from @gjxathena
words pause mid-sentence as athena refrains from delivering her nth lecture- and its coats of unnecessary worry. she comes to realize again she was not faced with the youth of hypnos. no. now he was grown- a man capable of his own decisions. the frustration reaches her ears and she nods, giving up. right. “go on,” the queen then nudges. she was curious to what got her beloved brother drinking at such bright hours. but she holds back from a scolding- the father mentality of hers always raging to storm out- when she comes to realize the other was still human. behind his title of royal and underneath his crown of prince- hypnos was all everyone else was. all she was behind closed doors.
“it better not be any dumb love problems.”
Hypnos scowled at the mention of love. Love. What a funny word. One which Hypnos seemingly had yet to experience. Yes, Hypnos once may have developed a love for Selene--they were betrothed after all--but the woman was his best friend. He wasn’t sure if the love he had held in the past was simply platonic mixed with sexual emotions, or love. He’d never know. It didn’t matter, and all of that was in the past now. Currently? Love was laughable.
“Athena,” Hypnos started, “When have I ever had love problems? Even when the engagement was broken off, I didn’t mourn, and I haven’t had a romantic or sexual relationship since,” he finished in a mutter, shaking his head. He brought the bottle of wine closer to him, already shutting his sister out. “Leave me. I do not want to discuss this anymore. I have no meetings, and I owe you no explanation of why, I’m drinking.”