Akayaofthemoon

Onryo Hunters - A ghost-battling magical girl/boy RP

Welp, Mintz brought be here and as usual did not disappoint XD

I’ll try to work something up and have it here soon :3

𝘿𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉 ⌜ᴀ ɢᴏᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ⌟

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_{Luncheon➟ Home➟Underworld Home}

_{Mood: I’m fine (not really)}

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_{Interactions: Hati, Hercules}

Frozen, like a deer in headlights, she tried to process the truth before her but everything in her being rejected it. The screams echoed on repeat or maybe the two women making those awful heartbreaking sounds weren’t stopping but either way she couldn’t move her eyes from the two on the floor. This wasn’t happening, right? Just some sick joke someone put them up to. They couldn’t be gone. Not either of them. They would get up any second! Pasithea felt like her world was tilting and closing in as she hugged herself tightly for comfort, trying to stop the ragged breathing she was experiencing as everything started to lose focus. She remembered when she had first entered the Underworld, filled with unhappiness and bound to a god she never wished to be with. It had been Persephone and her wonderful family that made her see the situation differently, see Hypnos differently, and to have a more harmonious life together. They were precious to her, almost as much as her own children.

She wasn’t proud of herself but she bolted, dashing out of the room with a hand over her mouth and tears she hadn’t known she was shedding were streaming down her cheeks. Knowing very well she would not make it to the bathroom, she went to the front and lost the contents of her stomach over the railing and used the same post of wood to keep herself up. The rain had already started, seeming to match her current mood and while usually it was a comfort, this just made her cry harder. ’I can’t help anyone this way…I need to calm down. Hati, Heimdall, Athena, Artemis….they can handle the investigation. Hades and Persephone have each other. Mel…, she didn’t have to think much about as she stood to the side, practically moving away from the group that was gathering Mel into Herc’s car. She wished she had gone with them but she silently watched, her voice not able to reach out as they eventually drove away.

Pasi found herself slowly walking to her car, not even caring about being soaked by the rain as she made her way. She didn’t know how long she sat there in the parking lot, soaking wet and crying as she leaned on her steering wheel feeling completely helpless. ’Why am I so useless? I can’t do anything to help them. What am I to do? I can’t investigate. I can’t get revenge. I can’t help them with emotional pain. I wish Coco or Aphro was here so I had someone to talk to….someone that I wouldn’t feel a bother to.’, she thought while weakly wiping her tears away and starting the car. It was a miracle that she had even made it home safely and staring around the empty apartment, the place suddenly was incredibly lonely instead of a cozy safe haven it usually was. The questions she presented herself kept ringing in her mind and she gained a slightly determined expression.

She fell back on something she was good at and started cooking. It wasn’t much but…she could help them in a mortal fashion. When someone was lost, others were just there for them and they would make sure that they had things that were just easy to eat or be supportive. It wasn’t much, she didn’t even know if it would help, but it had to be something…right? She was sure in the same position she wouldn’t want to cook or think about the little things so maybe this could express her open support. It really wasn’t enough but it was a start. Pasithea put hours of hard work in, cooking casseroles and other easily frozen and reheatable meals before packaging everything up and heading over to new leaf land where the underworld rulers had created their lovely home. Her own home wasn’t far, wanting to stay close to her second family and so when she arrived, she used her spare keys. Pasithea planned to just set everything in place and leave a quick note as she didn’t want to disturb the grieving couple or get in the way. She set to work, placing everything in the freezer and a few items in the fridge before quietly scanning the area.”Now, if I were paper and pen…where would I be that isn’t Hades' office?, she whispered to herself.

She quietly dug through some of the drawers in the kitchen, finding a notepad and a pen close to the fridge before quickly jotting down a brief message for the couple.



Pasithea placed it on the counter in plain view, getting ready to make her exit when her phone buzzed, panic causing her to quickly yank out her phone which in turn made her drop it. She cursed lightly, quickly gathering up the now cracked phone screen and saw a strange phone number popped up, one she didn’t recognize in the slightest. She debated answering for a moment before clicking ignore, figuring they would leave a message if it was important. It reminded her though that she had ditched the festival without checking with anyone or really checking on them which made her feel guilty. She bit her lip, sneaking the rest of the way out of the underworld rulers home and staring at her phone. Would it be a bother if she texted? Tlaz and Hathor had each other but she hadn’t checked on Hati but he was probably all in on solving the mystery. Heimdall might answer her but they weren’t as close and the other two ladies scared her to death. She decided to suck it up and if she was being a bother he would say so or ignore the message and if she embarrassed herself well, that was nothing new.

To: Hati
Sorry I left without saying goodbye…everything was overwhelming. Please keep me updated on the investigation if you can and please stay safe. I don’t want to lose anyone else.

Sent

’I don’t want to lose you.’, she thought to herself, knowing she wasn’t brave enough to put it in the message to replace the last bit. That being sent, she pulled up another convo on her phone and set to work on another message. She didn’t want to bother Mel directly so there were a few that should be near her that would be able to check in. If no one answered back, then she would know that a visit was the best way to go since she wasn’t going to let her feel alone.

To: Herc
Is Mel still at Acropolis? How is she holding up? Is there anything I can do to help out?

Sent

With that final message, she pocketed her slightly broken phone and hopped into her car to head home, ready to change direction if need be but mostly trying to keep a cool head and help others. If she didn’t relax and stay calm, help be a pillar of strength to others then what else could she do? She would feel like a burden otherwise so she would deal with her own tears later. She wouldn’t let herself break down and cry. She was fine. It would be fine.

𝘿𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉 ⌜ᴀ ɢᴏᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ⌟

_{location: Beach ➟ Hotel
interactions: Aphrodite, Ares
mentions: Children of Ares, Tlaz@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. ’Πού είμαι? Πώς έφτασα εδώ?’ (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. 'Τι μου συνέβη? Που είναι τα παιδιά μου? Είναι ασφαλείς? Χρειάζομαι απαντήσεις τώρα.’, (’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. “Aphrodite?” 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. ”Μετά από τόσο καιρό και είσαι ακόμα ο ήρωάς μου όταν το χρειάζομαι περισσότερο... γεια σου Άρη.” (After all this time and you're still my hero when I need it most... hello Ares.), Aphrodite smiled weakly before speaking again, ”Λυπάμαι που έπρεπε να με δεις έτσι.” (I'm sorry you had to see me like this.)

“Μη ζητάς συγγνώμη.” (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. “Ελα. Πρέπει να σε βγάλουμε από αυτή τη βροχή.” (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. ”Πες μου...πόσο καιρό πέρασε?” (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.

“Δύο χιλιετίες.” (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.

“Πως αισθάνεσαι?”(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.

”Είναι πολλά να δεχτώ, αλλά εκτός από αυτό είμαι καλά.” (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, ”Θα μείνετε? Ή με πας σε ένα από τα παιδιά μας?” (Will you stay? Or are you taking me to one of our children?)

“Θα μείνω. Τουλάχιστον για λίγο.” (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.

“Οι θνητοί ήταν απασχολημένοι τα τελευταία χρόνια.” (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. “Είσαι ασφαλής εδώ.” (You are safe here), he said. “Θέλετε κάτι?” (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.

”σαφώς.” (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. ”Μόνο εσύ…” (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. ”Κράτα με για λίγο.” (Hold me for a while.)

Ares took a step away from Aphrodite when she asked that. “Που δεν μπορώ να σου δώσω.” (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. “Η καρδιά μου είναι κάποιου άλλου.” (My heart is someone else’s.)

”Δεν ζητάω την καρδιά σου...ξέρω πώς είναι μεταξύ μας. Χρειάζομαι απλά παρηγοριά από κάποιον που εμπιστεύομαι. Σίγουρα ο νέος σας εραστής θα καταλάβει.” (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.”Σε παρακαλώ Άρη, υπόσχομαι ότι δεν θα δοκιμάσω τίποτα.” (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.

“Δεν μπορώ.” (I can’t), Ares said as he took a step closer and gently took her by the shoulders. “Ακόμα σε νοιάζομαι, Αφροδίτη. Αλλά ακριβώς γι' αυτό πρέπει να έχουμε όρια και να μην τα ξεπερνάμε ποτέ.” (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. Καταλαβαίνω...δεν μπορώ να πω ότι είμαι χαρούμενος γι' αυτό, αλλά καταλαβαίνω. (I understand...I can't say I'm happy about it, but I understand.), Aphrodite said, pausing a moment before continuing. ”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. (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.)

“Η επιστροφή σας είναι παράξενα δυσοίωνη.” (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. “Οι θεοί εδώ δεν μπορούν να πεθάνουν. Όχι πραγματικά. Πληγές που θα σκότωναν έναν κανονικό θνητό θεραπεύονται γρήγορα πάνω μας.” (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. “Ή έτσι νομίζαμε. Σήμερα, κοντά στο μεσημέρι, πέθαναν ο Ζαγρέας και η Μακαρία.” (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. “Και ο Πόθος απήχθη.” (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. ”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. (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.

𝘿𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉 ⌜ᴀ ɢᴏᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ⌟

_{location: Aquarium
interactions: Poseidon @metanoia, Jörmungandr @Akayaofthemoon
mentions:}

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“Thank you so much for coming in! I don’t know what we would have done without you, Jorunn. I’m really sorry we had to bother you on your requested day off.”, her coworker stated, relieved but also with a hint of guilt that the situation couldn’t be handled without assistance.

”Don’t worry about it, these things happen. It’s not like I’m being asked to stay, so cheer up. Oh, and good luck on the rest of your shift!”, the world snake chuckled, giving a shoulder pat before waving her coworker goodbye and making her way through the exhibits. Jorm didn’t feel in a rush to leave, not much to do now that she had been called away from her brother and with the chaos of the festival, it was best to just avoid the immortals for a while which meant JJ was out. She silently drifted by various tanks, pausing now and then to admire the peaceful view but also not lingering too long or unpleasant memories would boil up. The days where they had been angry, bitter, lonely, and resigned to fate laid out before them. The only thing that kept them going back then was a voice, one that understood their pain and suffering…not a physical one but an emotional one.

At that time, they had believed their mind was finally lost and that they had created the voice as a coping mechanism. How was another god, supposedly not from their pantheon able to reach them and speak in their tongue? It didn’t seem possible, no matter how they wished it was so. It has been the start to a beautiful friendship either way, one that they had cherished above all else and one that she still missed today. The fall made the possibility of a Greek god so very real, changing her thoughts that perhaps it wasn’t as much of an illusion of the mind as she had led herself to believe and yet she hadn’t found him. The few times she went to the festival, there had been no Poseidon and no one she had asked had spoken of him. It was why she stopped going, resigned that she must have imagined it or perhaps something else had occurred. Jorm paused, coming up to their newest limited time exhibit, the whole reason she was here today in the first place as one of the snakes had made their escape.

The aquarium had wanted to show off various sea snakes and thus a large snake exhibit was placed alongside the aquatic and semi-aquatic reptiles. Jorm would be lying if she said she hadn't been a key factor in getting her brethren here and being the main show instead of going with another limited time exhibit, which is why she couldn’t just turn away when the call had come in. She stepped through the archway, making her way up to one of the larger tanks when she paused, watching a man admire the swimming creatures of the deep and the slithering serpents gliding effortlessly through the waters depths. Normally, she would have let the man be and left him to his own devices but something pulled at her. Jorm cautiously stepped up next to him, standing silently by his side as she watched for a minute or so. Her eyes were still on the glass when she gently spoke aloud and gave him a chance to respond or just let the comment settle around them. ”Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Poseidon was lost in a moment of peace, glancing at the collection of sea snakes inside the take, swimming around. The odds of their voice leading him here, of all places, where there was a snake exhibit. He would chalk it off to divine intervention but who would have done it? To his knowledge, there wasn’t exactly a divine being to intervene in anything - not anymore, anyway. But perhaps it wasn’t that and it was just a coincidence. Truth be told, the god of the sea had come to this specific aquarium a few times. When he wasn’t out on his boat or sulking at the beach (not that it happened often), he liked to come here and decompress. It made days when he missed his friend - like today - more tolerable. And maybe that was a hidden meaning as to why he was here.

And because of that, Poseidon didn’t hear anyone approach him until he heard the voice of a woman speak up next to him. He noted her beauty and the auburn locks. A feeling of ease and warmth passed through him that Poseidon couldn’t quite explain to himself. Maybe it was the aquatic life around him that reminded him of his time as ruler of Atlantis. That must be it.

“Breathtaking!They seem quite content with the amount of space given in the tanks.” Poseidon’s eyes went back to the sea snakes. An understanding of aquatic creatures had still lingered and though direct communication was out of his reach, he still could feel what they felt. Whatever they were doing at this aquarium, Poseidon was getting the sense those who worked here treated them the right way and that made him smile.

”I should hope so. A lot of love and care went into this exhibit and I do try to keep them all very happy.”, Jorm smiled brightly, her eyes drifting away from the dazzling creatures before them to really look at the man beside her. He was handsome, dark eyes and hair, some age though it didn’t pull away from the rugged appeal and charm of his features which were wrapped in a sophisticated attire. There was something about him, looks aside that made her feel content to just be at his side and want to converse with him for as long as she could. ”Is this your first time here? The snake exhibit I mean. I would have asked, do you come here often but that sounds more like a cheesy pickup line than the start of a legitimate conversation.”, she stated before nervously running her fingers through her hair and chuckling a bit at the ridiculousness since she had dived off cliffs and done much more dangerous adventures than talking to a stranger. ”Sorry, I’m not the best at meeting new people.”

Poseidon let out a genuine laugh that came from the gut. That’s the kind of line he’d expect from his brother. Or that fool Hercules. It was strange, though. There was something abstractly familiar about what he was feeling but the god of the sea couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “Don’t worry about it. Had I been someone else, that may have worked on me,” Poseidon admitted, laughing again that his moronic brother would have ate that comment up and then some. “But I wouldn’t say it’s my first time here. I have come to this aquarium a few times. After a lecture, I like to come here to decompress -- at least, when it’s not pouring out there.” Living in Seattle for as long as he has, Poseidon has come to appreciate the rain cycles. “I can’t say I’ve been here when the sea snakes were being shown off.” By this point, Poseidon was looking at the woman standing next to him.. She was a bit on the younger side, but that didn’t take away from this strange feeling about the presence she gave off..A feeling he couldn’t quite shake for some reason.

He brought his eyes back to the tank. “I don’t get to see sea snakes as often as I’d like, so I was happy that there was an exhibit when I decided to come today.” Poseidon admitted, somewhat mournfully. Part of him longed for divinity, but not to be on Olympus but rather in Atlantis. He wondered…did it still stand as it was? Or did it wither away? As he thought about it, Poseidon went silent as he became deep in his own mind.

If she believed him to be handsome before, nothing compared to when he was laughing. It was full of genuine mirth and a sound she hoped he would make again before departing. It left her almost breathless while her heart began to race and butterflies sprung into her stomach as something, almost like a distant memory, told her not to brush off the feeling. What was this? When had she ever felt this? She quickly tried to gather herself, not wanting to appear flustered though that seemed next to impossible when it started all over again as soon as he looked at her even for a moment. ”I can understand coming here to decompress, rain or not. It is a peaceful place and a little safer than swimming in the ocean, not that that stops me but it’s just different here.”, Jorm replied, proud that her voice was steady.

Why did she feel so content just to stand at this man’s side? Why did his laugh make her giddy and wish to do anything to hear it again? Usually, she wouldn’t have walked over to the blue collared sophisticated type because they bored her but this was different. He was different but she couldn’t put a finger on why. He was simply captivating though maybe it was just something about his voice, a familiar feeling but unsure where she had heard it before. She found herself nodding as he spoke once more, partially listening but also lost in her own deduction on where they could have met before. It did not surprise her that he hadn’t been here when the snakes were on display since they were just released for public viewing not that long ago. The tone shifted suddenly with his next words, nothing wrong with the words he had said but the change felt as clear as day. She felt it strong enough to place aside her thoughts so she could focus once more.

She let the silence sit between them, feeling that similar mournful ache as she stared into the tank. If anything could be expressed from the one next to her, it seemed like he too was longing for something or falling deep into thoughts and memories just as she did. Jorm was used to distracting herself during those moments, leaving to do something crazy and wild to push back on any ill memory or stopping herself mourning over a dream but she found herself unready to leave even as she let herself drift to those thoughts so she decided to try something else for both of them. ”Did you know that there are over sixty species of sea snakes? There are so many and yet, they are a rare sight to see in the water. Not many people realize how peaceful and non-aggressive a creature they are even though they carry the most potent venom out of all snakes.”, she commented with straight facts, hoping to get his mind off of whatever was going through his head.

”You said you don’t get to see them as often as you like. The truth is, they choose who to let close, even in this crafted environment. Which is why it makes it all the more special when someone is chosen to view them even if it might only be once. The fact they are out now means they are just as happy that you visited them today as you are at visiting.”, she added before taking a deep breath and turned slightly in his direction so she was facing him and tucking her hands behind her back, knowing that this was probably going to be a really moronic and random question but when had she ever backed down from something that was nagging at her. ”Do you know me? I’m sorry but you seem familiar to me somehow and I can’t place where or even why.”

As Poseidon drew his eyes away from the tank, though he had been looking aimlessly at it since going deep into his lamenting state of mind, he found himself looking at the woman next to him. The way she stood, the way she asked that question: did she know him? He thought about it - really thought about it. At face value, the answer was no. In his mind, he couldn’t recall ever meeting this auburn-haired woman before. Perhaps he had seen her around the aquarium a few times in passing, but as far as actually meeting her, the god of the sea couldn’t recall.

But then there were some other circumstances that he hadn’t factored in. He was brought here because he sensed the presence of Jormungandr. He was brought here because, in the moment he physically touched the water, somewhere nearby, he felt the tug of a string pull him in a direction that led him in front of the entrance of the aquarium. Before he entered, he thought he’d find his old friend here, but then when the sea snakes exhibit came to his attention, that’s when he figured that’s what it must’ve been.

As much as the God of the Sea hoped it wasn’t the case, maybe he was longing for his friend so much that even the faintest presence of the World Snake -- or any snake, for that matter -- would give him that hope.

“It’s funny, you know. I can’t recall ever meeting you, yet something about you feels familiar, too.” As he smiled, in the back of his mind, he wanted to ask her but if he was wrong, then he’d expose his true existence. Or have a very awkwardness that might just ruin the nice time they were having. Still, now that he was thinking about it, Poseidon couldn’t help but wonder if it was even possible. “The way you spoke about the snakes, your very presence, and how at ease I am - you remind me so much of an old friend of mine. Very much so that it’s actually pretty jarring.” Speaking that out loud, Poseidon’s heart started to beat faster than it had previously and his stomach tied up in knots, like it was sinking into the depths of the atlantic. “I apologize. I know that must not make any sense, right? It’s ludicrous, I know but that’s how I’ve been feeling since we started talking.”

She found herself unable to remove her gaze, afraid that if she did that he might disappear. It couldn’t be him, right? That had all been her imagination…wasn’t it? How she desperately wanted to just straight out ask if it was so. She didn’t want to feel such hope but that is exactly what she felt in this moment. It felt like she had finally found a piece of herself that had been missing. She knew she couldn’t just let it go but how did she go about this in case she was wrong? ”Actually, it makes perfect sense to me. I….are you…”, Jörmungandr started, shaking slightly with nervous anticipation as she struggled to find the words. No one had made her this worried about any of her actions in a long time and she could only hope this didn’t go horribly wrong. ”I really hope this isn’t a random question but…are you by any chance, Greek?”

Or what if his silly thoughts weren't so silly? That question, the way she looked at him when she asked him, some of it was coming together. As he stood there, wanting to just come out and say what he was thinking, he observed the woman who visibly shook where she stood. He saw how much inner turmoil she might be going through. Internally, it was the same for him. Like a storm brewing but the small glint of clarity in the furthest part of the visible sky.

As he took her hand, not knowing what else to do, he wanted to offer some form of clarity not only for himself but for her as well. Deep in his heart, he probably knew but having that sense of clarity was something he felt they both could use right now. As he squeezed it, his heart tripled in its pacing and his stomach twirled and contorted. “Yes…I am.” He finally responded, looking into her familiar eyes. His lips folded up into a small smile. “And you’re…Norse, aren’t you?”

It felt like time stopped, everything else around them drifting away as he smiled at her with his hand in her own, unknowingly keeping her anchored in this moment lest she drift away. He was real. He was here and he was real. She felt tears gathering in her eyes as a surge of happiness flooded her. Jorm didn’t answer with words, instead she released his hand so she could wrap her arms around his neck and pulled him in a full blown hug. She held him close, fighting back tears even with the dazzlingly bright smile that was painted on her lips. ”What took you so long?”, she teased weakly, pulling back only a bit so she could see his face and commit every detail to memory. This was what he looked like. This was what her most cherished friend in the world looked like and for once he was in arms reach, not that she had arms before but still. She just couldn’t believe he was here. Her hands reached up to cup his face, her thumbs playing along his jawline as she continued to stare in awe. ”Gosh, you’re really here….I thought I had imagined you.”, Jorm said more to herself than him, still trying to process that this was for real and not some kind of dream or hallucination. It seemed to kick start at least part of her brain, though she still didn’t find herself moving away as she spoke. ”Sorry, I’m not really great at boundaries and I really like hugs. Is this okay?

Poseidon’s heart felt lighter. Like the anchor that had been weighing him down for so long had all but vanished when…Jormungandr hugged him. In those years when they were conversing over boundaries, Poseidon often wondered what they truly looked like but it never occurred to him that they would be so…pleasing to the eyes. He smiled as he returned the embrace, feeling overwhelmed by so many emotions, but also something that might resemble a renewal of purpose. Jormungandr had given him a purpose during those lonely days up top of Mount Olympus and here she was, giving him a renewed purpose all over again.

“It’s more than just okay.” As he spoke in that low tone, inside he could feel it: the storm brewing wasn’t so cloudy anymore. Gentle seas, clear skies, and a wind that was so calming that he could taste the sea water again. “I’m sorry if I worried you,” He closed his eyes, a small stream of tears pouring from his eyes.

”You’re here now. That’s all that matters to me.”, she answered, brushing off his apology just as easily as she brushed his tears away with her fingers, not because the words weren’t important but because he was more important than any feeling she had been made to deal with over the years. She would forgive him always because without him, she wasn’t sure she would have made it to where she was standing now. Jorm smiled softly, holding him once more but softer, letting herself rest into him. ”It’s good to finally see you, Posie. I missed you.”

𝘿𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉 ⌜ᴀ ɢᴏᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ⌟

Psyche, Goddess of Soul

Goddess of Soul
_{Ψυχή
Ψυχή}

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	Blake Lively | #f7976a ████████████████████████ 𝕿 𝖍 𝖊 𝕯 𝖎 𝖛 𝖎 𝖓 𝖊   𝕿 𝖍 𝖊 𝕯 𝖎 𝖛 𝖎 𝖓 𝖊 ⌜ 𝐄 𝐏 𝐈 𝐓 𝐇 𝐄 𝐓 ⌟ Psyche, Goddess of Soul, Butterfly ⌜ 𝐃 𝐎 𝐌 𝐀 𝐈 𝐍 ⌟ Soul, Spirit, Mind, Rebirth (Influenced: Science, Art, Literature, Language) ⌜ 𝐏 𝐀 𝐍 𝐓 𝐇 𝐄 𝐎 𝐍 ⌟ Greek 🦋

𝐃 𝐈 𝐕 𝐈 𝐍 𝐄 🦋 𝐏 𝐎 𝐖 𝐄 𝐑 𝐒
_{^{There's a saying old, says that love is blind}}

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 P O W E R
P O W E R

^{Psyche power has always been more influential than outright power, probably a reflection of her mortal roots. In the past, she guided people in the ways of science, arts, language, and literature as she worked to broaden their minds and for-fill their souls. Now, she has only been left with the power to learn and gift any language by kissing another.}

𝐈 𝐍 𝐍 𝐄 𝐑 🦋 𝐒 𝐄 𝐋 𝐅
_{^{Still we're often told, seek and ye shall find}}

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▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ███████████████ 𝐕 𝐢 𝐫 𝐭 𝐮 𝐞 𝐬   𝐕 𝐢 𝐫 𝐭 𝐮 𝐞 𝐬 ⌜ Brave & Determined Warm & Intelligent Loyal & Humorous ⌟	▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅	▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ███████████████ 𝐕 𝐢 𝐜 𝐞 𝐬   𝐕 𝐢 𝐜 𝐞 𝐬 ⌜ Curious & Gullible Impulsive & Vulnerable Wishful & Stubborn ⌟

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	████████████████████████ т н є м σ я т α ℓ   т н є м σ я т α ℓ ⌜ 𝐀 𝐋 𝐈 𝐀 𝐒 ⌟ Paloma Emerson ⌜ 𝐑 𝐄 𝐂 𝐎 𝐑 𝐃 𝐄 𝐃 𝐀 𝐆 𝐄 ⌟ 34 ⌜ 𝐒 𝐄 𝐗 𝐔 𝐀 𝐋 𝐈 𝐓 𝐘 & 𝐆 𝐄 𝐍 𝐃 𝐄 𝐑 ⌟ Erosexual, Female, She/Her ⌜ 𝐎 𝐂 𝐂 𝐔 𝐏 𝐀 𝐓 𝐈 𝐎 𝐍 ⌟ Owner of ‘Sinful Temptations’ Bakery (An anonymous artist called Butterfly)

𝐋 𝐈 𝐅 𝐄 🦋 𝐒 𝐓 𝐎 𝐑 𝐘
_{^{So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind}}

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▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ██████████████████████ 𝐌 𝐲 𝐭 𝐡 𝐨 𝐥 𝐨 𝐠 𝐲   𝐌 𝐲 𝐭 𝐡 𝐨 𝐥 𝐨 𝐠 𝐲 ⌜ 𝕯 𝖎 𝖛 𝖎 𝖓 𝖊 𝕷 𝖎 𝖋 𝖊 ⌟ 🦋 My story is not one that can simply be told because it revolves around another, someone who changed the course of my life. Who is this somebody, you ask? Eros, the fairest among the immortals but also one of the most feared. And how could he not be? Have you seen this man? As for the factor of fear, even a single one of his arrows was enough to ‘unnerve the limbs and overcome the mind’ of any god or mortal. However, this is not one of the numerous stories in which his arrows lead to someone’s everlasting happiness (though he managed to do so without it) or another’s eternal doom. This is the story of how Eros himself once fell in love with me, a mortal woman and how I was willing to do anything not to lose him. Once upon a time, in the western lands, lived a king and a queen who had three daughters, all of them beautiful beyond belief. The two elder girls were so stunning that they exceeded all other mortal women in loveliness; but the beauty of the youngest, Psyche, was such that even goddesses envied her. Can you guess who this is and where the story is headed? Just wait, it gets even better. People came from all over the world to admire Psyche, and they were so smitten with her “maidenly majesty” that they even started paying her the divine honors typically reserved for Aphrodite, whose ceremonies were neglected and whose temples were defaced. The young maiden never wished for this attention, deep down cursing her beauty for all the suitors turned away after the sight of her, deeming themselves unworthy as an equal to such perfection. It left her lonely, surrounded by people but always kept on such a high pedestal. This was only the beginning to a path of misfortune but also the divine intervention that led to the happiest moments. Aphrodite, to say the least, wasn’t that flattered by all of this, so she sent her son Eros among the mortals with a simple mission: to fuel in Psyche love for the most miserable creature living, the most poor, the most crooked, the ugliest and the most vile, that there may be none found in all the world of like wretchedness. Now, I need to clarify before I continue this story that most of this next part (including Aphrodite’s wishes) was not known to me at the time and was told to me long after, but either way, back to the story. Eros landed in the bedroom of the young maiden, intending to fulfill his given task but also curious to see what kind of beauty had swayed the heart of mortals away from the worship of his mother. As she turned in her sleep, he was able to behold the sight of her and so startled was he by the mortal beauty that he forgot the arrow in his hand and accidentally stabbed himself instead. This was the moment that Eros, for the first time ever, felt the intensity of love and all for this mortal woman. In the face of these feelings and her stirring from her peaceful sleep, the God of Love feld with none the wiser that the task had not been accomplished. As time passed, Psyche’s parents began to worry as their two eldest daughters had married forgein kings and were ready to carry on their lineage but the loveliest of their children had still yet to wed, not even an offer to be made. Terrified they had incurred the wrath of the gods, the king and queen consulted the oracle of Apollo. The oracle spoke for Apollo, stating that Psyche was destined to marry a winged creature who was feared by both mortals and gods, lived on a mountaintop and wielded powers not even immortal beings could evade. Distraught, her parents asked if there was any other way they could spare their daughter from this dreadful fate but Psyche stepped forward, telling her parents that she would face her fate without fear. She asked the oracle what she must do and was told to don wedding garbs and go to the mountaintop to await her husband. She agreed, prepping as if for a wedding and the wedding procession led her up the mountaintop but many cried as if it were a funeral procession, believing they were taking her to her death. They left her on the mountaintop, where she sat shivering and trying to force back tears from the unknown ahead of her. While there, the breeze picked up, the gentle wind wrapping around her in a caring embrace as she was lifted into the air and carried to a magnificent palace. It was laced with gold, silver, and jewels in the finest of craftsmanship that no mere mortal could hope to achieve. The gardens were filled to the brim with flowers, so perfect and vast that no gardener could hope to keep up with such splendor. She was in awe, taking in the beauty that seemed far too much for one such as she. A disembodied voice welcomed Psyche home and informed her that everything here belonged to her. The invisible servants served her dinner, played her music, waited on her every whim, helped with her bath, and explained that soon her fated husband would arrive to greet her. Thinking of the oracle’s prophecy, Psyche found it hard to imagine that the monstrous being she was destined to marry would offer her such a kind reception. As night fell, she heard a new voice, one that sent her heart racing as she found this was the voice of her fated husband, telling her that he would be in her presence every night from this day forward but during the dawn he would be absent from her side. He had but one simple request, “You must not try to see my appearance nor ask of me my name or it will ruin everything.” Psyche promised to keep his trust and adhere to his single request and for a time they were deliriously happy. They spent time getting to know each other and shared their passions both metaphorically and physically. She looked forward to each nightly visit and the gentle touch of her lover who always evoked such passions from her heart but the days grew lonely and she missed/yearned for her family as she was banned from visiting them. She asked one night if she could have a single day to visit them, just to let them know that she was alive and well. He stated he would allow her to visit but warned her not to listen to any words that might break them apart or misguide her trust. Psyche foolishly promised that there was nothing they could say or do that would sway her. She had not been ready for the vicious jealousy, one that had been harbored far before this incident, unknown to the girl as she spoke of her home and lover. The sisters were spiteful and conniving, convincing her that this beast was supposed to be monstrous and snake-like so he must be tricking her. They twisted the prophecy told, telling her that he was just waiting for her guard to go down, using her until the day he grew bored and consumed her. After all, they stated how could you trust what you cannot see? It started to make more sense the more they spoke even if she protested in the moment but curiosity overcame her judgment and the trust she had in her love. They said she should wait until he slept, light an oil lamp and look upon him and if it should be a trick then use a knife to slay the beast. Psyche waited until the dead of night, sneaking into the room of her sleeping lover and while she brought the lamp closer…she was stunned to find the winged God of Love, Eros. So distracted she was by the sight of him, her hand became unstable and oil dropped onto his chest burning him and awakening him in one fatal swoop. She had betrayed him, broken his trust, and with knife in hand…made him believe that she wished him death. Psyche's heart had broken in the same moment, regretting that she had been led astray and while he fled, little did he know that she had dove out the window after him. She had not been able to catch him, the wounds from the ground hurting but none more so than her heart. The palace faded away and she was left alone on the mountaintop once more, left to try and search for him. She went back to her sisters, trying to explain her woes about losing her Eros and what had occurred because of their advice. She hoped to have support and see if they had any ideas to convince him to come home but all that had done was stir more hatred and jealousy, her sisters sneering that she had been moronic in her actions even if they had egged her on, the fault was her own for following through. Defeated, she left. Unknown to her at the time, her sisters had gone to the mountaintop and convinced one of them could sway the God’s heart to choose one of them in their sister's place. Each sister jumped off the mountain, asking Zephyrus to carry them by wind to Eros. The west wind did not assist either of them, and both sisters plummeted to their deaths in the rocky sea below. She was determined in her search for Eros and refused to return home, eventually stumbling upon the temple of Demeter. She noticed the temple was in disarray and began to put everything back in order, working diligently by her lonesome. Demeter, moved by her actions, told her that if she wished to ever appear before Eros again, that she should go to the temple of Aphrodite. She advised that she should apologize for wronging the goddess and humbly offer her service so that she may one day have the goddess' blessing to meet with her son once more. Psyche did as she advised but the goddess was enraged, insulted that this mortal dare to come before her after not only swaying her worshippers but harming her son to the point that he was still recovering. After ordering her assistants Worry and Sadness to beat Psyche for her insolence, waiting for the woman to give up and noticing that it was not working…the goddess decided Psyche should prove her worthiness and love by completing a series of tasks. She quickly agreed, telling the goddess that she would do anything if only for a chance to speak with her son again. Aphrodite had no intention of making the tasks fair and wanted to make them so impossible that by Psyche's own honor, she would have to concede and leave forever more. For the first task, Aphrodite took Psyche to an enormous pile of grains, beans, barley and lentils, all mixed together. She instructed Psyche to separate all the grains in separate piles for her birds, and required the task to be done by nightfall. She felt despair, realizing the task was practically impossible but started right away in her sorting. Just when she was about to give up hope, a colony of ants joined her and started to assist her in her task. In the morning, the goddess was flabbergasted and enraged that the task had been managed. She demanded to know which person had assisted her and Psyche simply answered that no ‘person’ had helped. Aphrodite instantly set the second task. She instructed Psyche to gather wool from the golden fleece of every sheep grazing in the field on the other side of the river. Simply stating if Psyche could not complete the task, she shouldn’t return. Psyche thought this seemed like an easy task, and began to cross the river. The reeds in the river started to shake, as the river nymphs appeared to warn her. The nymphs said that the rising sun made the sheep vicious and that the rams would try to destroy any mortal that came into the field. They advised her to wait until noon when the sun rose, and the sheep ventured off to the shade of the trees to sleep. This way, she would be free to roam the field, gathering the wool that was captured by the briar bushes or to shear from the sleeping sheep. She followed their advice to the letter and was able to collect golden fleece from each of the sheep. She returned to Aphrodite who, once again, was incredulous that Psyche completed the task. Tired of Psyche persistence and suspicious of the gods intervention, she gave her third task, positive this time would end in failure. This time she wanted Psyche to fill a crystal flask with icy mountain water from the mouth of the Stygian river. Psyche took the flask from Aphrodite and began climbing the craggy rocks of the mountain. But when she got near the top, she realized this was the worst task yet, for the rocks near the mouth of the river were hopelessly steep and slippery. Just as she decided to fling herself off the mountain, an eagle flew over, one sent by Zeus who was supportive of the woman’s determination and what he saw as a way to sway Eros mischievous nature. With the eagle's assistance, she was able to return with the water in hand and deliver her prize to Aphrodite. Seeing that there was no way to stop this mortal but one, so Aphrodite gave Psyche the cruelest task of all: She ordered her to carry a box to the underworld and ask Queen Persephone for a small portion of her beauty. Usually, a mortal cannot get to the underworld except by one means and one alone, death. She prepared to take her own life when a voice spoke to her, one that seemed so familiar and one she felt she could trust. It spoke to her the way into the underworld, without the need for death but also warned her that this was only the first hurdle on her journey. The voice said that she needed to take coins for the ferryman of the dead, enough for two trips. The voice also said not to accept any seat, drink, or food in the underworld or she would be bound to the place, and finally that to leave the underworld and return to the ferry, a gift for the three headed beast Cerberus was required. She steeled her resolve, remembering the voices words well as she ventured into the depths and reminded herself what she was fighting for. She gave two coins to the ferryman, one for there and one to return. Upon her arrival, Persephone welcomed her and ever the hostess offered her a set at their table and a bountiful feast. Psyche politely refused, placing herself upon the ground and telling the goddess of why she had ventured into her domain. The goddess left with the box, returning moments later to gift the box back to Psyche who felt it was much heavier than before. She thanked the goddess for her hospitality and generosity before exiting with cargo in hand. Waiting for her, the three headed beast Cerberus snarled and was ready to guard the exit as the dead were not allowed to leave. Psyche pulled out cakes of barley, covered in honey to appease the beast and slipped past to return to the ferry. She has made it out of the underworld but as she walked the more curious she became. What did the beauty of a goddess look like? Especially one as fair as the goddess Persephone. She decided that a simple peak wouldn’t be of harm and if a small bit was lost, it still felt full to the brim. She opened the box but what was inside was no beauty but a dark sleep, one that instantly took hold of her. The next moment, she was awoken with a kiss to her lips, her eyes falling upon her love that held her in his arms. She cried tears of joy, embracing him close. Before Aphrodite could catch them, Eros lifted Psyche from the ground and carried her high into the heavens to Mount Olympus to the home of Zeus, King of the Gods; and he bid Zeus to officially marry them. After Zeus married Eros and Psyche, all of Mount Olympus celebrated the couple and watched as Zeus bestowed upon the mortal the ambrosia of the gods and made her the Goddess of Soul. As a wedding gift, he blessed Psyche with a pair of butterfly wings so that she could fly so that wherever her love was, so would she be. The two found that love really does concur all and lived happily ever after…. ██████████████████████ 𝐁 𝐢 𝐨 𝐠 𝐫 𝐚 𝐩 𝐡 𝐲   𝐁 𝐢 𝐨 𝐠 𝐫 𝐚 𝐩 𝐡 𝐲 ⌜ м σ я т α ℓ ℓ ι f є ⌟ 🦋 The fall brought her nothing but heartbreak, showing that what she thought Eros and her had was actually all a spell, an illusion, one that had dissolved with the weakening of their powers. She couldn’t explain why else her true love would binge on carnal sins of others once more and avoid her at all cost. Every search ended in failure or had him quickly departing in the other direction when she tried to approach. Psyche loved him with all her heart and didn’t wish to burden him if he really wanted nothing to do with her anymore, so she respected his wishes and stayed away. She spent a long time wallowing in self pity and depression at all she had lost. To this day, she is still unsure who actually delivered ambrosia to her when she had given up on wanting to continue. She cursed ever knowing the gods and allowing herself to become an immortal which would prolong her suffering. It took far too many years for her to accept the facts before her, eventually realizing that she needed to move forward and decided to start living again instead of just moving on autopilot to survive. Psyche had loved him for so long that she couldn’t just turn it off, even with the ache it caused so she took up hobbies that made her feel close to him even through the distance. She learned archery and the language of love. She started to cook and bake more, finding peace in the memories of better times. When the good times seemed to haunt her, she made art so she had something real to remind her that it truly was real at a time. Sadly, it also became a horrible reminder of loss so she made sure to get rid of them and kept herself anonymous through the many years, currently using a butterfly as her signature. It gave her enough to start quite a few business adventures that she could put love and dedication into to distract herself from the loneliness and pain. She also worked to seek higher education or at least that is how the mortals saw it and at some points even taught others what she knew. She recently opened a bakery called ‘Sinful Temptations’ and is trying to remain positive about the newest adventure. It was suggested that maybe she should start finding some companionship of her own instead of pining over what cannot be. Psyche wasn’t sure about accepting another’s company just yet so she got a tiny miniature chocolate poodle which she named Makkachin. The little bundle of joy has brought her much more happiness but she is starting to wonder if the others are right. Maybe it is time to try and see if someone else could make her feel the fluttering of love instead of feeling like half her heart and soul is missing. ██████████████████████ 𝐌 𝐨 𝐭 𝐢 𝐯 𝐚 𝐭 𝐢 𝐨 𝐧 𝐬   𝐌 𝐨 𝐭 𝐢 𝐯 𝐚 𝐭 𝐢 𝐨 𝐧 𝐬 ⌜ α м в ι т ι σ и ѕ ⌟ 🦋 She wants to reconnect with Eros. She knows he no longer loves her but if she could do something to make him fall for her again then she wants to try. The problem is, no matter where she is…he is not there. ⌜ f є α я ѕ ⌟ 🦋 Losing her one and only love forever.

𝘿𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉 ⌜ᴀ ɢᴏᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ⌟

𝖈 𝖍 𝖆 𝖔 𝖘
𝖈 𝖍 𝖆 𝖔 𝖘

^{𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: UW Medical Center
𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Tlaz, Hathor, Sekhmet, Isabel & Ares
𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: a whole bunch of Ares shit-talking}

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Stray tears slid down her cheeks, dropping onto the carpeted rug beneath her as she lay there, heartbroken and physically feeling numb to the world around her. She couldn’t find the will to get up to function just yet. She didn’t know how or when she had arrived home, everything being fuzzy since the moment her eyes had locked with another pair that she recognized, ones that were dulled of life, and cold in a way they never should have been. Death was the parting and the new growth of life on the mortal plane but that meaning was lackluster and very different when seeing the result on people that had touched your heart. Hathor’s reasonable side shouted that she hadn’t known, couldn’t have known, that even if she had…it might not have changed his fate but it still hurt. They had confided in each other about so much and had found an easy friendship, one that was short, a mere few months in the making but one she had cherished. She had hoped to hold onto their connection as long as possible for a mortal life and now, she found out too late…they could have been friends for far longer than the small blip of a mortal lifespan….and they both could have spoken the secretive truth of their existence….. they could have said their real names instead of keeping up a farce with each other….now it would never happen…. someone had stolen that from her. Had hurt not only her but others that she cared for by such horrendous actions.

‘Zion….no…’

”_{….Ζαγρεύς}”, Hath whispered weakly, another fresh batch of tears flowing as she curled tighter into herself. He was…gone and while she didn’t know Macaria very well, the Greek goddess had deserved better than what fate had granted her. She couldn’t imagine what Persephone and Hades were going through right now, having never been a parent or lost a child. Her heart bled for the two that she cared for. She didn’t even remember if she had let them know she was here for them. That she would hunt down the one who did this. They would pay with suffering, blood, and bones. The killer would feel the pain they all felt a million fold if she had anything to say about it. A swell of rage grew once more, boiling under the surface and mixing in with her sorrow as she wanted to hunt, shred, and destroy. A happy chime pulled her back to the land of the living, bursting the bubble her mind had created to just wallow in her swirling thoughts and emotions. She blinked slowly, letting everything come into focus once more as she felt uncomfortable…the rug was digging against her skin and caused an itchy feeling, her dried tears felt sticky, she was having trouble breathing from the amount of crying, there was a slight stinging sensation near her ankles while everything else felt stiff.

Rising weakly into a seated position, she looked around the room and noticed the chaos all around her. Objects were smashed to pieces, items toppled over and scattered about, stains from broken wine bottles littered the floor, and glass of different kinds were all about. It looked like a war zone or maybe even worse than that with the exception of the patch she sat in. She looked down at her legs, a few little nics most likely from splashback broken glass but nothing deep or worrisome. She pushed off the ground to stand, carefully weaving through the mess to the source of the noise that drew her away from pleasant numbness. The phone glowing with a notification stating it was time for work, bringing her thoughts to Tlaz and reminding her that there were still dangers lurking. Ones that could remove even more from her. No, she would protect them. Determination filled her as she turned away to get cleaned up and ready for the rest of what was left of this horrid day. She would not fail anyone else.

•• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ ••

Hathor stepped into the Jade Jaguar, looking very much the goddess she was instead of the weak woman she had been within the safety of her home. She walked with purpose, people naturally stepping out of her way as if creating a path and she didn’t know if their internal instincts warned them of the danger lurking behind the surface of calm or if they knew exactly who she was and the direction she would ultimately be taking. The moment she slid behind the bar, she felt her nerves starting to soothe a bit as she felt in her element and safer amongst the crowd of people. ”Hey hun, I got it from here. Why don’t you get out of here while you still can?”, she stated with a smile to the current tender who was filling up trays as well as assisting the current clients deciding to partake in refreshments from the cushioned seats there. “Sure thing! Thanks Jas!” she smiled, eagerly handing over the vodka bottle in her hands and not giving a look back as she hurried away. Hath shook her head lightly at her retreating form and had she been in a better mood she might have even chuckled but instead her sharp gaze glided over the crowd, feeling on edge when she didn’t spot Tlaz right away.

There was a tremulous amount of emotions bubbling up inside Tlazōlteōtl that she wasn't entirely sure what to do with. All she knew was that she intended on confronting Ares with the little information she gathered from this evening. God's safety be damned. The more she thought about it the more somber she became and the more somber she became the more it fueled her to become even more enraged than she had known in quite a long time.

Thirty fucking years. No call. No letter. Absolute silence from the one who claimed to adore her. Love her. It tore her apart piece by piece. She thought she was over this issue by now. Snatching up anyone available mortal and god alike. But upon seeing him earlier today and the words he spoke that little, dying spark of hope reignited once more. But now? Tsk. Now she would get her answers. No more would he be allowed to hide and lie to her again.

She was storming past the secondary bar, the main one seated towards the front middle of the establishment, when a familiar set of eyes caught her attention. Planning to inform Hathor of the situation she sharply turned on her heel and made it to the counter in record time. "Yolicniuhtli
I will be stepping out for a while. Don't know if I will return tonight, do you mind closing up?"

As an afterthought she added, "I'm hunting for War," and the gleam in her eyes screamed for a fight.

”You know I would do anything for you but please sit, have a drink, and tell me what happened? Not that you need a reason in my book to hunt down War but I am worried about you roaming the city alone after…today.”, voicing her concern and fears as she reached under the counter, pulling out a glass and already setting to work to pour her friend a drink. If anything, it would at least calm the nerves a bit.

Sighing through her nose she listened to Hath; she had no reason not to. But she didn't want this… motivation to fizzle out before she had a chance to find the god in question. "One drink," lithe fingers held the glass and swirled it, eyes watching the liquid twist and turn like the emotions within her. Finally taking that first sip she looked to her friend. "Would you believe me if I told you he had a child, one that wasn't already known to you?" The words felt like hot coals in her throat and there was no stopping her from biting her lip to keep her composure as she delved into the conversation just moments before with this daughter of his and the stories she weaved.

At the end of it all, Tlazōlteōtl had had a few more than just the one drink, her anger still present just taking a backseat to the confusion trying to take its place, "He left me, in Madrid… for someone else. Had a child with them… I should have listened to you when you told me not to get involved with him. Should have listened to everyone…"

This was one of the few and only times that being told ‘you were right’ didn’t feel enjoyable and instead filled her with all encompassing wrath. How dare he? Thirty years? Not once had he had the courage to say what had happened while still claiming to love her upon return? It felt familiar to her, being played for second best if this child had been at all truthful. Hathor wished she had been here to question the woman herself but Ares would be the next best bet. Tlaz was right, he needed to be hunted down and forced to explain with no more secrets or omissions.

A loud piercing scream brought her out of her murderous thoughts, letting her claim the reins on her rage momentarily which was getting out of hand today, not that she could be fully blamed for those feelings. Either way, it flew her into high alert to see what had caused the mortal woman’s distress but only found the horrified expression addressed in her direction. Hath let her eyes drift down where all the stares from the patrons were locked and found large pieces of glass scattered over the bar, vodka spilling onto the ground and mixing with a growing puddle of blood pouring from her hand. The pain receptors started to activate now that it had been brought to her attention and she shakily opened her hand so she wasn’t pressing the glass embedded there deeper into her skin. She wanted to tell the others panicking not to worry but everyone was already on their phones, most likely calling emergency and other waitresses were gathering while expressing first aid knowledge which might have been more useful if she hadn’t been a goddess. Hath just looked up to Tlaz while ignoring those around her, an apologetic gaze as she would have to play along since there was no brushing off this kind of wound with so many witnesses to the event unfolding.

It was a sight to see for sure, as blood dripped from Hathor’s injured hand, and then to have the people in the immediate area run around trying to help. They wouldn’t ever believe that it was a blip to the likes of them. But nonetheless, Tlaz nodded in response to her friend’s gaze, they would need to play it up for the masses. “No worries everyone, it was an accident. I’ll make sure she gets to the hospital in one piece,” At the same time as she was standing, offering a hand to her injured friend, she called out for one of the managers - a veteran in the club. “Jacob love, would you mind taking over tonight?” The stoic male behind the bar nodded and took charge offering a round of drinks to get everyone’s attention off of them two.

Tlaz nodded gratefully towards the mortal male before turning all her attention towards the Egyptian beside her. The two were able to effectively walk out of there and into the cool night air to the concrete sidewalk. People bustling about, pushing this way and that only seconds before, parted like the Red Sea when their eyes laid on the godly figures before them. They were easy to ignore. All that was on their minds was getting out from under the curious gazes inside the Jaguar. “Do you need me to go with you? We can meet with Sekh, I think she’s working tonight?”

”I’ll be alright, go hunt down your man and show him who is boss. I’ll go see Sekh and see if she can’t patch me up. Be safe and keep me updated.”, she answered, flagging down a taxi with her good hand. Hath opened the back seat, pausing to give Tlaz a weak side hug and a quick ‘love you’ before hopping instead and giving the hospital address.

•• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ ••

A mortal child.

It had to be a joke. That was what Ares was hiding?

Sekhmet listened to the dial tone ring for a few moments longer, allowing herself to linger in the absolute delirious state she was finding herself in, unable to hide the laughter erupting from her chest. So the great Ares had a weakness after all.

When she finally put the phone back down, Sekhmet staggered from the rush of different emotions overwhelming her. She had barely managed to unpack that luncheon before fate threw another curveball at her. Maybe she would not be so surprised if she sees Ra step through the emergency room doors tonight. Not that it would be pleasant…

Sekhmet chose to move from the nurse’s station, opting to check on her new favorite mortal’s recovery while she prepared herself for the inevitable chaos that Ares would bring upon his arrival. Isabel’s surgery was going as planned, and by Sekhmet’s estimate the little mortal would be wheeled out very soon to recover in her private ward.

She didn’t get very far however when a nurse quickly flagged her down. “Dr. Ayad! Glad I caught you! We have a patient that entered into emergency and she is refusing any assistance or treatment from anyone that isn’t you. She isn’t being unruly but was very persistent that no one else will do. She said she would be willing to wait if you were busy but her wounds are pretty deep, needing glass removal and stitches.…oh, and she also told me to tell you that ‘Ra is trash’ but I have no idea what that means?” he stated, trying to explain the situation and provide as much necessary information as possible. “Are you available to assist?”

Sekhmet had been ready to shoo the nurse away, her entire focus on preparing herself for the inevitable shitstorm that Ares would bring with him, but the code had the words stuck in her mouth. Unable to hide the giggle - because really, it was funny and there was only one other person that Sekhmet knew that could say something like that.

“Thank you, I’ll take it from here.” Isabel could wait, perhaps having Hathor’s support wouldn’t hurt. After dismissing the nurse, Sekhmet found the ward that Hathor had been assigned, entering the room with no hesitation.

“Hath,” Sekhmet greeted with a smile. “What can I do for you?”

”I could really use a hand.”, Hathor weakly joked with a smile while raising her damaged hand for Sekhmet to view. It still had pieces of glass stuck within and buried into her palm as she didn’t want to cause more problems by pulling it out. It would heal in no time but better safe than sorry so she had actually committed to going to the hospital instead of home or rampaging for War. ”I accidently forgot my own strength and the fact I had a bottle in my hand when receiving some interesting information.”

Sekhmet offered her hand, allowing Hathor to place her injured hand over her palm so she could examine it. “Today has been an interesting day for the two of us.” Sekhmet gingerly started treating the wounds, keeping hold of her hand so she could use her ability to speed up Hathor’s healing process. “Tell me as I work, that’ll be my payment for today.”

”Apparently, Tlaz got an interesting customer at the Jade Jaguar in the form of a daughter of Ares but a mortal one. She decided that telling Tlaz what Ares has been up to in his missing years and just how loved her mother was as if it was a wonderful idea. I realize that she doesn’t have full context if she is willing to step up against a goddess but it seems malicious all the same. If it is at all true, I would love to give Ares a piece of my mind or deliver him to Tlaz in a less than perfect condition so she can rip him a new one. All this time and he couldn’t even communicate with her! He left her for another and had the ones that truly care for her pick up the broken pieces of her heart!” she stated as Sekh worked her magic, she rage bubbling once more as she thought of all those weeks and months after the incident. He had hurt her deeply and came back in as if it were nothing. Hath didn’t even know if he realized just how badly he had messed up and the lack of communication and secrets just made everything all the worse. Ra had left her feeling second best and no one should have to feel that. Tlaz didn’t deserve it and especially not the secrecy of a child. Ra was an ass but at least he had been upfront when he had chosen another.

Sekhmet listened to Hathor rant, her own thoughts running amok as things started slipping into place. A mortal Ares child, a malicious mortal of Ares’ blood. “You wouldn’t happen to know what she looks like, do you?” Sekhmet asked. Karma worked rather quickly if it was indeed Isabel that Tlaz met. Was Hathor the reason Isabel had a glass shard embedded deep in her leg? No matter, Hathor would get her answers soon enough. “What if I told you… Ares is coming? Here, to the hospital. To see his daughter.” Sekhmet asked.

”Sadly, I was not there to see the altercation but Tlaz did give a brief description here and there.”, Hathor shrugged, figuring trying to find the mortal child would be like a needle in a haystack, where Ares was an easier target. Her curiosity peaked at Sekhmet’s next words though and a slow grin crept onto her face, ”Really? Isn’t karma just a bitch. I am assuming that the…daughter in question that he will be visiting is of mortal nature because it would be delightful to deal with two birds with one stone.”

Sekhmet mirrored Hathor’s expression, the air around them turning electric. “You’re correct. Stabbed sometime after visiting Tlazolteotl but she never revealed who. Isabel Markov is her name but here’s the interesting thing.” Sekhmet leaned closer to Hathor, as though she were revealing a big secret. “There’s nothing in her records. Birth certificate is government issued from Colombia, no mother’s name, no hospital details, nothing.” The lack of information was rather odd, but considering Ares was involved, it had to be for good reason. “The mortal even told me something before she was wheeled off into surgery. She knows about her sister.” The Lioness began to laugh earnestly, throwing her head back as though she heard the greatest joke in the world. “Ares wasn’t just loyal to Tlazolteotl, he wasn’t even loyal to his mortal.”

”Unbelievable! I swear…when I get my hands on him….I’ll make him pay but first, I think I need to give this mortal a visit.”

Although the bombshell was her favourite part of the gossip, Sekhmet couldn’t help but wonder about how perfectly the documents surrounding Isabel’s birth had been scrubbed. The goddesses discussed the mystery, long enough that even Hathor’s hand had fully healed by the time a timid looking nurse knocked on the door to the ward.

As Sekhmet approached, the nurse spoke. “Doctor Ayad? I was sent from gen surgery, your patient has been moved to her ward.” She announced, low enough that only Sekhmet could hear. Not that it mattered, Hathor would find out anyway.

“Is she awake?” Sekhmet asked, only for the nurse to nod in confirmation. “Thank you for letting me know, I’ll go check on her.” Sekhmet’s eagerness must have shown through, as the nurse nervously pulled at the threads of her sleeve before making her leave. With the nurse gone, Sekhmet turned to face Hathor. “Shall we?”

”Lead the way.”, Hathor replied with just as much eagerness.

The room chosen for Hathor and the room Isabel was recovering in weren't far apart. Sekhmet guided the enraged Goddess to the little mortal’s room. “Oh, I forgot to ask if Ares made it.” Sekhmet clicked her tongue in displeasure. Oh well.

Isabel’s room hadn't changed much since the last time she'd been inside. The only difference was the IV stand beside Isabel’s bed, attached to her arm as part of routine care. “Ms. Markov, welcome back to the land of the awake.”

“Oh heya doc.” A drowsy Isabel said. She was already sitting upright on the side of her bed. “Someone stole my clothes.” She noted off-handedly. The nurse in her room checking the IV rolled her eyes and walked over to Doctor Ayad. “She wants to leave.” The nurse noted dryly before walking out the room.

“Yup!” Isabel said as confidently as she could sound in her current state. “I’m leaving.” She grabbed the IV stand and with as much strength as she could muster she pulled herself up. Her left – stabbed – leg buckled immediately.

Sekhmet’s feet reacted before her mind did, crossing the threshold of Isabel’s room to reach her side and stabilize her. The fact that the little mortal was already pushing her limits by standing up (and getting far) was impressive to the Goddess. “Not so fast, Ms . Markov. I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”

Hathor’s nose scrunched up while a frown of distaste plastered onto her features for a brief second at Sekhmet’s assistance of the little mortal but then again, she was a healer and if anything had appearances to keep up. She stepped out of the doorway, gently shutting the door before silently moving over to the window looking out into the hallway and closing the blinds. Normally, she would have taken one of the visitor chairs and blocked the door but who knows when their other visitor would arrive and it just wouldn’t do to have him kept from her or to ruin the ultimate surprise. She slowly turned around, a cheshire grin creeping onto her face as she grabbed the nearest chair, dragging it closer and sat down, crossing one leg over the other. ”And even if she was inclined to allow your release, you would have to get through me first and I promise…I am more than I appear. Now, we have a lot to discuss, you and I. Please, have a seat before I get up and assist you myself.”, she stated, her words calm and gentle as one would speak to a child but the hidden and deeper threats sat on the edge. Hath slowly slid into interrogation mode that she had used when working for Hades and was preparing to deal with her promptly to get what she needed and iron in the rules she would set.

“This sucks.” The only mortal in the room said dryly before she let herself fall backwards on the bed again. In an hour or two she’d try again. She did refused any further help from her doctor. If she got out of bed on her own she would get back into it on her own as well. However, with her test of strength so thoroughly failed her fight against the drowsiness of the drugs began to waver as well. When she had her back comfortably against the bed she let her head roll to her side to look at the new person who entered the room. Isabel didn’t recognize her.

“You’re pretty.” She said with a slight giggle. “Are you a friend of doc?” She tried to raise her arm to point at Doctor Ayad but her limb just mostly flopped.

Hathor chuckled lowly, ignoring the compliment for now before replying, ”You could say that but family would be closer to the truth. I happen to have other friends you have possibly met. A certain one at the Jade Jaguar comes to mind.”

”She was pretty too.” The mortal’s tone had shifted a little. Her brain - while slowed - began to realize what was happening. She just leaned back to make herself comfortable. This wasn’t going to be nice.

”Indeed she is. Now, it has come to my attention that you enjoyed a little conversation with her concerning your father. Now, while I don’t very much care or like your father….their relationship is none of my business so it damn sure isn’t your business either. Let me make this clear so your morphine riddled brain can comprehend. You stay away from her. You keep your mouth shut in her presence. I am being…..merciful in my request since I have complete faith that you know nothing about your father…well, not the important matters anyway. Do I make myself clear? Because next time, it won’t be a warning, that I promise you.”

Isabel gave this strange, new woman a sideway glance. Her heart was beating slightly faster. A bit of adrenaline was being pushed through her blood again already. Who the hell did this woman thinks she was? The fact that she seemingly knew more about Isabel’s father did make her a little curious but not afraid. Too many strange things happened already. By now it was just easier to go with the flow. Once she would be out the hospital, preferably before her father could get here, she’d start stressing about piecing it all together.

“You were very clear.” Isabel noted, though she was again looking up at the ceiling. She had been threatened enough in her life. “But not very convincing. I don’t really care about your friend. If she does what I think she’ll do then I probably won’t see or speak to her again.” There was a malevolent grin on her face now too. “So take your threats and just go. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

”Oh, I guess you don’t understand what clear means. Allow me to enlighten you.”, Hathor stated, all the gentleness leaving her voice and becoming cold, lifeless, and a glimpse of pure unfiltered rage that usually boiled into destruction. She stood slowly, moving to the bedside as she purposely dug her nails into the freshly fixed wound and wishing she had kept the glass that had been in her palm not long ago. She pressed in harder, leaning to the girl's ear so close that her mouth was touching the shell as she whispered, ”I don’t make threats. I make promises and not even your father could stop me if I saw fit to make you my target. Whatever game you think you are playing, you are fighting a losing battle. She will not react how you want and all you have bought is her rage at your father which usually leads to results you clearly won’t enjoy. Next time, stop acting like a child and confront your father about what is really digging under your skin….” Hath pushed more of her strength into putting as much harm that could be easily fixed quickly by Sekh as she could and dug even deeper into the wound. ”….or I will physically dig into yours in a way that will not be fixable.”

She finally pulled back, placing herself back into her seat and looked at her hands, inspecting them as if she had broken a nail and was determining how to fix it. She didn’t like this child’s mouth but that was clearly a trait her and her father seemed to share. If he would just show up already, she could do what she craves without holding back. Isa was already pushing her luck and limits as it was and Ares would be so much more fun to hassle. She was about ready to just spill everything to the mortal child just to watch her brain overload to process it.

It was a crying shame that she was a child of Ares. In another life, Sekhmet could have liked the little mortal. Not many were able to talk back against the great Hathor, though perhaps the little mortal simply wasn't aware of what she was getting involved in. There was a pool of blood slowly building around the wound Hathor had caused, the stitches from surgery broken like string. Sekhmet wasn't in any hurry to heal the wound just yet. She would be patient. “What have you gotten yourself into, little mortal?” Sekhmet asked patronisingly.

If Isa wasn’t on painkillers Hathor’s torture would’ve had her squirming on the bed. Luckily for her morphine blocked a large part of the pain. The rest she could easily embrace. That was the trick with inevitable pain. Fighting it made it worse. Embracing it, accepting it, was the only way. At least in the short term. Inside though she did grin. Whoever this woman was, she gave her a little more insight in her adversary. Hatred and rage wouldn’t win? Perhaps she would have to do things the other way around then.

Of course, first she would have to find out who this woman was and utterly ruin her life.

She wasn’t going to say that part out loud of course. She just turned towards her doc, who was probably in on it but she couldn’t really blame her. That was what family was for right? You helped each other, no matter how weird or dangerous a request. There was still a bottle of whiskey from Isabel waiting for her in the future. Though it probably wouldn’t be top shelf stuff.

“Right.” Isabel just said as she grabbed the IV stand again. “My stitches…seem to have… broken.” She managed to get out. Her breathing was heavy and labored. She was pushing her body. The bleeding didn’t help. Isabel gave her doctor a small smile as she again swung her legs out from under her bed. This time she only dropped on her left leg. It could hold her weight for now. Just barely. “I better… find a nurse to… patch tha-” Her words slowed as she couldn’t even finish the sentence. Her brain was getting a bit foggy. No matter, she’d push through. She always pushed through. With a hop, she began to make an attempt to move.

Sekhmet blocked her way once again, with an arm stretched in front of Isabel to hold onto her IV. “No need to panic, Ms. Markov. If you cooperate with us, I could heal you till you're capable of sprinting out those doors within hours. Doctor’s promise.” Sekhmet paused briefly before adding. “And… Well, we’re still waiting on one more guest. I can't let him not see you like this.”

“I seem to be expected.”

Ares stepped through the door just in time to see Sekhmet holding back his wounded daughter and then at Hathor with a bloodied hand sitting in a seat next to the bed.

”I have to say, your daughter is as thick headed as you are. Seems she wants to ruin your relationship before it’s even gotten its footing again. Keep that wreck away from her. I mean it. I won’t clean up your mess again. She gets hurt and I won’t play nice. We can discuss details after our kind doctor gives you the details of what I reopened.”

The arrival of Ares brought a malicious grin on Sekhmet’s face, allowing the God to witness the state of his daughter before coaxing Isabel to lie back down on the hospital bed. “The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Your daughter pissed someone off and got to face the consequences. This,” Sekhmet gestured towards the reopened stitches before placing her hand over the wound, “This is just the start. I won't be here to heal her next time.” A promise was a promise, and Sekhmet was a Goddess of her word. She had no hatred for the little mortal in front of her, it was just a shame her father was who he was.

Isabel felt like she was on the brink of passing out until suddenly she felt a warmth radiate from her leg. Her lucidity returned to her as the distant sting of her wound began to fade. Until it was gone completely. She gave her leg a practice swing. The muscle was fully restored. With shock and confusion she looked at Sekhmet.

“Go outside.”

She looked up at her father. “Dad… how.. did-“

“Go outside.” He said again. In a way telling her he wouldn’t negotiate with her. Not right now. Right now she had to follow orders. Even if she had a million questions. Quite meekly and wordlessly she passed Doctor Ayad and then her father. Who had his eyes still trained on the two other women in the room. After what felt far too long, she finally got out of there.

“Both of you… are exceptionally cruel. She is a mortal! And wounded! Yet the both of you come in here barely masking your own divinity over what?” He then turned specifically towards Sekhmet. “You created the expectation that you were better than that. You’re falling short.” And after that he left. He had nothing more to say.

𝘿𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉 ⌜ᴀ ɢᴏᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ⌟

Psyche, Goddess of Soul

Goddess of Soul
_{Ψυχή
Ψυχή}

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	Blake Lively | #f7976a ████████████████████████ 𝕿 𝖍 𝖊 𝕯 𝖎 𝖛 𝖎 𝖓 𝖊   𝕿 𝖍 𝖊 𝕯 𝖎 𝖛 𝖎 𝖓 𝖊 ⌜ 𝐄 𝐏 𝐈 𝐓 𝐇 𝐄 𝐓 ⌟ Psyche, Goddess of Soul, Butterfly ⌜ 𝐃 𝐎 𝐌 𝐀 𝐈 𝐍 ⌟ Soul, Spirit, Mind, Rebirth (Influenced: Science, Art, Literature, Language) ⌜ 𝐏 𝐀 𝐍 𝐓 𝐇 𝐄 𝐎 𝐍 ⌟ Greek 🦋

𝐃 𝐈 𝐕 𝐈 𝐍 𝐄 🦋 𝐏 𝐎 𝐖 𝐄 𝐑 𝐒
_{^{There's a saying old, says that love is blind}}

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 P O W E R
P O W E R

^{Psyche power has always been more influential than outright power, probably a reflection of her mortal roots. In the past, she guided people in the ways of science, arts, language, and literature as she worked to broaden their minds and for-fill their souls. Now, she has only been left with the power to learn and gift any language by kissing another.}

𝐈 𝐍 𝐍 𝐄 𝐑 🦋 𝐒 𝐄 𝐋 𝐅
_{^{Still we're often told, seek and ye shall find}}

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▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ███████████████ 𝐕 𝐢 𝐫 𝐭 𝐮 𝐞 𝐬   𝐕 𝐢 𝐫 𝐭 𝐮 𝐞 𝐬 ⌜ Brave & Determined Warm & Intelligent Loyal & Humorous ⌟	▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅	▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ███████████████ 𝐕 𝐢 𝐜 𝐞 𝐬   𝐕 𝐢 𝐜 𝐞 𝐬 ⌜ Curious & Gullible Impulsive & Vulnerable Wishful & Stubborn ⌟

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	████████████████████████ т н є м σ я т α ℓ   т н є м σ я т α ℓ ⌜ 𝐀 𝐋 𝐈 𝐀 𝐒 ⌟ Paloma Emerson ⌜ 𝐑 𝐄 𝐂 𝐎 𝐑 𝐃 𝐄 𝐃 𝐀 𝐆 𝐄 ⌟ 34 ⌜ 𝐒 𝐄 𝐗 𝐔 𝐀 𝐋 𝐈 𝐓 𝐘 & 𝐆 𝐄 𝐍 𝐃 𝐄 𝐑 ⌟ Erosexual, Female, She/Her ⌜ 𝐎 𝐂 𝐂 𝐔 𝐏 𝐀 𝐓 𝐈 𝐎 𝐍 ⌟ Owner of ‘Sinful Temptations’ Bakery (An anonymous artist called Butterfly)

𝐋 𝐈 𝐅 𝐄 🦋 𝐒 𝐓 𝐎 𝐑 𝐘
_{^{So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind}}

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▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ██████████████████████ 𝐌 𝐲 𝐭 𝐡 𝐨 𝐥 𝐨 𝐠 𝐲   𝐌 𝐲 𝐭 𝐡 𝐨 𝐥 𝐨 𝐠 𝐲 ⌜ 𝕯 𝖎 𝖛 𝖎 𝖓 𝖊 𝕷 𝖎 𝖋 𝖊 ⌟ 🦋 My story is not one that can simply be told because it revolves around another, someone who changed the course of my life. Who is this somebody, you ask? Eros, the fairest among the immortals but also one of the most feared. And how could he not be? Have you seen this man? As for the factor of fear, even a single one of his arrows was enough to ‘unnerve the limbs and overcome the mind’ of any god or mortal. However, this is not one of the numerous stories in which his arrows lead to someone’s everlasting happiness (though he managed to do so without it) or another’s eternal doom. This is the story of how Eros himself once fell in love with me, a mortal woman and how I was willing to do anything not to lose him. Once upon a time, in the western lands, lived a king and a queen who had three daughters, all of them beautiful beyond belief. The two elder girls were so stunning that they exceeded all other mortal women in loveliness; but the beauty of the youngest, Psyche, was such that even goddesses envied her. Can you guess who this is and where the story is headed? Just wait, it gets even better. People came from all over the world to admire Psyche, and they were so smitten with her “maidenly majesty” that they even started paying her the divine honors typically reserved for Aphrodite, whose ceremonies were neglected and whose temples were defaced. The young maiden never wished for this attention, deep down cursing her beauty for all the suitors turned away after the sight of her, deeming themselves unworthy as an equal to such perfection. It left her lonely, surrounded by people but always kept on such a high pedestal. This was only the beginning to a path of misfortune but also the divine intervention that led to the happiest moments. Aphrodite, to say the least, wasn’t that flattered by all of this, so she sent her son Eros among the mortals with a simple mission: to fuel in Psyche love for the most miserable creature living, the most poor, the most crooked, the ugliest and the most vile, that there may be none found in all the world of like wretchedness. Now, I need to clarify before I continue this story that most of this next part (including Aphrodite’s wishes) was not known to me at the time and was told to me long after, but either way, back to the story. Eros landed in the bedroom of the young maiden, intending to fulfill his given task but also curious to see what kind of beauty had swayed the heart of mortals away from the worship of his mother. As she turned in her sleep, he was able to behold the sight of her and so startled was he by the mortal beauty that he forgot the arrow in his hand and accidentally stabbed himself instead. This was the moment that Eros, for the first time ever, felt the intensity of love and all for this mortal woman. In the face of these feelings and her stirring from her peaceful sleep, the God of Love feld with none the wiser that the task had not been accomplished. As time passed, Psyche’s parents began to worry as their two eldest daughters had married forgein kings and were ready to carry on their lineage but the loveliest of their children had still yet to wed, not even an offer to be made. Terrified they had incurred the wrath of the gods, the king and queen consulted the oracle of Apollo. The oracle spoke for Apollo, stating that Psyche was destined to marry a winged creature who was feared by both mortals and gods, lived on a mountaintop and wielded powers not even immortal beings could evade. Distraught, her parents asked if there was any other way they could spare their daughter from this dreadful fate but Psyche stepped forward, telling her parents that she would face her fate without fear. She asked the oracle what she must do and was told to don wedding garbs and go to the mountaintop to await her husband. She agreed, prepping as if for a wedding and the wedding procession led her up the mountaintop but many cried as if it were a funeral procession, believing they were taking her to her death. They left her on the mountaintop, where she sat shivering and trying to force back tears from the unknown ahead of her. While there, the breeze picked up, the gentle wind wrapping around her in a caring embrace as she was lifted into the air and carried to a magnificent palace. It was laced with gold, silver, and jewels in the finest of craftsmanship that no mere mortal could hope to achieve. The gardens were filled to the brim with flowers, so perfect and vast that no gardener could hope to keep up with such splendor. She was in awe, taking in the beauty that seemed far too much for one such as she. A disembodied voice welcomed Psyche home and informed her that everything here belonged to her. The invisible servants served her dinner, played her music, waited on her every whim, helped with her bath, and explained that soon her fated husband would arrive to greet her. Thinking of the oracle’s prophecy, Psyche found it hard to imagine that the monstrous being she was destined to marry would offer her such a kind reception. As night fell, she heard a new voice, one that sent her heart racing as she found this was the voice of her fated husband, telling her that he would be in her presence every night from this day forward but during the dawn he would be absent from her side. He had but one simple request, “You must not try to see my appearance nor ask of me my name or it will ruin everything.” Psyche promised to keep his trust and adhere to his single request and for a time they were deliriously happy. They spent time getting to know each other and shared their passions both metaphorically and physically. She looked forward to each nightly visit and the gentle touch of her lover who always evoked such passions from her heart but the days grew lonely and she missed/yearned for her family as she was banned from visiting them. She asked one night if she could have a single day to visit them, just to let them know that she was alive and well. He stated he would allow her to visit but warned her not to listen to any words that might break them apart or misguide her trust. Psyche foolishly promised that there was nothing they could say or do that would sway her. She had not been ready for the vicious jealousy, one that had been harbored far before this incident, unknown to the girl as she spoke of her home and lover. The sisters were spiteful and conniving, convincing her that this beast was supposed to be monstrous and snake-like so he must be tricking her. They twisted the prophecy told, telling her that he was just waiting for her guard to go down, using her until the day he grew bored and consumed her. After all, they stated how could you trust what you cannot see? It started to make more sense the more they spoke even if she protested in the moment but curiosity overcame her judgment and the trust she had in her love. They said she should wait until he slept, light an oil lamp and look upon him and if it should be a trick then use a knife to slay the beast. Psyche waited until the dead of night, sneaking into the room of her sleeping lover and while she brought the lamp closer…she was stunned to find the winged God of Love, Eros. So distracted she was by the sight of him, her hand became unstable and oil dropped onto his chest burning him and awakening him in one fatal swoop. She had betrayed him, broken his trust, and with knife in hand…made him believe that she wished him death. Psyche's heart had broken in the same moment, regretting that she had been led astray and while he fled, little did he know that she had dove out the window after him. She had not been able to catch him, the wounds from the ground hurting but none more so than her heart. The palace faded away and she was left alone on the mountaintop once more, left to try and search for him. She went back to her sisters, trying to explain her woes about losing her Eros and what had occurred because of their advice. She hoped to have support and see if they had any ideas to convince him to come home but all that had done was stir more hatred and jealousy, her sisters sneering that she had been moronic in her actions even if they had egged her on, the fault was her own for following through. Defeated, she left. Unknown to her at the time, her sisters had gone to the mountaintop and convinced one of them could sway the God’s heart to choose one of them in their sister's place. Each sister jumped off the mountain, asking Zephyrus to carry them by wind to Eros. The west wind did not assist either of them, and both sisters plummeted to their deaths in the rocky sea below. She was determined in her search for Eros and refused to return home, eventually stumbling upon the temple of Demeter. She noticed the temple was in disarray and began to put everything back in order, working diligently by her lonesome. Demeter, moved by her actions, told her that if she wished to ever appear before Eros again, that she should go to the temple of Aphrodite. She advised that she should apologize for wronging the goddess and humbly offer her service so that she may one day have the goddess' blessing to meet with her son once more. Psyche did as she advised but the goddess was enraged, insulted that this mortal dare to come before her after not only swaying her worshippers but harming her son to the point that he was still recovering. After ordering her assistants Worry and Sadness to beat Psyche for her insolence, waiting for the woman to give up and noticing that it was not working…the goddess decided Psyche should prove her worthiness and love by completing a series of tasks. She quickly agreed, telling the goddess that she would do anything if only for a chance to speak with her son again. Aphrodite had no intention of making the tasks fair and wanted to make them so impossible that by Psyche's own honor, she would have to concede and leave forever more. For the first task, Aphrodite took Psyche to an enormous pile of grains, beans, barley and lentils, all mixed together. She instructed Psyche to separate all the grains in separate piles for her birds, and required the task to be done by nightfall. She felt despair, realizing the task was practically impossible but started right away in her sorting. Just when she was about to give up hope, a colony of ants joined her and started to assist her in her task. In the morning, the goddess was flabbergasted and enraged that the task had been managed. She demanded to know which person had assisted her and Psyche simply answered that no ‘person’ had helped. Aphrodite instantly set the second task. She instructed Psyche to gather wool from the golden fleece of every sheep grazing in the field on the other side of the river. Simply stating if Psyche could not complete the task, she shouldn’t return. Psyche thought this seemed like an easy task, and began to cross the river. The reeds in the river started to shake, as the river nymphs appeared to warn her. The nymphs said that the rising sun made the sheep vicious and that the rams would try to destroy any mortal that came into the field. They advised her to wait until noon when the sun rose, and the sheep ventured off to the shade of the trees to sleep. This way, she would be free to roam the field, gathering the wool that was captured by the briar bushes or to shear from the sleeping sheep. She followed their advice to the letter and was able to collect golden fleece from each of the sheep. She returned to Aphrodite who, once again, was incredulous that Psyche completed the task. Tired of Psyche persistence and suspicious of the gods intervention, she gave her third task, positive this time would end in failure. This time she wanted Psyche to fill a crystal flask with icy mountain water from the mouth of the Stygian river. Psyche took the flask from Aphrodite and began climbing the craggy rocks of the mountain. But when she got near the top, she realized this was the worst task yet, for the rocks near the mouth of the river were hopelessly steep and slippery. Just as she decided to fling herself off the mountain, an eagle flew over, one sent by Zeus who was supportive of the woman’s determination and what he saw as a way to sway Eros mischievous nature. With the eagle's assistance, she was able to return with the water in hand and deliver her prize to Aphrodite. Seeing that there was no way to stop this mortal but one, so Aphrodite gave Psyche the cruelest task of all: She ordered her to carry a box to the underworld and ask Queen Persephone for a small portion of her beauty. Usually, a mortal cannot get to the underworld except by one means and one alone, death. She prepared to take her own life when a voice spoke to her, one that seemed so familiar and one she felt she could trust. It spoke to her the way into the underworld, without the need for death but also warned her that this was only the first hurdle on her journey. The voice said that she needed to take coins for the ferryman of the dead, enough for two trips. The voice also said not to accept any seat, drink, or food in the underworld or she would be bound to the place, and finally that to leave the underworld and return to the ferry, a gift for the three headed beast Cerberus was required. She steeled her resolve, remembering the voices words well as she ventured into the depths and reminded herself what she was fighting for. She gave two coins to the ferryman, one for there and one to return. Upon her arrival, Persephone welcomed her and ever the hostess offered her a set at their table and a bountiful feast. Psyche politely refused, placing herself upon the ground and telling the goddess of why she had ventured into her domain. The goddess left with the box, returning moments later to gift the box back to Psyche who felt it was much heavier than before. She thanked the goddess for her hospitality and generosity before exiting with cargo in hand. Waiting for her, the three headed beast Cerberus snarled and was ready to guard the exit as the dead were not allowed to leave. Psyche pulled out cakes of barley, covered in honey to appease the beast and slipped past to return to the ferry. She has made it out of the underworld but as she walked the more curious she became. What did the beauty of a goddess look like? Especially one as fair as the goddess Persephone. She decided that a simple peak wouldn’t be of harm and if a small bit was lost, it still felt full to the brim. She opened the box but what was inside was no beauty but a dark sleep, one that instantly took hold of her. The next moment, she was awoken with a kiss to her lips, her eyes falling upon her love that held her in his arms. She cried tears of joy, embracing him close. Before Aphrodite could catch them, Eros lifted Psyche from the ground and carried her high into the heavens to Mount Olympus to the home of Zeus, King of the Gods; and he bid Zeus to officially marry them. After Zeus married Eros and Psyche, all of Mount Olympus celebrated the couple and watched as Zeus bestowed upon the mortal the ambrosia of the gods and made her the Goddess of Soul. As a wedding gift, he blessed Psyche with a pair of butterfly wings so that she could fly so that wherever her love was, so would she be. The two found that love really does concur all and lived happily ever after…. ██████████████████████ 𝐁 𝐢 𝐨 𝐠 𝐫 𝐚 𝐩 𝐡 𝐲   𝐁 𝐢 𝐨 𝐠 𝐫 𝐚 𝐩 𝐡 𝐲 ⌜ м σ я т α ℓ ℓ ι f є ⌟ 🦋 The fall brought her nothing but heartbreak, showing that what she thought Eros and her had was actually all a spell, an illusion, one that had dissolved with the weakening of their powers. She couldn’t explain why else her true love would binge on carnal sins of others once more and avoid her at all cost. Every search ended in failure or had him quickly departing in the other direction when she tried to approach. Psyche loved him with all her heart and didn’t wish to burden him if he really wanted nothing to do with her anymore, so she respected his wishes and stayed away. She spent a long time wallowing in self pity and depression at all she had lost. To this day, she is still unsure who actually delivered ambrosia to her when she had given up on wanting to continue. She cursed ever knowing the gods and allowing herself to become an immortal which would prolong her suffering. It took far too many years for her to accept the facts before her, eventually realizing that she needed to move forward and decided to start living again instead of just moving on autopilot to survive. Psyche had loved him for so long that she couldn’t just turn it off, even with the ache it caused so she took up hobbies that made her feel close to him even through the distance. She learned archery and the language of love. She started to cook and bake more, finding peace in the memories of better times. When the good times seemed to haunt her, she made art so she had something real to remind her that it truly was real at a time. Sadly, it also became a horrible reminder of loss so she made sure to get rid of them and kept herself anonymous through the many years, currently using a butterfly as her signature. It gave her enough to start quite a few business adventures that she could put love and dedication into to distract herself from the loneliness and pain. She also worked to seek higher education or at least that is how the mortals saw it and at some points even taught others what she knew. She recently opened a bakery called ‘Sinful Temptations’ and is trying to remain positive about the newest adventure. It was suggested that maybe she should start finding some companionship of her own instead of pining over what cannot be. Psyche wasn’t sure about accepting another’s company just yet so she got a tiny miniature chocolate poodle which she named Makkachin. The little bundle of joy has brought her much more happiness but she is starting to wonder if the others are right. Maybe it is time to try and see if someone else could make her feel the fluttering of love instead of feeling like half her heart and soul is missing. ██████████████████████ 𝐌 𝐨 𝐭 𝐢 𝐯 𝐚 𝐭 𝐢 𝐨 𝐧 𝐬   𝐌 𝐨 𝐭 𝐢 𝐯 𝐚 𝐭 𝐢 𝐨 𝐧 𝐬 ⌜ α м в ι т ι σ и ѕ ⌟ 🦋 She wants to reconnect with Eros. She knows he no longer loves her but if she could do something to make him fall for her again then she wants to try. The problem is, no matter where she is…he is not there. ⌜ f є α я ѕ ⌟ 🦋 Losing her one and only love forever.

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

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______________________________________	______________________________________________________________________________________ Location: Redline PRT Headquarters Date/Time: November 11th, 2022. 6-ish PM Interactions: A lot ______________________________________________________________________________________

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"And now we got some kinda energy sword deal? Feelin' a bit outta my league at this rate!"

”Hey, don’t say that! I’m sure that your power and skills are just as amazing as anyone else. Everyone has something to contribute, you just have to learn how to apply it to a situation.”, Aaliyah said, trying to give the friendly girl some encouragement. Half of prepping for anything, a battle included, was believing in yourself and not ready to give up so easily. She was about to add more to her comment when another voice popped into the conversation drawing her attention to Cameron and taking in her hero look in all its glory. Honestly, it had her debating if she should have added some more color to her own outfit. It was too late for that obviously but she could admire the design and creativity of someone else. The more that showed up in uniform, the more impressive this group appeared than it had with the massive amount of teens chilling in a conference room. It made it feel all the more real and a tad dangerous which started nervous jitters but also keen excitement. It dwindled a tad as Rachel spoke, the weight that this was protection but still limited. She shook it off, determined not to let any fear leak in until the situation was before her. She would not let herself have a fear of the unknown. They could do this!

“It’ll be nice when we’ve got the time to share.”

No one really had time to speak though and she certainly didn’t have a chance to reply with the grand and over the top entrance of a literal tank walking into the area with Jane’s voice coming out of it. It was legit cool as hell but maybe too much so as the girl next to her swooned, full on passing out style swooning. Aaliyah was too stunned to react in time to help in any way before Rachel and Will were on the case to assist but she was impressed the girl didn’t wake back up with a bloody nose from the sudden excitement. It was enough to make her have to hold back a chuckle in an otherwise serious moment since they weren’t exactly sure what they were about to do. That fact even more so driven in by what the Director was explaining to them as they had a location and were walking in blind. That was at least something she was used to, going at a situation blind and having to think on the fly to get to the ultimate goal.

"I am... so sorry, am I not too late?...", a quivering voice spoke out from the back as the Director spoke, causing her attention to turn to the back but with her stature and the large crowd of other teens, it was hard to see who was exactly talking. It was obviously someone who hadn’t made it to the conference room earlier. Couldn’t say she blamed them for the nervous tone of voice since the whole situation could be intimidating and being late meant all eyes on you or more attention. “Sorry, no watch on the streets.”

If the voice hadn’t been so clearly different, she would have thought it was a continuation of the first, explaining why they were late but this voice held her interest. She wasn’t the only one who had been on the streets then. It made her hopeful to have someone that could kinda understand the situation she had been in. It was unfortunate that they were so far from her position. They all had a chance to meet and catch up later though and who was to say they would want to talk. That was a disappointing thought but often those things happened. She had been more in her fair share of situations with an aggressive person, telling her to get lost from their spot. Heck, maybe she knew them? No, that wouldn’t be right since she didn’t really know any other powered people until just now. In any case, that was best left for later and needed to focus back on the mission at hand. It didn’t take long to prove that some people were just bound to be late as another person just into the fray but this one much more feminine in town than the last two. "Apologies for being late, the traffic kept my taxi from getting here quite on time..."

Even with the slight disruptions, the Director finished his speech to them. It was good that they would have a bit of time to show off tricks, see the potential in combos before directly figuring it out in battle. She almost didn’t catch the last part with her queries on the new members of the group but Caiden’s words would have made for great clarification.“Well Gress...it looks like it’s time to dish eh?”, the tone mischievous but still enough to bring a smile to her own face since she got to know more details about the powers she had viewed earlier. That also meant she would be able to share her powers like he had mentioned before. Hearing the full details of his powers laid out though was not only intriguing on their own but it opened up a wide range of possibilities when combined with hers. They could make some pretty awesome trick shots if they played it right. “What about you?”

She was about to respond but held off when Carmen…wait V, Aaliyah corrected herself since they were in ‘hero mode’, she really needed to get used to that, went ahead next to further explain her powers instead of just the quick show from the conference room earlier. Her power really was fascinating though she shouldn’t be surprised they would want the best though from whatever list they were given to work with. “Sometimes, if I don’t specify, it kind of just makes things up. And as for me, I’m, um. Nothing special. I’m not strong, I’m not a good fighter… I can run fast, and shooting a gun and tasing people are pretty self-explanatory, right?”

”You are kidding right? Nothing special? I don’t know why you would think that way when you have such a uniquely awesome power. As I said earlier, we all have something to provide and you were chosen to be here right? That is half the battle right there to show you belong here and have the potential. Anything you don’t know, you can learn right? So try and believe in yourself a bit more.”she said with gentleness before turning her attention to Caiden.

”Oh, um, and to answer your earlier question, I can create two interlinking portals of various sizes for the transport of people or objects but the longer I hold it open the more complications can possibly arise.” Aaliyah explained before a purple glow started in mid air before ripping open in two places, creating a portal before her as well as one behind Caiden which she stepped through, closing the one she left from. ”However, with some creative thinking, I’ve learned to use it for offense instead of just evasion and defense…._{even if I’m not the best at the timing just yet}.”, she added, removing her portals so each was one above and below the other, pulling out a penny from the last bit of money she had shoved there and flicking it into the bottom portal to watch it continuously free fall for a few passes to gain a bit of speed before switching the top portal to a blank wall so the penny would shoot out towards it. ”So yeah, that’s the simplified version anyway.” It wasn’t long before it kicked off the next person's turn so to speak, turning back to the goliath metal form before all of them.

"Well, I got this thing—-It's big and heavy, takes some pretty big punches. Not much else it does, so- you know, just let me handle that? Pretty much a Brute cape when I get in this thing and it's built like a tank. It doesn't really do a lot more, unless you hide behind it so you don't get shot."

Aaliyah definitely felt safer with a literal walking tank around but it didn’t seem like everyone agreed since Grayman spoke to the Director, trying to more or less to persuade/convince him that he was not an asset to the mission. She could understand his concerns being a little more…vulnerable than most with the power traits she had seen so far but did he have so little faith in the team that he didn’t trust them to protect him? It seemed though that some were in agreement with Grayman’s thinking as Scraprig spoke up next to voice concerns about going at it with just the group. Aaliyah probably looked physically confused and about to facepalm when this occurred because…literal tank? How was this the second one to get nervous about the unknowing aspect of what they were facing? If they didn’t have someone with precognition in the first place, this would be the norm. Besides, it seemed logical that they would have some guidance from someone that has been around the block who could be a leader until someone rose up to the position themselves. Panic leads to failure, that is what she had learned in the past. You have to keep a cool head and face the unknown without giving in to the tempts of fear that it builds. ”All of us will have each other’s back and I doubt that we are going to go in without some kind of authority figures when some of us are lacking full combat training.”

Current Mood in One Gif

𝘿𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉 ⌜ᴀ ɢᴏᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ⌟

Jörmungandr, The Great Beast

World Serpent
_{Jörmungandr
Jörmungandr}

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	Zoey Deutch | #BDE8D4 ████████████████████████ 𝕿 𝖍 𝖊 𝕯 𝖎 𝖛 𝖎 𝖓 𝖊   𝕿 𝖍 𝖊 𝕯 𝖎 𝖛 𝖎 𝖓 𝖊 ⌜ 𝐄 𝐏 𝐈 𝐓 𝐇 𝐄 𝐓 ⌟ World Serpent, Miðgarðsormr, Ouroboros, Harbinger of Ragnarök ⌜ 𝐃 𝐎 𝐌 𝐀 𝐈 𝐍 ⌟ Just Huge Sea Serpent ⌜ 𝐏 𝐀 𝐍 𝐓 𝐇 𝐄 𝐎 𝐍 ⌟ Norse 𓆙

𝐃 𝐈 𝐕 𝐈 𝐍 𝐄 𓆙 𝐏 𝐎 𝐖 𝐄 𝐑 𝐒
_{^{Life is like a snake's coils}}

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 P O W E R
P O W E R

^{Jorm can hold her breath an ungodly amount of time to the point some might think she can breath under water (which she cannot). She also moves effortlessly through water though this is more practice than power.}

𝐈 𝐍 𝐍 𝐄 𝐑 𓆙 𝐒 𝐄 𝐋 𝐅
_{^{No matter how many turns it makes}}

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▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ███████████████ 𝐕 𝐢 𝐫 𝐭 𝐮 𝐞 𝐬   𝐕 𝐢 𝐫 𝐭 𝐮 𝐞 𝐬 ⌜ Confident & Reliable Adventurous & Friendly Open & Protective ⌟	▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅	▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ███████████████ 𝐕 𝐢 𝐜 𝐞 𝐬   𝐕 𝐢 𝐜 𝐞 𝐬 ⌜ Brash & Reckless Venomous & Stubborn Flippant & Petty ⌟

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	████████████████████████ т н є м σ я т α ℓ   т н є м σ я т α ℓ ⌜ 𝐀 𝐋 𝐈 𝐀 𝐒 ⌟ Jorunn Strand ⌜ 𝐑 𝐄 𝐂 𝐎 𝐑 𝐃 𝐄 𝐃 𝐀 𝐆 𝐄 ⌟ 27 ⌜ 𝐒 𝐄 𝐗 𝐔 𝐀 𝐋 𝐈 𝐓 𝐘 & 𝐆 𝐄 𝐍 𝐃 𝐄 𝐑 ⌟ Bisexual, Female They/Them/Their | She/Her ⌜ 𝐎 𝐂 𝐂 𝐔 𝐏 𝐀 𝐓 𝐈 𝐎 𝐍 ⌟ Aquarium Worker

𝐋 𝐈 𝐅 𝐄 𓆙 𝐒 𝐓 𝐎 𝐑 𝐘
_{^{You'll end up back where you belong}}

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▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ██████████████████████ 𝐌 𝐲 𝐭 𝐡 𝐨 𝐥 𝐨 𝐠 𝐲   𝐌 𝐲 𝐭 𝐡 𝐨 𝐥 𝐨 𝐠 𝐲 ⌜ 𝕯 𝖎 𝖛 𝖎 𝖓 𝖊 𝕷 𝖎 𝖋 𝖊 ⌟ 𓆙 They were the middle child of the three children born of Loki and Angrboða, the other two being Hel and the Fenrir wolf. Jörmungandr was barely born before Odin, who saw danger if they should live, quickly tossed the palm sized snake into the ocean, hoping to avoid the fate prophesied. This snake bound to be the Harbinger of Ragnarök, helping to release Fenrir as well as cause poisonous chaos before killing his son Thor and ultimately perishing. Sadly, while trying to avoid this fate, Odin unknowingly set the course that might have lead to that very event as Jorm learned to thrive and eventually grew so big, that they surrounded the entire earth, so they could bite their own tail. They gave into the prophecy out of spite, anger, and accepting that you can’t change the way things are. If Odin had just left Jorm be, they might not have become as powerful or been able to grow large enough to start the the ultimate downfall. There were very few times that Jorm was able to remove themselves from the grasp around the world or out of the watery depths itself without the fear of punishment. Only two even come to mind and both involved the one they were destined to kill. The first had been before the grasping of their tail, their father coming to them with an opportunity to humiliate their destined rival. They would be disguised as a giant cat and Loki would bet Thor with the task to lift them off the ground. They felt a swell of pride when no matter how much force and strength he put into his hold, he was unable to lift them fully off the ground and their paws remained firm to the ground. A new spark of fire was added to the boiling cauldron that day, the need to be top of the competition strong. If them being born on different sides wasn’t enough, this helped tip the scales. The second time, Jorm had just begun to grasp at their tail and finally large enough to do so. It would be a bit longer before it was fully grasped, the timer on the clock to begin ticking in a sense. It had been just another peaceful day when something deliciously tasty plopped into the depths as if just for them. The temptation too great, the snake took its bite only to start being hauled up to the surface above. There, their eyes met with one of determination and one of complete terror upon view. Thor had reeled them in, possibly by accident but either way they spat poison at the pair who dared to disturb them. As Thor went to grab his hammer to kill the serpent, Hymir took no chances and cut the line, leaving the serpent to sink beneath the waves and return to its original position encircling the earth. That would be the last time Jorm saw the world above or anyone else until the day of Ragnarök was upon them. ██████████████████████ 𝐁 𝐢 𝐨 𝐠 𝐫 𝐚 𝐩 𝐡 𝐲   𝐁 𝐢 𝐨 𝐠 𝐫 𝐚 𝐩 𝐡 𝐲 ⌜ м σ я т α ℓ ℓ ι f є ⌟ 𓆙 Ragnarök ended up being a pleasant surprise and practically a miracle as far as Jorm was concerned. They had waited for the day their brother Fenrir would break free, their sister Hel to call forth her army of the dead, and finally they would release their own tail to join them, leaving venom in their wake and killing Thor before meeting their own end. They had accepted long ago that this was the reason for living and the reason to die. So when they felt the pull to release their own tail, it was a shock to find themselves not on a killing rampage, to not have their siblings in the midst of devastation, but to be mortal and femininely so. She dazzled over her new form, in awe at the changes before suddenly realizing that everything she had waited for, everything she believed in... had all been wrong. She was free to make choices, free to speak, and free to experience the wonders of life. It made her curious and debate if maybe she was wrong in some of her views of previous events but that remained to be seen. Odin had still tossed her the ocean to be rid of her but it had made her strong and resilient. They had slaughtered and hated Giant kind but seeing as she had been under the sea for what seemed like eternity, had it continued to stay that way? Maybe her father had managed to change things but not their fate? Or was this it being changed? It made her conflicted to think about but she couldn't just strip away timeless hatred that had boiled and festered even though she was open to change. Heck, she had to be open and flexible to change with a new body and actually having a gender for once, instead of just snake. It didn’t mean it would be easy or even happen overnight if it was possible at all. In the meantime, while trying to reunite with her family since they would not be able recognize the new form, she experienced as much as she could and tried to be the first at every new event and got a thrill of living dangerously. Sure, it caused some wounds but it was worth it for the exhilaration and freedom. She was sometimes frowned upon and got into an immense amount of trouble for her efforts but she didn't give two rats asses about what they thought. If she wanted to do something then she would do it, if she had to trick or sneak to do so than by the depths of the sea, she would do just that. No one was going to stop her or force her to do anything that she hadn't decided herself. Finding her siblings had settled her down a bit, happy to be near them and getting to speak with them when she had been alone for so long but it didn’t completely tame her. Jorm still did dangerous stunts, joined wars, explored depths, encountered wildlife, and joined competitions but slowly she started to miss her relaxed life. It was why after years of non stop wild fun, she decided that joining a job at the aquarium would be a nice change. A reminder of the home she had for way too long, where all she would do was lay and clutch her tail. She wouldn’t want to go back to how it was but there was a comfort in the familiar and a beauty still in the life that had spun around her while she was stuck, alive but not living. Now, she was able to have her cake and eat it too. Live wild when she wanted and be in a place that also gave her peace without feeling trapped. ██████████████████████ 𝐌 𝐨 𝐭 𝐢 𝐯 𝐚 𝐭 𝐢 𝐨 𝐧 𝐬   𝐌 𝐨 𝐭 𝐢 𝐯 𝐚 𝐭 𝐢 𝐨 𝐧 𝐬 ⌜ α м в ι т ι σ и ѕ ⌟ 𓆙 She wants to try anything and everything, good or bad. They were stuck in an endless cycle of waiting. Now she has a chance to experience life and all it has to offer. ⌜ f є α я ѕ ⌟ 𓆙 Fears being alone once more, parted from her family, without a voice...trapped with only their thoughts and to once more gasp their own tail.