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As the Gods and I watched one night

Nic Bernstein

Venus rides high in the heavens. Carefully, quietly, she
monitors all that transpires beneath her. Jupiter watches, too.
His intentions, while secret, are no doubt less altruistic.
Mars, Mars lurks near the horizon. He plans a spoil, foil to
Venus, danger to all.

Venus found her lovers. She found them leaving the bar at
closing time. As testament to her powers, it was not one couple,
but two. They did not need to look for her, she was already
secreted within their hearts, waking from a dreamy slumber, a
hibernation if you will. Jupiter is pleased, Mars looks
elsewhere.

The young lovers are intoxicated with the spirits, the night
sky, and themselves. They are not yet ready to call it a night,
not until the sunrise makes it a foregone conclusion. Venus is
smiling, Jupiter concerned, Mars is looking elsewhere.

The gladiators leave a bar, uncertain of their challenge,
uncertain of the night. Although the sky looks placid to them,
they feel a chill and fright. Venus doesn't notice, Jupiter's
distracted, Mars cocks his eye, and watches.

A gas station on the corner for some reason seems, to the
lovers, as good a place as any to get better acquainted. A gas
station on the corner for some reason seems, to Mars, as good a
place as any to stir the cauldron, add some spices, and light a
small inferno. Venus is in bliss; Jupiter, absorbed; Mars,
content.

Two by two, the lovers sit down. A small concrete embankment
providing their perch. The boys first, and then the girls, upon
their laps embrace required, please don't fall. Venus watches
her gas station, and sets her magic to the task. Not far away,
Mars watches his, and shoots some arrows into the crowd. Jupiter
seeks council.

Traffic wisses by on the thoroughfare, oblivious to the
lovers and fighters. The lovers explore each other, verbally and
orally, oblivious to the traffic. Venus encourages them,
oblivious to Mars. Our fighters encounter each other for the
first time, oblivious to the traffic. Mars encourages them,
oblivious to Venus. Jupiter, Neptune and Mercury are in closed
door session.

A passerby watches, intently, as our lovers embrace, hug and
kiss. They look into each others eyes, seeking a common
attraction, and, finding it, take it as far as they can. A
passerby watches, nervously, as our fighters square off, circle
and lunge. They look into each others eyes, seeking a common
hatred, and, finding it, take it as far as they can. Venus and
Mars both quiver, Jupiter, leaving sessions, prepares to be
heard.

Curious onlooker begin to gather, watching the drama unfold.
Our lovers are absorbed in themselves. In perfect duet, as if
choreographed by Venus above them, they recline. Two pairs of
female legs pointing toward the skies. Two pairs of male hands
groping pairs of thighs. Our Fighters are absorbed in
themselves. In a perfect pas de deux, as if choreographed by Mars
above, they circle and scuffle. Two pairs of fists clenching
toward the skies. Two pairs of male hands grasping chains of
iron. Venus rejoices, Mars guffaws, Jupiter clears his throat.

The curious grow faint of heart, they've seen this before and
know the inevitable outcome. Some linger for their own reasons,
silent witness to the unfolding drama. Jupiter breaks step, and
takes a poll.

Lust and intoxication flash brilliant, as our lovers embrace
abandon and dismiss caution as an unwanted guest. The concrete
is as a feather bed for their desires, the gas station a boudoir
of rapturous proportions. Hatred and intoxication flash darkly,
as our fighters embrace abandon and dismiss caution as an
unwanted guest. The concrete is as a boxing ring for their
desires, the gas station a courtroom of partisan persuasion.
Venus masturbates furiously, as does Mars, Jupiter starts to
speak.

The lightening does little to catch our actors' eyes. The
thunder just propels their advances. Our lovers near their
climax, the onlookers blush. With great cries to the Gods that
be the boys let loose their charge, the girls whimper and
collapse. Our fighters near their climax, as well, as onlookers
duck. With great cries to the Gods that be, the one lets loose
his bullet, the other whimpers and collapses. Venus is
fulfilled, Mars shares in this and makes a pass at her, Jupiter
finally gets to his point.

The onlookers dash to their cars and leave, eager to see the
night to an end. Our lovers pick up and beat a hasty retreat
as if this is not a victory, but a condemnation.. Our fighter
goes home, as well, beats a hasty retreat for this is not a
victory, but a condemnation. Venus and Mars embrace in wanton
lust, Jupiter, as always, is late for the game.

With no one around to see, the juices of our lovers lay spent
upon the concrete, a testament to Venus and her dangerous ways.
With no one around to see, the juices of our fighter lays spent
upon the concrete, a testament to Mars and his dangerous ways.
Venus and Mars discuss family planning as Jupiter takes a tonic
and heads for bed.