#or joy would be daughter of pluto

[babydollmarauders]

MEDIA MANAGEMENT — JACK HUGHES (PART TWELVE)

notes: i’m finally caught up on this series! just in time for the last regular season game!

previous: eleven

next: thirteen

y/ndevils00

liked by jackhughes, lhughes_06, and 72,810 others

y/ndevils00 if you’re allergic to sappiness, you may wanna keep scrolling tonight!

first of all, i’m so proud of ALL my boys tonight! all 5 of our goal scorers, the assisters, and the ones who just played their asses off tonight!

now is where it gets sappy!

my jacky: you broke a 22 year old franchise points record tonight. YOU did that. i always knew you would do it, and i’m so grateful that i was there to see it happen. you’re my (real) best friend, my love, my heart, the father to my cat, and the best hockey player i’ve ever seen (sorry boys). the talent that you possess is constantly leaving me awestruck, and i can’t wait to see what you achieve in the future. i can’t imagine the past 3 years without you, and i hope i never have to live a future without you either. i am so unbelievably proud of you. congratulations, my sweet boy. lil satan and i love you to pluto! <3

my lukey: my little (not so little) brother for the past 3 years. for some context, i met luke when he came to a devils game literally the same month i started working for the team. jack introduced me to him and lukey and i hit it off. i ended up sitting with him at the game, we exchanged numbers, and i adopted him as my own little brother very quickly. when luke was chosen in the 2021 draft, i cried tears of joy; but those tears were nothing compared to the ones i shed tonight. my baby brother made his nhl debut tonight and i couldn’t be happier for him. i look forward to seeing you absolutely kick ass and show everyone in this league how incredibly talented you are. congratulations on your debut, smush! i love you! <3

p.s. rasmus dahlin, i am in your walls. stay away from my boyfriend.

tagged jackhughes and lhughes_06

user did she just call luke “smush”?! that’s so cute, i need the reason asap

y/ndevils00 no real story behind it! we just smush/squish each others cheeks a lot! also, we watched finding nemo for our first facetime movie night and he took up calling me “squishy” like dory called the jellyfish.

john.marino97 they really do do it often. i’ve counted 12 times in the past 2 days

jackhughes i love you to pluto, sweet girl. thank you for being by my side to celebrate this achievement. i’m so thankful that i get to spend life with you ❤️

y/ndevils00 you’re so obsessed with me

jackhughes PARTS of you, for sure

y/ndevils00 you perv! there are innocent eyes present! @/lhughes_06

jackhughes i meant your heart!

lhughes_06 we have thin walls, i know you’re lying.

lhughes_06 @/y/ndevils00 also, why would you tag me?!

lhughes_06 thank you squishy! this was really sweet but can you stop crying now?

y/ndevils00 you didn’t say you love me, so no

lhughes_06 i love you!

y/ndevils00 well now it just seems forced. i hope you can sleep through my wails and tears

john.marino97 congrats hughesy! so happy for you! and congrats little hughesy! you did great!

jackhughes thanks bro!

lhughes_06 thanks man!

y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes @/lhughes_06 yeah, you guys are so siblings

john.marino97 @/y/ndevils00 did you think they weren’t?

y/ndevils00 idk i was just kinda hoping that maybe ellen actually switched jack at birth and he’s not actually their son but i’m their daughter

jackhughes @/y/ndevils00 that’s the oddest way to say you love my family. you’re such a little nutcase, i love you

lhughes_06 @/y/ndevils00 you weren’t even born in florida like jack…

y/ndevils00 @/lhughes_06 you’re a brat

dawson1417 LFG BRO! SO PROUD OF YOU HUGHESY!

jackhughes THANK YOU BRO! APPRECIATE IT!

dawson1417 congrats luke!! smashed it tonight, dude!

lhughes_06 thanks dude! looking forward to playing more games with you!

trevorzegras HOLY SHIT CONGRATS BRO’S! KILLING IT! can’t wait to play against you @/lhughes_06

y/ndevils00 no.

jackhughes thanks bro! hope your game goes well!

y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes no.

lhughes_06 thanks z! excited to kick your ass next season 🔥

y/ndevils00 @/lhughes_06 yes.

y/ndevils00 @/trevorzegras is officially banned from my comments until he apologizes to me. any more comments about or from him will be deleted.

trevorzegras what did i do now?

y/ndevils00 @/trevorzegras it’s more what you WON’T do.

trevorzegras is this seriously because i won’t dress up as ken to see the barbie movie with you?

y/ndevils00 @/trevorzegras blocking you. deleting your number. lasering off our matching tattoo.

user63 they have matching tattoos?!

y/ndevils00 @/user63 not anymore.

lhughes_06 @/user63 yeah it’s the moon and saturn

user84 am i the only one who thought she and trevor just genuinely didn’t get along?

y/ndevils00 @/user84 i feel like a lot of people think that, so i’m only gonna say this once so he can’t use it against me: trevor is actually one of my closest friends! i love him very much and i THOUGHT he loved me. if you scroll back to the summer on my account you’ll actually find loads of posts with him! we just have a funny way of showing our love but i’m actually very grateful to have a friend like him 🖤

trevorzegras 📸

y/ndevils00 @/trevorzegras i take it all back. i hate you, troll doll.

trevorzegras did you just insult my hair?! TAKE IT BACK!

_quinnhughes @/trevorzegras she literally called you a “brainless bimbo” and “the human equivalent of cat zoomies” the other day on the group call and your HAIR is where you cross the line?

_quinnhughes so proud of the both of you 💙 congrats guys

lhughes_06 thank you quinner ❤️ love ya bro

jackhughes thanks quinny! love ya ❤️

y/ndevils00 my baby boys <3

jamie.drysdale i wanna know what was running through your mind when jack looked straight at you when you took the arrival picture

jackhughes she yelled “shit! fuck! abort mission!” and dove behind the equipment boxes

lhughes_06 she scared the actual photographer and almost made them break their camera

user37 why does luke look like he has no emotions in the third slide?

y/ndevils00 it’s the hughes dead eye stare! they can all do it VERY well because they’re all emotionally dead inside <3

nicohischier proud of you guys! excited to play with you more @/lhughes_06 and can’t wait to see if you’ll break your own record next season @/jackhughes

jackhughes thanks cap!

lhughes_06 thank you cap!

y/ndevils00 he will!

[lets-try-some-writing]

I wondered what would Cron gift to Moon if he ever considered it and i think he would give crystals

Just imagine Unicron hijacking a crow and dropping crystals with (or without cuz crow brain will steal anything shiny) deep meanings. Moon may not know the crystal (or flower) language/symbolism/meaning but Earth does and vibrated inside whenever Cron gifted crystals to the Titan.. Btw amethysts look like dark energon but minus the sickness effect.. Cron absolutely would he can't give innermost energon so this is basically equivelent to it.. not like he will ever admit that the emotionally constipated old man he is (Wait what if he tried gifting to Primus his innermost but it backfired? )

Earth: Oh! It's Tiger eye!

Moon: ...Tiger eye is not literal eye is it??

Unicron:* crow laugh*

Neat concept! Personally I am of the belief that Unicron would rather die than give anyone except Earth anything. The way he offers affection to those around him differs from person to person. To Earth, he gives gifts and offers aid. It is the only thing he can truly do for his daughter who yet remains bound to him. To Mars he gives his time, often watching movies or conversing with the rusted Titan when there is a spare moment. They don't usually get along, at least on the surface, but the general familial care is there. Him and Pluto have screaming matches. They both have a fantastic time.

But Moon? Moon is difficult. Moon is old and wise and Unicron knows Moon probably as well as he knows Earth. And yet at the same time, there is so little he actually knows that it is hard for him to make a serious connection to the watchful Titan that orbits Earth like a guardian angel. They are bound by their shared adoration for Earth. So instead of giving Moon any gifts, I imagine he would instead help Moon to create gifts worthy of his precious daughter.

When Moon's drone is on the planet, they sometimes work together to gather crystals and precious stones to weld together into the shape of either a flower or some other plant. Unicron gathers the pieces with his creatures, Moon does the welding part. It is soothing for the both of them since neither could handle being around the other for long if not in the service of a higher goal.

Working with Moon reminds Unicron of the times he once spent with Primus. Long ago, he tried to offer his brother and other half a piece of himself as a gift. He thought a shard of his spark chamber would be a well received gift. Primus did take it with joy, but by taking the gift, Unicron watched his brother grow ill until the shard integrated into his systems.

Two pieces of the same, but so set apart that they hurt each other with the slightest touch. Unicron doesn't like to think about his rather similar relationship to Earth when he makes her gifts.

[methaim]

Ooh I usually skip these but this one looked doable, tagged by @sicklysweetholiday thank you Jaime UwU

Choose an artist you like and use the names of their songs to answer these questions as closely to the truth as possible!

ARTIST CHOSEN: Sleeping At Last (I’ve only listened to the Atlases let’s gooo)

ALSO I just realized that this game is more about the song title than it is vibes, so I’m gonna do both (vibes will be in parentheses for those who want to give these songs a listen)

What is your gender?: Son (Overture or Mars)

Describe yourself: Body (Saturn)

How do you feel?: Asleep (Nine, as of rn)

If you could go anywhere where would it be?: Moon or East (The entire Atlas: Oceans album but specifically Atlantic)

Who is/describe your best friend(s): Heirloom (Daughter)

Your favorite time of day: Light (Sun)

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: The Projectionist (Taste or Seven)

What is life to you?: Joy (Overture III / Awake)

Relationship status: You Are Enough (Heart)

What do you fear?: Fear (Pluto)

Uhhh everyone who I could tag has already been tagged on this so if you see this and want to do it, go crazy go stupid! :o

[s1lv3rp4w3dc4t]

okay but did you read Orpheus and Eurydice yet. like actually.

copy pasted this from a website. listen to Chappelle Roan while you read, as a treat.

The story of Orpheus and Eurydice,

as told by Apollonius of Rhodes, Virgil and Ovid

(and retold by Edith Hamilton in Mythology)

Orpheus: "On his mother's side he was more than mortal. He was the son of one of the Muses and a Tracian prince. His mother gave him the gift of music and Thrace where he grew up fostered it. The Thracians were the most musical of the peoples of Greece. But Orpheus had no rival there or anywhere except the gods alone. There was no limit to his power when he played and sang. No one and nothing could resist him.

In the deep still woods upon the Thracian mountains

Orpheus with his singing lyre led the trees,

Led the wild beasts of the wilderness.

Everything animate and inanimate followed him. He moved the rocks on the hillside and turned the courses of the rivers....

When he first met and how he wooed the maiden he loved, Euridice, we are not told, but it is clear that no maiden he wanted could have resisted the power of his song. They were married, but their joy was brief. Directly after the wedding, as the bride walked in a meadow with her bridesmaids, a viper stung her and she died. Orpheus' grief was overwhelming. He could not endure it. He determined to go down to the world of death and try to bring Eurydice back. He said to himself,

With my song

I will charm Demeter's daughter,

I will charm the Lord of the Dead,

Moving their hearts with my melody.

I will bear her away from Hades.

He dared more than any other man ever dared for his love. He took the fearsome journey to the underworld. There he struck his lyre, and at the sound all that vast multitude were charmed to stillness....

O Gods who rule the dark and silent world,

To you all born of a woman needs must come.

All lovely things at last go down to you.

You are the debtor who is always paid.

A little while we tarry up on earth.

Then we are yours forever and forever.

But I seek one who came to you too soon.

The bud was plucked before the flower bloomed.

I tried to bear my loss. I could not bear it.

Love was too strong a god, O King, you know

If that old tale men tell is true, how once

The flowers saw the rape of Proserpine,

Then weave again for sweet Eurydice

Life's pattern that was taken from the loom

Too quick. See, I ask a little thing,

Only that you will lend, not give, her to me.

She shall be yours when her years' span is full.

No one under the spell of his voice could refuse him anything. He

Drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek,

and made Hell grant what Love did seek.

They summoned Eurydice and gave her to him, but upon one condition: that he would not look back at her as she followed him, until they had reached the upper world. So the two passed through the great doors of Hades to the path which would take them out of the darkness, climbing up and up. He knew that she must be just behind him, but he longed unutterably to give one glance to make sure. But now they were almost there, the blackness was turning gray; now he had stepped out joyfully into the daylight. Then he turned to her. It was too soon; she was still in the cavern. He saw her in the dim light, and he held out his arms to clasp her; but on the instant she was gone. She had slipped back into the darkness. All he heard was one faint word, "Farewell."

Desperately he tried to rush after her and follow her down, but he was not allowed. The gods would not consent to his entering the world of the dead a second time, while he was still alive. He was forced to return to the earth alone, in utter desolation. Then he forsook the company of men. He wandered through the wild solitudes of Thrace, comfortless except for his lyre, playing, always playing, and the rocks and the rivers and the trees heard him gladly, his only companions. But at last a band of Maenads [women] came upon him....They slew the gentle musician, tearing him limb from limb, borne along past the river's mouth on to the Lesbian shore; nor had it suffered any change from the sea when the Muses found it and buried it in the sanctuary of the island. His limbs they gathered and placed in a tomb at the foot of Mount Olympus, and there to this day the nightingales sing more sweetly than anywhere else. "

Here is another version, taken from Thomas Bulfinch and retold by Juliana Podd in Encyclopedia Mythica.

Eurydice and Orpheus were young and in love. So deep was their love that they were practically inseparable. So dependent was their love that each felt they could not live without the other. These young lovers were very happy and spent their time frolicking through the meadows. One day Eurdice was gaily running through a meadow with Orpheus when she was bitten by a serpent. The poison of the sting killed her and she descended to Hades immediately.

Orpheus was son of the great Olympian god Apollo. In many ways Apollo was the god of music and Orpheus was blessed with musical talents. Orpheus was so sad about the loss of his love that he composed music to express the terrible emptiness which pervaded his every breath and movement. He was so desperate and found so little else meaningful, that he decided address Hades. As the overseer of the underworld, Hades heart had to be hard as steel, and so it was. Many approached Hades to beg for loved ones back and as many times were refused. But Orpheus' music was so sweet and so moving that it softened the steel hearted heart of Hades himself. Hades gave permission to Orpheus to bring Eurydice back to the surface of the earth to enjoy the light of day. There was only one condition--Orpheus was not to look back as he ascended. He was to trust that Eurydice was immediately behind him. It was a long way back up and just as Orpheus had almost finished that last part of the trek, he looked behind him to make sure Eurydice was still with him. At that very moment, she was snatched back because he did not trust that she was there. When you hear music which mourns lost love, it is Orpheus' spirit who guides the hand of the musicians who play it.

To study text of H. D.'s "Eurydice"

Posted by Ann Woodlief for ENGLISH 384, Fall 2001

cred: https://archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/webtexts/eurydice/eurydicemyth.html

[piristephes]

More Gods and Their Epithets - Asklepios, the God of Healing.

We continue our series, expanding on brief descriptions of the deities we worship. Now, we move on to one more of the Gods who used to be mortal during his mythological life - Asclepius, god of healing and medicine. His mythological origin tells us of the son of Princess Coronis with the God of light, Apollon. Born from the first cesarean section, Asclepius owes its name to his genesis: Which means to cut open. His mother, depending on the version, died during labor or was later killed by Artemis after betraying Apollon. The young Asclepius was trained by the wise centaur Chiron and was talented in the healing arts, so much so that even though he was only a demigod (the son of a deity and a mortal) he was able to restore the dead to life, a fact that infuriated Pluto, the God of the dead, for disturbing the natural order.

Having been condemned to death by Zeus through a lightning bolt for his crime against the King of the Underworld, the demigod underwent an apotheosis (i.e., became a deity), being placed in the heavens as the constellation Ophiuchus and joining the Immortal Gods as the God of healing and medicine.

Often represented as a bearded man carrying a staff girded with a serpent, Asclepius has been worshiped since ancient times as the patron of health workers. His temples being some of the oldest hospitals in the world.

The cult of Asclepius contains many surviving records, being widely spread during the Classical Era and surviving into the Roman era, where he was worshiped as Aesculapius. His greatest cult center was the city of Epidaurus, where a whole guild of minister-doctors worshiped Him. They were called asklepiades. Let us review here some epithets of the God. And let it be said in passing: There are many of them.

POETIC AND CULT EPITHETS

Iatros (Ιατρος) - "Physician" / Paean (Παιαν) - "Healer", both titles describe the healing ability of the God. Paean is also an epithet of other Gods, such as Dionysus, Apollo and Thanatos.

Epios (Ηπιος) - "of relief"/"soothing"

Cotileos (Κοτυλεως) – "[of] the hip-joint"

Most of His titles focus on his mastery of the arts of healing and relief. Asclepius, as a god responsible for alleviating the pains of the mortal condition, became quite popular in worship. Which yielded the next epithet:

Philolaos (Φιλολαος) - "Lover of People", title under which Asclepius was worshiped in Laconia.

MISCELLANEOUS EPITHETS Archagetas (Αρχαγετας) - "Founder", his title in Phocis and Titorea.

Kyros (Κυρος) - "Ultimate/Supreme Authority"

Paidos (Παιδος) - "Boy"

Agnitas (Αγνιτας) - "of the Chaste-Tree"

A deity of paramount importance, Asclepius is the son of Apollno with the most surviving accounts from antiquity. His unique potency as a mortal who has undergone apotheosis, operating graces such as resuscitation and healing, earns Him a very unique position in the Pantheon. In his cult, he is often accompanied by his wife, Epione, goddess of relief, and a quintet of daughters: Aigle (The bright one), Hygeia (Health), Iaso (Medicine), Akeso (Healing art) and Panacea ( cure-all).

Temples of his were famous for being partially hospitals, where travelers and devotees would travel to the place in search of a cure for some affliction. After sleeping and dreaming in the temple, there was the possibility of metanoia happening: Asclepius would reveal the cure to the devotee in a dream, whose dream content would be interpreted by one of the local priests.

One of the most beloved Gods and with a very important role in our society, we dedicate this post to the Healer and end with one of his hymns.

Homeric Hymn 16 to Asclepius (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.) : "I begin to sing of Asklepios (Asclepius), son of Apollon and healer of sicknesses. In the Dotian plain fair Koronis (Coronis), daughter of King Phlegyas, bare him, a great joy to men, a soother of cruel pangs. and so hail to you, lord: in my song I make my prayer to thee!"

Mais Deuses e Seus Epítetos - Asclépio

Continuamos nossa série, expandindo breves descrições sobre as deidades que cultuamos. Agora, seguimos com mais um dos Deuses que costumavam ser mortais durante sua vida mitológica - Asclépio, deus da cura e da medicina.

Sua origem mitológica conta-nos do filho da princesa Corônis com o Deus da luz, Apolo. Nascido da primeira cesariana, Asclépio deve seu nome a sua gênese: Que quer dizer fazer um corte/cortar aberto.

Sua mãe, dependendo da versão, morreu durante o labor ou foi morta depois por Ártemis após trair Apolo. O jovem Asclépio foi treinado pelo sábio centauro Quíron e era talentoso nas artes da cura, tanto que mesmo sendo somente um semideus (o filho de uma deidade com um mortal) foi capaz de restaurar os mortos à vida, fato que enfureceu Plutão, o Deus dos mortos, por perturbar a ordem natural.

Tendo sido condenado a morte por Zeus através de um relâmpago por seu crime contra o Rei do Mundo Inferior, o semideus sofreu uma apoteose (ou seja, tornou-se uma divindade), sendo alocado nos céus como a constelação ofiúco e se juntando aos Deuses Imortais como o Deus da cura e medicina.

Sendo representado sempre como um homem barbudo portando um cajado cingido com uma serpente, Asclépio é cultuado desde os tempos antigos como o patrono dos trabalhadores da saúde. Seus templos sendo alguns dos hospitais mais antigos do mundo.

O culto de Asclépio contém muitos registros sobreviventes, sendo vastamente espalhado durante a Era Clássica e sobrevivendo à era romana, onde foi cultuado como Esculápio. Seu maior centro de culto era a cidade de Epidauro, onde toda uma guilda de doutores-ministro o cultuava. Eles eram chamados de asclepíades.

Repassemos aqui alguns epítetos do Deus. E diga-se de passagem: Eles eram muitos.

EPÍTETOS POÉTICOS E DE CULTO

Iatros (Ιατρος) - "Médico"/Paean (Παιαν) - "Curandeiro", ambos títulos descrevem a capacidade curativa do Deus. Paean/Peã, também é um epíteto de outros Deuses, como Dionísio, Apolo e Tânato.

Êpios (Ηπιος) - "do alívio"/"Que alivia"

Cotileos (Κοτυλεως) - "do quadril"

A maioria de seus títulos focam no seu domínio sobre as artes de cura e alívio. Asclépio, como um deus responsável por aliviar as dores da condição mortal, se tornou bastante popular em culto. O que rendeu o próximo epíteto:

Filolaos (Φιλολαος) - "Amante das Pessoas", título sob o qual Asclépio era cultuado na Lacônia.

EPÍTETOS DIVERSOS

Archagetas (Αρχαγετας) - "Fundador", título dele em Fócis e na Titoréia.

Kyros (Κυρος) - "Autoridade Máxima/Supremo"

Paidos (Παιδος) - "Garoto"

Agnitas (Αγνιτας) - "Do Agno-Casto", referente a uma árvore.

Uma deidade de suma importância, Asclépio é o filho de Apolo com relatos mais sobreviventes desde a antiguidade. Sua potência singular enquanto um mortal que sofreu apoteose, operando graças como ressuscitação e cura, rende-lhe uma posição muito única no Pante��o. Em seu culto, ele é frequentemente acompanhado de sua esposa, Epione, deusa do alívio, e um quinteto de filhas: Aigle (A brilhante), Higéia (A saúde), Iaso (Remédio), Akeso (Arte da cura) e Panacéia (Cura-a-tudo).

Seus templos eram famosos por serem parcialmente hospitais, onde os viajantes e devotos viajariam até o local em busca de cura para alguma aflição. Após dormirem e sonharem no templo, havia a possibilidade da metanoia acontecer: Asclépio revelaria em sonho a cura ao devoto, cujo conteúdo onírico seria interpretado por algum dos sacerdotes locais.

Um dos Deuses mais amados e com um papel muito importante na nossa sociedade, dedicamos este post ao Curandeiro e encerramos com um de seus hinos.

Hino Homérico XVI

Começo a cantar para Asclépio, filho de Apolo e curador das doenças. Nos prados de Dotian da justa Coronis, a filha do Rei Flégias, te deu a luz, uma grande alegria aos homens, um alívio para as cruéis dores e aflições. E então te saúdo, deus: na minha canção eu faço uma prece a ti!

(Tradução de Alexandra Nikaios)

[dark-romantics]

A guide to Greek Gods & Goddesses

Ares ~ God of War

Ares is the Greek god of war, battlelust, courage and civil order. He is one of the Twelve Olympian Gods who lived on Mount Olympus, and the son of Zeus and Hera. He represented the distasteful aspects of brutal warfare and slaughter. One of the more human Olympian gods, he was a popular subject in Greek art and even more so in Roman times when he took on a much more serious aspect as Mars.

Hera ~ Queen of Heavens & Goddess of Marriage, Women, and Birth

A daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, wife of Zeus, and queen of the Olympian gods, Hera was usually depicted as a regal woman, wearing a crown and veil and holding a lotus-tipped staff. Although she was the goddess of marriage, Zeus’s many affairs drive her to jealousy and anger. Her sacred animals are the heifer, the peacock and the cuckoo.

Apollo ~ God of sun, music, poetry, art, dance, archery, and healing

Apollo is a god in Greek mythology, and one of the Twelve Olympians. He is the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin brother of Artemis. He is the god of healing, medicine, archery, music, poetry and the sun. He is the leader of the Muses. He also is a god of prophecy, and his Oracle at Delphi is very important. Apollo is one of the most powerful gods of the ancient Greek pantheon.

Zeus ~ King of the Olympians; God of sky & thunder

Zeus is the god of the sky in ancient Greek mythology. As the chief Greek deity, Zeus is considered the ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans. As the god of honor and justice, Zeus was the one who both established and enforced law, and served as the standard for kings to follow. His symbols were the thunderbolt, a sceptre, an oak tree, and the eagle and bull were his sacred animals.

Demeter ~ Goddess of Harvest, Agriculture, Fertility, and Divine Law

Demeter, the middle daughter of Cronus and Rhea, was the Ancient Greek goddess of grain and agriculture, one of the original Twelve Olympians. Her grief over her daughter Persephone – who has to spend one-third of the year with her husband Hades in the Underworld – is the reason why there is winter; her joy when she gets her back coincides with the fertile spring and summer months.

Nike ~ Goddess of Victory, Speed, and Strength

Nike was a goddess from the ancient Greek pantheon, and although not one of the major deities, Nike was still an important figure who represented Victory to the ancient Greeks. In her depictions in Greek vase paintings, Nike appears as a winged goddess with a palm branch symbolizing victory. Other works show her with a wreath or a crown to honor victors.

Hermes ~ The Messenger God

The youngest son of Zeus, Hermes became the messenger of the gods due to his speed and trustworthiness. Wearing winged shoes, Hermes could fly and travel quickly. Hermes was the protector of travellers and merchants. He is credited with the invention of boxing and gymnastics. Hermes was the only Olympian capable of crossing the border between the living and the dead.

Dionysus ~ God of Wine, Theatre, and Fertility

Being an important part of ancient Greek culture, as the god of wine, Dionysus was a popular Greek god. Another son of Zeus, as Dionysus grew he learned to cultivate grapes, becoming the first person to make wine. Dionysus taught people how to make wine, and then ascended to Mount Olympus, being the last to arrive of the twelve Greek gods and goddesses. His attributes included the thyrsos (a pine-cone tipped staff), a drinking cup and a crown of ivy.

Hades ~ God of the Underworld

In ancient Greek mythology, Hades is the god of the underworld. Hades is the first born son of the Titan Kronos and brother to the Olympian gods Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Hestia, and Demeter. One of the major myths featuring Hades involves the abduction of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter. Another aspect to Hades' character was that of the giver of wealth, also known as Plouton, which would later become the Roman name Pluto.

Poseidon ~ God of the sea

Poseidon, in ancient Greek religion was the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. He is distinguished from Pontus, the personification of the sea and the oldest Greek divinity of the waters. His weapon and main symbol was the trident, perhaps once a fish spear. According to the Greek poet Hesiod, Poseidon’s trident, like Zeus’s thunderbolt and Hades’ helmet, was fashioned by the three Cyclopes.

Circe ~ Goddess of sorcery

Circe, in Greek legend, a sorceress, the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and of the ocean nymph Perse. She was a minor Greek goddess who was also was skilled in the magic of transmutation, illusion, and necromancy. She lived on the mythical island of Aiaia (Aeaea) with her nymph companions. She knew a lot about potions and herbs, and sometimes used this knowledge against her enemies and people who offended her, turning them into wild animals.

[firerose]

Dark Leo -Dark  seven au part2

@reading0mens Hope you enjoy it, I put a bit under read more because it’s kinda long XD

Leo‘s world is shattered after Jason‘s death

He knows it was a storm or fire

He knows that his cheating death caused the fates to take Jason away

At Jason‘s funereal he cries into Piper‘s shoulder

The boy that told him he was important, that made him believe he was worth something was gone

His sorrow makes him burst into flames and as Piper lets go he sinks over his friends grave

Things only got worse from there

He can‘t look at Calypso anymore

She was the reason he cheated death after all

He thinks about how she always complains about him, never truly helped him as Jason did

He goes back to Camp half-blood not caring that there is a battle coming for the Romans

He couldn‘t help them anyway

He locks himself in Bunker 9 building machines to distract himself from the cruel reality

Jason Grace was dead and he was alive

Calypso tries to get through to him but he yells at her that he regrets having saved her

He doesn‘t mean because of her of course but it is still her that he cheated death for

Calypso leaves in tears

Leo continues building and as his hands work on inventions his mind goes to Hera

Why didn‘t she save Jason?

He was her hero, wasn‘t he?

The bridge between greeks and Romans

So what kept her from saving him?

Anger begins to rage in him

Maybe Jason was just a tool for her

A weapon she could use and then forget

A scream breaks out of him and flames start floating over everything

He begins to despise the queen of Olympus just like he once hated Gea

At least Gea never acted like she wanted to protect them

He feels a desire to make Hera pay, to play with her just like she did with him

He knows that he can't take revenge on Hera all by himself Isn't there an emperor in new york

A plan starts to form in his head

Nyssa brings him the news

Camp Jupiter beat Caligula and Commodus now only Nero is left

The only change for Leo to take revenge on Hera

He leaves in the early morning

He is not nervous only strangely excited

Finding the emperor was not hard he could oversee the whole city on his metal dragon

„What do you want demigod?“, Nero asks coldly sitting on his throne arrogant as always

Leo only smiles darkly „I want to treat Hera just like she treated me and my friends.“

Nero has picked up many demigods from the streets but this one is special

He has an almost feral look in his eyes like he would be ready to burn the world

„And how exactly do plan to do that? Nero asks his voice full of curiosity

After hearing the plan Nero allows Leo to stay

He has a big room full of machines, engines automatons

Leo loves it

He builds robots small ones at first but his anger makes his talents grow

Somehow he manages to equip them with laser eyes ten arms that shoot fire canons, their fingers made of blades

He makes other inventions to ones that he prays to one day use on a certain goddess

A part of him is terrified of his work but another screams justice for Jason so he continues

Two weeks later Leo gives Hazel and Frank a surprise visit

They are happy to see him, they are his friends after all

Leo laughs with them, jokes as if everything was normal

One night he and Frank even mourn Jason together

When he feels real tears form in his eyes he is grateful for Franks hug

He can tell that Frank wants him to feel loved just like Jason once did

He is thankful and when Frank leaves his firewood feels heavy in Leo‘s hand

The next day horns are blowing, demigods scream in terror

A huge robot army is threatening to enter new Rome

The Legion is horrified but they swore to protect the city so they get ready for battle

None of them is showing their fear when they stand between the robots and their city

Reyna and Frank stand before their cohorts but Frank is not too worried

Those robots are made of metal and he sees in Hazel‘s smile that she knows this too

The daughter of Pluto raises her hand to save those she loves

But then a voice close to her speaks up coldly

„Hazel stop “, She almost did not recognize it

Leo stands a few feet away eyes gleaming darkly, Franks stick lays in his hand

Franks feels a cold dread in his stomach

„Leo…...what are you doing? Frank asks unable to hide his fear

Leo lets out a pained humourless laugh, I‘m destroying the god's ego by crashing their glorious temples.“ he explains and Hazel feels her heartbreak at his words

How is this the same boy who made her smile with his jokes

Reyna curses“ How dare you betray us? After Jason-“

Leo interrupts her with a mad shout

„That's exactly my point! Jason died because Hera for some reason refused to save him. We are all just puppets for the gods don‘t you see that!“I'm trying to save us from them but if you don‘t surrender now I will be forced to let you suffer for the god's crimes.“, Leo explains his tone almost hysteric

There is silence for a moment

The robots stand like dead status, new Rome's citizens glance towards them from behind the barrier, the roman soldiers are glaring at Leo

„Romans don‘t surrender.“, Frank finally responds his voice brave, his eyes full of pain

Leo smirks like he expected that answer

His whole body bursts into flame

Frank falls to the ground as his stick is swallowed by fire

Pain ignites in his heart, he hears Hazel‘s scream

He looks at his girlfriend a hand stretched towards her as if to hold her one last time

She stretches her hand towards him as well, her mouth moving as she sobs

A weak scream leaves his lips when a Robots blade impales her neck the blade coming out bloody at her throat

Her hand sinks, her body collapses into a puddle of her blood and Frank‘s world goes black

Leo stares at their unmoving bodies

The stick in his hands is now only ashes

He knows he should feel something

He should feel remorse

Instead, he just feels empty

The gods could have saved them but they didn‘t

If the gods would just be better he would not have done this

The gods are to blame not him

So he joins the massager

The demigods are fighting bravely but nothing prepared them to fight eight feet high machines

Blades are piercing through their bodies, the fire burns their flesh, dozens get trampled

Leo is in the middle of it all shooting fireballs burning everyone who gets too close

A fireball hits Reyna‘s hair and the Praetor is doomed to a firey cruel death

Soon the city falls, Terminus  barrier is not strong enough to hold the metal beasts off

New Romes citizens are slaughtered in their streets, their buildings, temples destroyed

Their screams ring in Leo‘s ears but he continues to fight

This is for Jason. This is for Jason

He keeps using this excuse even though a part of him tells him that Jason wouldn‘t have wanted this

When Leo the last screams finally have died new Rome is in ruins

On Olympus, the gods are raging

Their pride has never been attacked like this

Hera looks at Leo wandering through the dead city with worry

He was her hero once just like Jason but now he seems …..changed

Maybe somehow she could convince him to come back to her

She is his grandmother after all

So she goes down to him in the form of his old babysitter

Leo growls when he sees he sees her

„Now you decide to show up? After I slaughtered thousands of People? Wow you are a horrible patron goddess!“, He snarls

Hera looks at him in pity

„Leo I know you are angry but this is madness. Jasons death was in the hand of the fates and I couldn‘t do anything sometimes even we gods are powerless. Don‘t go down this road my hero it will only bring you to suffering.“ Hera warns but that only makes Leo more furious.

They are standing in the smouldering ruins of her city and yet all she can do is makeup excuses

„You ……..you are so arrogant Hera! First, you act like my protector, my babysitter for years and then you don‘t even save my mother, then you give me fake memories about my best friend and then when I‘m finally growing closer to him you watch him die too. I bet if I hadn‘t killed Frank today you would have done it! Jason Frank and I were just pawns whose lives you controlled and that you now don‘t need anymore!“, Leo yells his hands balled into fists.

Hera listens to her face showing guilty embarrassment

She is too lost in thought, that is why she sees the net that Leo throws over her too late

The strings are made of celestial bronze but when she tries to escape the net only grows tighter cutting into her skin

Leo smiles at her in amusement.

„I hope you enjoy your new home your high majesty., He mocks

Hera realized that this was all part of his plan

Destroying new Rome to get her attention, louring her here so he could capture her

„Let me go immediately demigod or my wrath-“. She is cut off when Leo gags her

He has enough to listen of listening to her

He just wants to visit Jason's grave one last time

Leo returns to Nero with his army and with Hera

She is carried by one of the Robots trapped in metal strings

Nero welcome Leo with open arms

This child is a blessing even better than Meg Mc Caffrey

He tells Leo that he wants to wait with his attack on the greeks

He wants the news about camp Jupiter to reach them first

Leo agrees and grins at Hera

The goddess tries to change from even her real one but the strings only golden

„They drain your godly essence. The emperors are no strangers to dark magic Hera. You won‘t get out of here unless I allow it.“, Leo mocks once he has taken her to his room

The image of Her lying helpless and restrained on the ground gives him chills of joy

He picks out a knife from his toolbelt, Heras's eyes widen

„Now let's see how you like being hurt without someone there to help.“ Leo muses and drives the blade into the goddess's arm.

He smiles at the golden blood and Heras agonized groan

He is going to have so much fun with her

Leo almost feels disappointed when Nero tells him that it‘s time for the attack

By now all demigods know what happened

Chiron evacuated Camp half-blood taking the younger Campers to safety

Nero knows it‘s only a matter of time until the rest disappears to

So Leo and the emperor fly to  Long island alone with Festus who hold Hera in his claws

The robots are deactivated until Leo's command, Nero wants to give his enemies hope of winning

A handful of Campers is already waiting for them at the top of Half-blood hill

Leo winces when he sees Percy and Nico

He had forgotten the people close to Frank and Hazel

„Surrender or face the same end as your roman friends!“, Nero demands

Percy spits to the ground

Nico gets out his sword his eyes piercing into Leo soul

„Do you think Jason still loves you after what you did Leo?“, Nico asks coldly

Leo‘s heart feels like it‘s torn apart

Nico‘s words are the truth in the back of his mind. The truth that his lust for revenge drowned out

Jason, sweet kind Jason would never love someone who killed his friends

Leo feels panic, he has to move forward he has to distract himself from his thoughts

„Let that be my concern.“, Leo spats and drops Hera to the ground

Her body is covered in deep cuts, golden blood covers the strings

The attack begins

Leo decides to take out Percy first

He shoots fire but Percy uses the lake to his advantage

Water and fire clash together in the air squishing as they meet

Leo gets more furious

He creates big flames that lit the threes next to Percy on fire, tiny flames to grasp Percy‘s hair

Percy seems to be prepared for everything

He protects himself with shields of water and creates tentacles in an attempt to drag Leo to the ground

Their fight is hard, full of hatred and so none of them notices Nico‘s fight against Nero

Until the emperor screams while he's being sucked into the earth

Neros household, all young brainwashed demigods panic and run

Leo yells in frustration

Why did he choose such bad allies?

Nico collapses from the uses of his underworld powers, the grass around him black

Leo wants to take his chance and flames flicker from his hand#

But then a big hand of water grabs him and lifts him off his dragon

Leo is taken by surprise but soon blind rage follows

„Now!“, He hears Percx yell and when he turns his head he sees Annabeth cutting Heras net with Nico‘s stygian sword

Desperation and fear will Leo

„No please!“, He Beggs but Percy drops him on the ground without mercy

Hera although wounded immediately grows to full size her eyes blazing with fury

„I WARNED YOU MY HERO NOW FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ACTIONS.“Hera yells her form glowing

„No wait!“, Percy says his eyes widened in shock

Leo knows what is coming, he has seen it once before

Tears of sorrow, of fear, of anger stream down his cheeks

He wonders if Hades will let him see Jason again after he murdered his daughter

In a last attempt to turn his fate he reaches for his toolbelt

But then he stops

How can he destroy the greeks after they took him in after they tried to make him belong somewhere?

His thoughts wander to Piper and his heart is split by deep guilt

Leo Valdez opens his eyes and stares right into the godly flames that even he can‘t survive

His last thought is a prayer of forgiveness to all he has killed in his path for revenge

Leo is buried at Camp half-blood

There are a lot of discussions about it but no one can think of a better place

Hera assures the Campers that in a few years there will be new roman demigods

This does not help the losses though

Percy and Annabeth spend many nights crying with each other about their lost friends, their lost future

Will has to hold Nico for countless nights too, Has to remind him that he always will be there for him

Apollo becomes a god again

And in California Piper Mclean cries out her prayers to the gods

She prays for them to free her out of these new fake mist reality

She prays for them to let her wake up in a world where her best friends are still alive

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Honestly I wished Hoo went more into the fact that frank Jasons and Leos lives were all controlled by Hera! That would have been such an interesting dynamic!

[hana-bean]

Close to you (7/7)

And I will walk on again To meet you

---

Rei trudged to her closed bedroom door, her eyes halfway open and hair disheveled due to the incessant knocking waking her up at the ungodly hour of nine AM.

She opened the door to a panicked and out-of-breath Serenity.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Really?” Rei yawned. “That’s great, Serenity—”

“It might be Seiya’s.”

That statement made for the best wake-up call, causing her violet eyes to widen. “What?”

Serenity barreled over Rei to get inside the room and pace in a distressed sweat. The latter closed the door then placed her hands on her hips to process the news.

“Are you sure about that, Serenity?”

“No… not really. But I mean, Mamo and I have tried for four years and nothing. But then I sleep with Seiya and then, boom, it happens!”

“How many times have you done it with Seiya?”

“Just once. It’s been busy lately for me and on top of that, they’re still looking for their princess.”

Rei tutted. “The burner didn’t come through, huh?”

“Not at the moment.”

“So you only did it with him once and you’ve been with Endymion a few times since he’s been back, yes?”

Serenity nodded.

She bobbed her head while shrugging. “Well, I’m no rocket surgeon, but I would bet the law of statistics says it’s most likely Endymion’s.”

“I do feel Chibi-Usa’s energy…” Biting her lip, Serenity rubbed her flat stomach.

“There you go!” Rei perked up. “Chibi-Usa is definitely yours and Endymion’s daughter, so you're in the clear!”

Looking away almost shamefully, Serenity hugged herself. “Well… maybe.”

“What do you mean, ‘maybe?’” She shook her head, anticipating an explanation.

“I saw a picture of Seiya’s mother a while ago. She had pink hair and red eyes, just like Chibi-Usa. She reminded me so much of her, but I was too dumb and horny to think to connect any dots.”

“That’s totally a coincidence!” Rei waved a dismissive hand. “It’s a huge universe out there. There are lots of people with that color combination.”

“But for his mother to have that exact combination that Chibi-Usa has? We all know she didn’t get it from me or Mamo!”

“Serenity,” Rei approached her best friend, resting her hands on her shoulders. “You have nothing to worry about. Chibi-Usa is yours and Endymion’s child, you both were destined to have her. The whole destiny energy around you would ensure that happens.”

“But how do we know Seiya wasn’t part of destiny?” The queen stared Rei deep and desperately in her eyes. “We didn’t get to see much when we went to the future back then, just that time when the Black Moon invaded. We only knew what Pluto and Chibi-Usa showed us. There was basically a whole eternity before and after we didn’t see.”

Rei opened her mouth to debate, but then her brain stopped her so it could dwell on that statement.

“Shit, you’re right. Maybe she is Seiya’s.”

“Fuck! Don’t tell me that!” Serenity groaned and resumed her pacing.

“It’s okay!” Wanting to eat her words, she grabbed handfuls of her dark hair by her scalp. “I mean if it is Chibi-Usa that comes out, nothing will be questioned. You’re positive it is her?”

Her highness nodded, her hand rubbing her stomach again. “I don’t know how I know, it just feels like her.”

“Good. Technically everything is going to plan. So stop stressing—the baby doesn’t need it, you don’t need it, and I don’t need it.”

“I just worry about Mamo finding out that she’s not his.”

“Well, it was destiny, wasn’t it? Whether or not she is Seiya’s, it was supposed to happen. Endymion can’t argue with that.”

“He would be so heartbroken…” Serenity sniffled as tears began to form.

“But we don’t know that yet. She could still be his.” Rei approached her once again, wrapping her arms around her shoulders in a supportive hug. “I hate that you’re so stressed out. This is supposed to be a happy moment. Chibi-Usa will finally be born like you’ve been wanting for so long.”

“I know,” she sobbed as she returned the embrace. “And I am happy, I just started thinking and—”

“No, no, none of that. No more thinking.” Rei patted her blonde head. “Everything is happening as it should. Chibi-Usa is in you as it was supposed to happen. So the only thing you should be thinking about is keeping yourself healthy and relaxed for the next nine months.”

“Right… you’re right.”

“Yes, I know I'm right.” Rei pulled away to look into Serenity’s face with a smile. “Trust in destiny. She will not lead you astray, and She hasn’t.”

---

---

Serenity turned around from her position at the nursery window after she heard a soft knock.

“Come in.”

Star Fighter slipped in, quietly closing the door as she kept her eyes on her queen.

“Is she awake?” She whispered.

“Yes,” Serenity turned around to reveal herself holding a bundled month-old infant. “She’s been squirming a bit.”

With an open-mouth smile, while removing her leather gloves, Fighter crept up to the pair and stroked the pink fuzz atop Chibi-Usa’s head with her fingertip.

“She’s so cute and small,” she squeaked with twinkling eyes. “But she has grown a lot since she was born.”

“Did you want to hold her?”

“Yes. Give me the nugget.” Fighter immediately grabbed for the bundle and rested her on her chest, giving her head and cheek multiple kisses all the while.

“How was the trip?”

“Long.” Fighter rolled her eyes. “Uranus and Neptune got in a tiff and then Uranus and Healer did, and then couldn’t be in the same room together… it was a mess.”

“Any sign of your princess?”

She shook her head while twisting her mouth in disillusionment.

Serenity sighed. “I’m sorry, Fighter. I thought for sure we found her with the burner Mamo found.”

“Me too. What probably happened is that the castle was looted and people sold or traded it.”

“But you said you felt her energy…”

“Well, stars leave a trail and what I felt could have been and most likely was residual energy. The burner was definitely hers and she’s definitely been in it, so it makes sense.”

The queen rubbed her hand down from her neck to her shoulder. “I was hoping she was just really shy.”

Fighter smiled. “She is quite reserved but she would have shown herself by now.” She then began pacing the room as she rubbed baby Chibi-Usa’s back.

“Oh wait, Fighter!” Her first-baby neuroses came out as she apologetically spoke her request. “Could you take off your boots before walking with her? Your heels are pretty tall and I don’t want anything to happen…”

“Yes, of course…!” The guardian looked around. “Did you want me to give her back to you while I do that or…?”

“Actually, sit down and I’ll take them off for you,” Serenity beamed.

“Thanks, Odango.” She located the nursing chair by the bassinet, being extra careful in her steps, and took her seat.

Serenity sat on her knees, slowly pulling down the zippers of Fighter’s boots and removing them, revealing her over-the-knee trouser socks.

“Ooh, these are sassy,” she traced the hems around her lower thighs with a giggle. Fighter blushed, trying hard to suppress her ticklishness.

The queen then turned her gentle grazing into gentle massages, resting her head on the guardian’s lap as her hand moved down her calf.

“The DNA results came in last week.”

“Really?” Fighter’s stomach couldn’t help but drop.

Serenity nodded and pointed. “Yes, they’re on the desk.”

She looked over in the direction of her finger, finally noticing a white envelope sitting open in the middle of the table. Her nervousness formed a lump inside her throat in which she tried to gulp down.

“What did it say?”

Her highness turned her head to rest her chin on Fighter’s thigh, a smile curled on her face.

“Congratulations. You’re a father.”

Fighter didn’t know how to react, or which emotion to show, for she was both excited and scared. Though she was overall touched by the fact she helped create this new bundle of life sleeping on her chest, and she placed a small kiss on Chibi-Usa’s head while a silent tear escaped down her cheek.

“That makes me so happy,” she sniffled.

Serenity kissed her knee. “It only means that you were meant to be here. Out of all the planets in the universe, you were meant to come here… and get in that bar fight… just for me to find you.”

Fighter laughed through the waterfalls of joy while squeezing Serenity’s hand.

For several moments, both women sat in silence, rubbing hands, legs, and feet and giving more gentle kisses to the sleeping Chibi-Usa. Eventually, Fighter stood up and placed her in the bassinet before walking over to the desk to grab the envelope. She removed the paper from inside and studied its contents for a couple of moments.

Serenity was confused initially to then see Fighter saunter toward a lit candle on the mantel and set the paper on fire before tossing it in the empty fireplace. The guardian never took her eyes away from the burning document, even as the queen joined her, hugging her waist from behind.

“I hope you know I plan for you to still be a part of Chibi-Usa’s life.”

"I know,” Fighter grabbed Serenity’s hand. “And I will. That baby will have lots of love.”

Serenity reached around Fighter to turn her around to face her, then gently grabbed her jaw to steady herself for their lips to meet.

“Thank you, Seiya. You’ve given me the most wonderful gift.”

Fighter chuckled, snaking her arms around the royal waist and bringing her closer for more kissing. “Did you want to make another one?”

“No.” She stated the complete sentence with a hundred percent seriousness. “But I thought we could maybe have our fun with you like this…” She palmed her breast as her thumb grazed the blue outline of her bra while she placed small pecks along her neck. “Way less risk.”

“Are you… okay with me like this?”

“Of course." She kissed her ear. "You’re still you, and it’s the real you.”

As Fighter’s heart melted, filling her whole body with warmth, she smiled before taking the queen’s lips captive with hers.

--

--

Fuck yeah, we’re done! Hope y’all enjoyed it!! I love you all!! Happy SeiUsa week 2021! Wooowowowowoo! Rock 'n' roll!!

[bottlepiecemuses]

Yeah, your assertion she was a young girl is wrong. She would be more like teens and no hints of rape. I am going to be honest Romans as well romanticize this tale in some iterations. So it's not a recent thing.

"The best-known myth surrounding Proserpina is of her abduction by the god of the Underworld, her mother Ceres' frantic search for her, and her eventual but temporary restitution to the world above. In Latin literature, several versions are known, all similar in most respects to the myths of Greek Persephone's abduction by the King of the underworld, named variously in Latin sources as Dis or Pluto, and in Greek sources as Hades or Pluto. "Hades" can mean both the hidden Underworld and its king ('the hidden one'), who in early Greek versions of the myth is a dark, unsympathetic figure; Persephone is "Kore" ('the maiden'), taken against her will;[12] in the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries, her captor is known as Hades; they form a divine couple who rule the underworld together, and receive Eleusinian initiates into some form of better afterlife. Renamed Pluto, the king of the underworld is distanced from his violent abduction of his consort.[13] In 27 BC Vergil presented his own version of the myth, in his Georgics. In the early 1st century AD, Ovid gives two poetic versions: one in Book 5 of his Metamorphoses and another in Book 4 of his Fasti[14] An early 5th century AD Latin version of the same myth is Claudian's De raptu Proserpinae; in most cases, these Latin works identify Proserpina's underworld abductor and later consort as Dis.Votive pillar reading Diti Patri et Proserpin[ae] sacrum, "Holy to Dīs Pater and Proserpina", identifying Dīs Pater as Proserpina's husbandA Pre-RaphaeliteProserpine (1873–1877) by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Tate Gallery, London)

In Claudian's version, the unprepossessing Dis yearns for the joys of married love and fatherhood, and threatens to make war on the other gods if he remains alone in Erebus. The Fates (Parcae), who determine the destinies of all, arrange a future marriage for Dis, to prevent the outbreak of war. Jupiter orders Venus to bring love to Dis, in fulfillment of the prophecy. Ceres has already sought to conceal the innocent Proserpina by sending her to safety in Sicily, Ceres' earthly home and sanctuary; but Dis comes out from the volcano at Mount Etna in his chariot, seizes Proserpina at the Pergusa Lake near Enna, and takes her down into the underworld. The poem ends at this point.[15]

Proserpina's mother, Ceres, seeks her daughter across the world, but in vain. The sun sinks and darkness falls as Ceres walks the earth, stopping the growth of crops and creating a desert with each step. Jupiter sends Mercury to order Dis to free Proserpina; but Proserpina has melted Dis' hard heart, and eats "several" of the pomegranate seeds he offers her;[16] those who have eaten the food of the dead cannot return to the world of the living. Pluto insists that she had willingly eaten his pomegranate seeds and in return she must stay with him for half the year. Virgil asserts that Proserpina agrees to this, and is reluctant to ascend from the underworld and re-unite with her mother. When Ceres greets her daughter's return to the world of the living, the crops grow, flowers blossom, and in summer all growing crops flourish, to be harvested in Autumn. During the time that Proserpina resides with Pluto, the world goes through winter, when the earth gives no crops. [17] The earth can only be fertile when she is above.[18]"

Ok, why do we always characterize Demeter as dramatic? It's so dumb. In the original myth, Hades stole Persephone and in some versions of the myth she was a young girl. Hades kidnapped and most likely raped her young daughter. She had every reason to be as distraught as she was. She has every reason to mourn each year when Persephone must go back to the underworld. But we picture her as an over dramatic, over bearing mother instead of a mother who did everything to save her child. I know I might get hate for this, but I think that we romanticize Greek myths too much...we recreate them (which is fine as long as we don't lose the point) and we erase why they were needed in the first place...we make them into modern day love stories or hollow shells of their former selves where the author uses them as a marketing tool instead of a culture. Greek myths were meant to show deep cruelty within human nature. The Gods are supposed to show the worst parts of humanity. When we romanticize certain characters, we are romanticizing the worst parts of human nature.

[black-is-beautiful18]

Sibling Bonding

Pairings: Hazel & Nico & Black sibling OC

A/N: I feel like not a lot of people pay attention to Hazel so I'm gonna take care of that.

***************************************************

"Are you sure about this?"

Sighing, I roll my eyes playfully as I look down at the girl between my legs." Hazel, relax! You said you wanted me to do your hair and I promised I'd take care of you." I reassure her as I set to work on parting a section of her hair and pinning the rest of it up.

She shifts slightly before tilting her head back to look up at me." I'm just nervous. I'm so used to wearing my hair up or putting it in a ponytail. Not to mention being a demigod keeps me kinda busy." Hazel says playfully making me laugh.

"Facts. I'm surprised I have time to do anything with my hair. Sometimes I just wanna cut it all off." I huff as I remember the times where I'd have to wash monster dust among other things out of my hair.

As if I'd kicked her kitten Hazel's jaw drops. "Nadia! You wouldn't dare!" Throwing my head back I laugh." What?! It's not like I haven't done it before!" I protest smirking at the shocked look on her face at the announcement of me cutting my hair. Turning around, she glares up at me." Explain."

Trying my best not to laugh, I shake my head." I've cut my hair a couple times but it's not as if anyone noticed since it grew back so fast." I pause." Well except for Nico. He noticed." I add as I reach for my spray bottle and motion for Hazel to turn back around.

As if summoned, the door of the cabin opens revealing Nico who pauses at the sight of his two sisters." This is where you two disappeared to?" He asks tilting his head to the side. Hazel nods as I smile." Nico! Come join us!" I call out gaining a small laugh from the older boy who walks into the cabin closing the door behind him.

Unlike Hazel, who is a daughter of Pluto, I'm a daughter of Hades. When I showed up at camp, I disoriented and confused. I was also scared since my mom wouldn't tell me where she was taking me. Just that this place would help me. Nico was actually one of the first people I met. He was nice after I practically ran into him when I was running away from some Ares kids. It was actually not long after I ran into him that I was claimed. He was shocked to say the least but he took me under his wing which I really appreciate.

"She's finally letting you do her hair?" Nico asks sitting on his bed as I spray Hazel's hair before applying oil to her scalp and using the rest on my hands to rub into her hair." Yes! I'm gonna twist it." I say excitedly causing him to smirk. He's seen me do many things to my hair since I've been here so he's pretty much caught up.

"It's only because she's so good at it and I thought I should do something new." Hazel says smiling as I apply cream to her hair the cabin immediately smelling of pomegranate and honey.

"Speaking of trying new things, have you been practicing Nadia?" Nico asks as I make a face." Eh. My shadow travel is getting better but I'm still having trouble summoning spirits." I mutter. I'm sort of a late bloomer when it comes to powers but I've been working hard to get control of them.

"Don't rush it. You'll get it in time." Hazel says comfortingly putting a hand on my thigh and patting it gently. Smiling, I shrug." I know. It's a work in progress but I'm getting better at using a sword." I say proudly.

"But you suck at using a shield." I glare at Nico as he lays back on his bed. My hands move fast as I part Hazel's hair and begin twisting it." First of all, I panicked." I huff.

Nico quickly sits up pointing a finger at me." You nearly took my head off!"

"I said I was sorry!"

"I told you not to throw it like that, you nerd!"

"I didn't mean to throw it that hard!"

"Sure you didn't Captain America."

I stick my tongue out at him and he smirks as he sticks his middle finger up at me which draws a loud gasp from Hazel.

"Nico Di Angelo!"

I throw my head back laughing as Hazel begins scolding Nico who looks as though he could care less.

"Just tell her that the shield isn't a frisbee." Nico says wrapping his blanket around himself and laying down.

Rolling my eyes, I take another section of Hazel's hair and begin repeating the process. Water, combing, oil, cream, then twist.

"Shut up or else next time it won't be an accident." I state while focused on my sister's hair.

"Whatever Captain America."

I grab my pillow and throw it at him smirking as it hits him in the face.

"Brat!"

Hazel and I laugh knowing that he doesn't mean it.

**********************************

"Ta-da! All done!" I sing as I hold up a mirror. Hazel's eyes widen as she takes the mirror and turns her head this way and that way looking over her new hairstyle.

"Nadia...This looks amazing! I look amazing!" I laugh at her." I wish I had a blow dryer but there's nothing wrong with letting it air dry."

"You should help out some of the other girls. I know they'd love to have someone help them." Hazel suggest as she gets up and stretches stumbling slightly.

She quickly steadies herself and I giggle as she looks at me sheepishly." It's ok. It happens." I assure her as I stand up and begin wiping some of the cream off her face.

"And I'll think about it. I like helping."

Nico hums causing both of us to look at him.

"What?" Hazel looks at me confused as he hums again.

I roll my eyes." He said to get out. Ignore him."

A pillow hits me in the side of my face and I blink a few times causing Hazel to giggle.

"Boy, I know you did not just throw that pillow at me." I huff picking it up as Nico stays silent.

"You're about to be one less sibling Hazel." I throw the pillow back onto my bed as Hazel laughs taking my hand." Ok. I'm gonna teach you how to properly use a shield." She coos patting my hand as she begins leading me out of the cabin making me laugh.

"Good luck!" Nico calls out and I turn around to march back into the cabin to give him a piece of my mind but Hazel has a good grip on me quickly closing the door. Oh the joys of having siblings.

***************************

A/N: I think it sucks but here ya go! 😚

@stars8melanin @prettyvintageafternoon @goddessofcrossroads

[auroras-blend]

Road Trip

Bonus Chapter from Leo's POV where he takes Vittoria on a 10-hour car ride to Rome for a vacation. Basically, he's stuck in a car with an eight-year-old for 10+ hours.

Leonardo Borghese was a patient man and prided himself on his ability to stay calm in tense situations. He wore a mask that most artists could only dream of modeling, but his facade was quickly crumbling in the second hour of the ten-hour car ride. “Are we there yet?” asked Vittoria for the sixth time in the last hour.

“No, not yet principessa. Not for a while,” he groaned, looking at the car’s clock, “Eight more hours.”

He had promised to take her to Rome, his birthplace, months ago and now he, unfortunately, had to make good on that promise. Vittoria had seemed tired when she entered the car at four in the morning (she hadn't even had a panic attack), which is why he had forgone giving her Nyquil, but apparently, she had a burst of energy ten minutes into their ride. Apparently, the panic attack had been delayed and she spent the first hour crying and praying, before finally settling down into a conversation. Every single car ride. Whoever killed Giuseppe and traumatized his daughter would pay dearly, especially considering getting her to church was always a two-hour-long affair if he added in the time for trying to get her into the car.

The past two hours had been hell for him and he had eight more to go. Eight was optimistic given his daughter’s small bladder.

Leonardo Borghese didn’t like being in a small shared space with a prattling person. His cellmate hadn’t been as aggravating as Franco, and dear God he’d say it, Franco wasn't as aggravating as Vittoria was right now. “Why don’t you try and go to sleep?”

“I’m not tired!” she said brightly, before rapidly firing a line of questions at him, “How far is Rome? Do we still get to see gladiators fight? What about the lions? Will they have lions?”

“Far enough,” he breathed, “No, we won’t see gladiators fight and there are no lions.”

“They should have lions,” she quipped, “Did you know they had women, gladiators? I don’t think I’d like to be a gladiator, because I don’t like blood. Minerva was a war goddess and she was smart. I read about her in my book, but she’s not my favorite. Do you know who my favorite is Papa?”

Oh, God. “Who is it Vittoria?” he asked, trying to keep a smile in his voice.

“Venus and Diana. I like Venus cause she's the goddess of love and beauty. I play Venus a lot because I’m pretty. Did you know the planet’s named after her?” she asked, not giving him a chance to reply, “And then there’s Diana because she’s the goddess of the moon. She doesn’t date icky boys and turns them into deers! I’d like to do that!”

How am I going to do this for another nine hours? “Who’s your favorite Roman god, Papa? I bet I can guess! Is it Jupiter? Because he’s the king! Did you know a planet is named after him too? It's the biggest one! You're really big, Papa! Did you know I know all the names of the planets now because I remember the Roman gods and goddesses? Sg.na Sagesse taught me a song. I’ll show you!”

This is hell. Vittoria began singing along to the tune, Michael Finnegan: “There are nine planets around the sun, let me name them one by one…”

Can I mute her? “There’s Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, they have super pretty stars!”

Leonardo was gritting his teeth and focusing on the road. She’ll fall asleep eventually. “Then there’s Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune but wait one moment we’re not done with this tune!”

Why can’t we be done? “Stop right there, please don’t go, make some room for Pluto! There are nine planets around the sun, now you can name them one by one!”

Leonardo gave a fake gasp. “That’s incredible principessa! You’re such a smart girl,” he praised as he watched a proud blush rise to her cheeks.

“Really?”

“Of course! I could never memorize that song like you can,” he said, unknowingly damning himself.

Vittoria gasped. “Oh Papa, don’t say that! You can! I can teach you!”

Shit. “Oh, it’s okay principessa,” he tried to quickly say before she began singing the song again.

***

He considered himself a saint for not snapping at her. Vittoria had sung the planet song close to thirty times before he finally got the hang of it, or at least until she passed out. He knew the song now. There are nine planets around the sun, let me name them one by one… Those damn lyrics were stuck in his head and he couldn't even drown it out with the radio unless he wanted to risk waking Vittoria. Leonardo looked at the clock...seven hours to go...make some room for Pluto...Leonardo sighed at the long road ahead.

***

They had made six pit stops in the last two hours because Vittoria had the smallest bladder. At the sixth stop, they decided to get lunch where he ordered a light meal but allowed her to order a pizza with a glass of milk, even though she begged for a soda. There was no way he’d make that mistake. Vittoria was incredibly chatty with the waitresses, telling them that they were going to Rome and everything they’d see. She could give Franco a run for his money.

“But all the Roman gods are there! Did you know that, Papa? I want to go to the Pantseon first. That’s my very favorite place!” she squealed.

As exhausted and annoyed as he was, he did smile at her excitement. He had been worried that his eight-year-old would be bored out of her mind and would throw an embarrassing tantrum at the museum, but she wasn’t. She’s an academic, just like her father. “Pantheon,” he corrected.

“Oh right! Anyway…” she continued.

Leonardo let himself enjoy the moment and memories he was making with his daughter. He knew she probably didn’t get to go on any road trips when she lived with her mother, and seeing her excited about her first-ever vacation was endearing. Especially when he was the one giving her her first-ever vacation because he had missed so many firsts. She stole those precious moments from me, he thought hatefully. But he had the rest of their lives to be the only one who gave her those special memories.

He had wanted this, a perfect daughter to spoil and who would worship the ground he walked on, but when he had wished for it he hadn’t imagined that he’d be raising her alone. A proper family vacation would have been with a wife and a car full of children, though now that he was in a car with just one child for the past several hours, he was content to keep the number down for the time being. It was a lot of work just caring for her by himself, not that he was incapable, mind you, but he took great joy in being called a “selfless single father” by those around him. Leonardo knew full well that if he were a woman, the words used to describe him would be derogatory.

He could tell the stigma that Vittoria carried around with her when she was raised in the States haunted her. The names she had been called, people refusing to play with her...he truly was, in his mind, the best thing to ever happen to her. He told himself he was acting in her best interest when he took her to Italy to live with him, after all, it's my right, and that he gave her everything she ever wanted and needed. She seemed far better off now than she did then, well with a sprinkle of a few traumatic events, but details, details.

“Are you happy, then?” he asked.

She nodded as her cheeks puffed out with a large bite of pizza. “Slow down,” he said when he saw her trying to swallow quickly so she could speak again.

He didn’t want her to choke. “But then we have to go to our garden and art museum!”

Vittoria was convinced that Villa Borghese and the Borghese Gallery and Museum were their family’s museum and that it only made sense because they were both artists. He let her entertain that notion. Leonardo, contrary to his nature, let his daughter lead the conversation, mainly because he didn't have the energy to contribute. Another three to four hours seemed impossible, but there was still enough daylight for them to use, and they had to check-in at five o’clock. “I can’t wait to be in Rome! We have to take super lots of pictures!” she grinned.

“We’ll take plenty of pictures,” he smiled back.

“You were born there, right Papa?”

“Yes, I was born in Rome,” he smiled.

“I wish I was born in Rome. I was born in stupid Idaho,” she frowned, “That’s a state.”

Idaho, in his opinion, was an ordinary state with unremarkable people. Not fit for Vittoria. When he had visited Rome a while ago, he had changed her birthplace to Rome to better suit her. She wasn’t an ordinary child. “Did you not like Idaho?” he asked, already knowing her answer.

“No. It was boring and the people were mean. I had to do a report on it and people like us because we grow potatoes, but that’s it,” her frown was set for a moment before she broke out into a smile, “My report was the bestest! I always make my first letters capitals and add periods. I’m the only second-grader who remembers!”

“Of course you are. I bet you were the best writer in your class,” he praised.

He had seen her writing samples, and even when she wrote an argumentative piece about throwing Charles to the tigers, her work was still fairly impressive. Writing seemed to be one of her strengths, which was reassuring given that math and reading were not. “I was! I always got gold stars! Mr. Morgan never gave them to Rodney, because he’s a bad writer!” she said the last part with a smug look on her face that she inherited from her father.

Leonardo had begun to notice the striking similarities they shared in their mannerisms and expressions. The way she slipped on her “happy mask” as she called it and the way she forced her eyes to soften when she wanted sympathy over a pointless tantrum. Vittoria was learning to play the game he had set, practiced, and perfected. She’ll never win, but it’s sweet to see her try.

He indulged her with ice cream before they headed back out into the car and onto the road for another few hours of hell. And it was hell. He had created a car ride bag for her, which he praised himself for making, that he had filled with crayons, paper, coloring books, storybooks, a blanket, and snacks that wouldn’t leave crumbs. He swore by it, finding solutions for the “I’m hungry” and “I’m bored” complaints that he insisted other parents adopt as if they hadn’t already thought of that before, because even though he called it a “car ride bag”, it was most certainly a “dad bag” that was a staple of fatherhood.

Leonardo thought it was one of the greatest things he had ever thought of, but he quickly regretted it when Vittoria pulled something out that he hadn’t even known she’d snuck in. She always claimed it helped her calm down. His shoulders tensed when he heard the tune of the London Bridge begin to play. “Is that your music box?” he asked, not bothering to turn around.

“Mm-hm,” she hummed before she began to sing quietly under her breath.

I’m going to kill Signora Bianchi. He looked at her through the rear-view mirror and saw her begin to color in her coloring book of a Greek garden, a pleasant smile on her face as she whispered the lyrics. It was only a few ear grating moments before the tune ended and even fewer moments in between her cranking it up again. Why am I being punished? “Principessa, I’m going to turn on the radio,” he said, reaching for the knob.

“You can’t!”

“Why not?” he sighed with irritation.

“This is my artist music!”

Of course, it is, he thought dryly. “Vittoria-,”

“I promise only for this page!” she swore, “Cross my heart!”

It was his fault. He refused to admit it, but it was his fault for believing her words and letting her play the song. Vittoria was a child who took her sweet old time with her art, so it was hours (twenty minutes) until she was finished with her masterpiece. “And done!”

“Thank Christ,” he muttered under his breath, “I’m turning on the radio now, okay?”

Anything to drown out that godforsaken tune in my head. And for a while, he was blessed with just the music as Vittoria fell into a post-lunch nap. Thank you, God. It seemed the Lord was shining on him because they were less than five minutes out without any problems. We’ll make it there and- “Papa, I feel sick,” Vittoria croaked.

No. His eyes met the small figure behind the rear-view mirror. She was hunched over, clutching her belly, and her face had gone ashy. He had to stop himself from insensitively saying, don’t throw up in the car! The hotel was right in front of them, all we have to do is make it. “Just hold on, a few moments and-,” as he made a sharp turn into the parking lot, the jolt caused her to unleash whatever was in her stomach.

The sound of her hurling was as sickening as the smell of pizza, milk, and ice cream that had been poorly dissolved by her stomach acid which also made an appearance. The sight of it nearly made him throw up, but he was better than that. He had finished parking by the time she had finished expelling her lunch from her stomach. Leonardo gave a shaky sigh as he heard Vittoria start to cry, apologizing furiously. He got out of the car and stretched his legs outside as he hurried over to her door, not taking a moment to breathe in the fresh air. “I’m-I’m sorry, Papa!”

He quickly unbuckled her from her seat belt and pulled her out of the car and settled her on his hip. He wasn’t his father, he wasn’t cruel enough to think that she could’ve controlled it, and he certainly wouldn’t punish her by making her eat it. His chest tightened just a fraction of a second remembering what he was put through, before focusing on the moment he was in. She’s just my fragile little girl. She can't help it. He knew that now, of all times, was an important reminder for her to know that he was the better parent. The one who is her favorite and who loves her most. “I know, I know you didn’t mean it,” he whispered as he felt her head.

A little warm, but she probably just got car sick. He forced his eyes to assess the damage, which was very little considering she aimed incredibly well into the bag. “Oh thank God,” he sighed before frowning.

Of course, that music box is left untouched. Of course, it is! With the exception of a few specks on the leather that could easily be wiped off and the smell that could easily be remedied by airing the car out, there was no damage whatsoever. He had been terrified that she had thrown up on the carpet that he just had cleaned. The mess was quickly taken care of and the bag was thrown out because they could just buy newer and better items later. The check-in process was swift and he wasted no time getting her into the hotel room and washing her off before putting her back in bed. Vittoria was moaning and groaning against the pillows as if she were a Victorian woman on her deathbed. He didn't know whether to roll his eyes or smile. She’s incredibly dramatic. “Thank you,” she said softly, her eyes vulnerable and wide, “For taking care of me.”

“It’s what fathers do,” he said, having her sip a cool glass of water to soothe her burning throat.

“I had fun,” she smiled.

He climbed into the bed next to her and let her lean against him, “You did?”

He had received absolutely no enjoyment in that car ride whatsoever and thought for all intents and purposes that it was a failure. “Uh-huh, except throwing up. I didn't like that,” she gave a weak laugh, “But I had fun with you.”

It occurred to him that he hadn’t snapped at her when he was annoyed, let her talk about things she was interested in, and do things that she enjoyed. Her mother was an irritable and unstable woman who probably would have already yelled at her ten minutes (he was being gracious with that number) into the drive, before breaking down herself. Who would’ve been furious at Vittoria for throwing up in the car and who would cause her to break down into uncontrollable sobs. Leonardo felt overwhelmingly smug that she had a great time with him and that he was the one who made her smile. “I had fun with you too,” he grinned.

Vittoria snuggled against him before falling fast asleep. She’s such a good sleeper. Vittoria’s breathing became soft and suddenly his breaths started to match hers, as his exhaustion caught up to him and lured him into a deep slumber. He had suffered, but she had smiled. And he had made her smile, and in his mind, that was all that mattered.

[docholligay]

A Crack in Everything

For @yamadara87‘s fic, I combined two things I know she loves: Michiru, and Michiru being warm to Usagi. I hope everyone enjoys this nice MaS fic! 

Whether she was atoning for her own sins or for Mamoru’s, even Michiru did not know. The divorce had gone through quickly, thanks to the application of good lawyers and the lack of fighting. Usagi had surrendered, after a few awkward weeks of her claiming that she could love Mamoru enough for the both of them, and a dinner out with Rei where anything might have explained, but Michiru imagined was along the lines of, “Usagi, some people are the homosexual kind of gay.” 

Whatever frustrations Michiru might have with Rei in the day to day, there was something to be said for her ability to wield, not a rapier, as Michiru did, thin and sharp and quick, but her own certain style of conversational poleaxe. 

Michiru would have told anyone, not even four years ago, that she knew herself entirely. She knew her own mind, and her own heart, and what she wanted and did not want. Michiru knew who she loved, and how, and she knew what she would do in any given situation. It might have been true, when she said it, but at that time, Michiru knew, she was a much simpler creature. 

The stories are lies, she often thought. Love does not simplify things, it complicates them. The more love one holds, the more complicated everything becomes. It was easy to live solely for Haruka. It was more complicated to live for the intricate web of love she had formed in the rubble of that last battle. It had softened her in places she had not expected, lime dripping on the stone of her garden walls until they began to disintegrate in places. They would never come down--Michiru had built them too well--but there would be spaces where birds and squirrels could slip in and out, spaces where bees and butterflies could bring it to life, and bloom. 

And so it was that she found herself having a sleepover with Usagi Tsukino. 

They had been working furiously on her new place, a lovely apartment in a nice enough district that she had purchased as part of the settlement with Mamoru, his own brand of atonement. Usagi had been shockingly prudent, Michiru had first thought, and then remembered that Rei was ever at her side, and had likely reminded Usagi that it was only her now, and anything more than a small one bedroom was a bit of a stretch. 

Michiru Kaioh had hated Sailor Moon, Princess Serenity, and, by extension, Usagi Tsukino, for so many years that she had quite forgotten she had ever felt any other way. The Moon had bound her, the Moon had conscripted her into some ridiculous holy war, the Moon had taken the person she loved most in the world and bent those lovely qualities of chivalry and courage in her into weapons against herself. The Moon had chewed them all up and left them spat upon the sidewalk, and Michiru had hated, hated so deeply she felt it poison the soil. 

“Michiru!” Usagi popped cheerfully into her view, “Do you want some popcorn? I think we’re going to watch Spice World first, but if there’s something you want to watch, I’ll put it in the stack, for sure. I’m so happy you came!” 

She went to hug Michiru, and then didn’t, and Michiru smiled softly. She wasn’t the only one who had grown, it seemed, with the passage of years. 

“Usagi, this is rather meant to be a party for you, and so my selection is whatever would give you the most pleasure.”

Usagi nodded, sat on the floor in her bright pink pajamas. “But you did so much!” 

“Oh, I made a few phone calls,” she waved her hand, “let’s don’t pretend I’ve done anything too onerous.” 

It was true that Michiru had volunteered her greatest skills: Her connections, and her wealth, to spoil Usagi a bit in her new home. A couch in bright turquoise, seeming almost as a living pillow with its fluff, something she never would have afforded for herself, but of course Michiru knew someone who knew someone, and the fine  handmade couch was delivered to Usagi’s door. She had brought the food for tonight’s event, as well, a catering company setting up a table that took up her tiny kitchenlet, with pizzas and chicken nuggets and takoyaki and all manner of junk food. 

The walls had holes in them, and it was through these holes she had begun to see Usagi. They were kin, of a kind, both a bit out of step in Japan. Michiru in her own continental way, and Usagi in a way she hardly seemed to recognize as different. There was nothing expected in her new living space, a bright pink wall and lime green and silver sequined pillows on that new couch. She was too loud, and too bright, and overly familiar, but she could not see, or perhaps she refused to see, how she differed so from her place and the people in it. This was the most winning thing about her, Michiru thought: Usagi and she were both different from others, but Usagi would not assist in any separation. Michiru used her differences as a fence, but Usagi used them as a glue. 

If you wanted to be rid of her, you would have to try. 

“Everyone!” Usagi stood at the front of the room, clapping her hands together joyfully, eyes sparkling with the sheer delight of having her beloved former soldiers, now only her friends, in the room with her. 

Rei and Mina sat on the floor, sharing a soda between them, Rei trying to hide the newlywed sparkle in her cloudy eyes, like stars through a stormy night. Mako chattered happily to Pluto over the baked goods she’d brought--Michiru had not been so foolish as to deny her the pleasure of contributing that--and turned her head to Usagi’s voice. Haruka was nestled into the corner of the soft and lofty couch next to Michiru, a plate of food on her lap and a soda in her hand, relaxed and happy. 

“This is the first time we’ve all been together since…” Usagi looked around at everyone, and her eyes misted with tears, “since things…”

“Since Haruka had to worry about quality footwear!” Mina toasted the moment with her slice of pizza, and Haruka laughed, playfully calling Mina a bitch, and it seemed to break the spell of sadness over Usagi. 

She nodded her head, and grinned. “And we’re all finally together! Again!” 

They looked at each other for a moment, astounded both by the truth of the matter, and the fact that Usagi had been keeping track. Haruka and Michiru had not attended Usagi’s wedding. Pluto had been unable to attend Mina and Rei’s wedding, trapped as she was in her duties from time to time, hoping always that she would not be called back permanently. 

“Except…” and the sadness returned to her voice again, oh Usagi, so mercurial, able to feel everything at once and oh so deeply. 

She did not have to say the rest. Ami and Hotaru would never return, and so the group would never be complete except in it own shattered way, a chipped vase that still retained some form of loveliness. 

“And how very fortunate we are to be gathered here,” Michiru lifted her glass of seltzer, “with you.” 

I’m sorry, a note had said, slipped into their mailbox. She sent a note every week, since Michiru had sent her own notifying Usagi that Michiru had served her tour of duty, and was disinclined to continue any sort of relationship now that she had fulfilled her obligation. She returned them to Usagi, for the first year. Michiru returned the gift Usagi had purchased for M.A., a striped cotton onesie and a few French baby books with a glittering card telling her she’d ordered these specially, because she thought no one else would get them and she remembered Michiru was half-French. She rejected flowers, and closed the door on a pizza boy once, to Haruka’s horror. 

Then a card had said, I’m sorry. It had not been in any envelope and so Michiru had no choice but to read it. There were small spots on it where she must have cried, and Michiru tried to stop reading but she could not. There were words about how she loved Michiru, how she loved Haruka, and how she felt guilty every day that something she had never asked for had ruined their lives. It had killed Ami. It had killed Hotaru. It had hurt the rest, except Minako, even Usagi not able to see Minako had been hurt worst of all. Usagi wrote that she was sorry, and sorry again, that anyone had done it for her. 

Usagi wrote that she hated the Moon, for hurting her friends. That Michiru never had to talk to her again.

Atonement. 

Michiru had sat there a long time, when she read it, her daughter burbling happily in Haruka’s arms in the next room. She hadn’t forgiven Usagi, not in that exact moment, but for the first time, she began to see a chubby little blonde woman, with bright eyes and a crisp pepper of a voice, and saw that she looked nothing like Princess Serenity. That the Moon had used her, as well, and tried to impose its will upon her. She remembered that day in the cathedral, when Usagi had barely known them and saved their lives. Usagi had done that, and she had stolen power from the moon to do that. 

And so a stone had slipped out of her wall, a hole through which she could begin to see. 

It had only come to her recently, in how quickly she had come to Usagi’s aid when Mamoru had decided to take the tiniest bit of real courage in his life, that though she had nothing but hatred for Serenity, she did, somewhere, love Usagi. It may never be that they were close; Usagi was still very garish, and still had all the subtlety of a marching band. But she had learned that love is not an on and off switch, but instead is the light that comes through stained glass: shaded and colored and shaped, each bit making up the whole of the human heart. 

Usagi and Michiru looked at each other in that moment, the room held silent by the excitement and gravity of everything that had come before, and everything that was coming after. They were perhaps the two most different people in the room, here now, together, and not simply sharing space, for perhaps the first time in their lives. 

Usagi giggled, each titter a glimmering bit of the shattered silence carried away on the joy that overwhelmed the moment. 

“And thank you to Michiru for all the food!” She raised her pink moscato, a recommendation of Michiru’s toward the ceiling, spilling just a bit on the floor. 

Haruka scowled. ‘I helped pick it out!” 

“Oh of course, Haruka!” Usagi nodded, “You did a really wonderful job, and Mako! Mako made all the cupcakes and they’re so pretty! I love the pink glitter it’s so beautiful, and Rei helped plan the whole thing, and Mina…,” she searched for the words, not quite remembering what it was Mina might have done, ‘She’s just the best--” 

“I brought porn!” Mina brightly held the video aloft, “Pirates! Really high production values, I think even--” 

Rei snatched it out of her hand. “Did you seriously?” She held it close to her face, and then her eyes grew wide, and she looked back at Mina, “Minako!” 

“Okay, Usagi said to bring a movie that reminded us of our--” 

“Are you suggesting,” Michiru looked down at Mina, trying to hold her face serious but feeling a smile crack, “that we remind you of a group of porn stars?” 

“Michiru, they’re not porn stars they’re pirates who are just enjoying some high seas adventure, it’s called acting, you can watch like Dame Judi Whateverthefuck and be fine with--” 

Rei shoved her. “I am NOT--” 

“Okay Rei, but don’t we go into battle bravely?” She held her chin high, “And fuck just as bravely?” 

Usagi wrinkled her nose, “Mina--”

Haruka snorted. “Bravely?” 

“Bud, you tangle with the kraken, I can only imagine your courage. Respect.”

Usagi stomped her foot, “WE ARE WATCHING SPICE WORLD.” 

There were seven sleeping bags piled in the corner,  all touching one another, together because their owners had placed them there, and no accident of fate. The clamor went on, and Michiru sat watching, and through the holes of that wall inside her the sunshine streamed in, and she felt flowers she had never known lay beneath the soil beneath to bloom. 

It may have been poisoned, once. But the rain had washed it clean and dark and deep and filled it with life, and Michiru realized she was atoning for no one’s sins at all. 

She wanted to be here, with friends.

[fragiledewdrop]

Send a space thing for questions by @sentencestarters-and-asks. I need a distraction, so I am going to answer all these and tag people at the end.

Planets: Life

Mercury: What’s your full name? Federica

Venus: What’s your first language?Italian

Earth: Where’s your home?An apartment in the outskirts of a town near Rome.

Mars: What’s your sexuality?I’m bi.

Jupiter: Do you have any siblings? A younger brother named Giacomo.

Saturn: Any pets?A cat named Faramir, Mir for short.

Uranus: What’s your hobby? Writing, mostly.

Neptune: When’s your birthday? March 27th

Pluto: What time is it right now where you are? 13.49

Moon: What are you currently studying/hope to study? Foreign Languages and Literature

Stars: Experiences

Sun: Have you ever had alcohol? Oh, yes.

Sirius: Have you ever failed a class? No. I almost failed PE in Highscool though. I am not cool.

Rigel: Have you ever gone on a rollercoaster? Yes, when I was a child. I don’t remember the experience very well.

Deneb: Have you ever been out of your home country? Many times, most recently to Paris.

Arcturus: Have you cried out of something other than sadness? Yes. Out of joy. Out of wonder at the beauty of things.

Betelgeuse: What’s something you can never forget about? The fact that my family love me. There was a time I doubted that. I won’t anymore.

Aldebaran: What’s something you care desperately about? Writing, for one. And equality. And learning the most we can from everything and everyone.

Canopus: Have you ever broken a bone? No, thankfully.

Bellatrix: Have you ever been forced to lie/keep a secret? Yes, more than once. When my mother was depressed, severely, I wasn’t allowed to talk about it. Something similar happened with my brother too. Thankfully now I have a better understanding of the fact that mental illness is not shameful. I also kept my sexuality a secret for a long time.

Alphard: Have you ever lost a friend? More than one, but the most painful was my former best friend who couldn’t accept I was bisexual and depressed. I had my share of faults too, but it still hurt. Now we are on speaking terms again, but I’ve never taken any relationship for granted ever since.

Vega: What’s something you’ve done that you wish you hadn’t? Hurt myself. Don’t do it. It’s not worth it.

Constellations: Favourites

Centaurus: Favourite holiday? Christmas!

Orion: Favourite month? October

Cassiopeia: Favourite book?   Right now I am reading “The Waves” by Virginia Woolf and it’s becoming a fast favourite.

Delphinus: Favourite study? Any kind of literature.

Hercules: Favourite instrument? Violin.

Gemini: Favourite song? Savage Daughter by Sarah Hester

Pegasus: Favourite place to be?in my room with the window open, sitting under a tree or near the sea.

Libra: Favourite colour? Green.

Phoenix: Favourite thing to wear? Flowy dresses.

Aries: Favourite movie? Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Handmaiden, The Return of the King.

Cygnus: Favourite weather? A sunny crisp autumn morning.

Hydra: Favourite sound? My cat drinking his water. I stop whatever I am doing just to listen.

Galaxies: Love/Friends  

Milky Way: Who’s your oldest friend?   Her name is Roberta. We were in Middle school together and reached out to each other about a year ago to reconnect. She’s awesome.

Andromeda: Do you consider yourself social? Hell no.

Black Eye Galaxy: Do you believe in love at first sight? Not really. I do belieave that we can glimpse the possibility of something when we meet certain people, whtether a friendship or a relationship, and attraction certainly plays a role, but it takes more than that to truly fall in love or even become real friends.

Cartwheel Galaxy: When was your first kiss?The first REAL one? I was 21.

Cigar Galaxy: How’s your flirting skills? Awful.

Comet Galaxy: Have you ever had to leave a relationship because someone changed too much? No, not for that reason.

Pinwheel Galaxy: Would you date the last person you talked to? MY MOM? xD

Sombrero Galaxy: Do you have a crush right now? No

Bode’s Galaxy: Have you ever had a secret admirer? Yes, actually. My brother told me one of his friends had a crush on me. Same with Roberta and one of her friends. I had no idea either time.

Sunflower Galaxy: Would you date/make friends with someone out of pity? I have made friends with someone out of pity. Not the best idea to be sure, not if pity is and remains the only reason. I would not date out of pity, though.

Tadpole Galaxy: Would you deny a relationship/friendship? If I had a good reason, yes.

Whirlpool Galaxy: Have you ever cried over a breakup? Absolutely and abundantly.

Other stuff: Wishes

Comet: What’s your big dream? Being healthy and indipendent.

Asteroid: What does your dream life look like? A job I don’t hate, travels,feeling useful, having friends, being able to manage my depression.

Meteor: What’s something you wish you could tell, but can’t? I wish I could tell that I will be able to graduate.

Nebula: If you could undo one thing in your life, what would it be? Keeping my problems a secret from the people who loved me.

Shooting Star: If you could bring back one thing, what would it be? The lightness of childhood.

Pulsar: What do you hope to do in the next 10 years? Make my parents proud. Fall in love again. See more of the world. Graduate. Stay in touch with my friends. Publishing a book of poems.

Supernova: What’s one thing you want to do before you die? Being happy.

Quasar: If you could spend the rest of your life with only one person, who would it be? Honestly, at the end of the day it would be my brother. I love him, and I still have the big sister insinct to make sure he’s okay, even though he doesn’t need me in that way anymore.

Wormhole: What’s something you wish would happen, but know won’t? I will never be completely fine, most likely, but that’s okay as long as I can live a fullfilling life.

Black Hole: What’s the last thing you want to see? The face of a loved one. Tree branches against a clear blue sky.

Tagging @snovolovac , @vengefulnoob , @awed-frog , @justsomeonerandom17 , @leeaneea , @mirandasinclairs , @pancsaa , @unefemme , @procasdeanating , @mansikkaomenabanaani , @phasingoutfromthis , @popping-pills-at-popeyes , @laurentlovesdamen, @pxwerpxlitics

Do it only if you want, of course

[dilfbatman]

eating outside or thunderstorms!! not necessarily together n pick whichever one you like best 💜💜 lové u dil

I LOVE YOU GRACE 🥺 THANK YOU BABES <3 okay so i’m gonna intersperse pjo w my oc’s bc i need to get them out here so i’m adding your fav one aka damien romanov for you miss grace <3 i love you 🥺 ALSO this is my first time ever writing a oneshot/fic whatever you wanna call it so please leave me some constructive criticism! i wanna get better :D

—

The sunlight was directly hitting dark as night hair, casting a halo on a young man reminiscent of a fallen angel. Grey eyes that were most often sharp, cold, and calculating were now softened, calm, and playful. A slight smile present, Damien lulled his head back to soak up the sun’s rays. His eyes closed revealing a bright orange canvas with dark sunspots that danced like ballerinas across his eyelids. Surveying the languid movements he moved his fingers accordingly, creating a slight cold mist in his hands that felt familiar, that felt like home.

“Looks like someone’s having a fine summer’s evening.” Hazel giggled. Damien opened his eyes and found Hazel, the young & kind daughter of Pluto. She was sporting a creamsicle colored button up with orange heart-shaped glasses and a pair of distressed boyfriend jeans. She always had a smile on her face and was one of the very few people Damien trusted with his life. He had a soft spot in his heart for Hazel (as many people do). She was like a sister to him - he often mentored her to get in tune with the powers that his mother Hecate had gifted her with.

“Just chilling out.” He drawled. The late summer evenings in July were Damien’s favorite. Seeing the skies turn from a bright turquoise blue to a rust orange laden with rosy pinks, which in turn bled into a dark blue dusk brought the son of Hecate comfort.

“Well come on in. You have to help clean up the food we made for the picnic.” She flicked his forehead before he could make a move and quickly ran inside with her own laughter following her every step. He rolled his eyes and replayed the day in his head.

Fellow demigods from Camp Half-Blood & Camp Jupiter invited Damien and a few of his friends to a beautiful summer’s day picnic. While the Seven and a few more were used to this tradition, their new friends were not always privy to the simple joys of hanging out with friends without a care in the world, laughing and playing, or creating memories to last however long a lifetime is for a mere demigod. In fact, it took quite the bit of goading from Hazel & Nico to get the Underworld/Minor gods’ kids to join.

Thankfully, no one is immune to the puppy eyes of one miss Hazel Levesque.

Damien, and his friends Xavier - a son of Eros, & Dmitri - a daughter of Hades, had accompanied him. The day played without a hitch. His friends were smiling, everyone was talking to each other, and most importantly - everyone was safe and resting. Annabeth had her girlfriend Piper laid across her lap while she softly played with her hair. Jason’s shoulder was occupied by Leo’s head which shook Jason’s shoulder anytime he laughed which everyone took note of - seeing the son of Jupiter blush was a rare yet sweet treat. Dmitri’s siblings were both playing a mythomagic game while Dmitri spoke to Perseus & Will about underworld antics that Nico got up to which Percy would certainly not make fun of to Nico’s face once this was all over. Xavier, the ridiculously beautiful son of Eros laid back to back against Frank while they both spoke of archery while munching on cookies that Hazel so kindly baked for the group.

The day was without a doubt, one of the best days they had in a long while. Everyone’s stomaches were full of delicious sandwiches, chips, sodas, & sweet treats. After a day of joy & rest they all came home which brought them to the present moment. Damien walked inside and found both Dmitri & Jason looking at the sky which had turned into a grey that mirrored Damien’s eyes.

A soft smile was found on Dmitri’s face. “It’ll rain. I can sense the thunderstorm approaching.” She found solace in the rolling dark grey skies, and unlike other demigod children, she was not afraid of a little bit of lightning.

Jason nodded and quipped, “Expect tons of lightning. My father is feeling a bit bored today.” Dmitri barked a laugh and walked towards the living room - she casted her hands towards the fire place to summon up flames.

Damien looked around the room and saw his old friends and his new friends mingling around with one another. He found solace in the fact that this was now his life. Laughter echoed, thunder rumbled, and lightning would strike. It was a like a beautiful symphony that brought not only the son of Hecate, but the rest of the demigod kids an insurmountable amount of joy.

AHHHH OKAY SO THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER WRITING A ONESHOT SO LIKE DKDJDJD SORRY IF IT SUCKS! but i hope you enjoy and if anyone wants to request more feel free - it’s from the soft summer’s prompt list! :D

[cabinofimagines]

Ship? I’m Bi, my godly parent is Demeter, I’m an introvert i really love animal I have long hair thats past my waist that’s dark brown with some light golden strands my eyes are bright green and I have freckles I play the piano and ukulele being around to many people, sounds and lights over stimulate me and I have panic attacks Im pretty quiet even around friends I only have a few friends but thats kinda all I need Im a good listener and I give good advice to people I also have a pet squirrel

wow you really are a child of Demeter huh

I really and honestly think that Hazel would be a cute match for you. Hazel is an odd match solely because nearly every animal is scared to death of her-- not because of her or anything, but because of her father. It can take some getting used to. You only realized how much it bothered her when you brought your pet squirrel around your friends, watching Leo and Piper coo over the furry thing was quite a funny sight. But you couldn’t enjoy it when Hazel was looking on almost vacantly. Her lips would quirk up when the small thing made a sound or paused to stare Leo down for petting too much, but other than that? She wanted to participate and dammit you couldn’t leave her out. It took forever to get your pet accustomed to the daughter of Pluto, but it finally allowed Hazel near without too much of a fight. Your heart swelled with joy at the sight, Hazel grinning widely and giving your pet her undivided attention-- which it was quickly warming up to.

-Day

((Side note, I’m sorry I haven’t been doing ships! Things have been really wild lately, but I’ll get through them. Feel free to send them in every Wednesday and I’ll get to them eventually!!))

[studiotheophania]

Overview of Reasons I Think Ceres rules Taurus

Prelude: This is mostly a hypothesis. It hasn’t been played out in the study of lots of charts, and lots of transits. It’s definitely a “some thoughts I had in the bath” type of thing. But I have a day job that takes a lot of attention and is fulfilling, so if any more real-life astrologers want to play with this idea I’d be SO PUMPED.

Reason Group 1: Astronomy: I don’t use a lot of dwarf planets - not because I think they are fake, but because I want to keep my focus. This section is a list of astronomical aspects that make me pay attention to Ceres moreso than the other dwarf planets, all drawn from wikipedia.

1. It is by far the largest object in the asteroid belt, constituting about 25% of its total mass. I haven’t followed this through very hard but if the asteroid belt is a shattered planet, as I think is postulated by people who know more than I do, it might make sense to think that Ceres could be considered the core of that planet. (Note: this postulation is not held up by the wikipedia article.) It was also the first asteroid ever discovered and was originally considered a planet, and has a lot of life-favorable conditions.

2. It’s round. It is the only object in the asteroid belt that’s rounded by its own gravity. I think that’s significant.

3. No offense but the other dwarf planets are really far away, around the edges of the solar system where Pluto and Neptune are. 

Reason Group 2: Mythology: The mythology of Ceres fits Taurus like a glove.

1. Basic mythology - she rules the harvest, grain, everyday nurturing, gave the gift of agriculture to humanity. She is also in charge of marriage and family, which create structures for the healthy fertility of spirit. She ... is just very Taurus. One does not have to search for these connections. One distinct quality of Ceres as goddess is that she’s involved with everyone’s day-to-day lives - she’s intimate and hands-on, not high and mighty. She’s also not a svelte maiden, but a mother figure of humble, general appearance.

2. Opposition with Pluto/Hades ... A. Comparable to the opposition with Scorpio: Ceres’s daughter Persephone, a beautiful fruit, was kidnapped by Pluto and had to rot. Taurus loves to hold onto things and keep them static, and Scorpio makes them move and undergo their transformation procedures. B. The rhythm of the seasons created by Ceres’s mourning for Persephone is comparable to the slow, kind of infinite time associated with Taurus. Taurus’s time frame is actual complete stillness. The way plants grow is by BEING, BEING, BEING. They don’t plan or execute, they just BE BE BE. And yet, because things do have to change, there is an anchoring between Taurus and Scorpio that creates these big, slow, cyclical movements of the seasons, of fertility and barrenness. The way Ceres creates winter is by BEING with her MOURNING. The way she creates spring is by BEING with her JOY. It’s important that she be still and heavy in these emotions, because it balances the process of transformation and creates the cycle of fertility.

Reason 3: Venus suits Libra better, and Ceres suits Taurus better This is definitely a minor reason and kind of an afterthought. I just don’t think Venus suits Taurus that well. I get that Taurus is a sensual sign - that’s fine. I get that the earth has to be RECEPTIVE, a Venus keyword, in order to receive the energy of life/Aries and transform it into plants etc. But there’s more to Taurus energy than Venus specifically provides, and it’s just overall better met by Ceres.  For instance: -the slow-season emphasis. Venus likes stillness because it likes neutralized energy, but it also has changes that are as fast as turning on a light or tilting a... scale. It doesn’t have a “holding on” quality like Taurus has. -Satiation/Nutrition/Starving. Yes the mouth is Receptive, the intestines are Receptive; yes hunger has to do with a Desire that is Fulfilled, all that is very Venusian and romantic. Sort of. I think it’s more Cere...an. Hunger and its fulfillment have different qualities than the more idea-structured longing of Venus. The feeling of being satiated, satisfied, cozy, healthy, like a happy cow... this is distinct. Venus is about meeting on an equal level - neutralizing what needs to be neutralized, and harmonizing the rest, so that there’s a duet going on. Ceres is about taking it into your body, making you solid, healthy, and grounded. -Generation out of stillness. For Venus, the relationship is what is created. There’s a sort of space that works as a creative matrix that light dances in. Taurus/Ceres emphasis is more about being healthy enough to generate flowers and food out of the self. And yes children etc. -Venus works for the ornamental aspects of Taurus, and manifests sensually and very demonstratively in Taurus. I just think there’s much more to Taurus than Venus, and the specific things about Venus complement the Libra archetype much better. For further exploration: What energy might Ceres provide in the chart? I invite readers to explore this on their own, I would love to collect at least anecdotes. Here are a few things I think I would lay down as preliminary Ceres associations. 1. Your approach to food.  2. How the sensation of satiation/starvation works in your chart. 3. Natural fertility/basic resonance - something that just seems to ooze out of you whole, bypassing intellectual processes (maybe disguising itself as an intellectual process) and just existing in a full form; what you can give to others as a fruit, what is easy and natural for you to share and doesn’t feel like a big part of your ego I’ll repost this with how I feel like it works in my chart, and how studying it in these terms relative to my natal placements is affecting my life.