42 Ganesha's Party (3)

Shoutout to my new patron:

JokersLaugh67

You are a bloody legend!

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~I don't really wanna go~

~I don't really wanna stay~

~But I really hope and pray~

~Can we get it together?~

~Get it together~

~Mustard on the beat, hoe~

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"This is simply a masterpiece!" Hephaestus salivated over the Sceptre. She turned it over and over in her hands as she inspected it's shape and its composition. "100% PURE gold! No contaminants or impurities at all? And the measurements as well as the weight is exactly appropriate for your usage Ptah!"

"Well Steve did make it specifically for me." Ptah replied to her as if he were someone that didn't have an interest in her at all. "My child is quite talented when it comes to the forge as you can see."

"I am well aware Ptah." Hephaestus gleamed. "This is after all not the first time I've seen his works."

"It isn't?" Steve asked in confusion. "Where have you seen my stuff before? There are no other weapons of mine out there besides...wait..."

"Finn Deimne, Captain of the Loki Familia came by earlier this morning." Hephaestus explained as she continued to inspect the Sceptre. "He brought that spear of his for expert appraisal, and it was the greatest thing I have seen up to date in the mortal realm."

"Oh?" Hermes said behind his hand. "A smith from a foreign Familia creates something that stunts even the Goddess of Smithing herself? At level 9 no less? It must be one wonderous treasure. I insist that I see it too at some point."

"At Finn's behest." Steve said before he turned back to the goddess. "So what was your verdict then? I'd be honoured to receive some critique from the goddess Hephaestus herself on the condition of my pieces."

"Assuming that in critique you also take my advice as well?" Hephaestus said as she finally turned away from the Sceptre and looked Steve in the eye.

"Hephy, you're at it again." Tsubaki said from behind her. "We have come quite literally for that purpose but you're more concerned with that weapon than you are with your concerns and what we came to this party for."

"Oh my apologies!" Hephaestus said as she held it out, uncertain of who to give it to. "Somebody else also wanted to see this for themselves right?"

"That would be me." Asfi said as she held out her hand, to which Hephaestus responded by handing the Sceptre over. Asfi held it aloft, scrutinising it with her expert eye as she put her full focus on this item and dug into the deepest part of all her wisdom and knowledge she'd accumulated over her time as a mystic. "There is powerful magic in this...but so potent!" She said wide eyed. "It is greater than all magic items I have seen in my life combined."

"That's quite a high estimation my dear Asfi." Hermes said as he leaned over to her. "You wouldn't happen to be trying to say that just to please Stephen here, now would you? Because as you can see, he is already very much taken- AAAHHH!" Hermes was cut off by his yell as Asfi twisted his ear in her annoyance.

"One more word and I'm putting you back in a strait-jacket." The blue haired, former princess threatened. She then turned to Steve. "I understand that we have only just met, but it so rare to meet another magic item maker worthy of the title and who brings even moderately acknowledgeable works. Perhaps we could sit and discuss this with each other at some time?"

"It would be my pleasure. Just send a letter to the grotto when you want it to be done, and I will make myself available." Steve turned away from being fed cake by Ais and looked between their gathering. "I seem to be attracting some rather beautiful women with my items it seems. They really must be worth something special if I'm getting praise from the cream of the crop in their own respective fields."

"Well it is quite potent and very powerful magic." Hephaestus commented. "Though I realize now that it is not the same magic as the one I felt from the spear. I do have many questions regarding that particular item you know, somewhere nice and quiet to chat."

"Why don't you go and pick something for yourself from the dessert table?" Ptah suggested to her. "And maybe have the servants bring over tea for us while we talk? It would be nice in particular for the two of us to reconvene after all this time...especially now that I realize Hestia is back. Why didn't you tell me about her by the way?"

"It...just slipped my mind I guess." Hephaestus said as she looked off to the side in realization. "Speaking of, maybe we should go look for her. She's bound to be in this party somewhere."

"Knowing her hoarding nature, she's probably trying to sneak party food into her bag at this very moment." Hermes laughed. "Well I suppose this is where I take my leave ladies and gentlemen. I have quite a few women in mind I'd like to have a dance with...unfortunately all the ones I have asked up until this point have 'respectfully' declined...but I'm sure one will accept at some point."

"I wonder why." Asfi said sarcastically as she handed the Sceptre back to Ptah. "Mr Stephen, Lord Ptah, Lady Wallenstein, Lady Hephaestus and Tsubaki, it was a pleasure seeing you all."

"You too." Ptah said. "Good luck with Hermes' antics. He's quite fortunate he's got so strong willed a woman to keep him grounded in reality."

"I can't be that bad right?" Hermes pleaded.

""You are."" The women said simultaneously. Hermes just pouted before sauntering away, Asfi sighing as she followed behind him.

"Glad that's over with." Ptah said. "You can never really tell with Hermes what his true intentions are. He's a bastard no doubt, but it is always hard to see where his loyalties lie."

"It was always with Zeus in the old days." Hephaestus said. "What the two had going on between them, I will never know. Thick as thieves. But Zeus is gone now...disappeared to regions unknown and his Familia pretty much extinct."

"I call it karma." Ptah said. "After all that philanderer has done, it was about time fate shoved its pointy boot right up his ass."

"That's not a nice thing to say." Hephaestus chided.

"Can you blame me? The crone. He looked more like a geezer than I did and he made fun of ME for my age."

"Never change Ptah. Please never change." Hephaestus shook her head mirthfully. "Anyways, I'll try and have one of those upstairs tables reserved for us if they can spare it (though I doubt it) while I go and try to find Hestia if she's here. Meet us there will you, when you're ready?"

"You bet." Ptah said. "See ya."

Hephaestus smiled and walked away, Tsubaki pausing for a moment as she nodded at them before following her goddess away. As soon as they were at a reasonable distance, Steve lunged forward and grabbed Ptah around the throat, making the god squeak as he was taken by surprise. Steve pulled him forwards so they looked eye to eye.

"What the hell was that?!" Steve asked.

"What?" Ptah said as he tried to wrestle himself of Steve's grip. "Let go of me!"

"How is that the woman you're supposed to be interested you damn dolt?! What the hell? You were speaking to her as if she was just some casual in a distant friend group!"

"What do you mean?" Ptah asked. "How am I supposed to talk to her?"

"Your mannerisms first and foremost. Act like you're interested! Look at the way she was dressed, why didn't you even give her some form of compliment man? Or just say something nice about her, anything nice at all!"

"I'm not a sweet talker like you." Ptah spat. "Besides, look at me! I have the appearance of a child and I'd be telling someone who has the appearance of an adult woman that she's beautiful in a manner indicating I'm interested in her! Don't you think that would make it look just a little bit weird even?"

"Is that the source of your insecurity?" Steve sighed before he released his grip and stood up straight. "Well if that's how it's going to be, I may just as well leave you on your own. I can't help if you're not going to commit."

"I backed YOU!"

"But I was actively showing my interest the whole way and I just was unsure what do going forward because I was stuck between a rock and a hard place! You on the other hand won't even deign to show some form of interest!...But you do have a point, that childish appearance will do no good for you." Steve thought for a moment. "Can't you use your powers or whatever to make yourself look older or something?"

"I am as I am." Ptah said. "I cannot change, nor will others forget my appearance even if I did. It's just not that simple."

"...walak yaa miskeen..." Steve muttered in one of his native tongues.

"What? What did you just say?" Ptah raised his brow before frowning. "I know you just insulted me!"

"Because I did." Steve said. "Come on man, at least ask her for a dance, a singular dance! By the end of tonight. Doesn't even have to be romantically inclined at all you know?"

"We talked about this before! Did you not just-"

"People are dancing with Pallums you twit!" Steve pointed to the dance floor where some people were dancing to the band music, switching partners between each other and mixed among those were some Pallums. "And they're even smaller than you are!"

"...I'll think about it." Ptah murmured as he looked off to the side before he looked around to change the topic. "Anyway, she's gone to find Hestia. Maybe we should help her?"

"Not needed." Steve said as he stood up straight. "Ais, move away from the table please."

"Huh?" Ais looked at him confusedly, as did Ptah, but she complied regardless.

Without looking, Steve grabbed the edge of the long, heavy party table, tablecloth and all, and simply flexed his arm. The entire table, with perfect balance as if it weighed no more than a feather lifted off the ground catching the attention of some people nearby. As it rose, it revealed a twin-tailed girl hiding underneath with some sort of fresh cream puff snack stuffed in her mouth with two more in each hand.

And true to the speculations of her friends, she did indeed have a bag on her that clearly was stuffed with more food for hoarding.

"Hestia?!" Ptah said in surprise. "The hell you're doing under there? Wait, how long have you been here?"

"Since Hermes approached us." Steve said. 

"You knew?" Ais said from behind as she looked at Hestia who looked like a deer caught in headlights and at that very moment was turning her head around to look at party goers shaking their heads at her. Some looked at her with scorn and bewilderment, while some that knew who she was, merely chuckled or giggled at her predicament. "I didn't sense her at all."

"You weren't concentrating Ais." Steve said to his girlfriend. "You let your guard down...and so did I to be completely honest. My senses however are far superior to anybody in this room and just from the scent alone, I knew she was under there."

"Why didn't you say anything then?" Ptah said. "Hephaestus has gone on looking for nothing then!"

"Well you don't rat out friends." Steve looked at Hestia and winked, to which she smiled gratefully, even with her mouth full. "And two, she was obviously hiding from someone. I wonder who that might be though."

GULP! 

Hestia swallowed the snack in her mouth and spoke with a bit of wheezing due to her holding a mouthful for so long. 

"I was hiding from Hephaestus." Hestia said. "Things have been a little bit awkward ever since she kicked me out of her Familia home."

"Well you'll have to face the music at some point, especially if you come to places like these." Ptah said before he gave an annoyed look to his child. "Can you put that thing down already? And Hestia, come out of there please."

Hestia complied and came out from beneath the table, allowing Steve to gently lower it back down again and satisfying some of the party organisers who had come by to see why he'd lifted the table in the first place. Seeing why, they shot some annoyed looks at Hestia who could only twiddle her thumbs sheepishly as she mouthed an apology to them.

"I still don't want to see her." Hestia said to Ptah. "But I really wanted to see you though. I saw how you were making Loki run chores for you."

"Heh. A minor accomplishment." Ptah tutted. "Unfortunately you are going to have to see Hephaestus because there is going to be some discussion and we all wanted you to be apart of it."

"Actually, this discussion would be one of confidentiality, considering its exact nature." Steve pointed out as Ais's hand intertwined with his. "She is an outside party..." He pointed to Hestia "...and we are about to talk on private matters regarding the content of our alliance with the Loki Familia."

"She's already an ally to us." Ptah said.

"Huh? Since when?" Steve asked.

"Since we met her last night." Ptah explained. "While you were 'out' I promised Hestia she'd be a friend and ally to us now and when she begins her Familia, so I say she's very much involved."

"Right, so you criticise me for making alliances without your knowledge but you go ahead and do the same thing?"

"The difference is you are the child and I am the god. I don't need your permission to do anything."

"Hypocrite." Steve muttered. "I'll go ahead then and ask for a private room in case they can't get that table. Join up again with Hephaestus and we'll see you there. Come on Ais." He pulled the blonde girl along and she kept her gaze on the two gods for a little while before she eventually turned to Steve.

"Who was she?" Ais asked.

"Hestia, one of the twelve gods of Olympus." Steve said. "I'm surprised you don't know her. She has quite a rival history with your own goddess."

"Never heard of her." Ais replied.

"...Weird. Considering how Loki seems to like keeping grudges, I'm sure she would have slandered Hestia at some point."

"She's never said anything about her."

"Well, there's a first time for everything. I guess it just isn't that time yet." He finally found the person he was looking for. "Hey, Lord Ganesha!"

"I AM GANESHA!" Ganesha span around in a twirl again but this time with a wine glass in his hand that sloshed around with a golden liquid. He then hurried over to the couple as he stood in front of them swaying a little while slightly flushed in the face. "My dear boy, where did you get this marvellous wine from? Never have I tasted anything so refreshing in my life! It is clearly made from an apple of some sort...but I literally feel like I am youthful and healthy!...which is funny because as a god I am always youthful and healthy!"

"It's my own press and my own recipe. And before you ask, I am not giving it up no matter if you offer me something."

"How stingy!" Ganesha sniffed. "I AM GANESHA. Anyway my boy, I suppose you wanted something from me, the virtuous host of this wonderful and glamorous party?"

"Yes. An urgency has arisen, and some of us need somewhere we can discuss this private matter. We were wondering if you had somewhere a little more quiet and confidential so we could talk for a few minutes?" 

"Absolutely!" Ganesha nodded enthusiastically before signalling to one of his Familia members to accommodate Steve. "Take as long as you need! I AM GANESHA!"

"Thanks." Steve said as the servant beckoned to follow them, and they began walking down a hall that led further into the building. Before they passed the doorway, he gave a nod to an onlooking Ptah so he knew where they had gone once Hephaestus came back. He then looked at Ais who was quietly walking besides him. "You have a question?"

"Are you a wine-maker too?" Ais asked. 

"Not professionally. I've done a little dabbling, mostly with exotic ingredients you don't just get." Steve said. "But yes, I'm perfectly capable of turning it into business if I do wish that to be the case."

"You're so talented." Ais marvelled at him with a small smile. "All these things you can do...could you tell me a little bit about your time as an explorer?"

"Later." Steve promised before he widened his eyes, then relaxed his facial muscles as he saw right through her. "Come on Ais, what is the real question burning in that brain of yours?"

Ais's own eyes widened as she realized she hadn't been able to hide it from Steve. Every time she thought that she wouldn't be surprised by him anymore, he seemed to prove her wrong.

"It's just...you're so good at fighting and everything. You can do magic enchants, you can make magical items, you can cook, you can make weapons and armour, you're a powerful mage and a skilled warrior. Tiona could beat me if I didn't have a sword but she's also good at reading things and learning about important stuff...and she's smart sometimes too. Me...I just fight. There's nothing really special about me."

"Did you not hear me this morning?" Steve made her stop and held her chin tenderly in his fingers. "Just being yourself is enough for me. Just being around you and seeing you is endearing enough. So what you don't really have much other interests besides fighting? In fact, the way you fight is so beautiful, so graceful and majestic, I can't help but fall for you more when I see you."

"Really?" Ais asked, a little glimmer in her eyes before she looked off to the side. "Tiona said the same thing today after we left you."

"Because I told her." Steve explained. "When you were fighting that Enderman, I was lost for breath, so captivated by how fluid and dance-like you were, like a butterfly, yet as deadly with your sword like the sting of a bee. I haven't seen many else do the same thing. That is your own uniqueness Ais, so please don't belittle yourself."

"...How do you always have the right words to cheer me up?" Ais asked, this time putting on that smile which for some reason he especially loved seeing. "I wonder if it's because you're my hero."

"Sometimes I wonder that myself." Steve said as he looked away from her, though he still had her chin cupped in his fingers. "Lately I have found so much change in my behaviour and my conduct, which just so happened to coincide with meeting you and your Familia...it kind of confuses me on who I really am."

"You are mine and Tiona's hero." Ais said as she leaned upwards, clearly asking for something. "I think that's all you need to be too...at least, that was what Tiona said to me."

"Who's having the perfect words now?" He raised his brow before answering her request and planting his lips on hers. As they did this more and more, they were slowly becoming accustomed to the shape of each other's lips and so they figured out how to make the act more enjoyable. This time it was actually Ais who pressed into it more, although her face still turned red.

As they parted, Steve laughed.

"Haha, I thought you would be more reserved about this since we only got together earlier this morning. But now you seem to want this out of me every chance you get."

"Tiona said I should try more for it, otherwise we won't get closer." Ais then frowned a little bit in worry. "Don't you like it?"

"I love it." Steve said. "The more we do this, the sooner the shyness will be gone. We're both lucky that Tiona is such a militant backer behind this you know."

"Yes." Ais acknowledged. "Her idea was very good."

"...I am happy to hear that." Steve said. "I will, as always, try to do my very best with the both of you."

"And we will help along the way." Ais smiled. "It's part of the rules."

"It's part of the rules." Steve chuckled. "How simplistically you're able to put things...and yet be so right at the same time. You are a unique one Ais."

"Are you making fun of me?" Ais pouted. "Tiona only calls me simple when she's teasing."

"It's part of your charm." Steve laughed at her. "And don't pout like that. It just makes you adorable and I want to kiss you more."

"...Don't say that!" Ais said as her blush actually returned ten times over at hearing that. It only made Steve bend over backwards as he laughed at her while she pouted and banged her fists on his chest, making his shoulder rest bounce about as she did so.

"Ahem." The servant that was leading them coughed as he gestured to a small room with just seat built onto the walls all around the room. The perfect place for a casual chat and meeting. 

"Thank you." Steve said as he lead Ais by the hand in the bedroom. "Could you please direct our friends here once they come looking for us?"

"Of course." The servant said as he watched them enter the room and close the door behind them. He then turned and walked back up the hallway, though this time at a slower pace. Out of one of the pockets of his robe, he fished out what looked like an unusually big glass marble but was in actuality an uncommon type of magic item, a communication orb. "All is well First Brother. So far, nothing has impeded nor disturbed the bonding time between our Glorious Leader and the Second Lady."

...

"Excellent." Came a voice from the orb. "Unfortunately, there are still rats scurrying about and stalking the Founder as well as Lady Ais. It seems that their jealousy compels them to even trespass on the land of the police force Familia of all people."

"I and the others are keeping a vigilant eye on the proceedings. Should we see even the slightest suspicious movement or behaviour from either guest, friend, Familia member or stranger, we will apprehend them immediately. I must ask though, what do we do with them? Lord Ganesha would not permit us to just keep hostages, and our Captain keeps a tight fist on us as well. We cannot simply just hide them within our walls"

"Simple." Came the voice again. "Those conducting espionage, throw them over the walls and your elder brothers will intercept them."

"And as for the malicious ones?"

"...Eliminate them."

"Understood."

"You have been given the utmost faith in this mission Last Born. Do not fail us. Our Founder must prevail in all his endeavours and all his glory. As his followers, we are duty bound to scratch out the unworthy who even dare to think themselves his competition. For Stephen Hewer!"

"And the Glory of the Hips!" The servant put away the communication orb as he stepped back into the main hall. Even though he had been inducted just a couple of hours before the party started, having seen how magnificent the Great One was up close, how his presence intoxicated the senses, and how effortlessly he could charm the Ice Queen of Orario...it was nothing more nor nothing short of a fabulous miracle! Truly, he was one worthy of following! 

Yes, joining this new faith, as a virgin no less and therefore unsullied by any other heathen ideology or romance and whoremongering, and serving the interest of the Great One was a good decision to make going forward as a righteous man of culture. And he would make sure that at the end of the day, he had a pristine report to show to the First Brother. He may be only a grunt now, but eventually, he would make sure he was elevated to a seat amongst the Torches.

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