#bio sis calliope

[roxaeri]

Calliope isn't a bad person. She's just a girl living with the hurt caused by the people she counted on to love her always.

She grew up being teased and bullied by others for her dad not being around

She didn't have a dad around to beat off the boys or teach her to fight for herself

Any calls she had with him consisted of her crying about it and how mean the other girls could be, but those calls were few and far between

It's real fuckin nice getting the chance to rant to someone, even as kids, ya know?

Kratos always listened to her. Always had reassuring words. He made the months between his short phone calls better.

And for the longest time, she blamed her mom for not having her dad in her life. Dad did so much for them and loves them and misses them so why can't he visit?

Every no was a knife to the heart. Every missed holiday and birthday made the gaping hole in her chest bigger.

Calliope knew her dad was dangerous, and mean, but he was never that way with them. Not when her mom was so strong that she could face him head on without any fear. Not when they were the only family they claimed.

Until she met uncle Deimos.

Deimos who never had anything to do with his own father and that side of his family. Nothing since his mom died.

That was what caused her mom to give in and trust him and she was!! Happy!!

Deimos wasn't anything like her dad, but he didn't fault her for loving him.

Deimos who defended her in fights with her mother.

Calliope was ashamed to say these blown out arguments were starting to make her hate her dad in those moments, too.

It definitely didn't help when she overheard her mother arguing with her uncle

--she has a brother?? How?? Why does it matter, she's always wanted a brother?!?!?

Calliope being young enough to not care where her brother had come from but that she had one and maybe now she'll get to meet him

But her dad never comes when uncle Deimos said he was in London

She never meets her brother

Uncle Deimos doesn't come over for a while

Calliope finds her mother drunk and crying on the phone to one of her friends about

"Kratos married another woman! They had a son--"

And hearing the pain in her mother's voice makes her hate her dad a bit more

She knows nothing about her brother and this woman who married her dad other than they made her mom cry

She wakes up to her mother drunk a few more times before she starts to believe that maybe her dad doesn't love her as much as he says he does

Calliope receives no more calls from Kratos

Calliope doesn't want to hear about her dad, or his wife, or their son

She refuses to go with Deimos everytime he says he's going to the US to see them

Calliope has only seen the hurt from her mother and only knew her own pain of not having her dad in her life

She didn't expect the older man who seemed apprehensive and wary who picked her and her uncle up at the airport

Nor the boy who grinned at her and greeted her with a bright voice and actually *bounced* in his excitement

The defeat in her father's face made her feel better, for all the years left alone with broken promises and broken hearts

But seeing that boy, freckled face flushing in anger and hurt and eyes beginning to run from tears of frustration and physical pain--it left a sour taste in her mouth

Being told by that girl--Aloy--that she had broken his heart

"He'll know better when he's older."

"What's that?"

"Nothing."

Mimir, who shouldn't be as involved in their family as he is but allowing strangers to stay in his house for a month

"You know. If you ever wanted to get to know your dad again, now would be the time."

"Why would I want to?"

"He's matured a lot from the man he was when he first came here. Damn near bit my head off."

"The man I knew would have."

"See? He's grown up."

"It's none of your business."

"Oh, but it is. There's this fear I have of Atreus relapsing, or developing a different cancer--"

"Cancer?"

"You didn't know? Childhood leukemia. Faye, Atreus' mom, had it and cancer's what she died from. We all have this fear that the same thing will happen to him. He's not the healthiest boy, got several other illnesses, too. And gods forbid he ever goes, there's nothing that'll keep Kratos around after that."

"Then why do you think I'll be able to do something about it?"

"Talked to Deimos. Man talks when he's drunk. Losing you and your mother damn near killed him once. Don't know how many times we went around these hills looking for him when he first got here. Never stopped missing you. Got a little worse after he came back from London actually."

"London?"

"Atreus wanted to meet you, so Deimos arranged it. Boy was sick and things weren't looking good. Atreus has lived with this image of who you were based on what your dad knew of you. Didn't have much other than what your uncle told him."

"Why would he care? He never called me again."

"Your mother didn't want to hear from him again after he remarried. Threatened to cut off Deimos if he gave Kratos your number. Believe what you will. Those boys have wanted nothing more than to get to know you, but they won't actively hurt you or your mother."

"Are you my therapist now?"

"I used to be one. Doubt I have a knack for it now. Besides, if you didn't love your dad anymore, or weren't curious about Atreus, why did you come?"

". . . I don't know."

"Well, if you're not ready to talk to them--and I doubt Aloy's ready to talk you to again--then I'll tell you what I know. Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"Dinner, since you didn't eat with us."

Calliope letting her curiosity lead her instead of her anger and Mimir being look-at-my-four-boys-and-one-girl and this-is-Faye-who-could-cut-through-a-tree-trunk-with-one-throw-now-there's-a-story-listen-she-won-your-dad-over-with-,that and Calliope just nodding in agreement because she knows her dad fell in love with her mom after she punched him when they were kids and Mimir openly laughs at that and maybe Mimir's not a bad guy

Just, Calliope finally opening up with Mimir and it's a Start

[fondazioneterradotranto]

Nuovo post su http://www.fondazioneterradotranto.it/2018/11/03/libri-quando-ippocrate-corteggia-la-musa-a-rocco-de-vitis-medico-umanista/

Libri| Quando Ippocrate corteggia la Musa. A Rocco De Vitis medico umanista

di Paolo Vincenti

Un titolo molto suggestivo, che coniuga in prodigiosa sintesi, i due interessi della vita di Rocco De Vitis: la medicina e la poesia, ovverosia la cura del corpo e la cura della mente. “QUANDO IPPOCRATE CORTEGGIA LA MUSA. A ROCCO DE VITIS MEDICO UMANISTA”, a cura di Francesco De Paola e Maria Antonietta Bondanese, segna il n.31 della collana “Quaderni de L’Idomeneo”, della Società di Storia Patria-Sezione di Lecce, ed è edito da Grifo (2017). Il volume è stato realizzato con il contributo della Banca Popolare Pugliese, ed infatti, dopo la Presentazione di Mario Spedicato, troviamo un bell’intervento di Vito Primiceri, “Semper honor, nomenque tuum, laudesque manebunt” ( versi tratti dall”Eneide”), carico di umanità nei confronti del medico, celebrato nell’opera, nell’affettuoso ricordo del Presidente della BPP. Quando Ippocrate, nume tutelare della medicina, incontra Calliope, la musa della poesia, ecco che riemergono dal passato e si impongono alla nostra attenzione certe figure, vagamente romantiche, come De Vitis, che coniugano la pratica medica con l’amore per i classici, retaggio della loro formazione umanistica. E infatti, scrive il prof. Spedicato: “tutte le numerose testimonianze qui raccolte concordano nell’attestare come questi suoi interessi vitali siano da considerarsi come le due facce della stessa medaglia”. Rocco De Vitis, “Don Rocco”, come lo chiamavano tutti, era nato nel 1911 a Supersano. Aveva frequentato il Liceo Pietro Colonna di Galatina e poi la facoltà di Medicina a Bologna, dove si era laureato, a pieni voti, nel 1937. Esercitò per una vita la professione di medico condotto nella piccola Supersano, sua patria dell’anima prima che luogo di residenza. Pubblicò, in prima battuta, una traduzione in versi liberi dell’ “Eneide” di Virgilio, nel 1982, con l’aiuto di vari collaboratori che curarono il commento ai dodici libri del poema. Successivamente, anche su suggerimento di Mario Marti, che era stato un suo caro amico nella giovinezza, quando frequentavano entrambi il Liceo Colonna di Galatina, pubblicò una seconda edizione dell’opera virgiliana, nel 1987, in endecasillabi puri. Pubblicò poi un nuovo volume contenente altri due capolavori virgiliani: le “Bucoliche” e le “Georgiche”, con testo latino a fronte, tradotte e commentate dallo stesso autore. L’altro suo grande amore era quello per la campagna; amava rimanere ore e ore a coltivare la terra, ad accudire i suoi animali, a meditare sul mondo e sulla vita, nel silenzio e nella pace che offriva la collinetta di Supersano, che egli aveva eletto a proprio rifugio, locus amoenus. Sucessivamente pubblicò “Soste lungo il cammino”, nel 1991, e “Naufragio a Milano”, nel 1994. Morì nel 1997, ad 86 anni. Di lui, prima della presente opera, si sono interessati, solo per citarne alcuni, Enzo Panareo, che ha scritto la Prefazione della traduzione dell’ “Eneide, Antonio Errico, Giorgio Barba, prefatore del romanzo “Naufragio a Milano”, Florio Santini, Paolo Vincenti, Gino De Vitis, Direttore de “Il Nostro Giornale” (rivista culturale supersanese), il quale, insieme a Maria Bondanese, si è speso moltissimo in questi anni per tramandare la memoria del medico umanista.

Il libro che qui si presenta si apre con una citazione che viene dalla letteratura latina: Homo sum, nihil humani mihi alienum puto, tratto da una commedia di Terenzio. Il primo contributo è di Paolo Vincenti, “Il medico dalla scorza dura. Profilo bio bibliografico di Rocco De Vitis”, che riporta appunto la Bibliografia degli scritti del medico umanista. Segue il contributo di Aldo de Bernart, storico e scrittore parabitano ruffanese, scomparso nel 2013, che fu molto amico del dottor De Vitis. Il contributo di de Bernart è tratto da una manifestazione tenutasi a Supersano nel 2007 in occasione del decennale della scomparsa del medico. Lo scritto di Maria Bondanese, “Il dottore: una vita, una storia che parla di noi”, è il più carico di sentimento e non potrebbe essere altrimenti, essendo la Bondanese, non soltanto nuora di De Vitis, ma la più fervente ammiratrice del medico umanista, la più gelosa custode delle sue memorie. In effetti, se in questi anni è stata tenuta viva la memoria del medico umanista, ciò si ascrive principalmente a merito della dinamica Bondanese. Lo scritto di Maria, con un diverso titolo, era già apparso in “Apulia. Rassegna trimestrale della Banca Popolare Pugliese” (Martano editrice), nel dicembre 2007, così come da “Apulia”, stesso numero, proviene l’accorato scritto di Aldo Bello (“Il tarlo dell’umanesimo”), che della rivista matinese era Direttore e la cui prematura scomparsa costituisce un’altra dolorosa perdita per la cultura salentina. Bondanese ricostruisce le drammatiche tappe dell’esperienza fatta al fronte dal dottor De Vitis, rileggendo il suo diario di guerra. Questa testimonianza della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, vissuta in diretta dal protagonista, servì poi da spunto al medico per l’opera “Soste lungo il cammino”. Bondanese si sofferma anche sulle opere maggiori di De Vitis, l’Eneide, le Georgiche e le Bucoliche, e sono riportate belle foto in bianco e nero con gli autografi di De Vitis, gli scenari di guerra che egli toccò nella sua esperienza di soldato, e dei manoscritti della traduzione dell’Eneide. Alla fine del pezzo, troviamo delle foto del Dottore in occasioni pubbliche quali l’inaugurazione della chiesetta di San Giuseppe, nel 1984, sulla Serra supersanese.

Molto significativo, anche per l’alta carica ricoperta dal suo autore, è il testo di Don Gerardo Antonazzo, originario di Supersano e Vescovo di Sora-Cassino-Aquino Pontecorvo: “Nella sapienza del cuore la vera saggezza”. Ma c’è un altro prelato che contribuisce al volume, ed è Don Oronzo Cosi ( con “Una specie in via di estinzione”), non meno caro ai supersanesi, in quanto Parroco del paese. Viene poi ripubblicato un testo di Mario Marti, “Io e Il Nostro Giornale”, indirizzato alla rivista supersanese, appunto “Il Nostro Giornale” (una delle più longeve esperienze editoriali del Salento), nel maggio 1997.

Interessante, il contributo di Carla Addolorata Longo, “Un mirabile lascito di pensiero e di vita”, che si sofferma sulle pubblicazioni di De Vitis trovando spunto nelle tematiche da esse affrontate, per occuparsi anche della nostra attualità più stringente. Matteo Greco, nel suo “Sprofondamenti metropolitani e orizzonti meridionali”, analizza in particolare l’opera “Naufragio a Milano”. “Un’esperienza indimenticabile”, definisce lo scultore Antonio Elia la realizzazione, per conto del Dottor De Vitis, di alcune opere nella Chiesa di San Giuseppe, adornata anche dalle pitture di Ezio Sanapo. Elia illustra le varie fasi di lavorazione, fino alla perfetta conclusione del tutto.

Nella seconda sezione del libro, “L’humus dell’humanitas”, troviamo alcuni contributi che legano l’omaggio a Rocco De Vitis con la conoscenza del territorio, Supersano e il basso Salento. Il primo contributo è “Breve profilo socio-economico del Salento negli anni ’50”, di Gianfranco Esposito; poi “La decorazione nella cripta della Madonna Coelimanna”, di Stefano Cortese, e “Il Santuario della Vergine di Coelimanna in Supersano”, di Stefano Tanisi; seguono “Supersano Torrepaduli Ruffano”, di Vincenzo Vetruccio e “Il dialetto di Supersano”, di Antonio Romano.

I contributi di Cortese, Tanisi e Vetruccio vengono ripresi da una pubblicazione apparsa qualche tempo fa, vertente sul Museo del Bosco, la struttura museale che riproduce le meravigliose caratteristiche del Bosco di Supersano, che viene anche ricordato da Cristina Martinelli nel suo contributo “Tra documento identitario e poesia, Tu Supersano”, in cui analizza una poesia del De Vitis, tratta dal libro “Soste lungo il cammino”. Ben documentato, l’intervento di Giuseppe Caramuscio, “La memoria della Scuola come scuola della memoria: Galatina e il suo Liceo Classico”: una storia del prestigioso Liceo Colonna di Galatina, frequentato da Rocco De Vitis e da Mario Marti, fin dai suoi albori nell’Ottocento, con l’arrivo a Galatina dei Padri Scolopi i quali fondarono nel 1854 la prestigiosa istituzione scolastica a lungo vanto della città.

Il denso e articolato saggio, che si pone a metà via fra storia e pedagogia, è ricco, come tutti gli altri contributi, di un poderoso apparato critico e bibliografico. Parimenti interessante, lo scritto di Alessandro Laporta, “Se è lecito al medico esser poeta (Galateo, Meninni, De Giorgi, De Vitis)”, il quale fa una carrellata di dotti ed eruditi del passato che alla medicina erano legati per interesse o professione, dimostrando magistralmente come l’arte ippocratica e quella poetica, scienza e humanitas, come dicevamo all’inizio, rappresentino un forte connubio, di cui è emblematico l’amore riversato dal De Vitis verso entrambe le discipline. Remigio Morelli si occupa della dolorosa esperienza della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, “Un anno sul fronte greco-albanese”, che vide impegnato Rocco De Vitis, come già ricordato.

Quello di De Vitis va ad unirsi a tanti altri ritratti di salentini illustri che in questi anni la Società di Storia Patria sezione di Lecce ha tracciato nelle sue tre collane. Emerge un amore incondizionato nei confronti della piccola patria da parte di questi suoi figli devoti, non solo studiosi e specialisti delle humanae litterae, ma anche esponenti delle professioni che a vario titolo si sono confrontati con la letteratura, la poesia, il romanzo, i racconti, la memorialistica. Sembra quasi di vederlo, De Vitis, che, spogliatosi dei panni sporchi di ritorno dalla campagna, e indossato l’abito buono, novello Machiavelli de “Le lettere familiari”, penetra “nelle antique corti delli antiqui uomini”, interrogando filosofi, storici e poeti del passato, e “da loro amorevolmente ricevuto”, gli domanda le ragioni delle loro azioni e quelli gli rispondono.

Con la terza sezione del libro, “Vergiliana”, si entra nel vivo dell’opera maggiore di De Vitis, la traduzione dell’Eneide. Questa sezione è una antologia di saggi critici a cura di latinisti che esaminano l’opera devitisiana entrando nel merito di contenuto, stile, traduzione, metodologia. Gli studiosi, che danno a questa sezione del libro un taglio tecnico scientifico, sono: Giovanni Laudizi, con “La traduzione dell’Eneide, delle Bucoliche e delle Georgiche”; Maria Elvira Consoli, con “Dell’Eneide di Rocco De Vitis”; Paola Bray, con “ Quali doni, quali a te mai darò per tale carme?”; Antonio Errico, con “Il traduttore, il suo poema, i segreti del verso”, Maria Francesca Giordano, con “Un segmento di lettura didattica sfogliando le pagine dell’Eneide”; Angela Maria Silvestre, con “La missione di Enea e la traduzione di Rocco De Vitis”; Paolo Agostino Vetrugno, con “Le traduzioni devitisiane di Virgilio tra espressività ed armonia”; Giuseppina Patrizia Morciano, con “L’epicità di Virgilio. Tradizione e traduzione nella lettura di un classico”. La quarta sezione, “Tra storia e letteratura”, riserva spazio a contributi di storia e conoscenza del territorio, in linea con la vocazione della collana editoriale.

Troviamo allora Alessandra Maglie, con “Conflitti e narrazioni nella Terra del Rimorso. Tarantismo ed esperienza mitica secondo Ernesto De Martino”; Maria Antonietta Epifani, con “Maria Manca: la santa di Squinzano”; Sergio Fracasso, con “Il progetto ‘fallito’ dell’Orfanotrofio San Francesco (poi Istituto ‘Margherita di Savoia’) e il problema dell’infanzia abbandonata alle soglie del decennio francese”; Antonio Cataldi, con “ Contributo per una storia dei missionari lazzaristi italiani in Etiopia ed in Eritrea nel periodo coloniale”; Michele Mainardi, con “L’Istituto tecnico di Lecce e l’Orto Agrario”; Arcangelo Salinaro, con “Il letterato Alfredo Mori in Puglia: una caso”; Luigi Scorrano, con “ Con un vescovo di fronte alla guerra e nell’Inferno di Dante”. Dopo l’Indice dei volumi pubblicati, il libro si chiude.

Un’opera imponente, per qualità e mole dei contributi presenti, per la quale dobbiamo essere grati a chi l’ha voluta.

[tmnotizie]

ANCONA – Dal 12 al 18 marzo 2018 si tiene la “Settimana del Cervello” (“Brain Awareness Week”), campagna mondiale che diffonde le nuove scoperte neuro-scientifiche al fine di arricchire il patrimonio di informazioni sui progressi e benefici della ricerca sul cervello.

Istituita nel 1996 dalla Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, ogni anno nel mese di marzo la campagna vede coinvolti, in numerosi Paesi, migliaia di professionisti del settore (psicologi, neuropsicologi, psicoterapeuti, medici, biologi, neuroscienziati) in una celebrazione del cervello creativa e innovativa rivolta ai cultori e ai cittadini di tutte le età.

La campagna in Italia (“Settimana del Cervello”, terza edizione, www.settimanadelcervello.it ) è organizzata e coordinata da Hafricah.NET, portale di divulgazione neuroscientifica partner della Dana Foundation che, dal 2007, funge da anello di congiunzione tra il mondo accademico e il pubblico interessato all’argomento.

Quest’anno ad Ancona e provincia sono previsti 14  eventi tra cui: screening gratuiti per la prevenzione della demenza e la valutazione delle funzioni cognitive che si terranno a Camerano il 12 Marzo, organizzato dalla Dott.ssa Valentina Carloni insieme con l’ Associazione Calliope  Bio – Psico – Sociale,  e  ad Osimo il 13 Marzo a cura della Dott.ssa Chiara Spinaci.

Screeining gratuiti per la prevenzione dei disturbi dell’apprendimento dal 12 al 18 Marzo a Chiaravalle presso lo studio della Studio di Psicologia Dott.ssa Giulia Grifoni e  a Monte San Vito  dal 12 al 16 Marzo a cura del Dott.re Federico Re e della Dott.ssa Irene Di Francescantonio del Dopo scuola Gammani.

Ad Ancona e Falconara saranno attivi due sportelli d’ascolto per l’ansia, dove poter effettuare valutazioni e chiedere informazioni su disagi emotivi correlati a questa emozione, il primo a cura della Dott.ssa Annalisa Scarpini e il secondo dalle Dottoresse Beatrice Giorgetti e Maria Pia Cavalieri. L’ansia è infatti strettamente correlata al sistema cerebrale, in particolar modo alla zona limbica generando risposte d’ allarme che inducono reazioni nel corpo e risposte comportamentali come per esempio l’evitamento della situazione temuta. Sempre ad Ancona sarà possibile ricevere informazioni sulle nuove  dipendenze tecnologiche da parte della Dott.ssa Martina D’Errico.

Inoltre ci sarà la possibilità di partecipare a numerosi seminari: il 13 Marzo a Camerano si parlerà di invecchiamento e di cambiamenti emotivi e cognitivi con l’associazione Calliope,  ad Ancona  il 15 Marzo si tratteranno le demenze dal punto di vista emotivo e gestionale, grazie agli interventi delle Dottoresse Scarpini, Rabini, D’Errico e  Angelillo. Nello stesso giorno , sempre ad Ancona ,avrà luogo un seminario sulla Disabilità  e i vissuti socio-emotivi  correlati a cura della Dott.ssa Federica Natalucci e il Dott.re Silvio Macrini. Il 16 marzo a Camerano si svolgerà un un seminario sulla memoria dei sensi dove verranno evidenziate le correlazioni tra eree cerebrali, memoria e capacità sensoriali, a cura della Dott.ssa Monia Sabbatini.

A Osimo e a Santa Maria Nuova si svolgeranno le olimpiadi del Cervello  grazie all’Associazione Calliope che guiderà gli alunni di alcuni scuole alla scoperta delle funzioni cerebrali attraverso attività̀ ludiche strutturate.

Infine, una bellissima iniziativa fotografica: sarà possibile condividere su Instagram le  fotografie dei  propri luoghi del benessere ad  Ancona e provincia, quei posti dove ci si rifugia per ritrovare l’equilibrio, mettere in ordine i pensieri e ricaricarsi.   Le più belle saranno esposte in una mostra presso le stanze di Informagiovani Ancona. Gli  hashtag per partecipare sono: #BenessereInunClic  #brainweek2018 #brainweekmarche #igersancona #igersmarche. L’evento  è stato organizzato dalla Dott.ssa Giorgia Marziani e dalla Dott.ssa Margherita Pelonara.

Il calendario locale completo è consultabile sul sito www.settimanadelcervello.it

The post Settimana Mondiale del Cervello 2018, le iniziative ad Ancona e Provincia appeared first on TM notizie - ultime notizie di OGGI, cronaca, sport.

[roxaeri]

hello! your akward family is the best. i wonder... will they ever go to grace? like i belive atreus would be realy curious to know how the rest of his family is? but here are kratos deimos and caliope going into protection mode. or maybe just go there in secret without telling the rest of the horrible family. idk... akward fam vacantion? caliope guiding atreus and aloy through the old ancient city parts. having fun. atreus plactesing more his greek. kratos and deimos building sandcastle?

((This isn’t going to go how you might have thought))(((Trigger Warning: Descriptions of PTSD symptoms. Brief explanations of memories. Correlating Health Issues.)))All Atreus ever knows about his living extended family in Greece is that even thinking about them is enough to put his dad and sister in a bad, closed off mood.But he is extremely curious. How could he not be?Mimir once told him that his aunt was super close to his dad, once upon a time, but that ended when she refused to walk away from their family when shit went down so long ago.Atreus is somewhere in his 20’s, maybe around mid-20’s, and is probably an established online entertainer. I mean, he’s been working this gig since he was 11. Over a decade of hard work.Maybe it’s a video project for a brand deal or something. Would probably be the younger half of DBPG.Atreus, Aloy, Trucy, Efi, and maybe the Brothers M&M for camera work.The idea is to reconnect them with a part of their lives they never really were part of.Like, for Aloy it’d probably be following her mom’s life before Aloy and Rost. Getting to know the people she knew and finding out more about this woman neither she nor her dad knew very well.Trucy–she’s Atreus’ manager but she is one of the public faces of DBPG. She has a half brother she’s never met and has barely spoken to.Efi hasn’t been back to her birth country since she left, but she keeps in regular constant contact with her friends and family there.M&M are there for camera work and translation help when they head north to where Atreus’ mom is from.So this big project has them traveling around discovering pieces of their lives that weren’t really there while they were growing up. A deeper look for their audience into their lives.Atreus is standing there on the island his mom was born on, taking it all in and fucking crying because he misses his mom. It’s getting close to two decades since she died. And he’s blubbering in Faroese, not hiding the fact that he’s a mess and that he’s been in pain and nauseous the whole trip.“I never had to hide this from my mom. And it’s not like I could lie to her. She just knew. She knew everything.”It’s getting towards the end of their stay on the island.“So, baby brother. Your thoughts?”“I’m entirely amazed. She was born here. It’s the first place where she spent her life before she explored the world. Before she settled back home. Before Dad. Before me. It’s easy to forget she had an entire lifetime before the life we had together.”“You’re telling me. I’ll never not be amazed by your parents’ stories. Or at least the ones I know.”“I’ve been entirely lucky with them.”“Alright. I was given this letter and instructed not to open it until today.”“Okay?”“I’m told it’s a surprise for you. Since you’re basically the main star of the show and our boss.”“Nah, Trucy’s our boss.”“Right? Anyways, let’s see what–”The shock on Aloy’s face before she shuts down her emotions has him worried. Everyone starts to worry when she signals for Magni and Modi to cut the cameras.“Aloy?”“I’m not reading this for a show.”And it takes a good while of arguing with the woman before she gives in, handing the letter to Atreus. The cameras are still rolling because even if they don’t show what happens next, their sponsors have to see why it could potentially be a horrible idea. Or it would be the most dramatic part of the series.“Atreus Loki Theodoros-Laufeyson. We would firstly like to thank you for nearly 16 years of dedicated entertainment, in sickness and in health. For all of the years we have followed along, it is obvious your wish to see the homeland of your Father and Sister. So our surprise for you is that we have booked you and company to visit Greece … As thanks for all your hard work.““You okay buddy?”“I just–I don’t know what to think.”Atreus spends their last day before they leave the next contemplating their sponsor’s offer. Magni stays with the main group, taking in the reactions.“How are you doing Aloy?”“I don’t like it. I want to be angry. Look at him. But it’s not my decision to make. Whatever he chooses, I’m there.”“So, got something against the country, or what?”Modi tries not to squirm in the uncomfortable silence as he has his camera trained on Atreus.“Whatcha thinking kid?”“I’m torn. I mean–it was offered as a gift. So I already feel bad about thinking of turning it down.”“Got a problem with the country?”“What? No! God no. I’ve wanted to go ever since I was a kid. This is the closest I’ve ever been to actually doing it.”“Then what’s stopping you? Your dad and your sister are from there.”“It’s just–it’s not my story to tell. Even if I knew that story, I wouldn’t talk about it. All I know both of them and Calliope’s mom swore to never go back. It’s kinda a learned thing for me to–avoid it. To stick to what I know about Greece. And what I know is it makes my family uncomfortable. Well, not really for uncle Deimos. He still goes back now and then.”It fuckin hits him them. Atreus needs to call Uncle Deimos.At this point Atreus is as fluent as he can be in Greek. His family has worked hard to get him to this point.“Uncle, I want to know your opinion on something. We’re recording, by the way, if that’s fine.”“Of course. And that is?”“How fucked up would it be for me to go to Greece?”He’s met with silence and that worries him. (And everyone who’s gathered nearby where they can hear him. (But they can’t understand a word of Greek themselves.))“… Is that where you’re supposed to go next?”“It’s a surprise offer. I have today to decide before we leave tomorrow. We’d be there about a week as well. But–well, you would know better than I do.”“That I do… . Listen Atreus. You’re an adult now. You can make decisions for yourself.”“I don’t want to upset–”“I know, Atreus. I know. I know better than you do about that. And as much as I love them, too, I still go. I never made the promise they did. I never lived their lives. If you can travel to where your mother was born, even with all the negatives in her life, why are you hesitating about going to Greece? What is the one thing your Father always tells you?”“‘Dammit Atreus, you need to sleep,’?”“–the next thing he always tells you.”“'You live your life for yourself. Not for me.’”“Does that help?”“Yeah. It does. But–you won’t tell them if I do it right? I’d rather not have radio silence if they find out. Which you know will happen.”“I won’t tell them. I’ll send you some suggestions on where to go.”“Thanks Uncle.”Atreus is all nerves. Jittery and bouncing and chewing hard on his lip. Atreus is a fuckin mess and when the hell are his meds going to kick in and finally work–its been a long ass flare up and while he’s held himself together pretty well, it’s made the entire project harder for everyone. But they couldn’t keep postponing it for his sake alone. And dammit he’s gonna be there for his friends.They spend the day they arrive resting and making plans for the next day, when they meet their guide who’s supposed to help Atreus with translating and knowing exactly where the places his uncle recommended are at.Atreus is in a balanced state of exhaustion and absolute excitement. He’s read up on Greece any chance he had without his dad knowing. Basically interrogating Mimir and Deimos when his dad wasn’t around to disapprove.“Hi. Atreus Theodoros-Laufeyson. Co-host of DBPG.”“Funnily enough, I know. My name is Athena Theodoros.”“… As in you know me from my work? Or you know me because you’re my aunt from my dad’s side?”“Oh fuck …““Your father is my brother, yes. I was contacted because I am your aunt and the fact that I work as a celebrity guide for all of Greece.”“As grateful as I am for meeting you and you coming out to meet us–I can’t in good conscious do anything else that would upset my family.”“I believed this might happen. I created this itinerary for you based on what you sent to me yesterday. Deimos always knew the best places. And thank you for making it possible to see how my brother is doing.”“Yeah, sure.”Atreus isn’t really sure what to make of the exchange (entirely in Greek), as he looks through the binder. It’s super high quality for being made in such a short time for an entire week.“My contact information is inside if any of you need my help as all.”Athena is nice and the vibe he gets from her tells him why she and his dad were close once. It’s the knowledge that she dropped all contact with his dad after what happened that makes him uneasy around her.Atreus spends the next few days in Greece enjoying his time, even as he struggles and is forced to sleep between destinations or even take a long break at a few.Even as everyone keeps a close eye on Atreus, Trucy and Efi keeping him between them, no one is prepared for when Atreus just fucking drops on the stairs.It’s a childhood nightmare revisited as Efi checks on him, Aloy beside them, unable to get a response. Trucy scrambles for Athena’s card for translation help because Magni and Modi can’t find a single person who speaks English well enough to give them the advice they need as they wait for an ambulance someone tells them they called in stilted English.But the time she has Athena on the phone, there’s more people who can walk them through it. A young woman–a fan that’s passing by–is the exact help they need as they plan to follow the ambulance and meet Athena at the hospital.It’s all over the internet, from fans that spotted them and followed their project quietly in Greece.Calliope can’t be mad that Atreus didn’t say anything about going there. She’s calm and collected as she talks to Aloy and the others. But she’s fucking terrified and on the verge of breaking as she calls her father.“Calliope–”“Call Aloy or Trucy. Atreus collapsed in Greece. I’m on the next flight out.”“I will be as well.”“Send me all the information I’ll need to know.”“I will.”The few hours it takes her to get there are too long. She breaks down on the plane, praying when she’s never prayed before. And it’s not to any god.“Faye, please–”Her anxiety is high and Lena doesn’t let go of her hand the entire flight. Calliope is sure she’d lose it even more if she did. The memories hard and hot and coming back too fast as they land. And she’s not sure which she would rather face: the memories, or the dread of what might be happening to her baby brother.But she doesn’t get a choice.Calliope faces both once she’s at the hospital and Aloy throws herself into her arms, with Athena shrinking away as she’s spotted.Athena isn’t what matters, or even if her grandfather or the family finds out they’re here.“Where is he?”“I don’t know,” Efi speaks up, the only one able to. “Athena said the doctor was waiting for you. Kratos said you would have Atreus’ entire health history.”“Mimir sent it while I was on the plane.”By the time she sees him, it’s obvious something is horribly wrong that they all missed.Atreus is pale–paler than when she last saw him. He’s bruised wherever he’s been handled–the worse in the areas of medical equipment. There’s also a dark bruise on his head where he hit the steps before any one could catch him.“… Calliope–”“You don’t deserve to be here. You don’t deserve to speak to him.”“I only want to help.”“Then leave! You didn’t help my father when Ares nearly killed him. You didn’t help when he set our house on fire trying to kill us! You stayed to work for the man who left us to his tender mercy. You, aunt Athena, don’t deserve to even know Atreus.”Magni’s heard enough, even if he only understands the sound of anger in the woman’s voice. The tears already falling from Calliope’s eyes. He sees how her entire body shakes, and the look on her face tells him that she’s not just seeing her brother in a hospital bed.Were it Modi, and their family, Magni wouldn’t hesitate to swing.He doesn’t say a thing to Athena before he herds her out of the room without touching her. He stays, silent, sure Atreus wouldn’t forgive him if Magni had let his sister suffer. He’s heard unedited footage of Atreus mentioning that Calliope refused to ever step foot in Greece again before he requested Aloy cut that out. The entire situation has to be absolute hell for her.“I almost died from smoke inhalation when I was eight. Both of my parents have burn scars.” He’s seen the ones on Kratos under the tattoos. “My father’s second wife died from cancer. He’s already almost lost Atreus once to childhood cancer.”“And now?”“–I-I’m scared we’re all going to lose him.”Calliope is on the edge of breaking, but holding Atreus hand keeps her together just a little bit more.“I swore I’d never come back. But if he dies, I swear I’ll be stuck here for the rest of my life.”“He won’t die. I’ve never met anyone with more fight in them than that kid.”“You don’t know that for sure.”“Neither do you.”He has to look away as Calliope rests her head on the bed, looking up at Atreus with teary eyes and a blank face, fingers running lightly along his bruised arm, kissing his fingers.“You have to stay, Atreus. Whatever’s wrong, we’ll fix it. I’m selfish. I can’t lose you when you’ve become such a large part of my life. I want to see you live out your dreams as I have. I want to still be apart of your journey. So please, be strong enough to make it through this.”In her scrambled thoughts, she sees her brother as he is, but also as the eleven year old who worked himself into a coughing fit the first time he saw her. The kid who cried the first time he saw her perform live on stage. She breaks, her body hollow and aching and burning and suffocating in more memories than the ones of actual fire.“Please Atreus. Please be okay. I need you.”

[roxaeri]

How do they not feel about puns?? They feel all the things about puns.

After Mom Joke Faye, Atreus Loki Hyphenated-Surname would be downright ASHAMED of not living up to that legacy or even his middle namesake.

Doesn't help that Mimir, of the Ol' Goodfellow Boys infamy, is one of the punniest men around.

A list of people he has mentored in the Art of Puns:

Faye (Of course)

Sindri (Surprisingly)

Atreus (He's babysat the boy since birth--Mimir himself would be ashamed if he didn't help the boy live up to his mother and namesake)

Aloy (not as natural, she is more sarcasm than anything)

People who have not partaken of his puns:

Kratos (He's locked up tighter than a present hermetically sealed with packing tape--not impossible to open up, but you're definitely going to get your fingers cut working on it)

Brok (He's his own brand of puns and sarcasm and word vomit and Mimir doesn't even want to be in the same room as it go aWAY)

Calliope (she enjoys puns, but doesn't really make them herself. Usually performance art related and it's like she's speaking another language. (She is))

Deimos (Socially Awkward Man No. 2 cannot pun to save his life h el p h i m)

PUNS ARE USUALLY THE REASON WHY THE MONOPOLY BOARD GETS FRISBEED ACROSS THE ROOM

PUNS DURING UNO

IMAGINE IT

@ladymaliwan

[roxaeri]

Aloy doesn't know what's going on but if Atreus wants to follow her to the track where Magni and Modi have started to hang out again, she's not gonna stop him

It's maybe twenty minutes in before he's taken her bag and gear, piled it up with Magni's and Modi's and several others who are there and

"Atreus, buddy, what are you doing?"

"Hiding. If someone comes looking for me, I'm not here. I walked home."

She shoots a look at the others but can only shrug

It isn't too long after when a car pulls up with a man the size of Kratos and a young woman with a sour look on her face

"Hello, I was wondering if any of you know Atreus? He's my nephew and my brother trusted us to pick him up."

Realization hits Aloy then

"You're his uncle Deimos. And you must be--"

Deimos makes a face and motions against it

"--Calliope."

"You know us?"

Aloy makes a face of her own, knowing it's probably not a good idea to say she's Atreus' Big Sister.

"We're friends, and I'm his buddy in a mentorship program."

"Have you seen Atreus around?"

The look on Calliope's face tells her why Atreus was currently hiding under a pile of bags

"He walked home after archery practice."

"Of course."

She felt bad about lying to Deimos but sent a quick message to Kratos and Mimir saying, "I'm gonna keep Atreus for awhile. Let you know when I'm dropping him off."

She goes to sit by the pile of bags

"So, your sister."

Atreus pops up dramatically from the pile like a zombie in a video game

"I can't even talk to her! She hates me and she hates dad. I dont get why she even came if she doesn't like us. And she keeps excluding me and Mimir by speaking only in Greek expect for when we fought yesterday."

Atreus was tearing up the longer he went on, the higher his voice went which caught the others' attention, and she let him go on until he starts coughing

"Come here."

Magni and Modi see Aloy holding the kid while wearing the same look on her face when she learned Magni gave Atreus a black eye

"A grown ass woman who made a kid more than a decade younger than her cry."

And then Atreus is retelling the whole thing to them and he's frustrated and

"Wait, your dad speaks Greek?"

"Oh, no. Kratos, Greek name, came from Greece with a Greek accent speaking nothing but English and then named his son Atreus, also a Greek name. Of course he speaks Greek."

"I've only ever heard the man speak English."

"My dad's never taught me Greek, or much about Greece or his life before my mom."

"So that was your sister?"

"Yeah. From my dad's first marriage."

"She looked really bitchy."

"Magni."

"She did!"

"I don't want to go home while she's there. But she's always at the computer and she's staying at Mimir's."

". . . Let me see if I can get your dad and my dad to let you stay with me tonight. It's the weekend anyways. We'll get pizza and play some games. Shoot a little bit before we go. All that good stuff."

Magni and Modi don't know how the fuck they ended up at the archery range with Aloy and the kid, but there they are getting a quick rundown of everything while Aloy's on the phone

Magni feels the need to use the bathroom and as he rounds the corner

"Atreus is my brother just as much as my dad is my father! I will take care of him, and I'm more aware of his mental health than you are. Being around her right now isn't good for him. Don't let him get hurt because Calliope is hurting. I called to be nice and polite, but now I'm telling you I'm keeping him for the night. Bye."

And when she turns around, still frowning and looks up at him

"Uh, hi."

"You heard none of that, alright?"

"Heard what? I'm just on my way to the bathroom."

"Good boy."

Aloy and Atreus amazing the shit out of the brothers, proving how they're some of the best of Coach Shimada's students

Magni remembering the kid's mom when she ran the Archery Club, and somewhat the little boy that would be standing alongside the students with a shorter range target

Magni feeling guilt because she was always kind to him and watching her son teach his brother about Archery just reminds him of when she taught him

Because years ago the boy was asleep and Modi was with Uncle Baldur and Magni didn't want to go home to his dad just yet and so he stands there watching this woman finish with the last of her students and resigns himself to leaving but then

'Hello there. Would you like to try?'

And he spent the next hour learning to shoot until his uncle showed up

Atreus sits down near him, wheezing, as Aloy takes over with Modi and Magni can tell he doesn't feel awkward being around him or his brother anymore and

"Sorry I punched you. I saw you choking my brother and--"

"It's fine. I get it. He's your brother and you've probably hit everyone who's ever hurt him."

Well, yeah. Everyone but one.

"Still."

". . . I always wanted to meet her. Hoped for something as close as you and Modi, or even what I have with Aloy. I was so excited. My mom always talked about how much Calliope loved our dad, but she keeps going on about how much she hates us and hates it here."

"Something you can't help. Just because they're blood, doesn't mean you have to love them. My uncle Baldur only keeps in contact with our dad, but that's just because of us."

"Why?"

"Some fucked up things they did to him. Maybe something happened to her that makes her hate your dad. But she's got jack shit on why she hates you."

Just, Aloy and Atreus becoming awkward friends with Magni and Modi and thus, so begins the redemption arc for Awkward Fam and the Good Uncle Household

[roxaeri]

Random Facts I wrote in the truck because, haha, the hellish week isn't over just yet apparently

-

Baldur likes Judas by Lady Gaga

Atreus Gets His Dad To Buy Random Shit at 3AM cause no one can sleep (Discount Cactus Jars. They only bought four of them. He grabbed a blue one for Calliope. "Because you were Cinderella and her dress is blue.")

Atreus dragged his dad back to the pet store to get Fenrir a pineapple dish to match Jörmungandr's and they ended up walking out with a pineapple bed for Jörmungandr since his bed was taken over by bigger pupper and a pirate shirt for Fenrir as well

Kratos is into pirates, surprisingly

Atreus got his dad to watch Descendants 2 because of the pirates

Kratos went into an impromptu myth lesson after Atreus brought up the whole Ariel is distantly related to Hercules (leaving out the fact that his half brother has that name because that one's an ass)

Aloy gave Magni the nickname Mango and now it's on all his sports gear for the school

Baldur laughs his ass off everytime he hears it (but never calls Magni that himself)

Magni can't be mad when people gift him mangoes and mango flavored things at events because he actually really likes them

Deimos owns a gym in Scotland

Aloy doesn't work during the school year because Rost wants her to focus on school work and her activities, but she does have a summer job (she works at an ice cream shop)

[roxaeri]

Atreus spends most of his Sunday huddled on the couch with his uncle playing through a horror game for the next DBPG stream

"Why are you doing this to yourself twice?"

"So I'm prepared for the jumpscares and stuff and don't pass out on camera."

"Right, right."

Atreus talked to his friends that already played the game (Outlast), watched a playthrough, and to save spoiling the game for everyone else, he decided to play it alone

Or he would have if he wasn't in the middle of a flare up

--Thus Deimos beside him, Fenrir on his lap, and Jörmungandr tucked between his head and the back of the couch

"Hey there hun."

"Io:nhiòte!"

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

"No, no. This is what I get for leaving the door open."

"Well, it's a damn nice day out."

"What are you doing here today? Not that it isn't nice to see you."

"No offense taken. Just came to, you know, give Princess a rude awakening and roll her out."

"Calliope??"

"Yeah. Got a tattoo appointment in an hour or so and she needs to eat."

Atreus watches as Io:nhiòte does just that, falling into coach mode as she chases his sister through Mimir's house to get her up and ready for the day

Calliope looks like shit, can't lie about that, but it's what happens when you drink too much, cry your heart out in the dirt, and sleep too long

"Why are you so pushy today?"

"Calliope, sweetie, we've known each other three days. Wanna keep dancing around the niceties and fake personas or you wanna be my friend? Either give me whatcha got or get out of my life--wait. Save that for after your appointment. I'm not letting you walk."

"Ugh, fine."

"Come on, Princess, we gotta dash--gotta eat. I'll have her back later, hun!"

"Uh, have fun?!"

He forgot how much energy Io:nhiòte had when she hasn't worked it off in any way. She was hyper and a whirlwind wherever she went and he didn't envy Calliope the however long she was with the woman

Atreus has almost beaten the game by the time his dad is off work and showering and Deimos is off with Mimir to get groceries so they can grill it tonight so he has to pause it and he's a bit grumpy about it because he wanted to finish it completely to stream tomorrow

And then Calliope is suddenly inside, even more tired than this afternoon, and he can't help but laugh

"What?"

She's not upset at him and he thinks that's more progress

"It helps if you memorize her schedule--or make sure to run out her energy early on. She half ran up Black Elk Peak carrying me once."

"I will keep it in mind."

"So tattoo appointment?"

She looks awkward for a moment as he notices the bandage coming just over her shoulder

"I know I haven't been nice to you, but I need your help."

"With what?"

"I can't see it very well, but I need to clean it and use this thing on it."

Calliope pulled out products he recognized Io:nhiòte used whenever she got a new tattoo--a gentle medical cleanser, cotton pads, and a tattoo balm stick.

"She said you would know how to do this."

"Well, yeah, but are you sure?"

"I am . . ."

Atreus just zeroing in on her as she gets awkward and blushing

"You're not comfortable with anyone else here doing it for you."

"I don't know anyone that well, not even Deimos."

She doesn't even have to ask again before Atreus scoots over and holds out a hand for her little glitter care bag

"I do this, you sit here through the rest of the game and make sure I don't die."

"What?!"

"It's not that bad. Just make sure my breathing seems even. It's been a little bad today."

". . . Okay?"

Atreus hands are cold (they usually always are) but he's gentle as he removes the bandage and cleans away the blood and ink that well up

"Are you anemic? Io:nhiòte gets that way sometimes."

"Most dancers can be if they don't eat right. It's why I took a break back in France to recover. I risk injury otherwise."

"So that's why we've been having a lot of red meat and spinach lately."

"A problem you have?"

"From not being able to eat, yeah. Something we're keeping an eye on."

Atreus wonders about the pink and red roses and black shaded olive branches on her neck and running along just the back on her shoulder to her arm with lines more delicate and minimal than anything he's seen on Ionhiòte

"It's beautiful."

"I love it. I've always wanted one."

"Same. Obviously, dad has his. . . . My mom had some too. A lot more than dad does, actually."

"My mother has some as well. Not as many, though. I thought it would be hard to be a professional dancer if I had one."

"But it's possible, because Ionhiòte does it all the time. It's just a lot of foundation from what I hear."

"She's recommended me some brands."

Calliope thinks back to Io:nhiòte earlier and what the woman told her about what she knew of her brother

Atreus is easy to talk to, and perceptive--almost to the point of being a mind reader.

He's empathetic and almost beyond his years

If he weren't an eleven year old boy who's still figuring out who he is

Calliope's reminded of that as they both jump, too drawn into the atmosphere of the game and Atreus keeps spitting out nervous chatter, readily retelling the story of the game to her to settle himself in a way that kinda reminded her a boy that stammered horribly when she talked to him when they were his age

Atreus learning his sister hasn't touched a controller since she was little

The sheer, "What? How?!"

He's almost offended and he doesn't know why

"I just never saw the need to buy anything like that. Sorry to say I'm consumed by dancing or going swimming or being with friends."

"And when you're home??"

"Playing my flute, listening to music, or reading."

"Games are like reading. Well, some are. This one has a story. Some are mostly game play. You know what, I want to see you play a game."

"Why??"

"Because I wanna see you enjoy something I enjoy."

And it's so innocent Calliope just can't say no--especially since she's effectively distracted when Fenrir pops his head out to yawn

". . . You have another dog??"

"Well, we brought him home yesterday. You haven't been here this weekend."

Just bio sibs bonding over puppies and talking about video games

[roxaeri]

calliopes opinion on the pineapple jar. and! general opinion of the akward fam charakters about the question "do pineapple belong on pizza?"

… . . Holy shit–Firstly, she thinks it’s cute. But she’s stickin’ with the cactus one Atreus said was for her because It’s For Her. Still, she has no problem joining him and Aloy with the jars.((Calliope has a strong weakness for cute things. Her friends gifts her with cute stationary all the time.))And here is where I admit I’ve never had pineapple on pizzaTrucy told Atreus it was started by a Canadian Greek((Okay, I fucking went and bought a pineapple pizza because I have to kNOW))Calliope doesn’t care for it. She’ll eat it, but it’s not her favorite.Kratos: Fuck thatAtreus *Loves* It. Like, the bacon and pepperoni makes it super greasy but it’s good. But dear god does he feel like he needs a shower.Mimir: It’s Pizza. Pizza is good.Brok: What the hell is that?Sindri: He always gets pineapple on pizzaAloy likes it. Really depends on the day if she’s feeling like eating it tho.Rost: “Whatever is good, Aloy.” Dude will eat anything. He’s not picky.Deimos: He eats everything and enjoys the hell out of it, too.

[roxaeri]

It started out as a good day.

Calliope started her morning run as her father stood outside with the dogs. She even felt comfortable enough to offer to take Fenrir for a run since she heard Mimir complain that the puppy had too much energy in the mornings. And they made it back by the time Atreus was outside with Jörmungandr to wait for their father and to hand over the dogs.

She did a few touristy things with Deimos, met the Huldra Brothers--and was nearly scared off entirely until she learned a bit more about her brother's mother--before she joined Io:nhiòte at the studio to join in on another class as a guest instructor.

Then she somehow found herself at the shooting range watching her brother and Aloy practice--after Atreus asked his coach. The man didn't appear that old, if mainly stressed. Still, he was kind, even to the boys that were over to her father's house before.

Io:nhiòte joined the students, not having been one herself but as one that has competed before. Calliope wondered at the entire skill set of the woman she befriended--and why it seemed that she had mastered most of them.

Things were fine and light as everyone watched Io:nhiòte tease the coach, who actually tossed her banter back--something she assumed he didn't normally do based on the reaction of his students.

Then another woman appeared. One that most of the middle schoolers and younger high schoolers seemed to know. Even Atreus.

"Mrs Vanir!"

"I remembered hearing about the Archery Club but I've never seen it myself. Thought I would stop by."

"Oh! This is my sister Calliope. From France."

"Bonjour. I'm Freya."

"Bonjour."

While things became tense between the adults, including Calliope as she noticed Io:nhiòte tucked herself behind the coach, it remained civil.

Until Baldur showed up. Io:nhiòte and Magni moved to place themselves between him and the woman who introduced herself as Freya. A hushed argument that Magni got shoved out of. Most of the students paid too much attention to it.

"I don't give a fuck why--!"

"Not! In front of my students." Coach Shimada stepped up beside Io:nhiòte, glaring at mother and son while he hovered behind the woman. Baldur backed down while Freya seemed confused at the treatment.

"We'll settle it." She waved him off, moving to drag Baldur out of the range behind her as Freya followed.

"The rest of you are staying here until your parents arrive."

"Well, our ride just left." Modi huffed, no one noticing how tense Magni was as Coach Shimada gathered everyone again.

"I would say it's time for us to leave." Calliope waved to the Coach and waited for Aloy and Atreus.

"We'll walk with you that way." Magni grabbed his backpack, looking ready to run for it the longer Atreus watched him. Though, he figured, he wouldn't like seeing his family like that either. Something about the look on Io:nhiòte already had his gut twisting up painfully.

"I don't need either of you telling me how my relationship was. I was there. I lived it." The conversation drifted over to them as Calliope tried to get them all out of there. She knew an argument when she saw one and already her hands were shaking.

"Well, maybe she's right, Yoni. Maybe you don't care about me like you say you do." His words had her stepping back, shocked. Magni's head snapped over as he stopped, fists balled up. The other three kids knew that he was ready for a fight.

"Of course I fucking care," Io:nhiòte shook her head, and her voice broke as she continued, "Baldur, I've cared since I was sixteen."

"Didn't look like you cared when you blew us off for two years. Engaged to someone you didn't love."

"You don't know everything that happened in New York--"

"Because you won't fuckin' tell me! I see you dying inside and it's no different than when your dad died."

"Alright, I loved him. I really did. I loved him for all the wrong reasons, and all the right ones. But you would know what that's like, wouldn't you?"

Calliope startled when Atreus grabbed her shirt, worried. Shaking herself out and forcing down memories of her parents, she pulled both Aloy and Atreus behind her towards the shooting range.

"We do not need to hear this. Make sure everyone stays there until I come back."

"We can't just--" Magni was cut off as Caliope pushed him back, too, recognizing the fear in the boy's eyes.

"I'll make sure nothing happens but you cannot watch this. Go!"

Atreus nodded, grabbing the two and doing his best to drag them back. By the time she turned back around, Io:nhiòte was wiping at her eyes and standing further from mother and son.

"I shouldn't have brought that up. I should thank you for getting me out of there. For helping me pack up and bringing me home." Something in her voice had her walking faster while all the fight left Baldur.

"Your dad would have never forgiven me if I hadn't when I was right there."

"You were there?"

"Of course I was there. I wasn't going to let her go alone--" As Baldur turned to argue with Freya, Calliope covered her friend.

"Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine." She was dead inside and fighting very hard to not fall apart right there in the park.

"You're a liar, but I can't be mad." That earned Calliope a broken laugh before the other woman started back for her gear.

"I'll get my stuff and we can go."

"Okay."

"Yoni. Io:nhiòte!" Baldur's shout caused Calliope to look back and almost run into her friend.

"No, I'm done. I'm tired, Bal." She wiped at her eye as another tear fell, and she sniffed to compose herself. "You know, my dad liked you. Really believed in you. And he never would've forgiven you for pushing me away."

Calliope could swear she heard the snap in her as Io:nhiòte ran back.

Baldur coughed, attempted to spit out the sour taste in his mouth, but it sat there. Blurry memories ran through his mind as he turned and shoved past his mother, hellbent on leaving before he actually got sick in front of her or those kids hanging around.

"Honey, wait--"

"I dreamed everyday of what I would say to you," He rounded on her, "For myself. For Genji . . . For her. I wanted nothing more than to break you. But I don't even want to look at you. If we deserve what we got, you deserve nothing."

"Baldur!"

Atreus shared a look with Aloy as they ducked back into the range. Modi was catatonic, not responding to anyone and shaking them all off so he was left alone. Magni, however, sat in front of Io:nhiòte patting her knee in a soft rhythm; the woman was currently crying on their coach as Calliope rubbed her arm.

Coach Shimada wore a look that spoke of murder as he pulled out his phone. No one understood anything he said when the person on the line answered, only that Io:nhiòte shook her head and got up to leave.

"He's talking to his brother." Atreus whispered, reminding Aloy that he was learning Japanese. "Other than that, I don't know. Probably shouldn't know."

"Right."

"I can give you boys a ride home if you want." Calliope offered as Magni got his brother together.

"Better if we don't--don't go."

"You wanna come over?"

"Come on. We can show Calliope how to play Super Smash Bros. so she's not mocked in chat during the next stream."

"Oh, thanks."

"Anything's fine, I don't care." Magni steered his brother after them while hauling along Atreus' gear for the kid.

If anyone noticed him squeeze Modi to his side for a moment, they didn't comment on it.

None of them saw Io:nhiòte's car.

Calliope had begged for a break from hours of gameplay, sitting back as the rest began to set up a surprise stream--determined to get the Norse boys out of their slump and what better way than dragging Kratos into Bendy and Ink Machine.

I'm sorry you saw that

Calliope contemplated the message as she sat on the couch, listening to the kids spread the word about the last minute stream.

I will actually be fine. You are the one who needs time.

And I'm taking it. Going to sleep early tonight.

Goodnight. Better tomorrow.

Yeah.

Calliope watched everyone become engrossed in the game, following along, but she kept thinking on what she saw. The memories welled up again, tiring her out even as she sat there.

Kratos didn't fail to notice the look on her face, or how tense Magni still was, but avoided bringing it up on stream, or even when it ended after finishing the chapter. By then, Magni was dashing out the door, Modi and Aloy chasing after him. Calliope just bid them goodnight before wandering back over to Mimir's and her guest bed.

"Dad?"

"Hm?"

"Is that a common reaction to seeing an argument?" Atreus' question told him everything he needed to know about the last few hours since he came home.

"Only if the memories of past ones are overwhelming."

"Oh."

"It's time for you to eat something for your medication, boy. And then bed. You cannot think to help them if you're too sick in the morning." That has his son jumping up, apparently too fast as Kratos has to rush to steady him. Atreus gives him an embarrassed eh-heh and pats his hand. "Slowly Atreus."

"Right. Slow."

[roxaeri]

Aloy just experienced hardcore Senioritis in her Junior year and she's kinda dreading her Senior year because she's gotta build up what she's been slacking on all this time

And this summer she's gonna be working her ass off to save money--as she does every summer--to build up enough savings to last her through the school year. Hopefully. She also believes in getting herself nice things to stay motivated. And food. She's a highly active teenage jock, of course.

After graduation she has a little time off with Papa Rost and Awkward Fam before she hops right into a scholarship program that is equal to a semester of classes, allows work study on campus, while also giving a scholarship that she can apply to her chosen school. (She hasn't chosen a school yet, but she has decided on the program.)

Aloy is as hard working as Rost is and no one is sure if that's something he taught her or if it's just her thing or maybe she inherited it from her mother.

Summer is plenty of dinners at Awkward Fam house because Aloy and Rost are just so tired but they still want to see everyone

The Brothers M&M just basically live outside during summer.

Good Uncle Baldur gets super busy with summer and tourist season and sometimes still gets invites to be a guest artist elsewhere so they spend a lot more time at their dad's

--but not really, at the same time. Genji tries to drop in during the times Baldur is away so they're able to stay at home. And Io:nhiòte always keeps her door open for them, too.

As for Atreus visiting Calliope in France: Yes, he does. Most likely not this year, but probably when it's their year to go visit Deimos. Calliope still isn't all that comfortable with her family, but she is trying to get to know them. And she'll have the home advantage with her friends and all.

((Calliope thinking of finally calling her mother if she's trying with her father. And she's not a kid trying to navigate her mother anymore.))

(Plans are made for Calliope to join them for a week before Christmas. She has traditions she can't ignore, but she also wants to see what should be a pure time for her family.)

@ladymaliwan

[roxaeri]

Lemme tell you a little known fact about the Black Hills: there ain't much shit to do here.

Unless it's outdoorsy stuff like hiking or camping or swimming. Or going to Mt. Rushmore or Crazy Horse. (Here's a secret, lotta people who live here can go forever without going to any tourist attractions like that.) Wind Cave. Any number of caves, come on there's hills. Cosmos Mystery Area. Deadwood--that's like an old Midwest Gambling Town. Sturgis, just a small town except for like a few weeks in August where it has the biggest population in the US. (Bikers. Bikers everwhere. Just skulls, leather, and motorcycles.)

((I say Middle of Nowhere but even I gotta admit we're a fucking varied Middle of Nowhere))

Allergies and/or Sensitive Skin? Good fucking luck, my dudes. The Force be with you.

What does one do when you can't do any of that because you're eleven, sick, and bored??

Convince someone to take you on a drive around the hills

Is it the longest drive?? No. Depends on how fast you go, which turns you take, and how many stops you make if any. Longer than an hour tho

Aloy I-Volunteer-As-Tribute taking the chance to drive Deimos' sweet ass rental car. It's nice and newer than 2016, so a lot newer than her '99 Toyota Corolla (ha)

"I can see it anytime I want, you enjoy yourself."

Atreus in the backseat talking to them until he dozes on and off before he's fuckin Out (One of Kratos' solutions to Boy's insomnia is going for a drive around the hills because it's actually really soothing if somewhat simultaneously ominous so they just find it gREAT)

Fenrir wary of drives through the hills and being in cars but his Boy has not done him wrong yet so just keeps an eye out while Atreus sleeps

Y'all wanted Calliope and Kratos to chat after her drunken ranting???

BOOM

Now they're stuck in the truck together, just the two of them.

(And Jörmungandr who wants to soul-stare out the window but he is a pUPPY and tOo ShOrt so he's tucked himself behind Kratos' head because he likes to feel tall and freak out anyone who notices him)

"Calliope, do you remember all you said to me the other night?"

". . . I was hoping you forgot, actually. That was embarrassing."

"Would you have said anything otherwise?"

"I wouldn't have. That part was true."

"I'm sorry I didn't try harder to be your father after what happened. I truly believed you and your mother were better off without me in your lives after what happened."

"As an adult, I get that. I mean, I don't remember much of why mother divorced you. But we all left Greece a mess. Then your life here happened."

"You felt unimportant when you shouldn't have. Your mother and I failed you in that respect. We let our issues affect you to the point you didn't tell Deimos when you moved to France."

"True."

". . . Do you have a good life there?"

"The best. I never doubt that my friends love me. I love my job, my apartment, my roommate. I don't believe I'd have come if she hadn't convinced me to. My best friend."

Shenanigans? In this calm family drive?? It's more likely than you think. Such as:

Aloy, at the last possible second, swerving right to Deadwood instead of left because goddamn, she forgot about the construction of the road through the lakes

"What are they doing there?"

"Widening it. No longer feels like your car is about to go over the edge anymore."

". . . It was like what before?"

Kratos and Calliope struggling to stop Jörmungandr from jumping at the window because of another dog in the car passing them that looked at him wrong

"Pup pup pup--no!"

Kratos just doesn't know what Calliope's even muttering as she has descended into a mess of English, Greek, and French as she plays with and coos at the dachshund puppy in her lap

Atreus walking up from a dead sleep shouting in Faroese as he shoots up like a zombie from a grave and scaring Aloy so bad that Deimos is left scrambling for the wheel as she tries to keep her heart in her chest

Stopping in Deadwood because maybe it's time for Aloy and Deimos to switch but Calliope spots a thing and

"Old time photos?"

"You dress like they did here during the gold rush and take pictures like that."

"I've never actually done that. You?"

"Once with mom, but I was little."

"No time like the present, huh?"

Kratos looking like a bald and bearded Wild Bill Hickok

Oh my god, the fucking fringed smoked leather jackets and feather boas and corsets that Calliope is all too used to while Aloy kinda hates it until bio sibs simultaneously assure that she looks amazing and Atreus wraps a feather boa around himself, too

Atreus looking like a little old west lawman and set between his sisters while his dad and uncle look like they're ready for gun fight in an old west bar somewhere down the street

Calliope amazed by the history of the town because these people sound like characters in a story but it's all too real

"I think it's like that because that's how they treated it. I mean, Buffalo Bill Cody had this entire show that made it all seem like some sort of adventure tale; when really the gold rush broke the treaties with the tribes. Io:nhiòte has a lot more insight on that than I do."

And the rest of the drive is spent in a spotty conference call between cars talking about the American Old West

That night, Calliope follows Atreus because he has a book from Mimir about the history of the Black Hills that he thinks she should read

Calliope noticing the picture of her on her graduation day in France that Deimos took after she contacted him for the first time in years so she could have someone to celebrate her graduation with

"You have this?"

"Uh, yeah . . . Uncle Deimos sent it to me because he wanted me to see you wearing the flower crown I made. I didn't--know what else to do because I didn't know you and didn't have a lot of time. But he said you liked flowers, and my mom and the nurses taught me how to make them so I did and sent it. I, uh--"

Atreus nearly losing his shit because his sister just hugged him and kissed his head and it's the most affection he's gotten from the sister he nearly idolized since he found out about her

Calliope wanting to cry because my god he is too precious, too pure, and she very nearly fucked this up

And she loves that crown and now she gets why Deimos said it was from a fan of hers. She never would have worn it if she knew it was from Atreus because she was so bitter and angry--

"I used that crown on stage during my first professional performance."

"You did?"

"As Princess Cinderella. I still do whenever I'm asked to perform my solo."

"I didn't know you were Cinderella. I wanna see! I've seen Io:nhiòte dance but she says how you dance is different than how she dances."

"She is a traditional and contemporary dancer while I am trained in ballet and ballroom. I will have my roommate send me the performance video so you can see."

Calliope watching as their new family photo joins Atreus' wall of family, between her grad photo and one of him and Aloy dressed as Mario and Luigi

Just, a drive through the hills that makes everyone just a little bit closer each time

@ladymaliwan

[roxaeri]

Another cure question. So big sis calliope was teaching him Greek right? Does he ever try to use with dad? Does he try to teach his dad french for when they visit her?

It’s one of the main things they’re bonding over.

Calliope is amazed at how fast Atreus catches on, until she finds out that yeah, holy shit, this kid has a knack for languages. Well, so long as he has someone he can talk to in that language. He’s eleven. He gets bored studying alone. It’s always more interesting when someone’s with him.

He does try with his dad. It’s an automatic reaction from when he would learn with his mom. Usually just tossing a word out to see if it sounds right, occasionally stringing a sentence together.

Kratos knew his kids were working on it, but it doesn’t stop him from being surprised when Atreus stumbles over a simple, “My name is Atreus.”

And from this reply: Yes. He does try learning French. He’s tired of being left out of any loop he knows he’s going to eventually end up in. So he’s trying his hand at French.

Kratos just–he’s a natural master at most things. French isn’t one of those things. He still struggles with English sometimes, and with what he knows from Faye about Faroese and Icelandic and Swedish. ((And he knows he’ll never sound natural in any language but Greek.))

But that doesn’t mean he’s not gonna try. Still, there’s a reason he doesn’t speak very often and why there’s awkward silences. Socially Awkward Man #1 is taking the time to translate and figure out if what he’s going to say doesn’t sound wrong or come off as offensive.

Atreus is determined, tho. A lot more than he is about any other language he’s currently interested in. And he’s got until Christmas before Calliope comes back and he can show her what he’s got, then maybe a year to get what he can down before they’re all in France.

((Deimos is SOL, too, when it comes to French. He’s been in Scotland for how many years now and still sometimes stumbles over the pronunciation there. That’s his priority. He’s gonna count on the kids–and his brother since he knows Kratos will understand it given long enough–to get him through any situation they’ll need to speak French in.))

(Calliope was dedicated in high school to learning French when her heart settled on the university she went to. Plus intensive courses that Winston found for her. He’s always a great learning buddy.)

[roxaeri]

I don't currently have the time to write it out right now, but before I forget it all here's a blurb:

Genji gets both Baldur and Io:nhiòte in one spot to watch DBPG because she promised

Fucking FEELS as they talk it out and whatnot and Calliope is just wrecking Genji's shit in the background while they're are it

Atreus calling Io:nhiòte out on that gameplay because--"What was that?? What was that?!?!"

YoyoKenway: Not me. That's Genji. Genji says hello~

"You good?"

YoyoKenway: Yeah, we're good for now. Better.

YoyoKenway: But put Princess back on tho. I have to avenge my good friend~

Just some fuckin back and forth shit with the DBPG audience players getting caught up in

Efi joining and wrecking everyone's shit

"That's one of my best friends!!"

Chat: you lost tho???

"Who cares? She's great!"

Atreus, too good too pure

[roxaeri]

Good Uncle Baldur on a lunch break at the mall and looking through some pictures on his phone

"Can't imagine how abstract your brain looks like to you, but none of these images relate to each other."

"But you get what I'm talking about right?"

"Of fucking course. Who do you take me for?"

He'd be offended if anyone else said that to him

Say what you will about the man, who looks like he would die before stepping foot in a mall but always has lunch at the sandwich shop there because it's the last place he could possibly run into his mother during school hours on a weekday--he has a special allowance for his repeat clientele

Of which is the younger woman in front of him who took the healthiest sandwich in the entire goddamned food court and added enough bacon and peppers and toppings to make it look appetizing to him

Io:nhiòte came to him for her first tattoo on her sixteenth birthday (with her dad to sign his permission) and, having not gone to anyone else since, is one of Baldur's favorites to ask to join him whenever he wants to showcase his work

"Come by the shop tonight, I should have something by then."

"Text me, I think I'll be busy until then. I don't know."

"You don't know? Girl, you came home for a break."

"Calliope, you know I speak Greek as well, right?"

Cue the fucking awkward halt in both conversations as Mimir and Baldur realize just who they're next to.

"That I didn't know."

"Uh, you're looking well Baldur."

"Wouldn't you fucking know it."

"Io:nhiòte, lass?"

"Yoni, what the hell is going on?"

"Mimir called and asked if I still had keys to the dance studio because he knew someone who needed the space."

"And Baldur must be your tattoo artist. Thought it all looked familiar. Well, I'll be leaving. Can't leave Jörmungandr alone too long. Have fun girls."

Mimir fuckin leaving faster than anyone expected to see him move

"Hi, Io:nhiòte Kenway."

"Calliope."

Baldur knowing a Greek accent when he hears one and wondering just how many Greeks actually show up in the Black Hills because who really fuckin knows but it's definitely not tourist season

Calliope wrinkling her nose at Baldur because he looks like mostly every biker she's seen since arriving but somehow doesn't smell like one??

(His day has barely started for himself so he's still smelling like fucking Irish Spring or something. And cologne because Ionhiòte is fucking ruthless whenever she gets a chance to tease him.)

"I'll see you later, Bal."

"Yeah, yeah."

Calliope unsure of the tattooed native woman Mimir took her to because she only knows Io:nhiòte--not feeling rude enough to mess up her name--has degrees in dance and a space she's allowing her into

"Thank you for this Io:nhiòte."

"No problem. I was going in anyways."

Io:nhiòte is covered in tattoos that seem to be full of personal meaning as Calliope can't find any contemporary designs among what she sees--other than a little cartoon ghost peeking at her on her arm

"It's a lot, I know. That little guy I got from Baldur on Halloween some years ago during a special at the shop he worked at the time."

"Mimir said you had a long history of dancing."

"Practically since birth. I was born here and I'm enrolled in my mother's tribe, but I know dances from both her tribe and my dad's. I was lucky enough to also take ballet classes growing up here in the city. Then I went to college for it, et cetera, got a Masters. I'm actually back for a break from it all, but can't really stop you know?"

"Yes. I live in France and I'm on a break between shows, but I've missed being in the studio since I came."

"Mimir said you're in a ballet version of Dracula?"

"As Mina. I'll pick it back up sometime next month when I'm home."

"That's cool."

Calliope doesn't expect to catch on well with Ionhiòte, but she does and she forgets the pain of the past week as she can flex her muscles and remembers why she lost herself in dance in the first place as she learns from the older woman who draws her into her teasing with the instructors as they pass by

And then Calliope has plans for tomorrow night to go out with Ionhiòte and her friends

Calliope finding herself staring at a picture of her new friend and Aloy and Atreus in the same lobby she's standing in

"They're how I know Mimir. She brought that boy in here because he wanted to see what it was like for a ballet dancer because he learned his sister was one in London. He was so amazed and kept going on about how strong his sister must have been. They stop by to see me when they know I'm here. Took that when I earned my master's degree."

"You are friends."

"I would say so. Those two are closer than I am with my own siblings."

Then Calliope finds herself helping Ionhiòte pick up dinner and eating it in Baldur's office as the two are going over his initial design for the woman while she's free to look at his art books lying around

Again, she feels awkward and out of place even though it's all a lot nicer than what she imagined when she met the man

Calliope admiring an olive branch and rose and just absolutely blushing when Baldur calls her out on it--one, because *yeah* she's thought about getting a tattoo before because both of her parents have them; two, because Baldur has Io:nhiòte's shirt up, hip in hand as he draws on the lower left of her back

Baldur unphased because he has fuckin seen it all--Io:nhiòte is cOVERED and this has been his passion since he was a lITTLE sHIT rEBEL

By the time Calliope's in bed (after assuring her dad and uncle that yes she was fine and yes she ate--in a friendly manner after a look from Mimir) she's feeling leagues better than when she first started talking to Mimir about what was going on because now she has a place to dance, a person she would like to be friends with, and a tattoo appointment scheduled for the weekend

She's up for her morning jog at way too goddamn early for how late she went to sleep but she can't just remain in bed when she can't sleep and awkwardly sees her little brother still mostly asleep on the porch with his judging little dog (and she loves dogs and wishes she could have one but she's already talked to a friend about possibly taking in one of their kittens) and she has to admit it's a cute sight

Atreus can't find it in him to care that Calliope is stretching not too far from him as he waits for Mimir to get up and come grab Jörmungandr and his dad to--

"Atreus I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry for what I said to you before and how I've treated you since arriving. It's just--there is a lot you don't know about how things happened when I was younger. How my life is because of it. And you have nothing to do with any of it other than being born into this family."

"Thanks?"

"You don't have to understand."

Atreus is wondering if he's dreaming as he watches her run off, a whisper of jealousy at how easy it must be for her, when Mimir makes his presence known by half scaring him to death

"Deimos can drive you to school if you're not feeling well, lad."

Because they both know Atreus won't agree to staying home sick

"Nah, I got homework to finish."

[roxaeri]

Faye started scrapbooks to collect Atreus' art. Those stay in the living room. It's a habit for Kratos to still add to them.

Atreus likes to still look through them because they're good memories with his parents, even if he was mostly stuck in bed.

Kratos believes it's a good idea and shows the boy how much he has improved, but they also help feed him ideas whenever Atreus needs help getting creative.

They start a scrapbook for Calliope. Atreus likes decorating each page to fit the picture it holds. His favorite is Calliope's first fitting for her Cinderella gown. She's laughing as it flares out around her as she's mid-turn en pointe.

Where the majority of Atreus' notes and letters get included with his art (they just need to go together) the more personal ones usually end up at Kratos' work table in the garage.

That's where he keeps Calliope's notes and letters.

He's a simple, organized guy. They're in separate labeled folders in the second drawer, sitting on top of his own folder of personal sketches.

Kratos pulls them out to read sometimes. He can tell how each of his kids was feeling based on their writing and how they word their letters. And their lives show through.

Atreus' are entirely in English, since it's his most common language with his dad. Occasionally, though, he'll write in any of the languages his mother taught him. Boy takes the time to write out the pronunciation and put an explanation in English when he does.

Calliope is an eclectic mix of Greek, English, French, and dance terms. She also takes the time to explain to him some of the things she writes in French, but some she leaves without one.

Atreus writes in pencil on notebook paper. Kratos can tell how confident he is in what he writes based on the pressure he writes with.

Calliope writes in different colored gel pens on what he guesses is the most plain paper she owns. It's a light tan color with a white lace and floral border, unlined. He can tell where she had to stop to think and how long based on the size of the ink spots.

It's also extremely obvious to him on how comfortable she gets when writing to him when the stationary changes to purple and she starts signing her letters. (And they're full out letters at this point.) It starts out looking like an autograph, a quick swipe across the page, before it turns into the individual letters her name.

@chiptrillino