Introducing Victory . . . wait, who?

“What are you making?” Artemis asked as you placed one last cake on it’s drying rack, joining the five others you’ve made already.

“Soap” you reply, stepping back and observing your creations.

“Soap?” Artemis asked, cocking her head to the side and sticking an ear up in a very dog like expression.

“Yeah, Romans tend to use olive oil on it’s own to clean themselves with” you explain “This cake of soap uses olive oil as its main ingredient” you tell the fox-girl. “Mixed with a bonding agent like wood ash among other things, it sticks to filth and is easily washed off” you continue.

“But I like being all oiled up” Artemis tells you with a faux innocent expression, instantly conjuring images of the girl naked and oiled.

“And I like you oiled up too” you retort “But then you have to scrape that oil off with a scraping stick” you tell her “This? You get to be rubbed down with soaked cloth until you’re nice and wet” you say, layering the innuendo on nice and thick “Rubbed down with a cake of soap” you add, stepping in close to your lover “All. over. Your body” you whisper into her ear, enjoying the shudder of arousal that shoots down her spine as you wrap your arms around her. “And then you get to be rubbed down again with a soaked cloth” you say “until all the dirt is gone” you say, your hands firmly on the girl’s arse and hiking up her tunic. You kiss Artemis’ neck, causing her to hum with pleasure, your hand kneading her arse cheeks.

Suddenly there’s a knock on the door. You pause in kissing Art’s neck to stare at the door, wondering if you should just demand the person to go away. You look back down at Art and saw her looking at you with expectant eyes. With that, you decided to just send away whoever it was and stride over to the door. You open the door with as neutral an expression as you can manage and stare out into nothing. There was nobody at the door but you clearly heard the knock. Your eyes narrowed as you scanned the surroundings, turning to look at Art. The girl herself was staring at a hare that had just bounded into the house. You frown and summon your armour and sword while Art does the same, closing the door behind you as you settle into a fighting stance.

The hare jumped up in the middle of the room and began changing form into a blonde woman, garbed in a white dress. A girdle around her bust line kept her dress in order while slits down the sides allowed movement. In her hand was a spear. The woman turned to face you, one hand on her hip, the other holding her spear in a resting pose. You aren’t fooled by her apparent ease though, you could easily tell she’s ready to move at a moment’s notice, what muscles you see are tense.

“I know that Mars was here recently” the woman said in a commanding tone. Both you and Artemis tense. “So, that means you must have fought him,” she says.

“Friend or foe, speak quickly or I’ll decide for you” you demand, circling around the woman so that there was no chance Artemis would be in her perifial. The woman narrowed her eyes and backed up, putting her other hand on her spear and holding it like a quarterstaff as she manoeuvred to keep the both of you in view.

“To ask such a question must mean you have enemies for which I am allied” The woman said, you didn’t try to pick apart her statement, it wasn’t what you wanted.

“You are either one of Christ’s Angels or you are a member of the Resistance, pick or die” you snarl.

“Why would you think that I Andraste, would side with that . . .” she began, pausing to take a shuddering breath, “Creature” she settled on.

“Who?” Artemis asked, head cocking to the side in confusion.

“Andraste, the Iceni goddess of victory” you say, looking at the woman in front of you.

“Iceni? Who are they?” Artemis asked with a frown, obviously trying to place the name.

“Ancient tribe of Brittania, long dead” you state and Artemis made an ‘Oh’ face before nodding.

“How did you not know who I am?! I fought Mars to a standstill twice before he bested me!” Andraste complained. Just then another knock came at the door and Fortuna poked her head in, her silvery sword in her hand and a leather jerkin serving as her armour.

“What is it with you goddesses using leather for armour!” you snap as you observe Fortuna.

“Hey!” Fortuna snapped back “I sensed a whole pile of godly power ready to be unleashed so I thought you were in trouble, but excuuuuuuuse me for trying to help!” the spitfire complained. “Who are you!” she demanded, staring Andraste down. The poor blonde spluttered at Fortuna’s question.

“I am Andraste! Goddess of Victory!” Andraste declared, thrusting her spear into the air in a dramatic pose. You turned to look at Fortuna who was mouthing ‘who?’ with a frown.

“Andraste, Iceni Goddess of Victory” you say in reply to the spitfire’s mouthed question.

“The Iceni?” Fortuna asked, frowning as she tried to place the name “Are those the barbarians from Briton that we wiped off the map in like a day or something?” she asked.

“IT WAS NOT A DAY!!!” Andraste shouted, slamming her spear into the ground “We repulsed several invasions and that was after they finally managed to get over their fear of us!” she angrily explained. Fortuna merely shrugged.

“Eh, whatever” she said before turning around and making to leave, her sword resting against her shoulder.

“So you came running cause you were worried?” You asked, knowing exactly what kind of response you are going to get. Quite predictably, Fortuna spluttered, her face going red and she began stammering.

“It-it-it’s not cause I like you or anything! Idiot!” she exclaimed before attempting to run out the door. As she was leaving, her foot caught in the doorframe causing her to somersault at the top of the stairs and somehow accidentally execute a flawless landing at the bottom. “I’m okay! I meant to do that!” she called out, blinking a few times before carrying on.

“Does that happen often?” Andraste asked, somehow managing to get beside you.

“Surprisingly yes” you answer “Perhaps it might also surprise you that she’s the Goddess of Luck” you add and Andraste bursts out laughing. You stared at her while she laughed until Andraste realised you're not joking.

“Wait, she’s really? But how?” Andraste asked incredulously. You shrug.

“She got lucky I guess” you say before striding back into your house.

“Mars has really turned on us?” Andraste asked, following you back in.

“What’s this ‘us’ business?” Artemis asked with frown, arms folded.

“Obviously I’m part of this ‘resistance’ that was mentioned earlier” the blonde replied “And I can tell you’re very powerful” she added, eyes drinking in your form from top to bottom. Artemis growled ever so lightly in response.

“Mars didn’t turn willingly, he was brainwashed by the enemy” You say, trying to come between the two before a catfight occured. While you’d definitely want to see that, two celestials having a catfight in the middle of town would rack up a hefty renovation bill.

“Brainwashed? A Celestial?” Andraste quietly asked, turning away from Artemis and frowning. “I was hoping he was leading some sort of resistance but . . .” she said, trailing off.

“He was, with me,” Artemis said, eyes downcast. “About a century ago, we managed to get an emperor on the throne that was Pagan but that didn’t last long” she explained.

“Wasn’t Julian killed in the battle of Samarra?” you asked and Artemis scowled.

“He got caught out alone, and the Angels came for him. Me and Mars stepped in to defend him but . . . they were too many, he told me to run after the Emperor had been killed” Artemis explained. You sighed heavily before wrapping Art up in a hug.

“Welcome to the Resistance and all that, probably gonna use you as the new God of War until we can find somebody better” You say “If there is anyone better” you add quietly. No doubt hearing the dismissal in your voice, Andraste left, probably going to find something to do for a while.

“I don’t feel like sex right now” Artemis muttered. “I don’t like remembering that day,” she added. You morph into your female form and cuddle the girl. Artemis smiled tiredly as she snuggled into you. “Thanks” she whispered, her fingers trailing against your snatch and leaving a wake of tingles as they went. You sigh, knowing full well you are going to be Art’s plaything for a bit, but if it takes her mind off her problems, you are happy to oblige.