Why Everything You Know About Destiny Is A Lie

Willow Deacair and Daniel Harrison




Constance "Connie" Fleming and Miles Cross

Hermes, messenger of the gods, god of travelers, hated his job sometimes. When the gods made him travel down to the mortal world he used the name Daniel Harrison, who supposedly was an executive for a large shipping company. The day had consisted of the usual nonsense, running errands for the other gods who were too lazy to come do the work themselves, and he was tired and frustrated. To calm down he usually headed to the large park in the middle of the city to smoke for a while and watch people wander about. A lot had changed in the world since the Greeks and Romans who initially worshiped him had gone, but he didn't mind too much. He stood at one of the small plazas with a small fountain at the center, a little statue of his traditional Greek self at the top of the fountain. He stared up at it as he blew out a ring of smoke, content with listening to the chatter of people, the running water, and the pigeons cooing around his feet.
---
Constance and a friend of hers walked down the street, coffee cups in hand as they headed back to the apartment she had just bought. It wasn't much, but her friend had helped her move in, and had taken her out to a nice little cafe as a celebration. Upon arriving back at Connie's building her friend said goodbye and headed off down the street, leaving Connie alone. She absent-mindedly checked her emails on her phone as she unlocked the door to get into the building, pushing the heavy door open before heading through the lobby.

@ Jinx...

@ Another.Chance
Willow shifted her backpack on her shoulders. She was nearly to the hotel now but after such a long trip she just needed a break. Willow saw a fountain in the plaza down the road she had decided for some reason was a good place to walk down despite the cab that could have taken her all the way to the hotel just up the road. Willow sighed as she dropped her big hiking bag next to the fountain and stood back looking at the fountain and up to the top. She smiled and tilted her head to the side. She had been an english major before she had dropped out of collage for the love of traveling. Now she did small jobs here and there to get just enough money to keep going to the next leg of her trip. She smiled as she stood there her hands on her hips looking up at the Hermes statue. It was an interesting choice but after all it was Europe so who was to say that there wasn't some kind of meaning behind it. Willow chuckled to herself thinking of Hermes and how he was not only the messenger of the gods as he was highly known as but also a the god of travelers. That was what she was now wasn't it? She might as well be Willow the wonderer with how long she was planning to stay gone. Her mother had thought her crazy as an english professor but she didn't care because Willow thought her crazy staying in a city she hated with that abusive man she called a husband. Willow shook her head. He would never be her father in her eyes just the man that implanted the seed. Willow sighed and kicked a pebble at the way her mind turned to thing she didn't want to think about. She turned and looked up at the near by buildings. She studied one with mind interest though she didn't understand why. Willow sighed and sat on the edge of the fountain and looked up at the sky her view of it interrupted by the statue. "Oh Hermes." 'What it would be like to know you were guiding my path. Maybe then I could have a real adventure or purpose.' Willow sighed as she thought closing her eyes and shaking her head. It was silly talking to a statue.

---

Eros walked down from his human dwelling towards the lobby. While he was on earth he was Miles Cross the hot bachelor who owned and operated a little flower shop just down the road. He ran a hand through his hair thinking of how the gods must be looking at him wondering who he was going to make fall in love next. As much as Miles wished he could just point his bow and shoot anyone it didn't work that way he got a vibe when two people came together and they just needed that extra push. That was why it was easier to wear a blindfold when going out and making people love. Every time he did it though he wondered what it felt like to be smitten by someone. He knew he was just entertainment for the other gods but he didn't care he took his job quite seriously as he had made a few gods fall in love with each other as well. Miles closed his eyes as he walked down the stairs opening them just in time to see he was about to collide with someone's coffee. Miles knew it was to late to change his path and he collided with the slender figure. He stepped back gasping at the hot liquid that had slipped onto them both. "Ouch." he said and looked up at the face of the one he had just ran into. He froze time stopping as he looked upon her face. She was beautiful but not in the way the gods were but in the way that only a human with a truly unique soul could be. "I'm so sorry I wan't paying attention." he said as he held his shirt fat from his body to try and get air to his scolding skin though now he couldn't tell if it was the coffee or her that was making him feel this way.

@ Jinx...

Hermes coughed in surprise when he heard the girl speak to him, although she had said nothing aloud, he could hear the thoughts and prayers to him. It was rare that anyone ever prayed, let alone addressed him anymore. He caught his breath and stamped out his cigarette as he looked over at her curiously. She was quite beautiful, and he had to admire the fact that she knew who he was. He cleared his throat a bit as he walked over to her, looking up at the statue along with her. "There's a local legend that says if you wait around here long enough, he'll actually show up and grant wishes." He grinned a little, running his hand through his hair absent-mindedly.

---

Connie gasped when she ran into him, dropping her coffee and her phone in surprise. She winced as she felt the hot liquid on her shirt, quickly pulling the fabric away from her skin as she looked up at him apologetically. "I'm so sorry, I should have been paying attention.. I can pay for your dry cleaning, or whatever it takes to get the stains out.." She said, brown eyes studying him to make sure he wasn't angry with her before she bent down to pick up her phone and the now empty coffee cup, doing her best to dry her phone on her pants.

@ Another.Chance
Willow looked back down a little at the man that spoke to her. She smiled looking at him and tilting her head slightly. He was strikingly beautiful in the oddest was. He wasn't what the media called beautiful but his curly hair made you want to run your hands into it and his lips were sculpted like they were made for kissing. His brown eyes seemed to look into as if they already knew you and his shoulders looked like they could cary you through the hardest times. She felt the urge to just hug him but she crossed her legs and smiled as she chuckled. "Interesting. Is that what you are doing here then?" she asked raising an eyebrow looking him over curiously with her grey eyes. She had intended to ask if he was waiting around to get a wish granted but she wasn't clear enough and made the question so open he could be granting wishes and she would never know. Willow liked this moment. This moment were the first person she talked to in a country other than talking travel and getting to know this place better.

---

"No, no at least you were looking at your phone. Besides this is a cheap shirt." Miles said and chuckled his blue eyes looking her over. "Let me make it up to you. I'll buy you a coffee anytime." he said and smiled. "I just live up the stairs in 409." he said and grinned. "So you can stop by when you want that coffee." he said and flapped his shirt before letting it fall back to his chest. "Best way to get liquid off and out of a phone is rice." he said and smiled. "I'm Miles by the way. Miles Cross." he said and offered her his hand. Miles wondered where she came from. She must be new the one who had the moving truck and all those people with boxes going up the stairs earlier.

@ Jinx...

He grinned at the question, tapping the side of his nose as he leaned a bit closer to her. "If I told you, then I could get in a lot of trouble with the big guy." He pointed up to the sky, indicating that he'd be in trouble with Zeus. "However, I suppose I could listen to just one wish." He chuckled, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He was dressed in a collared shirt with a loose sweater over to keep the chill away, his old leather shoes appearing to have wings scratched into the sides. "I've always liked talking to travelers. They're the most interesting."

---

Connie took his hand, smiling a bit. "I'm Constance Fleming, I just moved into 327." She blushed when he offered to take her out for coffee, shaking her head a bit. "You don't have to, I'll probably just spill it again." She admitted with a soft laugh, letting her shirt fall back against her once the liquid had cooled down. "Well, I shouldn't keep you any longer than I have. It was nice to meet you." She smiled, tossing the empty cup in the trash before heading upstairs.

@ Another.Chance
Willow chuckled. "That's funny." she said and stood. "Thanks but I don't think you could grant this wish." she said and shook her head. "Cute pick up lines though." she said and picked up her bag shouldering it again. "I'm just passing through honestly. Though if you know of a good place to look for temporary work I'm looking." she said and smiled. "Umm sorry I didn't catch your name Hermes..." she said playfully though she had no idea she already did know his real name. Willow thought this guy was smooth and cute but she wasn't looking for a relationship. She didn't need one to drag her down.

---

Miles chuckled and nodded. "It thought I saw the moving van, been a while since we got someone new in here." he said and smiled. "Oh Constance it would be my please seriously and if your worried about dropping it we will have a seat." he said and sighed realizing now she might be trying to say no nicely. He chuckled as she said that she held him up enough. "I have lots of free time." he said and watched her walk around him. "Nice to meet you to... See you around." he said and rubbed the back of his neck watching her go up the stairs. He sighed. That didn't go very well at all. He shook his head. He must look like a damned fool. The god of love couldn't even get a date with a pretty lady. "Damn loosing my touch." he said and shook his head headed out to his shop. He had some extra cloths in his office there he would change his shirt when he got there.

@ Jinx...

"It doesn't hurt to try," He shrugged, grinning down at her. "If I showed you a magic trick might it change your mind about the wish?" He asked, pulling a coin out of his pocket and holding it out in front of her. "Seems like you already know my name." He chuckled, watching her curiously. "Tell you what, if I can impress you with my magic trick, would you agree to get dinner with me?" She was beautiful and funny, and it had been a long time since anyone had really noticed him or thought he was funny, so he couldn't help but want to get to know her.

---

Constance waved a little as she walked up the stairs and up to her apartment. Once inside she dug through some of the moving boxes to pull out some clean clothes before stripping out of her dirty ones and taking a quick shower to rinse off. Once she was dressed and had her phone cleaned off she thought about his offer a bit seriously. He was attractive, no denying that, but she couldn't tell if he had offered just to be nice, or if he really was interested in her. Deciding to go with it, she grabbed her keys and coat and hurried downstairs and out of the building, figuring he must be working in one of the shops in the area. Some of the plants in the flowershop caught her eye so she went in, looking around curiously when she didn't see anyone at the front.

@ Another.Chance
Willow raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Maybe." she said watching him and the coin. A magic trick? It was kind of cute how he wasn't seeming to give up. Willow smiled watching him closely. It was odd how he was playing this entire Hermes thing up but cute at the same time. Mythology had been one of her favorite classes in college. Though she wished he would tell her his real name. It couldn't hurt to go out to dinner with someone. She could make a friend and perhaps he knew more about the city and could show her around. If he knew of a little place were she could get a job he wasn't telling her yet but maybe he would if they were friends. It couldn't hurt right? Willow bit her lip as he started his trick. She doubted it would be really impressive though she was pretty perceptive.

---

Miles pulled on his shirt and then an apron as he pulled out the sheers and the watering bottle heading into the store. He stopped seeing Constance there. He smiled and chuckled. "Well hello there." he said and set the sheers down and moving over to stray a plant next to her. "Looking for a little greenery to liven up your new place?" he asked. "Or you just come back with some tea to burn me again?" he teased her with a playful wink. Miles chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck feeling completely out of his element which was the weirdest sensation to him.

@ Jinx...

He cleared his throat, smiling at her. "Ok, so I'm going to make a little X on the coin so you can tell that it's the same coin, fair?" As he spoke he pulled a sharpie out of his pocket, making the mark on it before dropping it into her hand. "Throw it in the fountain." He told her, gesturing to the water behind him. He watched as she threw the coin in before turning back to her with a grin. "Ok, now close your eyes, yeah?" He spoke, waiting until her eyes were closed to cup her cheeks in his hands and kiss her, his lips pressed to hers.

---

Constance blushed a bit when she saw him, mumbling a soft "Hello" as he walked over to her. Her blush only grew as he teased her, shaking her head. "No, I'm paying attention this time.. And I saw some of the plants and thought they looked nice, although I left my wallet in my apartment when I left. Is the shop open tomorrow? I can stop by then to actually buy something." She was clearly nervous, too shy to ask about getting coffee, and instead focusing on the little potted violet that she had seen from the window.

@ Another.Chance
Willow nodded and looked at the coin as he dropped it in her hands. She smiled and chuckled as he told her to throw it in the fountain. She tossed it in and looked back at him. She chuckled he told her to close her eyes and she looked at him suspiciously. Willow smiled and closed her eyes. She felt his hands on her cheeks but before she could pull away she felt his lips cover hers. She gasped and pressed her hands to his chest pushing lightly but he had her face pulling her in. Willow was so shocked she hardly could believe what was happening. She was angry and yet amused and oddly satisfied. He kissed wonderfully. She couldn't help but kiss back even as she was trying to pull away. His lips were entirely as kissable as she had imagined the first time her eyes had landed on his lips. Willow blushed hot in his hands. When she finally broke away her eyes stayed closed a moment and her lips parted breathing in but still not realizing entirely she had pulled away. When she opened her eyes she looked at him her eyes wide. "What is wrong with you?!" she asked and tried to find that anger that had been burn out by the desire that now burned within her oddly. Willow shook her head and shifted her bag again on her shoulders. "I have to go." she said and turned her cheeks still blistering red as she started to walk away.

---

Miles smiled and nodded. "Yeah I'm open tomorrow but please don't worry about it. First flower on me." he said and picked up the violet and placed it in her hands. He smiled and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I insist." he said and smiled then went on watering another flower. "But really if you would like to trade for it I would be happy for your company tomorrow for coffee." Miles said and smiled at her. "I think you'll find I am quite persistent when I want something." he said and winked at her. "And I want you..." he said and rubbed the back of his neck. He knew it was a little forward but she hadn't run when she saw him again in fact she was acting a little shy and he was taking that as a hint she liked him or was at least attracted to him on some level.

@ Jinx...

Hermes let her go gently, smiling faintly in amusement as he watched her turned to leave. He reached out lightly to grab her arm, turning her back toward him. "Oh, hold on, you've got something here.." He murmured, reaching by her ear to pull the coin she had tossed into the fountain out from behind her ear, dropping it into her hand. He frowned after a moment, shaking his head. "Wait, that isn't what you asked for.." He closed his hands around hers, and when he pulled them away the coin was gone, replaced by a folded up piece of paper with the names and addresses of local businesses looking for workers. He released her arm and stepped back, bowing a little as he tipped an imaginary hat. "Have a good evening, Willow." He smiled, turning to head through the park.

---

Constance blushed wildly as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking at him with wide eyes. Her blush only grew when he said he wanted her, looking away in embarrassment as she tried to respond, stumbling over her words. "Oh, well.. I-I suppose that would be fine.. B-But I really can't not pay you.. It'd be wrong.." She shifted her feet a bit as she looked down at the violet, thinking about his words. It was nice that he wanted to take her out, but what if he only wanted to sleep with her? Normally she wouldn't agree to a date if that seemed like the only reason, but she couldn't help herself in this case, it was as if his voice was magic, and was seducing her with his words.

@ Another.Chance
Willow looked at the coin wondering how he had gotten it when she clearly felt both his hands on her. But then a piece of paper appeared in her hands just as she blinked. Willow gasped softly and opened the paper. She looked it over and bit her lip. Was this a list of possible jobs? "Hey wait..." she said and stepped forward. "You didn't give me the other thing I asked for." she said referring to his name. Willow looked him over curiously. He was so arrogant to think he could kiss her like that and yet she found herself not wanting him to leave and afraid she would never see him again. 'Is he my answer Hermes?' she thought and glanced at the fountain. She didn't think she believed in the greek myths but it was just such a coincidence and she knew she didn't believe in those.

---

Miles smiled. "Constance please." he said and turned to her. "I think you'll need to learn to take a gift when it is given." he said. Miles took her shoulders and turned her towards the door. "Besides were you get one plant you eventually want another." he said and grinned. "Call it promotioning." he said chuckling as he opened the door for her and walked out with her. "Now you go put that plant in direct sunlight but only for 5 hours a day, you find the perfect spot and when I come to pick you up for coffee tomorrow say what 9 in the morning I'll check on it." he said and smiled. "It was really good to see you again Constance and I am glad you stopped by." he said and then let her shoulders go. "See you later beautiful." he said then walked back inside the ship just before some panicked looking man walked in. "Miles you got to help me." he said and Miles chuckled. "What did ya do this time?" he asked.

@ Jinx...

"Hm?" He asked as he turned around to look at her, surprised that she hadn't just left once he turned away. "Oh, it's Daniel." He smiled, running a hand through his hair before shoving his hands in his pockets. "Guess I forgot about that part, huh?" He laughed, looking her over. He came across as arrogant, but was really just looking for attention and someone to please, wanting to impress people.

---

Constance blushed brightly as he spoke and led her out, nodding a bit at his instructions. "Alright.. I think that'll work.." She murmured softly, looking up at him with a small smile. "See you tomorrow.." She waved a little as she turned and headed back to the apartment building, blushing brightly. She walked into her apartment and set the plant down on a windowsill, getting back to unpacking her belongings.

@ Another.Chance
Willow turned her head to the side wondering when she had told him her name. She bit her lip. "Okay you impressed me." she said and blushed. "So I guess I owe you a dinner. I'm staying at the Greenston Hotel just up the street. Have the front desk call me. That is if you are free tonight." she said and smirked not waiting to find out as she turned shuffling her bag on her shoulders as she started to walk away again. "See ya Daniel." she said and shoved the paper into her pocket as she went.

Willow walked into her hotel and got her key heading up to her room. She dropped her back pack and sighed. She needed a shower and to unpack. She wondered if she had that sundress she had thought she packed at the beginning of her trip. Willow sighed and stripped headed into the bathroom as she thought about Daniel and how interesting he was with all his complexity.

---

Miles smiled as he watched Constance head home. He helped his panicked customer and calmed him down before sending him off to make up with his fiancee. Miles took the day just taking care of the plants but mostly fixing the broken love that walked through his store doors and helping create new love. This was why he worked with flowers because it was the love language you could use every day. Miles chuckled and ran his hand through his hair as he headed home. He had gotten hat date with Constance he had been hoping for.

@ Jinx...

Hermes looked confused at first as she spoke, but the look of confusion slowly gave way to the grind that spread across his lips as she told him where to find her later. He hurried back to his apartment on the other side of the park to shower and change, trying to think of where he could take her for dinner. The hotel she was staying at had a decent restaurant, but that might be too boring, and he wanted to impress her.

---

Constance stayed awake well into the night unpacking her things, making a couple of trips downstairs to the community recycling bin to throw away boxes and packing material. By then she had changed into a loose button down and leggings, her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun to keep it out of her eyes.

@ Another.Chance
Willow dressed smiling at the dress she had managed to get most of the wrinkles out of. She fixed her necklace she had with her always on her so it fell between the top of her breasts. She touched it gently then finished pulling her hair back with a bow. She sighed looking in the mirror. It wasn't the most impressive she had ever been but considering the cloths she had it was perfect. She finished getting ready and smiled as she sat on the edge of her bed looking at the room she had set up as her home for the next couple days or weeks depending on how quickly she found a job and a more temporary place to stay while she was here.

---

Miles walked up towards his building and smiled seeing Constance. "Hey you. You're up pretty late." he said and smiled at her. "I bet you got a lot of that unpacking done didn't you?" he asked and smiled as he walked over to her smiling as he looked her over. He liked her relaxed look. "How's the violet?" he asked as he walked back into the building with her.

Hermes dressed, running his hands through his hair a few times to try to dry it a bit more before heading back through the park and to her hotel. He walked up to the front desk, asking them to call her and let her know he would be waiting for her before moving though the lobby to take a seat in one of the chairs. He was oddly a bit nervous, but knew that things would go smoothly, or at least he hoped that they would.

---

Constance jumped a little in surprise when he spoke, having not expected to see him downstairs. "Oh, hello. I've been busy, yeah." She blushed a bit, but smiled when he asked about the violet. "Oh, I hope I followed your instructions right. I put it on the windowsill for a few hours before moving it to the kitchen table. I don't think that'll be it's permanent spot, but for now it'll have to do." She shrugged a bit, following him into the building. "Why are you out so late?"

@ Jinx...

@ Another.Chance
Willow jumped when her phone went off and she picked it up. "Hello?" she asked and smiled softly a some girl told her that a very attractive gentleman was waiting for her in the lobby. Willow thanked the girl then grabbed her purse and headed down the stairs. When she walked into the lobby she looked around and saw Daniel. She grinned and walked over to him tapping him on the shoulder. "Hello." she said and stepped back as he stood and looked at her. Her cheeks heated as his eyes moved up her legs and she absentmindedly touched the paper plane on her necklace. Willow smiled softly. He cleaned up nicely.

---

Miles chuckled. "Oh I am sure it is fine but be sure to water it twice a week the same time each day about a cup of water and in the fall it will need new nutrients for the soil. I have everything you need at the shop if you would like to stop in anytime you are welcome to." he said and smiled. She asked why he was out late and he smiled. Well after I closed the store I got carried away with the other part of my job." he said and smiled. He had gone around finding people that he could feel close by needing a little nudge. He smiled as he thought about the productive night.

@ Jinx...

Hermes looked up at her when she tapped his shoulder and smiled, standing and running his fingers through his hair as he looked her over, his smile only growing wider. "Wow.." was all he could manage, a laugh escaping him at the silliness of the statement. "So, there's a restaurant here that's pretty good if you want to stay here, but if not there are a couple of places close by that are pretty good. It's up to you." He shrugged a little and shoved his hands into his pockets, unable to keep from smiling as he looked her over again. She was gorgeous, and he was still surprised that she had agreed to have dinner with him.

---

Constance nodded as she listened to his instructions, scrunching her nose up a bit as she smiled at him. "You might need to write that down for me.. I'm sure I'll forget." She laughed a little, tugging on one of her sleeves. She looked at him in surprise, tilting her head a bit. "You have two jobs? Isn't working at the flower shop enough work? You must be exhausted..."