Elise took the plate and ate as though she hadn't in days. "Say," She said, "What was that tune you were humming? I know it, but I don't."
"Oh, it was a song that I've grown rather fond of. It's High Hopes by a band called Pink Floyd."
"Aha! I knew I'd heard it somewhere. Now." Elise began, face darkening. "About yesterday night."
Havenwood stepped back. "I meant nothing of it. I was concerned, and that's all."
"No, it wasn't about you. I wanted to apologize." Elise closed her eyes.
"Why? You did nothing wrong." Havenwood took the plate.
"Yes, I did. I made you go out of your way for something stupid. I'm sorry." She sighed.
"No, don't worry yourself about it. It was the least I could do."
"I didn't mean to break down. It's just whenever I have to explain the chain…"
"I know. I shouldn't have asked. It was insensitive of me." He bowed slightly. "Sorry."
"Gods have proven to be naturally curious." Elise looked up with what could be a smile, if one wanted it to be.
Havenwood hummed gently. "The shoe has definitely been put on the other foot."
She nodded in response. There was silence.
"Well, I'll be moving back to the good old hard floor, I suppose." Havenwood thought he detected the slightest bit of a grimace on Elise's face as she shoved herself slowly off the bed.
"You don't have to." Havenwood surprised himself, even. "You… can stay there for as long as you want. Or until I can get you a bed."
Elise looked up in surprise. "Really? That's…thank you. You're going so much out of your way for me, I don't know what to do."
Havenwood shrugged. "We came off on the wrong hand, and I wanted to… apologize for that. I wasn't having a good day."
Did we really come off on the wrong hand, or have you learned to live with me? Instead of expressing her thoughts, Elise rolled back onto the bed. "You cook so much in this house. I really only ever eat half a can of soup every other day - I'll get it twice in a row if I'm lucky. I suppose you're cooking the normal amount and I'm just underfed." She sighed, looking at the wall.
"It's better to have you in a fit state so in case we're intruded, you can fight them off." Havenwood walked into the kitchen.
"I've fought off plenty wannabe gangsters in the city. Too much food at a time will make me sick," Elise explained.
"Ahhh…" Havenwood set the plate into the sink and walked back into the bedroom. "So what do you plan on doing now?"
(you)
(ha)
"I don't know. I feel…really tired. Tightened up. I don't know why, it's weird. I don't usually lie in bed like this."
(She is sick he must take care)
Havenwood kneeled in front of her and felt her forehead. "You… you're burning up." He straightened up and fixed the sheets around her. "I'll heat up some soup in case you want it when I'm gone."
(bet he was gonna say "you're hot")
Elise groaned. "Oh, just what I needed. I'm sick."
(xD)
Havenwood chuckled gently. "Get rest. I'll make some herbal tea or something."
Elise groaned again
(sleep)
(i can see you're dying)
Havenwood walked away from her, humming again.
(okay so we gotta plan this out
the first night she sleeps w him because she's emotionally stressed
the second because she's sick and cold but he's warm
the third because of bad dreams
and ??)
Elise was still curled up into a ball by the time the sun was high in the sky, but her eyes fluttered open for a second time and she rolled over, tired but willing.
"I want to make something," She called into the other room, where Havenwood should be - but no, he was out and about somewhere outside the cabin.
Elise grunted and rolled out of bed. Trudging to the kitchen, she took a fistful of silverware, a butcher's knife, and a ladle, and went outside to find the hottest place possible - which, in mount Olympus, would obviously be Hephaestus, god of blacksmithing.
After what seemed like hours of walking in no particular direction, Elise came across a cliff. It was one of those cliffs ending in a sharp point, like in movies. And sitting at the edge, with an owl crown and a spear, it could only be Athena, goddess of wisdom.
She approached the goddess with caution. "…Hello? Are you…Athena?"
The goddess whipped her head around and her eyes landed on Elise. She smiled. "Ah, it's the gun-maker! Yes, I am Athena. What do you want to know?"
Elise cocked her head. "How did you know I wanted to know something?"
Athena tapped her noggin. "Wisdom, remember?"
Elise nodded. "Right, right. Anyway, I wanted to know where Hephaestus would be? I need him for something I'm making - I'm assuming there aren't any other hot heats that could melt metal anywhere around here, are there?"
Athena shook her head. "You're right, he's the only one. If you go into that valley -" She pointed to the practical canyon below her - "And walk right as far as it will allow, his cavern is there. But," She looked Elise over, "You might need some help with that."
Elise nodded.
Athena smiled and scooped her up and jumped off the cliff without hesitation, landing on the valley floor and running at impossible speed to the right side of the valley. In less than a minute, she set Elise down at the entrance to a cavernous cave, out of which heat and bright light radiated.
"Well, this is his cavern. I hope you find what you're looking for," Athena said, then began to scale the canyon wall with the agility that only a god could possess. Halfway up, Elise realized something. How exactly was she going to get back up?
Oh well. Now was the time for action!
Elise walked into the cavern, and loud booms that rattled her body echoed through it every few seconds. The heat was twice that of a sweltering summer day. As she walked, it all came down to one man, twice her size, with a hammer that closely resembled a car.
It was Hephaestus, who was hammering down on something unseen. Elise gulped. No way was she introducing herself to this guy. But the metal needed melting, so she retreated her steps until she almost tripped over a wooden bowl resting on the ground. She smiled, and dumped the silverware into the bowl, making her way to the nearest lava pit.
Holding the bowl over the lava until her arm almost died was worth it, though, because now there was a pool of melted silver, perfect for her needs.
Taking out the many molds she had carved, she poured the metal into them one by one. They cooled, and out tumbled magnificent - looking gun parts. She smiled, gathering them up in her hands. These were just the basics - for the large thing she was making, she needed a gigantic barrel. She'd have to make a whole new soap mold.
Just as she was gathering her things and getting ready to leave, a voice boomed from the other side of the cavern.
"You!"
(can you be hephaestus)
