#clio-tow

[antoinette-tow]

clio-tow answered your post: *holds mic up to the crowd* how yall d...

WE’RE READY TO ROCK

yeeEEEAHHHHH *plays some smooth jazz*

[quinton-tow]

Anya

Bells and bells and bells

ringing sweet and high

the notes from under hills,

sweep passersby

from memory to memory

room to room in a house

more a tomb than a dwelling

for the living--

glistening stalagmites hung

like chandeliers of moss

and diamond,

stabbing downward in the dark

assassinating hope without higher order,

the chaos and spread of something lost in the head,

something missing,

a piece of magic weaving tapestries together

severed by the fact that it’s safer not to know

who hung the chandeliers,

and who lived in that dwelling

and who it was 

who rang

the bells.

[quinton-tow]

Padma

Padma:

Never try to hold a star,

she’ll burn your hands with her love,

set your veins on fire,

cause a supernova in your system

detrimental and corrosive 

to all forms of life--

she will do so 

with a smile

knowing part of her will always be reborn,

and she will wear your ashes

like war paint,

use your blood

to dye her jewelry,

and clean her spikes

on whatever’s left of you--

lest she protect you

and be a guiding light,

her choice

not yours,

all you can do is wish

and wait.

[quinton-tow]

Leah

light child dancing on the dark ceiling of night

where the city sky scrapes the bellies of underlying neon pretense

humming electric; alive with the song 

and the rhythm of the clacking trains

one could go mad here; insane

with the promise of tomorrow’s joys

a song in your heart for all girls & boys

those in-between; worlds colliding

like two cars in the street full of desire

for something more

than honking tires and cold defeat

you want your waltz on the underside of Heaven

and you never stop moving,

learning the steps to achieve it

pirouetting transplanted

by the broadcast 

of stars.

[nicholas-tow]

Forever pleased to see him, Clio laughed softly, and granted the creature all the head scratches his little owl heart desired. "You're much more handsome than when I last saw you, Telemachus." Still gently scratching the top of the owl's head, she turned Nicho again. "Really? Aw, that's so sweet. Have you found them all?" She suspected he might have, but Damon also seemed likely to have one or two gifts exceptionally well-hidden. "That's exactly why I didn't tell my sisters I was coming here."

Watching Clio with fond eyes, Nicholas swept his hair out of his face and sighed. “Don’t encourage him. He’s already got more pride than a certain hero his namesake derives from.” Waving a hand dismissively, Nicholas slipped away to the kitchenette with a smile to prepare some tea for Clio. “I’m not sure I have...! Maybe I will keep finding them until Easter. Or Damon’s birthday. At which point I plan to turn the tables on him, but...” He lifted a finger to his lips in a shushing motion.

“...And I am relieved,” he added airily, “that the entire Muse brigade didn’t show up here like they were announcing Prince Ali.”

[nicholas-tow]

"What can I say? I light up lives." Cue the hairflip, dazzling smile, and flutter of lashes. "If you're meant to be elderly, you look -very- good for your age. But if you ever find yourself in need of a walker, let me know. I'll hook you up with the best." Clio joked. "Damon's not in?" Peeking around the apartment, she waved hello to Telemachus, and turned back to Nicho. "I'm glad to hear it's been going well for you. Do you have any big plans for tonight? Painting? Music? More cake?"

Rolling his own eyes slightly and biting back a smile of his own, Nicholas shook his curly-haired head and made note that he was due for a haircut soon. He looked through wavy fringe at Clio with a glimmer of mirth still evident in his hazel gaze, hands sliding into his pockets.

“Gee, grazie,” Nicholas joked, snorting. “Non, he’s here--just resting up from leaving me little birthday surprises all day.” Telemachus, hooting softly, fluttered over to land near Clio, begging for head-scratches. Nicholas made a slight face at him--the owl was practically a preteen now, in avian years, and beginning to grind on his nerves. 

“Ah--relaxing, mostly. You are the festive ones, not I.” The Erote chuckled anew. “It’s nice to have some downtime. I really do sound like an old man, but you know how much I revere my peace and quiet...” He took after his aunt Athena that way, sometimes.

[nicholas-tow]

"Hey Ni-" Swept up by her cousin, the goddess didn't get to finish her greeting. Returning the embrace with equal ferocity, Clio smiled back at him, and smoothed out her blouse once her feet were back on solid ground. "Hello to you, too. As usual, it's great to see you. I noticed Damon's already taken care of the cake." She added, eyeing the icing on the erote's face with amusement. "Hope today is shaping up to be a good day, if it didn't start out like that already. How are you, Nicho?"

Chuckling faintly as he brushed back Clio’s hair (secretly making sure he hadn’t rattled her overly much), Nicholas swept a look over his cousin’s face and moved in and down to kiss her brow. 

“Come on in, Clio,” he said warmly, holding the door open for her. “What--oh....” Blushing, he quickly wiped a bit of the frosting from his face and closed the door behind the both of them.

“It was a very...peaceful day,” Nicholas said softly. “Exactly as I could’ve hoped. Especially now that you have swung by.” He smiled crookedly.

“Another year older and no wiser, I’m sure. Content and elderly,” he added teasingly. “And yourself...?”

[nicholas-tow]

"Happy birthday to you" Clio started singing on her way up the stairs towards Nicholas' apartment. Most of Molly's tenants gave her an odd look and wondered why the muse didn't wait until she'd reached her cousin's door. She, however, thought that the birthday song encompassed the most awkward fifteen seconds of anyone's life when it was sung to them. She'd spare Nicho that while announcing her arrival and the purpose of her visit all at once. "Happy birthday, dear Nicho. Happy birthday to you."

His peace interrupted by the sound of singing, Nicholas bolted to his feet and skittered toward the door.

Icing still on his face from the cupcake Damon had concocted earlier (he’d finally caved and nibbled it a bit, trying not to demolish the masterpiece), the young(ish) god in the plain white v-neck and gray sweatpants hastily undid the locks and quickly lunged out into the hallway—

Sweeping Clio up into his arms in a colossal bear hug, both to greet her lovingly and to smother the sound of her singing.

“COUSIN,” Nicholas boomed, looking wildly around. The last thing he needed were any of Molly’s other occupants (or Molly herself, though she’d spared him the ceremonies almost too knowingly) catching wind of a day he sort of sneered at and preferred to sweep under the rug. “How nice to hear you. And see you.” He grinned, setting her down.

“And embrace you. Good evening.”