The way Percy describes Apollo and Aphrodite is actually really sweet when you stop and think about it for a second.
Like, in Greek mythology, Aphrodite and Apollo are essentially the divine standards for feminine and youthful masculine beauty. And while Percy definitely notices that they're physically attractive (quite often, might i add, my bi king), the details he remembers most aren't really about perfect faces, but about aspects that have more to do with their personality.
With Aphrodite, he obviously describes her as stunningly beautiful, but then immediately afterwards he also says this:
She really was beautiful. And not just because she had a pretty face or anything. She believed in love so much, it was impossible not to feel giddy when she talked about it. (Titan’s Curse, Chapter 13)
Like, I love the fact that one of the things Percy considers most beautiful about the literal goddess of beauty isn't her appearance, but her genuine love for love itself.
And with Apollo, while Percy also repeatedly describes him as very handsome, the detail he keeps coming back to is specifically the way he smiles:
The driver got out, smiling. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, and for a second, I had the uneasy feeling it was Luke, my old enemy. This guy had the same sandy hair and outdoorsy good looks. But it wasn't Luke. This guy was taller, with no scar on his face like Luke's. His smile was brighter and more playful. (Titan’s Curse, Chapter 4)
Despite the battle scars, the Titan’s face was handsome and strangely familiar. Percy was pretty sure he’d never seen this guy before, but his eyes and his smile reminded Percy of someone (…) He remembered the name Leto: the mother of Apollo and Artemis. This guy koios looked vaguely familiar because he had Artemis’ cold eyes and Apollo’s smile. (House of Hades, Chapter 61, Percy)
I just think that's really endearing.
When Percy describes the two gods who literally embody ideal beauty, the qualities that leave the biggest impression on him aren't things like symmetrical features or perfect physique, but the things that reveal personality...
It's only after Poseidon leaves that Aphrodite recognises that there is a new presence within her chambers.
Distracted as she had been by the Sea Kings voluptuous behind as he swaggered away, the love goddess feels that few could hold it against her that she initially failed to notice such a tiny creature.
Especially when the little godling's essence was so much like that of her parents that she seemed to blend into the briny waves that always followed in Poseidon, and even Aphrodite's to a lesser extent, wake.
The continued presence of the Sea long after Poseidon had left had been what pushed Aphrodite to realise what had happened.
It was only after supressing her own presence that she had been able to capture any more of the babes essence.
Laughter and Screams; a dash of something that sung wonderfully with her own dominion over love; the undertones of something that tasted thick and coppery against her tongue; an edge that cut like her favourite lovers blade and even a floral scent that could pass as something similar to Aphrodite's own aspects but more distinct and limited.
It took her a while to find the child, their presence quickly saturating the room now that Poseidon's and her own were no longer supressing it.
Thankfully, before Aphrodite was forced to resort to destruction of property in her search, the love goddess heard a giggle like bell chimes break out from across the room.
Following the noise to its source, Aphrodite found her latest child hidden beneath her bed.
The godling had wrapped themself in one of her shawls, further masking their scent Aphrodite realised.
Her emotions warred between amusement and annoyance at what was no doubt an intention ploy from how the child laughed at her.
Amusement eventually won out though as the goddess found it impossible to hold onto anything negative when the child looked up at her with her own eyes.
Taking in the child's appearance, Aphrodite couldn't help but let out a noise of surprise.
They were truly gorgeous, as any child born of her would be, but that was not what drew such a reaction from her.
If one knew what to look for they would recognise the sea king in the bone structure of the godlings face or the turbulent curls that graced her hair, but most would miss it.
After all, for all the similarities Aphrodite's daughter shared with her father, they bore a far more striking resemblance to their maternal grandfather.
Constellations that at first glance might be mistaken for freckles shone as they were chased across the child's skin by the tides.
Pearls spilled from ebony curls that dripped upon the floor as the godling gave her a charming fanged smile from between blackened lips. Her skin shifted between the pallor of one gripped within a watery grave and the rich hues of a rainbow fish.
Her little godling, so young and yet already such a violent beauty.
A godling born of two greater gods who seemed to share more similarities with the Titans to those who were unaware of Aphrodite and Poseidon's true natures.
Part of why the two consistently found themselves returning to the others bed despite their many disputes following Rhode's birth was that there were few that either deity could truly be themselves around.
Aphrodite had been born of Uranus and was both Titan and Goddess. Poseidon meanwhile had been Kronos favoured son for a reason, the gods nature being far less restricted when compared to that of his siblings save perhaps Demeter.
Neither spoke of it but both sea deities knew that had they wished it during the war, the Titans would have welcomed them with open arms.
Zeus she knew suspected but had never, despite all his paranoia fuelled witch hunts, been able to prove how closely the two walked the line between the pantheons of now and then.
He had come close though.
Close enough that both gods were forever forced into wearing masks when not hidden beneath the waves lest they give their King reason to attempt to strike them down.
Aphrodite was known for her glamours. Many complementing the spell work that caused even gods to see their desires reflected back at them.
Few save Titans like Hecate herself realised that the goddess was a true shapeshifter, her form as nebulous and changing as the tides she had sprung from. Only her Kaleidoscope eyes remained unchanging, the anchor of her being and self.
Some might say that she had an easier time of it; masking her presence with subtle spells and misdirection's yet remaining in her true form but Aphrodite would disagree.
After all Aphrodite's marriage, however brief, to the Forge meant she was considered more Olympian than Seaborn and expected to remain above the waves.
Poseidon meanwhile was free to exist as his true self within his kingdom.
After all, beloved and fear in equal measure, none would whisper the truth of their kings nature to the Thunderer on High.
Poseidon's mask may be more restrictive and far heavier than her own but what did that matter when he was rarely forced to wear it?
This beautiful child, so young and innocent, seem to shine with the two gods best and most deadly aspects.
Aphrodite adored them for it just as much as the love goddess feared it.
The Godling was living proof of all that the duo had tried to hide.
Aphrodite wasn't Hera though, she had no intention of throwing her child off a mountain.
However, if Aphrodite wanted herself and her child to survive the coming centuries unscathed, something would need to be done.
The simplest method would be to hide her more ungodly aspects but the child wouldn't be able to maintain a glamour consistently enough to fool other gods for centuries yet... If she could only hide them until they were grown...
That wasn't an option though, not with the twins seeing everything that walked beneath their sun and moon.
Protectors of youth they may be, that would not stop them from turning the child over to their father.
Perhaps a physical disguise or covering?
Though, with gods like Aphrodite and Poseidon for parents any attempt to dress modestly would honestly attract more attention and suspicion...
Mayhap's armour? Now there was an idea...
Breathing in deeply she focused on a specific aspect of the godlings Essence.
The taste of copper lay heavy in her mouth, coupled with the bite of something sharp and cold steal? and Aphrodite knew this little godling was going to be a new war god.
She could use this, dress her little darling up like Wisdom and have them never part from their armour for their first few centuries the same way Athena and even Ares had refused to after them were born.
Her ex husband still owed her a few favours and he had always had a soft spot for children, it wouldn't be hard to request armour for her and swear him to secrecy.
The more she thought about it, the more she liked this idea.
The only problem was Poseidon.
He would never consent to his child hiding what they were, regardless of whether it might protect them from danger!
The fool would probably marry her off like he had Kymopoleia or her dear Rhode.
As if her daughters marriage to the sun brat was anything other than a gilded cage!
She hadn't even been allowed to raise her child, instead forced to watch as Helios shaped her to be his wife without thought or care for anything beyond her destined role.
The love between the two was real but tasted like cheap taffy, lacking substance, meaning or depth.
Aphrodite had hoped it would blossom into something more but as time past all it seemed to do was stagnate and become sickly sweet.
Eros had started making bets on who Helios would cheat on Rhodes with and whilst Aphrodite hadn't placed any bets herself she didn't disagree with her sons prediction for how that marriage would end.
Not that Rhodes cared to listen to her mothers worries.
No, Aphrodite refused to sit back and watch as Poseidon ruined another of her daughters.
Right now Poseidon had no idea that this bundle of blood and laughter existed and Aphrodite intended to keep it that way as long as possible.
Her Rhodes was such a lovely thing.
The gentle goddess couldn't help but draw the eyes of all who looked at her and this child would be much the same though far less passive and compliant if Aphrodite had anything to say about it.
She would raise her daughter to be a proper deity, invoking fear and trepidation into mortals and immortals alike.
She would be as free as the Waves and as terrify as Love.
Where Rhodes coaxed this child of theirs would demand, bloody and violent.
She would be the kind of love that gripped you by the throat and never let you go.
She would start wars, build and ruin empires...
Yes.
This daughter would be different.
Hers and hers alone.
She would pass them off as a child of her Aria aspect born of a heated spat through thought and thought alone.
If pushed she would claim Ares to be the one she quarrelled with ensuring that Poseidon had no claim to her!
A child like that needed a powerful name....
"How about I name you Persandra, do you like that Darling?"
The excited laughter was answer enough and Aphrodite joined her newest child in giggling as she gently picked them up and cradled them in her arms.
I've been thinking about something for my Athenide fic. Love and loyalty often go hand-in-hand. So, I'm kind of surprised that a friendship between Perse and Aphrodite isn't explored more in the Athenide AU. Especially since it would be easy to give it an element of angst.
Perhaps Aphrodite took their friendship for granted. Perhaps she didn't truly realize how much it meant to her. Not until she burned that bridge beyond repair. When her vanity led her to offer Helen of Sparta to Paris. A woman who was kidnapped once before by Theseus. Who was one of the many demigods cherished by Lady Loyalty.
how many gods know all their childrens last names. or how many gods remember which child had which mortal parent. or how many gods know their childrens age. or birthday. or their favorite color. or their favorite snack. or if they even have favorites. who their favorite friend is. what their favorite shirt design is. what activities they favor. do the gods know anything about that? anything about their children? do the gods just see their children as pawns? as static tools to use when things get bad? canon suggests thats how they see them. but how far down does that go? do the gods know how long each of their kids have been at camp for? how many monsters theyve taken down in their parents name? how much suffering theyve gone through to get one look from the god that brought them into this world? do they see anything their kids do to get a glimpse of their parents attention? do they see anything their kids do at all? how long did it take for the gods to realize a child of their died in battle? did they even realize? or of any of their kids joined kronos’ army? would they have noticed there was an unmade, untouched bed in their cabin, because their siblings couldnt bring themselves to do anything with it after their sibling died? do the gods even know if their children care about each other? or even interact?
did hephaestus know beckendorf got accepted to college? did aphrodite know silena was gonna go with him? did apollo know how michael died? did hades know what bianca died for? did zeus know what jason was doing for forgotten gods?
Would it be crazy to think that there are some demigods in camp half blood who haven't been claimed yet because their godly parents is their roman counterpart and vice versa
