#zeus.

[nectaric]

So I was doing some thinking about a possible new muse and realised that Zeus has a lotta kids who died incredibly tragic, sometimes meaningless deaths. How does he cope with that, if at all? How does it affect him?

it seems the more popular assumption to suggest that zeus is not impacted by these deaths - but it is painfully clear to me that this is far from the case. immortality is both a gift and a curse in this way; time makes it easier for these wounds to heal, and eventually, easier to cope with as zeus gains experience and practice coming to terms with his grief. it also means that he is destined to watch every single one of his non-immortal offspring perish, and that part never gets any easier.

i enjoy the example of sarpedon, as both an example of zeus' thought process in attempting to prevent the deaths of his children - an active hand that he is often denied in many interpretations - but also the shape his grief takes when he is ultimately unsuccessful in protecting them from their fates. he is not a silent sufferer, but one that lets his grief be known by mortals and immortals alike. losing his children hurts, and zeus does not attempt to pretend otherwise.

zeus has the unfortunate reality of knowing when many of his children are going to die, too, which can become cumbersome. it is easier in some ways, in that he is rarely blindsided, but that does not lessen the pain at losing them - its often a pained acceptance of the truth.

he copes by pressing on. by showing his grief, and then ultimately channelling it into something else; something great, hopefully, but not always. but there is no doubt in my mind that zeus grieves deeply and regrets the deaths of his mortal children as much as he would the suffering of his immortal ones.

[childrenofthegodsrp]

NAME: Adelrick “Hart” Urquhart.

AGE: 31.

BIRTHDAY: March 19th, 1989.

PRONOUNS: He/Him.

GENDER: Cis man.

BIRTHPLACE: North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

OCCUPATION: Lawyer.

GODLY PARENT: Zeus.

FACECLAIM: Ryan Cooper.

BIOGRAPHY.

violence tw, neglect tw.

Adelrick never knew his parents, his earliest memories were learning to navigate foster home after foster home. Each family was a blend of personality that he needed to navigate, one year he could be boisterous and loud and carefree, then the next year was spent treading eggshells. Nervous, fidgety, hyperactive, it was hard for Adelrick to sit still for long periods of time; he was always trying to get out, always trying to do more. It was this earnest and kind disposition that garnered his nickname sometime around his seventh birthday, Hart. He took to it with pride, both his first and last names were a mouthful and it was easier for people to grasp. Shuffled from school to school, it wasn’t until his early teens that anyone noticed that he was dyslexic. Most just assumed he was a bad student because the impermanence of his living situations made it hard for him to keep up. The truth was, however, Hart was naturally inquisitive, intuitive, bright, but with little control over his home life came the desire to act out elsewhere. Usually in school.

Growing up, eagles were commonplace in the Pacific Northwest, but Hart felt an intrinsic connection to them. They were free. They could go wherever they chose, but the nests they built were intended to last a lifetime. When they fell in love it was forever. And Hart related to that, because he was passionate and drive, hardworking with a desire for independence and freedom. His home life was chaotic at times, and as Hart got older he stuck out from his foster siblings more and more, and as he got stronger, so did his desire to protect those that could not protect themselves. After an altercation with one of his foster parents Hart was wrongfully placed in a boy’s home, not ideal, the institution was a glorified prison for boys.

Hart was nearly in high school the first time a monster attacked, the creature was hideous, a hellhound sent from the Underworld itself to kill him. The demigod had never been placed in a life or death situation before, but Hart placed himself between the monster and students in a younger grade and stood his ground. If not for the aid of a satyr Hart likely would not have made it out alive, but he survived to be brought to Camp Half-Blood, where he was told that he was a rare son of Zeus. The revelation came as a surprise, but if there was anything Hart had come to expect about his father it was that the man had undoubtedly abandoned him. So, to learn that was the truth did not shock him.

When he arrived to cabin designated for children of Zeus, an Aegis awaited him, emblazoned with the a gift, he was told, from his Father.  From Camp Half-Blood the young demigod trained and learned to develop the innate abilities that ran through his veins, always overhead an eagle seemed to shadow his steps. A messenger from his father, some would say, others would whisper that Zeus himself watched over his son. If that was true, then all the God ever did was watch, and quietly, Hart grew to resent him. Where other Godly children had some sign or message from their parents, some form of interaction, Hart did not. For years he trained and believed that when he was ready, when he was strong enough, then at last his father would appear. When he was sent out on quests, Hart was certain, that when he returned, successful, his father would at last appear. But there was nothing.

At the age of nineteen Hart had aged out of Camp Half-Blood, the war was over, won, and now monsters suddenly had less of an interest in him than before. War had not come without casualties, his time at the camp was one that he hoped his father would have been proud of, but Hart had lost many friends as a result. He didn’t know anyone who hadn’t. Still, the demigod pressed on, he moved to New Greece, New York and attended university. Hart wanted to use his drive to do well and to help others in whatever way he could, and this led the man to go to law school. There was darkness both within the mortal world and without, and if Hart could be a champion for justice and what was right then that was what he would be. He graduated, passed the bar, and after several years managed to get a job in the attorney general’s office as a state prosecutor. The eagle still follows him, a sign, Hart is sure, that the war is not truly over.

Played by: Shane.

[dorimepulitzer]

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐳𝐨𝐨. a flashback

Let’s crash this fucking shitshow. Foi o que eles combinaram assim que souberam a palhaçada que estava acontecendo. Okay, pode soar como uma péssima decisão movida por orgulho ferido, ou sei lá... Alguém querendo estragar a festa alheia. Talvez Dorian tivesse feito o mesmo se as situações fossem inversas? Talvez. O fato é que Sumner falou sobre a festa que estava acontecendo e sobre como ninguém tinha falado nada para eles. 

Dorian não conseguia esquecer o primeiro dia de aula, de como ergueu sua postura com um sorriso confiante enquanto abria a multidão de alunos. Era mais alto que a maioria das pessoas e tinha uma postura de quem demandava a atenção para si - e pode ter certeza que não era uma boa atenção. A tropa de Toulouse atravessava o campo minado de Cannes com a intenção de fazer morada residente. Suck it up, ele pensava, e se deliciava com os olhares feios dirigidos a ele, amando o fato de que agora todos eles precisariam aturá-lo à todo custo. Não foi escolha dele estar ali, mas já que ele estava ali, chegaria com um estrondo. 

Veja bem, se ele fosse passivo, Sebastian pisaria nele como um chiclete usado, e Dorian não era o tipo de cara que aceitava esse tratamento. Muito menos em direção aos amigos dele, e era por isso que fazia questão de chamar toda a atenção para si. Em parte, ele amava a atenção, mas grande parte torcia para que isso fosse suficiente para divergir a atenção de seus amigos. 

O plano foi premeditado, alguns amaram a ideia, outros nem tanto, mas no fim todos estavam dentro. Era essa a diferença entre os dois grupos: os outros podiam se gabar de serem incríveis, mas nunca superariam a união e amizade dos Leões de Notre Dame. Ele pensava como alguns do grupo tentaram se integrar na escola, tentaram até ser gentis e formar algum laço de amizade. Serem tão brutalmente excluídos na cara dura consolidou a certeza dentro do inglês de que essas tentativas não só eram vãs, como provavelmente eram ridicularizadas pelas costas. Podia ser paranoia da parte dele, mas quase conseguia ouvir a risada coletiva deles comentando o tremendo esforço que os amigos fizeram para se encaixar. 

Isso fervia o sangue do ex-rei, que não aceitava menos do que decência no tratamento. Não pensou em como isso era uma “pegadinha” ou “só uma festa”, e sim como a última gota de paciência que teve. Só Deus e um milagre poderiam impedir Dorian de enfiar um murro na cara de Sebastian quando o visse. Assim que o relógio marcou onze horas e vinte e cinco minutos, o plano entra em execução, e a figura alta do garoto sobe o penhasco sem qualquer intenção de se jogar. O vento batia contra seu cabelo e o barulho deste contra seus ouvidos se assimilava à adrenalina que corria em suas veias. 

--- Muito bem, pelo menos a gente conseguiu chegar antes da festa acabar. --- Dorian arreganhava os dentes em um sorriso feroz, fúria dominando sua mente e ocultando quaisquer pensamentos racionais. --- Não sei, hein, eu não me jogaria se fosse vocês. Uma loja de 1,99 tem inveja da falsidade de vocês, bem capaz de vocês quebrarem quando caírem na água. 

@opaitaon

[mciri-blog]

how's ur turtle

“zeus is not doing quite so well. because the weather of norden is drastically different from his ordinary environment, he’s gone quite dormant. conserving energy or something. it’s very frightening. i’m trying to keep him out of pyros’ sight because he’ll probably be dumb enough to think poor zeus is dead and bury him alive. there’s only so many turtle funerals a family can take.”

[nectaric]

i don't know if this is the right blog to ask or I should ask on the other one, but speaking of zeus! i wonder if youve ever written anything or had headcanons about how the rest of the elder six reacted once he was back from his ordeal with typhon

for questions like this, either one is fine!! and boy am i rubbing my hands together over this one, because it is juicy!!! i don't know that i've ever addressed this in any detail (with the exception of hera, i believe), so i'll dive right in!

i believe that the general response to what happened with typhoeus were variations of horror and outrage. remembering that all of the other gods fled when typhoeus came knocking really emphasizes their fear at facing such a powerful and dangerous foe. none stayed to fight, save one. all of the gods were fearful of typhoeus, and this is only more deeply cemented after seeing just what the creature was able to accomplish. even though zeus prevailed in the end, it was incredibly clear that this was not a battle won easily. the gods had reason to be afraid.

because if zeus could be defeated, tortured, and made low by a single beast, what chance would any of them have stood? together, they may have prevailed, but any one of them could have suffered the same fate. they learned of that fate after their all-powerful leader suffered it. so when zeus returns and they see what has become of him, there is horror. there is outrage. there is, undoubtedly, guilt.

( i like to headcanon that some wanted to stay, such as athena and hera, but seeing what danger was coming and that no one else was staying to fight, zeus sent them away too ).

as for zeus' siblings in particular, i think the responses vary a little, but are ultimately all rooted in the same emotions; fear of what could have happened to them, surprise at how something managed to fell zeus, anger at the beast for what he had done, and guilt for fleeing when their aid could have spared zeus.

hestia's response is the most humble and empathetic, i think. she cared little about the implications and what they meant for her - she was mortified to see zeus in his state. she had seen her family members through a lot of terrible things, but this was something else entirely. she was seeing a broken zeus, in both body and spirit, and her heart ached so deeply for him a part of her broke that day, too.

i think hades and demeter shared similar responses. again, horror at seeing zeus of all people so broken. guilt at their lack of participation, knowing that their help in particular could have truly turned the tide. discomfort at not knowing how to fix it, how to help zeus, how to undo the damage that had been done. ultimately, neither of them doing enough.

poseidon was complicated, too. i headcanon typhoeus to have happened after his attempted coup, and so there is a lot of complex feelings between him and zeus. ultimately, poseidon does not like seeing his brother this way. it leaves a sour taste in his mouth he realizes is guilt much later on, but in the moment, i think poseidon's biggest concerns are with the fact that clearly zeus is more powerful than he, and zeus fell, so what does that mean for him? that he never would have stood a chance? it's selfish but very real, i think.

zeus and hera were also not in the best place prior to all of this. zeus' return reunified them, but under the worst possible circumstances, and hera's guilt ran deep. she felt she should have stayed, fought harder, done more, but she didn't and she knows zeus will bear the weight of what he experienced forever.

as for zeus... there was a very real amount of time in his captivity where he believed no one was coming for him. that he has lost, and that this fate was it for him. while he does not blame his family for what happened, there is a part of him that felt what remained of his trust in them shatter, and he's spent a long time trying to recover it. however, the thing that the ordeal did for him, besides giving him endless amounts of trauma and physical scars, was it was the catalyst for some of zeus' biggest changes - the zeus we see afterwards is fundamentally changed and in many ways, better.

[nectaric]

Zeus and a favourite thing about each of his siblings!

hehehehehe

hera: zeus actually loves how independent and headstrong hera can be, and how unafraid she is to do what she thinks is best. even if it leads to conflict between them, he respects that agency in her a lot.

hades: his patience. zeus seriously admires how patient and forgiving hades can be, and the level of calm it leads to. it makes him quite easy to talk to and makes any conflict they have a lot easier to work through

demeter: her honesty. zeus loves that she will always tell it how it is, that she is open about how she is feeling (so he can help). she's reliably honest and he knows he can trust her for that reason <3

poseidon: his passion. as much of a nuisance as it can be, as much as poseidon's passion has caused issues for them, it is still incredibly powerful. when he cares about something, he does not pull punches, and as tough as it is being on the bad end of it, it's so rewarding to be on the good end.

hestia: besides everything, i think zeus loves her thoughtfulness the most. she just knows everyone she cares for so deeply and intimately, and always knows what to do to bring a smile to someone's face. she cares so much, and more than that, she seems to understand how best to care for those around her. zeus has definitely tries to emulate that quality

[nectaric]

a HUGE shoutout and massive thank you to the talented @caeloservare who made me this icon 😭😭😭 i shall cherish it forever