Akayaofthemoon

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

@mellowdy

I think the GM is still accepting but not positive. I know that they are planning to start the IC tomorrow if possible and I think a few more are still working on sheets.

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

We thought it would be fun to collab and do siblings. I am so glad everyone likes the idea :3

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

A Bleeding Heart Behind A Pillar Of Strength

Hunter

Name _(Last/First): Himura Seika

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Regular Appearance:

Hider

Transformed Appearance:

Hider

Abilities:
Feline Intensification: The cat-like additions to her physical form allows for heightened sense which includes better reflexes/balance, quieter steps, enhances her sight in the dark, strengthens her sense of smell, and her new ears pick up sounds with more ease. Unfortunately, this also means that it can be extremely overwhelming in certain cases which will freeze her up and can cause more of a hindrance than a help. She is also more prone to getting distracted.

Furnace: She can spew fire from her mouth but is uncontrolled and untamed spray unless she uses a bamboo shoot to keep the aim steady and stream of fire (kinda like a blow dart in a sense). The effect only lasts as long as she isn’t inhaling and stops the moment she needs to breathe. She is trying to learn how to use fire in other ways or if it is even possible besides from her mouth.

Purrtection: Once the trivet is removed from the crown-like position on her head, it enlarges to become a shield to defend against attacks. It will return to its small size when removed from her hands or placed back upon her head. It is weaker against certain types of magics/attacks.

Personality: Seika is a very guarded individual, keeping most people at a distance with only a small portion of her gentle side showing through. Her best self being when she is around her twin, him bringing out the side of her that is buried between protective layers. The side that is outgoing and a bubble of positive energy, the one that is free to be weak and kind without a fear of being deceived. She can be a bit direct, coming off as rude and brash in her nature since she wants to get straight to the point, a bad habit she picked up in her time at the Yakuza. She is confident, having no problem marching to the beat of her own drum or standing up for what she believes in. Seika wishes she could have been more protective, caring and compassionate like her brother was openly to others during their Yakuza days (and still is) but she chose to be the buffer between her brother and her uncle as much as possible. The easiest way to do this was to do what she needed to do, even if that meant being silent, strong, polite, and also ruthless or unforgiving if asked. She is trying to be better about reaching out to others, protecting them and showing that she had done what she did, not because she was a bad person but because she saw no other way. She is still trying to forgive herself.

History:Seika and her brother Taiki had a wonderful childhood, growing up in one of the quieter spots in Agawa. A place home to one of the older shrines and a place that still held the belief in the spiritual, something that their mama had held onto during her own raising there. Their parents would tell them stories gathered from years ago, those of legends forgotten and of spirits in another world much like our own. It made the unexplained happenings that seemed to occur around the twins now and then make a lot more sense. Seika knew that she never had to fear though when she was at her mama’s side, it felt as if all those troubles went away. Seika hoped to be like her mama one day, the ray of sunshine in the darkest of storms, strong and capable but still as gently kind to those around her. She had wanted those days to go on forever, her family living the happy and peaceful life but sometimes things are just not meant to be.

When the twins were around ten years old, their world was shattered and they would both be changing to quite a different lifestyle. They had stood there, waiting as all the other kids were picked up, as the buses left, and the teachers started to head out with them still at the empty front of the school. A few teachers stopped to check on them and tried to call their parents with no answer. It was only later, after the police became involved that they found out the truth. Their parents hadn’t come because of a freak car accident on their way to pick them up. It was horrifying to learn and Seika feared for what that would mean for them. She was heartbroken, devastated beyond all comprehension but she didn’t shed a single tear, promising herself to stay strong for her brother. He was the only one she had left in her mind and she wouldn’t let herself break.

As luck would have it, they discovered that apparently, they had extended family; something neither mama nor papa spoke of before but at least saved them from having to go into the foster system where they might be split apart. After that tragic day, the pair were raised by their uncle, one Niko Himaru. At first, in spite of the deep loss, things regained some semblance of normalcy for a time. Both twins couldn't help but notice how extremely busy their uncle was, especially at night, doing odd things he never fully explained and keeping them suspiciously in the dark. It was always an unexplained mystery that ate at her curiosity and any questions were smoothly evaded or a general answer that ultimately explained nothing. Seika just found it better not to ask and gave up on the whole endeavor of trying to figure out their new and cryptic uncle.

It was around their 14th birthday when the ultimate truth was revealed to them, a surprise neither of them had asked for and given a gift of an unfortunate situation. They were unceremoniously roped into the ‘family business’ and given no choice for the path they were now forced to follow. As it turned out, uncle Niko had connections with the Yakuza, the infamous Japanese mafia. That was not the worst blow though...it turned out that prior to his quiet life, their papa had been a member as well, showing just how loyal the family had been and was to the widely heard mafia gang. Bound by both necessity and force, Seika and Taiki were pushed into being fledgling members of the criminal organization.

This continued on for a few years, with them learning the ropes and receiving extensive training. They would occasionally smuggle goods or run shakedowns, now and then for her, receiving more serious orders since her brother could not be trusted to handle them. Seika always ended up placing any of Taiki blame onto herself, offering to make up for it or taking the punishments without his knowledge, wanting him to continue to be the kind and loving person he is. She hated what she was doing and who she was becoming but her brother and their plan to leave this life behind were what kept her going. Knowing very well that this wasn't what their parents would've wanted for either of them. They found their chance on the day of their 18th birthday, officially marking them as adults; they were quick to leave behind their uncle's home, and desperate for a place to lay low, they ended up begging the owner of a local antique store to let them stay for a short time, confident it would be the last place their people would look for them. They were correct, of course, but it led them down an even stranger path...

Over time in the store, inexplicably, the twins could tell that the shop owner had fallen dangerously ill from out of nowhere. Unfortunately, they both also had a good idea of who was at fault; themselves. Ever since they've had to live with their uncle, the minor misfortune that followed them in childhood seemed to grow and fester, to the point that even among the Yakuza they were dubbed The Misfortune Twins. If it wasn’t a supernatural or unlucky phenomenon, the other option was that the Yakuza had found out where they were and were taking care of loose ends which wasn’t a positive outcome either. The two wanted to help, but had no idea how, nor could they leave, for fear of their own safety if this wasn’t the work of the Yakuza. It was in this desperate duality that their Tsukumogami found them.

Taiki's story was much different from her own, having a bit more of an…excitable first encounter. Her introduction was much more of an amicable greeting between potential Hunter and Tsukumogami. It happened in the dead of night, as she had wandered down to have a cup of tea since she was having trouble sleeping. Seika had quietly pulled out a cup, preparing all the steeping materials before filling a kettle with water and moving to the small hot plate to heat it up only to find it was already on. She cautiously set the kettle down, looking around nervously on edge. She knew it wasn’t her brother and there was no way that it had been on the whole evening. The shopkeeper wasn’t in the greatest of shape and had leaned on them to help out beyond just the shop. She didn’t remember them using it as they had gotten takeout so who was here? Was this a glitch? Seika confidently pulled a knife from the drawer, giving a threat out into the open darkness but what responded back had her instantly dropping her weapon. The small catlike creature pleaded for mercy (even though it couldn’t hurt him), scared and peaking out from its hiding spot. He introduced himself, explaining why he had appeared before her, the reasons he had chosen her, the purpose ahead of her and hinting at a dire situation that Seika was unknowingly in.

The next morning she had convinced herself it was a dream, that there was no way that all that had happened the night before had been real. Sure, she saw the trivet and debated with herself, a small voice telling her that this couldn’t be ignored or explained away when it made so much sense. She had told Taiki everything that had happened later that day knowing that he would believe her, help her make sense of all this when come to find out he had been in a similar situation as well.

Thus, the two had become Hunters, and they were already being thrust into a dangerous situation, as only now were they truly aware of the situation that was presented thanks to the help of Taiki’s tsukumogami...

The old man was being cursed to death.

Without much time to spare, the two performed their first proper (if you can call what happened in there proper...) exorcism, banishing the Onryo that had latched itself onto the old shopkeep. Overjoyed with his recovery, and inexplicably getting the sense that this troublesome duo he'd taken in had some part in it, he's agreed to watch over them and let them stay in the attic of the shop for as long as they needed, much to the twins' relief.

...Now they just need to actually figure out the ins and outs of this 'Hunter' business.

Likes:

• Her brother
• Sports
• Yoga/Parkour
• Cooking
• Animals/Nature
• Spicy Foods
• Cute Things though she will never admit it
• Sewing
• Rain

Dislikes:

• Gangs/Bullies
• Her own physical strength
• Surprises
• Guns
• Being bossed around
• Silence (awkward or otherwise)
• Snow
• Mornings

Fears:

• Something terrible happening to Taiki
• Becoming an Onryo upon death
• Yakuza
• Being trapped
• Being deceived
• Spiders kill them with fire

Other:

• Seika may not seem like it based on appearance but she is extremely strong and many underestimate this. When dealing with opponents that are bigger or stronger, she uses others' weak points to her advantage.
• She stands around 5’8 just a little under her brother
• Her favorite meal is spicy chicken ramen
• When choosing dessert, she will alway choose something that has mochi, not caring if it is plain, sweet filing, or ice cream
• She usually hides her Tsukumogami in a bag or anywhere out of sight since he is nervous around others.

---

Tsukumogami

Name: Shinchuu

Item: Trivet (Gotoku-Neko)

Appearance:

Inanimate

Spirit

Personality: He is the definition of a scaredy cat. A nervous and cautious mess that is very much about self preservation while being a touch on the self absorbed side. He is shy and reserved around a group of people, preferring to stay hidden but don’t let that fool you. He can be stubborn and has a fiery personality when speaking of passionate things or when in a bit of a temper tantrum.

Other: His nature makes him a bit of a fire starter, loving to light fireplaces, flick candles on, and heat up ovens which can at times be dangerous which means Seika constantly checks for these things. He doesn’t mean anything by it, just trying to be helpful which is actually very unhelpful.

Anime: Spy x Family

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

@LuckyBlackCat

Awesome! Thank you so much! I look forward to the IC! :3

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

A Bleeding Heart Behind A Pillar Of Strength

Hunter

Name _(Last/First): Himura Seika

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Regular Appearance:

Hider

Transformed Appearance:

Hider

Abilities:
Feline Intensification: The cat-like additions to her physical form allows for heightened sense which includes better reflexes/balance, quieter steps, enhances her sight in the dark, strengthens her sense of smell, and her new ears pick up sounds with more ease. Unfortunately, this also means that it can be extremely overwhelming in certain cases which will freeze her up and can cause more of a hindrance than a help. She is also more prone to getting distracted.

Furnace: She can spew fire from her mouth but is uncontrolled and untamed spray unless she uses a bamboo shoot to keep the aim steady and stream of fire (kinda like a blow dart in a sense). The effect only lasts as long as she isn’t inhaling and stops the moment she needs to breathe. She is trying to learn how to use fire in other ways or if it is even possible besides from her mouth.

Purrtection: Once the trivet is removed from the crown-like position on her head, it enlarges to become a shield to defend against attacks. It will return to its small size when removed from her hands or placed back upon her head. It is weaker against certain types of magics/attacks.

Personality: Seika is a very guarded individual, keeping most people at a distance with only a small portion of her gentle side showing through. Her best self being when she is around her twin, him bringing out the side of her that is buried between protective layers. The side that is outgoing and a bubble of positive energy, the one that is free to be weak and kind without a fear of being deceived. She can be a bit direct, coming off as rude and brash in her nature since she wants to get straight to the point, a bad habit she picked up in her time at the Yakuza. She is confident, having no problem marching to the beat of her own drum or standing up for what she believes in. Seika wishes she could have been more protective, caring and compassionate like her brother was openly to others during their Yakuza days (and still is) but she chose to be the buffer between her brother and her uncle as much as possible. The easiest way to do this was to do what she needed to do, even if that meant being silent, strong, polite, and also ruthless or unforgiving if asked. She is trying to be better about reaching out to others, protecting them and showing that she had done what she did, not because she was a bad person but because she saw no other way. She is still trying to forgive herself.

History:Seika and her brother Taiki had a wonderful childhood, growing up in one of the quieter spots in Agawa. A place home to one of the older shrines and a place that still held the belief in the spiritual, something that their mama had held onto during her own raising there. Their parents would tell them stories gathered from years ago, those of legends forgotten and of spirits in another world much like our own. It made the unexplained happenings that seemed to occur around the twins now and then make a lot more sense. Seika knew that she never had to fear though when she was at her mama’s side, it felt as if all those troubles went away. Seika hoped to be like her mama one day, the ray of sunshine in the darkest of storms, strong and capable but still as gently kind to those around her. She had wanted those days to go on forever, her family living the happy and peaceful life but sometimes things are just not meant to be.

When the twins were around ten years old, their world was shattered and they would both be changing to quite a different lifestyle. They had stood there, waiting as all the other kids were picked up, as the buses left, and the teachers started to head out with them still at the empty front of the school. A few teachers stopped to check on them and tried to call their parents with no answer. It was only later, after the police became involved that they found out the truth. Their parents hadn’t come because of a freak car accident on their way to pick them up. It was horrifying to learn and Seika feared for what that would mean for them. She was heartbroken, devastated beyond all comprehension but she didn’t shed a single tear, promising herself to stay strong for her brother. He was the only one she had left in her mind and she wouldn’t let herself break.

As luck would have it, they discovered that apparently, they had extended family; something neither mama nor papa spoke of before but at least saved them from having to go into the foster system where they might be split apart. After that tragic day, the pair were raised by their uncle, one Niko Himaru. At first, in spite of the deep loss, things regained some semblance of normalcy for a time. Both twins couldn't help but notice how extremely busy their uncle was, especially at night, doing odd things he never fully explained and keeping them suspiciously in the dark. It was always an unexplained mystery that ate at her curiosity and any questions were smoothly evaded or a general answer that ultimately explained nothing. Seika just found it better not to ask and gave up on the whole endeavor of trying to figure out their new and cryptic uncle.

It was around their 14th birthday when the ultimate truth was revealed to them, a surprise neither of them had asked for and given a gift of an unfortunate situation. They were unceremoniously roped into the ‘family business’ and given no choice for the path they were now forced to follow. As it turned out, uncle Niko had connections with the Yakuza, the infamous Japanese mafia. That was not the worst blow though...it turned out that prior to his quiet life, their papa had been a member as well, showing just how loyal the family had been and was to the widely heard mafia gang. Bound by both necessity and force, Seika and Taiki were pushed into being fledgling members of the criminal organization.

This continued on for a few years, with them learning the ropes and receiving extensive training. They would occasionally smuggle goods or run shakedowns, now and then for her, receiving more serious orders since her brother could not be trusted to handle them. Seika always ended up placing any of Taiki blame onto herself, offering to make up for it or taking the punishments without his knowledge, wanting him to continue to be the kind and loving person he is. She hated what she was doing and who she was becoming but her brother and their plan to leave this life behind were what kept her going. Knowing very well that this wasn't what their parents would've wanted for either of them. They found their chance on the day of their 18th birthday, officially marking them as adults; they were quick to leave behind their uncle's home, and desperate for a place to lay low, they ended up begging the owner of a local antique store to let them stay for a short time, confident it would be the last place their people would look for them. They were correct, of course, but it led them down an even stranger path...

Over time in the store, inexplicably, the twins could tell that the shop owner had fallen dangerously ill from out of nowhere. Unfortunately, they both also had a good idea of who was at fault; themselves. Ever since they've had to live with their uncle, the minor misfortune that followed them in childhood seemed to grow and fester, to the point that even among the Yakuza they were dubbed The Misfortune Twins. If it wasn’t a supernatural or unlucky phenomenon, the other option was that the Yakuza had found out where they were and were taking care of loose ends which wasn’t a positive outcome either. The two wanted to help, but had no idea how, nor could they leave, for fear of their own safety if this wasn’t the work of the Yakuza. It was in this desperate duality that their Tsukumogami found them.

Taiki's story was much different from her own, having a bit more of an…excitable first encounter. Her introduction was much more of an amicable greeting between potential Hunter and Tsukumogami. It happened in the dead of night, as she had wandered down to have a cup of tea since she was having trouble sleeping. Seika had quietly pulled out a cup, preparing all the steeping materials before filling a kettle with water and moving to the small hot plate to heat it up only to find it was already on. She cautiously set the kettle down, looking around nervously on edge. She knew it wasn’t her brother and there was no way that it had been on the whole evening. The shopkeeper wasn’t in the greatest of shape and had leaned on them to help out beyond just the shop. She didn’t remember them using it as they had gotten takeout so who was here? Was this a glitch? Seika confidently pulled a knife from the drawer, giving a threat out into the open darkness but what responded back had her instantly dropping her weapon. The small catlike creature pleaded for mercy (even though it couldn’t hurt him), scared and peaking out from its hiding spot. He introduced himself, explaining why he had appeared before her, the reasons he had chosen her, the purpose ahead of her and hinting at a dire situation that Seika was unknowingly in.

The next morning she had convinced herself it was a dream, that there was no way that all that had happened the night before had been real. Sure, she saw the trivet and debated with herself, a small voice telling her that this couldn’t be ignored or explained away when it made so much sense. She had told Taiki everything that had happened later that day knowing that he would believe her, help her make sense of all this when come to find out he had been in a similar situation as well.

Thus, the two had become Hunters, and they were already being thrust into a dangerous situation, as only now were they truly aware of the situation that was presented thanks to the help of Taiki’s tsukumogami...

The old man was being cursed to death.

Without much time to spare, the two performed their first proper (if you can call what happened in there proper...) exorcism, banishing the Onryo that had latched itself onto the old shopkeep. Overjoyed with his recovery, and inexplicably getting the sense that this troublesome duo he'd taken in had some part in it, he's agreed to watch over them and let them stay in the attic of the shop for as long as they needed, much to the twins' relief.

...Now they just need to actually figure out the ins and outs of this 'Hunter' business.

Likes:

• Her brother
• Sports
• Yoga/Parkour
• Cooking
• Animals/Nature
• Spicy Foods
• Cute Things though she will never admit it
• Sewing
• Rain

Dislikes:

• Gangs/Bullies
• Her own physical strength
• Surprises
• Guns
• Being bossed around
• Silence (awkward or otherwise)
• Snow
• Mornings

Fears:

• Something terrible happening to Taiki
• Becoming an Onryo upon death
• Yakuza
• Being trapped
• Being deceived
• Spiders kill them with fire

Other:

• Seika may not seem like it based on appearance but she is extremely strong and many underestimate this. When dealing with opponents that are bigger or stronger, she uses others' weak points to her advantage.
• She stands around 5’8 just a little under her brother
• Her favorite meal is spicy chicken ramen
• When choosing dessert, she will alway choose something that has mochi, not caring if it is plain, sweet filing, or ice cream
• She usually hides her Tsukumogami in a bag or anywhere out of sight since he is nervous around others.

---

Tsukumogami

Name: Shinchuu

Item: Trivet (Gotoku-Neko)

Appearance:

Inanimate

Spirit

Personality: He is the definition of a scaredy cat. A nervous and cautious mess that is very much about self preservation while being a touch on the self absorbed side. He is shy and reserved around a group of people, preferring to stay hidden but don’t let that fool you. He can be stubborn and has a fiery personality when speaking of passionate things or when in a bit of a temper tantrum.

Other: His nature makes him a bit of a fire starter, loving to light fireplaces, flick candles on, and heat up ovens which can at times be dangerous which means Seika constantly checks for these things. He doesn’t mean anything by it, just trying to be helpful which is actually very unhelpful.

Anime: Spy x Family

Sorry it took so long! Hopefully this is alright :3

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

Mine is almost done. I am hoping to have it up soon.

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⌟

---

_{Luncheon➟ Home➟Underworld Home}

_{Mood: I’m fine (not really)}

---

---

_{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}

---

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:}

---

“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.”