. Something she could certainly help him with. She was on good terms with Cupid. She could go the extra mile, and Gabriel had always been a good step-son. The only one she liked, actually. She liked to think it spoke highly of her that she had invited him to this. After all, it was demigods like him whose lives were proof that her husband had straying interests. Her own step-mother, Juno, scorned her from day one. Which was just as well, as Ceres' motherly love was a touch stifling. She could only handle so much of that treatment.

But Gabriel was a different story. Though Proserpina intentionally never met his mother, she liked to think that she was a good surrogate. And she looked forward to the day that Mr. Caulder would meet his half brother. She simply knew the two would get along. She was still divided on how to break it to her son where Gabriel came from, though. All she knew was she was in Gabriel's life and she was there to stay.

***

Tiana looked in the mirror in her tiny bathroom and winced. "I look awful." She tugged at the teal dress she had purchased just for this occasion. Gabriel had liked it when they bought it together. He'd even seen it on her, which his reaction had certainly made her blush. She did like him. She really wanted to impress him and for him to think well of her. Which meant absolutely nothing could go wrong at this party. One more glance in the mirror. She'd actually gone the nice girl route and asked one of her younger Venus coworkers to do her makeup for her. Considering the girl was rightfully nervous of Tiana, she had done a top notch job so as to not get on her bad side. In return, Tiana had promised to try to be nicer to her. Seeing as Tiana was not one to have a lot of coins laying around, her word was the best payment she had.

Now about these shoes. She had wanted to be feminine for once in her life, but she was not that brave. So a pair of black Mary Jane kitten heels was the best she could muster. She had been walking around the apartment in them endlessly to get the feel for her heel being higher than her toes, and was pretty sure she had the hang of it now. She slipped her feet into them and tightened the strap. They looked nice. She had even bothered to wear hose. Yes, she was downright determined to make a good impression on this mother of his.

Oh gods. She didn't even know Gabriel's last name. The thought filled her with dread. How do you address a man's mother when you don't know the surname? Ma'am? Yes, that would have to do. Something respectful.

She checked the clock, having taken off her watch for the sake of image. She still had five minutes until he had said he would pick her up, but five minutes was getting into that he could be here anytime timeframe. She took a deep breath and tried to act casual. There could be a knock at her door any minute by a man she really rather fancied, who was taking her to a party his mother was hosting. No big.

WORDS: 747
TAG: @gabriel
NOTES: I will be posting Proserpina and Tiana in the same post in this thread. I hope you don't mind.

[Deleted]

Gabriel had showered, smelling fresh, he tipped the wet towel into the laundry basket that the nymphs would collect from the baths later that night. He pulled out his razor and scraped it across his face as he then got rid of the stubble that had tried to make it look like he had five o'clock shadow first thing in the morning. Tiana was going to look beautiful, so Gabe had to make sure that he looked decent as well. He brushed his hair, yes, he actually brushed it. It surprised even him that he had actually had found a brush to run it through his unruly dark hair. He splashed the water on his face when he was done shaving, doing his best to make sure that he had gotten all of the shaving cream off of his face. If he wasn't careful he tended to leave little splotches of cream up around his ears. Another fresh towel and he wiped everything dry, giving it a gentle pat. There was a reason that he wanted to make sure that everything was perfect. Even though he loved his mortal mother dearly, he loved Proserpina just as much. In a book he had read once, there was no limit to the capacity of the heart, that good people were measured by their capacity to love others. There was different types of love of course, but Proserpina was his step-mother. Someone who didn't have to care for him. She could be like Juno. But she decided to be in Gabriel's life anyways. She was a motherly role in his life that could understand the divine side. Something his mortal mother couldn't.

Gabriel buttoned down the front of his robin's egg blue shirt before he slid his nice brown shoes on. He looked as if he was ready to go to church, minus the coat and tie. He wasn't really sure on how to dress. He didn't want to be too dressy or not dressy enough. So this is what he had settled on. A quick spritz of cologne and then he dumped his stuff off in his barracks before he then made his way into New Rome. He hoped that Tia was ready. Gabriel had been to all sorts of functions with his mortal mother, mostly with the college that she had worked at. Gabriel knew how to act accordingly. At least the best could have been said that many of his mothers co-workers thought he acted like an angel. His mortal mother always maintained that she wouldn't have a hooligan for a son. Gabriel knew what was in store if he had acted out.

Gabriel stopped at a large flower stand, he purchased two bouquets of brightly colored wild flowers, and of course, a dozen roses for Tia. Then there was a matter of getting something for someone. He remembered that Proserphina had been pregnant when they had talked once and there was no doubt that he had a new little half brother or sister. That meant another small present. Which Gabriel was happy to oblige in. So after walking into a smaller shop and purchasing a squishy turtle teether toy that made noises when it was squeezed, he was ready to go. He looked at his watch, five minutes to go. So he hurried along to Tia's place. HE made sure he looked presentable before knocking on the door and holding up the red roses for her to see. Sure Gabriel had a goofy looking grin on his face as he waited. He hoped that she'd like the flowers, those were a thing girls liked right?

Tags: Proserpina Tiana Sinclair
Words: 610
notes: sorry it took so long, just been so busy.

[Tiana Sinclair]

Tiana went back to the mirror, surprisingly lithely considering she's in those accursed little heels. Okay, so they weren't so bad. They were just... different. Yes, very, very different. She fussed with her hair a little, trying to get it to look as good as she wanted it to, and tested her ability to stand straight and tall. She usually had good posture, but in heels just might be a different story. She just had had had had to have good posture for this though. His mother! Of course she was nervous. If his mother didn't like her, then what? She really, really liked Gabriel. Did his mother live here in town? She hadn't thought he was a legacy too, but that could still be the case. She mentally kicked herself for not asking more questions. Either way, his mother was obviously of the entertaining guests type - the polar opposite of what Tiana was used to - seeing as she was having a party.

There came a knock at the door and she paled, but her make up was done so well that you really couldn't tell. She could just feel it. She took a deep breath. Just Gabriel. Just adorable, handsome, funny, dashing Gabriel. Oh dear. Now she could feel the blood coming to her cheeks. Okay, so she was crushing. Which would be bad if he actually acted like everyone else and shunned her. Thanks to Mikayla and her betrayal, she was regularly visiting Venus' temple and asking that that not happen this time. She went to the door and grabbed the handle and took one more breath. Just Gabriel. And opened it.

Just Gabriel. And a dozen red roses. She knew that blush had to be showing right through the foundation and everything. Without thinking, she clasped her hands over her mouth, which presently wasn't sure what to do with itself. She wasn't often presented with so great a reason to smile. And nine times out of ten, it did involve him. "Gabriel? Oh my gods, are you serious?"

Words: 344
Tag: @gabriel