.^^ Zetre ^^

— James —

When the atmosphere just thickened, I set the tone, by picking up my tea, and tasting it. "Ah, you used the Roman blend, yes? Try the tea, Raul." I said casually.

Zapesa relaxed a bit, and smiled at me briefly. "Yes, it's the same Blend... I acquired it in Italy, just last spring."

Raul shrugged and sipped the tea, then flinched when it turned bright blue. "Whoa, What the hell? Wait, is the tea magical?!?" He grinned, and took another sip. "I mean, I'm more of a coffee guy, but that's wicked cool!"

I looked at Zapesa, and raised an eyebrow. "What's blue mean?"

He swallowed heavily. "It means he's directly descended from me... but that can't be right... how old are you, Raul?" He asked.

"16, almost. My birthday is this week." He nodded.

Zapesa nodded slowly. "The same age as Zetre... curious. I'll have to talk to my wife, I... Ahem, well, you are certainly Welcome here, Raul, and if you'd like my name, you need only ask. I'm not quite sure how this has come to be, but that is secondary. Thank you, James, for finding him and bringing him to my attention..."

I stiffened my spine, as a golden charm appeared on my wrist. "You would do well to never thank me, Sir Lithos... It is not wise." I snapped the charm off the bracelet, and tossed it to him. "Keep that, and don't ever thank me again, please. Consider that your debt."

He bowed his head, and looked at Raul. "Uhm... would you like a tour of the house? Or... I confess, I'm so very confounded right about now."

Raul shrugged. "Me too, honestly. Can someone explain the blue tea?"

"It was a DNA test. It revealed you were his son. Meet your biological father, Raul." I shrugged, and sipped my tea.

"So yours isn't glowing... because..."

"I'm obviously not related to him." I smiled.

"Oh, right... Okay. Well, that was easy, I thought he was the sort that wouldn't, you know..." he shrugged.

"No, don't worry about that. His wife is a bit too stubborn, and he's a bit too competitive, but they're good people. Do you want me to stick around, give you a lift back to America, or what?" I asked.

"When did we leave America?" He asked, confused.

"We're in Greece right now. Outside Athens, specifically. Have fun!" I waved softly, and went back to my tea.

Zapesa raised an eyebrow. "You're... staying?"

"I have some things to discuss with Zetre, yes. You go solve this little mystery." I smiled.

He sighed, and nodded. "Well, I definitely should... but a chaperone is necessary, if you two want to 'hang out' without me or my love present, and therefore you cannot leave the parlor without a chaperone!" He said sternly, and walked out with Raul.

I laughed softly, and settled in to wait, but Zetre came down the stairs almost immediately, and looked around, taking off his headphones. "James? Dad let you in without an escort?"

"Sort of. We have to wait for a Chaperone if we want to leave the Parlor, I guess. I was here on other business, but it's good to see you." I smiled.

He blushed, and sat down on the other end of the couch, glaring at the nanny cam we both knew existed. "Sorry, I know it's got to be weird, my dad going so far about the whole no-privacy thing." He sighed.

"I can deal with overprotective fathers. At least he's not a Bigot, I mean, I got the best possible situation, here. It's all good." I shrugged.

He laughed. "True, very true, he could be so much worse, like grandma... anyway, what did you want to do today? I've got a new movie in the theater upstairs, the newest Exorcist."

He grinned at my paled skin, and I sighed. Even having confronted some crazy stuff, horror movies still got me every time. "Speaking of that, uhm... I wanted to ask if your schedule was... clear... uh, tonight?" I asked haltingly.

He blinked slowly, then stood, making himself a cup of tea with his back to me. "Oh? What for?"

"Well, I uh... I got some tickets to a cello concert, a few days ago, and I know you like cello and violin music, so I figured you'd want to go? I was going to throw them out, until I remembered." I cleared my throat, and tapped my knee swiftly, paradoxically nervous.

He hummed. "Seats?"

"Oh! Uh, in the top left, I think? The little balconies?" I recalled the seat numbers, and then the blueprints, to be sure.

"Oh, nice seats... orchestra?" He asked, and placed a cube of sugar in the tea.

"It's not an orchestra, actually, it's two guys who use cellos to play the cords of classic rock, actually! I've listened to a few of their songs, and they're actually really good! They do classical as well, mixed in with everything else." I chuckled.

He perked up, and turned around quickly, almost splashing his tea. "Wait, you got tickets to the Two-Man-Orchestrum? How?"

"Athenos knows the Orc who owns the place? It's in Miami, actually, in about eight hours." I grinned, happy he was excited. I'd been worried, because I knew he liked classical music.

He smiled and sat down again slowly. "That's amazing! Is it a suit and tie event, or full-on formal?"

"I think I have to wear a tux? If you don't want to, I can just sneak us in in our jeans and tee-shirts." I laughed.

"No, that's awesome! I have a new Tux, actually, it was supposed to be for Mom's baby shower, (which she made unnecessarily formal,) but it worked out, eh? And you?" He asked.

I grinned and stood up, spreading my arms. My clothes slowly faded into another dimension, and were replaced with a tuxedo made of golden thread and bone buttons, with an ebony vest and shirt.

He blushed, his nose turning bright red, and stared at me for a moment. "Uhm... maybe next time warn me before you get naked? I was not prepared... oh dear."

"What was that?" His mother appeared, fuming, but then paused, looking at my tux. "Hmm... So you do know how to dress... interesting, but irrelevant! You know the rules, Zetre, you cannot be without an escort!"

"Father left him in the Parlor for me, and said I couldn't leave the room with him without a chaperone! We're still in the room, and he was showing me his new Tuxedo!" Zetre grumbled.

"Bast picked out the colors herself, actually. Said that ebony and gold made my eyes and hair glow. What you think? Dashing or Trash?" I grinned, ignoring his mother, who didn't like me anyway.

He smiled. "Definitely dashing, James. Isn't it, mother?" He asked stiffly.

She sighed, and straightened the lapel roughly, then smoothed the vest. "Yes, I have to agree. It is a nice tux, and you wear it well. Why is it made of Gold Thread, however? That can't possibly be very light?"

I blinked. "Really? It's only about twenty pounds of gold, I'm wearing more than that in leather, most days."

"Leather?" Zetre squeaked, blushing again.

"Hmm? Yeah, my armor, it's made of leather, mostly. Well, it was... now it's inside my skin, and made of Egyptian Gold." I let it come to the surface of my hand, and he gasped, tapping the semi-metallic/crystalline non-Newtonian substance that now was my skin, as well as under it.

"Whoa... now that's cool, no one could argue that." Zetre grinned at his mother proudly.

"That is why you lost your ability to do magic, yes? The mysterious material that is under your skin? The one no one knows how to make?" She asked, peering at it closer.

"Yes, it is. I made a mistake, merging it with my body, but now it is a part of my skin, my muscles, bones, even my organs. I'm almost entirely magic-proof, but that also means that my ability to do magic is limited. All things have a price, after all." I shrugged casually.

She sniffed derisively. "A payment I would never accept, nor would anyone with sense."

"Well, seeing as I still have my Skaldwork and Dwarf Magic, as well as my Nature Magic, Crystal Magic, Ancestral Magic, and even my Blood Magic, I don't mind. Trust me, simple Magic is not something I miss from my extensive repertoire." I grinned.

She gritted her teeth, but turned on her heel, and stomped over to the tea cart, making herself a cup. "I will ignore your tone, because of the good you have done my family today... but don't push your luck, Boy." She growled, her back to me.

Zetre blinked, confused, and I shrugged. "I take it Raul is... the Genuine Article?" I asked vaguely.

She looked at me, confused, and I cut my eyes to Zetre. She nodded slowly. "I appreciate you showing me that courtesy, James Parthenos... but now I do need to talk to my son alone."

I nodded. "Sure thing, Mrs. Lithos. I'll hopefully see you tonight?" I asked Zetre softly.

He grinned. "I'll make sure of it. Dad will crack if I press."

"Don't fight over this, take the escort if you must." I warned him.

He sighed. "Yeah, you're right... fine. Any hints as to why she wants to talk?"

"Sorry, lips are sealed." I shrugged, and walked out, following Raul's scent.

Zapesa saw me coming down the hall, and nodded. "Here He is, Yes. Grandfather, please be civil, he did bring us a son I didn't even know I had. You should be very happy about that, no?"

The elderly man sitting in a wheelchair next to Raul shrugged. "He's a Parthenos. I will attempt civility, but I won't kiss his fucking boots!"

"Civility is all I ask, grandfather." Zapesa sighed.

I bowed to the Elder. "Elder Lithos, Salut. I am James Parthenos."

He grunted. "Nice Tux... Never seen a Red-haired Parthenos before, either... are you adopted?" He asked gruffly.

"No, I'm half Irish, sir." I shook my head.

"Mm... hows that bastard Xeda doing, eh? Not dead yet?" He leaned back, and started casually peeling a grape in his lap.

I grinned. "Not for a long time, I don't think."

"Mm... how'd you find this young Man, Raul?"

"I felt distress, through a connection I have with Zetre. I thought it was him, but when I got there, it was him, instead. We talked, and I recognized his face, so I brought him here, just in case."

"And the threat to my gatekeeper?" He raised a thin eyebrow.

I grinned, baring my sharpened teeth savagely. "He was being a dumb cunt."

He barked out laughter, slapping his thigh. "Ha! Yes, I suppose he was, eh? Mm, you're not as serious as your clan, I like it! You have my blessings, with young Zetra. Make her a happy woman!" He nodded as if the matter was finished, and started wheeling away.

Raul looked confused, so I shook my head. "He's confused, probably doesn't remember Zetre's birth, much less his gender."

He nodded, and grinned. "Never had a senile great-grandfather before. Sounds fun already."

I forced a smile, and nodded. "Sure. Anyway, do you want a ride home before I leave, or would you rather they give you a ride? My way is much faster."

"Really? All portals are different?" He asked.

"Mine is the Bifrost. Theirs would take a lot of preparation." I shrugged.

Zapesa frowned. "Don't become arrogant because your newfound abilities, Parthenos! Just because we don't have access to godly magic, doesn't mean we're lesser Mages!"

"I never even implied that you were, Zapesa." I chuckled.

He cleared his throat, and sat on a piano bench. "True... my apologies."

Raul grinned. "Yeah, no, I think I'll stick around a bit. I don't know Greek, but I'm sure I can manage!"

"The Underland and surrounding area is full of English-speakers, actually. You should stop by our restaurant on Crystal Row, sometime. Maybe Friday, Zapesa? You bring your wife, Raul, and Zetre? My treat." I shrugged.

He smiled. "I appreciate the invitation, James. Though I believe I will not inform my wife as to the nature of the invitation, beforehand."

I laughed. "Your funeral, I guess. I'll see you later, then, Raul." I waved, and set off for the compound, deciding to walk this time.

—

"Eh, eh? It's nice, right?" I straightened my onyx tie, which shone slightly like oil against the Void of the vest and shirt, reminding me of Set-Apep's skin, oddly enough.

Mum clapped gently. "It's beautiful, luv! Where'd you get it?"

"I made it, mum, from Egyptian Gold and Liquid Darkness, as well as some Obsidian for a binder. Bast chose the colors, demanded I have some formal wear, now that I'm her adopted son, as well as a Young God." I smiled.

She sniffed. "Hmph! The nerve of that woman, adopting a child that's already spoken for!"

"Well She adopted you as well, mum, so I wouldn't be too offended." I chuckled.

"Hmph." She frowned.

"Anyway, I've got a date at the Theater, thank you very much, so I'll be off!"

"Not so fast, Young Man... I've got some guidelines for you..." Mum crosses her arms slowly.

"Oh bloody hell..." I groaned.

—

Finally freed, I laughed in exhilaration, and dove through a portal, somersaulting a few times, and landing on Zetre's front porch.

The door opened, revealing me crouched on one knee and holding flowers, and Zetre's mother raised an eyebrow slowly. "Hmph. Darling, the boy is here." She left the door ajar, and walked into the parlor.

Zapesa sighed, opening it wider. "I see him, yes. You didn't have to leave him on the porch, you know, I'm fully aware that you do have manners!" He growled.

She huffed, sitting down on the couch primly, next to Zetre. He saw me, and waved a little, mouthing an apology. I smiled at the sight of his white tuxedo, fitted to his form perfectly, and the little gold bowtie was adorable as well, even if it clashed with the outfit.

I grinned and stood up, striding forward when I was asked in. I handed the bushel of flowers to Zetre's mother, and nodded. "We don't like each other, but my mother did raise a gentleman. Therefore, these are yours, grown with care in my garden, and uprooted this evening. Plant them in some dirt, any dirt, even a vase, and they will take root, and live for quite a bit longer than normal flowers."

She blinked, and sighed, taking them. "I suppose I must say that I appreciate the manners you display, and the honesty as well." She stood, and walked over to an empty vase, beginning to set them inside.

I grinned at Zetre, and conjured a very special seed, growing it in my hand. It turned into a single, Golden Rose, which I clipped and placed carefully in his breast pocket. "And for you, a more permanent flower, but just as alive, and with much more sincerity." I winked.

He laughed, and punched my arm. "No need for that! And it's beautiful, thank you."

"Sigh, we'll have to work on that, yeah?" I chuckled, and handed him the charm he'd created.

He shrugged. "I trust you. Now! Who, pray tell, is our escort, dad?" He looked at his father seriously.

"Oh, yes, I'm sending Maria with you, she'll do well, I think." He nodded, and an aesthetically pleasing woman in her twenties stepped down the stairs, wearing a ruby-red evening dress.

Zetre punched my shoulder again, and I shrugged. "Very nice dress... I love the red. Distracting color..." I murmured.

"The dress? or her body?" He asked dryly.

"What body? I just like shiny things." I shrugged again, and looked away as she frowned at being dismissed so off-handedly.

Zetre found my dismissal satisfying, fortunately, and smiled. "Well Alright then. Shall we go?"

"A few things, first?" Zapesa sighed, sitting across from us.

"Of course. We have about an hour before the Show begins." I shrugged, even though Zetre seemed impatient.

He nodded. "Good. Some ground rules, and then you're free to go. First of all: you will not leave Maria's sight, ever. Second: you will return here at-... wait, it's in Miami, yes? It's 2:30 PM here, so..."

"It's 10:30 PM there, and the show ends at 03:00 AM. Then dinner is approximately 3 hours, so we'll be back here, all three of us, at no later than 10 PM Greek Time." I nodded.

He smiled. "Good! Yes, 10PM is the curfew anyway, though I'm guessing you already knew that. Alright, and third rule: this is your first date, so I don't want any-"

"Dad!" Zetre snapped.

"Son!" He snapped back, and I hid a snicker. "There'll be no funny business, is all I'm saying! Last, but not least, you will go only to those two places! Theater, then Dinner! Then home! Any changes to that plan go through Maria, and then Me!" He crossed his arms.

I nodded. "Sounds easy enough. Anything else?"

He blinked. "You're not arguing? Good god why didn't you date my son a year ago?!? Finally someone who understands that I'm just worried for my son's safety!!!" He laughed, leaning back into the sofa.

I shrugged. "My mum makes you look like the warden of a daycare, Sir Lithos. She's ridiculously overprotective. There was a three-hour lecture before I was even allowed to come pick him up." I said dryly.

He grinned. "So did Zetre, actually, but I get your point. Anyway, you are free to go." He opened the door, and nodded.

Zetre raised an elbow to escort me, and I laughed, allowing him to do so, even though I was a full foot taller, at least, maybe 18 inches.

The portal opened in a spectacular fashion, at my Command. It had altered its look, turning into a grand staircase made of deep red and gold African mahogany with golden veins, instead of the normal blue/silver ice, leading up to a molten gold set of French doors, with onyx and obsidian handles.

"Whoa..." Zetre nodded.

I smirked. "Oh man, you have no idea."