Aoede

As of the second I hit submit, this will make 40 posts.  Not a particularly noteworthy achievement, but given my propensity to give up on blogging, I think it's worth something.  No treat yet, though.  I figure that will probably come around post 100.  But who knows?

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*~*~*~*~*~*

Aoede smiled, taking Rhea's hand and giving it a slow shake.  As she did so, she used her abilities to subtly read the woman.  What she felt concerned her a bit, but she wasn't going to say anything about it.  Jane clearly adored her friend and would take no badmouthing of her.  So Aoede schooled her face to a pleasant demeanor and smiled brightly.  "Rhea, it's an honor to meet you.  I'm glad you'll be available when I cannot be to help Jane."

Rhea pulled her hand back and slowly crossed her arms.  "May I ask you a question?"  Her expression wasn't particularly friendly, but neither was it hostile.

"Certainly.  If I can answer it, I will do so."

"Why now?"

"Excuse me?"

"You're a Muse right, a goddess of inspiration?"

"Well, yes..."

"So then why now," Rhea continued as if Aoede hadn't spoken, "of all times, did you choose to show up and help Jane?  Jane's a musician and songwriter, so you had to have known when she stopped writing.  If you are who and what you say you are, then why didn't you do something earlier, hm?"

Aoede wasn't surprised by the questions Rhea posed to her.  In fact, she expected it from the moment the other woman spoke.  Now it was her turn to cross her arms.  "I am indeed Aoede, the Greek Muse of Music.  Of course, there's no way to prove it to you.  And even if I could, would you really be satisfied?  Or would you ask for more and more demonstrations?"  She waved the questions away.  "Through the centuries, I have watched over and inspired more people than you can possibly imagine.  The entire current population of the planet is a mere fraction of the people I have watched over.  At times, it is overwhelming, but I make sure to watch over every single person who has a creative bent.  And before you ask, no it does not matter whether or not they exercise that talent.

"So, yes, I knew the exact moment when Jane stopped writing.  I even have an inkling of why, though I'm not going to tell you.  That's for Jane to tell you if, or when, she's ready.  Why did I wait until now to step in?  I can only inspire those who are willing.  If I tried to inspire an engineer, for example, to write a sonnet, it wouldn't happen.  I can't force someone to do it.  Jane was finally ready for me to step in and help her write, even if she didn't feel like it at the time."  Aoede turned to Jane.  "I'm sorry to speak about you like you're not here, but I felt it necessary to get my point across to your friend here."

Jane blinked and looked a bit shocked.  Aoede had sounded almost... angry.  Which was something she never expected to hear out of the Muse.  "Uh... yeah, no problem."  She saw Rhea open her mouth, probably to say something even more confrontational.  But Jane didn't want to have a pissed-off demigoddess in her living room.  "Aoede, would you like something to drink?"

"Sure.  Show me where the glasses are and I'll get myself a glass of ice water."