( closed ) still mortal, thanks for asking

[lesterzeppelin]

WHO: Apollo and Yato
WHERE: A cafe in De Chima
WHEN: backdated to earlier in the month, after this conversation.
WHAT: Apollo thinks it's about time he tells Yato how he lost his godhood, and well - he might as well treat the guy to some coffee while he's at it.
WARNINGS: None at the moment.

Now that he thinks about it, keeping the truth of his godhood a secret from another god has to be one of the stupidest things Apollo's ever done. In his experience, gods from other pantheons typically don't pry too deep into others' affairs - and they're too far removed to get into conflict here.

(Yet some small part of him had guarded that truth anyway. Just in case someone from their world was still pissed at him, and not in the way that the demigods were rightfully pissed at him for.)

His regret sure can't change the past. He knows that, deep down, and so Apollo finds himself walking faster to meet Yato at that cafe on Front Street. He's never been, but truthfully, he's not interested in coffee so much as a quiet place to sit and talk.

"Hey," he calls when he enters the cafe and approaches Yato. He figures he's late - even if he ran, he would be late by a minute or two, but he tried. This time, he really, really tried. "Thanks for meeting me on such short notice."

Comments

[minorgod]

That's... a lot to mentally unpack. Yato's not sure how to respond to that and the whole realm of prophecy isn't one he's got any experience with. But Yato does know a thing or two about being born into a power that wasn't asked for, and that often seems to bring more misfortune than anything.

"King of gods or not, your dad sounds like an ass," Yato said bluntly. "I'm assuming if you could control it, you would have. What quest were you given?"

[lesterzeppelin]

Apollo can't help the laugh that escapes his lips, "That's putting it mildly. As for my quest... I've been asked to find the Oracles, the fortune-tellers who convey my prophecies, and restore them to their proper roles."

He pauses, knowing this is a lot, but also not wanting to assume that Yato's familiar with his pantheon (because that would be rude).

"I know I'm like, trying a lot at you, but that's the gist. Find the Oracles, become a god again."

[minorgod]

Yato knows the mythology in broad strokes, and he knows what an oracle (lower case O) is, so it's not hard to follow, but he still appreciates the explanation.

"No, it's all right. I just had no idea, so I'm... sort of playing back all our conversations right now like I missed something really important," Yato laughed a little, though it seems a touch forced.

[lesterzeppelin]

"Oh." Guilt washes across Apollo's face as he peers down at his mug. "I'm sorry. Really."

Apologies are hard for him, especially when it comes to his equals, but this felt right - and especially important.

"It's just..." He draws in a breath, wincing at himself for what he's about to say. "I know this Earth isn't the same, but back home, the other gods weren't allowed to talk to me. Or if they did, it was because they wanted to kill me and take over my domain. I figured, when I heard you were a god, it would be easier to pretend I had been mortal the entire time. It's not right, so..."

'So let me make it up to you,' he wants to say. In the end, he realizes it isn't his choice to make.

[minorgod]

Making Apollo feel guilty had definitely not been Yato's intention, and his latte almost spills as he gestures frantically as if to say he was retracting what he said.

"I didn't mean it like that. Look, being afraid that another god was going to kill you is a really good reason for wanting to keep things a secret. I'm not mad, Les-- Apollo. Really I'm not. You did what you had to do and I'd be an ass if I held that against you."