#no mortal lovers says zeus to his half mortal son

[beautyofaphrodite]

Aphrodite and Adonis

Adonis in the Myths

Adonis was a mortal prince on the island of Kypros. When his mother Myrrha was killed by her father and turned into a myrrh tree, the baby Adonis was given to Persephone who raised him. When he grew, both Aphrodite and Persephone loved him and fought over who would get to be with him. In one version of the myth, Zeus settled the dispute by saying that each goddess got to spend one third of the year with him and Adonis got to pick who he would spend the last third with. He chose Aphrodite, and the two were practically inseparable. In another version, the muse Calliope suggested that both Aphrodite and Persephone would get to spend half of the year with Adonis.

Sadly, Adonis is mostly known for his tragic death. The most common version is that Adonis was wounded by a boar sent by either Ares (angry that Aphrodite was spending so much time with Adonis), Artemis (angry that Aphrodite had killed Hippolytus), or Apollo (angry that Aphrodite had blinded his son) and bled to death in Aphrodite’s arms. Some myths say that he was later resurrected as a god of beauty and attraction, or of love.

Their Relationship

In the myths, Aphrodite loves Adonis deeply, and most of the time, he loves her just as much. In my personal experience, I have never interacted with Prince Adonis but I can tell that Lady Aphrodite loves him a lot.

Children

Aphrodite and Adonis had two children, a daughter and a son. Their daughter was named Beroe, or in some cases Amymone, and she was a nymph of Beirut. She served the goddess Artemis and was a lover of Poseidon. Aphrodite and Adonis’ son was named Golgos and was said to be the founder of the city of Golgi.

Also…

- The festival Adonia was celebrated annually by women in ancient Greece to mourn the death of Prince Adonis. When the river Adonis turned red with what was thought to be his blood (but is actually soil washed off the mountains by heavy rain), women (especially in Athens) would celebrate on their rooftops; dancing, singing, and planting “Gardens of Adonis” (lettuce and fennel seeds in potsherds). After this, they would hold a funeral procession in his honor, which included burying images of him and the remains of their gardens near the sea or springs.

- Adonis is associated with anemone flowers, also known as windflowers. This is because Aphrodite’s tears mixed with his blood were said to lead to the growth of these flowers.

- Adonis was not only loved by Aphrodite and Persephone, but Apollo, Dionysus, and Herakles. He was said to be androgynous as he acted “like a man in his affections for Aphrodite but as a woman for Apollo”

[captainkingsley]

I just have the reoccurring image in my head of Hercules and James sitting together, a little too close, even something as innocent as holding each other's hands or sitting with their legs a little too close when Herc hears a distant rumble of thunder and gets up immediately to put distance between them because oh, no, he's not risking dad finding out before they're ready to say something

[meteor752]

Epic the musical side story where Hades and Persephone get really invested in the story during The underworld saga, sorta small talk about the strange man for the next couple of years, and then freak the fuck out in the audience during god games when they find out not only is the guy still alive, he’s managed to piss off like half the pantheon

Just

“Hey babe?”

“Yeah Perse?”

“There’s like, a bunch of mortals here”

“Mortals? What, how?”

“Idk, they’re like, on some ship”

“Huh. Should I call Thanatos, have him take care of it, or should we just wait it out”

“Call Thanatos, best to rid the garden of any pests before they manage to kill your flowers”

“Pfft, alright. I’ll be right back”

“Okay- wait. A bunch of the dead are singing to him”

“What?”

“Yeah like a bunch. Who are they?”

“Uhh, most of them drowned, a few killed by a cyclops. One broke his neck?”

“They’re singing about a cyclops, about how he let one live or something”

“Probably one of Poseidons. Should I still call Thanatos?”

“No wait, I wanna see where this goes.”

“Alright.”

“An infant, what infant?”

“Maybe the cyclops?”

“OH NEW GUY! He seems important!”

“Also a cyclops victim. They seem close, what do you think friend or lover?”

“They’re Greek, it’s probably both”

“I don’t know how he managed it, but this guy brought down like, the entire vibe of the entire underworld. That shouldn’t be possible”

“Yeah. Oh who’s this lady now?”

“Suicide by drowning. Not sure. Maybe a relative”

“Yeah may-THATS HIS MOM”

“OH MY GODS. OH HE DIDNT KNOW OH LORD”

“Hooooooly fuck, what a way to find out”

““Here in the underworld the past is always close behind”. Think we should make that a slogan?”

“Then we’d have to credit him and stuff tho”

“Yeahhhh. Well, seems like this guy is sticking around for a few hours. Should I grab some popcorn?”

“Yeah I’ll grab the fainting couches”

~~~

“Okay what’s happening now?”

“He just stated speaking to Tiresias”

“Tiresias? He went all the way to the underworld to speak with a prophet?”

“Well he is quite good”

“Wait did Tiresias just reject him?”

“I think so? Oh wait predictions”

“Past romance, sacrifice, betrayal, and some final battle? Who the fuck is this guy?”

“Dunno, but he’s not going home that’s for sure”

“Palace? He must be a king of some kind then”

“Do we know the names of any mortal kings”

“Nope, so that didn’t help at-wait his wife is doing what”

“Ohhh, that must be rough, hearing it from a prophet”

“Okay this chanting is getting intense. I think I heard the word Scylla”

“I heard lightning bolt”

“That doesn’t bode well”

~~~

“He’s just, sitting there”

“Is he done? Should we-oh. No okay new song, let’s see what’s going on”

“Man this guy has it rough. Should we like, do something?”

“I mean, I’m not really the “bless the mortals” type of god. I mean I let a guy borrow my helm once, and I haven’t seen it since. I should probably check up on that actually”

“Yeahhh. They killed a friend of the cyclops?”

“That explains all the cyclops victims”

““Witch turn men to pigs”, you think that’s Circe?”

“Sounds like he-WHAT WAS THAT THIRD ONE”

“You don’t think-?”

““God comes down and makes a fleet drown”, I am most definitely sure!”

“Damn. Wait wooden horse? Oh, I know who this guy is!”

“Really?”

“Yeah he’s one of Athenas warriors! Ody something. Odyssen? Odyssa? Whatever, I remember the horse thing was a big deal when it happened, Ares was pissed, Hermes spread the word to all of mount Olympus”

“One of Athenas eh? Interesting. Oh yeah, the god was definitely Poseidon”

“How are you sure?”

“That line he just sung, “Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves”, Posy is always fucking saying that crap”

“500 men? Damn”

“Penelope, presumably the wife. Don’t know about the other guy tho”

“Either a son, brother, or lover. Or maybe just a friend I dunno”

“Another infant? What the fuck is wrong with this guy, pulling a fucking Hera”

“Gotta appreciate the determination of him”

“Yeah, but I think we’ll see him here again soon. If he’s pissed of Poseidon, and soon to be Zeus if Tiresias is to be believed, I don’t think he’ll get much further when he gets out of here”

“So we are letting him go”

“Yeah. Partly because I want to see what happens next. When he gets here we’ll ask him to tell the full story, from beginning to end”

“Alrighty then”

~~~

“I swear if I get dragged out of the underworld for one of Zeus’ little games one more time this year I might actually start a war”

“Mum keeps staring at me…fuck she’s probably gonna try and talk after this, fuck meeeeee”

“We can escape in the middle of it, no one will know”

“Oh she’ll know. Do you know what this is about like, at all?”

“No, but I think Hermes might launch into the fourth dimension if he keeps vibrating like that in his seat”

“Yeesh”

“Hmm, odd. I don’t see Posy anywhere”

“Maybe he’s competing?”

“Nah, he always declines when Zeus asks, he hates it”

“Why were you not invited?”

“Dunno, probably has nothing to do with me”

“Oh it’s starting, it’s starting”

“Athena’s challenging eh? Interesting”

“Would love to know what any of this is about”

“Mortal lover? Demi-god child? Those are the usual subject”

“Yeah but that’s not Athenas thing. Probably something to do with one of her “warriors” or whatever”

“Apollo, of course. Always has to be apart of these things”

“The drama queen”

“Truly”

“Hephasteus and Aphrodite? That’s a little awkward”

“Weird lineup so far- fucking Ares? Yeah shes not winning this one, sibling spite is stronger than any argument she can give”

“Why would all three of them be included. I can feel the tension from here. I’m uncomfortable”

“And Hera? Yeah no she’s loosing for sure, Hera like not care less about any mortal, unless they’ve offended her”

“She might be convinced, just to spite Zeus?”

“That just sounds unhealthy on so many levels”

“Alright let’s see what this is about”

“Hold up, Ody?”

“Oh my gods. You thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Well he was one of her warriors. Was he not?”

“I can’t believe he’s still trying to get home. It’s been like ten years, how the fuck”

“Well, if he pissed off Poseidon then he probably has something to do with it, the pissy bastard”

“Killed sirens. Why would you do that, so unnecessary”

“Sacrifice??? What the fuck is this man up to????”

“Didn’t we have a few Scylla sacrifices a few years back. Think that was him?”

“Holy shit we did. Yeah, Posy stays away from Scylla to the best of his ability, travelling in her domain to avoid him is not a bad idea”

“‘Phro is mad that his mum died? Girl you are grasping at straws, even more than the previous two”

“Hold up, why the fuck was I not invited?! He traveled through my domain, disturbed my souls, he even woke up Cerberus with his monster wailing, I should be apart of this!”

“I mean it’s a bit weak”

“I have more grounds to be down there than fucking Apollo. Like sirens? Come on man”

“Oh ‘Phro refused huh? Only got two, that’s kinda weak coming from Athena, she usually gets at least four”

“Is that cheating? Her quick thought thing. That cheating?”

“Are there any actual rules?”

“Just, try to win, I guess”

“Oh Ares turn. Wait she lost Aphrodite, this should be over”

“I think this is more of a personal thing. Like I said, sibling spite”

“Oh yeah, Scylla! Fuck this guy is getting around”

“Oh damn, that pissed her off”

“Guessing that the guy other that Penelope, Telemewhatever was his child then”

“Oh wait they yielded?? Huh, never thought that would happen”

“And, Heras turn”

“Yeah like I said she does not give a fuck. But it was a good run”

“Yeah, keeping her four out of five streak”

“Wait what the fuck was that”

“She- she actually yielded?”

“And for not cheating! Man I love this guy, I can’t wait for him to die”

“Only you babe. Wait holy fuck she won?”

“Oh Zeus won’t like- oh, just like I said. He’s pissed”

“Is he gonna kill her?”

“If he does I’ll just resurrect her probably. She deserves a better end, even if she is annoying”

“Well, should we go then?”

“Yeah I have some paperwork to- do I hear boss music?”

“OH SHES STILL ALIVE!!”

“She took a lightning bolt to the face and lived, holy fuck. Gotta respect it”

“I think, she’s actually convincing him? Never thought I’d see the day”

“Well, she’s his favourite child. I think if Ares tried something similar he’d just get struck by another lightning bolt”

“Well, that was fun. When I come back up for spring I’ll have to check with Hermes more about the details of what’s live, actually going on with this Ody dude”

“Yeah. Wanna stop for applebees before we head on down?”

“Yeah, but let’s go now cause mum is heading like right for me and I don’t wanna deal with that until another few months”

This was dumb lol

[bones4thecats]

Okay if it's okay could I please ask for Buddha and Adam and Eve and Poseidon but how would they react to Kianna Being forced to become a God and her mental health getting worse realizing she can never die and have to watch the Mortal people she's friends with grow old and die while she stays forever young

I read a bit of lore and diabolic lovers

Where someone would become Adam or in other words become

And in her character lore she ends up becoming a god

Sorry if this is a bit dark

A/N: This is basically all one story looped into one, I may end up making a story based on this, depending on what may ensue in the future. Thank you @nunezs-stuff for the very fun request! Enjoy~~

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

🍭 This guy became a god throughout his basic will (in a way)

🍭 But when he met you, you were torn in half

🍭 You had become a god against you will, thanks to Zeus of course

🍭 Buddha was one of the first to approach you after your change

🍭 He had comforted you when you cried about losing everyone you had cared about, he always said he understood, but you and him both knew he didn’t understand exactly

🍭 You killed vampires that killed your sister, and now you became a god, the God of Blood-lust and Revenge

🍭 He was one of the people you were seen alongside the most

🍭 He helped you get through all the depression and anxiety you felt

🍭 Buddha and you were amazing friends, and eventually, after getting over your guilt, you and him would fight in Ragnarok alongside one another

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

🔱 This guy did not understand you at all

🔱 When he first met you through his youngest brother, he just glared at you, another ‘half-blood’ it seemed

🔱 Poseidon never really acknowledged you until his brother, Hades, brought you back from Helheim, claiming you had tried jumping into one of their death rivers, he had frozen in place

🔱 He knew you had some problems, but he never knew how bad they were

🔱 Afterwards, he tried to act more attentive

🔱 In other words, he was less gruff around you

🔱 That was what made you two connect, it may not have been a very strong one, but it was a bond nonetheless

🔱 You had hid yourself as you softly wept for the loss of another friend after the third round, knowing you shouldn’t have given so much trust into someone as arrogant as him

🔱 His downfall was inevitable

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

🍎 You had just relayed a message to Brunhilde from Zeus when you heard the footsteps of Adam behind you

🍎 You obviously knew who he was, you were a catholic alongside Yui when humans

🍎 Adam just stared at you before speaking

“ You’re that god that Zeus has at his beck and call, am I right? You used to be human, Y/N, I presume. “

🍎 His blank face whilst saying that made you gasp

🍎 He knew who you were, a traitor to human kind, you knew this was a bad day to relay messages

🍎 Damn it Hermes

🍎 Adam smiled while patting your head

“ Don’t worry, I do not hate you for anything. You becoming a god is their fault. Hope to see you around, my child. “

🍎 Watching him walk away was hard, but you knew what was gonna happen, he was gonna lose, so you spoke up as he left

“ My father, Adam, if you lose, I will take care of Eve and your sons for you, till the end and beyond. “

🍎 He knew he could trust you with anything

🍎 It may have been a brief meeting, but you both knew you cared for one another more than words could ever describe

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

🍃 Eve was the final one you had met here

🍃 She was crying in the hallway about the loss of her beloved husband of hundreds of years

🍃 You had remembered the promise you had given her late husband and took the leap

🍃 You feared Eve would hate you, you were apart of the beings that killed Adam

🍃 When you introduced yourself, she seemed to recognize you and she smiled

“ Yes, I’ve heard of you. Adam couldn’t stop raving about how amazing you are. He even said that you swore to protect me and our boys, thank you. “

🍃 She hugged you and you began to tear up as both Cain and Abel joined in

🍃 You may not be able to bring back Adam, but being there for the broken family was good enough for the moment

This was what Adam spoke of when he said you were meant for something more than just being Zeus’ messenger alongside Hermes, you were meant to help humanity defeat the tyrant, and you would, no matter the cost.

[alatismeni-theitsa]

https://www.lifo.gr/stiles/optiki-gonia/kaos-einai-i-shesi-mas-me-ti-mythologia

Can they stop with modern labels? Every time they try to say that ancient Greece was a queer paradise where it was far from this.

It was criticised in society unless the man was powerful and rich. Like it was a tiny minority and they create this narrative of ancient Greece have over 50% being queer or something.

It's time for our xenoi friends and followers to learn another Greek term. Xenolatreia. It means "worship of anything foreign (mainly from the western countries)", which is a widespread phenomenon among Greeks for the past 2 centuries. It's the following sentiment: "Anything that comes out of western countries is good and it should be praised because we here in Greece are a bunch of illiterate monkeys who live on trees, and cannot see the Deeper Message our Superior Westerners show."

Lifo has had some decent articles over the years but this one reeks of xenolatreia. Lifo supports that the Greeks hate the series because it has queer people in it. so it goes on a campaign to show that Greek mythology had queer people. Which, sure, I don't disagree, but it misses the point. While some Greeks surely have been offended just by the existence of queerness, Lifo misses the REAL reason why Greeks in large felt their mythology was butchered by KAOS. They even wrote it in the article themselves:

"Zeus is a paranoid authoritarian dictator in mid-life crisis who fears losing his power and murders his aides to vent. Hera is a promiscuous goddess who repeatedly betrays Zeus and has mutilated mute priestesses for protection. Dionysos is a spoiled and immature zoomer who, apart from pranks, indulges in orgies with all genders. Poseidon a sadistic god of the sea, who tortures the crew on his ship for fun. Prometheus is gay and killed his lover so he could overthrow Zeus. Orpheus is a famous pop singer and Eurydice does not love him. Theseus is black and gay. The Erinyes are tough-as-nails mechs that look like they stepped out of 'Sons of Anarchy'. The Fates resemble a three-member jury in a talent show. The Trojans are a terrorist group that acts against the gods. Crete is more reminiscent of California than the Mediterranean."

Queer and diverse identities in general are nothing bad. The way KAOS mixed everything into a salad is the real bad thing, and the showrunners hide behind the queer representation when they are met with any other kind of criticism. It's the same tactic Lifo follows here. Only extremely stupid people would have an issue if Ganymees and Zeus were a couple in the show when it was also a part of our mythology. The problem about KAOS for the larger population is not the queerness.

Lifo continues:

The idea we have of Greek myths is, at best, a jumble of bits and pieces created by the Greek school: Zeus has sexual relations with mortals, Hera is jealous, Dionysus engages in revelry, Persephone for some reason resides in Hades , a bird eats the flesh of Prometheus, Aphrodite is the most beautiful and Athena the wisest of the bunch, Artemis hunts, Apollo plays the lyre: a very general and vague idea, much more chaotic than the mixing of myths which "Kaos" attempts.

What a shitty argument. Did you pay any attention in school, I wonder?? Do you know that we know our myths also outside the Greek school and that the Greek school teaches based on the ancient sources, and we often read the ancient text itself?? Also, no, the situation here is not more absurd than what KAOS does. The mythology is what it is. KAOS takes an already established thing and makes a turd out of playdoh.

Instead, we demand that a series aiming for commercial appeal follow our preferred script line and stay true to what? In our own obsessions, revisions, angulations and Christian puritanisms?

To our freaking culture, dear Lifo. To the myths we wrote and passed down for two and a half millennia, dear Lifo. They are fairly widespread and they are very difficult to get wrong.

[audreyscribes]

That Peitho anon got me wondering - sometimes in myths Gods get angry at their lovers’ mortal lovers for like simply being there. Do you think they would be mad as well if their children were their lovers’ lover? -what a lovely family circle they create, might I add-

When Hera catches Zeus every time he-

Alright being serious, its because the gods can't directly punish a god for something like that, mainly: (1.) it's not a direct offense to the offended god if you're annoyed or irked (2.) They're gods. They're concepts so its like fighting against air (3.) some probably ranking system in play (A.k.a. "I have the high ground Anakin!")

But for gods towards their demigod and their immortal lovers-

Considering it's Ancient Greek Mythology (which is a warning of its own) and how myths were a representation of society and ancient Greek life, I'm not going say the gods wouldn't be mad at their demigod children having a relationship with their immortal lover (if we can even call it a relationship cause like yeaaaaaaah...) but on the other hand, I wanna say they wouldn't be so harsh either because that's their kid! That's their other half! Which is probably why their immortal lover got attracted to them! Maybe!? (also denying another god never works out and you have to pull off a Nat 20 with all the stats to get out of it unscathed)

I know there's probably mythological evidence of this happening once or twice, but I cannot for the life of me remember where those receipts are.

The only thing I can think of the top of my head and is a sort of example but not really? where Hippolytus, son of Theseus -the son of Poseidon? Where Theseus got Poseidon, his father, to punish and ending up being a part in killing Hippolytus for supposedly being with Phaedra, Theseus's wife and Hippolytus' stepmother. So put that into a immortal light, and it sort of is an example?

I dunno, gods are fickle because people and their nature are fickle. Who knows how the gods work and when they'll work in the way you want. You may know how the weather works and you can predict them to a degree, but you can't make it sunny or rain just because you want it to and the best you can do is just predict for it the best you can and prepare for it.

That all said, the most simple answer to this is a question: Wouldn't you be mad if you saw your partner cheat and be with another person behind your back? Especially how the person they're with is similar to you?

If yes, then that's your answer.

A/n: God relationships and drama is so sticky, writing this made me go HMMMM and HAWWW. I know some people want me to say "Yeah no its cool" but at the same time, I know it's not and oh man-

[blades-fan]

Watched Percy Jackson on Disney Plus. I'm new to the series so I don't know anything about it. Here are some thoughts I had about it.

Do not give me spoilers.

Sally said that just because someone looks like a hero doesn’t mean they are and just because someone looks like a monster doesn’t mean they are while looking at a statue of Medusa.I found out that Medusa was cursed (turned into the snake monster) by Athena for “allowing” herself to be raped.

Also, if you know anything about Greek Mythology the gods do some horrible things. Hades kidnaps Persephone and tricks her into eating fruit so she’ll be forced to stay with her and everyone I know says he’s the nicest or one of the nicest gods.

Percy getting expelled for ‘retaliating’ is so true to real life. Teachers and principles only see you stand up to bullies they never see the bullies bullying you.

I don’t like Sally. She should’ve told her son the truth years ago. I also don’t like the guy Sally is dating. I don’t know why she stays with him. I also can't remember his name.

The show says monsters are hidden from the human world by the mist, but Sally is able to see the Minotaur. And she knew about Mrs. Dobbs. I’m suspicious about that.

Percy’s only friend is a goat that’s twice his age. Is there a reason Grover who is 24 looks like a 12 year old? Do satrys age slower than human and demigod children?

Did Dionysius get kicked from Mt. Olympus or something? Why is he working as a camp counselor he clearly seems to hate it there and he has no interest in the children.

So there’s 12 cabins. 1 cabin for each of the god or goddesses children. Hermes’s cabin is for both his kids and unclaimed children. I have several thoughts on this. 1 I’m curious as to how people know for fact that someone is a demigod if their parent doesn’t claim them. Couldn’t they be half something else? 2 Percy is sleeping in the floor of the cabin. They can’t even bring a bunk bed in for him to sleep on. 3 As we see later on Poseidon’s cabin is completely empty because Poseidon is not allowed to have demigod children anymore so why didn’t they move the unclaimed children to his cabin?

So the gods don't have to claim their children ok. Please imagine one of the goddesses giving birth then claiming the child isn't hers.

Artemis: Not my kid.

Zeus: I just saw you give birth to him.

Artemis: Oh really? Do you want to talk about all of your illegitimate kids then?

Zeus: .....

Artemis: That's what I thought.

Of course the kid from Hermès the messenger god is the one to tell Percy how camp works and everything.

The 3 top gods made pact to not have anymore mortal children. And of course Zeus breaks this when he creates Thalia. Of course it would be Zeus to break this pact. Also I’m betting the reason Poseidon couldn’t claim Percy or be a father to him was because he was breaking the pact as well and he didn’t want Percy to get killed, but since the lightning bolt is gone he needs Percy to prove his innocence.

Clarisse says that if she maims Percy she’ll lose dessert privileges this camp is way too tame with bullies. And since Clarisse is so certain she won’t be punished any further that implies a camper maimed or killed another camper.

So Hades took Sally huh? Well Hades has been known to kidnap women (cough Persephone cough) Did he do this out of the goodness of his heart? To spite his brothers? To gain another lover? Who knows.

After the fountain incident and the bathroom incident everyone including Percy is shocked to discover that his dad is Poseidon.

[nepobabyeurydice]

A Kite Stuck By Lightning

Sally relives a memory, Hades wishes that Poseidon would go back to choosing the pretty idiot ones.

On AO3

The memory is old and half-faded, but it’s what solidified her marriage to Gabriel.

It begins with a trip to the park. Percy’s mouth slathered with mint chocolate ice cream because it was the closest approximation to blue ice cream. His blue eyes are wide as he takes in the people and the noise.

It’s a clear, windy day in the middle of spring, the sun is shining, the chill doesn’t deep through her jeans and Percy’s been eyeing the kites since they got here. 

What’s the harm? Sally had thought then. No one knows. It’s been six years and no one has figured it out yet.

It was just a kite.

Then the lightning hit it. It seared through the paper of the kite and slammed into the dirt with a vicious fury, and it was only Percy’s quick reflexes that saved him from being injured.

Sally froze for a moment, numb.

It was just a kite.

It was just a kite.

And all Zeus had to do was throw a single bolt and burn Percy into ash. He had just shown he could do that with a fucking kite.

.x.

“That’s enough,” a voice says and Sally gasps as she hits the floor. She doesn’t look up, Poseidon had warned her to never look up unless she was certain that the god was already in mortal form.

Her heart thuds in her ears, her cheeks feel wet from the tears she had probably let loose. 

“Look at me, mortal.” the voice says and Sally knows with absolute certainty who it is. “How dare you send your son to steal my helm.”

Sally looks up and regrets it immediately since her first thought is he would make an excellent redemption bait for my protagonist.

This, she’s been informed by one of her friends in Sweet America after she caught Sally staring at a distinctly shabby man going by Fred that Sally itched to make a mentor figure for her character, was not normal.

But it worked like a coping mechanism right now so who was Sally to stop what was keeping her from having a hysterical breakdown?

“Percy has done nothing wrong.” Sally says, and it’s by some miracle her voice doesn’t crack. “He could’ve never made it from one side of the Hudson to the other without getting expelled.”

“LIAR!” Hades roars and he paces like a caged lion. Souls writhe in his robes and Sally wonders what awful crimes must have you committed to be in his underpants. Or worse, what type of lover you were to him. She pulls a face of disgust at the thought.

“He has stolen something from me and if you don’t tell me where it is before the summer solstice I will stop Death.” Hades threatens. “I have no use for my brother’s lover if that is the case.”

Sally takes a deep breath, the air smells like decay and pomegranates, but somehow she swears she smells ozone. Maria di Angelo, she recalls abruptly, the conversation she had had with Poseidon all those years ago swollen with Percy coming to mind, had been killed by the Master Bolt. 

“He was six,” Sally begins and Hades whips around to stare. “When Zeus made his first threat. He struck Percy’s kite with lightning with enough force it should’ve killed him. Other times, eagles have appeared on his window when he’s in boarding school, they cut through the scent Gabriel offers. I’ve been married to that horrible, ugly man for six years in some vain hope I will never let my baby boy go. And now you tell me my Perseus stole something from the gods?”

“You do not understand the lengths a son will go to please his father.” Hades replies, eyes intense and perhaps mad with the destruction he had witnessed throughout the centuries. “Poseidon is charming and—”

Sally shoots up to her feet ignoring the voice screaming in her head. “I have raised a good boy. I don’t understand what else Olympus and the Underworld want me to do! Percy is sweet and caring and loyal. All I want for him is a happy ending and this war won’t give it to him. Why in the world would he do such a thing? Why would my son, not Poseidon’s, mine, do such a thing when sometimes I swear the only thing he hates more than Gabriel is his father?”

Hades snarls, truly snarls like a dog on a chained to a post in the streets of New York, and Sally flinches back, but she doesn’t stand down. She closes her eyes half-mast in preparation of what’s to come.

“We will see.” Hades says instead and Sally’s eyes pop open as he vanishes into the shadows.

We will see, she thinks as a crystalline substance forms over her body, sealing her inside of it. She doesn’t panic, she knows better than to panic at a time like this. We will see.

Once, there was a kite, and the kite was struck by lightning. One could not begin to imagine how many choices were begotten out of that simple moment. If you ask Sally Jackson for the answer you’d get in reply: more than you can ever imagine.

Percy Jackson will never learn of this. He doesn’t have to, all he has to do is rescue his mother and go home like his namesake before him. 

[quillheel]

sleep meme / hermes & patroclus.

tagged by: @nectaric thank u vvvvv much <33 !! tagging: @askganondorftobadragmire @jfouler @thetowermuse (for octavo or burgh?) @nerofcrte @mightiestbanana @lcngdays (for angel or beldane?) @vonerde @drachliebe @tenebriism (for zagreus or yusuke?)

type of bed. hermes has adapted to a great many of different beds, and perhaps unlike some of his more luxury inclined brethren, he's really not picky beyond the surface being relatively clean & solid enough to support his weight. His chosen place of rest at his home, however, when he has the time to sleep there, is a klinē, a type of bed / couch often used for banquets ( symposia ). it's often considered a more luxurious piece of furniture, especially for the heroised, but he's never cared about little things like that. it's comfortable and easy on the legs, and that's all that really matters for him.

number of blankets. none, usually! the ichor in his veins, half brother to Apollo & son of Zeus, results in him almost always kept warm enough despite his light clothing. It does effect him, certainly, but it's never enough to bother with weighing himself down over. he prefers the speed & ease of getting up quickly without the blanket ( as well as disliking the pressure on his wings ) more than he dislikes the weather effecting him.

number of pillows. usually only one or two at home, though his usual default is using his messenger bag as one, or stealing a bundle of hay to act as a quick & easy one. his preferred pillow, if it can be helped, tends to be people instead. be it lover, friend, family, he sleeps best with them as a cushion ( plus, it's an easy method to be annoying if he so chooses <3 )

type of clothing. hermes often just wears his usual chiton, not even bothering to remove his boots usually, though sometimes he does sleep nude! he considers it more comfortable but usually can't be assed

does it matter where they sleep? not in the slightest! Hermes will sleep anywhere, in barns or branches, floor or rafters, bed or not, he's never been the type to hold himself to a high-and-strict standard when it comes to where he rests, no holy ground to hold his body when anywhere works fine, especially when its so fleeting when he ever needs to at all. he'd rather rest among his brethren than act as though above.

what do they do if they cannot fall asleep?  oftentimes, just get back to work! there's always something to do across the world, Olympus and underworld, always something to carry, always something to say. though, it's very rare for Hermes to be unable to sleep unless something is really weighing him down, often regarding those close to him. if he doesn't feel like working, he'll often busy himself with company. it's very rare for anyone to turn down a God when they come to visit.

frequent dreams, nightmares. Hermes does not dream often. he jokes, maybe taunts, that the Oneiroi can't catch him. when he does dream, they're prophetic and intense, violent. they're not dreams at all, so much as they're an unconscious world pungent with the intention to tell him something, communication in the harshest senses, thick with burning and herbs and a thousand different prophecies, a million different secrets. how cruel it is, to be privy to such worlds as those, in the lines between the dead & the living. how often he is tasked with carrying ones of his own.

deep slumber or naps? Naps! Hermes does not sleep often whatsoever, so often he gets away with small naps, usually not even bothering to lie down. Though, when he DOES sleep properly ━ usually alongside someone else or in his own home ━ he sleeps deep, sometimes for 2 days or longer. only once every couple months, does it feel like the gaps of communication in the world go silent, like a network gone dead, an almost visible tension for the mortal world. a brief glimpse of the state without Hermes, no one to carry voices, no one to carry prayers. no one can do it like he can, and no one ever will.

when do they sleep? he sleeps whenever he pleases, mostly, when he does sleep that is.

what could wake them up? when napping, Hermes is VERY easy to wake up, but when he's sleeping more properly it depends heavily on who it is trying to. if a fellow God or divine entity attempts it, it's almost impossible bar stabbing him in the chest or otherwise doing major harm to him, but he answers, unhesitatingly, to prayers. he will not answer his godly kin, but he will answer, unfailingly, to his mortal brethren. you do not need to wake him; he will always come.

type of bed. Patroclus was accustomed to a great many makeshift beds in his lifetime, be it more lovingly constructed ones, ones he made himself ( often quickly, not bothering for a great deal of effort for a great deal of time he just couldn't spare ), or the ground itself. His most commonly used one would be a portable mattress made of cloth and stuffed with wool and Aegina bird's feathers, a gift from his grandmother: a nymph of that island, a labor of care of which he'd rely upon during the war. during his time within his own home & in Elysium, he'd likely have been offered to sleep upon Klinai, but very often would trade his bed to someone else, often the women of his home, for him to instead sleep on the floor. He still does, lying in the fields of Elysium, only restless greets him: for the dead cannot sleep, and he, always too weighted, to rest.

number of blankets. usually he used his himation as one, as was standard practice. when needed, he'd also use a sheep-skin blanket to fight off the cold, one he'd offer to his fellow soldiers often who didn't have their own.

number of pillows. none, usually. sometimes, especially if he was wounded, he'd accept or make makeshift ones for himself ( usually stuffed with grass or worn straw ) before giving them to others when he didn't need them anymore. This practice of going without continues in Elysium, despite the array of velvets offered always to him.

type of clothing. it varies. there'd been many times in Patroclus' life where he'd fall asleep in his armor, often midway through dismantling it from his person when exhaustion won over him, where Achilles would have to carefully, skillfully, strip it off of him before lying him to rest properly, good sleep eternally a valuable resource in limited supply. same going for him simply sleeping in his day-clothes, as long as they weren't dirty from the work. though the most often trend was only bothering to wrap himself in spare pinned cloth that'd last as a substitute for night-clothes until his usual clothes were clean and dry for the next morning. Patroclus never is dirtied in Elysium, and never sleeps, so he never changes. To do so would be taking energy from a pool that is always too shallow to drink from

does it matter where they sleep? yes and no. the quality of his sleep is effected, and he'll often struggle more to fall asleep when resting in places too quiet or too in anticipation of something ( his home & the tents often falling into either or both ), but he could still fall asleep there. he often felt most comfortable near rivers or the sea, the sound of moving water. he'd call it a gift from Achilles, to be so peaceful there, when he was borne from it. Thetis, never a guardian here, but never an enemy. it was all Patroclus could ask of her, in the way he did not ask at all, feeling unfit to.

what do they do if they cannot fall asleep?  busies himself with other restless souls or with things to improve, tasks to do under the quiet of night, or doing them as Achilles sleeps nearby providing them to be quiet enough. He'd often find circles of other restless soldiers and sit with them, talking softly through the night, as he worked at his armor or something other. he often felt guilty, when Achilles would awake without him there and go searching, unable to find it in himself to wake him for such small pains as his lack of rest. in Elysium, he is always awake, and prefers to be alone, which is to say, he has never enjoyed being alone, but he chooses it regardless, as it was chosen for him.

frequent dreams, nightmares. his dreams always were a mix of signs given to him in empty messages. the effort to say something to him each time he dreamed, but full of empty shapes to fill the air alongside it, as though to cloud what vision was intended for him to see. his nightmares, often and unrelenting, he believed to be the distilled versions of these signs attempted to be communicated to him turned angry and forceful with their lack of acknowledgement, turning to a curse to bare instead. he'd apologize to Achilles as a vessel to the gods after waking, often not realizing he had at all. the apology for something not his fault.

deep slumber or naps? Patroclus has always been a relatively light sleeper, so napping has often been difficult for him on top of the desire he has to stay conscious incase he's needed, leading to him often only sleeping instead out of simple exhaustion

when do they sleep? when night falls, usually if he can help it, though sometimes he winds up sleeping at dawn.

what could wake them up? a small shake or a loud enough recital of his name is usually enough to do it, though he often wakes with a jolt, anticipating the worst even in his unconsciousness

[send-up-my-heart-to-you]

What if Annabeth died in the Giant War? (5/8)

Pov: Hestia, goddess of the hearth

The son of Poseidon was coming. I could sense his aura, even from the throne room. Zeus had summoned all the Olympians together for a meeting; Apollo and Artemis have been summoned from their prison on Delos, and even Hades was summoned up here. I may not be an Olympian anymore, but I want to make sure no fights break out among my family.

That is my purpose, after all, as the goddess of the home.

"Father," Artemis asked. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Are me and Artemis being freed?" Apollo asked hopefully.

"Yes, Apollo," Zeus answered. "We are in troubled times. Annabeth Chase has-"

"My daughter has fallen in battle." Athena cut in. Her intense gray eyes, red from sorrow, were staring hard at Poseidon. "She has fallen at the hand of Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon."

"It was an accident," Poseidon said angrily. "My son is being destroyed by grief-"

"And that pain will not only destroy him, but it will also push him to destroy us." Zeus cut in, his voice full of authority. "I never warned you before, but my nephew is a dangerous opponent. If he had chosen to be a lesser god last year-"

"He would've destroyed us the instant my daughter released her last breath." Athena finished.

"Just slay him where he stands and get it over with," Ares grumbled. "I don't understand why some troublesome punk is such a big deal."

Poseidon's eyes blazed with anger. "The boy is in mourning. At least try to get him to see reason before annihilating him."

Hades opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly Demeter gasped. She doubled over, coughing.

"Sister?" I asked, alarmed. "What is it?" Demeter looked up, her face pale, ichor dribbling down the corner of her mouth. "A dryad has been killed. She died here, on Olympus."

"He is coming," Hades whispered harshly.

The doors flew open.

A young man stalked in, eyes like the calm before a storm. His clothes were ripped up and covered in dirt, and he had the scent of death clinging to him. He was carrying a dead dryad in his arms, her skin an abnormal shade of pastel greenish yellow. Her eyes were closed, her long black-and-white eyelashes brushing her cheeks.

There was another young man a little ways behind Percy Jackson, one I recognized instantly. He was the first mortal who has ever spoken to me in centuries, and he hadn't even known I was a goddess when he had. He was fiddling nervously with the skull ring on his finger. I guessed that he was here to keep Percy at bay if he went out of control.

"Nico di Angelo. Percy Jackson." I murmured. The two most powerful demigods I have seen for quite some time.

Nico seemed to hear me. "Hello, Hestia."

"I am sorry to hear about your lover, son of Poseidon," I said carefully.

"Oh, you might be. And Athena might be. What of the other gods? Are they sorry?" Percy didn't even glance at me.

"We are, as a matter of fact," Artemis answered. "Annabeth Chase was a marvelous fighter. Her death is a great loss to Camp Half-Blood. I would've loved to have her join my Hunters, but it seems her love for you was strong. She died a warrior's death; one she deserved."

"If she was a marvelous fighter and her death is a great loss, you have to consider that we are at war. Bring her back to me."

"That is not allowed," Zeus said. "Her soul has already passed. She resides in Elysium now. If we bring her back to war, she will be unhappy."

"Unhappy? Unhappy?" Percy roared. Nico flinched. "There are two people in my life that I need, and two people only. Anyone else can die. But if I lose either, I won't be able to continue living."

"Annabeth Chase," I said calmly. "And Sally Jackson."

"I've already been separated from my mother because of you, Hera." He glared at the goddess in question. "Now I lose Annabeth? I won't fight for the Greeks or the Romans if you do not bring her back to me. I will fight against them."

"Percy, don't be irrational. Achilles stopped fighting in the Trojan War, and it led to Patroclus's death." Hephaestus said. "Then that led to Achilles's death."

"I don't care, though, since I am Achilles who stopped fighting so Patroclus can be returned to me. And you think I would mind death?" A maniacal laugh bubbled out of him.

"You would," Hera said. "Your mother... she is pregnant."

Percy froze. The dryad's body fell to the ground as his arms went limp to his sides. "W-What?"

"She's one month now, nearly two. I already let them know. As the goddess of motherhood, I know when one is expecting."

Percy stared in shock for a moment. He fell to his knees and stared into space.

"Percy," Nico said softly. He knelt beside Percy. "Your mother. She cried every day of fear for you. Annabeth too. Paul comforted them both but it didn't help much. I know this because I used to go to her often, to give her updates on you. She needed it, she said. Then Annabeth knew you were in Camp Jupiter, and that gave her and your mother hope. Then your mother found out she was pregnant and was delighted. She kept talking about how great it would be for you to have a younger sister."

Percy didn't seem to hear him. He was looking down, still in shock. Then slowly, he looked up.

His voice was monotonous. "I won't lose my mom or my baby sibling. I won't lose Annabeth. I will bring her back." Water appeared out of nowhere, swirling around us. Fear washed over me, like a cold hand clutching my heart. "Die."

The last thing I saw before I blacked out was the tears forming in Percy's eyes as he walked over to the Ophiotaurus, his sword in hand.

[infjtarot]

Lovers. Mystic Spiral Tarot

Themes and Keywords Analysis. Division and union. Choice. Choosing one’s fate. Reception of inspiration. The Emperor and Empress. The Other. Contradiction. Separation creates awareness of other. Binaries. Twins: mortal and immortal. Fruit of knowledge has a mortal price. Astrology/Element In the air sign of Gemini, what is born after the fertile sign of Taurus now takes its first steps, discovers the other, and is presented with variety. Last in our spring triad comes mutable air sign Gemini, the Twins. Mutable signs morph as the element becomes more ethereal. At the end of the sign, the season will change into summer at solstice as the sign changes to Cancer.16 Castor and Polydeuces (Pollux), known as the Dioscuri, or “sons of god,” are the alpha and beta stars of the constellation Gemini, from antiquity associated with twins. Their heads are positioned between the claws of the crab and the whip of the charioteer (which may explain the difficulties of the 7, 8, and 9 of Swords). In Egypt they represented a pair of sprouting seeds. Gemini’s glyph looks like the Roman numeral two. Two I’s, twins, two pillars. When any two “I’s” get together, the result is some form of communication. Gemini is ruled by the master communicator, Mercury, the Magus, and the sign takes on his characteristic wit, curiosity, and oration. Skilled applications of speech are a given, and wise operations of the word are the goal. The Lovers are the “Children of the Voice (Divine)” and the “Oracle of the Mighty Gods.” At its most sublime, Gemini’s goal is to unite in the service of creative union, whether twin souls or just the mind united with itself or with divinity. Gemini rules the nervous system, the sensory function, and the arms, hands, and lungs. Forever seeking the next experience, Gemini reaches out to the world with its senses and makes choices. Gemini is the sign of explorations of the ever-restless mind. Gemini’s motto is “I think.” The mind’s job is division and analysis, intellectually separating the viewed from the viewer. The mind asks how it can recombine them to greater benefit. Mythology/Alchemy The Hermetic Marriage and the alchemical processes separatio and solve et coagula are embedded in the symbolism of the Lovers card. Manly P. Hall says of the Hermetic Marriage, “Spirit itself knows no polarity, but manifests as polarity to the accomplishment of the Great Work.” Gemini is the third sign, and the most resonant with the third of the seven alchemical processes: separation, the stage prior to conjunction. (The seven stages are calcination, dissolution, separation, conjunction, fermentation, distillation, and coagulation.) Separation isolates the parts that arose from dissolution and discards those rejected. Solve et coagula describes these processes as solve, to break down, and coagula, to recombine, assumedly in a higher form. Twin gods and stories of sibling mythology are numerous; we have almost too many choices.18 The twin and twin gods were often guardians flanking doorways and entrances. To state the saying backwards, when one door opens, another closes. When we make a choice, something is rejected. Castor and Pollux were born from an egg laid by Queen Leda of Sparta after her union with Zeus disguised as a swan. Usually Castor was described as the son of Leda’s husband, and thus mortal, with Pollux as the son of Zeus. When Castor dies, Pollux gives up half of his immortality to his brother. The twins were members of the crew of the Argonaut on its quest for the Golden Fleece. Through Poseidon’s blessings, they were made the protectors of sailors. Susan T. Chang

[freuleinanna]

lycaon's curse

even a man who is pure at heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms, and the moon is shining bright.

given how the game did nick dirty on account of making him a basic plot-explaining tool, I'm gonna go ahead and headcanon a whole lycaon-the-first-werewolf-related greek au for him and yes, there are curses, mischief, gods and goddesses

so, some history first. lycaon, an arcadian king, is considered to be the first werewolf, and though sources differ on what exactly happened, two things are clear:

he offered zeus a meal of human flesh;

as punishment, zeus turned him into half-man, half-wolf, to show his beastly nature. supposedly, the silver aversion is a part of the whole 'you shall never eat like a man again [that is, from a silver plate], but will feast like an animal instead' thing.

some sources say initially, lycaon wanted to gain the gods' blessings in order to restore the once-prosperous land, and zeus favoured him because lycaon built him a grand temple. however, lycaon became obssessed with the idea of worshipping gods to the point of making human sacrifices and killing visitors of his land.

anyway, look at this awesome art by Sirmaril7. the turning of lycaon. i'm in awe.

so imagine young nikolaos, a descendant of the great king lycaon, unknowingly carrying the curse in him. zeus being a vindictive bitch, he curses the whole bloodline (although it's also said that lycaon bit his 50-something children, so), yet the wolf curse does not reveal itself so many generations after.

nikolaos is a soft-tempered young man, hard-working and honest, and shining. he is what's called beautiful rather than handsome. his beauty, people say, outshines the sun itself.

apollo, the god of the sun and a son of zeus (who as we remember is vindictive bitch, so), is angry with nikolaos as no one dares to be superior to a deity. having uncovered the secret of nikolaos's legacy, he tricks him the same way lycaon tried to trick zeus.

you see, nikolaos is very much in love with abigaia, a kind-hearted, flame-haired girl who loves him just as much. on the day of their wedding, apollo comes down from the sky to bless the pair, and a whole marvelous feast appears, magnificent at sight, rotten with a dark twist within. unknowongly, nikolaos eats human flesh, and the moment he does, lycaon's curse returns.

nikolaos is transformed into a brutal wolf, a creature so monstrous it wouldn't dare to even see the light of day, not to mention outshine the sun. horror-stricken, the creature runs to the wilderness to bury itself in shadows.

let's not forget about abigaia, though. for days, she wonders the woods trying to find the trail of her lost lover, yet she's never closer than the yellow gleam of his eyes, too far away from her. nikolaos is so afraid to harm his beloved, he runs further and further. he does not trust the beast and is ashamed of his own monstrosity. grieving, he howls day and night, until even magical creatures avoid his presense.

abigaia makes an offering to apollo and asks him to lift the curse, yet he is adamant. a wounded pride does not heal easily. other gods do not intervene. to them, humans are but sparks of falling stars against the vast night sky, their mortal woes too insignificant against eternal life. finally, abigaia pleads the goddesses of the moon to oppose apollo and take the curse away. artemis, the hunting goddess of the halfmoon and a twin sister to apollo, refuses her plea. hecate, the magic goddess of the dark moon and a cousin to apollo, also refuses. but selene, the goddess of the full moon, takes pity on her.

selene weaves the threads of the curse and binds them to herself, taking apollo's power in their never-ending day and night, sun and moon confrontation. she makes it that for almost thirty days, nikolaos remains human as he's always been, but when selene comes to take the sky, she takes him with her. on those nights, nikolaos is to lose all humanity and run with the moon in his beastly form. to spare him the horror, she makes him forget the night.

and so nikolaos is able to return to his beloved abigaia, and their reunion is celebrated so, that even mystical creatures of the forests and rivers join them for festivities. nikolaos's bloodline continues, and abigaia gives birth to four strong, handsome boys. and everything is well.

when the boys come of age, they join their father for a run under the moon, and when he cannot run anymore, four wolf cubs repay his eternal gratitude to selene by taking his place.

[daebakinc]

D-18: Cupid

Pairing: Cupid Chan x Human Reader

Genre: Cupid AU, Mythology

Warnings: Mentions of abuse

Word Count: 1.6K

Spring is eternal in the palace of the goddess of love. Roses, myrtle, and red anemones bloom everywhere, their perfume saturating the air as they wind around columns and flow off balconies of pink marble with gold veins. Whispers of clouds float lazily in the sky that’s full of Helios’ ray.

But roiling, pitch-black thunder clouds are fast approaching.

His wings snap shut the instant he lands. With long strides, Chan bursts through the palace doors, blowing past the servants who try to stop him. “Mother!”

“Ah, my favorite of the Erotes.” Aphrodite doesn’t rise from the throne where she lounges, dropping ruby pomegranate seeds between even more red lips.

“Where is she?” he bites out. Chan’s fingernails bite into his palm as he clenches his fists at his sides.

“Would you like some?” She holds out the half-eaten pomegranate. “Fresh from Persephone’s own garden. The one on earth, of course. Not the Underworld.”

In a movement too quick for any human eye to see, Chan whips his bow and an arrow from his back and shoots. Juice drips sluggishly from the fruit now pinned to the stone behind Aphrodite’s head.

The goddess pouts, looking at her son reproachfully. “That was a bit uncalled for, my sweet.”

“Where is she?” Chan says again, lowering his bow.

“Who?”

“You know who!” he bellows, taking another step toward the throne.

“Oh. Her. The human. I thought you were done with the mortal, my son.” Aphrodite picks an invisible piece of dirt from her robes, as if dirt would dare cling to her. Her eyes sparkle with motherly sympathy. “She betrayed you, your trust, after all. You were so hurt you’ve locked yourself in your rooms since. If only you’d listened to me-”

“Hermes told me the truth!”

The goddess’ smile vanishes. A mocking smile settles on Chan’s face in response.

“He told me everything, mother. How when Zeus forbid you to interfere, you whispered jealousy into her sisters’ ears so they could plant doubt in her heart. How you sent the wind that dripped candle wax on my chest so I woke up. And how you-” Chan chokes on his words, furious tears escaping his eyes, “how you tortured her. You beat her, starved her, slandered her.”

“Oh, please,” Aphrodite says with a sigh, rolling her eyes. “She’s a mortal. Nothing special. If it’s companionship you want, I’ll find you a nymph. A dryad, perhaps? A nereid? I suppose I could find a demigod if you’re aroused by mortal blood, though I-”

“No! I don’t want anyone but her, you should know that! I lover her!”

“You would love a monster? For that is all mortals are.”

“She loved me when she thought I was a monster!” Chan retaliates. “She loved me when she couldn’t even see me, only because of my words and actions. Isn’t that true love?”

“Don’t be a fool, boy,” Aphrodite says scornfully. “No mortal is ever worthy of a god, inferior beings as they are.”

“Zeus has had many mortal lovers. He clearly thinks some are deserving”

“Zeus is a fool as well, easily entranced by a pretty face, a nicer ass, and a pair of open legs.”

“A fool am I?” asks a voice that echoes thunder.

“My lord!” A pale-faced Aphrodite jumps up from her throne to curtsy beside her now kneeling son. “I-”

“Didn’t think I was around? I suppose I’m glad I accepted your son’s request for my presence,” says the king of the gods as he walks past them to sit on the goddess’s vacant throne. He settles in and raises an eyebrow. “I’m waiting, Aphrodite.”

“I- I-... I was just trying to teach my son a lesson, Lord Zeus,” she says.

“By insulting me? How creative. I thought motherhood would have softened your heart, but it seems to have softened your head instead. Is what Hermes and the Erote said true? You kidnapped and tormented a mortal?”

Aphrodite is silent before grudgingly saying, “Yes.”

Zeus casually picks through the nearby bowl of fruit. “What was her crime?”

“What?”

“What was her crime? Pride? Blasphemy? Failure to sacrifice? Surely it had to be crime against the gods too great to wait for punishment in Hades?”

Chan speaks up, his eyes trained on the floor. “Her crime was mine, my King. I failed in the duties by daring to fall in love, and she fell in love with me.”

“She was beautiful enough to tempt the god of love himself?” Zeus shifts his attention back to the goddess. “I want to see such a mortal. Aphrodite?”

“Yes?”

“Bring her here from wherever it is you have her, and don’t try to tell me you don’t.”

Aphrodite’s mouth twists in anger, but she only debates denial a few moments. She snaps her immaculately manicured fingers. A body materializes between the three gods, limp and still.

Your name ruptures from Chan’s lips. He repeats it over and over again as he crawls to you and pulls you into his lap. His tears fall hot on your face, but you don’t move, don’t open your eyes, no matter how much he begs.

“You killed her!” he screams, glaring up at his mother. A glowing gold-red burns away the brown of his eyes, making Aphrodite unconsciously flinch away. 

“Cease your Wrath, Chan,” Zeus says firmly. “Her soul has not yet crossed the Styx. I asked my brother before I came.”

The flames extinguished in his eyes, Chan looks back to your body, stroking your face. “Then why won’t she respond?” 

“Morpheus.”

“Morpheus?”

“Morpheus, I don’t know what Aphrodite promised you,” Zeus sighs, “but either you release this girl right now from your sleep or I will make you live as a human yourself for a century.”

A liquid, silverly shadow like a veil appears over your face as if pulled from your skin. It slowly fades as a hoarse voice whispers, “As you command, my king.” 

Chan’s eyes are glued to your face, his breath baited. 

A quirk at the corner of your mouth. A flutter of your eyelids. A twitch of your finger. 

Chan grabs your hand, pressing it to his heart. “Please... please.”

Slowly, your eyes open. They glance around unseeing, until Chan murmurs your name. 

“Chan,” you whisper. “Chan?”

He gathers you closer with a outburst of laughter, pressing his lips to your forehead. “It’s me, it’s me. I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry, my love.”

You stay stiff against him because takes awhile to dawn on you that you’re no longer dreaming. The man holding you is Chan, is your true love. After all you had endured, you never thought you would see him again, let alone be held by him, feel him. The nights of despair had swallowed all but the tiniest spark of hope.

That spark bursts into flame and all the tears and pain you’d held in erupts from your chest. Your fingers dig into Chan’s arms as you press your face into his chest. 

“Chan, I’m sorry,” you sob, curling as tightly as you can to him. “I’m sorry I listened to my sisters. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. I tried, Chan, I tried to do what your mother said so I could see you again, but I failed. I love you so much, Chan, but I-” 

“It’s alright, I’m here.” Chan plants kiss after kiss on the top of your head, rocking you back and forth. “I’m sorry I got so angry; I shouldn’t have left you.”

“Ahem,” Zeus says, clearing his throat. When the two of you look at him bleary-eyed, he had drawn a golden curtain in front of himself to save your mortal eyes. He continues, “While I can appreciate your reunion, I do have other things to do. Chan, are you ready for the matter we discussed?”

A clear glass vial rolls to your feet, the liquid inside luminous and honey-colored. 

“No!” screeches Aphrodite. “You cannot-”

“First you insult me, then you try to command me,” Zeus says, his voice cold and deep as lightening. “Perhaps it is you I should banish to live as a mortal.”

Aphrodite has no reply, but you can feel her fury burning off her in waves. 

“Don’t pay attention to her,” Chan says, kissing you to force your attention back to him. “She won’t be able to hurt you after this.”

“After what?” you ask, watching Chan pick up the vial and pull out its cork.

The smell that emanates from it can only be described as heavenly.

“This,” Chan replies, “is ambrosia, the drink of the gods. It helps us maintain our strength, but it can also burn away a person’s mortality.”

“Burn away?”

He nods. “Make you immortal. It will hurt, but if you’re willing, it means we can be together. Forever.”

You can read the uncertainty in his face, but rejecting such an offer is not a thought.

“The worst pain in the world would be separated from you again,” you say, moving your joined hands aside to kiss the place just above his heart. “I am ready.”

You grab the vial, but Chan doesn’t let go.

“Wait. There’s one way to make it less painful. Do you trust me?”

“I will never doubt you again,” you promise solemnly.

Chan kisses you one more time, hard and deep so it steals your breath and soul. Then, he pours the ambrosia into his own mouth and leans down. Understanding, you grip the back of Chan’s neck and meet his lips with yours. The golden liquid scorches your mouth, your throat, your soul, as it flows from his tongue to yours, but it’s worth it. Love is always worth it.

[marine-indie-gal]

Wanted to do a little spin around one of the Gods' Mortal Lovers that being Dionysus' Wife, Ariadne. Ariadne was one of King Minos' Daughters as well as being the Youngest Daughter out of the Seven Children of Minos. She is Smart, Clever, Joyful, Loyal, but is very Passionate and Emotional at the same time. When she found out that her Mother, Pasiphae, was turned into a Cow thanks to Poseidon, she went up to Athena's Temple and asked Athena to turn her Mother back into a Human. The Goddess of Wisdom granted her wish as Pasiphae was turned back into a Human. But there was a little problem going on with Pasiphae...When Poseidon instantly turned one of his Mortal Nephew's Wives into a Cow, The Cretan Bull (the creature he sent towards Minos to sacrifice), instantly fell in love with Pasiphae's Cow form, but the Bull was deeply unaware that it was Minos' Wife since the Bull didn't recognize her. Pasiphae had no deep feelings for the Bull because she deeply loved her Husband but the Bull instantly chased her through the Meadow and got her pregnant. Needless to say, it was then during that time when Pasiphae got turned back into a Human, she was pregnant for the Cretan Bull's baby and thus, the Birth of the Half-Sibling was Born. The Minotaur. Minos was deeply shocked and yet horrified to find his Wife was pregnant with the Cretan Bull's Baby that was the birth of a Legendary Monster, even Ariadne's Siblings couldn't believe it as they were horrified by the scary appearance of the Monster. Minos decided to build up a Labyrinth for the Minotaur so that his Monstrous Stepson wouldn't dare to try to hunt and kill people. At nighttime, Ariadne would secretly drop some fruit for the Minotaur just so that her Half-Sibling would need some food to eat in order to survive. When a Hero (who is the Son of Another King), Theseus, steps in, he takes an opportunity to slay down the Minotaur. Minos agrees for this request that Theseus made a vow of to save his Entire People. Ariadne gives Theseus a Golden Clew just so that Theseus could at least find his way back out of the Labyrinth. After the execution of the Minotaur, Minos and Aegeus (Theseus' Father) decided to have their Children be arranged as Ariadne would be with Theseus as his Wife. Theseus wasn't really interest in having the Idea of Ariadne as his Wife but when he was dazzled by one of Ariadne's Sisters (Phaedra) he decided to come up a plan for Phaedra that he would ditched Ariadne just so that he could marry one of her Sisters. Eventually, after the Wedding, Theseus takes Ariadne off of a Boat Ride straight towards Athens. That night, while Ariadne sleeps in at the beach with Theseus, Theseus made his own getaway as he ditches Ariadne and leaves her off the Island of Naxos with the Others on his Boat. The Next Morning, when Ariadne sees that she has been betrayed and ditched by her Husband, she cries in heartbroken as she couldn't believe that her fiancée ditched her. However, when Dionysus hears her cry, he steps in and comforts her as Ariadne explains to what truly happened of why she was sad. Dionysus felt bad for the Poor Princess as he took her in for shelter in his own temple. Once Ariadne stays with Dionysus for awhile as well as meeting up some Other Gods like Apollo and Hermes, Dionysus somehow becomes fascinated by her affection. He wanted to make Ariadne as his Bride but unfortunately, he wasn't sure on what Most of the Gods would think if they would allow Mortals to accept them as the Lovers of Deities (besides than their Main King, Zeus, who was always affected by Women including his Wife, Hera). When Ariadne finds out that Theseus was actually cheating on her with Phaedra, she felt cheated on as she was angered by Theseus' cheat on her but Theseus never really loved her all this time since she really wanted to ditched her for one of her Sisters that he was deeply more impressed of as Ariadne cries in extreme heartbroken with tears. She headed back to Dionysus as she told her the Sad News of her Ex-Husband's true plan all along. Dionysus felt so bad for Poor Ariadne so he had no choice but to punish Phaedra by making her ugly as Theseus (who was also cursed) was forced to be with his Now Ugly New Wife forever instead of instantly rejecting her but they at least ended up having Two Sons in the End. After the Cursed Revenge, Dionysus cheered Ariadne up with a little surprise for her as Ariadne, who was now in love with the God of Wine, accepted his proposal as she become Dionysus' Bride. The Gods already accepted the idea of Mortals being Lovers of Deities as Zeus gifted Ariadne to turn her into a Full-Fledged Goddess as Ariadne ended up becoming the Goddess of Labyrinths with Dionysus by her Side.  I've decided to take out the whole Lust part where Ariadne's Mother falls in love with the Bull and that's how the Minotaur was born thing because...Yeah, nobody ever really wants to have that. Like I said, I'll just take out the entire dark parts of the Myths and make it more "Kid-Friendly" like instead like how Kid-Friendly Greek Mythology medias do that. Ariadne (c) Greco-Roman Mythology SpongeBob Depiction of Ariadne (c) Me

[tsarisfanfiction]

Blazing Bonds

Fandom: Trials of Apollo Rating: Gen Genre: Family Characters: Aphrodite, Apollo

Old bonds.  New bonds.  Reforged and reinforced bonds.  Apollo’s essence sang with them.

Day five of TOApril organised by @ferodactyl, “Don’t Go Near Them”.  I was tossing up between more Will content or going back to Apollo pov and ended up with Aphrodite instead, so... okay then?  Never really played with Aphrodite before, so this was a fun challenge.

There’s now a discord server for all my fics, including this one!  If you wanna chat with me or with other readers about stuff I write (or just be social in general), hop on over and say hi!

Some old friends, Apollo had said.  Dionysus had immediately made mention of the Nine Muses, who no doubt Apollo ought to be visiting – the goddesses had missed him almost as much as Artemis and Leto, to say nothing of some of the other gods who had done their best to shelter from Zeus’ wrath themselves by pretending they didn’t – but Aphrodite had her doubts.

He had changed- ah, but no, changed wasn’t quite the right word, was it?  He had reverted, the forced contact with mortals stripping away his attempts of the past few centuries to not get attached (not that Apollo had ever been successful at preventing himself from forming attachments, no matter what he claimed) and leaving those bonds open and raw.

Free, to connect in a way he’d tried so hard to prevent, because if there was another god who knew the raw, untamed nature of love, it was Apollo.  Unfortunately for the younger god, knowing did not equal control, and his tragedies across the millennia had always been worth keeping a close eye on for the entertainment factor.  He may have sworn to never marry, but his heart was very much vulnerable to relationships.

So, no, Aphrodite did not believe Dionysus’ assumption was correct – in fact, she was fairly certain that Dionysus himself had other ideas.  He’d always looked up to his half-brother, even if he’d never been particularly inclined to broadcast as such.  Vocalising such a thought, which Apollo notably neither confirmed nor denied, guided minds away from Hermes’ mention of mortals and redirected them towards gods.  Dionysus knew better than most how such subliminal manipulation worked.

Unfortunately for Apollo, while most of the gods might have fallen for his and Dionysus’ subtle misdirection, Aphrodite was far too aware of bonds of love – romantic, familial, platonic; different flavours and sensations but all love within her domain – and Apollo’s essence sang with his connections.

New ones.  Old ones.  Reforged and reinforced ones.

The first thing she did, after leaving the throne room, was delve along them to find who resided at the other ends.

Some were of no surprise. Old friends indeed, like Britomartis and Chiron.  His children, their bonds shining brighter than they had for centuries as Apollo lost the façade he’d tried to keep in place and exposed just how much he loved them.  That son of her husband, who’d used the Physician’s Cure to cheat death and reunite with his beloved, and her daughter – strong enough to move on from Hera’s meddling and find her own love unimpeded.  The demigods in both camps, because Apollo never could help himself.

Some brought back fond memories.  Hemithea and Josephine, star-crossed lovers released from their vow of maidenhood by Artemis.  Their story was not quite at an end yet, but she’d taken her due entertainment from playing with the women decades ago.  The relationship between Apollo’s own son, Will, and Hades’ son, at the other end of their relationship.  Fresh, just starting out, and still with several trials to pass.

Aphrodite made a mental note to keep a finger on that thread for a little while longer.  They were hopelessly devoted to each other, but still so young, so naïve.  She did need a new relationship to observe, now that Perseus and Annabeth had defeated all of their trials and Reyna had grown into her own woman.

Then there was Margaret McCaffrey, Demeter’s daughter and Apollo’s new adopted sister, it appeared. The young demigod’s bonds were all over the place, some torn to shreds, some tentatively trying to reach out like the roots of her mother’s plants sought sustenance.  Romance had yet to come into bloom, but seeds of interest had been planted and were simply waiting for their time to grow.  Her bond with Apollo was fierce, like Demeter could be – the flaxen-haired goddess should never be underestimated – bright, intense, and so very mortal.  It would burn bright, but it would not last.

None of Apollo’s mortal bonds would last.  They seldom did.  For all that Apollo could and would sprinkle immortality like gold dust over those he adored, he always took their wishes into account – and so, so many wished to remain mortal, to grow old and die and leave Apollo behind.

No, Apollo would not waste the ever-trickling mortal hourglasses on his immortal bonds, not when he had just acquired so many raw and unrestrained mortal ones to nurture and treasure before their strings were cut one by one.

He proved her right; of course.  Visits to his children, to that adorable couple who would need all the love they could take and more to stay together through their upcoming trial – she was confident that they would, but it would make for beautiful entertainment in the process – visits to the various demigods across both camps and beyond that had helped him and been helped in return.  A visit to Meg McCaffrey, reaffirming their bond now that Zeus’ machinations were not around to force them together.

Predictable.

Adorable.

She focused her attention on the boys, romantic love pouring from them in tangible waves she was sure even the mortals could sense, and began to brainstorm.  What twists would suit their relationship best?  What would truly, truly, make them thrive as the single whole they could be?

Nico had already turned his head away from others, his eyes only for one.  Will, too, would not be easily tempted away, but, oh, that low self-esteem.

Surely Apollo wouldn’t mind if she gave him just a little nudge, she thought.  Just a little bit of self-doubt to wrestle with, to face and overcome.  Their relationship would be stronger for it, in the end.

“I can’t say I like that look on you.”

Startled, she turned away from her mirror, where the boys were sitting on the porch of the Hades cabin, heads close enough together that no-one could hear the words they whispered to each other.  Words of concern, words of reassurance, words of love.

Oh, how she itched to give them a nudge.

“How insulting,” she replied, facing her apparent companion.  When had Apollo snuck into her presence without her noticing?  Once upon a time, not so long ago at all, Apollo had seemed incapable of stealth, demanding that everyone notice him as he passed through. He had every right to, of course; with his perfect golden locks, peak physical body, and a face that could cause anyone to swoon so long as they had working eyes, Apollo was the epitome of traditional male beauty.

She was relieved to see that he had not done her the discourtesy of using his Lester appearance in her presence.  He had instead elected to look every inch the god he was, golden and glimmering, as he approached her.  His eyes, a deep, molten gold but with just a hint of the blue in his son’s, zeroed in on her mirror, and his expression turned dark.  Not dark like thunder clouds, but dark like the blindness caused by the sun, too painful to rest eyes upon and vindictive to those who dared.

“Leave them alone,” he said. It was a command, one that gave the barest hints of his father, lurking so far beneath the surface most knew better than to seek.  Aphrodite did not truly fear Zeus – she was older, more primal, than the lord of the skies – but she did hold a degree of wariness for his temper.

She was, at that moment, equally wary of Apollo’s, not that she would ever let that on.

“Relax.”  She waved her hand elegantly yet dismissively.  “I have no intentions of dividing them.”

“I would rather you didn’t interfere with them at all,” Apollo countered, his expression lightening and brightening to match the flames of his chariot.  Still dangerous, still a threat.  “We both know what you can do.”

Aphrodite would not be cowed by the younger god, no matter how powerful or beautiful he was. “Would you rather I turned my attention elsewhere?”  She snapped her fingers and Will and Nico disappeared from view, instead being replaced by Meg, who was liberally covered in dirt and huffing her way through a conversation with a dryad.

The dirt did not quite conceal the reddish hue to her cheeks.  It was still but a seed of a crush, but given time it could so easily bloom into something exquisite.

Apollo flared up, not quite blinding for a fellow Olympian but a reminder of the intense divinity lurking beneath his chosen form that he could, at any moment, choose to unleash. “Aphrodite.”

His reaction was not a surprise.  After all, Apollo loved deeply and passionately, but for all the focus on his romantic bonds, his bond with Artemis – his twin – had always been the strongest, and while his bond with Meg lacked the depth of four millennia, the base was near enough the same.  Still, her point made, Aphrodite returned the mirror’s focus to the boys.  Apollo glared at her, and she met the look with a challenging one of her own.

“I do not interfere with how you handle your domains,” she chided.  “Not even your father dares interfere with mine.”  How could he, when he was as much a slave to lust as Apollo was to the desires of the heart?

Apollo recoiled.

“Love is cruel, but love is also kind,” she continued, not looking away from his eyes.  She could see her reflection in them, with black hair and violet irises.  Her appearance had not changed for Apollo in millennia.  She was not certain if it ever would again.  “If I swear to you that I will not destroy Will’s relationship with Nico, nor ruin Meg’s future relationships, will you step back and leave me to my domain in peace?”

She was not above destroying those relationships should Apollo push her too far, and she made no attempt to hide that fact.  He was powerful, powerful enough that, should the right incentive come into play, Zeus’ paranoia might not be so irrational, but she was born of the blood of Ouranos, of the seafoam.  She was of the skies and of the seas, she was limitless, uncontainable.

Uncontrollable.

For all he had spent the last century or so playing it, Apollo was no fool.  She was offering him a boon, a favour.  An apology, perhaps, for her appearance.  Not sympathy, no, but something.

“On the Styx,” he said. Seeing her offering.  Accepting it – begrudgingly, she could tell, but accepting it nonetheless.

“Very well,” she agreed. “I swear on the Styx that I will not destroy Will’s relationship with Nico, nor shall I ruin Meg’s future relationships.”

The oath sealed with a clap of thunder, and Apollo’s divinity allowed his chosen form to fully contain itself once more.

“I suggest you take the time to greet the Muses,” she said, before he could find words to react with. “You wouldn’t want anyone else realising your definition of ‘old’ is within the past six months.  Certain gods would not be as benevolent as I.”

Certain gods would view Apollo’s continued interactions with the mortals as in breach of the Ancient Laws, and the demigods he loved so much would be the ones to pay the price. Her oath would be meaningless if Asclepius’ fate was repeated; she owed them no protection, and nor would she offer it.

“I’ll do that,” he agreed pleasantly.  “It’s certainly been a while.”  He nodded his head at her and broke into his famous dazzling smile.  “It’s nice to see you again, Aphrodite.”

She carefully didn’t react as he dissolved into light and disappeared, before turning her attention back to the mirror and the boys it showed.  Her oath meant that she would have to be careful – no pushing so hard that there was a risk that their relationship would fracture – but it did not change her plans.

[valcalico]

Athena and Ares

(Just my thoughts on them and their relationship)

I have a lot of feelings about these two. They have a very complex dynamic, where they don’t really like each other, but they can’t work without each other either.

Athena provides rationality to the cruelty of war. She is the strategy and logic behind it. The objective. One might say she represents the generals, and the politicians and the main heroes. Basically the big players.

And Ares? He’s the opposite. He represents the emotion associated with war. He is the bloodlust and the desperate fight. Where the battle is thickest, where there is no room for thought, and when its pure survival instinct that drives you, that’s Ares. He represents the worst parts: the blood and the violence and the cruelty. He is accompanied by fear and terror (Phobos and Deimos). One might say he is the god of soldiers.

So they need each other. If they actually worked together, they’d be one of the dangerous forces ever, even in god circles. But they don’t. Not only because of how differently they view the world, but also because of deeper nuances in their relationship.

Athena is beloved. She is Zeus’ favourite child and his right hand goddess. The people love her. She is the patron of one of the most powerful, influential cities, Athens. She is highly respected everywhere else too. A protector of heroes and a friend to humanity.

Ares, on the other hand, is disliked by many. Zeus says he is “the most hateful of all gods” and says he would have thrown him into Tartarus if he wasn’t his and Hera’s son. (Its in the Iliad) (This part always makes me sad poor ares) He is highly respected in Thrace and Sparta. But Athens dislikes him and worships him out of necessity only.

Even in modern times, Athena is considered a feminist icon and badass lady, while Ares is labelled a brute.

Most people know this. So why did I just type out all that? Cause context is important when delving into the myths.

So first of all, let’s debunk that last point I made. In the ancient myths (and I’ll try not to include romans esp. Ovid), it didn’t work that way at all. Of course it’s important to keep in mind that ancient Greece was very misogynistic. But still, Athena was not feminist at all. Her being a “masculine” woman (mostly) was what made her so acceptable to Athens and she was regularly used to shut down other women. Also:

(The actual translation of this scene was circulated a while back. So you’re probably familiar with this. Also I’m not saying this to offend any worshippers of Athena or anyone who admires her. There are a lot of bad things in greek mythology and Athena’s internal and external misogyny is probably the least of my concerns. Plus if the greek gods did exist, i believe they change with the society, so they will no longer be Like That in the present day.)

Ares, on the other hand, was incredibly feminist, especially for that time. He surrounded himself with women he loved and respected. (Aphrodite, Eris, Enyo, etc). His lovers were often famously women who challenged the status quo (Otrera, Cyrene). He was regularly show to be a good father to all his daughters, immortal and mortal. (Harmonia, Hippolyta, Penthesilia, Alkippe). Also:

If that isn’t the coolest thing EVER-

Anyway, I won’t delve deep into that (well, any more than I’ve already rambled about it).

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, we can get to the hypotheticals.

I headcanon that despite ALL the evidence to the contrary, they maybe don’t despise each other completely. I see them having more of a love-hate relationship.

The thing is, gods are very contrary creatures. Zeus and Hera’s fights shake the world one moment, and in the next, they are as loving as any. Apollo is smiling and singing in one moment and skinning a satyr alive in the next. This complexity should be given this relationship too.

Like I said above, they need each other. Both general and soldier are equally important in war. And I don’t think you can completely truly need someone and hate their existence at the same time. (There are exceptions)

This scene in the Iliad really got me thinking:

If you take the scene at face value, this is probably not something to think too much about. Its Athena going to Ares, insulting him a bit, and taking him away from the war.

But its more than that. First off, Athena goes upto Ares and can calmly convince him to listen to her. Second, look how she frames the question. She says “shall we” which i think is pretty important. Athena doesn’t need to worry about Zeus’ anger or his rules, as she shows later on in the Iliad, and before, during the Rebellion. Both Athena and Ares knows this well. So why does she also need to withdraw? She can make the point without adding herself to the equation. She can also fairly easily run him off the battlefield like she does later. But she doesn’t. And there isnt any hostility from Ares.

Instead, they go together, away from the battlefield and...sit down near a river bank? Basically relax as much as they can? That doesn’t sound like a hateful relationship.

There is also the fact that Ares was going to join sides with the greeks (aka on Athena and Hera’s side) until Aphrodite convinced him to join her instead.

Its clear from this that Ares doesn’t really have much of a stake in this fight. He doesn’t care much about the greater objectives of the war. The only thing that can convince him to take a side is the people one the sides. He fights for the people he cares about, not for any greater good. He easily changes his loyalty because of his love for Aphrodite. He frequently gets into fights to save his children. He goes against Diomedes partly because of how he wounded Aphrodite. All of this means that he cares for Athena too. (And for Hera ofc). Maybe he doesn’t care for her as much as he cares for Aphrodite, but its not really fair to expect him to.

I like to think they genuinely do care for each other a great deal, they just kinda suck at showing it. Maybe that changes as time passes. I can see Athena being quietly protective of Ares (maybe she makes up an excuse to send him away during the Rebellion because she knows he will be in danger otherwise). I definitely think she felt a little guilt (guilt, not regret) at stabbing Ares, seeing as it wasn’t really fair. Ares didn’t know she was there.

I also think that Ares, who spends a lot of time with awesome women and is very fierce in standing up for them if the need arises, will be the one who calls her out a lot of the time on her misogyny or hypocrisy. Athena also has a habit of suppressing any “vulnerable” emotion. She likes to keep all her guilt, sadness, fear, hurt, and regret all locked up tight. I feel like Ares is one of the few people she lets a few of those emotions out around, even if she still tries not to. And in the lighter moments, in private, maybe they joke around a bit and laugh, too.

Okay, now for the heavier bit. While i do think they care for each other, there is also a lot of resentment there. A lot of it, unfortunately, comes from how they are treated by their peers and elders. They like different people, they are liked by different people and they are liked to different degrees. Let’s talk about 3 of the main players.

1) Zeus. Does this surprise you?

I do think Zeus loves all his kids. He doesn’t like some of them, but he does love all of them. And he isn’t as bad of a father as everyone thinks. People have discussed that better so I’ll not rant about it here.

All that aside, he definitely has favourites. Athena is his favourite child (Apollo, I think, being his second). And this favouritism is SUPER OBVIOUS. Its like none of the rules apply to Athena, which is weird considering Zeus isn’t forgiving of those who defy his authority (did someone say Prometheus?)

Ares, on the other hand, is on the other side of the spectrum. The one Zeus dislikes the most.

We can see how this affects them in several instances. The most notable is probably in the Iliad, after Athena deceitfully stabs Ares and forces him to flee to Olympus, injured.

Ares calls Zeus out on his favouritism. He says that gods weren’t allowed to fight each other and if it were anyone else, they would have been punished. He says Zeus always does this, always lets Athena get away with everything, and that he needs to start getting his daughter under control.

Zeus doesnt like this too much and basically tells Ares to stop whining and that he isn’t much better when it comes to destruction. He says Ares is the most hateful of all gods and loves bloodshed. He says he would have gotten rid of him if he weren’t his son, but seeing as he was, Zeus cannot bear to see Ares in pain. He then gets Ares healed.

I can definitely see how this kind of blatant favouritism from someone who should be better to Ares would affect him. Ares is the firstborn son of Zeus and Hera. He should be getting a lot of respect, as per ancient standards but instead, he is overtaken by his virgin half sister from Zeus’ previous marriage, and many bastard half siblings.

Athena being able to break rules left and right, and Ares having to be nervous about even toeing the line will cause distance between them.

This in addition to his position as a god of civil order is a reason that i think he wouldn’t want to break any rule until he deems it absolutely necessary, like if someone he cared about were in danger.

I can totally see a situation where both of them try to help a hero but Zeus orders them not to. Athena then wants to break the rules, but Ares is very hesitant about doing so. Athena convinces him, either by taunting or by calmly urging him, to go along with it. They get caught but only Ares gets punished. Ares can then truly show Athena the difference between her and everyone else.

Remember when i headcanoned earlier that Athena sends Ares away during the Rebellion? That ties into this. She knows that if they get caught, ares could get into trouble whether or not he did anything. I expect Ares will be furious about it when he returns and finds out what happened though, thinking it was just to get him out of the way, until its revealed why she did it. Then he’ll probably be super awkward.

2) Poseidon

The equal and opposite force to Zeus.

Well, maybe not equal, but quite close.

Lets start with the canon. Poseidon HATES Athena, despises her completely, and he frequently clashes with her father too. They worked together one (1) time and as a result, Athena wasnt punished while Poseidon was enslaved for years. Then there is the fight for Athens, the whole epic of the Odyssey, and so on.

Meanwhile he and Ares are actually shown to be close. Other than the Halirhothius incident, they are pretty chill. Poseidon is the one who vouched for him after the Net Thing With Hephaestus. Poseidon is also pretty cool with Aphrodite and they work together occasionally.

I think Poseidon thinks of Athena as this bratty kid of his brother, who is constantly working against him. You know that one annoying cousin you have who you try to avoid during family reunions because you KNOW you will clash? This is that, but a thousand times worse.

Meanwhile Poseidon really cares for Ares, and Ares takes fatherly affection from anywhere he can get it. Poseidon maintains a good relationship with both Aphrodite and Ares. He is closer with Aphrodite and doesnt love Ares quite as much as Zeus loves Athena, but he still cares a lot.

3) Aphrodite

It is no secret that Athena hates Aphrodite. Even when Athena warns Diomedes not to harm any god, she says Aphrodite is the exception. Athena, along with many of the other Olympians, see her as nothing but a silly, flighty, hysterical goddess.

On the other hand, Aphrodite and Ares are known for their intense love for each other, from even before her arranged marriage. They have a lot of kids together, and are shown to be close with all of them. They each have like one story of jealousy/one story where they are at odds with each other, which is pretty good for such a high-profile couple (Aphrodite curses Eos and Ares kills Adonis). They are there for each other, like in the trojan war, when Aphrodite was wounded and Ares gave her his chariot to go back to Olympus. He also changed sides very soon, just because Aphrodite asked. Athena complains about this too.

I think I wouldn’t be far off in saying that Athena is definitely resentful of how close they are, and how much sway Aphrodite has over her brother.

While Athena definitely doesn’t see eye to eye with Ares, and disagrees with his domain, she still sees him as a War God. One of her kind. And she just doesn’t see how a War God can go for someone like Aphrodite. Basically, she doesn’t think Aphrodite is, for lack of a better term, good enough for Ares, seeing as she is a Love Goddess.

Ares, on the other hand, does not want to hear anything like this. He is fiercely defensive of Aphrodite. He defends her warlike aspect (Aphrodite Areia), while everyone else tells her that she has no place in the battlefield. He sees Aphrodite as more than what people have labelled her to be. Which is why I believe (other than Eos and Adonis), they have one of the healthiest open relationships in greek mythology.

This can definitely cause animosity between Athena and Ares, because of Athena’s scorn and Ares’ temper. It can also increase the conflict between Athena and Aphrodite.

Maybe as time goes on, Athena can start seeing Aphrodite as having more depth. I certainly hope so. While they wouldn’t be best friends, I don’t see why they can’t learn to get along. This could also strengthen Athena and Ares’ bond. As long as people don’t insult her or lay their claim on her domain of Love and Beauty, Aphrodite is often very supportive. I truly think Aphrodite can help Athena overcome her misogyny, with Ares.

In conclusion, Athena and Ares have a very complex relationship. They do not simply hate each other, and neither do they have the most loving relationship. But they do care for each other. But strain can often be put on their relationship from their relationship to other people as well. Hopefully as time passes, they can overcome that, and have a healthier relationship, instead of sharing a good moment and then proceeding to fight each other for the next 500 years.