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[right][sub][b]location:[/b] [color=#ED1C24]B[/color][color=#EE212F]e[/color][color=#EF273A]a[/color][color=#F12D45]c[/color][color=#F23350]h[/color] [color=#F53F66]➟[/color] [color=#F84B7C]H[/color][color=#F95187]o[/color][color=#FA5792]t[/color][color=#FC5D9D]e[/color][color=#FD63A8]l[/color]
[b]interactions:[/b] [color=FF69B4]Aphrodite[/color], [color=ed1c24]Ares[/color]
[b]mentions:[/b] [color=#ED1C24]C[/color][color=#EE202D]h[/color][color=#EF2536]i[/color][color=#F02A3F]l[/color][color=#F12F48]d[/color][color=#F23451]r[/color][color=#F3385A]e[/color][color=#F43D63]n[/color] [color=#F74775]o[/color][color=#F84C7E]f[/color] [color=#FA5590]A[/color][color=#FB5A99]r[/color][color=#FC5FA2]e[/color][color=#FD64AB]s[/color], [color=00CC99]Tlaz[/color][@KZOMBI3]
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An inner struggle took place as she lay there, each attempt to move felt weak at first, as if her limbs were weighed down by lead and uncontrolled by her own efforts. Nothing was worse though than when her heavy eyelids slowly fluttered open to take in the stretch of beach, burning at the strain to keep them focused. Sound filtered in around, attention brought to the cry of birds, the sound of comforting waves that lapped against her skin, and the patter of rain as it fell into the damp sand which soaked her further. A shiver ran down her spine, the grogginess and disorientation letting up to jolt her upright at the sensation of cold sinking into her form. She buried her hands into the sand, panicky glancing around her as she waited for this to be proof of another nightmare but finding none. [color=FF69B4]’Πού είμαι? Πώς έφτασα εδώ?’[/color] (Where am I? How did I get here?), she spoke to herself. 

This place was unknown but the location and her current attire or lack thereof was very remiencent of the past. The day had been sunny then, blooming with potential and possibility when she emerged from the seafoam, newly created and feeling powerful enough to take on the world and crush those who wouldn’t bend to her whims. Never with true violence mind you but Aphrodite knew a thing or two about getting even. Now though, she didn’t feel strong…in fact, her power felt so little that it felt a sliver in comparison and that was a bit terrifying. [i]'Τι μου συνέβη? Που είναι τα παιδιά μου? Είναι ασφαλείς? Χρειάζομαι απαντήσεις τώρα.’[/i], (’What happened to me? Where are my children? Are they safe? I need answers, now.) were her first thoughts now that she was in a better space, finding the will to stand and starting to walk towards mortal civilization or at least what she could assume it was from the strange building and structures in the distance. The mortals would take her to Ares temple and then she would be able to meet with her family again.

Fate had more direct plans.

Ares was standing on the pier overlooking the beach. A cover kept him dry for now. The street lights were further off. It was 3 am by now. He hadn’t slept. He drew a drag from his cigarette. The embers lit up the lowest part of his face for a second before it faded again. This was the first moment of serenity he had felt in the last twenty-four hours. In the distance he saw a singular figure coming from the darkness of the beach. Ares checked his watch. 3 am. If the murders and the kidnapping hadn’t happened he would’ve tried to be with Tlaz right now. To show that he was different, and to beg forgiveness for what he had done three decades ago.

Instead he didn’t know what to do anymore. Isabel had done something, though she refused outright to tell him what. The way Hathor spoke about it didn’t bode well. Then again, he wasn’t sure if it was just Hathor trying to destroy any chance of love now. He took another drag and let out a gentle stream of smoke. The figure lacked any clothes. That earned her a raised eyebrow from the god of war but his mind quickly shifted his thoughts back to Tlaz. What his heart still wanted was facing an endless amount of challenges it would seem. Like Sisyphus, was he too working on something that could never be completed? Were they doomed?

Then Ares recognized the figure. His cig dropped to the ground. [color=ed1c24]“Aphrodite?”[/color] He asked almost purely out of instinct, forgetting that they were in the mortal world. Ares didn’t wait for an answer. His eyes had never betrayed him before. He rushed towards the pier’s railing as he was taking off his coat. The cold, Seattle rain quickly drenched his shirt. With a smooth motion he jumped over the rails, landed on the sand and rolled. All the while keeping his coat off the ground and clean. The fall barely slowed him as he ran over to his first love.

He didn’t wait for her to speak as he got close. Nor did he say anything. First he swung his heavy coat around her, making sure she’d protected from the nighttime rain.

She instantly hugged the coat tighter around her frame, trying to soak up as much warmth from the lingering body heat as possible as she leaned against her first love and the father to most of her children. She thought it would take so much longer to find him but she should have known better. He always disappeared but moments like these, he would reappear which always made it that much harder. [color=FF69B4]”Μετά από τόσο καιρό και είσαι ακόμα ο ήρωάς μου όταν το χρειάζομαι περισσότερο... γεια σου Άρη.”[/color] (After all this time and you're still my hero when I need it most... hello Ares.), Aphrodite smiled weakly before speaking again, [color=FF69B4]”Λυπάμαι που έπρεπε να με δεις έτσι.”[/color] (I'm sorry you had to see me like this.)

[color=ed1c24]“Μη ζητάς συγγνώμη.”[/color] (Don’t apologize). He said as he wrapped his arms around her slowly. For a moment he just hugged her in the rain. A shiver went through him. it wasn’t from the cold. As he hugged her, he felt a heavy weight fall from his shoulders.

Of course it couldn’t last. Pothos was still missing. Two of the Greek pantheon were dead. Aphrodite’s sudden appearance couldn’t be a coincidence. It had been frustration on a fruitless search so far that made him search for a quiet spot. Now he had something he could do again though. He could care for his first love. He released her from his hug but kept a hold on her shoulders. [color=ed1c24]“Ελα. Πρέπει να σε βγάλουμε από αυτή τη βροχή.”[/color] (Come. We should get you out of this rain.) He took her hand and gently led her towards the pier and his parked car.

She had held him close, hugging him in return and taking a moment to be selfish and bask in the simple act of comfort though she wasn’t sure if it was more for her sake or his own. Something wasn’t right, she knew him well enough to sense it but Ares had always been stubborn and would speak when he was ready. If he needed silent support, she would offer it. He was the one person so far (other than her children of course) that she would drop anything on a dime if he simply asked even if she thought he was a complete moron sometimes. These kinds of moments were always what took her heart away but made it worse when she had to watch him go. Aphrodite held his hand tighter, leaned into him as if they were lovers on a peaceful stroll while they walked to the strangest contraption she had ever seen. It seemed that she had been gone far longer than she had first believed. [color=FF69B4]”Πες μου...πόσο καιρό πέρασε?”[/color] (Tell me...how long has it been?), she nervously asked though she tried her best to hide it, afraid to know all that she had missed.

[color=ed1c24]“Δύο χιλιετίες.”[/color] (Two millenia), Ares answered. That alone would probably be a shock to her. He didn’t want to burden her with the myriad of things that had happened just since this morning. Let alone in the last few centuries. For now all he wanted was to get her somewhere comfortable and safe. He opened the passenger door for her and bid her to enter. Once inside he quickly got in and started driving. His mind was off the road though.

[color=ed1c24]“Πως αισθάνεσαι?”[/color](How are you feeling?) He asked as he zoomed through traffic. This sort of environment must be confusing to her. Still, he wanted to make sure that at the very least she was healthy. If not well, he knew at least which hospital not to visit. With his right hand he made sure to keep a hold of her hand. Just to make sure that he was still here.

[color=FF69B4]”Είναι πολλά να δεχτώ, αλλά εκτός από αυτό είμαι καλά.”[/color] (It's a lot to take in, but other than that I'm fine.), Aphro answered, trying to be brave in the face of what she had learned. She had been gone for so long and the world had clearly changed more than she could have ever conceived while trapped in slumber. If she was a better goddess, she would have expressed how grateful she was that he was here, holding her hand and being her anchor of strength even though they had split ways. It meant a lot that she could still lean on him when her world was falling around her. She would never express her thanks though, not verbally anyway. Instead, she just gripped his hand like a life line because it was scary to think of the time she had lost, what she would need to learn, and also what was happening in the lives of those she loved. She knew this was selfish to ask but she couldn’t help herself, [color=FF69B4]”Θα μείνετε? Ή με πας σε ένα από τα παιδιά μας?”[/color] (Will you stay? Or are you taking me to one of our children?) 

[color=ed1c24]“Θα μείνω. Τουλάχιστον για λίγο.”[/color] (I will stay. At least for a little while.) His mind reached back towards Isabel with Anubis. He still had an hour and a half. Still, he would have to get his own daughter soon. Far too soon. And it had to be him. He would have to explain that later though. For a moment he looked over and smiled. This – driving with Aphrodite next to him and having the city lights wash over them again and again – felt strangely nice. Eventually, he reached the hotel parking lot though.

[color=ed1c24]“Οι θνητοί ήταν απασχολημένοι τα τελευταία χρόνια.”[/color] (Mortals have been busy these last few years), he said as he led her towards the large tower hotel. Aphrodite’s beauty drew literally every gaze in the entire lobby. Her attire – or lack thereof – drew a lot of attention. Still, Ares led her towards the elevators and then to his hotel room. He led her inside and finally closed the door. [color=ed1c24]“Είσαι ασφαλής εδώ.”[/color] (You are safe here), he said. [color=ed1c24]“Θέλετε κάτι?”[/color] (Do you want anything?)

She felt more relaxed at his answer, knowing she would be able to get her ground before seeing her children. She loved them so, but sometimes it was a struggle to keep a handle on them. She didn’t want to be alone though when traversing the new and strange mortal realm so to have him by her side, even for a bit, was a positive that she hadn’t thought he would do. Aphrodite smiled at him in return, still thinking that this was when he looked his best. He was made for war, that serious expression and the fallen at his feet were enough to make anyone’s heart race but this….this side was what had made her come back repeatedly over their long life span but it was too much of a struggle when the hard moments hit and with him that was many even when he didn’t mean to. 

[color=FF69B4]”σαφώς.”[/color] (Clearly.), Aphro stated after they came to a stop, looking up at the manmade structure as she exited the vehicle. The entire city had been impressive so far, not even taking their transportation into question but she was looking forward to checking out the inside of at least one of them. As they stepped in, gazes immediately flocked to her person but this was nothing she wasn’t used to as mortals had never been able to resist and even more so in her current attire. She held her head high, strolling as if she couldn’t be bothered to meet their gaze or worry over what opinions they might have. She was a pretty face but she wasn’t dumb, Ares blended with the same dress as these mortals and while hers was less than favorable, she wouldn’t draw more attention than they had already. He continued to lead her, not putting up a fuss as he did so and was happy to be away from prying eyes and somewhere she knew was safe because Ares had said so. He had never lied about his protection of her. [color=FF69B4]”Μόνο εσύ…”[/color] (Only you…), she answered before realizing how that might sound with their past and while a fling would be fun, that wasn’t exactly what she had meant. [color=FF69B4]”Κράτα με για λίγο.”[/color] (Hold me for a while.)

Ares took a step away from Aphrodite when she asked that. [color=ed1c24]“Που δεν μπορώ να σου δώσω.”[/color] (That I can’t give you), Ares said quickly. He really did want to hold her. Like he did before the fall. Out of everyone in Olympus, he really only felt safe and happy with Aphrodite. At least he did, until Hephaestus had to shatter that. And now she was here again and so close too. Still, he refused. [color=ed1c24]“Η καρδιά μου είναι κάποιου άλλου.”[/color] (My heart is someone else’s.)

[color=FF69B4]”Δεν ζητάω την καρδιά σου...ξέρω πώς είναι μεταξύ μας. Χρειάζομαι απλά παρηγοριά από κάποιον που εμπιστεύομαι. Σίγουρα ο νέος σας εραστής θα καταλάβει.”[/color] (I'm not asking for your heart...I know how it is between us. I just need comfort from someone I trust. Surely your new lover will understand.), she answered before reaching for that sliver of power she felt and putting it to use. Aphrodite didn’t know what she would still be able to do but if it could help her persuade him then she would selfishly use it to her advantage. She knew it wasn’t fair of her to do, not to him or his new lover but old habits die hard. She liked getting what she wanted and was stubborn enough to try until she was left with no more options.[color=FF69B4]”Σε παρακαλώ Άρη, υπόσχομαι ότι δεν θα δοκιμάσω τίποτα.”[/color] (Please Ares, I promise I won't try anything.)

The scent of sandalwood and chocolate was drawing him in. His heart started to beat just a little faster. His body wanted to get closer to her. Aphrodite was still as enthralling as ever. In a strange way she was reminding him of all the things he loved about Tlaz. Aphrodite had a way to fan his flames though. Back on Olympus the goddess of love could tease him in such a way that he actually liked it. She gave him a thrill, just like a certain goddess of sin.

[color=ed1c24]“Δεν μπορώ.”[/color] (I can’t), Ares said as he took a step closer and gently took her by the shoulders. [color=ed1c24]“Ακόμα σε νοιάζομαι, Αφροδίτη. Αλλά ακριβώς γι' αυτό πρέπει να έχουμε όρια και να μην τα ξεπερνάμε ποτέ.”[/color] (I still care for you Aphrodite. But exactly because of that should we have boundaries and never cross them). With that said he reached over and kissed her forehead.

She took one of his hands from her shoulder, pressing it against her cheek as she nodded in defeat and tried to not feel the sting of rejection even though she knew he was right. She looked up at him, sighing as she pressed a hand to his cheek and looking up at him with a soft expression. [color=FF69B4]Καταλαβαίνω...δεν μπορώ να πω ότι είμαι χαρούμενος γι' αυτό, αλλά καταλαβαίνω.[/color] (I understand...I can't say I'm happy about it, but I understand.), Aphrodite said, pausing a moment before continuing. [color=FF69B4]”Αν δεν επιτρέπεται να με παρηγορήσεις, τουλάχιστον άσε με να κάνω κάτι για να σε παρηγορήσω. Άρης, πες μου τι φταίει? Μη με κρατάς στο σκοτάδι.[/color] (If you are not allowed to comfort me, at least let me do something to comfort you. Ares, tell me what's wrong? Don't keep me in the dark.)

[color=ed1c24]“Η επιστροφή σας είναι παράξενα δυσοίωνη.”[/color] (Your return is strangely inauspicious), Ares said as he gently took Aprhodite’s hand on his cheek and guided her towards the lounge area of the hotel room. [color=ed1c24]“Οι θεοί εδώ δεν μπορούν να πεθάνουν. Όχι πραγματικά. Πληγές που θα σκότωναν έναν κανονικό θνητό θεραπεύονται γρήγορα πάνω μας.”[/color] (Gods here cannot die. Not really. Wounds that would kill a regular mortal heal fast on us), he continued as he bid her to sit down on the couch. [color=ed1c24]“Ή έτσι νομίζαμε. Σήμερα, κοντά στο μεσημέρι, πέθαναν ο Ζαγρέας και η Μακαρία.”[/color] (Or so we thought. Today, near midday, Zagreus and Macaria died.) He made sure to keep her hand in his as he sat down as well beside her. Though his head drooped down in nothing but pure shame. How could he not? His own child was taken right from under his nose. He had failed protecting her. [color=ed1c24]“Και ο Πόθος απήχθη.”[/color] (And Pothos was kidnapped.)

She hasn’t really considered what being on the mortal plane would mean for her continued existence. The knowledge that they couldn’t die was a peaceful one, giving her hope that she would be able to see the rest of her loved ones very soon but that was shattered quickly at the news of two underworld deaths. Her heart went out to them as no parent should have to lose a child but his next words were the ones that hurt. She felt panic, horror, fear, and then pure unfiltered rage. Someone had taken her child on the same day they could have been reunited. It was obvious to her that he felt shame and maybe even blame for the hideous act of another. Aphrodite steeled herself, cupping his face so he was looking at her once more. [color=FF69B4]”Αυτή η έκφραση δεν σου ταιριάζει. Άρη, δεν φταις εσύ… γιατί πώς να ξέρεις ότι κάποιος θα ήταν τόσο τολμηρός. Ωστόσο, αυτά τα συναισθήματα δεν θα βοηθήσουν το παιδί μας, γι' αυτό απωθήστε το από τις σκέψεις σας. Εστιάστε σε αυτό που μπορείτε να κάνετε τώρα. Δείξε μου αυτή την αποφασιστικότητα και την εμπιστοσύνη που ερωτεύτηκα. Βρείτε την και φέρτε την στο σπίτι, τιμωρήστε όσους τόλμησαν να αμφισβητήσουν τον Θεό του Πολέμου.[/color] (This expression does not suit you. Ares, it's not your fault… because how did you know someone would be so bold. However, these feelings will not help our child, so push them out of your thoughts. Focus on what you can do now. Show me that determination and confidence that I fell in love with. Find her and bring her home, punish those who dared to challenge the God of War.)

But it was his fault.

How could it not be? It was his duty to protect those closest to him. What else was he good for, really? The shame he felt would never go away. Aphrodite did strike the nail on its head on one point though. Whoever took Pothos, whoever was stupid enough to challenge him did not know what was coming. Maybe they thought he had become weak in these last few years. Maybe he had. That would change.

In the next hour he explained the goddess of love how the new world worked. He did keep checking his watch. After all, he still had to pick up Isabel from Anubis. After an hour - which was still not enough time - he managed to give her a phone filled with the phone number of every Greek god Ares knew of and a black credit card. There was no way the goddess of love could be contained. So Ares figured that at best he could offer her the best tools to make it in the world. After that though, he had to excuse himself.