Daycation pt2

Diwa was a few paces behind Aldous when he walked into the tavern, and over the din of conversation inside she heard above it all an effeminate voice calling out to Aldous.

“Aldous, darling. Are you here alone? That is rare indeed.” he asked.

“No, she's just a slowpoke.” Aldous responded.

As Diwa walked in, the man talking to Aldous leaned in close to him. “She is a pretty one, didn’t think the pure and tired look was your type.” he said, clearly thinking he was being more quiet than he was.

“Just a friend.” Aldous said.

The man grinned, “Sure darling, just a friend.” the man said, straightening back up.

When she finally was fully inside she got a good look at the man. He was fit but thin, with natural sun tanned skin, his hair was incredibly long and cut in a side cut not quite shaved to the scalp that was mostly blonde but as it reached the tips it transitioned to white then a pale blue. The slightly sharp angular facial features denoted him as a half elf. The next thing she noticed was his many tattoos, all in the style of henna, on his hands, chest and back.

“Come in darling come in.” he said from across the room seeing Diwa entering.

Diwa stepped towards the bar, unlike the last time Aldous had taken her to drink she didn’t have to weave her way around chairs not far enough in for people too drunk to have any sense. This place seemed calm, relaxed and going at a slower pace like nobody here had anywhere to be, because they probably didn’t.

As she finally reached Aldous, the man behind the bar greeted her, “Darling, you must be Aldous’ ‘friend’.” he said, winking at Aldous, who just rolled his eyes.

“Diwa, this is Tybrus.” he said, “Tybrus, this is Diwa.”

“Diwa, as in Goddess Diwa?” Tybrus asked, then shot a look at Aldous. “The scandal.”

“No, no, not a scandal. Just friends. Just here so she can relax.” Aldous said.

“Sure ‘relax’ gotcha.” Tybrus said.

“Do you want a tip or not?” Aldous asked.

Tybrus laughed and did a little gesture of pressing his lips tight together and locking them. “I know when I’ve pushed it.” he said. “Now what can I get you?”

“Two of the special.” Aldous said, as Diwa took a seat next to him.

“Special? What’s special about it?” she asked.

“You’ll see.” Tybrus said turning around to start making the drinks.

“Even if you like it.” Aldous laughed. “Only have two, I learned the lesson the hard way.”

“We’re gods we can’t get drunk. Right?” Diwa asked.

“You can here, sweety.” Tybrus said over his shoulder. “A beach vacation wouldn’t be fun if you couldn’t make a few mistakes.”

After a few moments Tybrus turned around putting one drink each in front of the two. A layered drink starting with blue at the bottom of the drink, a layer of orangish yellow, followed by orangish red, ice, a wedge of blood orange, and a small paper umbrella. “Two Elisium Punch Cocktails.” he said, putting some flair in his hand motions.

Diwa looked at her drink for a moment, but out of the corner of her eye she saw Aldous already half way done with his drink and didn’t seem to be stopping until he was done. She watched him tipping his head back and nearly like a snake unhinging her jaw. “Tybrus. Can I get another?” he said, putting the empty fancy glass down.

“Darling, didn’t your date want to take things calmly?” Tybrus said.

“Not a date.” the two said in unison.

“Okay okay loves.” he put his hands up in surrender. “Not a date.” he said but winked, before turning to make Aldous another.

After getting his second drink. He drank this one more slowly. “So…” he started but closed his mouth not sure if his question was going to be worded correctly. “So, want to talk about why you are so tired?” he asked. Aldous somewhat knew the reason why, but posing it as a question she might be more willing to get it off her chest.

Diwa took two drinks, then looked surprised at the drink. “This is very good.” she said.

“Tybrus is the best. Wouldn’t come this far for a mediocre drink.” Aldous said.

“Love you too darling.” Tybrus said joking sarcasm in his voice as he wandered off to help other patrons.

Diwa took one more small sip before talking again. “My followers just keep heaping more and more and more powers onto me, more responsibilities that I have neither the knowledge or desire to fix but I have to because they prey for it, and if I don’t and their believing falters I could just vanish like the rest. Not all of us are as lucky as The Fair Lady.” Diwa said. “How do you keep your followers from heaping more on you?”

Aldous let out a breath that was halfway to a whistle. “Well truth be told that depends on the group.” Aldous said.

Diwa raised an eyebrow in confusion.
“Well I have followers in the Hells. They follow more more like a prophet just taking my words and spreading what I really say.” Aldous explained. “They don’t add what I don’t say because they know the damage it will cause and what I’ll do about it.” He said the sighed. “Mortals on the other hand. They hear ‘Lord of Lust’ and have a one track mind. They think me telling them to not be freaks is ‘testing them’ but they are such a small group I just ignore them.”

“I wish I could ignore them.” she said, taking another big drink.

“Have you considered planting the idea for new gods?” Aldous asked.

“I have, they just thank me for being so smart and then lump that idea onto me, it’s just made things worse.” she sighed, putting her drink down. “Now I get to ask you a question.” she said.

“Ask away.” Aldous said.

“Are the stories about your followers actually true?” she asked.

“Somewhat.” he said, “A lot of them are greatly exaggerated, but I have to step in and stop them doing something awful from time to time.”

“How do you avoid being the thing they pray you are?” Diwa asked.

“Not being a true god, probably helps. But truth be told its because what they are asking me to do goes against my morality.” he explained.

Diwa finished her first drink. “One more question then you can ask me something.” she said. “Are the stories about ‘you’ true?” she looked at him, “And don’t say ‘greatly exaggerated’ just a yes or no.”

“Yes.” Aldous said.

“I don’t believe you.” She said.

Aldous just shrugged. “You asked.”

Diwa coughed. “You’re serious?”

“As serious as I can be,” he said.

Tybrus laughed, putting another in front of Diwa, who just looked at the drink, eyes unfocused in a thousand yard stare.