As blunt as ever. He felt the sting, but at least felt the urge to smile, too. Still, after a moment he rolled away from her and stood, pacing across the room to her window to peer out into the rain and up at the cloudy sky. "I was thinking of starting with Hephaestus, actually," he murmured as he leaned on the sill. "The one I have most wounded is the one least likely to wish to return. Ah, but you're probably right." Zeus turned to face her, his eyes taking her in as she lay naked on her bed. It was a sight he had seen many times, but one he never grew tired of. He smiled, small and soft, and returned to sit next to her on the edge of the bed, one leg folded up in front of himself. He took her hand and squeezed it tight, then brought it to his lips to kiss her knuckles.<br/><br/>"You know, it wouldn't shock me if Eris decided out of hand to agree to try and let me be her father again," he said dryly. "It would certainly be the more controversial choice." Zeus dropped his gaze to her hand as he held it, smoothing his fingers across her palm and down her arm. "Either way, she would not be the first daughter to scorn me, if she did not agree. After we met yesterday, I went back to Athena, to thank her for her direction and to see if, perhaps, she would join you and I in our effort." He glanced up at her, then back to the window. "She turned me away and told me in no uncertain terms that she was not interested in reconciliation. It was disheartening, but... well."<br/><br/>He shrugged his broad shoulders, as if to shrug off the bad memory. "When do you think I should approach our girls, then? Hebe, I suspect, will be the easier of the two--Heracles at least must bear me some goodwill, and she did often listen to her husband's council. Eilethyia has less reason to forgive me, though she may follow your lead if she knew." He stroked at his beard as his eyes lost focus. "Of them all, I doubt Ares the most. Unless he has changed a great deal these last centuries, reconciliation may very well be as impossible as it was with his sister. No doubt the thought would infuriate him."