#aphrodite stepped in with a reminder that this ~ this is not the kind of love you die for

[lxclerc]

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 | 𝐝𝐫𝟑

summary... it’s never the right time for  you and daniel, always something pulling the two of you away from each other. requested... yes by literally everyone. yall were coming at me with pitch forks for this warning... age gap (7 years), emotional cheating, physical cheating, angst, angst, angst, light smut (more on fade to black) pairing... daniel ricciardo x horner! reader

note... i am tagging each and everyone of you who asked for a part 2 bc this fic has quite literally loomed over my head ever since i posted it a year ago. literally everytime i open this godforsaken app, someone is offering me their first born for the part 2 so yall better give me all the notes!!!

𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

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high tide came and brought you in

“if you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?”

the question caught you off guard as your friend drunkenly pondered over it out loud. where would you go? you were sober enough to say home, the most acceptable answer that would not invite any other follow up questions. it’s simple and doesn't need a discussion. the reason it caught you off guard wasn’t just that though but because your answer was instantaneous in your head. your answer isn’t a where but rather a who, came your bitter realization. 

and you knew that if you could go anywhere in the world right now, it’d be him you’d go to. he always lingers in the back of your mind, everything that reminded him of you tends to bring a certain kind of aching and longing you’ve grown to resent over the months and years spent without him. 

daniel sent you away and deep in you, you know he meant good. he’d done a selfless thing, loving you and setting you free. but missing him was unbearable, loving him all consuming and you resent him for doing this to you. you resent the world for making you fall for a man without letting you have him. 

still, you did as he told you. you went back to school, pursuing a career in a field you knew he’d be proud of, achieving your dreams and living your life as though a part of you hadn’t been left with him. 

your friends carry on with the party. half of university was partying which is a scene familiar to you. this time, it’s on the beach, the salty air and sound of crashing waves echoing with the sound of the music and chatter. still though, you can’t help but scan the place as though looking for him among the crowd of people the same way you always would. you miss the way you’d find his eyes already on you, pools of brown dripping like honey on your skin. 

but he’s never there and you feel dirty whenever another man looks at you, their gazes too eager as they look at you as though you’re a piece of meat, never gentle like his as though you’re aphrodite herself walking among mere mortals. 

you miss him is the ugly truth. you miss him so fucking terribly it makes you angry. you don’t want to miss him. you no longer want to love him. loving him hurts, as though he’s clawing at your chest and squeezing your heart together in a sick sort of torture. 

but even before he touched you, you were his. all he had to do was look at you. you exist in two places – here and wherever he is. 

eventually as the night progresses on, you move away from the party. you’re in some fancy country club and the tile is expensive on your feet as you step out of your heels and walked towards the beach, feeling the cool sand against your skin. 

in hindsight, you really shouldn’t have been surprised to find him in a place like this but despite looking for him wherever you go, you’d never expect to find him. searching for him has become a comfort the same way longing for him has – in a sick, twisted and painful way. 

but he’s here now and in the one time you hadn’t searched for him, he found you. the moment you’d spotted his figure looking out at sea, he turned to you as though a gravitational pull connected you to him. 

one year, three months and fourteen days. that was the last time you saw him but he looked no different from the man who’d brought you back to your hotel room only to say goodbye. 

and then he smiled and it was as though the sun shone on you again. 

“honey,” he says and your heart trembles. 

daniel.

it was too early. and you’re drunk and you aren’t entirely sure if you were dreaming or not. 

but he stands before you, eyes of brown looking as though you’re aphrodite herself and he can’t quite believe he gets to stand before you. eyes of brown that seem to be sobbing without tears. daniel. 

you’re still not talking and he’s letting you, watching you so intently as though he’s memorizing your face. he looked the exact same but you know what he must be seeing. you look nothing like the woman he left behind. you’d cut your hair short and dyed it. long gone were your summer dress, replaced by tight fitting ones that showed off your body. you feel different and you tried so hard to make sure you wouldn’t recognize yourself in the mirror. you hated seeing the woman who couldn’t make him stay. 

but in his eyes, you see your reflection and you recognize her well. 

“daniel,” you muttered as the crashing waves touched your feet. would you love me now? you wanted to ask. 

he smiled again. “you look beautiful as you always are.”

please touch me, you wanted to beg. soft eyes and soft soft hands. you’re lonely without him. 

you manage a grin. “sure, old man.”

the laugh that he let out echoed against your soul. “i’m being honest.”

you missed him. god, you missed him so fucking much. 

but daniel still would not let himself love you. not yet, not now that you’re finally building something for yourself. you have friends and have set goals. not yet. 

“y/n!” someone calls from behind you but you’re hesitant to take your eyes off of daniel, terrified he’d become a figment of your imagination the moment you do. but your friend's familiar calls force you to. “come on, we have to go.”

you ignore her, turning back to daniel and he smiles at you, offering his hand for you to shake. this is the best he can offer for now. “i’ll see you around, kid.” 

you wanted to cry, wanted to scream that it’s so unfair, but you smile sadly as he shook his hand, his calloused fingers so familiar against yours. 

“in a few years,” you say. 

and as the ocean brought him back to you, the waves must return to the sea. 

but you were still gone and gone, gone and gone

the next time you see daniel again, you were twenty four. you’re in your last year of university, applying for your doctorate. you loved academia, you loved your two cats and your little apartment downtown, you loved science and the galaxy it holds and you eventually realized that this is why he let you go. he wanted you to have this — be more than someone who just follows a man around country after country. 

he wanted you to grow, wanted you to find the things you really loved without influence from him. he wanted you to find your independence and learn to stand on your own two feet. 

max brought you here. it’s his first world champion and as his self proclaimed best friend, he refused to allow you to skip this one and so you pulled up your big girl pants and got on with it, arriving in abu dhabi on friday.

by some cruel twist of fate, he’s the first person you find the moment you enter the paddock. it would have been rude to ignore him and so you smile even though you can clearly see the woman next to him and the way she stands close. 

goddamn it. 

it hurt. it hurt seeing her there. it hurt seeing her cluelessly smile at you. the way he looks at you now, eyes of brown full of silent apologies, looking as though he wanted to reach over and touch you, to comfort you. 

you release a shaky breathe, raising your hand in an pathetic attempt of a wave before you walk past him. you aren’t the same young kid like before. now, you have enough self reservation to not actively put yourself in a situation that would only hurt you. you don’t need to play besties with daniel’s new girlfriend. 

the moment you enter the red bull motorhome, you hit max at the back of his head.

“what?” he exclaimed as you glared at him. 

“you’re an idiot,” was all you said before moving towards your father. you’d ignore daniel and his girlfriend. you’re here to support max – even if he is a stupid idiot – and there’s no need for you to obsess over daniel. 

but of course, you still do anyway. even as you watch the race, you’re watching him. he looks good, amazing, fucking edible. he looks like he stepped right out of your dirtiest dreams, all thick neck and stable arms. he looks beautiful, absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking and you selfishly want him just for you. but you’ve always wanted that and you’ve never been allowed to have him.

and then you’re watching her. she’s grace herself, really. she’s exactly the kind of woman he needed and you wonder if she knows about you and then you wonder what it is about her. what is it about her that made it so that daniel thought she’s good enough for him to love when he never could you?

“mate, it’s getting creepy,” max said as he took the seat before you. he looks tired but he looks determined and the way the hair falls over his face makes you smile. max is a very special person to you and you know that he always will. you hold him close to your heart and you know you’d move the earth for him. 

you reach over, fixing the collar of his red bull shirt. “shut up.”

“her name’s caroline,” max says. “if you want to get to know her then just approach her.”

you glared at him. you don’t want to know her name. you don’t want to know what her laugh sounds like or the color of her eyes. you don’t want to know what made daniel fall in love with her. you don’t want to know her. 

“shut up,” you say again. “i’m still blaming you.”

max laughed and you think him annoying you might just be his way of distracting himself from the race so you let him. you let him talk on and on and on the entire time till he’s needed back in the motorhome. you let him steal yur ice cream and tap your nose. 

but when you turned back to her, caroline, you find him staring right back at you, anger and jealousy in those brown eyes you missed so much.

and it was like you’re twenty again, petty and young as you glared right back at him. he had no reason to be jealous when he has her beside him. he has no right to be jealous when he’s the one who’s never allowed the two of you to be more. 

these hands had to let it go free

that night, he called you for the first time in three years. his name lit up your phone and your hand shook as you picked it up. his picture, smiling up at you taken at your twentieth birthday stares right back at you. 

“daniel,” you breathe out as you press the phone against your ear. you’d arrived back in your hotel room two hours ago smelling of champagne and victory. max’s world championship trophy is laying next to you after being forgotten because your best friend was far too drunk to grab it before his girlfriend dragged him out. throughout the party, you avoided daniel like the plague, keeping to your side of the room and never straying towards him. 

“i missed you,” he says from the other end, voice cracking and slurring. he’s drunk and you push back the blanket as you enter the bathroom, hand gripping your phone. “but fuck it, i don’t miss this.”

“what are you saying?” 

“he’s my best mate, y/n.” there goes your name. not sweetheart or honey. he says your name like it’s sacred, something he’s only ever allowed to say when he’s at his most vulnerable, completely raw and baring his soul to you. “and i wanted to fucking punch his face the entire night.”

you close your eyes. this is familiar to you. daniel and his raw honesty when he’s drunk. daniel and his jealousy of max. this is all so familiar to you that you feel twenty again. you feel young and out of control and so drunk in love with a man you can’t have that it physically hurts. he’s ripped you off the past few years where you’ve grown into yourself. you’re twenty again and so tragically in love. 

“i wanted to punch his fucking face because his touching you, because i’m not allowed to touch you,” he continues as you sink to the floor. 

“you’re the only one who’s never let yourself touch me, daniel,” you whispered on the phone, broken down from one phone call.

he laughs bitterly and you might as well not have said anything. “and here i am, can’t even sleep next to my damn girlfriend because i keep thinking of you. it’s so unfair.”

you wanted to laugh too. unfair? how does he get to talk about unfair when he’d been the one to create this mess for the two of you? how dare he talk about being unfair when he’s the one who’s with another girl? this is unfair. it’s unfair to you. he doesn’t deserve to talk about it being unfair. 

the night he left you in your hotel room on your twenty first birthday, you’d called his name again and again like a child. you hoped by some magical thing that he’ll appear. you were desperate. 

“you shouldn’t have come back,” he says. “not yet. we both weren’t ready.” 

you wipe the tears falling to your cheeks. “and when will that happen? when will we be ready? maybe it’s time to accept that it isn’t us.” 

you heard him let out a shaky breath. “don’t say that. don’t say it.”

“i’m so tired of waiting. if it wasn’t us then and it isn’t us now, why do we still believe that it’s us someday?” 

“ask me to stay,” he whispers. “ask me to stay and i will. ask me to drop her and i will. i will drop everything if you ask me to.”

you cry, pulling your knees against your chest. “goodbye, dan.”

struggled through the night with someone new

the next time you see daniel again, you invited him.  you’re twenty five, it’s two thousand and twenty two, you’re engaged and you’d gotten arrogant. 

you met your fiance, james, in university. you’re in the same program and the same friend group though you never paid much attention to him. for the most part, you never really paid much attention to anyone. six months later and he asked you on a date, one you’d declined without a second thought. it didn’t matter how many guys asked you out, you always declined, daniel in the back of your mind always reminding you of what you’re truly waiting for. 

but james never treated you any differently. he never made it awkward and never put you on the spot. for the most part, you both acted like it never happened. but you applied to the same doctorate program and coincidentally  ended up in apartments right next to each other. he was a comfort, a friend you already knew that you could rely on. he never made anymore advances towards you but it was inevitable to grow closer. 

he’s stability and curiosity. he never once pulled back whenever you touched him or apologized for liking you. it was a breath of fresh air – to be admired so freely. you did your thesis together, hands tightly clamped together as you defended it. 

you were the one to ask james out on a date, knowing he wouldn’t again in fear of making you uncomfortable. and after leaning on each other as friends for so long, transitioning to become lovers was so easy, you didn’t have to worry what anyone would say or think of you. you didn’t have to worry what your family would think. everything was easy with him. 

james was so different from the type of love you were used to. you could love him without guilt, without pain and longing. you could love him simply, easily. you didn’t need to ask him to love you back, didn’t need to wonder if he’d still love you tomorrow. it was so easy being with him and you’d gotten lazy. waiting and hurting and crying for daniel was exhausting. 

you wanted a love you didn’t have to fight for. 

you’ve convinced yourself that you no longer felt anything for daniel, gaslighting yourself into believing that you’d close that chapter and left it in the past. you can move on now. there was no need for you constantly being miserable and lonely waiting for him to be ready. 

and yet here you were, your fiance’s arm around you as you stare at the front door. you shouldn’t have invited him. there was no reason for you to do so but you wanted to prove yourself. you wanted to prove to yourself that he no longer affected you. daniel is in the past and you’ve told yourself repeatedly that you’ve let him go but now you wanted to show yourself that you have. 

if you’re lucky, maybe he wouldn’t attend at all.

“are you okay, love?” james whispered against your ear, having noticed your stiff posture. you spent weeks planning your engagement party, stressing over the smallest details but now you don’t seem to be enjoying yourself. 

you loved this about him – the way he’s able to read you like an open book. james knows there was someone before him – someone who’d left you broken and torn apart. he just didn’t know that person would be attending today. 

you nod, taking a sip from the champagne glass you’d been holding as an excuse to stop your hands from fidgeting. “just a bit nervous from the crowd.”

“don’t worry too much. it’s just friends and family.” he gives you an assuring smile, accepting your reasoning as he pulls you closer towards him to try and comfort you. 

you’re an idiot, the biggest one there is. max told you himself after you told him that you sent the invite to daniel. you’re a massive idiot and you’re in denial and you set your own trap, tempting yourself when there was no need to and now you were going to hurt james because the moment daniel entered the room, your breath was knocked out of you, heart beating furiously as though it recognized him. 

it was daniel. how can you be so stupid? 

his eyes meets yours and you missed the way those eyes of brown settle on your skin, grazing as though his soul was touching yours. but they’re sad this time – sad and exhausted and defeated and you can practically hear the way your heart shatters. it was daniel. it has always been daniel. it will always be daniel. how stupid were you to think otherwise? how stupid were you to believe you could ever forgot the way your heart and soul roars back to life the moment he enters the room. 

you’ll break james’ heart, you’re breaking your own and you’ve broken his. 

the entire time, you and james had stood before the door, greeting all of your guests and showing them where they can wait. you absolutely had no plans to greet daniel. it was bad enough that he was here, but james, sweet sweet james, who had no idea what he was doing dragging you towards the formula one driver, hadn’t gotten the memo.

he didn’t know that having daniel’s eyes on you so close would set wildfires in your stomach and he didn’t know how exhausting and difficult it was to contain those wildfires. he didn’t know that he was burning himself as he all but dragged you in front of him. 

“hey,” your fiance says cluelessly. “daniel ricciardo!” 

daniel is looking at you and you feel frozen under his gaze. it’s heavy. he makes you feel heavy, like you were cheating on james simply by looking at you. you feel nauseous but with guilt eating up at every cell in your stomach. but you shouldn’t feel guilty. he had no right to make you feel guilty for moving on. he moved on. last you him, he had a girlfriend. why aren’t you allowed to do the same? why can’t you go on with your life and build a future with a nice man that isn’t him?

“i’m a big fan,” james says cheerfully, offering his hand for daniel to shake and forcing him to tear his gaze away from you. 

daniel forces a smile to his face, moving to shake his hand and you know this is the part where you’re supposed to introduce him. daniel is your guest after all and so you clear your throat, hoping your smile isn’t as stiff as you feel like it is. 

“james, this is my friend daniel. daniel, my fiance james.” you manage to let out, gripping your champagne glass to avoid having to touch either of them the same way you avoid the way daniel’s eyes hardened when the word fiance tumbled from your lips. 

“it’s really nice to meet you, mate,” james says with a massive smile. god he’s so nice and sweet and you hate what you’re doing to him. 

daniel says nothing, only smiling and you end this entire interaction the moment you get a chance to. pointing at the snacks table, you turned to him. “there’s food over there and max is around here somewhere. nice seeing you again, daniel.”

you were lying through your goddamn teeth. thankfully, he seems to have taken the hint, walking away without saying another word. 

the entire night, you feel his eyes on you. even as james makes his speech declaring his love for you, daniel stares at you with hooded eyes. he looks pissed and sad at the same time and you wanted to scream. stop looking at me! you couldn’t take anymore of this. he’s looking at you as though you’re under a microscope – staring into your soul like he could reach you there. 

you’re an idiot and now that he’s in the same room as you are, the illusion has left you. you’re not over daniel because you can never be over him. he’s engraved in your soul, his fingerprints all over your heart. he was, and still is, the sun that made your universe turn. you’re choking and you needed to get away lest you burst.

daniel is overwhelming. he’s terrifying and addicting and you hate him but you’re madly in love with him. and worse of all, you’ll spend the rest of your life being in love with him. you’ll spend the rest of your life wanting him and hurting for him and and longing for him and that’s a goddamn fucking tragedy. 

you manage to get through the party, practically dissociating yourself. eventually the guests leave one by one, only your family and closest friends left. you sit on the foyer with max, the dutchman watching you drink champagne straight out of the bottle.

“you shouldn’t have invited him,” he tells you quietly. “you were fucking yourself over.”

you roll your eyes. you stare inside the house where daniel is talking to your father. your dad offered his home for your engagement party. you know he likes james. your mother too and your little siblings can’t get enough of him. that fact almost makes you want to throw up. 

“i thought i was over him,” you say.

it’s max’s turn to roll his eyes. “you’re just a good liar. you’ll never be over daniel and he’ll never be over you. even i know that.”

you glared at him. you already know what he’s telling you and quite frankly, you had no desire to hear it again. “i hate you.” 

“neither you nor dan would survive this long without me.” max laughed and you threw the throw pillow at him. 

not that he’s lying. you met max the same time you did daniel and you clicked immediately. he knows everything, comforted you many times as you pined over dan. he’s your best friend and he’s also daniel’s best friend. he knows more than anyone how deep the connection you two shared. 

“go home already,” you tell him. you’re tired and slightly drunk and you just want to go to bed now. “and make sure you take him with you.” 

max laughed at the way you said him like it’s a bad taste on your tongue but did as you said anyways. 

that night, you laid on the bed you and james shared, you couldn’t sleep. he’s fast asleep next to you, his arm over your stomach as you lay wide awake. you shouldn’t have invited him because now he’s turned your world upside down again. everything you’ve built for yourself was gone the moment his eyes met yours. he’s a plague, sucking all the happiness out of you. 

eventually though, the restless night was about to get worse as you picked up your phone, scrolling through your contacts till you found his name. you stared at it for a while, knowing that you shouldn’t but you’re rattled and your self control is at an all time low. you shouldn’t have been trusted to make any types of decisions. 

you come back to what you need

daniel was waiting for you when you parked your car outside his apartment building, hand gripping his phone as he watched you step out of the vehicle. four years since he first let you go and one year since he last saw you and you look as beautiful as you ever were.

he shouldn’t have told you to come but he’s so exhausted from staying away, from waiting for the right time. there will never be a right time and tonight, he’s done holding back. he wants you, he always has and he no longer has the energy to stop himself from wanting you. 

“i shouldn’t be here,” was the first thing you said as he opened the door for you. 

a lazy, almost mocking smile covered his lips. “and yet here you are.”

you glared at him but daniel’s heart was soaring. it’s been so long since you were this close. he can smell the perfume that followed you and the scent of your shampoo. he’s so so tired, he just wanted to hold you. 

he’s going to make this as hard as possible, you realize. you’re no longer a child, he doesn’t need to play nice and easy with you anymore. you’re a woman now and he’s going to treat you like one. but you just need to get over this. you need closure. you need to put him in the past where he truly belongs so you can go about your life. you need him out of your system. 

daniel may be everything you wanted but it’s time to accept that he’ll never be what you need. 

“why did you come?” you asked, wanting to get this over with as quickly as you can. three years pining for him in red bull and four years of longing for him and everything leads you here. 

daniel cocked an eyebrow. he’s done with playing nice. “you invited me.”

okay, you walked right into that one. “you still shouldn’t have come.” 

daniel wanted to laugh. “i guess we  both like doing shit that we shouldn’t do. now the question is, sweetheart, what are you doing here?” 

“i’m getting married, daniel,” you whispered. “we need to accept that it isn’t us.”

“i thought you did that in abu dhabi.”

he’s being an asshole. “you’re the one who told me to leave. you don’t get to be mad that i’m moving on.”

“you’re not moving on,” he laughed, leaning against the wall. 

you glared at him. “yes, i am. i’m getting married!” 

he looked at you as though you said something hilarious and you wanted to punch him in the face for it. “and yet you’re here.” 

“for closure.”

he stepped towards you and you found yourself holding your breath. from this close, you can see the freckles on your cheeks, the ones you used to spend all your time trying to memorize. the curve of his plump lips and the intensity in his eyes. and when he touched, it felt like the first drop of rain after a million years of dessert. his hand perfectly fitted on your hips, warm and so achingly familiar. 

his hand snaked from your hip to your legs, finger light on your skin as he ever so slightly tugged at your shorts. you need to pull away but your body needs him closer. you want him. you want him to get closer. you want him to touch you more, to feel his skin against yours. you can have every single inch of his body pressed against yours and you’d still begged to get closer. 

his lips graze your cheek before it reaches your ear, even breathes in contrast to your desperately shaky ones. “is that really what you want, baby?”

with every ounce of sanity you have left, you forced yourself to nod and you can feel the way his lips formed into a mocking smile against your cheek. 

“really?” he mocked. “then why are you clutching my shirt like you want more?”

you hadn’t even realized the way your fist is holding on to his shirt, pulling him closer towards you like you’re terrified he’d disappear right between your fingertips. 

“fuck,” you muttered, the heat of his skin against yours dizzying. james is nowhere near your mind as your hand slips under his shirt, self control flying out the window as you feel the curves of his abs. you want him. you’ve always wanted him so desperately that you’re willing to go to hell for it. “fuck me.” 

he kissed you then, fire in his lips as it finally finally touched yours. this is all you’ve ever asked for and it’s worth the damnation you’d be paying in return. you pull him impossibly closer, going on your tiptoes. you need to get closer. closer, closer, closer. 

like an addicted chainsmoker to cigarettes, you can’t get enough of his kiss. you want to inhale the fumes of his breath, of him, deep into your lungs. he tugs at your shirt and you pull away enough for him to get it off. 

you grunt in complaint when he pulled away from you, only to swallow it back as his lips attached to the skin of your chest, licking and nibbling as it slowly made it way down. 

“oh,” you breathe out as he lips attached to your breast, your fingers tugging at his curls as his tongue circled your nipple. 

you should have stopped him the moment his hand unbuttoned your shorts but as he bent you over and his hand slipped between your folds and he trapped your moans with his mouth, you were far too gone. god be damned, morality be damned. you’d crawl through hell for this. 

but eventually, reality comes knocking and morning comes and your bliss ends. you woke up from your phone ringing, cocooned in daniel’s arms. 

“don’t answer it,” he mutters but sleepily, you grab your phone from the nightstand, seeing james’ name on your screen. 

and that snaps you out of it, being reminded of what happened the night before and what you did and you all but jumped out of his arms as though his touch burned you. 

“fuck, fuck, fuck,” you mutter under your breath as you hurriedly put on your clothes, daniel watching you still naked from his place on the bed. you turned to him, “this never happened.”

you watched as anger slowly filled his eyes. “are you being serious right now?” 

“i’m getting married, daniel!” you’re panicking now, screaming as your phone rings again. 

“then why the fuck were you knocking on my door at two in the morning?” 

you ignore him, gathering your things. “it was a mistake.”

he’s glaring at you now, looking like he wanted to start screaming. but he remains silent, only glaring as you gather your things and put on your clothes. 

you look at him again, apologies and sorrow in your eyes. “i’m sorry but this isn’t me. this can’t be me.”

and then you left, not allowing yourself to look back as you ran to your car. maybe in a parallel universe or a different world, you sit next to each other at the kitchen table and go over the grocery list, but for all the universes and worlds there are, this one was not enough, not for now and not for you and daniel. 

when you finally arrive home, your father is in the kitchen, eyeing you up as you walk past him. “where were you? james was looking for you.” 

you grimace. there’s a knowing look in christian’s eyes as though whatever you reason he already knows will be a lie. and unfortunately, he’d be right. “i was out with friends.”

“at seven in the morning?” he narrowed his eyes and you hated his timing. of all times, did he have to question you now? 

“breakfast.” 

you all but run to your room before he can question you further, thanking all the gods that james isn’t there. for a moment, you stood stunned, reeling from the past twenty four hours as the guilt settles in your chest. you need to get as far away from daniel as you possibly can. you can’t be the type of woman who cheats on her fiance. you refuse to be. you refuse to break a good man’s heart like that. 

and yet as you finally calm down enough to try and fix yourself, your phone buzzes, his name appearing on your screen saying he sent you a text message. 

daniel i’ve loved you in every way i can. i loved you selfishly and so i tried loving you distantly, i tried loving you selflessly, i tried loving you correctly but i just want to love you now. if i could do it all over again, i would love you better but i can’t love you more than i do now.

this love came back to me

the wind is chilly as you step foot in hungary and the dress you wore is definitely not meant for it but still, you persevere, finding your way to the red bull motorhome and greeting your father. the last time you attended a grand prix was abu dhabi 2021 and yet it still feels like home. 

“there’s my biggest fan!” max cheered the moment he saw you, immediately wrapping his arms around you. he hasn’t seen you for nearly a year and he missed his best friend. to be fair, no one has seen you for nearly a year, disappearing from the face of the earth after your failed engagement. 

after the night of your engagement party, the guilt ate you alive as you realized that you were exactly the kind of girl you didn’t want to be and so you came clean to james. he screamed and cried and said you could work it out but you were exhausted from lying to yourself. as long as there was daniel, you can never be happy with anyone else and no man deserve to be someone you simply settled with. 

you realized then that you’d lost yourself. you don’t know who you are, don’t know who you’ve become and so you left everything you know, ignoring everyone’s calls as you attempt to find yourself. 

“actually, i’m supporting ferrari,” you joke once max finally lets you go. 

“i’ll disown you!” your father screamed from across the garage, making you and max laugh. 

“have you seen him?” max asked, whispering as though he’s telling you a secret.

you shake your head. coincidentally enough, or ironically, the first gp you attend in a while, daniel is announced to race in. and max, quite frankly, is far too excited for the two of you to see each other again. he’s had enough watching you both be stupid. 

after catching up with max and the mechanics you still know, you find yourself in a cafe with your father, talking about everything and nothing at all. christian watched your every move and you can see the worry in his eyes. he’s part of the people you ran from and you know that it was a cruel thing to do to your father. 

and then he was there and you’re all too familiar with the feeling of your world freezing the moment your eyes meet. he looks better, happier and you’re sure you look different too, hopefully more grown. 

“you’re here,” he says, unbelieving. 

you smile, genuine and free this time. “i’m here.” 

and this time around, you were both tired of fighting it. it’s him. it’s always been him. there was no point denying it. he’s the only person you’ll ever want. you are totally and irrevocably in love with him – the kind of love that’s so intense it feels like an explosion of fireworks throughout your whole body. the love that leaves you sleepless but exhilarated, speechless but poetic, lost but exactly where you're meant to be. 

and in that moment, your lives flashed before your eyes – marriage, children, growing old together. 

daniel ricciardo is the defining moment, the collision of stars that slammed into you so hard it tore your heart in pieces and only he can put it back together again. 

he smiles at you and you smile back. 

hello, love, welcome home.

and finally, finally, it felt like the world isn’t burning anymore. 

taglist: @ricsaigaslec @dragon-of-winterfell @coffeehurricanes @rdtbattinson @privcherry7 @miniminescapist @sebsdaniel @strelcka @writing-about-current-obsessions @amsofftrack @lostinketterdam @bisexual-desi @cialovessirlewis @multilovebot @lovelynikol16 @troybolton-14 @ohthemissery @dr3lover @myescapefromthislife @sunf1owerrq @the6ccnsp6cyy @t-nd-rfoot @navixfr @xjval @gridbunny

@heyoooo1111 @littlefreaksatellite @imxthunderstorms @o0itsjustme0o @bigdickdannyric1 @hellomumitsme @llarue @ironmaiden1313 @magic-s0ul @lynnthinksthings @vainbimbo @3khaos @chimchimjiminie16 @lost-heartbeat @thxtmarvelchick @s4dgir1jaehyun @dreaminofpoison @lewishamiltonstuff @mk15x @angywritesstuff @that-aesthetic-chic @artemis-medusa @capbuckybuchanan @moonvr @softsakusas @closhelby @

#daniel ricciardo x reader #daniel ricciardo #daniel ricciardo angst #daniel ricciardo fluff #daniel ricciardo x you #daniel ricciardo imagine #daniel ricciardo one shot #daniel ricciardo fanfic #formula 1 #formula 1 x reader #f1 #f1 x reader #f1 one shot #f1 fanfic #formula 1 one shot #max verstappen

[wlntrsldler]

very random collections of songs that remind me so deeply of luke castellan and why.

or songs that sparked plot ideas for fics i'll never write.

norman fucking rockwell by lana del rey:

set before his betrayal. situationship luke x reader. you know something is going on with luke, but is so in love with him that you refuse to acknowledge it until it's too late. luke comes to you, begging you to go with him, and you finally see luke for what he's about to become. you recoil from him (luke falls apart at this) and he leaves, defeated.

"what are you doing, luke?" you asked. the cabin was dark, the slivers of moonlight peeking in through the half-opened door where luke stood. "what happened to you?"

luke was standing in front of you, a slash across his abdomen, not deep enough to be critical but deep enough to draw blood. droplets of it stained the cabin floors. his eyes were blown wide, curls tussled in all different directions. he dropped his sword and rushed over to you, grabbing your face in his hands. he placed his forehead against yours, "come with me, y/n. let's leave. he has a plan for us."

the comfort you had with his erratic breaths flashed away in a hurry. you pulled away, eyebrows threaded together in thought, "who is he? luke, you're scaring me."

in his unstable state, he didn't notice your small steps away from him. he was looking behind him constantly as if waiting for a crowd of people to burst through the door behind him. ready and willing to take him away.

"kronos," he said, so casually you thought you'd heard him wrong. he began to explain. his words sounded so rehearsed. so pristine. it was clear that this has been in the works for far too long.

and it was too late.

"luke, no," you replied, shaking your head. you backed into a dresser, hissing at the stabbing pain in your lower back. you were cornered.

he picked up his sword again, taking up a fighting stance unconsciously. you flinch as he walks towards you. he pauses. luke looks down at his hand holding his sword. for a moment you saw a flicker of hesitation in his eyes as he studied himself in the reflection. the light illuminated the side of his face, the scar so prominent, so glaring like a reminder of why he was pushed into becoming this.

he looks up at you again, "i would never hurt you."

"i don't think that's true anymore, luke."

his response was cut off by the sound of panic outside. his time is up. and he failed. somehow this failure, the failure of getting you to join him, to trust him, to love him to the point of betrayal, was the most bitter failure he'd experienced.

luke looked at you, trying to commit the memory of your face in his mind as if you weren't going to remain burned into his soul forever.

18 by 5sos:

luke x aphrodite!reader. you're older than luke by a year and he's so smitten by you. like head over heels! he overhears you and one of your sisters talking about celebrities that you had a crush on but he hears you say "he's too young for me," and he thinks it's about him.

he starts sulking which makes you go ????? because you've been flirting with him for YEARS but he never caught on (pushing the loser!luke agenda here) and you get so fed up when he ignores you that you just confess to him.

now it's his turn to be like ???? because what do you mean you like him??? ends in super cute fluff and endless kisses and obv teasing from the trio. duh.

ode to a conversation stuck in your throat by del water gap

best friends to lovers!!!!! super touchy, feely friendship between luke and the reader. you're always so flustered after cuddling or when he'd kiss your cheek or give you hugs from behind, but he's so oblivious to your reactions.

one day some ares kid starts flirting with you and you decide it's time to move on from luke anyway because it was getting pathetic. so you start hanging out with the ares kid (who's actually so so so kind and sweet; in another life you'd be in love with him but in this one, luke has you completely) you and the ares kid become super good friends, like besties and 4lifers. (ares kid: y/n maybe you shouldn't let him be so touchy with you. you're never gonna get over him if you keep this up.) you begrudgingly agreed. you start pulling away from luke when he gets touchy and this makes luke :(!!!!!

the nail to the coffin was when he saw you in the ares kid's clothes. you were only supposed to wear HIS clothes. he decides enough is enough.

that night he knocks on your cabin door while everyone is out at the campfire (he knows you hate it bc you smell like smoke for days) and he's seeing red because he hates the ares kid (he doesn't actually, he's just super jealous) and he missed you so much (even though it's only been two weeks since this whole thing started).

he walks in and he's already ranting and he's not even looking at you because he's so ???!!!! then he finally looks at you and he sees that you're wearing his shirt and the ares kid's sweater is nowhere to be found. (you only borrowed it during dinner because you spilled ketchup on your shirt) luke smiles for the first time in days.

he tells you to dump the ares kid and you start laughing and explain the whole situation to him. luke is SUPER embarrassed for being so dramatic but it ends in a cute confession and lots of kisses.

#luke castellan #pjo tv show #pjo series #luke castellan x reader #luke castellan x yn #frances song fics #frances writes

[sakurangelll]

Intuitive message: Who is your spirit guide and what does they want to tell you in this New Year 2023?

-these are the first intuitive messages that I channeled for you beautiful souls, to be honest I'm very excited!!! it's a general message so take what resonates and what doesn't just let it go.

choose the image with which you feel most connected/attracted

Pile 1… 2… 3…

pile 1

“You don't have to run if you don't want to, you don't even have to walk if you don't want to either.” the first thing that came to my mind was the sentence above, with that I feel that the universe and your spirit guide wants to tell you not to rush to do the things that you have in mind just because it is the beginning of the year. being honest, you don't have to have an exact purpose, you have to know that it is completely normal to live without a goal and you are free to decide that. you don't have to follow other people's rules, you have to follow your own rules. do not force your soul to do things that your soul does not want.

I feel that a feminine and maternal energy is around you protecting you. i don't feel like it's someone who is on the earthly plane, i feel like it's someone you met in this life but has already passed away and is now your spirit guide or someone from your past life whose role in that life was to be your mother. this woman gives me very italian vibes, she's tall, has red hair, her hair literally looks like gold, she was very protective and loving to you when you were a baby. for some people she can be someone who is part of your life right now. for some reason she physically and energetically reminds me a lot of Aphrodite. i put some photos of the vibes that she gives me:

she wants to tell you to open yourself up to receive love, and with that she does not mean receiving love from a partner (but obviously if you have a partner, she tells you not to doubt how much that person loves you because they love you immensely) feel deserving of the love that comes into your life, she mean that you dare to feel the love of your parents, of your family, your friends, even the love that your pets give you; she simply wants to tell you to open your eyes and see that you are not alone. she wants you to see that you have always been loved. even herself, she is always protecting you, hugging you and giving you love from the spiritual realm.

I feel that you have very poor vision but you are embarrassed to wear glasses. i see that you can be a person who likes psychology, architecture, all kinds of arts especially drawing and painting, i see someone with a notebook making traces/scribbles, you like fire and you love rain and for some reason i am getting that you like to talk to heaven? whether you like to pray or just like to speak your thoughts out loud to yourself or to the universe. i can feel that you feel very alone on the earthly plane but very accompanied on the spiritual plane?

She wants you to give yourself the freedom to be yourself, to see that around you there are people who love you and look after you. she wants you to go at your own step and in your own way. she doesn't want you to feel rushed, it doesn't mean that just because you do things quickly means they're going to work out. she also tells you that in the future everything will be fine. embrace your inner child, do the things you loved to do when you were little. she tells you that you have a beautiful talent in what you do, she is so proud of you, her energy is so sweet, the hugs she gives are so warm. she wants to tell you to get closer to your mother figure, to understand her and forgive her.

The angel numbers of this intuitive message are:

❊ Angel number 909.gives you the power to convert your dreams to reality. this number tells you to slow down. take your time. look before you leap. stop being in a hurry. control your inner impulses.

❊ Angel number 505. the divine realm wants you to prepare your life for some exciting changes. these changes may be related to your love life, family, or even your career. the angels send this number into your life as an assurance that everything will turn out alright.

❊ Angel number 1001. the number 1 represents such qualities as fresh beginnings, intuition, artistic abilities, and leadership. This number inspires you to take on fresh ideas. 1001 means that your angels are close to you. they are ready to help you take on your soul mission.

Things that may resonate with you:

anne with an e . trees . trains . north of italy . claude monet . museums . wet earth . smell of rain . inside my love by minnie riperton . studio ghibli . tarot card “the sun” . 11:11 . yoongi from bts . “answer the phone harry you are not good alone” .

pile two

Ok but your spirit guide presents himself in two forms, as a man of about 22-30 years old and literally as an octopus. i have to say it but this pile 2 is driving me crazyyyy.

I have the great intuition of feeling that your spirit guide is your future lover. i feel that the majority who chose this pile love the sea and that is why he presents himself as an octopus? even if you are afraid of the sea this reading is for you, he tells you to adventure into the unknown. btw he is wealthy. i must also say that he smells very nice.

His energy is very strong, it seems that he has a very strong and intimidating personality but in reality he is very kind and respectful. he loveeee sarcasm. this is very specific but when he presents himself as an octopus he does so as a purple octopus, and can be very funny at times although he prefers to stay "serious" most of the time. your spirit guide gives me the energy of a "cool boss" i mean, he is fun, it's the person with which you know you're always going to get a good advice, he treats you like his best friend, you love spending time with him because he makes you laugh but he's still your boss. he will love teasing you. to be honest i don't think you've met him yet i feel like you might meet him in 2-5 years. the vibes he gives me:

I must tell you that his personality and yours are the same, i could say that he is your soulmate. maybe you really like biology, astronomy. you study law. i can sense that you are very busy because of your work or because you are about to finish school/university. after being so busy with your work you will have too much time to explore the world. use this time to literally travel and explore unknown things and places, this year 2023 is for exploring. you may meet him traveling.

what he wants to tell you in this new year is to get out of your comfort zone. you look like a very brave and risky person, although you always think exactly what you are going to do next, as if you already had everything planned. he wants to tell you to stop wanting to control everything around you, let yourself go like the waves of the sea. be more free, experiencing new things can lead you to find your true self and your true desires. you are very extrovert although new things can be very scary for you. don't worry if you don't get the highest grade in what you do, he tells you not to focus so much on it, be more liberating with yourself.

The angel numbers of this intuitive message are:

♢ Angel number 1251. you will be pleasantly surprised by the many wonderful things your divine guides want you to accomplish. for example, they want you to know that your old projects will come to successful completion. all the same, you should understand that success is not for the faint-hearted. you are being called upon to take risks. dare to move out of your comfort zone to discover what the world has to offer.

♢ Angel number 111. mean that you are ready to start something new. put yourself first and give yourself all the attention you deserve.

Things that may resonate with you:

voyage to atlantis by the isley brothers . adore you by harry styles . ocean . chocolate . taurus . sagittarius . gemini . vintage watch . balance . monopoly . eiffel tower . money . mustache . yacht . one two three go! by belanova . submarine . government hooker by lady gaga .

pile 3

Your spirit guide is a white cat. this cat loves to sleep, he really likes the sun, flowers and grass, he really loves grass. he loves sunsets. he is very calm, he may like to be alone most of the time although he is actually very friendly.

Maybe his name is "cloud" or he likes it when you call him in that way, "cotton" also comes to mind.

It may be your pet right now or he was in your childhood, it might as well be a cat from your neighborhood. i feel very angelic and heavenly energy. the vibes he gives me:

What he wants to tell you in this new year is to give yourself the opportunity to rest. i can see your surprised face or even rolling your eyes haha. you may be making these gestures because you have the perception that you have rested enough, and it may be true but you have only rested in a "physical" way although you have not been able to let your mind rest.

Your job involves math? i can see your hair is messy like you worked all night on something and you only survived with coffee. you are very exhausted and your guide lets you know that it is time to rest, go to nature, make the flowers and the sun your only company. don't feel guilty about resting and taking time for yourself.

The angel numbers of this intuitive message are:

♡ Angel number 1111. when the angel number 1111 appears in your experience it is a reminder from your angels of your innate, divine nature. is a sign from the universe that your self-worth does not come from what others or from your social approval; instead it comes from your inside.

♡ Angel number 202. open your mind and heart and let these messages come to you, decode their meaning, and make changes in your life. look deep down in your soul and find out what you were asking for because the universe has responded.

Things that may resonate with you:

sunflowers . picnic day . dandelion . town . cuff it by beyoncé . “good afternoon my name is russell” . adventure of a lifetime by coldplay . paradise by coldplay . 2010 . counting stars by onerepublic . church . cake by the ocean by dnce . bruno mars . pineapple juice . hammock . barefoot . maroon 5 .

#♡ ࿐ sakurangelll #channeled reading #channeled message #channeled songs #pick a pile #pick an image #choose a pile #spiritguides #new year reading #new year #pac reading #pick a card #future spouse #future lover #intuicion #intuitive messages #psychic #psychic readers #psychic readings #psychic messages #medium

[matchingbatbites]

Part 1

Steve visits Eddie often. He loves being around the other man, loves how kind Eddie is, how funny he is for someone who rules the dead. He seems to love making Steve laugh and is always cracking jokes that send the goddess into giggles.

Honestly, Steve spends more time than he should in the Underworld, but Eddie has so many duties to tend to, it makes more sense for Steve to come to him than the other way around.

It’s nearly a year since he met Eddie that his joy is brought to an end. Steve is summoned to Olympus, is told that his visits are sending the world into chaos.

He didn’t know that traveling to the Underworld would cut the human world off from his magic, that the plants that bloomed with his presence would die off when the connection is severed.

Zeus bans him from visiting Hades, and Steve ignores the smug look on Ares’ face, the pitying looks from Hera and Aphrodite. Not all of the gods are here to witness his humiliation, but there are enough to make him flush with shame, to have him leaving as soon as he's able to.

Aphrodite catches him before he gets too far, her hair and robes both immaculate even as tears stream down her face. “Ares told them where you were going. I tried to stop him, but he’s… bitter. Jealous.”

She takes his hand, holds it between her own. “I can tell that your feelings are true, and that Hades feels the same for you. I wish I could help you, Persephone. You both deserve happiness.”

And like a stroke of lightning, Steve knows what must be done.

He thanks her and leaves Olympus, finds the nearest gate and descends into the Underworld. Cerberus is given three loving pets as Steve passes by, heading to the garden behind Eddie’s home.

The plants have been thriving thanks to Steve’s frequent visits, the flowers are in full bloom and the plants that can fruit are full and heavy with produce. He plucks a pomegranate from its branch, and stares at it as he remembers.

The goddess had found Eddie eating one on his third or fourth visit, and the older had stopped him when he’d gone to grab a few of the seeds for himself.

“You can’t eat anything grown in this realm. You’ll be stuck here if you do.”

Eddie had looked almost sad as he’d said it, and Steve had tipped his head to the side.

“Are you saying you don’t want me around?”

“No! I mean, I would-” Eddie stopped himself, took a breath. “You don’t belong down here. This place is far too dark, too bleak. It doesn’t deserve you.”

And Steve could read between the lines, could hear what Eddie wasn’t saying. He had ignored it at the time, let Eddie be right, but now? Now Steve knows that Eddie is the only one who deserves him.

Call him selfish, but no one has ever treated Steve the way Eddie does, has cared for him so, and he wants nothing more than to spend the rest of his days in the Underworld, side by side with the man he loves.

He tears open the pomegranate as a voice comes from the house.

“Steve? I didn’t realize you were here.”

Steve turns to face him, and Eddie’s eyes drop to Steve’s hands, dripping with red as he holds the fruit in his hands. His face pales and his eyes jump back to Steve’s.

“What are you doing?” he asks, taking a cautious step forward.

“Do you love me?” Steve asks in return. Just seeing Eddie has firmed his decision, and he stands, unwavering as he watches the other man pause at the question.

“I do. More than anything.” Eddie seems nervous, but his voice is steady, and Steve knows he's telling the truth.

“If I asked it, would you let me stay? Let me stand by your side for the rest of time itself?”

Eddie steps closer, now in arms reach. “I would. I would not turn you away, even if it meant my life.”

Steve’s eyes don’t waver from Eddie’s as he scrapes a handful of seeds from the fruit and shoves them in his mouth.

The juice is tart at first, but is followed by a delicious sweetness, something that reminds Steve of Eddie himself, and as he swallows, Steve can feel the shift within him.

Hands grab his face and the fruit falls to the ground as Steve grabs Eddie in return, both meeting in a desperate kiss. Magic flows between them, invisible threads tying them together in a bond so concrete, even the Fates themselves could not cut them.

They pull back after a moment, and Steve’s eyes drop to the red smear across Eddie’s mouth, something that is surely mirrored across his own.

“My wonderful little goddess,” Eddie mutters, awestruck as he places another kiss to Steve’s lips, more tender than the last.

“You're stuck with me now,” the goddess responds, sending them both into giggles, and yeah. It feels good to be selfish.

(Later, Steve will cut a deal with the rest of the gods. He will come back for half a year at a time and tend to his duties, leaving his beloved twin Demeter in charge while he’s gone, in exchange for Zeus’ blessing to have children. Zeus will have no choice but to agree.)

-

Tagging @stardustonpages because they respectfully asked for more <3

#Im not specifying other gods but i did have characters in mind while writing them #The only thing ill confirm is that Robin is Demeter #Dustin is Zagreus and Max is Melinoe #I’m not joking when I say I think they grow them in the garden in the Underworld #They just grow two babies like plants and they’re fucking cherished #They come into the world screaming and covered in dirt #and Hades and Persephone experience love at first sight all over again but different #hades and persephone au #steddie fic #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #steve x eddie #stranger things #joey writes #listen i know i posted the first part yesterday #but yall #the muses have me tight in their grip #ficlet

[halloweeneva]

what if when icarus fell apollo caught him before he hit the sea, arms as warm as the sun, but safer.

what if when ariadne cast the rope across a broken branch aphrodite stepped in with a reminder that this, this is not the kind of love you die for.

what if when achilles was ready for war ares appeared with a smile and said “you win well when you win, but what are you unwilling to lose if you lose?” and achilles knew the answer.

if you could retell the tale wouldn’t you want to tell it kinder? wouldn’t you want to give them peace, even love, where you could?

l.s. | I AM TIRED OF RE-WRITING TRAGEDY WITHOUT CHANGE. LET THEM LIVE. LET THEM LEARN. LET THEM LOVE © 2016

#poetry #poets of tumblr #nimona movie #nimona netflix #nimona 2023 #nimona #ambrosius goldenloin #ballister boldheart #balister blackheart #spoilers #nimona spoilers #it is the nature of stories to evolve #images are CRUNCY because i had to stick them together to get past the image limit

[khaire-traveler]

Okay so a few days ago, I called Lord apollo and Lady aphrodite and I asked them to answer through a candle (I've never talked to them before) so I asked them, can I worship yall, and they weren't even there. They weren't there at all. I told them "please turn the candle off if I cant" and they didn't. Then I told them "give me a sign you're here" and there was nothing. I felt pretty ignored man 😭💀 so I've been looking for a God that fits me a bit better but apparently it's just not for me. I just don't know anymore. Like did they ignore me or whats going on here. I also did it separately. 2 a 3 times. They just didn't do anything.

Hey, Nonny!

It sounds like you're very distressed. I'm not sure if you've got a lot going on outside of this, but typically, when we're really distressed, it makes it much harder to sense energies and communicate with deities. I even find myself struggling with divination when I'm not feeling well mentally or emotionally. So, with that as a start, take time to ground yourself before addressing this problem. Sit with yourself, and focus on your breathing. In, pause, out, pause, etc. Try doing something that relaxes you or brings you comfort. Remind yourself that you're going to be ok.

Alright, next thing: how do you know for certain they weren't there? Personally, I've never met a single person who can confirm - with proof - 100% of the time whether or not a deity is present. I emphasize this because it sounds to me like you're assuming this information. Maybe the candles did not react to what you were saying, and that made you believe they weren't there, but it could be that they didn't want to communicate in that form, were busy, or even that you weren't interpreting the flame correctly (not trying to sound mean about that, but mistakes do happen). I promise that even if they didn't respond, that doesn't automatically mean they hate or dislike you. It doesn't mean they're ignoring you or that they've abandoned you. If you text a friend and they don't reply immediately, it's not because they suddenly don't want to talk to you anymore; they're probably busy, away from their device, eating dinner, or whatever else they may have going on.

My point here being that it seems you're getting stuck in your head with this issue. You seem pretty upset about this, but in all honesty, this kind of thing happens to every worshipper once in awhile. There was a period of time where I couldn't feel Apollo's presence for about a week. I was anxious and afraid that I did something wrong, but after that week, he was there as if nothing had happened. Through divination, I found out that he had been a bit busy and took a step back while he dealt with whatever needed his attention. I promise you that it's probably not as intense as you're thinking it is. I've genuinely even had situations where I've asked for signs and did not receive one, but when I communicated with the deity later, they gave me a direct answer to my inquiry.

Things do go wrong within our practices. We make mistakes, things don't turn out the way we expect them to, a deity seemingly doesn't answer a prayer, etc. But mishaps and disappointments happen in every aspect of life. Nothing is going to be 100% perfect, and that's ok. This applies to deity communication as well. Sometimes we need to try new forms of divination because one we thought was working isn't actually. Maybe you should try switching things up a bit. Cartomancy is a pretty common one I hear about, next to tarot. Try something new, and see if it helps.

I hope this gave you an answer to your situation. I'm sorry if anything came across as harsh; that was definitely not my intention, but it's really difficult to word things correctly over text. Tone is impossible to convey sometimes. Know that you have my support, Nonny, and know that it's going to be ok. If you truly don't feel a connection with Aphrodite or Apollo, you'll find a deity that you can connect better with. Take your time, and remember to ground yourself throughout the process. You're going to be ok, and it'll all work out. Take care, and have a good day/night. 🧡🫂

#anon asks #answered asks

[jflashandclash]

Tales From Mount Othrys

Axel: Into the Lion's Maw IV

Axel had a horrifying realization: if they bottlenecked to get into the Labyrinth, they would bottleneck on the way out. He could imagine their meaningless march into a massacre, Kampe shoving each demigod to their death in an orderly fashion.

Upon stepping into the corridor, Axel was pleased to see that Lucille had been right about remaining calm. Kampe was, contrary to the bottleneck visual, an excellent strategist.

There was a massive corridor inside the entrance. Above them stretched a curved lattice of ornamental windows. Their floral and geometric designs were interspersed with white and green mosaics. Leaves and muck obscured parts of the glass, only allowing a few rays into the vast space. Where the light did break through, dust danced lazily in a snowy haze.

This was beautiful. Maybe eerie? But nothing like that horrors he’d come to associate with the Labyrinth. Alabaster said this was a foolish place to enter, that they’d lose a quarter of their army just getting through the maze. Axel rarely questioned Alabaster’s logic in mythological matters, but, seeing this…          

Several giants stood towards the far end of this massive chamber, presumably to lead their eventual charge. Earlier, Luke said the ground around the Zeus’ fist entrance was weak. If they sent the giants in first, they could likely widen that entrance.

Axel lowered his gaze. They didn’t have metros in Belize and, in their short stay in Los Angeles, Santiago always hired private cars. It took him a heartbeat or two to recognize the indents in the floor as tracks for a train. The monsters and demigods crawling in and out of them looked quite comfortable in the abandoned subway station. Axel just hoped no ghost trains came through to make everyone go splat.

Behind him, demigods coming in had a similar gasp of appreciation and relaxation. Someone mumbled, “Wow… so much better than Matthias’ horror game simulation.”

Lucille’s shoulder brushed his as she released his hand. “It’s lovely, isn’t it?”

Axel huffed out a laugh. “Wish you could show Ethel?”

Lucille gave another weak giggle. She lifted her pilum towards her mouth, the same motion she would normally use to cover it. “Not my ideal romantic outing, but maybe, one—”

“Daughter of Aphrodite,” thundered from the far side of the room. Kampe made the title sound like an insult. Axel almost couldn’t see Kampe amongst all the giants. It was strange seeing them in battle gear. Seeing them made him think of the Triple A Chimera Dance and the horrifying death contraption Matthias had rigged to transport them like weasels in a titan-sized backpack.

Lucille nudged Axel’s shoulder. “Stay close. I need someone I can trust in battle.” The levity vanished. She meant it. Cho, Axel internally swore, was dissidents in Luke’s troops so bad that even Lucille was worried? He swallowed.

Others parted until they were at the lead of the demigods, several lines back from Kampe.

Kampe and the giants were already lumbering forward. The tunnel shook, sending more dust particles cascading into the dim light rays. Their march forward was both deafening and devastatingly wordless. Hundreds of feet of various kind—hooved, scaled, and mammalian—droned into an eerie oppressive din. No one spoke.

This tunnel led to a narrow one with less natural illumination. Well, there was a dim, continuous glimmer ahead of them. The floor seemed to almost… glow. Despite this, various demigods fumbled for lights. The monsters were unbothered by the darkness, but Axel could sense the mounting panic in his fellow soldiers.

His own chest had constricted. This reminded him of the cage matches—

“We’re okay…” Lucille cooed. Axel could see she’d turned to walk backwards, so the demigods would hear her without risking mockery from the monsters.

The fear evaporated. Axel couldn’t be sure if it was Lucille’s charmspeak or… his fingers had reached back to brush the cool metal of the lion helm. He hadn’t consciously meant to touch it, but it felt comforting.

The tunnels snaked, curved, elevated, lowered, and altered from metal to concrete to mud. There were scuffles ahead. Potentially foes that Kampe and the giants extinguished without real resistance.

Despite how Axel hated to admit it, he wished Jack were here. He would have feigned a newscaster, giving everyone live updates in rhyming verse, likely with acoustic or kazoo accompaniment. He could imagine Kampe trying to squash him as he asked her what kind of battle ballad she would want after this victory. If Jack was here, they would have known exactly what was happening ahead when Axel had to grab Lucille’s arm to prevent her from bumping into a Scythian Dracaena.

Axel’s ears perked up and strained forward to hear. There was a disagreement. Kampe hissing, “But, the string says to go this way. This is the most direct route.”

Was the air thinner down here? It was colder. Axel could see puffs of air as it evaporated out of the anonymous metal helmets around him. The demigods’ reverence and obedience to Kampe seemed to ebb with each strained breath in the tunnel. Whatever argument was happening made the demigods apprehensive. He could sense some sort of rising tension in the way they glanced at one another.

“Can you hear them?” Lucille murmured.

Axel parted his lips to answer when someone thundered, “You fool! That could bring the tunnels down upon us!”

And a shriek of pain.

The demigods startled. Axel knew the movement: the nervous shuffle of a herd before it sprinted to panic.

Lucille shifted her pilum into the hand with her shield. She squeezed Axel’s shoulder, or he thought she did through the armor. “Keep everyone calm.”

The light pressure left. Like Lucille was flitting backstage, she slipped amidst the monsters, the plumes of her helmet becoming indistinguishable from horns and tails bobbing in the dull lighting. He could almost envision her pirouetting.

Keep everyone calm.

It’s not like Axel’s little knowledge of Maya magic was fear-based. Or like they mostly knew him from murdering people “for sport.” Or like what Alabaster taught him about the Mist was used to blend into and out of shadows.

Oh, he would be as natural at this as Flynn was at childrearing. He hoped Lucille could settle the dispute quickly.

Whispers of worry wormed their way behind him into a growing, writhing mass. “Hold,” he growled.

They died down. The Dracaena ahead of him jumped.

Yeah, a natural. He couldn’t say something without scaring the monsters, let alone the demigods.

He hoped Lucille realized that directing sword lessons and commanding an army were very different activities. Why did she and Alabaster seem to think he’d be such a natural at it when Pax wouldn’t even listen to him?

Are they different? the helm—was it the helm?—hissed.

No one else reacted. Axel wondered when others could hear the lion’s helm or… or had he just imagined it talking? He reached to feel the cool metal. Whether the lion’s helm or his own thoughts—cho, he was beginning to sound like Jack—it was right: maybe directing sword practice was similar to commanding troops.

And neither one involved freezing up like Pax had pantsed him in front of Aphrodite.

Axel pivoted away from the monsters to face the demigods. “Lucille has gone to confer with Kampe. Take this time to check your equipment. No one wants their first battle tactic to involve tripping on untied shoelaces.”

Nervous laughter. A decrease in tension. Murmurs went from worry to routine: all of these soldiers were used to checking each other’s armor. Axel knew there was comfort in repetition.  

Until one voice spoke up, fluttery and quick.

“The tunnels ahead are too narrow for the monsters to pass. Kampe could start a panic. They’ll trample us.”

Axel didn’t recognize the voice. It was high with a fragile quaver, like Pax when he was acting pathetic to get something from someone.[1]

Everyone stopped checking their armor. The tunnels went quiet. They stared, in unison, to Axel’s side.

A hand clutched his shoulder. This wasn’t the comforting grace of Lucille’s hand, but a shaking, icy pain. Axel swallowed. The speaker had bent his armor by touching him.

Her irises were wide, so wide and such complete discs of blackness; Axel could imagine ink overflowing and dripping down her face. The sclera was more red than white. Dark circles encompassed her eyes. In an insomnia competition between her and Axel, she wouldn’t just win, but make Hypnos beg her to take a break.

Her rags reeked of urine and defecation. Of rot and unattended sweat. Scabs of varied age crusted her arms, neck, and shoulders. With her other hand, she absently picked one open, revealing a glimmer of tainted gold.

Ichor.

“Chris said you could help me,” she whispered. She stood a little taller. “He said you were strong.”

Chris. Chris Rodriguez.

“But you can’t.”

Chris Rodriguez, Matthias and Pax’s close friend.

 “Can you?”

Chris Rodriguez who vanished into the labyrinth.

“You can’t help anyone.”

Chris Rodriguez who went mad.

“My name,” her soprano quavered so violently, it blurred to euphoria, “is Mary.”

-----

Footnote:

[1] It only worked on Jack.

Jack, “MY BABY NEEDS ME!”

-------

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed! And thank you for your patience with me from last weekend! I plan to release next weekend, since I skipped a week, and then resume every-other-week. A job application+school kicked my ass XD Seriously, thank all of you so much for your continued support, likes, and comments. (And artwork, JACE! THE ARTWORK) I appreciate how kind everyone has been as I get my feet back under me and am hoping to respond to asks/tags soon!

#percy jackson and the olympians #fanfiction #traitors of olympus #writing #HOO #PJO #heroes of olypmus #Axel #Mary #suprrrriiissse #she's hhheeerrree #lucille #I'm so tired but I'm freaking DETERMINED to get this out before I work on my essay

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Chapter 3 ~ The Final Task

Once more, Kratos liberated the ship of the undead minions, yet before him lay people - Slaughtered like animals, the victims lay before him... A reminder of his own past. A past, from which he could never escape. His only solace was the sea, endlessly sailing from one harbour, to the next, in service to the Gods of Olympus. All his hopes rested within. For ten years, he was their martyr, their puppet, but the nightmares plaguing the Spartan were growing far more painful with each day, and he was swiftly losing patience.

"Athena!" the warrior cried out into the sky, exiting his cabin in the ship, to speak to the statue of Athena. "For ten years -- I have faithfully served the Gods for ten years! When will you relieve me of these nightmares?" he asked accusatory, angry that no matter his hard work, his reward was never given to him.  "We request one final task of you, Kratos. Your greatest challenge awaits, in Athens, where even now, my brother, Ares, lays siege as we speak. Athens is on the verge of destruction - It is the will of Ares, my great city fall. Zeus has forbidden the Gods from waging war on each other - That is why it must be you, Kratos - Only a mortal trained by a God has a chance at defeating Ares." the statue of Athena spoke, laying down the task for her champion. "And if I am able to do this - To kill a God - Then, the visions... They will end?" his voice softened, having, for the first time in ages, a thread of hope dangling before his very eyes.  "Complete this final task, and the past that consumes you will be forgiven. Have faith, Kratos. The Gods do not forget those who come to their aid." thus, leaving the rotting carcass of the Hydra behind, Kratos set sail once more. His greatest challenge, and freedom from his growing madness, lay before him, in the ancient city of Athens, battling many a foe on his way.

In great haste, Kratos ran up the stairs, on the Way to Athens, and as he reached the top, he noticed a familiar silhouette of a woman with red hair, so long that it almost reached the ground, with various coloured flowers braided into it, and her dress was of the most expensive linen, embroidered with gold and dyed a deep green, just like the forest. Though it was not sheer like Aphrodite's, the lineout of her attractive silhouette could be seen. Still, as the champion stepped next to her, he couldn't help but wonder - What was the Goddess of Nature doing in a place like this? If Ares was the God of War, Katrina might as well be the Goddess of Peace and all things nice. The battlefield was no place for the kind.

"I see you have arrived faster than I expected, Kratos. I pray your journey was not a tiresome one." her voice was sweet like honey, Kratos always thought so, yet now, more than ever, her sadness was obvious. While some revelled in war, she could not stand even the idea of it. "It was fine. What are you doing here? I did not call for you." for some, such a statement would sound hostile and aggressive - But not for her. Instead, she turned to face him, and met him with a small smile. "Must I be summoned, to see you, Kratos? If that would be the case, I would only be seeing you during tragedies, and we both know I am not quite fond of them." though she tried to jest, she was met with a grunt and nothing more. "I... Knew would be here. Because of Athena. I wanted to be here, to ask you, first of all, what had she promised you... And secondly... To give you my aid throughout your journey to defeat this mad man... Though I may not be a warmonger, I still have mine own skills that may be of help." her eyes held kindness and genuine care for him, he noticed, and as soon as she reached out to cup his face, her soft and delicate hands reminded him of a foreign feeling that somehow, could battle how good he felt even with Lysandra. "Athena promised that, should I succeed in defeating Ares, I will have my past forgiven." thought his vision was set and voice harsh, he couldn't help but lean into her warm touch as he spoke. "And do you believe her?" this question, however, put him on alert.  "Athena said that Gods do not forget those who aided them during their times of need." he answered, yet he only saw her smile widen, but definitely not in a good way. "I ask again, Kratos - Do you believe her word?" his brows furrowed, as he gently put his hands over hers to remove them, and he stepped away, pondering over the question. Why would she ask something like this? Why would he question the validity of the words that the Goddess of Wisdom uttered? "I suppose it does not matter, whether you truly believe them, or you just have them as your last bit of hope. I must warn you, however, that Gods always have a way with words... Hence why I asked you such a question. She said your past will be forgiven, not that your visions will be erased. Bear that in mind... If it matters for you." Katrina pointed out, playfully stepping in the opposite direction, her golden sandals making soft noises in contact with the marble ground. "What are you implying?" realising what she meant, the Spartan immediately snapped his focus to her. "I am implying the same thing I have always warned you about - Never trust a God's word, for they are selfish and good for naught." she explained, stealing a look at him past her shoulder, only to hop again, and face him. "Even so, I shall be aiding you during your journey, though bare in mind - What you are trying to accomplish is no easy feat. You must seek the aid of the Oracle, should you wish to succeed." getting a better look at him, she couldn't help but smile. "I see that Poseidon has given you quite the handsome gift. Not to mention, the aid of my dear friend Aphrodite... Though ironic, considering Ares is her lover. They will aid you well." thus, the Goddess turned around and began to casually walk towards the east, where the Oracle's Temple lay. With lingering eyes, Kratos watched the red haired beauty disappear into the horizon, before getting one last good look at the gigantic Ares, who was destroying the city and massacring thousands of people, just because he could. A monster, he was. "God of War... I haven't forgotten you, for what you did that night. This city will be your grave." watching down for one last time the great army that was marching towards the city, the Spartan exited that place and went on his path, towards the Oracle. Though he lost sight of the Goddess, Kratos made his way towards the Town Square of the city, destroying everything that stood in his way, be that friend or foe, monster or human.  For unknown reasons, a woman started screaming at him, telling him to stay away, all that while running from him, as if he cared enough about her existence as to end it on a whim. He was not merciless, and he did not kill the innocent - That was something he learnt, whilst he was the General of his Army - Though he couldn't deny, he did know very well how intimidating he could appear. "I know who you are! I know what you've done, monster!" though he tried to stop her from running away or jumping to weird conclusions, she was deaf to his words. "Stay back! Get away from me!" as he made his way up the stairs, he sighted the woman edging on the balcony rail, looking distraught. "Stay way, don't come near me! Keep away---" what a mindless woman, falling to her death - A meaningless death. She had all chances to survive this siege. Fool. Looking down over the railing, he noticed the red head crouching besides the woman and shaking her head.  "Some people truly have the most ridiculous of deaths." he could hear her speaking, as she grabbed something from the corpse - It was a key, and using a liana to bring it up to the balcony. "It is the key used to unlock a trapdoor. I believe it will allow you access to the rooftops." she continued casually as he grabbed the key, and she began walking away, until she called out for him. "Before I forget - There are a lot of wraiths up there. They may prove to be a nuisance for you, so be very careful." and she disappeared, just as she appeared - Like a mysterious phantasm, yet even so, Kratos was grateful for the advice and little bits of aid she provided.

During his journey, he encountered a cowardly soldier who was desperately hanging on to the lever of a bridge that should have allowed him to pass - He was far too afraid of letting go, in fear of the monsters getting to him... Clearly, he was no Spartan. Spartans fight with no fear of death, even against awful enemies such as the cyclops and minotaur he faced. "Coward." Kratos spat as he turned around to look for another way of crossing the gap left by the retracted bridge. Through many temples and intricate mechanisms deducted, Kratos ended up before a vision of Zeus, who aided him by gifting him the ability of wielding lightning bolts. It was the perfect ranged weapon that would allow him to destroy that man who dared call himself soldier. A single charged bolt was enough to throw that man into the door, destroy it, and cremate him body altogether, allowing the bridge to stay back in place. Finally, no more irritation, nor detours, for the Spartan. 

Now that he was finally above the Town Square, he could see the Oracle before him, only to be swept away by harpies - There must always be some problem that goes in the way of his goals, he grunted to himself, as he went on ahead. Once he reached the Temple's gardens, he saw a Grave Digger, all the way down into a hole that he was digging for... Someone. "Good, my boy, good. Athena has chosen wisely, I knew it was so." as Kratos asked the man of his identity, he was completely ignored. "So you have the blades, the skin as pale as the moon. You are the one indeed, perhaps Athens will survive at that - Hahahaha! But, be careful~! Don't want you dying before I'm done with this grave~!" "A grave?" Kratos asked, stepping towards the old lunatic man. "In the middle of a battle? Who will occupy it, old man?" though there was no sign of malice in his voice, the Spartan was truly curious by this madness.  "You will, my son. Ohh, I've got a lot of digging to do, indeed. All will be revealed in good time, and when all appears to be lost Kratos, I will be there to help. Don't disturb me now, son! I've got my work to do, and you have yours! And precious little time left to do either!" the old man cackled, making the warrior walk away, his mind swimming with questions that may never be answered.

Running all the way to the top of the Temple of the Oracle, killing harpies and legionnaires, Kratos found his way in a large garden filled with intricate machinery, and up there, the woman was being held up in the sky by two flying monsters that let go of her, hoping she would plunge down to the ground, to her demise.  But that was not her fate, for, as she promised, the Goddess of Kindness was there to aid Kratos in this task, and sitting on a beam, Katrina unleashed her vines to catch the Oracle, and summoning a spiraling slide, she landed safely, on the ground, followed by the red head who helped her stand.

"Katrina." Kratos acknowledged the Goddess's presence, as she simply offered a smile that knew much more than it let on. "Carry on with your prophecy, Kratos. Let us see if it shall be of any help" thus, the woman made way for the Oracle, who was able to catch her breath after such an exhilarating experience. "Kratos... As Athena herself has foretold... But you are late, perhaps too late to save Athens - Or is it Athens you have come to save?" the Oracle put his hands on his face, and instead of having his wish granted - His memory of his wrenching past erased - He was forced to recall everything that happened. When she looked into his soul, she saw a beast, as well as a man. Once a captain in the Spartan army, Kratos had begun his command with only fifty soldiers, but soon, his numbers grew to the thousands. His tactics were brutal, but effective. Drunk with power, he was feared by all, except one - His wife was the only one to brave his fury, who could see his limitless ambition, not for Sparta, but for himself. His desire for conquest knew no bounds, but that which he desired would ultimately consume him.  "That is enough." Katrina grabbed the Oracle's hands and pried the woman away from the Spartan. "By the Gods! Why would Athena send one such as you?!" out of anger, the man pushed the Oracle away from him. "Choose your enemies wisely, Kratos. Your brute strength alone will not be enough to destroy Ares. Only one item in the world will allow you to defeat a God... Pandora's Box, which lies far beyond the walls of Athens, hidden by the Gods across the desert to the east. But be warned, Kratos, many have gone in search of Pandora's Box... None have returned." thus, the Oracle opened a door for the man. "Go through the Gates to the Desert, Kratos. There begins the path to Pandora's Box. It is the only way you will defeat Ares." the woman told him. Kartos then looked at the red head, as if to ask if she were to follow him, but by the looks of it, she was nervous. What did Gods have to fear, he wondered, yet his question was left forgotten into his own mind. "I will find you again when you will be in need of my aid, Kratos. Until then, may you have a safe journey. Hold onto this. Should you find yourself in any imminent danger, it will heal all of your wounds, no matter how grievous - But be warned, it is a one-time use item. Use it wisely... Though, I pray you will not find need of it." the woman created a beautiful red flower - An azalea, matching the shade of her crimson hair. "Very well." with a grunt, Kratos took the plant and stored it well, watching the Goddess leave the court. Before he left, however, he heard the Oracle speak once more. "One aids you out of guilt, not out of free will, Ghost of Sparta." she spoke clearly. "What does a Goddess have to be guilty of, when it comes to the life of a mortal?" Kratos asked, the lack of answers gnawing at his mental. "Rather than thinking of your interactions, find the answers from before you were born. All the answers you are seeking lie there, in your past - You must only seek them, and ask the right people, the right questions. Otherwise, you shall be eternally veiled by the unknown." with the Oracle gone, Kratos was left alone, to wander through the edge of the desert, only his plaguing questions being his companion. What grave mistake could the Goddess of Kindness have committed, that in made her feel guilty enough to aid him against the God of War himself? He remembers, back then, when he saved him from Ares, when he was nothing but a child... But what else could have happened?

No matter, he though. Such a question must be asked directly, and until now, many inquires have gathered, all addressed to the mysterious Goddess that warns him about the treachery of her kin, whilst she, herself, is being accused of a crime very much similar. Heeding Athena's warning about the desert, and her advice about Pandora's box, far across the Desert of Lost Souls. He must follow the song of the sirens and be guided to Kronos - Much to his dismay, Kratos was forced to learn that a titan lives - Commanded by Zeus himself to wander the desert endlessly, the temple of Pandora chained to his back, until the swirling sands rip the very flesh from his bones. 

Guided by their melody, Kratos was able to destroy the desert sirens, and thus, the temple gate was opened - Once entered, he found a horn, in which he blew, and the sands split, creating a path for him to step on. On the other side, on a marble platform, awaited another horn - Once blown into, Kronos emerged from the Desert sands - On his back, Pandora's Temple awaited, massive and patient, ready to challenge all who went in search of it's guarded treasure. Once the titan reached him, Kratos jumped and latched onto one of the chains, and jumped on the temple - For three whole days, Kratos climbed the shear walls of the mountain. He knew he would either recover Pandora's Box, or perish inside the cursed temple, never to return to the world of man. 

Once he reached the platform, Kratos crossed the wooden bridge, and aided by the Body Burner, who was once the first mortal to attempt to get Pandora's Box, the Spartan was able to step inside the glorious Temple. Inside, he found a book on a pedestal, on which it was written with blood.

“This Temple was erected in Honour of and at the command of the Mighty Lord Zeus. Only the bravest hero shall solve its puzzles and survive its dangers. One man will receive ultimate power. All others shall meet their doom. ... Pathos Verdes III, Chief Architect and Loyal Subject of the Gods."

Reading this did not scare Kratos, and he simply went on ahead, inside the Rings of Pandora. With great skill and wit, Kratos was able to brave the numerous traps hidden throughout the temple, earning even the power of Artemis, her own Blade, which she used to slay a Titan, and with its help, he won the challenge of Atlas, retrieving the two Shields, of Zeus and of Hades, needed to unlock the door towards the next challenge - Braving saws and spikes, enemies plenty and mechanisms of imminent death, only to reach a trap room that was guarded by sirens, so that no mortal could retrieve the Handle of Atlas, needed for guiding the Statue of Atlas to raise the globe he was holding up, so that Kratos could pull on the lever and make it throw the great stone globe, destroying the doors blocking his way to the outside grave of the Architect's Son.

"My Youngest Son will laugh no more. Death in the service of his father. Death in the service of the Gods. The building of this temple has claimed his life. May you be lucky enough that it not claim yours.  ... Pathos Verdes III, Chief Architect and Loyal Subject of the Gods."

Though his soul ached at the idea of yet another father having to bury his own child, his heart was hardened and closed to the pain of others, and thus, he went to the coffin, pulling away the golden lid, and ripping away the skull of the young son. Once done, the coffin moved aside, revealing a tunnel and a ladder, down which the Spartan went, only to find himself amongst the wrecked bodies of those who had gone in search of Pandora's Box. At once, Kratos knew who was responsible, for this was not the first time he'd seen the ruin Ares and his minions had left in their wake. Kratos had experienced it first hand, years before...

The youngest and boldest Captain in the Spartan army, Kratos had inspired fierce loyalty in his men. It had always been enough to carry them through any battle, until this day. The Barbarians to the East numbered in the thousands, and descended on the Spartans, without mercy. The battle lasted mere hours. The discipline and training of the Spartans did little to step the tide of the merciless Barbarians. The soldiers faced a massacre, while their young captain faced the end of his brilliant career, and his life - But to Kratos, victory was worth any price... Even his soul. "Ares! Destroy my enemies, and my life is yours!" that desperate call for aid will come to haunt Kratos for all his days... 

"By the Gods... What have I become...?" he asked himself, his voice trembling with emotions, same as his heart. Though the man was a seasoned warrior, and had face many a painful memories, he couldn't help but feel immense guilt.  He had done enough awful deeds for a thousand life times... And at once, he thought to himself - Who was he to blame the Goddess for ever wronging him, if, at all, provided he brought the destruction and suffering of so many, while he was only one man?

Sighing, he closed his eyes, and his heart, to the sight before him, and walked past the dead bodies, and back inside one of the primary rooms, from which he found the skull ornament in which he needed to insert the Architect's Son's skull, serving as a key for the activation of a rolling, spikey trap on which Kratos had to walk, to reach a ladder, that will bring him to the Challenge of Poseidon. Once outside, amids the sands swirling in the air, he found a small, yet peculiar dog. Kratos looked at it with great confusion, yet a bit of compassion also - He remembered how much Calliope loved the fox that the Goddess gifted her at her birth - In that instant, however, the puppy started mutating and it was engulfed in exploding flames, transforming into a vicious three-headed monsters. Many other such pups followed, but Kratos slaughtered them before they had the chance to grow, or maim him. 

Inside the temple, he was forced to brave more spike-mechanism and climb more of the temple's wall, finding himself in yet another challenging abode - At the end of it, two cremation doors, sporting low fire, on each side of an inscripted table.

"What the Gods ask, I can not do, even for Pandora's Box. They are Monsters now, but they were once men.  I know I am weak, but I can not be part of this... I have failed Athens..." was written on a piece of paper, stuck on a wall with the help of an arrow, next to a fallen body.

At first, Kratos wasn't entirely sure what he had to do to pass this challenge, nor did he quite get the mournful warning from the paper - Yet once returned at the back of the long room, and rotating a lever, a cage with a living man was put on the ground next to him - And at once, it dawned on him, that for him to carry on to the next challenge, he had to make a sacrifice. A human sacrifice. "Well, what are you waiting for?! Let me out, we can find our way back to Athens!" the man desperately tried to plead to the Spartan before him. "The Gods demand a sacrifice. From all of us." was the only response Kratos gave the man, before he went to his cage, kicking him off the ledge, and onto the floor. The man continued trying to break the cage, begging the Spartan to let him go - But the warrior was too busy killing the minions hindering his journey, to pay this man any mind.

Dragging the cage all the way up the slope, into the sacrifice chamber, Kratos placed the cage in the assigned square, pulling the lever for the door to approach, and amplify the fire's power - Once the deed was done, he could pass further, into a temple filled with water - There, the Trident of Poseidon awaited him, thus, giving him the ability of easily swimming and breathing underwater, where his challenge was to truly begin. Once more, Kratos had to endure countless battles against worthy opponents and intricate machinery, timed to kill, were you not swift and witty enough to avoid them. Smarting his way through the labyrinthine underwater temple, avoiding getting squashed like a meaningless bug, and even getting to swim around a naiad, Kratos was successful,

Almost out of the temple, Kratos reached a gorgeous, tall statue that depicted Amphitrite, Poseidon's faithful wife, which will forever watch over this cursed room - It is said that she alone knows the secret way out - But such a silly thing, as a secret way out, was nothing compared to Kratos's instinct, and he easily found the exit, which lead him, once again, by the Rings of Pandora, and thus, inside the new area, began the Challenge of Hades - Hopefully, last the, for his patience was running thin very quickly.

During this challenge, he couldn't help but think about the Goddess who claimed would be there to aid him, and without realising, he found himself stroking the red flower that she gifted him. Perhaps this journey was far too dangerous, even for a God, let alone one that is focused on peace. Or, like Athena said, there were certain boundaries to how much a God can help him, as to not cross the rule that Zeus himself implanted. No matter. He didn't need help making a blood sacrifice, from the many centaurs offered, nor the blood meter from inside the temple, or even creating light inside the darkest corridor inside the great statue of Hades's own mouth.

"Eight dead ends. One way out. Will you find it before the Flames of Hades consume you? ... Pathos Verdes III, Chief Architect and Loyal Subject of the Gods"

The corridor with falling boulders was, by far, one of the greatest nuisances that the Spartan ever had to endure, but he emerged victorious, as was expected - Still, he'd rather not have to go through any of that again, nor any of the high, beams on which he had to balance himself, only to have numerous other beams, adorned with saws on it - The danger of falling or being cut in half were great, but Kratos prevailed, and found himself back in the first room, where a huge, armoured minotaur broke the door and challenged the Spartan. Though strong, he ended up just like all the other foes that Kratos fought - Dead, impaled on the door from which it emerged, and its hoof created a gap in the wood, that served as entrance for the Spartan.  Walking up the great spiralled stairs, he found himself in a chamber that hosted the tomb of the Architect's second son.  "My second son, my last, has followed his brother to the Elysian Fields. In my heart, I know I must continue the work of the Gods, but they take so much and at last, my soul begins to doubt.  ... Pathos Verdes III"

Not only did Kratos realise that the Architect stopped claiming his loyalty and devotion to the Gods, after his second child died, but the mention of Elysium served as a grim reminder that he will never be reunited with Calliope ever again, after being forced to abandon her, because of that dreadful Persephone. For a second time, Kratos ripped the skull of the second son and descended down the spiral stairs, returning to the minotaur room, only to receive the Souls of Hades, a power gifted to him but the Lord of the Underworld himself. Returning to the Rings of Pandora, down in the underground pool of the statue, Kratos inserted the skull that served as a key, which drained the water - And with his great strength, rotating the rings at his wheel, he was able to connect the two beaming lights, thus, making the statue emerge. In his head, he heard Athena congratulate, but also warn him, that once he ascends to the upper levels of the temple, he would not be able to return without the box.

As Kratos rose through the massive temple, constructed to guard Pandora's Box, he realised it was a monument, not only to the Gods of Olympus, but to the Madness of the Warned who designed it. He conquered the lower floors of the temple, but what lay in wait above would test even Kratos. Once the elevator stopped, he stepped on the Statue's hands, which led him to another bridge, where he encountered a satyr - Agile, swift and deadly, yet not a challenge for the Spartan. Killing the enemy offered free pass of the bridge towards the cave, until he encountered a harpy, ripping apart a man's dead body and eating from it. Kratos had been in service to the Gods long enough to know the harpy had been sent as a warning - A reminder from his former master of the decision that had cost Kratos everything. Had it been THAT long since he almost met his end at the hands of the Barbarians? That long, since he traded everything to save himself?  He still remembers his own cry of Ares's name, and how the sky split apart, as the God of War stepped through. Descending from Olympus, he saw the makings of a God, in a mere mortal. Ares would save Kratos. He would turn him into the perfect warrior, his servant on Earth. Only a simple pledge of loyalty was required. "My life is yours, Ares. From this day, I shall carry forth your will." his vow haunts him still, to this day, and all those dreaded words which sealed his fate. As promised, Ares rescued his new disciple, bringing forth the power of a God, destroying those who would slaughter Kratos and his men....  As for Kratos, no mere sword and shield would befit the newest servant of the God of War. The Blades of Chaos, forged in the Foulest depths of Hades - Once attached, the chains remained so - Chained and seared to the flesh, a part of the barous bargain, a permanent reminder of Kratos's pledge... In return - Ultimate power. The rage of Ares exploded from within, but soon, he would learn the true cost of such power - A cost too high, even for Kratos to pay.

"Wretched beast! I know who it is you serve! Return to your master! Tell the God of War I am his no longer! Tell him he is not safe while I walk the Earth! I WILL find Pandora's Box! And I WILL use it to see him tremble and fall before me!" Kratos threatened the harpy, which hissed and flew away in a scurry.

Thus, the Spartan was able to approach the cliffs which he had to traverse, with another warning from the architect himself. "The Cliffs of Madness lie before you. In my grieving, I fear I may have designated a maze with no true way out. If I am right, may the cruel, uncaring Gods show you the way. ... Pathos Verdes III, ... Once loyal subject of the Gods."

So the Architect truly lost all his faith in the Gods, it seemed, and once more, his mind flew towards Katrina, and her warning - Never trust a God's words, for they are selfish. They never truly care for mortals, but for their own benefit only. It seems that the Architect found that out the hard way. Though the man claimed his grieving made him create an unsolvable maze, his craft spoke for itself - As Kratos founds the necklaces of Hera and Aphrodite, starting the mechanism of the two parallel moving bridges, he was glad he needn't figure out too many further challenges.

The path before Kratos was clear, but still, the memories came rushing back, as familiar and permanent as the blades chained to his wrists. Memories of what he'd done in the name of Ares. Memories of how he'd become a servant under the God of War. A beast, his humanity robbed and replaced only with the will to murder... 

No one was safe - Entire armies fell before Kratos and his soldiers that followed him on his path for never ending conquest, all in the name of his master... Those who offered resistance of any kind were dealt with quickly. "They built this temple to offer prayers to Athena! This entire village stands as an affront to Lord Ares! Burn this village - Burn it to the ground!" he remembers himself ordering his people, as he threw a torch in the dry grass, which lit on fire that spread throughout the place. Emboldened by the God of War, Kratos's army was ruthless, feared throughout the world for their brutality. All that mattered was conquest in the name of Kratos, their great Leader, who had become near invincible. He feared nothing... But there was something about THIS temple.... Something... Forbidden. All his instincts told him that he should never cross its threshold, never step inside. 

"Beware, Kratos, the dangers in the temple are greater than you know." the old woman that served as the oracle of the village warned the Spartan general. But the village oracle's warnings fell on deaf ears. His ambition would not be denied. All who opposed him would die. He remembers, however, a foreign memory, that seemed to have been lost in the midst of all the chaos that his mind was wrapped into. A sweet voice, calling out his name. An embrace from behind, the feeling of rope coiled around his wrists and ankles, trying to drag him away from the temple. Someone begging him to stop. All of them were forgotten, for none was able to hinder the disciple of Ares. Now, he recalls - The Goddess was there, and she tried to stop him from entering the temple. She tried to warn him, and with that little strength of hers, she tried to forcefully keep him away, but it was all in vain, for the man was stronger than her and her Godly powers.

She had not been there, just because he called out her name, once he escaped his trance - She had been there, trying to stop him from murdering his own family, yet she failed miserable... Just like everything else in his life was unable to stop his rage after being blinded by Ares. Katrina's powers could heal the living... But she could not revive the dead. In that instant, as his own blades became soaked in the blood of his wife and child, the glory he had reveled in, turned into horror - The image of his two final victims would stay with him for all his days. Falling to his knees and mourning, Kratos knew he could no longer serve his master - He had but one calling now, the death of Ares. He would murder the God of War. "You may have your revenge, Kratos... But nothing will bring them back in your arms." the Goddess held him tightly to her chest, mimicking the way she held him as a child, when Deimos was taken from him. He must have forced himself to forget some of the details from back then, the memories to painful to be fully remembered, and comfort only brought him even greater distress.

"Ares... You WILL die for what you did that night." Kratos found himself speaking out loud, a threat that will serve as motivation in the journey left to the Architect's Chambers, where he found a table and a dead man laying in a pool of his own blood on top of it, and the skeletal remains sitting in a chair opposite of it. As the Spartan read the not pinned with a dagger, he realised, this was the Architect himself.

"...Tried to stop me... She said the Gods were fools... That I was a fool... She may be right... But they came to ME... They believed in me... She had to be stopped... But now, they are gone... My entire family... I can not go on." the note was left unsigned. The Spartan searched for the sketches pinned on the walls, that displayed the many traps that filled Pandora's Temple. At the bottom of the papers, the name of Pathos Verdes III was inked. For the last skull key, Kratos ripped the head of the Architect's wife, which opened the last door towards a new area, and hopefully, the last one.

As so it was, and Kratos reached the room where Pandora's Box was laying, surrounded by three statues - One of Hades, one of Zeus, and one of Poseidon, as if they were guarding the globe that was protecting the mystical Box. As he touched the box, he felt pain and energy surging through his body, as Athena's spirit started speaking to him. "Kratos, your quest is at an end. You are the first mortal to ever reach Pandora's Box. There is still time to save Athens. You must bring the box back to my city and use it to kill Ares. Return to Athens, Kratos. Return and save my city!" and thus, she stopped speaking, but another began speaking into his head - A voice much sweeter, yet more concerned. "Kratos, you must be careful on your way back! Ares knows of your whereabouts and of your success! He intends to kill you before you open the box!" Katrina warned him in great haste, but once Kratos tried calling out her name, she did not answer. He dearly hoped she did not get in any trouble with Ares for aiding him. Still, with the elevator bringing him back to the main entrance of the temple, Kratos began dragging the heavy, mysterious box towards the outside.

After a thousand years, Pandora's Box was, at last, freed of its confines. Kratos had found the means to destroy the God of War. Far away in Athens, just as the Goddess of Kindness foretold, Ares knew Kratos had succeeded in his Quest. "So, little Spartan, you've recovered Zeus's precious box. But you will not live long enough to see it opened. I will see to that." Ares growled menacingly, picking up a sharp, broken pillar and throwing in the trajectory of Kratos's body. "Goodbye, Spartan. You will rot in the depths of Hates for all eternity." the sharp pillar impaled and tore apart the Spartan's whole torso, and was rendered incapacitated and pinned, on the wall behind. As life began to leave Kratos, his thoughts returned to that faithful night. Even in death, the memories... The visions... Would not end... For how could he forget, spilling the blood of his own family? A cruel trick orchestrated by the God of War. Once again, he remembered the feeling of having his whole body drenched in their warm blood, and the light body of his wife, as he held her in his arms. He remembers the tears that he felt, soaking his cheeks and falling onto her face - Image mirrored by the Goddess who was holding and mourning his own child... His dear Calliope...

And worse, he remembers the words of smug victory that Ares addressed him at that time - Getting rid of his family was the goal all along - With nothing to hold him back, he was supposed to become the perfect mindless puppet... But no more. Kratos was to be used by no one anymore. He was done doing the bidding of the Gods, for it brought him only misfortune. As the flames consumed the temple, and his own family's ashes were bound to his skin, he realised that his true enemy was the very God of War that saved his life - The same one that had taken everything away from him.

With that curse, all would know him for the beast he had become - His skin white with the ash of Lysandra and Calliope - The Ghost of Sparta had been born... In the end... In death... He had failed.  As the minions of Ares claimed Pandora's Box, Kratos's life faded, and his cursed soul was cast into the viles of Hades... Or so he thought. As his mind was slipping away into unconsciousness, he instinctively reached out for the red azalea flower gifted to him, and held it tightly into his fist. He couldn't understand how it worked, but he began slowly feeling his strength returning to him, and though his vision was blurry, he was able to throw away the pillar impaling him, so that he could regenerate wholly. In his proximity, he saw something akin to a portal, and without any idea where it would lead, he trusted that it could be some of Katrina's, or any of her allies's aid, and thus, he stepped inside. On the other side, his vision grew clear - Looking around, he was on a small pedestal of what looked like the top of a bone, and much underneath him, a blood river was drowning the shrieking, falling people. He must be in the underworld, he thought - But he did not despair, for something was in front of him, and giving him hope.

The familiar liana, filled with colourful flowers, was dangling before his very eyes - And thus, he was blind and deaf to everything around him, but the thought that he had to climb out of there. He could feel the vine trembling in his hands as it tried to drag him upwards - He could only chuckle at the image that played in his hand, of the Goddess struggling to pull on the liana and get him out, how very comical. 

After a long climb, he finally reached the human realm - And he was back at in Athens, when he once met the grave digger. Panting, on the ground, was the red haired Goddess who looked absolutely exhausted. That could serve as a Greek Comedy with great success. "Ah, Kratos, and not a moment too soon. I only finished digging just a moment ago." the old man spoke smugly. "Who are you?" the Spartan asked, in complete bewilderment. "Ahhh, now that is an interesting question... But for now, you must hurry. Athens needs you." the old man instructed the warrior. "But how did you know I--" he easily got cut off, as the old man nodded his head towards the riding Goddess fixing her hair.  "Athena isn't the only God keeping watch on you, Spartan. Complete your task, Kratos, and the Gods will forgive your sins!" though the old man vanished miraculously before his very eyes, Katrina, did not. "I went to Hestia and she was able to create that portal. Hestia is on great terms with everyone, so she was able to trick Hades into allowing the other end of the portal to bring you to the end of the underworld, where the grave digger made it possible to let out the liana to bring you up." the Goddess explained briefly, nodding for the man to follow her towards the Oracle's temple. "Your ways are mysterious and difficult to comprehend." Kratos spoke, following the woman. "Why would Hestia aid me?" "I did not say she aided YOU. I said she aided ME. That, in itself, is a huge difference, first and foremost. You truly must learn to understand the intricate ways in which Gods speak, otherwise, you may easily find yourself tricked by their faux promises. Again." the woman's warning only proved to be more confusing for the Spartan. "Who are you implying is trying to cheat me?" the man asked, stopping the woman in her tracks. "Everyone - And I mean it. Do not trust anyone that is a God, or close to that. Do not trust anyone. Your instinct is honed well - If you feel someone is truthful, so be it - But otherwise, do not trust anyone... They all have their own interest at heart, not yours. They are all selfish and want to profit off of you." her face was dead set and grave. "And do you count yourself in or out of that category?" the man asked, almost as a test of faith. "In, of course. The Gods want you to do their dirty work, Athena is using you to save her city, but she didn't promise you to erase your past, but only that it will be forgiven - That, in itself, will never make any difference for you. Ares robbed you of your free will and manipulated you with that orchestrated cheap trick. They are all the same. Me as well." she admitted, looking away, her face mellow. "I do not think my sin that grave, though others persecute me for it as if I am some kind of unforgivable criminal, when all I wanted was to spend some time with you. In my selfishness to achieve mine own happiness, I have destroyed another's - Not intentionally, of course - But the consequences are still the same, and I have greatly harmed the person I wanted to protect more than my own life." she admitted for the first time in her life, and for that, Kratos stepped back, his eyes wide from surprise. "The Oracle said you aid me out of guilt, not out of will." his hands found their way on her shoulders, bring her attention back to him. "The Oracle is both right and wrong. Do not take everything people say at heart's value - It is not the journey, but the end, that matters. I must live with the consequences of mine own actions, and those led to you having a life full of misfortune, and for that, I feel guilty. But do not think for one second that I am doing this for anyone else but you. It is because of my kin that so many have to suffer, and that angers me greatly - And it is because of my selfishness, that you have to suffer. It is bittersweet, staying around you, but it is my decision, from guilt AND from pleasure. Now, I advise you stop thinking so much about meaningless things, when a whole city is being destroyed by the man you seek revenge on." the red haired lady took away the hands from her shoulders and went on ahead, waiting for him to follow. "And when are you going to disclose what exactly did you do, that you feel so guilty of?" the question went on deaf ears for the whole way to the temple, until they found the Oracle, dead, on the bloody ground. "Live through this battle, and I will confess to you secrets and prophecies that you are not aware of. The cruelty of Gods knows no bounds, yet there are other, higher, primordial beings that toy around even with the revered and almighty ones. You have lived through so much - Do not get discouraged. This is your chance to get revenge on the man that wronged you so. Go ahead and show him who is the real God of War. Get the box and use and try to take the Blade of the Gods to defeat him." with one last warning that served as an encouragement also, Katrina offered him another healing flower, before sending him off to fight Ares.

Kratos had traversed the Desert of Lost Souls, bested the deadly traps of Pandora's Temple and escaped Hades himself - There was but one task left. "Zeus! Do you see now what your son can do?! You cast your favour on Athena, but her city lies in ruins before me! And now, even Pandora's Box is mine! Would you have me use it against Olympus itself?!" in that instant, Katrina called out Ares's name, which made him turn around to look down at her small form, next to the Spartan. "Ahh, Kratos? Returned even from the underworld. Lucky you had my lovesick sister to aid you." Ares turned away after the patronising comment, so that he could berate his father more. "Is this the best you can do, Father? You send a broken mortal and a flower girl to defeat ME?! THE God of War?!" in his infamy, Ares did not realise the spear that Katrina created from a blade of grass was sent towards the chains from which he was holding the Box - And once broken, the box fell on the ground, ready for Kratos to open.

After thousands of years, Pandora's Box was finally opened - The power of the Gods unleashed. Kratos grew in size, to much the God, and was ready to face him in a trial by combat. "You are STILL just a mortal. Every bit as weak as the day you begged me to save your life. That stupid sister of mine will not be able to protect you again, as when you were a child." Ares taunted the Spartan. "I am not the same man you found that day! The monster you've created has returned - To kill you." Kratos took out the Blades of Chaos, ready to fight the man with the mane of flames. "You have NO idea what a true monster is, Kratos!" Ares growled, as he grew some weird appendix from his back, making him look like a spider. "Your final lesson is at hand! Prepare to join your family, Spartan!" thus, the clash between the two greatest forces began. It was a valiant battle between two worthy opponents, but no matter how much the God of War wanted to claim to be the strongest, he was no match for the strength, tactics, wit and discipline that Kratos, the former Leader of the most feared Spartan Army, wielded against him.

Once he realised that he was losing, Ares retorted to a cheap trick - Opening a portal and sending Kratos away, to another place only he knew of. Katrina could only watch with confusion and terror - What could she do? How could she help the Spartan? She could not even feel the vitality of the flower she gifted him. "Do you see, sister? No matter how much you try to protect the ones you love, they will ALWAYS perish before your very eyes!" Ares mocked the Goddess with his laughed, as she could only lay down, in defeat. "I do not know what you have done to him, brother - But I assure you, Kratos WILL return, and he WILL end your pathetic life!" the woman cried out to him, allowing herself to grow in form to match him, and readying her weapon.  "Father has forbidden the Gods from fighting one another - Do you dare go against his orders, little fox?" Ares was positively amused by the sight of the Goddess of Kindness, holding her weapon. "I do not fight for Athena, nor am I going to defeat you - Of that, I am sure - But if I can keep you from destroying the city and killing more mortals until Kratos returns, then I have fulfilled my duty as the patron Goddess that watched over the people we govern over." she spoke getting in a defensive stance, awaiting her brother's attack.

Kratos, on the other hand, could still hear Ares speaking inside of his head - He was going to destroy his spirit - Destroy HIM. He was thus sent in front of the cursed Temple, where he would try to make amends and undo the horrors he had done. The nightmares that have haunted Kratos for the past 10 years have now taken full amend substance. His past stood before him. Though his heart was aching, he got the strength to kick open the door, and before his very eyes, he could see his wife trying to protect his child, and the fox was before them, snarling, ready to attack.  - They were terrified, yet upon seeing him, he could see a speck of relief. 

"Kratos, what's happening?! Where are we?!" Lysandra asked her husband.  "By the Gods... Can this be real?!" he was almost speechless, but as he uttered those words, small, dark portals opened, and from them, copies of his own body were unleashed, and they were all attempting to attack his family. Once he heard his dear Calliope call out to him 'Daddy!' in such a fearful voice, he took out his weapons and was ready to defend his family, as he should have, from the very beginning. "Ares! There is NOTHING you can put in my way to stop me! I WILL save my family!" he cried out, as he began to kill countless fake iterations of himself, only to occasionally embrace his family, hoping it would sooth their fears - He WILL protect them! The feeling of having his wife and child in his arms once again was a bliss, though it was short lasting.

Kratos had done the impossible - He had saved his family. "Kratos! Please, take us home!" Lysandra reached out her arm towards her husband, pleading to him.  "Do you see, God of War?! You took them once, but you'll NEVER have them again!" Kratos shouted towards the skies, taunting Ares.  "You cannot save them, Kratos. You gave them up in your quest for ultimate power. There is a price to pay for everything you gain." he could hear his arch nemesis speak to him. "Not that price. I did not want them to die." with great pain, Kratos closed his eyes and hung his head. He was in agony. "NO PRICE IS TOO HIGH FOR WHAT I OFFERED YOU!" Ares growled at the Spartan weakened by his emotions. "And you rejected me - A GOD!" the Blades began working on their own, suspending him painfully, digging into his flesh, drawing blood - “Now, you will have NO power, NO magic! ALL that is left for you, is DEATH!" Aries sneered, as the Blades left Kratos's flesh, and they slew his family once again, before his very eyes.

As Ares rose his fiery longsword up, Kratos appeared once again in the mortal world, kneeling on the ground and weaponless. It looked as though Ares was going to decapitate him, so just as he was ready to swing his sword of injustice, Katrina leapt between him and the mortal, and used her weapon to parry the attack. "FOOL! Who do you think you are, silly woman?! Fighting for a broken man, still lingering over his dead family! He will never have a place in his heart for you! You are fighting a losing battle!" he kept taunting the woman, but she did not budge. "It matters little to me whether Kratos loves me, as long as he is alive. I only wish for his well-being, and if I have to die to save him, then at least I know I pissed on the prophecy of those stupid Sisters of Fate!" she sneered back at him, getting dangerously close to his face. "What a stupid flower girl... No wonder Aphrodite is so fond of you - You would both forsake anything you have, for the sake of the one you love. Pathetic! You will never achieve any fame, nor greatness this way!" Ares could see he was easily overpowering his sister, and he continued to press on. "Conquest matters little to me. Don't blame me for having different ideals!" in that instant, Kratos opened his eyes - He could feel something going up his hand and emanating a warm, pulsating aura - Looking down, he noticed he was holding the red azalea, once again. Katrina managed to wake him up from his trance - And by the looks of it, she was struggling greatly to hold Ares from killing him. "By the... Gods..." the Spartan muttered, rolling away towards the great Blade of the Gods, just as she had instructed him previously. The battle was not over. Now, he could defeat the God of War. "I still have allies in Olympus, Ares - And now, you will see how strong I am." putting his hand on the woman's shoulder and gently pulling her behind him, Kratos was ready for the end battle, once and for all.

Ares's defeat came after a short time as Kratos bested him as his greatest skill - War fighting. "Remember, Kratos - It was I who saved you, in your time of greatest need!" he tried to bargain, to have his life saved. "I haven't forgotten, Ares. I remember how you saved me!" Kratos was seething with anger, as he approached the fallen God. "That night... I was trying to make you a great warrior...!" Ares pleaded, but it was for naught. "You succeeded." was the Spartan's only answer, as he drove the sword in the God's chest - And he fell pathetically in the water, and died, looking akin to a ragdoll.

Kratos had truly done the impossible - A mortal, defeating a God - Ares was no more, and with his death, a great explosion befell the ocean. The city had been saved and would thrive again. The same could not be said for Kratos, for as he sought to rebuild his soul with the help of the Gods - The truth was revealed to him. "Athena - Rid me of the memories that haunt me still." he pleaded - Begged, even, the statue of the Goddess, with pitiful hopelessness. "You have done well, Kratos. Though we mourn the death of our brother, the Gods are in debt to you. We promised your sins would be forgiven, and so they are - But we never promised to take away your nightmares. No man, no God, could ever forget the terrible deeds you have done." came Athena's cruel answer.

In the end, the truth was just as Katrina had warned him - His sins are forgiven, yes, but that helps him with naught. No Gods promised his nightmares would disappear, so he cannot accuse them of betrayal.  Knowing the visions of his past would never leave him, Kratos made his way to the bluffs, overlooking the Aegean Sea. "The Gods of Olympus have abandoned me. Now... There is no hope..." and Kratos cast himself from the highest mountain in all of Greece. After ten years of suffering - Ten years of endless nightmares - It would finally come to an end.

Death would be his escape from madness...

The fate of Kratos was not as it seemed. The Gods had other plans. Broughten off like a feather, Kratos found himself risen from the sea and placed on solid earth, back from which he leapt. The vines that were tightly coiled around him were bringing him no discomfort, except for the notion that he was not yet dead, and the madness will never end. Back on the cliff, he was embraced tightly by the red haired Goddess who was trembling in his arms, while another spoke to him - That lying statue of Athena was haunting him even now, not allowing him his bittersweet end.

"You will not die this day, Kratos. The Gods cannot allow one who has performed such service to perish by his own hand. Ares's tactics were brutal. His path of destruction had to be stopped - But now, there is an empty throne in Olympus, and a new God of War is needed. Take these stairs, Kratos. They lead to your ultimate reward." Athena spoke to him once more. Sighing, realising there was no way to end this life, he put his hands on the Goddess's shoulders, and gently pushed her back, before raising her chin to look at him - And he realised, she had been crying.  "What is it that ails you so?" he asked, noticing the quivering lip. "I simply cannot imagine a life without you. Ask no further. Let us proceed to your throne... Though it is not the reward you wished for..." taking his hand, the woman guided him up the stairs that lead to the peak of Mount Olympus, and inside, there awaited his Godly Throne - His rightful place upon it. Katrina smiled, looking at the frowning man sitting on the throne. "It suits you better than it did him, Kratos. Though it is not your desired end... I hope you will not go out of your way to seek your own demise again. I meant what I said earlier. I may hate seeing you suffer - But I am a God, and Gods are selfish, and before anything, I wish for you to live, and for me, to see you that way." she confessed to him in that honeyed voice of hers, and Kratos realised that even if he doesn't yet have all of his answers, with his new status and powers as a God, he can much easier seek them. "Fear no further, for I will not die any time soon, Katrina." reassuring her, he extended his arm towards her and grabbed ahold of her hand, and with a tug, he pulled her onto his lap. Caressing her flawless face with one hand, while the other found itself putting the azalea into her hair, he couldn't help but admire the gentle beauty before him. "You have aided me plenty all this time, Katrina. Now, aid your people and help them restore their life. I know it is what you want. Once you are done, come back to me, and you can tell me all there is about those prophecies from long ago." Kratos suggested, earning the most enchanting, lovely smile that he had ever seen from a woman. "Very well, Kratos. Wait for me - And for as long as you will have me, I will be by your side, guiding you, and lighting up the road for you." she comforted the man, who brought her into an embrace, and stole a sweet kiss from her. "I will be waiting for as long as you need." for the first time in so long, the new God of War found himself with a genuine smile on his face - Though he had other plans in his mind, and a lot of goals to achieve - For now, he was content, having the beautiful Goddess that could caress and sooth his soul so easily.

And from that point forward, throughout the rest of time, whenever men road forth to battle - For good cause, or evil - They did so under the watchful eye of the man who had defeated a God.

They were driven forward by Kratos, the mortal who had become the new God of War.

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#god of war imagine #god of war x reader #god of war #kratos imagine #kratos x reader #kratos #deicide #deicide chapter 3

[moonrose-mortem]

Since everyone is loving my TOH analysis posts, I think it's time to do one for the best girl witch: Willow Park.💚

✨From the start she became my favorite, everything except the hair color and ears, she looked like me when I was a kid. We even have similar personalities and a love for plants. When we are introduced to her she was sweet and shy, as well as showing kindness to the smallest flower that she stepped on. And when she got mad after Amity bullied her I'm not going to lie I had an "oh shit" moment that later on had me thinking that she was going to be a strong ally for Luz someday. Characters in anime and cartoons that show that level of power early on are usually going to be an important one, villain or hero. Like nature, Willow is a force to be reckoned with. Her own namesake resonates with the same power willow trees have had for thousands of years.🌿

🔮From my own studying of magic and witchcraft for years, I looked up anything and everything magical about my favorite trees and plants, and even before that I liked willow trees (kid me thought they were pretty because they "had hair" and I loved Grandmother Willow from the movie "Pocahontas".) Willow trees have long been associated with witches, ghosts, the moon, water, magic, music, love, and goddesses like Hecate, Persephone, Demeter, Artemis and Cerridwen. So when the episode "Hootys Moving Hassle" came out and they did the moonlight conjuring, I knew it wasn't a coincidence. It is also a tree that stands for healing of emotional wounds and the heart. 💚

🌱Willow has shown time and again that the process of healing from past wounds isn't steady, but the results are worth it. From there she found out her own strength and goals that she went for. It's also important to not forget the bad as much as the fond memories we have. (I almost forgot that Willow loved books as much as Amity as well as being covered in band aids all the time. Great episode to rewatch again.)🍄

🐝On to her palismen: Clover. I thought this was the perfect creature for Willow being both a pollinator and a fierce little buggy. Bees also have been considered sacred to goddesses of nature, Rhea, Freya, and Aphrodite, and is a symbol of the feminine energy. "Tender yet tenacious" is the best description the Bat Queen gave for both Willow and Clover. Bees are also an animal that symbolizes hard work, reaching for your goals and dreams, strength, unity, and most importantly family and community. Bees are a reminder to enjoy the sweetness of life and rhythms of nature.☀️

Her goal as a witch was "to be strong and wise to protect her loved ones and that if anyone gets in her way they feel the sting of defeat." Willow Park is the definition of strong and sweet, a great example that you can balance a female characters' best qualities. I'm so excited to see where Dana Terrace takes this character for the finale. Of course, I am excited for the possibility of her and Hunter. And yet most have forgotten that she is a great character outside of getting shipped with characters like her former bullies(really?) If anything her relationship with Hunter is meant to enhance her character and not overshadow it. Future analysis of their relationship will be made so I look forward to writing that.😊

#the owl house #toh #willow park #willow toh #toh willow #toh character analysis #long post #toh spoilers #toh huntlow #huntlow #willow park toh

[bigfan-fanfic]

The House of Love (Aphrodite!Reader x Percy Jackson)

Requested by @operabooknerd68 for  Percy Jackson and his Aphrodite cabin boyfriend just start dating after the bitter break up of Percy and Annabeth and they both started college at NYU. M! Reader is worried that the reputation of the Aphrodite cabin will make Percy assume things about him, because of his sisters, and he has little to no dating and sexual experience and doesn’t wanna disappoint Percy.

Changed it up a little - Percy and Annabeth don't need to have a bitter break up; I feel like they'd be mature enough after a few years of peace to decide mutually they'd be better as friends.

"Hey there, Y/N. I could use a sparring partner, if you don't mind. I, uh, barely trained all year cause school was really beating me up."

Who could have predicted that these would be the words that sparked your relationship with the love of your life.

You had known Percy a while now, since before his relationship with Annabeth began at the end of the Titan War, and since their breakup a few years after the Giant War. Some of your siblings had been disappointed that their separation was mostly-drama-free, but you reminded them that Aphrodite was the goddess of love, not of soap operas.

You spent a lot of time with Percy that summer. He was almost 21, you a year younger, and with so many demigods living to adulthood, he had started a movement to create a Grecian analogue to New Rome, so that other demigods could live in peace, to start families and lives.

It was in the celebration after the ceremony in which Percy broke the ground on the site of the future city of Arcadia that, while walking through the strawberry fields, he kissed you.

"I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that without ask-!" Percy begins to apologize, but tumbles backwards with you in his arms, as you kiss him hard to continue the outburst of love.

"That was, uh... my first kiss with a guy." Percy chuckles, holding you tight as you both stargaze.

"That was my first kiss with, well... anyone." you sheepishly reply.

"Oh. Well, now I feel even worse about ambushing you like that."

"It's okay. I'm, uh... glad it was you."

Percy smirks. "Can I be your second kiss too?"

"You can be as many of my kisses as you like."

It's a great first night, but once the party atmosphere and the ambrosia wears off, you're terrified.

I mean, Percy's dated Annabeth. The legendary Architect of Olympus. How do you compete with that?

You've never even gone on a date before, let alone... other things.

What if he's disappointed?

Worse, what if he's scornful?

You know he won't be, but it's hard to shake these fears, so you end up retreating whenever you see him, until Percy ends up knocking on the Aphrodite Cabin door.

"Y/N, I know you're in there!"

You step out, appreciative of the concerned glances from your younger brothers and sisters. "Uh, hi, Percy."

Percy frowns, more out of worry for you than annoyance. "Look, I thought we had a nice time last night, you know? If I did something wrong, please let me know. I never want to hurt you."

"I just... I got scared."

"Scared? W-why? I'm not scary, am I?"

You laugh a little. "No, it's not... look, Percy, I'm not... there's a bit of a... Aphrodite kids have a reputation."

Percy raises an eyebrow. "Silena Beauregard nipped that in the bud way back when she became counselor for the Aphrodite cabin. And Piper cut out that 'rite of passage' crap entirely."

"Percy, you were my first kiss! Ever! And I'm still, like... you know, a virgin. I just... I don't want to disappoint you."

Percy laughs. It's a sweet and clear sound, and it's accompanied by a warm hug. "Y/N, do you really think that'd be an issue? That I'm some kind of sex god or something?"

You glance down, your face heating up.

He snickers. "Look, Y/N, I've kissed a total of two girls in my life, not counting my mom and my baby sister, and Annabeth and I never really got around to the sex thing, you know? We just didn't feel the need to do anything more than be around each other. So, yeah, I'm a virgin too. It's not something you need to be ashamed of or worried about. And hey, even if I had had tons of wild and crazy college sex, I'd still want to be with you, okay? Isn't having feelings for each other more important than sex, anyway?"

You kiss him for that and you can feel him smile against your lips.

"So what do you say, Y/N? Wanna be my boyfriend?"

You grin. "Only if you'll be my fourth, fifth, sixth, and so on kisses."

"You got yourself a deal."

#male reader #percy jackson x male reader #percy jackson x reader #pjo headcanons #headcanons

[ash-pile]

I found a TikTok that had the idea of a Greek god poly, and I loved the idea so I decided to expand on it a little more! Here’s just some ideas and feel free to add more!

(Also this is purely for fun, I don’t mean to be rude about anyone’s beliefs or opinions)

Hades + Minthe + Persephone

- Perse made mint for minthe instead of making her into it.

- Minthe works with the two to maintain control of the underworld and to be a traveler outside of the underworld.

- Perse being stuck there was an accident but now hades keeps pomegranate orchards for her.

- Perse and hades dote on minthe relentlessly with gems or flowers.

- Minthe makes them all fashionable and pretty and regularly makes tea from the gardens that perse keeps/brings exotic teas with her from home.

- Hades still has to be the kind of the underworld but they help him manage and remind him to take breaks from working.

- Hades and minthe visit perse when she’s in the mortal realm, and have a cabin they stay in surrounded by vineyards, it’s actually Dionysus’ but he lends it to them when they want to see her.

- Demeter isn’t a bad mom, but she can be a lot so they totally understand when perse needs a whole week to just sleep or be alone at the beginning of winter

- They have many dogs, mostly rescues from the mortal realm that perse brought to live forever with them, and they are the most soiled rotten dogs to ever exist.

- Perse has the largest greenhouse possible in the underworld, and it’s protected by loyal warriors (who don’t really need to be there but they insist). She keeps all kinds of plants in there and never allows anyone to mess with her plants. But sometimes a new pot or two and some small exotic plants show up as gifts, mainly from her lovers but some are sent by other gods. She has a whole planter of mint set to the side, both because she made it for minthe so it’s special and because it would take over everything else and be incredibly stubborn about letting go (just like minthe)

Hephaestus + Aphrodite + Ares

- Met in a bar when Hephaestus took Aphrodite out on a date night, he stepped in when ares started a fight and managed to stop the fight with an invention.

- Aphrodite started with affairs with ares but Hephaestus learned and talked to the two. Ares wasn’t happy but talked Aphrodite into leaving him. But then Ares heard from Hera about a couples counselor and learned about polys and now they are in a poly together where both guys are with Aphrodite happily and they can be friends.

- Hephaestus likes to make weapons and gadgets for ares to test out plus he can see how well they handle the stress of being used relentlessly by the war god.

- Ares actually learns to see past the superficial parts of Hephaestus and begins to defend him against the other gods.

- Aphrodite rambles about little romances blooming in the mortal realm and the two boys roll their eyes but listen intently cause they love their girl.

- One time she and Hephaestus trapped ares and she gave him a makeover. He couldn’t get the lipstick off for days

- Speaking of makeup, Hephaestus developed new products that Aphrodite could give to mortals she favored as a gift of beauty (and that’s how mortals got makeup stuff)

- Aphrodite taught Hephaestus to be more confident with his works and with the other gods and she’s helping him to be more outgoing.

- Hephaestus rubber-ducks at either of the two when they are around each other, and carries around a notebook gifted to him from Aphrodite that never runs out of pages so he can jot down ideas all the time.

#greek mythology #greek pantheon #i wrote this instead of sleeping #writeblr #writing #polyamory #polycule

[withlovefromolympus]

❣️ for Ares and Apollo?

two bros, chillin in a hot tub, less than 5 feet apart cuz they are gay

Who is the little spoon?

Neither. They sleep facing one another wrapped in each other’s arms :)

Who sings in the shower?

As god of music, Apollo. However, ares gives him a list of his favorite songs, so those are the ones apollo likes to sing the most

Who plays pranks on the other?

Apollo is a HUGE prankster, but ares has a just as huge competitive streak so he tries to get him back. (His pranks are a little more violent. It’s okay though because as god of healing, Apollo can’t be get hurt too much at once)

Who is the one who listens to pop music?

Apollo for sureee. However, ares knows a lot of the music from being around Aphrodite, so he’ll mutter along with the words

Who brings the other a random cup of joe?

Apollo gets up early to be god of the sun, but Ares always keeps apollos favorite coffee grounds in stock, so that kind of counts

Who picks the cheesy movies for date night?

Apollo and Ares do not watch cheesy movies. They watch war movies, or musicals

Who is more likely to feed the other in public?

Apollo will try, Ares will resist, Ares will lose, Apollo will say “see? I told you it’d be good”, and the cycle repeats

Who gives the other random little compliments?

Ares loves giving compliments. Everyone thinks he’s such a narcissist, but he’s actually so good at pointing out where others are being great. Part of war is telling your men what they’re doing right in training, so ares is familiar with giving compliments

Who is always stealing food from the other’s plate?

Only Apollo, Aphrodite, and Athena are allowed to touch Ares’ plates of food. If anyone else would try that shit, they would have no hands.

Who is more likely to let the other borrow their car? 

They drive with one another enough that they don’t really ever have to borrow each other’s vehicles. Apollo rides on the back of Ares’ motorcycle and Ares likes to hitch rides with Apollo since he’s like a racecar driver

Who makes the list before they go grocery shopping?

Both are so chaotic with shopping. They live off beef jerky, Monster energy drinks and Redbull, cheerios, Nutella, frozen pizzas, and instant noodles. Neither could identify celery, so Hera had to step in and show them where the produce section of the store is

Who makes sure the other takes their meds when sick?

See, apollo never has to be reminded to take meds because he invented medicine, but Ares has to remind him to take care of himself otherwise. “Aphrodite tells me to do” *checks notes* “self care”, so, uh, yeah. Do that.”

Who watches sports and has to teach the other the rules?

Both are pretty big sports fans, but for different sports. Apollo likes hockey and basketball and baseball, and Ares likes football, soccer, and surprisingly, golf. “What? It’s pretty cool” he’ll argue. So they explain them to one another :)

Who pulls the other to their feet for a dance in the living room?

Ares is a good dancer because of Aphrodite, and Apollo is always dancing as god of music, so again, it’s pretty even. They don’t tell people they dance. But everyone knows. And lets them think they don’t.

Who has to keep reminding the other to hurry or they’ll be late?

Ares has to remind apollo. Apollo always has 30 things going on at once. Between the two of them, Ares is quite good at being on time — it’s the drill sergeant in him.

Who is the one most likely to get a tattoo with the other’s name?

Ares has an arrow in flames on his spine; apollo has a sword dripping with blood on his left arm

#ares #apollo #greek mythology #greek gods #ares x apollo

[nymphadorathetemplar]

WIP Challenge: dcmk deimos diamond 👀

kiwili~~ you already have private access to this in my drabbles doc hehe

or is it that you love this piece so much you need it to be shared on my blog publicly haha

(please feel free to ask for another wip if you would like kiwili)

anyways like i mentioned with #18, me and kiwili sure love seeing Kaito and angsty thoughts

WIP #30: Deimos Diamond

[ Deimos as in the god of dread & terror, one of the sons of Ares and Aphrodite, brother of Phobos (god of fear & panic; phobia) ]

While with Saguru, KID encounters a pink diamond called the Deimos Diamond. A gem that produces an entity that manifests into one’s greatest fear.

Another KID has appeared.

No it’s not KID, that’s not Kuroba. Although it looks like him, that cold look in its eyes and that sharp smirk is almost sadistic rather than smug or playful. It sends a chill down his spine.

The detective glances over at the real KID who seems to have frozen in place at the sight of his look alike.

“Oh~” The ‘other KID’ drawls in a perfect imitation of Kuroba’s KID voice, “Did you think you could get off easy with your annoying phobia?” Its pitch rises slightly to be more mocking, “Thought I’d turn into some kind of f-f-f-fish?” It gave a low chuckle, “Well looks like your luck has failed you this time.” It takes a small but intimidating step towards KID, “Too bad for you, I specialise in torture and I’m not just going to let you off with a heart attack.”

It takes another step but KID is still frozen in place, face blank of emotion, except for his deep blue eyes that are filled with fear.

“I may not instantly make you lose your cool, but I’m just as terrifying. You still fear the thought of me.” Another step. “I keep you awake at night, eating at you from the inside with all the frustration and anxiety.” Another step. “I may not be your biggest fear, but I don’t need to be when I am your deepest fear.” Another step. “And you despise me for it because you’re so helpless to do anything about it. I am all you can rely on for help.”

No. This was wrong. Saguru’s mind was begging him to run between that thing and KID. But his body was frozen. The terror that thing was radiating kept him as frozen as KID. He could only continue to watch as it now stood directly in front of KID.

It gave a wide grin of sadistic pleasure, “And you hate yourself for it.”

It raised its arms, spreading them like it was proud, and Saguru wouldn’t be surprised if it was.

“I’m the one who ripped your dear dad away from you.”

He could see KID’s shallow breathing hitch.

“With your dad gone, your mom can’t stand to be around you since you’re just a constant reminder of the dear husband she lost. That’s why she’s never home, to be anywhere but with you.”

Saguru was faintly aware of his hands starting to hurt from how hard he was clenching them, helpless to do anything as the monster dropped its arms, giving KID a look of disdain like he was just some trash.

“Not even that old man really cares for you. Where was he when your dad died? You had to catch him yourself when he finally had the guts to try to do something about your dad’s murderers. To him you’re just a young and strong able body to take revenge for his dear master’s death. Without me, he would never even bother with you.”

Saguru wanted to scream and started to tremble with not only fear but also anger at seeing that monster raise a hand to lightly caress KID’s face.

“The two people who might have cared for you, well you’ve been doing a wonderful job of pushing them away. And you’ve been doing it in such a nice and slow way, getting them more and more use to your distance, soon they won’t even realise if you disappeared. Why, they won’t even bother to care if they finally do.”

Saguru’s heart broke as tears began to slip down KID’s face. The monster mimicked Kuroba's boastful KID laugh but twisted with a terrible tone of wicked delight as it swiped at a tear with a single finger, taking an amused look at it and flicked the tear away like dust.

“And if they ever found out about me...well because of me you’ve been such an annoyance to your only real friend and such a hardship for the only adult who was there for you when your parents left you alone.”

It slowly leaned in to whisper into KID’s ear, but with the silence of the room and his senses heightened from fear, it wasn’t hard to make out.

“And most of all you’re afraid of me killing you too.”

It leaned back to give KID another sadistic grin, with a disapproving shake of one finger, “Oh but not by the murderers who got your dad, no that would be too easy, to just be shot or burned or plummet from a great height. Sure it might hurt but that’s just physical, you’re use to worse pain. And it would be over so soon, an escape from the hell I give you.”

It switched to a saccharine tone dripping with faux sympathy, “What you fear is me killing Kuroba Kaito. You have to lie to your best friend. And now you almost never see her anymore out of guilt, for using her and her dad. You’re slowly acting less and less like yourself. Becoming more consumed by me and the search for Pandora in a desperate attempt to catch the people who killed your dad because you so desperately wish that doing so might make you feel something, anything other than the pain.”

It gave a condescending shake of the head as it shrugged, “And you’re not even doing a good job at pretending like you haven’t changed, even that annoying girl has noticed.”

Aoko’s voice suddenly rang out in her annoyed tone, “Geez! You’re being weird Bakaito, what’s wrong with you lately!”

It made KID subtly wince as he grit his teeth.

“Soon there will be no Kuroba Kaito left, you only have me.”

KID finally managed to say something, giving a desperate shout, “NO! I’m not KID! You’re wrong! I will never be KID!” The now trembling boy took a step back, “I just pretend to be KID to stop more people from getting hurt. It's just an act. I am not KID. I am Kuroba Kaito.”

Normally Saguru would have laughed at having finally heard a confession from KID that he was, as the detective suspected, Kuroba Kaito. But he couldn't possibly take pride in it now, not in this situation. He never wanted to find out like this. It was wrong and all he wanted was to be rid of this evil thing that stood before them.

#dcmk #magic kaito #wip challenge #wip #fic #writing #kaitou kid #kuroba kaito #hakuba saguru #ntt post

[fountainsofcyprus]

30 Days of Devotion ( Aphrodite ) - Day 7

Day 7 - Names and Epithets Since I do not perceive Aphrodite and Venus as being the same goddess, I’m not really aware of any other names for her. I will then only focus on epithets.

Aphrodite is the holder of many epithets, way too many for me to name them all. I’ll go over a few of my favorites, some I use a lot in my worship, and an UPG one I made. Do note that I will give a lot of my UPG meanings for them, so don’t take this as a source or as if I was trying to say that this is how they were used in ancient times.

Κυπρογενεια ( Kyprogeneia ) - “Cyprus-born”, referring to her place of birth. There’s a few variations of this, including Kyprogenes and Kyprogenêa, but I find Kyprogeneia to be a more aesthetically pleasing spelling, so it’s usually the one I go for.

Αφρογενεια ( Aphrogeneia ) - “Foam-born”. Similar to the one above, in that it also has other spellings ( Aphrogenês ), but I find this one more aesthetically pleasing.

Φιλομειδης ( Philomeidês ) - “Laughter-loving”. I just find this one really beautiful. I like to imagine her rejoicing in the joy of humans, and I feel that a bout of laughter so great your stomach hurts is one of the best blessings we can get from her.

Ουρανια ( Ourania ) - “Heavenly, Divine Love”. I haven’t really had the chance of using this one, but I do plan on doing so when the opportunity comes by. It was a very common one throughout Greece, including Arkadia, which I base parts of my worship on, so I do consider it important.

Πανδημος ( Pandemos ) - “Love Common to All People”. I very much love this epithet, as I can think of many times in my life where I could associate the love I felt for some people to this version of her. I consider the love I have and receive from my close ones as gifts from Aphrodite Pandemos. It was also very common throughout Greece, and is kind of a sister epithet to Ourania. Therefore, it was also used in Arkadia, which heightens its importance to me.

Κατασκοπια ( Katascopia ) - “Spying, peeping”. This one I like mostly because it reminds me of that one step in love, especially when you’re younger, when you get a crush on someone and tell your friends, so everytime the person comes by, you’re all in a little group, whispering and giggling to each other. It’s not the weird kind of spying, it’s the innocent, shy kind of first teenage loves. In another way, it’s also the loving glances you give a lover while they’re not looking and you’re simply admiring them.

Μελαινις ( Melainis ) - “Black ( of Night )”. I consider this one important to my worship because of its use in Arkadia. It’s one I want to explore some more.

Συμμαχια ( Symmakhia ) - “Ally ( in Love )”. Like the one above, it’s mostly important to my worship because of its Arkadian use. I do have a bit more of a personal meaning for this one though, since a big part of the relationship I’ve been building with Aphrodite has been linked with my own romances.

Ερυκινη ( Erykine ) - “Of Eryx”. This one refers to the city and mountain Eryx ( Modern day Erice ), in Sicily. It’s one I need to give more research, but again, it gained importance for me through its Arkadian use. It’s the same for Παφια ( Paphia, “Of Paphos, Cyprus ), though they, obviously refer to different places.

Αρεια ( Areia ) - “Warlike, of Ares”. I’ve only started to use this one very recently. It has been a very personal one, linked to anger, so I don't really want to share much more than that. I do very much enjoy it as a part of her, though, as you could probably tell from the past posts.

Λιμενια ( Lemenia ) - “Of the Harbor”. This one is mostly relevant to me because of one of the places I go to to feel her presence, even though I’m aware that this refers to her as a protector of harbors.

Μαχανιτις ( Makhanitis ) - “Deviser, Contriver”. This reminds me of her in the Gigantomachy, my favorite myth of hers, as I’ve mentioned before. It was also used in Arkadia.

And finally, my UPG epithet: Ταλαίπωρια ( Talaiporia ) - “Of the Heartbroken”. It’s a fairly personal one to me, but I imagine that it can be easy enough to understand the meaning of. I felt like this was an aspect of her that is not ever really talked about, but it’s one that has been quite relevant to my own personal worship. I see it as both representing heartbreak in the romantic sense and in the sadness sense.

#aphrodite deity #aphrodite worship #aphrodite #30 days of deity devotion #30 days of devotion #hellenic polytheism #hellenic devotion #hellenic worship

[infairvorona]

wanderlust exerpt

scene between Ava and Damien

“I found someone.” Damien said, leaning against the footboard of my bed.  He says it so nonchalantly, like he’s talking about the weather. I found someone. I think it’s supposed to rain today.

I try to keep my straight face as I ask, voice tempting to quaver, “Oh, really? That’s great.” My heart feeds like a pound of lead, ruminating in my chest. I’m sure it will turn to storm clouds later and I’ll be face down on my mattress or the floor, soaking it with my ill-begotten tears.

“Yes,” he continues, and I swear I see blush on his cheeks, “she’s quite lovely. Sort of a little thing.” He gives me a half glance. Was that a smile I just saw? “She has these soft curls and waves, her laugh is like a songbird, and her eyes are like the color of a forgotten sea. I’m lucky to have her.”

“That…that sounds nice. She sounds pretty.” I’m fighting back too many tears right now. Why would I care? Why do I care? Because he’s lovely. My brain chatters. Because he’s kind, he’s loving, he cares. There are so few who truly care.

He smiles, a little one but I can feel so much emotion behind it. When he turns to me, his eyes are filled with something else. Like honey, like sweetness, like love. 

“I haven’t officially asked her yet. Trying to work up the nerve.” He runs a hand through his dark curls. “Would you like to see her?”

I have to swallow hard before I answer; the lump in my throat threatens to render me useless. “Yes.” I say. No, I think. Please, I don’t want to see someone who sounds so lovely.

Damien takes my hand and sweeps me towards my vanity. He pulls out the chair for me and I can feel my heart drumming in my ears. 

I sit, somewhat obediently. 

He turns his attention towards the mirror on my wall. It’s covered in seashells, some kind of hubristic offering to Aphrodite. I am gorgeous, I am loved. My mantras never seemed to truly mean anything.

“So,” he says, placing his cool hands on my shoulders, “she’s got those lovely ocean eyes. They remind me of the coastline back home,” he brushes his fingers on my temples, just next to my eyes, “her laugh is like songbirds so early in the morning, like bright chimes in the wind,” he smiles as his hands brush my pale curls from my forehead, “and her curls are lovely. She once told me her color was natural. The cause of early graying; or I suppose, early white hairs. She had told me so many times how she wished she could change it but I could never work up the courage to tell her how I felt.” He tucks a stray hair behind my ear and smiles. “Eyes like the ocean, a laugh like a song, and hair as bright as moonlight.” 

Oh. is all I can think. “Oh.” is all I can say.

Damiens smile wavers for a moment, suddenly unsure. 

“Is that too much?” he asks, his voice soft and sheepish. “I could take it back.”

“No.” I say, with a little too much force. You don’t know what it means to me. 

He smiles and I can’t help but smile back.

“Why me?” I ask.

“Why not?” he replies.

He wraps his arm around my shoulders, snaking it like Float. He presses a gentle kiss to my head and I think I might’ve exploded had I not had more restraint. He keeps his lips there, amongst my pale curls until he pulls back, finally.

The look in his eyes is unexplainable. Longing, love, want, and need. No one has felt that way, not for me. 

His smile is crooked as he says, “Your hair smells like strawberries.”

I reach behind me and pull him down. I give him a kiss on the cheek, my mind running wild. 

As I pull back, I look at his deep brown eyes, like chocolate, like caramelized honey. 

“You smell like mint.” 

He gives me another smile and leads me to the bed. I fall in step beside him as we lay down. He wraps my sheets around us both and we hold each other. 

Longing, love, want, and need. That is all I feel as he holds me in his strong arms. And that is all I want, for as long as I may have it.

#ava rice #ava sophia rice #damien popov #damien thomas popov #romance #romantic #writing #sacre writes #fiction #wanderlust #fantasy

[piscesseer]

Symbol: The Two Fishes Mantra: I Believe Element: Water Ruling Planet: Neptune (Modern), Jupiter Modality: Mutable House: Twelfth  Crystals: Amethyst Anatomy: Feet, Lymphatics, Liver Flower: Water Lily Tarot Card: The Moon

Dreamy • Intuitive • Sensitive Mystical • Empathetic • Kind • Compassionate

Pisces season in the western tropical zodiac begins February 19. In the Northern Hemisphere the winter chill is beginning to give in to the warmth of spring and the days are continuing to increase in light. There’s a seasonal sense that growth and renewal are coming back to the world, mirroring the inward creative imagining of the Pisces. This is the twelfth and final sign of the zodiac. It’s a mutable sign that holds adaptability and liminality. Pisces element is water, also contributing to its fluidity and adaptive nature.

Pisces is the Latin word for fish. In Greek myth, the constellation represents the koi fish that saved Aphrodite and her son Eros from the sea monster Typhon. As a reward, the two fish were placed in the heavens to shine forever. The symbol of Two Fish are swimming in the opposite direction, symbolizing the duality of its depth, that Pisces are often living in reality and their dream world.

Pisces is associated with The Moon tarot card. The card often appears when we are feeling overwhelmed with emotions or confused about what choice to make next. It carries that illusionary quality of dreams, delusions and ideals. It reminds us that when we’re lost in a storm of feeling, we need to ground ourselves.

Traditionally, Pisces is ruled by Jupiter because this sign transcends creativity and emotional knowledge like no other. Pisces allows life to be experienced at the deepest sentimental levels. With Jupiter’s influence of faith, belief and higher purpose, Pisces is associated with healing and help. In modern astrology, Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the planet of mystery. The inspiring and innovative themes surrounding the discovery of the planet lend to the connection with idealistic, imaginative Pisces.

Pisces are often selfless, spiritual and focused on their inner journey. Intuition and inner awareness of Pisces is often highly evolved. Many people associate Pisces with dreams and secrets since those with this sign are comfortable in an illusory world.

Pisces place great weight on their feelings. They often feel their own burdens and joys as much as they do other’s. They often retain a sense of innocence and see the good in others, giving the benefit of the doubt. They are naturally sympathetic and compassionate.

Sometimes Pisces tend to glamorize suffering. While tender and sympathetic, they may take some comments to heart and get hurt easily. It may be difficult for them to set boundaries and build structure in their lives and relationships. They may be susceptible to getting lost in escapism and self-medication. Pisces derive energy from their self-pity. They come back stronger, with a spring in their step, ready to face the world again, just as trusting and compassionate as they were before.

The voice of empathy, idealism and mysticism comes forward in Pisces. They can easily find a purpose in exploring the unknown, being of service and using creative expression. Those with Pisces prominent in their chart tend to bring a soulful, healing energy to their relationships and communities. With one foot in their world and one in the next, they are here to remind us of what we hold sacred and what sparks the divine within.

How can this affect you?

When Aquarius season comes to an end, you’ve likely been thinking yourself in circles, exhausted from exerting your brain power! Pisces season will remind you that it’s also important to feel. Our energies will shift toward empathy, intuition and spirituality. 

You may begin to feel your emotions, even to a heightened degree. Expect to become acquainted with your deeper emotions and experience them. Compassion and generosity may come easier, making you a little sweeter than usual.

You may be more drawn to things with power that you can’t rationally explain, from tarot to your dreams. Your intuition may be heightened.

The aura of magic and emotion might make it difficult to plan and negotiate solid matters. Don’t worry if your ambitions go to the back of your mind. All this openness and vulnerability might make you veer into passivity and lack of control. But when you’re receptive to the universe’s plans, you can rest assured that you’re still on your path. There is no shame in going with the flow! Just don’t forget that you can make decisions and own your power.

Take this time to listen to songs that make you feel too much or watch movies that make you cry. If you need to release, make sure you journal about your feelings, call a friend to tell them how much you love them and give yourself the gift of a good cry! Pisces season is a great reminder that emotions and compassion don’t make you weak. The belief in something bigger than yourself isn’t silly. All these are tools that you can use to get in touch with yourself and become stronger than ever.

If you’re looking to do spellwork or rituals this Pisces Season, use the water element to enhance your tools or spells. Consider doing a bath or shower ritual. 

It’s a good time to meditate and focus on what comes to you naturally. It can be a wonderful time to tap into your mystical powers and receive messages from the other side with tarot or your dreams.

Find out where you have Pisces in your chart and see where you can become more intuitive or emotional.

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