Homeland

Prive, The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City

"He's too young for you, you know that Ninna?"

The drum of the bass on the speakers normally makes verbal communication next to impossible in places like this. But their soul links enable them to hear each other regardless of environment or distance.

"Oh, I know that Julian, everybody here is too young for me." Replied the goddess.

Julian continued, as he stood across the room from the lady in the black dress. A banker has taken interest in his companion, offering drinks.

"And that dress! You would have been hanged for wearing something like that not too long ago."

"That was almost a thousand years ago dear." Ninna replied.

"All the same to me." He replied.

The banker continued to dance around. Sleeves folded up. flexing his arms to the amusement of both gods.

Ninna answered in her mind.

"He's cute noh? A bit overeager, but who isn't in a place like this? These kids are fun."

"These kids should be asleep."

Ninna raised her arms and twisted around.

"Remember how we used to dance like this Julian?"

Julian sipped from his drink. His fourth one of the night. He wished alcohol affected him the way it seemed to make these infants impervious to everything, to life in general.

"I remember, but there were burnt sacrifices then. Much more fun than this riot. Swordfights don't happen much in clubs."

The dancing crowd slightly parted and a tall man in a gray suit walked towards Julian. Glasses over deep, brown eyes.

He shook Julian's hand.

"Joseph's here. He says we have to go."

Ninna stopped and nudged the banker away with a kiss. Leaving him with his mouth open.

It was one thing to play around and tease while Julian was there. But Joseph was another story. He wore his usual suit and tie that he prefers to wear in this era. Not a thread out of place. Everything pressed and polished to perfection. But even among the music and the dancing around him, he still seems out of time. Like an ancient, marble statue plucked from a museum and placed in a nightclub. Equally persistent and equally unfazed by everything around him.

Ninna made her way through the throng and towards the two other gods.

"Good evening Joseph."

Joseph made a quick sweep of the room. All these people. All these kids. Lost in beats and brittle in bearing. Like nothing was fought for. Forgetting and foregoing everything for the sake of fleeting pleasure. But he remembered it well. They all did. There was no nation then. No country. Just a cacophany of tribes itching to wipe each other out for blood and supremacy. They would cut throats for gold to trade with foreign merchants. Tapestries, pottery and women were all fair game. Joseph and the others fought hard to break away from the carnal spirits of that time. And seeing all these kids sway and frolic in modern pills and potions makes him wonder if they actually won.

"Enjoying yourself again I see."

Ninna gave him a little bow, batting her eyelashes.

"You know me, the things I have to do to stay alive."

"Don't we all." Joseph responded.

They turned to go when the banker, who apparently followed, took Ninna's arm.

"These guys bothering you honey?"

Ninna turned and smiled. "Oh you are too cute."

Our banker now turned his attention to the two men. "Taking my girl there guys? You looking for trouble or something?"

Julian stepped up. At 6 foot 3 he clearly dwarfed the smaller man. He crossed his arms.

"And what is it to you little man?"

"We don't have time for this." Said Joseph. "He's calling us."

"Enough dear." Ninna said to Julian. And together they turned away.

No one was expecting our banker to throw a punch. He swung it high so that it hit squarely at Julian's jaw. The whole club must have heard his wrist crack.

"Here we go." said Joseph calmly.

"The boy must be taught to respect his elders."

Julian faced the little banker, now cringing in pain and holding his broken wrist.

"Sorry honey." Ninna spoke. "You were cute for a while." She blew him a kiss.

And with a flick of his finger, Julian sent our little banker flying into the tables. Drinks, purses, cellphones, and surprised onlookers fell over each other in a crash. Security rushed over. Someone stopped the music.

"Clubs." Julian said.

And with a shimmer, they disappeared.