Did You Ever Have One of Those Days?

[Pan]

It was twilight, the short, fleeting time between day and night. Darkness was closing in as the sun was just about finished setting in the sky, and the street lamps were already lit for the night soon to come. The streets were still busy with people, though the overwhelming crowds had faded from midday, leaving behind the people with less places to go who were simply out walking for the joy of walking, or they had some late errands to run.

Pan was sitting on the edge of the fountain with his back to the main street, staring up towards the sky. He was thinking, though not deeply, just letting his mind wander from one topic to the next. He was hardly careful when he was among mortals of what they saw and didn't see of him, but at this time of night, he knew that they would blame anything on a trick of the light on their eyes. As he swung his legs back and forth a bit, his big baggy pants accidentally slipped a bit and might have flashed part of a hoof, but he hardly cared. Let them think what they wanted, it wouldn't matter if one person thought he had goat feet- everyone else would call them crazy.

Pan began to absently scrape his left hoof on the ground, growing bored of just staring off into space. There was just nothing for him to do down here. But going back up to Mount Olympus wasn't much of an improvement. Let's see... he could watch clouds, or count tiles, or sit in a corner and rock back and forth, and that was about it. So might as well make the most of the mortal world as long as he was here, right? He looked around for something to occupy himself with, but the area was emptying out quickly, much to his disappointment.

But that was when he spotted her, whomever she was. A roman beauty, that was for sure. More then just his interest was peaked as he decided to stroll on over and see what exactly she was up to. He had his moves planned carefully- a small tip of his black newsboy cap to be polite while still concealing his horns. A little shy awkwardness that sent her into a flush... Wouldn't she be so disappointed to wake up tomorrow morning next to a pair of fuzzy goat legs...

[Apollo]

After a long day of crossing the heavens in his golden ‘chariot’ (which was now a motorbike) Apollo felt like spending some time on earth, opposed to the celestial heavens in which he usually dwelled. Generally the new earth developments that Apollo immersed himself with were modern hospitals, where he found that doctors turned the art of medicine into a precise science- how fascinating. However, tonight he was searching for inspiration for a song, and as much as he loved the sparkling scanners in hospitals, he could only stand writing techno music for so long. He missed the gentle melodies of his lyre.

So Apollo wandered up and down the streets on Rome, listening to the walls. There were melancholy accordions, stringed orchestras, raving discos and drunken guitar solos. Unwilling to go inside any of these venues and endure hassling with wining, dining and parting people, Apollo resigned to find a seat outside instead. He sat by the fountain and listened to its eternal rhythm. Pan was sitting on the other side, but Apollo didn’t want to get the little fawn talking until dawn.

That’s when Pan stood up and started to check out a poor young human. The idiot. Didn’t he know that humans didn’t expect to wake up with a half-goat man any more? He could cause a lot of trouble for her, for the Olympians and for society, and for what? A one night stand with a simply mediocre human?

Sighing, Apollo stood up and drifted toward the two. He wasn’t trying to go unnoticed, which would have been nearly impossible anyway. His yellow hair and bright white collared shirt stood out against the dark blue of twilight. Apollo’s only intention was to make sure Pan was aware that he would turn the little goat into a golden pincushion if he did anything irrational.

[Pan]

Pan was actually enjoying himself, for once. He never really had that much trouble with mortal women these days. Sure, he didn't have the best success with nymphs, but humans were just so much easier... especially when they didn't know about his 'furry little problem'. But that shouldn't have mattered anyways! If he had to resort to hitting on human women in the days when he wasn't forced to wear clothes, then they would be damn well happy to have him!

Nonetheless, this was providing the distraction that he needed, and chatting up the girl wasn't that hard. He talked for a few moments about this and that before requesting her company to a little bar he knew. He hoped that things would orchestrate themselves from there. She agreed, as he expected, but just as he was offering her arm to her, she seemed to suddenly be distracted. Pan had no idea what she could possibly be looking at, but apparantly it was something very interesting over his shoulder.

Of course, being ever curious, he turned to see himself just what was so distracting, only to see Apollo. Almost instantly his hands balled up into fists, and he turned his back to the other God until he could actually regain his composure. Why now? Of all the times Apollo could have decided to be in the same place that he was, why chose now? It wasn't like there was any real reason Apollo should be here! Not to mention the girl he just spent all that time charming was transfixed by the sight of the God of the Sun. Pan let out a large sigh, slowly unclenching his fists before turning around and walking right up to Apollo. He could care less about the girl now- she was practically gone already.

"Do you just take joy in ruining everything for me?" he asked after a moment, looking up at Apollo and cursing his goat leg structure for making him shorter then the other God, "I mean is it just how you get your amusement? Or is it just that you feel the need to bother me any time I'm actually enjoying myself?" Though he was angry at the God (really without much reason for being provoked other then a warning glance), he kept his voice relatively calm and even. It was probably just some mistake anyways... Its not like he and Apollo actually sought one another out for anything anymore. So after a moment he sighed again, crossing his arms over his chest, "Would you mind going away? I'm a little busy here, and I'd appreciate you not being around..."

[Apollo]

As Pan talked up the girl, Apollo observed silently. He wanted to make sure that she wasn’t getting any hints that he might not be completely human. He overheard Pan invite her to a bar. That must be what he had in mind, get her so wasted that she didn’t realize he was furry. For its ability to induce such lack of observation and sensibility, Apollo generally avoided alcohol. Of course, alcohol made people act silly, but he was in complete denial that any other medication he took might scatter his brain chemistry.

Just as Pan was about to lead her away, to what Apollo was sure would be a terrible fate, the girl caught his eye. Her gaze seemed to be transfixed on him, but Apollo wasn’t trying to do anything. He wasn’t striking a pose from what he could tell. Apollo was a part of enough affairs to know a significant glance when he saw one, and sighed. Pan would get all huffy with him now. But honestly, what could Apollo do if Pan was simply so… mediocre. Yes. Apollo had an ego problem.

“Am I smiling?” Apollo replied simply. He was not at all, in fact still retained the expression of disapproval he wore when he first caught sight of the satyr. Now, if Apollo wasn’t completely sure of Pan’s intentions (and as patron of truth, he was always sure) Pan’s last statement solidified it. “Pan, didn’t anybody tell you never to do anything that you would be ashamed to do in front of your grandmother? Or your uncle, for that matter.” Apollo told him as though he was speaking to a small child. He was being condescending on purpose, hopefully to turn Pan off of mischief with the humans.

[Pan]

It was in these short encounters with Apollo that Pan really remembered why he didn't like the God. Normally he would forget about grudges within the day- things like that just didn't bother him. But someone like Apollo just got under his fur and skin, like a tick. That's what Apollo was, a disgusting tick. A tick that was biting him and sucking the precious life-blood out of him... or the fun out of life... or both. Whatever the case, Apollo always found some way to be annoying and bothersome, whether the other God knew it or not.

"No, and to the best of my recollection, you never have cracked a smile in my presence..." Pan replied in a monotone, letting himself be 'scolded', though he smirked wildly, "Unless you're drugged out on your medications... I bet you hardly remember some nights..." Pan chuckled, finding the line between medical drug-abuse and his own activities quite blurred. Where did Apollo have the right to preach when he got to have a drugged out trip each night? And it was more then he went out looking for a girl or a good time too!

"Look, Apollo..." Pan finally choked out after another round of laughter at the expense of the other God's drugged experiences, "I'm sure that saying works fine for you and all... but in case you haven't noticed, my grandmother isn't here, and I don't consider you an uncle, if that was your point..." Pan glanced back at that poor girl, still transfixed by Apollo's looks. It was frustrating- why did Apollo get that attention. The God didn't even want any of it! "But seriously... can you leave? I appreciate this 'daddy to son' talk you're trying to give, but you technically need to be my father for that to work, wouldn't you agree?" Pan wasn't about to have any of this 'small child' stuff anymore. He wasn't a kid... he just liked to act like one.

[Apollo]

Raising an eyebrow pensively, Apollo tucked his hands behind his back and looked off in a Byronic pose. “And not for lack of reason.” he mused under his breath. He snapped his attention back angrily as Pan mentioned his meds. Apollo was convinced that his experimentations with medication were distinct from recreational drugs.

Whipping out a small prescription bottle from his pocked, he pointed it threateningly at Pan. “Don’t you dare compare your bottled lunacy with science.” Apollo was convinced that the meds didn’t do anything to him, and he was only promoting the practice of medicine. He just... didn’t want to stop.

Frowning, Apollo tapped his foot impatiently. “This isn’t about you.” Apollo retorted simply, returning Pan’s emotion with coldness. This was about keeping the Gods secret, letting the humans continue living in blissful ignorance. There was only one sure fire way to keep Pan away from the human, and that was the human’s free will. Apollo approached the woman slowly. “This man isn’t bothering you, is he?” Ironically, it sounded like a come on but was the complete opposite.

[Pan]

Pan rolled his eyes as Apollo got into his 'stance' and looked at him as if Pan just was below the other God- nothing more then a bit of dirt on his shoe. Pan couldn't keep from rolling his eyes at Apollo's words- not without good reason. Just for the same good reason that Pan tried to avoid talking to Apollo whenever possible? But at least their relationship was clear- it was a hate/hate, and it always would be.

But Pan couldn't keep from bursting out laughing as Apollo waved a bottle of pills around. He couldn't help but wonder how long those pills had been stashed away for Apollo's convenience. And who was he kidding, pretending to take the high road? Even humans classified medical pills as 'drugs' therefore they were drugs. It was as easy as that... "Scientific advancement or not, you get really crazy on those things..." Pan stated with a shrug, but he was growing bored quickly.

He tuned out most of Apollo's next words, until he saw the God moving over to his date. Whoa, whoa! That was totally uncalled for! Pan followed behind Apollo quickly, not caring that his hooves made a sound on the stone that wasn't similar to shoes, only that Apollo was trying to ruin his fun, just like always! And to his horror, the girl was listening, smiling, and giggling. This had to be stopped, and stopped now! He quickly moved to the girl's side, lightly taking her arm.

"I was going to show Angela here a night on the town, dear friend..." he replied quickly, wrapping an arm around Angela's shoulders and giving a small shrug, "So sorry... my friend here is a little loopy from all of the medications he takes... Well, that and he had some special surgery for his singing voice in all..." Pan made a snipping gesture in the air, and the girl looked between Apollo and Pan before moving a bit closer to Pan. The satyr only smirked at Apollo. He knew whatever the God came up with, he would just throw it back twice as hard.

[Apollo]

Pouting almost immaturely, Apollo pocketed the medication. “And you get really crazy from alcohol,” he pointed out. Deep down, Apollo knew that taking the meds would certainly have effects on his head, but his pride was to stiff to admit it, especially here and to Pan. Plus, the point of prescription medication was to heal, unlike alcohol. It made Apollo feel better, not insane.

The girl’s mindless, flirty reaction made Apollo’s stomach turn. She didn’t even know him. His mere presence simply erased her brain, which was so unfortunate. Please, girl, just give me a glimmer of dignity, of intelligence. Nope. Apollo figured she could not have been that intelligent to begin with if she was charmed by Pan.

With an exasperated sigh, Apollo prepared to retort Pan’s slightly, random yet disturbing insult. Apollo thought it was fairly obvious that he still had everything where it belonged. However, he knew that denial or reason wouldn’t help him in this case. “Well, a transplant was the least I could do to help your little…” Apollo mouthed the word condition obviously. He could have continued but it irked him to even fabricate this tiny little lie. Apollo longed to go back to Olympus now. From there he could just look down, aim and shoot a golden arrow through Pan’s horny forehead.

[Pan]

Pan was fairly confident that Apollo wouldn't be able to think of a retort quite that quickly. After all, he considered it a pretty clever insult. And of course, he was just cocky in general. So what if Apollo had a tendency to beat him at everything? So what if Apollo didn't waver at any of his other insults? He thought he was clever for that one, and for once, maybe, he would win this battle of wills. After all, he couldn't exactly think of a comeback for that himself, so he had no idea that Apollo could either. But to his dismay, not only did Apollo have a come back, but he had a good one.

Crap.

To make things worse, the girl obviously wasn't interested in anyone without their proper 'manhood', and pulled herself out of Pan's embrace. Pan, dumbfounded, watched in disbelief as she bid him a farewell and moved quickly away from the area with small, fast steps. Pan couldn't believe it. One comment. One comment and he was left with nothing. He was in shock for a few moments, his mouth hanging a little bit open before turning to look at Apollo. All at once, his shock turned into anger, and he clenched his fists together. In his frustration, he lightly began to paw the ground with one hoof. Of course this looked a bit strange to any passerby- a man in baggy pants moving his foot back and forth over the ground, but Pan really didn't care. He hardly ever cared about his 'public appearance'.

"Do you see what you do?! What the hell?" Pan glared up at the other God, wishing so badly he could just snap his fingers and Apollo would get locked away forever... yeah, somewhere he couldn't get out of unless he freaking begged Pan. Maybe not even then. He would have to do something like... like... Pan didn't even know. But whatever it was, it would show the bastard, "Why do you need to ruin everything? Is this just some cheap thrill for you?"

[Apollo]

To Apollo’s satisfaction, the girl had lost interest in both of the deities. Some things were just automatic turn offs, and Apollo smugly smiled as she walked away. His victorious demeanor was shaken, however, as he caught sight of Pan’s head turning red like a thermometer in boiling water. The satyr looked like he was ready to charge at him. As casually as he could, Apollo widened his stance slightly, to absorb his impact, not unlike a wrestler.

Apollo let his fingertips rest together, and he looked down at Pan like a headmaster addressing his pupil. “I’m not thrilled, Pan. I’m disappointed in finding you seeking them out. This cup is shallow, and can never be refilled. Why don’t you search for someone who you connect with and the cup will be perpetually full?” Apollo asked, accenting his words lightly and deliberately. He was a true poet, and spoke in metaphors with no concern to how others might interpret them.

He frowned at Pan, and shook his head lightly. Apollo could feel a headache coming on, and he blamed it on Pan. He shook a pill from his bottle and popped it back in one motion. After the moment it took to swallow, Apollo addressed him again. “I hope you find something deeper in your life,” but his words of hope were deflated by his flat and uninflected tone. The sun was set and Apollo was cold.

[Pan]

As if chasing away his girl wasn't enough, Apollo seemed to feel the need to further torment Pan with his poetic and 'all-knowing' advice. But it was a foolish thing for Apollo to say, because Pan knew for a fact that the deity was being a complete hypocrite. Telling him to find someone to permanently 'fill his cup' was advice that Apollo needed as much as he did. And the God didn't need to stand around and act like utter perfection when he was utterly flawed. Now of course, Pan knew he was just as flawed as Apollo, but he embraced his own flaws unlike the other God. And yet Apollo always had an air of arrogance and he was completely pretentious. This would have made Pan amused if he wasn't so angry in the first place.

"Haven't you ever heard not to preach what you don't practice?" he replied, clenching his fists once more and digging a hoof firmly into the ground to paw at it once more, "I don't see you filling your cup either. You dwell in as shallow a cup as I do, no matter how much you refuse to admit it..." Pan didn't need Apollo to admit it to know this was nothing but simple fact. If anything, he should be playing the 'I'm so much higher then you' card. At least he could admit to himself that he had flaws, did drugs every now and then, drank, and had sex with different people all the time.

"Ah, but then I suppose some people just can't be helped, can they?" he added after a moment, finding himself calming down as he realized how arrogant and completely oblivious Apollo was to himself, "I think you need to be the one to look inward and reflect, follow your own advice, and maybe stop popping those pills..." Within moments, Pan had a triumphant smirk on his face. How could Apollo touch him now? He knew why he was better then the other God, and he didn't need some music competition or a physical fight to tell him why, "Science or not, they're drugs. Whether you like it or not, you're addicted, you little druggie you..." Pan said the last part 'affectionately' as if he was talking to a small child.