you are my favorite what-if, my best i'll never know

Part 2- A Walk (and Talk) in the Park (Colin POV)

Part 2 of Colin's POV of my 5+1 OC Story

Masterlist

Warnings: None

Word Count: 617

Series Summary: After his heartbreak over Marina Thompson and a wonderful trip abroad, Colin Bridgerton is finally starting to get his feet back under him. And when a new Lady debuts on the marriage market, he may be ready to give love another chance.

Summary: On a morning trip to the park, Colin starts to tell Cassidy about his time abroad

Colin called on Cassidy every morning for the next three days. They regaled each other with stories of their childhoods, and she asked countless questions about his siblings and family. Colin had expected to be terrified- it was so similar to those fateful days with Marina- but he wasn’t. He couldn't be, he was so distracted by Cassidy. The way she lit up a room and talked even faster than he did, the way her dreams seemed to fill up physical space as she spoke of them. 

The Granvilles joined the Bridgertons for a day in Hyde Park four days after the ball where Colin and Cassidy met. The morning went on fairly traditionally. Lucy and Violet chaperoned a promenade (much to Colin’s chagrin, he could feel his mother scheming) where they spoke of an upcoming ball and a piece Cassidy was learning on the piano. It was when the four of them sat down to tea that it went a little differently. The others were scattered around the park. Cassidy claimed her cup and sat facing Colin. He looked at her curiously. 

“Yes?”

“I feel as though I have been doing all of the talking lately.” She observed. “I want you to take a turn. Tell me about Greece?” He needed no more prompting. He began recounting everything he could about his trip. The sights, the experiences, the food. She listened with rapture, which only encouraged him. She even asked questions. 

“You went to Rome, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see any of the ruins?”

“I did. There is nothing like it. We have our own fair share of history here, but there is something profound about standing in the crumbling remains of the beginning of modern society as we know it.” He took a sip of his tea. “Did you know, in ancient Greece, there were restaurants where you could drive by in a chariot and get food to eat in it?”

“Now I know you are lying.”

“I certainly am not!” He insisted. “We actually ended the day in the old city. I got to see the sunset from there, it was…” He shook his head. He really had no words for that moment. “It was incredible. The sunset was more red and orange that night, and I was standing on this hill, and it felt as though… there was no one else in the world. It was just me and thousands of years of history.” Cassidy’s eyes were wide as she stared at him, her tea cold and forgotten at her side.

“I wish I could have been there.” She breathed. “One day, I will go.”

“I’ve no doubt of it,” Colin said quietly. After a heavy silence, he cleared his throat. “The center of the city was really something else. There were these stones in the street that-”

“Oh, good heavens Colin. No one cares about the color of the stones in whatever city you ate that one unbelievable bruschetta in. You really need to find a single subject of conversation that is not your travels.” Eloise scoffed, having returned to the tent for her book. Colin couldn't stop his face from falling at his sister’s ridicule. 

“No!” Cassidy insisted, her voice improperly loud. She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. But… I want to hear.” She said, smiling softly. Colin looked at her thankfully. Eloise scoffed again and left the tent. Cassidy glanced at the women, who were decidedly not listening to them, then looked back at Colin. “I can tell you really loved it there, didn’t you?” Colin nodded.

“Yes. It was… it was just what I needed.” Cassidy nodded and reached out to place her hand over his. 

“Tell me more.” 

I Believe In Love [Maxwell Lord x F!Reader] - Nine: Peace

Summary: When you find your calling to leave Themyscira, you venture out to the World of Man with intentions of helping and healing a very specific person’s relationship with his son. You’ve heard his voice before, but only in dreams. You’ve felt his pain and anguish and you’ve never been able to relate to anything more. But things don’t come easy for you, and they certainly don’t come easy for him either. [This series contains spoilers for WW84 and is my interpretation of what happens after the movie ends].

Warnings: tooth-rotting fluff, mention of child neglect and abuse

Word count: 3300>

Masterlist 

Previous - Chapter Nine - Next [coming soon!]

It was a long walk back to the holiday resort, just you and Maxwell. Your mind wandered off with worry about Diana. You knew she was strong enough to handle her own, but there was clearly something very personal between her and Barbara, and you knew better than anyone else how easy it was to let your feelings get in the way of your goals. You and Maxwell held hands the entire journey, although neither of you spoke that much. There was still a lot going on. Yes, you had destroyed the dreamstone, the God of Lies was no more, but you still had to fight for Alistair. You still had to win this custody battle. The war wasn’t over yet. Maxwell hadn’t stopped thinking about it either. Since arriving in Greece, you’d hardly spoken about the case and it left him wondering what exactly your plan was. He was resting his fate with his son on you. No lawyers… just an Amazonian goddess who swore her duty is to bring together families. He had no reason not to trust you, but this was a big deal so of course he was worried.

And of course there was one thought you both had in common. It wasn’t as much of a concern, but neither of you felt like you could bring it up yet. You had destroyed the dreamstone using the power of love. Your love. The love you had for each other. Maxwell didn’t know what it meant to love someone romantically until he met you. He thought he loved Julianna, but that was short lived. He always saw himself as someone undeserving of those feelings. But now he was certain. Maxwell Lord was completely and utterly in love with you.

By the time you’d reached the quaint little village you were staying in, your stomach rumbled. Maxwell paused and looked at you before bursting into laughter. You felt your cheeks heat up and you placed a hand over your stomach, slightly embarrassed.

“Hungry?” he laughed and you nodded sheepishly. “Why don’t we- uh- get dinner?” he suggested with a casual but nervous shrug of his shoulders.

You smiled. “Dinner sounds good.”

Maxwell nodded his head and led you down a cobblestone path. At the end of the long path, was the hotel resort, but along the way was plenty of quaint little shops, boutiques, and restaurants serving native cuisine. It must have been around nine at night, so the other shops were shut, but the restaurants were lit up beautifully with golden string lights, and on every street corner was musicians singing and playing instruments.

You were in awe. You broke free of Maxwell’s grip and wandered over to one man who was playing the violin. It was soft and romantic. You got close to him, probably too close, but Maxwell found it endearing. He loved to watch you take in all these new experiences. 

“You didn’t have music on Themyscira?” he asked, pressing a hand into the small of your back. His touch combined with the melody of the violin was enough to take your breath away.

“No,” you replied quietly as you let yourself fall deep into the song. When the man finished, Maxwell took out his wallet and made a generous donation. “You should be very proud of yourself. You have a gift.” you smiled- and the man blushed at your comment.

Maxwell was taken aback when you and the Greek street musician held a conversation in his native language. Of course - Amazon’s were multilingual. He remembered you mentioned it before. You knew every single language. But still, it never failed to impress him. Everything you did, every action and gesture you made had Maxwell fall head over heels for you.

You both carried on walking for just five more minutes, until Maxwell decided on a suitable restaurant. You’d settle for anything, but Maxwell had a specific taste. As it turned out, Maxwell Lord was even known in Greece, and the restaurant manager was able to pull a few strings to get you both a table without reservations.

“Do you know what you want?” Maxwell asked, peeking over the menu. You took a sip of water and shook your head ‘no’.

“How do I know what tastes good?” you asked.

“You can’t really go wrong with Greek food. In my experience it’s all good.” Maxwell explained, puting the menu flat on the table and waving over a waiter.

You pointed at a couple on a nearby table. “They’re sharing,” you acknowledged. “Why?”

You and Maxwell both watched the man and woman as they fed each other moussaka, laughing and smiling and planting intimate kisses on each other’s hands. “They’re a couple.” Maxwell hummed, wondering what it would be like to share food with you.

Too distracted in his own thoughts, Maxwell didn’t even realise you had already placed your order with the waiter. “We’ll have exactly what they’re having.” you beamed, pointing towards the couple.

Maxwell blinked and turned to you. 

“And drinks?” the waiter asked.

“Same as them!” you repeated and Maxwell’s head snapped towards the table. Actually, a pink berry iced cocktail didn’t sound at all that bad. It made a difference from his usual champagne or dry whiskey. Before Maxwell could even object, the waiter was already whisked away to bring your order to the kitchen.

“You’re getting really good at this world of man stuff.” Maxwell told you proudly, taking your hands and brushing his thumb over your knuckles.

“I feel like I’m settling in,” you admitted with a nervous smile. “I always felt like an outcast on Themyscira. Like I just… didn’t belong there. I was never a warrior like the other Amazons.” you explained and Maxwell nodded in understanding.

“It’s a shame you can’t stay here.” Maxwell swallowed and looked past you. His eyes fixated on another happy couple, and the truth finally began to settle in his stomach.

In just a few days, the love of his life was going to leave him, and he’d never see you again. Being with Maxwell in a Greek restaurant amongst the other happy couples left you feeling upset too. It made you wonder: did you really want to leave? Did you even have a choice?

Diana had told you that the world of man could not handle a goddess just walking around living a normal life. Your powerful aura would slowly cause destruction and chaos. Even death. You’d read plenty of romance novels to know that there would always be heartbreak. And maybe this would be yours.

“Your moussaka and cocktails.” The waiter grinned, presenting you both with the food on a silver antique platter. You both thanked the man and picked up your forks. In unison, you both dug into the meal and fed it to each other, just like you’d witnessed before. There ended up being a lot of laughter and hysterics as food missed your mouth or it dropped down Maxwell’s shirt making a mess.

You both knew that the inevitable was coming, but that didn’t mean you had to wish away your days together. You were fully prepared to make as many memories as possible with Maxwell and enjoy your night together in Athens.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Maxwell asked as you walked back to the hotel room.

“Worried about Diana.” you mumbled.

“Yeah uh- I’ve been thinking about Barbara,” Maxwell revealed, and you looked at him in confusion. You remembered the flirtations he made towards her in the cave, or rather, the manipulative techniques. “I owe her an apology. But I can’t apologise until she renounces her wish. I failed her.”

You gulped and squeezed the businessman’s hand. “Even if I’m not here, I believe that there will be a redemption. She will renounce her wish.”

“How do you know?” Maxwell quizzed you. “I just do,” you hummed. “She’s not a bad person. She’s just a person… who’s done bad things. But we’ve all done bad things before, haven’t we?”

Maxwell nodded before smiling. “I can’t imagine you doing anything bad.” he chuckled lightly.

“I try not to,” you shrugged. “But nobody is without flaw.”

Once you reached the hotel lobby, the receptionist called Maxwell over.

“Mr Lord, you have a phone call on line 3.” she said, pointing her finger towards the phone booth. Maxwell nodded before turning to you and pressing a chaste kiss on your cheek. 

“Let me take this call. Meet me in the hotel room.” he told you, passing you the key. You obliged, padding towards the elevator.

Maxwell walked over to the ringing telephone and took a deep breath. He wondered who could possibly be calling him from Athens?

“Hello?”

"Hi daddy. I miss you." Alistair's small and timid voice revealed. His little fingers curled around the telephone wire as he tried to keep his balance, standing on a stool so he could actually reach the telephone that was pinned to the dining room wall. Maxwell's face softened upon realising it was his son who had been trying to communicate with him.

"I miss you too, but I'll be home soon. Is everything okay?" he asked Alistair with genuine concern. He was at Theodore and Julianna’s house and they never let him contact Maxwell. It was forbidden.

"No. Mommy and Ted went out together and they've left me in the house alone. They've been gone for hours. Daddy I'm scared." Alistair sniffed, rubbing his tired, glazed eyes.

Maxwell immediately saw red. He knew Julianna was neglectful, if anything she had always been even more neglectful than Max. But the fact there was an ongoing custody battle and his competition had left their six year old boy home alone was infuriating.

“Where did they go?” Maxwell asked.

“Date night.” Alistair replied shakily.

“Listen buddy, I’m going to call Raquel and have her take you to Black Gold okay? Me and Y/N are heading to the airport now so we’ll see you as soon as we possibly can. I love you Ali. Stay strong for me. Can you do that? Can you stay strong for me?”

Alistair nodded weakly. “Why does everyone always leave me daddy?” Alistair croaked and Maxwell’s heart broke because he knew he was partially to blame for it too. He hadn’t been a perfect father but he sure as hell was trying to make amends now, which was more than what Julianna could say.

“Because they are not deserving of you Ali, you are too good for this world. I mean it. Go to your room okay, and Raquel won’t be long. I love you.” Maxwell promised.

“I love you daddy.” Alistair sniffed before putting the phone back on the hook.

***

Maxwell had been downstairs on the phone for quite a while. You had kicked off your shoes and discarded most of your outfit on the floor. You were lying on the king sized bed staring at the ceiling. All you could think about was Diana and Barbara. You had to make sure Diana was okay. She was your sister, after all.

The door swung open causing you to jump up in surprise, and Maxwell bolted into the room before doubling over trying to catch his breath. “Elevator was taking too long. I ran up the stairs. We have to go.” he panted, clutching his chest for dear life.

“Max? What’s wrong?” you asked, climbing off the bed and walking over to him. You placed both your hands on his shoulders and tried to calm him down.

“It was Alistair. He needs us.” Maxwell said, fear flicking in his eyes.

“Say no more,” you told him, finally feeling your duty as goddess of home and hearth kick in. A child in need of his father? This was your time to shine. “You pack our stuff. I’m going to try to call Diana and let her know that we’re leaving earlier than planned.”

Maxwell nodded as he started to gather together your things, throwing them haphazardly into the bags. To your surprise, Diana answered the phone after the first few rings.

“Di! Oh Gods, I was so worried about you.” You confessed, taking a big sigh of relief.

“You need not be worried,” Diana chastised you. “I’m okay. I had some trouble with Barbara but nothing I can’t handle.”

“Did she renounce her wish?” You asked.

“No,” Diana replied, her voice small. She was struggling to hold back tears. Barbara meant so much to Diana, she could not fail this one thing. She had to redeem her best friend. “But she will. I’ll make sure of it. Why did you call?”

“It’s Max’s son… something came up and… we’re flying back to D.C. tonight.” you told Diana, glancing briefly into the en-suite bathroom where Maxwell was collecting your toothbrushes and toiletries. 

“When’s the court case?” Diana questioned.

“Two days.” you informed her, feeling a little weak in the knees. It was so soon and you hadn’t even discussed a plan with Maxwell. 

“Remember sister, once this is all over you must return to Themyscira. Earlier, when the cave walls began to crumble… I realised that was because of you. You’ve already overstayed your welcome. I’m afraid the world of man’s destruction has already begun.” You had caused the cave walls to crumble? The ground to split? You were mortified. But if this was only the start… you weren’t prepared to know what was to come.

“I know.” you whispered sadly, feeling a tear slip down your cheek.

“I’ll see you back in D.C.,” Diana promised. “Good luck.”

And with that, there was a deadline. 

“Everything okay with Diana?” Maxwell called from the bathroom.

You choked out an involuntary sob just hearing Maxwell’s voice again. How would you ever be able to live knowing you could never hear another word he spoke? His voice was more beautiful than any violin or song on the car radio. You didn’t want to go. You didn’t want to go back to Themyscira. When you didn’t reply, he called your name.

“Yes, everything is fine!” you called back, doing your best to hold back your whimpers. Maxwell didn’t need to see you like this, it would only concern him. You wiped your tears away and began to pick up your previously discarded outfit, re-dressing yourself. 

Diana might have said goodbye to Steve, but there was no way you could say goodbye to Max.

***

The flight back to D.C. was uncomfortably long and you could cut the tension with a knife. “Max, he’ll be okay. He’s with Raquel.” you reminded him.

“He doesn’t deserve this,” Maxwell shook his head in dismay. “I can’t believe my son is having to put up with this bullshit.” he spat angrily.

You hadn’t seen this side to Maxwell before. Sure you’d seen him get mad and give you the silent treatment, but now he was being so vocal. He was vocal because he could be. He had been in Alistair’s shoes before. Neglectful parents who didn’t give a shit about him.

“My dad was never home,” Max swallowed, tears pricking his eyes. “And when he was, he was drunk. My mum was sick. She slept a lot. I didn’t have friends growing up. I was alone and bullied…” part of this you already knew from when the lasso of truth had shown you little Maxwell Lorenzano’s childhood, but still, you chose to keep quiet and listen to what you had to say. “I never planned on having kids but when Alistair was born I swore I would be a good father. I wouldn’t end up like my old man. But without even realising… I did. I neglected my son. I was always working. Too busy for him. I-” Maxwell held his face in his hands as shame consumed him.

“You are nothing like your father,” you promised Max, grabbing his wrists and pulling them away from his face. “Listen to me. Alistair loves you. And you love him. He called you because you’re his dad. His hero. You made mistakes in the past but we all do. Point is, you’re choosing to fix it. You’re choosing to change and that makes you one thousand times better than what your own dad ever was. Alistair sees the good in you,” you whispered. “And I do too.”

***

By the time you arrived back in D.C, it was nightfall. The sky was pitch black and Maxwell was readjusting his watch to fit the EST timezone. Upon your approach to Black Gold Cooperative, you noticed from looking in the windows that most of the lights had been turned out, bar the main lobby and Maxwell’s private office. Max was the first to enter, pushing through the revolving doors and bolting through the building, up the stairs and to his private office. You followed him, but let yourself drop behind just a little as you thought about the fact this might be your last time in this building. It was this exact lobby where you had met Maxwell Lord for the first time, sleeping on that sofa in your full Amazonian gear. It was only a week ago and yet it felt like a lifetime.

“Alistair! Alistair!” Maxwell called. He barged into his office only to see his son, curled up on his chair, asleep. Raquel was laying on the sofa, fast asleep also. It was late and Max didn’t blame her whatsoever. As long as Alistair was safe, that’s all that mattered. “Hey buddy, hey.” he cooed, picking his son up in his arms. Alistair stirred slightly and opened his eyes.

“Daddy?” he asked, his question followed by a yawn. He brought his fist up to his face and rubbed at his tired eyes. “You came back?”

“Of course I did,” Maxwell whispered, smoothing out Alistair’s black hair and pressing a kiss into his son’s forehead. “I’ll always come back for you Ali. I missed you.”

“I love you daddy.” Alistair sniffed, bringing his hand up to cup Maxwell’s face.

“I’m going to take you home, okay? Better sleeping in your own bed than in daddy’s office chair. Trust me, I know.” Maxwell said, remembering the ample amount of times he had fallen asleep at work, amidst an abundance of paperwork.

“Let me take Ali,” you whispered, nudging Maxwell and holding out your arms. “You should wake up Raquel and let her know you’re back.”

Maxwell nodded his head in agreement and handed you his son. Max was strong, but holding a six year old in his middle age did nothing for his bad back. When he passed you Alistair, part of him expected your shoulders to curl inwards or for you to struggle to lift him. Then he remembered you were an Amazon, and he smiled to himself upon seeing the way you cradled his son like he was as light as a feather. There was something so wonderful about seeing you hold Alistair like he was your own child. Ali looked at you with so much love. Just like his father, he’d only just met you, but he had put his whole trust in you - like his life depended on it.

“How was Greece?” Alistair asked you.

“Was good,” you smiled. “I brought you back a present.”

Alistair’s tired smile grew into an ecstatic grin. “A present?!”

“Yes,” you giggled, pinching his adorable little button nose. “But I’ll give you it tomorrow when you wake up. How does that sound?”

Alistair nodded his head and closed his eyes again, before nuzzling his head into your chest. “Thank you for being so kind to my daddy. He doesn’t realise it, but he’s been through a lot, and he deserves kindness.” Alistair hummed quietly, and you felt like your heart had melted right then and there. Before you could reply, Alistair had fallen back asleep in your arms.

It was that precise moment when you realised how important family was to you. It was that moment when you realised that maybe you wanted a family of your own.

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Please, o' Granter of Wishes, in these dark days, I have but one request. On the Decree of Fluff, there lies both Soulmates & Reincarnation. Might I implore thee to pick a preferred option with the Fated Shuake pairing from the tale of Persona 5?

[sage voice] it is done.... 

shuake + “reincarnation” anyway alskdjf gOING TO WORK ON SHUAKE + “SOULMATES” NOW because i can’t help myself and couldn’t decide and honestly that sounds like a LOT of fun and also I have an idea (it will be a LOT happier than this one i promise alksdjfasdf)

thank you SO MUCH for the request, friend!! hope you enjoy and sorry for all the poetry

The Fool’s Courage [Read on AO3]

It starts with the tiny scribble of a pen in the corner of a crossword puzzle book and a, “Hey, any idea what 23 across might be?” which isn’t the way Akechi had ever planned on starting something that could remotely be considered a tragedy or a romance, but here they are.

He knows Kurusu sees the tiny, I think we’ve met before, because there’s a small furrow to his brow and a bend at the corner of his mouth and it’s not that Akechi’s been staring at the slope of that mouth, per se, but he’s always thought everyone else’s claims that the transfer student was hard to read was completely bogus if one just paid attention to the tiny inflictions in his face.

Kurusu adjusts his glasses and pivots the open magazine around the axis of his finger. He grabs Akechi’s pen out of his hand before Akechi can say a word--the nerve--and Akechi would say something, he probably should, but his own fingers are still tingling at that brief contact and he thinks if he tries his voice might betray him.

So he crosses his forearms over the counter and watches his pen--his--idly swing in the space between Kurusu’s thumb to index finger. It’s a rapid, thoughtless movement; it has no right to be so charming.

When Kurusu finally scribbles in the boxes and returns both crossword and pen, Akechi scoffs. “You could have given me a hint. No need to show off.”

Kurusu’s smile is something that handsomely reads, Isn’t that usually my line?

Akechi tries not to smile back. When Mr. Sakura walks up with a phone pinned between his shoulder and cheek, he and Kurusu share a Look that means another order to-go and immediately, Kurusu moves for the disposable containers tucked above the fridge. 

Akechi taps his pen against the puzzle and hums. 

In the string of boxes, the poet of Infinitati Sacrum has been penned in Kurusu’s jagged, near illegible English (really, who taught this boy his English characters?): J-O-H-N-D-O-N-N-E.

He doesn’t know how the hell Kurusu knew that but the echo of possibility makes some, jaded part of him feel hopeful again. More importantly: written to the side, is a dark and small, I think I know what you mean.

When Akechi lifts his eyes, Kurusu is watching him with those quiet, steady eyes. He is too clever, too brilliant, for such an unassuming young man who hides behind thick glasses and a cafe shop counter.

- o - o - o -

It is England and it is Westerham and 1817 and he drank too much wine and made a fool of himself in the downstairs parlor, but it seems there is mercy yet to be found in the inoccupation of this room because damn the sounds this man’s tongue draws out of him are obscene.

In the cooling afterglow, he slips his long-awaited reply in an inside pocket of the man’s black coat, which had been heedlessly tossed over an upholstered chair. After a sweat-slick grin and teasing jibe about being more careful with the articles of his wardrobe or else people might get ideas, he straightens his cravat and dismisses himself out the servant’s halls with a, “Until next time, my dear burglar,” tossed over his shoulder.

It would not be good for him to be seen here.

They will meet again outside of Kent and then it will be strictly business. They have their roles to play after the Good Lady of Ramsgate complained about her missing silver after opening her doors for a social evening. If he wishes to uphold his post, he cannot give anything away about the promiscuous nature of his relationship with the man who is undoubtedly the culprit.

Not if he wishes to see him again in the fall.

- o - o - o -

It’s not just crossword puzzles. Over time, sudokus, word searches, cryptograms--passed from one hand to the other over LeBlanc’s counter--also become the means of their secret correspondences, the channels by which those burning things on the edges of their hearts finally have their chance to speak. Akechi would say he isn’t sure why or how he has become so certain of his and Kurusu’s strange connection, if only every time he looked at the young man, he wasn’t absolutely certain that the soul of him, even if not his face, was somehow familiar.

They start to use ciphers where well-placed puzzles and requests for help with English word searches to loop the letters R-E-I-N-C-A-R-N-A-T-I-O-N with a scribbled question mark next to it aren’t enough.

Kurusu struggles with the ciphers at first (adorable), mouth pinched and brow furrowed at the extra effort it takes to work out Akechi’s true message (also adorable). He himself doesn’t attend Shojin, so he can never watch him to verify this hypothesis, but it’s clear that Kurusu must spend some time working on his ciphers during his lectures or between his Metaverse missions because it only takes a single day for Akechi to receive each response, folded inside the cursory napkin between his daily coffee cup and saucer. 

And each time, he is forced to stifle the fluttery, warm feeling in his chest. 

There is nothing for Akechi to be affected about. Certainly not the idea that Kurusu spends at least some of his non-renewable hours and minutes thinking about him and what it is he wishes to tell him.

The happiness is silly. Foolish. It shouldn’t make him glad that a young man who he has been told should be his enemy wants to pursue these conversations, especially when Akechi makes it so difficult to do so in the first place in the hopes of keeping their written messages safe from unwanted eyes.

But their letters are a simple joy.

And Akechi does not have many simple joys in this current life.

- o - o - o -

It is Greece and it is 159 and a new shipment of papyrus has arrived when that damned thief strikes again. This time, just as the previous time, and the time before that, the thief steals more than his employer can afford to lose. At last, at last, having enough of this, the guard lays his trap.

When, by torchlight, with men at either shoulder, they corner the thief in a stone alcove, there’s something glinting in those dark eyes that, ironically, arrests him.

It is something old.

Something familiar.

And he cannot escape the wondering question: have they done this song and dance before?

- o - o - o -

It is 1816 and there are times, though they are few and far inbetween, when his burglar stays late into the night, entwined in the cotton of his sheets, and though he knows it won’t last until morning, the brush of their legs tangled together are enough to power him through centuries apart, he is sure.

“Tell me something you’ve read lately,” he whispers with his cheek pressed to his pillow. He breathes softly as his fingertips trace over the back of his burglar’s hand, following the soft ridge of blue veins under his skin.

“I’m afraid all I have for you are poems,” his burglar murmurs.

“How typical of you.”

“Is Donne too morbid for our faire?”

“If it’s recited by you, it’s perfect.”

And his burglar frowns thoughtfully, eyes askance. Slowly, he rolls onto his back and his arm twists so that his palm is up and settled beside his ear. His own hand follows it and their fingers intertwine.

“I sing the progress of a deathless soul,” his burglar hushedly murmurs and for not the first time, he finds himself marveling at the man’s perfect, rote memory. “Whom Fate, which God made, but doth not control, placed in most shapes; all times before the law yoked us, and when, and since, in this I sing…”

Angels know he could listen to the rumble of that quiet voice forever.

- o - o - o -

The ciphers, admittedly, get out of hand. What starts as, Do you believe in past lives? You probably think I’m crazy and You’re too good at chess to be crazy; I will see what I can find in the school library turns into You seriously need to better your handwriting and I can tell the news station the Detective Prince drinks his coffee here anytime then I have a geography test coming up that I am NOT looking forward to and Have you been sleeping well? You’ve been looking exhausted lately.

They start writing about anything and everything in between. The latest celebrity gossip from the news on the ancient TV with the crooked antenna in the cafe’s corner to their personal likes and dislikes. You can call me Akira, you know, and Very well; then call me Goro. They share childhood experiences both good and bad and dreams and, Have you ever thought about what you might do after your probation year is finally over?

It’s a question Akechi has always longed to ask as someone who has never fooled himself into thinking he might live past the age of eighteen.

He would be lying if he tried to claim that he didn’t look forward to their notes.

They talk over the counter, as a regular and barista so often do.

But it’s so nice, he thinks, so very nice, to have this one good, hidden thing that he can take home and read alone and know the secret message within is meant for his eyes only. He wonders if there is anyone else in the world so lucky as he is to receive an encrypted message in such a scratchy and slanted font.

- o - o - o -

Eastern Han period, China. 768, Egypt. 1511, Italy. The lives and the motif of their stories blur together in a vague idea of memory. They are not sure how and why everything first began. Ask either one and the answer will be a shrug or a turned-away head, beleaguered by a small smile. Have they always been an ill-fated pair? Has their star-crossed story always been that of a thief and a hero? But who is the hero and who is the thief, because Akechi isn’t quite sure he knows anymore.

If the hero is supposed to be the one who saves the day, then he already knows the answer to their age-old riddle. 

In this life, anyway.

- o - o - o -

It’s done. 

Things are as they should be. Maybe how they were meant to be.

Akechi lays in a pool of his own blood, sirens blaring around him, and stares at the steel ceiling of Shido’s ship and knew, somehow, in the center of him, that it would come to this. 

“Great Destiny the Commissary of God,” he whispers and it’s funny, isn’t it? It should be funny. A 1601 poem being somehow relevant and applicable four hundred years later. Akechi supposes that’s what happens when you have two lives who are again and again and again remembering old things and experiencing new ones but are never able to change the repetitions of their fate, these damnable roles they were meant to play.

“That has mark’d out a path and period for everything,” Akechi murmurs and touches the blood pooling over his chest. He lifts his hand above his face and watches the way his own blood webs between his fingers. “Where we of-spring took, our ways and ends see…at one instant…” 

He thinks of Kurusu, which might be precisely what summons him. He can hear the others’ indignant, pitched cries of, “Joker!” as he jumps onto the top of the bulkhead door. With a graceful leap, arm extended, he grabs the railing that lines the walkway along the side of the partition and flips down. Elegant. Stunning.

A fool.

“What…” Akechi coughs and doesn’t get to finish his question. Kurusu’s knees push under his head, red-gloved hands clutching at his shoulder and pulling him up--up--and suddenly there is screaming pain that whites out his thoughts. “Don’t! Don’t…that hurts.”

“Good. Because you’re supposed to live.”

Kurusu is not one to often talk so when he does, it feels like all of nature snaps to attention. Akechi lifts his head in surprise, which is when Kurusu takes the opportunity to press his fingers into the lining where his dark helmet meets the neck of his suit. Akechi opens his mouth to say something like these costumes aren’t supposed to work like that in the Metaverse, idiot, but then Kurusu yanks up and the helmet slips free and--well--shows what he knows. 

Maybe he’s the fool.

“Stay with me.” 

Kurusu’s hand is new and startlingly warm on his cheek. Akechi decides he likes it.

“Thou knot of all causes, thou whose changeless brow ne’r smiles nor frowns.” Akechi laughs and coughs and murky, red spittle dots his lips. 

“Stop it.”

“I always thought that part described you rather well.” 

“You weren’t supposed to be a murderer, Goro.”

Oh.

Akechi sighs and with it, he feels his strength ebb. “You think so?”  

“I know so.” There’s something in Kurusu’s voice that sounds like anger and it is surprising. It is comforting. It is enough to hear it. “You never have been before. You--you have always been brilliant and clever and just, but Shido took you and made you this when we could have been friends. I won’t forgive him for it.”

“Good.” Akechi’s stomach spasms against his will and the pain is near enough to make him black out. It’s time. “Then get him for me, won’t you, Akira?”

“I will.”

“Who knows. Maybe in our next life, we’ll have better luck.” 

Kurusu tilts his head close and leans in. They have never, not once, shown any intimacy but somehow the feeling of those chapped lips against his brow isn’t in the least bit foreign, nor unwelcome. It is all Akechi has ever hoped for.

“I’ll find you,” Kurusu promises and the words seal like a vow in his chest. “And this time, I won’t let them change you.”

- o - o - o -

Memory blurs, that’s the point. If memory didn’t blur you wouldn’t have the fool’s courage to do things again, again, again that tear you apart.

- Joyce Carol Oates, We Were the Mulvaneys

Title: take our place

Pairing: Sam x reader

Fluff: Greek gods au

Rating: 18+

Tags: affair, vaginal penetration, loss of virginity in elysium, getting the powers from Hades and aphrodite, hiding the affair from the other gods, making this a regular thing to give the 2 some alone time, having the courage to admit when it feels amazing. 

Created for @spnfluffbingo

Mentioning @sweetness47

they say its the little things in life that make you happy. But 2 complete strangers who know nothing of each other meet in the most unusual way and it goes a lot better than these two people expect.

YN the wandering traveler feeling all her life like something is missing something is wrong like she is only one half of herself.

Sam Winchester the brains the tech wiz all his life he has felt as though he is different but he hasn't figured out how. To everyone else he is this genius who graduated from Stanford, to someone else he is much more than that.

you have had the same dream for the last few months now, telling you to go to Greece, go to the Parthenon in Athens at closing and meet your destiny. 

Sam had a dream one night telling him to go to the Parthenon in Athens Greece. He told his uncle and his brother booked the flight and left that same night to find his destiny. 

you both were on the same flight un be known to each other fate had plans for you both, fate was the one thing you both would be meeting in Athens. by the time you both arrived in Athens it was mid afternoon. plenty of time before closing. 

you both got off the plane separately and then it came time to find a cab, this would be when you and Sam would first meet. you went to the cab bay but saw only one cab there but couldn't reach it in time for someone else was already loading into it. 

when the man looked back at you, he saw that you were flustered. he started towards you slowly before speaking.

Sam: excuse me, miss. are you okay?

YN: no I'm not okay i needed a cab to get somewhere but i couldn't get one before they were all gone. now you have the last one and i dont know how I'm getting to the Parthenon, or better yet to find a motel or something. but to the Parthenon first.

Sam: come on lets share the cab ride as it turns out you and i are going to the same place. 

You give this man a gentle smile as he helps you load your bag and yourself into the cab. The drive to the Parthenon was calm, you and the stranger exchanged a few words.

You then both decided that you would stick together for it would be safer in a strange place.

Yn: I just realized I don't even think we introduced ourselves. My name is YN.

Sam extended his hand to meet your own before he spoke again.

Sam: Sam short for Samuel but everyone calls me Sam. So what brings you to see the Parthenon.

You were about to speak and then the cab stopped you guys had arrived at the Parthenon.

It was gonna be a tough thing to say that you were here because of a dream leading you to the Parthenon. But here went nothing.

Getting out of the cab you and Sam stand there looking at the Parthenon before you begin to speak.

Yn: I'm here because I had several dreams telling me to come here. That my destiny was here. That I would find what I didn't...

Sam: what you didn't know you were searching for... I had the same dreams. It was weird. Cause at first I thought hey It might just be a lead on a future hunt but then they happened more frequently and now I'm here.

You looked at him when he said hunt.

Yn: wait your a hunter?

Sam and you suddenly had more in common than you originally knew. You both walked over to the Parthenon and suddenly the room went white.

No other people to be detected only you and Sam in the room. But then 2 voices spoke.

Aphrodite: welcome YN before I reveal myself to you. I want you to know that I chose you as means to my own happiness, As well as your talents.

Yn: ya but who are you...

Then another voice spoke.

Hades: Sam your bravery and loyalty to your mission is why I've chosen you. Along side me you will inherit the gifts that I have to offer to turn you demi god. To help me do what I have to for the sake of my own happiness.

Sam: I have the same question as my friend here. Who are you?

That's when 2 figures dressed in robes of some kind one female and one males now standing in front of you and Sam. As they speak once more.

Aphrodite: I am Aphrodite goddess of love one of the main 12. Daughter of Zeus, wife to Hephaestus.

Hades: I am hades lord of the dead and God of the underworld one of the big 3. Zeus and Poseidon are my brothers. Persephone is my wife.

Yn: OK so what does this have to do with us?

Aphrodite: well that's the part we haven't explained. see its been about a year and a half now. Hades and i have been having a small love affair. betraying our married others for the comfort and peace we find in each other’s arms. we need a normal slice of reality for once. 

Hades: point being we want to make you guys our equals so you can sub in for us. in my place Sam you will rule the underworld. command Cerberus and my armies should the need arise. as well as look after the domains including but not limited to Elysium and Tartarus. 

Sam’s eyes all wide and shock clearly written on his face you turned to hear Aphrodite speak to you. 

Aphrodite: in my place YN, you will well be the goddess of love. surely you haven't forgotten your research on the Greek gods/goddesses from school. i command the atmosphere of love on Olympus and here on earth. its by my hand that something good will come between you and Sam but that's a different story. there are a few things obviously that we are gonna have to separate you both to show you. but once we do that we are gone. but you both will be demi gods when we are here. then full gods when we aren't. its to keep up the ruse. there are things that happen automatically when we are around. so it is necessary that nothing disrupts that balance. 

your eyes went wide with shock as well. you took one glance at Sam who looked at you as you both turned back to look at Hades and Aphrodite. 

Sam: okay so what does this mean? like first of all we are here because we are following incessant dreams we both had telling us to come here and  cause our instincts told us that this was a possible site for a case. not to become demi gods or whatever.

you pulled Sam to the side for a moment to speak to him.

YN: look i know this is probably a bit much. but i think i am gonna do this, I'm gonna take Aphrodite’s offer. i feel like I'm meant for so much more than just hunting monsters. this is my one chance to become the most badass demi goddess there is. and if you accepted too, I'm sure we would both see each other more often than we know. 

Sam: i know its the reason we are here and its what we need to do, its what we are called to do. fine, lets do it.

you both walk back to Hades and Aphrodite. 

YN: i YN accept Aphrodite’s offer to become a demi goddess. may i ever reign supreme with the lessons that you have to give Aphrodite!

you bow slightly out of respect as Sam speaks.

Sam: i Sam accept Hades’ offer to become a demi god. may i ever rule in as much style as the lessons of Hades’.

That's when the room started to change round the both of you, neither of you were beside each other anymore.

But instead Sam was in a room with hades, you were in a room with Aphrodite. Now we go to see what Sam is up to with hades.

Sam and hades are in hades' palace. Sam is standing before hades knowing that he is about to learn his role more in depth.

Hades: so first things first, we should be about the same size for clothing so go through my closet and put something on to reflect your new status as a demi god and as my new stand in. ill give you a few moments to choose your outfit. 

Hades opens the closet and leaves Sam alone to browse and pick. he chooses a short sleeve no do up hooded cardigan, then he went to find some pants. he chose a pair of sleek black jeans with 3 zippers down each of the legs, ripped slits. 

Sam: this should work, i don't need a shirt, its pretty toasty down here. i will want some shoes though, maybe some boots of some kind or something 

Sam ended up finding a gold chain, a belt loop chain, and a pair of all black leather converse boots. he happily went out of the closet and walked to place his new wardrobe on the bed, getting changed he stands there looking in the mirror.

Hades comes back to the door, watching as Sam admires his new form in the mirror.

Hades: that look suits you Samuel. 

Sam: i thought so, but i also hope that this new look will help me dig deep into my role as a demi god. but when I'm not here helping cover for you, can i go back to America and see my brother, my uncle, my friends. 

Hades: of course. you will just get my voice in your head when its time for you to come back here. but for now. lets get you to the power chamber. so i can infuse you with some of my power and take you to meet with YN and Aphrodite. by the way Elysium is a beautiful place to romance a lady. 

Sam: is that where?

Hades nods his head leading Sam to the center chamber in the palace. Sam takes a look around taking every detail of architecture and every detail of the warding.

Hades: those wards are to keep any damned souls that I have not summoned before me out of here. This business has some great perks and some souls just want revenge on you or me more specifically. But enough about that are you ready to become a demi god?

Sam: yes i am. tell me what i have to do?

hades leads Sam to stand in the center of the room, he then lifts his hands and a ring of fire surrounds Sam as Hades incantates

Hades: i Hades, με αυτόν τον τρόπο χαράζω τον Σαμ Γουίντσεστερ με τη δύναμή μου ότι μπορεί να γίνει Θεός της Ντέμι που μπορεί να κυβερνήσει στη θέση μου

soon as hades was done, Sam felt the power flow into his being, his cells, his form change. he suddenly knew everything, he had all of hades knowledge about the realms of the underworld and some of its guests.

once the transfer is done Sam takes a knee to catch his breath, to regain some of his composure. once he is on his feet again, hades leads him on a tour of the pathways and where they lead before showing him to the portal platform where they wait for you and Aphrodite to show up.

Meanwhile, Aphrodite and you are choosing a outfit for you. after about a half hour of you ladies going through dress after dress your eyes landed on a sparkly deep purple Sheath/Column  plunging V-neck Floor-Length Dress With Split Front.

Aphrodite: so this is the beauty that shall grace your form?

YN: yes it is. now, as the goddess of love what kind of...

Aphrodite: you just have to keep up appearances on the council of the gods, as well as make sure you greet Hephestus with a gentle glow, after all i was forced to marry him...

(~*author note: im twisting the mythology on this one. sorry for all those who read this and its not accurate to the mythology... mostly doing this to give the Hades/Aphrodite affair/ship... anyway back to the story!*~)

YN: i know all about that, Zeus did that to keep Hephestus and you in line. he is kind of an asshole. no offence.... 

Aphrodite began to giggle. 

Aphrodite: non taken i totally would have said the same thing. i know you are the right candidate to become my protégé. and i am honored now to bestow to you this necklace as long as you wear it you will be able to walk on Olympus freely. and now i bestow to you my power, please use this power the same way i would, i know you will make me proud as you keep the balance between love and war. as my brother Ares so put it. he is right though. i hope you are gonna make me proud. now my little protege how do you feel?

you stare at yourself in the mirror for a moment beofre turning back to face aphrodite.

YN: like i suddenly have all this energy. Aphrodite, how will i know if something is right?

Aphrodite: are you refering to the connection between you and Sam?

YN: yes... i just ive never been in love before. i wouldnt know love if it bit me in the ass.

Aphrodite: i think it just did. my advice is to just make sure that Sam feels the same way you do. i am so proud to have someone so special as my protege. you will do great now when you are ready we will venture to the portal room in the underworld to meet Hades and Sam.

you pace for a moment and then stop suddenly. 

YN: i dont think i can do this...

Aphrodite: girl if you are nervous just relax, this will only get worse if you dont relax. dont worry you will be fine, we will see what happens when we see those 2 again. 

YN: thats just it Aphrodite. i dont know if i will be able to handle whatever...

you were about to speak again when Aphrodite opened a portal and pulled you through.  within seconds you were standing with Aphrodite in front of Hades and Sam. 

Aphrodite: i cant wait to live like mortals even for a short while with you hades. 

Hades: feelings mutual. now lets give these 2 our immortality and take their mortality.

both you and Sam looked at them but too late you both were having the mortality within the 2 of you sucked out, replaced with immortality there were so much power going into the both of you that neither of you knew what to do. 

By the time you both had found some kind of our footing, you were both glowing. Head to toe, neither of you noticed any changes right away.

Aphrodite: good luck and take care you 2.

Hades: we will see you in a month

With that they both took a different portal and were gone. Leaving you and Sam alone, the silence pooling between your legs, running down your thigh. This made you nervous, but Sam was eyeing you up and down.

Sam: come my lady let me show you one of the most romantic spots in the underworld.

sam leads you by the hand to the elysium. well thats where the magic began. thats where Sam then laid you passionately against the wall laying ferverious kisses from your neck to your chest and it felt so good. 

Sam: im gonna get rid of our clothes and lets see how these new found abilities work.

with the snap of his fingers, both of you were laying in a field of flowers and Sam was on top of you.

His cock poised in front of your pussy, already soaked and dripping from the feeling of Sam against your form.

Sam: are you ready for me?

YN: does it matter if i am or not... just kiss me while you put it in and no need to be gentle. ill take whatever you give me lord of the underworld.

at that Sam kissed you, slamming his hard thick cock into your juicy dripping pussy. that was it your innocence, your virginity gone. your pussy conformed to Sam’s cock as he went in and out changing his pace quite often so you didnt climax till he was ready. 

Sam: im gonna make you pregnant and then we will be the most powerful demi gods out there.

YN: i think we will be some of the most powerful. remember we are only proteges we just got these gifts. and now you are using yours to help us make love in the elysium fields. this is a turn of events and i thought i was supposed to be the goddess of love.  fuck me into our eternal happiness. 

Sam speeds up once more and kisses you passionately, ferverously, and feels every inch of your body. it made you vocal, the way his hands grazed across your skin. 

Sam: you are absolutely delectable. i am so honored to have you all to my self right now. i love you YN.

YN: i love you too Sam. 

well it was a while later when you were finally nearing climax. 

YN: sam im cumming. 

Sam: thats a good girl, cum for me...

not only did you cum but you squirted. it left you both breathless. Sam cuddled you close, spooning you as you both lay covered in a blanket of flowers. due to the power boost, he was still unloading inside you.

Sam: that was the most incredible passion that i have ever experienced. thank you for this fleet of passion. for the first time...  this will be our eternity. this will be our daily occurance. i hope this evening after we meet with the council of the gods we can fall asleep together tonight or at least we can 

YN: lay together. i still have to keep aphrodites place. 

thats when a loud ringing was in both your ears! thats when your powers lit up like christmas, thats when you both knew that it was a short time before the council would be gathering and that would be the one moment for you both to sit with the fellowship of the gods and you both would be the most amazing stand-ins for your patrons than any other demi-god.

but what happened at the council meeting is another tale for another time.

NAME: Adam Zhao.

AGE: 33.

BIRTHDAY: February 4, 1987.

PRONOUNS: He/him.

GENDER: Cis man.

BIRTHPLACE: London, England.

OCCUPATION: Nightclub owner.

GODLY PARENT: Hades.

FACECLAIM: Lewis Tan.

BIOGRAPHY.

Adam barely remembers his life before camp, if only because he and his mother never stayed in one place for long. At the time, he had been too young to comprehend why – why his third-grade teacher seemed to have one eye even though no one seemed to believe him. Or why their next-door neighbor in London had a tail and fur covering his face. His mother, perhaps, maybe, fearing him knowing the truth of things, assured him it was just his imagination. The longer she could keep him in the dark, the safer he would be.

But the constant change did little to help him grow. Aside from always being the new kid, Adam struggled with haphazardly unexplainable situations that left him branded an outcast and troublemaker. Shadows seemed to hang around him. Rooms would grow just a fraction of an inch darker when he entered. The ground shook when anger or any strong emotion surfaced. Whatever could go wrong usually did. And so Adam convinced himself that he didn’t need to belong (even though he secretly, desperately, yearned for it).

And then on the day of his twelfth birthday, a man showed up at their door – good looking, sharp features, an aura of power and sophistication oozing from him. A man Adam remembers seeing only a few times, as if in a dream. His father. And yet despite his apparent power, he seemed to soften around Adam’s mother. As if affection surged through him just from the mere sight of her.

He called himself Hades, and in that moment Adam’s life was forever changed. Hades assured Adam that regardless of whether or not Adam believed him, that would not make the threat of constant attacks any less real. He was a demigod and not only that, a son of the Big Three. Adam was powerful. But that also meant the monsters and threats that sought him out would be powerful as well. Safety was the main priority, and a camp in the United States would offer him that. The only catch? His mother could not travel with him. Mortals could not cross the boundaries – yet Hades swore (on the River Styx) that he would keep her safe. So, Adam traveled across the ocean in a blinding instant. One moment he stepped into shadow, the next a large hill with a pine tree greeted him.

At first, Camp Half-Blood was just like any other school he had found himself dropped into. And Adam learned very quickly that his parentage would not grant him any favors or friendliness. If anything, it kept other campers away from him. He was the only child of Hades (as far as he knew); therefore, the entire Hades cabin was his. Titles like shadow prince and ghost king followed him for the first few weeks, but Adam didn’t care. He wasn’t at camp to make friends, he told himself. He was there to stay safe and keep his mother safe as well.

But slowly, like all places and things, Camp Half-Blood grew on him. Adam wasn’t particular to conversation or friends at first, but he hated loneliness even more. He’d been lonely for practically his entire life, but most kids at camp shared similarities with his own story. She he trained. He discovered and learned how to control his powers. And kids warmed up to him. The jokes turned lighthearted instead of venomous. Years passed and Camp became his home. Adam turned into a year-round camper, insistent on visiting his mother for only short periods of time. Monsters and all things supernatural were attracted to him, and he would not put her in no more danger.

When Kronos rose, Adam stood willingly and gladly with Camp to oppose him. Regardless of his father’s initial intentions – the Gods were far more dysfunctional than anyone could even fathom, Adam would fight to keep his friends safe. He would fight to keep his mother safe, too. The rest of the world was just a bonus. Grudges were most children of Hades’ fatal flaws; Adam would see to it that it was not his own.

Truth be told, after everything he’d learned, Adam never expected to survive the battle. Demigods surviving past teenage years was practically unheard of. Most all of them carried the curse of dying young. Dying as heroes, sure, but dying all the same. And if anyone knew how permanent death was, it was a child of Hades.

Fate, however much he believed in it, seemed to be on his side. Adam survived the Battle of New York. He survived the rebuilding after. The fluctuation in monster and supernatural attacks. He survived until surviving wasn’t something he had to worry about anymore. For some unearthly reason, Adam was granted the opportunity to live into adulthood. Granted a living, earthly, form of Elysium.

He wouldn’t take the gift for granted. Because of his parentage, the mortal world seemed vastly insignificant to him now. He had wealth. He had an air of mystery. And despite his lonely, isolated childhood, he’d grown to excel in large groups of people. While the lure of returning to London was strong, the pull to New Greece was stronger. His mother had made plans to move to the city and an ambitious desire began to eat away within him.

The night was mysterious. It was dark and often terrifying. But there was an elegance to the shadows. An alluring mystery. He wanted people to focus on that instead of the fear. The Styx was his first nightclub venture – an attempt at catering to the ever-present and wild nature of the City that Never Sleeps. Elysium came next, embracing the elegance and sophistication of the City’s nightlife.

Adam had finally found the balance between being half mortal and half god. He could draw inspiration and comfort from both aspects of his life. There wasn’t a greater feeling in the world. He’d always sought to find comfort – whether it be outwardly or inward. Sought a place in the world. Sought comradery and friendship. And now he finally had it.

Played By: Kristen.

( CAMILA MENDES , FEMALE, SHE/HER ) ⌇ have you seen RAYE TORRES around icaria? they are the 30 year old child of HADES. they remind me of THE THEATER MOMENTS BEFORE THE CURTAIN OPENS, COLD NIGHTS WITH A DRINK ON THE ROOF, and A SILKY SMOOTH VOICE. They’ve been on the island for 7 years.

BASICS

FULL NAME: Raye Torres

NICKNAMES: Ra, Tor

FACE CLAIM: Camila Mendes

AGE: Thirty

SEXUALITY: pansexual & panromantic

DATE OF BIRTH: July 21

GENDER/PRONOUNS: cis female she/her

EDUCATION: Masters in communications. 

OCCUPATION: Voice actress. Theater director of Deadpan Theater.

GODLY PARENT: Hades

GODLY POWERS: Pyrokinesis is & phobokinesis are her strong suits. She can create any sort of flame she wishes, along with control or elicit fear in those around her.  She can’t fully see ghosts (its more like a shadow) but she knows when they are around her and is working on her ability to truly speak to them. 

BIO + BULLET POINTS

Martina Torres was a drug addict and a horrible mother. She abandoned her infant child to the system and avoided any contact Raye has ever tried to make with her

She was adopted by Richard and Gale who feared their daughter. Richard started to abuse Raye as her powers started to show.

He threatened to kill her at a young age

Raye ran away from home and lived on the streets.

She got addicted to drugs

Delilah found out and her family took her in, got her clean and loved her.

She started to show an interest in acting and was scouted at 17.

Raye started to do voice acting and after 5 years she had become well known among actors. She was allowed to move wherever as long as she had a home studio.

Hades moved her to Icaria -- and set her up with Lyric. 

Lyric and Raye dated for 3 years.  But things fell apart and they both realized they were better as friends. 

Raye then met Wesley and they fell deeply in love, marriage was on the horizon until Raye met Ava who told her there was a chance of her love dying. Raye panicked and made up a lie to protect Wesley. 

She vanished to LA and only returned because Hades forced her.

TW: Miscarriage -- Raye was pregnant but had no idea until she was mugged one night and ended up in the hospital and found she miscarried. Its been a year and shes not told anyone.

Maria Torress was not what you’d call a good mother. In fact, she was a piece of shit woman who Raye denounces at literally any turn she gets. Maria was an alcoholic and a druggie from the age of 20 till -- well as far as Raye knows, now. Maria has tried over and over again to get clean but within a couple of days falls back into drug use. It was during one of these times that Maria was out at a Halloween costume party when she met Hades. The two hit it off and had a night of fun together. 

He was gone the next day. Maria ended up on drugs one again. Three months passed and it was clear that the little bit of weird sickness she was feeling wasn't from the drugs and instead from pregnancy. She didn’t care much though, but she did stop the harder drugs and instead just drank herself silly. When 9 months passed and Raye was born Maria returned to her druggie ways and left Raye to the system. She was an infant addicted to drugs and alcohol and she spent three months under the care of the hospital before she was deemed safe and given to the system. 

She was placed in a foster home, Richard and Gale, and things seemed well for the infant until she was about 4 years old. Like any other toddler she had fits and crying fests, but at 4... her fits started little fires. The family was shocked and terrified. Richard said she was a devil child, Gale agreed but said they needed to try and “save” her. At 5 Richard snapped when she set a towel on fire and he smacked her; Gale never knew. Any time she set something on fire and Gale wasn’t around she was smacked.  A year passed and at 6 she had started school, started to learn that being hit by your parents wasn’t normal, that what she could do wasn’t normal. She had another temper tantrum and this time her father threatened to kill her if she didn’t stop with the fires. This installed true fear in the child, a feeling she had never truly felt.  This fear triggered another power lingering in the child and when she wanted or needed to, she could toss her fear or create fear in others. This ability was wild and uncontrollable like her pyrokinesis. But this fear, these powers reacted whenever Richard was home, putting them into a deadly spiral. Her fear and fire jumped to them, their fear and anger made her fear stronger and on and on and on. 

When she was 13 Richard found out that she had gotten a bad grade on a test he smacked her so hard she fell into the table and busted it and part of her face. She set the table remnants on fire, along with the carpet in her anger and fear. Raye ran into her bedroom, grabbed her go-bag, a bag she had put together when she was 10 and just switched out items over the years, and ran. 

She lived on the streets for a year and a half, sleeping in parks, showering at the school gym every day, and finding random odd jobs to do around the city to afford any food she might need other than her school lunch. In the midst of all this, she made some bad friends, ended up on drugs, luckily for her they weren’t the worst of the worst. When trouble came for her she defended herself with her fire, and when she burned someone and gave them 3rd degree burns she panicked. That night Hades came to her in a dream, he told her he was her father and that her powers weren't a curse given by the devil but instead a gift given by him. She was good at keeping her appearance normal, at not letting anyone know of her situation. Well, that was until she met Delilah, Delilah saw through her lies and saw that she was suffering, she brought the girl home and there --Delilah’s grandparents took her in helped her get clean. 

Raye lived quite happily with Delilah and soon the two found out that they were related in another way -- they shared a father in Hades. The two became thick as thieves, and when Delilah’s grandparents realized the connection the girls shared -- they more or less adopted her on the spot. Raye adores the Sun family and they are the only people besides Hades himself she calls true family. 

The Sun family pushed Raye into acting when they realized her love for the art. She started acting in school plays during the year and in the summer was doing community theater. She was 17 when a scout arrived at their small local NYC theater, he recognized her talent and within six months he was her agent. She started doing voice acting and small bit roles in tv shows filmed around the city. Raye spent the next 5 and half years making a name for herself within the community and traveling the world for conventions. Her love for travel was well known among her employers and as she neared 23 she was told she could move wherever she wanted. So long as she had a fully built and to code sound recording booth. Figuring that was easy enough she decided to try a more -- tropical area and Hades suggested Icaria considering it was a demi-god safe zone. 

After a couple of months, Hades set her up with Lyric, another demi-god child in hopes the two would fall in love and maybe marry one day. There was a deeper plan in place and Ava knew that. She knew there was a reason her father wanted her and Lyric to be together, what that reason was? She had no idea. And for a couple of years, it actually worked out, the two were close, rather in love and happy. But slowly, things fizzled out and the two slipped into a comfortable friendship and realized -- they were truly better as best friends than lovers. They broke up but continued to be best friends, even when Lyric went into the peace corps and Raye moved on. He was one of the first to hear about Wesley, one of the first to know they got engaged -- and one of the first to know about their breakup too. 

And sure -- while they were happy....Hades and Aphrodite weren’t.  

Raye hadn't known what would come from meeting Ava, if she had even had a lick of an idea of what would spiral from it she would have avoided the other woman’s warning. But luck, that was not on her side. Tragedy and fear seemed to always surround her, just another great thing as a present from her father. The two women had bumped into one another at the end of one of her plays and dived into deep conversation. Slowly it turned to relationships and the future when Raye noticed Ava seemed highly nervous, the woman ended up explaining her powers, how she saw strings and how a frayed almost broken string of fate meant one side of the string was close to death. She warned her to be careful and conscious of what was happening around her.

Fear rushed through her -- she was the daughter of the god of death. Death surrounded her normally, from ghosts to fear and depression, that was normal for her. But to know that one side of a string, that either her or Wesley were close to death? Fear overload her brain and she panicked knowing that her father wouldn’t take her but -- Wesley? Wesley, he might take as punishment for disobeying him. She knew she had to get away from Wesley, it was the only way she knew to keep him safe. To keep her father from revenge. 

She rushed to her best friends told them what she had been told and multiple plans formulated. First, she needed to break up with Wesley. Second, she had to move off the island and far away to keep her father’s attention on her, not Wesley.  She would move to L.A. would continue her job -- it was easy enough to convince her employers that being in L.A. for a bit would be better than being in Greece for a while. Hell, she did have a premiere coming up -- no one would question it... 

But the part she knew would be hard would be that break up. There was no way to leave Icaria without Wesley chasing her; that was to be expected -- he was her fiance. There was nothing she could say to convince Wesley to let her leave without him coming with her.... at least.... nothing that would be harmless. So the plan went into motion, they had to pretend she cheated, that she slept with another person... It ripped her soul apart but it was for his safety.. so Leo agreed and the plan was in motion. She told Wesley she had to go to L.A. for a couple weeks for work -- nothing out of the ordinary... then at the airport she broke the “news” told him what she had “done” and they were over. She got on a plane, moved to L.A. 

TW: Miscarriage, Violence & Depression

 It was a short train ride from her house to get to the studio and every day she took the same path to and from the train at about the same time... Her routine grabbed the wrong person’s attention. While walking home one afternoon two men jumped her stealing her purse, jewelry but somehow missing her engagement ring that hung around her neck and under her shirt. She screamed and screamed until she passed out and they ran off. He screams had gotten the attention of a neighbor who found her beaten and bloody, passed out on the street. She rushed her to the hospital. She awoke in a hospital bed under heavy sedation, an IV in her arm, three ribs were broken, she had a concussion and she was covered in bruises. A nurse rushed in when her heartrate spiked and they realized she was awake.

The Nurse checked everything and then got the doctor and the two of them broke the news that she had lost her baby. Now, this was news to her -- she hadn’t even known she was pregnant and to find out she had been... only to learn instantly that she had also lost it... Raye was not in a good place mentally.  The nurse, Ally, sat with her for the next couple hours, despite being off the clock, as she worked through the first wave of emotions. They signed her up for a miscarriage support group and got her signed up for counseling. she stayed in the hospital for another four days before they released her into the care of a coworker who had become one of her closest friends while in L.A. And for the next couple of months, she went to see her therapist twice a week and she started taking anti-depressants to quell the dark thoughts that were lingering in her mind. 

End TW

Despite all of this, L.A. was still a great place to be, at least for her career. It took off in a whole other path. She worked on more and larger name shows, throwing her voice into tons of cartoons and online shows, she appeared on tv itself in multiple shows when she had the time and was generally... making a small name for herself within the voice acting community. Raye had pretty much decided that she would stay single forever now, not ready or willing to move on from Wesley. She wore the ring around her neck on a necklace and never took it off. Sure she got questions from fans and the occasional interview but she never spoke on it, never mentioned him, not wanting the fans and reporters to try to hunt him down. 

She was content with what her life had become, settled in it, and ready to deal with what became of it when Hades appeared to her one night and forced her to move back to Icaria. So she did. She uprooted herself, her studio and her work and moved back to Icaria only a little over a year after she left in the first place. 

HEADCANONS/WANTED CONNECTIONS

Anyone from his childhood. Especially anyone would might have thought something was weird about him

An ex-boyfriend or girlfriend who knows of what his family does.

Someone he’s helped over the years!

Friends of the family who know what he does.

thanks for tagging me in this @lukesflaredpants ❤

have you had a good day so far?

yes, I had quite the productive day!! I cut my mom's hair lmao I've never cut anyone's hair before and I nearly lost one of my fingers while doing that but it turned out pretty good lol

what's something you wish you could tell your younger self?

oh boy...I guess "there are some people in your life that you really don't need and you are going to find WAY better friends!!" also "fuck what other people think or say!! AND you'll also find out, you are/were more popular than you always thought"

if you could share one song with someone for them to understand you, what would it be?

there are probably way better songs to choose but one that immediately comes to my mind and that truly explains how I feel sometimes would have to be Anxiety by Julia Michaels

a song people maybe wouldn't expect you to like but you do?

oh damn, that's hard cause most people that know me and my music taste, know that I listen to a bit of everything...I guess certain rap songs especially german rap might surprise people lol

describe your go-to pair of shoes

EASY: converse during the warmer seasons and docs during the colder episodes of the year lol

do you have a picture/poster in your room? what of?

not really....I have this little canvas on my wall which I painted myself, if that counts? I used to have a HUGE picture of NYC by night up on my wall but not anymore

what's your favorite software?

what? lmao I don't think I have one...

do you own nail polish/fav color of nail polish?

I own a lot of nail polishes and currently I've been getting into shellac. color wise I tend to go for a nude shade maybe...but I don't really use it that often

favorite herb/spice?

CINNAMON and salt (does that even count?), not necessarily together tho lol

do/can you lucid dream?

nah, I don't think so. I find it fascinating tho

summer or winter?

WINTER BABYYYY

if you could relive one day of your life, would you? when?

I'd like to say I would but I don't think I would. I'm a believer in everything happens for a reason, everthing has it's time, fate and stuff so I probably wouldn't

favorite historical era?

either the middle ages or ancient Greece maybe?

a common misunderstanding people have of you?

that's a good question, I'd like to know what people think of me or assume about me...one thing that happens A LOT is that people assume I'm Turkish. It's because of my name and my looks which is irrational cause my name's not only Turkish and to be exact the Turkish version is written with an i instead of a y most of the time. AND my looks? Idk man, dark hair, brown eyes...I'm a Latina, well one side of my family is, so that's where that comes from lol I'm so done with people assuming that about me tbh

alright, I tag @sunshinelukee @glitterlukey

chapter ten—trials and tribulations

read Child of Land and Sea here

Act II — Heart Of The Ocean

Part II — Trials and tribulations, you know I’ve had my share. But I’ve climbed the mountain. I’ve crossed the river.

Andy led Tyson to the pavilion. “Who invited that?” someone from the Apollo table shouted.

“Well, if it isn’t Andy Jackson,” said Mr D. “My millennium is complete.” He glanced at the man beside him. “You need to keep an eye for Poseidon’s spawn.”

The man was horribly thin and wore a orange prisoner’s jumpsuit. “I’m Tantalus,” he said coldly. “On special assignment here until my Lord Dionysus decides otherwise. And you, Andromeda Jackson, I do expect you to refrain from causing any more trouble.”

“Trouble? Me?”

Anthony grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away. “Tantalus is the spirit from the Fields of Punishment,” he whispered in her ear. “The one who stands in the lake with the fruit tree hanging over him, but he can’t eat or drink. He’s done something horrible to be given this fate. Don’t push your luck, Seaweed Brain.”

“Go sit down, Jackson,” said Mr D, very loudly. “I believe your table is that one over there - the one where no one else ever wants to sit.” Some campers laughed.

“Come on, Tyson,” she called ignoring the noise.

“Oh, no,” Tantalus said. “The monster stays here. We will decide what to do with it.”

“He is not a monster!” she raged. “His name is Tyson and he saved the camp.”

“Leave us,” Tantalus waved her away, “while we decide the creature’s fate.”

Tyson looked at Andy with fear in his one big eye. “It’s alright,” she lied to him. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. They’ll find you a good place to sleep tonight.”

Mr D and Tantalus laughed, but Tyson whispered: “I believe you.”

“Well,” said Tantalus as everyone sat quietly. “And here on my first day of authority, I’d like to say what a pleasant form of punishment it is to be here. Over the course of my time here, I hope to torture, er, interact with each and every one of you children. You all look good enough to eat.” Mr D clapped. “And now, some changes. We are releasing you from most of your regular activities.”

There was an explosion of excited conversation.

“But, sir!” Clarisse looked nervous, but she stood up to speak. “What about patrol duty? If we drop everything-”

“Ahh, the hero of the day!” Tantalus exclaimed. “Brave Clarisse, who single-handedly bested the bronze bulls.”

Clarisse blinked and blushed. “Um, I didn’t-”

“And modest, too,” Tantalus grinned. “Not to worry, my dear. We are here to enjoy ourselves and not to-”

“But the pine tree-”

“And now,” he cut, “Andy Jackson and Anthony Chase have seen fit, for some reason, to bring this here,” he pointed at Tyson. “Cyclopes have a reputation for being bloodthirsty monsters with a very small brain capacity. Under normal circumstances, I would release this beast into the woods and have you hunt it down with torches and pointed sticks.”

Andy felt her anger rising. “Now, wait a minute-”

“But who knows?” Tantalus continued. “Perhaps this Cyclopes is not as horrible as most of its brethren. Until it proves worthy of destruction, we need a place to keep it. I’ve thought about the stables, but that will make the horses nervous. Hermes’ cabin, possibly?” Silence at the Hermes table. “Come on. The monster may be able to do some menial chores. Any suggestions as to where such a beast should be kenneled?”

Suddenly everyone gasped. Swirling over Tyson’s head was a glowing green trident. There was a moment of awed silence.

Tantalus roared with laughter and the others followed. “Well! I think we know where to put the beast. By the gods, I can see the family resemblance!” Everyone laughed, except Anthony who didn’t look surprised at all.

Tyson didn’t seem to notice people were laughing at him. He was too innocent to understand how cruel people were.

But Andy understood it alright.

She didn’t mind Tyson moving in with her; they got along quite well. She could even deal with the fact that he was her half-brother. Dealing with other people’s hatred was the hard part.

Andy sat beside Anthony on the sand, in her favorite spot, watching the sea, when some jokers from Aphrodite’s cabin walked by and asked her if she needed to borrow some eyeliner for her eye.

“Yeah, good one,” said Andy raising her thumb.

“Ignore them,” Anthony suggested. “It’s not your fault you have a monster for a brother.”

Andy turned on him. “What is your problem? He is not a monster!”

He raised his eyebrows. “Don’t be mad at me! And yes, he is.”

“You gave him permission to enter the camp!”

“To save your life! I didn’t expect Poseidon to claim him! Cyclopes are the most deceitful, treacherous-”

“He is not! Stop bullying him! You’re just as bad as everyone else.”

Anthony’s ear turned pink. He stood up and stormed off without another word.

Andy wasn’t alone for long. Tyson came to keep her company. “Are you mad?” he asked softly, sitting beside her.

“Yes.”

Tyson sadly looked at his own hands. “Am I a monster?”

“Don’t say that.” Andy lifted his chin so she look him in the eye. “You are not a monsters, Tyson. Not matter what they say.”

The cyclops shook his head. “It’s okay, Andy. I’ll be a good monster. Then you won’t have to be mad anymore.”

“I’m not mad because of you.” Andy didn’t know how to make him understand. “Tyson… You don’t go around hurting people for fun like they’re doing to you. They’re the monsters! They’re the ones who should be ashamed. Don’t you ever believe what they’re saying about you. It isn’t true.”

That night Grover spoke to her in her dreams. “You have to help me, Andy,” he begged. “I’m stuck in a cave. On an island in the sea. I don’t know where exactly! I went to Florida and turned left.”

A monstrous voice called for him. Grover flinched.

“Just a moment, dearest,” he shouted back to whoever it was. “It’s a trap, Andy. It’s the reason no satyr has ever returned from this quest. He’s a shepherd. And he has it! Its nature magic is so powerful it smells just like he great god Pan. The satyrs come here thinking they’ve found Pan, and they get trapped and eaten by Polyphemus!” Grover took a deep breath. “I need you, Andy. Come help me! I’m in the Sea of Monsters.”

Then Grover seemed to remember something else. “Oh and… by the way… just so you know… I’m really sorry about this. This empathy link… well, I had no choice. Now our emotions are connected. If I die… Let’s just say, you should hurry. Don’t let us die!”

Andy ran inside the Athena cabin. The kids there looked at her as if she had a seriously contagious disease, but showed her where Anthony was hiding. He was in this tiny living room, sitting on an armchair, reading an architecture book. “I’m busy,” he said when she walked in, without even looking at her.

“We need to talk.”

“Oh, now you want to talk?”

Andy sighed. “Please, Anthony.”

Something strange happened to his face. It was like he was having this inner battle. He looked like he really didn’t want to talk to her, but something was stopping him from saying so. “What?” he said finally.

Andy told him about her dream and Grover’s message.

He sneered. “Oh, please. Like Grover would just happen to stumble across the one thing that could save the camp.”

“What do you mean?” Andy asked. He rolled his eyes. “I’m not making this up,” she insisted. “He’s in trouble.”

Anthony hesitated. “If he really found it…” he murmured, “And if we could retrieve it…”

“Can you tell me what you’re talking about here?”

He closed his book. “You know the Golden Fleece?”

Andy blinked. “Have you met me? Of course not.”

Anthony scratched his head. “Okay. Have you heard about Jason and the Argonauts at least? Three thousand years ago, Jason went to find the Golden Fleece.”

“Well, I do know the movie with that clay skeletons.”

Anthony finally smiled. “Gods, you’re hopeless. There were these two children of Zeus, Cadmus and Europa, okay? They were about to get offered up as human sacrifices, when they prayed Zeus to save them. So Zeus sent this magical flying ram with golden wool, which picked them up in Greece and carried them all the way to Colchis in Asia Minor. Well, actually, it carried Cadmus. Europa fell off and died along the way, but that doesn’t matter.”

“I bet it mattered to her.”

“The point is, when Cadmus got to Colchis, he sacrificed the golden ram to the gods and hung the Fleece in a tree in the middle of the kingdom. The Fleece brought prosperity to the land. Animals stopped getting sick. Plants grew better. Farmers had bumper crops. Plagues never visited. That’s why Jason wanted the Fleece. It can revitalize any land where it’s placed. It cures sickness, strengthens nature, cleans up pollution-”

“It could even cure Thalia’s tree.”

Anthony nodded. “But it’s been missing for centuries. Tons of heroes have searched for it with no luck.”

“But Grover found it,” Andy argued. “He went looking for Pan and he found the Fleece. We can rescue him and save the camp.”

“What if it’s a trap?”

“Do we have a choice? It’s Grover.” Anthony still seemed unsure. “Will you help me or not?”

“Andy.” He said her name in this weird, fragile way that shocked her. “Polyphemus is the worst of the Cyclopes. And the Sea of Monsters… Searching for one tiny island in monster-infested waters-”

“That’s why you have me, Wonder Boy. Daughter of Poseidon and all that jazz.”

He knit his eyebrows. “We’ll have to talk to Tantalus, get approval for a quest. He’ll say no.”

“Not if we make an spectacle out of it. Let the whole camp hear it. They’ll pressure him. He won’t have a choice.”

That night, after dinner, Andy waited until Mr D left the pavilion to speak. She called out for Tantalus in front of all the others. His eye twitched. “Something to say, Jackson?”

“We have an idea to save the camp,” Andy said, standing up. Thankfully, Anthony stood with her. “The Golden Fleece. We know where it is.” And she told them all about it.

“Nonsense,” Tantalus said when she was done. “We don’t need saving.” Everybody stared at him. “Besides, the Sea of Monsters? That’s hardly an exact location. You wouldn’t even know where to look.”

“Actually, I already do.” Andy ignored Anthony’s glare. “The Fates gave me sailing coordinates. 30, 31, 75, 12. Latitude and longitude.”

“She’s right,” Anthony frowned. “30 degrees, 31 minutes north, 75 degrees, 12 minutes west. That’d be somewhere in the Atlantic, off the coast of Florida. We need a quest!”

The campers took up the chant. “WE NEED A QUEST! WE NEED A QUEST!”

“Fine!,” Tantalus shouted. “I shall authorize a champion to undertake this perilous journey, to retrieve the Golden Fleece and bring it back to camp. Or die trying.”

Andy’s heart filled with excitement.

“I will allow our champion to consult the Oracle and choose two companions for the journey. And I think the choice of champion is obvious. Someone who has earned the camp’s respect, who has proven resourceful in the defense of the camp. You shall lead this quest – Clarisse!”

The Ares cabin started stomping and cheering.

“Wait!” Andy shouted. “She can’t go. Grover is my satyr. The dream came to me! This is my quest.”

“Right,” said Clarisse. “How silly, we’d forgotten how everything’s about you, Jackson. Thank you for reminding us.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“You had your chance last year. Now beat it.” Clarisse stood up. “I accept the quest. I, Clarisse, daughter of Ares, will save the camp!”

The Ares campers cheered even louder. Anthony protested and the other Athena campers joined in. Everyone was shouting and arguing, until Tantalus said, “Silence, you brats,” in a voice that chilled Andy to the bones.

“Sit down,” he ordered. “I really do hate children, you know? Once upon a time, there was a mortal king who was beloved of the Gods! He was even allowed to feast on Mount Olympus. But when he tried to take some ambrosia and nectar back to earth to figure out the recipe, the gods punished him. They banned him from their halls forever. His own people mocked him. His children scolded him. He had horrible children. Just like you. Do you know what he did to the ungrateful little bastards? Do you know how he paid back the gods for their cruelty? He invited the Olympians to a feast at his place, just to show there were no hard feelings. No one noticed that his children were missing. And when he served the gods dinner, my dears, can you guess what was in the stew?”

No one dared answer. “The gods punished him in the afterlife,” Tantalus croaked. “They did indeed. But his children never again spoke back to him or questioned his authority, did they? Now, then. Are there any more complains before I send Clarisse off on her quest?”

Silence.

“The Oracle,” he told her. “Move along now.”

Andy sat on the beach on that spot where she was beginning to grow roots. Tyson was a little further away building a sand castle. It was almost dark, the stars were appearing. Andy didn’t know what to do. Although she didn’t think Clarisse was a failure, she felt she should be the one out there. She needed to help Grover. After all, she’d be the one doing the dying part if something happened to him.

Suddenly he was sitting next to her. He was slim and fit, with salt and pepper hair and a sly smile. Handsome, but in a goofy sort of way. “I haven’t sat down in ages,” he said. “This is kind of wonderful. Peace and quiet… Such a long time since I’ve gotten to relax. Do you have a favorite constellation, Andy?” he asked glancing at the sky.

Andy was staring; he looked so damn familiar. “I don’t know… I guess, uh, Hercules.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “He had rotten luck. Even worse than mine. Makes me feel better.”

The man chuckled. “Not because he was handsome and brave and famous and all?”

“I don’t like people because they’re handsome,” she said, trying to keep Luke away from her thoughts.

The guy seemed to read her mind. “Really? Interesting.” He gave her such a familiar smile that made her throat tighten and she understood who he was.

“You’re his father,” she accused.

Hermes pursed his lips. “Not how I’m usually introduced. God of thieves, yes. God of messenger and travelers, if they wish to be kind. Now, Andy, what do you intend to do about the Fleece?”

She didn’t trouble herself with how he knew that. “I don’t have permission to leave the camp.”

“Did that ever stop you before?” he gave her a mischievous look. “There was a baby boy once,” he said. “One night, when his mother wasn’t watching, he sneaked out and stole some cattle that belonged to Apollo.”

“Did he die?”

“No! What kind of story would that be?” Hermes shook his head. “No. To make up for his theft, he gave Apollo an instrument he’d invented – a lyre. Apollo was so enchanted he forgot to be angry.”

“That’s nice and all but I don’t think I see your point.”

“I don’t think I have a point,” he seemed confused for a moment. “Ah! How about young people don’t always do what they’re told, but if they can pull it off and do something wonderful, they might escape punishment. How’s that?”

“You’re saying I should go,” Andy guessed, “without permission.”

Hermes handed her a stainless steel canister – an old-fashioned thermos. It was freezing cold on one side and burning hot on the other. When Andy turned it, the cold side remained facing the ocean. “A compass?”

Hermes was surprised again. “Is it? Well, I’ll be damned. All I know is that if you uncap it, you will release the winds from the four corners of the earth to speed you on your way. But don’t let them all escape at once, that could be bad.” Next, Hermes handed her a plastic bottle filled with chewable vitamins. “Don’t take one, unless you really, really need it.”

Andy eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you helping me?”

He gave her a melancholy smile. “I’ve hope that you may save many people on this quest. Not just the satyr.”

“Luke?” she offered. Hermes didn’t answer. “I’m sorry, but- He can’t- I mean, h-he hates you. He has so much anger. Why would I try to save someone like that?”

Hermes gazed up at the stars once more. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the eons, it’s that you can’t give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it. Isn’t that what you told your friend once upon a time? People can change. But they need help.” He made two backpacks appear before Andy. “I must go now. If you ask nicely, your father might help you reach the ship.”

“What ship?”

Hermes pointed. There was a big cruise ship cutting across Long Island Sound. As Andy watched it, the god disappeared.

Stormchaser 

by Cherry Adair

No one charters the depths of passion on the high seas like New York Times bestselling author Cherry Adair DESIRE RUNS DEEP Somewhere off the coast of Greece, a king’s ransom in gold, emeralds, and silver coins lies waiting at the bottom of the sea. Finding this ancient treasure would be a dream come true for marine archeologist Calista West. But that’s not why she’s here. She didn’t climb aboard Jonah Cutter’s magnificent yacht seeking fortune or fame. She’s come for revenge—against the sexiest, most seductive, modern-day pirate she’s ever encountered… Like his famous half brothers, Jonah is a master of salvaging ships—and driving women mad with his movie-star looks and raw animal magnetism. Tall, dark, and devastating, he manages to make Callie forget her mission. Every moment they share under the hot Mediterranean sun is an erotically-charged adventure neither can resist. But when Callie discovers what he’s really after—the lost city of Atlantis—is it too late to change the course of her heart…or go all in with the lover of her dreams? The Cutter Cay series is: "Action-packed drama." —Fresh Fiction "Sizzlingly sexy." —Booklist "Enticing." —Seattle Post-Intelligencer AUTHOR BIO: Cherry Adair has garnered numerous awards for her innovative action-adventure novels, which

include White Heat, Hot Ice, On Thin Ice, Out of Sight, In Too Deep, Hide and Seek, and Kiss and Tell, as well as her thrilling Cutter Cay series for St. Martin's Press. A favorite of reviewers and fans alike, she lives in the Pacific Northwest. BUY LINKS: Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million Powells IndieBound Macmillan SOCIAL LINKS: Author Web Site Facebook @CherryAdairAuthor Twitter @CherryAdair

HURRICANE by Cherry Adair Rydell Case’s ship is his home, his heart, and his reason for being. After his ex-wife left him—taking his brand-new megayacht, Tesoro Mio with her—she sailed off with a royal billionaire and out of his life forever. Now Ry spends his days searching for treasure—until his ship is hijacked. With the prospect of his salvage business tanking, he needs both the ship and his ex back—if only she didn’t despise him more than any man on earth. . . When Addison D’Marco boards Tesoro Mio to find her ex-husband in her cabin, she’s furious. Ry is more handsome, more annoying, and more determined than ever. Addy can’t believe he has the nerve to demand the ship back after the way he broke her heart. With her fiancé about to board, she doesn’t want Ry back in her life to ignite painful memories and never- forgotten desires. But could it be that, amid troubled waters, Addy and Ry can salvage what they once had and have a second chance at love. . .or does fate have something else in store? Hurricane by Cherry Adair is part of her Cutter Cay series.

Excerpt ONE The day didn’t look like second hand revenge. Instead of ominous dark clouds hanging low over a pewter sea, the hot Greek sun reflected glittering sapphires off the Mediterranean. The wake of the motor launch frothed blindingly white as it carried marine archaeologist Dr. Calista West to the megayacht Stormchaser, anchored in open waters south of Crete. Salt spray cooled her bare arms and legs as the Riva Iseo cut through the dark water. The sleek, twenty- seven foot Italian work of art, with yards of glossy mahogany, soft leather, and sleek lines, looked like something straight out of a James Bond movie. Expensive and ostentatious. Draco Thanos, the short, wiry forty- something chief engineer of Stormchaser sent to collect Callie from Heraklion, controlled the fast tender with all the deference of a guy handling a sleek sports car. Callie wasn’t even sure what day it was anymore. A short flight in yet another ostentatious, expensive toy, a private plane from Athens. A twelve- hour flight from Miami, an hour flight from Athens to Crete, and another two hours by luxury tender. She was hardly at her best to deal with Jonah Cutter. Tuning out Thanos, who’d kept up a steady conversation in broken English for the duration, she spread her feet, bracing her hands on the rail as they hit some chop. Her stomach did a somersault that had nothing to do with the waves. The closer the motor launch carried her to Stormchaser, the harder Callie’s heart pounded. Anticipation. Fear. Excitement. Thanos pointed unnecessarily. The massive ship was freaking impossible to miss. “There she is.” Callie’s fingers tightened on the rail as the ship loomed large against a sparkling backdrop of calm azure water and robin’s- egg- blue sky. Brilliant sun bounced off acres of white paint and gleaming brass. Twenty, thirty mil? Callie guesstimated, put off by the unnecessary fl aunting of the Cutters’ wealth. “Spectacular, isn’t she?” Thanos said proudly as he slowed the tender, angling it sideways to dock aft next to the wide dive platform where a guy sat reading. He got to his feet as they approached, lifting a hand in greeting. Callie waved back. She used both hands to tuck any loose hair back into the neatly tucked French braid on the back of her head, even though she knew there were none. She was too controlled to have flyaway hair. Her penchants for order and organization were perfect for her chosen career. She’d come by them the hard way. By now the traits were ingrained and comfortable. Without the fi ne cooling misted spray of the water, and wind generated by the fast movement over the sea, the sun beat down unrelentingly, drying her damp clothes in minutes. “She’s something, all right.” Too big, and far too fancy for a dive boat, but wasn’t that the Cutters all over? A family of modern- day treasure hunters, they flaunted their wealth like robber barons or nouveau riche Internet millionaires, with total disregard for anyone daring their ownership of the seas. For a moment Callie had a niggle of misgiving for what she was about to do. Jonah Cutter hadn’t done anything to her personally; she’d never even met the man. Never met any of the Cutters. But they adversely impacted people she loved. She was uniquely qualified to balance the scales. Straightening her shoulders, Callie grabbed her duffel before Thanos could reach for it. Ingrained and as sure as her dark hair and green eyes was her in de pendence. Drawing in a salt- laden deep breath, Callie let it out slowly as the tender bumped the edge of the wide dive platform where the older man, dressed in cargo shorts and a yellow polo shirt, waited to grab the rope. And the game begins, she thought, braced to disembark, her fingers tightened on the bag’s handles. Lying was against everything she believed in. Been there, spent a lifetime perfecting the skill. Just because she was good at it didn’t mean she liked doing it. But not only did she have to lie through her teeth for the duration, she had to be convincing as well. She reminded herself that these people were not her friends. She could not soften and bond with them. Growing to like anyone on board Stormchaser would make what she was going to do harder. She’d known going in that she’d have to keep to herself as much as possible. She was here to do a job. Making friends would muddy the waters and certainly complicate things. And, she admitted, make her second guess herself— which she unfortunately usually did. She tended to overanalyze things before jumping in. Indecision was, she knew, her worst characteristic. Still, once she’d made a determination, after weighing it from a hundred different angles, she tended to be like a dog with a bone defending the decision. Her friends tried to get her to be more spontaneous. But it was hard for her. Every decision had consequences, and those had to be weighed and calculated and looked at from every angle. What wouldn’t be hard? Pretending. That she was damn good at. If anyone knew how to pretend, it was her. She’d done it from kindergarten on. When she’d learned to lie for her parents. Why they’d forgotten to sign her up for school programs? Why they weren’t there to pick her up after school? Why she rarely had a lunch packed, or money to buy lunch? She’d known instinctively that to say her mama was passed out from Jack Daniel’s would be bad, and mentioning that sometimes her dad didn’t come home would be worse. These circumstances weren’t the same, but she figured she’d honed her acting chops. She could do this by mentally tarring everyone on board with the sins of the Cutters. Which were too numerous to count. And by keeping as low a profile as possible. The gray- haired man held out his hand, helping her from the boat to the diving platform. “Saul Pinter.” His full, mostly gray beard was neatly trimmed. Fit and athletic, he had a nice smile and firm handshake. “Welcome aboard, Dr. West.” “Thanks, call me Callie.” A cursory glance revealed the dive platform geared with the usual dive equipment and a row of wet suits ready and waiting. At least she’d get to do what she loved. Dive. Discover. “Is Mr. Cutter diving?” Saul shook his head, jerking his thumb toward the ladder leading to the deck above where they stood. “Jonah will have seen you, and be on his way down. Heads up, he’ll meet you halfway.” Oh, Callie doubted that very much, but she merely smiled as her heart thumped. Anticipation—no, dread? After all the planning, things were finally happening. “I’m looking forward to seeing our wreck.” “You haven’t missed anything. We only arrived late last night ourselves,” Saul told her, returning to his chair and the book he’d been reading. “We’re all eager to get started.” Was that a jibe because she hadn’t joined them two weeks ago? Callie mentally shrugged. Climbing the ladder, she observed in a quick sweep the spotless decks, the gleaming bright work and shiny brass. Stormchaser was spit- polished. She’d heard Zane Cutter’s ship was a piece of crap, but so far she couldn’t fault his half-brother on the maintenance of his ship. Several men, in the whites of crew members, leaned on the rail on an upper deck watching her curiously. Callie lifted a hand in greeting and kept going. It was a perfect afternoon to dive, the ocean smooth with just a slight chop. A light breeze loosened strands of hair off her face and neck and brought with it the faint smells of fresh paint and yeasty baking bread. Water slapped the hull, and the sound of voices died as the men dis appeared from view. A gull cried as it wheeled in a perfect circle overhead, then dived like a jet, skimming the water after some hapless fish. There wasn’t anyone else around, and she walked toward a set of sliding doors just as a man stepped out onto the deck ahead of her. His face lit up as he came toward her. Jonah Cutter. Callie stopped to wait for him, the sun hot on her scalp, the glare off the water bright despite her dark glasses. The opinion formed before the man even opened his mouth. Her assessment was quick and unflattering. But then she was predisposed to disliking him. Cocky. Self- assured. Entitled. Exactly what she expected. Her shoulders relaxed. Handing Cutter his ass wasn’t going to be difficult at all. The Matthew McConaughey look- alike wore blue, flower- printed Hawaiian board shorts, a too- tight red T-shirt stretched over sculpted muscles as if it had been painted on. She’d heard that youngest brother Zane was the vain one, but clearly his half-brother gave him a run for his money. Under six feet tall, sun- bleached shoulder- length hair, movie- star good looks, and boy, didn’t he know it. Cutter was like a peacock spreading his tail as he removed his shades to eye her up and down. Shorter, less attractive, and more smarmy than she’d been led to believe. And she’d been led to believe the worst. Maintaining a friendly smile, she extended her hand when he got close enough. He was about the same height, so they were eye- to- lecherous- eye. “I’m Calista West, thanks for including—” “Now, aren’t you just the prettiest addition to the team, darlin’?” he cut in with a southern drawl and a heated look from unremarkable blue eyes. His lingering handshake was the opposite of firm. Callie disengaged and resisted wiping her hand on her shorts as he looked at her like a dog staring at a juicy bone. Raking his fingers through his sunbleached brown hair, the better to show off his physique, he gave her a wide, white smile. “Welcome aboard.” Never had two words sounded so suggestive. Smoothing a hand over her tightly constrained hair, Callie made sure the sun glinted off the plain gold band on her left hand. Although she suspected a guy like this wouldn’t be deterred by a wedding ring, she had other methods to repulse if the ring didn’t work. Copyright © 2017 by Cherry Adair and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Paperbacks.

My Review

Stormchaser by Cherry Adair Jonah has the chance of a lifetime, uncovering the treasure all hunters dream of. The only problem, he can’t the cool, reserved doctor off his mind and every chance he gets he finds himself making reasons to spend time with her. Smoldering sexual tension and a vividly told adventure, Stormchaser brings the reader through a gambit of nail biting circumstances. I did find the ending a little rushed but I highly enjoyed Stormchaser and adored the premise. I recommend you dive right into Jonah’s and Calista’s story. I received this ARC copy of Stormchaser from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. Stormchaser is set for publication March 7, 2017.

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