Deck of two hearts
"Most dangerous is that temptation that doth goad us on to sin in loving virtue." - William Shakespare
Somewhere unknown, far away from the eyes of man
Cupid has remained in control of the flow of love for the last several centuries, fortunately growing tired of dealing with humanity, lays the chance for his equal to get some fun out of the job
“For a man who so tirelessly preaches of love… you are spectacularly incompetent at it. Truly, it’s almost impressive,” Eros said, a sly smirk slowly spreading across his face as he leaned forward.
“Tch… knock that crap off, would ya frog eyes? You humans’re a real pain in my ass, y’know?” Cupid muttered, slouching back with a bored, uninterested scowl.
They sat across from each other seemingly in their own private pocket of reality, just for them, gods of love. Just a simple wooden bench suspended in the vast emptiness far beyond Earth, drifting among the stars.
Eros slid closer across the table, his smirk deepening with mischievous delight. “Sooo… why don’t you allow me the privilege of handling one little coupl–”
SLAM! Cupid’s palm crashed down on the table, the impact echoing sharply. “Hell NO! Me and you are the same, yet at least I can actually do my damn job! You’re just some freaky bastard, y’know?!”
Eros stumbled backward from the force, nearly losing his balance before he caught himself and floated smoothly back onto the bench. Once seated again, he brushed off his clothes with exaggerated poise and flashed that signature smirk once more.
“It’s hardly as though humanity still believes you exist. Your legend has faded into little more than a whisper… so really, what harm could there be in letting me have a bit of fun?”
Cupid let out a heavy sigh and dropped his head onto the table with a dull thud, his shoulders slumping in clear exasperation. “And if our sister comes back and sees ya makin’ a mess of things, huh? What then?”
Eros rolled his shoulders and cracked his back with a satisfied stretch, his expression brightening. “Oh, come now, just one couple. Surely the universe can survive my brilliance being put to use for a single little experiment. And if it goes terribly wrong… if… well, it has been an awfully long time since my last attempt. A little chaos might do them some good.”
Cupid reached into his pocket and pulled out a bright pink vape. He took a long drag, exhaling a swirling cloud of tiny glowing hearts that drifted lazily around them, then sighed again. “Y’know what? FINE! But I swear it on the clouds above, if ya screw this up… I’ll make another damn depressing winter, y’hear me?!”
Eros chuckled softly and leaned over to pat Cupid on the head like an unruly child. “There we are. I knew there was still a spark of reason buried somewhere in that stubborn little mind of yours. Truly, it warms my heart to see you finally make the correct decision.”
Cupid made a sound of pure disgust and jerked his head away before sliding two cards across the table with a flick of his wrist. “Here’s yer couple. Now go on, read those cards already.”
Eros picked up the cards with eager fingers, his smirk widening into something almost predatory as he studied them.
Both cards featured photographs of two teenagers supposedly living in Japan.
Card 1 – “Yasushi Kisaragi”
(Age 17, male, once old childhood friends with card 2, blond, lovesick)
Eros glanced over at Cupid, who had already turned away and was now grumpily playing ping-pong against himself, the ball smacking back and forth in the empty space. Speaking more to himself than anyone else, Eros murmured, “Oh, this is delightful. I can already see the possibilities unfolding before me… a truly magnificent idea is taking shape.”
He smiled as he flipped the second card.
Card 2 – “Matsu Aikawa”
(Age 17, female, once old childhood friends with card 1, blond, sports enjoyer)
Eros slipped both cards into his pocket with a satisfied tap. “Oh, I have wonderful plans for these two,” he whispered to himself. “And with school beginning soon… well, what a magnificent opportunity has presented itself. A little chaos, a little drama, a little push in the right direction.”
He turned and began walking away across an invisible staircase that shimmered into existence beneath his feet with each step, his posture light and confident.
If only Cupid knew what he was truly in for.
