#hespereia speaks

[hespereia]

Had a lovely day, even if not as productive as I’d planned. After class, I stopped by a café near the main campus and did some reading before heading to my open pottery session.

By evening, snow had started falling, and on my way home I spotted snowmen and snow angels all around campus. Such a delight!

[risthebrave]

day 05; “Hermes” 

snippet; perseus/medusa au, demigod harry

The Hesperides finally emerge from the trees and gather in the garden late evening, singing amongst themselves with voices as sweet as nectar. They don’t look surprised to see Harry when he comes out from behind the tree, only calling for him to come closer and get his feet wet.

He doesn’t go in the water, far too wary of their cheerful dispositions after the hardships of the past few days. The seven nymphs circle around him and coo at his torn clothes and dirty face. They introduce themselves one by one: Aegle, Erythea, Arethusa, Hestia, Hespera, Hesperusa and Hespereia. The daughters of the evening, but by birth, the great titan Atlas.

They’re beautiful too, almost glowing golden under the fading sky. Harry can’t know for sure, but he thinks he sees constellations etched across their smooth skin, glinting little stars embedded in their hands and arms and legs.

“Harry Styles,” Aegle finally speaks, and he immediately drops to a kneel, ducking his head in respect. “We have some gifts for you.”

Harry frowns. “No tests?” he checks.

He gets giggles in returns. “Silly hero,” Hespera coos. “The test has already been passed.” She gestured to the trees filled with golden apples. “You have not eaten an apple.”

A weight lifts from his chest and he sighs. For once his paranoia has worked out in his favor. “They are said to grant immortality,” he says, unable to help himself. “If I had eaten it…”

The sisters exchange looks. “It is better not to dwell on things past,” Hestia says. Out of all her sisters, she is the most known. Goddess of the hearth, of family and warmth. Even just looking at her makes Harry’s heart ache, longing for his mother and the comfort of his home filling his lungs.

“You have come here to collect gifts from the heavens,” Erythea says softly, “and we will give them to you.”

Exhaling in relief, he clasps his hands together. “Thank you.” For once, something comes easily. He stays knelt as Hespera approaches him, placing a hand on his shoulder that coaxes him to look up and meet her kind gaze.

“First, a gift from us,” she says. Her hand raises into the air, palm up, and a moment later a cloth bag appears in it. It’s not a common rucksack, Harry can tell, eyes lingering on the almost translucent white material, threads of something shimmery running through it. “A kibisis,” she says. “No blade, no flame, nothing can break or tear this bag. It will hold the head of the monster you seek on your return journey, keeping it safe.”

She hands it to him and Harry bows his head again in respect.

“From Athena,” Hesperusa says next, taking her sister’s place. She conjures a polished shield. “To guard you from the strongest foe. It can only be carried by one with great courage in their soul.”

Harry doesn’t hesitate to take it from her, feeling the courage deep in his bones. He is going to survive this journey and he is going to slay the beast. He believes he can and he will.

Arethusa smiles at him, taking Hesperusa’s space. “Next is from Hermes,” she says and Harry blinks in surprise. He didn’t expect the god of thievery, luck, trade, travel, and more to willingly assist him, but he supposes they are half-siblings.

Once again, the thought of being so closely related to immortal beings while he himself is so vulnerable makes him grimace. But he turns his attention back to Arethusa as a pair of leather sandals appear in her hands. However, they are not just useless footwear - Harry studies the wings that protrude from the heels, fluttering and twitching as if they are living limbs. “These will help you soar above any enemy. They will be of great help in reaching the gorgon’s resting place which lies deep within the mountains.”

Harry nods, taking the sandals gingerly. He is already eager to try them on but he tamps it down, looking to Hespereia as she approaches.

“The last two gifts come from your father,” she says gently, but Harry’s heart stutters. His father. Zeus sent him gifts? As if the shock is painted across his face, she softens. “Young hero, you know your father watches over you from Olympus.”

“One hopes,” Harry says quietly, throat dry, “but one can never know for sure.”

“You can now,” Aegle says.

Hespereia first conjures an adamantine sword: a harpe. Harry nearly gasps when he sees it, taking in the smooth glowing diamond blade. His hands tremble when the nymph passes it on to him, memorizing the texture and weight of it in his grip.

“This is… most generous,” he says, voice hoarse. His father sent him one of the most powerful weapons that exists. His father is watching over him, essentially blessing his quest.

“It is not all,” Hespereia reminds, holding out her hand to conjure the final gift. A helmet made of solid obsidian that gleams dark under the fading sun. “This is also a gift from your father’s brother, Hades, and it must be returned after your quest. It is his helm of darkness.”

“Helm of darkness,” Harry echoes, marvelling at the craftsmanship and how the metal feels shockingly cool to the touch. He realizes it’s from the underworld and he shivers at the thought. “What does it do?” he asks when the nymph doesn’t offer an explanation.

“It will mask you from the monster,” Hespereia says, dipping her head. “It pulls the shadows around you until you are hidden from view. It will be of great assist.”

“Thank you,” Harry says, before tipping his head back to the heavens to repeat his gratitude to his father and half-siblings. Thank you for believing in me.

I will not let you down.

december word prompt challenge 12/06/20 (meant to be day 5)

[hespereia]

Didn't sleep much last night and the sky has been overcast since morning. I sense a nap in my near future 🐭💤

[hespereia]

some reading while I'm waiting for my flatmates to wake up. I’ve got a few ideas for my essay, but I need to do a bit more research before I can talk to my professor about them

[hespereia]

It was pretty much impossible to find an unoccupied table in my university's library - a clear sign that exam season is upon us - so I had to improvise and work on the windowsill in the Romance Studies department. A bit uncomfy, but relatively quiet.

I'm reading about the lived experiences of queer refugees and asylum seekers. So far, it's mostly about how queer people have to translate their experiences into a narrative of queerness that's recognizable to the state in order to be considered 'credible.' Hoping to find more on the transit aspect, but so far, so good!

[hespereia]

Everyone I tell about my two-week solo vacation in the middle of nowhere keeps worrying that I'll feel lonely or get terribly bored, and I'm just like: I SURE FUCKING HOPE I DO. Maybe there's something wrong with me

[hespereia]

Survived my presentation. It was unnecessarily stressful bc I couldn’t access my notes and had to improvise, which I’m NOT good at. But it’s done, and that’s all that matters

[hespereia]

Met up with two classmates from my border studies class to work on our presentation that's due next week. We're a bit behind schedule, but we finally have a solid plan for how to structure this beast, which I'm really happy about. It's a tough topic, but so, so interesting, and we've found some great literature.

[hespereia]

2025

The first week of 2025 is almost over, and I'm slowly starting to feel like I've actually arrived in the new year. Between the holidays, work, and exam prep, I didn’t have much time to sit down and reflect on what I want this year to be like and what I want to work on. But I think I’ve got some things figured out now (they’re kind of cliché, but those exist for a reason, right?).

･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ.

academic success Hopefully, this will be my last year of uni, and I’m determined to make it the best one yet. I’ve struggled with time management in the past (adhd, executive dysfunction, and perfectionism often make me either overfocus on one task or avoid it completely). This summer semester will be tough, with both regular classes and starting my thesis, so I’ll need to stay on top of things.

my master's thesis is probably a goal on it's own, right?

becoming more reliable Like I said, adhd tends to complicate this, but I want to be known as someone people can rely on. I want them to know they can come to me with their questions and that I’ll do a damn good job helping out. For now, that means replying to messages the same day, a new to-do list system, managing my time better, and knowing when to say no.

working on my career That one's kind of on the back burner, but I’ll keep my eyes open for a part-time job that’s actually relevant to my field — though, to be honest, I’m not too optimistic. Other than that, I’ll complete that one certificate, look into internships, and maybe pick up german sign language again. less screentime & more time for hobbies I think I kinda forgot how to have fun. So: less mind-numbing scrolling, more reading, gardening, needlework, baking, lino printing, and all the other creative things I've been dying to try.

･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ.

This year is less about new experiences and more about finishing what I’ve started and taking care of what’s already here.

Other than that? Taking care of my body and mind (fingers crossed I'll be able to start therapy soon), political activism, spending time with friends, and cute dates. The usual :)