#but I also like the idea of Peter carrying on the tradition of 'blue eyed black haired boys'

[zerolostwalks]

📓

Hey anon!! Thanks for the ask!!

So let me talk to you about The Host AU I developed for this small ficlet I wrote. Because I HIGHLY doubt I will ever write a full fledged fic for this one but I do have ideas and thoughts. . .Like a LOT of ideas and thoughts. 

I broke it down into Casting thoughts and Plot Point thoughts found below the cut (due to length)

Send me a book to hear about a fic idea I may never write

'Casting’:

So for the ficlet I wrote I casted based on personalities and already existing dynamics and who would be most likely to fit 

Really the hardest call was Melanie/Wanda and that casting decision was solely based on personality.

So with that in mind Carrie filled the role of Melanie. They’re both hard working fighters full of snark and sass. 

Julie was then slotted into Wanda’s role because they are both self-sacrificing(would do anything for the ones they love), struggle just a little bit on identity and self-image, generally polite but not afraid to stand up for themselves or more importantly what they care about.

Carlos was always going to fill the role of Jaime. . .Which meant I had to figure out HOW and came up with the following Wilson family back story

Wilson Family: Robert Wilson had Carrie, Ray Molina had Carlos, both lost their wives and remarried while Carrie and Carlos were relatively young. Trevor Wilson is Carrie’s Uncle, Bobby Shaw is his son-Carrie’s Cousin (It’s a Wilson family tradition to name the eldest son’s Robert, which is why he goes by Bobby, he also has his Mom’s last name)

Trevor then went on to fill the role of Jeb.

Which leads us to the Jared and Ian casting. And while there is an underlying double romance thing happening in the ficlet(and story in my head), I wanted to try and shift it to be more blatantly found family. 

As such Jared and Ian from the book kind of get split up between a few folks(this MAINLY impacts Plot Point thoughts)

Nick and Bobby take up the bulk of Jared’s side of things. Nick 100% covers the romance aspect.

Reggie, Luke, and Alex cover the Ian side of things. Reggie (and Luke?) covers the romance aspect. (There also may have been some casting bias due to the fact Ian is described as pale, blue-eyed, and dark haired-snow, ink, and sapphires).

Willie and Flynn would take up some of the more prominent additional characters.

Caleb took me a bit but I keep going back to wanting him to fill Doc’s role. Although he’d make a GREAT seeker fill in.

For the role of Kyle I invented a brother for Reggie. I KNOW he has other brothers floating around but I was NOT about to make any of them super violent. Also I thought it’d be fun to lean into the Peters’ are Elton John fans headcanon and name this new brother Elton or Kenneth. 

‘Plot Points’:

If I were to have written this I would probably skip over or rush a lot of the pre-desert stuff

As such I have it planned that Julie/Carrie gets lost in the desert looking for Trevor’s hide out, passes out and then Nick, along with Alex and Reggie, go out to get her. Upon opening her eyes, Nick basically throws her away from him which leads to her hitting her head HARD against a rock and passing out AGAIN.

When Julie/Carrie wakes up, they’re already tucked away in the storage area hole. Nick, Bobby, and Reggie are having a HEATED discussion because they’re ALL a little overwhelmed by the whole thing:

Bobby: What the hell are we doing Nick?

Nick: I don’t know I just I

Bobby: What are you thinking What’s Trevor going to say?

Reggie(though Julie doesn’t know his name yet): Alex and Luke went to get him (and doc?).

Then Elton/Kenneth shows up with a small mob of very angry people. Julie/Carrie do the whole ‘don’t hurt him’ shielding thing throwing themselves in front of NIck and Bobby(kinda Reggie by virtue of how everyone is set up). Big fight ensues, Julie/Carrie gets knocked around a bit, and then Trevor shows up with the gun and stops the whole fiasco

Reggie curled in on himself: This is so messed up

Trevor ”Why don’t you boys go get yourselves something to eat, I’ll stay with her.”

Nick: Shouldn’t we…what about…

Trevor: Seems to me you boys may be feeling a tad conflicted over the matter, take some time to think on it. 

Alex: Think on what, exactly?

Trevor: You brought her into my home, You decided to keep her here rather than take her to Doc. What happens next is up to.

Luke: Wait, us? Like all of us?

Trevor: A couple of you may have a larger vote than the others by virtue of relations and kinship, but yes, all of you.

Reggie sounding nauseous: Oh my god.

Then after seeing Julie flinch at something: This is beyond messed up

In case it wasn’t obvious, witnessing that whole thing with Julie/Carrie would THOUROUGHLY fuck with Reggie’s head. Because logically he gets the whole parasite alien thing, he gets that from the human perspective it’s a whole war and he’s on the losing side. In all other regards he just saw a girl nearly get beat to death and it’s very triggering. 

So after Trevor bestows the decision on the boys (probably because he picked up on how Nick was trying to avoid HAVING to make a decision). Nick distances himself from Julie/Carrie unsure what to do. Bobby takes over the bulk over Julie/Carrie watch but in his mind Carrie is already dead anyway, why bother keeping Julie. Luke and Alex conceded they’ll follow whatever decision Bobby/Nick make and also avoid Julie/Carrie.

Reggie is the only other one that even checks up on Julie/Carrie. He doesn’t know what to think because of all the aforementioned. He can’t wrap his head around WHY if the alien is supposed to be out for the elimination of humankind it would use itself as a shield to protect said humans. 

Trevor would eventually send Nick, Bobby, (Alex or Luke), Elton/Kenneth, and a couple others to go do the supply raid thing. Which would lead to a similar Trevor slowly getting Julie/Carrie involved in the community by having her help around the caves, with Reggie and Alex or Luke, tagging along.

Some noticeable differences would be that Julie(once she’s moderately comfortable) starts humming under her breath as she works. Eventually Reggie asks her about it and she goes quiet again trying to not draw attention to herself. Reggie apologizes and explains he doesn’t mind her humming; he was just curious.

Another difference is unlike in the book where everyone just lets Wanda never take a break, Reggie (or if he’s the one who stays behind Luke) finds out she’s been working non stop and force her to hang out with them (Reggie, Willie, Flynn). 

 Carlos of course is unavoidable in all this but that’s probably going to follow similar Jaime story beats anyway.

In the case of what would be the “Carlos gets sick and Julie gets snuck out to get meds” plot point Bobby, would be the one doing the whole sneak Julie out of the caves, while Nick went and got the Jeep and did the driving. Avoiding the whole silly let’s try and have you run blindfolded through the desert.

Another major difference would come during the end when they meet up with the other survivors. Ray would be there and recognize Carrie and get reunited with his family.

.

….I think that’s about all I have when it comes to plot point thoughts.

If you’ve made it this far, CONGRATS! Thanks for reading!! Have a cookie 🍪

[starspatter]

Do you have ocs of Tim and Steph's kids? Or just general headcanons about their future family life? Cuz I'm dying to hear them

Ahh I haven’t talked much about them since I plan to have them appear in my fic, but it will be quite a while before they show up so I may as well share some now.

DCAU Tim and Steph have two children: Their older son is named Peter Todd Drake and their daughter is Annie Hope Drake.  (10 points each for guessing where I got those names from.)

Peter takes after his father by idolizing superheroes, especially Batman, which makes Tim uncomfortable but there’s not very much he can do about it (just like there was no way his dad could’ve kept him from wearing a towel as a cape and practicing with a Batarang).  Even if he bans Bat stuff in the house Peter will find some way around it, and so Steph usually ends up giving in and buying him merchandise, which Tim begrudgingly allows.

Annie is a bit more sensitive to her father’s reactions regarding the “taboo topic”, and so doesn’t pry about it.  She adores hearing his bedtime stories though, especially the one about the “brave prince who rescues the beautiful princess from a clay monster”.  Her most treasured possession is a Raggedy Ann doll, which is the first thing her daddy gave to her.

Also Dick is their crazy pirate uncle.

[elizabeth-234]

The Hourglass

Previous Chapter Thirteen: Trust in me 

Happy Monday. This completes day thirteen of whumptober: breathe in and breathe out. Enjoy!

Chapter Fourteen: Moments in Time 

“Say hello to your new guardians.”

Peter pulled down the sleeves of his shirt and gave a withered glance at Tony who greeted them with a smirk in the lobby of the hospital. He ignored the flip in his stomach. This was a different Tony All that mattered was finding the truth and if he was a bit giddy from escaping the hospital, well, he wasn’t going to complain.

“Hell, Tony. You work fast when you want to.” 



“What can I say,” He said saddling up to them and throwing his arms around each of their shoulders. “I’m the kind of person who can…”



“Stuff it?” Rhodey added helpfully.

“Fuck off?” Peter said to which Rhodey laughed.

“I can offer my support and guidance to this wrecked youth in need. You imbeciles. It’s not too late to take you back.” He said with a side eye at Peter as Rhodey and him continued to laugh together.

“We have to keep him. I mean he looks so good in the plaid and all.” Rhodey shoved them all so they wobbled over each other’s legs and barely missing the spinning doors. Peter remained squished between them the whole trip to the car. His cheeks hurt from smiling.

-

Unlike so many years ago they arrived at the apartment with the gloom of impending doom. Though he still had a flash of apprehension, this time was fresh. He almost expected to see the door split in two on the floor and broken kitchen table, but there wasn’t a single scuff mark or dented piece of furniture in sight. Not even the fabric of the couch, less faded green than he remembered, was worn from use.

At the hospital it was difficult to believe the he had time traveled but the apartment it was obvious. The rubber pile in the corner turned out to be a clear inflatable seat with glitter. Behind it was a sturdier, more expensive looking chair pushed into the corner. The influence of Rhodey and Tony and their youth, he assumed, was abundant. He often wondered how long they lived in this space.

They settled around the table Peter had last seen in pieces. He grabbed the cups out of the cupboard to pour water.

“What?” He said as he set them down on the table. They eyed each other before Rhodey spoke.  

“How did you know that’s where the cups were?”

Peter looked down at the table clenching his fists in his lap. “Oh, uh, well. That’s just how it was at my house and I assumed the same here. It’s a fairly common cupboard design about 45 percent of people have the cups to the left of the stove.” 



They stared at him and shared another look. Peter watched as Rhodey shrugged.

“Alright.” Tony said clapping his hands to gather them around. “I need to fill you in on the cover story and just make sure everything’s okay with you. This is not an actual kidnapping no matter what my compatriot says.” 



“You thought it sounded cool as well.” Rhodey crossed his arms in front of him.

“Of course, it sounds cooler. Anyway, I want to preface this by saying I can undo any of this if you want. You also don’t have to sign them now, although if someone comes sniffing around it would be better.”

He shifted through the stack of papers laid out on the table and began describing the plan. Tony hadn’t been joking when he mentioned guardians earlier. The guardianship, as far as he could tell from reading through the papers was as legit as his driver’s license. Peter signed his name wondering how legal this all was. Tony was putting the papers away in a matter of minutes.

When he asked how everything wrapped up so quickly Tony said: “I’m rich, kid, and money buys this type of stuff way too easy to be okay with but it does have its advantages. Case in point here.”



“You were right to be worried. The CPS was looking for you. Along with…”

Someone kicked Peter under the table.

“Ow!”

“Oops that was meant for Rhodey.”



“Ow, damn Tony.”

The two devolved into bickering from there and Peter never learned what Rhodey was going to say.

-

The brush moved up and down the wall. It repeated the same motion over and over leaving a trail of evidence on the vertical surface until it dried. He knew what room would be his before they walked him down the hall. There was the bed and dresser but was void of all the decorations that had been hanging when Peter lived there before.

“We’ve just never gotten around to decorating. So, it’s up to you, honestly I couldn’t care less so go all out.”

Peter requested blue paint and bedspread but gave no more direction than that. All three of them dressed in old t-shirts so the painting would go quicker. Peter’s thoughts wandered after the first wall. With every new stroke of paint, he wondered how and if he was changing the future. The possibilities confronted him with every decision no matter the size. He could be changing everything. The time space continuum could be irrevocably destroyed by him eating a bowl of Wheaties in the morning. Not that the apartment was stocked with any healthy cereal.

The worst aspect was the secret voice in his mind that wanted to change everything. He wanted to storm out and never return to the apartment. He longed to stay wrapped up in his new comforter and never leave. He wanted to go see May. Longed to stare at her smile and wrap his arms around him. Would she recognize him somehow in the deepest parts of her? Would their connection transcend time and reality? What was the right choice?

The answer scared him.

The impossibility of the situation was precisely why he was staying inside the apartment as much as he could. This afternoon was paint day.

“Why the long face, Peter?”


“Go away Tony.”



“Well, he’s got a point. You look like you wanted to paint it with lavender and we wouldn’t let you. I knew that lilac would’ve been perfect.” 



“Shut it, Rhodey.” He said with a reluctant smile. Tony stepped toward him and with a flick of his wrist, pointed the paint brush at him. Peter wiped his sleeve along his chin.

“Point to you, Honey Bear. I need to step up my game.”



“What-what do you mean?” Peter dipped his paintbrush into the pot, making sure to wipe one side off before dabbing it into the corner of the wall.

“We’ve got a small bet going to see who can make you smile more. Believe me, kid. It’s harder than it looks. Here I thought I was king of moody but you might take the cake.”

They gave each other high-fives as Peter deadpanned. He should be mad they were betting about him. They were laughing and he agreed, it was ridiculous. Their attempts were absurd and stranger still, it was working. Tony rubbed in the point he won from Peter’s smile. Before he could celebrate Peter jabbed him with the paintbrush staining his shirt with a blue dot. He turned to Rhodey and with some extra strength and a precision throw launched the paintbrush at him.

Both exclaimed and an all-out war ensued.

The room was painted… eventually.

The paint never came out of their clothes.

None of them cared that much.

-

“Did you hear that our esteemed guest. It’s movie night, although I wouldn’t get too excited because it’s Tony’s turn to pick.

“You guys watch without me, I’m not feeling it.”



Peter found out within days of living with their younger versions that Tony was right. He was the king of moody and he was wearing the crown tonight. Only with the promise of cookies and popcorn had he emerged from his room wrapped snug in one of his blankets. Tony snatched the cookie tin away from Rhodey and, with crumbs on his mouth, refused to watch any movie his friend suggested.

“But we didn’t celebrate Christmas Tones. Pllleeease.”

“You know I don’t like it.” 



They sat, arms crossed, staring at each other. Peter shifted his weight between them. He was on his way to make popcorn at Rhodey’s request but Tony’s refusal had put a stop to the plans. He risked a glance at Tony who was still staring daggers at his friend.

May and Ben had seen how Peter struggled with the holidays in the beginning years of living with them. While they never forced cheer on him, they created traditions Peter could find a sense of newness in. Instead of baking gingerbread cookies, they cooked pfeffernusse. Rather than hanging stockings, their faux fireplace was lined with t-shirts they decorated and sewed up at the bottom. Sometimes Christmas wasn’t about Christmas as much as it was about just being with people. Peter had an idea. It just so happened to involve a movie he’d watched with them twenty-five years into the future.

“How about we watch some good old classic horror films. House of Dracula?”

The suggestion was unfair in some ways because he knew Tony only watched horror movies during the holidays. Their conversation at the hospital shed some light on the reason why he refused to watch family films at this time of year. Peter decided not to question if this was a previous tradition or if he was the one to introduce it.

Two hours later found Rhodey snoring – heavy breathing, he insisted – on the couch. Peter and Tony carried the empty dishes into the kitchen. Peter began washing and Tony leaned against the island counter, water in hand.

“Hey, Peter?” Tony handed him the glass but didn’t move away from his side.

“Hmm?”



“How did you know I liked to watch horror movies?”
Peter froze for a moment and began scrubbing again. He forced himself to laugh.

“I didn’t. I picked something not Christmassy but still a movie so Rhodey would be happy.”



Tony hummed. “You’re a strange kid. You know that?”

“So I’ve been told.” He scrubbed harder.

“You know I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Do I? I don’t know you. Not really. I don’t think I ever did.” The frustration was hot on the back of his neck. Peter rinsed the brush and began scrubbing anew.  “Why do you watch horror movies at Christmas anyway?”

Tony contemplated his words. Timed slowed in that moment. The water dribbled down his wrist and into the sleeve of his sweatshirt, Tony’s foot tapped against the cabinet, and the snores from Rhodey wafted into the room. Finally, he stopped tapping his foot and turned toward Peter.

“It was something my mom and I did. I, uh, didn’t get along with my dad and used to get scared too easily. We would watch them together to conquer that fear I had. It’s stupid but I just never associated Christmas with Christmas growing up.”



“It’s not stupid and, if it means anything, I understand. When I lived with my aunt and uncle we never really celebrated in a traditional sense. I’m sorry I snapped.”

Tony shrugged. “It’s nothing I didn’t deserve. I’m trying not to push but I am me so bear with it while I practice.”



Peter chuckled. Tony had no idea how pushy he was sometimes.

-

Peter choose the wrong one.

It was such a small detail; one he barely noticed was absent on his second introduction to the apartment. Tony had given him a magazine and instructed him to pick any phone he wanted for the living room. He dropped it on Peter’s desk and hurried off not answering his questions about what happened to the last one. Peter gathered from Rhodey that someone, he wasn’t going to snitch, had thrown it out the window.

Yes, out their multistoried apartment window.

Peter flipped through it and then he’d seen the one. It was so cool complete with clear plastic and these colored innards. The neon fidgets inside would move when you were on the phone convinced him so he’d ordered it without a second thought.  

It wasn’t until he awoke in the middle of the night sweat soaked through his shirt that he remembered.  He stumbled to the office and rummaged through the papers in hopes of finding the receipt. Of all the times for someone to organize.  

Damn it.

The phone in the future wasn’t clear with neon accents. It was a hamburger. The phone was in the shape of a hamburger. Would this food shaped communication device be the difference between life and death?

He didn’t know.

It was his fault.

He backed up into the hallway until his back hit the wall.

Peter barely noticed the shaking of his hands but could feel the pins and needles of each breath he took. His breath stalled and built up the pressure in his chest begging to escape out. His fingers tingled. Peter lost track of time.

“Breathe in and breathe out.”

“We’re here… sitting right beside you, Peter.”

“You are here in our apartment. You are Peter Parker. I’m Rhodey. That’s Tony and we are going to be okay.”



Peter came back to himself in slow increments. His back was pressed against the wall. There was cramp in his legs from curling them up to his chest. He stiffened and then relaxed. Two bodies were pressed against each of his shoulders. His head was bent up, resting on Rhodey’s shoulder and his hand was tucked into Tony’s palm between their bodies on the floor.

He didn’t remember his mission or how angry he’d been. All he could think about was the fact he might have ruined it all. He might have taken their future away and it was all his fault. What would happen if he ever went back to the future and these solid presences were no more all because he made a mistake?

Rhodey shifted in his sleep. Peter’s head fell more fully on his shoulder. He breathed in the minty scent and some of the anger he dragged back with him from the future chipped off his heart. Did the truth matter from the future when the Tony and Rhodey from here and now were beside him, comforting him?

Peter closed his eyes and slept.

Thank you!

Next Chapter Fifteen: Down Once More

[butteryscience]

A Day in the Life of an Athenian

Journal of Euthicles, Athens

Entry 1: ACL 5 Hekatombaion, Ol. Praxiergus

Arrived at the agora early, hauling wine and olives to trade for some copper and tin. There is some talk about war between the poleis, which poleis are involved I do not know. I have heard Sparta to Thebes to any and all, made no matter who. I needed to purchase copper and tin to get a new helmet. My friend, Saphoraion, took a blow in the last battle against the Persians and his helmet is the reason he is still making pottery, teaching his son the ways of Athens, and pestering his wife. There has been peace since then, so I assumed I would not have to fight again, but that does not seem to be the case.

The metals I looked for usually came from Phoenician traders out of the west, so I headed to the barbarian section of the agora.  Along the way, I traded for some wheat, and I stopped in front of the Altar of the 12 Gods and made a quick offering to Hermes, may he grant me skill in negotiation. Reached the Phoenician metal traders before midday. The long skirts of the Phoenicians in front of me were laced with gold, accenting their dark hair and eyes tastefully (9).

Entry 2: ACL 5 Hekatombaion, Ol. Praxiergus

The copper merchants were friendly but negotiated fiercely, they seemed to place a high value on trading and commerce over more noble pursuits.  We Hellenes value art, philosophy, politics, and notably warfare as well as trade. Such is my goal in acquiring the materials for my new helm. I held my own over the commercial battlefield, eventually haggling down to a crate of olives for the copper I need. After the deal was done and my copper packed into the cart I asked the two copper sellers about the goings-on from around the Great Sea (Mediterranean Sea).  Apparently, Naxos is threatening to leave the Delian League (1.) and some more Hellenic colonies are being founded in Southern Italia.  I do not understand why anyone would want to leave one of the polis, they are the most excellent civilizations on Earth. Or why Naxos would leave the Delian League, the most noble alliance since Zeus’s pantheon, the Spartans are brutes with little appreciation for the virtues of freedom.  Wonder what will come of these developments (14).

I thanked the Phoenician merchants for the information and they said that another Phoenician ship from far away would be arriving tomorrow.  I left the agora, stopped by the Altar again on the way back home, thanking Hermes and asking for wisdom from Athena for the Archon in dealing with Naxos.

Entry 3: ACL 6 Hekatombaion, Ol. Praxiergus

Woke up this morning eager to deliver the materials for my helmet to the smith, the news about Naxos has been troubling me, better get my armor ready as soon as I can. First, I spend some time with my son, training him on the doru, before his lessons at the palaestra (13 and 15).

I arrived at the agora early and caught sight of the Phoenicians goods traveling to the market. The tin traders were even more richly dressed and bearded than their copper trader counterparts (2). They wore elegant collars and simple bracelets.  Their fashion actually reminded me of some Egyptian traders that I saw in the agora a few archons past (3 and 4).  The tin trade must be lucrative.

I had save my good wine to trade for the tin today, so the traders and I found an agreement fairly quickly.  They tried to get more wine for the price by bringing out a slave of theirs with fair hair and skin. He looked strange and out of place among the brown Phoenicians, but the tin merchants told me that he was from the island where they acquired the tin.  I asked them afterwards where that was.  They smiled cleverly and merely said “far west and north, where the sun is dimmer” (comes from the idea that winter is harsher and overcast and rain is common on the British Isles), I could tell they were being purposefully vague, so  I asked what this place was called. They called them the Tin Islands or Cassiterides (Herodotus), the slave perked up when he heard this name, but stayed silent (5).

I thanked the Phoenicians, packed up my purchases, and headed to the smith.  I delivered the materials and the payment to the smith and approved the standard design of the helmet. I went home and spoke to my wife about the day.  I shall sleep well tonight.

Entry 4: ACL 28 Hekatombaion, Ol. Praxiergus

The Athenian fleet has set sail for Naxos, carrying the fate of Naxos with it. I took my son to see the naútēs (sailors) off (14).  I told him that these were brave men upholding the might and virtue of Athens, he must know this if he is to be a citizen of Athens one day. Next, I took him to the Parthenon atop the Acropolis to visit the goddess of Athena and ask for the fleet to have wisdom in strategy and battle. On the way up I told my son to always honor the gods when making a decision or engaging in big events and the gods will see that he is successful.

Inside the temple, I could see my son perk up and grow a little taller.  We walked to the magnificent statue of Athena. My son looked in awe at the stunning white and gold statue of the goddess of wisdom. He was silent for a moment before asking why Athena did not look like a normal Greek, “why is she so pale?”.  I thought for a moment and answered: “Because she is a goddess, why would she look like a normal human?”.  My son looked disappointed at this answer, so I leaned close to him and whispered, “and probably she looks that way because the artist liked these colors on his statue over other colors.”  My son smiled a little, like he was in on the secret with the artist, looked at Athena one last time and turned away. I think my son will remember today (12).

Commentary

The preceding entries all focus on an Athenian citizen who believes in Athenian greatness and in the values and qualities of his society. Each entry covers a particular aspect of the ancient world that a person in the Mediterranean or Aegean Seas would encounter.  The man is more well off than most Athenians. However, this financial security means nothing in the heat of battle when a stray javelin or spear may find your flesh, so he is investing in the materials for an armor upgrade.  Greek hoplites had to provide their own equipment for battle and it was seen as a civic duty to battle for your city-states glory. The battle where the man’s friend took a blow is the Battle of Plataea, the final land battle of the Persian invasion of Greece in 479 BCE, only about 6 years from the time of the entries.  The sources for these entries include websites referencing trade in Ancient Greece and Greek warfare.

The man goes to Phoenician merchants for the raw materials that the blacksmith would use to create bronze: copper and tin. Tin specifically was found in the British Isles, or what Herodotus called the Cassiterides or the Tin Islands, even though he believed the islands to be a myth.  The Phoenician's trade network spanned most of the Mediterranean, and they may have also travelled to the British Isles and Ireland. The  information about their voyages to Northern Europe  comes from late, and not necessarlily reliable, Roman sources(https://phoenicia.org/himilco.html; https://gatesofnineveh.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/high-north-carthaginian-exploration-of-ireland/) It is, however, a well-established fact that tin came to the Mediterranean from the British Isles.  I used dramatic license to allow the Phoenician traders to havea slave from Northern Europe. Herodotus describes the people that he calls Budini who live somewhere in Eastern Europe. He explains that the Budini have blue eyes and ruddish hair, and thus they look different from the Greek colonists living in the same area (Book IV, 108-9, see http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=budini-geo) Recent research of the ancient Greek DNA suggests that Ancient Greeks looked similar to modern Greek, who are generally dark-eyed and dark-haired (http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/08/greeks-really-do-have-near-mythical-origins-ancient-dna-reveals ) The description of the dress Phoenicians traders is sourced from a late nineteenth century French classicist and archaeologist, so this information is dated.

In the year of Praxiergus, or 470-471 BCE the island of Naxos attempted to leave the Delian League, causing the Athenians to respond with naval force. The source for this was a book by Peter Brand on Sparta and Athens.  I set this as the backdrop of the scene where the man visits the Parthenon even though the Parthenon was not finished until 432 BCE. The statue of Athena in the Parthenon is a magnificent gold and ivory statue that showed off the god's splendour to the Athenians. The statue’s surface is much lighter than traditional Greek skin tones, and I wanted the son to question his father on the reason for this. The source for the statue is the ancient Greek historian Pausanias circa 200 AD.

Each entry represented a part of Athenian or Greek life that a citizen might experience and shows the attitude of the Greeks to their surroundings.

Journal of Olorus, Olympia

After travelling to Olympia, we have finally arrived at the festival. My son and I were at the events all day taking in all the sights.  At one point a crowd begin gathering in the amphitheater and a man came on stage.  My son pulled me into one of the seats and the man began to speak.  He told of the war with the Persians and our great triumph (my son especially loved this part), he told of the many peoples of the world from the Scythians in the north and their eyes the color of the sky and the lessons of the slave war, to the black (chroma de melanas) Ethiopians  in the south. A rather embarrassing moment came when the man told of far off lands and  my son burst into tears in front of the whole assembly.  My son was rather proud though, when the man responded to my son’s tears by telling me that “your son’s soul yearns for knowledge” (6).  Afterward my son told me he wants to become a scholar like the man. My son, Thucydides, will make a great scholar if he refrains from sudden bouts of emotion.

Commentary

This is an actual story told in Byzantine tales of the Ancient Greece called the Photius Bibliothec about how Thucydides went to a telling by Herodotus of his histories, where a young Thucydides broke down and Herodotus responded in the manner told in the entry.  However, the original Byzantine story is not very reliableand is not sourced well. Olorus is supposedly the name of the father of Thucydides as well as the name of a famous Thracian king (6). “Ethiopia” was the Greek name for the area south of Egypt, and they often used it for the kingdom of Nubia (also known as Kush). For  Herodotus's account of the Ethiopians, or Nubians, see http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/nebrowser?id=tgn,7000489&query=Perseus:text:1999.01.0126

For the Scythian war with their slaves, see, http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hdt.%204.1&lang=original Herodotus and other ancient authors described the way different peoples looked, but they did not have the concept of race (http://maximum-cat-entropy.tumblr.com/post/168023302098/ancient-greeks-and-race-herodotus)

Journal of Male, Farmer, Wartime

The war forced me from my daily life of tending to my fields; for in fearing for my life, I had to take refuge in the crowded city with those who are defenseless like me. Disappointment flooded my being as when I returned home from the safety of the city, for everything in my name was destroyed by Spartan hands. However, I must thank the gods for my good fortune compared to others; those who do not have homes are forced to live in god-forsaken places within the city, where privacy and cleanliness have come to naught. If time continues this way, I fear for my ruin, as my fields are my source of survival. War has not only disrupted my life, but other families as well. Women whose husbands have died at war are now forced to find lowly jobs, as opposed to the lives used to consist of solely weaving and bearing children. Those who once supervised slaves have almost becomes slaves themselves.

Source: The History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides, Book 5

Athenian Soldier present at the Melian Dialogue

Entry 1: Wartime has caused Athens to consider making the strategic takeover of the Melos. Their island is a crucial location for the triremes to resupply and reorganize, for they do not have the capability of carrying long-term supplies that the men need to stay strong and steadfast. We were instructed to accompany ambassadors to speak with the Melian councilmen, for they were steadfast in their convictions that they would like peace. They pleaded with the Athenian men sent that they were too descendants of the Lacedaemonians, and to consider them equals, but this was to no avail, for our men stated they would only consider those who were equal in power their equals. As this discussion ended in a stalemate, we returned to our camp and await further instructions.

Winter After:

Entry 2: I am saddened by the turn of events that has occurred. At first the Melians were adamant in their ways that the Lacedaemonians would come to save them from their fate of takeover by our men. However, as time closed in, and our armies came back to besiege the Melians, some broke in their steadfastness, and surrendered. However, I do not believe that anyone could have anticipated the only other ending that would occur today would be of their lives.We were instructed to have no mercy upon them, and no Melian walked away free. Melian men were left with not a measure of life left in them, and I can still hear the screams of the women and children as they watched their men as they were subjected to this horror. I pray to the gods that I will always be spared a life of hardship these women and children will to be subjected to.

Commentary

The preceding entries reflect that of an individual who is a soldier, and ends at Thucydides’ dramatization of the Siege of Melos, reflecting his Melian Dialogue. Thucydides played a large role in documenting the history of the Peloponnesian War; these entries are an alternative means of presenting his information.

Sources

Brand, Peter J. Athens & Sparta: Democracy vs. Dictatorship.

Perrot et Chipiez, pp. 519, 523, &c.

Ibid. pp. 531, 533; Di Cesnola, pp. 129, 131, &c.

Perrot et Chipiez, pp. 527, 533, 539; Di Cesnola, pp. 129, 145, 154.

https://gatesofnineveh.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/high-north-carthaginian-exploration-of-ireland/

Photius Bibliothec. Cod. lx p 59, cited by Rawlinson (1859), p. 15

https://www.ancient.eu/article/833/the-athenian-calendar/

socrates.clarke.edu

https://www.ancient.eu/article/115/trade-in-ancient-greece/

http://www.phoenician.org/phoenicians.htm

http://classics.mit.edu/Thucydides/pelopwar.html

https://www.ancient.eu/article/785/athena-parthenos-by-phidias/

https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/08/06/armament-and-fighting-style-greek-vs-persian/

Brand, Peter J. Athens & Sparta: Democracy vs. Dictatorship.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/education/Athens