#whimsicalty

[loreskept-a]

@whimsicalty​ :   " it is the... sometimes harsh reality that we creators face, that we have so little command over our creations. ”   ( HEPHAESTUS & NYX. MEME LOST. NOT ACCEPTING. )

𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐋.   ‘ that it is, ’  the god of the forge laughs quietly, holding the shards of achilles’ shield in his hands.  it protected him until it could not, and now he has heard the stories from mother nyx of how he has fallen at the hands of apollo himself.  ( say what you want; the muse god guided that arrow. )  it is a shame that he creates such valiant things for warriors but cannot fight, himself. mortals are such fickle things, such beautiful creatures, and yet, hephaestus finds himself envious of them. he does not want to fight as they do - that desire has extinguished - but he does wish to know them intimately, to know how they fight and love and fear one-another. what made the aristos archaon the greatest of them all? why did he need a shield if his body was impervious?

‘ it is indeed. ’  he echoes, and with strong arms built from years of pushing around his mobilized chair and striking steel against hot metal, he propels himself forward so that he may collect the spear that had been fashioned for him. it was no varatha, but it would serve achilles well in his new position as guard of the house of hades. what a pitiful title for a man so beloved : how he wonders if achilles remembers the weight of this shield.  the spear is bestowed upon mother nyx with a gracious bow of the head.  ‘ i only hope, my lady, that this will serve to be an elegant weapon for your newest housestaff. that it is as mighty as the weapons i will upkeep for your sons and as patient a teacher as i predict achilles pelides will be for your newest son. ’  no, unfortunately, hephaestus does not know that zagreus was not born of nyx’s womb nor her clay, but that matters not, for he knows what it is like to love the children you consort so tenderly. how could he not, when he is the husband of love and abides by her rule in their house?  ‘ may the lessons he be taught by this weapon at the hands of the greatest of the greeks spark the fire of rebellion in his heart. may he use that flame for good. ’

[loreskept-a]

@whimsicalty​ : ‘ there is no denying it. ’   ( MOTHER NYX & APHRODITE. LOST MEME. NOT ACCEPTING. ) 

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍.​    ‘ what, ’  aphrodite laughs, a hand in front of her mouth.  ‘ that all three of your prominent sons are beloved by so many? of course there’s no denying it, nyx, look -- ’  aphrodite points into the house of hades, filled to the brim with chthonic and olympian alike: she pinpoints each of nyx’s sons, wrapped up in their own conversations. for sweet THANATOS, gentle death, he is placed neatly between zagreus and megaera, the three of them sharing a little conversation, one that has brought a semblance of a black flush to his sharpened cheeks: how cute, that gentle death may be so flustered. they part, briefly, at the presence of another, and LORD ARES steps up to take thanatos’ hand, to offer him a dance that, quote, reminds him of their time together. initially, death refuses, but zagreus and meg shove him forward, encouraging him to love loudly.

in the other hall, there is hypnos, sleepy thing, and his consort, the two of them lazily moving left and right in their altered state. their little dreamlings connect to one or both of them, creating a little family portrait that is almost out of character for sleep’s lacksadasical style, but with no pressure on him from the master of the house, he is able to be a good partner - and a good father, if only a hands-off one. the song ends, allowing the two gods to part just long enough for a smile and bubbling laughter before they float off, likely to find a seat and some nectar.

in the far back of the house, just where the river intersects the stone corridors, is charon, sitting on his boat as the styx rocks the boat back and forth like a mother rocking a cradle. his knees to his chest and his hat obscuring his vision, the stygian boatman is accompanied by the god of swiftness, who has taken the active role in the conversation, only pausing long enough to catch his breath and allow his professional associate time for a well-placed sigh or groan to prove to hermes that he was still listening. underneath that hat, aphrodite knows, is a skeletal smile that is almost BASHFUL.

‘ you’ve done well, mother nyx, for while none of your sons have physical hearts, their bodies are so full of love that they can barely eat. that type of love is only discerned from how a mother raises them to accept and know love. they learned that love from you ! ’  aphrodite giggles, her arm linking through the other woman’s. ‘ now, i think it’s time to talk about you. and about lord erebus... ’

[loreskept-a]

@whimsicalty​​ : ‘ i don’t need anyone! ’   ( KING THESEUS & APHRODITE.  MEME LOST.  NOT ACCEPTING. )

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍.​    ‘ OH, YOU DON’T, DO YOU? ’   asks the goddess of love, voice triumphant and angered, a woman scorned in the fields of elysium by theseus’ pride. hands balled at her side in the realm of olympus, looking down on the tournament match, she sees him : THE KING OF ATHENS, THE HERO OF THE LABYRINTH, THE CHAMPION OF ELYSIUM, THESEUS, standing against her favorite little godling, THE PRINCE OF THE UNDERWORLD, THE GOD OF BLOOD, THE DEFIER OF DEATH, ZAGREUS.  fuschia eyes gaze with a fury that rivals her lover’s at the insult.  love is not peaceful, and love is not kind in this moment; no, love can bring about the most violent of soldiers to her command, to forge the finest weapons in diamond and steel and make them pour blood, and when theseus calls for another olympian to aid him in battle, aphrodite shows him exactly what it is love can do in the presence of solitude.

once asterius has fallen to varatha’s point, aphrodite’s influence revels in the prince’s weapon, and with each successful strike his defenses weaken temporarily, only for him to regain his strength moments later. with zagreus equipped with the little glass-covered rose she gave him so many moons ago, it is with that same triumphant voice that she lets his voice roar, godly influence filling him to the brim: APHRODITE !

violet energy is manifested within olympus, pushed through the prince’s body so that he may strike down the king who has harmed her - alas, these scorns are frequent and common, and it is only a matter of time before it is theseus who calls on her aid within the trials of the coliseum once more, and she will gladly offer them to him in handfuls once he has learned his lesson. in this moment, love may not be patient or kind but it is so forgiving, especially to someone such as athens’ once-beloved king.  ‘ when presented with the opportunity, your majesty, don’t you EVER reject me! ’