Oh yeah, fleas and rats everywhere. Sanitation regulations? Revolutionary.
[He grins, leaning against the counter, pleased that he's managed to get them excited again. He loves seeing his friend be excited about things.]
Yup, saw it all happen. Participated sometimes, too. Fall of the Byzantine Empire, that was a pretty big one. Renaissance? Personally carried texts from Greece to Italy so they wouldn't be lost. If just taking them through a magic door counts as carrying, which I say it does. Da Vinci was one of Polly's kids, nice guy, great conversationalist.
[Hermes can't blame them for their feelings. If he could only keep one thing in the world that's been invented since he was born, it'd be sanitation regulations.]
Yeah, met all the Ninja Turtle painters. Let me tell you: they totally named Michelangelo wrong. He was an irritable jerk.
[His smile fades a little bit. It doesn't disappear, but it's not quite so cheerful.] Yeah, we can have kids. Unfortunately, they don't usually inherit any immortality or powers. That's part of why Polly is so... Polly-ish.
[And part of why Hermes wants to pass on his eidolon soon. He's had and lost many kids over the years, and he misses them. He wants to see them again.]
[Buddy, you're making it really hard for Hermes to keep the conversation light.]
You can't use an eidolon just to keep the people you love alive. It comes with responsibilities. Memories. Passing an eidolon to someone who isn't suited to it is just a recipe for misery, for them and everyone around them.
[Hermes heaves a sigh, looking distant for a moment as he looks out a window.] It's better for them to rest in the Underworld with the rest of the family.
[And yes. They go to the same afterlife as idols do. Which means Hermes has chaperoned his own children.]
I'm uh. Hittin' a whole bunch of mines here huh? Sorry.
[They really are. Reaching up to rub sheepishly at the back of their neck. It's an accident, genuinely. Curiosity isn't really something they know how to dial down effectively.]
So uh. Okay! Okay - new talk! Favorite food back in [And they wiggle their fingers.] ye olden days!
[Hermes huffs in gentle amusement, smiling.] Never be sorry about being curious. I love that about you.
[It's true. He loves how curious his friend is. He loves how excited they are to learn new things, even if sometimes they stumble into uncomfortable topics.
But Hermes will happily take the opportunity to talk about something else. He grins, rocking on his heels as he thinks.]
Let's see... Gotta say, global spice trade has really kicked up food. But I really miss how wild game and fruit used to taste. Now, wild animals keep chewing on old plastic or trash, and all the fruit's been bred for quantity over quality, so you just can't get it like it used to be.
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[The look on their face. It's like Hermes just suggested kicking a puppy or something.]
[Not that they aren't interested in the story. They just have to make their feelings known.]
Whoa. So like - you saw all the Ninja Turtle painters? Right? Were they all like - Idol Juniors? [A beat.] You guys can have kids?
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[This is very, very distressing news!]
[... and then there's more distressing news. Talk about putting a foot in their mouth, huh?]
Oh. That... yeah I get that'd be - real rough. Dang, dude. And I guess you guys don't really - pass stuff on to them? Or didn't.
[Oh honey no stop asking these things.]
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I'm uh. Hittin' a whole bunch of mines here huh? Sorry.
[They really are. Reaching up to rub sheepishly at the back of their neck. It's an accident, genuinely. Curiosity isn't really something they know how to dial down effectively.]
So uh. Okay! Okay - new talk! Favorite food back in [And they wiggle their fingers.] ye olden days!