Who: Polyhymnia & Apollo What: Smackdown! When: BACKDATED; May 3rd Where: Apollo's House Warnings: Sibling abuse and swearing.
It felt like such a long walk. Shiri could remember the last time she had dreaded to walk and was thankful she had not been beaten by the cops before having to make the march, but still... This march was certainly up there on her list of not wanting to do it. But her musagetes had called her back and not to jam.
It was never to jam.
Smoothing out her simply yellow dress, she lowered her eyes and knocked on the door. He sounded so angry in texts, she could only imagine in voice.
Apollo had stood near the door waiting for his sister to return; if her message was any indication, she hadn't gotten very far. He braced himself for the coming encounter, knowing she'd probably turn on the waterworks as soon as she saw him.
Well it wasn't going to work this time. No sir. He yanked the door open as soon as she knocked and scowled at her.
"At least you have the godsdamned decency to at least look ashamed."
Shiri clenched her pink eyes shut as tightly as she could. Yes, he sounded much angrier in voice. Much, much angrier... "Of course I am ashamed. You are yelling at me."
He reached out to grab her arm, yanking her inside before kicking the door shut.
"And you haven't the faintest idea why, do you? Do you?!" Of course she didn't. Why bother asking? She'd see nothing wrong with what she'd done; they never did.
Oh dear, oh dear. Shiri easily followed, even with her eyes shut, inside the house at the yanking. She knew the the right answer was 'yes', but the truth wasn't 'yes'... It caused her to let out a desperate, sad sigh, "No. I do not not. I assume because I jumped off a cliff."
"You never do. None of you ever know what you've done! And then it's always 'Oh Apollo, why are you being so mean!? I haven't done anything wrong~'..." he mocked, pulling her further into the hallway and caring little for her balance.
"Do you listen to yourself when you talk, Polyhymnia? When did you become such a complete fucking idiot?!"
Very rarely did Shiri lose her balance but being pulled with her eyes close did not help, especially when being mocked. Unjustly as far as she felt she was concerned, she had always accepted his words. Her eyes snapped open when she felt herself stumble, catching herself and falling to her knees. "I..." The muse took a deep breath. He really was angry at her, so she knew she was wrong but... Even while she cringed, "I am fine. Nothing bad happened."
"That's not the point!" He took a step towards her, and without thinking raised his hand to slap her. It wasn't until his hand had connected with her pale cheek and he felt the sting on his hand that he realized what he'd done.
Apollo stared at her for a moment, almost surprised, and then resumed glaring. No apology. He didn't feel sorry that he'd done it, only that he hadn't done it enough.
"What if Artemis hadn't been there? What if no one had been there? What if no one saw you? What if you hit the rocks? What if you drown?! What kind of fucking moron goes jumping off cliffs with no thought what-so-ever to their safety?! What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Her eyes widened in surprise when his hand struck her, but she only lifted her hands at all when he stared at her in almost surprise. Shiri touched her stinging skin, but then her hands dropped to her side again. Her survival instincts were very bad when it came to Apollo; if hitting her made him feel better, she would remain still to receive it.
Shiri lowered her eyes again though. She was clearly unworthy in the moment to look at him.
"I-I... I have no answer, my musagetes. I felt no fear about jumping..."
"Oh, well good for you! But it's not about if you're afraid or not! I'm not afraid of a lot of things, but that doesn't mean I rush out and fucking do them!" He hit her again, impulsively, then clenched his hands into fists at his sides.
"You're my sister, a muse, you're supposed to be fucking smarter than the average pathetic mortal, but I'm starting to doubt it!"
Shiri's eyes were wet with unshed tears; she fought very hard not to cry. Her whole body moved with the second blow, but she returned to how she had been knelt almost immediately. If he wanted to hit her again, she made sure it would be easy for him... His words hurt her much more anyway... But maybe those made him feel better, too. "I am not perfect like you, my [Beautiful Brother]. I was caught in the moment and trusted in my immortality..."
"IMMORTAILITY WON'T SAVE YOU FROM BASHING YOUR HEAD AGAINST A ROCK OR DROWNING IN THE OCEAN!" he roared, leaning towards her.
She just sat there. Just sat there and stared at the floor and...and complimented him! Like she was just putting up with it because it was her duty.
He couldn't stand it.
Feeling him so close, she snuck the glance, quickly darting her eyes up to steal a glance of him. Apollo really was beautiful when he was furious but quickly she lowered her eyes again. It wouldn't do her any good if he knew that particular thought was in her mind. Instead, she let the thought fade away, focusing on how her face hurt from being struck by him twice. "I am sorry. It sounded like a good idea at the time..."
For an instant, he wanted to hit her again, but what was the point if she was just going to sit there and not even flinch? Sit there like it had no effect at all; she wasn't even crying.
"Get up," he said quietly through gritted teeth.
Last time he had been angry at her, her tears had only fueled his anger more. Shiri simply didn't know what to do but she stood up at his words. "Yes, my musagetes. I am so sorry. I do not mean to upset you... What can I do?"
Apollo reached out and grabbed her chin tightly, while at the same time releasing just enough of his power to heal the forming bruises on her face; it wouldn't do to have people asking about it. He was fed up with all of them enough already.
When they had faded away, he pushed her towards the door. "Get out of my fucking sight. None of you ever learn; it makes me sick."
Whenever she felt his power enter her, she couldn't help but tremble. It was a sensation that swept through her to her very core and made her heart beat faster like a maiden looking upon her betrothed. It was always the same but the moment of joy was very short lived... Shiri was quick to remember why she was feeling it. He was healing blows he inflicted on her and then she was being pushed.
When she saw the door, finally her tears slipped down her cheeks, "If that is what you wish. I am sorry. I can only be what I am... I am sorry I disappoint and sicken you. That is the opposite of everything I have ever wanted so I will go. Forgive me one day, my musagetes."
"Just go!" Ugh. He was so very not in the mood for any of that devoted bullshit. What good did it do in the end? Things like this still happened.
What if she'd been hurt? He hadn't even known she was there! No one would have thought to call him, not even Artemis. And then what?! He couldn't be everywhere all the time! They had to look out for themselves!
He pushed the door shut hard once she was on the porch, and then turned to stalk off into the kitchen. This called for a damned drink.
Summary: Apollo confronts his sister about her cliff diving and is unable to rein in his tempter.