highfunctioningalcoholic

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

Location: Somewhere warm and far from camp.  Date:These past few weeks since they arrive back from the trial.

 The moment they got back to camp from the trial, Grey had whisked them away on an impromptu honeymoon. Somehow even in this timeline his husband knew exactly what he needed...to the point he surprised him with his brothers. Both of them. Seeing Leo in human form brought tears to his eyes but it was seeing his youngest brother alive that pushed him over the edge. Tears running down his cheeks he hugged the youngest Malikov much to Q's confusion before the fight between the twins broke out. One that was dramatic that only a pair of Dionysus twins could put on.

Eventually they simmered down and Ender stole Greyson away to the beach needing just some much needed time with him. Lying on top of a blanket on the sand, Ender held his head in the the son of Artemis' lap as he stared up at the night sky the stars shining bit brighter that night it felt like. "I fell in love with you the first time you played the guitar for me," his baritone voice was just a whisper over the waves but still loud enough he knew his wildling could hear it. "We were in Central Park, probably at what I would consider our first real date. I brought some take out from a place down the block from the zoo you worked at as a picnic of sorts and you had brought your guitar. I had no idea that you knew how to play until that moment but once you did...well I was a fool for waiting over two years to tell you that I was madly in love with you."

@wxldhxrt

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

Like so many of the others Ender kept to himself since they arrived back from this last trial. Outside of the Dio or Artemis cabin, he was rarely seen though something about the promise of a campfire called to him. Was it because of the idea that s'mores might be there? Possibly. Did Ender have a huge sweet tooth? Even more of a possibility.  It was with a gooey s'mores in hand that Ender moved to sit beside the son of Death, one he considered a friend even if Ender himself wasn't the most social of demigods at times. He had promised Isaac that he would be there for him at the trial and he had been. There was no way he was going to miss seeing his friend succeed like Ender knew he would.  "Why do Skeletons not fight each other?" Ender retorted back as he finished off the sugar bomb that was now turning into a midnight snack. "They do not the have guts." With a knowing smile and a wink it was almost as if the son of Wine was saying two can play this dad joke game. 

open starter location: Lake of Souls notes: quintessential autumnal night bonfire for a post-trial celebration

Isaac couldn't think of a better way to spend the night, a couple days following the trial and hopefully everyone had enough time to do what they needed to do to decompress. There was a lot still rattling around in his head, the fear and the uncertainty had done a number, the grief and the outrage, but there was far more good that had come out of it for him.

They were all still here, his father had acknowledged him, and Ignacio was- yeah, that was still going to take Isaac some time to wrap his head around.

In front of him, the campfire crackled, and the sounds of the late evening permeated the still waters of the lake and echoed from the forest at their back. Isaac's tent and maybe a few others had been set up on the sand as he hoped to make camp for the night in their own backyard.

"If you ever get cold while camping, just stand in the corner of a tent for a while. They’re normally around 90 degrees." Isaac shook his head, "That was stupid, sorry." He wasn't exactly known for having a sparkling sense of humor, but he had about a hundred and one dad jokes that he could pull out when needed.

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

"no no no, it is about the climate and where it is grown. how one grape from california could mean something different than one in france--" it was then the son of wine realized what was being said and how axel was not talking about wine but the party. not everyone's lives revolved around wine like his did and he often forgot about this. "ah you mean this party. si. it is. perhaps you are right about this then, should we find something to give in return?" a soft pause as he took another sip of his glass and then-- "quickly what do you have in your pockets?"

while he could claim to know a good amount about a wide variety of topics, axel couldn't claim to know much about wines outside of what his taste buds had told him through the years. when out with others, he just followed their lead. so if ender was giving his stamp of approval? he trusted the godling on the topic more than practically anyone else here that it was good.

"it's all about the changing of the seasons, harvest, and friendship, right?" he took another sip from his glass (a gulp that was probably bigger than would be appropriate damn near elsewhere). it went down fast and smooth, making it very clear how far along he was. "don't think they'd say no."

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

ender didn't even have to tap into his domain for the party to be lively and fully of life. it was nice to know that his friends were all enjoying themselves because they wanted to and didn't need his help in doing so. it made him relax a bit more, allowing himself to enjoy it just as well not feeling like he had to be life of the party for once... though he was a son of dionysus so it just came naturally to him.  "i do not think it is fair that they used wine that is only located here," ender said complaining as he sipped his own glass of wine. "i mean each wine tastes different depending on where it is grown. for example a chardonnay from napa valley tastes much different than one from côte de beaune in burgundy. using a wine that is not grown in the mortal worlds--" he let out a small whistle that indicated he was impressed. because honestly he was. "do you think they will give oliver or me one of the grape seeds so we can grow it back home? never have i tasted a wine that tastes like sunshine before."

location: the harvest festival for: open to anyone who attended

was he tipsy?

the more important question was: could you blame him for being tipsy? when handsome satyrs and godlings kept refilling his cup, he wasn't gonna say no. and it tasted so damn good that his cup was ready to be refilled before axel knew what happened.

so he sat at a table, watching those far more social than him have a good time. while there was still much to understand about what happened this evening, there was no doubt that today was a good day.

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

As Greyson started to talk, to tell their story, Ender moved with ease. Taking both of his husband's hands in his, he moved them both over to the couch as if this was the very cabin he had spent months in. It was peaceful how similar things were in that aspect, that it meant Ender wouldn't have to learn how to move in this cabin in the middle of the night. Making himself comfortable it was second nature to pull Greyson onto his lap and wrap his arms around him. So he did just that.  Holding the boy in his arms he rested his chin on his shoulder and played with their intertwined fingers as he listened and took mental notes on what was the same and what was different between their two timelines. "You were with Adam in my timeline as well. We met at a nightclub we both frequented and wasted no time hooking up. In fact I think we spent several months learning each other's bodies before our names... I did not get your name officially until Adam brought you to see one of my shows on Broadway." There was a small pause as Ender tried to gather his words together before asking, "what was Adam like in this timeline?"

He caught that small flinch. While he might not be the sharpest pair of eyes at camp, Greyson knew Ender better than anyone else, he knew his mannerisms, his habits, and while this wasn't Anders, some things were the same. So he made the conscious effort not to use his formal name - but it was the easiest way to differentiate between the two Ender's he knew.

"Well I can certainly answer those questions for you." Grey smiled. He was happy to share their history, if it brought them closer together, kept that spark between them he'd tell every little detail. "We met in London, I'd just moved back after travelling. I was with my previous partner at the time and we happened to attend the same party. Adam and I were sort of fighting and I was deliberately avoiding him to piss him off, we got talking in one of the empty rooms and I'll admit I was instantly smitten, you were just so charming." Grey recounted the events, still able to picture that night with perfect clarity - the way he'd been angry at his fight with Adam, the way he'd been instantly curious when he'd seen Ender for the first time across the room of people, when they had been alone in the quiet, empty room talking about anything and everything, how he'd hoped to see the other again even when he went home with Adam at the end of the night.

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

it meant something to him to hear his friend apologize even if it wasn't the son of athena's fault. just knowing that atticus knew how much the fact leo wasn't talking to him hurt him helped some. there was only two people in this world that ender would move the heavens and earth to get to and that was greyson and leo. "it is comforting to know that my brother is always dramatic in each timeline. at least something is consistent which is a welcome in all of this--" he waves a hand again in a flair to emphasize this situation. "though i do wish i could have heard him go off on me like that. knowing him it was dramatic as the moment titus andronicus accused everyone of treason." 

when atticus began to talk about his own relationship troubles, ender wasted no time in reaching for the little notebook he kept on him since he arrived at this new timeline and began to take notes. jesse. remy. engagement. break up. hate. he included all of these quick details so he could keep them in mind just in case it ever became of importance. "this sounds deliciously messy. i am almost jealous that my life is not as dramatic as yours currently is. then again i am also relieved that it is not... what do you plan on doing with all of this? how does this act end?"

the son of athena was enjoying one of the mozzarella sticks, it wasn't exactly divine food but it was good for cheap food. his ears perked up at the mention that ender's twin brother was not only alive but he wasn't in his life, at least not completely. "i'm sorry to hear that, ender." atticus mused with a frown, they rarely spoke about the others family and he only knew what he did about the malikovs was because of the fight a few months ago where half of the party nearly died. at least they didn't seem to get mixed up with the norse. hopefully. "at least he's not one of fenrir's wolves here." atticus said after he swallowed the food he had been chewing on for a minute. "him making a scene at your wedding, though? at least that answers the question that you're both still the children of dionysus in this timeline." an attempt at a joke to ease the moment. 

and then ender was fixated on his own relationship drama. "well, i still went to oxford with jesse and remy in this timeline. it looks like jesse was my first love, and of course he broke my heart before he disappeared. and then i met remy, or sebastian as he goes by in this timeline for some reason. we dated for three years, moved in together, and we were in love but he was keeping something from me and this version of me wouldn't accept a partner who wasn't fully invested in the relationship... so i said no and broke things off." it was all surreal, it felt like atticus was talking about a movie or soap opera but these were real people. it was him. "guess he was brought to camp before me and that's what he was keeping secret from me. we really hated each other."

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

"Honestly I am not one hundred precent sure," Ender said looking up from the wet stone he was currently running his daggers along. The soft almost grinding noise was soothing to him while perhaps it would be annoying even ear piercing to others. It was a sound that was familiar to him and meant that his own blades were being honed to their sharpest. After all sharpest knives mean he could live another day.

Setting the deep onyx black dagger to the side he looked at the mysterious bow with a bit of curiosity but fascination at the same time. The only bow he had ever shot was Greyson's but this-- "It is beautiful. Is it yours? I was not aware that you had a bow like that."

time: midday location: training grounds

People seemed to have more questions about Axel than he had about them. That was new and incredibly concerning. The worst part? He didn't have any answers. His cabin didn't have any books, let alone a bookshelf. There were no notes anywhere. People in the library had looked surprised to see him there.

And why were Chiron and Serapheim both staring at him like that? Had they never seen him heal someone before?

The answer came when someone brought him over his supposed-usual weapon of choice, now fixed after his last fiasco.

A bow with blades attached to both limbs.

He looked over at a nearby godling, holding up the crazy ass weapon. "What the fuck do I do with this?"

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

The softest of flinches when he heard his formal name fall from his husband's lips. Yes, his other Greyson knew that Anders was his real name but in that timeline it was only Dimitri or his mother who called him that. It was weird hearing this Greyson let the name slip so easily and while it was shocking it also wasn't unwelcoming. It was almost a form of therapy to hear someone say it with love again and not hate or judgement. Shaking it off with a soft tussle of his curls he offered a soft smile before simply saying, "I want to know it all. Everything. I want to know how we met, how we fell in love. Our first fight. All the goods and bad I want to know it all. To hear our story."

"The Ender I knew was closed off about things, but open about others - I'm no stranger to you keeping secrets or cards close to your chest, but I appreciate you wanting to be honest and open with me." Grey smiled softly. The promise alone from Ender to be honest with him was more than Grey could ask and he appreciated it deeply. It was a facet of their relationship he had struggled with, even if he had known much about Ender's criminal past, had been involved with it when they married - they had never been completely open with one another.

"I want to make the same promise, this is a marriage and I'll give as good as I get - always have." He replied, placing his free hand over Ender's on his heart. "You can ask me anything about your life here and I'll answer as much as I'm able - Anders wasn't always so forthcoming with everything going on in his working life, but I knew more than most."

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

The bathhouse was one of the few places in camp that he felt like he could get away. So much had changed between this timeline and the past one they had just came from. Some good things and some bad. While his mother was still alive here, Greyson was different. Still his husband, yes, but not the son of Pan like he knew. It was a shock to his system one he was still figuring out how to deal with but he was willing to try. Always willing to try for boy.  Though that wasn't why he came to the bathhouse tonight.  It seemed that the other version of him was set out grow a cult and was successful in doing so since there was now several "worshippers" living in the Dionysus cabin and other places around the camp... In order to escape the noise of them he came to the bathhouse for a soak.  Head tilted back as he stayed under the water letting it drip down his naked body he let out a soft sigh. One that rose his shoulders up and down as his whole body felt the sigh. He heard someone enter the showers and a quick glance over his shoulder he saw that it was indeed Remy. A familiar face, one he didn't have to keep his guard up for. "Hey..." Ender's voice was soft as he met the other's eyes. "Seems like we both have the same idea tonight..."

@highfunctioningalcoholic liked for a spicy bathhouse starter

Remy was more than aware that this perhaps wasn't the way to deal with everything that was going on in his head. Dominos falling one after another. The New Timeline. Discovering his own real name. Romeo needing another break. He'd always reacted like this, even before his life was a mess of timelines and quests. Right before a bit of trial. He'd sought someone out to get lost in, hit a bathhouse or a cruising spot. Get lost in pleasure. The person he was with. Why think about anything when you could just return to the more base instincts to fuck someone till you were both exhausted and ruined? Thankfully this timelines bathhouse seemed just as much as a hook-up spot as their own timelines.

It was late, almost midnight as Remy moved through the hallways of the bathhouse. He'd already caught two nymphs in a throws of passion near one of the rooms but that hadn't taken his fancy, instead found himself walking towards the showers, a towel thrown over his shoulder but otherwise bare, every perfect muscle on display under the warm lights and his thick, impressive cock swinging between his legs as he glanced towards the steam rooms- his eyes flicking into them to see if there was anyone interesting there who he could indulge in before glancing towards the showers to do the same.

Remy was hungry. Like a predator looking some prey.

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

It was like coming home as soon as he felt those hands touch him. No matter what version of Greyson life gave him, there seemed to be one thing that never changed; the love they shared. It was a comforting thought, especially since everything they have been through together. Being able to know that this was the one thing that never changed gave Ender the push to keep going and keep fighting.

"I took to long to tell you how I felt about you and I want to make sure that never happens again. I promise to be open with you about my feelings and my past and anything else that you may need from me. Whatever is mine is yours." When Greyson moved to press the soft kiss to his palm, Ender slowly brings his free hand down to rest over the boy's chest right where his heart was kept. "You do not have to make the same promises, I understand if you do not, but I am making these to you so I can be a better person. A better husband."

As soon as those familiar hands cupped his cheeks, Greyson's own reached up, gripping familiar wrists, almost making sure Ender didn't let go. He'd been afraid that when these demigods he knew and yet didn't came to camp that he would lose the most important person in his life. Of course this Ender was different, subtle things that if Greyson looked hard enough he could see, but he also saw all the things that were the same - the biggest being the love in Ender's eyes.

"I don't want things to change. I don't want to lose you." Grey replied earnestly, stepping closer. "There are things about each other we don't know, things that are different but, I still feel you, it still feels the same. You're still my pack, my one." Grey promised, tugging one hand to his lips to kiss the palm, and feel the touch of their rings.

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

he reaches across for another mozzerella stick not even caring that he wasn't offered any to begin with but then pauses at atticus' question. not because his twin was dead no but-- "he is alive and not a wolf. it was one of the first things i asked greyson once i realized which version of grey this was... however my twin brother does not talk to me in this timeline. apparently at greyson and my wedding, leo called me a miniature version of our father and has barely spoken to me in over ten years..." perhaps this was a bit too much information to share with atticus since he never fully asked ender for all the details but he had no one else to share this with and in the moment it kind of all came out. the pain and longing but also happiness that leo was back in his life. now all he had to do was fix this.  "wait a second. engaged in this timeline or the last one?" now he was fully focused on atticus and his romantic drama even leaning forward as if that would help him understand better. "i want the full story and start from act one you know how much i love messy dramas."

when they came back through the portal and saw gabe waiting for them with not only xanthe and chiron but seraphiem and daphne as well… atticus knew there had to be more changes in the world. the journals were a good start to piecing together was different, maybe he could throw a town meeting tonight so everyone could piece together what had changed. "that's good to know," atticus had a second journal to the side that he was scribbling notes in, adding a note about ender's past. "one less enemy we have to worry about. are… are your brothers okay?" atticus almost didn't want to ask, ender's twin was a sensitive topic for the son of dionysus, but maybe things would be better for him.

"well, this version of me seems to be just as… detailed with everything." he said, as he grabbed a mozzarella stick and biting into it. "seems like i have an excellent relationship with my father in this universe, which feels… surreal." he couldn't imagine a world where nathaniel welby was anything but cruel and stoic. "i was almost engaged to remy, but we seem to hate each other in this universe. no wonder chiron looked confused when he saw us kissing at breakfast."

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

Greyson may have been a different version of the one he knew, but Ender still knew him. He could read the hurt in his eyes that he tried to hide and it caused him to take a step forward and cup the boy's cheeks. Thumbs brushed along the cheekbones and for a second Ender could almost pretend/believe that this was the version he had married. "I was married to him. Did you not see the ring?" He hadn't taken it off since they exchanged those vows a little over a month ago. "He--you are the love of my life but I understand if I am not the version that won your heart. We can try or if you want to be free of me all you have to do is say the words. I am at your command in this, little one."

Things were...strange. There was no other way to describe it. All the godlings he'd known at camp for months were...gone? In their place, the same and yet not. Relationships were altered, minor details, some even quite large. It was a lot to take in but....the one that mattered the most to him.

Ender.

He wasn't the same man he married. His Ender, the Ender who had stolen his heart, he was gone or at the very least different. Had he been avoiding him? A little. Mostly because well he wasn't sure what to expect. When he heard the knock to his door, Grey opened it, keeping Kali in one arm as he did so, a little surprised to see Ender's face on the other side, perhaps even more surprised at his words.

"Give it a shot? You know if you weren't married to your Greyson or...however this whole confusing mess works then you don't have to keep up appearances just for the sake of things here." Grey replied, his eyes trying to hide the hurt and fear that rolled around in his chest. He loved this man, fuck he loved him so much...he didn't want to lose him.

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

PROMPT 006. DURING THE BITE

tw: depression, some low key suicidal thoughts

Mirrors were his worst enemy. What he once never shied away from was now mocking him at every turn. No longer could he admire himself in the mirror to make sure that everything was in place since all he could see in that reflective surface was the bite mark on his neck. Even with his godly blood and healing it seemed to linger and mock him as it reminded him of what he had done. Part of him deserves this reminder, he knows it and it wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the whole wine tasting like vinegar part…

It was that effect of the bite that drove Ender slowly into a depressive state. It wasn’t just that he couldn’t enjoy drinking anymore but the memories that were tied with it. Each varietal of wine had a memory hidden inside of it for him that burst forward when it splashed across his tongue. Memories of weddings, first kisses, summers in Italy were all gone and replaced by the strong acid taste of wine that has gone bad. So was it really a surprise when Ender started to hide away from the world when his happy memories were stolen from him? Slipping into the bottle of cheap vodka because at least he knew what memories to expect with that familiar taste… 

It was this depressive and reclusive state that drove Ender to calling out to the god who had gifted him this bite. Asking for power to overcome this, feeling abandoned when all else was gone. Dionysus, his own father, had ignored him so he assumed Fenrir would as well. What he didn’t expect was an answer in return that came with a bargain; Romeo and Winter’s heads or Greyson’s in exchange for his freedom. Knowing that he was never going to go after the man he loved he agreed to the first option knowing it was a suicide mission and one he never expected to make out alive…

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

PROMPT 011.

It took a bit of looking through his closet to find exactly what he was searching for but eventually his fingers wrapped around the dark merlot red cloth that had the name MALIKOV on the tag. Just like all of his other events there was only one designer that Ender trusted to be seen in and while his brother was a bit MIA to make him something new, at least he had this shirt. Dark merlot red that seemed to ripple like a glass of wine being swirled when he moved paired with dark black dress slacks that were tailored for him and him only. The sleeves of the shirt were rolled up and the top button was down as he moved through the party, wine glass in hand. 

He stops and talks to a few of the other pantheons as if he was the host, spreading his revelry everywhere he went. Though as the night goes on he can feel a pair of eyes following him through the crowd; Greyson. The social part of him wanted to stay and talk to celebrate the gold medals he now had back at his cabin but his desire overruled him as it tended to do when it came to the Son of Pan. Excusing himself he lets himself be found by his husband knowing that they both had the same idea of how to really celebrate these winnings for both of them.

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

 It had been days, nearly a week, since they arrived back to camp. Arrived to these new lives. There was so much information that Ender tried to grasp and keep straight, even going to the point of jotting it down in his notebook so he could keep track of it all. Just when he started to figure out who was who in his life, what had changed and what remained the same there was one person he knew he needed to comfort the most.  Greyson.  Seeing this version of his husband and realizing it was not the same one he had kissed the morning of the trial was like taking an arrow straight to the chest. The man he married was gone to time and he was unsure he was ever going to get him back. Days, it took days for him to swallow this thought and eventually find himself at the Artemis cabin, not the Pan one, to knock on the front door.

It wasn't even seconds after it opened that Ender was saying, "I am willing to give us a shot if you are. To make this work." Clearly the fates knew they were meant to be if they had found each other in this timeline too.

@wxldhxrt

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

"so my father is still dead," was the way ender greeted atticus as he sat down across from him at the scry. a deep purple knitted blanket was wrapped around his shoulders and it slipped ever so slightly as he reached for a mozzarella stick simply helping himself. "he is dead, i apparently still run his empire and it also appears that i never moved to italy with my madre." he takes a bite of the stolen food simply chewing on his for the substance and act of doing something rather than enjoying the flavors.

since arriving back at camp from the trial things had been...complicated to say the least. he had walked into his cabin and was greeted with a skittish todd and a man he had never seen before in his life named abe. he knew how to play the part, slipping into this other him's shoes with ease trying to keep it hidden that he was not who they thought he was... well he was just a different version of it.

"please tell me that you have had more luck than i in figuring out everything. so much of this does not make sense to me, my dear horatio."

open to anyone location the scry

when the godlings came through the portal, atticus could have never predicted what the world would be like on the other side— one where gabe was alive and with them again. that was the first death the camp had experienced together and a wound that not even the camp healer could fix. now they were easing into what changed and how much had changed because of calvin's heroism in the past.

atticus was noticing some weird texts from people he never thought he'd hear from, the first was audrey. and the next was his father, the man whose neglect had shaped atticus to become the anxious man he was today. if that wasn't enough to cope with, the son of athena found his collect of journals that documented everything the camp had gone through. at least this version of atticus welby as just as maliciously detailed and prepared for any scenario.

sitting alone in a corner of the scry, atticus had a glass of tea and a plate of mozzarella sticks while he was skimming through all of his journals. he needed to know everything he could about this new timeline they were living in.

[highfunctioningalcoholic]

PROMPT 012.

It takes Ender a bit to pick all of the details that were different. Some were more obvious than others while others were hidden making him search for them. He had to know, had to see who was alive this time or what was different between this version of himself and his own timeline. It takes days, almost a full week to get them all pieced together but when he does he makes a list in one of the journals he keeps close to him at all times. A reminder of who he is this time, who he is supposed to be and how to keep himself from mixing up this version of him and the real him. 

I never moved to Italy with my mother. I stayed behind in Russia with Dimtiri after my parents divorced. 

My mother is still alive but Dimitri died a few years ago. His death I am not able to find details about…

Leo and Q are alive; Leo is in Italy/Millan with his husband and Q seems to be living in Spain with his husband as well just as before. 

Mother is living in Sicily at her vineyard happy and in control of her family empire. 

It seems I lived in Russia working for Dimitri up until I arrived at camp a year ago. I have not been able to find why I came to camp this time since I appear to be running the Malikov empire since Dimitri’s death. 

The other me seems to have been successful in his attempt to create a cult in his following. So far I have counted at least 10 living here. Todd is still here but seems more skittish than the other version of him. It reminds me of how I used to be around Dimitri… 

There is another cult member here that seems to be more in charge. I believe that he knows I am not the same Ender that was once his leader. 

The other version of me seems to have a liking for vodka and beer as I have found no bottles of wine around the cabin. Yet thankfully still shares the same love of literature that I am fond of. 

I have also been told/hinted that he was colder than me, I can not figure out if this is temperature or personality. I have, however, found a knitted blanket on my bed so I assume that it is the temperature. 

Greyson, dear Greyson. We are still married this time but there is something different about him. His accent is British and some of the things he does are new to me…