#and the story of the mortal Castor and the immortal Pollux

[prismatranslates-cue]

Rie [Sabbath of Castor] Part 3

Previously: Part 2

Mei: It’s time to go where I really wanted to go today.

Rie: Right. Lead me, Mei. I will follow you to the day’s bitter end.

---

Mei: Here we are.

Rie: The observation deck…. I recall my mother brought us here once, many moons ago.

Mei: I do too.

Rie: But…it looks completely different from how I remember it.

Mei: They renovated it a few years ago.

Rie: Ah, did they? Whatever they did, the view outside is still much the same. …It’s beautiful.

Mei: The Skytree wasn’t built yet back then. Tokyo Tower was, though.

Rie: Hehe. Oh, what’s that? A baseball stadium? It’s so much brighter than everything around it. And because of its shape, it looks like the moon.

Rie: Ah! I remember seeing it back then too. It looked so weird to me, the way it glowed so wide and round.

Rie: Ahaha. It looks exactly how it did back then. Do you remember, Mei?

Mei: I do. After that, you suddenly got interested in baseball games. I also remember how you dragged me into it too.

Rie: O-oh, I did?

Mei: You could never win a single game against me, though.

Rie: That goes for all kinds of games, given you…

Mei: That hasn’t changed at all, huh.

Rie: …Hey, Mei. Some people say they look like stars on the ground, but the lights down below…those are all from electricity, huh?

Rie: Lights from buildings, from cars, and even from stoplights. Lights that only exist because humans do… I wonder, how many people am I looking at, right now?

Mei: …This observation deck is 251 m above the ground. Assuming a 6% increase in line of sight due to atmospheric refraction…

Mei: And assuming the Earth is a perfect sphere with a radius of 6378 km, and no obstructions…

Mei: A simple calculation yields a calculated visible distance of 59.98 km, for a visible area of 11,302.32 square kilometres.

Rie: Uhh, sure…so that means…?

Mei: All of Tokyo is easily within range. At least half of each of the neighbouring prefectures of Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa should also be visible.

Rie: W-wait, really?! Mmm, but it’s so dark it’s hard to make out the details.

Mei: It’s simple math.

Rie: …By the way. Why did you want to bring me here today?

Mei: I wanted to go somewhere we went as children. That’s true for both this observation deck as well as earlier on the street.

Rie: …Right.

Mei: Our circumstances have changed quite a bit. AiRBLUE, moving into the dorm…

Rie: …Yes, they sure have. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

Mei: No, not at all.

Mei: And it’s not just our circumstances. Both you and I have changed as well.

Mei: And yet…

Rie: Yeah.

Mei: In this ever-changing world…some things remain constant. Those things are precious too, I think.

Rie: …

Mei: I wanted to look for them today.

Mei: The things that have changed in the sceneries we saw when we were little…

Mei: And the things that haven’t. I wanted to find them both.

Rie: I see.

Rie: …

Rie: …Hehhehhehheh.

Rie: What a fool’s errand you’ve been on! For that which is unchanging has been beside you all along, has it not?! I, the archdemon Ellis!

Rie: I may have taken to consorting with mortals a little more as of late, but demon blood yet courses through my veins. That will not change so easily.

Rie: Even if it is…well…a little troublesome, perhaps, at times!

Mei: …So you noticed.

Rie: Come, let us draw closer to the window.

Rie: Gaze upon all those people kilometres below alongside me!

Rie: And, um…thanks. For today. For planning all of this, to celebrate my nativity.

Mei: Your birthday only comes once a year, after all.

Rie: Hehehe.

Rie: Ahhh, that stadium sure does glow. It’s as if the full moon has crashed down to earth.

Rie: Not only stars on the ground, but the moon as well…people truly can create such beautiful scenery, that much hasn’t changed…

Mei: …Yes. If that’s what you think, Rie…I’m sure it’s true.

Fin.

[orchestrated-haunting]

using my classics degree for good. i cannot wait for 3.0

my notes from my first watch through of "Amphororeus' Saga of Heroes" under the cut. please note that i did this at 8am with minimal double and triple checking of sources

Aglaea- Aglaea in mythology is the child of zeus and is one of the three Charities in Greek myth; according to Dionysiaca she is one of the "dancers of Orchomenus" who tend to Aphrodite. Helped Aphrodite in her attempt to weave better than Athena by holding and passing Aphrodite the yarn. She also acts as Aphrodite's messanger. Her drip marketing also mentioned her connection to romance so her being a stand in for Aphrodite feels like a easy call

Tribbie- hermes or hecate (likely a combination) she's a messenger like hermes, however the description of "the three-faced" is usually used in description of Hecate goddess of the crossroads

Anaxa- likely the athena parallel as said to have enough knowledge to refute faith and is capable of killing gods. this is in line with athena's domains of wisdom and the logical side of combat; eyepatch is similar to odin of norse mythology as he exchanged one of his eyes for all the knowledge in the world; Anax is the attic greek word for "tribal cheif, lord, or military leader"; there are also several notable figures who have the prefix anax- in their name Anaxandridas II (a king of sparta) and anaxagoras and anaxarchus (both philosphers)

Hyacine - name from hyacinthus, lover of apollo and where we get the name of hyacinths from; she also "severs dawn from dusk" which makes me feel more than confident in her being the apollo parallel

Mydei- ares parallel, lion symbolism is common with warriors in ancient greece; hercules wore the skin of a lion he killed. the rest of it is vibes based but look at him; could not find any strong name parallels immediately as both Medea and Midas do not have many war-like contributions; however medea is close enough to mydei in pronunciation. medea was the daughter of Aeetes and lover of Jason from the argonauts and granddaughter to the sun god Helios; fire motifs, could be connection to hephaestus but i'd need more before i make that call; japanese version uses Mydeimos which points to Deimos, the god of terror and twin brother of Phobos the god of fear, both of which are children of Ares and Aphrodite (thank you @/integraseras for connection)

Cipher- fleet-footed hunter and said to "make time stop" while i can't think of any deity that specifically can do that the fleet-footed hunter aspect along with her being feminine strongly implies to me an artemis parallel; "make time stop" is interesting because in some stories and accounts the gods could stop time to communicate with a single hero or person without others noticing their presence

Castorice- "daughter of the river styx" and other death motives makes her almost certainly Hades; this is likely unrelated but one of the twins of the Diocusi (gemini twins) is named Castor however they are the children of Zeus, however castor was born mortal and pollux was born immortal, eventually they made a deal in which they would spend half of the time with the gods and the other half in the underworld

Phainon- couldnt find one of the olympians that fight however the god Phaenon is the sky god of Cronus (the planet Saturn); name means "bright" or "shining"; this could also be our Zeus figure due to Phaenon being called "the star of Jove" (Jove being another name for Zeus in roman myth)

(following names were from the video description but no other info was given)

Hysilens- name possibly comes from the combination of the gods Silenus and Hysminai; silenus is the god of wine, drunkenness, and the forest while also the foster father of Dionysus. Hysminai is the personification of combat; likely stand in for Dionysus

Cerydra- name has some parallels to the hydra the lake monster of Lerna in the Argolid, cer- could possibly (very unlikely) come from cerberus; my money would be on them being the parallel for posideon; the hydra was also one of hercules 12 labors and the lake Lerna was said to be an enterence to the underworld, possibly connecting cerberus in there, as cerberus is the guard dog of the underworld

Two unnamed characters: also there Gods that haven't been explicitly shown: Hera, Hestia, Demeter and Hephaestus. I could see hoyo combining Hera and Hestia into a single character of marriage, hearth and home

Other notes:

the gods were said to have gold blood

Amphoreus from the greek vessel style of a container with a long neck and two handles used to store oil, wine, milk, or grain. Amphorae were sometimes used as grave markers or as containers for funeral offerings or human remains and Amphora was also used as a unit of measure

the titans in the trailer = titans in myth; the conflict that follows is basically the equivalent of the war in mythology between the olympians and the titans

[minimafioso]

Dazai's Star Gazing Card in Mayoi

🧵I love astrology stuff so seeing Dazai's Star Gazing card is interesting! He's the only one talking about stars as directional guides, stories & anecdotes

Btw he's a Gemini!

"It's said that's a constellation of twin brothers" Now I'm imaging Teen Twin Dark Star Gazing

I fell down the rabbit hole and learned quite a bit about the Greek Lore of the Star, Castor and Pollux, the twins (of dif fathers… blame Zeus)

A major theme of this star is the power of brotherly love, duality of life, of mortality and immortality forever intertwined.

Anyway, TL;DR I made Dazai's Star Gazing Card about SKK because I will literally wither and die if I dont make everything about them

[spark-of-teal]

Gem was never meant to be alone. She and Pearl were always intended for each other by the universe.

Gem is a God-like deity, capable of traveling between worlds, as a fickle Gemini does. Pearl is a God-like deity, representing light in other people's lives.

Gem is the manifestation of the Gemini constellation, which itself looks like two people holding hands. The story of Gemini was about two people: Castor (a mortal) and Pollux (an immortal). Castor is Pearl, Pollux is Gem. Gem was always God-like and intended to purposely walk between worlds. Pearl is just one of the characters that shows up in said worlds, except it's different with her. Then Pearl became Godlike at the end of Empires 1 after dying and was worshipped by people in Empires 2, similarly to how Castor was granted immortality by Zeus after dying. Gem was always intended to carry the story of her and Pearl everywhere they went. She was intended for Pearl.

Pearl is the manifestation of light, of the moon. But moons are never on their own. They always have a planet to orbit. They have a sun to reflect light off of. Pearl's a moon, orbiting Gem and lighting her up at night. She was intended for Gem.

Gem is made for Pearl. She’s..well, she’s a Gemini. She’s fickle, and she’s all over the place. Her energy stretches in several directions at once. Pearl is calmer, and more grounded. Her energy is more like a ball that bounces up and down; a set pattern. They balance each other because they were made for each other.

Gem represents duality, adaptability, and change. Pearl represents calm, quiet, and change. They compliment each other. They're different enough that their differences circle around to being similarities. Because they were made for each other.

One is a gem, something beautiful and representing great wealth, and one is a pearl, something unique and rare. And they were made for each other.

@ender1821

[tylermileslockett]

Welcome to Lockett Studio's Cultural Carousel—your weekly dive into the myth, magic, and mystery behind our upcoming art piece! Each week, we explore the deeper stories and symbols that inspire our work, connecting you with the timeless tales that shaped cultures around the world. This week, we'll journey through divine rescues, celestial ascensions, and godly transformations, with a new artwork that brings ancient mythology to life! 1.) Semele Rescued by Dionysus and Brought to Olympus:

Dionysus, born of lightning and tragedy, descends into the Underworld to save his mortal mother, Semele. With divine power and love, he brings her to Olympus, transforming her into the goddess Thyone, where she joins the immortal revelries of the gods.

2.) Hermes Giving Godhood to Asclepius:

Swift-footed Hermes, messenger of the gods, delivers Asclepius, the healer of humanity, to the stars. Upon his death, Zeus grants him godhood, making Asclepius the divine physician whose wisdom transcends mortal boundaries.

3.) Asclepius and His Role in Medicine:

Asclepius, son of Apollo, wields the power to heal, channeling divine knowledge into mortal medicine. Revered as the god of healing, he bridges the realms of life and death, teaching the art of curing ailments and restoring the balance of nature.

4.) The Difference Between Hermes' Caduceus and Asclepius' Staff:

Hermes’ caduceus, entwined with twin snakes and crowned by wings, represents communication, trade, and balance. In contrast, Asclepius’ staff, wrapped by a single serpent, symbolizes healing and the renewal of life through medicine’s ancient wisdom.

5.) Ganymede’s Ascension to Olympus:

Ganymede, the fairest of mortals, is swept up by Zeus in the form of an eagle, ascending to Olympus as the divine cupbearer. Immortalized among the gods, his beauty and grace serve ambrosia to the mighty Olympians for eternity.

6.) Dioscuri Twins Becoming Constellations:

Castor and Pollux, the inseparable Dioscuri twins, share a bond stronger than death itself. When Castor falls, Zeus honors their brotherhood by transforming them into the stars of Gemini, forever shining in the night sky.

7.) Poseidon Helping Leukothea and Palaimon:

Poseidon, lord of the sea, offers sanctuary to Leukothea and her son Palaimon, transforming them into sea deities. Under his protection, they navigate the vast ocean, guiding sailors through treacherous waters with divine mercy.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Timelapse Tuesday, where we'll unveil a behind-the-scenes look at our latest mythic creation in action! 🤟❤️🏛️😁

[seekfelt]

4* Gemini Yachiyo Tsuruhime - Bond Stories

To die together, like Castor and Pollux... Isn't that what we should've been?

The True Esssence of Fear

Location: Siegfeld Rehearsal Room

Yachiyo: (Gemini is a constellation split in two. To express that, this costume has a black-and-white asymmetrical look... The lace and decor work to tie everything together.

That's what I was going for, at least! It'd honestly look better if the top was all-white.)

But two brothers, huh... I'm still not sure whether to play Castor or Pollux at all—)

Karen: WOAH, is that one of the Star Celebrate costumes???

Yachiyo: W—... Jeez, Karen-san!?!?

Karen: Heheheh! Surprised to see little ol' me? Shiori-chan told me you were near, so I thought I'd visit.

I knocked, but nobody answered, so I took a peek!

Yachiyo: That's not~... Why'd you come to Siegfeld?

Karen: What the what? I sent you a text, right??

I was all like, "Thanks for supervising my Taurus! I'd love to talk more about the constellations, so I'll be there!!"

Yachiyo: I didn't get... a text...?

Karen: Huh. HUH.

HUUUUUUUUUUUH????

I'm sorry!! I sent it to Hikari-chan by mistake!!!!!

I got a reply like, "I'll wait. No need to inform beforehand." and I came right here.. but...

Yachiyo: So your first instinct's to always text Hikari-san?

*giggle* That's so cute...! You two must be really good friends♪

Karen: I'm sooo sorry... Now I made Hikari-chan wait too... Maybe I should write up an apology...!?

Yachiyo: Do as you like~ I'm still checking over the costumes, so it'll be a short while before we get to discuss the constellations anyway.

[Some time later]

Karen: *sigh*... There's the metric ton of "Karen, you numbskull"...

Yachiyo: Done with my work♪ So, did Hikari-san forgive you?

Karen: Yup. She said she'll forgive me if I could withstand polishing my tiptoe—... my pointe technique!

Ugh... Hikari-chan's a harsh teacher, though, so! I'll have to prepare myself!!

Yachiyo: ...Sure is nice to feel that way.

Karen: Feel that way...? In what way?

Yachiyo: It's nice to feel supported by your loved ones, I mean!♪

Karen: Ohhh! That! I know right!? Makes me feel like I'm over the moon~!

Karen (Io): "That's why I, Taurus, would like to get a return on that favor.

Tell me the story of you twins, closer than anyone else."

Yachiyo: Aha... ha... Isn't it a bit sudden...

Karen: WDYM?

Yachiyo: Thing is... I'm still a bit unsure on how to play Gemini, so...

Karen: Oh, I see... Being asked to do an etude without a script's always a surprise!

Yachiyo: Exactly. "The constellations shining in the sky will lead you, shooting star, to tomorrow..."

Karen: Mhm! A story about us giving our most precious things, then leading the shooting star onto the next constellation!!

Yachiyo: This "most precious thing" business is a bit vague to me.

Based on the star sign, sure, but then it's up to the performer to choose... You feel?

Karen: Yeah...

Oh, I got it!! If you're having so much trouble, how about we try consulting Gemini directly?

Yachiyo: ...

Karen: Sooo from what I remember, the story of Gemini is—

Yachiyo: ....Originally based on two sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux.

They were very close, but the elder Castor was only a mere mortal. Pollux, the younger, was blessed with the power of the gods, giving him immortality.

In battle, Castor loses his life...

Karen: WHAT?!?

Yachiyo: Lotsa twists and turns in this tale~ Then, in mourning, Pollux begged to his father Zeus:

Yachiyo (Pollux): "I implore you, deal me the same death as my dear brother. We were born together, so I plead to you, for us to die together as well—"

Yachiyo: Touched, Zeus took half of Pollux's divinity and ascended the brothers to the heavens... Theeeee end♪

Karen: O-Oh...

Yachiyo: Ahahaha! A beautiful tale, is it not♪ The love between two brothers is super—

Karen: Y... Yachiyo-chan?

Yachiyo-chan... why are you crying?

Yachiyo: Huh...?

Even if Thousands of Years Were to Pass[1]

Yachiyo: I'm... crying...?

O-Oh!! I am!! Why the hell am I crying on my own... Ahaha, sorry, this is embarrassing~

Karen: Yachiyo-chan...

Yachiyo: Um. You see... I'm not really the type to discuss things like these with others... so I end up just monologuing.

There's another precious half of "me".

She'd stand on stage beside me when nobody would... Ever since I was a kid, she guided and protected my heart.

Karen: Just like me and Hikari-chan!!!

Yachiyo: Wow~ Do we really compare to such a lovely relationship?

But, yes, close enough... She was just that important to me, like she was the stage itself.

A lot's happened, though. Now she's watching me from the audience—

Karen: The audience... So she isn't with you on stage anymore?

Yachiyo: Yeah! I've made some great friends, and I've found the place where I belong, so she conceded "that" spot in my life to them.

But that's exactly why—I'm scared.

Karen: Scared?

Yachiyo: After staying with me all these years, I wonder how she looks at me now.

From the audience, she can see me. But when I'm on stage? It's so bright, I can't even see her... That's why I'm so scared.

Karen: ...

Yachiyo: Is it really okay for me to be the one enjoying these brilliant days?

For me to be surrounded by my friends? Clashing with them?

For me to be the only one moving on with my life?

To die together, like Castor and Pollux... Isn't that what we should've been?

I just can't help but worry... How does she view me now? Is she angry, perhaps—

Karen: YOU'RE FINE!!!!!!!

Yachiyo: Huh...?

Karen: You said she's like the stage itself for you, right? That must definitely 100% mean.... You're fine!!!!!

'Cuz I know Yachiyo-chan loves the stage VERY, VERY MUCH!!!!!

Yachiyo: Y-You're being pushy...

I'm just saying she might hate me now. If my "most precious" feels that way, I...

Karen (Io): "Let's hear it, then, Gemini... From the other you."

Yachiyo: !!

Karen (Io): "Your story, your way of life... Tell me this, and the 'most precious thing' born from it."

Yachiyo: ...I—

???? (Castor): "You wanna know how I feel about my li'l bro? I'm MAD! He's being an idiot!"

Karen (Io): "Of course, that anger..."

???? (Castor): "I knew he wanted to die with me! I know!! But I wanted him to LIVE FOR ME!!"

Karen (Io): "*chuckle*... Just as I thought!"

???? (Castor): "He better get that in his thick little head, yeah? I know he can, worrying over me so damn much."

"But y'know... It cheers me up, seeing him look at me that way."

Karen (Io): "It does?"

???? (Castor): "Whenever that kid thinks of me, our hearts begin to form a harmony.

We are a pair of stars. Do you know the name of the radiance that unites two into one?"

Karen (Io): "This radiance... Could you tell me?"

???? (Castor): "*giggle* Yes! Of course, I'll tell you. Our most precious thing to give to the Shooting Star—"

???? & Yachiyo (Castor & Pollux): "Its name... is love."

This is related to Yachiyo and Chitose's names. Yachiyo means "eternity" while Chitose means "a thousand years". The "chi" in both names is the 千 (thousand) in the title of the bond story.

[2d-dreams]

Pollux Codex

In this post I'm going to go reeeally in depth into Pollux's name and what it meant since the beginning. I'll tackle both "meta" (symbolism, foreshadowing, etcetera) reasons and why Pollux himself would choose it ::)

Warning this is like a super super long post. I am insane.

Section 1: Who is Pollux?

It is necessary to know first and foremost who this lil guy is. I mean. I don't think anyone who isn't in "The Arts of Being"'s mini-fandom is going to wind up reading this,.. so I guess it'll be quick!

Pollux is a Hexagon who, back in Flatland, really loved history (and interestingly enough, eventually was to repeat it from the very beginning, tracing back to Flatland's 'Big bang') — His real name is Paul Schwarz, but he uses his codename, Pollux Codex, and has earned the title "The Hexed" post-TAoB.

Pollux became an Apostle of the Gospel of Higher Dimensions, supposed to enlighten his world along with Bill.

Section 2: Why did he choose the name?

Pollux chose the name because it is related to his main interests! Pollux is a character in Greek mythology (while greeks or their mythology may not exist exactly in Flatland, this is still important.. maybe he translated the name from that of an actual character of an ancient mythology and saw that it had the same attributes as the Pollux of Greek mythos so thats why he uses it in our language? idk give me a Break) and a codex is an ancient manuscript text, tied in to history and his love for reading.

Codex, with the x removed, is Code, like a secret code - reference to Bill's codename, Cipher.

Also, both Pollux and Codex have 'x' in them, and Pol REALLY loves how that letter sounds. ks. ks. ks. ks. Also loves the sound of 'k', but clicking doesn't have a lot of positive connotations according to Flatlanders.

And, of course, it sounds really cool, somewhat similar to his real name [fun fact: i did not realize that Paul and Pol are probably pronounced the same.. perks of not being a native english speaker] and goes along nicely with Bill Cipher.

Section 3: Pollux

On to the interesting part! The meaning behind the names.

Yes this section and everything below was written like 5 days after everything above lol.

Pollux in Greek Mythology is known, along with his twin brother Castor, as the gods (together called Dioscuri) of twins, horsemanship and sailors.

Pollux is immortal, whilst his twin Castor is a mortal. Castor is killed, and Pollux asks his father, who is a god, to share his immortality with his brother. Once turned immortal together, they both become stars, stars that sailors use to guide themselves at sea.

Twins

Twins and duality are a reocurring thing in both Gravity Falls and The Arts of Being. In Gravity Falls there are Dipper+Mabel, Stanford+Stanley, and there is discussion of an entity that is 'the opposite of Bill', in the fandom said to be either the Oracle or the Axolotl.

The twins theme is reinforced on accident by the interpretation of The Olden Days of Bill's last words, where people thought he was invoking Xolotl, aztec god of fire and lightning, twin of Quetzalcoatl, and also god of twins, illness, deformities, and monsters, but also an important part of the creation myth of the mythology. Quetzalcoatl, on the other hand, represents life, light, wind, rain, civilization and knowledge.

These two gods are also a great inspiration for what later on become the roles of Pollux and Bill in the new mythologies of the Exwhylians, Ypwherenians and Zetwhatians, is referenced through things like Bill's association with fire and Irregularity being important in his story, and Pollux's love for rain and later on how he became the foundation of the new civilizations.

and it's also a lovely reference to my homeland México ::3 !!!

In The Arts of Being, this twin situation is mirrored. Bill's father and uncle, Caesar William+Arrhenius William Campbell are twins. A. Square, author of Flatland, and B. Square are twins in TAoB. However Bill and Pollux themselves.. don't seem to have their own twins.

For Bill, either he has a twin that he does not know of, or his twin bond is with Liam, his adoptive older brother. He is very close to him, so who says they can't have the twin bond?

When it comes to Pollux, he actually had a twin. One that existed for little time. (Yet another thing I should add in the rewrite, because while it was always a thing I knew, I never really mentioned it and it bugs me). Basically, while in the womb he had a twin, one that early on merged with him. Had this not happened, Pollux would've been a pair of Pentagon boys instead of one Hexagon. Pollux himself sees his mind as 'two brothers trying their best to pilot one body'.

The twins of Gravity Falls are often seen as opposites, like Xolotl and Quetzalcoatl, Stanley and Stanford with the 'strong dumb' vs 'smart and shy' etc. Bill's father and uncle have a similar dynamic even down to their children - Caesar had an Irregular son and whatever the hell's going on with Bill, while Arrhenius had three perfectly regular and successful Square sons.

Bill and Pollux both become part of their duality through their close relationship, despite not being twins, they are undoubtedly sticking together forever after losing their 'counterparts'. Bill's the outgoing dream demon who lies just because he can, who's purpose becomes that of 'liberating' each dimension, while Pollux is the quieter dream angel - oneiraph - who only lied in an attempt to protect himself, eventually becoming the builder of the new Flatlands. There are more details, like their color pallette outside of Flatland, with Bill having a golden body and blue fire, while Pollux has a blue body with yellow fire, the associations with fire vs rain, etc.

Horsemanship and Sailors

Neither Pollux nor Bill have any interactions with horses, and the sea doesn't even exist in Flatland. How does this tie in to TAoB, too? Well, in a more symbolic way, just like how Bill and Pol themselves have no biological living twins.

Well I'm going to ignore the horsemanship part because. Yeah. But, as for the sailor part. Their sea is that of extradimensional knowledge.

Pollux and Castor, once turned into stars, are used as reference by sailors to guide themselves at sea. If you refuse to use any sort of guide while at sea, you are likely to get lost and eventually die. Pollux and Bill 'become stars' as they ascend into what would be the sky if Flatlanders had one, when A. Shape and A. Sphere pull them three-dimensionally-upwards in order to turn them into their Apostles of Higher Dimensionality.

As 'stars' (Apostles), they are supposed to guide the Flatlanders to enlightenment - to survival. But ignored, ridiculed and imprisoned for this, Bill ends up accepting A. Shape's deal and liberating the dimension under the excuse that they had not allowed themselves to be guided.

Beyond Dead Flatland, they still are guides for those who follow them - those who seek chaos and destruction and fun follow Bill, and those who seek higher knowledge follow Pollux, Apostle of the Axolotl itself.

Section 4: Codex

Guys I'm starting to get tired of writing so much but I'm still hyped up. Excuse the decaying quality I am no longer talking about aztec/mexica gods.

Codex, an ancient manuscript, is a reference to the Book of Three Dimensions/the OG Flatland written by A. Square/Mr. Abbott (and Gravity Falls' Journals).

Codices are usually amongst the few things we have available to know about ancient cultures, their traditions, etcetera. Pollux in the end of The Arts of Being becomes a living codex of his own lost world, being the last person within Time and Space that knows of Bill's full origin and the old culture of Flatland, along with being the one to build history of several dimensions afterwards.

Pollux as the Apostle of the Axolotl isn't only restricted to the Second Dimensional Worlds, but he also learns of many, many worlds and dimensions beyond them, becoming one of the wisest and most ancient creatures of Timespace.

Section 5: The Hexed

Pollux earns this title thousands of years after The Arts of Being, a title that has an unknown origin in universe, whispered in awe across dimensions.

"The Hexed" is, first and foremost.. a pun. Hexed. Hex. Hexagon. he is a hexagon. euehehehehehhe im so sorry.

A hex is sort of like a curse. Pollux feels cursed, hexed - he survived the death of his entire universe, but he suffers. Everyone he ever knew, every book he ever read, each and every single innocent person died, and he feels responsible for it, and it haunts him.

He hopes that Bill can be redeemed, that he really will return to the Axolotl, but his hope is stretching very thin as millions of years pass by and Pollux is still there, painfully remembering everything.

And he also feels horrible for yearning for Bill so badly because he knows, he's completely aware that Bill isn't out there spreading love and kindness in the multiverse, he knows he causes suffering just for funsies and he hates himself for wanting to give him a second chance after all that has happened, and at the same time, feels ungrateful for wanting to undo his destruction, because that would also imply the destruction of his dear Exwhylia, Ypwherenia, Zetwhatia, of undoing all the good deeds he's done as an angel, of never giving Providence and Nature the relief of knowing that the descendants of their world are in good vertices.

[autisticempathydaemon]

in a sky full of stars (I think I see you)

Chapter Two: Le Potage

tags: Lasko/OC, nb!empathy daemon OC who uses they/them pronouns, background Freelancer/Gavin, mentions of disordered eating and unhealthy relationship dynamics in later chapters

It’s the classic story of boy meets girl… except “girl” is more of a genderless being of pure empathy magic and “boy” is the sweet air elemental professor who literally doesn’t know they exist.

Also available to read on AO3

<- Previous chapter | Next chapter ->

If asked what eternal life is like, Bee would not know how to answer. How can they when the only company available to them is other d(a)emons, their companions in this long, unchanging existence? Bee has never had to contemplate immortality, the length of it, the monotony of it. So when Lasko Moore enters their life in a flurry of spring breezes and flushed cheeks and delicious delight, Bee is surprised to feel like their life has finally begun.

Days remain always the blissful, benign, boring same. Newly coalesced daemons are still enthusiastic and vibrant; they are excited to learn, and Bee is still excited to take them into Elegy to teach them. The little stars still bounce off everything and everyone, making friends with mortal children as easily as breathing, soothing scraped knees, and consuming candied, childish joy. Despite the long-held title of teacher, they’re really just a glorified babysitter, keeping an eye on human and daemon children alike as they play. Small Pollux and Castor still get to hold hands with their charge, get to talk to her, get to be seen, and hovering, invisible Bee still watches.

The nights are what have really changed, when they get to feel like they no longer just exist but get to live . The little ones rift back to Aria, sated and delighted, and Bee stays in Elegy to get their fill. 

The eccentric daemon has always enjoyed their escapades through the human world. Aria, though gorgeous and comfortable and home, lacks so many things the mortal realm has in abundance. Everywhere Bee turned, there were new smells and sounds and tastes and sights like nothing they’d ever seen before. The first time they saw cotton candy at a fair, a man spinning sugar and light out of thin air without magic, they had been spellbound and have been ever since. Every opportunity they have, they take to explore and discover the newest thing this world has for them to taste, and there is nothing newer or better than the cornucopia feast that is Lasko Moore. 

Bee thought it couldn’t get any sweeter than the night the stray campus cat let the fidgety air elemental pet her. The daemon had needed to use a little push to get the creature to stay still- nothing nefarious, of course, just a little serenity magic they picked up from a colleague, equivalent to a little catnip and sunlight- but the small thing hadn’t even needed it when Lasko finally laid a gentle, tentative hand on its head. Bee couldn’t taste or feel its feline bliss, but they could see the way its body relaxed beneath his petting, could hear the pleased purring from its belly. They could taste the contentment drifting off Lasko like applewood-smoked barbeque: warm, heady, delectable, coiling around their brain until they were boneless and dangling in the air with loopy pleasure. The empathy daemon thought they’ve could never experience anything more wonderful-

-until the next week, a cozy Friday night where Bee sat in on one of Lasko’s classes. They’ve never quite taken to crowds like some of their kind had, finding the sheer variety and inconsistency of emotions overwhelming, but it was worth it to watch the way Lasko dons the title of Professor so wonderfully. His frenetic energy works well in the classroom, his pacing up and down the aisles keeping all eyes on him and letting him stop by each desk to answer questions with a helpful smile. As the last of his students filed out, Lasko slumped in his desk chair with a drained, contented satisfaction that permeated the lecture hall with a rich, luxurious flavor like melted chocolate, and Bee felt they could float through the very ceiling, could buzz right out of their skin, could never find anything better-

-until two weeks later, when Bee finally got to watch a D&D session. There were a lot more numbers and scribbling on sheets and arguing than the daemon had thought there’d be, but Lasko seemed to be having fun, diffusing the whole room with an anticipation as fizzy and sweet as pop rocks. That feeling only builds throughout the night with each roll and spell and saving throw, and Bee is starting to feel buzzed with the most delicious sugar rush when the night reaches its climax. The actual plot eludes them, something about a necromancer king and his legion; all the daemon knows is that the flavor of the room soon takes a sour turn. Lasko’s face is tense and pinched in concentration, a stream of nervous rambling humming under his breath while he fiddles with the die in his hand. When he casts it on the table, eyes closed in anxious suspense, putting the fate of his party in god’s hands, Bee makes the impulsive decision to take it in their own. 

It takes only a magical drop in the ocean to twist the die from one side to another, from the 14 to the 20, but it unlocks an emotional floodgate of exquisite euphoria from Lasko that could have fed all of Aria. If asked later, Bee could not tell anyone what the critical success did in the story or what his character managed to do. All they can clearly recall is the way Lasko threw his hands in the air, tossed his head back, and laughed with a complete, utter delight and abandon that pushed the daemon over the precipice of tipsy into a dizzy drunkenness.

Eventually, Bee comes to terms with the fact that Lasko Moore is full of surprises. As wonderful amazing transcendent as he may feel one day, the air elemental always finds a way to shock them with the depth and complexity of his joy, and they’ve learned to eagerly anticipate the unexpected.

Even now, a normal Tuesday evening like any other, just sitting in his office with his laptop and paperwork, the raven-haired man is simply, divinely, inexplicably happy. Lasko flips his pencil in between his fingers when he’s not filling out forms with peaceful humming and muttering, and Bee loves to perch on the windowsill behind him, basking in both warm sunset light and his sweet contentment.

“I wonder if I should open up the class to more students,” he mumbles, fiddling with his glasses as he speaks. “It’d be more work for me, but there’s room in the classroom and in my schedule. Surely I can handle the extra workload?”

“ Wouldn’t recommend that, sugar,” Bee hums lazily, pushing on the pen with their magic so Lasko doesn’t accidentally fling it across the room. They don’t want him to hear, so he doesn’t, but he shakes his head all the same, wrinkling his nose at the computer screen. 

“No, I shouldn’t overload myself again. The amount of sessions I’m already holding will be a lot given Gavin attending- oh, god-“ Bee chews on the sweet, sour, salted plum flavor of Lasko’s flustered, anxious pleasure- what a combo- and has only a moment to note the familiarity of that name when rift magic ripples through the room. 

“Thinking of lil ol’ me, Professor?” Gavin says in that low, sultry tone he’s perfected before artfully draping himself over a chair. The beams of sunshine illuminate his tawny, golden-brown skin in a way the incubus knows flusters every human who lays eyes on him, so when Lasko sputters and stutters, hands wringing, that’s typical. He’s used to seeing the shy, sweet air elemental fall to pieces, especially when his shirt rides up just so. 

What he’s not used to seeing is onyx and emerald sheep horns and ponytail peeking over the top of Lasko’s chair as a bashful empathy daemon tries and fails to hide from him. 

[nervousstarlightobserver]

Okay so here’s the twins new lore…

Since it ended up in a three way tie, I’ll just use all three in one way or another. Just so you guys don’t get confused, I’ll label which ones which. I will also break down their lore into two parts

New -> (Old) -> [Oldest] —Story wise at least

Crowley (Cain) [Castor]; Didn’t mean to give him all C names

Montoya (Abel) [Pollux]

Castor’s Story

Their shared “name” is S-Hawk (Pending. Will change later). But since Vegapunk only expected one and not two they decided to have a little side project. Project Gemini.

He wanted to see how different/similar the twins would be considering Mihawk is—presumably—an only child. These were relatively tame by comparison to his other stuff. He’d test them together and separated just to see the results. The two of them became close while they were under Vegapunk’s care. They were raised fairly normal while under Vegapunk. They also gained their first name—their “birth” name. Castor and Pollux. It was given to them by one of Vegapunk’s assistants. They told them the story of their name and why they were called Project Gemini.

Castor and Pollux were a pair of twins boys with their twin sisters Helen and Clytemnestra. One immortal (Pollux and Clytemnestra) and one mortal (Castor and Helen). The immortal twin was a child of Zeus and the mortal twin was a child of Tyndareus, the King of Sparta. As the twin boys grew older they became great hunters and sailors {For the sake of the story, they aren’t horse riders. I know this, but them being horse riders does not make sense in the Context of One Piece}. One day, while Castor was on lookout, he was ambushed by his cousins Idas and Lynceus and was fatally wounded—but not before warning his brother of the ambush. Pollux avenged his brother, with the help from his immortal father and Pollux returned to his dying brother and was given a choice by Zeus. Join him and ascend to Mount Olympus OR share half of his immortality with his brother. He chose to share his immortality and they became the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini.

The Punks were less than thrilled when they discovered that their assistant named them, but they gave the justification that they called them Project Gemini and it would be fitting. It would also solve the whole shared name thing that had been confusing the hell out of them. But, they accepted as just another unexpected turn in life and the twins kept their names.

Castor was enthralled by the myth. He wanted to be just as great of a hunter as his mythological counterpart and be as brave to protect his Pollux. Whether it was just nominative determinism or the piece of Mihawk that made him so stubborn, it made him excel under pressure. He thrived in a competitive environment. And it wasn’t unnoticed as the WG stepped in.

They wanted to go further. Push the limits of the Seraphim Units to the absolute max. So they wanted to reflect that change in S-Hawk by changing Project Gemini to The Rebirth Project.

Castor and Pollux also had their names changed to Cain and Abel.

Cain was placed under heavy scrutiny as he was seen as the “stronger” twin by the WG. His more aggressive and competitive nature was seen as ideal compared to his more mild mannered twin. They cultivated his more aggressive behaviors while Abel was put more on the back burner. He wasn’t necessarily treated any better, he just didn’t have the expectation of Mihawk’s legacy weighing on his shoulders.

They wanted to stress test just how far they could take it. They kept the twins together to make Abel a bargaining chip. Either do what they ask or he gets punished.

If you don’t do this, he’ll get it instead.

Do you want to be separated?

Unfortunately, they underestimated just how stubborn Cain was. He became more uncooperative towards them and would fight back at every chance he got. He would: bite, scratch, kick, scream, anything so they couldn’t ignore him. Anything to not make them hurt his brother. They put up with it till Cain received his devil fruit. They originally wanted both the twins to recive the same devil fruit just to keep everything the same in the case of losing Cain, but with how badly (or how well) Cain took to the devil fruit he became impossible to control with Abel still around. He was always overprotective of him and they almost succeeded as he cut the building in half making it easier for them to run away. His name is Castor and he will protect his brother.

If only they weren’t so young.

Their wings were little more than baby fuzz. No feathers to speak of. Complely useless to them. They were so close too. They were lucky that they weren’t caught early on. They were always fast. And they were about to reach the exit before they were hit with a tranquilizer.

They never saw each other again after that.

After Cain woke up, he found himself in solitary confinement to “cool down.” He spent his days in solitary slamming against the door screaming until he was knocked and started the cycle all over again. The walls, floors, and door were all sea stone. It was the first time he felt the effects of having a devil fruit. Another nail in the coffin to remind him of his failure to protect Pollux.

He was stripped of both his names and became just S-Hawk.

The tests became more grueling and punishing. His rebellious attitude being beaten out of him. This only served to piss him off even more. They want to control him? Well then…game on. In one test, he was forced to face off against several other swordsman and defeat them all in combat. Normally, he could’ve easily cut them down not problem. But that wasn’t what happened. Instead, he threw his sword to the ground and tore them. Limb. From. Limb. He turned his fingers and teeth into blades and lunged at the first guy, tearing out his throat and gouging out his eyes. The next guy had his arm rip off and was gutted where S-Hawk used his entrails to strangle the third guy. He continued his slaughter before turning his attention to the researchers. He easily broke through the protective glass and quickly dispatched as many of them as he could before being sedated.

Over the course of his “training” several more “accidents” occurred and deemed S-Hawk too unstable to continue in the Rebirth Project. He was placed under maximum security in solitaire confinement so that he would never, unless absolutely necessary, be released again. Until Vegapunk created the control chip. While being forced to create a control chip for Kuma, the WG modified his design to optimize control over the Seraphim Units. But to test the accuracy of the chip they needed a test dummy. And who better than their failed magnum opus.

S-Hawk was the first to receive the chip. After several, painful failed attempts they were able to get a semi-working copy of Kuma’s control chip that wouldn’t automatically kill them. And so, Cain was placed back in the Rebirth Project. The control chip doesn’t actually control them—at least not fully. It essentially forces their main consciousness to take a backseat leaving them in a constant state of dissociation. They are fully aware of their actions, they are just not able to control them.

After S-Hawk’s reintroduction, they finally decided to move on to the next step of their “evolution.” All of the seraphim units were given a general cybernetic upgrade and one specialized one. S-Hawk’s specialization was his eyes. They believed they could make it better. After all, it is Mihawk’s most notable trait.

It goes horribly wrong.

They wanted to be able to see S-Hawk’s emotional state and be able to make him a reliable security unit by making it possible to see through his eyes. These “upgrades” shot his range and made his vision worse. They also overheated easily causing him physical pain as it burned his eye sockets. And when he discovered that his eyes now changed color giving away any and all his emotions; it destroyed any and all hope for escape.

The only good thing to come out of these experiments was when he saw Abel in a hallway before he was swiftly ushered away to his next assignment.

Fast forward all the way to Egghead Island. After everything is said and done. Hawk, Snake, Bear, and Shark are now hitch hiking with the Strawhats as Egghead is set ablaze. Now free from the chip they can now just be people now.

He doesn’t know to be a person anymore.

Both of his names are larger than life. Literal myths that he was tasked with embodying. And yet he failed both times. Castor was supposed to die for his brother and Cain was supposed to kill his. And he did neither of these. He was too weak to be Castor. Too soft to be Cain. But what else was left otherwise?

He knew he didn’t want to be S-Hawk either. The only name he was certain of giving up. Then again he never considered it his name. It was always too impersonal and dehumanizing to be called…that. He didn’t want to live up to the expectation of Mihawk, he never wanted to in the first place! He was tired of living up to these larger than life legacies that he just couldn’t measure up too anymore.

So he chose Crowly. The name of an occultist that was then later used for the name of a fallen angel.

He had failed every single legacy he was ever given. He had always fallen short of it every time. Not fast enough. Not angry enough. Never strong enough. So what part of being a fallen angel could he disappoint? He had already failed three times in a row. What’s one more.

[abwatt]

Ineffable Husbands = Dioscuri?

Back in the Hellenistic era in the Mediterranean littoral, there were two deities called the Dioscuri, who always appeared in pairs. They were called the Dioscuri, or "Sons of Zeus", but that Dios should remind you of "deus" in Latin and "dios" in Spanish, the word for God.

In Greek and Latin, these paired gods were also called the Gemini — the Twins: Castor and Pollux (Polyduces) eventually became Cosmas and Damian, the physician-saints of Christianity; and there's an argument to be made that the authors of the Gospels at least paralleled them in the story of the twin Apostles, the Sons of Zebedee, James and John.

the story of Castor and Pollux is that they were the children of a god, but one was born fully mortal and the other was born fully divine; so one was doomed to die and go into Hades; and one was fated to live forever, and join the gods in everlasting light on Mount Olympus. Unwilling to be denied his brother forever, the immortal one appealed to Zeus to share half of his immortality with his brother and take on half of his brother's mortality. Accordingly they live partly in Olympus and partly in Hades — and are the special and peculiar helpers of humanity, whose particular sufferings and foibles they share and understand far more deeply than either gods or spirits or angels can.

And it occurs to me, as I watch Good Omens and Good Omens 2, that Aziraphale and Crowley are an archetype of the Cosmas and Damian model, of the James and John sons of Zebedee model, and of the Castor and Pollux model. Half in the celestial realm, half in the infernal, they are the peculiar and special helpers of humanity, whose experiences they understand and sympathize with far more deeply than gods or spirits or angels can.

[starconstellationsforfrida]

Name: Gemini (Latin for “twins”)

Best sight: February

Brightest stars: Pollux & Castor

Story: Gemini represents the mythological twins, Castor and Pollux, from Greek mythology. According to the legend, Castor was mortal and Pollux was immortal, being the son of Zeus. When Castor died, Pollux was devastated and asked Zeus to let them stay together. Zeus placed both brothers in the sky as the constellation Gemini, symbolizing their eternal bond.

The constellation has been known since ancient times, with roots in Babylonian and Egyptian astronomy as well. It contains two bright stars, Castor and Pollux, which represent the heads of the twins. Throughout history, Gemini has been associated with themes of duality, partnership, and brotherhood in various cultures.

[vegetablejester]

Its funny as fuck to have two pairs of twins in two stories named after Castor and Pollux in WoH and my FE Fates stuff. Tho tbh the Fates twins follow the theme a lot more. Both of them are horseback riders, Pollux is more defensively themed in terms of how he'd work mechanically and story-wise while his brother is more focused on offence and has his life threatened a lot more in the story. Ie the immortal one and the mortal one. Though inevitably one has to sacrifice something for the other, and it'll be a bloody affair. There's also a bit of Prince and the Pauper stuff going on with them too, they're identical twins who would switch places sometimes as kids, and in the story they switch places on occasion during the war in order to try and direct it in certain directions dependent on their individual strengths

[swornfate]

who: natasha romanoff & jacaerys velaryon @wcnderfulthings where: sunset cove

“have you ever heard the story of castor and pollux before?” jacaerys lifts his head from the book he's reading, the contents of which are hitting just a bit too close to home. “they were brothers, apparently, but one of them, castor, was mortally wounded in a fight. while he lay dying, the other brother offered to share his immortality with him so that he might keep his brother's spirit alive.” he swallows thickly, the reminder of lucerys still weighing on him. “anyway, the gods were so moved by his sacrifice that they reunited the two brothers in the stars, immortalizing them forever in the constellation called gemini.” with a shake of his head, jacaerys shuts the book in his hand, feeling no desire to continue anymore. “how maudlin…”

[infjtarot]

Lovers. Mystic Spiral Tarot

Themes and Keywords Analysis. Division and union. Choice. Choosing one’s fate. Reception of inspiration. The Emperor and Empress. The Other. Contradiction. Separation creates awareness of other. Binaries. Twins: mortal and immortal. Fruit of knowledge has a mortal price. Astrology/Element In the air sign of Gemini, what is born after the fertile sign of Taurus now takes its first steps, discovers the other, and is presented with variety. Last in our spring triad comes mutable air sign Gemini, the Twins. Mutable signs morph as the element becomes more ethereal. At the end of the sign, the season will change into summer at solstice as the sign changes to Cancer.16 Castor and Polydeuces (Pollux), known as the Dioscuri, or “sons of god,” are the alpha and beta stars of the constellation Gemini, from antiquity associated with twins. Their heads are positioned between the claws of the crab and the whip of the charioteer (which may explain the difficulties of the 7, 8, and 9 of Swords). In Egypt they represented a pair of sprouting seeds. Gemini’s glyph looks like the Roman numeral two. Two I’s, twins, two pillars. When any two “I’s” get together, the result is some form of communication. Gemini is ruled by the master communicator, Mercury, the Magus, and the sign takes on his characteristic wit, curiosity, and oration. Skilled applications of speech are a given, and wise operations of the word are the goal. The Lovers are the “Children of the Voice (Divine)” and the “Oracle of the Mighty Gods.” At its most sublime, Gemini’s goal is to unite in the service of creative union, whether twin souls or just the mind united with itself or with divinity. Gemini rules the nervous system, the sensory function, and the arms, hands, and lungs. Forever seeking the next experience, Gemini reaches out to the world with its senses and makes choices. Gemini is the sign of explorations of the ever-restless mind. Gemini’s motto is “I think.” The mind’s job is division and analysis, intellectually separating the viewed from the viewer. The mind asks how it can recombine them to greater benefit. Mythology/Alchemy The Hermetic Marriage and the alchemical processes separatio and solve et coagula are embedded in the symbolism of the Lovers card. Manly P. Hall says of the Hermetic Marriage, “Spirit itself knows no polarity, but manifests as polarity to the accomplishment of the Great Work.” Gemini is the third sign, and the most resonant with the third of the seven alchemical processes: separation, the stage prior to conjunction. (The seven stages are calcination, dissolution, separation, conjunction, fermentation, distillation, and coagulation.) Separation isolates the parts that arose from dissolution and discards those rejected. Solve et coagula describes these processes as solve, to break down, and coagula, to recombine, assumedly in a higher form. Twin gods and stories of sibling mythology are numerous; we have almost too many choices.18 The twin and twin gods were often guardians flanking doorways and entrances. To state the saying backwards, when one door opens, another closes. When we make a choice, something is rejected. Castor and Pollux were born from an egg laid by Queen Leda of Sparta after her union with Zeus disguised as a swan. Usually Castor was described as the son of Leda’s husband, and thus mortal, with Pollux as the son of Zeus. When Castor dies, Pollux gives up half of his immortality to his brother. The twins were members of the crew of the Argonaut on its quest for the Golden Fleece. Through Poseidon’s blessings, they were made the protectors of sailors. Susan T. Chang

[paramedicabroad]

Valle dei Templi

Embark with me on a digital exploration through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Valle dei Templi in Sicily, Italy. Let's wander among the colossal ruins and majestic temples that bear witness to the grandeur of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Valle dei Templi, the Valley of the Temples, invites you to immerse yourself in a landscape where the whispers of gods and the echoes of history are woven into the very fabric of the land.

In 1997, Valle dei Templi received UNESCO World Heritage status, acknowledging its outstanding universal value and the need to protect this exceptional archaeological site. This designation ensures that the ancient temples and their stories continue to be preserved for future generations.

Stand in awe before the Temple of Concordia, one of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples in the world. Named after the Roman goddess of harmony, this architectural masterpiece is a symbol of the balanced proportions and exquisite craftsmanship of the ancient Greeks.

Explore the Temple of Juno, dedicated to the queen of the Roman pantheon. Majestically positioned on a hill, this temple offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, creating a sacred space that connects the earthly realm to the heavens.

Discover the Temple of Heracles, a structure dedicated to the mighty hero of ancient mythology. Though partially in ruins, the remaining columns and fragments evoke the strength and resilience that characterized both Heracles and the ancient city of Akragas.

Stroll through the Olympeion Fields, an expansive archaeological park that extends beyond the temples. Marvel at the remnants of ancient streets, sanctuaries, and public buildings, providing a glimpse into the daily life of the ancient city.

Visit the Temple of Castor and Pollux, dedicated to the divine twins born of Leda and immortalized in the stars. The iconic Dioscuri, known for their bravery and loyalty, stand as a symbol of protection over this ancient sanctuary.

Witness how Valle dei Templi remains a living link to antiquity, attracting visitors from around the world to marvel at its splendors. Today, cultural events, festivals, and celebrations breathe new life into this sacred valley, creating a vibrant connection between the past and the present.

In conclusion, Valle dei Templi invites us to tread the sacred ground where gods and mortals once communed. When you're ready for a digital pilgrimage through the remnants of ancient glory, Valle dei Templi promises to immerse you in a world where history, myth, and nature converge. 🏛️🌿✨🇮🇹

[prismatranslates-cue]

Rie [Sabbath of Castor] Part 1

Rie: Eloim, Essaim, Eloim, Essaim, frugativi et appelavi! [1] 

Rie: Heheheh….Hark! For this night is the eve of my nativity. At this very hour we must needs confirm the proceedings for the ceremony of my earthly nascence.

Rie: And so! I summon thee, blood of my blood. Heed my voice and appear before me at once!

Mei: You called?

Rie: I sure did! That was quick.

Mei: I figured it was best to get it over with.

Mei: Otherwise you would have kept messaging me with those weird incantations.

Mei: So, what is it?

Rie: I was wondering if you were, er…doing anything tomorrow?

Mei: I am, as a matter of fact. I’ll be doing something very important.

Rie: O-oh…I see. That’s, um…that’s disappointing, but it happens…

Mei: Disappointing? I’ll be celebrating your ‘nativity’.

Rie: Huh?

Mei: After all this time, you hardly need to ask if I’m doing anything on your birthday.

Rie: Oh…oho! I see now! So that is what you meant!

Mei: Is that why you wanted to talk to me?

Rie: Yes, I wanted to confirm if we would be spending the day together…

Mei: I have it all planned out. I won’t tell you where we’re going, but all you need to do is follow me.

Rie: Huh? I don’t think you’ve done anything like that before. What’s brought this on, Mei?

Mei: …Tomorrow.

Rie: Tomorrow?

Mei: We’ll talk about it tomorrow, if an opportunity arises.

Rie: Oh, sure… I’m not sure I understand, but! I leave tomorrow in your capable hands.

Mei: Good. We’re not going particularly far, so we’ll leave around noon.

Mei: …Will that be all? I have clan wars to get back to.

Rie: Y-yeah. Sorry for interrupting you.

Mei leaves.

Rie: I don’t have any idea what she’s planning, but it sounds like she’s put a lot of thought into it. I’m looking forward to it.

Rie: Hehe. I wonder where she’ll take me.

---

Mei: Here we are.

Rie: It’s Ikebukuro! Gosh, it sure has been a while.

Mei: We used to come here all the time when we were younger.

Rie: Indeed. It was but a single train ride away, after all.

Mei: At first, your mother would take us.

Rie: Yeah.

Mei: And then, when we were old enough to go by ourselves, it was just the two of us.

Rie: I guess we kind of just stopped going after we moved to the dorm?

Mei: Indeed. That is why I chose it as the site for our celebration of your nativity.

Rie: Makes sense.

Mei: Follow me.

Mei: Oh, and…here.

Rie: What’s this? A parasol?

Mei: The sun’s UV rays are stronger than you’d think in the winter. The light of the sun is the bane of the children of darkness, is it not?

Rie: That’s true! I should have brought one too.

Mei: You tend to forget the finishing touches like that.

Rie: Ngh…

Rie: Huh? What about you?

Mei: I only brought the one. Today’s all about you, so you should use it.

Rie: I can’t just leave you high and dry! Here, there’s plenty of room for both of us. Come on in.

Mei: …Okay.

To be continued...in Part 2

---

Notes

The card title alludes to Castor, a figure from Greek myth and one of the Dioscuri twins along with his brother Pollux. In their most popular stories, Castor was fully human and mortal while Pollux was immortal and a son of Zeus. They are also associated with the constellation Gemini, with the two brightest stars in the constellation (Alpha and Beta Geminorum) also being known as Castor and Pollux.

[1] Rie recites an invocation that appears to trace back to the "Grand Grimoire", a European book purporting to contain instructions relating to summoning demons. The chant is somewhat popular in anime and manga, seemingly first being used by Akuma-kun and perhaps most notably seen in Your Lie in April.

Here's an article by an actual historian tracing the path the phrase has taken (nothing here is important for the card story but I just think it's genuinely interesting): https://er.ceres.rub.de/index.php/ER/article/view/10440/9928