THEY SIDLE UP to the building, chocolate gaze locked on the building itself rather than the lights that mark the presence of the police. ’ not you believing in ghost stories these days, asa, ’ emeris drawled, squinting a bit as they watch police and others scurry around the building. they’d sent a couple of people to cause a little mischief and lure the police to the opposite side of tartarus and it had worked like a charm. ’ most of the time, casper dosen’t require police presence. he’s a friendly ghost after all. ’ emeris wasn’t though, and there was no attempt to hide the sly smile that spread across their features over a job well done. ’ where’d you get that sandwich ? i think i want one. ’
her shoulders tensed slightly at the approach of an unfortunately familiar face, fingers flexing against the instinct to reach for one of her knives. emeris was dangerous, a sore spot to boot, but they didn’t pose a threat, weren’t starting a fight. for now. if anyone had a right to some superstitions, it was her, but she didn’t voice that thought, instead replying wryly, “oh, my old man would be happy if i found a little faith.” she hadn’t spoken to him in ... so long. it was a complicated situation. “he might be, but i don’t think you are.” they wouldn’t be looking like a cat who got the cream if that wasn’t the case. “mm. little hole in the wall sub joint three blocks back. i’m sure the health department hates it, but it’s good.”
she didn’t know why she thought she could go and grab take out without something going astray. the red and blue flicker of emergy is something she knows all too well, but at least she’s off the clock and not on call tonight. she’d planned on just ignoring the scene, taking her sushi to her car and just heading home, until she spots a familiar soul nearby. moving forward, she takes out her earphones only to raise her brows at the suggestion. her own gaze settles on the building, the corner of her mouth turning upwards. “a ghost attack would be a lot more exciting than what those sirens usually mean.”
she nods a greeting as she recognizes josefina, slight smile becoming easier, more comfortable. she wouldn’t call the two of them close, but she's more relaxed around her fellow souls, knows what to do with them. she used to find tartarus’ everyday violence plenty exciting, a fun part of the routine, but now she tends to agree with her. “a little excitement could be fun. spice things up.” the thought of hauntings leads her to zane titan’s stupid, probably horny ghost back from the grave, an idea that almost makes her smile grow, but she won’t say it aloud. “i’m sure some of the boys would love to try to fight a ghost.”
sirens and ambulances were hardly anything new in tartarus. it seemed like every other weekend there was some kind of bust up at one of the clubs, dealers getting caught on sidewalks, or some crime scene being found. still, it never failed to intrigue misa. they were on their way out of oceanus when they caught sight of the apartment, suddenly glad that when they first moved out of home, they hadn’t chosen that block. they’re surprised when the other person nearby comments, gaze flicking over to her. “okay, but now i really want to do a ghost tour through that building if that’s the case.”
she snorted quietly, gaze briefly flickering back over to the scene as someone was moved into an ambulance before she returned her attention to her new company. “it’s not a bad idea. i’m sure that the landlord would jump at the opportunity for a little cash.” she had never been too much of a believer in ghosts, but it could be interesting. maybe they would make a little haunted house. she could appreciate a cheesy scare --- not for herself, really, but to send her friends through. “try them when it’s closer to halloween.”
tonight, donny holds court in maximo’s, sitting in the corner booth like an old don in a martin scorsese movie. ( he’s never liked them, but he can appreciate a fun cliche. ) he glances up from his plate when someone sits with him, face splitting with a smile when he recognizes eerie. they’re a good stallion, resourceful, loyal, & he’s always had a soft spot for kids. “eerie ! tell me you’ve got some good news for me. how are you ? “
“hey, pumpkin,” he greets with a smile as lux steps into the room. he leans against the kitchen island, picking halfheartedly at an orange. he peels off another slice, offering it to her. “you have any plans for tonight ? there’s a lasagna in the oven.” he only really picked up cooking after he & amelie had their kids, figuring that it was only fair that he pulled more weight around the house, despite being able to hire staff easily enough. he’s come to like it by now, comfortable in the kitchen.
𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭 out of venturing outside of his territory, and even less of coming whenever one of his brothers calls — brother, singular, he has to remind himself —, but that’s exactly what he’s doing. he is not ready to acknowledge why it had been so easy for donny to get him there. ❛ i respect your dedication to the role, captain. but don’t you still have a perfectly functioning house where we could have met? ❜ he’s asking when the other interrupts him. there’s a satisfaction at the older titan’s annoyance that is very much reminiscent of being the younger brother, but he’s certain donny feels his own variation of that at using the nickname. he doesn’t rush the steps that take him on board, but donny is right, they have a lot to talk about. the man is the only one who understands what he’s feeling and who knows what he wants. ❛ have some manners, at least offer me a drink, ❜ he requests as soon as he’s face to face with his brother. desmond doesn’t ask how the other is doing, but sharp eyes study the man searching for a non-verbal answer.
anyone who didn’t know donny would say that he looks fine. but the telltale signs are there for a keen eye --- split callouses on his hands, the light dimmed in his eyes, a hint of strain in the flash of smile he gives. small things that don’t quite add up to the persona he usually projects. he doesn’t stop moving for even a moment, fingers tapping on the rail. “well, i don’t exactly have a minibar on here ... “ he leans over & flips open a hatch on one of the benches, revealing a well stocked cooler as he grins, “but you can always take your pick.” this boat is donny’s classic --- it’s not one of his yachts, not for parties. an old sailboat just for him, one of his oldest, & largely true to the original simple design, but he has to have some little luxuries. he installed it himself. he doesn’t snag a drink, instead undoing the mooring, hauling the rope back onboard, getting the engine started. when they’re safely out of the harbor, some of the tension leaves his shoulders as he takes a deep breath in & forces himself to relax some. he’s in his element. he’s alright. “what a fucking time, huh ? “ no small talk. right to the point.
to most, donny would be considered unpredictable - a perfect storm of rage and chaos cast in taut muscle and a winning smile. but she has always been able to read him. see through the fury to what lies beneath; the damaged man trying to put together the pieces of himself. she knows, understands, his choices. and now, in a time like this, she knows exactly where he’ll go to clear his head and let loose some of that anger burning in him.
careful steps navigate their way belowdeck, doing her best to not trip on debris left in his wake. she needn’t announce herself, there aren’t many that would want to keep him company here. donny titan with a sledgehammer in his hands is a risk to anyone other than those he loves. cerulean hues look him over, dust in his hair and dirt marring his skin - more important is the exhaustion she reads in his features, a world weariness that has not come from battering a hole in his boat.
“theseus’ ship.” she repeats, arms folding loosely across her chest. “i’ve heard it.” and she can see why it might hold some weight with him now. though, truly, she recognises it as a distraction technique - a way to avoid the harder questions that she may raise. “well…i guess the question is really; does the boat matter because of it’s parts or because of what it means to people ??” amelie counters, tilting her head. “does this-” she kicks a piece of wall debris with her boot. “matter ?? or is it just a part of something more ??” she knows what she believes. that people change, every inch of skin and bone is constantly changing, but the soul - that piece that makes a person truly themselves. that is unwavering.
donny doesn’t have many people who understand him --- he doesn’t let many people understand him, not all of him. he’s a complicated person, & not one who likes opening up, explaining himself. amelie, however, has always been his confidante, even if she is no longer his wife. he doesn’t want or need saving. but a shoulder to lean on ? more than he would admit. he’s a lucky man to have her in his life, to have her for his family.
he considers her return question for a moment, still studying the splinters, still contemplating further violence. “both,” he says finally, voice rough. “the meaning is important, but ... the bones have a meaning to them, too. it’s just the matter of picking your brand of nostalgia.” he frowns faintly, then turns to look at her for the first time, leaning against an unbroken wall. “i’d say it’s the same ship. won’t feel entirely the same, but ... things always change. you can’t control it.” he’s an easygoing man, most of the time, doesn’t crave control. power, though. power is a necessity, something he learned a long time ago is only way of maintaining safety, & no man can have power over death.
“i think i might burn this thing down,” he says lazily, attempting for a casual tone in a sentence that feels anything but. “i have a gas can in the back of my car, matches. i could do it.” he isn’t sure that he wants to, isn’t sure that he doesn’t. it could be nice, to start over with something new, or to go back to the old. he’s tired of planning. he’s so tired.
asa tucks her free hand into her pocket as she stands on the sidewalk, a sandwich held in the other. across the street, police & ambulance lights flicker in the darkness outside of a rundown apartment building. the chaos inside isn’t her work, for once, & she isn’t entirely certain if she’s paused to watch because she’s curious or bored. she glances over when someone else stops to observe, swallowing her bite. “i’ve heard that the building is haunted,” she says dryly, lips twisting with a hint of a smile as she glances briefly over at them. “maybe there was a ghost attack.”
there are plenty of pretty faces in olympus tonight, but donny has his sights set on one : sara. zane’s been in the grave for long enough that donny can go back to occasionally fucking the man’s ex, right ? he almost laughs aloud at the sharply sarcastic thought, but tonight he’s in little mood for humor. murder accusations can have a way of killing his cheer --- at least when family was involved, that is. he sits down beside her at the bar, resting his elbows on the bar, the slight smile he gives her entirely sardonic. “i was going to ask you how you’re feeling, but please, let me know if you’re gonna accuse me of fratricide again, ‘cause then i can make the night easier for the both of us & skip right to the part where i start yelling obscenities.“
✱ ╱ zoe kravitz + cis female + she / her ━ if you happen to find yourself stuck in tartarus, make sure you don’t run into ASA ARISTOS there. the THIRTY - ONE year old has made quite the reputation for themselves under their alias as ACHILLES, a CAPO OF ASSASSINS & CLEANERS for THE SOULS. while their enemies often describe them as arrogant & disillusioned, their syndicate would say that they’re unbeatable & candid. they DO NOT think that zane was murdered, but they’ll be keeping that to themselves for now. ( sharp eyes that make smart men run for cover, gold glinting in sunlight, the adrenaline rush of sprinting as fast as you can, love worth dying for, the unforgivable price of honor ) elodie + 24 + she / they + est.
STATISTICS .
full name asa temperance aristos
nicknames ace, achilles, angel, cap
sexuality bisexual
birthplace tartarus, california
date of birth june 13
zodiac gemini
PERSONALITY .
the asa that was & the asa that is are entirely different creatures. there is still something untameable to her, a ferocity, a simmering anger --- but she has learned the price of unending fury the hard way. she has taken the lesson to heart. she was always larger than life, proud, ambitious, defiant, untouchable both in the field & behind closed doors. if she hadn’t been such an exceptional soldier, hadn’t inspired loyalty in her fellow killers & given hers in return, she would have been envied, loathed. she had flashes of kindness, never betrayed her word, revealed a sly little sense of humor with a mischievous smile, but stayed a fundamental force of nature, cool & unbothered until she wasn’t.
left now in the rubble, picking up the pieces of herself that her anger has left behind, she does not seem so golden, so divine. she no longer believes in her own myth, has a grounded quality to her now, a wisdom. a slow tiredness. you could say that she’s mellowed slightly. she is still bluntly honest, unbearably straightforward, but not so uncaring of the impact. rueful, wry, jagged around the edges, careful of her own brand of morality. she treasures the little moments of life she has now, soaks up the sunlight like a dandelion sneaking up through cracks in the pavement. she doesn’t always see the point to carrying on, but she will do so nonetheless, has committed herself to steady breaths in & out, has found a cause she considers worthy.
she is still dangerous. you can use a spear for a walking stick, but it will not change its nature. she might not relish the violence anymore, but she is utterly capable, utterly confident in her own ability. she will always be known for her passion, but she’s turned tactical, crafty. she is evolving. there remains an endless pit of pain waiting in the core of her, but it is far removed, disconnected. she is trying to drown it out. she will still never be anyone but herself.
HISTORY .
tw : murder
the aristos family were old friends of the titans, original members of the syndicate. asa was raised with a silver spoon in one hand & a knife in the other. her parents’ marriage crumbled before she could walk, & she was raised by her father, although she visited her mother frequently, & everyone agreed that she was her spitting image, the same eyes, the same ice.
asa joined the titans as a soldier at eighteen, ready to serve, ready to kill. she became an unparalleled assassin, taking pride in her work, almost believing in the whispers of her own invulnerability. she swore an oath to the titans, & asa always, always keeps her oaths. when the souls & the stallions split from the family, she was righteously angry, refused any offer to leave --- even when her lover did, becoming one of the original souls. she wouldn’t speak to them, wouldn’t listen. when they were killed in an early clash with the titans, her last words to them had not been kind ones.
sing, muse, of the rage of achilles. when she heard, it was of little surprise to anyone that her vengeance came swiftly. she systematically tracked down & killed their murderer, switching to a devoted soul overnight. it took time to gain the trust of the small syndicate, but she was more than content to leave a trail of titan blood in her wake while she did so, lashing out viciously in her grief. when the red faded from her vision, when the world stopped crumbling underneath her feet, she was left with no choice but to build a new life for herself. to decide who she wanted to be.
she had made so many mistakes. lost love that she could never regain, changed in ways that could never be undone. she had to embrace the change, had to accept the regret. if she could have left the life of crime, she would have, but she was in too deep, but her love had believed in the souls too fiercely. she took up their cause, worked her way up through the ranks, the only gift she could try to give them. she has not lost her sharpness, but she has learned so much.
she doesn’t think zane was killed. she thinks he was foolish & frivolous & overdosed, & she has no care for him. no care for any of the titans, even if she doesn’t hate them as fiercely as she once did.
titsay
jacobvanloon
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