Japanese Hot Springs (cupid)

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Japan, one of the best places in the world in his opinion, Mars thought as he revved up his Harley. The mountains and cold air really was feeling good to his lungs. Mars had a particular destination in mind for this trip. He was going to meet up with his son Cupid. Mars needed to get far away from his so called divine family. At least Cupid was his kid and in all honesty, he wasn’t as bad as some of the other divines that were out there. Apollo? That guy was so full of hot air it wasn’t even funny. But the sound of the roar of his bike along the mountain pass was something that he really enjoyed. There were flecks of snow speckling the visor of his helmet. This place he was headed to was going to be empty for the next few days, it was the perks of being a god and traveling in the middle of the week. February was normally high season for the hot springs, but he had gotten lucky.

Mars parked his bike and walked into the small but traditional Japanese style hot springs inn. The Japanese mountains almost made this place look picturesque. Japan was always a favorite place of Mars’. Next to the Romans and even the Greeks, Japan was near and dear to his heart. He stepped into the Genken and was immediately greeted by a young hostess who handed him some rope and wood sandals after he removed his boots. He was taken to the room where he would be sharing with his son. Cupid could appreciate a place like this. Mars looked to see that there was a pot of tea and some sweet snacks laid out for them to enjoy before going into the bath. Mars expected Cupid to show up fairly soon, so he poured out two cups of the green tea. After taking a sip of the green tea, Mars removed his clothes and put the yukata on. It was made of light material, but extremely comfortable. This was one of Mars’ favorite things about Japan. The dress was simple but very functional. He totally got used to this during the Japanese middle ages. Mars practically loved the samurai and how they worked.

He slipped the soft material over his scarred skin. Mars was probably the only god, other than that idiot Vulcan, that took pride with the amount of scars that were on his body. The battles were always vicious but in the end, most of the battles were well worth it. Mars crossed his arms as he finished tying up the obi of the yukata. He looked out of the window where the snow was gently falling and a few of the Japanese monkeys were playing and some were even resting in the hot springs. Those monkeys were most amusing and really reminded Mars of the mortals that he generally oversaw. He made a drink order with one of the hostess and then tipped her 200 yen. Wait till Cupid got a load of this place. And people liked to say that Mars was a really uncouth. This should really show them that Mars knew how to appreciate some of the good stuff.

[mars]

It wasn't often that Cupid was invited to spend time with his father and it was even less often that he accepted the offer. He was all too certain that among all of his children, mortal and immortal, Cupid was located quite low on Mars' totem poll of favorites. After all, he didn't inherit the blood lust, the anger, or even the sparring skills. If anything, his weaponry skills lay with archery-an unusual thing given that Mars most likely thought of archery as a gift for the less talented. Ironic, considering Cupid felt that Mars' beloved swords were for the more barbaric. He had yet to point that out to his father, however. While he didn't always adore him for the most part, he was still polite and pleasant enough not to complain about the fellow god to his face. Now, of course, that didn't mean he sometimes wouldn't grumble about the god of war to his mother, but that was different. His mother was his favored parent, just as he knew-and was proud to say-he might very well have been his mother's favorite child. Then again, they had so much more in common than him and his father. In fact, he thought it was much more likely that he would accompany Venus to a hot spring to gossip about the latest immortal romances than it would be to accompany Mars to talk about...well no one knew.

Or at least Cupid wasn't particularly sure why his father had essentially summoned him. Not that he couldn't respectively turn the offer down, he was sure, but it seemed as though he was entirely expected to show up. Which he did, partly out of curiosity (because as it was noted, these two didn't exactly do father and son bonding time). After all, why wouldn't he simply invite Bellona or really, anyone who was even just a pinch more like him? Ah well, Cupid shrugged his shoulders slightly to himself as he smiled shyly to one of the hostesses before quietly mumbling that he was here to meet a man of Mars' description. The young woman smiled politely, looking rather amused at his quiet nature, before leading him to one of the designated changing rooms. Cupid wasn't going to lie, he was more partial to jeans and a jacket, but he obliged to the customs by changing into a yukata.

Glancing around slightly, the immortal couldn't help but be impressed by his father's tasteful choice. It was quite an elegant location for the god of war to be dwelling in, though it was actually quite perfect in Cupid's eyes. Lovely, really, he confirmed as he wandered into the room that Mars had apparently reserved for them. "Afternoon, father,

[/color]" He nodded his head slightly, a warm, yet amused, smile highlighting his face (amused simply because it was odd to look at the temperamental man drinking from a dainty tea cup). "Odd choice for you..inviting me, and just the location. That's more Venus' style than yours, isn't it? Not that I'm protesting, but are you sure you aren't ill?[/color]" Cue a small amused smirk on Cupid's end. "I could always call upon Apollo to check,[/color]" An absurd suggestion given how much he knew his father detested the other god.




tag ;; mars
word count ;; 545

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Mars knew that he wasn't the favorite parent of Cupid. Mars also knew that Cupid had a tendency to gripe and whine to his mother, Mars' beloved Venus, about anything and everything that Mars did. He was too much of a brute and too war like for Cupid's taste. Mars shook his head as he made an order for tonight. Mars always cared about Cupid, whether he would admit it or not, Cupid was someone he really wanted to take care of. Even more then some of the children that were more like him, He cared about them but would never admit it. This was one of his favorite places to spend time. Mars loved relaxation and loved to hang out in the spas. Hell he even invited Juno here once. That ended up in disaster, but not on Mars part at any rate. He had to wait a hundred years before he could even show his face around this inn. Juno literally went ballistic when one of the young kitchen cooks commented on how beautiful the Queen of the gods was. Never again would he invite his mother to go anywhere with him. Never.


Mars shook his head as he looked out over the snow, watching the steam rise up and curl around the branches of the cherry trees. Mars half expected his son to not show up. Mars really had never done father and son bonding time. He wasn't the father of the year by any means, but he figured that he could always try. Cupid probably wouldn't show up. Mars' brow furrowed and he took another sip of the green tea and popped a few rice crackers into his mouth. He wasn't going to get light headed like the regular mortals would, but it was poor manners to leave them uneaten. He tugged at the yukata, trying to adjust it around his neck. He let out a small sigh as he looked around the room. It was decorated simply, it was tasteful. That was something that Mars really could appreciate, sparse and simple decorations, that was even how Mars had a house or two here in Japan decorated in the same way.


Mars turned his head, looking at his son. The sound of his son's voice inwardly made him smile, of course the permanent scowl that had been etched on his face didn't allow the emotion in his heart be betrayed by his facial expressions. "It's a good place. I come here often. A lot more often then you would believe." Mars said with another look over his son. Cupid was one of those gangly awkward sorts of gods. But he knew for a fact that Cupid had his sadistic tendencies from time to time. "I would prefer if you didn't call that bag of gas in here. I have invested in this place. I even have two houses here, one in Kyoto and one up in the mountains if you'd like to bring that girl your smitten with on a vacation." Mars said as he poured out a cup of the green tea for his son. He picked up the tray and placed it at the low table before motioning for his son to take a seat. "How are things going for you?" Mars asked, attempting to make small talk. "How's that little girl of yours?" Small talk had never really been something of a strong suit for him.

[mars]

Please do try to contain your excitement at seeing me, father, Cupid internally commented, almost letting the dry words slip right off his tongue and into the open air between them. Fortunately he knew better than to do so. After all, he had no interest in making this father-son outing even more awkward by starting it off on a poor note. No, if that was anyone's job, it was his father's. Keeping his small smirk to himself as well, Cupid gratefully accepted his father's invitation for him to sit. Not that he was really tired but the prospect of him standing while his father was sitting was simply odd, like Cupid was directly snubbing him in some matter or another. Then there was the small fact that Cupid occasionally felt uncomfortable standing period, simply because he was somewhat of a gangly god. It was almost like this form hadn't grown properly out of puberty or something. He was both too tall and too skinny, two combinations which really didn't pair well. Tall usually paired with muscular, whereas if you were short, then being skinny was acceptable for your appearance.

"I can tell..And that's certainly true given that I'm still not even sure if I believe we're here in the first place.

[/color]" Well of course he did, but there just needed to be some form of emphasis on how unlikely this seemed for Mars and his grumpy, destructive persona. Taking the cup of tea gently, Cupid murmured a small thanks before taking a sip of it. Swallowing despite the small burning sensation on the tip of his tongue (he couldn't make himself look like that much of a wimp in front of Mars, even if, in his opinion, burns and paper cuts would always be infinitely more horrible than a stab wound or something of the like), Cupid smiled slightly at his father.

"He's not that bad.[/color]" Cupid piped up in slight defense of the sun god. "In fact, I think you only hate him because while he's relaxed and happy, you're....well, you. And then there's the fact that both of you think you're each well the best of the Dii Consentes so obviously you have that disagreement between you two.[/color]" The god explained, realizing that his words could potentially be taken as insulting, but not bothering to apologize given that if his father knew him at all then he would know that Cupid would almost never mean to insult someone. Though he supposed he had mad several nasty jabs at that girl Felicity, but it wasn't his fault she was such a cynical, rude little girl. In fact, if he wanted to be as childish as she was about their interactions, then he could go with 'she started it'.

The immortal was rather thankful that his cheeks were already red from the heat because it made it harder to distinguish that he was blushing furiously at the mention of Haley. Of course his father would just so happen to know about that. He wondered if his mother had told him..she was always try to bridge the gap in their relationship, or lack thereof. "Her name's Haley, actually. And she's doing just fine.[/color]" A short response, perfectly designed to end the topic of Haley right there. Not that he couldn't go on about how wonderful the girl was, but he wasn't going to with Mars. "How is your...Sorry, how are your girls?[/color]" Ouch.



tag ;; mars
word count ;; 576

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Mars's lips drew together in a tight line, regarding the gangly form of his son. Cupid looked as if he had been stuck in a perpetual sense of puberty. But there was something that the gangly build of his boy that was a bit comforting. He really did take after Venus. It was something that Mars didn't really like to admit, but at least Cupid was his kid. Cupid took a seat, for which Mars was grateful. But the expression on Cupid's face was that of not wanting to be here. Mars had made a promise to Venus that he would at least put forth the effort, but Mars wasn't even sure where to start with the being a good dad. Good sorts of emotions wern't exactly his forte. He never knew what to do, after a few thousand years of being the god of grumpiness and perpetual aggression, cute and cuddly wasn't something that he did well. Not by any means. Mars spent a few moments regarding his son in silence, before turning his attention to outside the window where the snow continued to fall lightly. Then he concentrated on his small cup of Green Tea.


"I promised your mother that I would try to be a better dad. I just wasn't sure where to start, so I figured I could start here with you and maybe you could....." Mars paused at the word that was jumbled in his mouth, admitting to the word was like trying to swallow a roll of barbed wire. "I was thinking maybe you could....you could... Help.... me." The word, 'help' left a bad taste in his mouth, as if he had swallowed something bad. Mars looked at the small cup of tea that was red hot in his hands. He gingerly set it down, the warm air of the room feeling cool upon his hands. "That tea is a bit too hot." Mars commented in an offhanded voice. There was a strange sense of awkwardness that had filled the room. Maybe. Mars watched Cupid take a sip of the green tea. It was bitter and tasteless, much like the same type of personality that Mars had. He had never been good at being well... good.


Cupid piped up in defense of the sun god. Mars couldn't stop the eye rolls, but at least Cupid had the balls to stand up to his dad for his friend. "In all honesty, that gas bag and I have never gotten along. But he's got his uses. He is a decent Archer to say the least." Mars grumbled. He knew Cupid was too much of a pacifist to really try to get the god of war's dander up. "By the way, I heard you had an altercation with that Pluto girl the other day. good work." Mars laughed. He remembered hearing about that from both Venus and Pluto. The latter a bit upset at how Cupid had gotten his daughter up in a twist, not that Mars particularly cared if his son had gotten someone's small clothes in a twist. He ran a hand over his unkempt jawline, Mars thought about how he hadn't shaved in almost two weeks. He might do it when he got back from his trip.


"Haley, huh?" Mars thought about the girl he was talking about, maybe he would have to pay her a visit some time. Not to do any of the mean and intimidating, just to see what was going on. Mars was only partially heartless and cruel. He didn't do it all the time. "My girls? They are fine. Are you talking about the two campers I've been talking to? Or my daughter?" Mars had to ask, to figure out what the god of lust was talking about. Mars had never been the one to twist words or talk about things in code. He looked out at the springs before looking at the clock on the wall, there was still about three hours before dinner. They had some time to spend and after all they were in a hot springs, so what else were they supposed to do? "So, hot springs?" Mars asked as he stood, smoothing out the fabric of the yukata he wore.