Family reunion?

Admittedly, the last person Midori ever expected to contact her was Purgatori. It wasn't that she didn't trust the woman, but…. that was a lie. She didn't trust her one bit. Oh, certainly the woman was a fantastic ally whenever she was needed to be one, but that was on a rare occasion. More often than not, Circe preferred calling upon the Asgardians for aid. Purgatori and her Egyptian faction was considered to be more of a last ditch, heavy-hitter effort, which was saying a lot. Amora may possess the power of Thor, but at least she didn't go around ripping people apart without thinking about it. Purgatori tended to be the shoot first, ask questions later type.

Still… Midori was curious as to why she wanted to see both her and Viper. One of the possibilities that briefly crossed her mind was that the blood goddess was going to get all romantic and, shock of all shocks, get down on one knee in front of Viper. The thought of that actually made Midori snort out a laugh as she could see neither proposing to the other. Either way, this visit would likely be interesting. Trading her simple chiton for a more elegant Greek dress, and kissing her husband and their three children goodbye, the messenger goddess took off for Heliopolis.

The city was bright and hot, with a rather impressive and massive golden bridge acting as an entry point. Midori did not see Viper, nor did she truly want to be seen entering the city along side her. They got along well enough, but to be truthful, Midori hated looking at the woman who wore the younger face of her mother. It unnerved her how this Viper was the same looking, but her own mother had aged. Add the decade that its been and the stress she's likely gone through of losing her only daughter… but then again, James was gone too, so perhaps her mother thought she had gone out in a blaze of glory, taking Captain America with her. It was a proper end for a HYDRA agent.

Upon reaching the throne room, Midori noted the other goddess in the room. Leaning on the arm rest of Purgatori's throne was a red skinned woman with horns and a tail. This was an unexpected addition as Purgatori's note made no mention of other guests besides Midori and Viper. Something about her appearance kept prodding the back of Midori's mind, as if she should know her, but there was no immediate recollection. Not saying a word, the goddess simply offered a greeting to them both and waited for Viper to appear.

Baal watched the two women show up they didn’t look that friendly towards one another even after all these years. They might not kill one another but they wouldn’t have lunch together. But Viper on the other hand might have figured out what was going on by the way she was looking at the storm goddess. Purgatori watched the three women for awhile before speaking up. “It’s so nice to have the family all together.” she got up walked down the steps to the others with Baal following behind her.

“I’m not really the one who wanted you here….I suppose you could say she’s my daughter did recreate her but she’s more related to the two of you.” Purgatori explained to the two women before her “I bet you were hoping I was dead in the ground and rotting. Didn’t you Midori?” She hadn’t forgotten Midori hated her for something she had nothing to do with. “Besides this was the only way to get you off your back and out to do something other Captain Tightpants. Maybe find a way to actually make you useful then pushing out children every few years.” Even though she didn’t want anyone finding her didn’t mean she hadn’t kept tabs on the two for her own reasons.

"You set all this up for a family reunion?" Viper wasn't normally one to play games, particularly if she wasn't the one in charge. She didn't always like surprises either and this was a rather large and unexpected one. Letting Midori talk to Jessica, Viper turned her attention to Purgatori. There were a few questions that she wanted answered. "How long have you had her? Since she came to Asgard?" Viper was simply curious, since she herself had met Purgatori weeks after their arrival. The goddess wracked her brain, trying to remember if she had seen Jessie in amongst the Egyptian pantheon.

"I'm also assuming that she knows about us being together?" It wasn't exactly a secret, but Viper didn't quite flaunt their relationship. Not that she really gave a damn who knew about it, but for some reason, Viper had a feeling that this might put a damper on things, particularly with how she saw Jessica leaning on Purgatori's throne. Perhaps it was a bit of paranoia, or maybe Purgatori's own possessiveness was rubbing off on her, but the goddess was suddenly feeling protective of her red woman.

Observing Jessie's appearance now rather than scrutinizing it, Viper couldn't help but be impressed. "You changed her? I don't recall Egyptian gods looking like her. Did you bite her?" It was a simple question as Purgatori had said she was somewhat like a daughter to her now. The process was making Viper rather curious.

"Baal? Well, when you decide to change yourself, you certainly go all the way out, don't you?" Midori asked, finally and appropriately taking in the sight of the new Jessica. She was most definitely taller than she had previously been, even without the heels she had on. With a tail, horns, red skin with black tattoos, and glowing yellow eyes, she most certainly not the woman Midori knew.

The messenger goddess's face remained neutral and blank when Baal revealed her whereabouts. Remembering back to that feast, Midori had spent the entire duration of the meal with James, but he did wander off to find a place to sleep, so it was possible that she was telling the truth. Midori had just never figured him for the type to fall for Jessica drew. Then again, the Drew that they both knew was an older woman, and Baal, while being younger, also had impressive assets. Even before being a sex god, James had the tendency of being led around by his dick. "Well, I certainly hope you two had fun. That's one night for you against my…" Midori paused to think of how many many nights she had been with James. "Well, it's certainly enough times that I've lost count. Really, Baal? Are we going to be this childish? Poking at each other, saying you slept with my husband?"

Having a drunk one night stand was one thing, but when the demon mentioned children and the few times James had taken off over the years, that caused Midori to pause. "Children? You and him?" It was at this point that Midori had to remember her training and regulate her breathing so as not to give away the anger forming inside. Whether that statement was a truth or a lie, she would refuse to learn the truth from Baal. Instead she would ask James when she returned home. Accidents happen and it was quite possible that it was a one time event. James was a good man and he would not want kids that he had fathered to grow up without a dad. Even with this reasoning, Midori found it a difficult task to remain indifferent. "Congratulations on having children, Baal. I hope they're healthy," she managed to say but didn't quite make eye contact with the woman.

“I never go half way when I do something.” Baal replied as she watched the woman actually look her over this time to see how much she had changed. “Yes rare skills the pheromones being the most rare in this case.” It wasn’t hard to train a child to become an assassin but one who had power over pheromones? That was a great thing to have.

Oh the look on Midori’s face…priceless she wished she had a camera right now. Midori was trying her best to keep herself under control with her breathing training. “Even better she had twins with him and one other not with him.” Purgatori clapped twice twin ten year old boys suddenly appeared down on one knee with their heads bowed waiting for orders. Purgatori noticed only two of the three had shown up “They picked up fighting and magic rather fast. As you can see they changed their appearance to suit their tastes.” one had dark blue black wings black hair with blonde highlights wearing a dark red shendyt. His brother had all black wings black hair the faded into red wearing a dark red shendyt. Even though they were children they looked like they had been training for years.

“Donavin, Darnath come here.” The two boys made their way over to their mother “I like you to meet Midori Harada your father’s wife.” the two boys didn’t say a word but looked the woman over she didn’t look like much. Before Baal could introduce the twins to their grandmother she felt the air shift. Sand began to gather around spinning like a sand tornado it started out small but grew in size before forming into a redheaded woman with glowing eyes. “Ran into a problem.” the redhead explained as to why she was late getting there. “And this is Kerrigan. James isn’t her father if that’s what you're wondering.” even though Kerrigan looked like she was in her 20’s she was actually two years younger than the twins. “The woman in green over there is your grandmother Viper.”

“No need to be paranoid.” Purgatori said before watching how Viper would react to the two boys and being called grandmother. Yes Midori had done it with her children but this was different Baal’s children were little assassins and warriors. “You have to go to hell to turn someone into a demon. In hell desire is power if you desire it enough you can gain anything.” It sounded simple but it really wasn't.

"And just how many battles have you won or minds you have changed thanks to her pheromones?" Viper asked. She was certain that the numbers would be rather high or at least a bit impressive. Purgatori didn't seem the type to waste such a gift, but then again everything seemed quiet and at ease between the godly pantheons. She had made no moves to take over other planes.

Perhaps she would deny it later, but Viper couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two young boys. They were handsome young men who carried themselves proudly even at such a young age. From just this initial meeting she could tell that Baal had raised them properly. She was about to speak and correct what the demoness had said when Kerrigan spun into existence. Viper knew that personality all too well, even just from hearing those four little words. Kerrigan likely took after her mother. Cocky, smart, and quick in action, the family resemblance seemed to be quite clear.

"If I am their grandmother, Baal. It is only right that you have them call Midori their aunt. The genetics and the circumstances are the same, after all," Viper told the young woman. All three of them were from different universes, so her statement was truthful. She was curious to see her reaction. As for her own self being given the title of grandmother, it was nothing new. She was already called that by Midori's children, so it was not some shock to the system. Besides, she was defying the system by being a rather young looking grandmother. "Kerrigan has given a demonstration, but I would love to see what the boys can do."

Upon hearing Purgatori's procedure for becoming a demon, Viper laughed. "If you desire power enough in hell, you become a demon. If it were that simple, my darling Red Queen, I would have been one by the age of ten." She had told Purgatori some of her childhood, so the goddess should have known just what Viper had gone through. "It is never so simple as that. Desire and power make for poor wishes. You have to sacrifice, endure pain and strife, struggling through it all physically, mentally, and emotionally. Don't think I don't know for an instance what it's like to become a demon on earth. Because I do, and so do the girls who survived training with me. So becoming an actual demon in hell must be similar but far more excruciating."

"The look what not in regards to that, though I think you should teach them the concept of incest. I can see that they seem to appreciate her more than me and it makes me wonder what they have been told." To tell the truth, Midori would expect nothing less. Though they were different, Midori and Baal both loved their own respective mothers and when her children asked about Grandmother Ophelia, Midori was truthful in every aspect, but painted a beautiful picture of the third grandmother they had never met. She even paid those respects to Viper, since she would visit on occasion and James seemed to get along with her well enough. Midori had just been the confused one who was slow to warm up to her. That was why she was surprised to hear Viper defend her and ask that she be called aunt.

"That was a knee-jerk reaction. I was naturally suspicious. It couldn't be helped. How would you react if a woman who you knew and saw, when you were young, try to hurt and kill your mother, and then appeared years later in front of a woman you thought to be your mother, who was currently looking worse for wear. You would think the same would apply to almost every version, no matter the universe. I protect my mother because I love her. That's why I protected her and told you, I believe it was, to get the hell out of the base. For that I am sorry. I wish I had known you instead of the other Jessica in my universe." This was a lot for the woman to admit, but if it smoothed things over with Baal and kept her family safe, she was not above telling things she wouldn't normally say.