#garum siblings

[ritterum]

Three Tales of Ukkabal

One day, some students were having a discussion about the origin of Man when they came to a disagreement that neither honey nor garum could assuage. For the sake of their friendship, they resolved to suspend the discussion and sought out the wisdom of their master, Junan, in the temple.

“O Teacher,” they said, “where do we come from?

Junan said: “Where you come from is what you make it.”

The students, not understanding, replied: “Where then do we come from: the gods who made us, or the men who made themselves?”

At this, Junan lost his temper. “Idiot youngsters! Go bother the grounds-keeper with your foolishness; I have no time for sophistry.” Then he returned to attending the gods.

The students heeded his words, and their legs took them to Kizun, the grounds-keeper. “Dear sir,” they said, “pray enlighten us - where do we come from?”

This was Kizun’s reply:

- KIZUN’S TALE -

When the world was young and man and plant and beast still called each other equals, there was Speech, and speaking was Power, and every utterance was a violence upon the face of the land. Amid the seas of boiling rock and fields rampant with strangling fern came EREAKAIZA, whose visage was silence; and Ereakaiza gazed upon the land, where in their battles Lion and Stag cleft mountains in twain, and Ibex raised mighty Whale from geysers out of the deep. And Ereakaiza saw Millipede steal the legs from Slug and Snail, and Bat steal the wings from Emu. And Ereakaiza saw also that Wolf split Man from Man so that, enraptured by the beauty of his brother’s face and legs and breasts, Man would distract himself from the hunt and lay with his sprung-off kin; but instead, delight so possessed Man that he chased after Wolf to share with him these pleasures; and Wolf became Dog, who chased after Ox; and Ox became Cow, who chased after Horse.

Then Ereakaiza, tiring of this chaos, came and choked the Word out of every creature, and all of them howled and mewled and squeaked and ululated in anger and dismay, but to no end: for Speech had gone out of them, and their word was no longer deed carven upon the earth. So the creatures learned to resolve their disputes with blows, and to this end grew claw and thorn and sting, while Man retreated to his delights and built yokes and vineyards and pleasure-domes. And Ereakaiza took pity upon Man, from whom Wolf had taken his hunter’s cunning, and allowed him to retain the most part of his Speech. And this is why people take such joy in creating figments and toying with words and colors; for we are as children playing with their parents’ tools, in the hopes that one day we may be allowed to wield them fully once more.

Now Ereakaiza was content with the world, and wandered far afield to where the sands and the skies intertwine, in the place where neither Time nor Cause holds sway, and there made a dwelling, and listened as the earth and the wind and the sea wove together a song of primeval being. Ereakaiza slept then and sleeps still, dreaming of things long gone and things which we of the soil will not see come to pass. And all who come upon Ereakaiza’s form partake too of this slumber, for in this way they become party to blessed creation.

*

Some disciples were unsatisfied with this answer, and rather than resume the argument, they resolved to ask the street-sweeper, Bal-liao. “Dear madam,” they said, “pray enlighten us - where do we come from?”

This was Bal-liao’s reply:

- BAL-LIAO’S TALE -

The Wrath of Ukk

The children of Man were not always scattered across the realms, for the Firstborn once regarded each other as siblings, dwelling in the same lands and dining at each other’s feasts and building great houses together as close kin are wont to. But a hard drought came and laid waste to the fields, and there was a want of food in the land such that many people were brought to the edge of death.

The youngest of the Firstborn, who was named Inti, sought aid from Neb, who as eldest had first pick of the fruits of the earth. But Neb rebuffed him, and so Inti sailed to meet Kir [1], who as second-eldest had first pick of the fruits of the sea. But Kir, too, sent him away empty-handed, and so Inti went to meet Ukk, who had not yet withdrawn from the world, and as third-eldest had rights to the herds of the vast plains. Ukk’s heart was filled with mercy, and he gave to Inti a third part of his herds, and a third part of his lands between the mountains and the sea, where Inti and his family could settle and make themselves a new home.

For a time, prosperity blessed the siblings, and their fortunes and families grew. While Neb’s children settled the fertile deltas beyond their homelands, Kir’s children journeyed across the seas, and Ukk’s spread throughout the plains on horseback and ox. But Inti’s children were confined to the lands between the mountains and the sea, and soon enough, the land was not enough to hold them, nor the soil rich enough to sustain their herds, and they began to fear once more that starvation and death would be their doom. So they conspired to invade Ukk’s lands while he was away, inspecting the new borders of his realm; and they drove forth women and children and cattle alike, ransacking their houses and storming their fields.

When Ukk heard of this, he was become wroth, and immediately flew to his siblings to seek aid and counsel. But Neb rebuffed him, as he had done to Inti, and Kir too rebuffed him, as she had done to Inti. So Ukk, in his wrath, swore an oath to sever kin from kin, invoking the gods who dwelt in the mountains, and they, being beholden to Man, had no choice save to uphold it. But they, not wishing to see the blood of Man spilt upon the continent, also opened the Ways so that Ukk might take his leave and start anew in a strange land.

So Ukk gathered his wives and his children, and they rode for the Ways, out of deference for the gods who had birthed Them. But on the way, they came across Inti and his children, who had grown fat upon the land; and Ukk was filled with rage. He drove them before him, chasing them into the Ways, and would have followed them out again, into the mountains of a new world, had not the gods closed off that passage before his horse could get through.

Only then did Ukk settle in the land of the Ways, raising the first city, UKKABAL, upon the figure of the Sleeping God. From there did his children expand out, filling the rest of the land, and they kept good watch over the Ways, lest curious minds wander in or out and bring the strife of the First Siblings with them. [2]

*

Still some disciples were unsatisfied with this, so they returned to the temple and brought their query before their master, Junan, once more.

“O Teacher,” they said, “we have asked Kizun, the grounds-keeper, and we have asked Bal-liao, the street-sweeper, but we still do not know where we come from.”

Junan sighed. “Silly children,” he said. “Come, let me tell you a tale, then, and hopefully then you shall be satisfied.”

This was what Junan said:

- JUNAN’S TALE -

The Magistrate and the Crow

Once, there was a powerful magistrate who was known throughout the land for his wisdom, fairness, and knowledge. He lived in a terraced house far above the city, where many would travel from far and wide to hear his opinion on sundry matters.

It so happened that one day, a young crow landed in the magistrate’s courtyard with its wing broken. The magistrate, taking pity on the poor creature, took it in and attempted to mend it. But none of his strengths were in the art of healing, and so the magistrate had to pore over his books, make many a failed poultice, and consult with healers before he could care fully for his new charge. He nursed the crow back to health, and over this time formed a strong bond with it, so that it always returned to his side, singing when the magistrate played music, and listening intently when he discoursed about law and philosophy.

One morning, the magistrate was taken gravely ill, and had to retire to bed. He fell into a deep, deep sleep, from which none thought he would waken. In that sleep, he dreamt that he was a young chick, chirping desperately for its mother, gobbling down whatever new grub she came by to deliver. He dreamt that he was a fledgling, learning to spread its wings for the first time, soaring over the woods and the fields and the cities that men had built. He dreamt that he was a bird, picking at the ground, getting into a squabble with another bird, flying with the stabbing pain of a broken wing into an enclosed garden, where a kindly man picked him up with soft hands and laid him upon a table.

When the magistrate awoke from his slumber, he opened his window to find his friend the crow, who had waited all this time in the trees outside.

“My friend,” said the magistrate, “I know now who you are and what is meant for us, and it pains me what I must do, but there is no way around it. For you must seek new lands instead of returning to me (to me); and you must carry my spirit where I am not (am not). Thus, by the power of my station and the sacredness of our bond, I banish you from this city and this land, never to see your plumage or hear your cry ever again.”

And the crow nuzzled the magistrate’s arm, took to the heavens, and was never seen again in those parts until the magistrate’s death.

*

“Do you understand now the three parts to the answer?” [3] said Junan.

And the students were enlightened.

Runao’s Commentary:

The Scribe is the hour to show quiet authority and integrity. But take care that in your rush to dispense justice, you do not appear aloof and uncaring. For it is easiest to alienate those who come to your court when you are too caught up in fairness; and it is easiest to be unfair when you are trying to show pity.

Notes:

[1] Some scholars (Egidius 2001, Humbert 1997) note the similarity of the names “Neb” and “Kir” to the Egyptian nb (‘lord’) and the Greek κύριος (also ‘lord’). This resemblance is merely speculative, however. [2] Linguistic analysis suggests that this is a sanitized pastiche of two different folktales, both of which have long been known to scholars. In one of the original stories, Ukk slaughters Inti and his children, and is exiled by the gods to the land of the Ways. In the other story, it is Inti who is exiled, but Ukk grows jealous of him and usurps his position, banishing him to the ‘new world’ instead. Runao may have thought both versions unsuitable for his charges, or may have had philosophical reasons to challenge them. Such speculation is beyond the scope of this work. [3] The more commonly known version of this question - “Do you understand now that there are three parts to the answer?” (emphasis added) - is a mistranslation, popularized by Burton (1888).

[draftingteacups]

Yo. This is Mar bringing in cute wholesome facts for today.

Octavinelle gets random serotonin from both Sobble and Anthony little siblings aka the quartet of joy.

Combine the five, they can liven up Mostro Lounge more then it usually was. Given the five wears customs made uniforms that was somehow made from a certain tako (ba dum tss).

Anthony baby sister, Sundrop/Sundrew (I forgot it’s been a while since I remember what name I gave her), is the daily serotonin. As she was given a daily schedule when to visit, she’s also the only anchovy who isn’t afraid of the tweels. She refers the trio by the nicknames she gave them

Jade: Jayde

Floyd: Floy or Flo

Azul: Mr. Zuzu

Floyd never corrected her, and he enjoys how a tiny fishie isn’t afraid of him. She also gets a energetic but thoughtful ideal. Sweet, kind, and full of energy.

The family know each other, and sometimes tweels visit the Garum family during their childhood and meet the kids up close. So the childrens know each other by time.

Keep love, smile on, I may draw fluff later on!

THE BABIES! I quietly forgot how many sibs Anthony had for a hot minute alksdfjlal

The little Sun baby is wholesome and happy to see her favorite tweels and octopus friend like aaaaaaa-

I love the little anchovy and I do remember that she had a little side ponytail from that sketch from months ago. I think that was the one where Anthony got his name like wow, what a blast from the past

Zuzu reminds me of Zuko from ATLA and I don't know whether to laugh or watch the show again lol

Imagine this, littlest anchovy is in front of the tweels and holding their hands as they walk through the halls to find her big brother. Since she's small and can squeeze through small spaces to get her brother in his small form, the tweels chose her for the mission. Even if she loves her brother, the tweels bribed her with sweets/food/desserts and a special gift to take home to the Coral Sea RIP

Floyd just gives me that older brother vibe who would throw their younger siblings in the air as hard as he can chuck them and Sundrop/Sundew would just love it. She's considered the favorite of the younger Garum siblings because of how open she is to embrace all the cool stuff on the surface.

[burgerdudes]

🍔 Review № 461 ━ 📍 Ateljé Gastrologik ★★★★☆ • Gastrologik opened in 2011 in central Stockholm, and were awarded their second Guide Michelin star in 2019. During a weekend in May of 2021 their smaller sibling Ateljé Gastrologik served their first hamburger, and even though it isn't something they serve regularly we decided to necessary to review it in case it reappears in the future. • One of the charms with upscale restaurants such as Gastrologik is the stories they tell about the food, and our hamburger was accompanied by a note about the beef from the Swedish Red Polled ox called Boris, plus details about the bun and other ingredients. Boris The Burger cost 185 SEK (22 USD) with French fries, and included homemade ketchup with tomato garum, mayo with roasted beef drippings, mustard, a sauce made from fermented chicken wings, beef-dripping confited yellow onions and raw red onions. It came served in a bun baked with Öland wheat, and the beef itself had been dry-aged for three weeks and was ground before each serving. • The meat had a deep and beefy flavour that worked great in the rather thick patty, which really helped the flavours blossom. It was excellently cooked with a slightly pink and nicely juicy centre, and these flavours were complemented well by the onions, the ketchup and the other sauces – giving the burger a well-balanced mix of flavours. We did find that the bun was too soft and anonymous, and everything felt a bit too samey and soft. We would have liked to have seen some more texture that helped the different ingredients stand out. • At the time of publishing, we don't know if Ateljé Gastrologik will serve more burgers in the future, but this was the best high-end hamburger we've tried so far in Sweden. Sure, they've got a far way to go before reaching Minetta Tavern's level, but this really filled a quality gap in Stockholm and we look forward to revisit them the next time they offer a burger on their menu. ━ @ateljegastrologik #burger #burgers #burgertime #burgerporn #burgerdudes #burgerlovers #food #foodie #hamburger #hamburgare #stockholm #stockholmburgers #🍔 #🍟 #🇸🇪 (på/i Gastrologik) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPPzE1VFyBV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[empressofmankind]

A Bone To Pick

Fandom: Elder Scrolls

Character/s: Abnur Tharn, Pulasia Tharn, Ramira Don, Roman Tharn

Location/s: The Tharn estate in north-eastern Cyrodiil

Premises: Ramira hasn’t told Abnur because he hadn’t asked, failing to realise that its pretty hard to ask about something that you don’t know exists in the first place

Warnings: N/A

O  O  O

The rogue hopped over the fence, a single hand on the stone for support as he threw his legs across without touching it. The secluded Imperial estate sprawled before him. He'd describe it as large if it didn't feel like large had too few letters in it to accurately capture the monumental size the private home was. He stood in the shadow of a tall cypress and studied the Legion soldiers casually patrolling the gardens. They gave the impression they were merely enjoying the weather and their tranquil surroundings. Two played a dice game by the basin. Another stood eating flatbread by the rear path. Near him, one sat dozing in the morning sun.  It was a superficial mascarade, and as he studied them, he saw through it. The dice players looked up alternately, taking in their surroundings. The eater kept a keen eye on the veranda and primary approach. And for someone arguably sleeping, the dozer sure fluttered his eyelids a lot. The rogue plotted his route, timed their behaviour. Their regularity, that was the flaw in their defence. He smiled and made his way to the villa's back with little effort. He scaled the wall where the villa and stables met, the space between them ideal to wedge climb. He pulled himself up to the balcony and dodged from statue to statue to the only unshuttered window and climbed inside. "You're in my light." Abnur Tharn stood in front of a wall mirror, wearing preciously little. He had his back turned. The rogue climbed down from the window sill, irritated with his error. The mage couldn't see him in the polished obsidian; the angle was off. However, the light dimming? Yes. He should have thought of that. "You're not a very good assassin, are you?" Abnur added as he cut the edge of his goatee and inspected himself in the mirror. It was uneven. Not so much that others would notice, but he'd seen, and that was a problem. "I am looking for my mother." Abnur glanced at the rogue over his shoulder. He was older than he'd judged by his voice. Dressed in muted cloth and leather armour, hung with daggers and rope, he certainly looked the part of a petty criminal. Not necessarily an assassin, however. Reminded of the Dark Brotherhood speaker, Abnur's thin lips briefly curled in distaste. A younger brother,  maybe? Half sibling, perhaps, considering the difference in skin tone. There was a passing resemblance, though. The blue eyes, for one. And something about his demeanour. Abnur turned his attention back to his own face. "I imagine I haven't seen her." The rogue sauntered into the room and deposited himself unto the nearest chair, putting his feet up on the desk it stood beside. "I know she's here, magister." Abnur crooked an eyebrow, amusement playing around his lips, though he didn't turn when he spoke. Instead, he resumed his grooming. "And how would you know that." "She told me." Abnur frowned. He looked at the rogue via the mirror. Now that he considered it, he could see it. His eyes were a little large and a fraction tilted, and he fancied the young man's ear tips flared just a bit. And the freckles. ”I see she also told you how to avoid our sentries." Abnur turned, indicating the rogue with his razor. "And take your boots off my desk before I remove them for you." The rogue gave him a long, reluctant look, more suited to a rebellious youth than an adult man. It made Abnur feel distinctly old and paternal. He didn't like it and pursed his lips. The rogue took his feet off the desk with an exaggerated motion and pushed himself up in his seat. "They are too repetitive in their behaviour. It is easy to dodge their attention." There was a commotion down the hall, beyond the bedroom. A moment later the door hangings we're swept aside and Ramira entered, stark naked and with a spring in her step. Pulasia followed behind her, dressed in a light white peplos, cinched at the waist by a cord of gold. "Hi!" Ramira announced by way of a collective greeting. At spotting the rogue, she made a whoop of cheer and moved to embrace him. He weathered the enthusiast hugs with the resigned look of someone that knew there was no escaping them. Pulasia her eyebrows rose in surprise at finding her husband accompanied. Her gaze ran across the rogue as she entered. "And who is this agile looking young man?" Abnur crossed his arms; his expression still pinched. "Ramira's son." Pulasia's eyebrows managed to rise higher yet. "And does 'Ramira's son' have a name?" The rogue disentangled himself from his mother's hugs with the ease of practice and the agility of a Khajiit. "Roman." "Roman...?" Ramira beamed as she stood beside her tall child. He wasn't quite twice as tall, but it was close. Pulasia considered if he were taller than her husband. Abnur wasn't particularly short, but the young man might have an inch even on him. Roman's gaze moved from Pulasia to Abnur, lingered for a moment, and then moved back. "Just Roman." A frown briefly wrinkled her brow, but then her smile turned wry. "Well, just-Roman, have you had breakfast yet?" "Do say, you'll stay?" Ramira took Roman's hand, her palm fitting entirely in his. She beamed. "There is garum all the way from Skingrad!" Roman glanced at the mages. That was easily the most overpriced rotted fish money could buy. His gaze lingered on Abnur. He knew perfectly well a good portion of their gold turn-over came directly out of his tallies. Ramira pulled Roman's hand and pushed the door curtains aside. "Atticus?" She called. "Atticus!" Pulasia watched them go, Ramira calling the man's name all the way down the stairs. "Atticus really doesn't like heeling to her, did you know?" Abnur pursed his lips, his brow creasing with displeasure. "If he won't do his job, he's welcome to find employment elsewhere." "I don't think he will." Pulasia shook her head. "He'd be sorely pressed to find someone that'll match our pay and he knows it." "Then I guess he will have to heel. Tell me, if anything unpleasant occurs." Pulasia reached for his face, smoothing the wrinkles from his forehead with a caress. "Bold of you to assume I won't incinerate him where he stands." A smile teased through Abnur's scowl as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him. He leaned down and brushed his nose past hers. "Now I almost want him to transgress." She took his face in both hands, her fingers running through his side burns as she pressed light pecks against his grin. "You're a bad man." "Am I?" he mused against her kisses,  his fingertip drawing patterns on her lower back. She pulled back less than an inch, their lips almost touching. Amusement twitched the left corner of her mouth. "The worst."

[rileyomalley]

@kitsuberry ready at arms with some GOOD PROMPTS AWW YIS

Young!Taerim and Garum

Tight nit siblings is what you can consider these two. Even if they fought, tousled with each other COUNTLESSLY, they were always close. Going on adventures with each other when they weren’t off with what friends they had, and often time having to watch over each other from doing something stupid. An hour difference apart at birth, and Taerim would ALWAYS consider him the younger one, even if they are technically the same age.

Idly when waiting or not with their parents, they would weave their tails together to lowkey know the other was there.

Garum still doesn’t know even at a young age as to why Taerim attracted insects and animals like she did, in particular butterflies. They just were attracted to her. There was an instance Garum followed his sister when she was younger, and could have sworn she was trailing after another of hooved feet, but they were no tiefling, at least, from what he could see being blinded by the afternoon sun. In as quick a moment as the silhouette was there, in another it was gone, Taerim looking to her brother with an almost trance like state.

[jflashandclash]

Attrition of Peace

Six: Axel

Never Leave Merry and Pax Unattended

               By the time Axel was escorted to his friends and little brother, his hands were shaking. Although he knew they would be empty, he tore through his pockets absently, thinking something had to be there.

               All the eagles and wolves depicted on everything—Axel had to exhale away the memories and that wasn’t easy with the smell of metal, leather, and Reyna’s honey shampoo in his nostrils.

               He was happy to hear the sound of Iris’s relaxed voice say, “I’m sorry, we cannot connect your call as dialed. Please hang up, try your call again, and try one of our delicious simulation cupcakes.”

               One of the newer recruits—Erin if he remembered correctly from a prior run-in—was cheerfully leading him into a private room underneath the mess hall. As they passed a bustling kitchen full of noncombat Roman chefs shouting about garum, the smell of roasted fish made his stomach clench. He felt like he hadn’t eaten in weeks… though guessing from the dates on Reyna’s room calendar, he’d been in magical stasis and hadn’t eaten in weeks.

               When Axel got into the room, he saw Pax and Merry making a small rainbow using a side sink and light prism. If nothing else, at least they were creative. Kally sat at a side table, with leftovers from last night’s cena.[1] Axel didn’t see Euna or Calex, but Erin assured him that they were still getting a medical look over.

               “—enjoy another performance from you and your brother,” Erin was saying.

               During their walk, Erin had gushed over the short acrobatics performance that Axel and Pax had given to thank the Romans for their help on a quest. While he appreciated her enthusiasm, he’d been contemplating the best way to tell this Roman that one of his friends had recently die, he’d spent three weeks in nightmare hell with an overtly persistent goddess, and he had just talked to his crush of three years without getting to take a shower or shave beforehand. In other words, he wanted to tell Erin to go punch a Gorgon in the face.

               Fortunately, Erin stopped at the doorway, gave a brief, shy wave at Pax, and babbled, “I need to get back to my post.” Then she was gone.

               Axel sighed and sank onto the bench beside Kally, grabbing some cold meat to nibble on.

               She looked exhausted. Her long, reddish-blonde hair was so knotted in its ponytail, he wondered if she’d have to cut some of it off to get her hair tie out. She gave Pax a half-hearted glare as Pax came to sit on her other side.

               “Welp, no multicolored messages back to camp,” Pax said. He wore a T-shirt, likely a donation from Camp Jupiter’s souvenir shop. Originally, it probably said, I love Rome. But Pax had somehow acquired a marker to add a letter and doted the “m” so it looked like, I love BRonies. The water from the River Tiber had washed out whatever gel was left in Pax’s raven hair, so it was back to twisting wildly about his head. His fohawk, courtesy of the Stoll brothers during their last stay at camp, had almost completely grown out. He and Pax really needed haircuts.  

               “Who else wants to bet our lovely rainbow goddy is in the middle of a kitty fight with another god?” Merry hummed. Her brown eyes were rimmed red from tears, like Pax’s and Kally’s. Axel was so used to Merry being relaxed and content, it felt wrong that she huddled into her parka so much. Something else that he should have been able to prevent.

               After a quick shuffle in her pocket, smooth, sad jazz played from the magical music system in her jacket. She gave them an apologetic frown, but he knew she needed some music for comfort.

               Kally stiffened and Axel realized the same thing she had: they hadn’t told Merry why all the gods were having petty arguments.

               When Pax tried to put an arm around Kally’s shoulder, she shifted closer to Axel, then hesitated. Axel clenched his jaw when he heard the subtle whisper of the Leonis Caput in his head, Trapped between the Snake and the Lion, wait until she meets the Cloven Witchboy.

               Shut up, he internally hissed, wondering why the monster would even say that.

               “You should have let me tell the praetors what happened,” Kally whispered to Pax.

               Merry tilted her head, glancing from Kaly to Pax. She frowned. “Kally, exactly how and when did Mr. Pax get you to swear on the River Styx not to tell his secrets?” she asked. “You don’t usually like to talk to big, bad strangers.”

               Kally glanced at Pax, then at the floor.

               Pax coughed awkwardly. “Well, you see, Mr. Pax—”

               “Say ‘Santiago Pax’ and then finish that sentence sweetie,” Merry said.

               Axel wanted to groan. Just once, he wanted Merry’s intelligence to help him and Pax, not work against them.

Merry picked up a fork and aimed it at Axel’s brother. “Pax, you are the one Kally swore to keep the secrets of, not your dad? That’s pretty foul, sweetie. And here I was, shipping you two.” She clucked her tongue in distaste.

               “Hey,” Pax protested. “You keep the anchor raised on that ship,” he said before turning to Kally. “And I thought it might not be the best for Euna’s mental health if she was put on trial for slaughtering mortals.”

               Axel flinched. “What?”

               “Uh, Euna might have gone overboard on the whole justified revenge thing,” Pax said. He and Kally filled in Merry and Axel, telling them about how Euna used her temporary god powers to turn Santiago Pax and his henchmen into a tree park in the middle of one of California’s finest Mayan temples. Then, how Pax’s mother had shown up with her group of friends to kidnap all the Pax children.

               Axel felt nauseous when Pax said that the goddess had picked Axel up by the back of his shirt and almost walked off with him. “Wait—did she take Hiro and Lapis?” he asked, realizing Pax had said all of the living Pax children.

               Judging from Pax’s soft whimper, he had to assume the answer was yes. Axel awkwardly reached his good arm around Kally to squeeze Pax’s shoulder. Axel should have been awake to help them.

               “So, Pax, who’s your loving momma?” Merry asked, poking around at the vegetables on her plate.

               “Well—” Pax started with a light tone.

               Kally elbowed him. “Actually tell her.”

               He choked, glanced at her, and frowned. Pax puffed up his cheeks and popped them. “She’s Eris, the Goddess of Strife and Discord—strife like war and deciding which socks to wear in the morning. Or if you should wear socks at all.”

               “Socks?” Merry asked.

               “Don’t underestimate the small struggles of socks,” he said.

               Axel wished he kept a recording device on him. That way, when Pax came crying to him about how Kally rejected him again, Axel could just playback things Pax had said in serious situations.

               “Do you think they’re really going to attack Camp Half-Blood?” Kally asked, staring at her plate. She hadn’t touched her food.

               “Who?” Pax asked, waving one hand. “A Goddess of Strife, a revenge-bent snake, and a God of Nightmares? No, I think they’re going to use the Golden Net for a picnic blanket.” Pax leaned into the table to see Axel. “How was romancing Reyna into letting us go? Romancy with a chance of stabbing?”

               Axel sighed and hoped he was too tired for his face to go red. He wondered if it would be worth pinching Pax’s ear to shut him up. “She’s not going to let you and I go anytime soon. The others maybe. She can tell who we are. She’s not stupid.”

               Though not exactly who. When he was in her room, Axel had tried not to glance at the nasty scar on Reyna’s thigh, where he’d stabbed her while leading an ambush against the legion during the Titan war.  

               “Did you tell her or is she not stupid?” Pax asked. “Because Pax boys have a nasty tendency of blabbering to the people they’re into.”

               He must have winked at Kally because she scooted closer to Axel with a grumble.

               “Kallydoll, why don’t you come over here, so these two can wrestle and bicker like real adults,” Merry hummed, patting the chair beside her.

               Kally got up, quickly walked around the table and sat across from him, making Pax pout.

               Axel hadn’t directly told Reyna about their identity, but the praetor must have had a pretty good idea. All the pieces were there for her. Plus, if Reyna did directly asked him about his involvement in the war with Kronos, his pride wouldn’t let him lie.

               Pax puffed up his cheeks and popped them again, taking Axel’s silence as his response, one he must have found hopeless. He leaned back and stared off at the wall while saying, “I’ve always thought Rome would be a beautiful place to be executed.”

               “They’re not going to execute you,” Kally said, reaching over for her plate. Uncomfortably, she added, “Will they?”

               Pax gave her a skeptical glance. “Even their ghosts want to kick our asses. Kally, their river just tried to kill me.”

               “That’s a pretty impressive feat, ticking off the landscape,” Merry said. “And why exactly was a body of water trying to murder you two? Were you that bad in ye old days?”

               Axel frowned. Although Pax had told the others they were members of Kronos’s army, none of them knew what rank or what any of that meant. This definitely wasn’t the location to discuss it. Axel sat up. “Where’s the guard?” he asked.

               There’s no way Reyna would leave them unattended.

               Merry pointed behind the doorway. When Axel followed her finger, he saw Dakota in a crumbled heap on the floor. “Taking a nap,” she said cheerfully. “Pax darted him.”

               Pax sighed dramatically. “Even though I’m running out of sleep serum.”

               Kally gave Axel a serious glance. “This is why these two—” She pointed between Pax and Merry. “—aren’t allowed to hang out.”

               Axel had to agree. He could see how Merry could be shortsighted on a matter like this, but Pax knew better. He sighed and rubbed his temple. “They’re going to find an unconscious centurion suspicious.”

               Merry gave a sad smile. She rested an elbow on the table and her face on her hand. “Dakota? Nah. He gets so hyped up on sugar, he collapses all the time after a rush. If there’s one thing my lovely siblings are known for, it’s partying until we drop. Now, back to my question, Mr. Stoic and Evasive.”

               As she said it, Calex stepped through the doorway. He frowned at Dakota, and turned to glare at Pax. Pax grinned and raised his hands in an innocent, open-palmed gesture.

“Dodgy prick,” Calex muttered.

               “Where’s Euna?” Kally asked as he took a seat beside Merry.

               Axel frowned at the thought of Euna by herself. The guilt clenched his stomach.

              None of them should have ever been in Santiago’s temple. Axel should have known they were being followed. He should have been able to do more than sit there when Santiago pulled a string of thorns through Pax’s tongue and shoved Joey into the fire.

              Axel slipped his hands into his pockets again, vainly hoping upon hope he’d find something to calm his nerves. Although he didn’t find a box of cigarettes, like he had hoped, he did find some chewing gum that hadn’t been there before.

              He ruffled Pax’s hair in thanks. His pick-pocketing little brother gave him a small smile.

              “She’s still being examined,” he said, “She hasn’t talked for a bit.”

              Like everyone else, Calex’s grey eyes looked red-rimmed. His ebony skin contrasted harshly with the limestone walls. Although Axel had never seen Eros himself, he’d been told Eros’s face was hard to look at, because his beauty was so harsh. Axel wasn’t much for looking at men in that way, but he could see where girls and boys like his brother would have a difficult time looking at Calex for the same reason.

              Calex put a hand on the doorframe, frowning distantly. “She looks like the teenagers that came into Mum’s clinic. One of me Mum’s mates is a Nigerian peacekeeper that she met during the First Civil War. He said you could tell which teenager had been recruited by LURD and Taylor as children soldiers by looking into their eyes…”[2] Calex shook his head and swallowed. “Euna’s still in shock.”

              Axel knew Euna wasn’t the only one in shock. He wanted to tell Calex to sit down and eat something, but—after thinking about Euna—Axel didn’t have much of an appetite either. And he didn’t have any right to tell them what to do after failing them as a leader. And Roman garum, fermented fish guts, could make anyone lose their appetite.

              Calex looked Axel directly in the eyes, something that made most people uncomfortable. The Mist could only alter so much about the feel of a predator.

              “Is Joey gone for good? Has anyone come back from those turquoise flames?” he asked

              Axel could feel Kally and Merry’s hopeful gaze on him. Pax whimpered and started to construct a building out of his rainbow colored carrots.

              Axel clenched his jaw. “No. She’s gone. Her blood belongs to the deity she was sacrificed to, as a payment for giving her blood in the first place.” He wasn’t sure what that meant if Santiago sacrificed her to himself and he was now dead. Axel sacrificed blood to the original deities, like the ones that created modern humans, not madmen that wanted to become gods.

              He was just happy they hadn’t seen Santiago rip Joey’s heart out or decapitate her, two rituals Axel and Pax were much more familiar with. None of the others had seen that type of violence. He knew Merry had physical altercations with her step-father, Kally’s Irish Catholic thug of a brother had tried to kill Pax—a laughable incident—and Calex had seen his mother and brother wither away to the Ebola Virus. Every type of violence came with its own nightmares and regrets, but this would have been new.

              All of it makes you feel helpless, he thought, remembering the times he’d been too weak and pathetic to save those he loved from brutality.

              For a moment, a jazz remix from Merry’s jacket sang the only distinguishable words out of the din of the mess hall:

                             We’ll meet again.

                             Don’t know where.

                             Don’t know when.

                             But I know we’ll meet again.

              “There would have to be divine intervention to have saved her. And Greek gods aren’t known for saving their children,” Axel muttered. As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to bite them back. Calex’s father had intervened to save him from an eternal life of undeath with Thanatos.

              For a morbid moment, Axel could envision Calex’s mother giving Eros and other Greek gods a quick session in parenting, labeled How Not to Let your Child Die When You Can Totally Stop It.

              Calex closed his eyes and exhaled. When he opened them, he had a shaky smile. “How’d it go with Reyna, mate?”

              Somehow, Axel knew Calex’s question wasn’t about the political side of the conversation. Axel frowned and cleared his throat. “That doesn’t feel—”

              He was going to say appropriate, but Merry nudged his foot under the table. “Give a dog a bone, hun,” she whispered.

              He wanted to snarl at her, but one glance around the table and he understood what she meant. Kally had perked up and blushed a little, Calex’s smile became a bit more genuine, and Pax paused in building his carrot tower. Everyone wanted something else to talk about, so they could pretend nothing had happened.

              “Um—we’re—” He thought about the feel of Reyna’s fingers when she stroked between his ears. The heat rose in his cheeks. “—I’m training with her tomorrow morning,” he blurted, “And some of her more skilled fighters.”

              “And?” Pax teased.

              Axel scowled at Pax. “And loser of the match owes the other hot chocolate.”

              Calex and Merry made sounds of approval.

              Kally tapped her lower lip nervously. “Can you fight like that?” she nodded at his shoulder.

               Axel’s shoulder throbbed from his confrontation with the Little Tiber. The river hadn’t just wanted to drown him, but to cut him apart with each wave. As such, his body felt like he’d decided to have a water balloon fight with Percy Jackson.

              He could fight, but he couldn’t win. He and Reyna were on par when he was in top condition and using magic, something that would immediately give away his identity.

              Axel shrugged. “I just need to drop by the van to pick up—” He choked. All their money had been in the Paxmobile, which was gone.

              Pax glanced innocently at the ceiling and slid his hand across the table to deposit a modest stack of denari in front of him. “I’ve heard hot chocolate and sweets are pretty expensive in New Rome.”

              “When did you have the time to nick that?” Calex asked and glared at Pax.

              Pax shrugged. “I’d rather look at it like a communal donation box to Reyna’s happiness that the Twelfth Legion would willingly contribute to.”

              Axel wasn’t sure if he should tear Pax’s ear off for stealing from their captors or hug him for saving Axel an embarrassing “IOU” to Reyna. When he thought about Euna, he frowned. “I shouldn’t be doing this…” he muttered. He should have been looking for a way to help Euna, or to get them to Camp Half-Blood faster.

              Pax sighed. “You haven’t stalked Reyna for three years to back out now.”

              “I didn’t stalk her!” he snarled. Axel knew exactly what Pax was referring to, but that was an unfair, uncontextualized simplification of the situation.

              “Riiiiight, you sent me to stalk her,” he said, waving the comment off.

              “You were spying for military intel,” Axel hissed, thinking about smashing Pax’s face into his carrot tower.

              “Knowing her favorite book sure was important for fighting the war,” Pax agreed. He cautiously removed one of the corner carrots, like he was playing Janga, and stuck it in his mouth. “Did you tell her there’s a Labyrinth entrance in her room?”

              Axel grabbed Pax’s ear and twisted hard, inciting Pax’s standard, “Aye! Aye! Aye! Don’t hurt me! I paid for your date!”

              Pax knew Axel hated talking about that entrance. When he’d walked past the ajar door to Reyna’s bedroom that morning, he could see the mark of Daedalus on a wall inside. He remembered being on the other side of that wall years ago, the rest of the Triple A Chimera waiting for his cue behind him.

              “What are you waiting for?” the Cloven Witchboy had hissed. He twirled a set of hexed marbles in his hands, ready to disarm and destroy the two automaton guard dogs deactivated in the corner. Although the labyrinth should have been black with shadow, the dark corridor gleamed with his armor’s green runes.

              “While I’m the biggest fan of ruining plans, that little gift that I left for the guards outside might not keep them busy much longer,” the Silver Tongued Snake agreed. He tapped a sleep dart against his bronze breast plate, in case Reyna woke up. Whenever Pax wore Hecate’s helm, he sounded more like a snake, his voice taking on a raspy quality.

              But Axel hadn’t been able to move. He saw that Reyna’s Queen Mattress was there for show—she slept in a cot, probably similar to what she slept in on Blackbeard’s ship. The cot had wrapped around her so much, he could barely make out her form, but he could smell her scent.

              He’d already withdrawn his obsidian blades, the ones he always used for assassinating Roman Senators. It had taken them months to map the way to the praetor’s house, and weeks of planning. Now, he couldn’t signal for the attack.

              Killing politicians in their sleep was one thing… but a warrior? Especially one he’d admired so much on the battlefield. He could kill her in combat, in a contest of skill with the sweat and intimacy of a fight, but not here, in the dark and outmatched with trickery. She deserved better than this, at least a warrior’s death.

              Fool! The Leonis Caput snarled in his head, What are you doing?

              For the first time in Axel’s career as the leader of Kronos’s Triple A Chimera, he shook his head. “Abort the mission.”[3]

              Axel often wondered if that would have changed the events of the Second Titan War. As his little brother struggled under his grip, Axel clenched his jaw.    

              “You can see Labyrinth entrances? So, you’ve got true sight. That’s what Pollux called Rachel’s gift of Mist-looking,” Merry said, raising an eyebrow at him. “That’s a fancy skill you conveniently never brought up before.”

              That was how Axel had snuck Rachel Elizabeth Dare out of Camp Half-Blood, but he figured that explanation wouldn’t give him or Pax any shiny stickers towards looking like good guys. Since all of his magic, exterior to true sight, required blood, and Pax’s required strife and pain, neither liked to go around espousing their might.

              Footsteps sounded over the jazz music. Axel was hoping Pax had a backup explanation about why there was an unconscious child of Dionysus in the corner until Euna stepped in.

              Her expression was hollow. Like the others, the Romans had given her dry clothing from the souvenir shop. Her long black hair lay in tangles around her shoulders. Axel frowned when he saw Kronos’s blade, Backbiter, still hung at her side. It was only a matter of time before someone recognized the two-toned metal. He needed to get it away from her.

              An idea struck him, one that might help balance keeping Euna distracted and getting to know Reyna. “Hey Euna,” he greeted with a nod of the head. “We should train tomorrow morning at 5:00.”

              Euna’s gaze slowly narrowed. “You want me to wake up at 5:00 in the morning?”

              At least it was a response.

              Last time Axel tried to wake up Euna for a quest, she’d punched him in the face. He figured mornings would, in fact, be the best time to train with Euna.

              “Actually,” Pax said. “More like 4:30 in the morning, since he won’t want to be late for Reyna and the others, as he is a punctual jerk.”

              Axel twisted Pax’s ear again. Pax whined and clawed at him.

              Axel released him. Euna hadn’t said no. Maybe, after their training, he could get her to open up a bit and get Reyna to let them go back to Camp Half-Blood, hopefully before Reyna and the other Romans realized they should be putting Euna on trial for manslaughter and Pax and Axel on the execution block.

 [1] Dinner

[2] Calex’s mother, Tiwa, was a refugee from the First Liberian Civil War who fled to Britain. After the Second Civil War’s fighting calmed down, she returned over summers to run a clinic in her father’s hometown, Kakata, to provide reduced-cost medical care, sex education classes, and drug addiction treatment, especially for the child soldiers that were hooked on cocaine and khat. Eventually, her two sons (by Eros and Winston McKenzie) Calex and Tom, came with her.

Charles McArthur Ghankay Taylor had possession of the Liberian government when LURD (Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy) rose up to overthrow him. A lot of other countries got involved in the First and Second Liberian War, including Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone, the United States, and the United Kingdom.  

[3] Soundtrack time! Something I can Never Have by Nine Inch Nails. The lyrics are perfect for their relationship.

Thanks for reading guys! Sorry I'm running late-I just got back in the country and am a little sleep deprived and behind on everything XD Regardless, I hope you enjoyed :D Poor Axel is so far out of his comfort range.

[draftingteacups]

How the Garum siblings reacted meeting Sobble

Let’s just say Sobble was met with four pairs of eyes, and was given fruit slices and headpats. Four kids + smol Pokémon = perfect bonding moment. Anthony died from cuteness overload.

The first reaction from the group was to stare at each other, then slowly one just offers their fruit snack (it’s just mainly strawberries, grapes, and apple bunny slices.) and next thing everyone knew. The kids bonded well. Sundew gave Sobble one of her hair ribbons to make them a loose bow tie. Now there’s a happy baby chameleon with a cute little bow tie.

Awwwww.

That's a really cute meeting.

[draftingteacups]

Dumb cute headcanons for herds of tiny anchovies. They are like Ariel. But there’s now a mushroom lover whom Jade favors. And that was Casper. Now these two are out mushroom hunting, perks of having a tiny friend is that they can reach places big people can’t reach. Also no one can suspect him giving people mushrooms. Poor Floyd thought he would’ve got a cool stick to smack people with.

Arin likes collecting shells, mainly he could stack them into a tiny shell stack hideout.

Andy just likes to collect oddly shaped rocks, he got Azul one that was shaped like an angry fish. But Azul thought it looked like a flounder. Turns out some of the rocks are cool Geo rocks with little crystals. Which he calls them “the shinies”

And Sundew? Treasure hunt. No one knows how she could find them in the ocean. But trust me, she gives them funny names and sometimes bring them to share to her big brother and the trio. Anthony silently wonders if his sister found some secret abandon treasure chest.

Sundew just makes me think of Ariel's daughter, Melody, and I don't even remember what happened in that movie. I'm just super intrigued by all this. 👀

Also, Jade has his tiny friend with him as they hunt for mushrooms. That's adorable.

Andy and his shiny rocks just make me think, "He'd love dice." Why? Because I was one of those kids that loved to collect shiny rocks and called them crystals and stuff aklsdfkjlj I feel a kinship with this little one.

[draftingteacups]

Wholesome idea

Anthony + Trio: *slep on daily octavinelle

shenanigans*

Anthony + Trio: *woke to enjoy a day with the Quartet Garum visiting, and asking for a tour around NRC*

Floyd: *double woke, getting to Yeet Sundew into the air and both parties are happy*

The four kids got curious and asked their brother to give them a nice tour to the school and dormitory. (They were given lots of water because they would be flat out tire from Savanaclaw and Scarabia dorm sun.)

Sweet Casper liked Heartslabyul, it’s rules and tea parties. Something he would feel safe. He did call everyone by their names. He likes playing games and enjoying the calm tea parties. The chaotic shenanigans can wait. Let child enjoy tea and tarts.

Arin likes how fun Scarabia is. Despite the heat. Kalim won the favor because Kalim is the big brother to many siblings. And Kalim threw a welcome party, but Jamil toned it down for the kids sake. And Anthony because he got spooked by a random trumpet player- (send the poor anchovy help)

Andy enjoyed the calm atmosphere and music from Mostro Lounge. He felt safe but also scared of the tweels. Azul gets that pass because he was nice to Andy, octo boy gets the favor of the child. So he frequently shares his fried chicken with little Andy.

Sundew favored all dorms, sun child has zero fears to run off and hug the dorm leaders. Cuteness was in her favor to be held and headpatted. Sweet summer child wins. She’s also Diasonmia favorite, Sebek likes how she listens to him talking about Malleus, Silver being that brother friend who snuck her sweets, and Lilia being that second hand father who is close to take her off Anthony hands. How she got Malleus favor? This kid wears an backpack with a small cooler in it. With ice cream. She prefers Octavinelle like her brother. Mainly because her best brother and friends are there. She favors her brother and the octavinelle dorm a lot.

Bonus: she called Malleus and Leona “mister horn horn” and “kitty”(like Boo from Monster Inc.)

All the kiddos exploring the place and I love all of them 😊💕 I can imagine all of them being sprawled out in the sun and just being like "Aaaaaa, it's so hot" with Anthony in the back grabbing an ice cooler full of cold snacks/drinks

LOL Anthony getting spooked by the trumpet player in Scarabia that's standing near an oven while someone's opening and closing it

Andy and Azul eating fried chicken awww; Andy getting a bunch of chicken to share and will "bully" Azul into eating the rest of it when he sees Azul holding back against the tasty treats

KITTY LAKJADLSKJJK

Sundew really got those little kid privileges and I applaud her on that. Her little backpack full of ice cream fridge magic is amazing and I'd honestly love to have something like that IRL.

[draftingteacups]

Wholesome baby Sundew Garum fact

When the tweels and Azul went to see Anthony new baby siblings, 3/4 were scared of them. And 1 baby anchovy was just trying to grab them with their tiny arms.

Floyd was just high energy happy for one fish that isn’t scared of him. Jade once smacked a random finish when he was in charge to babysit the anchovies with a coral. (Sea power corals) and sometimes Azul play hide and seek then watch Anthony freak out while the little herds hides in his tentacles while playing an act. (He always let the kids win because it’s fun)

Floyd was also called “big bro Floy” same for Jade and Azul. It’s the trio sun baby friend. And the brothers just collectively agree they must keep sundew happy.

Wholesome facts are wholesome 😭💕

Sundew is precious and you can't stop me from loving this precious baby.

Also, Jade just smacking the potential babysitter out of the way just so he could play with the babies is both in character and hilarious all the while being chaotic👌👌👌

Also, I love the idea that Azul is more comfortable with his Merform around the baby anchovies, mostly due to Anthony's influence and them being super accustomed to Azul that they honestly care more about who he is than what he is.

[draftingteacups]

BEHOLD, PLUSHIE AZUL AND SWEET BABY SOBBLE

+ new student who was letting sweet Sobble watch him work.

Anthony Garum and Sobble + Azul plushie-

LITTLE SOBBLE ON ANTHONY'S SHOULDER- 🥺🥺🥺

I just love them all. I have little to no doubts about them being just a bunch of pals.

I already have an idea on the anchovy boy himself like ideas just came crashing down and here it is in front of me ☠️

Anthony's personality where he's skittish because anchovies are typically eaten by a lot of bigger fish. That means that the twins scare the absolute hell out of Anthony among other reasons. Despite this, Anthony can usually get out of the way in dangerous situations by using his Unique Magic: Can It, which basically shrinks him to the point that he can sneak away from danger without any issue (a reflection on the whole anchovy in a can/preserved in oil and thus can slip away).

He also surrounds himself in his plushies because I assume that he's got siblings and they just hang around him all the time or something idk- canned fish metaphor? still working on that-

He's quite fond of Sobble because Sobble is a Pokémon that means no real harm to people and Sobble's adorable. Everyone in Octavinelle collectively agrees that Sobble is the nicest out of the Octotrio, and I'm very inclined to agree with that statement alkdsfjklla

[draftingteacups]

My brain said “there’s many nicknames this anchovy has”

So these are Anthony nickname

Anchovy: Floyd

Big bro: accident with the mob students first years, siblings

Mr. Garum: Azul, Jade, and most of the staff

Dentist Nag: older seniors (don’t ask how, but they must listen to the rules to cleaning your teeth)

Guy who can handle the trio and scare you with that Pearly white smile: random student

Guy with the most hilarious shirt: Sam

Random student wins with that nickname 😂😅

Either them, or Sam.

[rileyomalley]

Okay since I can’t choose and haven’t found a list of questions yet that I wanna use.... SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS

Taerim and Garum are the type of siblings that always stuck together. They were creatures of mischief and play at a young age, and always got each other out of sticky situations. Lifting the other out of holes/places they got trapped in, to macgyvering means to unlock passages. Even as they grew up and there were times one or the other couldn’t STAND their sibling, it did not break the deep bond they had.

And believe me, there were plenty of times Taerim wanted to throttle her brother terribly. But she still loved him dearly.

Times when they weren’t traveling with their parents and other assorted family, they were training with each other in close quarters combat, or acrobatic feats in a relaxed manner. Garum’s strength and Taerim’s agile movements were one to be admired.

[rileyomalley]

The Magnificent Quintet

A lil snippet about Taerim and her previous troupe she was with.

Taerim Iados (Tay-Rim,Ee-ah-dos)

Bard Tiefling. Usually a lead performer of the troupe, often time one who sings and dances for the crowds. Her slight illusory magic and

Ilados Omera (Ee-lah-dos,Oh-mare-uh)

The elder tiefling with whom the group learned many a trick and trade from. Music, trickery, magic, travel, everything. She could be considered a great elder, a pied piper of older times and of the few who were akin to those more magically inclined.

Yumi H'vera (Yoo-me, H-ver-uh)

Hard headed, strong willed young tiefling, she would make any stealthy rogue proud. She is very spry, quick and quiet on her hooves, she has stolen quite a few items in her time and gained plenty of information just by ear alone. She has great memory as well.

Garum Iados (Gah-room, Ee-ah-dos)

One of two siblings of the Iados clan, Garum is the only other one of a taller stature (apart from their rather LARGE father). He is more inclined to melee combat, He is one of great strength, also hard headed but not without good of heart. Garum and Taerim have a great siblings bond.

Bael Y'Rish (Bay-el, Ye-Rish)

A comrade of Garum in his travels, Bael is a very flashy and well dressed sort. He is a wandering minstrel, who often weaved tales as he went from place to place. He was one who loved weaving said stories with various illusory magic to wow the crowd and to gain a little extra coin.

Nisha

Daughter of Taerim and Bael. TBD.

Jaeyr (son)

Son of Taerim and Bael. TBD.