Thor nodded. “I see nothing wrong with that. But why switch when you could act, direct,andproduce?” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Look, I know how hard you go at things when you focus on a task or a project. And if you’re not winning on the first try, you’re not happy. So here is what I suggest—give it some time. I know it’s been years, and it seems too long or too short for beings like us. But now we’re living like mortals and must work on their timeframe. You know this. One day you will direct or act in something that the academy won’t be able to overlook, and you will win because it will be well deserved. You are that damn good at what you do, Anpu. You know how I know?”
“How?”
“Because besides using your Ahket name, you could have used your powers to get what you want. Instead, you put your pride aside, asked others to teach you, and added schooling. That’s how much I knew you wanted to do this. So don’t give up.”
“You make me sound so fucking righteous. How do you know I’m not thinking of manipulating the academy? Hell, the entire damn world.” The thing was, Anubis had an idea in mind and planned to see it through. He couldn’t explain to himself or anyone why he’d used pseudonyms and not his real name when it was unnecessary. Now, he had to clean up his fucking mess.
“You’re right, I don’t know. Even if you wanted to burn the entire world down, I wouldn’t stop you. Fuck, I wouldn’t blame you if you did. We’re gods, after all. Mortal rules don’t apply to us.”
Anubis felt just as drunk as Thor, but he could handle his liquor better than his friend. What Thor said made sense. There was no need for him to hold on to things. He could have done so many things to the academy members, like erasing their memories or using powers of persuasion. But that would have been a waste of his powers, even though it wouldn’t have been much. Not only that, if he had won an award, it would not have made him happy in the end.
Anubis smiled. “I forget how insightful you can be when you’re fucking wasted.” He grabbed Thor by the back of his neck lovingly. “Thanks.”
“It’s what I’m here for,” he slurred.
Anubis chuckled as he stood, swaying a bit. He righted himself, fixing his pants. “I’m heading out. I’m planning on seeing Azazel in the morning. He’s been after me to direct a few TV series and not just episodes here and there. So I will agree to his offer. Maybe it’s time I get an agent and do what needs to be done. Horus keeps telling me that if I want to make it in the industry, I must put my all into it. According to him, I have one foot in and one out. Sobek hates that I won’t use my real name and believes it's one reason I never won and not that I threatened the academy.”
“He could be right,” Thor said.
“You would agree with him,” Anubis countered.
“Now who sounds jealous?” Thor guffawed, smacking his knee because of his silly comment.
“You’re not funny.” Anubis couldn’t help the smile crossing his lips. His friend was so drunk.
Thor chuckled more, as if Anubis had said something that made sense, even in his drunken fog. “I bet they’ll be happy to hear that you’re willing to open yourself up to more opportunities.”
“Their happiness has nothing to do with me; that’s what their mates are for.”
Thor snickered. “Fuck, maybe we should all find our mates and be just as happy as old red-eyes.”
“Let’s leave that conversation for another drinking day with way more alcohol.”
Thor stood unsteadily and clapped a hard hand on Anubis’s shoulder. “You got it. Too bad we’re not compatible. It would make things so much easier.”
“We would drive each other crazy with jealousy and mistrust,” Anubis said.
“I hate to agree with you on that.” Thor smiled, seeming a bit more steady.
Thor was handsome, but Anubis had never considered him anything other than a brother from another mother. Not only that, they were too much alike; from their six-four height and muscular frame, they both had the same taste in bed partners but would not step over the line. Sharing a lover was never an option for them, not that they had anything against doing something like that. It simply wasn’t their thing. They had been friends for eons and made a blood vow never to let a lover come between them. As long as they were happy, nothing else mattered.
“Let's meet up for lunch or dinner this week,” Anubis said.
“Sounds good.”
Anubis nodded, then pecked Thor on his lips. It was their love language for each other.
“The next time you return, I promise you will get a better blow job.”
“I’m holding you to that,” he said. “You should call Scott and Chance to help with the dom and sub training. Let me know if you need any help; it’s been a while since I spanked a pretty sub.”
“Thanks, man.”
Anubis nodded and teleported to his home between the underworld and the mortal realm. He didn’t feel like going to his new Valleywood penthouse. A good night's sleep was what he wanted. He felt that one of his family members was there waiting for him since they knew how he got around award season, and he was all talked out at the moment.
Chapter Five
ANUBIS
