#comes w rocket & walnuts

[unknownartiste]

hello. can you please draw soldier eating a burger thank you.

mm burgah

hope it’s ok! ty x)

[yunitwer]

Brown rice and tuna salad. Brown Rice, Tuna and Salad was recorded by Troy Brady at Evergreen Studios. Special thanks to Dan Brown and Troy Brady for playing along. More tuna salad recipes you may like are Chickpea Tuna Salad, Tuna Salad Wraps and Mayo-less Tuna Macaroni Salad.

This is a tasty and refreshing salad! I follow a gluten-free diet and this was perfect for a light, yet filling lunch. I added a few more dashes of the red wine vinegar, chopped cilantro, cubed avocado, sea salt and pepper.

Hello everybody, I hope you are having an amazing day today. Today, I will show you a way to make a distinctive dish, brown rice and tuna salad. One of my favorites food recipes. For mine, I am going to make it a bit tasty. This will be really delicious.

Brown rice and tuna salad is one of the most well liked of current trending foods in the world. It is easy, it is fast, it tastes yummy. It's appreciated by millions every day. Brown rice and tuna salad is something that I've loved my entire life. They are nice and they look fantastic.

Brown Rice, Tuna and Salad was recorded by Troy Brady at Evergreen Studios. Special thanks to Dan Brown and Troy Brady for playing along. More tuna salad recipes you may like are Chickpea Tuna Salad, Tuna Salad Wraps and Mayo-less Tuna Macaroni Salad.

To get started with this particular recipe, we have to first prepare a few ingredients. You can have brown rice and tuna salad using 18 ingredients and 7 steps. Here is how you can achieve it.

The ingredients needed to make Brown rice and tuna salad:

{Get 1 cup of brown rice, cooked.

{Take 1 pc. of bell pepper or tomato, chopped.

{Make ready 1/2 pc. of cucumber, deseeded, chopped.

{Get 1 clove of garlic, minced.

{Prepare 1/2 of onion, small, finely chopped.

{Get Handful of dried fruit / pineapple tidbits, drained.

{Take Handful of lettuce.

{Prepare of Protein & Spices.

{Prepare 1/2 can of chunky tuna in water/brine, drained.

{Make ready Handful of chopped walnuts.

{Get 1/8 cup of lemon / lime juice.

{Make ready Dash of salt, to taste (garlic salt is ok too).

{Make ready Dash of paprika or cayenne, to taste.

{Get Dash of olive oil, to taste.

{Prepare Dash of honey, to taste.

{Make ready of Optional.

{Take 1 tbsp of mayo-less egg salad (check my cookpad page for recipe)OR.

{Take 1 tbsp of hummus.

Supercook clearly lists the ingredients each recipe uses, so you can find the perfect recipe It uses lemon, brown rice, salad greens, green beans, bell pepper, caper, olive oil, tarragon, olive, canned tuna, egg, red onion, balsamic vinegar. This tuna salad is perfect if you're on a diet. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Add tomatoes, cucumber, rocket and tuna to rice.

Instructions to make Brown rice and tuna salad:

Wash and cook brown rice according to package instruction..

Prepare your bell peppers, onion, and garlic: wash, slice, chop and place them all on a big bowl. [You also have to option to quick fry your onion and garlic if you like, before mixing them with other ingredients].

On the same bowl, add in all the specified protein and spices [and the optional ingredients you fancy]. Set aside and cover while waiting for rice to cook..

Wash your lettuce, then dry, and cut them into bite sizes by hands. Transfer 1 serving of lettuce on a serving bowl and set aside. Keep leftover lettuce on a ziplock bag and store in fridge. Note: Using a knife to cut lettuce makes lettuce taste bitter. Strange but true, based from experience..

Soon as the brown rice is cooked. Take 1 cup rice. Add them to the bowl of quickly marinated veggies (w/o lettuce). Mix them well..

For 1 serve, transfer 1/2 cup brown rice mixture on the serving bowl with lettuce and stir them a bit. Garnish with extra chopped walnuts or dried fruit if you want..

Keep the brown rice mix leftovers on a container then store in fridge. And it would taste even better the next day! If the leftover mixture has cooled down, you can mix-in the lettuce before storing the meal in fridge. Or alternatively, just bring a ziplock of lettuce with your packed brown rice and mix them upon consumption. Enjoy!.

This is "Brown rice and tuna salad" by Webpreneur Academy on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. This tasty salad combines brown rice, kidney beans, crisp vegetables, and raw almonds. All are tossed with Italian dressing for a great tasting cold side dish that pairs beautifully with meats, fish, or sandwiches. Combine the rice and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Ideal for busy households, this hearty salad keeps well in the fridge for up to three days, ready to be spooned into a bowl whenever you're peckish.

So that is going to wrap this up with this exceptional food brown rice and tuna salad recipe. Thank you very much for reading. I'm confident you can make this at home. There is gonna be more interesting food at home recipes coming up. Don't forget to save this page on your browser, and share it to your loved ones, friends and colleague. Thanks again for reading. Go on get cooking!

[treasurelie]

INFINITY WAR SPOILERS

If you haven’t watched it then don't read. Period.

I literally don’t care that the characters that died in IW have their own movies coming out or that they still have contracts with Marvel or whatever. 

I literally just saw every fucking character i loved and cherished D I E before my fucking eyes. And I was not expecting it at all. 

Gamora’s death made me feel sick to my stomach. I got to admit i didn’t cry with her final scene with Peter Quill, because I didn’t believe that it would be her time with him. How many times have we seen the cliche scene, if they take me, kill me??? They never get killed but this time like shit??? I only teared up enough for a few tears to slip out and felt the bile rising in my throat as i saw her body on the bottom of the cliff. 

Fucking Thanos stabbing Tony was finally enough for me to start crying because i was so high-strung after Gamora’s death and I was so scared for Tony that even though I told myself before the movie, to be prepared for either Tony or for Steve to die but really I never was prepared. And seeing that stupid grape stab Tony made me cry because I didn’t want anymore deaths. However after a few minutes, after seeing that Tony won’t die, I calmed down and wiped the tears off my face.

Wanda is the strongest avenger out of all of them. Destroying an Infinity Stone and holding off Thanos at the SAME TIME. Amazing what a queen. Literally killing the person she loves just to save the world. Only for it to be in VAIN as the purple walnut turns back time just to get the mindstone, making Wanda’s and Vision’s sacrifice for n o t h i n g. 

The next 10 minutes, glory its a miracle I didn’t start screaming in the theater. 

Bucky’s Steve made me just stare at the screen in shock as I saw Bucky disintegrate, thinking what? then oh shit Thanos actually did it, then  no no no, they won’t kill off Bucky, not our Bucky, not my heart throb since 7th grade, not in front of Steve holy shit not again. 

T’Challa reaching for Okoye only to die in front of her. Her king, dead before her very eyes. 

Sam dying in ground, alone but inches away from Rhodey who was looking for him. 

Groot, REALLY THEY KILLED GROOT AGAIN. IN FRONT OF ROCKET, AGAIN????

Our beautiful strong Wanda, cradling Vision’s body, the look of peace on her face as she turned to the sun before disappearing. 

Then back on Titan, Mantis and Drax die while the others (and the audience) just watched in muted horror

Seeing Quill die literally just made me give up, I was finally accepting what was happening, Thanos w o n. 

And I’m not making this up when I tell you, Strange telling Tony that it has to be this way before dying, in the split moment I thought, its okay that they all are gone, at least Tony has Peter.

Until we all hear Mr. Stark, I don’t feel so good. 

I cried a silent NO as I watched That scene unfold, as I feel my heart breaking, the roar in my ears being overtaken by Peter’s pleading that he doesn’t want to go, he’s clutching Tony in desperation, he’s scared because he knows he’s dying, and he doesn’t want to die, because he is 17 and he shouldn’t be scared of dying and he was just made an avenger and he shouldn’t be fucking scared of dying and he shouldn’t have to die in front of someone who is a father figure. 

And Tony shouldn’t have to see someone who is like a son to him die in his arms.  

All through this I didn’t cry, all i felt was my heart twisting in my chest. 

It wasn’t until Thanos was staring at the sunset and the screen going dark was when I finally snapped. 

I threw my head in my hands and I wailed. 

I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed, and it wasn’t quite, it was very loud crying because that just happened, and my logical part was telling me that I don’t have to cry so much, its not that anyone (real) actually died. But I literally saw all my favorite characters die. 

So all I did was take heaving sobs, and took pained gasps with each breath.

No one near me was hushing me and my friends weren’t asking me to be quite. I heard a little boy next to me asking his dad if he was actually crying. When my tears finally let up just a little I saw 3 teenagers wiping their tears away only for new ones to replace them. 

I looked up at the screen, still taking deep breaths with each sob, I saw the Avengers: Infinity War logo again, then disintegrate to dust. Which just set me off again. (Marvel I’m suing)

The credits were long, which gave me enough time to go to wailing->grossly sobbing-> crying-> to finally pained whines as I just stared at the screen blankly, not wanting to talk to anyone, not wanting to pull out my phone to text my parents to pick me up, the movie was done.

I did straighten up when I saw Fury and Hill, thinking Yes!! They are here, everything might be okay!! 

Until Russo Brothers wanted to kill us more and KILLED OFF HILL AND FURY. LIKE I’M SORRY ARE YOU NOT DONE KILLING OFF CHARACTERS YET???

After the end scene, I made my friends have us be the last to leave the theater and begrudgingly left. Until I was in the car I finally realized that this was the first marvel movie that I have been to that was opening day/weekend/ generally the first time someone will see the movie, that there was no applause. There was no amazed, excited clapping, all there was was tears and fucking misery. 

Side note: I didn’t mention Loki’s death because there is no fucking way he’s dead because A. that was one of the worst ways for him to die, seriously stabbing Thanos in the neck??? and B. I don’t think that the Russos Brothers would kill him off like that, if Valkarie is alive, then Loki is alive. Period

Sorry if you actually took time out of your day to read this, its honestly just a mess that I wanted to get out. Overall, Infinity War was absolutely amazing and its definitely my favorite Marvel Movie, and in my opinion, it beat Winter Soldier.

It was just the ending (and Gamora) that kinda fucked me up.  

That’s my opinion though, please don’t be too butt hurt. 

[jflashandclash]

Attrition of Peace (Traitors of Olympus)

Forty-Four: Ajax

When Dreams Come True 

             When Axel collapsed to his knees, Pax had to pause to reconsider their life decisions. Maybe they’d pushed the whole Paxes are the coolest thing since chimpanzees learned to ride bicycles too far. Maybe the Fates were filling in a MadLip with Cards Against Humanity for the Pax brothers.  

             Whatever the reason, the timing of Axel’s mental episode was about as good as the timing of Achilles’ last step.

             “Ares, are you this pathetic a coward? Fight me like a real warrior—” Axel’s voice crippled to pained pants. Pax could almost hear Axel’s internalized, meditative counting. This was what Axel did when the Leonis Caput’s memories synced with his: the way he quivered, covered his face, crumbled into himself, the rage and malice he emitted, the way he tore at his ears and hair like a bunch of microscopic Ares-lice were stabbing him with baby spears.[1]

             Pax wanted to tell Axel now wasn’t the time for hardcore dander removal nor the time to challenge Ares, but—

             “Aphrodite, if you were ever hoping we’d… you wouldn’t let…” Axel released an inhuman growl, his claws dropping to hug himself. The tips of his nails sank deep into Axel’s exposed forearms and gashed his skin.

             “Wow!” Pax said.

As terrified as he was of the ship, and as nauseous as he was from seeing Flynn, he couldn’t be useless right now. That wasn’t a normal-Axel-breakdown. The Silver Tongued Snake needed to get to work. He focused on trying to take care of Axel, and about how to talk them out of this and crawl back up to Alabaster and Reyna with a white “halp” flag. Assuming the ghost army hadn’t overrun Camp Half-Blood, but one thing at a time.

             Pax set a hand on Axel’s shoulder, trying to surreptitiously remove Axel’s claws from his arm. He gave Ares and Aphrodite a sheepish smile.

             Aphrodite raised an eyebrow at him and Ares looked amused.

             “Listen, Jerk of War and… Aphrodite.” Pax realized calling her “leave favorite goddess” was probably a bad idea right now. “I know we started off on the wrong foot, what with Axel almost castrating you during a fight and some other minor—”

             When Axel’s hand shot out to shove Pax, it was hard enough to throw him off balance. Pax’s back slammed into Johnny’s Rocket’s wall and he skidded down to the ship’s deck.

             “Get away from me!” Axel snarled, his voice wavering.

             Pax sat there, stunned, watching Ares laugh. Aphrodite sighed and fluffed her now-long locks. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy this,” Ares said. He removed his arm from Aphrodite’s shoulder to crack his knuckles.

             The ship workers—their old friend—all paused in their work duties to watch. They looked horrified. The mop in Flynn’s hands snapped against the floor.

             Ares walked towards Axel and set a hand on his forehead, forcing Axel to look up.

             “Hey!” Pax shouted. This was bad. Pax couldn’t fight Ares, or he didn’t think he could.

             He was about to yell, “No face-high fiving my brother!” when Ares did something he didn’t expect.

“I remove my curse from you,” Ares said, “And grant you a fighter’s, my, blessing.”

             “No…” Axel whined. His hands went slack and flopped to the floor.

             “Now, go forth, Monster of the Labyrinth, and hunt your prey.” Ares detached the Leonis Caput helm from Axel’s belt and placed it over Axel’s head. The God of War grinned, taking a step back to admire his handiwork. He looked at Pax and grunted, “Ajax Pax. I think we’re supposed to give you a five second head start or something, but I don’t care about that shit. Ready or not, here he comes.”

             Pax didn’t understand. He numbly watched his brother get up and turn towards him. Although Pax could normally see through Axel’s Mist alterations, Axel’s figure blurred with that of the Leonis Caput: his limbs turned skeletal, his skin seemed to hang loose. In the grey light, the plumes of his helm smeared to a bloody mane. Normally, even in costume, Axel had the look of a strategizing human. Now, his body heaved like a hungry, wild beast.

             “Ajax, run,” Axel’s voice sounded distant, small, and scared. In alarm, Pax realized he couldn’t see Axel’s mouth move under the helmet, just the vile grin of the monster. “Don’t use anything I’ve taught you.”

             But… but Axel had taught him everything. They trained together every morning since their acrobat days. And, besides, what was Axel talking about? Pax could hear him in there somewhere and it’s not like Axel would ever—

             The monster threw its head back and released an agonized wail, two-toned with Axel’s baritone and the Leonis Caput’s growl. One that twisted into a raw scream. [2]

             Pax scrambled to run. Shaking, he snatched up one of the smoke bombs Alabaster had resupplied in his utility belt and dropped it.

             Right as the green tendrils billowed into the salty air, the Leonis Caput lunged. Pax rolled into the smoke screen, the way he’d always dodged—

             And felt the Leonis Caput’s claws dig into his hip, then around Pax’s utility belt.

             Pax screamed in pain, wrenching to the side to dislodge his brother’s grip. Axel lifted him by the belt. Something sharp scraped his skin.

             The leather around Pax’s waist gave. Pax flopped onto the deck, his pants loose. He scrambled backwards, kicked the material off so he’d have full mobility, and struggled to get the skinny jeans over his combat boots. To save time, he kicked those off too.

             The ocean breeze dissipated the green haze enough that Pax could see the Leonis Caput stand to full height.

             Pax’s heartbeat thundered in his ears. The ship’s deck, his brother lost like an animal, someone laughing like a stereotypical villain in the background: he’d seen this before. He knew how this ended.

             He was already shouting through sobs, “Ares’ big, scary, evil plan. To have one brother pants another…”

             Pax trailed off when the Leonis Caput dangled the utility belt off one obsidian blade. All of Pax’s weapons, tricks, and household goods were on there: his daggers, helm, smoke bombs, knock out darts, serums, EpiPens, and emergency gum and condoms. Pax was naked, and it wasn’t just because he’d kicked off his pants.

             “You don’t happen to have any walnuts on you, right?” Pax whispered.

             As the Leonis Caput drew Pax’s own celestial bronze daggers, Pax puffed up his cheeks and popped them.

             Then, the Leonis Caput tossed Pax’s other defenses over Aphrodite’s and Ares’ heads, into the deck’s swimming pool. Aphrodite followed the progression with an iPhone. She giggled at Pax’s Pegasus boxers. “Oh, this is going to get such a high rating on GodTube.”

             “Ares, Aphrodite stop this. Ajax isn’t the one you want—” Axel’s shaking demand felt detached from the Leonis Caput, and came out more as a plead.

             Ares laughed. He cracked his neck to one side, took Aphrodite by the waist, and pulled her into one of the patio chairs. “No, but I’m rather enjoying this. Front row seats to see you beg for mercy.”

             Pax needed to make a plan. But he wasn’t the planner, Axel was. And—even if he had weapons—he couldn’t attack the Leonis Caput. That was his brother in there. He wanted to find a good corner of the ship to curl up, hide like a baby, and cry for his mother—er—cry for a good maternal figure. What he needed to do was talk their way out of this, and reason with Ares and Aphrodite, but that sounded as useful as reasoning with Hercules’ foot. Plus, Pax already found himself shrieking, “Chinga a tu puta madre!” at Ares.[3]

             Not a great start to diplomacy.

             The Leonis Caput slid one of Pax’s daggers into its fur to sheath it. With the other in hand, it began a jerky, twirling dance towards him. The jagged movements reminded Pax of their weasel’s war dance—everything was disjointed to confuse its prey.

             Tears streamed down Pax’s face while he scrambled back to his feet. His breath was tight. Every time his mind synthesized intel about his brother for a weakness—

 Axel Pax

Powers: Manipulation of Mist. Clear sight. Jaguar transformation. Increased speed, strength, ability. Heightened senses. Utter obliviousness to women’s attraction. Expert fighter and badass. Coolest brother ever.

Weaknesses: Stupidly stubborn, social justice warrior, guilt-ridden, nicotine addiction, his little brother, killing his little brother, killing his little brother, killing his—

                 Pax sprinted towards the back entrance to the bar. The door was slightly ajar. If he was smart and quick, maybe he could trap Axel. He could kick Axel into the bar shack, brace the exterior door with some of the patio furniture; then, he could release the chain holding up the metal gate that covered the guest access and lock the gate to the bar counter. No one would have to die. No one would need to be pinned to a deck. They’d just have to pants Ares, get that on video, and post it along with Aphrodite’s video.

             Despite how silent the Leonis Caput was, Pax could sense him closing in. The sense of approach made him choke on his gasps.

             When Pax got close to the door, he launched off the ground with his nondominate foot, planting his next step on the doorframe to run up the wall. He hoped Axel’s momentum would be too fast—that he’d skid into the shack or, if Axel could stop, that Pax would backflip off the doorframe, land behind Axel, and kick him inside.

             In mid-flip, he registered his mistake.

             Axel knew when Pax was getting ready for a flip.

             Claws sank into Pax’s shoulder.

             Pax screamed.

             Pax’s momentum broke.

             In the split second of reaction time, he reached down with his other hand to jam his fingers at the exposed pressure points along Axel’s forearm.

             But the Leonis Caput had already hurled him off course.

             Pax slammed into the deck. His face smashed into a piece of smoldering wood near the patio chairs. On contact, his shoulder cracked.

             A sob erupted from his mouth.

             For a stunned moment, all he could smell was rot, saltwater, and smoke. He thought about all the warm days he’d spent on this ship, playing pranks with Mattias, performing concerts for the bored army, and about the times Jack talked Luke into some beach days in Belize so he and Axel could visit Chiich and show Alabaster their home town.

             He thought about how Jack was a decapitated head now, how Will, Joey, Kouta, and Santiago were dead, how Lapis and Hiro had left he and Axel to help Eris bring a ghost army to obliterate Camp Half-Blood, how his topside friends might already be dead, and how—if they survived—his only chances at a healthy, happy relationship would be dating each other. When had the fates decided his story would be so angsty?! He hadn’t asked for much; he didn’t want glory or fame—he just wanted infinite craft projects and a dozen Pax children!

             Pax tried to push up off the grossly warm muck on the floorboards.

             Pain erupted in the shoulder that had cracked. He squealed. The arm wouldn’t move. The other trembled violently.

             Footsteps approached.

             His gaze hardened on his functional hand, placing it flat against the floorboards.

             As soon as he went to push off, a bronze blade slammed through his palm, thudding into the deck at an angle, pinning him.

             Pax stared as glittery blood smeared onto the slimy wood and his hand. His cries clogged into hyperventilation. He remembered this. He knew what happened next.

             But, in his dream, he’d never heard Axel speak.

             “Ares—please—” Axel’s distant, small voice trembled violently. For the first time since Frasco died, he could hear Axel choking on sobs. “Stop! I’ll atone for my sins—I’ll—I’ll do anything—”  

             Someone laughed.

             Pax’s mouth was moving. He was screaming something at Ares, some kind of curse or swear.

             He tried to yank his hand up, to force the blade out of the—

             The world flashed white for a moment.

             Pax squealed again. He’d forgotten his blade expanded at the base. Everything flared, like he’d shoved his injured shoulder and pinned hand into a meat grinder at the same time. He couldn’t—couldn’t get enough leverage—

             “Aphrodite—p-p-please—please—I’ll be your slave! You can use me however you want—I won’t resist—and I’ll never think of Reyna again, and I’ll tell you I love you—”

             “Ares, maybe we should reconsider—”

             “Stay strong, babe. He’s no Adonis.”

             Pax twisted his neck, catching sight of the animalistic arch of Axel’s legs. Axel still looked like he’d become the monster, but Pax could hear Axel’s hysterical tears. That was his brother trapped inside. The Leonis Caput withdrew the other dagger from his furs.

             “Axel…” Pax whispered.

             After Frasco died, Pax had never wanted to hear Axel cry like that again. He’d wanted to keep Axel smiling and laughing, like Axel always kept him safe and fed.

             “Please—gods! Titans! Anyone! Hecate! Morpheus! PLEASE!” Axel wailed.

             Pax choked back a sob. “Axel, it’s not your fault—”

             The Leonis Caput’s legs leveled with Pax’s shoulder. “Don’t say that—”

             “Don’t go all stoic about this. Talk to Reyna, Alabaster, and Kally.” Pax tried desperately to get his breathing under control so he could talk fast. He forced a smile, one that probably broke the Guinness Mythological Records for fakeness. “And quit smoking. You know those things have a c-c-component of urine for fl-flavoring.”

             The Leonis Caput slowly knelt beside him. “Shut up, Ajax—” Axel couldn’t finish the comment.

             “We’ll see each other again. Remember? I’m like a stomach parasite—”

             The Leonis Caput grabbed Pax’s hair.

             “—you can’t get rid of me.”

             Aphrodite had gone completely silent. Ares made a grunt, like he wasn’t pleased that Pax had to get a lot off his chest before the whole eternity elsewhere thing.

             The Leonis Caput pulled Pax slightly upright by his hair. Pax strained not to scream at the pain in his shoulder, or the way the dagger tugged at his hand on the deck. But he knew Axel was the one in there, seeing all of this. He wanted to pretend things were as painless as possible.

             “Regardless of this, you know, you’re still the best big brother anyone could ask for,” Pax whispered, “Sick burn to Kouta, right?”

             Axel wept as the Leonis Caput hefted up Pax’s second dagger in his other hand.

             While Pax was trying to act relaxed about the whole eminent death thing, he had to close his eyes when he saw the tip pointed at his throat. He may have loved Axel, and wanted to minimize the killing-your-own-brother-guilt thing, but he was still a coward.

             Pax could feel Axel’s body tense. He figured the moment was coming, and said, “Goodbye, Axel. I love you, bro.”

             He’d thought a lot about what would be the best or most heroic last words. He figured nothing could top those.

Author’s Note: Thanks for reading! Sooooo, this was supposed to be the last chapter in the book, in the spirit of Riordan cliffhangers, but Mel basically said she’d murder me if I didn’t put an epilogue in. Who else is in the murder party?!

Axel, put your hand down. I revoke your right to enter this party.  

Footnotes: 

[1] One day, I need a drawing of this.

[2] This scene was conceived to What’s Up People by Maximum to the Hormone.

[3] *ehem* Don’t say this. It’s a very impolite thing to imply someone should do with their mother.

[trinkets-and-spirits]

Gettin’ to Know Me. 😉

Rules: Tag 5 witches you wish to get to know better. Repost—do not reblog.

How old are you? — 16. Whoa, shocking, right?

What do you go by? — Free, or Eph. I’m cool with either one.

How long have you been practising witchcraft? — I started practising witchcraft in February 2017, so a little under one year. However, I’ve been a strong believer of the Pagan Paths for a little while longer; as I’ve been following Norse Paganism since March 2016, but I’ve only recently started witchcraft. c:

What type of witchcraft do you specialise in? — Hmm, I’d probably say Hedge Witchcraft & Divination; as my path was built up onto the Hedge after I kept experiencing over-exposure to the other side, and I wanted to learn how to keep myself from being scared upon waking up & seeing the dead in my room. And divination, I’ve always been the sort to experience very specific Deja vu whilst asleep or lost in thought; but I never remembered it until doing the act, as any sorta typical Deja vu moment would do, until I had a very specific thought about one of my best friends—and low & behold, she experienced the thought detail for detail only a week or two later. So! Instead of freaking out alone, I took it upon myself to learn the beautiful art of divination; specifically dream & tarot. c:

What aspect of witchcraft are you best at? — Well, as stated above; I have an uncanny amount of luck with Hedge Witchcraft & Divination. However, I’ve noticed that I’m specifically fortunate with blessings; sigils; and warding magick. Crystals and anything to do with accent herbs or plants, too. I dunno, honestly.

What is a big goal you are working towards/have already achieved? — Hmm, I guess my big goal is to learn as much about witchcraft and the different paths that I can; for personal benefit, and to help teach others about the craft. And I’m not being specific about new/baby witchlings out there; I want to be able to express knowledge to those who are a little bit sceptical, or towards those who downright hate on witchcraft & practitioners, due to the old stories of Salem. Not that I believe that my word alone will change their frightened minds, but still! I’d love to learn all about witchcraft, because I find it interesting; and want to. c:

Who do you worship? If you worship anyone at all? — Well, I follow Norse & Celtic Paganism; though I do happen to follow Norse Paganism, predominantly, and I do believe in each & every single God/Goddess/Other of both religions. However, I tend to sit beneath Loki’s Hearth; and focus & follow on his teaching.

What’s your aesthetic? — Nature; trees, forest wildlife, owls, mountains, lakes. Although I’m a big fan of cemeteries & graveyards, too! I love reblogging scenes from cemeteries, or of singular graves in a beautiful scenery, or something! :3

What are some of your favourite smells? — Hmm...I really love the smell of firewood being burnt; or coal fires; or log burners. It just has one of those smells to it that makes me feel all happy & cosy, and I love passing by fields where the farmers are burning wood, or houses where someone has a fire going. Like yas.

Do you collect anything? — Jars, books, crystals, jewellery, owl ornaments, and plants. Although! I’ve recently started working on building a bone collection, for different practises that I have yet to dabble with directly, because...bones! c:

What are your favourite tools of witchcraft? — Crystals, tarot cards, sigils, and herbs. Sea salt mixed with some water is also a favourite, and incense! c: 

What’s a non-witchcraft pet peeve of yours? — Noisy eaters, or people moving my shit two inches to the side. Like, you’re ruining my aesthetic, stop it. Or, people who are just loud for no fucking reason; which makes it difficult to live in a bungalow with my mother...because she does all of these things. -_-

What’s a witchcraft pet peeve? — Well, I know I’m gonna get a lot of hate for this one: but I really hate the witches who try to make white witches feel like scum, in comparison to POC witches. I’m not talking about the witches who try to give everyone a fair chance to be recognised; and that book document going about where only POC witches are allowed to add their spells? I think that’s gr8. However, there’re certain witches on this site who behave as though white witches should be throwing down their hats, and proclaiming they’re bad people; specifically because of their skin tone—not because of anything they have very specific control over, like an argument that took a turn b/c they chose to let it. :/

Like, I’m sorry to all those tumblr witches who think that white people should be treated like scum, because our ancestors (and present assholes) treated POC like scum; but I don’t agree with you. And I’m not a straight white cis girl who is racist & privileged, so the fuck outta here with those anon hate comments; I’m fully for #BlackLivesMatter & the support for POC that has been rocketing recently, but I just don’t agree with the treatment that y’all are giving white folk. I mean, I’ve seen literal posts where witches are demanding that their followers don’t buy from small businesses (such as those on Etsy, etc.) if they’re run by white people, because “POC are more important.” Like sure, Barbara; but deliberately attempting to ruin people’s passions? That’s not a way to help the movement for equality go forwards; it’s discriminative in it’s own way, ya walnut.

Sorry, I went off on a rant. xD But might as well be detailed, so that I have something to reference, when all of the haters come & claim that I was shoving my opinion down their throats. I hope I was respectful as possible with my opinion, bc I honestly know that a lot of witches I follow are cool beans about white people & such; or at least don’t flat out try to run people outta business, and I really just wanted to state my opinion that my biggest pet peeves are the witches who try to ruin lives and slap “POC” onto it to make it seem justified. c:

Good advice not relating to witchcraft that you can give? — Okay, so there’s this Welsh folktale that I’ve been told since I was a little girl; called Gelert. It’s a very fascinating story, and I would recommend anyone to go read it, tbh. Anyway, it’s a story about this loyal dog to the Prince Llewellyn; who protects the Prince’s baby from a wolf that has been terrorising the countryside for the past couple of months, whilst his beloved owner is out hunting for the same creature. Llewellyn returns; and sees the room of his baby destroyed, blood on the blanket that had been in the crib, the baby missing—and Gelert laying on the floor, soaked with blood. Immediately, Llewellyn loses his shit & decapitates Gelert, without taking a moment to look around; and then...he hears his baby crying. He rounds the side of the tipped over crib, and finds his kid; and the body of a wolf mangled to pieces, and Llewellyn realises his mistake of decapitating Gelert, but now it’s too late, and his mistakes haunt him for the rest of his days. He buried his most trustworthy companion, and placed a stone on his grave, and blah blah.

Anyway, my advice is to keep a level head in situations that you might find emotionally distressful. Don’t act on your first emotion, because you might end up causing more hurt than relief. Look at the situation; look at every possible angle, and once you’ve done that, make a decision that will benefit everyone. c:

Do you have any good advice pertaining to witchcraft that you can give?— Not really. The only advice I can hand is to question everything; never give up on researching things, even if you stumble across a blog that seems to be legit AF with their fancy spells & recipes, always double check; always triple check; check until you’re 100% certain that the magic you’re thinking of performing isn’t harmful towards you or your surroundings. Also, don’t allow others to declare to you what makes a real witch, or any of that shit; we’re all individuals—so own it.

Do you have a familiar? — Yes, I do! n w n My deceased cat was my beloved familiar when he was alive, and it would seem that he’s not straying too far into the afterlife, as he is often with me in both energies & spirit; I’ve bumped into him on the other side, too. He’s such a brilliant cat, and I’m so blessed to have him as my familiar; he’s always there for me, and offers me guidance & protection. c:

Altar? — Not yet! Since I recently moved from my old house, I had to take down the starts of my altar back there, and I haven’t had time to start building it up. ; - ; However, I’m planning to start building it up over the Christmas break, because I feel unsettled without a visible representation of my worship in my bedroom. :c

I was tagged by @insert-a-catchy-name-here — thank you for tagging me, dear!

In turn, I’ll tag the following people — @lunaesteria, @eyeliner-of-cups, @orriculum, @onyxmagik, and @maddiviner...because y’all are honestly the only blog names I remember straight off the top of my head. xD Plus, I do wanna see this lil tag catch on, because I think it’s pretty sweet. c: x

[eldaryanfloof]

Episode2 Part2: Saved by a Unicorn

It took some time, and quite a bit of shushing the fox girl, but we were finally allowed to tell our story. About the woods, and the mushrooms, the lights...and how we ran into the fox lady.

“So you see? We’re just ordinary people, who got caught in magic shenanigans, and want to go HOME.” I summed up. During the time of me telling my story, I had moved to lean back against one of the counters. Already very emotionally exhausted. Mari had joined me, and, since she’d been awake for most of the 16 hours we spent in that cell, she was nearly falling to sleep as she stood there. 

The men around us nodded. The blue haired one who had grabbed us earlier sighed. “Getting you too home is going to be much harder then you both just stepping into a circle of mushrooms again. Infact...you two getting home is pretty much impossible.”

I could feel my heart rate speeding up slightly, but was able to stay fairly calm, “What...why?”

“Those portals only go one way”. he answered simply, not a lick of sympathy in his voice. 

“Yes,” the fox girl, (who appeared to be the leader of the group), agreed, “It will take a great deal of time to figure out how to send you both home...”

She lifted a hand, waving to the large man with the uncute-pug face...Jamon.

“Take them to their cells until we come up with a solution.”

Once more, he came towards us, and my heartbeat rocketed. Mari stiffened, ready to fight or run.

“What is it with you and CELLS!?” She asked, tired, frustrated and angry, “Do you have a FETISH of some kind? WHY ARE YOU SO DETERINED TO LOCK US AWAY!?” 

I moved between Jamon and her, despite the pain from my bruised body flaring with every movement.

“Don’t. You. DARE.”

I gave the fox girl my best glare; my little sister and I had already been through so much that day...I would NOT let them put Mari through even MORE. She was too tired to run...but if I could even slow them down a LITTLE...

“...How did they escape their cell in the first place?”

At the silver-haired man’s words, the giant and I both froze.

“What...?”

“Well,” He went on calmly, “If they were able to escape the first time, what’s to stop them from doing it again?”

The key from that was still in my hand...and my dress had no pockets...so I slipped it behind me to Mari.

“A man in black armor with a dragon mask let us out.”

I wasn’t lying...not technically. We needed that key, just in case...

Everyone’s eyes had gone wide at my words. The fox lady’s eyes narrowed;

“THAT guy AGAIN...JAMON! COME WITH ME! WE NEED TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN’T GET AWAY!”

“Let me guess,” Mari mumbled behind me, “She plans to throw HIM in a cell.”

I tried to hold back laughter, and wound up snorting.

Most of the men were quickly following the girl out, and I felt my tensed muscles relaxing. It seemed that we would finally be free of that cage...

“ONE OF YOU TOSS THEM IN THEIR CELL WHILE WE GET THIS DONE!”

...Ugh. Seriously?

All that were left was the dark haired man and the unicorn boy. I tensed up again, making sure I was still between they and my exhausted sister.

“Hey Kero,” The dark haired man said, smiling, “You know the kid who took the food...?”

The Unicorn boy...Kero...hesitated before answering; “Yes? What about him?”

“Well, it seems he hid the food SOMEWHERE in head quarters, and YOU’RE going to find it for me~”

“W-what!? Why? It was YOU who was supposed to investigate and solve...”

“Finding a little kid’s hidey-hole is NOT part of my job description.”

“...Not PRECISELY but it is STILL very much your responsibi-”

“Bye Kero~ Have fuuuuun~”

The dark haired man was already gone. Kero groaned, then sighed. 

“It...seems I have to show you girls back to your cell...”

“NO.” Mari and I said in unison.

“...Please, it would be easier for all of us if you-”

“-I will PELT you with these walnuts.” Mari stated, hold up a bowel of hard, shelled nuts she’d found.

Kero sighed again.

“Look, I have an idea...” He smiled gently up at us, “...Just hear me out, ok?”

“ ‘An idea’ my sister’s bootlicious bu-”

I covered her mouth, smiling sheepishly at him; “We’re listening.”

“If you can help me find the missing food, it may help you both earn Miiko’s trust so she won’t stick you both in a cell again.”

I blinked my hot pink eyes, then smiled. “That...might just work...”

“I’m not to sure about that,” Mari stated as she but the bowel of nuts down, “That vixen seems VERY determined to toss us into that cell.”

“But it’s worth a shot, right?”

Mari sighed tiredly, “Yeah, I guess...”

“Great.” Kero grinned, walking out of the pantry with us following close behind, “Then we’d best get to it before anyone realizes I haven’t locked you girls back up.”

This guy...he seemed so different from the others. He was being understandng, and treating us like...well, like people. 

“Hey, Kero?”

“What is it, miss?” He answered, turning to face me.

“Thank you so, SO much...” I said earnestly, “...It’s been a REALLY rough day and it’s just...great to be treated kindly right now. We...well, *I* needed that.”

He blushed, fumbling over his words;

“W-w-well I’m s-sure you’d d-do the s-s-same for m-me...” He pulled himself together, clearing his throat, “...That is to say, neither of you know where you are, correct?”

“Yep. We have no clue.”

“You are currently in the headquarters of the Guard of El.”

“The what-uh-huh?” Mari replied, clearly half asleep.

Kero smiled sheepishly; “Allow me to explain while we search...”

[the-fitsquad]

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[bubblesandbrunch-blog]

Call me Miss Brunch

Location - the East, Double Bay to be precise. Occasion - our first official event as a group of good girlfriends deciding to become unofficial crusaders for uncovering, experiencing and supporting the best bubbles and brunch soirees good ol’ Sydney town has to offer.

Yes, we’re one of the many tribes of bottomless bubbles hunters you might have spotted on a Saturday, between 11am-1pm - you’ve see us around - heading to a gorgeous venue, dressed to impress and saluting our champagne flutes in the air before most people have crawled out of bed.  

Almost like having a coffee catch-up, but with a waaaaaay better beverage choice and, usually, courses of food to keep the palate happy; a bubbles and brunch affair takes the good bits of a typical brunch, BUT with a side of booze (and avo).

Just in case we’re not making things very clear, let us lay it out for you. 1. Bubbles. 2. A menu consisting of courses of breakfast-style fare that’s been given a little lunchtime facelift. 3. A buzzing atmosphere, sans the loud music and shovey bar lines. 4. Bubbles.

Yes, we know, we harp on about the bubbles. But it brings bitches together. Admit it, fizz-filled glasses fuse those already strong bonds between besties; mums, sisters and daughters; work crews and hens dos in a way that other Saturday outings drinks just don’t. Conversations flow easily, laughter fills the air, and gossip gives way to talk of what the future holds - which, of course, means talk of when and where you’ll be doing brunch next….standard.

So back to Double Bay (sorry, we digress) where we’d booked a table at Mrs Sippy’s ‘The Brunch’. We arrived for 1pm to find our well-positioned table for five glowing in sunshine at the front of the restaurant. We plopped ourselves down and before we knew it, our attentive waitress was offering us the choice of the two bubbles varieties included in our ‘Brunch 1’ ($100) 2-hour bottomless bubbles package; Chandon’s Brut NV or Brut NV Rose. We picked pink and quickly diverted our attention to the day’s menu.

First course then arrived, a fresh seasonal fruit plate to share and a big golden chia bowl of activated buckwheat granola, coconut yoghurt and maple stewed fruit. We tucked into the passionfruit-drizzled platter of fresh fruit and spooned on a side of the chia mix. Although not a crowd favourite, the chia dish made a good match for the sweetness of our pineapple, watermelon and kiwi fruit wedges.

One glass down and we were being served the next course - smoked trout blini stack, horseradish cream, sturgeon caviar, pickled cucumber and lemon. With the majority of our group not being seafood fans, the venue kindly provided ample amounts of avocado (winning!) as a substitute. The trout eaters, however, did find the combination of toppings pleasing, and the others were equally satisfied with their vego version.

Our waitress returned soon after to clear the table and tell us she’d give us a little breathing space before the next dishes appeared. We had settled in nicely and were onto our next glasses of bubbles. After a stretch of chit chat, our fourth and fifth dishes appeared – the brunch pizza of prosciutto, egg, heirloom tomato, ricotta, chilli, charred greens, fresh basil, as well as the grilled autumn salad of avocado, grilled eggplant, baby spinach, rocket pickled vegetables and spiced nuts. Wow! What a winning combo. The pizza was seriously delish and perfectly cooked, and the salad was just as tasty – especially the eggplant. With only the dessert course left, we savoured the last of the, erm, savoury foods with a wash down of bubbles.

Before too long our booking was coming to an unfortunate end and the brioche french toast with rhubarb and strawberry compote, vanilla ice cream and candied walnuts hit the sweet spot. With only one more glass of bubbles provided (the serving not as ‘bottomless’ as we had believed it would be), we ended a lovely bubbles and brunch session wanting more. A superb space for big and small brunch bookings, the afternoon we dined at Mrs Sippy was a fairly quiet one. We guessed it might have had something to do with the Easter/Anzac holiday period hangover…because the restaurant is a top spot for all-day dining, bubbly-themed or otherwise.

Yours Brunchingly, Miss Bubbles Brunch (Miss BB for short)

(PS – One of us brunchers has some pretty big dietary requests and we wanted to make sure we noted how accommodating the Mrs Sippy team were – amazingly accommodating).

Next time on the B&B Blog, our take on the Kensington Street Social Brunch … stay tuned …

Mrs Sippy 37 Bay St. Double Bay P: +61 2 9362 3321  W: mrssippy.com.au I: @MrsSippyDB F: @MrsSippyDB #TheBrunchMrsSippy

[jflashandclash]

The Attrition of Peace

Forty-Three: The Pax Brothers

We Crash the Wrong Person’s Vacation

 Note: I do something a little different with the point of view in this chapter. I hope it isn’t too distracting! Let me know if it is!

             In the ensuing chaos—of Alabaster snarling a quick, “Dawn will make your ghosts worthless,”

           And the boar with a bowtie withdrawing a pocketwatch from a pocket that involved cartoon logic to say, “Oh, my good boy, we have plenty of time,”

           And Reyna’s and Melinoe’s troops engaging—Pax frantically searched for his friends who were less trained in the art of not dying during war.[1]

           He didn’t catch sight of Kally or the others as Reyna and Alabaster shoved him and Axel backwards across Camp Half-Blood’s boundary lines. But, he did see another figure.

           Off to the side of the Roman wedge formation and the line of ghosts, there was a girl with a leather jacket, multi-colored hair, and a crowbar and sledge hammer in either hand. Atë didn’t have her usual bounce to her, nor her serial-killer-doll stare. Her shoulders slumped. She looked sad while waving her crowbar at Pax in some form of parting. Either that or a threat. With his family, you could never be sure.

           Despite being out of breath, Pax puffed up his cheeks and popped them. He turned from Atë, the ghost army, and the Roman defenses and ran alongside Axel towards the creepy pit of nothingness and frowny faces that had destroyed half of Hera’s cabin.

           He and Axel donned their helms for ease while running, the Silver Tongued Snake’s head narrowing his peripheral with more darkness. He stayed close to Axel, knowing his brother had better spooky time vision.

           As they stumbled back through what was left of the strawberry fields, towards the central hearth of camp, Pax wondered if this was the best choice. He hadn’t thought the ultimatum would be—A: let Euna vacation in Tartarus or B: abandon his friends to a ghost army and the Roman army, both of which probably wanted to kill them.

           Pax snapped back to the present when Axel hissed, “You didn’t tell me campers were up.”

           Ahead of them, Pax could see one of the many lumps had risen from the ground, hopefully a camper.

           Without breaking stride, Axel sprang over the camper, using the camper’s shoulder for balance. Meanwhile, Pax skid between the campers legs and rolled back into a run. In their split second of passing the camper, Pax recognized the trembling child of Hermes as Chris Rodriguez. And he was pretty sure the Leonis Caput and Silver Tongued Snake had just made Chris pee his PJ pants. Memo to self: mock Chris forever.

           “In the words of Alabaster,” Pax responded as they saw the gaping hole in front of Cabin Two. Several sleepy campers gathered around it, gawking down and saying they needed to find Chiron. “’Jack’s voice wasn’t exactly soothing.’”

           In retrospect, Pax wished he’d have said something cooler when they bolted past the gawking teenagers. Like, “Zeus’s farts smell like Aphrodite’s perfume,” since neither god would know which one he’d insulted, or “Weasels forever!” to commemorate the Triple W team that he, Axel, and Alabaster had left in the Paxmobile.  

           He didn’t have time to add on before Axel stepped into the narrow corridor with Pax following after. With each step down, the walls narrowed. By the time Pax counted step fifteen, he could feel cool stone press against the arms of his weasel sweater. The light from the campfire above them had dwindled to a mocking hint of glow off Axel’s golden helm.

           With that and the dim light of Pax’s celestial bronze daggers, all he could see was the looming Nemean Lion pelt descending ahead and the red plumes of the helm undulating in the tunnel’s slight breeze. Pax remembered stories of the Leonis Caput “stalking the labyrinth,” as the monsters liked to call it—the monsters that placed bets on how Pax’s brother would kill Roman captives.

           After Pax saw Axel win his first coliseum fight to secure their entry into Camp Othrys, Axel forbid Pax from attending the whole “stalking the labyrinth” shindig. Something about how Pax wasn’t old enough to watch R rated films? Pax had never thought about it much, since it was prime prank time, but now, he wondered if this was how the Roman victims saw his brother.

           The updraft blasted Pax’s face with the smell of… seawater? Why seawater? It would be awesome if Euna took a detour to some beachfront real-estate, but that didn’t seem to fit the whole bent on godly destruction thing.

           Axel stopped moving.

           Pax could taste salt when he swallowed. He got the uncomfortable urge to scramble back up the stairs, until the plumes on the Leonis Caput helm faded into the darkness.

           “I can’t see where we’re going,” Axel said. Pax could hear his brother puff his cheeks.

           Pax swallowed again, trying to rid himself of the ocean taste. Something felt wrong about the smell of openness in this black confinement. “Aren’t you supposed to have like, bat sense or whatever?” he squeaked.

           “I’m not sure this is part of the labyrinth,” Axel said, “If it is, either something is blocking my view, or it hasn’t linked fully into the network yet. I’m not sure how this works if Jack bent the labyrinth to his will. The labyrinth is a living thing. It doesn’t like to be controlled.”

           Axel’s voice trembled and Pax slowly put the pieces together. Cages. Confinement. Control. Santiago.

           Pax wanted to tease Axel for getting claustrophobic, but that would be like punching a honey badger in the nose: both upsetting because honey badgers are cute and because they are incredibly dangerous.

           “There’s a door here,” Axel finally said, “Be on your guard.”

           “Oh, I wanted to relax with Reese’s Sticks and Kool-Aid the whole trip to Tartarus,” Pax whispered.

           The door didn’t open the way he was expecting. Instead of hearing the click of a knob or the ominous swing of a dungeon gate like Pax had heard in video games, the barrier gave way noiselessly.

           The brightness blinded the Pax brothers when they stepped out of the darkness. Instead of some dank cavern, they exited into overcast sunlight. The brothers paused to allow their eyes to adjust to the brilliance, their bodies to the warm breeze, and their noses to the intensity of salt and smoke.

           When they’d adjusted, neither moved. Both were too stunned.

           They were on a huge ship.

           A grey ocean bled into a colorless sky every direction they looked. Parts of the deck were smoldering, the smoke curling to disappear into the bleached landscape. Various charred boards looked like they were patched together with broken dreams and wishful thinking.  

           There was a hollow carnival atmosphere to the ship, like an abandoned theme park. A pool was in the center, filled with crystal clear water and formerly white patio chairs with blue towels scattered around. A bar extended from the deck into the pool for easy access.

           Before the Pax brothers recognized any of the people drearily shambling past the broken spots in the floor, they saw the posters on the bar shack’s outer wall: one was for an Orpheus Metal concert. The depiction of Jack’s maniac grin above his emaciated body felt uncomfortable. Axel and Pax looked so much younger with their drums and guitar. That was back when Axel had long hair in a ponytail and Pax had pink highlights.[2]

           A few feet away, another poster depicted Percy Jackson with a drawn on mustache. Several knives and tail spikes protruded the wall, illustrating someone’s target practice.

           Axel didn’t need to see the mast’s statue of a princess in chains to state, “This is the Princess Andromeda cruise ship.”

           They both puffed up their cheeks and popped them.

           Axel and Pax removed their helmets and attached them to their belts so it was easier to look around.

           Pax felt himself tremble. He glanced at the door they’d come through, only to find a Johnny Rocket’s entrance. The circular window in the center of the door showed the remains of a food fight in the restaurant. But there were no grinning Camp Othrys members. Just a few people scrubbing the floor with their heads down. Something about them looked familiar.

           “But… but why is it here? And… and how? Did the whole ship decide to take a joy ride out of Tartarus? Are we in Tartarus already?” Pax whispered.

           Axel shook his head. He clenched his jaw, trying to pretend the sight of their dilapidated ship didn’t bother him. “What did Jack say when he sang?”

           “What? The song about geography?”

           “No,” Axel shook his head, “It’s about being there for a lover and conquering geography to get to them, right?”

           “I don’t listen to old people music and I was a little preoccupied with the earth splitting to listen to lyrics. But, if it was something about that, then why are we on a ship looking for Jack’s lov—”

           Then Pax saw her.

           He felt like he’d eaten a full backpack’s supply of walnuts. The world tunneled until everything was fuzzy but her black, jagged hair and her mutilated, scarred face. Pax didn’t know he’d stopped breathing until he gasped out, “Flynn.”

           She was mopping the deck, staring at the boards with that icy, absent glare she often got when Jack wasn’t around. Like when he’d last seen her at the Massacre of Mount Othrys, her legs and lower waist looked crippled and crushed from where Jason Grace had blasted a pillar onto her and Krios, and from when Pax couldn’t protect her like he’d promised Jack he would.

           The random shades doing chores on the boat weren’t strangers. They were their friends that died during the war.

           Pax could feel his cold sweat when Flynn looked up at the sound of her name. Her eyes softened for an indiscernible moment, then they narrowed. Get the fuck out of here, she mouthed.

           Yep. That was Flynn.

           But Pax couldn’t move. He felt too nauseous. He wanted to curl up and sob on Axel’s arm, but he also wanted to never touch another human again.

           Axel would have normally noticed his brother’s increase into hyperventilation, but movement from one of the only non-ghosts aboard distracted him.

           A beautiful woman stretched out on one of the white beach chairs. There was another non-ghost beside her, lounging on a chair facing away from them. All Axel could see was the man’s muddy sandals.

           She folded up her tanning reflector, set it on the stool beside her, picked up a bottle of suntan lotion and a fruity drink, and stood.

           For an instant, Axel thought it was Reyna. The woman’s hair billowed in loose, black waves down her back. A complicated, revealing purple swimsuit clung tightly to her caramel skin, one with way too many unnecessary straps. Something Reyna would never wear.

           “Fei Lin, my wonderful daughter, you missed a few spots on the deck. And you forgot it’s rude not to properly welcome guests,” the woman said with a warmth of a pillow used to smoother puppies.

           She’d walked up to Axel before he smelled the aroma of roses intermixed with the smoke and seawater.

           Faster than he could block, Aphrodite slapped him across the face with the bottle of suntan lotion. “You,” she said with the same tight sweetness, “scorned me for a demigod. And not just any demigod, one that gets all sweaty and gross from fighting too much, and reads really boring books!”

           Axel thought about breaking Aphrodite’s neck. The more childish side of him wanted to uncork that suntan lotion bottle and pour it on her hair, since he knew it would make her squeal and amuse Pax.

           But Pax was trembling so violently, Axel feared the shakes might dislodge a floorboard and drop them into the mess hall. Pax probably wouldn’t notice Aphrodite’s cringe.

           They didn’t have time for the Goddess of Love. He hadn’t registered that she’d stopped her night visits when they got to New Rome. Too much had happened.

           And this wasn’t the place for a confrontation. He needed to get Pax away fast.

           Axel focused on Aphrodite’s ear, to prevent himself from identifying any of the ghosts around them, and to decrease the effectiveness of her love magic. Despite his attempts, he was furious to find himself thinking about nipping her lobe.

           “Why did you bring us here?” he demanded, trying to find something wrong on Aphrodite to ward off any attraction.

           “Eris brat, take this,” Aphrodite instructed, handing the bottle to his little brother.

           Pax squeaked as the charmspeak took over. He reflexively extended a trembling, sweaty hand. Tears streaked down his cheeks when he glanced from the goddess to Flynn, who had gone back to swabbing the deck.

           Aphrodite began to rub herself down with the lotion, moving her straps in a way that made Axel avert his gaze. Each motion was so deliberate and tender. He tried to picture Reyna’s face when they were cleaning up the war tent, the way her cloak had loosened on one side to look goofy and lopsided, the strands that had come out of her braid—

           “Stop that,” Aphrodite snarled, the sweetness temporarily dissipating. When Axel glanced back at her, she went back to smiling and applying lotion.

           “I didn’t bring you here. I was just having a pleasant, quiet vacation with one of my lovers and your friends interrupted it. The Plague Bringer and the clueless daughter of Demeter, right?” She sighed and went to flip her hair, though the locks had shortened to a dark, pixie cut and her eyes shifted from dark to brilliant blue. “It seems like Jack was looking for his love as a way to lead him and his friend to Tartarus. Oh, Jack and Flynn’s love story!” She grabbed the suntan lotion from a flinching Pax and hugged the bottle to her chest. “Such a delightfully tragic one. Just a pity the heroine forsook her beauty and cut up her face.”

           Flynn had stopped mopping. She glared at her mother in a way that told Axel—if Flynn’s charmspeak worked on Aphrodite, Flynn would force her mother do worse than cut up her face.

           “Flynn’s still beautiful,” Pax whispered.

           Aphrodite dabbed the lotion along the ridge of her brow and gave the bottle back to Pax. He jumped. “That’s cute and sweet of you to say that, Ajax. Peitho[3] and I were wondering if saying that makes you feel better about what happened.”

           “Which way did they go?” Axel interrupted. Out of all their fallen comrades, Pax had the hardest time with Flynn. Pax could make jokes about everyone else, and reminisce on stories, or cry about how much he missed Alabaster, but never anything about Flynn. Axel didn’t need Aphrodite teasing his little brother when the dead girl was in front of them.

           A glance down at Pax confirmed Axel’s suspicion. Pax was biting his lip to keep himself as together as the softhearted kid could.      

           “Hm?” Aphrodite asked, “Did you say you wanted my help?” In a gesture that looked absentminded, she took the suntan lotion from Pax and motioned it towards Axel. Meanwhile, she licked the rim of her fruity drink.

           Axel had nothing to bargain. He could try to kill her again, but that had left him on his knees, pining over her for weeks. He knew what she wanted, but he could never humiliate himself like that. As much as the smell of her perfume made him want to droop his eyes, they were surrounded by the destruction caused by negligent, vengeful, and sadistic parenting by her and gods like her.

           A thunk came from the chairs by the pool. Aphrodite’s boyfriend stood up, stretched, and slung an AK-47 across his back. He wasn’t wearing a shirt over his muscles, but did have a scarf tied around his head to hide his face, like a Somalian pirate. His sunglasses blazed with a backlit fire. Just the sight of him made Axel furious.

           Aphrodite sighed and tossed her suntan lotion onto the ground.

           “Oh, you’re not going to be able to follow your friends off this ship. If you want to tail them, you’ll have to go a different route, assuming I let you,” Ares said, smirking.

           Axel scowled. Any worry he had about Aphrodite’s wiles evaporated in the presence of the war god. He reflexively went to grab his sword hilt, only to remember that all his weapons other than his obsidian blades were in pieces in the Paxmobile. He didn’t even have his frying pan.

           “What in Xibalba are you doing in Tartarus?” Axel snarled.

           “What in Tartarus are you doing in Tartarus,” Pax corrected quietly.

           The war god gave a billowing laugh. “We’re not in Tartarus! What? Did you forget I control the souls and vessels of all the fallen losers in battle? Hades and I had a field day—”

           “—Fields of punishment day—” Pax said.

           “—drawing lots on who got your crew.” Ares reached over and ruffled Flynn’s hair. Axel could feel her hatred. He remembered how she’d publically humiliate people if they dared to initiate contact with her at Camp Othrys. Well, everyone other than Jack or Pax.

           Although Axel hadn’t always agreed with Flynn’s brutal methods, he found himself wondering how he could free her and the rest of his crew from servitude to this godly child. But where else would their souls go? Could they have a worse fate?

           Ares released Flynn. He cracked his neck. “I couldn’t justify getting Jack though. He had to get his own specialized eternal torment. Though, it looks like he’s got the Orpheus curse now.”    

           As much as Axel wanted to obliterate his least favorite couple off this ship, Euna and Jack were getting further away every second, and Pax looked closer and closer to a mental breakdown.

           Axel set a hand on his brother’s arm.

           Pax flinched.

           Axel withdrew and frowned. “Ajax, let’s get out of here. I’m sure we can find another labyrinth entrance somewhere on the ship. I think we had one in the boiler room.”

           If there was one thing Axel knew gods hated, it was being ignored. He went to gently corral Pax towards the Johnny Rocket’s entrance.

           “Oh, you think I’m going to let you go after you helped Hephaestus gather the parts for his giant rat trap?” Ares asked.

           Rat trap? Axel paused. He remembered Hephaestus hiring him for a retrieval quest in exchange for the location of Leo Valdez.

           “Ugh, Stygian ice is SO bad for your skin!” Aphrodite complained. When Axel glanced back, he could see both she and Ares rub their arms at the distasteful memory.

           Despite everything, Axel crackled a smile. He hoped Hephaestus enjoyed hatching whatever trap he’d concocted.

           Pax released a nervous laugh. Since Axel had directed him away from Flynn, color started to return to his face.

           Ares seemed too relaxed with their reactions. The war god lowered his hands, resting one on the pistol grip of his rifle. “I gotta hand it to you, kid. Normally, I like punks like you with all of your spirit and anger—”

           “—oh, it’s monologuing time—” Pax said.

           “—but, at least pricks like Percy are useful. You… I haven’t hated anyone as much as you since Ghandi.”

           “Give me a medal of honor,” Axel grunted.

           “After upsetting this fine lady—” Ares gestured beside him to where Aphrodite was examining her perfect nails like she wasn’t part of the conversation. “—I’ve been thinking a lot—”

           “That must have been very difficult for you,” Pax said sympathetically. Axel probably should have stopped Pax’s side commentary, but he was a bit too proud of his little brother to do so.

           The war god seemed unfazed as he finished, “—thinking about what to do with you.”

           “I’ve beaten you before, Ares,” Axel reminded him, struggling to ward off a smirk.

           Though… Axel wasn’t sure he could defeat Ares now. He had no weapons but his claws and teeth. He was exhausted from fighting Percy and Reyna. And he needed to keep Pax safe and hunt down Euna and Jack. Plus, there was the ghost army at Camp Half-Blood with Reyna…

           Axel thought about continuing to ignore Ares to find the closest labyrinth entrance. Then every ghost on this ship—all their dead friends—would be sent after him and Pax to drag them back to the deck.

           He was not in the strategic position to smirk. Axel sighed.

           “No… no…” Ares chuckled and unslung his rifle. As though to emphasis how unnecessary the weapon would be, he leaned it against the closest patio chair. “You’re not going to fight me. See, I’ve been Googling the best godly punishments. Normally, I just kill people.” Ares shrugged. “But I found out Hera had a way more brutal suggestion.”

           Axel wanted to make some snarky comment about a 4,000 year old man going to his mother for advice, but the words died on his lips.

           “Some little myth about a guy named Hercules? Something about his first family…?” Ares said.

           Aphrodite giggled.

           Axel couldn’t puff up his cheeks and pop them. His insides felt frozen.

           Ares couldn’t do that, could he? That wasn’t normally in Hera’s department of power either but, she was the queen of the gods—

           But Axel could already feel his claws lengthening without his consent.

           From the energized grin on Ares’ face, the god knew what Axel was thinking. He slung an arm over Aphrodite’s shoulder and pulled her close as they watched Axel struggle with himself. “I know you love to hunt and battle, kid. Now you’ll hunt and battle the things that you love. I think that’s well within Aphrodite’s and my domain.”

           Throughout their trip down Jack’s corridor and onto the ghost ship, and—really—throughout most of his interactions with the Greek gods, Axel hadn’t been scared. Annoyed and enraged? Definitely. Now, for what Axel thought was the first time ever, he found himself trembling in fear before a god.

           When Pax saw Axel’s shaking hands reach up and clutch his head, Pax asked, “Um, Lord of Primordial Awesome?”

           “Ajax…” Axel whispered, “Run.”

 We’re almost at the end! Only one chapter and an epilogue to go!!!! :D Thanks for reading! *ehem* please don’t kill the author.... >>’‘

Footnote:

[1] As Mel pointed out: books Pax should write.

[2] This is actually a continuity error from Ch 21, Blood of a Mayan. Making a note here for me to fix it (since I care deeply about my character’s hair… apparently?) XD

[3] Goddess/personified spirit of persuasion, seduction, and charming speech.