#mother hecate save me ..... save me mother hecate

[lesbianbanana]

Please know that it's not anti feminist to say that a woman (*cough* Helen and Persephone*cough*) who was kidnapped WAS kidnapped and didn't go by choice ❤️

[bolszaja-miedwedica]

Hecate please help me understand his stupid ass logic so i wont kill him and push him to communicate like a human and not a stubborn donkey

[phantomwitch16]

Recently I've been thinking about Hypnos and his position in Hades Hades 2. I've been seeing a lot of posts about him lately so I really want to talk about him cause to be honest, other than Zagreus, Hypnos is my favourite character in both games.

From what I've seen from Nyx's family, Hypnos seems to be the odd one out and too be fair, he quite literally is. Most if not all of his siblings are reclusive, quiet and don't keep in contact, similar to how it was with Nyx and Chaos. But Hypnos is the opposite, being quite sociable, talkative and wants to be around his mother and brothers as much as possible. In fact, that's possibly why he works at the house, likely to be closer to Nyx and his brothers. Which really makes sense, since out of all of his family, he never sees any of his other siblings save for their Nyx, Than and Charon and that was largely due to their obligations to the house. But despite his easy going demeanor, Hypnos is probably one of the most powerful gods in the house, save for Nyx given that he was able to put everyone in the house to fall asleep.

Which I imagine it was quite isolating to be doing his duties, especially since most of his siblings, notably Than, were off doing something else. At least with Than, he had the opportunity to see Nyx and Charon whenever he had the time. Which makes sense since other than sleep and death being two sides of the same coin, there isn't much else that keeps Hypnos connected with his family and its likely what made him want to take a job as a receptionist, despite how bored he generally is at it.

It's sad looking back on first game when he's being talked down to by Than and Nyx for having a difficult time to get the hang of doing essentially two full time jobs. Thankfully by the end of the game, he's managed to become much more capable in managing both jobs and having a better relationship with his family.

But this has made me wonder if working as the receptionist had a drastic affect on him in the second game. He's practically in a comatose state and has been like that since before Chronos attacked, since Mel was a baby and it's one of the biggest questions of the community.

I have a few ideas what could've happened to him and the possibly larger role he many have within Hades.

I haven't watch the technical test and frankly i don't want to know too much until the game comes out on the switch, but i think Hecate was down at the house was partly due to Hypnos' condition and maybe to see Mel as well. Because frankly it would be a large part of concern for everyone to come across Hypnos and being unable to wake him up. So she comes to examine him and while there, Chronos escaped, leading her to escape with Hypnos, Melinoe and the portrait.

As for what could've put Hypnos into that sleep, it could've been possible that he was doing so well before the events of the Hades 2. There could've been a large influx of souls and some additional preparation for Melinoe's birth that caused a lot of tension in the house. Or else, he received a terrible vision. In Greek Mythology, Hypnos had a great connection with handling the visions and prophecies. Mainly delivering them from Apollo or other Gods to prophets such as the Oracle of Delphi, alongside his sons. It could be possible that Hypnos received a vision from someone that influenced him to go into a deep sleep.

With him being asleep since then, it's likely that he's only been sleeping. However, it could be possible that Hypnos could be aiding those who were left behind or helping Mel and the others in the Crossroads? Such preventing other enemies to spawn alongside Chronos or putting those left behind in a deep sleep so that they won't feel pain or be controlled by the Titan.

What i find most interesting is his connection with Melinoe. From the get-go, we're already well aware that Mel looks up to Hypnos and finds him fascinating which makes sense. In mythology, Melinoe was not only had a connection to Hecate and ghosts, but one with sleep, specifically bringing about nightmares and madness.

With this connection to him, Mel could possibly interact with Hypnos in her dreams or wake him from his slumber. Or if those who were in the house were under his control, Hypnos could lull them into a sleep and Mel could wake them up by inducing a terrible nightmare that could shake off whatever control Chronos has over them.

I don't know if Hypnos might still have his old job by the end of the second game but considering with Mel could intercept dreams, I think that he would get a promotion by overseeing her duties or training her in those aspects of her abilities, probably punishing those worthy of those nightmares or aiding him in handing out prophecies.

I highly doubt that all of this would be used in the game but its a nice idea.

[hunterofartemis7]

Adopted by the gods AU pt.15

Anticlea: *holding an ice pack that Hera gave her to her cheek*

Laertes: *sitting by his wife rubbing her back*

Zeus: I deeply apologize for the way my daughter acted today. She is never like this. I assure you, she will be punished for thi-

Laertes: thank you lord Zeus, but that won’t be necessary.

Apollo: your wife got slapped in the face twice by one of the eldest goddesses on Olympus and you don’t want her punished? Bro you need better priorities.

Laertes: I at the very least want her to apologize for..that and for us to figure what ACTUALLY happened that night. I don’t believe Lady Athena just took him and made up this story of us abandoning our son. Something had to have gotten lost in translation the night she found him.

Aphrodite: found her! *dragging Athena in by her arm*

Athena:🙄

Hera: *crosses her arms* Athena. Do you have something to say?

Athena: I’m only here to find out what really happened my son.

Aphrodite: *elbows her in the ribs*

Athena: ow!

Hermes: *flies in* okay! Got the spell from Hecate!

Anticlea: what does that do?

Hermes: this will show us what really happened, from both your perspective.

Zeus: and when this is over, you will apologize to the queen first the way you acted

Athena: *rolls her eyes* when it shows my son was abandoned, those people will stay the fuck away from my kids.

Hera: and when it doesn’t, you will return both boys back to their home kingdoms.

Athena: THE FUCK I WILL!!

Hermes:….okay! Let’s get this show on the road! *throws the vial on the ground and blue mist surrounds them, showing a vision from the day Odysseus was taken*

*The vision shows baby Odysseus being taken from his crib in the middle of the night by some random man. Laertes sends the guards out to chase the men and they follows him to the waterfall, where he throws the baby off the edge. It then shows Athena catching baby Odysseus and hiding behind a tree when the guards look over the edge for. It shows the guards leaving and Athena taking the baby back to Olympus. She flies to the palace where the captain tells the king and queen that their son has died and his body wasn’t found. What Athena heard made it sound like the king and queen planned to kill Odysseus, but in reality they were just in shocked that their newborn son was dead. She had flown off before she could hear the queen break down in tears*

*the vision ends, and all the gods look between Athena and Anticlea*

Hermes:…….so at least we know this was a huge misunderstanding *laughs nervously*…this is awkward.

Anticlea: I told you I never abandoned my own son.

Athena: he’s not your son

Anticlea: are you still going to be like that!? You just saw with your own eyes what really happened—

Athena: and that doesn’t change the fact that neither you or your husband actually looked for him, and I’ve been the one raising him for the past 11 years! You might have given birth to him but he is my son!

Anticlea: need I remind you that you were the one who hid him when he fell!?

Athena: he would’ve died if I hadn’t!

Zeus: BOTH OF YOU ENOUGH!!!!

Anticlea and Athena: *shut up*

Zeus; where is the boy? He needs to know the truth

Odysseus: *comes out from under the table with Diomedes* right here grandfather, and I heard everything.

Zeus: well that saves me some work.

Athena: Odysseus…

Odysseus:….*runs up and hugs her*

Diomedes: *follows and hugs her too*

Athena; *drops to her knees and hugs them both close*

Hera: Odysseus, since you heard what really happened, it seems you have a choice to make.

Odysseus: *let’s go from the hug* what do you mean?

Athena: yeah what do you mean?

Hera: the boy knows he’s the real heir of Ithaca, and that he wasn’t abandoned as you previously said. So it seems he has a choice; stay with you till he turns 18, or go with his birth parents now.

Athena: over my dead body is he going with them!

Hera: you don’t get a say Athena.

Athena: he is still underaged and I’m still his mother! There is no choice to be made here!

Apollo: wouldn’t Anticlea have a say in this since she’s his birth mother?

Athena: stay out of this!

Apollo: yes ma’am!🫡

Athena: and no she doesn’t because she didn’t raise him!

Laertes: lord Zeus, if I may. I don’t want to lose our son again after just learning that he is in fact alive, but I don’t want him taken away from the woman who’s raised him either. Isn’t there some kinda of compromise we can come to?

Odysseus: how about we forget this whole thing and I stay with my mom and brother?

Hera: the boy needs to learn how to be king Athena.

Athena: I can teach him that. Besides he has 7 more years before he can even become king!

Artemis: than just do that. Both boy stay with Athena till their 18, and in that time she will teach them how to be kings.

Laertes: or at the very least until they need to become kings

Artemis: what he said.

Hera: I suppose that could work. Athena? Could you comply with this?

Athena: *sighs* if I must.

Odysseus: what!? Mama I don’t want to leave you!

Diomedes: me either!

Aphrodite: you won’t be leaving her immediately, just when you become adults. By then you’ll be sick of her and want to leave anyway

Athena: hey!

Odysseus: *clings to her leg* never!

Diomedes: *clings as well* yeah! We’re never leaving mother!

Zeus: you both will when it is time for you to become kings. End of discussion.

Anticlea: wait, does this mean I still won’t get to see my son for another 7 years?

Zeus: well—

Athena: that’s exactly what that means

Hera: Athena!

Athena: I’m not going to make Odysseus go somewhere he doesn’t want to!

Zeus:..*sighs* if the boy wants to visit his birth than he shall, but he cannot be forced.

Athena: *mumbles* thank the gods.

Odysseus: *buried his face Athena’s side* yay

Diomedes: *does the same*

Athena: *holds them close*

Hera: now I believe there’s still the matter of an apology that you owe Anticlea for slapping her.

Athena: *rolls her eyes* I’m sorry I hit you, after you called me a bitch in my own home😑

Zeus: just go

Athena: *takes her kids hands and leaves*

[lililasagna]

some disjointed thoughts about Nemesis and Melinoë (and Hecate and mommy issues)

I’ve been having lots of thoughts about the dynamic between Nemesis and Melinoë, and by extension both of their dynamics with Hecate. Hades 2 technical test spoilers to follow, obviously

First let’s talk about Hecate and Melinoë. Hecate raised Melinoë! She cares about her! But their relationship is not healthy by any means. Hecate is the only parent Melinoë has ever known, but out of loyality to Persephone she refuses to be Melinoë’s mother, and very harshly pushes back on the idea when Melinoë even suggests that she views Hecate in a maternal way. (Notice the difference to how Nyx treats Zagreus, and says he will always be her child.) Hecate raised Melinoë in a very militaristic way, for the obvious reason that they are at war, but isn’t it kind of nuts how even when playing hide and seek with very small child Melinoë, she frames their playtime in the context of hunting and killing titans? Enter Melinoë’s desperate need for approval. Yeah, it’s cruel when Nemesis says that killing Chronos “isn’t personal enough” for Mel. Unfortunately, she is right. Throughout the techtest, Melinoë continuously questions herself and other characters on how to keep up the motivation to save a family she has never known. She struggles deeply with this. My impression is that at this point, she is fighting To Make Hecate Happy. She is constantly vying for (and getting!) her teacher’s approval. She doesn’t question Hecate almost ever, and that’s in fact Bad for Melinoë. Melinoë needs to kill Chronos for Herself, and she’s simply not there yet.

Now, I noticed two things that made my alarm bells ring in regards to Melinoë, Nemesis and Hecate. Nemesis very clearly cares about Melinoë, even her digs at Melinoë are poorly disguised concern for her. She’s worried about Melinoë being sent out on her own by Hecate, she thinks Melinoë is a pushover to Hecate (she’s right), and she lets Melinoë call her “Nem”, even when they are fighting, without a comment. Meanwhile Hecate Hates Nemesis. She cannot deal with Nemesis questioning her judgement and expects complete obedience from her because of a pact she made with Nyx, while at the same time wishing she hadn’t made the pact because she cannot stand Nemesis to the point of wanting to throw her out of the encampment completely. Now this sucks for Nemesis of course, but what concerns me More, is how Hecate speaks to Melinoë about Nemesis.

Hecate actively discourages Melinoë from even cordially talking to Nemesis, to the point of acting disgusted when Melinoë uses her keepsake. Odysseus asks Melinoë to “smooth things over” between Nemesis and Hecate, implying Melinoë has in the past had to go between them. Hecate doesn’t respect Nemesis as a person, because Nemesis doesn’t respect her as an authority (nemesis still obeys Hecate, just not in a way Hecate likes)

I’ll write up these thoughts in more detail at some point but for now I want to leave you with this thought that made me sad: Characters constantly tell Melinoë she looks just like her mother and express pity and concern for her. Have you seen Nemesis? Do you think anyone has told Her how she looks like her mother? Of course Nemesis needs to keep reiterating her stakes in this struggle, because Hecate sure isn’t acknowledging them.

[naisaspalace]

Personal Nakshatras Analysis Series

ASHLESHA NAKSHATRA

5/27

The Clinging star. Power to Inflict & Remove Poison.

nakshatra characteristics:

Translation:  Embrace, Entwine, Coiling, Clinging

Symbol: Coiled Serpent, Naga, Kundalini Shakti, Caduceus, The Staff of Aesculapius

Animal Symbol : male cat

Presiding Deity:  Nagas

Controlling/Ruling Planet:  Mercury

Ruling Deity of the Planet:  Ganesh

Nature: Hard/Sharp/Dreadful

Race: Rakshasa/Demon

Mode:  Active

Number: 

Gender:  Feminine

Dosha: Kapha

Guna:  Sattvic

Element:  Water

Disposition:  Movable 

Bird: Small Blue Sparrow

Downward Facing

Direction: South

Colour: Blackish Red

Trimurti: Shiva/Dissolution

Gotra/Clan: Sage Vashishta.

nakshatra small overview:

Today we are going to discuss mercury second nakshatra and also cancers maturation point.

this nakshatra specifically talks about our traumas and hidden emotions we choose to ignore in order to "survive" another day yet we usually don't realize how much we are, indirectly, choosing to suffer another day because we will be followed by our shadows until we decide to let them go away so what are you going to choose? save yourself or will you let your fears lead your life choices?

at the end of the day its your choice so take as much time you need with it.

Deity Association:

Hecate (Hekate, Ἑκάτη or Hekátē)

The goddess (or titan) of witchcraft herself therefore couldn't find a better representation as she possesses a direct relation to "embracing one shadow and becoming whole again", She is in fact an amazing representation, personally to me, of how one can utilize their darkness to transform itself and the world for others.

I was requested to showcase a link between deities and nakshatras and how one can or should, depending on their desire, to find a comfortable place within oneself again.

Devoting yourself to Hecate is not an easy job as she makes you deal with your most profound shadows and traumas.

She is the Titan Goddess of the crossroads, which represents the "in-between" She represents what exists between the upper and the underworld between the gods and the people. By representing the "In-between" she asserted herself as a transitory guide, she accompanied us into her cave while she cut through the illusions and dispelled the darkness. This is also why one of her epithets is "Phosphoros" - bringing light.

She was the one who guided Persephone to become her matured confident self while also taking care of Hera, Persephone's mother, to deal with her own process of grief and change.

The crossroads are nothing more than two roads colliding with each other at opposite directions, this helps us to choose a path. also they represent the space where the changes occur meaning another "transition place". she basically put us to face between to paths is either to go forward to her cave to be guided by her to save yourself or continue to stay where you are suffering.

By her torches, we are guided to face ourselves and open new doors to our lives.

funny enough both mula and ashlesha talk about "controlling snakes snakes" or dealing with our own emotional trauma and self, although i also associate her with mula as well (and will also write about her into the mula p2 analysis), where this is the birth of ketu and mula is the maturation of ketu, this also explains why both nakshatras talk about controlling oneself but differently ashlesha talks about the beginning of the path of healing our shadows and it transformation thru water and mula talks about the roots of problems, life and groundedness of both ourselves and the outside thru fire that lead to detachment from everything. Yet mula's expression and connection expands way further when it talks about "the connection between body mind and soul" and the fact that is also related to the root chakra itself ( but this is also another thing that it will be explored at mulas p2)

both chaotic, self-destructive, and capable of immense spiritual growth

you can also say that although being the maturation of cancer, ashlesha can and generally acts childish by being manipulative and abusive when it's unhealed yet can become amazing at spiritual practices and at helping others either as a psychologist or any health area careers. this is also a reminder that mercury is a childish planet and this behavior matches perfectly with his childlike behavior but it all depending as of how the individual decides to showcase to the world.

and also a reminded that mula deals directly with poisons and herb medicine (another reason for Hecate being associated more with mula)

Hecate can be associated with everything and ashlesha being a point where one has to choose between emotionally letting go and moving on is another perfect place to see her as she guides you to healing yourself.

Pop Culture Representations:

unfortunately, i have nothing other than repetitive same old celebrities to showcase so i will be quick!

Lana del Rey

Lana is a dear very well-known musician who transformed her sorrows into art (music) and fought for her right to sing about desiring to be "submissive" (jokes aside) we can see how one can cling to their traumas and still produce art. Yes her music is sad and depressing at many times yet that doesn't stop her from being an excellent artist who went on to fight about her she perceives love and how she desires to enjoy love and whether this is "good" or bad I'm not here to criticize this fact but only to show how she perfectly represents the unhealed clingy ashlesha and i am saying this being a lover of her songs. this is not a critic of being "submissive" or enjoying being one personally i don't care what you choose to be, role-wise, but this is my personal opinion.

Kylie jenner and Kim Kardashian

kylie with her ashlesha sun and kim with her rahu... here we can see how kylie used from surgery to embrace herself (transform) and kim because of her moon uttara bhadrapada (rulership) transformed her life into what she wanted with the power of hard work and delusion and yes both are very futile yet here we have BOTH work with cosmetic industry, both are emotionally and career-wise controlled by their mother, both are emotionally unhealed the main difference would be kylie has low self-esteem (sun) and kim have the obsession to control and manipulate (rahu).

THE END

i hope you have enjoyed my analysis please feel free to add any recommendations and opinions about the post :)..

contact info:

Linktree.

[nonasuch]

so I went to New York this weekend!

I tagged along with some friends who were going to the Five Points Toy Festival in Brooklyn, and convinced them to come see Sleep No More with me on Thursday night, since it’s allegedly closing at some point and I’ve always wanted to go.

And since they had to head back to DC a day before me, I decided to get another ticket for the Sunday matinee on my own.

Unfortunately my cards were a 6 and a 7, so I missed a few things right at the beginning, but I’m still really happy with my experience. My first show I spent a bunch of time following the Tailor, which I really enjoyed — he had a duet with the Taxidermist in his shop where they played tug-of-war with his measuring tape, and another with the speakeasy bartender. I saw Hecate eat her dinner and sing “Is That All There Is” in the 4th floor bar, and the Porter try to save Lady Macduff from the poisoned milk and then do an amazing dance in the bag check room. Plus a bunch more small lovely moments that I caught in passing as I explored.

My second show I had my bearings a little bit more. I got to chat with “Benji” (who I now know was actually Will Boyajian!) in the Manderly before my card was called, which was really fun!

Before this trip, I did do some advance reading, so I’d have a general sense of what to expect and wouldn’t be totally lost. This also gave me an idea for a little art project: I made a set of papier-mâché eggs (using a trashed copy of Macbeth for the paper) with thematically appropriate prizes inside, sealed with a wax seal and a red ribbon you could pull to open them. Basically fancier versions of the mystery eggs I have at the shop. I made eight, because that was all I could fit in my dress pockets. The prizes were:

a glass jar of vintage mother-of-pearl buttons

a glass vial with a dried flower inside, sealed with wax

another sealed vial with a fossil shark’s tooth

a tiny bell jar with mini (fake) butterflies on pins

a brooch made from a vintage medal ribbon and vintage keys

a tiny glass bird

a little bag of vintage game pieces

a wooden acorn with more tiny treasures inside it

I ended up giving “Benji” the shark tooth egg, which turned out to be perfect because he said he collects shark teeth! The others I saved until I got inside; I wanted to be careful about making sure I could give them out without interrupting anything.

I was super lucky to have some time entirely alone with the Tailor while he sewed up the Taxidermist’s coat, so I just set his egg (the buttons) on the corner of his desk and stepped back, and he tucked it into his jacket pocket when he was done.

I watched the Taxidermist make his bone sculpture assemblage and then smash it in frustration, so I hid an egg under one of the skulls after he left. I did get to see him find it when he came back. Same with Hecate, when I left an egg under her fan on her table at the wrecked bar.

The speakeasy bartender invited me to play a card game with him. I lost, but I gave him an egg as a thank-you.

I watched the Porter make a paper boat and blow it off the edge of the counter towards me. I caught it, and tried to give it back with his egg. He took the egg, but gave me back the boat. And I caught the witch in the green dress in a quiet moment in the lobby, and handed her an egg across the counter.

I realized I’d accidentally given the Taxidermist the wrong egg, but I managed to catch him at the last possible second, before he disappeared after the walkouts, gave him the right one, and told him I’d given him Malcolm’s egg by mistake. (Some of them were labeled, but the lighting is so low and my labels were tiny).

Aside from my self-imposed side quest, I got to see a bunch of scenes I’d missed last time. I caught the rave, I followed Agnes for a while, I saw a lovely waltz between Duncan and Mrs. Danvers in the ballroom. I kind of forgot the fifth floor existed, oops.

Afterwards, I was totally exhausted and must have looked it, because someone let me into the reserved section so I could sit until the crowd thinned out and I felt a little less wiped. I have some really cool souvenirs — my mask, and the paper boat, and I bought a poster too.

If they extend it into the fall, I’ll totally go again.

[leolithe]

Something I find really interesting about the Lotus' dialogue after the Lotus Eaters is her use of the word 'witch'.

"I was the Daughter. I became the Mother. In time, I shall be the Witch, blind once again, empty of all but wisdom." -Lotus

'Witch' has very specific connotations. Close enough to another similar word that I can't help but feel like it has to be a deliberate reference to the Triple Goddess ─ Maiden, Mother, Crone. These are figures from neopaganism that symbolizes the stages of a woman's life. Eleanor (proto-Nyx) even outright calls her the triple-faced goddess. While it definitely could just refer to Lotus, Margulis and Natah, what if we have yet to see her final form?

She was first Natah, the daughter of Hunhow. Then she assimilated Margulis' form and became the Lotus, mother to the Tenno. And now, she is to be the witch. Even urging us not to mourn should she turn into something we don't recognize. I'm very excited to see what exactly that will look like for her and how her role could potentially change. The quest made a point that the Operator will be staying behind while Drifter is the one chosen for the quest to 1999. Maybe instead of the mother-child dynamic that we've had for a decade, we'll get to see what kind of relationship she might have with the Drifter (<-copium)

I'm not much of a Greek Myth Lorehead but I've read up a bit on The Triple Goddess Hecate (who I've been told that, in Hades 2, was voiced by Amelia Tyler... who is now also voicing our dear Eleanor Nightingale. Worth mentioning cuz u just know rebb was kicking her feet and giggling at being able to pull that together). Hecate's status as a gatekeeper type figure, as i understand it, is very interesting when u apply it to the Lotus...

I'm just thinking about how meta the whole "Lotus' ascent to godhood" plot thread is. It's like a direct parallel to her voice actress' "intern to creative director" journey LMAO. It's a bloody golden opportunity and i hope they're cashing all in on Goddess!Lotus and everything it'll entail...

Not to mention lorewise and what it means for the Lotus' own arc!! To be someone constantly being pulled around by others to fulfil their own purposes, having her own wants neglected, shamed, belittled... To becoming a Witch/Crone/Gatekeeper a la Hecate -- now the one potentially capable of denying or approving others' needs and goals...? Ugh, that's so fucking JUICY. What a bloody incredible character.

Lotus mentions becoming "empty of all but wisdom", and I've seen someone theorize that she'll become even more emotionless and distant as a shield against Wally because it thrives on emotions. This theory scares me because it could very well happen... Not like Space Mom already has a history of being distant and reluctant to tell us how she's feeling... *Sniffles*...

There's also the theories about assigning Natah/Lotus/Margulis as the Maiden/Mother/Crone...

The most surface level reading would be Margulis = Maiden, Lotus = Mother, Natah = Crone, but imo when people make this read they're kinda hinging on their appearances lol. Pretty Margulis, "Ugly" Natah... Maybe even just "Good mom who can do no wrong" and "evil Sentient who led part of an assault on the Origin System".

I would like to think that it isn't that shallow, buuuut their personalities do fit the bill when u bring the "phases of a woman's life" theme to it.

Margulis' naivete, or the shattering of it, as the Maiden:

"No, Ballas, no more destruction. Maybe they're meant to save us."

"You lied to me, Ballas. You're no different than the rest of them."

Natah's headstrong wisdom, or her desire for it, as the Crone:

"I am the witness, the victim, the judge. My family has returned. Your trial, soon to begin."

"The times ahead will need decisiveness. Power."

And Natah does die in TNW. Her death is a very big part of the quest lol. The "End of life" theming of the Crone fits her very well... And the very first "gatekeeper/crone judges and makes the decision for you" thing she did was killing ballas. So i get it!

Inversely... You could also assign Natah as the Maiden and Margulis as the Mother because of the simple "Natah was the Daughter, now I am the Mother" quote. After all, Lotus before TNW was living very much under Margulis' shadow, assimilating into her like you mentioned. This read leaves Lotus to be the Crone; the empty, wise Witch we have yet to see.

The more i write this the more I wanna say: Damn. These 3 were always meant to converge into each other. Their stories are all sides of each others' respective coins and it almost feels arbitrary to chuck them into strict roles, even if symbolic.

I definitely think we're gonna see her "Triple Goddess Final Form" in the future. It's too good a story beat. Too sexy. DE HAS to do it. I have my platinum ready. Give me all the skins.

As for the DrifterLotus copium....... Hehehe. I don't think DE will ever do anything romantic/sexual with them. i think they're just gonna cap their relationship off at "they care immensely for each other" because they might be concerned about the questionable pseudo incest implications looming over anything to do with Lotus and the Tenno.

Like don't get me wrong; Drifter is their own person and Lotus of all people would be comfortable with the concept of "people having identical faces won't make them the same person". I just feel like DE might not be willing to play with them in that way. For perfectly understandable reasons... The Player Tenno are very much "colouring book" characters for the OC lovers so it seems smart to keep them relatively open-ended.

But. Don't worry. Check my AO3 at the end of the week. I hope you'll find something that brings u even a little bit of cheer ;3

[thylionheart]

I have a theory… that Hecate MIGHT be on the side of Chronos. Or at least on the side of the next turn-over of power. For fighting against the Titans, there is an odd quantity of titans in the crossroads crew, namely Selene (I know if we’re going to have a witch season with Hecate, we HAVE to also have the moon herself. And gameplay-wise, mechanically, she needed to be distinct from Artemis). (And Hecate isn’t a titan in the myths, so this is an oddly intentional change to her character!)* But Selene says something after like the third or fourth bottle of nectar gifted to her, something along the lines of, “Ah, this custom of gift-giving, maybe there is something worth saving from the Olympians.”

I’m sorry WAT 👀 I know we’re supposed to be focusing on the health of the Underworld, but Olympus is actively burning, what did you mean by that, ma’am???

And we still don’t know- I’m pretty sure?- HOW Chronos was re-materialized. He would have needed help from a chthonic god/being for sure, right? My theories on the Egyptian connection and Hecate equating to Isis and Chronos to Osiris aside…., Hecate laments that she couldn’t have stopped Chronos taking Melinoë’s family. She says SHE was the one tasked with protecting the underworld. If Chronos broke through and Hecate was the door… I’d at least like to go over the security footage again. Hecate carries so much guilt over what happened to Mel’s family, and SO insistent that I’m NOT your mother, and I wonder if there is a weightier reason behind it. She’s so triggered when Hades passes on his gratitude to her, like pls don’t. I don’t deserve your thanks, I failed you.

I don’t think the majority of the Crossroads crew would be in on it. Moros is obviously genuinely worried for his sisters after Chronos kidnaps them. Nemesis maybe, but I wonder if she would be so willing to go along with this plan if she truly believes Chronos deserves divine retribution for what he has done. And she never holds back from sharing her honest thoughts. But on my post about everything coming out of Odysseus’s mouth being a lie, someone mentioned that he could be in a lying-as-default mode in order to protect someone’s secret. 👀 And people have mentioned how fucked over by the gods Odysseus was in life. Is it a little odd he is so ready to lend his strengths to them now? He’s not like Heracles, he doesn’t HAVE TO be here, what does he gain from all this?

Of course, Chronos, like any villain, is always saying, why are you fighting me? I’m bringing a golden age. You think the world was better under the rule of the gods? And…. If it wasn’t for the baby eating thing…. I’d hear him out.

*I was wrong abt this lol

[princessofghosts-posts]

I came here today for another Underworld siblings angst post :D

One of the thinks that always stuck with me was,when in SoN,Nico almost called Hazel Bianca,and Hazel felt really insecure about her place in Nico's heart as his sister. She thought she was a replacement: "A consolation prize from the Underworld". And I loved that part in a way that hurts.

I dislike Bianca,she never was my favorite and I don't like how she ditched Nico at the first chance she got,but I can also understand why she did it and that both Artemis and Zoë were guilty since they kinda groomed her into accepting the offer. That choise still hurted Nico deeply. It has always been them alone against the world,and Nico had his older sister taken away from him by a bunch of foreign girls,while also finding out that they were demigods and that half of his life was a lie. At camp,Nico didn't even have time to settle in before she immediately set off on a quest with those same girls. And she didn't come back. But he still loved her. He loved her so much that he went to the Underworld with the sole purpose of bringing her back. He didn't found Bianca but he found Hazel. Hazel,who was there because she basically sacrificed herself for her mother. Hazel,who was dead but remembered her life. Hazel,who was going to be part of the Seven and save the world. Nico brought her back to life because he saw another sister,not a consolation prize. He didn't even hesitated and went against the laws of the nature (the whole: "the dead needs to stay dead" thing) for Hazel,who he didn't even know and had just found. Nico loves her unconditionally,but she reminds him of Bianca (and what their life could have been like if she hadn't died) and that's probably why he almost called her with the wrong name. Also why he then he felt guilty immediately. The warmth of the sibling love that he had missed so much was finally back with Hazel,but she isn't Bianca. Binca was dead and Hazel was alive,there with him,and he was thinking of another sister. Both sisters are also a bit opposites: Binca went for rebirth as soon as she could,while Hazel remained there until Nico found her. While Nico and Bianca sibling relationship was complicated,Hazel doesn't have any idea of how they were with each other,and I don't think Nico ever told her. Hazel feels inferior to Bianca,because she think that she will never been like her with Nico. They will never have the same close bond she think they had,and probably feels hurt about it. Because she wasn't good enough to be "another Bianca",and she thought that her new brother didn't want her for who she was. And Nico doesn't know about her thoughts on it that because he never told her. And the best thing? Hazel and Nico sibling bond,even with all of the problem they had,is still better than Bianca and Nico's bond. Hazel stayed with him and was ready to save him,making sure that her brother was alive and fine,because she cares about him. That's her brother. And Nico tried to go out of his comfort zone for her,sharing all the informations he had (which he never did with anyone else,during HoH Hazel and Nico literally spent half of their time together talking about what was going to happen once they will reach their destination,and what they would have to do) and trying to protect her. That's his sister. I really wish that it would be talked more and that they actually acknowledge it in the books.

Hazel's insecurities and Nico's guilt in this scene has so many layers to analyze. I also love their sibling relationships and really wished that they could have more moments together (when he kissed her forehead when she went to talk to Hecate at the start of HoH? I screamed so much,they were so cute! Or when Hazel was worried about his safety and life during MoA? They care so much about each other 🥺🥺🥺).

[starless-nightz]

My PJO/HOO OCs

Yes, two of them are based off of two Six of Crows characters, sue me. Some of the backtories might be changed over time.

Carmilla Nightshade, DAUGHTER OF ARTEMIS AND ZOE NIGHTSHADE

Age: 16

Height: 6'1

Birthday: 15/4

Parents: Artemis and Zoe Nightshade (both bio parents, she was born by magic)

Appearance: long dark brown curly hair with a white streak, brown skin and silver eyes.

Sexuality: Lesbian

Likes: woods, wolves/animals, playing the guitar, open space, the hunters, food, McDonalds, Nico, reading, music.

Dislikes: men/boys, Percy Jackson, being indoors too long, most gods, Lucas, camp, quests.

Backstory: She was born from magic as the bio daughter of Artemis and Zoe Nightshade and was raised as their daughter, she adores her brother but thought he abandond her and the hunt when he disappeared one day. She blamed Artemis for Zoes death and she and Nico tried to bring back Bianca, her first love. She eventually learns to accept her death and moves on with Piper.

Love intrests: Bianca Di Angelo (deceased), Piper McLean (girlfriend)

Lucas Aylin, SON OF ARTEMIS

Age: 21

Height: 6'4

Birthday: 27/5

Parent: Artemis (adoptive mother, she gave him her "blood" when he almost died so hes a demigod), bio parents unknown.

Appearance: medium-length curly blonde hair and blue eyes, muscular.

Sexuality: Bisexual

Likes: reading, music, playing a guitar, walking, animals, birds, rivers, Nina.

Dislikes: almost all gods, camp, quests, most guys he met, some hunters.

Backstory: He was abandond in a forest as an infant, he was found by the hunt and they grew fond of him. Artemis and Zoe raised him as if he was their own son and the hunters treated him like a younger brother. He almost died when he was 5 years old and Artemis was able to save him with Hecates help by giving him her "blood", making her biological son. He disappeared one night when he was 14 years old, Carmilla hates him, thinking that he abandond them.

Love intrest: Nina Zenick (fiancee)

Nina Brígh, DAUGHTER OF HECATE

Age: 20

Height: 5'10

Birthday: 3/9

Parent: Hecate, bio parent unknown.

appearance: long, curly brown hair and green eyes.

Sexuality: Bisexual

Likes: reading, dancing, flirting, going out, shopping, nature, magic.

Dislikes: salty/spicy food, quests, mud, fighting, flirting with men (not including her boyfriend).

Backstory: Nina was abandond when she was a baby and was raised in an orphanage until she ran away when she was 12, thats when she met her now fiancee Lucas and the two found a small cabin in the woods and have lived there for a few years before meeting Wyatt.

Love intrest: Lucas Aylin (fiancee)

Wyatt Henson, SON OF HEPHAESTUS

Age: 16

Height: 5'7

Birthday: 6/2

Parent: godly parent Hephaestus, adoptive father Reginald Henson, mother Mary Henson (deceased)

Appearance: short curly brown hair, brown eyes.

Sexuality: AroAce

Likes: reading, crafting, playing his flute, hiking.

Dislikes: sports, politics, the gods, his adoptive father.

Backstory: Wyatt is the adoptive son of Reginald Henson, a multi billionaire who owns many companys and brands, he was abused by his stepdad after his mothers passing when he was 10 years old, he ran away from home and met Lucas and Nina, who he sees as parental figures, he plans to one day give half the companys and brands hes going to inherit from his stepdad to Lucas and they would be co-owners.

Love intrest: No one

[haggishlyhagging]

The rape of the Goddess in all of her aspects is an almost universal theme in patriarchal myth. Zeus, for example, was a habitual rapist. Graves points out that Zeus's rapes apparently refer to Hellenic conquests of the Goddess's ancient shrines. The early patriarchal rapes of the Goddess, in her various manifestations, symbolized the vanquishing of woman-identified society. In the early mythic rapes, the god often assumed a variety of animal forms; the sense of violence/ violation is almost tangible. In christianity, this theme is refined—disguised almost beyond recognition.

The rape of the rarefied remains of the Goddess in the christian myth is mind/spirit rape. In the charming story of "the Annunciation" the angel Gabriel appears to the terrified young girl, announcing that she has been chosen to become the mother of god. Her response to this sudden proposal from the godfather is totaled nonresistance: "Let it be done unto me according to thy word." Physical rape is not necessary when the mind/will/spirit has already been invaded. In refined religious rapism, the victim is impregnated with the Supreme Seminal Idea, who becomes "the Word made flesh."

Within the rapist christian myth of the Virgin Birth the role of Mary is utterly minimal; yet she is "there." She gives her unqualified "consent." She bears the Son who pre-existed her and then she adores him. According to catholic theology, she was even "saved" by him in advance of her own birth. This is the meaning of the "Immaculate Conception" of Mary— the dogma that Mary was herself conceived free of "original sin" through the grace of the "savior" who would be born of her. This grace received in advance, described by theologians as "grace of prevention or preservation," is something like a supernatural credit card issued to a very special patron (matron). Mary's credit line was crossed before she was even conceived. Double crossed by the divine Master Charge system, she was in a state of perpetual indebtedness. Still, as I have explained elsewhere, despite all the theological minimizing of Mary's "role," the mythic presence of the Goddess was perceivable in this faded and reversed mirror image.*

* In order to understand the Background of Mary, Hags should recall that she was known as "the new Eve." This leads us to look into the Background of Eve who, in hebrew myth, was a dulled-out replacement for Lilith, Adam's first wife. Patai writes of Lilith as portrayed in the Talmudic period: "When Adam wished to lie with her, Lilith demurred: 'Why should I lie beneath you,' she asked, 'when I am your equal since both of us were created from dust?'" (See Raphael Patai, The Hebrew Goddess, p. 210.) Any Crone-ographer, of course, can recognize this as a watered-down version of what Lilith really might have said, which would hardly have been an argument for mere "equal rights." As for Eve, constructed from Adam's rib—Peggy Holland has pointed out that this is an interesting mythic model: the first male-to-constructed-female transsexual. Patai affirms that it was Lilith who persuaded Eve to eat of the Tree of Knowledge and he acknowledges that Lilith was a Hag (pp. 210-13). According to Cirlot, Lilith, in the Israelite tradition, corresponds to the Greek and Roman Lamia. (See J. E. Cirlot, A Dictionary of Symbols, trans. by Jack Sage [New York: Philosophical Library, 1962], p. 180.) Graves puts more of the pieces together, indicating that Lamia was the Libyan Neith, also named Anatha and Athene. (See Robert Graves, The Greek Myths, I, 61, 1. Graves adds that "she ended as a nursery bogey" (which is, of course, the fate of all Hags/ Crones/ Witches in patriarchal myth). Lilith is also identified with Hecate, the lunar goddess and "accursed huntress." After pointing this out, Cirlot remarks: "The overcoming of the threat which Lilith constitutes finds its symbolic expression in the trial of Hercules in which he triumphs over the Amazons" (Ibid., p. 180). Since Hecate was associated with hares, this suggests that rabbits are in the Virgin Mary's Background. Given the parthenogenetic propensities of rabbits and given the reversal mechanisms of patriarchal myth, this association makes sense. We are also led to think about the identity of the familiar "Easter Bunny" (and about the reversal involved in the image of "Playboy Bunnies"). Finally, when considering Lilith, Hags should note that this name is said to be derived from the Babylonian-Assyrian word lilitu, meaning a "female demon, or wind-spirit." (See Robert Graves and Raphael Patai, Hebrew Myths: The Book of Genesis [Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1964], p. 68.) This is interesting in view of the fact that the name of the "Holy Spirit," who is believed to have impregnated the Virgin Mary, is derived from the Latin spiritus. Is the holy spirit trying to copy Lilith? Also fascinating is the thought that since, as we have seen, Yahweh is a derivative and reversal of the Goddess, one of whose primary names is Lilith, he is exposed as an imposter, a female impersonator, and a transsexed caricature of that Great Hag herself.

-Mary Daly, Gyn/Ecology

[martydearest]

My live reading of Ch 2-3 of Wrath of the Triple Goddess

- I will be reading into why rick is emphasizing how the mist works

- i do appreciate the more subtle reminder about world building aspects instead of outright stating it

- GROVER BELOVED!!

- “AI generated” maybe the consistent timeline was the friends we made along the way (how many time can i make this joke??)

- Rick riordan has obviously actually spent time in a city the time

- YES SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS (and keep boycotting Starbucks!)

- Opening with an author writing in a café… i am calling it now Sally and Claymore know each other

- Oh my god it’s a cat cafe

- “Aside from the fact that I could never write a novel anywhere,” Percy Jackson you canonically wrote the og series and two mythology books

- Tutu barista guy live your truth (dont get set on fire)

- ESTELLE APPROCHES

- What are the ethics of grover consuming milk products??

- I feel like Rick also had a witchy themed aesthetic Pinterest board while he was writing this

- Omg Charles Mingus???

- “Not at all!” She patted the chair next to her. “Save me from this dialogue, please. I think it’s trying to kill me.” I genuinely think author-characters in these books are so so funny. Rick riordan and his seven different author insert sock puppets

- “I can’t help wondering if she’s writing a character based on me. Maybe that sounds self-centered, but the idea of anybody writing a book about me makes me super paranoid.” Im going to lose my fucking shit

- I actually am kind of hoping the meta stuff continues i think it fits a Hecate/mist themed story well

- I wouldn’t generally call og Grover hyperactive compared to the actual demigod characters and im not sure i like where this is going, relatable as hell though

- WTF happened to Sally in Gramercy Park

- Awww them 💙mother and son

- Blueberries

CHAPTER THREE

- I love demigod go bags, that’s such a good little character detail

- The no cell phones rule doesn’t work as well with the moved up timeline of the series

- Academic annabeth is a personal red flag idk how i feel ab it

- Sometimes I remember I actually really do like Percabeth

- I want to hear more about her mortal friends

- Rick dancing around her race better than that tutu guy from earlier

- I’ve never heard the word angst used like that and it’s giving me the evvie jevvies

- “Annabeth was a natural people person” the annie character assassination

- Obligatory TLT reference (i love when percy remembers the shit he did)

- I enjoy glass and marshmallows

- WHO THE FUCK IS PAUL (where did Dave go???)

- ANALYTICAL ANNABETH! There’s my girl!!

- SHE’S A DOG PERSON

- i take back what I said annabeth wtf

- Oh her childhood…

- I wonder what Rick thinks of cosplayers

- Weasel??????

- Rick Riordan needs to hire a better continuity editor

[aprilshifts111]

The Greek Gods and My Little Pony Characters 💙

Should be self explanatory but it's basically if the Greek Gods were associated with MLP characters (Mostly the ones I know) and which MLP Character I would put next to said Greek Deity... You'll see what I mean... I don't mind if you take this in the Sense of Hellenic Polytheism or Epic the Musical... But I'm doing this as a Devotional Act and a funny thing I thought...

Enjoy my ducklings 🐣🐤🐥💙✨

Right of the bat... I would 1000% put Twilight Sparkle ✨ with Lady Athena 🦉... They both are Knowledgeable and smart, they both have an owl for a pet/symbol... I feel like most would put either Sunset Shimmer and/or Starlight Glimmer but they STRIVE for knowledge (So does Twilight) but Twilight is already smart)... But Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer would be with Odysseus and Diomedes... Just because of the Student/Mentor dynamic (I know, Odysseus and Diomedes are Greek Heroes but still)

Next, I would put Fluttershy 🦋 🐇🐰with Lady Artemis 🦌... Simply because they're both Animal lovers and though Fluttershy is less like a fighter type than Artemis (Except for that one episode with the pony war), they're both like Assertive when they need to be, I guess... And if not Lady Artemis then DEFINITELY Lady Persephone... They both end up with 'grumpy' and 'grr' people (Father Hades and Discord)

Also, I know I could put Discord with the God Chaos (Because it's in the name) ... But I feel like Lord Hades would definitely suit better because they're both misunderstood and even though Discord was a Villain at first, he became a good guy in the end...

Pinkie Pie🩷💛🩵 with Lord Dionysus 🍷🍾🍸... Do I even need to explain why? They're both party people and literally the life of event... That's it...

Now Lady Aphrodite ❤️ 🦢🕊️ is a bit different because I could totally put Rarity 💎with her (Because of Fashion and Gems which is materialistic beauty)... But then there's literally Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire who's Cutie Mark is LITERALLY a heart 💙 but then there's Lord Eros who's the Personification of Love and bringing people together which is what Princess Cadence does as her Cutie Mark... I'll keep Princess Cadence with Lady Aphrodite

OK, for Rarity... I would put her with Lady Hera 🦚... I don't know why, I don't think Rarity was ever fully Cheated on multiple times (Except for the Prince Charming pony in that one Grand Galloping Gala episode) but I feel like they'd get along so well 🤷🏿‍♀️

Princess Celestia with Lord Helios... They both are affiliated with the Sun and I know some may say that Princess Celestia would be good with Lady Iris... But That's because of her colourful hair (Celestia only has Coloured hair because of the Elements of Harmony, she originally used to have Pink Hair) so Yes, Helios ☀️

And if we're going down the same road, Princess Luna🌙 with Mother Selene 🌕... Luna was trapped in the Moon, Selene and Helios are Siblings, Celestia and Luna are sisters (Also, Nightmare Moon... Or the Tantabus with Nyx because they're both Scary but not 'Evil')

Zecora with Lady Hecate.... They're both associated with magic and witchcraft, and they're both mischaracterised as evil people

I wanted to save this for last because this is more of a Tricky one than with Lady Aphrodite.... I'm not sure who to put Rainbow Dash🌈 with because I could put her with Lord Hermes ⚕️ because of her speed but I could put her with Lady Iris 🌈because she literally does a Sonic Rainboom and has rainbow hair (I was thinking of putting her with Father Zeus 🦅🌩️because of cutie Mark being lightning and she can move the clouds... But Rainbow Dash is the Element of Loyalty... So that just sounds ironic 💀) and I would put Derpy with Hermes just because of her Cutie Mark being a messenger

I will do a Part 2 soon if you guys want but let me hear your thoughts on this because I think it's an interesting concept of the Greek Gods in the MLP:FIM and MLP:EG universe

[readychilledwine]

Death of Peace of Mind pt 3

Summary - We all believe Eris has a cabin in the woods where he hides his mate, but what if she wasn't there willingly?

Warnings - NSFW, somnophilia, almost sub vibes from Eris, implied Azris, implied affair

A/N - So, this is coming to a halfway point 🫣 how do we want Rhysand to react? Anger? Joy? Let me know. I have that part open to adjustment. Ps of you see errors, no you don't 💜 P.s.s. sex between her and Eris might get REALLY freaky in one of the last parts 👀👀 is there a line? Let me know.

Double pss?..... did you peep the masterlist? Seren is giving Hecate vibes, and I'm lowkey excited to bring that to life

Series Masterlist Prologue Part 1 Part 2

Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 (aka the end)

Eris couldn't stop tracing every muscle in her back as she slept on her stomach next to him. He had missed this, missed her. He knew he had countless things to apologize for. He knew he had 1000 things to say to her, but he wanted to start with the obvious when she woke up.

He wanted to start with how deeply he loved her, and how sorry he was he let her leave that night. He had a feeling Spring had been plotting something, as did Beron, but his father had told him to ignore it, that his wife, his beautiful mate, would be fine. 

It had been calculated revenge by an angry High Lord, insulted that his own eldest son had been passed over due to laws every court had signed regarding mating bonds. 

Seren had waited before agreeing to marriage and mateship as her father weighed the consequences. He remembered the old Lord of Night's gentle words to her as if they had etched themselves permanently into his memory, "I couldn't break her heart, look at these beautiful eyes and tell me to try to deny her this." 

And Eris could deny her nothing. 3 of his hounds were hers, his food was hers if she asked for it, the blankets if she was too cold, his soul if she wanted to rip it from his very being. Eris was hopeless in love with Seren, and it was his greatest burden and his greatest joy. She was the ultimate weapon against the heir. Had he not beaten Tamlin's side out of the male years ago, Eris would have murdered him in his sleep.

Seren was Eris's weakness, as well as his mother. Two females he had watched his father beat, torture, and harm into false submission. Tamlin's weakness was also his mother. The female beaten, tortured, and damn near killed into true submission. Tamlin had given their location away to save his mother, and Eris used that. Forcing Tamlin into a bargain knowing some day he would need to protect Lucien with the young male's incredibly and increasingly dumb actions.

Eris chuckled as he ran a finger down the bridge of her perfect nose and she scrunched it, wiggling it slightly. He moved to be on top of her, not pressing his body weight in and began kissing down her spine, smirking as she shivered. He licked his way back up, moving her hair to bite her pointed ear, and moving the sheets off the lower half of her naked body. He knew she wouldn't care, the two of them had fucked like rabbits before her faked death, crossing lines the two of them had never imagined they'd find pleasure in, this one was his favorite though. 

He grabbed his pillow, propping her hips up while she continued to sleep and entered her soaking core slowly. He grabbed the headboard and her right hip in his hand, calming himself to have some control as she moaned his name softly and wiggled back on him in her sleep. He began thrusting, slowly. Biting his lip to hold back a groan at the feeling of her velvety walls welcoming him in. 

Seren's mouth parted slightly, her breath picking up with each increasing hard movement brushing her inner nerves. She panted his name again with a whine, causing him to smirk with greedful satisfaction that even after years of forgetting him, of forgetting this, her mind still knew only he could do this to her. 

He finally leaned down to her, kissing the base of her neck before biting her shoulder and picking up speed. Her pants were now full moans, and he felt her waking up through the bond, body fully alert of the pleasureful intrusion and responding by squeezing his cock as if to pull him in further. "That's it dove, wake up for me." 

He kissed the side of her mouth, smiling as those star flecked eyes. "Good girl." He buried his head in her neck, continuing those long heavy drags inside of her and hitting those hidden nerves. 

Seren was in heaven. The comforting weight of Eris pressing into her, the feeling of his hard cock filling every inch, his warmth hugging her. It almost made her heart ache, knowing some magic had been strong enough to make her forget this. Eris whimpered in her ear as her walls twitched, a tight band coiling and threatening to snap inside of both of them. "Take what you need baby," she whispered to him. "I am yours. All yours." That was his undoing, his thrusts became harder, faster, aiming at her gspot over and over until she saw electricity behind her eyes, until her magic slowly started to pour out of her. His name was now a prayer on her lips, falling from them over and over as his movements became sloppily and his growls became moans of her name carving into her skin. "Cum inside me, Eris. Need you to fill me, baby." 

And as they both knew, Eris could deny her nothing, he fell over the edge with a loud groan, hand instantly finding her clit and circling it to rip her over with him. The lightning was no longer behind her eyes as she came screaming his name. Outside, Seren had changed the bright beautiful daylight soaking the Autumn court in a soft pink and orange glow to a heavy rainfall within seconds. 

Eris panted above her, another whimper falling as her walls squeezed his sensitive cock, milking him for every drop. She shifted herself to kiss him deeply, pumping love, comfort, and her own pleasure down their bond to bring him to overstimulation. He collapsed above her, hugging her tightly. "I love you," he began those one thousand words. "I'm so fucking sorry Seren."

Cinnamon, Sage, and Nutmeg stood guard around Seren as she cooked for herself and Eris. Sage had taken station to her right, Meg to her left, and Cinnamon sat happily, tongue lulled to the side between her legs, keeping watch on the door. Toast sat away from her, waiting for her father patiently as she seemingly threw glares towards Seren. Eris had left 2 other hounds, Fennel and Hops, who had taken post on the couch near the window. Seren carefully stepped over Sage, reaching for the 3 spare steaks she had purchased from the market under a glamor and began to slice it into 12 equal parts. She heard the door open and the pattering of soft paws in the room. Cinnamon, Sage, and Meg moved running to greet the owner of that scent of bonfire and warm apples. "Smells so in here good, dove. What'd you make me?"

Seren smiled as Eris moved to her, holding her waist and kissing her temple. "Steak with rosemary and butter, potatoes, mixed veggies, and there's Cinnamon sticky bread in the oven." 

Eris groaned in joy, head falling back with a smile. "Did our children get steak as well?" Seren nodded. "You spoil them. Feeding them high grade cuts." He lifted the bag she had in the sink and smiled shaking his head. "No wonder they all love you more than me. Except for Toast."

"Dig the knife in deeper, Eris," Seren threw a glance to the direct Toast was in, only to find her glued to Eris's side. "I purchased an extra chicken's foot for her." 

She felt his love hit her instantly through their bond. Toast was his baby, his first of the mythical long lived hounds that he had trained. She would always be particularly close to Eris, hating the female who stole her spot in bed regardless of how many extra snacks Seren brought home to her.

But that had never stopped the Night Court female from trying. 

"We should discuss the matter of Rhysand and how you want to handle this, Seren." She shook her head, motioning towards the bowls and setting them down in front of each hound with a kiss on their noses. "I know you are afraid, I am too, but Lucien is there now, and he will be able to see the enchantment that was used on you."

Seren paused, halfway bent over to the largest male hound, Linden. "How?" 

Eris sighed. "Amarantha ripped his eye out. Helion and Thesan had Nuan construct a replacement, it was enchanted to be able to see through spell and magic work."

Seren shook her head. "So, we are still denying it then?"

Eris nodded. "Until the wheel breaks," he phrased it carefully, eyes darting towards the window, "we will not speak of it." 

She nodded. "How is Lucien?" 

"Don't avoid the topic, dove." 

Seren handed him Toast's bowl, ensuring the girl saw her put the extra foot in just for her, before washing her hands. "We start with Azriel, not Rhysand."

Eris felt his blood instantly cool at the mention of his mate's former lover. "Why?"

Seren looked at him, a brow raised. "I could smell him on you, Eris. The scent of cedar and Mist mixed with yours isn't one I'll soon forget. I may not have remembered him, but I knew that scent."

Eris's face flushed. "It was only a few times."

"A few?" Seren moved and kissed him gently. "Was it good?" Her husband nodded. "Would you do it again?" He nodded again, smiling at her teasing grin. "Can I join?" Eris stiffened, his face falling. She rose a brow challenging him and the sudden possessiveness that was becoming clear in their relationship. 

"No," he said firmly. "Not until I've had my fill of you first." 

Weeks later, Seren felt like she was going to throw up. Eris held her tight as they walked through the dark stone halls towards the room she knew he stayed in.

"Almost there, dove," he comforted her, pulling the hood over her head a little more. "We are being watched."

She knew that already. She knew the second Eris winnowed into the Court of Nightmares with an undetectable other person and 3 hounds, Azriel would be there, and they had been planning on it. She just hadn't been planning on this overwhelming dread setting in from stepping back into this cursed place.

Eris entered the doorway to his normal room quickly, pulling her in and shutting it before growling and shoving her behind him.

"Remove the hood," a cold dark familiar voice made her eyes close and every ounce of fear melt from her body. "Now." A pin could be heard dropping when she did and looked up at the blue siphoned male. Eris caught Azriel as he stumbled back, whispering words of comfort to him as he sat the male down on the chair. 

"How? We.. her body. Her." Eris visibly flinched at the unneeded reminder of how "her" body had been found. "Eris-"

The heir shook his head. "I do not know, Azriel. All I know is she was adopted by a family in Autumn. She had no memory of who she was or what happened. I gave her space hoping it would wear off, it never did. I just figured out how to break it."

"Does Rhysand-"

"No," she whispered softly. "I was hoping you would bring him here."

Azriel nodded, taking a few deep stilling breaths. "Does your father know?"

Eris shook his head. "And if all goes well, he won't until it's too late. Never again." "Never again," he agreed softly. Azriel moved to her, raising his hands to her face. She sent him a wave of calm, stopping the trembling and letting him do what he needed. 

His soft touches started with stroking her cheeks, fingers gently sweeping her eyelashes. Then he traced her nose, gently tapping it like he had when she was no more than a little girl begging for affection from him, Rhysand, and Cassian. He then moved to holding a long piece of her silky raven hair, rememorizing the slight shades of blues and purples that hid in it. Both of his hands finally rested on her shoulders before ripping her to his chest, tears freely falling as he buried himself in her scent of moon flower and vanilla beans. "I missed you."

Seren sighed into his body, eyes shutting softly as she allowed him to scent her, ensuring he took a small piece of her home to Rhysand. "I missed you too, Azzie."

Eris took deep breaths, calming the protective rage that the simple sign of love and affection between his mate and another male brought him. 

The two of them were holding eye contact, a silent conversation Eris wasn't privy to being had between his mate and her first crush. “Rhys is shopping for gifts for Starfall at the Rainbow today,” scarred thumbs ran along high cheekbones. “Perhaps you two should find our moon a dress. He should be heading that way in an hour or so. I could alert him to… activity in the Palace of Thread and Jewels.” 

Seren nodded. “You and Cassian may need to be with him.”

“We've never left his side,” Azriel said softly. “And we'll never leave yours again either.” 

Eris smiled as Seren lead him through the streets of Velaris, a wide smile on her face highlighting those dimples. “Almost there,” she whispered. “They have my favorite dresses. I have missed them so much, Darling.” 

Eris smiled, kissing her hand as a shadow alerted them Rhys, Cassian, and Azriel would be there soon. “I know, dove.” They paused in front of the shop, Seren's eyes wide as they took in the nude illusion gown in the window. “Go, my love.”  

The dressmaker dropped her tools the second they entered, dark brown eyes wide as she took in the princess of the Night Court. “Princess Seren,” her voice was shaking as Seren looked closer at the gown. Admiring the gem placements that formed emerald leaves. “I- would you like to try that on, dear?”

“Please,” Seren nodded eagerly. “I already know I like it and want it, but I still like my dresses tight despite Autumn standards.” 

That's how Eris found himself, a glass of deep red wine in his hands as he sat in the private dressing room. He waited patiently as the seamstress kept his mate in that closed off room, pinning the much too large dress tight along every Mother Blessed curve of her body.

He scented them before he heard them. The familiar scent of leather and weaponry oil that followed Illyrians like a second skin. “Rhysand. Hounds,” he greeted calmly. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

He heard Rhysand chuckle darkly. “I believe I should be asking you that, Eris. Why are you in my court unannounced and unwelcomed?” 

Eris shrugged. “You demanded I attended your damned Starfall Celebrations. My date needed a dress.” A growl tore through Rhysand. The same growl that always did when he imagined someone else standing in his sister's place. “You should sit, Rhys.” Eris warned as the soft click of heels was heard on the hardwood flooring. 

The genuineness of the warning had the High Lord obeying, taking a spot next to the Autumn heir and studying that emotionless mask for any sign of a Crack. 

Cassian was the first to break, dropping the bottle of wine he was reading the second she entered the room. 

And Rhysand? All he could do was sit there in silence, staring in shock as the seamstress moved her to the pedestal. 

“So lovely on you, dear,” the female stepped back, bowing her head to her High Lord. “I will allow you all to speak. Please ring for me with questions and a decision.”

The drag of the door and click of the handle was a match.

And it was Seren, misting the broken wine glass and spilled bitter beverage away that was the bomb. 

[m4gp13]

Okay time to talk about Al's hero complex and Ethan's martyr complex more in-depth because I love it so much <3

Al's hero complex is pretty obvious. He thinks he's Katniss Everdeen fighting a valiant battle against the Capitol because no one told him he's not the main character. He sees himself and those who agree with him as the Heroes (tm) while any who oppose them are the Villains of Unrivalled Evil because obviously his people wouldn't be fighting them if they were anything less. Al definitely has the overwhelming optimistic approach of a heroic paragon who believes it's impossible for him to fail because he's the good guy and good guys always win (Ladies, Gentlemen and Assorted Genders I would now like to direct your attention to "heroes never die, right?"). Which is how he ended up getting the remainder of his army massacred because he wouldn't accept defeat and pushed them on for a last-ditch attempt at victory. He's willing to sacrifice his people for the greater good, and in this way he and Percy are like the inverse of "Villains will sacrifice the world to save their loved ones, heroes will sacrifice their loved ones to save the world."

Al was the most powerful child of Hecate and as such was chosen to lead the rest of her children into battle. For such a young guy, this probably gave him a sense of grandeur, importance and self-respect which translates well into him seeing himself as the hero of his story. He had Luke and his propaganda to look up to, Mt Othrys to run things from and the Princess Andromeda to help things along, as well as a swarm of younger demigods who saw him as a hero. Now I'm not saying it all got to his head but that is pretty much what I'm saying. There's also Hecate, who is a pretty loving mother all things considered and was helping and supporting Alabaster and her children all the way through the war. With her encouragement exacerbating Al's self-righteousness instead of giving him a reality check, his hero complex could only grow until it made the Al we see in Son of Magic. He has lost everything and has never been in a worse place but he is still so sure of himself and his own moral superiority.

Ethan's martyr complex is a little more subtle but it's there if you're looking. My guy sacrificed his eye to his mother and was A-Okay with the arrangement. He was asked, from a very young age, to go through a lot of short-term physical pain with the result of a long-term disability in order to make a change in the world, which he agreed to. So he already doesn't think too highly of himself which is a great start! His mother uses him as a vehicle for her goals and he is aware of this and consenting to it. He has already relegated his own life as a tool for someone else. And then there's the arena battle in the labyrinth where he was very quick to offer Percy his own head on a platter. He was thinking very pragmatically at the time. He didn't seem to care much about "holy shit I'm going to die" and was instead just thinking "If he kills me then I die but if he spares me then we'll both die 2-1=1 so if we go with the first option then that will be one less death" HE DOESN'T GIVE A FUCK. His own life is something he can step back from, view in the context of the bigger picture and figure out how detrimental the loss of it would be to everything else going on around him. And then to further prove my point the last thing he ever does in the series is actually martyr himself to stop Kronos from ruining his mother's plans. Way to make it easier for me buddy.

As for how he ended up like this, his mother is fucking Nemesis. A hero complex and a martyr complex run antiparallel to each other with the key difference being that a hero will do whatever it takes to succeed while a martyr is all too happy to throw their life away for The Cause. In the eyes of a young child desperate to please his mother who is known for harshly punishing the prideful and arrogant of the world, being a hero who desires personal success and glory would be far too egotistical, and in order to be a hero his mother would approve of, he must be entirely selfless about it. She would despise anything else.