Chapter Nineteen:
Sex And Spite

by Angie, Tami, and Walker

"Charming?"

Nell eyed her little bee in mild worry, playing with her waterglass by tracing little flower patterns on the side. Charming. She'd seen that much. Snake oil salesman, more like it. He had a slick, can-I-sell-you-a-bridge quality about him that she'd seen in Derek. She didn't have to go by what her guardian bumblebee was telling her about Zio Moreno. She'd already seen. Charming.

She already knew she didn't particularly trust him, but he probably knew that too and Nell knew she didn't have to. That was why she was meeting her teammate in her well-known cafe, Sale della Terra. People. Added bonus that she could still see Adam over at the other end, dark-haired and sure and steady.  Anything went dodgy, she was still in his line of sight.

"Very charming. Don't slouch, Eleanor. Sweet, too. For a man. I suppose."

"You sound all crushy on him."

She could practically hear the blush as the bumblebee crawled over her hand. "Don't be silly. I never said charm was a virtue, my dear heart."

Nell made a lopsided smile, pulling herself unconsciously straighter in her chair as she drew it closer to the table. Lucretia had that right.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting long, bella."  The dark Italian appeared just off to her side, making enough noise to avoid startling her and carefully passing out of arm's reach as he moved towards his chair.  Drawing it out, he smiled whitely at Nell.  "Pleasure to see you again, Signorina Daray.  I hope you are well?"  As he sat, he lifted his arm lazily and signaled for a waiter almost absently.  Then he turned his attention back to the petite woman opposite him.  "Please tell me that Lucretia joined us as well tonight," he added softly.  "I was hoping to see her again."

"Ave, Nunzio." Lucretia flew forward a few inches, a yellow and black tiny splotch on the tablecloth. She sounded demure and restrained and it gave Nell the immediate urge to giggle, because it was obviously very demurely false. "It is good to see you once more."

"Hello, Mr. Moreno." Nell ran a hand through the whitelavender spikes falling down on her forehead, not quite sure how to act. She looked at him gravely, pulling her chair in a little more. "Thank you for coming."

Another dazzling smile lit Nunzio's tanned face.  "Like I could refuse such lovely ladies?"  He shook his head.  "Never mind and, please, call me Nunzio or, if you prefer, Zio."

Nell gave Lucretia a Look. Lucy didn't notice.

"Zio." She nodded her head at him, fluttering her hands down uselessly until they settled in her lap like butterflies. "I'm sure Mr. Lukas would give his regards."

"Hm, indeed.  I haven't heard from him in a week," he mused.  "Did he fly back to Australia?"

She nodded mechanically, cheeks beginning to burn and hating herself for it. "He had to attend to business and family matters."

Zio nodded and then seemed to dismiss the topic completely, leaning forward slightly to rest an elbow on the table, grey eyes on Nell.  "So, bella, what are we here for tonight?  Words of wisdom from the lovely Lucretia?"

"She wanted us to meet." She finally smiled at him, a bit timidly. "We - she - us - we also wanted to go over your powers a bit with you. And, ah, meet Diana. I haven't really met any other Romanus so this is kind of a first."

"Though if I think of any wisdom to bestow, I will do so immediately," Lucy said graciously. "If it is required."

"Of course.  My powers."  There was a flash of amusement in his gaze as he looked down at the little bee on the table.  "She began to tell me but then made me fear that I would coerce her into wicked things if I used them on her."  He looked up at Nell, grinning.  "Your little companion is a tease."

"Excuse me!"

"Oh, she is. She really is." Nell moved her finger down, which Lucy immediately gripped on to immediately. "She's a little minx, is our Luce. Slick as butter."

"Eleanor!" the bumblebee huffed. "I act in no way untoward, or suggest things such. I am a lady."

"Of course you are, belladonna," Zio murmured soothingly.  "But ladies may still know how to torment us poor lowly males."

"I would not dream of using wiles and manipulating anyone, male or female."

"Of course, Lucy." Nell giggled to herself, resting her chin in her hand. "Whatever you say."

"Hmph." Lucretia flew to perch in Zio's hair, obviously embarrassed.

"You know, I'm sure my mama would say that a bee in your hair is good luck," he chuckled, eyes rolling upwards.

"Bees are good luck. You have a mother?" She blushed again. "Well, I mean, not that I'm claiming you were summoned into the world or were hatched or something..."

Zio laughed, a rich, faintly-practiced sound.  "Miss Daray, I have the paragon of mothers.  Not even Lucretia could find fault with Caterina Moreno."  A genuine smile crossed his features and he leaned back slightly in his chair, careful not to disturb the be atop his head.  "Any flaws in me are mind alone, bella, and nothing to do with her manner of raising me."

Well, that was nice. He liked his mother. More men needed to like their mothers. Mothers were good. "She must feel lucky to have such an adoring son."

He shrugged casually.  "It shouldn't be such an unusual thing, though, that she, among mothers, should need to feel lucky over her due respect and love."

"Is he not a wonderful, rare example of masculinity?" Lucretia finally gushed.

Zio merely smiled, offering another rather gallic shrug.  "Never argue with a lady."

"I won't even try to." Nell swallowed, little face even paler than usual, almost ashen. "Uh, look... Mr. Moreno... Zio. I... Never mind.  I - "

"Eleanor? Nunzio?" The bumblebee's voice was distant. "I am counting three Romanus within this room. The last symbol is not Adam. Who is the young man wearing the waiter's outfit over in that table?"

"Wouldn't know, bella."  He squinted slightly and shook his head.  "All I know is I signaled for him when I sat and he's still not here.  Very rude to keep you waiting, Miss Daray," he announced.  "Let alone me."  He raised his hand again, face intent on the distant waiter.

Turning as if on command, the waiter spun to notice the group whom sat unattended near the front of the cafe.  Stavros Salvi was dressed sharply for work, the dark haired and olive skinned youth clad in black slacks and a lightly colored polo along with an apron.   Squinting through the smoky atmosphere, he scowled slightly as it was almost the end of his shift and no one else seemed to be around to carry the table.

Making his way through the crowd, Stavros poised his pen and pad automatically, anxious to serve the couple immediately.  Reaching Nell and Nunzio, he smiled with as much effort as he could muster,  "Bueno sera, spiacente per l'attesa.  May I take your order?"

Nodding briefly, Zio returned the smile cooly.  "Coffee and an order of, let me see, mozarella caprese and orrecchiette con pollo."  Then he glanced over at Nell, smile slightly warmer.  "And you, bella?  My treat."

She blushed again. "Oh, you needn't, honestly, but... The polenta verde calabrese and a mocha, thank you."

"This is him," Lucretia whispered in Zio's ear, trying to crawl inconspicuously down through his hair. "This young man."

After taking a moment to scribble down the duo's order, Stavros looked back up at the two and searched their eyes for any second thoughts.  When glancing appraisingly over the man, the Croatian couldn't help but notice that there was something crawling its way through his hair.  Clearing his throat, the waiter stated, more for the sake of his own position than to be polite, "Signore, I believe you have some type of insect in you hair."

"Oh, of course."  Casually, Zio reached up to prod Lucretia onto his finger.  "Didn't you know that trained creatures are the new accessory?" he asked dryly.  Then he offered the small bee to Nell before ever so casually reaching into his pocket for his wallet.  "Bella, why don't you try, hm?"

Nell gracefully took the bumblebee, managing not to laugh and depositing Lucretia in the familiar place behind her ear. "I'm sorry, signore. If the bee causes any trouble..."

Accompanying a small nod with a sigh under breath, Stavros quickly gathered that these guests must be somewhat wealthy.  Turning to the lady whom he suspected a tourist, he cordially noted, "No, as long as you do not complain about the bee doing the backstroke in your soup, signora."  After rattling off their orders as well as the bill the server added finally, "Will that be all, then?"

"Yes, for now."  Neatly, Zio snagged a few bills from his wallet and handed it to the young man.  "Keep the change," he murmured casually.  As Stavros went to turn away, though, he added, "Oh, and that would be signorina.  Grazie."

"My apologies," Stavros added quickly without bothering to stop turning.  Leaving the table he headed back toward the kitchen with the order, rolling his eyes along the way.

"Fancy that young man thinking you and Nunzio were married, Eleanor," Lucretia said brightly. "You're far too young for him."

The bee would get it later on. She would be getting a serious talking-to. Well, glaring. And maybe not even glaring. But at least some mental anguish. "Leaving the way clear for you, I'm sure."

"Pardon?" Lucy's tones were innocent. "Aside, my hallowed ones, mark him down - he is Discordia."

Zio paused and peered at the bee, brows furrowing.  "Pardon my doubt, little one, but are you certain that awakening that one would be wise?  I've done a touch of reading, you know, and Discordia wasn't... Well-liked, shall we say."

"Nevertheless - an it be true - he is Discordia born again. What the gods choose to do is their own matters, and if I were to postpone their awakening merely because of their actions in their previous lives, it would be a sin. Also, it would be remarkably stupid in light of the fact that we need all the warriors we can. Do you know how powerful the Graikos are? The Noord? They - "

"All right, Luce," Nell said gently. "He's Discordia, we need him, we get it."

"So are we to pop you in a jar again and hand you over as tip, Lucretia?  You can surprise the life out of him when he goes home?"

Nell's face flamed red. "Um. I'm not sure. I don't think so. That was just because - well - you know, it was a really tough situation, and I didn't know what to do..."

"I'm sure the young man's shift will be over soon for the night. If I may, I will inform him neatly as he leaves work, and much of the remaining hours can be spent in useful instruction."

Zio shot Nell a mild smile, letting her know that he placed no blame for any shock to his own system on her.  Then he refocused a brighter grin on Lucretia.  "Yes, Signorina Bee, instruct us all."

"Signora," Lucretia huffed, obviously flattered. "And I will do my best."

Letting his face fall, the dark-haired Italian leaned forward to rest a chin on a long-fingered hand.  "What?  You're already spoken for and I'm too late?  Oh, cruel God."

"Respectably widowed," the bumblebee corrected, even as Nell choked back horrified giggles.

"A most fortunate man, then, until fate ripped him from your side."  He shifted back in his chair once more, eyes dancing with amusement.  "But now you're ours.  Guide us to victory, mio dulce."

"Your words inspire me to - don't be ill-mannered, Eleanor, he's being sweet."

Nell broke down in helpless laughter and had to compose herself by sipping her water again.

Zio joined her in drinking, his glass hiding the faint smirking twist of his mouth.  This was more like it; the bee firmly in the palm of his hand and Nell finally relaxing in his presence.  If nothing else, such accomplishments already made the evening worthwhile.

 "Sweet Mary above, today is not my day." Nursing his finger slightly, Stavros opened the screen door between the inside of Salle Della Terra and the dark alley behind.  It was only minutes past eleven o'clock, a time that meant freedom for the dark haired university student.  That alone made up for the burn he had received earlier that night, even if it still hurt or not.  Folding his apron neatly with his other hand, Stavros looked back through the door and smirked slightly at the busy figures inside.  Closing time was sweet indeed when one didn't have to mop or sweep.  

Moving to his motorbike, he bent over and fumbled slightly with the bicycle lock attached for security reasons.  Stavros couldn't disagree that it been a long and not particularly pleasant day.  As the device seemed to fight him, the young man was slightly taken off guard, as the door swung open again, made evident by the harsh sound of metal colliding with stone as it shut.  Stavros could see that it was no one other than Adam le Blanc as he turned toward the door in curiosity. 

Giving a half nod, Stavros turned back to the lock that wouldn't open for some reason.  Adam was more bearable than some of the other workers in the cafe.  The American was also quite helpful since he had been working there longer than Stavros.  Striking the cold metal and plastic with a fist, he sighed.  "Ever believe that some days were just out to get you?"

"Oh, sure thing, mon ami."  Hands tucked in his back pockets, Adam sauntered over to peer at the offending device.  "Worse when you can't think what you did to deserve it.  Need help with that thing?"

"No, no.  I'll be fine.  So, are you finished for the night?"  Stavros muttered between casual swears at the lock.

"Almost.  I'm on clean-up duty.  Figure I'll be able to go home and catch some sleep in about another hour."  Adam sighed softly.  "I kinda think Guiseppe wants me to scrub down the oven."

"My sympathies.  So you figured that he might forget if you ducked into the alleyway?" Stavros responded in slight triumph as the bar came free and the padlock opened.

"It was a thought."  Adam took a step back and grinned at his co-worker.  "You're out of here then?"

"Absolutely.  I have a maths test at the university tomorrow that I need to study for." Stavros picked up his obsidian colored helmet and stood again, looking his companion in the eyes.  With one hand he motioned to the satchel of books tied onto his bike.  "Integrals in complex equations."  Turning he stated, "Buona notte then."

"Back at you."  Waving slightly, Adam shot one more warm smile at the other man as he turned and returned to the restaurant.  The oven, after all, was calling his name.

Everything would have gone very well for Stavros had not a bumblebee immediately landed on his nose. "I hate these big, smoky horse-machines," she complained bitterly. "Eleanor owns one and it makes the most horrid noise. Stavros?"

Crossing his eyes and taking a deep breath, the young man about fell from where he was standing, visibly shuddering in surprise.  Attempting to pull himself together, Stavros's eyes darted along the alley looking for anyone else.  Unsuccessful, he turned his attention toward his visitor.  "Insanity does not fit into what I had planned for this evening or life in general.  You know this, right?'

"I had doubted it was on your mind, yes. But if you please could perhaps listen to me for a few moments?"

"I had hoped that you would merely disappear.  There is no physical way for a bee to speak."  Stavros replied sort of nasally as he scrunched his nose in attempts to disapprove what he was seeing.  After a prolonged silence, "You aren't going to pop out of existence, are you?"

"That sounds painful." The bee paused. "Could you maybe take off your helmet, please, young man? I'd like to see more of your face."

"Uh uh."  Lifting his left hand, Stavros gripped Lucy between two fingers softly and proceeded to remove her from his nose, setting her upon the bike rack.  Turning his key in the ignition, he started the motorbike and paused for a moment.  Shaking his head he muttered, "Please don't follow me home.  There is no room for imagination in my life right now."

"... May I get something straight, young man?" The bumblebee sounded very cross. "If you don't get off that thing and follow me right now, you will not feel blessed. Even Nunzio was not this bad, and he had the gall to threaten me with physical violence. Which, of course, he regretted later, and told me so, so I forgave him, even though it was a disgustingly masculine reaction, and - Turn it off!"

Nostrils flaring in anger, Stavros rolled his eyes.  It wasn't Lucy herself that was offensive, it was her tone.  Her soft yet poignant voice touched something within him.  Ripping the keys from their slot, the engine stopped suddenly as Stavros was already off the bike and removing the helmet from his head.

"I have no business arguing with a figment of my own imagination but you're starting to grate my nerves more than most."  Taking a deep breath, he shook a finger threateningly at the bee.  "Yet I'm not going to be berated by my own mind."

She fluttered back in the night air, washed black and leeched of colour. "I am not your mind, Stavros Salvi. My name is Lucretia."

Oh, god.  The thing had a name.  Stavros bit his lip while trying to rationalize the situation without accepting the fact that this was just weird.  He was sure he could taste blood by now, but it didn't matter.  "All right, Lucretia, if I listen to whatever it is you have to whine about will you let me go on with my life?"

"With greatest pleasure." There was an edge in her voice. "If you'd hold out your hand, Mr. Salvi?"

Rolling his eyes a bit and wondering how in hell the bee knew his name, Stavros held out his hand.  It shook slightly out of protest.  "Just to let you know if you sting me I will be forced to squash you."

The bumblebee's voice was sugary. "I would indeed like to see you try. But in fact - "

Wings shivering, she flew around in a circle, leaving a trail of sparkling dust behind her. It hung in the air like a bright magic ring; and then, from it, fell a bright golden belt buckle. It landed squarely in Stavros' hand.

He stared at the heavy gift.  It was rusted, yet could be considered something one might find in an antique shop given some cleaning.  It was an odd buckle, the clip being shaped into the distinct representation of an apple core.  Perhaps he could pawn it later, although something in the back of the man's mind was convinced he knew this item.

Shifting his gaze back to the insect, Stavros replied sarcastically, "So wise Merlintia, I shall now go slay the heathens with this weapon?"

"No, blessed one." She hovered in front of him, still composed. "You wear it. It is your key. You see, you are a reincarnation; a reincarnated goddess, and it is a mighty gift that has been bestowed upon you. You are Discordia."

"And I get crazier and crazier by the minute.  How am I the reincarnation of a goddess when I'm apparently very male?"  Stavros said in doubt.  Although even as he was analyzing her argument he found himself slipping off the buckle from his current belt and replacing it with the new present.

"I question not the powers that be," Lucretia said sweetly, but there was a definite snigger in the words. "You are a soldier, Discordia, and this is a war. You have been chosen to fight."

The word 'war' stung deep and Stavros had to take a couple seconds to shake images from his youth from his mind.  "I attempt to keep on top of world events Signorina Lucretia and there is no war happening."

"It is a silent war, Discordia. We fight in masks. Dishonourable, perhaps, but it is long since past the days when you could walk the countryside with your power openly displayed to mere mortals." She cleared her throat. "Would you perhaps like to meet your brothers in arms? They must be tired of waiting in the alleyway."

"You are not reaffirming in any way that you are beyond a delusion Signorina.  Throwing the words 'mere mortal' into the mix does not help your cause either.  Yet because I am tired and starting to get a headache I will simply agree with you."  Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Stavros ran both hands through his short hair.  "So, led me on or what have you."

"Follow me." She happily looped the loop off into a nearby alleyway.

As reluctantly as Stavros followed her, it was a wonder that he entered the dim confines of the alley at all.  When he did, however, he was greeted with two familiar faces.  The couple from earlier in the night.  The man leaned against the wall and, upon Stavros' appearance, dramatically mocked a yawn.  "And I thought I was a cynic," he murmured.  "Lucretia, belladonna, you are, as ever, the image of sainthood.  Congratulations."

"Thank you," she glowed. "He was... Hard to persuade. At first."

Nell immediately perked up, looking shy, a pale-haired tiny thing in the night against the wall. "This is him, Lucy?"

"May I introduce Diana and Mercury to you, Stavros? My Eleanor and Nunzio, as you have previously met."

"Both of you are in this as well?  I should have figured," replied Stavros while sticking both of his hands in his pockets and looking rather grumpy.  He glanced at the bee with a slight glare, "And please don't talk about me like I'm not here."

"Well, seeing as how you took your time arriving," Zio drawled, mouth set in a vaguely amused smirk, "I figured we'd have a few seconds' leeway before we addressed you directly."  He pushed off the wall and offered a hand.  "Nunzio Moreno."

"And I must be in some sort of bad dream."  Stavros took Nunzio's hand and gripped a little harder than necessary.

Smile gone slightly more genuine, Zio returned the handshake just as firmly.  "Might be.  Life is what you make of it, though, and so is power.  Your name?"

"Stavros Salvi.  And you're Diana?" Stavros responded, slightly amused at the other man.  Although he came off as a pompous smart alec, there might be some things to like.

"That would be us." The other woman held out her small hand timidly, giving Stavros a weak smile. "Nell Daray."

Stavros turned to the girl whom didn't look a day over fifteen (or so he thought).  His black eyes scanned the petitle girl appraisingly, for she was acting very different from then how she came across in the cafe.  "Us?  I must be mistaken, but there is only one of you."

She tilted her head at him, dimpling. "It's... It's hard to explain. I'm sorry. You'll learn soon, I think. This all gets... Complicated. Has Lucy gotten you to transform yet?"

"Transform?  I'm afraid I'm quite confused.  All I have been told is that I'm the reincarnated form of some ancient goddess and I must fight in a war.  No one has cared to supply any details beyond that besides the belt buckle I was given."  Stavros added, his slightly rusty voice quivering between doubt and question.

"Now, that is an easy matter." Lucretia's voice was light and self-assured. "Discordia, simply repeat after me - 'Discordia Deus Power, come forward!' and your true form will assert itself. Is your belt buckle secure?"

Stavros raised his eyebrows, staring at the assembled group in complete disbelief.  He was just beginning to accept his slight brush with insanity, but this was most certainly going to far.  He fumbled in his pockets and rested assured he still had his keys.  "I'm quite sorry, but now I really am going to leave.  It was nice hallucinating with you Signore Moreno and Signorina Darray.  Don't call."

On that note, Stavros turned from the both and began to walk briskly from the alley back toward his transportation without looking back.  Hopefully he could still drive.

"Dio mio, what a stupid young man."  Zio sighed and drew a battered abacus from the soft leather case resting against the wall.  "Shall we fetch him back, Lucretia?"

"Stay your hand, Mercury. It will not be needed. I - "

Suddenly, Nell tottered forward a few steps, one hand in her pocket. Blinking, she swayed on her feet, and then started to topple over.

Immediately, the Italian dropped the abacus back into the bag and darted over to the tiny woman.  "Signorina?" he muttered.  Crouching, he gently touched her shoulder.  "And why didn't the goddamn bee tell me you were a narcoleptic?" he added, even softer and more sourly.

There was mutter and then a bright light that momentarily blinded him, the impression of whispers and ribbons and change; when Zio's view finally returned, sitting on the cold cobbled floor was the petite Diana, all scraps of silvery silk and pearls and a cold, hard leer.

"I do not have sleeping sickness, brother," she snorted, pulling herself to her dainty feet. "Which way did the foreign bastard-child run to? I'll crush his godsforsaken testicles and force them into his mouth. What cowardice. What shame."

Fighting the smile that threatened his face, part amused, part pure evil, Zio indicated over his shoulder with a thumb.  "That way, 'sister'," he offered cheerfully.  "I'll be along in a minute but don't hurt him too badly, hm?  I think Lady Lucretia would be most put out."

"I will not kill him. If he comes back a eunuch, it is his own fault." Fleet-footed, she darted off into the night.

Closing in on his goal, Stavros suddenly felt a shiver creep down his spine and his hair stand on end.  Looking over his shoulder, his eyes darted about in panic for any sign of threat.  This was when instinct took control. 

Quickening his pace to a jog, the Croatian passed his motorbike which laid prone on the stone of the alley.  Reaching the door of the cafe, he swung it open and nearly off its hinges.  He was safe in the kitchen, right?

Slumping against a metal table he attempted to figure out the situation between short and gasping breaths.  There was no reason for him to afraid, was there? 

Wiping his brow, Stavros suddenly became aware of a set of eyes looking down on him.  Lost for words, he just looked back.

Adam Le Blanc shifted, lifting his chin from his hand to better look at his co-worker; there was a fresh black smudge where his hand had been.  "Muggers?" he asked casually.  "Your bike lock bit back?"  His face lit with amusement and he moved around to offer Stavros a helping hand.  "Couldn't resist returning to work?  Sorry to disappoint you but everyone else is gone and I finished the oven."

Stavros sighed as he returned to his feet.  "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"You'd be amazed at what I can believe."

What Adam did or did not believe was interrupted as the door was flung open, a tiny, pale figure skidding on the tiles as she crouched and pounced. She pulled Stavros back from the table and pinned him down to the floor, silk-wrapped hands on his shoulders and knees in his kidneys. Tilting her head up, she gave a feral smile to the dark-haired Cajun.

"Hello, sandpriest," she grunted, giving Stavros an elbow in the back for good measure. "Business."

Frowning, Adam moved forward and waved a hand, indicating Diana should release Stavros.  "Usually is with you, chere," he muttered.  "Come on.  Let the poor guy up, okay?  He's not going anywhere."  Crouching, he patted Stavros' shoulder.  "Guess you're one of hers, mon ami.  Just let her talk and do what she says and you'll be fine."

"Well, needless to say she has my attention," Stavros grunted between his teeth, eyes wide.  He looked back at Diana, "Full and com - that hurts!"

"Hmph." Diana clambered off him, one small foot still resting threateningly on the small of his back. "I would not be doing it if it did not hurt. Cowards. No wonder you were born into the body of a man, my idiot sister. Semen instead of brains. H'n."

"Who are yo - wait, you're in league with that bumblebee, are you not?  What  the hell do you want with me?"

Shooing Diana's foot from the prone man, Adam hauled him neatly to his feet and brushed him off slightly.  "That's Diana," he informed the other man seriously.  "That bumblebee would be her guardian and, like I said, guess you're one of hers.  Romanus."  He glanced towards the petite senshi.  "Y'know, chere, you've got to work on your recruitment techniques."

"I had assumed that everyone would fall down in awe at my immortal radiance and do my bidding for fear that I would strike them down. Where is the awe?"

"Probably the same place you left his spleen.  Y'know.  In his throat."

Diana chuckled appreciatively. "You make me laugh. I will kill you last, or possibly use you as a brood stallion. Discordia! Transform!"

"Would you accept the fact that I forgot the inane phrase?" Stavros responded carefully while attempting to assess the new information he was being given.  It was a safe bet that if he tried to run the small thing would catch him eventually.  No fun there.  He shifted on his feet finding the ground very interesting.

"I'd accept it.  Di there might not."  Zio appeared at the open door, something cupped in his one hand while a battered, black-painted abacus dangled from the other.  His grey eyes quickly took in Adam's presence, then dismissed him as no threat or problem; Diana wasn't jumping on the boy's groin, after all.  Strange how that seemed like a raving testimonial. "Lucky for you I'm here with a gift for you."  Opening his hand with a faint smirk, the dark Italian released the tiny bee within.

"So revert to your true self or I will break your neck," Diana said amiably, crossing her arms. "I am tired of your insolence."

Lucretia flew towards Stavros, landing on his nose. "Discordia Deus Power, Come Forth," she whispered. "And do not worry about Diana, she has never broken anybody's neck as of yet."

"I am not going to press my luck as it is," Stavros whispered back as he scanned the crowd that was watching him eagerly.  Lifting a finger to his nose he casually assisted Lucretia from her perch as he considered the words in his head.  Rubbing his hands together, Stavros frowned.  "Let's get this over with.  Discordia Deus power, come forrwaaard..."

Letting the phrase trail the young man's mouth stayed open, as his left hand immediately took on a life of its own.  With one quick yank he managed to remove his belt and watch in complete and utter horror at the same time.  The black slacks he was previously wearing fell carelessly around the youth's knees as the belt whipped quickly around Stavros's neck and made a rather disgusting cracking sound.  The belt then grew, snaking around the man's body until it completely engulfed him.

Muffling slightly, Stavros Salvi was soon overcome with a new feeling of not pain but power.  The pain was still there yet muffled.  A couple seconds later the bindings vanished and Discordia stood awakened, fully armored, scepter grasped, and eyes completely confused.  "Wow."

Eyebrow raised, Zio smirked as he eyed the other man.  "Oh, lovely.  Romance novel star, diaphanous nymphet, and now introducing bondage fetishist," he drawled.  "What's next?"  He glanced at Adam.  "Do you turn into a giant bottle of chocolate sauce for the grand finale in this little adult movie?"

Adam blinked.  "Uh, no.  I get a skirt and eyeliner and mud."

"Ah, I see."  Laughing softly, Zio turned to Diana and Lucretia.  "So this is Discordia?"

"She's got less breasts than she used to," Diana said critically. "But she's just as ugly."

Getting his bearings once again, Discordia blinked as he looked down upon himself and what he was wearing.  Or more appropriately, what he wasn't.  As Diana spoke, the reincarnated goddess (though now distinctly male) had to fight back urges to attack his 'sister.'  Stavros sighed, looking to the bumblebee.  "She always have this sparkling personality?  I hope this isn't how she picks up all her men."

The moon goddess snorted, drowning out any reply her bumblebee guardian might have made. She sat up on the table, pearls rustling. "I don't pick up men, foolish weakling. I like breasts."

"Note to self: Never listen to Diana."  This was all confusing, but Stavros/Discordia was starting to slip back into his normal attitude and was no longer afraid to say what he was thinking.  This feeling was power and he'd have to see what he could do with it.  "What now?"

"We go unto the night." Lucretia flew into the air again from her perch on Zio's shoulder. "Mercury, if you would be so good to change, we may get out of here and start our duty - Adam, you may accompany us, if you have any desire."

Even as the offer left the creature, Adam was already shaking his head.  "Sorry, Lucretia, chere, but no can do," he apologized.  "I'm completely worn out and I went last night and I'm due out tomorrow night again."  He smiled faintly.  "Some of my teammates don't play so nicely with each other if they don't have a babysitter, y'know?"

She laughed, a high, tinkly sound. "My sympathies. Go home and take a well-earned rest, Kemet. Nunzio, my dear one, let us then transform and go."

Zio nodded but deliberately waited until he saw Adam disappear from the kitchen before he sighed and lifted his abacus.  Neatly sliding the beads until it read fifteen, he held it up and dryly announced, "Mercury Deus Power, Change-Up."  Suddenly, the abacus pulled from his hand, floated upwards, and seemed to explode in a shower of copper beads.  Then a clap echoed in the kitchen and everything disappeared.

Left standing in ridiculously tight copper-colored leather breeches and a loosened peasant shirt, Mercury smirked.  "See, mio amica?" he said mildly.  "Romance novel.

"As I can see.  Whoever designed these must have had a sense of humor, no?  But not a very good one obviously."  Discordia half smiled giving a small nod.  His suit was still bad but at least the others were on par.

Diana immediately brightened up, getting off the table to sashay between the two men. "Mercury, my brother-love, you look the type to be selling your syphilitic virtue on the street corner. Discordia, my sister, you just look like a heathen brothel-hawker. Let us not waste any more time."

"Oh, of course not," Mercury smirked.  "We have customers waiting for us, don't we?"

"You won't find me your pimp. H'n." She padded over to the door, giving both a mad grin before leaving. "Come, lilywhite maidens, tonight we hunt!"

Discordia raised an eyebrow.  "I can tell you from experience, it is not good to make her wait."

"Like I'd ever dream of making a lady wait."  Mercury smirked and sauntered after the petite senshi.  "Or even making her wait."

Discordia trailed Mercury to the door and paused momentarily in attempts to commit everything that had transpired within the last few hours to memory.  There was the spitfire of a bumblebee, the portentous Diana, and the smooth-talking smartass Mercury.  It was deranged.  All of it.  He'd have to go home and look up the exact definition of insanity, yet even then it was his job to conclude whether or not that was a good thing.  More importantly: how could he use it to his advantage?

Leaving the cafe, Discordia promptly followed after the other Romanus curious to see what his first night of being a senshi would have in store.

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