Stuck on stage two, open

[Athena]

There were few things that Athena needed to do as a goddess living in disguise, and working out was definitely not one of them. However, that didn't mean that she didn't do it from time to time. Swimming especially did little to tone her practically perfect body, but she did it anyway for the mental relaxation rather than the physical work out.

Reaching the end of the pool, she ducked under the water and performed a perfect tumble tuck. Pushing herself away against the wall of the pool, she quickly resurfaced and resumed her methodical breast stroke.

Swimming was good for allowing her time to think, but she often found her mind drifting to thoughts that were anything but therapeutic. She thought about the old days and her followers, and the rituals they used to perform in her honour.

She'd heard the mortals referring to the five stages of grief, and at times she wondered if they had a point. Unfortunately for her, even after all these years on Earth, she was still stuck at the second stage; anger. She'd got past denial a long time ago. The reality of what had happened to them had hit hard and fast. She really hadn't stayed in stage one for very long. But stage two had stayed with her. Over two thousand years later, and she was still angry. Angry with the people who did this to her. Angry with the other gods for not fighting harder. Angry with the mortals and their pathetic lives! Angry with the world for there not being a way home!

Another turn in the water at the other end of the pool distracted her momentarily from the internal rant. As she resurfaced, it occurred to her that maybe she should find human activities to do in her free time that didn't allow her so much thinking time.

[Ryujin]

There was nothing like a good swim. True, these swimming pools reeked of chlorine and urine (he shuddered at the thought), but it was water. Ryujin held one of the tide jewels in his palm, rolling it in circles, then stuffed it back into his pocket. He gave a low hum as he thought. Maybe he could try just eating them. Then he wouldn't lose them. Though, trying to stuff a couple of pearls down his throat didn't sound like the best of ideas. Not to mention the possible stomach aches. Eh. How many dragons did that anyway?

Anyway, he had pushed open to the door leading to the swimming pool. A large enough pool to satisfy him, though he ached to swim in the oceans as a dragon once more, like he used to. Oh, the Ryūgū-jō would have been such a nice place to stay. Ryujin sighed. It was a long time ago, though. That remarkable palace was destroyed many, many centuries ago. He could still recall it clear as day, with all its wonders.

The smell of chlorine bombarded him the instant he entered the room. He wrinkled his nose. It was always these fitness center pools! They were the ones that smelled so awful, though he supposed it was a necessity since the humans liked to urinate in the pools. Ryujin frowned, stopping a short ways away from the door. His eyes scanned the room. Oh... well, that was a bit of a surprise! They were scattered and a bit harder to find nowadays.

Ryujin strode forward, then climbed down the ladder and into the water. He leaned against the side, watching the goddess continue swimming across the pool.

"Been a while hasn't it?" he asked. "How many years? A thousand, two thousand?"

[Athena]

Even with the water covering her body, Athena felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck. It was a feeling that was no where as familiar as it should have been, the feeling of a god being close by. Turning in the water again, Athena searched the room looking for the source of the feeling, but it wasn't until she neared the end of the pool again, and he spoke, that she realised who it was.

"Ryujin," Athena muttered, more confirming to herself that this was who it was, rather than using his name as a greeting. "Yes, it's definitely been a few thousand years."

Bringing her feet to the bottom of the pool, Athena looked evenly at the mortal body of the god before her. She couldn't make up her mind if it suited him or not.

"Actually, I don't think I've seen you since the battle," she suggested, narrowing her eyes slightly. "If I remember correctly, you were dive bombing me from the air, throwing water at me to try and extinguish my lightening bolts." Athena raised an eyebrow. "Or was that a different dragon god hurling water at me?"

[Ryujin]

"Ah"

So it definitely has been a while. Time passed much slower outside of that palace. It was more difficult to accustom to. In it, it would have been matter of days before they reached the present. Ryujin continued to relax on the side of the pool, ignoring the pungent smell that came off of it.

"Well, I fancied myself smarter than that," he said, quirking an eyebrow. Of course water didn't put out lightning! He ought to have known better than that. However, it had been a while since that battle, and Ryujin's memory was a bit hazy on it.

"Water doesn't quite put out lightning, after all," he continued. Electricity was an interesting thing, certainly, as he didn't know it like he did water. Science had explained a lot to him, even though science didn't apply to him as the humans thought it did. The tides moved as he willed it, not the moon! Ryujin chuckled at the thought.

"Don't know of many other dragon gods. There's one, but that one's not an Oriental one like me. And the Azure Dragon is the next closest thing, I do believe."

[Athena]

Athena smirked at his response. "Well no, water wouldn't put the lightening bolt out, but it would certainly annoy and hinder the goddess who was trying to create them." Quirking her eyebrow for a moment, Athena tipped her head backwards in the pool, completely submerging her hair. Bringing her head back up, she ran her hand over her wet hair and then down her face.

"Or have you been on Earth so long that you don't remember that it required my greatest concentration to create the more powerful bolts?"

Leaning against the side of the pool, Athena looked him up and down again, or at least, looked at the amount of his body she could see above the water.

"Funnily enough, I think being a dragon suits you better," she informed him, not caring that he hadn't asked her opinion. "Some how smooth skin and no scales just isn't the right look for you."

[Ryujin]

Ryūjin shrugged. Pity he didn't remember too much of the war. It would have been interesting to recall those battles. Well, the most important piece of the war was the result. Homeless gods. They were almost like those homeless people that resided on the streets. Quite a peculiar comparison, but Ryūjin figured it fitting.

"Hm, perhaps," he said, stroking his chin in thought. "I don't remember much of the war."

He grinned, then rubbed the still dry hair on his head. Hair and scales were made of the same thing, but that didn't mean they didn't feel different. Ryūjin had gotten used to it. He missed the power and grace that came with being a dragon, though. Humans were so weak and fragile, and he felt like it.

"Really?" he replied. "Too bad I can't walk around like that. The police would be called in and next thing I know I'd be shot. Though... a little mayhem would be nice."

Ryūjin laughed. Oh, it was funny how people didn't think dragons existed. They thought a lot of things didn't exist, and they were blissfully unaware of the fact that many creatures were simply good at hiding. Ryūjin could imagine the faces that people would have made, seeing a giant creature of "myth" flying between the skyscrapers that made up their cities.

[Athena]

Athena shrugged casually. "I don't remember very much either. Just bits and peaces really." She looked at the god opposite her and smirked. "I guess there are just some things that you don't forget very easily... like dragons attacking."

Putting her hands up on the side of the pool behind her head, Athena let her legs and feet float to the surface of the water.

"Mayhem would always be nice," Athena agreed with another smirk. "I assume from that you are finding life on Earth as boring as I am?" she asked conversationally. It was nice to be talking to another god, even if he wasn't from the same pantheon as herself. At least he was someone who understood her situation.

[Ryujin]

Ryūjin pulled one corner of his lip back. At least he wasn't easily forgettable. He wasn't sure if that was reassuring or not, really. He shifted his shoulders, then turned his head back and forth. Humans swimming around the pool.... Maybe he could freak them out a bit. Ryūjin liked the thought. And he had an idea for doing so.

"Life on Earth can be boring. I don't have a palace anymore, and time passes more slowly since I don't live in it." Ryūjin paused. Then, a grin began to form on his face. "But... humans can be interesting sometimes."

He reached into his pockets, feeling the smooth surface of the tide jewels on his fingertips. Nothing major. Just a little bit of a... scare for the humans? The water began to move strangely. Like the pool was being tipped back and forth, though gently. Water slid to one end and spilled over, then did the same with the other. Ryūjin clambered onto the edge of the pool, sitting with his legs and feet submerged underneath the shifting waters. The movement of the pool water made it feel almost like the ocean again, with its shifting tides.

"And... well, I can have a bit of fun with them every now and then," he muttered.

Meanwhile, people were getting confused looks, swimming to the nearest ladder and steps and scrambling out of the pool. Those that already did watched the strange spectacle before them, utterly confused at what was going on.

[Athena]

A smile slid slowly over Athena's features as she realised what he was doing. Holding back the laughter, she easily lifted herself from the water to sit on the side of the pool next to him.

Careful not to laugh too loudly as she watched the humans fleeing from the water, she looked at Ryujin. He was clearly enjoying himself.

"You know, I have to admit I'm a little jealous," she told him as the water lapped back and forth against their legs. "The problem with the power I got left with since being on Earth isn't exactly something I can use in public. Creating sparks from my hands would attract a lot more attention I think."

[Ryujin]

"Hmmm."

Ryūjin scratched his head, still observing the scared and confused mortals. He smiled, turning his head to look at Athena. She was right; he did have a power he could use without the police being onto him. That was fortunate.

"You have no other powers?"

He paused, thinking. Ryūjin only knew of his powers to create and manipulate the tides. It... wasn't necessarily a power that he could use whenever he wanted. After all, the tide jewels channeled that power. Ryūjin needed them with him. Manipulating water to a minor degree was possible, yes, but affecting the entire oceans? Needed the tide jewels for that.

"That's a shame. Maybe you can practice a bit if you haven't? Perhaps even deities can get rusty after so long without using their powers."

Ryūjin sighed at the last sentence. Two thousand years was supposed to be nothing to gods, but even that amount of time could feel so long. Or, it could pass by quickly. It was surprising how the world had progressed in that time.

[Athena]

Athena shrugged but continued to smile as the waters shifted at their feet.

"I can still affect things within my realm of responsibilities," she answered him casually. It was no big deal to admit to having few powers left now. She was sure many other gods suffered from the same affliction. "It just doesn't carry quite the same punch as it once did."

As he suggested she practice her powers, Athena thought about it for a moment. She doubted that it was purely a case of her having got rusty, but it might be worth a shot. No point in ruling it out without trying at least.

As the last of the humans fled from the pool, Athena sighed. "Well that was half as entertaining as it could have been if some of them had stayed."

[Ryujin]

"Yeah," he responded simply. It must have been bad, losing most of one's powers. Ryūjin considered himself lucky. He still had many of his powers largely intact. Still, many of them were dependent on the Tide Jewels. They were channels of power. Ryūjin frowned. Without them, he could only summon limited amounts of water. The dragon twiddled his thumbs, watching as the last of the mortals exited the water and retreated.

"At least mortals are... somewhat sensible, I suppose," he said, nodding in agreement. It was fun while it lasted. Brief, but entertaining. With that, he stopped the flow of tides, letting the water settle to normal again. Ryūjin slipped into the water now that it was tranquil. The mortals stared, perplexed, and unsure of what had happened.

[Athena]

"Sensible meaning boring in this case," Athena muttered, her tone clearly annoyed that the stunt hadn't had a bigger impact. Still sulking, Athena also slipped back into the pool.

As a few of the humans followed the God's examples and re-entered the pool, Athena smirked. Dipping her forefinger into the water, she let off the tiniest spark. It was small, but just enough to give the mortal closest to her a surprise. He jumped, turning in the water to see if something had bitten him or something. Athena grinned for a moment, but it quickly faded. That would be about the most she would be able to get away with without crossing boundaries or revealing their secret.

"I had a dream the other night," Athena said suddenly, turning back to Ryujin. "Or it might have been a memory, I'm not sure. We were home, in our rightful places. Mortals worshiped us and made sacrifices in our names." She smiled wistfully, remembering how good it felt. The smile faded again.

"Then I woke up, and I realised that I was still here, stuck in this miserable existence. Does that ever happen to you?"

[Ryujin]

Ryūjin had noticed the mortal who'd been shocked, though he just barely noticed the small spark that Athena had produced. Shocking unsuspecting mortals. He grinned It must not have been nice, not being able to use one's powers without being caught. Ryūjin himself was beginning to think that there may not have been a need to just... hide. The dragon god reckoned that, if all the gods banded together to try to win the faith of the mortals once more, they would be unstoppable. After all, they were gods. They couldn't truly be killed.

"Hmm...." He scratched his arm, itching slightly. How he missed having bright, glossy scales.

"I often stayed in my palace. That's what I miss most." Ryūjin sighed at that thought. It was pointless to obsess over that palace, now that it was gone for hundreds upon hundreds of years.

"I can't say I've had many dreams quite like yours," he said with a nod. "Just about being home again. Sometimes."

He shrugged.

"Then again, a day in that palace was a hundred years outside of it. I suppose it could get a little confusing every now and then, with such a big gap in time."

[Athena]

Athena had heard stories here and there about Ryujin's palace, but had never actually been there herself. From the little that she knew, it sounded quite the place to be, even if she couldn't imagine what it would be like to live somewhere where time moved so drastically to that on Earth. It wasn't something she'd ever encountered while living on Mount Olympus.

"What was it like there?" she asked with a curious smile. "I don't just mean with the servants and stuff, but what was it really like?"

[Ryujin]

"Oh." Well, it was surprised that he was asked what his home was like. The other gods surely had their own amazing homes. After all, they were gods. It was only reasonable to expect such. The deities had important duties to fulfill many years ago, and it was a pity that they weren't fully appreciated for what they did.

"How to start?" Ryūjin murmured. "I thought it was very beautiful. Though, of course, it was my own home. Made of red and white coral and crystal. Legends say it was one or the other, but it was really both."

He gave a bit of a weak laugh. He was glad to be able to remember these things.

"Each side of the palace had a different season. Snow always fell in the winter. In spring the cherry blossoms were in bloom and the nightingale always sang. Autumn's maple trees were so bright and vivid. Summer was pleasantly warm and the crickets chirped in the evenings."

Ryūjin paused. He didn't want to go into an awful lot of detail, lest it turn into an even longer monologue. Plus, it was also hard to describe without really showing it to anyone. Few outsiders visited the palace.

"So, what about Mount Olympus? What was it like? I lived in the bottom of the sea. I can't imagine what it would be like to live there."

[Athena]

Athena smiled at his description. "It sounds lovely," she told him honestly. "I can see why you would miss it so much." Of course he hadn't really told her all that much, but she could just tell from his tone and the look on his face that there was more. Perhaps talking about it too much was hard for him.

"Mount Olympus was... well it was home," she told him, aware of how pathetic it sounded. It really wasn't much of a description at all. "To be honest, it could have been made of cardboard boxes, but I would still want to live there again."

She smiled at Ryujin, hoping he would know what she meant.

"You could see the whole of Greece when you looked out, no matter what the weather was like," she added as she dipped her hair in the water again.

"Of course I spent a lot of time on Earth back then too, in Athens, but it was always good to know that home was waiting for me when I wanted to go back."

[Ryujin]

Ryūjin thought that he knew what Athena meant. He wasn't sure if that palace would be the same if it wasn't so luxurious. But, like she said, home was home. The memories of the palace and his daughters were some of his most cherished. Home and family. Those were almost always valued things. Ryūjin sighed at the thought.

"It must have been an incredible sight," he said. As a dragon, he certainly had the ability to fly, but to wake up every day to see the whole of a country one ruled over... that must have been a unique feeling. Ryūjin tried to think of it himself. Not quite the
same as the palace, though.

"I didn't mingle with the humans much," he said. There was Urashima Tarō and a handful of others that ever got to visit his palace.

"They've changed a lot since then. It's funny."

[Athena]

"I'm not surprised," Athena replied with a small smirk. "I should imagine being a dragon would have made mingling a little more difficult."

Athena swam backwards in the water a little, thinking about what he'd said. Yes, the humans had changed a lot. But so had the gods, and so had the world in general.

"It was definitely a simpler life back then," she agreed. "Sometimes I wonder if the humans know what they've done to themselves with all this technology."

She looked back to Ryujin and smiled again. "You know one of the models I was working with a few months back managed to get herself fired because of the facebook rubbish." Athena shook her head a little as she remembered.

"Back in our day, the only thing that would have got a mortal fired short of not working hard enough, was inappropriate behaviour with a sacrificial goat."

[Ryujin]

"Not a whole lot in the East. People revered dragons. Much better than the Western image, at least."

Ryūjin liked being a dragon. He was proud of his heritage, and being a creature that was respected and feared as an almighty being. That was upped even further as a god. Ah, the life of royalty. It could hardly get any better. Though, Ryūjin did appreciate human technology. It made life more bearable.

"Yeah," he said, nodding. "Technology is nice; it makes life a lot more comfortable. But, they do too much with it. They don't control it. Just look at all the pollution."

He hated that his oceans were so full of garbage. That damn island of trash just proved how horrible humans were managing their technology. They were wasteful!

"Really?" he said. "What did they do? Talk about their boss?"

"Eh, I guess it's better than being beheaded or something like that. Funny how people burned other people at the stake for such silly things as rumor."

The witch trials were so silly. Ryūjin rubbed his temple at the thought. It never ceased to amaze him how utterly stupid mortals could be.

[Athena]

"Oh, it was stupid really," she began. Her tone made it clear how distasteful she found the whole thing and was clearly trying to play it down.

"She put her status as something like she was fed up with working for such a revolting perve, and if he spent half as much time looking at her through a camera as he did oggling her breasts when she visited the office, then things would get done a lot quicker and she'd have more contracts. Or something like that." Athena looked at Ryujin, and shrugged. Anyone could have done a similar thing she supposed.

"Turns out she was as stupid as she was anorexic, and forgot that she had him on her friends list, so he saw the whole thing. He replied something along the lines of if she pulled her head out of her behind long enough to do something other than look in the mirror, she'd realise he was gay and had no interest in her breasts whatsoever, not to mention she really wasn't attractive as she thought she was which was why she spent more time in the office than in the photography studio. Then he added that she was still within her three month trial period, which wouldn't be turned into a permanent contract."

Athena shrugged again as she moved her hand beneath the water. "Personally I think it was a huge over-reaction from both parties."