Dite you watch my kid as if she was your own while I'm in Rome. I come home to anything funny, I'm taking it out on you.

I hope no one thinks they're getting the goods. If anyone ends up with a throne its going to be me. Rome and I have some history. I'll not be left behind.

All right, my fellow Greeks--or anyone else feeling up to the job. We know we need to head to Rome to find... whatever it is we're supposed to be looking for. So, who is going to go?

I do have to travel to Italy fairly regularly on business, but right now... I'm not certain I would be the best candidate. Not after they took my son as well as the others. If no one else will volunteer, I'm certain I could perform the task required. Otherwise, I would be happy to sponsor someone else going in my place.

Any takers?

Seems all I hear about these days are those Norse apes. Your pictures are all over the place. Hadn't seen the movie yet. Was it any good?

Triton, think you can babysit for a few days? Though, I'm hardly going to give you an option one way or the other. Chelsea thinks she's old enough to date. Daughter of a raging sea god, you think she'd learn. There's no such thing as dating.

School should be over. Which means the brat has gone into reading stupid shit for the summer. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters? She couldn't come up with a worse slap then that? I thought I taught her better than that.

Maybe it is a shame I broke her mother. I had somewhere else to ship her off after school let out.

[Filter: Poseidon]

Darling, it's really been too long since we last spent quality time together. What's your schedule looking like?

I tell you, even if you're a god, there's something about turning 40 that just makes you feel like a geezer.

But, I got a nice (if kind of strange) arrangement sent to me, so it's not that bad.

Well... Whoever sent them to me certainly has unusual tastes in flowers. They're lovely, yes, but far from the typical bouquet.

But, where did they come from? I didn't think the gentlemen around here whose company I keep would have a sentimental streak like that.

[Since Poseidon's wrath of power weeks ago, Chelsea had mixed feelings. Sure, there was uncertainty there with what her father was capable of. It was majestic, and inspiring. She was in plain awe of what he could do. There also came that nagging feeling of restlessness that she could be easily tossed aside, especially after seeing how Aphrodite use and fawn over him. She didn't talk to him for days. Finally, he'd had enough of Chelsea's silent treatment and once again they wrangled through a spat.

"What the fuck is wrong with you kid? Get used to being one of many."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Triton was already there, she was sure other of his children might pop up.

"You know what it means." He replied flatly. "You might get slapped with another brother or sister from Dite."

Her jaw dropped. Seriously, she was going to punch him in the face. And she tried. But he didn't get vicious on her. He held her in his iron grip by the shoulders. "I won't lose you Chelsea." That was a demand on his part. His Amphitrite wasn't going to be thrown out if he had anything to say about it. Her sway over anyone, even a goddess of Love went beyond himself. Even Triton, a favored of his offspring held nothing in comparison to Chelsea.]

It's a shame I can't eradicate the population when the brat pisses me off like I could weeks ago.

[Aphrodite went to the doctor's office on her own that morning, and came back with some interesting news...]

[Filtered to Dionysus, Poseidon and Hades]

Gentlemen, if you can see this, it means we need to have a chat. Get back to me as soon as you're able.

[Chelsea felt the ground shake beneath her when she got out of bed. It was a surge of power coming off in waves as she padded on the hardwood floors toward her father's room. When he slapped open the door she suddenly felt compelled to fall to her knees. There were tears in her eyes because there was something truly magnificent about his stormy blue eyes. It comforted her and frightened her at the same time.

"Father?" she said in a shaky voice, standing once again. She expected him to slap her away, but instead his arm stood around her as if she were a Queen.

Even more amazing was the way the waters bent at his voice when they neared out of the apartment and near the harbor. It was the first time the girl could actually hear it. The ocean's voice was soft, soothing, luring like a hook to a fish. Poseidon was their net, swinging it in whatever direction he chose. It could turn cold and vicious in an an instant. It was that very surge that had the mortals frightened. The clouds overhead were dark, the ocean swirled in a sickly spiral, as if a tsunami could catastrophically collapse against the city at any moment.

Also, within that water was a call from something else immortal. Triton had an army and it was thundering against the waves.

Chelsea looked up to her father, a beam of pride over her face. He was nothing like books and statues depicted with a graying beard. He was massive in his gaze, mysterious and dark. The silhouette of a god that men feared.
 
As the rain slapped against her face, the ocean churning beneath, she whispered his name in awe.]

This holiday needs to be shot. I hear one more Christmas song chiming through my office, then no sexy skirt line or bra reveal is going to keep the secretary her job. I've got three other girls ready to do a much better job than that, honey. Be glad I haven't destroyed all of New York, even with the brat back.

What exactly is the meaning of all this? Come on, folks, I have a very busy schedule. I don't have time to read every kooky fan email I get.

I suppose I don't really need to introduce myself, but here goes ... I am Sky Traveler, Illusionist Extraordinaire. My closest friends call me Connor.

Now would someone mind telling me what the hell is going on here?

[Poseidon was a wreck without his mortal 'Amphitrite'. Chelsea had been gone for nearly a week now and it was slowly picking away the tough layers revealing a very vulnerable man in return. He would move heaven and earth to have a tight lock on those that clipped him so tight. His chest hurt, a worry grew that he hadn't thought possible for the girl he'd stripped from her mother those ten years ago. This was exactly the reaction Chelsea had been hoping for, sadly she wasn't there to gloat it in his face. She just knew. In the meantime he'd sent his Nereids to do the dirty work, yet there was no headway and Poseidon was getting restless, angrier by the minute.]

This has gone on long enough. Produce that kid at my doorstep or I will sink what's left of this city. Hurricane Irene stands nothing on me.

Edit: Hades, Dite, let's hope you two kids haven't been making plans without me. Know anything?

[Filter: Poseidon]

Has there been any further word on Chelsea, Father?

Not again.

One of my fraternity brothers has a new book. Specifically, Book Two of the "Heroes of Olympus" series. This one so entitled "The Son of Neptune." I am not impressed.

I find the entire franchise an utter travesty, particularly since it's my line that's the star in the freak show. My own fictional bastard-born brother. As if I didn't have enough real ones already.

I'd consider destroying it, banning it from the house, but... then again, when the time comes, it might be a useful tool in bringing over mortal soldiers to my command. After all, they make the line of Poseidon out to be the heroes, and everyone wants to be on the winning team. ...unfortunately, I'll probably have to read it now, just to see how we're represented.

[Poseidon returned to find his apartment empty, his computer on with a message that sent him into a rage. His child had no option to 'do as she pleased'. Not without any idea of where she had gone. It wasn't the first time she had jumped ship, but when she was younger it was easier to pick and chose her hiding spots. 

He knew nothing of what she'd learned from Hades, having long since lost track with his ex a few years back. She'd paled around with her current abusive boyfriend still asking to see her daughter. After a few years he stopped listening to her whining, it was pathetic. What she had learned of men she'd learned from Poseidon, beaten down to believe she was worth nothing. Poseidon 'had' ruined her, he would never deny that, he held some pride in that fact.

What he was not proud of however was losing the only good thing he had. Chelsea.]

Alright who the fuck knows something, speak now and maybe I won't throw this city under water. Atlantis made it's mistakes too.

Someone slipped their leash I see.

[Chelsea packs what little she can, leaving her phone behind because she knows Poseidon will use it to track her. What respect and closeness she'd grown to have for her father was momentarily stunted at knowing the lengths he'd taken to ruin her mother just for the sheer pleasure of it. She doesn't know what he knows, but after being told by Hades the kind of condition she's in, Chelsea sets out to see her, permission or not. She knows without a doubt her father would never let her go willingly, she's not giving him the opportunity to even ask. In a reckless move she bolts leaving him no more than the message on his computer hoping for once he feels pain.]


I hope you see this


I hate you....

I got a birthday card from my parents today. That wouldn't be so odd, except that birthday isn't until Wednesday. Surely my own parents remember when I was born, so I'm not sure why they sent it early. There are too many mail dropboxes in Lincoln to have the excuse of it being so it's convenient.