#It’s expected to treat kids like half-baked pets instead of little humans

[thefluxsystem]

“Why are there so many mentally ill people all of the sudden?”

There’s a few dozen different reasons, but we could start with the fact that it’s socially expected to treat children as subhuman

[stillebesat]

Christmas Eve (5/5)

Sanders Sides: Janus, Patton, Roman, Virgil Pairings: Past Roceit (was toxic), Familial Moceit (Dad Janus, Son Patton) Blurb: Of all the barriers that Janus expected to have to overcome in order to get his son a pet for Christmas, encountering his Ex, Roman, working in the pet store had never once crossed his mind. Fic Type: Christmas!Eve Fic, Past Lovers to Enemies to ??? trope, Dad!Janus, Kid!Patton, Frogmin!Virgil, MythicalMin!AU, Frogmin!AU Overall Fic Warnings: Past Toxic Relationship Talk, Manipulation/Lying Talk, Human-ish Creatures kept as Pets Taglist in Reblog

To Catch Up: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 

I’m sorry. 

Janus hadn’t missed how Roman had reacted to the words. How he’d tried to brush them off like it was nothing.

It wasn’t nothing.

It had taken him a long time, with the encouragement of his therapist and Patton’s unwavering love, to grow comfortable admitting when he was at fault. To apologize. To say those two little words and actually mean them without trying to use them for his own gain. 

He hadn’t even realized he’d even said ‘I’m sorry’ until he saw his Ex jolt like he’d just gotten electrocuted. 

I’m sorry. 

Two little words.

Two little words that he’d never said to Roman while they were together, but had made him, his Prince, say constantly back for every little slight or wrong doing Janus had accused him of. 

Two little words.

Two little words that he needed to say sooner rather than later to his Ex in a far more meaningful way.

I’m sorry.  

The phrase whirled in his head relentlessly as he half listened to Roman’s spiel about the store’s guarantees and return policies for their Min while also listening to Pattey’s excited chattering to the little Frogmin nearby as the two new friends looked through the shelves of Min clothing for a ‘gift outfit’ for Virgil to wear home. 

Apparently it was part of their Christmas package this year for their Mythical Mins...and quite considerate of Roman to bring up as Janus hadn’t realized, even with all his research, that the Mins would need clothing. That they would want to wear anything. 

He would have to keep that in mind. That Virgil should be treated less like a frog and more like a person. And people liked clothes. 

“What about this one!?” Pattey asked, pulling out something that was bright blue, though at Virgil’s hiss, quickly put it back. “But blue is so pretty, Vee!” 

“No.” 

“A little blue?”  “NO.” 

Their chatter in the background was comforting, and yes, semi distracting, but with his and Roman’s heads nearly touching as his Ex pointed to various key lines on the multiple forms he had him filling out, it helped to keep him grounded enough from his own thoughts to nod and hum at the proper moments as Roman spoke and not look like a completely besotted idiot.

Janus couldn’t stop the smile from tugging at his lips though as he tapped his pen on the counter, watching his Ex from the corner of his eye. It almost felt like old times. Back when they’d be up until four in the morning, a single desk lamp illuminated between them as the two of them desperately tried to hammer out the final details in their latest project. Roman even emphasized the important points the same way. Triple circling the return policy with a black marker as Janus dutifully initialed and signed where his Ex indicated. 

That didn’t mean he didn’t notice when Roman skipped over the line stating that he could call the store anytime if he had any concerns about the Frogmin. It was a slight enough omission, done so smoothly by his Ex, that If he hadn’t been reading along to keep himself semi-focused on what was being said, Janus would never have known.

He bit back a sigh, ignoring the ache in his chest as he signed his name to the bottom of the page. If they’d actually been back in college, he wouldn’t have hesitated to point out that Roman had skipped a line. Teased him about being careless with binding documents and surely he didn’t mean to imply that Janus couldn’t call. 

But he’d grown enough to recognize that this was a sign that Janus shouldn’t call. Not that he couldn’t. Roman was discretely setting a boundary for him not to cross and he...well he would recognize and respect it. 

“Is that all?” He asked, placing the pen on the counter. 

Roman’s eyes flickered as he straightened. “Well...you still need to pay.” He said turning for the register to ring up the Frogmin. “But yes that’s all the forms to say that Virgil is yours now.” He gestured to the pinpad before grabbing the papers flipping through the pages to separate out the copies that the store needed to keep.

“YAY!” Patton cradled Virgil, now wearing a black and purple hoodie, close to his cheek, beaming up at Roman. “Vee can come home and eat all the Spiders!!” 

“Maybe not all of them tonight, Pattey.” Janus said, giving his son a wink as he tried to push away his own gloomy thoughts and the pressure he could feel building in his chest. 

Stupid conscience.

He recognized he needed to apologize. To try and make amends for those two turbulent years he’d put Roman through. But it hardly felt like the right moment. It was Christmas Eve for crying out loud! How much more cliche could he get?

“We wouldn’t want Virgil to get a stomach ache and be sick on Christmas now would we?” He remarked, pulling out his credit card.

When would he ever have another moment though to tell his Ex he was sorry? He lived far enough away that a casual visit was out of the question and more than likely not wanted. Not unless something happened with Virgil...and even then...it would suck to have to face Roman again under well less than ideal circumstances.

Tonight was hardly ideal. 

But their conversation had gone civilly enough that maybe...maybe this was the best moment. 

The only moment.

It was two little words.

He could say them.

He just needed to prove to Roman that he actually meant them. 

Patton paused, frowning as he turned his head to Virgil before his eyes lit up again. “One spider as a treat.” He whispered. “Then you can help me put out the cookies and milk for Santa!” 

Virgil frowned, pulling his hoodie over his head. “Santa?” He asked at the same time Roman spoke up.

“What kind of cookies are you putting out for the big guy? Sugar? Snickerdoodle?” He asked, scooting the paperwork over for Janus to take.  

“CHOCOLATE CHIP!” Patton placed Virgil on his shoulder before spreading his arms out wide. “Daddy made thiiiisss many! That way Santa has lots and I can have lots too!” 

“Oh?” Roman raised an eyebrow to Janus. You bake? He mouthed.

Janus rolled his eyes, folding up the forms and placing them in an inside pocket. “Surprise. I finally figured out how to work an oven.” 

“Without starting the dishwasher on fire?”

Janus flushed, fumbling to put his card back into his wallet as the machine beeped at him. “Yes.” 

Crofters, why did his Ex have to remember that particular incident. It had hardly been his...proudest moment. Definitely one where he should have apologized, but instead had managed to convince the landlord that faulty wiring was the cause and he and Roman wouldn’t need to pay damages. 

Virgil snickered as Pattey looked between the two of them. “But Daddy...dishwashers only use water. There’s no fire there!”

Roman smirked, handing him the receipt. “Exactly.” 

Patton turned to him, tugging on his pants. “Daddy? Dishwasher’s aren’t for food. Don’t cook in them!” 

He reached down ruffling his son’s hair. “I know, Pattey. I only did it once. Don’t plan to do it again.”  

“Good! Because soggy cookies are not yummy. Not at all--oh! Mr. Prince Roman!” Pattey whirled to Roman. “Can Virgil eat cookies?” 

Roman flashed him a smile, eyes alive with laughter that made Janus’s heart skip a beat. “Yes, though not your usual cookies. Virgil needs a higher protein diet with less sugar than you do.” He grabbed a package hanging from a peg nearby, holding it out for Pattey to see. “These are Cricket Crumbles. Kinda like your no-bake cookies, but made from crickets instead.”

Patton lit up as he spun back to his dad, eliciting a squeaky hiss from Virgil as the poor Min clung to his jacket as Pattey grabbed onto Janus’s sleeve tugging it. “Daaaaddd?” 

Yah….He had seen that coming a mile away. “Mmm?”

“CanwegethecrumblesforVirgilsohecanhavecookieswithustoowhenwegethome? Plleeeeaassseeeeee?”

Janus raised an eyebrow to his Ex. “Is it too late---”

Beep. 

“Oops.” Roman said, not at all sounding apologetic as he pulled his hand away from the bag he’d just scanned. “That will be $7.89” 

 “Right.” He pulled out his credit card again, chuckling at Patton’s excited squeal as Roman handed the bag over to him. 

“YAY! Look Vee! Cookieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

“...I see that.” The Frogmin said in his low tone, tilting his head at the bag, his nostrils flaring.  

His Ex laughed, moving from behind the register, gesturing them to the door. “You always bend that easily to your kid?”

Yes. Janus shrugged, ignoring how his heart had leaped at hearing Roman’s booming laugh. “It’s Christmas.” 

Roman raised an eyebrow, amber eyes bright and sparkling and just perfect as he pulled open the door. “Mmhmmm. You spoil him rotten don’t you?” He said, lowering his voice as Patton and Vee darted past them into the night. 

“Look, look Vee! See that’s our car over there, and ooo look! All the stars are out!” Pattey cried pointing upwards, thankfully stopping on the curb without Janus having to remind him not to run out into the parking lot--a shockingly empty parking lot considering how busy it had been just twenty minutes earlier.  

“Not as much as you’d think.” He wanted Pattey to be better than him. To grow up realizing he couldn’t get everything he wanted with a well placed pout or scream. 

Speaking of being better.

Stomach twisting in knots, Janus placed his hand on the door before Roman could shut it and physically and figuratively lock him out. “Roman…” He drew in a steading breath, mentally crossing his fingers that Patton wouldn’t interrupt the moment as he looked him straight in the eyes. “I know it’s not the best timing.” Horrible timing. Who apologizes on Christmas Eve except the protagonists in a stupid holiday Romance Movie? “But I don’t know if I’ll see--I’m--I just want--It’s not worth much all things considered but I--well--” He’d probably never get another opportunity to do this.

Roman’s eyes flashed as he raised an eyebrow, his fingers going white as they gripped the door.

“I’m sorry.” Janus said, forcing himself to maintain eye contact as he spoke. “I don’t expect you to accept it.” He really wanted him to though. “But...I am sorry. Truly sorry. For how I treated you, our relationship. I--I was in the wrong and I shouldn’t have--”

Roman raised his hand, a single finger pressing against his lips, shutting up Janus entirely, breath catching in his throat.  “You’re right.” He said softly, eyes glittering in the faint lights from the parking lot. “It’s rather cliche timing.” He dropped his hand, taking a step back. “And...I don’t…” He exhaled, turning his head away to look back inside the store. “I’m not sure I want to hear it just yet, Dae.”

Janus flushed, feeling his cheeks heat up despite the rest of him feeling like he’d just got dunked in freezing water. “Because it sounds fake right?” He always sucked at apologizing when it actually counted. It never sounded real to him either. 

Roman huffed a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “No, you actually sounded genuine. But Dae--” He shook his head. “You put me through a lot. A lot. In college and I--I’m--I can see things are...different. I’m just...not ready yet. To accept your apology. I’d like to think I would at some point. But right now? Here?” He made eye contact once more, amber eyes surprisingly still glowing with warm. “I can’t. It’s hard enough to believe that you’ve actually changed despite what I’ve seen tonight.”

I only ever knew Liar Dae.

Right. Janus slumped, chest aching as he nodded. “I understand.” He’d known a fifteen minute conversation and an apology couldn’t erase those two years of toxic manipulation that easily. But he’d---he’d hoped--

“Good.” Roman searched his eyes before visibly relaxing. “And I can’t believe I’m saying this...but have a Merry Christmas, alright?” 

It wasn’t the ending he wanted. But all things considered. It was a good enough note for their unexpected meeting to end on. Janus nodded. “Merry Christmas.” He said softly, watching as his Ex locked the doors and disappeared deeper inside without a looking back.  

“Daddy?” 

Janus jumped, tearing his eyes from the door as his son grabbed his hand. “Mmm?” 

His little LilyPatton squeezed it tightly, looking up at him. “You should get two cookies tonight.”   

Janus chuckled, squeezing his hand back. “You think so?” He asked, glancing back to the doors one last time.

“Yes!” Pattey tugged at his arm, pulling him towards the car as Virgil crouched on his shoulder, head swiveling between the store and the car. “Dragon Witches always get cookies after working with the Prince! It’s the rules!”

“Oh? Well then, I can’t argue with that.” Janus pulled out the car keys, jangling them as he offered his son a small smile. “What do you think? Should we let Virgil drive us home to get those cookies?”

“DRIVE?!” Screeched the Min, mismatched eyes growing so wide they seemed to take up his entire face as he tried to bury himself in Pattey’s jacket. “ME?!” 

Janus laughed, purposely putting any further thoughts of Roman on the back burner until after his son and new friend went to bed. 

No use wishing for what could have been when he had his family right here in front of him. 

“No, I’ll drive.” He said unlocking the door, helping Pattey hop inside, pressing a quick kiss to his forehead before buckling in his son. “Lessons will have to wait until you’re older, Virgil.” 

Or until tomorrow morning when Patton unwrapped the remote control car Santa would be bringing him.  

End. 

[icariamusing]

CHARACTER BASICS

FACECLAIM: Jessica Parker Kennedy

NAME: Jolene Johnson

AGE: 30

BIRTHDAY: June 12, 1990

OCCUPATION: Chef, shes hoping to open her own restaurant soon.

HOMETOWN: None. She’s a military brat. There’s no one place she remembers as most of her childhood.

PETS: N/A yet! She wants a dog

POWERS

She can manipulate food. She either can make it super healthy or super not no matter what it is. This ability has led to her being able to change what any one item of food is. Hand her an apple and she wants cake? Well now its cake. This allows her to make cool meals that you wouldn’t expect and to make things absolutely delicious.

BIOGRAPHY

TW: cancer mention, infertility, 

Jolene Rose Johnson was born to Demeter on a warm spring evening and exactly one week later she was delivered to her father, Charlton Johnson and his wife Rosanna. Rosanna had been rendered infertile four years before due to a bout with ovarian cancer. The two had been distraught, upset that they never got the chance to have a little girl. Something that Rosanna had desperately wanted. Their youngest, Victor, was now 5 and asking for a little sister; while the oldest, Chandler, 17 didn’t truly care other than knowing his mom was upset about it. They had just moved to Pordenone, Italy and Chandler had met a girl who worshiped the greek gods. She particularly was very drawn to Demeter and taught him about it. One night he left an offering for the goddess asking to bring a baby sister to his family.

Needless to say… Chandler was VERY surprised when Demeter herself showed up at their doorstep saying she was summoned. After a long conversation with Chalrlton and Rosanna a deal was struck, and a baby was promised, so long as they continued to make offerings to Demeter and teach the child about her. So that’s exactly what they did. Little Jolene was a sweet, easy baby. She barely cried, mostly cooed and was always watching. Rosanna started cooking with the baby on her hip, and that is the first real memory Jolene has. Memories of her mother teaching her how to cook. How to make delicious food that made people’s mouth water. She was taught from infancy that Demeter was her mother, that she would have special abilities and that she must hide them. So, Jolene did her best, but one of her skills? Well it was in cooking. She could make anything be utterly nutritious or horrible for you, she could make things taste delicious even if they were gross. But that was hard to prove… so she used these skills as a young kid to bake cookies for new friends every time her family moved.

You see, her father is an air-force pilot and her mother an air-force nurse, the two of them have made it so that each move is easy, so that the kids feel comfortable and most importantly; excited! They loved visiting new countries, learning new things, making new friends. For Jolene it was easy, her delicious food drew people to her, and she loved cooking for them. She loved making new friends and taking care of others. When she was 10 years old her family moved them to Icaria, Greece, they had a small air force base on another isle but many of the military family members lived on the other isles around the base – Jolene’s family just happened to choose Icaria… based on the recommendation from demeter. When they arrived they realized there were tons of other demi-gods here… specifically half siblings of Jolene. While she was older than them she loved them all deeply.  (Over the years she bakes each of them three dozen cookies for their birthdays or if they tell her something awesome happened in their lives. She also made a point to always visit them – once a year for a week or two.)

This care and love, extended to all children too – so what was a demi-god to do when she was 15 years old sitting on the beach and sees a toddler suddenly manipulating the water around her? Well, knowing that humans were always off put and scared of demi-gods (She had showed a friend her ability to transform any food into other food and the friend called her a demon and thought she had been drugged), she rushed over to the little one and started to try to distract her from the water. Instead she made silly faces, she tickled the little one’s feet and started to build a sandcastle with her.

When the girl’s father turned around he was startled, Jolene was having fun, and 100% not phased by the bit of water that was supernaturally wrapped around her foot. No instead she leaned down quietly and whispered to the child “You have to be careful little one, people don’t always like seeing powers. You don’t want to scare them do you?” and with that the water seemed normal and Jolene gave a big smile to her – and her father. She ended up talking to the child’s father and offered her babysitting services and help any time he needed it. And for the next year and eight months, Jolene babysat little Maristela helping her in whatever ways she could, and watching her grow. She was heartbroken when her mom came home one day and told them that they would be moving to the Philippines. She had come to really love her charge and wanted to see her grow into a fine young lady and help her through things – but she knew this day was coming. She knew they’d move and be somewhere else… but that didn’t stop her from crying and hugging Mari and promising her that she’d do her best to keep in contact and make sure she was good.

She was 4 months from her 17th birthday when they touched down in Manila, Philippines. It was different, interesting but very different. With both her siblings long gone and off in college Jolene was adjusting to the first move without one of them with her. So she turned outward, looked for more friends, became even more of a social butterfly than she had already been. Jolene went to the gala’s her parents were invited to, she talked to anyone who would listen to a 17 year old… which is how she met Ulani. They stood on a balcony and joked about the bad outfits some wore, they talked about life and what they hoped to do with their lives, they talked about their ideals and then – protests. Lots of protests. They fell along the same lines and from that moment on the two had become friends. Jolene attended protests with Ulani, always bringing snacks and water to make sure they were well fed and not tired.

And just like with Mari, she was a bit heartbroken when just before her 18th birthday her father got a promotion and they had to move to Los Vegas, Nevada. She couldn’t just stay in the Philipines even if she wanted to; she was still a minor and well – college was coming up. She had to figure that out. So she moved once more. When she arrived in Vegas she met Max, the two hit it off instantly. They were friends first, but friends slipped into something more rather quickly. He threw her a big party at his parent’s Casino for her 18th birthday, she lost her virginity to him that night.  She had really come to love him – so imagine her heartbreak when she decided to bring him lunch one day in their sophmore year of college and was told “Oh he’s downstairs”, she wonders down the stairwell only to hear a rather familiar sound – oh and then there was his ass – bare bottomed – fucking someone else. It was a sex club she realized quickly.

Jolene was heartbroken, shattered, and totally unsure of herself. She bolted back up the stairs, grabbed a notepad and scribbled out a quick note to him before shoving the food and note at the receptionist and vanishing. Within ten hours she had packed up all of her things and moved in with another friend across town. She avoided places where Max was at all costs while she worked on transferring her credits to another college. She ended up in NYC

New York was a dream. She hadn’t ever been and the second she stepped foot in it – she felt at home. She enrolled at the International Culinary Center and NYU. NYU specifically for business management while also going to ICC to learn how to cook anything and everything. She dated, cooked and enjoyed her time in NYC. She had her own apartment, her own friends and didn’t feel the need to up and leave after two years.Jolene was 25 when she met Wolfgang. The two bumped into one another and it was from that moment on they had a sort of – whirlwind romance. Things moved quick but – they hit a wall. After a year Jolene was ready to say those three little words…. Hell she had said them but Wolf…. He refused, he couldn’t seem to bring himself to do so. And as much as it broke her heart… Jolene ended things, telling him that she hoped to one day get married and if he couldn’t even say those words… well there was no hope. She still cares deeply for Wolf and hopes he’s well, hell she still sends him his favorite treats on his birthday even 5 years later.

Not long after the breakup with Wolf, and graduation from college, she was offered a job as a personal chef for some hot-shot mogul. So she traveled the world with her for three years, secretly lusting over the other woman and occasionally – very rarely the two would spend a night together and act like nothing happened. No Jolene kept a smile on her face and cooked food happy to travel the world, try new foods and make new friends. It was on one of these trips that they ended up in Australia and she took a day off to go to a renaissance fair. Something she had always wanted to do but never managed to get time to do. So donned in elf ears, fae wings and a pretty dress she wondered the fair just enjoying herself. She was hanging out with some drunk new friends when Cordelia walked up to her, asked for a kiss – and well. She had never been kissed like that. The two spent the rest of the afternoon together; walking the fair, talking, eating food and kisses. Lots of kisses.

Sadly – the next day Jolene had to leave and was on a plane to Japan. Since that day Jolene has been looking for her again. But life hadn’t been kind for the past two years in that department. Until, just last week Cordelia did a live stream telling the story of how they met, of course Jolene had no idea. She never watched live streams. But her friend did. Her friend remembered hearing the other side of the story and within minutes of it starting she had forwarded the link to Jolene telling her to watch and say something. But she was too nervous to do so. No, instead she just rewatched it when she was down and needed a smile. But, life has been kind in many other ways. She worked, saved up money and was finally ready to open up her own restaurant. But she didn’t know where she wanted to do that… until her mother appeared again, telling her to go to Icaria. She was already looking at going back to Greece, a place she had lived as a 10-13 year old and loved it. Her siblings on her mother’s side, had already been pestering her to come live on the isle with them, but her mother asking her to do the same? Well it was the straw that broke the camel’s back… so she packed her bags and decided to move there – at least for a little bit.

LAUREN | SHE/HER | 30 | EST

[icariahq]

Thanks for applying Lauren! We look forward to seeing Jolene around the island. Make sure to send your blog in within the next 24 hours or reach out to us if you need an extension. Jessica Parker Kennedy is now taken! 

( JESSICA PARKER KENNEDY, FEMALE, SHE/HER) ⌇ have you seen JOLENE JOHNSON around icaria? they are the 30 year old child of DEMETER. they remind me of FRESH COOKED MEALS, WARM LINGERING HUGS, A FILLED PASSPORT, and THE KINDEST EYES. They’ve been on the island for 1 week.

Expand

OOC info:  

NAME / PRONOUNS | AGE | TIMEZONE

Its'a me Lauren!  | she/her | 30 | EST

ROLEPLAYING EXPERIENCE

to freaking long 

IC info:

WHO ARE YOU BRINGING TO THE ISLE?

FACECLAIM: Jessica Parker Kennedy

NAME: Jolene Johnson

AGE: 30

BIRTHDAY: June 12, 1990

OCCUPATION: Chef, shes hoping to open her own restaurant soon. 

HOMETOWN: None. She’s a military brat. There’s no one place she remembers as most of her childhood.

PETS: N/A yet! She wants a dog

POWERS: 

She can manipulate food. She either can make it super healthy or super not no matter what it is. This ability has led to her being able to change what any one item of food is. Hand her an apple and she wants cake? Well now its cake. This allows her to make cool meals that you wouldn’t expect and to make things absolutely delicious. 

BIOGRAPHY:

Jolene Rose Johnson was born to Demeter on a warm spring evening and exactly one week later she was delivered to her father, Charlton Johnson and his wife Rosanna. Rosanna had been rendered infertile four years before due to a bout with ovarian cancer. The two had been distraught, upset that they never got the chance to have a little girl. Something that Rosanna had desperately wanted. Their youngest, Victor, was now 5 and asking for a little sister; while the oldest, Chandler, 17 didn’t truly care other than knowing his mom was upset about it. They had just moved to Pordenone, Italy and Chandler had met a girl who worshiped the greek gods. She particularly was very drawn to Demeter and taught him about it. One night he left an offering for the goddess asking to bring a baby sister to his family. 

Needless to say… Chandler was VERY surprised when Demeter herself showed up at their doorstep saying she was summoned. After a long conversation with Chalrlton and Rosanna a deal was struck, and a baby was promised, so long as they continued to make offerings to Demeter and teach the child about her. So that’s exactly what they did. Little Jolene was a sweet, easy baby. She barely cried, mostly cooed and was always watching. Rosanna started cooking with the baby on her hip, and that is the first real memory Jolene has. Memories of her mother teaching her how to cook. How to make delicious food that made people’s mouth water. She was taught from infancy that Demeter was her mother, that she would have special abilities and that she must hide them. So, Jolene did her best, but one of her skills? Well it was in cooking. She could make anything be utterly nutritious or horrible for you, she could make things taste delicious even if they were gross. But that was hard to prove… so she used these skills as a young kid to bake cookies for new friends every time her family moved. 

You see, her father is an air-force pilot and her mother an air-force nurse, the two of them have made it so that each move is easy, so that the kids feel comfortable and most importantly; excited! They loved visiting new countries, learning new things, making new friends. For Jolene it was easy, her delicious food drew people to her, and she loved cooking for them. She loved making new friends and taking care of others. When she was 10 years old her family moved them to Icaria, Greece, they had a small air force base on another isle but many of the military family members lived on the other isles around the base – Jolene’s family just happened to choose Icaria… based on the recommendation from demeter. When they arrived they realized there were tons of other demi-gods here… specifically half siblings of Jolene. While she was older than them she loved them all deeply.  (Over the years she bakes each of them three dozen cookies for their birthdays or if they tell her something awesome happened in their lives. She also made a point to always visit them – once a year for a week or two.)

This care and love, extended to all children too – so what was a demi-god to do when she was 15 years old sitting on the beach and sees a toddler suddenly manipulating the water around her? Well, knowing that humans were always off put and scared of demi-gods (She had showed a friend her ability to transform any food into other food and the friend called her a demon and thought she had been drugged), she rushed over to the little one and started to try to distract her from the water. Instead she made silly faces, she tickled the little one’s feet and started to build a sandcastle with her. 

When the girl’s father turned around he was startled, Jolene was having fun, and 100% not phased by the bit of water that was supernaturally wrapped around her foot. No instead she leaned down quietly and whispered to the child “You have to be careful little one, people don’t always like seeing powers. You don’t want to scare them do you?” and with that the water seemed normal and Jolene gave a big smile to her – and her father. She ended up talking to the child’s father and offered her babysitting services and help any time he needed it. And for the next year and eight months, Jolene babysat little Maristela helping her in whatever ways she could, and watching her grow. She was heartbroken when her mom came home one day and told them that they would be moving to the Philippines. She had come to really love her charge and wanted to see her grow into a fine young lady and help her through things – but she knew this day was coming. She knew they’d move and be somewhere else… but that didn’t stop her from crying and hugging Mari and promising her that she’d do her best to keep in contact and make sure she was good. 

She was 4 months from her 17th birthday when they touched down in Manila, Philippines. It was different, interesting but very different. With both her siblings long gone and off in college Jolene was adjusting to the first move without one of them with her. So she turned outward, looked for more friends, became even more of a social butterfly than she had already been. Jolene went to the gala’s her parents were invited to, she talked to anyone who would listen to a 17 year old… which is how she met Ulani. They stood on a balcony and joked about the bad outfits some wore, they talked about life and what they hoped to do with their lives, they talked about their ideals and then – protests. Lots of protests. They fell along the same lines and from that moment on the two had become friends. Jolene attended protests with Ulani, always bringing snacks and water to make sure they were well fed and not tired. 

And just like with Mari, she was a bit heartbroken when just before her 18th birthday her father got a promotion and they had to move to Los Vegas, Nevada. She couldn’t just stay in the Philipines even if she wanted to; she was still a minor and well – college was coming up. She had to figure that out. So she moved once more. When she arrived in Vegas she met Max, the two hit it off instantly. They were friends first, but friends slipped into something more rather quickly. He threw her a big party at his parent’s Casino for her 18th birthday, she lost her virginity to him that night.  She had really come to love him – so imagine her heartbreak when she decided to bring him lunch one day in their sophmore year of college and was told “Oh he’s downstairs”, she wonders down the stairwell only to hear a rather familiar sound – oh and then there was his ass – bare bottomed – fucking someone else. It was a sex club she realized quickly. 

Jolene was heartbroken, shattered, and totally unsure of herself. She bolted back up the stairs, grabbed a notepad and scribbled out a quick note to him before shoving the food and note at the receptionist and vanishing. Within ten hours she had packed up all of her things and moved in with another friend across town. She avoided places where Max was at all costs while she worked on transferring her credits to another college. She ended up in NYC 

New York was a dream. She hadn’t ever been and the second she stepped foot in it – she felt at home. She enrolled at the International Culinary Center and NYU. NYU specifically for business management while also going to ICC to learn how to cook anything and everything. She dated, cooked and enjoyed her time in NYC. She had her own apartment, her own friends and didn’t feel the need to up and leave after two years.Jolene was 25 when she met Wolfgang. The two bumped into one another and it was from that moment on they had a sort of – whirlwind romance. Things moved quick but – they hit a wall. After a year Jolene was ready to say those three little words…. Hell she had said them but Wolf…. He refused, he couldn’t seem to bring himself to do so. And as much as it broke her heart… Jolene ended things, telling him that she hoped to one day get married and if he couldn’t even say those words… well there was no hope. She still cares deeply for Wolf and hopes he’s well, hell she still sends him his favorite treats on his birthday even 5 years later. 

Not long after the breakup with Wolf, and graduation from college, she was offered a job as a personal chef for some hot-shot mogul. So she traveled the world with her for three years, secretly lusting over the other woman and occasionally – very rarely the two would spend a night together and act like nothing happened. No Jolene kept a smile on her face and cooked food happy to travel the world, try new foods and make new friends. It was on one of these trips that they ended up in Australia and she took a day off to go to a renaissance fair. Something she had always wanted to do but never managed to get time to do. So donned in elf ears, fae wings and a pretty dress she wondered the fair just enjoying herself. She was hanging out with some drunk new friends when Cordelia walked up to her, asked for a kiss – and well. She had never been kissed like that. The two spent the rest of the afternoon together; walking the fair, talking, eating food and kisses. Lots of kisses. 

Sadly – the next day Jolene had to leave and was on a plane to Japan. Since that day Jolene has been looking for her again. But life hadn’t been kind for the past two years in that department. Until, just last week Cordelia did a live stream telling the story of how they met, of course Jolene had no idea. She never watched live streams. But her friend did. Her friend remembered hearing the other side of the story and within minutes of it starting she had forwarded the link to Jolene telling her to watch and say something. But she was too nervous to do so. No, instead she just rewatched it when she was down and needed a smile. But, life has been kind in many other ways. She worked, saved up money and was finally ready to open up her own restaurant. But she didn’t know where she wanted to do that… until her mother appeared again, telling her to go to Icaria. She was already looking at going back to Greece, a place she had lived as a 10-13 year old and loved it. Her siblings on her mother’s side, had already been pestering her to come live on the isle with them, but her mother asking her to do the same? Well it was the straw that broke the camel’s back… so she packed her bags and decided to move there – at least for a little bit. 

ANYTHING ELSE:

sorry another long bioooooo. WHOOPS