#destined prophet // apollo

[griftofprophecy]

do you like eating burgers... sir.......

[griftofprophecy]

Honest to the Angels, all he did was slam a door and wait at a barstool. Was that really that scary? What the heck! ... Okay, maybe having the reputation of "Scourge of The Sand" before he became established as a deputy then disappearing one day scared people. Not his fault, apparently. He takes out and waves around North Star's letter nonchalantly.

One end of his head crest flicks in curiosity like a cat's ear. He gets up from his bar stool, and climbs onto the stage.

The Vagabond finally steps into The Wild East, pulling his letter from his pocket as he goes over it one more time.

Of course he'd love drinks. It'll help wrap his mind around how things haven't gone to shit ever since his connection to these universes was severed for years. And also how the love's been treating him, about the kid, how North Star was doing, that would be nice.

Anything would have worked, as long as it distracted questions about his life.

The doors to the saloon bust open as Apollo stands, rim-lit and shadowed like he's a charming mysterious stranger from those southern movies.

"...Ahem. Sorry. Trying to find a buddy."

He wordlessly takes a bar seat and waits for North Star.

《★》

@griftofprophecy

A few shuffles and a whip crack, you hear Starlo doing a performance- Well, more so a ruckus, at the Saloon's stage. Him and the posse seem to be doing lasso tricks on stage, and as amazing as Starlo was at his lasso, the eventual accidents happen, and Mooch happened to roll off the stage, and into the wall. Monsters burst into laughter as Mooch smiled and stood up, bowing gracefully as if nothing had happened.

Starlo sees the stranger walk into the saloon, squinting his eyes to check who it is... A familiar face! It's...

Hmm? Suspiciously, everyone seemed to be scattering about, but mostly the Feisty Four. They seem to be a panic... And so is Starlo himself?

Okay, what in TARNATION is happening?

[cosmic-ghost-hermit]

Pick a Card: Who's been thinking about you? Why are you on their mind?

Take what resonates and leave the rest behind, baby. But always be open to new experiences. Decks used are the necronomicon tarot, alchemy oracle, wizard tarot and the crystallary oracle.

🌊Tip your Reader🐋

PILE ONE

Astrology: Taurus, Libra, Leo

Song: Taking What's Not Yours by TV Girl

Vibes: Blue, green, yellow, orange, overactive third eye, prophetic dreams, gold jewelry, masks, vulnerability, candles, 555, 7777, swings, volcano, picture books, Hephaestus, Apollo, Aphrodite

Cards: The Empress, Knowledge, 5 of Pentacles, 10 of Books, Autumn, Mystical Sister, Labradorite, Larimar

Hey, pile 1. I see 2 different people who have been thinking about you. I see one of them used to be your other half. Someone you felt close enough to they felt like family. I think y'all had a falling out of some kind. The second one is someone you only knew briefly. You met them right before they started to know themselves. You weren't destine to really know them and they weren't destine to know you. You may have worked with them or went to school with them. It looks like they have been talking about you to each other. It isn't gossip talk by the way. It seems very positive. They both feel like Leo's by the way. I could also see them as Aquarius's.

The former friend is telling this former acquaintance about you. The friend has needed to talk to someone about what happened between you two. They want to make up with you but are a bit too stubborn and prideful to admit they were wrong about whatever you two were fighting about. They miss you a lot. They think they made a mistake by causing such a fuss about this. They regret the falling out. They saw how gracefully you handled the conflict and they feel pretty guilty about acting so childish.

The former acquaintance is learning so much about you from the former friend. They knew little to nothing about you before they started talking to this person. Before, their view of you was very vague but they loved how you dressed and wanted to emulate their style. They really wanted to know you but were too shy to really ask to hang out or to ask where you got your clothes from. The more they learn about you the more they wished they had taken a chance because even though this ex-friend is the one telling them about you they aren't saying anything bad. They hear the stories of you and I think they feel envious of how close this former friend got to you.

You probably know these two are hanging out now. You don't really care because you have moved on from that part of your life. You would totally be open to forgiving your ex-friend and getting to know your former acquaintance but they won't take the chance. You shouldn't reach out either. They have to be brave enough to seek you out on their own. You are very forgiving and kind. I think the only reason they wont come forward is because of their own insecurities. They don't feel they are worthy of your light. They know you are a strong independent individual and they might not know how to handle how good you are at setting boundaries.

__________

PILE TWO

Astrology: Capricorn, Cancer, Pisces

Song: Welcome to the Family by Watsky

Vibes: White, blue, orange, silver, apples, trees, storms, ex-christian, reflection, boomer, garden, moon cycles, sea gulls, POS, irregular periods, feminine, 222, 4, birds, Demeter, Hera, Persephone, Artemis

Cards: 5 of Cults, Shame and Decay, Growth, Ace of Wands, Tin, Dissolution, Almandine Garnet

Hello, pile 2. There is one person thinking of you. It is a family member. I feel a feminine energy but it could be someone of any gender. I feel that this person believes you inherited your power and your abilities from them. I don't think this is true, this is just a belief of theirs. They have a lot of believes about you that aren't true to be honest. When they look at you all they can see is a mirror and they see nothing beyond that pre-existing belief. They could be a Taurus or a Libra but I also see Leo energy here too.

This person does not like how you live your life. This person has a predetermined idea of how you should be living. They can't seem to get the idea that you aren't their copy. They think because you aren't following the life they think you should that you are somehow sinning or demonic. They can't seem to understand you are an individual. In their eyes you are an extension of themselves. This way of thinking is really cancerous. They make wild and outrageous claims about your life that are made with no proof or evidence. They are honestly just poisoning their own mind by doing all of this. I hear them praying for you but they don't really know what they are praying for. What they say they are praying for is your uprising and for you to "come to your senses" but they are just praying for your down fall. They gossip to their friends about you and honestly some of the friends that have stood up for you and said that this person was being ridiculous. This person immediately and immaturely cut off anyone who didn't agree with them.

Do not reach out to this person. If you are still in contact with this person I recommend removing them from your connections. They do not have your best interest at heart and I think contacting them would add more fuel to the fire. They are sick in the mind and refuse to admit that they could be wrong. They do not take criticism well and they do not like anything different than themselves. They surround themself with yes-men who will do anything they say. Please, stay safe and protect yourself from such a mean person. They do not deserve your light.

____________

PILE THREE

Astrology: Scorpio, Sagittarius, Aries

Song: Hey, Runner! by The Arcadian Wild

Vibes: Black, brown, rainbow, teal, tendrils, doorways, stairways, 6666, 1234, snakes, crows, ravens, dogs, squirrels, spiders, animals, burrows, wild, water, skeletons, halloween, keys, cats, Pan, Artemis

Cards: 10 of Curses, Rotation, Darkening, Smokey Quartz, Queen of Pentacles, 2 of Pentacles, 6 of Books

Hi, pile 3! I see one person thinking of you. This person was not good to you. They abused you. It could be a former romantic partner or a family member. I also see you might have worked together. Either way they are not a good person. This person made you feel very helpless. I'm sorry they treated you so bad. You deserved better. They did something awful to animal you really loved. They somehow removed this beloved pet from your life. They didn't like that you gave more attention to this creature than them. They were jealous of this animal. They wanted to control you and your emotions. They took joy in your mourning. For some of the people reading, I think this person could have hid that it was their fault that this animal left your life. They could have acted totally innocent when you cried about your loss but for others I think it was very obvious that it was their fault.

The reason they have been thinking about you is because they have been feeling bad about themself. They used you to regulate their self hatred and emotions overall. They miss the power they had over you. They miss being a predator. It looks like you found an out from a life around them a while ago. You escaped their grasp like they always said you couldn't do. You made your own life and you made it beautifully. I don't think you have very active social media or at least not social media they have access too. They have tried to find you online but they can't seem to locate you. When they do find you they text you immediately and you block them like always. They don't like how you see yourself as equal to them now. They are such a piece of shit for real. They do not like that you live is flourishing without them. They are so pathetic lmao.

I'm proud of you for getting away from them, my dear. You have taken such good care of yourself since you left. You are a wonderful and lovely person who did not deserve to get fucked over by someone who was supposed to care for you. This person is tied up in knots about not having control anymore. They will never have control again. They used to feel powerful when they bullied you but now your power over your own life makes them feel weak.

__________

PILE FOUR

Astrology: Aquarius, Gemini, Virgo

Song: Cherry Hearts by The Shin and RAC

Vibes: Iridescent blue, dark blue, turquoise, gold, cicadas, moons, spilled water, tears, 888, mountains, wings, snakes, mourning star, water, swimming, ocean, copper, eldritch horror, Ra, Horus, Aphrodite Urania, Mother Mary

Cards: Queen of Swords, Moonstone, Chrysocolla, Uranus, Virgin's Milk, Death, 8 of Cups, 8 of Pentacles

Hi, pile 4. So there are two separate people thinking about you. They are unrelated to each other and they do not know each other but they have the same reason for thinking about you. The first person was a friend that was crushing on you hard. I think maybe you had a one night stand with this person and it changed their life. I think they are probably an Aries. The other was a very close friend that moved away. Or maybe you moved away from them. I can see you guys being friends in college. I think this person is a Cancer or an Aquarius. They both were deeply and irrevocably in love with you.

The Aries person followed you around like a puppy. They are a very masculine person but you made them feel a lot different than they usually do. I think you might have been their first real crush or their first fuck. They put a lot of effort into getting to know you even though you made it very clear you did not want a relationship. They still attempted to get into a relationship with you despite your boundary setting. They were a fool. You taught them about their passions which makes me think you have a "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" kinda vibe to you. They really were head over heels for you. I don't think you are in their life anymore. I think this person will think about you for the rest of their life.

The Cancer/Aquarius person was a really close friend of yours. I think either you helped them through a break up or they helped you through a break up. Either way during the mourning process they fell for you so hard but they kept it secret. They didn't know if their feelings were real or if they were just because of the situation. This person might still be in your life but I don't see them ever telling you about their feelings. I think they see you as this really cool and independent person. They don't think someone like you could ever love them. They try to keep their feelings down. They tell themselves their feelings are not real but their heart always skips a beat when they see you. They still catch themselves imagining a future with you. They have some naughty dreams about you too. They can not get you out of their head.

Both of these people love you a lot, my friend. I don't know if it's just your personality but you are just a really lovable person. You might be accidentally flirtatious. I hope this gave you some insight on who was thinking of you, my dear.

[literallyjusttoa]

Do you think experiencing prophetic visions makes Apollo feel certain emotions or that it physically can hurt? That he uses the oracles as a way to share the information but also to have others who can relate? So, he feels less lonely in his divinations? It just came to me and I have no idea what to think. Seeing the future or fate itself could be isolating. It would be hard to surprise him.

Ooh Apollo and his relationship with prophecy yess it's so interesting.

I think it's so interesting bc I think with how much Apollo uses denial as a defense mechanism he might be like, the worst prophet sometimes? The biggest example I always think about this with is Troy. Bc like, Apollo knew Troy was destined to fall from the moment he helped build the Trojan walls. But despite this Apollo fights for Troy and stays by it's side until it's completely gone. I think a lot of the time, especially when he was younger, when a prophecy has to do with someone or something Apollo really cares about he'll try to deny it or fight against it. Which yeah, I think would probably be painful. He's a prophet fighting against his own prophecies, which is like, way against what the fates want out of him. And I think after he realizes how much that doesn't work, he becomes very withdrawn about the whole thing. Apollo being the god of prophecy is something that is rarely casually brought up on Olympus, bc sometimes it's just too much for him.

To me, it's always seemed like prophecy is something Apollo never really settled into. It's caused him a lot of problems, and it's not something he was born with. He wasn't even looking to claim the domain, he was just trying to avenge his mother. While he has grown into the domain, and the domain has grown around him in response, I don't think he'll ever really be settled into the role. Especially when he can't step in to help in any way according to Olympian law.

[underrated-lovers-of-apollo-poll]

Round 2: Poll 2

*Please Read*

I advise everyone to read each contestant's story to get a well-rounded understanding of each entry. I urge you to not just vote for the one "you know best". I have everyone's stories/reasons why they should win under the cut.

(Branchus art by @literallyjusttoa)

Propaganda:

Evadne

What's The Love Story?

Daughter of Poseidon. Experienced the "joys of first love with Apollo". When her foster-father found out about her pregnancy, he furiously went to consult the Oracle.

During Evadne's labor, Apollo sent Eileithyia and the Moirea to assist her. After their son, Iamus ("Boy of the Violets") was born, she left him in a patch of violets. He was nurtured by honeybees Apollo (or the Fates) sent for five day.

In those days, Evadne's foster-father returned, with the confirmation that her son was indeed Apollo's and was destined to be a great prophet. Aepytus (the foster-father) demanded for the child to be brought to him, so Evadne retrieved her son from the violet patch. Iamus went on to found the Iamidae, a family of priests in Olympia.

Why Should They Win?

Young love, Apollo being a dad, what isn't there to love?

Kids?

Iamus

Branchus

Branchus

What's The Love Story?

Apollo disguised himself as a goatherd one day soon after killing Python and Branchus came across him, fell instantly in love with the beautiful shepherd, and kissed him. Apollo was just as enamored with Branchus as he was with him and granted him prophetic abilities, as well as a crown and magical staff!!

Going back some years to Branchus's birth, you could say that his mom received a vision of his future as a lover of Apollo - she dreamt that a glowing sun went into her mouth and through her stomach.

Also, since Apollo met Branchus soon after killing Python, he's probably Apollo's first lover EVER! Which is SO COOL APOLLO'S FIRST LOVE WAS A SHEPHERD BOY THE BISEXUALITY IS REAL

also also, an altar was built on the place where Branchus kissed Apollo <3 true love <3 and prophecies from Branchus were second only to Delphi itself, so Branchus got some STAR TREATMENT

Why Should They Win?

First Love = First Boyfriend <3 the queer is strong in this one

Yooooung Loooove Vibes TM

THEY WERE ADORABLE I NEED MORE OF THEM WHERE ARE MY BRANCHUS FICS

[lucy387]

A powerful third wheel

Based on a prompt by @writing-prompt-s

TW: some mentions of war happening and basically a world ending, but nothing described.

-

I'm tired. Usually I'm always tired, but today it's too much. I've been like this for a while and I think that I deserve an explanation now.

So, let me explain:

I'm Apollo, and I'm 153 years old. Yes, I know. I'm ancient.

A few years before I was born a prophecy was made about me. Well, not about me, about my siblings.

It said that there would be a time when chaos would unleash on earth and two siblings would be the ones to put an end to it. They would be twins, one an incarnation of all that is good and the other of all that's bad.

They would be ferocious fighters and would lead the survivors to victory.

The only problem is that the prophecy made a tiny mistake: the babies born to save the world were not twins, but triplets.

So, guess what, I'm the awful third wheel.

My sister Eirene, is the representative of good on earth. She could create flowers, wind, water, animals, among other things, out of thin air. She is kind and caring, but incredibly brave.

You mustn't underestimate her by her innocent look, because she is ferocious in battle, though always merciful when it is deserved.

On the other side, is my other sister, Eris. She is the carrier of destruction on earth. She iniciates fires, catastrophes and disharmonys to bring the world to ashes.

Contrary to Eirene, she will not have mercy with anyone who goes in her path. She is ruthless in the battlefield and not scared to get hurt.

And then, there's me. Just me.

When we were just kids, we were taught the prophecy that had fallen upon us. Although nobody understood why I even existed, they didn't dare to say it. Not with my sister's around.

They were recognized as the heroes they were ment to be when we were just two years old. An ancient master came to our home and saw us.

Saw Eirene, with her snow white hair, her light grey eyes, freckles, delicate hands and shinning smile.

And Eris, with her hair dark as the night, dark brown eyes and a weirdly wicked smile for a two-year-old.

And finally, saw me, with golden hair, hazel eyes and shy crooked smile

Since then, we were raised to know all about my sisters' future, learning how to fight, how to protect, how to speak properly, blah, blah, blah.

Basically, everything that every kid finds incredibly boring.

We were praised like gods and lived in wealth, thanked for things that we hadn't even done yet, things that I would probably never take part in.

A few decades from now, on our 100th birthday, the chaos unleashed. It was just as the prophets had said, fire raining on earth, earth shaking uncontrollably, things exploding for no reason at any time, all the missiles created by human race to prevent war being released with no one who authorized it, etc.

It was indeed something horrible to experience.

Luckily, my sisters had learned a lot during all those years that prepared them for this exact moment.

The thing that seemed so impossible, but at the same time, was destined to be, happened. They joined, good and bad, to fight and protect.

It was amazing to see them giving orders, commanding armies and rescue teams, saving lives and taking them.

I never stayed too far back. Even if my "destiny" was not like theirs, I could still help. So I did. I helped with the rescue teams, I took civilians to safety, I made sure everyone had a roof, a blanket and provisions and left to the next mission. During these years, my familiy's wealth was actually worth something.

So yes, today I am tired. Exhausted, actually. But happy, so, so, happy. Because the war ended three days ago.

I must say, I'm not only tired because of the war. I'm tired for not understanding why I'm here, when it was not meant to be. The twins, they were the ones ment to exist.

I could've been born later, and that wouldn't be confusing, that would be normal. But it's like the universe decided to play a game with me. Because not only was I born with them, but I was also inmortal. Like I could've been something important, but not quite.

So I spend most of my life feeling useless and worthless. That I did not deserve to be celebrated next to the wonders that were born the same day as me.

I don't think that anybody ment to make me feel that way, specially not my parents, but that's how it was for me.

So now, for the past three days, I'm lost. Because this sort of existencial crisis that was always following me close, waiting for the right time, caught up on me.

After the end of the war, the earth seems to be lost. Because no one know what's good and what's not, as most of the people alive was either born in war, or were too young when it started to remember what it was like before.

Now, I'm sitting on a swing, in an almost completely destroyed park, watching the sun rise, for a new day of uncertainty.

For everyone, it seems like we are about to go to another war, this time between ourselves. Because that is all most of them know.

Suddenly, I hear a branch crack next to me, and when I turn around I see one of the old temples' masters. I had him called, because I need help to understand.

-Good morning Mr. Apollo -he greeted me

-good morning Master- I responded

He sat down on another swing next to mine.

-i heard you were looking for me- he commented, calmly

-yes- I doubted for a second and remembered my manners- I terribly sorry for calling you at sunrise

-No harm done- he answered simply

-i need to ask you something

- go ahead

-i... I want to know what, or who, I'm supposed to be- I said, finally getting out what had been choking me my whole life

-I am afraid I don't understand what you want me to tell you- he told me, now looking at me curiously

-Well, my whole life I felt like I was supposed to be someone, but then found no purpose to guide me in any direction. I was born inmortal, with the burden of knowing that I would never be as important as my sisters. That I was laughed at by the universe, who decided to NEARLY make me a hero, but not exactly- I continued

-i see- he said -so you need to know If there is something I'm my studies that will help you find this purpose you so desperately seek

-...yes-

-As a matter of fact, there is-

-Is there?!- I asked, surprised

I expected him to give some apology and tell me that he had no idea. Frankly, this was a shock

-Yes. You see, I have studied the prophecies surrounding your family for quite some time. Neither of them mentioned a third sibling. But, I took the liberty to read the first prophecy that was made.

' it said that two SIBLINGS would be representations of good and evil respectively. It said nothing about them being just two, or three'

'so, I continued my research and it appears that a prophet, who lived hundreds of years before the other prophecy was made, predicted what I believe to be very much like you'

-What did he say?- I asked, eager to know

-He said "a man, born to live through a terrible catastrophe that would appear as the end of the world, raised between good and bad, wouldn't be a pawn in war's game, but the balance that will equilibrate the world, bringing hope and maintaining peace among lost people"- the old master told it like a story that left my head spinning slightly

I felt like for the first time in my life I could actually breath properly.

-So, what your saying that I'm supposed to be the one to restore balance in this broken world?

-I believe that's how it's meant to be, yes

And, well, that is something. After a life of feeling like an useless third wheel, I ended up being a very important one.

So I suppose, it's time to help lost people now and, rule? I gues, so...wish me luck.

-

.

.

.

.

Hi! If you got here, thanks for reading this LONG thing. I saw this prompt and thought to myself 'i need to write this' so I did.

I'm not used to writing anything that is not Harry Potter related, so this is new.

There is something that you might find interesting idk

The names of our triplets are from Greek gods

Apollo, among other things, is the god balance, argument and reason

Eirene was a goddess considered to be the one to bring peace

Eris was the goddess discord and the representative of envy

So, yeah, I spent a lot of time investigating names, and ended up with Greek inspired characters.

Thanks for reading, hope you liked it 💗

[american-pagan]

A Timely Roman Pagan Hymn: Hymn for a New Age

View the English translation with the original Latin here.

Hymn for a New Age

by Quintus Horatius Flaccus (Horace) in 17 BCE, reign of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus

Phoebus and Diana, Queen of the Woods, radiant glory of the heavens, ever to be worshipped and ever worshipped, grant our prayers on this holy occasion,

when the Sibyl's verses have commanded that chosen girls and boys of good character should sing a hymn to the Gods who look with favour on the Seven Hills.

Life-giving Sun, who with your shining car bring forth the day and hide it away, who are born anew and yet the same, may you never be able to behold anything greater than the city of Rome!

You whose gentle function it is to open the way for births in due season, protect our mothers, o Ilithyia, or Lucina if you prefer that name, or Genitalis.

O Goddess, be pleased to rear our young, and to grant success to the Fathers' edicts on the yoking together of men and women and on the marriage law for raising a new crop of children,

so that the unfailing cycle of ten times eleven years may bring round singing and games that are thronged with people three times by daylight and as often in the pleasant time of night.

You Fates, who truly tell what has once been decreed (and may that be preserved by the immovable landmark of our fortunes), add a happy destiny to what has already been fulfilled.

May Mother Earth, who is fertile in crops and livestock, present Ceres with a crown of corn; may Jove's wholesome showers and breezes nourish all that she brings forth.

Apollo, lay aside your weapon, and listen mildly and gently, to the boys' prayers. Do you, o Moon, crescent-shaped Queen of the Stars, give ear to the girls.

If Rome is indeed your creation, if the squadrons that settled the Etruscan shore came from Troy -- a remnant hidden to change their home and city in a voyage that brought salvation,

for whom the righteous Aeneas, a Trojan survivor, built unscathed through the blazing city a road to freedom, destined, as he was, to give them more than they had left behind --

then, o ye Gods, give sound character to a young generation enabling them to learn; Gods, give rest to the old ensuring their contentment; and to the people of Romulus as a whole give wealth and children and every blessing.

What the glorious descendant of Anchises and Venus asks of you with white oxen, may he obtain; may he be victorious in battle over his foes yet merciful once they are down.

Now the Mede dreads our mighty hands and the axes of Alba that are powerful over land and sea; now the Scythians and the Indians, who were recently so arrogant, ask for our decisions.

Now Good Faith, Peace, and Honour, along with old-fashioned Modesty and Virtue, who has been so long neglected, venture to return, and blessed Plenty with her full horn is seen by all.

Phoebus the prophet, arrayed with his shining bow, who is dear to the nine Muses, and by his healing art relieves the body's weary limbs --

he, if he looks with favour, as he does, on the altars of the Palatine, prolongs Rome's power and Latium's prosperity for another cycle and another ever improving age.

Diana, who possesses the Aventine and Mount Algidus, listens to the prayers of the Fifteen Men and lends a gracious ear to the appeals of the children.

We carry home the good and certain hope that such is the will of Jupiter and the other Gods -- we, the chorus trained to sing in praise of Phoebus and Diana.

[lilliankillthisman]

David Friedman has a lot of practical ways to turn government-run systems into better-functioning private market-based systems; they're all genuinely thought-provoking, and some are convincing when you're reading them. They're all ambitious enough that I'm not interesting in nitpicking minor problems, but there are also bigger issues that are genuinely annoying? I complained about his proposed litigation-based solution to regulating pollution here; there are three others I wanted to complain about. Discussion below the cut.

Chapter 16 starts with the claim that Friedman has solved the problem of mass transit; he has not.This is, I think, the only utopian bit of the book - a system that's proposed as a solution because it would be good if things worked this way. He wants networks of stops for decentralised carpooling from suburbs to the city centre, where people pay driving commuters to take them further in and get off at a later stop nearer to where they're going. This supposedly gets us cars carrying 4 people in, at which point they're as efficient as public transport (kinda true!). This idea is so bad it's unworkable even if you manage it with an app instead of the 1970s kludge Friedman comes up with. No, making commuters regularly stop along the way won't reduce congestion; that's almost as bad as adding more cars. No, people won't get efficiently to where they're going just because they're all heading into town. No, people won't give up the freedom of their own vehicles and timings to avoid congestion (they already don't! we know that!). No, people won't become taxi drivers on their way to their office jobs for spare cash (they have that option today, but there are very few uber drivers who do it casually as a small part of their working day). Annoyingly, Friedman claims that the current existence of rideshare apps proves his idea was prophetic; he fails to realise the total difference between paying a dedicated driver to get you to a destination (a service that existed in 1974) and paying to get in someone's car on their own commute (a service that barely exists today). It's one of the few bits of the book that feels like someone proudly detailing the solution to a problem that they don't understand at all.

Chapter 26 outlines Friedman's vision of a decentralised, market-driven system of justice, where law, the courts, and enforcement are all produced on the private market and idealised by systems of demand and supply. He goes into futher detail later in the book, and I do want to stress that I was impressed by his ideas. I just do not see how his system of bought-and-paid-for, insurance-style law enforcement can ever protect a financial dependent. It seems perfectly designed to protect domestic abusers and offer no hope of escape for children or spouses where one member of the family is the breadwinner and pays for the household's legal protections. And I'm sure that in 1974 Friedman would have said, well, we aren't saying it's perfect, just better than the current system, and the American justice system doesn't protect those people anyway. But you can imagine a community- or state-run justice system helping domestic abuse or child abuse victims, or being improved (as has happened to an extent over the last 40 years) in the ways they act on those crimes. You can't imagine Friedman's system changing in those ways; the ineffectiveness is intrinsic. He also doesn't note that objection; it doesn't seem to have occurred to him over 40 years, which feels like a huge blind spot or an admission that he doesn't have an answer.

Chapter 19 is... odd. It's Friedman explaining how the free market could have funded the Apollo program, taking as read that the Apollo program was a good and worthy cause. This is... kind of cute? He's clearly really keen on going to the moon; he would have a much better argument if he were to point at the Apollo program as an example of government-driven waste defying the demands of the market and taking money from the common man for the vanity of politicians. As it is, his ideas seem... childish. He points to the 400 million-person audience for Neil Armstrong's first steps as proof that huge funding could be gleaned from pay-per-view TV and advertising, plucking a ridiculous figure of 20 hours per person at 25 cents an hour from thin air (how would that funding be provided up front beforehand? how would that compare to every other option TV networks have for attracting viewers? how are you charging by the watcher instead of by the TV set, when in most countries multiple families would gather by a single TV screen? where did 20 hours come from anyway?). He says companies would love to fund the program as an advertising scheme; how would they love to be indelibly associated with the deaths of the Apollo 1 flight crew? He says the program would be done more safely and more slowly without the constant government pressure to win the space race; I think asking for speculative capital investment for a one-off event 20 years in advance instead of 10 years would probably kill off the whole project altogether. He says that companies could advertise with billboards on the moon; well, we have privatised space flight now, and we see absolutely nothing like that.

Complaints finished; onto something else.

[yhwhrulz]

Worthy Brief - March 1, 2023

The enemy wants to kill … before it's even birthed!

1 Cor. 3:3-4 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly?

During the Catholic inquisitions, as millions of Christians were being killed by the Jesuit Priests for apostasy, throughout Europe, Christians were fleeing. In Bohemia alone, there were an estimated 4,000,000 Christians before the Jesuit inquisition, and ten years later, only 800,000 people remained in Bohemia – all of whom were Catholic. These terrible events prepared the ground for one of the greatest moves of God that have ever been recorded, the Moravian Revival, which lasted for over 100 years. Gustav Warneck, the German Historian of Protestant Missions, testified, "This small church in twenty years called into being more missions than the whole Evangelical Church has done in two centuries."

It began with a young man, Count Zinzendorf, who was 27 years old when he opened his estate to welcome believers escaping persecution and inviting them to settle there. There were different groups, Bohemian Brethren, Moravian Christians, Reformed Christians, and unsatisfied Catholics. After a few years, this fragmented community of some 300 individuals with differing spiritual convictions and loyalties was so rife with conflict and disunity it seemed destined to fail.

One of the village founders, Christian David, got so caught up in apocalyptic fanaticism that he referred to Zinzendorf as the “Beast of the Apocalypse,” while the estate manager of the village, Johan Andreas Rothe was termed the “False Prophet." In this impossible environment, Count Zinzendorf devoted himself full-time to reconciliation and conflict resolution, visiting each home for prayer and exemplifying the persevering love of Christ.

Amazingly, this personal attention and devotion to unity and reconciliation opened the way for an awakening that would come in just a few weeks. Yet what would have happened if Count Zinzendorf had lost patience and, in justified frustration, thrown everyone off his estate? Instead of a 100-year spiritual awakening…NOTHING of spiritual significance would have happened. The enemy, working through the carnal attitudes of believers [1 Corinthians 3:3-4], continually slandered this young man and one another, but his response was to disarm those persecuting him with the love of Christ. The result was a genuine revival.

Disunity, and slander are deadly to spiritual life and will absolutely kill any hope of enjoying God's presence. This is true in the smallest company of two or three, or in a local church community, or in any size gathering at all. When the Lord is moving, He will bring humility and love as Zinzindorf did. Let this humble Count be your example in any sphere of responsibility God places you. God is always desiring to birth something supernatural!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Going to Christian College in Dallas, Texas) Traveling north up I-95 on the East Coast (US)

Editor's Note: Latest YouTube Video: Is it time for the spring rain? -https://worthynews.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b94ae97bb66e693a4850359ec&id=ae55c974e0&e=3d3c649f0e George Whitten dives into the current events in Russia, Ukraine, and Israel. He goes into detail about the events taking place in the Asbury Awakening and postulates from the Bible whether or not we are at the last great move of God.

[piristephes]

Other Gods and Their Epithets - Themis Continuing our series of posts about the epithets and characteristics of various deities, today we highlight the Goddess of divine laws and customs -- Themis, an ancient titan daughter of Gaia and Uranus, worshiped and venerated all across Hellas.

Described as an adult woman in long robes and sometimes represented sitting on the delphic tripod, she is considered the second Goddess to have possession of the Oracle of Delphi, with Gaia being her predecessor, succeeded by the titanic Phoebe (according to the playwright Aeschylus) and then the honorable Phoebus Apollo as her final successor.

As a divinity of divine order and customs, Themis represented the laws established by the Gods and the ancestral customs of the traditions of the ancient greeks. The character of the laws concerned the relationship with the divine, her name being homonymous with this meaning while the word nomos represented the laws that governed mortals and were established by them.

In myths, Themis is represented as an advisor to Zeus and one of his first wives before Hera. With the King of the Gods she had several daughters, Hesiod and Pindar respectively narrating the Moirai (The Fates) and the Horai (The Seasons) as daughters of Zeus and Themis.

Regarding her worship, Themis had a considerable and solid cult in several regions of Greece. There was a temple dedicated to her in Athens, a sanctuary of hers in Epidaurus shared with Aphrodite and in many other places, such as Olympia, Boeotia, Delphi, Thessaly and Epirus as well. As part of her oracular role and divinity that delimits divine laws, Themis was also present at the oracle of Apollo in Delphi, that of Zeus in Dodona and that of Gaia in Olympia.

Let us list some of her epithets here as well.

Cult epithets and poetic epithets

Soteira (Σωτειρα) - "Saviour" Euboulos (Ευβουλος) - "Of good advice" Orthoboulos (Ορθοβουλος) - "Of righteous advice/of correct advice"

Hiera/Aidoios (Ἱερα/Αιδο��ος) - "Sacred"/"Venerated" or "August". Eugenis (Ευγενης) - "High-born" Titanis (Τιτανις) - "She-Titan".

Themis' epithets describe her as a divinity concerned with good advice, aligned with Zeus's divine plans. Her respectable character and proximity to the King of the Gods explain her considerable number of cult spaces, something decidedly rare among the Gods described as part of the titan generation.

Her oracular function is closely associated with the delimitation of the sacred order of things and her character being inseparable from her daughter, Dike, the Goddess of justice. In one of Pindar's odes, one of her prophecies leads Zeus and Poseidon to give up marrying the Nereid Thetis when they learn from Themis that their son was destined to be greater than the father, leading them to hand over the powerful Nereid in marriage to the hero Peleus and generating the great hero Achilles.

Powerful and always present, Zeus's advisor and titaness of good laws is a deity of surprising power in her characteristic rectitude. Described as the one who taught mortals prophetic arts and the correct rites to address the Immortals in prayer, Themis has a very important function.

Let us honor her with our deeds and pray for her blessings always!

Finally, we close this post with her orphic hymn:

To Themis, Fumigation from Frankincense. Illustrious Themis, of celestial birth (Ouranopaide), thee I invoke, young blossom of Gaia (Gaea, Earth). All-beauteous virgin; first from thee alone prophetic oracles to men were known, given from the deep recesses of the fane in sacred Pythian Delphoi (Delphi), where renowned you reign. From thee Phoibos' (Phoebus') [Apollo's] oracles arose, and from thy power his inspiration flows. Honoured by all, of form divinely bright, majestic virgin, wandering in the night. Mankind from thee first learnt perfective rites, and Bakkhos' (Bacchus') nightly choirs thy soul delights; for the God's honours to disclose is thine, and holy mysteries and rites divine. Be present, Goddess, to my prayer inclined, and bless thy consecration with favouring mind."

Outros Deuses e Seus Epítetos - Têmis

Continuando nossa série de postagens sobre os epítetos e características de várias divindades, destacamos hoje a Deusa das leis divinas e costumes -- Têmis, uma antiga titânide filha de Gaia e Urano, cultuada e venerada pela Hélade.

Descrita como uma mulher adulta em robes longos e por vezes representada sentada no trípode délfico, sendo considerada a segunda Deusa a ter posse do oráculo de Delfos, sendo Gaia a sua predecessora, sucedida pela titânide Febe (segundo o dramaturgo Ésquilo) e então o honrado Febo Apolo como sucessor final. Como divindade da ordem e dos costumes divinos, Têmis representava as leis estabelecidas pelos Deuses e os costumes ancestrais das tradições dos antigos gregos. O caráter de suas leis concernia o relacionamento com o divino, sendo seu nome homônimo com este significado enquanto a palavra nomos representava as leis que regiam os mortais e eram estabelecidas por eles. Nos mitos, Têmis é representada como conselheira de Zeus e uma de suas primeiras esposas antes de Hera. Com o Rei dos Deuses teve diversas filhas, com Hesíodo e Píndaro respectivamente narrando as Moiras (Os Destinos) e as Horai (As Estações) como filhas de Zeus e Têmis.

Em termos de culto, Têmis tinha um culto considerável e sólido em diversas regiões da Grécia. Havia um templo dedicado a ela em Atenas, um santuário dela em Epidauro partilhado com Afrodite e em muitos outros locais, como Olímpia, na Beócia, Delfos, Tessália e Épiro também. Como parte de seu papel oracular e divindade que delimita as divinas leis, Têmis também estava presente no oráculo de Apolo em Delfos, no de Zeus em Dodona e no de Gaia em Olímpia.

Listemos aqui alguns de seus epítetos também. Epítetos de culto e epítetos poéticos

Soteira (Σωτειρα) - "Salvadora" Euboulos (Ευβουλος) - "De bom conselho" Orthoboulos (Ορθοβουλος) - "De conselhos retos/de conselhos corretos" Hiera/Aidoios (Ἱερα/Αιδοιος) - "Sagrada"/"Venerada" ou "Augusta". Eugenis (Ευγενης) - "Bem-nascida" Titanis (Τιτανις) - "Titânide".

Os epítetos de Têmis descrevem-na como uma divindade concernente dos bons conselhos, alinhados com os planos divinos de Zeus. Seu caráter respeitável e proximidade com o Rei dos Deuses explicam seu número considerável de espaços de culto, algo decididamente raro entre os Deuses descritos como parte da geração dos titãs.

Sua função oracular está estreitamente associada à delimitação da ordem sagrada das coisas e seu caráter sendo indissociável de sua filha, Dike, a Justiça. Em um dos odes de Píndaro, uma de suas profecias leva Zeus e Poseidon a desistirem de casar-se com a nereida Tétis ao saberem por Têmis que seu filho estava destinado a ser maior que seu pai, levando-os a entregarem a poderosa nereida em casamento ao herói Peleu e gerando o grande herói Aquiles.

Poderosa e sempre presente, a conselheira de Zeus e titânide das boas leis é uma divindade de poder surpreendente em sua retidão característica. Descrita como quem ensinou os mortais artes proféticas e os ritos corretos para endereçar os Imortais em prece, Têmis tem uma função importantíssima.

Honremos ela com nossas feituras e rezemos por suas bênçãos sempre!

Encerramos, por fim, este post com seu hino órfico traduzido pela ilustre Alexandra Nikaios, do site Helenos.

Ilustre Têmis, de nascimento celestial, a ti eu invoco, jovem florescer da terra; Toda-bela virgem, foi apenas de ti que primeiramente os oráculos proféticos foram conhecidos aos homens, Vindos dos profundos recessos do templo da sagrada Pytho, onde renomada tu reinas; De ti, os oráculos de Apolo se erguem, e de teu poder a inspiração flui dele. Honrada por todos, de forma divinamente brilhante, majestosa virgem, que perambula pela noite: Foi de ti que a humanidade aprendeu os ritos iniciais, e com os coros noturnos de Baco tua alma se delicia; Pois a honra sagrada da revelação é tua, e os sagrados mistérios e ritos divinos. Esteja presente, Deusa, inclina-te às minhas preces, e abençoa tuas consagrações com uma mente favorável.

[griftofprophecy]

hi apollo!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cafeseoulmate]

Kang Taehyun’s Hot Boy Summer Destiny (Teaser Preview)

featuring: child of athena!taehyun x child of apollo!gn!reader

genre: fluff, minor angst, pjo / demigod au, childhood best friends to lovers, idiots to lovers au, soulmate au, slowburn, mutual pining

release date: November 17, 2022

You had a dream—or a vision, what have you—that you gave your childhood best friend, Kang Taehyun the son of Athena, an elaborate hot boy summer makeover in a span of two months and had him meet his soulmate at the Summer’s End bonfire. It came to you just last week, the same night you dreamt about the quest you sent your half-sibling Hueningkai in the other day and how exactly you will slay the minotaur terrorizing the camp borders right now—which is why you can confirm, as a child of Apollo, that it was a very much prophetic and bound to happen soon.

“Apparently, I gave you a wardrobe update, a haircut, and introduced you to some Aphrodite and Hermes kids under the half moon—watch out!” You continue to explain as you lure the bull-headed monster further away from the camp gate, dragging Taehyun by the arm and picking up speed when the beast swings its ax exactly as you remember in your dreams. “So what do you think?”

You then aim your crossbow at the minotaur’s ankles as Taehyun instructed you earlier, shooting it with a specialized poisoned arrow. As expected, it takes a moment before the poison takes effect for a beast as large as the minotaur, effectively paralyzing it anyway right as you reach the clearing in the woods and giving you and Taehyun time to charge towards it this time.

“I think you’re properly crazy!” Taehyun belatedly yells back at you, heading straight for the minotaur’s horns while you set your crossbow aside on your shoulder in exchange for your sword. When the two of you near the minotaur’s laying on its side, your best friend swiftly releases one of the specialized net traps Yeonjun made, one that magically adjusts to the minotaur’s size and strength as it traps the beast in place. “I’m not letting you give me a makeover!”

“Not even if you’ll meet your soulmate at the end of it?” You ask as you hold the minotaur down by your sword when it starts to flail around the net trap, moving only with half its strength with the poison quickly spreading in its veins. You feel a slight sting on one of your arms but decide to quickly ignore it as you busy yourself with the monster's frantic movements. “I literally just mentioned that I saw them from behind at the end of the dream—red string and all—and you’re not even just a little bit curious?”

Taehyun briefly pauses, the blood on the minotaur’s horn in his hands dripping down his elbows as he looks at you incredulously, before definitively shaking his head. “The future’s still subject to change, even in your dreams, remember?” He counters matter-of-factly, stabbing the horn straight into its heart and effectively killing it once and for all. “You could still dream about something different later on.”

You roll your eyes, removing your sword from the minotaur’s torso right before it fades into dust right in front of you. “The vision should happen in two months, I’m not going to dream of anything new about it at this point.” You counter, jogging over to Taehyun’s side as he gathers the net trap back in its pouch. Once he’s done, the two of you get your bearings and walk back to the direction of camp. “And before you argue and use my dream journals against me again, I re-checked them all as soon as I wrote this vision down so I can confirm that I have no other unrealized visions that says anything else about what’s destined for you this summer."

“Whatever. I can meet my soulmate fine even without a hot boy makeover, thanks.” He chuckles in amusement in front of your oddly determined expression, wiping the blood off of his sword with a cloth from his bag.

full fic

[percabeth4life]

Mythconception Ask Game: Maybe the birth of Athena? I've wondered how Zeus got around the prophecy, for instance, and it seems weird overall.

Okay so Athena’s birth is something really interesting. 

Athena was born shortly after the prophecy was given, which everyone knows, what I see commonly said about her though is that she is the prophecy child, and this is not the case.

There are two parts listing the Prophecy

Hesiod, Theogony 886 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) : "Now Zeus, king of the gods, made Metis (Wise Counsel) his wife first, and she was wisest among gods and mortal men. But when she was about to bring forth the goddess bright-eyed Athene, Zeus craftily deceived her with cunning words and put her in his own belly, as Gaia (Earth) and starry Ouranos (Heaven) advised. For they advised him so, to the end that no other should hold royal sway over the eternal gods in place of Zeus; for very wise children were destined to be born of her, first the maiden bright-eyed Tritogeneia, equal to her father in strength and in wise understanding; but afterwards she was to bear a son of overbearing spirit, king of gods and men. But Zeus put her into his own belly first, that the goddess might devise for him both good and evil."

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 20 : When she was pregnant, Zeus took the precaution of swallowing her, because she had said that, after giving birth to the daughter presently in her womb, she would bear a son who would gain the lordship of the sky.

The child fated to be born was to be the one after Athena, not Athena herself. This is specifically stated in the prophecy.

Now, there are two possibilities for how he “got around the prophecy”.

1. By swallowing Metis (and some myths state that he absorbed her) she is no longer able to have a child, ergo there is no possibility of another child after Athena, and thus there is no prophecy child there.

2. Apollo is the next boy child born after Athena (Aphrodite is born next (depending on the myth) and then Artemis and Apollo) and ergo is the child of the prophecy. Many consider him to be Zeus’ heir, as he is the dearest child of Zeus and the Greeks considered him to be one of the most important Gods (alongside Zeus himself).

Callimachus, Hymn 4 to Delos 51 ff : And thou didst not tremble before the anger of Hera, who murmured terrible against all child-bearing women that bare children to Zeus, but especially against Leto, for that she only was to bear to Zeus a son dearer even than Ares.

It’s also notable that Apollo holds the epithet Loxias, which means the interpreter or prophet of Zeus. And he is one of the few (Zeus being one) who can see the Fates of others.

All these factors combine such that Apollo is viewed as the heir of Zeus by many, and as such is the one the prophecy would speak of, and Zeus has willingly declared it such (ensuring that the prophecy is turned in his favor, as Apollo is loyal to Zeus and Zeus favors him).

Hope that explains the mythconception with Athena and the prophecy :)

[hermaeum]

Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia, is the God of travelers, messengers, thieves, cunning, stealth, trickery, merchants, socializing, transitions, gymnasts, orators, interpreters, boundaries and boundary crossing, flocks, shepherds, herds, animal husbandry, language, astrology, astronomy, sleep, prophetic dreams, birds of omen, hospitality, rustic divination, rustic music and poetry, guard dogs, learning, eloquence, liminal spaces, and memory.

Aside from his copious spheres of influence, Hermes is also known for his role as the herald of the Gods (Zeus, in particular), and for guiding the souls of the dead to Kharon’s ferry in the underworld. It is said that he invented writing, calendars, sacrifices, fire, dice, music, and many other things. 

While the story of his birth isn’t my favorite myth about him, I believe it makes for an excellent starting point when getting to know him. 

According to myth, Hermes embarked on his first adventure mere hours after Maia birthed him on Mt. Cyllene. Eager to make a name for himself among his celestial family, he abducted Apollo’s precious cattle and, in killing and cooking two of them, invented sacrifice as well as fire. On his way back to his mother, Hermes also became the inventor of music when he used the shell of a tortoise to fashion the first lyre. 

After Apollo became privy to his newborn brother’s treachery, he brought him to Zeus for judgement in spite of Maia’s protesting. Hermes, employing his innate cunning, did his best to lie his way out of punishment. Zeus was not fooled, but was greatly amused by his son’s antics, and a compromise was made. Hermes would not be harmed, but he would have to guide Apollo to where his remaining cattle were hidden.

When the two sons of Zeus reached their destination, Hermes began to play the lyre he’d crafted. Apollo was smitten with the sound, and traded his cattle for the instrument. After that, Hermes and Apollo forged an unbreakable bond, and the former was gifted a golden wand, knowledge of astrogalomancy, and a referral to the Thriae of Mount Parnassus by the latter. Thus, Hermes’s story was only just beginning.

30 Days of Deity Devotion was a blog challenge originally created by Arrin Deuognatos. Recently, it was reposted by @honorthegods​, who I gladly snatched it from.

Sources/further reading for those interested: theoi.com, wikipedia.com, ancient.eu, and a few PDFs that I’ll gladly send anyone who asks for them.

[honeytea8]

“With you, forever” - Guido Mista/Reader

A/N: Discord prompt for the week was Greek AU and the first thing that popped in my head was Mista’s hat, since it kinda looks like a Trojan warrior’s helmet, so that’s where this came from!

Word Count: 1.6K (becuz why not)

Ares!Mista and Milkmaid!Reader insert for you :)

Not once had Mista ever been jealous of Apollo. Not once, until the moment it dawned on him that you—the very object of his affections—spent many of your days under the sun’s watchful eye. 

The warm coloring of your skin was proof of this, as you shepherded the sheep and tended to your father’s cattle. Even as sweat licked at your forehead and the fine little hairs on your nape and hairline stuck to your skin. To Mista, you were an oasis to a thirsty, dying man. The healing balm to tortured souls and the one who had seized his ravaged heart. 

You were an unassuming young milkmaid, with skin smoother than wax and hair softer than cotton. Every time he caught a glimpse of your flawless skin, his throat grew parched and the thoughts buzzing in his head came to a screeching halt. You, the beauty of your hometown, stood second to none in his book.

Being the god of war that he was, one thing Mista greatly admired was your devotion and hardworking nature. This truth was punctuated by the sturdiness of your limbs; the sinew and muscle of your thighs alone could bring a lesser man to his knees. You filled him with desire but Mista didn’t push or prod, content with simply watching you and pining from afar. 

When he overheard your father’s talk of marriage, it was then Mista determined in his heart that idleness would do him no good. Somehow, he must have you by his side forever.

He was Ares, a trojan warrior battle-bred and destined to be a hero. This simple endeavor should be easy enough. There wasn’t an inkling of doubt in his mind that he wouldn’t be able to win your love. With a single goal in his heart, he took a leap off his lofty throne beyond the clouds.

Mista found purchase near a well, the only well in the entire village. He had memorized your routes by now, so when the sun shifted a few centimeters to the left, he knew you would begin your trek up this specific hillside. You would carry with you a wooden pail, like you always did, but this time, he would be there to ask for a drink. You would grant it, he’d confess, and then whisk you away from this land to one far greater.

This was what he thought, however, reality was quite different from fantasy.

When Mista had asked for a sip of your water, your pouty lips screwed into a frown; with pinched brows you questioned, “What kind of a traveler leaves home without a waterskin?” 

The sound of your voice had him floundering for a moment. Not only because it was the first time his ears were blessed to hear it, but also because it was so soft and sweet, despite the harshness of your tone. 

How foolish he must appear now? His suave bravado completely dissipated at your words. But mercifully, you still scooped your little dipper into the pail and offered him a drink anyway.

Mista grinned boyishly, “You have refreshed me, amore. I owe you my life.” 

“Keep it.” you huffed while turning on your heels. “Don’t need it.”

In that split second when your gaze left him, your eyes showed a fire he had never seen in you before, one that burned brighter than the embers of Hephaestus. If he didn’t love you before, he was positive he did now. 

Mista gave chase, keen on following you even to ends of the earth.

“My name is Mista, god of war. You may have heard of me? Ares? The Olympian?”

You said nothing to indicate that you’d even heard his boasting.

“May you grant me the name of my savior, at least?”

“Nope.”

He blinked slowly, “Then...will you marry me?”

At his words, you paused for only half a second, “Are you mad?”

“For you? Possibly.”

Again, reality was quite far from fantasy but Mista wouldn’t complain about the fickle inner workings of fate. He would have your heart eventually, it was really as simple as that.

But by the day’s end, you had rejected him countlessly.

.

.

.

“You need a different approach.” 

Apollo, or Giorno rather, greeted him with a knowing smile on his lips. Mista slumped further in his throne, shaken but not defeated. 

“Of course you saw the entire thing.” 

Was there such a place on earth Giorno’s scrutiny did not reach?

“It’s in the job description, amico.”

Giorno took a seat upon a cloud beside him. The two gods remained silent, watching you as you went about your evening. Mista had been watching you more intently since you spurned his advances. It was a stinging blow to his pride, but he wouldn’t be much of a warrior if he quit. No, he would surely see this through to the end.

“A different approach,” Mista murmured. “Like how?”

“Hmm, well, have you tried showing your intentions rather than howling it into the high heavens?” 

Mista scratched his neck sheepishly. “That bad, eh?”

“Indeed, our dear brother would’ve come to slay you himself had I not managed to intervene.” Giorno’s warm grin spread into something a bit more teasing, a part of himself he only liked to show Mista.

The warrior god laughed, “I can handle Abbacchio’s temper, god of wine that he is. Dionysos hasn’t seen battle in over a thousand years, he could never slay the great Ares.”

“Be that as it may, it would do you well to let your actions speak louder than your words in this case. That mortal is different; your journey will only be as difficult as you make it, do not neglect the beauty of surrender.”

Mista hummed in thought, sobering up a bit at his brother’s prophetic words. Giorno was right—not that he’d ever doubted! Mista wondered in what ways he could best show you that his intentions were true. What would it take to get you to accept him? 

“Ever the wise one, Giorno?”

“Again, brother, it’s in the job description.”

.

.

.

Mista was a brute—a force of nature on the battlefield, and the absolute manifestation of chaos, destruction, and violence. He had killed countless men in times of war, using his body like an ax to cut down every foe. He was no strategist like Fugo or mischievously clever like Narancia. He could not think his way through this. Mista could only follow his instincts.

For the next several months, he devoted himself to your cause. 

When you arose at dawn to feed the chickens, he was there to help. When you hand-washed your linens in a river downstream, Mista was there with his robes hiked up, ready to assist. Whenever you drew out your hoe to till the land, whether for plowing or for harvesting, he followed suit. 

Did the sheep’s wool need to be taken for the winter? Did the meat need to be salted and preserved? Were the cows properly milked so they wouldn’t moo all day and night? Whatever it was that you required, Mista was there to serve. He’d even stayed with you when your father fell ill, procuring herbs for his tea and medication.

Until then, you hadn’t warmed up to him at all. You would glare and make snarky remarks to get him to leave you alone. Sometimes even ignoring him completely. But after seeing him dirty and bruised from scaling a mountaintop just to obtain a rare healing herb for your father. Well, after that, you couldn’t quite remain unaffected by his charm.

Soon, you realized there was more to this strange god than what the eyes could see. His humor, his confidence, his quirks and antics. (Honestly, who in their right mind numbered their weapons while skipping every number with four in it?)

You were surprised that he hadn’t mentioned marriage again after that first day. Of course you knew it was what he ultimately wanted, but he’d left it alone until you were comfortable.

Meanwhile, Mista had given himself over to you as a friend and much needed companion. He listened to you bare your soul with rapt attention, clinging to every word that fell from your lips. The many talks you both had well into the night were some of the most interesting and indulgent you’d ever had. You had never felt this way with anyone; it was the kind of happiness that made colors brighter and food taste better!

After much consideration, you finally agreed to take Mista as your love, though it wasn’t easy. You still couldn’t reconcile the yearning you had for him with your duties here on earth.

One evening, as you both sat out in the yard, you broke down and cried. He had floundered, again, but regained himself enough to move closer and lend you his shoulder. Please don’t cry, my love, is what he wanted to say but the lump in his throat was unyielding. What could bring you to tears like this? He hoped it wasn’t his doing.

“Mista,” you said, taking a shaky breath. “I don’t think I can leave with you…” 

Ah, now he understood. 

This was your life after all, and Mista had foolishly thought he could snatch you away from everything you knew. That he had been doing you a favor by wanting to take you to a place he thought was better than this.

It was true he wanted to remain by your side, but not unless he would get to see your smile or that wicked fire in your eyes. 

The god looked down at the calluses riddling his palms, the various cuts and scars each had a story to tell. They were innumerable. These were the very hands he wanted to hold you with. In this battle against his heart and mind, who would win?

Mista shifted closer to you, drawing an arm around the slope of your shoulder.

“Okay.” he said quietly. “So, what if I decided to stay here with you, forever?”

[underrated-lovers-of-apollo-poll]

Round 1: Poll 3

*Please Read*

I advise everyone to read each contestant's story to get a well-rounded understanding of each entry. I urge you to not just vote for the one "you know best". I have everyone's stories/reasons why they should win under the cut.

(i couldn't find a SINGLE picture of either of them so i did my best with these XD )

Propaganda:

Thero

What's The Love Story?

She was described to be as “beautiful as moonbeams”

Sidenote: she’s Heracles’s granddaughter

Why Should They Win?

Just because :)

Kids?

Chaeron

Evadne

What's The Love Story?

Daughter of Poseidon. Experienced the "joys of first love with Apollo". When her foster-father found out about her pregnancy, he furiously went to consult the Oracle.

During Evadne's labor, Apollo sent Eileithyia and the Moirea to assist her. After their son, Iamus ("Boy of the Violets") was born, she left him in a patch of violets. He was nurtured by honeybees Apollo (or the Fates) sent for five day.

In those days, Evadne's foster-father returned, with the confirmation that her son was indeed Apollo's and was destined to be a great prophet. Aepytus (the foster-father) demanded for the child to be brought to him, so Evadne retrieved her son from the violet patch. Iamus went on to found the Iamidae, a family of priests in Olympia.

Why Should They Win?

Young love, Apollo being a dad, what isn't there to love?

Kids?

Iamus