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pinkcherryblossom18 · 3 months

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Selene

Oliver Quick x Reader

TW: Stalking, Implied murder, Implied suicide, Implied sexual intercourse, Major character death, Blood drinking, Oliver is a Creep as pure schedule.

Word Count: 1.9k

Oliver watches and calculates. That’s what he does; that's who he is but something is wrong when he looks at you. Something wrong in the way that he thinks—he can’t think. He can’t calculate and he knows that it’s your fault but he can still put this in his favor. He can still work this because you’re like the rest of them. A dog sleeping belly up, unaware of the snake nearby waiting to attack, to bite and give you every ounce of venom that he possesses.

It starts slow, an invasion that you can’t see because why would you? Oliver has watched you closely enough to know that you won’t see it coming because you’re always distracted. Reading, work, friends, parties that only people like you can get invited to because you’re around the right people. It’s something that shocked him when he started to research and observe you like some kind of tame animal a butcher is preparing for the slaughter. You’re not rich, the daughter of an American farmer and waitress who got hired at Saltburn by pure luck when you were eight. You grew up beside Felix and his sister, Venetia, for eleven years, only a year younger than Felix himself but perfect age for people like him. You know work, he’s seen your computer, full of files for Felix’s family that you work on like their personal assistant.

You won’t notice him because he won’t let you. He accomplishes such a thing slowly, methodically he starts at the root. Felix is sweet and he’s been looking for another pet project so Oliver makes sure that they meet. It was almost too easy to place that pin in his bike tire that Oliver had almost laughed while doing it. The Sun God Helios shined above him but all he could focus on was Selene who stood so beautifully in the moonlight that she herself was. Felix had waved him over, welcoming him into his little group of snobs and bootlickers who dimmed when compared to yourself who was typing quickly on your phone, ignoring all those around you. Oliver had found his seat right next to your own and froze when you smiled at him, shimmering silver meeting the cold blue of his eyes but he couldn’t look away until you did, blinking himself back into the reality of it all.

It had been a few sips into his second drink when you finally put down your phone, saying goodnight Mrs. Catton who was temporarily done with your services. You sighed and stretched, flinching when Felix jokingly poked your ribs. You glared at him and Felix only chuckled and went back to his friends, leaving behind his little servant to face the more socially inferior servants of his. Then your phone dinged and you groaned. “Do you mind if I take a sip?” You asked him, pointing at his glass of coke and rum. “I just really need a drink.”

He is frozen for a moment and Oliver isn’t sure if it’s part of his mask or not. “Uh sure,” he says after a moment. You smile at him and take his glass, sipping on the drink before placing it back down. He’s about to ask for your name—which he already knows by heart along with your middle name, last name and your parents names—when you take a nearby napkin and wipe the rim which is slightly smudged by your lipgloss. The sheepish smile you give him afterward sends his heart a fluttering and more plans and fantasies building up by the ton. He sticks out his hand toward you, a friendly enough gesture that you won’t know that all he wants is just to touch your skin. “I’m Oliver,” he whispers, like it’s a secret among people who like to scream from the heavens.

It goes from there after you give him your name. It's a sweet little thing, your name, as it falls from his lips. It was like it was made to be upon your lips and he takes every possible opportunity to say it. He says it the most whenever he’s in your dorm, studying, talking or just laying around in blissful silence. He strains to be in your bed, he has been multiple times but he wishes to be in it at night, asleep and with you in his arms. Watching as your chest rises and falls, your mouth part lets out small snores but he considers it a win whenever he watches you through your open window—it's an issue that he’s been trying to get you to fix but he hasn’t been trying that hard.

Felix is good enough as an excuse, the boy has found him to be a good little pet so far, always trailing behind, taking his scraps. Like Annabel, a product of Felix’s rendezvous and he takes that with a hint of alcohol and the intoxicating smell of perfume. He would have fucked her with your name on his lips had she not left, angry that she could’t use Felix’s charity as a way to get back at him. Will he be jealous? No. Neither of them are important enough to him for Felix to even feel a lick of jealousy.

Oliver knows what does make him jealous. What he can’t stand and what strains their relationship before he tried to step out of his shadows of a hidden servant and try to clean up Felix’s room. It starts out subtle. Small questions of where he was or where you were but Oliver feels a certain satisfaction at the pout, the furrowing of eyebrows or the small clenching of fists when either of you respond saying that you were with each other. Felix tries to keep you away from him but you always respond when he calls or texts because that’s who are. A people pleaser, a simple servant to any who call for you—it’s another thing that he’s planning on getting you out of but not know, not while he benefits off of it so much.

You stand with him, holding his arm, when he tosses the rock for his dad into the lake. Dead, that's what he told Felix to get him back into his good graces, and Felix believed him because why wouldn’t he? Oliver came to him in tears and an opening for a savior. You believed him because of his tears and because you know what losing a parent is like. Two years ago your father died from drugs, his now did as well. Sympathy is a better way into someone's heart than pity is.

It’s you who greets him after he passes his exams. Felix is right beside you but your arms are the first ones around him. He holds on tight and breaths you in with sharp inhales and stops breathing when you peck his cheek. Your lips are light against his cold skin and he feels heat all over when you pull away and Felix takes him in his arms. It doesn’t feel right but the gateway is presented to him and he takes it with great certainty of what he wants. What he will get.

You're in his dorm room helping him pack for Saltburn, rambling about everything there and everything that it contains like he doesn’t already know all of that. But he likes listening to you because you don't talk much, never have the time to. “You’ll love it, I know you will,” you tell him while folding one of his shirts. “There's this maze that is great to walk through at night because it's like the moon is always there, just watching you like the Cattons placed it there. Wouldn’t be surprised if they actually did.” You laugh and shake your head, not noticing that all he’s doing is watching you, barely even helping you pack his own belongings.

Oliver can agree with you about the maze, it’s eerie at night but he finds that the moon hangs just right and its light is placed just right so that the shadows stay on his side. You take nightly walks in the maze, wandering around and going through the deadends so that you can relax against the prickly shrubbery and just sit. Sitting and thinking is all that you do in the deadends and Oliver can watch you forever while you do just that.

Another one of his favorite spots is the pool because that is when you smile the most out in the shine of the sun because even the Goddess of the Moon deserves to lay in the sun every once in a while. He watches you laugh with Venetia and make jabs at Farleigh while Felix sticks to your side like an awaiting master who stands patiently for his dog to make a mistake when they mess up. You never do though, Elspeth he estimates, has already beaten that out of you.

But his absolute favorite spot in the entirety of Saltburn is your bed, not as hard as the one at Oxford but not as soft as his own guest room bed is and you both like to lay down on his bed sometimes and talk like you did in Oxford. It’s the late nights that have no curfew that drive him to become bolder, to trace his fingers across your face and press his thumb against your bottom lip, driving down. You stare at him while he does this, waiting for him to make the move and follow his eyes with your own doe eyed ones, decisions are not something you make by yourself and he’ll take advantage of that at the moment—later he’ll make you more independent but just enough for everyone else not him.

Felix freaks when he finds out the truth just like he had when he found Oliver in your bed with his head between your thighs, hand in his hair pressing him into you further. Unlike then, he wasn’t happy about the reveal because this wasn’t supposed to happen, he wasn’t supposed to find out this way—ever actually. Felix doesn’t tell you about what happened which is a blessing in itself and so Oliver seeks comfort in you and wraps himself around your body. It’s anger that leads him to grabbing you roughly and taking what he wants—what is his.

His birthday party is a blast, filled with life with people he doesn’t know but the Cattons and a few others from Felix’s friend group who still had an animosity with him for a reason that separates him completely from them all. You included. Even though you don’t have money, you're close enough to Felix that it all rubs off on you in their eyes. You’re so far away but close enough to the sun but so was Icarus.

Felix dies with a horrible ease because even in death he has to go gracefully. Oliver finds you after he's shed his tears and crosses a name off of his list. The birthday present that you give him fills him up more than watching—having a hand in—Felix’s death ever could. You hold him throughout the rest of the night and he holds you in the morning when you see Felix's body, your own crumbling like a piece of paper and falling into his arms.

Death isn’t something you could ever handle, with your dad, Felix and then Venetia, he could only watch as you died next. Your blood is a drink that he has never tasted before but he can’t help but dip his fingers in it and revel in. It’s a delicacy that one could only come by once in a lifetime. So he watches you die and feasts upon your delicacy like a wolf upon an unsuspecting doe.

#oliver quick x reader #oliver quick #saltburn

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coeluvr · 3 months

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Might be a stupid question but I'm a silly little racoon.

Do you need to sleep around and be mean to Vincent just to get points for him and onto his route? 🫣😔

Honestly I love playing a rather placid quiet character who totally does what they need to when they need to. But for sure is just the silent type who isn't vindictive or wishing to cope by sleeping around or being a jerk to others.

So I was just curious if it was still possible for me???

Honestly as soon as I met Vincent's character I dropped helios and hunter. Sorry you two but that semi sad angry man over there who probably feels the odd sensual awkward tension between he and myself are in love now.

No! You can just be who you are. 😭

There's just multiple ways to go about it like:

Be mean to him, get his first sexual scene, getting his second one isn't necessary but I know some people will ask so yes you can get both in one route, go romance route

Get his second sexual scene, go romance route.

No sexual scene, just romance.

So just play and be happy, don't worry about it!

#coe answers #coaaf if: vincent #chaosthecontentcoon

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apollosgiftofprophecy · 3 months

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not sure if anyone's asked you this before/yet, but so you have any opinions or thoughts of the relationship between all of the pantheons? general relationship and possibly some more personal ones?

I've read many different headcanons and fanfiction where people have mentioned their thoughts on it, but nothing they've ever gone into detail about.

there's nothing really preventing them from interacting *👀 I keep remembering the smallest tiniest hint of freypollo we got* but that doesn't mean they go out of their way doing it, yk?

OKAY SO-

The pantheons I'll be mainly focusing on are the Greek, Roman, Norse, & Egyptian ones. I'll probably make little nods to other ones too tho :3

Don't be surprised if this mainly centers on Apollo XD He's my guy <3

GREEK & ROMAN

Let's kick it off with these two!

"But aren't they the same-?"

Nope! The Roman pantheon started off as their own sets of gods - the thing is, they had very little myths written down so we don't know much about how they were characterized :(

Howmever. We do know that when they were synchronized with Greece's gods, you can see the little differences between them - for instance, the Roman gods were more Forces Of Nature than gods who went out and Did Stuff, like Greece's.

Jupiter for example! He didn't have the "fucks around" rep Zeus does! Jupiter from the Roman's perspective didn't go out and do much. He rooted on Aeneus, yes, but the myths of his children weren't quite as popular in Rome as they were in Greece (probably because they were. ya know. Greek heroes, and not Roman)

And Apollo. Oh, Apollo...the only major god who didn't have a Latin equivalent.

Rome loved you so much they adopted you and went "no. no. he was always here. no we aren't lying. see? he's in the Dii Consentes!" XD

Fun Fact: Apollo is basically multiple gods in a trench coat. Paion (Mycenean), Smitheus (Mycenean), Aplu (Etruscan), Apaulinus (Hittie), Grannus (Celtic), ect were all Apollo-equivalents who historians have concluded to be past incarnations of Apollo!

which is INTERESTING because...do those gods still exist in the RRverse? Are they connected to Apollo in some way? Are they little voices in his head? DO THEY HAVE DRINKS TOGETHER?

I have questions and I need answers.

Greek & Egyptian

Saving the Norse for last because we all wanna save Freypollo for last <3 the best for last lmao

RIGHT OFF THE BAT I'M GONNA SAY THAT ZEUS DOESN'T LIKE THE OTHER PANTHEONS! I BET HE DOESN'T!

Which sucks for him because Apollo has friends in Egypt XD

I do think Apollo and Horus would be friends! Not only are they both associated with the sun in some way, but they were actually identified with each other when Greece met Egypt!

Greece: Oh so you have a super-powerful son of the king of the gods associated with light? So do we! :D

Egypt: Oh my gosh we do! :D

You know the myth of Typhon? Apollo transformed into a hawk to escape, and you know who has a hawk head?

Horus. :D

also Horus took over the thrown from Osiris - sure, not in an overthrow way but still. he overthrew Set and claimed the throne

sounds like something we all want hmm...

Also, I headcanon that Helios and Ra go WAAAAYYYY back and Apollo only met Ra like. once. before Isis did her blackmailing and Ra disappeared.

SO WHEN RA CAME BACK, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN DURING HOO BTW, APOLLO HAS NO IDEA! HE'S ON DELOS AT THAT POINT! THEN HIS TRIALS!

So when he rolls up to the next sun god meeting he sees Ra and is like "wait what who are you- OH WAIT!"

And Ra's like; "WHO LET THIS CHILD BE PUT IN CHARGE OF THE SUN???"

Apollo: I'm over 4,000 years old-

Ra, pointing: BABY

(Headcanon that Ra & Amaterasu are like. the defacto sun god 'leaders' who keep the meetings rolling. Amaterasu was very tired when Ra disappeared and she had to wrangle these fiery gods together XD)

(Also Helios thought Horus was a lil' upstart XD)

Finally, I also saw someone else mention that Apollo could have learned some Egyptian magic and used it to create the border of CHB!

Headcanon Hecate snuck along with him and it's their little secret :3

Greek & Norse

HERE. WE. ARE.

LEMME GET MY MAP OUT

SO.

Green highlight is where Greece is. Blue is where Hyperborea is (see this post for details)

In that post, I came to the conclusion that Apollo Totally Definitely Has Met Norse Gods BECAUSE OF HIS WINTER VACATIONS!

AND IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE BALTIC SEA-

STOCKHOLM.

AND WHERE DID APOLLO MEET THAT HOT GOD WITH A TALKING SWORD???

A TAVERN. IN. STOCKHOLM!

FREYPOLLO LIVES (<-knows very well it's basically already canon XD)

Fun fact: the people of Hyperborea were most likely the mythological avatars of the Norse people! :D

SO I CONCLUDE-

Apollo takes a trip across the Baltic Sea and flirts in the Stockholm tavern and that's how Freypollo happens <3

Other Pantheon Thoughts

Hindu: This thought came while I was creating my @underrated-lovers-of-apollo-poll - Apollo & Indra!

They shared an elephant ride that one time! Wouldn't it be fun if they also kissed? :3

also Indra is a storm god with thunder and lightning think of the angst-

Shinto: Amaterasu taught Apollo Japanese when he discovered the haiku for the first time - sadly, only Athena ever bothered to learn it to experience the haiku in its fullest. pushing my sibling agenda again haha

Because haikus always sound better in their native language <3

Hittie: This connects to the 'Apollo trenchcoat' thing earlier - if Apollo is like. the current form of Apaulinus, would the Hittie pantheon like. drop in from time to time like 'heyyyy we miss you <3'

Apollo: *trojan war flashbacks*

Apaulinus was heavily associated with Wilusa, whom historians have confirmed was Troy, and Apollo's first temple doesn't show up under AFTER the bronze age collapse and the war happened BEFORE that happened meaning HE WAS APAULINUS WHEN THE WAR HAPPENED MY HEART-

i need to look into more pantheons. it's so much fun making these connections and coming up with headcanons for the RRverse :3

#the oracle speaks #ramblings of an oracle #the trials of apollo #apollo #zeus #pjo apollo #pjo zeus #pjo jupiter #pjo helios #tkc horus #tkc ra #tkc set #pjo hecate #mcatgoa frey #freypollo #rrverse indra #rrverse amaterasu

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yamayuandadu · 1 year

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In my opinion, instead of constant clamoring for Greek mythology retellings where largely or entirely villainous or monstrous female figures are reinvented as heroic, what we need is more media which acknowledges any goddesses from outside the conventional groupings of “main” Olympians (which is something variable, the version of the dodecatheon from Olympia had the personified river Alpheios and the Charites in it , but that’s beside the point). Multiple of them actually have well defined, more or less consistent characters in myths and it’s mind-boggling that they are losing the quest for popcultural relevance with “what if Medusa was the central protagonist of Greek mythology” text posts. Off the top of my head, some good examples of such goddesses would be:

Hecate, who despite being portrayed firmly positively in her two main mythical roles, in the Homeric Hymn Demeter (where she helps Demeter look for Persephone and is later tasked with escorting her on her annual journey) and in the Theogony (where she aids Zeus and co. during the titanomachy), only ever appears as a villain in modern media, often with the point of reference being godawful new age literature or worse. The only two works of media which actually try to do something broadly accurate to her character in myths would be Theia Mania and, of all things, Touhou.

Selene, who basically doesn’t exist as a separate character in modern media because her gimmick has been reassigned to Artemis. To be fair, it’s been this way for centuries, but she actually has a plenty to offer if treated as separate. She has a very distinct iconography (lunar crescent behind the shoulders looks so cool), and at least according to Seneca a very warm relationship with her brother (in his Phaedra he fills in for her every now and then so that she can spend time with Endymion). There’s also a bonkers addition to the Labors of Heracles where she’s credited with raising Nemean Lion from the moon.

Iris, who acts as a messenger of the gods (or specifically Hera) pretty often, including during the titanomachy. She also has a unique genealogy, and an “evil twin”, Arke, who acted as the messenger for the titans and to my knowledge plays no other role anywhere otherwise. One of the only references to offerings made to Iris mentions cheesecake which one surely could turn into a personality quirk if the actual literary texts are not enough, too.

Eos, dawn, the OTHER sister of Helios, who persistently appears in myths indicating she was the one female deity sort of trying to keep up with male gods in the “romancing mortals” department. One of her lovers turned into a cicada because she forgot to ask for eternal youth when asking for eternal life for him which feels like it came out of a modern parody.

Styx, who I think basically is entirely forgotten as a personified deity in modern fiction, despite being portrayed as one of Zeus’ key allies in the Theogony, and as the mother of his various minor courtiers. You’d think a character as edgy as the personification of the arguably most famous location in the underworld would not be entirely absent from mythology adaptations but alas, she basically is.

I would also like Thetis to not be portrayed as antagonistic in media, both of her highest profile adaptations in recent years essentially are. Thetis is the best character in the Iliad and I’d like to see an adaptation which actually keeps the scene where she brings Briareus to Olympus, but it feels like Iliad adaptations are often ashamed of having gods in there.

If you want to dig deeper, there are oddities like Malis/Maliya, a craftsmanship(?) goddess from Lydia and Lycia treated as analogous to Athena back at home, but seemingly as a river nymph in Greece (I worked on her wiki page recently).

#greek mythology

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phenikas · 5 months

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Here's some pictures of the environments I created for this render - requested by @jack-jerky. More specifically: a random Atlas HQ hallway (or at least somewhat close to resembling one) and Jack's AR chamber he's been occupying ever since Rhys decided to bring him back about 2 years after the fall of Helios.

Final Render

Alternative Shots

Despite still having trouble plugging in some specific materials for the models (particularly the walls, which are actually rotated the wrong way but have been instead masked with additional models), this environment turned out better than I was expecting. Of course, there was a lot of trial and error but with each environment I make, I create some assets that are usable in other places. E.g. for my Jackothy render I made a lot of visual effects, like fog, flames, dust, etc. that I've also repurposed in this render as well as several other renders before this one. And as with most of the assets, I actually borrowed the sprites used for these effects from the BL games themselves so that they would fit right in.

When it comes to the chamber itself, I wanted to capture a very "hazy" and "unreal" feeling. After all, none of these things inside the chamber are as real as what is outside. They're somewhat of projections created from countless collections of data - honestly the closest comparison I'd make is to the VR missions in BL3. Like, you can still see and interact with stuff, there are collisions, but they're not real. Sure you could sit on top of that chair, but you can't really feel its texture and material, can't tell if it's hot or cold to the touch, or how much it weighs.

The change in lighting in, however, is done by Jack himself, who had been preparing for this particular moment for weeks on end. By this point he is fully integrated with the chamber's system, knows the ins and outs. Heck, he's even got access to the ECHOnet by now ("only" took him about a year to convince Rhys to get someone to install a driver into the system). But this is where the question comes in. Why is Rhys absolutely down throughout the whole thing? What's this thing Jack's been talking about that's making Rhys' frown a permanent feature on his face?

Considering the fact that the two have been broken up for over a year now because of an argument they can't even remember, and conveniently neither party can find another significant other (nor do they even try to... after all, they still feel an indescribable magnetic pull toward each other despite refusing to admit so), Rhys is rightly worried, and jealous, when one day Jack announces he managed to snag himself a date. However, Rhys has no idea that this is all a game to Jack, who is trying to see just how jealous he can make Rhys. If Jack's learnt anything over the years, it's that Rhys will never make the first move on him. And with Rhys' recent visits fluctuating in frequency (both because he is a busy man, and because Rhys feels no point in coming over anymore now that his and Jack's lives are not as intertwined as they used to be), Jack knows he needs to do something. And he needs to do it fast.

When Jack sees him that day, however, his entire plan to win Rhys over falls apart. The bouquet and wine he had ordered arrived early, sprawled over the coffee table like there was no thought or preparation made by Jack for his date. Not even that. Just the sight of Rhys makes him short-circuit. Every word he had meticulously planned to say disappears. Nothing else mattered to him besides Rhys. He needed Rhys. He needed him to stay. To be with him. To be his. His mind was filled with nothing but Rhys.

Remember how I mentioned Jack had been fully integrated with the chamber's system? Well, let's just say that the chamber sometimes also projects Jack's needs and desires.

#DeepConnectionsAU #rhack #handsome jack #rhys strongfork #SPrenders #rhys the company man #borderlands #tales from the borderlands #tftbl

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deathlessathanasia · 2 months

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It's so funny (and annoying) seeing people associate Artemis with the moon and Apollo with the sun. Like, people? That's Roman gods Diana and Apollo.

As far as I know Apollo was associated only with the light in Greek mythology but not with the sun, right? That was Helios. And of course Artemis had nothing to do with the moon.

I can see what you mean. It is particularly annoying when "god of the sun/goddess of the moon" are used as their primary identifications, and one of my biggest pet peeves in Trojan War retellings is the characters calling the sun Apollo. It's so anachronistic please stop.

That said, while this idea doesn't really seem to be attested in the Archaic period, the association between these two gods and the sun and moon apparently existed in Classical Greece. To quote Timothy Gantz's Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources:

„Whatever his other early interests, no source prior to the fifth century ever calls (Apollo) the sun (the latter is always Helios or Hyperion). Parmenides and Empedokles may have done so, if a late source can be trusted, but seemingly in the context of philosophic structures that found physical equivalents for many of the gods. Eventually, and for perhaps the same reasons, the idea also surfaces in Orphic texts. But the first sure literary identification of Apollo with the sun occurs no earlier than Euripides, in a fragment of his lost Phaethon (fr 781.10-12 N2), and we cannot tell from the text whether the innovation is his or something previously in circulation. Earlier in the century there are admittedly some suspect moments in Aischylos on this point: we have seen that the playwright probably does link the moon with Artemis (fr 170 R), and his Hiketides (212–14) has been thought by some to call the rays of the sun Apollo. In addition, the same poet's lost Bassarides may have contained a reference to the dismemberment of Orpheus by those women, who we are told were sent by Dionysos because Orpheus ignored him and worshipped only Helios, whom he called Apollo (p. 138 R).

I must confess that I am skeptical of most of this evidence: the tale of Orpheus comes from Ps-Eratosthenes, who cites Aischylos for one brief point near the end of the story, suggesting that the rest of the account (including Helios/Apollo) derives from other sources (Katast 24). 37 As for the Hiketides, the link between Apollo and the sun there is achieved largely by emendation of an (admittedly corrupt) text that originally implied just the opposite. 38 And while different plays are entitled to different views, we should note that in the Choephoroi Helios is addressed by Orestes in a way that emphasizes his separation from Apollo (Cho 984-86). Still, there is the reference to Artemis as the moon, if we have read the fragment correctly. Whenever the connection between god and sun was made, it was surely fostered by Apollo's title of Phoibos, used so often by Homer and the Hymn to Apollo (with or without Apollo added), and meaning (or thought to mean) "shining." But on balance we should probably conclude that the myths of the Archaic period (virtually) always made Helios and Apollo two separate figures; they are never confused in early art.”

In the Iliad scholia, the Theomachy from Books 20-21 is interpreted allegorically and Artemis is said to represent the moon (Hera the air, Hermes reason, etc, and possibly Theagenes of Rhegium (6th century BCE) is responsible for this idea. I can't confirm though whether or not he was cited as a source in the scholia, I'll need to look more into this. Artemis is clearly associated with the moon by Greek authors dating from the Roman period (ex. Plutarch), but her identification with the moon goddess Diana most probably explains why.

Personally I don't refer to Artemis as the goddess of the moon or Apollo the god of the sun, let alone as the actual moon or sun.

#ask #apollo #apollon #artemis

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dajaregambler · 5 months

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indefinite hiatus

Howdy doody.

This may seem as a sudden notice, but it is not to me. It is a matter that I have thought about many times, over and over again. On the other hand, I have also tried to ignore it in the hopes of it going away. Obviously, that did not work out.

Back during my trip to Japan, I had rekindled my love for the Japanese language and it is still strong as ever. In fact I have decided to pursue it academically so that I can continue to work with it, ideally in localisation. After the struggle I had with school that felt like it lasted an eternity, I was quite proud of myself to pick up from where my attempt at university in 2018 to 2020 left me off.

But that’s not what I’m here to talk about. It is actually a similar sort of situation I found myself in earlier this year.

What I’m doing right now… is it fun?

Helios Rising Heroes was a pick me up in 2020. I had lost my drive for Japanese after giving up on academics, and seeing how Keith and Brad interacted made me curious about their story. I went further in the world of HeliosR, and before I knew it I was enamored with it. So much so that I felt compelled to share this love, to let people know the charms of these characters. I started out with translating content of my favorite character, then to the whole sector, eventually other characters and so on. It was a challenge, and that challenge helped me grow in many ways.

However somewhere down this road, I kept battling this one question: who am I doing this for? I thought for myself, but it wasn’t. It became a responsibility to fill in the gaps. I did not care about North at all, yet seeing that one Halloween event stay untranslated the entire time bothered me, so I picked it up myself and hey, it worked out. North Sector is one of my fave sectors now, but that’s what became an issue. I started picking up too much to do, for the sole sake of it being translated. I didn’t limit myself because moderation is a word that didn’t exist to me back then. Even now it sort of doesn’t, but I like to think I’ve gotten better at it.

Another issue is that I love Helios, I really, really do. It means a lot to me, but translating it is actively ruining it for me at the same time. I feel the need to step away and enjoy it without feeling responsible, but I also feel guilty for thinking so. I have stuff I started and need to finish. And that’s where I found myself stuck at a stalemate, almost to the point of ignoring Helios and I don’t want that. I had fun earlier this year translating the new West sector event, and all of chapter two of SITD, but it was short lived. I went right back to that stalemate that had been haunting me.

The combination of biting off more than what I can chew, with halfhearted feelings behind it, is what leaves me dull. There is no “fun” to be had.

I will say what I said earlier this year, about a different project I translated at the time:

“Is it that serious? That I’m dropping a series that I have translated? No, probably not. Happens all the time, I’m sure there are others waiting in line to continue what I was doing, or maybe not. Who knows.

But to me, it is, and that’s why I wanted to convey it in a long hefty post.

As closure, I will share some words of one of my favourite manga. Something I live by, and will for as long as possible.

“The world is filled to the brim with nice things… and all of them are carrying someone’s intentions and feelings.

When those feelings get across and manage to make someone happy… I gain little pieces of confidence,

that I’ll gather together and carry with me as I move on.”

And I believe something like that, is only achievable when you do something that is fun, to you.”

This isn’t the end, it never is. However for me to move on, to find joy again, I have to say it like this. Perhaps one could say I am a fan of theatrics in this regard.

For now, and the unforeseen future, I simply want to step back from translating Helios Rising Heroes. Focus on truly mastering Japanese (my conversational skills are as abhorrent as they could be) and perhaps even study abroad. Not only that, but find fun in Helios again, by simply enjoying it without feeling a responsibility nagging at me every single waking moment I think about this series. It’s a bit of a shame to leave things here when I haven’t finished chapter 3 of SITD, but I think this is the best choice for me, going forward.

Once again, thank you for reading this post and my translations. Thank you for being able to find enjoyment in Helios Rising Heroes through my translations. This blog will stay up as an archive and will not be going anywhere.

As I said, it is not the end of the road for me. I will perhaps be around on another ventures regarding translations, and we might cross paths once more. And hopefully said ventures do not include a repetition of past mistakes. I am positive it won't though.

One day, I may or may not come back to this either, but for now it is atleast a farewell.

またね！

p.s (Imagine I said "farewell" with a wink, two sparkles, and rose being thrown in the air as I made my dramatic exit into the horizon while the amber sun sets.)

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attollogame · 1 year

Text

OC Kiss Week 1—Forehead

Pariah—Forehead Kiss (No NSFW for this one; 1.2k)

Because who doesn't like metal detecting with a vigilante?

When you woke up this morning, standing in rubber boots in what has to be the most disgusting field you’ve ever seen was definitely not anywhere on your ‘to-do’ list, until Pariah personally penned it so. Even now as mud squelches beneath your soles and you try to smother out the smell of manure from totally ruining your senses, you’re not entirely sure why you were brought here to begin with.

“You look impressed.” Pariah’s dry remark causes you to glance over your shoulder with the best unimpressed look you can muster, earning you a chuckle in response. “I promise I didn’t just drag you out here to get you close to nature.”

“I didn’t even know Attollo was so… agriculturally inclined.” You pry your boot free from the mud again as the faint call of a cow sounds from somewhere in a neighbouring field. There’s a sloshing as Pariah comes to stand next to you, their hands on their hips and their sunglasses-adorned face (an item you think is really unnecessary for this town) tilted towards the unseen sun.

“Only in this district. The soils too fucked to grow properly anywhere else—but that isn’t why I dragged you out here.” They twist to point back, and when you turn to look again, you see what appears to be two sets of metal detectors lying on the ground. At some point, Pariah dragged them from the pickup truck they hauled your ass into to where you are now. “There’s a piece of Hypnos technology out here somewhere, and we’ve been recruited to get it. If we do, we get a nice reward.”

“Are we splitting it fifty-fifty?”

“Ha! More like twenty-five across you, me, Helios, and Deadlock. Hypnos will cover reimbursement to the owner of the land.”

Your eyebrow raises dubiously at their comment, which they respond too with a grimace, before you huff a sigh and trudge to where the detectors are. It takes a few minutes of fidgeting to get the detector to work, but once you do, you begin the gradual sweep back and forth as you (slowly) move down the length of the field. The only other sounds accompanying you are the cows from yonder, the beeping of Pariah’s machine, and the slosh as you un-stick yourself from the mud.

It’s… peaceful. Which is saying a lot for a place like Attollo.

“Do you usually go out doing things like this?” You glance over to where Pariah is a few feet away. They pause in their own sweeping motion to push up their sunglasses as they look towards you.

“No, not really, unless we need the extra money on the side. The Triumvirate has a relatively decent relationship with Hypnos, though, and they do pay a pretty penny to make up for their fuck-ups, so.” They shrug and pull their sunglasses down again. “Just think of this as a cute date or something.”

“A cute date? Stomping through manure-ridden fields looking for something a company lost?” You chuckle and begin sweeping again. “Sure, I’ll put this down in my top ten.”

Truthfully, it was nice to spend some time with Pariah without the pending risk of death hanging over your heads. They’re often busy running after some criminal in the city somewhere, and you’re often busy with matters of your own concern, leaving you both with very little time to actually be in each other's company.

“I also figured you might appreciate a change of scenery.” You look back towards Pariah again at the sound of their words, and although they aren’t facing towards you, you can tell by the way their shoulders are hunching up that this is an embarrassing admission on their behalf. “At least out here you actually have a chance to breathe, without having to pull out the radiation counters every day.”

Ah, the radiation counters. You personally haven’t used any of them yet, but you’ve seen Pariah and the others pull them out from time to time. They look like Geiger counters but more compact—every citizen in Attollo is required to carry one, according to Pariah.

You take in the scenery around you once more. The smog is significantly less dense in this area, and the grass that outlines the field you’re in is a rich green colour. You even see wildflowers blooming between the strands—a feat that’s impressive, considering how barely any sun reaches Attollo. Pariah brought you here not just to help get the device for Hypnos, but to spend time with you in a place that you can actually relax in.

A shrill beeping noise causes you to look away and towards Pariah’s metal detector, which they keep hovering over a certain patch of mud. You set your own detector down to (slowly) approach the spot it’s indicating. When you kneel down to clear out some of the mud, it reveals a metal tube with the familiar eye symbol carved on its side. Pariah moves the detector aside to kneel down beside you, a smile playing on their lips.

“I didn’t expect to find it so quickly,” they hum, reaching out to pick up the tube. They hold it up at eye level and turn it slowly, allowing the sparse light to reflect on its surface, creating a prism-like effect on the mud below. “I told Helios and Deadlock that we’d be gone for at least a couple of hours, considering how large the field is.”

“I consider this a sign that we’re just a super effective team, and that you should take me out more often.” You offer them a grin as they pocket the Hypnos device. They then give you an expression akin to bemusement before leaning in and pressing a light kiss to your forehead. You close your eyes in surprise at the sensation; the kiss itself only lasts for a few moments, but the feeling of the gesture, along with the emotions of care that it seems to carry, makes you feel warm inside. When you open your eyes again, Pariah is already getting back to their feet.

“Careful, or I’ll be making you come along every time I go out.” They hoist the detector up over their shoulder before grabbing yours and pausing to look out at the horizon. With their white t-shirt and sweater tied at the waist, they give the impression of a farmer who just laboured for hours in their crops—a thought that causes you to snicker as you rise alongside them. “Well. If we have time to kill, do you wanna tour around these fields a bit longer?”

Your eyebrow rises with your own amusement as you walk over to stand by their side. You can see a fleck of dirt on their cheek, and without a second thought, you reach out to wipe it away. “And do what? Give a running commentary on which cow I think is the best out of the herd?”

They roll their eyes at your comment before holding a hand out for you to take. “Come on, then—you can tell me about how every livestock we have in The Green District looks exactly like the ones you have where you’re from.”

A more genuine smile touches your lips as you take their hand in yours, enjoying the feeling of warmth that it brings, before you both begin trekking back to the truck you arrived in.

#oc kiss week #char:pariah

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itsmariejanel · 1 year

Text

61. Halloween pt.2

previous [.beginning.] next >

transcript under the cut

on this post we have gunther by @gunthermunch ; joaquin and sergio by @djservo + cas being mean to one of her sons 😩 ; don by @okruee ; oliu by @verthu ; gio by @moodnamars ; and ofc helios by @literalite ; also in the background the caliente sisters by @yekkiz <3

Mia - Hey Don. Don - Oh great, another Caliente woman… What do you want, Mia?Mia - Oh uncleach, Don. I come in peace. Don - Hm. Drink? Mia - Sure, why not. Don - Your usual? Mia - [nods] Thanks. Listen, I’m getting straight to the point. I can’t bear this weight on my chest anymore- My cousins told me what happened and I just wanted to make sure you and the baby are alright. If you have a place to stay, money, you know, everything you need to take care of a newborn. Don - Why do you wanna help me? Mia - Listen, what you did, what we did, was wrong. Hell, I know you were also fucking my cousins- Don - Errr, you know about that? Look, Mia- Mia - Don, I’m not dumb and you were not that special babe Don - Ouch- Mia - I don’t care.You were my friend though, so I’m calling a truce. Don - Alright, truce. And hm, everything is fine right now, luckily Gunther took me and little Maximiliano in- Mia - You did NOT name your kid Maximiliano- Gunther - It’s ridiculous isn’t it? Mia - Very. I can’t believe you’ve let that happen, Münch. Don - Maximiliano is a cool name- Gunther - Please, I need help. You should come by the house, I’ll make us some tea and we’ll discuss new names, maybe something less Don. Mia - Definitely! What the hell was he thinking? Don - I’m right here-

Joaquin - Damnnn Kiara babe, looking fine as hell, as usual. Kiara - [ giggles ] Sergio - [ sighs ] Of course he knows her… Jace - Hmpf, funny... I don’t remember Kiara telling us she’s dating someone. Do you? Makoto - [ smirks ] Do I sense a ping of jealousy, Jacey man? Jace - Pfff, no? Why would I be jealous? Of course not- Makoto - Hmhm, [ hic ] of course not... She isn’t though, buddy. Joaquin’s just an old flame if I can even call him that much. They hooked up once or something like that after Dustin. [ hic ] More of a rebound then I guess. Jace - That guy? For real? Makoto - Yeah well, she has a little “thing” for french guys- [ hic ] Cheers bro, you have my blessing. Jace - [ laughs ] You’re so drunk, you don’t even know what you’re saying right now. Let’s go outside and drink some water maybe, yeah? Makoto - Water is a go [ hic ] good idea, yes.

Makoto - Hey there, little angel. Helios - Hey devil man. Makoto - You look so cute like this, I’m not used to seeing you this angelic but it’s definitely very, very cute. Helios - Angelic, you say? You say that because you haven’t seen what’s underneath. Makoto - Why don’t you show me then? Helios - You’ll just have to wait, won’t you? Makoto - [ whines ]

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bigboipyromaniac · 1 year

Note

Can I request handsome Jack with an atlas ceo reader? Like, they’re business rivals but there’s chemistry between them?

I love Tumblr sexy man, the hot Jackie boy also I still haven't finished borderlands

he would hate you from the beginning

I say that a lot for characters

but trust

you are the CEO for atlas and most of your client is from Pandora

and guess what on pandora

bandits

and who hates bandits

Jack

and your selling weapons for bandits and giving these bandits weapons

which makes them harder to kill

(not really)

so the way you guys met was

something

you met him before he added the "handsome" part to his name

yes baby jack

not an actual baby

but pre sequel jack

but yall didn't start talking after he took over Helios

I think before he meet his girlfriend and had angel

he respected you

and maybe had a little crush on you

but years go by and yall barely talk anymore

you're too busy with work

and I'm sure Jack is too right?

after a few years go by

you were peacefully sitting in your office

mostly looking over weapon blueprints

You hear something falling outside of the warehouse

looking out of the window

you find robots

Loaders

great just when you think you can leave early

you rounded up your men hoping that they can last long for a phone call

why the hell was he attacking

you looked around on my desk to try and find Helio's number

finding it crumbled on some shelf

dialling it up you can hear the Loaders falling into the ground and you men groaning in annoyance

a young lady picked up the phone

"Hello this is Hela, and you calling the Hyperions office, how can I help you?" Did he just give me some random worker girl's number? Whatever I need these robots off my ass.

I sat on my chair with my hand on my head tired of this. "yea I think Jack send off some Loaders to my warehouse" I responded to the young lady, "I'm assuming this is (Y/N)?" She asked, "yes it is" I could hear her typing on her keyboard "Okay, Jack has instructed us to transfer to you him if you ever give us a call, just a moment." I was put on hold after a few minutes, you can hear a familiar voice on the line

"Hey cupcake, it's been a while huh?" man I just remembered how much I hated his voice. "Jack, stop pretending were 'old friends' your bots are attacking my men and-" before I could complain more Jack interrupted me "listen cupcake it's been a while since we've talked, and I'm sure we've got a lot to catch up, and I would rather see you in person than an hour-long phone call, so.. let's go out together, and ill recall those robots, what do you say?"

This man is going to kill me, he's asking me out on a date?! I don't even know what to say at this point, looking out of my window and finding more robots flying down and a few of my men on the floor. I sighed. "Fine, you owe me shit from years ago." I accepted defeat in this battle, plus whats so bad about reconnecting with an old friend?

#handsome jack x reader #handsome jack #borderlands 2 #tumblr sexyman #bl2

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writingfandomsandthings · 10 months

Text

The Dueling Soul Loopers

I’ve been plotting and thinking and I’ve made random little bursts of posts, buuut I’m going to talk about my iwatex au.

So basically one of the iwatex kids gets caught up in the wormhole, but they’re not previously sensitive to it like Sol is. Some...unique circumstances bring them to the wormhole, and they go through their loops with more memories intact.

It does not go well, and leads to a cascade of Bad Times and a weakening wormhole until eventually, we get the au’s iteration of Sol. Sol is starting to...get tired and remember and understand more of what’s going on with the wormhole, even from a young age.

But then everything changes, and they’re left standing on the ashes of the colony and planet before being brought back to the Stratos in space and being a kid again. Sol’s kind of very fucked up about it.

Cue the other kids starting to piece together that they’re from different Bad Times timelines, that Sol is emotionally Very Not Okay and frankly they aren’t either (especially the ones with stronger memories of their timelines and their violent deaths...). Marz and Nem have a shakier memory - Marz remembers pieces while Nem’s memory cuts off at a certain point.

But everyone wants to do right by each other, the colony, and the approaching Helios (well...the redeemable bits of Helios, most of them are Very On Edge about police fascists approaching because of their timelines). Though some are more forthcoming about what happened in their timelines than others - like Tang very much Does Not want to discuss what happened, Marz admits her memory is *fuzzy* and Cal is open about it, at least with some people anyway. Cal is mostly open because he needs to reassure himself certain people are okay, because again, they all died rather traumatically and they’re carrying that with them in the present timeline.

I’m not sure when they would piece it together (though Sol knows) who the other kid is that’s been through several loops, but they would eventually piece that together and start trying to figure out the wormhole, especially since it’s uh, not a healthy wormhole anymore. Which is worrying the Gardeners a bit more than the human colony.

I might talk more about some of the characters’ specific timelines later - I need to keep a few secret so I don’t have to reveal who is Sol’s companion in being attached to the wormhole.

I’m also wondering if their original selves, the original kids unaware of the wormhole, remain in their minds or not. It could bring interesting internal conflicts if I have them be a bit muddled up as “past” and “dark future” versions of themselves.

I need to work and finish a fic I’ve been working on and tried to finish in a previous draft but I’m doing big revisions again but hopefully this will be the last and then I can shove the wips into a corner to focus on iwatex hhahaha

#iwatex #i was a teenage exocolonist #au #my fanfiction #my commentary

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luverofralts · 5 months

Text

Arkhelios Adventures

Theo stared at unfamiliar walls of the Crystal Cove coven's headquarters with a sense of unease. This was where he was meeting his lawyer, Aunt Lucy, in order to officially be interviewed by the Maricourt family. He tried not to be intimidated, after all, the building was much smaller than the academy he attended in Pleasantview and Adam really seemed to love this coven. Surely they couldn't be bad if Adam trusted them. The ring on Theo's hand had been grown in this place. Things were going to work out, he just knew it.

"He's late. Do you think something happened? Did he decide not to show up because he hates my family? Did his family forbid him from coming?"

"Geez Adam. You're going to have a stroke at this point. Nothing is going to go wrong." Medora rolled her eyes at her friend, who was still wringing his hands and watching the door anxiously. "Your meeting was hosted here entirely because your parents have nothing to do with this coven, which means they have to listen to the leaders here. My uncle will make sure that happens, don't worry. He's super chill. Not even your mom can get under his skin."

Medora paused, considering her words. It was true that her Uncle Josh was oblivious to the influence of Edana Darktide, but it had come at a cost. When they were younger, Josh was bullied by Edana for his inability to cast spells. When the King of Strangetown forced the coven to admit him to their school, Edana and her brother Adam were relentless with their teasing. Now that Josh was older and had worked with a tutor to overcome his learning disability, he was more than capable of standing up to his former bully. Edana had changed though since the collapse of the Strangetown coven, and she seemed to hold a grudging respect for Josh, or at least, that was how it looked to Medora. Edana wouldn't push Josh to do what she wanted, and he was highly motivated to ensure that she kept to the established rules. Theo would get the fair interview he deserved.

"Aunt Lucy, did you really have to wear that crown? It's embarrassing."

Theo cringed beside his aunt while scanning the hallway for Adam. Having his aunt escort him to the interview was a no brainer, especially when it meant that his parents couldn't also come. Roman hadn't left his bedroom by the time that Theo had to leave and Abe had guarded their bedroom door cautiously while hugging his son goodbye. Theo was pretty sure that if something went wrong at this meeting, his father would probably have a breakdown, hopefully without the affair like last time. Theo felt bad about his part in his father's crisis, but it wasn't all his fault. His dad needed counseling or pills or something to keep from exploding with fear and anger every time Theo opened his mouth and that was out of Theo's hands.

"I'm the consort of the Demon Sovereign," Lucy replied. "I'll wear what I want to remind these witches of their place in the grand order of things. If they think they can push my godson around, they have another thing coming to them. You don't push a Helios around without backlash. I'll burn this coven to the ground if need be."

"You mean your wife will," Theo sighed. "You don't have any special powers, Aunt Lucy, and these people are all crazy powerful."

"Pff, all I need is a lighter and some imagination," Lucy scoffed.

Theo didn't like the gleam in her eyes as she spoke, but he had no choice but to ignore it. Aunt Lucy was somehow considered to be a responsible adult who could argue on his behalf. With a mom like her, no wonder Noelle was the way she was.

"Hey, gorgeous. Has it started yet?"

Adam gawked as a blonde teen came up to Medora and kissed her, playing with her hair affectionately.

"Josh, you're here! No, Theo's not even here yet. He's probably planning to be late on purpose to set the tone or whatever he wrongly thinks will help him."

"Who's this?" Adam asked, staring at the boy beside Medora. "When did this happen?"

Medora shrugged, beaming happily at Josh.

"This is my boyfriend, Josh. We've been going out for just over a month," Medora replied. "We met here when I had to wait for my uncle to finish up stuff for work. His dad is also on the council."

"My dad and her uncle used to date when they were our age," Josh explained. "Her uncle is still my godfather and I'm named after him."

"That seems like a really weird thing to do with your ex," Adam said, looking confused. "If Theo and I ever break up, I'm not going to name my kid after him."

Medora shrugged.

"They don't really think about things like normal people do," she sighed. "Some times I feel like the adult in my family."

"Should I be worried that he's the one hosting this interview?" Adam asked nervously. "My parents can be a bit much."

Medora laughed.

"No, trust me, no one messes with my uncle. He's married to the King of Strangetown's nephew and lives in his castle. He's been on the council here since he graduated college." She looked around to check if they were still alone in the hall. "And his husband works for the life deity. You should have seen the last time someone was mean to him. It was before I was born, but King Charley says it was like watching a horror movie. No one messes with my uncles."

"Okay, we're going to have a nice, ordered discussion about two witch apprentices, not a battle over whose kid did what. No laws were broken here. This is just a meeting between Maricourt family members."

Josh kept his tone light, but his face remained serious. Everyone had watched Ewan and Edana's marriage implode years ago and saw what they were capable of when they were backed into a corner. They were the last two magic users Josh wanted to go up against if he could help it. It wasn't because they were powerful, which they certainly were, but because of how insufferable both of them were. His brother in law was married to Edana and Josh didn't know how Ewan found the strength to deal with her. She did occasional work for the Strangetown monarchy aside from her usual roles, and every time she walked into the castle, Josh could feel a migraine starting. Everything had to be her way. Everything he knew was wrong. Every time she laughed, memories flashed in his mind of her mocking him for being poor, for being unable to produce the basic spells for admittance to the coven, for thinking that he had what it took to be her equal. For her current Ewan's sake, Josh was polite and civil towards her, but the scars she'd left as a teenager still remained. The things he'd see her brother do against nature, against decency were appalling and still she had the gall to name her son after him.

"This meeting is about my son and the demonspawn that's obsessed with him," Edana snapped, glaring at her ex-husband. "Just because Master Maricourt can't defend our son, doesn't mean that I won't. Can you imagine one of the Great Demons attaching themselves to my child? To both the Darktides and Maricourts? It's unthinkable."

"Who would ever want to attach themselves willingly to you and your family?" Ewan replied, giving his ex a tired look. "If anyone does, I'm more than willing to set them straight. Besides, the Darktides are nothing more than the descendants of pirates and thieves."

"And the Maricourts are all stuffy, self-righteous pricks with god complexes," Edana snapped back.

"Guys, guys. You guys are infamous for getting along with each other even after the divorce. Your kids need you to work together now. Don't let anxiety divide you now," Josh interrupted before more insults could be hurled. "This isn't the end of the world. A little blood magic and a teenage love affair is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Lots of us have done way stupider things at their age."

Josh gestured at the tattoo on his neck and Victor playfully did the same beside him.

"Yeah, they don't have matching neck tattoos with their high school boyfriend," Victor laughed. "Talk about regret. If my wife can get over that while I still work with that ex, the two of you can tolerate a teenage demon who probably won't even be dating your son in two years."

"Okay, so your dark form looks good. Try to stay like that the entire meeting; we're going to use demonic law to our advantage. So look as demonic as you can. And straighten your uniform, you need to look as formal as you can. Whatever I say, you agree to. If I look at you, nod or say yes. Understood?"

Theo nodded, trying to remember everything his aunt was demanding of him.

"And if this goes wrong, we're not telling Roman until I can fix it," Lucy continued. "Your dad may need to call a hospital if this goes sideways; Roman's been unusually worried lately. There's no way I'm getting blamed if he has complete aspiration failure."

"Do you really think he's that bad?" Theo asked, suddenly wondering if his actions had impacted his father's mental health. It wasn't all his fault, surely, but he could see how coven meetings and blood magic consequences might add to his father's stress levels. His dad still needed to get off Theo's back about a lot of things, but if even Aunt Lucy was concerned, maybe Theo should reevaluate some of his crueler words.

"I mean, the man's a mess in general," Lucy replied with an unconcerned shrug. "Affairs, daddy issues, mommy issues, the whole almost dying because of people he trusted, it all adds up. I wouldn't worry too much about him...just worry a little bit. It's what I do. If I spent my life worrying about your idiot parents or what Noelle's teachers say, I'd be miserable."

Theo frowned. His Aunt Lucy was always the same, no matter how old she got or how many people cared about her. It probably wasn't healthy to emulate any of her choices, even if she swore they worked wonders.

"Do you think Adam's going to have to break up with me?" Theo asked, directing the conversation back to his worries and not on Lucy's priorities. "His parents don't seem to like mine."

Lucy shrugged.

"Honestly kid, I'd worry more about them wanting you two to get married. These old families don't appreciate outsiders near their power. If they can't get rid of you, they add you to the family and control your every move for the rest of your life."

The door to the council room swung open before Theo could react to his aunt's theory. Marriage? Not likely with Adam's family. Did that mean that Theo had to be prepared for an effort to make him disappear? His own father had had to deal with a parent who wanted him removed lethally from her life; would Adam face the same problem?

Theo tried not to gulp as he walked towards the chamber, visions of angry Maricourts set on murder flashing through his head.

"Apprentice Bellamy, greetings."

Theo sat down on the chair that had clearly been provided for him and tried not to look scared.

"Lucy Helios-Diablo, thank you for coming."

Lucy cleared her throat obnoxiously before letting the witches carry on with the proceedings.

"It's Demonic Consort Lucy Helios-Diablo Esquire," she corrected, staring intently at the witches who had the misfortune of being near her. "You should probably introduce yourselves to the room. I haven't had to take time out of my busy life to learn your names, and I know my client hasn't either. None of you are worth the effort."

Lucy was lying, but she was gambling on her reputation proceeding her with this group. She'd spent hours running backgrounds and looking for weak points in everyone she could logically assume would be at the meeting. She'd made Theo flashcards to practice greeting each witch and how to look as politely disdainful as he could without being offensive. This was a witch meeting, but that didn't mean that Lucy intended to play by witch rules.

"Excuse me? You come into our coven and speak to us like a petulant child? This is the way that you approach us when your nephew-"

"Edana, calm down. There's nothing wrong with introducing ourselves to our guests. My name is Master Joshua Toyonaga, this is Master Victor Toyonaga, and I think that you've met Master Edana Darktide-Traver and Master Ewan Maricourt." The blonde man smiled kindly at Theo, but Lucy kicked her nephew's foot to remind him to be on his guard before he fell for warlock tricks.

"God, Mom, can't you be normal for once in your life? Theo hasn't even said anything and you're treating him like a criminal."

"Anything interesting yet?"

Josh stood back while his girlfriend eavesdropped as best as she could. The meeting was private, but the teens of dying of curiosity as they waited.

"I think Adam's mom is going to murder him," she whispered. "He called her a name and now all I can hear is her shouting."

"Adam stood up to his mother? Really? He must like that Theo guy then. I've never seen him even raise his voice to her."

Jealousy irrationally flared inside Medora, despite her having moved on from her embarrassing crush on Theo. She had a better boyfriend now and Theo was bringing out new sides of Adam that she never thought she'd see. She was better off as Theo's friend and nothing else.

"They're all yelling again," she noted. "For a room full of mature, magical masters, they sure do sound like children. We may need to summon other council members to break up fights at this point."

"Nah, my dad will figure it out," Josh replied with confidence. "He took a training seminar in Strangetown last year, so he knows how those witches think. Master Ewan would die before his colleagues had to be summoned to reign in one of his meetings, so we have that to our advantage too."

"Apprentice Bellamy, do you have hostile intentions toward the Maricourt family?" Victor asked quickly, before the shouting could resume. Edana and Ewan were glaring daggers beside him, but Victor ignored them.

Theo looked expectantly at his aunt, and Lucy nodded, giving her permission to answer the question.

"No," he stated. His aunt had forbidden him to clarify or add to his answers. Just "yes" and "no" and "I decline to answer the question".

"And was your blood magic spell with Apprentice Darktide malicious in nature?"

Theo stared once more at Lucy and then shook his head.

"No. It was in my school curriculum and my academic sponsor, the Sovereign of All Demons, encourages me to use my gifts to benefit others."

Lucy gave him a quick nod of approval and Theo released the breath he'd been holding. His aunt wasn't going to murder him; he'd remembered the answer she wanted.

"To do blood magic to help a friend is admirable," Josh replied, looking kindly at the teenage boys who were staring at him in terror. "You cast the spell to answer the claims of a boy who threatened the Maricourt family, didn't you?"

"Objection!" Edana shouted, while Ewan's face had suddenly flushed with embarrassment at the subject matter. "He should have told Master Maricourt and let him deal with the matter privately. How do we know that the boy didn't fabricate these claims? Only Theo knew of this rumor, he could have lied to Adam about it just to get this result. My son is an empathetic young man and could easily be manipulated into believing blood magic wouldn't allow access to the bloodline. This could have all been a ploy to trick him into this spell."

"Mom, it was my idea!" Adam shouted, startling his parents with his boldness. "Theo wanted to run a paternity test in a lab and I said that we should use magic instead. It wasn't Theo's fault! What's the matter with him joining the bloodline anyway? We're just a family of witches and warlocks, not gods! Do you really think that we're better than a descendant of a Great Demon? Maybe we should be jealous of him."

Lucy smiled devilishly and leaned closer to her nephew.

"I like this guy. This one might be a keeper after all."

Theo rolled his eyes but basked in his aunt's praise in an otherwise hostile room. Adam was pretty special; Theo was just glad that someone else in his family could see it too.

"I have important information that needs to be added to the discussion!"

Evren Thorne burst into the room dramatically, earning frosty glares from Adam's parents. Lucy cringed at the spectacle. She had been trying to build an argument, but Evren's theatrics had derailed the conversation entirely.

"What's he doing here? This was supposed to be a private meeting."

"I'd like an answer to that question as well," Edana growled. "Last I checked, this man isn't a part of the Maricourt family and has no relevance here."

"What if I told you that this boy has the favour of one of the greatest of your family?" Evren asked, ignoring the glares. "He has received the blessing of a Maricourt far more talented than you."

"Who?" Edana demanded. "If this is some trick you've learned from your pet demons, I'll end this meeting before you can spread your lies."

"Edana, calm down," Josh snapped. "This isn't a trial and you're not in charge here. Let the man speak."

"Thank you." Evren adjusted his robes and cleared his throat dramatically. "Theo has been contacted by Master Reogus Maricourt and been accepted as an adoptee into the family."

"Who?"

Edana stared at Evren expectantly while the men beside her tried to hide their surprise.

"Only one of the greatest of the Pleasantview coven and one of the very few Guardians of Time," Ewan answered coldly. "Sometimes I forget how ignorant of history you and the rest of the remnants of our name in Strangetown can be. The fact that you even have to ask is embarrassing."

"Master Reogus Maricourt, born in Pleasantview. Father of Spencer Maricourt, coven leader, and Queen consort Reye of Crystal Cove," Theo recited from memory. Lucy's flash cards of important warlocks had been useful after all. "Blood magic wiped out most of his family. Spencer was the last coven leader before her grandson, Casper Maricourt, killed all heirs but himself."

"Impressive," Josh said kindly, smiling at Theo. "You've clearly been studying your magical history. Yes, Reogus was a great warlock and if he's made an appearance through time, who are we to judge? This apprentice seems to be well informed about the bloodline at least. Surely that fact is acceptable to you, Master Maricourt, Master Darktide-Traver?"

"It just shows that this was premeditated," Edana grumbled. "He knows all about the family he wanted to tap into. Him dating my son could have been a plot this entire time."

Any adult who had been subjected to the pining and obsession between Theo and Adam gave her a skeptical look.

"So what are you saying exactly?" Ewan asked. "This was an accident that an ancient warlock approves of? What does this mean for my son?"

No one seemed to have an answer for the question. Evren seemed to be the most educated on the situation, so he cleared his throat and tried to summarize his thoughts.

"I would imagine that the boys will share a connection through blood magic going forward," Evren stated. "Adam was the entry point for Theo to access the magic and in most cases like that, the two magic users share a connection throughout their lives. It would be a very light binding, but strong enough to keep the two of them attached to each other, always staying within the same physical region of the other. It wouldn't be as strong as a marriage binding or anything like that, but you'll probably always see Theo play some part in Adam's future. Blood will always call to blood."

"Which is what an ancient master approves of?" Ewan asked skeptically. "What's his interest in my son? Why should I accept his judgement, if what you're saying is even true? Is he going to reappear and mentor Adam or do I just have to assume some long dead warlock has 'plans' in mind? I know you have an attachment to the man, Evren, but this is reality. All I need to know is how to help my son. I don't care much for the approval of a long dead stranger when my child is potentially in danger."

Edana nodded solemnly. If Theo didn't know better, he swore he could see Adam's mother soften slightly. Though they fought viciously, it was evident that Edana had feelings of respect and admiration for her ex-husband when it came to their family. Ewan was the best father Edana knew he could be and if she didn't tear down any threat to their children first, he would be right behind her, his wand at the ready. It was hard to let go of the worry and fear she felt at the idea of Adam losing his future to some demon, but at least she always knew that Ewan would stand by her side to protect their children. If they could only agree on one thing, she knew it was their children.

"I couldn't say what Reogus' plans may be," Evren stated firmly. "I don't know why he's involved. All I know is that he was a man of integrity while I knew him and that he's watching over this demon, and by extension, your son. Your son isn't in any physical danger, and while he connected Theo to your bloodline, there are very few repercussions that I can see. The faint pull to each other that may manifest one day isn't strong and may simply bind them as life long friends should their romantic relationship end. All in all, I don't see anything that merits your concern in this situation. Talk with the Bellamys. Watch how Theo interacts with your son for yourselves. Be proactive, but admit to yourselves that this has happened and isn't going away any time soon. Adam has a good head on his shoulders and Theo isn't posing any threat to you. Surely you can see this for yourselves."

Ewan sighed heavily and looked at Edana. Edana's angry glare never wavered, but the hostility that she was broadcasting to the room began to weaken. Adam knew that look well. That was the same look his mother gave when she folded for Remy's demands for an expensive purse, or when she allowed Ewan to take the kids on her weekend to see a show he bought tickets for. Adam beamed at Theo, his anxiety melting away the more resigned his parents became.

"We're not breaking up or getting expelled!" Adam shouted, closing the distance between him and Theo and wrapping his arms around his boyfriend. "Things are okay."

"Really?"

"Uh, young apprentices? This is still a sacred space," Evren chided as the two teens awkwardly released each other.

"Yeah that's Roman's son, alright," Lucy groaned. "Well, unless anyone has any objections or things to add, I'd say that this meeting is finished?"

"I'd say so," Edana said quickly, standing up from her chair in a regal manner. "Though, we can always revisit the matter, especially if this so-called warlock ghost decides to actually show himself. I'll be keeping an eye on your nephew. A very close eye."

"Leave Theo alone, Mom! You don't understand him or how he feels about me. You don't know anything at all."

#sims 2 #arkhelios #arkhelios adventures #sim: theo bellamy #theo bellamy #adam darktide #edana darktide #sim: edana darktide #ewan g maricourt #josh branham #victor toyonaga #evren thorne #lucy chun #medora toyonaga

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