Who: Poseidon and Amphitrite What: Poseidon confides in Amph, taken place after this. Where: Amphitriite's apartment When: [Backdated]Wednesday night, December 7th Warnings: TBD
Poseidon felt distracted when he left Triton that night, still laying cold on the streets of New York. The hit was enough to keep him down for a few hours, enough for Poseidon to walk away with his head high. It left the old sea king in a state, his mind taking him back to his earliest years. Years that had gone by so quickly he'd never thought of them before.
Like Cronus, Poseidon would not allow a child to usurp him. Cronus had been so ambitious with that thought that he'd swallowed his own children, save Zeus. Growing in the bowels of one's stomach was how Poseidon and his siblings had spent their youth. It was a foul place to be, ready to uproot at any moment to take a stand. Their father had been no father at all, just a container.
But Zeus had come first. Zeus became the victor, releasing them from that stench. Poseidon would grow into that hate later, but it rooted itself right then and there. Titans were filthy.
He'd picked up a bottle at the local convenience store, knocking on Amphitrite's door as if there were someone closing in behind him. He couldn't get that smell out of his nose, like rotted flesh. Even the alcohol didn't dull it down, it was overpowering. When he pushed his way inside her place, her only sanctuary away from him, he was strikingly unnerved. It was as if every muscle in his body had started to ache, feeling detached from the rest of him. It was an unnatural feeling which made Poseidon uncomfortable.This more human side of himself was far more troubling than the depths of Hades torture.
Amphitrite had been enjoying a peaceful evening to herself when the knock had come at the door. She just wanted to have some quiet that evening, and naturally it was ruined. Not that she didn't mind seeing Poseidon, but she really did love her me-time. She supposed she could spare a few minutes, or however long he decided to stay.
"Come on in," she said sarcastically as he barely waited for her to open the door. "If you've come searching for men to beat up you'll be disappointed."
She locked the door and followed with her arms crossed before finally getting a good look at him. "Is this self-pity or are you really down?"
Since her return he'd not left her alone, he stayed most nights when Kymopoleia had company. Now that the girl was under his roof, the changes in atmosphere was awkward. In fact he was tired of these brats all together. He'd actually took a step out as a father, and right now he wanted to drown every living one of them.
He downed a quarter of his bottle, not yet phased by it's contents. He just liked the taste of it sliding down his throat. And yet, the aftertaste was the same, like bile.
Poseidon flopped on her couch, a shiver hitting his spine. He'd yet to taste another woman's lips (save the frat party he and Ky busted into), or bed with anyone other than Amphitrite. Even with her, he'd been distinctly soft, as if he himself wasn't ready for the harshness. Hades still had him screwed, now this. He waved her off, a clear indication that he was rattled.
"I'll leave the head bashing for your son," he growled. Amphitrite hadn't even gotten pregnant yet, and part of him didn't want her to right now. His stint in the underworld hadn't made it easy.
Amphitrite made a face. Okay, maybe he was actually having a real issue here. It wouldn't be the first, but then most things that bugged Poseidon were minor things.
She smirked, "Triton is good, gentle boy. He will do no such thing. You and I both know this."
She then sat down in her favorite recliner, kicked up her feet, and studied him. "What's bothering you?"
"I meant for me. I'll kill every last one of them. Fucking brats." Triton had rattled him. To think the brat had that much gumption. Take his titles from him? It was the only thing that was truly Poseidon's anymore.
He glanced at her for a moment, that flash of something so human in his eyes it made his chest hurt. Part of him was reaching out for comfort and the other part wanted her to step closer so he could push her away. Right now, physically he hurt.
"My father." That word came out like ice. It hissed between his teeth as he grinded them together. Poseidon could pull punches all he wanted, but Amphitrite was different. He'd never discussed those uncharted territories of his deepest past. "Filthy Titans."
Her eyebrows rose as she realized her own mistake. "And what exactly have they all done?"
This was something new and to be completely honest she wasn't sure if she felt relieved or wary of it finally coming up. "All Titans are filthy because of your father?" It was the only connection she could make here. She knew the stories, she knew what had happened, but she didn't know his resentment. Especially not what he felt toward Zeus. She had only ever known he hated his brother.
"They've insulted me." He took another hard swig of his alcohol.
"All Titans are filthy, devouring bastards." There was no joke on his choice of words. His father had swallowed him, it made another shiver break against his skin, so he stood. His boots clicked against the floor as he stalked around her chair, finally settled behind her. It was the first time he'd cowered where she couldn't see him.
He set the bottle down on the table, hands gripped the head of her chair.
Here we go again, she thought to herself, ready for what would likely be a long night of self-pity. So she had been right all along...
Somehow she felt that by his hiding he felt freer to open up. Maybe it would mean to him that there would be no humiliation to admit things simply by hiding his face.
Sighing quietly, she simply averted her eyes as she spoke again, "Poseidon, what your father did to you and your siblings is unforgivable. But that does not mean that all Titans are bad. If this is going to come back around to Helios I still hold firm to what I said before."
Poseidon's father had set the standard for the way he would treat his own children. That gnawing hunger to take anything in his path and leave no room to ever be full.
"Fuck Helios." This wasn't about Helios. This was about him. His fingers tightened on the chair, releasing it after a time. He didnt' say another word after that, leaving the silence to hang for ages before ever speaking up again.
"Zeus was our victor. A victory that didn't belong to him." It had belonged to Poseidon. It was his own victory to overcome his father, but no, Mr. Storm cloud himself took that title and demanded they reign under him. Poseidon had spent his youth roped in under his father's control, was it proper that he be under another's?
This was why he defied his Greek fellows. Why he sought to take everything with this insatiable hunger. It was his right.
Amphitrite rolled her eyes at that. Poseidon knew she kept her word, so if he ever did harm Helios it would in turn harm Rhode, which would mean Amphitrite would show Poseidon just how powerful she could be.
"He was the only one Rhea had been able to save. He was the only one capable at the time to force Cronus to spit you all back up. Whose victory should it have been, Poseidon?" She barely waited a second for him to have a chance to say anything. "Yours? Hades is older than you, it could have been his victory instead. Of Hestia's, she was the eldest if I'm not mistaken."
Amphitrite spoke an honest sense that Poseidon didn't possess on the matter. The point of it was that out of Cronus' determination to hold onto his power he had taken away theirs. It would forever make Poseidon this greedy being.
"He was the one Rhea chose." Some stories indicated that it was Poseidon that had been spared, but he remembered it much differently. "Yes, Amphitrite, my victory. I wanted it as mine."
His hand brushed against the arm of the chair, ghosting against her arm, yet not reaching for it. The brush alone made him shiver.
He swallowed the last bit of his drink. "Your son wants my titles. If I chose to smite his darling girl. Or anyone else for that matter." That included the rest of Poseidon's brood, as Triton liked to flap in his face that protective vibe. Oh, the noble Triton. Disgusting.
Amphitrite couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes. "He was the one she chose only because he was the last born."
She set her head back on the chair she felt very frustrated with his logic, but he was still opening up to her about something and that was a rarity in itself. "Well, it wasn't yours and it's something you need to get past. Is this why you hate him so much?"
Her eyes narrowed then, "Triton doesn't want your titles. What he wants is you to be a good Sea King and to stop abusing your powers simply because you have them." Okay, maybe he never said any of that to her but she could say whatever she wanted right now. It was something she wanted and she was sure she knew Triton well enough that he wanted the same. "Protecting someone he loves is noble and good. Just as you protect me," she muttered.
"Part of it. Water and electricity don't mix." He'd never had any care for Zeus. "Zeus is no longer my king." His voice far more hushed.
He moved in front of her now at eyelevel. "My titles are all I have." The last thing that was his own. His logic may never be understood by anyone but himself, but Poseidon was letting her in.
Amphitrite hadn't considered that before, but it did make a good point. But then his admittance about Zeus made her stomach squirm. Zeus would always be her King, even if she didn't always agree with his ways. Just as Poseidon would always be her King of the Sea.
She considered him a moment, "That's not true. But if your titles mean so much to you I think you need to take them more seriously. Going around and threatening everyone only makes you and your titles look bad." She didn't say it to rile him up, but it was true. If he didn't stop his bad habits he'd likely be sent right back to Hades.
She didn't rile him. He didn't even raise his voice. He sat on his knees, his head resting in her lap. It was a submissive act on his part, but the first time he was actually listening to what she said.
Well that surprised Amphitrite almost as much as his confessions. That he was opening up like this was blowing her mind. It was definitely a huge leap. She sighed quietly and stroked his hair. "You know I'll help you. You've been doing better with our children..." she said quietly.
Her gentle massage allowed his eyes to drift closed. "As much as can be expected." His children were barganing chips in his life, now they were making small steps to being more important than name only. He was even housing one under his roof, though he had hoped it would be Amphitrite moving in.
He raised up, hands pressed on the arms of the chair. He leaned in for a kiss. He still had not returned with that dangerous fire in their sex life. He'd been far more soft, but now that Poseidon wanted a taste.