#Hera and Medusa literally have nothing between them

[sarafangirlart]

Hera would not fucking do that.

[littlesparklight]

Who’s your favorite Greek hero?

Ah, such a simple question with a not so clear answer because I can no longer answer this straight lol.

So first I'll cheat with splitting it between hero/heroine - Penthesileia. My amazon daughter. <3 Who got to fight Achilles and I refuse any other way this fight went other than that Athena or Hera literally froze her up or something to guarantee Achilles could kill her without being killed himself, because an Amazon and a daughter of Ares deserves nothing less than to be badass enough for that. And, look, I will take the f/f implications present on a vase where the usual erastes/eromenos script is flipped and a Thracian woman named as Theraichme is presenting a hare to an amazon named as Penthesileia exactly for what it is because we're given nothing but scraps in this life and I will hoover them up where I can find them.

Next. If you'd asked me this before I'd gotten into Menelaos/Paris and hadn't had any chance yet to actually think about Paris, it'd have been Perseus. But he's still my baby boy so basically, it'll have to be both of them.

Perseus is just Doing His Best, okay. He's both literally and metaphorically the golden child. He's just rescuing his mom from an unwanted marriage, and the circumstances are dangerous enough he isn't just kitted out to the gills with divine arms and armour, but he kills Medusa while she's asleep (you can argue about that being cowardly or whatever, but for this I think it only emphasizes the danger Perseus is in, considering there's two more Gorgons present as well). He then rescues another woman on the way back, gets a kingdom, lives a good long life and nothing terrible happens at all. (The curious thing is, that even if you add that variation of Ariadne's death where she died assaulting Mycenae with other Bacchantes, Perseus in defending his city comes to no harm. He and Dionysos come to an agreement afterwards and it's all fine.) He has a nice marriage presumably, he gets to have a relationship with Hermes, he does great! /pats his cheek you go baby

Paris is the "problematic" fave lol. He's just a hapless effeminate man who doesn't play by the heroic rules and I will protect him with my heart ok. You can't even really move him to a different story or era in time, because his basic personality and his "failings" won't change, so he'd still be fucked societally basically. He gets put on the spot for something he can't refuse, and cannot end well no matter who he chooses, so he choses with his stupid, romantic heart (exactly as fate would want him to, because it needs the most death), and his stupid, pretty face and stupid, romantic heart wins Helen over enough that Aphrodite can push her to leave with him (banging in the palace with the husband out is one thing - eloping is a heck of a commitment). And before this, and for the rest of his life, he spends it being denigrated for liking pretty clothes and nice scents and not caring about the masculine ideals he should be pursuing as per his society.

No matter what else, I think you have to admire him for sticking to his guns when it comes to how he presents himself (effeminate, basically gender-nonconforming for his society), and at the very least managing to present a facade of as if he doesn't care about being insulted over this. Not even his choice of weapon is good enough despite that it kills just as much as any other weapon, so he gets insulted for that too! Basically what this all boils down to is that both the way and the fact that Paris is different got to me and now I care very much. :'D

[intelligentdumbass]

(Okay I am lost, I’ve been struggling with how to write this thing, but at least this feels somewhat cohesive? Also that at least there’s an actual Herm and Per interaction now. I dunno when I’m gonna come back to this and try to continue but here it is for now)

-----------------------

Being a bastard child of the king of the gods always resulted in something going wrong in your life. His kids always managed to get themselves into trouble one way or another, perhaps a mix of unfortunate circumstances and some traits they inherited from their father. That’s why Zeus often kept a close eye on them, even if Hera didn’t seem to be meddling with anything, and he was far from the only one to give them a helping hand.

This time, Apollo was one of the first to hear of it as, while said event was happening, he still had his thoughts interlaced with those of his father’s.

“Okay here’s the thing.” The blonde was doing what he always did in times like these, gossiping with two of his favorite half-siblings.  “I was about to abort, but before I even managed to disconnect, it was already over?? He just descended in a golden shower and then poof! He was gone! He didn’t shapeshift into a human form or anything.”

Hermes raised an eyebrow. “But she still got pregnant?”

“She still got pregnant! I have no idea how-” “how do you even get plea-”

Athena quickly interrupted. “Says the one that had an incident with the Thriae-”

The messenger frowned. “Please don’t remind me-”

Apollo snickered. “Buzz buzz-”

“Moving on, who was it this time? You still haven’t mentioned a name.”

“I-” “Uh… I forgot?”

“You, the god of memory, forgot??”

“I suppose it hadn’t properly registered in my head? I was actually kind of… distracted by something else when that happened.”

“And by something, you mean someone?”

The archer faintly flushed. “That’s a little assumptive.”

“And based on your reaction, I assume it was probably true.”

“To be fair,” The goddess interjected. “You aren’t any better.”

“I’m not talking about being horny. Actually, it could apply to you too Pal!”

“Excuse me?”

“Even if it’s just platonically, you both tend to get really infatuated with certain mortals. Hell, half of the arguments between you two are just” He starts mimicking their voices. “‘Hah! Did you see that? What a cunning lil shit!’ and then the other going ‘Well clearly you haven’t seen what insert other mortal did!’ It’s either that or about whose patron city is the best.”

The goddess rolled her eyes. “You exaggerate.”

Apollo thought about it. “Ehhhhhh...”

“Aw, no need to be shy! I, for one, think it’s sort of endearing!” But then Hermes noticed his brother was… grinning. “What’s with that look?”

“Oh, nothing I can’t confirm. You know how vague my prophecy powers are.”

…

“So that’s him, huh?” Hermes asked, atop one of Olympus’ many balconies, gazing down into the earth. Athena nodded, standing beside him.

It had been several years since that little conversation with his half-siblings.

The messenger narrowed his eyes. “I guess he is cute.”

His sister sighed, causing the god to laugh.

When they jumped off the ledge, their landing nearly gave poor Perseus a heart attack. He hastily tried to give them the impression that he totally had his shit together. You know, formally greeting them like he was not at all resisting the urge to stare.

It fooled no one. Though, the god thought it was adorable how respectful the demigod tried to be with those tiny glances.  

Athena internally groaned. She was starting to have flashbacks to some of the other errands of helping mortals not die, specifically the ones with Apollo.

“Look, you two can kiss later.” Her voice was stern, an attempt to tell Hermes to keep it professional. “First, let’s get this fetch quest over with.”

“Of course.” He had more than enough trust in his natural looks; still, he spared no pains to smooth his hair and fix his robes. “You see Perseus; you might have to resort to some rather sneaky and underhanded tactics if you want to survive.”

“My lord, I don’t even know where Medusa is.”

“And that’s where we come in!” He wraps an arm around the mortal’s shoulders.

“But,” Athena added. “We’re only here to help, not hold your hand and do it for you.”

Before the two immortals started their exposition dump, however, Perseus felt the need to point something out. There was a slight fear that the god might throw him into the ocean, but he was being fairly casual with him so… fuck it.

“You know, you’re a lot more… breathtaking than I thought you’d be.”

“Aw, that’s-”

“And also a lot shorter than I imagined you to be.”

It was then that Athena realized, now that the two men were standing side by side, Perseus was decently tall for a human. He’s not nearly as tall as her, yet still tall enough for Hermes to be around a few centimeters shorter than him.

“What’s with that look? If anything, I think it makes you look even cuter!” The mortal patted the god’s head.

“Hahah… you’re lucky you’re even cuter, and that father wants you back alive.” Hermes smiled, accompanied by one of his least effective death glares, on account of the mild blush. The wings on his head shrunk, fluttering.

Meanwhile Perseus was absolutely beaming, not far from the famous shit-eating grin of the messenger himself. The god would’ve punched it off his face if it weren’t for the fact that he might accidentally break something.

Hermes cleared his throat. “ANYWAY, let’s get back on topic, shall we?”

Athena suppressed the urge of continuing to taunt him. “Yes, the sooner the better; preferably before Hera notices anything.”

“Hera?” The demigod’s smile twitched.

The messenger forced a laugh. “It’s best if you don’t think about it. Don’t worry; Apollo and Persephone are top tier distractions and conversation starters.”

Concept wise, the plan was simple enough.

The execution, on the other hand…

“Oh shi-” “You okay?!” Hermes rushed over to the mortal that accidentally flung himself against a tree, falling back-first onto the ground.

Athena winced. “Maybe lending a spare pair of your sandals isn’t-”

“I’m fine!” Perseus sat up, looking determined. “I swear I just need a few more tries to get used to it!”

“Preferably before you end up cracking a few ribs.” The god nervously chucked, flicking some dirt off the demigod’s face. “Let’s try again, slowly.”

He helped him up, a firm grasp on both of Perseus’ hands to prevent him from running himself into the ground.

Surprisingly, the mortal managed to hover some inches over the ground, the messenger matching his pace. Alas, he got too enthusiastic during his small victory and the wings suddenly flew upwards, causing him to panic. Fortunately, Hermes never lost his grip and got dragged up along with him. By the time they got back down, the demigod may or may not have been hugging the god for dear life.

“You okay there bud?” The messenger giggled.

“That… was amazing!” Perseus laughed, delightedly terrified. “Though uh, don’t you think it’d be much more convenient if you just carried me there?”

“What are you, nine?”

Athena snickered. “Unless that’s what you want the poets to sing about?”

“Why not?” Perseus grinned. “I mean, getting personally carried by one of the Olympians? What an honor! Everyone else would be so jealous.”

You see, the word ‘amused’ might’ve not been sufficient enough to describe Hermes’ feelings about the demigod’s boldness, and his half-sister was well aware of this. Even from the god’s voice alone, she could literally hear him smiling. It was the sort of behavior that wasn’t too far off from how he’d act around Apollo or Persephone.

It was this thought that gave her an idea on how to avoid Hera’s wrath.

“Hermes, just keep on practicing with him.” Athena said, starting to walk away. “I’m going to get some of the other items Perseus needs.”

And with that, she was gone.

Her plan involved giving them a lot of time alone.

[wlw-lovestruck-fiction]

Am I able to request a short series or story of MC love triangle with Vivienne/Aurora or Alex/Medusa?

Written by @fakeyellow

Part 1: After the Kiss.

Alex’s eyes fill with alarm and then guilt upon seeing the heartbroken woman on her doorstep.

“I ended things with Medusa,” MC says, eyes bloodshot and puffy from tears, and Alex knows from her resolute voice that she needs to speak, that she just needs them to listen right now.

“It wasn’t fair-I,” MC pauses, her face contorting in pain as she tries desperately to find the right words.

“This doesn’t mean that I return your feelings. Gods, I don’t even know what my feelings are,” MC closes her eyes as if trying to restrain the tears that threaten to fall and she finally just exhales in defeat, “I just thought you should know.”

Alex nods and they cannot bring themselves to feel hopeful, not when the woman they love is so clearly hurting because of their actions.

“Thank you,” Alex murmurs seriously and their words cause MC to look up from her grief.

“I’m not asking you to wait for me-“

“I’ll wait,” Alex immediately interrupts and MC sees their eyes filled with such clear, unwavering love that she feels the tears spill over.

“I’ll always wait for you.”

Part 2:

Although MC wants nothing more than to stay at home, she is a consummate professional and she shows up to work the next day.

That said, she doesn’t think that seeing Alex daily will do herself any good and so she asks to be transferred to the archives department for the week.

Alex’s face fills with guilt and although it looks like they want to say something else, they approve her request with a small nod. MC can only be thankful for this small concession because in her state of mind, she doesn’t know what she’d do if Alex were to reach out to her, their hand on her shoulder, their eyes-

The archives are dark and musty but she’s never found its silence more welcoming. It is here in this quiet solitude that MC begins to work through her emotional storm of feelings.

And for all that she accepts Medusa’s past and all that she is, MC can’t help but chuckle bitterly that it is her own past that is causing this rift between them.

On one hand, she loves Medusa, she truly does. They’ve been through so much together, from the gangs ripping apart the city to Athena’s feud against Medusa. Her calm grey eyes are like a soothing poultice to her soul and MC feels safe and loved and seen in her arms.

But on the other hand, Alex has always been there. They were there to offer a hand and an understanding smile when MC scraped her knees and was trying her best to contain her tears, they were there to offer a shoulder to lean on, to cry on, when her mother had died, they were there to cheer her on when she first joined HERA following the footsteps of her mother…

Alex has always been a part of her life and oh how her traitorous heart had stirred upon their kiss.

— 

After each unfruitful day at work, MC goes home to her apartment. Although she’s slept in this bed for years without problem, she finds that it suddenly is too big and too empty and her eyes begin to water. 

It had only been recently that she’d moved into Medusa’s house and she’d never expected to be back in her apartment. Not like this.

She longs for the warmth of Medusa’s arms wrapped around her, she longs for a cup of tea always so lovingly prepared by Medusa, she longs to run to Medusa and declare that she only loves her, would only ever love her for all of her life.

But how can she? When part of her heart had awoken upon the touch of Alex’s lips on hers, when part of her heart beats rapidly for Alex the same as it does for Medusa..

She knows Medusa has been through so much; she’s seen firsthand how the Gods and monsters torment her due to age old grudges, unwilling to let the past be past. She’s seen the devastation that lies behind her cool, grey eyes, the vulnerability that still exists from when the world had abandoned her after her powers were stripped from her.

She hates herself for adding onto that pain, for causing Medusa such heartache, but she will not add lying to her list of crimes.

Her eyes flicker to her phone which lies temptingly on her nightstand and MC wonders what Medusa is doing right now. Is she similarly plagued with an inability to sleep or has she long since fallen asleep? Is she reading a book or is she out in the garden to calm herself?

But thoughts of Medusa quickly turn over to thoughts of Alex and MC feels an ache in her chest as if her heart has literally torn in half. She closes her eyes and resigns herself to a night of restless slumber. 

—

A week passes and her chest is still a Gordian knot of emotions (although MC can only wish her problems might be solved so easily by cutting her heart in two). 

But her heart also yearns to be out in the city again, working as a field agent, the position she’d worked so hard for, and so MC returns to the top floor.

The first face she sees upon her return is Alex and although her heart clenches with pain, she can also feel herself breathe easier. She’d missed them, even if it had only been a week.

It’s awkward at first but then they fall back into an easy rapport and it’s as if nothing has changed (except everything has changed and MC feels that keenly whenever they accidentally lock eyes for a second longer than needed and matching blushes appear on their faces).

When Medusa texts her one morning asking if she’s free for lunch, MC freezes only for Medusa’s next message to arrive, “As friends.”

MC accepts the offer and she’s nervous that entire morning until she goes out of the building and sees Medusa waiting for her.

Her breath is stolen away in that moment- how many times had she seen Medusa waiting for her in that exact spot?

Medusa spots her a second after MC does and her eyes light up in that same way it always did when they were dating and this almost breaks MC. She is seconds away from falling to her knees and sobbing and begging for Medusa to take her back but she takes a deep breath. 

By the time Medusa reaches her, MC has composed herself and she greets Medusa with a small smile before they make their way to the park. 

Part 3:

Weeks have passed since that fateful kiss and MC has still had no luck in trying to sort out her feelings; if anything, they’ve become even more entangled.

She goes to work with Alex everyday and most days she’ll go out for lunch with Medusa and the entire thing is just one big mess that MC knows she has to end because it’s unfair to keep stringing the both of them along like this.

But one night, she finds her sleep plagued with nightmares, tossing and turning until she awakes with a scream in her throat and a desperate need to see one person.

And something clicks into place, something that causes her to bolt from her bed and run all the way to a certain apartment.

She is panting by the time she arrives, ungraced with godly powers like so many of the people she loves, but she cannot stop, not when her heart is finally singing a truth she’s suppressed for so long.

By some stroke of luck, Alex opens the door, their eyes clear and alert as if they too had not been able to sleep.

“MC? What’s wrong?” Alex asks urgently, and MC knows that they would follow her to the ends of the earth if she asked.

It’s you,” MC says breathlessly, feeling as if her heart might burst, “It’s always been you.”

The alarm in Alex’s amaranth eyes disappear only to be replaced with such a familiar, affectionate warmth that MC wonders at how blind she must have been to have mistaken it for anything but love for so long.

Alex opens their arms as if too overcome to speak and needing no further encouragement, MC falls into their embrace.

And as they whispers their love into her hair, MC knows that something that feels this right cannot possibly be wrong.

Part 4: 

Medusa opens the door and MC does not have to speak because the guilt on her face is answer enough. She’d never been good at hiding her feelings.

Medusa feels her heart shattering but she suppresses it as best she can, pasting on a small, sad smile.

“So you’ve decided,” Medusa states and at MC’s silence, the last part of her heart that had held out hope that MC might deny it finally dies.

MC’s eyes shimmer with unspilled tears but she cannot let them fall, she cannot be so selfish as to cry when she is the reason for this pain, when Medusa is working so hard to keep her own emotions at bay.

“I’m sorry,” MC says and she winces at how paltry her words seem, how insufficient her apology seem against the heartbreak she’s caused.

“You deserve better,” MC continues to speak, fighting to get the words out because Medusa deserves to hear them, “You deserve someone who’ll love you unconditionally, someone who’ll never stop loving you no matter what. And I’m so sorry I couldn’t be that person for you but you deserve to find someone you love.”

Medusa does not speak and MC finally turns away.

And when MC has gone, her back but a speck in the distance, Medusa whispers, “I did.”

“I found you.”

[megatraven]

Forbidden to interact with a Titan. :o

GREAT!!!!! i wrote this almost 2k thing in response to this! it got out of hand! :D

AO3

__________

They pine.

Of course they pine.

They’ve loved her for so long that it hurts to think about.

They were both young, once. She was human, completely, and she was their best friend.

But the gods- they didn’t really understand mortals, and they didn’t want to. They didn’t have the same morals, they didn’t care. 

It only took MC’s mother one too many times, butting heads with Zeus, for his anger to grow too big for him. He spat a curse down on her, and Aphrodite and Hades intervened- of course they did, they loved her.

But if the curse didn’t land on her, it had to go somewhere.

And they don’t discover it right away, weeks passing without anything weird or unusual cropping up. But it comes eventually.

MC is beaming when her mother gets home, but there’s only dread on her mother’s face when she takes in the scene: an aura of a bird, making a mess flying through their living room.

“I’m just like Alex!” she says, but that’s impossible.

She goes to Aphrodite and Hades, and brings MC with her, worried for her daughter. Humans don’t just gain natural auras.

The gods look at MC, then her mother, and finally each other, a great sadness in both their faces. Hades breaks the news to them, and MC doesn’t really understand what’s so wrong with being a half-titan, but her mother is devastated.

They go home.

And MC doesn’t see Alex for a long time- the only exception being when her mother passes. They’d pulled Aphrodite closer to her when she and Josh cried, down on the surface where she was buried.

After that, it was radio silence.

No phone calls. No texts. No emails. 

MC adjusts to her life as a non-human on top of her schoolwork. She makes friends with local monsters, and even a couple of titans that chill out in the city from time to time.

She grows up.

She grows up, and she doesn’t have much of a direction in life; HERA wouldn’t accept her application, with the titan blood in her veins, not even when she argues that it was Zeus that put it there in the first place.

She gets bitter, but more than that, she mourns her dream of walking in her mother’s footsteps.

Her monster friends trade tales of the gods, and she learns that they’re not so great, anyways. They’ve done so many terrible things, to good people. To her. 

She learns that if she wants to make a difference, then she needs to go above the gods’ heads and do it herself. If they won’t even speak to her, then she’ll carve her own path out, without their permission or help.

Somewhere along the way, Alex catches wind of her need to make the situations of monsters and titans better.

They laugh a little; of course that’s where she ends up. Of course that’s what she decides to do. It’s totally in line with everything they know about her.

And they know a lot!

They haven’t kept in contact with her, forbidden by the gods to do so, but... they still cared about her. They kept tabs, made sure she was alright, talked to Josh about how she was doing.

They did little things- sent anonymous flowers when they’d heard she had a rough day. Left a birthday gift at the door each year. Helped pay for the college courses she took when her father left and Josh couldn’t support her himself.

It wasn’t much, but it was all they could think to do without breaking the rules.

Really, it was only a matter of time before they ran into her again. They ran in similar circles now, both frequented the Boarback... both still cared about and thought of the other.

And when they do run into each other- it’s literally. They’re not paying attention and Alex walks right into her as they’re leaving the Boarback and they both fall to the ground at the impact. They don’t notice right away, just who it is, and an apology is on their lips before it dies when they look at her.

“...MC.”

They’re more than a little dumbfounded, but she’s in a similar state, just. Staring at them.

“Alex.”

She scrambles to her feet and offers them her hand, and they’re not even thinking when they reach out to take it.

But she is, and she pulls back before they can.

“Sorry. I should- I have to go.”

And she turns around and leaves them there, and it takes them another minute to realize they were the one about to leave the bar.

After that, they see each other more, here and there. In line at the same coffee shop. Visiting Medusa’s bookstore. Getting a drink at the Boarback. In the streets.

It hurts them both every time, but they’d rather have those little moments than nothing at all. Getting cut out of one another’s lives... nothing hurt worse than that.

They exchange little words. ‘Hey’s and ‘Hi’s and ‘How are you’s. They catch each other’s eye, too often, and look away just as quick.

In the bar, Alex will stay longer if she shows up, or for as long as she’s there. Her laugh helps them breathe easier, and the way her voice carries across the room warms their heart. Sometimes they just watch her from across the way, blushing when Eryn nudges them and winks.

And MC- she just likes to know they’re still there, doing okay. She wishes they could be friends again, maybe something more, but she’s content to be where they are.

Slowly, slowly they get closer. The distance between them in any given place starts to close. They have small talk that last longer than a quick greeting. They ask about each other’s lives, their jobs, their families.

They start to warm back up to each other, and sometimes they forget about the boundaries between them, slipping back into easy conversations and warm smiles.

Eventually they’re sitting next to each other at the bar, just barely keeping themselves from touching one another. They’re sharing stories and Alex is laughing harder than they’ve laughed in years, tears stinging the corners of their eyes. They can barely breath through it, and MC is laughing with them.

She doesn’t even think about it, when she reaches forward and wipes one of their tears away.

Both of them freeze, hold their breathes-

but nothing happens.

One minute passes, and then another, and everything is fine.

There’s a mutual sigh of relief and MC pulls back, flustered. She apologizes for doing it- it just felt so natural.

Alex hesitates to say anything, but looking at her just then, their heart beats painfully in their chest, and before they can stop themself, they reach out and take her hand in theirs.

She gives a little gasp and looks up at them, but when they only smile back, she squeezes their hand.

“I missed you,” she says, voice a little watery. There are tears in her eyes that threaten to fall, but Alex knows they must look and sound the same.

“I missed you, too.”

And as time passes, they grow closer and closer- they kiss, they dance, they sing together. MC stays at their apartment, and they stay at hers. They hug in greetings and goodbyes, and share kisses late into the nights.

There’s always the lingering fear of what will happen, when the gods find out. But they’ve both spent too long mourning the loss of their friendship, too long yearning for something.

It all comes to a head when the tensions between monsters and titans and gods are larger than ever, and a riot breaks out.

(MC knows it’s what her mother would do. She knows that it’s what her mother did do. Her monster friends told her everything; she knows what the gods did, and how their ignorance and inaction led to her mother’s death.

If she dies, if she lives... she’ll finally be walking in her mother’s footsteps.)

Monsters and titans both demand better conditions; some human agents even join them in the riot.

It’s enough to bring the gods down from on high, and it’s what brings Zeus and MC face-to-face at last. He meets her eyes immediately, and in them, in her face, sees the woman he killed, no matter how indirectly.

The child who endured his curse.

Zeus insults her, and all of the monsters and titans, but she doesn’t rise to his bait. She doesn’t care what he thinks of her humanity, or her titan blood. She won’t stand for the injustice any longer.

Zeus’ lightning starts to spark, and MC’s ring warms up in response. She didn’t wear it for a long time, the reminder that it belonged to her mother painful. But she grew into it. There was a connection to it that she didn’t understand, but its power merged with her own aura.

When Zeus’s aura materializes, she’s about to summon hers when a silver stag and doe interrupt them.

Alex rushes from the elevators, breathing heavily, thanking the stars that they made it to her in time. They surprise Zeus and their mother both by siding with MC. They reach for her hand and take it, and she knows they can win the day, now.

Zeus’ anger rises at their contact, at a demigod choosing a half-titan over their own blood. His aura shoots out, and Alex’s aura isn’t enough to stop it-

But hers is.

A great, golden peacock forms, its feathers molten and flaming. (Her titan aura had been a phoenix- the peacock came from the ring.)

Zeus’ aura breaks on it, but the strength left it the moment her aura appeared. He steps back, shocked, and the same expression is seen on the other gods present, as well as the other monsters and titans.

There are whispers, but MC can’t hear them over the pounding of her heart, the fury that Zeus would attack one of their own just for holding her hand.

Alex has always been a calming presence, though. They help ground her, and then she lets her aura fade, finally hearing the name on every tongue.

“Hera.”

Zeus looks like he wants to be angry- he probably is. But even he wouldn’t risk hurting Hera like this. His queen, in the vessel of a half-titan woman, cursed by his own hands.

It’s ironic.

That Hera, the queen of the gods, goddess of family... rests within the daughter of HERA’s founder, cursed with the blood of the gods’ enemy, lover to Aphrodite’s child.

She doesn’t know what will happen next, now, as everyone stares at her.

She squeezes Alex’s hand, tight.

They’re with her.

She has all of her friends fighting by her side.

And she’s suddenly sure of one thing: there’s never been a better opportunity to change the world.

[unclefungusthegoat]

Far Cry 5 Theory #3- Faith And The Greek Goddesses

Hi all, and welcome to the third in a series of Far Cry 5 meta posts! Today, I’m talking about the often sadly overlooked, beloved little sister, Faith! It’s not an original theory this time, instead I’m building on already existing and acknowledged symbolism within the game!

This one is 1972 words, so another long one, but I hope it’s interesting!

Far Cry 5 is laden with Christian symbolism- talk of God, baptism, souls and sins- but there is one very interesting example of where this trend is broken. This moment comes within the scene where Faith entices Burke to kill Virgil, and then himself.

As she approaches her victims, she says to the Deputy:

“Do you know what hubris is? Arrogance before the gods. The Greeks saw it as a dangerous form of pride that invoked the goddess Nemesis, who would seek retribution.”

This is the only example in the entire game (and indeed, the supporting materials) where the situation’s religious undertones are blatantly derivative of Greek mythology. And while Faith is heavily under the influence of Joseph’s doctrine and ideology, I feel that this very deliberate reference can shed some light on how she decided to play the new role she had been given.

Not just as a Herald... but as a goddess.

Aphrodite. Cybele. Psyche.

Nemesis.

Nemesis is the Greek goddess of retribution, justice and revenge, a figure who punishes arrogance and pride.

Immediately after making this reference, Faith goes on to say:

“If violence is the only language you choose to speak, I’ll speak your language.”

She directly places herself in the role of Nemesis, deciding that she must combat the Deputy’s violence, their hubris, by retaliating with Burke and Virgil’s deaths.

Faith is the only one of the Seeds who actually punishes the Deputy’s actions.

INSPIRATION

Due to this reference, it appears that Rachel took heavy inspiration from the Greek mythology when performing her role as Faith. It has been discussed before (in this post by teamhawkeye and weekend-writer) that she may have learned how to be a Herald from Jacob, since she directly quotes him within the game, and I also think that all of Jacob’s talk of humanity, history and falling empires may have influenced her to look at the ancient societies, to understand the faiths that made their empires so strong.

She would learn of their all-powerful gods and of cruel punishments  administered to those proud enough to challenge them- think of the fates of Medusa, Arachne, Marsyas and Tiresias.

And seeing how successful the ancient gods were at eliciting respect and obedience, she decided to put their methodologies into practice.

BUT WHY?

Delusions of grandeur.

It’s easy to imagine, that having been once cast out from society, Rachel might become enamoured with her new position as a Herald, as the one Joseph hand-picked to be at his side. She rose from nothing to become a leader, loved and feared. She now held the ability to control people entirely. She was now divine.

It’s pretty likely that power went to her head.

I have been considering the possibility that Faith believes she is supposed to act as a deterrent for Joseph’s own hubris. Joseph would worry that to wield the power he has, and to carry the notion that he is chosen by God, may make him arrogant and tyrannical, and he would need someone to keep his pride in check. Greg Bryk has discussed how Faith is a motherly figure to Joseph- who better to aid him in a battle with his own sins than a parental figure, just as he, as a ‘Father’, aids the atonement of his flock?

But why would Joseph ask her to take inspiration from an ancient religion that isn’t part of the Eden’s Gate doctrine? Why would he raise her to be a godly figure, when he and his brothers were simply prophets?

He wouldn’t.

So maybe Faith, with talk of her divinity as her new form of cocaine, combined Joseph’s request to assist him, her developing delusions of grandeur, and the ancient stories she learned from Jacob, to come to the conclusion that she was special, chosen like the heroes of old?

And so she decided to become a goddess, as evidence of her worth.

Faith wasn’t named by the Voice in Joseph’s original visions like John and Jacob were, and I imagine she’d be aware of that. Perhaps she felt bitter, outcast, not quite part of the group. A Herald, but not a prophet. A Jessop, not a true Seed.

She knew she must have a purpose, after all, she was chosen.

Perhaps she was chosen as a guide for the prophet, so that he might remain humble and loyal to his holy cause?

SO WHAT PROOF OF THIS IS THERE?

HER ORIGINS

Nemesis is the child of Nyx, the goddess of night, and Erebus, god of darkness. And so it can be argued that she was quite literally ‘born of darkness’. Both Nyx and Erebor were born of Chaos which the Greeks described as a formless, eternal dark abyss between the Earth and sky, or upon which the Earth rests.

In one of Faith’s broadcasts, she can be heard saying ‘Life comes from chaos’.

The Greeks' dark void, Chaos, was worshipped as the very first thing to exist.

It seems too much of a coincidence for her to make this statement, a sentiment not shared by any of the other Seeds, if she had not been influenced by Greek mythology. And it could be that Faith’s belief in this doctrine comes from the parallels it has with her own story:

“Faith flies divine—and Rachel…Rachel gropes around in the darkness. I left her there a long time ago.”

Rachel was born into a world of darkness, by abusive parents. She tried to remake herself using drugs, but still was lost in the ‘chaos’. It was only when Joseph found her that she finally became ‘Faith’... that she became ‘Nemesis’ and came into the light, ‘born’ as the person she was meant to be.

There are also interpretations where Nemesis has no father, which is all the more interesting, considering Joseph’s epithet.

SYMBOLISM

The above depiction of her is especially interesting, as Nemesis holds two of her symbols- that of scales, and a sword. These are the very symbols of her adoptive brothers. We have little insight of how Faith interacts with John and Jacob, but we know that Joseph apparently dotes on her. Perhaps, if she is indeed consumed by the notion that Joseph chose her, made her a favourite, that she feels she has some degree of control over them too? 

THE ANGELS

Faith appears to have taken inspiration from Nemesis in her manufacturing of the Bliss, and the effects it takes upon those consumed by it.

The Angels are overdosed so heavily on Bliss, that they no longer have free will. This is an irreversible process, and one wonders why such a process is needed, if the Bliss is influential enough upon most people to make them suggestible to the Project?

Well, perhaps Faith suggested it, in reference to Adrasteia.

Adrasteia was an alternative name for Nemesis, and in Ancient Greek, roughly translates to ‘one from whom there is no escape’.

Interestingly, Adrasteia is also the epithet of Cybele, the goddess of childbirth. Could it be that Faith, in a twisted way, thinks of the Angels as her children- a note from a Priestess describes them as ‘extensions’ of Faith- and one very telling phone message, has her saying:

“A baby is a sack of screaming, shitting, crying impulses with no thoughts, no personality, no understanding of the world beyond feelings. It has no soul. You have to give it one. The only soul we ever have, we receive from others. And it is only others who can take it away.”

Writings on Nemesis has also described how she uses "adamantine bridles" to restrain "the frivolous insolences of mortals”- and it wouldn’t surprise me to think that this is why her Angels wear masks over their mouths. There is a suggestion that their tongues have been removed, but why would Eden’s Gate hide that? They are hardly adverse to graphic reminders of their sins?

THE SIREN AND NARCISSUS

Faith bears the title ‘The Siren’, a creature from Greek mythology famous for leading people to watery graves by seducing them with their voices, and it therefore can be no coincidence that water is a recurring feature within Faith’s scenes. And, as The Siren, Faith uses desires and dreams to entice the disillusioned, before drowning them within the Bliss.

Nemesis is a siren in her own way, famous for leading someone to a watery grave- Narcissus, the man who fell in love with his own reflection. 

Parallels can easily be drawn to Burke’s tragic tale. Once proud and confident, but discontented, he sits with the Deputy upon the water, quite literally reflecting upon his new life, filled with love for his new happier self. And though others try to save him, he cannot escape the obsession with these reflections and ultimately dies because of it.

PHYSICAL- APHRODITE?

In the Bliss, Faith seemingly possesses a pair of beautiful white wings. And while initially this may seem to suggest her angelic nature, it seems odd to brand her with the same title as the mindless Angels, when she evidently not only has free will, but also is of great value and deeply cherished by Joseph.

And so now we come to note that Nemesis is actually very often portrayed as a winged figure- the poet Mesomedes described her as “Nemesis, winged balancer of life, dark-faced goddess, daughter of Justice”.

Additionally, it can be argued that Faith also took inspiration from Aphrodite.

Nemesis was said to resemble Aphrodite, the goddess of love who is famously beautiful, and there are multiple lines of dialogue from characters within the game that reflect on Faith’s attractiveness. Hurk even asks if there would be any way of reviving her, because she is so beautiful.

It makes sense that Rachel, riddled with low self-esteem, would choose to empower herself by modelling her image on a goddess so desired. Parallels can be drawn to the Greek tale of the ‘Judgement of Paris’, where Paris, prince of Troy, named Aphrodite as the most beautiful, over Hera and Athena- just as Rachel was chosen by Joseph as the most faithful over Lana and Serena.

Finally, Faith is often seen with butterflies around her. In Greek mythology, the goddess Psyche was a beautiful woman who people began to covet and worship in place of Aphrodite, and she was eventually brought into the service of the goddess, having evoked her wrath.

Psyche is represented with butterfly wings.

SUMMARY

Each of the Seeds act according to their own gospels, inflicted upon them by their own individual ‘Gods’. Joseph’s is the Voice. John’s are the Duncans. Jacob’s is his younger self.

And so who drives Faith?

She adores (and fears) Joseph. She learned from Jacob. But to assume that they are her Gods detracts from the severity of her actions and her evil. It removes her free will... and she is no Angel.

No, she must have set out to find a God of her own.

Tracey says of Faith: ‘This is what she does. Takes. Destroys.’ Faith knew misery in her life before the Project, and so is of the same mindset as the other Seeds- that happiness can only be found by enduring suffering and pain. And she may experience jealousy of others who have never had to suffer.

A quote I found on Nemesis read:

Nemesis believed that no one should ever have too much goodness in their lives, and she had always cursed those who were blessed with countless gifts. 

In other words, Nemesis believed in punishing ‘undeserved good fortune’, not necessarily making people suffer completely, but suffer enough.

Just as she did.

Faith saw herself in this vengeful, loyal, beautiful goddess. She recognised her past and new mission within the holy figure’s doctrine. And with Joseph's open attitude as to how the Heralds chose to operate, she could easily merge her fantasies with his.

She became Nemesis, challenging the rightful goddess, and committing the very sin, the hubris, both of them sought to seek out and punish.

[heavensentgohansrage]

Recap and Notes: Heracles!Stiles Ch. 12

find the chapter here

Myth and Historical Overview

It was one of the companions of Heracles,  Abderos,  who was devoured by the Mares rather than an official- while he was keeping the Mares on watch until Heracles would defeat Diomedes and his men (which were a part of a tribe on a remote island). After that, rather than being set free, they were brought all the way to Eurythesus (which is something I need to find a substitute solution to in a lot of the Labours, most of the times, as there is just no logical way for Stiles to do that).

Those mares are also believed to be the ancestors of Alexander the Great’s personal horse, Bucephalus.

So, I made two quite big changes (or rather, a replacement) in the 8th Labour, with Hippolyte’s belt:

As most of you might already know (if not from general knowledge, then from Wonder Woman xD)- Hippolyte is an Amazon. The problem was that, in the one hand, since I prefer to include characters from the show whenever I can instead of building OCs for different rules in the legend- I REALLY wanted to include the Drag Queens from the second seasons; on the other, I prefer keeping the Amazons as great warriors who were born with a feminine body (regardless their gender identities, of course), because that what was great about them, in my opinion. That was why I decided to replace them with another tribe, the Maenads, who were female followers of Dionysus- which was known as a Deity who loved parties, which really worked well for me with the Jungle (although they had nothing, as far as I know, to do with Ares; the Greek reef knot in his belt, by the way, is also known as Heracles Knot). Inspired by him, they were pretty mad, but in the fic it is only manifested in the way they fight, and nothing beyond that. I sincerely apologize if I made the wrong impression and offended anyone.

Hera succeeded to incite Hippolyte against Heracles, which ends up in him killing her (while in the fic Stiles ironically thinks that this option could be the worst idea ever), which I really did not want to. 

The exact area in which Erythia, the island Geryon and his cattle lived in is not known- unlike other Labours, which their location can always be approximated. The main reason for that is that this place is supposed to be at the end of the world- which was believed by the Greeks to be beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, that only little number of people dared to sail to during that time, and so, not a lot was known about it. 

It is no surprise, then, that the journey to and from that island, at the very end of the world, included a lot of adventures (which was why it was important to me to place the Labour in the fic away from America, and create an environment close to that):

He had to kill a great number of random beasts along the way- which are the wave of monsters/mutants that first attacked Stiles on the island.

Reaching the line of a range of mountains where Africa was connected with Europe (before there was the Strait of Gibraltar existed, as, according to the legend, there was no opening to connect between the Mederitian sea to the Atlantic Ocean before that), and Heracles split one of the mountains in half so he could pass through it to the other side instead of climbing over it. The now two separated mountains, which bordered the gateway, became known as the Pillars of Heracles.

Overheated by the sun which seemed to not leave him for a second throughout the entirety of his journey, Heracles raised his bow and directed an arrow to the sun in a challenge. Helios, the Deity of the sun, was impressed by his audacity, and gave him a large goblet/vase (the krater), with which he sailed all the way to Erythia (rather than being more-or-less teleported there, like in the fic).

Finally arriving at the island, he had now to defeat the herdsman,  Eurytion, and his canine shepherd, which was a two-headed dog. The reason I redesigned it as having another set of legs, unlike the legend, is because I wanted to differ/distinguish him from Cerberus, the triple-headed hound, even though the two are Brothers.

The one who tried to steal one of the Bulls to himself actually appears on the journey back to Greece: his name was Eryx, Poseidon's son. After tracking for a while, Heracles eventually found the lost Bull in Eryx’s herd, who challenged him to a wrestling duel for the Bull. (In the story Stiles did not perform a Greco Wrestling-style, or even Amateur wrestling-style move, but as a WWE fan I couldn't resist that chance ^^” FUCK YEAH PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING :D)

The one to kill Geryon's Grandmother, Medusa, was Perseus- Heracles’ ancestor. Geryon himself was born naturally and was not made by someone, but the reasons I chose to make him a mutant (which followed by making the rest of the island’s monsters ones, as well) was to link him better to the story and make his character a little more meaningful in general; I thought it was interesting to make Gerard responsible for the monsters this time instead of Hera, and hinting that during the years he was a free man he has prepared a lot of backups we do not know about, all of them demonstrating the depth of his cruelity.

Along Eryx, there were two more of Posideon's sons interfered in Heracles’ path back to Eurystheus. Sometimes they are referred to as the giants Albion and Bergion, and sometimes as two men named Ialebion and Dercynus (combining the idea of giants and seemingly human brothers, I thought it was the best way to include the twins, instead of getting rid of them in a too easy way). What is for sure is that the battle was not in Heracles’ favour, and after praying to Zeus- the Deity assisted him through a rain of stones.

Sometimes, individuals of the called strayed away on their own (one time one of them even went as far as jumping to the sea, for some reason), or even everyone at once, because of a gadfly that Hera sent to attack the cattle- and Heracles had to put the march on hold and go after them. 

The way in which Heracles prayed to Zeus during the fight against Posideon’s sons was by kneeling- which is the reason to why the constellation which was originally called by the Greeks “Engonasin”, or “The Kneeler”, would later be renamed into the Heracles constellation, and is what the moles on Stiles face are shaped like (that’s why in the fic world, all at once, a moment after Stiles will be gone from the mortal world- the name of that star grouo will change inside everyone’s minds, and in most of the sources into his name; there will be a little more explanation about this process in the last chapter).

The Moirai, which Zeus mentioned, are the Greek Deities of fate.

General Recap

So, it is clear that I’ve tried to speed things up a little with the first three Labours (7-9), since there was not something too interesting to do with them plot-wise and not much character development-wise, besides presenting the deterioration in Stiles’ mentally state- but the thing with the 7th one is- it’s just that short xD No matter where I read about it, in any version I've found, it is as short and simple as it is depicted in the fic. I’m glad that I came up with using it as a demonstration of the change in Stiles and Derek’s relationship, because otherwise, it’d just literally be a two-sentence thing that all that could be said about it was: “Well, that... that was... a thing.” (but also when I think of the legend, I really can’t figure out why they included a task so pointless like this. I won’t invent something else entirely as I wish to stick to the legend as much as possible, but this one is truly disappointing)

I can't write a Drag Queen for the life of me xD I've written that part after binge-watching an entire season of RuPaul Drag Race. In all seriousness, though, once again- I hope I didn't offend anyone.

And the same about Faux Queens! 

I chose to not include the Soulmates/split soul theory in the fic because I like better the idea that the connection between Stiles and Derek to not be destined, but as natural and incidental as possible- which probably frustrated Hera even more by how strong it turned out without being made by divine forces.

So yeah, this is where the Sterek finally starts to kick in- you didn’t think I made the waiting last THAT long just to make it easy for them, did you? :P

Fun Facts

This chapter’s Deity, Zeus, is inspired by the One Punch Man villain Boros (although more in some of his speech than his looks, unlike the others), which is the strongest and biggest one of season 1. I considered to be inspired by his backstory as well (after easily destroying any enemy he has ever had, he has travelled the space all the way to Earth, where he’d find a great rival to relieve his boredom, according to a seer) and make Zeus find Claudia through a seer as well- but I thought it would be more powerful if Zeus found her on his own, after searching long for a woman interesting enough, and without knowing the destiny of their child.

It may be surprising, then, that I didn’t reference another villian from One Punch Man, which is very similar to Geryon in looks, Melzargard (as a reminder: the reason it became a thing was  because it was such a huge project that I’ve had to scatter Easter Eggs  throughout the fic, using mostly subjects which accompanied me through the years of writing the fic, especially during the times I’ve experienced terrible writing blocks/anxieties over it). Since I only started that thing to make the Deities to look ridiculous, like the monsters in the anime, along with the fact that didn’t use any inspiration for another monster who was able to talk, the Nemean Lion from the first Labour- I preferred to leave it as that,

THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR READING, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO ASK!

[megatraven]

right okay so

medusa has a lot of loyalists left in the gang, and despite what lies HERA spread about her cutting a deal with them, those truly loyal to her know that she would never give up the gang in any degree. they contact her, in secret from their spots in the gang, and make sure she knows they’ll wait for her to get back on her feet, no matter how long it takes. (scylla and charybdis are on her side)

years pass, and HERA calls medusa out of her ‘retirement’ when the gang starts to tear itself apart, one half of it commanded by stheno, the other by euryale. HERA wants to question medusa and get her expertise and knowledge regarding the gang to try figuring out how to unite it again, so that the bloodshed stops

mc gets assigned her case after her brief encounter with medusa, and when things go wrong, the two of them held at gunpoint, medusa saves them both by using her gorgon powers. this leads to mc beginning to trust her.

as time passes, the two of them become closer and closer, and medusa even beings opening up to her about her past, though she makes sure to keep it secret that she’s not truly retired. mc doesn’t seem suspicious, though, so it’s not a problem.

they kiss.

there’s definitely something there, and though medusa knows that most of the gang would get rid of an HERA agent on sight, she can’t deny the spark between them.

she figures, that while she’s still laying as low as she can, then she and MC can be together, in some manner of speaking

the chance to return to the gang comes when perseus thrusts her artifact back at her. but she hesitates. it’s what she’s been waiting for, really, but taking it would mean ending everything between her and mc.... and she’s not ready to do it just yet.

she only ends up taking it at all to protect mc, and immediately takes it back off once they’re safe. she can see the confusion in some of the retreating faces, that she didn’t take her artifact back, but she shrugs it off.

more time passes, the case is coming close to an end after mc and medusa were stuck in the middle of euryale and stheno. medusa put euryale out of commission, and mc nearly dies, furthering medusa’s assurance that she shouldn’t be with mc. but, again, she doesn’t want to let go just yet.

so she stays awhile longer, and pushes the gang onto scylla and charybdis to handle while it’s still recovering from the divide.

then her mother comes into town, and her sisters escape prison.

the worst kind of family reunion, but medusa knows it’ll be best to handle them while she’s outside of the gang, so nothing leads back to them, so nothing puts them in echidna’s warpath

she’s still with mc, and it nearly breaks her when her mother tries turning her to stone. medusa knows their relationship can’t last much longer, not when she truly loves mc, not when being with her puts her in so much danger

alex, mc’s demigod friend and boss, who medusa knows is crushing on mc big time- they save her from echidna. medusa stays behind, even as the ceiling falls down around them. she survives, of course, and escapes to live another day.

soon, though- alex kisses mc.

it makes medusa angry, even though she knows alex would be better for her than she is. even though she knows she’s setting mc up for heartbreak, and that alex would never do such a thing for her.

she almost lets go just then, but...

mc could have lied. she could have never said a word, but she did. it hurts, but she did. because she trusts medusa, because she loves her, because she would never hurt her like that.

it makes medusa ache. she can’t let that be what tears the two of them apart. it’s selfish of her, when there’s someone divine waiting in the wings, but she can’t help it. maybe, part of her thinks, maybe she can make it work with mc, even when she steps back up as leader of the gang.

and then-

and then she learns something that crushes any hopes of that

mc, her girlfriend, has the potential to become the goddess Hera.

there’s a literal goddess sleeping beneath her skin, and it’s a wall erected between them in medusa’s mind. it was already risky enough to have a relationship with an HERA agent who had dedicated herself to the job- but she can’t possibly risk it with a goddess. even if it breaks her own heart to think of breaking things off

still, there’s her mother and sisters to deal with, so medusa sticks it out for a little while longer, until the two of them bring echidna down in front of a pantheon of gods, together.

she’s not even thinking when she does it, really.... but she proposes.

it’s cruel. it can’t work out, it won’t work out.

but she doesn’t rescind the offer, and she’s actually really happy when mc says yes (as if there was ever any doubt that she would)

the gods have let mc live as she pleases, there’s been no approach from zeus or any other god to awaken hera.

but things can’t ever be peaceful- this time, it’s typhon and his children, eagle and prime, who show up to cause trouble. the king wants medusa to become queen, and though she might have jumped at the chance under any other circumstance, being the queen of monsters wasn’t something she envisioned herself doing now- she hadn’t even taken the reins of her gang yet

she’s a little torn on the matter as it is, and she focuses on her and mc’s wedding instead. (it won’t happens. she knows that. but she can pretend for a little longer.)

and then, scylla gets hurt.

charybdis claims she can’t lead the gang alone, so medusa steps back up, finally, pegasus ready to be summoned at a moment’s notice.

she promises mc, it’ll only be until scylla recovers.

but time passes, and being the leader again, having her family back- it’s intoxicating. it’s right. it’s what she’s been wanting, what she’s been resisting for the sake of being with mc. she can’t deny it any longer.

the gang is hers again, and she won’t be stepping down.

she still tries to keep up with her relationship with mc, but her gang work is distracting, it takes most of her time and attention. she forgets dates and times and even wedding planning, up until mc storms into the hideout and chews her out for forgetting

it cuts medusa deep, and anger surges- at herself, not mc. she shouldn’t have let things get so far. when she cools down, sometime in the next day, she searches for her fiancee and knows that it’s time to break things off

finding her way to mc’s old apartment- because mc had moved in with her, see- she opens the door with her spare key and waits. and waits.

she thinks, maybe this is a good sign that mc isn’t there. it means she doesn’t truly know her after all. it means it wasn’t meant to work out, anyways. she wouldn’t have to feel so bad.

but mc comes, a little tipsy medusa can tell, and medusa is almost at a loss for words. almost.

she apologizes to mc, with her entire heart. she tells her that she can’t give up the gang, that she won’t choose anyone over it. she tells her that she’ll try harder, even though she can see the disappointment and heartache and hurt in mc’s eyes.

still, mc forgives her. she really doesn’t deserve it, but she’s forgiven nonetheless, and they go to bed together.

medusa pours all the love that she can into every touch, every kiss, every “i’m sorry” that leaves her that night. mc is smart; they both know where things are headed. but for that night, they each take their time to love each other, one more time. one last time.

in the morning, medusa slips out of bed and writes mc a short letter, something to the point, though heartfelt. she leaves.

she leaves, and even losing her aura wasn’t as painful, but she leaves. 

and she wishes, all those days ago, that she had never met mc at all. because she loved her.

she loves her.

and she doesn’t look back.

I had an epiphany at work today for how I could finally shove an astoria au into Angels Like You

Which is

An AU where medusa is a gangster in deep cover after her aura is stolen rather than retired from the gang, and MC gets assigned to the gorgon gang case and they fall in love, but in the back of her mind medusa knows she’ll leave mc, who she thinks is too good for her anyways. But until then she’ll pretend everything is fine between them, even if she knows that everything people say about her (Alex, Perseus, etc) is true