#I think the Aloadae incident would be a good starting point for them to start afresh

[my-name-is-apollo]

I feel like we HAD to have talked about this at some point, but thinking of Apollo ships, what are your thoughts on Apollo x my man Ares? ❤️- Odiko Ptino

@odiko-ptino you know what I have been thinking about them lately!! Mostly because I've been reading Record of Ragnarok and their dynamic in it is uhh interesting, so I couldn't help myself. Now here's what I found about them in the myths:

1. Ares, under Hera's orders, kept a watch on Leto to prevent her from giving birth on lands.

2. Apollo sent Heracles to kill Cycnus, a son of Ares, for murdering the pilgrims. Ares was in support of his son here but Heracles defeated him.

3. Hermes and Apollo made fun of the situation when Ares and Aphrodite got caught red handed.

4. Apollo defeated Ares in the boxing match of the Olympic games.

5. According to Homer, Hyginus and Nonnus, Apollo was involved in killing the Aloadae after they kidnapped Ares.

6. In the Iliad, Apollo asks Ares to go teach a lesson to Diomedes for trying to attack both him and Aphrodite and Ares obeys him.

7. Apollo intervened and stopped a fight between Athena and Ares.

8. In the Homeric hymn to Apollo, Ares is enjoying himself in Apollo's concert.

When read in that order, it does seem like they both start off as rivals and eventually form a friendship. I have to admit I hadn't considered shipping them till recently, but it has grown on me. When it comes to Apollo's ships, I'm usually slightly more interested in reading Apollo's POV (because I feel like he's usually the one with more complicated feelings) but this is one of the few ships where I'm more invested in the other person's POV because I think the feelings are actually more complicated for Ares.

On Apollo's end, he is more or less neutral towards Ares. I'm sure he can be a tease, and will get cocky about being Zeus' favorite son, but unlike Athena he is never hostile to Ares for the sake of being hostile. He goes against Ares when the situation calls for it, but that's about it. To be honest I feel like he, being the more rational one, would understand to some extent how Ares feels. But he would not bother much to really do anything about it up until some point because *gestures at the past* things being this way is mostly not his fault and Ares isn't too welcoming. Ares, on the other hand...Apollo is the one Ares that he should hate the most (besides Athena). He is the golden child, the most favored son who is constantly being adored and loved. So Ares thinks that he is his rival, and also that Apollo also must hate him the same amount. But, I also think he probably looks up to Apollo too in a convoluted way - like wishing he could be that while always being aware that he can never be that. One day he'll realise that Apollo doesn't hate and it will be such a mind blowing experience for him lol. Seeing the shift in his feelings towards the person he has a lot of complicated feelings for would be fascinating, and being loved by that person could be a cathartic experience for Ares.

And you know how Ares was also associated with civil order? Do you think that was perhaps due Apollo's influence (just like how he made Hermes the divine messenger and the god of flocks?) They both can also definitely bond over fatherhood!! That is probably one of my favourite things here lol. Aphrodite is also the common bestie (partner) here so it's gotta be be fun.