mythopoeics

It seems things are looking good on the eventual travel front. Reed is looking forward to visiting Camelot and his favorite 'uncle' almost as much as I am. The only snag we've run into so far is that he wants to bring Mini Mew, and I'm not sure how well the kitten will behave during the trip. I suppose there's only one way to find out since he's decided he's not going without his best friend.

I'd say I have no idea where my boy gets his stubbornness from, but that would be a lie and I've been trying to teach him the joys of honesty. I think he's a little too honest, though. It's made for some funny moments, like when he asked our overweight neighbor when her baby was due, which had her turning a few impressive shades of red. I had to apologize while trying not to laugh, which is harder than it sounds.

[Filter: Family]
If it works for everyone, I think we should try and leave for Camelot by mid-July.

[Filter: Apollo]
Will you be coming to Camelot with us?

I am afraid I'm coming down with something. My throat has been behaving rather strangely as of late. But I won't allow it to get in the way of using my voice. What is a songbird without its song?

[Filter: Osiris]

how is niflheim?

[Filter: Nephthys]

can

can I ask something?

[Filter: Family]

have you decided when you're going to camelot?

Exciting things have been happening in my house. Well, exciting if you count bribing a child to stop asking certain questions to be worth noting... and yes, in case anyone is wondering, a kitten is a perfect bribe for a seven year old boy. He's quite thrilled with his new responsibility -- now known as 'Mini Mew', because he gets his penchant for naming things from his mother -- and has decided that he's going to own a kitten farm when he grows up.

Now if I could just get him to pay attention during his flute lessons, I'd have a perfect child. Although, he has been getting better. Soon, he'll be old enough to stay awake for our shows, and then maybe he can even show off a bit. That reminds me, I should practice a little more for tonight. I've got a new piece I'll be trying out that I hope goes over well. We'll have to see.

Free day! That's what I'm talking about. Seriously, one more day chopping up wood without rest and I'd have to go insane. Wacko. In short of one's mental abilities :( it'd just be bad. Then I would definitely be unable to work and no money would come home.

But then free day comes and what do I do?

Play with the neighbor's kids.

:( I think I might be taken too easily by those...

[FILTERED TO ARTEMIS]
Please tell me that you're around and breathing.

[FILTERED TO CALLIOPE AND EUTERPE]
How are you both?

[FILTERED TO HIS ROME FAMILY AND GREEK FAMILY]
Sometime after I can speak properly and walk, I suggest we all get drunk.

[FILTERED TO HYACINTH]
Please tell me you didn't see it.

[FILTERED PUBLIC]
Oh NEW YORK. I have always loved you but never more than right now.

[ filter; apollo ]
Why did you do it?
Why did you make us
Are you home yet?

[ filter; calliope ]
She didn't watch did she?

[ filter; angels ]
I'm sorry
Everyone alright and accounted for?

[ filter; war ]
Are you alright?

[ filter; public ]
Well this is new; I've never been a zombie before.

Apparently the hospital staff frowns upon patients trying to insistently check themselves out in a stupor. Needless to say I'm well rested now although my side and gut still feel as though they've been split open, and pretty sure I've eaten my weight in blue jello.

Lena I'm sorry for falling into that candy striper, and knocking over a gurney... and anything else any damages I may have caused the hospital. Thank you for having them sedate me

[filter; private]
Waking up next to Calliope was the start of a good day, but the longer this goes on the more I ache all over. I can still feel where Athena's sword got me in the side. There's no marks, but I know I got hurt. How am I supposed to go out tonight and have fun when I know I'm still hurting and no doctor will give me anything for the pain? I'll just keep faking like everything's fine, I'll keep any mentions of gladiator!me brief and general, and it should work, right? Right?

[filter; public]
It's really nice getting to wake up in my own bed, with messages on my voicemail about how I somehow have a date tonight with some guy named Trent. Here's hoping he's not a douchebag, since that's a total douchebag name. Guess whatever alterna-me was up to while real me was in a parallel dimension was pretty cool if it's getting me plans for Friday night.

Speaking of future plans, the Les Miserables movie trailer came out, and I am excite. Can it be December already? That looks amazing!

[It was a blessing to wake up in her own bed, even more so to have Milk at her hip, curled up into a white, fluffy ball of purring warmth. After stroking the sleepy cat until she stretched out happily, Calliope, too, stretched until she felt comfortable enough to leave the warmth of her companion and bed.

The Muse padded out of her bedroom and down the hallway to Euterpe's, where she found her sister sound asleep. Without another word, she climbed into the bed and under the covers, content to fall asleep once again at her sister's side.]

[filter; greeks]
To my sisters: I wish you the best of luck. You are Zeus' daughters. Be strong, be courageous. And if death should claim you, remember it is not permanent.

To the rest, I offer the same advice. Be well.

[ filter; gladiators ]

Those who do not have previous experience wielding either a sword or spear - my name is Gabriel, look for me in the training yard and I will work with you to help as best I can. I will not let you go into this fearful and unprepared. Or doubting yourselves. For the rest; good luck, God bless you... and may the odds be ever in your favor.

[ filter; calliope ]

I pray that neither of my opponents are your family - be it true or in this time? I simply would not be able to do that to you while you watch. And are you safe?

[ filter; angels ]

Should one of us fall

[ filter; public ]

I really wanted to see Battleship. First thing I'm going to do after sitting in church for a few hours praying when we get back is see that movie. With the largest popcorn and every sugary/sour gummie candy they have. What about everyone else?

Perhaps something to look forward to will help.

Well, this is very much a good news/bad news situation. At least I still have my sister and Gabe and I are actual brothers instead of just "bros" but the three of us are gladiators. And Hyacinth..I still have yet to figure out how to see him. Apparently we have more siblings as well but thankfully they don't seem to be sharing our fate.

I miss my piano.

Interested parties:

Big shock - I'm the messenger!

If there is a need to communicate with or deliver things to and from the gladiators, requests shall be entertained herein.

I'm married to a man whose face I can't place. But I also have a child, and she's beautiful. She has my husband's eyes.

The best musical moment in cartoon history. However, don't watch if you're afraid of clowns. I really need a gig or something to get me out of this apartment. Right now, I think I'd even take a semi-regular job. I should not have had enough time on my hands to actually seriously contemplate which video to choose.

I'm Jake. Some of you may know me as Apollo. Lazy ass musician and roommate to Gabe.

[Calliope hadn't been ready for the appearance of her husband. Two years dead, and now he was back in her life. Was it real? It couldn't be. People didn't come back from the dead, even with strange things happening all around. They didn't return with no knowledge of ever dying in the first place. They simply didn't return at all.

What she'd learned over the days was that he couldn't leave to house, even with her insistence. That meant he was a vision she could see only when within the house. They would never have another outing, confined to the house for as long as this would go on for. But Calliope wasn't unhappy. She hadn't shed tears, not even when Orpheus had shown himself on her couch. Couple that with her other sisters, who didn't seem to be her own but rather Euterpe's, she was at her happiest.

But her heart ached. How long had she longed to see her husband again? Too long. Now he was in her life once again, as well as her son and her other sisters, and words couldn't describe just how perfect it really was.]

[Text to Euterpe]
You need to know how much you mean to me. Please never forget it.

[Filter: Gwynevere]
He's here.

No more interning. No more. Big boy's a resident now (with a major loan to pay to Uncle Richard but hey, details, details). Still means I'll camp in the hospital but being paid better now's good.

Kids are good, apparently they spent the entire time while I was in Zurvan (with pod!me) cleaning up the house. Pod!me was one creepy dude. We've been putting it back to its decent, weird state now.

Angels. Bros. Hoes. Speak to me :( I miss you.

[Ever since getting her piano keys fixed (as wafers were rather difficult to play on), Calliope had been at her piano nonstop, testing out the new keys. Her piano always brought her peace, and so upon signing into the community, she decides to record the following.

At the end of the recording, there's a sound of someone (something) pawing at a key repeatedly, and there's laughter from Calliope as she allows her fluffy companion to paw at one more key before the recording cuts out.]

[What had started out as a confusing situation in which she'd woken up off to the side of a grassy, tree-lined pathway as opposed to her warm, comfortable bed was rapidly devolving into a total shitstorm. For days now, Euterpe had been walking around, possibly in circles, wishing she could find an exit. Or a Starbucks, since she was certain this was all a messed-up dream and she just needed a healthy dose of caffeine via an iced mocha latte to wake up. Except the part where she was wearing her high school track team tee, a pair of running shorts -- what she wore to bed -- and was currently wondering if she should start sleeping in sneakers.

After accidentally stubbing her toe on an exposed root, she plopped down on the grass to bandage up the bleeding digit using a strip of cloth she cut off the bottom of her shirt, taking a moment to check her compass to see if she'd made any progress. The maze seemed neverending, and she was getting frustrated. Standing, Euterpe dusted herself off, and attempted to climb the hedge wall. That's when she noticed the shadow.

A wary glance over her shoulder confirmed her suspicions; someone was standing there and he did not look friendly. Especially not when he had weapons far better than her flimsy knife. It took her two seconds to decide to start running, but those two seconds felt far longer to her. In the end, she wasn't exactly sure what made Utukku stop chasing her, but as she collapsed in a panting heap behind a column she was thankful he did.]

Note to self; when we get out of here, write a thank you note to Coach Gallivan to thank him for encouraging you to take up track. Also, get that ankle looked at, since it's probably not supposed to pop like that when you're running.

Damn, that hurts. If I keep getting scraped up and needing bandages I'll be down to a half-shirt before we get out of here.

Did you know that Starbucks won't take payment in the form of chocolate coins? I consider that a big fail on their part. Also, the professors at NYU don't give extra points when you show them how you apparently spent your break learning how to make your flute blow bubbles. Oh, and if anyone finds a pygmy hedgehog in an exercise ball please let me know. Sorry Cordy... Your cat better not find him first. I swear I put his ball in my room, but it just kind of... disappeared.

Liam, you need to help me find a new karaoke spot, since I'm not going back to that other one any time soon.

[Though not an overly emotional person by any means, Calliope had her own share of rampant feelings. Touching her piano always brought upon thoughts of both sorrow and joy, sorrow for the memory of who had purchased her the piano, but joy for what magnificent sounds came out of it. Joy for music.

First it had been the keys. Before being aware that anything had happened to any of her fellow reincarnates, she'd poured herself a glass of wine and perched at the piano for only Zeus knew how long. And when the keys had turned into chocolate wafers, well, that certainly hadn't been expected.

But it the wine glass transforming into a dove that shocked her the most. From liquid to solid? Bizarre. More bizarre than wafers. The poor thing's off-white feathers were stroked before a window was opened and the dove urged to fly off.

When her window sill began growing flowers from her touch, she thought it was best to keep all touching to a bare minimum.]

[Filter: Private]

Dear God,

I wish Samael had croaked. Father, why don't love you me? Is it because of the women? The rebellion? Ishatar? You had to see all that coming, though.

Oh well. Maybe next time.

Love,
Sammy

P.S. Maeve says hi. ♥

[Filter: Public]

It is something perfect today. Next clear and sunny day, I vote for some bonding time with old family and new. Also would do me a world of good to get fresh air when I can. Next Thursday's looking good so far. Y/N/M?

That aside, I'm just going to take it upon myself to inquire if folks are settling in alright now.

[filter; kokabiel and samyaza, visible to euterpe]
One day I will have both of you over for dinner, when it best suits you.

[filter; public]
I feel relieved to be back home.

[Zeus has lived many lives. None shall ever equal his first life; his true self. He has always endured, believing fervently that he will be restored to his former glory (that he will restore himself). His death in Zurvan wasn't the most painful death he has experienced but it might be one of the most unnatural. It was not a death that took. It disgusts him that nothing is sacred, not even death. Not even the long, cold sleep.

When he is returned to New York, he learns that his business ventures have proceeded unimpeded. That he has hired and fired two personal assistants. The latest, number three, wears too-short skirts and he fires her, too, having had his way with her over his desk.

It is too easy for him to sleep into his old ways of want-and-take-and-have. These first few days, he is purely selfish. He lives for the sake of living and for the sake of feeling. Nails scraping down his back, rough callused hands, drinking champagne from clever mouths. He needs these things to restore himself. He is a careful man, as a rule, but there are precautions not taken; he is the Father of Gods and Men. What is another bastard child or two?

Finally, emerging from some kind of cocoon of slumber and beautiful women, in a penthouse suite in Boston, he showers and he returns to New York. He is Zeus. He will not be beaten by a fake death (though all the subsequent little deaths have not helped in the least.)

It is time for bravado. It is time to wear the face of Zeus and the substance of Zeus will surely seep back into his veins. He will not be overcome.]

Family, family. It was just a flesh wound.

There's so much that could be said, but since I have the feeling other people will say it well enough without me chiming in I'll just leave you all with this -



If anyone's down to be a part of that let me know.

[Zeus' handwriting is shaky now and this takes him a long time to write. His skin has taken a rather grey tone and his breathing is laboured. These are his final points of business]

To Svarga; faction members, subjects: I am dying. Let's say no more of it other than it is the truth. I do not expect to see sunset, now that the evenings have begun to stretch out.

To my children; all of you, whether you're from this life, the last, the first or any of the others: I am proud of you. Be careful what you drink. I love each of you and why should I not, when you are manifestations of myself?

To the Blackwells: Listen to Maud. She's probably right on most things. Emilia. I hope it was good for you.

To Katie: I have been blessed to have had you. I am sorry.

Goodnight, Zurvan.

I woke up and... I remember. I remember everything.

Euterpe, where are you?

Dear. Dad. In Heaven.

I got kids again. And I'm a soldier again. Is this some kind of pseudo-way to get my fallen-angelic little life back?

Because if so, I'm not completely against it.

Missing my brothers though.

I've heard of the fires in Glastheim. Is it true? Have they been extinguished? They already lost their last king

[filter; private]

So much drama in our little world. Where would should I go? There can be little work for a portrait artist if everyone insists upon killing everyone else. Blood on canvas is just not my medium.

[filter; public]

Calliope, my dearest. I believe I shall visit very soon. Do let me know when is most convenient.

My merry band of musicians at The Damned Watcher will be joined by my friend Euterpe, who hails from the beautiful Camlann. But we will also be performing just her and I. Euterpe is a wonderful musician, and everyone should come hear her play. How often do we get musicians from other lands?

There is something else I would like to bring up. Someone is missing. His name is Kokabiel, and his hair is fair. He is handsome and prone to laughter. Has anyone seen him?

[written in a little later] Samyaza, look down.

[filter; raven]
It's been some time. Come to the tavern some night?

I'd like to know: what or who gives you inspiration? Who gives you the strength to carry on or the inspiration to do something new, or perhaps something familiar?

Ladies of Mictlan. No. Ladies of the world.

What is your ideal man? Not what you have and don't give me names but, in words, paint me a picture. Dark-haired, fair-haired - red-haired (the gingers, oh the gingers!) - well-tanned, scruffy, clean-shaven? Light-eyed, dark-eyed, tall, average height, slender, muscular, sensitive, arrogant, as stubborn as a mule, blah blah blah. Fill it in yourselves, lovelies. Could you be swayed to consider another type? Are you very firm on what you want?

Don't start with the questions, just give me answers. Just my ex-wife will be allowed to question me. In private. While straddling my knee. And only then may she question me.

HONEYBUNMUFFINSWEETDESSERTTHING, DON'T LET THE KIDS READ THIS!

I wonder what the potential job prospects for a musician are like in Mictlan... It would be nice to meet some new people before I head back to Camlann.

This talk of marriage has led me to wonder what a life as a married woman would be like. I wonder, do all girls dream of marriage as a child? And if so, to married women, has the fantasy lived up to the expectations now that it's happened?

The roads to Glastheim are busy, it seems. I'm fortunate to have reached here ahead of the rush. I have set myself up in rooms near the Palace and if anyone wants to have a portrait painted, I do take appointments for sittings.

Most of you are, of course, aware of my work. I've painted in all five kingdoms and, yes, that eight-foot tall portrait of Zeus is my work, too and I'm already enjoying my return to Glastheim.

[filter; metatron]

Brotherbrotherbrother. Are you coming? Because if you are, you'd best wrap up warm.

I hear there's a tavern in Mictlan that got an extra shipment of ale from Camlann. Special brew, as a favour to me. It's going to be served tonight. Sweet-faced wenches are going to be pink-cheeked,smiling and ready to keep your tankards full.

And you know the finest voice in all of Zurvan's going to be here. But lay a wrong hand on her and I'll make you suffer like no one's ever known before.[gone]

Get your asses in my tavern.

[Filter: Family (siblings, ex-wife, etc)]

If I get drunk, please make sure I don't go to bed with someone I'll regret waking up next to. Please. You all love me, right?


Right?

BOSS IF YOU ARE HERE, DON'T ANSWER. I'M WORKING HONEST AND EVERYTHING.

If you aren't, no, I'm not. But in my defence, freaking barracks are emptier than a tavern before six in the morning.

TELL ME, MY PEOPLE. WHO ARE YOU ALL?

(as long as you're not one of the exes and kids, if you're here, back to study and being responsible, don't be like daddy :( - > that is a frowny face. See it as a frowny face.)

Kokabiel's the name, Glastheim's the place and I'm bored. Can I skip work and still get paid?

And people are just depressed which I get but oh boy, it's bloody well, depressing.