Hey do you have any literature recommendations for people who want to broaden their knowledge on the classics and Greek/Roman myths without taking university courses?
So like for people (such as myself) who have read Bullfinch's Myths of Greece and Rome and Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes but want to deepen their knowledge and maybe go to intermediate level type stuff. Or whatever the level above the mentioned literature is.
Well those two books are quite old and skip over quite a few things. Both are very important to our culture, historically, but I'd recommend reading through some more modern popular retellings like Stephen Fry's Mythos series if you're looking for pure entertainment and a dummy's guide to Greek myths.
The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology is a useful reference book if you have difficulty keeping track of all these names and whatnot. It's just a reference book but you know. Having a reference book handy is quite useful. I personally prefer reference books when it comes to checking stuff when I'm doing mythology things anyways. They're generally more organized than the internet.
If you're looking for entertaining retellings of less popular myths, I'd actually recommend going to videos and podcasts for that. YouTubers like MonarchsFactory, Overly Sarcastic Productions, Jake Doubleyoo, and Mythology & Fiction Explained are all people who do a lot of research themselves on the myths they retell and I would recommend all of them to basically anybody. As far as podcasts go, Mythology & Fiction Explained has a podcast version and Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! is a very informative podcast that talks about sources for the myths and has interviews with experts on the subjects. It's also a podcast that is specifically Greco-Roman based.
As far as doing slightly more in-depth research, I cannot recommend theoi.com enough. I really can't. It has overviews of the most common myths, it has pages about god and hero cults, it cites it's sources and has an online library of translated texts. It's just really good. Go clicking around it for a while. It's a lot of fun if you're into that sort of thing.
As far as primary sources for myths go, there's a few places you could start. The Iliad, perhaps. The most recent English translation is by Caroline Alexander but I personally prefer Stanley Lombardo's translation. The Odyssey is a more accessible read in my opinion if you're not used to reading epic poetry. Emily Wilson's translation is especially accessible, written in iambic pentameter and generally replicating Homer's simple conversational language.
The third traditional entrance into the epic cycle of the surviving literature is the Aeneid. The newest translation of that is by Shadi Bartsch, which is pretty good, but it reads more like prose than poetry. Would still highly recommend it though. Robert Fitzgerald's translation is also good.
If you wanna get fancy you can read the Post-Homerica which attempts to bridge the gap between the Iliad and the Odyssey. It's not often read but it's one of the latest pagan sources we have from people who still practiced ancient Greek religion.
If you want a collection of short stories from ancient times, Ovid's your guy. Metamorphosis is specifically Roman and specifically Ovid's fanfiction, but it's also a valid primary resource and Ovid generally views women as people. What a concept!
Though I think the absolute best overview from ancient times itself is The Library aka Biblioteca by pseudo-apollodorus. Doesn't matter what translation you get. The prose is simple to the point where it's difficult to screw it up. Not artistic at all. It is, quite simply, a guy from ancient times trying to write down the mythological history of the world as he knew it. It has a bunch of summaries of myths in it, and most modern printings also have a table of contents so you can essentially use it as a reference book or a cheat sheet. I love it.
The Homeric Hymns weren't actually written by Homer but that's what they're called anyways. They're a lovely bit of poetry because, well, they were originally hymns. They've got some of the earliest full tellings of the Hades and Persephone story and the birth of Hermes in them. They also provide an insight into how ancient people who were most devoted to these gods viewed them. Go read the Homeric Hymns. They're lovely. You can buy the Michael Crudden translation or you can read a public domain translation online. I don't care. Just read them.
If you're into tedious lists, the next place I'd recommend you go after you read all the fun stuff is Hesiod's Theogony. Hesiod, the red pill douchebag of the ancient world, decided he was gonna write down the genealogy of all the Greek gods. That means lists. I'm not exaggerating. Be prepared for a lot of lists. But this work also has the earliest and one of the most complete versions of the story of Pandora, the creation of humans, and the most popular version of the Greek creation myth. So, it's very useful. If you can take all the lists.
The Argonautica aka the voyage of the argo by Apollonius of Rhodes, is also here. That is also a thing you can read. About the golden fleece and whatnot. And Jason. You know Jason. We all hate Jason.
Greek theatre also provides a good overview of specific myths. The three theben plays, Medea, the Bacche, etc. We've only got thirty-something surviving plays in their entirety so like... look up the list. Find one that looks interesting. Read it. Find a performance of it online, maybe. They're good.
If you want to dive into the mythology as a religion that was practiced, Greek Religion by Walter Burkurt and Ancient Greek Cults: A Guide by Jennifer Larson are pretty good books on the topic and often used as textbooks in college courses.
If you wanna get meta and get a feel for what the general public today thinks about Greek myths and what the average person that's sort of knowledgeable about Greek myths knows, the books you already mentioned are good. That's what people usually read. In addition to those, most people's intro to Greek myths generally involves The Complete World of Greek Mythology by Richard Buxton, D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire, or The Percy Jackson series.
I've been flipping through the big stacks of mythology books I keep on my table trying to remember if I've forgotten anything but I don't think I have so, yeah. Hope this helps. There's no correct starting point here. Once you get started there's a nearly endless void of complications and scholarship you can fall down that you'll never reach the bottom of. This post is basically just a guide to the tip of the iceberg.
Tags: Hera!Bruce, Zeus!Clark, infidelity, parenthood, lying, joy, murder, Hades!Oliver, Persephone!Dinah, nymphs, the bat kids, kids call Clark dad and Bruce mom, Bruce birthed them, Bruce is still male, no beta
Word count: 5200
Summary: 5+1, 5 times one of Clark’s affair’s thought he didn’t care about his wife and one time they learned how far their twisted love is.
AO3 Link
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Bruce has been the Queen of the Gods for eons. Overall, he thinks very highly of himself, but he does enjoy having a good reputation and being the representation of marriage, fertility and family while being married to Clark can put a damper on that.
People crave his blessings when a marriage is happening and he always knows when a union will be successful or not. His and Clark’s union is a success, not always happy but a success. In these modern times he has learned more about how marriages adapt and grow. He no longer cares for Clark’s extra marital affairs. Once upon a time, he would beg to be let out of the union, to be denied over and over again. To beg Clark to stop fostering these children outside of their home. He has killed or caused strife within homes too often because of his emotional attachment to Clark.
Clark is who he is and the fool of a man has given him everything he has ever asked for, for the most part. In a marriage, one must put themselves first so they can be a sane partner for the other. He needs to get sane again. However Clark reacts that it isn't his problem. The possessive fool isn’t going to leave him anyways, so he’s going to find his spark again.
1.
A wood nymph named Nectar has been in an affair with Clark for the last month. She hears she is the longest affair he has ever had. She has seen Clark and Bruce out and about with their children and Bruce looks like he doesn’t even pay Clark any attention. She knows deep down she has the skills to be a leader to the Gods, to get more respect for the nymphs in Olympus and in the mortal realm. Clark even said she was smart.
The last time they were together he also said he wanted her to bear his children. To have the King of the Gods say such words to her made her melt. Clark was obviously done with Bruce. Unions can break up. Haven’t they been married long enough anyways.
She has groceries in her hand as she walks up the stairs to his home. It’ll be a nice surprise. She knows Bruce is at a karate tournament with one of their children. So, the likelihood of Clark saying no is unlikely. Ohhhh. She is so proud of her own thought process.
Finally at the top of the stairs, she puts the groceries on the floor before ringing the doorbell. A few seconds passed before an angry looking teen answered the door.
The teen squints his eyes at him. “The fuck you want nymph?” She notices a weapon is strapped to his back.
“Umm” She stutters. She didn’t think one of their kids would open the door. Don’t they have school?
The teen looks annoyed.
“Oh, um. May I see Clark?” She gestures to the bags next to help. Hoping that will plead her case.
She watches the teen smirk at her. Oh maybe food will get her in this teen’s good graces. “Sure,” said the teen. “I’ll get my Father.”
He doesn’t move, just stares at the nymph, then a minute or two later, Clark shows up.
“Yes, Jason.”
The boy gestures to the nymph. Looking away from the teen Clark lights up. Nectar sees that as a good sign and as she begins to speak, she is interrupted.
“Daddy!” A voice calls behind Nectar. Looking behind her she sees a child in a karate uniform with a trophy in their hand running up the stairs. Following behind the child is the Queen herself. She has never seen Bruce this close before and the aura he radiates is mesmerizing. Even with a My Little Pony sports duffel bag on his shoulder. He pushes his long braids off of his shoulder as he ascends the stairs.
She just watches Bruce. The muffled voices of their son chatting away behind him and Clark enthusiastically agreeing with whatever the child is saying.
When Bruce is at the top, he looks at Nectar. “May we help you?”
She doesn’t know what to say, but tries to come up with something, yet Clark answers for her. “Oh, that’s Nectar.” At least he said her name. Her confidence is perking up a little bit. Would this be the moment?
“I helped her home out a few days ago with Arthur when a flood was caused by his wife after she gave birth.”
Nectar felt her soul break. Feeling eyes on her. She looked to Jason who was still smirking at her and leaning against the doorway.
“Oh. I do remember.” Said Bruce. Walking closer to Jason to place a kiss on the teens head. Jason looks pissed off at being touched but his ears go red.
“And she brought us groceries as a thank you.”
Bruce looked at the groceries in question and then went back to Nectar. She laid a hand on the nymphs head. Giving a few rubs. The Queen is so affectionate. Nectar starts to feel awful for disrespecting the Queen.
“Thank you, young one. Would you like to join us for a meal?” Said Bruce.
Regaining her voice. “No thank you ma’am. Being in your presence is enough.” She watches Bruce smile. It was so warm.
Removing her hand. He walks up to Clark and gives him a kiss. Nectar watches the King become so smitten from just a light kiss from the Queen.
“Clark put the groceries away please. Damien, go show Dick your trophy. He should be home.”
Damien leaves the doorway and Clark does as asked. Not even speaking to Nectar. He makes eye contact with her and walks back into the house.
Bruce turns back to Nectar. “Have a safe trip home young one and thank you again for your offering.” He waves goodbye and walks into their home.
Trying to get feeling back into her legs after watching such a display of domesticity, she gets to the fourth step before she hears Jason’s voice.
“You aren’t the first to do this, but I hope you’re the last. Remember, my uncle is the King of the Sea. That ‘flood’ can have a repeat.”
She hears a door shut behind her and is grateful she didn’t turn around to face Jason as he spoke. The tears finally fell from her face in embarrassment. Why did she think a nymph knew anything? The Gods would always put each other first.
2.
A minor God named Geyser, is furious as he walks out of his meeting with his manager. How could he just lose his campaign just like that? So fucking what if the Queen of the Gods wants to start working again? He is fucking old! Who would want to buy makeup with Bruce’s face on it?!
This was so frustrating. He has been the face of Isles Makeup for the past two years and sucking Zeus’s dick for the past three. That slimy sack of shit. This was probably his doing since he wouldn’t let Zeus go all the way with him. That asshole fucks anything with a heartbeat, and sucking his dick got him this campaign, which apparently is going to a bitch who actually fucks him.
He punches a tree once he is outside. He really didn’t want to start seeing Bruce’s face everywhere where his own face was meant to be. Maybe if he went all the way, he could get his job back or even a better one.
Honestly, everyone knows Clark and Bruce don’t have the happiest marriage. Clark will sometimes complain about Bruce while he is sucking his dick under his desk. He should be able to make Bruce quit. That two bit Queen belonged at home hidden from view, only brought out for photo ops.
Taking his phone out he dials Clark.
“Hello.”
He amps up the tears. “Clark?”
“Oh Geyser, what’s wrong?” Clark sounds worried. This seems like it’ll be easy to manage. It's not like he cares about Bruce anyways.
“My campaign.” Geyser groans.
“What about it? Did some younger, prettier face take it from you? If so, I’d like the name.” Clark laughs. Of course he’d say something like that.
“No, your freaking wife!” He says in frustration.
“Bruce?” Clark questions.
Geyser pauses in confusion. “Um yeah, Unless you have another wife.” Do they not even talk together?
That makes Clark laugh. “Huh. He hasn’t modeled in years.”
“So you didn’t take this from me?”
“No, I got it for you.” He sounds earnest. “Why would I take it?” Ask Clark.
“To make Bruce happy.”
Clark doesn’t reply.
“Clark?” Why’d he pause?
“Yeah, I’m here. Just thinking.”
“Yeah, well.” Geyser hesitates. “So, can you get it back for me or at least get me a better one?”
“If Bruce is happy with it, then no. I won’t do that. A better one? Umm.” Clark sighs.
In frustration at waiting on Clark, Geyser says “You have a lot of connections. I know you can get me something.”
“I do.” He agrees. “And I believe this is a connection I want to end.”
Worried about his bag. Geyser pleads. “What? Why? Do you want to go all the way? We can.”
From the sound Clark makes. Geyser knows he is rubbing his eyes in frustration. “I honestly don’t care about having sex with you. The blowjobs were fine, but” He pauses. “I’ve noticed I want something else nowadays.”
“You are the king. You’ve got everything.”
“Most would think.” Geyser hears a car door shut. He looks to his left and across the street, he sees Clark walking into the building he walked out of earlier. He knows Bruce is in there as well.
He watches Clark pause before entering the building. “I’ll pay your rent next month if you’re worried about that. Otherwise, this arrangement has come to a close.” Clark ends the call. Geyser watches him walk into the building.
Geyser groans again and leans further into the tree behind him. Looking at the sky, he thinks it might be time to settle down and go talk to a matchmaker.
3.
A human girl named Rose is awoken when she notices her boyfriend Kent isn’t in bed with her. She looks around and sees her bathroom door is closed with the light on.
She sits up against the headboard and waits for him to be done, but the flush never happens, and she notices a muffled sound. Moving slowly off the bed she creeps closer to the bathroom door. Hearing the conversation is clearer.
“Mommy isn’t feeling well?” Is he talking to his siblings? Kent told him he was an only child. Grew up on some farm in Kansas.
Silence.
“Oh no.” She hears Clark coo. “Daddy will be home soon. The office meeting took longer than usual. That’s what happens with international business deals. Is mommy awake? No? Is she breathing? Okay, good. I’m on my way. Yes, sweetheart, I love you too.”
She hears a flush and the door opens. Her arms are crossed as she stares at him.
“I thought you were divorced.”
“Eh, separated. Divorce not official.” He corrects nonchalantly.
“I didn’t know you had kids.” She says. Watching Kent go around her and grab his pants off the floor.
“Didn’t think it was necessary enough to tell you.” He buckles his belt.
She throws her arms down in anger. “We’ve been together for three months. I’m even pregnant.” She screams. She watches Kent stop. He stares at her as if he is analyzing her.
“Huh. So you are.” He returns to redressing himself.
“Also your ex-wife is a grown woman.” She said, “She can handle herself!” The anger is flowing through her. She might even punch him. She was an MMA fighter after all. She thought this was love. She was so excited to finally find a man not intimidated by her lifestyle.
“What I do with my wife or children is none of your concern.” He throws back at her.
“I am your concern. I am pregnant. That is important, you asshole.”
He is finally fully dressed as he walks over to her. He pulls her close. A warm embrace that she was used to enjoying. This night being the first of many in their three months of knowing one another. Her arms wrap around him as well.
“I’m scared Kent.” She whispers.
“Don’t be. My wife was always a champ at having kids. You can be too.” He kisses the top of her head.
“Don’t bring her up when you’re holding me.”
Kent laughs. “Sure sure. Hey, before I go. Let me pray for your stomach. It’s for safe delivery and good health.” He pulls back and kneels down.
Pulling her shirt up. She asked “You’ve done this for your wife before?”
He starts to rub her stomach. “I’ve done this for other people, but never my wife.”
She gets a bit nervous. “Why not?” She feels him flick her stomach in the directions of north, east, south and west. He chants one word and stands up. She pulls her shirt down.
“How are you feeling?” He asks with a smile on his face.
“Okay. I think it worked. Hopefully I won’t have morning sickness anymore.” She says.
He kisses her on her forehead. “I have to get home.” He walks out of the bedroom to the front door.
“Home?”
He shrugs. “Yeah, home. Wife, kids, pets.”
“You’re such a liar.” She says. Knowing she was probably going to raise this baby alone.
She watches Kent laugh. “Oh, you don’t even know half of it is mortal.” and he was gone.
The next morning, she does notice that there is no morning sickness and it continues for the rest of the week. She thinks maybe Kent is a liar, but the prey seems to be holding up.
She doesn’t see him for the next two weeks, but receives a sonogram in the mail, her own sonogram with a “X” mark over it. Frightened, she heads to her doctors for the baby to be checked on and they tell her that there is no evidence of her being a patient at their office.
She shows the secretary the sonogram picture with their office’s name on it. They tell her that it looks fake. They even say there isn’t a name on it at all. Just a “Z” in the corner. She stares at the picture in wonder of how she didn’t see it before. Feeling embarrassed and confused, she asks if she can have a pregnancy test at least. They agree and she goes to sit down.
An hour later, her name is called and she takes the test. The results are negative.
Confused beyond belief. She thinks of the prayer Kent did. Prayer her ass. It was a fucking curse! She is upset, upset doesn’t even describe how she feels, but she won’t cry. This situation doesn’t deserve her tears. She thanks the doctors and heads home.
On her walk home, she thinks of the word that Kent said when he touched her stomach. She remembers hearing something similar when she once played a video game. Abeo. It’s latin she knows.
4.
The family was spending the day in the Underworld. Oliver and Dinah have been married over 500 years and she wanted a big celebration for it. Even her mother came below, but that was mostly for the grandchildren. She still had a distaste for Oliver and often Oliver would get scarce or bother one of his siblings whenever his mother-in-law would arrive.
Like at this moment, he left the pool area to see where Clark went. He had allowed Arthur to make waves in the pool for the children, but needed to make sure his overzealous brother wouldn’t drown a child. It hasn’t happened in eons, but he’ll always worry the same.
Walking further into the house, he was hoping Clark wasn’t getting a blowjob from one of his workers again. He had banned that shit in an instant. Maybe Clark didn’t care about defiling his marriage, but he wasn’t about that life. Also, his respect level for Bruce was higher than Clark’s. Bruce, who happens to be looking radiant today.
Clark must've noticed it too, since he spent a good portion of the party at his wife’s side, just staring at Bruce. Cassandra almost ate from the Underworld food table, but Clark caught her in time. He just made her a plate as she sat on Bruce’s lap eating. After that he must have been let out of whatever trance he was under.
Clark was usually good about watching his kids when they came down into the Underworld. The wives with children in the age range to be married usually dragged Bruce away so that left only Clark on duty.
Returning to his search for his brother, he rounded a corner near the front yard and heard Clark’s voice.
“I’m not leaving.” Said Clark.
“Why not? Not like you can’t disappear for a bit. You’ve done it before.” That voice sounded familiar. Thought Oliver.
“Why do people who I’ve fucked a few times think they can tell me what to do?” He heard Clark sneer.
“I’m not telling, I’m suggesting. This party's boring anyways. Your wife isn’t even paying you any mind and your kids are having fun.”
“What my wife does, is only my concern.”
“Okay, okay.” The other person blows a raspberry. “How about this? We can meet up later tonight, come back down here later when the kiddies are in bed.” Now he knows who this is. It’s his fucking nanny. Blackfire, an Underworld Nymph, who was a good worker in their home and a good companion to his wife.
Clark has been fucking her too! People wonder why he married someone as young as Dinah? Because she was untouched by Clark, among other wonderful things about her, but that just seals an already in place deal. Yet, as he listened to his conversation, he could tell something was different about Clark. Usually he was down for some hanky panky of any kind, and Oliver was ready to tell his brother off once their conversation was over, but Clark didn’t seem interested in the nymph in front of him.
“I think I need a break from whatever this is.” Clark said. His brother sounded tired. Like he just wanted a piece of mind for a while.
Blackfire wasn’t having that. “I’ll go in there and tell your wife about this.Disrupt whatever fun you think you're having with your family. Then you have some time for me. Can even stay with me while your wife cools down or you can finally leave her for once. This cat and mouse game you've both been doing for eons is painful to watch. Even for a nymph like me.” She suggested. If she thought just because she was employed by Oliver, she would be protected. Oliver grimaced.
She should have done this around more people. Evidence, girl.
He could go over there and save her, but he rarely heard Clark deny someone after having sex with them. This was more entertaining.
Guess he’ll have to find a new nanny. Dinah wasn’t going to be happy. He’ll never understand why Clark’s side piece thinks they’ll be able to get close to Bruce or his status in any way.
He could go over there and save her, but he rarely heard Clark deny someone after having sex with them. This was more entertaining.
Guess he’ll have to find a new nanny. Dinah wasn’t going to be happy. He’ll never understand why Clark’s side piece thinks they’ll be able to get close to Bruce in any way.
Cheater he may be, but when it comes to Bruce, he’ll cause a war with no problem. This younger generation needs to pay more attention to their history books and truthfully Clark would kill one of his own children before letting Bruce go.
Oliver hears a thump. Sounds like a body hitting the pavement. Finally revealing himself from the shadows, he walks closer to Clark. He sees Blackfire’s body being engulfed in flames. Her arm reaches out to him before it becomes ashes.
“Isn’t that a bit much?” Said Oliver. He was not ready for his conversation with Dinah later at all.
“No. I could have let centaurs rape her for all eternity.” That’s true. He’s done that before.
He turns to Clark. “You’ll be finding me a nanny that you find absolutely revolting to be around.”
“Hmm.” Is Clark’s response.
5.
Jason is walking around the elementary school for Tim and Damian’s classroom. This is usually Dick’s job, but he has to stay late at school for his childbirth classes. Why he wants to be a doula is beyond me.
His own teachers have been asking them what they want to be when they grow up. He doesn’t know yet, but he knows he wants to be aggressive in his career. Possibly murder, but he doesn’t know yet. There is a girl in his class he wants to ask out on a date, her red locks make him think of passion and fury, but he doesn’t know if his own looks will match up to her standards. She’s all about beauty and love. Who can make a career out of that?
“Um excuse me?” A voice takes him out of his thoughts. I'm an adult.
“Yeah.” Jason responds. He adjusted the backpack higher up his shoulder.
“Are you Clark and Bruce’s child?”
He knows this could be an innocent question but after seeing a few of Dad’s affairs in the flesh, he is always on edge when one of them tries to talk to them.
“Yeah, and?”
“Oh great. Your brothers are in my classroom. Tim told us another brother was picking them up today and I’ve never met you before. I’m Constantine. Damian’s teacher.”
“Oh, I’m Jason.” He seems like a cool teacher. He has a lollipop in his mouth.
“Follow me then.”
They go to a classroom that looks like a first grade classroom. Colors everywhere, short tables and a little picture catches his eye. Must be Damian’s. It’s all focused on karate and he sees a stick figure that must be their mom.
“Jason!” Damian waves at him. He thinks Damian is his favorite sibling behind Dick. He has such an aggressive flair about him.
“Hey Jay.” Said Tim. He is sitting next to Damian at a little table. He ruffles Tim’s head, being mindful of the scars on top. Tim was his quiet sibling. Always in his room making gadgets. Tim and Cassy were who he went to when he wanted peace and quiet. Rare, but something he needed from time to time.
Cassie was only three, but sweet. She sneaks into his bed at least once a week.
“Ready to go?” They nod.
“Hey, I’mma walk with you guys out. Since this is your first time picking them up, I don’t want Zatanna to see you.”
Zatanna? “Who’s that?” Jason asked. Watching his brothers and their teacher pack their things up.
He watches Constantine place his beige coat on and walk to the doorway. He looks both ways and gestures to the kids to follow him. They do.
“Your father, our King, stopped making visits apparently. If you get what I mean.” Jason does. He likes Constantine, he treats him like an adult. Doesn’t try and sugarcoat the things his father does.
“Anyway, she made a threat against your dad allegedly for denying her her place or something like that and your father pulled his funding. Now she’s scrambling to find other ways to keep the school upgrades going.” They keep walking. Getting closer to the exit, he watches the teacher let out a sigh of relief.
“She’s a scary Goddess, but a good headmaster. Sad, she let this situation take hold of her.” He opens the door for them. The kids walk out. Constantine follows and closes the door.
“Get home safe kids.” He pops away in a flash.
Jason looks at his siblings. “How does Dick usually deal with her?”
“He’s a charmer. She’s always nice to him.” Said Tim.
“Why doesn’t mom come instead?”
Tim just shrugs. “We like coming here and mom has offered to take us out, but I only have one more year left.”
“No, you just like being near Kon.” Said Damian with a smirk. His Rainbow Dash wings on his backpack shift as they walk home.
Tim blushes. “S-shut up!” He stammers. Moving closer to Jason to take his hand.
Damian continues. “I like Mr. Constantine though and my classmates are alright.” That means something coming from Damian. He isn’t one to give out compliments.
He was only fourteen himself, and he needed to focus on other things other than his parent’s business. Like that spitfire in his classroom. Even at fourteen, he hopes his father’s legacy with women doesn’t affect him.
He’ll talk to his mom, he’s been away more often since he started working again, but he does always have breakfast with the family, father included. He loves that his mom seems to be happier, but Jason guesses it's the kid in him that wants his mom around whenever he wants him to be.
+1
Bruce sits at his vanity brushing the tangles out of his hair. For the past six months he has been the face of Isle Makeup and every campaign they do seems to sell out quickly. He’s been so busy that he barely even cares what Clark is up to nowadays. As long as the kids are taken care of, he doesn't care and it feels so refreshing.
Since he has been gone more often, Clark seems to have started to go out of his way to have weekly lunches with him when he has a break at work. Sometimes the kids will join them, but mostly it is just the two of them.
It’s been nice honestly. He is also trying to focus on the kids before he leaves. Tim and he have been offered roles in a television movie about a parent with a deformed child. Tim has had a skin condition since birth, but it’s never stopped him from living life. He is excited about the role and Clark said the family would visit once a month in the three months that they would be away.
Three months is a long time to be away from his family, especially not keeping an eye on Clark's possible extra activities, but his reputation has been soaring with all of the talk shows and sponsorship he has been doing.
He has always taken his ancient role seriously, but he didn’t realize how much the modern public adored him. He’s even watched videos of people fighting over someone bad mouthing him. This power and chaos feels good.
Speaking of which, he had another issue he had to deal with.
With one last stroke, he places the brush down. He throws a bit more of his hair to the front and opens his rose up a bit more before calling his husband.
“Clark.” He says.
A moment later. “Yes, my peacock?” Walking into their walk-in closet, he kneels before Bruce. He takes Bruce’s hand and kisses it.
Bruce smiles and caresses Clark’s face with his other hand.
“My love.” Begins Bruce.
Clark continues to hold Bruce’s hand. He nods.
“I have a request for you. Do you think you can handle it?” He says softly.
“Anything.”
“I know about Jon.” Bruce keeps his demure smile as he speaks. He watches Clark pause. Eyes shifting to the floor.
“Bring him to our home.” He continues. He watches Clark. Lois has been one of Clark’s longest on and off affairs on the side. Bruce has known about her for a while now, but hasn’t wanted to cause her strife since she knows her place. She does her job and goes home. Whenever they see each other in public she always bows to Bruce, but she had Jon and that was when she fucked up.
Bruce loves children. He loves family. He also hasn’t created any chaos in a while, but this time he wants Clark to do it on his behalf.
She is also a demigod with a strong mother instinct. Barely anyone can get near the boy without Lois going manic on them. He doesn’t know who her father is, but he sometimes wishes he did.
“Peacock, I can always give you more children. We had a good practice round last night. Did we not?” Clark tries to negotiate.
“But I want Jon.” He presses. “I caught a glimpse of him. He looks so much like you and I---” Bruce cuts himself off purposefully. Bringing a single tear to his face. He knows his husband.
“Oh honey of course. I understand.” He kisses Bruce’s hand again. “I’m just surprised. You’ve never taken interest in my other kids before.”
You’ve never fucked the same women for more than two years before either. Bruce thinks.
“I’ve been seeing so much more of the world. Guess, I’ve had more time to think.”
“Yes, yes. I get it, and will you still be doing the movie then? Jon is only six months old and he’ll need attention.” Clark asks.
Bruce wipes his face. “Of course. Tim and I already promised and also.” He leans closer. “You are so sexy when you’re in dad mode. You can send me videos if you do a good job.” He takes his hand from Clark and opens his robe.
“We can do that thing you’ve been asking for.”
Clark’s eyes widened. “With the titans and—”
“And the river? Oh yeah.” He says. His attention is taken from his husband when he hears a thunder strike outside. Got em.
Looking back. “You’ve been so good lately, Clark. Feel like we’re in our first millennium again.”
“Your hair is almost that same length as well.”
This makes Bruce blush. “You notice.”
Clark shrugs. “It’s hard not to notice you.” He smiles up at his husband.
Pulling his husband closer. Bruce wraps his arms around Clark’s neck and kisses him. Things have been so fiery between them. Who knew getting some independence back in his life would help revive his marriage.
“I love you Bruce.”
“I know.”
The next morning, Clark headed out and came back covered in blood, but with Jon in his arms. Upon sight Bruce places Jon in Dick’s hands with instructions on what to do with Jon. The kids knew he was coming and were happy to agree to anything that made their home more calm and joyful.
But then there’s Jason. “Ya’ll gonna fuck?”
They were eating breakfast when Clark came back home. Clark was still dripping blood, but a nymph can clean that up later.
Clark stares at his kids and nods. He takes Bruce’s hand, leaving the children complaining about being late for school.
“You have permission to use your powers.” Clark yells before closing the bedroom door.
Bruce looks at his husband covered in the blood of one of his longest affairs. He didn’t know if life could get better than this.
Later after choking and being stuffed with the blood coated dick of his true love, he gets a message about his children’s report card. All As and Bs. Even Jason’s crazy war loving ass.
I realised some connections between Garuda, Indra and Sasuke.
In the Naruto context, Garuda is the name of Sasuke's invocation hawk and Indra and Ashura are the sons of the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ootsutsuki.
But in Buddhism mythology, more in Hindu Buddhism I think...
Garuda is a birdman-like minor deity considered as the Kings of birds, also known in ancient times as the Destroyer, and a loyal servant of the gods. He symbolizes Sun and Fire, as a Hell was burning up around him when he was still an egg.
He's a being so vigorous and so enormous that the rest of the gods begged him to reduce his size and at first confused him with Agni, the God of Fire.
It's said that with just a flutter he can move mountains and dry entire oceans with huge hurricanes. He's often described as a golden, reddish-brown bird whose body measures approximately 4290 km from wing to wing.
And an interesting connection with both Sasuke's invocation animals [snake and hawk] is that Garuda is the fiercest enemy of snakes, better known as Naga. So he's used as a talisman that protects whom wears him from a snake attack or poison.
Garuda accepted the condition and made his way to the potion, which was carefully kept safe by multiple obstacles: a wall of fire so big that reached the sky, mechanical artifacts with sharp spinning knives and two giant snakes of the two most deadly as guards.
Even so, Garuda could manage to pass through all of them by extinguishing the fire with the water he collected in his mouth from many rivers, reducing his size and slipping through the artifacts and tearing apart the two snakes.
On his way back, he ran into the God Vishnu [who gave him the grace of immortality as Garuda became his vehicle] and Indra, God of Thunder and Rain, to whom he promised that once his mother was released he would return the potion. Said and done, Vinata was released, and before the snakes could drink from the potion Indra took it back to the gods, promising to Garuda that the snakes will always be his food.
P.D: the 2nd picture from left to right can be found at:
this is my old work.. in few year ago..this pic is illustrate for game "ramakirti" project for TKpark in Thailand. for 5-6 day for painting
A famous story about Garuda is the releasing of his mother, Vinata, from the Naga snakes. To make it short, the snakes told him that the only way his mother could be settled free was to bring them the amrita, the potion of immortality of the gods.
Just wanted to share because I found it interesting how the Uchiha are often related or have references to deities, gods, sacred places. Like Fugaku shares his name with Mt. Fuji and Mikoto means words spoken by the emperor/god. Susanoo [who killed Yamata-no-Orochi, a possible reference to Orochimaru]. The sharingans... It's really interesting.
Now, Indra is the leader of the Devas [gods who maintain the sky] as the powerful God of Thunder and Rain. He's the great warrior who killed the asura demon Vritra, a giant snake/dragon-like that left the world without water for a whole season until Indra was born, with his lighting.
It's curious to note that Garuda is related to fire as Indra is related to thunder, the two main natures of chakra Sasuke uses. And that both of them fight against snakes.
So do you remember that Batfamily prompt that I posted in the beginning of January? If not, no worries! Here it is again:
What is Batman without a Robin? Everyone in the family makes jokes about the ‘dead robins club’, but Dick and Jason really do have measures set in place for the day Bruce loses sight of what’s really important. They won’t let Bruce sacrifice another Robin for the cause, even if that means separating Robin from Batman for good.
Well good news!! It now has an official fic name and the beginnings of a pinterest page! I’m calling it Song of Cassandra. For any of you up-to-date on your greek mythology you might get that reference, but I’m going to go into my thinking behind the fic name anyway.
Cassandra was a princess of Troy cursed to utter prophecies that were true but that no one believed and she foresaw the fall of Troy but could do nothing to stop it. Also according to legend, Cassandra had instructed her twin brother Helenus in the power of prophecy so he could be a prophet. Like her, Helenus was always correct whenever he had made his predictions, but unlike his sister, people believed him.
So, rereading this summary (courtesy of Wikipedia) got me thinking about how Cassandra’s agony of trying to stop the destruction of her family and her home would a really similar feeling to Jason and Dick feeling as they watch Bruce take on Robin after new Robin knowing there’s a good chance one of those kids could be killed at any moment. I’m still not sure between Jason and Dick who would symbolize Cassandra in this fic and who would be Helenus, but I like the idea that like Cassandra and Helenus, one of them slowly taught the other to see the problems with Batman’s methods and the warning signs for their makeshift family. So, Song of Cassandra has a double meaning in that the word “song” is like tale or story as they relive the same tragedy of this mythical woman by watching their loved ones die, but “song” is also like a “dirge” or a somber song played at a funeral, and that funeral is in fact Cassandra’s, as these two older brothers resolve to put these tragedies to rest and break the cycle of events by taking Robin away from Batman. And, as a result, these brothers are fleeing from burning Troy (the crumbling empire that Batman has created) in the way that Cassandra and her family never could do with the hopes of going on to found their own crime-fighting family in a new city out from under the shadow of the Bat.
You are an unwitting siren.
You find poor, struggling sailors,
With heads that are all dark storms and choppy seas,
And you show them what they want to see.
You are a vision.
You appear to these people as whatever they need the most.
To the lonely, you are a friend.
You are laughter and companionship and trust.
To the weary, you are rest.
You are softness and closeness and safety.
To the lustful, you are a fantasy.
You are passion and whispered words and hot breath against skin.
You draw in these innocent, struggling sailors,
With whatever it is they need the most,
And when they've drawn close enough,
Once they're in too near to escape,
You feed off of the poor sailors of the world,
Off of their loneliness, and their weariness, and their lust.
You make it a point to bring those terrible, nasty feelings
To a climax within your victims,
Like the crest of a tidal wave before it breaks,
Because it tastes sweeter to you that way.
But when your sailors--
because they are undeniably yours, at that point--
Draw in near enough,
They find each time that you are not
Friendship or rest or a fantasy at all.
But never
Until it's too late to swim away,
Back into the choppy seas,
And away, away, so far away,
From the siren that lured them in.
