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Hermes was pouting.
Apollo glances at him in recognition.
Hermes pouts harder, floating closer to his face for good measure.
Ah, so that’s it. “What appears to be bothering you, Dear Brother?” Apollo asks with a lilting tone, folding his hands at the front of the skirts of his peplos while looking at Hermes, his expression does not change per se but his whole demeanor appears softer, somehow.
“Hmmm” Hermes swayed to the right while supporting his head in his hands, he had his eyes closed “Oh the moment you showed up! it’s like I disappeared in their eyes! O how am I to compete! How could fairness be preserved in face of such radiance!” Hermes was by now fully horizontal in the air, his tone of voice dramatic, and theatrically kicking his legs and waving his hands. Apollo considers him.
They were just coming back from visiting one of the mortals Hermes was interested in. While they both were quite liberal with their blessings and patronizing, his brother had always been more social than he, and interacted in person with every single one of his beneficiaries at least once, whether that be a single anonymous run in on the street or a developing acquaintanceship and friendship. This one had been one of the latter, and Apollo had come to fulfill his curiosity.
“You did quite draw attention to myself and my arrival” and it was true, if not somewhat of an understatement, the moment he arrived Hermes had started to enthusiastically throw flower petals and colored ribbons at him, lengthily introducing him as his dearest brother who brings light to the world, with quite a few epithets and commendations derived from multiple sources.
“Hmph” Hermes crosses his arms “This is this and that is that” it is said airily and Apollo feels himself smile.
“Then I would consider it normal, to feel more overwhelmed in my presence, open and unguarded as the nature of light itself, unflinching in its divinity as it is, and I would say you have nothing to envy in the wariness and guardedness it inspires, when compared to the comfort and soothing of your own presence, which inspires trust”
Hermes looked up and sighed “I guess” he looked down “No, you’re right, it’s just... I don’t know” he suddenly starts pouting again as he stretches his arms “It’s not just with mortals you know! Oh! how do our fellows make me run around for things that never in a century would they think to ask of you. The indignity! I tell you! There’s no respect around here!”
Part of Apollo wants to smirk and ask if it wasn’t Hermes himself the one who volunteered to most of his extracurricular tasks, the one who goes to great lengths to appear open and approachable to anyone who might need help, but he decides against it, it could appear as dismissive, and while true, it is clear to him that this is something that is troubling his brother, so he resolves himself to find a more conductive answer.
It is a difficult problem for beings as bound by their nature as them to both find and solve, for while they do have an ego (reflection of wonderful humanity that they are) gods are still at their core personifications and embodiments of their concepts. Still, it is not uncommon for a concept to develop just as it is not uncommon for a person to develop; that is the natural consequence of time and society. After all...
And he looks at Hermes who has taken to weaving some figures with grass, patiently waiting for him to finish his thoughts, it was not uncommon for Apollo to commit his gaze in a single direction while considering an answer.
After all what does the piercing, ever reaching, relentlessly seeking Light of revelation and discovery and knowledge and Truth have to do with things as complex as civilization, as soft as healing, as abstract as art? He once again looked at the god in front of him, and once again felt a not unfamiliar swell of affection.
“Are you feeling dissatisfied with your Divinity” is what he settled for asking.
...Much to the surprise of the god being asked apparently.
“Eh! What? Ah! That... What?!” Apollo watched as Hermes appeared flustered, waving his hands and his flight becoming erratic. He's so performative Apollo thought with that familiar fondness once again.
“For you must know, that while our nature does define us, that is because we are it, and it is us, and if you are feeling any different, then that must mean that it is evolving alongside you, for that is its nature, and that of the world” Apollo smiled at Hermes who had calmed down from his panicked surprise, though still appearing surprised in a different way, looking up at him from the ground, where his flight appeared to have left him.
“No, that’s not... It’s nothing so grand” Hermes spoke with a softer voice, and Apollo Knew he was not performing this time. Many people begrudged Hermes for his way of acting, for deliberately tailoring and only revealing of himself what he wanted to be perceived by each specific receptor. Apollo did not. Was this not his right? was this not his art? was this not his Truth? Nonetheless, there was certainly something special and precious about the very few times he was caught off his guard.
“Just the thought of being as overbearing as you is enough to give me shivers” He recovered his floating quickly enough, hugging himself and blushing in embarrassment, his head pointed to the side.
“Oh?” Apollo tilted his head to the side, indicating him to continue.
“Yes, yes! I think about changing my routine to exclude something or developing my nature in any way that isn’t the way it’s already going and I get filled with an unsurmountable anxiety!” Hermes gesticulated energetically with his hands as he explained.
“So you really have no true regrets about the way you are acting then” Apollo’s tone made this remark be in the exact middle between question and statement.
“Not really” Hermes says, and it is in the reluctant tone of someone who is making a great concession, instead of someone admitting he does not truly dislike himself “I just...” And he starts playing with the ground that now reaches the tips of his shoes.
“You wish other people would change their demeanor towards yourself instead of you having to change your way of existing” Apollo continues. He understands what is being communicated, there is no need for Hermes to force himself into words he feels uncomfortable speaking out loud.
“Hhhmm” Hermes makes a noise of assent, and Apollo starts considering ways in which he could make that happen.
“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t!” And quick as thought, fleet-footed Hermes appears to cover Apollo’s mouth, face full of panic and embarrassment. Apollo waits until he relents.
“I had not said anything” Apollo primly smooths out his peplos and touches his hair and crown to make sure they are in place.
“You didn’t need to! I can see that look in your eyes from a mile away! This is what I mean when I call you overbearing!” Hermes cries out, his finger pointing at Apollo. Apollo considers protesting as having no idea of what the other is talking about but quickly dismisses it, as that would be untrue.
“Hmmm” Is all that he ends up saying and Hermes is laughing again, and while Apollo is gladdened to see his maudlin mood passing, he is not the type of being to leave important information unsaid.
“Hermes” He says, and Hermes looks at him with a curious expression “I hope that you know, that in the mortal realm there is nothing and has never been anything but the utmost respect and love for you, and I can guarantee you, as Knowledge and Truth and Sight, that among those you favor, and even among some you don’t, there is no other god ranked higher in their heart than you” He makes sure to Look directly in his eyes, to make the Weight of his domain be Felt.
“And among us undying ones” He continues “While I of course am not speaking for all of us, for I cannot, I Know I am speaking for most when I say that we would never think of you as lesser, O Lord of Meaning, O Lord of Words! You who connects us when we are alone! You, Sole Gatekeeper of the Realms, Overseer of the Borders! Master of nuance and subtlety, Navigator! You who are Interaction Incarnate! Who would dare to deny that your influence is universal? Who are we to deny that without you we are lost? O You! Hermes son of Maia! God of Communication! Believe me when I tell you that you are one of, if not the most essential part of this living world!”
He continues to look at Hermes with a placid expression, completely unrepentant to the bright blush and astonished expression at the god’s face, his mouth opening and closing as he attempts to forms words, but finds himself unable to find any. He absentmindedly wonders if such a momentous event has ever happened before.
They continue like this, facing each other for a long while, until Hermes turns away, covers his face with his hands, and lets out a long, muffled scream while floating his body into the shape of a ball. Apollo simply watches him, and smiles serenely, for he saw that what Hermes was trying to hide with his hands was the growing smile he seemed incapable of stopping.